Anticipation...is making me wait!

Well, friends, family and fans I think we touched on this topic about 6 weeks or so ago, but it is again a relevant topic of conversation.

It looks like the drought is over, the semi-retirement is at an end and by this time on Monday, I should be employed.

Granted, it isn't official yet, but the background checks are happening and the references are being called. That unto itself I am taking as a good sign, a sign from the gods or a sign that things are again right with the world.

((Me at the Masters in 2006//Thanks Mark Harmon))

Assuming there aren't any skeletons out there that I'm not aware of or any of my long time friends and associates don't make me out to be the world's biggest liar, I'm going to get a job offer.

Yes, it is with the TV Station that I've been talking to on and off for the past...well pretty much since I've been here in Cincinnati. Yes, they have totally dragged things out, but this time it is serious. I spent almost an hour with them on Thursday and they asked me every question my little brain could have imagined. Surprisingly, though I have been on the proverbial beach since September, I seemed to actually have the right answers. OK, I think I did.

The irony here is that it looks like my days as a Video Photographer may be behind me. I'm not sure that I'll miss them...or carrying around the rock on my shoulder. Yes, it was a lot of fun and I had some unbelievable experiences...for those who haven't kept up, you'd be amazed at some of the big-time national stories, events and games over the past 21 years that yours truly has been at and a part of.

It's been in the makings even before I left Atlanta. My shoulder had started going south and my interest had too. I had been trying...up until the freaks took over...to remake myself as a Producer in Atlanta and almost was successful, but I got the opportunity to do a lot of things before they got in place. Everything from helping the Chief with hiring and equipment and running things to revamping the editing department in 2003 and running the Sports Department in 2005. All of that helped me get where I am about to head.

I did what I would tell anyone to do...if they can in any job: Do as many different things as you can at your job. The more you can do, the more valuable you can be and the more opportunity you'll have. It's true.

I know that TLB (The Lovely Bride) will get on me for jumping the gun and announcing this, but I am very confident that it will happen. I was told..."Assuming you check out, we're going to do this, we just need to decide if it will be full-time or part-time". They also, after I asked...said that "We should have done this 2 weeks ago".

No, I haven't said what I'm going to be doing yet...that would spoil the surprise...wouldn't it? Let's just say that I won't be in the field much any more. I'll be doing some of the things that I had begun getting very good at in Atlanta before the rug was pulled away. It isn't in Sports. I was asked though "If you had to pick which you could do, would it be News or Sports?". I was honest...I said "Sports", but added "I realize that isn't available, I've been in News, done News and am very good at it" "News is a part of Sports and vice-versa, I get that". I'm pretty sure that was the right answer.

Anyway, it is going to be a long, anxious weekend. I was told I would be called on Monday and fully anticipate that I will. I won't get into what happened the rest of the day, it is another story for another day...but it made for a really crazy Thursday afternoon.

For those of you who have been there and supportive, I genuinely thank you from the bottom of my heart, you have helped me get through a very tough time in my life. I promise that on Monday I will report on what I am going to be doing...I can't wait!

In the meantime...here is the most appropriate song I could think of: Anticipation by Carly Simon. Thanks Carlysimon.com and You Tube:

Bizzaro World and The Mustard Covered T-Shirt

This story is a true life recap of mine and TLB's (The Lovely Bride) adventure this past Saturday night.

The adventure started innocently enough. We are both big hockey fans and since we moved from Atlanta, the Cyclones are the only professional hockey we can go see that isn't 2-plus hours away. They play at the U.S Bank arena in the downtown area where the baseball and football team also have their stadiums. The arena is an older building, it seats maybe 10 or 11-thousand if full and it is the home of the team the locals call...the 'Clones.

((The US Bank Arena in Cincinnati//Courtesy: Me))

We got there a little earlier than we normally would, around 6:30 or so for a 7:30 game, bought our tickets and went in. We decided to take a walk around the concourse since we had some time and it was then that we noticed something a bit weird. There were a lot of odd groups of people together. Families, not with one kid or even two, but with 4 or 5 walking together and pretty much blocking any passage around the concourses.

It was when we finally went to our seats when we realized something wasn't right....well at least to us. We sat in section 102, on the lower bowl, top row. We watched as the 'Clones faithful drifted in 5 and 6 at a time and standing, no, attempting to get into their seats but taking inordinately large amounts of time to do it. That should have been a tip.

((Me and TLB//Courtesy: Me))

It got worse. Just before the start of the game, a group of about 8 slid into the row in front of us. That unto itself wouldn't be so bad, they were obviously handicapped, not in the physical sense, with 2 adult supervisors and were loud...very loud.

