Deflated But Getting Better!

Hello. My name is Alan and I am 44 years old. I work a lot, travel a lot, eat a lot of shitty food and don’t exercise much. I know, I know…I’ve read all the reports and listened to all the experts but ya know what? I haven’t been paying much attention to them. As a matter of fact, every time I turn on the tv and see one of those new healthy workouts that will sculpt my abs in 20 minutes or a new gizmo that will make the most amazingly healthy shake I want to scream obscenities. Truth of the matter is….there is no freakin’ way you can have abs of steel after a 20 minute workout every day. I don’t care WHO you are. The people in those ads are PAID to look that way. Hell…if I was paid to workout all day, I’d look like that also! 20 minutes ain’t gonna cut it for me. And those amazing shake makers? Yeah…those are awesome if you’re blending up some spinach and yogurt. But if I bought one? You can bet your ass it would be ice cream and bananas and some chocolate syrup being dumped into that sucker.

My point is this…I am overweight. I weighed in at the doctor’s office the other day at 208. Now for some that might be ok. But I’m 5’11″, in my 40′s and I get very little exercise because…well…mostly because I’m lazy and don’t want to try and force it into my day.

But here’s the thing. Lately I’ve been feeling sluggish. Granted, I was dealing with sciatic pain shooting down my leg, but still…I haven’t been myself at all. Normally I’m pretty good about remembering certain things, especially if it’s something I find interesting or important. Lately? Not so much. Oh I could blame it on all the work or the travel or the appointments but let’s be honest here…I’m just kinda lazy. In MY mind, I WANT to blame all these things but it all comes down to the complete and honest fact that I just plain lost interest in exercise about…oh…maybe 5 years ago.

But now, after my steroid epidural injection on Tuesday, I have been turning over a new leaf. I’ve been eating healthier, exercising in various ways every day (mostly through walking or working around my house) and trying to sleep a little better. With leg pain, I would find myself waking up at all hours of the night, struggling to get comfortable. Now, with my leg feeling much better, I’m sleeping more soundly and thusly (can I use that here? It seems appropriate enough) I am more aware of what is going on in my life. And here’s what has been going on this week…

NOTHING.

And it has been awesome! No work, no hurrying around, no checklist of things that HAVE to be done. Not saying I’ve been lazy, because I haven’t. I’ve had work to do around here and I’ve had the time to do them all in my own time. The kids have had to be places and I’ve taken them. But there hasn’t been an overwhelming sense that my life is completely out of control. And I think that is my problem. In my nature, I am not lazy. Quite the opposite, in fact. I like moving around and doing stuff. The problem is when all the stuff becomes so piled high that I think I start to shut down and don’t want to do anything except wake up, go to work, get done with work and go to bed. It’s a vicious cycle and it can wear anybody down after a while. Life is like that, I imagine. So many things are out of our control but we are forced to face ALL of them, whether we want to or not. In my case, this week I have been facing my health. I’m not happy with myself for getting this way and at 208 pounds, I’m pretty sure I can do better than that!

So I am working on getting better. I hope to continue what I’m doing all summer long. Very little travel allows me time to walk around my neighborhood, see my neighbors, hang with my wife and kids and develop an overall sense of how my life should be. Life is wonderful…and I need to keep that in perspective. So…I’m eating a salad, cottage cheese and tomato slices for lunch. I am pretty sure that is much healthier than a cheeseburger and fries from Fast Food Store #1. I walked my dog this morning at a brisk pace for maybe 2 miles or more. Pretty sure that’s better than sitting on an airplane for 3 hours. Tonight I’ll be traveling to Columbus with our friends as our kids compete in a baseball tournament. I believe that is better than sitting through ANOTHER Reds rain delay. So, as you can see, life IS better right now and I plan on continuing this for the entire summer. This is the summer of me. Time to get on it and make my life better. So have a sip of that Kool Aid and wish me luck! I gotta lose 15 pounds by September! I think I can do that actually…

Searching For The Sweet Spot

If you’ve ever played sports, you know what I’m talking about when I mention “The Sweet Spot.” In baseball, it’s that place on the bat where, once the ball hits it, you know it’s out of the park. In basketball, it’s the place on the court where you can’t miss. In football…uh….well…I dunno what sweet spot means for football. I imagine there are plenty of sports that coin the term “sweet spot” into the vernacular and so you get the idea. But in life, where is YOUR sweet spot.

