Sports Talk – Carey's Take

Love is the future

This was my initial reaction watching the Cavs opening game – Kevin Love was the best part of Lebron's return, he is the future. I also made this prediction that night that if the Cavs are mediocre by the end of January look for the Cavs to trade Lebron for a bunch of draft picks and young players and build around Love and Irving

Remember Lebron only has a two year deal and who is to say he will resign or is it possible that he just flat out retires? Other sport stars with plenty of years left retired while at the top of their game. And what I have seen of Lebron it seems that drive, the energy of earlier years is lacking. After all he has been in the league since the age of 18. Lets see how this plays out but thats what I predict can happen in the future, Lebron is gone but Love remains.

Browns have division and no division

Can any Cleveland team get it right? The Browns are in the midst of a play off run and 12 games into the season they switch quarterbacks? Even though their run game is almost non existent, injuries to their starting center and back up, with a cast of no name receivers Hoyer is standing in there finding ways to win. How soon we forget how inept the Browns have been the last 5 years. A 7 and 5 record should not produce panic.

Who is to blame for the bad routes and timing between Hoyer and Gordon? Gordon for getting suspended and the coaching staff for not weening him into games, not Hoyer. Gordon should not be getting as much playing time to disrupt the offense. Who is to blame for the fumbled balls? Letting go of Phil Dawson? Not finding a legit kick and punt returner? Not Hoyer.

Only Cincinnati won this past Sunday so the division is still up for grabs, no one is running away with it. This was not the time to change quarterbacks, shame on the coaching staff. Hoyer should finish the season and what ever the Browns record ends at it is still a drastic improvement over the past years and who knows the Browns could still pull off a division title. So let the quarterback controversy start next year in training.

As of now the Browns have division and will not win the division unless Manziel is put back on the bench and Hoyer propped back up.

Gripe one

Who else is tired of watching the black athlete with the curly dreadlocks spilling out from his helmet and flopping all over the place. One Troy Polamalu is enough, the rest look like a bunch of black Raggedy Ann dolls in football jerseys.

I hate pink

I hate that pink is being applied to all sports in recognition of breast cancer awareness. It sissifies the manliness of the game and really its not the place for it. Besides in Cleveland we have enough boobs running around on the field that we don't need to be reminded.

Carey Masci

Christmas Outing for Dece. 6th - Zoar Village

Hey Gang,

I was still under the weather so last weeks outing I opted out. Walt and his family still went. I am planning another outing for Saturday the 6th. We can car pool for those interested in going. Lets meet at my place about noon.

OH where to you ask..... Zoar Village.

Here is the link.... 

 http://historiczoarvillage.com/event/christmas-in-zoar-2/

 Are YOU Ready to Go-Go!

      Carey

The Christmas Concert and book signing

Hey Friends,
I will be at this event signing books, please share, thank you!


Gotta Go-Go!
Carey
___________________

Come and Enjoy the Season with a Christmas Concert by Companions of the Lamb! Refreshments will be served!
Bring your Christmas shopping money as there will be gifts available to purchase by Local Christian Authors and Artists!

 The Christmas Concert "GLORY GLORY TO THE KING" includes scripture reading of the Christmas story along with Christmas songs from our newest Christmas CD and a sing along of several traditional Christmas hymns for all to participate in. This presentation which lasts a little over an hour is a great way to share the birth of Christ with everyone and anyone, young and old alike.

Saturdays Dinner After the Constitution Party Convention part 2

Hey Gang,
So the search through Aurora for the 4th and Walnut restaurant continued...

Aurora, Indiana is a scenic little city. I just wished I took the driving tour when I wasn't hungry and looking for food. It would have been far more enjoyable. But I ain't kiddin' when I say I drove up n down every road, street, ave and parking lot looking for Walnut. We eventually found 4th and got excited. Food had to be right around the corner now. Well guess what? We found Winter Street and Water but no Walnut.

I even took a road that looked like someone’s drive that almost put us on the rail-road tracks - I'm serious. The name of that one laner was Railroad Ave, trust me its definitely not an ave.. How does a narrow one lane road that is so close to the tracks it could possibly get you killed is named avenue is beyond me. I hope the Go-Go Bus forgives me for making it drive through that torturous road.

