the globe rover

Denver, CO

Historical day in the United States of America. Change has definitely come!

44th President of the USA - President Barack Obama

Denver, CO

Anyone who has watched the news todayknows about the amazing story of the crash of the US Airways flight today (story here). What an incredible story of smart thinking by a great pilot (here’s to Sully!), coordinated effort by a flight crew, and a cabin full of people pulling together to try and stay calm and do what was required to get out of a potentially tragic situation. Truly an amazing story of smart decisions and some protective guidance avoiding what could have been a horrific tragedy.

Kudos to Sully and everyone else on US Airways flight 1549.

Denver, CO

I am devastated that two of the kiddos that I follow from the cancer community earned their wings this week.

Coleman Larson was five vibrant years old and fought an amazing battle against Medulloblastoma for the last two plus years. Coleman was an amazing and very wise little boy filled with the spirit of life and faith unknown to many adults. Although I never met him, I have learned numerous lessons from him and his family. I have laughed and cried through their journey since I’ve been following them for the last year. Coleman leaves behind an amazing family - a very wise and devoted mother, Peggy;  a very caring and dear father, Scott; and a loveable and dedicated twin brother, Caden. I am heartbroken with this loss and amazed and so very thankful at the impact this little five year old has had on me.

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ColemanScott

 

Trooper Dante was a two-year old fighter that has been battling Neuroblastoma. He is an amazing little guy and has had the spirit and determination to keep fighting and making everyone around him smile. He is also leaving behind a brother, sister, and wonderful parents. And again, although I have never met Dante, his smile will be engraved in my memory forever.

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/TrooperDante

 

My desire to help fight Childhood Cancer only grows stronger. These kids shouldn’t have to fight. They deserve more… an opportunity to grow and learn and experience life. I have learned so much from these guys and their parents.

Please help… go to Cure Search or People Against Childhood Cancer (PAC2). These groups are doing a great job but more help is always needed (childhood cancer is still way underfunded).

If there is any silver lining, it is that both these little boys have an amazing group of angels waiting in heaven to take them under their wing and show them the ropes.

My heart and prayers are with Coleman and Dante’s families.

Denver, CO

St. Judes and Coors Light have teamed up for a great Halloween promotion - you can find pinups at your local restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail outlets (like local wine/beer stores). Simply make any donation you want and you’ve helped a great cause. Check out St. Jude’s site here and Coors Light’s site here (you can make donations online as well at St. Jude’s site).

Here’s to helping the amazing kiddos with cancer at Halloween and helping to find a cure!

Denver, COI’d like to tell you about a project I saw on Members Project. It’s called “Project Brain Child,” and with your support it could get funding from American Express. American Express Cardmembers can vote for this project to receive potential funding by going to Project Brain ChildMembers Project is an exciting initiative that brings people together to make a difference in the world. It’s simple. People go online to share ideas for projects — and ultimately vote on which projects will share $2.5 million in funding from American Express.In 2007, Members Project provided clean drinking water to children all across Africa. What will Members Project do this year? The decision is yours. Please get out the vote about this project.Show Your Support
membersproject.com

Denver, CO

It is the one month a year designated to help bring more awareness to a terrible tragedy in our world - childhood cancer. There is so much we can do to work towards a cure. Please take the time to read about childhood cancer (the numbers are astounding). Cure Search is an organization dedicated to the cause. Read about Cure Search and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month here.

I’d also like to encourage everyone to sign the petition that I mentioned in an earlier post to help raise awareness of childhood cancer. The petition was started by a very dedicated father who lost is son to cancer earlier this year. Most people are unaware (as I was until recently) that a lot of the cancer organizations dedicate minimal funding to childhood cancer although it has such a large impact. I was shocked to discover that the American Cancer Society only dedicates 3% of their funding to childhood cancer. Needless to say, there is much work ahead to increase awareness. But we can start today!

Three of the major networks ran a special on Friday night called “Stand Up 2 Cancer” (you can watch the show here on NBC). Although it is a good start, there is still very little focus on childhood cancer.

We need your help.
Sign the petition.
Learn about childhood cancer.
Spread the word.
Increase awareness.
Too many beautiful children are suffering and becoming angels before they even get to grow up.

Please help us work toward the cure.

