Category: Self-Serving

Posted on

The Workout Continues

I’ve been so proud of myself keeping up with my workout routine. If Paul isn’t available to go downstairs to our workout facility, Dan is. Dan always wants to work out weights, abs and cardio all at the same time. I have to remind him that I’m not as young as he is. I, am not however, admitting being older than him.

He does have a point though, I need to get back into my routine of doing more cardio. Remember when I was up to seven miles on the elliptical? I do, that’s how I lost a lot of weight. I’ve toned up a lot. I’m very proud of what I’ve done. I still want to lose a little more weight, especially around that mid-region area. I know it involves diet. I hate dieting, I’d rather run all day than worry about dieting.

Like I’ve said before, it’s better to have people to encourage you while you’re working out. I know that’s the case for me.

Posted on

“I’ll Look Back & Laugh, Right?”

One of my friends, Lori, left a profound comment at the end of one of her myspace blogs. “I’ll look back and laugh, right?” Her entire blog was interesting to read but more than anything I hope she realized what an interesting thing she wrote at the conclusion of the entry.

I’ve made mistakes in my life and think it’s the end of the world. Some of them were more life changing than others. My life mistakes aren’t for this blog or for the Internet. I know what they are and I deal with them, some everyday.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to transport yourself forward in time and see how you’ve dealt with current situations and problems in your life? I look back at some of my errors and situations now and can laugh about them or at least smile. Somehow everything you do seems to happen for a reason. It’s a lesson in life. The right way to do something or just a reminder you don’t know everything.

I think the answer to Lori’s question is “yes, you’ll look back and laugh”. Somethings just take a little longer for you to find the real humor in them. I’ve found that humor for somethings and somethings I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to crack that smile. I hope so though…

Posted on

An Open Letter To RTA

This one should get Brad’s attention…

I was recently reading the Cool Cleveland newsletter I get at work and it included a link to Cleveland City Living. One of its most recent posts talks about the free trolleys running downtown Cleveland. I’m glad RTA has made this choice along with the financial support of some businesses in the districts where the trolleys run.

As the post says, “The trolleys were made free by a sponsorship from the Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cleveland State University, and the Corner Alley. Now entering their second winter, they are a great asset to downtown residents.”

I consider myself living downtown. It’s not in the heart of the city. It’s just a 10 minute walk to the Warehouse district for me. However, the closest RTA bus stop is on West 25th street. The closest rapid stations are W.25/Lorain and Settler’s Landing. I can see the rapid running through the East Bank. I wonder what the ridership numbers are for the train. I don’t see a lot of people on it especially with the demise of the East Bank.

My problem with the RTA is why isn’t there a stop of some sort down on the West Bank of the Flats. Stonebridge has more than 1,000 residents but yet we don’t have an good access to public transportation. A great idea to merge the Warehouse District, East Bank and the West Bank would include a bus going through the different districts. The Powerhouse complex, Shooters, and several other businesses would profit by having a bus stop. I understand the rapid’s not going to have a stop over here anytime soon because that would take construction. RTA should think about expanding some sort of service to the West Bank in the form of a trolley or circulator service.

I’ve been wanting to blog about this for some time. I took the RTA back from the airport after my recent trip to south Texas. I don’t know if I felt 100% safe the entire ride with some of the people who were also on the train but the experience wasn’t a bad one. I was riding the train just as school got out for the day. The kids were loud and somewhat obnoxious. It probably wasn’t the best time to take the train.

I could have taken the rapid to Tower City then transferred to the Waterfront line which would have dropped me off at Settler’s Landing. That would have taken longer and since I was pressed for time however so I got off at West 25th street. I did have to hoof it back to my place. It wasn’t close. It was probably a 10-15 minute walk. By no way was it far but it wasn’t close either.

Take a look at the downtown RTA map and you’ll see where the service is lacking for yourself.

Posted on

Talkin’ In Your Sleep

I wonder what I’d say. I’d probably be trying to convince myself to stay asleep longer.

People claim “your body will adjust to the schedule”. I don’t agree. It’s just not normal to get up at 3am in the morning. Your body is conditioned to be inactive and sleeping at the time of the day.

I don’t feel as tired this week but I do have to admit to sneaking back into an office for a quick 10 minute nap. That feeling normally hits me around 8 o’clock every morning. It’s kind of like that dozing off feeling some people get when they’re in class or even worse, driving. The funny part, I feel so much better after I power nap.

Here’s to making it to Friday!!

Posted on

Who Needs Sleep?

I do but actually I’m feeling the most refreshed I have at this time of the morning all week long.

Here was Wednesday’s sleep schedule:
12:45 – 5:00pm
10pm – 12:40am
1:15am – 2:30am

I don’t know what that adds up to being. I could figure it out but I don’t wanna. I just know it’s the most I got all week. I’m not as cranky and even got accused of being energetic, not perky as my co-worker, James, called himself.

I also got through 45-minute workout. (Read: Tired taawd out and better sleep!)

