Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.12.80
Current Song - I'm Not In Love (10cc)
The following pertains to a very confusing subject of mine ... Love. What you see of me at the gas station, or at sports events, or errands, or festivities, or driving around ... you don't see my heart and brain keep wrestling itself when it comes to Love - and the pain I feel when thinking of this fight.
1. Is the past the reason why I can't succeed today, and should I let go of it? If I let go of the past, will I have better luck in finding a woman?
OR
2. Continue to keep holds on the past, and hope the past either finds me or changes course and finds me?
All those years of making Top 50 lists in middle school, and knowing many more from nearby schools is kind of the reason why I'm in this predicament. Over the years I have had a lot of appreciation for many girls, and for a great deal of them their kindness is something that I never forget. In essence, I just can't seem to let go of them while we all try to move on in this great big world.
"Letting go" meaning telling myself there is no hope in falling in love.
Now try to imagine removing viruses from your computer.
My heart and my brain are wrestling each other at this moment, and have been for quite a while. There are some dreams that I have been able to put away and forget about. There are others that still linger in the queue. Then there are others where my brain says 'withdraw immediately, it's the moral thing to do.' and my heart says 'I still love her.' I keep screaming to myself, "GET RID OF IT!" with strong resistance from my heart.
No, these are not just a few girls. These are many of them. The more dreams I can permanently put aside, the more my head becomes clear. The putting aside thing is very difficult for me. I feel that with a clear slate, I'm able to better concentrate on the future. Just got to accomplish this clear slate.
Help!
I just know that I can't continue to have these thoughts and its time to move on.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Foot Notes
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.21.80
Current Song - Mr. Vain (Culture Beat)
It's hard to find a pair of shoes that fit me.
I've always feared that one day I'd have to get clothing at a special store. I haven't done that, and as long as this moving around thing is as good as it is, I don't think that day will come.
Then I had to buy another pair of shoes.
About two years ago I had a bit of difficulty finding a pair of shoes that fit me. I got lucky, because at the first store I checked out (Shoe Sensation at the local Mall) they had a shoe that fit. Just a regular 9 was too small and cramped. The 9-wide that was suggested was also snug. Then, after going to the back (somehow a sad sign), a pair of 10-extra-wide was brought out and fit well.
These shoes have been through muddy football fields, wet infield grass, snow, squatting down to pick up dropped change, and other things to tear the soles off. When I wear them now, you can see the sock on my foot. I'm not going to go onto a football field wearing these shoes - it's an autistic thing that I can't stand getting my feet wet, cold and dirty.
So when it came time to look for shoes, I tried to find a 10-extra-wide. After exhausting the local thrift stores (I'm kind of on a budget) I went to Payless, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and even back to Shoe Sensation once more. Nothing fit. Then I went to JCPenny. This pair of black 9-4E shoes were on sale for just over $30.
Most people can recall the sizes of the things they wear in an instant. I just can't do that. At the time I was at Penney's I didn't remember why I was wearing a size 10. The toes didn't come close to hitting the top of the inside of the shoe.
I tried on the left shoe and it fit well. So naturally I figured the right shoe would fit just the same. I didn't try the right shoe. I paid for the pair and brought it home. It was only before planning on riding my bike to work did I find out that the right shoe was horribly tight. I figured it was normal and it would wear itself in after a few days. So I wore them to work and my feet became incredibly cramped. I worked most of the shift with my socks on.
The problem with these shoes is that they are not WIDE enough. Toe-to-ankle they fit perfectly. The width is the hardest part of shoe buying.
My feet are unusual. Think of Fred Flintstone. He has the same kind of feet I do. I think you get that from driving a Flintstone-mobile. Apparently this comes through the family (mom's side). What's more difficult about it is that these feet have been powering pedals on so many bicycle rides over the years. They've become sort of muscular.
So I'm going to return this "new" pair of shoes today, and stick with the old ratty ones until a trip to Rockford on Monday. I'm covering a golf meet up there - first prep event of the 11-12 school year - and will be sporting the formal shoes for the occasion. If Rockford doesn't have my shoes, perhaps Jupiter does?
Current Song - Mr. Vain (Culture Beat)
It's hard to find a pair of shoes that fit me.
I've always feared that one day I'd have to get clothing at a special store. I haven't done that, and as long as this moving around thing is as good as it is, I don't think that day will come.
Then I had to buy another pair of shoes.
About two years ago I had a bit of difficulty finding a pair of shoes that fit me. I got lucky, because at the first store I checked out (Shoe Sensation at the local Mall) they had a shoe that fit. Just a regular 9 was too small and cramped. The 9-wide that was suggested was also snug. Then, after going to the back (somehow a sad sign), a pair of 10-extra-wide was brought out and fit well.