They probably wouldn't have been so bad except for two things: One, they stood up anytime the Cyclones got on our side of the arena and Two, they got up and sang at each stop in play...oh...and one of the kids (I'm trying to be pc and polite here) had a plastic coke bottle that he would pound against his head.

((Cyclones Hockey//Courtesy: Me))

That was one of our issues. Another had to do with Hockey etiquette. If you've ever been to a hockey game, there is an informal rule that you wait in the concourse until a stoppage in play to go to your seat. That rule didn't fly at the U.S Bank. There were a few areas where it did, but we weren't sitting there. So we were subjected to a never-ending parade of very large (not tall) people walking up and down the aisle. Mind you we were trying to watch, but it was difficult. What made it worse: We could see other aisles in the arena...none had the flow of traffic ours did.

Okay, we got off to a bad start, TLB was very aggravated and all I could do was shake my head.

So, after the 1st intermission, she wanted a pretzel. Being the gentleman that I am, I got up and bought one, put mustard on it since we both like that and brought it back.

She pulled off a chunk for herself, I pulled off a piece for me to eat with my left hand while holding the remaining piece of pretzel in my right. (This will be important in a minute)

During the intermission at the Cyclones games, the Cyclone mascot skates around the arena and shoots t-shirts into the crowd at various spots. This night, he chose ours. That's when we had our Seinfeld moment. We look at him, he looks at our section and aims high. Not good. He shoots the t-shirt. It flies through the air. It arcs. It spins. I am staring at it in slow motion and thinking "Oh crap!" "It's coming right to me". It did. Mind you, I didn't have a free hand to grab it. I'm watching it hoping...no praying that it dies and lands short, maybe on the kid with the Coke bottle, but no...it didn't. It finally landed...landed right in my lap, right on top of the pretzel, mustard and all. It didn't splatter...much, but the t-shirt, had a nice splotch...right where it landed.

We had to leave our seats and move to an empty upper deck section during the game and that is where it became apparent. We had been to 4 other Cyclones games this year and never had a bad time. We looked out at the crowd and just shook our heads. There was a strange group of people in the arena that night. We don't think they even realized that the Cyclones lost. No, I am convinced now...more than ever...that for a couple of hours on a Saturday night we either stepped into Bizzaro World....or an episode of the Twilight Zone.

((The mustard covered t-shirt//Courtesy: Me))

Check out a clip from an old Twilight Zone episode on aliens...that is what it felt like Saturday night. Thanks You Tube:

Love the Madness....

I don't know about anyone else, but March is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only is it the end of winter and the return of warmer weather along with the celebration of me getting old; it's also the month when we herald in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

There really isn't anything like the Tournament in Sports today and that may be what makes it so great. 65 teams and one month to determine the best of the best, what could be better than that?

Heck, even as a kid it was fun to watch. I still to this day can remember watching Bird vs. Magic and Bobby Knight Coaching Indiana with the hideous outfits, the tourney at that time, a field of 48. Now it's the best of 64 (technically 65 with the play-in game). One loss...you are out. And there are always...always upsets. That really is what makes it so great.

((Me on the floor at the ACC Basketball Tournament in 2006/Courtesy: ME))

There were always the Richmond teams of the 80's who would surprise people. Heck, I can remember back in 1987; my Georgia Southern Eagles made the tourney and drew the Number #1 seed, Syracuse...on their home court. Always, always there is an unheard of school that shocks the world.

We were having a party at the apartment I shared with Joe Davis and Ross Norton. Everyone came over...there was lots of music and beverage consumption and Ross' little TV which had the game on. I was watching it with a couple other people and we couldn't believe what we were seeing. At the half, Southern was down by 1. Those of us watching the game at that point had been cheering loudly and the party gradually gravitated towards the TV. By the time we hit the 10 minute mark in the 2nd half, Southern was still in the game...it had been a back and forth battle and we were screaming at each possession. Southern ended up losing to Syracuse by 1...the same Syracuse team that made it to the finals only to lose on a late shot by Indiana.

My point is this, there are few better bonding experiences than watching the Tournament. If you have a school in it, it's fun times. I've had the chance to work the Tournament a few times and it is a little less fun to cover. You can't shoot the games, basically you are stuck in a small cave/feed area where you plug in your recorder and record the clean CBS feed. If you are lucky, there is food and some folks that you know to talk to.

