2003 In Review

In 2003 I received the inspiration for naming the black steel bicycle that I will be riding from San Diego, CA to Wheatley Heights, NY in the summer of 2012 - "The Black Pearl" and she was unnamed until I saw this beauty flash up on the big screen;

I then made the comparison that like this gorgeous ship under sale, my Pearl wasn't the prettiest bike on the road but she was fast and she could take a beating!

So this brings us back to what else happened in the year 2003;

One of the most important events in the Connor Family history occured in February of 2003 - William and

   James were born (at 28 weeks) in the middle of a blizzard!  And so began the crazy journey of raising

   twins!  Our family would never be the same again but I wouldn't change it for the world!

The fall of 2003 saw me begin my sixth year of teaching at Syosset High School.

The summer of 2003 was (unebeknownst to me at the time) my last year of directing at Usdan Center

   for the Creative and Performing Arts.  (Boy do I miss that place and all my friends there - yes, I'm talking

   about you Eric Baum!)

The spring of 2003 saw us bring to the SHS stage an amazing production of Macbeth with Alex Numeroff (a

   young lady) as Macbeth and Jackie Silvestri as Lady Macbeth.

But what was happening in the world around us back then?  Here is a potpourri of US and World Events to remind you;



(Elevated home in Belhaven, NC - 2003)

For starters, here's how much things cost;

How Much things cost in 2003



Average Cost of new house $246,300.00

Average Median Income $45,016.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.83 (to quote Adolfo from The Drowsy Chaperone - WHAAAAAATTTT?)

(Making Muppets Adult Friendly for All!)

Because I teach Theatre, here are the shows that opened on Broadway in 2003 (click here for a link that will provide links to all these shows);

Anna in the Tropics
Avenue Q
Big River
The Boy from Oz
The Caretaker
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Golda's Balcony
Henry IV
I Am my Own Wife
Laughing Room Only
Little Shop of Horrors
Master Harold and the Boys
Never Gonna Dance
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells it All
Retreat from Moscow
Sexaholix...(A Love Story)
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Taboo
The Violet Hour
Wicked
Wonderful Town

And as a teacher of Theatre, I'm ashamed to say that I saw less than a quarter of those shows.  Of course, with the boys being quarantined in the house until June, its no wonder that we didn't get out much.  Of these (and yes, I know I'm about to commit a sacriligeous act here) my favorite of that season was Avenue Q - sorry all of your fans of Wicked.  I guess you'll just have to sing this little ditty;



And what else happened in the world around us in 2003?  I'm glad you asked.  You can click here for an in-depth, almost daily rendering of what went on in that great year.  However, for the time-crunched amongst us, here are some of the highlights in no particular order;



(NOTE: this video really doesn't have anything in PARTICULAR to do with the events of 2003, it just is a whimsical look at how consumerism is driven by politics)

World Events 2003

•The new United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation
•United States plans for an invasion of Iraq due to an imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction
•The United States and the United Kingdom start with their shock and awe campaign with a massive air strikes on military targets in Baghdad before the invasion of Iraq by Land Forces.
•Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, is captured in Tikrit by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.
•A major severe weather outbreak spawned more tornadoes than any week in U.S. history. 393 tornadoes were reported in 19 states
•Earthquake in Boumerdès region of northern Algeria - 2,200 killed
•Lance Armstrong wins his fifth Tour De France
•Do Not Call List starts providing consumers with an opportunity to limit telemarketing calls.
•Armed undercover "sky marshals" are used on Aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks following 9/11
•Americans rename "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries" in protest to France's stand on Iraq
•Toyota overtakes Chrysler to get the number three slot in US Car Sales
•Ex-soldier John Muhammad is found guilty of the Washington sniper shootings
•10's of thousands of Harley Owners gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to celebrate 100 years of Harley-Davidson Motor Cycles.
•The last old-style Volkswagen Beetle rolls off its production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
•Italy suffers a near countrywide blackout when electricity supplies fail
•The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - 38.5°C (101.3°F) at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent
•A car bomb attack in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq has left nearly 100 dead including a leading Shia Muslim politician Ayatollah Hakim.
•Voters recall Governor Gray Davis from office and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him.
•The wanted terrorist Abul Abbas is captured in Baghdad
•Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch is amongst those captured US Troops free her 9 days later
•A massive earthquake devastates southeastern Iran. Over 40,000 killed
•In France a 104 degree heat wave kills approximately 5,000
•Dafur Rebels begin attacking Sudanese government targets, bringing a swift military and police campaign to Darfur causing millions to flee their homes.
•President George W. Bush on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln announces major combat in Iraq is over
•US Interest Rates at 45 year record low of 1% and core inflation rate of 37 year record low 1.3%
•Justice Roy Moore, is suspended when he refused to take down the Ten Commandments from an Alabama state justice building.
•Hurricane Isabel claims 40 lives and leaves six million people without power
•Kyoto Protocol in danger of failing following International Climate Conference in Moscow
•Terrorists bomb the United Nations Baghdad Headquarters
•Terrorists from Al-Qaeda drive two trucks packed with explosives and bombs into the Bet Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey killing 27
•Suicide bomb attacks on British interests in the Turkish city of Istanbul kill 27 and injure 400

