Matt Micros's Blog: Rantings, Ravings & Remembrances
March 17, 2020
NEW RELEASE: Another Five Days
ANOTHER FIVE DAYS tells the story of war hero, Al Sokratis, who begins his day by being asked to be the Best Man at his grandson’s wedding, only to end it in the afterlife after he was hit and killed by a texting driver while pulling a stranger from a burning vehicle. Because of the heroic way he died as well as the way he lived his life, Al is rewarded by being given the opportunity to re-live any five days of his life. They can be days he enjoyed and wants to experience all over again, days in which he had regrets and wants to make amends, or days in which he tries to help others and change the course of history. ANOTHER FIVE DAYS takes us on a magical tour of Woodstock, Vietnam, the NASA Space Program, and the 1986 World Series, introducing us to heroes as well as almost heroes, people whose lives might have turned out vastly differently were it not for the blink of an eye. Above all else, it is a love story as Al desperately tries to find a way to reunite with his departed wife.
I have to admit I was hesitant to write this book. Any time you have some measure of success with an original story, writing a sequel to it seems daunting. Could it possibly live up to the original? Not that the original Five Days was War and Peace, The Great Gatsby or The Catcher in the Rye in terms of influence on the American literary world. But it did have its share of loyal fans that I didn’t want to disappoint.
In the end, I decided that I would only write the follow up as a stand alone book—meaning the idea remained the same as in the original, but the characters and story were all new. And only, if I thought I could create a character as compelling and interesting as the Mike Postman character in the original. Whether I did or not is obviously up to you to decide. What I love about this series is that it enables me to take trips down memory lane, incorporating people and days from my own life, while also sending me on a journey through days in history that I’d previously only read about or seen clips of on television.
Should you decide to take the journey with me, I hope that you enjoy the trip while thinking about which days you would choose, or which days from history you would change if you could…
AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE, March 17, 2020 Matt Micros
The post NEW RELEASE: Another Five Days appeared first on Matt Micros.
February 13, 2019
NEW RELEASE: The Untold Tale of Shady Badesso
Shady Badesso arrived in Niantic, Connecticut from nowhere. With arms as thick and sturdy as PVC pipe, a back broader than a drive-in movie screen, and legs the size of a 75 year old oak tree, he looked like he was built from leftover parts at a hardware store. He was friendly, but had very few friends. If you Googled him, you would find absolutely NOTHING. It was as if he had been dropped into the small northern coastal town from thin air. But when two men escape from a nearby prison and kidnap one of the locals–a mysterious and confident young woman that Shady has feelings for, the prisoners find themselves utterly unprepared for the unexpected variable thrown in their path. A variable named Shady Badesso.
At its core, Shady Badesso is a story of redemption, as one man attempts to come to terms with the worst thing he has ever done, while spending his life trying to make amends for it. The battle within the main character is whether he can ever forgive himself or even whether he needs to be forgiven at all.
RELEASE DATE: Friday, March 1, 2019
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The Untold Tale of Shady Badesso
February 9, 2019
THE UNTOLD TALE OF SHADY BADESSO
The Untold Tale of Shady Badesso has been two years in the writing. While it touches on many of the same elements and themes as my other works—friendship, love and loyalty—it also incorporates something new for me. A little bit of suspense. As are all of my novels, the story is set in my adopted home state of Connecticut, a place I have now lived for more than twenty years. What made this story even more fun to write is that within it I was also able to sprinkle in a trip to my wife’s and my favorite place to visit in the entire world—Nantucket, a beautiful island off the coast of Cape Cod that we spend some time in each summer.
Shady Badesso arrived in Niantic, Connecticut from nowhere. With arms as thick and sturdy as PVC pipe, a back broader than a drive-in movie screen, and legs the size of a 75 year old oak tree, he looked like he was built from leftover parts at a hardware store. He was friendly, but had very few friends. If you Googled him, you would find absolutely NOTHING. It was as if he had been dropped into the small northern coastal town from thin air. But when two men escape from a nearby prison and kidnap one of the locals–a mysterious and confident young woman that Shady has feelings for, the prisoners find themselves utterly unprepared for the unexpected variable thrown in their path. A variable named Shady Badesso.
At its core, Shady Badesso is a story of redemption, as one man attempts to come to terms with the worst thing he has ever done, while spending his life trying to make amends for it. The battle within the main character is whether he can ever forgive himself or even whether he needs to be forgiven at all.
RELEASE DATE: Friday, March 1, 2019
The post THE UNTOLD TALE OF SHADY BADESSO appeared first on Matt Micros.
February 26, 2018
6 MOVIES TO LIVE YOUR LIFE BY
In a time where Hollywood has garnered more attention for its collective misdeeds off camera and its unimaginative storylines in front of it, it is not completely devoid of merit if you know where to look. Someone once said that there are only 100 different movie themes and every single movie is a variation of one of them. Feel free to begin by looking past the plethora of Superhero movies and mind numbing sequels. That eliminates the majority of recent movies and it leaves you with only six themes. Why six? Because in my opinion, these six are the ones most worthy of living your life by. Is there more than one movie that represents a particular theme? Of course. But that is up to you to decide. For me, the movies that follow each represent a value I hold dear. If you agree with them, then do not pass go, but head straight for your remote and search through On Demand, for these movies will change your life forever.
