We Are Missing Portland

Hey y'all So I know it has been many moons since I posted anything. Much has been percolating in this grey matter of mine. Slowly but surely I plan to find my way back. In the mean time enjoy this very cool video of one of my favorite places to live. We miss you Portland.

Seagul You Fly & The Beat Goes On

I know, I know, I have bloggy absent for some time. I have been in all the places about and more with 48hrs a week mixed in at home with my beloved family. Yes you read it correctly I get 48 hours a week with my kids and my wife. It has been this way for roughly 6 1/2 months. Update we are moving to Utah- hopefully soon. I love my new job even despite the brutal commute, but as I tell Alayna who will be 10 this summer, it is not our permanent reality.

What is a permanent reality is that while I have been traveling and ensuring that my family has a roof over their head, food on the table and rebuilding my IED destroyed financial dream, Alayna & Jordan have been growing up without my eyes vs. before my eyes. I came home a few weeks ago to find that Alayna had stripped her princess stuff off her walls and put up Carrie Underwood posters. ( could be worse, way worse.At least C. underwood is easy on the eyes and a great voice to boot) But the real kicker was when I went to do my laundry so I had clothes to repack in 24hrs. I walk into the laundry room and placed upon a towel on top of the dryer is a set of very small looking tank tops. I thought someone had shrunk my sons tank tops.. Nooooo.

Me-"Honey, what are these items on the dryer?"

Wife- " Laughing, Oh those are Alayna's new training bras."

Me- " Say What? When? What the? How? Come on.. Really?"

Me- " Are we out of scotch?"

SIGH......

So later that night my wife takes the opportunity to say,

"See honey,look, she is growing up."

I look over not thinking, only to catch a glimpse of my young daughters new found maturity. Now I know this happens to all little girls. It is part of life and growing. But what happened to my little girl whom I used to hold like a football close to my heart and rock to sleep? Point being I have missed so much, and these little surprises are just startling to me. A friend of mine Jessica Bern told me that her dad used travel all the time with his job and it did not make her love him any less. In fact I really respected his hard wrok for us.
(Jessica I paraphrased a bit, but I think I got most of it.)

Thanks, the thoughts did make me feel a bit of comfort.

I mean even my little man Jordan has sprouted in height and his so very grown way of expressing himself and speaking to me. I guess it is time to prep my birds and bees approach and speech. Damn, soon they will be asking for the car, extra lunch money or worse to go on a date. ( note to self, buy shotgun shells, wife beater tee-shirts and keep working out.)

I guess this is all inevitable. I just hoped I would be there when it all happened. Big ups to my awesome wife for keeping this crazy band of hooligans in line, homework done, mouths fed, and some sense of normalcy during this interesting time.

Well back to my hotel room and a good workout. Down 22lbs since October. Soon to have my girlish figure back. Maybe I will run into you on my travels. If I do, I need a hug.

Keep On Rock'in In The Free World

Mad World PlayGround Politics Thursday

So lets do this. We live in a Mad Mad World these days. I am not sure that moon hangs as high as it used to? I do not know if the sun really wants to shine anymore. I just don't know. Do you? I do know the rain is not going to wash away our countries troubles and to hide behind any ill accepted idea that our government is going to be able to fix this is foolhardy at best. Our happiness is not a map that lands on our door step each morning. It is our personal choice.

With this said,Our faces are a map of the world, our world. I think we all need to make a concerted effort and attempt to resurrect our mad worlds from this cess pool of a bovine balderdash economy and find a ray of hope, a new garden path or new personal plan to boldly move forward with on our own as neighborhoods and communities. Pay it forward no matter how small the action. Smile at someone when you may not have. Choose to be happy even if you feel frustrated and helpless. I promise you it will pay your psyche back in spades. God Bless you all.

I had the opportunity to spend lunch and recess with my 6yr old son today. What a cathartic and insightful time. The politics of the playground came shining through. Much like our adult world the playground has politics and a pecking order. Sad yes, but true. I took the chance to teach 20 boys how to throw a football properly ( they may never get that at home ). Sad but true. I chose to make sure that each kid got the chance to throw and feel for even a small moment like they were the star. After 30 minutes of this the mood and attitude of the alpha boys changed for the better. Maybe just because I was there, but they began to share with the smaller kids and cheer them on. If only for a small window of time it felt as though the tables were set evenly. I tried to impress upon these young lads that each of them had skills and by sharing they could become better individually and help their classmates become better. Without knowing the teacher had watched me paint this picture, she approached me after the bell rang and gave me a hug and told me how beautiful it was to see the kids get it and actually play together rather than the old traditional playground politics. The resounding lesson is that it only takes a few minutes to stop our crazy mad fast paced lives and teach a child. Their smiles as they feel the new confidence and success are such a great thank you. Pay it forward...



Keep On Rockin In The Free World

To the Asian individual who keeps posting their inappropriate non response comments. If our paths ever cross physically, I hope you can run fast.

