Reflections

T minus seven hours and counting until those of us in the eastern U.S. leap into 2007. Already, there are showings of folks across the globe celebrating as the New Year begins. Flip on any news show and you'll see the year in review... which automatically makes me think of a personal year in review. This blog has made remembering some of the high points of the year a little easier. Try keeping an on line journal and you'll see!

I'm sitting here trying to think of one significant happening per month, or one high point of each month, just to see if my memory banks are clogged up. Let's try it, shall we?

January – A rough month on the personal scale, but as we moved past the first week of '06, I began to see I was on the right track. Highlights would include the weekend rituals with my buds, Josh and DJ, and going to see the same Beatles cover band nearly every weekend.

February – A trip to Florida to okay the final draft of the new version of "After This..." Then, onto Muskingum College in Ohio to kick off the speaking year.

March – Speaking at LSU on the very night LSU played Duke in the Sweet 16 – something that's never before happened. Small audience, but hopefully those in attendance got something from it. Throw in an entire day of St. Pat's celebration in Dogtown, St. Louis and I started wishing I had Irish blood!

April – Started the month with the wedding celebration in Nashville for my bud, Ted Pins. Speaking, speaking, speaking and the vacation weekend in Reno with my old college roomie, Ben – and yes, just in case you're wondering, I came home poor.

May – N'Orleans bachelor weekend with the boys from Wanca! Oh yeah, and I moved into my 31st year.

June – My annual voyage to Camp TAMBO to council senior high camp. Thanks to all of you guys who made that such a special week. Within a week, as things will happen, there were three deaths – baby Ruthie, daughter of my friends Kyle and Suzie Nix, my friend Tempe Humphrey who I worked with at the MO Div. of Hwy. Safety and my grandmother, Virginia Engel. From bad comes good, as the saying goes. The morning of my grandmother's passing, I went into the hospital for some minor surgery. Two days later, my best friend and editor, Marvelyne, came up from Florida to help take care of me. It was at this time that both of us started seeing our relationship shift and develop. Now, Marvelyne has the title: girlfriend/best friend/editor. What will 2007 hold for she and I? Wait and see!

July – Orlando, FL for the annual convention of the National Speakers Association. It was at this time that I set the goal to crank out another book, "The Other End of the Stethoscope" before Aug. 10, just 30 days away! Whew!

August – Speaking for the TREND conference in St. Louis, sweating my butt off in the mid-west and the wedding of my fraternity brother, Andy Netterville. Cheers!

September – If you ever get the idea to do a cleanse diet, do it with someone you get along with. The first 10 days of September, I cleansed with Marvelyne. Nothing but whole foods and veggies and fruit for 10 days. Can't a brother get a ham sandwich anywhere? Weekend in the Bay Area with my old college roommate, Ben, before heading to Spokane, WA to speak at Eastern WA University.

October – Uh, did I say I wanted to speak professionally? Well, I got my wish in October. I was on the road most of the month-Texas, Branson, NC, Tennessee, FL and then back to St. Louis for more speeches. Throw in the Cardinals winning the World Series, my book release event and the trip to Salt Lake City for the NODA conference and this was one packed month!

November – Spoke at DeSales University in PA, then to the Bacchus Network Conf. in Anaheim. Thanksgiving and a return to N'Orleans for the AFA conference made this a packed month, too.

December – Spent the first 20 days in Florida, with a side trip to Seattle thrown in for good measure. Seattle... love it! Salmon, rain, coffee and a conference of folks passionate about stopping impaired driving. Christmas with the fam, an overnight to NYC and now, here in Florida on December 31st, I can only wonder where I'll be to look back on the year in review, '07.

Happy New Year!

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I Am Charlotte Simmons

In the early 90s, I bought a copy of Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" at a head shop in Columbia, MO called Cool Stuff. Well, before I had a chance to read the book, my sight was gone. Thus, soon after, I got an audio copy. Until 2006, I'd not read any of Wolfe's other works. Then this year? Cranked out a good four or five of his novels and now I'm working my way through Wolfe's "I Am Charlotte Simmons."

"Charlotte" is a country girl from NC who goes to a present day Ivy League university and discovers a culture held hostage by sex, drugs and materialism. Since college wasn't all that long ago for your humble writer here, I got a warm, tingly feeling while reading of Charlotte's adventures in fraternity houses, in the dorms and all over campus. Waxing nostalgia, one might say. It's a fairly accurate picture of college life in the early years of the 21st century.

So, this morning, I was up way early and started doing a bit of Tom Wolfe research. Turns out Wolfe graduated college in (get this) 1951. Yep, over half a century ago. And now, in his 70’s (from my limited math skills which are a result of the afore mentioned culture of college), Wolfe is cranking out novels about 18 year olds with the accuracy of someone on the brink of their second decade. Wow. Just wow!

I truly, truly hope that when I'm into my golden years, I'm still as creative and relevant as I feel now in 2006. Props to Tom Wolfe for not sitting on his duff or playing golf in his 70s, but for creating something interesting and accurate for the rest of the world to enjoy.

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Doing the Right Thing - Even When It Hurts

Former President Gerald Ford's death has been the topic of discussion on all the news over the last few days. For a man who was out of the White House before I was born, Ford's influence shaped the politics around the first years of my life – things that I can't comment on first hand.

So, trying to get to know a president I don't remember has been interesting. What I've read, no matter the slant of the journalist, seems to come back to a single conclusion: Ford's pardoning of Nixon was good for America, but bad for his own career. And yet? He did it. Would Ford have made the same decision if he knew it'd cost him his job? God, I hope so.

Making a decision that hurts one personally, but helps the majority is a character trait we want in a president. It's not so bad for the rest of us who don't hold office, either.

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In the Midst of Chaos

Were you flying yesterday? If so, I'm sorry. If you were sitting on terra firma, all the better for you. Flew from STL to Orlando yesterday and battled through (literally) thousands of other passengers. In a security line that snaked for what felt like miles, the passengers in front of me struck up a conversation about Carson. They were so chipper that I wondered if they'd been able to skip the endless baggage check line, or if they were perhaps high on drugs. Turns out they were neither – just southern. I'm always impressed by folks who keep their calm during chaos. I consider myself one of these people. But keeping calm is different from not being effected at all. And props to these folks! And if you're flying the next two days or so – two hours before your flight ain't just a suggestion: it's a necessity.

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Christmas Eve!

Welp, heading out to spend Christmas with the family. Have a wonderful and safe holiday and I'll be back in a couple of days!

Also, happy birthday to my sister, Cathy Dickey!

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Misspent Youth?

Last night, I went to see El Monstero, a Pink Floyd tribute band. Those of you who love Floyd will appreciate this idea. Take the four or five best local bands in town, then take the best players from each of the individual bands and throw them together. Major talent, right? Then, toss in an intense love for Floyd tunes and some theatrics that would rival a Kiss concert and you have last night's show!

Know me even moderately well and you know I'm a music trivia junkie. At one point during the show, I leaned over and said to my girlfriend, "You can really see the research that Roger Waters did into schziophrenia in that last song." She asked me how I knew that, then answered her own question with my usual response: "Misspent youth."

Yeah, through my teens I studied and loved Floyd, Zeppelin, the Dead, the Beatles and Dylan more than lifeitself. And more than any textbook, my nose was stuck in the liner notes of a CD. Now, is that so wrong? I usually say it was "misspent youth", but really, it wasn't. Springsteen says, "We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school." He's right. Oh so right.

