I would like to thank the amazing people at Habitat For Humanity of Summit County and their incredible Home-In-One Golf Outing.   I have been the Honorary Chair for this outing for about 10 years, and it's an real honor for me.

I am a real believer in the mission that Habitat has, and the services they provide. This is something you should really take a few minutes and see how you can possibly benefit.

The home of this outing is the Hudson Country Club and they do a very nice job and make us all feel welcome.

We had an amazing time, played well....at times....LOL.  There is a great vibe around this event every year.  It always feels good to support those worth supporting, and they certainly are..

See what Habitat can do for you!  Proud to be their voice!

“I am thankful I have you to miss..”

It’s normal to feel some form of sorrow when we are away from those we hold dear.  Missing special people is as much a part of life, as being with them.  Sadly, we can’t always be with the ones we want as much as we would like.  I feel though I had a personal awakening of sorts after my dad died when I was 16.  Do I miss him?  Sure in some way, every day.  But I am far more thankful that he was here, than sad he is not now.

I feel that transfers to all of the special people that we have in our lives.  Being away from those we really care about is nobody’s first choice.  But when reality occurs, and there is time apart, I find solace in the fact that I am thankful I have those people in my life….that I do miss.  No one is happy about the time apart, but I am far more thankful for the time spent together.  Time together reminds us of how special someone really is, and how much their presence is a part of our personal passion for them.  Then on the rare occasions when absence is reality, I find I am glad I have them in my life…to miss.

We should be reminded that time spent together should always be savored, enjoyed, and never taken for granted.  Whether time apart is for a day, a few days, or many many days, we should be thankful that those special souls have chosen us, and us them, to walk through the world together.  I’m in no way saying that missing someone is a great thing, because it’s not.  But having them in my life…to miss…most certainly, and unequivocally is.

There are lots of nice songs about missing people we all know and they can all kind of run together sometimes, but here’s one from a long while ago.  Well done by the Bellamy Brothers!

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Another weekend of few releases, as there are plenty of HUGE movies to see right now, and studios are waiting for them to blow over. But this is well timed.  With all the animation, superhero and Disney stuff out right now, it seems right for a Quentin Tarantino flick to find an crowd.  A behind the scenes Hollywood story set in 1969.

 Official Trailer not appropriate for this site

When we walked on the moon in 1969 when I was very young, but I do remember my parents making sure we all watched Neil and Buzz make world history.  I am glad of that.

I remember wanting to be an astronaut.  And although my life went and continues to go in a different direction, I would have done what they did all those years ago.  And if I had the chance, I would do it now.  I get it, there are a few obstacles in my way, but the chance to walk on the moon, or sit on top of a Saturn V Rocket in the Apollo capsule is something I would do in a heartbeat.

Windy and I saw Neil's spacesuit from all those years ago last week on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, and we both had to take a pic.  And even though neither one of us will be suiting up and riding the Orion into space, it's nice to dream we would.

Hangin' With Neil Armstrongs Moon Suit

So Cool! 

I have been going to Indians games for many years.  I have been a 20 game season ticket holder for the past 3 years, but I remember when going to a Tribe game was exactly that.  Going to a ball game.  Now it is so much more - and it's better.

Long gone are the days of 3,000 fans in old Municipal Stadium for Banner Day, or Grandstand Managers Day, with soggy hotdogs, a scoreboard that looked like Pong, and the dreaded troughs.  When you go to Progressive Field now, it's a blast from the moment you walk in.  The music, the food, the great smells, the sun, the shows, the well....everything.  The Indians are a first class operation who give you a fun, family friendly experience from start to finish.  And as the years go on the overall experience continues to get better....

I mean, where else where else can you see live hot dogs starring in a hot local band?

GO TRIBE!!!

I know, National Ice Cream Day was Sunday, but that's ridiculous.  Ice cream gets one single day?   What is better than ice cream?  I don't, but I could eat ice cream every single day.  And all fans know there are a few kinds of ice cream, good, really good, great, fantastic, and amazing.  And being honest, I don't care what kind I am eating. 

I am a cup and bowl guy though, and yes I am anti-cone.  Traditional cones taste and look like asbestos, or insulation.  Sugar cones, though better, are still a calorie waster.  Then there are waffle cones. In a pinch and when there is a much dreaded bowl shortage, waffle cones will do, but still there is a decision. If I am going to eat the waffle cone, or get out a spoon and go to work right out of the tub.

I for one don't need a bunch of mumbo jumbo on ice cream either.  Just roll it up, and slap in the bowl.  Small spoon too make it last longer.  Perfect rolls are fine or SQUARE as you can see from the pic, (Windy's hand)  that's the Idaho way.  And BTW, do you really need a "sample?"  Maybe if you're like.....9.   But it's ice cream, order, pay and keep the line moving.....

Long live ice cream.

“If what is said isn’t understood as you wish the first time, let’s take a breath, and say it a second time – to make sure we get it right – together”

Many really good people struggle with the spoken word.  Not so much the day to day, but when it seems to matter. Sometimes, when it really matters.  They just can’t find the words to express what they are feeling at an important time.

You know the times, life’s crunch time.  And conversely, many of us struggle to listen as we should at that same crunch time. Maybe a relationship is in the balance, a big time work thing, or a family matter that has grown large.  Listening and watching are the same thing at this time.  When someone opposite you is wrestling with the expression of their feelings, we should watch them intently, and listen same.  Understanding they are trying to verbalize mightily at the surface, what has manifested honestly from the very deep.  And for many, in fact all of us at one time or another have been on both sides of the conversation.

And you know, it may not have come out the way they wished he first time, and that’s OK.  But if you’re watching, you’ll see that, and if you’re listening you’ll hear it.  So then both should breathe, and try again.  And now that the pressure has been released, generally they get it right the second time.  And again, if you’re watching, you’ll know that too. 

It’s never easy to say, what isn’t easy to say.   So together, it can be said much easier.  It’s a free gift to give those in your life whose words struggle on the journey from heart to head.  We can then feel what is felt, and hear what is said. 

Here’s a nice song about the words struggle, from Rock Hall Of Famer, Dave Mason…

This is the easiest Movie Preview post ever!

The Lion King

This live action remake during the 25th anniversary of the release of the orignal animated flick may be the biggest opening weekend for any movie ever.  Disney has had some live action remake flops, and others that have preformed below expectations, but this will make up for them.   Overall the response to the live action versions have been OK, but this may really turn the tide temporarily, and in turn, put big pressure on the ones still to come.

There are those that think this may bring in 450 million this weekend alone, which would set a record.  Everything is in line to be huge, and it will be.  Get your tickets in addvance, and for pity sakes, sit in the seat you're assigned.  The theaters are going to be packed all weekend long.

Why is it that there are some things you just have to do?  While out west on vacation, we saw a bevy of Sinclair Gas Stations. Windy and I were getting ready to take a tour of Salt Lake City, and I saw the station with its iconic green Brontosaurus Dinosaur!  (It's actually a Apatosaurus)  She immediately got out her phone, smiled and rolled her eyes.  She laughed, and went into Photosaurus Rex mode, as she does love taking pictures.

Ya Gotta......

Yeah, I wanted a pic and I got one.  I know it wasn't Mount Rushmore, or the Grand Canyon, or even The Bob's Big Boy.  But it had to be done.  And truth be told if there was a Big Boy handy, I would have done that too.  We all seem to like taking pics at certain areas for unknown reasons.

 Like with this......thing... for some ridiculous reason.....

Like the Big Block C at Progressive Field.  And as you can see, I have one of those too.   For some reason, some things just call our name, and we snap away.

It's like a rule or something......

 The "Cleveland" signs now are all the rage and we all seem to have one of those in our files...but for some reason, we forgot to get in the pic here....

Reasons Unknown.........

And all of the above are all well and fine, but they are no Sinclair Green Dinosaur....

I love to find fun businesses and sometimes the diverse things one place can do.  Years ago in my hometown of Berea, there was the Berea Laundromat and Deli. (BTW brilliant idea)  And this week when Windy and I were on vacation in Idaho, we found this gem in Lava Hot Springs, population 407.  The Royal Hotel and Pizzeria.

PERFECT!

Its about perfect.  Delicious pizza, and then a place to lay down after dining!  This is the stuff of genious.  Now before you think this could not possibly be good, it was.  VERY good.  And it's been there for 105  years, so they are doing something right! (1917)  Sometimes in small towns you have to be many things to many people, and that is what this was!  Place was packed and the pie was great!

Also, should be noted, also in this fun little town, I had the best chef salad I have ever had ANYWHERE at a place called Ye Ole Chuckwagon Restaurant about three doors down the street!

Plus, we learned that a small squeeze of lemon on a pizza slice is delish!  And it was.  When in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, do as they do!