Opinionated Man

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I was born in Pusan, South Korea and was left on a street when I was 3 years old. I was adopted and lived my early childhood in Jackson, Mississippi which was… interesting. I moved to Memphis, TN around the first grade and although similar in some ways, Memphis was very different in others. My adopted parents are white. My mom is a writer and my father is a doctor, I have an adopted sister who is Korean as well, and I have a white adopted brother. I am the middle child.

I grew up playing competitive soccer, golf, and gymnastics. I hate baseball so I guess I will never be “American.” Something about small hard objects being thrown at my face does not appeal to me. I was never tall enough when I was younger and did not get picked often to play basketball. They would say “we will takkkkkkeeee… Cindy!!!” “DAMMIT!!!” Growing up with all white friends and black school mates was a bummer because I was generally in the lower 25% in height and weight. A fact that was readily apparent in physical altercations, but I will say that I gave as good as I got. I grew up white which really is the simple truth. I didn’t even eat Asian food, and yes I say Asian here because I wasn’t Korean at the time.

I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and quickly went from a good student to a below average student. Mainly because for some reason to do well in school you have to attend class, a concept that passed me by. I did not do well in college mostly because of anger at my birth mom, which I discovered in 2000. I still have not met her or talked to her and she has kept me from ever meeting my older sister, whom I didn’t know existed till 2000 as well. It took me 12 years to move past that. I still like soju though… so at least I have a comforting companion.

I enjoy writing, poetry, history, animal shows, ESPN, a few regular shows, and I also LOVE Anthony Bourdain. If I could meet him I would, he has inspired me in many ways. I would also love to meet Robert Jordan, W.E.B. Griffin, and Raymond E. Feist, my three favorite authors. Unfortunately I will have to wait a bit to meet Jordan, RIP we will always miss you Robert. Your light still shines.

Currently I work in information technology under the yoke of Corporate Rule… but maybe one day I will be able to be a real writer. Right now I do not consider myself a writer at all, in fact I would say I am an amateur pretending to be a writer. I will accept the title of blogger though, that I suppose I have earned. I enjoy scotch, 12 years or even older if I can afford it. Famous Grouse is my favorite brand because it is cheap, but if I could drink Macallen every day I would. Unfortunately my Crohn’s keeps me from drinking too much of that, probably a good thing.

What else… this is beginning to sound pretty frivolous. I like debate and I admire conviction and passion in anyone. I dislike people that throw facts around without basis, or that try to validate themselves by throwing up hypothetical statements. That to me is the most annoying thing ever. I guess I am more human than I thought.

I currently live in Colorado with my wife and two daughters. It snows here. I hate snow. Anyways, that is pretty much me.

This blog was created January 3rd, 2013.

Jason C. Cushman

-Opinionated Man

@smokendust

aopinionatedman@gmail.com

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2,011 thoughts on “Opinionated Man”

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  6. Thanks for follwing my blog. You have a really interesting story there – I look forward to reading more. Wishing you all success in your moving and inspiring life! (Like you, I seriously have to limit the scotch – wish I could drink it more often!)

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  7. One thing in common is that I hate throwing facts around. I actually hate giving facts about myself (as I just admitted in my today’s post actually – how spooky!). As for not being picked for basketball, believe me, you haven’t missed THAT much! Being so tall, I kept being harassed into playing it, and I absolutely hated it. As I hated playing volleyball and handball, for that matter. But that’s just me: don’t mind the idea of a ball thrown at me that much, but can’t cope with running and getting elbows digging into my body!

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  8. i had thought my story was interesting until i read yours. If you are a believer may your god lay blessing upon you and your family…

    Yes, i do have many different opinions, however they keep tell to be quiet!

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  10. I read your story life by accident, and I liked, because I identified myself in some aspects of your story. You don’t need to be adopt to feel bad or rejection of your parents, in my case my parent was like a military with me, all the time wonded me with bad words: “I’m stupid, I don’t think because I’m girl”….and more words I did not end up naming, I endured psychological abuse for many years, until I can leave my house on my own, reading your story, I think, I wished my parents had been wiser in life and they had abandoned me and maybe my time in a foster family could be better….but I know too that you need to be very lucky to have a very nice foster family or biological parents.

    I didn’t talk to my parents 12 years ago, but I was living all the time with the trouble about why my parents were a shit with me?, but one day I decided to change the things in a way…well if they were a shit I will don’t be like them, I will forgive them and I will start to speak again with them…and so on I left behind my past and I’m more happy….is far from being a united and loving family….but at least we only say hi and it is enought for me.

