1/31/2009

Last night the high school boys basketball game scheduled to be played at Columbus Grove was canceled, because they still had a Level 2 snow emergency in Hardin County. That is where Ada school is located, and if we would have had any other team, that we play this year, we probably would have entertained a home contest last night. Although it would have been nice to get that one in last night, it was probably a wise decision for Ada to call off the game. If playing it would have occurred there would have been many high school aged drivers on the road, and young drivers on less than good (icy) roads is not a good combination. It can spell disaster, and maybe it took me getting in an auto mishap to recognize that. I was a good driver...accidents happen. Of all things I could have done last night, it is no surprise that my actions involved sports.I went with some friends to a basketball game between Elida and Bath. The game was played at the latter school and it resulted rather lopsided, but I particularly was enthused for I met several contacts for the first time. I love to network when I go places, and that is what I did.

1/30/2009

The possibility of playing a boys game tonight is still in limbo. I will be able to find out later this afternoon. I hope that the game is play as scheduled. It is only fair that the game goes on, because our girls traveled to Ada last night albeit the nasty travel conditions. However it will be their call as their boys team needs to do the traveling.

1/30/2009

I went bowling last night with the guys at South Gate Lanes in Bluffton. We used to go there every Thursday, like several years ago. Since my accident I am yet to bowl a score any greater than 133, and usually I am lucky to break a 100. I have not been bowling in ages, and the rust showed as four of my first five ball wound up in the gutter. I bowled a measly 68 the first game, and I would have benefited greatly if the rails rails would have been put up alongside or they had some sort of bumper in the gutters. Later I broke a hundred with 108, and that was a typical game for me. I am not saying I was a stellar bowler previously, but I scored an occasional 200. Like everything seems to have changed sin that fateful day (12/6/97) so has bowling, but it is still loads of fun. That is all that matters when bowling. It was even more fun , because I made a new friend named Holly. She is from Defiance, but she attends Bluffton University. She seemed rather cool. Hopefully I will see her again at the bowling alley. Len drove last night, and the slippery roadways were a hazardous as far as possibility goes. I hope the basketball game between Ada and Columbus Grove happens. Ada is a good team, but I think Grove can hang with them. It will be interesting to see if my hometown Bulldogs have made adjustments after the Kalida loss.

1/29/2009

This story was published the morning after I spoke in Marion: http://www.marionstar.com/article/20090126/NEWS01/90126016&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

1/29/2009

I was snowed in on Wednesday, and that truly is an exaggeration. If there was something to do or somewhere that would have interested me to go, I would have gotten the snow blower out and cleared a path for my car to safely maneuver my car to the road without getting stuck. Schools in the area were all canceled yesterday. I never did get a chance to go to Findlay last night. The Columbus Grove girls are scheduled to play a game tonight at Ada. Their mascot is the same as Columbus Grove’s: it is slated to be the battle of the Bulldogs. The weather will put the actuality of playing the game in doubt. The schools already are on a two hour delay, at this early morning hour, and I believe that is nothing but a precursor to missing the whole day of school. Many times that is the case, but we will see. I will not be attending this game. Somebody is always looking out for you.

1/28/2009

Today (Wednesday) Mother Nature really does not want me to have this meeting with a friend in Findlay today. Maybe the meeting getting canceled due to hazardous conditions is a sign that we are not supposed to meet one another, because the last scheduled meeting was also postponed due to weather. Maybe I will head her (Mother Nature's) advise and not reschedule. I do hope the snow lets up soon though, because I have great desire to hang with Brian this evening in Findlay. The forecast did say the snow would cease by noontime, but meteorological forecasts are subject to be false on numerous occasions. Even if the snow does come to a halt my voyage depends on snow plows. The reliability of snow removal from roadways is extremely large, as trucks are often seen scraping roadways that have but a hint of the white stuff on them. It is a good thing that Columbus Grove's high school basketball teams do not have any contests scheduled for tonight, because I know how much I love seeing games but are canceled easily.
Last nigh the boys on easily, but my card game afterwords did not happen, because during game time the snow began to fall. The people coming over feared not having a safe journey and thought wisely by not showing up. I had to scrape the snow off my automobile windows, as did all people that had cars in the school lo, in order to have a safe trip home. I still love living in Ohio nonetheless in the winter!

1/27/2009

Tuesday is a hospital day, and there is typically a girls basketball game. This week is atypical to say the least, because there is a boys game. The Columbus Grove boys a making up a postponed due to weather game. Then some friends are coming over to play a little bit of solo.

