Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.91.90
Current Song - Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
One of the best things about not working at the moment is that I can get caught up on personal things.
One of the personal things I've been working on lately is to get in better shape. I'm not surrounded by packaged food at work anymore, so this eliminates the temptations. Also when hungry from work, I would make a trip to a drive-thru. Now that I'm on a tight budget, that overrules the fast food chains. I literally can't spend the money.
I'm also going to be a little lax on the games that I cover in the next couple of weeks, but still at the same coverage rate. Football will still be normal. Less trips - less money to spend.
Another way to cut back on spending is to not drive the car on in-town trips. The bike will be used for such, unless I bunch errands into an out-of-town trip.
All of which should help me feel better physically.
Today I plan on walking through Big Bend State Park in Prophetstown. I've been there a few times, but never really walked around it. While there, in town, I'm going to pick up a couple of newspapers. You know what for.
Tomorrow is a girls golf meet at Emerald Hill. The bicycle will be used. Let's see if this can hold up.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Partial Lead
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.71.90
Current Song - Stranglehold (Ted Nugent)
I looked in a little deeper into that newspaper opening that has been discussed. After getting some info, the said roster spot may or may not be open. When I see or hear "may or may not be open", I have to treat that as if it was open.
The cover letter is in the works, and the resume needs to be polished and updated. I'm going to choose from five works to submit as well.
Of course, if I do get this position, what will happen to NISB? During my time with SVN, I was allowed to operate the NISB Message Boards (from June to September of 2004, NISB was just a message board). It just depends on what happens.
Current Song - Stranglehold (Ted Nugent)
I looked in a little deeper into that newspaper opening that has been discussed. After getting some info, the said roster spot may or may not be open. When I see or hear "may or may not be open", I have to treat that as if it was open.
The cover letter is in the works, and the resume needs to be polished and updated. I'm going to choose from five works to submit as well.
Of course, if I do get this position, what will happen to NISB? During my time with SVN, I was allowed to operate the NISB Message Boards (from June to September of 2004, NISB was just a message board). It just depends on what happens.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Plenty of Catch-up Time
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.61.90
Current Song - Something About You (Level 42)
I think I now have more time to write in this Blog because of what all happened.
I've since asked about that newspaper void, and circled a couple of different routes. One temporary route is still in the works, and is about 50-50 as of right now.
With the extra time, I took to one of my "Stretching Sportsfan Dollars" topics. (Who would have thought I would have to use them). I made a trip to both the Sterling and Rock Falls libraries and looked at some books that featured ways to save money. I'm not making any, so it's probably best for me to hold on to what I got.
Then I made a trip to the Silver dealer. Once in a grand while I would find silver in the cash register and trade it with a coin from my car. Well, since I'm not going to be surfing cash registers anymore, I figured I'd sell them. One quarter, two dimes and three war nickels - all for $8. It's right about what I expected.
I was going to make a trip to the Chamber of Commerce and put in an advertisement for the rummage sale I plan on having (as a part of Garage Sale Days on 9/24-25). Like I said, some things I kinda need to part with. The rummage sale is similar to the one I had in June - various knick-knacks, sports cards, and the keyboard. The Chamber is asking for $10.00 for the ad in its flyer (which it distributes to local businesses). If I can simply save that $10.00 and print out flyers on my own and place them places, it will be an improvement over last time with no advertising at all (except for two pieces of posterboard).
As far as fuel goes, the next two weeks I only plan on leaving the Twin Cities on two occasions. Everything else, such as Sterling events, will either be on bike or by foot.
Playing tactical analysis such as this can be stressful, too.
Current Song - Something About You (Level 42)
I think I now have more time to write in this Blog because of what all happened.
I've since asked about that newspaper void, and circled a couple of different routes. One temporary route is still in the works, and is about 50-50 as of right now.
With the extra time, I took to one of my "Stretching Sportsfan Dollars" topics. (Who would have thought I would have to use them). I made a trip to both the Sterling and Rock Falls libraries and looked at some books that featured ways to save money. I'm not making any, so it's probably best for me to hold on to what I got.
Then I made a trip to the Silver dealer. Once in a grand while I would find silver in the cash register and trade it with a coin from my car. Well, since I'm not going to be surfing cash registers anymore, I figured I'd sell them. One quarter, two dimes and three war nickels - all for $8. It's right about what I expected.
I was going to make a trip to the Chamber of Commerce and put in an advertisement for the rummage sale I plan on having (as a part of Garage Sale Days on 9/24-25). Like I said, some things I kinda need to part with. The rummage sale is similar to the one I had in June - various knick-knacks, sports cards, and the keyboard. The Chamber is asking for $10.00 for the ad in its flyer (which it distributes to local businesses). If I can simply save that $10.00 and print out flyers on my own and place them places, it will be an improvement over last time with no advertising at all (except for two pieces of posterboard).
As far as fuel goes, the next two weeks I only plan on leaving the Twin Cities on two occasions. Everything else, such as Sterling events, will either be on bike or by foot.
Playing tactical analysis such as this can be stressful, too.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Terrible Ordeal I've Been Going Through
I have posted on Facebook in the past couple of days that I was going through some extremely difficult times, and needed some support of any kind. However, I didn't tell anyone exactly what happened.
Right now, I will explain what happened. This is not a complete record of such, as there are some things I would not like to reveal in the blog entry at this current time – such as the names of people.
You'll only fully understand if you read the entire thing.
***
Ever since leaving the Gazette/Telegraph seven years ago, I always wanted to find some way to get back into the newspaper world (not journalism world, but newspaper world – there's a difference). Northern Illinois Sports Beat, the website that I run, was established to help me keep my journalism skills fresh and up-to-date.
Since writing things seemed to go very well for me (c. 2002), I always wanted to work for the local newspaper and one day be its sports editor. I came close to that ultimate dream seat when I joined the local paper for a part-time position in April of 2004.
That run ended and I was back to school for my senior year of high school. At the time my academics were not all that great, and they were the prime priority. But I figured that one day I shall return to the seat and cubicle that I once occupied at Sauk Valley Newspapers.
As most of you know, journalism has had a bunch of lows since 2004. Seven years and no real opportunity came along. There had been several openings throughout the NISB coverage area, but I simply wasn't ready to give up NISB and make that transition. I've had arguments with good friends over the fact that I can't simply just up and leave the home that I live in, and my parents own, in Sterling.
However, a possible opening was brought to my attention during the Saturday of high school football's Week 1 by a newspaper friend of mine. An opening at his paper was filled by someone else from a nearby paper, thus creating this void at this “nearby” paper. So at that time I knew this situation existed, and didn't think much of it because it was so early in the season and website plans would be paramount over anything.
The following week, out of the blue, I get asked about this newspaper opening while covering another football game. How my friend knew about the potential void I will never know. I tell him, “well I don't know, I have the website and all that.”
The week after that, someone else that I know heard something along the line of “I turned down the job offer at this newspaper.” One, there was no job offer – thus making this whole thing nothing more than a rumor. This person tells someone close to me, who tells another person close to me.
The latter person, always wanting the best of me and for me to follow my true dreams, is angry that I supposedly “turned down” this opportunity. A drive to the Shell station that I work out was apparently needed in order to inform me of my “stupid decision.”
We are arguing back and forth – no raised voices or anything – about the fact that I should have jumped at this offer. I point out that there was never a job offer and such was pretty much a rumor that I had “turned them down.”
As all of this is unfolding, I become absolutely flustered, confused, distraught, and blindsided enough to focus away from my duties as Shell gas station clerk. My autistic mind is mentally cramming, Aspergian style.
Then a customer buys a six-pack of Bud Light in bottles.
The a couple of minutes later, a couple of guys with clipboards come in.
The customer who bought the Bud Light was underage, and I didn't even think of carding him because of my mental state brought forth by this arguing.
Bottom line, I just sold alcohol to a minor.
I tell my adversary in this argument to “Get out.”
The bad news hit me hard. I cried. I didn't want to work the rest of the night. I went home early.
September 12, 2011. This, folks, would be the final night that Cody Cutter worked at the Shell gas station. Three years and 42 days.
Due to the seriousness of the offense, I had to be fired. My boss didn't want to fire me, and even the owner didn't want to fire me, all because apparently I had been a good worker and a loyal employee in the three years I had been there. However, the decision was the owner's, and he was going along the line of “If I gave you an exception, I would have to give everyone else an exception.” Which is very true in this case because I knew a lot of Shell workers.
During the cop's arrival that night, he had made a comment to me that I handled the situation very calmly – and that most others when they fail get all up and arms about the problem. I didn't scream, I didn't get pissed off, and I simply accepted the fact that this would be my final night at Shell. At the same time, I didn't want to hold off telling my boss what had happened. I called her and woke her up to tell her this. I felt this was the right thing to do, to admit it immediately and up-front.
I have been teary-eyed every moment since, and am teary-eyed as I type this. After some comforting by my parents, I'm still teary-eyed.
Meanwhile, the person that I was arguing with is in a world of hurt because of what had just happened to me. And this was because the need to address the situation had to be urgent, apparently. Please let it be known to everyone that while it cost me my job, I will always be close. I do not want anyone to hurt this person in any way. No rifts. Always close. Always. Forever.
***
As of Tuesday afternoon I am a free agent.
Now begins the search for another job. Already there are a couple of avenues that have opened up for me. One is something I had done before. Another is a one-off opportunity. Another is something I had never done before. One is close. Another is far. A quick look at the classifieds reveals things that I just cannot do. The best shot out of that listing was an opening for sales and delivery for the big ice business out of the town of Ohio.
So any help is greatly appreciated.
However, there is one better avenue that is worth persuing.
The whole point of that argument.
If I can get my mind straightened out, I'll look into that newspaper job. What that will mean for Northern Illinois Sports Beat is unclear. My best guess is that if I get this newspaper job, I will ask to retain the Message Boards. I'll have to shut down the content side of things, if I get this job, because of competition reasons.
Two years ago, I created an NISB Transition Plan that I simply made mention of in that year's State of the Site Address, but never publically revealed. The Transition Plan is the emergency operations of NISB when I am unable to run the website. So plans are in place when and if the time comes up. But the prime mission of the Transition Plan is to ensure the survival of Northern Illinois Sports Beat if and when I am gone.
Who knows what is going to happen right now.
However, I feel somewhat compelled to improve my life in this aspect. I hated, hated, hated, having to prioritize work, school and prep sports. Absolutely hated it. School is now out of the question until I get restabilized. I want to be happy and at peace with myself while making money and building my life. I feel that I'm happy and at peace when I'm out there writing about high school sports, and interacting with these people. I have mentioned on here many times that the sportswriters and media types that I cover games with are whom I consider my true circle of friends.
Cash flow is extremely critical right now. I have nothing coming in after the final paycheck, and have expenses and interests that I can try and squeeze somehow.
