Spring Forward
03/12/10

On Sunday we're going to go through the yearly ritual of springing forward.  That's when you set your clocks forward an hour as we enter Daylight Savings Time.  Just so you know, I HATE spring forward.

Yes, it's nice to have an extra hour of daylight (even though that gives people an excuse to stay outdoors and maybe miss our early newscasts).  Yes it's nice that you save money on electricity (theoretically) b/c we get that extra hour.  But we also lose 60 minutes of precious sleep.  That's why I'm not a big fan of springing forward.  It's kind of crazy how losing just one hour can have such a big impact on your day to day routine.

I remember once when I was a kid we forgot it was DST and we overslept for church.  As a child I thought that was awesome.  I got to sleep in and we had a little church service @ our kitchen table.  We didn't take communion, though.  My mom never drank so she didn't have any wine in the house.  She did have some liquor, though (for guests) - but there's something inherently wrong w/ a ten-year-old substituting whiskey for wine when taking communion.

Here's an interesting fact: states don't have to adopt DST.  Hawaii and Arizona opted out of the Uniform Time Act of 1966.  They're on what's called "standard time" year round and don't spring forward or fall back (BTW I LOVE falling back - it's awesome).  When I lived in Hawaii I hated springing forward for another reason.  It meant I was six hours off of East Coast Time; a quarter of a day behind my family and friends back home.  Believe it or not when you're only five hours off it makes a HUGE difference; some of that is psychological, though.  Sometimes when I'd call friends back home I'd ask them what happens in the future seeing that they were so many hours ahead.  I never was able to use that knowledge to my advantage, though.

Up until recently much of Indiana stayed on standard time year round.  Counties near Cincinnati were on Eastern Time and observed DST and counties near Chicago were on Central Time and also observed DST.  Confused?  That might be why they changed the law and the entire state began observing DST in 2006.  Of course about 20% of the state still observes Central Time while the other part uses Eastern Time - so it's not sorted out completely.  I always thought it would stink to live in one of the counties that was on one time and work in one that was on another.  Some people did it, though.  I think they had to have some kind of gene that others don't - it'd drive me nuts.

If you think that DST starts earlier and ends later than you remember as a kid then you'd be right.  DST was extended by four to five weeks back in 2007.  Now it starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.  It's not the first time DST has been extended and I'm not a big fan of the change.  It just seems too long now which almost makes DST arbitrary.  What's to stop the powers that be from just moving all clocks ahead one hour for the entire year?  We'd be able to squeeze a little more daylight out of the day.  That may sound like a dumb idea but come Monday morning, when we're headed to work an hour earlier than we're used too, we may want to re-visit it.

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Virtual Reality
03/11/10

The following blog applies to most, if not all, reality shows.  Except for "Dog the Bounty Hunter", that show is awesome!  And when I met the dude while living in Hawaii he was very nice. 

Having said that, I really don't watch reality shows.  I live reality every day.  I don't need to watch someone else do it.  Also, TV is sort of like an escape from everyday life for me.  So by watching somebody else's everyday life I'm really not escaping from anything.

I also think that a lot of these shows highlight some of the most negative aspects of humanity.  If it's a competition show then you get to see people lie, cheat, connive and steal in order to win.  And if it's just a "fishbowl" show (lets viewers look into the life of another person) it's usually such a train wreck that you can't help but feel a little ashamed for the human race when you watch it (cough-RockofLove-cough).  Don't get me wrong, I don't think I could say "no" if I was offered a reality show.  After all, those dudes get PAID.  It's a lot easier to compromise when you're getting $100,000 an episode to do so.

Last night I saw a promo (commercial for a TV show) for one of the new reality shows and it was based on celebrities.  Keep in mind this wasn't a show based around the lives of washed-up celebrities - it was about A-list celebrities (or @ the very least B+-listers). 

That got me thinking, is it really a reality show if it's about a celebrity?  I always thought the whole point of most reality shows was to find a nobody, or a group of nobodies and tell his/their story.  Either that or it's a way to for someone who used to be @ the top of the world to claw their way back into the spotlight - maybe they're no longer @ the top but @ least they're not @ rock bottom (or so they think, just watch some of these washed-up celebrity shows and you'll probably disagree).

Can you even have an A-list celebrity on a reality show?  I think that once he's committed he's actually lost a step b/c if he was truly an A-list celebrity then he wouldn't need to go on a reality show for a job, he'd have a better way to generate "buzz".

Maybe this development will legitimize the genre (sad to say that word can be associated w/ the term "reality show").  I mean if the same celebrity that we turn to for political viewpoints, moral advocacy, advice on how to live our lives, etc. is endorsing it... it has to be a good idea. 

Who knows this may open the door for a new type of show that lets you see what an entire town/group of people is doing all day every day.  @ the click of a button you can tune in and "escape".  It could be like a real life soap opera that never ends.  After all they say fact is often stranger than fiction.  Perhaps the stories of the characters in everyday life will prove to be more compelling than any drama on TV (if that becomes the case I'll model my character after the cheesy sunglasses dude on CSI).  If you think about it that's kind of what made the play "Our Town" so memorable. 

Now that I think about it my blog is sort of like a reality show.  Every day I try to come up w/ some sort of commentary about something going on in my life.  It's also a huge time waster.  Could "Inside the Broadcast Booth" be turning into one of the very things I hate?  I don't think so.  When I start eating bugs or naming my abs then I'll worry about it.

BTW if I were to name my abs they'd be called "the solution".  That's b/c they're the opposite of "the situation" in both look & meaning.  Also, after you see them you'll come to "the solution" that you need to start exercising so you don't suffer the same fate.

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A Change is in the Air
03/10/10

I'm sure I'm not the only who's noticed the change in the weather recently.  It's been absolutely gorgeous as of late.  The nice weather started this weekend and other than a few showers late last night and this morning it's stayed pretty nice... and warm.  That's what's got me happy, the warmer weather - I love it.  I even took a rocking chair out onto my porch today and enjoyed a little bit of the afternoon.  My wife called me an old man but I told her that, "In my day we sat on the front porch and watched the world go by.  And we were happy to do it!"

The spring thaw is always a great time of year.  One of the things that always makes me laugh is when I see people (usually kids) on the first remotely warm day of the year wearing shorts.  It'll be in the low 40s and sunny and people are out walking around in shorts acting like they're not cold.  I know you're looking forward to warmer weather but is it worth getting sick just so you can make that statement?

Recently I've seen a lot of people wearing shorts, I've been one of them.  But w/ temperatures in the 60s shorts are more than warranted. 

W/ the warmer weather comes the "honey-do" list that all the husbands love.  Luckily I worked really hard in the fall (trimming trees, digging up bushes, etc.)  so I don't have too much to do.  My wife has talked about putting in a garden this year so I'm sure there will be a few unexpected chores thrown into the mix.

About a week ago she asked me what I want in the garden.  I told her she should start growing tomatoes as soon as possible.  They're a hot commodity right now.  That's b/c the freeze in Florida killed most of the crop.  Now some restaurants are asking if you're even going to eat them.  That way if you're not, you don't get any and they won't go to waste.  Not only would tomatoes give us a food that's hard to come by (a delicacy, perhaps) but we could also make extra money selling the ones we don't eat.

I also want some bell peppers.  Those are awesome.  Once when I was a really young I stumbled upon a garden w/ some older kids.  They picked some of the peppers and encouraged me to eat one.  They were great but I was so young I didn't really comprehend that I was stealing them.  I still feel guilty about that every so often. 

Carrots, lettuce and cucumbers will also be good additions to the garden.  Those are all delicious and they're good in salads.

I really wish we could grow avocados but the climate here doesn't really support those.

I just realized that I'm getting hungry.  Normally I write my blog after I eat dinner so I'm free to muse on whatever happens to catch my fancy.  But seeing that this entry has turned into a stream-of-consciousness that centers around food I think it's safe to say my priorities are elsewhere. 

So getting back to my original point, the nice weather has been great.  It's more than welcome in my book.  You know what else you can do when the weather gets nice?  Have a picnic.

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Chain Gang
03/09/10

I remember when I first heard about e-mail.  I was in 9th or 10th grade and I'll date myself - not dress up and buy myself flowers & dinner but give you an idea of how old I am - that was back in '91 or '92.  My buddy, Dan told me about it.  He said it was basically a way to communicate through the computer just like you would w/ regular mail (this was before we called it "snail mail").  Instead of an actual letter you just composed a message and the computer sent it instantaneously and free of charge.  He raved about how cool it was but I thought it was funny b/c he pointed out that it was free. 

You see Dan was kind of cheap.  I am too nowadays so I can't be too critical but he seemed to make it an art form.  He'd drive all over the city to find the best deal on a pair of shoes.  Sometimes he'd go to four of five separate stores on different sides of Columbus.  Yes he got the best price on footwear but I always thought he ended up spending whatever money he saved on the extra gas needed to find the deal in the first place - maybe not, he drove five mph under the speed limit (for better gas mileage) & this was back when gas was less than $1.00 a gallon... yes kids, those days did exist.  Who knows, it may have been the thrill of the hunt that drove his obsession.

I don't remember him having the internet but he had e-mail.  His dad worked @ the local college in my neighborhood and I think that's how he got access to it.  Dan had this old Apple IIe w/ the black screen and the bright green lettering that he'd use to send and receive e-mails.  Who was he writing too?  I have no clue b/c we'd been friends since like fourth grade.  Most of the people he knew I knew too and we all thought this "e-mail thing" was @ least a little crazy sounding if not made up.

Then I got to college and started using it and it was pretty cool.  I could keep in touch w/ all of my buddies and track down people with whom I'd lost touch.  And one of the best parts about it all was that it was free (when I was explaining e-mail to my mom and I found myself pointing out this fact I had to chuckle - it had all come full circle).

Over the years I, like many, have come to enjoy what e-mail can do.  As the internet has gotten more sophisticated so have the e-mails.  Now that you can forward just about anything a whole new world has been opened.  How else would I have learned about "Chocolate Rain", the Flea Market Montgomery ( "it's just like a mini-mall") or one of my favorites: the Star Wars Kid?

Today I was reminded of how e-mail can be a fickle siren - beguiling on the one hand but disenchanting on the other.  I got a chain e-mail.  I HAAAATE chain e-mails.  Not only are they a waste of my time but @ the end they make me feel guilty b/c I refuse to subject everyone in my address book to the same torture that I just endured - usually @ the expense of my first born's future.

Over the years I've gotten my fair share of chain e-mails.  Some warn of syringes tainted w/ whatever the disease of the day is placed in the coin returns of pay phones or on the underside of a gas pump nozzle handle.  Others speak of a dying child halfway around the world who has the power to grant any wish or desire of mine if I simply forward it to @ least 10 people.  And I'm still waiting for my check from Bill Gates for helping Microsoft implement it's e-mail tracking system (I was told the computer genius wanted to share his fortune w/ a few select individuals). 

The e-mail that inspired this blog had something to do w/ the number 8.  I think it was crazy 8s or something.  The subject line looked something like this: (8)(8)(8)(8)(8)(8)(8)(8).  When I opened it I was told that I was blessed by the number 8 (or something like that).  I was also informed that untold riches would come my way if only I were to pass the message along to 10 friends and not break the chain.  But if I didn't I'd be plagued w/ misfortune and pain for the rest of my days.

I'm left wondering why you'd send something like that to anyone in the first place. It's a big time waster.  It's also self-perpetuating b/c even if I don't send it to anyone, someone on the original sender's list probably will thus continuing the cycle of annoyance.  But more than that, what if the number of contacts in my address book doesn't meet the threshold of people necessary to avoid the bad luck that comes w/ breaking the chain?  That would mean that I would be forced to endure a new setback every time someone sends me a chain e-mail.  Not only that but I'd also be reminded of my own unpopularity.  I don't know which is worse.

I do know one thing, though.  If after reading this blog you don't forward it on to @ least 50 people the rest of your days will fraught w/ strife.  Whenever you take a step you'll stub your toe.  Whenever you sit down it'll be on a tack.  Whenever you pick up a piece of paper you'll get a paper cut.  Actually none of that will happen but if you don't forward this to anybody that one person in your address book who loves chain e-mails will still think it's okay to send you one.

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Happy B-Day, Annie!
03/08/10

Today is my wife's birthday.  It was XX years ago that she was born.  I didn't wish her a happy birthday on-air earlier b/c she doesn't like it when I tell everyone she's gotten a year older.  I don't know why b/c you might get more presents if more people know it was your birthday.

I can't make fun of her age for a couple of reasons:
1.) I'm older than she is so that makes no sense, but more importantly,
2.) It's not a good idea to make fun of a lady's age (especially your wife's).

My wife was born & raised in Cincinnati.  When her mom was in labor my father-in-law was late getting to the delivery room b/c he was a farmer @ the time and had to go let the cows out of the barn; or in, I don't remember - the bottom line is that he was late b/c he was tending to the cows - I always found that funny.

So what did we do on this special day?  Well, not really all that much b/c I had to work.  But we actually celebrated over the weekend.  On Saturday night we went out to dinner & got Mexican food b/c that's what she wanted.  It was good but I ate WAAAAY to much.  Then yesterday I got up early w/ the kids and made breakfast.  After that we went down to Cincinnati and celebrated w/ my in-laws.

We did open presents today, though.  I got my wife some gardening tools, a nice candle and over the weekend my daughters and I picked out a set of wind chimes for her.  The wind chimes are nice but I didn't know they were so expensive.  There were cheaper sets but one thing I've learned is that it's not a good idea to skimp on your wife's gift.  That's about as smart as buying her something you want in the hopes that she'll say, "I don't want this" so you can swoop in and take it off of her hands. 

Those wind chimes are hanging in my backyard as we speak.  They're on a tree and I'm a little worried I may run into them the next time I'm mowing my lawn.  They sound pretty good but they'll probably sound better once I can open my windows and hear them.

I've found celebrating a birthday has gotten a lot tamer as we've gotten older.  I remember in college we'd always throw a big party and/or go out on the town.  Nowadays, though it's a lot more relaxed.  If there is a party it's typically a smaller get together (and everyone is a little bit better behaved) and honestly, that's not such a bad thing.  You have less planning and more importantly less clean up.

It seems like when you're younger every birthday is a big bash.  I think that's b/c when you're younger you haven't had as many so each one seems special.  By the time you get into your 30s you're more or less just celebrating the milestones every 5 years (kind of like your high school reunions).  But more than that when you're younger you typically don't have a job, or any money for that matter.  As a result your birthday and Christmas (or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, etc.) are the only times you get new stuff.  I once had a friend tell my oldest daughter that, "Birthday's are great b/c they give you a chance to increase your material wealth."  @ the time I though it was funny but chastised him nonetheless but he made a good point.  Kids may not see their birthday in that exact light but on some level they do.  After all how many of us started counting down the days until our birthday more than a month in advance?

As you get older those days become less about what you get and more about spending time w/ the ones you love (@ least have for me).  I mean yes, it's nice to get presents but I think it's a lot better to get together w/ the people who help make your life interesting. 

So on that note, happy birthday, Annie!  I hope you had a wonderful day and I love you.  I think I'll wish you a happy birthday during the 10:00 show.  I know you're not wild about that but you never watch the late shows b/c you're usually sleeping - that way when you find out I did you can't get mad b/c it'll be too late.

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Feeling Chili
03/05/10

I always enjoy the weekend b/c it's nice to get some time to recharge the old batteries and I like to spend time w/ my family.  I'm extra excited for this weekend, though.  That's b/c tomorrow afternoon I'm going to be a judge in a chili cook-off. 

My wife isn't too excited about this prospect.  In fact when I asked her if she minded if I participated she asked, "That depends, are they going to get me a hotel room?"  I laughed knowing that the answer was no.

I'm a huge fan of chili and I like all kinds.  Skyline is awesome but so is the homemade stuff (just not as good for 3-ways).  I also like turkey chili, white bean chicken chili and I'll even eat vegetarian chili.  A good variation to the chili/starch combo that a 3-way provides is chili and rice.  If you've never tried it I recommend it.

I have to say that I'm a little nervous about the contest.  While I love hot food I'm afraid that someone is going to make the "5-alarm fire chili".  I know that I'll eat more of that than I should and then my mouth will be a blazing fireball and I'll just have to live w/ it.  I never understood the reasoning behind making a chili so hot.  Like I said it tastes good, but only for the first few bites.  After that your taste buds are shot and every extra bite will just make you mouth burn for that much longer.

One thing I never figured out is how Cincinnati came to be known as a chili town.  Growing up in Columbus there were a few chili restaurants but when I lived in Cincinnati after college I was amazed @ how many chili joints there were.  That's when I developed my "Skyline tooth". 

When I got into television I had to cutback on my Skyline intake considerably.  That's b/c I moved around a lot over about seven years.  So I'd make my family send it to me in order to get my fix.  One Christmas my mother & sister-in-law came for a visit and they brought Skyline w/ them and we had that for our Christmas meal - it was delicious.

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to sampling a variety of different chilies.  If you don't have plans you should stop by.  It's @ the Central Christian Church in Kettering.  I'll be there w/ my bib on, but I'll try to top out @ "3-alarm chili" @ best.

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Vitamin D Levels Rising
03/04/10

When I woke up this morning and looked out my window I swear I grinned from ear to ear.  I looked outside and saw something I haven't seen in awhile - blue skies & sunshine.  It was AWESOME!

I was calling for sunny skies last night but I didn't realize how much just a day of sunshine could put me in a better mood.  Not that I've been in a sour mood lately but I swear I had more energy today I even felt like I was a few inches taller (and a little more handsome, lol).

The last sunny day we had like this was back on February 19th.  It was a Friday, a happy Friday - but it was also almost two weeks ago.  I grew up in Ohio so I know what the winters here are like.  I used to call this time of year the "gray season" - and it's about a 3.5 to 4 month long season.  After living in Hawaii for 4.5 years I didn't forget about the winter but I think I became a little disconnected from what it's truly like.  Fathoming a quarter to a third of the year w/out consistent sunshine hadn't become impossible... just improbable.  I think I also got used to the sun and even took it for granted somewhat.

If you're a sun lover like myself you know what I'm talking about, and you probably also understand how just a day of sunshine can improve your disposition so dramatically.  I almost feel guilty coming into work - I feel like I should be outside enjoying this gorgeous weather.  The good news is that we have more of it in the forecast.  The bad news is that we'll have nice weather again tomorrow - a work day.  Oh, well maybe I'll call in sick - darn it, now I can't;  otherwise my boss would know I'm playing hooky.  There is a silver lining in that fact, though: the only thing better than enjoying the sunshine is telling people about the beautiful weather.

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I'm Slippin'
03/03/10

I had a funny idea about which to blog earlier today.  I forgot what it was but then remembered it but now that it's time to sit down and write I'm drawing a blank.  I guess that means that it probably wasn't that interesting in the first place, either that or I'm slippin' in my old age (I hope it's the former and not the latter).

When I was younger I had a great memory for the mundane.  Now that I'm older I remember numbers and trivia.  Why is that? I have no clue.  I have learned something, though: the younger you are the easier it is to remember things that have basically no impact on your life.

When I lived in Wapakoneta awhile back I took my daughter, Gail to a store in town.  Outside it there was a red car that looked kind of cool (I think).  Two or three months later we went back to the same store and Gail asked, "What happened to the red car?"  It took me a moment or two to realize what she meant.  She was only about three-years-old @ the time and I was impressed w/ her memory.  In fact I didn't really remember the car @ all and still don't.

My daughter, Georgia will remember just about anything that she finds even remotely funny.  Or if you promise her something she'll hold you to it... even if it's two years later!

So what does this all mean?  Maybe children have better memories than those of us who are getting on in years.  Perhaps children care more and pay better attention (yeah right). 

I think it comes down to a responsibility thing.  When you're young what do you really have to do?  Pretty much nothing.  As you get older you have to go to school and then do homework and while that can be tough it's not too bad.

Think about an adult now.  He/she has to worry about a mortgage, going to work & keeping a job, staying healthy, keeping the kids healthy, etc.  In short there's a lot more to worry about/occupy your time.  And quite frankly if, as an adult, I remembered the color of a car outside of a store a few months after I saw it... my priorities aren't in order.

The funny thing is that as a kid you don't realize how easy you have it.  We didn't have a whole lot when I was growing up but there was always food on the table and I always had clothes (not always the most stylish ones but they kept me warm).  Honestly, that's really all we needed.  But heaven forbid I got asked to do something on a summer day to help around the house.  I'd bellyache and moan, as if somehow cutting into my watching of syndicated "Growing Pains" reruns was the end of the world.  Life would become unfair and it would seem like all I ever had did was work (never mind the fact that that's about all my mom did).

I guess that's the folly of youth (or @ least one of them).  Of course, it's also kind of human nature to never fully appreciate what you have until it's too late.  Which brings me back to my original topic - forgetting what I was going to blog about today.  Maybe I just under appreciated it.

I'll probably remember my original topic as I fall asleep tonight and be upset that I wrote this piece of junk.  I guess the good news that in about a week or two it won't matter b/c I'll most likely have forgotten about the entire ordeal in the first place.

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Who Needs a List?
03/02/10

"Frozen strawberries, O-J, toilet paper, grape juice, aluminum foil; frozen strawberries, O-J, toilet paper, grape juice, aluminum foil; frozen strawberries, O-J, toilet paper, grape juice, aluminum foil; froz..."

That was the thought that permeated through my brain as I stepped out the door today on my way to Sam's Club.  The items weren't ranked in any particular order but I made sure that I kept repeating them so as not to forget them. 

It was my shopping list.  A list that was originally one item long but when my wife found out where I was going she made sure to add a few things onto it - not out of spite but I do think that on a subconscious level she lengthened it just to make sure I was paying attention.  No I'm not paranoid but it seems that whenever I head out the door to go do something she'll always ask me to do something else which only complicates my original plan.  And about 25% of the time I come back only to realize that I've somehow forgotten something (and therefore I'm not a "good listener"). 

One could ask, "Why don't you just write it down?"  B/c I can remember it (usually).  I think that stubbornness goes back to being a man.  We hate to ask for directions for goodness sake; we're not about to let our decisions be ruled by a thin scrap of paper covered in chicken scratch designed to remind us to do something we already know we can remember in the first place.

If you are going to adopt the, "I'll remember it" strategy you need to be very careful, though.  You can't start singing along w/ whatever song is on the radio or chime in when you have a point to make for or against the commentator's rant du jour while driving to your destination.  I've done that before and returned home having forgotten something of importance. 

You also have to limit any conversation @ the store.  Sure your friends may think you're rude but that's a sacrifice you'll need to make.  For if you fall into this trap your mind will spiral off on a tangent and your grocery gathering trip will result in failure.

Be prepared for the aimless wandering that will accompany your trip if you go sans list as well.  My wife will actually organize her list according to the layout of the store but I think my way is a lot more fun and rewarding.  You will look a little strange as you amble through the store resembling a zombie who appears to be hungry for various foods and on today's adventure a giant case of toilet paper.

I will say, though, my trip was successful.  I didn't forget anything.  And as I walked out of the store triumphant in my endeavor I told myself what I frequently tell my wife, "I don't need a list."

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What's That Smell?
03/01/10

I saw a story over the weekend on the news talking about the burgeoning "male body spray" market.  It's a multibillion dollar a year industry.  I'll admit I don't contribute to it in any way, shape or form.  I think it's b/c on the commercial when a man sprays it on women are drawn to him and virtually throw themselves @ him - I don't need that.  You see I'm married and while I like to think of myself as semi-decent looking I'm afraid if I were to put on the spray I might just become irresistible and I think my wife would get upset if I had even a modicum of the success that the guys on the commercial have while wearing such a captivating scent.  Well, that and the fact that one of the sprays has an ad that says "skip a shower" and use it instead.  That's kind of gross.  I'm a busy man but I don't know if I've ever been too busy to take a shower (too lazy is a different story).

I also don't wear this stuff b/c I'm well out of the target demographic and I think it's just depressing when someone tries to be hip when he obviously isn't.  Turns out these things are marketed to men in their late teens and early to mid-20s (on a side note, I actually had more time to take a shower back then).  Like any successfully marketed product some outside the target audience will rush to buy it - that group happens to be younger teenage boys which was a crux of the story.

It was kind of funny to see these goofy teenage boys talking about why they wear the stuff.  They stopped short of admitting that they believed the commercials are accurate and that they could instantly turn into an adolescent Casanova w/ a quick spray of "Heaven in an aerosol can" - but you could tell that on some level they believed it.

It was also funny to see one of the boys' moms talking about how she knows her son is wearing the stuff before he even leaves his room to come downstairs.  That got me laughing b/c I remember being just like that.  In eighth grade I hadn't discovered that you can do a lot more w/ less - subtlety was lost on me.  I figured, "If a little smells good then a lot will have to smell even better!"  And here's the kicker: back then I was wearing stuff like Brut or Hai Karate which didn't smell all that great in any quantity.

I've never used the newer body sprays but I suspect that the art of making desirable scents has grown by leaps and bounds since I was a kid - @ least I hope it has.  If there are any young men who are reading this I have a little bit of advice.  It doesn't matter how good your spray smells; if you're ever wondering whether or not you should take a shower or just give yourself a "spray down"... always go with the former.

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All Right, Mother Nature We Get It!!!
02/26/10

I just stepped outside to return my clean dinner plate to my car.  Why don't I just wait until we're off the air for the day and take it out when I leave work for the night?  B/c I'm O-C-D (even though I call it C-D-O b/c then it's in alphabetical order) and for some reason I get it in my head that my dishes need to be returned to my car after they've been cleaned.  Also, if I didn't it would just clutter an already busy weather center.

Anyway, when I stepped outside I watched the light snow fall and caught the brunt of a stiff breeze and I just thought, "All right, Mother Nature, I get it!"  In fact, we all get it: it's winter in Ohio.  It's been winter in Ohio for awhile now.  Please make it stop. 

What does winter in Ohio mean?  Cold, windy, cloudy and sometimes snowy (especially this year). 

I feel like Mother Nature is just showing off by now b/c it's been a brutal winter and this latest batch of snow adds insult to injury b/c it's almost as if she's just throwing it on to spite us.  I say that for two reasons:
1.) We're getting MORE snow and we really don't need it
2.) The snow we're getting hit by tonight is a rare occurrence. 

We're watching it move in from the East.  It's very rare for weather to move in from the East (in the mid-latitudes).  Weather normally comes from the West b/c of the prevailing winds (Westerlies).  They push storm systems across the United States and bring whatever the weather du jour happens to be. 

Tonight's snow is sponsored by the blizzard slamming the East Coast as we speak.  That system is retrograding, or moving against the normal order.  Why?  Well, meteorologically speaking b/c an area of stable air is being stubborn by refusing to budge thus "blocking" that strong storm system from moving as it normally would and actually pushing it backwards (or to the West).  But I think there's more to it - Mother Nature is just showing off proving that our efforts to tame the natural world are futile @ best.  Again, WE GET IT!

I don't think my disdain for the recent weather will change the forecast in any way, shape or form (in fact if it could it would have warmed up a long time ago).  So why complain about it?  Simple, b/c then I feel like I have some sort of control over something I clearly do not -  and when it finally does warm up I'll feel like I had something to do w/ it.

Here's an interesting side note: I mentioned that weather usually doesn't move in from the east in the mid-latitudes.  In the tropics, though that's not the case.  For the 4 1/2 years I lived in Hawaii the weather came in from the east or NE about 75%-80% of the time.  So in essence the weather is moving like it does in the tropics we're just not enjoying the warm temperatures.  Again, Mother Nature - WE GET IT!!!

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I AM Special
02/25/10

I'm so excited today that I can hardly contain myself.  I have a huge feeling that my life, while great, is about to become exponentially better.

You see I got a letter the other day talking of "an exclusive association, a secret society, of some of the world's most famous and powerful people."  Guess what, they want me to join!  How awesome is that?  Now the letter did warn against telling people about this but I'm hoping that they want me so badly that they won't care that I'm blogging about it.

The letter said that I "possess several rare traits" that this society is searching for.  These secrets they'll teach me will show me how to "prosper in every area of" my "life: emotionally, personally, physically, romantically & financially."  So in essence I'll learn to become rich beyond my wildest dreams and have the physique of a bronzed Adonis (after all who has time for diet & exercise and long-term financial planning?).

The letter then went on to tell the story of a man, Kevin, who had nothing and went to Vegas only to meet a man who had it all.  He asked the man what his secret was and the man told him, "You have hidden traits that few others have..." and that eventually "I shall reveal my secrets to you."  A few months later Kevin stopped by a library and the librarian gave him a book detailing 2300 year old secrets to life that was left there by the very man he'd recently met.  Within a year Kevin was a millionaire, he'd lost 40 lbs. and his romantic life had dramatically improved.  He's now a late night talk show host (funny, I can't think of any talk show hosts named Kevin but that's probably just a typo).

I was just about sold @ this point but then I read something that sealed the deal.  The letter told me that @ times in my life I've felt I'm here "to do great things with my life."  I thought everybody w/ an ounce of self-esteem had those thoughts but maybe I'm wrong - maybe I am meant to do great things and now I'm just a secret book away from figuring out how to do them.

The letter also asks, "have you ever felt like God or some higher power may be communicating with you, giving you a sign?  If you answered yes, and we know you did, then you are indeed that special person we are looking for."  This worried me a little b/c honestly, I try to talk w/ the big man upstairs every day but it's always a one-way conversation.  I'm not going to tell the secret society that, though, I don't want to disqualify myself.

I'm psyched b/c these guys will send me a book that will, among other things, teach me how to:
-Make my "new powers render all others helpless"
-"Transfer all money, power, prestige from the uninformed to" me instantly
-"Be constantly and invisibly armed so that any person trying deception or cheating ploys against" me "instantly becomes powerless and at" my mercy
How awesome will that be?

If you can't tell I'm being a little sarcastic - but I really did get this letter.  It's kind of funny b/c it builds you up and makes you feel awesome and special (or tries to).  It's almost as if it makes you feel so great that you think only a fool would walk away from such a deal.

I did some research on-line and while the guru mentioned in the letter is no longer with us he was convicted of tax evasion.  If the letter itself hadn't screamed "scam" that sealed the deal.

Further research said that what happens is you send away for a free booklet and then they try to get you to spend $200 on the full version of the book.  I learned something @ an early age: if you keep telling me over and over that something isn't a scam and then you ask me for money, it's probably a scam.  I kind of wish I had the $200 to waste on the book b/c I'm sure that would make for an interesting read. 

Oh, well.  Maybe someday I'll go buy it - once I get my cut of the $15,000,000 in funds stolen from the days when communism fell in the Soviet Union.  I helped an Algerian banker transfer them to a Swiss bank account a couple of years ago and I should get my check any day now.

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Too Commercial
02/24/10

I think my kids are WAAAY to susceptible to advertising.  Whenever they're watching TV if a cool commercial comes on they almost always say, "I want that!"  Now you could argue that all kids' commercials make the product look so cool that you just have to have it - that's the point.  I actually wasn't much different when it came to cool commercials on Saturday mornings (I still have all my Star Wars figures and some Transformers) - but it doesn't stop there.

When you ask one of my daughters where she wants to eat sometimes she says, "Ba-ba-ba-ba-baaah" to the McDonald's "I'm Loving It" theme.  And just the other day that same child asked for a, "Wii banana".  Why did she call it that?  B/c it had a sticker for "Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll" on it.  I guess that's a game for the Wii b/c the sticker had the Wii logo on it as well.  Here's the thing: she's not the biggest fan of bananas.  She doesn't necessarily hate them but I've never seen her actively request one.  Why did she request it?  Simple, b/c it had a Wii logo on it.

My kids don't have a Wii b/c I've requested that grandparents don't get them one as I'd like to keep video games out of the house as long as possible.  I'd rather have them go outside and play and I think it's easier when they don't have a lot of distractions.  I also don't feel I should have to jockey for control of the TV seeing that I pay the bills- not having a Wii makes that goal easier to accomplish.  But that's besides the point.

Not only do I find the whole "Wii banana" ordeal sad but I also find it upsetting - I'm sure any advertising executive reading this (if there are any) is salivating, though.  But even though it upset me when I thought about it I was happy that she asked for a healthy snack - after all bananas are high in potassium, Vitamin A, iron & phosphorous.  It's got me thinking, though.  Maybe if I put that banana sticker on other products I could have similar success.  Why not feed her a "Wii brussels sprout" or a high fiber bowl off "Wii cereal"?

I think I might be onto something.  If we look @ her track record it's easy to sway my daughter - if the right product comes into play.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go - I'm getting kind of hungry.  For some reason I have a hankering for a filet-o-fish sandwich, I also kind of want to go buy a billy bass to hang in my garage.

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Will I Become a Centenarian?
02/23/10

A recent issue of Time magazine has a huge section in it devoted to aging.  That got me wondering if I'll become a centenarian someday.  No I'm not pondering whether or not I'll become a half-man half-horse (I'm not planning on visiting the Island of Dr. Moreau anytime soon).  *On a side note: Do you think centaurs let themselves be ridden?  I'm thinking that if they have the intelligence of a human and the speed and agility of a stallion that would be a little degrading to the creature.  In essence you'd reduce him to the status of a 10-speed.  But I digress.

A centenarian is someone who lives to be 100.  Scientists are doing a study on families blessed w/ longevity to see if there are any common genetic factors that predispose them to live so long.  They're also looking into whether or not the lifestyle and activities these people engage in have anything to do w/ the phenomenon. 

I'm no scientist but I suspect the two go hand in hand.  Those who are destined to live a long life probably stay active longer b/c it's easier too.  After all, if your body is prone to holding up as time passes it's easier to stay active which in turn makes it easier to live longer. 

The article got me thinking, would you want to live to be 100?  I think it depends on the life you lead.  If you live fast I'm sure you're hoping to checkout early b/c all that living will catch up with you.  If, on the other hand, you lead a healthy life it probably wouldn't be as bad.  That's not to say there wouldn't be any negative aspects - after all we all break down w/ time (a fact I'm reminded of almost daily as various parts of my body emit "pops" and "cracks" whenever I make a wrong move).  But I think all in all being healthy in your youth will only pay off in the long run.

I think I'm going to live to be 100. Not b/c I'm healthy, though (I love bacon, steak and other meat-based products).  I think I'll live that long b/c I buy into that whole "mind over matter" concept.  Ever since I've been a child I've had a feeling that I'm going to hit the century mark.  And I believe that if you tell yourself something long enough it has a better chance of becoming true.  That's why I tell myself daily that I'll be a millionaire someday (I still have to figure out how to get there, though).

The funny thing is that as I get older I have mixed feelings about the whole living to 100 thing.  On the one hand it'll be cool to see my kids & family grow up and lead long fulfilling lives but on the other my knees and back hurt now - I don't even want to imagine how they'll feel in 77 years.  Hopefully by then they'll have cured all of that stuff by then.  Either way, I better start saving now b/c I really don't want to be working when I'm in my 80s (or 60s for that matter).

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2/3 of the Way Home!
02/22/10

Friday was the first time we'd seen the sun in AWHILE.  Saturday was the 20th of February and that brings me hope.  You might be wondering why 2/20 brings me hope and the answer is simple: it was @ that point that we officially had a month of winter left. 