These shoes have been through muddy football fields, wet infield grass, snow, squatting down to pick up dropped change, and other things to tear the soles off. When I wear them now, you can see the sock on my foot. I'm not going to go onto a football field wearing these shoes - it's an autistic thing that I can't stand getting my feet wet, cold and dirty.
So when it came time to look for shoes, I tried to find a 10-extra-wide. After exhausting the local thrift stores (I'm kind of on a budget) I went to Payless, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and even back to Shoe Sensation once more. Nothing fit. Then I went to JCPenny. This pair of black 9-4E shoes were on sale for just over $30.
Most people can recall the sizes of the things they wear in an instant. I just can't do that. At the time I was at Penney's I didn't remember why I was wearing a size 10. The toes didn't come close to hitting the top of the inside of the shoe.
I tried on the left shoe and it fit well. So naturally I figured the right shoe would fit just the same. I didn't try the right shoe. I paid for the pair and brought it home. It was only before planning on riding my bike to work did I find out that the right shoe was horribly tight. I figured it was normal and it would wear itself in after a few days. So I wore them to work and my feet became incredibly cramped. I worked most of the shift with my socks on.
The problem with these shoes is that they are not WIDE enough. Toe-to-ankle they fit perfectly. The width is the hardest part of shoe buying.
My feet are unusual. Think of Fred Flintstone. He has the same kind of feet I do. I think you get that from driving a Flintstone-mobile. Apparently this comes through the family (mom's side). What's more difficult about it is that these feet have been powering pedals on so many bicycle rides over the years. They've become sort of muscular.
So I'm going to return this "new" pair of shoes today, and stick with the old ratty ones until a trip to Rockford on Monday. I'm covering a golf meet up there - first prep event of the 11-12 school year - and will be sporting the formal shoes for the occasion. If Rockford doesn't have my shoes, perhaps Jupiter does?
Monday, August 8, 2011
FOR SALE: Yamaha Keyboard
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.80.80
For Sale: Late 1990s Yamaha DJX Keyboard, some cosmetic wear, a little dusty, and yellowed keys, but electronic component fully operational. Missing the manual, as well as the foot switch. Two knobs have small chips. $40. Message me on Facebook, or call me (815.441.9589) for more.
Here's a nice write-up describing the keyboard from an ebay auction not too long ago:
From phat to funky, ultracool to chunky, the DJX is one awesome keyboard. It's your one-stop groove-station — complete with a built-in sampler, way cool real-time control knobs, and the most happening Patterns and Voices ever put into a single machine.
Want to find out more? Take this tour!
Even if you've never played a keyboard in your life, the DJX lets you sound just like a pro — the minute you get it out of the box!
Give it some juice...and start it up!
Who says there's no such thing as "instant gratification"? Just try twisting and turning the sound around with these vintage analog style control knobs — while the Pattern is playing. This is hands on sonic control - at its best.
Groove knob: This lets you change — subtly or radically — the "feel" or timing of the Pattern. Turn this to give it some swing, make it laidback ...or just play it straight! Assign knob: You call the shots with this knob. Assign it to control dynamics, turntable, or any one of twelve different functions! Bass Boost knob: Pump up the bass of the entire DJX sound with this knob — and rock the house!
The CUTOFF AND RESONANCE knobs give you powerful realtime control over the sound. Select either the keyboard Voice or one of the Pattern Parts (like bass, or hi-hat), then tweak knobs as you play.
Just like on vintage analog synthesizers, this knob lets you sweep the cutoff frequency of the filter as you play the keyboard. Turn it to the right to "open up" the filter for a brighter sound, and turn it to the left to "shut down" the filter.
Set this to determine how much the CUTOFF knob affects the sound. Turn it to the right for maximum filter effect, and to the left for more subtle filter changes.
Cut loose on the ribbon!
Here's another expressive wonder from the golden age of synthesizers! You can play this in real time, too! Just touch the RIBBON CONTROLLER and slide your finger along it — and hear how the sound changes. Plus, there are tons of things you can assign to this... Set it to control effect depth, attack, release, dynamics — and more!
The DJX is jam-packed with hip features that give you instant and total control over the music — and put you in the producer's chair.
Part Control - With the PART ON/OFF keys you're an instant maestro of mix. Simply press the appropriate keys and the Pattern plays back, and create your own arrangements live! Drop parts out and fly parts in — you're in control!
Each of the 100 Patterns includes several variations for spicing up the rhythm. Two of these are Beat A and Beat B buttons. Play around with the Beat A and Beat B buttons as the Pattern is running, and hear the dynamic, exciting changes they make as they take your music up another level!
