Eight random things about me (yup, I got tagged)

Doug Meacham tagged me the other day, so it’s my turn to weigh in on the “Eight Random Things About Me” meme. First, the rules:

• Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged need to write their own post about their eight things and post these rules.
• At the end of your post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here goes:

1. I am an Eagle Scout, and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, a fraternal group within the BSA. My vigil name is “Gischeleman,” which I liked so much I named this blog for it. It means “To Create with the Mind,” or as I originally understood it, “Vision Maker.”I value my time in the Scouts, though I am not fond of the national organization’s discriminatory anti-gay policies.
2. Before getting into public relations, I worked for a decade in public radio, mostly at WBUR-FM, Boston– yes, the Car Talk guys really are like that in real life, thanks for asking. My last job there was as producer for “Only a Game.” Great job, still a great bunch of people.
3. I have an engineering credit on a rock record, the EP by Ed’s Redeeming Qualities called “Ed’s Day.” I can’t find my copy and I am pissed. ERQ hosted the Sunday Evening “Ed’s Basement at The Rat in Kenmore Square circa 1988-1989, where I got to meet River Phoenix, who played there with his mediocre band Aleka’s attic, and Kim Deal of the Pixies, who seemed quite nice. Yup, I’m name dropping.
4. I played trombone and tuba through high school. I was actually pretty good, but dropped them in favor of spinning vinyl in college. I actually marched in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade as part of the New England Scholastic Honors Band.
5. I was a jazz DJ at WERS-FM, Emerson College, and after that, for a little while at WBUR. Boston remains a good city to meet some pretty good jazz musicians. I recall meeting Mark Murphy, Harold Mabern, John Medeski, Cercie Miller, and a bunch of really talented musicians, many coming from the New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. Hey, more name dropping!
6. I got to see Hank Aaron play ball. Yes, I am just old enough. It was Hammerin’ Hank’s last season, he hit a double in Fenway Park. Another Fenway moment I witnessed: John Valentin’s unassisted triple play game, which also happened to be the major league debut of Alex Rodriguez.
7. My 9-year-old son is ten times the athlete I was.
8. I may or may not be related to Francis Bacon. Pretty sure I am related to Nathaniel Bacon of Bacon’s Rebellion. I like to think I am a distant cousin of singer Annie Haslam— she, like my grandfather, is from Bolton, England.

To keep the chain going, and hoping I don’t get someone who has been tagged already, I hereby tag:

Chuck, Chip, Cathryn, Critt, Duncan, Ed, Brian, Priyah

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