I TURNED 58 YESTERDAY

I HOPE I HAVE MADE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

The year ahead will be one of difficult and challenging transition.

Details about major changes will be shared in early 2023.

I always try to write a blog post tied to my birthday, something different than the other 364 posts of the year.

I have long contemplated writing my own obituary.

I have pre-written obits of well-known people when I was a journalist.

It’s common practice to have them at the ready with a significant person is very old or ill.

But I keep thinking if I post it, maybe someone will think I’ve expired, am about to or am in the mood to expedite the journey to the other side.

Not the case on all counts.

So how to do a bit of an I love me post without crafting my own obituary in paragraph structure.

Well, how about bullet points.

To date, 40 years living as an adult, I have: 

1.     Completed projects in some of the greatest cities of the world

2.     Traveled – solo and together – to even more of the best cities on earth

3.     Written a one-of-kind special section on one of Columbus, Ohio’s poorest hardscrabble neighborhoods

4.     Won major awards for my journalism

5.     Been my editor’s nominee for the Pulitzer Prize

6.     Had my work published in more than 100 newspapers and magazines

7.     Posted daily to a blog for nearly a decade

8.     Produced cover stories on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility

9.     Produced center-spread major feature articles on urban design, planning, architecture, engineering, mobility, sustainability, housing and growth

10. Ghost written trade journal article and op-ed pieces for clients

11. Spoken in the grand ballroom at the American Planning Association national conference

12. Given a key lecture in Paris at the International Making Cities Livable global gathering

13. Spoken about Universal Design in planning at the APA Florida statewide conference

14. Written a winning proposal for presentation at the American Institute of Architects national conference

15. Written an award submission that won the APA’s highest nationwide honor for a client

16. Been on planning teams recognized with APA statewide and regional awards

17. Led the communications for an urban design studio that more than doubled in size during my tenure

18. Led marketing for a globally honored international architecture firm

19. Led business development for a legacy engineering firm that expanded its walkability and multimodal practice

20. Served as the senior policy advisor to the chair of the Miami City Commission – within three years of moving from Ohio

21. Wrote the legislation for affordable homeownership in Little Havana

22. Contributed to a project that created a pedestrian walkway connecting Miami’s greats historic main streets – Calle Ocho and Coral Way

23. Served as point person for the elected official who cast the deciding vote to adopt Miami 21, the first citywide form-based code in America

24. Created a groundbreaking Universal Design course for the undergraduate and graduate levels

25. Taught the revolutionary Universal Design course at a top 10 school of architecture

26. Contributed writing and research to the largest trade association in America for two decades

27. Contributed content to the nation’s largest non-profit for people with spinal cord injuries for 20-plus years

28. Advised world leaders on how to improve housing, transit, workplaces, parks, services and daily living for people with disabilities

29. Advised corporations on diversity, equity and inclusion – through the lens of disability advocacy

That’s 29, half of 58.

I’d like to think there are 29 more great accomplishments, but there’s no need to keep writing.

I thank those who read this essay to completion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO (A HEALTHIER) ME

I’VE TAKEN OFF ABOUT 70 POUNDS THIS YEAR

I’m not a big birthday guy.

Mine is the 22^nd, this Thursday.

We will probably do more for Halloween.

And we never go out on the date itself, unless it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

Call us pragmatic children of the Midwest.

The big thing to mark this year, more so than accomplishing 56 years on earth, is my weight loss.

On Thanksgiving 2019, we went to a seafood buffet.

I turned it into a see food buffet.

I ate about 20 plates of everything in site including breads, starches and desserts.

Easily blowing up the healthy, low calorie value of seafood.

In early December, my bride of a third of a century suggested some lifestyle changes.

We focused on weight loss.

I’ve been fat all my life.

Actually, up to second grade, I was skinny as a rail.

But my mom fell into terrible mental illness in the early 1970s.

She said “sorry” by heaping on fatty food.

I medicated with mass quantities.

Let’s just say by the time I started looking at portion control and introducing more fruits and veggies, I was getting up to NFL lineman weight.

And that was on a 5-10 frame, not a 6-4 frame of a big boned left tackle.

I started learning stuff. Like that a granola bar seemed like a better choice than a candy bar, but that many have more fat and calories than a few squares of dark chocolate.

And I used to think I was doing great eating a half cup of raisins. Or a gulping a big glass of orange juice.

Till I found out sugar in those.

I knew eating the better part of a whole pizza, even a small one, was wrong.

Little did I know that once slice of a cheese pizza was more calorie than a healthy eater should down for lunch.

So here we are, 70 pounds lighter.

A flight of stairs no longer is the enemy.

My knees don’t feel like their 90 years old.

Pants are sliding down without a smaller belt.

I’m swimming in some of my fat dude golf shirts.

The frightening thing, considering how much I’ve shed, is that I’m still fat by any measure.

I have more than a couple pounds to go to get under 200.

I'd like to reach my ideal body weight for a 5-10 man over 50.

It's won't be easy. I’ve plateaued for a few months.

They say it happens.

I need to walk more.

While I’ve done great with the calories and food choices, I’ve not exercised enough.

I know that does great things for metabolism and even mental well-being.

I guess the same combo of stuff that kept me putting off healthy eating for more than four decades has continued to block my desire to schedule some walks around the neighborhood park.

I know I don’t have to join a gym, buy equipment and do cardio till I pass out.

A healthy body is two simple things. Eat less (and better) and move around more.

Here’s to calling myself out in public in this blog.

Guess my birthday gift to myself is pretty obvious.

Time to start walking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SOULMATE HEIDI

 WE HAVE CELEBRATED OUR BIRTHDAYS

 FOR MORE THAN A THIRD OF A CENTURY TOGETHER

I love Heidi for thousands of reasons.

She always has my back.

She has helped me grow as a person in countless ways.

Right now, during the pandemic, I especially love Heidi for the way she takes care of our Siamese rescue cat HoneyBear.

She manages all vet appointments, vaccinations, check-ups, medicines, prescription food, etc.

She plays with HB at least twice a day.

Happy 56th birthday, from your loving husband and cat.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

YUP, I ROLL 52 TODAY

One year walking this earth for every card in the deck.

More than 30 of it spent with my wonderful wife, Heidi.

The past nearly two without my late father, Ken.

Product of small town Midwest, far outside Cleveland and just outside the smokestacks of Akron.

Moved to South Florida on Election Day 2000.

Almost 15 years in our historic Little Havana house.

Put half what we paid for it into restoration.

Will be paid off in fewer than 2 years.

Hard wood floors, some in need of carpentry and a refinish.

Good bones, lots of abuse in its nearly hundred years.

Beaten a bit, not unlike my body after its more than half century in the rain, snow, wind and sun.

Would ask for a re-do on anything.

Learned from my mistakes.

Treasured every friendship.

Knew when to leave a job when the bosses or owners were toxic.

Reinvented myself at least three times....means prolly a pair of reinventions still on the road ahead.

No desire to live past average life expectancy.

Why be greedy about it.

Have already outlived a lot of classmates and rock stars.

Unafraid of what's on the other side.

For sure, no more bills.

No more Testigos banging on my door to wake me from a Saturday nap.

Just long, long rest would suit me fine.

Until then, lots of rescue cats to take care of.

And blog posts to write.

BEST BIRTHDAY IN SOME TIME YESTERDAY

October 22nd was a great day for me:

PlusUrbia Design was recognized for Wynwood work and making a difference in the future of Calle 8.

I'm married to the best wife a person could have for 3 decades running.

We live in an historic Little Havana house upgraded and within a few years of being paid off.

We love a beautiful rescue Siamese that has been in our lives for 2 years.




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