Pre Game Wee Wees

All of my competitive life I have experienced a problem.  It doesn't seem to matter the event, or in my case, one's age.  I have witnessed many others with a similar issue, but never really discussed it with them.  Is it anxiety, nervousness or poor planning, I don't know. 

I always have to pee right before the start of the event. 

When I was playing football, it never failed.  The urge always occurred after I had gotten completely suited out.  Then you have to remove half of your pads to go.  Once on a bus trip one of my teammates had to go so bad that they had to pull the bus over at a filling station and let him off to go.
The coaches were not happy. 

During my off road motorcycle racing days, I always had to go right before the start.  Again, off with the pads and gloves, stand in line at some cherry flavored Johnny on the Spot and go.  Happened every race. 

Running is no different.  The only exception is that it is easier, but there are more people in line.  This is complicated by the fact that most runners hydrate before the race, requiring more than one emergency visit.  My bladder control hasn't changed over the years.  The same symptoms occurred in my first race in Chattanooga in the '70's and yesterday at the Beaumont Sea Rim Striders annual TurkeyTrot.
                                                                                                                                                             Being a country boy, I have found that Mother Nature can reduce the wait.  Many years ago I was running in the Chickamauga Battlefield Park with friend Bobby Ward.  We were about half way through a long run and all of a sudden he just ran off the road into the woods.  I slowed down and in a few minutes he caught up.  He said he just had to GO! 

Several years ago at the Crystal Beach 5K, I decided to ignore the last minute urge and start the race.  I thought about needing to pee the entire 5K.  When I came through the finish line, I just kept going to the Porta Johns. 

Paraphrasing Jack Nicholson  in the movie, The Bucket List, "Never pass up an opportunity to pee."

The Election Is Over

The 2016 Presidential Election is over, move on.  It was close.  Many insulting things were said. Two controversial candidates battled it out.  But, the system works and we have a new President Elect.  Like it or not, Donald 'Trump is "everyone's" President.

So it is time for all the Hillary supporters to stop whining and the Trump supporters to stop gloating.
It is time to focus on what is best for the country.

It is time for everyone to try to do something positive.  I challenge everyone to do something good every day.  Do it for the good of others.  Go beyond your own person.  Make it a point to do this.
It can be big or little.

Pick up a piece of trash off the ground and put it in a receptacle.

Take a shopping cart left in a parking space to the proper area.

Open the door for someone.

Provide someone positive reinforcement.

Give a dollar to a homeless person.

Buy a total stranger lunch.

Volunteer at a food bank or pet shelter.

Call a relative or friend you haven't heard from in many years.

Check on an elderly neighbor.

Recycle.

You can think of many more examples.

A Japanese consultant developed a quality program called Kaizen.  The basic premise is that big results come from small changes accumulated over time.  Thousands of people doing little things will add up.

You can do it.  Whether the outcome of the election pleased our displeased you, it is done.  Now, let's make this country a better place.  

                                              GOD BLESS AMERICA!

G3

In 2004 one of my close childhood friends had been diagnosed with cancer.  Of all of my old friends, Craig was one of the healthiest of them all.  He had played college football and had a shot at the NFL. He had become a successful businessman, but never forgot his roots.  Many of our old friends lived in the Houston area and would meet regularly for lunch.  As his disease progressed more began to rally around Craig, helping out in whatever ways we could.  He fought as hard as anyone could, but eventually lost the big fight. 

Sadden by our loss one friend, Bob Jantz,  suggested that we not wait until the next one gets sick to share this fellowship.  As a result Bob, Bob Katz and I got together to follow through with the idea.
We developed some ground rules and identified people we would like to include.  We communicated our idea and extended invitations to others to participate.  About 15 high school classmates "signed on" and we had our first retreat at my beach house the next year.

