I pulled the microphone off the podium as I liked to move around when I spoke to a large group. I welcomed the elected officials and thanked them for coming. Then I said well it's a darn good thing I didn't have prepared comments as that introduction blew me away. Then the reaction from those nuts in those silly looking hard hats added to that. Finally, the NASA division here in tee shirts and the applause. Hell when some of them were forced to relocate here, I wasn't popular at all. I'm glad the feelings have changed. Finally, dad you could have alerted me about the reveal that you work for me. Actually, when dealing with him I am a very poor negotiator.
Last Fall many of us gathered very close to where we are today and a group of us stuck shovels into pre-loosened dirt and the project started. I told everyone how the building world reflect our past and at the same time our future. What you see before us is my conception of that. Steel, Aluminum and Glass and inside you will see the most new and innovative furniture and interior in the country. The building and "mini me" across the way are built using products made in America, they are being constructed by Union workers and the furniture was manufactured in Michigan. That was my deal, what I promised and I leave it to you to decide if it is as promised. Both Technologies and Enterprises have a policy that we will use workers living and working in the US. Nothing farmed out, so let the word go fourth that we need workers and I urge you to call the HR department at Technologies. I paused to change the subject and the place went nuts.
I looked at the elected officials and said, back at the beginning, I made a mistake as I said the torch hadn't yet to be passes, I think all this proves it has been passed. Are you guys ready to keep up? There was dead silence and lots of dirty looks from the elected officials. Then someone yelled, " it's about time someone challenged these people". Then the place erupted with applause.
Once things quilted down I said, Admiral Truly and the astronauts are here today as we have reached the point where we are ready to demonstrate our commitment to NASA. To thank them for the business, to celebrate what we have so far accomplished and to thank them for the opportunity to develop the Rover. Well the first attempt at one. We also, would like to mention CMU for their help with this unique opportunity. Before I ask the Admiral to uncover the medallions I would like to thank PPG for the quick redesign. While the logo is easily recognized the technology involves special glass and a ring of LED lights. Using the wattage necessary to light a 40 Watt light bulb, you will notice the light even on this bright sunny day. I asked the Admiral to step forward and I handed him a remote and said, well with NASA countdowns are the thing and I said Ten and the place chimed in and at zero the Admiral pushed a button and the covers fell away revealing brightly lit NASA medallions. Once things settled down I said thanks and I'll be available for question In the tent and Senior and the Admiral will be there as well. Our astronauts will be available as well.
I went right up to dad and said what the fuck, I spent all morning avoiding that reveal. Mike, it's time and with the baby I'll be out of the office a lot. You should consider promoting Kyle and Dillon and Riley. Then hire someone to replace Riley. He smiled and said, I'm talking a pay cut and my new title will Executive Vice President of sales. He laughed and said well that's not a change. I said well, I can't stop that but you are telling the country is not my idea. You do still have your shares? He said absolutely and don't fuck this up, at some point I might need the money. Remember, I have our startup to get going. I know you haven't thought about it but we are busy. I said well, show me the money and we went to the press conference. I said dad, I'm not done discussing this.
Dad, The Admiral and I sat down and 20 hands went up. I laughed and said well before we take questions Mike Sr. has a statement, either that or he is fired. Everyone laughed and once thing settled down dad said, well I sometimes need control so I surprise Mike. Technologies is as you know a privately held company. For accounting and tax purposes there are shares. When I established the Trust for Mike, I set aside 51 shares for Mike, 5 for my son Bill and 44 for me. Bill is no longer with us, an ugly situation, and I now have 49 shares. Mike has known that since he became aware of the Trust. He didn't want the added pressure so I respected that. Now that Megan and I are expecting a child and I have a startup that is humming along. It was time to simply put it out there. Yes, I surprised him with the announcement. There will be a few changes at the company but I will continue to sell and I haven't been managing the company in months. I sell and he and his team make it work. I have every confidence in them.
With that I said Patty as is my custom you get the first question. She laughed and said how about a question and 6 follow up questions. I simply said well a question works for me. She said, well now what, I'm sure this isn't the best timing with the Winery and football? Patty, dad pointed out to me that internally this isn't a big change, people will be having an assignment change but you and I heard about this at the same time. I guess I have a lot of work to do before tomorrow. As for the Winery, that is really more complicated than I wanted or hoped for. I spent 2 days up there and there is much more to do than I realized. Mike, one follow up, how was the Winery financed? Ok Patty, but that's it. I have a beachfront property and it was sold. There is also a group of investors. Collectively we own it outright and there is no mortgage. A little story, the other night I went to dad's office to say goodnight and he asked, so Mike does it hurt? I asked, does what hurt? Mike that horse shoe that's stuck in your butt. I laughed and said, not at all but why? He then told me that the beach house had an offer and I didn't have it listed yet. Well let me tell you the horse shoe fell out with the two days in New York and then the reaction from my high school teammates about my lack of interest. It has been a difficult few days and yes, this being made public today in this way DOES NOT HELP.
