March 25th, 2010 by John 
in Categories: 
I thought it would be cool to get to know each other a little better. OR, you get to know me, a little better. 
Here are 10 things you probably don’t know about me. I have actually written a series of 3 posts, this one being the first. I will post the others over the next couple of weeks. So here goes…
1. My parents were hippies, not like 1970’s pseudo-hippies, more like “Summer of Love” – counter culture, political, free-thinkers.
2. My 8th grade Spanish teacher recommended I NEVER attempt another foreign language…EVER. – ¿Por qué?
3. Liberals think I’m Conservative. Conservatives think I’m Liberal. I hate labels.
4. I love hot peppers!
5. I earned my BS in Life from the School of Hard Knocks.
6. I was ten years old before I realized not everyone’s mom cut their hair. Who knew?
7. I went bowling for the first time in my life, last month.
8. When I was little, I wanted my family to be just like the Walton’s.
9. My Dad died in 2008 after a long battle with Emphysema, from 40+ years of smoking.
10. After failing out, being repeatedly kicked out and almost dropping out, I graduated High School with the Governors Academic Seal and the Presidents Academic Fitness Award.
So there you have it. My life compressed into 10 bullets. Any comments or questions? Fire away!
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My name is John.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Let’s see. I do seem to remember a VW van somewhere in my past, those darned liberals, I had a math teacher who should not have been allowed to teach, I agree that the hotter the pepper the better, Are you telling me that everybody’s mom “doesn’t” cut their hair?, I have been in a bowling alley before, Have not seen my dad since I was 7 years old and because of this I would not have minded being the Waltons (or at least the Cunninghams), ;o) Take care my friend.
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 6:06 am:
I had a couple of teachers that should not have been allowed to teach! Have you tried habanero peppers? Extremely hot! I’m sorry to break the news about moms and haircuts, I felt the same way!
Did you bowl in that alley? Thanks for stopping by David! 
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David Tamayo reply on March 28th, 2010 5:33 am:
Habaneros I think are supposed to be the hottest. I remember hearing about a bottle of hot sauce shaped like a pyramid. The store that sold it made you sign a liability release at the time of purchase. No, I did not bowl there. It was one of the last remaining bowling alleys in Hawaii. There was a canteen inside that was well known for a certain kind of beef soup. I just have had a problem putting my feet inside of shoes that hundreds of other people have sweated in. ;o) Take it easy my friend.
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Thanks for sharing the “10 things we probably do not know about you”.
Now I know that we both love hot peppers! That’s good you tried bowling. How was the first time? Do you find it enjoyable and a cool sport?
June Zach´s last blog ..A Hot Summer Escapade in Camotes Island
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 6:01 am:
You’re welcome Junezach! Yes, I have a crazy love for hot peppers. I put them in everything, grow them in my garden and am always looking for a new variety. Yes, I liked bowling. My wife used to be on a league, so I was “showed up” LOL We actually have been several times since with some friends of ours. Do you bowl?
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JuneZach reply on March 26th, 2010 12:25 pm:
Very seldom. I’m not really a bowler. I only go out with colleagues and try it for fun and unwinding. Hehe!
JuneZach´s last blog ..A Hot Summer Escapade in Camotes Island
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Seriously, we are twin-like on #s 3, 5 and 8. Most especially # 8. G’night John Boy.
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 5:07 pm:
Haha…that’s too funny Vixen! I love that GEICO commercial where the guys asks “Did the Waltons take way too long to say good night?” I crack up every time I hear it!
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John love the fact that your parents were hippies. At least the right kind of hippies. I have never been in a bowling alley. I go back much further than you do. I hated school except for college where I rode horses all the time. Sorry about your father. My father died of lung cancer after stopping smoking for 10 years. Discouraging, right. Great post. And like someone else said, G’night John boy.
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 7:44 pm:
You always make my day with your comments Marg! Sorry to hear about your father, that is not a good way to go. That is my fear, that I killed myself to quit smoking only to get lung cancer anyway…
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You only recently learned to bowl? Are you some kind of anti-american weirdo or something? I find that very disturbing John and I’m glad you finally did it.
