"About Me"

When I was a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, the greatest motivation I ever received was after submitting a crappy essay for a literature class. Although I failed to use footnotes properly and got a B on the paper, my professor scribbled in the corner of the page, “Never stop writing!”

To this day, I am not sure if this was a general philosophy offered to all pseudo-intellectuals like myself, or if it was personal encouragement. I just knew that it made me feel good. It was the best B I ever got in college.

After celebrating my half-century birthday a couple of years ago, I decided to be brave (or stupid) and start sharing my lifelong love for writing with other people. After more than fifty trips around the sun, I felt maybe I had something worthwhile to share, although I wasn’t sure what that might be.

In October I started a website called www.forty-leven.com, devoted to the joy of jotting down life stuff. 

My closest brush with fame came about twenty years ago, when I was selected as a finalist in the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s “Joe Fan” sports columnist contest. All I won was a lousy Star Tribune hoodie, but it encouraged me to keep writing.

I’ve had poetry published in a compilation called A Far Off Place and when I was a senior in high school, a Chinese foreign exchange teacher selected one of my essays to be published in his hometown newspaper (I assume it was translated to Mandarin). All I got was a lousy silk handkerchief.

Still, I felt emboldened to keep writing.

I am passionate about books, music, history, football (American), coffee and craft beer. Most of all, I enjoy observing to the world around me and reporting what I see with a sarcastic, off-color twist. I like writing about life stuff.

My greatest inspiration are my two children--their minds never turn off--and my biggest accomplishment is being married for 25 years (and counting) to a pretty nice gal.

Thank you for taking a moment to get better acquainted with me. Now I will hold my breath, press “Publish,” and hope I don’t embarrass myself.