tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64313081118515726722024-03-19T00:09:51.195-04:00The Life of JimmerThoughts and Stories from a Cluttered MindJim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-4121869796214482702023-08-29T15:47:00.002-04:002023-08-29T15:53:57.077-04:00Took Me a Minute... But listen...<p> I have to admit it took me a minute, or two, or a few days or eight I guess to be exact...</p><p>Still, I wasn't expecting so much feedback on my post from last week. I want to start out by saying I am very appreciative of all the support - the comments, the messages, even the phone calls, (still hate talking on the phone for the record), all of it. I felt the support and the love and... well, thank you.</p><p>But here's the thing - I know -</p><p>I know I don't owe anybody anything. I know I can just be my own person, my own self, without apology. I know. </p><p>Yes, I have a history of over thinking things. I've been known to be a pleaser, to promise my time, etc... and so on, and I know it's okay to let that all go. </p><p>Really!</p><p>I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm asking to be heard.</p><p>I want to let people know - I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING TO BE SELFISH! MY FAMILY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO BE MEAN, OR VINDICTIVE! </p><p>But people don't want to hear that do they? </p><p>They'd rather assign their own meaning, to make it about them...</p><p>Why on earth would anything not be about them?</p><p>We are a selfish lot aren't we..? Humans...</p><p>Eh. </p><p>My brain hurts - </p><p>I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, or call anyone out personally, but I'm tired of keeping this all bottled up so let's just get this out there...</p><p>I once had a teacher who told us flat out she was going to grade us how she liked us. She really meant she'd help our grades if we at least acted like we gave a shit, but go with me here... (Extra points to the Ready grads who can tell me who I'm talking about.)</p><p>So - going forward - if you think I'm talking about you - Sure, whatever, I am... Have fun with it. </p><p>Life is supposed to be fun after all... </p><p>Have a good week - I'll talk to you soon. </p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-27480623563944129942023-08-21T17:25:00.002-04:002023-08-21T17:25:56.899-04:00When you gotta write - I guess.<p> Conflicted? Confused? Perplexed? What's the word... I don't know... But I have to find out.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, I'm writing this time purely for me - Up front, I want everyone to know that. I know some people like to read my work so I'm sharing it, but if I'm being honest - I'm doing this, trying this again - for me. </p><p>Just about four years ago my life changed significantly, and I had to shift my focus, change my lifestyle, hell change how people know me...</p><p>... and in the last few months I'm finding out that not everyone is okay with that - </p><p>That decisions I've made aren't the ones they wanted me to make... aren't the ones that serve them best? Even if they serve me best?</p><p>I don't know...</p><p>But I do know that just about every day in my head I have this dialogue going on where I'm trying to figure it out - so I thought I'd share. </p><p>In little bits at a time - </p><p>- So that's all for today. </p><p>Thanks for listening...</p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-30275951356255518862022-01-20T15:20:00.000-05:002022-01-20T15:20:41.885-05:00The List, The Plan, My Life... Retirement? I don't know what you call it.<p>The reality is that it was right there in front of me. Right there, organized, ready to be tackled the entire time. I just didn't see it. </p><p>Know who helped me...? </p><p>Have you been paying attention? </p><p>Of course it was my wife. Let me say that again. Of course It.Was.My.Wife.</p><p>Love that Woman!</p><p>How do we survive without these women in our lives? I don't even want to contemplate that beyond the words on the page. </p><p>Anyway... as they say...</p><p>It was right there in front of me. When I retired 6 years ago (Yes, that says 6. I can't believe it either.) I had already started making a list of things I was going to work on for the first month or so before I headed back to work at some job, somewhere, somehow...</p><p>And then I didn't head back to work.</p><p>Our life and financial situation were such that I didn't really need to work after all. I mean I'm still never saying never, but so far - we're good. We were good then. We're good now. </p><p>Beautiful.</p><p>But I still had that list, and I added to it and without even trying scratched some things off - just living life... </p><p>... and then I ran into some health issues starting in 2018, and again in 2019, and then we all ran into health issues in 2020.</p><p>On the other side of all of that - hopefully, maybe... But</p><p> - I now find myself stuck. S.T.U.C.K. STUCK!</p><p>So, being the organized soul that I am, and many will say I am overly organized oddly enough... I decided to make a list, to find a better way, to get started... to finally find a way to be retired.</p><p>In doing that - I rediscovered that list. So, over the last week or so - I know it was longer than I'd promised, but you know - life... I reviewed the list, and updated the list, and began trying to find a way to do something with the list that moves me forward. </p><p>No, not just moves me forward, but also helps me become unstuck. </p><p>I've got a pretty solid routine of things I do every day, ways I live my life, things I do without even thinking... The routine of the retiree so to speak. </p><p>But why does it have to be the same tomorrow? </p><p>It doesn't. I know that. I'm working on it. I'll get there. I am now keenly aware that I was stuck. </p><p>Was. </p><p>Not anymore.</p><p>It's time to look forward - </p><p>To tomorrow. </p><p>What's next on the list?</p><p>Have a good weekend!</p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-38044438484186831812022-01-07T15:57:00.001-05:002022-01-07T15:57:41.380-05:00Having a Plan...<p>While I want to write more, I don't want to just share random thoughts everyday. That's boring, or it could be - at least it seems like it to me. </p><p>So, here's what I'm going to do. </p><p>This weekend, and to be honest probably into next week - I'm going to take some time to do some planning, to decide where I want to go and how I want to get there. </p><p>The tomorrows are piling up after all</p><p>- and I'd like to make them count. </p><p>See you sometime next week. </p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-16350805931756813312022-01-05T14:54:00.003-05:002022-01-05T14:54:22.711-05:00The Best Laid Plans - are still part of the story...<p>Did you ever know exactly what you were going to wear that day when you got up in the morning and then completely change your mind once you were out of the shower?</p><p>Happened to me today. </p><p>Also - thought I knew what I wanted to write about today, but that's not working out either. </p><p>Ah well... Tomorrow will be here soon enough -</p><p>- and it's all still part of the story. Right?</p><p>I guess we'll find out. </p><p>Tomorrow?</p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-22299977009720285802022-01-04T16:11:00.001-05:002022-01-04T16:11:09.168-05:00Life Changes?<p> Today's phrase seems to be "life changing"</p><p>As many know, I watch at least some portion of The Price is Right pretty much every week day. Today, a young lady spun a dollar on the wheel and won $1,000- happens all the time. Then, with her bonus spin, she spun another dollar and won an additional $25,000 - happens more often than you'd think, but definitely not "all the time." </p><p>"Well, that's life changing," I remarked, and Netter agreed.</p><p>A little while later I was reading through some sports sites and ran across an article about a hockey player who was living his best life finding a career with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. He had been paralyzed playing hockey in high school and the article discussed his life since, and the "life changing" circumstances of what had happened to him. A different, not so positive, type of life change though honestly he is doing a helluva job. </p><p>Yeah, I'm catching my breath too...</p><p>So, I got to thinking - you saw the smoke, (I'll try not to use that joke too often) about life changing events, good, bad, realized, unrealized... and of course, I thought about the new year. </p><p>We all want change for the new year... Right? </p><p>I have to admit I'm a bit stuck on this one... New Year's eve very often finds me in deep thought and New Year's day I am in deep reflection -</p><p>Not so much this year though...