Mid Journey Mo Bro

As most of you probably don't know, I have embarked upon a journey to full upper lip foliage with a few of my coworkers this Movember.  As is customary, we are doing this to raise awareness and funds to combat prostate cancer.  

Besides reporting on the status of the unpredictable follicle growth, I would also like to take this time to encourage you to contribute even a dollar to the cause.  It may come back and benefit you in ways that you may never realize.  If you are like me, you probably believe in paying it forward and good karma.   Consider this a sure-fire way to earn some of that. 

Now: mustache time.   Click on my MoSpace page to view my progress report. 

A big Thanksgiving Thank you to all of my family and friends for their continued support. 

Best, 

Steve

Movember Journey

Hi Friends,

For the month of Movember, I will be joining a couple coworkers on a gentlemen's journey to a respectable growth of hair on the upper lip and prostate cancer enlightenment. I anticipate a humbling experience.

First fact of the journey is brought to you by the National Cancer Institute:
1. By age 80, more than half of all men have some cancer in their prostate.

Shoot.  That's like betting your all your marbles (pun intended) on black at a roulette table with 00's.  I don't like my odds.

I like to think that my odds of growing a respectable mustache in a month are are a little bit better, though I am already dreading the extremely awkward first couple of weeks.  Thanks for joining me for the mustache ride.  Keep up with it here: http://mobro.co/schragoo

Here grows...

Light the Night - Manhattan 2012

Hello friends,

Every so often a worthwhile cause comes along that I feel is appropriate to share with you and ask for support.  Please consider parting with a coffee and a beer this weekend in exchange for some good karma.

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As a kid I remember deflecting fears of cancer by proclaiming proudly "I can never get cancer and even if I do, they'll have a cure for it when I'm older".

It was a silly thing to say and in my heart I knew that it was a tall order. It was hope, however, that hijacked my thoughts and made me utter those words. It was much easier than thinking about the alternative.

Years later I still want to believe it, and despite cynicism trying to override that hope, I see that progress has been (and will continue to be) made - thanks in large part to organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

A few reasons why I am supporting the LLS and walking in their Light the Night event:

- Since my childhood (early 1990s) the survival rates of all ages and all types of leukemia have risen from 45% to 57%, thanks in large part to funding and awareness by the LLS.

- In all five blood cancers the LLS works with, the incidence rates are statistically higher in males than females

- My good friend April has worked for the LLS for some time and she works hard and speaks highly of it.

- I have family and friends who have been diagnosed with a blood cancer, It's scary and not fun.  The LLS provides a ton of support materials for families going through a battle against blood cancer.

-  Karma. It feels good to pay it forward.

Please consider donating to this group.  It's as easy as clicking on that red "donate now" button to the right.  

If you need any other reasons, give me a call I'd love to hear from you.

Thank you all, you all rock,

Steve

Notes from 37,000 feet

MCO -> DTW - I should rename this blog to "Thoughts in Transit" because that's always when I seem to write it.

Hello future me and anyone who might be spying. Today I decided to write because my work devices are all out of juice. Thusly, work is not an option.

I know, try not to be mad. I don't mean to put you second, but at least I'm writing, right? Right.

So let's see, where am I in life? Well I'm on my way home to work out of my parent's place for a week and spend Memorial Day weekend celebrating my good friends John and Kim getting married. This marks the first of my close friends to tie the knot: a pretty momentous occasion in my book. I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened sooner and I'm happy it's the two of them. It makes me believe that I keep smart and intelligent friends who understand what marriage means and choose their partners wisely.

At least that's what I want to believe. I'm pretty sure if anyone proves me wrong it won't be the Cramers. Many happy thoughts to them.

Switching gears, Memorial Day marks a whole bunch of awesomeness every year it seems. Not only are my friends getting married, but the music festival formally known as Technofest happens in Detroit, the Detroit Grand Prix has been resurrected and will run this weekend, it marks the beginning of summer and I am going to see family and friends. Needless to say I am in a good mood.

The one thing missing is my actress girlfriend, Sarah, who is lighting up the Brooklyn Heights theatre stage this weekend in a production of Finnean's Rainbow. We have her scheduled to make a weekend stop in Detroit at the end of June though so I should have a chance to show her off then.

Detroit, Detroit, my how you call me back. It's funny, when people ask me, I usually say "I live in New York, but from Detroit". And I interchange New York and Detroit when I refer to home regularly. But I must say, New York is making a strong push to keep me around right now. Work is busy (a good thing) and I surround myself with extremely intelligent, entertaining and challenging friends. I feel like a rock star just hanging out with them.

I feel like I am making progress professionally and am happy with living so close to Sarah and exploring my neighborhood in Queens. Each day I seem to get a clearer picture of where I want to go in life. It makes me want to write a poem. I think I'll try.

The Great Lake spread out to the horizon in every direction.
Am I in the middle of it? I'm not certain.
People float.
A boat in the distance causes those in its wake to bob up and down

Now I see them

Now I don't.

I'm with the crew on canoes and kayaks. I enjoy it here.

There is sun to be had today.

For a moment, it's as if the barge in the distance didn't exist.

-----

It's nice to be home. Good night world.

Location:Somewhere over America

It's been six months and still no word, I don't deserve it??

HERSHEY, PA-  If you get the reference made in my title for this post, you might be from Detroit.  Or you're an Eminem fan.

Either way, I looked at my blog today for the first time in... well, six months and I realized I should probably put the fingers to the 'pad for another installment of OneSteveWorld.  I know you are all clamoring.

Pennsylvania. That's where I am. I'm staying at Hershey Lodge because I gave three presentations to the 99th Regional Support Command today. Well not to all of them, but to those who wanted to show up.  Presentations went quite well in case you were wondering. Great showing.

But that's kind of boring.  I could say that not a lot as been going on in my life but the would be a lie.  I am busy busy these days.  Traveling for work (I have been to Orlando twice and will be heading back two more times before June), playing Ultimate Frisbee out on Randall's Island, enjoying the early-onset summer weather in NY by frequenting the local Queens' biergarten... You know, the usual.

Yada Yada Yada, I can talk about stuff I am doing in New York but you don't care.  Basta dire (suffice it to say) I am alive and well.

Thanks for stopping by, I'll try not to wait so long until my next post.

Here are some pictures. 


One love.