6) P.S. I LOVE YOU (2007). When Gerry (Gerard Butler), the husband of Holly (Hilary Swank), dies from an illness, she loses the love of her life. Knowing how hard Holly will take his death, Gerry plans ahead. Beginning on her 30th birthday, she receives the first in a series of letters written by him, designed to ease her grief and encourage her to move forward to a new life. If the movie sounds depressing, it actually isn’t because it starts with the death and works backward to happier times, with the focus on their romance. It has humor, love and requires a healthy dose of “Viribus”—the Latin word for strength.
5) SERENDIPITY (2001). On a magical night when they are in their 20s, Jonathan (John Cusack) meets Sara (Kate Beckinsale). He finds it love at first sight, but Sara believes in destiny. Ten years later, the two — with 3,000 miles between them — must decide if fate wants them to be together again. When love feels like magic, it is called destiny; when your destiny is the result of happy occurrences with a little intervention, it is called serendipity. Sure there were parts of the movie that made you shake your head and say “That would never happen,” and other parts that were infuriatingly frustrating because you wanted to slap the characters across the face to wake up. Jeremy Piven’s character, an obituary writer for the New York Times, steals the movie with his heartfelt portrayal as Jonathan’s best friend and his quoting of Epictetus, “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid,” and the obituary he writes for his still very much alive friend makes being a “jackass” sound so good. After all, who hasn’t wondered how much of your destiny is what you make of it, and how much is “Fatum”.
4) TIN CUP (1996). Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner) was a golf pro with a bright future, but his rebellious nature and bad attitude cost him everything. Now working as a golf instructor, he falls for his newest pupil, Dr. Molly Griswold (Rene Russo), a psychiatrist who happens to be the girlfriend of PGA Tour star and Roy’s rival, David Simms (Don Johnson). After he is humiliated by Simms at a celebrity golf tournament, McAvoy decides to make a run for the PGA Tour, as well as Molly’s heart. Not going to lie. The first time I saw this movie, I was infuriated with the ending and without giving too much of it away, let’s just say it wasn’t the way I wanted it to go. It was a happy ending, but not as happy as I wanted. But after I saw it a 2nd, 3rd and 25th time, I realized it was exactly as it should be. Perfection is recognizing that some flaws are difficult to overcome no matter what the stakes, but it is, after all, what makes us human—and perfect in our imperfection. Yes, Tin Cup is a romantic comedy, but a look under the hood, shows us a movie about reaching our “Potentia”.
3) THE FAMILY MAN (2000). Jack (Nicolas Cage), a high powered corporate raider with a lavish, fast-paced lifestyle stumbles into a grocery store holdup one Christmas Eve and disarms the gunman. In the ensuing conversation Jack tells the man “he has everything he needs.” The next morning he wakes up in bed lying next to Kate (Tea Leoni), his college sweetheart he left in order to pursue his career, and to the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists. As he stumbles through this alternate suburban universe, Jack finds himself coming to the realization that just maybe, his life is lacking in the most important area—family. In another scene stealing role, Jeremy Piven also appears, exhibiting everything you could ever ask for in a best friend.
2) THE WAY, WAY BACK (2013). Duncan (Liam James) is an awkward teen who must spend the summer at a beach house with his mother (Toni Collette), her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent’s obnoxious daughter. Trent can’t resist badgering Duncan, so the youth steals away to a water park and gets a job that will help him stay off Trent’s radar. As Duncan tends to the slides and pools of the aging park, he finds a father figure in wisecracking park manager Owen (Sam Rockwell) at a time when he desperately needs one. Steve Carell goes against type in this role as the insensitive scoundrel, complete with a new haircut and it works. Gone is the Carell of The 40 Year Old Virgin, Crazy, Stupid Love and Dan in Real Life. I never thought I could dislike him in a movie, and the fact that he is completely unlikeable tells you he has a greater range that I thought. But without question, Sam Rockwell steals the movie. He is as funny as he is unmotivated, as perceptive and self aware as he is underachieving. But what he couldn’t do for himself, he is able to do for Duncan by providing guidance and sympathy without making it look like he is. When he tells Duncan “Don’t ask me how I know. I just know,” you know he can relate and when he steps in between the bullying Carell and Duncan, you can’t help but tear up at the loyalty and kindness to a boy in need of some, in a society that needs more people like Rockwell’s character. This is a tiny movie in terms of budget and concept, but it is large in every way that matters, most especially loyalty and kindness.
