This morning I was watching an interview from a year or so ago. Neil Young was on Letterman and of course discussing a wide variety of topics. One question stood out to me and I thought this could be a good forum to get a variety of opinions.
Dave asked Neil, "Can you change the world with music and lyrics?"
Before I give Neil's response and my own thoughts, I wanted to get yours. Post your thoughts in the comments. In a day or two, I'll give my response with a new blog post.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The History of the Cabin Boy....
If there's one question I get as often as, "What's a fisk?" that question would be, "What's a Cabin Boy?" So many people have asked me that, I can't even tell you a specific name of a person who's asked. That's actually a bit of an exaggeration, I am, however, being extremely proactive and avoiding the flood of questions by telling the story here...
Before we became co-life coaches, Michael TheWise and I were pirate co-captains of a galleon. Despite our usually contradictory commands and practical jokes we played on the crew, we were quite successful pirates ruling the seas. Known well in all of the ports as having the highest approval ratings of any pirate captains among their crews. In fact many of the principles we applied as co-captains are what have given us our success as co-life coaches today. Avast! I be steerin' this tale off course matey!
So there we were, 16 years ago (yes all you math-y people, we were teenage pirate co-captains...iff'n you didn't think you were gettin' a tall tale, you were sorely mistaken), sailing on the smoothest seas we'd ever seen. 12 miles from port we were, as the crow flies, when out of the southwest a squall picked up! I said to Michael TheWise, "Arrgh, the seas be a bit rocky! A tempest be a brewin'! We'll be lucky to get out of this one with our grog." That gave Michael an idea that if we drank all of our grog, we wouldn't lose it. This was also the birth of the term "brainstorm." We shouted orders to the crew to keep the galleon afloat through the storm. When questioned on how exactly, we gave them a blank flip chart and scented markers and instructed them to use the synergies that we'd gained from our last team building excercise. Then we went below deck and started to safely stow (aka consume) all of the grog. For three days, we were tossed about on the sea, when we realized we'd run out of grog. Fortune smiled upon us when we found a dusty old bottle of Creme De Noya (an almond liquor) hidden away in the galley. We also found a bottle of carbonated citrus juice. We soon discovered the two of these tasted best mixed together. It was on this day of fortune, when a cabin boy came below deck to tell us the storm had passed and we were docked in the port, not a scratch on the galleon and no souls lost. To celebrate, we promised the cabin boy we'd buy him a drink at the first pub we came to. For 16 years, we never found another bottle of Creme De Noya to recreate our drink of good fortune. To keep the cabin boy from starting a mutiny among the crew, we promised him we'd name the drink after him if ever we came across another bottle. We were surprised that this appeased him.
This past Saturday night, Michael TheWise and I walked into the Seahorse Inn, realizing that it was 16 years to the day of that storm. Behind the bar, we spotted that familiar dusty bottle, with the paper seal peeling up as the aged adhesive was giving way. "Ahoy!" we said to the barkeep, "bring us that bottle, some Squirt and a couple of glasses! We'll drink to the Cabin Boy!" Before long we were drinking Cabin Boys with our mateys and tellin' stories of the storm that couldn't sink the pirate galleon Saint Lucifer (Saint Lucifer is a registered Trademark of Michael TheWise, Inc. and may not be used without express written permission from Michael).
And that is the story behind the Cabin Boy.
Before we became co-life coaches, Michael TheWise and I were pirate co-captains of a galleon. Despite our usually contradictory commands and practical jokes we played on the crew, we were quite successful pirates ruling the seas. Known well in all of the ports as having the highest approval ratings of any pirate captains among their crews. In fact many of the principles we applied as co-captains are what have given us our success as co-life coaches today. Avast! I be steerin' this tale off course matey!