Then I called on Diane, figuring let's get this over with? She asked, Mike was that a campaign speech? Are you running for something? I said no it wasn't and I am not. She simply started to laugh and said a follow up please? I said sure, so what was that all about, you pretty much challenged a US Senators and three Congressmen to step up, why? Well Diane, you left the Mayor and County people out. That's not the first time but this was more direct and more to the point. We are not what we were, a lot of us are moving on. First it was steel and industry, then hospitals and education. Now it is those universities and technology. They can either help or get out of the way. Those of us under 30 are tired seeing our friends and classmates move away for better opportunities. Hell the two building we are building are located on the former site of steel mills. I'm sure of that because of the environmental tests I had done before we closed on the properties. As for running for office talk to me in 8 years and we will see. Hell I can't even vote yet.
Thankfully the next question went to the Admiral and he was asked about the relationship between NASA and Technology. He said well the first job was with Senior and once we saw his son being involved, we insisted on a visit. We wanted to have CMU do the robotics and got a firm NO. We approached these guys and Junior was a firm No. The more we talked the more he came around and after today I realize he wanted it from the start. He was working is for concessions. Heck, it all worked out and Technology has the responsibility and it is housed at CMU, seems that Mike has more connections there that we do.
Then one of the astronauts asked if he could say something. I hope you all know what you have here in that ripped dude sitting here. You have no idea how difficult that insignia was to pull off. Forget the flawless unveiling of the medallions by remote control. The experimental glass and the LED lights are both amazing. I know he didn't make that stuff. Damn, he knew how to get it done and if that cover hadn't fallen off, you all would be asking questions as to what went ass over tin cups. A lot of us wondered when Major Messer retired why he came here and to work in PR, something he hates, hell now that I have seen him in action, sign me the hell up. He could fly into space with me anytime.
Then the football question came up? Mike what's with the football team and those issues. I said well we are very good and there is a target on our backs and a number of people think, I'm not around enough. Thanks to you all, I seem to get all the publicity so there is a feeling that I need to work harder. They aren't wrong. Then someone asked about Cole and dad answered by saying, he did something that has only been done once before and his life has been turned upside down. He is mulling his options and would most likely have something to tell the local people in a couple of weeks. Think of it this way he won a PGA Tour event and now it's high school golf.
Then Diane said Mike, I have spent a total of two hours with you and I sense you are about done answering questions. I have a two part question, what's next for you personally and business wise. I smiled and said personally, it will be to call my girlfriend before her twin brothers standing over there get home and fill her in. Actually, it is to spend more time with my mates and get my summer reading done and finish a course at CUM. Professionally, I need to react to dad's announcement at work, move people around, harvest grapes, make wine and wait this slowdown out. The "mini me" building is rented and I feel that the Technology building could have been bigger so they might need my Enterprises space. I would say nothing major for 6 to 9 months. Then I said thanks everyone and got up.
I went right to the twins and said I'll see you at south hills in about an hour, tell Mike, the manager, you are my guest and remember one of you are driving home. I saw Diane and decided to get it over with as she was impatiently waiting. I went up to her and asked, so what do you think? Well, you have wasted almost two hours of time when all I really had to see was that 15 minutes when you were unfiltered and a little off balance. Mike, when you talk to the press you answer the question depending on how good you think the question is. I said well that is the reaction, I don't think about it. Well, I will only ask you open ended questions, you gently sent me that message. Diane, I didn't, I simply answered the question you asked. Mike, I think more about the questions and how I ask them to you than I did to the Prime Minister of Israel. I said well in 2016 when I'm President you will have had a lot of practice. She said if I showed this little talk of yours and how you deal with the masses, you would win the straw vote, today. Ok Diane, I feel about politics like I feel about Pro Football, simply not for me. Well Michael, I'll expect an invite to your imagination. I laughed and said deal. She started to walk away and turned around and said I think I'll have sports meet with you. I shook my head and said safe travels.
