I have to close out the year with a very irreverent commercial a friend just sent me. See if you agree with my somewhat sick sense of humor:
I hope everyone has a Happy and safe New Year! Oh, and happy jogging!
I know 2012 will be better than 2011. I had two Red Letter Days yesterday and today; 2011 is ending on a high note for me! Also, the book is starting to sell and starting Tuesday, my marketing plan kicks into high gear!
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Any Pub Is Good Pub
Beth Rickers Namanny wrote an article about me today in the Worthington Daily Globe. She is a feature writer for the paper and the younger sister of one of my classmates, Marty Rickers.
Here is a photo they used in the article: You may enlarge it by clicking on the photo:
She did a nice job and like most journalists who misquote me, Beth did not. It is always refreshing to read an article and know people are reading my exact words and not something I supposedly said or wrote.
You may read the article by clicking here.
She writes about my new book, I Still Believe in Tomorrow, and my hope is it will help inform people of the book to help sell it. If you have not ordered your copy, or you wish to buy copies to give as gifts for the holidays, simply click here.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about ordering the book.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Again, Happy Holidays!
Later,
Mike
Here is a photo they used in the article: You may enlarge it by clicking on the photo:
She did a nice job and like most journalists who misquote me, Beth did not. It is always refreshing to read an article and know people are reading my exact words and not something I supposedly said or wrote. You may read the article by clicking here.
She writes about my new book, I Still Believe in Tomorrow, and my hope is it will help inform people of the book to help sell it. If you have not ordered your copy, or you wish to buy copies to give as gifts for the holidays, simply click here.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Again, Happy Holidays!
Later,
Mike
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Deck The Halls!
I just received this video from a fellow University of Minnesota alumnus and thought you might enjoy it:
It seems the Holiday Spirit is alive and well at the University of Minnesota.
Go Gophers!
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Kwanzaa and all the other holidays you may celebrate this season!
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. Remember, I Still Believe in Tomorrow makes a great gift any time of the year. It is now available at my website at: www.patcom.com.
It seems the Holiday Spirit is alive and well at the University of Minnesota.
Go Gophers!
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Kwanzaa and all the other holidays you may celebrate this season!
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. Remember, I Still Believe in Tomorrow makes a great gift any time of the year. It is now available at my website at: www.patcom.com.
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Book Is Available NOW!
Click here and you can be reading it in a matter of seconds. I just ordered the first copy and it looks wonderful! You can also click on the image of the book to make it larger.
It is available on my publisher's website. They will be putting it on Amazon, but that may take a couple days. If you plan on ordering it, please order it from my publisher because I get a greater percentage.
I am pumped! I now have my first whole book published! It is not a column in a monthly newspaper, or a chapter in a book, but I have a REAL book!
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Sunday, November 27, 2011
My Book Status
Just a quick note to update you on the status of I Still Believe in Tomorrow.
Here is the cover: I like it a lot! I think the designer did a wonderful job! The color photo was shot by Tom Wallace and the black and white background was taken by Jim Brandenburg.
This is the note I received today from the publisher:
Hi Mike,
We have marked the proof as "approved by client" per your emails. The next step is conversion, then submission to retailers. That should happen the early part of this coming week — I would expect the book to be listed on Amazon before the end of the week.
We have marked the proof as "approved by client" per your emails. The next step is conversion, then submission to retailers. That should happen the early part of this coming week — I would expect the book to be listed on Amazon before the end of the week.
So start looking for it on Amazon Thursday or Friday. Remember, books make great gifts, and for only $9.95, you cannot go wrong! Why, if you missed Black Friday, you can do all of your gift shopping on one site online! I am sure there is no limit on number of copies you can purchase.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
As always, feel free to comment.
Later,
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
I Love My Parkinsons Disease
Yes, I was shocked too. My personal care attendant and I were on the freeway yesterday and drove up behind a car with I LOVE MY PARKINSONS DISEASE on the back window in four-inch letters like you would see on the front door of a house. We followed him for a while and eventually drove up beside him. I wanted to roll down my window and ask him what he meant by it.
I did not do that, but it has bothered me ever since. I Googled the sentence and found nothing. I cannot think of a reason why anyone would love Parkinson's Disease. Can you?
On another note: I have had some requests about the status of my book. Sadly, I have nothing to report. The publisher told me it would be ready by Thanksgiving. They told me it would be ready in one to two weeks when I submitted it November eighth.
I just received a call from the the publisher and evidently they sent me the proof, but I never received it. I am very disappointed. I wanted it to be ready for people who are not into football and had their Tryptophan nap to be able to read it Thursday afternoon or evening. I trust it will be ready and online soon.
I want to wish all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving, and keep checking back to see the status of I Still Believe In Tomorrow.
As always, I look forwards to your comments.
Later,
Mike
I did not do that, but it has bothered me ever since. I Googled the sentence and found nothing. I cannot think of a reason why anyone would love Parkinson's Disease. Can you?
On another note: I have had some requests about the status of my book. Sadly, I have nothing to report. The publisher told me it would be ready by Thanksgiving. They told me it would be ready in one to two weeks when I submitted it November eighth.
I just received a call from the the publisher and evidently they sent me the proof, but I never received it. I am very disappointed. I wanted it to be ready for people who are not into football and had their Tryptophan nap to be able to read it Thursday afternoon or evening. I trust it will be ready and online soon.
I want to wish all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving, and keep checking back to see the status of I Still Believe In Tomorrow.
As always, I look forwards to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Friday, November 11, 2011
11-11-11
Veterans Day falling on such a unique day. I just got home from watching the Gopher basketball team win another game to get their season off to a good start. It was not a good game, but a win is a win no matter how you get it.
At halftime, they honored seven former Gopher players who also served in the military. They also brought on the court seven men and one woman from a Minnesota National Guard Unit who will be deployed to Afghanistan in the spring. They all received several standing ovations. It was a nice tribute. But that is not why I am writing this post.
I want to tell you about my mom's seven brothers. Between Bill, Charlie, Clem, Bob, Ed, Terry and Tim, they served eighty-two years of military service which includes all four major branches. Bill and Ed served one and Bob served two tours in Vietnam, Terry was in Thailand during the Vietnam Era and Charlie served one in Korea. That is commitment!
Bob bought the home farm years ago and every fall at least three or four of them make an annual pilgrimage back to South Dakota to hunt pheasants. They literally come from all corners of the country. This year Terry and Tim came from Alaska, Ed came from Pennsylvania and Bob from Mississippi. The three sisters were also there. Dee and her husband came from Wisconsin and Mom and Judy from Minnesota.
Here is one of my favorite pictures of my uncles: L to R: Terry, Bob, Bill and Tim taken several years ago:
Click on the image to make it larger:
I love them all and missed my second trip in a row because of these pressure sores. I will make it next year for the Grand Opening of the Smith Family Hunting Lodge. Bob is restoring the 1901 Barn and they are making a true man cave restoring this old barn.
There are always lots of stories being told and laughter reigns supreme in the barn after the boys come in after a day's hunt. It is always great fun!
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
At halftime, they honored seven former Gopher players who also served in the military. They also brought on the court seven men and one woman from a Minnesota National Guard Unit who will be deployed to Afghanistan in the spring. They all received several standing ovations. It was a nice tribute. But that is not why I am writing this post.
I want to tell you about my mom's seven brothers. Between Bill, Charlie, Clem, Bob, Ed, Terry and Tim, they served eighty-two years of military service which includes all four major branches. Bill and Ed served one and Bob served two tours in Vietnam, Terry was in Thailand during the Vietnam Era and Charlie served one in Korea. That is commitment!
