STOP! Where are you and where do you want to go?

OK, if you know me, you know how goofy and funny this picture is. This is me and one of my best friends in the Navy, Rigby Ough at the E club on Diego Garcia in 1988. This was never supposed to happen since I had left our ship in the Persian Gulf and started a trip home and our ship was staying on station... but I got held up in Diego and the ship happened to stop there on its way home, so this was a reunion of sorts.

Well, over the 21 years since then Rigby and I have tried several times to locate each other - all efforts were unsuccessful until a few weeks ago when out of the blue I got an e-mail from him.

We've exchanged several e-mails - reminded each other of Navy stories we had forgotten - and caught up over the phone as well.

In our navy days we had plans. First, know we were in the same division and both were pilot rescue swimmers - literally our lives were often in each other's hands and there's a bond as strong as, or stronger than brothers that comes from that. Our plans for our post navy lives involved buying a sailboat and cruising the world. We could make our money doing odd jobs in boat repair, as divers we could easily earn money cleaning boat hulls. No debt. No obligations. Just our skill and desire for adventure and to truly live life to push us on.

But things changed.

Rigby's life ran closer to that than mine - but I got on another track. While I don't regret any part of the last 20+ years, and the decisions I made - I have now been forced to reconcile what I truly wanted to do - with the reality of what I have chosen over the years.

Today at the age of 45 I wonder if it's possible to move closer to those original and still highly valued goals. It is and I have been lucky enough to have been given an opportunity that - with success - will make much of it possible.

That is my definition of motivation.

Facebook killed the Blogging...

That's what is behind the fall of this blog... I've created a group on Facebook called "off the Air" - a place where people who have left TV news and found success and how they use their TV experience to make it happen... I may well get back to this - but for now, between work and home (and more work) Facebook gets my webtime....

I hope my friend Iqbal can vote...soon.

You see Iqbal's note in the previous post - he's been waiting to vote for quite some time..because of this....

Bangladesh...

An election was scheduled for the end of 2006, however it did not take place. The caretaker government was accused of BNP bias by Hasina and her coalition, who fomented nationwide protests and shutdowns. In January 2007, the head of the caretaker government stepped down, many believe under pressure from the military.

Fakhruddin Ahmed, former World Bank economist, was selected to replace him and has committed himself to rooting out corruption and preparing a better voter list. Emergency law was declared and a massive campaign to crack down on corruption is underway. By July 2007 some 200,000 people had been arrested. The government says it will hold elections before the end of 2008.

In April, Ahmed's administration attempted to reform the political parties by exiling Hasina and Zia, but they backed down amid domestic and international protestations. Hasina, who had been visiting her children in the US, was allowed to return but she faced serious charges, including involvement in the assassination of four political rivals. In July, she was taken into custody after two businessmen testified that she had extorted 80 million taka (US$1.16 million) from them.[4] This provoked angry protests from her supporters; even her bitter rival Khalida Zia, as well as six British MPs and MEPs, called for her release.[5] Khaleda herself faces charges of tax evasion.

A Letter from my Friend, Iqbal, in Bangladesh

Dear Kevin,

Congrats on Democratic Party's landslide victory!

The euphoria in the United States as well as in the rest of the world on the ascendancy of a black man to the highest office of the world's hegemony a supremely historic moment in America, From his campaign speeches, from his book" The Audacity of Hope"- Thoughts of Reclaiming the American Dream' such victory was highly calculable. I deem he will emerge as a technician who is best equipped to fix broken policies,repair the system,and get America working once again. To believe in Mr. Obama, one needs to hope against hope.

Stay well.

Iqbal

America has a New Face for the World!

Proud to be an American

When Americans elect a president, the world stops and watches. It's truly an amazing example of what makes our nation so different from all others. Yes, on election day I have the chance to do my job as a citizen, help pick the next leader of our country and the free world. When I cast my vote I can't help but think of the American men and women who have given their lives - just so I can do this. How incredible. Then I think of the people in countries all over the world - where people have died trying to create this very opportunity for themselves or their children - all they wanted was to have the opportunity to vote. To make their voice heard.

Tonight my voice was heard. But within that voice is a chorus of my fellow Americans,where the lyrics may be different - but we're all on the same sheet of music.

PS
For my friends who wanted things to turn out differently... Don't worry, that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach will fade in a few weeks... I know, I had that same feeling twice in the last eight years. :)

Breaking News...

Life's Changing

Sorry it's been so long since I added some reflections on my life... If you think this is an election about change - if you're familiar with what's going on in my life these days... it's all about change.

For reasons that do not need to be aired here, my marriage is ending. We'll still be friends, and we'll always be parents - but it seems there is just not enough there for more. That's all that needs to be said about that.

So it's a new chapter - again. I've been here before but this time there is no animosity, and I have a great circle of friends who truly care about me. To them - I appreciate you more than you'll ever know. I moved to Alabama 16+ years ago and figured it was for short term and someday I'd move back home to the beach... well here's a chance - and I prefer to stay where my friends are, where my children are.. Family first. Plus, it's great to be able to head to Florida and have a free place to stay!

So here we go... put on your seat belts... it's not "Two and a half Men" - More like "One and a Quarter Men"... only not as funny.

Harmony Safari Park

What a place! I had heard about this place and today we decided to check it out. Two miles of driving through a free-range wild animal sanctuary. We had animals halfway into the back seat of the Jeep... and blocking the road... Josef had a great time... OK - we all did! If you want to see all 59 pictures - check out my Facebook page....

Josef loves his Lego's!

The latest HD Set Project by Inergi...WSFA Montgomery

Josef's 1st Day Walking in to school....

Josef's in Kindergarten

Josef's first day was today, it was more an orientation - there at 8:30 and out by 10! He admitted he was a little scared.... so tomorrow will be more telling.

I love how Morgan County is slowly getting the new kindergarten kids acclimated, orientation today - parents stay the 90-minutes with them. They go 8-10 on Friday and 8-10 on Monday.. so really Tuesday is their first full day - but by then they'll know their classmates, know their teacher and know their way around the school.

Another Fine Set.... This one in St. Louis, MO

Wrapped up a project at Washington University this weekend. They now have this custom set, that gives them all kinds of varied uses... It was a tough install because it was on the third floor and on the opposite side of the building from where the semi pulled up. A 5500 lb set, hand carried...

USS Towers, a Life Gone By...

I found a great site with crew listings for all those who have served or are serving aboard destroyers in the U.S. Navy; Destroyers Online.

On the site was this amazing image. I finally found a picture that describes life in heavy seas aboard a DDG. I've described for years what it's like, but this picture captures the 'feel'.

Looking at the names of those who served aboard the USS Towers over the years and I spotted a couple names of old friends.

Amazing, after nearly 25 years, I can still see their faces and remember their personalties. How strange is that? I mean I can barely remember some people I worked with in TV in the years since then!

I hate that the Towers is at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Sunk by the US Navy for target practice. I did find out on there is a group in Jacksonville working to bring the USS Charles F Adams to town as as permanent museum and I've hooked up with a group in Rome Georgia who is putting up a monument to Admiral Towers (Rome is his home town).