Author Archives: Brian Reulbach

“You can’t win them all.” That’s a statement I just can’t get behind when it comes to the United States in the Olympic Games. Especially when we’ve had an extra year to prepare. As the fourth largest country and third most-populated, only China (ranked #3/#1) should really have a shot at competing with us. The United States used to be on top of the world in many categories including military prowess, manufacturing, trade and, most importantly, athletic dominance. Not anymore. Today, alone, I’ve watched our softball team (a sport we created!) lose to Japan in the title game and our badminton team finish out an 0-3 Olympic showing with a loss to the Germans in straight sets. Our men’s basketball team, winner of the last 3 Olympic golds, lost their first game to France. The previous 3 Olympic Games, the men’s team went a combined 15-0. Where is the pride? It is hard to become an Olympian and some of the athletes have additional jobs while competing and training. I get that some of the sports featured in the games are not sports that can be full-time focuses or careers. In the United States, they should be.

Simply put, our country spends a massive amount supporting government assistance programs including unemployment benefits. Create a program that assists any potential athlete/team working towards Olympic qualification. To qualify you must meet or agree to the following requirements.

1. First attempt at qualifying for Olympics or previously qualified for the last Olympics.

This rule is important. We only want to win gold. If you are an athlete that failed to qualify on your previous attempt, I don’t want to see you paid to try again. You can either give up and make room for the more promising athletes, or work harder on your own dime to prove me wrong. Nothing more motivating than having a lack of funding as another odd to overcome.

2. Must participate in any U.S. mandated training program.

I was watching women’s beach volleyball yesterday and our girls were struggling big time. Temp was 84 but felt like 88! Seems like a nice summer day to me. Come to find out this team was the only team that qualified and didn’t accept to attend the heat and humidity training in Orlando. Get out of here! They ended up winning their match but I can not see their campaign ending in gold. This would also include the minimum 50 hours a week of training. Could be studying film, rehabbing, training or conditioning. If you’re going to get funding, you earn that funding.

3. You pay back 50% of the funding if you don’t land a medal.

This seems only fair. No interest is attached and you keep half of it. So either save half of it or just do your job and earn a medal. After all, the whole point of this program is to start separating ourselves from the competition.

Another idea would be competing against the toughest competition attainable. Women’s teams will play against men’s teams and the Men’s teams will play the top competitors across the world. Take the U.S. women’s soccer team for example. Although I feel like they lost on purpose so they could be notable again and get attention (I included them here so it looks like it worked), they obviously were ill-prepared to take on Sweden. If they had been playing vs. MLS teams leading into the Games, they’d be breezing through the competition. Same for our softball team. Imagine how much easier it’d be to score a run against Japan if you were used to chasing a Jacob DeGrom fastball. I know those teams are in the middle of their seasons, but we could make it work. For America.

Yes, the United States has garnered the most medals in all but one* Olympics since my birth, but the margin is getting tighter. China even edged the U.S. in gold medals in 2008. Unacceptable. It’s either time to take the Olympics more seriously as a nation or start beating the world in the for-mentioned areas we used to dominate. It’s time to get back on top. I’m watching Team U.S.A. Don’t let me down.

*1992 – Unified Team – 112 medals to U.S. 108. What is this? We can just make a large team consisting of countries not good enough to compete themselves? Seems unfair. Maybe initiate a government program to change that…

Will update my list of disappointments as Olympics continue

1. USA badminton team (0-3) still have never medaled in badminton.

2. USA softball – Silver medal. This is our sport. Our past time.

3. USA basketball – 0–1. Worst loss for basketball in the US since the release of Space Jam 2.

Everyone has an opinion or belief on almost every topic that surrounds them. Most everyone, that I know at least, exercises their right to let that opinion be known. It’s what causes the world to go round. Differing opinions/beliefs are the cause of inventions, religions, political parties and war. Imagine if we all agreed and believed the same truth? How peaceful and boring would that be?! One concept/idea that will forever be debated is that of the afterlife. The big question.

What happens to our spirit when our body perishes on Earth? Most people tend to agree with their religion’s view on the afterlife. The most common beliefs are heaven and hell, reincarnation, or an eternal oblivion. For the sake of this blog, I want to focus solely on reincarnation. The central tenet for many religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism states that an aspect of a living being starts a new life in a different physical body after each life. Let’s play with this idea and add some of our own rules.