What's best about this is that I can kick the lottery habit, and the fast food habit. I have plenty of time right now to take some walks and at least try to get myself in some sort of shape. You see, I can find ways to turn these big negatives into positives that will help me. That is how, and why, I will fight through this whole ordeal.
I told my boss, “something good will come out of this,” and I will be on my way toward making that so.
Right now, I will explain what happened. This is not a complete record of such, as there are some things I would not like to reveal in the blog entry at this current time – such as the names of people.
You'll only fully understand if you read the entire thing.
***
Ever since leaving the Gazette/Telegraph seven years ago, I always wanted to find some way to get back into the newspaper world (not journalism world, but newspaper world – there's a difference). Northern Illinois Sports Beat, the website that I run, was established to help me keep my journalism skills fresh and up-to-date.
Since writing things seemed to go very well for me (c. 2002), I always wanted to work for the local newspaper and one day be its sports editor. I came close to that ultimate dream seat when I joined the local paper for a part-time position in April of 2004.
That run ended and I was back to school for my senior year of high school. At the time my academics were not all that great, and they were the prime priority. But I figured that one day I shall return to the seat and cubicle that I once occupied at Sauk Valley Newspapers.
As most of you know, journalism has had a bunch of lows since 2004. Seven years and no real opportunity came along. There had been several openings throughout the NISB coverage area, but I simply wasn't ready to give up NISB and make that transition. I've had arguments with good friends over the fact that I can't simply just up and leave the home that I live in, and my parents own, in Sterling.
However, a possible opening was brought to my attention during the Saturday of high school football's Week 1 by a newspaper friend of mine. An opening at his paper was filled by someone else from a nearby paper, thus creating this void at this “nearby” paper. So at that time I knew this situation existed, and didn't think much of it because it was so early in the season and website plans would be paramount over anything.
The following week, out of the blue, I get asked about this newspaper opening while covering another football game. How my friend knew about the potential void I will never know. I tell him, “well I don't know, I have the website and all that.”
The week after that, someone else that I know heard something along the line of “I turned down the job offer at this newspaper.” One, there was no job offer – thus making this whole thing nothing more than a rumor. This person tells someone close to me, who tells another person close to me.
The latter person, always wanting the best of me and for me to follow my true dreams, is angry that I supposedly “turned down” this opportunity. A drive to the Shell station that I work out was apparently needed in order to inform me of my “stupid decision.”
We are arguing back and forth – no raised voices or anything – about the fact that I should have jumped at this offer. I point out that there was never a job offer and such was pretty much a rumor that I had “turned them down.”
As all of this is unfolding, I become absolutely flustered, confused, distraught, and blindsided enough to focus away from my duties as Shell gas station clerk. My autistic mind is mentally cramming, Aspergian style.
Then a customer buys a six-pack of Bud Light in bottles.
The a couple of minutes later, a couple of guys with clipboards come in.
The customer who bought the Bud Light was underage, and I didn't even think of carding him because of my mental state brought forth by this arguing.
Bottom line, I just sold alcohol to a minor.
I tell my adversary in this argument to “Get out.”
The bad news hit me hard. I cried. I didn't want to work the rest of the night. I went home early.
September 12, 2011. This, folks, would be the final night that Cody Cutter worked at the Shell gas station. Three years and 42 days.
Due to the seriousness of the offense, I had to be fired. My boss didn't want to fire me, and even the owner didn't want to fire me, all because apparently I had been a good worker and a loyal employee in the three years I had been there. However, the decision was the owner's, and he was going along the line of “If I gave you an exception, I would have to give everyone else an exception.” Which is very true in this case because I knew a lot of Shell workers.
During the cop's arrival that night, he had made a comment to me that I handled the situation very calmly – and that most others when they fail get all up and arms about the problem. I didn't scream, I didn't get pissed off, and I simply accepted the fact that this would be my final night at Shell. At the same time, I didn't want to hold off telling my boss what had happened. I called her and woke her up to tell her this. I felt this was the right thing to do, to admit it immediately and up-front.
I have been teary-eyed every moment since, and am teary-eyed as I type this. After some comforting by my parents, I'm still teary-eyed.
Meanwhile, the person that I was arguing with is in a world of hurt because of what had just happened to me. And this was because the need to address the situation had to be urgent, apparently. Please let it be known to everyone that while it cost me my job, I will always be close. I do not want anyone to hurt this person in any way. No rifts. Always close. Always. Forever.
***
As of Tuesday afternoon I am a free agent.
Now begins the search for another job. Already there are a couple of avenues that have opened up for me. One is something I had done before. Another is a one-off opportunity. Another is something I had never done before. One is close. Another is far. A quick look at the classifieds reveals things that I just cannot do. The best shot out of that listing was an opening for sales and delivery for the big ice business out of the town of Ohio.
So any help is greatly appreciated.
However, there is one better avenue that is worth persuing.
The whole point of that argument.
If I can get my mind straightened out, I'll look into that newspaper job. What that will mean for Northern Illinois Sports Beat is unclear. My best guess is that if I get this newspaper job, I will ask to retain the Message Boards. I'll have to shut down the content side of things, if I get this job, because of competition reasons.
Two years ago, I created an NISB Transition Plan that I simply made mention of in that year's State of the Site Address, but never publically revealed. The Transition Plan is the emergency operations of NISB when I am unable to run the website. So plans are in place when and if the time comes up. But the prime mission of the Transition Plan is to ensure the survival of Northern Illinois Sports Beat if and when I am gone.
Who knows what is going to happen right now.
However, I feel somewhat compelled to improve my life in this aspect. I hated, hated, hated, having to prioritize work, school and prep sports. Absolutely hated it. School is now out of the question until I get restabilized. I want to be happy and at peace with myself while making money and building my life. I feel that I'm happy and at peace when I'm out there writing about high school sports, and interacting with these people. I have mentioned on here many times that the sportswriters and media types that I cover games with are whom I consider my true circle of friends.
Cash flow is extremely critical right now. I have nothing coming in after the final paycheck, and have expenses and interests that I can try and squeeze somehow.
What's best about this is that I can kick the lottery habit, and the fast food habit. I have plenty of time right now to take some walks and at least try to get myself in some sort of shape. You see, I can find ways to turn these big negatives into positives that will help me. That is how, and why, I will fight through this whole ordeal.
I told my boss, “something good will come out of this,” and I will be on my way toward making that so.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10th Anniversary of 9/11
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.11.90
Why do we seem to place a connection between us and national tragedy?
When hearing the question of “Where were you when Jack Kennedy was shot?” asked to those older than me, I wondered why their location had anything to do with what went on in Dallas.
However, over time those that learned about it knew why it was worth asking – it was one of the first tragic national events to unfold over national television. President Kennedy had not yet died when the news broke, and people had one ear on the news and the other elsewhere.
My grandparents, fresh out of high school together, were transitioning into the next phase in their lives in November 1963. I was just getting used to high school life as a freshman in September 2001, and considered it a key transition in my life at that time.
You had to have understood what had just happened in order to realize how much these tragic events change what you see around you.
Where were you when Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot? Where were you when the Challenger exploded? Where were you when the Oklahoma City Bombing took place?
The earliest one I can truthfully answer is the question of where I was on September 11, 2001. Challenger took place two months before I was born, and I never really understood what had happened when the Murrah Building was blown up.
Like most Americans, I remember where I was when I heard the news of the attacks on 9/11/01.
Technically, Flight 11 hit the North Tower while I was getting books out of my locker on the first floor of Sterling High School. The time was 7:46, and I was never in a great hurry to get to my first-hour class. This class was considered a divided Humanities block, where first hour was the english and literature part of it, and the second hour was the world history part of it. I was never into literature, and dreaded going to the class.
The school day started at 8:00 with the morning announcements. No mention of the attacks were said. (At that time, CNN had broken in but the events that unfolded were considered nothing more than a plane hitting the World Trade Center. We didn't know that it was a planned attack until an hour later.) Throughout this literature class, no mention was made on a plane hitting the tower. This was an age before text messaging became popular on cell phones, and before Blackberrys. We were immensed in analysis on Homer's Odyssey the entire time.
So when 8:03 came and Flight 175 hit the South Tower, we were handing in Monday's homework or something like that. Furthermore, when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, there was still more Odyssey talk.
First hour ended at 8:50, and there was an unusually loud pre-passing period hallway in the minutes before class. Our teacher at the time didn't like the fact that we would prepare to leave the classroom at 8:48 and hear zippers zip up and down and books being put away.
We were just leaving the classroom when the group of students coming in talked about how a plane had hit the World Trade Center. How they knew about it, I didn't know at the time.
The way this Humanities block works out is that one group starts with the world history class (at the other end of the school) and another starts with the literature part (my part). We switch rooms and teachers with the passing period, so almost everyone that was in the World History part of class was at the doorway when I left the literature class.
When we moved to our World History part of the block, Mr. Walton already had the radio on ABC News. This class wasn't all that time-consuming, meaning there was some free time during pockets of class. When that happened, Mr. Walton was on his computer or calling other teachers. That's how he knew of all of this before my literature teacher did.
During the first part of the history class, we were informed as to just how serious this really was. That it just isn't coinsidence that two planes hit both WTC buildings, and another hits the Pentagon.
There I was, three seats from the first row in Room 225. Appx. 8:55 a.m. Because of my mental condition (Asperger's Syndrome), I could not feel the impact of 9/11 that everyone else around me feels. I still cannot feel that impact of 9/11. Apparently it's an impact. People ask me why I can't feel it and simply come to the immediate conclusion that I don't have a soul; the “I felt it, therefore” theory.
ABC News was the first to report that the South Tower had collapsed (at 8:59) and we were listening ot it, and that was just before I had clawed back into reality after trying to figure out what had just happened.
The only phrase I can truly recall from Peter Jennings was the following, “The Southern Tower, 10:00 Eastern Time this morning, just collapsing on itself.”
Mr. Walton had the radio play all class, and thus the normal curriculum was put on hold. The same thing for Mr. Brown's health class the next period. During that class, an announcement was made that our Auditorium would be open for showing of news coverage until a certain time.
I didn't have any stunned looks on my face. My first reaction to hearing that the attacks were of a terrorist nature was a simple "whoa." I didn't cry, wave a flag, or anything like that. My thought process was: now the US is going to find the guys responsible, and have something similar to the Nuremberg Trials. A war may happen, too.
When I made my way to the auditorium, I noticed others were also going down. I wasn't doing well in health class, or next period's Spanish class also. The news reports kind of made it sound like the prelude to the Spanish-American War. Okay, we're going to have another Spanish-American War, but with the country that did this.
To those who have read all of this so far, it may seem as if I have no soul. I'm simply recalling my thoughts of the day. The reason I didn't get sad or anything was because it didn't effect Cody Cutter personally. So after sitting through all of the reactions, I began to wonder for a minute why my reactions were not the same as those persons on television. Why is everyone else reacting like this, and I'm not?
