thoughtnot

Recently, T-bone and I agreed to play in a church basketball league. T-bone — aka “Mr. Basketball” — ended up poofing out after 3 games with host of issues I can’t divulge due to HIPAA regulations. LOL! That left me to play on my own with the rest of the team.

Now, I’ll be up-front on this… I have absolutely ZERO basketball skills. In fact, they are so poor that on most days I can’t even spell baksetball. I dribble off my feet. I don’t see passes coming. I try to pass, but the ball moves in slow motion when I let go of it. I try to get in low and post up, but get called for 3-second violations. So I move around, which has all the effectiveness of a dog sniffing for a place to pee. I might eventually find someplace to set up, but mostly I’m just sniffing. I try to get in for rebounds, but inevitably there’s some 6′5″ dude with 4′ arms in my way. I have a 3″ vertical jump, so most rebounds just bounce over my head.

But I run… and I do my best. So far I’m averaging about 4pts per game, a few rebounds, maybe an assist or two, and 2 fouls. I should have more fouls, but what the heck… I’m not trying to hurt anyone, especially me! Unfortunately, what I’ve found is most of the guys in my league should be calling me “dad”. Ok, not really, but they ARE mostly like 15 years younger than me!

Last night Emily and the kids came to watch… and I hit my first 3 pointer! YES!! Except the kids didn’t see it. My daughter didn’t believe my wife when she said daddy had hit a basket. My biggest fans don’t even believe it when I hit a shot! LOL!

Rodney Dangerfield had nothing on this. I wonder if they have a church shuffleboard league?

Many of you who know me are likely aware that my grandpa (aka “Pop”) passed away last week. It has been a long week, and it’s still setting in with me, to a degree. At 91yrs (and change), he’s just always been there. It’s pretty amazing, somewhat unusual, and very fortunate that he lived that long and still had all of his faculties. While his body was giving out on him toward the end, his mind was still fairly sharp. I hope I inherited that gene.

Many people have asked if we were close, and I guess you could say we were. In many ways he was like a father to me. As a kid I spent many, many hours on the farm “shadowing” my grandpa around. One of my favorite memories was riding in the combine with him in the fall or sitting on his lap and “driving” the old blue truck. I attended church with him for several years and, for whatever reason, also went to a lot of Farm Bureau meetings. lol! This continued as I grew older, and transitioned from just following and riding along to actually doing things. We spent many hours building fence and stalls, baling hay, bringing in crops, taking care of livestock, and going to shows/auctions/church/etc. Pop was one of the few people who knew how to get me up in the morning. While my grandma would yell at me from the bottom of the stairs until she got mad at me, Pop would come sit on the bed next to mine and start listing off things we needed to do until I finally raised the proverbial white flag and got up.

Like any relationship, Pop and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye on things. We were especially prone and well known for getting into arguments when baling hay. Usually it was because he was going too fast, baling up snakes and wasps, or complaining about the way we were stacking. Fortunately, looking back it’s kind of funny. He used to get mad because I wouldn’t see a wrench that was right next to me. He once fussed because I didn’t know “this way” meant “right”, and “that way” referred to “left”. We were from different generations, but I always looked up to him and hoped he would approve of the job I was doing.

Unfortunately, Pop got out of the cattle business - my favorite part of the farm - not long after I left for college. Then, in 1996 (around the time I got married), he quit the grain-farming operation. He still baled a little hay and boarded horses (there are 4 left there now), but the farm operations had largely ceased. Pop was pretty set in his ways, and sometimes allowed others to take advantage of him. He came from a generation that took people for their word, which seemed to attract a lot of people who had ulterior motives. In recent years, the back fields were sold off for apartment and home developments. I somewhat regret that I did not spend more time there over the past 10 years helping out with things, but as the farm ceased “normal” operations it lost some of the luster for me. I knew I was not going to be able to farm it myself, which made it more difficult for me to spend time maintaining it. That was a bit selfish, I guess. It’s a bit surreal to me now, because this is the first time since the early 1900’s that no-one directely related to me has lived on the farm. And while I’ll still likely do some things around there for a while, it will never again be (even remotely) the way it was. 

As a WWII Army veteran, Pop was part of the “greatest generation” that saw times like we’ll hopefully never see again. But all that considered, he kept a very positive outlook on life and tried not to worry, which is something I need to try harder to emulate. I am fortunate not only to have known my grandpa, but to have lived 37 years with him around. While I often joke about how he used to leave me at church, auctions, the 4-H grounds, etc., he was there for my high school and college graduations, my wedding, my first house, and the births of my children. My kids knew him and loved him, and were also touched by his passing. That is very special to me.