The Final Four is the same way. Lots of media, a slightly larger room to record and an adventure of a weekend. Trust me when I say that is better to watch on TV at home...or at your favorite Sports Bar with friends or fellow supporters.

Either way, it is a truly American event followed by millions. The NCAA is talking about possibly expanding the Tourney to 96 teams. It would be a Horrible, horrible mistake. They don't need any more than they have. You can't make all the people happy all of the time. Of course...really it isn't about that, it's actually about making more money from the rights partners by broadcasting another week of games...but that is a separate story for my Sports Blog.

For your entertainment, here is a mashup of Buzzer beaters from the Tourney. Thanks uncmann and the You Tube:

Damn Good Eating...

As I've gotten older, my appreciation for a good meal has gotten oh so much better. When I was younger, I ate like a horse and pretty much ate anything that I felt like eating. My metabolism was so fast at one point that I couldn't put on weight if I tried. Sure, it was before the days of calorie counting and fat content and paying attention to the ingredients, but it was a lot more fun because you didn't worry about what was in your food. If you were hungry and saw something that looked appealing...you ate it.

This past Saturday...the day after my birthday, TLB (The Lovely Bride) and I decided we would have my birthday dinner. We had talked about going to a couple of different places and had more or less decided that we'd go to Longhorn for a steak...mostly because we have a $50 gift card to go there.

Over the past several months here in Cincinnati, we've checked out and found some pretty good restaurants. Found a kick-ass panini in Findlay Market, some decent New York Style pizza at Balboa's and a really good burger at the Oakley pub which is within walking distance from the house. But we were also told: "There are good burgers in Cincinnati, you've gotta go to one place though for the best". The best...Terry's Turf Club an extremely odd, small, diner style restaurant near the river.

((Terry's Turf Club//Photo Courtesy: Glenn Hartong/Cincinnati Enquirer))

Truth be told, we had intentions of going at some point but recently the place had been in the news because the Food Network Show Diners, Drive-In's and Dives and host Guy Fieri was going to be taping there. So I told TLB in the afternoon this past Saturday...."Let's go to Terry's".

We also had been told by some friends that if we go, go early, so we showed up a little before 5pm. It was crowded but there wasn't a line...yet. We sat and ordered a beer...they actually have a pretty good choice of Micro Brews (I had a Bell's Amber Ale for those who are into such things) which was a pleasant surprise and perused the menu.

Hamburgers are somewhat of a personal thing for a lot of people. There are very few people who agree on the best. There are some who like fast-food. McDonalds, Wendy's, Five Guys and the like. The opposite end of the spectrum are places like Flip in Atlanta where you get gourmet 5oz burgers with some crazy toppings (Yes, we've eaten there).

Finally, we ordered. For me a burger with everything: Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Grilled Onions and Banana peppers. TLB just got hers with the Cheese lettuce and tomato. We of course got some fries as well...you have to get fries to go with a burger don't you?

((The Burgers//Courtesy: Glenn Hartong/Cincinnati Enquirer))

About 20 minutes and 2 beers later the burgers showed up. I should add that shortly after we seated, the line started...there is room for maybe 50-60 people inside the crazy, neon decorated restaurant which just added to the atmosphere. I might also note that apparently Terry, the proprietor used to own a restaurant called Neon's in Downtown Cincinnati. He took the aforementioned Neon signs and just relocated them to the current location which along with that had 3 large bottle shaped neon lit coolers in corners of the room as well. Plus a nice, but small bar where Terry Carter, the owner himself was tending.

Anyway, the burger showed and looked fairly normal. On a potato bun/roll but already oozing. It's at this point where you would put ketchup or mustard or mayo on it...well anywhere else you would...not here. I grabbed mine and took a bite. Holy crap! A big, thick hunk of ground sirloin cooked just about perfectly. Damn...no need for condiments here! The fries, handcut and just as good.

I've got to say. The place lived up to the hype and then some. I have eaten in some cool places all over the country. I've also eaten at some pretty damn good restaurants. Without a doubt, this is one of the funkiest, trippiest, coolest places both me and TLB have ever or will ever set foot in.

By the way, if you are interested, the episode of Triple D on Terry's will air sometime this summer. They didn't give a date. They actually taped the segment 2 days after we were there. If you want to read the story that the Cincinnati Enquirer did on it...check it out RIGHT HERE

Anyone who finds there way to Cincinnati should make an effort to find and eat at this place...if you do...give us a call...please....we'd be happy to go with you. After all isn't the saying "You can never have enough of a good thing"?

