Call Me What You Will

Recently I was called a redneck. More specifically I was told I was a ‘small town, redneck hick who is uneducated, has low self esteem and had an unpleasant upbringing.’ I think this person was trying to offend me. Nah, not me. Not the guy who doesn’t want to be normal. I kind of laughed at it.

Just a bit of history first. I was born in Creve Coeur, Missouri. I grew up in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Have any of you been to Creve Coeur? It was, and still is, in the middle of suburbia in St. Louis County. I currently live a couple of miles from where I grew up. While I was growing up my area had a diverse group of people in it. My school district, Parkway, participated in the desegregation program so we had everyone at our school including some great city kids to children of doctors and lawyers. In fact, would you believe the first person I met in elementary school, who is still my friend on Facebook, commented on my redneck thoughts a few days ago when I posted them on there? He said he was called ‘The Redneck Rabbi’ because someone saw him attending a car show.

I kind of wish I was more redneck at times. Ah…the life. Think about it. Living by open land where I could have a baseball field on my property. I could teach my son the art of shooting a can off a fence without the neighbors yelling at me. Heck, Jeff Foxworthy has made a lot of money being a redneck. I have always thought of myself as more of the Bill Engvall type though. I’m smart enough to know how to do something but stupid enough to try it anyways. I would also love to give people their stupid signs.

I wear muscle shirts when it is hot outside. I am naturally warm, so the less clothes the better. Redneck maybe, but this just seems smart to me. I am usually seen outside of work or our house wearing a baseball cap. I have made change in the offering plate, I watch NASCAR, and I met my wife at a country bar in Southern California. I know how to boot scoot, tush push, and won awards for line dancing back in the day. I love sweet tea and good BBQ. I believe that if it’s not at Wal-Mart, you don’t need it. You might want it, but you really don’t need it. I will flip you ‘the Bull’ if you ask me to.

Sure, I may not have gone to college much. I really don’t care too much about art or theatre. I know I come from divorced parents and my single mom did the best she thought she could. Hey, my life is far from perfect. Oh well. What matters is that I am me. Call me redneck, call me a city boy, call me whatever. It really doesn’t matter to me. I have a quote on my wall at work that says ‘What they think doesn’t define who I am.’ I don’t know where I got it from, but it fits when I get called something that might be thought of as derogatory by other people.

St. Louis Sports Observations

St. Louis Sports

Been kind of quiet with my views on Twitter, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts on sports and more specifically St. Louis Sports. This is an exciting time for sports here in St. Louis.

Gotta start with the NHL Playoffs and the St. Louis Blues. Today, they are up 2 games to 0 over the defending Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs. Goalie Brian Elliott has been playing his butt off. Alexander Steen scored all the Blues needed in the first game and Barrett Jackman scored with under a minute left to secure game 2. At the beginning of this strike shortened season, I believed that Jaden Schwartz was going to be the better hockey player than Valdimir Tarasenko. Schwartz has shown thru the first two games against the Kings that he has what it takes to be a great player. He has been stars in both games. I hope the Blues can continue this run. They worry me when they will go up against the more offensive minded teams.

Ok, St. Louis Rams time. I did not watch the NFL Draft. I will leave that boring TV to the experts. I did follow the Rams picks on Twitter and know they traded up when they wanted someone and got some teammates that will help Sam Bradford at Wide Receiver. What I read on these players though has made me believe that the Rams have gone away from their ‘Five Pillars’ philosophy and have gone with just the best players. I am also happy that the Rams did not get Justin Blackmon in a previous year’s draft.

Well how about them St. Louis Cardinals. No Chris Carpenter. Who knows when we will see Jason Motte. Just this week Scrabble and Boggs get sent down to AAA. David Freese hasn’t hit worth a darn after hurting his back. Allen Craig hasn’t hit a ball out of the park. Yet, the Cardinals are leading their division. Something they have done on May 1st every year since 2008. Jake Westbrook is leading the league with a 1.08 ERA. Adam Wainwright is showing he is the Ace. Matt Carpenter is leading the league in runs scored and playing a great 2B when he is allowed. Yadier Molina is clearly the team MVP. He’s batting .327 currently! Carlos Beltran is playing well. Matt Adams was shining on the days he played before his injury. Craig, despite no home runs, is in the top ten in RBIs. Wainwright and Lynn are tied for the league lead in wins and among the top ten in strikeouts.

Ok enough stats. Let’s just say that it is exciting time to be a St. Louis Sports fan. I wish you were all here to enjoy it with us because who needs the NBA

Support

Yeah I know I haven’t written anything in a while. Life gets in the way. I also never write about asking for help. There are things that go on daily in our lives where we require the support of others. Not very often do we thank those that give us that support. I did this today in an email to my colleagues/friends that I have worked with in the past thanking them for their support of me. I asked them for their continued support of me in the near future.

Today, the job I have been acting in for the past nine months has been announced so that I can apply for it. This has been a long painstaking process that my boss has worked very hard behind the scenes to get done. She has been a great boss, mentor, and friend to me over the years. I wish you all were so lucky to have someone like her in your life both personally and professionally.

