Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige was a legendary baseball player in the old Negro League who is perhaps best known for saying: “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”  

Well, anyone who knows me well knows that I don’t spend a whole lot of time looking back. Like most of you, my life is far too hectic on a day to day basis to pause and reflect. I’m just trying to keep up.

However, in a little more than a month, June 21^st, Cindy and I will be celebrating a milestone anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, I spent hour after hour scanning photos and uploading them to Shutterfly.com. It was truly a labor of love, and the finished product is a photo diary of the past three decades. It’s over 90 pages, with up to six photos on each page, essentially a chronological look at our lives through pictures. 

Rarely do you sit down and spend hours looking back at so many different moments of your life. I would highly recommend that you do it. You don’t need to put it all in one book, just take a moment and take a look back. It’s impossible to catalogue all the emotions that you’ll feel. I felt sad as I saw pictures of my Dad, who’s been gone for 22 years now. I laughed out loud at the pictures of Cindy and me dressed up for Halloween parties and I sat amazed and stared at myself with dark brown hair and a beard that was as black as night. Man, I’m getting old. But the photos that truly stirred my soul were the ones of our children. Knowing what fine young adults they’ve become only allowed me to relish these pictures even more. Fleeting moments captured on film that mean very little at the time, turn out to mean very much years later. From Little League games to dance recitals to trips to Disney, all families live moments like these. Well, almost all families. 

See, as I was putting this book together, I came across a treasure trove of pictures from the first couple of Miracle Marathons back in 1998 and 1999. What struck me was how many of those little ones have since passed on. I slowly flipped through those pictures and looked closely at their smiling faces. I can still hear them and I can still remember some of the things they told us. I can remember one little boy comforting his own Mom as she cried while describing what he was going through. Then, it hit me. How cruel life can be. Here I was, looking back fondly and reminiscing about all those great memories. Memories that, with God’s grace, we continue to make. But life has not been as kind to everyone.  

I can’t imagine the pain that losing a child brings. To know that you can never make any new memories with those precious little ones who have passed on. And how about all those parents who deal with catastrophic injuries or congenital defects? The sadness in knowing that no matter how hard you try, you can’t fix it. It’s impossible to understand what families that frequent Children’s Hospital must go through. 

But one group does understand. The compassionate and dedicated caregivers at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin provide a level of expertise and emotional support that is beyond compare. They have dedicated their lives to making life better for sick children and their families. And the Miracle Marathon helps them do that. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s biggest fund raiser each and every year is the ‘Dave & Carole Miracle Marathon’ on ‘KLH. This year our 60 hour radio-thon starts on May 26^th and runs through May 28^th.  So take a moment and reflect on all those memories you have made with your family. And don’t ever take that for granted, because in the words of Satchel Paige, “something might be gaining on you.” 

Please take a moment and become a member of the Miracle Club. It’s one of the few chances you’ll ever have to truly make a difference. 

https://www.chw.org/display/PPF/DocID/43852/Nav/0/router.asp

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I wanted to take a moment and pay homage to all you wonderful Moms out there. My Mom is a 4′11″ full blooded Italian who never misses a beat. She worked full time at a large high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until she was 80 years old. When I was in high school, and I would go out with friends at night, she would sleep on my bed until I got home. That way, I had to wake her up so I could go to sleep. Better for a Mom to check on the condition of her teenage son, don’t you think? She kept me on the straight and narrow, or at least close to it, and without her support I don’t know that I ever could have convinced my Dad that I could actually make a living by talking on the radio. And I needed his support, since I was flat broke. As for the amazing mother of my children, well, when folks ask me how we raised 3 successful, well educated kids my standard response is, “Cindy did a GREAT job!” And I mean it.

Some of my earliest memories were the car rides I took with my Mom. Bouncing around on the front seat, holding on tight when she hit the brakes. Sort of like my schnauzers do when we go for a drive. Car seats, what car seats? They weren’t invented. Back when we were born, Moms held the new baby on their laps while Dad drove home from the hospital.

Ask any Mom who had kids in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and even the early 80’s, what they remember and you’ll laugh at the answers. When I was born it was standard practice for all Moms to be knocked out for the delivery. As for Dad, well, let’s just say that not only was he not in the delivery room but many times our Dads weren’t even in the building. Yep, they were at work.

Is your baby teething? Rub some whiskey on their gums like our Moms did. Most of us from the 50’s thru the 70’s weren’t breastfed, either. It was considered sort of primitive and, obviously, the big food conglomerates knew what formula babies really needed, right? They always have our best interests at heart. Yeah, right. And our kids want to know what’s wrong with us??!!