</p><p>I dunno... I guess I know what I'll be talking about for the rest of the week. </p><p>What's your new year take?</p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-11602039098825289152022-01-03T16:42:00.001-05:002022-01-03T16:42:26.556-05:00Back in the Literary Saddle - as it were.<p> Whew - Kinda dusty in these parts... Has it really been 8 1/2 years since I posted? Dems da facts as they say...</p><p>So much has happened - where to begin? What shall we talk about? Oh hell... who knows...</p><p>Here's what I do know - I've been retired for almost 6 years. One of my retirement goals was to write more. One of many goals... Life has taken many interesting, and not so interesting twists and turns... and well, I haven't written more. Although...</p><p>I do write in my head - every day. Not a very useful medium is it? </p><p>Yes, I know how that sounds.</p><p>But - I've decided to give it a go, to find a space, to put down some words every day - well every work day anyway, and see if I can find this voice, my voice - again. </p><p>I'm a lot older, a little grumpier, and maybe even a little wiser than the last time I decided to share some thoughts and stories... I feel like now is a good time. I will try not to be too grumpy.</p><p>I might stay here. I might move... I'll probably continue to share on Facebook - just because I know there's at least a few folks there who might enjoy what I write. Who knows...</p><p>The only thing I'm sure of is this: It is time to write. It's the one thing I have always enjoyed. Good, bad, indifferent. It's not work. It's just what I do. Why not share it... What do you think?</p>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-79343619866090508602013-07-16T16:07:00.000-04:002013-07-16T16:24:05.660-04:00My very wise Mrs.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I’m
not big on conflict. Even when I have the occasional argument around the house
I tend to catch myself and let it go. My wife is usually, (read 99.9% of the
time) right anyway, and my kids are really good kids with good hearts. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Not much
is worth fighting about.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Not
much gets me amped up at all really. Maybe sports, particularly hockey, but
even there I don’t yell and scream at the television like I used to.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">When
I need to advocate for my kids though... that’s when it’s on. I am a very
protective Papa Chow, and I will do whatever I need to do to take care of my
kids. All of them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Which
is where I think this all started. I’m not going to go into all the sordid
details, but it lasted about a week, involved an incredible amount of
discussion and in the end, once I knew things were taken care of, it was over.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I
thought.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I’m
realizing though that it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I’m
realizing that being in that defensive mode has carried forward and I’ve been
putting up some walls. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I’m
realizing that for a person who doesn’t usually know how to say: “no” I have
been subconsciously saying: “leave me alone.” Emphatically.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Easy
things have become complicated, even difficult, and that just doesn’t need to
be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">When
I woke up this morning, this all hit me like a ton of bricks. By the time I had
arrived at work, or about 2 hours later I had some clarity. I’m still working
it out because it’s still new, but it’s time to take those walls down.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">I
told Netter the other day that I thought “Skinny Jim” seemed like kind of a
jerk, or an ass. Which probably was the beginning of recognizing the walls, now
that I think about it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">She
told me that was not the case, that I just needed to stop over extending myself
and learn to be more patient, particularly with myself, and that the timing,
(with the weight loss) was just coincidence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Wise
woman that Netter. Don’t you think?</span><br />
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<![endif]-->Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-46926317975023305162013-05-28T18:10:00.000-04:002013-05-28T18:11:58.742-04:00You Drink Like You Did 60 Pounds Ago.<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5c063da3-ed2f-2bbb-efa6-c6e759d6a3e7" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What
the heck? I’m not proud. I’m not trying to hide anything. The public
nature of this blog suggests that I’m comfortable sharing the </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-hall-of-fame-really.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">good</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, and the </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2010/02/growing-old-together.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">not so good</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in my life. So, I’m sharing this one too.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One
of the many side effects of losing weight that I hadn’t anticipated has
been rearing an ugly head in my life. In short, well - I just can’t
drink like I used to.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
isn’t to suggest that I drink or drank “a lot,” because quite honestly I
think that varies by individual with several factors coming into play.
I’ve seen small guys who could consume cases. I’ve seen large fellas who
couldn’t drink a glass. I’ve known women who, as the saying goes, could
drink anybody under the table. Nobody knows for sure what all of the
variables are and how one might affect another. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But
one variable that I haven’t been considering is my weight, and sadly in
the last few months on more than one occasion I’ve had some
embarrassing moments as I “drank like I did 60 pounds ago,” without
realizing that that was what I was doing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A friend said that to me on Friday, and honestly I couldn’t be more grateful. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No,
I’m not going to break it down into detailed stories. There haven’t
been any trips to jail, or court, or anything like that. Fortunately, my
wife and a great group of friends have looked out for me, and tolerated
me, (my word, not theirs) listened to me, and given me good advice to
go on. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Still the whole thing is both embarrassing and frightening.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A man has to do a better job of knowing his limitations, and knowing when enough is enough. </span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-24609976457243928622013-04-10T17:14:00.000-04:002013-04-10T17:14:38.907-04:00And then... There was Abram.This is a cross post from <a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/news/" target="_blank">The MJB Foundation Blog</a>.<br />
<br /><div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.491269982201592" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the literal sense the drive from Galloway to Westerville only takes about 40 - 45 minutes.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Figuratively, however it took a bit longer. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Finally though, in early October 2011 my wife and I found ourselves en route carrying an MJB Donation. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A
gift for a boy named Abram who simply needed a way to get out and play
with his sisters, a way for Mom and Dad to get him outside. Abram’s “Get
out and play" deck as we call it now. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We
had heard about Abram a few months before. His family was having a
fundraiser to build the deck, they had a goal number in mind, but came
the query - Could The MJB Foundation help?</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Of
course we would - folks who were industrious enough to hold their own
fundraiser? Heck, we were right on board. We would help with the
difference. They would raise what they raised, and The MJB Foundation
would make up the difference. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So we carried that check with us as we traveled to Westerville. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But
here’s the catch - This was the first MJB Gift of Joy we were
delivering personally. No agency involved. No intermediary. Just us...