I am so damned mad about this idiot who keeps posting her naked Asian website info within my honest and heartfelt, well thought out posts I do not know what to do. I feel helpless. I tracked down her site only to get an eye full of gross Asian kinky porn that no one should be subjected to and 70 billion pop ups and weird computer responses, so I shut down before my computer got fried.. I have tried to block her, sent a message asking kindly to cease and desist from this on my site, all to avail. I don't know what to do. Please help before I make CNN headline news. If anyone has any ideas please pass them on. I am not sure if I move to Wordpress or what? All I can say is, if I run into this person it would not end well for them after they have disrespected me, my work and those whom I have written about. Message to the perp: Your nasty, unforgivable sexual acts being posted in a chickenshit, non response manner on my blog disrespecting my friends is not acceptable at any level. God Bless your soul should our paths ever cross you foolish, foolish ass hat.

AAAUURGH !!!!!!

I Am Woman , Hear Me Roar..!!

Yes this is a re-post. But it carries enough importance that I want to share it again.

I look out my office window and the rain is coming down in its traditional torrential Oregon fashion for November. These long wintry days can drag a person down to be sure, but today I am completely and utterly overjoyed and happy. You see, I just got off the phone with my brother from another mother. This long awaited conversation is one that to be completely transparent I did not know I would ever have. Break out the tissues because in the following muse we are going to take a walk of life.

Today's call started back on another cold wintry day last March. As is customary, once every few weeks, I take a moment to call my dear friend Skip (who is my friend & brother and was my roommate and teammate at Virginia Tech.) to catch up on life and our families. Skip sounded pretty upbeat as is usual for his demeanor, but I could tell even 2,500 miles and at least 8 states away something was wrong.

You see, 7 years ago Skip married a spicy, smokin' hot, southern accented gal named Karen. The first time I met Karen, while visiting Skip in Richmond, I just knew she was the one for my friend. To compliment her beauty she has a fiery spirit & zest for life that is completely infectious. Hopefully you have had the joy of knowing this type of person. Everything about them makes you want to be around them 24-7 because their attitude and approach to life makes you and your life so much more robust. Oh yeah, and she has the most rocking, smoky, sultry voice. She should have her own record, seriously. Most importantly, she is a kind, gentle, loving mother and wife.


One afternoon in February, while snuggling with her 2 year old son Michael, Karen felt a small lump in her breast. Literally, within a few days that small lump had grown into a massive malignant tumor, which required a partial mastectomy. Karen was diagnosed with a rare and extremely aggressive form of breast cancer. She has had multiple rounds of chemotherapy, a full blood transfusion to save her life from a blood infection and is now enduring radiation treatment. The prognosis has been uncertain at best.




When Skip broke this news to me all I could do the rest of the day was fight off the tears that kept welling up in my eyes out of fear and hurt for my friends. I held my wife and would not let go as I told her of the news. I held my kids when they arrived home from school. I know, I am a big baby. But I don't care. I care about people and especially the ones I love and cherish like my family and friends. I committed myself to think that

"damn it, she is a tough, spirited woman and she is going to kick this cancer's ass! She just has to. It's that simple. Little Michael and Skip need her! She completes them. She is not done here. She has so much more to offer this world."

The randomness of life dealing cards like this to good, awesome people has, and always will be, a complete mystery to me.

So to digress, as I stated earlier, I am overjoyed, utterly and completely HAPPY today and with tears to boot! Skip has told me that Karen's doctors seem to feel that she is going to be a survivor. I do not pretend to know or understand all the intricacies of the nightmare Karen and Skip have endured during this 9 months of hell. I do know this-- Karen is one of the strongest galvanizing people I know. I know I am a stronger person because of her strength. She is a testament to the desire to live and fight the good fight with the tenaciousness of a lion. She has inspired me, my family and my parents with her resolve. I hope that God continues to shine down on her. You ROCK girl! We love you.

Fly The I Bought A Half Seat Skies

So, as most of you know I have been traveling a great deal lately. Well, every week the past 2 months. I usually begin with a commute to Salt Lake City at 6am every Monday morning. Well on this beautiful day I commuted but I commuted in half a plane seat. Yes i would like to thank the airlines for not making the lady who sat in 11E this morning buy E & F. So I got to spend the entire flight with her stinky perfume glossed fat ass & armpit drooling over into my seat. I think my left shoulder which was forced out into the aisle may be dislocated after taking multiple hits from the beverage cart and the flight attendants.

To make it worse the flight attendants kept looking at this bovine creature and did nothing about the situation. Thanks Delta Airlines, maybe I should bill you back for a half a seat? I am usually a very kind and caring person, but when I pay for a seat I want my seat to be mine damnit. I guess I can only pray for my upgrades to come more often. To boot, this thing acted like she did not have a care in the world. As though I just have to deal with her innconviencing me. I do understand we all come in different shapes and sizes, but there has to be something the airlines can do about situations like this.. Or people need to take action themselves to not allow themselves to treat others with this kind of high disrespect. Buy 2 seats fool.