(to keep this in the bicycle theme, I was actually riding home from Usdan to Smithtwon as this was happening.  I was riding on Jericho Turnpike and I couls see the traffic lights slowly going out down the road in front of me - one by one.)

Technology 2003

•The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts onboard.
•The highly infectious disease SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) spreads from China, Singapore and Vietnam, Worldwide nearly 9,000 People are effected in 15 countries and over 800 die from the effects.
•Human Genome Project successfully completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to 99.99% accuracy.
•Secretary of State Colin Powell urges the U.N. Security Council to move against Iraq due to possession of weapons of mass destruction
•In the biggest blackout in the history of the north America some 50 million people in the northeastern states of US and southern Canada lose power.
•The birth of Prometea, the first cloned horse by Italian scientists.
•The space probe Galileo makes a fiery dive into Jupitors atmosphere it was launched in 1989 and is one of the most successful NASA Projects.
•Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to a close, at least for the time being
•Libya agrees to give Up Chemical Weapons
•Concerns continue to grow over possible Asian bird flu outbreak also known as avian influenza




(One of the original commercials used by Apple in 2003 to launch iTunes)

Popular Culture 2003

•The ABC's 20/20 airs the controversial Granada Television documentary Living with Michael Jackson
•Keiko the Orca made famous by the "Free Willy" movies, dies
•The Recording Industry Association of America (or RIAA) files copyright lawsuits against Internet users for trading songs online
•Apple launches Itunes which becomes a major success selling 10 million songs within 4 months of launch
•A white tiger attacks Roy Horn of the duo "Siegfried & Roy" leaving him partially paralyzed
•Michael Jackson is booked on suspicion of multiple counts of child molestation ( later acquitted )
•JK Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is released



(There were so many incredible movies this year but my kids love this scene and so do I!!!)

Popular Films

•The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
•Finding Nemo
•The Matrix Reloaded
•Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
•Bruce Almighty
•The Last Samurai
•Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
•The Matrix Revolutions
•X2: X-Men United
•Bad Boys II
•Lost in Translation

Popular Musicians

•Amanda Perez
•Elton John
•Beyoncé
•Christina Aguilera
•Travis
•David Gray
•Limp Bizkit
•Evanescence
•Coldplay
•Sheryl Crow
•Hilary Duff
•Norah Jones
•blink-182
•Pink
•Shania Twain
•Madonna
•Avril Lavigne
•50 Cent
•Clay Aiken
•Kylie Minogue
•Stereophonics
•Kelly Clarkson
•Blur
•Ashanti
•Fleetwood Mac
•Eminem
•Nelly
•P. Diddy

Of course this is only a small sampling of what happened, there were still so much more that went on in the world in 2003.  But isn't it fun to go back and walk down memory lane and remember?  To say to oneself, "oh, right, I remember that!" 

But why this walk down the memory lane of 2003?

TODAY I HIT 2003 MILES ON MY ODOMETER!!!!!!!

