Argh, Monday already? Wow how my 4 days off flew right by. Gotta go to work here in a few, despite wanting to crawl back into bed, lol. 24 more days and I'll be back off for 5 days for Christmas, so it's not too bad.
Yesterday's loss to Michigan was tough, but it also had something to take from it.
Michigan has some talented players, I will not argue that. But, we should have won had it not been for missed tackles, a couple injuries, and a couple stupid penalties. But no excuses, we lost. The last time we lost to them we won 7 straight against them after the loss, so look out next year.
All year, our offense struggled. At times it seemed you or I could have done better. But thru the season I saw glimpses of what's to come. For the third time in Ohio State football history, a true freshman started at quarterback. With the change at the helm, the offense was limited and relied heavily on the running game. As the season went along, I could see that Braxton Miller got better, but still was limited by the play calling.
This week against Michigan, I was both delighted and surprised to see such an aggressive play calling. I knew the only way we would stand a chance was to open up the offense and throw the ball, going 3,4, and 5 wide. And I also knew he would have to make plays running as well. Braxton made some good throws, but overthrew what should've been TDs a couple times.
The things I saw where Braxton needs to improve is being able to put touch on the ball, and some work on his footwork while throwing. He has decent throwing mechanics, there's just some tweaking needed there. To me there is no question of arm strength, he can launch the ball down field and throw a dart over the middle. But, I think he tries to throw the ball too hard a little too much, and there's times where touch needs to be used over speed. And some of his short and intermediate throws sail high on him. This is where footwork comes into play. Few QBs can throw an accurate pass if their feet are out of position when they throw.
With the offseason, I feel safe in saying the coaching staff whoever they may be with the speculation of Urban meyer taking over, will see the things I do and work with Braxton and help him improve. All around offensively and defensively there's work to be done and positions to fill, but the 2012 season should be better for Buckeye Nation. I know I will be there for the spring game in April to see what we got coming. I look forward to it and next season when we will avenge this year's loss to Michigan.
GO BUCKS!
Listening to my friends talk about their plans for their childrens' christmas kind of stings quite a bit. I hear all the time of their childrens' milestonnes, accomplishments, or something funny their kids had done.
I know it's not aimed at me because I'm about the only one I work around that does not have kids, but it gets to me. I don't show it on the outside, it just sits inside with only me knowing. I don't expect them to not talk about their kids around me, I'm happy that they are proud of their kids, and they are in my opinion good parents.
I think it stems from the fact that I want to have a family of my own more than anything. Being called "dad" or "daddy" would be the greatest thing ever to me. With the holidays here it's just tougher for me. It's the one thing in life I want and will not give up until I do.
Tomorrow is "THE GAME" between my Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines. This match up is one of if not THE biggest rivalries in college football, if not all sports.
This has been a down year for us with all that's gone on in the last few months. To make this a successful year, we need to beat that team from up north. We have a fairly young and inexperienced team, but the talent is there. Hopefully they come out fired up and play to the potential of that talent. Our defense needs to shut down the dual threat QB Robinson, and play hard all 4 quarters. Our dual threat QB Miller has to keep making the plays he has been, and take things up a notch.
I don't see this being a high scoring game. It will come down to defense, and who plays it better. We are the underdogs this year, and I am optimistic we can play spoiler to Michigan's chances at a BCS at large bid.
GO BUCKS!
I hope everyone is able to enjoy their day with the ones they love.
I have been busy since I got off work yesterday afternoon. I had to come home and clean house, hop in the shower, and head out to the stores. Got in to get my hair cut first thing before I hit the stores. I got home and had a lot of stuff to put away, and stuff to prep for today. I got some Call of Duty time in late, I was trying to stay up so I could start my cooking early, but fell asleep about 1:30 this morning and woke up at 6:30. I was kinda in panic mode because I wanted to have alreay had things going at least by 4:30, so I was in hurry up mode as soon as I saw what time it was.
I told my parents I would cook. We haven't been a traditional turkey and fixings family, so I decided on a nice beef roast with red potatoes, carrots, and celery. I had to buy a crock pot since I haven't had one for awhile so I could do it. I also baked a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting because it is mom's favorite cake. I am also going to make a ceaser salad because they really like it. I picked up some cheese and made a cheese tray because dad loves his colby and pepperjack cheese. Of course a pumpkin pie, that was a given. I had a couple other ideas on what to fix instead of a roast, but I know mom and dad really like it how I do it so I went with it instead of getting all fancy with my cooking skills and risk them not liking what I fixed. They have a much simpler palate than I do, so I have to be careful what I fix.
I'm waiting on the roast to get further along before I head their way. I can keep it going on the way because I have a power inverter in my truck.