I think my reactions were missing because I didn't want to feel weak at the moment. I wanted to keep my head up and move on to justice. Sure, I acknowledged the horrors and the losses, but I didn't want that to change my life. I didn't want any outside force to change my life.
When we saw the video glimpse of a man with a turban and long beard (at the news reports in the Auditorium), "Is that the guy that did it?" was heard. No, I'm not going to let that guy throw me off-balance.
While everyone else was thrown off-balance with the news, I clung on to my axis and didn't move. You can pain me, but I'm not going to sit there and cry about it. I prefer fighting back. The Asperger's in me calls it a simple process of “do” and “do this” and life continues on. Business as usual. At times I even had this “why is everyone trying to cram this thing down by throat” feeling.
I wanted to remain strong, and still be able to think "oh my goodness" a little bit. With the news of Osama Bin Laden's death, and seeing the throngs of crowds everywhere, I began to think back at my inital reaction to 9/11. I didn't feel a thing then, and I didn't feel a thing that Sunday night.
But as the recent news events went on, it made me wonder about who I was and why I am who I am. Even as this 10th Anniversary goes on, I get that feeling still.
Since I didn't have an inital reaction to 9/11, my mindset since that Tuesday morning remains a pre-9/11 mindset. My current mindset is still pre-9/11. I was wondering why all these people were acting the way they were. I began to become more curious about why people think and act the way they do. At first I thought this was a growing-up process, but the more I think about it perhaps 9/11 made me think more psychologically about people. Are they trying to push me around?
Because I had no initial reaction to 9/11, people looked at me real differently (moreso than usual). Here I am, looking from the outside into the post-9/11 mindset that is around all of you. People are valuing things more than they did before. I just haven't found a way to do that yet.
A crime? With this mental condition of mine, am I guilty?
Why do we seem to place a connection between us and national tragedy?
When hearing the question of “Where were you when Jack Kennedy was shot?” asked to those older than me, I wondered why their location had anything to do with what went on in Dallas.
However, over time those that learned about it knew why it was worth asking – it was one of the first tragic national events to unfold over national television. President Kennedy had not yet died when the news broke, and people had one ear on the news and the other elsewhere.
My grandparents, fresh out of high school together, were transitioning into the next phase in their lives in November 1963. I was just getting used to high school life as a freshman in September 2001, and considered it a key transition in my life at that time.
You had to have understood what had just happened in order to realize how much these tragic events change what you see around you.
Where were you when Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot? Where were you when the Challenger exploded? Where were you when the Oklahoma City Bombing took place?
The earliest one I can truthfully answer is the question of where I was on September 11, 2001. Challenger took place two months before I was born, and I never really understood what had happened when the Murrah Building was blown up.
Like most Americans, I remember where I was when I heard the news of the attacks on 9/11/01.
Technically, Flight 11 hit the North Tower while I was getting books out of my locker on the first floor of Sterling High School. The time was 7:46, and I was never in a great hurry to get to my first-hour class. This class was considered a divided Humanities block, where first hour was the english and literature part of it, and the second hour was the world history part of it. I was never into literature, and dreaded going to the class.
The school day started at 8:00 with the morning announcements. No mention of the attacks were said. (At that time, CNN had broken in but the events that unfolded were considered nothing more than a plane hitting the World Trade Center. We didn't know that it was a planned attack until an hour later.) Throughout this literature class, no mention was made on a plane hitting the tower. This was an age before text messaging became popular on cell phones, and before Blackberrys. We were immensed in analysis on Homer's Odyssey the entire time.
So when 8:03 came and Flight 175 hit the South Tower, we were handing in Monday's homework or something like that. Furthermore, when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, there was still more Odyssey talk.
First hour ended at 8:50, and there was an unusually loud pre-passing period hallway in the minutes before class. Our teacher at the time didn't like the fact that we would prepare to leave the classroom at 8:48 and hear zippers zip up and down and books being put away.
We were just leaving the classroom when the group of students coming in talked about how a plane had hit the World Trade Center. How they knew about it, I didn't know at the time.
The way this Humanities block works out is that one group starts with the world history class (at the other end of the school) and another starts with the literature part (my part). We switch rooms and teachers with the passing period, so almost everyone that was in the World History part of class was at the doorway when I left the literature class.
When we moved to our World History part of the block, Mr. Walton already had the radio on ABC News. This class wasn't all that time-consuming, meaning there was some free time during pockets of class. When that happened, Mr. Walton was on his computer or calling other teachers. That's how he knew of all of this before my literature teacher did.
During the first part of the history class, we were informed as to just how serious this really was. That it just isn't coinsidence that two planes hit both WTC buildings, and another hits the Pentagon.
There I was, three seats from the first row in Room 225. Appx. 8:55 a.m. Because of my mental condition (Asperger's Syndrome), I could not feel the impact of 9/11 that everyone else around me feels. I still cannot feel that impact of 9/11. Apparently it's an impact. People ask me why I can't feel it and simply come to the immediate conclusion that I don't have a soul; the “I felt it, therefore” theory.
ABC News was the first to report that the South Tower had collapsed (at 8:59) and we were listening ot it, and that was just before I had clawed back into reality after trying to figure out what had just happened.
The only phrase I can truly recall from Peter Jennings was the following, “The Southern Tower, 10:00 Eastern Time this morning, just collapsing on itself.”
Mr. Walton had the radio play all class, and thus the normal curriculum was put on hold. The same thing for Mr. Brown's health class the next period. During that class, an announcement was made that our Auditorium would be open for showing of news coverage until a certain time.
I didn't have any stunned looks on my face. My first reaction to hearing that the attacks were of a terrorist nature was a simple "whoa." I didn't cry, wave a flag, or anything like that. My thought process was: now the US is going to find the guys responsible, and have something similar to the Nuremberg Trials. A war may happen, too.
When I made my way to the auditorium, I noticed others were also going down. I wasn't doing well in health class, or next period's Spanish class also. The news reports kind of made it sound like the prelude to the Spanish-American War. Okay, we're going to have another Spanish-American War, but with the country that did this.
To those who have read all of this so far, it may seem as if I have no soul. I'm simply recalling my thoughts of the day. The reason I didn't get sad or anything was because it didn't effect Cody Cutter personally. So after sitting through all of the reactions, I began to wonder for a minute why my reactions were not the same as those persons on television. Why is everyone else reacting like this, and I'm not?
I think my reactions were missing because I didn't want to feel weak at the moment. I wanted to keep my head up and move on to justice. Sure, I acknowledged the horrors and the losses, but I didn't want that to change my life. I didn't want any outside force to change my life.
When we saw the video glimpse of a man with a turban and long beard (at the news reports in the Auditorium), "Is that the guy that did it?" was heard. No, I'm not going to let that guy throw me off-balance.
While everyone else was thrown off-balance with the news, I clung on to my axis and didn't move. You can pain me, but I'm not going to sit there and cry about it. I prefer fighting back. The Asperger's in me calls it a simple process of “do” and “do this” and life continues on. Business as usual. At times I even had this “why is everyone trying to cram this thing down by throat” feeling.
I wanted to remain strong, and still be able to think "oh my goodness" a little bit. With the news of Osama Bin Laden's death, and seeing the throngs of crowds everywhere, I began to think back at my inital reaction to 9/11. I didn't feel a thing then, and I didn't feel a thing that Sunday night.
But as the recent news events went on, it made me wonder about who I was and why I am who I am. Even as this 10th Anniversary goes on, I get that feeling still.
Since I didn't have an inital reaction to 9/11, my mindset since that Tuesday morning remains a pre-9/11 mindset. My current mindset is still pre-9/11. I was wondering why all these people were acting the way they were. I began to become more curious about why people think and act the way they do. At first I thought this was a growing-up process, but the more I think about it perhaps 9/11 made me think more psychologically about people. Are they trying to push me around?
Because I had no initial reaction to 9/11, people looked at me real differently (moreso than usual). Here I am, looking from the outside into the post-9/11 mindset that is around all of you. People are valuing things more than they did before. I just haven't found a way to do that yet.
A crime? With this mental condition of mine, am I guilty?
Office Time
Cutter's Log – Stardate 1102.01.90
Current Song – Don't Sleep in the Subway (Petula Clark)
I have decided to cancel an assignment of mine to cover a Volleyball Tournament today so that I can do a website evaulation.
Action on the message boards has triggered a look at the way we do things. I am taking the entire day to look at statistics, improvements, weaknesses, and such in order to make the website a successful one. In addition, I have a couple of columns in the backburner that I would like to get written, plus the Week 3 Observations piece.
Normally, Saturday is my day off of the Shell station so that I can cover something. But this retooling is more urgent to the well-being of NISB than covering an additional sporting event.
It is 10:00 a.m., and in the next few hours I will be leaving this typing space on my screen to come up with improvements, and all that.
10:12 a.m. - I am also uploading video of the Newman/Morrison Football game I covered last night as I do all of this. My brother Danny just woke up and is probably going to want the computer. He'll have to wait.
10:16 a.m. - During the game I received three additional comments from people regarding the cleanup effort I have put forth on the NISB Message Board. This increases the total to somewhere over 15. If that many people had a problem with it, then the banter was really that annoying. Who knows who else I'll meet that will tell me the same thing.
10:23 a.m. - A closer look into what caused the mess on the Message Board has been isolated to a couple of particular small areas: Winnebago, Boylan, Hononegah, Harlem, Guilford, Auburn, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Christian, Rockford Christian Life, and South Beloit. Another video has been uploaded. With the banter being as high as it was, the likelyhood of traffic picking up from those areas is great. In order to maintain the well-being of the Message Board, however, we can't afford to bring in these people.
10:47 a.m. - Another video uploaded. What I mean by “not affording to bring in people” means not talking up the website in these areas. I had thought of suspending content coverage of these schools until the fall playoffs, or until the situation is cleaned up and reinstating them on a case-by-case basis. Normally when I post a story to the website, I'll post a link to the story on the Message Boards either on an existing topic or a seperate topic. We can still cover these things, but just for those who frequent the non-boards part of the website.
10:55 a.m. - I look at it as trying to spread the word of NISB around to other parts of the coverage area. I have determined that the tone of the topics of greater question have shyed people from elsewhere away from the boards. Since these topics have been sort of deflated, I figured it is time to try to corral these bases back up again. I had been centering website coverage around popular bases of the message board, but will take a break from that motive.
11:03 a.m. - So what other bases have seen an increase of traffic? While not naming them on here, in the meantime I'll think of them.
4:18 p.m. - So instead of thinking about my bases, I took a long nap. I just woke up now. It's hot outside and it's hot in my room. But I did think about these improvement points. I'll try to cover more things in these areas, and let some areas take care of itself.
4:20 p.m. - Now comes trying to fix the structure of the Message Board.
