Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.30.10
Current Song - Turn Your Love Around (George Benson)
Kind of an odd realization when it comes to a message board I post on.
I haven't posted on Turk's Place in over four months. Whoa! Then again, I haven't had a whole lot of free time on the Internet in quite some time.
They call it Turk's Withdrawl Syndrome when someone doesn't post in a long time. However, people do get over it and post again. It happened to me once before. But it kind of puts me in a rut when I plan on making that comeback post. After all, what am I going to say? Ususally I would give an update on me. I'm starting to realize now that I talk about myself way too much. It used to be I always talked TO myself a lot. If I start talking about myself alot, no one is going to want to care. Really.
Plus, it's not like anyone's worried that I'm not there like it is some sort of tragedy or anything.
But seriously I have met a lot of people from Turk's Place.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Another Work Shortfall
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.92.10
Current Song - Yesterday (Paul McCartney)
Julie quit.
I guess I can kiss my weekends good-bye for now. I was notified of a schedule change and I'm now working Saturday night instead of the afternoon. That kind of hurts my column plan a bit.
I mentioned before that I was hoping to be associate editor for the Chronicle. Marques is going to be the editor, and I was slated to be AE but I had no idea someone else wanted to be it too. Instead of telling him "Sucks to be you, I was here first," we worked out a plan that we're going to bring to Sam today. I'm going to give Keith the AE duties, but I'm going to keep the copy and proofreading part. Keith runs a website of his own, which is an Internet newspaper, that's free. With him as AE he can assign stories, and he has brought a lot of story ideas to us. Even though I wanted the AE spot, I wanted to do what is best for the paper.
After all, copy and proofreading was what I was going to bring to the AE spot anyway: turn blog entries into stories, break out the old AP Stylebook, etc.
I can now start saving money. Once I reach a certain amount, I'm going to try to get my lights fixed on my car, which will be in the hundreds. Other than $150 monthly insurance payments, I really don't have anything special to save up for. I got my stickers renewed yesterday, so that's out of the way.
Current Song - Yesterday (Paul McCartney)
Julie quit.
I guess I can kiss my weekends good-bye for now. I was notified of a schedule change and I'm now working Saturday night instead of the afternoon. That kind of hurts my column plan a bit.
I mentioned before that I was hoping to be associate editor for the Chronicle. Marques is going to be the editor, and I was slated to be AE but I had no idea someone else wanted to be it too. Instead of telling him "Sucks to be you, I was here first," we worked out a plan that we're going to bring to Sam today. I'm going to give Keith the AE duties, but I'm going to keep the copy and proofreading part. Keith runs a website of his own, which is an Internet newspaper, that's free. With him as AE he can assign stories, and he has brought a lot of story ideas to us. Even though I wanted the AE spot, I wanted to do what is best for the paper.
After all, copy and proofreading was what I was going to bring to the AE spot anyway: turn blog entries into stories, break out the old AP Stylebook, etc.
I can now start saving money. Once I reach a certain amount, I'm going to try to get my lights fixed on my car, which will be in the hundreds. Other than $150 monthly insurance payments, I really don't have anything special to save up for. I got my stickers renewed yesterday, so that's out of the way.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Soujourn into Chicago
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.82.10
Current Song - A song that has a chorus sounding like "chestnut on the hill" - some 80's song?
I made a trip to Chicago yesterday.
Actually, I was going to the library in River Forest to find an old high school located in the community. It was one of those cases where the librarian in the reference department told me there was no such thing, and I indeed found it. This has happened twice, and both times it happened in the suburbs.
I left early so that I could get there by the time the library opened at 9AM. It didn't take me too long to find the school. I'll tell you, this solved a two-year mystery for me, back to when I was looking at OPRF's history (that's Oak Park and River Forest High School, the 'and' is necessary) one day and making notes.
So it's 10:00 in the morning and I need to be on the road to Freeport by 2:00. I had four hours to kill and I was in Chicago pretty much. In my Glory Days notepad, which I bring to every research adventure, I had a list called: "Chicago Schools That Have No Photo On Their Pages - Addresses and Directions."
You guessed it.
I found fates of the following schools:
Angel Guardian - Church is still there, school may have been behind it, or on empty lot behind it.
Creiger - now Best Practice
Flower - now Al Raby
Jefferson - now a community center
Unity - now a CPS bilingual school
St. Stanislaus Kostka - still a K-8 school
St. Michaels Central - private residences?
Two schools I'm going to look deeper into:
St. Mel - Comment on that page said school was on One North Kildare (Kildare and Madison), but that is a church. There are two buildings on each side of it. The one on Madison is now ACT Charter, and the one on Kildare looks like a school building. But then again, there is a building that looks like a school building every two blocks I traveled!
Sacred Heart (on Huron and Oakley) - There are two buildings I snapped for this one on each side on Oakley. One looks like a rectangular apartment building, while the other looks like a church with what looks like Ukrainian scripture on it. I think this school is only mentioned on Kev's Archdioscese page.
I'm going to wait on posting the private school pics.
I only made it through the north side before leaving.
Current Song - A song that has a chorus sounding like "chestnut on the hill" - some 80's song?
I made a trip to Chicago yesterday.
Actually, I was going to the library in River Forest to find an old high school located in the community. It was one of those cases where the librarian in the reference department told me there was no such thing, and I indeed found it. This has happened twice, and both times it happened in the suburbs.
I left early so that I could get there by the time the library opened at 9AM. It didn't take me too long to find the school. I'll tell you, this solved a two-year mystery for me, back to when I was looking at OPRF's history (that's Oak Park and River Forest High School, the 'and' is necessary) one day and making notes.
So it's 10:00 in the morning and I need to be on the road to Freeport by 2:00. I had four hours to kill and I was in Chicago pretty much. In my Glory Days notepad, which I bring to every research adventure, I had a list called: "Chicago Schools That Have No Photo On Their Pages - Addresses and Directions."
You guessed it.
I found fates of the following schools:
Angel Guardian - Church is still there, school may have been behind it, or on empty lot behind it.
Creiger - now Best Practice
Flower - now Al Raby
Jefferson - now a community center
Unity - now a CPS bilingual school
St. Stanislaus Kostka - still a K-8 school
St. Michaels Central - private residences?
Two schools I'm going to look deeper into:
St. Mel - Comment on that page said school was on One North Kildare (Kildare and Madison), but that is a church. There are two buildings on each side of it. The one on Madison is now ACT Charter, and the one on Kildare looks like a school building. But then again, there is a building that looks like a school building every two blocks I traveled!
Sacred Heart (on Huron and Oakley) - There are two buildings I snapped for this one on each side on Oakley. One looks like a rectangular apartment building, while the other looks like a church with what looks like Ukrainian scripture on it. I think this school is only mentioned on Kev's Archdioscese page.
I'm going to wait on posting the private school pics.
I only made it through the north side before leaving.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Airport Trip
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.72.10
Current Song - Cantaloupe Island (Herbie Hancock)
A couple of weeks ago my grandparents and I went to the Quad City Airport to show me around. When I go to Tucson it will be my first time flying. I got to know how to check in, where to get my bags checked, as well as all of those new rules in the wake of 9-11. Fluid ounces? It doesn't seem like a hard task, but only half of the Airport is open to the public. The other half one needs a boarding pass to get inside, so I didn't get to see that part, and I won't until I leave.
I got to know a whole lot about the airport process. I'm taking Quad City to Denver, which is a whole other animal to tame. I think I can do it.
Current Song - Cantaloupe Island (Herbie Hancock)
A couple of weeks ago my grandparents and I went to the Quad City Airport to show me around. When I go to Tucson it will be my first time flying. I got to know how to check in, where to get my bags checked, as well as all of those new rules in the wake of 9-11. Fluid ounces? It doesn't seem like a hard task, but only half of the Airport is open to the public. The other half one needs a boarding pass to get inside, so I didn't get to see that part, and I won't until I leave.
I got to know a whole lot about the airport process. I'm taking Quad City to Denver, which is a whole other animal to tame. I think I can do it.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Column Proposal
Cutter's Log – Stardate 9002.62.10
Current Song – Walk Right In (The Rooftop Singers)
One weekly column. Put it in whatever day you want. Stringer rate is fine. I can write more than 15 column inches.
