Scooter Chronicles

I grew up in a northeast suburb of Detroit called Center Line. I have two younger brothers and a younger sister (who’s blog is FroosViews.Com). My extended family also has a blog (Fab-Family.Com), but we aren’t that active.

I was a sports fanatic growing up, and was always spitting out sports facts. Still do from time to time. I spent most of my time playing sandlot baseball with my two brothers and the kids down the street, along with basketball and football, depending on the seasons, and riding our bikes all over the place. We also did a lot of other strange things during our youth. I even kept up with sports in other areas, playing Strat-O-Matic baseball (and hockey soon after, back when they were card and dice games) with one of my friends from school, even going as far as designing team logos and uniforms. Eventually I got into music, though I have never formally learned how to play an instrument.

My “college days” were spent going to the local community college, though they had a good program for what I was getting into (machine design). I eventually caught on with a company that sent me around the country visiting many automotive assembly plants. They also temporarily re-located me at a few. I lived in Brampton, Ontario for six months (Chrysler), then spent six months in Louisville, Kentucky (Ford). A couple years later I was sent to Dayton, Ohio for over a year (GM). It was during my stay in Ohio that I started talking to my wife Marcia via the internet and on the phone, whom I met through a FAN CLUB for the band Yes. It was through Yahoo and was started by David (his blog is ZogWorld), who is now our brother-in-law (married Marcia’s sister Catherine … blogging at BowlOfOatmeal). David has since renamed the site SoundChaser.Org. Marcia moved to Dayton to be with me, and we moved to Detroit when my employer was heading for a merger that I wanted no part of. Soon after, between Marcia being homesick and my desire to get away from the car industry, we moved to the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. Four days before our wedding, we went to see Yes play a concert in Philadelphia and ended up being interviewed for a documentary DVD that the band was releasing (“Symphonic Yes”). Many other members from the fan club also attended the concert and eventually our wedding on August 25, 2001.

After being unemployed for nine and a half months, I started working for Metso Minerals as a Mechanical Designer. Metso designs equipment mostly for energy and mining companies. I have worked with automotive conveyor systems and facilities, cement mill equipment, and steel mills in the past. I would rather get paid to spend time with my wife, sons, and dog, as well as read books all day, but this is a good reality based alternative. I especially like that I can work overtime during the week, but am not expected to work overtime on the weekends.

Marcia and I moved around a bit (within the Lehigh Valley area), but our hope was always to start a family. That day finally happened, and on November 25, 2005 our son Nigel Rowan arrived. Marcia had some early signs of labor the day before, which happened to be Thanksgiving Day. We ended up in the hospital all day, and I ended up having Thanksgiving dinner in the cafeteria (roast beef!). It wasn’t a fun way to spend the holiday, but we had so many reasons to be thankful because that following day became one of the best we will ever have. The funny part was being told that we had about two hours or so after Marcia was given the drug to help induce the birth, so I decided to go and eat lunch. I didn’t even make it half way through when my Mother-in-Law came running into the cafeteria saying that I needed to get up to the room right away because the baby was coming. I walked into the delivery room to applause since I made it in time.

Nigel’s first picture with Daddy.

Then on September 22, 2009 we had our second child, Ian Wesley. Again, Marcia was having early labor signs and ended up spending the night in the hospital before the actual delivery. Unlike with Nigel’s birth though, I got to sleep in my comfortable bed at home. It was a hectic day for Marcia, given that she was having problems with the epidural, but things eventually worked out. And like with Nigel’s birth, we were told that it was going to take some time before things got moving with inducing, so I headed home to check on Nigel. Less then a minute after I walked in the door, Marcia called to tell me that the baby was coming. I drove back as quickly and as safely as I could, and again walked into the delivery room to applause.

Ian’s first picture with Daddy.

The boys as of early November 2009.

Nigel is obsessed with trains, which he still calls “wees.” Whether playing with his collection of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, or his much smaller collection of GeoTrax, or watching videos of Thomas or real trains, it’s a daily thing. Sure, he takes a break with Spongebob Squarepants now and then, or the movie “Cars”, and now “WALL-E”, or even other children’s shows that he has watched, as well as playing with his cars, wanting to go to the playground to play on the slides, or running around the backyard. But it always, ALWAYS goes back to trains.

Nigel and his trains.

Another member of our family is our Golden Retriever, Molson. Yes, we named him after the Canadian brewer. I thought it would be cute and/or funny since their most popular beer is called Golden. However, I am not really a fan of the beer. (Segue …) I tend to like the more well crafted brews that used to be referred to as micro-brews, or Belgian beers. So I guess I would be called a “beer snob.”. My favorites beers (in no order) are Victory’s Golden Monkey, Victory’s Moonglow Weizenbock, Unibroue’s Trois Pistoles, Sam Adams’ Summer Ale, and Weyerbacher’s Blithering Idiot.

Since I was offered the job at Metso Minerals, it required us to move to the Pittsburgh area. More specifically, Canonsburg. Canonsburg is famous mostly because of two singers: Perry Como and Bobby Vinton. My employer paid for us to relocate to the area, put us up in temporary housing and everything. We are now living in the area in a nice community/subdivision that is within a great school district.

As I said, I am a sports fan. Over the years it has gotten more specialized. Hockey and baseball are my favorites. I am, and always will be, a die-hard Red Wings and Tigers fan. (It hasn’t been very tough being a Wings’ fan lately … 4 Stanley Cups in 11 years.) Given my close proximity to Philadelphia in the past, I had started following and rooting for the Phillies and at least started following the Flyers after moving. I have really taken to the Phillies more given that it’s easier to root for a team in another league. Also, the NL game is better. Now living in the Pittsburgh area I will be watching Penguins games because they will be available to watch, as well as the Pirates. I may take to the Pirates, but not the Pens. (Remember, they played my Red Wings in two straight Stanley Cup Finals.) But with the advent of fatherhood, my sports following has waned. Free time and priorities change. But you better believe that I was on the edge of my seat watching games three through six of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals and going to work very tired, as well as enjoying the 2008 World Series. Unfortunately both the Red Wings and Phillies got stopped in their bids to repeat in 2009, but they still could be proud of their accomplishments.

Wings’ Henrik Zetterberg and Flyers’ Martin Biron

Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera and Phillies’ Chase Utley

Tennis is another sport I really enjoy. Again, my watching habits have changed due to fatherhood. My playing habits have changed as well, but that was due to my torn Achilles back in 2004. But you will still find me watching the Grand Slam events, especially the finals. Even if it takes all day for them to play (thanks to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the incredible, but long, 2008 Wimbledon Final).

Tennis’ newest (and possibly greatest) rivalry, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

I really get into obscure sports as well, though mostly team sports. If the fictional magazine Obscure Sports Quarterly as seen being read by Stephen Root‘s character Gordon in “Dodgeball” were real, I would probably be a charter subscriber. Team handball, curling, and Australian Rules Football top my list, though Aussie Rules wins out, mostly due to being more accessible. (Team handball usually only sees media coverage during the Olympics, as does curling, unless you are within broadcast range of CBC and can watch the men’s and women’s Canadian championships every year.) I even participate in an Aussie Rules fantasy league (the WAFA). Our league just completed it’s fifth season, and my team has done quite well the last four seasons. In the real AFL, I am a bit of a fan of the Adelaide Crows. Works out well because one of their best players, Tyson Edwards, is on my fantasy team.

Crows battle the Melbourne Demons, and Tyson Edwards sets up a kick.

I love to read. Mostly fiction. I would say that it’s up around 99% when it comes to books. I am always reading a book, and the only time I haven’t had one started is because I am floundering back and forth between some, not sure which one to read next. I always keep track of MY LIBRARY through GoodReads.Com, which is a great site for readers.

Here are my favorite novels.

Music is another big part of my life. I like many different types of music, with rock, though mostly progressive rock, jazz, including fusion, and electronica, though mostly instrumental, being my favorites. My favorite recording artists include Yes, Rush, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Steely Dan, and King’s X. I started cataloging what is in MY COLLECTION online at Listal.Com, but the site is somewhat cumbersome, and I haven’t touched it in over a year.