Bob bought the home farm years ago and every fall at least three or four of them make an annual pilgrimage back to South Dakota to hunt pheasants. They literally come from all corners of the country. This year Terry and Tim came from Alaska, Ed came from Pennsylvania and Bob from Mississippi. The three sisters were also there. Dee and her husband came from Wisconsin and Mom and Judy from Minnesota.
Here is one of my favorite pictures of my uncles: L to R: Terry, Bob, Bill and Tim taken several years ago:
Click on the image to make it larger:
I love them all and missed my second trip in a row because of these pressure sores. I will make it next year for the Grand Opening of the Smith Family Hunting Lodge. Bob is restoring the 1901 Barn and they are making a true man cave restoring this old barn.
There are always lots of stories being told and laughter reigns supreme in the barn after the boys come in after a day's hunt. It is always great fun!
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
It Is Done!
I am not sure quite what to think, or how to feel. My editor helped me finish my Author's Biography and Book Description this afternoon; and finally clicked the button to submit my book to the publisher today! It has been at least five years in the making, countless edits and re-edits, and is finally finished.
I sent my baby off to cyberspace. I do not know what it is like to send a child off to college, but I feel a little like I know what it is like to have an empty nest.
They told me it should be on Amazon for your Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Nook and a couple other devices so you can read it on them or your computer. It should be ready by Thanksgiving! I am excited to see where it goes from here. I am anxious to see how my baby grows! It will make a great Christmas or Hanukkah gift! (He said with shameless self-promotion.)
The final title is I Still Believe in Tomorrow. I will send out another post when I know it is online. Who knows, you may be in it? Tom Wallace's photo will be on the cover.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
I sent my baby off to cyberspace. I do not know what it is like to send a child off to college, but I feel a little like I know what it is like to have an empty nest.
They told me it should be on Amazon for your Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Nook and a couple other devices so you can read it on them or your computer. It should be ready by Thanksgiving! I am excited to see where it goes from here. I am anxious to see how my baby grows! It will make a great Christmas or Hanukkah gift! (He said with shameless self-promotion.)
The final title is I Still Believe in Tomorrow. I will send out another post when I know it is online. Who knows, you may be in it? Tom Wallace's photo will be on the cover.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Technology And Autusm
I know this is a few days late, but if you saw the 60 Minutes homage to Steve Jobs Sunday night, you saw this piece on how the iPad is changing the way, as they put it "autistic people" are communicating with the new toy. I have two things I want to point out about it before I show you Lesley Stahl's piece.
First of all, most people in the people with disabilities community prefer "person first" language. Another words, Instead of referring to "autistic people," why not refer to them as "people with autism"? It may seem like a small thing to many of you, but a movement has been growing for many years to try and change the culture and that begins with language.
The other thing I had a problem with was the way they chose to jump from a laminated piece of paper with letters and phrases right to the wonderful new iPad. There have been many devices that have helped to bridge that gap for many years. Ms. Stahl failed to mention them.
That being said, please look at this piece and see what you think:
She starts out using person-first language, but quickly changes to using "autistic people." I find that interesting. When you finish watching the segment, read some of the comments. I found many of them fascinating.
The other two segments on Steve Jobs were enlightening to those of us who did not know much about his personality and life story. I know I could not have worked for him, but I certainly like using his computers!
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
First of all, most people in the people with disabilities community prefer "person first" language. Another words, Instead of referring to "autistic people," why not refer to them as "people with autism"? It may seem like a small thing to many of you, but a movement has been growing for many years to try and change the culture and that begins with language.
The other thing I had a problem with was the way they chose to jump from a laminated piece of paper with letters and phrases right to the wonderful new iPad. There have been many devices that have helped to bridge that gap for many years. Ms. Stahl failed to mention them.
That being said, please look at this piece and see what you think:
She starts out using person-first language, but quickly changes to using "autistic people." I find that interesting. When you finish watching the segment, read some of the comments. I found many of them fascinating.
The other two segments on Steve Jobs were enlightening to those of us who did not know much about his personality and life story. I know I could not have worked for him, but I certainly like using his computers!
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Thursday, October 20, 2011
I Need To Clarify Something
Recently, I have heard from a few subscribers and Facebook Friends that it is not clear on how to make a comment on this blog. For those of you who know how, you can save your time and just delete this post now.
For those of you who do not know how to post a comment: There is a line of text at the end of every post that reads:
"You are subscribed to email updates from I'm Not Done Yet"
Just click on the blue, underlined I'm Not Done Yet, and it will take you to the blog. Once you are on the blog, go to the end of the post and you will see the word COMMENTS with the number of comments already made in front of it.
Click on COMMENTS, and it will take you to the cell where you can leave your comment. Once you leave your comment, please identify yourself in one of the Categories below your comment that reads Choose an identity in orange letters. If you already have a Blog, you can just click your Blogspot account.
Please click on the Name/URL button and enter your name. If you wish to remain Anonymous, you can click on that button. I hope you choose to identify yourself. If you just want your first name showing, so be it.
These next two paragraphs are for my Facebook Friends. Please go to my blog and subscribe. Be sure you reply to the Feedburner Confirmation email you will receive to complete your subscription.
I am trying to build up my blog membership at the suggestion of a marketing person I talked to about marketing the book. FYI: The book is almost ready to go to epublication. I have some interest with a couple publishing companies. It is moving along, but the process is slow.
I look forward to getting new subscribers and your comments.
Thank you.
Later,
Mike
For those of you who do not know how to post a comment: There is a line of text at the end of every post that reads:
"You are subscribed to email updates from I'm Not Done Yet"
Just click on the blue, underlined I'm Not Done Yet, and it will take you to the blog. Once you are on the blog, go to the end of the post and you will see the word COMMENTS with the number of comments already made in front of it.
Click on COMMENTS, and it will take you to the cell where you can leave your comment. Once you leave your comment, please identify yourself in one of the Categories below your comment that reads Choose an identity in orange letters. If you already have a Blog, you can just click your Blogspot account.
Please click on the Name/URL button and enter your name. If you wish to remain Anonymous, you can click on that button. I hope you choose to identify yourself. If you just want your first name showing, so be it.
These next two paragraphs are for my Facebook Friends. Please go to my blog and subscribe. Be sure you reply to the Feedburner Confirmation email you will receive to complete your subscription.
I am trying to build up my blog membership at the suggestion of a marketing person I talked to about marketing the book. FYI: The book is almost ready to go to epublication. I have some interest with a couple publishing companies. It is moving along, but the process is slow.
I look forward to getting new subscribers and your comments.
Thank you.
Later,
Mike
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Learning Can Happen At Any Time
I was watching the Tigers and Rangers baseball game tonight when this Volkswagen Passat commericial came on:
You can view it by clicking here.
The reason I like it so much is it shows us how we are all lifelong learners. We never know when it is we can learn something new and we never know what we are going to learn. That is the fun part. This commercial shows us we can learn a new language in a road trip, albeit maybe a bit of a stretch to go 795 miles non-stop on a road trip. The commercial stands out as my new favorite commercial. Mikey and the Life cereal was my favorite one.
I always tell my audiences one of my goals is to learn at least one new thing every day. I have already achieved that goal for today. I was talking with my nurse as she changed my dressings today and I asked her where she got her nursing degree? She told me she only has an Associates Degree in Nursing, but she has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology.
She told me her three favorite areas of biologic studies were ornithology, ichthyology and mammalogy. I know what ornithology and mammalogy are, but I had never heard the term ichthyology. She told me what it was and I learned a new word before I had even gotten out of bed. I love it!
I know Ruona knows what all three words mean, but I am challenging the rest of my readers to be the first to give me the definition. The contest starts now! There is no material prize, just learners and winners.