It’s hard to let someone go that you know and love, and it really makes a difference when losing that person changes something that has been so iconic in your life. To me, my grandparents and the farm would just always be there. As a kid, it never crossed my mind that it would ever be any different. Perhaps in Heaven there’s one just like it that my grandparents are farming right now. Only there, everything grows green, the cattle are healthy, and sun and rain comes in precise amounts. The pastor at Pop’s funeral noted that, in Heaven, we will work to tend God’s farm (garden). If that’s the case, then perhaps someday Pop and I will once again mend fence together or even put up some hay. And if so, I promise not to curse at him for going too fast. =)

So I’ll catch you later, Pop. You’ll be missed until then.

 Every now and again, I remember… I have a blog! Then I venture here and try to remember my login, followed by the deletion of a couple hundred spam comments that have been caught by the filter. Such is the life of a ‘blogger’, hanging out in the ‘blogosphere’ and whatnot.

Okay… not really. I actually hit this site about once a week. I just either don’t have time to post, or I forget to. Like in the case of this entry, in which I will discuss my recent 4-wheeling trip back in mid-October. Hey, better late than never. Cinderella was late to the ball, but she still got to hang with the prince and throw a big “boo-yah” to her evil stepsisters. And I don’t know where I’m going with that, so I’ll end the analogy there.

Anyhow, way back in the annals of history, the boys and I decided to take another 4-wheeling trip to West Virginia. That trip was in October 2008, and I wrote about it in February of ‘09. So really, I’m kind of ahead of the game this time! This year, we once again headed south for the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. We left early Friday and arrived at our cabin, between Gilbert and Man, WV, on Friday afternoon. We all rode down in Troy’s dad’s suburban, which was probably one of the gassier trips I’ve been on in a while (thanks mainly to Cowboy, not the Suburban). Friday night was spent at the Colonial Inn and just hanging out.

Saturday morning came early. It always does for me. I was much more disciplined Friday night, so there were no latent effects of the night before. The 4-wheelers arrived EARLY this time, which was good, but they were not as good as those we rented last time. Last year, Danny and I had ‘07 Honda Ranchers, which were pretty nice. This time around, we received older model (’03?) Ranchers, which were a bit more ragged out and not as powerful. In fact, mine died almost every time I came to a stop. They were also not fully automatic, but semi-automatic. That took some getting used to the process of “shifting”. Of course, the other guys all had their own big ‘ol ATVs that could make Mt. Hood look like a hill.

Unfortunately, the weather was not the same this time, either. On our last trip it was unseasonably warm, with temps in the upper 60s to low 70s. This time it was unseasonably cold, with temps in the lower 40s to upper 30s. It was also very wet, having rained for several days that week. But I was prepared with cold-weather gloves, long socks, and (thankfully) my new Carhartt bib overalls that Troy talked me into buying. Those kept me warm and dry. The mud was a lot of fun, of course. It took a little while to build up the courage to run through some of the “puddles” (which were often 1-2′ deep) on those old ATVs, but they proved themselves worthy of at least the green and blue trails. I was NOT confident in taking them on the black trails, and since it was wet we avoided those (whew!). Therefore, everyone kept their seat and had a lot of fun!

Like I said after last year’s trip, I’m hooked. If I could figure out how to get my own 4-wheeler right now, I would. I really enjoy it, and would probably have even more fun if I didn’t have to pay the goofy rental fee and sign half of what I own on the dotted line. And if I didn’t have to rent, I could maybe go more than once a year. It’s nice riding through the woods, even with a helmet on, and aside from the few “oh crap” moments, it’s really very enjoyable. I guess since I’m only 37 I have a few more years to do this, so I still have some time yet (Lord willing…). But knowing I might be able to get my hands on a used 4-wheeler some day doesn’t keep me from salivating over Honda Rincon’s. Where there’s a will… =)

Some of you may recall that in Round 1 of the “Cheap Beer Playoffs“, I tried out six different inexpensive beers. I have grown tired of paying $8 for a 6-pack, and honestly this economy doesn’t justify it. Sure, I’ll still enjoy a nice craft beer from time to time. But to me, there’s nothing particularly outstanding about Michelob Ultra Lite or Bud Select that justifies its price. From Round 1, the advancing challengers were:

- Keystone Light (KL)
- Miller High Life Light (HLL)
- Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR)

Round 2: Miller High Life Light vs. Keystone Light
First, I put the Keystone up against the Miller High Life Light. I found them both to be fairly full-bodied and malty, which I liked. But I found the Keystone to have a bit of a bitter, sharp finish that seemed to settle funny in my stomach. On the other hand the HLL had a pretty smooth finish. Again, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. 

