Good Morning: Here's a very unusual video of Joni Mitchell performing "Street Light." Looking back on Tuesday's Blog post, I found myself wondering how the girls did with their Tribute to Joni gig in Australia last night? There's one more show still ahead in November. I'd love to be there! It is with more than a coincidental passing that I took note of the film "Amelia" that has hit the Big Screen. I'll have to see that one. Perhaps people who have never seen Joni's live YouTube performance of "Amelia" will look it up. It's pretty incredible. That's all for now.
Here's Melinda looking like she has taken over my old job as a Helicopter Reporter with daughter Morgan, 2 and son Trevor, 4. An adventure! You have read me talking about Melinda's husband and my good friend Todd. Well, here he is with daughter Morgan outside the helicopter.
Awaiting lift-off!
Trevor at Chili's Restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee with his great smile. I send my Love and Friendship to every employee at this restaurant near St. Jude Children's Hospital. This wonderful staff has been swept away by this sweet little boy who is so outgoing and fun! Recently, the staff gave Trevor a tour of the kitchen and locally, he and his sister were able to take a helicopter ride and receive a visit by firemen on a fire engine. This is what I call "Love in Action". We often hear bad news on television and radio. Here is an example of good news about some wonderful people know how to love!
This empty stage is not complete. We are trying to change this picture.
While I have not spoken much about our ongoing efforts to organize a benefit concert for 4 year-old Trevor Tredaway, I did want to confirm to you this morning that it remains a viable initiative. I have 5 very kind and dedicated volunteers--4 of them reside in Midland, Texas (where the show will take place). Our Media Plan requires between 4 to 8 weeks of advance notice to maximize public participation. It's not complicated and we have addressed the fundamentals concerning What we are doing, Why we are doing it and for Whom. The two remaining questions we are tackling is When? and Where? This is nothing short of a "Win-Win" proposition for any venue or band who makes the decision to work with us.
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When things do come together, the empty stage in the above captioned photo will be full, and the audience will be large in numbers. The entertainment will be one of celebration, and the evening will be unforgettable. I'll let you know how the event progresses. From a "behind the scenes" perspective, we have a small but potent Media Team waiting to assist us. Think of this as a relay race. For those of you who have participated in track or as distance runners as I have, you know that timing and getting one's steps in sequence for the baton hand-off is everything in winning the race and we'll get there. In the meantime, thank you for all good wishes, positive thoughts and prayers. But I especially want to thank each of you who visit my good friend at this address regularly for updates and opportunities to reach out to Trevor:
Earlier this year, I had written a Blog about Joni Mitchell's most unexpected CD release, "Shine". I ordered a copy after auditioning some cuts through a pair of headphones and I was still amazed at this iconic artist's ability to inspire so many others. When Jewel Kilcher first hit the music scene around 1994, I remember that most of my friends who had purchased Jewel's debut CD also had a copy of Joni Mitchell's groundbreaking "Blue" laying around their house when I visited.
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Now comes news of a wonderful tribute that has been assembled by seven female singers. The seven are: Wendy Matthews, Katie Noonan, Rachel Gaudry, Louise Perryman, Kristin Berardi, Tania Bowra and Virna Sanzone. Backed by a 12-piece band, they will perform Joni - A Tribute to the Legendary Joni Mitchell at the Sydney Opera House on Friday, October 30th. Another appearance is booked for Wednesday, November 4th at Brisbane OPAL Concert Hall. The concert will move chronologically through Mitchell's catalogue from the first acoustic albums through the jazz-infused phase, the '80s synthesizer-rock stage up to her orchestral reworking of her songs this decade. This is a short clip and not one I've seen before today, so I wanted to share it. It's so nice to see positive news taking shape along these lines anywhere, given the state of the worldwide economy. This is a well needed diversion with a purpose. Have a good week! Michael
Good Morning! Let me back track a little to explain. We arrived back in Phoenix and bid our driver, Michael (a coincidence) "Goodbye". Our bags were unloaded into a stretch van and we were immediately met by our shuttle driver, Dan, who drove us to the general aviation airport in Scottsdale for an early morning flight to Idaho around sunrise (which should explain the sunlight, or lack of it in the above photo). Alright, step inside and have a quick look around...
My seat is on the left. I have a theory that it's generally a good idea to sit facing the direction your airplane is flying. We had very few staff from the bus tour on board. They had enough from our extensive ground travel and chose to stay in Phoenix to catch up on sleep. Who could blame them? The few who were along did not want to have their photos taken, which explains the empty chairs and reading materials left on the tables. Even our flight attendant was reluctant to be photographed. She hid behind the Galley. It wasn't personal. She knew I had a BLOG Page! Back to the bus for a moment...
From the final leg of our bus trip: This was a very concentrated tour to each of your sites. We made it back home--thankfully-- without any of the mechanical issues some of you may remember from our last trip. A number of Blogger's , such as Protege (Denmark), Ellee and Jean-Luc Picard (England) received us warmly via our on-board computer web visits. My driver gave me a blank stare when I carried a print out of Protege's Blog Post Comment to him, noting it was from Denmark. If I read his facial expression correctly, it was "So what do you want me to do, fly us there?" After I walked back to the rest of the staff from www.michaelmanning.tv and explained his reaction, we had a discussion and concluded that when the worldwide economy stabilizes in three or four years, maybe Sir Richard Branson could toss us a few round-trip passes on Virgin Atlantic and we can "expand our horizons"--to coin a phrase--to see more of you. But I digress...
The flight to Idaho was swift. Just by way of an explanation, the reason we went there was somewhat sentimental, because I promised Seraphine (of Encore Seraphine fame) that we would, indeed, capture a photo of her beloved mountains in Ketchum. Plans included a nice afternoon visit, then over to Hailey for an overnight at a local Bed & Breakfast.
You'll have to excuse me. I mixed up the photos from a lack of sleep. Speaking of sleep, that's my bunk at Top Right (yes, with the drop-down flat screen). All in all, it was a nice bus ride with no cross winds along the East Coast on the A-1 (a pleasant surprise). Once I get a print out of our itinerary, I may post it. It was chaotic at times. But I enjoyed visiting each of you who were home. As with my last visit, an early morning door knock at times found me reading faded yellow Post-It Notes affixed to the door of a home or condo with scotch tape with dates as far back as July. We took the hint and moved on. But it was the thought that counted! I was glad that I brought along a warm coat.
Plans in Phoenix call for us to return sometime this morning. Nice to get caught up with each of you!The stories of Autumn colors and the sweep of emotions that accompany her arrival were cause for some light introspection. A nice touch! We'll do it again, you bet. Have a nice week!
