Spring, Day 1
Rochester, NY 11:08 AM I’m taking a break from re-working the opening of my book. If this is the first day of spring, should I be satisfied with 34 and sunny? I guess sunny is good. I am not an economist, but I don’t understand how it is good for the people of the U.S. when I read that Wal-Mart is adding 150,000 jobs in China and Dell is adding 20,000 in India. I guess it means we can buy our things for less money. But what about those people who probably would have been one of those 170,000 jobs here? The employment cycle for hourly people has spun far away form the US. We make...
Read MoreBook Update
Rochester, NY It’s been a good but interesting morning. I just came back in from next door as my younger cousin had to file a police report on his car that was broken into last night. It is strange because this is not a normal occurrence around here. It seems like a lot of effort for a CD player that will net someone 40 or 50 bucks, but desperate people do desperate things. I took a phone call from a new acquaintance this morning who has read the opening chapters of my book. She offered some great advice and tips on how to make it better. This call, compounded by another call from Friday...
Read MoreThat time of the month
March Madness 1:15 AM For weeks the dividing line has been slowly drawn. The regular season ends. The conference tournaments end. And now it is time. Wives roll their eyes at the giddiness their husbands display at their brackets and March Madness. Other wives relish the fact that their bracket is better than their husband. Bars fill with cheers and ohhs as teams get bounced and huge shots are hit. I love this time of year. My Carolina Blue is ready. Tomorrow morning is like Christmas, but different. You wake up knowing you have a full day of presents, you just don’t know what...
Read MoreSt. Patty’s Day Parade
Rochester, NY Four months of cold and grey weather were thrown out the window in a big way yesterday. Rochester’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade shows that winter is almost over. The downtown streets were filled with an energy that can only come when Mother Nature decides to let you do something fun. A 60 degree sunny day, bagpipes, Guinness, and an incredible mix of people made for just the right recipe of extended fun. My friend Sean and I started at the heart of the bands, food, and drink, Milestones, at 11:30 AM. From there it was walking up and down East Ave. stopping in at...
Read MoreDream Season Ends
Rochester, NY 1:24 AM The dream season for the Greece Athena basketball program ended tonight. I’ve been at their last 3 games, catching a glimpse of the J-Mac Fever that so many people have been enveloped in. It’s been weird for me watching the games and seeing a boom mike hanging from a 10 foot pole on the kid all game. There has been 5 and 6 cameras pointed at him for the games, following him up and down the bench, to the water cooler to get drinks for the team, and at every post game celebration and handshake they are on him. I’ve seen people stop him for autographs, for...
Read MoreHigh School Talk
Webster, NY I went to Webster High School last night to give a talk at their college information night. My nerves were with me as I stood in front of a standing room only room filled with parents and a few students. The reaction of parents being told how to help their kids was unclear to me and I wasn’t sure if they were going to get up and walk out as I told them about my story and my interview subjects and the need for passion and motivation in life. My nerves were wasted as they listened, asked some questions, and told me it was good for them to hear. One guy even brought his...
Read MoreHoops
Rochester, NY The high school basketball playoffs are here. I’m going to see J-Mac’s team, Greece Athena, play my friend Rob’s brother, Kyle’s, team, McQuaid tonight. It should be a good game with a lot of running and gunning and some media hoopla. I saw McQuaid play their last game and they won by one point in OT. The passion in high school sports cannot be beat. There is no money to corrupt it and the kids play with such heart and emotion. We’ll see what happens tonight. Soon March Madness will be here…
Read MoreGreat Story
Greece Athena High School I’ve received emails and phone calls from friends in other states about a story they heard about in the news from Rochester, NY. A Rochester 17 year old handled his autism to produce an amazing sports feat. The coach is my old basketball coach. Cut and paste this and then click on the video section. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/23/earlyshow/main1339324.shtml
Read MoreG Love 1 & 2
Rochester, NY 4:50 PM I am hip. I am cool. I have on a white long sleeve T and a grey T shirt over it. It’s the T that the people at Penn State gave me when I spoke there. This is my first exposed long sleeve T experience. I feel like I need to look younger for G Love and Special Sauce wait for me tonight at Water Street Music Hall. G Love has been a special part of my journey. I listened to the Electric Mile CD over and over while I put the thousands of miles on my SUV. It will be interesting to hear what is played tonight. I am going with a group of people I don’t know. It doesn’t...
Read MoreHigh School
Rochester, NY I went to my old high school tonight. It had been quite a few years since I had been back to Greece Olympia. The opening of the boy’s basketball sectionals began and we were playing to advance on to play the #1 seed. There were an 8 wins combined between the two teams, but it was a chance to see the old stomping grounds. Using the new traffic light and driving up the new driveway showed me that things have changed. I met my friend Jim there who graduated with me and played on the basketball team with me. He reminded how things have changed when he told me it had been 13 years...