Yep, we're 2/3 of the way through winter (even more than that as of the time of this writing).  That makes me happy b/c it has been a rough winter... and an especially rough February.

Since the beginning of the year we've had 32 days w/ highs @ freezing or colder (and that's out of 53 days).  That means 60% of the days in 2010 haven't gotten above freezing (many times it's been MUCH colder).

Not only that but we're in the midst of the third snowiest February on record.  W/ 20.3" so far we're less than an inch from moving up to second place (21.2").  And our friends to the south in Cincinnati have already seen their snowiest February on record which means that any additional snow will just pad their numbers. 

And even if we don't set the record for the all time snowiest February we still set a record for the snowiest day in the month of February.  Remember the 5th?  It was the day of the first big snowstorm this month (I remember the few days before it quite fondly).  On that day we got 7.7" which is the highest single day total for the month of February on record.

In short it's been a long winter.  But do you see that?  That's the light @ the end of the tunnel.  That doesn't mean that we don't have @ least one more cold snap or even snowstorm on tap - in fact a cool off is in the 7-day.  It does give me hope, though.  That's b/c I know spring is right around the corner.  Soon enough I'll be missing those cold days when nothing was in bloom and my allergies were nowhere to be found.  But you know what - I'm okay w/ that.

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Help Wanted
02/18/10

I was just reading an article on-line that says Chicago Mayor, Richard Daley is so desperate for honest politicians that he's posted an ad on the city's website asking for qualified individuals.  He's seeking Aldermen for the city's 1st & 29th ward(s).  One of the requirements is that applicants have not "been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony".  My mom taught me @ an early age that it's not polite to talk about two things: religion and politics.  That's why I'm not going to throw my political leanings in this blog.  I will laugh @ the situation, though.

It's kind of a sad state of affairs when a city needs to resort to a help-wanted ad to fill a publicly elected office.  Are there that few qualified people in the city that they can't find anyone?  I believe the job pays well and it has to have great benefits, there's got to be someone they can find to fill the vacancies. 

Now that I think about it that means someone like me could potentially get the job - and that scares me.  Not b/c I'm dishonest or would be bad @ it (I'm sure I'd be better than some and I've never been convicted of a felony); but it's hard enough to be the head of a family of five let alone a city of 3,000,000 people - and every day I ask my wife for help doing the former.

This isn't the first time partly leaders have resorted to help wanted ads in order to fill a vacancy.  According to William C. Spragens' Popular Images of American Presidents (and Uncle John's Bathroom Reader) Richard M. Nixon began his career in politics by winning a seat in the U.S. Congress after answering a newspaper ad.

I'd have loved to see some of the people who answered that ad - I'm sure there was quite a cast of characters.  I'd also love to see the list of resumes that come across Mayor Daley's desk now that his office has placed an ad of its own.  That's what I'd call entertainment

If you do live in Chicago and you're reading this blog though (first off, why?), you might want to think about throwing your hat into the ring.  Who knows you might just get the job; and if you play your cards right history may repeat itself and you could become president (that's kind of scary too).  If you do, though, learn the lessons of history... and don't record your conversations - that can only come back to haunt you.

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Am I Psychic?
02/17/10

It's ironic, when I was younger I sensed I'd be asking myself this very question as I got older.

So why would I even ask the question in the first place?  More than that, why would I think the answer could be "yes"? 

For one thing I'm a meteorologist so in essence I look into my atmospheric crystal ball every day and predict the future.  Of course I have a lot of real-time data along computer models helping me w/ that so maybe that's not a good example.

Yesterday, though, I was driving around and I looked @ my dashboard and saw I had a little more than a quarter of a tank of gas.  Normally I wait until I'm down in the red zone or even until the needle is well past "E" before I fill up but yesterday I had a feeling that I shouldn't delay.  I can't describe exactly what it was other than say it was a nagging feeling in my gut that I needed to do something - I may have just been hungry @ the time, though.  Regardless I stopped and filled my tank and calculated my gas mileage as I always do before I leave the station (only about 24 mpg which is way off my summertime high of 35 mpg - of course I was doing A LOT more highway driving then).  

Today when I was driving into work I noticed on the way in that gas had jumped 20 cents a gallon.  I smiled even though I only saved about $1.50 but I think the triumph comes w/ knowing that I fought "the man" and won!  Sometimes it's the little things that bring us joy in life.

So does this experience make me psychic?  Probably not, lucky/thrifty sounds more like it.  But I ask why can't it be both?  I could be Jeff Booth: The Frugal Psychic.  It could be a great TV show where I get involved in all sorts of hijinks and adventures.  On one episode I could warn a family of an impending car accident potentially saving them from certain death and skyrocketing car insurance premiums.  In another I could help a kind old lady properly diversify her retirement portfolio just before a "market correction" thus securing her retirement savings against the costs of long-term care.  The possibilities are endless - and if any network heads are reading this and thinking of running w/ the idea (you could get a lot of big time corporate financial sponsors) I want an executive producer credit.

Truthfully I've never had too many incidents where I have averted tragedy or some other malaise by trusting intuition.  In fact, typically whenever I trust my gut the outcome is usually opposite of what I'd like.  At least this is true in little "day to day" things.  Whenever I've had a big decision in my life it seems like I've made the right one.  I don't necessarily know if I'd attribute this to psychic prowess or just thoroughly thinking a problem through.  Maybe if it's a small thing I should go against my gut feeling so I come out on the right side of those conundrums as well. 

It's funny, I had a feeling I'd come to that conclusion.

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Don't Label Me
02/16/10

I recently read something on-line that says the Food & Drug Administration wants to combat obesity by pushing food manufacturers to put food labels on the front of their packages.  Take a second to digest what I just wrote (it has 0 calories and 0% of your daily fat).

You done?  Good b/c I still haven't wrapped my brain around it.  @ the risk of exaggerating that's one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard in my life.  I've been eating food for a long time, as long as I can remember in fact.  I remember when nutrition labels became mandatory back in 1990.  I didn't think much of them then but now I look @ them just about any time I buy a new food item.  In fact that very label has kept me from making bad decisions in the past (a certain gummi hamburger w/ an unholy amount of calories comes to mind). 

But how much good will putting the nutrition information on the front of the package really do?  Is the FDA suggesting that maybe somehow as a society we've forgotten where to find nutritional information on a box of doughnuts?  B/c in the years since the mandatory implementation of nutritional labels I don't think I've ever once forgotten where to find them.

Or perhaps it's saying that by putting nutrition labels front and center we'll be more inclined to read them.  I'm sorry but if you're not seeking the label out now you'll just ignore it once it's in front of your face (and think the packaging of the product is really ugly).  And if the FDA is implying that we're not reading the information b/c we're too lazy to turn a 12 oz. bag of cookies on its side I don't think there's much of anything anyone can do to fix that problem.

Whatever the thinking behind the move is it seems to me like someone thinks I'm really stupid.  Are they saying that I haven't grasped the fact that I live in a 3-dimensional world?  One where fronts also have backs and sides inevitably open up such amazing wonders.

And let's not forget that as a manufacturer of any item you want a certain amount of product differentiation.  You want your product to stand out in the crowd - unless you make a terrible one, then you want it to be confused w/ better merchandise, but most companies don't feel that way about their product(s).  The label is the one thing that's standard on every food package, and they basically all look the same!  So from a marketing standpoint it's a nightmare. 

It's a nightmare until some savvy businessman down the road decides that because the front of his product looks like everybody else's he'll make the back awesome looking.  B/c then store operators, wanting to provide the most aesthetically pleasing shopping experience, will just turn all of those particular boxes around thus placing the nutrition label where it is now - on the back of the item, and we'll be back to square one.

I wonder if we'll ever get to the point where everything has a big warning label on it b/c if you try hard enough you can make anything dangerous.  Sometimes I think life should come w/ a warning label - after all, it eventually kills you.  I've often thought this blog should come w/ a warning label.  It'd probably read:

WARNING: Studies have shown that reading this blog can have adverse effects on your health ranging from increased blood pressure to a dulling of  the senses along w/ a drop in overall I.Q.  People who have read this blog in the past have wished their head would explode in a fireball as bright as a quatrillion candles.  Reading of said blog will result in lost time & productivity and could lead to job loss if done @ work.

Come to think of it I should've put my warning @ the beginning of this blog that way you could've saved the past few of minutes of your life.

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Sorry, Moms
02/15/10

As I type out this blog we're @ the tail end of our latest snowstorm.  That makes three systems bringing us @ least half a foot each w/in the past 10 days. 

No big surprise we've seen our fair share of snow days over the past week-and-a-half as a result.  I don't mind when we have them b/c I work nights and that means I get to spend more time w/ my oldest daughter during the day - which I think is cool.  For my wife, though, it's a different story.

Let's walk you through the past 10 days.  We get hit w/ snow on Friday, February 5th.  I work a few long days so I can't help out w/ the kids as much.  Then our next snowstorm hits last week and our kids are out of school Tuesday & Wednesday.  Again, I have a few long days and guess who gets to handle the young ones... bingo - my wife.  Then they go back on Thursday only to have Friday off for the holiday weekend (oh, yeah they also got today off in honor of President's Day).  That means they've missed 4 days in a 1 1/2 weeks. 

Not that my wife doesn't love spending time w/ the kids but this might be too much of a good thing.  It's kind of like chocolate - while it sounds great you wouldn't want to eat it all the time.  Needless to say I think she's ready for a break.  Will she get one anytime soon?  If by soon you mean tomorrow... then no.  That's b/c tomorrow's school day was canceled about two hours ago (as of this writing).  When I was talking w/ her on the phone earlier this evening I jokingly told her that school had been canceled.  She laughed and told me I was mean for torturing her.  About 20 minutes later officials actually canceled classes.  I called my wife just to let her know she could sleep in and she wasn't too upset.  But  she lamented, "Are you kidding me?" when I gave her the news.

I'm sure my wife isn't alone in feeling this way.  I'm sure there are other parents who are ready for their little ones to continue their quest for knowledge that is known as K-12 schooling.  I can only imagine what it was like for parents in some of the northern counties.  A lot of the districts up there were supposed to have school today to make time up b/c they've exhausted their calamity days.  Some of those had another cancellation today.  It'd probably be worse if said parents already had the day off and they were counting on a day for themselves only to discover that they weren't going to get it.

So if there are any other moms who wish to have their days back I'm sorry if you're facing another snow day.  All I can say is that before you know it we'll be in the spring thaw and you won't have to worry about anymore snow days.  Of course then you'll be looking forward to summer which is basically a 2 1/2 month long calamity day.

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The Day of Jeff!
02/12/10

Today was a great day!  I got to be lazy (until I came to work) and just enjoy myself doing whatever I felt like (again, until I came to work). 

Last night my wife decided to go to Cincinnati for the night so the girls could see their new baby cousin.  My kids were out of school so they were down for it (even if they hadn't been they still would've had to go).

That meant when I got home last night I got to do whatever I wanted - which wasn't much different from what I would've done anyway... watch the shows I'd DVR'd.  But I came home and I didn't have a baby to feed and I didn't have to be quiet either b/c no one was around for me to awaken (except the cat but she doesn't count). 

When I finally went to bed I decided to watch some TV before I shut my eyes.  I watched The Cosby Show.  It was the one where Theo wanted to carve the turkey @ Thanksgiving so he had to practice on a chicken & cabbage and Sondra came home for a visit from college and had to talk her father, Cliff Huxtable into letting her spend the summer studying in Paris.  I just looked it up online and it was titled "Bonjour Sondra".

I used to spend many an afternoon w/ the Huxtables when I was younger as syndicated reruns were on whenever I'd get home from school as a kid.  I'd seen this episode but I'd forgotten about it and I have to say Bill Cosby made one heck of a television program back in the 80s.  But I digress.

This morning I woke up @ 9:15 and decided I wanted to sleep in b/c I rarely get the opportunity so I rolled over and caught another 1hr. 45min. of rest.  When I finally awoke shortly after 11:00 A.M. I felt refreshed and wonderful.

I then proceeded to make myself a bacon, egg & cheese muffin and ate the delicious creation while I read the morning paper.  When noon rolled around I thought about going to the recreation center to workout but figured I don't get a whole lot of time for myself so I just lazed on the couch until it was time to get ready for work.

What did I accomplish @ home today?  Nothing.  Do I still feel like it was a productive day?  Heck yeah!  I don't know if you've ever seen that Seinfeld episode where George Costanza enjoys the "Summer of George" but that's what if felt like this morning (obviously it didn't feel like summer and the duration of the "Day of Jeff" was much more diminished but the spirit was there).  The family is back in town tonight which is probably a good thing - if they weren't, I'd get nothing done this weekend (except manage to leave the seat up the entire time).

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Valentine's Day
02/11/10

It's almost the middle of February which means it's time for guys to start worrying about what they're going to do for their special lady come Valentine's Day.  Why do we choose St. Valentine's Day as the one when we shower our significant other w/ gifts?  I don't know. 

In my opinion it's b/c the geniuses @ Hallmark needed a holiday to fill in the gap between Christmas and Mother's Day.  Either that or whoever decided to make Valentine's Day what it is was a sadist and wanted to torture men everywhere across the planet.  Or maybe that person was a braggart and wanted to prove to his lady how romantic he was by making the rest of us look bad (actually that still kind of happens).

Regardless of the holiday's origins it can be a stressful time.  It's one more thing you have to do to show your love for your wife or girlfriend (hopefully not both).  Now granted you should show this love everyday but when you single out a particular one the pressure builds b/c you need to make it special.  And if you don't - oh, boy!  That's a fun one to try and talk your way out of. 

Have you ever started dating a girl right before a big holiday like Valentine's Day?  That's always a pain.  Here you are seeing someone who you're just getting to know and now you have to go out and get her a present.  I don't necessarily mind the present buying but when it's that early on it's tough to gauge exactly where you are in the relationship so you don't know how good of a gift you should get.  It's worse when she gets you a gift that isn't of the same magnitude as the one you bought.  If you get her something really nice and she buys you a pair of socks that shrieks of desperation on your part.  But if she gets you something really cool and all you buy her is a pocket address book you come off looking like a jerk (unless of course that's the one thing on the planet she really needs).

I try and keep it as simple as possible and get my wife flowers b/c she loves those.  She actually doesn't like roses so I usually go and get an assorted bouquet of flowers.  This year I was a little lazy and just went w/ one of those websites and ordered a bouquet.  We've had our bad weather lately so I just went w/ what was easiest b/c I didn't have a lot of spare time.  The flowers are nice and she'll like them but I don't know if the extra $15 was worth the ease that came w/ ordering.  It's also kind of nice to go to your local florist b/c they make you feel good about doing something nice for your girl - that's why I plan on staying local for my next flower buying excursion.

I'm not wild about buying flowers b/c they're already dead and they're not going to look a whole lot better as time passes.  I actually buy them b/c I know my wife likes them but I can't help but wish that she liked Big Mouth Billy Bass (or some other toy du jure).  After all, if I'm already going to buy something that we'll only end up throwing away it might as well be something I'll find cool for about a month or two. 

So what should you get your significant other this holiday?  Write her a poem, buy her chocolates or take her to her favorite restaurant - be like me take the easy road.  Or... be a bit more exciting and get her something cool.  Buy her magic lessons, take her bowling, get her a 6-foot long sandwich or the complete DVD series of the Sopranos.  I'd do one of those (or something cooler) but I've already locked in my wife's gift.  And do me a favor, if you do decide to go nontraditional let me know if it works.

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Feelin' Bad
02/10/10

If you watch w/ regularity you've probably seen me talk about the "Phone Booth" prize.  It's a contest that gives viewers a chance to win cool merchandise or even gift cards to places in and around the Miami Valley. 

I'm kind of a homebody and don't get out much b/c I have three kids.  But whenever I do go out (usually representing the station) it's not uncommon for someone to ask me about the "Phone Booth" or what the prize is that night. 

One question I get a lot is whether or not the phone booth pictured in the studio is a real one.  Sorry to say so but it isn't.  We tried to find one but they're hard to get a hold of since the onset of cell phones (now they're collector's items).  Not just that but if we could get one there wouldn't be much room in the studio for it (not to mention that it may have a weird smell to it - a lot of phone booths I've encountered in my lifetime haven't been the most hygienic of places).

What you're actually seeing is a graphic made by our graphics department.  I put it into my weather computer and they superimpose me onto it via our green screen - that's also how we get the weather graphics behind me during the newscast.

Tonight's "Phone Booth" prize was merchandise & a pass to Hollywood Casino.  B/c you have to be @ least 21 to enter the casino we always announce before the prize that you need to be @ least 21 to win.  Well the 10th caller was a very nice lady.  I took her information and when I went to input it into the prize computer it informed me that she couldn't win b/c she was only 19 (her b-day was about a week ago). 

As a result I had to run back and take the next caller's information and quickly re-enter a winner into the prize computer.  Needless to say I was able to do it and barely got on the air for the end of the show but I still felt terrible.  There I was, I'd already promised the prize to a nice young lady and now as she watched the end of the show she had hear someone else's name when we announced the winner.

I felt bad but then came the envied task of calling her and telling her of the error.  No one likes to be the bearer of bad news (I'm so glad I didn't have to be the entertainment reporter who informed the American people that the Fat Boys were breaking up, I loved Disorderlies).  She understood but I still felt bad.  I'm fortunate that she was so cool w/ it b/c I don't know if I would've been if I were in a similar situation.  Seeing that I caught a break w/ this incident maybe I should make a trip to Hollywood Casino.  Or maybe not - why press my luck?

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Snow Day
02/09/10

Today your local weatherman was the best friend of just about every kid in the Miami Valley.  Why is that?  Two words: Snow Day!  My wife woke up this morning and went to feed the baby and asked me to watch the TV to see if our kids had a snow day.  When I turned on the TV I noticed our station had A LOT of delays/closings and I turned on the TV when the closings were on the letter "G".  B/c the delays/closings are in alphabetical order I had to wait for a few minutes before they got to Centerville City Schools.  The wait was worth it, though.  I learned that you can be liable if you shovel your walkway and someone falls on it.

When it finally got back to "C" I saw my kids were included but I figured as much b/c whenever there are a bunch of closings my kids' school is usually on the list - but only when everybody else is included (this upsets my 9 yo. immensely, she'll grumble in the morning when she sees other schools are delayed or closed but hers isn't).

I remember how much I used to love snow days.  When I was a kid they were quite possibly one of the greatest things in the world.  That's actually part of the reason I got into weather.  I used to stay up late @ night watching the late news in hopes of finding out I wouldn't be punished the next day for being a night owl.  Unfortunately, most of the time we still had school b/c we weren't bussed.  But when we did get a cancellation you'd see one happy teenager. 

I can remember a few times when my mom would drive us to school only to realize she should've watched the morning news b/c school had been canceled - that was even cooler b/c we'd have gone through all of the motions of getting ready for the day only to realize we could go back home and get some more sleep, it was equivalent to winning about $20 on a scratch-off ticket.

So how do I feel about snow now?  I still love it but I don't get as excited about it as I did when I was younger but that's just b/c I don't get snow days anymore - I will admit I've picked up an appreciation for snow shoveling.  Nowadays, though when it's a snow day I don't get to go out and have as much fun.  Today I got up, shoveled about 3" off the driveway, went to the doctor's office, came home and shoveled another 1.5" and had to drive over another .5" when I left to get to work early - by 12:00 P.M.

While that's not as exciting as it sounds it's still nice to see the winter wonderland across the Miami Valley.  Be careful while you're driving, though b/c it's slick and w/ blowing snow on the way it won't get a whole lot better.  And if you're kid happens to get another snow day this week tell them to enjoy the extra sleep and go outside to enjoy some sledding.

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Here We Go Again
02/08/10

Just as we're digging ourselves out of this weekend's massive snow storm we're turning our eye to the sky once again as another storm makes a run @ us. 

Before I get into this blog I'd first like to thank everyone who's taken the time to send us weather photos.  We've gotten some great ones and w/ another storm on the way keep 'em coming.

Now lets talk about this next storm.  There's good news and bad news w/ it. 

The good news is that we won't see as much snow as we saw w/ our last storm.  Greenville topped out @ 14.8" over the weekend w/ a lot of other people getting just about 10-12" along & just north of the I-70 corridor.  That same area will pick up about 6-9"+ inches w/ areas south of I-70 looking @ about 4-7" and even a little less to the southern Miami Valley.  This snow will also have a lower water content which means it won't be as packable but it'll be easier to shovel.

The bad news is that our winds will be a lot stronger on the backside of this storm.  We saw winds mainly in the 15-25 mph range on Saturday w/ gusts into the mid & upper 30s for the most part.  By Wednesday we'll be dealing w/ winds around 20-30+ mph and I wouldn't be surprised if we get gusts over 40 mph.  And when the temperatures are this cold just a little change in wind speed makes a big difference when it comes to wind chill temperatures.  Expect those to drop down to the upper single digits and low double digits during the day and down to 0 if not below @ night - YIKES!!!  Bone chilling wind chill temperatures aren't the only thing the winds will bring - they'll also bring blowing snow.  Seeing that this snow will have a lower water content it'll also be lighter and fluffier which means it'll be blowing around a lot more than it was this weekend.

So bundle up over the next few days b/c you're going to need too and if you get a chance take a walk in the snow and enjoy the peace & quiet - that's how you know I have kids, I'm willing to go outside in the biting cold just so I can get a moment of silence.  Speaking of kids I'd like to wish my daughter, Georgia a happy birthday.  She was born six years ago today in Lima.  Hard to believe more than half a decade later I'd have to move to the middle of the Pacific just so I could move about 70 miles down the road.

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Lots of Shoveling
02/05/10

I can't tell you how sick I am of this goshdarn blog getting erased b/c of something stupid.  I just hung up the phone and the stupid cord hit my mouse, which apparently has a "back" button on it.  So in essence I erased my blog (@ least it wasn't a finished "masterpiece") b/c of the darn phone cord (I'm doing all I can to keep this blog G-rated, that's how upset I am). 

To me it's ridiculous that a phone call and subsequent errant phone cord can throw 10 minutes worth of work down the tubes.  What makes me even more upset is that while the blog itself gets erased the title never does.  So now I'm looking @ it @ the top of my screen and there it sits... mocking me.  Oh, well I won't dwell on it.  Here's take two:

-------------------------------------------

If you watched my forecast tonight you were probably thinking you'd need a shovel.  It's kind of ironic b/c people have told me before that they need a shovel when they hear me talk.  But you'll need a shovel tomorrow for different reasons.  If you haven't looked out your window today (this obviously won't apply in a week) go do it...

Did you go?  Good.  As you can see we're in the midst of a snowstorm.  This just isn't any snowstorm it's the biggest one of the season so far.  Most of us will see about 6" to 10" by the time all is said and done and this thing is moving out of here tomorrow late morning/early afternoon.  Some of us along the I-70 corridor and about 30 miles north will see up to a foot if not a little more. 

That's a lot of snow!  In fact it'll not only be the biggest storm of the winter but it'll be the biggest snowstorm in about 2 years.  According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington the last time we saw a foot or more from one storm was back in March of 2008 when we saw 15.4" fall from March 7-8.  So this storm isn't a record breaker but it will be one for the books - one we'll remember years from now and tell our kids & grand kids about when we're old & gray. 

I kind of feel old right now just thinking about it.  That's b/c I remember my mom telling me about the "Great Blizzard of '78".  I recall being jealous that I was too young to enjoy that storm and thinking that I couldn't wait until I had memories of such a snowfall- b/c then I would have gotten a chance to live through it.  Well time passed and we really didn't see too many, if any, bad snow storms in the 80s.  We did pick up some by the time I was in Jr. High but by that time I had other things to keep myself occupied.  I wasn't too old for it I just had better ways to spend my time.

So here's to the "Great Snowstorm of 2010".  Who knows maybe someday I'll be telling my grandkids about this one.  Be careful if you have to go anywhere, though - the roads will be bad.

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Tough Day @ the Office
02/03/10

This whole week has been a little tough when it comes to forecasting.  Mainly the big issue has been the upcoming weekend.  In short, a winter storm appears to be on the way this weekend.  What will it bring?  That's the tricky part.

As I've mentioned in the past as meteorologists we use weather forecast models to help us predict the weather, especially in the long term.  If you watched Andrew Micheal, our weekend meteorologist, on Sunday he was mentioning what looked to be a big snow-maker this coming weekend.  When I came in Monday things had changed drastically and it looked like our storm would take a similar track to the one that wreaked havoc on our neighbors in the South last weekend.  Then Tuesday rolled around and the storm had done an about face and we were smack dab in the middle of the major snow growth region of a low pressure system meaning a big snowstorm.  Not only had the track changed but the models were coming into consensus (which gives you a lot more confidence in a forecast).  Keep in mind this was all for a storm that hadn't even formed!

Today rolls around and between what I saw @ home and what I saw @ work things appeared to be on track for a big snowstorm this weekend.  It was looking like we'd see about 4-8" possible with most of us seeing around 6".  Not only was our weather team seeing this but around 3:30 a the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch - cool, we're not the only one's seeing this which means the weather team @ Dayton's News Source isn't crazy (even though that's up for debate).

I just got done looking @ the newest model runs and guess what, more changes!  Yeaaah, our job just got harder.  It's now looking like we'll get some rain along w/ an icy mix early before this changes over to all snow.  Any moisture that falls as rain or ice will definitely cut down on our snowfall totals. 

So here's how things are shaping up now: We'll watch a winter storm push closer through the day Friday and we'll start off Friday w/ a bit of a rain/snow and icy mix so watch out as you drive to work and don't be surprised if we pick up some school delays.  As we head through the day we're looking @ a rain/snow mix before we head into the evening hours and we see all snow taking over and that snow will accumulate overnight and taper off as we head through Saturday late morning and early afternoon. 

All said & done I still wouldn't be surprised if we get some spots seeing up to 6" but I think the bigger issue will be snow falling on top of ice along w/ blowing snow.

It's funny, when you look @ weather models you always try to find some sort of consistency in them.  The most consistency I've found this week is the fact that our models have been inconsistent.  The good news is that they're not all over the map like they were on Monday.  The bad news is that Punxsutawney Phil was calling for 6 more weeks of winter while our Ohio groundhogs were calling for an early end to the season.  We still have a ways to go but so far our furry forecaster to the East may have a leg up on us.

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Marmot Controversy
02/02/10

Today when my alarm clock struck 6:00 A.M. my room quickly filled w/ the sounds of Sonny & Cher singing their 1960s classic "I Got You Babe".  It then dawned on me that it's Groundhog Day and I'm a weatherman.  For a brief moment I felt like Bill Murray - then I realized I don't have a bed of money upon which to sleep and I quickly drifted back to reality.  That didn't change the fact that it's Groundhog day and I'm a meteorologist - today is the day that I compete w/ a rodent belonging to the marmot genus for forecast supremacy. 

People have looked to animals for weather forecasting for centuries.  In Germany they consulted hedgehogs.  Some even look @ squirrels tails to let them know how the coming winter will look.  The Groundhog Day legend comes from the fact that when it's sunny on February 2 we're usually in the midst of an arctic outbreak (example: the sunny weather this weekend) and the groundhog wants to duck for cover b/c he's actually afraid of the cold weather not his shadow.  That's about as scientific as it gets b/c it's hard to foretell a month-and-a-half's worth of weather by looking @ just one specific day.

So what are the woodchucks expecting?  Well, that depends on who you ask.  If you want to go w/ the more conventional forecaster, Punxsutawney Phil, we're looking @ six more weeks of winter b/c he saw his shadow.  But wait!  If you step a little closer to home and ask Ivy of the Boonshoft Museum we're in store for a warm-up.  She didn't see her shadow and is thus calling for winter to end in the near future.  There's also Buckeye Chuck in Marion.  He too didn't see his shadow so if we go local he's the tiebreaker.

For what it's worth Punxsutawney Phil lives in Pennsylvania and the Buckeyes proved to be victorious on the football field against Penn State this year so one can only figure that our furry forecasters could win this contest as well.  Actually that doesn't mean anything I just wanted to take the chance to throw a dig @ all my friends who are Penn State fans.

Ohio groundhogs may have science on their side, though.  That's b/c the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's three-month outlook gives us equal chances of having above (below) average conditions for the next 90 days (note this graphic may change in time, I'm not sure if the picture or the link changes).  But we're just on the cusp of the part of the U.S. that's expecting warmer than average temperatures, so we've got that going for us.

Either way, it doesn't matter in the short-term.  We'll get a shot of winter once again as we head into the weekend.  The final details aren't clear just yet but it looks like we'll get a winter storm Friday night into Saturday morning.  Rain, then a rain/snow possibly even an icy mix eventually turning over to all snow look to be an issue as we head through Friday night.  The back end of the storm will bring a return to frigid conditions and we'll find ourselves caught in the icy grip of winter once again.  Maybe I'll download "I Got You Babe".  That Sonny & Cher staple always warms my heart.  And come this weekend I'll need all the help I can get.

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Pass/Fail
02/01/10

I have a friend who did a stint in Iraq while he was in the military.  He enrolled in college classes when he returned and hopes to eventually become a nurse and maybe do another tour so he can help his fellow servicemen. 

Right now he's taking a psychology class and he's in the midst of a project that requires he test children aged newborn to five to see how far along they are in their early childhood development.  He had a two & four old but needed an infant so he made the drive from Columbus on Saturday to test Skye (she's 6 mos.).

The test looked @ a number of things from gross motor skills to cognitive development.  It's the first time she's ever been evaluated - other than a health check-up @ the doctor.  As he was administering the test I could tell my wife was rooting for Skye.  She was trying to get her involved (even though she pretty much was already) during the testing.  When Skye was doing a motor skills test my wife was making sure she could see the yarn ball she was supposed to track or find the block she was supposed to pick up.  It got me thinking as to why, as parents, we're so interested in our kids doing well.

I'll be brutally honest, I want my kids to succeed in life so they can be self-sufficient when they're older -  I don't want to be taking care of them when they're 30.  I'm not exactly counting down the days until they're out of my house but part of me looks forward to letting go of the reigns b/c I remember how exciting that time of my life was.  Sure it's scary as a parent but I trust I'll have done a good enough job raising them that they'll do what's right.  I also know how much I grew as a person @ that time and how even though I hated my mom's rules I came to respect them & understand why they were in place while I was living under her roof.

So while that's the main reason I want them to succeed I have to admit that when they do I swell w/ pride a little.  One can argue that's bad b/c pride is one of the seven deadly sins but Dante argued that pride was the "love of self" - I'm just proud & happy for my kids (and of them to some extent).

It's also nice to see your kids succeed b/c having grown up ourselves we remember the fun that comes w/ it.  Remember learning how to ride a bike?  Sure you got a few scrapes and bruises in the process but that first time you actually get moving, w/out help, it was a great feeling.  Not only were you happy that you actually did it but in a way it opened up a whole new world b/c you could actually do some exploring around the neighborhood (@ least that's how I saw it).

I don't necessarily put a whole lot of stock in these early tests b/c I think children are a lot like blank slates when they're young and as long as you spend quality time w/ them the chips will fall into place.  Having said that I have to admit I was more than proud when my buddy informed me my daughter was @ or above average in just about every test and that she was "normal".  After all, I think that's the first time a Booth has ever been considered "normal" - now I have the paperwork to prove it.

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Don't Be That Guy
01/29/10

I've written in this blog before how I often swim for exercise.  In case you're wondering, it's still very boring but I've recently found a way to break the monotony.  I've stopped counting laps and now I just swim for a specific amount of time, usually 25 or 30 minutes.  This seems to make the things go a little faster as I let my mind wander while I'm in the water (and that's something I'm good @ - on a totally unrelated note whatever happened to William Hung, the dude who sang terribly on American Idol but still seemed to make a career out of it?).

I've noticed something as of late.  Some of the people in the pool try to turn a simple exercise into a race.  Seriously?... We're swimming @ the Washington Twp. Recreation Center.  Beating the lady who's warming up for aqua aerobics or the guy who's in the water b/c his chiropractor recommended it doesn't make you Michael Phelps. 

I discovered this phenomenon a month or so ago.  I was in the midst of the back and forth that goes w/ swimming laps and there was this dude who was a very fast swimmer in the lane next to me.  He'd shoot down & back in no time but would stop to rest after each circuit.  He'd stay @ the edge of the pool resting... until I'd make it back to my starting point.  As soon as I'd make my turn he'd start back up and leave me in the dust going down & back in no time only to wait again @ the edge of the pool when he was finished - until of course I got back and made my turn, then the process would start all over again.

I had my suspicions that he was racing me the second time this happened.  I confirmed them the third time.  By about the sixth or seventh time I began to wonder why this dude wanted to race so badly and why he'd chosen me, of all people, to race.  After beating me so many consecutive times he should've realized that I obviously wasn't taking the bait.  But more than that after that many wins what's the point of continuing to race?  Did he think that eighth contest would come out any differently than the previous seven?  Would I all of the sudden get a burst of speed that would propel me into an Olympic Class swimmer?  In case you're wondering none of that happened but the "races" continued.  But here's the kicker: there are more than a few people @ the pool who do this.

I guess it's good to have some healthy competition for motivation but I think choosing me as a adversary is akin to LeBron James challenging one of my daughters to a game of one-on-one.  Honestly, I'm not a stellar athlete (anymore) and more importantly I just swim b/c it's good exercise... and it's not running.

Experts also say that if you want to get better @ something challenge someone who's better than you.  By that logic racing me in the pool actually makes you slower.  If you keep beating me you'll start thinking, "Wow I'm really fast" and let your guard down.  Then when you actually race someone who's good @ swimming you'll be shocked by how much your own athleticism has waned ever since deciding to take me on as an opponent. 

All of these thoughts had been going through my head whenever this would happen... until today.  I got in the pool and I was one of two people swimming laps.  A nice older lady was in the lane next to me getting some exercise.  As I swam down to one end of the pool I was moving through the water pretty well.  As soon as I made my turn I could see her about two or three lengths ahead in the lane next to me.  So I kicked it up a notch, and I caught her.  I then continued my frenzied pace eventually tapping the wall in victory well ahead of my silver-haired foe.  That's when it dawned on me I'm a darn fast swimmer and if I was a little younger... I could probably give Michael Phelps a run for his money.

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Hop a Train
01/28/10

Today it was announced that the state of Ohio would be getting a bunch of money to build a high speed rail system - $400 million to be exact.  I don't know how well it'll work but I've always felt that if it can do what the experts say it can this part of the U.S. could use something like that.  Our cities are strategically placed for it.  If you think about it Chicago is just far enough from Indianapolis which is just far enough from Dayton & Cincinnati which are just far enough from Columbus which is just far enough from Pittsburgh, etc.  If you follow the logic you could connect much of the eastern half of the U.S. w/ enough high speed trains that it could work.  I've read you can get those things up to 150 & even 200 mph so it could make a lot of sense and save the average person a lot of money & time.

I've ridden a train a handful of times in my life.  When I was a kid we'd go on holiday train tours that would take like an hour and Santa would come by and give us a candy cane. 

