Hello and welcome to the latest edition of DJ's Random Thoughts. I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping so since I have some things on my mind I thoughts I'd do this instead. With that in mind, let's get to it. Enjoy.
- Before I start, I want to note something about the pic from the last edition. I used it for a while on my Facebook account and I think a few people were wondering what was up with that and why I did that or if I was becoming antisocial or something...or more antisocial than people believe me to be. I did put a quick note about it at the end of the last edition but it was likely glossed over so let me set a few things straight on that. The last edition's pic was actually inspired by a running theme regarding Ohio State and Cleveland sports teams. Even though I have felt that way many times over the years for different reasons, fans of those teams generally feel like they get dumped on an awful lot especially by national media pundits (one I will talk about a bit later and what happened to him as of today) and that it's like the world is against them. I just started messing around with some ideas and remembered some of those times where it felt like the world was against me, so I decided to do an "advisory"-type pic. Let me note that I don't think the world is actually against me...I'm okay for the time being...but I was still inspired to do that pic anyway. The big reason I did that pic as well as the one for this edition has to do with DJRT in general. As a lot of you are aware of by now, I've been working on the evolution of DJRT into something more. A big part of that next iteration is expanding on the DJRT Store with clothing and merchandise that will indulge more of my creative and artistic ideas ala DJ Customs that will help promote and maybe even help support DJRT. Right now the store just has some basic shirts with a few other items up for sale. I am seeking feedback on some of the parody and original design ideas that I am thinking about using for merchandising, so that's what I'm aiming for. I apologize if there was any confusion on that. Speaking of the edition pic, for this edition the pic I'm using is definitely NOT a final design but I wanted to get some feedback on the "unauthorized, unofficial, uncensored" part of the pic that I had originally designed for something else a few years ago. I'm not thinking of using the DJ Logo on it, at least not as it is in the picture if I do, but as far as this edition pic goes I'm using it as more of a contrasting watermark. I'm not sure what I'm going to use with that particular part of the pic just yet but I wanted to get feedback on how it could be used down the line. I will be doing this (putting up pic ideas I have) in future editions of DJRT until the time I get that next iteration started up. Give me some input, folks!
- Anyway....back to the show, so to speak. The major reason for the edition subtitle this time around is that a major league Cleveland sports team is on the verge of winning a national title for the first time in over 50 years. I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch, but the Cleveland Cavaliers have made the NBA Finals and it's the closest the city has tasted a big time championship since the Indians in the 90's. Yes, the Cavs were in the 2007 finals but I didn't believe they had a shot then. With the team they have now, I believe they finally do. I've been more invested this year in the Cavs than I had been in previous years, from going to their official NBA Draft Party to LeBron's Homecoming at Infocision Stadium to going to a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks to just keeping up them through the regular and post seasons. It's been one heck of a ride and as beat up as they are they are so, so close that my fellow Cavs fans and I are salivating. This is a very exciting time, one that many of us never thought would happen again in our lifetimes but the stars are aligning. C'mon, Cavs...4 wins to go...time to finish what you started.
- Speaking of the subtitle, it's no surprise to anybody that I've been on the verge of so many things over the years. There's been the verge of success...the verge of failure...the verge of changing everything...the verge of going crazy...the verge of going sane...the verge of greatness...the verge of defeat...the verge of starting something new...the verge of giving up (that is unfortunately recurrent)...the verge of cooking up a chicken sandwich. It could easily be said that I have been on the verge of "something" all of my life. A lot of us could say that about each other but it could very well define a lot of events revolving around me. Honestly, I hate being on the verge. I'd rather just be in it and have the certainty of what's going on, maybe even hopefully relishing in whatever I was on the verge of originally...not everything, obviously, but definitely the good things and the good times. That has not really happened a lot as of late due to my current situation but I can say I'd rather be on the verge of those potential good things than be distant from them. I do have to say I may have to give up one thing dream-wise that I didn't want to but I may have to so I can move forward with my life (I've had to do this many times before...I hated each time it's happened and I'm hating this now), but other than that I feel like I'm on the cusp, that I just need one big break or several of them and then great things are going to happen. Until then, I guess I'll just plug away at what I can do for now, continue to dream and stay on the verge just in case.
- Again, speaking of being on the verge, the city of Akron is about to go through something I never thought would happen in my lifetime...not having Don Plusquellic as it's mayor. Early last month, Plusquellic announced he was resigning from the mayor position he's held nearly three decades. I have many thoughts on this but of the man himself I have only one...he was an unmitigated, bullying, thin-skinned, condescending, grade-A jackass...and this is from someone who is on the same side of the political aisle as he was for the most part. Despite his accomplishments as mayor, he was a very petty man who treated many people like crap if they didn't exactly agree with him. My father and one of my uncles had to deal with the ramifications of his antics early on in his tenure when they worked for the city. For that alone and the crap he's done since then I despised him. I did encounter him about 10 years ago in Columbus. I was working for a political campaign at the time and I saw Mr. Plusquellic at a big statewide event. I approached him and told him who I was and, more importantly, who my father was. I was being cordial to him at the time because I hadn't actually met him before and didn't know how he would react to me. He stammered about something that seemed really weird to me then excused himself and went pretty far across the hall where the event was at. I'm telling you, it was so obvious that he couldn't get away from me fast enough. I don't think I can recall that ever happening in my life, at least not under similar circumstances. I called my mom shortly after it happened and she laughed...loudly. He was seriously spooked. My family has this thing where we tend to be stubborn and stand up to people we think are giving us crap and it seemed very obvious he experienced that first-hand with my family before and got scared...just like anybody would expect a bully to do and that's what he did. Of course on his way out the door he took some potshots and made excuses as to why he was leaving but as of a couple days ago he is no longer the mayor. I have to admit...once I heard his announcement I was tempted to sing "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead" song from The Wizard of Oz around the house but thought better of it. I have no idea what the future of Akron holds now that he's gone, politically or otherwise, or what kinds of changes might be in the offing especially with a mayoral election coming up later this year but I do believe that there is a chance it will be brighter now that the bully Plusquellic is no longer in charge. I don't say this often or even about people in general, but in his case I'll make an exception...good riddance!!!
- I've been playing an MOBA game online called "Infinite Crisis" based on the DC Universe on my computer the past couple months and I just found out that after only a couple months the game is shutting down. I have to admit, I didn't play it all that much but quite frankly the only surprise in this for me is that Warner Brothers is able to shut it down so quickly. I think it has to do with problems with the game developers' priorities...they seemed to prefer promoting their online channel about the game and them playing it rather than actually do their jobs and developing it. It could have been a decent game if they did what they were supposed to be doing in the first place. I'm just glad I didn't get too invested in it...otherwise I would have been upset, but the lesson here is that if people don't do what they're supposed to be doing, bad things can happen...and quickly, as it's evidenced in this case.