So there we were, 16 years ago (yes all you math-y people, we were teenage pirate co-captains...iff'n you didn't think you were gettin' a tall tale, you were sorely mistaken), sailing on the smoothest seas we'd ever seen. 12 miles from port we were, as the crow flies, when out of the southwest a squall picked up! I said to Michael TheWise, "Arrgh, the seas be a bit rocky! A tempest be a brewin'! We'll be lucky to get out of this one with our grog." That gave Michael an idea that if we drank all of our grog, we wouldn't lose it. This was also the birth of the term "brainstorm." We shouted orders to the crew to keep the galleon afloat through the storm. When questioned on how exactly, we gave them a blank flip chart and scented markers and instructed them to use the synergies that we'd gained from our last team building excercise. Then we went below deck and started to safely stow (aka consume) all of the grog. For three days, we were tossed about on the sea, when we realized we'd run out of grog. Fortune smiled upon us when we found a dusty old bottle of Creme De Noya (an almond liquor) hidden away in the galley. We also found a bottle of carbonated citrus juice. We soon discovered the two of these tasted best mixed together. It was on this day of fortune, when a cabin boy came below deck to tell us the storm had passed and we were docked in the port, not a scratch on the galleon and no souls lost. To celebrate, we promised the cabin boy we'd buy him a drink at the first pub we came to. For 16 years, we never found another bottle of Creme De Noya to recreate our drink of good fortune. To keep the cabin boy from starting a mutiny among the crew, we promised him we'd name the drink after him if ever we came across another bottle. We were surprised that this appeased him.
This past Saturday night, Michael TheWise and I walked into the Seahorse Inn, realizing that it was 16 years to the day of that storm. Behind the bar, we spotted that familiar dusty bottle, with the paper seal peeling up as the aged adhesive was giving way. "Ahoy!" we said to the barkeep, "bring us that bottle, some Squirt and a couple of glasses! We'll drink to the Cabin Boy!" Before long we were drinking Cabin Boys with our mateys and tellin' stories of the storm that couldn't sink the pirate galleon Saint Lucifer (Saint Lucifer is a registered Trademark of Michael TheWise, Inc. and may not be used without express written permission from Michael).
And that is the story behind the Cabin Boy.
Friday, February 20, 2009
If I had $30,000....
It's not as catchy as The Barenaked Ladies' song about what they'd do if they had a million dollars, but the title was really set for me by a co-worker. This morning I was greeted by the frightening words that I think we've probably all heard at one point in time. It's not the words that frighten, it's who says them. If the right person tells you this, as I've experienced, it can be a great thing. But this morning it was frightening.... "I had the craziest dream about you last night...." said my co-worker who sits directly in front of me. Apprehensively, I asked, "Oh really?" He elaborated after saying that he had to "get it all straight in his head first." Here's the dream:
Without any background, he received a case with $200,000 in it. From his description, the assumption is that it was legitimately obtained. Although, outside of Deal or No Deal, the only time I've seen cases used for that kind of cash are for illegal activities. I'll believe him though. Since I recently had to have some car repairs done, he thought it'd be nice to help me out by giving me $30,000. Instead of giving him a thank you card, I called HR and told them that he stole the $200k from the company. Apparently in his dream, I'm not very smart, or grateful for that matter. This of course led to things getting really crazy and lots of accusations flying around and a fist fight. Honestly, a fist fight between he and I could be on pay-per-view. The two most unlikely guys duke it out! The entertainment value would be high! After the fist fight, he and I, seperately, were on the run...all over the country. Ocassionally, our paths would cross and we'd get into more fist fights. I'm starting to think that maybe he has some hidden anger issues toward me. I'm going to be a bit more cautious when he's around. As far as I know, we're both still on the run and none of this has been resolved. If you happen to have a dream and see a couple of tall guys awkwardly fist fighting, let me know how it turns out.
I want to clear something up though, and I was sure to clear it up for my co-worker too. Should I receive a gift of thousands of dollars, I won't ask questions or notify any authorities. I'll promptly write out a heartfelt and sincere thank you card.
So if I had $30,000...I could buy a couple brand new 2002 Buick Centurys! (or use the money more wisely, which is likely what I'd do)
What's something ridiculous you'd do if you got a $30,000 gift?