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 7:23 pm:
No bowling = Anti-American? WOW!!! I need to go rethink my life…
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i am feeling very sad to hear about your dad i think you really miss him may his soul rest in peace
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 7:26 pm:
Thanks for the kind words…
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I can relate to much of that. Interesting how some experiences can make a person stronger too, and I despise that are you liberal or conservative b.s.
I think its better just to survey everything and play it cool.
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 7:28 pm:
I totally agree, many of my childhood experiences made me stronger as an adult. Yeah, I HATE all the political wrangling…
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Number 8 is slightly weird. No normal kid wanted their family to be like the Walton’s! I can’t comment though, I wanted to be part of the Addam’s Family!
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 7:30 pm:
It’s a good thing I’ve never set out to be “normal”!!! As my Dad always said, “Normal is a cycle on a washing machine.”
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Ok…probably gonna regret this, but parents weren’t hippies, I was and still am. It’s a state of mind really. That also tells you how old I am. The part I may regret. Oh well. I made and gave away peace necklaces, participated in what started out as a fun peaceful protest; turned ugly and outran teargas. I’m proud of people who are free thinkers instead of blind followers. Glad some of that ran off on my daughter who’s probably your age?
I won a bowling trophy back in day, belonged to several leagues.
I had a couple of teachers who were later arrested so think I’ve got ya beat there. lol
Happy Friday
Sandy
sandy´s last blog ..Spring Yard Business
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 8:10 pm:
The world needs more free thinkers and a whole lot less blind followers. Unfortunately, the sheep seem to be winning! Secret be known, my mom is still a hippie too…
My parents encouraged me to be an individual and steer clear of the sheep…served me well later in life. 
Congrats on the trophy! My wife was on a league years ago and is really good. She puts me to shame.
Yeah, I never had any teachers arrested, that I know of… LOL
Have a great weekend!
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Boy, does that VW bus take me back. I was in San Francisco during the whole summer of love. I came thiiiiiis close to being a hippie, but could never give up my mascara. Good music, good drugs, good times…
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John reply on March 26th, 2010 7:34 pm:
My parents never referred to themselves as “hippies”. They always said “hippie” is just a state of mind. Sounds like you might of been in the right state of mind…
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I can relate to your dad having died of emphysema. My father died of the same illness too in 2006 for smoking at the tender age of 14 onwards.
Oh I love Spanish! I used to have one subject in college and I liked the language. I had known so many vocabularies already and I can construct a sentence. But we never use Spanish language here in our place so my Spanish knowledge got rusted and eventually gone with the wind.hehehe. Happy weekend John:)
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:24 pm:
Sorry to hear about you father. Emphysema is a nasty disease.
As with many things, you must use the language or you will surely lose it!
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It’s sad when teachers discourage kids like that. If one can’t learn the language then he must work extra hard to make sure that the student does learn it! Right?
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:26 pm:
Yes, my Spanish teacher was somewhat of a jerk. In hindsight, I wish he had been a little more encouraging…
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Bloggers who share some important facts about themselves is a gesture that I truly appreciate. It’s like you’re welcoming us into your own house. Thanks for sharing these little infos with us, John. .
Oh how I so much hate my Spanish subject! In fact I almost failed! Grrrrrr!
It’s better late than never. It’s a good thing you were able to try out bowling. I believe it is a good sport.
I am sorry to hear about your Dad’s demise. I know how it feels when one loses a father. My father died 7 years ago because of heart ailment, asthma and hypertension- all caused by smoking at a very tender age.
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:29 pm:
I’m glad you appreciate my sharing some of the facts about myself Lainy.
Yeah, I think we are going to get out and bowl from now on. It was fun!
Sorry to hear about you father. Smoking is a nasty habit…
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Thank you for sharing these things and I agree on the hot peppers thing!
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:31 pm:
Hot peppers are the bomb
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Donde esta el bano y quanto questa?
That’s all I can remember.
Jen´s last blog ..I Saw a Celebrity!
