I would venture that all of us have been touched by Cancer in one way or another.
In my case it hits very close to home. My great-grandfather died of Cancer. His daughter, my grandmother, died of cancer. Her daughter, my mother, had Cancer but is a survivor...now going on nearly five years Cancer free.
Last week, I found out that a friend of mine named Jason Mortvedt has Hodgkins' Lymphoma. This hit me between the eyes. Not that a Cancer diagnosis is ever expected....but this came as a huge surprise. He is younger than I am. He's 28 to my 36. I have known him since he was a Journalism student in college. He married his college sweetheart and has a beautiful 2-year-old daughter.
There is something about his circumstance that touched me and prompted me to act. I began looking around and found the American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life". It's coming up in Sioux Falls on July 24th at Canaries Stadium. This spoke to me. I knew this was something tangible and real I could do to help fight Cancer. I am sick of the fear and heartache a Cancer diagnosis brings. I know what that feels like. I don't want anyone else to have to go through that.
So now I am in the midst of raising money. I will be taking part in the 12-hour walk from 6PM July 24th to 6AM July 25th.
I'm asking you for your help. Please join my team and help me raise money to fight Cancer. If you don't want to do that, could you please donate to my efforts? All the money raised goes to the American Cancer Society. They will invest that money in continued research to make Cancer a memory.
I look around a lot of web sites as a news reporter. Sometimes I'm looking for news. Sometimes I'm looking for the unusual. Most of the time I'm trying to determine what's on people's minds and what others in the community are talking about.
That's how I stumbled upon the "Imagination Prompt Generator". It's kind of like a magic 8 ball but in reverse. Instead of asking it questions, it asks you questions to get you thinking about life, society and everything that goes with it.
So I decided I would make the old IPG part of a blog. Here's what I am going to do. I am going to answer the first 10 questions it asks me here on this blog. The whole thing is totally random so I don't know what questions are going to come up or what topics it is going to ask me about. All I know is that I am going to answer whatever it sends my way.
Here we go:
(1) What's The Worse That Can Happen?: In my circumstance, the worse that can happen is if the boys were to somehow be seriously injured or worse. I think about that sometimes; how parents do it when their kids precede them in death. I honestly can sit here and tell you I have no idea if I would be able to handle that. I have so much love in my heart for those boys that the thought of anything worse than a cut just cripples me.
(2) If You Could Have Three Wishes, What Would They Be?: Wish #1: Old age and painless death for everyone. Wish #2: An end to crime and war. Wish #3: A strong, worldwide economy with little to no unemployment.
(3) Do You Believe That What Other People Think Is Any Of Your Business: As long as it doesn't imvolve the lives and safety of my family, then no. However, a functioning society is one which is based on people being intellectually engaged in the world, which means a sharing of thoughts and ideas.
(4) Define Joy: Joy is the feeling where your heart is so emotionally full of happiness it actually feels like it could burst.
(5) What keeps me going? The thought that there is always something better down the road; something which will lead to increased happiness, relaxation and joy.
(6) When I Look Up At The Sky, I Feel.... Inspired, especially at night. The stars and the moon captivate my imagination and always lead to thoughts of how we were created and if that same process has happened elsewhere.
(7) Things that make me fearful: The thought of serious disease or painful death for me and those I love.
(8) One famous person I would like to have breakfast with is: Joel Osteen. He is kind of a new age religious leader who has an amazing following and quiet the background in broadcasting. I would like to talk to him about the biz and his faith.
(9) If you could choose to live in a different time period, when would it be? I would like to have lived in ancient Rome to see the start of civilization and government. I think it would be fascinating.
(10) Did you ever have roommates or companions? In college I had two roommates named Steve and John. They were friends of friends and I honestly didn't get to know them very well. We lived in a townhouse: I was upstairs, they were downstairs. We had classes and jobs at opposite times. I would come home and they would be having parties and I would know none of the people attending. But they were nice guys. I ended up living with them for about 3 months before moving.
Every year, the various dictionaries in publication announce two lists: new words which will appear in the dictionary and words which will no longer make the list.
There are a few words I would like to see someone incorporate into their dictionaries. Wondering what your thoughts are on these:
(1) Aisler (pronounced 'eye-ler'): This is a person at the grocery store who stops their cart right in the middle of the aisle as they look for a product, thus stopping traffic in both directions and wasting your time. Usage: "I would have been home sooner but I got stuck behind an Aisler."