It was approaching 8 p.m. Empty stomachs with dizzy heads from driving in circles coupled with Dan starting to mention places like Steak n Shake called the 4th and Walnut search off.

I said OK if you remember when we pulled into down-town Aurora from Rt. 50 we saw a BBQ place, that's where we're going, Big Daddy's Bar-B-Q whether we like it or not Big Daddy's Bar-B-Q is it.


http://bdlmbbq.com/index.html

Ruth saw the sign that said closed but the doors were open. We walk in and I was a bit puzzled. The restaurant is set up almost like two places. The front half is more like a diner, well light with chairs and tables, the back half was dimly lit, rustic, with an eclectic assortment of collectables and very homey.
I chose to wander to the back half and sit where there were a few people dining. A lady asked when she saw me walking around looking lost can we help you? Are you open? Yes, sit where you like. I asked are you the owner? The lady pointed to a man behind the counter and said he is, that's Big Daddy.
We made small talk until our waitress came over. I asked her what does she recommend. Big Daddy interrupted and said get the pulled pork. There is nothing worse when you ask a restaurant what they recommend and they suggest what you dislike the most. I said OK but when the waitress came back I said I am leaning towards the ribs what do you think? Bib Daddy suggested again I told you the pulled pork sandwich. AHA there was an outlet, well I am not into bread right now. OK get it naked. HMMM what does that mean? Order it without bread, just pulled pork. There was no way to worm out of it now. So I got the pulled pork with fries and cole slaw and it comes with mama's corn bread, I love corn bread so ordered an extra slice along with an appetizer of wings.

 As we were waiting for the meal Big Daddy who was searching online for karaoke supplies asked us where we were from. I said the Cleveland area. He replied how funny, I am looking at a store right now located in Cleveland. That wasn't the only odd coincidence. I found out there last name was Willoughby which is the name of the city next to Wickliffe where I live.

More small talk led him into telling us how he got into the restaurant business. The restaurant was actually his plumbing business. One day his workers didn't sure. He literally had it. He cancelled the phone service, took down the signs and decided on opening a Barbecue restaurant something he had no clue on inkling what he was getting himself into.  

Saturdays Dinner After the Constitution Party Convention part 1

Hey Gang,
OK where were we? Oh yes, dinner, Saturdays dinner, I was going to tell you about Saturdays dinner. This post about Saturdays dinner has the same theme as the last couple of postings that nothing is by chance, not even our Saturday dinner.

We decided to leave the hotel where the Constitution Party convention was held and go exploring instead for a place to eat. In the hotel lobby we stayed at there were brochures, one was for Whisky's Restaurant

The brochures stated:
Founded in 1984, Whisky’s Restaurant is a tribute to “The Whisky City,” otherwise known as Lawrenceburg, Indiana, which is known for its history of distilling dating back to the 1800’s. Located in two historical buildings, Whisky’s is famous for its award winning ribs, in addition to its other specialties and traditional offerings.

 An independent restaurant in a building built in the 1800's with steaks and burgers that was fairly close by - what more could you ask for? Parking and seating. That would have been nice.

  The lot was full so I stopped at the front entrance just to jump out and peak at the menu. I was told it would be a 45 minute wait. There was no way I was going to wait for 45 minutes as none of us ate in some time. So I asked a gentleman in front of me if there were any other good places to eat. He thought for a moment and said yes, there’s a good little family restaurant outside of town on 4th and Walnut and I think the name of the place is 4th & Walnut. He repeated the directions again. Outside of town and the way he pointed he had to mean the town next door, Aurora.

 I was vaguely familiar with Aurora from what the hotel desk clerk told me about it. It is nicknamed The City of Spires for the many churches it has.

Here is the link http://www.aurora.in.us/index.html

 I stopped at a gas station for gas and directions on the border of Aurora. Both attendants, yes they still pump gas here, never heard of the restaurant and insisted Walnut had to be in Lawrenceburg just a street over from where Whisky's is. That just didn't sound right because the gentleman who told me about the restaurant said it was outside of town. Undaunted I continued on to Aurora and let me tell you I drove up and down every street.

