More than you ever wanted to know about this blogger

How did I get memed?

Chris Marshall says that I'm "it" now (no idea why he picked me), so here are the ground rules (interestingly, I think this is our first meme post at TDA). The rules:

• Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random or weird things about yourself.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

OK, here are the things about me:

1. When I was a kid, I was one of the biggest, most muscular kids in school. Until high school...
2. I never stretch, yet can do the splits cold. I've been able to do that as long as I can remember. My parents used to have me put my feet behind my head and walk on my hands to entertain our guests. A weird advantage when starting martial arts at seven, I guess.
3. I was married at 21, divorced at 24, and am remarried for life with two incredible kids and a wife I don't deserve. I have no regrets at all about that since I had no children with the first wife, and it put me in a place to eventually meet and marry the woman of my dreams.
4. My birthday is on November 27. Some of you will recall that that is also the birth date of someone named Bruce Lee? Coincidence, no?
5. I was on the "official" Filipino TKD Olympic team despite having never competed in Olympic TKD. Strange? Don't think I look Filipino? My dad's straight from Cabanatuan, near Luzon. Perhaps that's why I took up Arnis. My mom's Irish, Scottish, and Welsh genes gave me the white boy look.
6. I like to mix the following foods, which disgusts my wife to no end:
   Macaroni and cheese with ketchup or cottage cheese or peas and tuna. Mmmmm.
   Peanut butter with anything. Anything.
   Rice with almost anything.
7. I have cried (in a manly way, of course), while watching a few movies, including: Seabiscuit, Rocky, Chariots of Fire, Rudy, Invincible, and Gods and Generals. The last one was the worst. If you haven't seen it (very likely, unless you're a Civil War buff), Gods and Generals focuses on the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, a Confederate general from Virginia known for his courage and steadfastness (hence the nickname). Jackson befriends a soldier's widow and takes an interest in making sure that the young daughter (perhaps 6 or 7 years old) receives necessities during those trying times. Jackson and his wife always wanted children, but were unable to conceive. During a lull in a battle, General Jackson is informed by an aide that the young girl has died of a common illness, and loses all self control, breaking down in front of his men at the loss of someone he barely knew, and to whom he had no familial connection. For some reason, the sight of this man, and the thought of the death of the girl made me sob uncontrollably for a while. I was alone, thankfully, when watching the movie. I have children of my own. Perhaps that was the reason...

Anyway, I hope you've learned a thing or two about me, and despite those things, will still consider reading TDA Training in the future.

My victims?:

I am tagging Argonautica of Argos Classic Martial Reprints, Steve of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Steve's BJJ Log, Colin of Traditional Taekwondo Technique Workshop, Marks of Marks Chat, Charles James of Isshin Ryu Karate Bugei, George of Boot to the Head, and finally, John the Dojo Rat.