The first time I took one in my adult life was to go to New York City.  I was 5th year senior @ Ohio University and it was spring break.  I was getting married in a few months so it was my last "big" vacation before I was to become domesticated.  One of my buddies was going to go to Florida but I didn't want to so he looked into train tickets and found a round trip to NYC for about $150.  After getting a couple of other buddies to come along we drove up to Cleveland and started our journey in the middle of the night and after about 18 hrs. on the Amtrak we were in the Big Apple. 

We were poor college students and wanted to do the trip on the cheap so we stayed in a hostel.  When we got to our room it had 2 bunk beds and I swear they were jammed into a broom closet.  There was less than a foot between them.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that you couldn't eat a large pizza in the room.  You'd have to tilt it between the beds to get it in there.  But it was $15 a night so I wasn't expecting the Ritz Carleton. 

We hit up some of the museums, went to the financial district, the Empire State Building (but there was an hour wait so I discovered that it had a cool lobby), went to Little Italy & basically had a blast playing tourist for a couple of days.

We almost got in trouble one night @ the hostel, though.  We'd been hanging out w/ some of our fellow hostelmates and were probably being too loud.  As I was unlocking the door to my room a lady got a look of horror on her face and asked me what I was doing.  I told her I was returning to my room and she curtly replied, "Well, I was told there'd be no men on this floor!"

I looked @ her and said, "Lady I'm sorry but you were told wrong, have a good night."  I then went into my room thinking the matter was finished.  It wasn't.  About five minutes later we got a knock on the door and it was the lady and someone from the front desk saying they'd gotten a complaint.

I informed the good innkeeper that the lady next to her was complaining b/c I was a man staying on the floor and that I just took the room I was given so there was nothing I could do.  The hostel worker agreed but told me I couldn't eat in the room (I was holding some food).  I looked @ her and did the Jedi mind trick wave and said, "Don't worry I'll just eat this in my room."  She told me that was great but it didn't change the fact that I wasn't allowed to eat in my room.  Again I did the Jedi mind trick wave and said, "Don't worry I'll just eat this in my room."  And again she told me I wasn't allowed to eat there.  This back & forth went on for about five minutes until finally she said, "Okay, just eat that in your room, but don't leave!"  Then I quipped, "You may go about your business, move along."  I couldn't believe it, I got the Jedi mind trick to work - it was awesome.

That was a fun trip and I think what made it so much fun was that we took it on a whim - kind of last minute w/ little, if any, planning.  Sometimes those are the best vacations.  And who knows when high speed rail is finally finished maybe they'll connect it to the East Coast and I'll be able to take a train back to NYC.  This time it may only take 8 hrs. to get there - and I'll probably spring for a hotel room...  then I won't feel guilty for eating a piece of pizza in bed.

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State of the Union
01/27/10

In about a half hour President Barack Obama will address both houses of Congress as well as the nation in something known as the State of the Union Address.  It's the chance for the president to speak to members of Congress and kind of "fill them in" on how things are going and where he wants to go.

You may not know this but the Constitution actually mandates such a practice.  Article II, Section 3 states that the president will "from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient".  George Washington set a precedent that clarified the language "from time to time" and since 1790 the "State of the Union" has been delivered in roughly 1 year intervals.

I've been around long enough to have seen my fair share of these things and when I was a kid I used to hate when it would come on TV.  We didn't have cable, just broadcast television, and it would always be on all three networks.  As a result it'd be the only thing on TV - and it would take up much of the night.  Seeing that I used to find politics extremely boring you can only imagine how excited I'd be when I realized it was the only thing to watch. 

What was worse was the fact that I don't ever remember knowing when it'd be on so I'd always find out @ the last minute.  Imagine getting ready to escape to a magical world where the lovable alien ALF would encounter all sorts of hijinks as he fumbled & bumbled his way through Tanner household only to find out you were forced to watch some old guy talking to a bunch of even older guys & gals.  It was terrible!  I'd be forced to either watch it, do my homework or even (dare I say it) entertain myself!

One thing that used to bug me, and still does, is the how the politicians & guests in attendance clap so much.  They clap for @ least 3 to 5 minutes in the beginning, applaud whenever the president stops for a dramatic pause (and there are A LOT of those) and then clap for another 3 to 5 minutes once the speech is over.  That ends up stretching what would otherwise be a 20 to maybe 30 minute speech into an hour-long marathon.  Not only do I find that to be a waste of time but I can't believe our lawmaker's hands don't get tired & sore, some of which have never seen a day's worth of hard work.  If I was a politician I'd probably buy one of those plastic hand clappers so my palms didn't get chapped.

The speech is just starting so I have to go but I'll leave you w/ a little trivia question.  Do you know why I couldn't be president?  Constitutionally: b/c I'm not 35.  Realistically: b/c I'm not qualified.

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Depressing Day
01/26/10

I just spent the last hour talking about how yesterday was supposed to be the most depressing day of the year according to a British psychologist.  He blames it on the fact that it's cold & gray w/ a lot more winter to go, we're starting to break/give up our New Year's Resolutions and we're coming to terms w/ the fact that the holidays are over despite the fact that we're reminded of them daily as we get our credit card bills in the mail w/ charges from December haunting us like the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Anyway I went into a long & inspirational blog about how we shouldn't let things like this depress us and how we're ultimately in charge of our own happiness so we might as well make the most of life while we're here.  I even pointed out that I'm happy b/c I realize that things could always be worse (I still don't know if that makes me the eternal optimist or the ultimate pessimist).

Either way now I have to eat my words b/c I'm depressed by the fact that I wasted the last hour of my life writing said blog only to lose it somehow by posting it incorrectly.  Oh, well I guess it could always be worse; I could've actually written something good - then I'd be real mad.

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Playing Hooky
01/25/10

If you watch regularly you may have noticed that I wasn't in on Friday.  I was playing hooky. Actually I took the day off so I don't know if I was technically playing hooky - I always thought playing hooky was when you just didn't show up for something. 

Regardless I'm coming off of a three day weekend and I feel a bit like your phone after it's left plugged in all night long - I feel recharged.

I didn't do much on my extended time off other than spend time w/ family and watch sports of TV.  So all in all it was pretty much business as usual this weekend.

One thing I did do that was out of-the-ordinary was take in a movie.  I used to love to go to movies but I don't really have the opportunity as much as I used to now that I have three kids.  And even when I do see a movie nowadays very seldom is it just for me - something I want to go see.

So w/ my wife & baby in Cincinnati Friday morning and my kids @ school I decided to go catch a matinee.  I went to see Avatar. 

In one word: "Wow!" it was awesome (okay technically that's 4 words but you can getaway w/ just "Wow"). 

In the interest of full disclosure I'll admit I'm a bit of a sci-fi nerd and grew up watching/loving the original Star Wars Trilogy.  This fact did not shade my judgment of the movie in any way whatsoever.

It was just cool b/c the movie takes you into an entirely different world, and it looks real.  Even though computer animation plays a huge role in the flick it looks like it was shot like a typical movie... just on another planet.  Throw into the mix the fact that you can see it in 3-D and the end result is that you're taken to a different place and for a couple of hours you forget about the outside world - and they did a great job w/ the 3-D aspect of the film, it's not hokey like other 3-D films I've seen in my lifetime (Jaws 3-D comes to mind).

If you don't know the storyline it's basically about a bunch of humans on another world, Pandora.  Some are there mining a substance called unobtanium (kind of a cheesy name but the movie doesn't dwell on it to the point that it bothers you).  There are also a group of scientists there who enter bodies or "avatars" of the indigenous population, the Na'vi, via a special pod.  They use these avatars to study Pandora.  How did all of this get there and how was the planet discovered?  I don't know, I missed the first 10-20 minutes b/c I was late.  The main character is a Marine who has lost the use of his legs and he's tasked w/ learning about the Na'vi so he can get them move from their home tree in order access the huge reserve of unobtanium that sits underneath it.  The movie follows the main character as he gets to know and ultimately become one of the Na'vi people.

As you might guess there's a conflict that ensues but I'll leave it @ that b/c I don't want to spoil the movie.  The conflict in the movie leaves it open for my only criticism: it gets a little preachy @ times.  Honestly I don't go to a movie to get a writer's or director's take on any certain issue, I just want to be entertained.  Although the film tries to throw in a message, that part is brief and I can easily overlook it b/c I enjoyed it as a whole. 

Bottom line, the flick was worth the money, even though it's a little pricey.  It cost $10.50 for a 3-D matinee showing but the movie is almost three hours long so you get your money's worth.  And I'd recommend throwing in an extra few bucks to see it in 3-D - it's well worth it. 

Would I see it again?  Yes, I probably will.  Was it better than the original Star Wars Trilogy?  No, but it can hold its own w/ the newer prequel trilogy.

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One Month In
01/21/10

We hit 40 today.  A far cry from the nearly two weeks of sub-freezing temperatures we had @ the beginning of the month.  The other day a relative of mine commented that we were "turning the corner" and that winter might be winding down soon.

I felt bad pointing out that we weren't even a month into the long winter season but it was true (at the time).  Today marks the end of the first month of winter, we still have two to go.  And with temps into the 40s and even pushing 50 this weekend I'm sure more than a few of us will forget what day is marked on the calendar.  But don't be lulled into Mother Nature's trap - she'll only let you down (we actually have a cool down on the way next week).

It's interesting how a lot of people look forward to the end of winter just as it begins.  After Christmas & New Year's Day they're ready for things to warm up and essentially write off winter for warmer days.  I have to admit that by mid-February I'm usually right there with them.  I think one of the main reasons why is b/c I get tired of the near constant cloud cover.  I used to call this time of year the "gray season" b/c of our dreary skies.

As I get older, though, I feel a little guilty looking forward to warmer days and sunnier skies.  They say time goes faster as you get on in years and that seems to be the case so I'd better enjoy the days while they're here even if they are cold & gray - otherwise I'll have wished my life away.  I need to stop and smell the roses (or the firewood this time of year).

By slowing down and taking in the days (regardless of the season) you kind of get a new perspective on things.  And as the seasons change you may find yourself back in the same spot the following year.  Not only will you be able to take in the now but you'll also be able to reflect on the previous year and see how you've changed & ultimately grown as a person. 

So from this day forward I think I'll try to celebrate the human existence and enjoy some of the simpler things that come w/ day to day life.  I think I'll start by going to the Thunder Nationals Monster Truck Show (it's @ the Nutter Center this weekend and I'm psyched).

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Lazy Bones
01/20/10

I'll come right out and say it, "My cat is the laziest animal on the planet!"  Alright maybe that's an exaggeration - I have few friends who could compete, and there are always sloths - I suppose they're lazy too.  If my cat isn't the laziest she's darn near close.

I swear all she does is sleep- @ least that's all I ever see her doing.  When I wake up in the morning she's in bed next to me.  By late morning/early afternoon she usually gets up and makes a big move - out to the family room where she proceeds to take a nap in front of the heater.  As dinnertime rolls around she'll move to the couch and catch some shuteye and I totally understand why - she's had a busy day, she's earned it.  After all,sleeping that much can really wipe you out.  Maybe she has really cool dreams.  Or maybe she doesn't like us very much and would rather spend her time sleeping - who knows.

Other than sleeping the only other things she really does are eat & use the litter box .  I don't know how she does it, I'd think that'd be about as boring as watching paint dry.  Maybe you get used to it.  When I finally retire if you throw in "take up a hobby" I'll probably have a similar to-do list.  Sometimes I want to set a couple of mice free in my house so she's forced to earn her keep (she does during the summer, though: she'll pull a fly or moth out of the air mid-flight - it's awesome).

I find it funny that she gets upset w/ me when I move onto the couch or go to bed.  She acts all put out that I'm forcing her to move thus interrupting what's obviously very important work - never mind the fact  that I'm the one who makes her lavish lifestyle possible (she's living the good life off my dime and gets pet whenever she wants and yet we're the "intelligent" ones, go figure). 

Sometimes I'll climb into bed just to spite her.  I'll then wait until she's comfortable laying on me and decide to shift my position or get up and off the bed entirely - small thrills.

When she was younger she was all hyper and twitchy and tried to run under my feet when I'd walk down the hall - that was really annoying... and dangerous.  So I guess her laziness is better than the alternative.  I'll still probably toss & turn a couple of extra times tonight in bed... just to mess w/ her.

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Just Go to Sleep
01/19/10

I've mused in this blog before how it's unfair that when you're younger and you need to take a nap you don't want to but when you're older and have to take a nap you can't.

I was reminded of the disdain children have for naps early this afternoon.  My youngest daughter was getting fussy.  She'd been awake for about 1 1/2 hours and I knew it was too early to put her back down, even if her mom was headed out the door.  I was told this would mess up my daughter's sleep schedule.  Normally I wouldn't care (I was headed out the door for work in a few hours anyway) and argue that she knows when she's tired and lets us know via her crying - but today I decided to try and keep her up for an additional 1/2 hour just to keep her on schedule. 

The little stinker fussed and fretted.  I'd sit down and she'd start crying so I'd stand up and she'd stop.  After an adequate amount of time I'd try sitting down again and again she'd start crying.  This went on for about 10 minutes until I finally decided that I wanted to sit down and she'd just have to deal w/ it.  Honestly I don't know what the allure is, what's the difference between being held by someone who's standing and someone who's sitting?  I think babies just do it to mess w/ us in a feeble attempt to assert their dominance. 

So I sat on the couch and she screamed for about three minutes before finally stopping.  About two minutes later she was sound asleep, so I decided to put her in her crib.  Guess what, as soon as I put her down her eyes popped open and she began crying all over again.  I shut the door and turned off the baby monitor on my way back into the family room (I don't want to listen to her cry).  She was back asleep in about three minutes.  Not even a half hour had passed and she was awake - except this time she'd gotten a little shuteye so she was energized... I was mad. 

I wish there was a way to explain to her (and the rest of my kids) that sleeping is a good thing -  it should be cherished and if you don't enjoy it now it'll remember and be that much more elusive as you age. 

I think kids don't want to sleep b/c they feel they're missing out on something.  If my kids, or any other kid who doesn't want to go to sleep, ever read this blog - you're not missing anything.  I'm a 33-year-old man who's been married for almost a decade.  Honestly, my life isn't that exciting.  It's not like I don a cape and mask and peruse the streets for villains every night after you go to sleep.  And I'm okay w/ this fact.  Whenever I decide to go out and "live it up" I'm always exhausted the following day.  So kids, please go to sleep when it's time.  If your parents are going to be exhausted @ least let them have the good time that would normally precede it.

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We Caved
01/18/10

We did it.  We finally broke down and officially entered the ranks of parenthood.  My wife & I have three kids so we've been parents for awhile but we fully accepted/admitted our role today: we went out and got a minivan. 

We're now the proud owners of a Honda Odyssey as our Ford Escape moves on to greener pastures.

I don't really know what to call it, either.  It's not technically a car but it's not a van either.  It's sort of like a centaur but instead of a half human/half horse hybrid it's more of a mix between a sedan & a conversion van - toss in a pinch of attitude and a dash of awesomeness and you've got a... well not a minivan (sigh).

I don't know why we just didn't get an El Camino.  Not only are they cool but they're quite functional - throw a bench in the back of it and you have family friendly transportation.  Sure the outdoor seats would get cold in the winter but my kids could deal w/ it - it builds character.

I honestly didn't think this day would ever come.  I have nothing against minivans or minivan owners I just didn't think they were for me.  I always felt they were for older people - fast forward 10 years and add three kids to the mix and I guess I'm that guy.  My wife loves it, though.  We can now send our two oldest all the way to the back bench and appreciate a level relative silence we haven't enjoyed since before we had kids.

I'm just afraid that now that we have a minivan I'll have to look the part of a minivan owner.  If you don't know what I'm talking about just picture your dad, or your friend's dad when he'd head out the door not caring how he looked - as long as he was comfortable.  I'll be forced to wear shorts, dark socks (pulled all the way up) & tennis shoes so I fit the mold.  Or perhaps I'll have to adopt white socks (again, pulled all the way up) and Birkenstocks into my daily wardrobe.  Maybe sweatpants will become my preferred look whenever I decide to run some errands (oh, they already are - AHHHHHHHHH!!!).  

Despite the definite lack of machismo and the stigma that comes w/ being a minivan owner it's actually pretty nice and has lots of room.  It has a sort of quiet elegance - the type that comes w/ the season's first snowfall.  It even gets reasonable gas mileage - better than our old vehicle by about 10 mpg (wow, now I really sound like my buddy's parents). 

I will admit I wish it was a little cooler, though - oh, well.  Maybe we'll name it Optimus Prime and only play Def Leppard (and various other 80's hair bands) on the stereo - that way @ least it'll seem cool.

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The Girl Scout Cookie Saga Continues
01/14/10

Last night I wrote about my daughter's foray into the world of fund raising via the selling of Girl Scout Cookies.  I talked about how I was going to hit up my co-workers for money.  I was even going to send out a mass e-mail to everyone @ the station asking for their help in furthering the agenda of Girl Scout Troop XXX7X (I blanked out some of the number so I could protect the identities of the innocent) before I left for the night.  Notice I said I was going to send it out.

Well I didn't and when I checked my e-mail today I had gotten one that had something about Girl Scout Cookies in the subject line so I thought someone was commenting on my blog entry.  I opened it and it read:

It's that time of year again, when Girl Scout Cookies... are available. My Daughter is selling these, at $3.50 abox, to all of you... So, in closing, support Girl Scouts...  and support America!!!

to order, either reply to this email, or talk to me in person. Payment is not due until cookies are in your hand!

Love,
XXXXX XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXX  (I edited some of it out and again, I blocked out the name to protect the innocent)

Now I'm in a dilemma.  I want to send out an e-mail asking for help but I can't b/c then it'll seem like I'm honing in on my co-worker's daughter's turf (you can get killed for that in some parts of this country).  Not only that but it would just be mean to send out such an e-mail.  I don't even know what I'd write.  Maybe something like:

I know XXXXXXX XXXXXXX already sent out an e-mail asking you to buy Girl Scout Cookies from his daughter but you shouldn't.  My daughter is also selling them and she needs your help more than his.  Please help her achieve her goal and win a great prize. But beyond that don't force me to tell my her that sometimes the weight of the world can crush your dreams.  That's a tough lesson to learn... especially for a nine year old.  Whitney Houston once said, "I believe that children are our future..." and I want to make sure my daughter's future remains bright - she may not want to go to college if she doesn't win aforementioned prize.  You can help me re-write the future by simply purchasing a little box of Heaven (or 20) from my oldest child.  BTW buying cookies from her is also good for America!

Love,
Jeff Booth
Meteorologist (It's scientifically proven that buying cookies from my daughter guarantees a 100% chance of deliciousness)

I couldn't do that, I'd just seem petty. 

What's worse: I walked into the sports office and saw our Sports Director, Nathan Baker looking up Girl Scout Cookies on-line.  When I told him that my daughter was selling them and I could help him out if necessary he told me he buys them from his little cousin (he's getting Thin Mints, Samoas & Do-si-dos).  I then made my argument (in spoken, not e-mail format) and he still told me "no".

Throughout this whole ordeal I realized something.  I think I want my daughter to win that prize more than she does.  Why?  Who knows, maybe it'll validate me as a parent.  I'm proud of my kids but maybe I want to feel prouder.  Or maybe I just want to save money and avoid buying my kid a new toy - I think that's part of it, the other part is that I want her to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes w/ realizing a goal.  I loved the Sony Discman I won in the freshman magazine sale (see last night's blog) even more b/c of how I got it.

Either way if any of my co-workers are reading this and they need to buy Girl Scout Cookies, I can hook you up.  Do something that's good for America - I won't tell anybody.

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Girl Scout Cookies
01/13/10

My oldest daughter is in the Girl Scouts and it's cookie selling time.  That means I get to start hitting my co-workers up for money so I can avoid buying her a toy (she gets a prize if she sells so many boxes).  Anyone who has kids knows what I mean.  When it's fund raising time for anything those in charge always send the kids out to make a quick buck.  I think it's b/c they know if the kid can't sell what they need to the parents will step in and make a "donation".

Not me, though.  I send my kids out to sell stuff door to door.  I did it when it was I younger (but it usually wasn't for a fund raiser, it was me trying to make some money).  I think this teaches them a valuable lesson and helps them conquer their fears of interacting w/ people they don't know (I always remind them afterward not to talk to strangers, though).  Of course if they get good at this they may be a lot better at asking me for money when they're older - that's why I practice saying "no" now, so I'll be better @ it in the future (it's all about staying one step ahead of the game).

This morning she told me she had almost reached her goal of selling 77 boxes.  Why her goal is 77 and not some round number (like 70... or 80) I have no clue.  That doesn't change the fact that if she sells 77 boxes she gets something cool.  If she sells 2000 boxes she gets something really cool: an IPOD touch... I think. 

After last night's success at hustling various family members and a few of my neighbors to hand over their hard earned dollars for a box of deliciousness my daughter figured she'd go for the big prize & I hope she makes it.  If not, and she gets to 77 I'm still happy for her b/c she'll reach her original goal.  Either way times have changed.  I remember selling $1000 worth of subscriptions in the freshman magazine sale to win my first Sony Discman.  If you put in four double-A batteries you'd get like 3 hours of life out of it.

When I was looking @ her list of committed buyers I noticed something: people LOVE thin mints.  Every single person who agreed to buy some got @ least one box of thin mints.  I don't blame them, they're pretty good (I hear you can eat one if you forget to brush your teeth).  Even though I like thin mints they're not my favorite Girl Scout Cookie.

My favorite used to be Tagalongs, the chocolate covered peanut butter cookie - awesome!  Now I'm a fan of the Samoas.  Those are the cookies that have coconut, caramel & chocolate stripes, I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.

Hopefully I've gotten you hungry for them as well.  If so I'll send my daughter over to your house to help pry some of your hard earned dollars out of your wallet.  That way you can help me get something I've always wanted: an IPOD touch.

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A New Decade
01/12/10

As we embark on our next decade one can't help but wonder what marvelous things are in store for us - whatever they are I hope they're good.  I got to thinking about the new decade yesterday when I was making my weathercast.  I commented that Wednesday we'd make it into the thirties marking the first time we'll do so this year and thus this decade.  But how accurate is that statement?

A lot of people will argue that the new decade began once the ball dropped New Year's Eve 2009.  That's inaccurate.  Our new decade actually begins @ the end of this year (1/1/2011).

Many people argue that's wrong but it's really not.  There are many ways to word this argument.  Once we get through the 10th year the decade is over, it takes 100 pennies to make a dollar & the next dollar starts when we get to $1.01, etc.  In essence we're saying that you can't begin the next chapter until the first one is finished. 

I've heard people argue against this saying all of the points between 0 & 1 on the number line have to be added to get to the number 1 & all of the points from 1 to 2 have to be added to get to the number 2.  Follow that logic and then the decade would begin 1/1/2010.  While that's a great argument and may work in the world of numbers it doesn't hold water here. 

The reason for that is that we basically had no Year 0.  Therefore once we got to 1/1/0010 B.C. we hadn't technically gotten through the decade - we had to get to 11:59:59 12/31/0010 before we'd actually reached that point.  Follow the logic and the new millennium didn't begin until 1/1/2001 and therefore our next decade doesn't begin until 1/1/2011.

It's the same concept when we look @ what century it is.  For example, the 19th Century didn't begin in 1800.  It's defined as the years 1801-1900 thus making it the 19th Century. 

Honestly, I really don't care how you define it (say the decade runs from 1/1/2012 to 12/31/2021 if you want to be a rebel).  I just got to thinking about it the other day and I though I'd clear up the old argument.  So why, knowing what I do, did I comment that Wednesday would be the first time this decade that we'd get into the 30s?  Simple: it's the popular way to say it and I'm a slave to fashion.  I think I'll make an effort to change that fact every February 29th - Leap Year.

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The Big Mac
01/11/10

It's a delicious sandwich but this blog isn't about various culinary delights that can be made & served in a timely fashion.  Tonight's blog is about the sports star who carried that nickname: Mark McGwire.

Today he admitted to steroid use during his career, big shocker.  He further admitted that he used steroids during the memorable 1998 season - again, big shocker.

As you can see I wasn't surprised by this fact @ all.  I'm a little surprised McGwire came forward w/ the truth now - I'd have waited until I wrote a book or had some other reason to come clean.

People are now saying that this will kill McGwire's chance to enter the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and it very well might.  I think that the admission could, in time, help him.  If you disagree then you must think people are a lot less forgiving than I do.

Look @ Kobe Bryant - after last year's championship I didn't hear one word about what he did a few years ago.  Alex Rodriguez is another example.  Not only has he done some shady things in his personal life but he's also been implicated in the steroid scandal.  I don't remember too many people complaining about that last fall (except maybe Phillies fans).  You could go on & on and find examples of this, and it doesn't just happen w/ sports figures.  I can think of a number of political scandals that didn't hold back powerful people but I don't want to get into that - I'll just get mad.  The bottom line is that people may not forget (even though they sometimes do) but they usually forgive.  Tiger Woods will discover this someday - when he starts winning.

So should Mark McGwire be allowed into the Hall of Fame?  In my opinion, yes.  But not b/c of his numbers (which were good albeit inflated) or b/c everyone else was doing it @ the time (if everyone was jumping off a bridge would you?).  He should simply be let in b/c the sport of baseball owes him.  Actually it owes him & Sammy Sosa.  I say this b/c I pretty much stopped watching baseball after the strike.  In fact I didn't even know the Reds were in the playoff hunt in the 1995 season until I started my freshman year of college that fall - they lost :( .

I paid attention in the summer of 1998, though.  We all did.  I was working @ a camp that summer (Colorado Mountain Ranch - you're the camp for me, no other camp can 'ere compare on land or across the sea... oh sorry I got caught up in a memory) and I watched the games or highlights whenever I could.  The first thing I'd do every morning was grab the paper and go straight to the sports section to see who was winning the N.L. Home Run race.

I had my suspicions then - as many of us did.  All McGwire needed was an anchor tattoo on his forearm and he'd have been Popeye - that should've tipped just about anyone off.  And if you want to tell me that Bud Selig thought the tree trunk of a neck he had that year was natural I'd say you're a liar.

I remember he even admitted he was using a legal weight-gain supplement that year but quit b/c he didn't want kids to start using it.  I knew then that something was up - you don't get that big off a protein shake. 

The point is that a lot of us knew - and we didn't care.  Neither did baseball.  Why?  B/c they were putting butts in the seats.  The sport was seeing a burst in popularity it hadn't experienced in a long time - and that means money.  And don't get me wrong McGwire & Sosa made their fair share of money so some may say b/c of that the sport owes them nothing.  I still disagree.

I also know why Selig keeps them @ arms length - he's pledged to rid the sport of the stain performance enhancing drugs have cast over it.  Yet it was on his watch that it all happened.  The scandal was hiding in plain sight and he missed it.

The bottom line is that just about everyone from the players to the owners to the sport itself profited from the steroid era.  Yet it seems only the players involved are sharing the brunt of the blame - I don't find that fair.

So hopefully someday I'll see McGwire & Sosa enshrined in the Hall.  They were the ones who got me excited about baseball again.  They made me feel like I did when I was a kid back in 1990 following the Reds to the World Series & beyond - and I'd have no problem if those were the only two users who were admitted.  I will say, though, if that happens Pete Rose should be allowed in as well... and Shoeless Joe.

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Bitterly Cold
01/08/10

Bundle up tight b/c this weekend is going to be bitterly cold.  I have a few different ways of describing weather like this.  The only one I can put on my blog is "Hateful Cold" - b/c that's how it feels outside... hateful.

So how cold will it get?  Well, we're looking @ nighttime lows getting into the single digits tomorrow night and our nighttime wind chills will be dipping below zero this weekend.

I used to HATE the cold when I was younger.  Not that I love it now I just don't dislike it as much.  I think the reason I've warmed to cold weather is b/c I own my own home (actually the bank owns it but you know what I mean). 

When I was a kid my room was in the attic b/c I wanted privacy and didn't want my family members to bother me (ah, you've gotta love teenagers).  Our attic didn't have any insulation on the ceiling so it was very cold in the winter.  Needless to say if I wanted to just lie around & watch TV I had to have a blanket and could still see my breath from time to time. 

Now that I'm in my own home I can do what I want, set the heat @ whatever I like, etc.  In essence I get to go to the most comfortable place in my house and if I want privacy now I just send people elsewhere (that actually only works w/ my kids).  But the bottom line is that I'm now hanging out in the heated part of the house and I don't mind the cold as much.

I'm still not a fan of the bitter cold even though I actually root for it in December.  Now, though, I have more places to go to avoid it.  I've also put on about 30 lbs. since high school (and only grown about 2" so yes - I was a very lanky and goofy looking 18 yo.).  Put all of this together and my attitude on winter is a bit different that it has been in the past.

Of course I'm sure I'll find myself cursing Mother Nature if I have to spend an extended amount of time anywhere outside this weekend.  After all there are times when it just gets "too cold".  If you get caught in a stiff breeze this weekend you'll know what I mean.

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Winter Wonderland
01/07/10

As promised the snow made it into the Miami Valley and boy was it a crazy day.  It was quite nice to look out my window to see the steady snow falling throughout the morning.  I even got to use my leaf blower to clear some of the snow off my driveway so I was quite excited (see post earlier this week). 

Of course as I finished off the bottom of my driveway a new dusting had already fallen @ the top.  Then the snow plow came in and threw some snow back onto my freshly cleared pavement - that's why Murphy shouldn't be allowed to legislate, I hate his law. 

I enjoyed getting out in the snow, though - even if I was only doing chores in it.  As I've mentioned in the past I'm a huge fan of snow.  When you're a weatherman you really don't get to enjoy it much b/c if heavy snow is falling chances are you're @ work (unless you're on vacation which could mean your friends back home aren't seeing any snow whatsoever).  When it's falling I'll go outside and watch it for a minute and go back into work w/ a look on my face that's similar to a dog that can't go outside and play.  I still root for it, though - even if it does make for a long day.

I will say it was a mess on the roads today, though.  It's hard to believe that about 3-5" of snow can cause so many problems on the roads, but it did. 

I was out and about driving in the snow and it was slow going to say the least.  It was a little slippery and I found myself fishtailing @ times - luckily I wasn't going too fast .  I almost felt like I was playing bumper cars - not b/c I was hitting anyone (I hope) but b/c I was sliding around like you do when you're riding one.

I did have a close call as I left my house earlier today.  I was hitting a bend in the road and I wanted to turn by my car wanted to keep going.  After cursing the Newton's First Law of Motion I slowly slid into the curb.  I then realized inertia never did anything to me and that maybe I'd better take it easy.

Bottom line: be careful out on those roads over the next few days.  It's dangerous and even though Newton is long gone your car doesn't care that you don't want an object in motion to stay in a uniform motion unless acted on by an outside force.  I learned that earlier today.

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Kids Getting Excited
01/06/10

I'm sure I'm not the only one w/ kids who are getting excited tonight.  That's b/c we have snow on the way Thursday and it looks like we'll pick up some decent accumulation, 3"-5" for most of us w/ isolated spots picking up to 6" by the time all is said and done Friday. 

There's good news and bad news on this (from a kid's perspective).  The good news is that we'll have some by Thursday morning's commute so we'll pick up some school delays.  As of this blog writing (about 10:30 P.M. Wednesday) we already have about 10 delays.  The bad news (again, from a kid's - maybe a teacher's as well - point of veiw) is that the bulk of the snow will arrive after school starts.  That means the prospects of a snow day are low.

When I saw my oldest daughter earlier she came up to me and gave me a big hug.  She looked up at me and said, "Hi, daddy!  What's going on w/ the snow?"  I had to chuckle.  Here I was thinking she was happy to see me after a long day and all she wanted to know was if we'd get enough snow to cancel school.  I'm sure she was happy to see me on some level but I know her excitement didn't just stem from seeing papa.

My middle daughter was happy to see me as well but quickly asked if we'd get enough snow for sledding - it's good to know you're loved.

I too am getting a little excited.  I LOVE snow - even though I don't really get to play in it anymore.  I'm a firm believer that if it's going to be this cold @ least it could look pretty outside. 

I know that it can be a pain when we have snow on the way.
- You have to drive slower (and lots of people don't know to drive in it)
- It's slippery when you're out walking
- Shoveling (enough said)
But I try and take a look outside when it's falling and that makes it a little more bearable. 

Hopefully you'll get an opportunity to stop and take a breather Thursday and just enjoy the show Mother Nature is providing.  It may not be cold enough to melt our snow but hopefully those flakes can help melt away some of your stress.

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Fresh Powder - Take 2
01/05/10

We woke up today w/ a coating of fresh powder atop the Miami Valley (I think that's what skiers call it, I've only been once so I'm no expert).  That inch or so of snow wreaked havoc on our roads this morning.

Before I get into this blog let's talk for a second about what happened today.  We got some lake effect snow.  In essence our WNW winds scooped up moisture off of Lake Michigan and dropped it as snow as it moved inland.  It was so powdery b/c it accompanied an arctic air mass.  Cold air can't hold as much moisture as warmer air.  As a result our cold air couldn't hold a whole lot of moisture so our snow naturally had a low moisture content.  That lack of moisture makes for powder-like snow (but it's not the best for snowball making). 

I like this kind of snow b/c it makes a crunching sound when you walk on it.  It's nice to walk out in the middle of a snowfall w/ nothing but "crunch, crunch" beneath your boots breaking the silence.  It's very peaceful.

I also like this snow b/c when it comes to shoveling it it requires little effort on my part. I could've used a push broom to move it off my driveway but instead I just flipped over my shovel and pushed it out of the way.

That made the loud scraping noise you hear on just about every news story that's dealing w/ cold & snowy weather.  In the business we call it a 'nat sound pop' b/c we're using the ambient (or natural) sound to help tell one aspect of the story - but I digress.

A co-worker of mine told me he was in the same snowy driveway predicament earlier today and he used his leaf blower to do the job.  He said his neighbor looked at him as if it'd never work but he got the last laugh by finishing his snow removal chores in half the time that it took his fellow resident.

Upon hearing this story I got a little upset.  Not b/c my colleague was able to complete his task in a short amount of time but b/c I thought about doing the same thing and figured it wouldn't work. 

I was very excited when I bought my leaf blower.  I was promised it was a virtual backyard dynamo capable of performing not one, not two but three different jobs.  It blows leaves, vacuums & mulches them too - that's three machines for the price of one!  @ first I felt guilty, like I was ripping off the good folks @ the hardware store.  I wanted to say something but @ the same time didn't want to alert them to their insanity - so I opted not too.  I can only imagine the excitement that would've overcome me when I discovered yet a 4th use for my beloved yard companion (that's maximizing an investment).  I imagine I'd feel a bit like the guy who came up w/ 1000 & one uses for duct tape.

Something tells me I'll realize this dream yet - we're bound to get another lake effect snow event.  Until then maybe I'll use my leaf blower as a hand dryer or a birthday candle blower outer - but I just don't think it'll be the same.

Wow I have a really good memory (see previous post).

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Fresh Powder - Whoops
01/05/10

I just blogged about the snow we had today and learned that if I press a button on my mouse it'll back up my internet browser.  I didn't know it could do that - it'll probably come in handy someday.  Of course today is not the day.  You see I hadn't saved my blog so now it's lost to the ether.  Oh, well have a good day.