Good Morning! It's that time of the year again...time for visits to Blogsites in style! We pushed off last night, and this weekend I'll be out and about visiting many of your sites with a strong swing up the East Coast. We have quite an entourage on this excursion, so count em'...three buses! Looking forward to catching up once again with visits to each of you! Take care. Michael
This is the ASPCA's "Cat of the Year" and I am absolutely certain Gunner Gillespie would be giggling along with me at this short video. I post it because it is a way for me to express, yet again, my love for this special friend and his family who brought so much Joy into my life while he was here with us in Phoenix last year to receive his cancer treatments. Gunner was very concerned about "Living Life Well" and he wanted everyone to be happy. I celebrate this Gift about Gunner and that is how I have chosen to move forward from my previous Blog post!
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I have already started visiting each of your websites to gradually get caught up. Thank you for visiting mine!
# 10.) You feel as if anyone who can cut hair lives in the other 49 U.S. States but not yours. Solution: Meet my new Barber (yes, that's her above). I am being completely serious on this sole point. Ever since I relocated to Phoenix, finding a really great Barber has been an ordeal. My hair has been lopsided and at worst, I resembled a backup singer for The B-52's. I'm happy to report that all of this is consigned to the trash basket of history with the arrival of my New Barber. She cut my hair a week and a half ago, and I actually left the salon feeling great. I asked a friend whom I trusted for a referral and she recommended her "Hair Stylist". Actually, that term never came up in our conversation. It was more like "Do you want the name of the girl who cuts my hair?" My friend's hair always looks great. Still, I asked, "Yeah, but can she cut guys hair?" Well, the answer is that she does and she did. Problem resolved. Still, it has been a long road. Let me clue you in on the 9 other "Reasons Why Men Need To Find A New Barber".
# 9.) Your Barber bears an unfortunate resemblance to John Gotti's Mug Shot. If you think I am kidding, look around and see if you can spot the photo on your current Barber's License framed on his Barber Shop wall. Does it look like this? If it does, regard this as a strong hint. Solution: Fake an incoming cell phone call and tell him you have an emergency that has come up and you will need to reschedule. The key here is to keep walking towards the door to Exit as you say all of this. A bold move! Without realizing it, you've taken your first step (no pun intended) to a better image!
# 8.) You feel suspicious. Yeah, I know. That Barber Pole on the outside of the shop looks legit, but you seem to overhear a radio playing from behind the back wall. It sounds like horse racing season is in full swing year-round. It could be a bookie operation. Does your Barber insist on a shave with a straight razor (even though you just used your electric Norelco razor at home not 30 minutes ago)? I'm just asking! Solution: The fake incoming cell phone call that is "an Emergency"!
Coincidence Outside The Courthouse?
# 7.) You have to appear in Traffic Court downtown to defend yourself on charges of speeding. Let's put aside how your case turned out. As you walk out the door and down the steps, you see six television "Action News" vans with a team of Reporters running toward a guy who bears an unfortunate resemblance to your Barber! Today, he's wearing a Double-Breasted Suit. I ask you. Who wears Double Breasted Suits, really? Your Barber has four lawyers with him. You try to remain optimistic: 'Maybe his Traffic Ticket was more complicated', you ask wistfully. After all, you defended yourself (successfully or not)! Something should begin to cause you to ask yourself, "What's wrong with this picture?" And, "How could my Barber afford those $1,200 suits on a Barber's salary?".Solution: Think about this real hard. Do you need to be searching for a New Barber? (There is a right answer).Next, let me be perfectly Honest with you.
# 6.) Recognize The Three Stooges? Boy, I do. Because at various time periods after relocating to Phoenix and trying to get a good haircut, I actually looked like Moe, Curly and Larry (most of the time it was Moe). If your Barber has a lot of time on his hands, he may be watching too many re-runs of The Three Stooges. As a result, he has three haircuts on his mind all day. Whichever one you receive is like playing The Lottery. Are you in the mood to risk your haircut for the next 3-4 weeks like this? I don't think so. Solution: Become aware of how your recent haircuts have turned out. Is there a pattern here? Also, if your current Barber has the television on during your haircut, what show is playing? (I'm just being practical here)! Like it or not, it's probably time to make a change to A New Barber.
# 5.) Does this photo look familiar? If so, I have a news flash for you (no pun intended toward me). Your current Barber may call this photo above a Salon, but it isn't. In fact, it could double for an "interrogation chair" for all you know! Scary? You bet. What else is in that drawer besides a straight razor? Solution: At least rent "The Godfather 1" from your nearest video store and see if you get that strange gut feeling that things might be a little off with your Current Barber. Having said this...
# 4.) Now THIS is what a legitimate hair salon should look like to you! My Barber doesn't drive a motorcycle, but I think her husband has one. For the sake of argument, let's say she had car trouble and borrowed his bike (picture above and slightly to the Left) to get to the Salon in time. You are starting to feel more secure about having made a switch to your New Barber by the time you walk in here! For those few of you left that still need convincing, this next one is going to hurt a little.
It's Not You, It's Your Bad Haircut!
# 3.) I hate to be rude, but let's say you felt obligated to let your Current Barber "try" to cut your hair one more time. You either live near a beach or you decide to travel to one. A girl sees you walking towards her and this is her reaction (photo above). It really isn't you...it's your Haircut! Solution: Make sure this scene never repeats itself in your lifetime! No question. This is the final verification. You must now change Barbers! Now let's have a look at the possible immediate benefit.
This Reaction is All About Your New Haircut!
# 2.) As a positive guy, I'm assuming that you took my advice and your bad haircut eventually grew back out. You just happen to spot the same girl on the beach who was horrified at your last haircut. It's probably been three or four weeks. This time out, things have changed. You have an entirely new haircut from A New Barber. Reality Check: Take a look at the two pictures above--Before and After. Which experience do you prefer? Total humiliation with the Bad Haircut, or Confidence in your New Haircut? Resolution: The Three Stooges are part of your past now and not your future. I rest my case. But in the unlikely event you over-analyze the new response from the girl on the beach, we'll consider one last point.
Mistaken Identity? No Worries!
# 1.) Finally, we arrive at Reason Number 1. You found a New Barber who is competent. The girl on the beach sees a lot of guys walking around. Who's to say she didn't mistaken you for Jon Bon Jovi? Confirmation: You made the right decision to change Barbers. Congratulations, and have a nice weekend!
"BOLD CHANGES", MORNING COFFEE & THE MUSIC OF KYLE EASTWOOD!
If you are a music lover and that love extends to Jazz, it is no secret that Clint Eastwood is a studious fan of the genre'. Recently, our local Phoenix Public Broadcasting Service radio station KJZZ featured as their CD of the evening bassist Kyle Eastwood's Metropolitain. Unless you have lived on another planet, you know of course that Kyle is the eldest son of actor Clint Eastwood. Give a good listen to "Bold Changes", a single rack on the new CD and you'll be in for quite a pleasant surprise.
