Personal Thoughts/Observations from N KY

Haven't blogged in awhile.

2011-09-02T11:19:00.001-04:00

Has it really been that long since I blogged last on here? Wow, I'm a bad blogger haha :)

So, let's catch you all up. I turned 26 on August 19th. It was a great weekend, with fun, family and friends, not necessarily in this order. I even tried my first beer. You see, I'd honestly never drank before. It was just not exactly appealing to me. After one Coors Light, I was done. No more for a year for me. Not till I turn 27, anyway.

I went to Los Angeles, California June 26-29 for the annual Spina Bifida Association conference. Actually, it was Anaheim, but close enough. (Right?) While there, I did not have the fortune to experience a good old California temblor, but little did I know that just last week, Cincinnati would be rocked by a 5.8 quake that hit Virginia! THAT was interesting. And I found out that I hate standby flying. I will NEVER do that again. 12 hours in the terminal at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport just killed my back the day I flew out, and I never fully recovered the rest of that week! I loved L.A., though and if I had a chance, I'd probably move there, if I could get past mentally adjusting to earthquakes! HA!

Other than that, I really have not done much since January, when a personal situation set in motion a series of events that still affect me today, even though the original situation is now over. (Long, run-on sentence, I know.)

Oh, one more HUGE piece of news. In February, I found out I would be an uncle once again. Shaelynn Marie Robbins will be welcomed into the world by my sister, Truly Moses and her boyfriend, Nick Robbins on Tuesday morning! I'll see if I can get a picture up here on the blog Wednesday night, but no promises.

Okay, I think this catches everybody up. I'll check back Tuesday or Wednesday. Happy Labor Day to everyone in the good old United States of America!

-Jeremy

Temporary change

2011-02-19T03:16:00.001-05:00

Until twitter gets things together with regards to the apparent spam attacks, I am protecting my tweets. In order to prevent this from wreaking havoc on the blog page, I am removing the normal twitter widget from the blog. I apologize for the minor inconvenience.

Returning to the Blogger Blog-o-sphere

2011-02-13T00:34:00.003-05:00

I have returned to Blogger, but with a few things having changed:

1) Some of you may notice that I'm no longer associated, at least as a writer, with Tri-State Media Watch. Due to circumstances that occurred in late January that I have been advised NOT to discuss publicly, I've handed that over to Cindy Detro, a friend of mine from Circleville, Ohio and her boyfriend Jerry Jicha. And it's been moved to the Wordpress platform, which works better for them. (Both Cindy and Jerry are blind, and use screen reader software to do just about anything on a computer.)

2) Slightly related: If I was following you via the FORMER TSMW profile, and I don't follow you on this one, please let me know. (I know of a few of you since you're linked at right and after this post I'll be re-following.)

3) My YouTube posts will return soon, and I may post them here as well.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

So, the YouTube Re-Do

2010-05-25T00:35:00.003-04:00

UPDATE Within the Update: I went and looked at what I'm using now. It turns out, no wonder my playback sucks... I'm using ONLY 64 MB of video memory. YIKES. In today's world, obviously, that's unacceptable. So, next week, it's Micro Center for me - and a new Video Card along with 512 MB of RAM.

If you recall, a few weeks back I announced the re-launch of my YouTube channel. An update on that...

It has gone okay. Not great, but okay. Eventually I plan to try to make a little bit of cash off of it...but for now, I'm content limiting it to just a few friends.

But there's been two or three snags.

The first problem is, I'm having issues with my Flip Ultra camera. If you happen to have me as a facebook friend, you know that last Thursday, I turned it on to find pixelation and a green screen. Luckily for me, it's under warranty from the manufacturer, and I am going to be allowed to send it to them for a replacement, as it appears now.

The second problem is, my computer simply is not powerful enough to render High Definition quickly (as in, taking less than 12 hours!). That problem, I plan to partially solve sometime this week. The plan is to get myself some more RAM, raising the RAM I have on the current setup to about a gigabyte. Maybe 2 GB will be in the future, and along with that will be (probably for Christmas) a new video card. But for now, I'll stop at a GB and see where that gets me.

Bottom line, until the new Flip Ultra arrives, there's no way I can do new content. Maybe "WWYT" but not "Adventures of J Mo", production of which has to be suspended until I HAVE that Flip Ultra. :( So, the next "WWYT" MAY arrive Friday morning - but no "Adventures" until at earliest next week.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

What's Up In My World

2010-05-04T04:10:00.004-04:00

Hey guys and gals,

Just wanted to give you guys the quick update as to what's on the way on Youtube.com/JMos22 and what's up in my life... here it is in bullet form:

-- New "Adventures of J. Mo" video went live around 5:45 AM yesterday morning. You can click here to watch that.

-- New Opinion Show Update: After I recorded that, I sat down to come up with the new opinion show. I have the name (What Were You Thinking with J. Mo). I have the setting (the kitchen table at home). I just don't have the topic for this week or the open to the show ready yet. I'll probably tape weekday mornings before 10 AM. This way I can take advantage of nearly everyone being asleep.

-- Other, personal stuff: For right now, most everything is good. I get my new wheelchair fairly soon. This I am pleased about... as I am ready to get the hell OUT of the old. Wanna know what the new one looks like? Okay but keep in mind this is NOT the exact chair...although pretty close.

This is the A4. It will be able to withstand EVERYTHING life in Cincinnati can throw at it. City, grass, gravel...everything. And did I mention it will be BIGGER than my old one? Yep... bigger in that my frame will fit in ITS frame. YES!!!

So, that is what's up in my world. And by the way - if you have topic ideas for the new "What Were You Thinking" - shoot them to me! I'd love to use a blogger-submitted topic!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Two New Web Shows

2010-04-30T14:17:00.002-04:00

And now for an announcement of something totally different...

I decided this week that I would re-launch my old YouTube channel. I'm doing it in phases. Phase one was the upload of the first episode of my first regular series called "The Adventures of J. Mo". It'll be uploaded at least two times a week.

Phase two is in progress...and involves a total revamp of the channel page itself. I'm trying to work on a design now that will capture what this channel is about...which is my "vlog". I'm no professional - not at videography or photography. But I do my best. I think it's going to be cool.

Phase three involves a second new program that will launch next week. The tentative working title is "The World According to Jeremy". It'll be my opinions on a number of subjects... it could be a local news story, it could be something that happened nationally, or it could just be a random topic. Again, that phase will launch sometime next week, probably on Wednesday.

So, that's my plans. Stay tuned, and keep an eye on my Twitter feed (top right of this page) for updates, including when I post new videos...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Twitter

2010-04-27T05:44:00.003-04:00

I apologize to those who had issues with the twitter authentication.

There were some personal issues that had to be dealt with that resulted in a temporary need to protect tweets. All should be back as it was.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

A quick note

2010-04-12T17:43:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted for a month...I know, bad blogger lol...

There's been a lot going on recently. So much that blogging has kinda taken a back seat.

Rest assured this space isn't going anywhere. I will be back to it asap... I just have a lot to deal with.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Happy Birthday Andrew!

2010-03-12T04:02:00.007-05:00

This one is really hard to believe - but believe, I have to. Today is my brother Andrew Herald's 19th birthday. Here he is with my niece, Novelei.

Here he is with me while we were on the Carnival Fun Ship Inspiration in 2004.

And I'm not sure when this was taken. I have to believe it's in the last couple years - but I lifted this one off my stepdad's myspace.

Notice that no matter what, in the last few years, his hair hasn't changed one bit. Come to think of it, I think he's had the same hairstyle for the last ten years. Heh.

I'm just kidding of course...he's my brother, he might get on my nerves, but he's family and I love my family.

Happy birthday bro...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

My Morning Show Experiences from the Past

2010-03-11T07:00:00.007-05:00

I mentioned in the last post (I'm cranking this out now, so I can go try and get a couple or three hours sleep) that I know how the local TV stations' morning show staff manages to get up and do their jobs in the morning.

I wanted to split this off into its own post, so here we go.

Back in 2000, my bladder exploded and I went into septic shock. I was literally on the edge of death. At the time, the man I trusted when it came to getting my local weather (seeing as I had little to no experience with forecasting myself) was Steve Horstmeyer, who at this time was the morning meteorologist for the CBS station here. That's WKRC-TV 12 in Cincinnati. And for the record, he's now with WXIX 19 which is the FOX network affiliate, still in Cincinnati, and is their chief meteorologist. And I STILL turn to him sometimes - heck, it's hard not to when he has 30+ years of experience!

He comes into this story early on for a reason. Somehow, someway, someone got word to Steve that a fan of his was in the hospital fighting for life. (That would be yours truly. I still don't know who told him.) He came to the hospital to see me. Mind you, he'd just done an 8 hour shift, and I think was headed home, but stopped to see me at Cincinnati Children's. We discussed the weather, and he gave me some weather maps like he uses to predict the weather (these were printed, by the way...and I should say we TRIED to discuss the weather. Remember, I'm fighting for life at that time, on pain meds so that the 5 holes, dozens of staples and stitches I had in my body didn't hurt so bad. So I know I was mostly with it, but sort of not.)

Anyway, later that month I visited the WKRC studios and met Mike Buresh, at the time the station's 4 PM meteorologist (he's now with WTEV-TV in Jacksonville, Florida). Which that was very cool.

About one year later, I found out that the station was set to move their morning show (Steve was still doing weather for it) to new digs downtown at the Fifth Third Center (if you haven't figured it out, it's the corporate HQ of Fifth Third Bancorp), on the ground level with windows overlooking Fountain Square.

From September 3rd of 2001 to 2005, I visited those studios on my days off school. Sometimes in the latter year I stopped by to say a quick hello on my way to Northern Kentucky University. Heh. How's that for sneaking a quick chat with friends in?

It was there at the WKRC downtown studio that I realized that you have to be totally and one hundred percent dedicated to get up at 2 AM (when most people are still in bed), go to work from 4:30 AM to 12:30 PM, go home, do what personal business you have to do, and be in bed by around 4:15 PM to get up and do it all over again the next day. And not just that, but to keep that schedule five days a week, and smile while you do it or at least try not to be negative on the air.

Needless to say, from those 4 years I spent being what I guess you'd call Cincinnati's first and only teenage on-air meteorologist, I know what the men and women working the early shift at all four major stations now do. (At the time, that is - there isn't a teenager in town now doing what I was doing on air over-the-airwaves; security has become a number one concern for most stations and I don't blame them. There is at least one teenager who does webcasts - Trevor Cole of Cincyforecast.com. Trev, I threw ya a free plug buddy.) Even if it was only part time when I was off of school, I realized that yes, I could do it with a) the proper schooling and b) discipline once I did land a job in broadcasting. What I learned was these two points in summary:

1) Be one hundred percent DEDICATED to your job if you're considering an early shift as an on-air personality.
2) Be sure that you have a LOT of caffeinated beverages on hand to keep you awake when you're broadcasting!

So that's my experience as, like I said, Cincinnati's ONLY teenage on-air broadcast weatherman. Those four years I spent around that team were really good years.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Part Media, Part Personal Blog.

2010-03-11T06:49:00.002-05:00

It's time for one of those things we like to call an introduction.

The morning show folks at WXIX-TV 19 here in town have started a blog. It's been going awhile now, and I've debated whether to throw this one on here, or on Tri-State Media Watch.

After much careful thought, I've decided it belongs here, mostly because it's good personal insight from some of the hardest working folks in town. Talk about dedication - it takes a LOT of dedication to get up at the crack of 2 AM to go to work. These people have it. (Well, it takes that, AND a load of caffeine. But mostly the dedication.) How I know this...well I'll save that for my next post.

Back to the introduction...you'll read about everything from vacations (like this morning's post from their morning meteorologist) to some favorite hangout spots to some of the cool things that they do for our community.

You can read the FOX 19 Morning News team's blog right here.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Another Year, Another One From Boone County High Gone.

2010-02-28T19:47:00.003-05:00

*Sigh*

Where do I start?

Last year, you may remember, one of Boone County's own, Laura Chaney, died suddenly at Western Kentucky University at just 18 years old. I attended the visitation for her on May 15.

Today, I went to yet another visitation, for yet another member of the Boone County High School community, taken very young.

Adam D. Peak, 25, was killed one week ago today by an Improvised Explosive Device while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, had graduated from Boone in 2002, but went to college before enlisting in the Marines. Today was the visitation at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, from which Adam had graduated in 2006.

By all accounts, including my own, Adam was a fine young man. Nobody had anything bad they could say about him. When I later heard he was enlisting in the Marines, I knew that he'd felt the call to serve his nation.

Little did I know he would die doing just that.

If you'd like to help and you have a Fifth Third Bank branch anywhere near you, you can make a donation to the LCPL Adam Peak Scholarship Fund.

May Adam Daniel Peak rest in peace. And...as a child of a vet... I say "Good job, soldier. Welcome home."

8/30/1984-2/21/2010

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Better Late than Not At All

2010-02-23T05:06:00.008-05:00

I'm not sure if many of you saw it, or who among you, my reader base, reads Vanity Fair.

But, an article in the most recent issue about the Creation Museum here in Boone County, KY has sparked a LOT of backlash against its author, A.A. Gill. Let's put the museum aside for this one. I'm not here to debate anybody about spiritual beliefs, whether you have any or not. But I'll be a monkey's uncle if I'll let someone who only saw one little piece of my hometown degrade it and more or less dismiss it. (Note: I'm well aware that he's more or less defended what he wrote - with even more scathing remarks about those of us who chose to step to the defense of our fair city.)

Here, let me quote you some of what he wrote:

"It’s not in the nature of stoic Cincinnatians to boast, which is fortunate, really, for they have meager pickings to boast about. They could, though, if they were the bragging sort, brag about a quaint old optician’s shop that will make you a new pair of spectacles in an hour—by chance I am both shortsighted and had an hour to spare."

Oh, really, Mr. Gill??