- Festival season is upon us. I was able to catch the tail end of the recent Riverfront Concert Series concert last Friday night with a Journey tribute band which wasn't bad, but other than that I haven't done much festival-wise yet. I am planning to do some stuff but I just haven't had it in me to do anything just yet. Maybe it's because it's early in the season but I hope I don't feel like that this summer like I did at times last year. I did find out that the Mogadore Summer Festival is coming back on July 17-19 and it's very likely that Ohio Championship Wrestling will be returning to it on the 18th so I am very much looking forward to that. There's a lot of things coming up in the next couple months or so and I hope I am up for going to them.
- Song on Repeat: "Money Can't Buy You Love" by Ralph Tresvant. This song was featured in the Damon Wayans movie "Mo' Money" and it was one I used to put on repeat back in the day. I just rediscovered the song and, once again, it's been on repeat a lot as of late.
- Shoutouts: Dave & Sarah, Mary, Melissa, Alan, Stan, Jay, Anna, Maggie, Leslie, Ernest, Ron M., Stacey, Cory, Jenny K, Sean, and Kate.
Before I take off here, I want to congratulate my niece Maddy on graduating from high school. I swear, she was a little girl just a few years ago and now she's already a legal adult. Time flies, folks. Anyway, thank you for reading today's edition of DJRT. We are on the verge of the sixth-year official anniversary of DJRT and the 150th edition coming up. I'm not sure when I'm gonna get around to that or what I'm going to talk about but right now I think I'm gonna go get some sleep because it's late. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
Greetings and welcome to the latest edition of DJ's Random Thoughts. It's been a while since I last wrote but I want to start off today by yelling...SHENANIGANS!!! Now that I have your attention, there aren't any real shenanigans going on and, no, I am not cursing any of you out in Irish, but I do believe it's time to get back to what I do best...offering my views and observations, serious, wacky, or otherwise, to this world and potentially beyond (hey, a guy can dream, can't he?). With that in mind, let's get to it. Enjoy.
- For this edition, the "finite" subtitle is a running theme throughout it as opposed to being dedicated to one single blurb. I do that from time to time but it will be evident with some of the stuff I talk about here today. Now, some of you are probably wondering what I mean by the word "finite". Well, finite usually means "having limits and bounds" as opposed to the word "infinite" which has the opposite meaning. A lot of things are finite in this world...events, lives, marathons, the patience one may have in dealing with other peoples' idiocy on a regular basis...but the main takeaway from the word is that as much as some things may seem to go on forever, sometimes things end. I can cite my time in Columbus, for example. I had two separate stints there, each running over seven years. I felt like I had unfinished business after the first stint so I returned for the second one. As disappointing as this might sound for some of my friends there and as much as I want to visit, my time living there on a permanent basis is over for the most part. There are only two things that would make me come back...one would be a job that was so irresistible that I couldn't help but want to go back, the second would be if one particular woman wanted me to be with her. I'm not saying who that woman is, except that I've talked about her a couple times before, because it's a long shot at this point of anything happening and because I'm really skittish of things going awry which is something I absolutely do NOT want to happen especially with her if I do have a shot with her...therefore I won't be talking much about her if at all beyond this, publicly or privately. Anyway, getting back to my original point, I don't know if my time in NE Ohio will be finite or not but I do know at this point that my time in central Ohio was finite. I believe one of the big takeaways of things, of events, or of lives being finite is that because the time is limited in many instances we put a lot of value into the finite things we do have. I wouldn't trade my time in Columbus for anything in the world and the fact that it was limited is a factor as to why I value my time there so much. I'm pretty sure a lot of you have your own things you value that are finite themselves.
- Speaking of finite things, within the last couple of weeks there have been three major things that have or are coming to a close that I want to talk about. The first is the closing of the Riviera casino in Las Vegas. The reason it sticks out to me is that this was the place where the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling had their shows back in the eighties, something that I talked about way back in the 100th edition (BTW, we're almost at edition 150...hmmmm....). The second is the Jerry Lewis telethons that ran on Labor Day for years. In the past couple of days the Muscular Dystrophy Association decided to end the long-running telethons and are dedicating their efforts to different strategies. As someone who grew up watching some of those 21 hour marathons, I'm really going to miss them. I'm thinking maybe a different group maybe dedicated to cancer or homelessness or disaster relief or some other valuable cause should start doing the long Labor Day telethons. The MDA telethons were such a part of a lot of people's childhoods that to see them go away permanently would be a damn shame. I think a disaster relief telethon on Labor Day, maybe even a Red Cross one, would be a good replacement. The third is American Idol. Fox announced earlier today that the long-running series will end after the upcoming season. For years the show was the dominant subject for watercooler conversations and gossip sites but with the exits of the original judges of the show that influence started to wane so I guess they decided to pull the plug while the getting was good. American Idol spawned a bunch of similar reality shows that have long since passed by AI so it's probably a good time as any for it to end. I don't know of any other long-standing traditions or events or locations that are thinking about ending or not, but the lesson here is to value what is here now because it might not be around in the future.
- Usually I'll do an edition of DJRT with a subtitle related to my birthday and which one I would celebrate. Last year I didn't do one because I didn't have that great of a birthday and as I noted in the last edition I didn't really want to celebrate it at all this year. Well, by the time the day actually came around this year I had a change of heart. I'm happy that happened as my birthday was MUCH better this time around (emphasis on the capitalized part). Aside from enjoying the day itself I had a decent weekend of dancing and my first official yet abbreviated walk of the season. It didn't hurt that it hit the 70 degree mark on my birthday itself. Bottom line, I had a good birthday this year. Now I do have to admit that birthdays for me the past few years have been up and down like a yo-yo and that it may have been due to really high and inflated expectations on my part at times which makes me nervous about having any expectations for future birthdays, but next year my birthday falls on a Saturday and because of that those expectations might be heightened once again, but given it falls on a weekend next year I would like to do something special and maybe different. I don't know just yet but I don't want to waste an opportunity there. Before I move on, I would like to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday and celebrated with me. It meant the world to me and given how last year went and for some time afterward things were much better this time around. Thank you for that.
- Peaceful Journey: Erin Myers, a Chicago-area actress and fellow THS classmate of 91, passed away last week after a fight with cancer. I honestly didn't know her all that well because I wasn't close to all that many people during high school but most of us in our class were familiar with each other and I do remember her from acting back in high school and from what I can tell from the newspapers there she seemed to do rather well in Chicago. She is actually the sixth person out of 180 in our class to pass away since graduating which is pretty depressing, but in any case her passing was a shock. My prayers and condolences go out to her loved ones. RIP and peaceful journey, Erin.
