2/28/2009

Tonight is a night of girls tournament basketball for me. I am driving to the Elida Fieldhouse to watch the Columbus Grove squad take on the highly touted Liberty Benton Eagles. If Grove plays an almost perfect game, along with Liberty Benton's lackluster performance, then my hometown Bulldogs might stand a chance.That is why they play the game though.

2/27/2009

Bowling last night was almost superlative, as I was constantly beating my one buddy, Len, early on, but he always seemed to edge me out. I do not know if I lost because he bowled with a greater confidence or because I choked when feeling pressure, but his score was higher. I am fairly certain that anybody that saw the game could verify that it was a little of both. Nonetheless I am still happy with the outcome, because normally I finish with scores much lower than respectable, even for a guy that does not bowl that often and sucks at it. I am not being hard on myself either but truthful. Maybe sucking at bowling, for me, is a thing of the past, and gee I can only hope so!
Later this morning Lisa and the boys will be hear, and I am totally excited about that. Andre, the oldest of my three nephews lost his first tooth yesterday, and it is a sign that he is getting older. I love it.
Tonight is the last regular season basketball game for Columbus Grove. I'm really excited, because we (Carla and crew) are going to eat prior to the game. Hopefully they play well in preparation for tournament. I love basketball and miss playing it with consistency. I still shoot whenever I get a chance, but using one arm that shakes profusely, and uncontrollably, makes it hard to be as well at it as I once was. Man that is hard to swallow, but I get through each day focussing on the positive.

2/26/2009

Thursday nights are good for bowling, and that is what I intend to do.

2/25/2009

Today is Ash Wednesday, and that also means it is a fasting day for Catholics. It also means no meat on Fridays until Easter. That is a thing for practicing Catholics. It is not that big of a burden compared to what the Savior went through. I will always be strong in Catholic faith, but I will not say anything to offend anyone on here. Religious views are to each their ow. I am a believer that God truly has blessed and saved me.
Early this afternoon I gathered some wood and stacked it where we had already used the wood this year. It will be able to dry for a year before we use it. The ground was to soft to use the garden tractor and trailer, unless getting stuck was my main objective, so I used the wheelbarrow. Let me tell you I about overdid it. All of the wood that Dad had cut previously, throughout the woods, has yet to be gathered. I was working toward that goal for a couple of hours, but then I became extremely exhausted. That is no doubt tiresome hard work, and it would be less grueling using a trailer. In fact I think I will wait to gather the rest of the wood until the ground dries and hardens. That way I can use the lawn tractor.

2/23/2009

I'm ready to speak to a local sports team this evening. There are also cards to be played tonight.

2/22/2009

Sundays are typically lazy days. By that I mean they usually consist of laying around and not doing too much. As everybody knows, when speaking of friends, I love basketball. Neither gender nor level much matter when talking about kinds of basketball that excite me and tick my inner competitive spirit (which I have had since a very young age.) Although I feel that it is necessary to recognize high school boys basketball as my favorite. Today I watched the Ohio State University men's basketball team lose to Illinois by four (I think) points. That pretty much solidifies the fact that the Buckeyes will need to win the Big Ten tournament in order to make it to the big dance, otherwise referred to as March Madness (the NCAA tournament.)
I also heard that Columbus Grove St. Anthony CYO team won today advancing to Toledo next Sunday in their tournament. Go Falcons!!!

2/21/2009

Grove lost last night, and it was a very convincing win for LCC. There is a girls game today and a boys game tonight. I have intentions on attending both.

2/20/2009

I just about got the garden tractor stuck today. I ended up getting two logs jammed up underneath the tractor, but I got the car jack out and raised the front of the tractor off of the ground and removed the logs. I had to jack it up twice, and it took me about two hours to get a single load of wood. Luckily Dad came home after the debacle with the jack. It was a lot more work than necessary, and I feel a great shame for getting stuck. I am glad nobody saw it though, because that could have made the embarrassment that much worse. I was able to problem solve my way out of a sticky situation though.

