POEM: To my unborn child on the occasion of your shower

Monday, January 28 - SOMEWHERE OVER THE PLAINS STATES

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Constellatory lights guide the way from below
Traversing space and time

From your stretching universe you sing hello
With a thumbs up: "I'm fine!"

Take your time Little One!
Or hurry should you wish
Either is fine with us

Your light is already shining bright - filling our hearts with song!

Detached from the ground we dance for you, Little Bear, and all (y)our relations,
Team up -
We tune our celestial rythms to each other, channeling distant suns in a pattern with increasing clarity.

A-rythmic. Melodic.
Groovy and grounded.

Your presence brings with it a galaxy of hope, a black hole of time, and an infinite amount of life-giving debris.

There is nothing minor about you, Little Dipper, and your kicks are there to prove it
When the earth puts a mountain in front of your sky,
You have all the tools to move it!

God Rests in Reason

VALLEJO - Midnight Thirty

https://youtu.be/wz_0_YaLxnU

“

Well, your children will not be your children

Maybe the daughter, the son of a beginning

They'll come through your womb but not be coming from you

They will be with you but they do not belong to you

You can give them your love but not your thoughts

'Cause they'll arrive with their own hearts

They're the coming of angels this blessed season

And then they'll sing oh yea, god rests in reason

God rests in reason

So what should you do when god moves through

“

-Jason Mraz

Dave Matthews (Reprise) and the Case for Attending Concerts Virtually

VALLEJO, CA -

Most anyone that stumbles upon this blog will know that I have attended a few Dave Matthews Band shows in my day. Since I saw them perform at Comerica Park back in the early 00's I was hooked on the bands ability to translate wind, string, percussion and voice into an almost tangible groove that requires the listener to tap their feet.

Over the past several years life has got in the way and I haven't been able to attend every year like I used to. Occasionally I would put on a recorded version of a show on YouTube and play it in the background while working on something else. This was still enjoyable, but it never really managed to capture the full environment of a concert. That is until recently.

Last night the DMB YouTube channel aired a full concert to celebrate their new album (Come Tomorrow). I caught the tail end of it - enough to stoke the jam band fire of days past - and so after making dinner I decided to restart the concert right around the time a show in my timezone would start.  What a fantastic decision.

It's incredible with today's technology (I am using a 4k TV with the Chromecast Ultra) and the quality of the YouTube production... It brought me right to Philadelphia and front row to a fantastic show (Full disclosure: I lit some candles to give a little more depth - #wouldrecommend). Link here: 6.16.18

Quick review has me pumped to try and catch them when they come out this way at the end of summer:
The new songs are great additions to the sets (Away and Away, Samurai Cop, Come Tomorrow), while the old stuff (#41, LIOG) hits just as hard as it used to - especially now that it's infused with some new blood in Buddy Strong (that Shotgun riff in Stand Up was 🔥).  Also, Jeff Coffin now feels like he has a full grasp of the weight of the songs and he brings an energy with the sax that would make LeRoi smile.

Watching it in the setting was just as enjoyable as many of the shows I have been too. The biggest thing missing is getting to know new people - something I have always enjoyed at DMB concerts.

[Sidenote: I see a path forward with the live-stream feed: While there were too many people to make any real connections in the general comment section, a chat room (like the old days in AOL) where you could spin off and have more topic-driven conversations would make it a little more personable. Plus you could connect with people all over the world that share your passion.]

Even waiting for the show to start and the encore breaks listening to the crowd screem for Halloween (lol) brought helped place me back in that familiar setting.

So DMB fans out there... Does it count that I saw this show now? Does seeing a show virtually qualify me to add it to my list? In all honesty, I watched this show more intently than a number of the previous shows I attended in person. True, I didn't have to deal with the traffic, but is that badge of honor necessary?

I think there is a strong case for it.