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High Resolution
01/04/10

We're now 4 days into 2010 and I hope you're doing a good job keeping your New Year's Resolution.  I find the concept of a New Year's Resolution to be an interesting one. 

Typically resolutions are things that we want to do that will make our life better - stop eating so many sweets, exercise more, be nicer to people, etc.  In essence a resolution is something we should do but choose not to.  Seeing that that's the case should we really feel good about keeping them?  After all if it's something one should be doing anyway does he really need an excuse to do it in the first place?

I understand that we all have bad habits (I have more than a few of them) but if we need an actual resolution to break them I question if the motivation behind the action is truly pure; and if it's not pure I argue that makes it a lot harder to change. 

A perfect example of this is one I've heard friends make in the past: quit smoking on January 1st.  They'll say, "I'm going to quit once the we start the New Year."  To them I ask: If you know it's bad for you why not quit December 14th (or whatever day you decided to make your resolution)?  Are you holding out for some miracle of science that will bring mankind a safe cigarette that can deliver the nicotine we crave w/out the annoying side effects that come with cancer?  Or will you just magically gain a renewed sense of willpower when the ball drops in Times Square?

A lot of times when you challenge someone on this point (regardless of the resolution) they'll say, "I just want to live it up through the holidays, then it's time to get serious."  That's even worse.  That gives the one making the resolution a chance to rationalize why it's okay to take his bad habit and make it a really bad habit.  What's worse is that now you've strengthened the pattern and it'll be even harder to break said habit once you decide to quit.

If you're reading this thinking I'm a nattering nabob of negativism I assure you I'm not.  I just got to thinking about how ironic it is that the New Year's Resolution (which many look @ as a good thing) can actually prolong the very behavior one is trying to change (which can be a bad thing).  Now if your resolution is to be meaner to children or to start kicking puppies by all means take as long as you can to implement it.  But I've never met anyone w/ such a goal and if I did I'd probably recommend he instead picks up a hobby, like a pottery class or something - I'd then call the police.

Maybe next year I'll resolve to stop making resolutions altogether - or @ the very least stop setting goals that I have no intention of meeting.

I'm probably a little cynical b/c my resolution this year was to start going to church more.  One Sunday into 2010 and I've already broken it.  I got up w/ the kids on Sunday morning and decided to take a nap afterwards; when I woke up it was too late.  Seeing that I may have fallen asleep in church I may have done the right thing, though.

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Happy New Year!!!
01/01/10

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and now that we're in the new year I hope that everyone's 2010 is a blessed and prosperous one.  To all my friends back in Hawaii who still read my blog: Mele Kalikimaka & Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

I took the past week off and it was a great way to recharge and gear up for this the next chapter in my life.  I had a lot of fun hanging out w/ the family and my kids were happy to get some extra "dad time" (or @ least that's what they told me). 

Christmas was great.  We got up and ate a delicious breakfast (bacon & eggs and some other stuff but as long as there's bacon & eggs I'm happy).  We then opened presents and my kids got some cool toys.  And let me ask you, am I crazy or do they (the toy manufacturers) make it WAY too hard to get those darn things out of the box and off the cardboard backing so you're able to play w/ them?  It probably took me about 10 minutes per toy just to get the little twist ties, rubber bands, etc. off the back of the cardboard and thus release said toy from it's corrugated prison.  It got so bad that as I was beginning to get so frustrated/paranoid that I imagined that the person who was in charge of securing the toy did it w/ such precision just to drive me nuts.  I pictured a lady I'd never met fastening a "My Littlest Pet Shop Boutique" play set in place and laughing @ the same time knowing the hardship it would place upon me in the near future.  I quickly realized that's not true (probably) but also came to the conclusion that there has to be a better way.

Then our Christmas tree fell.  I don't know why it waited until after we'd opened all of our gifts, put them together, cleaned the house and were just getting ready to relax to do so but it did.  It was the type of thing that was really funny - when it happens to somebody else.  Now that I'm a few days removed from it I can laugh @ it but when it happened I was nary to happy about it.

After a few mishaps we ended up having a great day.  We visited my mom Christmas night and I watched my favorite Christmas movie: "It's a Wonderful Life".  The next day we went to my in-laws in Cincinnati and had another Christmas so the kids were happy of course.

The rest of the week I took it easy and visited the Boonshoft Museum and COSI in Columbus. 

All in all it was a great break and it ended in on a high note -  The Ohio State Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl.  It's always good to start off the year w/ a win.  As we embark on the next year I know that it's only going to get better - and seeing that I feel pretty great right now (after tonight's game) I can't help but get excited to see what 2010 will bring.

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I'm DONE!!!!
12/23/09

Today I finished the one of the things people dread most this time of year... I wrapped up my Christmas shopping.  That puts a huge smile on my face b/c I've been putting if off for some time now.

I don't want to sound like the Grinch but I'm not big on Christmas shopping.  I like giving gifts but I'm a bigger fan of the ends and not the means.  I don't take as big an issue w/ it when I buy gifts throughout the year.  I actually did that w/ a couple of gifts @ the Pork Festival in Eaton last fall.  I got something for my mom and something for my in-laws.

I think I like buying my gifts throughout the year b/c I'm not a big fan of going to the stores around the holidays.  It's fun to be out and about in the thick of it all but I can't stand getting/leaving/driving around the mall - it's terrible.  Traffic is one of those unwanted byproducts of progress and I hate it.  (If we had computerized cars I wouldn't have as big an issue w/ it - I'd just program my vehicle and kick back and relax).

Today the Dayton Mall was an absolute zoo (no surprise there).  If a parking spot was w/in about 50 from the store, it was taken;  the line into & out of the parking lot was about 2 to 3 lights long; and once again I was reminded why procrastination is not a good idea.  Despite these insurmountable odds I emerged victorious from the grips of consumerism and now I'm free from the stress that comes w/ Christmas shopping.  And here's a tip: if traveling to the Dayton Mall try going in from 675, traffic isn't as bad.

And even though I've gotten through another shopping season relatively unscathed (one of the gifts I got won't get here until around Monday), I'll still lobby next year to give gifts after Christmas (as I always do).  Not only can you get more b/c of the sales but if you go late enough you can avoid the lines.  Of course my kids would probably get teased if we celebrated Christmas on the 9 day of January every year.

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Unable to Dress Myself
12/22/09

I'm sure I'm not the only man who needs his wife (or some other lady) to dress him.  I may be one of the few who admits it but I'm not embarrassed by it; in fact if it's not my wife dressing me it's the lady @ the store.   The reason I find no shame in this: those people are more stylish than I am; and if looking good is wrong, I don't wanna be right!

I think the only thing that should bother me is the fact that I took Color Theory in college and I got an A in it.  That doesn't matter, my "chic" factor plummets when it comes time to dress myself - I can't match clothes to save my life.

I got to thinking about my lack of fashion sense when a co-worker told me my shirt matched my eyes.  He was making fun of me (even though he was right) b/c I'm wearing a pink-hued shirt.  Actually it's medium violet red.  I don't think I would've ever come up w/ my shirt & tie combination had it not been for the nice lady @ the store (and I always get compliments from women when I wear it - so I figure it probably looks good).

There are many facts that back up my argument that my taste in clothes lacks a certain "panache".  Remember the "everything neon" fad in the '80s?  I was part of that... and I thought it looked cool.  Or what about "grungy ripped jeans" mania?  I reveled in that craze, and wore long underwear under them so I wouldn't have to give it up for six months of the year.  I went through the rugby shirt trend of the early '90s and even had a "looks like Al Borland plaid shirt" phase (I still haven't let go of that one entirely).  Had my friends not stepped in I probably would have rocked the Vanilla Ice or even the M.C. Hammer look (they would've said, "Please Hammer quit hurtin'... my eyes).

Needless to say it should be more than apparent as to why I need the help from those who are more fashionable.  When left to my own devices I obviously drop the ball.  That doesn't mean I don't try from time to time, though; I know I shouldn't but I'll still try (hence the tuxedo shirt).  It's a constant battle, one I know I'll always fight; truly a problem.

One of the things that hinders my 12-step fashion program is that I have trouble purging things from my wardrobe.  I still have a pair of ripped jeans and a rugby shirt or two that I just can't get rid of.  In fact it usually takes two or three runs before I finally cull an undesirable garment from the herd.   This despite the feelings of shame that inevitably creep in when I come across such hideous rags.  I'll even try to find a home for my old clothes and almost feel guilty for giving them away (noone should give that to anyone... it's just mean).

I wonder if my attitude will change when these styles come back and become "retro" - and they always do.  Will I think they're still cool the second time around?  I hope not, there's nothing worse than trying to look hip when you're obviously not - and I've already done that once, there's no need to do it again.

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Winter is Here!
12/21/09

If you like to track the seasons today is a significant day - winter officially begins.  Actually winter in the Northern Hemisphere officially began today.  Our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, the land of the backwards flowing drains, are celebrating their summer solstice. 

So what's exactly happening?  As you probably know the Equator is the dividing line between the Northern & Southern Hemispheres.  It's really warm in that region b/c the sunlight is @ a higher angle which makes it more direct and thus more efficient @ heating the atmosphere. 

During the year the sun travels between two imaginary lines - the Tropic of Cancer (N. Hem.) & the Tropic of Capricorn (S. Hem.), the Equator is in the middle.  These lines mark the Northern & Southern extent of where the sun is directly overhead. They also bookend the area we have grown to call the Tropics. 

During the N. Hem. summer solstice the sun is directly overhead @ the Tropic of Cancer.  That's when it's highest in the sky (for us) and over the next six months our days are getting shorter.  During our winter solstice the sun is directly overhead @ the Tropic of Capricorn.  Not only does that mean that we have our longest night but over the next six months our days will be getting longer.

So why isn't this the coldest time of year? Why does that typically happen in January & February?  Because of something known as the seasonal temperature lag.  In essence even though we start taking in more of the sun's energy (due to a higher sun angle and longer days) we're still losing more energy than we're absorbing.  It takes a little time for that to balance out and thus the seasonal temperature lag. 

So in a nutshell, winter is officially here.  If you hate cold weather, don't worry... summer will be here sooner than you think!

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Utterly Shocking
12/18/09

Winter hasn't even started and I'm already sick of getting shocked every time I get out of my car, get off my couch, etc.  I remember as a kid I'd drag my feet on the carpet and then go shock my sister.  It didn't necessarily feel good for me but she hated it so it was worth it. 

Now my kids are discovering the wonders of static electricity - that's always fun.  We really didn't have to worry about that living in Hawaii so it's kind of a novelty for them. 

There's a reason for the fact that we didn't get shocked in Hawaii.  It's more humid there which makes it tough to build up a charge.  What's happening is that you have all of that humid air around you so any electrical charge you may gain is in essence "whisked" away by the moisture in the air.  B/c of that you can't build up an electrical charge.  The longer you rub your feet on the carpet or rub a balloon on your head the more charge you're building.  If you're surrounded by moisture you're not really building anything up, though.

That's why it's easier to build a charge in dry air, it's a better insulator so a lot less of that charge is getting "whisked" away from your body.  Once you build up an adequate charge and you touch something that conducts electricity the spark forms (you can actually see it if you're looking for it).

This why you shouldn't get into your car during the winter when you're filling it w/ gas.  As you sit in the car you could be building up a charge (especially if your coat is static prone).  Then you step outside your car and grab the gasoline pump handle.  B/c that's made of metal you can create a spark.  That spark can then light the fumes coming off from the gasoline which will create an explosion.  It sounds like something out of a movie but it happens - I've seen video of it.

One of our couches is very static prone and last week my wife handed me our baby daughter and I shocked her.  She got mad @ me saying I did it on purpose.  I didn't but I did chuckle a little so she didn't believe me.

I hope you've enjoyed this look into static electricity.  I also hope that you're inspired to go shock someone now.  It's always funny and I tend to find jokes/pranks funniest when I understand what's exactly behind them.

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State of Happiness
12/17/09

A new study is out and it's chock full of world-changing research.  It's ranked the states (and the District of Columbia) in order from happiest to saddest.  While I can't believe someone wrote a check to pay for the cost of this study, the underwriter must be from one of the happier states - when you're in a good mood you're more apt to spend money, I'll nevertheless take a deeper look @ it.

1. Louisiana - I'm a little surprised this is number one.  I've been to New Orleans many times and while it is a happy place every other place I've been to in that state is less than cheerful.  Maybe New Orleans is enough.

2. Hawaii - I lived there for 4.5 years.  It's pretty cool.  I recommend everyone goes @ least once.  Of course when we lived there, a lot of our friends and family weren't happy so who knows.

3. Florida - I kind of disagree w/ this one Florida is like Hawaii but a lot more humid and uncomfortable.  It does have the Magic Kingdom, though - that made me happy as a kid.

4. Tennessee - Home of Graceland, enough said.

5. Arizona - I was offered a job in Phoenix a few years ago.  I'm glad I didn't take it.  Having said that it is a fun place to visit and don't worry "it's a dry heat".

6. Mississippi - Biloxi is the first place I ever rode a jet ski & like Graceland - enough said.

7. Montana - Never been there but if I was I'd love to bump into a high school pal so I could say, "What the Helena are you doing here?"

8. South Carolina - I've been here before and I liked the beach, seafood was good too.

9. Alabama - The only time I've ever been here was for a weather conference in August.  What kind of meteorological genius plans a weather conference in the hottest most humid place in the country during the hottest most humid time of the year?

10. Maine - I like snow and Stephen King so I could live there.

11. Alaska - I'd LOVE to go here someday to see the Aurora Borealis.  I've seen them once in my life back in 2003 in Wapakoneta.  They were awesome!

12. North Carolina - My sister lives there.  She seems to like it.  Of course if we're around each other too much we could get in a fight (it's been known to happen) so I don't know how happy I'd be there - it is a BEAUTIFUL state, though.

13. Wyoming - I think I've been to Jackson Hole.  If I have and my memory serves me correctly I liked the state.  I do want to visit Yellowstone before I die (and see the world's largest rocking chair - but that's supposedly in Iowa).

14. Idaho - Here's another place I'd love to visit.  I love potatoes, I'd vote for Pedro & hang out w/ Uncle Rico so I think I'd like it.  (BTW if you've never seen Napoleon Dynamite you should - it's funny).

15. South Dakota - Home of Mt. Rushmore, another thing I'd love to see before I die.

16. Texas - One end of "Tornado Alley", a must visit for weather nerds like myself.

17. Arkansas - I've never been here but I've always wondered why the "kansas" in Arkansas isn't pronounced the same way as the state Kansas.

18. Vermont - Home of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream... I could go for some Chubby Hubby right about now.

19. Georgia - The name of my second daughter so it's cool w/ me.  I also spent a night in Atlanta once (on my way back from New Orleans).  I had a good time so I have nothing against Georgia (except for the fact that it's home to an SEC team).

20. Oklahoma - Never been there or seen the musical but it is part of Tornado Alley (see number 16).

21. Colorado - I lived there for a summer once.  I taught kids to shoot rifles and bow & arrows (kind of scary they'd let me do that).  It's a beautiful state and the air on the mountain is thin so it puts you in good spirits.

22. Delaware - Another place I've never been but I'd like to see the estuary.

23. Utah - I think I could have fun in Utah (although I might get in trouble for it).

24. New Mexico - Full of old charm.  Santa Fe is awesome as are a lot of the national parks in that state.  A must see.

25. North Dakota - The colder, tougher brother of South Dakota.  I heard they put Steve Buscemi in a wood chipper there!

26. Minnesota - If you ever get a chance, spend a week camping in the Boundary Waters.  It's awesome (make sure you take your bug repellent, though).

27. New Hampshire - I did a report on this state when I was in 5th grade.  I got an A on it so I have nothing against it.

28. Virginia - BEAUTIFUL state!  While I hate to drive I recommend you take a road trip through The Old Dominion State.

29. Wisconsin - I love cheese so Wisconsin is cool.  I've also been to Madison (home of our weather computer provider) and it's an awesome town (as long as their football team doesn't beat the Buckeyes).

30. Oregon - I've always wanted to go to Oregon.  I wouldn't mind going to Portland - don't think I could live there though, too many clouds.

31. Iowa - I hear they have a big rocking chair (see number 13).  Also the setting of "Field of Dreams".  While I think calling Iowa the next best thing to Heaven is a bit of a stretch it was a good movie.

32. Kansas - I've driven through this state.  It takes a looooooong time.  The band that shares the same name is cool, though.

33. Nebraska - I had a good friend of mine move here when I was in 10th grade.  I've never forgiven the state for this.  I would like to become a member of the Omaha Steaks Club, though.

34. West Virginia - I started my career in TV here so the Mountain State will always have a special place in my heart.  I'd love to own some land there sometime.

35. Kentucky - I've been through here many times and I enjoy it immensely.  My mom loves it b/c cigarettes are so much cheaper there.

36. Washington - Never been but it's named after our first president so it can't be that bad.

37. District of Columbia - technically not a state and no vote in Congress.  Other than that I like it.  My last time there I went to the Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery, etc.  I thought it was so cool that all of the stuff there was free - then I thought about it & realized they weren't, I still think it's a good use of tax money.

38. Missouri - I stopped in St. Louis once and liked it.  I'll tell you that state "Showed Me" a good time.

39. Nevada - I've been here twice.  Both times I never left the Las Vegas airport.  I did see Cameron Diaz @ the Vegas airport once but she wouldn't stop & take a picture.  She was nice in her rejection, though.

40. Maryland - Every time I've been to Baltimore I've had fun.  I love shellfish as well so the state is alright w/ me.

41. Pennsylvania - A buddy of mine has (or had, I don't know) a family farm in that state.  I always had fun there.  If you've never been to Kennywood in Pittsburgh you should go.

42. Rhode Island - I've never been here but I understand it's the smallest state in the Union.  I don't think it feels like it needs to drive an awesome sports car b/c of that fact, though.

43. Massachusetts - I ALWAYS misspelled this one on the test.  B/c of that I harbored a deep resentment for the state.  Then I visited Boston and saw a few other parts of the state.  After that we hugged and made up.

44. Ohio - I can't believe the Buckeye State is this low on the list.  I live in Ohio and I like to think I'm pretty happy.  A lot of my own personal history has been written in this state so lets all start smiling more so the next time they survey us we can move up the list.

45. Illinois - This is another cool state mainly b/c of Chicago.  My uncle is a vet there.  Every time I go to the Windy City I have a great time.

46. California - My sister was born here but I've only been there on layovers so I don't have a lot to say about it.  I don't think I'd like the high taxes there, though.

47. Indiana - I'm a little disheartened to see that Illinois, Indiana, Ohio & Michigan (see number 48) are all so low on the list.  I think it's b/c we're perfectionists and when we don't reach the ideals we've set for ourselves (very high ones) we become sad.  Keep in mind that we all border the nation's largest source of freshwater so you better keep us happy as H20 becomes an ever scarcer resource.  I wonder if people in Indiana still want to move back to the old Daylight Savings time schedule.

48. Michigan - I was born here (my dirty little secret, GO BUCKS!).  I've always loved the state and love the beach there.

49. New Jersey - I've never been but I hear Jersey Shore is awesome, in a train wrecky sort of way.

50. Connecticut - I always remember how to spell this one by calling it Connect-e-cut. 

51. New York - I've been to the Empire State once and that was to visit NYC.  Not to sound like a T-shirt but I loved it.

So there you have it - the happiest states in order.  After writing this I can't believe a couple of things:
1.) that I actually had the patience to finish the list
2.) I've been to a lot of states and would like to round out the list someday. 

And in all my travels I've learned one thing - even those states that don't top my list are still better than Canada (I once went to Windsor when I was younger and lost $80 @ the casino - it still bothers me).

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The Greatest Superlative EVER!
12/16/09

As the year winds down it's a time for a special tradition.  A decades long practice that we eagerly await and run to our mailbox daily in December hoping to see it fulfilled.  That's right, I'm talking about the announcement of Time Magazine's "Person of the Year".

This year it's Chairman of the Fed, Ben Bernanke.  I don't really care what you think of him and I'm not going to tell you what I think of him either.  I just think it's kind of cool/funny/odd that we have a person of the year.  That's a lot of pressure.  Hopefully the award never goes to the winner's head.

It used to be "Man of the Year" but obviously that's not representative of every possible candidate (a woman has won or shared in the victory @ least 7 times since the award's inception).

Seeing that the year isn't actually over isn't it a little early to announce the winner?  I've always wondered what Time would do if somebody did something HUGE between the date of the announcement and the end of the year; something that influences all of humanity in a profound way.  Would the magazine rescind the award and give it to the person who was obviously more influential than the original recipient?  Or would they have more than one person of the year?  They've actually done that in the past and I can't help but argue that sort of goes against the actual award - it's person of the year, not people of the year. 

It's got to be quite a thrill to be chosen, regardless - unless of course you did something really bad which is why you won (even though someone like that would probably be so egomaniacal that they'd take it as a compliment).

What do you'd think you do w/ an award like that?  I'll bet Time gives you a little trophy and they probably give you a framed copy of the magazine.  They should also buy you your favorite dinner - I'd be a little upset if I didn't get a some surf 'n turf were I to win it (or @ least a gift card to Outback).  @ the very least they should give you a subscription for the following year if not life.

There are a few things I'd do if I won it:

-I'd leave a copy of the magazine somewhere around my house where guests would be sure to find it; like on the coffee table scattered amongst other periodicals, or in the bathroom.  That way my guests would be looking through the various literature in the house and come across the accolade.  When about it I coyly say, "Oh that, it's nothing.  I was just happy to be nominated."

-I'd buy extra copies and send one to all of the girls who turned me down for a date when I was younger (they'd have to do @ least a 7th printing, though).

-I'd have the cover made into a T-Shirt, wear it into restaurants and try to see if it can get me a table w/out a reservation.

Of course I say I'd do that b/c I know I'll never win.  If I did I'd be in some interesting company (if not scary @ times).  Previous persons of the year have ranged from Ghandi to Hitler.  They've included politicians and heros of the day.  Some say Time doesn't always get it right.  I will say I think they chose the correct "Person of the 20th Century".  That one went to Albert Einstein. 

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Time is Running Out
12/15/09

We're almost there, the countdown has begun.  We're 10 days out from Christmas - it's right around the corner.  Have you finished your shopping?  I haven't. 

The good news there is that my wife does most of our shopping so I really don't have to do that much.  The bad news is that my wife does most of the shopping for everyone but her - that's my job.  And a tough job it is.  Not that she's tough to shop for but I just want to get her something that she wants or something she can use.  I know we need a new vacuum cleaner but I think she'd be mad if I got her one of those for Christmas (even if it was one of those that sits on a ball so you can maneuver around corners w/ relative ease).

In years past I've tried to figure out what to get her and things I wanted would keep popping into my head.  What's worse is that I'd try to rationalize why she'd want/need that particular item.  I remember thinking in years past how she'd love a giant flat screen - it'd make "Project Runway" look that much better.  Or I'd figure, "She'll love a 'Steak of the Month Club' membership.  After all, who doesn't love red meat?"  Here's a rule from "Wife Gift-Giving: 101" - if you were to open the present Christmas morning and freak out b/c you're so happy, it's probably not a good gift for her (unless it's a 1954 Bowman Ted Williams, I think she'd like that).

This year I feel pretty good, though.  I have most of her shopping done.  Over the past few months I've been compiling the list in my head.  When she'd make a comment about something she wanted or something could use I'd take a mental note.  She also sat down and told me a couple of things she wanted so that helps.

I could probably tell you what I've gotten her and she'd never know.  I don't think she reads my blog on a regular basis (she gets enough of me @ home).  But I also know that there's the off chance that she might and then she'd be mad b/c I spoiled the surprise.

As I write this blog I'm reminded how anticlimactic this time of year can be.  It's almost sad.  There's always this HUGE buildup to the holidays and before you know it they're over, January begins and life continues.  Hey, there's another reason the "Steak of the Month Club" would be a great gift for her - it could remind her of the holiday season year round.  Oh crud, I'm doing it again.

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Never Judge a Book by its Cover
12/14/09

I got a pleasant surprise this weekend when I went to a live show @ the theater.

I'd like to start off by saying that it's been YEARS since I've seen a show.  I had a buddy in college who could sing so the last one I went to was an opera (I think it was Don Giovanni - it was in Italian & I couldn't understand a word of it but it sounded cool).

It's not that I don't like theater I just don't go very often.  Needless to say I wasn't all that excited when I was informed that I'd be off to Holiday Follies @ the Taft Theater in Cincinnati this weekend.  I went though, and I've gotta say it was pretty good.

They sang all of the holiday classics and even some songs I'd never heard before.  My kids loved it so that was just icing on the cake. 

It got me thinking, though.  If my preconceived notions were wrong about the show (it turned out to be much better than I anticipated) maybe I'm wrong about other things:

-Maybe liver & onions is actually a tasty meal. 
-Maybe Tijuana isn't the happiest place on Earth (Krusty the Clown says it is). 
-Perhaps John Tesh, William Shatner & Hanson are talented musicians (which would make them the most misunderstood musical geniuses of the late 20th Century).
-I'd be crushed if all dogs don't go to Heaven like the movie says (I think they do, though).
-Or what if Wheaties really wasn't "The Breakfast of Champions"?  What if it was just "The First Meal of Sub-Par to Mediocre Athletes"?  (Actually that one is true when I eat them).

The bottom line is that I didn't give the show a fair shot and as it turns out I was pleasantly surprised with it.  Besides had I not gone I would've stayed home and watched the Bengals play which would've made me mad (they played sloppy & lost).  I guess it pays to keep an open mind (or @ the very least it can keep your blood pressure low).

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I Smell Like My Wife
12/11/09

But not b/c I'm wearing perfume (I can't find a fragrance that captures the essence of "me"). 

By now we all know it's been very cold as of late.  You may or may not have felt how dry it's been, though.  There's a scientific reason for our dryness: cold air can't hold as much moisture as warm air.  Therefore colder air is almost always much drier than warmer air.  There are exceptions but usually air that's 32 is much drier than air that's 85.

That's why relative humidity isn't the greatest way to measure moisture in the air.  Say you have a hypothetical parcel of air that's 80 but it only has a relative humidity value of 25%.  That parcel of air actually has more moisture in it than one w/ a temperature of 32 w/ a RH value of 95% even though the numbers would suggest that it doesn't.

So what does this have to do w/ me smelling like my wife?  Well, she loves garlicky food and I eat food w/ lots of garlic to stay warm therefore we smell the same in colder weather.  Actually that's not true @ all I just thought it would be funny to write that.

The real reason we smell alike is b/c it's so dry.  My skin is very cracked, so much so that it almost looks reptilian (a little like Greedo's from Star Wars).  As a result I have to put on lotion so I don't get all itchy and uncomfortable.  My wife always puts on lotion and it smells very girly (sorry if I offend anyone w/ this term but it's the most PC one I can come up with and still get my point across).  Since I too have to put on lotion I, by way of the commutative property, also smell girly (my hands feel much better though).

While I have to say it was very foreign @ first I'm growing to like the fragrances that accompany the various moisturizers on the market today.  Who wouldn't want to smell like Blueberry Passion, or China Rain?  It's delicious!

I will say that the multitude of aromas that accompany lotions, body creams, etc. wouldn't be my first choice were I a manufacturer of such concoctions (or a connoisseur for that matter).  I'd choose something that I think smells good - like a steak, beef jerky or bacon based scent.  How awesome would that be?  You could be out and about and a lady could come up to you and say, "You smell like a club sandwich!"  You could look her in the eye, lean in and suavely say, "I know" - it'd be like something out of a Cary Grant movie.

I'd even argue that if a lady had a hint of applewood smoked bacon emanating from her she'd turn more than her fair share of heads. 

Not only that but the lotion industry could tap into a whole new demographic.  Think about how many guys would start buying lotion if you had scents that were a bit more "male-friendly".  Perhaps there would be an instance when a guy didn't have time to go out and get some chicken wings.  He could still do the next best thing though, and smell like them.

But alas, I doubt Lubriderm, Jergens and all of the other lotion companies in the business would ever have the courage to manufacture such a product.  That means this blog has turned into nothing more than a pipe dream.  I guess it does have one practical application: providing cover when my wife catches me pouring bacon grease into her tub of Raspberry Waterfall.

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Acclimating to the Cold
12/10/09

When my wife and I moved back to the Mainland we didn't bring a whole lot with us.  We basically brought back about 25 boxes, our kids, our cars and whatever we could fit into our luggage.  We also brought back our cat, Calamity (see 9/15 post for more on her).

First off, if you ever want to bring back a cat it can get expensive.  It cost $225 to ship her back on cargo flight (more than we paid for her) - my airline wouldn't let me bring her back w/ me despite my efforts to convince them she was a service animal; they didn't buy it, they know cats can't be trained.  But that's not the point of this post.

We got Calamity shortly after we moved to the island so this is the first time she's ever experienced weather like this - except the time my daughter put her in the refrigerator (actually that never happened... I hope).

She wasn't an outdoor cat before b/c we lived in a condo.  Now that we have a yard, though, she loves going outside.  She'll even "protect" our yard from other cats (she still has her claws).  Sometimes she hangs out by the fence in what I think is an attempt to tease our neighbor's dogs.

All she does lately is sit by the sliding door that leads to our backyard and stare longingly at the outdoors.  I think she feels like she's in prison.  I also think she sits there and every five or ten minutes she thinks, "I'll bet it's warm outside now" I then open the door; "Nope! Still cold." she thinks as she scurries away and plops down next to our heating vent in front of the directional vent cover.  <--  I actually find this fact a little annoying b/c I'm paying to heat the house and she's hogging all of the heat in the living room.

Other than that I kind of find the whole situation comical b/c I know how badly she wants to be outside but the weather isn't cooperating.  I used to experience a similar situation when I'd go outside on the first day of winter w/ my sled only to see that there was no snow on the ground and there wouldn't be for some time.

Stay tuned b/c I'm sure I'll have more to write about Calamity by the end of the Winter.  If she's this stir crazy now, I can't wait to see what she'll be like after 3 months of cabin fever.  There is a hint of good news, though: by Saturday I'll be able to kick her out of the house for @ least a little while seeing that we'll hit 37.  That's warm enough for her to squeeze in a few quick 20 minute bursts of freedom.

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Think Warm Thoughts
12/09/09

Are you cold yet?  If not, wait awhile, you'll get there.  Our winds are dropping in speed as I write this blog but temperatures spreading across the Miami Valley are bitterly cold and winds are still strong enough to make it feel downright nasty.  Tonight and tomorrow night our wind chills will get down below zero - that means the thermometer may read in the teens but temps will feel sub-zero (one of my favorite characters from Mortal Kombat).

That's why you need to think warm thoughts - even though I hate to say they probably won't do much good if you're stuck outside.  I guess warm thoughts may put a smile on your face so @ least you're cold and happy (which is almost better than warm and sad).

We've all heard the term "mind over matter".  It implores that we use the power of our mind to overcome physical adversity.  While that's a great idea in theory I don't see it working in this instance.  Cold is cold, no matter how you dress it up.  I have to say that in my 33 years of life I've never been out in the cold and imagined that I was in a warmer place in order to feel better (I have been really hungry and looked at my cat and seen a box of pizza like they do on the cartoons, though).  I've also been out in the cold moving around and felt warmer but that's a different story altogether.  I've never been able to remain stationary and imagine a tropical setting in order to warm myself up.  Maybe I lack the mental fortitude.  Maybe I'm not disciplined enough.  Or maybe I just lack the focus (oh look, the Bluejackets are on - I wonder what the temperature is right now in Nationwide Arena).  Either way the only way I see myself staying warm over the next few days is by avoiding the outdoors as much as possible.

The bottom line: it's safe to say that "Old Man Winter" is paying us a visit.  I've always wondered why we use the term "Old Man Winter".  Are we saying that he's crotchety and thus miserable which is a good way to describe the cold weather?  If so I take offense to that.  I'm young and I too can be just as crotchety if I so choose.  Not just that but who's to say that when I do get on in years that I'll be ill-tempered?  (I probably will be, though - just b/c I can.)  Of course if I was a crotchety old man I'd probably be retired which would mean I could weather this recent storm on the beach.

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A Dose of Winter
12/08/09

I'd be remiss were I not to dedicate this blog entry to our upcoming weather.  We're looking @ our first big weather event of the season tomorrow.  We won't deal w/ a lot of snow but we'll see biting cold and STRONG winds.  In fact we could see the strongest winds since the remnants of Ike in September 2008 (if not the winds will be a close second the the February 2009 wind event).

A High Wind Warning has been issued by the national weather service going into effect tomorrow @ 7:00 A.M. (as of the time of this writing, 10:55 P.M.).  Winds in the 25-35 mph (and in some areas higher) won't be uncommon.  Our gusts will top out @ 50+ mph in some areas so it's safe to say, "Hold onto your hats folks!"

Remember we'll be there for you on-air and on-line so you can get all of the latest on our airwaves and @ our website (shameless plug, but true nonetheless).

Not only will the winds pose a problem but our temperatures will fall through the day so any moisture that's leftover from tomorrow morning will transition over to snow.  I don't think we'll see a whole lot of accumulation from this but we'll pick up blowing snow.  That'll reduce visibility as you drive on the roadways. 

Temperatures will continue to fall through tomorrow night and we'll also continue to see gusty winds which means one thing - wind chill factor.  We'll be looking @ wind chills in the single digits and possibly dipping into negative numbers.

Thursday will also be cold and Thursday night will be downright bitter and hateful.  Lows down to about 12 Thursday night and w/ wind chills we are talking about it possibly feeling like around -5 in some spots (I think that will be the extreme but most spots will feel close to 0 maybe a degree or two lower).  One word: YIKES!  (That's scary cold).

The bottom line: it's going to be bitter and raw and the next few days will really feel like Winter.  You may or may not know that I moved here from Hawaii earlier this year (today Eddie went so my friends back on the island are looking @ Wintertime weather as well).  Even though I grew up in the Buckeye State I was hoping my memories of bitter Ohio Winters were nothing more than a trick my mind was playing on me.  You know how your memory can embellish memories of years past?  I was kind of hoping it was something like that.

The rational part of me knew that wasn't true and I'm about to learn just how much of a pipe dream it really was.

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Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
12/07/09

Well it's official, we've had our first snowfall of the season.  This isn't the first snow we've seen this season (we got some flurries more than a month ago up on the hill in Bellefontaine and we saw some sleet a week or so ago in the morning) but it's the first snow that's really accumulated and thus had an impact on us.

I love snow.  It looks good, it sounds good (as it falls), it even tastes good (as long as it's fresh).  One of my favorite things to do is go on a walk in the middle of a snowstorm.  Not only is it peaceful but the sound of your boots crunching against the backdrop of the fresh fallen snow makes you feel like you're the only person in the world.

As a kid snow is what interested me in weather.  I'd stay up late to watch the weather forecast hoping we'd get snowed in so I could go sledding the following day.  If I was lucky we'd get a snow day (for which I always rooted) and I could miss school.  Alas, we never really saw too many of those when I was growing up.