Denver, CO

This past Friday I participated in the second annual Wash Park Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society. It was a great event and I am so glad that I was able to participate.

First, a note to my family and friends (and you know who you are) - thank you, thank you, thank you! Thanks to the generosity of my family and friends (and in a quick week and a half time period) I was the top individual fund raiser. I literally was brought to tears every time I opened my “progress” page and saw the number of you who donated. Thank you again for supporting both the American Cancer Society and me. I am moved by your generosity and giving spirit.

A little about the event…

The walk is an overnight walk where teams of participants keep someone walking around the park all night from the opening ceremonies at 7 pm on Friday until the closing ceremonies at 8 am on Saturday. The opening began with a researcher speaking personally and professionally regarding the benefits of basic research and the impact on cancer. Then the survivors took a lap around the park which was very moving. Amazing to see so many survivors representing the dreadful “C” disease.

Throughout the night there were great events planned such as luminaries that were placed around the entire track in honor of survivors and in memory of angels; bands; dancers; movies; volleyball; backward lap; fancy hat lap; Miss Relay (for guys) lap collecting money in their handbags; and numerous other events that made the event enjoyable and entertaining. Every team had tents set up in the infield (some simple and some pretty decked out) - there were all kinds of fun stuff like baby pools and corn hole (the game) set up. There was also a DJ that played during the entire event - kudos to him for his energy!

The relay concluded with a Dove release in honor and in memory of all the victims of cancer. It was very special to see the doves fly and circle around the track commemorating so many amazing people.

I can’t wait to get involved in next year’s event and only hope that it will continue to grow!

Denver, CO

Weekend before last brought a new BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) for me which was the MS 150 (Great-West Life Bike MS), a 150 mile bike ride over two days. I signed up on a whim through the company I am consulting with (North Highland) and had no idea what I was getting into especially since I am new to road biking. But I managed to convince a couple of friends to join me on the adventure - thanks Jim and Kathy!

Honestly, I didn’t do so well with the training. I managed about four Saturday rides (20, 30, 40, and 60 miles respectively) and one or two short rides in between. So I had no idea what I was getting myself into with 73 miles on Saturday and 77 miles on Sunday through the foothills of Colorado.

The ride started in Westminster, CO and ended in Ft. Collins, CO taking roads other than the expressway. We started in suburbia and winded through some neighborhoods and ended up in the foothills with beautiful views of the mountains. It was truly a beautiful route (despite my pain).

Day One was long but manageable. After a long climb up horsetooth canyon, we coasted down and ended in Ft. Collins. We had a tent waiting for us with a Caribbean theme - jerk chicken, rice and beans, fruit, chips, mojitos, etc. It was a great way to end the day. But we made a short night of it managing to shower and come back into old town for dinner before going to bed early.

Day Two started at 4:15 am again in time to get to the start and get our bikes, some breakfast, air in the tires, and get on our way. For me, day two was extremely tough. I had not done any back to back riding which meant I had one sore rear. We started with an uphill climb (up horsetooth canyon). At about mile 15 I began to feel nauseous which lasted for the next 15 miles. Needless to say, I was much slower and thinking about how good the SAG wagon looked (for those of you that aren’t familiar - it’s the van that picks up those that are “saggin’” behind and need a ride). But I persevered and somehow managed to find my second wind. The next 30 miles were pretty good and I managed to make up some time and paced pretty well. There were six rest stops on day two - each one a welcome break. They were great and set up with plenty of food and drinks, and some even had bands.

The event is amazingly well organized and North Highland did a great job with our small team. Overall, this is one of the best sporting events I have ever participated in. It was much harder than I anticipated and I do not recommend doing it without proper training. But I am so glad that I did it and am glad to be helping such a worthy cause (National Multiple Sclerosis).

Mission accomplished until the next BHAG!

Denver, CO

Over the last year, I have been following the stories of several different children that have been fighting cancer…some losing the battle and some winning the battle. Their stories are amazing. These children have a wiseness and clarity well beyond their years. Their families and friends are dealing with grief that should not be felt by a family. The statistics are staggering.