This job was done by someone previously at a much higher grade level than I currently am. When they left for a higher job, I was left as the only employee in St. Louis in my function. I don’t know what it took to convince the higher ups to let me act in the position. I know it took me more work with no more pay. Just experience is all I was guaranteed. I am a loyalist to the people I work for and care about, so I said ok. Over the past six plus months I have faced many challenges, thought I screwed up majorly a couple of times, but all in all I showed myself and apparently others that I can do this job.

I remember being asked in the past how I can try to be nice to everyone. Sometimes I fail at it miserably. But I have learned one important thing in life. You never know whose support you are going to need. Think I might have even mentioned that in the blog before. This is a time I guess I may need the support.

Support

I’d like to take this time to thank all that have supported me in the past and ask that you keep praying and/or keeping good thoughts coming my way as I prepare my application, my colleagues edit it, Personnel reviews it, and those selecting make their decision.

I am not done asking for support. A few weeks ago, a lifelong friend of mine was hit by a car at his job. David Van Dyk has been battling brain issues since then. He has been in a doctor’s monitored coma since the accident and they are trying to find ways to keep his brain pressure low. David needs your prayers way more than I do. He is battling for his life. His parents are by his bedside and there are people all over this world praying for him. Please help and pray for DVD. David is one year younger than me and I have known him for over 25 years. He has been to many s’mores nights at my house and has been in my Men’s Fraternity small group. Prayer has been powerful for him and his family since the accident so I ask for your help.

Many others have faced battles recently. Do what your heart desires for them. Keep your good thoughts going, support them, or pray. You never know how your goodness will affect people.

2013 MLB Playoff Predictions and Awards

My third blog in one week!  Continuing my United Cardinals Bloggers Predictions assignment I have taken my predictions thread to another level.  Here are my award and playoff predictions.

AL Cy Young:  Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners.  No one player does more for their team as a pitcher.  He helps lead his team to the playoffs as baseballs only 20 game winner.

AL Most Valuable Player:  Yeah this one is tough.  My gut says Chris Young from the Orioles will have a breakout year but Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers edges him out.  Mike Trout comes in third as his team fades in the standings.

AL Rookie of the Year:  I will be honest, I have no clue.  Somebody from Toronto or Seattle will step up and claim it.  Haven’t seen much on rookies this spring.

AL Comeback Player of the Year:  John Lackey, Boston Red Sox.  I think Lackey does almost enough to get Boston back to the playoffs.  A 15 plus win season is a good thing again for him.

NL Cy Young:  Ian Kennedy, Arizona Diamondbacks.  Yeah, no one else may pick him but I am.  Who would have picked R. A. Dickey before last year?  Kennedy takes the next step and is the ace of the best staff in the NL.

NL Most Valuable Player:  Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.  He is the best offensive player on the best offensive team in the league.  I hope Adam LaRoche and Stephen Strasburg don’t steal any votes from him.  Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Howard, and Matt Holliday round out the contenders.

NL Rookie of the Year:  Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals.  He will win 15 games for the Cardinals and edge out someone no one has heard of yet.

NL Comeback Player of the Year:  Heath Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks.  He will take over the closer job in Arizona at some point and be the pitcher he once was.

AL Playoffs:  Cleveland beats Seattle in a great one game playoff for the wild card.  Texas edges Toronto and Cleveland takes Detroit to the limit but loses the Division Series.  Texas beats Detroit in six games to reach the World Series.

NL Playoffs:  Los Angeles over Philadelphia in a good pitching beats good hitting game.  St. Louis edges Arizona and Washington sweeps the Dodgers in the Divisional Series.  Washington beats St. Louis in 6 games to avenge last year’s playoffs on the road to the World Series.

World Series:  Washington is clearly the better team and proves it.  More people learn about Adam LaRoche as he wins World Series MVP.  People in Montreal and our nation’s capital rejoice.  Once again Texas should be just happy they got there.  Davey Johnson announces his retirement celebrating in the clubhouse.

Part of me wants me to be totally wrong.  Part of me wants the unexpected to happen because that is what happens in baseball.    Here’s to a fun 2013!

2013 National League Predictions Time

The March assignment for the United Cardinals Bloggers is to do a MLB predictions blog.  Today is my second post this week! Wow, a blogger who posts regularly!  

I think the National League East could be one of the toughest divisions in baseball.  There are three teams that could win it depending on injuries and performance. 

NL East:

Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies (WC)

Atlanta Braves

New York Mets

Miami Marlins 

The Phillies are back.  Not all the way but they gel as a team and stay healthy enough to get a Wild Card berth as Washington runs away with the division,  I love the Braves but they need a setback to be a better team in the long run.  The Mets and the Marlins are just going to be bad. 

The Dodgers have spent, the Giants just won, and this is the wild NL West. 

NL West:

Arizona Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers (WC)

San Francisco Giants

ColoradoRockies

San Diego Padres 

I almost could pick the West 6 different ways.  I don’t think the Padres did enough to get closer to the other teams.  A lot is riding on the Dodgers to make the playoffs and they just barely succeed.  I just like that Kirk Gibson managed squad in the desert.  