Now that I'm older I don't like to drive in it and I'm not a big fan of bitterly cold weather but I still think snow is a catalyst that brings out something special in us.  If you're wondering what I mean wait until the first big snow - you'll get it when you see grown men acting like children again.  You'll see them having snowball fights, making snow angels and acting invincible on sleds. 

I saw this firsthand when I was a freshman in college.  I went to Ohio University and Athens is a very hilly town.  We got about 6 inches one night and about 100 students were gathered at the top of Jefferson Hill (right outside the all girls dorm Jefferson Hall - that's not pertinent to the story I just happened to remember it just now) and we were sledding  down the cobblestone road b/c driving on it was impossible.  We were riding down just about anything we could get our hands on - sleds, skateboards w/ out wheels, laundry baskets, even cardboard boxes.

I don't know if all adults still act this way but I do -  I probably shouldn't, though b/c it HURTS when you take a big spill onto the frozen ground.  Maybe I should stick to just walking in the fresh fallen snow but something tells me that my kids probably wouldn't let that fly.  That's fine by me.

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People Will Complain About Anything
12/04/09

If you read my blog on a regular basis you probably find the title of this blog very fitting even if you haven't read it.  If you need proof that people will complain about anything look no further than the Sun-Maid Raisin girl. 

It seems she's raising a few eyebrows as of late.  Why?  B/c she has a new look.  This isn't the first time they've given her a makeover but in the past attempts to modernize her have pretty much kept the original image fairly intact.  Her new look, though is a little more curvy as they've Barbie-tized her a little.

The higher-ups @ the company say it's an attempt to promote a healthy lifestyle and modernize her by showing her doing things like going to the gym and doing yoga.

Turns out changing a trusted brand isn't w/out controversy.  The company has a gotten complaints w/ people saying she looks as if she's had "some implants" among other things.  One magazine says she looks "as if Julia Roberts decided to don a red bonnet and start picking grapes".

In the interest of full disclosure I'd like to say I like the new Sun-Maid girl (not just b/c I've always been a Julia Roberts fan).  Or course I never had a problem w/ the old Sun-Maid girl either.  Truthfully I probably would've never noticed a difference had the complaints remained silent.  In fact, I think the last time I ate Sun-Maid Raisins was a little more than a year ago when one of my kids got a box of them while trick-or-treating (they, like all kids, were in a big hurry to eat that one).

I think it's ridiculous that people are complaining about this in the first place.  Do we really have nothing better to do than pick on a beloved advertising icon who, even w/ her new look, is far more wholesome than Joe Camel?  Honestly.  Raisins give us so much and ask so little.  If anything our attacks show our ungratefulness for all that raisins have done for us over the years (in terms of health benefits). 

Personally I think all of the controversy is just trumped up by the dried apricot lobby.  They may seem innocent on the outside but they'll do anything to increase their share in the coveted dried-fruit market - and they don't care who they have to step on to achieve their ultimate goals, even a trademark that has helped shape the fabric of our great country for the past 90 years.

If it's not the dried apricot lobby it's people who are in serious need finding a better way to spend their time.  Either way I chalk it up to a case of sour (or @ the very least dried) grapes.

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Laps of Luxury
12/03/09

Tonight on the show I commented that I lack athletic prowess of any kind.  While it's true that I'm not @ all physically equipped to become a professional athlete I do try to keep in shape.

I'm not a big fan of exercising but I find that it makes me feel better when I'm done (due to natural endorphins) and it also helps me sleep better @ night.  I also find that by exercising for about half an hour a day I can eat pretty much whatever I want and my weight stays fairly constant (as long as I eat some healthy food and don't pig out on too much junk food).

One thing I try to do @ least three times a week is go swimming for about 40 - 60 laps (1/2 - 3/4 of a mile) or 20-30 minutes, which ever comes first.  Not only is this good way to stay in shape but I find it keeps my back from getting too sore.  There's one problem, though - I kind of hate doing it.  I know it's a good thing but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy doing it (kind of like eating vegetables).

It's not that I dislike the action swimming b/c it's actually fun to get into the water.  What I hate is the fact that it's soooooooooooo boring.  All you do is swim down to one end of the pool and then swim back.  Then you swim back down to the end of the pool, turn around and go back - repeat ad infinitum and you've got a swimming workout.  Like I said - very boring.  Here's how boring my swimming workout is: I actually do math in my head to pass the time.

It'd be cool if they could put a fake shark in the pool that could chase me and other swimmers systematically "tagging" us and the last one swimming was the winner.  Or maybe if they could put a TV screen on the bottom of the pool the workout wouldn't be so monotonous.  You could put tropical fish, "The Battle of Yavin" from Star Wars or just your favorite movie it; either way it would make the time go by so much faster.

It's funny how things have changed so much since I was a kid.  When I was younger I was happy to spend an entire day in the water and here I am complaining about a half-hour.  Years ago I'd actually get mad when the life guards would blow the whistle and we had to get out for rest period.  Now I look forward to it b/c I can stop and rest (of course I no longer have to abide by the rest period since I'm an adult now, but I still will).

As I write this I realize that maybe it's a good thing that I'm not a hardcore/athletic swimmer - me in a speedo is a scary sight.  Sorry to put such an image in your head; you may never get it out - no matter how many laps you swim.

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A Mute Point
12/02/09

I just glanced up at the TV in the weather center and I had to chuckle b/c it's on mute right now.  I'm not laughing b/c it's on mute I'm amused b/c "MUTE" is written in little purple letters in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.  I understand it's there b/c that way you can look up @ the screen and know immediately that the TV is in silent mode.  But don't you think I'd figure that out anyway when I looked up @ the TV screen only to find moving pictures sans sound? 

Now one could argue that maybe the sound is turned all the way down.  True but turning the volume all the way down is the same thing as muting it... just more labor intensive.  And besides, were I to start turning the volume up (w/ or w/out the remote) the TV would get louder regardless of whether mute was on or not (b/c if it's on mute already and you toggle the volume up or down the sound automatically goes back to the level you had it on before you hit mute in the first place).

I know all of this might seem trivial @ best and petty @ worst but there's a deeper problem here.  There's a basketball game on and the word "MUTE" is in the place where they put the score - thus blocking it.  I'm a little peeved that I have to click the remote to find out what the score is when this dilemma could have been avoided entirely had the good folks @ (Insert Television Brand HERE) practiced a little common sense in the first place.  What's worse: I felt so compelled to write about the inherent design flaw in many TVs today that I've wasted the last five minutes of my life complaining not realizing that I could have learned the score in about 1 second.  And I have more than one option when accomplishing such a feat (hitting "MUTE" again or just hitting the volume button.)

Sometimes I think it would be good if my inner-monologue had a "MUTE" button of its own.

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Party Crashing
12/01/09

By now you've probably heard the story that involves Tareq and Michaele Salahi - you know, the couple who crashed the State Dinner @ the White House last week.  It turns out they're now saying that they were invited and that they have documentation to prove it.  I'm not going to say much on that other than there's more to this story than we'll ever learn - after all, I have a hard time believing that anyone can just walk into the White House.  Even people who go there everyday have to have some sort of I.D. to get in the door.  Actually I got in there in 8th grade but I was on a school tour.  The bottom line is that something doesn't add up, but I digress.

Have you ever crashed a party?  I have (actually I've crashed a few in my lifetime).  I've even been caught crashing a party and I was allowed to stay. 

I think the first party I ever crashed was a wedding for Al Harmon's (I'm pretty sure that's his name) daughter - he was a mattress dealer in Columbus.  A couple of buddies and I were walking around my neighborhood (probably causing trouble) and we came by this house that had a great band playing in the back yard so we stopped to listen.  I don't know if we stayed too long and he felt sorry for us or we looked like someone's kids but either way Al invited us in for some food and to enjoy the entertainment.  Everyone was nice and we had a good time.  I think I even got into a photo or two - but more than that I got a great story out of it.  Sometimes I think about the couple and chuckle when I imagine them looking through their wedding album wondering who the heck "those strange kids who look like they're from the wrong side of the tracks" are.

In college I crashed a lot of parties.  Nobody ever really seemed to care, though - either I blended in or that's just part of the nature of college.  My last few years @ OU I had a public access TV show w/ my roommate and a few times we showed up @ the wrong house and got invited inside b/c the people there liked the show.

As I've gotten older I've stepped out of the habit of showing up to a gala uninvited.  I guess I've gotten more boring as I've advanced in years.  I'll tell you though, if you ever want to crash a party it's not that hard. 

First, go to a party that's big enough for you to blend in and thus go undetected.  Second, act like you should be there - mingle, shmooze, get to know people, etc.  Third, if you do get caught and someone asks you, "Who do you know here?" just say John, Mike, Dave or any other common name.  Chances are there will be @ least one person, if not many people, there who have that name.  If you happen to say Dave and the person asking the question says, "Dave's not here, man!" just respond, "What am I in a Cheech & Chong bit?", act offended and walk away.  He'll be so ashamed by the chain of events that just transpired that he won't bother you for the rest of the night (probably).  Even if it doesn't work you'll still have a good story for your friends. 

While my party crashing days are over I hope you can use the knowledge from this posting to get into many a soiree for years to come.  I will warn you though, while I've used these w/ a measure of success I don't think they'll get you into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue anytime soon.

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Welcome Back!
11/30/09

I'd like to start by saying I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.  Mine was great.

On Thursday I helped out @ the "Feast of Giving" in Dayton.  It was a big success and I had a lot of fun so even though it was technically a work day I really don't look @ it that way.  It was nice to get out and meet some of the people of this great community and to get to know some of the viewers of our broadcasts.  I also got to grab a plate @ the end of the feast - AWESOME!  The food was great, especially the stuffing, or dressing as Chef Art Smith called it - you call it what you want, as long as you make sure delicious is somewhere in the description.

After the "Feast of Giving" I went home and partook in one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions: the after-dinner nap, that too was great.  Then we went and had dinner @ my wife's cousin's house.  That too was delicious and honestly, any day that you get to eat two turkey dinners can't be a bad one!

I worked on Friday as well but after work I drove to Columbus to meet with family and friends who'd come into town for a visit.  I caught up w/ people I hadn't seen in a year if not longer.  I also got to see my sister and her family - three of her four kids were sick, though so my wife stayed home w/ the baby.  Why is it that whenever family comes in town someone, and therefore everyone, gets sick?  I don't ever remember this being the case when I was younger but nowadays if it's not my kids it's someone else's kids getting sick. 

All in all it was a good Thanksgiving holiday and now that it's over I can now start thinking about Christmas.  One of the things people always ask me: "What do you want this year?"  Here's how I know I'm old: I usually say I really don't need anything.  I pretty much have everything I want.  Anything I do want is usually expensive and I don't expect anyone to buy me a flatscreen.  I hate to say it but the only things I really need are the essentials and I'd feel weird asking for a gas card, a gift certificate to my favorite grocery store or for someone to pay my electric bill.  While I don't technically need those things those are what I could actually use and @ last check it's tacky to ask for cash.

One of things I love about the holidays is watching all of the holiday specials I used to enjoy as a kid.  A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon), etc. are all part of the fabric that make up a small part of my childhood.  Watching those specials always makes me feel nostalgic for the days when Christmas was more about the presents than about going to Church.  BTW, I know that sounds horrible but when you were a kid were you really in that much of a hurry to head to midnight mass on Christmas Eve?  I don't mind going now, I actually like it, but I'm just saying that when you're a kid your understanding of the holiday is a little skewed.

Andy Williams once called this the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and I really think it is.  Regardless of the holiday you celebrate (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule, etc.) these next few weeks are always special (@ least to me).  People are generally in a decent mood and from my experience seem more willing to help out others.  They also gather in fellowship and celebrate some of the best aspects of humanity.  In short I hope that this is a great holiday season for you and I hope it started off on the right foot w/ the long weekend.

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What Are You Thankful For?
11/24/09

- The fact that our grammar has evolved in such a way that I can end a sentence w/ a preposition and I won't raise too many eyebrows. 

Actually I have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season.  For one thing I have a wonderful family.  I have a wife who loves me and three beautiful daughters.  I also have a job and career that I enjoy and b/c of those two things I consider myself the richest man in the world.  Notice I said richest, not wealthiest - when I go to schools and talk to kids one question I always get, "Are you rich?"  I always tell them what I just told you b/c it's true.

I'm also thankful that I'm back in Ohio and close to my family.  I do miss my extended ohana in Hawaii but it's nice to be back and I can't wait to spend the holidays w/ the family & friends with whom I grew up.  I'm also thankful for my health and the health of those who play an important role in my life.

I hope you have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving - I'll be taking the next few days off so you won't have to read the ramblings of a madman for the next few days - that can be number 1 on your list.  Have a great holiday!

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Pet Peeve
11/23/09

Okay, I have to share one of my biggest pet peeves w/ you.  It drives me nuts and just when I seem to put it @ the back of my mind the cruel hand of fate intervenes and my frustration is renewed.  In some instances it's strengthened.  So what is it that bothers me so?  Actually there are a lot of things but my current annoyance du jour is hitting two consecutive traffic lights.

It's bothersome enough to hit a light in the first place but I'm okay w/ that b/c we need them to provide order and structure to our commutes (w/out order we have chaos).  But after sitting @ a light for a couple of minutes the last thing I want to do is travel 50 feet only to begin the process anew.

And sometimes once you hit that first light you hit every consecutive light.  This actually happened to me yesterday while driving on Wilmington Pike.  My wife and I were in the car w/ the baby and we hit a light, then we got stopped by the next light, the light after that and so on until we finally reached the freeway (we didn't originally hit the light there but we didn't get the green left turn arrow either and by the time we could have turned - the light had once again changed). 

Not only had that final light turned red but I had as well.  We traveled MAYBE a quarter of a mile and it took us @ least five minutes.  Not only is this a waste of time but it also makes no sense.  How hard is it to program our traffic lights to force you to stop @ every third or fourth one?

I find it ironic, for a few reasons.  For one thing it wastes gas and we're told by the "powers that be" that we need to conserve finite resources such as gasoline.  I don't disagree w/ this b/c I think it's a good idea to avoid waste when and wherever you can.  I just find it ironic that my gas mileage can be up to 35/mpg on the highway but when I exclusively drive in the city I've seen it as low as 24/mpg.  That's more than 120 miles of wasted travel per tank - all b/c of the stop-and-go nature of our surface streets.  Say 10,000 other people had the same problem (and I don't think that's a stretch) and that's 1.2 million lost miles.  Do you see where I'm going with this?  On the one hand we're trying to do the right thing by combining our car trips, carpooling, etc. but the rules are written in such a way that the deck is already stacked against us - therefore at best it seems frustrating and @ worst it seems pointless.

Some say that by timing the lights in such a manner you're actually making the road safer b/c you're forcing people to slow down.  Sounds good - on the surface.  I disagree, though.  Yesterday when I was stuck @ one of these lights I noticed someone next to me who sped away when the light changed and kept speeding even after he broke the speed limit law - but he got through the next light and thus broke the cycle.  I've done this before, and I know I'm not the only one.  I argue this actually encourages people to speed ultimately making the road less safe b/c of the improper timing of traffic lights.

I also think that what happened to me yesterday actually slows the flow of traffic b/c everyone is forced to needlessly sit through lights and if they can't move off the road they're just congesting it.  Guess what happens when you add more cars to the mix, that's right: it just gets more congested.  Whenever I'm feeling congested I grab a Kleenex.  Unfortunately a Kleenex won't solve my traffic light woes... but a little common sense just might.

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G.B.M.S.
11/20/09

It's that time of year again.  All week long we've been revving up to it and tomorrow it's finally here: The Ohio State / Michigan game.

For some it's "just another game" (like John Cooper - he didn't get it).  For others it's a way of life.  I fall somewhere in between but I lean towards the latter.  That's b/c as an OSU fan you sometimes judge a season as successful or not based on the outcome of that game.  Example: I don't necessarily look @ the 1995 season as a success.  The final record of that season was 11-2, not bad.  But we lost to Michigan (and to Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl for that matter).  I wouldn't exactly call the 2001 season a failure, though.  The Buckeyes went 7-5 and lost the Outback Bowl that year but we beat Michigan (I actually watched some of this game on a mini-TV set in the back of a car b/c I had to be in Cincinnati). 

The 1995 season looks better on paper (the name Biakabutuka still makes me shudder) - I have a buddy who had a downtrodden look in his eyes after the Michigan game that year who lamented, "It feels like somebody died."  Even though 1995 team had the better record I'd have to say that 2001 was the more successful season - after all, we beat Michigan.

That was also a great year b/c Jim Tressel was the new OSU head coach.  When he was introduced @ an OSU / Michigan basketball game earlier that year he said, "I can assure you that you will be proud of your young people in the classroom, in the community and most especially in 310 days in AnnArbor, Michigan."  It was awesome!  We finally had a coach that got it.

I remember growing up how big the game was in Columbus.  When I was in third grade our teacher gave us a challenge.  The day before the game each student picked who they thought would win.  If your team lost you were supposed to bring in a snack for the class the following Monday and we'd have a party.  I picked the Buckeyes b/c I thought there was no way Michigan could stop us, even if Keith Byars was injured.  Unfortunately the Bucks lost that year.  What was worse - I was the only one who brought in something for the class.  My mom made bags of popcorn - it was good but would have been better if the rest of my class wasn't a bunch of welchers.

You may not know this but if the Buckeyes beat Michigan every player who participates in the win gets a pair of gold pants.  They're not actual gold pants like the ones worn by Yul Brynner in The King and I.  The gold pants I'm talking about are a charm you could wear on a necklace, bracelet, etc. (when I was a kid I imagined them as a pair of solid gold pants you could wear, though).  The tradition started back in 1934 when then coach Francis Schmidt said he didn't think beating Michigan (the national powerhouse @ the time) would be a big deal.  After all, "They put their pants on one leg at a time same as everybody else".  That was the year The Gold Pants Club was created.  Area businessmen reward team members w/ their own charm - each player has his initials, the year and final score of the game engraved on them.  That's one piece of sports memorabilia I'd LOVE to own.

As it stands Michigan leads the rivalry 57-42-6.  There are a lot of things I would love to do before I die that will probably never happen and I'm okay w/ that - sometimes life gets in the way.  One thing I hope to see before my time is up: OSU even up and hopefully take the lead in that series.  It'll take @ least 15 years to get there, let's hope tomorrow we're one step closer.

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It's a Gas
11/19/09

I was reading the other day that gas prices in the Miami Valley have dropped on the order of some 10 cents this week to below $2.50/gallon.  I don't think the gas stations in my neighborhood have gotten the memo b/c they're all still over $2.65/gallon.  I'm wondering if they got together @ the beginning of the week and said, "Well, gas prices have dropped and we can drop our gas prices too but if we all keep them where they are we won't have too."  The logical aspect of my personality figures they're just selling off the gas they bought @ a higher price before they can lower costs but the paranoid aspect of it thinks it's a conspiracy. 

I've always wondered, though, why do they take the decimal out three places on gas station signs (ex: $2.639/gallon)?  Why are you charging me 9/10 of a cent?  Why not just round it up to $2.64?  Do gas stations think we won't come and buy gas if it's a penny more than it looks on the sign?  And even if that were the case do you really think I'd avoid your station if you were charging $2.64 instead of $2.639?  Were I to go with the lower price I'd only save 1.2 cents (I have about a 12 gallon tank).  Honestly if 1.2 cents was going to break my budget for the week something tells me that I'd probably be better off not driving @ all.

Whenever I fill up my tank I always reset the tripometer (I think that's what it's called).  That way when I re-fill I can figure out what my gas mileage was.  I drive a Dodge Neon (it's called "The Gray Ghost" b/c once you drive it it'll haunt your dreams).  The manual says I should get 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.  It's wrong, though.  I usually average about 29 mpg.  Back when I was commuting from Cincinnati over the summer I was getting like 33 to 35 mpg.  I'm not complaining but I find it funny that the manufacturer doesn't even know the specifics on the car.

My Dodge Neon (pronounced Doh-jay Nay-on~ on the racing circuit) was the first new car I ever bought.  I got it in Hawaii after the Volvo I was driving @ the time got some sort of a brake leak that was going to cost $3000 to fix.  So I traded it in and got the car I have now.  I know you're thinking, "Wow a Volvo to a Neon, how can you handle such a step-up in vehicle luxury?"  All I can say is: I manage (it's a little easier when you have an AM/FM Stereo/CD player standard in every model and even easier when you have the "Sport Package" which includes a spoiler).

The first motorized vehicle I ever had I bought in college.  It was a moped, a Hero Majestic Panther to be exact.  Now that got good gas mileage.  It got like 90 mpg.  I did have to mix in a quart of 2-cycle so I didn't burn out the motor, though. 

If you've never met me in person you might not know that I'm not a small man.  I'm about 6'4" tall and weigh about 190 lbs.  Imagine that on a moped which isn't much more than a fancy bicycle that prepubescent teenage boys ride around on so they can seem cool.  Needless to say, it was quite a sight to see me riding my moped down Court Street in Athens, Ohio.  It was even worse to see me in my helmet, which for a time was a plastic viking helmet (I ended up getting a real one but bought that one so when my mom asked if I had a helmet I could truthfully answer "yes").

The thing had a horn on it but you had to be moving for it to work as designed.  If you were idling the engine and hit the horn it would sound like a sick duck.  Once you got moving though, it sounded like a real horn thanks to the Doppler Effect.  One time I rode it over to my friend's house and his mom answered the door and laughed @ me.  She laughed even harder when she heard the horn.

In Athens there's a biker bar called The Smiling Skull.  I had a buddy who worked there named Ed.  I'd always stop by on Wednesday nights and see him after I was done working @ the library.  Guess how I got there - that's right, the moped (don't worry I NEVER drove it if I imbibed - that's a bad idea to begin w/ but it's worse if you're on a moped).  Ed used to tell me I should stop by on Saturday mornings when the bikers would rally before they went riding.  There'd be about 20 Harleys parked outside and he said my moped could be the girlfriend of one of the real motorcycles.  I never stopped by b/c I didn't want to get beat up.

I still have my moped I just don't know where it is.  I think my father-in-law was doing something w/ it.  If you happen to see me on it in the coming months you'll know we've been reunited and I'll probably have a smile on my face b/c as long as I'm on it the price of gas will be irrelevant.

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Use Your Illusion
11/18/09

As we had those off & on showers today I was reminded of the of the Autumn of my 10th Grade year in high school.  You may be wondering why.  The reason is simple (or @ least it seems simple to me), it was chilly and rainy today and it's the 11th month of the year - thus we had a cold "November Rain".

That was the name of a song that was HUGE back in the Fall of 1992.  It seemed like you couldn't go anywhere w/out hearing it on the radio.

We didn't have cable (and my mom still doesn't) but I remember catching the video on MTV (back when they still played videos).  It was an epic.  It had Axl Rose getting married (you know that old saying, "You clean up nicely"?  He doesn't) and if I remember correctly his wife dies in it.

I had a buddy, Dan Formo, who seemed to listen to that song non-stop.  It's a good song but have you ever heard a song so much it loses it's luster?  That happened w/ that song for me (it also happened w/ the "Thong Song" when it dominated the charts in the Spring/Summer of 2000 - what an exciting time to be alive).  Formo bought the cassette tape of Use Your Illusion I (the album w/ "November Rain") and I think he dubbed the song onto an entire blank tape so he could listen to it over and over (I did the same thing w/ "Stairway to Heaven" so I can't complain too much).

Right around the time "November Rain" peaked I got my driver's license.  I spent as much time as I could in my mom's 1989 Pontiac Bonneville and every now and then "November Rain" would make it into the tape player.  My buddies and myself (Formo included) spent many a Friday night driving around the neighborhood, listening to music, causing trouble and ending up at Anthony's Pizza by the end of the evening. 

Formo's interest in that song waned as the year progressed and by the middle of the next Summer he'd moved to Blair, Nebraska.  His dad worked in the College of Music at Capital University (in my hometown) and took a job in Nebraska as the Dean of Music @ Dana College.  I kept in touch w/ him and still e-mail him from time to time.  He moved back to my hometown and went to Capital for a semester before moving home.  @ last check he was married and had a baby girl.

It's hard to believe that 17 years have passed since that time in my life.  It's even harder to believe that I hadn't even been alive for 17 years back then.  What's hardest, and scariest, to believe is that I remember it like it was yesterday.  Life truly passes by in the blink of an eye.  I guess Axl Rose was right when he said, "Nothin' lasts forever even cold November Rain". 

(cue Slash's guitar solo)

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Winter Safety Week
11/17/09

The past few nights I've been giving little "pointers" during my weathercasts detailing Winter weather safety.  You may be thinking, "Why are you talking about winter, Jeff?  It's more than a month away."  Actually we're about a month and 3 1/2 days from it (if you want to get technical).

In honor of the coming season the state has dubbed this week, "Winter Safety Awareness Week".  This is the time to prepare and there are a number of things you should do:

1.) Update your disaster preparedness plan - Know what to do if you're caught in a snow/ice storm, w/out power for an extended period of time, establish a meeting place just in case you're separated from your family and update your list of emergency contacts.

2.) Prepare disaster kits for your home & vehicle - Those should have non-perishable food, bottled water, working electronics (flashlights, weather radios, etc), warm clothes/blankets and batteries.  Make sure you have enough supplies to last @ least three days (I always recommend a week) and make sure you have stuff for your pets as well.  Also, tune-up your vehicles now and try to keep @ least a 1/2 tank in your car to avoid fuel-line freeze up.

3.) Get your home ready - Remove low-hanging dead tree branches, clean your gutters, get your furnace/heaters/fireplaces checked before you begin using them and if you have a portable generator MAKE SURE you get a carbon monoxide detector for your home (you should have one anyway to be safe).

Those are the tips given by the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness but there's one tip they left out: when severe weather strikes make sure you tune into Dayton's News Source  (sorry, to turn this Public Service Announcement into a commercial).

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Stop & Smell the Roses
11/16/09

By now you probably know that the Buckeyes clinched a Rose Bowl berth w/ their overtime win against Iowa on Saturday.  If you missed the game, it was AWESOME.  A little sloppy in a few places (namely the offsides call that brought back Thaddeus Gibson's pick-6 w/ about 6 minutes left in the game) but in the end a W is a W (maybe it should be a lowercase W to emphasize the sloppiness).

As a kid I remember my grandpa being a huge fan of the Buckeyes.  He graduated Ohio State's College of Medicine and went on to become a pediatrician but he never forgot his college football team.  He wasn't just a fan of OSU Football he was a fan of the game itself.  My grandma never understood how he could listen to one game on the radio and watch another one on TV.  If you're a little confused by this keep in mind he watched football before we had picture-in-picture and back when it was too expensive to have two color TVs in the same room (only Elvis, a king, could afford something like that).

----(Here's a funny side note to that last thought: When I was in college we had four TVs in our living room one year w/ a couple of cable splitters so we could watch all of the games.  One time some girls across the street were having a party.  As it wound down we invited everyone over to our house for an after hours party.  A couple of their friends were exchange students from Australia.  When they walked into our house one of them said, "Wow, you guys have four TVs... you really are American!")----

Anyway, I remember as a kid how important the Rose Bowl was.  I didn't quite understand why when I was five but I learned as I got older - the winner of the Big Ten goes to the Rose Bowl therefore if the Bucks went to The Granddaddy of Them All they were good that year. 

It was always cool waking up early on New Year's Day and watching the Rose Bowl Parade by the fireplace, noshing on some snacks throughout the day and finally watching the big game.  As a kid I remember thinking, "Man, these people sure are crazy about OSU Football" during the games.  Of course, that's probably the origin of some of my own fanaticism (that and the fact that I grew up in Columbus).

It's been a while since the Buckeyes have been to the Rose Bowl - 13 years to be exact.  That's b/c they couldn't go in 2006 b/c the National Championship was that year (we could've gone that year, too - one play from beating Texas which would've given us the confidence to beat Penn State that season).  We went to the National Championship games in 2007 & 2008 (we shall never speak of those games).  And last year we were co-Big 10 Champions w/ Penn State (notice I say "we" like I had something to do w/ it and I might have... my cheering is pretty inspiring, even if it is through the TV set) but we didn't go b/c Penn State beat us that season - again one play away from winning that game.

I know I'm getting ahead of myself b/c to be a truly successful season we have to beat Michigan (a posting on this will come later in the week) but after that I'm looking forward to our Rose Bowl berth.  After all, unless we're playing for the National Championship a bowl by any other name would NOT smell as sweet.

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Friday the 13th
11/13/09

Halloween is over but it's still a spooky day.  It's Friday the 13th.  I'm not saying I'm superstitious (it's bad luck to admit that) but crazy things happen on this day.  In fact I was almost finished w/ this blog and something happened and it was erased (so you're actually reading the 2nd draft of this, I just hope I improved upon the original version).

Some say the day is unlucky b/c it's tied to an already unlucky day (Friday) and when you throw an unlucky number on top of that, viola - an unlucky day.  I think it's b/c Friday the 13th brought us a generation of terrible horror movies. 

Here's a fun Friday the 13th fact - every month that begins on a Sunday has a Friday the 13th in it.

There are many reasons for thinking the number 13 is unlucky.  Some believe it's b/c there were 12 Apostles of Christ and Jesus was the 13th of the group.  Others believe that b/c Judas was the 13th @ the Last Supper it's a bad number.  But the unlucky tradition actually dates back to the Code of Hammurabi and beyond.  The 13th law of the the Code of Hammurabi was omitted.  Others believed that the 12 signs of the Zodiac would each rule the world for 1000 years.  After that the world would end thus 13 is again unlucky.

There are actually people who are scared of the number - a number believe it or not.  The fear of 13 is called triskaidekaphobia (say that 13 times really fast).

But not everyone is afraid of the number 13.  Some in Italy consider it lucky and it's also lucky in the religion Sikhism.  I am neither Italian nor a Sikhist but I too think of the number 13 as lucky.  This tradition dates back to when I was a child .  When I was in fourth grade my teacher gave each student in the class a number.  Mine ended up being 13.  Being the strange kid that I was (my mom said I "marched to the beat of my own drummer" - which is a nice way of saying I'm a non-conformist) I decided that I'd make that my lucky number.  My rationale was that everyone looks at other numbers like 7, 8, 11, etc. for luck so I chose 13 figuring it wasn't maxed out on luck b/c everyone always stayed away from it.  I can't say it's done me any good but on the same token I can't say it's done me any bad either.

When I was younger there was a number that I made me superstitious.  It was the number 666.  I'm still a little phobic in fact if I'm at the store and the total of my items is $6.66 I'll buy something else just so I don't get that number.  It was worse when I was younger - I remember when I'd walk past a house w/ that address I'd always spit to get rid of any "evil spirits" that may have latched onto me.  I always wondered if that address made a house less valuable - I know I wouldn't want to live in a home w/ that address.  I remember one such house in my neighborhood.  I walked past it everyday, and spat, on my way home from school.  I noticed a few years ago that it now has a new address: 668.  So maybe the address 666 does affect your property values.

Here's a crazy side note: some cultures also have a phobia of the number 4.  At my last job we had a competitor in Channel 4.  We did weather & traffic on the 9's, they did it on the 4's.  One of my colleagues had an auntie whose friend wouldn't watch channel 4 b/c she thought weather & traffic on the 4's was bad luck.  The fear of 4 is so strong that some buildings in other countries are missing floors that you don't usually see omitted from building design.  Here's a pic of an elevator panel in Shanghai.  The building is missing level 4, 13, and 14.  It even has a negative number.  I don't know what I think would be worse, living on the 13th floor or living on floor -1 (especially if it wasn't the basement of the building).

So if you're superstitious don't worry we won't have another Friday the 13th until August of next year.  If that doesn't comfort you Garfield the famous cartoon cat has an even worse day: Monday the 13th (we won't have one of those until September).

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"Wild" Animals
11/12/09

The other night we had a "wild" animal on our back deck (actually it's not really a deck it's more of a riser that you step out onto from our back door).  I put the word wild in quotations b/c it was pretty used to the comforts of the human experience (and by pretty used to I mean not scared @ all by them).

I was sitting on my couch watching late night television before I hit the hay and I heard a dull banging.  @ first I thought I was imagining things b/c it wasn't consistent.  After I kept hearing it I hit mute and followed the noise that led me to my back door.

I turned on the light and there was this HUGE raccoon attacking a plate I'd left outside to clean but ended up forgetting about it.  It had housed some sort of Halloween gingerbread house held together by sugar which had become encrusted on the platter - that's what the raccoon was after, which explains its Rubenesque figure.  I think it was the biggest, fattest raccoons I've ever seen.  It was the size of a dog.  Not as big as a lab but definitely larger than a beagle - and very round, too.

So I turned on the back light and it just kept eating.  It wasn't even phased, I couldn't believe it.  I then opened the door to "shoo" it away and it turned around, looked @ me and waddled off into the night more annoyed than frightened.  I was a bit disturbed by the whole experience - this is a "wild" animal that could have rabies and here it was just hanging out in my back yard.

I've had similar experiences w/ other animals.  The other day I was walking through the neighborhood and I came across a buck that was munching some grass on someone's front lawn.  It just stood there and looked @ me.  As I approached I finally spooked it and it ran off into the woods but it too seemed a little too comfortable in suburban surroundings.  I also see them all the time along the roadside when I'm driving.  That's kind of dangerous and it tells me that there are too many of these animals in the neighborhood.  If they can walk in and out of civilization w/ that much ease the herd probably needs to be thinned.

Either that or maybe I should  refrain from leaving old Halloween candy on my back porch.

-On a side note: The morning following the "Great Raccoon Incident of 2009" my wife asked
                         me why I was moving around patio furniture the previous night.  When I told
                         her about the fat mammal that had paid us a visit she laughed.

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Veteran's Day
11/11/09

Today was a beautiful day and that makes me happy for a few reasons.  For one thing I was calling for nice, dry weather - so I got it right.  I'm also glad it was nice for our Veteran's Day.  That way any sort of outdoor activities to commemorate the brave men and women who've served this country could go off w/out a hitch.

I never served in the Armed Forces but I have a deep respect for those who have.  In fact I have many friends and relatives who've served.  My grandfather was in the Army.  He couldn't go overseas and fight in WWII b/c of a trick knee but he did serve in Dothan, AL as a doctor during the Korean War.  My Great Uncle was in the Navy and fought in the Pacific.  My father-in-law did a tour in Vietnam.  When he returned home was treated horribly b/c of the unpopularity of the war; I know if he could do it all over again he wouldn't change a thing, he loves his country that much.

A high school buddy of mine got back from Iraq a few years ago.  I prayed for him while he was there and I was thankful the day he stepped back onto American soil when his tour was finished.  Another buddy of mine joined the service during peace time and it turned his life around.  I don't doubt that he would have become successful in life but I think his time in the service sped up the inevitable. 

We all have connections like this to the military and today I hope you revisited some of those connections by calling up a veteran and saying, "Thank you".  It's the least you can do seeing that they've already done so much.

Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."  He's right and those who serve or have served are the reason it lives on today.  They gave their time, and sometimes their lives, so that you and I can have what we have and enjoy the lives we lead.  I hope that future generations return the favor and pass on the torch of freedom.  That way the sacrifices of all veterans, past and present, won't have been made in vain.