5:25 p.m. - Not too long ago I put up the “Info Center” on the Message Board. This thing at the bottom of the page includes a lit of people who are online at the current time and those who have logged on in the past 24 hours. During a past quelling of a banter, I informed people that it's best to do your bashing of people via private message. Hopefully this will show people if the person they want to talk with is online or not. It also tells me if there are new members on the Board.
5:29 p.m. - I have just made a change in the registration process. Prior to today, new members could simply register and log on when they are done. Now, with me or ging have to manually approve new accounts, and the new member has to force-activate his or her account via e-mail. This accomplishes two things: 1) to crack down on spammers and 2) prevents the user from entering a fake e-mail address. If you are stupid enough to not be truthful in your profile information, then you probably shouldn't be posting on the board anyway.
5:36 p.m. - The NISB Message Board rules have been printed out and put on my desk for retooling. Obviously the latest board action is causing me to make some changes to these rules. I have in my mind a new intro to the board rules, as the current intro is outdated. Most of the revisions are of outdated items, more powers caused by recent admin decisions, and ways to protest message board users and the high school sports scene from any devestating backlash they may receive. However, I won't work on that right now. I would like to find more ways to improve the website.
5:47 p.m. - Now the the more popular topics on the message board. I have received a lot of comments lately about our scoreboard updates on the football forum. They like knowing not only the final scores of the games, but how these scores came to be.
5:50 p.m. - As I've stated in the “changes to the forum” topic, the problem is that the opinions of these particular fans are the problem and need to be toned down. They simply can't think of these things because the fallout is most likely detrimental to the kids. Oh, and the Newman/Morrison videos are almost ready.
5:52 p.m. - Anyway, back to the scoreboard talk. With the new registration restrictions, it will be harder to have new posters post updates to the scoreboard. This is because I am at a game and have yet to approve the account. So on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, I'll try to disable the account-approval function so that people can start posting quickly. These new members will still need to force-activate their account via email before they can post. It's just a matter of trying to remember to do this before I leave for a game.
5:55 p.m. - I have been having internet issues on my cell phone, which is why I couldn't post updates on the Newman/Morrison game on the website. I had a problem earlier in the season of not being able to update scores from the game I'm covering in a timely manner, but I fixed that issue. That way, I can still try to post updates and talk back and forth with any of the website contributors that are also covering games.
6:02 p.m. - One more video to go before releasing all of them on the website. Two videos are from the sophomore game. Yes, SOPHOMORE video. In your face!
6:03 p.m. - An idea from a while back was to update the NISB homepage before leaving to a football game. The “top bar” (the most recent story link) would be a link to the Week's scoreboard on the message boards, as well as a topic of updates from the NISB Game of the Week. This will help bring more people to the Weekly scoreboard. However, I have worried about coverage balance in the past and feel this may put football over the edge and leave a wider gap between football and volleyball. One poster had put up a weekly volleyball scoreboard, which I thought was a great idea ... but that kind of faded a little. Of all of this, I think I would have to be doing more workshop work before a game than preparing for the game itself.
6:08 p.m. - You heard it here first: NISB Game of the Week for Week 4 will be Peotone at Sandwich. I figured it was time to give Bill the NISB football spotlight.
6:10 p.m. - Perhaps 10 videos is too much. It's 6:10 on Saturday evening and they aren't even up yet. But what does this mean for SOPHOMORE VIDEO? It'll still exist. It's too bad I don't have software to stitch these videos together. Something to look into.
6:12 p.m. - Nah ... 10 videos is just fine.
6:14 p.m. - When I get the car up and running once more, I'm thinking of a flyer tour of the said areas of traffic increase. Which, by the way, I need a new poll question and a new news item for the FYI Blog. Hopefully I get done with this.
6:20 p.m. - Videos are up. Success!
6:29 p.m. - I think I may have caused confusion when naming those schools. Talk about these schools is still okay for the message board, but I will just simply stay away from them until the time is right and people can behave.
6:42 p.m. - Okay, I think I'll tend to the revision of the Message Board rules.
9:44 p.m. - Finished revising the Message Board Rules. It actually took a couple of hours, and I spent an hour watching rememberance items. Along the way I considered the flyer tour I want to go throughout the area of recent pickup. This version of the Message Board rules is somewhat longer and goes in depth regarding specific banned discussions. Over the next few days I'll start to release this version to the board so that people will understand them.
5:28 a.m. - Okay, so I was going to post this whole thing in my blog after finishing the last paragraph, but never got around to doing it. Here we go now.
Have a good day.
Current Song – Don't Sleep in the Subway (Petula Clark)
I have decided to cancel an assignment of mine to cover a Volleyball Tournament today so that I can do a website evaulation.
Action on the message boards has triggered a look at the way we do things. I am taking the entire day to look at statistics, improvements, weaknesses, and such in order to make the website a successful one. In addition, I have a couple of columns in the backburner that I would like to get written, plus the Week 3 Observations piece.
Normally, Saturday is my day off of the Shell station so that I can cover something. But this retooling is more urgent to the well-being of NISB than covering an additional sporting event.
It is 10:00 a.m., and in the next few hours I will be leaving this typing space on my screen to come up with improvements, and all that.
10:12 a.m. - I am also uploading video of the Newman/Morrison Football game I covered last night as I do all of this. My brother Danny just woke up and is probably going to want the computer. He'll have to wait.
10:16 a.m. - During the game I received three additional comments from people regarding the cleanup effort I have put forth on the NISB Message Board. This increases the total to somewhere over 15. If that many people had a problem with it, then the banter was really that annoying. Who knows who else I'll meet that will tell me the same thing.
10:23 a.m. - A closer look into what caused the mess on the Message Board has been isolated to a couple of particular small areas: Winnebago, Boylan, Hononegah, Harlem, Guilford, Auburn, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Christian, Rockford Christian Life, and South Beloit. Another video has been uploaded. With the banter being as high as it was, the likelyhood of traffic picking up from those areas is great. In order to maintain the well-being of the Message Board, however, we can't afford to bring in these people.
10:47 a.m. - Another video uploaded. What I mean by “not affording to bring in people” means not talking up the website in these areas. I had thought of suspending content coverage of these schools until the fall playoffs, or until the situation is cleaned up and reinstating them on a case-by-case basis. Normally when I post a story to the website, I'll post a link to the story on the Message Boards either on an existing topic or a seperate topic. We can still cover these things, but just for those who frequent the non-boards part of the website.
10:55 a.m. - I look at it as trying to spread the word of NISB around to other parts of the coverage area. I have determined that the tone of the topics of greater question have shyed people from elsewhere away from the boards. Since these topics have been sort of deflated, I figured it is time to try to corral these bases back up again. I had been centering website coverage around popular bases of the message board, but will take a break from that motive.
11:03 a.m. - So what other bases have seen an increase of traffic? While not naming them on here, in the meantime I'll think of them.
4:18 p.m. - So instead of thinking about my bases, I took a long nap. I just woke up now. It's hot outside and it's hot in my room. But I did think about these improvement points. I'll try to cover more things in these areas, and let some areas take care of itself.
4:20 p.m. - Now comes trying to fix the structure of the Message Board.
5:25 p.m. - Not too long ago I put up the “Info Center” on the Message Board. This thing at the bottom of the page includes a lit of people who are online at the current time and those who have logged on in the past 24 hours. During a past quelling of a banter, I informed people that it's best to do your bashing of people via private message. Hopefully this will show people if the person they want to talk with is online or not. It also tells me if there are new members on the Board.
5:29 p.m. - I have just made a change in the registration process. Prior to today, new members could simply register and log on when they are done. Now, with me or ging have to manually approve new accounts, and the new member has to force-activate his or her account via e-mail. This accomplishes two things: 1) to crack down on spammers and 2) prevents the user from entering a fake e-mail address. If you are stupid enough to not be truthful in your profile information, then you probably shouldn't be posting on the board anyway.
5:36 p.m. - The NISB Message Board rules have been printed out and put on my desk for retooling. Obviously the latest board action is causing me to make some changes to these rules. I have in my mind a new intro to the board rules, as the current intro is outdated. Most of the revisions are of outdated items, more powers caused by recent admin decisions, and ways to protest message board users and the high school sports scene from any devestating backlash they may receive. However, I won't work on that right now. I would like to find more ways to improve the website.
5:47 p.m. - Now the the more popular topics on the message board. I have received a lot of comments lately about our scoreboard updates on the football forum. They like knowing not only the final scores of the games, but how these scores came to be.
5:50 p.m. - As I've stated in the “changes to the forum” topic, the problem is that the opinions of these particular fans are the problem and need to be toned down. They simply can't think of these things because the fallout is most likely detrimental to the kids. Oh, and the Newman/Morrison videos are almost ready.
5:52 p.m. - Anyway, back to the scoreboard talk. With the new registration restrictions, it will be harder to have new posters post updates to the scoreboard. This is because I am at a game and have yet to approve the account. So on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, I'll try to disable the account-approval function so that people can start posting quickly. These new members will still need to force-activate their account via email before they can post. It's just a matter of trying to remember to do this before I leave for a game.
5:55 p.m. - I have been having internet issues on my cell phone, which is why I couldn't post updates on the Newman/Morrison game on the website. I had a problem earlier in the season of not being able to update scores from the game I'm covering in a timely manner, but I fixed that issue. That way, I can still try to post updates and talk back and forth with any of the website contributors that are also covering games.
6:02 p.m. - One more video to go before releasing all of them on the website. Two videos are from the sophomore game. Yes, SOPHOMORE video. In your face!
6:03 p.m. - An idea from a while back was to update the NISB homepage before leaving to a football game. The “top bar” (the most recent story link) would be a link to the Week's scoreboard on the message boards, as well as a topic of updates from the NISB Game of the Week. This will help bring more people to the Weekly scoreboard. However, I have worried about coverage balance in the past and feel this may put football over the edge and leave a wider gap between football and volleyball. One poster had put up a weekly volleyball scoreboard, which I thought was a great idea ... but that kind of faded a little. Of all of this, I think I would have to be doing more workshop work before a game than preparing for the game itself.
6:08 p.m. - You heard it here first: NISB Game of the Week for Week 4 will be Peotone at Sandwich. I figured it was time to give Bill the NISB football spotlight.
6:10 p.m. - Perhaps 10 videos is too much. It's 6:10 on Saturday evening and they aren't even up yet. But what does this mean for SOPHOMORE VIDEO? It'll still exist. It's too bad I don't have software to stitch these videos together. Something to look into.
6:12 p.m. - Nah ... 10 videos is just fine.
6:14 p.m. - When I get the car up and running once more, I'm thinking of a flyer tour of the said areas of traffic increase. Which, by the way, I need a new poll question and a new news item for the FYI Blog. Hopefully I get done with this.
6:20 p.m. - Videos are up. Success!
6:29 p.m. - I think I may have caused confusion when naming those schools. Talk about these schools is still okay for the message board, but I will just simply stay away from them until the time is right and people can behave.