One of the lives that I have been fortunate enough to have a glimpse into is AJ Piniewski. An amazing 14 year old boy that lost his battle to Burkitt’s Lymphoma. His father has shared with the public a view of the amazing son/brother/friend and is carrying forth the legacy of AJ by pushing for more funding and research for pediatric cancer. He has created a petition that we all need to sign.

Please take a few minutes to read the petition and sign it. The stories are heartbreaking. And it’s time for pediatric cancer to get some attention.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/CureChildhoodCancer

Red Feather Lakes, CO

This weekend led me on a journey with three friends to embark on meditation and learn the basics of a practice that I have been curious about for a while. My curiosity was peaked last year when I spent five weeks in Southeast Asia through learning about meditation retreats and seeing monks and monasteries around the countries (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia). Thus, when a couple of friends started talking about trying to find a retreat as they were interested in learning meditation as well, I was very anxious and excited.

Our search for retreats led us all around Colorado and through places that focus on Buddhism, Yoga, and pure meditation. Timing was perfect when I was reading my National Geographic Traveler magazine and came across an article about “Wellness Destinations” and one of the four that was highlighted was the Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Their intro program to meditation is called “Shambhala Training Level I: The Art of Being Human” and was exactly what we were looking for.

Not knowing what to expect, we set out with a combination of excitement and apprehension as all four of us (Meg, Lysa, Kathleen and I) were new to meditation and had never gotten closer than yoga. Needless to say, the weekend was not at all what we expected but was filled with discovery, pain, enlightenment, and joy.

The discomfort comes from “sitting on the cushion” (a meditation cushion set on a thin mat on a floor) in a position/posture that is unusual for most Americans (cross-legged with a straight back) for hours at a time. We were a bit surprised at the level of discomfort at times but realized it was mostly because we are used to sitting in chairs and slouching quite often. But the discomfort is also a part of the path to discovery and part of the path of meditation (there are reasons behind the posture which I won’t go into here for sake of brevity).

The second challenging aspect was the actual meditation. If you have never tried to sit quiet and clear your mind of all thoughts - I recommend you attempt it. And my guess is that it will serve to be challenging. We were fortunate to get ample explanation about techniques and methods for this type of meditation but actually putting it into practice is difficult. And after spending 3 1/2 hours Saturday morning and 2 1/2 more on Saturday afternoon alternating between sitting meditation and walking meditation (in a small circle inside our room with a meditation position for the hands and a slight gaze downward), we were exhausted and challenged. And it seems that most of the class was on the same page. However, our Saturday evening talk after dinner provided insight into the purpose of challenging us to “stay with it” and practice the meditation. As with most things, meditation comes with practice.

So clearly there were some discomforts and challenges through the weekend. But the best part was the enlightenment and discovery of a new path. Meditation provides many amazing things, the most important of which to me is presence. Through mindfulness, we are able to be present in whatever we are doing and still our thoughts to focus on where we are. This ability allows us to be gentle and fearless at the same time and through intelligence allows us to hear and see the world. One of the principles of Shambhala Training is that every person has basic goodness in us and it is only through our not being mindful of that and ignoring it that we find pain and suffering in our world. Meditation is a tool that allows us to find our basic goodness and return to living there. Thus, the practice of meditation allows us to be present and to hear and feel our world.

The weekend was filled with so many lessons that are so practical yet so challenging to practice in every day life. From learning to not judge others, to not reacting to other’s pain and anger, to learning how to listen to your own mind, to kindness, to openness, to listening and being present, and to basic goodness. We were fortunate to have both a great staff and great group in the class and only wish there would have been more time to get to know everyone.

As I have been learning lately through different tools, being present allows us to be more appreciative and feel the joy in our lives through everything that happens. This retreat was a great tool to help enforce the lesson of presence and is something that I hope to continue. As we discussed on the way home, it is much like eating healthy - it is something that isn’t always fun to do but the results and outcome are so worth the effort. Practicing meditation on a regular basis will be a challenge but it is something that I hope to add to my daily life in order to continue on this path of development and (hopefully) enlightenment.

I’ll finish with a great Zen quote that will serve as my reminder to focus on presence:

“Remain in the nowhere else. Be here.”