Moms nowadays use Twitter, Facebook, and their Smartphones to stay in touch with their kids and with each other. Now, pregnant women stay away from sushi, caffeine and hair dye. Back then a whiskey sour and a Kool were considered great ways for pregnant women to relax.

But despite the changing social norms and amazing advances in medical knowledge, one thing remains constant. No one affects your life more than your Mom. Her unconditional love and support can help you reach whatever goals you hold. Then again, she can also be the reason that you have a standing appointment with a therapist. Either way, there’s no one like Mom.

I can’t believe that I might actually stoop to this, but I’m thinking about dumping myself. I am seriously considering deactivating my personal Facebook account. Yep, I just might “unfriend” myself. (fyi ‘unfriend’ was the Oxford word of the year in 2009)

So why would I consider doing something so radical? I must admit to the almost 700 of you who are my FB ‘friends’ that I have been neglecting you. I have let my entourage down. I take full responsibility.

 It’s not you, it’s me.

I just haven’t had the energy lately to keep you all in the loop. See, I have this radio show on WKLH and ‘KLH has its own Facebook page with thousands of fans. I try to update that site as often as I can. I’m not saying that the grass is greener on the ‘KLH page, but once I’m done updating our portion of the radio station page, doing my high torque radio show, writing blogs, answering e mails, going to meetings, well, I just don’t have much left for you. I’ll feel a lot better if I can come clean to all of you.

I have gone places and I haven’t told you. Remember the Brewers home opener against Colorado? Yep, I was there. The Bucks games against the Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics? I was right up front. That awesome concert you were thinking about attending? I was there, too. I have been playing golf, going on long walks, washing my truck, going to movies, playing with my dogs, riding on my John Deere (with my green Deere hat on) and I never once let any of you know.

What? You’ve done stuff, too? And you didn’t let me know? You’ve visited other radio station’s web sites and Facebook pages? You’ve listened around on me? That makes us even, doesn’t it? So let’s let bygones be bygones.

I mean this doesn’t have to end like Tiger & Elin or Ben & the Steelers, does it?

Let’s agree that what’s in the past is in the past and I’ll agree to stay on Facebook if you’ll stay my friend. Of course I’ll try to keep you updated on my life.

Glad that’s over. Now, I’ve got to get going. What do you mean, where?

Some of the best teams, in or out of football, don’t look like much on paper. But sometimes teams get lucky and, despite the critics, find that winning chemistry.

As Mr. Angry used to say, here are a few things that have been ‘grinding my beans’…

It should be the N.R.L. not the NBA. That would be ‘The National Referee League’. Whoever they want to win, will win. My friend Max has amazing Bucks tickets. He sits courtside, I mean literally on the court. From time to time he invites me to join him and over the past couple years I have seen the Bucks play the Spurs, Lakers, Nuggets, Cavaliers and Celtics from just a few feet away. And I am amazed, that even after all the NBA has dealt with lately, the refs still suck. And, it’s so blatant! When you get to see it up close it’s downright infuriating. David Stern needs to come up with a better system or a new rule book. At least take us out to dinner before your refs do that to us. Hey, I know, when the ‘not so special’ teams play those that have been ‘blessed’ how about awarding them 5 extra personals before the ‘sacred’ team gets to go to the line?? Or, maybe let us play with an extra player? Maybe that’ll make up for the 8 we’re already playing against.

Next, let’s talk golf. I went to a public course on Master’s Sunday and I set up the tee time so that I could watch the last hour of the CBS coverage from Augusta. That was a huge mistake ‘cause the course was more than slow. It was like I-94 when there’s been an accident and there’s a Brewers game, Bucks game and Summerfest going on, all at the same time. Plus, the guy ahead of us decided to give his wife lessons on pitching and putting on just about every hole. Dude, I saw you hit 2 shots in the drink, lose a dozen balls in the woods and you’re giving lessons??!! Seriously??!! Then, there’s the idiot who decides to take his ball retriever out of his bag and use it any time he sees water. Even when it’s wide open in front of him and he could speed it up a bit. The upside is that I got to hang out with my son, in the sun, for a bit longer. Plus, we got to order from the cart girl an extra time or two, and my DVR recorded Lefty’s big win, so all is good.