To my Facebook friends, please click on my blog and give your answer in the Comments section at the end of the post. Simply click on this URL:
http://iamnotdoneyet.blogspot.com
While you are there, please subscribe in the upper, right corner, follow the directions, and reply to the Feedburner Subscription email. I am trying to build up my blog subscription numbers so we can keep the word spreading about the book. As I write this, it is being formatted into the appropriate ebook format for publication soon. The cover is being designed and it is getting exciting!
My editor is here now and this two-day post must come to an end.
I look forward to your answers.
Later,
Friday, October 7, 2011
I Am Sad Today
I believe it was a sad day yesterday when we found out $202,689,028 could not buy you another World Championship. It was a sad day for Yankee fans when their $264,416,252 third baseman struck out to end another futile attempt at buying a championship. When one considers nine out of the top fifteen single season highest salaries of all time have been paid to one man, when combined with his teammates earn more than some small, third world country's entire budget, it truly is sad they cannot buy a championship every year.
Numbers five and ten on the list did not do their job last night either. Granted, their salaries on this chart were for 2010, but I believe the reason is their 2011 salaries were not included in the chart. If they included 2011 salaries, Alex Rodriguez would have the Top Five Annual Baseball Salaries of All Time!
Mister Steinbrenner is gone now, but I believe his ownership of the Yankees and the way he poured so much money into his team was one of the worst things ever to happen to Major League Baseball.
I truly believe Curt Flood had no idea what he was doing when he challenged Baseball's Reserve Clause and the resulting free agency that brought about today. I agree with his reasoning for challenging the status quo, but free agency today has gotten way too far out of hand.
Bill Russell, the famous Hall of Fame Center from the Boston Celtics basketball team says they went so far in the playoffs every year because they did not want to get real jobs in the off season to make enough money to live until the following season started. I do not think today's multi-millionaire athletes have that worry.
Oh, there was at least one more sad thing happen yesterday. Steve Jobs died. I would not be listening to my talk radio or typing this blog post if he had not done the things he did either.
I look for your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. If you happened to watch that sad game last night, did you notice how one of the heroes for the Detroit Tigers was Delmon Young? I believe he played for the Twins until August. That is sad too.
Numbers five and ten on the list did not do their job last night either. Granted, their salaries on this chart were for 2010, but I believe the reason is their 2011 salaries were not included in the chart. If they included 2011 salaries, Alex Rodriguez would have the Top Five Annual Baseball Salaries of All Time!
Mister Steinbrenner is gone now, but I believe his ownership of the Yankees and the way he poured so much money into his team was one of the worst things ever to happen to Major League Baseball.
I truly believe Curt Flood had no idea what he was doing when he challenged Baseball's Reserve Clause and the resulting free agency that brought about today. I agree with his reasoning for challenging the status quo, but free agency today has gotten way too far out of hand.
Bill Russell, the famous Hall of Fame Center from the Boston Celtics basketball team says they went so far in the playoffs every year because they did not want to get real jobs in the off season to make enough money to live until the following season started. I do not think today's multi-millionaire athletes have that worry.
Oh, there was at least one more sad thing happen yesterday. Steve Jobs died. I would not be listening to my talk radio or typing this blog post if he had not done the things he did either.
I look for your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. If you happened to watch that sad game last night, did you notice how one of the heroes for the Detroit Tigers was Delmon Young? I believe he played for the Twins until August. That is sad too.
Friday, September 30, 2011
I Am Pumped!
Okay, I am doing it again and breaking my own rule about posting more than roughly once a week. But, this is VERY important to me and I want to share this review my editor gave me yesterday! After all, my book is the reason for this blog.
I have left off her last name and the name of the publisher in the last sentence. Whether or not I go with this company, this is an extraordinary review for me to show to other publishers. Have I said yet how excited I am about this?
Check out this review:
Title: I Still Believe In Tomorrow
Author: Mike Patrick
Date: 9/16/11
Type: Memoir
Reviewer: Hanna K
Recommendation: Accept
In this moving story, Mike Patrick turns tragedy into triumph and the death of a dream into inspiration. Mike was a junior in high school when he became a quadriplegic after breaking his neck at the first football game. His life was changed forever because of a single instant in time, but by sharing his experience and spreading his positive attitude he has been able to affect the lives of many, and will continue to do so with this book.
This manuscript employs a very comfortable vernacular that is conversational but gripping. The narrative voice is extremely personal, and makes readers truly empathize with Mike’s situation as if they had an intimate relationship with him. The lessons act as a launching pad, not only instructing readers, but motivating them to apply them to their personal lives.
In the introduction, Mike mentioned his vision for the book to be marketed primarily towards members of the medical profession in hopes that they will treat the whole person instead of the illness. He wants the professionals working with patients, especially those with extensive problems, to recognize the emotional status, physical and social needs of every patient in the context of his/her life and environment. While I agree that every medical professional could benefit from reading this book, I believe that there is a more eager audience to be found elsewhere. I would suggest widening the marketing strategy to include (or even focus on) people dealing with serious health issues and those struggling with compromised mental and emotional health; this will allow the author to plant “seeds of capability” in those that can benefit from his inspirational story the most.
I frequently experienced chills while reading this book, and was personally touched by the message. I believe that Mike will find a receptive audience for this book, whether with members of the medical community, those who are struggling with personal difficulties, or even those reading for pleasure — everyone could benefit from hearing his story. I believe that this book would be an excellent addition to our shelves.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dumbing Down Of America
Last Sunday I was watching the Vikings game, feeling pretty good at halftime with a 20-0 lead when a commercial came on advertising the show Glee. The teacher asked the question, "Name the Capital of Ohio."
Whereupon the stereotypical blond girl wearing a cheerleading outfit quickly raisers her hand and answers, "O."
They then show a male student give her a look that asks, "What color is the sky in your world?"
The thing that bothers me is not she did not answer, "Columbus." The thing that bothers me is the fact they picked that particular part to advertise their show. I have been annoyed for many years by the way many of us speak and our horrible use of grammar.
One day I was in a middle school classroom and a boy said, "Me and him were going to the store."
I stopped him and asked, "Who?"
He quickly replied, "Me and him."
So I asked again, "Who?"
He said again, "Me and him."
Whereupon his buddy quickly stated, "No, it's him and me."
That is just one example of how we have forgotten basic grammar. We have not only used verbs like lie and lay or can and may incorrectly, but we are not able to form proper sentences any more.
For years I have been listening to people and wondering why this is happening. When I ask someone why they do not use proper grammar, adults tell me it is just not important. When I ask students, many reply with something like, "I'm not in English class now."
My response to that is then, "So if you are not in Math class and you buy a bottle of water at a store with a dollar bill, and the water is seventy-five cents, but the clerk only gives you a dime change, that's okay?"
When he or she says "No, that's not okay."
I come back with, "Why not, you're not in Math class now? Why is it okay to remember and use Math but not English?"
The problem is not limited to this particular commercial. Listen to newscasters on TV, radio personalities, watch TV shows or other commercials. I would think journalists would learn how to speak properly somewhere in school.
I believe the rest of us need to check ourselves when we speak or write something and remember what we learned in that grammar class back in the day. I am not going to ask you to become the Grammar Police, but I become one on occasion. If you start to listen to yourself speak, I believe you will start to feel better about being part of the solution instead of part of the dumbing down of America. If you have children, definitely correct them and get them headed in the right direction.
I did a little research and Googled Dumbing down when several clairvoyant listings came up and I had not even finished my queue yet. So, I clicked on Dumbing Down of America. It was an incredible list!