Denver, CO

I have just completed class five of the Oprah and Eckhart Tolle “A New Earth” series. In doing some follow up reading on the internet I found two powerful sets of words that I find great meaning and depth in. The first is a poem by David Waggoner entitled “Lost”:

Lost
From Traveling Light: Collected and New Poems by David Wagoner. © 1999 by David Wagoner

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

The poem is precisely what “A New Earth” is about…finding contemplative presence and being able to be and accept and surrender. The poem and the book encourage us to listen rather than to seek and come into the present moment.

The second set of words that I really like is a quote by Albert Einstein that encourages much of the same thing. We must separate ourselves from our thoughts and free ourselves from the “prison” of our mind in order to become conscious and see the beauty in all living creatures.

“A human being is a part of a whole, called by us ‘universe’, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest… a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

Both are powerful. And full of words I hope to remember and practice daily.

Denver, CO

I have added a 13th tenet to my driving tenets for the year:

13. Laugh often

“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” ~Yiddish Proverb

Denver, CO

This video along with the twelve tenets below were posted by Tony Robbins for motivation in 2008.

They are simple and powerful.

And for me a perfect resolution for the New Year.

1. Live a life of service
2. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you
3. Be kind
4. Be remarkable
5. Seek unity
6. Strive for wisdom
7. Be grateful
8. Think critically
9. Be brave
10. Be humble
11. Be creative
12. Be present

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

Denver, CO

The Colorado Rockies have literally swept their way into the World Series in a season filled with firsts. And most importantly, the first time they are going to the World Series in their 15 year history. They are on fire after winning 21 or their last 22 games.

I was one of the lucky one’s on hand for tonight’s game…and what a game it was. It was surreal to be amidst the fans that have stood by the Rockies through many rough seasons and enjoying the success of this season.

The Rocks are hot! And the energy in the stadium was electric. The Diamondbacks didn’t have a chance and all but the eighth inning it showed. I’ve seen my first baseball team, the Braves, go to and win a World Series. And now I’m hoping to see my other team!

It’s great to see Denver come alive for baseball!

post script: Need some more Rockies? This is a great article by Jayson Stark with the unbelievable cinderella story behind this team’s season.

Denver, CO

Heavy thoughts this week of many different things. Honesty is a beautiful thing and is so appreciated in the smallest of forms. Without honesty, what is there?

Moments and their meaning and impact…

Another quote I like:

“We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.”

Cesare Pavese

I am still being impacted daily by one of my newest heroes who is no longer on Earth. Miles is the man/boy that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago that suffered from cancer yet faced his fate with grace and saintliness. Miles’ Mom is continuing his blog with daily thoughts and writings from the family. They are amazing and the strength of Miles clearly comes from his family as they are evidence of good coming out of bad.

From Miles Levin’s blog June 4, 2006 one year after his diagnosis of stage IV alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma:

“Nobody knows for sure what we’re doing here, or how to gauge our successfulness, but I tend to think that if you leave the world a better place than when you got here, as much as was personally possible, you’re doing pretty good. Taking that as a quantification of success, you then realize that your biological vitality means very little..having a beating heart and operational lungs does not define you; your effect on the world around you does. Once you fulfill that service, your shift is done; you’re off work and it’s time to go home. So you don’t necessarily need a lot of years to have a lot of effect. In fact, maybe the opposite: if the good die young, it is they that have the most profound effect of all. If you can truly embrace this - and I’m trying - that’s sainthood.”

If only the world were full of Miles Levins….

Denver, CO

I was touched this week by a news story I read on CNN about a would have been 19 year old boy that touched the lives of people around the world through his courageous fight with cancer. The news is filled with tragic stories around the globe but this one stuck out and touched me.

Miles was diagnosed in June 2005 with rhabdomyosarcoma (a rare pediatric muscle cancer that affects 350 children a year). Since that day, Miles began a fight against the cancer and a fight to share with honesty and courage the story he was living. My admiration goes to both he and his family as they share their fight, hopes, dreams, tears, and emotions with the world through Mile’s blog on CarePages (you have to register and then go to “LevinStory”). Miles maintained the blog throughout his fight and his Mom and family are now continuing to post to continue his legacy.

Miles passed into the unknown world beyond Earth on Sunday after one of the most honest and courageous fights that I have witnessed. Death is never easy but for an 18 year old to face it head on and share it with the world is an amazing thing. His mother had an incredibly special and unique bond with him and shared that Miles was a unique person with an amazing gift. And he truly was. Life is full of death and yet here was a young person fighting to live every moment, breathe every breath, and share with the world what it was like. He lived his moto to the last moment:

“Keep Fighting. Stop Struggling.”