Yes, Connor's Army fans, I have already ridden over 2000 miles on my bicycle and its only the middle of October!!!!  I have ten more weeks of riding to do.  If by some miracle of modern time-crunchedness I am able to ride an average of 160 miles a week (I really don't think that's possible) I will be able to ride 3600 miles this year - the same amount that I will be riding across the country this year.  Basically the route we will take will look something like this;

This is the actual route that I created on Google Maps.  It looks like it would be doable since I programmed it in using the bicycle directions feature.
I am feeling much more optimistic about the ride now.  I know that I'm committed to finishing what I started (and some people think I should be committed for doing what I'm doing).  But I do still feel frustrated because I can't seem to get the support.  I see people everywhere starting wonderful foundations for their family members and entire communities getting on board to support them.  Yet, I can't even get my school community on board with it.

Now granted, I haven't tried to get my ACTers really into fundraising for this because of the entire political aspect of it.  I don't want to have any kid put into the position of things being said behind their back that the only reason they got a role was becuase they (or their parents) gave a lot to Connor's Army and to the cross country trip.  I would NEVER allow anything like that to enter into my casting of a role.  Accusations like that were made in the past which is why I'm really not leaning on those kids for help.

However, I am going to start appealing to the other clubs at school for their help in fundraising for this.  They fundraise for a variety of other charities.  I'll let Breast Cancer month wind down and then I'll ask for their help.  Its the only way I can think of doing this.

In the meantime, I've sold about $250 in bicycles through what I'm calling RECycle for Sunrise.  I take used bikes that have been donated or that I find in the trash and I refurbish them.  I then place them out in my yard and/or list them on Craigslist.  So far I've sold two kids bike, a ten-speed racer, and three mountain bikes with more on the way.  If I have to do that to get the money I need to pay for the cross country then I'll do that.

But there are some former ACT alumni who have really been so incredibly supportive in these endeavors.  Mel Mednick helped organize a comedy improv night to help raise money for Connor's Army last spring.  This fall Jamie Blanch and her fellow warriors at UNO Fights Cancer have held bake sales and are selling ribbons to help raise money for Connor's Army and ACS.  I am so incredibly grateful to them because it does remind me that people out there do care about what I'm trying to do for these kids and believe that I can make the 3600 miles to bring some attention (and hopefully donations) to Sunrise Day Camp.

If anyone else out there wants to help organize a fundraising event either here or where you are at school (ALUMNI PLEEEEEAAAASSSSSSEEEEEEE???????) let me know and I'll do all I can to help you.  Remember - its for the kids of Sunrise!!!!!

Stay well and I will continue to see you on the road!!!!!!

Hmmmm, Should I Have Some Biscotti With that Venti(ng)?

One of my favorite teacher movies is The Dead Poet's Society.  Granted, its no Goodbye, Mr. Chips but it does have an incredible scene (there are so many) in which Robin Williams' character (John Keating) works to instill in one of his young charges (Neil) that he does indeed have a poet within him;



He is, of course (for the learned amongst you), referring to Walth Whitman's masterwork "Song of Myself" and the 52nd "stanza" which reads;

The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering.

I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.

The last scud of day holds back for me,
It flings my likeness after the rest and true as any on the shadow’d wilds,
It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk.

I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you.

To read this in its entirety, you only need to click here.
Or to use the Dr. Seuss version (you can fast forward to 9:09 for this one);


 
Although I do like the updated version of this classic (especially Carol Burnett's treatment of the Sour Kangaroo) and the Broadway version of Seussical: The Musical, there is just something so timeless and classic about the original animated version.

So I need to vent.  It may be just the frustration of wanting to be heard, or it may be born out of the need to let out a mighty Yawp in the manner of Walt Whitman and be counted but I need to vent about what's going on with Connor's Army.
You see, A New York Times writer is riding cross country to retrace a trip he took 18 years ago.  He has a blog which I have to admit is much better than mine - hey, he's a professional writer, it had better be.  But he is also making his trek on a custom-made titanium road bike with flat handlebars, he's only staying in hotels, and he's getting all the exposure that working for one of the most well-known newspapers in the world can bring. 

Its all well and good that a single person is making a cross country trek on a bicycle.  Thousands do it every year, many for charitable groups.  But what is so damn infuriating is that this person is getting so much coverage when he is doing it for purely selfish reasons.  It seems as if this is his way of expressing his mid-life crisis.  Now granted, he does admit that he has some physical ailments that will make this less than ideally comfortable and I truly feel for him.  However, as I ask my acting students all of the time, what is his motivation?

