About me:
Hey!!!! Thanks for visiting..... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
..."so I'm driving down the road enroute for some fine dining at the local Mcdonald's and the phone rings.... "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" is Calling and they want to do a feature on me? How surreal"... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My grandmother passed away in '96 and my dad and I, after much deliberation, decided to build her a casket ourselves. I didn't know at that time that the choice I had made would shape my life so dramatically. The feelings of closure and peace that this difficult process had afforded me was amazing. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was born and raised in a little Russian village here in Canada. There were no stores and no running water or electricity when I was growing up and the only way to have fun was to be creative. I filled my time with tree climbing and whittling and hanging out with other village kids and my family. I had an awesome childhood! It's unfortunate in this world where excess is proper, how the simple and fulfilling things in life get placed on the back burner. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was 20 when I started my first company. Born more of necessity, my grandma passing away, myself just out of Art School and needing direction, and my girlfriend was pregnant. I started to design and manufacture prototypes, harboring the ubiquitous notion of pushing economy in what is todays extremely overpriced monopoly that we know as the Funeral Industry. I fell upon the idea of casket furniture! Why use a casket for just one day? Why not use it as your coffee table, bookshelf, pool table, etc...and then after 20, 30, or 40 years when you pass away you will not only have gotten your moneys worth out of it but it will have grown with you in character and sentiment. I was excited, I really thought that I could help people and offer them an alternative. I was doing it because it was something that I knew that I would love as it incorporated my two passions - woodworking and business! I never really considered the financial benefits and I am happy to say that I have been fortunate to be blessed with a very rewarding life. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
..."hard at work on the Peurto Rican skytrain system my phone rings, People Magazine is calling and want to do a feature article on me!"...how bizarre... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I quickly became wealthy and indulged in many sinful delights this world had offered. I traveled everywhere and lived in many places all over the globe. I've rubbed shoulders with the richest of the rich and I've helped in chores with the poorest of the poor. An example never more obvious than my time in Havana, billeted out, whilst at a peace convention, to a financially poor family who were wealthy in all of the ways that mattered. Soon after that life altering occasion the Hugh Heffnors house was calling and was inviting me to a pool party as a VIP guest. I enjoyed ALL the spoils of the event...ALL the spoils. I noticed how wealthy my peers were in nothing that actually mattered. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I vowed to live each and everyday with quality and to be the best Mark that I could be. Recognizing my character defects and always striving to improve.
Who I'd like to meet: ummmmm....anyone!! I enjoy meeting new people and find that everyone has something interesting to share.
I would have really liked to meet Ghengis Khan before he ravaged just to pick his brain.
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man i miss ya i'm coming for a visit in march from the 14-16 for my birthday i hope you're in town!!!! so glad you are doing wicked with all your coffin furniture, i still love that pool table, its the best hehe. hope to see you soon!!