This little devil really lets you shake things up and turn the rhythm 'round! While the Pattern is rolling, just press the Beat Reverse key. This breaks up the beat by hitting the top of the phrase and starting the Pattern again. Press it repeatedly to get wild, syncopated, stuttering effects!
Here's yet another long-lost feature from the days when synthesizers ruled the world — a built-in Arpeggiator! Hold several notes on the keyboard, then let the DJX work its arpeggio magic — automatically creating funky, hip patterns based on the notes you play!
Digital Sampling is built right into the DJX! Sample your own parts (from a microphone or CD player), then play them from the keyboard. Use the Knobs and Ribbon Controller to change the sound, too. Plus, simple-to-use editing controls let you fine-tune your samples — and even loop them.
The Dual mode lets you layer two Voices together, while the Split mode lets you play two different Voices with your left and right hands.
Save your precious original panel settings to these four buttons for instant recall. Four available banks give you a total of sixteen memory spaces. Plus, there are two Preset buttons that let you call up ideal pre-programmed settings for each selected Style.
100 dynamic Patterns to groove with - the hottest, coolest and latest!
283 stunning Voices — with hits, scratches, breakbeats, loops, and human voice samples! (includes 128 GM Voices)
Tons of real-time performance features - to keep your music movin' and groovin'!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Bike Riding
Cutter's Log - Supplemental
Trying to find something to do today, on my day off, I wanted to take my bicycle and get it prepped up for the fall. It had been hanging in the garage for almost a year. Got it out this morning around 6:00, dusted it off a little, and put it in the trunk to get the tires filled with air. It was a nice day for a ride.
The bike is an old-style Huffy, cream-colored, and I bought it at a Wal-Mart in Silvis for around $100.
After getting the air at Mobil, I rode around the theatre parking lot, and did figure eights around the Menard's medians. The bike still rides well, but the seat became a little hard over the storage time. I then drove to Wal-Mart and picked up not only an extra seat cushion, but a lock for the bike.
The whole reason why I wanted to get the bike out again was to use it for exercise, and to use it for errands around town. This would also help my car; not having to use it to go around town should help gas mileage. And it does kill two birds with one stone in helping me drop some of this weight.
Right now I'm having to learn how to make good distance. Mobil to the end of Menards and back seemed like a lot. My home is on a low-point in town, and points east and west involve going up a small hill. Not to mention trying to master the First Avenue railroad viaduct again. Baby steps for now.
I walked to work for the first time in a long time on Thursday. The walk was great. Then having to stay on my feet at work was a pain. However the walk back wasn't all that bad. I'm going to take the bike to work on Monday night. Hopefully it all goes well.
Sometime in May 2012, I would like to be fit enough to duplicate an event that seemed impossible. I rode my bicycle to Geneseo to see my softball friends play a game. Apparently they never forgot that day. Just for accomplishment's sake.
Trying to find something to do today, on my day off, I wanted to take my bicycle and get it prepped up for the fall. It had been hanging in the garage for almost a year. Got it out this morning around 6:00, dusted it off a little, and put it in the trunk to get the tires filled with air. It was a nice day for a ride.
The bike is an old-style Huffy, cream-colored, and I bought it at a Wal-Mart in Silvis for around $100.
After getting the air at Mobil, I rode around the theatre parking lot, and did figure eights around the Menard's medians. The bike still rides well, but the seat became a little hard over the storage time. I then drove to Wal-Mart and picked up not only an extra seat cushion, but a lock for the bike.
The whole reason why I wanted to get the bike out again was to use it for exercise, and to use it for errands around town. This would also help my car; not having to use it to go around town should help gas mileage. And it does kill two birds with one stone in helping me drop some of this weight.
Right now I'm having to learn how to make good distance. Mobil to the end of Menards and back seemed like a lot. My home is on a low-point in town, and points east and west involve going up a small hill. Not to mention trying to master the First Avenue railroad viaduct again. Baby steps for now.
I walked to work for the first time in a long time on Thursday. The walk was great. Then having to stay on my feet at work was a pain. However the walk back wasn't all that bad. I'm going to take the bike to work on Monday night. Hopefully it all goes well.
Sometime in May 2012, I would like to be fit enough to duplicate an event that seemed impossible. I rode my bicycle to Geneseo to see my softball friends play a game. Apparently they never forgot that day. Just for accomplishment's sake.
You Know You Grew up in Sterling/Rock Falls If......