As a person who had traveled northern Illinois high school sports events (and parts of western, central and Chicago and its 'burbs) extensively over the past seven years, I have a well-rounded idea of what high school sports is like. I am well informed of high school sports news in Illinois.
I feel there's more to high school sports than just games and meets. There's also more to the resurrection of newspaper journalism than countless feature stories on people. An area that gets overlooked is the science of how high school sports work. There are stories to be told, processes to be taught and positives to be found.
Why should people know about these things? When we say, “I don't care,” one never knows who indeed does care. I don't write for editors, I write for everyone. There will be people who will not care for what I write, but that should not disappoint me. What I write can make people think in the way Andrew Carnegie helped people get rich.
There is so much to high school sports than what we already know. This is my purpose.
-------
But first I have to get a timing thing down.
Current Song – Walk Right In (The Rooftop Singers)
One weekly column. Put it in whatever day you want. Stringer rate is fine. I can write more than 15 column inches.
As a person who had traveled northern Illinois high school sports events (and parts of western, central and Chicago and its 'burbs) extensively over the past seven years, I have a well-rounded idea of what high school sports is like. I am well informed of high school sports news in Illinois.
I feel there's more to high school sports than just games and meets. There's also more to the resurrection of newspaper journalism than countless feature stories on people. An area that gets overlooked is the science of how high school sports work. There are stories to be told, processes to be taught and positives to be found.
Why should people know about these things? When we say, “I don't care,” one never knows who indeed does care. I don't write for editors, I write for everyone. There will be people who will not care for what I write, but that should not disappoint me. What I write can make people think in the way Andrew Carnegie helped people get rich.
There is so much to high school sports than what we already know. This is my purpose.
-------
But first I have to get a timing thing down.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
My REAL Reaction to the mess
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.42.10
Current Song - Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
Yesterday I really felt like an idiot. Those were the times I get down on myself.
I'm still not expecting good things from work. However, next week's schedule is kind of favorable. Although I am working Friday night, I am working Saturday from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. - which is good enough for me to go somewhere for Saturday night.
Maybe if she feels I'm not cut out for nights, I may fall into midshift. During midshift, I can get out at 5:30 p.m. every night. It's just another 1:15 to try to get somewhere without getting a speeding ticket. I can even do an adjusted midshift on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that I can be on the road by 3:30. One of my co-workers is pregnant, and after she is due I would like to fill in. That would leave the nights to someone else who is more qualified for closing than I am (in the view of my boss).
I'm taking two classes at Sauk this summer, followed by two classes in the fall, and two classes in the spring. If successful in each class, I can graduate. I even know what I'm taking, too. Summer: Psychology 103 (Intro to PSY - which I failed once before) and Humanities 210 (Intro to Humanities - a popular and fast-filling Internet class). Fall: Math 115 (Principles of modern math - usually a liberal arts math requirement) and Humanities 112 (Film Appreciation - a class that directly transfers to NIU well, but also a Monday and Wednesday night class). Spring: Speech 131 (The dreaded evil!) and Phys. Ed. 214 (Intro to PE - just to get reads on coaches).
So that's "Operation Get The Hell Out of College." If I take one class a year from that point on, I'm on pace to get my bachelors in 2021.
As I was writing this, I thought about the future a little too in depth.
I'd like to get a weekly column going on NISB. I've got columns going, but I want to try to get a timing mechanism down. I felt that if I could get this going successfully on NISB, I could move it to a weekly paper - and evolve from there.
I'm glad I felt more positive today.
Current Song - Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
Yesterday I really felt like an idiot. Those were the times I get down on myself.
I'm still not expecting good things from work. However, next week's schedule is kind of favorable. Although I am working Friday night, I am working Saturday from 9:00 to 4:30 p.m. - which is good enough for me to go somewhere for Saturday night.
Maybe if she feels I'm not cut out for nights, I may fall into midshift. During midshift, I can get out at 5:30 p.m. every night. It's just another 1:15 to try to get somewhere without getting a speeding ticket. I can even do an adjusted midshift on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that I can be on the road by 3:30. One of my co-workers is pregnant, and after she is due I would like to fill in. That would leave the nights to someone else who is more qualified for closing than I am (in the view of my boss).
I'm taking two classes at Sauk this summer, followed by two classes in the fall, and two classes in the spring. If successful in each class, I can graduate. I even know what I'm taking, too. Summer: Psychology 103 (Intro to PSY - which I failed once before) and Humanities 210 (Intro to Humanities - a popular and fast-filling Internet class). Fall: Math 115 (Principles of modern math - usually a liberal arts math requirement) and Humanities 112 (Film Appreciation - a class that directly transfers to NIU well, but also a Monday and Wednesday night class). Spring: Speech 131 (The dreaded evil!) and Phys. Ed. 214 (Intro to PE - just to get reads on coaches).
So that's "Operation Get The Hell Out of College." If I take one class a year from that point on, I'm on pace to get my bachelors in 2021.
As I was writing this, I thought about the future a little too in depth.
I'd like to get a weekly column going on NISB. I've got columns going, but I want to try to get a timing mechanism down. I felt that if I could get this going successfully on NISB, I could move it to a weekly paper - and evolve from there.
I'm glad I felt more positive today.
Friday, January 23, 2009
As I doubted my future ... Again
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.32.10
Current Song - She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby)
Call me an idiot for doing so. I've done foolish things before, but I was caught doing one recently at work.
I have to get my chores done by 12:30 PM when I close. On days when I can't get them done, I'll clock out at 12:30, or fifteen till, and work off the clock to get caught up. There are nights I won't leave the building until 1:15. You see, I started doing this after I was told I had to be out the door at 12:30.
I knew all along I couldn't do that, and so I tried to curve the rule by doing this. Well, I can't do that anymore. So now my work time has really been scrunched down. The first time I did this I felt like I wasn't able to do it. I kept telling myself I give up. Now every time I walk into work I expect an earful from anyone. Therefore, I don't even get anything from there (I'll go to the other three Shells in Sterling/Rock Falls).
You see, I think they're just trying to get me back on track - back to doing everything correctly. But each job I've ever had I've been a sinking ship from day one. What makes me believe that the next job I'll have will be different?
As you can tell, I have a problem with ground rules. If I don't like the rules, I'll either make up my own, or curve them so I can survive. If I feel like I'm being used as a pawn for someone else's gain, I'll be very critical. Should I just sit there and take this abuse?
So now I can't curve the rules. I guess I can't survive.
It made me think of my proposed column idea to SVN, similar to what Andy did when I was there. I've had that thing in the file cabinet since Salem was sports editor. However, the only reason I'm staying away from there is because I KNOW that I'm going to have conflicts.
Current Song - She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby)
Call me an idiot for doing so. I've done foolish things before, but I was caught doing one recently at work.
I have to get my chores done by 12:30 PM when I close. On days when I can't get them done, I'll clock out at 12:30, or fifteen till, and work off the clock to get caught up. There are nights I won't leave the building until 1:15. You see, I started doing this after I was told I had to be out the door at 12:30.
I knew all along I couldn't do that, and so I tried to curve the rule by doing this. Well, I can't do that anymore. So now my work time has really been scrunched down. The first time I did this I felt like I wasn't able to do it. I kept telling myself I give up. Now every time I walk into work I expect an earful from anyone. Therefore, I don't even get anything from there (I'll go to the other three Shells in Sterling/Rock Falls).
You see, I think they're just trying to get me back on track - back to doing everything correctly. But each job I've ever had I've been a sinking ship from day one. What makes me believe that the next job I'll have will be different?
As you can tell, I have a problem with ground rules. If I don't like the rules, I'll either make up my own, or curve them so I can survive. If I feel like I'm being used as a pawn for someone else's gain, I'll be very critical. Should I just sit there and take this abuse?
So now I can't curve the rules. I guess I can't survive.
It made me think of my proposed column idea to SVN, similar to what Andy did when I was there. I've had that thing in the file cabinet since Salem was sports editor. However, the only reason I'm staying away from there is because I KNOW that I'm going to have conflicts.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Back to School
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.12.10
Current Song - Jive Talkin' (The Bee Gees)
I've been back at school twice now, but I never got settled in until yesterday. I'm still thinking about what to do for basketball, but I have baseball and softball previews planned, as well as men's basketball bios, and an intro column. What's holding be back on basketball is the Region IV pairings. They won't be known until February 1 - which isn't a whole lot of time for me. That's not all, the release date for the paper is March 6 - the day BEFORE the Region IV championships. What a wrench!!!