and honestly - we were a little nervous.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We were greeted at the door by some lovely young ladies and welcomed in to meet Abram and his family </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What followed quite frankly was life changing, and as far as that goes - MJB changing too.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When
you lose a child, as we did with Meghan Joy, the feelings, the emotion,
the carousel, the roller coaster are all things you do alone. Oh, you
have your spouse, and you are together. If you’re lucky, like we were,
you have that support, that someone to lean on. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But
nobody can understand what it is truly like. Not your friends, not your
family, nobody who hasn’t gone through that experience themselves can
truly understand what it’s like.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But,
Emma and Andy, Abram’s parents, had done just that. Abram’s twin
brother Heath passed away when he was 3 weeks and two days old.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Emma
and Andy knew exactly who we were, and they made us feel so welcome. We
spent about an hour and a half chatting, sharing stories, talking about
Heath and Abram, and Meghan and Kailey and Delaney and Livvy, Ella,
Mollie and Poppy and on and on, and we gave them the check and went on
our way. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Afterwards, we visited the local mall to run some errands.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
we shopped we talked about our visit and marveled at the ease with
which Emma carried on a conversation, cared for Abram, and still managed
to keep track of what the girls were all doing.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We could not imagine keeping up with that pace. We could not imagine the energy that must take. </span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We
discussed the similarities and differences we shared, and we decided
that we were incredibly happy we were able to help, and more importantly
that we had made that donation personally.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We
kept in contact with Emma and Andy and their clan, with the goings on
with Abram and his deck. We invited them to Bowl for Joy and Emma came
with the kids and had a terrific time.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Afterward,
Emma contacted me with some ideas for other ways The MJB Foundation
could help folks, and other ways that she could be involved.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We had no idea...</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sing-for-Joy-e1365627868680.jpg" href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sing-for-Joy-e1365627868680.jpg"><img alt="sing for Joy" class="alignright size-full wp-image-811" data-mce-src="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sing-for-Joy-e1365627868680.jpg" height="225" src="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/sing-for-Joy-e1365627868680.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-54080087033280017272013-03-22T09:54:00.000-04:002013-03-22T10:00:05.939-04:00I'm Am Not Dead<div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.4518570792793777" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">J. “Hi Honey, How are you?”</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A: “I’m fine.”</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">J: “What are you up to?”</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A: “Not much in the 20 minutes since you left...”</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So
would go the conversation every Tuesday as I drove to my hockey game. I
had to call my wife when I was about 10 minutes from the rink...</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because I was afraid I might die on the ice.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
know that sounds overly dramatic, but in looking back on why I always
called then, but don’t often call now - I’m realizing that’s why I did
it.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m 5’7” tall, and I weighed 210 pounds.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I couldn’t give up the game I love, but I also knew I was taking a chance, or at least I felt like it.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was afraid I might die.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
tell this story now because I’m about to head into the one year
anniversary of the weekend where I truly made the decision to lose the
weight and make changes to my lifestyle and eating habits.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s March Madness Baby!</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Every
year for the past 10 years I’ve headed out to meet some
friends at a local bar and grill for the first weekend of the NCAA
College Basketball Tournament. Over the course of the weekend we sample
all and any parts of the menu, we have some beverages, we put the
outside world aside, and we live basketball for pretty much 72 hours.
It’s tradition. I love my friends. I love the camaraderie. I love the
good time. Last year, I learned to love the salad.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
year, I love March Madness because it marks a significant point in my
life. A point where I had to admit to myself that I felt like crap... a
lot, that it was time to take stock, to turn some things around-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">to
live.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I feel like I’m doing things the right way. It’s not some crazy diet. I didn’t change who I am.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am not finished.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am not dead. </span></div>
Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-55510374204521626592013-02-22T11:59:00.002-05:002013-02-22T11:59:56.037-05:00We Are All Good at Something<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9252570511781795" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Some of you have heard this one, but I need to share it again today.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I once took my brother in law for a ride in the <a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2009/09/chitty-chitty-bang-bang.html" target="_blank">only new car</a> I've ever owned. (Long time ago) </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What kind of engine does this have in it?" he asked.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I quickly replied: "A black one." </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Really," he said "How do you know?" </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Well because I opened the hood and looked and it's black." "Oh wait," I stopped myself. "It's a V6." </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laughing he replied: "How do you know that?" </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Because there's a sticker on the side that says V6, and I know that has something to do with engines." </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
often tell this story at the end of the basic computing classics I
teach when my students are telling me they still don’t think they can do
it, or they feel inadequate, or they’re still clearly afraid, for lack
of a better word. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
stop them and I ask them if they have something that they are good at.
Of course, they always reply yes, and I tell them that everybody has
something they are good at, something they can do better than other
folks, and the reason is because they need to / want to do that, and in
this day and age, they will probably need to or want to do something,
eventually, that will require a computer and then they will have buy in.
</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
then tell the story above finishing by sharing with them then that once I started
paying for auto repair I had a reason to know more about engines. Save
for replacing a battery and basic things like wiper blades and tail
lights I never did learn to repair cars, but I can tell the difference
between when my alternator is going bad, and when my thermostat is
stuck, and I know there’s no such thing as a “wobble shaft.” At least I
think there’s no such thing as a wobble shaft. ;-)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In
general, they get it, and they walk away smiling, feeling good about
being good at something which hopefully will give them confidence to go
on and learn new things, and improve themselves.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We all are good at something. Say it with me. Say it out loud.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
think, and I’m seeing a lot lately everybody spending so much time
focusing on what they need to do, and what they can’t do, or don’t think
they are capable of doing... and I wonder why instead of focusing on
the can’t, they don’t focus on the “how can I learn?” or “Who do I know
that can teach me / help me?” </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We were all put here together for a reason.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You know, it’s just a thought.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have a good weekend!</span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-57303864446662787352012-11-16T09:51:00.000-05:002012-11-16T09:51:59.789-05:00Pushing a Bigger Button<span id="internal-source-marker_0.7533873472314832" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I would be lying if I didn’t admit that it is sometimes very frustrating to run a charity designed to help kids with challenges.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Too often it seems, those kids are forgotten. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cerebral
Palsy (CP) in particular seems to be a forgotten condition when it
comes to identifying “those in need,” but it is certainly not alone. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CP is just not a big button, as I like to call it. It’s not cancer. It’s not autism. It's (usually) not tragic. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But.It.Is.Everyday! - Just like autism, and just like cancer.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(Please note * I do not mean to diminish the very serious nature and need for support for cancer and autism causes.)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Last summer at Golf for Joy I made a plea to those in attendance that if they took anything away from that day it was just that.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
conditions that affect the kids we try to help are very much like the
traffic that we are all encountering now as we travel through Columbus
each day - a little bit different, a new set of roadblocks each day, a
concrete tunnel which seemingly never ends. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We
have a new joke this year that if you put the word “adaptive” in front
of some piece of equipment, it’s price automatically raises into the
thousands of dollars. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately - It’s not so much a joke. In fact, it’s very much a reality. Not funny at all.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course, it’s not just the kids who have to deal with these issues. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So
many parents fight tirelessly, day after day, caring for their children
and their loved ones, trying to maintain some sense of...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Heck, I think we can say it - normalcy.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Which really...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Is impossible. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Very
often when my wife and I talk about the 15 months we had with Meghan
Joy we note that really...we don’t remember all that much. Very much
like the sports cliches you hear so often - </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We took one second, one minute, one hour, one day at a time- trying to move forward as much as we could--</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think that part of the reason we continue </span><a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">The MJB Foundation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
is because we know that struggle. We know that fight. We know what it
is to want to feel normal - and we want to help those who are still in
the fray.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
year, for the first time ever - The MJB Foundation is nearly tapped
out. To date, because of the generosity of our supporters, we’ve been
able to give Gifts of Joy totaling $11,041.31 to children with
challenges this year, and we’re committed to what might be as much as
$6,000 more. (Some of the equipment has to be fitted so there could be
some cost variance.) </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To put this in perspective - Our events this year raised right around $7,000. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While
it’s true that we are giving away more this year than any other, and we
had a little bank to spend - it’s also true that more and more families
are finding out about us, and more and more kids will need our help.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But we don’t have that big button, and well, we need a big push.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
always said that being at this point is a problem I’d like to have, but
I have to admit it scares the holy bejeesus out of me. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But not as much as the day-to-day might scare the holy bejeesus out of those families, and those kids.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So the takeaway is this... </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
don't honestly know how many people read this blog, but I will admit to
knowing at least some eyeballs give it a glance every now and then.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So...