- Since the last edition, despite my birthday and stuff related to the NFL Draft, I haven't actually gone out or done all that much. Part of the reason why is that my body has been nicked up, scuffed up and scratched up including my face and my body's been sore at different times and different places. Given what vanity I do have I didn't feel good going out beyond when I've had to. It's been a while since I straight up visited some of my friends. The weather also played somewhat of a factor in that up until this past week it has been somewhat miserable with a couple of exceptions. Other than that I just didn't feel like doing much...my depression played a part in that but I just wasn't feeling it. I've even take a break from working on the next iteration of DJRT for a while. However, things are going to be changing. The weather has vastly improved...it's almost hit 90 degrees already in the past week alone here in NE Ohio. Festival season is coming up starting this weekend...I don't know how many I'm gonna make it to but they are starting up this weekend beginning with the Cherry Blossom Festival in Barberton. The better weather also means more possibilities for walks, maybe beyond those I take at Cuyahoga Falls and Springfield Lake. I'm not sure on that but the potential is there. There is other stuff I'm looking forward to too so there's a lot on the horizon for yours truly.
- A quick note on something I talked about in the "rebel" edition. I talked about my initial club experiences in that edition and that my first time was at the CF Agora which would later become the Boot Scoot'n Saloon. I just recently found out that the Boot Scoot'n Saloon actually closed right after I left for my second go-round at OSU in 2004. I thought it was still going on for some time after that but apparently it didn't. I didn't know it had been closed for that long...the things you learn. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that the nearby Audi dealership is planning to put up a new kind of showroom in front of the building itself...I don't know if they're going to tear the old club down eventually or not but it was worth noting given what's going on there currently. If it is torn down, that's another part of my history that will be gone...oh well.
- This year I went up to the Hard Rock Rocksino to watch the first round of the 2015 Draft. Last year I tried to go up there near the actual start of the draft and the place was packed so I left. This year I got up there early just in case it ended up that packed again. Apparently it wasn't as packed this year as it was last year but there was a large crowd there. I'm still fortunate I went early because I was able to get a prime seat to watch the show. ESPN Cleveland was sponsoring the event for the second year in a row. Overall I had a really good time there. I took a few pics while I was there which you can find here: 2015 - 04-30 - ESPN Cleveland Draft Party. I'm seriously thinking about going up there again for next year's draft and I'm hoping some of you might want to come with me. As far as how the Browns did in this year's draft, it was very solid...no reaches, they stuck to their guns and they addressed a lot of needs. It was probably one of their best drafts, if only for the reason that it was one of the least criticized by fans, probably the least in years as far as I can tell. By that measuring stick alone it was a good draft.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers are having a rougher time in the playoffs than I and probably most other expected them too. They swept the Boston Celtics but a thuggish play by one of them ended Kevin Love's year and they've been struggling to adjust against the Chicago Bulls whom they are tied with 2-2 as of this edition. They have also been dinged up with injuries which at this time of year is not that good. The Cavs are 10 wins away from bring the city of Cleveland it's first high-end sports championship in over 50 years so I'm hoping for the best here.
- Song on Repeat: "I'm Gonna Be" by Donell Jones. Released a few years after his initial success, I think this is one of his better songs. He does a version with the rapper Clipse but I prefer the solo version of this song. It's one of those few songs for me that makes me want to get up and dance yet has some personal meaning for me in regards to some of what I want my future to be...very rare for a song to do that for me but this one does.
- Shoutouts: Sassy Stephie (wrestler), Aunt Sue, Melissa, Ernest, Ron M., Jay, Kristin, Sean D., Alan, Stephanie, Stan, Kevin, Fran, Margie, Ron U., Brandon, Mary S., Jenny K., Uncle Larry and Anna.
That's it for this edition. The good weather is finally here, or at least the good temps are...I'm looking out my window at this moment and it's clouding up looking like a storm is a'brewing. Before I go, the edition pic up top is something I'm considering putting on DJRT merchandise once the next iteration of DJRT gets going and I wanted to get some feedback on what people think about it as well as get some ideas for other stuff to sell. With that, I will take my leave. I'll be back soon enough with another edition of DJRT so be ready of that...or dread it if that's what you choose...a couple people from back in the day have before so it has happened...I personally think you shouldn't but to each his or her own, I guess. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
Greetings and welcome to the latest edition of DJ's Random Thoughts. It's been a while since the last edition and I do have a lot to talk about and say today and I mean a lot. With that in mind, let's get to it. Enjoy.
- I could have done this edition earlier in the month but there was a big reason I put it off until specifically today (March 31). In late June of 2009, I wrote up the "retribution" edition. The main topic I covered was about an editorial I wrote up during my first go-round at Ohio State responding to an article in the OSU student newspaper The Lantern. I did so partially in defense of my friend Laura Dudek who was being forced out of her position in Ohio State's Undergraduate Student Government, partially as a defense of the newspaper and partially to knock down a peg or two a USG representative who made critical remarks and took personal potshots at Laura in the article regarding her exit from USG. Quite frankly, what that jackass stated...that's right, I called him a jackass...ticked me off. He was being petty and cruel and I wasn't having it. In fact, the name of my editorial was appropriately titled "USG rep should get off his mountain" because he acted like he was oh-so-high-and-mighty it made me sick. Anyway, you can all check out more of the details about what happened after I wrote that editorial all those years ago here in the "retribution" edition. The main reason I am specifically bringing this subject up again now is that today is the 20 year anniversary of that editorial appearing in the Lantern. A few years ago I went to the School of Journalism on the OSU campus and made photocopies of that editorial because it was the first time I made an impact through the media. It would become one of the biggest milestones and one of the biggest turning points of my life though I wouldn't truly realize how much until years later. Quite frankly, if it weren't for that editorial and the aftermath, as bad as a lot of it was for me personally, there probably wouldn't be a DJ's Random Thoughts right now. Before I say more, I do want to make one major correction to that retribution edition that literally slipped my mind for years until I recently looked at my college transcripts. I inferred then that it was my last quarter of my first go-round at OSU. I was wrong. While working at Sears, I did return for spring quarter of 1996 and took two classes. I now remember still reeling from the stuff that happened in 95 while taking those classes but I thought I should make the appropriate correction now. I can't believe I actually forgot that...my bad on that.
Anyway, this now-20-year-old editorial is one of the biggest examples outside of DJRT of something I strongly believe myself to be: protective...hence the subtitle for this edition. In the editorial I was being protective of my friend Laura. Many of you have seen me be protective of my friends, more than likely in the club but elsewhere as well. I am actually rather protective of many things. I am protective of my beliefs which are well manifested here in DJRT. I am protective not just of my friends but the relationships they are in. I value relationships to much and I want to see them not just work out but simply work and I try to help them along any way I realistically can if necessary. My friends are like family to me so when their relationships are threatened by outside forces I feel compelled to step in...it may not be the wisest of decisions or even my "business" but since my friends are my business that compelling aspect will likely be there. I am protective of my memories as they have served me in different capacities over the years. DJRT has been especially helpful with that these past few years. In the last few years, I have also learned to be more protective of my personal time...in other words, to make as much time for myself as necessary. Granted I may have alienated some along the way doing that but before learning to do so I really had trouble managing my time and there were many who took advantage of that for their benefit and my detriment, so it was something I absolutely had to learn if only for my own sake if not the people I want and have around me. It's still something I'm trying to sort out but I'm almost there in that regard. Eventually I hope to be protective of my own romantic relationship....not that I'm not open to having one in the near future or even now but with my current situation and the general state of things for me and around me, getting together with a woman is low on the priority list right now...it doesn't mean I'm not open to change but I'm just not feeling it at this time. With so much that I value, it should be no surprise how protective I can be and I'm pretty sure with many things and areas of your lives and specific people, it's likely the same scenario for each of you too.