Finally, I heard a local AM station last week complaining that there’s too much classic rock on the Marcus stage this year at Smiley Fest. The fact that he was only filling in doesn’t excuse his ignorance. He actually said something like “Aren’t we finished with this yet? Who is going to buy the tickets? Can’t we move on?” Let’s review; Tom Petty with ZZ Top for 2 nights, Eric Clapton with Roger Daltrey, and Carlos Santana with Steve Winwood. A lineup rife with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers who collectively have sold hundreds of millions of albums, some played Woodstock, some entertained for Super Bowl halftime shows and this idiot wanted to know why we can’t “move on.”

Maybe he’s just mad Lady Gaga isn’t coming until fall?

Thanks. I feel better now.

I pull into the parking lot and try to find an open space. As I look around at the cars, trucks and SUV’s already parked, I think of all the families those vehicles represent. I think about whether or not those cars have been parked in that garage for hours, days, weeks or maybe months.

I wonder if the people who drove here in those vehicles woke up knowing they were coming here. Was it a scheduled visit? Maybe they had a surgical procedure already booked? Maybe they’re here for testing, or a tonsillectomy or perhaps chemotherapy? Or did they find themselves driving here because of an accident, a fall or some other unexpected reason? Then, my mind wanders to the vacant parking spaces and I think about what they represent. Another child, another family, another story will arrive soon and their vehicle will fill that open parking spot. And they have no idea.

Those are the thoughts I have every time I arrive at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to settle in for the 3-day, 60-hour radio-thon we call ‘The Miracle Marathon’ on 96.5 WKLH. We started the Marathon in 1998 and every year we have countless meetings and brainstorming sessions on ways to make the Miracle Marathon better and more efficient. But no amount of planning can predict who we will be interviewing and which family will find their car parked in the Children’s Hospital garage.

It could be new parents who are dealing with a baby born with a genetic disorder. Maybe a Mom who inexplicably finds her toddler unresponsive in the family home? Or perhaps parents who drive here while Flight for Life transports their son or daughter?

There are no classes to teach parents how to respond to situations they had no idea they’d be facing. How can you explain what it’s like to see your child, your sweet, innocent child, face a life or death situation? It happened to us. After 2 very healthy baby boys, we had our daughter. Almost immediately they told us she was very sick and needed help. As I drove from Waukesha to Wauwatosa following the ambulance, leaving my wife at the hospital where she had just given birth, my thoughts raced. I was met by the most skilled, caring, professional health care workers in the world. Yep, it was my car that was in the empty parking space. And it was there for 8 full days. Our daughter is a healthy young woman now, but I don’t have to tell you how scared we were during those first 8 days of her life.

At 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26^th, we’ll start another 3-day, 60-hour Miracle Marathon on ‘KLH. We always say that Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is a great insurance policy should your Children, Grandchildren, nieces or nephews ever need it. Maybe what we should be saying is, “Please give, because you never know when you’ll be looking for that open parking space.”

Get  details on how to set-up a firstgiving.com/childrens donation page now!

Sunday afternoon and after a rainy morning the sun starts shining. I’m working in the garage and my wife comes out and says she’s going to run some errands. Which reminds me that I need to run to the store and stock up on Diet Snapple and 5 hour energy drinks (cut me some slack, I get up at 3 a.m.). So I jump in the car with her and ride shotgun. It’s a beautiful day and with the windows rolled down and the radio cranked we’re on our way.

On the way to the store she stops for gas. Being the chivalrous guy I am, I jump out and pump the gas. So, I go in to pay and when I come out to the car there he stands. A 28ish dude standing on the driver’s side talking to my wife. He’s leaning on the car, smiling, and talking to my wife. He looks up at me and says, “I was just telling her what a nice car she has”. Yeah, sure he was. I shot him my death glare and jumped in and off we went.

Thanks to Demi Moore, Courtney Cox and Eva Longoria’s character on TV, “Cougar Chasing” has apparently become a sort of hobby for the young & horny. Don’t get me wrong. Old guys’ chasing young women has been happening since the Palaeozoic Era. Okay, maybe not that long but you catch my drift. And, while 20-somethings looking for older women has always been around, this cougar thing of the last few years has really kicked it up a few notches. I’ve noticed this at work, at appearances and, now, at my local Mobil station.

Look, I’m proud of my wife and I have always said that older women are far sexier. They have a self confidence and style that many young girls haven’t quite captured. But honestly, I am 50+ now and I just don’t need this. In the last few years I’ve had to add fiber to my diet, nose hair clippers to my bathroom drawer and a prostate exam to my to-do list.

Does anybody know where I can get some of that Just for Men?

I was sitting in a restaurant with my wife recently and a family with a toddler sat next to us. The little guy must’ve gotten a new toy and when his Mom put it away (so he could focus on eating) he screamed bloody murder. He wanted it RIGHT NOW! She held firm and he quickly forgot and focused on his chicken fingers.

