The Story

Everyone has one. A story they tell over and over again to anyone that will listen. The story you start telling until the other person reminds you that you've told it before. I have a doozy and this week's winter weather afforded me the opportunity to pull it out of storage and tell a new audience. It was January 1996 in Wilmington, DE. I was working as a mutual fund accountant and my job was to calculate the daily prices for several funds. It started snowing on a Saturday night and didn't stop until early Monday morning. I was still new on the job and trying to be diligent I walked over two miles to the office through two feet of snow. The entire east coast was shut down but I marched through the snow to work. I was literally (don't like the word literally) the only person in the office that usually was full of several hundred other employees. I got to work and not only priced the funds that I worked on but priced several dozen more covering for co-workers who couldn't make it in. Fourteen hours later I walked back home two miles in the dark. I wish I could say it was up hill both ways but it was pretty flat. The next morning more people made it in including my boss who awarded me gift for my dedication. Drum roll......a $50 AMEX gift check. Was it worth it for $50? No, but it was worth doing so that I could tell the story for the rest of life.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Mouth organ

I am a huge fan of music. All genres. I truly respect musicians whether they are skilled or not. Music can be about creating something that is your own or playing another person's composition. I appreciate all instruments...except one. The harmonica. Every time I hear someone playing that vial instrument I cringe. The sound it makes is worse than nails on a chalkboard to me. And chances are when you hear someone playing one they think they are cool for doing so. They are probably very animated and engrossed in what they are doing. Do them a favor and ignore them. If they talk to you about their music tell them that it is not a real instrument. The harmonica was created to be played and listened to by the same person. A cowboy around a fire maybe. It was not meant to be shared with others and for good reason. It sounds horrible.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Conference calls

Regardless of you occupation more than like you participate in conference calls. In this day of global commerce they are a must so that many people can have a conversation regardless of their location. I work for a very large company and conference calls are a daily occurrence for me. Today I was part of a call that reminded me why conference call etiquette is very important. The call included over two hundred people from all over the country. There were less than 10 speakers so everyone else should have been muted. Call etiquette rule number one...make sure you are muted if you are just listening to a call. Whoever this joker was today wasn't muted and took a call on their cell phone and proceeded to talk bad about the call we were on. It took over a minute for this person to realize what they were doing. It was painful to listen to and I can only imagine what that person feels like now. So embarrassed I hope. The other rules are easy and pertain to any phone call. Don't eat and talk during a conference call. It just sounds gross. The last one is avoid long awkward pauses. They can turn a good call into a train wreck. If a long pause is brewing please nip in the bud and say something. Your audience will appreciate it.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Daddy Daughter Dance

I had the pleasure of attending the annual Daddy Daughter dance at my daughter's school this weekend. This was not our first dance but it was the first at her new school. The planning committee did a very nice job of decorating and putting on a good time. It's funny they call it a Daddy Daughter dance because I didn't dance with my daughter all night. She danced and ran around with her friends and I enjoyed watching her have a good time. I was very happy to see that the dance was not just for the little girls. The upper and high schools were well represented too. I guess going to a dance with your Dad continues to be fun as you get older. I look forward to going back each year and I'm sure one of these time we will actually dance together.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Can't look away

I love a good movie and I've come to realize that I love some really bad movies too. There are two that come to mind. In fact they both star the same guy. Ben Affleck. Think real hard. Which two Affleck movies are so over the top bad that you have to watch them every time they are on? Armageddon and Pearl Harbor. They are very different but yet so similar. One is so far fetched and one is based on an actual event. Besides Ben Affleck they both have in common incredible amounts of cheese and bad acting. I mean really bad acting. These movies turn Oscar winning actors into jokes. See Billy Bob Thorton and Cuba Gooding Jr. I should link to some of the most painfully brutal scenes in each film but I won't. You need to sit through them again and appreciate how bad they are and then tell me why I have to watch them when they are on. I can't figure it out.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Eddie

The next of my personal heroes I wanted to write about is Eddie Van Halen. I became a fan almost 30 years ago. Eddie has battled many personal demons over the years and is by no means someone I would want to imitate. My appreciation of him solely revolves around his guitar playing. He inspired me to start playing the guitar when I was young and I continue to play today. I thought I would be able to play like Eddie one day but quickly realized that was not going to possible. He was an innovator and one of the most skilled players to ever live. I'm not....but I found my own style and am happy with how it has turned out.