 I asked two teens who were walking around if they knew where 4th and Walnut was. Both were clueless. One teen however did know that nickname of Aurora was the City of Spires and thought Walnut may be in Lawrenceburg. The other teen was in a band and quite a card. He said let me sing you a song and he did, right in the middle of the street. He promised he would Facebook me but he hasn't yet so don't ask me his name or his bands name, he was suppose to tell me when we connected. They had to leave because dad was at home waiting for them. So off we went.

 Ruth and Dan are both use to my antics. When I set my sites on finding a place, there is no deterrent, the search must go on and it gets even worse when I am hungry looking for a good restaurant. No fast food, no corporate and no snacks - real food or a fast happens until real food can be found. So the search through Aurora continued...

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

Thank You!! It was a success!

Hey Gang,
Thank you to those who came out to support me at my first public book signing at the Painesville Craft & Antique Co-op. It went wonderful!! Another is planned for December.

I had a lot of fun doing it. I got to talk to people about my book which led them to tell me about some of their stories. I really appreciated the lady who stopped by, crossed her arms and said "Tell me why I should buy your book?" As I am telling her about it she asked "Do you stay off the main roads? I have been wanting to do that for sometime".  She bought my book.

Well friends thanks again!

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

What the Doctor Said

Hey Gang,
I was going to write about my eating experience during my trip to Cincinnati and more about the national convention for the Constitution Party but I want to back up about two weeks.

This event that happened actually goes along with what the Doctor told me during our talk after the meeting at the convention. The Doctor told me You know nothing is by chance, even our meeting. God has plans for all of us.

If you haven't read my last two posting do so it will make more sense.

Anyway.. I have a little saying of my own which sort of goes along with what the doctor said, it is this:

    Wherever I'm at - that's where I'm suppose to be.

At times I have to remind myself of this saying because I still get flustered when I am running late for a job or things don't go as planned whether for work or personal appointments.

 My getting upset was a wee bit evident when a job I had planned with someone else was running behind because of unforeseen problems with the machinery we rented. This issue cost us at least a day possible more so instead of being finished on Wednesday or at the latest Thursday we concluded the job on Friday

But now looking back it, thank God we ran a day late, it actually saved a persons life, literally!

I am going to repeat again what the doctor told me: You know nothing is by chance, even our meeting. God has plans for all of us. 

So the person who was helping me on the job was heading over to the store on Friday. He got stopped by a red light. He noticed that the car in front of him had a woman who was freaking out and slapping and shaking her female driver. He realized something wasn't right so he immediately called 911. He decided to get out of his car when the passenger of the car in front of him did also.

The lady was in hysterics screaming help me she's dieing. My friend swung the drivers door open, grabbed the woman who was now turning blue and threw her on the road right on the yellow line. He immediately started CPR when a woman across the street saw this she came running over telling them I am a nurse and almost at the same time another car stopped and a man came out and said I'm an EMT.

The three of them managed to get the ladies heart started before the paramedics arrived to take her to the hospital.

My friend found out the lady lived but if not for his quick acting she would not be here.

So the point is:
Nothing is by chance, God has plans for all of us. Or as I say
Wherever I'm at - that's where I'm suppose to be and this was never more evident than my friend being at the right place at the right time.  Our job may have ran late but there was a reason for it and now we know.

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

Day 3 Posting 4

Hey Gang,
Let me correct the last posting, I had to abandon it because of time constraints and an unforeseen fire alarm.

I wrote in posting 3:
I lingered around until almost just a few were left. I spent some time talking to a doctor. He is 93 years old and has so many testimonies and stories. He was a real treasure to speak to.

What I was talking about was at the conclusion of the convention while most hurried up to leave I stayed for a while.  And the doctor I am referring to is a member of the Constitution Party. I met so many people that I can't remember his name but his stories I do.