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.70.80
Current Song - That Girl (Stevie Wonder)
There is this Facebook group called "You Know You Grew up in Sterling/Rock Falls If......" which has recieved lots and lots of posts and new members in the past couple of days. Something that could literally slow down Facebook data transfer.
I started posting on it yesterday. About 75% of the memories are of places that either are not around anymore, or I remember and are not around anymore. There are not that many people in the group, which now has over 2,000 members, that are my age. I can only think of one right at my age, and a few just a few years older than I am. So the seven of us have memories that can't really be duplicated by the other couple of thousand or so.
I have lived in Sterling and Rock Falls all of my 25 years on this Earth, and never moved out. This is something that I'm actually proud of. I didn't take the easy way out, by taking the first train out of town right after high school commencement - like several of my classmates have. My first house was an upstairs apartment across the alley from the former Young's Bakery (another store in RF lore). We then moved to a yellow house on East 11th Street in Sterling (on the same block as the Synagogue). Then back to 3rd Avenue in Rock Falls, and then to my present location at 17th Avenue in Sterling - where I've been for the past 14 years. I've been to six schools in a span of 10 years.
Many people "back then" truthfully looked at Sterling and Rock Falls as two seperate cities. Sterling people had little memories of Rock Falls, and vice-versa. Since I spent time in both towns, I look at the whole area as a giant town. This is something that, in a good 20 years, others growing up after me will see. We grew up after the football cease-fire of 1994. Then the two schools became divided even more with the athletic conference setups, which happened after I left high school. I think students from both sides of the river have been getting along more and more.
Currently, there is debate over what to do with the riverfronts of both towns. Those that are making the decisions (the older people) have grown up back in a time when the two towns were "seperate" and wanted nothing to do with each other. Put these decisions in the hands of the current 20- or 30-somethings and perhaps we can come up with an agreement as to how to make this happen. Most of the holdup is over filtering out which city gets what.
Why is there bitterness? My personal story, which I have written on here many times, is unique and not equal to others. However, this is what I can only guess: When we were young, the thought of "hating" the city on the other side of the river did not exist. In other words, it was not born with us. Perhaps it was the parents (both of whom went to the school that their child will have went to) that began to instill this rivalry in them. If it was not the parents, it certainly had to be the high school athletic coaches. I think the backlash over Sterling losing to Rock Falls was far greater than Rock Falls losing to Sterling.
When our economy started to turn bad, with the downfall of NWSW, I think the two cities began to utilize one another more. The kids in my generation began hanging out together. Such things like ICQ, MSN Messenger, MySpace and Facebook really started to bridge the gaps between us DURING high school, and not 15 years afterward. We would interact more within little league baseball and softball. This is the future of the Sterling/Rock Falls area, and with apologies to those 20 years older than me, this is what it's gonna be.
Indeed, the economic downturn has caused a lot of the places mentioned in the S/RF Facebook Group to shutter. As for my generation, we have very little memories of these things.
Before I go on any further, what do I mean by "my generation"? Three years either way of myself: high school graduation classes of 2001-2008. In other words, you graduated from high school during the George W. Bush presidency. In talking with people from my generation, early memory retention doesn't seem to be all that great. Mine, however, is great and has been called so by my peers.
What do we remember of Sterling/Rock Falls prior to 1994? We will be the last generation to remember ...
*Emil's, Eberley's, George Furniture, when KFC was downtown, the Lincoln Tavern and the Kastle. But we remember them more for being destroyed.
*(Not early history, but worth noting) My high school graduating class (2005) was the last to remember the head coaching tenure of Coach Gaumer, before Coach King came in and ushered in the current feel of Sterling HS football we know today. When I graduated, I was the last remnant of the 4-5 varsity team that was outscored 99-0 our final two games of the season. Our logo during our freshman year was actually a warrior head, and not a dreamcatcher with an "S" on it.
*When Route 40 was Route 88.
*The Merrill students of my generation will be the last to remember Lois Dady teaching music, and Ludy Eddinger as a strict substitute teacher. And when the lot where a parking lot is now was big enough for a soccer game (K-2 had lunch recess on the north playground, and 3-5 was on the south playground).
*The flood of 1993 on the Rock River, the last time the river got that high. I still remember driving in my parent's '78 Buick down to the Lower Dam to look at the damage.
*Safety Park, which they tore away in the early-to-mid 90s I believe.
*The International Harvester fire of 1993, a slightly smaller version of the 2004 Mill fire that most of us do remember.
*White Hen Pantry on Locust in Sterling and First Avenue in Rock Falls. Back when they were actually called White Hen. When it was an 8th grade hangout for my graduating class, we still called it White Hen.
*What Ken Nelson looked like. His face and white hair was on the local TV commercials up until around that point.