Let’s now look forward to the weekend. This week has been particularly long for me. I know it’s the schedule but I truly wished Wednesday was Friday. I plan to take it easy and relax a little. My place has suffered a little in the cleaning department. Anyone know a good maid?

By the way, I no longer resemble Shaggy. I put more money into Cleveland with my first ever haircut downtown. I hate the fact I’m not going to my normal barber out in North Olmsted but by the time you figure in gas and time costs, it’s just as cheap to go get my hair snipped minutes away from my apartment.

Posted on

The Fame Index

You ever just wonder how much information is out there about you? I decided I’d “google” my name Todd Sheppard. I get all sorts of hits back on people who aren’t me but also see a couple of hits. It’s a fame index sort of thing.

I also “googled” (I use Yahoo! however) “taawd” and found something else. My blog entries get picked up by all sorts of websites (at least the good ones!). I was glad to see the Plain Dealer put one of my posts on their website. Check it out here.

I got in a good workout today. I’m going to be sore tomorrow. I’m going to try to get back to doing more cardio. This means back to the Elliptical but I don’t think I’ll be hitting my seven miles a day that I was doing for a while this past summer. I just want to burn some calories. I’ve got someone to keep me motivated too, although I haven’t needed that help in the past. I’m proud to say I got some discipline apparently. That’s a rather new trait for me. My friend, Paul, will probably just keep me honest. I’m a little worried about working out with this new schedule, we’ll see how that goes…

Have a great Tuesday,

Posted on

Life In The Mornings

With little sleep under my belt, I got into work at 3:00 this morning. Getting through 7:00am wasn’t the tough part. Getting through the rest of the day was!

Our assignment manager (the person who lines reporters and photographers up together and arms them with stories) had an off-site meeting. I took over her duties for a couple of hours. Assignment editing was one of my first jobs in television. Many times it’s a complicated and thankless job. You are constantly figuring out how to cover new stories while getting the ones you’ve already planned, finished. For some reason to me, it’s a challenge and can even be fun. (I’m waiting on mom2amara‘s comment on that last statement.)

It wouldn’t be right to talk about assignment editing without giving some kudos to the people who taught me how. Lisa Lowry and Danielle Fink walked me through “workin’ the desk” in the mornings and the evenings. They are both a different monster and both come with their own distinct problems.

We got through the morning with me “on the desk”. We even got a couple of spot news stories. I want to thank the photographers for making life “on the desk” a little easier for a “new face” who was sleep deprived.

Posted on

When Am I Supposed To Sleep?

We’ve had a little management shake-up at work so I’m helping out on the morning newscast every morning. I’m going from someone who works nightside (or second shift) to someone who works overnights (third shift). My body’s going to be out of whack for the next couple of weeks.

I’m basically going back to basics. I really started out producing in television on the morning show at WKYC. I love morning shows but hate the hours, I mean hate them. Sure, there’s the whole 10am Friday morning you’re done concept but being up when everyone else is asleep is a little strange.

I have to apologize for so much picture blogging and not enough “blogging” posts. We’ve been so busy at work with the recent departures of several key co-workers. With the primary last week and the snowstorm this weekend, I think I logged almost 60 hours last week at work. mom2amara probably had even more but she’s a lot tougher than I am.

Hopefully things will calm down a little this week. Let’s not have any flooding or major news stories that will warrant continuing coverage or special newscasts. Let’s just take it easy for a bit. I need the rest and I’m not the only person!

By the way, I helped push about 5 cars out of snow drifts this weekend. I’ll have the video to prove it coming up this week.

Have a great one,

Posted on

Here Comes The Sun?

If you know me, you know I love my seasons. I can’t wait for the first snow. I love the fall colors. There are few things better than the feeling of running around wearing shorts. Can you think of a better smell than spring?

However, I’m starting to feel the winter blahs. Maybe it’s my new place that has me yearning for the sun. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m getting older [sic] and can’t stomach winters as much.
I know this summer is going to be fun and I can’t wait. Getting up and seeing a fresh coating of snow on the ground just set me back a little this morning. I just heard the forecast and it’s going to be cold this weekend as well.
I feel like I may need a visit to the tanning salon just to get some UV rays. I’m not getting them in Cleveland this February. The groundhog claims more winter and is ticked off those guys in Pennsylvania woke him up. I would be too, I wanna go back to bed. It’s Friday for me though so I can’t be too upset.

I’ll take a little sun though,
Posted on

Valentine’s Day

I do not (as mom2amara says) heart Valentine’s Day. I didn’t like it when I was in a relationship and I don’t like it now. Guys don’t look forward to it. Mostly it means buying something for your girlfriend.

If you love someone, surprise them with a gift every now and then, it’s much more special and spontaneous than knowing you have to come up with something for Valentine’s Day. It’s the same feeling I have for Sweetest Day.

Don’t get me wrong, I think I can be romantic as much as anyone else, just don’t force some day I have to do something for someone else on me.

So keep your Vermont Teddy Bears, your heart shaped box of chocolates and your overpriced Valentine’s Day cards, I don’t want them!

Have a great Tuesday!