The United States according to a Sales Operations Manager

Alabama	See Arkansas. (Roll Tide.)
Alaska	That was uncomfortably easy...
Arizona	Sunshine sounds nice
Arkansas	We don't do business here, do we? Oh we do? How?
California	?!?!?!??!!?!??!?!!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Colorado	OK Fine we'll make this exception to our policies for you.
Connecticut	New York Jr.
Delaware	Aren't we incorporated here?
Florida	I have this figured out thanks to Texas and California. I think. Wait, what?
Georgia	Hey guys... uhh... we do a lot of business here? Are we hiring?
Hawaii	I think I need to visit to make sure everything is going right...
Idaho	Reasonable demands, but I don't want to. I should re-establish our tier system...
Illinois	Is that regulation REALLY necessary?
Indiana	Yeah we'll get to that in a sec, but first let's talk football
Iowa	If you build it, they will come
Kansas	Kansas City is not in Kansas. Wait, it is?
Kentucky	How are they paying for this?
Louisiana	We have a conference here next year, right? I've been told to get beignets.
Maine	Why don't we do business here?
Maryland	We have two, like, really big programs running here somehow.
Massachusetts	We don't need to talk - here's an email with what I need from you...
Michigan	Oh yeah, Michigan.  Keep on trucking.
Minnesota	Land of 10,000 small contracts
Mississippi	See Arkansas.
Missouri	Pretty sure Kansas City is here.
Montana	We have a statewide deal with them
Nebraska	"Omahaww! Omahaww!" - Peyton Manning voice
Nevada	I think we can push back our meet time to when the floor opens.
New Hampshire	Not Vermont. See.Maine.
New Jersey	Chicago Regulations, New York speed.
New Mexico	"Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe." - Reminder: I pay too much in RENT.
New York	"The Sales team needs you to come here and explain this to them..."
North Carolina	This pace is nice. I think I could live in the South.
North Dakota	It's cold there. I don't think we have any business there.
Ohio	Calm down, Ohio.
Oklahoma	Military, Schools or Hospitals
Oregon	PNW FTW
Pennsylvania	I have not heard of the Poconos until I started this job
Rhode Island	We have some business here randomly.
South Carolina	Our Salesperson promised them WHAT?
South Dakota	SoNoDa.  (South of North Dakota)
Tennessee	Ostensibly this is different than Kentucky.
Texas	Seriously? Did you just try to push that by me?
Utah	Delta makes me stop here on my way to ________.
Vermont	This one is shaped like a V.
Virginia	There are too many lawyers in DC -and in Virginia by proxy.
Washington	Are we considering the PNW?
West Virginia	See Kentucky and Tennessee.
Wisconsin	Badger. Badger. Badger. Badger. Badger.MUSHROOM.
Wyoming	Crickets.

Batter Up

A raincloud of doubt reigns o'er me from above

I wield my instrument as it was designed, swatting at too many ideas

Drops of brilliance and cloudiness shaped by years of unconscious filters

Each year a new rung on the tree of life.

Seeking harmony with the falling rain.

Earth Day March for Science ✌️🇺🇸🌎

APRIL 22, 2017 "EARTH 🌎 DAY" - This weekend I'll be joining scientists of all occupations for what is being dubbed the "March for Science".  As I did for the Women's March, I feel the need to explain why this is important enough for me to give up my Saturday and what I hope it accomplishes.

For starters, I'd like to make it very clear that I am not marching for any particular political party or group. I consider myself an independent thinker and I am marching on behalf of myself and my fellow humans.

Secondly, I am not technically a scientist, but I believe in science. Just as I am not a theologian, and believe in religion. With a little bit of effort, I have found those two concepts can exist simultaneously in my head and not be contradictory. I regret that I feel the need to make that distinction, but I want that stated.
-----
Google defines "science" as:

"The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment."

When scientists come to consensus on a subject, it represents what we know collectively to be true at this moment in time. On the subject of Climate Change, the scientific consensus is there: it is a real and active threat to the fate of our existence on this planet.

Ignoring this is convenient.  Accepting it, however, requires that we take action both personally and politically to remedy it. It also requires us to view Mother Nature as an active participant in our existence on this planet.

Never in the history of humanity have people been forced to collaborate so extensively so as to deliberately alter the fate of our host planet.  That is not to say we haven't accomplished feats of this magnitude before: landing on the moon, creating atomic energy, harnessing the power of the sun... all of those things have gone a long way to altering the fate of our existence.  They also share something important in common: American Scientists.

Americans have altered the fate of humanity in the past and will do so again.  We are not a people to gleefully back down from a challenge. However we must be convinced that one lies before us.

That is why I am marching: to assert that I acknowledge and value scientific agreement, and to show others that I am willing to do my part, whatever that may be, to advance human interests and life on this planet. I take my being a citizen of the world as seriously as my being a citizen of this country.