Ah, last but not least, My Cardinals and the NL Central.  Injuries are already in effect here, there is one less team, and the only thing for sure is the Cubs are still bad. 

NL Central:

St. Louis Cardinals

Milwaukee Brewers

Cincinnati Reds

Pittsburgh Pirates

Chicago Cubs 

The Cardinals edge their way into the playoffs.  I believe the Reds will fall apart.  The Brewers have done a good job retooling and I think they win it if the Cardinals have too many injuries.  I think the Cardinals get hot in late in August and edge the Brewers by two games with maybe 87 wins.  Gonna be a mediocre division compared to the other two in the league.  I love Andrew McCutcheon and A. J. Burnett in Pittsburgh but it is just not enough for them.  Like I said, the Cubs are bad.  Anthony Rizzo has a great year for them though. 

I will do a separate blog on post season predictions later this week.

2013 American League Predictions Time

This years  March assignment for the United Cardinals Bloggers is to do a MLB predictions blog.  I am going to try to write three blogs on this in a week.  Yeah, that’s kind of unheard of from me, but let’s see where this goes.  Today will be the American League,  later will be the National League,  and then postseason and awards.  

The AL East should be interesting this year.  I am excited to see what happens there.  I have a soft spot in my heart for the Baltimore Orioles.  Here’s what I think: 

AL East:

Toronto Blue Jays

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

I just think Toronto has done enough to win what seems to have become baseballs weakest division.  It will be fun for me to see the Yankees struggle even though I am a huge Kevin Youkilis fan.  

The AL Central is my favorite division in the American League.  I root for these teams when they aren’t playing each other.  I have friends who are fans of these teams.  

AL Central:

Detroit Tigers

Cleveland Indians (WC)

Kansas City Royals

Chicago White Sox

Minnesota Twins 

This is exactly my same predicted finish as last year for the Central.  I think the Royals and Indians will push Detroit all year.   

The AL West did not get any more interesting with the addition of the Houston Astros.  I think there are other factors.  

AL West:

Texas Rangers

Seattle Mariners (WC)

Oakland Athletics

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Houston Astros 

Seattle is my surprise team this year.  ‘King’ Felix will dominate.  Angels will be struck by many many injuries and Mike Trout cannot carry the team himself.  The Seattle Oakland wildcard race will go down to the last day.

Stayed tuned later this week for my other prediction blogs…

I Don’t Want to be Normal

What is normal?  Looking at a few dictionary definitions I think it means conforming to a standard, being average, or regular. I think normal is what you want as result of a medical test, not something you aspire to be.  Is normal a range?  Are having a wife, kids, friends, and a job normal?  Is staying out of trouble considered normal?  I asked about ten people I know if they thought of themselves as normal.  All but one said yes.  The other said they were above normal.

Is there something wrong with not wanting to be normal?

Yeah, I am goofy.  I am a muppet of a man.  I am a Marine.  I am a Veteran.  I am anything but normal.  I have a wife, a son, 2 dogs, a good job, few close friends but many friends.  My job is anything but normal.  I am currently doing the work that was being done by four people previously.  I deal with Incident Management and employee communications on a daily basis.  I can’t be normal and succeed in my job.  I have to adapt with change and I have to be flexible.  I think I have to do that at home too.  My son changes daily.  Those of you with teenagers can empathize.  I know my wife is way above normal to have put up with me all these years.

I don’t like the phrases ‘I can’t’ or ‘I don’t know how’.  As Yoda says ‘Do or do not, there is no try!’  Why even bother doing something if you are not going to give it your all.  I have known many people in my life who do things ‘half ass’.  Boy, nothing pisses me off more than someone not giving 100%.  You want to be average?  Do you want to be normal?  I don’t.

This is about what I think of me.  What others think of me does not define who I am.  This is about believing I can do great things.  Heck, this is about believing I am doing great things.  I believe that love can be freely shared among friends.  I don’t want to hide my feelings for someone because it is not politically correct.  I have faith in my fellow humans.  I assume the best in people until they prove to me otherwise and then I still think there is good to be had.  For you Once Upon A Time Folks: I don’t think that once you have some darkness in your heart that it cannot be changed to good.

I watched a 30 for 30 special last night on ESPN.  It was about the North Carolina State Wolfpack team that won the NCAA Men’s National Championship in basketball in 1983.  Jim Valvano was predominantly featured.  He is a hero of mine that I have never met.  He continues to inspire me to this day.  He taught people to ‘Don’t give up, don’t ever give up!’  He also told of three things we all should do every day: laugh, spend some time thinking, and have your emotions move you to tears.  The last one can be tears of joy or sadness.  I have already done all three while writing this blog.  But I am not normal.

Strive to be more than average.  Dream of things other cannot see.  Believe love and mercy still exist.  Show others how much you care for them.  Don’t let someone not know how you feel about them.  You may lose them without them ever knowing.  Make sure they understand what you mean.

I leave you with a quote from the Warren Brothers song ‘Change’: “Someday my luck is going to change; they’ll think I am brilliant instead of insane”.