2/19/2009

It is Thursday, but even more significantly it is cold outside. When the 30 mile per hour gusts of wind hit you it is more like bitter cold! It is actually conceivable weather for this part of the country, and I love being a part of Northwest Ohio, but when compared to last weekends weather this does not seem fair nor accurate. The reason is we received an unseasonably warm front not too long ago, and today finally returned to normalcy for February weather around here.
Tonight the Columbus Grove girls confront Lima Central Catholic on the hardwood, and the Tbirds have a much better record and are a better team. But anything is possible in the game of basketball. An upset is conceivable, and that is frequently the case in high school basketball. That is why I love amateur sports, because any team is capable of victory.

2/18/2009

Last night I went to the K of C meeting and played solo afterward. It was not a very successful night for me playing solo, as I was the biggest loser of all the players at the table. It was great fun though. Cards are an economical way to spend your time. Besides I always have the mentality that I will win, but even if the cards are dealt and the luck is against you losing only a couple of dollars is a cheap form of entertainment.

2/17/2009

I do not know for sure my exact plans for today which bothers me, because I am a very patterned person about my general happenings. I know one thing for sure is that I will be volunteering at the hospital, because it is Tuesday and that is m day to volunteer. Afterward it is yet unclear what is happening. There is a Knights of Columbus meeting this evening, but I am hopefully getting a speaking opportunity at Bath high school, to some spots teams either today or tomorrow. The athletic director should be calling if there is an opportunity. That phone call is not all that I am waiting for. The president of the Delphos Jefferson high school student council is also supposed to give me a ring, after he checks their schedule today at school. No matter what happens I will likely end my evening playing solo at the church, in the basement. I really enjoy playing cards!!!

2/16/2009

So far today not a bunch of important things have been accomplished. However I did gather wood for only about 45 minutes via wheelbarrow. I slept rather poorly last evening, because I hit the sack about 9:30 last evening. I am not really certain why I hit the hay then either. I made several contacts as I had a grand ole time at the NASCAR extravaganza, and even though the race ended short after the rain began to pour down like buckets at the speedway. The driver I had was in the major crash involving like a dozen cars. Later last evening about 20 minutes after I laid down my cell phone rang. I was at a stage of rest where I was really unknown of any happenings in my surroundings. I was in la la land to say it bluntly, but I heard the ring and seemingly thought it was a dream. As it chimed in the second time, as I had my ringer volume set to low on my cellular phone, I unknowingly heard it and knew that it was in real time. Boy am I glad I was not in deep sleep yet and answered it. My friend Gerry, who now lives in South Carolina, called and explained how he looked at my site, www.mattschroeder.org, and shared it with a deathly ill man who was moved by my story. That makes me very happy when I help someone cope with and accept what has happened to them, it is like winning the lottery too me. It gives a sense of purpose to my life much like when I give talks at schools or churches (or anywhere for that matter!) That is why I do all of this, to make a difference in the lives of others!

2/15/2009

I am going to the Knights of Columbus breakfast following the 8:30 mass, and then I am attending the 11:00 service. Normally I do the early mass and it is more familiar to me than church near the end of morning hours, but I have an unusual event to go to today. Today is the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Daytona 500. Now typically I am not a huge racing fan, but there is a party being held at the Legion Hall in Ottawa. It is more of a social event, plus there is a chance to win money and/or prizes. Many people will be in attendance, and where people gather I usually am. The whole hoopla makes the race interesting. The whole season becomes that much more intriguing, for me. Sure I will watch at least one more ace with friends. I still defend the statement that auto like horse racing is not a sport, bu it facilitates a social atmosphere that I like.
Last night was a disappointing evening, because my planed card extravaganza was canceled due to the party hostess becoming under the weather or ill. There has been a potent cold going around, and luckily I have already had it. So I do not have to look to get the unpleasant circumstances of a cold again. At least that is the case for this go around.