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Kyle Eastwood vividly recalls a childhood in Carmel, California with Jazz music literally as his life's soundtrack! While I fancy myself as a fan of Clint Eastwood's impressive filmography, I had no idea that he and his family had been attending the annual Monterrey Jazz Festival since 1958. Even while doing his homework Kyle recalls listening to records of such Jazz stars such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Miles Davis playing in the house. As pianist, Clint introduced Kyle to the joys of the bass line by teaching him how to play the left hand bass line of "Boogie Woogie" while he played the right hand solo over the top. Contrary to what one might believe, being a son of a world-famous actor and director is itself no guarantee of success in any field, including music. Dues paying gigs around Los Angeles and New York inevitably led to his debut album From Here to There in 1998. As a film composer, Kyle worked on the music score for Mystic River. The film garnered two Academy Awards. His second CD, Paris Blue was released on the independent Jazz label Candid Records in 2004 and climbed to the number one spot on the French Jazz charts. That same year, Kyle composed three songs for Million Dollar Baby starring Hillary Swank with Clint Eastwood doubling as co-star and director. The film won four Academy Awards.
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Kyle's third album Now was released in 2006 and is credited with reaching a worldwide audience with tours throughout 2007 and 2008 to audiences on 3 continents to "Sold Out" venues. Soundtracks for three more Clint Eastwood films included: Flags Of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima and Gran Torino. His latest effort was released this past June. I'm admittedly a little late in getting around to blogging about it. But I take pride in the fact that I "bookmarked" the song for a mention here and made good on it. Kyle Eastwood is currently on tour in Europe.
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There's much more ahead. Here we are officially into Autumn, and I feel as if I'm still getting caught up on the last part of Summer.
Last night, I was doing some research to prepare for a magazine interview I am about to conduct and I needed a break. When Googling, I ran across this series of outtakes from "That 70's Show". Silly humor is my favorite. First, it is healthy to laugh. Lastly, I felt that after months of so many heavy topics it would probably make some sense to feature some humor involving people who, like myself, cannot keep a straight face easily. With this in mind, the vinyl record scene involving Ashton Kutcher is a scream. Laura Prepon's character is a person I would welcome as a next door neighbor for comic relief. In my building, there are two vacancies so I can't complain. I have ample room for parking. I realize this comes as a shock from previous posts. But if you prefer more serious fare, we can certainly recalibrate the Blogger GPS again. Either way, enjoy this while you can and have a nice Thursday!
Scarlett Johansson, age 12 in 1998's "The Horse Whisperer"
Ketchum, Idaho
Among so many great BLOGS, I have been enjoying two written by Blog friends of mine...Protegeand Sage. Protege was born under the Tatra Mountains, to a Czech father and a Slovak mother, grew up in Sweden and lived and worked almost 10 years in North Carolina. I find that interesting as a Macedonia-Bulgarian guy. Her photography and descriptions of the simple beauty inherent in Autumn's arrival is really quite refreshing and breathtaking. She also writes beautifully.
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Sage is a very loyal blog buddy who creates some of the most heartfelt, sturdy "Carpe diem" . His writings about The Appalachian Trail spun with his extensive reflections on friendships, memories and how society in the United States has evolved throughout the 1970's to the present is quite fascinating.
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These writers (along with each of you who visit here) have a marvelous capacity to communicate nature's urgency, but also her invitation for us to participate in appreciation of her beauty. So, from the Arizona desert (which I adore during each and every sunrise with a mug of coffee) I've decided to post some random shots of places I've yet to visit, but they've always captivated my imagination during Autumn.
Montana inevitably brings memories of one of my favorite films of Robert Redford, "The Horse Whisperer". The vistas in that film are breathtaking. My cousin never lived to see the movie, but she finished the book and only heard from friends that there was quite a difference in the development of the main character in "Tom" along with the ending. One of the last books she was reading (that has nothing to do with Autumn, but still makes me smile) was Dan Goleman's "Emotional Intelligence". Curiously, this was a textbook of mine at The University of Texas at Dallas--one of three colleges I attended. I guess if you really pushed it, you could find a spot in this photo to take a break from hiking to read the book. It was very interesting. I can still picture that book opened up face down on my cousin's living room table. Horses and my cousin...inseparable. But of course, I digress.
The Montana filming locations for the movie included: Big Timber, Livingston and Belgrade. Seems like yesterday to me...
A Martha's Vineyard Sunset
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I really only met one person in my life who was actually born in Martha's Vineyard. The only remarkable thing about my few conversations with said person was that I told her on two occasions that she should smile more often. It took far more effort for that young lady than I would have imagined. But I found it didactic that she divided her time living in Cincinnati (ostensibly to spend more time with her mother who had recently divorced) and Martha's Vineyard. I don't know. Speaking for myself, I couldn't make much, if any connection between having less to smile about after visiting a number of property sites there for the sheer hell of it. It was merely one of those places you had to have a serious look at if for no other reason than to say that you were familiar with the ambiance, and that is part and parcel to satisfying some curiosity about travel to an adventurous new place. But then, one has to find true happiness within themselves, no matter where they decide to travel (or live) geographically.
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Miscellaneous: October is a nice month. On the magazine side of things, I have been preparing for a fascinating magazine interview I'll be conducting soon for publication next year. As for my manuscripts, I have canceled one book project and decided to focus on updating "No Artificial Flowers During the Mowing Season" in 2010 since I own the copyright. People have been asking me for years to collect some of my true life stories involving interesting personalities, so I'm incorporating a number of never-before-told stories into the book with some poems as interstitials (a term used more in television broadcasting than journalism). Once the dust settles, I'll be looking forward to the rounds to each of your websites too. At the risk of sounding like a television commercial or a roadside billboard along the East Coast, "What's on your plate?"
This t-shirt designed by the Muse features a great message with a link to support the Fight Against ALS. This shirt is available at Endurance Rehabilitation, in limited quantities. Call them at (480) 556-8406 or email my friend Nate at nate@endurancerehab.com. I have received a number of e-mail messages about this shirt and wanted to go ahead and post it here for those of you who are interested. Ciao for now! Michael
Good Morning, Everyone! It's Monday and so thanks to Rich's wife and my friend, Ilana, I have some cool photos to bring you from yesterday's Walk to Defeat ALS. First, this is my friend Rich Mackney. Rich was diagnosed with ALS last December and both his smile and the message on his T-Shirt accurately depicts his personality. Rich is a forward-looking guy who cares deeply about others. He is involved with a cutting edge stem-cell implant procedure that actually replicates the number of his own stem cells. His last treatment was in July. The objective of course, is for the cells to begin making new motor neuron connections. When I say cutting edge, I mean it! Rich is one of 10 people in the United States to receive this new procedure. Determined? You better believe he is!
