Chances are good that my Blog bud Diane J. will remember this story too. Back in 2007, I sauntered into a Ruby Tuesday restaurant on (what else?) a Tuesday night. That's when Ned, the Bartender was on duty. On this evening, I sat at the bar to order dinner and a Grey Goose Vodka Screwdriver when across the small partitioned room, I spotted an absolutely beautiful young girl with shimmering blond hair who was obviously on a date. I asked Ned about her and learned that the girl was from Finland and the couple had met as exchange students. They had known each other for at least a year, if not longer. When she smiled, she lit up the room and was genuinely delightful. By the end of my meal, I asked Ned to get me a Fine Point Sharpie pen and a piece of white cardboard paper. He left the bar and returned about five minutes later. From his smile, I knew that he was curious about what I had in mind. This is roughly what I wrote after observing the couple on and off through my meal.
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My Friend: LIfe is very short. It is very fragile and very precious. Take it from an older guy who knows a few things about people in love. If the girl who is sitting with you at your table is even remotely as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, you'd be a damn fool not to propose to her TONIGHT.
Michael
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After paying my tab, I gave Ned a $20 bill as a separate tip. "Ned, I'm going to need your help", I said. "I want you to watch me walk out of here. As soon as I hit the front door, walk over to the couple's table and hand the guy this note. He's from here, so he can obviously read English. Make sure he reads this. I'll be back Thursday to find out how things went". From the look on Ned's face, he obviously had never done anything like this in his life! I walked out into the parking lot and hurried to my car to make a getaway. What happened after I left?
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Ned shook his head, pocketed the $20 bill and watched me walk to the Front Door. Immediately, he approached the couple and handed the surprised young man my note. The man smiled and asked where I went. Ned stood there and told him I had "a plane to catch"! The blond girl excitedly asked her boyfriend for a look at the note. By now, Ned had retreated to the bar and watched this "back and forth" routine go on with the couple laughing and sparring for 10 full minutes. Ultimately, the boyfriend surendered my note to her. I understand that when she finally read it, she was was ecstatic and there was much animated conversation and giggling! A week later, they returned for dinner and told Ned they had become engaged. The blond girl had laminated my note and kept it in her purse. I'd like to think she still has it. That night was a high point in my life, and it's a true story!
When I relocated to Arizona in December, 2007 one of the first Christmas cards I received at my new address came from a friend of mine who works on the staff of CNN's "Larry King Live" in Los Angeles. I suspect that the reason I was mailed a Christmas card from the show had to do with the fact that I had briefly negotiated to get a panel group on the show a year earlier to discuss pediatric cancer after I had befriended some special children in my life. Truthfully, the panel didn't have to include me, but I was told to be prepared. The appearance never materialized. Still, I must have made an impression because someone was given my name and address with instructions to send me a card! Well, this became funny for me because I can only guess that by the time the envelope was being addressed, an alert staffer must have thought someone had missed a salutation for Father Michael Manning. Father Mike is a Catholic priest who is a regular guest on "Larry King Live" when a newsworthy item involves a dialogue from a religious perspective as the topic of the evening. With this in mind, you can only guess what I found in my new mailbox. A nice hand-addressed envelope to: "Father Michael Manning". This led me to write a BLOG Postabout the mishap with photos similar to the ones you see above datedDecember 28, 2007. Holy Toledo!
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If you missed my poem for Valentine's Day it was posted here on February 13, 2009 as "An Early Valentine" (I just had to throw that in here)...
Essential to this full website, this is a "Special Event" not usually associated with a BLOG. As such, travel information is listed below.
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Those of you who have been with me here on my Website for any length of time will remember the BLOGS and Photos that I shared with you of my weekend last December 6 & 7 with several dear friends of mine, including Barbara McQueen in Santa Paula, California. Because so many of you are fans of Steve McQueen (and friends of mine) who were unable to attend that event, I have a wonderful invitation for you! Come join me for an evening of unforgettable fun and adventure.
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WHAT: An Opening Reception to Meet The Artist:Barbara McQueen,author of "Steve McQueen: The Last Mile"- an exhibition of photographs taken by Steve's widow, Barbara.
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WHEN:March 6 from 7 to 9 P.M.
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WHERE:At The Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, Arizona.
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HIGHLIGHTS: McQueen will be present along with special guest, Jeb Rosebrook, who wrote the screenplay for "Junior Bonner", which was a 1972 McQueen movie filmed in Prescott, Arizona.
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“It’s the last stop for The Last Mile” said Barbara McQueen, the actor’s widow. “The last two years have been a constant whirlwind of activity and I’m ready to return to a quieter lifestyle.” Since May 2007, McQueen has traveled with the exhibit to London, San Francisco, Carmel-By-The Sea, Ketchum, Idaho, Slater, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. Many of you will recall her appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.
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MORE INFORMATION: Admission is free to this intimate portrayal of McQueen’s life. Gallery hours are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Mondays through Fridays and 12 Noon to 4 P.M. on Saturdays. For more information, call (480) 917-6859 or visit www.chandlercenter.org. This is important for those of you who plan on flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. I sincerely hope to meet you in-person at this wonderful event!
Love & Friendship,
Michael
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NOTE: As a majority of Bloggers will be heading to the event from West Coast destinations, Low Fares and Flexible Departure times to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport are available at Southwest Airlines website:http://www.southwest.com/.
This is a photo I received from my friend Dari McManus. She is a New York-based photographer who specializes in taking photos of children. Dari sent me this photo. She actually went out and bought a copy of my last published interview in Airwaysmagazine! The message she wrote on her finger is mutual. Dari is a special person who combines her love of children and photography to bring together friends and families. Her portfolio is so incredible that I could take an entire afternoon just quietly looking at the beautiful images she captures.
A little over a month from now we will launch the 4th Annual Steve McQueen Film Festival. Last year, I was extremely proud that approximately 6,300 people visited my website during this unique BLOG "Festival". What a great celebration! With each successive generation, kids are discovering "The King of Cool", and I plan on beginning the feature by explaining why I do it!
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Lately, I've been thinking about how to pull together both the films we will look at and the persona behind the celebrity that became McQueen. Movie lovers worldwide have continued to regard Steve with deep respect 29 years after his untimely passing at just 50 years of age. This challenge with the 4th Annual Film Festival is to articulate a complicated man who was in pursuit of the truth in all of his endeavors---nothing more and certainly nothing less. His Legacy lives on with all ages. From 20-somethings who relate to the timeless undercurrent of a restless, troubled and often rebellious artist, to the sheer greatness McQueen captured in every movie role. I will do my best to present films that today are resplendent and allow us to stretch our imaginations about the passion of living! Dare I say it? This will be one hell of a "Festival". When I was a broadcaster, I used a familiar "Sign Off" on radio promos that kept it simple. "I hope you'll join us".
Team USA 1 with pilot Todd Hays, J.T. Burns, Alex Sprague and brakeman Bill Schuffenhauser start during the four-men's Bob World Cup and European Championship competition in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan 18, 2009.
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Ah, yes! The mineral town of St. Moritz, Switzerland comes to mind. Why? Because I have been a huge fan of Bobsledding since I was a tot when the late ABC Sportscaster Jim McKay covered it. Naturally, I always pictured my role as a driver. This probably has some historical roots in the fact that I was the "Evel Knievel" of the street I grew up on in Ohio. Residents on that street no doubt have fond recollections of Sunday mornings at 7 A.M. when I would carefully arrange a metal garbage can lid on the center of the asphalt street, then lock up the rear wheel of my bicycle at 40 miles per hour and drag it at least the length of seven houses. Who needed an alarm clock when it sounded as if "Apocalypse Now" was being filmed in the middle of the street? Soccer Moms would appear in the driveway wearing housecoats and those Pink muffy slippers with their hair in curlers shaking their heads at me. One threatened to call The Police, (and I was certain she didn't mean Stewart Copeland). So, I conveniently left the area for my Elementary School. But I digress...