Read MoreWomen’s Hockey
Turin, Italy 1:37 PM I just ate lunch and watched the end of the Olympic semifinal women’s hockey game between Sweden and the USA. The US was the heavy favorite, and from what they said, may have beaten Sweden 24 times in a row. Well, the streak ended a few minutes ago. The intensity of the overtime and shootout is what the Olympics are all about. So much passion in every swoosh of the skate, every shot on goal, every ohhh of the crowd. I was enthralled. My interest was spurred on by the Rochester newspaper who updates the local girls on the team. My cousin grew up a few houses down from...
Read MorePenn State2
State College, PA 11:25 PM I’m back in NY. The morning was spent cleaning up and then walking around the huge campus. I used a map from the B&B to find my way back to the Nittnay Lion Inn and The Shrine where I took some pictures. The streets were filled with young faces going to classes. I wished IPods were invented back when I was in school. Large buses whirred to starts and stops as the students were transported to wherever they were going. I was bundled up in a sweater, a fleece, and my heavy winter coat. At 9 AM it had to be in the 20’s. Walking down Burrowes St. I passed some of...
Read MorePenn State
State College, PA 10:30 PM I’m sitting in the Gladwin House Bed and Breakfast in State College, PA, the biggest college town I’ve ever been to. It may be the biggest college town there is. Ohio State was a huge campus, but it was in the capital of the state. At Penn State, this is the town. I drove in on 220 South and veered off on Park Ave. The football stadium greeted me and I imagined Fall Saturday afternoons and the tailgating, the traffic and the roars coming from the crowd. The intensity must be electric and I know this year was even sweeter. Before heading to Penn State I stopped...
Read MorePacking
Rochester, NY 9:50 PM Boy, it’s been a while since I’ve had to pack and get ready for a trip. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be getting back on the road, even if it’s for a short trip. The past week has been spent trying to put the finishing touches on the rough draft of the entire book (only a few pages to go!) and get my power point ready for Penn State. It’s ready, I’ve gone to Staples for my handouts, and now I have clothes in the dryer and the Olympics on. I leave out in the AM and have a stop in Williamsport, PA for an interview. It should be an...
Read MoreLesson for the day
Rochester, NY 11:50 AM When parking on a downtown city street where parking meters are involved, do not skimp out and try to save 25 cents by only paying for 52 minutes. 25 cents can and sometimes does lead to $25.
Read MoreBefore Sunset
Paris 1:24 AM I just finished watching Before Sunset, the sequel to Before Sunrise. The first movie is about two strangers who meet on a train in Europe and the hours they spend together before a plane takes one of them away. Movie two takes place after they meet 9 years later, and one of the two has written a best selling book about their night together. There is some deep dialogue in both and the scenery is excellent, not that I’ve been to Paris. I am not sure of the true points of the movie, but to me it is all about chance and the things that may or may not play out because of that...
Read MoreEverywhere 12:50 AM I hit Send/Receive on my Outlook and goodie, 1 out of 6, then 2, then all 6 are in. What luck! I have a bevvie of new opportunities. Oh my gosh, the SuperFormula Power Pack is available! I have been waiting on that email for months. Sweet, Hsiu just sent me the critical link to the website that has Logo, stationer (not stationery), website design and so much more! G. Santiago sent me that stock tip I’ve been waiting all week on. Time to catch the wave that millions are riding. Buy buy buy. Gunnhild H. responded to that email I don’t remember sending. What was...
Read MoreSalt
Rochester, NY 11:10 AM If you’re not from the Northeast, here is a weird happening. The weather has been grey and windy for quite a few days. The temps ranging from the 20′s up to the 50′s. With the low temps and snow come salt trucks. I still marvel at how well they keep the roads clean for snow. Mammoth trucks that double as plow and salt trucks quadron off and blanket the streets with salt. The snow comes and the salt melts it. I’m not sure what the salt does but it makes the roads drivable. When I lived in Charlotte the city would shut down at the threat of snow....
Read More20 years
Rochester, NY Today is the 20th anniversary of my Grandma passing. I was 10 and I remember some of her. I remember losing my tooth at her house, watching TV with my sister, eating pretzels. Caytie and I sat in the living room and Grandma and Grandpa were playing cards on the porch with 2 of their friends. I don’t know where my parents were. G&G taught me how to play euchre when I was 6. We played poker and a game I can’t recall the name of right now where you had green board and had to get full houses, 4 of a kind, etc… I remember her trying to write with her left hand...
Read MoreHis Dream
Washington, DC Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. He is a man I was taught about for a few classes while growing up. It is hard for me to comprehend the things MLK battled during his life. It is hard for me to comprehend not being able to sit where you wanted to, drink from the water fountain you wanted to, sleep in the hotel you wanted to, be served at the diner you wanted to. It is hard to comprehend. And it is amazing to me that it was all happening only 45 years ago. But it has happened and there was a man who spearheaded the passion to make a change, to try and correct...