Every year, I get crazy busy from February through most of April into May. Every year, I find myself running from place to place, airport to airport, location to location, hotel to hotel, and every year, sometime in May, it comes to a screeching halt and then? I find myself in a state of panic. NO MORE WORK??? NO MORE RUNNING? WHAT DO I DO WITH MYSELF???

Well…I look for my sweet spot.

It’s hard to explain because honestly? I’m not sure if even I understand my mindset. It’s not easy going from mach 5 to a screeching halt. It’s kind of disconcerting actually and so when I do find that I have downtime, and I do find that I can sit back and relax a little bit, you’ll have to pardon me if I feel a little puckered. I’m a little edgy at first, not really sure of my state. This week, I had some house stuff to get done, a little bit of organizing to do and a visit to the doctor that kept me busy. The idea of feeling better has been on my mind quite a bit lately. The pain radiating down my leg has been a constant irritation for over a month now and it was time to get it fixed. Yesterday I went in for a spinal steroid injection. It was painful and not a pleasant experience. But immediately following, I had a moment of clarity.

I need to get healthy in not only a physical way, but a mental way as well. Every year I do this to myself where I come off the road and I’m more mentally exhausted than I am physically. The physical part of it I get. I mean…I’m a big SEE FOOD guy. If I see it, I eat it. This, obviously, is NOT the best way to stay healthy. I’m not a gym rat. I tried that and hated it. I can’t play basketball anymore due to this nagging back issue, so I have that I’m dealing with. So I have to find something that works for me to help me get into a little bit of shape. I figure I’m 44. I’m not dead yet. I need to start thinking of my body as more of a temple than a bottomless food pit.

The MENTAL aspect of not working every day in some way is more of a drag than I probably let people believe. I go from place to place, work, work, work, and never seem to stop. Last year was even worse for that. Between 2 football games a week for NFL Net and CBS, my entire fall and winter months are a complete blur. Basketball season is always a busy time and then you get into the NCAA tournament, add in some golf events, throw in some baseball games and VOILA! I just blew through 8 months of my life and my head is on fire. Granted, I did take a 5 day respite in Destin for some fun time with the family and our friends, but even that seemed rushed considered I had that sandwiched between the NCAA semifinals and the Masters, 2 HUGE events where there is probably more pressure there than I lead everyone to believe.

So now I’m sitting on my back porch. Yesterday I got the epidural and my back is feeling MUCH better (thank you) and I took a long walk with Stella this morning, rocked some 80′s tunes in my ear buds and I am trying to find my sweet spot. There’s a cool breeze, the sun is smiling and life has slowed down a little bit. It’s nice to just sit and watch the planes fly overhead, listen to the birds and think about nothing, if only for a few minutes. Clarity is not something that comes easily to me. Most of the time, my head is a jumbled mess of directions and numbers and worry. But for today, I’m letting that all go. Today I have found a sweet spot and I think I’m just gonna sit here and soak that up.

A Very Special Mother’s Day Gift…

What would life be like without our Moms? It doesn’t matter really if your mother is with you or not, there is always a piece of her inside of who you are. In my case, my mother was instrumental in me becoming the man I am today. She gave me a great life and I hope that she understands how much she means to me. The mother of my children, my wife and partner, is also a very important cog in my life. She has been a terrific mother for our 2 children and has managed to teach me a thing or two about life and how to live it. I can’t imagine being with someone who is a better mother, friend and partner than she is.

Here is a little video I put together for her. Time has just flown by over the last 11 years and I wish there were a way to slow it down. So many times I return home from a road trip and find that my kids are a little more grown up than they were when I left. The clock manages to continue to tick away when I’m gone and there are moments that I wish I could bottle up and keep forever. Here are a few that I managed to capture to keep and now I can share with you again.

Thank you for being such a great mother for our kids Stephanie! I love you…and I know they love you more than anything in the world!

Your Husband

The Cure Starts Now Gala 2013

Last night, Stephanie, Ava and I had the opportunity to join many influential people in a gala & auction to help benefit the cause against pediatric cancer. The charity is called “The Cure Starts Now” and I’ve written about it here a few times because of Steph’s involvement with the organization and because, quite frankly, it’s a wonderful cause. Started by Keith & Brooke Desserich in memory of their daughter, Elena, who was a victim of brain cancer at the age of 5, The Cure Starts Now is working toward being one of the premiere cancer research foundations in the country!

