Sigh, I knew this was coming.
1) I used to be fairly fluent in Latin. Before you ask, no, I didn't learn it because I wanted to study law or have some kind of springboard into the Romantic languages. I just found it very interesting. Unfortunately, I haven't kept up on it, and it's faded somewhat.
2) My only major fear is that of spiders. I was fine with them until I watched Arachnophobia as a small child. The phobia wasn't helped much when I was bitten by a Black Widow in my sleep about two years ago. Very nearly lost my leg to Cellulitis as a result. We never found the spider 
3) I've always wanted to fly. The dream started with a fixed wing fascination, and has since evolved into an all-consuming passion for helicopters. I would have joined the air force straight out of school, but bad eyesight put paid to that. Getting a commercial licence without financial backing is prohibitively expensive, but it'll happen one day.
4) I managed to go for 22 years without breaking any bones. I broke that record in style, with a cracked skull and broken nose. I was mugged in a dodgy part of town, and full of vim, vigour, and Dutch courage, I fought back. Outnumbered two-to-one, the results were predictable. I got a discarded beer bottle to the face (despite what movies may have taught us, beer bottles are very hard to break - my head lost the battle), that resulted in a very tense night waiting for a brain specialist to get back from her Easter holiday. Traumatic as it was, there was no lasting damage, and I now have a Rich Gallup-style scar through my eyebrow - chicks dig it 
5) I've travelled quite extensively over the years, visiting countries in South America, Europe, and Asia. I have a huge soft spot for Thailand (I was there when the tsunami hit), and have been there three times. My latest trip was to Greece last year to watch my team (Liverpool) in the Champions League final. They lost, but it still tops my list of best experiences ever.
I'm going to be a real stick in the mud, and not tag anyone else - partly because I hate chain mail type things, but mostly because I reckon most of the people on my friends list have already been tagged.
Comments
Thanks to you though, I now have my answer.
Some drunkard hit my dad in the face with a bottle once, so I'm familiar with the fact that bottles are actually tough bastards. He got a few teeth broken by it. He does not, however, have a sexy scar to show for it.
You know, I've actually changed my mind about this tag thing. It's been quite fun, and I thank you for tagging me. As for the scar: it really goes both ways - sure, I have a cool scar, but I can't do the whole raised eyebrow thing anymore, which used to be my primary pick-up tool
@PAJ89:
Yeah, big respect to AC. Though I've always felt they should have won in 2005, and we should have won last year. Such is football, I guess. The great thing about this year is that if we beat Arsenal in the quarters, we have a chance of facing Chelsea in the semis again.
@mjcowley:
Thanks mate
@monco59:
Beer bottles are really hard to break. During my varsity years I used to work in bars. I've seen my fair share of bar fights. Inevitably some idot would try to break a bottle to make a weapon (ala the movies), and end up lacerating their hands. If that was another myth you were keen on testing, my advice is don't...
@ImaginaryFriend:
Yeesh dude... Did I not mention I'm arachnophobic? Brown Recluses (or Violin Spiders, as we call them here) terrify me.
@nocoolnamejim:
Yeah, neither are fun
Spiders... yes, getting bitten by a black widow isn't fun. In fact, it hurts like a *******.
Flying... was on a flight from Puerto Rico to the US that ran through a serious thunderstorm, and have never set foot on a plane since.
As for those lying movies, I used to know a guy that thought you could learn martial arts from playing Tekken. He was asked to leave his job (not because of the Tekken thing)
You must be pleased with yesterdays Merseyside derby result. Jubilations from Liverpool fans are fairly mute today in the office as they are outnumbered 3-to-1 by disgruntled Evertonians.
I hope the best for your arachnophobia and you being able to fly someday. Wouldn't it be horrible if you had to do your flight qualifications with a spider's nest in the cockpit! Seriously, I wish you the best of luck!
@ OrkHammer007
Surprisingly, the bite really didn't hurt that much. The tightness of the swollen skin and the itchiness drove me mad though.
As for the flying, I love flying through thunderstorms! Many years ago, I flew as an unaccompanied minor on an overbooked plane. With nowhere to put me, the flight crew decided to stick me in the engineer's seat in the cockpit. The flight included everthing from hail to thunderstorms, and a crosswind landing. Absolutely amazing experience that just fueled the fire for me.
@ -INKling-:
I couldn't believe I'd been bitten by one either. When the doctor told me, I was all "shouldn't I be dead?" Apparently (and thankfully) not.
Yeah, the Merseyside derby is always a big one. My sister supports Everton, much to the annoyance of my dad and I. Missed the first hour of the game because I hadn't realised that daylight saving had ended
. Pleased with the result though.@ 31160618:
The funny thing is I always wanted a scar through my eyebrow. I guess I just never considered how much pain would come with it.
I got mine from an encounter with a table edge when i was really young.
Have you ever been to Anfield mate?
veni-vidi-vici