Greetings and welcome to another round of Random Thoughts from yours truly. This is probably going to be shorter than usual or at least have shorter blurbs because...well...there isn't as much for me to talk about this time around. However, I do have stuff to say so with that in mind, let's get to it. Enjoy.
- Before I get going, I just want to note that I haven't been feeling all that great lately. I've been struggling for the longest time as many of you know, but I've really been feeling at low ebb over the past couple days. The low feeling will pass but it will probably take some time. In the meantime, just pray for me as I deal. I wasn't planning on doing the blog for another few days or so but I decided to do it today in the hope that it will help me get over the low ebb stuff sooner. Writing usually helps me with that stuff.
- One of the aspects of this new beginning for myself is the closing of some chapters in my life in order to move on and start new ones, akin to some parts of the Parable of the Sower from the Bible (the planting of mustard seeds and all that). I don't know just yet how some of those will shake out, but I was unexpectedly able to close one of those chapters this past weekend, hence the "closing" edition. The Outside Corner in Gahanna, one of my hangouts over the past several years, closed for good on Sunday and was apparently sold to the guy who previously owned Fat Jacks and Chrome (I've never been to those places, but I've heard they weren't the greatest places to go). For those of you on Facebook who wondered what I was talking about when I said it was the end of an era, this was it. I hung out there in stretches over the past five years or so and had some pretty good times, but I've been there only three or four times in the past nine months. It was a good place to hang out and go on the weekends during those stretches. I met some great people there along the way that I still keep in touch with and even reunited with some friends from WAY back in the day. This place was also one of the motivating factors in me moving to where I've been living the past few years. I knew that this club was one of those chapters that was going to be closed in this process. I'm just happy this chapter in my life came to a natural end and I got to say goodbye before the club shut down. I will miss the good times there but it is time to move on to bigger and better things as this new beginning starts taking shape for me.
- One of the things I've been paying attention to football-wise is the UFL, the upstart league that had it's premiere season late last year. They are making some major changes in the offseason. The league is now dedicating itself to cities without a major NFL presence, moving two of the teams from New York and San Francisco to Hartford, CT and Sacramento respectively and attempting to add two more teams to the league. It also looks like those god-awful uniforms all the teams had last season will change to new, better-looking, and more traditional-looking ones. The UFL is also exploring the option of an agreement with the NFL as to maybe becoming a minor league or supplemental league like NFL Europa was for years. It is hard to go up against the juggernaut that is the NFL but after next season there is the possibility that the UFL will be the only league playing pro football as the NFL may not play until a collective bargaining agreement is reached. The possibility is there that the NFL will go dark after next season if a CBA isn't reached by the time that season is supposed to start. I hope there is one, but I'm still going to cross my fingers on that.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers have already clinched the Central Division in the NBA and are now aiming for home-court advantage in the playoffs. Also, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has returned to the team after being traded for Antwan Jamison, giving them some needed help at the center position. It looks like the dominos are starting to fall for LeBron James to get his first championship and possibly sign a contract extension with the team.
- My church home: Crossroads World Christian Center ministered by Pastor Cory Pariseau.
- As far as my birthday goes, I still don't have any solid plans for that yet. I have an idea for an activity during the day and maybe a place to go that night...remember, it is on a Friday this year...but nothing has been set in stone. Like I said last time, I'm open to ideas and for people to join me on the 9th of April, so get them to me in the next week or so. I'm hoping to have the general game plan set by the time of my next blog so that you'll all know what's up beforehand so that if you want to join me you can plan ahead.
- One word: blah.
- Song on repeat: "Loser" by Beck. It's not so much a song I've actually listened to recently more that it is somewhat of an idea about how I've felt lately. I wish the choice were a more upbeat song...maybe next time.
- SLP to the following: Nick, Dave, Steve, Carlos, Ernest, Tommy D, Shane D, Holly, Heather, Daryl, Harry, and Shane (the other one).