1/26/2009

Well I am all dressed up and ready a few minutes early. I am ready to do an awesome job! See ya later...

1/25/2009

Yesterday the Columbus Grove girls team had a convincing win over Miller City. The J.V. and Varsity squads played predominately easy matches in the afternoon. In hes nightcap the Bulldogs needed to put their A game on display to beat the legendary coach K's Kalida squad. The J.V. won in exciting fashion, but the Varsity lost by a rather slim margin.
I have to prepare for a speech at Marion Catholic high school tomorrow (Monday) morning. Afterwords I am doing lunch with a longtime friend in Mansfield. Then there is a girls ballgame at home in the evening.
I did meet many interesting people at the game last night. Sue was a new friend that I made, and I saw several people that have already been established as friends.
I might not have time to write anything tomorrow, because it is an eventful day...

1/24/2009

I'm rushing around today, but I wanted to say that my experience at Patrick Henry was awesome. I met some incredible people... most significantly Zack. They are all wonderful people that I will cherish knowing forever, but he has the deepest regard for our maker.

1/23/2009

Friday is here, and it was such a typical night of sleep last night that I get before I speak. Whatever the reason is not discernible, but I sleep very haphazardly the night before I present. I should not sound so clueless, because I feel rather certain the the prospect of changing lives for the better has me so excited that sleep is lost but not required. I will be buzzing all day with endorphins from my event. Everything in this world has a purpose nonetheless, and I am filled with anticipation. Today we we breaking out the new introduction, and I am thinking the audience will get totally pumped up and ready to go. And even I will get even more pumped up, if that is even possible.
Then after I come home this afternoon I am going to the basketball game between the Columbus Grove Bulldogs and Bluffton Pirates, boys. This game is at Bluffton, but the two schools girl's programs battled last night in Columbus Grove. The home team was victorious.

1/22/2009

The forecast remains clear so I am super excited with my upcoming speaking performances. The next presentation is tomorrow (Friday) morning at Patrick Henry. This was originally slated to occur last month on the 19th, but because of treacherous weather conditions, it was delayed until tomorrow. This will be a great display, I believe, and it will be my first presentation since acquiring the new introduction. PH is really going to make my intro a lasting one. If my intro would be a pizza, this particular school is putting all the toppings on it.
This evening is a girls home game against Bluffton. It should be a good game for the Columbus Grove lady Bulldogs, and I love viewing any level of basketball. My favorite is high school athletics, because every game is interesting to see how coaches and players attack the other.

1//21/2009

I now have a cell phone again, and I am happy. I am also happy to make some final arrangements with schools that I will be speaking at in the forthcoming days.

1/20/2009

Tuesday... well it is closer to Friday than yesterday was. I have a big day, and I will even have to cut my volunteering short to attend the bimonthly Knights of Columbus meeting. Still the main focus I have here s that today is one day closer to Friday. That in itself explains how pumped up I get about the opportunity to speak.

1/19/2009

Monday is today, but this is no lackluster day for me. The stereotypical representation of Mondays have them depicted as blah days. They are categorized accordingly, because they exhibit a time for returning to the grindstone (depending on the stage of a person's life that could mean returning to class or work.) Schooling has existed in my life for 19 years, and I feel excited, elated, and relieved that there is no more classroom work to be completed. Although, in hindsight being a kid has its perks. Some people often fantasize about being youthful again. It is true that living a pretty much worry free life would once again seem compelling, but I am not wishing to go back in time. An outsider would figure that I would like to go back in time and change certain things (particularly 12/6/1997: the day of my accident,) but they are wrong. It is true that I would not welcome the pain, suffering, and therapy that I went through again, but if there was no other way to achieve His way then by all means I would do it again. Such is so because I believe God's plans are always best. Everything happens according to His plan, and that is the best way for anything to happen. I would not trade my life with anyone else. The reason this day does not seem like a drag is because it is the week that I get to present to Patrick Henry high school. That is not until Friday morning (1/23,) but using my life experiences to help others is ultimate. This day is also anticipated, because I am also getting a cellular phone where it works to charge the battery.

1/17/2009

Friday night the game basketball game between Allen East and Columbus Grove boys was postponed. The game was supposed to be at Columbus Grove, and Allen East did not want to travel since it was so cold. It was their call nonetheless. Now the game is rescheduled for February 2, which is a week from next Tuesday. It would have been nice to play against the Mustangs last night though, because I hear their team is not very good but having a down year. It will come at a later time, and with the trials of high school basketball who knows what will happen. Today though basketball at Grove will take an unusual spin The J.V. girls then boys have a home contest against the Leipsic Vikings starting at noon. While the girls and boys varsity squads travel Northward to face the Viking respective Viking teams in the evening. It is a peculiar situation with the yearly tradition running at least three years now. These multi-gender contests are limited exclusively to Leipsic. Who knows why? There is no rhyme or reason, and both schools have to run busses.