In addition to begin a talented guitarist Eddie is a skilled song writer and composer. My first VH concert was in 1989 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and my most recent concert was in 2012 in Greensboro, NC. Though the front man of Van Halen has changed several times Eddie has remained consistent. The glory days of the Eddie and the band are long gone but I am thankful I was introduced to this music. I introduced me to the world of guitar which will be a passion of mine through life.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Oysters

People are in one of two camps as far as oysters are concerned. You either love them or are disgusted by the thought of them. I am talking raw oysters on the half shell. Fried, steamed and roasted don't count. To really appreciate an oyster you need to eat it raw. With a little cocktail sauce there is not much better. Until last year I was one of those who wouldn't think about eating a raw oyster. They looked gross and slimy. Last Spring in Chicago while hanging out with my younger brother I bit the bullet and order a dozen oysters on the half shell. I'm sure the beer I'd been drinking helped but I found them delicious. I've actually become pretty particular about my oysters. I prefer them from the east coast....Maine to be specific. I enjoyed a dozen this week will in San Francisco. Nice to know you can get a little bit of Maine while on the opposite side of the country. If you aren't and oyster fan give them another try. I think you'll like them.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Bud

I enjoy a good beer. I am always anxious to try a new brew. To be honest most disappoint. The most common issue for me is too much hops. In this day of micro brews people have fallen in love with beers with an over the top hoppy taste. I am not one of those people. I think a beer should be refreshing. Hops aren't refreshing. Dark, heavy beers are also in vogue. There is a place for a dark beer but it is not something I look for when I come home from a long day. I've searched for my beer for a long time. Tried many and loved few. Turns out my favorite beer is the king of beers. Yep...a Budweiser. But not just an bud...a cold bud in a can. Hits the the spot every time and it is always easy the find. I wish I had one right now.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Tater Tots

If you've been reading the blog you know for 2014 I swore off French fries.  Work took me to San Francisco this week and ended up eating tater tots.  Close to fries but different.  So 24 days in and I'm hanging in there....barely.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Feed the birds

The 1964 Disney classic movie Mary Poppins has been in the news a lot lately. The recently released Saving Mr Banks tells the story of Walt Disney's challenges in getting Mary Poppins made. Mary Poppins is a classic movie with a great soundtrack. One song from the film, Feed The Birds, was a personal favorite of Walt's and mine. The chorus says it all:

Feed the birds, tuppence a day.

What does tuppence mean? Well I looked it up and it means a small amount of money. That is the message of the song. Feed the birds and make them happy for almost nothing. It is an easy thing to do and it won't cost you much. There is a deeper meaning in the movie but I recommend you watch it if you have not seen it recently.

I love to feed the birds. I put large amounts of seed on our back deck and I just sit there and enjoy watching a variety of types of birds come and eat. It is always exciting to see a new bird come to the deck but I also enjoy seeing the usual cast of characters. Squirrels are another story but at least they are getting fat and happy too.

So if you get a chance....feed the birds and enjoy watching them.....for only tuppence.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Golf

I'm very thankful for the game of golf. When I was twelve I began watching golf on TV and decided it was something I wanted to try. My parents arranged a lesson and I was pretty much hooked from the start. My Dad also took it up about the same time so it was never hard finding a practice or playing partner. In those early days I really wanted to be a good player. I practice hard and played whenever I could. We joined a golf club so I was guaranteed at least one round of week. I was never great but got to the point where I was comfortable playing with anyone and holding my own. My game didn't improve and I would get frustrated when I didn't play well. When I went off to college and then started working my opportunities to play decreased. I missed it and my attitude changed towards the game. I still wanted to play well but I really did not care. I just enjoyed being outside on a nice day playing with friends and family. That attitude still holds today when I only get to play a handful of times a year. I hope there is a day in the future when I get to play regularly and I care about my score, but for now I just enjoy the time spent playing. Like I said I am thankful for the game as it allowed my Dad and I to spend time together. My six year old daughter has taken up the game now and I can't wait to be her practice and playing partner for years to come.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

MLK

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I appreciate great orators and Dr King was one of the best. I once heard that his I Have A Dream speech was largely unscripted. Can you imagine the having the ability to rally tens of thousands of people and deliver a speech that will be remembered forever without writing it down? I can't. Here is one of my favorite passages:

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I suggest taking time today and watch a replay of the speech and appreciate Dr King's gift.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Air Travel