I can list about a half dozen places that have some sort of significance in this town, be it artistic (Music Hall, Art Museum, Aronoff Center), historical (Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, several Presidential homes/birthplaces), amusement (Kings Island, The Beach Waterpark, two sports stadiums and I don't know how many places to shop if one desires to do so), what have you. Hell, I'd even brag about some of the best eats in town (Graeter's, Montgomery Inn, LaRosa's).

I more or less just did that, as a matter of fact - but chances are, if you've spent more than 1 day here, you know what's here to do and see.

I take issue with the fact that Mr. Gill, along with Paul Bettany, only spent ONE DAY here - heck, maybe not even THAT, got ONE QUOTE from ONE PERSON, and called their observations good.

My friends, they hadn't even STARTED to look around! You can't judge a book by its cover - and you can't judge a place by talking to one person.

No, you need to go to SEVERAL areas of town, not just one or two. Hell, spend a whole WEEK here.

In almost 25 years, I'll be honest... my opinion of this town has changed more than once. Are there things I'd change? Sure - decrease the crime rate and make sure people like myself can get around when 23" of snow falls in 16 days, and I'd be a happy man. Have I wanted to move away? Sure - but in the end, I'd become homesick and I know it. As the Rehab song says, "This town is my home/it's deep in my soul".

You know what? There isn't a perfect place on this planet. I'd like to think Cincinnati is pretty damn close to it, however. Where else can you see a Broadway play on Monday, have some drinks on a Wednesday night, go to a concert or some big event on Friday, and then go to a charity event the next night, and see a lot of the same people while doing it all?? I guarantee you won't find that in New York City. (And by the way, Mr. Gill, some people from the New York Times came here not all that long ago. They sure as hell found a lot of positives about Cincinnati... and they spent 36 hours here!)

The next time a magazine editor like Mr. Gill, or even Mr. Gill himself come back to town, I'd love to see him spend more than one day in Cincinnati. I guarantee you his opinion would change pretty damned quick.

Just one 24 year old NATIVE CINCINNATIAN's opinion.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Prayers for Cliff

2010-02-19T23:51:00.001-05:00

Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas fame is asking for prayers on a possible lead on employment. Here's what he posted in its entirety:

I have already shared this on Facebook, so I thought I would share this here.

The place in which I applied in Medina yesterday, called me this afternoon, asking to set up a job interview this coming Monday at 10:30am, Eastern time.

I need prayers, well wishes, and guidance for this.

Please lift him up... they really need this to go well!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Wow... snowstorm!

2010-02-06T17:49:00.002-05:00

What a MESS!

Yesterday I was in Dayton, Ohio. The snow was NUTS up there, they received 10" as of 4 PM this afternoon and I have about 6" here in Florence. I am transferring a few pictures from my cell phone to my computer and I'll share them shortly.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

In Which I DON'T Do What My Head Wants Me To

2010-01-05T23:42:00.000-05:00

I just got home from church. It is in that spirit that I write this blog to a former gf of mine.

S (yes, that's what I'm calling her) broke up with me today, saying she didn't want to cause trauma to her little girl. I place no blame on this little girl (she's TWO). I wanted to write a blog in which I basically screamed, hooped and hollared against S and the fact that I didn't see the breakup coming.

But I won't.

Instead, I will take the high road and wish her the best of luck with her future.

I'm proud to say that even though I'm still angry over how it happened...I was raised better than that.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

I Received a 2009 Top Banana!

2010-01-04T11:35:00.004-05:00

Cliff has graciously awarded me my second Top Banana! Here's what Cliff has to say about me...

Now I have to head south and cross the Ohio River and give the I'm Blogging on the Web Near Cincinnati Top Banana. This one goes to Jeremy of Personal Thoughts/Observations fame. Jeremy is a good prayer partner and a fellow media geek. He has had his share of challenges, but faces them with a healthy attitude.

The Top Banana Awards are designed to do two things:

A) Show Cliff's appreciation for the friendship his blogging friends provide, and
B) Introduce the bloggers to new friends.

So, with that, I accept the award and encourage you folks to visit Cliff, and see the other awards he's given out to other bloggers!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Pray for Cliff

2009-12-31T18:38:00.002-05:00

Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas fame just received a layoff notice this morning. He and his wonderful wife do not need this at all, not after two lousy years.

Makes my knee problems pale in comparison.

Keep Cliff and Kathy in your prayers.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

An Update on Last Week's Prayer Request

2009-12-31T07:15:00.004-05:00

This is an update to the prayer request I posted last week.

Alicia's uncle has improved, albeit slightly. He had his breathing tube removed yesterday. She says his vital signs are holding steady and he's breathing and talking. (UPDATE 9:08 AM: He's also able to eat, she tells me in an email this morning.) He's still got a very damaged heart and is still on the heart transplant list right now. Continue to pray for Bill Shults and for all of Alicia's family, as you have been doing.

Also, pray for me...I have messed up my right leg but we're not sure how bad yet. I took a headfirst tumble down a flight of stairs downtown yesterday.

Oh, and happy New Year... Good riddance 2009. (Never thought I'd be so glad to see 2009 go...)

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Prayer Request for a Friend

2009-12-26T20:55:00.002-05:00

I just got this email from a longtime friend of mine. Alisha Pratt is someone I have gone to church with for years. Her family is unfortunately hitting some hard times and so she sent this email.

"Good evening all! I hope that each of you have enjoyed your Christmas and that you got a chance to celebrate with the ones you love. I wish I was writing just to say Merry Christmas but I am also writing to ask that you remember my uncle (Bill Shults)
in your thoughts and prayers."

"Christmas Eve my aunt called 911 because he was unable to breathe. My uncle has been on the heart transplant list for years, has a defibulator and pacemaker and over half his heart muscle is dead, the past few months his health has declined rapidly. Upon getting to the hospital he was immediately sent to ICU and put on a bipap ventilator and in the past two days made no progress, they said that he is in congestive heart failure and are trying to treat it. Today he has slept most of the the day and has really struggled to move air. Please also keep the doctors and nurses that are taking care of him in your prayers as well as he is quite complex right now."

"My uncles wife Vicki is not healthy herself, they have a 13 year old Autistic son and 33 year old mental handicapped daughter - please keep them in your prayers as well as they are struggling with my uncle being so sick."

"Thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers. I'll keep you update as I know more the next few days.
Love you!
Alisha"

This request speaks for itself so I now lift it to Jesus and ask you kind folks to join me.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T07:12:00.002-05:00

From This Space to my readers nation- and worldwide, MERRY CHRISTMAS! This is a short post, but, there hasn't been much time to update recently...a full update tomorrow, and I'll try to do a special Saturday Freestyle, too...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Freestyle for Friday, December 11

2009-12-11T00:47:00.002-05:00

Here we are, back again
J-Mo is back and writin and stylin
Let's see what's going on
It's been a rough while

Mom is doing better now
This is good news
Let's hope she stays healthy
I need her round for awhile

Got the Christmas stuff done
Feeling less stressed
Dad's present just got here
Can't wait to give it to him

Went down to the Ville this past week
By this I mean Louisville
It wasn't all that bad
But could do without the wind

I think that is it
My brain, it's all emptied
I'll get back to you soon
Stay warm and blessed

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Trip to Louisville

2009-12-10T16:02:00.004-05:00

Here's the promised recap of the quick trip I took to Louisville, KY yesterday.

I left my house at 8:00 yesterday morning, in order to make an 11 AM bus to the "Possibility City" (yes, that's one of Louisville's nicknames). After boarding the bus (which was full), we set out for the 107 mile trip down Interstate 71.

Right out of the gate, the winds were gusty as predicted by John Gumm and others, including myself. Sustained winds were between 25 and 40 mph when we left at 11:05 AM. Gusts were higher than that and the bus showed it on the way down. Immediately after we hit Interstate 75, the bus started to get bumped around. It went left, it went right...it pretty much did anything BUT go straight the entire way down to Louisville. I can't blame the driver for that...but I now have my threshold for high winds and bus trips aboard the Greyhound at 40 miles per hour. Any higher than that and it scares me.

As I traveled, I began encountering damage ranging from tree limbs to entire trees down. I didn't see much property damage, but there were some areas that had some damage.

I arrived in Louisville around 12:50 PM, and set right down to business...which was really pleasure. I had planned to head down to Jefferson Mall on the south side of town. But...it immediately became crystal clear that that was not going to happen. I can tell you this...walking in downtown Louisville was anything BUT easy. At one point in my efforts to find a local National City or PNC ATM (at West Jefferson and 5th Streets), I attempted to go north along Fifth towards Market...and immediately was blown backwards. And by backwards, I literally mean BACKWARDS. I could not get across Jefferson! Good thing is, there was one in the building behind me...the PNC Plaza. I went inside, got a few bucks, then went to the Arby's on Fifth and West Liberty. At this point, winds were now gusting between 50 and 60 mph. Doors became impossible to open from outside if they opened outward. Such was the case the rest of the time I was in Louisville.

But, in another occurrence that ALSO became common the remainder of my day in Louisville, people opened doors for me. This is a great example of Southern hospitality at its finest and really defined my experience in Louisville. It didn't happen often if at all on either end of my trip in Cincinnati (which was a shame), but in Louisville...it was almost second nature to people. I won't forget that.

Finally, it was time to return home. I got back to the Greyhound terminal a little after 2:30, waited until almost 4:00, and then got back on the bus. Unfortunately, the tiedowns wouldn't work on the bus, so I had to hang on tight. Fortunately, I made it back with less bumping, getting home about 8:00. The interesting thing on my way home was that I was able to pick up at least one Louisville radio station (840 WHAS-AM) all the way to Gallatin County - but most faded away before then, somewhere in Carroll County. Even so... 700 WLW was a hard pickup even near the KY Speedway (at least without a ton of static), and I didn't get a full lock on Q102 until Boone County. I would have thought I'd get a good fix on WLW earlier, and I needed info on what was going on back home for when I got there.

All in all, a good trip. I found out my tolerance level for wind, and cold as well. I'll make another trip in Spring...I'll probably stay longer, and do it on a not-so-windy day.

Below: The scene around 11:20 AM EST in Florence, as seen from I-71/75.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Twitter Gadget

2009-12-07T04:15:00.002-05:00

I think the twitter gadget here on Blogger is eating its own face at the moment.

I was trying to put it on the still-new sister blog in the Tri-State Weather/Media/Observations Empire (long name, and it's all tongue in cheek...heh), Tri-State Weather Watch, and... for whatever reason, it wasn't displaying MY weather twitter feed. Instead...I have no clue whose twitter feed it had. (Yes, I still follow weather stuff...and yes, I still do media - who says I need to have just one interest? Heh.)

If you see something go amiss with the feed on this blog (as in, it displays tweets that don't look like they came from me - and you'll know if they aren't bc they won't link back to my personal twitter but to another feed) - let me know about it so I can remove it ASAP.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Witness to a Crash - Car Crash, that is.

2009-12-03T21:00:00.005-05:00

Above: Two Florence firefighters help the female driver of the SUV out of the wreckage following the rollover accident at Dixie Highway and Turfway Road. Courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Below: The scene as I saw it through the lens of the Cricket Phonecam, 3:15 PM this afternoon.

This crash happened around 3 PM this afternoon on Dixie Highway in Florence. You may recognize the location above, as it is depicted in one of the pics in my header.

Yes, the Chevy Blazer you can barely see is on its side. It jackknifed when it clipped the front fender of a Chevy Impala. I was there, in fact sitting in the exact spot where I took the second of the above pics, waiting for a bus when the crash occurred. I was also one of the first bystanders to the scene before EMTs, firemen and police arrived, making what I'm sure was a less than calm 911 call. Dixie Highway had the northbound lanes shut down while crews cleaned up this crash and all traffic used the southbound lanes of Dixie, one lane each way around the crash site.

There were, fortunately, no serious injuries but the SUV, from what I could tell, is heavily damaged from the two impacts, first the rear of it with the front corner of the Impala, then the entire driver's side with the sidewalk.

The police took my statement along with half a dozen other people's, and then I left to head to downtown Cincinnati.

Needless to say, I'm still not feeling good about it.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

I'm glad I put the traffic feed up.

2009-11-30T20:40:00.003-05:00

I am really glad I put up the Feedjit meter.

Over the last 24 hours, I've had hits from:

-- Cincinnati
-- Lebanon, TN
-- Germantown, TN
-- Oklahoma City
-- Terre Haute, IN
-- Akron, OH
-- and Valley City, OH.

No, I'm not going to stalk anyone who visited to find out who they are. In fact, I don't worry about it.

But...the interesting hit came from right here in Florence. Someone, in fact, who searched for MY NAME. (And NO, I know it wasn't me - I still show up as Chatham, Illinois even though I'm NOT in that town.)

That one, I'd like to know who they are. I find it interesting they came here via a google search, and left via my twitter link.

Hmmmm....maybe I WILL stalk that person and find out why they tracked me down...or wanted to.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Added something

2009-11-29T21:25:00.002-05:00

I don't know about some of you, but I like knowing where my visitors came from.

On that note, check out the traffic feed to the right. It shows where visitors to my blog hail from. I know where some of you are - but not every visitor. I am thinking eventually I may move this to TSMW.

Oh and ignore the "Chatham, Illinois" posts. Those are me - but for some reason, any site I visit seems to think I'm in Illinois when...well, I'm not.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Just Over One Year.

2009-11-29T18:45:00.002-05:00

53 weeks ago (that would be November 22, 2008), I began this blog to share the personal side of my life.

I have written blogs of frustration, blogs of joy, blogs of deep thought, blogs of sadness, and even blogs of anger.

But through it all, this blog has been my place to share my world and my perspective on it. I remain committed to sharing my life and my struggle as a 24 year old who has Spina Bifida and writes a fairly successful media blog.

I let the one year anniversary of Tri-State Media Watch slip by without really commenting on it, so as not to seem full of myself. But this blog...I did not want to let its 1 year anniversary slip too far away. (It got far enough away as it is, didn't it?)

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Hallelujah, God Is Good!!!

2009-11-25T16:54:00.003-05:00

This morning, I was thinking Mom would not be able to go home.

Fast forward to tonight, and HALLELUJAH, SHE IS HOME!!!

