Losing a friend is always difficult. Losing 6 is next to excruciating and this week, our family lost 6 of our dearest friends to Denver, Colorado. My best bud Shayne took a job that relocated he and his family to the mountain time zone this week and we are already feeling the repercussions of the hole that they have left. No longer will our kids be able to play together at any given time. I won’t have the luxury of having a great friend in my backyard to sit and have a cold brew with. No longer will we have our summer filled with cookouts and sharing a laugh or 5. The empty house that they have left has also left a hole in our hearts and I think I can speak for my entire family when I say that they will be missed dearly. Despite the fact that their oldest was a grade behind Christopher, he and Anthony are best buds and the younger siblings were ALWAYS welcome to come over and have a popsicle or a juice box (or in Izzie’s case…maybe some fruit, or a sandwich, or maybe some pizza…).
To tell some of the stories would take to long however I will shorten them by simply stating a few good ones…Las Vegas, going canoeing, the 25th class reunion, the anniversary bus, karaoke, football games, sledding in the snow, playing basketball in the backyard and chatting over the fence. No one else will understand but our families always will and we will always remember those times and many more.
We will miss them all dearly and we can only hope that they are accepted in Denver with open arms. At the same time, we want them to know that they will be missed here and if they ever return, we’d love to see them move right back to our little neighborhood so that we can pick up right where we left off. Best of luck in Denver to the Estrada clan! However I gotta tell you…on a selfish level…I hope they hate it and come rushing right back to where they belong…
When it comes to movie houses, there is only one that I consider an important historical site. I grew up in the small town of McConnelsville, OH. Like most small towns, McConnelsville doesn’t have a giant multiplex that shows 25 movies with IMAX screens and 3D. What it DOES have is an opera house that has been around since 1892. And a film projector that has been installed since the 1930′s. Aaaannnnd apparently it might also have a ghost or two but THAT is a story for a different day…
The Opera House has always been dear to my heart. Growing up in such a small town, I spent many days running around that town square and, when I wasn’t hanging out at the video arcade on the corner, I was drinking Mr. Pibb & eating popcorn for a quarter at the old Opera House. Who can imagine how many movies I saw there. One of the movies that sticks in my head was a “holiday” film that was screened after the Christmas parade called “Santa Clause Conquers The Martians.” Originally released in 1964, this ridiculous film was about as weird as it sounds but for whatever reason, I remember seeing it in that old theater. I also saw “ET,” “Star Wars,” and hundreds of other movies including a little movie called “Tarzan, The Ape Man” that starred Bo Derek in 1981 and had considerably more nudity in it than my Mom thought I should be seeing at my age (13).
Hmmm…wonder what’s in there?
Anyway…ahem…so…where was I? Oh yeah…the Opera House. Okay…so flash forward to 2013. Apparently Hollywood is shutting down the film industry. No, no…they’re not NOT making movies anymore. They are literally not using film anymore. The days of actually using 35MM film is almost over and old movie houses across the country are being forced to update or else they won’t be able to show movies anymore (well…except for old films like “Santa Clause Conquers The Martians”…which IS a classic). So here’s where YOU come in. I’m looking for a little effort to keep this awesome movie house open for this community which deserves to have it keep its doors open.
It’s not a toaster…it’s a projector!
If you are a fan of history and have a place in your heart for the past, I am asking that you take a moment and donate for the cause of this amazing establishment. Trust me when I tell you it’s worthy of a few of your dollars. It’s a testament to our times that places like this are closing their doors at an alarming rate. It’s important that the history of our country is preserved in more ways than just museums and mausoleums. A place like the Twin City Opera House stands as an open door to our past. It showcases what we were and how far we’ve come. Granted, if I had MY way, it would show old 35MM films for the rest of time but, in some cases, the future dictates what we have to do and moving forward in this case isn’t the worst thing that could happen. This is a great opportunity to benefit a caring community and help keep a showcase of its past open to the public.
Here is the link. Please donate and if you are ever in southeast Ohio, you should stop by and visit the ol’ Opera House. It’s worth the trip. And then swing over to the Blue Bell Restaurant. They used to have great ice cream. Of course, that was 30 years ago but hey…some things never change!
When I was younger, I couldn’t even begin to count how much of my time was spent hanging out at the Colony Square Mall. For anyone my age, once you got a car, the thing to do was to cruise Maple Avenue and then hit the mall for dinner and hang out at the Gold Mine Arcade. Nowadays, I don’t know what kids are doing to “hang out” (if they even do that anymore), but I can pretty much guarantee it’s not spending time at the mall. I don’t know if you’ve been to a mall lately, but unless you live in a pretty high end part of town that has money to burn, the American mall has seen better days.
Last night I went for a walk. I’m in Mobile, Alabama, staying at a Marriott that is located near a mall and I thought it would be a good idea to get some exercise. So I’m walking through a practically empty parking lot and when I get into the main part of the mall, I swear I see maybe 10 people throughout my entire walk! Now, granted, this IS a Tuesday night in small town America so I wouldn’t expect the place to be jammed with people however…I can guarantee that there were more people working than there were people shopping at the mall on this particular night. A quick glance out my window here tonight and I can tell that it’s pretty much the same thing. So…what is to happen to the right of passage of our youth? What happens when the malls start to close and the doors are shut and all that is left are big empty buildings that no one can use? The thought of it almost makes me sad actually…
Hours upon hours, quarter after quarter, I spent a better part of my childhood in my hometown mall. It’s where my friends gathered to talk, eat, see a movie, cause a little trouble. It’s how we socialized! Now…I guess kids do it on their cell phones or online. Human interaction is being shoved aside by technology and the American mall is suffering because of it. And it’s not just the kids. Parent and adults are ordering online more and more also. Why leave the comforts of your expensive home when you can order all your crap right there with a click of a button? Why would you fight crowds and pay MORE at a mall when you can head on over to Gap.com and get those jeans you want without paying a shipping cost? It makes sense that the American mall suffers. For how many years did we overpay for things because the cost of renting a space at the mall is so expensive? So now we have businesses moving out as fast as they can, setting up shop online and not even bothering to try to get that primo spot near Victoria Secret (see Sears or Pac Sun or JC Penney or that comic book shop that had every Spiderman issue you could think of).