I did not need to go far. I clicked on the first listing and got more information than I could possibly use. The book titled the deliberate dumbing down of america came up right away and is an incredible source of information about the history of what is, and has been going on for a long time!
Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt was working in the Department of Education during the early years of the Reagan Administration and saw what was beginning to happen. The bottom line is: she blew the whistle and like many whistleblowers, was summarily relieved of her duties. Her book is out of print now, but you can get it for free in pdf format by clicking here.
The problem is not limited to this particular commercial. Listen to newscasters on TV, radio personalities, watch TV shows or other commercials. I would think journalists would learn how to speak properly somewhere in school.
I believe the rest of us need to check ourselves when we speak or write something and remember what we learned in that grammar class back in the day. I am not going to ask you to become the Grammar Police, but I become one on occasion. If you start to listen to yourself speak, I believe you will start to feel better about being part of the solution instead of part of the dumbing down of America. If you have children, definitely correct them and get them headed in the right direction.
I did a little research and Googled Dumbing down when several clairvoyant listings came up and I had not even finished my queue yet. So, I clicked on Dumbing Down of America. It was an incredible list!
I did not need to go far. I clicked on the first listing and got more information than I could possibly use. The book titled the deliberate dumbing down of america came up right away and is an incredible source of information about the history of what is, and has been going on for a long time!
Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt was working in the Department of Education during the early years of the Reagan Administration and saw what was beginning to happen. The bottom line is: she blew the whistle and like many whistleblowers, was summarily relieved of her duties. Her book is out of print now, but you can get it for free in pdf format by clicking here.
I realize this is a very long post, and appreciate it if you have read this far. I want to leave you with this quote and put the ball in your court.
The human brain should be used for processing, not storage.
Thomas A. Kelly, Ph.D.
The Effective School Report
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Monday, September 19, 2011
Some Boys Never Grow Up
I have always said I get some of my inspiration for my posts from friends who send me material. Their material may be serious and educational, or so funny I cannot stop laughing, like this one. He sent me three videos. Two of them were with Tim Conway. I made one of my first posts of him and Harvey Korman in a scene from The Carol Burnett Show. Very few words were spoken and they did not need to say anything. The physical comedy of Tim Conway remains some of the funniest comedy I have ever seen.
Very few of you were subscribers to this blog and can see the dentist sketch I wrote about on October 23, 2007 by clicking here.
This piece is from The Tonight Show back in the 1960's. I have seen it before and yet had to watch it several times again before I could stop laughing long enough to type. I like Johnny Carson's scarf and Bob Hope's golf club. Just watch what Dean Martin does repeatedly to George Gobel's drink, apparently, without him having any knowledge of what was happening. Bob Hope is laughing so hard, he is crying. You see him wipe away tears a couple of times. Thanks, Lew!
I have always contended humor can be funny and clean at the same time. Like most jokes, someone has to be the butt of the joke, and Dean Martin definitely gets George Gobel in this skit. They are all gone now, but I will bet their spirits are often smiling over the fact well more than one million people continue to enjoy a laugh with them every so often.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. Once again to my Facebook friends who want to see the videos, just go to my blog by clicking here. While you are there, please subscribe to it in the upper right hand corner, follow the directions, and make sure you reply to the Feedburner Subscriber Verification email you will receive right after you subscribe to get you fully subscribed. You will receive an email every time I post, and you can check out some of my old posts. You will find some of them educational, entertaining and occasionally even humorous, like this one. Thank you.
Very few of you were subscribers to this blog and can see the dentist sketch I wrote about on October 23, 2007 by clicking here.
This piece is from The Tonight Show back in the 1960's. I have seen it before and yet had to watch it several times again before I could stop laughing long enough to type. I like Johnny Carson's scarf and Bob Hope's golf club. Just watch what Dean Martin does repeatedly to George Gobel's drink, apparently, without him having any knowledge of what was happening. Bob Hope is laughing so hard, he is crying. You see him wipe away tears a couple of times. Thanks, Lew!
I have always contended humor can be funny and clean at the same time. Like most jokes, someone has to be the butt of the joke, and Dean Martin definitely gets George Gobel in this skit. They are all gone now, but I will bet their spirits are often smiling over the fact well more than one million people continue to enjoy a laugh with them every so often.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. Once again to my Facebook friends who want to see the videos, just go to my blog by clicking here. While you are there, please subscribe to it in the upper right hand corner, follow the directions, and make sure you reply to the Feedburner Subscriber Verification email you will receive right after you subscribe to get you fully subscribed. You will receive an email every time I post, and you can check out some of my old posts. You will find some of them educational, entertaining and occasionally even humorous, like this one. Thank you.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
You Never Know ...
I do not usually post this close together, but this email just came across my cyberdesk and I need to share it:
--
Wow! It just shows us how our lives can intersect and not even realize how we affect each other. I have no idea how he happened across my story in the paper or why it took him this long to write to me. Our paths first crossed almost thirty years ago and now here we cross again. I am going to give this to my editor and see how it might fit in the book.
And the beat goes on ...
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Hello Mike,
I just read about you in the Star Tribune and realized you came to speak to my class back in the Fall of 1982. I can still remember to this date how you described the tackle that lead to your injury. It is something that will always stay with me. Back then I didn't take a lot of stock in what you were saying, but as the years go on I realize how lucky I have been not to face the challenges you have over the years.
What I find interesting is I saw your address on your website. I must have lived right next door to you back in 1994-95. I lived in a duplex at 3231 Emerson Avenue. If this is true, we live in such a small world. Two years ago our family left Minnesota for Connecticut for my wife to pursue a new career. It was a great opportunity to really try something new and expand our horizons.
However, I now find myself in a very difficult position in my life as I am looking at getting a divorce. Today just happens to be our 11th wedding anniversary. I know this cannot even remotely compare to your situation, but it is something I was not prepared for. I have two young children ages 9 and 8 and they mean the world to me. For the first time in my life, I am feeling as if the world I live in is being torn apart and I am "paralyzed" with fear for what the future holds. Maybe happening across your story was divine intervention to get me to look inward and understand I cannot just give in or give up. You are an inspiration and I applaud you for the beautiful life you have made.
Thank you and God Bless You!
David Johnson
I just read about you in the Star Tribune and realized you came to speak to my class back in the Fall of 1982. I can still remember to this date how you described the tackle that lead to your injury. It is something that will always stay with me. Back then I didn't take a lot of stock in what you were saying, but as the years go on I realize how lucky I have been not to face the challenges you have over the years.
What I find interesting is I saw your address on your website. I must have lived right next door to you back in 1994-95. I lived in a duplex at 3231 Emerson Avenue. If this is true, we live in such a small world. Two years ago our family left Minnesota for Connecticut for my wife to pursue a new career. It was a great opportunity to really try something new and expand our horizons.
However, I now find myself in a very difficult position in my life as I am looking at getting a divorce. Today just happens to be our 11th wedding anniversary. I know this cannot even remotely compare to your situation, but it is something I was not prepared for. I have two young children ages 9 and 8 and they mean the world to me. For the first time in my life, I am feeling as if the world I live in is being torn apart and I am "paralyzed" with fear for what the future holds. Maybe happening across your story was divine intervention to get me to look inward and understand I cannot just give in or give up. You are an inspiration and I applaud you for the beautiful life you have made.
Thank you and God Bless You!
David Johnson
Wow! It just shows us how our lives can intersect and not even realize how we affect each other. I have no idea how he happened across my story in the paper or why it took him this long to write to me. Our paths first crossed almost thirty years ago and now here we cross again. I am going to give this to my editor and see how it might fit in the book.
And the beat goes on ...