Floyd's tune, "Time" talks about seizing the day, that life is short, to grasp all you can in the time you have on this planet. Don't wait for life to find you, find it yourself. The one line from the song that always hits me in the heart is, "And then one day you find that 10 years have gotten behind you, no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun." God, powerful.

Throw in the emotions connected with Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut" from my time spent living in Colorado, "The Wall" from high school and "Meddle" from my days that were, without a doubt, misspent, and this band's music has written the soundtrack of this dude's life. Time is never misspent when you learn something. And I did. And I practice those today. And I love the fact I may not know what a logarithm is, but I can tell you every lyric on "Wish You Were Here."

Shine on, you crazy diamond...

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Holy Capitalism, Batman!

You'd better thank your lucky stars if you're one of the few who isn't out shopping today. No longer is the day after Thanksgiving the busiest shopping day of the year. Now, as stated by the tale of the tape, it's the Saturday prior to Christmas. Throw in the fact that Christmas is a mere two days away and you've got the makings for one ridiculous day of retail hell.

This morning, I was out and about to get a few last minute gifts. And know where I had the most pleasurable shopping experience? Honey Baked Ham store, of all places. Stopped in to grab a sandwich for lunch and found three uniformed police officers directing traffic in the parking lot. Once inside the store, they had it arranged with roped "chutes" like you'd have at DisneyWorld before getting on Space Mountain. Even with wall to wall patrons, we were still in and out in under five minutes. And along the way? Workers handing out samples of carrott cake, ham and other little tasty treats. The workers were incredibly friendly and I can chalk that up to one thing: organization. When everything was set to flow smoothly, even with heavy customer traffic, it made the entire shopping experience that much more enjoyable. Lesson learned – everything is better with pork!

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Snowbound

Thousands of folks who were traveling home for the holidays have been taking up residence in snowbound Denver International Airport. Can you imagine anything more crappy? Excited to get home for the holidays and... two plus feet of snow grounds flights out the wazoo. People have been taking up residence all throughout the terminal and at the gate area for the last couple of days and, as necessity is the mother of invention, some folks are making the best of it. A private in the U.S. Army is returning home from basic training. When asked what he'd been doing to kill time, he (I love this!) said he'd been interacting with as many females as possible - being stuck in a barracks with 40 dudes will make a man want to do that! Additionally, this private helped set up a makeshift movie theater in the main terminal for kids to watch DVDs to pass the time.

No one would ever, EVER want to be stuck in an airport instead of home for the holidays, but I'm betting there'll be some folks who will, even through all the frustration, see this as their best Christmas ever!

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Change of Plans

Please notice the info on Saturday night's acoustic gig at D'Vine Wines is no longer there. Why, you ask? Last minute private party booked the joint which means yours truly now has the night off. Enjoy Christmas Eve Eve!

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Dark

It's the winter solstice – the official start of winter, but don't tell that to folks here in St. Louis who've been dealing with nasty winter weather for over a month. And darned sure don't tell that to the folks in Denver who got two feet of snow yesterday.

Whether or not you have winter weather where you are doesn't matter as much as the one thing we all have in common today: darkness. It's the shortest day of the year and, just so your seasonal depression doesn't kick in automatically, tomorrow starts the days lengthening process that'll continue for the next six months. So, enjoy the dark while you have it!

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Lessons From Bald Women

Yesterday, I was at my ENT's office to do my every-so-often ear maintenance. Considering I'm down one of my five senses, I try to take pretty good care of my remaining four! Well, after waiting nearly 45 minutes for the doc, I was getting pretty disgruntled. I was quiet and respectful, but still kinda pissy about wasting my time. Then, three or four women in the waiting room start questioning me about Carson. I'm always happy to share information, but when I was already frustrated, I wasn't as outgoing as I usually am. It was right around this time that my girlfriend leaned over and said, "You and I are the only two in the room with hair."

You may think this a bit odd, but not when you learn that this doctor's office is in a cancer center. And each of these four women were undergoing chemo of some sort. Have any idea how hard it is to be frustrated over a tardy doc when you're surrounded by cancer patients? A quick lesson – there's always someone who has problems that make yours look like child's play.

Thank you to the four wonderful ladies I sat with yesterday for teaching me that. Even I forget these things from time to time.

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Jing-A-Ling and Clackety Clack Clack

The New York City subway system isn't known for its pleasant, festive atmosphere. Rather, more often than not, mentally unstable folks who are homeless and muggers. Yet, while riding the subway yesterday, a group of a dozen Rockapella wannabes entertained our carload of New Yorkers and tourists. "Jingle Bells" has yet to be sung so well underground! Thanks to the dudes who gave all of us a little entertainment in a place that isn't really known for its charm!

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19th Annual Impaired Driver Traffic Safety Conference

Just returned from speaking at the afore mentioned conference in Seattle, WA. In addition to eating more salmon than any single human being should ingest, I also had a great group of folks to present for; law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers, judges and substance abuse treatment specialists.

Special thanks to Brian Jones and Angie Ward for being such great individuals to work with! Can't wait to get back to the Pacific Northwest and get the Seattle experience once again!

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The City of My Youth

When I was a junior in high school, the Seattle grunge rock sound hit big. It swept up every red-blooded American kid into wearing corduroy, flannel shirts and Doc Martens. God, I miss that music and those days! Two days ago, I heard Alice in Chains' "No Excuses" for the first time in, oh, eight or nine years... and it still sounds like some of the best music of the last two decades.

So, yesterday, I flew into Seattle. God, I love this place! I'm here to do a program for the Washington State Dept. of Transportation on impaired driving (photos in the next day or two), but I'm seriously stoked about just being here. The rain, the coffee, the people, the salmon – this town is a dream come true for those of us from Generation X.

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Re-gifting Vs. Ethics

A few days ago, saw an interview with a "business expert" who touts himself as, "The Ethics Guy." His subject was "re-gifting"; the idea of giving someone else a Christmas gift that you yourself received. I won't honor/advertise the guy's name because, as you'll now read, I think he's kinda full of crap.

We've all received a gift for the holidays we didn't like. And we've all wondered, "Hmmm, I wonder if I can give this to someone else!" Get rid of it; fill that "need" to give another a gift without actually buying one and just simply the idea of pawning off a white elephant on someone else.

Well, as the guy talked, he kept giving all sorts of pieces of advice on how not to get caught: regift only to someone out of town, to a person who the original gifter does not know, if the original gifter loves the gift to be sure to let that person see you enjoying it before you secretly give it away. Everything he said had something to do with deceiving the original giver through secrecy. Granted, he did state that you shouldn't do this if you're not comfortable with it, but to blatantly speak of deceiving someone doesn't sound like it's congruent with someone calling himself, "The Ethics Guy."

Personally, if I get a gift I don't dig, it goes to the Salvation Army or Goodwill sometime down the road. If it DOES go to another person, I'll flat out tell them I received it as a gift, I didn't like it/it doesn't fit, whatever, but be up front and honest. It's really the only way to be. You don't have to be "An Ethics Guy" to figure that one out.

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No!

Today I had lunch with an elderly businessman who, when he was working, was quite successful. He said something that I'd already been thinking about earlier today; the simple action of telling someone, "No."

We are so inundated with work, home lives, volunteer opportunities, social lives, etc. etc. etc. that sometimes, our worlds are just one constant motion. And if you're in that situation now? Then Bud's little lesson is a great one to learn – learn to say, "No."

