Here is a journal entry I wrote in 2007 in which I express frustration at at a guy who doesn't have any stuff:

"A little before Christmas I helped my mom clean some houses (that's her job) and one of the houses belonged to a man named Barry Fink. Maybe I already told you this story, but Barry Fink is a very overweight man, maybe in his early fifties, and he lives in a small townhome in Pikesville all by himself. In his house he has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, one and a half bathrooms, and a basement. I have never seen that basement, so maybe that is where Barry Fink really comes to life, I dont know, but in the other rooms there is blue carpet (it probably came with the house), linoleum in the kitchen, one medium sized television in the living room which faces a blue sofa (I estimate that it is from 1992, it has a pattern that resembles greyhound seats and also really shiny wooden arm rests, you know?). The point is, NOTHING in the house will give you any clue at all as to who Barry Fink is. No CDs, no DVDs, no books, no photos, no knickknacks, no clothing that is not totally neutral. There's just nothing in the house at all. He eats fucking Corn Flakes? In the living room there is a desk with GET THIS - a calculator and a little pad of paper that says at the top "A note from Barry Fink". There is nothing on his bedside table except for a huge pile of travel size bottles of BOD deodorant spray. The crown jewel of the house hangs above the blue sofa and it is a painting (in a really extravagant golden frame?!) of what I believe to be Barry Fink as a two year old in baby blue overalls and a little white dress shirt, sitting on the ground!!! HOLY CRAP!

Before, I thought he had no interests whatsoever - TOTALLY WRONG. Barry Fink likes college basketball. I know because today he was watching some on his really run-of-the-mill TV. Also, while "dusting" upstairs, I overheard this conversation:

Barry: I just put a new light bulb in there.
Mom: Oh, yesterday I put two new light bulbs in my chandelier, turned it on and both of them were defective, they just turned white!
Barry: Where do you buy your light bulbs?
Mom: I bought these ones at the grocery store, I think...
Barry: DON'T
Mom: Don't buy lightbulbs at the grocery store? Maybe its more expensive, I was there anyway though, I guess...
Barry: DOLLAR STORE. TWO PACKS FOR A DOLLAR.
Mom: That's a good...
Barry: Best price you'll find.
Mom: Although, I bought batteries at the dollar store once and they don't really last as long...
Barry: The light bulbs are good. Sunbeam. I dont think they're Japanese, but I'm not sure...

He hates Japanese light bulbs? Or loves them? Can't tell!

Then I had this conversation, the only time Barry Fink has ever talked to me:

Barry: Are you in school?
Me: I go to community college.
Barry: What do you study?
Me: Oh, I'm just taking some classes. I might transfer, then I think I'll...
Barry: Go into medicine. They always need people in medicine.
Me: OK
Barry: My youngest daughter works down at the hospital now, scrub technician, only a 9 month course.
Me: OK

Also, we had to go to the store to "pick a few things up" and that is why I have this, to treasure always...

Does he like fishing actually or is that the only note pad paper they had? Maybe that design was on sale? Maybe it was a gift? There is no evidence of fishing elsewhere in his home."