Jean, our editor, is leaving us. Now we are without an editor, and without an associate editor (Hilary isn't with us this semester). I guess that leaves me in command?
There's not a whole lot of interest this year for sports within the staff. It looks like I'll have to do it all myself. That really eliminates the position of Sports Editor, in which I'm going to apply for Associate Editor. I don't want to be Editor In Chief because I feel that a true Highland student should be running the Highland publication.
Current Song - Jive Talkin' (The Bee Gees)
I've been back at school twice now, but I never got settled in until yesterday. I'm still thinking about what to do for basketball, but I have baseball and softball previews planned, as well as men's basketball bios, and an intro column. What's holding be back on basketball is the Region IV pairings. They won't be known until February 1 - which isn't a whole lot of time for me. That's not all, the release date for the paper is March 6 - the day BEFORE the Region IV championships. What a wrench!!!
Jean, our editor, is leaving us. Now we are without an editor, and without an associate editor (Hilary isn't with us this semester). I guess that leaves me in command?
There's not a whole lot of interest this year for sports within the staff. It looks like I'll have to do it all myself. That really eliminates the position of Sports Editor, in which I'm going to apply for Associate Editor. I don't want to be Editor In Chief because I feel that a true Highland student should be running the Highland publication.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
As I Doubted my Future ...
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.21.10
Current Song - Sweet Lullaby (Deep Forest)
I had a lot of doubts with my future at Shell. I was written up for a "drawer under 20.00" violation. This policy, which has always been in effect since I've been there, was never given to anyone else before when they were short over 20.00. I was the first once since I been there. I felt that I was being picked on and singled out.
It felt as if I wasn't going to be working there one day, and my days were numbered. I wrote a note to Mary with every "writing skill" power I had in order to persuade her that I shouldn't be given this write-up and how I was picked on for some reason. So it was basically a column.
The next day I was preparing for the worst. I took a little over $100 and went to Jumers. I walked out losing all of what I brought. I was hoping I could win cash to keep me afloat after termination. I drove home dejected and nearly crashed the car twice. No more casinos for me for a long time.
I go to work on Sunday only to have Mary arrive a couple hours into my shift.
She hadn't read the note, but I guess Bre or Billy told her about it. Mary told me that I wasn't being singled out and just asked for an explanation as to why I was that much short. I told her I didn't know why. It could have been a sticky 20. I guess what I wrote made her tear up the write-up. As she walked out the door telling me nicely that I should just do my job, it sort of vindicated me. I was almost in tears.
I know I have a future at Shell for the time being. If I ever do leave, it will be on good terms.
Current Song - Sweet Lullaby (Deep Forest)
I had a lot of doubts with my future at Shell. I was written up for a "drawer under 20.00" violation. This policy, which has always been in effect since I've been there, was never given to anyone else before when they were short over 20.00. I was the first once since I been there. I felt that I was being picked on and singled out.
It felt as if I wasn't going to be working there one day, and my days were numbered. I wrote a note to Mary with every "writing skill" power I had in order to persuade her that I shouldn't be given this write-up and how I was picked on for some reason. So it was basically a column.
The next day I was preparing for the worst. I took a little over $100 and went to Jumers. I walked out losing all of what I brought. I was hoping I could win cash to keep me afloat after termination. I drove home dejected and nearly crashed the car twice. No more casinos for me for a long time.
I go to work on Sunday only to have Mary arrive a couple hours into my shift.
She hadn't read the note, but I guess Bre or Billy told her about it. Mary told me that I wasn't being singled out and just asked for an explanation as to why I was that much short. I told her I didn't know why. It could have been a sticky 20. I guess what I wrote made her tear up the write-up. As she walked out the door telling me nicely that I should just do my job, it sort of vindicated me. I was almost in tears.
I know I have a future at Shell for the time being. If I ever do leave, it will be on good terms.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Work got the best of me yet again!
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.90.10
Current Song - Shattered Dreams (Johnny Hates Jazz)
The day I found out I was working at my real job the exact time both Coach Goers and Coach Pingatore would surpass Coach Van Scyoc's boys basketball wins record devastated me. I devoted about a year to this record and kept a win tracker on both coaches. I had wanted to cover the record breaking moment no matter who broke it first, although Goers and Boylan is an area team.
This became one of the many moments I would see slip past me because of my job as a cashier at a Shell station in Sterling. We had no flexibility whatsoever when it came to scheduling. I was always afraid to call in sick even when I was sick. This one girl I used to work with there worked when sick a lot, and she was let go after one too many call offs. Playing hooky from work would be devastating, too.
So I am stuck at this gas station gig that has no flexibility and is a house made of playing cards. It's the only non-journalism place that is still willing (I think) to accept me and the different ways I think and do things. Without Shell, I'm without money and without any non-journalism job. I think I possess one of the worst work ethics known to mankind.
-----
I have a real bad feeling that I have screwed up this "job" thing.
The journalism industry somehow took off without me right after I graduated high school. So I had to stick to common jobs and work my way up that way. Now it appears I can't even work out at these jobs anymore.
Just after the second Indian regime took over at BP, they promoted someone younger than me and hadn't been there as long as me to assistant manager. That didn't make me feel all too bad, no. This stuff happens and I realize that. What set me off was her power trip. Now at Shell there is this lady who somehow leap-frogged over me and is getting more management responsibilities. That's okay too, she is older than I am.
However, I'm getting the feeling that this "forward progress" is normal, and I am actually going backwards. In fact, I feel like I'm being pushed out very, very slowly like Chinese torture. There's nothing I can really do about it. There's nothing I can really learn from this to take somewhere else. I've got nothing else left other than NISB, which I can't make any money out of (and when I try it just makes it look worse). I've got nothing else left to take somewhere else. If Shell drains me, that's it. But I just can't adapt.
Current Song - Shattered Dreams (Johnny Hates Jazz)
The day I found out I was working at my real job the exact time both Coach Goers and Coach Pingatore would surpass Coach Van Scyoc's boys basketball wins record devastated me. I devoted about a year to this record and kept a win tracker on both coaches. I had wanted to cover the record breaking moment no matter who broke it first, although Goers and Boylan is an area team.
This became one of the many moments I would see slip past me because of my job as a cashier at a Shell station in Sterling. We had no flexibility whatsoever when it came to scheduling. I was always afraid to call in sick even when I was sick. This one girl I used to work with there worked when sick a lot, and she was let go after one too many call offs. Playing hooky from work would be devastating, too.
So I am stuck at this gas station gig that has no flexibility and is a house made of playing cards. It's the only non-journalism place that is still willing (I think) to accept me and the different ways I think and do things. Without Shell, I'm without money and without any non-journalism job. I think I possess one of the worst work ethics known to mankind.
-----
I have a real bad feeling that I have screwed up this "job" thing.
The journalism industry somehow took off without me right after I graduated high school. So I had to stick to common jobs and work my way up that way. Now it appears I can't even work out at these jobs anymore.
Just after the second Indian regime took over at BP, they promoted someone younger than me and hadn't been there as long as me to assistant manager. That didn't make me feel all too bad, no. This stuff happens and I realize that. What set me off was her power trip. Now at Shell there is this lady who somehow leap-frogged over me and is getting more management responsibilities. That's okay too, she is older than I am.
However, I'm getting the feeling that this "forward progress" is normal, and I am actually going backwards. In fact, I feel like I'm being pushed out very, very slowly like Chinese torture. There's nothing I can really do about it. There's nothing I can really learn from this to take somewhere else. I've got nothing else left other than NISB, which I can't make any money out of (and when I try it just makes it look worse). I've got nothing else left to take somewhere else. If Shell drains me, that's it. But I just can't adapt.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Rest In Peace Grandma Holland
Cutter's Log - Supplemental
Yesterday I learned that my Great Grandma Helen Holland passed away in Prophetstown. She was 93 years old. She was the last of my great grandparents to pass away.
