8 things you probably don't know about me

Without fanfare, here we go!

1. I have 16 years of Catholic school education. That was enough to push me into Agnosticism. I can still remember many of the Latin responses as an altar boy. I wanted to go into the Catholic prep seminary, Quigley H.S. in Chicago, but my wise mother blocked that.

2. I gravitated to individual style sports in high school: golf, swimming, bowling. I was pretty good at all of those but that may account for the fact that I've never worked in a team environment. I've been self employed most of my life selling insurance and Little Debbie snack cakes and loving the Internet since 1998. My wife is jealous of the Internet. ;)

3. I owned a McDonald's restaurant a long time ago. I also drove a Checker Cab in Chicago, waited tables and went to DePaul Law school but dropped out after a couple of months. I realized I didn't want to study books any more. I wanted to write one. I knew a very successful woman who said to me "Why do you want to be a lawyer? We hire lawyers!"

4. Six of my seven children were born at home. I have nine brothers and sisters. My mother had 10 cesarian sections. I was the first. We were all bottle-fed. So much for natural parenting from my own parents.

5. I met my wife on a blind date. We went to see the horses at a harness race track near Chicago. She laughed when I spilled mustard from a hot dog on my crotch.

6. I once solved the Jumble newspaper word game from start to finish in 22 seconds. I did not use a pencil but did it in my head. Too bad I can't get paid for that talent.

7. I ran for public office and held the position as a library board member for 10 years. No one ran against me the first time I ran. Later I had opposition but I kicked butt at vote time. That's the power of incumbency.

8. If given the chance to go back in time and relive my life, I would take it! It's not that I regret what I've done. Not at all. I picture myself as successful. Some would disagree. I don't believe in the idea "He who dies with the most toys wins". That is hogwash.

Greg Cryns