What is an American Today? Unalienable.

I've been busy the past few months even though on the surface it feels on some level that I haven't been producing as much as I'd like. 

I've been busy listening though.  Listening to the other side.  Listening to journalists I hadn't seen or heard before.  Listening to the whole of the problems of America.

Like it or not, this country has problems that we cannot run from.  We can't hide and duck our heads, and we can't pretend anymore that the time and place we live in, is anything like the world that existed before.

Climate Change
Nuclear Weapons Expansion
Immigration
White Nationalism/Supremacy
Medical Systems
Gun Violence
The Wealth Gap
Taking Care of Veterans
Education
Criminal Justice Reform
The Legalization of Cannabis
Addressing the Opioid Epidemic and Ending the War on Drugs.

After my last day of work, I listened to a family member talk about the financial impact of Cancer.

It seemed wrong to me that for them, and countless others that live in America today that they would have to choose between health care and financial ruin.  It seems wrong that the society of today continues to make money on the life and death of its fellow citizens.  The society I would like to be a part of would not put profits and money ahead of the health and well being of it's citizens. 

I'm sweating as I listen to how it would cost an extra $3,000 for this test or the next, or chose between doctors and hospitals, and I realize that I'm sweating.  While the sun is setting behind the trees, it still feels about 90 degrees and humid.  Everything feels sticky and heavy. 

My mind wanders to the doomsday predictions about how our climate is changing, and it's doing so faster and faster.  It was another record high today, if not here, then somewhere else.  Each month it seems like there's another unique heatwave or polar vortex caused by the ever disintegrating glaciers that continue to shed chunks of iceberg at an alarming rate.

I scroll through Facebook and find an account advocating for violence towards local protesters, suggesting they be run over like Heather Heyer who was in Charlottesville protesting Neo-Nazis.

I think of the veterans who have come home and have to come to grips with the things they've seen, heard, and at times, what they've done.  How veterans of the Vietnam and Iraq wars are still dealing with the trauma caused by the hell we had them visit.  I work with a former Navy veteran and while he empathizes with a lot of my positions, there is a feeling about the people that he sees who can't get the resources that they need.

That we need to take care of some people who already live here too.

I agree, but what is wrong with doing both?

The politicians are trying to divide us on these issues.  That having it one way is right, and the others are wrong, even when the problems are the same.

Take the issue of immigration that is going on now.  Nearly everyone would be in agreement that there is room for people to become part of a robust economy and contribute to our society.  That is what we would want to encourage.  Our ideals SHOULD attract people to our communities and we can share in our collective well-being.  We should WANT people to come over and be part of America.

Yet due to the influx and sheer amount of people it has become difficult to help these people quickly become documented citizens of the United States. 

Well, we could allocate resources to help them become citizens.  Better yet, we could offer jobs to those like returning veterans or new recruits that want to help this country become even better, by helping those that want to come to America.

I like the idea of setting up clinics and schools in the south to help assimilate more immigrants.  Sending those that would work on behalf of the state to help people become American.  More people working and creating jobs, would in turn, help our economy.

That is the America I like to think of.  A "kind" America.  One that saw the errors of its ways when it came to slavery and to segregation.  That found itself bemoaning the choices that led to the perpetual wars in Vietnam and Iraq.  That realized the camps set up to detain people of Japanese descent after Pearl Harbor and that the camps used to imprison immigrant children and families are wrong and are against the values of this nation. 

When will that America step up again?

To me an American is not bound by where they were born.  To be an American, to me, is only to be human and to believe in humanity itself. 

We often quote the famous phrase of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" but we overlook the first words of "Unalienable".

To me those words matter as much, if not more, than the others.  That no matter who you are, whether or not you were born here or you arrived here by ANY other means, you have those particular rights, and that our government was sworn to protect them.

America is more than a country; it is an idea.  An idea based on freedom, but also ensuring that every person that sets foot on its soil is treated as somebody that has those unalienable rights.  That we look at our fellow men and women from all races and religions and see a person of value and possessing the exact same unalienable rights that we have ourselves.  For we are equal in our humanity.

America has been wrong, and it has been cruel.  Yet there is another America that has been kind and has been just, and I'm hoping that as time moves forward, we will see that America again.

The Lakers Assemble Their Monstars.

For a while it seemed as though the only Championship LeBron James might get in LA was one he'd win in Space Jam 2.  That his coming to LA was going to be about making movies and money ratherer than making making a contender.

But now, as the Lakers trade a young core group of players as well as draft picks for the promise of a second mega-star, it seems destiny has come to fruition out on the west coast.

There is no more glamorous a team in basketball than the Los Angeles Lakers. 

They play and win with a certain flair. 

Magic.  Kareem.  Shaq.  Wilt.  Kobe.

Star upon basketball star has resided with the team and genuinely added to the legacy of one of the most winningest franchises in sports.