Her parents immigrated from Sweden in 1890 through Ellis Island. She was born in Pontiac in 1915 and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1932. Grandma Holland was my mothers maternal grandmother. She had lived around the Prophetstown area her entire life.
I remember many times when Mema would take me down to Prophetstown as a kid to visit Grandma Holland. She always had a Hershey's bar to give me every time I came to visit. By the time I grew up her memory had gotten bad and sometimes she would call me someone else. I enjoyed visiting with her whenever I got the chance.
I'll miss you Grandma, along with a lot of Tighes, Rosliebs and Hollands. Rest in Peace.
Yesterday I learned that my Great Grandma Helen Holland passed away in Prophetstown. She was 93 years old. She was the last of my great grandparents to pass away.
Her parents immigrated from Sweden in 1890 through Ellis Island. She was born in Pontiac in 1915 and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1932. Grandma Holland was my mothers maternal grandmother. She had lived around the Prophetstown area her entire life.
I remember many times when Mema would take me down to Prophetstown as a kid to visit Grandma Holland. She always had a Hershey's bar to give me every time I came to visit. By the time I grew up her memory had gotten bad and sometimes she would call me someone else. I enjoyed visiting with her whenever I got the chance.
I'll miss you Grandma, along with a lot of Tighes, Rosliebs and Hollands. Rest in Peace.
Steps and Steps Toward Internet Connection
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.70.10
Current Song - How Could I Let You Get Away (The Spinners)
For a while I couldn't get my Internet connection to work. I had a modem installed a couple of days ago, but I could not get it to work. My dad tested the phone line, and sure enough the phone line was working. It had to be the modem. I took it back to Unique and had them test it out. Sure enough the modem that was installed for me was bad. So they installed a new modem (at no cost via warranty) and it worked.
My parents are in charge of the Internet connection, and they have been past due in their bill. After a while without Internet, you'll forget after a while. Once they either get that paid, or switched to broadband I'll finally have that Internet connection I have been dying for.
Meanwhile, I've been cleaning my desk area out. I made more desk space and put in the lamp I got for Christmas. I found my old MP3 player that I rarely used. I could rarely get it to work after I had accidentally left it under a lamp for a long time. Now I swear it is possessed. While charging on the computer it will turn on and off over and over again.
I'm going to work out of Sauk hopefully today. I think there are events going on there this week, which means the computers are open! Yay! Plenty of things to do under a long duration of time. Might be a down day with the pedometer.
I will be in Evanston on Saturday night to see Coach Pingatore break the all-time coaching wins record. If victorious, he will have 827 wins surpassing Coach Van Scyoc. I have been following his, and Coach Goers', progress toward this record. However, Pingatore will only make 827 with a win at LaGrange Nazareth on Friday.
Current Song - How Could I Let You Get Away (The Spinners)
For a while I couldn't get my Internet connection to work. I had a modem installed a couple of days ago, but I could not get it to work. My dad tested the phone line, and sure enough the phone line was working. It had to be the modem. I took it back to Unique and had them test it out. Sure enough the modem that was installed for me was bad. So they installed a new modem (at no cost via warranty) and it worked.
My parents are in charge of the Internet connection, and they have been past due in their bill. After a while without Internet, you'll forget after a while. Once they either get that paid, or switched to broadband I'll finally have that Internet connection I have been dying for.
Meanwhile, I've been cleaning my desk area out. I made more desk space and put in the lamp I got for Christmas. I found my old MP3 player that I rarely used. I could rarely get it to work after I had accidentally left it under a lamp for a long time. Now I swear it is possessed. While charging on the computer it will turn on and off over and over again.
I'm going to work out of Sauk hopefully today. I think there are events going on there this week, which means the computers are open! Yay! Plenty of things to do under a long duration of time. Might be a down day with the pedometer.
I will be in Evanston on Saturday night to see Coach Pingatore break the all-time coaching wins record. If victorious, he will have 827 wins surpassing Coach Van Scyoc. I have been following his, and Coach Goers', progress toward this record. However, Pingatore will only make 827 with a win at LaGrange Nazareth on Friday.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year!
Cutter's Log - Stardate 9002.04.10
Current Song - I'll be Around (The Spinners)
It's been quite a while since I last typed an entry. That's that happens with the absence of the Internet. It looks as if I'll be getting it sometime this week or next. I have to go back to Unique to get that other gig of RAM. Also, I need to ask them how to install a modem. I've got the phone line next to my computer, I just need to make that connection actually happen. Then I'll be set. I still get to the library once in a while for computer use. I haven't been there in a week, and thus I haven't checked the boards in a week! I've got plenty of time this week as I am off Tuesday thru Thursday plus Saturday. Other than the Internet thing, all is going well with the computer. I'm playing a lot of Pinball and Hoyle Casino when I'm not typing columns. I'm typing this entry on my home computer and saving it.
I can't even remember when I last typed an entry here. Christmas and New Years have both passed.
I didn't receive a whole lot for Christmas this year, because I'm getting older. I even wrote out my largest Christmas list in years. Only one thing on my list was actually given to me: high school sports shirts. My grandparents gave me one from Dakota and one from Milledgeville. You see, I'm trying to be the Bill Cosby of high school sports, wearing the shirts and sweaters of schools. Other than that, not a whole lot of noteworthy things:
*My mom's mother (MeMa) gave us a pictorial history book of Sterling and Rock Falls (I didn't know this was published, so this was a good gift).
*Mom and dad gave me a desk lamp, which I have yet to install or fit on my desk.
*They also gave me one of those $50 Visa gift cards from Wal-Mart.
*I can't even remember the other one.
*Also got socks from grandma and grandpa??
*$50 check from them too.
*$25 gas card from my Uncle Mat.
Another unique gift was from my Aunt Judy. Her gifts are usually a donation in our names to a charity. We had a get together a couple weeks ago where we got to choose our charity. Chris picked the Red Cross. Judy gave us each an envelope with $50 and another envelope in it. We would choose on our own how much we would keep and give. I put the whole $50 in it. I look at the gift as the opportunity to do such a thing. I recently got a nice card from her about how generous I was. She knew I had car trouble (lights) and was about to give me back some of it. She said she then decided it was best to respect my wishes.
I did buy a few things with the spending money. Two things were an MP3/CD cassette adapter for my car, and a pedometer.
Yes, I am going to try what I have tried the last ten or so New Years. I really need to lose some weight. I think I said this last year. I've crept over 300 and then some. I think I was at 327 at one point in December. Today I am down to 305 with yet to put on the pedometer. I get to lose weight and save money because I won't eat out a whole lot.
One of the problems of being a journalist like me is that you get to travel all over creation and spend a good amount of time sitting on your butt in front of a table and a sports event, and in a car. I could probably tell you the best places to eat in northern Illinois, as well as the best teams and athletes. The post game is so concentrated on putting together the story, structuring it, and getting it out. Then when you get done, there is this free fall of relief which will absolutely drain me. For refueling, I'll get something high-octane. By the time the games are over only the 24-hour food places are open. I've got places to go yet this year including one trek deep into the Chicago suburbs this week. I can't really pack a lunch because it will spoil.
I think part of the problem was going to Freeport back and forth. Whenever I would get my stuff done there I would go to the McDonalds or Burger King and eat that on the drive home. One day at work I was browsing through a bunch of tossed out Sunday papers, and I put together dinner items that don't normally sound like dinner: cans of soup, hot pockets, etc. I cut out the coupons of these things. The cafeteria at Highland has a microwave and I'm sure various gas stations have them as well. I'm going to try this more often.
As far as work is concerned, I had to work a couple hours on Christmas Eve, and for the third year in a row I was at a gas station "celebrating" the new year. At times I was unhappy with working there and wanted to leave. I've mentioned it on here time after time. I'm not the best worker. I'm probably not a good worker at all. I struggle a lot with learning how to do things a certain way that I have to resort to shortcuts to get it done. I need to pace myself a lot because I'll go crazy if I'm doing things non-stop. This I do not think my co-workers will understand. At times I truly feel as if they are trying to make things miserable for me - all I can do is attack it by looking at the positives of these things.
I'm also planning on making some minor changes to the NISB homepage as well this week.
That's all for now. Hopefully I won't have another drought.