Now I don't want this to just be a pity party for one.  Yes, perhaps I am experiencing a little of the sour grapes syndrome:

As our cousins the Girls of the Golden Afternoon would say, "ewwwwwwww"

and I do know the old story of Aesop's fox and the grapes;

One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."


Moral:  It is easy to despise what you cannot get.

And maybe to and extent that is what this is - I am belittling his physical efforts and discomfort because I cannot get the coverage.  But it is just so damn frustrating to wish to do something to help others and not be able to get anyone else interested.
 
You see, part of the problem seems to stem from the fact that I'm not doing this because (God forbid) something has happened to one of my children or one of my family members.  It just feels like because I am doing this for altruistic reasons, no one wants to help.  To date we have NO DONATIONS that have been made to the link at Sunrise, I can't seem to get to the 1,000 mark on facebook (however, you can like us by clicking the link to the right), I can't seem to get any more sponsors to commit to help underwrite the costs that this trip will entail, and I can't seem to get any press coverage except for the articles that Amy and I wrote for The Bicycle Times.
 
WHAT GIVES??????????
 
I am soooooo grateful to all of you who have actually viewed these blog entries.  Even though I only have 52 followers, I can see that I have had over 8100 views since I've started this blog.  I truly would like to thank each and every one of you who has read this far, not only the continuing blog but this particular entry, and I would like to ask you for your help. 
 
You see, my family is spread far and wide and some of them still continue to deal with health issues.  To ask them to go beyond what they've already been able to do to support me is just not feasible right now.  The only people working on this enterprise are my wife Amy and myself.  We don't have a staff, we don't have a huge network of friends who are making calls and soliciting donations for us - all we have is the two of us trying to make this happen and in doing so make an incredible summer possible for eight children that we may never even meet.
 
HOW CAN THOSE OF YOU READING THIS HELP?
 
I am throwing out a challenge to The New York Times, The Daily News, Newsday, USA Today and/or any other big newspaper companies out there.  They've covered the elite people who ride cross country and have huge budgets and support teams.  Phil Keoghan of the Amazing Race did a cross country ride for MS - and I don't want to denigrate from his noble deed.  But if you look at his equipment, his chase vehicle and all the other support he has its not all that arduous.
 
I would like to challenge The New York Times, The Daily News, Newsday, USA Today and/or any other big newspaper out there to cover me during my preparation time and during the cross country ride next summer!  I will give them an exclusive daily blog and I will cover step by step the entire logistics planning, training and the journey itself.  I am not doing this trip on a custom titanium frame or on a Trek bike donated to me by the company.  I am riding cross country on a Diamondback frame I dug out of the trash (I've contacted Diamondback and they won't even sponsor me) and with parts I have bought off of Craig's List, Ebay, Internet companies and/or pilfered from other bikes I have found.
 
I would like to challnege The New York Times, The Daily News, Newsday, USA Today and/or any other big newspaper to cover a REAL person riding cross country to help others. 
 
How can you help?  If you have any connections to any of these papers or if you know anyone who has connections to any of these companies, pass on my challenge to them.  See if they are willing to see what REAL people are willing to do to help others, isn't that the entire point of giving?  I don't want the publicity for me (and that seems to be the double edged sword here) - I want to publicize Sunrise and make people aware of the camp and one way they can give - by pledging to Connor's Army CX.
 
Is it sour grapes?  Yes and no.  I'm sour because it doesn't seem fair that the only people who can get coverage for their causes are the well connected or the famous.  When does the average guy get the chance?  Isn't helping children with cancer forget about their disease for a summer a worthy cause too?
 
Yet We Go On.....
 
Becuase that's what we'll do.  Although we can't seem to attract sponsors and no one is donating, the ride WILL be happening.  We hope that once people hear about it they'll be moved in their hearts to spare 5, 10, 15 or 20 dollars - with enough donors we can reach our goal.  If we can just get 2500 people from across the country to each give 20 dollars, eight children's lives will be changed forever - and isn't that worth the challenge.
 
So if you have any connections to papers or sponsors please let us know, the bike is ready, I'm getting ready, all we need is the funds for the kids.
 
Okay, enough Venti(ng) for now, I promise!
 
Stay well and I'll see you on the road!