"Keep On Rocking In The free World"

Wordful Wednesday, One Of My Favorite Vaction Spots

We honeymooned on this jewel of the Caribbean and have gone back now 7 times since. Just looking at this picture I can hear the Kenny Chesney in the background. This is the last villa we rented with 4 of our favorite couples. Oh the memories run deep for us there. The air is warm and relaxation is the only appointment scheduled. Well, maybe a burger at Skinny Legs on the far north end of the island. This place is known as the island of love. I sure do love it and can't wait to go back someday.

No better way to finish off a day of chartered snorkeling in the very close BVI than to stop off at The Willey T and say hello to Zeus and down something cool in the Shotski.


Sunsets like these never get old on St. John USVI in my old blue chair..


Now go check out more wonderful places that Angie's friends are sharing.



Keep On Rockin In The Free World

What time Zone Am I In?

So, I really am not sure what time zone I am in after the past 4 weeks of my life. As I packed and prepared to embark on my latest trip across the country to visit one of my valued customers my wonderful daughter Alayna packed "Munchie The Travel Monkey" in my bag.

"Please take Munchie Daddy, he will keep you company and keep you safe." This is just one of many reasons I love her. She looks out after me and I look out after her. The following is the results of "Munchie's" great travels.


"Munchie" working hard to return emails and answer customer questions before the flight to Atlanta.


"Munchie" waiting for a red coat agent to tell us we got an upgrade.


"Munchie hanging in his seat, awaiting wheels up to Pittsburgh.
"When do we get the peanuts & drinks?"


"Munchie" chillin in his hotel after a long day of travels.
" Where is my dinner dude? How about a foot massage?"


"Munchie" Meets a Pittsburgh hall of Fame Hero in the Steel city. The Immaculate reception. Time to fly to C-Town.


"Munchie" hangs out and awaits a flight from Cincinnati to Salt lake City inside the Delta widget.


"Munchie" spends time hanging in Dad's office in Ogden.



"Munchie" enjoying his perch on the Salomon Koozie while dad works.


Finally, "Munchie" gets his wings prior to flying home to Portland. Apparently Dad was not a threat and did not meet the terrorist profile, so the pilots allowed "Munchie" to co-pilot. he is awaiting the final paperwork and ready to give his pre departure announcment. To be true, it sounded a bit like Charlie Brown's Mother on the phone.
"Mumble, mumble, Portland. Mumble, mumble fasten seat belts. Mumble, mumble have a nice flight."

Another week of national travel successfully completed. Alayna was correct. "Munchie" did keep me company and did keep me safe. Bless you my sweet girl. Daddy loves you. "Munchie made for a great travel companion.

Make it a Great Weekend Y'all!!!

Keep On Rockin In The Free world.

Planes, Autos & Max Headrum?

Ok so it has been one month since I began this new and exciting journey. I sit here in the last hour of my flight home after 6 days on the road reflecting on the week’s absolute madness but sheer joy. Much was accomplished in these past days as I and a strong team of our Salomon staff attended multiple pre season ski sales throughout the greater Denver area. A true Labor Day weekend. By all accounts the economy is showing signs of coming back. People were out in full force spending money on big ticket ski items not just window shopping. Either the economy is starting to show signs of coming out of the flat line or people have decided that last year they were miserable and spent and did nothing after getting bum rushed by the fledgling economy and have now decided if they are gong to get screwed by the government, at least this ski season they were going to have a damn good time while doing so. I agree. If you’re going down, go down with a smile and enjoy the ride.

Things seem to be good. I love what I do. That is not hard when what you do is what you love outside of work. So the question is, is it really work if your work is your passions? Kind of like the Cadillac commercial with the beautiful Kate Walsh. “When you turn on your car, does it return he favor?”

The family is doing well. We have been feverishly searching for a new home in Utah. We may have identified a few. The downside is we must sell our beloved home in Portland for a profit to do anything on the other end, which goes against the mindset of the relo folks who think they own our home. SCREEEEEEEECH>>>>>NOT!!!! WE DO!Got it. Unlike the Obama health plan or serving my tax dollars to those jackholes on wall street to pay their bonuses for driving this global economic Hummer into the Grand Canyon, I am not letting anyone shove this down my throat.. Point made.

More updates as I have time. My travel schedule has been Crazy.(I have been reading each of your efforts at night and love your work. Thank you for helping keep me real and sain.) I am off to the east coast at Oh’ dark thirty Tuesday morning to start this next week’s madness. Oh, I swear I saw Max Headrum walking through the Salt Lake Airport. I just could not get my camera out in time. Next time I will catch that elusive creature. God Bless.

Keep On Rockin In The Free World.

Saturday's Funny's

Ok, So if you like the show Two & A Half Men. These short turbo dating snippets are some very funny stuff. I hope you get a good laugh. Remember laughter is the best medicine.

Turbo Dates: Size Matters

Keep On Rock'in In The Free World