Who WOULDN’T want that primo spot, huh?
It’s hard for me to imagine an American institution more important to my childhood than the mall. Now when I take my kids to visit their grandparent, I take them and my Mom to the mall for lunch whenever I can and we walk. Granted, there usually aren’t all that many people there, but I like to shop a little bit, maybe buy the kids something and we always eat at Wendy’s. It’s a little slice of heaven for me even though a lot of people would probably say I’m crazy. For me, the mall IS my youth. And despite the fact that it seems to be dying off, I miss the social aspect that it brings to our society. A Friday or Saturday night out on the town ALWAYS meant a trip to the mall and it was a safety net of sorts. If we were at the mall, we weren’t off doing something we shouldn’t have been doing. Now…without that net…who is to say WHAT kind of mischief our kids are getting into? Think about THAT, computer shopping mothers!
So get out there America and SHOP and BUY things at your local mall! I’m gonna start a campaign now…SAVE THE MALL! If you’re in your car and you got a few minutes, go walk through your local mall and pick yourself up a little something. You know you deserve it and you’ll be saving a part of your childhood…or, at least a part of MY childhood. Oh…and go check out the new version of the Gold Mine…which is now a Glo Putt. And I’m not sure exactly what I think of that…
2012 was an AWESOME year for so many reasons! Of course there were the family reasons but this was also an excellent year for other reasons…including movies, music and fun! So here are my Top 10 Best Things About 2012. Here’s hoping 2013 is HALF the year 2012 was. Wait…strike that…here’s hoping that 2013 is BETTER than 2012…for EVERYONE!
10. Dublin, Ireland
I travel a lot but not normally overseas. This year I was lucky to get to visit Dublin, Ireland for work and it was a great experience! I got to see so much of the city and enjoyed riding the buses/trains/cabs to see some of the historic sites such as the Guinness factory and Kilmainham Gaol. It was a nice breakup from going to the same U.S. cities that I’ve already been to several times AND I got good miles out of it also!
9. The Constellations – “Do It For Free” My favorite album of 2012. I can’t say that this year will go down as my favorite year musically but I CAN say that this album has so many top notch songs on it that I burned it out listening to each track over & over & over again. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, I thoroughly enjoy their blues/pop/soul sound and I had this one on repeat most of the summer. Check out these tracks to get a good feel for their sound: “Black Cat,” “Hallelujah,” “The Ol’ Speakeasy”
8. Philo Class of 1987 25th Reunion It’s ALWAYS fun seeing friends, but this year’s class reunion was more than just a “fun time.”…it was literally like being 17 again! We stayed out late, hung out til dawn and relived the glory days for a single evening. I can say that Facebook has brought many of us together again but it’s the reunions that bring our friendships back to life! I can’t wait to see everyone again in 2017! But next time…I dunno if I wanna stay out til 6am. I’m thinking THOSE days might be over…LOL!
7. Top 5 Singles of the Year I’m struggling with my favorite song of the year. There are a FLOOD of really good singles out there but albums (or complete bodies of listenable work) have become scarcer to come by. If I WERE to narrow it down…these are my Top 5 favorites singles of 2012 (but not necessarily in this order):
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals – “Roulette”
Morning Parade – “Under The Stars”
Taylor Swift – “State of Grace”
The Constellations – “Black Cat”
Robert Francis – “Perfectly Yours”
6. Fantasy Football
Nothing consumed more of my time than my new found interest in fantasy football this year. From the moment I was asked to join during baseball season to the final weekend, I was obsessed with finding the right mix of waiver wire finds to match with my “go-to” players to try to win from week-to-week. I ended the season 6-7 BUT I made the playoffs! It’s been a lot of fun and considering my interest in the NFL, I’m definitely gonna have to expand to a few more teams next year!
5. The Avengers
The only movie I HAD to see in a theater twice this year, Joss Whedon managed to bring together not only some strong actors but a strong group of CHARACTERS and make an honest-to-goodness amazing action flick. With so much going on, this could have been a mess but instead we got great writing, a great story AND some of the best action sequences of the year! Easily my favorite popcorn film of 2012! As of this posting, my 2nd favorite flick is the Bruce Willis thriller “Looper.” But there are MANY films I have yet to see that I HAVE to see that recently came out in theaters so….
4. Zip-lining What a thrill to fly through the air over lakes and trees! Who knew it would be so much fun? This year, all of us in our little family gave it a go in Gatlinberg, TN and enjoyed it so much that we are DEFINITELY gonna do it again as soon as possible!
3. Homeland
I can’t remember being so drawn to a show EVER. As much as everyone tried to turn me onto other shows, I have a limited capacity for following storylines and having the time to actually watch several shows with my schedule but Steph & I MAKE time for this Showtime series. The writing is impeccable, the plot is perfectly convoluted and we HAD to know what was gonna happen to Brody in the end. The finale this season was PERFECT! I can’t wait til next season! A close second would be the AMC gorefest “The Walking Dead.”
2. Kitten
Another mouth to feed? Sure. But seriously…the most ridiculously cute kitten in the world has become a part of our family so quickly that it’s hard to deny that she was MEANT for our family. She may act like a dog at times but she’s all cat and she enjoys swatting at my feet under the covers, being held like a baby and torturing Hannah (our other cat). She’s perfect!
