100 Things

100 Things

Inspired by my online friend Ro, here’s a few facts about yours truly:

I’m terrible with namesYes I was in the John Denver fan clubI was a paperboyI make art, all the time. You probably do too.I have a 3rd Dan black belt in JukidoYes there are bad questions. There are lots of bad questions. But we can learn from them.I have been diagnosed with depressionI am susceptible to shopping comas (I hate malls)There have been times in my life when practicing meditation was not optionalMy favorite Philosophical Idea is David Hume’s Soft DeterminismI hold a 1st Dan in Tang Soo DoOnline surveys say I should be a QuakerDualism – really?I subscribe to Morning Buzz, by my twitter friend Joanna PiacenzaI post a useless fact to social media everydayYes, I’ve worn a dress beforeI was born in New Britain, CTI can never remember how many Ts are in “New Britain”People know me by my laughI’m a cat personThe name Andrew means manlyMy favorite asanas are Ardha Chandrasana (half moon) and Rajakapotasana (Pigeon)I’m not a cilantro guyThe one piece of advice I try to live by is “If I’m trying to make a point, I’ve gone too far”I am the Ello community lead for @EllozenHell and brimstone fundamentalist Christians get me riled upMy favorite poet is e.e. cummingsI’m a Buddhist TeacherI think everyone should read Dan Dennett (you don’t have to agree with him, but please read him)My last name (Furst – yes, that’s funny every time) means prince (or someone in the prince’s entourage). In Germany, A prince is more like a governor.I make a mean chocolate chip cookieI think as we get older we naturally gravitate toward poetry, photography or other forms of deep listening.I have a degree in PhilosophyI live in Massachusetts, but I don’t have a Massachusetts accentSarcastic – yupI am a technology management consultantI have restless leg syndrome (no fun)I spend too much time on the computerOne of the most formative experiences in my life was being in a band. It’s running your own business. Running your own business makes things very real.My kids are way cooler than meMorality is subjective – there I said it.Pie? – Oh Yeah.I’ve watched the entire “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” series twiceI miss going to Acadia National Park every yearI tend to approach problems by using the Buddha’s middle way (when I have the wherewithall to stop and think)I drive too fastThe first rock album I bought was Boston, by BostonI love the concept of a militant agnostic – I don’t know, and you don’t eitherI traced my family genealogy back to Adam & Eve (Setting aside, for a moment, that I don’t believe in Adam & Eve)It’s amazing the effect that a guitar has on a womanMy favorite color is yellowAs Buddhist, I’m technically a non-theist, but I cheer for the atheistsI’m on a huge hawaian shirt kick right nowI played bass guitar in Ant Farm, I mostly play guitar nowI’ve only had to use my martial arts fighting skills once – nobody was hurt (badly).I had a college roommate named Al (his real name is Eric)I don’t chew gumI’m a big Audible userIf someone younger than me asks for advice about life, I’m inclinded to disappoint them. My experience is that we don’t learn from other people’s experience.I have, and this is a quote from my children, “an evil Santa Claus laugh”I wear jeans and sandals to work whenever I can get away with itI’ve got a fake book of songs that I bring to parties and play on guitar. If you want a copy it’s hereThe TV show King Fu is terrible to watch nowChai (double dirty – that is)I’ve done lots of bad things in my lifeI thought musicals were stupid when I was a kid. Then I acted in a musical and “got it”Alcohol? – Yes – Gin (Hendricks nowadays)I’m a terrible salesmanWho’s my best teacher? My wifeI am 5 degrees from Kevin Bacon – Through my friend Callie BeaulieuMy favorite philosopher is Daniel C DennettOh excuse me, your dualism is showing.Yes, I eat meatI have blue eyesYes, there are bad ideas. There are lots of bad ideas. But we can learn from them.My first company was named Sina, each letter came from the initial of a member of my familyI graduated from UCONNBest advice I’ve gotten about religion – “most of what religious people do is minding other peoples business”I like chocolate (no – I really like chocolate)I play music by earIf I think about the sun, I get a sun burn2 cats, 1 dogI’m terrible with moneyWhere do I think I will retire? – Maine or Western MassachusettsI’ve worked for myself for most of my careerI’ve never been to Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, or North and South DakotaWhen people ask me how I became interested in Buddhism, I have to admit it all started when I watched the TV show Kung fu when I was a kidI try not to give advice to new parentsI change my mind all the timeMy Blood type is AB +My son insist “I’m not actually all that bad”I think Praying Mantises are cool (my #virtualsangha friend Ro does not)order a latte with some pumps of chai at Starbucks (it’s cheaper than a double dirty chai – but its the same thing)I used to teach hatha yogaMy full name means manly prince – not sure if that is accurateI’m overweightI’m 6′ 1″ (I used to be 6’2″)I was in several bands in my twenties, the most successful was Ant FarmI wrote a book – Western Lights – A Collection of Short Essays on BuddhismIs the glass half empty or half full? – It’s full – half air, half water.

There’s 100 Things @  me

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