Meet Benny: 35 Things I’ve Never Told You or Many People Actually – Get Busy Living

Las Vegas Wedding with Elvis

When I first began blogging, I spent so much time about reading how to find my writing “voice”. I wanted to be sure my own personality came through in my writing.

I didn’t want to be fake. I wanted to be authentic. I wanted to be me.

I’m glad when I’ve met online people in person, like I did recently with Marv and Jo from Interpid Motion, and they say that I’m exactly like how I write on my blog. To me that’s a compliment. That means I’m coming across as myself.

But there’s so much more about me that I haven’t shared yet on this blog.

I want people to know who I really am so I can really connect with the people I’m meant to connect with on a deeper level. And the people who don’t can keep looking for their right people elsewhere.

So I’m going to lay it all out there and share 35 things about me. Why 35? Because I just turned 35 on July 21st (gulp).

Hopefully you’ll learn more about me. Maybe we have something in common. Maybe you’ll learn something that surprises you.

I met my wife in a club, and I hate going to clubs. Since I graduated college, I had been to a club zero times. I didn’t have the desire to go either. I was never the type to meet girls at the bar or club. First cause it’s not my scene. Also I was pretty shy around pretty girls. So I think it’s ironic I met my future wife at a club while I lived in Taipei.
I tear up during stupid things. Like commercials, movies, touching new stories, or anything sappy like that.
I refuse to watch scary movies. I hated to be scared. Growing up, my brother or sister would run down the hallway, turn the corner, and say they were going to scare me. I hated that. The last scary movie I saw was The Ring and I got dragged to see that. No more for me.
My best job so far was back in college. I worked as an equipment manager for one season for the University of Florida’s women’s soccer team. As one part of my duties I had to do laundry, but I didn’t mind at all. I got to travel around the country with the team and practice with some of the best women’s soccer players in the country. Too bad I had to graduate or else I would have kept doing it.
My worst job ever wasn’t technically a job. I applied to some marketing job. Sounded cool and I could be my own boss in the future. At that time, I was confused what I wanted to do and tried it. Interview went well so they called me to go work in the field with a couple guys. I wore a tie in the Florida summer. We drove to an older part of town and went door to door selling cable and phone services. This lasted a full day. I hated it. I hate it when people come to my door and sell me, so I definitely couldn’t do this. They liked me so much, they offered me a job a couple days later. I declined.
I like to gamble online. Not poker. It’s football and entertainment events like the Academy awards. I used to bet on American Idol, but my website doesn’t offer those odds anymore. I’ve been doing it probably since I’ve been old enough to gamble. I’m not addicted, but I like the action.
I drive like an old man. As I’ve gotten older, I drive speed limit most of the time. I don’t like going fast anymore and I just think driving really fast isn’t going to get where I want to be that much sooner.
I have no problems watching a movie or eating out by myself. I know some people hate it and say they could never do that. I actually enjoy it a lot.
I’ve taken acting class twice. Once in college for fun and once afterwards. I absolutely loved it. A dream of mine is to be in a movie.
I love to eat great food. When I go out of town, I alway look forward to eating whatever is good. Most of the time we lean towards Chinese food, but I love all kinds. I also take picture of all the good food I eat. Why? Because I like to remember it when I look back.
I have a really bad sweet tooth. It’s my enemy. When I don’t have it, I get withdraws. When I have it, I feel great afterwards but then feel regret. I’ve got to cut back. I’m serious.
Elvis was at our wedding. We decided to not have a huge wedding. It wasn’t for us. We didn’t want to plan anything. Instead we went to Vegas with family, and got married at Graceland Chapel. I almost didn’t agree to a Elvis wedding, but my wife really wanted it. I’m glad I went along for the fun.
I want to be filthy rich one day. Not so I can own a huge mansion or lots of expensive cars, but so I can experience things that money can only buy. For example, fly to outer space for $200,000 or spend a week on Necker Island with close friends. I also would love to put that money to good use as well in a huge way.
I won $22,500 total playing slots in a year. It came from two payouts. The first time was when I was 22. I went with my dad to Atlantic City for the weekend. I was playing the $5 slot machines. I remember I played one machine but it had all these winning paylines and it confused me. I like the slot machines that have one pay line and I know if I’ve won or not. So I moved down two machines to play a Triple Diamond machine. I put in $10 (max bet). Nothing. I put in $10 more and the next thing I know three Triple Diamond symbols show up and the bell is ringing. I hit the freaking jackpot. The attendant came over, congratulated me, asked me if I wanted cash. I said yes. She could have asked,“Do you want to be slapped in the face?” and I would have said yes. I didn’t hear what she said. I was in shock and shaking. So she comes back with $12,500 in cash. That’s a lot of cash for a 22 year old! So I stuffed it in my pocket, walked quickly to the elevators and back to our room. The next time was about a year later when I went to Las Vegas with my mom. The first day we got there, I was playing $10 slots. I lost $100 pretty quickly, and was about to stop. My mom told me to try another $100. I reluctantly did. Few spins later, I won $10,000. This time mom was right AND I asked for a check. But I haven’t had anywhere near that kind of luck playing slots since.
I’ve had three cars since I turned 16. My first car was my mom’s old white Mercedes Benz. Eventually my brother then my sister drove it. I had a Nissan Maxima in college, which I loved. When I started making money after college, I bought a 2002 BMW M3. I still drive it now, but I would love to buy a new car. Maybe something more practical like a Ferrari (my wife not approve).
I once dyed my hair blond. This was on summer break in high school. It actually turned out orange the first time and then I had to do it again. That didn’t work. Bad idea overall.
I’ve never been in a fist fight. I don’t like to fight. I hope I never get into a fist fight.
My favorite dreams are flying dreams. I hate the dreams where I’m running and it’s in slow motion. It’s so frustrating!
I played soccer growing up. That was the only organized sport I played. My dad loved soccer so that’s how I got started. I loved playing it. Played it in high school and in college for fun and with the women’s soccer team. I also broke my ankle in high school playing soccer. I still have a metal plate and six screws in my right ankle.
I love airports. When I know I’m going somewhere, I get excited. I don’t mind the security check or the layovers. Just something about being in an airport that I enjoy. One of the most fun experiences I’ve had flying was back in October 2010 when JetBlue had their All-You-Can-Jet pass for a month. I flew all over the country with that. I hope they bring it back this year (they didn’t last year).
I’m an aisle seat type of guy. I’d love the window for the view, but I’d rather sit on the aisle so I can get up to go the bathroom without asking people. Plus I know I’ll need to go many times on a long flight.
I think I’m a pretty funny guy, but I save my worst funny jokes for my wife. She laughs at most of them or at least pretends. Sometimes I’m the only one that laughs.
I took piano lessons for 12 years. From first grade till I graduated high school. I can still play a little.
I had horrible acne during college. Worst time possible. Hurt the self confidence a lot. I tried everything, but nothing helped. Finally my dermatologist gave me Accutane and it helped so much. Years later I read reports of the serious side effects from it such as depression, psychosis, and suicide. I read some stories of the suicide victims in the news. Sad. It’s not sold anymore because of the many personal lawsuits against it. Luckily, I didn’t have those side effects.
During App of the Week, when I checked my daily sales report, I would dance in my office to Lady Gaga’s The Edge of Glory almost daily. That’s how excited I was. When I hear that song now, it brings back great memories.
I’ve never smoked a cigarette. I hate cigarette smoke. Never tried it. Never wanted to. Even though many of my friends in high school and college did, they’d ask for fun, but never pressured me.
I can’t stand wine anymore. I have never been much of a wine drinker since turning 21. Just enjoyed it on special occasions, but now I can’t. Back when I first met my wife, she had going away party before she went to Sydney. I was invited. We played drinking games. They used red and white wine because there was nothing else. I kept losing. I had to chug. I threw up many times and passed out. I can’t stand wine now, but I got the girl!
I’m more comfortable at home. If I’m out for too long, I get antsy and can’t wait to get home. Home is where I feel safer and can relax. I think that’s from being a Cancer.
I am very ticklish. I hate that because it can be used against me. I’m like Superman when he gets near krypotnite. I’m powerless.
I rarely read fiction books. I didn’t even read Harry Potter and only got through half of the first book of the Hunger Games before I stopped. When I read, it’s non-fiction for me.
I love watching sports. Sports, by far, is the greatest unscripted drama on television. A perfect weekend is watching football all day long on TV. Oh and gambling on it.
My biggest pet peeve is when someone doesn’t say thanks when I hold the door open.
The sound I can’t stand the most is the squeaky sound when styrofoam is rubbing against each other. Just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable. The squeaking sound from markers comes in a close second.
My wife is the funniest person I know. I’m so lucky to have a wife that makes me laugh from things I would never expect. Despite being from Taiwan, her English is very good, and that’s what we speak most of the time, but she obviously doesn’t know every word. For example, during the recent Euro 2012 soccer tournament, I recorded a game that I wanted to watch when we got back home. I didn’t want to check the score online. She said she wanted to check the score on her iPhone. I said okay, but don’t tell me the score! She checks and then asks me, “What does ‘draw’ mean?”
I still feel like I’m 25.

Thanks for reading this far. I feel better about tell you more about me and what you don’t get to see on the blog. If I connected with you, then that’s great. If I’m not for you, then thanks reading anyways. I know I’m not for everyone, and I’m okay with that.

Think about expressing yourself more fully. You’ll connect better with people and you’ll have more fun too.

You can start right now!

I know many of you from your comments, but I don’t really know you. I’d love to learn more about you.

Introduce yourself: write 3 things about you that I didn’t know in the comments below.

Don’t be shy either. We’re all friends here.

I hope you learned more about me and I hope I get to learn more about you.

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