*When they were called A&W's, and not Big Bopper's. There was still car delivery at that time, where we had to push a red button from our cars to deliver our order.
*When Kilgour Park was nothing more than an open field with hoops and a tennis court.
*The old Dairy Queen on the west side of Sterling, before they rebuilt it. Walked there on a preschool fieldtrip.
*When Supervalue was on its tail end, prompting the call for a new west side supermarket. The end result was County Market.
*Running on the orange grocery bagging shelves at the old Aldi's!!
*What Avenue G bridge looked like before it was rebuilt, it had the thin rails. My mom once said there were many holes on that bridge that looked down toward the river.
*The Glafka's Tire City jingle that sounded like the old MoTown song "The Boy from New York City"
*When circuses were on the empty lot where the Randolph Hotel once stood (West 3rd and Avenue A).
*Jerry Warren's dealership next to the Coliseum.
*Video Discount and Sam Metzler Realty ... Sam is my great-granduncle.
*When that building on the NW corner of East 4th and 12th Avenue in Sterling was actually occupied.
*When there wasn't a stop sign at the intersection of East 5th Street and 13th Avenue in Sterling, next to the Nazerene Church.
*When East End Shell was a few blocks to the west of where it is now, and Billy used to work there.
*Sterling Furniture, Sears (with the dark blue lettering), Realty World, Carpet World, Stars and Stripes Video, Pelican Restaurant, Rax, Ken Nelson by the mall and Wolohan Lumber were on the Eastern business district. And the two farthest places out where the Builder's Discount and Farm and Fleet. And there was no stoplight at 2 and Polo Road.
*Kid Zone! Camelot Music, Woolworth's and its restaurant, Walgreen's, Stuarts, KayBee Toys, the ice cream place whose name I can't recall, and the yellow-colored penny deposit where it whirled like a tornado -- all of which were at Northland Mall. (More people younger than me will remember Blackhawk Arcade and Diamond Dave's).
*The aforementioned Young's Bakery in Rock Falls, corner of West 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
*A Citgo sign and a Sunoco sign at the corner of 1st Avenue and Dixon Avenue in Rock Falls.
*Dairy Dreem, where Adami Insurance is now!
*There was a small dirt path behind the Rock Falls Eagle food store, accessible from the end of Stanley Court and going toward West 10th Street. And how real bad that trail smelled!!
*The Igloo for ice cream and Honky's for ribs in the new Centennial Plaza in Rock Falls. We had Honky's for lunch as we were packing and moving back to Sterling from Rock Falls 14 years ago.
*The black and white Central National Bank logo, with the capital "C" on top of the "NB".
*We called Rheeling's "IGA" because that was the logo we as kids could recognize. That was the last of the true neighborhood supermarkets in Rock Falls. 5th Street Mini Mart was the last of the true neighborhood supermarkets in Sterling, and we could remember that, too. It had a Pepsi logo on top of the sign.
*Dr. Provow's and Dr. Lipinski's office (as well as others) on Dixon Avenue before it was torn down due to roof damage.
*Figuring out our bowling scores using a pencil and paper, while youth bowling on Saturday morning's at Rocket Lanes. Tony Deroste, Larry Thompson, and a guy named Jim were the guys that coordinated the bowling back then.
*Red Carpet Video on Route 30, before Video Village expanded and forced it out of business.
and that's all I can think of right now.
Current Song - That Girl (Stevie Wonder)
There is this Facebook group called "You Know You Grew up in Sterling/Rock Falls If......" which has recieved lots and lots of posts and new members in the past couple of days. Something that could literally slow down Facebook data transfer.
I started posting on it yesterday. About 75% of the memories are of places that either are not around anymore, or I remember and are not around anymore. There are not that many people in the group, which now has over 2,000 members, that are my age. I can only think of one right at my age, and a few just a few years older than I am. So the seven of us have memories that can't really be duplicated by the other couple of thousand or so.
I have lived in Sterling and Rock Falls all of my 25 years on this Earth, and never moved out. This is something that I'm actually proud of. I didn't take the easy way out, by taking the first train out of town right after high school commencement - like several of my classmates have. My first house was an upstairs apartment across the alley from the former Young's Bakery (another store in RF lore). We then moved to a yellow house on East 11th Street in Sterling (on the same block as the Synagogue). Then back to 3rd Avenue in Rock Falls, and then to my present location at 17th Avenue in Sterling - where I've been for the past 14 years. I've been to six schools in a span of 10 years.
