Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
I Love Don Week Wrap-Up
Another glorious I Love Don Week is in the books and while I only got a few things off my ultimate wish-list, it was the surprises that delighted. But truly, if you meant to buy me something, don’t be embarrassed if you send me a belated gift, card, or call the hotline. What? A hotline?
Yes, my 45th birthday featured the Don’s Birthday Hotline debut …call (231) 660-1491 TODAY because a belated birthday greeting is sometimes better than a day-of greeting (and I’m curious why nobody ever sends a pre-dated birthday greeting …like, no one ever calls a day early).
The Hotline was a BIG HIT …I got EIGHTEEN messages. Some sang in chorus with others, some shared their favorite Don Memory, and some just stumbled over their words because THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE I HAD A HOTLINE.
As always, for those who don’t know me, I do it to be funny. In this world where so many people are worried about the everyone-gets-a-trophy world, and nobody-loses, and Millenials with their helicopter parents, and where old-schoolers lament the look-at-me, center-of-the-universe social media culture where EVERYONE thinks they’re important and that happiness and self-worth is defined by Likes, Follows, and Comments …well, many say it’s a bad thing. I say it’s a GREAT thing. I would move back in with my parents if I could …who wouldn’t!!!???!!!
Anyway, it’s all for fun AND because I have this writing and a content-creation thing I do on the side, it’s all an experiment, as well. I got a call from someone I never, ever, never expected would call the Don’s Birthday Hotline (the caller is 100% not a silly person) and so my experiment and theories and hypotheses all need to be refigured because, when I tell the brands and clients I coach about social media, what I’m telling them might need to be updated.
One more time, my updated wish-list is below. Don’t think because only a few things are crossed off that I didn’t have a kick ass I Love Don Week. My wife made my favorite dinner on Tuesday. We had Big Chief burgers at Duggan’s Irish Pub last night (with dessert). I got an emergency filling on one of my molars. Eighteen people called the hotline. I’m going to see Weezer this Friday. I had a beer yesterday afternoon with an old friend and watched some World Cup soccer. My wife and I had a wonderful date-night.
Life is too short not to have fun if you’re lucky enough to wake up in the morning with good health and your loved ones around you. Last weekend a former co-worker died in a car accident (early 50s). I texted an old friend this morning and she said she hasn’t worked in 4 weeks, just started more chemo, and she’s struggling. Another friend shared how she’s having a hard time dealing with a mother-of-four who passed away unexpectedly (a young mom).
*** Please pray for J.S., S.L., and for J.P.’s soul. ***
This morning, my 11-year-old daughter is off to a commercial shoot. Yes. She’ll be in a TV commercial if things go right and I told her, “go into this production with the JOY you do everything with.” It’s great to be 11-years-old. She smiles when she dances 14 hours a week. She smiles when she does flips in the backyard. She smiles when she plays piano. She smiles when she plays soccer. Joy. Joy. Joy.
Yesterday and for the entire week leading up to my birthday, I just tried to be joyful and fun and positive. I’m certain I annoy the shit out of some people, but mostly I want to be joyful and share my joy and if I did that for even one person, I win again.
Phew. That got deep. Back to narcissism and stroking my ego. My wishlist and then Weezer’s best song ever …”The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” which is my theme song (and the video is hella good).
Love you all.
- Waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker
Chazzano Coffee- WiFi Smart Plugs
- Bogs Urban Walkers
12V Cordless Drill+Screwdriver (this one looks GREAT)- BLACK+DECKER BV5600 High Performance Blower/Vac/Mulcher (or something similar)
- Kiehl’s Facial Fuel
- Aveda’s Smooth Infusion
- OOfos Men’s OOahh Slide Sandals
- Small shop-vac for cleaning the cars
- Haggar dress pants (khaki)
- Umbro or Adidas soccer shorts (make sure they have pockets)
- A mountain bike (used is totally OK)
Poland’s 2018 World Cup jersey (I’d ask for the U.S. jersey but …)- Google Home (not the Mini)
- Pair of Levi’s 559s Relaxed Fit (31W, 30L, dark blue)
- MyPillow
- iPad Mini (and I’ll sell my current iPad)
- Gator Blades (22 inch)
- Heavy Steel fire pit grill grate
Don Kowalewski 
SARAH MCANULTY: Yeah, I mean when you have one of the cutest animals in the animal kingdom in my I can say professional opinion. I just want to share them with everyone possible. So they re pretty photogenic. So I love to take pictures of them and then share them with as many people as I can. Because I don t think I really knew that bobtail squid existed when I was a little kid, so the more people I can share the love with the better.