If you have a second, if you're so inclined, I would really appreciate
it if you could help us spread the word, and let people know that we're
trying to help those kids, and we could use all the help we can get to
make this button bigger. </span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-76936767115164760342012-10-25T11:40:00.000-04:002012-10-25T11:40:13.608-04:00Ohio Idols for IndependenceA guest post today. It really speaks for itself. If you have a moment, we appreciate your time. Thanks.<br />
<br />
Hi! I’m writing to invite you, your family and friends to the first annual
<span style="color: #0000bf;"><i><b>Ohio Idols for Independence</b></i></span>
benefit concert. Our goal is to raise thousands of dollars to help kids
with cerebral palsy find their voice at home, at school and in their
communities.
<br />
<br />
This event is close to my heart because my daughter, Adriana, lives with
cerebral palsy. While she falls on the severe end of CP, the amazing
advancements in technology have given her the gift of independent
mobility and communication.<br />
<br />
I believe when kids with CP find their voice, regardless of physical
ability, they experience true independence. Some kids find their voice
through music, sports or dance. Other kids, like Adriana, need
specialized care and equipment to find their voice. And
as many of you know, these things are expensive. Proceeds from the
event go to <b><a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/" target="_blank">The MJB Foundation</a> </b>to provide funding for children so they get the specialized care, equipment and services they need just to be a kid.<br />
<br />
Please join us in helping kids with CP by purchasing your tickets TODAY! Tickets are just $16 and they are available online at
<a href="http://www.ohio-idol.com/">www.ohio-idol.com</a>. You can also purchase tickets directly through me by writing a check to
The MJB Foundation for the number of tickets you want. Just send me an email and I’ll bring them to you.
<br />
<br />
If you have any questions, you can email me or call me at 614-309-0799.
For information about The MJB Foundation visit <a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/">www.mjbfoundation.org</a>.<br />
<br />
Thank you!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: comic sans ms; font-size: large;"><i>Patty Lyons</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Patty Lyons</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">p.lyons@sbcglobal.net</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Parent & Chapter Leader</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">CP Parent Columbus, A Family Resource Group for Cerebral Palsy</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Reaching For The Stars Central Ohio Chapter</span><br style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Follow us <a href="https://bluprd0711.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=hNNd30Z0i0iZ_VmSntv8yIbbw6lZhs8I4jsqlx1rn5q6KdNtQmFBbK--tn8DoHhyZKeoDzVQMsE.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.facebook.com%2fpermalink.php%3fstory_fbid%3d10150218540946155%26id%3d654816154%26ref%3dnotif%26notif_t%3dlike%23%2521%2fpages%2fCP-Parent-Columbus-Family-Resource-Group-for-Cerebral-Palsy%2f259806429543" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
facebook</a></span></span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-11218889053693720222012-10-17T17:19:00.001-04:002012-10-17T17:19:50.138-04:00Never eat when you're angryOrdinarily things like this just roll off my back, but today... Here's the story -<br />
<br />
I went into a local eating establishment for lunch / dinner. (What do you call it when it's 4:00 p.m.?)<br />
<br />
I was greeted with a hearty welcome to... Okay, no I wasn't, but I usually am.<br />
<br />
A nice young lady came to the counter and asked me what I would like.<br />
<br />
I'll have a.. "Um, excuse me," a voice interrupted from the side. "Can you tell me..."<br />
<br />
The nice young lady went to answer that query.<br />
<br />
Another young man came to the counter. "What can I get you sir?"<br />
<br />
I would like a..."Um, can I get some water..." another voice interrupted... and the young man was gone.<br />
<br />
Deep breath Jimmer. "Does somebody want to help me?"<br />
<br />
The young man returned. "I'm sorry sir, what did you say?"<br />
<br />
I said, "Does somebody want to help me?"<br />
<br />
I just went to give that girl a cup. What, you having a bad day or something?<br />
<br />
<u><i>Insert screeching tire noise here. Did anybody else see that needle come off that record?</i></u><br />
<br />
I couldn't help myself. "Forget it!" I snapped. I told the guy behind me to go ahead. To his credit, he just stood there and watched.<br />
<br />
What sir?<br />
<br />
I wheeled around - "She asked me what I wanted and then went to help that person. You asked me what I wanted and then went to help that other person. I.AM.STANDING.RIGHT.HERE...IN.LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"<br />
<br />
"Um, do you still want your sandwich?"<br />
<br />
I did. I was hungry, and I have a long night ahead of me.<br />
<br />
He hustled to finish making my sandwich, the transaction ended. He chopped $.50 off the price of my sandwich and offered me a free drink which I declined. <br />
<br />
I then learned an entirely new lesson.<br />
<br />
Never eat when you're angry.<br />
<br />
Commence stomach ache.<br />
<br />
!Sigh!Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-36151692455682940412012-10-12T13:30:00.000-04:002012-10-12T13:30:00.348-04:00The Speech<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(This is what it sounds like in my head. Who knows how it's going to come out...)</span></span><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8172247598413378" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They say that: “Everyone who has ever passed through the doors of Bishop Ready knows that for as long as they live they have a home here and they are always welcome back. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I feel that, and I thank you. I want to also thank those who nominated me, and accepted me into this select group. I am humbled by this honor, and I hope that in my life I am able to continue to do the work that brought me here, that is my passion. I want to thank an incredibly supportive family, a whole team of people, hundreds of supporters, and all the folks who inspire me to do the work I do. They’re the ones who deserve the recognition.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was very nervous about being here today. I asked my girls, who some of you know, what I could say that wouldn’t make me sound like “some old” guy. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They just laughed. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I asked another friend, and she told me to just talk about what I do. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I look out at all of you I remember myself in those very same seats. I was excited for the future, even if I had no idea what that future held.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It took me sometime to figure it all out, and that’s okay. All I really knew was that whatever I did, it probably shouldn’t involve math. More importantly, I wanted to do it as best as I possibly could.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I learned here at Ready that each and every one of us has the ability to have an impact on our environment, and most especially the people around us. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just being a Dad, carrying on my daughter Meghan’s legacy through our work with The MJB Foundation, and being the best Dad I can be to my daughters Kailey and Delaney I’ve found my life’s work, and somehow that lead me here today.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At The MJB Foundation we strive everyday to make sure that children, all of the children can know the real Joy that should be childhood.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As my children have grown I have stressed to them, and to their friends and other youth I have worked with, the importance of finding a way to enjoy their childhood.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s what life should be all about - Joy - and that is my wish for you today.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you!</span></b>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-91374303127288752332012-10-10T18:15:00.000-04:002012-10-10T18:17:37.987-04:00Taking Care of My Kids<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFinXO_ucBXPst0uVfPEaIurYvEt2Un26bzothsy1JRVBX_5jqFUyGWlMVFeb3cNUAKSX5rWlmCNoChi4agkNiRs4R5toesZkzIOPFOZOdlRxOZas9OviumyZ5rJyK7uzVSYGMfyYE6KH6/s1600/66535_4478420966062_406385568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFinXO_ucBXPst0uVfPEaIurYvEt2Un26bzothsy1JRVBX_5jqFUyGWlMVFeb3cNUAKSX5rWlmCNoChi4agkNiRs4R5toesZkzIOPFOZOdlRxOZas9OviumyZ5rJyK7uzVSYGMfyYE6KH6/s320/66535_4478420966062_406385568_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Mr. Wright,<br />
<br />
I'm going to begin by asking that you not send me the
"canned response," and you not refer to what happened with your
school's football team and the Westland High School Band as a mix-up. <br />
<br />
This was not a mix-up. This was a blatant disregard for the rules. You know it, and I know it.<br />
<br />
I still cannot believe that with
more than 3 minutes left during halftime the Liberty football team
actually came onto the field while the band was still performing and
refused to leave...even after their coach was asked by both the Westland
band staff and the athletic director. (photo credit to Julie Prater) <br />
<br />
In fact your
coaching staff essentially told our band directors as well as parents
in the press box, who were counting raffle money, that they didn't care
that they were breaking the rules. <br />