Now THIS is what I call a team! We are The Mackney Warriors. John Statt was our lead wheelchair pusher. Then Big Tom at the right, took over as we started crossing Tempe Town Lake. I'm the guy holding Rich's water bottles who walked (okay I even ran) along side Rich to help keep him hydrated as part of the Crew! We had a lot of cute girls along. The three to the left are Chiropractors. Watch out!
This was a Kodak Moment (even though Kodak doesn't make 35 mm film anymore). We were ready to roll!Rich chose the 3 mile route over the 1 mile. That's because he is tough!
Yup, this was the Starting Line.
ILana stood on top of a rock and took this photo. We estimated 3,000 people. Very awesome. When they found out about Rich, I feared they might stop over his house for Gatorade, but we managed to dodge the paparazzi!
We couldn't have imagined better weather. It was 74 degrees and you can see Rich here at the center of the photo.I believe only the nicest people in Arizona showed up for this event!
As I said, John was our first pusher (sounds like Bobsledding doesn't it?). Then Big Tom took over and started "clearing the sidewalk". We started to blast by everyone using the left lane. Then, Stacey took over and started running. This was a new challenge since my right leg was rehabbed. But surprisingly I stayed up with her for the half-mile and then took over when we were on the North side of the lake. It was unbelievable how many people were still on the South side. I pushed us along to a 45 degree turn, then it was up hill for about 200 hundred feet. I relinquished control back to Big Tom and his wife (whose name I forgot, but she was super cool). Then the Chiropractic Trio of girls brought up the rear ...wait a minute, that didn't sound right...oh, well you know how I meant it. As we re-entered the park, Rich asked us to stop and wait for the rest of our Team so we could cross the Finish Line together. That's because Rich has Class. We were so fortunate to be on his team. Hey, when I signed up we had 9 people. By the day of the walk we had 22---more than double the number. How about those metrics?
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I've been fielding a number of e-mails from people who wanted to help but were out of state and out of town. So, permit me to provide some helpful information. Stem Cell implant is a tremendously expensive procedure. It is not covered by any insurance policy. To help Rich access this regenerative medical procedure, a special bank fund has been established at any Bank of America. If you wish to help with a donation of any denomination, I can promise you this. The future is regenerative medicine. The implications for aggressively responding to ALS is outstanding. There is no effective treatment or cure yet, but Rich is on the cutting edge and continues to keep up with a highly disciplined protocol at home while doing his own research. Here is where you can help.
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Donations can be mailed to: "Rich MackneyALS Warrior Fund" at any Bank ofAmerica, to: Business Account No. 4570 0733 4458.
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P.S. Rich has a BLOG site on my Blogroll called "The Mackney Warriors". It is filled with cool stuff, like photos and the latest articles on new treatments in the research stage. Check it out!
Yours Truly with Rich & some of The Mackney Warriors -
(Tempe, AZ): Good Morning! It is 6:30 a.m. as I write this. Today is the Walk to Defeat ALS and approximately 22 of us will be pushing our Team Captain Rich Mackney in his wheelchair towards a cure. As the designated driver, I can tell you a few things about our team.
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We are a rather spirited bunch. We are relentless in our determination to see Rich victorious over ALS and we are motivated. Rich is not only a tall man at 6 foot, 4 inches. He is a a Giant in terms of his generosity. For those of you happening along this post without having read my previous BLOGS about Rich, we became good friends approximately 18 months ago. Most of us met through an athletic physical rehabilitation program nestled against the backdrop of McDowell Mountain where we had begun work on a variety of athletic-related injuries. We found ourselves among professional and amateur athletes, businessmen and women who were triathletes and cyclists--in short-- a fantastic collection of people from many interesting backgrounds. Rich would make his way around to each person and introduce himself with a smile and firm handshake. He was genuinely interested in who we were, (and I joke with Rich about using The Harvard Business School Planning Triangle ("where we've been, where we are and where it is we want to go" ) in our personal and professional lives. Can you imagine meeting someone who takes that much of an interest in you? Rich is that rare person! His generosity extends also to genuinely caring about helping us reach our individual goals. So, this morning we are collectively interested in helping Rich meet his own goals.
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Rich is among 10 people in the United States undergoing an aggressive, new stem cell treatment plan that is on the cutting edge of technology in replicating the number of motor neuron cells with three objectives:
Slow down the progression of ALS this year.
Stop the progression next year.
Reverse it the following year.
These goals are absolutely achievable and Rich's days are spent researching all aggressive "out of the box" approaches that will position him for the greatest likelihood of success, while keeping his body limber. He has touched so many of our lives and I'll just close with an amusing story . But first, I have to say that the way you knew Rich was around was when you heard good-hearted laughter!
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One day I was pedaling away on a recumbent bike while the Tour de France was playing on two large flat screens mounted near the ceiling of our facility. Rich walked past me to start work on another workout machine and asked me, "Hey Michael, who's winning?" My answer revealed that among the few sports I follow (Bobsled and Formula One) I was a little out of my element. As I looked at the screen to answer Rich, I yelled over, "Some guy named Peloton and he has a 3 minute and 43 second lead ahead of the pack" (Google "Peloton" and you'll see how hysterical my comment was). I don't know how Rich managed to do it, but he kept a straight face and politely told me what a Peloton was. It wasn't the name of a cyclist in the Tour de France, I'll tell you that! Then he asked me to take a look again and tell him the name of the rider. By now, I was laughing so hard at myself, however, I managed to figure out who was leading in that stage of the race and reported this back to Rich who was seated on an exercise machine facing away from the screen. We've had many great times like this, and this morning will be an energetic effort as thousands of people come together in Tempe, Arizona for a terrific cause. Thank You for your many kind messages of support for Rich in your past Blogger Comments and in your personal e-mails to me. To quote Rich, "Together, we can win the fight against ALS!"
Good Morning! Keith Richards and Ron Wood have an ingenious musical collaboration in that they switch off duties almost effortlessly on-stage between lead and rhythm guitar playing. Even if you are not a fan of The Rolling Stones, you would probably agree after seeing some video of this duo that they are very intuitive as musicians. I felt it would be fun to take a breather with a backstage pass to visit with Ronnie Wood today.
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Tomorrow, I will be in Tempe, Arizona with the ALS Walk as a member of The Mackney Warriors. Our team Captain is of course, Rich Mackney and we will be pushing his wheelchair towards a cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease. As I used to say, "Film at 11"! Enjoy this video over coffee!
Pink Floyd's Classic CD "The Dark Side of The Moon"
An artist's rendering shows the LCROSS spacecraft, left, separating from its Centaur rocket.
