the mario blog

Neighbors. Everybody has them. I have a few myself. There is the older lady next door, whose toenails Otto is obsessed with. And then there is the artist lady two windows down who is only seen wearing white gowns. Don’t forget the couple down the hall who oftentimes takes on the duty of sitting other people’s dogs by simply locking them out into the hallway. But one surely stands out amongst the people I share a trash chute with.

My immediate next door neighbor and the single biggest detriment to the long-term value of my real estate investment. The guy works from home and can’t be seen or heard of for weeks at a time. Then one night, he heads to one of our local watering holes and goes big. And by goes big, I mean he comes back at about two in the morning with a group of other crazy people who then accompany his guitar solos and smoke on his rooftop patio, which coincidentally is not a patio at all but rather the roof in front of my living room window, until the wee hours of the morning. While this occurrence usually wakes me up, reminds me why I don’t smoke and robs me of any level of privacy, I just can’t get myself to be truly mad.

I mean how cool is it that the guy brings back a bunch of strangers from the bars to sing songs in his apartment. While I might never be able to sell my loft, at least I have a funny story to tell about my neighbor. Who, no doubt, will still be my neighbor and probably the president, founder and host of the Pearl District Choir Club.

Today I was going to publish my 1000th entry, until I got some very sad news. My friend Casey Lang was hit by a car, as he was covering an airplane crash for a TV station in Florida. Casey is currently in an induced coma, as he’s battling some major injuries.

I had the pleasure of meeting Casey while we were living in the same dorm at the University of Montana. Casey is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and one of those people who everybody has at least one funny story about.

Casey, my thoughts and prayers are with you. You’re going to be just fine.

 

My high school/college/niftytricks buddy Jesse is currently crashing on the loft couch, as he’s making his way across the West Coast to visit old friends. Events in Portland include Bridgeport Brewery, Cha Cha Cha burritos and a night with Otto.

 

My best childhood friend, Christian (I beliebe his mother still calls him Kiki), arrived from Germany late last night. He brought a giant suitcase (which I had to drag across the steel bridge last night) filled with his bike and skateboard, and the same amount of clothes my girlfriend takes on an overnight trip. Nevermind he’s staying in the US for a couple of months. Otto loves the company.  Welcome  to Portland Christian.

I got my dad one of those cool iPod Shuffle for Christmas. Our lives haven’t been the same ever since. At first I was a little bit worried about him even using the iPod, as my dad ain’t exactly an early adapter when it comes to technology. Well, I was wrong. His iPod is on, and on him at all times. He enthusiastically starts up conversations with complete strangers in grocery stores, touting the 250 songs being carried on his jacket’s sleeve. Conversation with my mother is now being kept at a minimum, and if he does talk, then always a little louder due to the fact that he’s talking with his ear buds humming.

I am going to adopt a cat tomorrow when we get back from the Oregon Coast. If it’s a male, I am thinking that Otto von Bismarck would be a great name - after Germany’s first chancellor and Prussia’s last President. If it’s a girl, I am thinking Selma Boldt - after my Prussian great grandmother who helped raise me.

My buddy Jesse has started yet another venture, right before heading out to become an extreme sports bum on Costa Rica. The site is called Ski Movie Music and compiles all the different ski movie soundtracks ready to download for you. So you can spend less time searching for the right tunes and more time hitting the slopes. Search less, ski more. Enjoy.

After a long life, my last surviving great grandmother Elli passed away this week. For the last few years, her mind had given up while her body kept on going. On Tuesday night she quietly passed away in her sleep.

Oma Elli was arguably my most interesting grandparent as she was extremely opinionated and had an extremely dry sense of humor, which was put to use on a regular basis. Oma Elli always was a little different and only believed in doing things her way, which made for many interesting adventures including various escapes from the retirement home she lived in her last few years. My great-grandmother made the best potato salad in the world and was a survivor of two World Wars. Her husband died as a German war hero in World War II, who left a bunker to save a blinded colleague during an allied forces air bombing attack. Only the blind soldier survived to tell the story.

Losing my great grandmother is sad, but her time had come. It saddens me to not have been with my family to say goodbye.  No matter how far I move away from home, Oma Elli will always be a vivid memory of my childhood in Germany.

Goodbye Oma Elli. See you in heaven.

The University of Montana student newspaper, The Kaimin, wrote a story about my friend Noah and his challenge of not only fighting cancer but all also the medical bills that come along with it.
Surviving cancer, surviving the bills

One of my good college friends, Noah  has been battling with brain cancer for the past few years. While the cancer was under control for a few years, Noah’s been battling constant seizures making a normal life impossible. His medical expenses have skyrocketed over the years and his family is in need of financial help. My college sweetheart’s (Megan) mother has initiated a campaign to help Noah and his family in his battle against brain cancer. We are trying to raise $5,000. If you know Noah, please help.

•    Noah has Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance through UM, but  BCBS  only  pays  70% while the family must pay 30%.
•    Noah has to stay in school in order to keep his insurance even though it’s often difficult for him to concentrate and keep up with the classes due to his medical condition. 
•    Because this has been going on for some time, and he’s been through surgery 4 years ago, radiation 2 years ago, and now chemo, there have been lots of expenses including travel back and forth to Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle, WA.
•    BCBS will not pay for his anti-seizure medication - which is a monthly expense of about  $1,450 for Keppra 500mg and Lyrica 75mg. 
•    BCBS will pay for the chemo treatments but only AFTER the fact, the family must front the cost -$3,880  per month  for Ativan, Temodar, Kytral. 
•    Deb has written and contacted an exhaustive list of foundations and other organizations  (two typewritten pages) to try to get assistance with the medication or other medical expenses but has been turned down by all.
•    She’s been in contact with online contacts for specific drugs where they say financial assistance can be obtained but so far those have run into deadends.

Those who would like to contribute could send checks to one of two places:
            NOAH GINNINGS MEDICAL FUND    (Vickie will deliver checks to the bank AND
            c/o Vickie Mikelsons                         record names and addresses to notify the family)
            410 Brooks Street
            Missoula, MT  59801    

     OR

            NOAH GINNINGS MEDICAL FUND   (If you send your check to the bank, be aware that no
            c/o Mountain West Bank, N.A.          notices of names and addresses will be sent
            1821 South Avenue W                      to the family - so gift would be anonymous.)
            Missoula, MT  59801.

Yesterday, I had the chance to meet up with my friend Megan Fisher. Megan used to be a resident of mine and I had the chance to stay in contact with her. On her way to school last year (from Chicago), Megan got into a devastating car wreck. Her best friend died in the car wreck and Megan lost her left foot and also had to undergo brain surgery. This happened at the end of last summer. Regardless of her circumstances, Megan worked as a tennis instructor for little kids and already took a couple online classes at UM. This semester Megan moved back to Montana, and she is enrolled full time at the University of Montana.

It was great talking to her; unbelievable to see how strong she is. Megan is already planning the day, when she can play competitive tennis again. She is a very brave girl and I only wish her the best for the future. I am sure she is going to succeed at whatever she decides to do and will be an inspiration to many others. Good Luck with everything Megan…