Last night at the Downtown Cincinnati Convention Center, hundreds of people showed up to bid on auction items, enjoy some food and drinks and to participate in one of the biggest galas yet in order to fight against the terrible disease that affects thousands of children every year. Below are some photos of the night. If you wish to donate to such a worthy cause and would also like to be a part of the fight against pediatric cancers, please visit The Cure Starts Now website and feel free to donate. There isn’t a better cause than the fight against cancer. Let’s work to save all of the children who are dying from various cancerous diseases…shall we?

Keith Desserich addresses the audience

An auction item from the Beechwood Tigers families

Ava had a few items she wanted to bid on!

Coolest Auction Item Of The Night? An opportunity to see Nik Wallenda cross the Grand Canyon in person next month!

Being Mom For A Day

Twice a year my mother-in-law makes her pilgrimage to Cleveland Clinic to have her bi-annual checkup. So, twice a year the roles are reversed and I get to be Mr. Mom for a day or so while Stephanie accompanies her. It’s fun to see the “other side” every now and then, just like I imagine she gets to see what I get to put up with when I’m on the road. Granted, I don’t usually have my mom with me wherever I go but still…having to stay in a hotel and eat horribly at some hole-in-the-wall dump restaurant (like a PF Chang’s or Olive Garden) and then having to use hotel shampoo and conditioner? It’s a life not made for someone with a light stomach.

Aaaaaanyway…

So tonight I had things to do. Actually…I had a schedule. It was hand-written on a blue sticky note and it had my itinerary for the night. It looked like this…

This was all fine and good but it’s what ISN’T on there that was the more challenging aspect of it.

First, let’s break this down. Stephanie pulled away from our home today at approximately 12:33pm. I remember this because I glanced at my watch while I was wheeling out the lawn mower to tackle the jungle formerly known as our yard. As I watched her mother’s tail lights disappear up our street, I put in my earphones, cranked up the music and chuckled to myself…”I got this.” And I did! For maybe a couple hours. Then I picked the kids up from school and it was showtime!

2:58pm – 8 minutes late getting into the pickup line at school because I forgot I had to run to the bank. I get a phone call on the Batphone…
Christopher: “Where are you?”
Me (trying to hide the fact that I’m late and at the back of the line): “I’m in the line. Don’t you see me?”
Christopher: “No. We’ll walk to the BACK of the school so we don’t have to wait here longer.” *click*

There ya have it. I’ve been in charge for a whole 8 minutes and I’m already a failure.

After picking the kids up, my (internal) itinerary says I have 2 hours for them to get their homework done, get them a snack, get them organized and off to the first stop of the night…Christopher’s baseball practice. 1 hour and 47 minutes later, Ava has her homework binder in her arms, paper falling out of it, an eraser-less pencil clutched in one hand, her new cell phone in the other. Christopher is rushing down the stairs, bag full of clothes his mother packed for him over his shoulder, his new birthday IPhone in one hand, basketball shoes in the other. I rush to get him a water bottle before we leave (it’s on the list!) and conveniently leave it on the table as we rush out the door to baseball practice. And so the night begins.

Upon arriving at baseball practice, I drop our children off at the park and, realizing we (I) forgot the water bottle, return home to get it. I also grab a water bottle for Ava and a soda for myself (calorie free Vanilla Coke. Perfect!) and proceed out the door with both dogs staring at me with that “Please take us!” look in their eyes. I pretend not to see them and keep on movin’!

Back at the baseball field, I watch the clock as time starts to grow short. I have 15 minutes to get Christopher from baseball practice to a basketball skills practice and it’s 6:13. In my head I crunch the numbers…6 mile drive, maybe 7 stop lights, gotta get them in the car…that’s at least 18 minutes…UNLESS I hit 5 of the lights! THEN it’s possible! As we head to the car, Ava asks for her phone. I have conveniently left it on the bleachers right where she gave it to me so she wouldn’t lose it when she went off to play with her friend. *sigh*

Ava runs and gets the phone, rushes up to jump car as we’re pulling away. Chris changes in the backseat while Ava and I search for something to listen to on XM radio. Ava wants Disney, I want 80′s On 8 and Christopher is busy answering texts in the backseat while trying to pull on his basketball shorts. I somehow managed to make it with 2 minutes to spare (hey…4 of those lights were on YELLOW mister!!!) and Christopher is shooting layups in the gym by 6:30. WIN!!!

Unfortunately, Ava had decided to roll in the grass at the park and is all kinds of itchy. And so, with a little under an hour before her gymnastics class, I rush her home to get her a quick shower and a snack. When we arrive, Barkley and Stella are staring at me. It’s 6:45. Their dinnertime. Ava showers, I feed the dogs, update my Facebook status and somehow end up descrambling Ava’s english words for HER homework (I dunno how this happened) and then we’re off and running her to her class.

