Sweet 16 has turned 61

Can I just say......

Bob "freaking" Seger rocked the socks off of the Motor City tonight???

This was his third of four sold out nights here (tickets were a Christmas present to me). This man is over 60 years old ("sweet 16 has turned 61") and he was simply on fire. He sang so many of the songs that were a part of the soundtrack of my life growing up. It was actually hard to hear him many times because the crowd was drowning him out. We saw McCartney awhile back and the energy at THIS show completely dwarfed the vibe at the McCartney show. Oddly enough, growing up in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area ("my name is Bob Seger and I'm from Ann Arbor, Michigan"), I never saw Seger until tonight. Apparently I had been missing a lot.

I have to make mention of that band though. The Silver Bullet Band was in amazing form tonight. Simply one of the best "bands" I have ever seen/heard. AND.... (a special treat) DON BREWER was the drummer!!! That's right. The "Gloved One" from Grand Funk was getting funky with Mr. Seger tonight. Amazing. And there was a special tribute to the Godfather of Soul as well. Very nice touch, I thought.

One last note... the shows here are being recorded and filmed for a future Live DVD release! Woop!

"Rolling Stone magazine just said Detroit audiences are the greatest Rock n Roll audiences in the WORLD! I thought to myself, shit, I've known that for ten years!" - Bob Seger from Live Bullet recorded at Cobo many moons ago.

'tis true. What a night.

OtR and Seger in two weeks. I'm blessed.
Out.

Friends in High Places

So I'm working in Dave & Lisa's sub this morning and on the way out see that Lisa is unloading groceries. I pull in and say hi. She says, you've got good timing. I ask why. She says "because Brian (Dave's brother) is on his way in a Chinook (huge military helicopter)." Brian flew in Iraq over the last couple years and continues to fly here locally for training. Anyway..... sure enough. No sooner than the words came out of her mouth, I heard it. The unmistakable racket of the Chinook. He flew a few circles right over us at 500 feet (ridiculously close for an aircraft that big) and then took off.


I called Lindsay (at our house) to tell her about it. She was pretty excited. Well, she calls me back five minutes later yelling into the phone "he's here! he's here!" I could hear it through the phone. He had flown right over our house on the way back and stopped to say hello (in his own special way)!


Nothing like a sweet military fly-by to brighten your day. Thanks Brian!


Photos are taken on my camera phone, so bear with them.

Christmas Week [part 2]

Christmas Week [part 1]

Resting the Fields

It's been seven months since mom passed away. About two weeks ago, we got an invitation from the funeral home to attend a special "candle lighting ceremony". I didn't really know what to expect, but we went. What I was hoping for was a little closure. I was so busy at the time she died that I didn't spend much energy on the grieving process. I had just lost my job and was trying to figure out how to provide for my family. Over the last few months, I wished I had taken more time to grieve her. What I got out of tonight was much more.

At first I was a bit apprehensive when they started by playing a Josh Groban song over the speaker system. It felt awkward just sitting there (in the same room we said goodbye to mom in) watching everyone tear up. I could tell I was too, but I was also holding back, just like when I held her hand and watched her slip away that Monday afternoon. After that there was a very nice message from a Lutheran pastor. He didn't spend too much time on the religion of it all, but gave some very practical advice for the upcoming holidays. I appreciated it a great deal and told him as much afterward.

The part that really got to me, though, was when the funeral home staff asked each person (about 80 people) to mention briefly who they were there to remember. Our family was very close to the beginning and we mentioned "Grandma Rose" and "Mom". As the rest of the room continued, I really felt it. The loss. Right along with all those other folks and their losses. We were all in this together. And we would all survive. Many had lost mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters as well as friends. One little girl caught my attention when she said, just loud enough to hear across the room, "my daddy".

After that, four candles were lit representing different things which I can't remember. From one of those a single candle was lit. Everyone in the room began to pass the light along as we each lit our own candle in memory of our departed loved ones.

One of the things I took from the evening was that Christmas doesn't have to be the same each year. There are some years where we may not be up to the "hoopla" of it all. I remember in 1984 my dad died on Christmas eve. That was one of those years, but I was just in complete shock through the holidays. This year is one of those years too. But I've had seven months to think about it.