They have been the picture of success for decades in the NBA, and while they may have struggled for the past ten or so years since the injuries of Kobe Bryant took their final toll, they now have the stars that they so often covet in James and Anthony Davis.

The acquisition of  Davis for some very good, but very young pieces could pay huge dividends in the short term, and if they can get consistent play and shooting from some of the surrounding pieces, almost certainly puts the team in contention for a wide open Western Conference next year.

The Lakers have their dream pairing again and it seems like destiny that they will find themselves back on top of the NBA sooner rather than later.  There will be highlight reel passes, great dunks, incredible three's and  hard-nosed defensive plays.  In short, the Lakers are expected to look like the Lakers of old, if not better.

While Durant joining the Warriors might have been a move that nearly broke the NBA, the Davis trade and potential subsequent signing of a notable free agent such as Kawhi Leonard or Kemba Walker make the Lakers look like a team moving from lottery team to title favorites.

There are moves still to be made, as finding consistent shooters and defenders will become a priority.  But now the Lakers two stars who are versatile, effective, and play with enough flash that all of the eyes will be on them to start the year.  But without question, the Lakers have two players that will cause huge headaches for the opposing team night in and night out.

I think the roster will need to come together and understand what works best for them and how to play as a group, but the talent at the very top has a great balance to it.  Anthony Davis is just 26, with his best years about to come up.  LeBron is probably not in his athletic prime but still has an incredible skill level and is still one of the top players in the league.  And still waiting behind both is Kyle Kuzma, a young player who has the makings of a potential all-star.

The Lakers cannot afford injuries though.  The health of LeBron and Davis is paramount to their success.  There is no safety net at the moment and any help will have to come from unheralded and undrafted players.  If one of the big stars goes down for any serious amount of time, the team risks imploding on itself again, and thoughts of doubt and failure may creep into the psyche of the group.

There are those that do not want the Lakers to go back on top again.  They can be fairly viewed as a pretentious and arrogant organization with pompous and unlikable players.  These moves and the ensuing storm of media coverage will become a source of resentment  for some who see the Lakers as an evil empire that uses money, fame and geographical location as a way to gain a huge advantage over smaller markets. 

I'm excited.  I think they have an opportunity to be something special for the next few years of Lebron's  contract, but also longer if they can retain Kuzma with Davis into the future. They may also still attempt to sign Kemba Walker who is coming off an All-Star season, or even Kawhi Leonard, fresh from an NBA Finals MVP run.

It's still a bit hard to see the very end, but it's clear to see that the shine is coming back to LA far sooner than anticipated.  The last season that ended with dysfunction and turmoil is already behind them and the optimism of a return to glory is already here and now.

Welcome back to the fun of watching the best players in basketball playing in the southern California sun. 

Welcome back to the stories of drama and intrigue, where sports and Hollywood mix with big contracts, big egos and big trades.

Welcome back to the Lake Show.

The Season Of Now

It has finally become warm here in State College; the winter finally retreating with its dreary monotone color palette and being replaced by the deep blues, greens and yellows that seem to bring the world back to life.

It's a time to relax and enjoy the longer evenings with a libation of choice. 

It's a time to get up early and do that early morning exercise routine.

It can be a time to fall in love for either the first or the thousandth time.

It's summer.

I have mostly seen this season through the eyes of an adolescent. When I hear "summer," it's usually synonymous with "break," an interlude to the rest of the yearly toils and generally living care free until fall, when typically, school started again. 

The fact that I reside in a major college town only reinforces the dynamic as the economics of State College are driven by the university.  If you've ever been around the town in the summer versus while school is in session, you become acutely aware that this town can become a low key suburban oasis that hinges on a group of people that care about one another.

I think most people want to leave our cares with our winter clothes and focus on the time at hand, because we know that this season of the sun, great as it is, will not last. 

We vacation in the summer, embracing the relaxing cool, blue waters of the beach or pool.  Maybe fly from the peak of a tire swing into a creek or lake.  We invest in the stories of the blockbuster movies or dive deep into the prose of a favorite new author.

There are those projects around the house that need done; the garden needs tended, and fresh vegetables from the store or garden need grilled.  We enjoy going out to the restaurants and bars that specialize with outdoor seating and seasonal drinks.  Life seems to overflow at times, and it feels like you can sense it in the very air around you.

It's THAT time of year.

A time to take that trip that you wanted to take.  Put time into your projects that you say you want to do, and do them.  Take a lazy day and go to a park and just take in some nature.  Do what feels good to YOU, and feel fulfilled at the end of a summer's night. 

Take pictures of the memories you make, even if you chose not to share them on social media.

Take the chance on something new and different.

Don't look back, and don't second guess yourself.

Enjoy the now. 

Enjoy the summer.

Thanking Both Mothers.