Current Song - I'll be Around (The Spinners)
It's been quite a while since I last typed an entry. That's that happens with the absence of the Internet. It looks as if I'll be getting it sometime this week or next. I have to go back to Unique to get that other gig of RAM. Also, I need to ask them how to install a modem. I've got the phone line next to my computer, I just need to make that connection actually happen. Then I'll be set. I still get to the library once in a while for computer use. I haven't been there in a week, and thus I haven't checked the boards in a week! I've got plenty of time this week as I am off Tuesday thru Thursday plus Saturday. Other than the Internet thing, all is going well with the computer. I'm playing a lot of Pinball and Hoyle Casino when I'm not typing columns. I'm typing this entry on my home computer and saving it.
I can't even remember when I last typed an entry here. Christmas and New Years have both passed.
I didn't receive a whole lot for Christmas this year, because I'm getting older. I even wrote out my largest Christmas list in years. Only one thing on my list was actually given to me: high school sports shirts. My grandparents gave me one from Dakota and one from Milledgeville. You see, I'm trying to be the Bill Cosby of high school sports, wearing the shirts and sweaters of schools. Other than that, not a whole lot of noteworthy things:
*My mom's mother (MeMa) gave us a pictorial history book of Sterling and Rock Falls (I didn't know this was published, so this was a good gift).
*Mom and dad gave me a desk lamp, which I have yet to install or fit on my desk.
*They also gave me one of those $50 Visa gift cards from Wal-Mart.
*I can't even remember the other one.
*Also got socks from grandma and grandpa??
*$50 check from them too.
*$25 gas card from my Uncle Mat.
Another unique gift was from my Aunt Judy. Her gifts are usually a donation in our names to a charity. We had a get together a couple weeks ago where we got to choose our charity. Chris picked the Red Cross. Judy gave us each an envelope with $50 and another envelope in it. We would choose on our own how much we would keep and give. I put the whole $50 in it. I look at the gift as the opportunity to do such a thing. I recently got a nice card from her about how generous I was. She knew I had car trouble (lights) and was about to give me back some of it. She said she then decided it was best to respect my wishes.
I did buy a few things with the spending money. Two things were an MP3/CD cassette adapter for my car, and a pedometer.
Yes, I am going to try what I have tried the last ten or so New Years. I really need to lose some weight. I think I said this last year. I've crept over 300 and then some. I think I was at 327 at one point in December. Today I am down to 305 with yet to put on the pedometer. I get to lose weight and save money because I won't eat out a whole lot.
One of the problems of being a journalist like me is that you get to travel all over creation and spend a good amount of time sitting on your butt in front of a table and a sports event, and in a car. I could probably tell you the best places to eat in northern Illinois, as well as the best teams and athletes. The post game is so concentrated on putting together the story, structuring it, and getting it out. Then when you get done, there is this free fall of relief which will absolutely drain me. For refueling, I'll get something high-octane. By the time the games are over only the 24-hour food places are open. I've got places to go yet this year including one trek deep into the Chicago suburbs this week. I can't really pack a lunch because it will spoil.
I think part of the problem was going to Freeport back and forth. Whenever I would get my stuff done there I would go to the McDonalds or Burger King and eat that on the drive home. One day at work I was browsing through a bunch of tossed out Sunday papers, and I put together dinner items that don't normally sound like dinner: cans of soup, hot pockets, etc. I cut out the coupons of these things. The cafeteria at Highland has a microwave and I'm sure various gas stations have them as well. I'm going to try this more often.
As far as work is concerned, I had to work a couple hours on Christmas Eve, and for the third year in a row I was at a gas station "celebrating" the new year. At times I was unhappy with working there and wanted to leave. I've mentioned it on here time after time. I'm not the best worker. I'm probably not a good worker at all. I struggle a lot with learning how to do things a certain way that I have to resort to shortcuts to get it done. I need to pace myself a lot because I'll go crazy if I'm doing things non-stop. This I do not think my co-workers will understand. At times I truly feel as if they are trying to make things miserable for me - all I can do is attack it by looking at the positives of these things.
I'm also planning on making some minor changes to the NISB homepage as well this week.
That's all for now. Hopefully I won't have another drought.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Home One
Cutter's Log – Stardate 8002.02.21
Current Song – That's The Way of the World (Earth, Wind and Fire)
THE NEW COMPUTER IS HERE!!!!
ThinkCentre M55 (TCE Vision)
8811-FHU
Pentium 4D 3.0 Ghz CPU
1G DDR2 RAM (I'll get the other 1G ram later)
160G SATA Hard Drive
CDRW/DVD drive
Onboard Video
Onboard Audio
10/100/1000 Ethernet
6 USB 2.0 Ports
Windows XP
Hanns-G monitor
Speakers, mouse and keyboard
$582 and change
I bought it at the downtown computer store (Unique Computer), where my old dead one sits in a junk pile. Part paychecks, part blackjack winnings.
I spent about a day trying to figure out where to plug it in at. The computer sits on my desk in the upstairs landing. There is a chance I may get the whole “den” moved into my bedroom. After all, the computer takes up 5/6 of my desk space. I've got other things laying on the floor next to steps, and I've got to move them soon. I took the power surge from our old computer and I had difficulty realizing that I didn't have any three-prong outlets upstairs. I didn't know there were such things as three-prong-into-two-prong resistors (they cost 33 cents).
At first it appeared that the power surge was not working. Then I found an on-off switch on the back of the computer tower. Duh!
After about an hour walking around it, I downloaded the “cheap” version of Microsoft Office, which is OfficeSuite. It's useful. I'm typing this blog entry on it.
The last couple of ingredients are the Internet and Anti-Virus software. I'm next to a phone jack, but I want to know if everything's okay before I use it. So I'm still using the Sterling Library as a temporary Internet watering hole.
All's okay. I just have to get used to this keyboard. I have to break it in, especially the “enter” key because it feels like two fingers have to press it in order to work.
Well, kind of.
There. Just had to press it harder.
I'm going to have to get used to the new “backspace” key. It is the same size as a keyboard letter key. Sometimes when I'm typing I hit the middle of the key. On this thing, where I would usually press is the backspace and \ and key. The keyboard also has feature keys at the top.
When I get the two necessities, I'm prepared to make this “Home One” when it comes to NISB functions.
I've got a lot of stuff to pick up!
Current Song – That's The Way of the World (Earth, Wind and Fire)
THE NEW COMPUTER IS HERE!!!!
ThinkCentre M55 (TCE Vision)
8811-FHU
Pentium 4D 3.0 Ghz CPU
1G DDR2 RAM (I'll get the other 1G ram later)
160G SATA Hard Drive
CDRW/DVD drive
Onboard Video
Onboard Audio
10/100/1000 Ethernet
6 USB 2.0 Ports
Windows XP
Hanns-G monitor
Speakers, mouse and keyboard
$582 and change
I bought it at the downtown computer store (Unique Computer), where my old dead one sits in a junk pile. Part paychecks, part blackjack winnings.
I spent about a day trying to figure out where to plug it in at. The computer sits on my desk in the upstairs landing. There is a chance I may get the whole “den” moved into my bedroom. After all, the computer takes up 5/6 of my desk space. I've got other things laying on the floor next to steps, and I've got to move them soon. I took the power surge from our old computer and I had difficulty realizing that I didn't have any three-prong outlets upstairs. I didn't know there were such things as three-prong-into-two-prong resistors (they cost 33 cents).
At first it appeared that the power surge was not working. Then I found an on-off switch on the back of the computer tower. Duh!
After about an hour walking around it, I downloaded the “cheap” version of Microsoft Office, which is OfficeSuite. It's useful. I'm typing this blog entry on it.
The last couple of ingredients are the Internet and Anti-Virus software. I'm next to a phone jack, but I want to know if everything's okay before I use it. So I'm still using the Sterling Library as a temporary Internet watering hole.
All's okay. I just have to get used to this keyboard. I have to break it in, especially the “enter” key because it feels like two fingers have to press it in order to work.
Well, kind of.
There. Just had to press it harder.
I'm going to have to get used to the new “backspace” key. It is the same size as a keyboard letter key. Sometimes when I'm typing I hit the middle of the key. On this thing, where I would usually press is the backspace and \ and key. The keyboard also has feature keys at the top.
When I get the two necessities, I'm prepared to make this “Home One” when it comes to NISB functions.
