BootsnAll's Travel Typepad

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Black and White People in Silicon Valley.

Coach Ray Meyer: Rest in Peace

I was at theFarm when I read that Ray Meyer passed away the other day.  Most of my Portland friends will not know who he is...I mentioned him in the George Mikan post a year or so ago (thanks for reminding me Moreth).

Memories of Ray Meyer
Growing up in Chicago, he was the legendary coach of the Depaul Blue Demons.  As a little shit, I always cheered for those Blue Demon teams of Aguirre, Cummings, and Comegys.  I remember his being a super friendly coach and I was proud that a modern day legend was representing Chicago is such a fine way.

Ray Meyer BasketBall Camp
Moreth and I trucked up to Northern Wisconsin one summer for this basketball camp.  Ray Meyer, and his son Joey (he was the coach at the time) as well and a bunch of other folks were up there running us through drills etc for a whole week. 

Coach Meyer would always focus on fundamentals.  I remember this little move that he taught everyone.  He told the story of how Jack Sikma parlayed this move into a 15 NBA career.  I remember his saying, anyone can learn how to hit a set shot/jump shot.  He said if you practiced enough, you could be totally un athletic, but get a scholarship to college because of a set shot or jump shot and he told story after story about un athletic kids who did.  Simply because they could shot a basketball.

Moreth was fortunate enough to play ball under Ray Meyer's son, Tom Meyer at Niles West from 87-91.  So Moreth has even more memories of Northern Wisconsin and the Meyer family.  We should reminicnce about those soon.

Anyway, good on you Ray.  I can imagine the positive influence over so many kids and so many years will always be remembered.  Cheers to Ray and his family. 

Wanna be a Roadie?

I am speaking for 5 to 10 minutes at this event tonight.  Mika of Sea Food Blog suggested that I do it a month of so ago and what do I know, the day is already here.  I better prepare! :)

I encourage all my friends and enemies to come out, and support or jeer me.  Ask tough or easy questions.  If you arrive with me at 5 pm, I can get you in as "I'm with the band" discount ie free.  All you gotta do is set my computer and powerpoint up.  Easy roadie job.

2 funny things to remember

1)  A married mate of mine in coming in this weekend to discuss some business stuff.  We are going up to theFarm to go over it.  His wife asked him, "Are you 2 going up to theFarm for your Brokeback weekend?"

2) Momma was in line at the grocery store the other day.  An old lady was in in front of her in line.  As the older lady was getting served, the cashier asked,

"How are you today?"

The old lady replied,

"Do you really care?" in a kinda whatever type attitude.  The cashier then replied,

"I do care cuz you are in the LOVE aisle today!"

Evidentally, this comment drew a smile outta the old lady.

ShockAbsorber Bras

For all my female friends, check out this new shockabsorber bra.  The demo explains/shows how beneficial these products can be.  Enjoy and no need to thank me for the link.  (via joe e)

World Cup Stuff and mid-week thoughts

Huge 1st half of the week with folks in town, new colleagues (welcome Brett!) and exciting todo lists a mile long.

1 huge 1 it  just got done , our World Cup Tickets site.  Lots of fresh content and ways to find tickets to all 63 games, by team, group, by each game, or even by stadium city (we tried to organize it every which way we could think of - no stone un turned!).  We have it all.  The tickets are mucho expensivo.  That means expensive for all you gringos, but when the hell are you gonna get to goto a sporting event like this...once is a lifetime mate.  It's way cheaper than a Safari in the Serengeti, and you can do a Safari anytime...World Cup is only once every 4 years and hell, it's bigger than the Olympics.

Other Thoughts
I'm still waking up super early ie 5 amish.  I kinda like it, but I turn into a Zombie late at nite...for example, going to see Steven Ashebrooke tonight at the green room on Thurman...if I stay awake of the 1st set, I'll be lucky

Fun to watch Ben deal with power challenges in South Africa.  It reminds me of getting started in Bali a few years ago...lots of challenges etc.  I'm sure Ben is up to it and it making do until these failures stop.