6:42 p.m. - Okay, I think I'll tend to the revision of the Message Board rules.
9:44 p.m. - Finished revising the Message Board Rules. It actually took a couple of hours, and I spent an hour watching rememberance items. Along the way I considered the flyer tour I want to go throughout the area of recent pickup. This version of the Message Board rules is somewhat longer and goes in depth regarding specific banned discussions. Over the next few days I'll start to release this version to the board so that people will understand them.
5:28 a.m. - Okay, so I was going to post this whole thing in my blog after finishing the last paragraph, but never got around to doing it. Here we go now.
Have a good day.
Friday, September 9, 2011
We'll See if This Holds Up
Cutter's Log - Supplemental
In my recent headache of things, I wondered if there was any other way I could possibly make a little more money.
A few years ago we had a garage-full of empty pop cans that were meant to be recycled one day. That day came years later when I wanted to take them to the recycling center in Galt for some cash. All those cans and only $8. I was disappointed, but in the end I got at least some cash and a cleaner garage.
Plus, I think jumping up and down crushing them helps burn calories.
I think there are 32 standard pop cans to one pound, and maybe 24 16-oz cans to one pound (if my math is correct). I've seen ads for alumnimum at an average of 40 cents/pound. This rate will vary depending on the recycling center, and where I end up traveling to on the way to a game.
In my recent headache of things, I wondered if there was any other way I could possibly make a little more money.
A few years ago we had a garage-full of empty pop cans that were meant to be recycled one day. That day came years later when I wanted to take them to the recycling center in Galt for some cash. All those cans and only $8. I was disappointed, but in the end I got at least some cash and a cleaner garage.
Plus, I think jumping up and down crushing them helps burn calories.
I think there are 32 standard pop cans to one pound, and maybe 24 16-oz cans to one pound (if my math is correct). I've seen ads for alumnimum at an average of 40 cents/pound. This rate will vary depending on the recycling center, and where I end up traveling to on the way to a game.
Getting Better Little By Little
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.90.90
Current Song - Boogie Oogie Oogie (A Taste of Honey)
I felt horrible after last night. However, little by little I am getting better. Nothing is fixed to a T, but I'm finding myself somewhat happier and at peace at this moment than how I was yesterday.
The biggest worry was with my car. After going through underneath the hood with dad, apparently I do not have any coolant in my car. That explains the engine temprature gauge at a firing-hot 260 degrees. He recommended that I get my oil changed (it's actually close to needing one) and have the guys there take a look at it and go from there. At least I have a direction to go on. Here's hoping it's not serious.
Whether the coolant problem is serious or not will determine whether I get my brake pads and rotors replaced. The brakes still have some life left in them, and I can save some sanity by not digging a deep money hole by getting this problem rectified in a time of its own.
As for work, tonight was one of the most boring nights I've had in a long, long time. My main customer duo took the night off. The only customer traffic came in small spurts, leaving many pockets of lingering silence. But there's good news - a couple of pluses came from my time at work tonight.
Because of my car issue, I decided to ride my bike to work. This was something I always planned on doing, but the seat on my bike is so high up that I couldn't get on it with my workpants not stretching so well. I didn't want to rip my pants. However, I found a way to get something to stand on so that I can get on my bike and go. The more I ride the bike, the more exercise I get - and I need it - and the less stress it puts on the car.
This morning I picked up an afternoon shift to make for a four-day work week, which is where I'd rather be. Then an extended schedule for the future was determined and I have a couple of good things coming out of it: 1) there is a four-day stretch where I do not work (a mini-vacation), and 2) Friday of Week 5 will be spent at a football game! Four-day work weeks are great for the checking ledger.
Now I get to start on some of books that I bought during my Borders money-saving trip:
1) The Book of Questions
2) A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Converstion
3) I Love You. Now What?
Current Song - Boogie Oogie Oogie (A Taste of Honey)
I felt horrible after last night. However, little by little I am getting better. Nothing is fixed to a T, but I'm finding myself somewhat happier and at peace at this moment than how I was yesterday.
The biggest worry was with my car. After going through underneath the hood with dad, apparently I do not have any coolant in my car. That explains the engine temprature gauge at a firing-hot 260 degrees. He recommended that I get my oil changed (it's actually close to needing one) and have the guys there take a look at it and go from there. At least I have a direction to go on. Here's hoping it's not serious.
Whether the coolant problem is serious or not will determine whether I get my brake pads and rotors replaced. The brakes still have some life left in them, and I can save some sanity by not digging a deep money hole by getting this problem rectified in a time of its own.
As for work, tonight was one of the most boring nights I've had in a long, long time. My main customer duo took the night off. The only customer traffic came in small spurts, leaving many pockets of lingering silence. But there's good news - a couple of pluses came from my time at work tonight.
Because of my car issue, I decided to ride my bike to work. This was something I always planned on doing, but the seat on my bike is so high up that I couldn't get on it with my workpants not stretching so well. I didn't want to rip my pants. However, I found a way to get something to stand on so that I can get on my bike and go. The more I ride the bike, the more exercise I get - and I need it - and the less stress it puts on the car.
This morning I picked up an afternoon shift to make for a four-day work week, which is where I'd rather be. Then an extended schedule for the future was determined and I have a couple of good things coming out of it: 1) there is a four-day stretch where I do not work (a mini-vacation), and 2) Friday of Week 5 will be spent at a football game! Four-day work weeks are great for the checking ledger.
Now I get to start on some of books that I bought during my Borders money-saving trip:
1) The Book of Questions
2) A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Converstion
3) I Love You. Now What?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Stress Level Up
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.80.90
Current Song - In a Big Country (Big Country)
Where do I begin?
My car's engine is overheating as of late. As of this writing it is dark outside, but when there is some light out I will have a look under the hood. Take the car away from me, and you have basically sucked the life out of high school sports coverage plans. The days of riding my bike to Morrison just aren't back right now. That's where I plan on going on Friday afternoon, for a football game against Newman.
Saturday's plans to cover the Byron Power Classic are also in jeopardy, unless I find another vehicle. And this is very unlikely, I'd have to tap into some important agendas to accomplish that.
But at this point, I don't mind being stalled. This I would hope gives me some time to fix everything that is going on.
Then with even slightly thinking about missing such big events has me thinking of other journalists trying to destroy NISB, the very thing I love to do and is keeping my spirits alive.
Then I think of this decision I made to switch my Fridays and Saturdays as off-days for work. I'm missing more football games this way in an attempt to jump start Saturday stuff. Things at work, well, have just become nothing more than a big dead end lately.
Back to my car, it's been having brake issues as of late. I think I need new pads and the rotors either turned or replaced. Now an oil change has crept up.
All of this costs money, which I happen to be very reluctant to spend in the first place. I already have a website to take care of, and now all of this? I had planned on buying a dresser for my clothes (because I do not have one); and that is now on the backburner - and for how long, I don't know. Heck, I've already had to push back continuing college studies because of money issues.
Not to mention this on top of all of the other standard difficulties of conversation, love and friendships.
The head just keeps spinning.
Current Song - In a Big Country (Big Country)
Where do I begin?
My car's engine is overheating as of late. As of this writing it is dark outside, but when there is some light out I will have a look under the hood. Take the car away from me, and you have basically sucked the life out of high school sports coverage plans. The days of riding my bike to Morrison just aren't back right now. That's where I plan on going on Friday afternoon, for a football game against Newman.
Saturday's plans to cover the Byron Power Classic are also in jeopardy, unless I find another vehicle. And this is very unlikely, I'd have to tap into some important agendas to accomplish that.
But at this point, I don't mind being stalled. This I would hope gives me some time to fix everything that is going on.
Then with even slightly thinking about missing such big events has me thinking of other journalists trying to destroy NISB, the very thing I love to do and is keeping my spirits alive.
Then I think of this decision I made to switch my Fridays and Saturdays as off-days for work. I'm missing more football games this way in an attempt to jump start Saturday stuff. Things at work, well, have just become nothing more than a big dead end lately.
Back to my car, it's been having brake issues as of late. I think I need new pads and the rotors either turned or replaced. Now an oil change has crept up.
All of this costs money, which I happen to be very reluctant to spend in the first place. I already have a website to take care of, and now all of this? I had planned on buying a dresser for my clothes (because I do not have one); and that is now on the backburner - and for how long, I don't know. Heck, I've already had to push back continuing college studies because of money issues.
Not to mention this on top of all of the other standard difficulties of conversation, love and friendships.
The head just keeps spinning.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Not sure which direction to go in
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Some People You Just Can't Forget
It's been several years
And they have moved on
But they still linger
Two girls I loved
I loved them, loved them, loved them
They kept my feelings alive
When I was down, they were there
But only just in my mind
Away from me they are
Want no more of me
But I won't forget
Two girls I loved
And they have moved on
But they still linger
Two girls I loved
I loved them, loved them, loved them
They kept my feelings alive
When I was down, they were there
But only just in my mind
Away from me they are
Want no more of me
But I won't forget
Two girls I loved
Monday, July 18, 2011
Getting Back on Track
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.81.70
Current Song - Jazzman (Carole King)
After feeling down the past couple of days, I'm trying to work my way back up to feeling alright.
I decided to plan a drive along the county on Saturday morning. I figured it would keep me off of being worried somewhat. I looked at an 1872 county map and noticed all of the schools dotted. So I wanted to find these schools (if they were still up) and take pictures of them.
I think I have now been on every road in Whiteside County. I traveled the northern section before feeling tired from all of the driving. Most of what I found were either not there anymore, or fully converted into houses with additions to make them look unrecognizable. One near the flood plain near Fulton is now a little farm garage.
Probably the one that I was in awe of was one that lay in absolute ruins. It is on the corner of Capp and Lake Roads just north of Rockwood Park. The chimney is barely standing, and all the wood is piled on the ground and rotting. It lies in a bunch of overgrown weeds. I'm not sure what this school is called.
After telling my brother during dinner about what I was doing all of the morning, I got sick all of a sudden. It was bad enough where I couldn't sleep and was trying to fight it off.
The sickness necessitated only the second call-off from work in the three years I have been there. After perfect attendance in 2010, there will be no such honor for 2011. But I just couldn't work in the given condition. Even worse is the amount of money I DIDN'T make today. That's when it hits you. But I just couldn't work in it.
At this time (Monday, 1:30 a.m.) I feel alright. I go back to work at 5:00 p.m. When I get home, I'll probably start on getting the sleep cycle back on track.
Current Song - Jazzman (Carole King)
After feeling down the past couple of days, I'm trying to work my way back up to feeling alright.
I decided to plan a drive along the county on Saturday morning. I figured it would keep me off of being worried somewhat. I looked at an 1872 county map and noticed all of the schools dotted. So I wanted to find these schools (if they were still up) and take pictures of them.
