Banky For President

Learning is a necessary part of life. And it’s also something we all take for granted.

I mentioned prior that I’m going back to school. It’s a business professionals course with the Aji Network. I think, for me, it’s just another step in my quest for knowledge since my divorce. Thank the FSM that I was self-aware enough to know, back then, that I didn’t know anything. Originally, I quested for knowledge about myself, then I quested to know more about the universe, so business knowledge is an obvious next-path to walk.

My career has largely been a technical one. I’ve not been exposed much to marketing or what it takes to make offers to customers or clients. If I’m going to help lead a new business, that must change and the Aji Network comes highly recommended.

I never thought I would ever go back to school. My Very Significant Other, The Thunderbolt, is a teacher and was remarking to me just this evening about the amazing day she had at school. She had a great discussion in her class about a book, “Wringer,” that she is using to read to the kids. It’s not your typical 5th grade book and she is probably breaking some kind of rule by reading it to them. But she loves teaching and she loves pushing the envelope and, truth be told, the kids love it too. Her kids went home tonight knowing they learned something and when you learn, your universe grows. And as your universe grows, you feel a kinship with others that have knowledge too . . . almost like your part of some secret enlightened club. But learning because you HAVE to was almost like torture for me. Going to school for 12 years because I had to was something I COULDN’T WAIT to end. It’s not like that everywhere though.

For these kids, going to school is a way up and a way out. It allows them to participate and feel a part of a big beautiful world that needs people with knowledge to make a difference.

Banky’s note: I was exposed to this video via @lacajag with the CFCA (Christian Foudation for Children and Aging). This organization works individually with families in poverty to help the children go to school and put food on the table.

Someone had the brilliant idea to post 25 random things about his or her self and make it a game you can share on Facebook. I share my 25 things here in an effort to illuminate and enlighten those who seek a shared conciousness with the “Banky.”

1. I won’t fart around my very significant other willingly.

2. I play the guitar but have little to no confidence in my ability.

3. I used said guitar and sang at open mikes around town a couple of years ago.

4. I think the word, “chicken,” is the funniest word in the English language.

5. I am a Reverend in the Universal Life Church, have married two friends and am about to marry another couple of friends at the end of February. It’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of what may be the most memorable day in those person’s lives.

6. I was married to a woman for 15 years, haven’t spoken to her hardly at all in 6 years and from time to time I wonder how she’s doing.

7. My mother taught me that next to God, your family is the most important thing and the people you consider to be family don’t have to have the same last name.

8. I enjoy playing Magic the Gathering but I wish it wasn’t so damned expensive.

9. I think I’m good enough to be a professional poker player but think its a really hard way to make an easy living.

10. I have no debt but my mortgage.

11. My dog is around 14 years old and I know my time with him will be coming to an end soon.

12. I wake up every morning and wonder to myself if this is the last day I will be alive.

13. I consider my ex-fiance to be one of my closest friends.

14. I feel lucky and blessed that my VSO is so evolved that she isn’t threatened by that.

15. Speaking of my VSO, I want and love her more now after writing #14.

16. Who am I kidding, I want and love her more regardless.

17. I don’t relish going to Italian restaurants because I think I make a much better pasta and gravy.

18. I got myself into therapy after my divorce and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

19. I’m counting on the fact that my 10 year old car, with 185,000 miles on it, will last two more years.

20. I have a violent cough that I just can’t get rid of (I’ve been to the doctor three times) and it creeps people out when people hear and see me cough in public.

21. My mother prays every day that I will come back to the eucharist. And she does so not because she wants to exert any control over me . . . she loves me incredibly and worries for my soul.

22. A dumpster is coming to my house next weekend and I will purge my house of piles of useless clutter.

23. I love independent film. I would rather see an indy film than a mainstream movie. Unless its Star Wars . . . or Batman . . . or Spiderman . . . or any other randomly assorted comic book movie.

24. I feel anxious at the idea of disappointing someone.

25. If I could walk around with a real lightsaber I would totally do it.

Before the New Year started, I was speaking with The Thunderbolt and told her, “We’re going to be challenged this year, my dear.” She looked at me strangely and said, “Is there something you want to tell me?” I told her, “No. I just know its going to be a difficult year.”

Here is why:

I lead a fairly indulgent lifestyle (My friends are laughing really hard right now because “indulgent” is an understatement to them. “Spoiled” and “selfish” are other adjectives I’ve heard used). I think what people don’t realize is that I’ve been pretty smart with my career as well as some financial decisions and that translates into a bit of disposable income. That, coupled with the fact that I don’t have any children (that I know of, at least), means I pretty much do what I want to do.

I see where my life is headed though, and in twenty years, I doubt I’m going to have the type of retirement I’m going to need to continue to be indulgent.

And I like being indulgent. It’s fun. I have a good time.

But if I’m wanting to truly live the good life in my golden years, I should probably start working on it now (before now actually). So I’m doing a couple of things. I’m starting back to school and starting up a new business.

I’m starting back to school in April with the Aji Network. It’s a business certification and I’m excited to shore up a part of my life that, heretofore, my knowledge has been lacking. I’ve been impressed with the people I’ve talked to (those in the program and those that have passed) and it comes highly recommended. But, more importantly, I’ll be able to use this knowledge to help build a portfolio of business ideas that I’m hopeful will sustain me in the future, the foundation of which I can share with you now . . . LightThread.

What is LightThread? We’ll leave that for another post.

So with going back to school, starting a new business, some uncertainty in my day job, one might think that might be enough stress in my life. But that’s not the way life works.

You see we are all born into a family. Sometimes families are close and sometimes they aren’t. But even when families suck, we still care. It’s a weird truth but still valid. Sharing a common bond of parents shapes us, sometimes for the worse and sometimes for the better. I happen to be born into a close Irish Catholic family. I’m the youngest of six by quite a bit actually. And as the caboose, my brothers and sisters loom large in my life. In many ways they are bigger than life. When I was younger I looked up to all of them as they were all out of the house living big lives while I worried about getting homework done or if Tia Alberti would ever dream of going out with me. They were all older and smarter than me and I love them dearly.

More background: My father died when I was 13 at the age of 58. My oldest brother Johnny died when he was 58. And so I was shaken over the holidays when I found out my brother was diagnosed with Stage III cancer over the holidays. He is in his mid-fifties. I’m not worried so much of my own mortality. I just care for my brother and his family. And I’m fearful of the idea of living the rest of my life without him. I was shaken by this news in a way I’ve been shaken in a long time.

And I’ve come to realize, after 42 years, a couple of things:

1. All the bullshit things I’ve surrounded myself with don’t really matter.

2. I want to live happily, comfortably and without compromise well into my sixties, seventies, eighties and beyond.

And being able to live the second point, doesn’t happen without a plan. What’s yours? I’m actively looking for ideas.

Well 2008 was quite a year. And even though I polled just slightly lower than Ron Paul, how fitting that we recap the years events on Inauguration Day 2009. Let’s take a drive down memory lane, shall we?

January: The Iowa caucuses foreshadowed the change we were to see in November. I made my first polling joke. And I freaked out about “writing “08″ for the first time.

February: I first shared some Lawrence Lessig love, I talked Oscar nominees, and became a Reverend.

March: I wrote about IT standards, went to South by Southwest for the 3rd time, bought a Wii, and because our legislative branch is broken, became a fan of the Change Congress movement.

April: I talked about the importance of architecture, bought a car, said “Happy Birthday” to moms, and made a movie

May: I wrote about Open Source Spirituality and got hugged by a car.

June: Screw June!

July: I wrote some more about Open Source Spirituality, challenged you to “Go be a 10,” and became Scuba certified.

August: I met someone “very significant,” helped will the Royals to victory, got a man cold, gave you EXACTLY the news you needed to hear, got a running mate, and endorsed a conservative republican.

September: I became 42, talked about Ambient Awareness, lost my car, and spoke at one of the biggest conferences in the world

October: I met the governor of Kansas, and challenged you to donate to various charities.

November: I caused a stir in the startup community, put the election into perspective, met Dennis Phillips, gave new businesses ideas for useful tools, and gave voice to that for which I’m thankful.

New Years Eve

December: I enjoyed the holidays for the first time in years, volunteered for charity, talked about the type of company I want to build in 2009, and celebrated New Years Eve in style by flying over the plaza lights thanks to @joeyferreyra

Next: 2009 and my hope for the new year.