Here are my favorite albums.

I don’t talk much about politics on my site, mostly due to not being as well informed as I should be, and also some of it really pisses me off and I would rather not anger myself. I have always tended to be more conservative with me views, but over time that has changed. I don’t consider myself a Republican or a Democrat. I am steadfast in my being an “independent.” I understand the need for parties, but am VERY frustrated with how they have effected the nation. I feel that the two parties try to bring the other down more then trying to do anything worthwhile. They need to work together to make lives better for the citizens of our country. This infuriates me because they are supposedly working for us! And no, I don’t have either the time, money, will power, or knowledge to run for office and change things … and feel that even if I did I wouldn’t be able to anyway.

Regardless of what “label” I would have, I do have some unwavering “political” stances. I am a very big believer in the First Amendment, even over my religious beliefs.

And that’s where we start. Freedom of religion. I consider myself a Christian, but respect all other religions. In some respects I believe that all religions tie back to a higher being (meaning God). The reason they have differences is because of the differences between people in general. They were all set up to be what people needed out of their lives. (And just because someone follows Islam I don’t automatically label them a “terrorist”.) I am also getting a little upset at what some Christians do, making it as if Christianity is the only religion people should follow and that their beliefs should dictate all the laws. Yes, I know our country was founded on Christianity, but there are a lot of great things within each religion. And all have the “Golden Rule”, or what Christians call the Second Commandment: Treat all others as you would want to be treated.

We have one of these on each car.

I am pro-choice, but anti-abortion. You may scratch you head at this, but my explanation is simple, especially if you think about the First Amendment. A woman should be able to choose what she does with her body. I would label that as a freedom she is entitled to. And just because I am against abortion, why should my feelings, especially tied to my religious beliefs, dictate what someone with different but just as valid beliefs have to fall in line with mine? I won’t go out of my way to support a pro-choice candidate or agenda though. And I certainly won’t go and protest. I honestly wish people could just have their opinion and accept the opposite opinion of others without labeling them as something and fighting about it.

I also believe that any songwriter/performer or movie maker should be able to do what ever they damn well please. No censorship. However, control is in order. Like movies that are rated for various audiences. Why can’t we do the same with music? Don’t stop rappers (for example) from their violent lyrics. Just don’t let your kids listen to it, and set up a system where if they want to buy it behind your back that they won’t be able to until of age. Some on either side of the argument may not agree with my opinions. Some against censorship would even say that it is a form of censorship. My reply: But they still get to do what they want and have an audience to sell it to, right?

I have no problems with same sex marriage or gay rights, like being able to claim a partner as a dependent so they receive company supplied health insurance, etc. I won’t go out of my way to vote for a candidate that backs these issues and wants to make it legal. However, if I was allowed to vote on such laws, I would back them. I feel more strongly about this as compared to abortion though. If laws were passed to make abortion illegal, I wouldn’t think much about it. After all, I am really against it to begin with. But I do have issues that people think that a gay man or woman doesn’t deserve the same rights as someone that is straight. They are just as human as anyone else.

One last thing. I voted for Barrack Obama in the most recent Presidential election. I feel that he was the far superior candidate. I felt he was probably the best candidate as soon as he announced his intention to seek the nomination. I don’t expect him to do everything he says he wants to. I am a realist. He is going to have to work with Congress, and that’s not always easy. He is going to have to make compromises. It’s the way of politics. He is probably (but hopefully not) find it difficult to do what he wants because logistically it won’t be possible. But I honestly believe that he is going to do whatever he can, within reason, to better the country’s economy and push the country in the right direction when it comes to our oil intake, foreign policies, and education. I do believe that he can change things.

You can also find out more about me from my various editions of “Ask Scooter Anything” that I have done on this site.

First Edition
Second Edition
Third Edition
Fourth Edition
Fifth Edition
Sixth Edition
Seventh Edition – Part 1
Seventh Edition – Part 2
Eighth Edition
Ninth Edition
Tenth Edition – Part 1
Tenth Edition – Part 2

OK, I think that’s enough. Probably more information then you needed to know.