Through a simple blog, Miles touched the world. He had kindness and fought to focus on the here and now and the blessings of life rather than all the things he won’t ever be able to do. As his peers prepared to leave for college and begin a new chapter in their lives, Miles prepared to go to the unknown and end his days on Earth. But he did it with beauty and blessing. And he has touched me and many others around the world. He praised his family (including his mother, father, sister/best friend, and his girlfriend) and they are amazing for sharing their son and brother with the world and continuing the legacy of Miles Levin. Their pain is incomprehensible and that which too many people in the world are faced with. But they are using that pain to help.

In the last interview with Miles, his Mom asked him what he wanted to be remembered for:

“Someone who maintained their light through their darkest journey.”

That he did in so many ways. And as he even said to his Dad, “mission accomplished.” He also valued kindness as the quality most important in humans. Kindness is what Miles exemplified every day and in every breath. There’s a lot to be learned from this man with wisdom beyond his short lived years.

Sometimes people and stories strike you in life. This one has struck me. I am touched. And I hope I can live my life with more kindness in honor of the legacy of Miles Levin and all other children who have fought the devastating fight of pediatric cancer.

Steamboat Springs, CO

One of my absolute favorite places in Colorado is Steamboat Springs (the ” ‘boat”) and I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend there with some friends. It’s amazing to be back and enjoying the gorgeous mountainside and good ole’ mountain folk.

On Saturday en route to Hayden, we experienced the typical goodness of the people that live in the mountains. I had never been to Hayden before and was promised a morning of firsts and adventures by my friend Bob. That is definitely what followed.

We were meeting someone at 9 am and thus, were watching the clock to make sure we got there on time. We were about 15 miles out when I noticed Bob checking his odometer frequently and shortly after felt a jolt in the jeep. I looked at Bob, and along with a few expletives he noted that the car was out of gas. I couldn’t help but laugh as I have never been in a car that ran out of gas in all of my years.

I asked what we did (it appears that Bob is familiar with running out of gas in cars and was told that we find someone to help us get to a gas station as we were no where near walking distance. There happened to be two cars pulled over right where we were rolling to a stop (one with a U-Haul attached). We cruised in front of the two cars and hopped out to find some help and see if they needed any in return.

It turns out that three ladies (Mary, Jen, and Jamie) were driving to Salt Lake City, Utah to move Jen and were only twenty minutes into their drive when the uhaul loosened going over the railroad track. Bob took a look at the U-Haul and it all appeared to be reattached correctly (nice work ladies). Then we shared our saga of running out of gas. The ladies immediately jumped into finding a way to get us to a gas station. It was challenging as they had very little space in their cars because of moving. So after a few minutes of discussing options, Jen handed her keys to Bob and told him to take her car to get gas. They laughed and said they would keep me as ransom.

While Bob drove to get gas in this stranger’s car that was loaded with all her personal belongings (trust was paramount as she even left her purse in the front seat which floored us both), I stayed and chatted with the ladies. They were wonderful and so sweet and we discussed a full range of topics from dogs to relationships to moving and Colorado. Truly a testament to the quality and character of people you can find in mountain towns (especially in Colorado). Within about twenty or so minutes, Bob was back with gas and we were all off to our original destinations.

I am still amazed at meeting someone on the side of the road that was a complete stranger and having them hand over their car and all their belongings to help someone out (and mind you, slowing down their eight hour drive even more). I was touched to feel such goodness. Bob wished he could have done something for them (although there were no alternatives as she had a full tank of gas and there was nothing else near the gas station). So the next best, and perhaps better, alternative is to pay it forward which we discussed along with the movie. What a great world we would live in if everyone could do that and share generosity while helping each other out.

The rest of the weekend was great and made me even more excited to be back in Colorado and enjoying the mountains. Here’s to the ‘boat and those fabulous three women we met on a small mountain road in Colorado!