The Original G3

Every year someone volunteers to host our "git together".  The location and arrangements are at the discretion of the host.  We have been to Crystal Beach, Galveston, East Texas, Bandera, Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg, Corpus Christi, Beaumont and New Orleans.  Next year is scheduled for Kemah. 

We usually have 10 to 12 attend.  Most of the group is now retired.  All have been successful and some would even be considered "deplorables".  We have engineers, accountants, salesmen, journeymen craftsmen, soldiers and lawyers.  No doctors, but one does have a PhD. Texas is their dominate home.  Over their careers they have lived in New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Georgia, Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, England, Africa and other locations I am probably overlooking. 

The meetings usually begin on Thursday and end after Sunday breakfast.  Over the past 12 years we have participated in numerous activities.  We have attended rodeos, museums, Jazz festivals, concerts, honky tonks, gun ranges, wineries, dog track and a bourbon distiller.

 
In addition, we have been fishing, played golf, went horse back riding, boating, kayaking and jet skiing.   We have boiled shrimp and crawfish. Played poker and invented competitive games of skill.  Drank a few beers.  Eaten copious amounts of junk food and visited many restaurants. And, paid a surprise visit to an old high school friend.

 But, mainly we talk.  A lot of reminiscing.  A lot of philosophizing. A lot exchanging of ideas.
And, a lot of discussion about medical issues.  We talk about recent surgeries, physical ailments and medications.  Although cars are still a popular topic girls rarely come up anymore.  Age is creeping up on this bunch of once "Alpha Males"   Since the group was founded we have lost two of the original members.  All of us have some ailments, some serious and some are just what goes with the territory.

One of the original goals was to provide emotional, spiritual and physical support to each other as well as other class members.  Each year we review what was done and what we can do to help where we can. 

These retreats are looked forward to each year.  It has provided an opportunity to link back up with those we knew in our formative years.  Although we don't all agree politically, we all share similar values, work ethics and a sense of responsibility.  We were all raised by parents of the "Greatest Generation".  As Richard Petty once said, "Don't Forget Your Upbringing", we get to revisit that every Spring. 

Next year it's the Car Show in Kemah.  Stay tuned.

Hurricane Trump

In 2008 Hurricane Ike hit Galveston County.  It was a Category II hurricane but carried a Cat IV storm surge.  The surge was estimated to be over 15 feet.  We owned a beach front house near Gilchrist, Texas at that time. When we were able to get on the Peninsula we found there was nothing left of our place.  Not even a piling.  Not only was our property destroyed everything in the vicinity was gone, with one exception.  A yellow cabin was seen in many overhead shots and was still standing..  It was a newer house and had been built to stricter building codes and withstood the storm surge and wind.

All over the Bolivar Peninsula older houses were destroyed and many of those built in the previous ten years survived.  The older cabins had been built in an era without restrictions and in some cases were eye sores along the 25 mile beach. 

Since Ike, rebuilding has flourished and beach houses continue to appear.  All built to current standards.  This has resulted in a significant upgrade on the Peninsula and property values have soared.  .


Not to down play the tragedy and monetary loses that myself and others experienced.  Hurricane Ike had the advantage of purging less desirable real estate and improve the esthetics of the beach communities.

With an important Presidential Election on the horizon, I have been trying to decide on my candidate of choice.  As I write, Donald Trump is leading the Republican nomination process and is quite controversial.  I don't like a lot of what he says and am not clear on his implementation plans.  But, he is not reluctant to say what he thinks and lets the others be damned.  This part I like.


So, what's the connection, you ask?  Trump is like a hurricane.  He is roaring in with advanced warning.  He scares the Hell out of some people.  Maybe even blowing hard. But, even if he leaves a lot debris in his wake, he might do some good.


I just read that Miley Cyrus, Al Sharpton, Jon Stewart, Rosie O'Donnell, Cher, Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg and several others would leave the country if he were elected.
Therefore, like Hurricane Ike, some good could come out of a bad thing.


I am rethinking my vote.