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Lines, Lines, Everywhere There's Lines
11/10/09

...Blockin' up the scenery, breakin' my mind.

In today's fast paced world we're always in a hurry to get somewhere now - not tomorrow, not after breakfast but NOW!  While the speed of humanity has increased the speed of one thing hasn't... the line.

Wherever we go it seems like we have to wait in one.  When we rush to take the kids to soccer practice we hit a long line @ the light.  When we go to the grocery store we not only hit a line but a slew of them and we're forced to play a Russian Roulette style game that forces us to pick which line we think will go fastest - but the potential casualty here isn't our life it's our time (which is why I like to shop after work, fewer people thus shorter lines - of course there are also fewer cashiers but you still have better odds).  When we rush somewhere on our lunch break the line sometimes stretches out the door of wherever we're going.  Why?  B/c workers @ said business are on their lunch break as well which leads to a longer wait (I never understood why they couldn't go on lunch break an hour early or an hour late so as to alleviate the problem). 

We encounter lines so much that we're being forced to adapt by getting even faster.  That's b/c as wait times increase we need to move even faster to get to our destination, or leave earlier to account for the longer wait we'll confront - but that hardly ever happens.

And some lines are more annoying than others, like the line at the The Express Lane.  Sometimes there are so many people in it that it becomes pointless to devote an entire lane to an already crowded store.  I hate when it's busy and the people in front of you clearly have more than the allowable number items.  I could understand one or two more but an entire cart full of merchandise very rarely warrants passage through The Express Lane.

That's about as bad as what I like to call, "The Line of False Promises".  That's when you wait an exorbitant amount of time for something and the reward you get in the end clearly doesn't justify the time spent in line.  This happened when I went to see Spiderman 3.  If you've seen it you know what I mean - if not, you're welcome for sparing you the agony.

I also hate it when I get to the line just after someone, they usually have more stuff than me (and tend to be the one who needs special attention, like a price check, so I have to wait even longer).  I'm particularly annoyed when this happens and I only have one or two items and said buyer has many more.  Would it kill them to let me go ahead seeing that I won't take anywhere near as much time?  Whenever I'm in the opposite situation I always allow the person to go ahead of me - sometimes, but not always, Karma returns the favor.

Another thing that gets to me happens sometimes when I make a run to the store for my wife.  I get to the line w/ everything that I was instructed to buy, stand around for the perfunctory amount of time necessary to feel like I'm wasting my life playing "hurry up & wait" and just when I'm about to get to the cashier my cell phone rings.  Nine times out of ten it's my wife informing me she forgot to put something on the list so I'll have to repeat the whole ritual of waiting only after I spend another ten minutes walking around aimlessly through the store searching for the ingredient that's obviously more important than my time/sanity.

I think what bothers me most about the line is that while I'm waiting I start reflecting on the fact that I'll NEVER get this time back.  This will probably become even more annoying as I age and the fact that I have less and less time grows more and more evident.  Maybe I'll start utilizing this time by exercising so as not to waste it.  What better way to maximize your wait time than by doing calisthenics like jumping jacks?  Not only that but it'll probably make my fellow line goers very uncomfortable and I can derive small pleasure in the fact that it could always be worse - I could have some weirdo in front of me doing squat thrusts thus making an undesirable experience that much more uncomfortable.

So the next time you find yourself in line think of this post and drop to the floor and start doing crunches.  Not only will you strengthen your core but you might be able to get in a full workout (I've had to wait in line for more than 8 minutes).  And if you ever see me in line and you have way more stuff than me please let me go ahead of you, I promise I'll return the favor someday.

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I Need a Vacation
11/09/09

Actually I don't but it was a catchy title so I figured I'd use it.  Of course if my boss is reading this and he feels so sorry for me that he's inclined to give me some free time off... I need a vacation!

In my lifetime I've never really gone anywhere exotic for vacation.  I did live in Hawaii for about 5 years and I'd go to Neighbor Islands every now and then but seeing that I lived there it really wasn't like I was going anywhere exotic - I was just hopping on a plane for about a half hour to get a change of scenery. 

Whenever I would go somewhere far away it would always be back to the Mainland (about a 6 hr. flight to the nearest spot).  Other than visiting Santa Fe one year I'd always be on my way back home to Ohio.  When I'd go somewhere that required the use of my ID people would always ask, "Hawaii, what the heck are you doing here?"  To them I'd reply, "When you live in paradise you vacation in Ohio."

I have always wanted to see the world, though.  The only time I've ever left the country was to go to Canada once in college so I could lose $80 at the casino (I quickly learned that gambling is a bad idea - probably b/c I'm cheap).  Believe it or not Hawaii seemed a lot more like another country than Windsor, Canada - aye! 

I read somewhere recently that some people take vacations to Antarctica.  For those of you who are geographically challenged that's where the South Pole is.  I can't figure out why the heck you would ever want to vacation there for the life of me.  Let's see, I want to go somewhere that's cold and miserable and I can get frostbitten - and that's on a warm day!  My theory is that those travelers are the opposite of me - they've been everywhere else so they want to go to Antarctica b/c it's the only place they've never been.

Even if I had seen the world I don't think Antarctica would be tops on the list of the "next place to go".  If anything I'd go back to the place I liked most. 

I bet you the movie, March of the Penguins has something to do w/ Antarctica being a vacation destination.

You know how whenever an animal movie comes out the critter featured in the film has a sudden surge in popularity as everyone rushes out to get the creature de jure?  It happened w/ Finding Nemo and clownfish, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and ankle biters, Mr. Ed and horses, etc.  I'll bet you the popularity of March of the Penguins made people want emperor penguins but b/c they didn't have a big enough freezer in their house they did the next best thing and visited the continent the snow birds call home.

Or maybe sno cone lovers thought it would be a great way to enjoy their favorite frozen treat @ cost and had so much fun @ the bottom of the world (or top, there is no up or down in space) a fad was born.

Either way I don't think you'll ever catch me there on vacation.  I would like to see the Aurora Borealis again but I can always go to Alaska for that.  Speaking of getting away from it all, I hope you've just enjoyed your vacation (however brief) from rational thinking - now get back to work!

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Feeling Lazy
11/06/09

Today I'm feeling lazy and don't plan on blogging.  I actually just typed out a blog but it was a little controversial so I hit the "delete" button when I finished.  It had to do w/ recent events and I didn't feel like ending the week on a downer.  It was nice to type out my thoughts, it helps you sort through them which is therapeutic. 

Now that I've done that I'll leave you w/ one of my favorite poems.  It's written by E.E. Cummings.  It's one of his more famous works and I actually memorized it in 11th grade for a project in my literature class.  It's called, "anyone lived in a pretty how town":

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

-e.e.

Have a great weekend!

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Unfulfilled Dreams
11/05/09

As we look back on our lives most of us will undoubtedly reflect on at least one dream that's gone unfulfilled.  The fact that we never achieved it shouldn't diminish our life in any way especially if we gave it a shot.  At least we can say that we tried.

The other day I was thinking about a few of the dreams I had as a child that will never come to fruition.  Some were so far out there in the first place that I don't feel like my life has been negatively impacted by the fact that they'll remain undone - after all, I think it's safe to say that I'll never learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like Luke Skywalker.  Other dreams are ones that I may be able to achieve some day but I'll probably have outgrown them by then.  Example: even if low-cost commercial space travel is possible in the near future I'll probably be to old to partake in it and quite frankly by that time my dream of seeing both Poles @ once would take a backseat to my arthritis anyway.  Then there are the dreams that'll never become reality b/c life got in the way.  Those are the ones that get to you, the ones that keep you up @ night - especially if you know you just needed a shot and it would no longer be a fantasy.

I don't want anyone reading this to think that I'm upset w/ the outcome of my life, b/c I'm not.  I'm happy w/ my career and my family and for that I feel like the luckiest man in the world.  Are there things I'd still like to do in life but probably never will? - Yes but I think that's part of human nature so I don't let it bother me.  Part of me would love to have my own TV show but I've gotten to do that in the past (a buddy and I had a public access TV show in college) so I don't feel like I've missed out on anything in that department - also I can always revisit that chapter of my life in retirement.  Also, I'd love to go back to school and just take classes that I want to take but again maybe I'll do that in retirement.  Furthermore, I know there are parts of the world I'd love to see but b/c of safety/political reasons I'll never get to- I guess that's why we have pictures.  The bottom line: I'm happy w/ life which makes me the richest man in the world.  Notice I said richest, not wealthiest.

But there are a few childhood dreams that it pains me to say I'll never realize.  Remember those Cash Cubes they'd advertise on TV years ago?  They'd put them @ the end of the commercial for whatever big event was coming that weekend, like a craft fair or the Extravaganza! in Columbus.  The tag line would sound something like, "Every hour one lucky attendee will get to spend three minutes in the Money Pit!".  Whoever won would climb into a tornado of money, grab as much as he could - and keep it!  I always wanted to do that but sadly I feel that it'll probably never happen.

Another childhood dream that I've ruefully put to bed: I'll never get to do the Nickelodeon Super Toy Run or the Mad Dash for Groceries/Electronics/Men's Formal Wear (whatever you're dashing for depends on the store doing the promotion).  Those contests had a simple concept.  It was always you, a store, 5 minutes and as many carts as you can fill in that time.  Whatever you grabbed, you kept.  I always wanted to win that prize.  I remember thinking as a kid, "Ooh, I'll grab a bunch of these, some of these and this, etc. and I'll make sure to get extras.  That way I can sell 'em!"

After typing out this blog entry I realize that I'm pretty lucky.  If the above are the only reasons for discontent in my life - I have many reasons to smile (of course those smiles would be a little bigger if I could take my crack @ a Cash Grab this weekend).

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Halloween Candy is NOT an Alternative to Healthy Food
11/04/09

Halloween night is always a fun one - you go out and get free candy.  When you're older you get to watch the joy on your kids' faces as they go to house after house replenishing their candy reserves.  Heck, it's even kind of cool to enjoy some candy yourself.

That's on Halloween night.  By now that's a distant memory.  One that I'm reminded of daily.  Never mind the fact that I'll be paying the dentist extra b/c of their candy gathering - I'll get to that in a few months. 

Right now I'm busy dealing w/ all of the little wrappers left all over the house from said candy.  I'm finding them everywhere: in the couch, under the table, in my bed (don't get me started on this fact), etc.  I grew tired of it on Sunday (11/1). 

I'm also growing tired of the fact that b/c they have it my kids seem to think it's okay to eat candy whenever they please.  Every night I make sure it's hidden somewhere high up so they can't get to it the next morning.  What happens when I get up?  That's right - I find that somehow they've discovered my hiding place and proceeded to feed themselves a sugar-laced breakfast.  I've even found half-eaten candy in their candy bags, I guess they just wanted a bite and planned on saving the rest for later.  (Today I actually finished off a 100 Grand bar... does that make it a 50 Grand?  Regardless, they're good - like a Nestle's Crunch w/ caramel)  But it's not just their wanting to eat candy constantly - now they won't eat anything healthy b/c they've filled up on junk food.  It's driving me nuts (much like a Payday bar - even though technically we're talking about a legume). 

I even find them busting out candy when it's all put away and they can't get to it.  That leads me to believe they've built up a "candy nestegg" that they'll only tap into whenever necessary.  While part of me is happy they're saving I'm also ready to throw away all of their candy.  I'm actually upset b/c we were going to take most of it to a candy drop-off for soldiers on Sunday but we never got around to it.

In the past I've done what my sister does.  She has her kids leave their candy out for the "Candy Fairy".  The rule is they can eat as much candy as they want after they go trick-or-treating.  After that the "Candy Fairy" (who ironically looks just like my sister and her husband) comes and takes their candy and leaves them a toy.  It's a good idea but it too can lead to problems - your kids eat themselves into a stomach ache and then sleep horribly.  One year my nephew ate so much candy that by the end of the night he was just opening it up, tossing it into his mouth, chewing it up and then spitting it out.  Picturing him doing that always brings a smile to my face.

By now it's too late to walk down that road so I'm stuck w/ a wrapper-littered house, kids hopped up on sugar and I don't know what to do.  I guess I should look @ the bright side: my kids are almost out of candy, and they brush their teeth regularly.

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Leftovers
11/03/09

Being the thrifty man that I am (my wife says I'm cheap - I say, "Waste not, want not") I typically eat leftovers for dinner every night @ work.  Usually they're leftovers from what my wife and kids had the night before b/c I don't always get to run home in between shows for a hot meal. 

Growing up I had a buddy whose mom would always cook for us.  We'd walk in late on a Friday night and she'd offer to make us pasta, meatloaf, macaroni & cheese, you name it.  He'd always get upset b/c he was embarrassed but I never minded - heck, you can't beat a fresh made meal @ 11:00 or 12:00 @ night (a lot of my friends' moms would cook and I wondered if they thought I was malnourished or something b/c they always tried to feed me - not wanting to be rude I was happy to oblige).  Anyway, when my buddy would have leftover night his mom would call it "Microwave Magic Night".  That put a positive spin on something that usually has a negative connotation.

Why is it that leftovers get such a bad wrap?  I typically find them enjoyable.  Of course I fancy myself to be a good cook and my wife is phenomenal in the kitchen - so why wouldn't you want to eat something that was delicious again?  I guess if something was terrible and you had to eat it again you wouldn't be happy.  It's kind of like that old saying:  fool me once, your fault; fool me twice, my fault.  Of course you might not want to throw away perfectly good food, even if it is/was awful, so you may feel obligated to choke it down.

Another thing I could never figure out is why a lot of things actually taste better when you have them the next day.  Obviously this doesn't apply to everything: fish, shellfish, pizza (usually), dressed salad, etc.  But it does work w/ a lot of things, especially dishes w/ sauces.  Don't get me wrong it can still be scrumptious when it's fresh but after a day it gets a little more "pizazz"!  I think it's b/c when certain things sit overnight the flavors "marry" together in tasty matrimony.

One of my favorite leftover dishes is a pasta salad that's made w/ bacon, avocado, Parmesan cheese, garlic, fresh basil, a touch of olive oil and salt & pepper to taste.  This is a great dish to take to a party.  It's wonderful but doesn't necessarily look all that great.  So when you bring it some people will skip over it which means there's that much more for you to enjoy.  And those who do try it typically love it so you can fill your stomach and ego @ the same time.

By now you might be wondering, "What did he bring in today that could inspire such a blog entry?"  Actually I forgot to bring in my dinner so I ran to Taco Bell.

Just kidding - I had mushroom and zucchini lasagna & a salad, it was awesome!

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Christmas is Here... Well Almost
11/02/09

As a kid Halloween was always a great holiday.  Not only did you get tons of candy for doing something you loved to do anyway, play make-believe, but once it ended the countdown to the greatest holiday began.  For me it was Christmas, for a lot of my friends it was Hanukkah. 

Regardless of religion it was great.  A bunch of free stuff that you wanted was on the way.  It was like your birthday in the middle of Winter (which is ironic b/c w/ Christmas you're actually celebrating someone else's birthday).  Once my aunt asked me, "Jeffrey what's your favorite part about Christmas?"  I paused and thought for a few seconds before answering, "Seeing presents w/ 'To: Jeff' on them!"  I was about five - ah, the champions of consumerism would be so proud.

I often hear people say that Christmas has gotten a lot more commercial in the past few years but it was pretty commercial back then too.  Remember Star Wars Figures, G.I. Joeand Transformers?  Or what about the ultimate "must-have" toy in themid-80s, the Cabbage Patch Kid?  (Which I'm proud to say I never wanted; I did have to "trade" my sister all of my Halloween candy one year for hers b/c I cut its hair after she told me it'd grow back - I ended up giving it a mohawk).  Those are basically yesterday's equivalent to the Tickle-Me Elmo doll (or whatever is catching the youngsters' fancy these days).  I'm sure a hundred years ago kids hoped they would wake up on Christmas morning and find a whimmydiddle, corn husk doll or mountain bolo under the tree.  Maybe it seems a little more commercial b/c we're bombarded w/ holiday imagery non-stop for about 2 months straight (which is about 17% of the year).

People also like to complain that the holiday season starts way too early nowadays.  But when I was a kid once Halloween was over the commercial for "The Smurf Christmas Party" would start hitting the airwaves  (I always thought that was a boring title - hello, "Have a Smurfy Christmas" would've been much better).  So as a kid the Christmas season would start @ right around 12:01 A.M. November 1st - which means not much has changed. 

That commercial was when it would set in for me: Christmas was almost here.  That's when I'd start getting excited.  All I had to do was get through the next month-and-a-half and we'd be there (I say month-and-a-half b/c Christmas Break always started in mid-December at my school). 

I will say that I wouldn't mind a little break before we got into the full swing of the holiday season, though.  Thanksgiving is a pretty cool holiday and it doesn't seem like it gets its due - were I Thanksgiving I'd feel a little slighted.  It's like the proverbial football team that has a tough game in two weeks.  It has its sights set on that game and ignores the one in front of it, and what usually happens?  That's right: Upset!

If you think about it Thanksgiving has all the makings for a great holiday: Turkey (preferably fried), mashed potatoes & gravy, football, etc.  And If you look at it from a time-off point of view Thanksgiving is actually better (most people get Thanksgiving AND the day after Thanksgiving off as opposed to just one day off @ Christmas - unless of course you're a teacher or a student).

So in an effort to defend Thanksgiving's honor I'm only going to focus on the holiday @ hand and not look ahead to the coming one.  I'm going to hold off from doing anything Christmasy (yes it's a word) until after I've eaten my turkey & stuffing and helped out at Thanksgiving in Dayton: A Feast of Giving (your welcome marketing dept.).  That means I'm not going to decorate my house (unless my wife makes me), eat any of those nasty Christmas cookies or buy any presents until after November 26th.  I suggest you join the boycott and do the same, unless you plan on buying me a gift this year and you happen to see an unbeatable price on the new Millenium Falcon over the next 24 days.

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H1N1 Hits Close to Home
10/30/09

If you haven't heard of the H1N1 by now all I have to say is, "How were the past six months in the middle of nowhere?"  It's been all over the news in recent days and has gotten more and more coverage as it got worse in the Miami Valley.  This week it hit close to home.

My wife is recovering from it as we speak.  They didn't actually test her but the doctor is certain that's what it is - after all if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it's probably a duck.  We think my daughter got it at school and gave it to her but we're not sure.  My daughter is fine now but my wife got hit particularly hard.

Her fever was bad but broke on Tuesday night then she just felt terrible Wednesday, Thursday and for much of today (Friday) even though her condition was improving today.  In fact, last night before I went to bed she woke up and got a snack and told me she was feeling like a human being again.  It actually might be a good thing that she got it.  That way she can pass the antibodies onto our newborn, who can't get the vaccine, during feedings.

I've been very careful this flu season.  When I get into work I rub down every computer, monitor, phone, pen, etc @ my desk w/ a disinfectant wipe.  I also apply hand sanitizer at least 10 times daily (I'm probably helping mutate the super germ of the future I 'm such a stickler about keeping my hands clean this season).  So far I've been lucky - I hope it stays that way.

The H1N1 is also known as the "Swine Flu".  That may be a misnomer but it seems to have "stuck".  I like the former term better but I understand why they call it the H1N1 - it does hurt farmers even though it shouldn't.  I did tell my wife that she got sick b/c she was kissing a pig, though.  While she agreed she didn't find the humor in the irony of the situation.

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Beggar's Night
10/29/09

Tonight was Beggar's Night for some, for others Beggar's Night is Saturday evening.  I think that name kind of marginalizes the significance of the event known as trick-or-treating.  Some kids wait all year for trick-or-treat night and by calling it Beggar's Night it makes them sound like some sort of vagabond going from door to door asking for spare change.  Ironically some people give out pennies - or at least they did in my day (I wonder if that's gone up b/c of inflation).

My mom raised me to be self-reliant and when I first learned it was called Beggar's Night I contemplated skipping it altogether b/c of my stubborn pride (for about1/2 a second).  I was still offended... until I made it home w/ that year's "haul" - that made the insult a lot more bearable.

I used to love trick-or-treating when I was a kid.  I'd take a pillowcase (bigger than the standard Halloween bucket) and get that thing 1/2 to 3/4 full in just two to three hours.  Then I'd come home, let my mom inspect my candy (never had a problem but it's good to be safe, but seriously what kind of sicko sabotages kids candy - that's terrible!) and then walk down the short road to a place called the self-induced stomach ache.  At the end of it all, though I never felt like a beggar - a glutton maybe, but not a beggar.

I have run into some beggars on trick-or-treat night, though.  I remember when I was too old to go get candy I'd hand it out to kids.  People would come to my house who didn't live in the neighborhood dressed in everyday clothes.  I'd ask, "What are you dressed as this year?"  They'd answer, "Myself."  I never said it but I was tempted to reply, "Normally I'm a stingy jerk but this year I'm dressed as a person who gives free stuff out to total strangers.  But if you're not going to wear a costume for Halloween then neither will I."  I always decided it'd probably be better to be nice, though - I didn't want to get my house egged (I also think you catch more flies w/ honey than w/ vinegar). 

I'd also get the people who'd come by w/ two bags and give me some sad story pertaining to a sick brother/sister for whom they were collecting (usually those were the kids dressed as themselves).  I once had someone tell me they were collecting candy for their mom - I said she was too old to be trick-or-treating anyway and didn't double up on him.

My kids can't wait until Beggar's Night.  It's on Saturday for them and I'm trying to see if I can stay @ home and pass out candy (that way I can still watch the World Series).  Even if I can't it'll be interesting to see the tables turn.  After all, now that I'm too old for trick-or-treating I'll be the beggar when my kids and I get home @ the end of the night and I'm the one w/out any candy.  (If they don't feel like sharing I'll probably still take some candy and tell them it's a tax and that they should get used to paying them b/c they'll be doing it w/ increasing frequency as they get older).

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The Fall Classic
10/28/09

It's late October again and if you're a baseball fan that can only mean one thing: World Series.  While the Reds aren't in it I do have a team to root for this year.  It's the same team I rooted for last year: the Philadelphia Phillies.  They're a great team that seems to do everything right.  They have speed, power, pitching, etc.  They can play small ball but they can also hit the long ball. 

Not only that but Shane Victorino is a very nice player for whom it's easy to root.  (Doesn't it sound weird when you try to end a sentence w/out using a preposition? - thanks proper English!)  I actually met him last year after the Phillies won the series.  He's a Hawaii boy (from Maui) and he was nice enough to come on the morning show I was working on at the time when he got back home.  I was actually over on Maui when the Phillies were in the NLCS driving on the Leeward side of Haleakala (on Piilani Highway - a bumpy road which is a bit of an understatement) listening to AM radio when Victorino had a heck of a game that helped put the Phillies in the series in the first place.  It was awesome!

So we know who my team this year is.  But what you might not know is that I'm a HUGE baseball fan.  It was so nice to get to listen/watch the Reds this past summer (despite their mid-season implosion).  I say listen/watch b/c I'll hit mute on the TV and listen to Marty & the Cowboy call the game.  They're entertaining and I'm also a big Jeff Brantley fan (I even have my very own Cowboy impression but I think everyone does). 

As a kid I became a big Reds fan b/c I lived in Columbus but also b/c my mom knew the team physiologist (I think that's what he was - all I know is he drug tested them) and I could get autographs.  I remember when they swept the Athletics in the 1990 World Series.  It was great, everyone thought the Reds would get hammered, even the A's - until they met the Nasty Boys!

I also remember the 1986 World Series and jumping around the back room of the house I grew up in when Mookie Wilson hit a ball between Buckner's legs in Game 6.  The Mets won in 7 that year.

Another great series was the one in 2001.  As a country we were still reeling from the 9-11 terrorist attacks and watching that series brought about a much needed return to normalcy (at least it did for me).  Just about every game in that series was dramatic.  It seemed like every game Arizona had in the bag went to the Yankees and vice versa.  And then we got to the bottom of the 9th in game 7.  The Diamondbacks were down by a run and facing one of the all-time great closers in baseball, Mariano Rivera.  Arizona was @ the bottom of its order (the weakest part of the lineup) and I remember thinking, "There's no way they can pull this off ."  But then Mark Grace led off the inning w/ a single.  Tony Womack then came in and drove in the tying run and I started to get a little anxious.  Then when Jay Bell brought in winning run across the plate I danced around my living room like a child.

I have many other memories but I don't want to get into them all b/c this blog would be a short novel were that the case.

This year a lot of people are picking the Yankees to win but I think the Phillies have a good shot at it.  Were I a betting man I'd pick the Phillies in 6 (but I wouldn't be surprised to see it in 7).  Either way I'm hoping October 2009 gives me a fresh batch of memories that'll last until the Reds win again and I can make unfair comparisons with them and previous World Series winners - after all, we all know the future awesome Reds team will come out on the top of that argument every time.

BTW - You can only catch the World Series on one channel.  That would be Fox45, Dayton's News Source (ABC22 is also Dayton's News Source but they don't carry the World Series - they do have College Football, though).

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I Want A Nap
10/27/09

Why is it that when you're a kid and you need a nap you don't want to take one - but as an adult it can sound like the greatest idea in the world, but now that you're older you can't take one?  As a child you may be cranky, a pest or just downright mean but b/c you're 5 you get a pass b/c "you need a nap".  If you're an adult and you do that people just think you're a jerk.  Who knows, maybe some of history's greatest monsters would have been much more tolerable if they could have taken 40 more winks every so often.  After all as soon as you're done w/ said nap you feel much better (regardless of your age).

Now that I'm an adult at 33 years old when I want a nap I need to "suck it up and motor through it".  That makes no sense at all.  As a kid I was a boundless ball of energy but now that I'm older I'm getting run down and need a nap more than I ever did as a child.  Also, now that I'm older I'd appreciate that respite just a little bit more thus making me grateful for the healing powers the nap possesses.

Sometimes I wake up in the morning just so I can take a nap a little later in the day (actually that's not true, I have a 3 1/2 foot tall alarm clock that wakes me up in the morning - sometimes too early thus requiring a brief "eye rest").  I think those faraway countries that practice the siesta every afternoon have stumbled upon a wonderful thing.  Imagine how awesome it would be if after lunch if you got back to your desk and your boss made you catch a little shuteye.  Heck, for some it'd be nice just to get the "okay" since you do it already  (you know who you are - probably the ones wasting company time reading the inane, online rantings of a madman disguised as an everyday meteorologist).

You might be wondering why I'm tired in the first place - I got plenty of sleep last night (about 7.5 hrs.).  But I also spent the day in a video conference and spending any extended amount of time in front of a screen always "saps" me. 

Now that it's past 9:00 P.M. there's not point in taking a nap anyway (never mind the fact that I'm @ work and couldn't take even if I wanted too).  I guess I'll just have to "suck it up and motor through it".  I'll be okay, though.  After all,  I'll be taking an 8+ hour nap soon enough.

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The Never-Ending Cycle of Yardwork
10/26/09

Just as time moves on and the months turn into seasons which in turn become years - the cycle of life continues (look I celebrate a B-day and become philosophical).  One of the constants in that cycle is never-ending need to do yardwork - which I HATE.

In the Summer you have to mow, weed and water.  In Autumn you're raking, mowing and seeding for the next year.  During Winter you have to shovel snow and scrape your car windows.  Then spring rolls around and you're planting, mowing and getting set up for the coming Summer.  Do that again 29 more times and hopefully you've paid off your house (yet the yardwork remains).

I didn't want to rake my leaves this year.  I haven't had to do it in years but not b/c I lived in Hawaii and trees don't shed their leaves every Autumn - you actually have to do a lot of raking, especially if you have a mango tree.  I didn't do yardwork b/c I lived in a condo, now I live in a house.

This year I  decided to mulch my leaves w/ my mower but then Friday hit.  The wind and the rain took my semi-cleared lawn covered it again w/ leaves.  Some of those leaves were from my trees but a lot of them were from my neighbors' trees.  Seeing that it's oodles of fun to rake your leaves it's that much more fun to rake somebody else's (if you didn't catch the hint of sarcasm duly note it).

So I went to the hardware store and got, among other things, a leaf blower this weekend.  I've never used one before and while it's still a pain to rid my lawn of leaves it made the experience a little easier to handle.  My wife wanted me to spend some time w/ my kids but I had to get some yardwork done so I combined the two and played "blow the leaves @ my kids". 

They had a blast!  They were grabbing piles of leaves and making a bigger pile for jumping and leaf angels.  I didn't put one in their hands but I told them that a rake would make it that much easier to scrounge up a pile.  I think they would've taken the bait, too.  They may have even fought over who got to use the rake.  Now I know how I'll tackle the problem next year. 

Other games that are actually yardwork that you can do:

"Riding Lawn Mower Wagon Ride" - this is when you tie a string to the back of your riding mower and drag a wagon, w/ your kids aboard, behind you as you mow the lawn.

"The Muddy Garden Weed Pull" - since kids love to get muddy and play in the rain and you hate to weed the garden, send them outside when it's raining to weed the garden.  It's easier to pull them when it's raining anyway and if you're lucky you can trick your kids into doing the entire garden and stay dry.

"Jump Over the Sprinkler While Watering the Lawn" - this is a classic.  You do need to supervise your kids, though - just to make sure they're moving the sprinkler around the lawn for even watering.  A variation of this game is the "Water Fight" - it's pretty self-explanatory and is a great way to water your lawn w/out having to actually do it.

The "Disarm the Mine Field Dog Waste Eradication Battle" game is also a classic - all your kids need is a pair of rubber gloves and a bag for this game - you also need a dog, the bigger it is the funner the game.  This game can be played year-round, unfortunately kids quickly realize it's not as fun as you described it.

"Who Can Put the Patio Furniture Away the Fastest?" - this game is played @ the end of the Summer or during Autumn and if you throw in a prize you'll be surprised at how fast this chore can be finished.  (It can also be played @ the beginning of the warm season but instead of putting stuff away you're setting it up).

So as you do yardwork this week (Tuesday & Thursday won't be bad days for it) I hope you can think of a game that gets your kids helping w/ the chores but not realizing it.  I gotta go, I need to go get some rubber gloves and a bag - my kids have a chore to do.

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A Little More Sand Through the Hourglass
10/23/09

As I write this blog I'm within four hours of a big day in my life - my birthday.  That's right another year has passed and somehow I managed to make it through it.  Actually I lead a fairly quiet life so it's no surprise that I made it one more year. 

Tomorrow (10/24) I turn 33. 

That's the Masonic number.  Here's some fun trivia: the White House has 132 rooms and 4 x 33 = 132 (and the Masons allegedly had a ceremony @ the cornerstone of the White House) .  Also, @ the Cincinnati Museum Center (Union Terminal) there are 33 figures in the mosaic that dons the central area and the area where the Omnimax theater is (did the masons build Union Terminal - I don't know but that's a strong coincidence). - But who cares?  I don't want to sound like a conspiracy nut.

It's hard to believe that I'm 33.  If you didn't get me anything don't worry - cash is fine and unlike some I don't think it's tacky. 

I may be 33 but I feel much older.  I think it's b/c I have three kids.  Not only do they make me feel older (and they're not even teenagers yet) but just saying I have three kids congers up images of a guy in a Just For Men commercial on his way to a family reunion. 

So instead of harping on how old I am we'll go back in time.  The year was 1976 and a fine year it was.  America was still giddy after celebrating its 200th birthday, the Big Red Machine had just come off back-to-back wins in the World Series (after sweeping the Yankees three days prior) and George Lucas was putting the finishing touches on Star Wars: A New Hope - a film that would revolutionize the world and shape a generation (and probably generations to come).

What else was happening in 1976?

-A peanut farmer from Georgia (Jimmy Carter) became our 39th President
-Pol Pot became Prime Minister of Cambodia
-A gallon of gas was only 59 cents
-A postage stamp was only 13 cents
-A gallon of milk cost $1.65 (which isn't much more than it is today, I wonder if it's from the same cow who wasn't cost adjusted for inflation)
-A new home cost about $48,000
-Happy Days (on ABC) was the number one rated show w/ Laverne & Shiley in a close second (also on ABC, some things never change, the most awesome shows were on my network then and now - you're welcome corporate)
-Fox Network hadn't even been invented, in fact most people only had 3 channels
-Our National Debt was only $629 billion (less than TARP & the Stimulus Bill)
-The "Steel Curtain" dominated the NFL beating Dallas in the Super Bowl 21-17
-Pittsburgh was also the NCAA Football Champion (yes, Pittsburgh)
-"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" won best picture from the Academy
-Captain & Tennille won the Grammy for the best record w/ "Love Will Keep Us Together" (wow I'm glad I grew up in the 80s, I've heard people call the 70s a cultural wasteland and I still don't believe it - but that fact makes a strong case against the decade)

In short, a lot was going on in 1976.  But the most significant thing that happened (@ least for me) happened on October 24th.  I share my birthday w/ football player Y.A. Title, the "Big Bopper" ('Chantilly Lace') and Tila Tequila (who is described as an MTV Celebrity w/ thousands of MySpace friends - they'll make anybody famous, she is beautiful though).  It's also United Nations Day.

So I hope you have a great weekend and I hope I have a happy birthday.  Ironically I started writing this blog to celebrate life but I actually feel a lot older - especially after seeing how cheap stuff used to be.  The average cost to raise a child today is about $300,000 ($80,000 in 1976 dollars).  If my mom would've taken that $80,000 and invested it in gold or the Dow Jones Industrial Average it'd be more than $800,000 now (I guess kids aren't cost adjusted for inflation) - I like think I was worth it.

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Snack Time
10/22/09

Don't you hate it when you sit down to eat a meal @ work and when you finish you realize you're still hungry?  You've gotten and eaten what you think would be adequate nourishment to get you through the rest of your work day only to find that it's not enough and you'll probably be hungry (and in some people's cases: cranky) for the rest of your shift. 

It's a terrible feeling.  It's also a fate I suffered tonight.  I had some leftover chicken/broccoli casserole and a salad.  I thought that would be enough but I must be a growing boy b/c I ate it and I hadn't even dented my hunger.

So how do I counter this horrible feeling of emptiness?  Easy - I have emergency snacks.  I call them emergency b/c that's exactly what they're there for - an emergency.  I haven't really built up my stock @ my current job but I had a stash @ my last job.  I had an emergency frozen pizza, emergency pack of peanut butter crackers, more than a few emergency Slim Jims and emergency granola/fiber bars among other things.  All I needed to do was load that stuff into a utility belt and I would've been like Batman.  But I wouldn't be fighting crime along w/ my own personal demons - I'd be fighting the cruel stomach of emptiness and my own personal appetite.

All I have here are a few bags of microwavable popcorn.  We bought them from the Boy Scouts and it's pretty good stuff.  So after dinner that was my desert and the vile pangs of hunger were defeated - w/ sidekick "Butter Boy" in tow.

Here's a brief detour: did you know that the first mass marketed microwavable popcorn was ACT II and it came out in 1984.  I don't know how we ever lived before that.  Actually I do, we had to wait 5-10 minutes longer for our favorite movie snack.  I used to love movie night @ my house.  We'd make popcorn and watch something on the VCR.  If there are any kids reading this, a VCR is like a DVD player but it uses over-sized cassette tapes w/ moving pictures AND sound - a cassette tape is what we used before we had CDs, which are what we used before MP3 players or IPODs.