Morristown, NJ

Memorial Day weekend for me in 2007 was spent with family in New Jersey as one of my cousins married his partner of seven years. Andrew is the third of my New Jersey Johnson cousins to marry and the last of his siblings. And uniquely, they all three were married in the town of Morristown in which they didn’t grow up in but found some affinity.

And although all three siblings (Tracy, Brooke, and Andrew) were married in Morristown, each of their weddings have been quite different and reflective of their personalities. Andrew and his now wife Susan decided to have a small wedding and invite just their close family and friends. The wedding was short and sweet and a great showing of their love and commitment to each other. The reception was much longer and filled with fun, food (thanks for that Andy!), wine, and laughter with new friends.

I had quite a chuckle as the judge that married the Johnsons said that he had two requests from the bride and groom: 1) keep it short and 2) do not use the word “obey”. And the ceremony was short but to the point and more importantly, an official commitment that the two have had to each other for the past years.

One of the things that stood out the most to me during the celebration was the number of people that commented that Andrew and Susan are perfect for each other and how well they compliment each other. To me that is one of the cornerstones of a successful relationship — to compliment one another and not to surpress or try to change each other. But to accept and make each other better people. What a pleasure it is to hear that two people have found that and have now committed their lives to each other.

It was great to be a part of Andy’s wedding and I am touched that he included me. Andy is a wonderful cousin and I am so thankful for the memories we have growing up and for the future to come (which now includes Susan). It was a special day and a great weekend to be a part of. Here’s to another lifetime of happiness for two people that compliment each other!

Flat Rock, NC

One of the reasons that I planned to come back from Europe/SE Asia/Australia by mid May was to attend my friend Jdub’s wedding in Flat Rock, NC. Jdub (aka Jonathan) and I have been friends for about ten years and he is an outstanding person - the kind of friend that everyone should have and the kind of friend that you don’t want to miss their wedding.

The wedding was held at Highland Lake Inn on Wedding Hill which is a wonderful sight for a wedding. The retreat is quite large and includes different lodging types (from cabins to lodges) as well as a lake with all kinds of outdoor activities. I had some trouble with accommodation and in true Jdub style, he connected me with one of his friends that was flying solo and wanted a roommate. I am used to traveling and sharing a room with someone that I don’t know and that along with Jdub’s recommendation made it a go. And his thoughts were right on as Jo and I had a great time and enjoyed the wedding and festivities.

I have always loved weddings and have attended a lot through the years. And as I get older, I appreciate the vows and ceremony more and more. As horrible as it is to say, sometimes the vows seem repetitive and don’t incorporate the couple’s personality into the ceremony. But Jdub and Jill’s wedding was anything but mundane and was a phenomenal representation of sharing vows with each other that are personal, spiritual, meaningful, and downright damn good. It was moving and special and made everyone grin with the happiness shared between these two people. I feel blessed to have been a part of it.

Another first for me was attending a ceremony that incorporates the Jewish faith (Jill’s family is Jewish). It was fun and touching and interesting to see the parts of the ceremony that were Jewish tradition (including the breaking of the glass and the bride and groom lifted on chairs and danced around the room). It was a great incorporation of their families, past, and future together.

I often forget at weddings that you are constantly asked 1) do you know the bride or the groom and 2) how do you know them. I clearly knew the groom and the answer to the second part was funny to remember. I met Jdub in a Michael Hammer Reengineering class on a snowy winter day in Boston. We were both doing similar things at our companies (although in different states) and were sent to the same training class. Somehow, Jdub ended up at the table with two of the ladies I worked with and myself and the rest is history. We spent that week hanging out and enjoying the class together and were good friends ever since (he also is responsible for getting me the job at Qwest and moving me to Denver in the first place :). And although we’ve never lived in the same city, we have been fortunate enough to have camped, hiked, and traveled together.

I love “love” and am so happy when I see two great people together. Jdub and Jill are two of those people and I’m sure they will have a lifetime of happiness. I’m so glad to have been a part of the day that started their marriage and commitment to each other!

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

On New Year’s Day 2006 I was standing atop the roof of Africa with a group of fellow travels from BootsnAll. It was an amazing experience and something that I will be proud of and remember for the rest of my life.

The crew at BNA has put together a video with a few highlights of the experience. I just watched it tonight and got a flashback to that amazing week.

If you want to check it out, you can watch it here.

Here’s to fantastic memories!