1) NOBODY’S FOOL (1994). Adapted from the novel by Richard Russo, Nobody’s Fool tells the story of Donald “Sully” Sullivan, a 60 something man who on the surface has walked away from everything in his life. He walked out on his marriage. Is an absentee father. And works only hard enough to get by in the lifestyle he is used to—mainly drinking at the local watering hole. But to leave the assessment of Sully at that would be to miss the very subtle point of the film, which is that while Sully might have failed his family, he is not without redeeming qualities. In fact, he might just be the most important person in the sleepy little fictional Upstate town of North Bath, NY. He is best friends with an otherwise friendless local man. Loyal to his one legged and incompetent lawyer. Sympathetic to the “prettiest woman in Bath” (Melanie Griffith) whose husband (Bruce Willis) constantly cheats on her. And he rents a room from his 8th grade teacher, Miss Beryl (Jessica Tandy), in no small part because he recognizes she needs someone around. The dialogue in the movie (and novel) is understated but hilarious. When Beryl asks him why he always bets on the trifecta horse race every day, Sully responds with, “Because it’s due to come in one of these days.” Her response, “That’s exactly how I feel about you, Donald.” When she asks him if he ever regrets not doing more with the life god gave him, Sully answers, “Not often,” and then after reflecting for a moment, “now and again.” That moment, probably more than any other is what the movie is about. Redemption. When he gets the opportunity to be both a father to his son and grandfather to his grandson, he makes the most of it. Life doesn’t always offer a second chance, but when it does, you need to grab hold of it with both hands.
Viribus. Fatum. Potencia. Familia. Fidelis. Precium.
Strength. Destiny. Potential. Family. Loyalty. Redemption.
I’d say those are six pretty good themes on which to base a life.
The post 6 MOVIES TO LIVE YOUR LIFE BY appeared first on Matt Micros.
February 24, 2018
6 MOVIES TO LIVE YOUR LIFE BY
6) P.S. I LOVE YOU (2007). When Gerry (Gerard Butler), the husband of Holly (Hilary Swank), dies from an illness, she loses the love of her life. Knowing how hard Holly will take his death, Gerry plans ahead. Beginning on her 30th birthday, she receives the first in a series of letters written by him, designed to ease her grief and encourage her to move forward to a new life. If the movie sounds depressing, it actually isn’t because it starts with the death and works backward to happier times, with the focus on their romance. It has humor, love and requires a healthy dose of “Viribus”—the Latin word for strength.
5) SERENDIPITY (2001). On a magical night when they are in their 20s, Jonathan (John Cusack) meets Sara (Kate Beckinsale). He finds it love at first sight, but Sara believes in destiny. Ten years later, the two -- with 3,000 miles between them -- must decide if fate wants them to be together again. When love feels like magic, it is called destiny; when your destiny is the result of happy occurrences with a little intervention, it is called serendipity. Sure there were parts of the movie that made you shake your head and say “That would never happen,” and other parts that were infuriatingly frustrating because you wanted to slap the characters across the face to wake up. Jeremy Piven’s character, an obituary writer for the New York Times, steals the movie with his heartfelt portrayal as Jonathan’s best friend and his quoting of Epictetus, “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid,” and the obituary he writes for his still very much alive friend makes being a “jackass” sound so good. After all, who hasn’t wondered how much of your destiny is what you make of it, and how much is “Fatum”.
4) TIN CUP (1996). Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner) was a golf pro with a bright future, but his rebellious nature and bad attitude cost him everything. Now working as a golf instructor, he falls for his newest pupil, Dr. Molly Griswold (Rene Russo), a psychiatrist who happens to be the girlfriend of PGA Tour star and Roy's rival, David Simms (Don Johnson). After he is humiliated by Simms at a celebrity golf tournament, McAvoy decides to make a run for the PGA Tour, as well as Molly's heart. Not going to lie. The first time I saw this movie, I was infuriated with the ending and without giving too much of it away, let’s just say it wasn’t the way I wanted it to go. It was a happy ending, but not as happy as I wanted. But after I saw it a 2nd, 3rd and 25th time, I realized it was exactly as it should be. Perfection is recognizing that some flaws are difficult to overcome no matter what the stakes, but it is, after all, what makes us human—and perfect in our imperfection. Yes, Tin Cup is a romantic comedy, but a look under the hood, shows us a movie about reaching our “Potentia”.
3) THE FAMILY MAN (2000). Jack (Nicolas Cage), a high powered corporate raider with a lavish, fast-paced lifestyle stumbles into a grocery store holdup one Christmas Eve and disarms the gunman. In the ensuing conversation Jack tells the man “he has everything he needs.” The next morning he wakes up in bed lying next to Kate (Tea Leoni), his college sweetheart he left in order to pursue his career, and to the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists. As he stumbles through this alternate suburban universe, Jack finds himself coming to the realization that just maybe, his life is lacking in the most important area—family. In another scene stealing role, Jeremy Piven also appears, exhibiting everything you could ever ask for in a best friend.