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The world's first natural ice tube track originated in 1870. By 1924, the four-man bobsled appeared in The Olympics, with the two-man version in 1932. Today's tracks are built with concrete and (of course) artificial ice. They are required to have at least one straight and one labyrinth with 15 curves. G-forces can reach 5, but somehow I feel up for it. Having flown an airplane and a LearJet 36 simulator I can vouch for this fact: You either have a feel for those machines or you don't--a bit of a "Zen" experience, I suppose. I surprised myself in the LearJet simulator (Right Seat). But as a kid I can recall shouting at the television set, "You're banking too high!", "Stay center!", or "Lean!" (such an expert!). The closest track to my area of the country isSalt Lake City, Utah. I hear that there are paid services for tourist rides. Perhaps "financial incentives" could be arranged with just myself and a few trusting friends on board to minimize risk? Just a thought!
Some time ago, I mentioned that when I lost my Cousin to breast cancer, I had placed five Breyer horse figures on my living room corner table. Two days ago, her mother (my dear Aunt) searched her house and located a photo of my Cousin that I phoned her about. I asked to borrow it because it has stayed in my mind...and is forever how I'll remember her. She is wearing her hair almost shoulder length with a summer blouse and stripped white slacks standing and leaning back again a large tree with a camera in her hand and a beautiful smile. She is beaming with happiness. A friend of hers had taken this black and white picture and I had several 8" X 10" enlargements made, kept one, and had it dry mounted and framed. When I brought it home to set down on the table I said (to myself and four walls, mind you) "This is for you, Cousin".
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The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is in town from February 12th through the 22nd and this year there are 300 exhibitors. My Cousin raised three Arabian horses and I have recounted memories on this BLOG of the great fun she and I had together at her stables when I was a kid. I shipped the original photo and remaining enlargements back to my Aunt via overnight express and then telephoned her to tell her how much it meant that she trusted me with the only copy of that special photo she had. That took a lot of Love and Trust on her part. She was pretty excited that I had the enlargements made. When I was younger, I was too wrapped up in myself to feel the spiritual undercurrent of horses as I do today. I can't wait to see the show. A bit of my Cousin will be along with me, and that thought is very comforting.
Gunner Henry Gillespie September 4, 2000 - October 23, 2008
Last night, I received a sweet phone call from Gus and Janna Gillespie, parents of the late Gunner Gillespie who was a dear friend of mine. Here's what The Gillespie's are up to.
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Rival basketball teams came together last year wearing Gunner's Yellow T-Shirt's, getting pictures together, and raising money for the family. Now, The Gillespie's want to raise funds for the organizations that helped them during Gunner's Journey to "Bounce Out Pediatric Brain Tumors!" by producing and selling T-shirts. The Logo on the shirt will be: "Help Gunner’s Magic Train Bounce out Pediatric Brain Tumors!"Gus andJanna are hoping to get businesses and organizations to sponsor the shirts and place their promotional logos on them as well for a future game.
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An organization, a school, a teacher, or community member is needed to help The Gillespie's take on this challenge as an event partner. Once the T-Shirts are produced, a basketball date to host a game would be placed on the Marshall County High School Basketball schedule in Benton, Kentucky. The project endeavors to pre-sell the shirts and have them ready for patrons to wear for the ball game Tip-Off. Imagine the gym filled with patrons wearing the shirts and making a powerful statement of HOPE for the many children with cancerous brain tumors!
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GUS & JANNA'S CURRENT BASIC PROJECT NEEDS: A company to donate production of the T-Shirts in a few different sizes, to pre-sell and ship to those placing an order (to include Postage & Handling), shipping envelopes; ideas are welcomed on a silent basketball auction, a raffle, or just "pass the hat". Janna added: "I think it would be a great community project to spread awareness and to make a difference. If any of you have contacts, please let me know! If you would like me to forward flyers, or samples of the shirt just email me at: jgillespie@mchsi.com.
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You can also keep up with The Gillespie's project at
Basically, I'm a Public Relations Consultant with a background in Broadcast News. I've worked as a Reporter and Anchor with PBS, ABC, CBS & NBC affiliates and in Cable Television. I'm active in Radio & Television Commercials, Guest Speaking engagements and I enjoy writing, music and sports.
(Not actual girl, but you get the idea...)
