Category: friends

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The Politics Of Life

I’m up, I can’t sleep. A friend called me and woke me from my beauty giving slumber. You know I can use all of it I can get. I don’t feel much like sleeping right now though. Friday wasn’t good for me. The past week wasn’t good for me. My life is a little out of control right now.

Friday night was a short one for me. I ate at Rock Ottom, big surprise and came right home and went to bed. I just wasn’t feeling things this evening. My friends were in different moods than I was and I wasn’t having it.

Saturday looks better. I have a BBQ and I’m making a Fruit Pizza. I can’t wait to taste it. Just like Mom makes, yum! Better yet, I can’t wait for some of my friends to try it. It’s a different circle of friends.

At any rate, we’ve been through the national conventions for both the Republicans and the Democrats. Now, people are starting to really take sides in this election. Since I’m part of the media, don’t expect to get my stance on everything on this blog. I think I’m good at keeping my opinions out of my writing at work as well. I have my own ideas about things but I don’t let them leak into my stories.

I’ve written something like this in the past about entertainers not getting political. If you’re a singer, sing. If you’re an actor, act. You get the picture. I just don’t like to get caught up in politics. Everyone feels strongly about what they believe and I’ve never been a great debater so I don’t like to argue about such things.

I love hearing about past Presidents and their accomplishments. Cleveland Bachelor will attest to that. I picked his brain for hours one night. CB, I’ll do it again too anytime you’re ready!

Partisan talk wears me down. I don’t like to get involved in such discussions. I don’t mind others talking about them. Just don’t be shocked if I wander away from the conversation if it involves Republicans vs. Democrats. I’d rather talk music, pop culture or why that woman over there is wearing a dress with a print was better left on the side of a zebra.

I haven’t claimed table 241 at Rock Ottom for nothing, it’s called people watching, folks!

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Love Stinks! Can You Smell It?

Two of my friends recently broke up. I have known one of them longer than the other but they both are important to me. One of the two is probably hurt and feeling lousy at best. I don’t know for sure because I’ve only had a short text conversation.

This all got me to thinking about relationships, break-ups and taking sides. I remember after my split with my former fiancee, I cut off all interaction with her and her family. Over the course of our relationship, I became very close to one side of her family. I hate still to this day that I can’t see them or their children who really loved seeing me. To see them again though would bring up bitterness and scars I choose not to relieve. I can’t believe it’s been two years since I last saw them.

I hate that one of the two people in the aforementioned couple isn’t communicating with anyone that I know right now. I understand where that person is coming from as they deal with the break-up but it’s tough. You come to know people, get used to them in your life then when they aren’t, you feel like a little part of your life has been taken away.

I know that person reads this blog so I’m hoping they’ll see this post and know that people understand their feelings. I know first hand how tough break-ups are. I suffered, rebuilt my life slowly and now I can finally write about such things without feeling hurt. All of the cliches apply.

  • Time heal old wounds (or takes the sting out of them)
  • Live one day at a time
  • Everything happens for a reason

I stumbled across this site a long time ago and it helps with coping with the loss. I just wonder if they have one for lost friends.

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Confused (& Probably Just Tired)

It’s the end of the week for me and I’m confused.

I have friends who are playing right now at “Around The Corner”. I should go.

I haven’t worked out today. I should.

I got some sleep during the day but I don’t feel like it was enough. I’m not going back to sleep for now.

I haven’t biked since the first day I was out because it was raining yesterday and Tuesday I worked out. I’m biking to Tremont tomorrow to go to the bank. (Robbers, I will have no money before or after I visit said bank so don’t even try. You will just be wasting your time and risk me running over your butt with my bike. I’m warning you I will do it. Seriously, don’t try!) Seriously!

I have a lot planned this weekend. I have a lot planned over the next three weekends. At the end of the week, it catches up with me, the lack of sleep, the “to-do” list grows out of control. Why can’t we have eight days to a week where we get three days off? I’d just probably plan more things on the extra day and ignore all of the little tasks I really need to accomplish.

Tomorrow night promises to be fun with the Ingenuity party that Cool Cleveland is hosting plus, I’ll be hanging out with a new friend. One of my out of town friends is visiting Cleveland. It’ll be good to see him since he’s sort of fallen off the face of the earth.

Saturday night will be fun. I’ll get to see one of my best friends as he hosts his annual pool party. I’ll have pictures probably posted via the cell phone. It’ll be a blast, I promise.

Okay, enough stalling. I’m going to Lakewood to “Around the Corner” to wish one of my friends happy birthday. I’ll work out tonight, I promise. Make sure to ask me tomorrow if I did, that way I won’t be able to skate on that promise.