I think I have now been on every road in Whiteside County. I traveled the northern section before feeling tired from all of the driving. Most of what I found were either not there anymore, or fully converted into houses with additions to make them look unrecognizable. One near the flood plain near Fulton is now a little farm garage.
Probably the one that I was in awe of was one that lay in absolute ruins. It is on the corner of Capp and Lake Roads just north of Rockwood Park. The chimney is barely standing, and all the wood is piled on the ground and rotting. It lies in a bunch of overgrown weeds. I'm not sure what this school is called.
After telling my brother during dinner about what I was doing all of the morning, I got sick all of a sudden. It was bad enough where I couldn't sleep and was trying to fight it off.
The sickness necessitated only the second call-off from work in the three years I have been there. After perfect attendance in 2010, there will be no such honor for 2011. But I just couldn't work in the given condition. Even worse is the amount of money I DIDN'T make today. That's when it hits you. But I just couldn't work in it.
At this time (Monday, 1:30 a.m.) I feel alright. I go back to work at 5:00 p.m. When I get home, I'll probably start on getting the sleep cycle back on track.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Where Did I Go Wrong?
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.51.70
Current Song - Spooky (Atlanta Rhythm Section)
I've been spending a great deal of time sitting in my computer chair in front of the computer. When I'm not staring at the screen, I'm staring into open space. Pondering about a few things related to why I'm at where I'm at today in regards to a certain aspect of life ... love.
Recently, it hit me that it has almost been 20 years since I first started realizing the whole difference between friendships between boys and girls. In other words, the first girl I "liked" was nearly 20 years ago.
Over the past 20 years, I estimated that I had crushes on at least 25 different girls. (No "Cutter Report" naming names is planned to come out).
I have come close twice toward establishing an official "going out" type of relationship. Once (7th grade) was the first - and to date the only time - I had the courage to ask a girl out (on a phone, of course). The other (freshman year) was something I wasn't quite ready for, and I kind of figured out it was nothing more than a diversion.
So I took some hours to think about my entire life history involving girls, and wondered where I went wrong. Why was I unable to establish such relationships? Why am I 25 years old and still unable to get a girlfriend?
***
Should I have not been a sissy and called a certain girl on the phone, especially when my best friend was pressuring me to do so?
Should I have completely abandoned the friendships I had established in Rock Falls before moving to Sterling for 5th grade? Did this possibly hinder efforts to have a very good 5th grade year?
Should I have been a little more kinder to that one girl who was "kind" to me? Furthermore, should I have completely ignored the slightest possibility that this was a diversion of sorts from the girl I actually liked?
Should I not have written my thoughts down in a little "coca-cola" book that was locked?
Should I have rode my bike elsewhere when I was feeling down?
Should I have done more than just sit there at the corner of the wall at recess time in middle school?
Should I have not written locker-hole notes to a certain girl?
Should I have not published a certain weekly rating list?
Should I have not tagged along behind the crowd, rather than just ignoring it?
Should I have not stuck up for a friend when a girl gave him a phony phone number (that I knew was phony after he revealed it to me)?
Should I have not found out who someone was without asking her first?
Should I have not made a fool of myself when trying out for the Talent Show?
Should I have just skipped that volleyball game out in the boondocks?
Should I have just been at peace with the fact that I just wasn't invited to a joint birthday party that it seemed like everyone else was invited to?
Should I have done more than bring her flowers?
Should I have learned slow dancing before actually doing it?
Should I have not made a (different) publication regarding jokes about a kid?
Should I have altered class-to-class paths?
(Now we hit high school)
Was that trip to Chicago for a softball game really worth it?
"Hody" (rhymes with butter)?
Should I have just stayed in Sterling?
Should I have just ignored SHS and followed RFHS all throughout high school?
Should I have made a move while managing? (On second thought, no, because it would have absolutely wrecked my life)
Should I have not played hookie?
Should I have known how to use ICQ before actually installing it?
Should I have done more than just ICQ chats and phone calls?
Should I have prepared for a certain meeting?
Should I have not gone on the legendary bike ride?
Should I have not made a cameo appearance at a certain place early in the morning?
Should I have made constant reminders about a "promise" that I would take somebody to prom? (Probably another diversion)
Should I have completely ignored a bus conversation between someone who told me he had a crush on someone?
Should I have seriously considered an offer to reside in an "extra bedroom" at someone's house?
Should I have kept my keypad untouched in a specific message board post?
Should I have asked that my assignments be a little more spread out than what they ended up being?
Should I have not quoted a certain someone out-of-order?
Should I have counted the number of championship rings a little more accurately?
Should I have stayed local during my senior year, rather than traveling all over creation to write game stories?
Should I have behaved a little better while driving back from a football game at Ottawa?
Should I have not tried out a photo angle from the floor?
(Now we hit college)
Should I have given more writing advice to certain people?
Should I have been a little more open in asking for help in a certain class?
(Now we hit the present time)
Should I be moving around a little bit more?
Current Song - Spooky (Atlanta Rhythm Section)
I've been spending a great deal of time sitting in my computer chair in front of the computer. When I'm not staring at the screen, I'm staring into open space. Pondering about a few things related to why I'm at where I'm at today in regards to a certain aspect of life ... love.
Recently, it hit me that it has almost been 20 years since I first started realizing the whole difference between friendships between boys and girls. In other words, the first girl I "liked" was nearly 20 years ago.
Over the past 20 years, I estimated that I had crushes on at least 25 different girls. (No "Cutter Report" naming names is planned to come out).
I have come close twice toward establishing an official "going out" type of relationship. Once (7th grade) was the first - and to date the only time - I had the courage to ask a girl out (on a phone, of course). The other (freshman year) was something I wasn't quite ready for, and I kind of figured out it was nothing more than a diversion.
So I took some hours to think about my entire life history involving girls, and wondered where I went wrong. Why was I unable to establish such relationships? Why am I 25 years old and still unable to get a girlfriend?
***
Should I have not been a sissy and called a certain girl on the phone, especially when my best friend was pressuring me to do so?
Should I have completely abandoned the friendships I had established in Rock Falls before moving to Sterling for 5th grade? Did this possibly hinder efforts to have a very good 5th grade year?
Should I have been a little more kinder to that one girl who was "kind" to me? Furthermore, should I have completely ignored the slightest possibility that this was a diversion of sorts from the girl I actually liked?
Should I not have written my thoughts down in a little "coca-cola" book that was locked?
Should I have rode my bike elsewhere when I was feeling down?
Should I have done more than just sit there at the corner of the wall at recess time in middle school?
Should I have not written locker-hole notes to a certain girl?
Should I have not published a certain weekly rating list?
Should I have not tagged along behind the crowd, rather than just ignoring it?
Should I have not stuck up for a friend when a girl gave him a phony phone number (that I knew was phony after he revealed it to me)?
Should I have not found out who someone was without asking her first?
Should I have not made a fool of myself when trying out for the Talent Show?
Should I have just skipped that volleyball game out in the boondocks?
Should I have just been at peace with the fact that I just wasn't invited to a joint birthday party that it seemed like everyone else was invited to?
Should I have done more than bring her flowers?
Should I have learned slow dancing before actually doing it?
Should I have not made a (different) publication regarding jokes about a kid?
Should I have altered class-to-class paths?
(Now we hit high school)
Was that trip to Chicago for a softball game really worth it?
"Hody" (rhymes with butter)?
Should I have just stayed in Sterling?
Should I have just ignored SHS and followed RFHS all throughout high school?
Should I have made a move while managing? (On second thought, no, because it would have absolutely wrecked my life)
Should I have not played hookie?
Should I have known how to use ICQ before actually installing it?
Should I have done more than just ICQ chats and phone calls?
Should I have prepared for a certain meeting?
Should I have not gone on the legendary bike ride?
Should I have not made a cameo appearance at a certain place early in the morning?
Should I have made constant reminders about a "promise" that I would take somebody to prom? (Probably another diversion)
Should I have completely ignored a bus conversation between someone who told me he had a crush on someone?
Should I have seriously considered an offer to reside in an "extra bedroom" at someone's house?
Should I have kept my keypad untouched in a specific message board post?
Should I have asked that my assignments be a little more spread out than what they ended up being?
Should I have not quoted a certain someone out-of-order?
Should I have counted the number of championship rings a little more accurately?
Should I have stayed local during my senior year, rather than traveling all over creation to write game stories?
Should I have behaved a little better while driving back from a football game at Ottawa?
Should I have not tried out a photo angle from the floor?
(Now we hit college)
Should I have given more writing advice to certain people?
Should I have been a little more open in asking for help in a certain class?
(Now we hit the present time)
Should I be moving around a little bit more?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Can't Sleep
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.70.70
Current Song - Sign Your Name (Terence Trent D'Arby)
It's become apparent to me that I can't sleep at night without something reminding me about the unsuccessful attempts at figuring out what love is.
Not too long ago, it came to me that I am not going to be able to look back at high school for a small ember that still exists. That has burned out. All of those girls from back then, there's no point to it now.
From this day on, I guess I'll have to look forward and not back to find someone. I have an extensive past, but an unclear future with not too many women around. I'm not angry, just kind of dissapointed.
Current Song - Sign Your Name (Terence Trent D'Arby)
It's become apparent to me that I can't sleep at night without something reminding me about the unsuccessful attempts at figuring out what love is.
Not too long ago, it came to me that I am not going to be able to look back at high school for a small ember that still exists. That has burned out. All of those girls from back then, there's no point to it now.
From this day on, I guess I'll have to look forward and not back to find someone. I have an extensive past, but an unclear future with not too many women around. I'm not angry, just kind of dissapointed.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
More than just a customer
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.60.70
Working for Fourth of July night, I kind of dread this day because of the rush that comes with it. Despite Dixon's fireworks going on, there wasn't much of one. But that didn't make me have a good day.
That day I found out that one of my beloved regular customers passed away. Dorothy, and her husband Bill, were frequent customers at the Shell station for the past three years. They sat at the tables, had coffee, scratched off lotto tickets, and played the Pick 3 and Pick 4 every night.
Dorothy was 85 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for the past couple of months.
They made an effort to come and play lotto every night that either Billy or I worked. They had been playing the Pick 3 every night for over 30 years, and are what I call die-hard lottery players. They were more than just that, though. Over time, they became good friends of mine, Joe's, Dave's, and a few others. Wherever he was, she was. Wherever she was, he was.
A couple of months ago her condition began to settle in, and she had to be in a nursing home. That's the last time I saw her and Bill.
Three or four nights a week for nearly three years, Dorothy and Bill had been a part of my life. Now she is gone. All of us at the nightshift will miss her.
Working for Fourth of July night, I kind of dread this day because of the rush that comes with it. Despite Dixon's fireworks going on, there wasn't much of one. But that didn't make me have a good day.
That day I found out that one of my beloved regular customers passed away. Dorothy, and her husband Bill, were frequent customers at the Shell station for the past three years. They sat at the tables, had coffee, scratched off lotto tickets, and played the Pick 3 and Pick 4 every night.