2) THE WAY, WAY BACK (2013). Duncan (Liam James) is an awkward teen who must spend the summer at a beach house with his mother (Toni Collette), her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent's obnoxious daughter. Trent can't resist badgering Duncan, so the youth steals away to a water park and gets a job that will help him stay off Trent's radar. As Duncan tends to the slides and pools of the aging park, he finds a father figure in wisecracking park manager Owen (Sam Rockwell) at a time when he desperately needs one. Steve Carell goes against type in this role as the insensitive scoundrel, complete with a new haircut and it works. Gone is the Carell of The 40 Year Old Virgin, Crazy, Stupid Love and Dan in Real Life. I never thought I could dislike him in a movie, and the fact that he is completely unlikeable tells you he has a greater range that I thought. But without question, Sam Rockwell steals the movie. He is as funny as he is unmotivated, as perceptive and self aware as he is underachieving. But what he couldn’t do for himself, he is able to do for Duncan by providing guidance and sympathy without making it look like he is. When he tells Duncan “Don’t ask me how I know. I just know,” you know he can relate and when he steps in between the bullying Carell and Duncan, you can’t help but tear up at the loyalty and kindness to a boy in need of some, in a society that needs more people like Rockwell’s character. This is a tiny movie in terms of budget and concept, but it is large in every way that matters, most especially loyalty and kindness.
1) NOBODY’S FOOL (1994). Adapted from the novel by Richard Russo, Nobody’s Fool tells the story of Donald “Sully” Sullivan, a 60 something man who on the surface has walked away from everything in his life. He walked out on his marriage. Is an absentee father. And works only hard enough to get by in the lifestyle he is used to—mainly drinking at the local watering hole. But to leave the assessment of Sully at that would be to miss the very subtle point of the film, which is that while Sully might have failed his family, he is not without redeeming qualities. In fact, he might just be the most important person in the sleepy little fictional Upstate town of North Bath, NY. He is best friends with an otherwise friendless local man. Loyal to his one legged and incompetent lawyer. Sympathetic to the “prettiest woman in Bath” (Melanie Griffith) whose husband (Bruce Willis) constantly cheats on her. And he rents a room from his 8th grade teacher, Miss Beryl (Jessica Tandy), in no small part because he recognizes she needs someone around. The dialogue in the movie (and novel) is understated but hilarious. When Beryl asks him why he always bets on the trifecta horse race every day, Sully responds with, "Because it's due to come in one of these days." Her response, "That's exactly how I feel about you, Donald." When she asks him if he ever regrets not doing more with the life god gave him, Sully answers, “Not often,” and then after reflecting for a moment, “now and again.” That moment, probably more than any other is what the movie is about. Redemption. When he gets the opportunity to be both a father to his son and grandfather to his grandson, he makes the most of it. Life doesn’t always offer a second chance, but when it does, you need to grab hold of it with both hands.
Viribus. Fatum. Potencia. Familia. Fidelis. Precium.
Strength. Destiny. Potential. Family. Loyalty. Redemption.
I’d say those are six pretty good themes on which to base a life.
June 2, 2017
A TALE OF TWO BROTHERS
I knew I was in trouble the moment the words left her mouth.
“What do you think about getting another dog?” My wife asked.
“Why are you thinking like that?” I said. “Beans is going to live forever.”
“I don’t mean once he’s gone. I mean in addition to him.”
By way of background information, Mr. Beans was a puppy when I met my wife. He was HER puppy. A crazy one at that. He’d jump on you as you came in the door. Would chew your hands like they were chew toys. Was an escape artist that could get out of any yard. And he loved to play tug of war with his leash while on walks, which my wife was not a fan of. Ok, MAYBE I taught him that.
By the time he was six, however, he had simply become the best dog you could think of. He had the sweetest disposition, was gentle with kids and would lie in the middle of two rooms if my wife was in one and I was in the other–as if he needed to make sure we were both ok. He was once described as “noble” by someone at a beach in Nantucket for the way he would wander over if either of us were too far away.
So why would we ever want or need a second dog? I was seeing double. Twice the food. Twice the vet bills. And worst of all, twice the amount to clean up in the yard!
“I think Beans is lonely,” my wife said.
“He’s a dog. When we aren’t here, he sleeps. It’s not like he would have meaningful conversation with another dog if we had one,” I answered.
“How do you know? You always say you can communicate with him. Why don’t you ask him?”
“I did. And he says he doesn’t want anyone infringing on his turf or time with his mom and dad.”
“Please?? Can we just have him come for a day visit? If they don’t get along, we don’t have to keep him.”
The HIM was a black lab from a local rescue, a little over a year old as near as they could figure, and I knew that as soon as he entered our house, he wouldn’t be leaving. Unless he wanted to of course, which is exactly what he did five minutes after he got there. He was tall and smart, and while we sat down to speak with his foster parent, he jumped on the front door, pushed down on the handle, and let himself out.
“Oh my god!” I exclaimed.
“He’s fine. That’s what the beast does. He’ll come back when he’s ready.”