As stated in an email I sent to many of you on my list, she's not 100 percent out of the woods, she does have two blockages but not serious enough to require stents. But still, she is HOME and resting.

HALLELUJAH! God is SO good, I am so glad she got to come home!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

A Brief Update

2009-11-25T07:34:00.002-05:00

I got word last night as I was leaving to go to my sister's house then to church as far as what is next for my mom.

She will be transferred from St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas to St. Elizabeth South in Edgewood, KY sometime today, and then undergo an angioplasty.

We aren't sure when she would be able to come home - but early thinking is that it won't be today, and is about a 50/50 chance tomorrow. That, of course, assumes no complications from the angioplasty.

Continue keeping us in your dailies today and for the rest of this weekend, that mom will take it easy when she DOES come home.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

URGENT - Mom In Hospital

2009-11-24T14:13:00.003-05:00

UPDATE 3:35 PM 11/24: An EKG was done around 1:30 PM - They have CONFIRMED she is having heart trouble and further testing is to be run this afternoon and evening. Further details will be available through my twitter and/or here on this space as soon as it is possible to do so.

My mom has been taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital Fort Thomas as of 12:30 PM ET. We have no details on what is wrong, only that her doctor has sent her there due to chest pains. She'll be there at least this afternoon and possibly overnight for observation - they want to make double sure she's going to be okay and that it's nothing serious. If all my blog friends would say a LOT of prayers, my family and I would appreciate it.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Feeling Better...Cautiously Optimistic, Anyway

2009-11-24T09:44:00.003-05:00

After a good night's sleep...I feel better.

Yesterday was pretty tough, I will admit. But...after venting my frustrations, my doubts and my fears...I feel a lot better than I have in the last 7 days.

So, I'll move forward, cautiously optimistic that life is going to be better. Thanks everyone for the support which was much needed.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

I Don't Say This Often..

2009-11-23T14:50:00.002-05:00

...but, why me?

Why is it that I'm going through these issues with my spine? The doctor thinks the Harrington rods implanted during my 1998 scoliosis correction are likely the cause of my back pains.

It has gotten to the point this year I am on Flexeril up to 3 times a day to just FUNCTION. Yes, to function, let alone SLEEP.

Again, I do not often say this stuff. You almost never hear me saying "Why Me?". But...knowing I have a spinal column that is LIKELY going straight to you know where is really frustrating as hell.

Maybe I just needed to vent this frustration so I can stop saying "Why Me?", but, I'm just...not sure. No knowledge of what I'll need to do next if the new chair doesn't help the matter. No idea if I'll need more surgery. No clue how bad this is going to get.

God, I hope this winds up getting better very soon. Because if it gets worse, I fear I'll be permanently damaged.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

The Update After the Appointment...Plus Thanks...

2009-11-19T18:47:00.002-05:00

Well, I promised an update, and here it is.

I had my appointment at 2 ET. It went okay. They've put me on Flexeril for my back pains. It's thought that the scoliosis MAY be worsening once again. If you recall, I had my spine straightened in 1998. That won't be known until we figure out if the new chair will help matters.

Speaking of the new chair - I will be going to the Drake Center in Cincinnati sometime this winter for an evaluation. They'll determine what will work best for me in terms of a wheelchair.

Finally, as to my depression, I'll be monitored closely to see what happens with that.

And, they're setting me up with a pulmonary doctor and an adult urologist.

Now, some thanks need to go out to Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas fame as well as Frasypoo (Joyce) of This and That fame and Jen of Unglazed fame for the prayers throughout the afternoon. They were, and remain, much needed at this time.

The hardest part of the week is over. Now...to return to "normal" - if I can call being in pain and yet not depressed "normal"...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

New Doctor, Same Frustrations

2009-11-19T05:17:00.002-05:00

Well...I go to my new Spina Bifida doctor this afternoon around 2. This doctor will be seeing me about every year from now on for Spina Bifida-related care. This is good news, as I've needed a doctor of some kind for the last 3 months thanks to Children's Hospital's sudden change of policy last August with regards to my care.

However...there's a lot of the same frustrations that I've dealt with for the last 3+ months still. I'll list them all here...

1) My headaches continue. I have dealt with headaches for some time. Occasionally, when I go a day or two without caffeine, if I get the standard "bi-weekly" headaches in the midst of that stretch, they get 10 times worse. I'm not kidding about this one.

2) My wheelchair problems. Needless to say, the first thing this doctor is likely to do is take one look at my wheelchair and say, "What are you DOING in something that small?" The problem is...because of the above sudden change by Children's, I was unable to secure a new chair. See where this is going?? Possibly for this reason, but more likely others as well...

3) ...my back continues to give me hell. This week might have been the WORST in terms of my back pain. I literally was screaming at one point on Tuesday night, it was THAT bad. I didn't sleep that night. Because of that...

4) ...my problems with sleep cycle continue. Sure, I'll sleep 8 hours, but...it's never a certainty that that 8 hours occurs at nighttime. I get on track once in a while for a couple days...then something will happen to me and I'll be thrown off. It's frustrating. In fact, I slept from 11 Wednesday morning through most of the day.

Hopefully this doctor can solve at least problems 2 and 3. I'll be even happier if he can solve problem 1. Problem 4...well that might not be so bad once the other two major issues are solved.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Clearing the Brain

2009-11-16T00:44:00.003-05:00

I needed to write something to clear my brain tonight. So, let's see what flows out...and by the way - I had to edit it, my appointment is Thursday. For about 10 seconds that it was published, it said Monday. See what I mean???

This is a little thing
To clear my big brain
Going through a lot right now
And lot runnin through my head

Goin to the doc on Thursday
Not sure what to expect
Is he going to want X-Rays?
Hope my back isn't too messed up

Need to be somewhere else
About 14 hours away
What's going on I dunno
I worry about her a lot

People around me struggling
I ain't gonna lie, it takes a toll
I want to help, but yet, I either
Can't, or am not sure how

I guess what I'm trying to say
Is there's just too much happening around me
I need this world to just STOP
And let me catch my breath!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

What Are You Thinking? - Not Removing Funds Until Too Late

2009-11-14T23:28:00.003-05:00

Here we go with a "What are you thinking" post...for the uninitiated I got this idea from Alex Shebar, who worked at the Enquirer until layoffs earlier this year sent him out the door. He posted several things about local quirks...I started out with the same thing, but for this post, I'm transitioning to a more broad-brush idea.

Recently, I took a trip to a local bar/eating establishment on KY 18 in Florence. (Here's a hint: it features some hot women in distinguishable uniforms.) I was there for lunch with my stepfather and brother on a Tuesday afternoon.

As was my custom, I paid with my credit card when the bill came around and needed settled. I didn't think twice about it, expecting the money would be withdrawn right away, so there would not be an issue with me not knowing how much I had left in the account.

How stupid I was.

Turns out, they did NOT withdraw the funds from the account for 3 days! Big, big problem...I didn't have the funds there by this point (I was short by JUST less than 4 bucks) - and consequently was hit with darn near 40 bucks in overage fees! Boom. I was now 47 bucks in the red.

Luckily, my mom came to the rescue and bailed my fat out of the fire.

But...the fact remains that the money didn't come out of my account for 3 days. Had it come out right away, I would have been a LOT smarter.

I know where I'd have been. Had the funds come out on the 3rd as soon as I spent them, it would have left me with just over $85. I wouldn't have spent much else past that at that point.

Still, the fact that places are ALLOWED to wait up to THREE DAYS before taking funds...it's frustrating. Especially since ATM's take the cash automatically...

Bottom line, to those businesses that wait 3 days or more to take funds out of accounts...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle - Saturday Early Morning Not-so-sleepy J Edition

2009-11-14T05:14:00.003-05:00

It's time now for one more go
The freestyle's back, and it's been awhile
But y'all, that's okay, that's quite alright
We're gonna get this thing started after a long night

Been trying to relax for much of the week
I feel like I'm just getting very weak
But that's probably due to the small chair I'm in
Y'all, don't take it as though I'm complainin'
I wouldn't wish this on any worst enemy

It isn't a picnic for this 24 year old
But y'all, I somehow manage it anyway
Everyone chill, y'all I GOT THIS
It hopefully won't be long before it's licked

Nor'easter went through the eastern coast
My forecasting abilities, of them I shall not boast
I didn't do that great calling the track
But that's alright, I'll learn as I look back

Listenin to early morning music on the Q
Good mix to get this Saturday AM goin'
Thought I heard Holly'll be at the mall later
If she is, there I'm definitely headin'

So, I just thought I'd throw out this random thing
Don't have a lot, for sure no real bling
But I'll be back in 7 days, till then stay blessed
Don't even trip, y'all, don't be stressed

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Two Dollar Bills...I've Never Seen One Till Now.

2009-11-11T19:05:00.003-05:00

I was at church yesterday evening, and was playing Wii Bowling. I had played 2 or three practice games when I was approached by Jonathan Kirk, one of the other guys in the young adults ministry. He wanted to challenge me to a game.

Of course, I accepted the challenge. He then raised the stakes as we got started with a 2 dollar bill up for grabs to the winner of the game.

I soundly defeated him, 204-132 (or somewhere in that neighborhood anyway), and he paid up.

I've never seen a $2 bill before...so I took these pictures.

I'm hesitant to spend it...but, money is money, right?? ;=)

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Random Sunday Thoughts

2009-11-08T16:32:00.002-05:00

Just a couple thoughts on a Sunday afternoon, following a Bengals win...

Watched some Strikeforce MMA last night. Fedor Emelianenko is a BEAST! The right hand he threw to win that bout was SICK! They call him the best, last night he proved it...

I'm so tired lately it isn't even funny. Seriously, it sucks bad. I'm always yawning, never feel like doing anything.

I've got an appointment on 11/19 with a doctor who's taking on all the patients from the Cincinnati adult Spina Bifida clinic. That clinic closed this year. Hopefully, this doctor can get the ball rolling on getting me a new wheelchair.

Speaking of that, I do need a new wheelchair. I first got this one in June 2004, after a car crash destroyed the previous one which had been purchased in 2003. That accident, on April 26, 2004, may have destroyed the wheelchair, but obviously, didn't destroy my spirit. Anyway, I'm supposed to get a new chair every 5 years - and in fact, I asked my previous doctor to send in some paperwork confirming medical necessity...but that didn't happen. Thus, I'm currently sitting in a wheelchair that has become too small for me, due to my increased weight (120 pounds) and height(5'6").

Bengals and Bearcats both win which I'm highly pleased with. Bearcats go to 9-0, Bengals are 6-2. Double WIN in my book...

Ok, my brain is empty so I'm gonna go...just remember...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

SBAC Walk and Roll Update

2009-10-31T02:07:00.004-04:00

A brief update to the fundraising effort I undertook in late September...

As you'll recall, I walked in the 9th annual Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati Walk and Roll on September 26th. At the time, my team had raised $2,147.

As of this hour, that total stands at...$2,417!!! That's right...$2,417! And you have to take into consideration, too...there's still some donations that hadn't been counted!

I expect that the Rockin' Rollers will have raised over $2,500 when the money is all counted and things are said and done! What an awesome thing to see...at this writing, SBAC had raised, in TOTAL, amongst all the teams...$83,505!!! This event was truly a game-changer for the Tri-State area! What an awesome day September 26 was!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle for 10/30/09

2009-10-30T17:25:00.002-04:00

Yo y'all it's that time again
I'm bringin the freestyle like only I can
So let's look back at the day that was
Because it's a day that was full of WIN

I started my day not really doing much
Tried to get the energy to get up and move
When I finally did, the sun, it greeted me
This is October, I said, "Are you kidding me?"
It don't feel like October, it's 80 degrees
You really can't beat this time of year in Cincy

Turned on the radio and straightaway
Heard the sounds of a Q102 DJ
Holly was the name, the music she played
Was just off the charts for a warm fall day
Skyline was the first stop and I must say
The chilito is awesome, somethin ya must try

Brian and Laura, they were up next
Kept me goin while I did some shoppin and stuff
Got me a headset for the ol PC
Now, I don't gotta worry about waking ppl up here
I can play music as loud as I want on my computer here

Got me a game for the Wii too
Smackdown V. Raw '10, oh yeah, it's true
I'll probably play it sometime tonight
I just have to figure out how to get controls right

So that's it for this Freestyle
About my super epic Friday
Tune in next week, same time same place
Til then stay blessed and away from the stress

Courage + Belief = LIFE

No freestyle this week.

2009-10-23T15:53:00.001-04:00

My heart just is not in it this week. I don't have any creativity in me because of events over the past hour or so.

Therefore, there won't be a Friday Freestyle this week. Hopefully, it will return next week...if I can get the creativity back.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

I Like Trae Huffman Because...

2009-10-19T11:06:00.004-04:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I began this series some time back to spotlight friends I felt deserved it. I still feel all my friends deserve said spotlight - but, I got away from the series for a bit for reasons I'm not very clear on. But it's back... Way back on May 12th, I wrote about this man's girlfriend, Lindsay Zeis. Now, it's HIS turn for the spotlight. Introducing, Trae Huffman.

I first met Trae Huffman in September of 2008. I was taking part in the annual Walk To Cure Diabetes in Newport, Kentucky. I didn't know much about him - all that I knew was that this man was Lindsay Zeis' boyfriend and I was getting a chance to meet him.

At first interaction, I knew this guy was cool. He didn't have a bad word to say to me. He seemed like, and is, a really nice dude. That said, I wouldn't want to be on his bad side - because at the same time, he looks like a man who would go Chuck Norris like at the drop of a fist. (Although as long as YOU'RE not his target, that's a good quality.)

From the second I saw how he interacted with Lindsay, who I've previously talked of before in glowing terms, I knew he was going to treat her very well. And he has.

I don't know much more about him. I'm sure he has family that he loves to death...but, beyond that, I'm sad to say I don't know much. What I know of him, I like.

Trae does have a dog, who he makes sure he takes good care of. This year at the WTCD, which was once again held in BEAUTIFUL Newport, he brought this dog along with him. I have a picture of the dog here I think...