Mother's Day comes every year and every year I see the same sort of messages.

 "Thank you for your sacrifices"

 "Thank you for loving me"

 "Thank you for teaching me right from wrong."

I've said them all myself and they all ring true.

This year, however, I want to honor my mom for something else that not all mothers do. I want to thank my mother for educating me about how to treat women and show my respect for the opposite sex.

I also want to thank my mother-in-law for raising a woman that has become my world and the love of my life.

As I experience this world it has become clear that while nearly all mothers care about their kids, they do not approach teaching their kids about sex and relationships in the same way.

I have run into far too many men who think of women as a lesser sex, that on some level they only exist to help make children and for the pleasure of men.

I have interacted with too many women who are taught that their value is in being pretty and to keep men happy or to attract a mate that can provide.

I've watched in horror as some men I once considered friends come from behind a woman to grab a breast or slap an ass.

I've listened to misogynistic rants from former coworkers and classmates that women need to worry more about their weight and getting on treadmills rather than valuing what they have to say and how they think.

They're called dumb or sluts and are demeaned for no other reason but for the man to feel superior.

I am proud to not be one of those men, and I owe a great deal of that to my mother.

It is not that I do not have awareness of or appreciation for physical beauty. I don't think that it's possible for a human to not be aware and conscious of those things.

When I fell in love with my wife, there was (and still remains) a vibrant physical attraction.

However if it weren't for my mother teaching me the values of respect for women and understanding and sympathizing the humanity of women, I think I would be blind to some of the most beautiful aspects of my wife.

My wife has the kindest soul that I've ever encountered.  Someone who thinks of others and would be willing to sacrifice time and money to make others happy, especially the less fortunate.

When I met my wife, she was working as a teacher for low income students in rural Pennsylvania.  She didn't make much money and the fact that she was falling in love with me, a person who wasn't exactly on the fast track to wealth working as a barback in a college bar, told me that character mattered more to her than material things.

I credit her mother for teaching her that a man is more than a job and a source of provision.

My wife has strength that sometimes even she doesn't recognize thanks to a mother that taught her to refuse to back down.

Not all women have the courage that my wife displayed when she told me about how my drinking would make her scared and that it was becoming a problem.

In some circles of this society women are taught to be passive by example and they endure physical and mental abuse because of it.  My wife refused to be one of those women.

It is because my mother taught me how to have empathy for women and to see beyond sex appeal that I get to experience true happiness with my wife.  It is because my wife's mom taught her to stand up for herself in a relationship, that ours was saved.

Mothers in this world have a difficult job teaching morality, self sufficiency, and constantly giving love.

Today I want to thank the mothers in my life that went further by helping educate a son to not see women as objects, and helped raise a daughter that sought equality in a relationship. And as a team, unbeknownst to them, created a couple that is based on pure love.

2.75 Miles On A Tuesday.

I trudge out, the sun hitting me just enough to remind me I'm alive.  I'm still a little sore from my short run that I did the other day, but I feel good and energetic as the solar warmth touches my face.

The music is pumping through my Bluetooth headphones thanks to the incredible technological advancement of modern society.

In my hand I carry a device capable of streaming music over vast spaces without any physical cord connecting it.

I am feeling lucky, and I'm feeling good.

Still the first few steps around the block are among the hardest, going immediately uphill.  My body not yet completely warmed up save for some minimal stretching, each stride feels like a slow, methodical ache.

When I reach the top of the first hill, I feel better; balanced and ready to really face the rest of the run, knowing full well the most difficult part is yet to come.

Soon I have a gradual and easy descent that helps to widen my stride further, and with the wind at my back, makes me feel a bit more confident as I close in on the upcoming climb.

As I tap the STOP sign at the bottom of the hill and change direction to climb, my mind wanders to the Penn State basketball team.

Here I am, just your average guy trying to get in shape and attain a healthy lifestyle, my lungs and legs beginning to feel the fire and fatigue associated with failure, and I think of what is thought of as the lowest performing athletic team at my Alma Mater.

I use them for motivation.

I think about how they've been beat up by their fans, by their coaches and by each other, yet they keep fighting.

They keep pushing in hopes that if they push hard enough, they push long enough, then they will succeed.

It's not easy to do it in the face of failure, to admit that you haven't been at your best, but sometimes it's those trials that give rise to a new sense of strength and determination.

I near the top knowing that I will reach the summit, not simply because of ability, but also self determination and motivation.

I'm headed back down now, and I have a sense of calm, but I realize that the climb has definitely taken a toll on my legs and the run isn't quite over yet.

I have made it to the local park that sports a track that I like to briefly run on.  It's flooded and still has remnants of ice and snow that demands my attention.  The song "Apollo" by St. Paul and the Broken Bones plays loudly in my ears.

