My mission!

I was working out in the gym the other day and I had a guy come up to me and ask this question, "Do you have people say you look a lot like Reggie Miller?" At that point I smile and say "All the time."

For those of you who don't know, Reggie Miller is a former NBA player. He currently works for TNT/TBS as an analyst for NBA basketball games. He's 6'6 I'm 6'3. He's a multi-millionaire and I'm still trying to pay my college loans. When he shaved his head/cut his hair close a few years back, the comparisons started coming out of the woodwork.

This year alone, I've had people ask me for an autograph, been stopped by airport security to double check my ID, had someone yell don't let Reggie Miller shoot while I was playing basketball, and had a hotel employee put me to the front of the line thinking I was Reggie Miller.

The picture above is a copy of one of my slides from presentations. When I show the slide, the audiences start laughing and go crazy. I've been hearing the Reggie Miller comments for the last 10+ years. Friends buying me figurines of Reggie Miller; friends saying I should dress up as him for Halloween; and several people stopping me to ask me if I was him. Too Funny!

My mission is to meet the man I'm compared too. I want to meet him and get a side by side photo. Today I wrote a radio show he'll be a guest on to see if I can meet him. I'm also searching the internet to find his contact information. I think meeting him will be great and the stories and photos will be even funnier.

Outdoor Photos

I looked at the blog and noticed I hadn't posted any pictures lately. I need to fix that! Kelly ran a 5K this morning in Phoenix. She hasn't run in the last two weeks, but turned in a really good time. I didn't run, so I decided to take a few photos in the Papago Park while Kelly was running. Enjoy!

Rowing the Atlantic

One of my former students/current friend is attempting to break a world record. Katie Spotz will attempt to row the Atlantic Ocean from South America to Africa in 2009. She'll be raising money for charity. Katie has already done some amazing things; rode a bicycle across America to raise money for charity and run 100K race in Australia.

For more information on her, sponsoring her trip and the world record please go to this website: Row for Water

Better Gas Milage

$4 a gallon for gas. Over $50 to fill up your gas tank. Cars with poor gas milage. What are people to do? I was watching the CBS Morning News and learned about "Hypermiling." It's a driving technique people can use to improve gas milage. The reporter using the driving techniques improved their gas consumption from 43 miles per gallon to 70 miles per gallon (driving a Toyota Prius). The instructor let people know that you don't have to drive a hybrid to improve your gas milage. The reporter arrived to their destination about 4 minutes slower than they normally do, but they saved over 20 miles per gallon.

The technique must work, because I recently read an article about airlines improving their fuel consumption. Airlines are having their pilots fly slower to save fuel. The flight are only 10 minutes longer on average, but saving tons of fuel.

For more information, go to the websites below:

Cleanmpg.com
Hypermiling.com

What's in your medicine cabinet?

As we get older we start to think more and more about what we put into and on our bodies. I read a lot of magazines and websites. I've been working on increasing my book reading too. Currently, I'm reading "Twinkie, Deconstructed." The book is about all the food preservatives and chemicals we put into our foods. Pretty amazing to find out where things come from and the damage they can do to you. 

I've been on a real big health kick and I'm trying to better educate myself. It's amazing what we are and aren't taught as we grow up. We have a blind trust in a lot of the products we buy, use and consume.

A few weeks ago there was a national story about the chemicals in the plastic bottles and cans used to hold our foods and beverages. Last week I sat with Kelly on the sofa and watched Oprah with her. Yes, I watch Oprah (Take my man card away now)! The show was about saving the environment and going green. The show started listing chemicals in everyday products we use and how they can harm us. The show also listed several websites and products. 

Kelly says Im "the researcher",  so true to form I started researching more on the internet, in a couple of magazines and scanned through a book or two. All I can say is "WOW!" 

There is so much out there we don't know about. Things that aren't safe, but are sold to make a profit. Why make something safe when you can use a chemical to make it cheaper to increase the bottom line.

I won't start preaching or telling people how to live their lives, but when you get a chance, do a search on the internet or in the local library on food additives. Also do a search on chemicals or safety or beauty products. Start reading the labels. You'll be amazed at what's in a lot of products. Hard to imagine that you would put something in or on your body if  you don't know what it is. What if it's a know cancer causing agent. Would you still use it because it's on sale? Hmmm. Kelly and I plan to change a lot of our household products this summer!

Check out this website-

COSMETICSDATABASE  -when you get some free time. It's lists the safety of over 25,000 products. 

Upcoming Dates/Performances

My 2008-2009 speaking schedule is starting to fill in. As more dates become available, I'll be sure to add them to the blog and the website. If you are near any of the following locations, please stop by and say hello!

August 2008

8/16 - Park University-Parkville, Missouri

8/20 - Central Michigan University-Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

8/23 - Albright College-Reading, Pennsylvania

8/24 - Franklin, College - Franklin, Indiana

8/28 - Blackhawk Technical College -Janesville, Wisconsin

8/31 - Graceland University-Lamoni, Iowa

January 2009

2/23 - The Univeristy of Akron-Akron, Ohio

The Adventures of Flat Stanley

Kelly and I with Flat Stanley

Over the last week, I've been keeping busy with a special visitor. A friend of mine from Ohio sent his buddy "Flat Stanley" out for a visit. Stanley is part of a second grade project. Stanley is sent out to a friend or family member who lives in a different part of the country. Stanley hangs out for a week and learns about the area. Stanley then returns back to school a week later, with pictures and stories about his adventure.