1/16/2009

The wind chill was -35 when I awoke this morning, and I am happy that it never got that cold indoors. It is so cold outside that all the area schools are canceled strictly based on coldness. I guess if buses got stuck or broke down mid route all passengers could freeze to death. This weather may play havoc with the scheduled slate of boys’ high school basketball this evening. I hope not but have no idea, and they girls’ game last night was canceled. I did talk to C.J. yesterday, and we rescheduled our Pizzeria meeting for Monday evening. That is all for now… stay warm!!!

1/15/2009

My dinner at the Pizzeria with C.J., that was supposed to be at 5:30 yesterday, got canceled. He called and we discussed the scenario at hand, I was for going, but the trek back to Findlay had him worried so we agreed to reschedule. The forecast did not look very promising so I totally see why he was leery about making the trip. He was going to run some things by his wife, Shelly, to see if we can make the same location work for a day next week. She wants to go try some “world famous” pizza and service at the highly touted Pizzeria (high remarks came from me,) and so we have to find a date that fits in Shelly, C.J.’s, and my schedule. That will hopefully be easily done.
I have basketball games scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for the rest of this week, but who knows if the games will go on. Schools were let out early Wednesday, even though the roads were in the same condition as when kids boarded their ways to school in the morning. Treacherous forecasts gave school officials the go ahead to have early dismissals. Several schools in the area already canceled for Thursday, and Columbus Grove already had a 2 hour delay. To me that is like writing on the wall for a cancellation, and we will find out if the games go on later this afternoon. I will keep my fingers crossed.

1/14/2009

Right now it is just snowing an extremely fine snow, but is excruciatingly cold outside. Besides the single digit temperatures the forecast calls fore massive winds and blizzard conditions. Hopefully that is an inflated prediction. Mom says they did not predict much of anything before the past blizzard. I am thinking because nobody was prepared for that storm (like 30 years ago) the experts may be erring on the safe side of things. I guess anything is possible, but there is substantial reasoning for me to not wish for treacherous conditions this time. I am scheduled to host dinner at the Pizzeria, at Columbus Grove location (of five stores with the newest in Kalida,) with C.J. and Shelly late this afternoon. I have been bragging up the Pizzeria establishments, which are all Shafer owned and locally operated, to many people wherever I go. I even plug them in my presentations. C.J. is a speaker and we are going to discuss various leads and recent presentations. Poor weather would prohibit them from making the trek from Findlay. Yet there are yet other reasons that weigh in with greater importance why I do not want blizzard conditions. The boys and girls have basketball games in the up and coming days. They would get canceled with bad weather, and I love basketball. Last night I traveled an approximate hour, on the bus to see the varsity lose to a lackluster Paulding team.Well that is all for today folks.

1/13/2009

Monday I felt hat the mega cold I had last week was over or at least subsided enough to get back to a little bit of vigorous exercise, and I very well seem to have been right. The only problem was that I tried making up for my recent lack of exercise. Because I cannot run for a very long distance, I used to be fond of going on a jog somewhat frequently (before my little car mishap,) I rode the stationary bicycle for about 35 minutes. That felt good to do a little exercise. I did get a little carried away with the whole ordeal, and ended up pushing myself really hard. I did cool down for the last couple of minutes and felt fine while on the bike we have (where the arms move back and forth in synchronization with the pedals,) but apparently I was going too hard. A couple of minutes after I was done I was just sitting at the computer. Nausea and dizziness hit me like a brick wall. I rushed to the bathroom, and by the time I got there I was dripping with sweat like a leaky faucet. I never did toss my cookies, but I sure did feel like it. I suffer from the inability to relax and exercise slowly and easily. Let’s just face the facts: I am no longer the teenager I used to be.
Today I have to run some errands before my shift at the hospital, which is earlier than normal, because there is a girls high school game against Paulding. That game is the one regular season match up that requires the farthest travel, and it was rescheduled for tonight due to a snow and ice postponement from a couple of weeks ago. I hope good weather prevails, because I love basketball.

1/12/2009

It is Monday morning, and the start of another week full of busy days. That includes both weekdays and weekends.

