Supafly.com

It’s been a month since I first saw Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I’ve never cared for mythic tales, but this movie is big and wonderful in every dimension. I’ll let film historians describe those details. I have to write about something else.

Frodo carried the fate of humanity in his hands. He overcame horrific challenges that nobody has ever faced before. I mean, he saved the world. Then he and his friends went back home and toasted to the victory. Nobody seemed to notice them or even care that they were around. Frodo stood quiet in his safe, calm home. What do you do once you’ve saved the world?

I had three years after The Real World to see the impact the show can have on young people. I got to think and rethink what happened in the house…what I did, what I could’ve done differently. Then I was given another shot into pop culture on “The Gauntlet.” I gave it everything I had, and the result was spectacular. I know that if that it for me and television, I went out with a bang. In the greater scheme of humanity, it meant very little. But I made a difference when I could.

So Frodo took three years to write a book. His friend same married to his dream girl and had a family. Then Frodo took off across the ocean on another adventure. That’s how the story ends…and begins.

I am going to keep doing what I am doing. Working for Life Teen is a true adventure, and I love every second of it. I just know there’s more to come.

My websites are like my children: they always need something. It’s not enough that I give them life, but I am expected to spend endless time making sure each grows into healthy adulthood. I am proud of my children…I am proud to be called their father. But, damn if it isn’t a lot of time.

When I am planning my evenings and weekends, I have to make time to write for the sites. When other people stay out for another hour, I hurry home and turn on my computer. I stay late at the studio and upload all my new content long after the sun sets. I walk through the night to get to my car. Airplane flights are for more writing, editing, and brainstorming. If I am forced to be in a place longer than ten minutes, I’ll open up my laptop.

If I didn’t take care of my websites, what else would I do? I could mindlessly be entertained. I could lounge around and talk about things that aren’t important. Or I could write about them instead.

Today I went to the Barrett-Jackson car auction. Over four days, they auctioned of 800 of the finest cars on the planet. Muscle cars, customs, exotics, and flawless classics…oh it was so wonderful!; But today didn’t start out that way.

I pulled up to the parking attendant, rolled down my window and handed him my money. “Here’s $10. Five is to pay for my parking, the other five is for the next guy who doesn’t have cash. Please don’t make anyone else drive around for an ATM to withdraw $5.” He looked at me in shock. I smiled, and drove past him to find my well-earned parking space. (That ended well, considering an hour ago I wanted to hit him with a baseball bat.)

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There were twenty thousand car fanatics in a 6-story tent. The energy in that place was unreal. I’ve been to dozens of college football games in the south, but nothing like this. As the cars drove up onto the stage for auction, their engines roared and the room filled with exhaust…ecstasy. I can’t describe how damn cool it was. My chest quivered with adrenaline.

The cars are only half of the fun–the buyers are the real entertainment. The common folk like myself were pushed behind the velvet rope, while rich and passionate fanatics clung close to the stage. There was an old 12 cylinder Lincoln Zephyr hot rod that pushed through the crowd and up onto the stage. It was one of the most beautiful cars I’d ever seen.; I sat with the thousands other people and gawked at the beast. It was like a superhero. The auctioneer unleashed the fury.

Over a few minutes, the bidding crossed into six figures. Two men were battling it out, both determined to bring this beast home. One man called in on the phone to bid, that left the other bidder on the stage with the prize. Bid after bid, the crowd roared.; Why not? If this guy on stage is going to spend that much…; After bidding passed $200,000, he tore off his suit jacket like a madman, swung it around his head and threw it on the ground. Whoa, this guy is pissed. He turned his back to the car and the auctioneer, and looked out into the crowd. He held his arms wide, gesturing for advice. The crowd erupted, and he spun around the threw his fist in the air, “Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars!” Oh, this will be fun.

The bidding went on, and so did the lunacy. It was like watching WWE wrestling, but instead of throwing chairs, they were throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Is this real? Yes. He won. He spent $400,000.

When I wasn’t inside watching the auction, I was running around the fields outside. I could get up close and personal with the cars before they were sold. So fine. If you stared at a car longer than minute, some other car nut would come up and start a conversation that would last for an hour.

I chatted with custom car builders. Oh these guys are living out my other life. One of the guys needed a website, and it took all my energy not to make a deal with him. I’d build him a tough website, and he’d build me a tough hot rod. I just don’t have the time.

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It was getting late and cold, so I headed back to my house. I couldn’t resist stopping at the Pavillions where locals come on Saturdays to show off their cars. It’s cool because you have everything from young guys with their Civics to older guys with top-dollar classics. Now I am here at my house, so excited, I can’t go to sleep.

I sat there today, knowing that I would never be able to afford any of those cars. This was as close as I would ever get. I have the talent and drive to make a lot of money. I’ve done pretty well in my 25 years on earth. But, I work in ministry, and it’s not the place to make a lot of money. Even if I could afford my dream, I don’t know if I would buy one. Who wants to donate money to a charity when their employees are driving around high-dollar hot rods?

What will heaven be like? In heaven I would like to drive all the cars I saw today. I know God is bigger and more wonderful than any car, but I have trouble understanding that. But I know the feeling I get when I stand in front of a Mustang Eleanor.

I just trust that God has a plan for me. I will continue to serve him in every way. That brings me so much pleasure. Hopefully there is a five-car garage waiting for me in heaven.

It’s a lot like Finding Nemo. The walls of my fish tank got slimier by the day. I bought two sucker fish to clean up the mess, but it was even too big of a job for them. They both died. Maybe they ate too much.

Now the tank is a happy place again, with a dozen colorful fish swimming through the coral and plants. could lay on this couch and watch them flutter for hours. There’s more harmony in my home.; It’s so…peaceful.

Tonight I watched the last episode of the Gauntlet. Although it’s been a couple months since I’ve been on the show, I still have a lot invested in the show. These are my friends, and I am interested to see how they finish what we started.

I can’t help but get emotional when I watched the last show. Coral couldn’t finish the race and the Real World ultimately lost because of that. I know that if Theo was still there, he would have competed so well, just like he always did. But Theo isn’t going to manipulate people or slam Coral so he can avoid the Gauntlet. He went out with style.

It’s ironic that the Real World lost. Maybe it’s poetic justice. After I had been voted off the Challenge, I warned the strong players on my team that if they can’t drag along weak “friends.” You can’t win competitions with weak players. I warned them that If they didn’t start building a strong team, Road Rules would walk all over them. And that’s what happened. I do feel for Mike because he did get manipulated. Manipulation hurts your feelings and leads you to distrust people.

So it is finished. The show is over, and there will be another Challenge airing in a couple weeks. Would I do another show? Yeah. I felt really good about “The Gauntlet”, and I feel confident that I could represent in a second Challenge well. But, if MTV doesn’t ask me to do another one, I’ll be just fine. I am quite happy.