    And your writing is honest so I read everything hugs.

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  12. Hi Jason, your story is touching me. Thanks for sharing us that, you know? Many true stories we read, many things we learned, right? Maybe I can ask something related with IT someday, lol.
    By the way, thanks for stopping by at TSeiha and following us. Cheers.

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  15. I am a beginner blogger..I haven’t come across many blogs that catch my eye, but I love hearing your words and I enjoy your humor. Any personalized tips to grow my traffic and grow my blog? Thank you for taking the time to reply!

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  20. Hi, Thanks for the follow! Sounds like you’ve had a rough life. I’m happy you’ve done so well with yourself. That’s a rough road to manage little lone master. Good for you! I’m going to snoop through your blog and see if I can’t find something that offends me. That way you can cross me off your list. ;D

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  22. Hi! Thanks for the follow. 🙂 your blog is unique. When I read this page I thought ‘Yikes don’t mess with him’ hahahaha. But you do have an amazing way of expressing your self. Good luck!

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  30. Thanks for your follow. I hesitantly decided to follow you. I decided that I am looking forward to getting offended. Then I can practice zen and the art of whitty comebacks and taking it like a man!

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  34. So, I’m here, like what, 2 years late? No worries.

    Great blogs from whatever I’ve read. Enjoy them! I wish I found more time to read and write, and maybe one day I will. Right now, school’s killing me as it is. The usual drama of attending classes passes me too.

    Nice story too!

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  39. I’ve never seen snow. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
    Anyway, love your blog! Glad to see someone, even with a career and a family, to be so dedicated to their blog.

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  40. Thank you for following me and I am now following you. I really appreciate your personal statement and your biography is very interesting. We have crohns in the family too (two relatives), very severe in one case. I hope my daughter doesn’t have/ develop it. It can be passed on, but hopefully that will not be the case with your family or with mine.

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  42. I’m a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain and Raymond E. Feist and I also work in IT, though not under corporate yoke. Switched to small companies in 2012 and glad of it. Stopped by to say thank you, I got a lot of new followers after your blogger bio sharing post. You got a lot of karma points from that, can’t thank you enough!

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  43. Thank you for following my blog! I am checking out yours and you seem to be a power-blogger. I especially liked A Blogger Evolution. You seem to know a lot about blogging.
    I’m just curious, how did you find my blog? I just started it and it says I’ve had no visitors, but somehow you were able to follow it. I’m just wondering how in the heck you found it then!

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  49. I admit I never got around stalking your blog from end to end, and I regret I left it so late! Your blog is amazing. Right from the design to the way you have opened it up to your readers is outstanding. And the fact that you are so generous about it as well!

    Going through your older posts, your About page and the welcoming way you have responded to almost every comment you have got is commendable. I don’t think I’d have that kind of patience. Kudos!

    What I noticed is that such massive following and views haven’t gone to your head at all. No sign of over-the-top pompousness (it is well within acceptable limits!) and callous assumptions. Your comments and responses are as lucid as your earlier one. Which I really admired – you have grown as a blogger but retained the very essence your started out with.

    So, I guess I don’t know where I am going with this. So I bade farewell! Looking forward to more opinionated posts and perhaps a disagreement here and there 🙂

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    • Still, it was a thoughtful comment and I appreciate you taking the time to say all that. I don’t let “it” go to my head, because “it” doesn’t pay me anything and I still do this for free after two years lol. But it has been an amusing ride. 😉

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  55. Hi Jason!

    Hope you’re well! I wanted to first of all thank you for being a subscriber to my blog!

    I’m reaching out to you to let you know about some changes to my blog site. A couple of months ago, I moved to a self hosted site. While the link remains the same and I could move all my subscribers over without a hitch, I just found out that my WordPress followers like yourself would have to visit my new site and resubscribe to it if you wanted to keep receiving email notifications every time I posted (which I’m hoping you do!).

    I just wanted to bring this to your attention. I’m reaching to all my lovely fellow WordPress followers because I’ve loved the interaction I’ve had with all of them even if it was just a plain old ‘like’!

    Have a great day and enjoy your winter break!

    Best,

    Sujatha

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  57. Awesome blog. I will be playing catch up but thanks for the follow. I’m an aspiring writer myself, eagerly waiting for my first publication to be released. Stay blessed!

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  59. Thank you for following my blog. (: I’m a Korean American myself, still struggling with the concept of home. Looking forward to keeping in touch.