2/14/2009

Today is Valentines Day, and I want to wish everyone a happy Valentine's day. It is a special day for affection with your mate. That is nice, but what makes this day special to me. I have no girlfriend at this moment, but I am looking for that one girl to be good friends with. Make a note of that: I am 29 years old, single, and available :-). Therefore if you know a good person for me give them my email address, matt@mattschroeder.org. They can check my web page out at www.mattschroeder.org. So what did I do so far today, and what is yet to come? I went to a girls basketball game today in Columbus Grove, and tonight I am going with my parents to Ken and Jane's house. That stated alone does not sound very intriguing, but we will play solo. And at 9:00 Ohio State takes on Wisconsin in basketball.

2/13/2009

I have a busy weekend, and right now I am getting things done. Dad cut my hair today.

2/12/2009

It was a treacherous wind we had here last evening. I could hear it whipping around outside fairly fiercely earlier in the evening, and later at night things took a more drastic turn. he power must have flickered at least nine times within the last hour of yesterday. Luckily each outage was for only between one and two seconds, but it was rather aggravating. Clocks constantly had to be reset, and The news followed by Jay Leno was interrupted. The most disturbing effect was with my computer; I was trying to do a task and the system kept turning off. By the time it restarted and I was back to the same point... boom! The power would flicker again. It was definitely spring weather in the midst of winter. An oddity it was, but I love Ohio weather.

2/11/2009

Columbus Grove high school boys' basketball team looked significantly improved last night against Pandora, as compared to the first time we played them. We ended up losing by eight or 10 points, but that score was definitely not indicative of the closeness of the game near the end. Sure Pandora was leading by 12 earlier, but the Bulldogs battled back to have a chance to take the lead. Things fell apart in the closing minutes.
This morning the rain significantly subsided enough, and the snow had melted, so we pulled the trailer, by garden tractor, back to the wood pile and filled it. Coincidentally, as soon as we moved the trailer back up by the outdoor wood burning furnace the rain started pouring out of the sky. It was coming down like rain was going out of style. In other words it was raining cats and dogs (in other words very hard.) Luckily it did not start when Dad and I were filling the trailer, because I cannot speak for him but I would have melted (lol:-).

2/10/2009

Before I volunteer today at the hospital I have a meeting with a friend. Johnathan is a long time friend and former sports rival. When I say former I mean a LONG time ago. The only time we played face to face was in junior high, and that was 15 years ago. It is hard to believe that I have been out of eighth grade that long, and just talking about it makes me sound old. Maybe I am just avoiding reality or something, because, in all honesty, I do not feel that old. I guess time passes faster than you realize, and it does not seem more than a few years ago. We are meeting for lunch at Happy Daze. After eating I am going to the medical center to volunteer, and my time there will not be as long as usual, because Columbus Grove boys high school team has a game in Pandora tonight. The Rockets are a better team, as far as record goes, but we will see if the Bulldogs can pull one out. That is why they play the game, and I love basketball!

2/9/2009

I do not have a lot of time today to type. It is in some ways the typical Monday, but in other ways it is quite different. I am going to be a substitute for somebody in a euchre tournament tonight in Kalida. I love cards, but turn up euchre is not my typical bag of tea. However before and after we will play solo, and that is what gets me so giddy! See ya later...

2/8/2009

I am going to 11:00 mass...see ya. Then I am going to Findlay, and the guys and I will eventually watch the Cleveland Cavs game this afternoon.

2/7/2009

It is Saturday morning and I have a whole new spin on things. Even though the Columbus Grove boys basketball dominated last night I made several key contacts on the losing side of things. Crestview is the team we played, and they are probably the furthest school that we alternate trips to boys and girls. On Thursday night our girls team made the trek towards their school, so Friday night their boys traveled to Columbus Grove. In speaking with several of their players they were rather unimpressed with the makeup of our gymnasium. It is true that we have one of the more archaic arenas for basketball in the area, but that will soon make a flip flop. See...this last Tuesday our town passed a tax levy that will provide a new school, and that will include two new gymnasiums. It is best not to get too excited, because playing in the new arena is a few years away.
Today I will be venturing over to Findlay for breakfast, and then I will be attending junior varsity and varsity contests between girls teams at the tops of their respective Divisions. Liberty Benton is a DIII school, and that is where the game is. They host the number one team in DII, Bath, and that is the team that I will be cheering for. I spoke and/or gave a little extra motivation to the Bath girls on Wednesday, and this will be a good measure up to see if I did a decent job.

