Last week I promised I’d be back with the answers to my “four truths and a lie” and here I am, ready to deliver.
Let’s get right into it.
If you guessed #4 as being the fib, you are correct! From the guesses in the comments, only Matthew Murray got it right but nice effort from Rebecca and Mark, too!
Can you guess the lie?
The answer will be revealed next week. Same Fyve Time, same Fyve Channel!
I once L.A.R.P’ed (Live Action Role Played) with actor Bruce Campbell.
I have walked on an active volcano.
My cousin was an original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer.
When I was young, I had a pet snake named Princess Python.
I’ve met pro-wrestling legend Stone Cold Steve Austin, twice.
Now, for the explanations:
1. I did, indeed, “LARP” with movie and t.v. icon Bruce Campbell. It was at an Origins gaming convention, Columbus, Ohio, in a year I don’t remember. Maybe the late 90s or early 2000s? Either way the people from Pinnacle Games were hosting a live-action roleplay of their hit game Deadlands, but with a twist. The hero of this Weird West tale was none other than famous (infamous?) bounty hunter, Brisco County Jr.1 I'm not sure Bruce knew what he was getting into, but he was a good sport about it and nothing but nice to everyone involved. He's also shorter than I thought he would be. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and an experience I enjoy adding to my "geek resume'".
2. I have walked on an active volcano. I mean, it wasn’t erupting or anything, but Mount Etna was (and still is) an active volcano. My dad was in the Navy and got stationed at Sigonella Naval Base in Sicily. When we moved there, we had to wait for housing on the base to open up. Because of that, we temporarily stayed in a town called Catania where we had a great view of Etna. When I was little, I would always hear about how the volcano had an “active side” and a “dormant side”, but never figured out how that worked. I guess it just erupts facing one side as opposed to the other. I don’t know. Anyway, I remember it being quite the sight. My parents still have pictures of it, but since they’re 1,000 miles to the north, I’ll have to just show you an internet pic I found.
But, yes, we did take a few trips up there and it was amazing to walk on. I was obsessed with lava rocks for a while and remember having a giant potato chip can (who remembers those?) filled with them. They made it back to the States initially, but I lost them. Such is life.
3. I do have a cousin who was an original Mouseketeer. While technically my mom’s cousin, Lonnie Burr was one of the original members of the Mickey Mouse Club back in 1955. That would make Lonnie my 2nd cousin (whom I’ve never met), but it still counts!
4. Yes, this one was the lie as I hate snakes. Even if I didn’t, there’s no way my conservative parents from Kentucky would have let me have one as a pet. While probably not on an Indiana Jones-ian level of hate, I’m not a fan of the creepy crawlies. BUT…if I did like snakes and did have one as a kid, the name Princess Python (a Marvel Comics villain) would have been in the running, for sure.
5. And, finally, I have met pro-wrestler extraordinaire Stone Cold Steve Austin on two occasions. The first was at a gym I belonged to when the WWF was in Cincinnati. All the wrestlers stayed at the Crossbow Hotel, which was right across the river in Northern Kentucky where I grew up. There was a Gold’s Gym nearby and a lot of the talent would stop by for a workout before the show. I remember him being a very nice guy who loved to talk about the business. We all chit-chatted while working out. He was also a lifting machine but given his job, I guess he had to be. The second time was at a benefit for Brian Pillman’s family. Pillman used to play for the Cincinnati Bengals before getting into pro wrestling and died way too young, leaving behind a wife and five kids (one of whom is in the business today). There were a ton of big names there, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, and Sunny to name a few. All donating their time to help raise money for Brian’s family. Of course, Steve Austin was there as he and Pillman were old friends and used to tag team together when they were both first starting out in the business. You could get a Polaroid picture with each wrestler for $10.00 a piece so, of course, I had to get one with my “old gym pal” Steve Austin! Again, he couldn’t have been nicer and treated us all like friends. He’s someone who truly appreciated the fans.
So, long story short (too late!), the lie was #4. Thanks for playing along and indulging my stroll down memory lane.
Have you met anyone famous? If so, how did it go?
Until next time—
The character Campbell played in his Fox series, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
Soooooo cool, Mark! Great to read the stories about all five! I’m amused that I’d thought that Princess Python MIGHT have been a lie because the name was so unlikely - yet the exact reverse is true - that name would have been the MOST likely thing about your non-snake!
Loved these two posts - edge of the seat stuff!
D'oh!