Alas, the weekend cometh… At least that means a night’s sleep,

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Life, Not As I’d Planned It

One of my friends called me last night upset about things in their life. To them, it seemed like everything had been piling up and it’s hitting them all at once. I can sympathize.

My mother always told me and my sister never to compare yourself to anyone else. I’d say that’s sage advice. I often look at other people’s lives and think they have it all together. The truth is they probably don’t. We’re all human, make mistakes, get depressed, feel happy and long to be loved by that special someone.

My friend told me how they thought I had my life all together. They told me how they thought I had everything in my life on track. The truth is, I don’t. I had to think that I thought my friend had the same things going for them. I thought some of the things they did were more brave than anything I’d done in my life. I look to my friend for strength, advice and the energy that keeps me ticking.

I shared how I’d always thought my life would be much different at 35. I’d never thought I’d be single and living downtown Cleveland. It was what was supposed to happen to me, it was the right thing to happen to me. It wasn’t what I thought was supposed to happen to me. I figured I’d be married with kids and living somewhere in the ‘burbs. Of course, this blog would be a lot different if that were the case. I’d probably be complaining about my wife, kids or just life in general. For now, you don’t have to worry about those ramblings.

Another one of my friends taught me a valuable lesson, nothing happens on your schedule. Phil hammered it into my head until I got it. Now I get it. Whether you believe it’s God’s will or just how the universe is spinning out your life on this planet, I know I have limited control over my life. Sure, I try to flex my muscles and strong arm life sometimes but I realize I don’t have the strength to make somethings happen.

I get through my days with this outlook: What happened was supposed to happen. There’s a reason. Maybe I don’t understand it now but what happened did because it’s the right thing for my life. I’ll grow from it and my life will somehow be better whether it takes grief and happiness to get through it.

It’s my philosophy. Everyone may not agree with it but that outlook works for me and that’s how I get through each day… second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour.

By the way, we’ll all look back and laugh right?

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Hold Me Close Young Tony Danza!

I have the complete “Friends” series on DVD. I bought it last year and have been through about half of the episodes. I have to say I forgot how funny the show was. I hate that I have to say “was”. Now, I’m watching the series from a different light. I’m older now, I have more life experience, I’m feeling a different way after watching it.

The dynamic of the cast and the way they changed through the series is interesting to watch from the beginning. I need to resume my viewing of the series but I hardly have time to get everything else done with my schedule that includes, work, working out, sleep and having some sort of fun.

By the way, I’m so glad Time Warner has included the Boomerang Channel on my TV line-up. Call me a kid at heart but I love the classic cartoons. Don’t even get me started on the Superfriends. It was a childhood favorite for me. I can remember wanting to get up every Saturday morning to watch the show. The channel also has Banana Splits, Tom & Jerry, the Flintstones and many other cartoon classics. I also have all of the Scripps Cable network channels in HDTV.

Ah, now if I just had the time to watch them all!

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Sleep… Who Needs It?

I haven’t had much sleep over the past couple of days. As I mentioned in a post yesterday, I went to an event at the Foundation Room. Thursday, I went to Media Day at the Progressive Field. The Indians lost to the White Sox in what was a very quick game.

I got to see some people I haven’t seen in a while. My friend and former co-worker, Joey Morona, came up to me. I wouldn’t have known him if he’d bumped into me on the street. He’s worked at cleveland.com for years since we worked together at WKYC.

I talked with Del Donahoo for awhile. Forever, I’ll be “Scott” to him. I apologized for not getting him on the phone this year for his birthday. His number changed since he’s moved. It’s the first time I missed talking to him on his birthday in about 15 years.

Jeff Maynor spotted me and we immediately started talking about music. You think you might be able to stump Jeff on an oldies hit but you won’t. I always have to laugh because he’ll reply to your question with the answer in the form of a question. “Wasn’t that the Nightcrawlers?” I know he’s just being nice to me. I’ve yet to get him on a song. He’s always telling me the newest singer or band that’s interesting him.

Well, even though I started this post on Thursday, here it is Friday and I have the Domestic Violence Center benefit tonight. That’s my plan for this evening. I have to clean up the place tomorrow and Sunday. Ah, to think I have my weekend ahead of me. It’s a great thought!!

I hope you enjoy yours!

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Bruce & Jennie’s Visit



I’m stealing some of the content (i.e., the words from Jennie’s Blog). Why should I repeat what she’s already written?