Don’t worry he’s still young and inexperienced. As he grows into an adult, he will no doubt hone his skills and his sense of entitlement will be sharper than ever. He won’t quit whining until he gets what he wants. He’ll complain that life just isn’t fair and he’s being treated improperly. And he won’t be alone.

Have you noticed lately that this sense of entitlement thing is out of control?  You don’t have to look very hard to find examples. Athletes are great at it. Tiger Woods has it, Big Ben allegedly has it, and Antonio Cromartie is the latest ‘7 kids to 6 women in 5 states’ athlete to have it.

Want an example of entitlement in the workplace? How about those people who believe that the sick days allotted to them by their employer are actually vacation days to be used whenever they please? Want more?

Recently, during a Judge Gino segment on ‘KLH, a guy wrote in to tell us the story of his 20-something son who has no intention of paying off his school loan… that Dad co-signed for! When Dad confronts him he says “Just don’t pay it and declare bankruptcy”. Hey, he’s entitled to a free education, right?  Dad kicked him out, but there’s that little matter of his good credit rating and Dad wants to keep that. So he does the honorable thing and admits that he shouldn’t have co-signed and he pays. Guess Dad just assumed that the disease of entitlement wouldn’t rear its ugly head in his own home. But, it’s everywhere.

And why shouldn’t it be? When our government passes an emergency plan to spend 10 BILLION dollars, and part of that plan includes getting satellite TV to rural America, we shouldn’t be surprised that our country is ‘infected’. I’m not saying all our tax money is wasted, but there is NO WAY that some of these entitlements are absolutely necessary. I’ve heard the commercial: Need a free cell phone? Just call! My question, though, is what phone are you using to call? But, I digress.

What happened to the kids of the Greatest Generation? How did we get so soft? Did we learn nothing from the stories our parents and grandparents told us about the Great Depression? Did we not understand that there is honor in working hard and doing an honest day’s work? Boomers, to a large degree, failed to pass on the steely determination and iron-will that our grandparents and parents taught us. Somewhere along the line we decided that everyone should get a ribbon and a gold star and equal playing time. That turned into everyone should get satellite TV and a cell phone.

And if you think I’m generalizing, well, OF COURSE I AM. There are exceptions to every rule so don’t write me and complain. Or, as my Grandpa used to say, “Quit whining and grow a pair”.

I think that pretty much sums it up, don’t you?

 A couple of months ago I was contacted by ‘M’ Magazine about doing a photo shoot with our 3 dogs. It was explained to me that the issue would feature local celebs (like Ted Perry from Fox 6) and their dogs. In addition, the issue would be all about guys. Now, you have to understand that Cindy and I have 3 Schnauzers and while they’re pretty smart, they’re also full of energy. Way too much energy. And I can’t even begin to tell you how excited they get when they get company. But I agreed to do it and we immediately made an appointment to get hair cuts. Didn’t want them looking nasty for their big photo op. Well, personally I didn’t care, but my lovely bride did.

So ‘M’ Magazine sent me a questionnaire to fill out and then came over to take pictures. Well, Cindy took all three on a long walk (and it was cold) and by the time the photographer and staff showed up, it was all we could do to just keep them from napping. One word to sum up their behavior that day: awesome. In the western ‘burbs, me, Zack, Cosmo and Rocky made the cover. And the picture of meinside the dog crate with all 3 of them made it into the article. I’ve pasted the inside picture for you to see and I have also come up with a list of;

THE TOP 10 THINGS MY DOGS HAVE TAUGHT ME

*Defend your family at all costs

*Take naps as often as you can

*The best things in life are absolutely free

*Everyone you meet is a potential best friend

*No matter what the weather is like, it’s fun to play ball

*Exercise is fun and something to get excited about

*Sometimes we all just feel like barking. But it’s never okay to bite.

*Never admit to cutting the cheese…especially if it’s nasty and has good hang time

*Sometimes, it’s impossible to understand what people are saying, even when they’re speaking English

*When someone is sad, lick their face (use this at your own discretion ;~)

I found my old high school yearbook the other day. I can’t tell you how happy I am that we had no social networking back then. Usually, your yearbook is the only record of how awful we looked and how goofy we all were (are?). With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of Facebook status updates that most certainly would have been a part of Facebook had it been around back then (if COMPUTERS had been around back then…) I have combined some of the words and phrases that my classmates used in signing my yearbook with some of the common things we used to say. These are flat out embarrassing to read and even funnier to say. Feel free to add your own.