7 Things You Might Not (want to) Know About Me

Posted by on Dec 30, 2008

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So I’ll take a quick break from the 21st Century Literacy discussion to indulge a much less academic call I’ve been given.  I have a follow up post written and incubating clarifying my position on the 21st Century discussion.  I’ll post that in the next couple days, but for now, I’ve been “tagged”.  Angela Maiers was the tagger, and I must now write seven things that you probably don’t know about me and then pass the tag on to seven other people, and if I don’t do it I’ll have a lifetime of bad luck and none of my dreams will ever come true.  Hmm, maybe I’m getting that last part confused with this one letter I got in high school.  Anyway, here’s my list.  Oh, and pardon the picture, it was the best I could find.

1. I was a painter.  Not the cool kind who actually produces a piece of art upon a canvas, but rather the sweaty guy who stands on a ladder outside your house scraping, caulking, priming, and painting.  On days you were lucky, I kept my shirt on.  I did it for 13 years, and I’m glad I’ve moved on. The skill does come in handy, however.  Especially since I might have had to repaint every room in our house at least once due to general color displeasure.  Not my displeasure, mind you, but we don’t need to talk about that.

2. One time, I played in a legitimate wiffle ball tournament.  It would be cool to say I did that when I was in middle school or something, but no, it was two years ago.  I was 30.  I was not the youngest one at the tournament.  We honestly thought going in we had a shot at the title.  My team didn’t make it past the first round.  I’ve never played in two wiffle ball tournaments.

3. I have a bonafide addiction to coffee.  If water could be coffee I could always be happy.  It’s not, so neither am I.  My current bean of choice is Trader Joe’s Smooth and Mellow.  It is both of those things and more.  Try it, you won’t be disappointed.

4. I play guitar and sing for church.  Well, it’s been a while, but I used to.  I miss doing it, and my poor Taylor 414 sits so neglected in my office.  I take it out periodically just to see if I’m as rusty as I remember.  I am.  I can strum for all of about five uninterrupted minutes before my fingers feel like they’re going to start bleeding.  I’d like to get back into playing, and no, I won’t play Free Bird if you ask me to.

5. Of all the random, bet you never knew this types of facts that you’re not really sure if they are true or not, I really, really hate the one that goes, “the average person eats eight spiders a year.”  That information I could have lived quite happily not knowing.  Kind of makes me not like spiders all that much.  Especially if I’m sleeping in someone’s basement, and I know I’m a bit congested, and I’m going to have to sleep with my mouth slightly agape so the spiders can…well, we don’t need to talk about that, either.

6. I keep stopping the starting of working out again.  I’ve tried no less than 10 times this year.  I bought the program, P90X, and it’s a great program, but I lack the gumption to really commit to it.  I did it for three concurrent months last year, and you should have seen the results.  Probably would have made you want to have me paint your house with my shirt off.  Well, probably not, but I did notice a difference when I played golf and softball.

7. I am married to the best woman in the world.  Seriously.  Could anyone else put up with my consistent attempts at poor humor and persistent state of being on some sort of electronic device?  If I’m not on my computer, I’m on my iPhone or Blackberry for work or looking to use someone else’s computer if I lack access to all those.  She’s truly an amazing woman, and I’m not just saying that trying to kiss up.  Honestly, she’s wisely never read my blog.

So that’s me.  I hope I dutifully fulfilled the requirements of my task.  I now exercise my power to tag,

Judi Epcke

Bud Hunt

David Jakes

Andy Kohl

Scott Meech

David Pohlmeier

Dan Rezac

8 Comments

  1. Angela Maiers
    December 30, 2008

    Ben-
    Thanks for playing along! My hubby does not read my blog either-this might explain still being married! I also bought P90X, and loved it when I actually committed to doing it. Motivation was the downfall-it is so hard to get excited about a tape!

    Looking forward to our 21st Century discussions-will be extending the conversation on my blog as well!

    Reply
  2. Paul Bogush
    December 30, 2008

    In #4 “Church” is the name of the heavy metal group you play in right?

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      December 30, 2008

      Well, it’s death metal, actually, but I didn’t want that to be public knowledge. You still have that t-shirt I signed for you at our last concert?

      Reply
  3. David Pohlmeier
    December 30, 2008

    I have completed my portion of your nonsense and have tagged a few more victims.

    Reply
  4. drezac
    December 31, 2008

    I too have completed my task. Although I may have tagged a few reluctant victims, they still are playing along. Let’s hope the new year has you playing your guitar a little more. Music strengthens the spirit.

    Have a happy new year, Ben Grey!

    Daniel

    Reply
    • Ben Grey
      December 31, 2008

      Angela-
      I agree about the motivation factor for P90X, but I honestly did feel like I got in better shape quicker than I have with any other program when I was actually doing it. I’ve sort of started again this week, but I’ve only done two workouts in five days. My goal, at least five workouts a week for the next three months. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks again for the excellent conversation regarding all things 21st Century. I’m very hopeful with the direction of the discussion.

      David-
      Thanks for doing your part. Some outstanding nuggets of you I never knew before. Really, you can’t beat Brandi at darts anymore?!

      Dan-
      Have a happy new year as well, sir. I enjoyed reading your facts, and I did laugh several times. Guess that means I fall into the small slice of the pie chart who gets your humor. I shall go play my guitar right now in your honor.

      Reply
  5. Sheryl A. McCoy
    January 23, 2009

    Sometimes, I read blogs like I used to read the encyclopedia when I was a kid. I go there (to a blog) to learn more about a topic or colleague, then another title catches my attention, so I click on that link and on and on.Today that happened to me when I came to your blog.

    First, I noticed that a colleague wishing you congratulations on the birth of your child (BTW, Congratulations!), so I wondered if you were a teacher.

    I went to your profile and website to learn more. When I arrived at your website, I was impressed by the safety lights picture, so I looked at the blog post. Hmm! Alec Couros! I follow him. So I read that blog and jumped over to Alec’s cybersafety posting.

    Then I went back to your blog and saw that you were also tagged for the “7 Things” meme, as I was, so I had to read that post. Here I am. I have learned alot, bookmarked the cybersafety articles (by both of you) and enjoyed my visit. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Diane Main
    January 25, 2009

    You have both an iPhone and a Blackberry? What’s up with that?

    Reply

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