Above: Diesel at the 2009 Walk To Cure Diabetes, Newport, Kentucky. Photo by me.

But yes, Trae likes his dog. And he LOVES Lindsay. And in my eyes as her friend AND his, that's all that matters.

Anyway, the reason I decided to write about Trae today was not to go through a specific order. Indeed, it's because of events of this weekend. (I noted this in my previous, classic post, in the update.) Trae and Lindsay got engaged over this past weekend. So it made me feel bad because I haven't gotten to know him like I should, BUT, I know enough to know Why I Like Trae Huffman.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Classic Post: I Like Lindsay Zeis Because...

2009-10-19T10:58:00.004-04:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE/UPDATE: I originally posted this blog on May 12th, 2009, celebrating 6 years of friendship with Lindsay. The reason this is partially an update is, you can scratch out "girlfriend" when it comes to her relationship with her boyfriend Trae Huffman...and write in "fiancee" - they got engaged this past weekend. I am proud to say I know both of these individuals and I know they will have a great life together. So, here's the classic post. Oh, and next up is a separate "I Like...Because..." post written this morning about Trae himself.

Above: Myself and Lindsay, September 6, 2008 following the JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes.

So, tonight I would like to spotlight a friend who has dealt with a devastating disease for ten years, but yet has never once said "poor me", never gave up and never quit. This friend is Lindsay Zeis.

Lindsay is 23 years old. She was diagnosed just over ten years ago with Type One Diabetes. The disease has ravaged her body on the inside, but it has not destroyed the heart of this wonderful young lady. She has inspired ME to never give up on occasions when even I had my moments of breakdown, where I just wanted to quit fighting my own battle with Spina Bifida.

Lindsay and I first met in 2003, at Boone County High School. We never really spoke much before that time, but we had crossed paths well before...having gone to two schools together (Ockerman Middle and Boone County High). The way I met Lindsay was that we both were nominated to the Homecoming Court for Basketball Homecoming. I didn't have anybody to escort, and Lindsay chose me. That began our six year friendship.

We continued to talk through much of 2003, and all the way to graduation in 2004. I knew of her diabetes. How could I not? When someone you're friends with misses school more than a couple times a year, you kind of have to expect that there is something serious. Add to that that I knew the signs of diabetes because of my stepdad, and you can see how 2 + 2 began to equal four in my mind.

I lost touch with Lindsay after graduation for awhile. In that time, her condition got worse. Sometime after a Conner vs Boone game both of us attended, Lindsay began to drastically lose weight. She wound up on a feeding tube, because she couldn't eat. Through it all, I know the heart inside Lindsay did not want to give up. She allowed doctors to use experimental methods to save her life. When I saw her in February 2008, she looked better than ever, and was just the same as I had known her to be when I was in school with her.

After that, we started communicating off and on through Facebook here. And in August 2008, I was surprised to learn of the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Newport. I decided I would attend and would walk with Lindsay. I did so on September 6, 2008. I was proud to do so, for a wonderful friend like her.

Lindsay not only has a heart that will never quit, she is a sweetheart. I cannot even begin to count the number of times she's been willing to drop everything and run to her friends. And I know there's been things she has either said, or written to me, that have left me with the biggest smile on my face.

Lindsay also is a devoted family woman. She is a loving girlfriend to Trae Huffman, who I had the pleasure to meet at the JDRF Walk last year. Her family is really blessed that they have her, as she will do whatever she needs to for them.

All of these are reasons why I like Lindsay. As I say about all my facebook friends, if you are one of her friends, go drop by, let her know you read this note, and let her know how much you appreciate her friendship.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Recovering Nicely

2009-10-19T03:47:00.003-04:00

I've spent the weekend in bed, trying to let my arm rest and recuperate from a minor pull. I've been needing to give it a rest - but unfortunately, life would not really cooperate. I was staying very busy and doing too much...or trying to do too much.

Anyway, I think I've completed my classic post quota for the month...but I'm going to surpass it. In the next day or so, I'll be updating/working on a repost from something I started months ago, and REALLY need to get back to...the "I Like...Because..." series.

Why? Because the key player in one of the early "I Like...Because..." posts got engaged over this past weekend. I will let you folks speculate if you wish...if you follow me on Twitter, you might already know who I mean...but if you don't, you'll have to wait and see.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Classic Post: Personal Recall: October/November 2000

2009-10-17T06:46:00.002-04:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The following was written November 29th, 2008. It's a timely post, as I was at a Boone County High School football game tonight (we lost, 63-21), and I spoke to someone who works with Young Life NKY. Young Life is a group of young Christian students that meets every week. I told this young lady the first part of this story. Maybe if I run into her again, I'll get the guts to offer to tell this story to the Young Life group. Anyway, here goes.

October 1, 2000. A day that for me lives forever etched in my brain.

And the intervening 5 weeks after that also remain etched...what I can recall through the drugged stupor I was in for the first week of that anyway, and about everything since.

I'll attempt to go through the first two days each as I either remember it or was told that it all happened, then continue with a recap of what I do recall of this time period.

October 1, 2000

I went to church as I normally do on a Sunday. And yes, I remember it being Sunday. Anyway, I recall several people asking me if I was okay; my shoulder had been hurting and I told them so. But then...it got worse. I began turning blue. I wasn't getting oxygen and I didn't even know it.

I was run to the pastor's office while they called my mom down from the 9am service. After minutes of discussion, I was rushed to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati (I was 15 at this time). As soon as my mom got me to the ER, I remember staring up at lights, and that was it. Nothing after that registers from that day in my own personal memory. I was later told I coded, or went into cardiac arrest, for about 10 minutes that Sunday morning. They did emergency surgery and discovered I had ruptured both bowel and bladder, which had allowed large amounts of toxins to be released into my blood. That had choked off the oxygen supply, which explained why I had turned blue.

October 2

I was still in a fog. I don't remember much of anything, except that church staff came to see me in the hospital. I was extremely weak at this point. Meanwhile, back in Florence, massive amounts of information were being sent out about my condition. At Ockerman Middle School, my sister and brother spread the word. At the Boone County Bus Garage, when word was received I was in the hospital, somehow, someway, they found out just how critical I was, and this was passed on to Boone County High School, which I attended. The word went around the school like a wildfire.

October 3-13

I continued to drift in and out of consciousness until October 7. At that point I began to slowly come back to life. Additional visitors came to see me, including a few of Boone County High's staff. Steve Horstmeyer, who was then at LOCAL12(then branded as 12News, WKRC-TV) and is now at WXIX-TV 19(and by the way, this is one of only TWO media references you'll get in this blog, I promise), also came for a visit. I was released October 13. I also received a LOT of cards and well-wishes.

October 14-29

I was home schooled during this period. Continued to receive visitors to my home here in Florence, and also received I don't know how many cards and things from fellow students both at BCHS and OMS. (AUTHOR'S NOTE: One of these even contained about 50 dollars)By 10/21, I was beginning to target October 31 as my comeback date.

October 30-November 6

On October 30, I made an appearance on 12News First at Four (second and final media reference) following a doctor's appointment, to tour their studio. This came about because of a personal interest in meteorology that, as WIXY will tell you, continues to this very moment. This was to test my physical endurance. The question wasn't if I was a tough guy, I knew I was that. The question was: Could I handle being out of the house for 8 hours? The answer: Yes, I could and I was ready for a return to routine. I returned to BCHS the next day, Halloween, and was greeted with an unbelievable welcome back. My fellow students didn't let me forget how much they were glad to see me and that I had returned in one piece. This continued for almost a full week before I had a...

November 7-16

...setback. I had to be hospitalized again. This time, it was for a bowel obstruction which had to be flushed out, I would return on the 16th, and that was that.

Special Note: If I had never taken the time to thank you for the well wishes...I am now. I know - I am HORRIBLE at this stuff. But, I do mean this from the bottom of my heart. Especially those of you who I went to school with in that time period of my life.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Classic Post: Perspective From the Wheelchair

2009-10-14T15:27:00.004-04:00

FROM THE AUTHOR: I originally wrote this post November 23, 2008. It deals with the perspective I see things through, having been in a wheelchair for about 17 years. Doris is my now ex-girlfriend, who I was dating at the time I wrote this post.

OK I promised last night I would do a perspective blog about what it is like to be disabled. However, I got home at midnight last night from dinner with Doris and her family, and quickly crashed into bed. So here it is...

I am 23, but have spent all but 7 years of my life in a wheelchair. Why? I don't do it for kicks.

I have Spina Bifida, which occurred when my spinal cord was still exposed at birth. It was surgically closed within hours after my birth; however, doctors could do nothing to save my mobility. I am paralyzed from my waist down. So in 1992, I started needing a wheelchair. I pretty much have had one since.

So why is this a perspective blog?

You'd be surprised at the number of people who tell me they're "sorry". (NOTE: I know they're not sarcastic, I'm quoting) They shouldn't be sorry.

And you'd also be surprised at the number of people who, every day, ask me if I need help. Sometimes, I need it (ever try to push a wheelchair through snow? Doesn't work well). But most of the time I don't. It is nice of them to offer. But then, other times, people come up behind me and just start pushing my chair or trying to carry things for me. I don't appreciate people just doing things for me. I really appreciate it MORE if you ask.

The thing I hate worse than people trying to help without asking, however, is the "C" word. To be specific, the word "cripple". I LOATHE that word. I despise it. It sounds like a word you say when you don't give a hoot about a person who has a wheelchair. And to be honest, that's pretty much what it says to me if you say it to me. You don't care about me. You don't care that I have feelings, or a heart.

So the next time you see someone like me, and you want to help but aren't sure what to do...ask. And don't tell us you're sorry about our condition. We don't all want pity. And if you ever see me, or anyone like me, and you want to use that "c" word...do me and everyone else a favor. Don't. It makes us feel better about the world.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Freestyle - 10/10/09

2009-10-10T16:49:00.002-04:00

Yeah here we go again

I'm bringin the freestyle like only I can

I guess there ain't much to talk about this week

But we gonna try this anyway

Being sick really does suck

I would know because I had to go through it

Three days in bed really sucked muchly

But I'm feelin a lot better right now

The Bengals be kicking serious tail

But y'all, ENOUGH close calls already

I swear I'm gonna need blood pressure meds

If it comes down to yet another few seconds

I'm missin my someone special

And I know she misses me

So I gotta get my mention in of Sheena

We might fight, but I still love her

Alright guys this is the end

Of another Friday Freestyle

Stay blessed

Forget the stress

See ya next week y'all

Courage + Belief = LIFE

A 5 AM Musing

2009-10-08T04:50:00.005-04:00

I sit here at 5 AM East Coast time thinking. I do this a lot in the early morning hours when I SHOULD be asleep but unfortunately am not.

Here's my musing for the morning: Love.

Not love like "I love my girlfriend" (although what I'm about to discuss can and SHOULD certainly be demonstrated to ALL people around us). I'm talking brotherly love.

Here's what I mean: How many of us look around and see people that just truly seem to be invisible to everyone else? Or how many of us take time to CARE for those who no one else seems to? Not just who we WANT to care for, but who NEEDS to hear it from us because no one will tell them?

We as a society have completely lost the plot of love. We use the SAME WORD for how we feel about ice cream, as we do about our families. When the heck did a FOOD become on the same level as a person? (That's a free thought, by the way - not totally related to my point for the day.)

Need I remind you of Romans 5:8? "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Read that again. "...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Folks, I don't know about you, but that sounds selfless to me. There is NOTHING conditional about that verse! Zero. Zilch.

Wednesday night, I went to an online bible study webcast via UStream.tv which is where we discussed this subject. If you have time today, check this out. In this video, there's a really powerful story in here beginning around the 3 or 4 minute mark. This young lady named Stacey takes time out of her life, and in the process most likely lost some friends, to love a man who she later wound up marrying. He might have had cerebral palsy - but friends, he is NO LESS of a human being than you or I, deserves no less than ANYBODY else on this earth does to be loved, and this young lady made it a POINT to show it.

So my challenge to you is this: How many people will you show unconditional love to today? You don't even have to do something for someone, to show it to them. Just do it for the people who are IN your daily life. Those people who you might not have to interact with daily, will look at you, and will see God IN you.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Testing second new header

2009-10-08T00:37:00.002-04:00

Clean and Crazy of My Recovery fame sent the above header to me. So, we're using that one now! Jen and I are trying to figure out how to enlarge the one she sent me, so that it fits the entire header area.

By the way, if you are wondering what the pictures are of, they are, counter-clockwise from top: 1) Newport, Kentucky at 7:30 AM on September 19, 2009. 2) Florence, KY at 6:25 AM the same day. 3) The same area of Florence (a different view due to being in the parking lot of a McD's), around 8:20 AM on September 26, 2009.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Update On My Header Help Request!

2009-10-07T15:10:00.003-04:00

I would like to thank Jen of Unglazed fame, for her assistance with my header request of this morning! The header above came from her. She also sent me these:

I also am expecting to receive something from Clean and Crazy of My Recovery fame. So thanks to her as well!

Finally, a HUGE thank you goes out to Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas fame, for his help putting the word out.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Quick Post about a page change

2009-10-07T05:39:00.004-04:00

I made a change to the header. I hate stretching it out, but I don't like to leave a space to the right of the picture, either.

With that said, the above picture is from the morning of September 19, 2009, when I was on my way to the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Newport, KY.

If anyone is interested, I'd like to come up with a header that will showcase a few (say 3-5) pictures I have taken of scenes around my area, but will fit the header box above with the minimal amount of either stretching OR squeezing down. If you're interested in assisting, email me.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Classic Post - What I Have Endured in 24 Years

2009-10-07T04:45:00.007-04:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The following post was originally written on November 29, 2008. This was a post in which I chronicled some of my previous medical history. Not in great detail, mind you - but significant enough to explain some of what I have had to fight in what was then just over 23 years of life. Since then, I have had fainting spells due to anxiety attacks, along with what is currently increasing back pain. I have, however, decided not to list those at the end of this post, but rather, leave it as is. Later this week or early next, depending on if I get Round Tuit (trademarked by my friends at Ohio Media Watch, who inspired me to begin blogging about local media, which in turn eventually led to a desire to spin off the personal stuff to this blog), I'll try to put up the other posts referenced here. I originally intended to do so over the past weekend, however, illness did something that weather doesn't this time of year - stopped me cold in my tracks.

