People I’d like to have a beer with….

A pause for the cause……

Before I start, I want to let you know about my annual fund raising event for Diabetes. Once again, I’m riding in the Tour de Cure of Northern VA. This annual event is held in cities across the country throughout the year and, in addition to being a lot of fun, raises millions of dollars for research to find a cure for Diabetes, a disease that touches nearly all of us in one way or another. 

100 Miles? What could go wrong?

I’m planning to ride the Century ride again this year. I was unable to complete it last year and ended up turning it into a metric century. I’m hoping that this year will be better although my lack of riding is making me wonder…..

Last year, thanks to you, we were able to raise over $2000 towards the eradication of this disease that affects so many lives and the team that I captained, raised over $9300!

Please consider making a donation. It’s easy to do with a credit or debit card and only takes about a minute of your time. I’m shooting for the $2000 mark again this year and I need your help! Click this link to make a donation.  

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TourAdmin?px=7310819&pg=personal&fr_id=10160

Now back to our irregularly unscheduled missive.

I’m sitting in seat 35C of an AirBus 319 jet between Chicago and Portland OR. It’s the last row in the plane and I have an aisle seat, which is generally my preference. This time, however, I’m treated to a game that I like to call Human Tetris. The bathrooms are immediately behind me and there have been a number of folks trying to use them. To their defense, it’s a 4 hour flight and they’ve been pounding the free sodas and coffee.  As they make their way to the john, they have to perform this interesting dance to give up and gain space before finally getting in or making their way back to their seat. For me, it’s been a parade of crotches and hineys pressing into my face and right shoulder as they jockey to get into or out of the john. I feel like I’m setting a new Major League record for taking balls to the shoulder. (Thanks Clyde!)

A beer with friends…

Last weekend I was out for a ride with my buddy, Brad. We’ve both been struggling to get miles on the bike this year due to weather and, well, life. I’m working hard to prepare for the above mentioned ride but it’s going to be a slog to the finish for me.

Anyway, we were grinding up one of the climbs around Ashland – The Center of the Universe – when Brad said something like, “Man, a beer is going to taste good after this.” I gasped out agreement and went back to focusing on turning circles while not vomiting.

As the ride continued, my mind started wandering and mulling the notion of who I’d like to converse with, over a frosty beverage.  I’ve compiled a short list.

First up – Mike Rowe

If you’ve never seen this guy on TV, you really should. He was the host of a show called Dirty Jobs, on Discovery Channel for quite some time. He is still the voice of the Deadliest Catch on the same channel, for 10 years now. Currently, you can catch him on CNN as the host of his new show, Somebody’s Gotta Do It, Thursday nights at 9:00; when it’s not pre-empted by breaking news. He cut his teeth early in his TV career on the Home Shopping Network and had quite a following for his wit and sarcasm as he announced the most useless gadgets on the planet in the middle of the night. He’s got one of those great voices, deep and resonant, with gravitas when required. He also is very self-effacing on his shows and his Facebook page where he has over 1 million followers as he’s very erudite in his writing. I’m always happy when he posts something because it’s bound to make me laugh, think, smile, nod my head or all of the above.

Looking for people who work!

Even if you haven’t seen any of these shows, you’ve probably heard his voice as he does a lot of voice over work including Ford, Wal-Mart, and Caterpillar Equipment.

You should also watch his TedTalk. He speaks about the lack of value in hard work in this country and how many young people earn a college degree, which only seems to get them into debt without a decent job. His foundation, Mikeroweworks.org is all about getting people who want to work hard, perhaps in a trade or a skilled job that requires training rather than a sheepskin in preparation. He awards scholarships for this training, too, putting his money where his mouth is. These jobs will typically pay upper 5 to low 6 figures; you read that correctly – around $100K per year is out there for those willing to work for it! Mike claims there are over half a million of these jobs out there that go unfilled because they can’t find someone who will take the training, learn the job, and then work hard enough to do it. Damn shame.

He’s first on the list because he just seems like an average guy who made the right moves over his career (although he gives the impression that it was blind, shithouse luck) and is now doing well, paying it back to those who need it and enjoying the hell out of his career and his life. I feel like I’d learn something from him, we’d laugh a good bit, and make an intelligent connection though conversation. Those are rare these days, at least they are to me. 

Mike, if we ever meet up, I’m buying whatever you’re drinking!

Next up – Elden Nelson

Known as the Fat Cyclist (fatcyclist.com) Fatty, as he’s known to his readers, appears to be one of the kindest people on the planet. He’s been writing his blog about all forms of cycling for almost a decade and it is hysterical, poignant, competitive, uplifting, and contagious for doing good things. Reading it is what got me into cycling as a fundraising activity and also made me far more aware of how little things that I can do, can have a big impact. He and his wife, The Hammer, spend a lot of time competing in various outdoor races, biking, running, triathlons and the like. She appears to be near world class in her age group for amateurs and he is a pretty stout competitor, too.

My friends call me Fatty!

