Darn it this is hard. I went to the doctor yesterday and the good news is that I lost 16 lbs. The bad news is that I still have 10 weeks to go and the temptations to "cheat" or to give up have not stopped. It sucks. I just want to eat. I know all of the arguments that I just need to to hang in there, that it will be worth it in the end, etc. But that does not make it any easier.
Actually, I did cheat. Three times. And I consider it all good. All of my family is around because of Grandma dying and there is just food everywhere. Mostly lunch meat, but sister-in-law Morgan made lasagna on Friday and sister-in-law Julie made some type of taco dip/burrito filler on Saturday. (Note that my wife Kris does not make that kind of food right now because she knows I can't have it. Plus our kids only eat chicken nuggets, hot dogs, cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese.) I ate some of it. It was good. But now I feel guilty for doing it. Crap. I hate this - feeling guilty for eating food that my family made.
Anyways, I have hit another mood of being irritable and grouchy. Evidently the combination of guilt and hunger are not a good mix. Unlike the perfect combination of Spencer and Heidi (see, I do know pop culture). I need to come up with a coping method or plan of attack to get through the next 10 weeks. I have some ideas in mind, but I will keep them to myself for the next few days.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Breaking Matt - Part 3
I am so tired of drinking those stupid NutriMed Supplement shakes. I am drinking them at breakfast, morning snack, lunch and evening snacks. Four times a day I have to drink those stupid shakes. I would love to just have even a piece of toast for breakfast! I'm so stinking hungry (I could use better adjectives here, but evidently some people are actually reading this blog) right now and the last thing I want to do is down another stupid shake. I hate them. I loathe them. I want to burn all of the little white packets of mix in the world. But, I have to do it, and here is why.
One of the things I learned from our experience with Abbie's surgery is that when you ask the Lord for help and he answers your prayer, you have to hold up your end of the bargain. We are so grateful to God for the Cincinnatii Children's Hospital and their amazing doctors, nurses and staff. Without a doubt they were an answer to prayer. But it is a bit annoying making the eight hour round trip drive for a 20 minute check up. However, this is part of the answered prayer. We have to do the hard stuff - drives, therapy, stretching, etc. - in order to see the fruits of God. He has promised to do his part - healing, leading, safety, etc. - and we must do our part. God did not promise Abbie's surgery and recovery would be easy, but he did promise healing and to be with us. The same is true with breaking me down and this diet.
God has never promised me this diet would be easy, but he has promised a way for me to get through it. The stupid shakes are one of the ways. While they are not enjoyable, they are what I "need" nutritionally to get through this. I have a few choices: (1) I could give up because it is too hard, (2) I could cheat and give in to temptations, and no one would really blame me, (3) I could complain and make the whole process more difficult on myself, my family and those at work or (4) I can lament to God, seek his strength and trust that he will get me through these little down moments of the journey. Obviously choice 4 is what I should do and am going to do at this time. But don't think the other 3 are not more tempting. So, I will go and make another stupid strawberry shake and drink it. Then at lunch time I will make another and drink that. God will give me the strength to make the right choice.
Bottoms up!
One of the things I learned from our experience with Abbie's surgery is that when you ask the Lord for help and he answers your prayer, you have to hold up your end of the bargain. We are so grateful to God for the Cincinnatii Children's Hospital and their amazing doctors, nurses and staff. Without a doubt they were an answer to prayer. But it is a bit annoying making the eight hour round trip drive for a 20 minute check up. However, this is part of the answered prayer. We have to do the hard stuff - drives, therapy, stretching, etc. - in order to see the fruits of God. He has promised to do his part - healing, leading, safety, etc. - and we must do our part. God did not promise Abbie's surgery and recovery would be easy, but he did promise healing and to be with us. The same is true with breaking me down and this diet.