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At 7:31 a.m. (Eastern Time) today, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite is scheduled to drop its Centaur upper-stage rocket on the surface of The Moon. Scientists at NASA are hoping that the impact will kick up enough dust to help the "LCROSS "probe find the presence of water in The Moon's soil. Four-minutes later, the LCROSS will follow through the debris plume, collecting and relaying data back to Earth before itself crashing into the Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole.
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The orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will watch, and photograph, the collisions. And hundreds of telescopes on Earth also will be focused on the two plumes.
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This certainly brings back memories of my sophomore Science class in high school where we watched similar programs on a special television wheeled into our classroom. Our imaginations were ignited and I'll admit, it was exciting. But we are facing a $11.9 trillion budget deficit in the United States. Furthermore, the practical side of me asks, "Should we hold off on this and perhaps spend these funds on the more than 18,000 bridges that are overdue for replacement?" One structure, for example, in my hometown was built in 1965 to carry an estimated 50,000 vehicles a day across the Ohio River. Today it carries 500,000 vehicles. Newer, safer bridges would improve our nation's infrastructure and create badly needed jobs.
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I'm certainly not a "stick in the mud" when it comes to relevant space exploration that could result in improving the quality of our lives. But I'm not sure if this project is well timed and worthwhile. There is but no doubt that it is interesting. What are your thoughts?
Many of you are who live outside Phoenix might be unable to attend Bernard Scheer's appearance at Arizona State University tonight at 7 P.M. Here is his brief television interview conducted yesterday morning on Arizona 8 Television. I am looking forward to hearing my good friend speak about a subject that we should all be mindful of and never forget!
Not my actual aircraft but similar - Come fly with me, lets fly lets fly away If you can use, some exotic booze There's a bar in far Bombay Come fly with me, well fly well fly away Frank Sinatra
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Long-time readers of this BLOG Page are familiar with my career path from Public Television to multiple FM Radio News Anchoring, a Business Financial Reporter, a Weekend "Live" Music Magazine Producer, Scriptwriter and Host, a Director of Marketing and Public Relations in Broadcasting Management and ultimately back to Television News Anchoring. The latter took place in a market 27 times smaller that the one where I spent most of my adult life. Looking back, I was lucky really, and that's all there is to it.
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I began a 15-year run in the number 5-rated market (out of 212 measured by Arbitron and Nielsen) in the United States (Dallas/Fort Worth) and stayed there at a time when many of my friends had shorter stints and had to relocate their wives and families elsewhere when things didn't work out. After five of us endured a layoff with a 1-year non-compete and a severance package, I temporarily moved back to the Cincinnati market after my Dad died to remodel my Mom's home and basically rethink my career. Between auditions for television commercials, producing independent films with a small production house and appearing in industrial training films following a stint as a corporate trainer, I signed on to an NBC TV affiliate with a most amusing job title: "Helicopter News Anchor". I had flown single engine aircraft and have a genuine love of flight (and I've enjoyed being a contributing editor of a commercial aviation magazine since 1995). Five months before I relocated to Arizona from the Number 32-rated broadcasting market where I lived in the Mid-West, a horrific mid-air news helicopter collision claimed the lives of four of my colleagues in Phoenix, and galvanized the national news coverage. Since I have familiarity with the job of reporting from a helicopter, I thought that I would post a BLOG about some of the issues in this always-changing industry.
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In the early afternoon hours on July 27, 2007 a mid-air collision involving two news helicopters over Phoenix occurred because the two pilots lost track of each other while broadcasting live coverage of a police chase on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the pilots were multi-tasking too much at the time--flying, reporting and monitoring multiple radio channels before the crash. "The probable cause of this accident was both pilots' failure to see and avoid each other," the board concluded in a report on the collision. "Contributing to this failure was the pilots' responsibility to perform reporting and visual-tracking duties." The collision killed both pilots and two TV cameramen from Channel 15 (KNXV) and Channel 3 (KYVK). The NTSB avoided blaming one pilot over the other, but instead cited a common practice among many TV stations, which involves having helicopter pilots broadcast while they fly as a contributing factor. This practice eliminates the need to add a reporter to the crew. In October 2007, the National Press Photographers Association came out against the practice of pilots reporting while flying. "This is a debate now within the industry," said Howard Plagens, chief investigator in the Phoenix case. With all due respect, in my mind, there is no debate.
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My helicopter was a Bell JetRanger 206B (recently replaced) and my pilot was a Vietnam Veteran with over 6,000 hours of flight time. I was one of eight reporters who auditioned for the job. For that audition, we hovered 500 feet above a freeway and as a "pencil camera" and a bright light was turned on, I gave a spirited (but bogus) report of an overturned cement truck, a water main break with heavy traffic backed up and a police stand-off with a hostage situation. My competition for the job was a very attractive woman from New York City who desired work in a smaller market. In my case, I had an agent who was desperate to get me back on television, so that's how I wound up auditioning for the job. In the years before I left Texas, there was a helicopter incident that involved my future Mid-West pilot's Instructor and a young woman who was a reporter. They felt pressured by management to lift off in foggy conditions, and sadly flew into a hill two miles from the airport runway where the helicopter exploded in a ball of fire resulting in both lives lost. In Dallas, I refused to go up in the helicopters we had been using because the news service I was associated with renegotiated a cheaper contract with a dubious operator with a heavily checkered past involving maintenance violations. I am not tolerant of shoddy maintenance practices and when one of our helicopters suffered an engine-out procedure during morning rush hour traffic, the pilot initiated a controlled descent known as "auto-rotation". In this procedure, the helicopter blades are tilted to use the updraft of air to continue rotating as the aircraft descends without any power. The results, depending on any number of weather and technical factors can be mixed. In this case, five of my friends were aboard including a guy my age with a wife and toddler at home. Sensing the pavement rising up to the craft, he quickly gave his last traffic report and uttered.."and we are going down!". The pilot was highly skilled and missed crashing into a Day Care Center filled with children, but struck a tree branch, breaking the tail section of the helicopter off. The resulting hard landing bent the runners of the aircraft and the helicopter skidded 100 feet into a busy four-lane highway before coming to a rest on the median. It is a miracle that an SUV didn't strike the craft killing my friends on board. One of my colleagues,in fact, suffered Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from the incident. But at least they survived. In Cincinnati, it was a different story for me.