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  62. Hey, thank you for being my follower. You have an in interesting blog :-). And i love snow even though i came from a tropical place to U.S. Don’t know just can’t explain why?

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  64. Thanks for checking out my blog! My kids are also adopted–they’re blackish-brown (that might offend someone) and the mister and I are white. So, issues, right? Your bio got my attention and then it just made me laugh. Really. I read it out loud to Mr. Beasley. And then I had to laugh at myself because I did that stupid white American thing and nearly said aloud to the screen, “Korean? Hey! I know some guys from Korea!” As if I need to get y’all together for a dinner party or something. I’m looking forward to reading more. Thanks again.

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  65. When I was in the U.S. Army, I was stationed at a base near Pyeongtaek, South Korea for a year. I also was stationed at a base in Colorado Springs, CO which is where I met my husband. You have a very interesting blog here. Good luck on your future endeavors. By the way, thank you for the follow at my blog.

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  69. What a story. You are so blessed having a wonderful white parents.

    Me too.. I love to write.. But I consider myself a writer.hehe.. I believe being a writer is being true to yourself. Writing from the heart not from what people will say about you..

    I am an Asian and I ate a lot of Asian foods… haha..

    Again I love you Bio…Inspiring one.

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  72. I bumped into Opinionated Man via the suggested blogs thingy. Your mission of offending everyone at least once is laudable. We all need to be humbled sometimes in life. Thanks for sharing what you do here and I look forward to reading more. Laters!

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  73. Howdy! I wanted to let you know I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! If you would like to see the nomination and participate, you can check it out here. http://unchainedemporium.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/one-lovely-blog-nomination/ You should definitely stop by and read the post script. I’m so tired of the naysayers trying to bring you down because they didn’t read your disclaimer. Or maybe they did but they just feel inclined to argue? Whatever… I still think you deserve an award. There’s something to be said for being straightforward!

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  76. Thanks for the follow. Loved reading your bio, not at all what I expected. I also have a passion for malt whisky. My favourites are 10 year old Jura and a 16 year old Lagavulen. Look forward to reading more in the future

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  81. Mr. O Man, what an amazing life you’ve had from South Korea to growing up in the Deep South. I am white and grew up in Arkansas, but attended a formerly all-black school when the Supreme Court *finally* enforced integration by busing students to different districts. One of my junior high school friends was a recent immigrant from the Philippines. Our clique was the “misfits.” I’m short, too, and one of my posts mentions Anthony Bourdain’s recent episode on Iran. If I could *do* a sport, it would be soccer. So now you’ve got me thinking I should try some scotch… 🙂

    Thank you for following my blog.

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  83. Find your feelings on adoptions intriguing
    Since I spent most most of my early life wishing I’d been adopted and hoping I wasn’t related to my family. Unfortunately I saw myself in them everywhere I looked, so I had little expectation of salvation. I held them responsible for every thing I didn’t like about myself and everything wrong in my life. Funny how that works.

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  84. Mr. Opinionated, thanks for following me! I’m new to the blogging arena so we’ll see how it goes, but perhaps knowing that people out there, like you, might be interested in what I have to say is good motivation to keep it up! I’ll be checking out your site for all the things that pop into your head about the world. Interesting take on things so far, I like it!

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  85. Hi OM/Opinionated Man, thanks for following me over at The Waxing Poetic Project. I too, feel the very same way about baseball. Looking forward to reading your some more of your humorous posts. I really liked your list about who should not read your blog – clever! 🙂

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  88. Hey thanks for following me, that made my day. I just started my blog this week. Hope all is well with you, looking forward to reading more…

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  91. This comment is about me, since I “and 999 other bloggers liked this”. I am therefore awesome. I’m number 1000! This has never happened to me before, and I hope I win something bad for me, like a Mars Bar.

    Oh, and your blog is pretty good. Mine sucks. I have no time for it anymore. Which is why I’m here, making better use of my time begging for Mars Bars. Begging versus blogging. It’s kind of the same thing, anyway.

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  92. Thanks for visiting and following my blog. You talked everything with open heart in about page. God has his own plan for every person. Trust in him and believe that whatever he does is good for you. Best wishes.

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  95. I’m sorry to hear what your birthmother did to you. Did she intentionaly do that or what? Do u know why? Most birthmothers love their children very much. I am a birthmother and it hurts my heart to hear this story. I know God has a plan for your life and I hope you can someday can heal over this and find forgiveness. I also was abandoned by my father but that is another story. Ive been reading some of your blog and really enjoy your humorous, straight forward style.