Many people "back then" truthfully looked at Sterling and Rock Falls as two seperate cities. Sterling people had little memories of Rock Falls, and vice-versa. Since I spent time in both towns, I look at the whole area as a giant town. This is something that, in a good 20 years, others growing up after me will see. We grew up after the football cease-fire of 1994. Then the two schools became divided even more with the athletic conference setups, which happened after I left high school. I think students from both sides of the river have been getting along more and more.
Currently, there is debate over what to do with the riverfronts of both towns. Those that are making the decisions (the older people) have grown up back in a time when the two towns were "seperate" and wanted nothing to do with each other. Put these decisions in the hands of the current 20- or 30-somethings and perhaps we can come up with an agreement as to how to make this happen. Most of the holdup is over filtering out which city gets what.
Why is there bitterness? My personal story, which I have written on here many times, is unique and not equal to others. However, this is what I can only guess: When we were young, the thought of "hating" the city on the other side of the river did not exist. In other words, it was not born with us. Perhaps it was the parents (both of whom went to the school that their child will have went to) that began to instill this rivalry in them. If it was not the parents, it certainly had to be the high school athletic coaches. I think the backlash over Sterling losing to Rock Falls was far greater than Rock Falls losing to Sterling.
When our economy started to turn bad, with the downfall of NWSW, I think the two cities began to utilize one another more. The kids in my generation began hanging out together. Such things like ICQ, MSN Messenger, MySpace and Facebook really started to bridge the gaps between us DURING high school, and not 15 years afterward. We would interact more within little league baseball and softball. This is the future of the Sterling/Rock Falls area, and with apologies to those 20 years older than me, this is what it's gonna be.
Indeed, the economic downturn has caused a lot of the places mentioned in the S/RF Facebook Group to shutter. As for my generation, we have very little memories of these things.
Before I go on any further, what do I mean by "my generation"? Three years either way of myself: high school graduation classes of 2001-2008. In other words, you graduated from high school during the George W. Bush presidency. In talking with people from my generation, early memory retention doesn't seem to be all that great. Mine, however, is great and has been called so by my peers.
What do we remember of Sterling/Rock Falls prior to 1994? We will be the last generation to remember ...
*Emil's, Eberley's, George Furniture, when KFC was downtown, the Lincoln Tavern and the Kastle. But we remember them more for being destroyed.
*(Not early history, but worth noting) My high school graduating class (2005) was the last to remember the head coaching tenure of Coach Gaumer, before Coach King came in and ushered in the current feel of Sterling HS football we know today. When I graduated, I was the last remnant of the 4-5 varsity team that was outscored 99-0 our final two games of the season. Our logo during our freshman year was actually a warrior head, and not a dreamcatcher with an "S" on it.
*When Route 40 was Route 88.
*The Merrill students of my generation will be the last to remember Lois Dady teaching music, and Ludy Eddinger as a strict substitute teacher. And when the lot where a parking lot is now was big enough for a soccer game (K-2 had lunch recess on the north playground, and 3-5 was on the south playground).
*The flood of 1993 on the Rock River, the last time the river got that high. I still remember driving in my parent's '78 Buick down to the Lower Dam to look at the damage.
*Safety Park, which they tore away in the early-to-mid 90s I believe.
*The International Harvester fire of 1993, a slightly smaller version of the 2004 Mill fire that most of us do remember.
*White Hen Pantry on Locust in Sterling and First Avenue in Rock Falls. Back when they were actually called White Hen. When it was an 8th grade hangout for my graduating class, we still called it White Hen.
*What Ken Nelson looked like. His face and white hair was on the local TV commercials up until around that point.
*When they were called A&W's, and not Big Bopper's. There was still car delivery at that time, where we had to push a red button from our cars to deliver our order.
*When Kilgour Park was nothing more than an open field with hoops and a tennis court.
*The old Dairy Queen on the west side of Sterling, before they rebuilt it. Walked there on a preschool fieldtrip.
*When Supervalue was on its tail end, prompting the call for a new west side supermarket. The end result was County Market.
*Running on the orange grocery bagging shelves at the old Aldi's!!
*What Avenue G bridge looked like before it was rebuilt, it had the thin rails. My mom once said there were many holes on that bridge that looked down toward the river.
*The Glafka's Tire City jingle that sounded like the old MoTown song "The Boy from New York City"
*When circuses were on the empty lot where the Randolph Hotel once stood (West 3rd and Avenue A).
*Jerry Warren's dealership next to the Coliseum.
*Video Discount and Sam Metzler Realty ... Sam is my great-granduncle.
*When that building on the NW corner of East 4th and 12th Avenue in Sterling was actually occupied.
*When there wasn't a stop sign at the intersection of East 5th Street and 13th Avenue in Sterling, next to the Nazerene Church.