Despite not getting a jump on my cooking and waking up 2 hours later than I wanted to, It all came together quite well.
I did have a hiccup when I started to head towards mom and dad's. The power inverter I have didn't have enough juice to run my crock pot on low or high, it would on have enough to keep it going on warm. I stopped at Walmart and bought a better one that I can run off the accessory port in my truck of directly off the battery. I hooked it up and the fuse in the plug blew as I started to leave the parking lot. Pressed for time I switched back to the old one so I could at least keep it warm and let it finish cooking when I got to mom and dad's.
I got to their house and plugged it in and let it finsh cooking for a couple hours. Despite the delay it came out better than I hoped. Both mom and dad said they've never had a better roast than this one. We visited and watched football all afternoon, yes my mom loves football as much as I do!
My aunt (dad's sister) that lives in California called dad to wish them Happy Thanksgiving while I was there. Of course I heard most of the conversation, and part of it had me fighting back tears. Mom was talking to her and bragged about me cooking and how good it was, but when she said she has the best son ever, that's what got me. I know when she says it she doesn't say it to say it, she believes it.
I don't see myself being anything special, I just do what I can and what I feel is right and what I should do. Given the situation with their limited finances and whatnot, I feel it is my duty to help when needed and go above and beyond when I can. To see how much it means to them and how much it helps them is thanks enough. To make things a little better for them is worth more than money could buy.
Now with just over a month left till Christmas, I have stuff yet to buy as part of my Christmas plan for them. I know when Christmas comes it will be an emotional day to say the least with mom. She's going to feel bad I've spent so much money on them and she can't buy for me. I know they don't have the money to do it, but I don't want anything. To be able to be in a situation that allows me to do what I am doing is all I need.
There are a few things I miss about having someone in my life.
I miss that feeling of waking up with someone beside me.
I miss the feeling of passion of a kiss or touch.
I miss having someone curled up with me on the couch.
I miss having someone run their fingers thru my hair.
I miss knowing that no matter how my day went there was someone I looked forward to seeing at the end of the day.
I miss seeing the look on someone's face when I do something nice "just because".
I miss feeling love for someone and being loved back.
I miss getting up for work and can't wait to get thru the day to get back home to someone.
I guess to sum it up I miss all the aspects of having someone in my life.
Usually, I am the one being the voice of reason and giving advice to family, friends, co-workers, or acquaintances.
Why it is so easy to do so or why I seem to have people come to me is sometimes bewildering. I know I take a sensible, logical, and realistic approach to things, but I seem to have a grip on situations and know what should be said.
Sometimes it's not always what someone wants to hear, but I will only give my honest opinion.
On the flip side, I usually don't ask for help or advice. Part of it is my hesitation to bother someone else with my dilemmas, and I think the other is my stubborness and pride gets in the way. For the most of it, I go at things on my own, and I am determined that I can find a way without having to reach out.
Now with the dating thing and my search for someone, I've had people put their thoughts out there for me to hear. Some of it does make sense, and some is just nonsense or something I would not do.
Of course I've heard things from the guys such as "I need to just go out and get laid" or" you're not married, so why not go after more than one". Those are not me and never have been. I'm not one for a one night stand, and I am not a player.
I've had some say I should step outside of my "comfort zone" for a change and see what might come along. I've also been told to try going out with a youger or older woman than what age range I am looking for. Then there's ones who have said I should try online dating sites unknownst to them I am already trying that, lol.
With Thanksgiving in a few days, it makes me reflect on what I am thankful for.
Thinking back, I'd have to say I have a lot to be thankful and grateful for. I'd have to say the #1 thing above all else I am fortunate to have is my parents. They have played a huge role in my being who I am today. They could not afford to give me things that cost a lot of money growing up, but they gave me so many things money can not buy. They taught me to work hard to get what I need and what I want. They instilled good morals and values into me, to respect others and be considerate and compassionate. They have always been there for me every step of the way, rooting me on when I played football and baseball, my 4-H shows, my school events, and being there when I needed them. They have been there for me when I've needed a voice of reason when things have seemed lost. I can never do enough to show them or tell them how grateful and proud I am to have them in my life, no matter how much I try or how much now I do to help them.
I'm grateful that in these hard financial and economic times that I have a good job to go to every day. It allows me to live good and be able to do as much as I can to help my parents. I may not be rich by any means, but I am a simple man and I do not need much. I have a nice cozy apartment, a nice reliable truck, and some nice goodies in my apartment it has allowed me to afford.
Even though it has ended in heartbreak and I am single right now, I am grateful to have known love.
I am lucky to have some good friends that I know will be there for me if I need them. Usually it is me going to help them, but that is because I usually don't ask for help. But I know if I did that they would be there.