I decided to parlay the blog from last weekend into a three part series. I told you last week about the perspective I see things through, being in a wheelchair for sixteen years and not having use of my legs for all 23 years of my life.

Today, I have decided to let you have a peek at some of the things I have had to endure over these 23 years, separated into 3 segments: Birth to 10 years, 10 years to 14 years, and 14 years to today. This isn't a complete medical history, but it DOES give you a look at some things I have had to deal with in 23 years.

Birth to 10 years:

1985 - Shunt placed in my head, correction to spina bifida, tendon releases for club foot. Also a broken foot.
1986-88 - Bladder infections, but that was really about it.
1990 - Attempt to use a walker. Didn't go over too well.
1992 - First use of a wheelchair.

10 years to 2000

1995 - Cyst removed from spine. Also began having more and worse latex reactions.
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: To this day I cannot come in contact with latex balloons, toys, or anything containing latex. Otherwise, you'll be watching 3rd degree burn-type blisters sprouting on my arms and other areas)
1996 - Bladder surgery.
1998 - Surgery to correct scoliosis.
Early 1999 on to mid 2001 - Pressure ulcer issues. This is due to weight shift following the 1998 Scoliosis Correction Surgery.
2000 - Septic Shock - First major illness. Spent 13 days in hospital, another 2 weeks at home for this alone. Then in November, bowel obstruction landed me in hospital for another week, and in December, a broken leg put me in a cast for 3 weeks. I've suffered an additional obstruction since then but cannot recall the date. (AUTHOR'S NOTE 2: I will describe what I remember of the October/early November timeframe in the next blog)

2001 to today

2001 - Finally had correction of pressure ulcer from 1999.
2004 - Car crash. Destroyed wheelchair, but otherwise I was fine (incredibly, and by God's hand alone)
2005 - Mitroffanoff began to close off. Late December surgery to construct first ilial chimney.
2006 - Another bout of septic shock that June, caused by inadvertent clog in ilial chimney. I had severe pain in my stomach for two days and a very high fever. I was later told that if I had waited another 36 hours, I would have been killed. Two weeks in hospital leads to recovery by late June.
2007 - Another pressure ulcer becomes infected and results in 7 month bedrest, with surgery done in December resulting in the final month of rest. Also, early 2007 - depression diagnosis, but haven't had a significant episode of such since then.
2008 (Current to Nov. 29): Broke neck in April. Had surgery in May to construct a second ilial chimney. Another pressure ulcer led to 2 months of restriction which was lifted August 20 in time for a small 23rd b-day celebration. Nothing since.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle 12 - October 2, 2009

2009-10-02T19:58:00.000-04:00

Here we go y'all it's time for anotha Freestyle

I looked for ideas, and these came to my mind

Have some things I want to say, people I wanna thank

So yo, here we go it's time to roll

First thing's first I wanna thank Sheena

She's been there for me for a while now

Over a month, we still going strong

I love you babe, I hope that you know this

Had to go pay the phone bill today

That was a pain in the you know what

But yo, if I don't pay y'all I can't play

I found I can tweet from the web on that thing

It's so cool I think it rules

I saw LoyalBelieve with a tweet about a cupcake

That might not interest most but hey, what can I say

I told her she should worship it then eat

But y'all, you know I'm just playin cause there's only one God

I believe in and it's not some thing ya bake

Did a couple walks in the last two weeks

They were both for good causes, I am proud to say

1500 for one, 2 grand for another

That's a big accomplishment I have to admit

Alright you guys it's time for me to cruise

Because I got some stuff to do like WOW and WWE

I'll see ya in 7 days til then stay blessed

Forget the stress and just stay chill, y'all

I'm out

Courage + Belief = LIFE

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month

2009-10-01T07:03:00.002-04:00

I know a LOT of people focus on it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Don't get me wrong - that's a great and noble cause, too. But for me, October is about something else.

October is officially National Spina Bifida Awareness Month. So today, I will give you some information on Spina Bifida. Plus, I'll have a classic post from last year, over the weekend. (All of the following facts are from the Spina Bifida Association of America, except as noted.)

What is Spina Bifida? Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect, occurring in the first months of pregnancy, where the spinal column does not completely close up.

Over 185,000 Americans live with Spina Bifida, according to the latest tally from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Nearly 1/2 live with the most serious form of Spina Bifida, called Myelomeningocele.

There are three forms of Spina Bifida.

Occulta

Often called hidden Spina Bifida, the spinal cord and the nerves are usually normal and there is no opening on the back. In this relatively harmless form of Spina Bifida, there is a small defect or gap in a few of the small bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine.

There may be no motor or sensory impairments evident at birth. Subtle, progressive neurologic deterioration often becomes evident in later childhood or adulthood.

In many instances, Spina Bifida Occulta is so mild that there is no disturbance of spinal function at all. Occulta can be diagnosed at any age.

Meningocele

The protective coatings (meninges) come through the open part of the spine like a sac that is pushed out. Cerebrospinal fluid is in the sac and there is usually no nerve damage. Individuals may suffer minor disabilities. Additional problems can develop later in life.

Myelomeningocele

This form of Spina Bifida occurs when the meninges (protective covering of the spinal cord) and spinal nerves come through the open part of the spine. This is the most serious type of Spina Bifida, which causes nerve damage and more severe disabilities.

Spina Bifida costs over $532,000 per child. That's a LIFETIME cost. Staggering, isn't it? Here's an even more staggering statistic. In the US, total surgical and other medical costs for ALL of those with Spina Bifida is over 200 MILLION dollars. (These numbers are in mid-1980's US $$ - and so these are likely higher!)

What can be done to prevent Spina Bifida? The best course of action is for ANY woman who may become pregnant to be sure to take a multivitamin that contains Folic Acid, or Vitamin B9. The suggested dose for those women who do not have a history of pregnancies with Neural Tube Defects is 400 micrograms, while for those who have had a child with an NTD is 4,000 micrograms. Even if you're not planning on getting pregnant, this is the best bet just in case you DO become pregnant. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the incidence of Spina Bifida and other NTD's by 70 percent! However - there's no single cause, as in my case, it was due to the use of a herbicide called Agent Orange in Vietnam, which was found in 1997 to cause an increase in Spina Bifida incidents. There is currently a study that is trying to figure out what in a person's DNA causes Spina Bifida - and yours truly is planning to be a part of this study.

Is there a cure? Not currently. The effects can be reduced via pre-natal surgery, which is currently in a phase III clinical trial - but the surgery is not without risk to the mother and the unborn child and as such further study is needed.

So, there are the facts. I tried to keep it as simple as possible. Hopefully, this is easily understood by all of you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at jeremymoses24@yahoo.com or at jmos21@insightbb.com and I'll either assist you myself, or find someone who can.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Total Raised by The Rockin' Rollers As of Saturday

2009-09-29T19:09:00.003-04:00

As you all know, last Saturday I was part of the Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati's Walk and Roll. This was the 9th year for the event.

While final numbers may not be available for several weeks, we do have a total-to-date for my team, the Rockin' Rollers.

As of when I spoke with Judy Albert, the Walk Committee chairperson for SBAC, our team total was... $2147! That's just our team...and that is with a couple hundred dollars of donations still needing to be collected.

And Judy also tells me that together, all the people involved raised OVER EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. The goal for SBAC was $70,000! We blew that goal away!

As I noted Friday, coming up this Thursday will be a post to begin Spina Bifida Awareness Month, which goes through all of October here in the United States. As I noted, I'll tell you what it is, how many people are affected, and what can be done to either help deal with the problems that come with it, or outright prevent it.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Staffmark Downtown HQ Blows Me AWAY!!!!

2009-09-25T15:46:00.002-04:00

Without being able to give a final total, I will go ahead and put over the folks at Staffmark, 435 Elm Street, Downtown Cincinnati.

People all over the building, spurred on by my mother, Tereasa Herald, as well as whatever knowledge they have about me, have come up HUGE for Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati! I will have a final total Sunday for our team.

I was simply blown completely away. As noted before, Staffmark personnel had raised $665 between donations to my mother and to myself IN THREE DAYS. We not only doubled the $690 we had raised before today... but have tripled, and QUADRUPLED IT at least with a couple more hours left in the workday to collect!

This is HUGE for Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati! Staffmark has blown my expectations of a low fundraising event completely out of the water, almost doubling our team goal!

So, to everyone at Staffmark, especially the second, third, sixth and eighth floors, I say THANK YOU ALL.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

One Down, One To Go - 28 Hours Away!

2009-09-25T04:26:00.000-04:00

Even though you're probably reading this at 8 AM or later, I wrote this around 4 AM.

As I noted previously, I did the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes at the World Peace Bell in Newport, Kentucky. I don't know the exact number, but HUNDREDS were there. WKRC-TV 12's Cammy Dierking was there, also and met my friend Lindsay (pictured in the sidebar at right).

By the way, I continue my efforts to raise money for the JDRF. They still have my page up, so feel free to donate anytime.

I also continue my efforts to raise money for Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati. At the second picture link at right, you will find my fundraising page for that event. That fundraising effort does continue into 2010 according to the website at sbacincy.org. But I plan to leave the page up until I meet my personal goal of $600. (That's right, it's raised from $300 to double that, thanks to help from my mom's office at Staffmark in Downtown Cincinnati I had raised nearly my entire original goal in 3 days, so I decided to challenge myself. I plan to head to Staffmark's offices later today to meet and thank each and every person who donated, individually and the office teams as a whole. I was told some other things were being done to raise money for the Rockin' Rollers team.)

As I get set to walk on Saturday morning, I think it's a good time to put everything into perspective. I'm just one of 185,000 people in the entire United States of America who has Spina Bifida and there are thousands more around the world - perhaps even a few million.

Coming October 1st, I will do a blog post specifically with the talking points about Spina Bifida - what it is, how it affects people, and some more of the current statistics that are out today. You might be shocked at just how serious of a problem Spina Bifida still is - and how it can easily go undiagnosed for 20 years or more!

I'll try to put it in laymen's terms and avoid as much medical terminology as I possibly can.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Got this one from Busy Bee Suz

2009-09-23T09:00:00.004-04:00

Before I play 15 Words, I wanted to explain it... I got this idea from Suz of Day By Day, My Life As A Busy Bee fame, who in turn got it from Caution Flag of The Human Race 600 fame. Sums up my Wednesday morning pretty well. Basically, you use fifteen, AND ONLY 15, words to describe...whatever is on your mind.

Three hours sleep.

Not a good thing.

Need some more sleep.

That, or some caffeine.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Walk To Cure Diabetes Day

2009-09-19T05:20:00.002-04:00

If you remember, last June, I did the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Union. Today, it's time for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes in Newport, KY.

After this week, I focus on a cause that I am 100 percent passionate about...Spina Bifida. I'll be doing the Walk and Roll in Harrison, Ohio. That's going to be next Saturday morning at 8 AM.

Whew...I'll be tired after these...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle

2009-09-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

So it's been awhile

For the Friday Freestyle

But I'm back again

So let's get goin

So my Bengals lost last week

Yo, that's alright, it's only week one

We can get that loss back

Time to play the Pack

Year ago this week

Ike blew through my hometown

No power, no food for many

We all learned how to rough it

I got lucky, only lost it for about 18 hours

Some went without a lot longer

Special person in my life

Who I miss and love to bits

Not bein with her is the pits, but

It'll resolve itself real quick

Guess that's all I got to say

For this week's Friday freestyle

Stay blessed

Get rid of the stress

And I'll see ya in seven days

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Still Need TONS Of Help!

2009-09-16T04:02:00.003-04:00

Hey guys!

As you know a couple of major fundraising efforts are happening on my part in the next two weeks. I am doing the JDRF Walk To Cure Diabetes this weekend in Newport, KY and I'm nowhere near my online goal of $100. If you can help with that, click to the right on the top picture of myself and Lindsay.

Also, the following week I switch gears to concentrate on the Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati Walk and Roll 2009. If you're able to help with this, PLEASE click to the right on the second picture.

I realize both walks fall within one week and it's a lot to ask you to support both...But if you even give $5, it would help me TREMENDOUSLY!

Thanks y'all and remember...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Hilarity Ensued Yesterday.

2009-09-05T17:52:00.002-04:00

I was in Cincinnati yesterday with my friend and brother from another mother, Mikey. This story is from after our four hour excursion around Northgate.

I had to wait 20-25 minutes for a bus. When it arrived (it was late due to traffic), I boarded as usual, and paid my $2.25 fare. Before I could get into one of the handicapped wheelchair areas, the driver took off and the chair went rolling! I wasn't strapped down! Whoops...after laughing about it for about 3 minutes, I was finally tied in and we left...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

My Downtown Cincinnati Experience of Tuesday

2009-09-03T04:19:00.001-04:00

Imagine this: 3:25 PM, downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. You're in a wheelchair. You're walking across a busy street, one of the major arteries on the north side of downtown. Suddenly, someone suspicious starts following you. What do you do?

That happened to me Tuesday afternoon, at that time, in that city.

Here's what happened. I was outside of Cincinnati's major public access facility, Media Bridges. This is in the 1100 block of Race Street, right on the edge of the Over-The-Rhine district of Cincinnati. I was talking to my girlfriend Sheena but I still recall all of these events in my head, so nothing is left out of the situation.

I could see this guy standing in the street. I think nothing of it, so I start to cross Central Parkway (basically, those not from here might think, that's just 11th Street, but its given name is Central Parkway).

Now I'm not writing this to slam either Media Bridges, the Cincinnati Police or Fire/EMS departments, or any part of my hometown. Listen: I love the state I was born in. I love Cincinnati. But this was a scary sight at 3:25 PM on a Tuesday afternoon. Broad daylight, and this guy is out in the MIDDLE OF CENTRAL FRICKIN' PARKWAY! I still wonder how he wasn't hit all this time.

I decide to head on south, back toward the central business district area. I'm not feeling too comfortable about standing there at that moment even for a second. This guy begins to follow me. Not cool. I turn and walk a little quicker. He's still following me.

I cross Court Street (which you from outside of Cincy might think is 10th, but...the courthouse is at its east end, thus its given name once again). The guy stays on the north side of the street, BUT HE'S STILL BEHIND ME. At this point, I'm freaked. I call Cincinnati PD. As I'm giving his description, the guy has come across Court and is now headed straight across Vine Street, still in my general direction.

I'm not sure whether he realized I was on the phone to police, but he turned and walked south on Vine. I didn't follow him. I feared a trap. I tell police he's gone, but then a familiar response overtakes me.

It's that feeling I get before I go into the syncopal episodes I sometimes have. So now, here I am, standing on the corner of Court and Vine, and I'm having a panic attack. Great. I tell the dispatcher to send me medics to the location. I'm transferred to the medical side of Cincinnati dispatch, tell the operator my symptoms, location and phone number, and hang up.

At this point, medics arrive within 3 minutes. (Where's the police? You'd think dispatch would still send the police to this particular medical emergency, given the circumstances.) After a quick check of my vitals to make sure I'm in no imminent danger, of course my ass high tails it straight out of there, AWAY from the OTR area.

Here's the point of this blog, which is two-fold:

1) to vent the feelings I still have, which are of fear, distress, and quite frankly, a mixture of these and illness in my stomach, and;

2) to make a crucial point about the state of my beloved city.

Now, I'm no idiot. I KNOW OTR can be a dangerous area. I have re-iterated this several times since. Hell, even the MEDICS told me anything north of Central Parkway is a dangerous area!

But in broad daylight, near a major public access facility, doesn't the public, even someone from across the river, have some right to feel safe? Some places even in OTR don't need a 24/7 armed guard. In the case of Media Bridges, where there's lots and lots of expensive electrical equipment at any given time inside the building...I'd say this is one, and the area within a block or so of that building should be as well. Just my opinion.

And here we have Cincinnati City Council squabbling over POLICE STAFFING. WAKE UP CINCINNATI COUNCIL! If someday, someone gets robbed, shot, beaten, whatever on that street corner...well it's gonna be an "I Told You So" moment.

The signature seems especially appropriate today for some reason...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Cutback on Caffeine - Days 2-7

2009-08-31T14:44:00.002-04:00

Well, the rest of the week didn't go as well as Tuesday.

I cut caffeine totally on Tuesday...and then got sick Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. So, I'm down to 1-2 caffeine drinks a day (only 1 if I can help it.)

I really hope I can keep this thing up...I really do.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Giving Up Caffeine - Day 1

2009-08-26T08:07:00.003-04:00

Last week, I announced my plans to cut back (or out) my caffeine intake beginning Monday and just generally get (or stay) healthy in my 24th year of life.

Due to other things that needed done that might have thrown my plans off track, I pushed that back a day to alleviate the stress and the temptation.

I'm glad I did, because I am proud to say that I did not touch a DROP of caffeine all day Tuesday. I drank caffeine-free Diet Coke (and LIKED IT) and water, all day.

Today is day two. And my body is feeling the effects of yesterday. I woke up around 4:30 this morning, throwing up and with a headache. Oh, and CRAVING caffeine!

It may be worth it in the end...but my body is trying to tell me it's not.

I had some inspiration though. Sheena Clifford is someone who's become very important to my life and my world over the last few days. She kept me from thinking about how BADLY I wanted that caffeine fix...and because of her, I didn't give in. Thank u sweetheart...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

College Begins

2009-08-24T13:00:00.005-04:00

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Logos on this page are those of the individual institutions and/or agencies.

My brother Andrew begins college today at Northern Kentucky University. It takes me back to 2004, before medical problems started to happen and I had to take a sabbatical.

My first day of school, I was a 19 year old who was new to the whole college thing. I didn't really

know too much about the college experience. I, just like my brother Andrew, was a commuter. What that meant to me was, I would ride in with my mom in the morning, go to my classes and then go home. In 2005, when I had my second semester, I had two options to get home:

1) I would ride home with my friend David Jones on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The travel time with this was 25 minutes.

2) If I had a Tuesday/Thursday class, I would ride the TANK bus. I took the routes 11 or 25 to Covington Transit Center, then rode from there to Florence on the route 1, walking home from the bus stop. It took 2 hours, 30 minutes to get home by this route.

Traffic on the road home usually wasn't a problem unless I left at 3 PM or later (as I sometimes did). Then, it was rush hour and that was never fun. Rush hour would increase my travel time by half an hour or more.

Anyway, my first day was made especially memorable when I arrived. I was greeted by people from the Baptist Student Union (which is now called the Baptist Campus Ministry). They were passing out breakfast to those arriving near their building. That made an impression with me, and I joined that group and stayed there for my year and a half of schooling at NKU.

All of this to say, I hope Andrew has a good first day of school and finds something, just like BCM, that he can be part of. And to all those going back to school, whether it's college, high school or something else, I hope your 1st day goes well.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

My Personal Health Plan for Year 24

2009-08-19T03:28:00.004-04:00

OK, I'm sitting here and I'm reading a blog from WKRQ afternoon DJ Brian Douglas. This blog is his blog about his weight watchers experience, he lost over 125 pounds in the space of a year.

Now, I do not need to lose weight lol. Far from that...I actually think I'm at a healthy point in my life and government guidelines do suggest that with my height of 5'6" I should weigh somewhere between 118 and 148 pounds for a healthy BMI number. At last check I weighed 120. Good place to be.

Now comes the difficult part...MAINTAINING that. Look, I don't eat exactly healthy. I have this habit of caffeine addiction. Yes I said addiction. I have to have my Mountain Dew every day or one or both of these two things happen:

1) I drag through my day, feeling groggy and sleepy and/or,

2) I get severe headaches.

I basically wind up having 6 cans of Mountain Dew PER DAY, or 2 liters. After adding up the caffeine content of said amount of cans I was astonished to learn I have been putting basically 310 milligrams of caffeine into my body PER DAY. I gotta cut back on that at least a bit. Maybe down to 200 or less.

So my health plan is basically as follows (and given that I stayed out of the hospital for a long-term stay this year I'm off to a good start):

1) Cut down or out on caffeine. How can I do it without enduring the headaches that always, and I mean ALWAYS, follow?? I did well for a month last year, fell off that wagon and haven't gotten back on but, after Friday I'm going to try very hard to do this.
2) Eat healthier. Meaning a few more fruits and veggies.
3) Exercise. I'm off to a great start... I do get an hour plus of good cardio in at least 4x/week, walking to and from Florence Mall and around inside the mall.
4) SLEEP! This means sleeping 6-8 hours per day. I'm not doing well with this one, in fact to be blunt it is an out-and-out struggle. Like one day I will stay up all night or get maybe 2 hours of sleep, then the next night because I denied myself sleep the night before, I sleep 12 hours. That see-saw isn't healthy...

This is my resolution for year 24 of life, as I try to reach a quarter-century of life in 2010...yes I realize I haven't really begun to celebrate my 24th yet, but my goal is to still be healthy this time next year...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

24 Today!

2009-08-19T00:42:00.003-04:00

Wow...is it really August 19th? Am I really celebrating another birthday??

You'll forgive me if this is a little hard for me to believe, I am sure.

There are a few days that doctors thought would be my last day on earth...and yet, I am still alive. I'm still living, still breathing...still kicking (but not literally).

Heck, there have been days I thought I was gonna die...but I'm still living.

Now, at year 24... does this year feel different from years past? In some ways yes.

For one, year 23 in life was actually fairly decent to me medically. I didn't have anything major that put me into an inpatient stay in the hospital. Any time that that happens, it's always a good thing.

For two, for the most part, I've kept those in my life who were worth keeping. You, my blogger friends, are worth keeping. I wouldn't be doing this this morning if I didn't have the readers.

But in other ways...this isn't much different. But those are small potato kind of things, really.

I'm still disabled. I'm still in the wheelchair. But you know what? I've learned to accept it. I'm dealing with it. I don't get depressed over it.

I have my down days, yes. But...they're fewer.

I still have the core group of friends I KNOW I can count on. There's more of them though.

So...maybe beginning year 24 isn't much of the same thing, after all. Every year is a new beginning. And I think it's great.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Reviewing TNA's Hard Justice Pay-Per-View

2009-08-18T13:39:00.003-04:00

So, yesterday was spent hanging out with Mikey, aka thenotoriouskid on twitter. We watched the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view known as Hard Justice. These are my thoughts on it.

-- The Steel Asylum X-Division match was OFF THE HOOK. Daniels won which I can agree with. He now moves to a feud with Samoa Joe (more on this a little later). Those were some SICK spots including a hurracanrana-style DDT by Amazing Red on Consequences Creed!

-- The Abyss/Jethro Holliday match over the $50,000 bounty was fine for what it was...which was a hardcore match. Holliday turns face with his attack on Stevie which I'm happy with. Maybe they do Jethro and Abyss as a tag team.

-- Hernandez beat Rob Terry to get his briefcase back. If they have him cash in his title shot at or before No Surrender on pay-per-view, I'll be pleased. (More on this later, too.)

-- The British Invasion tag team went through Beer Money like a steamroller through cardboard. That's all I can say here. The World Elite faction didn't look horrible here.

-- ODB (use your imagination if you're not aware already what this stands for) and Cody Deaner beat Velvet Sky and Angelina Love and ODB captures the TNA Knockouts Title (similar to the WWE Women's and Divas titles, for those not aware). OK, I get that. But...ENOUGH OF THE SINGLES TITLES BEING DEFENDED IN TAG MATCHES!!! It doesn't work, and besides, it's very awkward when a man (Deaner) pins a female in this kind of match. What, are we suppose to believe that Deaner is ACTUALLY the Knockouts champ?? Well, it worked for WWE, so it must work here, so thinks TNA anyway...

-- Homicide lost the X Division title to Samoa Joe. I like this one and it's the logical move to further Daniels' win earlier in the night. Plus it means that the Main Event Mafia/World Elite superfaction has all of the gold (excluding the Knockouts title, but expect Traci Brooks to take that no later than Bound For Glory, I'm calling that now; and more on how the other title change happened in a few).

-- Booker T and Scott Steiner retained the TNA Tag Titles over Team 3D. I understood why they had two referees when the finish happened and both refs counted pins for opposite sides. Going to the videotape was a nice touch and something TNA (and WWE for that matter) should do for future controversial finishes. Plus it furthered that feud, and leads naturally to Team 3D getting a future shot. They were all over the arena, but the pinfall happened in the ring - so why the hell is this "falls count anywhere" if the deciding pinfall only happens in the ring??

-- Kevin Nash wins the Legends title over Mick Foley and all I could say is "holy bloodbath, Batman"! Wow. That was a bloody match! Again, MEM/World Elite look very strong right here!

-- Kurt Angle retains the TNA World Title over Matt Morgan and Sting. Two things about this match I liked, and one I didn't. They teased Matt Morgan going along with Kurt Angle's plan, which made him turning against Angle believable. I did like that. I did like Sting and Matt Morgan getting more time in the ring, which if Sting wasn't about to retire would be a great opportunity for Morgan.

But what I didn't like about it is who walked away from this match with the victory and the title. Kurt Angle does NOT need to be TNA World Champion right now. For those who were living under a rock all weekend, Angle was arrested Saturday morning on charges of Violating a Protection From Abuse Order (otherwise known as a Restraining Order), Possession of Illegal Substances (he had a vial of Human Growth Hormone), Harassment and Driving On a Suspended License (his license had been suspended following a DUI last year). He'd beaten his girlfriend Friday night, she went and got the Protection From Abuse order, and then left to seek refuge elsewhere. Angle apparently drove to where his girlfriend had taken refuge at a Starbucks, and was driving around the parking lot when he was stopped by police.

Angle has some major issues at this point, and I believe he needs to be suspended based on the HGH possession charge, and probably needs to take some time away from the business. So what did TNA do? They KEPT THE BELT ON ANGLE! Not smart...he's mentally unstable, and to say the least he has some major personal issues that he really does need to deal with, NOW! If TNA doesn't do the right thing soon, something is going to happen to Angle and they're gonna find him dead or seriously ill somewhere. Mark my words on this one and watch if my prediction doesn't come true. TNA, put the title on Hernandez, NOW.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle Ten

2009-08-14T23:03:00.003-04:00

Here we go again
It's another Friday night
And it's time to freestyle
Let's get right to it

I didn't do this last week
Because too much was happenin
But now we're gonna fix that
It's gonna be good

Friends always have your back
There when ya need em
Mine certainly were this week
And I give them big props

From Flo-town to the 'Nati
From the west to the east
My friends came from everywhere
And I'm glad I got em

As bad as my week has been
It coulda been worse
But hey, that's okay, I made it
And that's all that really counts

So we gonna end this verse right here
And I'm gonna get back to relaxing
I'll definitely be back at ya in 7
When I will be twenty-four

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Straight Shoot - My Aunt Mary, The Last Four Weeks, and Things Going Down

2009-08-12T21:13:00.004-04:00

This is going to be a multi-part shoot on a few things... in case you're wondering, a shoot means that I'm speaking of real stuff, no lies, no mis-truths, no nothing. Just a straightforward blog.

Shoot 1 - My Aunt Mary and Her Involvement in Aunt Kathy's Suicide 2 Years Ago

There aren't many people who knew me 2 years ago here on blogger. So this shoot is new to most of you.

On August 14, 2007, my aunt Kathy Ludwick committed suicide by drug overdose. The sad thing is that it wouldn't have happened had the stress not been present in her life.

What stress? Financial stress and emotional stress.

See, earlier that year aunt Kathy had begun a divorce proceeding against my uncle Terry. The main reason for this was that he was a full-on alcoholic. She went to live with my aunt Mary in Indiana. Mary then began to forge Kathy's name on things like receipts, credit applications, and other financial things. That brought Kathy into quite a bit of debt. That debt then triggered emotional stress.

For two years, then, I've blamed aunt Mary for what aunt Kathy did. And while aunt Mary was certainly guilty of other crimes...she was not guilty of murder like I wanted to believe. I still don't like my aunt Mary for other things she has done against my family. But she isn't a murderer.

Shoot 2 - Doris: I took a lot of heat for a myspace post from four months ago... including Doris herself finding said post.

I don't care if this gets me heat.

I need to shoot straight here... I did nothing wrong when she and I split.

All I was trying to do at the time we split is to stop myself from becoming physically worse. Unfortunately...she misread it as making my OWN choice to split up.

Now, I'm going to shoot on her. Doris, you caused far too much pain for me. For SIX MONTHS, I haven't been myself. That ends tonight, August 12, 2009. I am DONE being anything other than me.

Shoot 3 - The Shoot of Mikey and its Effects - I am not going to get directly involved in that mess. But... I too had been a member of Insideaway.net. I too saw the quick collapse of the family atmosphere that had previously existed.

I believe that Mikey spoke only truth. Mikey tells it straight, just like it is. And for ANYONE to suggest he was lying is a slap in the face to him, and, in my own view, a slap in my face as well. Mikey is the older brother I haven't had and NOBODY is gonna slam him for posting the TRUTH. And I say Mikey is straight up BALLIN' as a brother.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

What Are You Thinking, Cincinnati - Rant About Children's Hospital

2009-08-08T03:49:00.002-04:00

It's been a bit since I've done a rant, and last night's experiences having to go to TWO hospitals to be treated for what is, right now, thought to be a muscle pull has inspired one. I hope you packed a breakfast AND a lunch, because it's gonna be a wild ride!

First, some background. As you may or may not know, I was diagnosed with Spina Bifida within hours of my birth on August 19, 1985. This is a congenital birth defect where the back fails to completely close around the spinal cord. Ever since then, all of my medical needs, both related and unrelated to Spina Bifida, have been taken care of in one place, the Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati.

Until yesterday.

I have been dealing with back pain off and on for a few months. I did my best to survive. After all, I'm tough, right? (Or at least other people say I am.) So, I toughed it out for 2 or three months. Finally, however, Friday morning I had so much pain, I couldn't move. So I called my doctor, which, like all medical care, is at Cincinnati Children's, and I was told by them to go to the ER there.

Friday afternoon, I left the house around 3:15 and went up there. I get there, go through registration and sit in the waiting room. Okay so far.

But then they take me back to the triage station...where they proceed to tell me that due to the fact I haven't seen my primary doctor (THE SAME PEOPLE I CALLED THIS MORNING) in six months, and I am 23 about to be 24, AND in spite of the fact that I had previously pretty much been told I was set to go as far as medical care for life because I will be wheelchair bound for life thanks to the Spina Bifida...I can no longer be seen at Children's Hospital Medical Center, AND I need to find an adult physician.

What???

It's Children's policy that they do not serve patients over 21 in their Emergency Room.

Again, what???

Now, the rant. This policy is frickin' STUPID. I had NEVER had this issue before! I've been going to that hospital for 24 years! If their policy was not to serve patients over 21, should that not have been enforced, let's see...AT THE TIME I TURNED 21???? And FURTHERMORE, don't even get me started on this "you haven't seen your primary physician in over 6 months" crap. How many of you only see your doctors once a year because you're pretty darn healthy? Exactly. If I go a year without seeing my primary physician, it's because I have not had any major issues. The last time I saw this doctor was December 22 or so. Because of that, I cannot see that doctor anymore. And you're going to tell me that THEIR policy is also not to take patients over 21??? I've seen that doctor for about 2 years! I was 22 at the time!

What a load of crap. By the way, I was seen at St. Elizabeth, and I have to give props to them for quickly diagnosing the pulled muscle in my back.

But for God's sake, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL????

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Sunday sadness

2009-08-02T07:20:00.003-04:00

I just found out that someone I've profiled here in my "I Like..." series is...moving away. :'(

Trisha Chell, who I profiled in this post, is moving in about 62 days. She'll be moving to Virginia and I am gonna miss her... I hate to sound selfish, but why is it that a) I was the last one to find out about this and b) the people I get closer to, either already are or wind up moving far away???

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Needing Help with Fundraising Efforts!

2009-08-02T04:20:00.002-04:00

As posted on Friday, I will be participating in the 2009 Walk To Cure Diabetes in Newport, Kentucky.

Another effort I am proud to participate in, happens to fall one week later. (An aside: Sometimes maybe organizations need to consult with one another on dates...so they don't fall one week apart like this. Heh. Just kidding, I support both.) That's the 2009 Spina Bifida Association of Cincinnati's Walk and Roll.

Links to BOTH fundraising pages are at the right side. The JDRF Walk page will stay up through September 21 (or as long as it still exists on their servers, whichever happens first) and the SBAC Walk page will be up through September 28 (or again, as long as the page is still there, whichever happens first.)

I would appreciate even a small donation to one or both efforts. My personal goals are to raise $100 for the JDRF walk, and $300 for the SBAC walk. (If one or both goals are blown out of the water...I'll just raise the bar until the end date, as high as needed. I'd love to blow them both out.)

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle the Ninth

2009-07-31T22:59:00.004-04:00

Yo here we go again
Was a big week in the sports world
So wit that said it's time to recap
And do some freestylin' too

Shaq did RAW this week
And I dug every second
But it coulda been better
Ah well, at least he did awesome

Then came the trade deadline
And a lot of moves were made
Digging Rolen to the Reds
Peavy to the Sox is good too

Smackdown was awesome tonight
Hardy and Morrison tore it down
Punk versus Hardy next week
That heel turn was awesome

So, we're done here for this week
And next week looks busy
But we'll hit ya in 7 days
Til then, stay cool y'all

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Added Something to the Right Side

2009-07-31T16:13:00.006-04:00

EDIT/UPDATE 4:15 AM Sunday 8/2: Like at Tri-State Media Watch, this has turned out to be the kind of item that I needed to update.

I hate to ask a lot - but both these efforts are VERY important to me personally. And no, I didn't schedule these - they just fall one week apart...LOL...

With that said, there's now a link to the 2009 Spina Bifida Association Walk & Roll homepage of yours truly. That walk is held September 26 in Harrison, Ohio at Miami Whitewater Forest.

If you're nearby, and would like to participate in either event - I'd love that, even if you yourself cannot donate. Our team goal for the 2009 walk is $1,000 - and it's easily attainable and even surpassable if the effort is put in. We won't stop - if we meet the current goal, we'll just set a new one!

Again - as with the below, click the picture labeled "2009 Walk and Roll for Spina Bifida". This link will be active later than the below by 1 week.

The original post is below...
_____________________________________

I have added something to the right side of my page as you may have noticed.

From now until September 19, I have posted a link on the far right side of this space, at the very top. This link will take you to a donation page for the 2009 Walk To Cure Diabetes in Newport, Kentucky - specifically, my donation page.

I will be part of Lindsay Lou's Walking Crew at the walk that day. My personal goal is $100 but I'd LOVE to blow that out of the water.

So, if you're so inclined, click the picture to the right and donate! Myself, Lindsay, and the rest of our team would definitely appreciate it!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Not a lot to say lately.

2009-07-29T05:10:00.003-04:00

First, I'd like to thank those who have been in prayer for me in the last few days, as I've struggled once again with the syncopal episodes that I've had, off and on, for nearly 8 months.

I did have another dizzy spell late Tuesday evening, prompting me to make a somewhat early exit from my church event. The after-effects are still somewhat noticeable this morning - and consequently I don't think I will be going anywhere today.

About the upcoming week: An "I Like...Because..." post will be coming up either today or tomorrow...Friday Freestyle as always on Friday...I'm going to attempt to get back to Thursday 13 this week...and maybe another post or two...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

My Stepdad's Birthday Today

2009-07-25T12:38:00.003-04:00

Above: My stepfather, Stephen Herald, on a cruise in 2004.

Today is my stepfather, Stephen Herald's 45th birthday. He was born July 25th, 1964. I managed to run out on Wednesday and get him the Ghostbusters game I knew he wanted...and gave it to him just a bit ago. He was very happy about it... so now, I wait to see what everyone ELSE did. We're getting ready to go out to eat so I can't stay and talk... be back later...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle the Eighth

2009-07-24T22:08:00.001-04:00

Here we go again

Another weekly freestyle for y'all

We don't need to do memorial this week

For once, that I'm happy bout

Just watched the WWE

And saw a decent show

I just hope this weekend's big pay-per-view

Is better than what TNA put on

Saturday gonna be real good

I celebrate my stepdad's b-day

I just hope the rain holds off

Because who wants a wet party?

Alright y'all we're about done here

We'll be back next week

Til then, courage plus belief equals life

And I love y'all for real

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Needing More Prayer Again

2009-07-23T23:37:00.003-04:00

I am once again dealing with the syncopal episodes that hit me for the first time in December, 2008.

Tonight I had a dizzy spell of about 5 minutes duration at Florence Mall around 7 PM, which, if I hadn't moved quickly to hang onto something sturdy, I would have certainly collapsed. I made it home, but I honestly haven't a clue how. I'm also having issues stumbling over my own words - I couldn't form the words in a couple of cases to talk to my family or friends.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers in the coming few days, as I will need to watch it closely.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Spending Time In The Pokey

2009-07-21T02:50:00.002-04:00

The above is another way to say "I spent time at the local detention facility".

And no, I was NOT the one in trouble.

I had to go to Kenton County Detention Center twice in the past week. Both times it was for my sister's fiancee.

I won't state his name on the blog (those who know, know who they are) but I will tell you that most of the offenses he was charged with last week were just minor traffic things. However in one situation he was charged with non-support, meaning not paying child support. Consequently there are further proceedings going on in that case.

When I went on Saturday, it was so my sister could see him for the first time in six days. Tonight, it was to get him out.

And let me just say this: Both trips have solidified my dislike of that particular part of our justice system.

Not that these people aren't getting what they had coming. They are.

My dislike stems purely from the facts that a) in the visitation room, there was only a sheet of bulletproof glass separating me and these inmates and b) It just felt like a place I didn't want to be.

I could only stand being in there for 10 minutes at most - and then I split.

Tonight wasn't quite as bad...but I still didn't want to be there, and for that reason I was glad when we split out of there after 90 seconds.

So, in summary: If you can avoid the local hoosegow...do it. Seriously. It ain't a good place...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle the Seventh

2009-07-17T21:52:00.003-04:00

We're back yet again tonight

And we're gonna be freestylin'

But first I gotta pay tribute

To a man, a myth and a legend

Walter Crokite just died tonight

He's a newsman and most trusted

We as a nation loved his style

And the way he told it "the way it is"

The week was really good otherwise

Didn't have to worry about much

Next week looks crazy for me

But ya know, that's how I like it

So with that written, I'm gonna end this

It's been fun, but y'all, I'm outta words

And I'm gonna catch you next week

With another big time freestyle

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Thursday 13: 13 Favorite TV Channels

2009-07-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

For my second Thursday Thirteen, I decided to pick my 13 favorite TV channels to watch!

1) WLWT-TV: Their chief meteorologist Derek Beasley is a good man, and a really good forecaster as well. They wouldn't do a "Derek Said it Would" campaign if he wasn't.

2) WKRC-TV: My favorite local TV station for all things news.

3) WXIX-TV: Shows such as "The Simpsons" headline my viewing here.

4) Discovery: Mythbusters AND Pitchmen! Nuff said!

5) A&E: Dog, Exterminators, and First 48. There ya are.

6) WSTR-TV: Mainly due to my love of WWE. I watch a couple other shows occasionally as well.

7) USA: Again, WWE. Nuff said.

8) Weather Channel: A few things about this channel that I like. It was one of the first stations I started watching when I began watching TV.

9) Nickelodeon: I have been a fan of different shows on that station.

10) Cartoon Network: I have begun watching "Destroy Build Destroy". Fun show! If I were young enough, I'd compete there!

11) TrueTV: I like "Hot Pursuit" among others.

12) TNT: Occasionally, a movie I like will come on. When it does - I watch.

13) Food Network: Yep - I'm a foodie! LOL...I do like to watch some things here.

There ya are!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

I Like Natalie Simpson Because...

2009-07-16T01:59:00.002-04:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE: After some time with no "I Like...Because..." posts - they're returning, and with a vengeance! Expect 3 in the next week and a half. Today: Natalie Simpson.

Like many of my Facebook friends, Natalie and I met in 2000 when I became a member of Florence Baptist Church. Natalie actually finished high school at that time, being a senior at the time we met.

As time went on, I initially only saw Natalie on Sundays. That was pretty much the first four years of our friendship. When I moved into the college/singles ministry in 2004, and started going to Northern Kentucky University, Natalie was there. (We're still in the singles/college ministry to this day.)

As the time passed, Natalie and I talked about a lot of things. We discussed life. We discussed our relationships with God. In some cases, we discussed our respective relationships with the opposite sex. I knew I could look up to this young lady to show me how to live. Heck, we even discussed politics at times! Specifically, when Natalie wrote a post about Obama's election back in November, and then I wrote my own post, we both agreed on our reasons for voting the way we did (both of us voted for now-President Obama).

Natalie, like everybody else on my list, is a sweetheart of a friend. She'll tell you what she thinks of things, and doesn't hold back. She'll make you laugh when you need it.

Natalie also cares a LOT about her family. When her dad was fighting cancer...she made it a point to do her best to help him, and keep us informed of what happened, all the way until his passing in June of 2008. Sadly, the cancer wasn't treatable - but her spirit was unbelievable through it all. This gives me hope that I can handle any future deaths in my family that same way.

She is also a loving girlfriend to a man named Chad...and of course a sister to all of us who know Christ the way she does.