I loathe flying. I hate the process of getting to and through the airport. My least favorite part is the flight itself. I'm not scared of takeoff, landing, or flying. I hate being on the plane when its sitting still. I am the most claustrophobic person you'll meet. Airplanes are tight to begin with but having no control over anything worsens my condition. I had never felt claustrophobic on a plane until the Summer of 2005. Coming home from a trip to Michigan we were on a plane from Traverse City MI to Detroit. A 30 minute flight. That 30 minute flight took almost four hours due to computer problems that grounded us and kept us on the tarmac for three hours. It was hell. It was tiny plane and it kept getting smaller and smaller. I almost lost it several times. I knew I was in trouble when my wife turned to me and said she was about to freak out. If she was freaking out then I should really be freaking out. I got through that but it scarred me for life and I dread every time I get on a plane. I do like to travel for fun and I have to travel for work so I just try to get through it. I look forward to the day that I beat this fear....or get a private plane.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

San Fran

I am fortunate enough to get to travel to San Francisco a couple times a year for work. I've been travelling there since 2009. On one of my first trips I remember a local telling me that people from San Francisco don't call it San Fran and look down that those who do. I appreciated the insight. I now find myself thinking less of those that call it San Fran. It got me thinking about other city nicknames. I am very confident that a real bostonian would not refer to his city as bean town. A chicagoan calling their town the windy city...don't think so. A New Yorker saying big apple...never. What about my town Charlotte. It was of course named after queen Charlotte and is often referred to as the queeen city or QC for short. Any Charlottean who said they were from the QC would be a total DB in my book.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Antiquing

Someday I want to go antiquing. I love watching Antiques Roadshow and American Pickers. I think the hunt for a treasure is the most appealing part. To be honest you will never find a real treasure in an antique store. Those jokers know exactly what they have, how much it is worth, and how much they are going to gouge you on the price. To find a treasure you really need to find it. It could be under a house or in a barn. It just has to be someplace where its gone unnoticed and gotten old. I think I've mentioned my desire to someday have a man cave. When I do it will be full of "mantiques". Cool things like car parts, motorcycle stuff, old signs, and lanterns. Tough things that had a rough life and need a place to rest. So next time you think about walking into an antique store...keep walking. There are a lot of treasures still out there waiting to be found.

Until tomorrow,

Dav

Wild Wonderful

When you think "Wild Wonderful" of course you think West Virginia...don't you? I've been thinking a lot about West Virgina the past week. Before I say why, I should talk a little about what I think of the mountaineer state. I have the pleasure of driving the length of the West Virginia turnpike at least twice a year on the way to and from Michigan. It is a beautiful and rugged place. Charleston, the state capital sits at the confluence (intersection) of the Elk and Kanawha rivers. When driving the turnpike, Charleston is the first city you see when you come out of the mountains heading north and when heading south it is the last bit of civilization before heading into the wilderness. The golden dome of the capital building set against the the worn city is always a welcome sight.

Charleston was in the news this week due to a toxic chemical spill in the Elk river that left over 300,000 unable to use the water in their homes to drink, bathe, or cook. Restaurants and schools closed. It was a disaster, but in my opinion a disaster that could have been avoided. The tank that leaked was just upriver from the intake used to supply water to several counties. Things that are upriver tend to come downriver eventually. And who builds a chemical plant next to the water supply for a populated area? I won't go on but I think you get the point.

I can sympathize with those impacted by the spill. There is not much worse than living without water. Several years ago I somehow forgot to pay the water bill. Without warning they shut off my water. It was only for a day before I paid and they sent someone out but it was a long day. Ever shower using a bottle of Dasani? It sucks. One thing those impacted in WV had going for them was that their toilets still worked....my didn't. That bill is now paid early each month.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Entrepreneurs

Early in my career I was fortunate to work in the brokerage business and met many hugely successful people. The most impressive and most affluent had one thing in common. They were business owners....entrpreneurs. I admire those that take risks and invest their own time, energy, and capital into building their idea into a business. It is easy to be a leader in a large corporation. Your money is not at stake. This is not the case for business owners. If you fail you lose more than your job. You can lose everything. That fear I believe is what drives business owners to work harder than people that take the corporate route to a career. I wish I was wired like that. I tend to take the safe path. I have family members that have started busineses that have become very successful. I view that as the ultimate accomplishment for a business person. I am not going to give up my goal of someday being an entrepreneur....I just need a great idea. There have been times over the years where I thought I was on to something only to find it was not an original. The one that stick out to me is a beach towel with hooks on the top so that it wouldn't slide down the beach chair. Before you go running to the patent office...it exists and it is pretty far from a million dollar product. So I will keep thinking about the next big thing. When I find it I hope I have the guts to take it and run with it.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Polar Vortex

