UNLIKELY SOURCE STARTS 101 PHENOMENON

EDITOR'S NOTE: I am now posting "mini nuggets" five days a week (Sunday through Thursday) and one "significant" blog post one day a week.

Where did the 101 List come from? (my list here)

Since the first time I heard about this 1001-day "exercise" in living life to the fullest, I've been nothing short of intrigued.

Well, I may have unfortunately found the answer.

At first, I thought a gentleman named Michael Green hatched the idea. Every 101 List that I glanced through, pointed right back to him. (He even has a web site dedicated to the endeavor.)

So there was no other choice, I HAD to go straight to the source ... I decided to drop Mr. Green a line. (In New Zealand, nonetheless.)

He wrote back via e-mail: "I just published my list and I wrote up the mission, criteria, and the goal setting tips that gets copied around. I'm told the earliest reference to the idea comes from an old teen TV show 'Breaker High' from 1997."

Not familiar with "Breaker High?" Neither was I. 

See if this video helps – It didn't with me:

Anyway ... here is an excerpt from Episode 30 

(Entitled: "He Shoots, He Scores")

TAMIRA: So Jimmy, what’s up with Sean anyway? He’s all of a sudden got this huge interest in sports…he hates sports.

JIMMIE: Oh right…that. You see, he’s got this list of 101 goals to complete by a certain day and tomorrow will be that day.

TAMIRA: Oh, and one of his goals is to make a sports team?

JIMMIE: Right, right…the other two are to see his name in bright lights and kiss a pretty girl. It’s right funny, eh?

TAMIRA: So…that’s all I am? A goal on his list?

JIMMIE: Oh, yeah…it makes you right proud to be a part of it, eh?

Tamira storms off.

Later on in the episode – 

after her and Sean make up.

SEAN: I waited 1,001 days for this kiss … I didn’t want to waste it, you know? And I would wait 1,001 more if that’s what it takes for it to be with you.

Drew throw's up, while briefly quenching his intrigue.

MYSTERY SOLVED? 

Hopefully it's  just the beginning.

NEW BLOG INITIATIVE STARTED; SINK FOR SALE

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've made a conscious blogging decision ... From this day forward, I am going to post "mini nuggets" five days a week (Sunday through Thursday), and write a blog post with some "meat" once a week. The "minis" will be interesting/inspiring articles, videos, or random thoughts and/or updates. It will also give me a vehicle to spread out my smaller posts over a couple of days. (Instead of making really long blog posts, like I have a tendency to do.)

So, without further ado..."mini nugget" No. 1:

I have taken steps to mark No. 55 off of my 101 List. I have placed a classified ad on Craig's List. (I've never done this before.)

If you are interested in buying a "cast-iron, double-bowl sink," you've got an inside track. Make sure you read the disclaimers on the potential sale, though.

Check out my ad here:  http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/hsh/998124883.html

BACK ON MY FEET: The Seed Has Been Planted

I received a lot of comments and feedback regarding my e-mail to the founder of Back on My Feet, the Philadelphia non-profit that attacks homelessness through running. (Original blog here)

There were a lot of e-mails and phone calls from blog readers, asking "Have you heard back from her yet?"

Like every good organization, I finally did.

Almost one week after sending the initial "I want to bring your incredible organization to Fort Worth" 

e-mail, I got a response from the Manager of Special Events and Communication. I knew it was a generic form reply – nicely camouflaged with my name and references to Fort Worth – I didn't care, though....

I WAS PUMPED!

The conversation had started 

(and for those that know me ... that's all I need.)

Here are the highlights from the organization's response – at least the parts I focused on (I also included my thoughts and/or actions in parenthesis):

• "... we are doing research for our next city now." 

(Fort Worth! Fort Worth! Fort Worth!)

• "It takes a lot of support to make the replication process a success and it would be great if we could count on your help." (You know you can!)

• "If you’re running in an upcoming race soon (like the Nashville’s Country Music Marathon you are already training for), please consider making your miles really go the distance by becoming a fund-racer for Back on My Feet." (Done – I set up a Donation Page through the e-Partners in Giving web site – click here to make a small donation)

• "The 20in24 Sponsored by Nike: This is the Philadelphia area’s only 24-hour running event and has four races in one." (I wrote back and let them know that I would love to "work registration, man a water station, hold the finish-line tape, whatever!")

