by Julian Ignatowski, Sr.
Okay. So you’re probably saying to yourself, “Why the heck 38?” “Why not 10, 21 or 50?!” To be short and to the point…I’m going to be 38 this summer, so I figured I’d use that number…I think it’s rather kind of you to show up and check out my weblog, so I might as well let you in on a few random facts about me. This way you can understand the background of where I’m coming from on my posts.
1.) I was born in the summer of 1973, raised on my parents’ vegetable farm in southern Connecticut, and lived there until I turned 18.
2.) I’m 6’4” but horrible at the sport of basketball. The high school coach wouldn’t leave me alone until the threat of a restraining order my junior year caused him to back down. I have two disorders that have impacted my inability to perform well at this sport: “The dude has two left feet” and “White men can’t jump!”.
3.) My wife and I have the privilege of parenting four of THE BEST KIDS on the planet. Really, I say that with no bias or prejudice whatsoever. If you ever meet them, you’ll agree! <snark> We have the honor of homeschooling them.
4.) I married my best friend my senior year of high school…It was rather controversial. We both knew what we wanted and went for it! This year we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and I can honestly say I love her more today, than I did when I married her.
5.) I LOVE MAYONAISSE!!! Mayo is God’s gift to earthlings….I don’t care what sandwich I am eating, it must always include “extra mayo”. I’ve been guilty of eating it like yogurt. I had to kick that habit after my cholesterol got in the way.
6.) I don’t enjoy topics of discussion that involve biology. Words such as “veins” “arterial” and “blood clots” are my kryptonite. I used to make my lab partner, Suzanne do all the dissections in biology class.
7.) I love to cook. My wife loves it when I cook for her. It’s fun to open up the cupboards and experiment. If I had gone to vocational school, I was going to become a chef and own my own restaurant.
8.) I’m a pretty excellent driver. Love speed…and can drive better in reverse than I can forward. I once chased after a car of friends for nearly a mile on a winding road in reverse and was able to keep up.
9.) At the age of 10, my daughter was diagnosed with a rare pediatric brain tumor. It was the week before Christmas. After much prayer, five months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation therapy she is totally cancer- and tumor-free! She has lifelong health concerns that will need medical attention, but she has beaten this awful disease. Her strength has truly inspired me, and so many others around the globe.
10.) I’m slightly addicted to most social media outlets, especially Facebook and Twitter. Also, there’s this awesome blog called “Customer Service, R.I.P.?!” too. Enough said…
11.) I will be a millionaire before I’m 49! I will I tell you! I will!
12.) I never forget a face…names are another monster. But faces, I will not forget. Seriously, I could be a face recognition system for the Department of Homeland Security.
13.) I pity bigots. I also get pretty disgusted with those among us who are indifferent, uncivil, apathetic and ignorant. These people suck the life out of those around them. Their toxicity is cancerous.
14.) I would love to adopt at least four children. Notice the key phrase “at least”. I want to be a father to the fatherless.
15.) I am super competitive. Honestly, I won’t want to play a game unless I have a pretty good feeling that I’ll win. I know we’re all taught that it doesn’t matter if we win, but how we play the game…well, to me that phrase was put into the atmosphere by someone who has never won before. I play to win. Doesn’t matter if it’s a sport or a card game, I want to win. Friends have stopped coming over to play boardgames with my wife and I because we destroyed them!
16.) I auditioned with a close friend of mine for the realty show, “The Amazing Race.” A lesbian couple was chosen in our place. Could have been so beautiful!
17.) I was a strict vegetarian for 18 years, until we moved down south. It’s hard to live in the heartland of America where BBQ is a way of life!
18.) My father died when I was only 7. I feel for those who grow up fatherless. I think that’s where my passion to have a large family comes from.
19.) My IQ is 143. I love learning new stuff everyday…
20.) I had high hopes of getting around to obtaining six pack abs for myself by age 21….that goal was extended to age 22, then age 25, then 29, 30 and now it’s 39. I need to get this done so I can say I was in great shape before I turned 40.
21.) I’m a strong believer that everyone should develop their own “bucket list”, not so much to endorse death, but to celebrate life. Six things from my growing list include: skydiving; taking ballroom dance lessons with my wife; learning conversational Polish; traveling Europe; swimming with dolphins; and, acting in a movie or TV show.
22.) The violin is my favorite instrument to listen to.
23.) Three of my favorite television shows are: LOST, Dexter and Criminal Minds. I’m also semi-addicted to the news. It is my static noise.
24.) My favorite author is Frank Peretti. This man is amazing. I devour everything he pens. My favorites of his include: The Oath; House; and This Present Darkness.
25.) I’m very intrigued by sharks…too much so. Plus, I’ve watched many movies on sharks. Shhh! Don’t mention this to anyone, but I’m petrified of going into the water. Pools, I will dive into. Beaches, lakes, ponds, and large rivers– it’s not happening folks. Sharks keep me out of salt water. Leeches keep me out of fresh water. I have standards.
26.) I’m guilty of being (and acting out as) the “middle child” of my family. I gravitate towards antagonizing and instigating a lot of trouble among my siblings. But, on the good side, I’m a huge loyalist!
27.) Although I live in Tennessee, I have a sister who lives in Florida, another sister in Arkansas and a brother in Connecticut who happens to enjoy free rent in the prison system. Don’t ask…let’s just say, “Crack is whack!” and leave it at that.
28.) My favorite insect is the dragonfly. Dragonflies not only are gorgeous, but they feast on mosquitoes!
29.) I’ve worn eyeglasses since the 8th grade.
30.) My most recent love is building puzzles. I especially love landscapes of 500-1,000 pieces.
31.) I am a Christ-follower. My faith is the cornerstone of my existence. I begin and end each day in prayer. I mess up all the time, but am thankful that I serve a very gracious, loving God.
32.) I’ve worked since the age of 3 on my family farm. Later on in my teen years, I worked as a cashier at a toy store, gas station attendant, camp counselor, and a customer service representative at a clothier. In my adult years I worked as an executive assistant, self-employed tax accountant, college adjunct professor, CFO of a multi-millionaire dollar real estate firm. Now I am a consultant, blogger, aspiring author and communicator.
33.) I have three cats: Larry, Ellie and Awesome.
34.) My favorite color is green.
35.) I love all things superhero. I am not usually disappointed by anything that DC or Marvel puts out.
36.) I’m a compassionate conservative who believes in the free market enterprise system and smaller government. I do enjoy a healthy dialogue with my liberal-minded peeps. It’s nice to know you’re in the “right”…plus, it keeps the brain juices flowing.
37.) I’ve been delaying saying this one…but, I tend to procrastinate.
38.) I have a penchant for quality customer service. If I’m treated well, I will make note of it and praise you and your company publicly. If you don’t know how to treat me as your customer, I will take names and rant about you on my blog, thus exposing you for your lack.
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