Sure enough, 10 to 15 minutes later, he returned the same way he had left and galloped into the living room. My wife loved him immediately. He and I had a bit of a feeling out phase at first. But there was no way he wasn’t staying so we agreed to co-exist.
Bode (named after the US skier), was extremely smart. There wasn’t a fence electric or otherwise that could contain the great Andy Dufresne. He was also determined. We had to move all items of food 8 feet off the ground to avoid losing it. One time we came home to find a bag of trail mix ripped open and empty. That must have been his appetizer. For the main course, he devoured two raw steaks WITH the styrofoam they were wrapped in. He proceeded to wash them down with a 64 ounce bottle of seltzer. But he didn’t drink it the polite way. He opted for the Viking method of tearing it open from the side and spraying it all around the kitchen. For dessert, he either invited over a monkey friend of his, or he devoured a bunch of bananas–except for the peels, which he somehow managed to leave behind as evidence.
Bode did suffer a bit from separation anxiety at first, literally throwing himself at the door any time we would try to leave, even though both of us work from home quite a bit. When we returned, he would leap into our arms from five feet away. A buddy described being greeted by Bode as “going 10 rounds with Mike Tyson every time you walked in the door.” Imagine someone simultaneously throwing four 25 lb weights at you. Then imagine trying to catch them all, and you have an idea what it was like.
He can be lazy at times. Moving him when he doesn’t want to be moved takes the strength of ten men. But he can also be energetic. At precisely 8:32pm every night, as Katy, Beans and I settle in on the couches after a long day, he begins to gallop around the house as if he’s made the final turn at the Kentucky Derby. Why? I have no idea. You’ll have to ask him.
The list of damage he has caused is long and illustrious. Several cabinet locks. Four screen doors–until I eventually decided to remove them altogether. Two sets of French doors from his jumping on them, and one microwave that he pulled down off a pretty high shelf in an effort to get at some bananas.
But there is no denying that he’s a cuddlebear, which is my wife’s favorite quality in a dog. He will wedge himself into the tiniest space on the couch where there really isn’t room for him.
If that doesn’t work, lying on top of you is another good option. In bed, he sleeps directly in between my wife and I. Like a person. It is not unusual to wake up and be staring into his big brown eyes as he shares your pillow, with his hot breath melting your face. One morning, I was sleeping on my side and thought my wife had slid up against me. I reached back with my arm and thought, “Boy, Katy might want to shave her legs.” Only to see that it was Bode, with one of his legs wrapped around me while he slept.
As for Beans? There were some dust ups in the first few weeks as he thought he needed to protect us from the Bode Monster, the intruder that was sure to leave eventually. After all, we had dog sat for friends before for a week or two. But after two weeks had passed, Beans began to realize Bode wasn’t going anywhere. They have since developed a routine where Bode finishes his food in seconds flat and hovers over Beans while he eats. When Beans is done–and he takes his sweet time as if to torture Bode–he lets Bode lick his bowl. They do this every single meal.
When one of them sees something outside, they both race to the window and bark, even if the other one doesn’t know what they are barking at. They walk next to each other on walks, proud as peacocks, for all the world to see.
And when they are tired, they even share the same couch on occasion. Sometimes even the same portion of the couch.
I once asked Beans if he liked having Bode around and he replied, “Of course, dad. He’s my brother.”
“I love him too, pal,” I replied as I hid the garbage can in the laundry room to prevent a possible assault on it while we went out for dinner.
The post A TALE OF TWO BROTHERS appeared first on Matt Micros.
May 22, 2017
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Major League Baseball’s Opening Day–it doesn’t matter whether your team is good, bad or in between. It doesn’t even matter if its cold and cloudy. Everyone is undefeated on opening day and you can always layer up. It’s like Christmas in April. Only with beer.
The first time you realize the person you love, feels the same way about you. I don’t know about you, but I find it amazing that anyone can tolerate me. I’m OCD. Bullheaded. Argumentative. And have only been wrong once in my life, and that was caused by a faulty GPS address. See what I mean? And yet somehow, I found someone who was willing to spend the rest of her life with me. I knew she was the one the moment I saw her fold herself Indian style into a chair not meant to be sat in that way. But could she feel the same way in return? I guess there really is someone for everyone. I’m living proof.
Sunny 72 degree days with a slight breeze. I think this is self explanatory.
A good day drunk. Nothing like drinking in the afternoon with friends without a care in the world. Passed out by 10:00 and you can still function the next day. What’s better than that?
Well, maybe this is. Your favorite movie that you haven’t watched in a few years, coming on in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep.
Dancing to Prince. I had the opportunity to briefly meet him once when I was working in Los Angeles and although he was small in stature, he was one of those people that was larger than life without even trying to be. Soft spoken and gentle, he is one of the few people that left me awestruck. And in case you don’t know, there is a rule that whenever a Prince song comes on the radio (or the movie Purple Rain), you HAVE to dance. This is non-negotiable. And it doesn’t matter if it’s 3:00am, noon, or if you’re at work. Rules are rules. If you don’t immediately break out your worst dance moves when Baby I’m a Star/I Would Die 4 U comes on, you have no soul and need to take the next elevator straight down to hell. RIP, Prince. Your music and legacy will live on.