1. The 2012 Olympics When I look back on this year, my hiring for the Wrestling events in London will be what I remember the most. I have heard so many people tell of their Olympic experiences and some of them are absolutely horrific with stories of long work hours and poor living conditions. In MY case, I can honestly say it was a work event of my lifetime. I enjoyed every part of it, from meeting people on the plane while heading to London to working or seeing gold medal events to my co-workers. The added trip to Stonehenge on a free afternoon was also an experience of a lifetime! I am proud to have been a part of the 2012 Olympics and it will always be an event that I will always remember it fondly!
First off, I would like to acknowledge the fact that I am a Doritos junkie. Seriously…as I sit here and type, I can barely manage a thought without eating a chip. What IS it with these things anyway? I’m a 44 year old man with a serious love for Doritos. Is it weird? I dunno. I DO know I’ve been eating these damn things since I was a kid and they NEVER get old!!! They keep adding cheese and flavors and I have to eat them ALL!!!
Ok…with THAT out of the way…let’s get down to the brass tax of this post.
2012.
What can I say about 2012? What do I NOT say about this amazing year? So much to say, so little time. So you want “highlights?” There are too many. So…let’s get started…
Ava has had a remarkable year which started out with her playing violin. She then decided to opt out of that for a bit to concentrate on swimming, volleyball, basketball and her artwork. After taking a week-long horse-riding camp in early summer, she has been bitten by the horse bug and now she is taking horse-riding lessons. She also enjoys hanging out with her many friends and playing on our neighbor’s trampoline. To say she has an amazing sense of humor would be doing my daughter a disservice. Her laughter is contagious and I can only hope she manages to keep it as she prepares for next year and the dreaded 4th grade.
Christopher turned the BIG 1-0 this year and double digits has been good for him. Although he’s been incredibly busy with a full baseball schedule in the summer, another season of Spartan football (in which he was the starting QB and got them to the Junior Youth Super Bowl) in the fall and now with 3 basketball teams, he has managed to keep his grades up and is still as animated as ever. He’s growing quickly though (and so are his friends) and so there have been some interesting conversations we’ve had but that’s all to be expected. Life goes by too quickly for Christopher (who is now called Chris at times or “Fer” when playing sports) but he does enjoy the occasional hang with his mom or me, and those times are awesome!
Stephanie continues to work at Sephora as well as being “Team Mom” for Christopher’s baseball & football team. She also has been involved in many school-based activities and manages to have a strong interest in our small community here. A lot of people in our area know Stephanie and she has become involved in many activities on many different levels. I am proud of all the hats she wears and I am glad that she has seemed to find a great niche for herself.
As a family, we had some great times this year! We went to Gatlinberg, TN for a tournament with Christopher’s baseball team and we all went zip-lining for the first time! We also took a trip to Destin, FL with many of our friends and their families. I wasn’t able to stay the entire trip but I DID manage to get a nasty sunburn on the top of my feet! OUCH! And we watched the Kentucky Wildcats win the NCAA Final Four with a decisive victory over Kansas! The highlight of the tournament though was watching Ohio University get to the Sweet 16 before getting beat in OT by North Carolina. Still…a pretty great run for my Bobcats! We also went to Patrick & Katie’s wedding in Williamsburg, VA. What a beautiful wedding and the reception was a blast! It’s always good to see family and on Thanksgiving we went home for turkey dinner and lots of dessert!
In MY life, I’ve never been so busy! And the events were bigger this year than they’ve ever been! I can only believe that this year will go down as my most successful of my career. Here is a list of the events I was a part of this year…
The AFC Championship game (Baltimore @ New England)
NFL On CBS and Thursday Night Football for NFL Net
It was an honor to be involved with any and ALL of these events. Of them all, the Olympics will forever be a highlight of my career. I was lucky to be on a great crew that was televising the Wrestling events and I will always remember that particular trip. I also managed to squeeze a visit to Stonehenge out of that trip which was a thrill for me. I’ve always WANTED to see those druid stones! The AFC Championship is the most viewed event I’ve ever worked here in the U.S. and with a HUGE audience watching, Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff pulled a chip shot field goal attempt wide that would have tied the game but instead gave the Patriots a shot at Super Bowl XLVI. I also received my 2nd national Emmy for working with the FOX National crew on baseball this past year. So THAT happened…
On a more personal level, this year has been just as successful at home. We gained a new family member with the addition of our new kitten that was originally named “Reece Cup” but was soon changed to…well…”Kitten.” I hit the big 4-4 in December and got a new wallet out of it. We had our bathroom renovated after a water disaster that left me a little waterlogged in August. We also stabilized our house by having steel pierings installed that will hold the foundation in place so there will be less shifting in our little house on the hill. I went on a mini-vacation with my best friends to New York City in May. I had my 25th Class Reunion in August and had a BLAST with all my former classmates! I’ve also somehow managed to have more family time even though I’ve been on the move quite a bit. My mentality on my job has changed this year. This year I’m accepting it for what it is. In the television industry, doors open and they close. With family, that door is ALWAYS open. Here’s hoping the upcoming year will find more doorways open and the continual growth and happiness of my family.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
GO 2013!!!
HEY!! What about ME?!?! I was BORN this year! Don’t forget about me!!!
Oh yeah…and we welcomed Ava & Christopher’s new cousin Drake into our family this year. Congrats to my sister and her husband, Chris, who seemingly know how to have cute kids!
Just ’cause…I love this shot!
Oh yeah…and I beat my brother at basketball on his OWN court! (And you thought I’d forget…didn’t ya Frank? LOL!!!)
My favorite holiday. Period. And this year we had everyone at Mom & Dad’s to celebrate the stuffing of our faces! With this being cousin Drake’s first Turkey Day, we all had fun taking pictures and posing with him. I imagine as he gets older, he will look back on these pictures and think…”Man, everyone looked so YOUNG then!”
That “New Baby” smell!
CMON MOM! He’s got a camera!!!
Aunt RuthAnn put the fishing rod away for a few days to visit! (Frank is still cheesy.)
Kasey & Normandy were TOTALLY into watching football all day!
Wonder who gave THIS to my Mom…?