*When East End Shell was a few blocks to the west of where it is now, and Billy used to work there.
*Sterling Furniture, Sears (with the dark blue lettering), Realty World, Carpet World, Stars and Stripes Video, Pelican Restaurant, Rax, Ken Nelson by the mall and Wolohan Lumber were on the Eastern business district. And the two farthest places out where the Builder's Discount and Farm and Fleet. And there was no stoplight at 2 and Polo Road.
*Kid Zone! Camelot Music, Woolworth's and its restaurant, Walgreen's, Stuarts, KayBee Toys, the ice cream place whose name I can't recall, and the yellow-colored penny deposit where it whirled like a tornado -- all of which were at Northland Mall. (More people younger than me will remember Blackhawk Arcade and Diamond Dave's).
*The aforementioned Young's Bakery in Rock Falls, corner of West 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
*A Citgo sign and a Sunoco sign at the corner of 1st Avenue and Dixon Avenue in Rock Falls.
*Dairy Dreem, where Adami Insurance is now!
*There was a small dirt path behind the Rock Falls Eagle food store, accessible from the end of Stanley Court and going toward West 10th Street. And how real bad that trail smelled!!
*The Igloo for ice cream and Honky's for ribs in the new Centennial Plaza in Rock Falls. We had Honky's for lunch as we were packing and moving back to Sterling from Rock Falls 14 years ago.
*The black and white Central National Bank logo, with the capital "C" on top of the "NB".
*We called Rheeling's "IGA" because that was the logo we as kids could recognize. That was the last of the true neighborhood supermarkets in Rock Falls. 5th Street Mini Mart was the last of the true neighborhood supermarkets in Sterling, and we could remember that, too. It had a Pepsi logo on top of the sign.
*Dr. Provow's and Dr. Lipinski's office (as well as others) on Dixon Avenue before it was torn down due to roof damage.
*Figuring out our bowling scores using a pencil and paper, while youth bowling on Saturday morning's at Rocket Lanes. Tony Deroste, Larry Thompson, and a guy named Jim were the guys that coordinated the bowling back then.
*Red Carpet Video on Route 30, before Video Village expanded and forced it out of business.
and that's all I can think of right now.
Friday, August 5, 2011
"Me" Party
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.50.80
Current Song - Too Much Heaven (Bee Gees)
I never really liked this group they call the "Tea Party." They're just too far to the right of the politcal spectrum, you know, the Rush Limbaugh side of the chart. Then again, my line of thinking has always been far left. Taking a few Government surveys in high school solidified my position.
My hatred for these teabaggers got worse after reading an article in Friday's SVM regarding the fact that the local Tea Party group demanded that Republican congressman Bobby Schilling (who represents where I live) explain the reason why he voted for this debt ceiling compromise.
I do not believe we elected the local Teepee chair as our congresswoman. This kind of news makes me think of a scene (pictured above) from The Empire Strikes Back: When the Admiral of Vader's flagship goes out of hyperspace too early and is force-choked to death by Vader.
"YOU are now in command, Congressman Piett."
I sense a theme.
Or maybe more like this ...
"Apology accepted, Congressman Needa."
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Money Thoughts
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.20.80
Current Song - Badge (Cream)
So I'm going over my personal books lately. I didn't do much during the summer, which is a monetary gain of sorts. As of right now I'm preparing for the August costs of the prep sports season.
Among something I need is a digital camera of my own. For the past couple of years I have been borrowing Dan's camera. I'm sure when I'm using it at places, he would have liked to use it for his things. So that's something I'm saving up for. The sports-quality cameras run at just over a hundred dollars. At putting aside 10 dollars a week, it'll be toward the end of the regular football season until I finally get one of my own. Until then, Dan has let me borrow the camera.
If the video process works out well for the website, it won't be long until I'll be needing a second battery to ensure even more video possibilities.
In order to do all of this, I'll have to remain "bare bones," which I think I can do.
ADDITION - 8/4
I have noticed that I've become more energetic than I used to be. I can't quite grasp why, but I think it has to do with getting a haircut. Seems weird, huh?
With this haircut, I have also begun to shave my facial hair more often than I used to. In addition, at work I have to crouch down to the floor to retrieve loose change that I accidentally drop - that used to be a pain, and now that is not a problem. So perhaps I've dropped a few pounds? A few is better than zero.
So what does this have to do with money? I'm thinking about bringing the bicycle back from the abyss that is the garage. Hopefully it will still work well. I think I shelved it due to severe butt pain, even with the gel-padded seat. Using the car more for longer trips could possibly save on oil changes along with the fuel. I don't know, but I think it's worth trying. I want to try to ride to Sterling, Rock Falls and Newman games with the bike as much as I can, in addition to work and errands.
