Merry Christmas

      Been very busy over the last week, and it's been evident here as I've written nothing-literally!

I forgot to post the PPM (I'll have the results with this week's version) and didn't even have time to write about the Browns loss to Buffalo.

That was the first time I can remember that I didn't write about a Browns game.

I still have to catch up with a road trip and others after the first of the year.

I have things to say, I only need time to write them!

Enjoy your day (I am at work) and have a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

    A few lines to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and what will hopefully be a happy holiday season.

It's a strange one for me and I can't quite figure out why.

It hasn't felt like a holiday throughout the season and while I can't say it's been a bad holiday, it hasn't been a special one either.

I do have some things (nothing that is Earth-shattering) that I will be writing about soon and I have a post or two planned to review a few weekend trips to note some finds for the collection.

I hope the few of you who read this regularly enjoy your holidays and know that you are appreciated by your humble author.

Merry Christmas!

 Happy Holidays from myself and my hard-working staff here at TRS!

Hope the holidays are safe and happy ones!

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas everyone!

Due to an eye injury, I am not available online very often for a few days.

I will explain more when it passed.

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday!

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas to those of you that read TRS on a regular or occasional day.

It hasn't been the best year at TRS or for the country, which constantly takes a step forward and then a step back into ending the pandemic that has taken so much enjoyment from everyone's lives.

As for me, the blog has been more of a slog this year.

I'm not always motivated to write and even though I sometimes want to write, I either don't have time or I don't want to deal with the consequences of my opinions.

Not on sports, mind you, I've been taking those arrows for years but on other topics.

However, the state of the country has drained me and while disinterested would be a term far too harsh, it's difficult when you feel that your point of view isn't being represented by media very often.

I just don't have the energy to argue with people at this stage and considering that I'm not likely to find a home on the left or the right, it has worn me out.

I find it best to stay informed but try to keep things to myself when possible.

I wish I could tell you my plans for TRS in 2022 other than I plan to continue things here.

I want to write, as I noted above, but sometimes I have time and no ideas and occasionally it is the other way around.

I can't lie.

Sometimes sports (Especially baseball) do not feel as important to me anymore.

There are exceptions- boxing. Ohio State football and I am really enjoying the revitalization of the Cavaliers but baseball has gotten me to the point of barely caring, and Rachel doesn't seem as interested in the Devils and without that, I'm not quite as interested either.

Still, I find myself wanting to write more about history in sports and you may see more of that in the upcoming year.

That's enough for now-enjoy your holidays and thanks for sticking with me...

Merry Christmas

 Hope that all of you have a great Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to those of you that read this and I sincerely wish Happy Holidays for those of you that observe other traditions at this time of year as well.

I am in the middle of the process of dealing with the loss of my mother, but until the "life celebration" event that is in the planning is complete, I don't think that the gravity of this will sink in.

I've never lost a parent before, but when I talk to people that have (or have lost a spouse), what I consistently hear is this- the toughest time isn't immediately after, it's the time when the work is complete, the people bringing condolences are gone and that is when the hurt hits home.

Christmas has evolved for me through the years.
It's been something that I've enjoyed some times more than others and the most recent few years have been some of the best holiday seasons that I've ever had, but things have changed now.
December will now be marked with loss and although I can separate the good times from the bad, they will still be attached from this point forward.
I'm positive that there will eventually be a post where I write about my mom and who she was, but I'm not sure when that will be finished.
I've started a few drafts and worked on it a bit, but I haven't been able to get through it.
Trust me, I have feelings and emotions that extend beyond my own, so it has been difficult for me to write how I feel and yet do so honestly and fairly in a way that might not hurt or offend anyone else.
I hope when it is finalized, that it will show how I loved and cared about my mother, but will not idealize as well.

Enough about me, even though this is my space-Ha Ha!
Thank you to my family, my wonderful wife Cherie and my children Ryan and Rachel.
Your kindness and love help me get through every day and my dog Posey too.
I'm blessed in marriage as I realize that I have done far better than I deserve with someone like Cherie.
I'm not a person that gushes in "print" about the best this and the best that, but I know what I have in my family.
So many times you read people on Facebook bragging about their wonderful person in their life and two weeks later, calling them out for being a complete jerk that they can't stand.
I'd rather keep it on an even keel, but trust me, I see and I have seen.

