25 Random Things, Facts, Habits, or Goals about you [Facebook thing]

1. Two of my sons were born in the same hospital as me (Sacred Heart in Eugene).
2. I have an amazing family. Married 15 1/2 years to an incredible wife. I look forward to the amazing adventures ahead with my three boys and wife.
3. I collect … house plans, maps, rootbeer bottles, books, …
4. I love the outdoors – cycling, hiking, backpacking, walking, nature photography, drives in the country & mountains, and native plant landscaping.
5. Related to #3 I love being on the water – boating & rafting – someday I want to learn to river kayak and in retirement I hope to live on a boat with my wife for at least a year.
6. I played football, basketball, baseball, and competed in wrestling, cross country and track in MS & HS. In college, I joined a city league soccer team for a season. I enjoyed track the most but still love a good game of basketball and am hoping my boys will grow to enjoy basketball, so we will can have a short man’s 3-on-3 team some day.
7. I have had 22 jobs. Every one I have learned valuable life lessons. Some of the more interesting occupations: 11 years as a full-time minister (Associate Minister & Youth Minister). Ranchhand/cowboy on a 30,000 acre cattle ranch. I was a “barista” before that term was cool [I think I made it cool]. One summer, while attending the UofO I worked at Crater Lake, in the gift shop. Currently, I am working towards being a homebuilder.
8. Lori and I would like to own a small town Mercantile, B&B, or Diner/Cafe later in life.
9. I want to own a small ranch/farm.
10. I would like to do photography professionally. [Not like weddings and studio stuff … nature and sports photography.]
11. I am an entrepreneur [at least in my head]. New business ideas/plans flow thru my mind weekly and this has been going on for years.
12. I really enjoy teaching and preaching – even though it stresses me out.
13. I am an introvert and enjoy being alone. Personality= ISTP – [famous ISTPS = Spiderman, Q, Leonardo da Vinci, Fred Dalton Thompson, James Dean, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds.]
14. Mexican food, I could eat it everyday.
15. Cookies are my favorite dessert – there is not such thing as a bad cookie. Tillamook Peanut Butter Chocolate ice cream and rootbeer floats are also good. Rootbeer - I have tried over 30 different kinds of rootbeer.
16. Trains, plains, and automobiles (and boats) – I like to travel. Some day I will take my family on an extended US driving tour. I hope to visit the Holy Lands, Scotland, Alaska, Mexico, …
17. I love music – all kinds, especially live music.
18. I like quality shoes.
19. I have a thing for hair. When I was younger I had quite long hair - I liked the way the wind felt in my hair. I love it when my wife plays with my hair. Since college, I have almost continuously had facial hair – i.e. full beard, long mustache, goatee, or soul patch. [Does that help Shirley?]
20. I love OREGON – the mountains, the forests, the high desert, the rivers, the lakes, the beach, and the history.
21. Go DUCKS! Football-basketball-track. Enough said.
22. I enjoy reading. Bible, novels, history, business, theology, self-help, nutrition & exercise, and magazines.
23. I am addicted to the Internet. I would be lost without all the information at my fingertips.
24. I am ultra-conservative in the realms of politics and religion. At the same time I can appreciate other people's views and try to understand the presuppositions that got them to their views.
25. In 2004, I started blogging (www.mtngant.blogspot.com) and MySpace[ing] (www.myspace.com/cdgant). I got on Facebook in 2008 and Twitter in ‘09. You can learn a lot more about me by reading my blog.

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2008 Books Read

I have been recording the books I read since 1993, it helps me remember where I've been. In some sense, you are what you read. If you don't read what are you?

Books read for 2008:

1. The New Home Construction Green Guidelines, 2005, p56
2. My Oregon, Bob Welch, 2005, p289
3. 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee, John Fischer, 2000, p164
4. Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, 2007, p390
5. The Cowboy Way, David McCumber, 1999, p337
6. Oregon Contractor's Reference Guide, 2006, p~600
7. The Meaning of a Man, Ronnie W Floyd, 1996, p157
8. The Last Ship, William Brinkley, 1988, p616
9. The Spirit of the Border, Zane Grey, 1906, p274
10. Betty Zane, Zane Grey, 1903, p291
11. Canon EOS 40D Instruction Manual, 2008, p195
12. Wisdom & Wealth, Greg Womack, 2007, p191
13. Thunder Mountain, Zane Grey, 1932, p309
14. Ride the River, Louis L'Amour, 1983, p136
15. The Great House of God, Max Lucado, 1997, p227
16. The Iron Lady, Gilbert Morris, 1996, p320
17. New York to Nome, Rick Steber, 1987, p168
18. Images of America: Molalla, Chapman & Ray, 2008, p127