No, I can't fit one more holiday party in this season.
No, I can't grab dinner any night this week.
No, I can't take on an extra project for which I do not get paid.

If people learned to say "No" at appropriate times, and be guilt-free after doing so, they might find their world running a little smoother. I personally have had to work hard to tell people no, but now that I'm good with it and use it when appropriate, I have to say, it has given me such a feeling of relief and fulfillment. The true wisdom comes when learning to turn down a request and when to accept one. We'll worry about how to know the difference in a future blog entry (I may still have to figure that one out!)

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My First Launch

A few weeks ago, I read Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff." If you saw the movie in the 80s or have read this fantastic book, you're familiar with Chuck Yeager, the military pilots that were the first in space and the sheer amazing feats these guys accomplished. One of the better books I've read in the last six months, hands down.

Well, last night was about as close as I'll ever come to getting in a rocket. I'm in Orlando and, as you may have seen on the news, Discovery took off from the Space Coast last night around 10 o'clock. We went out into the front yard with the rest of the neighborhood and watched the red and orange glow of the booster rockets from some 60 miles away. The comradery of neighbors witnessing history being made was almost, almost as cool as the bond we shared in St. Louis when the Cards won the Series... but I digress.

Now, having witnessed my first launch and the rolling thunder of the takeoff some 20 minutes later, I want to go to a real launch. Like, up close and personal. Will it happen? Probably, but until then, I'm satisfied to know that just an hour's drive away, we continue to push into the future.

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Asparagus Scented Pee

Just started reading the book, "Why Do Men Have Nipples?" by Mark Leyner and Dr. Billy Goldberg. These two guys tag teamed on this project in an effort to, as the book's sub-title reads, answer "Hundreds of questions you'd ask a doctor after your third martini." God, I love these kinds of books!

Last night, I learned why asparagus makes your pee smell, that sugar does NOT(as opposed to what my mom told me growing up) make kids hyperactive and that if you swallow gum, it won't sit in your gut for seven years (again, contrary to your mom's teaching).

I think the world needs more books of this kind. Why? Because when I give speeches and have Q & A time with those in the audience, I almost invariably have someone say, "I always wanted to ask a blind person this..." And then? I answer their long sought question. It's something I don't mind doing, but there's such a stigma over asking questions that, too often, people stay ignorant for life... out of simple embarrassment to ask. Thanks to Mark and Dr. Billy for giving the public something to learn from... and be entertained at the same time!

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Happy Blogday To Me!

Engel's Ensights, Marcus Engel's blog, has now been active for one year! Yup, Dec. 8 of 05, I posted my first blog entry. Thanks to all who've read, commented and learned from the random stuff I throw out there on a daily basis!

So, when doing a bit of research, I wanted to find out about the blogosphere. Easier said than done. Why? Because there are discrepancies on just how many blogs exist. The NY Times says 10 million. But the Blog Herald says 60 million. Some estimates are over 150 million. Uh, just a teensy bit of difference there, eh? Either way, one thing that DOES seem to be agreed on is that blogs are often started...then abandoned (poor little homeless blogs).

I knew when starting my blog that to make it successful, I'd have to post every day. That became my goal. Have I accomplished it? Nope! There've been quite a few days I've missed in 06, but more days than not, I've gotten a post up. Sometimes funny, sometimes random, sometimes opinionated, Engel's Ensights has become an outlet for me to share info with those in my reading audience. And since you're one of those people, thank you. Here's to another year of blog-o-riffic fun!

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How Much?

This past weekend, there was an embarrassing situation at the White House. Not two, but four women showed up wearing the exact same dress. One of these women happened to be the First Lady. Mrs. Bush quickly ran to the Bush's quarters in the White House and changed dresses, but the three other women were left to their own devices.

Is this odd? Yeah, kind of a unique situation, considering these women have resources to purchase practically any apparel in the world. How do I know? Because the dress they each donned is an $8500 Oscar de la Renta.

Obviously the First Lady needs to be properly attired, but it's just sad to think that for the cost of these four dresses, a family of four could live comfortably for a year.

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I Find This Stuff Funny

Flatulence Leads to Grounding of Plane

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 5) - It is considered polite to light a match after passing gas. Not while on a plane.
An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence, authorities said.
The Dallas-bound flight was diverted to Nashville after several passengers reported smelling burning sulfur from the matches, said Lynne Lowrance, spokeswoman for the Nashville International Airport Authority. All 99 passengers and five crew members were taken off and screened while the plane was searched and luggage was screened.
The FBI questioned a passenger who admitted she struck the matches in an attempt to conceal a "body odor," Lowrance said. She had an unspecified medical condition, authorities said.
"It's humorous in a way but you feel sorry for the individual, as well," she said. "It's unusual that someone would go to those measures to cover it up."
The flight took off again, but the woman was not allowed back on the plane. The woman, who was not identified, was not charged in the incident.
12/05/06 21:07 EST

I Have Such A Kick Butt Life!

Today, I'm going through all the blogs from the past year, just trying to be sure that I haven't missed a client. It's Christmas time, so I'm sending out a little gift to all those folks who've hired me this past year. As I've gone through each name, I couldn't help but think about all the cool times, awesome places and bonds I've made with so many cool people. I am blessed beyond measure to have such a kick butt life!

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Ice, Ice Baby!

If you've flipped on CNN in the last four or five days, you've probably seen how the mid-west has been smacked upside the head by a winter storm. The ice and snow and Arctic temps are especially bad in St Louis. Thanks for the concern to those of you who've written asking if I'm okay, or if I'm one of the half a million residents served that are still without power.

Well, I'm happy to report.... I'm in Florida! Granted, no power at the ol' Engel hizzy, and who knows when that may be back up. So, here I sit – in 80 degree weather questioning why I choose to live in the mid-west.

But yes, thank you, I'm fine. And if anyone has good info on my hood back home and the conditions therein, please drop me an E mail and let me know.

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Another Annual Meeting Down...

Just returned from attending my third AFA Annual Meeting. Good times, good times! Thanks to all who stopped by my booth in the exhibit hall, and thanks to Sue Kraft Fussel

and Amanda Bureau for being such excellent people to work with!

I look forward to seeing everyone next year in Cincinnati!

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Happy Birthday to My Favorite Person!

Happy birthday to mE!

(No, that's not ME as In Marcus Engel, but to my girlfriend, Marvelyne. )

It was spent on the streets of Bourbon in N'Orleans and I, personally, couldn't have asked for a better night (not like it's my bday, but still...)

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Missing the Unmissable

I'm currently in New Orleans at the Association of Fraternity Advisors Annual Meeting. AFA's philanthropy is St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN. Today, a college freshman named Jessica had her turn at the mic to tell her story. Jessica was a kid when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Through years of chemo and hospitalization, Jessica came to know the benefits of St. Jude's work. One thing Jessica said that hit home with me was how when she left the hospital, she was going to miss it.

Now, to the uninitiated, getting out of the hospital is a great thing! No more crappy food, no more nurses waking you up in the middle of the night, no more stench of hospital antiseptic. But, for those of us who've served a lengthy tour of duty, leaving the hospital isn't necessarily a good thing.

As a patient, you learn to perceive things differently. Those middle-of-the-night disturbances are from friends who happen to be nurses. Those bland hospital walls are security. The frequent interruptions in the day are evidence to just howw much people care about you. Again, leaving the hospital is, for this young lady, not a great thing.