    Rhonda

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    • Sticking my nose in here. If Korea has the same population issues as China, she could be working under the impression that she “saved” her son, or worse. He “died” so that she could preserve the older child. I have heard of Chinese mothers doing this, because they are only allowed one child. Occasionally, though, the families will run short on funds. So, having a second child that “dies” gives them a chance to “adopt” the child, and get a little extra money along the way. (Reprehensible, I know, but it is still done.)

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      • Well that’s horrible. What if she just lost him in the crowd? Maybe for reasons we don’t understand she had to leave him there. If it were me I’d search for the woman and confront her and demand an answer. It would torment me forever to not know why.

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  98. Holy guacamole, Batman. That was the most epic Author Bio ever. For a minute I thought you were gonna go all anonymous on us, but then at the end — BAM! — your real name. That, to me, is conviction. Get to it, Opinionated Man. You have a new fan.

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  99. Thanks so much for following me at Spark.Twinkle.Shine! You’re putting yourself out there– it’s such a gift– Wishing you many blessings and true connection as you let your light shine–

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  100. Nice bio. I can’t say that I relate completely.. but I’m Asian too and totally “Americanized”. My brother and I joke that we’re bad Asians. 🙂 Looking forward to following your blog.

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  101. This is ace! Love the blog and I am very impressed (and not at all jealous) with the success you have had – more people follow your blog than will ever look at mine. Ever!

    Will follow but only on here because otherwise it would be weird plus I live in the UK so I can’t afford the airfare.

    Soph

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  105. Thanks for following another one of my blogs…but they are all still me…it made me laugh to see OM following NtouchAlecoute (my workshop site) cos you probably follow soooo many…take it easy man…like a post here and there…you don’t hve to follow so many…hope you are well as well as your wife and girls…glad to read you took the weekend off…good:) be well, Cheryl-Lynn aka Oliana

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  108. LoL OpinionatedMan, I must have annoyed you many times because when I write a good debate post I love throwing in the hypotheticals and arguing on both sides. Conversely I always enjoy your comments. I also feel you are very generous offering other authors a space to advertise their novels. Well done, Idk if you are too American to “do” karma but you created yourself some brilliant ones there.

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  114. Hey Jason! I’m sharing the love forward from Jeanine Lebsack (Jsak1’s Blog) – I know I’m but one of a kazillion people who have visited your blog, but I gotta say I love your About page… tangential, chatty, touching and funny. Sounds like the perfect combination for a follow! 🙂 It is lovely to meet you out here in Blogland – Mother Hen

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  118. I enjoy your blog and wanted to let you know I have nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’. There is no obligation on your part, but I would be happy if you accept it. Here is the link to my post with rules of this award: http://bit.ly/Zol9ar. Thanks for your inspiration and for having a “lovely” blog.

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  121. Hi, what it wrong with frivolous? Frivolous is good! Life is too short to take seriously love your bio and I reckon you are already a writer. I was a corporate lawyer for years least ways that was my fancy dress costume inside there was always a writer – just took a few years before the costume got too suffocating and I discarded it in favour of writing full time. Feels great and thanks for following my blog which is me developing my craft. Power to the Pen!

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    • Frivolous is only bad if it is a waste of time. To a Korean, that is a sin. 😉 I appreciate the visit. I actually wanted to be a lawyer, but it just didn’t seem a safe gamble by the time I was “serious” about school. Oh well, other dreams right? 😉

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      • Like i said before in another blog iam not kind. I just saying the truth. And yes reality is harsh but thats life, with ups and downs and i hate snow me to.

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    • I can really appreciate your story. We have an adopted daughter from Bangalore, India. She became a part of our life when she was seven. Watching her grow up was a real learning experience for us. A few years ago she went to India for a month with friends and they visited Bangalore. She didn’t want to look for her mother or brother (who is the same age as our bio son). I grieved that choice a little, but it was hers to make. She’s married now with three beautiful boys. I think your voice needs to be heard. So keep pushing to get lots of words out!

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  124. I love this! I was surprised to see something happened where I was no longer following your blog, which by the way is one of my favorites. Sadly you’re not the first person I experienced this with. I had to go and re-follow another one of my favorite blogs. Anyways….so glad I visited your blog today otherwise I would have never known I wasn’t following you anymore. Love your bio. I enjoy seeing you from time to time on my blog as well. I don’t visit as much as I’d like to because of health reasons but I will try and do better in the future. Keep doing what you do. Glad to be back in your opinionated world. Take care!