Last week saw record low temperatures throughout much of the eastern half of the United States. The phenomena that brought this cold air from the Arctic is called a polar vortex. Pretty cool name for some strong winds from the North. I'm not one for writing about the weather but I realized something during the cold snap. I've become soft. I can't handle the cold. Charlotte saw single digits for the first time in many years. It only lasted two days but it quickly reminded why I packed up and headed south 16 years ago. I can't imagine living in part of the country like Minnesota or Michigan where those temperatures are a regular occurrence and last for weeks. The cold makes everything difficult. Going to the grocery store becomes a painful event that requires layering and warming up the car. I've become spoiled living in the south and if global warming decides to reverse courses Florida may be calling our name.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Fries with that?

I am not one for new years resolutions but so far I have two for 2014. The first one you know about....post a new blog entry every day in 2014. The next one might actually be tougher. I have sworn off french fries. Those golden brown pieces of fried potato. I like french fries a lot but I think I can go a year without them. I think the biggest problem will be the pressure. Restaurants love to serve fries as a side and the alternatives usually are not as appealing or cost more. I guess paying a little more for a side salad is worth it. I really want to do this to prove to myself that I can stick to something through a full year. I'm on the honor system here so if fail I promise you will hear it here first. Hopefully we will not talk about this again until 2015.

Until tomorrow.....

Dave

Sports hate

I've lived in North Carolina for almost 16 years and today I could not pull for the home team Carolina Panthers. It wasn't even that I cared about their opponent the San Francisco 49'ers. The phenomena is called sports hate. It is not far from, but totally different than jealously. True I wish my favorite team, the Detroit Lions, were still alive in the playoffs. They rarely are very good so that wasn't the problem. Do I dislike the Panthers? Not really. Would it have been good for the city of Charlotte if they had won? Absolutely!. So what gives? I think sports hate is caused more by the fans of a team rather than the team themselves. Sure a dislike for a player or coach can cause sports hate but more times than not it is caused by a fan base. Panther fans are a odd bunch. They started the season by winning only one of their first four games. Fans were calling into local sports talk radio stations looking for blood. They wanted the coach fired and the quarterback benched. Then something happened. The Panthers started winning and incredibly the fan's attitude change. Their team was now the greatest thing going. It bordered on crazy how in love the city was with the Panthers. Carolina fans had become the same as Boston and Pittsburgh fans ( my two least favorite groups). So today I wasn't pulling against the Cats but more pulling for the 49'ers just so the love fest could end. Silly and petty for sure. And maybe a I was a little jealous.....

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Perserverance

Occasionally with the blog I will comment or share my perspective on current events. I came across this story this week and I thought it was a good one to share. I was familiar with the story prior to this week but some new events made it even more newsworthy. Austin Hatch was a talented high school basketball player from Fort Wayne, Indiana. While flying home from his family's Summer house in northern Michigane the plane piloted by his father crashed killing his dad and step mother. Austin was critically injured and put into a medically induced coma with a severe brain injury. What make this story more amazing is that eight years earlier Austin survived another plane crash that took the life of his mother, sister, and brother.

This story caught my attention because before the crash Austin had signed to play his college basketball at my team, the University of Michigan. Also the second crash occured not far from where my family has a summer home. After two years of difficult rehabiliation Austin was ready to play his senior year at a high school in southern California where he had moved to be near his family. His amazing recovery continued this week when he got into his first game since the accident and did this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vAFzWXBsnA

Austin will be attending Michigan this Fall and even though he may never play college basketball Austin's journey has been inspiring.  Considering all he has been through I would not be surprised to see him on the court in Ann Arbor.  Good luck Austin.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

World Hunger

Jim Valvano, the former coach of the NC State baskeball team gave a memorable speech at the 1993 ESPY awards. He was dying of cancer and was there to announce the formation of his Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research. It was an amazing speech and one part has always stuck with me. He said:

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions move to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special."