<br />
Did they also not care that children's safety was in danger? Two band members were kicked. That's two too many. <br />
<br />
One
wonders what your reaction might have been if your football players had
pushed the wrong tuba player to the brink? That's a pretty heavy
instrument. <br />
<br />
Do you comprehend where this could go wrong on so many levels?<br />
<br />
I
learned afterward that the Liberty football team has a reputation of
doing this repeatedly. REPEATEDLY? even to your own band at times. <br />
<br />
That
is wrong! An immediate, and unequivocal apology should be issued by
every coach, and every administrator in your building to every band it
has shown this type of disrespect.<br />
<br />
I have friends whose
children attend Olentangy Liberty. Their kids are good kids. I am
confident that the kids on the football team are probably good kids just
doing what they were told. <br />
<br />
I am not, however as confident in
the goodness of your coaching staff, or frankly in you sir with the
copied and pasted response referencing a "mix-up."I have seen you give
to many, MANY concerned parents.<br />
<br />
It's a sad day when the adults are the ones who need to learn the lesson.<br />
<br />
Please
do the right thing here and apologize, and have your coaching staff
apologize with assurance that this will not happen in the future. Don't
apologize to me. Apologize to the Westland Band, every single member and
director.<br />
<br />
It is my understanding that several media outlets have
been copied on many of these emails. One can only hope that at the very
least the threat of bad publicity will compel you to do what is right.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Jim Brochowski<br />
Westland Band Booster TreasurerJim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-56788587336597351512012-10-04T15:11:00.001-04:002012-10-04T15:12:32.073-04:00If Jim Brochowski can do it...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.6708566482679392" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maybe this is why:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
I stood up at third base I could see him looking at me and shaking his
head. I had just smashed, (Hey I was 13 I still smashed things.) the
ball into the fence in left field and while I was disappointed it didn’t
go over I was also thrilled with what was probably the best hit of my
life. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
scored on the next play and as I walked up to my Dad he said: “Just
think how far it would have gone if it had been a strike.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ouch! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He was right though, the ball I hit was pitched almost over my head. As the infamous </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104694/quotes"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">movie line</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> goes: I like the high ones!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now,
I love my Dad and I don’t blame him for anything about my upbringing,
but my point is I always have greater expectations, It’s taken a long
time for me to learn how to be satisfied, and well, I don’t handle
praise all that well.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The year to date has been a good one. </span><a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">The MJB Foundation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> has raised almost $7,000 with an </span><a href="http://www.reachingforthestars.org/Columbus.OH/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">event</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> still to come, I’ve lost 42 pounds, (as of this morning), and I learned a couple of weeks ago that I’m to be inducted into my </span><a href="http://www.brhs.org/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">high school’s</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> hall of fame, mostly for my work with the foundation. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Right and left I’m being congratulated and praised. Folks are using words like inspirational, and...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">… And I have no idea how to handle this.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My
wife even wants to have a celebratory get together after the HOF
induction. She created a Facebook event, and made me a host so I can
invite people who are on my friends list, but maybe not on hers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Really? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Hi, Come celebrate me?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That just feels wrong. Egotistical, making a big deal out of nothing. To me, it’s just weird. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
feel like if I can do what I do, anybody can do what I do, and the
reality is it’s not me. It’s an incredibly supportive family. It’s a
whole team of people. It’s hundreds of supporters. It’s the folks who
inspire me that help me do the things I do. They’re the ones who deserve
the recognition. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m
told I just need to learn to say thank you and move on, but when people
are heaping this high praise, thank you doesn’t seem like enough. Not
even close.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A
friend once told me that she loves exclamation points because they add
emphasis to what is otherwise ordinary. Okay - let’s give this a try...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-33573717082904260492012-09-13T23:01:00.000-04:002012-09-13T23:02:57.426-04:00The Hall of Fame? Really?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Dear Ms. Kelly, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I have to confess that I spent a considerable
amount of time trying to write "my story," as it pertains to my
Bishop Ready High School Hall of Fame nomination. Like many, I have a difficult
time with this type of notoriety as I just consider what I do…well, what I do.
With that said, what follows is just a summary, rather than some dressed-up
version. I don't know how to do that.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have 3 daughters. That’s not
what I say when folks ask because it’s awkward and uncomfortable for them sometimes.
Running The MJB Foundation is my way of keeping alive the legacy of my daughter
Meghan Joy. This isn’t the life’s work I would have guessed for myself,
but it is a mission I embrace, a position I am proud to hold. I’m Meghan Joy’s
Daddy, but I’m also very proud of Kailey and Delaney. Being there for all of my
children, in whatever capacity, is my biggest priority.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Coming out of Bishop Ready I had no idea what I
wanted to do with my life except that it would be better if it didn't involve
math. Naturally then, I became a theatre major at The Ohio State University. I
thought that was it, the career for me. I even came back and directed a couple
of plays at Ready. At the end of the academic year I realized that I wasn't
ready for college in the traditional sense. I auditioned and was accepted to
the American Musical and <st1:placename w:st="on">Dramatic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy</st1:placetype> in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
York</st1:place></st1:state>, but having spent more than $600 in less than 2
days there, and not having received a scholarship I decided instead to continue
to work at the library, a job I'd had since my senior year of high school.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In 1988, I met the woman who would later become
my wife.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I still didn't know what
I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew that I wanted to be the best husband
and father I could possibly be. I think childhood and adolescence is absolutely
the hardest thing any of us will have to deal with in our lives (save for
extraordinary circumstances), and I knew I wanted to make it as easy as I
possibly could for my children.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In 1993, our twin daughters Kailey and Meghan
Joy were born. We were not expecting twins, and there were many complications.
The whole story is here.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/about-the-mjb-foundation/the-story-of-meghan-joy/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: #366388;">http://www.mjbfoundation.org/about-the-mjb-foundation/the-story-of-meghan-joy/</span></span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In May of 1994, we were devastated by the death
of Meghan Joy. In an attempt to find some peace, some reason, my wife and I
began to reach out to friends and family who told us that Meghan had inspired
them, that she had a profound effect on their lives and many others. To
continue her memory and preserve her legacy we started holding a golf
tournament every year as we, and many of our friends, were avid golfers. Each
year for 9 years we had the golf outing and a big party dubbed "The
MJB" to celebrate Meghan's life. We settled into a pattern, and daughter
Delaney joined us in 1996. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">In 2004, our 10th
year, we wanted to do something big. In talking to a friend I realized that we
could do more with the story of Meghan, that we should use her inspiration to
help other children. Children who, like Meghan faced more than their fair share
of challenges. Cerebral palsy, autism and a whole host of other diagnoses
affect the daily lives of so many children, and the resources for helping them
are few and far between. So began The MJB Foundation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">We held our first Golf for Joy, the 10th annual
family golf tournament and party remembering Meghan's inspiration in June of 2004.
