The Big Reveal

At my last job (NewHomes), we would have a monthly meeting to review the company financial statements. It was called the 'Big Reveal'. At the same time, we would always have some 'team building' activities. It was always a lot of laughs.

I started off kind of quiet, but eventually my true personality emerged. It was at one of these events, that I pulled off my version of the 'Big Reveal'.

I have always been a Pittsburgh Pirate baseball fan. They were very competitive in the 1970's (winning two championships), and also in the early 1990's. Since 1992, they have been terrible (not one winning season).

Last year, the Tampa Rays, who like the Pirates would always finish last, finally started winning. My wife and I started to go the games and we became fans.

So at the monthly meeting, I stood up and proceeded to tell a 'made-up' story that had people thinking I was leaving the company. Oh, and I was wearing a Pittsburgh Pirate jersey.

I can't remember all the details, but I said something like ...

"I just wanted to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to work here. What I am about to do is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. As most of you know, I was born in Pittsburgh and I was a big sports fan. I always think back on a lot of fond memories growing up there. But, now I am in Florida. And, I have a big decision to announce. Its really hard for me to do this, I hope my family will understand".

At that moment, I took off my Pirate jersey. Underneath it, I had on a Rays shirt. And then, I finished my statement.

"So, I am officially announcing that I am switching my allegiance from the Pirates to the Rays".

Everyone laughed and clapped.

It was a lot of fun.

The day of the "Big Reveal".

A Mole In One

When I lived in Pittsburgh, I enjoyed playing golf with my cousin Freddie. Freddie is probably the craziest person I ever met.

His sense of humor is legendary. He and his friends would go into very exclusive restaurants and his friends would film Freddie as he pretended to fly around the patrons in a Superman costume. They did it to make some kind of documentary on how people react to outrageous behavior. I don't think they ever finished the movie, but it gave me ideas for something I did at my previous job (that will be in a future blog).

Anyway, one day we were playing golf and as we walked off the putting green, we see a dead mole. So, Freddie, picks it up and proceeds to place it in the hole we just played and puts the flag back in.

We go to the next tee box and wait and watch. Sure enough, an older couple reach the green and a lady goes to remove the pin but she is having trouble. She looks in the hole and shrieks. Her husband comes over and they both look into the hole, not knowing what to do. Finally, he uses his putter to lift it out.

I still laugh at that memory.

It was "A Mole in One".

High School Basketball Memory

In 10th grade, I was asked to be the basketball manager for our High School basketball team, the Chartiers Valley Colts.

I had tried out for the team, but I was way too skinny. I was a good shooter, though.

Myself and the other managers would alway try to shoot some baskets before the game. One time, we were at an away game and I was shooting long shots from beyond the baseline. I would arc the ball high in the air and hope they would go in. On this night, I couldn't miss.

After about 10 in a row, I hear a lady sitting in the stands say to her friend, "If the manager can shoot like that, what about the rest of the team?. I don't think we have a chance".

We won that game and all the other games in our section. It was a good year for the Colts.

Quick Movie Review

Went to see the new GI Joe movie the other night.

If you like nonstop action, a loud soundtrack, and an unrealistic plot, and needles getting plunged into people's faces ... go see it. I guess it is loosely based on the comic strip (which I never saw as a kid).

I personally was looking for the exits within 5 minutes after it started. If we weren't with friends, I probably would have escaped. It was possibly the worst movie I have seen in years.

I like movies that make you think or are uplifting.

Oh, and in the seat next to me was a mom and her infant daughter who was whining throughout the movie. At least the loud soundtrack drowned out some of her crying.

But, the popcorn was tasty.

Book Review - Slaying the Giants in Your Life

One of the ministries that I donate to is Dr. David Jeremiah. People that donate to his ministry receive various gifts in the mail as part of the "Circle of Friends" program.

The other day the gift was a book called "Slaying the Giants in Your Life".

Click here for ordering info.

The topics covered in the book include:

1. Fighting Your Fear
1. Destroying Your Discouragement
2. Liberation from Loneliness
3. Winning Against Worry
4. Guarding Against Guilt
5. Taming Your Temptation
   
6. Attacking Your Anger
7. Disarming Your Doubts
8. Postponing Your Procrastination
9. Facing Your Failure
10. Journeying Beyond Jealousy

I highly recommend this to anyone who is dealing with any of the above issues. The author, David Jeremiah, provides excellent biblical advice to help people overcome those 'giants'.

One common solution to each problem is reading God's word and getting involved in the lives of other people by way of ministry.

This book spoke directly to me. I am not fighting all 11 giants, but I am battling some of them.

A Tragedy in My Old Neighborhood

Last week, a mass killing occurred in the neighborhood I grew up in. A man shot and killed 3 people and himself at a health club and wounded many others.

The LA Fitness gym was recently constructed. I used to work at a nightclub that would have been right next to the gym.

My sisters friend was best friends with one of the victims. The same victim lived a few streets away from my mom.

Click here for the story.

It's another reminder of how we don't know how much time we have. We all need to make the most of the time that God has given us. My desire is to spend my remaining days serving God by ministering to others with all my heart.

Here is a moving poem that was posted on Facebook in memory of the victim I mentioned above:

Heidi Overmier is the mother of Ian Overmier. Heidi was one of many shot on August 4th at the shooting at LA Fitness in Bridgeville, unfortunately she did not make it. We've created this group to show that we care and our hearts go out to the Overmier family for their loss.



If I Knew

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.


There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Snake Field Update

A while back, I wrote a blog about a place I take my dogs to. I call it the Snake Field. Click here for the earlier blog.

The field is supposedly maintained by TECO (Tampa Electric). I say supposedly because the grass has not been cut at all this year.

As of this writing, the weeds are about 3 feet tall. This has made for some interesting walks as I take Bob and Rusty on one of their many walks. Of course, Rusty, takes his time. He is off his leash and he prefers to roll on his back as he slowly makes his way along the way.

Bob, on the other hand, has found a new adventure. He sticks his nose deep into the weeds because he senses the presence of wildlife. He is our resident 'varmint' remover. He has eliminated many a possum and armadillo. His new target are field mice. I know this because as he is sniffing away, I see his intended prey scurry away.

What's funny is that when Rusty finally catches up and starts sniffing, Bob assumes that Rusty has cornered the rodents. Bob will pull away from me as fast as he can and hop through the tall grass until he reaches Rusty. He will push Rusty out of the way and stick his head deep into the weeds.

It makes for some good laughs.

One of these days, he will probably catch a mouse. He is a pretty determined dog.