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  128. Hey Opinionated Man! I am enjoying a little browse around your site as I like your writing and your ‘tude’ makes me chuckle! Except for when your opinion makes me bristle 🙂 I am a depressed woman btw but I promise I’ll never write to you again ;), I agree we shouldn’t congregate…Thanks for amusing me this evening with your opinionated spillages, you have yourself a regular reader (and I do read as opposed to having a ‘like button’ spree)…Luv Dawny 🙂

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  132. Hi! 😀 Thank you for following my blog! I’m still new to this world of blogging and still learning. I like the way you told a little of your life story here in About page. It’s honest and it makes me smile for some reason 🙂 Again, thank you and good luck!

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  133. A wonderful introduction. You had quite a start in life. However you seemed to have made it to adulthood well enough so apparently someone did something right. If you were loved and cared for with that love then you have much to be thankful for. I think you are a wonderful writer. Take it from me, growing up in any family is not easy unless of course you are an only child. Imagine growing up in a family of six children with poor parents and winding up as a middle child. Then add being raised in New York to the package. Love your sense of humor and your little one’s are beautiful. Great blog!!!

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  141. Great Bio and adorable daughters! I know what you mean about not calling yourself a “writer.” I have run a couple marathons and several half marathons and I still hesitate to call myself a “runner”…….probably because I’m fairly slow.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog – I look forward to following yours. I already can already tell I’m going to enjoy it – I love your writing style:)

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  143. Love your blog and bio …superb..Thanks for stopping by at codingarsenal.
    Man you write a lot 😀 ..Now i am pumped up too 🙂 How do you manage it with work load and writing stuff .

    Regards

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  145. Thanks for stopping by SwanneReflections and following me. This is my newest blog. You might enjoy SwanneSong: Views From the Edge, my ‘soap box’ blog. I also write about my travels at The Traveling Alchemist, since 2008.

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  147. Fabulous bio! I’m sorry you have Crohn’s and that you live in CO & don’t like snow, but am impressed with how well you’re doing despite a significant challenge (the former.) However, from your bio you are no stranger to adapting to challenges, which I deeply admire. Thank you for following my blog.

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  149. nice intro 🙂 nice to have met you. I have colitis, but I’m Muslim so I don’t drink. still, I have to watch my greasy food intakes which make it difficult because I can’t cook and have to run on fast food. plus I’m of indian descent so that doesn’t make it any easier. theres LOTS of oil in their food. thanks for the follow. I’m starting a writer group which you may like to be a part of, if not, check out my writing site: http://marimimiwriting.wordpress.com/. have you thought of self publishing with lulu or have a copy of the writer’s market?

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  156. I want to thank you for visiting my blog and following me, it really made my day for you to be my first follower. And even that alone would be bough cause for me to follow you too. But after reading a few of your posts, I don’t think it’s enough just to click the “follow” button.
    I truly enjoy reading your blog. Some of your posts are very funny, and others give genuine advice on hard subjects. But I always feel like I’m in the room listening to you; you have an incredible author’s voice. And for the record, after reading your blog, I don’t care if you haven’t been published yet–I certainly consider you a “real writer.” And again, thanks for taking the time to check out my blog too!

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  157. Thank you for checking out my blog and subscribing! Not even going to lie, you made me feel special after seeing how big you are on WordPress! I enjoyed reading about you as well as some of your posts, very interesting! I look forward to reading more!

    -Megan Panwar

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  158. Loved your bio but most of all your honesty. Thanks for coming over to read some of my words. I grew up thinking my mum was my mum but she wasn’t. Just the other day I found out she was my sister the whole dynamics changed inside but I am who I am with or without them and God loves me this way so that is okay. That’s my passion. I’m glad you like blogging so do I. I smiled because I love the snow and miss it don’t get much of it where I am. It doesn’t matter if your only an amateur writer they are the best I think the only motive is just writing the bonus if someone reads it. Gods blessings to you and your family. jacqui x

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  159. Reality indeed can be harsh…I really enjoyed this honest and detailed bio, thank you for sharing it with us! I look forward to reading your work!

    Also a massive thank you for stopping by my blog and following my “fruitless” journey!

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  160. Hi Jason, I love the genuineness in your voice. You are loved because you are that – genuine. Thank you for the follow! and I look forward to reading your posts regularly. Regards

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  162. I find this all very interesting, in the vast sea of the internet your blog was suggested to me and I find out that we likely grew up near each other and went to the same college at the same time. Go Big Orange. Maybe WordPress is just creepy like that.