We raised a little over $1,800. We gained our 501(c) 3 status in 2005. We never
looked back. In 2010 we added a bowling event and, to date, we have raised more
than $40,000 for children with challenges in <st1:place w:st="on">Central Ohio</st1:place>.
From our Mission Statement: By sponsoring recreational and educational
activities, donating physical goods and services, and making monetary
contributions we hope to bring Joy to these children.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">When we started The MJB Foundation it was easy
to identify a need that wasn’t being met. Simply put, some children just don’t
have access, or enough access, as the case may be. When Meghan was born in 1993
we had excellent insurance, everything was paid for. If we needed equipment or
some adaptive device for Meghan, no matter the cost, it was covered. In 2004
this type of insurance for anyone was nothing more than a faded memory, and the
situation has not improved today.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Even the children with the most challenges are
often left at the bottom of some bureaucratic list with not enough funding to
obtain the resources they need to just be kids, to experience the Joy that
should be childhood.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The MJB Foundation wants to be there to fill
those gaps, to find those children who aren’t experiencing that Joy and help
them with the resources they need. Whether that is an adaptive tricycle, some
kind of therapy, a special tray or just an adaptive piece of furniture; we work
with organizations like FCBDD to identify children in need, provide the needed
funding and send them a gift of Joy from The MJB Foundation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Our next event is coming up in November as we
are presenting<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.reachingforthestars.org/Columbus.OH" target="_blank"><span style="color: #234786;">Ohio Idols for Independence – Helping Kids with Cerebral
Palsy Find Their Voice</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> in
conjunction with Ohio Idol, and CP Parent Columbus, a Family Resource Group for
Cerebral Palsy. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,500 and the event should
raise more than any other we have held to date.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">So does that make me a Hall of Fame inductee? I
don't know. Even when I eventually graduated from college in 2001 I wasn't sure
what I wanted to be when I grow up, but I have found that I really like to work
with kids, and I really like to work with non-profits, particularly
organizations that benefit folks who get missed. My community is very important
to me... with a lot of emphasis on family.</span> I’m also currently the
treasurer for the Westland Band Boosters. (I had some spare time I needed
to fill.)<br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I told my girls that they didn't come with an
instruction manual and that we were going to figure out the best way to do
things together. As my children have grown I have stressed to them, and to
their friends and other youth I have worked with, the importance of finding a
way to enjoy their childhood.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I coached my girls’ sports teams when they
played, and I have been fortunate to be a "second Dad" to many of
their friends. I still have kids today whose eyes light up as they greet me
with an embrace. Many of them call me "Poppa Chow." That's enough of
a reward for me.</span></div>
Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-83273416266409399432012-08-06T10:23:00.000-04:002012-08-06T10:23:45.894-04:00Be Happy Where You Are... But GO When You Need To...<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5989445012528449" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I am returning for my 3rd week back to work since vacation. I cannot lie, at the end of last week I was tired. It had been a challenging week, long days, surprise assignments, stressful... and yet -</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I still feel rejuvenated enough from my vacation that today, (admittedly after a long weekend) I am ready to jump back into the fray. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well I haven't told anybody, (except my wife) this, but I really thought about not going on that vacation. I thought I had so much "stuff" to do that I should stay home - do a little "staycation" and get some things done around the house instead.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, that would have been colossally stupid. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Netter's credit she let me decide on my own to go ahead and go on vacation. She reminded me as much when I thanked her as we walked down the beach. "I didn't say anything," she said. "I just told you I was going, and sort of let you figure it out on your own." </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ah... That wise wife of mine.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hadn't been to the ocean in 10 years. It will not be 10 more. We hadn't taken a vacation of consequence in 3 years. It will not be 3 more. The time away means too much. The time with family is everything. The time experiencing different things and finding new day to days cannot be measured. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've talked before here about over extending yourself, and needing a break. I needed that break this time whether I knew it or not. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm glad "I" figured it out.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Home from the Isle of Palms, and still Happy Where I am.</span></b>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-33215692195379311462012-07-18T15:53:00.002-04:002012-07-18T15:53:27.773-04:00Be Happy Where You Are... Part 1<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9285497807431966" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little series here as I’m on vacation with lots of time to ponder.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s the first installment...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I often think we make things too complicated in our world. We never seem to be satisfifed with what we have, where we are. We're always on the lookout for ways to get ahead, to make ourselves better, to change things, to... well just be different.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's my question</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What's wrong with where we are?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was at breakfast with an old friend a few weeks ago. He's seen a fair share of trials and tribulations in the last few years, but I could tell as we were talking that he's come to a place where he is finally - happy. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We talked a great deal about what's been going on in our lives, family, kids, jobs, and such. When we were finished he said: "I'm just happy where I am you know. 'Be happy where you are, that's all that matters.'" </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It struck me that I feel very much the same way. I've spent sooooooo much time over the last few years trying to change, to adjust, to get better. It's all chronicled here, over and over, time after time...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But lately? </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not so much. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In March of this year I stepped on the scale. The number I'm ashamed to say was a whopping 210 pounds. I know there are bigger numbers, people who weigh more, but at all of 5' 7" - 210 is a pretty big number. I admit I walked around in shock for a few hours that day, trying to convince myself that it didn't mean anything. After all, I had been gaining weight for quite sometime. I've talked <a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2009/04/yall-ready-for-this.html">before </a>here about weighing 202. Obviously, that didn't bother me as much as I thought it did - Because now I weighed 210. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, if you ask me I'll tell you, but I'm not going to break down all the hows and whys today. I will share that there's an app called "<a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">myfitnesspal</a>," that I owe a debt of gratitude for showing me that the best diet is paying attention to what you're putting into your body and trying to get some exercise. (I also owe a great deal of gratitude to my wife, but you knew that if you are paying attention.)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am aware that life isn't all about fitness levels, but I have to tell you - Feeling healthy - sure makes the rest of life a heckuva lot easier to tackle. But we can talk about that another time.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today - I tip the scales some 30 pounds lighter (pre-vacation - although I'm trying to keep it sensible) and though I've more to go, I'm happy - where I am.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because the lesson is - If you're not happy where you are...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Um, maybe you should find a way to get there. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing today from the Isle of Palm, and happy where I am.</span></b>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-71989127590948488342012-05-14T17:54:00.000-04:002012-05-14T17:54:12.905-04:00Resolved for Dummies<span id="internal-source-marker_0.11638422320479602" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
I paddled backwards I watched Netter working on her reel and line and
realized that for the first time, in pretty much ever, I was going to
have to do this myself.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Patiently,
I maneuvered the canoe so it angled just so. Quietly I put down my
paddle and picked up my rod. A quick side arm flick of the wrist putting
my line exactly where I knew he was...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pow, the fish grabbed my artificial worm and started to swim.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Furiously
I started to reel him in, then remembered that I needed to be more
patient and not let him jump, or otherwise find a way to pull away from
my line... and there he was. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
I put down my fishing pole and pulled the fish from the water I could
see that he wasn’t all that special. Average size, not all that big, not
even as big as two I had caught the day before actually, but there was a
difference. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
didn’t wait for Netter to help paddle me into position, or wait for her
to say: “Good cast Honey,” to know I had gotten it right. I had put all
the </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2008/08/rock-can-hit-curveball-i-guess.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">lessons</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> of our </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2009/05/akita.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">19 previous trips</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> to </span><a href="http://www.campakita.org/default.aspx"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Akita</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">,
everything Ranger Annette, (as we only half jokingly call her) and her
Dad had taught me, grabbed opportunity by the hand and I just caught it.