Love,
Steve

Poem: Which side am I on?

Which side am I on?
I do not know
Am I the friend, or despicable foe?

The fact that I need to ask
Makes me take myself to task.

And eternally echoed, the thought is spawned...

Untitled: Self Assessment Musing

Self-assessment really sucks
It's here that I must count my fucks

The grading scale is too complex
To reach your entangled(?) desk

Despite relativity,
I'm still into me.

Poem: A ___ in the current

Imagine, if you will, you could breath, submerged, without a gill And in floating around you might Find yourself without a light And so you begin to feel around But is there something to be found? YES OF COURSE! YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK (is something you might read in a book) no way, jose - said the man in the song but we both know that he is wrong And so we swim the great unknown with speedy currents and dead zones Looking for a pride to ride - the stream to match a clumsy stride Despite your body pushing and swaying, your parents and what they might be saying, Your presence is needed now and quickly! But deviations make them sickly... Not to be deterred by the foreign rain For all that matters is inside your head.

Why I Marched

Hi,

I have been asked by a number of people why I marched in the Women's march this weekend.  It's a fair question that deserves an answer.  Here it is.

First and foremost, I marched out of respect for the men and women who have fought for the freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of this great country.  I understand the privileges granted by the Constitution are guaranteed only to the extent that we are willing to fight for (and to keep) them. Those privileges include my right to protest if I feel those freedoms are being threatened.

I marched because freedoms are actively being threatened.  This is important to understand.  People aren't marching because they "are sad they lost the election".  No. The millions of people that demonstrated this weekend were actively combating a real threat against their statuses as citizens. Hostile rhetoric towards women, Muslims, blacks, Mexicans, the disabled, the press, etc. is being normalized as an assault on the "politically correct" by "whiny liberals", but by allowing those comments to go unchecked, it severely hinders the political capital those groups have fought hard for. Phrases like "Grab them by the pussies", "they're rapists", "Liars!", etc.   normalize an ethnocentric view of America and castigates entire demographics.  It is a direct call to popular tendencies that demonizes people in order to win loyalty from an uninformed public.  This is truth just as much as the climate is changing due to human interaction. Even though we can't see it, it is there and many of the people marching understand that.

I marched to make it clear that I will not be caught up in populism. Just because I am a white male does not mean I need to act on behalf of all white men.  When my fellow citizen is slighted, so am I.  My demographic has been given a lot of great privileges of which I am very grateful. It is my responsibility to recognize that advantage and help others or risk that privileged status being challenged by others through violence.

I marched because greater things can be achieved by those who work together.  It is clear to me (and to our president!) that our focus should be internal.  America needs to work together to address domestic issues before we can reasonably be stewards of democracy worldwide.  That is what we voted for and I tend to agree.  The march helped make clear where a lot of Americans stand on issues of social justice: We will not stand for the the de-legitimization of any of our fellow humans. And while global Isolationism may be a temporary solution for dealing with other countries, we will eventually need to find a way to work with other nations or suffer their malcontent.

I marched to be informed. It is difficult to understand the viewpoints of others without getting out and hearing from them.

I marched because I needed to be reminded that people are overwhelmingly good.  The warmth I received from the smiles of the peaceful protesters re-invigorated this conviction.

I marched because I wanted to support my wife. Not because she needed me to, but because she inspires me to be a good citizen.  She was marching with or without me.

I marched because the future is female - and I'm OK with that.  I'm a man. I have a tendency towards machismo and can vividly recall times where I was overly aggressive when challenged in public.  In the age of easily accessible weaponry, perhaps it's OK that a man doesn't have The Button to press if his ego is bruised. With dwindling resources on this planet, it's clear to me that humans will need to shift from a "get off my lawn" attitude to inviting our diverse neighbors over for dinner.

I marched because I took history class. And while I may have only garnered a B letter grade, it doesn't take an A-student to see the threat of authoritarianism as real. We have a charismatic leader who demands loyalty and threatens "law and order" if it is not given. There is an assault on truth with retribution promised to those who don't see things his way.  This has happened before and while authoritarianism doesn't necessarily equate to Nazi-ism and fascism, it can easily slip a similar way unintentionally.  For this we must stay vigilant.

I marched because I have friends who don't understand why a man is marching in a women's march. If this post hasn't helped clear that up, I'm afraid I won't be to able explain this further without talking in person. I am happy to have conversations with friends and always welcome alternative points of view.