Here are a few of the pictures and stories from Stanley's trips to Arizona. I took him just about everywhere. Being ex-military(notice the camouflage), he came with a "tough guy" look on his face, but by the time the trip was over, I got him to smile.

Stanley at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks 

Stanley at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Home of Super Bowl 42

Stanley and I visit the downtown farmers market

Stanley relaxing at the pool.

I had Stanley play a little basketball with me and some friends. He got dunked on several times!

Nice cold beverage (Strawberry Tea) for lunch.

Stanley at the Arizona Capitol Building

Stanley was looking a little "FLAT" so I took him to the gym to work out.

We did a little hiking and rock climbing. Thats when I first saw the smile!

A little dessert training. The smile got bigger!

Congratulations!

Robyn and Maribel

CONGRATULATIONS! Congrats to all of the college and  high school graduates. It's that time of the year. The time when people close to us are acknowledged for all the pain, sweat, tears, long hours and large amount of money spent to earn their education. I had a couple of close friends graduate this past weekend. I wanted to congratulate Maribel and Robyn on their Master's Degrees. I also wanted to Congratulate Rebecca on her Bachelor's Degree. Great job ladies, best of luck with your future plans!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the mother's our there especially my MOM, Happy Mother's Day!

Albuquerque

This past weekend I went to Albuquerque, New Mexico with Kelly. We went to spend time with Kelly's family and to run in the 23rd Annual Run for the Zoo. Kelly and I plan to run a full marathon in 2009. She began training about few months ago. I recently began running again. We both signed up for the 10K (6.2 mile) race. I was a little worried because I was sick this weekend and I've never run at altitude. Albuquerque is over a mile high in elevation (5300 Feet). Things were a little tough the first 2-3 miles, but I adjusted. Kelly and I finished right around our goals (56 minutes and 70 minutes). We're still waiting for the official results to be posted.

Here a few pictures of New Mexico

Saturday morning Little League Baseball. Watched Kelly's nephew play.

Sandia Mountains

Jackalope Gift Shop

Downtown Albuquerque

Returning Home!

Thanks for coming out to here me and Rodger run our mouths!

My former co-workers

Last week before my big computer incident I returned to Ohio to speak at Lakeland Community College. I've called Lakeland "home" for over twelve years. I've called Northeast Ohio home for over fifteen years. 

I was invited to speak at the college I attended, graduated and eventually worked for. I had a good time. A lot of people asked if I was coming back to the college to take back my former position. I told them no. I was told my office was still open. It feels really good when people miss you and want you back. I had a lot of good years in Ohio, but I've moved on to new adventures.

There is a saying that you never really miss the job you leave, but you miss the people. I definitely miss a lot of people who became my friends while living in Ohio. Many of you keep in touch with me often and read this blog. Many of you are like family to me!

I would like to thank, Bob, Chris, Maribel (Thanks for taking photos), Jim, Scott C. Scott L. Danielle, Katye, Patrick, Lo, Tony, Chad, Tracey, Amy, Rich, and Laura for coming out to watch the show.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The title above is what went through my head last Saturday. For the last couple of weeks, I'm been leaving myself the following notes: 

"Clean up your computer files."

"Organize  your computer files."

"BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER FILES."

Did I do all of the above? Nope I did the first two. I was in Ohio, and found some free time to back up my files. When I turned my computer on, I went to check my e-mail. Thats when "IT" happened. My computer locked up. I couldn't shut it down, I couldn't restart. So, I pulled the battery out. When the computer (Apple MacBook) came back on. I got some clicking sounds, some grinding and a gray screen with a flashing folder with a question mark on it.

I tried several times to restart my computer. I jumped on the internet from a friends computer to type in the symptoms to find a clue to what was going on. Nothing worked, so I returned to Arizona and went to the Apple Store. They looked at my computer and said the words no one wants to hear..."It looks like  your hard drive is dead." AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

The repair guy told me he wasn't sure, but there was a good chance, everything on my computer was gone! He said he'd have tech look at it and give me a call to let me know. The next day I got "the call." My hard drive was replaced and a crack in my keyboard was fixed too. (Thank you extended warranty...everything was fixed for free) Bu, they couldn't save my files. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  

After freaking out for about five minutes and thinking of everything I possibly lost, my calm/rational side took over. There was nothing I could do about the information I lost. I could only concentrate on what I could do. (no I can't build a time machine) I realized that I backed up files on my computer before I moved to Arizona. I also backed-up a few files on my jump drive. Any pictures I took from the last time I backed up my computer were lost. But I remembered I put all of my best pictures on my blog. I thought I lost a lot of my music, but wait, I saved all the new stuff on my IPod. Most of my speeches and presentations are on my website and saved with my friend Rodger. After thinking things through, I can recover 95% of what I lost. Wooooooo!!!!!!!

I'll be spending the next couple of weeks putting "humpty dumpty" back together, but I'm happy I'm not creating "humpty dumpty." Yesterday I went out and bought a external hard drive and some new software to help me back up my files every time I connect my computer to it. My lesson had been learned. I'm sharing with everyone here. If you don't have your computer files backed up, please do it now. I don't want any of  you to have that AHHHHH!!! moment. If you're buying a computer, be sure to get the warranty!