God has never promised me this diet would be easy, but he has promised a way for me to get through it. The stupid shakes are one of the ways. While they are not enjoyable, they are what I "need" nutritionally to get through this. I have a few choices: (1) I could give up because it is too hard, (2) I could cheat and give in to temptations, and no one would really blame me, (3) I could complain and make the whole process more difficult on myself, my family and those at work or (4) I can lament to God, seek his strength and trust that he will get me through these little down moments of the journey. Obviously choice 4 is what I should do and am going to do at this time. But don't think the other 3 are not more tempting. So, I will go and make another stupid strawberry shake and drink it. Then at lunch time I will make another and drink that. God will give me the strength to make the right choice.
Bottoms up!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Breaking Matt - Part 2
"To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary." - Psalm 28:1-2
Not be overly dramatic, but yesterday was extremely difficult. The withdraw from the Zoloft was very strong - cloudy head, very irritable. I was very tempted to throw in the towel and go get some Burger King for lunch. But then I would have felt very guilty and bad and then it would have been worse. So I did what preachers are supposed to do, I began to read the Bible. I did a simple word search on the word strength and was very comforted by what I found. The Psalm from above was very helpful for me. It really captured what I was feeling and wanted to express to God. Coming into this diet I knew it would be hard. I knew it would be the hardest thing that I have ever done. I did not realize just how difficult it would be.
This morning when I woke up, the cloudy head was gone. I do not feel as irritable and feel as though I am thinking clearly. I hope this means that the Zoloft is now about out of my system and all I need to face is the hunger. I wanted to share with you this morning about the faithfulness of God and His deliverance. He never promises that life will be easy, but he has promised that he will never leave me nor forsake me. I am learning how to find my strength in God for the first time. It's sad that it has taken 34 years for me to admit that I do all things in my own strength and I had to confess that as sin. I am overwhelmed that God still loves me and has provided strength for me. I want to close with Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Not be overly dramatic, but yesterday was extremely difficult. The withdraw from the Zoloft was very strong - cloudy head, very irritable. I was very tempted to throw in the towel and go get some Burger King for lunch. But then I would have felt very guilty and bad and then it would have been worse. So I did what preachers are supposed to do, I began to read the Bible. I did a simple word search on the word strength and was very comforted by what I found. The Psalm from above was very helpful for me. It really captured what I was feeling and wanted to express to God. Coming into this diet I knew it would be hard. I knew it would be the hardest thing that I have ever done. I did not realize just how difficult it would be.
This morning when I woke up, the cloudy head was gone. I do not feel as irritable and feel as though I am thinking clearly. I hope this means that the Zoloft is now about out of my system and all I need to face is the hunger. I wanted to share with you this morning about the faithfulness of God and His deliverance. He never promises that life will be easy, but he has promised that he will never leave me nor forsake me. I am learning how to find my strength in God for the first time. It's sad that it has taken 34 years for me to admit that I do all things in my own strength and I had to confess that as sin. I am overwhelmed that God still loves me and has provided strength for me. I want to close with Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Breaking Matt - Part 1
In case some of you haven't noticed, I've become a person of considerable girth over the past number of years. I think it started when I quit smoking 15 years ago. I never tried a fad diet or any diet for that matter. Recently I visited the Northeast Ohio Bariatric Medicine office here in Millersburg. Dr. Hart has been working with obese people and getting them to lose significant weight in a healthy and long lasting ways. I have decided to try this weight loss plan in order to improve my health now and for the future.
Here are the details of the plan:
12 weeks of an agressive 800 calorie/day diet
Only one meal a day that is actual food - 4 1/2 ounces of lean meat and 2 veggies
Four "meals" of a liquid protein supplement and one snack of a protein bar
Lots of water and low calorie beverages
This is insane! I have never cared much about what I eat and now I am basically giving up most of my food intake for 12 weeks. I have also quit taking my Zoloft which increases weight. Right now, my body is reacting to the withdrawl of Zoloft and large amounts of food. I feel tired, irritable, emotional and grouchy at most times. But the doctor predicts that will end in a few days as my body begins to heal itself. I think, I know this will be good for me in the long run. Right now, I really want to smack someone, cry about it and then eat a pizza. I will keep you posted on how it's going.