Dorothy was 85 and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease for the past couple of months.
They made an effort to come and play lotto every night that either Billy or I worked. They had been playing the Pick 3 every night for over 30 years, and are what I call die-hard lottery players. They were more than just that, though. Over time, they became good friends of mine, Joe's, Dave's, and a few others. Wherever he was, she was. Wherever she was, he was.
A couple of months ago her condition began to settle in, and she had to be in a nursing home. That's the last time I saw her and Bill.
Three or four nights a week for nearly three years, Dorothy and Bill had been a part of my life. Now she is gone. All of us at the nightshift will miss her.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Riverfronts (III)
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.92.60
Current Song - Misunderstanding (Genesis)
Riverfronts III
I have decided to make some edits to the last entry. We'll save the taller part of the Lawrence Bros. Building, but tear the rest of it down. Then instead of a riverfront walkway going over First Avenue, it'll go under First Avenue and also under both the LB Building and the National office complex.
Secondly, my original plan had a bit too much greenspace in the former NWSW property. I'm more into going by the preference on Page 65 of the Riverfront Redevelopment Plan.
http://www.hlplanning.com/dnn/Documents/tabid/1169/Default.aspx
However, there are a few changes I'd like seen.
Here's another list of things, to to follow what I'm saying, go to the map on Page 65 of the Plan.
1. Only tear down all except the five-story part of Lawrence Brothers.
2. Keep the National building on the corner of First and Wallace. Tear the rest of the buildings down.
3. Avenue C ends at "Depot Blvd", and that extends to Avenue E.
Everything else from my last entry remains the same.
*******
In the last entry, I created my vision of a new Sterling riverfront, but I wanted to exceed the boundaries of the actual study. I did this because I didn't think it would look athstetically pleasing to have the sides of it bounded by something radically different.
The more I look at the published plan, it seems as if the full area is exactly that which I laid out in the last blog entry.
I think we have to keep in mind that the more concentration we put into the development of this new place, the less concentration we will be putting on the downtown that we already have. How can we say that we don't want empty buildings when we would be creating, in essence, soon-to-be-empty buildings?
Plus, keep in mind that Rock Falls has their own seperate plan. We can't take away from that. I'll be listing some ideas in the next couple of paragraphs. Whatever can't be used by Sterling, can be used by Rock Falls (and vice-versa) [LINK TO RF RIVERFRONT BLOG]
A reader suggested to me that it would be a good idea if the new concept found a way to create more jobs in the area. Now that I think of it, I agree.
Before I do that, we have to figure out what this city needs. I ask myself the question, what do we go to Rockford and the Quads, and even LaSalle-Peru (!!!) for?
*New City Hall
*Arcade
*Public pool
*Hotel
*Bookstore (Borders/B&N)
*Boat Launch
*Skating
*Passenger rail (may come after all of this is complete)
*Hobby shop (or Hobby Lobby)
*VA Clinic
*Toy store?
*Outlet clothing (Gordmans/TJ Maxx)
*Ice Cream
*Banquet Center
*A Sonic drive-in
*Sporting goods
*Buffet
*Not a casino, but off-track betting
*Jimmy Johns
*Dave & Busters
I'll leave it at here for now. Any other ideas?
Current Song - Misunderstanding (Genesis)
Riverfronts III
I have decided to make some edits to the last entry. We'll save the taller part of the Lawrence Bros. Building, but tear the rest of it down. Then instead of a riverfront walkway going over First Avenue, it'll go under First Avenue and also under both the LB Building and the National office complex.
Secondly, my original plan had a bit too much greenspace in the former NWSW property. I'm more into going by the preference on Page 65 of the Riverfront Redevelopment Plan.
http://www.hlplanning.com/dnn/Documents/tabid/1169/Default.aspx
However, there are a few changes I'd like seen.
Here's another list of things, to to follow what I'm saying, go to the map on Page 65 of the Plan.
1. Only tear down all except the five-story part of Lawrence Brothers.
2. Keep the National building on the corner of First and Wallace. Tear the rest of the buildings down.
3. Avenue C ends at "Depot Blvd", and that extends to Avenue E.
Everything else from my last entry remains the same.
*******
In the last entry, I created my vision of a new Sterling riverfront, but I wanted to exceed the boundaries of the actual study. I did this because I didn't think it would look athstetically pleasing to have the sides of it bounded by something radically different.
The more I look at the published plan, it seems as if the full area is exactly that which I laid out in the last blog entry.
I think we have to keep in mind that the more concentration we put into the development of this new place, the less concentration we will be putting on the downtown that we already have. How can we say that we don't want empty buildings when we would be creating, in essence, soon-to-be-empty buildings?
Plus, keep in mind that Rock Falls has their own seperate plan. We can't take away from that. I'll be listing some ideas in the next couple of paragraphs. Whatever can't be used by Sterling, can be used by Rock Falls (and vice-versa) [LINK TO RF RIVERFRONT BLOG]
A reader suggested to me that it would be a good idea if the new concept found a way to create more jobs in the area. Now that I think of it, I agree.
Before I do that, we have to figure out what this city needs. I ask myself the question, what do we go to Rockford and the Quads, and even LaSalle-Peru (!!!) for?
*New City Hall
*Arcade
*Public pool
*Hotel
*Bookstore (Borders/B&N)
*Boat Launch
*Skating
*Passenger rail (may come after all of this is complete)
*Hobby shop (or Hobby Lobby)
*VA Clinic
*Toy store?
*Outlet clothing (Gordmans/TJ Maxx)
*Ice Cream
*Banquet Center
*A Sonic drive-in
*Sporting goods
*Buffet
*Not a casino, but off-track betting
*Jimmy Johns
*Dave & Busters
I'll leave it at here for now. Any other ideas?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Riverfronts (Part II)
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.52.60
Current Song - Couldn't Get it Right (Climax Blues Band)
The picture above is from the 1950s. The main drag to the left is Locust Street, and the one to the right is First Avenue. It's easy to point out the buildings that are not standing anymore, if you're from the area. Looks a lot different, huh? (Click the picture to expand it)
Way back in September, I wrote an entry about what I think would be a good idea for the Propsed Rock Falls Riverfront. I never got around to thinking about what to do with Sterling's.
In Friday's edition of the Gazette there was an article about talk of what to do with Sterling's side.
I haven't read the entire preliminary plan (which may end up being more of a preliminary preliminary preliminary preliminary plan), so here are a few things I'd like to thow out there. All of this is simply imagination - with no real thinking behind it. So yeah, perhaps none of this could possibly happen. Note that my ideas extend outside the boundaries in the study. I will later clarify my ideas to reflect that of the study boundaries. But for now, this is more of a long-term solution.
1. Tear down the entire Lawrence Brothers complex, EXCEPT the large brick smokestack. Use that as a permanant reminder of what the building used to be, and make it a part of a series of plaques regarding manufacturing in Sterling. (This will be called the "old Lawrence property" in future reference.)
2. Save the concrete railroad bridge wall from the old CB&Q (the railroad was taken out in the early 1980s). Use this as a bench, shelter or gazebo area. Put another plaque there regarding the history of that railroad.
3. Tear down the entire Bogott complex. Just saying. It is an eyesore. Nothing to save here.
4. Build an underpass so that the East side of Wallace Street (a two-lane road)connects with 4th Avenue. Make East Wallace Street an uphill-downhill road with the peak being at the halfway point between the two underpasses. At peak, build a small parking lot. The rest of the Lawrence property converts to parkland. At night, this should give a good view of a completed Rock Falls riverfront.
5. There's going to have to be a floodwall of some sort between the First Avenue Bridge and the old CB&Q wall. The current building acts as a riverwall. When tearing down the building, retain the wall.
6. Sterling has always considered moving out of the Coliseum. Build a new, larger, City Hall complex on the old Bogott property. Also put up a Bogott plaque there.
7. The Coliseum is still kept intact. What's bothering it is the constant cramming of space by the city. Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Society moves into it (or back into it, this having been the original home until moved to the Dillon Grounds). The Coliseum arena itself is still used for it usual events, or perhaps renovated to create more space.
8. Fill current empty downtown space before building new structures for business. This will prevent the downtown area from crumbling due to this newer plan.
Empty downtown space currently includes:
*Old Haskell's/Detweiler's Train building
*Old King's Den/Abiding Word
*Old Hart's Jewelry
*Old Herbal Essences/record store (can't remember the name)
*Old telephone building
*Theatre
*Old Bohse carpet complex
*Raynor
(Not sure what is taking up the upper levels of the Lawrence Building where the Court is, also not sure about the old "One-Eighty" club)
The city's youth has been yearning for an arcade since the one at the mall closed years ago. Put one somewhere. Something like Peoria's "inPlay".
9. Currently Second Avenue is a boulevard from 4th Street down. After 2nd Street, divide it up into smaller, one-way drives in a oval pattern. Tree up the area heavily. As to what to put in the middle of it, how about a fountain? Tear down the old gas station/tatoo parlor to make room.
10. Keep the Plainwell building (old Kroger's). Just tidy up the rear.
11. Fix up the stairway along First Avenue.
12. Build a pedestrian bridge over the railroad (curled ramps on both sides, and design it to look appealing). Connect this path with the path along the riverwall.
13. Any planned pedestrian walkway with the new First Avenue bridge should connect with the old Lawrence Property, with a smaller sidewalk merging out toward the First-Wallace intersection.
14. Likewise, build an arching ped bridge over First Avenue to lead out to the railroad spare line right in front of the old National building. This will lead to a complicated stoplight arrangement, but more warning on both ends in the form of a stoplight traffic sign with amber lights should do it.
15. Call the new First Avenue Bridge the "Sterling-Rock Falls Manufacturing Worker's Bridge" - in tribute to all of the people that have worked at Reliant, Eureka, Parrish-Alford, NWSW, National and Lawrence Brothers all these years.
16. There isn't too much space between the railroad tracks and the river between Fourth Avenue and Eighth Avenue, but an extension of the riverwalk would suffice. There is plenty of space between track and river from Eighth Avenue to Martin's Landing.
(Now we cross First Avenue)
17. It seems like a popular entry to the equation is putting a hotel somewhere. However, how do you put a hotel next to train tracks, especially when trains are going to move at 60 miles per hour and toot their whistles? Same thing with performing arts. Don't we already have performing arts centers?
18. Keep National's smokestack. Same idea as #1.
19. High-rise condos in the closest two buildings of the National Complex. Tear the middle building down, and that blue building also. (I'm not sure of the status, but if the stucco wall on the NE building is nothing more than a dummy wall, then take it down to reveal the bricks). The Benson-Bittorf, or the Bittorf-Benson.
20. The western-most big building of the National Complex is too large to tear down, but does make for a good office building once the industrial stuff is removed.
21. Replace the middle National building with a dual parking garage, for both ideas above.
22. Have that winding river walkway weave through either side of the parking garage, joining the river wall in front of the office building in #20.