Without any background, he received a case with $200,000 in it. From his description, the assumption is that it was legitimately obtained. Although, outside of Deal or No Deal, the only time I've seen cases used for that kind of cash are for illegal activities. I'll believe him though. Since I recently had to have some car repairs done, he thought it'd be nice to help me out by giving me $30,000. Instead of giving him a thank you card, I called HR and told them that he stole the $200k from the company. Apparently in his dream, I'm not very smart, or grateful for that matter. This of course led to things getting really crazy and lots of accusations flying around and a fist fight. Honestly, a fist fight between he and I could be on pay-per-view. The two most unlikely guys duke it out! The entertainment value would be high! After the fist fight, he and I, seperately, were on the run...all over the country. Ocassionally, our paths would cross and we'd get into more fist fights. I'm starting to think that maybe he has some hidden anger issues toward me. I'm going to be a bit more cautious when he's around. As far as I know, we're both still on the run and none of this has been resolved. If you happen to have a dream and see a couple of tall guys awkwardly fist fighting, let me know how it turns out.
I want to clear something up though, and I was sure to clear it up for my co-worker too. Should I receive a gift of thousands of dollars, I won't ask questions or notify any authorities. I'll promptly write out a heartfelt and sincere thank you card.
So if I had $30,000...I could buy a couple brand new 2002 Buick Centurys! (or use the money more wisely, which is likely what I'd do)
What's something ridiculous you'd do if you got a $30,000 gift?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Anti-Goal
About this time a year ago, I set out with two goals: to grow a beard and to blog. Both were patchy and ill-kept. The beard lasted longer than the blogging did, though. This year I'm back WITHOUT a goal! My lack of a goal is really in itself a goal. I want to write here without perameters and personally imposed restrictions. My mind definitely knows how to stray from the beaten path, but the moments aren't usually recorded. My brain usually keeps a running log of the day and events, searching for significance and meaning, like Arnold's narration on The Wonder Years or JD's internal dialogue on Scrubs. It all plays over a well compiled soundtrack, too. So that's usually the voice that shows in my writing. I want to break out of those boundaries and see what I can come up with. Maybe I'll even pass on something interesting in the process.
Today, on the way to work I stopped to fuel up my car and to get some coffee. At the register, the attendant looked at me and asked, "What's a fisk?" I was confused for a second at such an odd sounding question as she pointed to my button on my coat that simply says, "fisk." I gave her the lightbulb look of recognition that her question was a valid one and explained that last week I was at a show of Schuyler Fisk's, a singer/songwriter from California. What if I hadn't been wearing the button though? How weird would that question have been then? What if people asked strangers questions more often...unrelated to any prompting from the individual? That could be kind of fun and could make life interesting for everyone involved.
"Excuse me sir. What's a flux capacitor?"
The responses to that question from people who know and those who don't could be interesting and imagine the stories they'd tell later in the day. "This guy came up to me and asked me about a flux capacitor. I don't know if he was time travelling and his Delorian broke down or what. I didn't think to ask until after he left."
I answer questions all day. It's kind of my job...knowing things and being able to explain them. I think I might start asking some questions...even if the answers don't matter.
Today, on the way to work I stopped to fuel up my car and to get some coffee. At the register, the attendant looked at me and asked, "What's a fisk?" I was confused for a second at such an odd sounding question as she pointed to my button on my coat that simply says, "fisk." I gave her the lightbulb look of recognition that her question was a valid one and explained that last week I was at a show of Schuyler Fisk's, a singer/songwriter from California. What if I hadn't been wearing the button though? How weird would that question have been then? What if people asked strangers questions more often...unrelated to any prompting from the individual? That could be kind of fun and could make life interesting for everyone involved.
"Excuse me sir. What's a flux capacitor?"
The responses to that question from people who know and those who don't could be interesting and imagine the stories they'd tell later in the day. "This guy came up to me and asked me about a flux capacitor. I don't know if he was time travelling and his Delorian broke down or what. I didn't think to ask until after he left."
I answer questions all day. It's kind of my job...knowing things and being able to explain them. I think I might start asking some questions...even if the answers don't matter.
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