Forgive me if I'm just a bit less festive this year. My "fields" will be resting this holiday season. And from those fields will spring new hope and holiday spirit for my remaining years, God willing.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.
J

Thankful for...

...a table to eat on

...food and a good cook

...family

...a (few) place(s) to park

...people who liven up the day

...comfy couches

...good holiday weather

Happy 73rd Mom

(03Nov33-15May06). Miss you.

It only hurts when I stop

So I've been taking this prescription medication for about three weeks and have about four days left. During this time, I've been getting so sore and I just don't feel "right". At first, I thought it was just because I've been cycling/running in the cold & rainy weather. But it's getting worse. I actually went online to check the side effects of this medication. "Joint soreness" is a side effect, but this is ridiculous!

Today I went for a six mile run and felt great during the run. But as soon as I was done... I felt like I had just run a hundred miles uphill. Every time I run or cycle I'm fine. But getting out of a chair after sitting for an hour... ack! Going up/down the stairs is so painful! The last time I felt like this I had just run a half marathon at sub 8 minute pace. I hope that once this medication is out of my system things get back to normal, because if they don't...

HAHAHAHAHAHA....

We get an extra HOUR of sleep tonight. Yessssssss.
J

Still dressing up for Halloween...

Photos from Lindsay and Josh.

Punkins in Virginia

Few photos from K's recent visit to Virginia.

XC Regionals

So I wake up this morning to 35 degrees and rain. Good day to go watch the cross country regionals, right? Went, mainly, to see Greg Reed run, but enjoyed the whole spectacle. There's just something about watching those runners getting coated with mud the whole way (and it WAS MUDDY). Course was a double loop x 2. Only one hill to speak of, but, given the course conditions this morning, it was enough. All those kids should be very proud of themselves for getting out there today! Thanks to Mrs. Reed for sending me these photos from the day!




Men
1. Novi [26]; 2. Plymouth [76]; 3. Churchill [90]; 4. Catholic Central [101]; 5. Canton [137]; 6. Northville [166]; 7. Salem [194]; 8. Stevenson [206]; 9. Wayne [249]; 10. Franklin [261]

Women
1. Churchill [30]; 2. Northville [78]; 3. Stevenson [100]; 4. Plymouth [117]; 5. Novi [120]; 6. Canton [153]; 7. Franklin [175]; 8. Salem [182]; 9. John Glenn [206]; 10. Garden City [250]

Singin' err..... Running in the Rain

Went out for a tempo run this evening. As usual, I left in a light rain but ran most of it in a steady downpour. This run felt great though. I haven't really been running much (with all the biking). Did the Newburgh North Loop in about 57 min. There were lots of geese, swans and ducks all over the place around Newburgh Lake. Probably where the phrase "nice weather... if you're a duck" came from. I'm off to dry off and shower.
J

Practice and adjustments

Still no hunting this season yet. It's raining today, but supposed to be high winds up in Caro this weekend.

Shot w/new adjustable sight for first time. Started from about eight yards and worked my way back to 20. With lever all the way down (aperture all the way up) I’m sighted in for about 20 yards. Had to fool with the windage adjustment a bit to get it dialed in side to side. Blasted one of my Muzzy practice broadheads on a terrible shot into a 4x4 behind the target. Felt my arm twist and do all kinds of stupid stuff when I shot that one. Mostly very consistent and accurate though. Took a few last shots from about 28 yards. Nice tight group.

Lookin' Forward to Lookin' Back...

Found myself being a little reflective about this past year the other day. Thought I'd write a few thoughts down about it.

2006

The first quarter was taken up with Lindsay (#1) being sent to Ft. Myer, VA after completing basic training. Karen and I tried to get out there as much as we could. Being the leader of the local fife & drum corps took up a decent amount of time this quarter, mainly planning the upcoming season and annual tour to be held out east in August. At work, stress began to mount as the new housing market went into a severe tailspin (see quarter 2).

Quarter two was the one that really took it's toll. Mom went into the hospital April 20th, I lost my job on the 28th and she died two weeks later. Mostly, though, I look back on this three month period as a good one (surprisingly). I started my business and started biking and running (in earnest) again. We did manage to get out to Mercer, PA in May to catch Lindsay performing with her unit for the first time. This was the quarter that Jen (#2) graduated and got her license. June ended things up by being a very busy month for my fledgling enterprise (thankfully).