7:22pm – I drop Ava off at the studio for her 7:30pm class and I watch her walk into the building. I have to pick up Christopher in 10 minutes. I don’t like leaving Ava but she assures me that it’s okay and I’m not doing anything wrong. So I head south to get Fer.

7:35pm – Arrive back at the gym as things are wrapping up and my phone rings. Ava’s instructor hasn’t arrived and Ava is all alone. Luckily, her assistant principal (a friend of our family) is there and calls me. So now I feel REALLY bad as I’m rushing Christopher out of the gym to hurry back to get Ava! As I’m pulling out of the parking lot, I get a text that the instructor has arrived and no need to hurry. I sigh and slow down after peeling out of a school parking lot. All is good.

After Ava’s class is over, I take both of the kids to Skyline for dinner, get them home, get Fer showered and everyone is in bed by 9:35pm. Except I’ve left the windows open upstairs all day and it’s about 85 degrees so…after a little bit of complaining…I allow both kids to head downstairs to sleep in the much cooler basement.

It’s now 10:55 as I wrap this up. Being Mom for a day has its headaches but ya know what? I kind of enjoy it when I get a chance to do it. It shows me how much Stephanie does for this family and I should never take that for granted. And now…I’m off to bed. Gotta get the kids up and moving tomorrow for school!

For The Ol’ Opera House…

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!

The theater lobby

Going 9 With Fer

Nothing like a little Florida sunshine for spring break! This year, like last, we find ourselves in Destin, Florida, soaking up a lot of sun, enjoying the beach and getting a lot of much needed R&R. We are here with a bunch of our friends and yesterday, 12 of us headed out to do some golfing at a nice little par 3 course called The Golf Garden. This was the first time I have taken Christopher out for a round of golf and I am proud to say he did really well! He was getting under the ball and managed to hit it up on the green from the tee a couple times! A couple things he will need to work on before he hits the grown-up course though…his putting (which can ALWAYS be difficult) and his driving skills. I let him drive the cart most of the way but he managed to roll it over a wood path guide on the 7th hole, effectively freaking him out a little bit. But we rolled it off and got back on course without any issues! Here are some pictures of our day with our friends Jax & his dad, Doug. We had a great time and then went out for some wings after. It was an afternoon I will never forget!

On their own!

Jax is lining up his shot…

Wings & pretty girls after (it was like going to a 6th grade dance…LOL)

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! He’s DRIVING?!?!?!

Looking Backwards To Go Forward

I am, admittedly, someone who likes to look back at things. For whatever reason, I have always been that way. When it comes to my life, I have been so fortunate to have had so many great “moments” that it is hard NOT to look back. Whether it’s my high school years, playing ball with my friends at “The Square” in Philo or my college days at Ohio University, I have nothing but great memories. Living in Dayton with my buddy Newman, working at the local affiliate there and then getting a job in Cincinnati where I would meet my wife and settle down. Our wedding day and the following honeymoon were the best days of my life. The day we moved into our new home. The day we had our first child. The holidays with family. The birth of my daughter. On & on…memory after memory…my life has been, without a doubt, a blessed one. But when is it time to look ahead? When do you put those wonderful memories aside and look to the future with the bright sun shining in your face and the future a welcome beam of light that can take you anywhere?

When is it time to put the past in the past?

Or…is it ALWAYS a part of me?

Some say I’m a nostalgic person and I’m okay with being that way. I don’t let my past get in the way of my future…I don’t think. I’m still a forward thinker, trying to plan for what lies ahead. But on occasion I enjoy daydreaming about my life and, for me, thinking about what great things have already happened to me gives me hope for an even brighter future. Without my past being what it was, my future would be cloudy and uncertain. But because of my family and the friends I have and the people I know, all who have shared wonderful times with me, my future will ALWAYS look bright. I don’t fear the future even though I don’t know what’s ahead. But I love to remember all the great times that shaped who I am and that gives me courage to face such an uncertain future.

Our lives are in flux. I see it everywhere. People are angry, scared, sick, spent with trying to keep up. Our culture has moved so fast into the future that we can only wonder where we will be in another 10 years. I also wonder. I have a 10-year old and an 8-year old. The thought of seeing them grow up and moving on is kind of horrifying for me. I know it’s going to happen and I know I will be so amazingly proud of them no matter what they do. But for me…thinking about THAT future isn’t something I enjoy doing. I like my kids NOW. I don’t WANT to think about them in the future.