On the way to the car I called JJ and said South Hills, jacket no tie, we are on the patio. He said fine, but I'm already there. I laughed and said tell Jake, I need an iced tea. When I got to the parking lot, I ran into TJ and JT and inside I said we are on the patio and I'll be right out. I found the manager and said thanks and he said well almost everyone is outside but Senator Wofford would like a minute of your time, he is over there. I went over and he stood up and we shook hands. Jake appeared and handed me an iced tea and the Senator said well that's a big boy drink. I ignored that and asked so what can I do for you Senator? Well Mike, I am an attorney and newly appointed Senator and I found you talk interesting. You had several references to JFK and they were made more current. I said well Senator, I can also use Washington, Jefferson, Carnegie and a few others. History interests me and I find mathematics magical and can't balance my check book. He laughed and said well you did take the gloves off and laid us out. I said, well I hope the Mayor got the message. Mike, you mean the next governor. I laughed out loud and said, I'll be governor before he is. Well Mike, will you support him? I said, I'll be in Virginia playing football. Mike, please answer the question. Ok Senator, I can't even vote yet. I will register as an independent and will support whoever it is that I feel will do the best job. I totally understand the consequences of that and that was not a campaign speech today and I have no interest in running for office. What I want is for our elected officials to work as hard as I do. The Senator said well take the road less traveled if you wish. Senator that is Robert Frost and it is actually "The Road Not Taken" it is a simple choice of the various paths. I have already, at 17, chosen my path. There will be other choices and other roads but I'll never look back. Senator is there anything else, you can join us outside, if you choose that path. He laughed and said well, I'll finish this drink and head to the hotel. Then I said Senator, find a different Democrat.
Outside dad asked where have you been, people are asking for you? I said talking with Senator Wofford about a road not taken and choices, dad said shit and we went our separate ways. I found the astronauts all sitting with Jim and Jack and chatted for a while and then moved on to dad and the Admiral. That was a more formal conversation and I suggested that he send people up to check on Robotics. He said nope and it sounds like I could lose another one to you. I said, I'm not recruiting. Mike, how much did the changes to the LOGO cost? Admiral, it didn't as I agreed to let them use Enterprises to market the technology. Besides the lights will last years and the logo won't ever fade. The Admiral asked for contact information and I easily agreed.
Now it was my time and I found JJ who was with TJ and JT. I went up to them and looked at TJ and said so TJ how are you? He asked, how the fuck do you do that? I simply asked did you discover anything interesting? Yup, you are one of those scary people that can control a mob when you talk to them. I laughed and said well they were hardly a mob. TJ said because you didn't push it. Well you did blow it up with Senator and the elected officials. Yeah, I just talked with him and the Senator misquoted Robert Frost. I told him the poem was about choices and that it is really the road not taken. Then I told him I had chosen my path. Not being able to help myself, I suggested he pick another Democrat for governor. I am surprised that the Mayor hasn't called to bitch at me. Look guys I'm beat and need out of these clothes, I'm going home and you guys are welcome, there is beer and it doesn't coast $3.00 a bottle.
I made the rounds quickly thanking everyone and started to the car. In the lobby I ran into the astronaut who made the comments at the press conference. He asked for a minute and I said not here as the Admiral is all over this and I handed him my business card and said, please give me a call. He said thanks and I went to the car. At home I left the door open and went directly to my room and changed into shorts and a tee shirt and flip flops. When I got downstairs I found JJ and the twins all with beer and on the deck. I filled a glass with ice and poured a bunch of scotch and JJ got me before I went outside. He asked MJ, why did you invite these two? JJ they are fun and it is always good to know your ex-brother-in-laws. Look at Jack and Jace for example. JJ no bets with them, even if it is an option, well not yet.
Outside we just chatted and talked about sports mostly about the Steelers and the Penguin big Stanley Cup win. After a second beer, TJ and JT switched to iced tea and JJ and I stayed with scotch and beer. JT asked Mike, how do you tell us apart when no one else can? I asked do you girlfriends tell you apart or do you switch up on them? They both laughed and TJ said, we will answer that question if you answer ours. I said ok, your haircuts are different. JT said, that's bullshit we go to the same guy and insist on identical cuts. Look guys JT's sideburns are a tad longer and that's on you not you barber. They laughed and I said well your turn. Well we don't always have girlfriends at the same time but we did switch once. There wasn't sex and we doubled dated and they didn't know. Both JJ and I thought that was hysterical. Then JJ asked, so would you do that if sex was involved. TJ shrugged and said well we actually have talked about that and have decided that we would never do that. While we play a good many games and think and act alike that is simply a bridge too far. JJ was on a roll and asked so growing up did you two jackoff together? JT replied ok cowboy, you and my future ex-brother-in-law, sitting there quietly for the first time today are you sucking each other off as you seemed joined at the hip? To lighten things up I said well we can discuss this further if I am indeed your ex-brother-in-law. While I am fucking your sister, with you approval by the way, we are not discussing these things. I just glared at JJ, indicating that enough was enough. Then I added besides Rule 2 applies. JT asked, what the fuck is that? I said what happens here stays here, but in this case rule 6, none of your fucking business, also applies. Can we all agree on that.
