Mt. Rushmore of Wrestlemania

By my calculation of Wrestlemania being on the Sunday after Easter, I'm thinking Wrestlemania 41 will be held on 4/27. This article was published all the way back in 2018 about the four pro wrestlers who would be on a Mt. Rushmore of WrestleMania: Which 4 WWE Legends Deserve the Honor? by Mike Chiari March 15, 2018. Wrestlemania 40 should have been in 2024 (since the first one was in 1984) and, assuming WWE exists in 2025, Vince McMahon (the current owner) will be 79 years, 8 months, 3 days (29101 days), per How Old is Vince McMahon? so we'll have to see what becomes of WWE between now and then.

Editor's Note: Today is a milestone as oxygen has been going in and out of lungs for 55 years, 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days (20233 days) today.

WWE Causes a Trip to be Taken

I don't think that pro wrestling - specifically, the WWE - do segments like this one from 2005 anymore. The title of the video is Kurt Angle, HBK, John Cena, Edge, Lita, & Big Show Carlito's Cabana Segment - RAW 10-10-2005 and it's a good segment. In modern times, it seems like the scope of "who" is going to contend for a championship is, in general, limited to one other person. In the segment embedded below, five WWE Superstars are in the ring, each claiming they deserve a championship match with John Cena. Cena doesn't make his appearance until towards the end of the segment, which is when his mic skills shine. He "criticizes" each of the 5 in the ring, including the ultimate scorching of Edge's girlfriend Lita with 4 words: Lita... you're a slut. When I was watching this segment in 2022, I burst out laughing at that line.Watch the video below.

Part I

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https://youtu.be/ -hbUAkItp84 - (I think this is Part I - I couldn't find "Carlito's Cabana with Big Show, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Edge & John Cena 1/2 (WWE RAW) HD | 2005"

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Part II

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https://youtu.be/ 70V-LXxfKjs - Carlito's Cabana with Big Show, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Edge & John Cena 2/2 (WWE RAW) HD | 2005

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So that segment is from October 2005. I can tell you that in October 2005, I lived in our current house and we were approaching our 1 year anniversary of doing so, which was going to be December 2005.

Want to know how my brain works when determining if I can write the following sentence: 

I can tell you that in October 2005, I lived in our current house and we were approaching our 1 year anniversary of doing so, which was going to be December 2005.  

It may be what other people do but I start with a major milestone in life and work my way forward. The milestone I use is 2004.

• 2004 was the Memphis in May concert that I went to with Phil, Jamie, and Serbi, which was then followed with seeing Godsmack open for Metallica in August 2004 in Moline and the reason I know it was in Moline is because my godson's birthday party was that same day in Blue Grass, IA, and I had arranged to have Serbi and ... hmmm.... You know, I don't remember who else was in our group that day. 
• I remember that I had arranged to meet my group at the Walcott Truck Stop so that I could ride with the group to the concert. Fast forward a bit, and I can say that I know that it was at this concert when Serbi told me that he and his wife were going to get a divorce. Their 11th wedding anniversary was going to be in 11 days, on 9-4-2004. In general, I would remember nothing about this concert if I had not purchased the live recording of it on https://www.livemetallica.com/live-music/0,62/Metallica-mp3-flac-download-8-22-2004-Mark-of-the-Quad-Cities-Moline-IL.html
• And the reason I know we moved into our current house in December 2004 is because when I went to Memphis in May 2004, Phil, Serbi, and Jamie picked me up at our old house.
• 2005 was the year Karen, Megan, Alex, Lou, Jean, and I went to Disney. 
• And the reason I know we had moved into our current house in December 2004 is because when we went to Disney, the 6 of us left our current house and drove to Dave's house in Blue Grass because he was taking us to the Quad Cities Airport for our flight. To continue along this path, I remember that we took a later flight that morning and because we had agreed to take a later flight, Allegiant Airlines gave us 6 flight vouchers, which is a key detail for how I remember the events of 2006. 