Super Bowl Sunday. But I’d like it even more if it was on a Saturday.
Grey, cool, fall days, that require a sweatshirt and jeans, but nothing more. Lying in a hammock looking out as the colorful leaves begin to slowly make their way to the ground one and two at a time.
Seeing an old friend for the first time in years and feeling as though you saw them only the day before.
Laughing so hard, tears start streaming down your face. We all have that friend who can make us laugh no matter how awful our day has been. Call that person TODAY.
Reading old cards from long lost family members. I still have a card my parents gave me on my high school graduation 75 years ago (maybe a slight exaggeration) telling me how proud they were of me. I would literally give anything to be able to pick up the phone or go to visit them and hear their voices just one more time.
Flying in over the New York City skyline and wondering what every person is doing below.
Writing. There is nothing quite like creating a story that makes you feel a little better after you’ve read it than you did before. Nothing like creating characters so heroic you wish you could be just like them. Life can be depressing at times. It’s amazing to create your own world where everything is as it should be.
Tim McGraw.
Sitting on the top deck of a ferry boat cruising across the ocean to my favorite place in the world. Nantucket. If you’ve never been, you need to go. Beautiful sandy beaches. Grey shake shingle homes with widow’s walks on the rooftops looking over the entire island. A quaint town center with cobblestone streets and shops that are fun to walk in and out of even if you don’t buy a thing. Best of all, Nantucket is a place where ice cream isn’t just for kids.
Outdoor concerts. Whether you are on the lawn, in the pit or backstage, there’s nothing like a summer outdoor concert.
Counting Crows. Counting Crows at an outdoor summer venue even better. Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center the best.
An outdoor hot tub on a snowy winter night.
Christmas Eve with the lights on, carols playing in the background, and It’s a Wonderful Life on the TV.
Dogs. All of them. For their loyalty and unconditional love. Especially our boys Mr. Beans and Mr. Bode.
A good book that forces you to put everything else on hold until you’ve finished it.
What are some of your favorite things? Share them by contacting me through my website. www.mattmicros.com
Until next week, conquer your greatest fears and watch the doors of success fly open….
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Two weeks ago, I wrote a column entitled, THINGS THAT PISS ME OFF & A MOVIE THAT USED TO. I’ll admit, it was a bit heavy handed, even though it was mostly in jest. Mostly. Ok, not really. Those things did and continue to piss me off, and a few of you responded in agreement. But in an effort to show I’m not a complete curmudgeon, I thought it only fair to write a column that balances it out. And with that, I present to you–A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS, with another nod to The Sound of Music.
Major League Baseball’s Opening Day–it doesn’t matter whether your team is good, bad or in between. It doesn’t even matter if its cold and cloudy. Everyone is undefeated on opening day and you can always layer up. It’s like Christmas in April. Only with beer.
The first time you realize the person you love, feels the same way about you. I don’t know about you, but I find it amazing that anyone can tolerate me. I’m OCD. Bullheaded. Argumentative. And have only been wrong once in my life, and that was caused by a faulty GPS address. See what I mean? And yet somehow, I found someone who was willing to spend the rest of her life with me. I knew she was the one the moment I saw her fold herself Indian style into a chair not meant to be sat in that way. But could she feel the same way in return? I guess there really is someone for everyone. I’m living proof.
Sunny 72 degree days with a slight breeze. I think this is self explanatory.
A good day drunk. Nothing like drinking in the afternoon with friends without a care in the world. Passed out by 10:00 and you can still function the next day. What’s better than that?
Well, maybe this is. Your favorite movie that you haven’t watched in a few years, coming on in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep.
Dancing to Prince. I had the opportunity to briefly meet him once when I was working in Los Angeles and although he was small in stature, he was one of those people that was larger than life without even trying to be. Soft spoken and gentle, he is one of the few people that left me awestruck. And in case you don’t know, there is a rule that whenever a Prince song comes on the radio (or the movie Purple Rain), you HAVE to dance. This is non-negotiable. And it doesn’t matter if it’s 3:00am, noon, or if you’re at work. Rules are rules. If you don’t immediately break out your worst dance moves when Baby I’m a Star/I Would Die 4 U comes on, you have no soul and need to take the next elevator straight down to hell. RIP, Prince. Your music and legacy will live on.
Super Bowl Sunday. But I’d like it even more if it was on a Saturday.
Grey, cool, fall days, that require a sweatshirt and jeans, but nothing more. Lying in a hammock looking out as the colorful leaves begin to slowly make their way to the ground one and two at a time.
Seeing an old friend for the first time in years and feeling as though you saw them only the day before.