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  164. Reality can be brutal, but also kind. I think all of us are part of that reality and we make of it what we choose. Looking at your smiling face, it seems you have done much good with your reality. Thank you for following my poetry blog. You can also visit me at: http://kanzensakura.wordpress.com kind of a South meets East mishmash. I’m sure you couldn’t relate to that, grin! I hope you will visit often and feel welcomed.

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  167. Great post! You say you are not a writer, but I think you are because your bio paints a picture (a vivid one), one that drew me in and kept me interested until the end. It also left me wanting more. Continued blessings to you and your family! 🙂

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  169. Thank you so much for following my tiny blog 🙂 Reading through some of your posts and your bio, I had to follow you as well because of your outlook and honest writing style! Just reading your posts makes me feel a little happier, and honestly makes me want to better myself! Thanks again!

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  170. Thank you for following my blog. Reading your About page is inspiring. I too grew up in a place where I was a minority and always picked last or not picked at all for anything. Never stopped me from having a good time though.
    To be honest, I didn’t think of putting a personal history; maybe I should. 🙂

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  171. Hey Jason, just so you know I was born in the United States, but totally by mistake. I was supposed to be born in Wales but popped out a month early while my mother was here in the States and really messed up my her plans to return. We came back to the USA in 1950, (yup I’m an old guy) and I never did care for baseball, I think because at the time we didn’t have it in our School. However; it makes no difference, baseball, nor any other activity defines who you are, nor does it alter the fact that you’re an American. Just take look at me dude. 🙂 Oh yeah, I can’t stand football either. But that’s another story.

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  176. Thank you so much for following my blog. I love that you are helping our species find the humility and compassion that we so desperately seem to lack these days… by insulting them in a humorous and intelligent way. You give me hope for the future. Rock on you awesome dude!

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  180. I totally love how you intend to “offend everyone in the world at least once”! This is so required. People are suddenly so much more vain, haughty and intolerant to imperfections. They pretend to be always nice and squeaky clean. That doesn’t leave much space for unpretentious souls to survive without fear.
    And everyone is “bad” at some point or the other. (Well, the distinction between good and bad is so subjective anyway! )

    Let the enriching, offensive thoughts whip and flow!

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  182. Jason, your about page is fascinating. I look forward to reading your blog. Thanks much for following mine. Someone recently told me it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at anything. I’m sure both of us have spent at least that much time writing…

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  188. Jason, thanks for the visit and follow! Enjoyed reading your inspiring bio here, and I appreciate your straightforward style of writing. Like you, I also work in corporate IT right now but aspire to be a writer. All the best wishes in your journey, and I look forward to reading more from you!

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  189. This is the most amazing self intro i have ever read. You give the feeling of someone who survived great tragedies with grace and emerged stronger than before. I don’t know you personally but i want you to know i am really proud of you. My birth mother is a malignant narcissist and i grew up without love. It makes me happy to hear that you have 2 families who love you: the ones who adopted you and the one you created. It shows that there is hope and light for every one of us. Your writing moved me. This is what it takes to be a real writer. Changing the world for the better with your words as a sword. You are one already. I am looking really forward or reading more from you.

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  192. Thanks for the follow. You’ve earned mine in return. I like your style, putting your mind out there with no regrets. I think that’s what makes a writer, one who speaks from the heart unapologetically, and sometimes poetically–if he gets lucky. Don’t doubt yourself; you are very much a writer.

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  193. Hi there Jason, thank you for following my blog and giving me an opportunity to visit yours. Your bio is as frank as your posts. 🙂 Wish your blog continued success.

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  194. an visual artist friend of mine and i had a go around about what label to apply to myself when conveying information about what i do. i have always played the humble role about the fact that writing is what i do …. and i do it 4-6-8 or even more hours a day. i could get up, start writing and write until two o’clock in the morning which i do when i go to my cottage in northern michigan and am alone for days at a time. so, when people asked what i do i always said, “I write,” rather than say, ”i am a writer.” my reasoning is, who am i to say i’m a ‘writer’? i’ve never been published. a few people follow my blog. i’m not recognized in any context of writing.” yet she persisted with her argument. finally i realized that, writing IS what i do. it’s what i love to do. it’s my life, actually. i can’t NOT write. it’s something i am COMPELLED to do no different than van Gough or any of the authors you indicated who are your favorites. i WRITE! therefore …. i am a WRITER! being able to ‘define yourself’ is maybe the voyage we are all on in this world. in my case i clarified a big aspect of who i am …. Coming to this realization has liberated a certain aspect of myself that was in many ways holding me back. Hey …. i’m a writer! any artist who is compelled to follow the path of their work … COMPELLED to follow their artistic drive … is an artist. i am a writer because i have a passion for writing and because I have come to that realization know myself with more clarity. so … cut the bullshit! you have a passion for writing. define yourself clearly and take pride in who you are! who ARE you? you are an artist whose medium is writing. you are a WRITER. ks