Anyway - back to my emergency snack supply.  I'm going to have to start building my army here @ Dayton's News Source.  I think the term "army" is apres peau - after all conquering an empty stomach is nothing more than winning a battle in a much larger war.  The only problem is that I usually bring in enough food so I don't have to tap into my secret stash that often.  As a result any food in the sub-zero division of my squadron is subject to freezer burn, baked entities go stale and pre-packaged items outlive their "best by" date. 

But I liken my food army to the clones from the Clone Wars in the Star Wars universe.  While they may be run down from time to time they always end up on the winning end of any contest w/ the Droid Army of the Trade Federation.  If you don't understand geekspeak I said, "My snacks, no matter how stale/rancid, always tackle my hunger."

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Target Practice
10/21/09

So today I was listening to the radio as I drove to the rec. center to exercise.  A commercial comes on and says, "You know you need to change your oil.  After all, it's been awhile - probably seven years.  What you don't know is that ignoring an oil change can lead to a massive headache that Excedrin can't even cure.  From a burnt out engine to automobile influenza a host of problems can plague you in the future if you ignore that 'check oil' light on your dash."  (Okay that wasn't exactly what it said but it was close). 

The bottom line is that it was effective (but not completely - read on, you'll see why).  I started thinking, "I haven't had my oil changed since I got back to the Mainland - I'd better do that."  So I vowed to stop by the auto shop that was in my neighborhood on my way back from exercising (which wasn't the auto shop from the advertisement that reminded me to change my oil in the first place - so while the commercial was effective the branding wasn't).

They were very nice and got it done very quickly b/c I was the only one there so like 4 dudes descended upon my car when I pulled up and each checked and changed a different fluid/aspect of my vehicle and did the job of one person in about 10-15 minutes.

It was all very convenient - a little expensive, though.  I won't name the price but it was about $10 more than I'm used to paying (of course I'm also used to dropping my car off and if I don't have an appointment I get it back about an hour or two later so I guess I paid for the added convenience).  Bottom line, I got it done and I'm happy.

So you may be wondering, "Why is this blog titled 'Target Practice'?"  That's an excellent question.  One of the services the shop provided was cleaning the inside of my car and washing my windows (which needed it).  I drove into work happy that I was now driving w/ a clear view of the road - unobstructed by dead bugs, dirt and other annoyances that mire my windshield on a regular basis.

After the early newscasts I walked out of the station and climbed into my car to leave for my dinner break and guess what had happened?  Yep, a bird had decided to use my newly cleaned windshield for target practice and hit the middle of it thus securing a bullseye along w/ 50 points - judging by my windshield the bird was playing the dart game Cricket.

I was (and am) so mad about that.  And this ALWAYS happens which leads me to believe that birds are smarter than we think.  While I have no proof (actually I do have proof I just don't want to investigate) I'm sure it was a pigeon.  That just gives me one more reason to hate the rats of the sky.  I think what upsets me the most is the fact that I'll have to stare @ it every time I drive for the next 3 months or 3000 miles (unless of course I don't drive 3000 miles in 3 months - then it'll be longer).  Hopefully Mother Nature does me a solid and the rain we're expecting on Friday helps out on that front.

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NICE Weather
10/20/09

I know I'm not the only one who's loving this weather - it was AWESOME today.  We had plenty of sunshine and got into the upper 60s across the Miami Valley.  Tomorrow will be even warmer: into the low 70s.  Hard to believe we had our first hard freeze this past weekend.

While I love this weather I know that it also means I'll be a little busier than normal.  Why?  B/c I have a bunch of yard work I should get to.  I need to fertilize my lawn for next season, I have rake my leaves and I have to mow my lawn (not necessarily in that order).

But I have a plan!  I'll mow my lawn and set my mower to mulch.  That way it'll mulch my leaves and I won't have to rake them.  Not only that but all of the dead leaves will act like fertilizer for next year so BAM!  I can kill three birds w/ one stone (or cut 3 carrots w/ one knife - that's the vegetarian version of that colloquialism).  I've been told by some that this won't work but one can dream.

With warmer temperatures tonight and clear to partly cloudy skies we'll also have a decent night for meteor watching.  Tonight the Orionid Meteor Shower peaks.  It's left over debris from Halley's Comet and @ peak (around 5:00 A.M. Wednesday morning) we'll be able to see about 30 meteors per hour - some of the experts say it can be more than that.

This is one of my favorite meteor showers.  It radiates from the constellation Orion, which is one of my favorite constellations.  When I was younger I was into astronomy and I would use Orion as a starting point to locate many more of the constellations in the Winter sky.  I also like the shower b/c it's in the fall and viewing conditions are usually decent for it.

Being a fan of astronomy I always thought it was cool that you could name a star after somebody - like they said in the commercials.  Then I found out that most stars are a bunch of letters and numbers like (BD) +51668 so that whole thing is just a racket.  In fact comets and asteroids (not these asteroids) are the only celestial objects that are typically named after people.  If I ever discovered one I'd think of giving it a funny name like Grandpa.  That way a parent could look up into the sky w/ his kids and say, "You see that shining object right there - that's Grandpa."  (Of course that might freak out the kids - especially if Grandpa is still alive).

I got into astronomy b/c I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger so I could visit other planets - like I saw in Sci-fi movies.  By the time I got into my teenage years I became cynical and realized that would never happen in my lifetime and came to the realization that I was probably going to be too tall to be an astronaut anyway (it's hard enough fitting in the backseat of a car) and decided I wanted to be something else - like the James Bond villain who could throw his bowler hat w/ deadly accuracy.

After ruining a few baseball caps and countless lamps I saw that probably wouldn't happen either.  That might still change, though - maybe all I need to do is wish upon a shooting star.

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After the Freeze
10/19/09

If you weren't keeping track we had our first official hard freeze of the season on Sunday morning.  The low @ Cox was 28 - chilly!  What does this mean for you?  Well for one thing the growing season is officially over so your garden will be deteriorating in the coming days (if it hasn't already).

You may be thinking, "It's October and we're already getting a hard freeze!"  It's actually not all that uncommon.  In fact the average first freeze for the Southern Miami Valley is 10/11-10/20 so with ours on 10/18 we were @ the back end of the average. 

That doesn't mean it's any easier to handle, though.  I say that b/c it doesn't really feel like we even had a summer.

Now that we've had our first freeze I don't feel too bad turning on the heat.  I usually wait until November but we have a newborn in the house so my wife insists we crank it up to warm the place.  When I was my daughters' age we didn't have heat we sat on the couch and thought of the sun - we were plenty warm!  On a side note I've always wondered why they make cartoon drawings of the sun wearing sunglasses.  Doesn't the artist know that they would vaporize before they could even be put on b/c the sun is so hot?  Let's for a second pretend that doesn't matter - if the sun was so bright it had to wear shades wouldn't that be the point at which sunglasses become useless anyway?  I don't want to sound like a stickler but I just like it when my visual puns are as scientifically accurate as possible.

I also have an excuse to break out the flannel pajama pants (actually I did that a long time ago but I now have a VALID excuse to wear them).  I had a roommate in college who wore flannel pajama pants all the time.  When I say all the time - I mean it.  I'm convinced that's one of the reasons he enjoyed college so much, it gave him an excuse to wear pajamas for 4 years straight. 

I still need to get my winter coat, though.  It's @ my mom's house in Columbus and I just need to remember to grab it the next time I'm there.  It's a warm coat but it's not one of those poofy coats that make you look like you're in a Gore Tex bubble while wearing it.  Those are awesome.  It looks like you could fall out of a plane w/out a parachute and be okay if you have one of those coats b/c it would act like one (I know you can't, though so I don't recommend it). 

Now all I need to do is find my long underwear and I'm all set for Winter weather.  BTW I found much better long underwear images to link too but they were a little inappropriate - do a Google Image search of "long underwear" and you'll see what I mean (why would they do that?  It doesn't seem to make me want to buy a pair - but I guess that's another blog entirely). 

I've always wondered: why don't they make long johns w/ cartoon characters on them?  They put cartoon characters on just about every other type of clothing but not thermal underwear.  It doesn't make sense, and kids might be more apt to wear the things if they thought they were a bit more fashionable.  Heck some adults might be too - after all I have a buddy who's 32 and he still has a Spongebob T-shirt.

Even though we have a warm up this week Sunday morning's temperatures are a reminder of what's to come.  So with that I'll leave you w/ another visual pun that makes no sense: a shivering snowman all bundled up.

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The Thunderdog
10/16/09

Every Friday night if the weather isn't too bad Nate Baker & I do a live shot from the Kroger Game of the Week as part of Milano's Tailgate Party (look @ that I just made two sponsors happy in one sentence).  Tonight's live shot was @ Northmont and boy was it COLD.  It was cold that is until we had some of the delicious hot chocolate that the Northmont concessions stand was kind enough to provide (thank you, Phil).

The concessions stand also introduced me to something that was in one word: AWESOME!  It was a culinary delight that can only be rivaled by the deep fried twinkie or the oink 'n squak (a bacon/chicken/ranch sandwich).  What did they feed me?  The Thunderdog - ooooh-eeee it was delicious!

A Thunderdog is no ordinary hot dog.  It's a hot dog covered in pulled pork and smothered in cheese sauce!  It looks something like this but that's actually a chili dog.  I would have taken a picture but I was so enamored by the Thunderdog's beauty that I lost all rational thinking and ate it before it occurred to me that I may need a photo to remember this glorious occasion.  And boy was it a glorious!  On a list of great things that have happened in my life I wouldn't say tonight's Thunderdog experience was better than my marriage or the births of my kids but it definitely outranks my high school graduation.

The recipe for such a delicacy is simple: take something that's good albeit unhealthy and top it with stuff that's also great but unhealthier.  Um-um-um.  I will say that my heart hurts a little after eating it and my left arm is all tingly but I just think that's my body basking in the afterglow of such a wonderful treat.

It was so good I called a bunch of my friends and my wife to tell them what I'd just eaten.  And if you're one of those health nuts who thinks I should be ashamed for eating such a concoction all I have to say is: shame tastes good!

If you're ever @ a Northmont game I definitely recommend the Thunderdog.  It's so good it should have its own TV show.  The intro could look something like this - just change all of the "cats" to dog (it'll make sense after you see the video).

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A Sad Day in the Booth Houshold
10/15/09

It's actually been a sad TWO days in the Booth household.  Why?  My television provider (I won't name any names) in their infinite wisdom decided to update my tuner box so as to avoid future problems w/ service.  Guess what happened? - I encountered future problems w/ my service.  Long story short - I haven't been able to watch TV in the manner I've grown accustomed too since yesterday.

I still can get service but I need the digital tuner box to get hi-def.  And here's the thing, even if you watch something that isn't in hi-def it still looks better thanks to the digital box.  But it doesn't stop there.  If you take a signal that's supposed to be in standard def and watch it on a hi-def TV (w/ the different aspect ratio) it looks TERRIBLE!  I felt like an animal last night watching my programs.

Not only that but I can't watch what I've recorded either.  That too is a killer b/c when I get home I like to catch up on the TV that I missed while I was @ work.  Being a creature of habit I DO NOT like it when my routine is disrupted.  I know that sounds a little OCD (I'd argure it's C-D-O, which is OCD in alphabetical order) but I can't help it, I get used to something and if it's working I see no reason to change it.

Now I can't watch the OSU-Wisconsin game again, I won't get to watch Anakin and his padawan take out the vile bounty hunter Cad Bane and save the Jedi Order but it gets worse than that - I've seen both of those.  Now that I've lost the info on that box, I'll never get to learn the secrets of the mummy when I unwrap Egypt by hitting the "play" button on my remote (I never watched that one - my loss).

I guess it's all for the better, TV rots your brain, except the programs we provide on ABC22/Fox45 - I've actually heard you can live longer if you watch our programming (I have no scientific basis to back this claim but anecdotal evidence is okay in this case).

I also read a book today since I couldn't watch TV.  I read every day but usually it's news related content.  Even when I read books I typically read non-fiction.  The book I'm reading now is a history of American Brewing - I took about a 40-50 page chunk out of that today thanks to the lack of TV.  The last book I read was An Ocean of Air it's about the discovery and history of air and how we discovered the different parts of our atmosphere (kind of nerdy but cool nonetheless).

So for now I'll have to live in my hi-def TV-less house and keep reading.  Maybe I'll go to bed early tonight and catch up on my sleep.

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Hateful Weather
10/14/09

That's about the only way I can describe this weather (w/out getting in trouble w/ my superiors that is).  Today felt like a great day... if it were January.  It's only mid-October, though and my goodness it's COLD!  Add to that the wind, the rain/drizzle and you get chilled to the bone.

That won't change much in the coming days and as I gazed upon that 7-day forecast this evening I couldn't help but think of my friends back in Hawaii and feel a little jealous.  As I write this blog the temperature in Honolulu is 83, but there's a Southerly wind so it's humid and probably hazy.  Of course when you have light Southerly winds my side of the island always had perfect, glassy water.  BTW that image is one of the beach that was .8 miles from my condo.

But only part of me feels that way b/c I'm also looking forward to the coming months.  As a kid I always loved it when the leaves began changing colors and the smell of burning firewood hung in the air as you walked through the neighborhood.  That always meant that the holidays were on their way.

And when the weather turns raw like this it's nice to stay indoors by the fireplace.  This type of weather makes me feel like I should be watching football, when I was away in Hawaii that was one of the things I missed about Ohio.  Sure I missed the big things like family and the friends w/ whom I grew up.  But I also missed the little things like watching football when I felt like I should be watching football.  There's something strange about watching the Thanksgiving game when the temperature is in the 80s and unless you grew up with that you just don't get used to it.

So if you have to go out in the next few days take a jacket, an umbrella and a smile w/ you.  It'll be kind of miserable outside so make the most of it - you will survive.  After all every gray cloud has a silver lining.  And every silver lining has a touch of grey!

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3-14-21-24-51 Mega Ball 14
10/13/09

Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot is $170 million.  Play the above numbers if you want to win (last week).  We have an office pool where we all toss in a buck and try to win when it gets up in that range and I just realized that I forgot to contribute.  If half of our news staff isn't on-air tomorrow you'll probably have a good idea who won (or where the flu is currently making the rounds). 

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you won the lottery?  I'm sure you have, I think everybody has.  There's something about the concept of never having to worry about money again that intrigues those of us who have to.

If I won I think I'd keep working... until I woke up one day and didn't feel like going into work.  Actually I do think I'd keep working b/c I don't know what I'd do w/ myself were I not working.  Actually I do know what I'd do - I'd eat bad food and watch bad cable TV all day long; which is why I'd keep working - b/c I'd have too.  I'd like to travel but I can't @ this point b/c I have young children and they need to go to school.

I do play from time to time but I know the odds are way against me when it comes to winning.  I feel that if I want the right to sit back and daydream about how cool it would be to win the lottery I have to buy a ticket, though.  I used to work w/ a guy who was convinced that he'd win the lottery someday.  He'd buy a ticket every drawing and whenever I teased him about it he told me his ship would come in... someday (probably the day before he retires).

Have you ever tried to "visualize" the coming numbers?  I've tried to do that figuring that as a meteorologist I kind of predict the future anyway (or what will happen in the sky) so it's not too much of a stretch to try and predict the winning numbers.  Of course I actually read weather models and use my knowledge to predict what will happen so those skills don't exactly translate.  It does beg the question, "If you're psychic why don't you just foresee the lottery numbers?"  That way you won't have to buy late-night air time and tell me, "The cards neva' lie!"

So tonight's jackpot is $170,000,000 - that's a lot of cheese.  But if you take the cash option it's only $108,500,000 (I say "only" as if I'd be upset if that was all I got).  But it does make me wonder, what happened to the other $62 million?  You get taxed regardless of how you take your winnings so why do you get so much less w/ the cash option?  Something doesn't add up here.

I've often wondered if there's a parent out there who loves to buy lotto tickets at the expense of saving up for his kids' education b/c he feels that by buying tickets he's helping fund the school system therefore his kid will get a good education and be able to earn a scholarship.  It's a tricky path to get from A to B but I'm sure someone's thought of it.  On a totally unrelated note: hopefully my kids' grades and/or athletic abilities are good enough to get them a free ride.

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Why You Need to Hit SAVE
10/12/09

I was almost done w/ tonight's blog entry and I made a mistake.  I accidentally hit the "back" key in the corner of my screen.  When I hit the "forward" key to get back to my original screen all that remained was the title of the blog that never was. 

And too bad - for me, you and the rest of the world.  Tonight's blog was arguably as groundbreaking as E=mc2, as mysterious as the Yeti and life changing as The Secret was when it came out in 2006.  Yes, had it survived there's a chance I'd be referred as the "Prometheus of the Internet Age" (of course I probably wouldn't have an eagle eating my liver - maybe it would be the "MyDoom" computer virus) by future generations.

So why don't I just rewrite it?  B/c it's tough enough to capture lightning in a bottle let alone re-capture it.  It would be like asking Michelangelo to re-sculpt David b/c he looked a little skinny, or saying the Venus De Milo would look better if it had its arms or making Monet re-paint his "Bridge at Giverny" b/c it looks like he left his glasses off when he originally painted it. 

If you read my blogs regularly you're probably used to the "life-altering wisdom" they can possess.  This blog was that but multiplied by a googolplex. 

Oh, well I guess it'll remain lost to the ages.  It's the modern-day equivalent of the Atlantean civilization.  Too bad.

Actually it was about the fact that it was a great weekend for Ohio Football, all the major teams won (which doesn't happen often) - arguably interesting, but not life-changing (unless you played the superfecta).  But it does show why you must always hit "save" (or @ least why I should) b/c then you wouldn't have been subject to the previous 5 paragraphs.  You see after I lost the blog entry I was too lazy to re-write it so I figured I'd take a trip to fantasyworld.  Sorry... you'll never get that time back (so hopefully you're reading this @ work).

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Record for Anything
10/09/09

Have you ever seen a group of people doing something really weird only to find out they're competing for a Guinness World Record?  A perfect example of this would be the largest group of people performing the "Thriller" dance or the most people blowing a conch shell @ once.  I see that and I think, "They'll make a record for just about anything!"

And upon further investigation, they do.  How about the youngest person to act as president (not of a company but a country).  Or what about Andy Hoke - he played guitar for 60 hrs. straight setting the world's longest guitar marathon.  Here's one of my favorites: @ 10' 10.5" its the farthest ear slingshot.

This begs the question, why?  More than that, how did this become a record?  If I was an idiot or part of a group of idiots who happened to do something for the first time does that make me a world record holder?  I'd argue "no".  B/c if you think about it long enough we could all be the first to do something and therefore become a world record holder.  And if we all held a world record than would they really be all that special?  No. 

I'm not saying we get rid of them entirely b/c I think some are cool, like the world's tallest man; who I'm now learning is Leonid Stadnyk.  I remember going to Ripley's Believe it or Not when I was younger and I stood next to a statue of a previous world's tallest man (that's not me in the picture btw) it was cool but also made me feel like a child, even though I was 18-years-old.

I was inspired to write this blog b/c earlier this week "Sportsnation" a TV show on ESPN2 and they set the record for the most mentions of Brett Farve in a single broadcast.  It was a good show and thus a valid record.  But ever since then I've been trying to come up w/ a world record of my own and unfortunately I haven't come up w/ much.  Oh, well.  I've gotta go.  I have to see if I can go home and balance an egg on my head while I play every song off of Electric Ladyland on the ukulele while reciting Homer's Illiad in its entirety.

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Behind the Scenes
10/07/09

If you watch our newscast (and you probably do otherwise why are you reading my blog?) you may have wondered, "How does he make his forecast and what does he do between shows?"  Those are two of the most common questions I get when I meet people.  Another one is, "Are you rich?"  To that I always reply, "It depends on your definition of rich.  Am I wealthy?  Not so much.  Am I happy w/ my life and my career and can I make all of my bills?  Yes - and I think that makes me the richest man on the planet."

I can answer the other two questions easily.  I don't have a dartboard I consult when making my forecast (contrary to popular belief).  I've always wanted to make one just so I could bust it out when someone asks me how I make my forecast, though.  Nor do I just show up and "look pretty" b/c somebody already made a forecast for me.  @ least I don't for a few reasons: 1.) It's a stretch to say I can "look pretty" (come on, w/ a nose like mine?); 2.) It's not budget conscious to do that - I've heard of it in larger TV markets like New York & L.A. but there's more capital for that; and 3.) I don't think I could do that, I'd rather make my own forecast b/c it's fun and you have a better understanding of the weather when you forecast daily.

I actually look at computer models to make a forecast.

From where does that information come?  We constantly take a number of surface observations across the country every day (well I don't but weather offices do).  And upper air observations are also taken via weather balloon - typically twice a day (@ midnight & noon in Greenwich, England).  That information is plunked into supercomputers that use mathematical equations:
to predict the weather.

What comes out are a variety of models of the atmosphere that I use to forecast what's happening and what will happen.  Some models start out more correct than others and some handle different weather situations better than others.  The more one predicts the weather the more one learns which one is better in which situation.  After looking @ all of those I come up with a hypothesis of what the weather will do in the coming days.

So what do we do between shows?  Everyone is different but I like to eat (tonight I had McDonald's - not healthy but delicious!).  I also like to blog (as you can see).  But I also tape what are known as teases - or little snippets of information that are used to get people watching the late shows.  I also build graphics for my shows and I look @ the newest weather models (most are updated 4 times daily).  That way you get the freshest forecast possible. 

So as you can see even though our nighttime newscasts only broadcast 2.5 hours of TV each day, there's plenty to do to make an 8-hour shift.

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Lookin' Good!
10/06/09

I don't know if you noticed on-air tonight but my eyebrows are lookin' sexy!  I know I'm tooting my own horn but they look good.  You can't the hear facetiousness in my thoughts but trust me - it's there.  The truth is my eyebrows didn't look that great when I started the day and probably wouldn't look any better had I not done something stupid.

As I've gotten older I've begun growing weird gray, scraggly hairs.  Some of those are growing in my eyebrows and it seems the grayer they are the scragglier they are.  I've tried pulling them out but it seems more grow back whenever I do so I usually have my wife trim them.  Today when I looked in the mirror I noticed the eyebrows were getting a little hairy.  Normally I don't mind but I also noticed a few scraggly hairs and my wife wasn't around so I decided to trim them myself - big mistake.

It's tough to grab a hair and trim it @ the same time all while using a mirror to aid you in doing so (everything moves backwards).  Needless to say I messed up a little - actually a lot.  I was trimming and I actually trimmed out a chunk of eyebrow hair and they looked all weird.  So what did I do?  I grabbed the tweezers to fix my mistake and started plucking; after all it makes perfect sense to try fixing a mistake by doing more of what led to that mistake in the first place.

Long story short, I made it worse.  The more I tried to fix the problem the worse it got.  Luckily my wife returned home before I took everything out. 

-On a side note I actually looked like that @ one time in my life when I shaved my eyebrows on my Public Access TV show in college.  My co-host wanted me to shave my head but I said "no" so I agreed to shave my eyebrows if he shaved his head, thinking he was getting the raw deal.  I miscalculated that move b/c he didn't look that funny w/ a shaved head - in fact it really didn't look too bad, he didn't have a weird dent in his head or anything like that (I do but that's a whole different blog).-

So my wife laughed @ me and then helped me by evening things out for me.  It took about 15 minutes and I don't want to sound like a wuss but I don't know how you ladies can do that... it hurts!  I did learn a valuable lesson, though: there are some things a man just shouldn't do.  Trimming and plucking his own eyebrows is one of those things where the alternative is almost always better.

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"Shot" in the Dark
10/05/09

So I just got off the phone w/ my wife and I'm upset (not b/c I was talking to her - b/c of what she had to say).  She took my kids to the doctor today for their check-ups and one of our kids (I think it was the infant) had to get like two or three shots - poor thing.  The older kids got their flu shots (actually they got the mist).  My wife told me I have to get my shot as well - that's why I'm not happy.

I HATE getting shots.  I used to hate them b/c they hurt - they don't anymore, but I do have bad memories of them so I still dislike them somewhat.  I think what I hate about them now is that they require a visit to the doctor. 

It's not that I dislike doctors - I don't.  My grandfather was a doctor and a couple of my friends are.  I think I don't like the visit b/c it could turn out like a check-up for your vehicle.  Isn't it a pain when you take your car in for something simple only to find it's in a lot worse shape than you thought?  We've all been there.  And while I've never had this experience w/ a doctor there's a first time for everything.  So by NOT going to the doctor I don't have to worry about learning anything is wrong w/ me (medically speaking). 

I know it's failed logic but it's also why I only go if I absolutely have to (except for my last visit, in May - I went b/c I was starting a new job shortly and I figured I'd make sure everything was okay before I moved so it would be one less thing on my to-do list... actually my wife made me go).

I also don't want a flu shot b/c I know people who have gotten mild sickness after getting it.  I just got off the phone w/ one of my buddies who is a doctor who tells me it's impossible to get the flu from the flu shot (it DOES contain particles of dead flu cells, but they're inactive).  He says people sometimes feel poorly b/c they're immune system is ramping up antibodies to fight the flu the first few days after the shot.  That or you have a cold or something else @ the same time as the shot and you mistakenly blame feeling poorly on the shot.

The bottom line is that I'll have to get it and I'm not looking forward to it.  I'll probably get the mist - b/c it sounds easier and my arm won't get sore. 

I miss the good old days when all we needed was a little Robitussin.

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"Head"ing to Court
10/02/09

Did you hear this story: Ted Williams' head was allegedly mistreated @ the cryonics facility that froze his remains after he died.  In a new book a former employee of Alcor, a company that freezes people in the hopes of reviving them in the future, charges that someone hit his head with a monkey wrench while trying to knock a frozen tuna can off of his head.  Why would a tuna can be frozen to his head you may ask.  Simple - they were leftover after a cat living @ the company ate his dinner so workers naturally thought it would be a good idea to use them as pedestals for frozen heads.

There are SOOOOOOOOOOOO many things wrong w/ this story so I think I won't touch it.  It does make you wonder, though: Why would you want to be frozen?  Yes I think it would be cool to go into the future but only if I could go back into the past when I was done so I could use the knowledge gained when I got back to my own time.

Think about it - if you were to be frozen and revived years later don't you think it would be a little freaky?  You might go to the home in which you grew up only to find a McDonald's.  Or maybe you'd go back to your old school only to find that things really weren't THAT big of a deal (most of us come to that conclusion later in life anyways).  In essence you'd be lost.

Imagine being frozen back in 1909 only to be revived in 2009.  100 years sounds like a long time but in the big scheme of things it's not even the blink of an eye.  Yet in that short time the world has changed dramatically.  Seeing an automobile in 1909 wasn't necessarily an everyday occurrence in 2009, though they're everywhere.

Back in 1909 if you wanted to communicate w/ someone you'd have to find a phone or a telegraph.  Now people walk around w/ cell phones talking to people halfway across the globe like it's no big deal.

A new-fangled invention in 1909 was instant coffee.  Now you can go to a Starbucks and order a latte, cross the street and go into a different Starbucks b/c the first one messed up your order. 

In short a lot has changed and it's hard enough learning new skills as they are discovered - if you were frozen and revived you'd have to learn all of them all @ once w/out the benefit of seeing how these skills/ideas were developed in the first place only furthering your own confusion.

What do I want done w/ my body when the good Lord calls me home?  I don't know but I do know what I don't want.  I gotta go, for some reason I have a hankering for some ice cream.

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A New Beginning
10/01/09

White Rabbit!  I say that b/c it's the beginning of a new month.  Why?  I don't know.  Supposedly it'll bring me good luck if I say it on the first day of a new month to someone who hasn't heard it yet.  I don't know if it works but I can use all the luck I can get.

Superstitions aside it is the start of October.  A new month is always an exciting time.  It gives you a chance to look back on what you did the previous month (in my case, not much) and reflect on what needs to be done to accomplish any goals in the coming month (I can't say that I have any goals for this coming month either but I'm sure I'll figure out something). 

With each passing month I'm always reminded that the year is moving by (a lot of times TOO fast) and soon we'll be in the midst of the holidays.  Some people don't like to be reminded that time is passing but I don't mind - I think it grounds us and helps us compartmentalize events in our lives which makes them easier to remember.

Plus, October is a great month.  It used to be the eighth month of the year (hence the prefix "octo") but when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted and January (named for the two-faced Roman god Janus - ya-nus - the god of beginnings & endings... my Latin teach would be so proud) and February (no clue as to the origin of this one) were added. 

But what makes October so great?  For one thing it's the namesake of a GREAT festival (in Minster this weekend).  Also we have Halloween during October.  This is a holiday that even though dentists probably say they don't like it I can't help but wonder if they secretly adore it (that's extra $$$ when the kids come in for a visit).  October is also the month that I saw the Aurora Borealis for the first and only time.  It happened when I was living in Wapakoneta six years ago (while taking my oldest daughter trick-or-treating no less!).

More than that, though, it's also the month of my birthday.   I won't tell you my birthday but I'll give you a hint: a certain worldwide organization (a united one, if you will) celebrates it's day on my B-day.  This year I'll be 33 (crazy).  But speaking of new beginnings I'll have a chance to start an entirely different one (a new year) before all is said and done this month.  And with that I'll say "white rabbit" one more time (it never hurts to try and maximize your luck).

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In Case You Wanted to Know (Or Even Care)
09/30/09

Don't you just love the on-line world in which we live?  It's pretty cool.  For one thing it gives me a forum.  Also you can get information (no matter how irrelevant) @ the speed of now (I think that might be a slogan - if not, I own it).

But it also has a downside.  For one thing nobody is really scouring the internet to make sure that information you're getting is accurate.  Sure Wikipedia has a self-policing model but what if everybody policing a particular topic is an idiot who shouldn't be adding their input? 

When I was younger I wanted to write my version of world history and make it totally inaccurate and put it on a website.  I thought it would be funny if someone wrote a report and cited my site (I would have given it an authoritative name like WorldHistory.com).  I could only imagine the teacher's face when he read that the French Revolution was really all about a bunch of people who thought the French Elite were too tall so they invented the guillotine.  Or that Sir Isaac Newton actually discovered gravity when he was much older in life and it had taken its toll on his once nubile figure.  Or even better - man traveled to the moon b/c it was there (O.K. that one is kind of true... along w/ the fact that it showed strength @ the height of the Cold War).  Of course some ideas are best left inside one's own head - besides it's very easy to have a grand idea that's never realized.

There's also the Twitter (I call it that b/c I'm an old man).  This too is a good idea but it too has a downside.  On the one hand it's a great way to keep in touch w/ your friends but do I really need to know that you're about to brush your teeth (and if you have to tell everyone about it does that mean it's such a rare occurrence that when it happens you feel the need to inform the world)?

We ran a story tonight (it's the inspiration for this post) about a woman who takes Twittering to a new level.  Candy Tai is a new mom from Kansas City.  She just gave birth to a new baby boy Jacob David.  I know what you're thinking, "No big deal women give birth all the time."  But this lady Tweeted throughout the birthing process.  To me that's taking it just a little to far.  Do I really need to know that you're "Off 2 have a baby!  This kid wants out NOW!"?  That was an actual Tweet from the lady.  She also Tweeted: "Contractions coming on strong....baby soon! Kids in room with me watching Bolt!"  (That reminds me, I never saw "Bolt" - it looked good).

But perhaps the best Tweet of all: "Fresh baked baby! Jacob David arrived at 6:59 a.m.".  That's how she informed the world that her child was born, she reduced him to the status of a muffin (metaphorically speaking) - Classy.

But that's our world nowadays.  Would I want it any different?  Probably not - I have to say the story is kind of funny (albeit disturbing).  That's my take on the matter (if you care).

I've gotta go now, I'm going to post my blog on the Twitter.

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I Thought I Was Done w/ Tsunami
09/29/09

After spending the past 4.5 years on an island I grew to learn a lot about tsunamis and when I left Hawaii and moved home to Ohio I didn't think I'd use that knowledge anymore, aside from the occasional trivia question.

Today, though that changed.  A deadly tsunami struck in the South Pacific earlier today hitting Samoa & American Samoa.  Hawaii is a very tight knit community and if you don't know someone from American Samoa you know someone who knows someone from that region.  My heart goes out to anyone who's been affected by this tragedy.

I'd like to use this blog to try and pass along some of the knowledge I've learned about tsunamis.  The term tsunami is a Japanese word meaning "harbor wave".  Some will argue b/c tsunami is a Japanese word it needs no "s" @ the end when using it in plural form.  Tsunami are also called "tidal waves".  That's a misnomer, though.  Tsunami have nothing to do with the tides (other than the fact that tsunami waves can be higher/lower depending on the tide level). 

A tsunami isn't just one wave, it's a series of waves and that can be one reason why they're so deadly.  Sometimes people will think the threat is over and venture into a tsunami inundation zone only to be swept away with the next wave.

There are a few ways to cause a tsunami.  A landslide can get the water moving as can a volcanic eruption but the most common way is an earthquake (this what caused today's tsunami).  The waves can travel @ hundreds of miles per hour and actually go unnoticed over the open ocean only growing in size as they approach land.

Tsunami are a lot like a wall of water that can move very far inland so if you're ever near the beach it's a good idea to know where the tsunami inundation zone ends.  You can usually find that information in a local phonebook.  Some areas even have signs warning of potential danger.  B/c they form that wall of water they don't break like a normal wave so remember: You can't surf a tsunami!  (People have tried and been killed in the process).

There's so much to talk about but I think we've done a good job hitting up on some of the basics behind tsunami.  Keep this information in the back of your mind if you ever plan on vacationing near the ocean, especially near/in the Pacific.  The Pacific has what's known as the ring of fire which is a very tectonically active region b/c of all of the continental/oceanic plate boundaries.  Dr. Gerard Fryer a geophysicist w/ the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center once told me in an interview that the Pacific Northwest hasn't had a major earthquake in awhile so heed the warning sirens if they blow.

Watch Dayton's News Source tomorrow (Wednesday 9/30) for a little more on this particular event.

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News Anchors Beware!
09/28/09

Why should news anchors across the Miami Valley be concerned?  One of the biggest threats to their livelihood is in the air: wind.  Why?  Have you ever noticed how our hair rarely moves?  If not, watch a little more closely and you'll probably see what I mean.  Whether it's gel, mousse or just plain hair spray there's something in there (for most people, I DID know someone who put nothing in his hair but the way he had it cut he didn't need to).  In fact, I've even had friends tell me the longer I've been in this business the more my hair has looked like a "shell" around my head (sadly they're right).

I even get my hair cut about every three weeks so it doesn't change that much on-air (I went on Saturday - hopefully you didn't notice).

Today was a different story.  With our strong winds today you may have seen a dent in our helmet hair.  And when the winds get this strong there's really nothing that can keep our hair from looking funky (okay, maybe not that funky). 

I remember doing a live shot @ a previous job and my hair was a little longer that it should have been and I plastered it w/ hair spray.  I was doing a live shot in the middle of a windy newscast and it was as if I was wearing a bad toupee or had a bad combover and it was flapping in the wind (we've all seen it).  When it's happening there isn't much you can do other than keep going and laugh about it later (b/c your colleagues back @ the station WILL give you a hard time).