I believe he began his blog as a way to document the loss of his first wife Susan to cancer. (I’ve never gone back to read the archives as I just can’t bear the thought of how difficult it must have been. Maybe someday.)  After she passed, he began using it to talk about cycling and as a fundraising tool for the fight against that terrible disease. He now runs fundraising activities several times a year that involve getting the big bike vendors (Trek, Specialized, Shimano, etc) to donate gear which he raffles off to those who donate. (You can actually win a $15000 bike! How cool is that?) He also gets a cycling clothing manufacturer to create Fat Cyclist kits on a limited basis for purchase, the proceeds of which go to charity as well. (I love my Team Fatty jersey!)

His most common groups include American Cancer Society and World Bike Relief – I’ve donated to both but WBR really gets my juices flowing! Giving bikes away to poor people in the African continent completely changes their lives for the better.

He has taken some of his blog posts and turned them into books that he self-published and the proceeds of those went to charity, too. I bought both of them because they’re hilarious! Comedian Mastermind and The Great Fatsby are just awesome! Fatty is currently working on completing Susan’s book that she hadn’t quite finished when she passed.

He’s on my list because I’d like to see if he’s really as nice, and funny, as he seems in his writing. He’s turned me on to a number of cycling techniques, gear, fundraising skills, and made me laugh more times than I can remember.

He lives in Utah and I’m not even sure if he drinks beer but I’m sure the conversation would be enough even if he doesn’t!

Finally – David Feherty

I want to point out that he doesn’t drink beer, or any other alcoholic beverage, as he is in recovery. That said, I would really like to have a conversation with him and buy him a designer water or Red Bull (I think that’s his poison - I'd have to have something else as I just can't stomach that stuff). If you’re not a golfer, you’ve probably not heard of him.

Don't agree with me? Why are you still watching?

He was a successful professional golfer on the European PGA Tour, winning multiple times, playing on the Ryder Cup Team, and playing the US tour for a while. Originally from Northern Ireland, he’s now an American citizen.

He joined the CBS announcing team about a decade ago and is one of the most entertaining and insightful announcers out there. Where he’s really shined over the past 3 years, however, has been as the host of an interview show called Feherty.

His interviews have ranged from pro golf legends (Nicklaus, Watson, Norman, Trevino, Venturi, Floyd) current players (Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter) to business leaders (Jack Welch, Donald Trump) to politicians (Bill Clinton) to entertainers and sports heroes (Bill Russell, Charles Barkley, Don Cheadle). What’s amazing about all of these is that the range of subjects discussed far outruns golf and David has become a damn fine interviewer. His questions run from the hilarious to the deadly serious.

He does a great deal of work with the Wounded Warriors project and his stories about them have been terrific to follow, as well.

Why do I want to meet him? He’s a decent, very real guy. I have a story that will explain.

About 12 years ago, I saw him on TV telling a story about Payne Stewart, talking about what a real person he was and how much he missed him. (Payne died in a plane crash at the age of 42 cutting short a fabulous career.) As a result of how moved I was by the story, I sent an email to him through the PGA tour (it was forwarded) and he actually took the time to send me a very personal reply. When I thanked him and offered to buy him dinner if we were ever in the same location, he wrote again andf suggested I had low enough expectations of people that even he could jump over them. My kind of guy! 

The offer still stands David!

Wrap up

When we got to the end of our ride, Brad and I were both pretty drained but felt good because of that. He invited me in for a drink before I left but I was pressed for time and had to take a rain check.

But that just means he’s really first on my list! Thanks for the ride, Brad!

Happy Birthday 'Murica!

Start Me Up

I'm writing this on the 4 of July, a holiday that I've celebrated in numerous ways over the years.

I've played golf, gone to a jam session, gotten drunk (more than once) been to picnics and concerts, played tennis, worked in the yard, gotten stoned, been to beach, and one occasion slept the entire day away until just before a fireworks display because I'd been up to see the sunrise.

In any case, it's nearly always involved seeing a fireworks display which, to me, is kind of like lighting the candles on the country's birthday cake. Kind of fitting for a country as large and impressive as ours is, if you ask me.

Not cake but close enough

Easy to Be Hard

The cynic in me wants to say, "I wonder how much longer we're going to be able to celebrate the birth of our nation? Will she really exist for much longer?"

If you're like me, you read newspapers, watch TV, read the internet, watch podcasts and are appalled by the current state of affairs. Never have we been more at odds with each other in the government, with both sides claiming the other is responsible for nothing getting done. The far Right thinks the far Left is every bit as crazy the far Left thinks the far Right is. Everyone in the middle (that group seems to be ever shrinking although if you ask most people, they'll tell you they're moderate even as they're cursing the POTUS or the Speaker) thinks the 2 extremes are hopeless and there isn't anything that the moderates can do to mediate anything, either.

So, you throw up your hands and say, "Let's throw these bums out!" And on election day, everyone continues to vote for their bum because, he or she is the only one making any sense; it's the other bums that need to be thrown out. Except, that almost never happens.  After all, my guy may be a bum but he is my bum!