I think these people (PETA)go overboard, to say the least. The new ad for Thanksgiving targets kids saying "KIDS: If you wouldn't eat your dog,why eat a turkey?" The picture on it is a turkey body with a dog's head (jack russell terrier).
I'm all for someone making their own choices, I can respect that. But when a group of idiots who under the disguise of treating animals ethically or fairly, try to impose their will upon others, I draw the line. I like meat, and I will eat it no matter what these people say or do. If someone wants to live their life vegan or vegetarian, that's fine by me, but do not try to force me to live that way.
Groups like this hurt noble causes. Actions by PETA hurt the efforts of those who are only concerned with treating animals humanely. There is a huge difference between trying to do something to help, and using the notion of helping to force their wishes upon others. To me their actions are worse than what they are trying to do, and they hurt their cause more than they help it.
I've done it before, I admit it. I think that's why what happened 8 years ago came to be. Since then I have learned to not take what is important to me for granted.
I see it with some friends of mine. One of them is at the very least involved in an emotional relationship with a married woman, and he himself is married as well, and he has a child with his wife. To make things worse at least from my view, is this woman he is messing around with's husband is in prison for drug dealing, and has been locked up before. Now drug dealers have their outside connections, and from what I know of this guy they are not very good people. Not only is he risking his marriage and possibly his or his family's lives by having this supposed "only emotional" connection with this other woman, but she is using him for whatever she can get from him. Me and my other friends have brought this up to him and he seems to only be concerned with what he wants or thinks he wants.
Then I have another friend who is married and messing with another woman from work. She is a nutjob I think, but yet he keeps messing with her, on and off all the time. He has a good wife at home, a beautiful 5 year old little girl, a house, ect... He's got a lot going for him, but yet he risks it all to mess with this other woman. Except for the extramarital thing, he is a good guy otherwise. I've had talks with him about this a few times, he knows he shouldn't be doing what he's doing, but he says he for some reason cannot just stop.
Then comes the other friend. He is obsessed with bass fishing. I like to go fishing, but this guy is over the top with it. He says it's his second job, literally, but he doesn't win but a couple dollars a year. It doesn't compare to the expenses he puts out for it, a 2011 bass boat he is paying nearly $67,000 for, like almost $800 a month for, a diesel truck he pays like $600+ a month for, and whatever fuel costs, tournament costs, tackle expenses, vehicle and boat maintenance expenses, plus his cell phone, insurance, ect..... Notice I left out living expenses, he is a mooch. He lives in a house owned by his dad with a friend of his, his friend pays the utilities and grocery expenses. He lived with his girlfriend for almost 2.5 years before she finally got fed up with his mooching off of her, and asked him to move out. Amazingly he has a woman that will put up with him. he does what he wants, rarely spends time with her and her kids, and seems to expect this to be all good all the time like he does no wrong. I've told him he needs to grow up and pay his own way, and he says he does. He doesn't come close. Sure he pays for his boat and truck, but all these non needed expense take all his money and he could not in any way shape or form be on his own without mooching off someone else or giving up his "toys" to grow up and be a big boy. He doesn't like it when he pushes my buttons and I let him have a needed reality check, but hey I'm only speaking the truth.
I learned a hard lesson when I lost my fiance 8 years ago. But a lesson learned none the less. I know what matters in life should not be so easily taken for granted. I wish these 3 guys would wake up and see things for what they are instead of what they want to see. I'm always going to be there being the voice of reason, and be there for them if they need me, that's just who i am. But I wish them and others would wake up before they lose it all.
I think I do a pretty good job at keeping it together, at least for what people can see on the outside. There's times where what looks ok on the outside is not what it is on the inside.
With the holidays knocking on the door the inner battles seem to come creeping around. I guess being single for the holidays and the fact it was about this time 8 years ago I lost my one true love that I was going to marry, really makes me reflect. There's the loneliness but then there's the "what might have been" that swirl around in my head. I'm a firm believer in things happen for a reason, but that doesn't change the questions of why.
I know I have a lot of strength, but that doesn't mean I don't feel pain. I don't think no one I'm close to really knows because I keep things to myself to not burden anyone with my troubles. Some of them I don't think really understand how I feel because they have never walked down the roads in life that I have. I've been to Hell and back and still standing, if that means anything. I'm a fighter, always have been and always will be. But even the strong have moments of weakness.
I have been trying to keep my mind off things, but this time of year brings it out. I have tried to push my focus on my Christmas plan for my parents, but there's things from time to time like a song, movie, or TV show that brings it to the forefront of my thoughts. Sometimes my heart overpowers my mind I guess.
It's not gonna stop me from keeping myself moving forward in life, but meerely a reflection of where I've been and where I want to be.
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