I seriously need to learn how to get rid of red-eye… (JK…I’m just lazy.)
After dating for a number of years, Patrick & Katie finally decided to knot it up. And on a spectacular weekend in November, we got to share in their nuptials and enjoy the company of family in the beautiful state of Virginia. If there’s ever been a cuter couple, I don’t know one and their wedding day was simply perfect. The kids, Stephanie & I all enjoyed our visit and want to wish the love birds a great life together! Here are a few photos of our weekend. Congrats!
The blushing bride & Ava
Isn’t she lovely?
Don’t we look strapping?
The First Dance
Seriously? The cutest couple ever…right?
The usher. You’ll sit where he TELLS you to sit lady!
This year’s annual “We’re Over The Hill So Let’s Get Outta Dodge” reunion tour took us to New York City! Much like Seattle last year, there was plenty of food eaten (Little Italy will never be the same), lots of drinks…uh…drunken (Chaya can attest to THIS one) and many sites seen. Unlike last year, we couldn’t just up & walk wherever we wanted to go so we spent lots of time hailing cabs, riding in cabs and attempting to underpay cabbies (c’mon Tom…$1? Really?). Needless to say, we had a great time and I’m pretty sure Tom got a pretty good overview of what New York is all about (the man had NEVER been to NYC??? For shame!). Some of the stops this year included Yankees Stadium, MoMA, Broadway, Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial and Central Park. All of that in a little under 4 days? Absolutely!
Tom pondering the unique vision of the 9/11 Memorial
The famous Carnegie Deli! With sandwiches the size of …well…JT’s head!
Oh…and the cheesecake is kinda big also!
Tom was impressed with the size of Central Park
Chaya LOVED the cab rides!
The Statue of Liber…wait…DAMMIT JT’S HEAD!!!
“Alright! Knock it off!!!”
Okay! Okay! So his head couldn’t block EVERYTHING…
“A Starry Night” at MoMA
“What? You don’t SEE the soccer player in that?”
JT was a “little” bit tired after viewing all of the beautiful 70′s art deco flower vases at MoMA
One is a Reds fan, the other’s a Yankees fan. Guess who won?
Yankees Stadium
New York has REALLY big buildings!
THE place for great food in Little Italy! Seriously…we ate there TWICE!
Men…and Woman…In Black
Chillaxin’ in Times Square
A New York Bloody Mary
The NY bartenders were NOT as amused with us as Sinead was in Seattle…
Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know. The 80′s made us do it!!!
If you’re on Facebook, odds are you are my friend. I’ve made a lot of friends and acquaintances through the years and I can honestly say I have been very lucky to be able to call so many of them my friends. But the fact of the matter is, not unlike so many people my age, there are only so many of my friends now who I truly consider to be my BEST friends. Through the years, I would have to say…after a nationwide tally…I have 14 people I can consider to be my very best friends. They were there when I was a kid, growing up in my small town of McConnelsville, OH. They were there with me through my high school years in Zanesville and my college years. They were with me through my work years in Dayton & Cincinnati. And there is one now who I consider to be my best friend of my adult years. Obviously, not everyone can be your best friend. It takes a qualified person. Someone who gets you in all your glory. Someone who gets you when you’re down. Someone who gets you when you’re an ass. Obviously the one closest to you should be your spouse, and I’m happy to say that she IS one of my best friends. Granted, I drive her completely insane at times however it’s safe to say that if I need to talk about something, Stephanie is always there to listen. But other than her, who are the people who I trust completely? Well…
First and foremost, the reason I’m writing this post is not out of the goodness of my own heart unfortunately. The people who are on the sacred “Best Friends” list ARE my bestest buds however most of them already know this and don’t really need me to post about it. But with that being said, I was told last night that my very first best friend suffered a stroke this week and is in the hospital in Columbus. Mason was the kid next door. He was a year younger than me. But we both had a love for comic books, riding our bikes and exploring in the fields and woods behind my house out on old Airport Road in McConnelsville. We spent a lot of time together in my early years, playing dodgeball with his brothers, listening to records (his brother introduced me to George Carlin and the things you CAN’T say on television) and watching Saturday morning cartoons. His Mom was always giving me food and he had a dog named Major who had a doghouse outside in the backyard and he kind of scared me a little bit.
I remember all of these things in not-so-vivid color but somewhere in the recesses of my mind they all came bubbling up after I received word last night of his stroke. It’s funny how time goes by and you don’t really think about someone until they’re in the hospital. Actually, since the inception of Facebook, Mason and I have been in contact and we play “Hanging With Friends” together. I haven’t seen him in probably 20+ years but I know where he is and what he is up too. But tomorrow I am going to go visit him in the hospital. For the first time since that picture at the top of this post was taken, I will see him in what is probably his worst state and I can’t even begin to say how much that saddens me. Mason is my first best friend and there is nothing that can change that. He was there when we fell in the stream behind our house, got soaked and then both got in trouble for it. He was there when the killer cow charged us as we scampered up a tree in the pasture. He was there when I was too scared to ride the “Spin In A Circle And Get Sick” ride at the county fair. And he was the first to teach me several crude jokes that I can’t even get into here (having older brothers definitely had its advantages!).
He was there for all of it. And now I want to be there for him. I haven’t been around for many years but now I want to see him again. It’s been a long time coming.