For those unfamiliar with the show, here is a clip from another restaurant that they visited and one that I've eaten at in Tucker, Georgia...Matthew's Cafeteria. Thanks Food Network/You Tube:

Getting Older and lesser things....

I don't know if I'm just getting cranky or depressed...but I just really am not looking forward to having a birthday tomorrow (friday the 12th). Aside from the fact that it will mean that I've reached the half way point (45), it also means that I have to be nice and happy, upbeat and chipper to everyone for the entire day.

Now granted, I am generally nice to people and I am told...at least by my wife that I'm the most optimistic person that she's ever met. However, I just really...at least for the past couple of days feel neither optimistic nor bright, cheery or sunny.

((Me looking cheerful//Courtesy: Mark Harmon))

Birthday's are supposed to be celebrations and for the 1st quarter or so of your life they are. People fawn all over you, give you stuff and just generally like you for the day. If you are lucky...that is, because you have a really good group of friends and/or family who make it a point to make your day better, then you should consider yourself very fortunate. I'm one of the lucky ones, I do have that...but it really doesn't make me feel a whole lot better at the moment.

When I was younger, I always made it a point to do or buy something significant around my Birthday time. It was something I had hoped to make a tradition. I've done a lot around this week. Bought a car. Bought my first home. Moved from Jacksonville to Nashville. Lots of big "life" events.

I think that the birthday thing was still pretty cool until I hit my 40th. That is supposed to be a big one and well...for me it wasn't. I didn't have the day off from work to go celebrate or anything like it. No, not only was I working, I was out of town working. I was in Greensboro, North Carolina 5 years ago at this time, covering the ACC Basketball Tournament. The tourney itself was pretty cool and I was glad I got to do it. I was there with Main Sports Dude Gil Tyree and we always had a good time traveling for work. It just...at least now looking back on it was kind of depressing. We had dinner at a Carrabba's in Greensboro after working our games and doing a live shot for the 6pm sports and then went back to the hotel and crashed.

Am I depressed? I don't know. Maybe, to some extent. I never thought that I'd be sitting here, essentially un...or underemployed at this point in my life. You know it is kind of strange. For the longest time all I wanted was to have someone to share everything with, my work had defined me and I had a very limited social life but I wanted more. I got more when I met Michelle and I can't thank the Big Guy enough for that. She changed everything for me and in the best way possible. It's just now I'm at the other extreme. Good life away, nothing at work...what so ever.

Will it get better? Maybe. The work thing is kind of dragging the balance in the wrong direction and that really is the source of my malaise. I do really want to enjoy the birthday tomorrow. However I have to go back to the Bread shop where I don't really want to admit to anyone that it is my birthday. Am I ashamed...yeah...I guess that I am.

Michelle and I probably won't do much tomorrow. We are in Cincinnati and really, we don't have anyone else to go celebrate with. She also can't eat meat tomorrow, which is fine, we'll go out and have a nice dinner on Saturday instead. My parents and sister will call tomorrow and it will be nice to talk with them. I won't have much to say because really, I don't have a whole lot going on right now to talk about. I'll make small talk, act happy and upbeat and that will be that. Maybe, if I'm really lucky I'll get a good gift from the Big Guy and get a call from someone about a job. Lord knows I have paid my debts and I've applied to enough now.

I don't think that I'm being greedy asking for that, am I? If somehow, someway some balance can be restored than I think things will be good. Hopefully, by the time that the next birthday comes along, I won't have to pretend to be upbeat, happy or chipper.

Enjoy the Birthday Song. Sung by the Arrogant Worms. Thanks You Tube:

Saturation Bombing

Early on, when I started doing this, my focus was going to be concentrating on my search for a full-time job. As things progressed and I got less and less successful and some other things were going on in my life, I kind of got away from that. I'm not sitting here and saying that I am going to get back to the mission that I started, but today I'm going to go back to it...a little.

So...its now going on 6 months and counting since I had a full-time job. My last day at WGCL in Atlanta was September 8th. Since then it has been one interesting experience. I don't know if I want to use the word frustrated, though I have been and in some ways, I currently am; rather I would prefer saying...I am more anxious.

By now, I've mentioned ad nauseum about working part-time at the Panera Bread down the street. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, it is...I'll say it...beneath me. But, I've gotta do something. I've realized this week, having been off for pretty much all of it, that you have to do something in order to interact with people on occasion or you will go crazy (at least I will).

