32……………27…………….5…………….three strategic and story-telling numbers that I’m extremely proud of and make me smile from sea to shining sea. I could never have imagined that 32 years ago when I officiated my first school-ball basketball game that I would STILL be galloping up and down the hardwood with ample experience and less speed. Think about that. How many games have I called? How many miles have I run? How many times have I been cursed at and called horrible, blind…
Shoot – thought I had a pretty cool job…..until I played “digital catch” with Craig Muder. Holy Sultan of Swat. Craig has a 9-to-5 that makes grown men giggle. He’s the Director of Communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and five days per week swings for the fences in famed Cooperstown, NY. Tee Hee. He’s had this sweet gig for the past 16 years so let’s just say he’s been at the Hall for the long…
Monday, July 29, 2024 will go down as one of my Top 5 best basketball officiating experiences in my 31-year career when I got to referee at historic Lahaina Civic Center. There was an all-day “Westin-Sponsored” tournament and fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the venerable gym and I was scheduled for four games. My partner (Thomas) was excellent and we let’em play while also controlling a few hotheads. Had a blast. It was hot-and-sticky inside the old barn…
Could this possibly be my one chance to become a social-media influencer?! A trendsetter. A MrBeast wannabe. TikTok. A bald-and-beautiful Boomer who every morning goes black-and-white and crème-ed all over? But first – how do you start off your mornings? Coffee. Tea. Protein shake. Flavored water. Dr. Pepper. Cap’n Crunch. Tony the Tiger? Not me. As soon as I roll out of the sack and make the bed I head straight to the fridge and pull out my morning glory…
This might be the oddest, dumbest, and most uncanny statement I’ve ever made: I’ve lived on Maui for more than five years and I’ve never worn a pair of blue jeans!!! Sew true. Don’t even own a pair?! Sorry Levi’s, Old Navy and Wrangler. Nothing cargo or ripped or skinny in 64 months has touched my bare ankles. Not once. No human or AI robot can beat that record. Guaranteed. Nothing against denim of any color or cord or style…
“I can do that.” Those were my exact words almost five years ago after I bought a condo and put down roots in West Maui. Can’t hike every morning. Can’t hit the beach every afternoon. Can’t sit at home and nap into retirement. Something to do was needed. An occupation. A challenge. Fulfillment. Indeed.com became my digital flagpole and I kept seeing available positions for a Pool Attendant. I can do that. How hard could it be? Aqualani Beach &…
It just felt right. About eight days after I had relocated to West Maui came a fortuitous discovery. Walking from the Honokowai Farmer’s Market to my rental unit I strolled past a funky-looking complex called Paki Maui. The tan-colored property was football-shaped and, more importantly, was on the seaward (makai) side of the street. What caught my eye was a sandwich board real estate sign at the parking lot entrance stating that a unit was for sale on an upper…
Picky picky picky. In the winter of 2018-19, after a string of four personal losses in eight weeks, my world was turned upside down and difficult decisions lie ahead. One pressing decision was finding a full-time residence and preferred destination to begin anew. Maui, baby! No questions asked. For more than three decades I had been telling family and friends that Hawaii was my dream of dreams. Island magic. Turquoise waters. Pristine beaches. Time to cash in. As part of…
And I’m still here. And I’m settled in and own a condo unit right on the Pacific Ocean. And I’m still officiating hoops and volleyball. And, bonus points, I’m still working and thriving as a Pool Attendant on Kaanapali Beach and have the three years of 1099s to prove it. Imagine that – a kid from Pittsburgh kickin’ ass and handing out towels in an out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere island chain otherwise known as America’s 50th State?! Pretty sweet. Pretty gutsy. Pretty rewarding….
More than a few folks have asked me the same question – if you live on Maui where do YOU go on vacation?! Legit inquiry. My response has always trended toward “being creative” and “remembering that it’s a five-hour flight over nothing but water from OGG to mainland LAX so make the most of it.” This past winter I got creative a la Rick Steves and planned an East Coast driving tour that featured these Bucket-List stops for a lifelong…