Buckeye Mike

This morning I got up and my knee pain was as bad as its ever been. I have had a chronic knee problem as long as I can remember, but the plane ride out combined with two twelve hour days on my feet had me nearly unable to walk. I knew I could not sustain another day, so I stayed behind and rested. Pain killers, ice, heat, and sleep seemed to have calmed it down some. though the pain is still there, it is not nearly as sharp as it has been. Several years ago, after a Fiesta Bowl win, I heard Troy Smith f the Buckeyes talking about a burger joint called In and Out Burger. He said that the reason the tried for the Arizona game was to have a burger there. I made mental note to try it if I ever came across one. Then on the plane, a gentleman from the east coast told me when he comes to Sacramento twice a year , he stops at In and Out before even visiting his parents. So naturally, I decided I needed to try it tonight. And I did not regret it. While it will never compete with The Gahanna

We are called to all kinds of projects all over the work. In Chile, it was a mega quake that knocked the Earth off its axis. In Tennessee, it was driving rain that flooded an entire city in less than an hour. And here in Sacramento, a mentally disturbed individual got the idea to light an entire mall on fire. I cannot imagine what kind of tortured mind devised that plan. I only know is that the right company is in place to make it right. A crew of 200 always brings some sort of chaos. Checking everyone in every morning, assigning them tasks, and following through keeps me hopping normally. But not here. I am not the Project Manager here. In fact, I so far having been running a small team with dedicated tasks. And while the change of pace is a throw back to my field days, I cannot resist the urge to jump in. Far too many project managers seem to be make conflicting decisions regularly. At one point today we spent 2 hours outside while they put their heads together to decide what to do

I woke up this morning at home. Got up very early because I knew I had a lot to accomplish before my 1 pm flight to Dallas, and subsequent flight to Sacramento. I rushed through the early part of the day and was sitting at the gate at Port Columbus when they informed us that the weather had shut down the Indianapolis Airport. Simultaneously, I got a text from a friend in Louisville telling me that they were under a tornado warning. We boarded early and were wheels up before one. As we ascended to 27,000 feet I could see out the window the impending monster storm that was about to hit Columbus. The first 15 minutes were a violent ride through winds and airpockets . But once above it we sailed smooth all the way to Texas. The connecting flight was brutally long but not uncomfortable. Very little turbulence made for an uneventful trip into Northern California. So now I am sitting in the hotel in Sacramento, actually Roseville . My first trip to California just starting, there is a lot I

This is actually my second blog tonight. The first one I am going to keep private. So on we go. I spent the afternoon on the beach at Alum Creek. It was a really great experience. The place was virtually deserted, and the wind was very strong. A frew stray windsurfers and bass boats dotted the horizon, but for the most part we had the beach to ourselves. We rolled our pant legs up and waded out a little, stopping to snap a few photos, then we sat on the beach and enjoyed the breeze, mixed with the sun. It was a very cool day and it's something I intend to do again. Of course being around the water always is a good time for me to think about things.thus the private blog lol. But I will say the further I go down this path alone, the more I realize I am on this path alone. I hope that makes sense. I remember a creed that someone told me they lived by. Two feet stay strong. I understand it now, though I didn't then. And it means a lot to me today. Let's go ahead and add it to t

Today was another day in what is becoming a routine in my life. It is a pattern I am growing very comfortable with, one that will serve me well for the forseeable future. Up early and into the office, focusing on my tasks at hand, and, for tonight, scooping up the boys and bringing them to my house for a night of movies and playing. If I don't have them, I take the dog for a walk, settle into a book or a movie, go have a drink with a friend, or whatever else may present itself. Its not planned. There are no appointments. Sure, I am having breakfast with Beth Saturday for her birthday. But overall, no calendar, no rushing not to be late, no worries. I am loving the spontaneous nature of my days. And when that becomes routine for you, it makes life a lot more fun. And a lot less stressful.That is a welcome change in my ever evolving life. Another thing may have changed this week as well. Without going into specifics, it was one of those moments where you say exactly what is in your b