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Our helicopter equipment was provided by a Missouri-based company that is the best in the industry. After an offer of employment was made to me, I had a friend in Dallas aviation circles quietly run a check on the tail number of my helicopter (this is the familiar "N" number you see painted on all general and commercial aviation aircraft. Take note the next time you travel on a commercial jet by looking out the window). His report took a few days and I held off on accepting the offer based on his feedback. Ultimately, (unlike the Dallas scenario where our company President and Vice President were fired after the hard landing incident and five of us lost a contract leading to our layoffs) I learned that my aircraft in Ohio was meticulously maintained. Next, it was time for me to meet with my pilot (and yes, I quietly had his background checked too). He turned out to be a superb pilot who helped institute sweeping changes after the Cincinnati disaster years earlier. Among them, if he or I felt uncomfortable taking the helicopter up for any reason, we stayed on the ground and I would broadcast from a tiny studio at the general aviation airport. Next, we took our "minimums" (height and visibility requirements) and doubled them. For example, if we were to fly 500 feet over highways, we flew 1,000 feet; 750 feet over the city became 1,500 feet. If visibility was 1 mile, we made it 2 miles. I sat for two hours inside the helicopter on the ground with my future pilot and grilled him on worst case scenarios, and this included an engine-out procedure. Most important, we split the responsibilities. I was the designated on-camera reporter who handled the gyroscopic camera attached to the front of the helicopter, along with all communications between my television producer and my point man in the news room who kept me apprised of my countdown to air time. My pilot flew the aircraft and handled all of the aviation-related communications.
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At the time, I commuted to work on a schedule known as split-shifts. I rose at 3 A.M. and made coffee at home, sat down with a long yellow columnar pad and set up a three-minute schedule of 79 fixed cameras I would utilize working from a tiny broadcast studio at the airport from 4:55 A.M. to my last studio broadcast at 5:55 A.M. We started television broadcasting on the air at 6 A.M. and finished at 10 A.M. I would drive home and try to rest, then drive back to the airport at 4:00 P.M. We then flew again from 4:30 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. In the morning, every 3 minutes the television Meteorologist giving weather updates would "toss" the broadcast to me and I would ad lib watching a monitor with the fixed cameras I had scheduled to feature. I recall many drives in the dark winter with my Mustang GT (back when gas was $1.30 a gallon) to the airport. I was greeted in the lounge by the receptionist and walked off to the weather briefing room where I met with my pilot. As we did our ground review, hangar crews towed our freshly painted helicopter on a flatbed trailer out onto the tarmac for refueling and as any good commercial pilot does, my pilot did his walk-around inspection. I have memories of 6-degree weather where I'd finish a report from the studio. My pilot would already have the helicopter engine running and warmed up outside and I would grab my winter coast, sunglasses and a clipboard and run down a hallway to a door leading to the tarmac. The heater was so strong in the helicopter, that I would strip off my coat, toss it into the back seat, lock myself into the left seat, pull down vertical and pull across horizontal safety belts, lift a metal camera control box to place on my lap, place my headset and microphone attachment on to protect my hearing (this also allowed me to converse with my pilot and ground producers). Then I would begin activating an on board monitor to get "the color bars" to adjust the camera settings. By 5:55 A.M. we gently took off flying across the Ohio River and usually headed into Kentucky to follow three Interstate highways for then next four hours. The city below us was glittering in the night with lights from tall buildings and sports stadiums. I was busy scribbling down news information and locations. It was always a high adrenalin-driven job. But the main point here was that we had put into place specific strategies where my job was divided from what my pilot was doing. As NTSB board Chairman Mark Rosenker said after the Phoenix disaster, "This is a really dynamic environment . . . when you're up there following a breaking-news story. You're flying by the seat of your pants up there" he said. I agree.
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For our part, when there was a police chase, we were aware of it, but never covered it. We waited it out, remained in the area to provide technical help to the police, but otherwise showed up only after the chase ended. This was another drastic difference from the Phoenix scenario and what we often continue to see in the Los Angeles market on FOX and CNN. The most dramatic situation I was involved with towards the end of my contract involved an event as we were coming back in for a landing at the airport just before sunset.
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Cincinnati Police were called out to a bad neighborhood where a deranged man discharged a handgun near a city bus. Police quickly surrounded a building where he was apprehended. At that moment, the Police saw our helicopter and asked us to stay up longer to use our camera to find what they believed was an accomplice. As we hovered, I asked my pilot what this nut case could do with a high powered rifle with a scope. From his experience in Vietnam, my pilot assured me we were not only out of range, but we were not actually hovering in one spot (although this appears so on the ground). In my headset, I heard an angry producer asking us to justify why were were burning up aviation fuel and to give them an ETA (estimated time of arrival) back at the general aviation airport. It's worth noting that twice my pilot and I were called in for a dressing down. Frankly, we didn't care. Our aim was to help Police and Firefighters on those occasions and we were unconcerned with office politics. Thankfully, it was now Spring season and I zoomed the camera in on a bush (with dense, bare branches) behind an industrial building. I noticed the young men and women of the Cincinnati Police force with their white caps and short-sleeve shirts in position but with their guns still holstered. All of that changed when I radioed that I located a suspect lying down under the bush behind the complex. Immediately, the Police dispatcher relayed my message and the officers drew their weapons to move in and handcuff the suspect. We decided to stay aloft a while and make a few more sweeps of the area, to the consternation of one of our two bosses who were now arguing with each other through my headset. We tuned them out. The following week, was my last and I decided to step down (no pun intended) and focus on cable television projects. What were the differences between my experience and the ones preceding the disaster here in Phoenix?
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We were in a market with roughly the same population as Phoenix, but our operation protocol was vastly changed following the disaster several years earlier that resulted in the news anchor and pilot feeling pressured to fly in inclement weather conditions. This brought me back to the night rock artist Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed after a concert when his helicopter flying in fog conditions slammed into a mountain killing all on board. I was on duty that night on radio and remember breaking in with the news of his death. There are lessons to be learned from these tragedies and nothing can substitute for sound judgment about flying safe. Remember: "Safety First".
My pilot's designated responsibility was to fly the helicopter and concentrate on traffic communications. My job was to gather information and report it. Two distinctly separate functions. In the Phoenix, Arizona scenario the pilots doubled as reporters. In the opinion of this author, this is unacceptable and the NTSB agreed with this same conclusion.
My pilot and I were empowered to make the call whether to fly or not. On one occasion, I opted out while my pilot waited for the weather to clear to fly our aircraft to Lexington, Kentucky for a maintenance check.
Politics and a desire for ratings has no place in broadcast aviation. The reporter and pilots need to be provided the tools necessary to complete their assigned tasks. Management needs to get out of their way and allow them to get their jobs done as professionals. We refused to cover Police chases on the ground. If we were uncomfortable with the weather, we stayed grounded. If we we called upon to assist Police and Firefighters, we did so even if part of our management threw a fit over Av-Fuel costs and chewed us out.
Unlike the Dallas scenario in April 2002, we used a top-rated news helicopter vendor whose reputation for safety was impeccable. My pilot was simply The Best. We had a mutual respect for one another. Our inside joke to each other was "I couldn't do what you do". "Really?, Well, guess what? I couldn't do what you do either!" It was a great working relationship.
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I would return home, cook dinner and be in bed by 8:30 P.M. My round-trip was 88 miles daily. It was an interesting experience (and a grueling schedule). Although it gave me the visibility my then-agent sought for me in a new market, in hindsight, I would never do it again.
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Today about 140 television stations operate news helicopters. Some of the NTSB recommendations following the Phoenix helicopter mid-air collision included:
Increasing copter visibility by painting the rotor blades bright colors.
Attaching high-visibility lights.
Installing more effective air-traffic monitoring systems for pilots once the technology is ready.
In Memoriam: Channel 15KNXV TV Craig Smith, Pilot Rick Krolack, Camera Operator Channel 3 KYVK TV Scott Bowerbank, Pilot Jim Cox, Cameraman
Note from Michael: Bernard Scheer is a very dear friend of mine and I am proud to help promote his appearance at Arizona State University. This is truly a unique opportunity for all to hear Bernard recount his remarkable life as a Holocaust survivor. I am blessed to know him and his appearance is free and open to the public. May we never forget.
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Holocaust survivor to speak at Downtown Phoenix campus
October 08, 2009 7 p.m.
Holocaust survivor Bernard Scheer will recount the true stories of great suffering, remarkable determination and many acts of heroism at a lecture on the Downtown Phoenix campus.
Scheer will present, “Personal Reflections on Surviving the Holocaust and Life After” at 7 p.m., Oct. 8 at the College of Nursing and Health Innovation Building Two, 550 N. 3rd St., Innovation Auditorium, Phoenix. The presentation is part of The ASU School of Letters and Sciences Fall 2009 Humanities Lecture Series.
The lecture series is free and open to the general public.
“Although the horrors of the Holocaust occurred over 65 years ago, the awful effects are still with us. Passing on these personal histories is an important opportunity for future generations to recognize the danger of apathy,”said Mirna Lattouf, a senior lecturer with the School of Letters and Sciences and coordinator of the lecture series.
Scheer was living an idyllic family life in Podhace, Poland, when Adolph Hitler’s Nazi soldiers invaded his native country in April of 1941. SS Troops held executions in the streets, burned down synagogues, destroyed cemeteries and rationed food and water for all local residents, recalls Scheer.
Scheer’s family was later shipped to Auschwitz, the most infamous and brutal concentration camp of the Holocaust era. Twelve of Scheer’s family members were eventually killed at the hands of the German SS, including his parents and brother. Scheer escaped and hid in a nearby forest, where he spent the next several years of his life until he was liberated by the American Army in May of 1945. He immigrated to New York City two years later and subsequently met Lillian, his wife of 50 years. They had two children.
“I try hard not to think about those days which were my life so many years ago,” Scheer says. “My survival is tempered with feelings of guilt, which is difficult to overcome. It is hard to accept one has survived, when one’s family and friends are dead. There is so much to remember and so much to tell.”
Approximately six million European Jews were killed during World War II under the state-sponsored extermination by Nazi Germany. Some scholars maintain that the definition of the Holocaust should also include the Nazi murders of ethnic Poles, Romanians, Soviet civilians, Soviet prisoners of war, people with disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other political and religious opponents. With this expanded definition, the total number of Holocaust victims is estimated between 11 and 17 million people.
For Monday, I felt like taking a break before getting back into serious blogging. While on an extended trip to Las Vegas, I managed to snag a front row ticket to see Rita Rudner at Harrah's. Before the show, I was fortunate enough to meet her backstage--a very funny lady who is Classy as well. If you go to Las Vegas, don't miss her show. Have a good week! Michael
GoodMorning! Next Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 10 AM I am participating in the ALS Association Arizona Chapter's Walk to Defeat ALS. I will be a team member of The Mackney Warriors to push my friend Rich Mackney in his wheelchair at Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, Arizona as we move forward to defeat ALS. You've read about Rich in my recent BLOG Page entries. Every member of our team can testify to just how tough minded Rich is about defeating ALS. We are each collecting sponsors and I am not shy at all about mentioning this next item. If anyone wishes to sponsor me here is how you can do that:
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1.) Go to www.alsaz.org. 2.) Click On "Walk to Defeat ALS" 3.) Click on "Find A Walk Near You", then use the drop arrow to Click on "Arizona", then Click "Go!" 4.) Click on "Tempe Walk", then "Donate". 5.) Click on "Find A Walker" and type in my first and last name (it's Michael Manning...just a reminder). 6.) Click on the Donation Line and your sheet will be a type-in. Our Team of Recognition is "The Mackney Warriors" and of course, you'll want to honor "Rich Mackney". That's basically it (it's really easy!).
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The proceeds benefit the Arizona Chapter of The ALS Association. Contributions collected allow The ALS Chapter to provide programs and services to families challenged by ALS and fund global, cutting-edge research. My personal goal is $200. That means if I can get just 10 people to donate $20, I will meet my goal. We have a mean and lean team that is motivated! So, mark your calendar to stop by and say "Hello!" I thought some facts might be helpful too.
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Since baseball legend Lou Gherig was diagnosed in 1939, nearly 7 million people worldwide have heard the same devastating words, "you have ALS". So, I thought some facts would be helpful:
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Every 90 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with ALS.
Every 90 minutes another person loses their life to this devastating disease.
Care for one ALS patient can cost up to $250,000 a year.
There are no racial, ethnic, gender or socioeconomic boundaries.
The average life expectancy post-diagnosis is 2 to 5 years.
Presently, there is no cure for ALS.
ALS can affect anyone.
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Our collective goal in The Walk to Defeat ALS is $425,000. Having served on non-profit boards in the past, I am pleased to tell you that The Walk is recognized as one of the most cost-efficient fundraising events in the United States because out of every $1 dollar raised 91 cents goes to support global research and patient services programs. That is an awesome operating plan! It is highly aggressive and our team, The Mackney Warriors, doesn't fool around!
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Please join me for what will be a memorable, exciting, and fun event. Help me achieve my goals of awareness, education, and raising money for this great cause. As Rich reminds me, "Together, we can win the fight against ALS!" Ciao for now! Michael
A huge Thank You to all my new Phoenix friends whom I met last night at The Rich Mackney Fundraising benefit! I had no idea that there were local residents who have happened to find and follow this BLOG. As I previously mentioned, Rich and I worked out together at the same athletic facility. Recently Rich was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). He is a remarkable guy who I am so proud of. Rich is one of 10 people in the United States undergoing a very aggressive stem cell implant protocol designed to regenerate motor neuron cellular activity. If you have ever known of anyone with ALS, let your heart be your guide. Donations to help Rich offset the costs of his stem cell implant procedure can be mailed to: "Rich Mackney ALS Warrior Fund" at any Bank of America, to Business Account No. 4570 0733 4458. Thanks for stopping by my site and have a beautiful weekend! On behalf of the entire Mackney Family, thank you for your thoughtfulness during this challenging time. Rich will make a future appearance here on "The Interview".