I hope that I'm feeling better the next time I blog. I'll feel better eventually, but pray for me in the meantime. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
DJ
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- Before I get going, I just want to note that I haven't been feeling all that great lately. I've been struggling for the longest time as many of you know, but I've really been feeling at low ebb over the past couple days. The low feeling will pass but it will probably take some time. In the meantime, just pray for me as I deal. I wasn't planning on doing the blog for another few days or so but I decided to do it today in the hope that it will help me get over the low ebb stuff sooner. Writing usually helps me with that stuff.
- One of the aspects of this new beginning for myself is the closing of some chapters in my life in order to move on and start new ones, akin to some parts of the Parable of the Sower from the Bible (the planting of mustard seeds and all that). I don't know just yet how some of those will shake out, but I was unexpectedly able to close one of those chapters this past weekend, hence the "closing" edition. The Outside Corner in Gahanna, one of my hangouts over the past several years, closed for good on Sunday and was apparently sold to the guy who previously owned Fat Jacks and Chrome (I've never been to those places, but I've heard they weren't the greatest places to go). For those of you on Facebook who wondered what I was talking about when I said it was the end of an era, this was it. I hung out there in stretches over the past five years or so and had some pretty good times, but I've been there only three or four times in the past nine months. It was a good place to hang out and go on the weekends during those stretches. I met some great people there along the way that I still keep in touch with and even reunited with some friends from WAY back in the day. This place was also one of the motivating factors in me moving to where I've been living the past few years. I knew that this club was one of those chapters that was going to be closed in this process. I'm just happy this chapter in my life came to a natural end and I got to say goodbye before the club shut down. I will miss the good times there but it is time to move on to bigger and better things as this new beginning starts taking shape for me.
- One of the things I've been paying attention to football-wise is the UFL, the upstart league that had it's premiere season late last year. They are making some major changes in the offseason. The league is now dedicating itself to cities without a major NFL presence, moving two of the teams from New York and San Francisco to Hartford, CT and Sacramento respectively and attempting to add two more teams to the league. It also looks like those god-awful uniforms all the teams had last season will change to new, better-looking, and more traditional-looking ones. The UFL is also exploring the option of an agreement with the NFL as to maybe becoming a minor league or supplemental league like NFL Europa was for years. It is hard to go up against the juggernaut that is the NFL but after next season there is the possibility that the UFL will be the only league playing pro football as the NFL may not play until a collective bargaining agreement is reached. The possibility is there that the NFL will go dark after next season if a CBA isn't reached by the time that season is supposed to start. I hope there is one, but I'm still going to cross my fingers on that.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers have already clinched the Central Division in the NBA and are now aiming for home-court advantage in the playoffs. Also, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has returned to the team after being traded for Antwan Jamison, giving them some needed help at the center position. It looks like the dominos are starting to fall for LeBron James to get his first championship and possibly sign a contract extension with the team.
- My church home: Crossroads World Christian Center ministered by Pastor Cory Pariseau.
- As far as my birthday goes, I still don't have any solid plans for that yet. I have an idea for an activity during the day and maybe a place to go that night...remember, it is on a Friday this year...but nothing has been set in stone. Like I said last time, I'm open to ideas and for people to join me on the 9th of April, so get them to me in the next week or so. I'm hoping to have the general game plan set by the time of my next blog so that you'll all know what's up beforehand so that if you want to join me you can plan ahead.
- One word: blah.
- Song on repeat: "Loser" by Beck. It's not so much a song I've actually listened to recently more that it is somewhat of an idea about how I've felt lately. I wish the choice were a more upbeat song...maybe next time.
- SLP to the following: Nick, Dave, Steve, Carlos, Ernest, Tommy D, Shane D, Holly, Heather, Daryl, Harry, and Shane (the other one).
I hope that I'm feeling better the next time I blog. I'll feel better eventually, but pray for me in the meantime. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
DJ