- As far as my birthday goes for this year, although some of you have been talking about it a bit, I'm really not up for celebrating it this year. A lot of what happened and many of the expectations I had leading up to last year's birthday are weighing heavily on me when this has come up and, to be honest, it might take something completely huge or big to make me change my mind on that. The vibe does seem different this year than last year but I really don't want to jinx that so unless something comes along that significantly changes things, I really don't want to make that big a deal of it.
- Speaking of a vibe, I went out dancing last Saturday night at the Red Fox. For the first time in Lord knows how long, it felt like 2003 again, both at the Harry Buffalo in Akron and the Big Easy in Columbus. I think it had a bit to do with seeing my friend Jalen for the first time in years but when Alan, the deejay there, got the music going it was great and it took me back. Granted, like I said before I'm more into the here and now and the future but it was nice to have that feeling I had from back in the day. Maybe it'll come again, maybe not, but at least I can regularly hope for at least just as good a time if not better whenever I go out wherever I go out. Maybe that should be the expectation but, again, I don't want to jinx the vibe.
- Something that took me completely by surprise this year was my enjoyment of this year's Wrestlemania that took place a couple days ago. The reason it took me by surprise is that the storylines that led up to it were...well...pretty bad. I had trouble watching some of it over the past few months over the horrible dialogue and storytelling and I went into watching it with very, very low expectations. Unlike the past few years where it was only a one or two match worthy card, it was solid top to bottom this time around. I popped hard for the DX vs. NWO shot during the Sting-Triple H match and the rest of the show was just good. That even included the main event with saw a Money in the Bank cash-in and eventually win of the WWE Title by Seth Rollins. It was just a good show all around and I am hopeful that the momentum it started keeps up in the future.
- I've talked an awful lot about my return to Columbus in 2004 to finally get my college degree...about some of the events that led up to it, about my time there at OSU, about my pride in finally getting my degree, not to mention other things. In the future I may talk about even more specifics about that timeframe. For this edition, there is one specific event I want to talk about from then that I've only told a few people about. It isn't a big secret or revelation or anything like that but it may be the one thing that if it had not happened I would not be a college graduate and my life would have been completely different. I'm more surprised that I haven't actually talked about this before but now I'm going to. As I've revealed before, I was a regular at the Harry Buffalo and talked a lot about my former time in Columbus to a lot of folks up here around Akron including some who eventually became part of The Crew. For a few months leading up to that initial trip to Columbus I had been bugging them about taking a trip to my old stomping grounds Club Dance which at that time was called The Big Easy. However, about a month before that initial trip down there something happened that, looking back now, changed everything for me. That "something" was a golf event.
Now, I bet a lot of you didn't expect to see that, especially since I'm not really that into golf. Sure, I watched it on TV from time to time when it caught my fancy but it's really rare when that happens. The summer of 2003 was one of those rare occasions. In late August the NEC Invitational took place at Firestone Country Club in Akron and I was able to secure a couple of volunteer shifts at the event working at a concession stand near the 18th hole of the playing course. This was one of the few events I can remember past or present that all the major top names in golf at that time were at one event and they were at this one. There was no cut so all the golfers played all 4 days of the NEC Invitational. I worked the first two days of the event on August 21st and 22nd. I remember those dates specifically because I got a couple things from the event to give to my mom for her birthday (she likes golfing). Anyway, I bet you're all wondering at this point how the heck this led me back to OSU. Well, during both of my shifts my co-workers and I would start getting to know each other and several of my conversations led to me talking a bit about attending Ohio State. My co-workers asked me why I never got my degree. I hemmed and hawed around it because, quite frankly, I didn't have a good answer to give them. Many of them would tell me it was a shame that I wasn't able to get my degree. That really got to me. I would go home after my shifts and wonder to myself why I didn't have my degree, why I didn't stick it out, what led me away from college and Ohio State specifically. After my second shift I did some serious soul searching. All I knew at that time was that I had had enough of the "awww what a shame" stuff so that night I resolved to work on finally seeing if it was possible for me to go back to college and get a degree.
Over the next few days I started looking into what and how long it might take. I couldn't use the internet at home because it was dial-up then which meant the phone line would have been tied up and I didn't want anyone to find out what I was up to unless I was sure I was gonna be able to pull this off. I went to the library every day and used the internet there for hours on end digging up anything that would help me get back to school. I consulted with a few people who I had known and trusted for years...it was only about three or four people I could count on at that point in my life but there's obviously many more than that now. Anyway, I made the call to work on getting back to OSU partly because I had already put in a lot of time and effort there and I didn't want any of that to go to waste. Due to a couple of specific circumstances I just happened to benefit from regarding going back there, I could go back with more of a clean slate without the school-related baggage from before. That would end up a huge relief for me. It took a lot of work but because of that diligence, checking my e-mail every day and responding ASAP to any inquiries regarding FAFSA or enrollment or housing or whatever, less than a month later...I believe by the 17th or 18th of September...I finally got everything I needed, got squared away and got myself ready and psyched up for a return to Ohio State. Once the return was confirmed, I really got psyched up for that first road trip down to The Big Easy. It amazes me even now that it only took about three and a half weeks to go from being a college dropout with no intention beforehand of going back and having no idea what I was going to do even the next day to becoming a confirmed student at Ohio State starting Winter Quarter 2004. It blows my mind that I was capable of pulling that off. As I progress...slowly at this point...toward wherever my life is leading me, I have to remember that sometimes events happen that can change the course of my life in a heartbeat and that I do have the ability to make the best out of such a course change. As bad as a lot of the things I have talked about regarding my life, this one event proves it can be just as good for me if not better than I imagine. Believe me, I do have an imagination.
- Back in late February, I went to the last Jayfest wrestling event in Barberton. It was one of the few times I was able to get out of the house for a while (I'll talk a bit more about that in the next blurb). There were a lot of folks from MCW at the event and it may have been one of the last times I would see many of them...I'm hoping that's actually not the case but it is a possibility. Anyway, it was great being able to see them after not seeing them for so long in person. The matches were great and Christian Vaughn had two great matches to finish out his in-ring career. I had a blast being there and hanging out with my friend Micah afterwards to watch the WWE Fast Lane show. I don't know how many wrestling shows I'll be able to go to in the near future but it was definitely great to see many of the guys again. At this point, I'm just hoping for wrestling shows that are going to be worth actually going to locally at this point...and I'm not the only one who thinks that.