• "If you would like to make a tax-deductable donation..." (I let her know that e-Partners in Giving will move Back on My Feet to the top of its charitable contributions for the next quarter.)

• "Please let me know if you plan to be in Philly any time soon – we’d love for you to join us for a run." 

(My response: "I'll see you guys in early March.")

I wanted to build on the momentum of my first e-mail and reinforce how serious and dedicated I am to making Fort Worth a Back on My Feet city. 

I think they finally caught on.

After responding to the Manager of Special Events and Communication, I received an e-mail from the organization's founder and president, Anne Mahlum.

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!

Here is an excerpt from her correspondence:

"Drew, Maureen forwarded me your email last night and I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’re doing – fund-racing for us, coming to volunteer at the 20in24 (you’re going to have a blast), running with us (I should warn you – you’re going to be hooked!), and for moving us up on the list for a donation with your company."

She closed with: "I look forward to meeting you when you come to Philly."

I am so happy that Fort Worth is simply part of the conversation now. I can't and won't ask for anything more at this point.

I know that getting Back on My Feet to launch a chapter here – sooner than later – remains a long-shot, but at least the seed has been planted.

Anne Mahlum and her staff now know they have a city with a vision to end homelessness and a soldier who will help lead the fight. Without being annoying and/or over-bearing, I will continue to make my case for bringing this incredible organization to Fort Worth.

One last thing ... it makes me smile that there are other people across the country that believe in Back on My Feet as much as me and want to help attack homelessness through this program. My friend Katie wants to start a chapter in Minnesota and a gentleman from Florida said the RW article had the same impact on him.

My real goal is that Back on My Feet finds its way into every homeless community across the country.

Anne Mahlum has definitely opened a wonderful can of worms.

This really is the last thing ... Anne encouraged me to share images from her web site. 

Group picture from morning training run (Nov. 2008)

Michael Solomon, 

Back on My Feet member since its creation, 

completes his first marathon

Michael Solomon (center) after marathon 

(look at that pride and confidence)

Group shot after 2007 Philadelphia marathon

No caption need 

(I LOVE IT!)

REMINDER: 

You can support Back on My Feet 

through my participation 

in the Country Music Marathon in April. 

(Donation Page here)

'GREEN' GOT YOU RED? I DON'T CARE IF YOU CALL IT PURPLE ... JUST DO IT!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is post No. 7 in a week-long blogging initiative.

I think the word “Green” 

is making people turn…well, green.

They are sick of it to the point of hatred and disgust.

Some “green” antagonists say:

“It’s just an uber-trendy catch phrase.”

“What does it really mean?”

“I wish people would just stop throwing it around.”

Not that these opponents are down on the premise – they just hate the phrase.

It’s the proponents of anti-global warming verbiage 

who are actually attacking the cause itself.

“It’s a hoax!”

“It doesn’t matter!”

"So what? What are we supposed to do about it?"

I recently read the best rebuttal to this argument in the book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” by Thomas Friedman. It compared living eco-smart to training for an Olympic triathlon.

“If you make it to the Olympics, you have a much better chance of winning, because you’ve developed every muscle. If you don’t make it to the Olympics, you’re still healthier, stronger, fitter, and more likely to live longer and win every other race in life. And as with the triathlon, you don’t just improve one muscle or skill, but many, which become mutually reinforcing and improve the health of your whole system.”

The point: If this whole thing is a hoax, 

“what is the worst that will happen?”

“Our country will have cleaner air and water, more efficient products, more workers educated in the next great global industry, higher energy prices but lower bills, greater productivity, healthier people…we’ll have to fight fewer wars over natural resources.”

Being 'green' is NOT a bad thing!

I could care less what the hell you call it – purple, yellow, sunset orange – but it’s time for each of us to do our part. It’s time to check our egos at the door – stop being lazy – and do the little things that can make a huge difference in OUR world.

Earlier this week I blogged about saving energy – specifically how I’m bribing my wife to turn off the lights. I wanted to share some other initiatives that Tanya are doing to be more “green” (Not to mention helping us save a little money in the process):

• By utilizing our compost bin and recycling, we are only producing two bags of trash every three weeks. (That’s NOT a Hefty double-ply lawn sack, either. It’s just your run of the mill kitchen garbage bag.)

• We are using reusable grocery bags instead of plastic. (If we forget the bags, we ask for paper sacks at the store.)

• No more bottle waters – we are refilling the ones that we have over and over, but we’re primarily only using faux Nalgene bottles.

• Since we don’t have energy-efficient appliances, we are only doing four loads of laundry a week.

• As mentioned before, we are in the process of changing all of our light bulbs to the energy-efficient variety.

• Whenever possible we are taking Tanya’s car (Honda Accord) instead of my pickup.

• We are turning off the water when we soap up in the shower and then turning it back on to rinse off. (Totally kidding, but there are some people who think in order to be eco-conscious you have to be extreme. YOU DON’T!)

Some future endeavors:

• Have an energy audit done on our house.

• Replace our heating and cooling system with an energy-efficient model. (Purchasing a digital thermostat will come first, though.)

• Replace all the windows in our house.

Reminder: You don’t have to read by candlelight, leave the toilet unflushed, or unplug everything before you go to bed to be eco-conscious.

Just be aware! 

(You would be amazed how big a difference that will make.)

BLOGGING ENDEAVOR GETTING DIFFICULT

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is post No. 6 in a week-long blogging initiative.

I’ve decided that small, easily digestible nuggets of thoughts and information would be the best way to blog heading down the stretch of this week-long experiment.

BTW: Blogging everyday is tough. I will definitely return to once a week – if not every other week – after the last post.

ONE MORE HOMEMADE GIFT
I can’t show you photos or even tell you exactly what my brother made for his homemade Christmas gift this year, but I can say this:

IT ROCKED THE HOUSE!

Hands down, he made the most elaborate gift in the history of our 10-year tradition. There was no “cry factor” involved, but there was a definite “kick-butt factor."

The reason why I can’t give you all the details –I’m trying to talk him into producing more and actually selling them. (His gift was that dang good!) I’m doing a little legwork for him right now to see if he can get this side business up and running.

I will share some of the “construction”

logistics with you:

• He said at least 40 hours of labor went into it;

• He said there were 18 trips to Home Depot.

We exchanged gifts with him and his wife Koleen just this week. Thanks to his remarkable gift, we definitely closed out the Christmas holidays with a BANG!

e-PARTNERS GETTING SOME INK
I recently received the most recent edition of “The Director,” the official publication of the National Funeral Directors Association.

This particular issue was a look back at the NFDA Convention in Orlando, and right on the cover – literally front and center – was a photo of the e-Partners in Giving staff.

The camera captured us attending the convention’s “Party with a Purpose,” which benefitted Habitat for Humanity.

The GREAT part of that exact same photo – it was used THREE other times inside the magazine.

We did receive some legitimate PR in the story about the convention’s Habitat build. Here are the excerpts:

“… Rounding out the NFDA team was the staff of e-Partners in Giving: Drew and Tanya Myers, Stefanie Lewis and Denise Martin.”

“When asked, team members quickly agreed that, if given the opportunity, they would be honored and eager to volunteer again for Habitat for Humanity. In fact, e-Partners in Giving has partnered with the Habitat chapter in Fort Worth, Texas, and is helping to raise the $56,000 needed to sponsor a build.”

“Drew Myers of e-Partners said, ‘I’m hooked on Habitat. It’s a tremendous was to give back in more than one way. There’s the financial aspect, but there’s also the rolling up your sleeve and breaking a sweat.’ Myers and his crew look forward to bringing their Orlando experience to the Fort Worth build.”

STARTING TO READ INTO IT
I just want to say thank you to all the people who have recently suggested books for me to read.

I am really in a rhythm right now – mixing in audio books in the car and flipping pages during meals and before I fall asleep.

I’m currently reading/listening to two tremendous books (both recommendations):

• “The 4-Hour Workweek” by
Timothy Ferriss is a funny, but poignant prose about taking control of your life and truly living.

I was just identified in the book – a person who “works just to work.” I’m starting to realize that’s not a good thing.

• “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” by Thomas Friedman takes a hard look
at the planet and how we’re
impacting it.

One review on Amazon.com captured it perfectly: “Friedman writes on world population, the increase of the global middle class, and the growing energy crisis. All of this has contributed to a world that is in desperate need of an energy solution. The thing I like about Friedman's approach is he's optimistic and he's practical.”

I’m currently reading a chapter about “energy poverty” in Africa and Asia. Very interesting and eye-opening.

Please keep the recommendations coming. (Reminder: I have 843 days to read 189 books.)