They (they being the all knowing crowd) say that "Today is the first day of the rest of your life". This week felt like it for me.
I began working last week for a new employer. I decided to make another big move and re-re-locate back to California. I will be working for the Bo Brown Company, a manufacture repping agency, in central and southern California, plus Arizona. We represent various animal health and equipment companies like Miller Manufacturing, Vetericyn, Straight Arrow and Desert Equestrian.
Talk about a big decision to make. My former company, Motomco, was going great and all was well, but then this opportunity came up. A little smaller territory (1 1/2 states compared to 10 states) and a product mix (livestock products) I know very well were big selling points for me. Susie and I talked about it for a long time and we finally realized after my interview that it was a great opportunity. I told her that I would not sell her on the idea, but that she had to want to make this move. Lucky for me she got on board.
Now we have to start the process again of selling the house and planning another cross country move. A good friend and former co-worker Lyn Werner called me after he heard the news. He told me,"You know Tim, you don't have to keep moving around to keep the moving companies in business. There's a lot of other people out there that can throw business at those guys." You can always count on Lyn to give you the straight scoop and make you think at the same time. Even though I'll still talk to Lyn from time to time after I move, I'll miss him dearly. Lyn is probably the most honest person I have ever known.
I pray and hope this is the last move for a long time for Susie and me. She has been a trooper for the last 10 years with all my relocations and moves. She told me once that she would follow me anywhere I went and I have really tested her on that notion. We look forward to moving back to California and also returning to Oakhurst. This town is probably the best place we have ever lived. We will be within 20 minutes of Yosemite National Park, above the fog of the Central Valley of California, only a few hours from San Francisco and the coast and close enough to Fresno for convenience.
We will miss our Texas friends and family deeply. Like I said before, this was not an easy decision to make. We hope to get back to Texas at least once a year, and I hope I will get to see some of you on those trips.
The one thing that remains constant will be these monthly essays. I enjoy telling people about all the interesting and unusual people I have had the pleasure to meet and to work with. I just hope you enjoy reading about them too.....
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Woo Hoo!! We made a first down. Let's have a parade
When are coaches, either junior high, high school or college, planning on growing a pair? The behavior, jewelry and body art of athletes these days is down right embarrassing and their coaches seem to foster that same behavior.
I believe it all started with Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets. He seemed to be the one who started the art of the over the top tackle/tirade. Any time he made the most minuscule play, he jumped around like he had Bengay in his jock. It soon became acceptable for everyone from the special teams flunkey's to the quarterback to jump for joy when it was first and ten and a whopping two yard run was accomplished. I will never forget the antics of Major Applewhite (Texas QB in the late 90's) running down the sidelines during the Big 12 Championship finger-pistol shooting the Colorado sideline. Give me a break. It's amusing enough watching Howdy Doody play quarterback, but Major showing his ass is pathetic. I suppose Mack Brown didn't want to to hold back Major from his expressionism.
What happened to the days of making a play and then getting up off the ground, dusting your self off and jogging back to the huddle? Every time a basketball player scores these days, they seem to have to scream like their hemorrhoids just got snipped. Hockey players do their share of over-cheering, but they have a way of policing their own. At least in baseball, if you spout off to much, you get to feel what a 90 mph fastball feels like lodged in your armpit. You can still posture in baseball, but careful now.....
The reason I question coaches gonadal growth, is that they have the ability to influence these kids. Coaches and mentors need to drop the hammer on yoots (Joe Pesci reference) of today and their behavior. All they have to do is say "no". You show up your opponent, sit down for a quarter. Pay a visit to a tattoo parlor and you either have it removed or you don't play. Ear rings and other jewelry doesn't belong on the field or court. I think I really have to question men and ear rings. I am so tired of the excuse that we need to let young people express themselves. Kids need to show individuality. Excuse me while I puke. This era of out-of- control kids has produced the likes of Michael Irvin, A-Rod and Roger Clemens. Great athletes, but with the mindset of, "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and to whoever I want." Tiger Woods and his fist pumping was cute at first, but the last sport, golf, that had any graciousness and dignity is falling fast.
I used to have a customer in Sherman, Texas who coached a youth baseball team. Chris Garner was an old school, competitive guy who laid down the law with the kids he coached. No ear rings , no necklaces and no body art. This was also dictated to the parents and strictly enforced. He told me he sat kids down if they broke the rules. It might cost a game, but the kids learned a lesson that would go through life with them. Although he was still one of the best, how much greater would Dennis Rodman and the teams he played on would have been if a coach in his youth would have said, "enough is enough"?
The win at all costs attitude is a disgrace. Coaches, managers and others will never admit it, but it is prevalent at most levels. Turning your head to bad behavior is like speeding in your car. "If the cops don't catch me doing 65 in a 45 mph zone, nobody gets hurt. Right?" Talk to Barry Switzer about that. Talk to Dennis Erickson of the Miami Hurricanes about it. You reckon Joe Paterno would like a do-over? It looks like I am picking on football, but it all started there.
I know you're saying, "Tim. Relax and take a powder." I say to you, look at kids these days. Entitlement is now expected. How does a 6-5 team go to a bowl game? Moral values are in the toilet. I listen to our neighborhood kids playing basketball, and they be-little their opponents and talk trash. I'm talking about 10-year olds. Things as trivial as music, is now obscene and what was viewed as shocking and distasteful, is pretty much par for the course nowadays. Even country music is a little on the rude side. "Save a horse, ride a cowboy". Give me strength.
I realize that I have not been appointed as the behavior police of athletes, but I also know I'm not the only one that gets tired-head from the antics seen these days. Hey, I don't mind high-fivin' your teammates after a touchdown or giving the finger point to the guy who just gave you the perfect pass to hit that three pointer. I guess I long for the days of Lou Gehrig, David Robinson and Earl Campbell. Classy people to start with, but they also played the game because they loved it and they respected it. Those three would have been successful doing anything in life from digging ditches to leading a Fortune 500 company.