(2) Slowee (pronounced slo-wee): This word defines drivers who, no matter what the speed of traffic might be, is going as least 10MPH slower, usually in the passing lane. Usage: "Can you believe this guy? He's taking his Sunday drive on Tuesday! What a slowee!"
(3) Yoma (pronounced yo-mah): This word is used to define a level of boredom to severe that repeated yawning could lead to a coma. Usage: "The guy just talked and talked and about sent me into a yoma."
(4) Meal For One (pronounced...well, meal for one): This is the phrase one can you to describe that feeling when you're getting chewed out and there's nothing you can do about it. Usage: "My boss was ripping me for a mistake that wasn't my fault and I just stood there....meal for one!".
(5) Textigator (pronounced tex-tigator): The person whose job it is to review spelling errors on blogs and other on-line publishing documents. Usage: "Really? We misspelled 'spelling'? How did the textigator not catch that?"
Five words (actually four words and one phrase) that I would like to see in someone's dictionary. Which one do you like the best? Email me and let me know and I'll post the results in a future blog!
Quote Of The Day: "Character can not be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strenghtened, ambition inspired and and success achieved." Helen Keller
This Day In History: The Library of Congress was established on this date, April 24th, 1800.
A friend of mine posed an interesting question to me recently. She asked "What do you think you're supposed to do before you die?"
I asked her to explain and what she wanted to know was: what was one thing I was SUPPOSED to do before dying. This isn't something I am supposed to necessarily do for someone elee..but just something that in my heart I feel I am supposed to accomplish before the end.
I didn't have an immediate answer for her. I'm not sure I still do. I am thinking about it a lot though. I think it's a trick question and I think the fact she asked the question in the first place is supposed to teach me that it's a trick question.
Think about it for a moment: something you are SUPPOSED to do just for yourself before you die. No one else, just you. To me, the premise seems hollow which is why I think it's a trick question.
Why is the premise hollow? Think about it for a moment: the times in life when you feel the most joy, aren't they the times when you are doing something for someone else? Or at the very least, experiencing something with someone else? Where is the joy and satisfaction in solitude? Even on your most hectic days, when you would like people to leave you alone, the solace only lasts for so long before you feel the need to surround yourself with people again.
Is there joy to be found in doing something strictly for yourself...where only you benefit? To me, the answer is no. There has to be a deeper meaning to one's actions and that deeper meaning can usually be found when your work helps to benefit others.
At least that's how I take it.
Quote Of The Day: "Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods." Aristotle
This Day In History: William Shakespeare died in Stratford-on-Avon, England on this date, April 23rd, 1616.
Hindsight is 20/20 and sometimes what you see in the rearview mirror can be painful. Sometimes it can be pleasant. Sometimes it can remind you of the mistakes you have made and it allows you to help your loved ones avoid the same pitfall.
If I could go back in time, I would have spent more time with my Mom and Grandparents as I got older. By the time I graduated high school at the age of 18, I had already been working in professional radio for two years. All I saw in front of me was my career and what decisions I would have to make in the future. All I saw was my next air shift, my next assignment. I had great enthusiasm for my life and future and everything kind of fell to the wayside. I was spending more time away from home and at work and school.
If I could have seen the future at that point, I would have realized I would only have 6 more years with my Grandfather before his death. When I moved out of the home I grew up in at the age of 20, he was...in his own way...asking me not to go and to stay. But all I saw in front of me was the increased sense of freedom I would have and the excitement of paving my own way in life. I moved 30 minutes away to attend school at Iowa State University and I still ended up coming home 3-4 days a week to have dinner with him and my Mom. But if I had stayed home and continued living with them, I would have had more time with him to talk and laugh.
The older I get, the more I realize all of life is simply about time. Time you get to spend with your loved ones and everything that ends up interrupting that time. My sons will only be this age once. I only get one chance to see them discover life and to help teach them the facts of life. One chance to let them know that their Dad loves them and wants to be with them as much as possible.
As they get older, they will need whatever wisdom I have gathered about life to help them make their way through their own lives. One of the things I will teach them is to not squander their time. I will gently impress upon them the need to not cut short the time they could spend with their loved ones.
This idea that I shortchanged my Grandfather on time is bothersome to me. I sometimes think about it at night after I kiss the boys and tuck them into bed. I often think "I want as much time with them as possible". Then I stop and think and realize my Grandfather probably thought the same about me and the day I left home must have been a sad one for him. Looking back, with hindsight being 20/20, it is a sad day for me.
Quote Of The Day: "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier." Mother Teresa
This Day In History: Former President Richard Nixon died of a stroke at the age of 81 on this date, April 22nd, 1994.