My feet are cold and mud trudges on to my sweat pants, and I'm thinking about what to write about these days and what matters to me.

And I think about the hills.

These hills will always be there in life.  Some will be steep and some will be shallow, but there will always be an up and down nature to our experiences on this earth.

I'm almost back to my house now, fatigued and soaked with sweat, but I feel good too.  As though I'm ready to keep climbing and finish the journey that was started.

Take Good Care by The Revivalists. An album for people who want to feel good.

I've been listening to The Revivalists for about the past two years with a good amount of regularity.  Their breakthrough single of Wish I Knew You put them onto the pop culture map and was featured in national Blue Moon commercials.  As it turns out we've all been late to the party, and in many ways still are.

While released in early November, I'm just now getting around to listening their latest full album Take Good Care. 

What I found was an album that's positive and full of confidence without being braggadocios.  To me the Revivalists are hitting a the right notes and hitting them hard.  The feelings of soul music, southern swamp rock, and new age Americana all come home in a gorgeously produced soundscape.

While the album opens with a softer intro pack, it quickly opens up into a quick pacing sing-along rock song that encapsulates the whole album. 

"All My Friends" is about being rebellious and confidant, while at the same time knowing that the relationships that have been forged that truly keeps them afloat and positive.  While the voice and lyrics shape a lot of the sound, you can't but also hear all of the surrounding band pieces working together to push the song along.  

Quickly following that is a delightfully sultry number in "Change" that is starts slow and quiet but after about a minute breaks down into a solid rock song with images of alcohol and drugs balanced with ego and money.

After this I found myself a bit bored by the next three tracks.  They aren't bad songs, perfectly fine little numbers that slow down the energy of the album and tried to add some musical variety and depth while remaining true to their roots.  They still "fit" in the album but aren't as memorable as some others.  Where as "All My Friends" and "Change" might be played at a party or a workout, you might play these songs during an afternoon lunch for background music but they lack the energy that I think the band really excels with.

The pace gets picked back up with songs like "Oh No" and "You and I" and while there are a few more slower paced songs they still unpack nicely. 

Then, at nearly the end of the album the band unloads "Celebration".  If there is a song that will undoubtedly fall into the category of "songs to be played by every wedding band capable going forward", pay attention to "Celebration" a song that sounds so quintessential to weddings that you swore you've heard it before.  There is nothing new in the song, nothing particularly incredible musically other than the fact that it just seems so perfect in terms of how a wedding celebration should sound. 

All in all, if you want to listen to a band that is producing great independent and soulful rock, you really need to Take Good Care.

The Ex-Athlete.

I am no longer the Penn State athlete I used to be.

I'm almost 35 now, and I can't run or jump like I used to.  I'm not as strong, and my body has definitely turned a little more puffy in places.

I have a chronic arthritic condition in the form of gout, a horrible disease that attacks my joints, inflaming them to the point of prescription medicated pain relief.

Anytime I do decide to compete in a pick-up basketball, softball, or base level adult competition, my brain starts to fire, like I'm ready to go, but the body can no longer do the things that it used to do.

It hurts to feel this way for the first time.  To really feel as though your days of being a Penn State athlete are over.  That you may never be what you once were.

Right now, it's January 2nd, the day following a Penn State loss to Kentucky in football, and I feel a bit depressed.  The team I used to be a part of had an unsatisfying year, as the goals that were set for the team, didn't get achieved.

If  Keegan-Michael Key was here, he'd be saying that right now I'm feeding the negative wolf.

It's time to start feeding that positive wolf again.

While I am not the Penn State athlete I was, I am STILL a Penn State athlete.

Being a Penn State athlete after college may be more important than being one while in school.  We become the examples that the next generation of student athletes will decide on whether or not to emulate.

I may never be the athlete I was, but because I was that athlete, it has helped me become the person I am today.

I'm able to pick myself up after getting knocked down.  I'm able to set goals and take the necessary steps to achieve them.  I understand that with the help and support of others, I am capable of more than I am on my own.

I am humble in knowing that while I may have some unique talents or skills, that doesn't make me a better person than someone else.

Life can be a difficult thing to navigate.  Try though we might, bad luck and bad decisions are nearly inevitable to avoid.  However, thanks to my opportunities as a student-athlete, I feel that I'm better equipped to attack my problems with a balanced approach and perspective.

While I can no longer dunk a basketball or run a 4.9 forty-yard dash, I am the guy that will willingly stay late to help with work, volunteer at a church or lend an ear to someone else's plight.

I am not the athlete I used to be, but I'm not the same person either.

I've grown by leaps and bounds over that 18 year old version of myself.  I have pushed myself into leadership positions in the workforce, got back up after personal tragedies, and given love and support to my friends and family.  To me this is what being a Penn State athlete means when you can no longer physically do the things you used to be able to do.  To do more as a person with your time and spirit than with your body.