I remember two cutting horse trainers I worked for back a few years ago. Okay, about 25 years ago. One of them never corrected me or showed me right from wrong. He let me be influenced by the wrong people and I did not learn much at all from him. It caused me to teach a colt bad habits and bad behavior. The other trainer I worked for rode me constantly and made me think about my actions and the end result of those actions. He hollered at me when it was necessary and made me feel two feet tall on some occasions. He taught me that my actions would affect how that horse acted and in turn, how the cow reacted. There were times when I hated him for what he said to me. Typical 20-something behavior on my part. It took a few years, but I soon found out that what he was trying to show me was spot on, 100% correct.
C'mon now Kevin Durant and Dez Bryant. Jeremy Shockey, give it a rest. Jose Valverde, pay a little attention to how Mariano Rivera carries himself. The way you act and react today, will affect Little Leaguer's and Pop Warner kids tomorrow.
I believe it all started with Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets. He seemed to be the one who started the art of the over the top tackle/tirade. Any time he made the most minuscule play, he jumped around like he had Bengay in his jock. It soon became acceptable for everyone from the special teams flunkey's to the quarterback to jump for joy when it was first and ten and a whopping two yard run was accomplished. I will never forget the antics of Major Applewhite (Texas QB in the late 90's) running down the sidelines during the Big 12 Championship finger-pistol shooting the Colorado sideline. Give me a break. It's amusing enough watching Howdy Doody play quarterback, but Major showing his ass is pathetic. I suppose Mack Brown didn't want to to hold back Major from his expressionism.
What happened to the days of making a play and then getting up off the ground, dusting your self off and jogging back to the huddle? Every time a basketball player scores these days, they seem to have to scream like their hemorrhoids just got snipped. Hockey players do their share of over-cheering, but they have a way of policing their own. At least in baseball, if you spout off to much, you get to feel what a 90 mph fastball feels like lodged in your armpit. You can still posture in baseball, but careful now.....
The reason I question coaches gonadal growth, is that they have the ability to influence these kids. Coaches and mentors need to drop the hammer on yoots (Joe Pesci reference) of today and their behavior. All they have to do is say "no". You show up your opponent, sit down for a quarter. Pay a visit to a tattoo parlor and you either have it removed or you don't play. Ear rings and other jewelry doesn't belong on the field or court. I think I really have to question men and ear rings. I am so tired of the excuse that we need to let young people express themselves. Kids need to show individuality. Excuse me while I puke. This era of out-of- control kids has produced the likes of Michael Irvin, A-Rod and Roger Clemens. Great athletes, but with the mindset of, "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and to whoever I want." Tiger Woods and his fist pumping was cute at first, but the last sport, golf, that had any graciousness and dignity is falling fast.
I used to have a customer in Sherman, Texas who coached a youth baseball team. Chris Garner was an old school, competitive guy who laid down the law with the kids he coached. No ear rings , no necklaces and no body art. This was also dictated to the parents and strictly enforced. He told me he sat kids down if they broke the rules. It might cost a game, but the kids learned a lesson that would go through life with them. Although he was still one of the best, how much greater would Dennis Rodman and the teams he played on would have been if a coach in his youth would have said, "enough is enough"?
The win at all costs attitude is a disgrace. Coaches, managers and others will never admit it, but it is prevalent at most levels. Turning your head to bad behavior is like speeding in your car. "If the cops don't catch me doing 65 in a 45 mph zone, nobody gets hurt. Right?" Talk to Barry Switzer about that. Talk to Dennis Erickson of the Miami Hurricanes about it. You reckon Joe Paterno would like a do-over? It looks like I am picking on football, but it all started there.
I know you're saying, "Tim. Relax and take a powder." I say to you, look at kids these days. Entitlement is now expected. How does a 6-5 team go to a bowl game? Moral values are in the toilet. I listen to our neighborhood kids playing basketball, and they be-little their opponents and talk trash. I'm talking about 10-year olds. Things as trivial as music, is now obscene and what was viewed as shocking and distasteful, is pretty much par for the course nowadays. Even country music is a little on the rude side. "Save a horse, ride a cowboy". Give me strength.
I realize that I have not been appointed as the behavior police of athletes, but I also know I'm not the only one that gets tired-head from the antics seen these days. Hey, I don't mind high-fivin' your teammates after a touchdown or giving the finger point to the guy who just gave you the perfect pass to hit that three pointer. I guess I long for the days of Lou Gehrig, David Robinson and Earl Campbell. Classy people to start with, but they also played the game because they loved it and they respected it. Those three would have been successful doing anything in life from digging ditches to leading a Fortune 500 company.
I remember two cutting horse trainers I worked for back a few years ago. Okay, about 25 years ago. One of them never corrected me or showed me right from wrong. He let me be influenced by the wrong people and I did not learn much at all from him. It caused me to teach a colt bad habits and bad behavior. The other trainer I worked for rode me constantly and made me think about my actions and the end result of those actions. He hollered at me when it was necessary and made me feel two feet tall on some occasions. He taught me that my actions would affect how that horse acted and in turn, how the cow reacted. There were times when I hated him for what he said to me. Typical 20-something behavior on my part. It took a few years, but I soon found out that what he was trying to show me was spot on, 100% correct.
C'mon now Kevin Durant and Dez Bryant. Jeremy Shockey, give it a rest. Jose Valverde, pay a little attention to how Mariano Rivera carries himself. The way you act and react today, will affect Little Leaguer's and Pop Warner kids tomorrow.
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