And yet...life goes on. Jessica is now a freshman at Middle Tennessee State University and a recent initiate into Chi Omega, the sister sorority of my fraternity affiliation, Kappa Sigma.
Props to Jessica and all those who've learned so much from the work of St. Jude's.

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Bad Customer Service... For the Right People!

Flew from Orlando to New Orleans today. Right after I got on, a couple with two little girls gets on. The husband sits the girls down in the front row and, par their custom, the SWA flight attendant informed the family that the front row has more leg room, yes, but all bags have to go in overhead AND there were no tray tables. As soon as the flight attendant gets this out of his mouth, the wife turns and snarls at the husband, "You idiot!" Being a good husband, he ignores her. The wife sits down with her purse on her lap and the flight attendant says, "Did I say just some bags in the overhead compartment? No! ALL bags in the overhead compartment!" I was a bit surprised at his saucy talk to her, but he got the last laugh. When she spits at the flight attendant and says, "I am NOT putting my purse up there!" He smiles, points to an entire plane that is virtually empty. Even my blind self can pick up on the smug, "Gotcha!" coming off of him.

And, he won!

I'm always a big fan of customer service, but when people are as ignorant to others as this woman was, she deserves to be put in her place. Thanks for another smile, SWA!

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The Anti-Gangsta Rap

Yesterday, I was listening to my favorite talk station and favorite show, The Dave Glover Show on 97.1 FM out of St. Louis. While I always enjoy the Glover Show, I was most impressed with the commercials. Not your typical adverts for cars and jewelry and other holiday goodies, but the public service announcements. During a commercial break, I heard three PSAs, right in a row. One for breast cancer awareness, one for stopping on-line predators and one for elimination of obesity. Promotion of good things like non-for-profits and government services always make me think of the antidote for gangsta rap-something positive, meaningful and beneficial to all Americans.

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That's Supposed To Be Insulting?

If you're like me and suffering through a turkey-induced coma last Thursday, thank your lucky stars. If you were dancing with Mr. Sandman, then you probably missed the embarrassing display by the Detroit Lions' staff before their game against the Miami Dolphins.

As Joey Harrington, The Dolphins' QB was introduced, the scoreboard flashed up a shot of his face and began playing Billy Joel's "Piano Man." This was apparently meant as a jab at Harrington's talent as a pianist – a talent that is well founded enough that he played on stage with Dave Matthews.

So, I ask you, if Joey is proud of his talent and ready to showcase it in front of a live audience with one of the biggest rock stars on earth, does it stand to reason that he'd be embarrassed when Detroit tags him as "The Piano Man"? Not likely.

Just goes to prove – being unconcerned with another's insults is the best way to deflect them.

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Thanks!

Thanks to all who came out last night for the music at D'Vine Wines in Kirkwood. Y'all were a great audience and I had a blast! Special thanks to Lisa for the Reserve and the opportunity to entertain!

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TONIGHT!

Don't forget - tonight, downtown Kirkwood, D'Vine Wines.

Yours truly will start playing around 7.

Stop on in to sample some great wines and to hear some fun acoustic music. May even throw in John Prine's "Christmas in Prison" just to get us all in the holiday mood!

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Thanksgiving Hangover

Just returned from a few days with the fam Hope your Thanksgiving was great! It's amazing how much one can get in the habit of gluttony in such a short amount of time. Thanks to my niece, Lauren, who is five. "Little L" helped me stuff all books with the bookmarks that advertise afterthisbook.com. If you're ordering either of my books as Christmas gifts, know that little hands helped get those to you! Lauren and her sister, Michaela, continue to teach me lessons that all adults can learn from. Be sure to check out December's newsletter (when I actually write it) to see some further teachings from toddlers!

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Idiots

By now, everyone has heard Michael Richards' comments screamed from stage. Racist, yes, stupid, yes. What's worse? The certain follow-up where we're all manipulated to feel sorry for ol' Michael.

This sorta thing happens every time a celeb gets in trouble-we saw it with Mel Gibson earlier this year, Pat O'Brien and his phone messages to a young lady he met in a bar, it just seems the same old, same old. A celebrity gets caught doing something idiotic and, instead of owning up to stupidity, they play the victim-Michael Richards is saying he's now doing "personal work" to become a better person. Gibson and Pat both immediately checked themselves into rehab. Uh, there is no rehab for stupidity. Yet, once someone does a stupid act, their next move is to act like it wasn't their fault; "Oh, I'm an alcoholic...THAT's why I made those comments. I have a problem. I'm working on it. Feel sorry for me." Please. Personal accountability seems all but lost in our world.

www.marcusengel.com
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It's Official!

I was in Wal-Mart today and heard the official start to the holidays. While checking out humidifier filters, over the PA came "Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria in excelsis deo." This is the first carol of the year and not a minute too soon, considering most folks are already buying Christmas gifts.

And while on the subject of Wal-Mart... let me give a reason why I think this store and corp benefit Americans. Yes, there is plenty of legitimacy about unions and prices that aren't fair and foreign labor, etc. etc. etc. However, the truth of the matter is that we Americans want the most we can have for the least amount of money. Wal-Mart understands this. And delivers. That's their marketing plan and it certainly seems to work for them.

Here's my personal bit, though... no one will deny that drugs are out of control in this country. I'm talking prescription meds here. And Wal-Mart now has a program where, in at least 15 states, customers can buy $4 prescriptions. No program to buy into, no contracts to sign, just be a Wally World customer and get generic meds for $4. I did it yesterday and will continue to do so in the future.

www.myspace.com/marcusengel
www.marcusengel.com

Amen!

This week's "This American Life" on NPR was especially interesting. If you didn't catch it, check out audible.com for the podcast. I'm generally(okay, okay, never) a fan of tele-evangelists. I just can't see a bit of integrity in "earning" exorbanant sums of money and calling it the work of God.
So, tonight, I expected to be fairly irritated by the story of Carlson Pearson, a minister trained in the Oral Roberts tradition.

After years of study, Pearson realized that what he'd been taught and, more importantly, what he was now
preaching was, in a word, wrong. When he told his congregation that he’d been wrong and that he was changing his theology, his congregation shrank from over 8000 to less than 300. Monthly offerings went from nearly half a mill down to virtually nothing. Barely anyone in the more fundamental strains of Christianity would even recognize Pearson’s existence after this.

A man with no integrity would scramble to get back those who'd left and (cynicism coming at ya here), their weekly offerings. Not Pearson. Integrity was too important. He believes what he believes-and isn't going to change what he preaches to make money. That is integrity at its best. And I commend him. Check it out if you're in the mood for an interesting piece.

www.marcusengel.com

Cure for the Post-Thanksgiving Blues

Saturday, Nov. 25, 6:30 p.m.
I'll be playing a gig at D'Vine Wines in downtown Kirkwood, MO.

Just a stone's throw up Kirkwood Rd. from the train station,

D'Vine Wines is a winery like no other. Stop on in if you're local!

D'Vine Wine of Kirkwood

http://www.marcusengel.com/

Parkway UCC

Thanks to Parkway UCC for hosting me for their adult education programs this morning. Special thanks to Rick Oberle for setting all this up. You guys were all a great group to discuss and dialogue with! Thanks again!

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

The Lesson of Burritos

I got back into town just a few nights ago. Three weeks on the road equals an empty cupboard and fridge for your ol' pal, Marcus. So, as I'm cooking up about the only thing I have (frozen burritos), I'm kinda disgruntled. I mean, I really want a big, heavy, meat laden sandwich with melted cheese. Alas, I'm headed out in a few hours to grocery shop and, until then, I'll have to be happy with my burritos. But, I'm not.