Look back to look forward

If you look back about 50 or so years ago, go read some old newspapers (the interweb makes it really easy to do this) you'll find that this current state is not so current. Back in the 1960s, the issue was Equal Rights.

We're all the same. Truly.

Go back to the late 30s and early 40s and it was World War 2. Late 20s and early 30s, it was the Great Depression.  And the list goes on and on. We've always had these divisive times; we've always managed to work our way through them; we've always come out the other side a better republic for it (at least I think so) and then we've moved on to the next topic.

What's it mean? Well, to me it means that it's this constant state of unease, discomfort, divisiveness and the like that makes us uniquely American. In most every other country of the world, this sort of thing winds up in civil war (which is the greatest contradiction in terms I've known) followed by a complete breakdown of government, followed by many years of failed attempts at new ones. But in our case, we just keep keeping on.

Currently, we've got the Affordable Care Act that one side desperately wants to repeal while the other side wants to continue to drive into place and adapt as it makes sense. Why? Because we have the most expensive healthcare system in the world and yet it ranks 37th most effective. Yep, we need healthcare reform. Desperately. Is this the right version? Probably not but based on a great deal of study on my part, it's the best we could do under the circumstances. Does it need to be adapted? Absolutely if it's truly going to work. If both sides took that stance and helped to do it, we'd get there a helluva lot faster, too.

Next, we've got the Russia / Ukraine thing and the Middle East. (When have we not had that? Not in my lifetime, that's for sure, and that covers a lot of time.) One side says America needs to get in there and kick some ass to bring everyone into line. The other says America needs to lead the diplomacy efforts. (I think it's probably a little of both but my foreign affairs chops are not that great.) In any case, America needs to lead what happens because it's a global economy and our own economy turns on it so we need to ensure our interests are looked after financially. We also need to keep ourselves safe; 911 is still a little too close for me to forget that we need to be diligent in watching our enemies. Hell, we don't even know who they all are!

Then we've got Immigration. That one is messy and needs to be better handled and I don't know what the answer is. I do know that all of our families started as immigrants in this country, unless you're born to a Native American family. Let's be a little more tolerant of people that want to come here and start a life. If you don't think that's right, I question whether or not you're truly an American because we all started someplace else and became Americans.

Last, for this post, we've got poverty.

This one may be the most contentious for many people."Why should I give to others, why can't they work for it themselves? If we just keep giving to them, they'll never want to work for what the rest of us have." The other side says, "We need to tax the rich, redistribute wealth, put a bigger tax on corporations so everyone can have a better life."

I'm unable to find a single religion that doesn't teach everyone to help their fellow human beings. I'm talking all the major religious texts, Bible, Koran, Torah, Talmud, you name it. They all tell us to do that. If you call yourself one of the people that follow these teachings, and you don't do that, what does it say about your beliefs?

In my opinion, the gap between the have and have nots will continue to grow until either we get a conscience and do something about it (figure out a way for the have nots to have more) or that will be the thing that takes this country down. Think about it people, there are well over 300 million guns out in the public possession: if the have nots get pissed enough, we could have our own "civil war" here and would have a tough time ending it. Then we'd really be a third world country.

(I realize that I've left out many issues of today including same sex marriage, women's rights, and a bunch more. I was trying to keep this missive less than a million words. Please forgive anything that you wanted to see in here and don't assume I don't care about. I do. Plenty.)

In Any Case

I believe that America will get past our current issues, and find something new to argue about. It would be nice to have some good things to talk about on TV news networks but that doesn't sell air time; maybe Fox News and MSNBC are the ones behind all this.  Keeps the ratings up, don't you know?

Not saying anything except both channels are represented here

We have an education system that is beginning to lag other countries. We no longer build the best cars on the planet and we import much of what we eat because farmers really struggle to live. We no longer manufacture much here because it's cheaper to import it. (The local Woodcraft store had a sale today on anything that was made in the USA, 15% off. Do you know how hard I had to look to find something to buy? Damn!) The only reason we have enough decent doctors is that many of them have immigrated from other countries; same is true for most of our IT infrastructure. And damn few of our young people are getting into the trades, a job that pays a solid middle class wage because many go to college, run up a huge debt, and then find a job as a barista while they try to find something that meets their schooling. That's kind of messed up, don't you think? (Mike Rowe is working on a project to change this. Go to profoundlydisconnected.org to learn more about his organization. I'm a big fan!) We send people to school longer than ever before and they wind up dumber than ever before. We spend more, save less, and have far less to show for it because of how we've changed what's important to us as a country. (I don't think it's permanent but I'm not terribly optimistic, either.)

But we are America. We have a huge, finally getting healthy economy. We have a glorious land with many riches and bounty to enjoy. We still have one of the highest standards of living in the world and are still looked upon as the leaders of the free world. We will get through these trying times and move on the next ones, hopefully during my lifetime. 

I believe we will still do great things because we're Americans and that's what we do, dammit. Let's get busy!

Happy Birthday America! You still look good for 238!