Pride and Sadness

My son, Kevin, and I went to climb Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon Park this past Sunday. It is a path that can be challenging, especially for a fat old man like me. I have done it before but it has been some time. Kevin and I started out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon around 1:40pm. About 15 minutes in and a little more that 3/8 of a mile up the man in front of us sat down in an unlikely spot for a rest and fell back and began to seizure. At first, we and the guys ahead of him thought the guy was kidding. He made snoring sounds and then flatulated. But very quickly, one of the guys said, “oh no” or “oh shit” or something like that and we all rushed to the man lying on his back. He was at a part of the hike where there were no steps. It was pretty steep and just rock. In fact there was a railing to help you climb because of the steepness. I called 911 while Kevin and the other guys were trying to get a clear air passage. Within the next 3-5 minutes we had a crowd including a lifeguard, an EMT, an ICU nurse, an Army medic and a pediatrician. All people who happen to be hiking the mountain that day. In another 10 minutes or so 3 fireman came hiking up the hill responding to the 911 call. Eventually approximately another 5 firemen came to rescue this man. The helicopter could not get to us. Without going into too much detail, resuscitation efforts went on for about an hour all tolled but to no avail.

The man seemed in decent shape and looked to be late 30’s to early 40’s. I can’t get the picture of his face with half open eyes all glazed over or the cool, clammy and sweaty head I held trying to cushion it from the rock out of my mind. What I can say is how absolutely proud I am of my son as he stayed cool, helped wherever it was needed, looked through the guys blackberry for who he was (he was alone on the mountain), went down to lead the firemen up to the man, held the fireman’s feet so they would slip while tending to this guy. And in the end, said “I didn’t do anything”. Kevin is a great guy, a great son and my hero.

I took some pics of the rescue (not the victim) after it was very evident that this man was gone.

Live for today and hug your kids! I am "The Luckiest Man in the World".

What an Amazing Night

I'm sure there will be millions of blogs about the event that occurred tonight but I had to write. Since I am The Luckiest Man in the World I feel uniquely qualified to write about the election outcome and the spector of Barack Obama as President Elect.  He is the Number 2 when it comes to being lucky (because I am Number 1).  And Number 3 is the rest of our country and the world. Somehow I feel giddy and naive about this guy.  I believe him when he says he is going to be by-partisan, that he will fill positions with the best people not just the best democrat or the best African-American or the best persons from his campaign.  I know that many promises are made at this time, some for show and some truly believed to be true that never come to fruition.  So why do I choose to believe this man who's mantra is "Yes we can!"?  Because I choose to believe in what is good, what is right.  To be hopeful, not cynical.  To see how ideas can work, not how they will fail.  What is wrong with that?  I wake up each day and choose to be happy.  It may not turn out that way but I have a better shot at it than if I got up and chose not to be happy.  So I implore you to choose to be happy, to believe, to give this man a real chance to make your life and your children's lives a little better.  Help out.  Do your part. Who knows?  Maybe you will challenge me for Number 1.  Nahhh!  No chance but Number 3 ain't bad.  YES WE CAN!

Stadium Spectator Courtesy Rules

If you're a fan of baseball, I mean a huge fan of baseball like I am, then your gonna want to read this and maybe amend it as well.  

I have been a season ticket holder for 26 seasons now and I guess I feel some ownership or entitlement when I go to MY ballpark.  Spectators or "fans" should recognize some courtesy rules that allows them to enjoy the game without hindering the enjoyment of others, namely me. Drunken stupidity aside because after you made the mistake of drinking too much you have already stated that you couldn't care less about yourself so why would you be thinking about me and my good time.  So for those of you who are conscious here are some standard rules of spectatorship and fandom at the old ball game.....

No waving into the camera while on your cell phone to your mama at home so she can see you on TV.  You are a doufus on TV.

No standing and waving to someone somewhere else in the stadium.  You are blocking others from, oh I don't know, SEEING THE GAME!

If you come down the wrong aisle to your seats, you must go back up the aisle to the concourse and then back down your own where your seats are.  Just because you're an airhead and made that mistake I should not have to get up and miss the action while you cut through because you wanted dipping dots and a churro.

You can cheer as loud as you want.  You can even boo if you want, but shouting "your a bum" or " you suck" as loud as you can to a man doing his job while making millions makes you look like a bum and you DO SUCK for giving me a headache.

No smoking means no smoking.  If you need to hold your cigarette low by your feet or cup your hand around your mouth so no one sees your cigarette (we smell it), DON'T DO IT!

No smoking while herding out of the game when it is over.  Everyone is cramped and not everyone smokes.  You mean to tell me you can't wait until you are lawfully away from the stadium to light up.  Lightweight!  Pussy!  Loser!  YOU SUCK!

Do not gasp and scream every time the ball is hit.  It's a pop-up to the shortstop not a home run!  You must be a Cub fan!  Try to pretend you know something about baseball.

If you have little children, or even big children, who feel the need to constantly (or ever) kick the seat in front of them or stand and raise their seat up so they can slam it down over and over, STOP THEM from doing it.  It is rude and they don't know it but you do.  I may be forced to unleash the immense amount of gas building up in me from the polish sausage and nachos I just devoured.  Guess where I am going to unleash it.....

Never stop the beer man and stand up and wait to be served so you can pay him when the game is on the line or the star is up to bat or there are "ducks on the pond".

Hey Beerman!  Kneel down, please!

Maximum time limit on a pee at any one urinal is one minute.  Any longer than that and you should see your doctor for some flomax.

If there is a "celebrity" in the stands, good for them.  You should not stand up and point them out for your friends so that they realize that you have been out of job for six months and your favorite TV show host, Jerry Springer, is here.

There are many more and I want you to point them out for me as I am getting tired of this for now.  The fact that I get to go to games at my favorite ballpark, to see my favorite team, is part of what makes me "The Luckiest Man in the World". 

Welcome

"I am The Luckiest Man in the World!"

Every day it is more and more evident to me. Envy me? No. Be happy for me? Yes. All my adversities have been the least that adversity could bring a person. Crush my foot under one and half tons of lift truck and I didn't need surgery. I didn't lose my foot or my toes. I am completely healed with just time and complete luck. I injured myself being stupid and not thinking. That could get a person into all kinds of trouble. Trouble you don't recover from. But me, I drove myself to the hospital (stupid), got good drugs to kill the almost unbearable pain, got stitched up, crutches and went home. At home, I have a wonderful family led by my unbelievable wife who took care of me for the next several weeks.

I know this doesn't sound like all that lucky but stick with me and I will give much more evidence that in "the Luckiest Man in the World Contest" you suckers don't have a chance of winning against me!