So, listening to NPR's "The Splendid Table" radio show which is, of course, describing all these succulent traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Well, in the midst of me wishing I had something that didn't end with a vowel, a caller states how 37 years ago, he was diagnosed with a food allergy. Not just any food allergy, but where he couldn't eat seafood, nuts and a list of about half a dozen other staples of life. Well, then he went to a new allergist and, shocker of all shockers, his earlier food allergy diagnosis was incorrect. So, instead of being angry over the 37 year he spent staying out of restaurants and dinner parties due to the menu, he's asking advice on what is in season now so he can really knock his own socks off with a first meal of seafood.

For longer than I've been alive, this man has been limited. And I'm complaining about burritos? Hence, you guessed it... now – I shut up. Be thankful for what you have. Many, many people have nothing at all.

www.marcusengel.com
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Jammin'

Just got this photo, taken by Dave Henerfauth, from my Memorial Day gig at Shorr Lake Winery in Waterloo, IL. Thanks for the pic, Dave!

And, if you're interested in hearing some one-man acoustic guitar work, I'll be playing at

D'Vine Wines in downtown Kirkwood, MO on Saturday, November 25th.

Stop on in, have a glass of vino if you're of age, and sing along with some sub-par Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen tunes! Start time around 7:00 p.m. Lisa, the vinmistress, is a wonderful gal and a pleasure to work with... not to mention she makes some great dry whites!

www.marcusengel.com

Thursdays Items of Interest

First, it's "National Thaw Out Your Turkey Day." Unless you're my Grandma Bernie and I'll be sitting at your table one week from today, you can ignore this. Really, I don't care. If you like your turkey frozen or raw, it's your business.

Second, I just got back from my weekly Kirkwood Rotary meeting. Today's program was the Kirkwood High foot ball team who are about one game away from getting into the state finals. As a former high school football player, I think this is cool. But what is more cool than that is that the principal and superintendent were also at the meeting. When it came time to Q & A with the players, the principal asked one of the linemen, "Hey, tell them what you got on your SATs." The Kirkwood principal gets it. As awesome as a state championship would be, as great as it feels to be young and accomplishing a teenager's dream, there ain't nothing more important for high schoolers than academics. As my dad said growing up, "School is your job. Do your job well."

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Thanks For Saving My Life!

To the Southwest Airlines pilot who kept all 103 people on board from certain death this afternoon coming into STL... thanks! 30 mph wind gusts made for the rockiest ride and landing I've had in a long, long time. And a big thanks goes to Debbie, the flight attendant, for getting everyone to laugh as soon as the wheels were on the ground. The favorite flight attendant of the day grabbed the mic and called out, "How about a big hand for our captain... I couldn't have landed this thing better myself!" It made for a fitting and very SWAish end to a pretty scary time.

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

A Daily Reminder

Today, I was hanging out with my friend, Maddison. Maddi is 16 and has the class project to read, "Night" by Elie Wiesel. If you're not familiar, this is Wiesel's account of his time in Auschwitz. Just a few pages of his story gave me that much-needed slap of realization – the realization of just how good we have it.

If I named my 10 biggest problems in the world now, they'd not equal even a portion of Wiesel's first 10 minutes in the concentration camp. Taking a quick look at "Night" or "The Diary of Anne Frank" or "One Man's Search for Meaning" or any other account of the holocaust should be just enough of a dose of reality to make us know how much we have to appreciate in this world of ours.

www.myspace.com/marcusengel
www.marcusengel.com

Political Ownership

Tonight on Fox News' Hannaty and Colmes, TN's outgoing senator, Bill Frist, was interviewed. Frist was asked if, now that his party has lost control of the Senate, if he regrets not running for office again. His answer is one of the best I've heard from a politician in years:

"You don't own this job-you're only occupying a position."

Brilliant! This, THIS attitude is how government was intended to run-not for politicians to be lifers and think they own that chair in D.C. Now, don't get me wrong-I love Bill Frist and I'd love it if he were going to stick around for a while... but more than anything, I love his answer on what he feels the roles of politicians in Washington should be.

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

More Bacchus!

Have just finished up a second day of exhibiting at the Bacchus General Assembly in Anaheim, CA. This has been an awesome opportunity to meet students and college professionals alike, as well as renew some old friendships. Thanks to all who came by my booth, told me they loved my keynote last year, and got a copy of my new book! Hope to hear from y'all when you get a chance to read my work!

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

www.marcusengel.com

Bacchus General Assembly

Currently in Anaheim, CA at the General Assembly for the Bacchus Network. I've worked with Bacchus for years and I can easily tell you there are few orgs on the collegiate level that do as much positive healthy work as Bacchus. I've been re-establishing old friendships with past clients, meeting loads of cool people and Carson has been petted so much I'm surprised he's not bald! Also, props go to my friends from DeSales University for a great presentation this morning on Character U! I'm so proud I could be a part of such a phenomenal program!

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

The Election Results?

I was E chatting with a few friends today. Every conversation seemed to revolve around the election results. Now, one of the friends I was talking with is so right wing he makes Rush look like a dirt hippie, and another one of my conversational partners IS a dirt hippie. Both had very spicy ideas on how we got here and where the country is headed. Granted, I have some pretty strong opinions, too, but the biggest thing I think about the election is this: it happened. No matter the outcome, we, as Americans, have already won. Why? Because we know what democracy is, we choose our leaders and, even if the pool of applicants is slim pickin's, well, we still get the choice of the lesser of two or three or four evils.

So, no matter what your feelings are today in wake of the turnover in D.C., take a few minutes to be thankful we live in a free country where we have the ability to get hacked off at the government and, if we don't like it, change it in a couple of years!

www.marcusengel.com

Last Week's NODA Conference

Here's a pic of my booth at the National Orientation Director's Association Conference last week in Salt Lake City. This is one of the best run collegiate conferences I've ever worked with and I want to again say thanks to Marc, Taylor and David for taking such great care of the associate members like me! You guys really made my first NODA experience a positive one!

More Reasons Oct 27th Was Such A Great Night!

Follow this link to read an article by Five for Fighting.

FFF played a gig in St. Louis on Oct. 27 - the same night as my book release event AND the same night the Cardinals were potentially going to win the World Series.

Just thought this was a fun article-especially for Cardinals fans!

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=72119284&blogID=186033699&MyToken=063ff902-c09f-4bd0-af40-c9aeb4556425

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

The Best $21 I've Ever Spent

When I was a kid, my great-uncle, Les, had a bumper sticker that I wasn't allowed to say out loud. Now that I'm an adult, I'll still choose to camouflage it a bit. Anyway, Ii thought it was a great, simple and profound message: "If you don't vote, don't b*$&%!" I have never forgotten this, even though Les has been dead for nearly 20 years.

So, here we are on the eve of the mid-term elections. And, due to my ridiculous travel schedule the last six weeks, voting absentee slipped my mind until, oh, the last possible day to fax in a request for absentee voting. And this morning? I paid $21 to Fed Ex my ballot back to St. Louis from Orlando, FL. Why? Because I hate, HATE people who don't vote. This is America, we have the right and the duty to vote and, if you aren't voting, frankly, I really don't want to speak to you. Anytime politics comes up in a discussion, before it can even start off, I ask everyone, "Did you vote in the last election?" If someone says no, tough cookies, they have nothing to say. Why? Because Uncle Les' bumper sticker was right.