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Lasting Effects Of 9/11
Like many of you, I just finished watching 60 Minutes and it's special on September 11, 2001. The segment I found particularly intriguing was the last one when Scott Pelley interviewed several survivors. They all talked about their respiratory problems and the long-term health effects they all are experiencing as a result of breathing in all of the toxic dust during their time at Ground Zero.
If you missed it, you can view it here:
I guess the two words none of them uttered that bothered me were asbestos and mesothelioma. The reason that bothered me so much is two-fold. One: The Twin Towers were coated with asbestos and much of that dust was that pulverized asbestos.
The second word which was not spoken was mesothelioma. Asbestos poisoning has a special meaning to me because my father died of mesothelioma in 2006. His lungs were full of asbestos he received from a second job he had for close to twenty years. The frustrating thing for me is knowing the two asphalt companies he worked for never told their so-called "Associates" were slowly killing themselves every day by exposing themselves to this toxic dust they were inhaling constantly as they blew and swept up from parking lots, driveways and rooftops. The insidious thing about asbestos is it can remain in our lungs for as long as forty years before it starts to manifest itself.
I also want to introduce you to one more survivor of 9/11. That is William Rodriguez. After hearing him speak, on October 9, 2007, I wrote about one of the true heroes of the 9/11 attacks. He was a maintenance worker in the North Tower and saved many lives. His story is very compelling. To learn more about him, I have a link to his website on that post. You can read it by clicking here.
We are going to see people dying from all sorts of respiratory ailments for decades to come!
As always, I welcome your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. To my Facebook friends who want to see this video, just go to my blog by clicking here. While you are there, please subscribe to it, follow the directions, you will receive an email every time I post, and you can check out some of my old posts. You will find some of them educational, entertaining and occasionally even humorous. Thank you.
If you missed it, you can view it here:
I guess the two words none of them uttered that bothered me were asbestos and mesothelioma. The reason that bothered me so much is two-fold. One: The Twin Towers were coated with asbestos and much of that dust was that pulverized asbestos.
The second word which was not spoken was mesothelioma. Asbestos poisoning has a special meaning to me because my father died of mesothelioma in 2006. His lungs were full of asbestos he received from a second job he had for close to twenty years. The frustrating thing for me is knowing the two asphalt companies he worked for never told their so-called "Associates" were slowly killing themselves every day by exposing themselves to this toxic dust they were inhaling constantly as they blew and swept up from parking lots, driveways and rooftops. The insidious thing about asbestos is it can remain in our lungs for as long as forty years before it starts to manifest itself.
I also want to introduce you to one more survivor of 9/11. That is William Rodriguez. After hearing him speak, on October 9, 2007, I wrote about one of the true heroes of the 9/11 attacks. He was a maintenance worker in the North Tower and saved many lives. His story is very compelling. To learn more about him, I have a link to his website on that post. You can read it by clicking here.
We are going to see people dying from all sorts of respiratory ailments for decades to come!
As always, I welcome your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. To my Facebook friends who want to see this video, just go to my blog by clicking here. While you are there, please subscribe to it, follow the directions, you will receive an email every time I post, and you can check out some of my old posts. You will find some of them educational, entertaining and occasionally even humorous. Thank you.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
They Say Life Begins At Forty
I have always felt as though I have had two lives. I lived to be sixteen in my first life. Now my second life is ended at forty. As I begin my third life, I find striking similarities between the beginnings and endings of all three.
Both Number One and Number Two ended with me being in a hospital. Both at the beginnings of Numbers Two and Three I have no idea how long the hospitalizations will be. Little did I know what was happening or how my first life would end and how the ramifications would affect not only my life but the lives of who knows how many other people. People have often told me I have no idea how many others I have inspired, educated or changed in one way or another by the way I have lived my second life.
That simply is not true. I have always known my words, actions and deeds have influenced people who I may have never met. True, I do not know the exact numbers. I just know it happens all the time because people tell me how an instant in time has affected their lives. My second life surely was not lived the way I had imagined it would be. But then who among us can say their life has gone as they had anticipated it would?
In the book I have written, one of the chapters shows a poster which reads I Still Believe In Tomorrow. I do not remember who gave me that poster. The poster is long gone, but like so many of the things I have said and done, the person who gave it to me does not know how inspiring it has been. If you are the one, or know who gave it to me, please let me know. I want to thank you personally.
I still have not decided on the title of my book, and it may very well end up being I Still Believe In Tomorrow.
I am dictating this to my mom on September 3, 2011. I do not know how long I will be in the hospital this time.
Right now, I am lying in bed with a PICC line in my right arm as two heavy-duty IV antibiotics are raging war with the bacteria currently trying to keep me down. So, I cannot use my right arm. With assistance from my cousin Susie and her husband Tom, we are getting this posted today. Coincidentally, Tom wrote an article about me which appears in today's Minneapolis StarTribune, which you can read by clicking here.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Later,
Mike
Both Number One and Number Two ended with me being in a hospital. Both at the beginnings of Numbers Two and Three I have no idea how long the hospitalizations will be. Little did I know what was happening or how my first life would end and how the ramifications would affect not only my life but the lives of who knows how many other people. People have often told me I have no idea how many others I have inspired, educated or changed in one way or another by the way I have lived my second life.
That simply is not true. I have always known my words, actions and deeds have influenced people who I may have never met. True, I do not know the exact numbers. I just know it happens all the time because people tell me how an instant in time has affected their lives. My second life surely was not lived the way I had imagined it would be. But then who among us can say their life has gone as they had anticipated it would?
In the book I have written, one of the chapters shows a poster which reads I Still Believe In Tomorrow. I do not remember who gave me that poster. The poster is long gone, but like so many of the things I have said and done, the person who gave it to me does not know how inspiring it has been. If you are the one, or know who gave it to me, please let me know. I want to thank you personally.
I still have not decided on the title of my book, and it may very well end up being I Still Believe In Tomorrow.
I am dictating this to my mom on September 3, 2011. I do not know how long I will be in the hospital this time.
Right now, I am lying in bed with a PICC line in my right arm as two heavy-duty IV antibiotics are raging war with the bacteria currently trying to keep me down. So, I cannot use my right arm. With assistance from my cousin Susie and her husband Tom, we are getting this posted today. Coincidentally, Tom wrote an article about me which appears in today's Minneapolis StarTribune, which you can read by clicking here.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Later,
Mike
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Chad is 38!
Some of you remember my baby brother, Chad, from our time in Worthington. We are the Alpha and Omega children of Arlin and Colleen. I tease him how he will always be the baby of the family and he comes right back at me with, "At least I'm not older than dirt!"
Here was his first birthday cake:
So I sign all my emails to him "Dirt." We have a great relationship. He was just in town for several days around his twenty-year Class Reunion. That's right, he has been out of Mayo High School in Rochester for twenty years already! I have a hard time believing it. We got to spend a lot of time together and had a great time. I miss him and have a hard time believing he has been living in Southern California for thirteen years already.
For my longtime readers, you may remember the post I did on him in January 2010. If you are a new reader to this blog, you may see the post by clicking here or click his name at the end of this post.
His website has been updated and his first invention, The Drum Wallet is starting to sell. You can see it with new videos, photos and many new testimonials. Just click here. If you are a drummer, or know a drummer, you need The Drum Wallet. They make great gifts!
He is a budding entrepreneur with other ideas, and starts bursting at the seams when he starts talking about his ideas. The Drum Wallet is in the final stage of getting patented, and he has a couple other products in various stages of development.
