What was the last thing you searched for online? Why were you looking for it?
My last online search was for The State of Ohio Supreme Court. I was looking to see if I am able to file a motion to appeal a family court ruling. Based on some injustices and a denied request for a change of venue, I was hoping to find some answers there and get the ball rolling in the right direction.
Just my opinion, but I do feel I speak for many other parents out there when I say, the State of Ohio’s method of deciding the amount of child support is ridiculous. Solely based on a mathematical formula, the state does not take into consideration, the other parties income, habits, lifestyle, financial schemes or fairness.
It is my hopes to try and change how Ohio will move forward with determining orders of support and custody. Back in 2007, Ohio did away with the child’s option to choose where to live. Now the mother had 100% parental rights over the child regardless of stability.
I may not win or change anything, but I will be heard!
Growing up, I was more into cartoons than actual tv shows. The Herkuloids and Space Ghost were two of my favs. But if I was with my grandparents, it was a lot of Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacy, MacGyver and Magnum PI. As I got a little older Star Trek was always on, my dad was a huge fan! Also watched a lot of the A-Team & M.A.S.H. Then the teens hit and I was locked on the TV when Baywatch came on! We had some really great tv shows back in the day. Today TV is terrible, over priced service for garbage. Peter Pan was right, never grow up!
My future city would be getting back to the basics. For me, I feel technology and the ease of everything at your fingertips nowadays is the reason for a lazy and poor work ethic society!
My perfect city would be community oriented, where everyone knows each other. Where the landline is the source of communication. Neighbors all have perfectly groomed gardens and the local grocery store is not only a place for filling your cupboards but a social gathering for the masses. Children would be outside on bikes or throwing baseballs or footballs around. The annual street whiffle ball game would be equivalent to the World Series! Dads would take this opportunity to teach their kids how to win and loose gracefully, but for the next year you’d have bragging rights at all the back yard bbq’s.
News papers would be delivered by children riding bikes, not by some over aged person driving too fast in some uninsured beater of a car.
There would be an emphasis on local craftsmanship and self-sufficiency and more human interaction opposed to leaving a digital footprint everywhere you go.
Life would be simple and people would be friendly and helpful. No matter what the issue, large or small, the town would pull together and help one another out.
This is my perfect future city, getting back to the basics. Like the City of Charlestown, MA. I’d want a strong police & fire with a community first mentality. Parades would bring out all and holidays would have meaning and family value. I want what the world is moving away from and this, is my opinion on why we have the problems we face today.
It all started around the age of six. Hand-eye coordination was better than your typical child. The ability to throw a ball like a teen as a child, we got him started in T-Ball. One practice, and he was hitting without the tee. Coaches we’re amazed at his ability to play baseball at such a high level and his baseball IQ was top notch. The season ended and the coach pitch league asked if he would like to play with them for the playoffs. A chance to get better and more reps he was all in.
A young child at 2nd base prevailed and quickly proved he could play with anyone. The next season he moved to 3rd base where he fell in love with the position. Local recball proved to be a bad place for us. The dads who coached the teams played all the kids from their neighborhood and the kids whose parents all hung out together. I honestly believe they picked my son solely because I was a police officer in that town.
After the season, a bit discouraged, we were approached by a parent who suggested travel baseball. We found a tryout for a team about an hour away. First of all, wow! This tryout was like being at a professional combine. For a ten year old I’m not truly sure he could understand the scope of it all. After a few weeks, we receive an email and he was offered a spot on the team. This is where we made a home for the next six years.
Organized is an understatement. We were first brought in and fitted for uniforms. Three hats, home, away, and alternative. Same goes for the uniform. We were also given a Sunday practice uniform and a Wednesday pitchers only uniform. The practices were scheduled and after a dynamic workout to warm the bodies up, players broke down to different stations.
Always moving and always learning. This is where my son really learned the sport of baseball. Fundamentals were re-taught, lessons and drills were repeated to the point I was saying them in my sleep! So much structure and discipline, it was definitely an honor to be a part of this baseball organization and family!