Such a simple thought but so true. It made me think if I was having a horrible day what could make me laugh. There are lots of things but I thought I would share my favorite comedy bit of all time. The language is vulger and it may not appeal to all but I laugh aloud every time I hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0q4o58pKwA

Now what could move me to tears during good time? Lots of things but I will save that for a future post.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Cyclists

If I ever have power and money I am going to buy a large tract of land. It will have flat areas, rolling hills, and steep climbs. I will pave roads and paths. What for? This will be a dedicated area for cyclists to practice their craft. It will get them off roads meant for cars and allow them to ride in a safe secure place. Like a leper colony in way. We love you but don't want you around. Nothing irks me more than cyclists riding on a congested road. There is no safe way to pass them. And what is up with the outfits? I saw a pair riding the other day wearing matching US Postal Service unitards. Really guys....are you sponsored by an agency of the government? I don't think so. And if you were would you choose the post office? Ride safe mailmen!

I guess this was more of a rant.  I do have great friends who ride and I want everyone to be  safe.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Almost Famous

And my favorite movie of all time is.....

                                                                                                                                     
That's right, Cameron Crowe's 2000 masterpiece Almost Famous. An amazing story, cast, and soundtrack make it almost the perfect movie. The story follows a young, very young, journalist as he follows and befriends an up and coming rock band called Stillwater. I won't tell the story here but you should watch the movie if you have not. Appreciate the well woven story and amazing characters. Kate Hudson as Penny Lane shines. It is a real shame that she has never again came close to acting in a movie as well written as Almost Famous. She should have become a star with this role. The film also features perhaps the greatest scene in history.  Enjoy! R-rated!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qW9wqUI4Lg

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Getting Fat

I've really let myself go. I looked in the mirror the other day and saw this:

It didn't happen overnight. I moved to Charlotte 16 years ago and thin, fit man and each year since then I have gained weight. I love to eat but I've taken that to another level. My biggest issue is late night snacking. I think I would be OK if I was physically active. There have been times where I ran or worked out religiously. Those are the times where I felt my best. In the Summer of 2004 I trained for the Chicago marathon and when I ran the race that October I was as fit as I had ever been. Not thin, but healthy and strong. I want to get back to feeling like that. I have read blogs about people trying to lose weight. Complaining about exercising and being hungry all the time. That is some lame and interests nobody. Just eat less and exercise....that is my motto. I am extra motivated thanks to my daughter. At a recent event at her school the Dad's ran a relay race. I thought I did great and ran pretty fast. Afterwards she said I did great for being the fattest Dad....ouch! I felt like this guy:

Until tomorrow,

Dave,

Dead Heads

The ultimate of the subcultures I referenced in yesterday's post has got to be Dead Heads.

 The loyalist of fans they followed their favorite band around the country and world for nearly three decades. Many of them made a living traveling from venue to venue selling shirts, veggie burritos, and many other things that we won't talk about in this blog. It was a way of life. When the band packed up and left a city there must have been a caravan of VW buses following closely behind. The band encouraged this by allowing fans to record their concerts legally and sell these boot leg recordings. The band also regularly changed their song list from night to night knowing that a good percentage of the audience watching them in Portland tonight were at the Seattle concert the night before. On XM radio there is a station dedicated the the Grateful Dead. It plays many of the bootlegs recorded on the 60's and 70's. It is fun to hear the the various hosts reference the drum solo in the second set of the May 14th 1974 show in Tacoma. And the scary things I bet a lot of the fans listening know the exact solo he is talking about. Now those are fans. Sadly the death of Jerry Garcia in August 1995 brought the end of the band but not the end of the fan base. I can say that my generation...people in the late 30's and early 40's...were the last to experience seeing the band live. I have several friends that lived the life and spent a Summer on tour. I never attended a concert and back when they were still touring I never had the desire. Now I wish I had just to say I had experienced it. Before wrapping up I needed to mention the coolest thing about being a dead head....the clothes. If I could wear tie die every day I would be a happy guy.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Subcultures