- The one thing that has been a constant so far in 2015 is the winter weather. If it wasn't a deep freeze, it was a heavy snow. It was that way up until about a week and a half or so ago. It was so bad that my driveway was buried and I couldn't get the car out to travel around. There were times when I would try to shovel but where I shoveled would just get covered over like it wasn't done and then there were the sub-zero temperatures. If people wanted to know why I didn't do much travelling this winter season, that's the big reason. All I can say is that I'm glad spring is finally here. I've already gone through my bi-annual weatherization so I'm primedand ready to get going when the real good weather finally hits.
- In the past week or so I've been working on my festival schedule which I won't be publishing like I did last year...again, I don't want to jinx any good vibes so I'm taking no chances. Last year, due to my personal and emotional issues, I didn't go to as many festivals or take as many walks as I had in previous years. I may not be able to make it to all the festivals I want to this year but I am hoping to go to as many as I possibly can which I'm hoping will be more than last year. With being shut in for months due to all the snow, I'm hoping that within the next month or so I'll be able to get to my walks around Cuyahoga Falls again. I'm also hoping to get back to going out dancing regularly again as well. Thanks to the cold I need to start working on getting back into dancing shape again. There's a lot coming up on the horizon and that unlike last year I hope I'm up for it this time around. Regarding one of my regular events, I do want to note that there is a new concert series being put on by the city of Cuyahoga Falls and the organizers of both the Irish and Italian festival events that is replacing the old "Rockin' on the River". It is now the Riverfront Concert Series and it will have some of the same bands as last year and a few new faces (one is a Billy Joel tribute band I'm interesting in checking out). It will still be taking place on Fridays and it will start on May 22nd and run through August 28th with the aforementioned Irish and Italian festival weekends being the only interruptions. If anybody wants more info, they can check out updated information from their Twitter page Riverfront by IROK.
- Song on Repeat: "Heart in Chains" by Kate Voegele. It's still hard to believe that one of my favorite shows, One Tree Hill, had it's season finale almost three years ago. Shoot, there was an OTH convention recently that I would have killed to go to if I was able, but alas I will have to consider attending one down the line. Kate Voegele was a part of the main cast on the show and this was the last song she performed as a guest star in the last episode of season 8. I know the cast has moved on to bigger and better things but I do miss that show. I guess I'll have to console myself with past episodes.
- Shoutouts: Sarah & Dave, Jenny K., Micah, Zach (Christian Vaughn), Justin Mane, Justin (Jebediah), Kevin B., Zach G., Joshua, Mike Meekins, Melissa, Stephanie, Ron M., Cheryl, Ron M., Kevin N., Cory, Stan, Jay, Mary, Alan, Desiree, Bob & Lynn, and Jalen.
That's it for this edition. A lot has been said and there will be more in the future. As you can see from the edition pic, I've been working on different variations of a logo. None of them will be replacing the logo I do have because I love that one but I do want ot show off my ingenuity and customizing skills every once in a while and I think this edition's pic is one of my better ones. With that, I'm going to take off now. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
Greetings and welcome to the latest edition of DJ's Random Thoughts. I've got a lot to express today and I mean a lot...not that there's been much going on recently but I am feeling rather opinionated and verbose today. With that in mind, let's get to it. Enjoy.
- The edition pic is something that means a whole heck of a lot to me. This photo was taken immediately after I was baptized back in June of 2007. The reason I'm showing this pic here is because today is a very special day for yours truly. Eight years ago today, I started following Jesus. Maybe someday I'll be able to talk about the actual events what led me to Him but for now I just want to recognize and celebrate the significance of what this day means to me.
- A lot of people look at the word "rebel" and immediately think of the "Star Wars" movies and the Rebel Alliance in particular. I'm one of those people too but the word itself means so much more to me than just something from the movies. To this day that word is likely the most descriptive and defining of yours truly that would cover a good portion of my life events up to this point. Other thoughts also pop up when people think of the word "rebel". They think of stuff like "going against the tide" or "resistance" or in some cases "chip on the shoulder" (the chip thing isn't always the case with rebellion but it is associated with it). Sometimes there's glory attached to it and sometimes there's annoyance or frustration. There's also this dangerous aspect to it in that being rebellious is risky, even to the point where some folks will consciously or unconsciously avoid the rebellious person or people. There are many people out there where rebellion is just hardwired into them. I'm not sure I'm actually one of those people but I do describe myself as a "natural" rebel. I use the word "natural" because there have been so many instances of where it felt like I naturally rebelled against something or someone or some group. Growing up with a hearing-based learning disability I was diagnosed with when I was a toddler, I had to rebel against those who confused it with mental retardation and how they would treat me. Sure, I had problems understanding what was being said to me a lot when I was little but what I'm talking about here went way beyond that. Trust me when I say dealing with grown-ups' crap and the kinds of trust issues that vex adults while being just a little kid is not something you want in your life or your children's lives if you have any. If you want to see the roots of where I started to get a chip on my shoulder, you can probably start there. Heck, just trying to make sense of things in general was enough, I guess, to put the thought into people that I wasn't one of them or "really" a part of things. Believe me, where rebellion is involved, there isn't much in the way of sympathy or at least enough of it to matter. When it was involuntary as a lot of mine was, it was heartbreaking. Even now I still have a lot of the same kind of rebelliousness I did when I was a kid. I don't have those actual issues from then, mind you, but it has stuck with me all those years. There are times where I am happy being rebellious and going against the grain but in so many instances I just wanted to go with the flow and it was frustrating that I just couldn't. If people took a look at a lot of the flareups small or large that have occured over my lifetime they could probably see the rebel side of me as a factor in them regardless of whether I was right or wrong about any particular situation. It's one of those things for me that is both a blessing and a curse. I've talked a bit about the curse but there are blessings to being one as well. I am more aware of what goes on because I have to pay attention. Sometimes I'm hyper-aware of things. There have been tons of instances where I knew or know a hell of a lot more than I let on, including stuff that is happening around me now. It might freak people out how much I actually know about things in general, especially when many of those people treat me like I haven't got a clue or supposedly "don't know any better" or just don't know in general. Well, guess what, people...I know things and I'm paying attention!!! I should note that just because I know things doesn't mean I'm going to actually act on them or do anything about them especially when things are not black and white, so to speak. In a lot of cases, I've gone out of my way to avoid potential situations and people because of the things I know. Sometimes, acting on what I know is not the best thing to do and I'm not one who wants to make things worse for people especially for those I care about and want the best for. I've made a lot of sacrifices doing that and I have suffered and I
wish some people could actually appreciate how much trouble I've gone
to in making those sacrifices. The wisdom to know the difference about when to act and when not to is tricky to come by but, being the rebel that I am, I really appreciate not just the stuff that I know but the wisdom that comes along with exercising judgements based on the stuff I know. One more blessing about being a rebel for me comes from my belief in Jesus Christ. Let's face it...Jesus was a rebel himself. Being the son of the Almighty, he rebelled against some of the greatest evils, temptations and suffering and made the ultimate sacrifice in order for the children of God to be able to get to Heaven. I know that might be a bit much for those who don't believe in Him or are not Christians but I've found comfort and faith and started accepting myself more as a rebel because of what I know of and believe in Jesus. I found that by believing in Jesus the burden of being the rebel I've been for most of my life has lessened. It's still not easy being a rebel but if there's been anything that has defined me in my life it is being one.