On Sunday afternoon I went to Brian’s to watch football. The early game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants was watched while shooting billiards. I honestly suck at pool, but I did win a couple of games while Brian had many victories. We had a fun time though, and that is what counts. The Eagles won the first game, and we both were elated. It is just too bad we could not be happy with the outcome of the late afternoon game. However it was still exciting since we went to TKOs sorts bar and met our friend Mike there. They have the finest food that I have ever had at a bar And anyways… Ashley is the manager, and I chink she is so cool (April aka Big Chump is pretty cool too.) The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the San Diego Chargers, and that did not please any of us. Pittsburgh has to face Baltimore next week, which is also a divisional rivalry, for the AFC championship, and I hope those terrible towels are used for nothing but crying in. Most Steelers faithful are increditably cocky and annoying, I think.

1/11/2009

Saturday the Grove girls lost at the Ottoville Big Green, but I met Mark the athletic director over there. The boys, however beat Ft. Jennings. I have to get ready for Mass, and then this afternoon I am going to watch some football with Brian in Findlay. Later.....

1/10/2009

The game last night was an eventful one, but it was not at all exciting. That is only a true statement if for something to be exciting it must turn out the way you want it to. You see the game turned out to be somewhat interesting or eventful even though the offensive display by both team was rather lackluster. You see the game went into overtime, and even though both teams played poorly the extra session made the game yet fun to watch. Spencerville dribbled the length of the court and made an uncontested three pointer to send the battle into overtime. The Spencerville Bearcats already lost two games in overtime this year, and I guess them being more experienced in playing the extra four minute period gave them an edge. Columbus Grove lost by double figures, and they played like a construction worker without his tool belt. If I was coaching I would have defended that last five second sequence a little differently, and definitely would have called a timeout after we made a foul shot to go ahead by three with five seconds remaining (to set up a defense so Spencerville could not advance the ball so quickly and keep the ball away from their only three point threat,) but it is always easy to be the coach from the stands. Oh well, hopefully the games will not be postponed due to snow today/tonight.

1/9/2009

The girls basketball team rolled to another victory as Columbus Grove upended Spencerville last night. Tonight the Grove boys take center stage as they too battle Spencerville. The biggest change in the contests between the boys and girls is the venue, and the Grove boys play an away game whereas the girls were at home last night. I think I made a possible speaking contact last night in the lady Bearcats basketball head coach.
Chris "Beanie" Wells has decided to forgo his senior season at Ohio State and enter the National Football League draft in 2009. As a Buckeye faithful fan I feel a slight bit disappointed, but I am happy for Chris. That is definitely the right choice for Beanie, as a running back has a limited number of years they can endure the rigors of the NFL. He'll be in the top two of running backs selected, maybe the first back taken, and at worst he will be a first round pick. That means a lot of money, and while green should not be the main concern in your life it would seem tough an illogical to turn down the lucrative deal that pro football players receive. In Columbus it would appear to be a rebuilding year for Buckeye football, but they reload yearly!!!

1/8/2009

Sleep was not something that I had a lot of last night. I was up before dawn, and I fire up outside for there were only red coals left from last night. The wood I put in there started to burn instantly, and the basement soon became a warm safe haven to hide from the cold. That is exactly what I did too. I went down there and naturally fell asleep basking in warmth. I made up for the lack of rest I got last night this morning. Why did I not sleep very well last night? The random reader of this blog may wonder that. However the answer to that question is indefinite. I do have more intellectual thoughts since that fateful day 11 years ago (my accident,) and it is my belief that I was thinking too much about giving a couple of presentations at the end of this month. I think about them so much not because I worry about them but since I am so excited about the opportunity of bettering lives. Tonight there is a Columbus Grove high school girls basketball game up town here that I am going to. Hopefully we will also set a time with a friend from Findlay to get some pizza at The Pizzeria in Columbus Grove. I used to work at the Pizzeria and have been talking up the quality of their food.

1/7/2008

I am really excited about several different speaking engagements forthcoming. It is not anything but making a difference in students' lives that I am concerned about. Not just being in front of groups but making a difference, improving grades and lives is what gets me. I can us my own life experiences to better my listeners. That gives me a great feeling and new direction for m life Things change in the lives of everyone, but the trick is not necessarily being super successful in the initial attempt (or any attempt for that matter,) but it matters what you do to adjust to the various stimuli at hand.

1/6/2009

I saw Gerry at the hospital, met a new friend named Amanda, and had a Knights of Columbus meeting this evening. We played solo afterwords which is always enjoyable (especially when you win as I did tonight.

