One more for the road?

I caught a story in the Seattle P-I last week about a waitress at Emerald Downs that really got me to thinking.

Apparently this waitress has been working at Longacres & Emerald Downs since 1968. Now well past the normal retirement age, she never misses a day of work and advises younger co-workers to “hustle” when they complain about poor tippers.

It inspired as well as depressed me.

Here was a woman who at 85, had more life and energy about her than I have exhibited in the entirety of my 28 years on this planet. She had found her passion and ran with it.

It’s truly inspiring.

As depressing as the thought of my life lacking a passion/purpose is. It was encouraging to think, I’ve got a hell of a lot of time to figure it out.

This story really hit home for me given my “second stab a retirement” this summer. I had all the time in the world to dedicate to my life’s passions, both figuring-out what the hell they were and what I would do once I had identified them.

I no longer had work to get in the way of fulfilling all those plans/dreams that just I just “didn’t have time to get to” when I was employed.

And here’s the really depressing part: I Got Bored.

The comparison is pretty funny: here’s this 85 year-old lady schlepping drinks to booze-hounds and problem-gamblers and she’s found her place in the world. And there I was the aspiring writer, free to roam the streets of Seattle or the World in search of fodder for the next great American novel…

And what did I do with this valuable free time?

Instead of soul-searching or reading for inspiration, I headed to the bar with my buddy.

The next great American novel, not so much.

The only world travelling I did was from a bar stool and the only exotic things I saw were the import beers I imbibed as I guzzled away my creativity.

Not to say that I regret any of it. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. Some of the best writers in the world were alcoholics as well. (Yes, I just said I am an alcoholic, but I’m saying it more to build my mystique as a great writer, than to state a sad, sad reality.)

Perhaps life needs a pair of beer goggles to be interesting.

But I digress, I am simply saying I am not sure that writing is my life’s passion/purpose. But the fact that I sit here on a regular basis plunking away at a keyboard means I must be on to something.

One thing I discovered in my ample free time this summer is that it’s important to know what you don’t like as well as what you do like. It’s that whole addition by subtraction thing.

I got into writing for the same reason I do many things in my life: Efficiency.

I had failed many of the “weed-out” classes in the majors I really liked in college, when I came across journalism. A buddy of mine recommended I try it out, so I did. I actually did pretty poorly in that class as well, but caught the eye of the department chair who took a liking to me. The more I got into it, the easier it seemed to be.

The next thing I knew I was a columnist and people were referring to me as a writer, in much the same way I referred to my technology-class taking friends as engineers. The only difference between my engineering friends and me, is that they took jobs in their fields and loved their work. I, on the other hand, went into finance and am now working in IT…enough said.

Yet here I am stumbling along trying to figure-out what I am here for. And more importantly, what I want to be remembered for.

I know one thing for certain; Working in a call center ain’t the legacy I am shooting for.

I’ve always said that I never want to work doing something I love. Meaning I never want work to be something that consumes me. But I am now discovering that work is no longer just a means to pay my mortgage and keep the fridge stocked.

Sadly, it is what defines you.

So does that mean my legacy is one of being a phone-answering cube-monkey? So far…Yes.

But looking at this 85-year-old as an example, there is hope for me yet. I just need to keep looking. She didn’t stumble across her dream job until her late-20s/early 30’s.

Which means I better get crackin’.

I hope you do the same, if you haven’t already.

So you know you are a single dude when all of your household “errands” can be handled by going to Target and hitting the Shell Station at the bottom of the hill on your way home from work…

Really made me think that a life-change may be needed.

I just found that realization pretty funny, hope you did too.

Sonics, OK.

Seeing as the Sonics may have played thier final game at Key Arena, I thought I'd chime-in on the topic of relocation.

In case you are out of the loop or don’t care enough to pay attention I’ll get you up to speed.

It looks like Sonics owner Clay Bennett lied to NBA Commissioner David Stern regarding his intention to move the team to Oklahoma City. The lie came to light in email correspondence between Bennett's ownership group and Stern. The emails were obtained by The City of Seattle as part of a lawsuit to force the Sonics to play-out their lease (through 2010) at Key Arena.

Local folks still holding hope of keeping the Sonics in town see this as a possible break. Stern has been one of one Bennett’s biggest backers as he (Bennett) and the City of Seattle battle lease and re-location issues out in court. Local fans hope this breech of trust will sway Stern and possibly get him to back away from supporting Bennett.

I really don’t see that happening.

There is simply too much money to be made in Oklahoma City.

The NBA has been itching to get a team back into that market since they saw the reception the New Orleans Hornets received when they played there post-Hurricane Katrina. The games were sell-outs. The Key Arena hasn’t sold-out since the Clinton Administration. There aren’t too many entertainment options in Oklahoma City and the Sonics would be the prime sporting option.