So, get out there and vote tomorrow. I don't care for whom(okay, Ii DO care for whom, but I'm more concerned that you DO vote). And if you're not registered, get it done. And vote next time. There's no excuse not to.

http://www.marcusengel.com/
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

The Evening That Was...

Here are the pics from the Oct. 27 book(s) release event.

Fear not if you missed it – we should have the video digitized and on the web site within a few weeks! The other gent in the photo is Mike Podorski. Mike is a long time friend I met at Camp Mo-Val when I was 15. Seven years later, he sold me my first guitar and taught me some chords. It seemed fitting to have him back me up at the book release event.

Check out my MySpace for more pics, coming soon!
Also, I'll post a blog when the paypal set up is arranged and ready to

sell the new medical book.

Thanks again to all who made it such an amazing night!

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Ritual

I'm currently in Orlando, FL, cooling my heels after running all over the country speaking the last two or three weeks. Last night, I was watching the news and saw a report about the University of Central Florida's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter. Since UCF's fraternity/sorority system is one of my clients and I just spoke there a few months ago, this was of particular interest.

Apparently, the SAE chapter at UCF is in trouble for hazing. According to the reports (and this is where I take issue), recently, the police showed up at the fraternity house and were not allowed in because the brothers were in the middle of performing a ritual.

First off, hazing is wrong. Period. Second, this is probably a misreport by the media. Granted, this is going to be splitting hairs of linguistics, but it's something I take issue with. Allow me to explain...

Ritual is one thing and one thing only – it is that which bonds the brothers together AS brothers. Every fraternity member in the country is known as "brother" because he has experienced that fraternity's ritual. Therefore, the SAEs at UCF are brothers with the chapter of SAE at UCLA as they are with those at every other school in the country – only because of ritual.

If there is "sideline" stuff going on that involves tradition and hazing, that is not ritual – it is ceremony. And yes, there is a difference. It's a diff that a fraternity brother should know and (I hope) would not mistake.

What does this mean to the average person? Very little. Just please know that if this particular chapter of SAE at this particular university has done something wrong, that is only, ONLY them – it is not indicative of any other fraternity at any other school.

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

DeSales University

Thanks, freshman class at DeSales, for being such a great group to work with! Thanks for all the E mails and My Space sign-ups, too! Special thanks to Wendy Krisak, Dr. Greg Amore, Linda, Jamie, Chad and Mike and the rest of the PACERs. You guys were such a fun group to chill with and I'm glad my program at Bacchus last year meant enough for you to share it with your fellow DeSales students. Snapping turtles that take five shots like Fifty Cent, llamas on the streets of NYC and pumpkin pie – all these helped make my first trip to DeSales a heck of a lot of fun!

http://www.marcusengel.com/
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

NODA.... N O D A.... NODA

Just returned from the NODA Annual Conference in Salt Lake City.
Thanks to all I met for making my first NODA experience so great!

Special thanks to Kristen Jones from the University of Texas for all the awesome underground Austin info! You've given me new stuff to check out next time I'm in one of my fav cities!

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Mashed Potato Martini Party

Currently attending the National Orientation Directors Assoc. Conf. in Salt Lake City, UT. Today, the draw of the participants to the exhibit hall was (drum roll, please) mashed potatos. In a martini glass. Will the wonders never cease?

Anyway, thanks to all the folks who stopped by my booth today. This has been an awesome first NODA experience! And, if you're ever in Salt Lake, try Bayou - that's some good eatin'! Even without martini mashed potatos!

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

It Was One Kick Butt Night!!

So, Mother Nature really took it to me on Wednesday. The Cards World Series game was rained out which meant that Friday(the night of my book release event) there would be a game. The 5th game. When the Cards would win the World Series for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century. And yet???

Over 200 of you – my friends, my family, my colleagues, my "fans" from the Rockwood District this week and lots of people I haven't seen in years – all of you came out to support me and this project I've been working on for years. Thank you, thank you and thank you!

If you missed it, fear not! We got the video done last night, so within a few weeks, this should be converted to digital and put on the site as a podcast!

And... Cards win! Twenty four years in the making, but STL brought home the World Series pennant once again! Go Cards! And only 3.5 months until spring training!

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Rockwood Summit High, St. Mark's and Marquette High

Thanks to Rockwood Summit High for hosting me for Red Ribbon Week this morning! I can't believe you freshmen were awake at that early of an hour! Thanks to all who asked questions, hung around afterward and dropped me messages to let me know they liked what I did!

St. Mark's Lutheran School
Thanks to the 4th, 7th and 8th graders of St. Mark's in Eureka, MO for such a great morning! You guys were such an inquisitive group and I wish I would have had longer to spend with you!

Marquette High School
To the 550 of you guys who were in my program...you guys rock! Thanks for being such a great audience during the last hour before a three day weekend. Special thanks to Ms. Valerie Kamhi for being such a great host!

And all these events have been arranged and nurtured by Mrs. Peggy Browne. It's been great spending the last three days with you, Peggy, and I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to influence so many Rockwood students!

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Thanks to Holy Infant 7th graders who were such a fun group to work with today! Special thanks to Kelsey, Mary and Dena for hanging around afterwards to give Carson some extra lovin'! Also, thanks to all of you for the cool Holy Infant sweatshirt! With as cold as it got today, I wore it tonight!

Thanks to the Rockwood ILC program, too. You guys are a great group of students and thanks for laughing at my jokes! Sorry if I grossed any of you guys out, but it's called reality – and, as you can tell, I'm not really a guy who sugar coats stuff. Thanks again!

Thanks to the 7th and 8th grade at Selvidge Middle School in Ballwin. I think I could have answered your questions until I turned 80 and there would have still been more! I loved it!

And for all students I spoke for in the last few days, you guys have doubled my MySpace friends! Thanks! I feel popular now! And keep watching for more pics coming soon!

www.myspace.com/marcusengel
www.marcusengel.com

Rockwood! Rockwood! Rockwood!

Thanks to Wildwood Middle School for hosting me for Red Ribbon Week this morning!
You guys were so polite and asked some great questions!
Plus, you guys look really cool in your camo!
Please check out my MySpace for photos from your school!

Thanks to Rockwood South Middle School 8th graders for welcoming me for Red Ribbon Week.
You guys have some infectious energy and I had a great time at your school!
And... I like your slippers! We have some cool pics of Carson going after some Cartman slippers that is pretty funny!
Check out my MySpace for those and sign up to be my friend while you're there!

Crestview Middle School
Wow, there were 1200 of you guys in that gymnasium and you were so attentive and polite I thought there were only a few hundred students! Check out the pics on MySpace!

Thanks for your attention, your questions and all of you who've signed up for my MySpace friends so far!
Also, thanks to all who gave Carson some lovin'! He came home a very happy dog!

To all students who heard me on Monday, don't forget the
Book Release Event this Friday night!
All are invited! Details are below!


www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Book Release Event Details

Friday, October 27, 2006, 7:30 p.m.
Edward D. Jones Auditorium

12555 Manchester Road
(please note, this is NOT the Jones Dome downtown where the Rams play!)

Take Hwy. 270 to Manchester Rd. east. Go no more than one-quarter mile to West County Center Drive (there’ll be a stoplight). If you’d turn right, you’ll go into the mall and Macy’s, but do NOT do this. Instead, make a left into the driveway for the Edward D. Jones building. The building that houses the auditorium will be on your left. Park in the parking lot on your right or, if it’s raining, feel free to use the parking garage. The building is grey, sits on Manchester Road and has a lot of glass in the architecture.