1/5/2008

Getting my haircut this morning seems like getting a rain forest chopped, and even though it was not really that long a trim every few weeks is greatly appreciated. My haircuts are even better than any one could get at a salon. It is true that a hair stylist is professionally trained, and surely they do a sensational job. My Dad is not trained to cut any person's hair, but he has been cutting mine fairly regularly. The key aspect of this scenario is that I am not being charged to maintain his license. If you go to a salon inevitably you are paying for the barber's schooling and livelihood of his or her home life. Because it is their job the profits exist to sustain a certain standard of living. My dad just does this for me, and it is not a profession. And he does a spectacular job, too. That is why I have no qualms about having him do it. Besides I am a frugal person and anyone who knows me is well aware of this. Dad knows how yo do just about everything. At least it is my belief that he can, everyone probably thinks highly of their dad (I am just like others,) and if I ever need to have something done or need help with anything the first thing I do is ask Dad. Of course that is after I attempt to analyze or troubleshoot the situation myself, when applicable.

1/4/2009

Saturday night was a blast. Not only did the Columbus Grove boys basketball team get their third win of the year (against two losses,) but afterward we went to Luke's bar in Bluffton. There is not a whole lot special about the atmosphere there, it is your regular mom and pop bar and grill, but there were tons of people there that I knew. Columbus Grove people were scattered throughout, and the key reason it was so crowded is because they had karaoke. To my astonishment I saw Julie there. Although there was a bit of initial reluctance she warmed up an we sung a Sonny and Cher duet together. I had so much fun and was so happy to see her there.What were the odds that we would cross paths at a bar in Bluffton? Probably that chance was not very good, but it happened still. I also made some contacts this evening. Possibly the one holding the most potential was with the Arlington athletic director. The football game this evening was an exciting one, and it turned out just the way I had hoped. The Indianapolis Colts lost in overtime to the San Diego Chargers.

1/3/2009

Yesterday was awesome as far as the bowl scenario goes. Utah upset the highly favored Alabama squad. The Tide was ranked number one in the country for a number of consecutive weeks until Florida beat them at the end of the regular season. The Utah Utes had an undefeated season but are a smaller scale school. The Utes pretty much dominated Alabama, and that had me feeling good. I tend to cheer for the lesser known underdog when deciding who to root for. Such is usually not the case when Ohio State plays, because I am a Buckeye true and through. The Bucks are typically supposed to win, because the have probably the most recognized team in the country. That is usually the case, but the key word is usually! Ohio State had a couple of losses this season, and the media likes to give them no credit. Their losses in recent national championship games attribute to the media listing them as "overrated." I am tired of it! Texas is picked by many to kick some Buckeye rear ends, but hopefully on Monday night Ohio State will roll and prove the critics wrong. A victory will be sweet, and Columbus can reinstate its name into the list of powerhouse college football team locations. The scenario is unique as Ohio State is seldom the underdog, I would cheer for the Buckeyes despite whether they were favored or not, but it only adds to the excitement now that they are underdogs. I seam to recall the last time they were big underdogs in a bowl appearance they won the national championship.

1/2/2009

I do not understand, but it seems as if every college football team I am rooting for his bowl season ends up losing, every team but Iowa that is. Hopefully things take a U-turn before Monday, because I am not going to cheer for Texas just to make sure the lose to the Ohio State Buckeyes. I may try some crazy and hair brained ideas on occasion, but I will not root against my Buckeyes. At all costs I will stay true to my favorite team, which is also my Alma mater. Attending the Ohio State University has always been a dream of mine, and it takes more that what is possible to stop me from attempting to reach my dream. I had quite of a major automobile accident, nearly losing my life and was left with the daunting task of returning to normalcy, but even that did not stop me from enrolling at The Ohio State University on schedule in the fall immediately after my high school experience was over. Obstacles may stand in my way and try to impede my progress, but with hard work I leaped them all so far. I know anything is achievable with hard work, especially getting over hurdles, because I never used to be able to jump that well. I guess some things never change, and actually my jumping ability got worse after the accident. That is why my ability to get over those obstacles is so astonishing. With hard work ALL things are possible. LETS GO BUCKEYES!!! PROVE THOSE CRITICS WRONG! I BLEED SCARLET AND GREY!!!

1/1/2009

The start of a new year means a lot. There are so many things that people wish to accomplish, and New Years resolutions are in high demand. That has me puzzled a bit. If you have something that you want to get done or something about your lifestyle that you want to change why should you wait for a new year's resolution? There is no sense in waiting for a new year. In my opinion it is new year's resolutions that are usually broken anyways. They are for the birds. If you want something done just do it, and it does not matter what time of year it is.