As for all my other best friends? I’m going to make more of an effort to see them as much as I can. I plan on having lunch with my high school best friend tomorrow. I haven’t seen Chuck in quite some time (since our last reunion maybe? That’s crazy Chuck!). Next month I’m going to New York with my best friend from college. I see JT a couple times a year if I can and I talk to him whenever he can fit me into his endless stream of conference calls and answering emails. I like to hang with my buddy Newman whenever he can find the time. He lives here in Cincinnati but being a new daddy has its advantages and disadvantages. The “disadvantages” being he doesn’t have much time for himself! But I completely understand this and I know he and I will be hanging out again at some point (although with his wife expecting their first daughter here soon, it might be a little bit longer than I thought! LOL!). I see my “other” wife, Janet, at work quite a bit during the summer months. She has been through a lot in the past few years but she’s an amazing woman and a great friend and I owe her lunch…again…at some point here very soon. Shayne lives in my backyard (actually one street over) and is married to one of my best college friends who has a twin sister who is ALSO a great friend and then he has a brother who is ALSO a great friend but oddly enough, with my work schedule and all of our kids’ schedules, I haven’t seen ANY of them most of this winter. I imagine we’ll be firing up the grill here at some point and things will fall back into place like they always do when dudes get together to eat hamburgers and have a few drinks.
So that’s only 7…right? Well…I DO come from a large family and whenever I truly need a lifeline, I always have my Mom, my Dad, my brother and my 4 sisters to lean on whenever I need an ear to bend. I consider myself truly one of the luckiest guys in the world to have the family that I do and I know if there ever was a time that I needed ANYTHING, they would be there for me. Much the same as I want them to know I am here for them.
So there you go. ALL of my best friends. Some are farther away than others but I consider myself blessed to have them all in my life somehow. And now, I plan on seeing 2 of them tomorrow. One is in the hospital and I can’t wait to see him and I pray for a quick recovery. The other I haven’t seen in a while and THAT needs to change! Overall, this is a fine group of people and I love them all. And to Mason…I hope you have a speedy recovery and a long life. And if you need me? I’m always a phone call (or email) away. Oh…and you were right. Marvel comics ARE better than DC Comics. Just sayin’…
So this year was THE year. The year that Stephanie had a BIG birthday. It might not have been as big as her 16th or 18th or 21st or 30th or…well…I’ll stop there. Needless to say, we had to celebrate in style so we booked a corner at our favorite local spot and invited 40 or more of our closest friends (although I admit…I kinda screwed up the invites and a couple of people didn’t get theirs. Sorry Rachelle and Kim and whoever I might be forgetting….again.) to celebrate Stephanie’s…REALLY big birthday! Here are some moments…
2011 was a good year! I dunno if it was a “great” year but for the most part, there were many reasons to celebrate and so…drum roll please…here are MY personal Top 10 things that happened in the year that was 2011 that were…like…totally excellent!!!
10. A Trip To Keeneland
For our 11th anniversary, Stephanie & I took a bus trip with 30 or so of our best friends and gambled on some horses. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time! And winning some money off a horse called “Six Pack Abs” was the capper to our day…
9. 32 Stadiums & Gold Status
It’s silly, I know…but this year I finished up my run of NFL stadiums at the Super Bowl in Dallas. I have officially been in all 32 NFL stadiums now so…I guess I have to set my goal a little higher and shoot for all the major league baseball stadiums now. As for all my travel? I managed to get Gold status on Delta for the 3rd consecutive year which means I worked WAY too much but no long lines and the occasional bump to 1st Class from time to time next year makes it all worth it! Yay for me!
8. Stephora
Stephanie decided it was time to get back into the workforce and she jumped at an opportunity to work at Sephora, a very popular cosmetics store. I’m not sure if she has made a profit at this point but I DO know she gets a decent discount on all their products. I imagine her working there is a lot like if I took a job at ITunes…
7. Spartans Win The Super Bowl
Christopher’s football team rolled along this past winter, losing only 1 game and eventually winning the Midget Super Bowl in our region. #10 wasn’t a starter but when he got on the field, he kicked some serious butt! Here are some highlights of his season…
6. Ava Gets Her Cheer On
For the first time, Ava got to cheer on the Spartans officially as she became a Spartans cheerleader. She LOVES cheering and with the gymnastics classes and the games, she got a lot of practice in and got better & better as the season rolled along!
5. I Won An Emmy
Yeah…I got a statue. And it sits in a corner in our dining room. It’s heavy and has pointed wings that could maim you if you get too close. But it’s a nice gesture for all the years I’ve been doing this and it is an even bigger thrill that my family got to share it with me (and apparently so did my mom’s Bingo friends, my brother’s co-workers, my Dad’s golf buddies, etc…).
4. Vacation In The Outer Banks
Once again we returned to the Outer Banks for fun in the sun. We swam just about every day, played putt putt and ate lots of seafood. And the good dog, Barkley, joined us for our trip! It was a lot of family fun and we appreciate the fact that our relatives own a great home there and let us borrow it for a few days.
3. U2 In Seattle
I made a trip to Seattle this past June with 3 of my best friends to see my favorite band perform in my favorite city in the country. The weather was beautiful, the company was awesome and the show blew my mind! It was a great time and all 4 of us have decided that we are gonna do it again this coming year…in New York City!
2.The Bulldogs Win The Pennant!!! The Bulldogs Win The Pennant!!!
Christopher’s Knothole team cleared the table this year, coming through in some tight moments and winning the best of 2 series finale. It was a great season filled with exciting games, plenty of rain outs and many hours spent with friends. I’m hoping this year is filled with the same (except the rainouts. Those kinda suck.)
1. Stella!!! As much as I DIDN’T want another pet, it’s hard to deny the personality of our new addition. Little Stella came into our lives and has since become a family member. I can’t imagine life without her and despite my grumblings, she has become very dear to my heart. But Barkley is STILL “the good dog…” LOL!
To add to my year, I’ve also managed to cut back on my nail-biting habit, both of my kids played basketball (Ava for the first time), I had yet another back problem and now my toes are all tingly on my right foot, Ava is still rockin’ the violin and…hmmm…well…that’s about it. But with all of that, it was a VERY full year. Here’s hoping 2012 is maybe a little LESS hectic but just as successful! Happy New Year to you and yours!!!