Yours Truly with two giants of the business world: Bill Long and our dear friend, Rich Mackney!
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Note from Michael:If any of you live in Phoenix, Arizona and plan on attending this event, please introduce yourself to me tonight.
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This Sunday, I am spending the evening tape recording a visit with a very special friend of mine by the name of Rich Mackney for his upcoming appearance on "The Interview". An international businessman, Rich and I became buddies 14 months ago during Athletic Physical Rehabilitation in Scottsdale, Arizona. I was undergoing rehab on my right shoulder following a bad fall I sustained at home last year. When my Physical Therapy concluded, I enrolled in The Wellness Program and use the facilities as my gym and enjoy the many friendships I have made. Rich Mackney is amazing.
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Rich was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). There is no effective treatment for this disease but 90 days ago, Rich went to the Nepsis Clinic and lab for a second stem cell transplant after his first transplant in Germany. This particular lab is on the cutting edge of Restorative and Regenerative Medicine. They used a novel, patent pending technique that makes it possible to vastly increase stem cell replication rates. These new stem cells will hopefully restore motor neuron function. This technology is so revolutionary that the patent attorney who filed the patent application, John Connors, JD called it "the most incredibly inventive cell replication method he had ever seen". No patent for accelerating cell replication anywhere in the world comes close, according to Mr. Connors, who has more than 30 years experience in the field.
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Together we can Help Rich offset the cost of his recent stem cell transplant & Win the Fight against ALS! Just imagine the positive implications for other diseases too!! So, that is "the long and the short of it". Here is where you will find me tonight:
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WHAT: Live music (from The Pongaboys), Drinks (no host bar) & Appetizers. Bring your friends, everyone is welcome!
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WHEN:TONIGHT! Friday, October 2nd from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
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WHERE: Sunridge Canyon Clubhouse, 13100 North Sunridge Drive, Fountain Hills, Arizona.
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COST: $45 in advance per person/$50 at the door.
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For more information, please ONLY contact Daniel B. Eastburn, Ph.D. at (623) 581-1163.
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Can't attend but want to contribute? Donations can be mailed to: "Rich Mackney ALS Warrior Fund" at any Bank of America, to Business Account No. 4570 0733 4458. Throughout his life, Rich was an avid cyclist and athlete. A true Renaissance man, he has taught me so much during our weekend evening visits. Last Sunday Rich asked me to bring over my Steve McQueen movie, "Bullitt" and of course we had a blast watching this film!
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I am only one person among many who wants to see Rich back on the road again with his racing bike. Rich is a generous person who always encourages people who are pursuing their dreams. He takes a very active interest in those dreams and is always available to make dynamic suggestions to help each person get on a fast track to success! Now, it is my turn to encourage Rich. I should be arriving around 7:30 P.M. Again, if you live in Phoenix, I'd love to meet you! Please introduce yourself to me and then let me introduce you to Rich Mackney. You'll make an incredible new friend in Rich, who is a fascinating personality and a man of many achievements. His newest goal is to slow down the progression of ALS this year, stop it next year, and then reverse it the following year. Knowing what I do today about this new medical treatment Rich is undergoing, I believe all of his stated goals are entirely possible. Stick around! There's so much ahead yet to share with you!! Michael
All Photos Used by Permission of Jeffrey Ong/Post RAIN Productions, INC.
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This area of the house has changed since Steve and Barbara lived here. Most mornings, Steve enjoyed reading the newspaper with coffee outdoors with a fire smelter going. This was really a down to earth home and it was clear to all of us why Steve fell in love with Santa Paula, California. Here's a brief explanation of how I wound up here last year.
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Most of you know I have been a huge fan of Steve McQueen since I was 9 years-old and first watched his film "The Great Escape" on network television. I was fortunate to have seen many of his films in first-run at the movie theater! These included: "The Cincinnati Kid", "Bullitt", "The Thomas Crown Affair", "Lemans", "On Any Sunday", "Junior Bonner", "The Getaway", "Papillon" and "The Towering Inferno".
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As I told a dear friend two weeks ago about Steve McQueen: "Google it!" Here's the house story:
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Last December, thanks to my dear friend Marshall Terrill (author ofSteve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel, co-author of Steve McQueen: The Last Mile with Barbara McQueen and the forthcoming Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool) I was deeply honored to join him along with Steve's widow Barbara and six of our close-knit friends for a walk-through of the home Steve and Barbara last lived in. For Barbara, it was a homecoming of sorts; she had not been back to the property since Steve's death in 1980. To say we were in awe would be an understatement.
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Then last March, I featured Marshall Terrill as my Special Guest on "The Interview" where he discussed his forthcoming book Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool. The other night I received word that the house where we spent hours with Barbara McQueen listening to her vivid recollections of memories of life there with Steve, is now on the market in Santa Paula, California. I can only describe being on the property as a wonderful "once in a lifetime" weekend for each of us. Jeffrey Ong of Post/RAIN Productions, Inc., was gracious enough to permit me to share his photos here with you.
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This is where Steve finally found peace and happiness in his life with Barbara. Santa Paula is situated approximately 70 miles Northeast of Los Angeles. For those of you who may not be familiar, it is a very small general aviation community where The Santa Paula Municipal Airport is central to the town's activity. We friends had gathered there for a fundraiser in support of the airport's new museum. The evening's festivity was titled "Remembering Steve McQueen" and I blogged quite a bit about it. Residents living in opulent hangars replete with full-sized condominiums adored having The McQueen's as neighbors while their ranch home was being remodeled. They guarded Steve and Barbara's privacy with great care and affection. My Annual Steve McQueen Film Festival takes place every March during the week of Steve's Birthday to celebrate this great actor. Next March, we will celebrate our 5th year! I thought you would enjoy a look at this beautiful home.
Wine Cellar
First Bath
Second Bath
Bedroom
View from the Living Room through the Kitchen
Living Room
A Working Horse Farm!
Backyard Pond
Chicken Coop!
Wine Anyone? The Vineyards
The author would like to, again, thank Jeffrey Ong/Post RAIN Productions, INC. for permission to use these photographs.We're only 5 months away from the Festival here on this BLOG Page! Hope your week is going nicely. See you soon! Michael
Basically, I'm a Public Relations Consultant with a background in Broadcast News. I've worked as a Reporter and Anchor with PBS, ABC, CBS & NBC affiliates and in Cable Television. I'm active in Radio & Television Commercials, Guest Speaking engagements and I enjoy writing, music and sports.