So allow me to continue.... When the meeting room cleared, left behind was Dan who came with me and the doctor. The doctor was just sitting there alone. So I went over to him and introduced myself. He immediately summed up my personality and said You know nothing is by chance, even our meeting. God has plans for all of us. I said why don't we sit in the lobby by the fire, I will help you and Dan and the 3 of us can sit there. He said I am OK you go help Dan.

As I was gathering Dan's stuff the doctor came over with his walker and asked Dan what can I do for you, how can I help you? At 93 and using a walker the doctor was more concerned with helping Dan than me helping him to the lobby.

We sat by the fire in the lobby and the doctor told me so many stories - real treasures. He repeated again that nothing happens by chance. Many years ago during a trip him and his wife were in a bar of an airport. They met a man. The doctor at first was a bit annoyed that his wife was spending so much time talking to this man. Hours later at 2 am in the morning his wife led this man to the Lord. And then the doc said Two weeks later you know what happened? That man died in a wreck. That meeting with that man was not by chance.

The doctor told me other stories with the same message that nothing happens by chance. Some stories he teared.

Before leaving I hugged him. I will not forget our conversation.

I then wrote:




The real fun started when we left for dinner

But let me tell you first about the fire alarm.

I was using the computer in the lobby of the hotel while Ruth and Dan slept. I just closed a clip on You Tube titled Obama Blows Smoke when the hotel fire alarms went off. MAN are they loud!!! Ear ringing loud.


So I hurriedly shut the computer when door after door of the hotel rooms swung open with bewildered half sleeping guests stumbling out. The soft spoken desk clerk panicked trying to figure out what to do. He was running around while everyone was confused. It was kind of fun though, sort of like when something happens in your home-town neighborhood all the neighbors come out to see what happened and actually talk to each other. That's what this was like.

I ran upstairs knocking on Dan's door telling him to open up, hurry. He was sleeping and didn't hear a thing. He was the only one that didn't care. Dan told me it was probably the kids next room, they were so loud it sounded like they were playing football. I made sure he didn't want me to help him downstairs. He went right back to sleep. Everyone else didn't know what to do, some grabbed their bags and left, some were yelling at the desk clerk as if he had something to do with it.

Everyone relaxed a bit when only police showed up with no firemen. I found out in the morning that one of the hooligans, probably the one Dan said was making football noises, pulled the alarm. They caught him by watching the surveillance tape.  What fun.

That's all for now.
Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

r

Day 3

Hey Gang,
OK you know the routine - right? What happened when I awoke? You got it, I woke up late. The meeting started at 8 but I got us thee by 9:30.

The topics at the convention were great. IF only all liberty - tea party - conservative - Christians and other like minded people would just give an ear to what we are saying they would be shocked. Then again maybe they do but in denial. I will try to write some of the topics discussed later. Wake up people it is later then you think.

(Here is a teaser the Constitution Party has 2 candidates who are lining up to run for president.)

I lingered around until almost just a few were left. I spent some time talking to a doctor. He is 93 years old and has so many testimonies and stories. He was a real treasure to speak to.

The real fun started when we left for dinner

day 2

Hey Gang,
So let me back track till yesterday morning and the ill marked signs. What threw me off? The directions called to take 275 W and get off at exit 16. OK no problem. Exit 32 - exit 7 - wait exit 7 what happened to the rest? So I back track but there was no 16.

We exit on who know's what road and drive around who know's where but we did see a see a sign that said POLICE DEPT with an arrow. We follow it thinking we could ask the cops for directions. Plenty of cops cars but not one cop. But way in the back of the municipal building was a car. we thought maybe its a cop but it turned out to be a woman using the recycling containers at 2am!

She gave us directions that were totally wrong and we ended up in a place called Mt. Airy. I think that's the spelling. In an attempt to find a cop I even made an illegal turn thinking OK let me break the law and of course a cop has to show up.. But none did. So back on 275 W towards Kentucky. Exit 32, exit 7, miles later exit 21 and finally exit 16. Who numbered these signs? And the hotel is in Indiana which comes before Kentucky on 275 W so why didn't they put Indiana instead of Kentucky first?