My friend Scott sent me an e-mail once, saying I should write a blog topic based on an idea from one of my blog readers. I agreed it was a good idea and put him on the spot. I asked him what he wanted me to write about and he said he would send me 20 questions upon which to base a blog.
So here's the list of questions Scott sent me along with my answers. Here we go!
1.Do you have any siblings? Yes.
2. How do you get along with your family? Good. I have a great relationship with my Mom and I am crazy about my wife and our two kids.
3. Where are your from? Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa.
4. What do you like to do in your free time? Read about history and catch a nap.
5. Have any bad habits? An amazing lack of patience.
6. Describe yourself in 3 words. Cranky Impatient Guy.
7. What was your first car? A 1973 Ford Gran Torino.
8. What personality traits do you look for in a friend? A MUST is a sense of humor. If you can't laugh at life, it will eat you.
9. What do you most appreciate in life? Hard work. People who lie, cheat and backstab to get ahead get found out in the end. Those who work hard are respected and appreciated (at least they should be).
10. Are you mostly a clean or messy person? I am a mostly clean person but my desk is messy; shows an active mind.
11. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? In a beach house in Santa Monica, California.
12. List 5 goals on your life’s to-do list. (1) Raise two confident kids with my wife. (2) Write a book. (3) Host a radio talk show. (4) Retire at age 66 with an even 50 years in broacasting. (5) Take my wife on an overseas vacation when the kids get older.
13. Name one regret you have. I wish I could spend more time with my kids at night. Working nights is tough.
14. What’s your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night? Go get ice cream with Mandy and the boys.
15. What`s your favorite song of all time? "Something About You" by Level 42. A good poppy sound to it.
16. What’s your favorite movie? "Fletch" with Chevy Chase. Witty and tons of memorable lines.
17. How long have you been married? This August it will be 10 years!
18. Name one place you would like to visit in the next 5 years? The Smithsonian Museum. What a wonder!
19. What would be your dream job? Full-time novel writer.
20. If you won 10 million dollars, what would you do? Start a radio station with a strong emphesis on news and take a long vacation with my family.
All right. There it is. The 20 questions Scott wanted answered!
Quote Of The Day: "Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." Mahatma Gandhi
This Day In History: Mark Twain died at the age of 74 on this date, April 21st, 1910.
If you're new to the blog, then you don't know that last September-October, I had a chance to travel in Italy for 10 days. It was the first time I had ever been overseas and I loved it. I especially enjoyed my time in Rome.
Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world. Many buildings and roads in the city were built before the time of Christ and they still exist. Vatican City is amazing. I am Catholic and to be standing at the Pope's home church and knowing that Peter The Apostle is buried inside the Church was very touching and humbling to me. The city is modern and ancient at the same time. It is always bus and bustling. Visitors don't feel like outsiders. I didn't at least but I like to travel and blend in.
I was thinking the other night how great it would be to be back in Rome and to be walking down to a Cafe to grab some Gelato. It's like ice cream but much creamier. It looks like cool whip when they make it but has the consistency of ice cream and it's available everywhere in Rome. Gelato is part of the culture with wonderful flavors like Coconut, Chocolate Coffee and more. It is so good.
I remember during our trip, we had an afternoon of free time. I was down to a Gelateria, ordered a bowl and just walked around Rome, admiring the architecture. Sometimes I would sit on some stairs and just people watch. It was fascinating. I played "fly on the wall" and it was something else. It was exciting!
I've already told Mandy, at some point I am taking her to Rome. I want her to see the country and to drink in the history like I did. It was amazing.
Quote Of The Day: "Men willingly believe what they wish." Julius Caeser
This Day In History: The first detective story, Edgar Allen Poe's 'Murders In The Rue Morgue' was first published on this date, April 20th, 1841.
My wife Mandy and I have distinctly different styles as to how we go shopping. Read along and tell me if this is how your household works.
When Mandy goes shopping by herself, she first makes a list of everything we need. Then she goes to the store and finds said items. After that, she walks every aisle of the store to see what might be on sale that we could use at a future date.
When I go shopping by myself, I take the grocery list into the store, find those items then that is IT. I do this because those issues are the ones that are top of mind; the items we need and not necessarily the items we want. Mandy feels her way is better because not only is she covering our bases by getting our "need" items, she is also scouring the store to make sure bargains aren't falling through the cracks.
When Mandy brings home something she got as part of a sale, she'll say "I got this 40% off!" and I'll reply with "If you hadn't bought it, it would have been 100% off! I think I'm making perfect sense. Mandy, as with most topics, just rolls her eyes at me and continues on with whatever she was doing.