Read MoreRough
Rochester, NY 11:02 AM It’s been a rough weekend. The weather went from 60 to 25 and my mind is filled with questions and some doubt about all of the instability and my future. It’s been 20 months since I left my apartment, my friends, and my family in Charlotte. There have been days that I’ve been on the strongest natural high I’ve ever been. There are other days the societal pull of money and stability make me wonder. It’s not easy after living successfully on my own, making the money and living the good life, to make a total 180 and being 30 and not having...
Read MoreMr. Fix It
Rochester, NY It’s been great to get back to the writing. It was a weird feeling in Phoenix, I was with great friends, the weather was phenomenal, football and golf were all around, but I felt wrong that I wasn’t writing. Part of that is because I see the sand on the hourglass running down. So many things will happen once I get this book done. It is hard for me to think about the next journey when I still have to tell the first one. I’m doing it. On another note, my friends and family would not classify me as a handy man. If you need help fixing something, I am not the...
Read MoreThe Week
Goodyear, AZ 10:18 AM It’s been a great week here in AZ. When you’re on a holiday you’re mind doesn’t comprehend all of the things that go on in the real world. Last week showed us the power of the press and what it can do to a traumatic event. We flipped back and forth between the coverage of the miners in West Virginia and the Orange Bowl. After hours of waiting for the 12 “rescued” miners to come and meet their families, I had to go to bed. Imagine if you were one of the 12 families at the church. You couldn’t just turn of the TV and go to sleep....
Read MoreLast Day
Goodyear, AZ 8:12 PM It may be 8 PM but it fells like 1 AM. We had a brunch with a lot of my friends from when I lived here and some new ones. We started at 10 AM with apple French toast, sausage hash, and fruit. A two year old always adds to the excitement and Action J was everywhere. He really enjoyed Maggie. I had to laugh every time he answered, “Yup,” to a question. People came and went all day. The NFL Playoffs were on and it was great to see the Panthers spank Eli. The Bengals disappointed, but anytime a QB who has thrown 30 passes all year has to come in and relieve someone,...
Read MorePolitics
Phoenix, AZ 5:22 PM I just got back from my first exposure to the political arena. Anthony and I went to the kickoff of the 2006 Arizona Legislative Agenda. It was put on by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. We were hosted by Len, who I interviewed about his diverse path in the morning. He’s an interesting guy. Some people retire and relax. Len is retired, but at 70 the former Air Force colonel and medical doctor is on many boards. He’s giving a talk on Friday on the potential flu pandemic. Cool guy and asked us to come to the kickoff. The Democrats and Republicans stated their goals for...
Read MoreFiesta Bowl
Tempe, AZ What a day. The forecast was accurate when it said lower 70’s and partly cloudy. But, partly cloudy in Arizona is different than partly cloudy in New York. A few wispy clouds hung over Sun Devil Stadium in the final; Fiesta Bowl to be played there. Next year it moves to Glendale. Anthony and I arrived in Tempe close to noon and drove to the park of the parking deck on 5th and Priest. To our surprise, there were only us and a husband and wife team participating in some tailgating. My phone buzzed with Notre Dame fans. I got on the horn to rub it in to the big Ohio State fan I know,...
Read MorePHX
Goodyear, AZ 8:23 AM I wake up to the sight of sunshine and rocky hills in the background. I’m in Phoenix, but more accurately, in Goodyear, AZ. I lived here for 8 months back in 2000 and 2001. My flights in went fine, with window seats for both. I decided that 7 hours of flight beat 40 hours of driving to get here. It allowed me to do some work and get some rest after New Year’s Eve. If you paid money to go to a bed and breakfast you would be hard to beat what I experienced last night. First off my old roommate from college and the guy that no matter how long it’s been since we’ve...
Read MoreNew Year
Rochester, NY 10:14 AM Welcome. Bring it on. Here we go. It’s 2006 and now is the time to get cracking on big plans and resolutions. It’s hard to believe another year has whizzed by us. I think back on ’05 with a lot of great memories. I turned 30. I made many new friends. I kept in touch with my old friends from all over. I stayed in decent shape. I was healthy. I almost finished a book. There are a lot of positives to focus on. I’m sure there are negatives too, but you focus on the positive and build on them and leave the negative in the past, which is now what 2005...
Read MoreGraduate
Rochester, NY I just watched The Graduate for the first time. I see why it’s a classic. Great soundtrack and a story that people can relate too: worries about the future, fantasy made reality, and love. 1967 still fits today.
Read MoreSpy
WWW 12:41 AM There are wasted days and then there is an unexpected, annoying waste like today. When you turn on your computer and a balloon next to your clock pops up and says your computer has been infected with malware, you get nervous. All day I’ve been trying to get rid of this stupid spyware thing. I’ve run tons of scans and cleanings. But, now I am typing this which means I cleaned it up. With some assistance I went to Google, typed in the name of the virus and up came a guy who told me how to fix it. It took quite a few hours and installing new software, but I’m all...
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