NBA basketball isn’t just a game, it’s also big business.

I’ve got to hand it to Bennett, he played the “poor old country bumpkin” role to perfection. He managed to out-wit the City of Seattle and Sonic fans. His plan to save money and re-build the roster with cheaper/younger talent is pure genius. Not only is he saving money up-front, he’s also fielding a team so bad that no one in Seattle cares anymore. If he had his way, the team would get so bad that we’d offer to buy-out the lease to get rid of the losers.

I can’t blame Bennett for lying. He’s a savvy businessman and he knows how to play the game. I am not saying its ethical, but there is a reason the man is a millionaire.

At this point, the relationship with local government is beyond repair. Both sides are so entrenched that compromise is no longer an option. I think the City of Seattle is more embarrassed with being out-maneuvered by this ‘Yokel’ from Oklahoma, which has led to the steadfast refusal to listen to anything that comes to the table.

Trust is important when doing business and Bennett’s intentions have been suspect from the start. I don’t see how the City of Seattle could enter, in good faith, any negotiations with Bennett after he lied to the City and Stern: who was his most important ally.

Bennett has seemingly had one foot out of the door since he bought the team. How can the city enter into any agreements with a man who has clearly lied to everyone from the start?

I am a Sonics fan. I remember the Wheedle, Xavier McDaniel and the great run in the 90’s. I loved Nate McMillan’s last year as head coach. I really do not want to see the Sonics go.

But at this point I am just tired of hearing about this soap opera. I am a sports fan. I don’t care about back room deals, arena funding or the business side of basketball.

I just want a local team to root for.

Maybe life in post-Sonics Seattle won’t be too bad…I hope to never find out.

Honey Latte's, an interesting idea...

Tried the Honey Latte at Starbuck’s the other day. Not so great. Way too sweet and unnaturally floral in flavor. Luckily I got it for free, but didn’t even finish the sample…I guess that’s a commentary on how good it was. Just wanted to give my two cents.

Lil things go a long way...

The spring birthday season is in full swing. And as I reach my late 20’s nearing the dreaded Big 3-0, I am starting to get the big question: “So when are you gonna settle down?” which is usually followed by “When are you gonna have some kids?”

I’ve been lucky enough to avoid these questions in the past, mostly because of my adamant stance against having kids of my own and being very vocal about it. There was also the fact that I lived in my parent’s basement until I was 26, which doesn’t scream “ladies man.”

So kids aren’t in the cards for me, I am fine with that. I love flat-screen TVs, drinking and having spending money way too much.

But that is not to say that I don’t like them. I feel about kids the way I feel about Portland, they have their good points, but I can only stand either for a few days at a time.

Which brings me to my point, sitting here at Starbuck’s I witnessed an interesting phenomena. The lil buggers just seem to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

As I sit here, drinking my coffee, reading the Seattle Weekly doing my best to look hip. A 3-year-old hops-up from his table and is totally in awe of the guy washing the windows. Everyone took notice as the kid just stood at the door bright-eyed with his jaw nearing on the floor.

What was interesting was that the same expression washed across everyone’s face, a slight smile.

I am not sure what it is that produces this response, but we all seem to be wired the same. It was fascinating to see even nod-politely-but-don’t-speak-to-me-Seattleites take a break from their own lives to enjoy this little guy.

Then to accentuate the point, a lady at the table next to me shows-up with a newborn. The 3-year-old, who had been ignoring pleas from his dad to leave the window washer alone, caught sight of the newborn.

And the same half-smile everyone flashed at him earlier, appeared on his face.

I don’t think this ‘smile response’ is some social nicety that is learned as we all grow-up. It looks to be hard-wired from the jump. Read: the 3-year-old reacted the same way the 53-year-old did.

Nodding and telling everyone that their baby is cute even though it looks like a beet red version of the Michelin Man is the learned social nicety.

I recently heard about a program being instituted at an elementary school in North Seattle involving newborns. A new mom visits a class once a month and brings-in her newborn. The class then asks questions and tracks the growth/progress of the baby, kind of becoming pseudo siblings/parents.

I thought the whole thing sounded kinda hokey. But proponents of the program say that kids who participate become more socialized and empathetic than those who don’t. And judging from the reaction of the 3 year-old today, I am inclined to agree.

Not to romanticize the idea of kids. I have been puked- and pee’d-on. But this is simply my opus that although I am opposed to the idea of kids of my own…I don’t hate them.

So there’s really no point to this post other than to point-out an interesting phenomena that brought a smile to my face.

Not a bad way to start a Saturday.