I will say I don't mind the wind much (as long as I'm somewhere warm).  I just wish it would blow all of the leaves in my yard away, then I wouldn't have to rake.  Either way news anchors (and other people who like perfectly coiffed hair) - BEWARE!  It'll be breezy again tomorrow. 

Oh, well.  Maybe I'll just find a funky hat.  That way all will be well.

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It's FRIDAAAAAY!!!
09/25/09

That's right it's the greatest day of the workweek, Friday.  I've always said that Friday is the closest thing we have to a weekly holiday.  That feeling becomes a lot more evident when you work mornings (which I no longer do) b/c you get to sleep in the next day. 

I used to listen to QFM96 in Columbus and a DJ (I think it was Susie Wad) would yell, "It's FRIDAAAAAAAY!!!!" @ the top of her lungs every Friday morning.  It was a rough way to wake up but it did get you out of bed.  I never understood why this lady would yell @ me every Friday and why she was so excited.  After I entered the workforce it became all too evident. 

It's nice to get away from work.  It gives you a chance to recharge and get ready for the upcoming workweek.  Even if you love what you do it's always nice to spend a couple of days focusing on life b/c I think a lot of us work to live and not the other way around.  The weekend also gives us a chance to get out of our daily routine which I think healthy for the mind & body.

It was a gloomy Friday.  Actually it was gloomy for much of the week.  I've been making sure to drink extra milk that's vitamin D fortified so I don't get rickets.  It almost felt like Winter here (except for the fact that it was warm but it looked like an Ohio Winter sky - gray) this past week.

Guess what?  It'll be a little gloomy tomorrow.  That's the bad news but after tomorrow the sun is going to make a comeback (on Sunday no less) - cue the Beatles song: "Here Comes the Sun".

I for one can't wait even though I (like many others) will have to catch up on yard work.  So what do you have planned for this weekend?  Hopefully something fun.  And as you start out the workweek Monday remember we can't travel back in time to Friday (or skip ahead for that matter - yet) so make the most of it.

Here's something that will hopefully get your week started off on the right foot.

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Mythical Creatures
09/24/09

I have always loved fantasy and science fiction.  When I'd watch "Unsolved Mysteries" as a kid I always loved the stories that started with the slate that read: "The Unexplained".  That meant they were going to talk about ghosts, UFOs, some mythical creature or something crazy. 

I was also a big fan of "The Twilight Zone" when I was younger.  It used to be on @ 1:00 A.M. on WTTE Fox 28 our sister station in Columbus.  I'd stay up late and catch both of the episodes they'd air watching w/ the lights out in my room on a black & white TV I got for Christmas in 3rd or 4th grade from a couple of my aunts.  They always aired the Rod Serling episodes so it didn't matter that I was watching them on a B&W TV b/c they were in B&W.

So what's the point of all of this?  Well, I got a great e-mail featuring a creature I've never seen before today.  Sure I've seen the jack-a-lope, the yeti and even bigfoot but this one tops them all.

Before I get to it I'll tell you a quick story about bigfoot and how it led to my discovery of Coast-to-Coast A.M.  For those of you who don't know what that is listen to A.M. radio late @ night just about anywhere in the country and the show that's about crazy conspiracies, aliens, the incoming doom (probably during 2012), or just about any other outlandish theory it's probably C-2-C AM. 

Anyway, I was headed to my first job interview in Television and I was working @ Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Cincinnati @ the time.  I worked nights and decided to leave for the interview the night before so I could stop @ a motel and get some shut-eye so I wouldn't have to drive all day and THEN interview.  As I was driving Route 52 and I was looking for something I could listen to and lo and behold I found a radio show that was interviewing the foremost bigfoot authority in the world.  After listening for about 5 minutes I said out loud, "This is GOOD radio!"

That was back in 2001 when Art Bell (the show's founder, I think) was the host.  Now George Noory is the host - I like him too.  I can't help but wonder how my broadcasting career may have turned out had I discovered the show when I was younger - I may have tried to do something different (even though I'm glad I didn't - I'm happy w/ the weather b/c it's strange and awe inspiring in and of itself).  Just so you know, I ended up getting the job (after showing up about 22 hrs. late for the interview b/c my car broke down).

So what is this awesome creature I found today?  The Bearsharktopus!  It's awesome.

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"Fall"ing In Love
09/23/09

I've mentioned in previous blogs that I love Fall in Ohio.  Yesterday @ 5:18 P.M. Autumn officially began w/ the Autumnal Equinox.  The Equinox is when the sun is directly overhead @ the equator.  It reaches that point twice a year - once in the Spring (Vernal Equinox) and once in the Fall.

The Solstices mark the time that the sun gets to the farthest part North or South over the globe depending on the season.  The sun is dropping south @ this point which means it's getting lower in the sky.  Actually the sun isn't dropping, Earth is tilted on it's axis so the sun APPEARS to be shifting southward from out point of view (Obi-Wan Kenobi once said "Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view"). 

The sun will actually continue getting lower in the sky until December 21 @ 12:47 P.M. when it's directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn.  That's the first day of winter and it's also the point the sun begins getting higher in the sky.

On March 20th, 2009 @ 1:32 P.M. it's the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox and June 21st, 2009 @ 7:28 A.M. the march of the seasons continues as Summer begins once again.  The sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer @ the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (when we're in the middle of Winter folks in the Southern Hemisphere are enjoying the heat of Summer).

So how did our summer shape up?  Well, according to the National Weather Service, we tied for the 7th coolest summer on record w/ an average temperature of 70.6.  The record was set back in 1915 @ 69.6.

Our warmest temperature this summer was 92 (6/25) our coldest temperature was 45 (9/1).  We had 5 days this summer w/ highs in the 60s, 38 w/ highs 70s, 48 w/ highs in the 80s and only 3 days w/ highs in the 90s.  Hard to believe, we had more days this summer w/ highs in the 60s than in the 90s - pretty crazy.

Also, July was the second coolest July on record w/ an average temperature of 69.6.  The coolest July was back in 1947 w/ an average temperature of 69.6.

The bottom line: if you love Fall you're in luck - our summer felt a lot like early Fall.  And if you don't like Summer - again you're in luck.

I hope everyone had a great summer.  As I wrote that line I was reminded of a jingle from a commercial about a month-and-a-half ago: "This will be the best Summer ever!"  Is it me or does it seem like EVERY Summer is the best Summer ever?  Were that the case it begs the question: Is that type of growth sustainable?  Oh, well that's the subject of another blog entirely.

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Ahh... The 3 Day Weekend
09/22/09

You may (or may not) have noticed that I wasn't @ work yesterday.  I'll admit I was playing hooky (not really, my boss knew I was taking the day off).  What I mean is that I wasn't sick or anything like that.

It was a great weekend.  The family & I ventured to Eaton on Saturday for the Preble County Pork Festival - AWESOME!!!  Sunday we didn't do much b/c the weather was a little gloomy (I did watch football, though).  Monday I just ran errands all day.

It's kind of funny, when you're younger a three-day weekend usually means you'll be doing something fun (and sometimes crazy).  You might be going on a road trip, or going to a party, etc.  When you get older... not so much.

Sure we went to a festival this weekend but we'll probably go to one next weekend. 

Honestly, I don't feel like I missed out on anything by taking it easy.  In fact I'm proud of myself for getting so much done over the weekend.

The main thing I got done this weekend: making my car legal.  My Dodge Neon has needed new plates since it got back to the Mainland.  I've been driving around with Hawaii plates for about 2-3 months now.  Not only do I get weird looks from fellow drivers on the road (usually the "What the heck are you doing back here?" looks) but I also worry about getting pulled over b/c I think I passed the grace period you have to change your over your plates. 

Now though, I worry no longer.  I finally made it to the DMV (and just in time, my registration expired @ the end of the month).  I was pleasantly surprised to see it cost me about half as much to register as it does in Hawaii (and ironically the roads there are MUCH worse - go figure).

So while I may not have "lived it up this weekend" (except for the fact that I met my monthly pork intake quota in about 4 hour's time) @ least I got a lot done.

I still feel like I'm getting old, though.  What's scarier?  I'm already starting to dress the part.  I found this cartoon (click on the link) and I know I've worn something similar to walk out and get the paper/mail.

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Pigging Out
09/18/09

It's that time of year again in Ohio.  The leaves are starting to change, the corn is head high, and the nights are getting longer but the cruel breath of winter hasn't quite taken hold.  Yes it's feeling like Autumn (even though the Autumnal Exquinox isn't technically until 5:18 P.M. on Tuesday - don't worry Mother Nature, I won't call you out...  wait I just did, oh well).

I have to say that the beginning of Fall is a darn fine time to be an Ohioan - after all the weather is (and has been) just great.  One of the things I love about Fall is all of the festivals.  We had a bunch last weekend and I'm psyched for one in particular this weekend: The Preble County Pork Festival.  It hasn't even started and my mouth is already watering.

Ribs, pork chops, pulled pork sandwiches - my goodness I'm getting hungry just thinking about it (even though my heart hurts a little - especially after looking @ those pics, which only make me hungrier, it's a vicious cycle).

I've never been and I'm told they have an all-you-can-eat smorgasboard.  I'm ready to put a hurtin' on that one.  When I see all-you-can-eat I look @ that as a personal challenge and I plan on skipping lunch tomorrow so I can get a leg up on the competition.  Normally I try not to overeat (gluttony one of the 7 deadly sins) but I love the feeling you get after a good meal when you're full and you're sitting back enjoying what just transpired.  I can't wait to feel that way tomorrow.

I'll admit it: I'm a foodie.  When I say foodie I'm really just saying I like to eat.  Some people think of foodies as people who only like gourmet meals.  Yes I like those too but there's something about a simple meal made right.  And boy oh boy do I like grilled food.

I've been known to grill in the middle of the winter.  And I will this year as well (if any of my neighbors are reading this - sorry in advance).  There's something about that smoked flavor fresh off the grill that can't be beat and I can't wait to get a bite of some smoked ribs smothered in b-b-q sauce tomorrow. 

My wife thinks it's funny b/c all week I've been telling her that we're going to the Pork Festival (I sound like a kid during the holidays - but when you think about it cooked pork as far as the eye can see is about as close to Man Christmas as you can get).  I keep telling her, "Don't make any plans Saturday night - or @ the very least don't make any that involve me b/c I'm going to  the Pork Festival.  I hope you join me."

The bottom line - I'm ready to do some eatin' in Eaton.  I'll bet I'm the only person to ever say that (I used italics to convey my sarcasm - I hope you caught it).  If you see me @ the Pork Festival make sure you say, "Hey!"  But don't try to grab one of my pork chops or any of my ribs - you might lose a finger.

P.S. I'm going to eat this guy this weekend b/c what's better than eating well cooked pig?  Eating a pig who knows karate.

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The Three R's
09/17/09

Remember that old saying, "You go to school to learn the three R's: Readin', ritin' and rithmitic!"?  I do.  I also remember asking an elder one time why the last two R's really didn't start w/ an R and why two of the words were actually slang b/c they were missing the "g" at the end of the suffix.  I suggested that maybe it was indicative of our declining educational standards.  I was quickly told to quit being a smart-alec (actually I was called something a little different but I can't say what b/c I'd like to stay out of trouble). 

(As I look back on that story I think, "It's good to see some things never change.")

Two of my daughters are in school now.  They're learning the three R's everyday (actually it's more like the one R, a W & an A - too bad it they didn't say "Readin', rithmitic and ritin', that way the acronym today would be RAW and you could get kids who love Pro Wrestling excited about learning).  They're the new girls but they're adjusting well and making friends but I'm sure they get the "new kid blues" from time to time.  They are learning a lot, though so that's good.

As I walked my daughter, Georgia to the bus stop today she told me she's learning how to read.  She's in kindergarten and she's learning how to read!  I went to a good school and I don't remember learning how to read in kindergarten.  Of course maybe that's why I'm a meteorologist and not a millionaire.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE being a meteorologist but I wouldn't complain if I was the latter of the two. 

I think it's great that she's learning how to read.  I told her today that it'll open up a world of possibilities to her b/c once she could read she could find out how to be whatever she wants to be when she gets older - just read how to in a book (unless of course she wanted to grow up to be someone who doesn't know how to read but I don't know anyone like that so I think that's a logical fallacy).

There is a small downside, though.  Now as a parent I can't spell out something I want to tell my wife while keeping it a mystery from my daughter @ the same time.  I remember when my oldest daughter learned how to read.  I'd say something like, "I just went and got some A-S-T-R-O-N-A-U-T  I-C-E  C-R-E-A-M" (I love that stuff even though it has the consistency of styrofoam - delicious styrofoam).  And my oldest would chime in, "What about astronaut ice cream?  Where is it?  Can I have some?"  Now I'd have to share (I probably would have anyway). 

Or my wife would say, "I think it's B-E-D-T-I-M-E."  And she'd start whining, "I don't want to go to bed".  If she wouldn't have known it was coming I may have been able to trick her into going to sleep by recommending I read her a story in bed.  Curses! Foilded again by knowledge!

But other than that inconvenience I'm happy they're learning new stuff every day in school.  I've always felt that the minute you stop learning is the minute you start getting old.  And besides an education is one of the most important things you can get in this world. 

And that right there is why it's a good idea for me to teach them how to do yardwork, wash the car, clean the gutters and do just about every other chore of mine (now I'm positive that's a logical fallacy).

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I'm COLD!!!
09/16/09

If you read the headline - yes, I'm chilly.  But more than that - yes, I'm a wuss.  It's really not that cold.  In fact tonight's low of 52 is only 2 below the average nighttime low for this time of year.  But technically we're still in summer so the low 50s feel (and sound) cool.

Also, as I've mentioned before I've lived on an island for the past 4.5 years (one could say I'm freezing my okole off).  I grew up in Ohio so I remember how cold it can get but it's different to live through it.  I've felt a bit cold since I got back in late May.  Click here to see how I've felt @ times - a little like Encino Man (w/out the annoying friend who keeps saying "Buddy" of course).

I've felt cold b/c we've had a very unusual summer.  It was a cool one.  In fact this could go down as one of the top 10 coolest summers on record.  We got into the upper 40s on the last day of August - the first time the 8th month has been in the 40s for like 22 years!  Pretty crazy.

It's good news for my wife, though.  She gave birth in August and if you're going to be pregnant during an Ohio summer this was the one. 

It's still been a little tough for me, though.  But that's b/c I'm stubborn.  I've been wearing shorts, short sleeved shirts and slippers (flip-flops) more than I should - hence my complaining that it's been too cold.

There are some nice things about this cool weather.  It's great for sleeping.  Of course it is harder to get out of bed and your boss probably won't take that as an excuse if you're late.  It also gives me a chance to wear my flannel pajama bottoms and they're COMFORTABLE.  More than that it's good weather if you want to put a fire in the fireplace (you could also put on some Barry White and have a romantic evening w/ your special lady). 

(Cue Barry White's Greatest Hits - Starting w/ "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe")

I better get a chimney sweep in before I put a fire in the fireplace though.

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Call of the Wild Pt. 2
09/16/09

Thanks to those of you who commented on my blog about my cat: thanks you for the kind words.  I asked my daughter what the cat's full name was and here you go:

Calamity Kitty Rosie Annelle Clora Nya Snydecler Booth Super-Flying Kitty

Again you can tell my kids named her & not me, I would have probably named her dog (as long as I knew it wouldn't give here an identity crisis).

Click here a pic (sorry it's blurry, I couldn't get her to sit still - she kept wanting me to pet her).

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Call of the Wild
09/15/09

My wife and I moved into our house in Centerville a little less than a month ago.  Our cat moved in about a week later.  Her name is: Calamity Rosie Clara Snydecker Booth, I can't remember her entire name, there are a few others.  That's what happens when you let your kids name your pet - oh, well @ least they didn't name it Optimus Prime or something like that.  Here's a picture:

http://nicesspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/jimmy-hendrix-guitar-cat-funny-photos1.jpg

Actually it's not but I just thought it was a cool pic.  Unfortunately I don't have a pic of Calamity but this one is close:

http://obnoxioussubconscious.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/evil-cat1.jpg

When we brought her back from Hawaii it cost like $225 to send her b/c our flights didn't let us bring live critters unless they were service animals.  I tried to convince the good folks @ United that she was crucial to my survival b/c I have unusually low blood pressure and she raises mine to a healthy level - they didn't buy it (I really don't have low blood pressure but it was still half true).  So we had to ship her live cargo - I'm glad I wasn't stuck in that baggage hold.

When we brought her back though, we didn't have a permanent residence and we were staying with family.  My wife's uncle & aunt were kind enough to let us stay with them for a few months and we didn't want to push our luck by bringing along a cat who's skiddish @ best.  So my mom kept her for a few months.

She has a cat, Clark (the SuperCat).  He's huge.  Here's a picture:

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/fatcat.jpg

Actually that's not him but it's close.  The only thing bigger than his waistline is his friendly nature.  He's a very nice cat.  My cat, on the other hand - not so much.  It's not really that she's mean she's just afraid of anything she's not used too.  As a result she'd attack Clark, and she still has her claws - Clark doesn't.

B/c the house wasn't big enough for the both of those cats my mom began letting Calamity go outside with Clark.  It was the first time she'd ever been let out to roam freely.  We'd let her out on our lanai (porch) in Hawaii but that's it.  Needless to say she quickly became accustomed to it.  She even refused to let new cats into my mom's yard (kind of funny).

We hadn't let her out until earlier this week (Sunday night - she was driving me nuts meowing to go outside).  Since then she's answered the call of the wild and loved it.  I'm not minding it... yet (that may change when various dead rodents begin showing up in my house as they have with cats I've owned in the past).

Tonight my wife called before the 10:00 show and told me Calamity was missing.  I was to call her in when I got home and hopefully she'd listen.  A few minutes later my wife called back and said she heard the neighbor's dogs howling up a storm and the cat came running for cover.  So @ least she's in safely tonight.  Hopefully she's learned her lesson & the next time she answers the call of the wild she realizes it's always good to check the caller I.D.

Here's one last funny cat pic I found:

http://www.images-photography-pictures.net/funny-picture-cat-picture-ehpien-cat.jpg

Ironically this pic actually looks like a teacher of mine from Jr. High.

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Cloudy W/ A Chance of Meatballs
09/14/09

On Friday night we had some passes for an advanced screening of the new movie, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" in the newsroom.  Regina suggested I grab a couple and take my kids to the show which I thought was a great idea.  So Saturday morning I got up early so we could see it and I got lost but we still made it on time.

I've always loved that book.  I liked it as a kid and we actually have it @ home.  I even read it to kids sometimes when I go visit schools.  Check out these links if you're curious about the book:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61850RSK98L._SL500_.jpg
http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_430xN.52494531.jpg

And just like most books that get made into movies there are some differences between the original story and it's motion picture counterpart.  For one thing the book is actually a story w/in a story (very Shakespearean - like Hamlet's play w/in a play).  A grandfather tells the story of the mythical town "Chewandswallow".  In the movie the town starts off as "Swallow Falls" (I think) before the mayor changes the name for the growing industry of food tourism. 

The movie also adds a bunch of characters who aren't in the book but I thought that it did a good job hitting up some of the memorable images of the original story while moving beyond it so it wasn't a rehash of the book (which would be tough if you wanted to make a full-length film).  Some of the characters are hysterical (Mr. T's for instance).

Also, the book isn't in 3-D. 

Sorry if you're a teacher reading this and you wanted to make your students write a book report on the story - now they can avoid reading it and just watch the movie.  I used to try to do that sometimes.  I would've gotten burned in "A Separate Peace" but I decided to read the book which is good b/c Phineas didn't seem like a pole vaulter (he broke that record in the movie instead of the swimming record - probably to save $$$ during production).

All-in-all it was a good flick.  My kids laughed for just about the entire movie and I laughed pretty hard as well.  And it wasn't like the movie added a bunch of jokes that were above the kids' heads and possibly inappropriate - I've seen kids movies do that in the past.  The movie was genuinely funny.  The 3-D aspect was icing on the cake.  I'd recommend it if you want a family film outing.

http://www.theanimationblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cloudy-poster1.jpg

The only thing I worry about now is taking the original book to schools to read to kids.  They may think I'm reading them the wrong story and I'll feel old saying, "In my day we this wasn't a movie we had to use our imaginations." 

The kids will also probably find my rendition less entertaining.  How do you compete w/ a 3-D computer cartoon... that's full of Hollywood actors portraying the characters no less?  Oh, well I can do a decent Mr. T impersonation.

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Football Friday
09/11/09

Here @ Dayton's News Source Friday night during H.S. football season is always interesting.  If you watch you know that we cover more local games than any other station.  That means extra work for Nate but it also means extra work for all of our hard working cameramen.  And let's now forget the interns, helpers & employees who volunteer (for love of the game).

Phones ringing nonstop (score updates), photogs running around editing highlights and writing scripts, Nate taking constant updates - in short, it's pretty crazy.  I just did a quick walk-through the newsroom and control room and counted about 15-20 people who are solely dedicated to bringing you the best coverage in the Miami Valley.  Those people have spent the better part of their working day to produce about an hour of local football coverage.  It may seem like a lot of manpower for the show if you're sitting @ home reading this. 

I say it's not... if you want to do it right.

Honestly, I'd forgotten how big football is here and it's cool to be back in the thick of it.  I cut my teeth in broadcasting @ WOAY in Oak Hill, WV and WLIO in Lima, OH.  Even though they're smaller towns Football is just as big there - but usually it was a 15-20 minute show b/c there was no hour long 10:00 P.M. (which is where we squeeze in our extra coverage).  That extra time is awesome b/c I have always felt that people watch local TV to learn about their community and see people they know (that and of course to see what the weather is going to do).  I can't imagine how cool it would be to be a teenager who had a great play on the field in front of cheering fans and then watching it later that night on the news (and not just b/c I'm non-athletic).  That's got to be a rush. 

So to all of you watching tonight I hope this helps give you a greater appreciation for what we do (well not me but the sports dept.) on a night like tonight.  I also hope you enjoy the show.

P.S. : Another reason tonight is great - we got free pizza (that right there is worth the price of admission alone).

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Trimming the Grass
09/10/09

It was a beautiful day across the Miami Valley today.  We only picked up a few spotty showers this afternoon and they were short-lived and didn't pack much of a punch.  That gave me a chance to get outside and mow my lawn (much to the chagrin of my neighbors - my grass was getting long).

I've never been a big fan of mowing the lawn, or any yard work for that matter.  I think it stems back to the fact that as a kid I had to mow my lawn @ the house in which I grew up with a push mower.  When I say push mower I don't mean a gas mower that you have to push I mean a mower that has a cylinder of blades connected to two wheels - the type of mower they used 100 yrs. ago (if it was invented @ that time).  The bottom line is that the fuel for my lawn mower came from my legs and arms.  B/c of our antique mower I always put off mowing the lawn until it absolutely had to be done - which made it that much harder to cut and thus fueled my disdain for yard work, it was a vicious cycle.

This morning I realized I couldn't mow my lawn until I had a pair of yard shoes (no use ruining a good pair of shoes).  So I ran out and got a pair at DSW Shoe Outlet.  They were a size too big but they also only cost me 20 bucks - score!  (For those of you who don't know me I can be frugal @ times, not w/ everything but w/ a pair of shoes that'll only see my yard - I am).

It took me about an hour to mow, which is another reason I'm not wild about doing it - that's too long.  The problem is my lawn isn't big enough for a riding mower but it's not small enough for a regular mower.  I'm sort of in that gray area (or green).  So I got the in-between, a gas mower that's self-propelled, it's nice.

But here's another thing: I haven't mowed a lawn for about 5 yrs.  Remember I lived in Hawaii before I moved back home and I lived in a condo while I was there - therefore I had no yard work.  Getting back out there wasn't too bad, for the first 20 minutes.  Then it got HOT (even though it really wasn't I think it was just my body's feeble attempt to trick itself into thinking it was exercising).  After an hour I was done and I had a glass of the BEST tasting Gatorade I think I've ever had.

The bottom line: I got out and finally did it, and I feel good about it (now that it's done - kind of like the runner's high).  I really hadn't been putting it off I was just waiting until my lawn mower made its way up here from Cincinnati.

Actually, it did get here Tuesday so I guess maybe I was procrastinating - if you want to get technical.

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In a Fog
09/09/09

Every morning we wake up it seems like we're in a bit of a fog.  That term has taken on a whole new meaning the past few days.  Patchy dense fog across the Miami Valley has been a problem for the past few mornings and students have been reaping the benefits via the numerous delays and even a closing today.  Guess what, our weather pattern isn't changing so we'll wake up in a figurative AND literal fog tomorrow.

As I watched all of the delays I couldn't help but drift back to the days of my youth.  I have to say I felt a little jealous.  I NEVER got to miss school b/c of fog.  The reason for that is that I was never bussed to school.  I guess the collective amount of sleep I gained from never taking the bus more than made up for the fact that I never got a fog delay but it still irked me.

A desire to miss school and sleep in is actually part of the reason I got involved with weather.  I've always been a fan of snow - not just b/c it's fun to sled/ski in or b/c it looks nice in the otherwise dull, gray Winter that for which Ohio is famous.  I also loved it b/c when we got a lot of it we got to miss school.  I remember one Winter we missed three days in a row b/c of a bad ice storm.  It was in January of 1994.  We missed Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.  But it was also the week of mid-terms for the first semester.  So not only were we missing school but we were also missing our mid-term exams - that may not be every child's dream but it's up there (and it's easier to achieve that becoming a professional athlete).  But wait, it gets better.  @ my school during mid-term week we got Monday off so we had a long weekend to study and we got Friday off to reward all of our hard work.  Seeing that I probably could have done a little more studying it was a good stay of execution.  It was also like an extra Spring Break in the middle of winter (w/out all of the scantily clad beachgoers of course).

It's weird b/c now I love school and would like to go back again when I finally have some time.  But when I was younger I'd stay up late and watch the weather on TV banking on the fact that I wouldn't be too tired in the morning b/c I'd be sleeping in.  Unfortunately that Winter in 1994 was a bit of an anomaly as the authorities would usually get the plows and salt trucks on the road early and I'd fumble my way through school b/c I woke up early and couldn't get out of the fog brought on by staying up late. 

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Not 1/2 full but overflowing
09/07/09

If you were out this morning or evening across parts of the Miami Valley you know it was wet, and that's an understatement.  Parts of the viewing area got drenched.  Hamilton got more than 2" of rain. Westchester & Piqua more than 1.5" of rain.  Parts of Dayton picked up almost 1.94" of rain in a one hour period! 

As the rain fell from the sky and wreaked havoc on your outdoor plans images of the past week probably flooded your mind.  We just got off a stretch of BEAUTIFUL weather.  Isn't it ironic (to quote Alanis Morissette) that the one day of wet weather happened to arrive on the day most of us had off from work?

This is why Murphy shouldn't be allowed to legislate!  The same thing happened a few years ago when I was living in Hawaii.  We'd just gotten off one of the driest summers on record and the first batch of heavy rain worked in on Halloween, right around the peak of trick-or-treating.

It's great how Mother Nature does that.  I'm sure she got the memo that we wanted nice weather today but just chose to ignore it.  While it's annoying, it's also kind of funny - and that's why I won't let today's weather get me down... I'm a glass half full kind of guy (hence the title of this blog).  And here's another reason to welcome the rain - we need it.  Cox Airport (the station from which we gather our climatic information) is running more than 3.5" below normal. 

So if it rained on your parade sometime today I hope you made the most of it.  And be happy that it wasn't freezing rain (b/c then it would be REALLY cold).

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Go BUCKS!!!
09/05/09

Ah we're again at one of the greatest times of the year.  Summer is waning and Fall is looming and somewhere in foreground we watch one of the most storied programs in college football history emerge yet again to make its mark on history.  I'm talking about the Redlands Bulldogs of Redlands, CA - just kidding. 
That's right it's officially Buckeye Football Season!!!
I watched the Navy game today and that was one of the closest blowouts I've ever seen.  The Bucks were looking great in the first half.  Other than the first defensive series they weren't looking too bad.  Of course football is a game of two halves - not one (this fact killed me during the John Cooper years).
In the third quarter Navy marched 99 yards down the field (calling cadence @ times it seems) and scored a touchdown - it was terrible.
I don't know what happened in the 4th Quarter but it was ugly.  It made for a good game but boy was it ugly (@ least the weather was nice, though).  If you missed it the Bucks came w/in one play of having to go into overtime.
You could feel the momentum shifting after the Buckeyes couldn't rush about five yards in two plays.  After they turned the ball over on downs Navy went 85 yards to the house on the first play.  I yelled at my TV (which I think is awesome so if my TV is reading this - I apologize).
Then Navy intercepted the ball and scored again.  At this point I yelled a word very loud that I can't say on TV (maybe HBO but not broadcast TV) and I realized why my wife took my kids down to Cincinnati for the night.
It actually got so bad that I yelled @ my TV and my left arm started to hurt a little and I thought I might be giving myself a heart attack or at the very least raising my blood pressure to dangerous levels (it may have been in my head - I hope it was b/c that doesn't sound healthy).
Luckily Navy didn't run the QB draw (which we had no idea how to stop) when they went for the 2 pt. conversion b/c that play was working.
In the end the Buckeyes emerged victorious and even though it wasn't pretty a W is a W.  They're going to need to iron out some kinks real soon though by next weekend.  I think Tressel may have let the cat out of the bag when he went to a triple option offense for a few plays.  I've NEVER seen him use that and I wonder if he wanted to keep that one a secret until the USC game. 
The bottom line is that it's one of the happiest (and sometimes saddest) times of year in the Booth household - it's Buckeye Football Season!!!  Look for my Buckeyes tie on-air tonight.  I need to get another one otherwise you'll get sick of seeing it every week (I still think it's one of the most beautiful sights on the planet - after my wife of course).

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Step inside the broadcast booth
09/04/09

Good evening all, thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I haven't blogged in a long time (not since the end of May @ my last job) so if I'm rusty, bear with me.
This is my inaugural blog here @ Dayton's News Source - so you may be wondering, "What can I expect from Jeff's blog?" 
Well, @ my last job I started blogging about the weather but my wife (yes I actually found someone to marry me - and after 9 yrs. that fact still amazes me) told me it was boring.  So I started blogging about everyday events, happenings, observations, etc. in my life.  I liked that a bit more and it seemed a little more interesting.  So while you'll get the occasional weather blog you'll also get a lot of blogging about what makes me tick.  So be warned: This is your last chance to turn back (well not really) so keep your arms and legs inside the car @ all times on this ride.
Does enough interesting stuff happen to me to warrant a daily blog (I'm going to try and update this week-daily - or M-F, sorry for making up a word)? 
The short answer: No. 
The long answer: Again, no. 
So the question then becomes why do it in the first place?  Well, for one thing I find it therapeutic to write about aspects of my life.  If you've never done it you should try.  You gain new perspective on things by looking @ them from a different point of view after your brain has had time to process them.
Also I think that it's neat that my kids and my kids kids and so on can look this stuff up sometime in the future and see what was going on in their dad's/granddad's life at one point in time (that is of course assuming that Skynet doesn't take over and send a robot from the future back in time to hunt me down to keep me from sitting down and sharing with you).  That's also assuming that they'd actually WANT to look this up sometime in the future -  I think the odds are stacked against me 70-30.
So why not just write down this in a notebook and pass it on?  Because I wouldn't do it - it's not that I'm lazy but there's always a distraction... like TV (I just got a new Hi-Def and it's AWESOME, but that's a whole different blog entirely).  By doing this @ work I feel obligated to write.
So in short I hope you enjoy reading - I know I'll have fun writing.  I'd love to stay and chat but the Reds are on... and believe it or not they're winning!

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Nowhere To Go But Up
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If you found yourself depressed yesterday (Monday, January 25) cheer up, it only gets better from here.  That's b/c the Monday of the last full week in January is unofficially the most depressing day of the year according to a British psychologist. 

The reason this week's Monday gets that moniker is actually a culmination of circumstances.  For one thing, the weather is less than wonderful.  It's cold, gray and there's still a lot more winter to go.  By this time many have also given up on their New Year's Resolutions (I'm still trying but I haven't been successful).  This is also the time of year it really hits home that the holidays are over but we're quietly reminded of them as our credit card charges from December start showing up on our monthly statements much like the Ghost of Christmas Past.  Put all of this together and you get a perfect storm of sadness that brings a deluge of unhappiness.

I have to say I didn't find this Monday, or any other Monday for that matter, really all that depressing.  Yeah it's cold and it's been gray but it could be worse - we could live in the Arctic Circle and enjoy up to constant darkness depending on our latitude.  Not to mention the fact that it's really cold up there - I'm sure if we had a visitor from the Arctic we'd see him wearing his summer clothes were he to pay us a visit.

I find it interesting that this Monday is supposedly the most depressing day.  I'm sure there are many other days that are far more depressing.  There are days that have national significance that we all may find disheartening.  Or what about the days that serve as a yearly reminder of something sad that happened in our life?

Of course there are always those who find birthdays depressing.  Here's a thought: What if your birthday was Monday!  If that's the case I'm sorry; unless birthdays cheer you up.  I'm one of those people who looks forward to his birthday.  It gives me an excuse to sleep in, eat bacon for breakfast, something equally unhealthy for lunch and steak for dinner - and not feel guilty about it.  Also, seeing some of the dumb stunts I pulled as a kid and later as a teenager each birthday is in essence a miracle celebrating the fact that I made it this far.

Either way I try not to let the weather, the fact that it's no longer the holidays or a failed resolution get me down in the dumps.  Those are out of my control (mostly - of course I could always blame someone else for my failed resolution and I'd be absolved entirely).  I also think we're all responsible for our own happiness or lack thereof.  If we want to dwell on what makes us sad we'll be sad.  If we realize that something gets us down, and own it, we can then move on which I think is essential to improving our overall mood.  But as I mentioned above, things could always be worse.  I don't know if that feeling makes me an eternal optimist or the ultimate pessimist... I think I'll go w/ the former.

I hope you're able to stay pleasant this time of year despite the whirlwind of factors that could otherwise dampen your spirit.  If not, cheer up; as I mentioned it can only get better from here.  In fact, it'll soon be the last Friday in June which some say is the happiest day of the year.  I don't know if I agree w/ that one, I always get happy on August 10th.  That's National Duran Duran Day and I'm "Notorious" in being "Hungry Like A Wolf" for s'mores (it's also national s'mores day).

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Sorry About the Forecast Kids
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If you watched our news tonight (or checked our website tonight) you probably know that we have snowfall on the way tomorrow.  Our Thursday looks like it'll be a white one.  I'm not apologizing to the kids for that, I'm apologizing for the timing (I guess I should be saying sorry to the teachers as well).

You see we're going to get about 2-4" inches tomorrow w/ some spots getting up to 5".  Here's the kicker - most of it won't get here until after the morning commute.  What does that mean?  No snow day and as things stand right now few if any delays.  That's good news for mom & dad but I was a kid once - I remember rooting for the snow day.

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Coming soon!
03/01/10

Get a look Inside the Booth! Check back often...

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