Here is a shot of him in action these days:
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Here was his first birthday cake:
So I sign all my emails to him "Dirt." We have a great relationship. He was just in town for several days around his twenty-year Class Reunion. That's right, he has been out of Mayo High School in Rochester for twenty years already! I have a hard time believing it. We got to spend a lot of time together and had a great time. I miss him and have a hard time believing he has been living in Southern California for thirteen years already.
For my longtime readers, you may remember the post I did on him in January 2010. If you are a new reader to this blog, you may see the post by clicking here or click his name at the end of this post.
His website has been updated and his first invention, The Drum Wallet is starting to sell. You can see it with new videos, photos and many new testimonials. Just click here. If you are a drummer, or know a drummer, you need The Drum Wallet. They make great gifts!
He is a budding entrepreneur with other ideas, and starts bursting at the seams when he starts talking about his ideas. The Drum Wallet is in the final stage of getting patented, and he has a couple other products in various stages of development.
Here is a shot of him in action these days:
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Gospel For Teens
Once again, my favorite TV Show, 60 Minutes, came through with another piece I feel compelled to share because of the lessons I learned from their expert journalism. Vy Higgenson is running a program in Harlem that is changing young lives through teaching them to not only sing Gospel, but the history of the music and how it can change their lives. I have always contended education is about opportunity, and good material taught by good teachers. Gospel for Teens fits that bill.
It is such a good piece with so much to learn, they took two segments of the show to tell the story. Granted, this is the Summer rerun season and this story originally ran this Spring, but it was new to me. If you have already seen it, just delete this post. But, if you missed it this Spring, check out these two video segments from tonight's show:
Segment Two:
I often say how my post material comes to me. I do not have to go looking for it. It has happened again tonight.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. To my Facebook friends who want to see the videos, just go to my blog by clicking here. While you are there, please subscribe to it, follow the directions, you will receive an email every time I post, and you can check out some of my old posts. You will find some of them educational, entertaining and occasionally even humorous. Thank you.
It is such a good piece with so much to learn, they took two segments of the show to tell the story. Granted, this is the Summer rerun season and this story originally ran this Spring, but it was new to me. If you have already seen it, just delete this post. But, if you missed it this Spring, check out these two video segments from tonight's show:
Segment Two:
I often say how my post material comes to me. I do not have to go looking for it. It has happened again tonight.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
P.S. To my Facebook friends who want to see the videos, just go to my blog by clicking here. While you are there, please subscribe to it, follow the directions, you will receive an email every time I post, and you can check out some of my old posts. You will find some of them educational, entertaining and occasionally even humorous. Thank you.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
"Beautiful, your butt looks beautiful!"
Those were the words my nurse exclaimed as she took the bandages off two of the bedsores on my backside. I wish I had a dime for every time a nurse has told me how good my derriere has looked over these last almost forty years!
There have been far too many times when nurses and doctors have not been so positive in her/his assessment of the condition of my posterior. When she turned me over to change the dressing on my left trochanter, (the top part of the femur) her excitement was not so great. It is still getting better, just not as fast as the other two sores. In all fairness to her, she had not seen me in about a month.
I told her, "You just gave me material for my next blog post." I am anxious to show her how I kept my word.
Since 1972 when I developed my first bedsore, I have had eight surgeries on my left side and two more on my right side. I have spent at least a year in hospitals and many more months recovering at home. Each recovery takes a long time to get my strength and stamina back to the point where I can handle sitting up all day. As I get older, I am noticing recovery time is taking longer and longer. I am sure some of my chronically challenged readers can relate!
I am closing now since Mom just called me for dinner. Then, it is off to bed again as I will be pushing seven hours of being semi-vertical. I will watch the Twins game again and see if they can finally beat the best team money can buy. I really do not like what George Steinbrenner did when he bought the Yankees. But that is an editorial for another post.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
There have been far too many times when nurses and doctors have not been so positive in her/his assessment of the condition of my posterior. When she turned me over to change the dressing on my left trochanter, (the top part of the femur) her excitement was not so great. It is still getting better, just not as fast as the other two sores. In all fairness to her, she had not seen me in about a month.
I told her, "You just gave me material for my next blog post." I am anxious to show her how I kept my word.
Since 1972 when I developed my first bedsore, I have had eight surgeries on my left side and two more on my right side. I have spent at least a year in hospitals and many more months recovering at home. Each recovery takes a long time to get my strength and stamina back to the point where I can handle sitting up all day. As I get older, I am noticing recovery time is taking longer and longer. I am sure some of my chronically challenged readers can relate!
I am closing now since Mom just called me for dinner. Then, it is off to bed again as I will be pushing seven hours of being semi-vertical. I will watch the Twins game again and see if they can finally beat the best team money can buy. I really do not like what George Steinbrenner did when he bought the Yankees. But that is an editorial for another post.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Please Give Me Your Thoughts
I am in the final editing stages of a book I have been working on for several years. It is indeed the inspiration for this blog. Some of your comments are even in the book.
The working title is I'm Not Done Yet, And Neither Are You. My editor has come across some concerns with that title because of a possible copyright infringement. I have received opinions on both sides of that issue. I have been told it is okay to use it, while others are telling me I need to change it. It is still my preferred title, and I may end up using it.
Here is where I would like your thoughts on a title. I am listing several possible titles and I would like you to tell me which one you like. Also, please write any new title ideas you may have.
Thank you in advance.
I'm Not Done Yet
I Still Believe In Tomorrow
An Instant In Time May Change Everything
I Know Why I Broke My Neck
Don't Ever Break Your Neck ...
It's Not Worth The Good Parking Spots
When Your Pride Goes Out The Window
If you are reading this on my Facebook page, please go to my blog and enter your thoughts as a comment. You may go to the blog by clicking here. While you are there, feel free to check out some of my old posts. You may find them educational, inspirational, entertaining and possibly even humorous. Also, please subscribe to it. If you do, you will get an email every time I post. That will allow you to get videos and other attachments that do not show up on Facebook.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
The working title is I'm Not Done Yet, And Neither Are You. My editor has come across some concerns with that title because of a possible copyright infringement. I have received opinions on both sides of that issue. I have been told it is okay to use it, while others are telling me I need to change it. It is still my preferred title, and I may end up using it.
Here is where I would like your thoughts on a title. I am listing several possible titles and I would like you to tell me which one you like. Also, please write any new title ideas you may have.
Thank you in advance.
I'm Not Done Yet
I Still Believe In Tomorrow
An Instant In Time May Change Everything
I Know Why I Broke My Neck
Don't Ever Break Your Neck ...
It's Not Worth The Good Parking Spots
When Your Pride Goes Out The Window
If you are reading this on my Facebook page, please go to my blog and enter your thoughts as a comment. You may go to the blog by clicking here. While you are there, feel free to check out some of my old posts. You may find them educational, inspirational, entertaining and possibly even humorous. Also, please subscribe to it. If you do, you will get an email every time I post. That will allow you to get videos and other attachments that do not show up on Facebook.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
I know it has been a long time since I last put up a post on my blog. That is about to change. I last posted in April. It was about Challenge, how some adults are challenging young people, about how you can challenge others and challenging yourself.
These last few months in particular, and the last eighteen months in general, have been especially challenging for me. As many of you know, I have been dealing with three pressure sores that are literally taking me two steps forward and one step back. Two of the sores are healing nicely and now, for no apparent reason, one has taken a sudden change for the worse.
Like I tell people, Don't ever break your neck. It's not worth the good parking spots. Anyway, I have been pretty much bedridden these last few months. When I am siting up, it is only for two to three hours. A week ago, my wound doctor told me I could try sitting for three to four hours at a time. I want to try and take that extra time every so often and post on this blog.