2/6/2009

Even though today is Friday, two days ago (on Wednesday) I had another great opportunity to share some very useful advise with those who are younger than myself. I had a great opportunity to share my speech with the Bath High School girls basketball team, and several coaches and the eighth grade team was also in attendance. It really makes me feel as if the world stops when I get a chance to inspire others. I am in awe of the moments I have a chance to make a difference in others' lives. Of course I have had quite a struggle with different circumstances in my life (namely an auto accident my senior year of high school,) but I would not change a thing if I was granted an opportunity to relive my life. I would not appreciate going through all the pain/suffering again and not being able to live my senior year of high school to its fullest, but if there was no other way to achieve His plan for my life I would do it again in a heartbeat. That would only be so if I have totally exhausted looking for other ways to fulfill God's plan for my life, because it is totally my belief, and please don't let me influence yours, that His plan is the best way my life can turn out. I love my life and would not trade mine with anyone else. When I use my own experiences to better lives, it sort gives reason to why this thing happened to me. Other people often ask, but I never do, why this happened to me, because I had so much potential. I never look at it that way, because I have been given a greater potential. God works in mysterious ways!

2/5/2009

Game today... the hometown girls team plays Crestview. It should be interesting, because they are undefeated in conference play.

2/4/2009

Talking about Patrick Henry helps me recall a significant story about my presentation there. After I finished speaking I have a question and answer session. Somebody asked me if I ever shot baskets anymore, because in my talk I refer to my love of sports. I proceeded to shoot nearly a half dozen three pointers and missed them all terribly. I moved to the middle of the gym saying that the principal said he would give me $500 if I even hit the rim on any of two shots. I was only joking, but Mr. Pettit agreed jokingly as I peered his way. That only added to the suspense. I launched the first shot, after meandering myself the the circle at center court, and it banged off the backboard, but I still had another chance. Again I cocked my shaky arm back, and released the ball in a moment when the jitterbug hand stopped shaking but for an instant. I immediately knew that this ball had a chance of at least connecting with the rim, as I could judge its path and knew that I empowered the ball with plenty of velocity. I was in a state of total amazement and awe, as the ball made a swooshing sound as it went through the hoop. Instant pandemonium struck the gym full of students and teachers. Some people assumed that I make a half court shot frequently when I speak places, but that is not all the case. I have only ever taken half court shots after two other presentations, and never made one. It was a memorable experience for myself and everyone in attendance. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile, right?

2/4/2009

I am completely taken aback and or shocked by some issues out there. I hope there are more people like Zack at Patrick Henry school. He has a respect for everything in life, and he is involved in the fellowship of Christian athletes. That s what is truly respectable. Many athletes, in high school, take sports to mean almost more than religion. I was one who loves participating and cheering for sports, but it most definitely lies on the back burner when comparing it to religion. That is my belief anyways, and I do not want to make your decisions for you. I am just saying that I believe Zack displays prototypical characteristics of a young christian. Thanks for making yourself known to me at Patrick Henry.

2/3/2009

Today I had lunch with Mark, Jeff, and Roger. We went to Godfathers and had the ch buffet. For me that included salad, too. It was much fun, and hopefully we will do that approximately every three months. I, too, saw Jess there. She is a person from Columbus Grove that I know.

2/2/2009

It is groundhog day, and for what it is worth we are tentatively supposed to have more winter weeks. It is a far cry from meteorology, but it is a times honored tradition. Way too much on the agenda to talk much now or the next couple of weeks. See ya later...

2/1/2009

Today is Sunday, but there is nothing ordinary about this day. It is Super Bowl Sunday, and for me that involves going to my Uncle Karl's to watch the game with most of my male relatives. That starts early and will last most of the evening. Commercials are always highly anticipated. First though I get to entertain four people coming over to play cards (solo) this afternoon. Yippie!!!