Here are the details of the plan:
12 weeks of an agressive 800 calorie/day diet
Only one meal a day that is actual food - 4 1/2 ounces of lean meat and 2 veggies
Four "meals" of a liquid protein supplement and one snack of a protein bar
Lots of water and low calorie beverages
This is insane! I have never cared much about what I eat and now I am basically giving up most of my food intake for 12 weeks. I have also quit taking my Zoloft which increases weight. Right now, my body is reacting to the withdrawl of Zoloft and large amounts of food. I feel tired, irritable, emotional and grouchy at most times. But the doctor predicts that will end in a few days as my body begins to heal itself. I think, I know this will be good for me in the long run. Right now, I really want to smack someone, cry about it and then eat a pizza. I will keep you posted on how it's going.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
UNCLE!
I am done. I cannot take it anymore. I give up. No more courting a specific sports team(s). Tonight did it for me, actually this whole Cavs playoff run has done it for me. The Cavs have the best player in the league, having the best statistical playoffs ever and they still lose. My hopes were high and I foolishly thought that I would see a Cleveland team, a team that I rooted for, win a championship. Let me give you three reasons why I am done with sport relationships.
1. Cleveland Indians - once again, they suck. I thought Eric Wedge was a good manager and would keep them in yearly contention. I thought Grady Sizemore would be the best player in baseball. I thought Fausto Carmona was going to be an amazing pitcher. I thought the Tribe would be relevant for years to come. It appears as though I was wrong.
2. Clevand Browns - once again, they are a mess. Mangini seems to enjoy irritating his players and alienating himself from normal societal relations. We have a Pro-Bowl quarterback who may actually not be a Pro-Bowl quarterback, a first-round quarterback who seems to be better at modeling than throwing a football and a record setting wide receiver who can no longer catch the ball. Put those three together and you have an offense that has not scored a touchdown since before we had a Black man as President. Historic.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - this is the one that really confuses me. You have an owner who seems to know what he is doing and doesn't stick his nose in everyone's business. A head coach who has been nothing but professional and the '08-'09 Coach of the Year. The best player in the league, the MVP and who is ONLY 24 YEARS OLD. You have a general manager who signed the best coach, the best player and has done a fabulous job at surrounding James with talent. Yet, they still lose. And don't tell me that they didn't match up well against Orlando. Are you telling me that Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and Paul Gasol (Laker's supporting cast) are that much better than Mo Williams, Delonte West and The Big Russian? Shoestrings are smarter than Odom and Gasol is nothing more than a big Spanish model.
The only commonality these three teams share is that they are from Cleveland. This has to be the answer. I cannot think of any other sports city in the United States that has gone this long without a championship. Not Chicago, New York, Detroit, Denver, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston or even Indianapolis. For some reason, Cleveland is the most pathetic sports town ever. Pehaps it's because the good people of Cuyahoga County continue to elect Dennis Kucinich to public office. Maybe God is angry because they set the river on fire. The reason has to be something from the spirit world. Like a curse or demon possesion. There really is no logical reason for this to happen. By now, one team would have had to have won a championship. Even the Marlins have won two World Series titles.
I am done as a Cleveland fan. I will still watch baseball, football and basketball, but I will do it as sports monk - no emotional or romantic relationship with a sports team. None. I was watching the hockey game tonight and actually enjoyed just watching the game with no emotional investment. I was just watching a game and then turned the channel. This has to be better than being a Cleveland sports fan.
I hear the objections now; "When they finally do win, you will jump back on the bandwagon or wish you would still be a fan." I have thought about this and completely disagree. My life will not improve that much if a Cleveland team wins a title. My life will be better as a nominal, non-committed watcher of sports than a terminally ill fan of Cleveland sports. I'm just better off without going through the heartache and stress.