I've got a lot of stuff to pick up!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I'm going too fast
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.90.21
Current Song - Wonderful Christmas Time (Paul McCartney)
I had a bunch of columns to write this month, but I'm realizing that I'm going too fast. I'm going to try to slow down and schedule myself some quality time.
Current Song - Wonderful Christmas Time (Paul McCartney)
I had a bunch of columns to write this month, but I'm realizing that I'm going too fast. I'm going to try to slow down and schedule myself some quality time.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Last computer use at SVCC
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.50.21
Current Song - Turn Your Love Around (George Benson)
I got an hour-and-a-half before I'm pried away from the computers at Sauk. After today, I only have the library to do things.
The computer fund has started. But first I have to tend to my car because I think a tire rod is bent. Then I got two bad lights. Then I can think about my Christmas list. I just need some seclusion right now to begin thinking - and area sports schedules. And money. And a computer. And patience. I still have a column to write, but I left my scandisc at home.
I hope to be on here more than I can imagine.
Current Song - Turn Your Love Around (George Benson)
I got an hour-and-a-half before I'm pried away from the computers at Sauk. After today, I only have the library to do things.
The computer fund has started. But first I have to tend to my car because I think a tire rod is bent. Then I got two bad lights. Then I can think about my Christmas list. I just need some seclusion right now to begin thinking - and area sports schedules. And money. And a computer. And patience. I still have a column to write, but I left my scandisc at home.
I hope to be on here more than I can imagine.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Busy Columnizing
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.40.21
Current Song - How do the Fools Survive (Doobie Brothers)
Got a couple of columns to put up:
Sterling's new media advances
IHSGD's 1,000 milestone
Not a good day for me on the road. The roads SUCK!!!! I ran into a ditch on Pearl City road. Lucky for me, only some minor cosmetic damage. I delivered Chronicles all over the county and eastern Jo Daviess. I had planned to go to a wrestling meet and Cherry Valley Mall, but I want to get these written up first.
Off I go!
Current Song - How do the Fools Survive (Doobie Brothers)
Got a couple of columns to put up:
Sterling's new media advances
IHSGD's 1,000 milestone
Not a good day for me on the road. The roads SUCK!!!! I ran into a ditch on Pearl City road. Lucky for me, only some minor cosmetic damage. I delivered Chronicles all over the county and eastern Jo Daviess. I had planned to go to a wrestling meet and Cherry Valley Mall, but I want to get these written up first.
Off I go!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Putting Together a schedule
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.20.21
Current Song - Roll With The Changes (REO Speedwagon)
I had a fun night at work Sunday. Hardly anyone showed up and I was left getting things done in a hurry. That left time for me to come up with some column ideas.
I've been trying to go the column route lately, so that prospecting writers can use their know-how in the technological perspective to relish in the deadline world. That doesn't mean I don't know how to beat a deadline. Been there, done that. But I haven't done something like that in quite some time. If only I had a laptop and preparation, I would be able to excel in this world. But that' s a luxury I do not have at this time, and I probably won't get until all necessities are accomplished.
With that being said, I'm going to ask my parents if a plan will work out: I would buy the desktop computer, and they would pay the Internet bill for some time before each of us goes back to paying. I don't know if I have the money to buy the big hulk of tubes, but I'm definately saving up for this.
I'm trying to hurry up and get one because this is my last couple of days here at Highland before Christmas break. Sauk closes either this week or next. With both of these places closed, I only have the library to do work for an hour a day!!!
Thus, I'm going to write a bit this week and hopefully post them within the first half of this month.
Here's your sneak peek:
Sterling's Advancement in new medium
Immaculate Conception - football enrollment
IHSGD @ 1,000 schools
Fall Sports Wrapper
Dvorak Invitational Newcomers
Bertrand Q&A?
Current Song - Roll With The Changes (REO Speedwagon)
I had a fun night at work Sunday. Hardly anyone showed up and I was left getting things done in a hurry. That left time for me to come up with some column ideas.
I've been trying to go the column route lately, so that prospecting writers can use their know-how in the technological perspective to relish in the deadline world. That doesn't mean I don't know how to beat a deadline. Been there, done that. But I haven't done something like that in quite some time. If only I had a laptop and preparation, I would be able to excel in this world. But that' s a luxury I do not have at this time, and I probably won't get until all necessities are accomplished.
With that being said, I'm going to ask my parents if a plan will work out: I would buy the desktop computer, and they would pay the Internet bill for some time before each of us goes back to paying. I don't know if I have the money to buy the big hulk of tubes, but I'm definately saving up for this.
I'm trying to hurry up and get one because this is my last couple of days here at Highland before Christmas break. Sauk closes either this week or next. With both of these places closed, I only have the library to do work for an hour a day!!!
Thus, I'm going to write a bit this week and hopefully post them within the first half of this month.
Here's your sneak peek:
Sterling's Advancement in new medium
Immaculate Conception - football enrollment
IHSGD @ 1,000 schools
Fall Sports Wrapper
Dvorak Invitational Newcomers
Bertrand Q&A?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Getting into Winter Mode
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.52.11
Current Song - Deacon Blues (Steely Dan)
With all of the fall sports over, I'm going to try to focus on preparing for the Winter season. I'm trying to figure out off days, holiday days, etc. I've already set off the Class 3A and 4A boys basketball state tournament in conjunction with Highland's spring break. I'm taking spring break off of work too. I'm going to Tucson for that week.
I've also set aside the Rock Falls Shootout on January 10.
I've also set aside the first part of the Pekin Tournament after Christmas. However, after a recent look at Boylan's schedule, Coach Goers is actually on pace to break Coach Van Scyoc January 9th against Belvidere (if Boylan wins every game until then). So I'm going to restructure my Christmas schedule.
(Live action blog entry begins)
Erie's final day is Tuesday, December 30. It's a tournament I've gone to the past two years. Tuesday is also I day I normally get off.
Now I'm trying to find an after-Christmas tournament that does not end on the 30th.
Chuck Dayton ends on Saturday, December 27.
Dvorak is Tuesday, December 23.
Polo girls: Saturday, December 20.
Ottawa girls: Monday, December 22.
LTC Boys: Friday, February 6, 2009
West Carroll: Saturday, January 24
I think that's enough days to request off this winter. The rest of the open dates may just stem off of Sterling/RF-area and Freeport area events. If I want to go to an event after class, I have to leave at 6:00 PM from Freeport. I prefer 7:00 arrival times to events. Anywhere within 1:15 from Freeport will work for me on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I shouldn't really do any requests for Mid-Shift the rest of this Calendar year. If I request a mid-shift worktime, chances are it's for an event which is good based on team performances.
Off of work at 6:00 PM to a 7:00 arrival: I can get from Sterling to Dakota in an hour. I can make it to the I-80 area between Geneseo and Spring Valley in an hour. Rochelle and Indian Creek are one-hour drives. It makes a box with the sides being the Mississippi, US 20, and I-80 and 39. If I have to venture anywhere outside of this "box" I have to request a whole day off or go on a day off. I can't make it to the Rockford or Quad City schools in that span unless I leave work by 5:30, which means a 4:00 off time.
Out of class at 6:00 PM for a 7:00 arrival: Galena, Sterling and Belvidere (maybe) can be made. Stillman Valley and Savanna can also be made. Rochelle and Morrison cannot be made.
I can also do Saturday morning/afternoon events, just as long as I be back at work at 5:00 PM.
I have no class from December 5 until January 11, so working Tuesday mid or Thursday both should not be a problem.
Wrestling??? Geneseo? PIT? Flavin? BNC? STATE?? Girls Bowling state?
GB: Sat, Feb 14
WR State: Sat, Feb 21/28
BNC: I DON't KNOW!!!
Now that I have a few dates set in stone, hopefully it can work out with my work schedule and class schedule. I have no idea when my Chronicle coverage schedule will be for the spring semester.
Here comes the pen and piece of paper.
Current Song - Deacon Blues (Steely Dan)
With all of the fall sports over, I'm going to try to focus on preparing for the Winter season. I'm trying to figure out off days, holiday days, etc. I've already set off the Class 3A and 4A boys basketball state tournament in conjunction with Highland's spring break. I'm taking spring break off of work too. I'm going to Tucson for that week.