You die. Blunt, I know, but we’re all headed that way. You get to come back as anything you’d like and you get to retain your memory from your last life. However, you do not get to pick your circumstances and you are brought back at the infant stage of your choice. No “I want to be the son of Jeff Bezos!” Also a no go – “I want to be a butterfly!” You’ll have to put in the work as a caterpillar sweetheart. Sure, being a human sounds great knowing what you knew from your past life. But you could be born into a different world, country and circumstance where none of that applies. Take that into account. So let’s get down to it.

I considered a lot of different factors when coming down to my top choices. 1. I’ve been a human. Hell of a ride so far and I have no regrets (except a few left turns. See first blog). I don’t need a do over.

2. 75% of the earth is water. Now I haven’t really maximized my exploring potential on land in my 30 years, but I still think it’s important to see all the world has to offer. Also a huge fan of seafood. Sea creature is a must.

3. Choosing something at the top of a food chain. One of my choices goes against this, but in general, you can’t be dying in year 2 of your second life.

4. What can I not do that I’ve always wanted to do.

Taking into account the above factors, I give you my top 5 options for reincarnation.

5. Asian Elephant – The only choice that stays on land for me and yeah it’s a boring one. With a 45-50 year expected lifespan, I’ll have the time to explore Asian culture and cuisine. I do love Asian food. Would also be pretty cool to be regarded as the largest land mammal on the continent. The key factors for me here were new countries, long lifespan, and pure boss size. Sure the cons are I’m immediately part of an endangered species and our diet now consists of adapting to what is available. But that’s why this is my 5th option. I’m hoping I’ve been decent enough in my first life to land at least one of my top 3 picks in reincarnation!

4. Sea Turtle – The turtles from Finding Nemo played a huge role into sneaking this into the top 5. Some real chill dudes. This is a risky one folks. 50/50 you make it from your shell to the water. But once you do, your lifespan can last up to 50 years. Yes, I know I’ve chosen another endangered species. With a second chance at life, you gotta chase adventure. Nothing like hatching from an egg and going straight into a sprint for life against crabs, seagulls and even raccoons. An estimated 1 in 1,000 chance to even make it to adulthood. I’m banking on hatching on a beach with conservationists seeing my trip all the way through to the water. Once in, I just have to avoid jellyfish, small sharks, etc. Then it’s years of warm waters and all the enjoyment of scuba diving without the ear popping paranoia I encountered during my only attempt in the 6th grade. However, despite the thrill of survival, 1 in 1,000 chance pushes this down the list for me.

3. American Bald Eagle – Brian. Why do you so badly want to be endangered? Guess what guys.. once endangered, the American bald eagle is now considered of least concern as of 2007. Yay us for not killing off our national symbol of freedom! This is an easy pick. Only a 20 year lifespan, but it can fly, destroy prey with its massive talons, and is nationally adored. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and has no true predators once grown. I think flying is almost as cool as being able to explore the ocean and nothing flies quite as majestically as the bald eagle. I mean look at this thing..

2. Great White Shark – I know I said you couldn’t pick your circumstances when being reincarnated. However, being born a shark is instant celebrity status do-do-do-do-do-do. A 70 year lifespan allows plenty of time to explore the ocean and feast upon all the delicacies of the sea. Main selling point for me was the breaching great whites I witnessed while watching shark week in 2011. Who knew sharks could do that? Only an Orca compared for me but I hate cold water and no chance after watching Free Willy and Blackfish. Nothing like roaming the ocean knowing you are the boss and seeing everyone cower away in fear.

1. Bottlenose dolphin – Another sea-dweller with a 40-60 year lifespan. I love to have fun and there’s not another animal out there that has more fun than the dolphin. Rumor has it, they’re the only animal that has sex, not just for procreation, but for pleasure. I don’t know what kind of sick scientist figured that out but it’s good enough for me. The speed on these things is incredible and they have teeth for hunting that make my second choice almost seem obsolete. They are extremely intelligent, can communicate effectively and are often seen riding waves and swimming along boats and their wakes. All sounds incredible to me. Plus the sex thing.