Finally, I marched because I am in awe that the Constitution continues to govern with relative effectiveness.  Sure there are laws on the books that could use revision, but I am astonished by the respect these living documents command.  I feel responsibility to help ensure that our government continues to be effective and I am proud to be an active participant in this great social experiment.

Why did(n't) you march?

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Poem: I have been woke

Poem: I have been woke

I stand woke at work
In the present state of pantless mediocrity
Observing others with far greater aspirations and means

In my wakedness
I understand our days to be
Brightly elucidating
Until I am born the meekest
And have completed my final trip around the Sun
To become the dream that is shared.

How many others? Rebel and Empire?
A trinity? A majority? All?

Must I wait.

Cold at my feet.
Sun on my face. Warmth.
Complacency less an option

Clothes would be nice, but...

My ego is yours and you know it.

Has it really been over two years since my last post?

BOSTON:  Apparently it has.

Not that there hasn't been any excitement - I just haven't documented it for the world to see.  Allow me to bring you (and future me) up to speed:

Sarah moved to Michigan where she spent some time as a career advisor in Ann Arbor.
I switched positions at Tutor.com to a Client Services Manager where I had library clients initially, then K12 and Higher Ed institutions.

Our company purchased The Princeton Review and my role switched to working mostly with K12 institutions.

A wild ride ensued with a lot of work, and a flirt with fame as I moved to California to part-time manage my cousins' music career. That is a story that could easily be made into a screenplay and I'd be happy to tell you it someday. I maybe even document it on the Internet for the world to read one day.  Maybe.

All of those events, plus many more lead me to where I am now, which is in Sierra Madre (Southern California) living in an apartment above my Aunt Kathy and Uncle John's place.  Sarah moved recently to Santa Clara (Northern California) where started working last month in a consultative training position with Adecco for Google Express.

Oh, and we are engaged to be married.

So yes, eventually I am going to move the 5-6 hours north to be with my future wife, but until then, I am pretty content having a place to call my own. It's right at the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains and I have the unique luxury of waking up to a view of the mountains and backdoor access to some pretty breathtaking hikes. It doesn't feel like the Greater Los Angeles area until I get on the freeway at least.

Lately, I've been focusing on work, organizing a wedding and an impending move north. Last week I was offered a new position "Director, Institutional Sales Operations - The Princeton Review & Tutor.com" which I accepted on Friday.  I am currently en route to Boston where I will be learning more about what that means. I feel good about that new position and look forward to making our contracting and sales processes more efficient.

I hope to pick this back up as I enjoy reading some of these older posts. 

Until next time,

Steve

I am a curse to the Tigers

Guys.

My curse of the Tigers is real and I now have the data to prove it.  The following statistics are representative of all regular season games since 1984 (the last time the Tigers won the World Series) where I have either been living in the state of Michigan or out of state.

The difference in my W/L ratio is almost 35%!  That's like saying the Tigers are likely to win 56 more games every year with me OUT of state than with me in state.   Since I moved home they are 4-6 which is almost exactly in line with my current trend rate (small sample size on the return, but the rest of the data speaks for itself).

Furthermore, here are my playoff stats:

Who wants to chip in to put me up in Florida for the next two months?

My analysis attached.

Goodnight.

I got a new camera (part deux)

Hello world,

Thanks for tuning in again.   I have exciting news to share which can really serve to benefit this blog.  Yes, I got a new camera.  As my old one is now five years old and my sister recently made me jealous by getting a new one for her birthday, I decided to invest in one for me.

I also got a new computer.  And guess what?  I am writing this from the air again.  Yup, I am currently on a plane from Charlotte, NC to NYC.  I have been traveling since noon today and it is now 9:49 pm. Needless to say, it has been a long day.

Why do you need a new camera, Steve?  Well, there are a couple of reasons.  First off, I don't need a camera, I want one.  I like to take pictures and my phone camera just wasn't cutting it.  Call me my father's son, but dag-nabbit, there is something great about capturing the world around you and sharing it with others.  Also, it will certainly keep me busy and productive and that's never a bad thing.