- Throughout my
life there have been many events and people who helped shape the
direction of my social life and the nightlife in particular. The
dancing, the clubs, the late night dinners, the hanging out, the
drama, the friends I've made, the make-out sessions, the music...all
that and more have not just affected my social life but my life as a
whole. There are so many times where nightlife has outright saved me
either from boredom or even from myself. As most of you know, one of
my favorite lessons from the Bible is the Parable of the Sower where
you take faith as represented by a mustard seed, plant that seed in
hopefully the right soil and watch as it grows and flourishes. I've
taken that lesson to heart in not just my faith but in so many other
areas of my life. It reinforced the deeply held belief that I have
that everything good or bad started somewhere, that a seed was
planted and it grew into something more. The nightlife I've had and
still have now...my club life...is no exception. The seeds of that
aspect of my life were planted during my first year in Columbus
As a somewhat naive
and insular freshman at Ohio State who was living away from home for
the first time in his life, I relished the chance to see what the
nightlife specifically had to offer. Before then, the only
experiences that gave me any idea what I might expect was whatever I
saw on TV (videos, shows, concerts, etc.), high school dances where I
went stag to most of them, and the one time I hit up a
nightclub...the old Agora in Cuyahoga Falls which eventually became
the Boot Scoot'n Saloon. Outside of that I had no idea what to
really expect. The place I considered my spot during that freshman
year, Park Alley & High Energy (two bars in one), was not the
first place I started dancing at. That honor actually goes to the
Newport Music Hall across from the Ohio Union (on a side note, I
attended my first concert ever on my first night in Columbus at the
Newport with the rap group 3rd Bass performing...heck of a
way to start my college career). They had an arrangement for a few
weekends in October & November of 1991...boy, am I dating myself
here...where they turned the concert hall into a dance club which is
similar to what is happening currently at the former Screaming
Willies/Big Easy/Club Dance venue which is called Project X. I met
up with a couple of guys named Curtis and Yusuf who seemed to have
the crowd mesmerized with their stuff and people surrounding them in
a circle regularly. I tried my hand at what they were doing and got
some attention myself including from those two guys who were
impressed. I was apparently the first white boy they met...their
words, not mine...who could actually dance and do a lot of the stuff
they could do. Honestly, it made me feel pretty damn good because I
never had that kind of praise before. Over the next few weekends we
kept doing our thing and then the Newport stopped doing the weekend
thing. I did try another nightclub a few doors down that eventually
became a music store...it even had an elevator (I don't know what it
is now or even if it's still standing)...for a couple of weekends
after but it wasn't the same. I don't remember what exactly led me
to the South Campus bars but by the end of November I had found my
new club home for what would be the rest of my freshman year in Park
Alley.
I had what I still
believe to this day an amazing yet unreal experience during my time
at Park Alley. I met up with so many people there that folks in some
of my classes actually recognized me from dancing there. It's where
I met guys such as Roger Byrd (RIP), Mike Tutt, Cory Pariseau, and
the deejay Tommy D, with the latter two I still keep in touch with to
this day. I also saw many, many very beautiful, very hot, very
gorgeous girls and women which also served as my first real
experience around such women in general. I've talked before several
times about my hangups and intimidation of women I'm attracted to
and, believe me, there were so many that came through Park Alley and
High Energy that I had a hard time keeping my cool and not stumbling
and just trying to be friendly if not outright friends with
them...the dancing helped, obviously, but it was a nerve-wracking
experience nonetheless. Even today many still notice that about me.
Anyway, I remember one girl I met there named Jen Oxley who up to
that point in my life was probably the hottest and gorgeous girl I
had met. I don't normally name names here but she definitely
deserves a special mention in this case. Let's just say this...she
was so hot that a couple years later after the club closed when we
had a class together she came to my dorm room to drop off an
assignment from a class I missed and she, my roommates and I got to
talking when my girlfriend at the time walked in and showed one of
the most obvious jealous streaks I had ever seen even to this day.
My girlfriend actually freaked out for a few days afterward over
seeing her just talk to me...mind you, my roommates were in the room
but she still freaked. That's how hot Jen was. I had a huge crush
on her while going to the club but I never did act on it, partly
because I was scared and partly because I had no clue how to act on
it, but one big thing I do remember about her was that she dated a
guy who abused her. It got so bad that I actually saw the jerk punch
her at the club. He actually slugged her. I was fuming over it but
I couldn't do anything about it because he was somewhat of a
dangerous person and I wasn't sure it was my place to get involved.
I can never fathom how someone so beautiful would allow anyone to
abuse them in any fashion, but it was my first real upfront
experience with domestic violence. She did eventually dump the chump
and moved on. I have no idea what happened with her after that class
we shared in 1993 but she made a huge impression on me. There was
also the bouncer Owen who was the first person I met who was one of
the nicest badasses I've met in my lifetime...he was a tough guy but
he was also so cordial and just a cool guy all around. I've met a
few bouncers like that over the years but Owen was the first.
Along with the
people I met up with there, there was the dancing. Me, Roger, Mike,
Cory, other people who'd roll through...we did a lot of dancing
there. I did a lot of people watching there which led to my later
interest and degree in sociology. I got drunk for the first time in
my life there with a bunch of 10 cent screwdrivers...yes, the alcohol
was cheap at that time. I only drank a couple of times there, maybe
three, because I had the dancing going for me and didn't need liquid
courage as much as some club patrons there felt they needed to. With
all the great stuff that went on during my time at Park Alley, I
never did much actual club hopping even with the concentration of
clubs and bar in the area at the time. It was the experience that
led me to start just being a regular at other clubs like Flyers, Club
Dance, Banana Joes, Harry Buffalo, the Outside Corner, Club Polaris,
currently the Red Fox and other past ones, sticking to one club as
opposed to doing a ton of bar hopping. I've always preferred
sticking to one spot because my experiences at Park Alley made me see
the potential of doing so. I think the closest experience I've had
to that have been the Club Dance/Big Easy which is something I got to
share with people not just from Columbus but from Akron as well which
I've talked about several times before. Near the end of the school
year the club and several other nearby ones closed because the owner
became a felon and I guess because of the circumstances he wasn't
allowed to own any alcoholic establishments. One of the regrets I do
have in my life is that I wasn't there for the last weekend, Memorial
Day weekend in 1992 that Park Alley was open. I didn't have a choice
in the matter and partially because I wasn't there I had a nightmare
weekend that ended up leading to a lot of bad & even terrifying
things happening to me that affect me to this day. One of the
“what-if” thoughts I've had over the years is how different
things would have turned out if only I had stayed at OSU and went to
Park Alley that last weekend it was open. Despite those
circumstances, I really had the time of my life at that place. I
wouldn't trade my experiences there for anyone else's in the world.