Winner: Miller High Life Light

Round 3: Miller High Life Light vs. Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR)
The final contest was between the classic PBR and the HLL. I had given PBR the ‘bye’ in this contest because, after Round 1, I honestly thought it would be the winner. After all, it is sort of the American standard “working-man’s” beer. And I have to say, it was another close contest. Though the PBR is a little more bitter and carries a little more after-taste, it was still a refreshing beer. BUT, every so often, it would kind of sour my stomach. Sometimes I take a beer to have when I finish riding, and I found this was especially true if I let it warm up slightly before or during the time I was drinking it. On the other hand, the HLL was always consistent. It maintained it’s full taste, and always had that nice malty flavor. And though it gets a little harder to drink when it warms up a bit (despite whatever T-bone may say), I still found it drinkable. It is easy to have one or two of these and really enjoy it. And at rougly $13 for a 30-pack, it beat many of the contenders.

So the overall winner is Miller High Life Light!

You know, as a beer that kind of found its way into the competition at the last minute, this was surprising even to me. It’s not one I would have singled out, initially. And to be honest, this competition has been over for most of the summer now. But I kind of figured I’d hold off on posting the results to ensure that I was committed to my choice. I have now gone through a couple of cases of this, and still find myself enjoying it. So I’m sure it will work for me for a while. But if I need a change of pace, I’d still pick up a case of PBR. =)

Somehow, I managed to let more than a month slip by since my last post. In that brief time, there has been a lot of “stuff” going on. Here’s a rundown of some highlights:

• In late July… nothing happened. Well, not much to speak of, anyhow. In fact… where did July GO?! I think I must’ve slept through it…
   
• In early August, I attended a few cutting horse shows. I didn’t show at any of them, but it was good experience to watch and learn, and of course I got to ride…
   
• In early August, my wife turned 37. Before me. I’m just sayin’…
   
• In mid-August, we took a little family trip to northern Indiana to visit my sister-in-law and her new husband, whom my kids refer to as “Uncle Stinky Feet”. I’m not sure why, but then, I’ve never sniffed his feet, either. Perhaps they got a whiff. Anyhow, we spent a day at the beach on Lake Michigan, and a day in downtown Chicago. We took the kids up to the Sky Deck of the “Willis” (Sears) Tower, and then to Gino’s for deepdish pizza. I think they really enjoyed the train rides, as well.
   
• On August 22nd, I turned 37 (after my wife, of course), and went to my first cutting horse show. After driving all the way to Indy, we realized about 1.5 hours before the show that the mare had cut her leg pretty badly on something. Show was off. But then T-bone helped me borrow a horse. Show was on! But then the horse hadn’t been worked in a while and it was a pretty rough ride (I scored a 60). But there were a lot of positives to take from it, so I’m happy I got the experience and look forward to trying it again on a horse I’ve actually ridden for more than an hour. =)
   
• Today my oldest started first grade… I have mixed emotions. She’s growing up too fast. Tomorrow it’ll be her Senior year. =( / =)
   
• My web site http://helpmikeride.com has raked in tons of visitors and donations. Just kidding… but I’ve had a few of both!
   
• My team began our weight loss challenge, and I’ve lost 5 pounds. But I’m still not back to where I was at the end of the last challenge.
   
• I completed the Cheap Beer Playoffs. Results to come soon!
    

September and October are also shaping up to be VERY busy months for me! But despite the fact we’ve had a mild summer, I am looking forward to Fall. I always do. I love the cooler weather and changing colors and reduced allergen levels. I’ll try to post more in the coming weeks!

Mike

I wanted to post to let everyone know that I have recently put up a new web ste….

Before you get to the link, I want you to know that I’m asking people — somewhat boldly, perhaps — for a small donation. However, a donation is not expected from anyone. Over the years, I’ve witnessed first-hand what “viral marketing” can achieve, particularly on the Internet. People can achieve amazing results when they ask others for a little help. Recent statistics show that there are more than 251 MILLION Internet users in North America, alone! Worldwide, the number of users online now exceeds 1.5 BILLION (source). In the last 9 years, the number of people online in North America has increased by 132.5%. Those numbers are expected to continue to grow.

So what does that have to do with my web site? Simply put, I have a goal… a dream. I feel I have been patient enough in my life in waiting for this to happen, and now I need to do something about it. Sometimes life has a way of happening, and before you know it you’ve lost track of time. Sometimes your dreams get put aside because you just don’t have the means to get started. Well, I’ve been waiting for a while, and now it’s time to grab the proverbial bull by the horns and DO something about it!

I carry the simple hope that I can convince 8000 people to help me realize my goal. That’s a tiny 0.0032% of online users in North America, and an even smaller 0.0005% of the people online in the world (which only represents 23.8% of the world’s population).

So please check out my site today! If you choose to help, that’s great! If not, I will not be offended. But either way, I would like to request that you please forward this message to anyone you know that might be willing to help. If each person that reads this message passes it along a few others (or posts my site address on their facebook or twitter page), then I might just have a shot at making this work!

The address of the site is:
                       
      http://helpmikeride.com/
 
Thank you for your time!! 

Mike