The Bus stayed warm with the electric heater despite the bone chilling cold out of about 20 degrees. I over slept and instead of waking at 8:30 as I thought it was actually 9:30. Dan was a little annoyed we missed the first half hour but not as annoyed if he would know what I found out. The meeting started at 8 so we actually missed 2 1/2 hours of it. SHHHHH!

The meeting is going good, write more about that later. This evening we took the river boat dinner cruise. Great time. Food excellent.

By the way did you know the Cincinnati airport is in Kentucky? So even though Ohio hosted the Constitution Party Convention our flyers said welcome to Kentucky err... Ohio.

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

Well friends I made it

Hey Gang I am here!!!


Well friends I made it. I set a land speed record for futility. IT TOOK ALMOST 5 HOURS TO GET TO COLUMBUS!

I didn't want to but plans were made for sometime so the GoGo Bus had to be driven in this mess. I have an arrangement with Dan who lives in Columbus and is a member of the Constitution Party. He pays for gas, I pay for the hotel room, he sleeps in the hotel room and I sleep in the GoGo Bus. Don't try to figure it out.

Anyway... I am proud of the way the GoGo Bus handled the snow. I took the fast lane and passed just about everything on the road for once. OK so we were only going 35 but everyone else was below that.

If the heavy snow didn't slow things down enough outside of Wooster all the way past Mansfield every few miles was an accident. Cars in ditches, some going the wrong way. At one point we parked and I had enough time to fix the heater. Thank God for that paper clip I was a wee bit chilled.

So almost 5 hours to get to C'bus and ummm another 4 to get to our hotel outside of Cincinnati because of ill marked signs and bad directions. 

Its 4 30 am and need to wake by 8 30 for the meeting,

more later.....

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey 

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Hey Gang,

Sometimes I just hate today's society, OK maybe more than just sometimes. Things have gotten so complicated and rigid. I blame the advance of the computer and the lack of common sense and morals in people for this.

For instance I was at a doctors office cleaning their carpet that is located in a small strip mall the other day. I went to the front of the plaza that is shaped like an L. I wanted to order a pizza from Papa Johns. A lady was standing outside of it talking to a worker inside who barely had the door open. I asked her if they were open and she said only for phone orders and delivery, the time was after 10 p.m. I tried to get the mans attention but after speaking with the lady he briefly looked up just to tell me they were only taking phone orders then quickly locked the door.

So standing in front of Papa Johns window I called the number posted. If that wasn't bad enough I had to listen to their Papa John jingle and message, then I was put on hold while I listened to the phone ring inside repeatedly before the same worker who told me to call walked away from making pizza to grab the phone. There I was standing outside, looking at him and him looking at me while we talked on the phone.

I explained I am cleaning next door and that I wanted a small pizza and if he could please knock on the back door of the doctors office when it is done because we can't use the front door. The back of the stores are all connected in this plaza. He said no we need to use the front door. So I said OK and ordered a small pizza anyway for $7 but he gave me a total of $9.25. I asked why is it that much and not $7 as displayed? He informed me there is a delivery charge. I went back and forth with him how could he charge for delivery when I could grab it from him? He would not budge because he had to charge the delivery price and had to deliver it. I voiced my anger hung up and walked away in disgust without ordering the pizza.

Gripe 2

At the post office I mailed a 6 X 9 envelope. I asked for media rate because it was a book. He asked is there anything fragile, liquid, explosive, or eatable you know the long list they give you. But instead of giving a simple no as in the past you now have to mark a box on an electric key pad stating so. Maybe to some of you its no big deal but to me its another needless senseless step. What is the purpose of this? How many people will admit to having something explosive if they did? And now punching it in on a key pad does that make anymore more honest or our world safer?

Gripe 3

Election ads I wish would just go away. How many ads did all of us hear touting these important facts... I will keep our military strong, bring back jobs, fight for the working family blah blah blah. NO KIDDING! Are we as voters that naive and stupid that they have to campaign on these basics?

I think fast food ads are more honest.

OH well and the beat goes on...

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey