Cooksey Connects

Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

It’s been a short hiatus since my last post, but I assure you a LOT is happening these days!

Earlier this year, I challenged myself to run a 10k Race before the summer. Yesterday, I made good on that personal goal. In 1 hour 3 minutes and 43 seconds, I finished! My personal goal had been 1 hour 10 min-and I beat it by 6 minutes!

The Remember the Ten 10k event was started three years ago in honor of a group of 10 amazing men affiliated with the Oklahoma State University basketball program who perished in a plane crash on January 21, 2001. As a graduate of OSU, this event held a particular place in my heart.

During college, I was president of a group of basketball “superfans” known as the “Young Guns”. After each game, we always picked our VIP of the game award, and announced it at center court in front of the radio broadcast crew. On that fateful night in 2001, we lost Bill Teegins, the “Voice of the Cowboys”.

A good friend of mine in school lost his brother, Jarred Weiberg. And my current workout partner lost a friend he used to play basketball against in high school, Pat Noyes. Each of the others each hold a special place in the hearts of the Cowboy Faithful as well, and for all ten of of you… I ran this year. Thanks to each of you for the continued inspiration you give to me and all 1200 of this year’s registered runners in the 10k, 5k, and 1 mile fun run!

This year, as each of you think about how to make every day count, and define your own success, you are encouraged to pick out a tough challenge for yourself and DO IT!

This blog features a number of outstanding individuals who have dared to defined their own success. As I’ve been saying a lot lately, these are people who have chosen to “Own it!” in their own lives.

My brother found an amazing bit of footage from a group suspiciously like the one featured in the 2007 documentary Young at Heart. I hope you’ll enjoy. OH, the last song they cover is worth the watch. Old people rock!

Okay, NO. I’m not going to land a plane in the Hudson River on Tuesday, but I will grace the halls of now world-famous US Airways Pilot ‘Sully’ Sullenberger’s high school.

This just goes to show that great people CAN and DO come from anywhere!

I grew up and went to high school not too far from Denison, TX, just across the Red River in southern Oklahoma. We shared a television station (actually, two) in this area often referred to as “Texomaland”. Though, all those years ago, I never knew that much about Denison, TX.

According to the Dallas Morning News:

“It’s the birthplace of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. And Thomas Vulney Munson, a horticulturalist credited with helping save the European wine industry, spent part of his life here. “

Tomorrow, I have the opportunity to speak to the Junior and Senior classes of Denison High School. As my readers will already know, I’m a speaker with Monster.com’s Making It Count Programs, and travel the country delivering messages of success to students who will be the leaders of tomorrow….some of them have already done some pretty good work today!

Hmmm. I wonder if these students know the potential they possess….This one should be special.

Two rowers, a weightlifter, a sprinter, a discus thrower, a judoka and an archer were in the frame for the trip to Beijing.

“The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed,” said IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies.

“The IOC very sadly has now to acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games, despite our best efforts.”

She added: “Clearly, we’d very much like to have seen Iraq’s athletes in Beijing.

“We are very disappointed that the athletes have been so ill-served by their own government’s actions.”

My thoughts:

• Were the original Iraqi Olympic committee more or less corrupt than the new ones?
• This country has been ravaged by years rule under a rabid dictator (since removed), has been in a state of war for years…can’t they catch a break? For heaven’s sake, it’s the Olympics!
• (Read the words in RED above, then consider this)- If the only sport left to qualify for is “athletics” and Iraq has “athletes” – that’s just puzzling, right?
• Go read the memoirs of ANY person who has ever spent time near the International Olympic Committee and/or it’s governing processes. IT’S ALL POLITICAL.
• Zeus and the gods of Mt Olympus have to be thinking “What happened to the spirit of competition?”

What’s your opinion? Post it below!

I’m one of those people who is (un-?)fortunate enough to live close to their office. My daily commute is only about 2.5 miles and six stoplights each way, along just one overly-congested street. Over the past two years of living there, I have observed several “regulars” along my route. Not cars or drivers, but others who are outside, in hot & cold, rain or shine, day & night. These folks are members of an urban sub-culture who, rather than cluttering up the already crowded streets with yet another one-passenger vehicle, take advantage of alternative transportation methods.

First, there are the bus riders. One is a Muslim woman whom I often see craning her head out, straining to look down the street for the coming bus. Flagging down the driver to make sure she doesn’t get missed. Another is a fellow whom I can only guess works in the medical profession, clad most often in his blue scrubs with small, collapsible cooler [which likely held last night’s dinner] and small bag of other personal effects. Weary-eyed and often sporting a “I grabbed a little sleep where I could” look, he if one of several I’ve seen boarding and departing the bench located at one of the three major intersections along my route.

Next, there are the runners. These folks are everywhere. Some push strollers, are being walked by their dogs, some walk or jog solo, while others jog with a friend [oddly, with iPod earbuds firmly plugged into their ears, as if to avert having to talk to them]. Many of these athletes and “would-be exercisers” are seen along the trail surrounding an amazing urban park and campus, home to a 3.5 mile city trail, TWO 18-hole golf courses (one is a “Par 3” course), driving range, public swimming pool, playground, baseball fields, and what seems like about half-a-bazillion ducks.

Finally, there are the bike riders. Over the past two years I’ve seen many, but there are two I know to be regulars on my route that really stick out in my mind. [I’m not going to mention either of the two “celebrity” bike riders known by EVERYONE in my town for being…well…eccentric. They deserve an article all of their own.] There’s the tall, skinny, dark-skinned fellow with long, flowing black hair glasses. I can’t tell if he’s Mexican or Native American… He’s usually sporting some dark sunglasses and a work shirt with his name on it, though I’ve never been close enough to read it.

Then, there’s the guy who works at the 24-hour restaurant. For as long as I’ve been making this commute, I’ve seen him most often. A fairly unassuming guy, he’s always considerate in traffic. Quietly peddling his way (often in his work uniform) to and from his apartment and work (which I estimate is about a 5 or so mile one-way trip). I’ve seen him in the cold, rain, and scorching heat….even at night, with his safety headlight and flashing red tail light illuminating his presence. He never looks rushed, hurried, flustered, annoyed, or put out. The bike is simply HIS chosen method of transportation.

Sunday afternoon, before catching my flight out of town for a short business trip, I stopped at the sandwich shop for a quick bite of lunch. While the “sandwich artist” was diligently building my sub, in walked Craig. I introduced myself, we had a brief exchange, and went about our respective day. As I left, he turned to me and said, “Hey. Next time to drive past, honk your horn and wave. I’ll remember you!”

I don’t know his story…or the stories of many others I see on my route between work, the gym, and the office, but I’m sure glad I took the chance to say hello to this former “man of mystery.”

Was it Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers? I can’t remember now. Who are the people in YOUR neighborhood?