A topic that remains atop our conversations throughout our nation is mental health. It arises in conversations on violence, death, relationships, equality and the list goes on. Everyone is connected to someone that is diagnosed with a type of mental illness or is believed to be battling some symptoms of mental health disparity. There are a variety of mental disorders and currently 1 in 4 American adults (over the age of 18) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year (1). While I’m no expert, I understand there are numerous societal factors that cause or contribute to mental health issues.

The most talked about and most well-known cause is that of social media. The internet is one of, if not, the most amazing invention of our time. The ability to communicate, trade and share information took on a whole new meaning with the creation of email and other social media platforms. However, there is also the negative side that comes with the ability to share more information, more readily with friends, co-workers and consumers.

Look good, feel good. Or as my High School soccer coach believed, “look good, feel good, play good.” We were a talented team that never met our true potential or team goals. Probably due to focusing on the wrong things. Or bad coaching. Anyways, fashion. A 1.9 trillion dollar industry in the US in 2019 and expected to rise to three trillion in 2030 (2). An industry that uses ads, influencers and social media to reach consumers and influence their perceptions of what fashion is. So what exactly is fashion?

Is there a formal definition of fashion? I don’t think there is. Look around and you won’t find the same definition twice. “The prevailing style during a particular time.” “A form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture.” “Clothing that is considered stylish.” If it is about self-expression, then why do we allow influencers and companies influence what we buy and wear? Despite being raised to not judge a book by its cover, we continue to judge people on their looks, outfits and accessories. As we judge, we subconsciously understand that we too are being judged. Everyone wants to be liked. That’s human nature. I want to argue and push for a different approach. One that may help one’s self perception and overall mental well-being. The lost mentality of fashion.

To start, we have to remove ourselves from the continuous following of the so-called influencers. Hell, removing all social media, where we see these influencers, would altogether knock out the for-mentioned issue. Two birds, one stone. Following these types of people is generally a lose/lose situation. On one end, you feel negative thoughts or self-doubt because you do not look like or have the products of said influencer. The other end, the worst case scenario, you buy the products and they do not meet your expectations or magically transform your entire look. All of this alters your self-perception and self-worth. Once we stop comparing ourselves to Duchesses (Meghan Markle) or people who’ve become famous by association (Kendall Jenner), we free ourselves from comparing our looks/fashion to those we ultimately can’t compete with. After all, it is their job. They are only promoting products they are being paid to promote or have an investment in. We know this though, right? Right?! Side opinion, the clothes and accessories they promote have no place in normal, everyday society.

Secondly, it’s time to take inventory. Clutter can lead to decreased focus, increased stress and ultimately contribute to depression (3). Nothing is worse than going into a disaster zone and trying to find the one outfit you’re actually wanting to wear. Let’s be honest with ourselves for a second. How much of your clothing warehouse are you actually utilizing? 20%? 40%? If you are above 50%, I applaud you as I am far from it. I continually hang onto a white t-shirt written on with sharpie for a once-a-year event (shout out crab fest).

Once you’ve cleaned out your closet, you’re reaching peak levels of fashion mentality. You’ve eliminated outside influence and perception and you’ve gotten yourself a clean closet of items you feel good in. No one will tell you how to dress and if they try, you won’t care!! You’re now ready to express yourself in your own preferred style. True fashion!

1. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-disorder-statistics

2. http://www.statists.com/topics/965/apparel-market-in-the-us/#dossiersummary__chapter1

3. http://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-5097496

* according to me.

Prologue: I am seeing, a lot recently, that it’s healthy to write just to write. Exercise your creativity and change your daily routine. So here we are. This may be short lived, but it could also explode and make me a millionaire (podcast deal to follow). The grammar won’t be correct, my views, although correct, will not always side with yours and you may only end up reading along to humor me. But as the saying goes, we’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time. So let’s get after it. Enjoy BAR talk.