The subject changed back to much more mundane topics and a lot of questions for me. Most of which I easily answered, while revealing as little as possible. The twins needed to get going and they asked me to walk to the car with them. Once outside they stopped at the car and TJ said Mike, we don't know how you will react to this and we don't want to fuck things up with our sister, then JT said we are both very much into each other, we both have serious girls and we both want you naked in bed with us. Then TJ said please don't say a word, just think about it and let us know. We like rule 2 and by the way we transferred to Pitt Law as we want to stay in Pittsburgh and that plays better here than Harvard. Pittsburgh roots matter more than am Ivy League reputation. They got in the car and I just stood there.
Back inside, I poured another drink and JJ asked, so what was that all about? I shrugged and said well they want to stay local and have transferred to Pitt Law. He laughed and asked, so how long before the bets start? I shook my head and said, no idea but damn you pushed hard enough. I took a drink and said JJ, suck my cock. He asked, right here and I said, yes. As he was standing up, ready to do me, Megan appeared and said hi guys. Mike how was your day? I said well Megan you husband is an asshole. She laughed and said well you are not the first person to tell me that, I'm actually surprised you are taking it this well. I shrugged and asked, do I have a choice? Then I asked Megan where is Cole? Mike, he is cleaning out his locker at St. Clair as I have canceled the membership. He will be a Junior member at South Hills. I haven't been to St. Clair in a long time and Cole hates the Pro there. Just making small changes.
JJ looked at me and rolled his eyes indicating that we almost got caught. Just then dad showed up and looked at me and said nice job but you could have stayed around a while longer. I shrugged and said, I'm the damn boss, so I do what I want and that was one hell of a way to do that with the national media there. JJ said well, I'm out of hear. I said JJ sit the fuck down dad is going inside and we will discuss this some time when we are both sober. JJ said, nope, later dude. As JJ was leaving Megan and dad sat down. I immediately said, you two are not teaming up on me and dad, you have done enough today to last a couple of weeks. Megan asked me to please sit down as this has been brewing for a while and she was actually on my side. I sat down and looked at dad and said, please explain the reason, the damn timing and the no heads up. I took a sip of my drink and glared at dad.
Dad said Michael and I fucking exploded and screamed, DON'T YOU DARE MICHAEL ME. Dad took a big breath and said Mike, I told you and everyone else it was because of the baby, I don't want to be there every day, I simply sell and have not been in charge for a long time. No that doesn't bother me, that's how I want it. Ok, so why did this all have to be made public? He said Mike, I'm simply tired pretending, it's like the emancipation thing. Dad you make no sense at all, you say pull back, trust your team and enjoy football and your senior year. Please tell me how the fuck this, any of this can happen now? To do this the right way there will be no school, no football and no VT. I'll have a GED and run a big company, better yet I'll just sell the fucking thing and live off 60 or 70 million and run the damn winery. Mike, the baby is coming soon. I said so was football. Megan said Mike you haven't had a decent response to MJ yet. All of a sudden I laughed, looked at Megan and said, he is having a mid life crisis. This child to be has his brain fried. It will be 18 years since he didn't change a diaper and he can't deal with it.
Megan looked at me and asked, why doesn't that bother me? I laughed and said well it will once the kid get here. Look, now that I have it figured out, I'll make it work but once the baby comes, the kid gets my room and I'm moving to the apartment. Dad just looked at me and I said you telling her or am I? Dad said shit and then said, Ray has been offered a scholarship to play football at the Air Force Academy and he is leaving next week for the Military Academy outside Philadelphia and I am paying for his final year. Then I said Jace is running the Winery and won't be here all that much, so while we will be roommates I'll have the place mostly to my self and you can talk to Cole about what room he wants. Dad 44 isn't too old to have a kid, hell you will only be 66 when he graduates from college. Megan laughed and I got up hugged dad and I whispered, that little surprise will cost one log cabin in New York. He laughed and said cheap at twice the price. Then I added you have 3 weeks to get over this or find a head doctor. Megan almost fell out of her chair laughing and I went to my room.
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