I cannot just switch to another city like the jerk in high school who jumps from one girl to the next. What do I know about Boston sports? Why should I care if Pittsburgh wins? It's cheating on Cleveland if I switch to another city. At least by breaking up with Cleveland I can have integrity in knowing that I am not chasing the hottie of the day. See, cheering for a team is a relationship. You put time, money and emotion into making it work. It's ridiculous, but yet addicting. You get wrapped up in the allure of the title and having the best team with the best players. You get angry at your partner, yell at your partner, weep over your partner only to get sucked back into the relationship when those fleeting moments of beauty happen.
For me, it's just not worth it anymore.
1. Cleveland Indians - once again, they suck. I thought Eric Wedge was a good manager and would keep them in yearly contention. I thought Grady Sizemore would be the best player in baseball. I thought Fausto Carmona was going to be an amazing pitcher. I thought the Tribe would be relevant for years to come. It appears as though I was wrong.
2. Clevand Browns - once again, they are a mess. Mangini seems to enjoy irritating his players and alienating himself from normal societal relations. We have a Pro-Bowl quarterback who may actually not be a Pro-Bowl quarterback, a first-round quarterback who seems to be better at modeling than throwing a football and a record setting wide receiver who can no longer catch the ball. Put those three together and you have an offense that has not scored a touchdown since before we had a Black man as President. Historic.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - this is the one that really confuses me. You have an owner who seems to know what he is doing and doesn't stick his nose in everyone's business. A head coach who has been nothing but professional and the '08-'09 Coach of the Year. The best player in the league, the MVP and who is ONLY 24 YEARS OLD. You have a general manager who signed the best coach, the best player and has done a fabulous job at surrounding James with talent. Yet, they still lose. And don't tell me that they didn't match up well against Orlando. Are you telling me that Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and Paul Gasol (Laker's supporting cast) are that much better than Mo Williams, Delonte West and The Big Russian? Shoestrings are smarter than Odom and Gasol is nothing more than a big Spanish model.
The only commonality these three teams share is that they are from Cleveland. This has to be the answer. I cannot think of any other sports city in the United States that has gone this long without a championship. Not Chicago, New York, Detroit, Denver, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston or even Indianapolis. For some reason, Cleveland is the most pathetic sports town ever. Pehaps it's because the good people of Cuyahoga County continue to elect Dennis Kucinich to public office. Maybe God is angry because they set the river on fire. The reason has to be something from the spirit world. Like a curse or demon possesion. There really is no logical reason for this to happen. By now, one team would have had to have won a championship. Even the Marlins have won two World Series titles.
I am done as a Cleveland fan. I will still watch baseball, football and basketball, but I will do it as sports monk - no emotional or romantic relationship with a sports team. None. I was watching the hockey game tonight and actually enjoyed just watching the game with no emotional investment. I was just watching a game and then turned the channel. This has to be better than being a Cleveland sports fan.
I hear the objections now; "When they finally do win, you will jump back on the bandwagon or wish you would still be a fan." I have thought about this and completely disagree. My life will not improve that much if a Cleveland team wins a title. My life will be better as a nominal, non-committed watcher of sports than a terminally ill fan of Cleveland sports. I'm just better off without going through the heartache and stress.
I cannot just switch to another city like the jerk in high school who jumps from one girl to the next. What do I know about Boston sports? Why should I care if Pittsburgh wins? It's cheating on Cleveland if I switch to another city. At least by breaking up with Cleveland I can have integrity in knowing that I am not chasing the hottie of the day. See, cheering for a team is a relationship. You put time, money and emotion into making it work. It's ridiculous, but yet addicting. You get wrapped up in the allure of the title and having the best team with the best players. You get angry at your partner, yell at your partner, weep over your partner only to get sucked back into the relationship when those fleeting moments of beauty happen.