We’ll be releasing two books. First, the 2nd version of my autobiography, “After This…An Inspirational Journey For All The Wrong Reasons.” Second, we’ll be releasing a completely new book aimed at health care providers, “The Other End Of The Stethoscope: 33 Insights For Excellent Patient Care.”

I’ll do a 45 minute (or so) lecture mixed with guitar/vocal performance of many of the songs that were influential in my recovery AND the writing of these books.

Please feel free to invite any and all you think may be interested. The more the merrier!

Thanks so much for helping to make this long project a reality… finally!

www.afterthisbook.com

www.marcusengel.com

University of Texas - Pan Am

Just finally got these dig photos off the camera from the Oct. 5 and 6 programs at UTPA. Thanks for making my first trip to the Valley so awesome! And again, special thanks to Miguel Lopez and Christine Carruthers for being such great clients and hosts-and for introing me to some of the best Tex-Mex I've ever had!

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Gardner-Webb University

Speaking at GWU for alcohol awareness week

in Boiling Springs, NC was great!

Special thanks to Kat Ayotte for being a great client and carting me around!
Sherry Ingram and Annette for entertaining me at dinner.

A special thanks to all you guys who signed up for friends on MySpace too!

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Agency Management Resource Group

On Wed., Oct. 18, I was fortunate enough to present for the conference of the Agency Management Resource Group held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN.

This event was sponsored by Securian Financial and was one of the most down-to-earth and excited corporate groups I've spoken for in a long while!

Special thanks to Jean Lang and Tonya Walsh at Securian for this opportunity, as well as to Shannon Kuhlman at Renaissance Financial in St. Louis for recommending my services.

Also, thanks to all the audience members who ordered books afterward!

Sorry no pics are available –

I simply forgot to hand the camera to someone to play photographer!

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Florida Gulf Coast University

Thanks to FGCU for having me in to speak for your alcohol awareness week. You guys were one of the most interactive and fun audiences I've had... ever! Did we really go 15 minutes over schedule without anyone wanting to leave? Y'all rock!

Special thanks to Dr. Judi Gibbons for being such a great client, for taking me out to pizza with some wonderful folks from the counseling office. This program was compliments of CAMPUSPEAK and specifically by CAMPUSPEAK's agent, Ray Lutzky.

Thanks to all who made my first Fort Myers experience so great!

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Eastern Washington University

Okay, these photos are being posted a month late since, well, photos and blind dudes don't always work well together. Nonetheless, here are some shots of me speaking at Eastern Washington University in Spokane, WA for EWU's orientation event. Again, special thanks to Michelle Pingree for being such a wonderful client, as well as to Asuris Health for sponsoring

100 copies of "After This..." for EWU students!

www.marcusengel.com

www.afterthisbook.com

So It Doesn't Continue...

Here we are in October, my busiest month of the year due to the fact we're smack dab in the midst of national drug/alcohol abuse prevention weeks. In hitting three states within the last three days for programs, my only hope is that I, in some way, give my audience members something to think about so things like this don't continue to happen.


Man Convicted in Flower Girl Murder Case
Fatal Drunk-Driving Crash Was Captured on Video
MINEOLA, N.Y. (Oct. 18) - A jury convicted a man on Tuesday of murder for driving drunk the wrong way on a highway, slamming head-on into a wedding limousine and killing the chauffeur and a 7-year-old flower girl.
Prosecutors said Martin Heidgen, 25, drove his pickup truck more than 2 miles on the Long Island highway before ramming head-on into the limousine in July 2005. They contended Heidgen never tried to stop and turned slightly toward the limousine in the seconds before the crash.
Heidgen, of Valley Stream, had at least 14 drinks before getting behind the wheel; his blood-alcohol level, 0.28, was more than three times the 0.08 legal limit in New York state, prosecutors said.
Kate Flynn and limousine driver Stanley Rabinowitz, 59, were killed. Five other members of the Flynn family were injured.
A scream echoed through the courtroom as the murder conviction was read, with several of the jurors in tears as the slain girl's mother collapsed sobbing into her weeping husband's arms. The verdict followed a gut-wrenching, five-week trial that was filled with gruesome images and testimony.
Jennifer Flynn, who testified about holding her daughter's decapitated head immediately after the wreck, praised the jury for its decision.
"It was the right verdict," she said. "I'm happy for that."
Jurors, who deliberated for five days, saw a horrifying video from the limousine's surveillance camera that showed Heidgen's pickup truck barreling toward the car moments before the crash. It ended with the metal-on-metal crunch of the two vehicles colliding.
In closing arguments, Heidgen's defense attorney called the murder charge "extreme" and suggested jurors return a guilty verdict on a lesser count of criminally negligent homicide, which carries a four-year prison term.
Defense attorney Stephen LaMagna complained that prosecutors held Heidgen to the "same standard as a cold-blooded murderer" but insisted, "this is a kid who drank too much and got lost on the way home."
Heidgen faces 25 years to life in prison. The jury, which was sequestered on the fourth day of deliberations, had a choice of convicting him on the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter, which carries up to 15 years in prison.
"Thank God," said Keith Rabinowitz, son of the dead limo driver. "It's about time. I'm glad that he was prosecuted and the truth came out."
Heidgen also was convicted of assault and driving while intoxicated.

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Cards Win!!

Apologies for my absentee blogging the last few days. I've spoken about three different times in three different states and have just been running crazy. However, there was a pause inserted to watch the Cardinals beat the Mets 3-1 to capture the National League title! More blogging later about the adventures of late, but, hey, let's face it... this is baseball fever!

Go Cards!

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Book Release Event Details!

Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Edward D. Jones Auditorium

12555 Manchester Road
(Hwy 270 & Manchester in St. Louis)

Take Hwy. 270 to Manchester Road east. Within a quarter mile, you will come to a stop light at West County Mall Drive. The street turns right into West County Mall, but you will turn left into the driveway of the Edward D. Jones complex. The building that houses the auditorium is across from Macy's and will be directly on your left. It is grey and kinda looks like a parking garage. Due to city regulations, there will be no signs advertising the book release event outside of the building. However, once inside, signs will direct you to the auditorium.

This event will be the official book release for the 2nd version of Marcus' autobiography, "After This..." and the release of his newest book, "The Other End of the Stethoscope." The event is free, open to the public and family friendly. There is no obligation to buy books, so come on out for an excellent presentation and entertainment!

visit www.afterthisbook.com for more info!

Calf Ropin' in a Four-Star Hotel!

My Friday the 13th was celebrated by providing the closing keynote for the Safety Council of the Ozarks' conference at Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO. Thanks to Debora Biggs and Anne Frost for being such great hosts, clients and long-time friends! Y'all know how to throw a party! I've gotta say, I've never before attended a conference where a bale of hay was drug into a conference room, a bull's head placed on that bale and then roped by a bunch of wannabe buckaroos! Good times, good times!

For those in the audience, thank you. For being such a wonderful group to present for, for your responsiveness after the program and for taking such an active interest in your corporate and industrial workplaces to keep your employees out of harm's way. Hope to meet up with y'all again sometime soon! Yee haw!

www.marcusengel.com
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News All Around

I wanted to let you know about a new e book by a friend and speaking colleague of mine.

It's called 234 things I've learned about creating, delivering and marketing speeches

and it's written by Scott Ginsberg aka The Nametag Guy.