I've also set aside the Rock Falls Shootout on January 10.
I've also set aside the first part of the Pekin Tournament after Christmas. However, after a recent look at Boylan's schedule, Coach Goers is actually on pace to break Coach Van Scyoc January 9th against Belvidere (if Boylan wins every game until then). So I'm going to restructure my Christmas schedule.
(Live action blog entry begins)
Erie's final day is Tuesday, December 30. It's a tournament I've gone to the past two years. Tuesday is also I day I normally get off.
Now I'm trying to find an after-Christmas tournament that does not end on the 30th.
Chuck Dayton ends on Saturday, December 27.
Dvorak is Tuesday, December 23.
Polo girls: Saturday, December 20.
Ottawa girls: Monday, December 22.
LTC Boys: Friday, February 6, 2009
West Carroll: Saturday, January 24
I think that's enough days to request off this winter. The rest of the open dates may just stem off of Sterling/RF-area and Freeport area events. If I want to go to an event after class, I have to leave at 6:00 PM from Freeport. I prefer 7:00 arrival times to events. Anywhere within 1:15 from Freeport will work for me on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I shouldn't really do any requests for Mid-Shift the rest of this Calendar year. If I request a mid-shift worktime, chances are it's for an event which is good based on team performances.
Off of work at 6:00 PM to a 7:00 arrival: I can get from Sterling to Dakota in an hour. I can make it to the I-80 area between Geneseo and Spring Valley in an hour. Rochelle and Indian Creek are one-hour drives. It makes a box with the sides being the Mississippi, US 20, and I-80 and 39. If I have to venture anywhere outside of this "box" I have to request a whole day off or go on a day off. I can't make it to the Rockford or Quad City schools in that span unless I leave work by 5:30, which means a 4:00 off time.
Out of class at 6:00 PM for a 7:00 arrival: Galena, Sterling and Belvidere (maybe) can be made. Stillman Valley and Savanna can also be made. Rochelle and Morrison cannot be made.
I can also do Saturday morning/afternoon events, just as long as I be back at work at 5:00 PM.
I have no class from December 5 until January 11, so working Tuesday mid or Thursday both should not be a problem.
Wrestling??? Geneseo? PIT? Flavin? BNC? STATE?? Girls Bowling state?
GB: Sat, Feb 14
WR State: Sat, Feb 21/28
BNC: I DON't KNOW!!!
Now that I have a few dates set in stone, hopefully it can work out with my work schedule and class schedule. I have no idea when my Chronicle coverage schedule will be for the spring semester.
Here comes the pen and piece of paper.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Evolution of a Backfiring Column
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.42.11
Current Song - After the Love is Gone (Earth, Wind and Fire)
The Evolution of a Backfiring Column
Cody’s Note: This was a draft I wrote about the absence of an area team from the football state finals. I wrote the piece, and then I had differences. The piece I was going to write was scrapped, but still kind of presents an argument.
I’m usually good at research. If I wasn’t, I would have been named one of the site authors of Illinois High School Glory Days.
After Milledgeville, Oregon and Richmond-Burton fell in the football semifinals I decided to do some research. I was trying to figure out when was the last time one of my coverage teams did NOT make it to the state tournament.
The problem lies with my definition of “area.”
When I started Northern Illinois Sports Beat in 2004, I carried over coverage schools from NCIpreps and expanded on that by touching the “borders” of EdgyTim.com and the Peoria Journal Star message board. A couple of years later, there was a certain chunk of schools that I never bothered to cover.
In the summer of 2006 I decided to cut the following schools from my coverage area: Aledo, Alexis United, Henry-Senachwine, Joy Westmer, Knoxville, Monmouth-Roseville, Rockridge, ROWVA, Sherrard and Stark County. Huntley and Johnsburg were also cut from the eastern border.
Because the NCIC is NISB’s base conference (having been inherited from NCIpreps), any new NCIC school is automatically added into the “area”. IVC was added and Morris will be added.
Are you confused already?
Maybe my dud of a column will straighten things up.
------
Another Northern Illinois Goose Egg
Last year, none of our area boys basketball teams competed at Carver Arena in Peoria. This year, none of our area football teams will compete at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. There’s not a plague going around here, but this came as a total shock.
It saddened me last year seeing Eastland, West Carroll and Sterling all crumble before my very eyes at NIU’s Convocation Center during last year’s boys basketball Super Sectionals in mind-March. All three teams lost the same way: horribly slow starts.
Fast forward eight months later: Milledgeville, Oregon and Richmond-Burton are one step away from going to the state football tournament. There are usually at least two teams from the area that head to Memorial every year. There was a good chance that all three of these teams could make it. Milledgeville was ranked No. 1 for half of the season, Oregon was playing down a class than normal, and Richmond-Burton succeeded as underdogs three times during the playoffs.
All three teams were sent packing within a one-hour span.
Stark County comes back from being down 18-0 to win a tight one at Floyd Daub Field by the score of 27-24 over Milledgeville.
Oregon, who led 23-6 during the third quarter, succumbs to a huge Illini West comeback and falls 27-23.
Richmond-Burton’s magic didn’t work against Aurora Christian, who beat the Rockets 29-20.
Two of the three games had the same dramatics. Damn déjà vu! The three teams have nothing to hang their heads about, nor do all of the other great football teams and stories of this season. My continued success goes out to all of the seniors who plan on playing in college, and to the kids who have one, two or three more years to improve on this year.
As a sportswriter who covers northern Illinois high school athletics (no other writer can claim to have East Dubuque, Harvard, Galesburg, and soon-to-be Morris in their coverage area), I feel horribly bummed. I feel bad for the kids in the area that have worked their butts off.
Some say the expanded class system was to blame for the area basketball goose egg, but there has been no expansion in football since 2001. Our teams got beat by better teams. Stark County comes from one of the toughest divisions in small school football: the West Prairie Trail Northwest. Elmhurst Immaculate Conception comes from one of the toughest conferences in the state: the Suburban Catholic. Illini West has been crushing opponents all year. Aurora Christian beat Driscoll. From Class 5A on up, our area is out resourced a ton. That’s just the way the pairings worked out, which is something to not argue about.
Last year’s boys basketball void was the first time since 1980-81 that an area team was not represented. Sterling Newman and DePue tried, but came up short in super-sectional action.
----------
Everything was going okay, until I expanded upon the above pargraph:
“Never in the history of the IHSA Football Championship Series has a team from the immediate and fringe area NOT made it to state. This year is the first year an “immediate area” team has not made it to state.
It is important for me to note that the NISB coverage area has changed since the site’s inception in 2004. Schools had been dropped (Alexis United, Rockridge, Stark County, Aledo, Monmouth) and added (Morris, IVC and possibly a future NCIC school from outside the area). Those “dropped” are considered “fringe area” which is close to the “immediate area.” In researching this fact, I have decided to honor fringe schools until their 2006 “drop” and new schools starting with join date (IVC 2006, Morris 2009).”
The above paragraph was italicized, asterisked, de-italicized, de-asterisked, and rewritten in ten different forms before I settled on this.
The point I was getting to was that of the teams I cover now, none went to state. If I had kept those cut schools, this wouldn’t be the case. If I kept Stark County, I wouldn’t have even written this piece.
I guess I’ll settle for this short sentence:
“For the first time since I started NISB in 2004, none of my area teams made it to state.”
Current Song - After the Love is Gone (Earth, Wind and Fire)
The Evolution of a Backfiring Column
Cody’s Note: This was a draft I wrote about the absence of an area team from the football state finals. I wrote the piece, and then I had differences. The piece I was going to write was scrapped, but still kind of presents an argument.
I’m usually good at research. If I wasn’t, I would have been named one of the site authors of Illinois High School Glory Days.
After Milledgeville, Oregon and Richmond-Burton fell in the football semifinals I decided to do some research. I was trying to figure out when was the last time one of my coverage teams did NOT make it to the state tournament.
The problem lies with my definition of “area.”
When I started Northern Illinois Sports Beat in 2004, I carried over coverage schools from NCIpreps and expanded on that by touching the “borders” of EdgyTim.com and the Peoria Journal Star message board. A couple of years later, there was a certain chunk of schools that I never bothered to cover.
