Skip to main content

Steppin' Out

In this episode - Steppin' Out . . .

Welcome back to On the Fly, where we explore life’s adventures, big and small. This week's episode is all about stepping out of your comfort zone. And I'm not just talking about trying a new restaurant or taking a dance class. I'm talking about a real leap of faith.

Recently, Lori and I decided to do something for her milestone birthday we haven't done in over 30 years: visit Mexico. Now, for those of you who know us, you know we're creatures of habit. We love our routine, our comfort zone. But sometimes, life calls for a bit of adventure, a little "steppin' out," if you will.

Side note for my listeners from Cuba, Illinois. I know what you're thinking: "Mexico? Isn't that dangerous?" Well, let's say there was a bit of apprehension—fear of the unknown, language barriers, and the whole 'foreign country' thing. But then we remembered our friend and colleague John, who lives in Tijuana, Mexico, with his beautiful family. He invited us to visit them, promising to be our tour guides. So, with a little push and excitement, we decided to take the plunge.

And let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions we've made in a long time. The people were amazing, the food was incredible, the sights were fascinating, and the culture was rich. We were stepping into a whole new world.

We visited Tecate, a charming border town with a rich history. Did you know that Tecate was once a hub for the Kumeyaay Indians? Its name comes from the Kumeyaay language, meaning "place of the coyote." The town is also known for its brewing industry, producing the famous Tecate beer locally.

Now, let's talk about food! Mexican cuisine is world-renowned, and Tecate offers a delicious taste. From fresh tacos and enchiladas to mouthwatering carne asada, there's something to satisfy every palate. And don't forget to try the local specialties like barbacoa and menudo. Barbacoa is a traditional Mexican dish with slow-cooking meat, usually beef, in an underground pit. This method of cooking results in tender, flavorful meat that falls apart in your mouth. It's often served in tacos with corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, and lime.

As for social activities, Tecate has a lot to offer. You can explore the historic downtown area, visit the local bakery filled with delicious treats, or relax in one of the many parks (it was a little hot this trip for that). There's also a vibrant nightlife scene with live music and dancing. And, of course, only a trip to Tecate is complete with enjoying a refreshing Tecate beer at one of the local bars. I’ll admit it: we enjoyed a special drink called Agua Citrón or Lemon Verbena. It’s a refreshing herbal infusion made from the leaves of the lemon verbena plant.

However, I did taste Mezcal, a distilled alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant, a broader category than tequila, specifically made from blue agave. Its smoky flavor is distinctive due to the traditional cooking method of agave hearts (piñas) in underground pits.

As I was thinking about how to present this episode, the song "Steppin' Out" by Joe Jackson kept going through my mind. It's about the excitement and anticipation of a night out, but it perfectly captures the feeling of stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s about embracing the unknown and taking that leap of faith.

So, what's stopping you from stepping out? Is it fear, uncertainty, or just plain laziness? Whatever it is, I challenge you to overcome it. Trust me, the rewards are worth it.

Special thank you to John Prock and his family. Remember, life is an adventure. So, step out, explore, and make some new memories.

I’m Patrick Ball. Thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

We Need Awe More Than Ever

In this episode, Why We Need Awe More Than Ever Yesterday morning, I slipped into the cool stillness of my backyard before dawn. The air was crisp, the silence deep—broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the familiar calls of birds waking early. Then I looked up. A thin crescent moon hung low in the east, with Venus just above it like a shining jewel. The sky was clear and full of stars, and for a moment, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time: Awe! For thousands of years, the heavens have carried on their steady dance, untouched by human noise. No ruler, no election, no breaking news has ever changed their rhythm. And yet here I was, tempted to reach for my phone—to trade the eternal for the urgent. Instead, I stayed. I watched the moonrise, the sky slowly lighten, and the world around me stir. Ducks passed overhead in a loose V, hummingbirds zipped past to visit their feeder, pausing mid-air as if curious about me sitting so still. Little by little, the static in my mind f...

The Birth of a Cubs Legend

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...

The Silent Grid–Part Two

In this episode, The Silent Grid – Part Two Sirens split the night as Greenwood went dark. Marvin knew instantly—the blackout wasn’t an accident. It was a warning. In this quiet town, where life once unfolded at a predictable pace, a sleek, intuitive smartphone—a so-called gift from the future —has arrived. But it’s no tool for connection. It’s a silent force, erasing individuality and turning neighbors into something less than human. Marvin Gellborn, a man who values independence, sees the truth. His device isn’t helping; it’s testing him, watching him, and quietly embedding itself into the life of Greenwood. Welcome back to On the Fly . In this week’s episode of The Silent Grid , GridBot tightens its grip. After a hopeful community gathering, Marvin and his robot companion, Norman, notice a troubling absence—the very generation they hoped to reach has vanished into the neon glow of The Signal Box , a youth tech hub pulsing with digital obsession. When Greenwood’s lights vanish, Marvi...

The Pessimism Aversion Trap

In this episode, The Pessimism Aversion Trap Picture this: a room full of bright minds nodding in agreement as a bold new strategy is unveiled. The slides are polished, the vision is grand, and the future, we're told, has never looked brighter. Everyone beams—because who wants to be the one to say, "Um… this might not work"? Heaven forbid someone spoil the mood with a dose of reality. Better to smile, add a buzzword or two, and march confidently toward disaster. That's how the Pessimism Aversion Trap works. Even now, I can still hear the sound—a high-pitched shriek and a digital hum, followed by the slow, rhythmic clatter of data pouring from a 5¼-inch floppy disk. It was the late 1980s, and my makeshift home office (our living room) was dominated by what felt like a marvel of modern engineering: a used Tandy 1000 PC with not one, but two floppy drives. To top it off, we purchased a 'blisteringly fast' 300-baud modem—which, for the uninitiated, could downloa...