At the high school age, he made the tough decision to walk away from his travel team and commit his time to just high school baseball. As a parent, I guide and help, but ultimately I had to let him make his own decision whether it was correct or not.
Moving forward, my son quickly relearned in high school what recball was like. Not the coaches kids, but the teachers kids got preference. My son still played his best and proved his worth at his position.
We came from organized and structured and neat and orderly. We came from a place where everyone had to be prompt and in uniform. We ended up in chaos! Players arrived to practice in shorts, khaki pants, and sweat pants. Some had hats, some did not. No dynamic warm up. They would just jump to it. This is how injuries happen, and injuries did happen!
Game day. One coach is in uniform, the other coach is in sweat pants and a pullover, neither had matching caps on. What is this bizarre world we are in? State of the art facility, beautiful brand new stadium, and players and coaches are a mess. I use coaches lightly, there wasn’t much coaching. Players not always sure what to do when they got the ball, no correction, no helping, no direction, and no guidance. It didn’t take long for my son to realize this was a bad decision and this isn’t the type of baseball he is used to playing or wants to play.
Fundamentals?? High school aged athletes making t-ball game blunders and looking just as confused as the beginner.
Starting into the junior year, I was informed by my son that he no longer will play baseball. I can’t blame him! From dugout fights to on the field embarrassments, he simply had enough and couldn’t envision playing at such a low level of undisciplined and under coached baseball.
A sad day for me and the family, we loved watching him play. We loved seeing the happiness in his eyes making that impossible play at 3rd or the bang bang double play to end an inning. It was the sight of pure jubilation we all got to see when he hit that first career grand slam!! Boy did he get all of that ball! Talk about a lottery winner! I caught the whole thing on video! Thankful for the videos and the pictures, because as of now, memories and the remnants of gear around the house is all we have. On to the next adventure and chapter, and no matter what, always supportive and ready to see what makes him return to that smile that he found on the diamond!
Breakfast, what many may deem the most important meal of the day. For me, a night owl, breakfast usually happens between midnight and 4am. In an attempt to better my lifestyle, I have been waking up early a few days a week and starting the day with a great breakfast! I cook my own often, however, in my hometown and surrounding areas we have a few dynamite hot spots!
In the race for the Best of the Best, I have a hard time voting for an actual number 1. Cheryl’s Diner being my more frequently visited, would probably get the vote.
However, Patty’s Family Restaurant, Twister, and The Stateline are all viable choices! I’m pretty basic, two eggs(over easy) bacon, hash browns and rye toast, with jelly. It’s hands down the best breakfast served in town. The coffee is perfect, and the refills come before you even know you were empty. A chaser of water or OJ is my next beverage choice and never a disappointment in any of the choices.
If you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods, shoot me a DM, I’ll head you in all the right directions. Your appetite will thank me! Until next time, happy reading!
Well, we hit up Barb’s Stateline this morning. Been many many years since I’ve been here. It used to be good, now it’s great! Enormous portions, perfectly cooked eggs & bacon. You can not go wrong here! Breakfast for two, with add-ons and only $21! Affordable is an understatement! Put the Stateline on your list of places to eat.
Another great breakfast! The Chef’s Table in Wintersville Ohio did not disappoint. Very good, portions were large and again, very affordable and priced below the average.
Well, first off I’m no writer. I am here because I enjoy the release I get from putting my thoughts out there. I like learning and I like the attempt I give at writing. You can’t be good at something if you don’t try it and stick with it. Not saying I’ll ever be good at writing, but maybe someday I’ll be half way decent. So, the enjoyment I get out of writing, is simple. I get to let you all know how I feel, what’s bothering me, what’s going well in life and the constant attempt at getting better at something.