In the summer of 2006 I decided to cut the following schools from my coverage area: Aledo, Alexis United, Henry-Senachwine, Joy Westmer, Knoxville, Monmouth-Roseville, Rockridge, ROWVA, Sherrard and Stark County. Huntley and Johnsburg were also cut from the eastern border.
Because the NCIC is NISB’s base conference (having been inherited from NCIpreps), any new NCIC school is automatically added into the “area”. IVC was added and Morris will be added.
Are you confused already?
Maybe my dud of a column will straighten things up.
------
Another Northern Illinois Goose Egg
Last year, none of our area boys basketball teams competed at Carver Arena in Peoria. This year, none of our area football teams will compete at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. There’s not a plague going around here, but this came as a total shock.
It saddened me last year seeing Eastland, West Carroll and Sterling all crumble before my very eyes at NIU’s Convocation Center during last year’s boys basketball Super Sectionals in mind-March. All three teams lost the same way: horribly slow starts.
Fast forward eight months later: Milledgeville, Oregon and Richmond-Burton are one step away from going to the state football tournament. There are usually at least two teams from the area that head to Memorial every year. There was a good chance that all three of these teams could make it. Milledgeville was ranked No. 1 for half of the season, Oregon was playing down a class than normal, and Richmond-Burton succeeded as underdogs three times during the playoffs.
All three teams were sent packing within a one-hour span.
Stark County comes back from being down 18-0 to win a tight one at Floyd Daub Field by the score of 27-24 over Milledgeville.
Oregon, who led 23-6 during the third quarter, succumbs to a huge Illini West comeback and falls 27-23.
Richmond-Burton’s magic didn’t work against Aurora Christian, who beat the Rockets 29-20.
Two of the three games had the same dramatics. Damn déjà vu! The three teams have nothing to hang their heads about, nor do all of the other great football teams and stories of this season. My continued success goes out to all of the seniors who plan on playing in college, and to the kids who have one, two or three more years to improve on this year.
As a sportswriter who covers northern Illinois high school athletics (no other writer can claim to have East Dubuque, Harvard, Galesburg, and soon-to-be Morris in their coverage area), I feel horribly bummed. I feel bad for the kids in the area that have worked their butts off.
Some say the expanded class system was to blame for the area basketball goose egg, but there has been no expansion in football since 2001. Our teams got beat by better teams. Stark County comes from one of the toughest divisions in small school football: the West Prairie Trail Northwest. Elmhurst Immaculate Conception comes from one of the toughest conferences in the state: the Suburban Catholic. Illini West has been crushing opponents all year. Aurora Christian beat Driscoll. From Class 5A on up, our area is out resourced a ton. That’s just the way the pairings worked out, which is something to not argue about.
Last year’s boys basketball void was the first time since 1980-81 that an area team was not represented. Sterling Newman and DePue tried, but came up short in super-sectional action.
----------
Everything was going okay, until I expanded upon the above pargraph:
“Never in the history of the IHSA Football Championship Series has a team from the immediate and fringe area NOT made it to state. This year is the first year an “immediate area” team has not made it to state.
It is important for me to note that the NISB coverage area has changed since the site’s inception in 2004. Schools had been dropped (Alexis United, Rockridge, Stark County, Aledo, Monmouth) and added (Morris, IVC and possibly a future NCIC school from outside the area). Those “dropped” are considered “fringe area” which is close to the “immediate area.” In researching this fact, I have decided to honor fringe schools until their 2006 “drop” and new schools starting with join date (IVC 2006, Morris 2009).”
The above paragraph was italicized, asterisked, de-italicized, de-asterisked, and rewritten in ten different forms before I settled on this.
The point I was getting to was that of the teams I cover now, none went to state. If I had kept those cut schools, this wouldn’t be the case. If I kept Stark County, I wouldn’t have even written this piece.
I guess I’ll settle for this short sentence:
“For the first time since I started NISB in 2004, none of my area teams made it to state.”
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Headache
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.02.11
Current Song - Open Your Eyes (Doobie Brothers)
I've got a terrible headache. It started when I was doing some dramatics and it felt as if I pulled a muscle in my jaw. The pain has somewhat moved to behind my right ear. I'm working straight until Sunday night, too. However, I'll be alright.
I don't have too much planned for NISB stuff. I would like to get an Obs/Preview piece on the football semifinals going. Plus, I have another NCIC Lincoln column to write up.
Current Song - Open Your Eyes (Doobie Brothers)
I've got a terrible headache. It started when I was doing some dramatics and it felt as if I pulled a muscle in my jaw. The pain has somewhat moved to behind my right ear. I'm working straight until Sunday night, too. However, I'll be alright.
I don't have too much planned for NISB stuff. I would like to get an Obs/Preview piece on the football semifinals going. Plus, I have another NCIC Lincoln column to write up.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Fixed!
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.81.11
Current Song - Steamer Lane Breakdown (Doobie Brothers)
GeoCities got my site fixed, so I can go back to normal with site updating. Which is good because I was able to get my Kewanee column uploaded.
The more I think of it, I'm more of a column guy. I can keep crafting my talent in this regard, and may be able to get the concept sold.
Let's see: I've got Milledgeville-Stark County on Saturday afternoon. Friday morning I'm headed to Milledgeville, if they beat SC, to do some looting. I'm just kidding. I just want to see how dry the town is.
Current Song - Steamer Lane Breakdown (Doobie Brothers)
GeoCities got my site fixed, so I can go back to normal with site updating. Which is good because I was able to get my Kewanee column uploaded.
The more I think of it, I'm more of a column guy. I can keep crafting my talent in this regard, and may be able to get the concept sold.
Let's see: I've got Milledgeville-Stark County on Saturday afternoon. Friday morning I'm headed to Milledgeville, if they beat SC, to do some looting. I'm just kidding. I just want to see how dry the town is.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Design Screwup, and not just that
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.41.11
Current Song - He's So Shy (Pointer Sisters)
The front page of Northern Illinois Sports Beat looks like crap. I don't know what the problem is other than the pictures won't come up and the background is not there. So the "classic" red background is up for now. On my interactive drawing board (where I actually make the changes) the "link," "picture," and "save" buttons will not work. I contacted GeoCities about this problem yesterday and I haven't had a response back yet.
I'm hoping there are people I know that run the Free Geocities setup that have the same problem, only to make me feel as if it's not a problem of my own. I'm thinking this is a GeoCities problem because I run two Geocities websites (northernillinoissportsbeat & shs42886). Both are showing the same problem.
I can't put up any stories. It kind of sucks because I have a lot of things to put on it.
So I'm dead in the water for now.
UPDATE: I can save pages, but they look crappy. Plus, this is a Geocities problem.
Yesterday I found out someone who I like very much has a boyfriend. Back to the drawing board.
Current Song - He's So Shy (Pointer Sisters)
The front page of Northern Illinois Sports Beat looks like crap. I don't know what the problem is other than the pictures won't come up and the background is not there. So the "classic" red background is up for now. On my interactive drawing board (where I actually make the changes) the "link," "picture," and "save" buttons will not work. I contacted GeoCities about this problem yesterday and I haven't had a response back yet.
I'm hoping there are people I know that run the Free Geocities setup that have the same problem, only to make me feel as if it's not a problem of my own. I'm thinking this is a GeoCities problem because I run two Geocities websites (northernillinoissportsbeat & shs42886). Both are showing the same problem.
I can't put up any stories. It kind of sucks because I have a lot of things to put on it.
So I'm dead in the water for now.
UPDATE: I can save pages, but they look crappy. Plus, this is a Geocities problem.
Yesterday I found out someone who I like very much has a boyfriend. Back to the drawing board.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Mental notes to myself
Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.60.11
Current Song - Dependin' On You (The Doobie Brothers)
I'm at the lab without a pen and paper.
Write round 2 preview tonight.
Jot down Norman quotes Friday afternoon.
Polo/North fulton Saturday afternoon
write up Sunday afternoon
Obama column
Dave mitchell column
Current Song - Dependin' On You (The Doobie Brothers)
I'm at the lab without a pen and paper.
Write round 2 preview tonight.
Jot down Norman quotes Friday afternoon.
Polo/North fulton Saturday afternoon
write up Sunday afternoon
Obama column
Dave mitchell column
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