For me, it's just not worth it anymore.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
0 and 5
I'm sure there are many obscure, odd statistics about baseball teams beginning 0 and 5 and how it relates to their chances of making the playoffs. But is it fair to judge a team after the first five games of a 162 game season? Let's say the Tribe started off going 2 and 3 or 3 and 2. Is that really a big difference from 0 and 5? No, it's not. There are some valid reasons for concern over this years team.
Lee and Carmona could tank this year and judging by their first starts, they may be on their way. Carl Pavano is our third starter. Let me repeat that; Carl Pavano is our third starter. Pitching fourth and fifth is the dynamic duo of Scott Lewis and Anthony Reyes. This could be bad.
I really think that the offense is going to be alright this year. They will not set any records, but they are a solid group of hitters. It looks like Hafner may be coming back to full strength and Sizemore has been hitting the ball hard and stealing some bases. It's early, but positive signs.
Here is my list of reasons for why I think the Indians still have a legitimate shot to win the division.
1. They play in the Central Division which is not a good division. I think they could win the division with only 85 or 87 wins. The Twins can't hit, the Tigers can't pitch, The Sox can't read and the Royals can't win. They just can't. Put aside any silly thoughts about the Royals being this years Rays. Not going to happen.
2. It's an odd numbered year. For whatever reason, they do well in odd numbered years.
3. Jake Westbrook could be back in June. If he is back and pitching well, we can say goodbye to half of the Lewis/Reyes dynamic duo. Maybe he picks up six or eight wins and becomes a solid force in the middle of the rotation.
4. Lee and Carmona can't possibly be this bad all year. They just can't, can they? What are the odds that they both have awful years at the same time? Like 500 to 1?
5. They have a good bullpen and a legitimate closer.
6. We got Carl Pavano! Hey, who's to say that his ERA of 81.00 after his first start wasn't just a fluke? He could easily come back and win 15 games this year. Or lose 15 games this year.
7. We have some great names on the team: Vinnie Chulk, Tony Graffanino, Mark DeRosa, Masa Kobayashi, Pavano, Trevor Crowe and Wood. Good names have to mean something, right?
8. THERE ARE STILL 157 GAMES LEFT IN THE SEASON.
This is not the time to panic, Tribe fans. It's not even the end of tax season and the season is very long. Hopefully, it just won't seem that long.
Lee and Carmona could tank this year and judging by their first starts, they may be on their way. Carl Pavano is our third starter. Let me repeat that; Carl Pavano is our third starter. Pitching fourth and fifth is the dynamic duo of Scott Lewis and Anthony Reyes. This could be bad.
I really think that the offense is going to be alright this year. They will not set any records, but they are a solid group of hitters. It looks like Hafner may be coming back to full strength and Sizemore has been hitting the ball hard and stealing some bases. It's early, but positive signs.
Here is my list of reasons for why I think the Indians still have a legitimate shot to win the division.
1. They play in the Central Division which is not a good division. I think they could win the division with only 85 or 87 wins. The Twins can't hit, the Tigers can't pitch, The Sox can't read and the Royals can't win. They just can't. Put aside any silly thoughts about the Royals being this years Rays. Not going to happen.
2. It's an odd numbered year. For whatever reason, they do well in odd numbered years.
3. Jake Westbrook could be back in June. If he is back and pitching well, we can say goodbye to half of the Lewis/Reyes dynamic duo. Maybe he picks up six or eight wins and becomes a solid force in the middle of the rotation.
4. Lee and Carmona can't possibly be this bad all year. They just can't, can they? What are the odds that they both have awful years at the same time? Like 500 to 1?
5. They have a good bullpen and a legitimate closer.
6. We got Carl Pavano! Hey, who's to say that his ERA of 81.00 after his first start wasn't just a fluke? He could easily come back and win 15 games this year. Or lose 15 games this year.