2011 was a great year for music! Despite what some prognosticators say…I DO NOT believe the music industry is dead. On the contrary, there was great music across the board this year from all genres…from electronica to pop to rock to alternative to instrumental. You name it, there was lots of it. Some was easily accessible. Some you had to go find yourself. But there was a lot to select from and honestly…I probably coulda done a Top 100 with no problem! Here they are…MY top 50 songs of 2011. What a year it was….
#50: Snow Patrol – “Called Out In The Dark” (alternative)
The new album won’t be released until 2012 but this early release single shows a lot of potential for the band mostly known for their songs appearing on “Grey’s Anatomy.” It has an uplifting message and I like the beat. Nice start…
#49: Radiohead – “Seperator” (alternative)
Oh so dreamy song from the “The King Of Limbs” and easily its best track.
#48: Lowline – “Suicide” (rock)
I “discovered” this band back in the early summer and their debut album ROCKS! This track was the first that grabbed me and shook me around. Love to drive to this one…
#47: Social Distortion – “Bakersfield” (blues rock)
A strong album released last January from this California rock band and this slow burn of a song is my favorite on the album! Funny…I feel like this a lot…
#46: Jane’s Addiction – “Ultimate Reason” (alternative)
Although not the strongest album by this classic alternative rock outfit, their latest, “The Great Escape Artist,” had a few good tracks and this was my favorite. Thanks to Perry Ferrell for keeping the dream alive!
#45: Wiz Khalifa – “Black & Yellow” (rap)
The Steelers went to the Super Bowl (and lost) and this was the mantra as they beat the snot out of everyone else in the AFC. Hometown boy Wiz trumps it up and roots for the hometeam…
#44: Dum Dum Girls – “Bedroom Eyes” (alternative)
Sounding a lot like Chrissie Hynde, lead singer Dee Dee Penny cranks up the heat in this little ditty. It’s 60′s pop rock at its best!
#43: Wild Flag – “Romance” (rock)
An all-girl band that rocks! With influences ranging from all over the place and lots of guitar work, Carrie Brownstein brings her unique sound over from Sleater-Kinney and jams on it!
#42: City And Colour – “Fragile Bird” (alternative)
Straight from the great north, Canadian rocker Dallas Green goes a little soft on us. Little known fact…the name of the band comes from HIS name…Dallas (city) and Green (colour).
#41: Jeff Bridges – “What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do” (country)
Bridges takes his Bad Blake character one step further and with the help of T-Bone Burnett cranks out this simple yet effective classic country tune.
#40: Max Rafferty – “Go Down Easy” (alternative)
This nice little acoustic track from the Kooks’ lead singer is a haunting song that sounds like it was produced in a tunnel. Very effective use of reverb without losing Rafferty’s vocals.
#39: Maroon 5 – “Moves Like Jagger” (pop)
I know, I know…seriously? But damn if this song doesn’t just stick in my head. And having Christina Aguilera doesn’t hurt it one bit.
#38: Girl In A Coma – “Smart”
Another product from the great state of Texas. This little known band has opened for Morrisey, Social Distortion, Frank Black & Tegan & Sara. Time for them to make an impact on their own, doncha think?
#37: Thievery Corporation – “Culture Of Fear” (rap/trip hop)
This band has been around for a while and for this track, they enlist political rapper Mr. Lif to slam on the man. Damn the man!
#36: Foster The People – “Pumped Up Kicks” (alt-pop)
Yes…it got played to death. But it doesn’t take away the fact that I was listening to this song WAY before pop radio got its hands on it.
#35: Gavin DeGraw – “Not Over You” (pop)
Sad little pop song with a killer hook. DeGraw hits this one out of the park…even if he does lose his heart in the process.
#34: PT Walkley – “Save The World” (alternative)
Wikipedia says Walkley is “regarded by many as one of the top truly independent artists of his time.” I don’t know about that but what I DO know is that this song is AWESOME! May be one of my most listened to tracks of this year…
#33: Peter Bjorn & John – “Second Chance” (pop)
Catchy as hell, this song bounces all over the place and fills your ear with bubblegum pop goodness!
#32: Paul Simon – “The Afterlife” (adult contemporary)
Ever wonder what happens to us after we die? Paul Simon does…and he wrote a song about it. Purgatory has never seemed so much like the DMV…
#31: Manchester Orchestra – “Leave It Alone” (rock)
A very bleak look at a trouble relationship. The song has emotional resonance and sticks with me.
#30: Kurt Vile – “Puppet To The Man” (alternative)
Vile has had a great year with Spin listing his 4th album as one of the best this year. I’ve downloaded several tracks but this is my favorite. We may be underdogs but we’ll get by folks…
#29: The Kooks – “Rosie” (alt-pop)
Sometimes I just like a good pop song and the Kooks are pretty good at producing power pop alternative rock hooks that can stick to your ear like hair gel. Wonder what I’m talking about? Yeah…me too. But I like this track.
#28: The Kills – “Future Starts Slow” (rock)
Who writes lyrics like this anymore…?
You can holler, you can wail You can swing, you can flail You can fuck like a broken sail But I’ll never give you up If I ever give you up my heart will surely fail
And after all God can keep my soul England have my bones But don’t ever give me up I could never get back up when the future starts so slow
Apparently The Kills do…and they are awesome!
#27: Foo Fighters – “Bridge Burning” (rock)
Oh come on. A Top 50 without the Foo Fighters would seem just…so…empty. And this leadoff track to their latest album, “Wasting Light,” is the bombastic thrill that only Dave Grohl can produce.
#26: Flo Rida – “Good Feeling” (rap pop)
This is NOT your typical rap song which is why I like it this much! It builds slowly and then smacks you in the face with it’s heavy trippy bounce. A good anthem for any sports arena!
#25: David Nail – “Let It Rain” (country)
Nail nails it as far as a country album goes. His “The Sound Of A Million Dreams” is what pulled me back into the country scene and I love it! This song was the first track to be released and it soars with the pain & guilt of a one night stand. And if THAT doesn’t make a good country song, I don’t know what does.
