Senior Olympian Sprinter

If anyone has every listened to the Jim Rome radio show, you know what "The Chise" is all about.  Those people can skip the rest of the paragraph.  The Chise is the most important player on your team or league, the one that gets it done regardless.  Scores the big goal, scares the competition, you know the drill.  Well, "The Chise" that lives in this house--Linda--finally got some recognition from her company.  Even though she only worked 10 months last year, the knee recovery eliminated January and February, she was the top Lab Specialists in the US.  Not in the top group, the top, the pinnacle, numero uno.... The LS's are measured on the amount of new start ups and the amount of money that those new installations earn, pretty simple math.  Worked 10 months and took the money!!  That is pretty cool.   She would of had it last year too, but the knee work eliminated 2 1/2 months from her year.  The award winners get ...

It is winter.  I need not tell almost anyone in the US, but it is cold, frozen, windy and for anyone North of the Ohio River-white.    Even us fair folk her in Tennessee have been tolerating the cold.  I have had long johns for days, whether I am outside or sitting on the couch.  But, and this is a giant but, the sun does come out during the day and helps wash a lot of the depression off my body.  The sun has been a real blessing and has made the cold sustainable, but I am impatient to say the least.   Sprinter like the warmer weather. Phase I of the kitchen remodel is basically completed.  The result looks pretty good.   Now we need to find the money to do Phase II, which will require a new stove (and we really like one of the pricey ones) and a dishwasher and a lot of cabinets.   I will not be getting any bonus this year, so Phase II may be put out a little longer than we would like. ...

This winter season  I attempted to keep some veggies going through the cold season  to see what happened.   During the summer, the carrots were not what you would call-nice.   They seemed to be stubby and malformed little creatures more suited for the movies, than the dinner table.   I also did not have much luck with spinach, it would really not respond, even though I did make sure plenty of water was available.   This fall I tilled the garden up and mounded up some rows and planted several rows of carrots, some spinach and kale.  Kale has a horrible reputation for flavor, but it has many claims of a hardy winter plant- why not give it a shot.   Let's fast forward to November, where it was bitter cold here in the Nashville area,  and everything lived through that cold snap.  I have been picking some kale and spinach for salads and an occasional omelet in November and December.  ...

Ten more days and it is 2015.  If you have any 2014 goals to finish, you better hustle it up and finish. Linda and and I are basically done with work this year.  I have a monthly report and expenses to file next week and the year is done for me. Overall, 2014 was an OK year at work, no big projects or successes, just a lot of little things that kept me going.  The kitchen project is winding down, but I need to get some plumbing done to get it finished. Linda and I will be visiting family for the Holidays, so it will not be that restful, but we will get to see everyone and catch up on the latest.    We also have tickets to the Music City bowl which is December 30.  We could not resist getting tickets to the game, two predominantly Catholic communities coming to Nashville for a mid week afternoon game.  There will be beer flowing and foaming up and down Broadway.  It should be a real spectacle, and we will be in the middle.   T...

The pantry project is crawling to a close.  I did get the door hung so the space is basically ready to use.   The floor went down last weekend and I need to do the mop board and the door transitions.  But it is taking shape.   Final trim paint will be needed, but that is pretty easy duty there.  Generally, there is a build up to the Holiday season, a natural rhythm that evolves over the years to let you know Santa is really going to find you again.  This season, the entire Christmas clock is way off  and it just does not feel like Santa is in the picture.  Why asks the curious??  I still believe in Santa, so that cannot be the deal.   This year, the season started off badly during Thanksgiving and it will not recover until we get to Chicago and see our babies.   The typical holiday season rhythm is Thanksgiving,  a deer hunt the next week in Ohio, shopping, decoration, baking, see the f...

My wife wanted me to 'remind' everyone of this age difference.   23 years is the difference between my age and the next oldest player in the alumni basketball game I played in Saturday night.  I was back in Coshocton County, Ohio for my sister's funeral and needed some fun time.   It had been a very long week and quite draining mentally and physically.  I needed to have something to take my head to a different place  and the alumni game seemed to be way to get there.   Every year, the River View High School basketball programs has a preview event and this includes an alumni basketball game and this year it also included a small ceremony to honor the 1975 AA State Champion Basketball team,   which I happened to be a member. Since I was not going to be in the area due to work commitments, I gave little thought to getting into the alumni game.  Before I left home I threw in some bball wear, just in case I could get in the game....

Events the last couple of weeks have demonstrated to me that life is precious and you must make the best of your current situation.  My younger sister died last Monday at age 52.  My Father died ten years ago and that was sort of expected and the family was prepared as best as it could.   He had been disabled from an industrial accident when I was 6 years old.  He spent the rest of his life in a hospital or extended care facility, unable to walk or talk.  He succumbed finally to pneumonia.  Jill died as result of cancer.  We learned of the cancer about a year and half ago and she battled hard to the end, but there was more cancer everyday and her body eventually was overcome. The end came very very quickly.  She only quit work less than a month ago. Everytime a family member that is that close to you is gone, a really big hole is left in your life.  The hole is painful and will remain forever, nothing can take its place, not...