I have caught you up a little and plan to try and start to posting a little more often in the coming months. It has been over a year since I gave my last speech, and I am getting a little stir crazy just lying in bed in this small apartment. Oh, by the way, I moved out of my house May fourteenth. That is a whole other story and material for another post.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
These last few months in particular, and the last eighteen months in general, have been especially challenging for me. As many of you know, I have been dealing with three pressure sores that are literally taking me two steps forward and one step back. Two of the sores are healing nicely and now, for no apparent reason, one has taken a sudden change for the worse.
Like I tell people, Don't ever break your neck. It's not worth the good parking spots. Anyway, I have been pretty much bedridden these last few months. When I am siting up, it is only for two to three hours. A week ago, my wound doctor told me I could try sitting for three to four hours at a time. I want to try and take that extra time every so often and post on this blog.
I have caught you up a little and plan to try and start to posting a little more often in the coming months. It has been over a year since I gave my last speech, and I am getting a little stir crazy just lying in bed in this small apartment. Oh, by the way, I moved out of my house May fourteenth. That is a whole other story and material for another post.
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Friday, April 29, 2011
Challange Yourself
I am watching the Twins game and this interesting, kind of strange commercial came on. It was advertising an organization called Know How 2 Go. It was challenging middle and high school students to take hard courses to prepare themselves for college. You can learn about them by clicking here.
The site is full of resources, advice, testimonials, college quizs, financial aid information and much more for each grade level.
I believe students will find helpful information. Teachers share it with your students. Parents show it to your children and mentors share it with your young mentee(s). I know I will be sharing it.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
The site is full of resources, advice, testimonials, college quizs, financial aid information and much more for each grade level.
I believe students will find helpful information. Teachers share it with your students. Parents show it to your children and mentors share it with your young mentee(s). I know I will be sharing it.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Change
In 1998 I heard a speaker talk about change. He was a futurist who studies future events, conditions and developments. Without going into a lot of the details about his presentation, he discussed the history of change in order to better understand future change.
He addressed change in the Middle and Dark Ages, and how we doubled our base of knowledge about once every one hundred years. He said by the time we were in the late nineteenth century that number was down to about every fifty years. Then came the Industrial Revolution, and he said it went down to about every fifteen years.
He told us we were doubling our base of knowledge about every eighteen months. Remember, that was in 1998. He also told us in the next twenty-five years, we would be doubling our base of knowledge about every three weeks!
Well, we are about half way there. How do you think we are doing? I can think of many ways my life has changed because of what we have learned a great deal in many disciplines from medicine to cell phones. Can you come up with a few by starting with the technology that delivered this note to your Inbox? I mean, we are already on the iPad2. Now, we have cars that can parallel park themselves. We did not have that even last year.
Many of my posts come from ideas I get from friends. One of them sent me this CORNING ad which prompted me to thinking about change. Check it out and see what is happening at CORNING. The products will be available in the near future. You can see a fascinating video by clicking here.
What do you think?
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
He addressed change in the Middle and Dark Ages, and how we doubled our base of knowledge about once every one hundred years. He said by the time we were in the late nineteenth century that number was down to about every fifty years. Then came the Industrial Revolution, and he said it went down to about every fifteen years.
He told us we were doubling our base of knowledge about every eighteen months. Remember, that was in 1998. He also told us in the next twenty-five years, we would be doubling our base of knowledge about every three weeks!
Well, we are about half way there. How do you think we are doing? I can think of many ways my life has changed because of what we have learned a great deal in many disciplines from medicine to cell phones. Can you come up with a few by starting with the technology that delivered this note to your Inbox? I mean, we are already on the iPad2. Now, we have cars that can parallel park themselves. We did not have that even last year.
Many of my posts come from ideas I get from friends. One of them sent me this CORNING ad which prompted me to thinking about change. Check it out and see what is happening at CORNING. The products will be available in the near future. You can see a fascinating video by clicking here.
What do you think?
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Bob Hurley's Commitment
Since my NCAA College Basketball Pool is shot, I want to go down a level of my favorite sport, basketball, and talk about high school basketball. Last Sunday 60 Minutes showed a piece I want to share.
Basketball is alive and well at tiny St. Anthony Catholic High School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Coach Bob Hurley is running not only an incredibly successful winning basketball program, but turning out student/athlete leaders as well. The coolest part of this whole school is every student goes to college!
It is an incredible story! If you have not already seen it, check it out:
Do you agree with me? My favorite quote from Coach Hurley's interview was, "I think I'm where I'm supposed to be."
Can you say that about yourself? Are you where you are supposed to be? If you are, good for you. If you are not, what can you do to get there? Can you get there? There may become a time when I can say that about my current health situation, but not yet. However, When I am addressing an audience and they appear to be hanging on my every word, I can say, "I'm there!"
I know why I got hurt. I am supposed to try to make a difference in peoples' lives. Like teachers, I do not get a semester, or whole school year, or a lifetime like a parent does with her/his child(ren). I may only have a group for a half hour, an hour, or maybe more. So, I have to do a good job in my short time with them no matter their age.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Finally, A Post Not About Me
In most of my recent posts, all I have been addressing is me. It is time to change that. I want to introduce you to a teaching website about positive values. I believe the lessons are relevant and good reminders for people of all ages. It is called Values.com.
For you teachers, there is a lot of good information you may find useful in your classroom. Positive attributes like leadership, friendship, courage, honesty and respect, to name just a few are featured throughout the site. There is also a great deal of information for the rest of us. I know I have spent quite a bit of time already perusing the site. I even see a few potential handouts for future schools, conferences and possible pages for my Materials page on my website.
I first learned of them while watching television in these last long months of being bedridden; and seeing this commercial several times. You can watch the commercial by clicking here:
I do not think I would have handled the situation the way this young man did. For you student/athletes, what would you have done in this or a similar situation? For everyone else, what would you have done in this or any of the other scenarios they show?
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
For you teachers, there is a lot of good information you may find useful in your classroom. Positive attributes like leadership, friendship, courage, honesty and respect, to name just a few are featured throughout the site. There is also a great deal of information for the rest of us. I know I have spent quite a bit of time already perusing the site. I even see a few potential handouts for future schools, conferences and possible pages for my Materials page on my website.
I first learned of them while watching television in these last long months of being bedridden; and seeing this commercial several times. You can watch the commercial by clicking here:
I do not think I would have handled the situation the way this young man did. For you student/athletes, what would you have done in this or a similar situation? For everyone else, what would you have done in this or any of the other scenarios they show?
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Sunday, March 13, 2011
To My Worthington Friends
I have a favor to ask of people who knew me when I had my accident. You do not necessarily need to be from Worthington, I just want comments from people who knew me before my accident, and have memories of that night.
I wrote a book, and with an editor are in the process of editing it and want to include a chapter of peoples' memories of the night I got hurt. The book is nearing completion and the editing process is going very well. I already have several comments following my post where I would like you to make your comments. Please identify yourself when you post your comment.
Here is the post from my blog on September 3, 2009 I would like you to refer to if you would like to make your comments part of the book by clicking here.
My editor and I believe your comments will be a valuable addition to the book which is tentatively titled Turning This Tragedy Into Triumph and I'm Not Done Yet. I Every one of my blog posts goes to my Facebook page so for all my Facebook friends who want to comment, please open my blog and make your comment on that link from above.
The cover of the book is the picture from the Daily Globe the day after my accident. It was taken by Jim Brandenburg. He was a photographer for the Globe at the time and has several pictures you can see by going to my website at patcom.com.
Please consider subscribing to my blog if you have not already done so. The subscription process is on the top right corner of the page when you make your comment. I am trying to build up my Subscriber numbers. I appreciate your help. Please contact me if you have any questions at mike@patcom.com.