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  202. Heyyyyy again 😀 !!! I have nominated your blog for the Liebster Award ☺ I Hope you accept this award, and I wish you a wonderful day ❤

    You can see my post here
    http://relaxyouarewhereyouaremeanttobe.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/a-liebster-blog-3-exciting-times/

    This link gives the details of the Liebster Award:

    http://wordingwell.com/the-liebster-award-the-official-rules-my-first-blog-award-and-a-few-personal-secrets-revealed/

    And here’s a link explaining how to showcase the award in the sidebar on your blog:
    http://dawnyhosking.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/adding-a-widget-to-wordpress-sidebar/comment-page-1/#comment-2679

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    • I disagree with the “Harsh” part. Reality is what it is. Sometime it is what we make of it and sometimes we have no control over it. But as I read through your bio, I can see that there were harsh realities in your life but you also had blessings as well. They may not seem like it to you but had you stayed on the street, your life would have been very different – which would have been much harsher than what you wrote about. It is too bad that your birth mother refuses to meet with you, but that could also be a blessing. Perspective is everything. And that, my friend, is totally up to you. It is a struggle inwardly and emotionally and intellectually. But as you look at your children, does it bring you some sense of peace that you did get adopted and had a totally different life than you may have had should you have stayed in Korea? My story isn’t the adoption story that you have but it is a complicated one that caused a lot of bitterness, confusion, decision that were made that effected my life that I had no control over and yet I was the one who was caught in the middle of a mess that I couldn’t manage to understand because I didn’t have the whole story. Things are different now, but I’m older, I’d like to think I’m wiser than when I was a young adult, As you watch your children grow up, you will be able to heal parts of your inward wounds. As parents, we make mistakes. You will and hopefully they will be small ones and you will learn from then and reflect on them.

      May God bless you in Jesus’ Name,
      Rhonda aka nanarhonda

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  207. Hello!
    Thank you for visiting and following my blog! I appreciate your interest and thoughtfulness. I enjoyed reading your Author Bio–it’s fascinating! 🙂
    Thank you again, and best of luck to you!
    Crystal

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  209. Thank you for following me, otherwise I might never have found your gem of a blog. I love your writing style and your tone is just really genuine. Looking forward to reading more posts from you 🙂

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      • I referred of course to the country of your birth – the one where you live is NUTS!! However, it seems that the circumstances of your arrival via Venusian in the country of your birth weren’t exactly ideal and it sounds as though, (despite the anger), you have thrived well in the adopted Nuts country. I’m English, played Rugby at school; I was excellent at it and loved the rough and tumble of it; but hated Cricket and, like you, hated that little ball being thrown at my face – you can’t hurt little balls being thrown at your face, they tend to hurt you. You went West and I went East. Anyway, I don’t know why they called you Cindy but how about this: “Cindy bolts, bytes Nuts and tightens up.”

        Your daughters look lovely!

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          • Haaaaaaaa – never mind, anyway its a girls game; its called Rounders in England and its for girls.

            And hey, I hate Clowns as well, the painted ones and the ones who simply by nature are clowns – can’t stand them and I really HATE street performers, so called Magicians in particular – I’d send them all to North Korea !!

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          • Oh dear, I can speak a little of some Asian languages but not Korean – lmao is a new one on me – I shall just take a guess and assume that it means you agree with me that they should all be sent to NK and that it has nothing whatsoever to do with that pungent Korean cabbage Kimchi – and hey, there’s a girl working in a shop just up the road from me and she’s actually called Kim Chi – I call her Cabbage and she has no idea why!!