It's the experiences I had there that have led to some of the
greatest things, the greatest people and the greatest joy I've had in
my life and something I think God for every day.
- Over the years
I've talked about various people who had the belief that I wanted to
just live in the past, in what supposedly only I saw as great times
at various clubs and that I treated them like it was still those
days. Reminiscing about my time at Park Alley made me realize a few
things about myself and there's some things I've been dying to say to
many of these people for years. This isn't about anybody who's
actively a part of my life today and it might repeat some stuff I've
said before but there is a couple new wrinkles I know I haven't
talked about so this is a good a time as any. Yes, I do believe
there were a lot of great times at those places. Were they perfect
times? Sometimes yes, sometimes hell no, but they were memorable to
me nonetheless. I suspect those folks might remember things
differently or they had a different experience from mine which may
account for their difference in recollections. I'm not a mind reader
so I'm not certain of that but that's my educated guess. I also
believe that a lot of times where I have talked about the past they
might have gotten the idea that I wanted to live there again. Let me
make some things clear about where I stand on that kind of stuff so
that there's no confusion in the future. First off, I do NOT want to
live in the past. Sure it might be nice to visit there and reminisce
but I really don't want to actually be there. Why, do you ask?
Simply put, because there is so much good stuff potentially to come
in the future. Sure, there were a lot of good times but the ones to
come have the potential to be so much better that even those, whether
they be in the club or not. Why stay in the past when the future
might be even better? It baffled me when people did accuse me of
doing that specifically but I don't believe they may have known where
I was coming from. Something else I want to address was how I
treated some of those people back in the day. To those folks I
ask...was I really all that bad? Seriously, just because I bring up
something from back in the day that you automatically think the worst
of intentions? I honestly can't speak for some of your experiences
but I can speak for mine. I thought I treated you pretty well and
thought we were cool back then. If there was anything I thought you
would want to take going forward, it would be that. There were also
times where I may not have seen some of you for months or even years
at a time. Yeah, of course I might want to reminisce but that's only
to establish something going forward. Many of you who did this
talked about “how things have changed” and all that. So...the
hell...what! That's the nature of life...change. I know that as
well as anybody. Yeah, some things stay the same but a lot has
changed for me and I know it has for a lot of you. Many of you
complained to others...yes, I have heard the complaints...that I do
this talking about back in the day “all the time”. Bull! I
don't do this “all the time”. I know for certain that in most of
your cases if not all of them I haven't seen you for months or years
at a time, so all I have to go on is what happened back then and
maybe seeing your Facebook status or Twitter to see what's going on
and hoping things are good right now but you still whined when I'd
bring things up. Maybe I'm digging, to get an idea where you are
now. Maybe I'm trying to get a read on you. Maybe I want to go
forward with you and want to root that in the good stuff from the
past. It doesn't mean I want to live there again. Geez, some of you
went ape over that and I worry you might do so again if this comes
up. Now, for those of you I'm talking about and those I'm not, you
might be wondering why I'm getting riled up or just get heated over
this. Well, what I'm sick of is people trying to deny me my life
experiences just so they can stay safe in the misery they scrounged
up regarding their own. I can see it. I see the irritation. I see
the changes in perspective. I see shame in some instances, a lot of
it unjustified. When I've dealt with this before it's caused me
unnecessary grief for long stretches and I'm sick of it. I will say
there is a possibility I will be dealing with them in some way in the
future and if they happen to be reading this...trust me when I tell
you I am not trying to live in the past. If people have different
recollections, that's one thing, but treating people like they're
trying to relive past glory when that's not what's going on is
another thing altogether. If you have some bad memories about the
past and I somehow remind you of that when talking about past stuff,
maybe you'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself, for lack
of a better term, because I hate seeing wrecks.
- What I'm about to talk about is not about me...at least not right now if it ever will be. However, this is something I might face sometime down the line so this might end up becoming advice to myself that I might need to follow so I'm putting this here just in case of that. I've noticed several people, some friends and others I just know about, who lament not having a significant other in their lives. Some of them rant about the wrongs of the people they fell for who wronged them. Some of them wonder why they can't find someone to even date. I have actually seen several of them who have projected their own loneliness on others in the hopes of dealing with that loneliness. For all the people I'm talking about here, I've also noticed one major telling thing about them...they have an awful lot of friends and acquaintances. I mean a whole lot of them. Here's a thought I had when looking at these single people and the huge amount of friends and acquaintances...why not consider some of them as people to date? I'm talking about those whose gender you are attracted to, obviously, but why not look in that direction? I'm not talking about those who jump into something as soon as they meet them nor am I talking about those who started out dating and then just ended up friends later. I'm talking about potentially taking an already existing friendship to a higher level. You can always find reasons or excuses to keep people as just friends or acquaintances especially if they might not be considered a "perfect fit"...it happens all the time and sometimes it's a hard habit to even consider changing. It's "safe" to be like that. Quite frankly, I'm like that but I am speaking to those folks who are more likely to be braver than I am right now. I just wonder if it is in some of them to consider expanding their dating or relationship pool more to include those they might already have a comfort level with as friends or whatever level they're at currently. I bet they're wondering if it's too much of a risk to a friendship to pursue something like this. I would easily answer "Yes!" There is always a risk. There's a risk anyway even if there wasn't a friendship beforehand. Honestly, I think there actually may be less of a risk than with a complete stranger because there is already a level of established comfort there. It might make for a solid foundation for something more. A few years ago one of my female friends started dating a guy she was friends with for years...now she is married to him, they have a couple of kids, and they have the kind of love and relationship and happiness that I want for myself with a woman. Now, I see the potential for a lot of my friends to have that for themselves who are already in a position to actually find someone in the same way. It kills me to see some of them so unhappy about their love lives that they can't see that the person he or she is looking for might already be there for the taking. I want to see them be happy with someone but I don't want them to limit their options to the point where they end up with some jerk who might make them more bitter. I guess here's the question I would probably ask myself if this came up...would you like to have something great with someone you just met or have something even greater with someone you already know? Just my two and a half cents.
- Song on Repeat: "Bring Em Out" by T.I. This is a song that just screams "rebellion" to me. It's a high energy, in-your-face ditty and potential entrance music for those who might consider themselves a rebel. I think it fits with this edition of DJRT.
- Shoutouts: Ernest W., Jenny K., Sarah & Dave, Paula H., Melissa, Alan, Paula M., Aunt Sue, Holly, Cara, Ron M., Bob & Lynn, Stan, Kevin, Brandon, Mary S., Zach (Christian), Michelle W., and Sean D.