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John reply on March 28th, 2010 8:30 pm:
Where is the bathroom and what? LOL
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Got to love parents who were hippies, so the question is: Is your real name John. Or is it something like Sunbeam or Lightening Bolt?
Second question: Will you go bowling again?
Third and last question: You have to tell us, why you were kicked out of school. Maybe putting hot peppers into peoples PB and J sandwiches?
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:38 pm:
Somehow I ended up with a normal name. I grew up some other kids with hippie parents and they ended up with names like Leaf, Rain and Windy…maybe it depended on the season in which they were born?
Oh yes, we have already been several times since the first time and we plan on going again in the near future! We just have a great time!
I was kicked out several times for smoking, fighting, talking back, you name it. I was a real rebel without a clue…
Funny you should mention the hot pepper scenario. My son brought a habanero to school from our garden and dared another boy to eat it raw…he was almost suspended in the fifth grade.
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I had some terrible teachers, one in particular who told me I will fail at life because I slept though 90% of his class. We all did, I mean only one stayed awake after five minutes of his lecture. The guy was so boring that he fell asleep listening to himself talk. Ah, the good old times
.
How did you like bowling? I have to admit that I can only remember that I went bowling once in my life…
…anyway, thanks for sharing and I know I have been absent with comments as of late. I am really busy and next month will give me a mix of 100 hours work week and plenty of fun along the way
Apollo´s last blog ..Financial reform will ensure the next crisis, not prevent it
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:41 pm:
Ah, I slept through a class or two…
WE loved the bowling…might go again this weekend!
Thanks for stopping by Apollo, always enjoy your comments!
Have fun in the month ahead!
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You’ve got interesting personal stories about you up there. I personally liked the “I was 10 years old when I realized not everyone’s moms cut their hairs”. That makes the two of us. =)
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:43 pm:
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment Reese!
I’m glad to know that I was not the only one getting home haircuts!
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I’m with you one number 5. I wanted to drop out of high school,but stayed in until I got my deploma.
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 10:44 pm:
Yeah Mike, I think life serves as college for many!
I bet you are thankful, as I am, that you stuck it out and got your diploma! 
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Well John – lovely post! I find it fascinating – it’s almost like climbing into a novel. Your schooling system is totally different to ours. We no longer have school diplomas or school certificates – I think they went out in the 1930’s over here. We get nothing if we don’t take exams – then keep our fingers crossed in the hope of getting decent grades. We often wonder why we took exams as usually no matter what job we go in to we have to take more exams. Then just when we think it’s all over our children come home with a battlefield of homework for us to help with and so the circle begins again!
Our politics too are different – our right wing Conservatives would be considered to be left wing in the US and as you know we do have a Liberal party and a Labour party which I suppose are our Democrates.
Last time that the Conservatives won the vote though they seemed to sell everything even the water supply … and we still ended up in debt.
We didn’t see too much of hippies over here except for those on TV but perhaps everyone was too busy having a good time. I used to spend most of my spare time dancing. We had a hop – they used to mix up the dances there and still did rock and roll to Summertime Blues – and no-one has ever done rock and roll if they haven’t spun round full speed to Summertime Blues. Yes I loved it – too!
Polly´s last blog ..The Trap
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 9:52 pm:
Hi Polly, your school system definitely sounds different than ours. No diplomas? I don’t know about taking all those tests!
Your politics sound different but the same all at once!
No hippies? The dancing sounds fun!
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Thanks for sharing these facts about yourself. I can’t believe you never went bowling until recently – lol. I grew up on bowling.
I’m not big on the hot peppers.
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 9:35 pm:
I’m not sure why I never got into bowling? We had fun though and have been several times since!
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What was your hottest hot pepper experience like? Everyone must have a bad hot pepper story to share.
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 9:46 pm:
I once ate raw habanero’s is a salad and after about 15 minutes doubled over in pain and thought I was going to die! Habanero’s are not for sissies!
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Thanks for continuing to let us know more about yourself. Interesting stuff.
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John reply on March 29th, 2010 9:40 pm:
Thanks James! Stay tuned, more to follow!
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