There was a message board weight loss contest that had the slogan "Do More, Eat Less." I feel like "Do More, Earn More, Eat Less, Spend Less."
More Ideas:
*When I do make a trip to a game, I'll have to find a way to have a light dinner along the way back home. Emphasis on the word LIGHT.
*Buy water instead of pop. I will also be utilizing a totebag for all my reporting accessories (and thus retiring the Rock Falls Rockets bag I had been carrying around for years), and there is room for bottled water. A small cha-ching, but considering the number of games covered this is a pretty good idea.
*Make like insurance companies and BUNDLE. Sometimes I would go on far-away errands on days that I didn't have a game to cover. Rather than do that, I think it's easier to bundle things into one trip. For example, I am looking at a new digital camera. If I am interested in one at Best Buy, rather than going to Rockford or Moline and back I'll combine that with a game to cover around there. That being said, I have at least one trip to Rockford and one to Aurora both in August.
*Take my time getting to these places. It is believed that the faster you go, the more gas you are wasting. Most days that I cover a game, I'm not working. I have time to get to the games. But at the same time, I can't go super slow.
**Finally, I think it's important to point out that I'm not in a financial crisis or anything. From the looks of the things that I've written, it seems more like the "Tea Party" and its idea of spending cuts. If you know me, I'm far from these tea baggers. The difference here is that I am not in a financial crisis.
I have money. I have a job, and I like it. But when you cut spending it makes it seem as if you have more money in your name. And more money in your name, well, is really good for you.
Current Song - Badge (Cream)
So I'm going over my personal books lately. I didn't do much during the summer, which is a monetary gain of sorts. As of right now I'm preparing for the August costs of the prep sports season.
Among something I need is a digital camera of my own. For the past couple of years I have been borrowing Dan's camera. I'm sure when I'm using it at places, he would have liked to use it for his things. So that's something I'm saving up for. The sports-quality cameras run at just over a hundred dollars. At putting aside 10 dollars a week, it'll be toward the end of the regular football season until I finally get one of my own. Until then, Dan has let me borrow the camera.
If the video process works out well for the website, it won't be long until I'll be needing a second battery to ensure even more video possibilities.
In order to do all of this, I'll have to remain "bare bones," which I think I can do.
ADDITION - 8/4
I have noticed that I've become more energetic than I used to be. I can't quite grasp why, but I think it has to do with getting a haircut. Seems weird, huh?
With this haircut, I have also begun to shave my facial hair more often than I used to. In addition, at work I have to crouch down to the floor to retrieve loose change that I accidentally drop - that used to be a pain, and now that is not a problem. So perhaps I've dropped a few pounds? A few is better than zero.
So what does this have to do with money? I'm thinking about bringing the bicycle back from the abyss that is the garage. Hopefully it will still work well. I think I shelved it due to severe butt pain, even with the gel-padded seat. Using the car more for longer trips could possibly save on oil changes along with the fuel. I don't know, but I think it's worth trying. I want to try to ride to Sterling, Rock Falls and Newman games with the bike as much as I can, in addition to work and errands.
There was a message board weight loss contest that had the slogan "Do More, Eat Less." I feel like "Do More, Earn More, Eat Less, Spend Less."
More Ideas:
*When I do make a trip to a game, I'll have to find a way to have a light dinner along the way back home. Emphasis on the word LIGHT.
*Buy water instead of pop. I will also be utilizing a totebag for all my reporting accessories (and thus retiring the Rock Falls Rockets bag I had been carrying around for years), and there is room for bottled water. A small cha-ching, but considering the number of games covered this is a pretty good idea.
*Make like insurance companies and BUNDLE. Sometimes I would go on far-away errands on days that I didn't have a game to cover. Rather than do that, I think it's easier to bundle things into one trip. For example, I am looking at a new digital camera. If I am interested in one at Best Buy, rather than going to Rockford or Moline and back I'll combine that with a game to cover around there. That being said, I have at least one trip to Rockford and one to Aurora both in August.
*Take my time getting to these places. It is believed that the faster you go, the more gas you are wasting. Most days that I cover a game, I'm not working. I have time to get to the games. But at the same time, I can't go super slow.
**Finally, I think it's important to point out that I'm not in a financial crisis or anything. From the looks of the things that I've written, it seems more like the "Tea Party" and its idea of spending cuts. If you know me, I'm far from these tea baggers. The difference here is that I am not in a financial crisis.
I have money. I have a job, and I like it. But when you cut spending it makes it seem as if you have more money in your name. And more money in your name, well, is really good for you.
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