This is my favorite time of year. The leaves are changing colors, the crisp mornings turn into perfect afternoons, OSU football is in full gear, and Halloween is just around the corner. Autumn can be seen as a great segway in the world, transitioning us from the warmth of summer sun to the frigid temperatures of winter. This fall has also been a time of great change for a close friend of mine. A few short weeks ago she was on the path to real happiness with what seemed like the person she was supposed to be with. Watching them gave inspiration to all of us around them who are searching. Yet he walked away and left her broken hearted. Since then she has been a shell of who she had been, trying to grieve without anger and find a way to stay connected. Tonight, Bethany crossed the bridge into acceptance, cutting all ties to the man she had planned to marry. As I watched her hesitate before hitting the delete button, which would sever the biggest connection to him, I remembered her doing t

Sitting here in the breakfast nook at my Dad's house in Springfield Illinois, I feel comfortable and at home. No, I didn't grow up in this house. They moved here in 2007 from Gahanna and I had never been to this town before that. Yet when I look around I see my mother in every room. I feel her here with us, look at the photos of her on the wall, and even half expect her to come walking around the corner to sit down here with me. It is a comforting feeling, which is different than the other times I have been here since we lost her. The sadness I felt driving up and tears in my eyes as I saw her image hanging in the hall did not surface this time. This weekend was a celebration of my Dad's birthday, and the visit has been filled with hearty laughs and great conversation. I am grateful for weekends like this and wish that I lived closer to share more of these times with him, my sister, and her family. My Dad is not really my father for those of you who do not know. He is my

I remember that cold morning in 1986. My sister, my brother, my mother, and me were in our cramped two bedroom apartment and watching the shuttle launch when it burst into flames. 1989, while watching a world series game, I remember the earthquake hitting San Fransisco. I remember 9/11/2001 my niece calling me to say that plane had crashed into the world trade center and turning on the TV just in time to see the second one hit. I remember all of these moments and more in detail because of their magnitude and how they changed the world we live in. I bet most people do the same. Today we witnessed another one of those events. Only this was not a single moment of tragedy. It was 24 hours of jubilation. As the escape pod lifted each of the 33 miners who had been trapped for 69 days to the surface, cheers could be heard from around the world. From the first two weeks when we didn't know they were alive to the moment the foreman stepped out of the snall vessel, the world has been captiva

The last seven days have been somewhat of a whirlwind on many different fronts. If you have read recently you know that my divorce was final on Tuesday of last week. An end that I had become anxious for came and went with very little fanfare. Following that, I began to think about what's next. And I realized that there doesn't have to be a next, at least for now. Content in my solitude, I am not looking for the next big thing or Miss Right to grace my life. Sure, I had a date last evening with a delightful woman. But I do not have any expectations. I have stopped planning and decided that I will let the good things come to me. As part of that I did enjoy and evening out Friday. With no notions of something bigger, I had the time of my life. 3 bars in 6 hours, capped off with seeing the Menus made for a great birthday celebration for a great friend. A day with the boys Saturday and a DJ event Sunday, followed by the aforementioned date last night filled out my weekend. Then toda

Over the last 18 months, I have had a lot of people come and go out of my life. But my core group of friends have and continue to be the greatest support system amyone could ever have. Brad, thanls for always having my back no matter how stupid I am being. Ralph, thanks for always making me think about things from a different point of view. Bobbi, you always seem to know the right word, whether they are something I want to hear or not. I am always amazed how one of us can be so down when we start talking but we are both laughing hysterically by the time we are done. Dave and Sara, perfect timing with needed distractions more times than I can remember. And last but not least, my Miss B.Bethany, you have been my rock during all this. You saved my life. You deserve so much happiness and I hurt with you right now. I love you. I love all of you. I couldn't be me without you, and I look forward to the next 1000 memories that each of you will bring:) 2 blogs in one night. Everyone happy n

As I sit tonight, writing this blog, I look back over the past 18 months at what a wild ride it has been. April 1 2009, I packed my things and left the woman who had been in my everyday life for 13 years. Along the way we had three tremendous children, yet I knew as I left that what I was doing was in the best interests of them. Now, a year and a half later, on a road full of whiskey, women, and monumental mistakes, I will go to bed tonight as someones ex husband for the first time. My divorce being final at 9:45 this morning, I feel as though a tremendous weight has been taken from my life. My plan was to meet friends and get piss drunk tonight in celebration of this long awaited event. Yet as the day progressed, I instead decided to have a quiet evening with the boys at home, watching Ironman 2. Seemed like a much more fitting tribute to the end of this era in my life. As I wake up tomorrow, it will truly be the first day of the rest of my life. And I would be lying if I didn't s