AlphabetSoup

So it begins.

My third annual trip to the Phoenix area for baseball, beers, and brats.

Eric and I started this little tradition three years ago. We usually average 4 games in 4-5 days.

Since we started this, the Indians have moved from Florida to Phoenix, and have plans to add the Cincinnati Reds to their complex in 2010.

Eric is from Cincinnati.

Reds or Indians everyday. One park. 2010 will be fun.

We expect to have visited every Phoenix area stadium at the end of this trip, and that includes a trip to Tucson.

More updates to come.

Play Ball!

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make you realize just how lucky you are.

On Sunday, Feb 15, 2008, my wife, Meghan, suffered a stroke at the young age of 32. She is slowly recovering from the loss of vision in her left eye.

I am going to try, over the coming weeks and months, to thank everyone for their support, their positive thoughts, and their offers of help since the day of the stroke.

It is truly amazing the network of friends and family we have amassed over the years. It is unfortunate that is took this event to realize it, but it was wonderful to have so many people reach out and help, offer to help, or just be there, we just hope that some day we can thank everyone for helping us get through this situation.

As an update, we don’t have an answer as to the cause of the stroke. All we know is that the clot dissolved, and that normal blood flow has been restored. Because of her age, and the fact that she is very healthy, no one seems to think that she won’t get her full vision restored. It will just take time.

Thank you.

Interested in winning a free drobo? www.mydl.me is running a contest. Check out this link:

http://mydl.me/2009/03/want-to-win-a-free-drobo/

I have been pushing the limits of my available hard drive space. With almost 400GB of iTunes content, and 600GB of Time Machine backups for the iMac and the Macbook, my available HD space is running short, quickly.

I have been trying to plan for a future solution, and everything keep pointing me to the Drobo. If you don’t know about the Drobo, you can check it out at www.drobo.com.

Wish me luck, I hope to win a Drobo.

Happy New Year to everyone!

I hope you had a nice 2008, and have bigger and better plans for 2009.

Sure, everyone wants to lose some weight (I do have a bit of a belly), and everyone wants to read more (the stack of books on my bed-side table is getting pretty tall), and everyone wants to eat better, drink less (sacre bleu!).

Me? I just want to have some control over my day.

I want to better use my time. I want to wake up earlier. I want to be more productive (as well as lose weight, read more, eat better, etc.).

But I don’t want to get caught up in this New Year’s resolution, big life changes, etc. and then when March comes around I am sleeping in, drinking too much, and driving by the gym wondering what it looks like on the inside.

There are gadgets, services, web sites, systems, etc to help you change you habits. We elected Obama on his message of change. But, how do we change? How do we go from someone who hates mornings, to someone who is productive in the AM?

 I’m 32. I know I need to grow up. But at this point, what is it gonna take to make me change my ways?

I was following a blog www.zenhabits.com.

it was inspiring, but the problem with inspiration is that you have someone who has already reached your goal, and after you fail a couple of time they start to sound “preachy.”  Thus, making it easier to give up.

How do you convince yourself to not give up.

How do you stay out of bed, when you walk across the room to turn off your alarm?

How do you drive into the parking lot of the gym with your gym bag packed on the seat next to you?

How do you grab a gatorade instead of beer after a long day?

So 2009, now is your chance. 2008 didn’t do too well. But after 365 days, I am still here.

Still a little over weight.

Still sleeping in too long

Still drinking a lot of beer

Still finding ways to not go to the gym.

So bring it on 2009. Because for the next 30-60 days, I have all the inspiration, desire, and can-do attitude… I just hope we can spread it out over the next 360 days.

Today I voted. After two years of talking about it, we the people get a chance to have our voice be heard. If you haven’t voted yet, get out and exercise your right. Regardless who wins, the hard work starts tomorrow.