Those 5 Things...

I got tagged by the the Merkeley-AliCat combo in this 'game' in the midst of holiday haze and have not yet delivered the goods. (Is anyone still playing?). Like others, I am wondering about the criteria: 'interesting' things? new things people don't know? if you only know me from the blog or bike world, pretty much anything would be new and/or interesting. However, I am not completely anonymous here as people from work have seen my blog with varying effects (though I suspect I've bored them all away by now). I feel a bit self-concious and can't go as far into the interesting realm as perhaps I'd like... nevertheless:

1. I was a kindergarden drop-out in East Lansing MI where it was not required. I was a hyperactive youngster who knew my Principal Better than my teachers. I was suspended once in junior high and once in high school.

2. Despite #1, I graduated from Homewood Flossmoor (ILL) HS in decent shape and went to college - mainly to swim NCAA div III at Augustana College (Rock Island ILL) and discovered academic interest and skill. Once I found stuff I wanted to learn (sports psychology and then neuropsychology), I got hooked on school and earned my doctorate from University of Georgia (hence my nickname, Dr. X). UGA is where I picked up my cycling habit and enjoyed a second collegiate athletic career.

3. My name really is 'Xeno'. Born in 1965 to beat-hippie artist parents; Lizzy & Buzzy. They had connections and impact on the arts - my Mom (educator and visual artist) was friend, muse & model for R. Crumb and my dad is Buzzy Linart; co-wrote Bette Midler's theme song & first hit, "(You Gotta Have) Friends". With him, I've met too many musicians to list but a few with name recognition are Doctor John, Jackson Brown, Eric Burden, Styx, George Clinton & P-Funk (no words with Bootsy, damn), 'Fatha' Earl Hines, Maruga, Paul Schaeffer, John B. Sebastian, John Hammond, Lee Freeman (of Strawberry Alarm Clock AND Lynyrd Skynyrd), and all of The Holy Modal Rounders.

4. I never dared to really plunge into art; I just dabbled in radio, photo, writing, acting, voice over, blues harmonica and eclectic rock bands ('Stimulus Bound' was my best creative co-effort in the Baltimore years with an all Johns Hopkins Hospital band; 'ATM' had promise but faded after our only gig opening for The Holy Modal Rounders at Sweetwater). My worst arts moment was getting cut from the college dance troup.

5. I've competed in swimming, diving, wrestling, cross-county, track, field, road running, skateboarding, gymnastics, rock climbing, cycling, and triathlon. I can't remember ever winning an event of any significance - I do it because it's fun & good for you. For me, it's been therapeutic: Keeps me fit, out of trouble and in touch with good people.

Can I still tag? Flandria, Farzan, Maynard me Gusta, Little Jewford, and Dennis. If they already did their thing, sorry, I missed it!