Dogs are so terrific because of their unconditional love and their innate knowledge of their human to know just when they are needed the most.
All of our dogs (Posey is our fourth) have been different in their own way, but Posey's unique manner of showing her love for our family has been a very special addition.

I'm also thinking of all my friends and family as well.
It's self-serving to say there are too many to mention because doesn't that sound pretentious that I have SO many friends?.
Between the people that I have met from the minor league baseball/autographing world, the boxing people that I have met from Twitter and podcast appearances, and the people that care about the teams that I root for that I interact with on social media, I do have a decent amount of people that I enjoy talking with, even if it can be often centered on a common topic or interest.
Social media gets such a bad rap, but like any tool, it is only valuable when used properly.
I've met so many great people and so few trolls (Ironically, the trolls that I have on social media are almost always from people that know me from outside social media!) on Twitter that I don't think people look at the good side that it can have.

Finally, a few special thanks to the friends that are there when I need something to take my mind off things day to day and yet take the time to interact in various ways.
Thanks to my nephew Jeff, who always asks the questions of me that I love to answer and spin-off into interesting conversations.
Jeff's the only nephew that I really know well and through the years, we've become pretty close as more than uncle/nephew, but as friends.
It wouldn't be normal without noting Battlin' Bob, who it seems like I see once or twice a year with work schedules, but I "talk" on Facebook every day and who always makes me laugh!
Denise Nicarry is the "big sister" I've never had and no matter whether I am up or down, she's always making sure that I'm doing OK or not getting too self-important!
And it wouldn't be a normal day to not hear from Fred Landucci.
Fred is the type of friend that every person needs to have at least one in their lifetime and I'm not sure that I have been around a person that is as selfless in friendship as Fred has been to me.
It's also a pretty rare day that I don't hear from Mike Oravec either.
Mike always lets me know that I can call him anytime when I need to talk or deal with various things and I often do.
It can be comforting to have people that care about your well being with nothing to gain for themselves other than just knowing that I am OK.
I also don't want to miss the other person that I "talk" to almost every day.
I speak with Ian McArdle all the time about the Buckeyes, politics, and lord knows what else.
There is always something new to talk about and with Ian, it is high-level conversation that makes me think about a point of view and often times see a point that I might not have seen previously.

I'm sure I've missed more than a few people, it's early and I'm more than a bit hazy, so I truly apologize if I have missed anyone.
Trust me, I appreciate you all more than you know.
Now to one of my two (the list isn't long) Christmas standards- the Beach Boys "Little Saint Nick".

Merry Christmas-Late

You know what the best Christmas present that I can give is?
No Browns review of what was just an awful game to watch as the Browns lost in Chicago 20-3 to fall to 0-15.
Want to read more? Go here.

Yesterday was a busy day and a hectic one,so not only didn't I have time to review another garbage Browns loss, but not even my traditional Christmas post...

Merry Christmas to all of you of course, but special shoutouts to these people of course...

The lovely Cherie, who is the person responsible for almost all the good in my life.
My terrific children Ryan and Rachel.
My great friends (in alphabetical order) Derreck Chupak, Fred Landucci,Battlin' Bob McKain and Mike Oravec.
Fred drove from Harrisburg to give me my Xmas present- the pictured pennant and keychain from the Furman "Paladins" as he knows my love for "Have Gun Will Travel"
From the Autographing World: Bill Cover, Kendall Morris,"Lefty" Koch, Mike Roseberry and Brad Adams.
My Big Sister that I've never had and always needed in Denise Nicarry
My fellow Buckeye fanatic and likely the person that I "talk" to most over the course of a day-Ian McArdle
Our longest supporter of the blog in Big Don Cain.
Julie Kendall ,who has become a good friend through a goofy chance follow on a little thing called Twitter.
And our Fightheads Ramon Malpica ,who allows me to vent on the "air' every Monday night and Vince Samano, who allows me to look back to the days of my youth and think back when things seemed so important.
If I forgot anyone,I sincerely apologize, I'm a bit punchy after the last few days!

I hope the holidays were good to you all and I plan on another Christmas post later tonight..

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to wish all of my family,friends and readers a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays if you prefer!.
Enjoy the day as best you can and I hope to get a podcast done soon!

I planned on doing one tonight and like an idiot,I left the recorder at home!
In any case,enjoy the day and we will see you back here later with maybe a surprise post and Fightheads on Monday night!!!