My time this week has been spent pretty much on two things. One, my Sports blog site. I've been generating a ton of content and it has paid off a bit. Traffic is up and we've gotten some attention. The other, applying for jobs. Any jobs. Yeah, I've finally hit that point where I'm trying for just about anything. Dick's Sporting Goods, The Fresh Market, AT&T...anybody that will let me submit a resume'.

I still, believe it or not have a chance at a job here with WCPO, but the process has dragged out for over a month now. As much as I liked the people there and I like their shows, I'm not optimistic. The News Director has been very nice and responsive when I check in with him, but I'm not really confident. He's had too much time to wait out someone else he can hire. I also have a resume' in at WLWT where they are looking for an Assignment Editor. Yes, I am qualified enough to do that and they should have gotten my resume' etc. on Monday...no I haven't heard anything from them despite perhaps writing one of the best cover letters I've ever written. Heck, I even have a DVD and resume at the Fox station for a Promotion Producer/Photographer job. I haven't heard a peep from them either. TV wise, I am running into the "We can't pay you" wall. I had to explain to the folks at WCPO that "I don't need Atlanta money, I just need a full-time job for my sanity".

Honestly, what worries me is that though I've applied for 8 non-TV jobs this week and last, I haven't heard anything from any of them either. I'm very concerned because I'm not really sure where to turn next. Yes, I know that I was involved with the Networking group early on here and perhaps I need to revisit that.

The problem I think in some respects is me. I'm not a "Pushy", "Sell myself" kind of person and that seems to be hurting me. I'm not someone who wants to beg people to help. Is it pride? A little. Is it ego? No, I don't think so. I'm applying for all kinds of work. Is it lack of knowledge? Yeah, probably. I just am not very well equipped to deal with the "Modern" job search techniques. Can I skim the Internet and find potential opportunities? Sure, I'm actually pretty good at that. But...everything that I'm reading...and experiencing is telling me that while I might hit the "Needle in the Haystack" it isn't likely.

Is there a solution? I don't know. There has to be something...or someone willing to take a flyer on me. Really I am a good employee, I always have been. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and anyone who has ever been around me will tell you whatever it is that I end up doing, I'll be good at. The reason they say is my OCD tendency to have to learn everything possible about whatever it is that I am doing. Surely that...if nothing else makes me someone who somebody wants to hire....right?

For you entertainment enjoy a classic Monty Python sketch on a job interview. Thanks You Tube:

Hanging out on my own...

You know its really funny how your perspective and thoughts on things change as you get older and your life situation is different. For 39 years, I was pretty much on my own, doing my own thing just hanging out and having fun. For the past 5 years, I met the woman of my dreams and my soul mate and really, that changed everything.

I'll spare you the details of getting to where we are now. What I'm trying to get it as this: Michelle is away for a full week, I've got the whole house to myself (bachelor week) and really I'd rather have her here than be by myself.

((She isn't gonna like that I posted this picture...but it's us//Courtesy: Me))

There are a couple of my friends (Big Tom) who would say that "I'm whipped""I'm a wimp""No balls" whatever. I don't care. There was a point in my life where I would have loved this opportunity to do whatever I wanted when I wanted, not now.

I do on occasion enjoy cooking dinner and I do that. It's a little less fun when you do it by yourself. Sure, I'm eating a few things that I don't normally eat, but it still sucks just cooking for just me. I would say that I'm sleeping as late as I want since I'm not really working too much, but I'm not. The cat has decided that he wants to play at 5am and then again around 7.

No, I really haven't done much thus far. Sure, I've spent a ton of time on the computer and I've had to do my laundry along with the cooking. Today was probably my big adventure for the week, I went to the movies. I went and saw the movie Avatar in 3D. It was a decent movie storytelling wise, not a "Great" one. However visually it was the most incredible movie that I've ever seen.

I really do miss Michelle when she is gone. She is gone for the week and then is traveling at least 2 days each of the next 2 weeks. Me, I'm still here in Cinci, stuck in a crappy part-time job. I honestly don't hate Cincinnati and don't hate the fact that I had to give up an OK job to come here. I just want to get on track.

It's tough sometimes staying focused. I've been searching for good work for going on 6 months now. I realize that there are a lot of people a lot worse off in that respect and that is fine. It doesn't however help me much.

Heck I don't know, maybe I'm rambling at this point. Maybe I'd be doing more this week if I had the money to do it. I do know that even if I was working more and making more money that I probably wouldn't be doing much more than I am. Its not as much fun doing stuff here without your best friend and mine...won't be back home until Friday.

Enjoy the trailer to the classic movie Bachelor Party (audio is a bit iffy). Thanks You Tube: