I suspect everyone is familar with listing “25 Random Things About Me.” It satisfies two urges you see in a lot of us…list making and trying to think we’re interesting.
Our irrepressible art director, Travis Akard (who is back to wearing two shoes) has all of us at Ackermann doing them. Since I wrote it, I might as well post it. I suspect a number of other Ackermaniacs will do the same.
- I have set foot in 20 different countries, although I have to count Vatican City separately from Italy to hit 20.
- I often wonder what has happened to people with whom I went to elementary school. High school…not so much.
- A surly drunk once held a knife to my throat, although his friends quickly pulled him away.
- I think Teddy Roosevelt understood the use of power better than anyone else who ever lived.
- I am amazed by what I learn about people by reading their blogs.<
- I cannot watch a Frank Capra movie without tearing up.
- My way of telling when I need new glasses is when I realize I haven’t been reading as many books.
- I took three years of Latin. I hated it.
- I’m an Eagle Scout and proud of it, but embarrassed that the Scouts are so anti-gay.
- I’m from Duluth, Minnesota. I almost always mention that when introducing myself in meetings and it almost always gets a laugh.
- I like doing things for other people.
- I truly believe in community service.
- I have absolutely no confidence in picking out clothes. 70% of what I own is black just because I know it will go with almost anything.
- I almost never remember my dreams, which I hate because sometimes I know I’ve had interesting dreams but I still can’t remember them.
- If there are things in the world better than dogs, I haven’t run across them.
- Having lived in Nashville in one part of my career and Knoxville in another, I have lots of friends in Tennessee. My Nashville friends all know me as a journalist, my
Knoxville friends as a bureaucrat. - All four of my grandparents were immigrants. My paternal grandfather walked from Lithuania across Poland to get to a boat to get to the
US. He worked as a laborer and sent money back so his wife could come over a couple of years later. I can’t imagine having that kind of strength and will, but find some comfort knowing it’s in my DNA. - I like to make people laugh.
- I’ve had a beard since 1978, when WTVF-TV in
Nashville moved me to dayside to produce the 6 pm news and I didn’t want to shave in the morning. Now I can’t imagine ever shaving. - I’m more proud of my boys, Ramsey and Graham, each and every day.
- My dad was a newspaper editor and I consider physically reading the newspaper every morning an absolutely critical part of the day. When I was first married we got two papers because I couldn’t stand sharing it or having to read a section out of order.
- Mostly I don’t like reality TV, but I am totally hooked on Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen.
- I love music and wish I could play an instrument, but I can’t. I’ve tried.
- I have always loved to work. My employers seem to like that quality.
- I am Jewish. One of my closest friends in the world is Palestinian. It makes me hopeful.