Thoughts on Challenges
Call them what you want, road blocks, disappointments, shit not going your way...I have been noticing more and more challenges in life, business or whatever lately.  But it doesn't bother me at all.  Life is full of these things all the time...but it's how we deal with them that makes the difference:

You can:
- cry
- complain and wish it was not so
- give-up
- bitch and moan

Or you can:
- figure out what it is, and deal with it in the best and most ethical way possible
- learn from it
- try not to get emotional about every challenge - use some logic to deal with it the best way with the resources you have, and move on
- don't dwell on it

Those are just a few things.  I see people every day deal with challenges all the ways mentioned above.  I hope that I dealing with them in the bottom 4 ways for most of the time, if not all! :)

Anyway, I am enjoying the challenges these days and hope that I can continue to.

Outside Magazine: BootsnAll Featured in.

Check out the March Issue of Outside Magazine.  They highlight the best of Travel Blogs and have us ranked #1.  Yer baby!  Nice to get some props from that mag.  They don't appear to publish their articles online, so I think we will scan it and add it to our press kit soon.

Life and Death and Travel

In 5 days I leave for Africa to climb Kilimanjaro and visit Capetown South Africa for a month.  Pretty exciting stuff...In the past week, 2 people that I know, died.  Jeffery Skolnick and Mr. Wagner.  Both died of massive heart attacks.  Both apparently healthy and exercising types.  Both in their early 60's or so with loving families.

I feel a bit mixed up.  Sad for the families and close friends.  But still I am excited to go and experience something new and set-up our 2nd destination based travel guide.  Conflicting emotions for sure.

Regards to the Skolnicks and Wagners.  Peace and love it being sent yout way.  And here's to life, family, health, peace and travel.

BootsnAll in New York Times and Todd Bell

BootsnAll we featured in a NY Times article today.  Also, I am enjoying and glad to see all the stories below my Todd Bell passing post from back in March.  I of course, did not know him personally - the stories folks are telling are kewl - it's great to read the stories of a man's life...and he is remembered fondly outside of football.  Nice.

Thanksgiving Blog Stuff

Been waking up at 5 am the past 5 days and I love it.  I get lots done, and have more energy for the day.  I am thankful for that.  Other stuff that i am thankful for...

1) Family:  Thanks for being my blood, being my friend and doing stuff that families do - except our family does it with vigor and cuz we want to, not because it's family

2) Friends:  I feel like I have a lot of friends and good vibe acquaintances.  Thanks to all of you for being my friend, making fun of me, and letting me make fun of you.  Thanks for doing stuff, inviting me to stuff, and being honest with me when I am a jagg off.

3) Weather and the world:  I just love it - cold, rain, hot, snow, ice, wind, no wind - whatever, trees - desert - all the different stuff in this world just blows me away.  There are so many people and things going on and paths to potentially take...I don't even know how to express what I am thinking/feeling on this one.

4) World Community: The world is full of stuff - so much of it beautiful, some of it not so beautiful.  Sometimes I see a not so nice thing - and it can turn into something beatiful as well...Nick described it last night on our walk back from "Walk the Line" as this.

No matter what happens to me - even if my best friends burnt my house down - and did it on purpose - some folks might view that is a pretty bad thing - hold a grudge for the rest of your life etc...Nick suggested if that guy came back to you a year later or whenever - and was good vibes and truly wanted to be his friend - and he could sense the change in attitude - no bullshit - he would.  I like that type of thinking - grudges and getting super pissed off at everything and staying in that vibe - I reckon is not the healthiest thing (even though these feeling often help drive a situation).

So - here's to peace, understanding, friendship and forgiving/letting old bad things go.

Having said that - If I was stranded on a desert island (Isn't there a TV show about this) - with limited resources and some other people - would I still be thinking like this?