Laughing so hard, tears start streaming down your face. We all have that friend who can make us laugh no matter how awful our day has been. Call that person TODAY.
Reading old cards from long lost family members. I still have a card my parents gave me on my high school graduation 75 years ago (maybe a slight exaggeration) telling me how proud they were of me. I would literally give anything to be able to pick up the phone or go to visit them and hear their voices just one more time.
Flying in over the New York City skyline and wondering what every person is doing below.
Writing. There is nothing quite like creating a story that makes you feel a little better after you’ve read it than you did before. Nothing like creating characters so heroic you wish you could be just like them. Life can be depressing at times. It’s amazing to create your own world where everything is as it should be.
Tim McGraw.
Sitting on the top deck of a ferry boat cruising across the ocean to my favorite place in the world. Nantucket. If you’ve never been, you need to go. Beautiful sandy beaches. Grey shake shingle homes with widow’s walks on the rooftops looking over the entire island. A quaint town center with cobblestone streets and shops that are fun to walk in and out of even if you don’t buy a thing. Best of all, Nantucket is a place where ice cream isn’t just for kids.
Outdoor concerts. Whether you are on the lawn, in the pit or backstage, there’s nothing like a summer outdoor concert.
Counting Crows. Counting Crows at an outdoor summer venue even better. Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center the best.
An outdoor hot tub on a snowy winter night.
Christmas Eve with the lights on, carols playing in the background, and It’s a Wonderful Life on the TV.
Dogs. All of them. For their loyalty and unconditional love. Especially our boys Mr. Beans and Mr. Bode.
A good book that forces you to put everything else on hold until you’ve finished it.
What are some of your favorite things? Share them by contacting me through my website. www.mattmicros.com
Until next week, conquer your greatest fears and watch the doors of success fly open….
The post A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS appeared first on Matt Micros.
May 16, 2017
IN A COUNTRY OF RIGHT AND LEFT, I'M MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
But here's the thing, and there's really no way around it. Everyone is wrong. Yes, you read that right. Everyone is wrong.
Full disclosure: I think the press should report the news, not make themselves a part of it by inserting themselves and their opinions into it every single day. I don't like some of the careless and hurtful things candidate Trump said, but I like President Trump's ideas on business and taxes in an effort to jump start the economy. I think building a wall between the US and Mexico would be a historical waste of money and time. I agree that the ACA has helped a great many people, but at the same time, has hurt a great many people. I think it needs to be replaced or at least improved, but I think the current replacement being offered is ten times worse. I think Merrick Garland should have been given a hearing for the Supreme Court, but that the Democrats in Congress that tried to block Neil Gorsuch's nomination, missed a tremendous opportunity to show the country that the country comes first, just like the Republicans did.
I think Paul Ryan is a waste of space, who is out of touch with half the population and lacks the leadership skills needed to run a kickball league much less a Congress. I think Chuck Schumer is a smarmy, hypocrite who seems to have trouble recalling what he said yesterday, much less a few months ago. I think both Hillary Clinton and John McCain have served the country, sometimes well, sometimes not so well, and now they need to ride off into the sunset, never to be heard from publicly again. I think Jim Comey was horrendous at his job, but recognize that factors out of his control probably impacted his ability to DO his job. I think Congress should pass through a rule that requires only 51% of the senate to break up a filibuster in order to pass legislation, regardless of which party is in control. How else can anything be expected to get done? If legislation passes that works, aren't we all better for it? And if it doesn't, vote them out at the next opportunity. Unfortunately, I think many in Congress recognize that the buck stops with the President, and they can get away with doing absolutely NOTHING and keep their jobs, rather than putting themselves out there and risk alienating their voting base. It's the Potomac Two Step, and a pretty good reason for term limits.
But more than anything, I realize that I could be wrong on one or two or even all of the above. They are my "opinions" and this country was founded on the viewpoints of its founding fathers, some of which needed to be amended over the years. So who am I to think that my viewpoints are all correct? Who is anyone for that matter? And that's why everyone is wrong.
They're wrong because too many people are intolerant and insulting to anyone who sees things differently than they do. The thing is, you could take nearly any issue and bring up valid points on opposite sides of the argument. Think the ACA helped millions of people gain insurance that otherwise would never have it? You'd be right. But if you think that the ACA had loopholes in it that raised premiums for people that couldn't afford to have them raised, in turn dragging them into the poverty level, you'd be right on that as well.
Don't want to see the families of illegal immigrants split up? Understandable. But if you're upset because friends can't gain a Green Card or Visa that have tried to do everything the correct way, that's understandable as well.
Think the rich should pay their fair share of taxes? I'd agree with that. But how do you define rich? Is it fair to drag upper middle class into the middle class because you classify them as "rich" in comparison? Doing so might help preserve some excellent entitlement programs, but in the long run, does it demotivate the work force? What's the point of working hard if you aren't going to end up any better off than someone who maybe doesn't work very hard?