Check out his web site: www.hellomynameisscott.com

and his latest book: www.hellomynameisscott.com/speak234.pdf

this is good stuff!!

www.marcusengel.com

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Wannabe

This morning, I received an E mail marketing piece from a company that supposedly helps authors succeed. This wasn't especially annoying as spam since I AM an author, but when I started reading some of their points, I was giving the keyboard a "What the ...?" look. As stated in this message, "To be a writer, you never have to sit at a keyboard, never have to put pen to paper, never really need to get your ideas down by yourself." Beg pardon?

I don't claim to know everything about the craft of writing, but I darned sure know that, unless you are massaging the words to say what you want to convey, then you are NOT writing! When someone dictates to a ghost writer, that does not make he/she doing the dictating a writer – it just means they can talk.

To write takes a little more effort. In this oddball world of speaking I'm in, there are literally thousands of folks who have books. But that's just it – they "have a book." It does not mean they "wrote a book." What's the diff? Basically, I'm just not a fan of people taking ownership of a title they didn't work for. If you want to call yourself a writer, then write! This ain't rocket surgery! Yet, the "attraction" that everyone feels to writing cannot be circumvented by someone writing a book for you. That's just cheesy. Do the work, reap the benefits and we'll all be happy.

www.marcusengel.com
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STIFFS

Just finished reading Mary Roach's, "Stiffs: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers." What's that, you say? What would possess an otherwise sane human being to read about dead bodies? Because it's darned fascinating, that's why.

In "Stiffs", Roach discusses how cadavers have been used to help the living throughout history. Everything from testing the machines of execution to be sure there's a clean cut, to present day when med school students "operate" to be sure they're learning on something that is NOT a dummy. Throw in that cadavers are used to test the restraint systems of vehicles, to donate organs to those who are in need and, well, there's a perfect example of "the gift that keeps on giving."

During the read, every chapter would make me think, "Yeah! That's what I want my body to be used for when I'm dead!" That's everything from testing plastic surgery techniques to bone banks to, believe it or not, human composting. More than anything, it just reinforced in my mind how important organ donation is. This is such an important point that I have it specifically written into my will – take whatever you can use. I won't need it where I'm going.

If you have a strong stomach and are looking for a good read, think about Roach's "Stiffs." And if not, just consider organ donation – it's one of the only ways to give the gift of life.

www.marcusengel.com
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October 9 - Happy Anniversary?

Why do we know one another? From you hearing me speak? Or reading an article or book I've written? If so, then the whole reason I speak and write is centered around the events that went down thirteen years ago today.

In years past, I'd recognize this date with a piss poor pity party attended by my friends in Pink Floyd and with far too many libations raised to days gone by. This year? I hadn't even thought about it until I got an E mail from my girlfriend this morning. It just really doesn't matter any more. It's not something I celebrate, it's not something I dread, it is just what it is – another day on the calendar.

If you've read my autobiography or heard me present, you may recall the stories about Ron, my buddy in Texas. Strangely, Ron and I met in Jersey while receiving our first Seeing Eye dogs. It was there that we discovered we were both blind due to car wrecks – car wrecks that happened the very same night. Car wrecks that left us both blind. Weird, I know.

Ron calls this his "re-birthday."

A time to celebrate the life he now has.

Check out his thoughts on this day at:

http://1grahamsview.livejournal.com/

For me? This little blog blurb is about the only recognition I think I'll have. And, for me, this is the best way to show that this day no longer has any power – it is what it is: another day on the calendar. Thanks to all who give me support on this day, but honestly? I don't really need anything other than to continue to live the way I do every day – with passion, with commitment and love. Happy re-birthday to you, Ron, and happy Monday to me...

and all of us, for that matter.

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE!

You, yes you, are invited!

Friday, October 27th, 7:30 p.m.

Edward D. Jones Auditorium

12555 Manchester
(270 and Manchester)

here in St. Louis

The long-awaited book release event for the second edition of my autobiography,

"After This...An Inspirational Journey for All the Wrong Reasons."

But, since your old buddy Marcus is an overachiever, this will not only be the book release event for "After This..." but the book release event for my second work,

"The Other End of the Stethoscope: 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care!"

On this night, yours truly will do a 45 minute lecture and guitar/vocals performance where I'll play many of the songs and musical influences that helped form these books.

I would love it if you (yes, you!) can be there!

www.afterthisbook.com

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

University of Texas - Pan American

Thanks to all Pan Am students who came out to hear me the last couple of days! I had a blast with you guys and I hope you also got something out of it! A very special thanks goes to Christine Caruthers and the BACCHUS and GAMMA club for "purchasing" my services at the Bacchus Network General Assembly last fall.

Miguel Lopez and Christine and crew treated me to not only an excellent showing of the best south Texas has to offer, but introduced me to the most authentic Mexican food I've ever put in my mouth! Yummy... and the leftovers at the hotel weren't half bad, either!

www.marcusengel.com
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This Saturday... Merlot and Marcus!

Saturday evening, I'll be playing a set or two at

D'Vine Wines

in downtown Kirkwood, MO at 119 N. Kirkwood Road.

If you're of age, stop on in,

try some vino and hang around to hear some tunes!

www.marcusengel.com

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

What A Waste

Today is the 36th anniversary of the overdose death of Janis Joplin. One of the greatest female blues singers of all time had to throw it all away on booze and smack. I wrestle with this a bit – on one hand, I'm in favor of people living their lives the way they want. On the other hand, it really, really irritates me when intelligent and talented people succumb to the pressures of substances.

Can you imagine the hundreds of songs Janis could have put out had she not decided to load up on heroin one fateful day? Maybe then the world would know more than "Piece Of My Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee"; great songs in their own right, but only a smidge of what her capabilities were.

Belushi, Hendrix, Cobain, Morrison, Marilyn – I just shake my head at all the talent that has been tossed down the crapper due to drugs.

www.marcusengel.com
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Again?

After the Columbine-ish incident in Colorado last week, we start this week with another two school situations involving guns; one in Vegas and the other in Pennsylvania. The shooting at the Amish one-room schoolhouse in Lancaster County, PA is just a disgusting, tragic event. The Vegas school gun incident isn't quite as tragic, but it does leave the country asking, "What's going on lately?" Is it a strange phase of the moon? Or is this just the world in which we live? Either way, let's just keep our fingers crossed that these do not spark copycat incidents involving guns-enough kids are dead, let's all be vigilant and keep an eye out so no more tragedies occur.

www.marcusengel.com

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Maryville University

Thanks to all who turned out for the
Maryville University Health Sciences Department Humor Program yesterday.
Thanks for welcoming me in, being such an interactive audience and for laughing at my jokes!

Har dee har har!

Special thanks to Mary Garvey for coordinating the event and for
Chuck for being such a great host!

www.marcusengel.com
www.myspace.com/marcusengel

Homemade Hillbilly Jam

One of my most favoritest bands in the whole world is Big Smith. Named after the famous brand of overalls, Big Smith gave me more fun nights out than any other single entity of my college days, with the possible exception of my fraternity.

Anyway, a documentary filmmaker created a 80 min. movie detailing the family history of the men of Big Smith and it's titled, "Homemade Hillbilly Jam." It's a fantastic showing of the music and cultural influences handed down through generations in the Ozark Mountains.

This played for the first time Thursday night here in St. Louis, though it's been shown around the world in all sorts of film festivals. If you get a chance and if the show comes to your town, definitely check it out!

www.myspace.com/marcusengel

www.marcusengel.com