23. Paint the river wall white. It currently has a lot of mildew on it.
24. Green the entire length of the space between the railroad and Wallace along the old National Complex. Meaning the shortline rail is removed.
25. Green the old parking lot where the old C-NW train station used to be.
26. Tear down the larger half of the northern National building (the one on the other side of the tracks), as well as the Produce building and the green-colored buildings at the end of Avenue A and put in a convention center. Parking for the center is across Avenue A on the south side of 2nd Street.
27. Clean up the back of the Masonic building, and the one attached to it. Make it look LESS like the Led Zeppelin album cover.
28. Convert the Bohse flooring building to apartments. Boulevard 2nd Street from avenues C to the Chamber building and make the upper alley level the parking lot for these apartments.
29. Rename West Second Street to Depot Blvd.
30. Leave the Union Pacific building up.
(Now we're past National, and onto the biggest void of them all)
31. Extend Avenues A and C past the tracks (at-grade crossings) and connect them south of Wallace with an extension of Avenue B - which extends further to connect with Bass Street (wait, where?).
32. SSC can have their parking lot, and their easternmost property, which ends at Bass Street But the land bounded east of the Avenue G bridge, north of the SSC property, south of the tracks and west of Bass Street needs to be completely removed.
33. Wallace Street curves right and climbs up to create an at-grade bridge intersection with Avenue G. This will create a western gateway to the new redeveloped area between G and Pike Street. This redeveloped area will be called Miller's Row (Miller Street got it's name from the old Sterling Distillery located there - and at one time was the second-largest one in the USA)
34. Miller Street is rerouted just a little north of its current path, from Bass Street going west to a curve-up to Wallace.
35. Pike Street and Avenue E connect, with an at-grade rail crossing.
36. THE PARK -
East: West End of National Complex
South: River
North: Where Avenue C curves around to meet Avenue A, and then Bass Street and its extension.
37. Something has to be put in place in order to transition the image from SSC to the park between these two.
NEXT UP - The plans using the actual study boundaries this time.
Current Song - Couldn't Get it Right (Climax Blues Band)
The picture above is from the 1950s. The main drag to the left is Locust Street, and the one to the right is First Avenue. It's easy to point out the buildings that are not standing anymore, if you're from the area. Looks a lot different, huh? (Click the picture to expand it)
Way back in September, I wrote an entry about what I think would be a good idea for the Propsed Rock Falls Riverfront. I never got around to thinking about what to do with Sterling's.
In Friday's edition of the Gazette there was an article about talk of what to do with Sterling's side.
I haven't read the entire preliminary plan (which may end up being more of a preliminary preliminary preliminary preliminary plan), so here are a few things I'd like to thow out there. All of this is simply imagination - with no real thinking behind it. So yeah, perhaps none of this could possibly happen. Note that my ideas extend outside the boundaries in the study. I will later clarify my ideas to reflect that of the study boundaries. But for now, this is more of a long-term solution.
1. Tear down the entire Lawrence Brothers complex, EXCEPT the large brick smokestack. Use that as a permanant reminder of what the building used to be, and make it a part of a series of plaques regarding manufacturing in Sterling. (This will be called the "old Lawrence property" in future reference.)
2. Save the concrete railroad bridge wall from the old CB&Q (the railroad was taken out in the early 1980s). Use this as a bench, shelter or gazebo area. Put another plaque there regarding the history of that railroad.
3. Tear down the entire Bogott complex. Just saying. It is an eyesore. Nothing to save here.
4. Build an underpass so that the East side of Wallace Street (a two-lane road)connects with 4th Avenue. Make East Wallace Street an uphill-downhill road with the peak being at the halfway point between the two underpasses. At peak, build a small parking lot. The rest of the Lawrence property converts to parkland. At night, this should give a good view of a completed Rock Falls riverfront.
5. There's going to have to be a floodwall of some sort between the First Avenue Bridge and the old CB&Q wall. The current building acts as a riverwall. When tearing down the building, retain the wall.
6. Sterling has always considered moving out of the Coliseum. Build a new, larger, City Hall complex on the old Bogott property. Also put up a Bogott plaque there.
7. The Coliseum is still kept intact. What's bothering it is the constant cramming of space by the city. Sterling/Rock Falls Historical Society moves into it (or back into it, this having been the original home until moved to the Dillon Grounds). The Coliseum arena itself is still used for it usual events, or perhaps renovated to create more space.
8. Fill current empty downtown space before building new structures for business. This will prevent the downtown area from crumbling due to this newer plan.
Empty downtown space currently includes:
*Old Haskell's/Detweiler's Train building
*Old King's Den/Abiding Word
*Old Hart's Jewelry
*Old Herbal Essences/record store (can't remember the name)
*Old telephone building
*Theatre
*Old Bohse carpet complex
*Raynor
(Not sure what is taking up the upper levels of the Lawrence Building where the Court is, also not sure about the old "One-Eighty" club)
The city's youth has been yearning for an arcade since the one at the mall closed years ago. Put one somewhere. Something like Peoria's "inPlay".
9. Currently Second Avenue is a boulevard from 4th Street down. After 2nd Street, divide it up into smaller, one-way drives in a oval pattern. Tree up the area heavily. As to what to put in the middle of it, how about a fountain? Tear down the old gas station/tatoo parlor to make room.
10. Keep the Plainwell building (old Kroger's). Just tidy up the rear.
11. Fix up the stairway along First Avenue.
12. Build a pedestrian bridge over the railroad (curled ramps on both sides, and design it to look appealing). Connect this path with the path along the riverwall.
13. Any planned pedestrian walkway with the new First Avenue bridge should connect with the old Lawrence Property, with a smaller sidewalk merging out toward the First-Wallace intersection.
14. Likewise, build an arching ped bridge over First Avenue to lead out to the railroad spare line right in front of the old National building. This will lead to a complicated stoplight arrangement, but more warning on both ends in the form of a stoplight traffic sign with amber lights should do it.
15. Call the new First Avenue Bridge the "Sterling-Rock Falls Manufacturing Worker's Bridge" - in tribute to all of the people that have worked at Reliant, Eureka, Parrish-Alford, NWSW, National and Lawrence Brothers all these years.
16. There isn't too much space between the railroad tracks and the river between Fourth Avenue and Eighth Avenue, but an extension of the riverwalk would suffice. There is plenty of space between track and river from Eighth Avenue to Martin's Landing.
(Now we cross First Avenue)
17. It seems like a popular entry to the equation is putting a hotel somewhere. However, how do you put a hotel next to train tracks, especially when trains are going to move at 60 miles per hour and toot their whistles? Same thing with performing arts. Don't we already have performing arts centers?
18. Keep National's smokestack. Same idea as #1.
19. High-rise condos in the closest two buildings of the National Complex. Tear the middle building down, and that blue building also. (I'm not sure of the status, but if the stucco wall on the NE building is nothing more than a dummy wall, then take it down to reveal the bricks). The Benson-Bittorf, or the Bittorf-Benson.
20. The western-most big building of the National Complex is too large to tear down, but does make for a good office building once the industrial stuff is removed.
21. Replace the middle National building with a dual parking garage, for both ideas above.
22. Have that winding river walkway weave through either side of the parking garage, joining the river wall in front of the office building in #20.
23. Paint the river wall white. It currently has a lot of mildew on it.
24. Green the entire length of the space between the railroad and Wallace along the old National Complex. Meaning the shortline rail is removed.
25. Green the old parking lot where the old C-NW train station used to be.
26. Tear down the larger half of the northern National building (the one on the other side of the tracks), as well as the Produce building and the green-colored buildings at the end of Avenue A and put in a convention center. Parking for the center is across Avenue A on the south side of 2nd Street.
27. Clean up the back of the Masonic building, and the one attached to it. Make it look LESS like the Led Zeppelin album cover.
28. Convert the Bohse flooring building to apartments. Boulevard 2nd Street from avenues C to the Chamber building and make the upper alley level the parking lot for these apartments.
29. Rename West Second Street to Depot Blvd.
30. Leave the Union Pacific building up.
(Now we're past National, and onto the biggest void of them all)
31. Extend Avenues A and C past the tracks (at-grade crossings) and connect them south of Wallace with an extension of Avenue B - which extends further to connect with Bass Street (wait, where?).
32. SSC can have their parking lot, and their easternmost property, which ends at Bass Street But the land bounded east of the Avenue G bridge, north of the SSC property, south of the tracks and west of Bass Street needs to be completely removed.
33. Wallace Street curves right and climbs up to create an at-grade bridge intersection with Avenue G. This will create a western gateway to the new redeveloped area between G and Pike Street. This redeveloped area will be called Miller's Row (Miller Street got it's name from the old Sterling Distillery located there - and at one time was the second-largest one in the USA)
34. Miller Street is rerouted just a little north of its current path, from Bass Street going west to a curve-up to Wallace.
35. Pike Street and Avenue E connect, with an at-grade rail crossing.
36. THE PARK -
East: West End of National Complex
South: River
North: Where Avenue C curves around to meet Avenue A, and then Bass Street and its extension.
37. Something has to be put in place in order to transition the image from SSC to the park between these two.
NEXT UP - The plans using the actual study boundaries this time.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Things are going great
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.32.60
Current Song - My Life (Billy Joel)
I guess part of the reason why I haven't written on here in quite a while is because everything is going quite alright for me right now. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a bad day. When that happens, you know things are okay.
Current Song - My Life (Billy Joel)
I guess part of the reason why I haven't written on here in quite a while is because everything is going quite alright for me right now. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a bad day. When that happens, you know things are okay.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Summer Begins
Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.81.60
Current Song - The Zoo (The Scorpions)
My spring sports season has come to a close. The closing was one for the ages. Now the real fun begins.
As I have mentioned before on here, I won't be taking any interesting summer trips. I have a couple of months to concentrate on how to save money and invest less. Plus, the hours at work have kind of increased - four days a week with no sports conflicts in my way. Plus, I'm back in fill-in mode for a couple of stations, since I'm not doing anything else.
I've got several housekeeping things that are website-related on the summer docket. Plus a few small things to write.
If this blog was dead during the spring, it'll probably be as dead in the summer.
Before I clear all of this out, this is all I can alott for writing.
Current Song - The Zoo (The Scorpions)
My spring sports season has come to a close. The closing was one for the ages. Now the real fun begins.
As I have mentioned before on here, I won't be taking any interesting summer trips. I have a couple of months to concentrate on how to save money and invest less. Plus, the hours at work have kind of increased - four days a week with no sports conflicts in my way. Plus, I'm back in fill-in mode for a couple of stations, since I'm not doing anything else.
I've got several housekeeping things that are website-related on the summer docket. Plus a few small things to write.
If this blog was dead during the spring, it'll probably be as dead in the summer.
Before I clear all of this out, this is all I can alott for writing.
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