I’ve never considered myself a follower over the last 30 years. Aside from following every clothing trend from Oshkosh b’gosh to Ralph Lauren Polos, I attempted to choose my own path most of my life. In this attempt, I changed my name from Brian to Willis for the entirety of 7th grade, purchased two pet turtles without my parents’ permission and totaled two cars faster than anyone else in the history of motor vehicles. Which all led to my conformation back into a follower. This week, I’ll officially join the rest of my family as a Toyota Highlander driver. But before I give my thoughts on my new ride…

2009-2014: Not many kids get to experience the luxury of a Ford Escape featuring leather seats, a sun roof and speakers perfectly suited for the bass of the 2 Fast, 2 Furious soundtrack. But I did. I never named the car because a first love is the hardest and naming her would’ve made the inevitable end to our relationship that much harder. I’ll always recall braves games, spring break trips, and solo mountain drives. A lot of good memories shared that were cut short too soon. A rainy day in Augusta and an unfortunate left turn at the crescent of a hill ended our relationship. A lot of people blame me (the other driver, witnesses, the police officer on scene, etc.) but I’m still petitioning for a stop light at that intersection.

2014-2021: When you total a car and buy a new (used) car, you’re hesitant to get behind the wheel. Your only thoughts are what if I total this one too? Would I lose my license? Would my family disown me? What a speed bump in life that would be! Yeah I’m gonna throw in as many puns as I can while I’m on here. Keep reading. Factor that anxiety in with the fact that your wife not-so-secretly wants to drive the new car, you land yourself in a 2006 black four door Honda Civic. I didn’t love this car at first, so I also chose not to name it. However, it still had a sun roof so I was set to make the best of it. It grew on me. In the first few months, I found a secret stash of chocolate morsels in the glove box. A real pleasant surprise. When asked about it, Amanda responded, “Oh, that’s my emergency chocolate.” I was afraid to ask any further. I found myself getting closer parking spots by being compact and I even got out of driving on friend/family trips because I couldn’t fit enough people in my 2006 black four door Honda Civic. Hell the 2006 black four door Honda Civic even ended up being featured in a trivia game on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic. What a ride. This car even survived through my second accident which is also being claimed as my fault. By me. We don’t need to drive head on into that one. But having a newborn at home definitely factored into it and it’s how we get to our featured storyline.

2020: Jane is born beginning discussions of a second, larger car for safety. Surprise! It wasn’t Brian’s doing this time… well kinda.

2021: We buy the Highlander from Mom and Dad. I am appreciative and grateful they purchased another Highlander, well before they needed a new car, opening up their car as the most viable option. Our yearly search got very “chippy” when the vehicle supply started to disappear. Now we can get into my recap thus far of the classic 2013 Toyota Highlander.

First off, I want to say it is an honor to be joining the rest of the family. I honestly felt a divide at holidays and events because I drove a 2006 black four door Honda Civic. I wasn’t in the Highlander club and I had no one to blame but myself. Now I’m here. Part of the gang.

Before I was allowed to look at the vehicle, I had to agree to an inspection and introduction walk with Mom. Once completed, I slid into the front seat to get a feel for the inside. The first thing I noticed was the smooth leather sliding along my under thighs. Felt good, cool. I didn’t take much else in until I drove it to work that first day.

I was about 7 miles into that first drive and it just didn’t feel right. Why? It’s a beautiful car. Then it hit me. I felt like Mom was watching me. Betsy Blue was her car and I felt all the pressure of maintaining its impeccable inside, the flawless service guide, and maintaining my hands inside the marks permanently left at 10 and 2. That’s when I knew I had to make a change. A change to the name. I decided to call her Patteye, pronounced Patti. She’s always watching. Not only will this name allow me to always focus on maintaining the excellent condition of the car, but it’s never a bad thing to always have your mother watching over you.

Five days in and Patteye and me are gelling. I already have a top 5 favorite things about her. 1. I no longer have to wear headphones to listen to music in the car. 2. The rear view mirror is some magic that blocks out the lights of cars behind you while driving at night. I used to have to manually flip it from day to night in the 2006bfdhc. 3. Leg room. 4. Rear air. I never have had it in Escape or Civic and I always worry about my passengers. You guys are my priority. 5. Back up camera. Cause turning around is for suckers.

Basically, I’m just here to say it’s an honor to join the rest of the family in owning a Toyota Highlander. I hope to make the rest of them proud and not be an illegitimate addition to the group. It’s been a long time coming and I’m happy to be a follower.