I mean I just did it. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You know... like the Nike commercial. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Incredible satisfaction, the only one of my fish we took a picture of the whole weekend in fact.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Today, I am focusing on that as we mark the 18th anniversary of the passing of our daughter Meghan Joy.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m reflecting a lot on past and current successes and wondering why sometimes it takes me so long to learn. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Just do it Jim!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In February of last year I let loose my </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2011/02/enough.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">rant of a lifetime...</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Because I wasn’t getting anything done.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For the remainder of 2011 I tried to “get stuff done.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I had my </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-next-and-thank-you.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">three words</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
and I tried to stick to those, but as 2012 approached I realized that I
wasn’t going to accomplish everything I had set out to in 2011, and I
needed to find more </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2011/10/time.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">time</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, to get stuff done. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve
held off talking about it here because I didn’t want to have yet
another - New Year’s or Lenten resolution, reflection, good gawd you’re
making me gag with all this mushy, gushy life is too short, fulfill your
dreams blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH... and so on...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But as I sit here today and think about Meghan Joy, the </span><a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Foundation</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> we have established in her memory, and the children we have helped because of her with our </span><a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/events/golf-for-joy/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">golf tournament</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and </span><a href="http://www.mjbfoundation.org/events/bowl-for-joy/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">bowling outing</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, I can’t help but think about how important it is to actually DO things.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After
I did that little time study last year I started doing things. Instead
of finding systems, and books, and ways to get organized and accomplish
more, and blah, blah, blah... I just started doing things.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This pile - where does it go? Move it!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That pile - what do I need to do with that? Do it!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That phone call. That letter. Make it. Send it. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Just do it.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It
still becomes quite a process sometimes, and I admit that I still
overthink things, and I am very guilty of finding tasks that “need to be
done,” to replace tasks that “really need to be done.” (I call this
cleaning the junk drawer, a theory derived from </span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/finalword/2004-03-16-final-word_x.htm"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">this article</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> by one of my favorite writers.)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Still,
I’ve been steadily pecking away at things, finding the most success
with getting healthy - which I thought would actually be the most
difficult of the 3 words I wanted to tackle. (Or maybe getting healthy
is cleaning out my junk drawer.) </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I've been working on it since March 12 because I was supposed to start working with a </span><a href="http://www.yunbootcamps.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">trainer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
that day, but hurt my knee. I had to rehab it anyway so I stuck to the
diet part of the deal and started with work in the hot tub, then
walking, skating, onto the elliptical, and a new obsession with biking. I
just told the trainer I would probably not be back because I really
enjoy the cardio work I’ve been doing, although I really do get a lot
from being on his email list with the fitness information he shares. I
must confess I don’t agree with all of it, but I am learning and also
remembering a lot from when I worked out as a young person. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I've
done something every day since with a couple of exceptions. I took the
first weekend of March Madness off to spend time with buddies doing what
buddies do when they are watching basketball. Would not have been a
pretty calorie count, although I did cut out the fried food, pizza, and
such after day 1. I also sometimes cheat on Saturdays and depending what
I'm doing that can get a little out of hand. I'm coming into this with
an open mind trying to learn and make changes that will be long term. As
of today I’m proud to report I’ve lost 15 pounds and I’m halfway to my
goal. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In
the meantime, aside from the health kick I’m just doing the work. It
takes me away from the blog and some other mediums more than I’d like,
but in the long haul I think it will make for more quality in all areas
of my life. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am resolved to make it so. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-23952414840104556772012-03-03T15:01:00.000-05:002012-03-03T15:01:00.444-05:00More Than We Can See?<span id="internal-source-marker_0.8758961784175638" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Look! There it is, off in the distance. Can you see it?” </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It
was Mount Rushmore. When I was 8, or was it 1978 which for some reason I
always associate with being 8 even though I was 10...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Anyway
- in 1978 my family went on a trip out west. I remember that we
traveled to Salt Lake City, The Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and finally arrived to visit relatives whose exactly locale,
quite honestly I forget. (</span>Somewhere in California?)<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But -</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s what I remember. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We saw a lot, but we didn’t really do a lot, and the one example that really stands out -</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">is Mount Rushmore.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As I remember it we quite literally stopped by the side of the road, looked up, said “look there it is,” and went on our way. I don't really know why. That's just what we did.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For
some reason I always thought that was all there was. It never even
occurred to me that there might be a park, or a way to get closer until I
watched </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465234/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">The National Treasure: Book of Secrets</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yes, that seems silly to me too.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In any case...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
story has come up more than once in conversation during the past few
weeks. Today, it kind of stuck in my head. Of course, I started to ask
myself why? </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here’s my theory....</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There’s
always more to the story. There’s always a different route. There’s
always a different way. There’s always something not everybody knows. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Save for some extremes - No one way is right. No one path is absolute.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The world allows for differences.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s okay to </span><a href="http://thelifeofjimmer.blogspot.com/2012/02/ymmv.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">question</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, but it’s not okay to judge.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">… and now for some reason I have Paul Harvey stuck in my head: “And that’s the rest of the story.”</span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-25785150647583457992012-02-23T18:15:00.000-05:002012-02-23T18:15:53.182-05:00YMMV.<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4729245825819449" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There
are 30 celebrities, 10 Brochowskis I don’t know, and 11 businesses or
brands. There are 30 who I’ve never met, save for 2 phone calls, 30 I
only know in passing, and 22 I’ve never met who are local who I’m making
it my goal to try and meet soon. This leaves about 716 that I’ve met
and know. I might have worked with them. I definitely have a memory of
them, and I can probably identify their voice. Many I see on a daily, or
at least weekly to monthly basis. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course I’m talking about my Facebook Friend list. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But why?</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday,
I heard a friend say that all this great technology was actually
ruining “real communication.” I of course balked at this. I love this
great technology. I think it has actually </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">enhanced </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">communication. In the interest of keeping the peace I didn’t argue with my friend. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yesterday I noted that more than a few folks are “giving up Facebook for Lent,” so I shared this observation on my Timeline. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I
suppose it could just be me, but if you give up Facebook or some other
social network for Lent aren't you really just saying: ‘I don't value
those relationships so I'm okay with just blowing them off for 40
days?’” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">i.e. In other words, ergo and forsooth, I think giving up Facebook could ruin (at least some part of) communication.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But that’s just my opinion, which is why I posted that. I wanted to have the discussion that followed.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Responses
ranged from 100% agreement to Facebook is too new to establish cultural
norms to “Or is it saying because I value those relationships/form of
communication, I am willing to give up something valuable to me for God
for Lent?”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I agree with every one of them. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What? </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Okay, no not really. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
understand that there are many who see social networks like Facebook,
Twitter, and even blogs as nothing more than idle pursuits. Even folks
who participate in those mediums sometimes downplay them as being
nothing more than time wasters, stuff to do when there is nothing else
to do.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But that’s not me. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
see social networks as valuable additions to those tools we already had
at our disposal for communication because to me it’s not about the
tools.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s about the people. Plain.And.Simple.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now,
I’m not passing judgment on folks who have decided to give up Facebook
for Lent if they see that as a true sacrifice, if they just need a
break, if they are resolved to use other perhaps more personal forms of
communication to reach out to people in their lives. If they are trying
to strengthen their relationships I’m all for that, and I will allow
that my statement in passing doesn’t allow for their reasoning behind
their decisions, not that they owe anybody an explanation.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But
I wonder if we realize the true power of all these tools as we put them
to use every day. I wonder if we understand the implications of our
actions? Do we get that we might only know about what’s going on in each
other’s lives because of our social network, and how valuable just
knowing is to one friend, or another. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While
I might know, in person, at least 700 some odd people on my friend list
I am very aware that in all likelihood, without these tools I would not
have the contact, the interactions with many of them that I have now,
and I don’t believe for a second that would be a good thing. Not at all.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t misunderstand -</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I get that Facebook is “just Facebook,” and Twitter is “just Twitter,” etc... and so on...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
value personal interaction more than any other form of communication.
