50 Things About Darcy O’Neil

Ever wanted to walk a mile in my shoes? Probably not, I understand. How about what kind of shoes I like to wear when working behind the bar? If that doesn't interest you, there are 49 other things about me you might be curious to know.

1. I was born in Sarnia, Ontario
2. After grade 8 I moved two blocks away from the beach. Summers were good.
3. In grade school kids liked to pick on me, I preferred to punch them.
4. I failed math in college
5. One side of my family has been in Canada since 1694
6. The other side has been in Canada since the 1840s
7. Both came from Ireland
8. Favorite beer during college: Labatt's Blue, then Guinness
9. I drove a red 1967 Firebird convertible in college
10. The first car I purchased brand spanking new was a black 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT
11. I'm a Liberal with Libertarian leanings -unfortunately I don't believe people will inherently do the right thing.
12. I haven't had a speeding ticket in 10 years.
13. My first real job after school was performing smoke stack emissions sampling - 210ft high, on a metal grate in -15°C.
14. I worked at Imperial Oil Research (Exxon) for 7 years developing engine oils
15. My first bar book, not surprisingly was Mr. Boston's purchased way back in 1992ish.
16. My first attempt at making a Martini - for myself - sucked
17. Favorite breakfast food - fresh fruit, cheese and yogurt
18. Had a website design business in the 1990s
19. I developed a pharmaceutical product that wakes you up in the morning
20. My maximum bench press (3 sets of 8 reps) was 170 lbs
21. I took ballroom dance for 2 years - swing, tango, waltz, foxtrot, etc.
22. At one time I could mountain bike 48 km in a go - but could never run more than a single km.
23. Saw Star Wars twice in the same day the first week it was released in theaters, I was 6
24. I once approached a girl in a bar to say hi, her response was "go away creep".
25. My favorite place on the planet is Algonquin Park
26. I tend to do everything myself - mostly because I like to learn
27. The first concert I ever went to was The Cult at Cobo Hall in Detroit (1990)
28. Culinary weakness: ice cream
29. Culinary repulsion: raw oysters
30. Favorite hangout in college: Kalhoons (or the Happy Valley according to the Visa statements)
31. When I was 17 I received a $53 fine for drinking underage
32. I love Angostura Bitters on good vanilla ice cream
33. I currently work part-time in a histology lab
34. I'd love to open my own distillery
35. I'm a sucker for techno-gadgets
36. I find bonfires mesmerizing and better than TV
37. I canceled my cable TV 2 years ago and don't miss it at all
38. Born a Catholic, but my money is on Buddhism
39. I'm not a big fan of flying, but have often though of getting my pilots license
40. When on a boat or Seadoo I hate seeing sunken ships underneath me
41. I like being a good person, because it is harder
42. I spend to much time reading political news
43. Has a thing for shaving kit
44. Snobbery has no place in my life
45. I've seen The Tragically Hip at least 18 times in concert (started back in 1992)
46. I have two kids, a 2 year old and 4 year old
47. Once yelled at a server, who chastized me about paying taxes on my tips, that "tax evasion isn't a team sport"
48. I'm casual and relaxed by nature but hate laziness in others
49. Named a catfish in my sons aquarium "Gary" after Gary Regan
50. Prefer to have drinks in a quiet bar