Is this how it works in your home? Which way do you think is better? I think my way allows us to get what we need without spending extra money (or time) at the store. That's just me though. Let me know what you think.
AND I have run into another case of poor grocery store manners; a woman at the store takes her cart to the check-out counter, tells the clerk she forgot to pick up one item, runs to get that item, doesn't return in time and ends up holding the line up. When she does return she has FOUR separate items. Again, some people think the world is about them. Do you know what I do when I forget to pick up an item and I'm already in the check-out line? I silently call myself a moron and write a note to buy it later. I don't hold up the line and delay everyone else's life. Is it that hard?
Quote Of The Day: "A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." Herm Albright
This Day In HIstory: The Apollo 13 astronauts safely splashed down after their near-disasterous flight on this date, April 17th, 1970.
Growing up, the answer to the question "Who do you admire most?" had always been my Grandmother. From birth through childhood, she is the person I was closest to growing up. I told her my secrets, my goals and my fears. She would bolster me when I needed it and shoot me down when I needed it. Sometimes, as I can now recognize looking back, young men need to be knocked down a peg sometimes.
But as I age, I find myself changing my perceptions of who I admire most. Don't get me wrong, I still strongly identify with my grandmother. But age and experience are also making me realize how much admiration I have for my grandfather.
He would work endless hours, a schedule which would require a lot of time away from his family. He loved his family deeply but didn't always like to show it for fear of being seen as soft. He was a grouch who also enjoyed time to himself to think and reflect and to tinker. He was a thoughtful man who loved Opera but would watch it on TV while sipping a beer and eating potato chips. The older I get, the more I find myself relating to him. I too work a lot of hours which takes me away from my family. I love my family more than words but feel I have to be a little "tough" on the boys so they grow up knowing the world owes them nothing. I am a grouch who enjoys time to myself to read or to research a hobby. The more of my life that I live, the more I feel I am able to understand his life and how he thought. I see him in me now. I never really have before. I look at the backs of my hands and see what look like his hands. I find myself calling my sons "Pison", which is Italian for "little buddy". It's what my grandfather called me growing up and what Italians called him when he was a G.I. in World War Two.
There are marked differences as well: he could fix anything, I can't. He had no fear of needles. They scare me to death. He was kind of a country kid and I am a city boy. But we share the same blood; his runs through me. He was an amazing man and a complex one: I realize that the more I age.
Quote Of The Day: "Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of." Ellen Goodman
This Day In History: Financier Bernard Baruch coined the term "cold war" in a speech in South Carolina on this date, April 16th, 1947.
A blogger friend of mine suggesting I choose this topic for the next blog I would write. I find it kind of a fascinating topic because it made me stop and think about the worst injury I have ever suffered.
As a child, I sliced my right foot open on a piece of metal and bled like a stuck pig all over my folks' kitchen. That was fun. Then there was the time I caught a lawn dart...with my chin. One time, Mandy and I hit a deer at 70 MPH just south of Sioux City and the exploding air bag tore all the skin off my inner forearms (ouch).
If I had to boil it down, I would have to say the worst injury I have ever suffered happening in about 1995. I was driving north on Highway 75 between Sioux City and Le Mars, Iowa. I was coming up behind a slow moving tractor and was getting ready to pass him. The next thing I know, my pass is interrupted by a white Monte Carlo which cuts me off on the road. I start cussing the guy when I quickly realize I am still accelerating to pass the tractor. That is, until the tractor stopped me when I slammed into the grain bin it was hauling behind it. I was in a Ford mini-station wagon. It was no match for the grain bin the tractor was hauling. It dinged up the car and me; the seat belt saved me from serious injury but it snapped my Sternum bone in the chest. Ow, it was so painful!
I got the full treatment: ambulance with back board and an ambulance ride to St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City. X-rays and medication and time off from work. Thankfully, the driver of the tractor wasn't injured in any way. Just me.
I spent about the next four days at home, not moving much. In fact, I slept most of the time because of the pain killers. Every once in a while, I am reminded of that accident when I'm at home wrestling with the boys. One of them will put pressure on the center of my chest and I can still feel some pain from where that Sternum bone snapped. It is the only broken bone I've ever had and it took me hitting a tractor's grain bin to break it. I guess it's a testament to all the milk I drank growing up.
Quote Of The Day: "A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world." Edmond de Goncourt
This Day In History: The Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen was liberated by Canadian and British troops on this date, April 15th, 1945.
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