Thank you for your assistance.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
I wrote a book, and with an editor are in the process of editing it and want to include a chapter of peoples' memories of the night I got hurt. The book is nearing completion and the editing process is going very well. I already have several comments following my post where I would like you to make your comments. Please identify yourself when you post your comment.
Here is the post from my blog on September 3, 2009 I would like you to refer to if you would like to make your comments part of the book by clicking here.
My editor and I believe your comments will be a valuable addition to the book which is tentatively titled Turning This Tragedy Into Triumph and I'm Not Done Yet. I Every one of my blog posts goes to my Facebook page so for all my Facebook friends who want to comment, please open my blog and make your comment on that link from above.
The cover of the book is the picture from the Daily Globe the day after my accident. It was taken by Jim Brandenburg. He was a photographer for the Globe at the time and has several pictures you can see by going to my website at patcom.com.
Please consider subscribing to my blog if you have not already done so. The subscription process is on the top right corner of the page when you make your comment. I am trying to build up my Subscriber numbers. I appreciate your help. Please contact me if you have any questions at mike@patcom.com.
Thank you for your assistance.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Monday, March 7, 2011
Acupuncture Rules!
I saw my wound doctor last Monday and it seems one wound is getting better and the other is not progressing and even getting a little worse. He put me on strict bed rest, so today is the first I have been up since last Monday. Hence, no post on surgery or not. The good news is: it looks like I will not need any more surgery, at least not in the near future.
The really good news is: I found out I can start seeing my acupuncturist again! So, I will start getting treatments at least once a week and most weeks I'm scheduled for twice weekly appointments. I just got home from my first treatment in months and feel great!
Many of you know I have been getting acupuncture treatment since 2003, and how much good it has done for me. If you have ever had acupuncture treatment(s), you know what I mean. If you have never experienced it, you do not know what you are missing! The Chinese and much of their Eastern or as we refer to it "alternative medicine" is quite extraordinary. I guess six thousand years has taught them something. I believe we could learn a great deal from the alternative medicine practices of the Chinese.
China has a lot to give us besides cheap labor to make all the products we now buy which used to proudly display "Made in the U.S.A."
Western medicine is slowly integrating many of their medical ideas like healing touch, biofeedback, herbal treatments, massage and yoga, among others at places like the the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing located on the Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus in Minneapolis. You can learn more about the Insitute by clicking here.
I could go on for a long time about my feelings on integrative medicine, but I see I have written quite a bit already. I think I will go lie down, take a nap, and enjoy the aftereffects of my acupuncture treatment. Besides, I devote most of a chapter in my book on the subject. FYI, the editing is going very well and we are hoping to have a finished product ready to submit to a publisher in the next couple months.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Later,
Mike
The really good news is: I found out I can start seeing my acupuncturist again! So, I will start getting treatments at least once a week and most weeks I'm scheduled for twice weekly appointments. I just got home from my first treatment in months and feel great!
Many of you know I have been getting acupuncture treatment since 2003, and how much good it has done for me. If you have ever had acupuncture treatment(s), you know what I mean. If you have never experienced it, you do not know what you are missing! The Chinese and much of their Eastern or as we refer to it "alternative medicine" is quite extraordinary. I guess six thousand years has taught them something. I believe we could learn a great deal from the alternative medicine practices of the Chinese.
China has a lot to give us besides cheap labor to make all the products we now buy which used to proudly display "Made in the U.S.A."
Western medicine is slowly integrating many of their medical ideas like healing touch, biofeedback, herbal treatments, massage and yoga, among others at places like the the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing located on the Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus in Minneapolis. You can learn more about the Insitute by clicking here.
I could go on for a long time about my feelings on integrative medicine, but I see I have written quite a bit already. I think I will go lie down, take a nap, and enjoy the aftereffects of my acupuncture treatment. Besides, I devote most of a chapter in my book on the subject. FYI, the editing is going very well and we are hoping to have a finished product ready to submit to a publisher in the next couple months.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Later,
Mike
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wound Clinic Visit
I go to see my wound doctor tomorrow morning. Wish me luck.
If you do not hear from me for a while, it means I checked in and had another surgery. I am hoping that is not going to be the case.
Later,
Mike
If you do not hear from me for a while, it means I checked in and had another surgery. I am hoping that is not going to be the case.
Later,
Mike
Monday, February 21, 2011
Poking Fun Of Our Canadian Neighbors
I believe it is important to laugh as often as we can and lately, I have not had a lot to laugh about. Maybe that is why I find this so funny. Check out this short video a friend just sent me and see if you agree with me:
Do you agree? Do you think this is as funny as I do?
Maybe I just needed a break from discussing my health issues? By the way, according to the nurse today, one sore is looking better and one is not.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Do you agree? Do you think this is as funny as I do?
Maybe I just needed a break from discussing my health issues? By the way, according to the nurse today, one sore is looking better and one is not.
I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I Think We Found One Of The Problems
I went to get my cushion looked at yesterday. I found out the cushion was part of my pressure problem. It seems the cushion had a small break in the base of the cushion and was causing a pressure problem on my left side.
After several hours and numerous trips on and off the mapping system, he repaired the base of the cushion and I have been able to sit up for several hours today.
It looks like I am on the upswing with the pressure issue. Now, we will see what the wound doctor has to say on February twenty-eighth about a possible surgery sometime in March.
I am hoping my wounds will heal enough between now and then so a third surgery this year will not be necessary. Since 1972, I have had eight surgeries on my left side and two surgeries on my right side. I am really not looking forward to surgery number eleven.
The worst part of this whole ordeal is I have missed every Gopher basketball game this year. That has never happened in the more than thirty years I have been a season ticket holder for my favorite sport, college basketball. After all, I do have my priorities!
So it is off to bed again now.
Later,
Mike
After several hours and numerous trips on and off the mapping system, he repaired the base of the cushion and I have been able to sit up for several hours today.
It looks like I am on the upswing with the pressure issue. Now, we will see what the wound doctor has to say on February twenty-eighth about a possible surgery sometime in March.
I am hoping my wounds will heal enough between now and then so a third surgery this year will not be necessary. Since 1972, I have had eight surgeries on my left side and two surgeries on my right side. I am really not looking forward to surgery number eleven.
The worst part of this whole ordeal is I have missed every Gopher basketball game this year. That has never happened in the more than thirty years I have been a season ticket holder for my favorite sport, college basketball. After all, I do have my priorities!
So it is off to bed again now.
Later,
Mike
Saturday, January 29, 2011
I Made It Home Again
I made it home again just in time to go check in for my monthly wound clinic check-up on Monday. I Hope I have some good news for you. I will keep you informed.
I cannot begin to tell you how many times over the years a beautiful, young nurse has told me how great my butt looks. I have often wanted to to reciprocate the compliment, but never had the courage to so.
Wish me luck at the clinic Monday.
Later,
Mike
I cannot begin to tell you how many times over the years a beautiful, young nurse has told me how great my butt looks. I have often wanted to to reciprocate the compliment, but never had the courage to so.
Wish me luck at the clinic Monday.
Later,
Mike
Sunday, January 9, 2011
I Have A Quick Update
Just a quick FYI on my pressure sores. I am still pretty much bedridden, but I am able to sit up a few hours a day now.
I saw my wound doctor last Monday and he told me to start trying to build up my strength and stamina. I have a great group of visiting nurses who come every day and change my wound dressing. Then I get in my chair for a few hours.
I am about half way through my seven hundred plus emails, so if you have sent me something and are looking for a response, please be patient.
I am off to bed now because I have been sitting up way too long today. Remember what I wrote about learning the rules and then breaking some?
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
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