See how I did that? I used a major event in my life to work forward to where I wanted to end up. I can keep going:

• 2006 was the year Karen, Lou, Jean, Dave, Chris, and I used the 6 flight vouchers from the Disney trip in 2005 to go to the Grand Bahamas.
• 2007 was the Memphis in May concert that I went to with Phil, Kevin, and BSS. We took Phil's Honda Element, which was a very awesome orange car and the play was to be picked up at our current house. 
• I remember more about when I was dropped off than when I was picked up because I had bought a t-shirt for Karen in Memphis and a birthday card for Karen's birthday at a Wal-Mart along the way home, which was unimpressive to the birthday girl. 
• 2008 was the year that doesn't really jump out at me for having any huge milestones except that Karen planned a surprise party on my 39th birthday in December. That turned out to be a good thing because...
• 2009 was the year I turned 40 and was actually in UIHC as a patient for pneumonia on my 40th birthday. It was also the year that Megan tipped over a golf cart in Elkader because, as I was in my hospital bed in December 2009, Karen and I were discussing a bill we had received from the Elkader Country Club to pay for damages to the golf cart.

So that is how my brain works.

Birthday Cake!

The Big 5 Zero

Today is my 50th birthday! I have been alive for a whopping 18262 days! There's another anniversary to mark as well: it was 11399 days ago when I met my wife, Karen, on 9/18/1988 - 31 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days ago. We were on a Mount Mercy College bus trip to see the Chicago White Sox play the Minnesota Twins. Per http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=198809180MIN, the final score was Chicago White Sox 8, Minnesota Twins 5. While the Twins lost, I won!

Tempted to Agree

Today, on my 50th birthday, I agree: It's Hell Getting Old.

Editor's Note: Hopefully, on 12/4/2019, this blog, myself, and the Iowa City Patch exist.

Revisit

Victory and Defeat

The Little Five Zero

I have been alive for 18262 days.

Others Sharing My Day

Happy Birthday to

• Freddy Cannon (1939)
• Bob Mosley - Moby Grape (1942)
• Chris Hillman - The Byrds (1944)
• Dennis Wilson - The Beach Boys (1944)
• Terry Woods - The Pogues (1947)
• Southside Johnny - Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (1948)
• Gary Rossington - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1951)
• Jay-Z (1969)
• Justin Welch - Elastica (1972)
• Kate Rusby (1973)

Chart News

• 1965 The Byrds at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Turn! Turn! Turn!'
• 1971 Led Zeppelin at No.1 on the UK chart with the Four Symbols album,(Led Zeppelin IV)
• 1971 Sly and the Family Stone at No.1 on the US single chart with 'Family Affair'
• 1971 T Rex at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Electric Warrior'
• 1978 Boney M at No.1 on the Australian chart with ‘Rasputin’
• 1982 The Jam at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Beat Surrender' the group's final single
• 1982 'The John Lennon Collection' at No.1 on the UK album chart
• 2005 Pussycat Dolls at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Stickwitu'
• 2010 Rihanna at No.1 on the US chart with ‘Only Girl (In the World)

Gig News

• 1967 Jimi Hendrix Pink Floyd, The Move, Nice and Amen Corner played two shows at Newcastle City Hall, England. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-jimi-hendrix-pink-floyd-13990290.amp
• 1977 Queen appeared at the University Arena, Dayton, Ohio.
• 1979 U2 appeared at The Hope and Anchor, Islington, London. Misnamed ‘The U2s’, they played to only nine people and the show ended abruptly after The Edge broke a guitar string. 1980 Prince played at Shea’s in Buffalo, New York
• 1983 Tears For Fears performed at Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre
• 1988 Roy Orbison played his final ever gig when he appeared in Cleveland, Ohio
• 1989 Lenny Kravitz played at London's Borderline Club
• 2005 David Gray performed at The Brixton Academy in London

Music News

• 1976 Tommy Bolin died.
• 1993 Multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer, Frank Zappa died

End of an Era

When I get my flu shot in October 2020, I will have to select the 50 to 64 option button as my 50th birthday is 44 days (1 month, 1 week, 6 days) from today.

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49 Years

Today is my 49th birthday! I have been alive for a whopping 17532 days! There's another anniversary to mark as well: it was 11034 days ago when I met my wife, Karen, on 9/18/1988 - 30 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days ago. We were on a Mount Mercy College bus trip to see the Chicago White Sox play the Minnesota Twins. Per http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=198809180MIN, the final score was Chicago White Sox 8, Minnesota Twins 5. While the Twins lost, I won!