#24: David Guetta featuring Chris Brown & Lil Wayne – “I Can Only Imagine” (rap/pop)
I dare you to turn it off. Catchy as hell from the DJ who is the hottest thing this side of sliced bread and when the song drops out at 1:15 it gets nasty…
#23: The Black Keys – “Gold On The Ceiling” (blues rock)
The little band that could from Akron, OH is winning over EVERYBODY with their blues rock sound and this song is as funky as they get with fuzzy guitars and grungy vocals.
#22: Gotye – “Save Me” (alternative)
Wally De Backer is an indie darling and he sure knows how to layer a song…and this song soars. If you like the band Spoon, you’ll totally dig Gotye. I struggle with which song to choose for this list because, quite frankly, the entire album is excellent. But I’m going with this one because I like the lyrics and the texture of the background vocals.
#21: Blue October – “The Honesty” (alternative)
I have to be honest…taking ANY track from the latest album by this band is a like stealing a part from an engine. They all work in unison to make a classic album that is so honest and brutal that it was hard to select just one. But this track is indicative of what the rest of the album is like and it could be a the most “honest” of all of them.
#20: Chickenfoot – “Come Closer” (rock)
What do you get when you throw a bunch of classic rockers together from Van Halen and Red Hot Chili Peppers? An amazing song about a struggling relationship is probably NOT what you would think. But this song works wonders and is a perfect vehicle for all of them to showcase their abilities.
#19: Future Islands – “Balance” (alternative)
I don’t know anything about this band and this song was a part of a bunch of free tunes I got from Spin magazine but it immediately caught my ear and now I can’t STOP listening to it. Like Frightened Rabbit on soda pop, it has this odd lilting sound to it that keeps me hooked.
#18: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – “Record Machine” (pop rock)
Half of Oasis went to Beady Eye, the other half made an album so good that it can be considered a classic. This song has Oasis written all over it, from the soaring vocals to the backing guitars. The Birds fly pretty high and I would pay big money to hear it live in a huge arena. And THAT is really what rock n roll is all about.
#17: Mat Kearney – “Ships In The Night” (pop)
Know the joke about hallway sex? If you do, then this track elaborates on that. Just…not in a funny way.
#16: Friendly Fires – “Show Me Lights” (electronic alternative)
This song is right up there with “Second Chance” as the catchiest songs of 2011. Dunno what they’re talking about but the song rocks!
#15: MuteMath – “Tell Your Heart Heads Up” (alternative rock)
Although their latest album isn’t as strong as “Armistice,” it still offers a few songs that are as good as anything released by any other band this year. I love the pace of this one…
#14: Active Child – “Hanging On” (alternative)
If there is one song that sounds almost religious in its presentation, it’s this one. But it’s about a bad relationship (again) and the vocals are painful and haunting at the same time.
#13: Mumford & Sons – “The Cave” (alternative)
This one is a layup. One of the best tracks of the year…as voted by just about everyone.
#12: Katie Cole – “Gravity” (rock)
You might not know her yet, but this singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia will be lighting it up in 2012. This song I found while watching a wristwatch commercial on television and I HAD to find out who sang it. Turns out it was Katie. And she’s awesome!
#11: Wye Oak – “Civilian”(alternative)
This track has the most blistering guitar solo of the year midway through it. I can’t seem to turn my stereo up loud enough when it comes on.
#10: Raphael Saadiq – “Heart Attack” (funky R&B)
This is old skool at the heart of it but it sounds so fresh that you can’t help but wonder where you’ve heard it before. Saadiq returns to the roots of funk and gets brilliant.
#9: The Black Keys – “Lonely Boy” (rock)
With their fuzzy guitar and hot back beat this song makes me wanna dance. And for a white guy, that’s pretty damn funky.
#8: David Nail – “She Rides Away” (country)
Oh look who’s back. Country artist Nail has said that he didn’t even think he wanted to record this song and it is my favorite song on the album. Arena country rock that has me seeing a woman driving her El Camino in the desert, leaving her man in her dust. Odd imagery but that’s what I got…
#7: Teddybears – “Rocket Scientist” (dance)
I dare you to put this on and NOT shake your butt. Go ahead…DOUBLE dare ya…
#6: Gym Class Heroes – “Ass Back Home” (pop rap)
In many cases, music is a soundtrack to my life. In the case of this song, it is a reflection of my life on the road. Much like last year’s “The Wind”, this man in this song is very much like myself…on the road a lot and trying to keep his relationship intact. Tough stuff for a pop rap outfit but this song nails it.
#5: R.E.M. – “It Happened Today” (alternative)
How much am I gonna miss Michael Stipe and the boys? After retiring a few months ago, I broke out this CD and wore it out…again. It’s a fitting ending for an amazing band that has been a staple in my music collection for decades. And this song has Stipe and Co. singing to the heavens…
#4: Joe Bonamassa – “Dust Bowl” (blues)
Listening to this song makes you feel as if you’re walking through the desert in search of a cold drink when you find yourself in a dirty old cactus town. There, over at the corner bar, you ask for a bottle of whiskey…and this guy is playing on the jukebox. And yes…it is EXACTLY like that.
#3: Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass” (rap pop)
This song will forever remind me of the summer of 2011. Nicki was only a backup voice until this song shot her into the upper echelon of today’s pop rap artists. There wasn’t a catchier rap track on the radio this year…
#2: The Raveonettes – “Ignite” (alternative)
Something about this Danish duet that does it for me. I don’t know if it’s the fuzzy guitar or the distorted vocals or just the vibe but The Raveonettes are about as cool a band as you can ask for these days. This song never got any airplay but it is a classic. If there ever was a great simple song about longing and unrequited love, this is it.