I’d like to sit with all of you for hours, conversing deep into the
night holding a beverage in hand, wiping a tear, or sharing a laugh. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unfortunately,
as we all know, that’s not possible. There just aren’t enough hours in
the day, or dollars in the bank account for the travel necessary to
bring us together. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While
I would never advocate for replacing a personal interaction, a letter,
an email, or even a phone call, (okay maybe a phone call - I do hate the
phone) I would hope that folks might realize and value the social
network communication that sometimes might have to suffice, and be
grateful for it rather than seeing it as a commodity that we can simply
cast aside. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your Mileage May Vary.</span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6431308111851572672.post-10116040090706248462012-02-08T22:55:00.000-05:002012-02-08T22:55:30.992-05:00Happy Birthday To You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFbVK9NY1CggMParYp7Ywx3z1QXJzmf2w1SvXgMooMLXsBOOjpbhfWH79pIk33LilFYvacKS_c91S53Kzbu2oGzf24r_aoR-1g2pwYk8yrFeBhmGpyHNPai9BQ5dWshWSGjb8hb20RSXt/s1600/Starred+Photos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFbVK9NY1CggMParYp7Ywx3z1QXJzmf2w1SvXgMooMLXsBOOjpbhfWH79pIk33LilFYvacKS_c91S53Kzbu2oGzf24r_aoR-1g2pwYk8yrFeBhmGpyHNPai9BQ5dWshWSGjb8hb20RSXt/s1600/Starred+Photos.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span id="internal-source-marker_0.35161401230745504" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Um, Daddy I need you to sit in the backseat in the middle. Please.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
knew K was up to something, but I wasn’t sure what. She had asked to
talk to her Mommy on Friday and told me to turn off the speaker phone. I
asked her if it was some girly thing or other and she said yes. When I
asked Netter about it later, because we usually tell each other
everything, she told me K wanted to surprise me with something and to
just let it go. So I did.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now
it was Sunday, we were walking out of Kohl’s and K was asking me to sit
in the middle of the backseat. I had no idea why, but because it was
also her birthday, and we were only getting to spend a brief window of
time, part of which was shopping for her gift, none of which was any
time at home with her busy 19-year old self; you know, the college life,
I complied.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay, close your eyes.” </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What? Why?”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Please?!”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So I did.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Okay, open ‘em.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
couldn’t believe what I was looking at and the tears just started to
flow. Try as I might, I couldn’t turn them off. Even now as I type this
my eyes are welling up. It was just that cool.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">During her clandestine conversation with her Mommy on Friday, K had asked Netter to bring along our copy of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Birthday-You-Dr-Seuss/dp/0394800761"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">The Birthday Book by Dr. Seuss</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. (not an affiliate link, I just like Amazon and think you should buy a copy for you & your family.)</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFbVK9NY1CggMParYp7Ywx3z1QXJzmf2w1SvXgMooMLXsBOOjpbhfWH79pIk33LilFYvacKS_c91S53Kzbu2oGzf24r_aoR-1g2pwYk8yrFeBhmGpyHNPai9BQ5dWshWSGjb8hb20RSXt/s1600/Starred+Photos.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFbVK9NY1CggMParYp7Ywx3z1QXJzmf2w1SvXgMooMLXsBOOjpbhfWH79pIk33LilFYvacKS_c91S53Kzbu2oGzf24r_aoR-1g2pwYk8yrFeBhmGpyHNPai9BQ5dWshWSGjb8hb20RSXt/s320/Starred+Photos.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span> <br />
W<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">e
have been reading this book every year on the girls’ birthdays since
the day they were born. It was a book I had from my childhood that I
really liked, but my copy was old and beat up and had a couple of nicks
and marks that kept me from wanting to save it so Netter bought our
family a new copy and inscribed it with a Dr. Seuss inspired poem for
the first Christmas after the twins were born. When D was born, Netter
added a new verse to the poem for her as well. Netter also added the
handprints of each of the girls to the inside cover. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This
is a very special book in our family, but I am disappointed to admit in
the business that was Sunday and with all the hectic happenings at our
house lately as we work on replacing a damaged vehicle (another post for
another day), the book had somehow slipped my mind.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
my children have grown I’ve tried to build traditions that are uniquely
our own. Oh, I’ve included what little I remember from my childhood,
but without going into a lot of detail, well, there’s just not much
there tradition-wise. One or two things, but nothing unique, nothing
remarkable really. I’m not complaining. As they say, it just is what it
is.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Still, I wanted more for my girls.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So
there I was reading The Birthday Book to my girls in the backseat of a
hot cramped car on a Sunday afternoon in February. I worked through the
tears. I read with the clearest voice I could muster. I tried to do all
of the accents and the rhythms and everything the book has evolved into
for us over the course of 19 years...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I felt like the luckiest Daddy ever, and I enjoyed every single minute of it. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFbVK9NY1CggMParYp7Ywx3z1QXJzmf2w1SvXgMooMLXsBOOjpbhfWH79pIk33LilFYvacKS_c91S53Kzbu2oGzf24r_aoR-1g2pwYk8yrFeBhmGpyHNPai9BQ5dWshWSGjb8hb20RSXt/s1600/Starred+Photos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I wish we could do what they do in Katroo. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whether your name is Nate, Delaney or Ned or Pete, Kailey or Paul...</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">LOOK!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As I’ve told her many times - That was very cool K. Thank you!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Feeling very fortunate to have such a gift on “your” birthday. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But then I always feel fortunate and privileged to have 2 such wonderful girls and to be their Daddy.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I love you both very much!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am I! </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And I may not know why</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But I know that I like it. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three cheers! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I AM I!</span>Jim Brochowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02198815088328291043noreply@blogger.com4