Is There any Music President Trump is Passionate For?

In today's age of political divisiveness, where Catholics state they are pro-abortion, perhaps just so they are not aligned with President Trump (I don't know - I'm Catholic and pro-life so I can't speak on their behalf), maybe music is a way to unite our country. Of course, no matter the genre, President Trump would not benefit. There are a trillion sub-genres and I'm betting he could not state he liked a single sub-genre without causing controversey because I have a feeling that if President Trump said he liked:

• Metallica, metal fans would suddenly be Beyonce fans
• Garth Brooks, country fans would suddenly become Classical music fans (because there are no words)
• Ice-T, the liberals would immediately point to the lyrics of "Cop Killer" and call Trump a hypocrite

The teaser for this article - Denmark’s Prime Minister surprises Indonesia’s President with a Metallica box set Posted by Zenae Zukowski on November 28, 2017 - asked the same question that I used for the title of this post:

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I think it's a fair question. Has someone tweeted the question to President Trump? Maybe he would answer for my birthday present - I am 48 today.

Victory and Defeat

Over the last 17532 days, I have had many victories and defeats. Editor's Note: Updated the list in Top Ten Defeats, #2, to include cause of death on 12/4/2019.

Top Ten Victories

1. Embraced God's love for me
2. Married Karen - mentioning specifics would take too long and fill up the Internet
3. Welcomed my two kids into the world & have been honored to watch them grow
4. Made many friends that I cherish - not a complete list - and I capped the list @ 10
1. Brian Gravel
2. Serbi
3. John Rath
4. Kevin Herren
5. Jim Schepker
6. James Goodrich
7. Todd Eadie
8. Matthew Helmke
9. Jeremy McCollum
10. Ken Schmitt
5. Quit drinking booze
6. Found employment doing a job I love
7. Bought a house I am proud of
8. Learned what my passions are:
• drums
• Metallica / Bayside / Count the Stars
• writing - both technical and personal
9. Passed high school math
10. Played drums on Beale Street in Memphis, TN

Top Ten Defeats

1. Started drinking booze & had many mistakes caused by it
2. Haven't laid my mother to rest after 3 years, 11 months, 5 days (1436 days) & lost or buried many friends and family  - not a complete list - and capped @ 10
1. Lee Knutson - cancer
2. Tracy Carstensen - accidental fire
3. Grandma Simons - she was tired and had done enough
4. Alan Jackson - Alzheimer's
5. Stella Bietzel - she was tired and had done enough
6. Randy Kaneally - prostate cancer
7. Susan DeSotel - was riding her bike and was struck by a vehicle - she shared my birthday
8. Andrew George - suicide
9. Senora Richardson - deer > car
10. Caitlyn Abben - she didn't wake up
3. Ceased working at the Unnamed Hellhole in southern Iowa; was laid off from Pearson
4. Student teaching in fall 1991 was a failure on the surface because it taught me I didn't want to be a teacher as a career
5. Not giving 100% to my athletic career - high school swimming & basketball
6. Ratio of 'jobs I interviewed for' to 'jobs I was hired at' is skewed not in my favor
7. Relationship with certain family members - in-laws included - may have not been what they should be over the years
8. Graduated from high school & from college, which you'd think would be a victory, but I have many regrets about the choices I made during both of those times in my life that I can't go back and change.
9. Losing things - such as the Christmas tree base leg (November 2017) & Karen's papers (September 2017) are the most fresh in my brain, but by no means the only things.
10. Failing strangers, friends, and yes, my family, when I did not do what I should have done, solely because doing what I should have done was a more difficult choice than what I ultimately chose to do.

23

Twenty-third anniversary of my 25th birthday is today.

Birthday Present Recap

The kids gave me a shirt, 4 undershirts, a bag of M&Ms, and gloves. They put each in a paper bag with a handle. On the bottom of the inside of the bag, they wrote a letter. H A M S were the four letters. The four letters were a clue for my other present. What was my other present?
Editor's Note: It's 12/4/2017 and the answer to the question requires additional research.

Birthday

I am 43 today.