#1: Beastie Boys – “Here’s A Little Something For Ya” (rap)
The REAL Beasties have returned and their latest album saw them return to their roots. For those about to party, feel free to put on the ultimate party jam. With classic rap lines and a beat that kills it, the Boys give you a song that you can blow out your speakers and make your tires bounce. Here’s the Beastie Boys with the best song of 2011. And if ya feelin’ chilly I’m gonna get ya a shawl…
So my 43rd birthday came & went with but a whimper. Not a lot to it. I was in Pittsburgh working so I spent 15 hours in a television truck. In Pittsburgh. But it was a balmy 40+ degrees outside so I had THAT going for me.
Aaaaaanyway…
I haven’t been posting much since I’ve been flying & driving all over the country and I’m a little exhausted but I figured that someday my kids might want to go back and read about their dad’s 43rd birthday and they may have some questions. I know I do. But they didn’t have this intranet thing back when MY dad was 43 and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have had anything to do with this nonsense anyway. He had 6 kids and 50 acres and a restaurant to take care of. I, on the other hand, don’t. So here are some bits of knowledge that I have picked up along the way that my children (and yourself) may…or probably may not…find useful…
Don’t overeat. It makes you bloated and gassy.
You don’t always WANT to know what is behind the hotel nightstand. You might THINK you want to know…but you don’t. Really.
Doesn’t matter how old you are, a good pop song is a great way to start the day.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, fake it. It’s better to LOOK like you know what you’re doing than to look like a total idiot. This does NOT work in the case of being married. Because your partner already knows you’re an idiot. So there’s that…
Doesn’t matter how old you are, a good pop tart is a great way to start the day. Especially the ones with sprinkles on the icing.
If you think life is going to go as you planned, think again. Life kinda screws with you like that.
ALWAYS go with your gut instinct. Every time. ‘Cause the second you don’t, you realize you should have and then you wish you had and then you’re stuck. And life is too short to have THAT hanging over your head.
If something aches, don’t ignore it. ‘Cause it will definitely be back the next day…especially after the age of 38.
Having children is a Catch 22. They are awesome and wonderful and exasperating and ridiculous all at the same time. If I could even explain the sheer amount of love & frustration that I have daily, I would be a millionaire. Because THAT would be a best-seller.
Don’t allow your job to define who you are. The minute that happens, you realize that your life isn’t as important as you would like to think it is.
Never EVER eat something you don’t like. Seriously…it’s not worth the after-taste. And I don’t care HOW healthy lima beans are…
If you’re on the aisle row, be aware that the person near the window needs a little elbow room also. Thought I’d throw that one in as a precautionary tale.
TV might be bad for ya…but it’s paid the bills for me since I was 18. That’s all I got to say about that.
A good movie is like good sex. It needs to start quick, have a lot of drama in the middle and then end with a bang. I am, of course, speaking metaphorically.
Never underestimate the power of love. But it’s not all roses and rainbows. Sometimes it’s ugly and mean and incoherent. But that’s all a part of it. If it’s not passionate, it can just get stale.
Stay focused on where it’s all going. Wandering off the beaten path happens from time to time but if you get lost, that’s why you have family & friends. Do NOT rely on a GPS for that.
Never, ever go to a Motley Crue concert without earbuds. I’m pretty sure I lost 10 decibals of hearing that night.
And that’s all I got for now. 43 years all wrapped up in 17 bullet points. Hopefully the next year will continue to find my life on a focused and unhurried path. Buuuut we all know that probably won’t happen. The years are flying by faster and faster and my kids are getting bigger and bigger and eventually…I’ll be playin’ golf everyday like my Dad is now. Kinda looking forward to that actually…
I gotta figure out that red-eye reduction function. All the kids look like vampires!
Gotta love the Thanksgiving! Family time, lots of food, football, movies and LOTS of computers (as my Mom so elegantly put it). Oh the joy! And this year, ALL of us kids were accounted for with OUR kids…which made for very few seats in my parents’ living room. But we managed to pull it off. Here are some photo moments from this past turkey holiday…
Kathy & Billy…a cute couple!
Mom, Dad and all of their kids
Kasey gave the turkey a “Thumbs Up!”
All the kids played…video games? Stupid computers…
This year Christopher wanted to dress up as a zombie for Halloween so…being the good dad that I am…I decided I would join him as a member of the undead. So Stephanie worked her magic and did a fantastic job on our makeup (as much as I needed anyway) and we both got lots of compliments on our costumes. Apparently when becoming a zombie you only need a couple of things…
Old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty/bloody/covered in grey goopy stuff
Plenty of fake blood. The more the better!
Here are some pictures from this year’s Halloween celebration. Ava & Stephanie were vampires and I have to say that Ava’s outfit, while very vampirific, still made her look WAY older than she really is. I don’t know that I like that (AT ALL), but she seemed to love it and both of the kids walked away with lots of candy and compliments this year!
HAD to put this one in there…LOL
HEY!! What about ME?!?! I was BORN this year! Don’t forget about me!!!
Just ’cause…I love this shot! 
Oh yeah…and I beat my brother at basketball on his OWN court! (And you thought I’d forget…didn’t ya Frank? LOL!!!)
Under the bright lights of the big city!
Tom pondering the unique vision of the 9/11 Memorial
Oh…and the cheesecake is kinda big also!
Tom was impressed with the size of Central Park
Chaya LOVED the cab rides!
The Statue of Liber…wait…DAMMIT JT’S HEAD!!!
“Alright! Knock it off!!!”
“A Starry Night” at MoMA
“What? You don’t SEE the soccer player in that?”
JT was a “little” bit tired after viewing all of the beautiful 70′s art deco flower vases at MoMA
One is a Reds fan, the other’s a Yankees fan. Guess who won?
Yankees Stadium
New York has REALLY big buildings!
THE place for great food in Little Italy! Seriously…we ate there TWICE!
Men…and Woman…In Black
A New York Bloody Mary
The NY bartenders were NOT as amused with us as Sinead was in Seattle…
“Uh…guys? Can I borrow a $1?”