7. We have some great names on the team: Vinnie Chulk, Tony Graffanino, Mark DeRosa, Masa Kobayashi, Pavano, Trevor Crowe and Wood. Good names have to mean something, right?
8. THERE ARE STILL 157 GAMES LEFT IN THE SEASON.
This is not the time to panic, Tribe fans. It's not even the end of tax season and the season is very long. Hopefully, it just won't seem that long.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A Bit O' Ruckus
OK, it's been a while since my last post. I should do this more often. Anyways, this post is to aid my fellow Menno's in pointing them to some fun websites. Well, maybe not fun, but definitely worth while. Go ahead and take a look at these links, read their view points and then let me know what you think. Yes, these are the links that I was describing in my Facebook status.
www.pinkmenno.org
www.openlettertomcusa.org
I think those will be enough for now. Again, reply to this post and we'll see where we come out.
www.pinkmenno.org
www.openlettertomcusa.org
I think those will be enough for now. Again, reply to this post and we'll see where we come out.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sports Part 1: A Fan Again
Do you remember when you were a kid and everything seemed important? For instance, Christmas was important. There is that scene in "A Christmas Story" when Ralphie doesn't want to take a chance that Santa is not real and miss out on his Red Rider BB Gun. We have all been Ralphie climbing up that long stairway just to talk to Santa. Just in case we are wrong. Getting what you want for Christmas is very important. As adults, getting the right Christmas present for ourselves really isn't that important anymore. Sports is another thing that was far more important to me growing up than it is now.
I loved playing baseball, whiffle ball, football and basketball with my brothers and other kids in the neighborhood. Some days we would spend hours pretending we were our favorite players (my brother Mark had an amazing impersonation of Daryl Strawberry's swing). Baseball cards, posters and those little plastic football helmets you could buy for a quarter from the machine at Pizza Hut were prized possessions. But as we grew older, graduated, got real jobs, got married and had kids, those childish things just kind of faded away. At least for me they did.
As I write this, I will be turning 34 years old tomorrow on January 17th. It was on that day in 1988 that my most disappointing sporting event took place. On my 13th birthday, Ernest Byner fumbled on the Denver Broncos 2 yard line. I literally felt sick when that happened, and I think I even cried (secretly in my bedroom). The Browns were my favorite team. Bernie Kosar, Kevin Mack, Byner, Ozzie and Hanford Dixon were awesome. I would wear my Kosar jersey every Sunday afternoon. I lived to hear those Kosar songs played when they would make the playoffs. But then they kicked me in the groin and punched me in the mouth. But I loved sports.
For some reason, I have lost my love for sports and cheering for a certain team. I have always rooted for the Browns and for the Indians, but over the past 10 years I have given up on them. I have restrained myself from getting physically and emotionally sucked in. The last time I was that involved in sports was game 7 of the 1997 World Series. I was watching the game with my friend Dave in his dorm room at Malone. Jose Mesa killed me that night. I was forced to experience another Cleveland loss while at the same time my friend Dave was dancing and screaming joyously because the Tribe lost - not because Florida won. Well, this year things are going to be different.
I just finished reading "Now I Can Die in Peace" by Bill Simmons and I have been inspired to become a fan again. Obviously not at the same level as when I was 12, but I will risk emotional peaks and valleys for the sake of the Indians and the Browns. I want to get lost in something that has no significant meaning upon my life. I want to be able to rest my head from the stresses of life while watching a baseball game. I want to get mad when Peralta strikes out, cheer when Hafner homers and nearly vomit when the Tribe plays in the playoffs. But mostly, I want to simply enjoy a part of my life that has been missing for a long time.
So, this is merely the first post of many about sports and specifically, the Indians. I can't wait for opening day. I bought a new Indians hat (not with the stupid Chief Wahoo or scripted I, but the old school C), am planning on attending a few games and hope to raise my son as a Tribe fan so that he can enjoy his own Jose Mesa's of life.