My wife thinks I can be pessimistic at times and I imagine I am. Although I think I tend to be more optimistic than she might give me credit for, I still have a tendency to worry about all the things that most people are worried about these days. Money, time spent away from home, work exhaustion, health issues. All of the things that everyone else seems to be concerned with I am worried about also. But I don’t want those things to define who I am. Who I am is the little boy who would roller skate around McConnelsville at 7am on a Saturday morning while my Dad is prepping for the morning breakfast crowd at our family restaurant. Who I am is the teenager who would give his brother & sisters a ride on the back of the lawnmower in the summertime. Who I am is the young man who would get a job at the local tv station right out of high school and go on to an amazing and fulfilling career. Who I am is the man who literally cried through most of his own wedding ceremony and I’ve never once been embarrassed by it. Who I am is the bumbling 30-year old holding a crying baby boy AND a video camera, not sure which one I would drop first. Who I am is the guy in the grass at Riverbend, rocking out to AC/DC and screaming like a maniac every time Angus drops a guitar solo. I am all of these memories and more…and every one of them is as important to me as any that will follow them.

Looking ahead at my future, the best I can hope for is that it is as fulfilling as all of the moments that have led to it. That is who I am. And if my days ahead are anything like my days behind me, I will have to consider myself to be one very lucky man.

Ready For The Madness 2013

And so it begins. Today I am in beautiful, sunny (not) Syracuse, NY, waiting to work the last NCAA Big East women’s hoops game of the season for CBS Sports Network and I’m going over my schedule and, like most years around this time, my schedule is JAMMED with day after day of work, work, work. Despite the fact that I like to keep busy, this kind of schedule can become a grind, especially when you add in some baseball and golf events. Here’s is what is on tap for the next 2 months. Should be interesting…

Indiana @ Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI

Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Rounds 2 & 3 in Lexington, KY

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional in Washington, DC

VACATION to Destin, FL

NCAA Men’s Division II Championship in Atlanta, GA

The Masters in Augusta, GA

Philadelphia Phillies & Miami Marlins @ Cincinnati Reds

The Zurich Classic in New Orleans, LA

All told, I’m looking at over 41 events (multiple basketball games in a single day, several hours of golf in a day), 40+ days of hotel rooms, serious amounts of coffee consumed and probably a headache or 3. But it beats the alternative of not working and having to worry about paying the bills so I consider myself to be blessed with opportunity. I just hope the 4 days of vacation I get in the middle of it will be the brief respite that I need to recharge and get motivated for the month of April!

Behind The Scenes At The Senior Bowl

Living a week in Mobile, AL ain’t so bad. It’s a quiet little city with plenty of Starbucks and good places to eat. This week I’m here working the 2013 Senior Bowl, which is a showcase for college seniors to impress pro scouts and coaches in an intimate setting. Below are some photos taken behind the scenes as we prepare for the big game on Saturday afternoon…

The NFL Network set

The Steady Cam used by our cameraman James!

My work station (yes…I know…it’s a mess.)

Today is Stephanie’s birthday. Sadly, today, December 30, 2012, will also be remembered as the day that her father, Bobby Edmunds, passed from this world. Bobby had a difficult few years after suffering from a series of strokes. On the day following Christmas, he suffered a heart attack and was transferred from rehabilitation to a hospice. Then today in the late afternoon, he passed.

Bobby was always quick to tease and his love for his daughters and his grandkids was always evident. On Christmas Day, Stephanie, the kids and I all got the chance to visit him. He was in a great mood and very happy. I think seeing him that day was a blessing. His grandkids will now always have that memory of him sitting in his chair, opening his gifts, smiling and enjoying our company.

Something I will always remember about Grandpa Bobby was his precocious response when asked how he was feeling. Instead of a typical “Good” or “I’ve had a bad day,” his response was always, “Oh…fair to middlin’.” It was his catchphrase and one that will always remind me of him. Rest in peace, Grandpa. We love you and we miss you dearly…

My Top 10 of 2012

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!

2012 Was A Very Good Year

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…

1. The AFC Championship game (Baltimore @ New England)
2. The Super Bowl in Indianapolis
3. The Senior Bowl
4. NCAA Basketball Tournament (Louisville & Boston sites)
5. The NFL Combine
6. The NFL Draft
7. The Masters
8. FOX Reds Baseball
9. AT&T National
10. The John Deere Classic
11. The Olympics (Wrestling)
12. Navy vs Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland
13. 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!!!)