As always - if you know Natalie, drop her a note and let her know you appreciate her friendship.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Random Verse About Burning Torches And Other Things

2009-07-15T03:35:00.003-04:00

So I'm back again

With a Tuesday Freebie

Let's see the stuff

That hits my brain

Went to a fellowship earlier tonite

And had a good time with friends

But how those four torches did ignite
It still boggles our mixed up minds

Working late days on blogs

Isn't really a bad thing to do

It just doesn't help ya when

You've got other places ya gotta be

We have been lucky this week so far

Not to be rained on or hit by storms

But all good things come to an end

Later today's supposed to be wet

I think I emptied my brain for now

But y'all know this ain't the last freestyle

Get back here on Friday and you'll see

The normal weekly stylings of your local blogger man

Courage + Belief = LIFE

How Can You Burn a Tiki Torch to the Ground?

2009-07-14T23:53:00.003-04:00

We found out that under certain conditions, a tiki torch will not only burn as it's intended to...but will burn to the ground.

Here's what happened: I went, as normally scheduled, to The Hub college/singles fellowship at my church. We cooked out outdoors, along with having volleyball, cornhole, and a bunch of card tables.

In order to keep the bugs away, our college/singles pastor Pete brought out about 8 tiki torches. He set them up almost exactly as you would normally do and had Jared Rollins light them.

Note the words "almost exactly" in the above paragraph.

Inside of 20 minutes, one of the torches caught fire. And we're not talking about burning as they are supposed to.

We mean the outside of the torch caught ON FIRE.

Minutes later, a second caught on fire, close to Pete's Jeep. Our firefighter on scene moved that torch and we let it burn to the ground.

About 10 minutes after the second one caught fire, the first torch that caught fire began falling apart. Then a THIRD went flame on, and quickly burned to the ground, also scorching the grass within a 3 foot radius.

And, finally, about 20 minutes after the third began to burn...YEP - a FOURTH TORCH caught fire, and this too was allowed to burn itself out.

That turned out to be the very last one that would catch, as we put the rest out after that happened.

It's thought the torch wicks weren't prepared correctly, or something else happened.

Either way, we now know how a torch can catch fire, and burn to the ground.

I think we'll be looking for metal tiki torches after THAT fiasco.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Classmate From HS Deployed...

2009-07-14T02:27:00.003-04:00

There is nothing that can be said for this except Godspeed, Shaun. I'll let the article from Cincinnati.com and the Community Press speak for itself.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Shaun M. Leicht, along with more than 2,500 sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG), Norfolk, Va., and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU), Camp Lejeune, N. C., are deployed to support Maritime Security Operations, provide crisis response capability and increase theater security cooperation and forward Naval presence in the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of operation.

Leicht is a 2004 graduate of Boone County High School of Florence and joined the Navy in July 2005.

He is the son of Melinda M. Jones Terry of Amelia, and Phillip W. Leicht of Florence.

During a port call in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, the sailors and Marines hosted tours aboard ship. They also volunteered to assist residents and refurbish the grounds at the Association Sindrome de Down de Beleares, dedicated to helping persons with Down Syndrome. The sailors and Marines also had the opportunity to participate in bicycling and kayaking tours, tours of Palma City, the Caves of Drach and Costa Nord.

Bataan also recently commemorated the Battle of Midway, wearing uniforms as they were worn in 1942 and playing Midway announcements throughout the day over the ship's general announcing system.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle the Sixth (A Day Late)

2009-07-11T20:59:00.002-04:00

I had meant and planned to post this last evening on my return from Mikey's house. However...physical circumstances prevented such. I will note as always that these are NEVER pre-written (like most of my poem work). It is all done on the fly...

Here we go again
Time for another go-round
And I had hoped we were done with memorials
But it looks like there's more to do

Steve McNair was a good player
Of the game of football
So why someone shot him dead
Is puzzling for us all

Arturo Gatti got some people talking
Made some watch the sweet science of boxing
He too, was shot dead today
What is the world comin to

Me and my boy the K-I-D
Got some work done this week
But we got a long way to go yet
And this is far from a finished concept

We're about done for this week
And I want y'all to come back in 7
So for now I say love, peace and blessin's to y'all
And so long, from the 8-5-9

Courage + Belief = LIFE

April 26, 2004: My first serious accident.

2009-07-09T18:23:00.001-04:00

So, a few minutes ago I told everyone I might talk more about the accident on April 26, 2004. I decided I would do it.

Let's set the scene: It's a nice spring day. At the time, I loved to go to local skate parks and ride the ramps. (I don't do it so much anymore.) On this day, I was making my way up to the Ollie's Skate Park (an indoor park) along US Highway 25 in Florence's industrial district.

As I approached the Remke Market along 25, I looked to my left and saw someone in a pickup truck pulling up in the driveway. Now, on a sidewalk, pedestrians are to always have the right of way. (See here, this is Kentucky State Law.) Unfortunately...the driver didn't yield.

Consequently, I was struck from the left side by this pickup truck, dragged under his front bumper for a fifteen foot distance, and remained wedged under there for several minutes.

I was taken to St. Luke West Hospital to be examined - and was released 4 hours later! Incredibly...I WAS OK. No serious injuries! Most people would not have walked away without some broken bones...I DID. My wheelchair, however was TOTALED.

I later went to court against the guy who hit me, and won a settlement of $3800. With that, I bought the desktop computer which I still have today and did a couple other things.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

A First: Thursday Thirteen

2009-07-09T18:02:00.002-04:00

So, this idea comes from Pat J. of Pat J (at least in my mind) knows it all fame. Every week or so on Thursday he does a list of thirteen...something's. It can be thirteen of anything at all.

So this week, his was about 13 dates that he remembers as being big days for him. So, I thought I'd list thirteen of my own.

1) 8-19-1985: The day I came into this world, and was diagnosed with spina bifida.
2) 10-1-2000: The first of two near-death experiences.
3) 4-30-2000: The day I was baptized, becoming a born-again Christian.
4) 4-27-2004: The first time I was ever involved in a serious accident. (I might detail this in a later blog.)
5) 5-7-2004: My senior prom. Never forget it.
6) 5-27-2004: Graduation night! Nuff said.
7) 6-2-2008: The first of two days of severe thunderstorms, packing hail, high winds, and several tornadoes. It was two days of severe weather tracking that I will NEVER forget!
8) 7-20-2008: Another severe weather day across my hometown. This time, a funnel cloud was spotted six miles west of my house, incredibly it a) didn't touch down and b) weakened before hitting the city of Florence, albeit slightly.
9) 9-14-2008: Two reasons this day is memorable. 1) My longtime best friend from high school, Krista Simpson, had her baby late the previous night. 2) HURRICANE IKE. The strongest winds I have ever experienced live and in person. 50 mile per hour sustained winds, with gusts pushing into the 75 to 80 mile per hour range! It was destruction everywhere!
10) 3-8-2009: My church moves into its new building. Again...nuff said.
11) 7-1-2009: The day I was inspired by the late Billy Mays to create a device to help millions.
12) 8-23-2006: My niece was born on this date.
13)(tie) 8-18-07/6-8-07/1-7-07: The days I found out my aunt, grandpa Moses and papa Mitch had died.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Shuffle Blog That Almost Isn't.

2009-07-08T22:43:00.003-04:00

Gonna start this with Bon Jovi - Have a Nice Day.

So I hope everybody is doing well. Me...meh, I could be better, after today's debacle with trying to get a wheelchair cushion replaced. Which apparently, even if I do express delivery, will take TWO DAYS. My mom thinks I need to shut myself down for two days...but, I already know no matter how I do everything, if I shut down for two days, we'll have to work that much harder to get back on track with the project Mikey and I are doing. And besides this... I don't HAVE two days to wait for what I need! So I would really like to NOT have to shut down for two days. As it is, taking today off, while good for the body, won't throw us off too far. Taking more than a day off...that will.

So, as "Live For The Moment" by Monster Magnet comes on the speakers...what else? Well as I said, I'm working on a serious project to help make life better for millions. There's about 20 million people who could use what I'm working on. I just hope beyond hope that it all works out! Yes I'll release details at some point here on this blog - but, I would be risking someone stealing our idea. I will say this - it will make carrying some things easier!

"I ain't buyin no future/When the past is so far away!" - lyric from "Live For The Moment". YEAH!

What next? Well, as "Are You Real" by KJ-52 comes blasting in...I turn my attention to de-compression. How many of us stress so much over the little stuff...and then when the big things come along, are completely and totally PARALYZED by it as if we don't know what to do? And we probably don't. I have had those moments. "Now that I've seen you, I've been through a major change..." If we're gonna make changes in our lives, they are these:

1) Don't lay your head down tonight if you're reading this, without coming to know God if you don't.
2) Let Him worry about everything. Big, small, whatever.

That's what I plan to do tonight. "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield now. NICE! I picked this one. I'm trying to get my mind right tonight - so I don't go to bed stressed. That's what writing this blog is about too. Just to release all this stuff on my mind.

It's almost 2 years since my aunt Kathy died. (J's Note: It was August 14, 2007 that she took her own life.) I sometimes wonder what she would say if I told her what I am doing now. I'm sure she would smile on me and say, "Good job, Jeremy."

I think my brain is empty now, so I'm gonna go - I need sleep before I cross the river tomorrow to work on the big invention. I'm taking the laptop tomorrow - so I will talk to everybody from Mikey's.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Classic Post: I Like Cliff Because...

2009-07-06T13:48:00.002-04:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I originally posted this back on March 12. Following the passing of Cliff's brother Allen yesterday, I felt it was a good time for this to be posted again.

I was first introduced to Cliff via Ohio Media Watch, which was the inspiration for my initial blog at Tri-State Media Watch. He put up a post introducing me to the blog-o-sphere, to which of course I reciprocated and prominently featured him (and still do) in my links on that blog.

A short time afterwards, I launched this blog for those who aren't media geeks like myself. And again, Cliff was very good about promoting the new blog space, doing a post specifically about it. And a short time later, several people began floating over, in fact much of my reader base for this blog, came from Cliff's which I am very grateful for.

Every day, I receive an email from Cliff with a devotional attached to it. I take time every day and read this, and it has helped inspire me for my day. Earlier this week, you'll recall, I asked the others who receive these devotionals for prayers in dealing with this latest bout with depression. Cliff has some great friends who read these devotionals, too...because the response was overwhelming. Cliff surrounds himself with nothing but the best, most positive, caring people in the world.

Cliff also writes poetry, much like I have been known to. His blog Whattville is on the Other Side of the Tracks is a blog in which Cliff expresses his creativity. This is writing the likes of which I could only hope to match.

And of course, there's the other Christ-like qualities Cliff has. His blog Seek Him First is full of good, inspirational stuff for the Christian soul. Whenever I see he's written something new there (which, I need to put both the latter of his blogs in my follow list, before I get scatterbrained), I look to see what he might have for me.

All of this, and more, is why I like Cliff. If you have never read his blogs, go read them. If you came here from his blog, be sure you remind him just how great of a man he really is.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Prayers For Cliff

2009-07-05T12:57:00.000-04:00

Cliff's brother Allen has passed away as of 0600 this morning.

Please pray for him and his entire family.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Happy Fourth Of July!

2009-07-04T15:06:00.000-04:00

Cliff posted it, so I will now repost it.

Courage + Belief = LIFE

Friday Freestyle the Fifth

2009-07-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

NOTE: As always, this is NEVER pre-written and has come to me on the fly, so here we go!

We're back again after a week of stuff
From colds to peeps dying to all manner of things
And as we always do, let's take it back
And crank ourselves through the week that was

Ya boy started out flat on his rear
From a seriously bad cough and cold
But I'm back to 100 percent
So bozos better be watchin out

We paid tribute to a pitchman
And saw a 15 hour marathon
And it's inspired some ideas
Which you'll hear bout soon enough

When things go down in a hurry
You bet Supertwit and Twitterman are involved
And sometimes those things that go down
Are just too stupid to not be funny

So that be the week that was
For the two Brothers Redneck
I'll get back at ya next week
Till then, keep chill, and remember, WE GOT THIS!

Courage + Belief = LIFE

What Are You Thinking - Next Installment Later Today!

2009-07-02T02:43:00.003-04:00

The next installment of my "What Are You Thinking, Cincinnati?" series is coming today (7/2). This time, it's another roadway-related pet peeve of mine...chiefly, RUSH HOUR ROADWORK on a 3 lane street! UGH...getting my blood boiling THINKING about the 15 extra minutes I sat on a bus, cramping thanks to said 3 lane street, yesterday afternoon coming home from my buddy Mikey's house...

More later, I PROMISE...

Courage + Belief = LIFE

A Broader Themed "What Are You Thinking?" Post

2009-06-30T04:53:00.004-04:00

WARNING: Loads of caps typing ahead...sorry, y'all, I'm a bit frustrated this morning.

So, I am sitting here, early this morning, glancing around the internet. I go to my email and see an invitation to be part of some "RickRoll Day" today. The person says Rick Astley (you know, the guy behind the "RickRoll" video meme?) has died today.

This would normally be a fitting way to pay tribute to a deceased celebrity. (Heck, look what we saw with MJ's death Thursday. Or with Billy Mays' death Sunday [today was a day when people were asked to wear blue in his memory]). But...

Come on. You can't fool someone who blogs about media. Factchecking is the bane of any journalist's existence.

So, I looked into this story. Not only is it TOTALLY FALSE, but there's a SECOND one about Kanye West, same kind of story, also dead. ALSO TOTALLY FALSE.

When the hell are people gonna start learning that you can't trust everything that's said on the internet!?!? Just because someone throws the supposed "story" on a national news site (In this case, CNN's I-Report is being used to spread this false news) doesn't make it true. The news organizations will almost ALWAYS check the facts BEFORE reporting them as true.

So, in conclusion, about this "spreading rumors of celebrity demises", I say:

WAKE UP, WORLD...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Courage + Belief = LIFE

2:50 AM Prayer Request...

2009-06-29T02:46:00.002-04:00

I am badly in need of prayers this early morning.

Since early Saturday morning I have been fighting what's wound up being a pretty severe cold. Now, my throat has become irritated and I'm getting slightly worried I may have more issues than originally thought.

Keep me in thoughts and prayers...this is not feeling good, and certainly not looking good. I might need to go for my once-a-year hospital stay if this continues...

Courage + Belief = LIFE