I actually had a few more things I could have added to this edition but I think they'll keep for another time. I know I may have been a little heavy-handed and deeper than usual with some of the stuff today but I was able to get it out and that's what mattered to me. I'm hoping to hit up a wrestling show this upcoming weekend but I hope the weather improves a bit first. Overall, I just want my 70s and sun back, sooner than later. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
Greetings and welcome to the latest edition of DJ's Random Thoughts. I haven't done this since last year so I thought I'd better get another one out there (as I am sticking out my tongue like a brat does at this moment). Anyway, this is coming out late or early depending on your point of view so let's get to it. Enjoy.
- The reason I'm actually doing this so early in the morning is because of an event that happened last night...the Royal Rumble for 2015. I thought last year's Rumble was bad but outside of one good Triple Threat title match and a couple of surprise Rumble entries, this year's Rumble match...well, let's face it...it was a train wreck. There was barely anything to make you jump out of your seat and no real "whoa!" moments except for the returning Bubba Ray Dudley and Diamond Dallas Page moments. Heck, even the eliminations themselves were just boring...just simple dumpoffs over the top rope with no Gorilla Press slam eliminations, nobody really flying out of the ring...just slow and plodding eliminations. The Philadelphia crowd let them have it with the boos most of the night, especially when Daniel Bryan was eliminated early. It was pretty bad. To make things worse, as of this moment the top Twitter trend in the United States is "#CancelWWENetwork". There were also reports of cars blocking WWE folks from leaving the arena after the event and even The Rock, who is actually pretty popular with Philly folk and made a surprise appearance at the end, was booed mercilessly. I was up most of the night just reading about how bad WWE looked with this year's Royal Rumble. Even Time magazine's website now has an article about the "#CancelWWENetwork" trend and how poorly the Rumble came off. I'll say this...if WWE thought what was best for business was last night's Royal Rumble, then they should get out of that business as fast as humanly possible. The company is losing it's touch and if enough people make a dent with cancelling their WWE Network subscriptions, they are going to take a heavy financial hit. The last thing the company needs especially going into Wrestlemania season is continuing erosion of people's faith in their ability to deliver a top notch product. If last night is any indication...and I think it is...the company has its work cut out for them.
- Now for the reason for the subtitle of this edition. The Ohio State Buckeyes football team, after a lot of doubt from pundits (and yours truly), insults from haters and early stumbles during the football season, have done what was unthinkable and won the College Football national championship after steamrolling Wisconsin in the B1G championship game, beat a heavily favored Alabama team in the Sugar Bowl and overpowering Oregon in the championship game. I have to admit, I did not see this coming one bit. I thought in all three games they were going to come up short. Shows what I know. Nevertheless, I am one happy Ohio State alum. I even got a National Championship shirt which is posted up at the top of this edition...it's a bit oversized but at least I got one. The last time the Bucks won a national championship, I started back at OSU a year later and eventually earned my degree. If the trend of karma continues...I'm pretty certain it's not gonna take me back to OSU but what I am hoping for is the heralding of the next evolution of DJRT to where I'm aiming to take it. As of earlier this month I have started down that path and it looks like it's gonna take me a while to learn what stuff I need to learn and do to make it work short and long term, but I've embarked on it nonetheless. In any case, congratulations to The Ohio State Buckeyes on their success this past season.
- Speaking of congrats, I want to congratulate my friends Melissa and Alan on their engagement over the weekend. It's been a long time coming with many saying "Finally!!!" but I wish the best for the both of them.
- Query: I haven't done one of these in a while but after seeing something a couple weeks ago I am interested in seeing what kinds of opinions are out there regarding something related to it. The original subject was about a potential dating/relationship quirk. Without going into too many specifics about what I saw before asking anything about it, here's the query I have: if you are dating someone, how long do you think it would take before you'd consider yourself in a relationship with that person "officially", or at least long enough that if it didn't work out you'd call them an "ex"? I'm not talking about those people who dive right into a relationship...I've done that once myself and might even do so again if the right person comes along at the right time, but that's just me...just those who are simply dating. In my opinion, I say it has to be at least a month, maybe even two months, before I would even think about considering that an outright relationship. The reason I ask is that I saw a girl possibly and viciously use the "ex" designation on someone she simply dated...no relationship, just dating...for about a week and thought "boy, that seems odd" especially since the girl got all worked up about it and the guy she was dating. Anyway, I already shared my view on that but I'm interested in what other people believe. What do you think?
- This past month, things have been up and down for me. Like I said earlier, I've been working on DJRT stuff which is definitely an "up" for me. I've also had this new laptop I've got for Christmas which is probably the best present I've gotten in years, maybe ever. I'm very happy with it. On the flip side, my depression's been kicking in now and then and it's been rough with some of the thoughts that have come with that. I've had a bit of trouble with sinus issues as well throwing me off physically and I've caught a couple of bugs to boot, one I'm recovering from now. My New Year's was alright though I wasn't at my best. I also haven't generally been as up socially as I'd been previously but I'm hoping that changes in the near future as well. This roller coaster has been rough but I'm doing the best I can and I have a lot to look forward to though some of it might be a ways off...like the walks, the festivals, the good weather coming back...that kind of stuff. I'm hoping that stuff comes sooner than later.
- I'm going to get a bit personal here in terms of subject matter but I'm going to be as general as possible because though this isn't about me, it could apply to me down the line. Right now there are a few friends of mine who are currently going through or have gone through some very rough times as of late. These folks are possibly asking questions of themselves that they never imagined ever having to ask and potentially having to make some really tough decisions...some because they have no choice other than to do so, some because it's for the best for everyone involved in whatever they're dealing with, some to prepare for a future with or without certain people, some because something changed regarding their dreams (something I might be facing down the road regarding a certain area of my life)...it's those and several other scenarios here. As someone who's been down that road too many times to count myself...especially when I didn't want to be...I do want to say that though I'm not there with those friends in person going though whatever it is they're dealing with, I'm definitely with them in spirit and praying and hoping for them to pull through and potentially overcome whatever they're facing or going to face. I know times might not be easy in either the short or long term and I don't envy them one bit regarding any of this kind of stuff, but I thought those folks should know I feel for them and I'm hoping for the best outcome possible.
- Song on Repeat: "Don't" by Ed Sheeran. This past month, this song has been the definition of a song on repeat. It's catchy...at least to me...and reflects some feelings I've had in the past. This song hits the spot regarding some of those feelings.
- Shoutouts: Kevin, Stacey, Sarah & Dave, Jay, Ron M., Stephanie, Melissa, Alan, Desiree, Mary, Sean D., April K., Ron U., Griff, Jenny K., Anna, Tony C., Jalen, Stan, Jay, Bob & Lynn
Aaaaaaaand with that is the end of this edition of DJ's Random Thoughts. There is one thing I want to say that I've probably said every year around this time since I was a kid and even a few times on here...it's too friggin' cold outside. I hope everybody keeps safe and warm and I'll see you next time. Until next time, folks. Take care and God Bless.