It was great to see Jennie & Bruce come down. It was their turn to visit. I’d been up there most recently. When they arrived, they got the grand tour of my apartment, we hung out, discussing politics, ways to change the world (for the better) and how to get rich quick. Honestly, none of those discussions took place but it makes for good blog material.

After we agreed on everything, we headed out with my friends to a local Japanese Hibachi restaurant. Then we checked out the “soft open” of a new establishment in my building.

Jennie claims she and Bruce planned it to be a quick trip “because we are certain that if we stay to long the mystery will wear off and you will be sick of us.”

That wouldn’t happen, they are two of the best and fun people out there,

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Vacation?

I managed to take a lot of my vacation this month. I didn’t realize how much I would actually need it when I asked for it off. I’m just about finished getting my place ready for the move east to downtown Cleveland. Things are boxed up and only the essentials are accessible.

It’s my Christmas present to myself. It feels a lot like December 20th will be the big day for me. I’ll end up at Target that evening getting a TV stand and maybe a couple other things but it’s like that day can’t come soon enough for me. I’ll have pictures up during the big move and of the new place here on the blog. It’s going to be great.

I had a total sports weekend. My friend, Katie, asked me to the Cavs game. They lost but the seats were great and it was great hanging out with her and my other friend, Kevin. Things worked out that we were all able to sit together. Enough said on that subject. We braved the weather getting there and didn’t have to worry too much about the drive home. Thanks Katie for the ticket!

Kevin and I braved the weather today and went to the Browns game. They WON and on any other day, they wouldn’t have been the most preferable seats in the stadium but today, they were just the right ones. We were in the upper bowl and had a roof over our heads. It sheilded us from the snow for the most part. We still got socked by the wind and some of the snow it kicked around but I can’t complain one bit. It was a great game and Phil Dawson knocked another miracle kick through the uprights. Odd score: Buffalo 0, Cleveland 8. That’s the first time that score has hit since 1929. Thanks Kevin for the ticket. It’s great hanging out with him and I’m not just saying that because he reads this blog. He’s been a great friend for more than 30 years.

The countdown to the move? 4 days

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Mash Up

This is a mash-up post. Got a lot to say but don’t want a lot of little posts. Here goes…

I took a friend’s advice and watched the BBC’s “Hotel Babylon”. It’s a good show that could fill the void for “Mile High” for me. For all purposes, it is Mile High, it’s just set around the hijinx that goes on inside of a five-star hotel. Good stuff. I watched four of them today on OnDemand. I love OnDemand. Search my blog for more on “Mile High”.

I’m watching “Flight of the Conchords” right now. It’s an HBO show and it’s kinda offbeat but it’s enough to keep my attention. I’m watching the second episode right now. That should say something. Adrienne suggested I watch it. Not bad so far.

I do miss having the CBC. “Coronation Street” is a dirty pleasure of mine. I miss laughing at the show all while trying to figure out what they’re saying with their harsh British accents. Truly great TV. Maybe I’ll have to move back to Detroit so I can watch four episodes every Sunday morning.

Speaking of marathon TV viewing, Amazon.com is offering the Friends 10 season DVD collection for half off. There was no way I was paying $300 for the collection but $150… yeah, they got me. If anyone wants to have a week long sit on my couch marathon, lemme know. The couch is comfortable….

Finally on the Mash Game… If you haven’t heard one of the prettiest/wacky songs out there right now, you should log on to ingrid michaelson‘s myspace page. How is it that you work Rogaine into song lyrics? She figures out how to do just that!

Have a great week!

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Old Friends

With some friends, you can see them years later and pick up right where you left off. One of my close friends came home for a visit to see her family. She was raised here, met her husband then moved to California. Both are my friends because they are awesome people. I can’t sing their praises enough. (He’s the guy wearing the green jacket and she’s over his shoulder) Unfortunately, he didn’t make this trip but I made her promise the next time they were in town, we’d all get together again. The picture is probably from late 1998 or early 1999.

We had a great night talking and reminiscing. I heard some stories I didn’t remember and told some I’ve told a billion times. Some things do not change and I don’t believe people change that drastically either. She was the same person I knew and loved back when we worked together and her husband is still the same guy too. There’s something special in knowing some people are always going to be there for you. My friend and her husband met at work and quickly knew they were right for another. I think I’m correct in saying they married less than a year after they first met. They’ve been together for 8 years now. I wish them continued happiness. I hope they’ll come back to this area someday. I also hope I’ll actually be here when they return. What can you say about friends that hasn’t already been said? Cliché or not, I know it’s great having them.