What are you going to use it for?  Another good question. I hope to use it to take quality pictures of my friends, family and anyone who gets in the way - that is going to be my main purpose with it.  Next, I hope to shoot a few creative videos.  I think I may have mentioned this in a previous post, but I have been wanting to stimulate my creative side a little bit more.  Keep that side of my brain working.  And while I did have the tools before, now I have awesome tools to create things on the level that I want to create them.  We'll see what happens.

Do you even know how to take pictures?  Ehhh... kinda.  But I'm learning and I'm learning quick.  It hasn't even been a week yet and I am already working on the manual setting and getting it to take pictures that I want it to take.  Obviously it is going to take a lot of practice, but I am really enjoying it and I think that enthusiasm will carry me to fun places.   A friend of mine who traveled to Italy with me once told me that she didn't know a person who used all of the functions of their electronics like I did.  I anticipate that quality of mine will carry on into learning how to shoot.

Are you going to take any classes?  Actually, yes.  I signed up for a Living Social deal on framing shots and I will likely take another one or two once I have a better idea of what I want to learn.  There is so much to learn about the camera, lenses, light, portait pictures, landscapes, etc.  I want to learn it all but I will take it one step at a time.

And you got a new computer, too, huh?  Yes.  Yes, I did.  And she's a beaut.  Nice and thin like a MacBook Air, but a little more powerful in the processing department.  She also has a SSD and a touchscreen with Windows 8 which I like for the novelty of it.  I will call her Schragacer. And she is gender neutral so if I refer to her in the masculine in the future don't be alarmed.

So that's that.  I guess I should name my camera, too.  I am working out a system to name, edit and share my photos.  I think it's going to have to be a multistep process.  I like the Flickr community the best, but Picassa makes it easy with the desktop app to upload and share pictures. I think I might go with that.  Maybe save Flickr for my pro-shots (hah.).

Here are a few:

Montauk Lighthouse, commissioned by President George Washington

 I was in Amagansett and East Hampton this past weekend visiting Sarah's cousins and attended the Am O'gansett St. Patrick's Day parade.  Pretty funny. They were billing it as the world's shortest parade as it went one block and ended at a pub.  You can see me in action here:

That's all.  Time to land.  Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Update

Winter Day at Bryant Park

9:54 AM ET, 6:54 AM PT

Hello future self and anyone who might be peeking.

As I am currently crossing into Nebraska from South Dakota on my way to Los Angeles, I'm back in the air with some time to write again. As usual it has been a while.  What's new? Well a good amount I would say.  Work has been busy which is a good thing. I have been traveling quite a bit already this year - I have been to Costa Mesa, CA (where I got to meet up with Smash!), Washington DC (twice), Hershey, PA, and now to Los Angeles.  It's not even March yet!  It almost feels like my days working for Free the Children. Almost.

Anyway, as of the beginning of the year our company has been acquired by another company so there has been a lot of work to do.  I feel good about the acquisition as it should allow for us to expand our product and really help bring added support to students.

As for me, I keep truckin' right now. Things are starting to click with my piano playing (did I tell you I started taking lessons?) .  I am about a year in now and can play many chords and scales if not many songs yet.  Unfortunately, all of this traveling has kept me from the keys and being able to practice.  I have tried using GarageBand on my iPad, but as you can imagine it's not the same.

What else is going on?  Well, the Harlem Shake videos are pretty popular at the moment.  I am a big fan. I wanted to create one with some friends over the weekend but no one was interested.  C'mon man!  You know you are getting old when the prospect of doing something just for the sake of it doesn't sound appealing anymore.  Sure I guess we are busy, but I really don't want to lose contact with that fun and creative part of my brain.  Related thought: I'd like to invest in a good camera and a new personal computer so that I can make stuff (videos, images, websites, etc) on the go just for the fun of it.  Alas, work takes a majority of my time and that equipment is not cheap! I hope future posts have more video/images/side projects attached to them.

I think that's about all I have for the moment.  I have to start thinking about our 10 year reunion.  My goodness. 10 years is a long time, but I can honestly say that the majority of friendships and people that I met during those four years have been the most stand-up group of people I know.  Our class was particularly awesome in that we minded our own business and got our work done.   I am excited to put something together to see everybody. Who wants to help??

Last thoughts before I sign off: 
**The latest Jack White album is incredible (listen to "Take me with you when you go")
**Technology is awesome - possibly as early as this year I will be able to control a computer without a mouse and Google Glass looks sweet
**And I want to see a few more concerts this summer.

That is all.

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.

----

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.