At the age of 50, I was finally able to see O.A.R. live in concert! I can not express in words how amazing this experience was. From start to finish they absolutely rocked The Blossom Music Center! By set 4 Marc Roberge started into Place To Hide… this would be the fist time I felt the emotions rise up in me. “You and me could just be crazy, time ain’t on our side, and I need you badly… Of all the others, you had to have me, and now we’re running for our lives, and I need you badly” What a gem of a song, and this is what got it started. Moving on, the music just fills your soul and takes over, nothing in the world to worry about just enjoy the sounds and for one night, be carefree and give in to the lyrics! Pure happiness is what I was feeling, and when I Go Through came up, a whole new level of emotion kicked in. Maybe it’s the family ties and what the song means to O.A.R. or maybe it’s me finally realizing what I have and being able to attend this show with my best friend, my wife, I had an experience one can only understand once they go through it. “You go ’round and around it, you go over and under, I go through”. Hopefully, this was not the first and last time I get to see this amazing band preform, but if so, I’ll always remember my time at Blossom Music Center, when the band from Rockville Maryland touched the souls of many! Until next time, happy reading friends!
O.A.R. Again! 2024, Pittsburgh.
A second show in two years for us! Again, a fantastic performance!! First, opening act, Fitz and the Tantrums. AMAZING! I’d gone them if they were to come back to the area for a show.. high energy, great music and what an absolute great show.
O.A.R. Once again did what they do best… make music that touches your soul! A surprise to me, the release of their new song, Gonna Be Me. The best part about this band, every song is my favorite song!!!
Depends on the goal. Short term goals or should I say not so important goals, I guess I don’t really do much planning. As for long term goals, goals that directly impact my life and career, I start with a note pad. I write everything down. Ideas designs pros & cons. I start there. I am my biggest critic! I’ll second guess everything and try to convince myself the goal isn’t attainable. Eventually, I’ll start a vision board. This is where I make all the connections. This is where I make the decisions to move forward with whatever idea I have. The vision board has become an amazing tool for my goals and reaching them!
Does anyone jump at opportunity? No matter what the opportunity is, do you take advantage? Maybe it’s your job that is bogging you down. It got stagnant or you’re just fed up with the current environment… well, there’s an opportunity out there, are you ready to take the leap? Or are you to scared of change? I promise you the change is what you need! Twelve years in law enforcement and I truly believed this was my retirement plan career. The job was great, I loved what I was doing and I had a sense of gratitude going out daily and being a part of my community. However, the job didn’t change the co-workers around me changed. But I’d have to say the worst part was the administration did nothing to ensure everyone was accountable for their actions, or should I say lack of actions. It was at this time I made a drastic decision to walk away from my career, my benefits and my retirement. Cold Turkey! I digressed! Back to opportunity. If there was an opportunity to leave my job for another, at that point in my life I would have taken it. Some opportunities only arise once in awhile. The question you should ask yourself, is are you ready to take the leap? Don’t let fear, or a few of the good co-workers sway your decision. Ask yourself, are you making yourself happy, or are you making your friends happy? Last time I checked, my decisions are not based on my friends, neighbors or co-workers happiness. You must take a deep dive into your own souls and see what it is that is best for you. Be ready, because that knock you hear just might be the opportunity you need to better you life. Until next time, happy reading!
Peace for me starts when I can get away from work and the hustle and bustle of it all. My nightly trips to the gym are short bursts of peace. An hour each night to release and let go of the stresses of the day. But it’s the end of the week when I can really find peace. The two days I can truly engage in the activities that allow me to concentrate on me and only me. The camaraderie of my biking group, being out in the woods pedaling and enjoying the sounds of nature and the peacefulness of pure enjoyment. There’s also the times when I can get out in the open road for a bike ride and feel the sunshine and wind in my face. The only thing that matters is where and when is the next turn? Peace is finding myself and not having any worries about the business. It’s spending that very little time each week doing absolutely nothing or finding that pure enjoyment in the hobbies I love the most.
Hard Lessons & Honest Thoughts 