Last quarter was probably defined by the tour that I led out east in August with the corps. Got to see Lindsay again while we were out there (and fellow Apple, Yojimbo). The business continued to move forward (although taking the time off for tour didn't help) and I began to get a bit more confidence as a business owner. Another highlight was doing my first "Century Ride" (100 miles) on my 44th birthday in September.

This quarter, winter seems to be encroaching on the midwest a bit early (although today was in the mid 60's, it still "looked like" winter or, at least, late fall). Earlier this month I led my last caravan with the corps and officiated the annual year end banquet (complete with killer 1000 slide PowerPoint presentation). I'm looking forward to biking and running into the holidays and getting a solid week of hunting in during mid-November. Maybe even see me some Apples before the end of 2006.

Embracing the Masochist Within

What is it about a ridiculous challenge that is so captivating? I've been hearing about the bike tour called the Columbus Fall Challenge (in Ohio... duh). It's supposed to be two days of riding in the most challenging (hence the name) hills in the state. Some of these climbs (so I hear) are more than two miles in length at very high inclines.

So when do I get to go?

See? This has to be a genetic fault in me. I can't be happy/content with just riding a few days a week for my health. No... I've got to surf the internet and read up on the Native Planet Classic (a super century ride, complete with about 10000 total feet of climbing out in the Cascades).

Anyway... I've decided that I'm completely mentally intact. The rest of the world is nuts. Out.
J

Down Goes Natiw!!!

So... Al and I just returned from a nice 25 miler in the hills. We're sitting there (on our bikes) talking. I decide to ride around in circles for a minute to run Boomer a little. As I come to a complete stop, I unclip my LEFT shoe... and suddenly realize I'm leaning RIGHT. Not good. Needless to say (but I will anyway), I could not unclip the right shoe fast enough and hit the street hard. My helmet cracked really loudly when I went down (this is why we wear helmets kids!).

Anyway, besides a scraped hand (I had taken my cycling gloves off, of course), bruised behind and a cut knee I guess I'm none the worse for wear (except for my wounded pride, of course). My seat came off the bike though (not the entire seat, just the actual cushion part). Not sure how to go about fixing THAT. Sounds like another trip to see Dan.

So, yeah... I guess I'm an official cyclist now. Woo!
J

Time & Distance

So I re-named my blog. Not a big deal, I know. But I've been thinking about the whole "It's About Time" title. Seems to me that "Time & Distance" conveys more of what I was thinking of. Time is vitally important in life, to be sure. But so is distance. Covering ground is so important. Not necessarily "travelling" or whatnot. Just moving. Being productive. Getting from A to B. Could be a trip to the store for bread or walking the dog. Maybe it's visiting a relative in a far off country or biking the shoreline of a nearby lake.

Some people get a lot of time in this life. Others, not so much. So maybe the distance we cover is at least as important as the time we have been given. I read a quote some years ago that went something like this:

"I'm not so much interested in adding years to my life as I am in adding life to my years."

Time & Distance... indeed.
J

On the Road...

Haven't updated much this summer. Most of my time has been spent planning and executing events for the fife & drum corps. I did, however, manage to get a new bike back in July. It's a Lemond Tourmalet. At the moment, I've got around 650 miles on it. I recently rode in the Celebration of Cycling. I had planned to go 50 miles that day (it was my birthday and thought I'd try to ride my age - 44), but got caught up in things and ended up doing 100. I was pretty sore the next day.

Memo to Self...

Backup your template file.... frequently.

Thought I fried this blog last night, but managed to dig up a backup file from September 2005 this morning. Only thing I've lost now is some of the links on the right sidebar. I'll slowly replace those.

Think it's time to do a little updating here. It's funny to look to the right and see that photo of Lindsay. The date on the backup file was the day before she left for basic training last year.

It's been a year. Wow.

Virginia Trip - Part 4

And, like most weddings, there was a toast or two, wedding cake was served and, if I see that photo right, a cupcake was stolen! Just kidding Mark.

Virginia Trip - Part 3

Next came the "Wedding Muster". This was held at a place called Endview Plantation in Newport News, VA. Five corps performed. We missed it, but when the Dawgs performed I heard it rained a bit.