I have watched this primary election with great interest. As a recent convert to the Democratic party for the sole purpose of supporting Barack Obama, I decided to not only actively participate, I was a precinct secretary here in Nevada and am now a State Delegate, but to also read, watch and listen to everything that I could to try to understand this historic moment that we re living.

Watching Hillary, and Bill for that matter, over the course of this process has been infuriating, baffling, and at times humorous. The recent turn in tone however is beyond the relm of acceptability to any thinking American who truly cares about this country.

As a nation, we have struggled with the bitter divide of racism for centuries. The very fact that Barack and Hillary are the two contenders for the Democratic nomination is reflective to how far we have come. One would think that the female candidate that is making history, whether she wins or loses this primary, would want to have her legacy to be of a remarkable nature. The only remarkable thing about her candidacy is the depths to which she will stoop/fall to try and gain the nomination.

It has become apparent that she is willing to divide the country along racial, socio-economic, and gender lines all for the benefit of what? Not the American People. Not the Democratic Party. Merely her ego. Is this really someone that people want to be the President? Does anyone really believe that this is someone who can unite the country let alone Washington?

It appears that those who do believe in her and support her ardently the so called "Hard working, WHITE Americans." At leas this is what the media will have us believe. And to some extent, in certain geographical locations that appears to be the case. But are we to accept the premise that those in West Virginia represent all the "Hard working, WHITE Americans" that live throughout this country.

I think not.

My wife and I are both "Hard working, WHITE Americans". We each are making less than $50,000 a year, are in our early 50's, have no college degree, live in Nevada and have a very white pedigree. We are in no way represented by those in West Virginia who claim that race was an issue for them. We are in no way buying the far fetched rhetoric of Clinton's fantasy world. In fact, I am insulted to be lumped into ANY category, and look for the day when the polls talk about the number of people who vote for a particular candidate rather then the demographic to which they fall.

I know that I am not alone in this feeling. I know that I am not alone in wanting to see an America where black, white, brown, red and all the colors come together for a common cause, a better America where we not only work together, but look out for one another.

I have a plea to all those who support a vision of a United States of America.

Raise your voice to anyone who will listen, and perhaps to those who don't want to listen. Write to your Congressmen/Congresswomen and Senators. Write to the newspapers, write to the media and blogs and let them know that this Presidential Race should not and cannot be about RACE, it must be about the ISSUES and only the ISSUES. Let them know that we as a people will not stand by and let politics and journalism as usual prevail in our country's time of need.
The ObamaNation is strong. Let us also be loud. Let us be united in our demands that this political season be different.

The change that we need requires a leader, Barack is that leader. But for that change to take place it requires an army. We are that army. It's time to march on Washington. It's time to march on the media. It's time to have our voices be heard, to drown out those that would divide us, as we reach for a United People for a common cause... a once again United States of America.

Day One

Welcome to Life @ 7,000 Feet.



Today is the first day of the life of this blog. Having never written a blog before, I won't pretend to know what I am doing. I am just going to jump in with both feet and see where the current takes me. This attitude of surrendering to life and all the wonders that it holds is new for me. I attribute it to living at 7,000 feet, literally and figuratively.


My wife, Terri (whom you will also hear from in this blog), and I moved to Lake Tahoe about 7 years ago and the house we live in sits at 7,000. Lake Tahoe is a resort community, a destination that people from around the world dream of visiting when they finally get a week or two break from work. Living in a resort community high in the Sierras has had a powerful and dramtic impact on both my wife and I. Some of what we will write about here is based on lessons we have learned living in the midst of one of God's greatest creations.

While our life's path lead us to live physically at 7,000 feet, it is the journey that brought us here that has given us a 7,000 foot perspective. We have been married 26 years this June, raised 2 beautiful, loving and brilliant daughters. We have built businesses, had several successful and unsuccessful careers, made and lost fortunes (well maybe not fortunes, but an awful lot of money) and we have traveled the world. Both of us have lost parents and siblings. Both of us have lost and found many things, even God at times along the way. Thankfully God never lost touch with us.


Terri and I are in our early 50's, you know the new 30... or is it 40? Anyway while chonologically we have passed the half century mark and have been untrustworthy for more than 20 years in the eyes of the hippees we once were, we like to think that we are just beginning the second half of this incredible journey.

Here we want to share our 7,000 foot perspective on life and the lessons we have learned along the way.

We don't profess to be enlightened, for in truth we are a long way from ataining that elusive height. But recently we have done a lot of soul searching and we seem to have gotten in touch with those things that really matter in life. In particular enjoying the abundant blessings that God has bestowed on us; each other, our childern. our family, our health, and this beautiful place we call home.

Anyway here we are, or at least here I am, writing blog about life and balance. Go figure. I hope you enjoy.