Halloween 2012…OR…The One I Missed

Let me tell you…I HATE missing holidays with my family. HATE is a strong word but when I have to miss one of my favorite holidays? Yeah…HATE would be the appropriate term. So this year, I was in San Diego while my kids were trudging around our little town, collecting goodies and having fun. The weather wasn’t cooperating apparently. It was cold and crappy and so I was told there wasn’t a lot to miss but still…

I love Halloween! Not as much as Thanksgiving but maybe a little more than Christmas and a LOT more than Sweetest Day (which is a made up holiday!!!). Anyway…here are some photos of the kids as they trudged. The best part about all this is that I didn’t have to walk around in the rain and I still get to reap some of the winnings while the kids are in school!

Taking Advantage Of Not Taking Things For Granted

As I’ve been learning, there are things in my life that I take for granted every day. I take for granted that my wife will take care of my kids when I’m at work. I take for granted that whenever I go to visit my Mom & Dad there will be pork chops and mashed potatoes for dinner. I take for granted that my friends will always be there whenever I want to pop in for a visit. What I’m learning is that I shouldn’t take these things for granted…ever. Because you never know when things will change.

Last week I received some bad news…one of my closest friends is leaving Cincinnati for a new job. It’s a great job, I’m sure, but it is gonna suck not having he and his family around. I guess I always thought our kids would grow up together, play together and they’d always be around. Now that they’re going to be leaving, I feel as if I didn’t spend enough time with them. I should have been around more this past summer, hung out in their yard, had a few more beers and a lot more laughs. But sometimes busy schedules and a lack of time gets in the way of friendships and that’s just how it goes. Now that I know that they’re going to be gone, I wish I hadn’t taken my time with my friend and his family for granted. Either way, I wish them well (and I am not saying who it is because they are still making the announcement at this time) and I look forward to visiting their new home during my travels but it won’t be the same. I’ll miss their friendship and their kids. It’s always sad times when people move but this family has been a part of my life for so long that I can’t fathom them NOT being there. Hopefully we will get the chance to visit them once they get settled in their new home. Is it bad that I also hope they hate it where they are going and want to come back immediately? Yeah…probably… lol

This past weekend my parents came down to visit us in Cincinnati. In their time here, they got to see Ava’s volleyball team win their first playoff match, Christopher’s football team win their first round playoff game (with Christopher making a great INT and scoring the game winning TD) and one of Christopher’s basketball games (which didn’t turn out as well as the football game). It was so much fun having them here and it was exciting for the kids to have them see them in action. I know for a fact that I take my parents for granted. I am so fortunate to have such a great family and so I this weekend I tried to just enjoy our time with them. I shudder to imagine my life without my parents or my siblings. I love them so much and despite the fact that I don’t get to see them often, I always consider them to be with me wherever I go. There will always be a part of me connected to ALL of my family members. We are such a tight-knit family that it’s impossible to NOT feel that connection. Do I miss seeing them more? Absolutely. And so I try to take advantage of the time I get to spend with them, even if it is only a quick stop while driving through town.

On a completely different level, I also found out last week that I won’t be working an event that I have been fortunate to work for the last 7 years. My first Super Bowl was in Detroit in 2006. Since then I have been lucky to be invited back for 6 more. It’s a HUGE event and I have enjoyed being a part of the broadcast team that works to make it that way. This year I didn’t make the cut to go to New Orleans and now I’m feeling nostalgic about it. Despite the fact that it’s “just a job,” I guess as someone who gets to travel and work some really cool events for a job, I take for granted the fact that those gigs will be there from year-to-year. That is obviously not the case. So this year, I’m not going to be at one of the more prestigious events in the country. That being said, what I WILL do is appreciate the fact that I’ll be able to maybe attend a Super Bowl party with my friends and hope that maybe someday the opportunity might come around again some day.

So a new day is dawning. Friends come & go, family time is compromised, work events change from day-to-day. Life is like that. It’s an ebb & flow and I have to learn to row with the tide and not swim against the current so much. So in that regard, here I am learning that life isn’t something I should take for granted. I need to learn to appreciate what I have and take advantage of the moments I get because you never know when things will change and then *poof*…what you thought you would always have is gone. Take advantage of the best of times and love the ones who are so important in my life.

To quote from one of my favorite movies, “I am at home with the me. I am rooted in the me that is on this adventure.” So…this is me on this adventure and I am going to do my best to not take that for granted.