I loved playing baseball, whiffle ball, football and basketball with my brothers and other kids in the neighborhood. Some days we would spend hours pretending we were our favorite players (my brother Mark had an amazing impersonation of Daryl Strawberry's swing). Baseball cards, posters and those little plastic football helmets you could buy for a quarter from the machine at Pizza Hut were prized possessions. But as we grew older, graduated, got real jobs, got married and had kids, those childish things just kind of faded away. At least for me they did.
As I write this, I will be turning 34 years old tomorrow on January 17th. It was on that day in 1988 that my most disappointing sporting event took place. On my 13th birthday, Ernest Byner fumbled on the Denver Broncos 2 yard line. I literally felt sick when that happened, and I think I even cried (secretly in my bedroom). The Browns were my favorite team. Bernie Kosar, Kevin Mack, Byner, Ozzie and Hanford Dixon were awesome. I would wear my Kosar jersey every Sunday afternoon. I lived to hear those Kosar songs played when they would make the playoffs. But then they kicked me in the groin and punched me in the mouth. But I loved sports.
For some reason, I have lost my love for sports and cheering for a certain team. I have always rooted for the Browns and for the Indians, but over the past 10 years I have given up on them. I have restrained myself from getting physically and emotionally sucked in. The last time I was that involved in sports was game 7 of the 1997 World Series. I was watching the game with my friend Dave in his dorm room at Malone. Jose Mesa killed me that night. I was forced to experience another Cleveland loss while at the same time my friend Dave was dancing and screaming joyously because the Tribe lost - not because Florida won. Well, this year things are going to be different.
I just finished reading "Now I Can Die in Peace" by Bill Simmons and I have been inspired to become a fan again. Obviously not at the same level as when I was 12, but I will risk emotional peaks and valleys for the sake of the Indians and the Browns. I want to get lost in something that has no significant meaning upon my life. I want to be able to rest my head from the stresses of life while watching a baseball game. I want to get mad when Peralta strikes out, cheer when Hafner homers and nearly vomit when the Tribe plays in the playoffs. But mostly, I want to simply enjoy a part of my life that has been missing for a long time.
So, this is merely the first post of many about sports and specifically, the Indians. I can't wait for opening day. I bought a new Indians hat (not with the stupid Chief Wahoo or scripted I, but the old school C), am planning on attending a few games and hope to raise my son as a Tribe fan so that he can enjoy his own Jose Mesa's of life.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
First Post
In life, there are circumstances that come along only once. First kiss, first car, first rejection, first real job and many other firsts. You really don't want to screw them up. Although you have never experienced them before and probably really have no idea what you are doing at the time, you are expected to excell or, at the very least, be adequate towards the task at hand. So it is now, with my first post.
I really wanted this to be special; funny, spiritual, deep or even relevant. But, like almost every other first time, it will probably awkward. After it is over I will wish that I would have done it differently. I should have talked about something else like the Buckeyes, the Browns, the Indians, politics, the economy or virtually anything else. Yet, this is the first blog posting. This is what I came up with and it is a start. All first times are awkward and strange. Fortunately, this first time is relatively painless and free of mental and emotional damage. Unless someone makes a rude comment attacking my weight or grammar. Then I could see myself never doing this again.
Hope you enjoy reading my little thoughts. I will try to not be too religious, sporty, profane or immature.
I really wanted this to be special; funny, spiritual, deep or even relevant. But, like almost every other first time, it will probably awkward. After it is over I will wish that I would have done it differently. I should have talked about something else like the Buckeyes, the Browns, the Indians, politics, the economy or virtually anything else. Yet, this is the first blog posting. This is what I came up with and it is a start. All first times are awkward and strange. Fortunately, this first time is relatively painless and free of mental and emotional damage. Unless someone makes a rude comment attacking my weight or grammar. Then I could see myself never doing this again.
Hope you enjoy reading my little thoughts. I will try to not be too religious, sporty, profane or immature.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)