I am fascinated by groups of people with common interests that come together to form communities. I call them subcultures and there are all types. They can be super fans of someone or something that take it to another level bordering on obsession. It can also be as simple as people with a passion for the same hobby. I knew these groups existed but it really hit me on trip to Atlanta about 12 years ago. A friend and I had traveled there for a weekend to take in a Braves game and enjoy the nightlife. We stayed at a very large hotel downtown and I remember there being a huge group there for a convention or gathering. By looking at them you could not begin to guess what they all had in common. Finally while riding the elevator I noticed this man with a canvas tote bag full of sheets of paper. On the bag was a picture of a pair of scissors with a big red slash through it with the word "origami" under it. I realized that hundreds of people from across the country and maybe the world had come to get together and fold paper...or maybe talk about folding paper. I was a little confused but at the same time thought it was cool. I have many hobbies, most of which I do alone and I remember thinking how fun it could be to get together with like minded people to share thoughts and ideas. Random story I know but in this blog I am going to occasionally dedicate a post to a specific subculture. Some I may even be a member of....until tomorrow

Dave

Bob Ross

That's right...this guy!

Now I have no idea whether Bob was a great guy but I'm pretty sure he was. His calm demeanor and obvious passion for what he did really drew me in. I'm sure I stumbled upon him on a Saturday afternoon and wondered who was this very mellow guy with the afro and beard. You could not help but get caught up in him transforming a blank canvas into a beautiful landscape with seemingly little effort. I was amazed and decided I would give that a try. I am not nor will I ever be a great painter but Bob inspired me to try and for that I am grateful. There have been times over the past 20 years where I have been quite prolific a painter and other times such as the current when I have not. I miss it and look forward to taking it up again. If you know me you may call me uptight but when painting I transform into mellow Bob, I mean Dave and focus on the imaginary landscape I am creating. It is very therapeutic. I have given several of my paintings away over the years and hope they are still out there somewhere. It is on my bucket list someday to own a Bob Ross original and hang it proudly in my man cave which I also hope to have one day. Maybe this one:

I honored Bob in the late 90's by dressing as him for Halloween.  The costume was a hit but most thought I was Ted Kaczynski...the Unabomber.  Would the Unabomber nurse injured squirrels back to health?  No!  And did he have a great sign off like "happy painting and God bless my friends?"  No....only Bob!

Bob died much too early but his legacy lives on and he was even honored by Google on what would have been his 70th birthday with a Google Doodle.

Pretty cool

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Heroes

Everyone has people in their lives that have helped shape who they are or who them want to be. Some of these people we know personally and some we admire from afar. I think you can tell alot about a person by asking them a simple question....who are your three heroes? My father in law asked that of me and I will share those with you over the next several weeks. I also asked it of him and he didn't have to think for long....Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, and Abraham Lincoln. Now that's a list. My three were far less impressive but still have had a huge impact on my life. I look forward to sharing them with you starting tomorrow with one each week thereafter. My list will more than likely exceeding three but that's OK. Until tomorrow......Dave

Becoming somewhere?

When I was thinking about what to name the blog I was torn. Knowing that the audience would be limited I wondered if it was even worth naming. I wish I could say I thought the blog would would become a daily destination for many or that the out of focus landscape on the cover page would come into focus with the insight I would be providing. Neither is the case. At a recent work function I was speaking with a team member about a growing part of town which I said was "becoming somewhere" quickly. I thought it was a cool term which could have many meanings. It stuck. And so the journey begins to this blog becoming somewhere I can document my thoughts and experiences. I'm looking forward to it. Until tomorrow, Dave

A New Year

With a new year comes a new blogger. I hope to give daily updates on a variety of topics. My goal is to inform and entertain all you readers which I'm pretty confident will be only me and maybe a friend or family member from time to time. A little about me....I have lived in Charlotte, NC for the past 11 years but have made several stops before settling here. The first 10 years of my life were spent in suburban Detroit and as it will become apparent in my writings that I still have a fondness for that part of the world. The next 8 years were spent in York, PA which is a very neat little town in south central part of the state. I went to the University of Delaware and I stayed in state working in Wilmington for two and a half more years. Wanting a change and a warmer climate I moved to Charlotte and except for a two and a half year stint in Raleigh I have been here ever since. I will write about all of these locales in the blog and each has left a mark on me. North Carolina is now home and unless something significant happens I hope it is for many years to come. My wife is a native of High Point, NC and my six year old daughter was born and has grown up here. We are fun family that is always looking for a new adventure. Past and futures adventures for the three of us will be the topic on many upcoming posts. I have many diverse interests and hobbies which I am very excited to write about. When I find something I want to learn more about I dive head first and it either becomes a part of my life or passing interest that I'm glad I experienced. I look forward to sharing my journey.....and the title of the blog...that will require a post of its own someday. Dave