Social issues are even more complicated. Personally, I'm in favor of live and let live. People should be free to marry whomever they want or dress however they want. Pro-life? I can see how some people view the moment of conception as a life being created. But I also see the point of those that don't see it that way. And then I wonder if the government should even have any say on those issues at all? We could shrink the government, but then that might mean less help for the less fortunate.
I see people giving speeches that I completely disagree with, but still find it sad when those same people aren't allowed to speak at all. Isn't it a free country? Since when is violent protest the answer to any question or problem?
The bigger question is how do we solve the problems at hand? I'd start with a healthy dose of Aretha Franklin--respect. And follow it up by listening to opposing views rather than trying to shout over them. There are two sides to every argument. How can someone in California, who has never spent a minute living in the Midwest or rust belt, be critical of someone from there that has real issues and real struggles? Likewise, how can someone from a town of 10,000 people, understand the economic and social problems of a city of 10 million? They can't. Unless they listen.
Here's hoping people listen more, and insult less. Here's hoping that Congress and the President will attempt to do the greatest good for the greatest number. Respect--for each other. Sacrifice--to help others. Compassion--for those less fortunate. Understanding--that not everyone comes from the same background as you do.
In a world of left and right, right and wrong, the middle can be a lonely place to live. The good news is that there's plenty of room here and you'll always be welcomed with open arms.
May 10, 2017
THINGS THAT PISS ME OFF AND A MOVIE THAT USED TO
Geniuses who decided it was a good idea to have construction on two major highways that run parallel to each other at the same time. Do you really need to block off traffic in all possible directions?
Five people watching another person dig a hole on a construction site. Wouldn’t four be enough?
A tax code so complicated that it is nearly impossible to know if you are paying too much, too little, or exactly the right amount. How about doing away with the loopholes and then you pay what you owe? Or is that too simple?
Reality shows on network television. Toooooo maaaach. And how about some reality. Not really truthful to call a show “Dancing with the Stars” when you can’t tell who is the star and who is the dancer.
That no one makes music videos anymore.
Major League managers who feel the need to overmanage. If a guy can’t hit righties and lefties, should he really be in the major leagues?
Congress. All they do is call for investigations of each other. I’m picturing them sitting in a room sipping brandy, saying “Hey listen, we have to make it look like we are doing something. Tell you what. I’ll call for an investigation of you. Then you call for one of Chuck. Then we’ll make sure the investigations last so long people actually forget about them.” Brilliant! CLOWNS. Cue the Bad News Bears music.
Judges who are supposed to be impartial and yet feel the need to inject their opinions into cases.
People who complain about rights violations by rioting and inciting violence. Do you really think you are helping the cause when you hurt people and businesses that support your cause? On the moron scale of 1-10, this one is a 17.
The two party political system. Where are people supposed to go who believe in ideas and not platforms? There are some people that believe in ideas from each party. Why does it have to be one party or another?
People who drive slowly in the passing lane. If you’re not in a hurry, that’s wonderful, but why do you need to block other people? If you’re the traffic police, join the force. Otherwise, get out of the way!
Weather people that can’t get a forecast right until they stick their head out the window. By the way, it’s sunny outside.
Rainy weekends.
People who say they’re going to do something, don’t want any help, and then don’t do it. I think this is self explanatory.
The Motion Picture Academy thinking that most movies can’t possibly be good if they have a happy ending.
Car washes that close at 5:00pm. Umm, are we supposed to go during our lunch hour?
Rude people. (I get that this one is ironic given the title of this article)
Athletes that don’t sign autographs or give an attitude when asked for one. Shouldn’t you be flattered? Besides, you’re making millions. Pay me that much money and you can ask me in the middle of slurping my soup.
Super Bowl Sunday. Wouldn’t it make far more sense, and probably stimulate the economy much more if they played the game on a Saturday?
People who think that punching someone in the face is the answer to any problem. (Hitting them with a car is much more effective.)
But after I’ve been pissed off, there’s nothing like sitting down to watch a movie that doesn’t piss me off.
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
Dead Poets Society (1989) is the story of an unorthodox English teacher at a prestigious New England Prep School who inspires his students through a love of poetry and the classics.
I’m going to be honest. The first time I watched the film, I was pissed off that the kids caved to pressure from the school and their parents to railroad Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) into taking the fall for a student’s suicide. Yes, they stood on their desks at the end in a sign of solidarity and support, but give me a break. The guy was still out of a job. There is no way I would have allowed it to happen. But my parents were great parents and I didn’t grow up in the 50’s. Once I took a step back, I realized the power of the movie and what an amazing actor Robin Williams was. The only actor I know that could combine hilarity with sensitivity. You just felt there was something more inside him waiting to come out. His Mr. Keating was the teacher everyone wanted to know better. The one you respected and learned from because you wanted his respect.
Dead Poets has a terrific cast and does a wonderful job expanding on the pressures of adolescence. It’s a must see for any who have not yet seen it.
Until next week, carpe diem, and try not to piss me off…
Rantings, Ravings & Remembrances
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