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  214. There’s a refreshing openness to your blogging that I find very ‘real’. I know I’ll enjoy digging back into your previous postings; I just need to find the time. I also blog on WordPress at ‘Talkeetnatraces.com’; to this point that blog seems to be getting a lot more attention. I think blogging is a great way to reach out and interact with other folks, often quite different from one’s self, and by so doing one can grow their own perceptions and experiences. I’d bet you have some definite literary talent and just need to find the time to write. Believe me, retirement is absolutely wonderful!!! Some folks have a tough time with the concept but they also are those who defined themselves by their job title (i.e. “I’m Bill Was, the Northern Region Field Support Manager for The Clorox Company…”) or believed they held ‘power’ over others. When such people retire they lose this foundation and that often causes them angst among other conditions. I just went with the flow and now find the thought of ‘owing’ certain blocks of my time to some anonymous firm to be truly non-sequitur. Hang in there, you seem to have a good grasp on what’s important in life and that will help you move ahead…

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  216. Loved reading your bio; we are vastly different in many things yet I also see some definite similarities. Have you tried the single malt Scotch named ‘Balvenie’? I find it to be most delectable. I have a sister and brother in law who live in Monument, Colorado; I love that state and would most likely have moved there if I hadn’t fallen in love with Alaska. I worked in corporate IT for maybe 12 years but I am now happily retired. Keep up the good work..!

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    • Man… I want to retire! And no I haven’t tried that bottle, but I will definitely add it to my list. I always love scotch suggestions and thanks for taking the time to stop by my small blog. 🙂

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  220. Wow… Your life story is intense and amazing!
    I launched the Pishraft Project last March (relaunched it last July because didn’t have enough time to write back then), and I am hoping to turn into a big, human platform, a place where all the clichés and rules imposed to us by society would become obsolete. I really appreciate the fact that you can share your opinion so openly and so confidently. Oh and for the record, I was thrown out of the baseball team in 7th grade by the guys, because I could never understand the rules 😉

    Good luck in everything you do! 🙂 And thanks for the follow!!

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  223. Pingback: The sound of humanity | Mirrorgirl

  224. Hello, thanks for the follow. I have been blogging my poetry and thought for years now and I kinda want to expand my audience a little. I see that you do a lot of guest blogs. I was wondering how could I participate in your guest blogging?

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  225. Hi Jason. Thanks for the follow and like, I am new to blogging and I do believe I am quite opinionated myself. I hate snow and the only reason I tolerate English winters is because they rarely produce snow and when They do, its like panic stations across the country, you would think its a tropical country 🙂

    I am an immigrant by choice as well. I like your blog. Looking forward to the next serving.

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    • I appreciate the kind words and thanks for taking the time to connect back. I relate to panic stations, the same occurred when it snowed back in Tennessee. No one even knows what snow looks like in Tennessee. 🙂

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  228. thanks so much for the follow! i’m new to the blogging world and so enjoying connecting with others who share my passion for writing or what i like to call, rambling… 🙂

    looking forward to browsing through your work…thanks again – all the way from newfoundland, canada…

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  234. Jason, I really like your Bio I never thought to do a long one like that but I have been following and reading you for almost a year now and this is the first time I have ever read it. I knew you had a wife with 2 daughters and that you had been adopted I got that from reading you. But it’s nice to put more info with a person I consider a great Blogger/ writer even if you only think your just a blogger. Hang in the Jason and thanks for sharing your life and your family with us every day.

    Kat

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  238. Wow, very interesting blog and what a story! I can’t wait to read more. I like to know how you become who you are 😉 — a question I have for almost everyone (myself too), actually. It seems like something happened in the past somehow have built the person we are today. Hmm…
    Thanks for visiting and following my blog. I appreciate it. Helen

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  239. Pingback: The Daily Opinion – Top Posts? | HarsH ReaLiTy

  241. Thanks for following my blog. I also live in Colorado, but grew up in Florida and I do love the snow, except for shoveling. More so, I love the mountains. I am also Korean, not adopted, but it can feel that way when you grow up as a female in the Korean culture. My mother was a concubine’s daughter and she lived in the house of the first wife so she never really knew her own mother well. We lived on Air Force Bases growing up so we did experience a culture shock when we joined the “outside world”. I met my first best friend in 9th grade and she was Japanese American. I was blessed to enter the world as an (go ahead start laughing now) Asian Pollack. Yep, my dad was from a Polish heritage and Blackfoot Indian and good old West Virginia Hillbilly GI Joe. I appreciated your piece on adoption as I recalled my visit to the motherland with my mom. So much I don’t still know about her life there but I remember being so grateful that she had the courage to come to America. It was nice for the first time being able to see some of them had the same round face as me and tiny hands and feet. Mom always said I was the “bigger one” because I took after my dad’s side. Thanks for sharing and my heart goes out to you. I have a brother somewhere in Guam that my father left behind and when he came back to America, he told my mother and they went back but too late…adopted. I think of him so often and wonder where and how he is and if he knows about us. I really pray you or your sister find one another. It leaves a vacant place somewhere within….still wondering.

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  244. Pingback: “One Lovely Blog Award” – You’ve been nominated… | The Mind of Brosephus