It’s hard to be motivated to do anything in January. Once the holiday bashes have abated and there’s nothing left but a Christmas tree that needs to come down, gifts to be put away, horrendous bills to pay, and excess pounds to be dealt with, it’s easier just to curl up inside and watch movies and football and only leave the house whenever necessary. The weather hasn’t been too outrageous - ranging from the low 60’s one day (!) down to the single digits, mostly without much snow - but it certainly didn’t prompt me to do much of anything either.
I wholeheartedly tried to get back into an exercise and diet regimen, but the early darkness that set in before I even arrived home from work and the biting cold and crummy weather made motivation low. But I did get on the treadmill for 30 minutes roughly three times a week. Jackie also made it difficult by continually making her gourmet soups, brownies, rice, pizza, the best chicken pasta alfredo I’ve ever had, and other assorted goodies. Still I somehow ended up losing 10 pounds by the end of the month.
Jackie whips up her batch of hot and sour soup
No pain, no gain
I also attempted to curtail too much DVD purchasing, with what might be considered moderate success at best. If it weren’t for a great sale at Amazon and some too-good-to-pass-up titles at CD Connection, I could have done better. As silly as it sounds, I am trying to get in lots of movies and TV viewing this year…but not at the expense of getting out and doing things, but rather in place of the incessant tinkering around doing nothing that often grips me. I was off to a good start when Jackie and I finished the entire run of The Office this month, which is one of the funniest series of the current decade.
I joined Facebook late in 2007 and spent a fair amount playing some of the games on there - like Scrabulous where I have had games going with Ashleigh, Susan, Chris, Peter Mahler, and Adam Sadowsky, who played Eli on my all-time favorite show It’s Your Move. I’ve also played Othello, Chess, and the Just Three Words application. It’s just something else to encourage that loathesome tinkering. Other than that, there were a few minor - and a couple of major - distractions sprinkled throughout the month to keep me active
There were a few potentially disturbing issues already this year that were all averted, but could have started the year out wrong - a scare involving Ashleigh almost losing her job and later thinking she was dying of a heart attack, problems for Jackie and I to work out, and a potential job-change for my boss which would have shaken up my work world a bit. Fortunately, all of these scares were averted and we all seem to be on the right track for now. It seems whenever a new year begins there is some sort of kick in the pants to keep me on my toes.
The weekends this month started off extremely lazy, but gradually became more and more active - especially after looking back at my 2007 ‘model’ year to see what I should have gotten accomplished by now! By the second weekend, I was at least seeing visitors - namely one Jon Petering who came over on Saturday the 12th to watch the playoff games. On Sunday the 13th, I met my Dad’s family at Olive Garden in Vandalia to celebrate Arline’s 83rd birthday.
On Wednesday the 16th I had an interesting experience at work. We now have a small film studio on the premesis and I was tapped to help create an instructional broadcast of our KTV production on self-checkout changes. Consensus from our director Tim Miller and those I was working alongside was that I did well, and I felt like a gave a natural-sounding delivery (believe me, it was acting)…but of course when I saw the finished product, I hated the way I looked and sounded. It may be better after edits - or I may request that they cover my face with one of those huge black bars.
Outside the KTV Studios
With Cynthia Burke as we began our broadcast…I almost look professional
As the month progressed, I finally broke out of my doldrum shell and began to get excited for some upcoming trips I am planning. On Saturday the 19th, I actually went to AAA and got my passport photo taken and the AAA guide to the state of Texas. The photo ended up looking like a mug shot…I was even wearing orange. I also sent out some emails to some friends I am hoping to reunite with soon. Got a couple of bites. That afternoon, I had my first reunion of the year - Kenny Carroll, which was quite enjoyable. More details on that meeting here.
My passport photo - which I hate
After I finished up with Kenny, my cousin Chris came over and he, Jackie, and I went to the F.O.E. to play some pool (on that old table that may or may not be the one that I actually learned to play on back in the late 1970’s). I started off slow, but kicked it into high gear and was the evening’s victor. From there we went on to Red Robin for dinner and then back to my place to watch Hitchcock’s Rope. Unfortunately, we had somehow managed to lock ourselves out of the house. Ashleigh had been in Columbus with Carolyn and couldn’t get in and neither could we. I had to go get my spare key from Carolyn, seeing her for the first time since our divorce hearing on December 27, 2006. It was on that night that Ashleigh woke me up in the middle of the night freaking out because she couldn’t sleep.
Notice that Chris is racking. This indicates that I was the victor.
The next day, Sunday the 20th, was merely noted at the day of the football championships where the New York Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots defeated the San Diego Chargers, sending the victors to the Super Bowl. It was also the day that our Christmas tree finally came down.
The following weekend promised to be even more exciting as I was planning a trip to Columbus to see Adam and meet up with some friends. The weekend didn’t look as if it was going to start out too well when our power went out while I was taking my morning shower on Friday, January 25. In fact, it went out in the whole neighborhood and the surrounding area all the way up to the highway. I had to get ready by flashlight. Fortunately, it was restored a few hours later - after I had already made it to work.
My Mom drove me up to Columbus and we stopped at McDonalds on the way. Although, two of my three hoped-for reunions didn’t work out, I was able to arrange to have an early Saturday morning breakfast with my old pal Eric Hubble - with whom I had reunited initially almost exactly one year prior. That always guarantees lively conversation and jovial humor as we discuss everything from Gene Simmons to Rambo to the practical use of a yurt. I then spent the bulk of the day playing with Adam, eating popcorn, and watching the Game Show Network. That evening I met up with my old friend Lee McAdams, which you can read about here.
With Eric Hubble after a hearty Bob Evans breakfast
Adam enjoys his breakfast as well
Adam is ready to head out in his Ohio State garb
With my White Russian friend at the Pointe Tavern where I met up with Lee McAdams
An after-breakfast giggle following another Bob Evans breakfast
On Sunday the 27th, we all went out for breakfast at Bob Evans - where Eric and I had also met up the day before. Love that Pot Roast Hash! After Denise and Mom did a little bit of shopping while Aaron and I watched the British version of The Office, we drove home that afternoon. I borrowed some more photos from Denise to use on this website in the future.
So that’s that. The January Purgatory is now over and we’re into the romantic month of February. Pretty soon Spring will be rearing its lovely head and some of my trips will begin. All in all, upon reflection, January wasn’t all that bad of a place to be I guess.
And let it be known that you are one skilled and practically unbeatable player when it comes to Scrabulous!
When on the treadmill, is that a signed photo of Klugman & Randall in character as “The Odd Couple” looking down at you? If so, I eagerly look forward to that entry here!
Peter
February 2nd, 2008
If I remember correctly, ‘It’s Your Move’ was a sitcom that was developed for Jason Bateman after he left ‘Silver Spoons’. I seem to remember that it only ran for one season and had a checkboard with the cast’s photos for an opening title sequence. I had the biggest crush on the girl that played his cheerleader sister on that show. I can recall a Christmas Episode where the two of them were making a concoction in the bathtub and bottling the stuff up as presents for people. They labelled the stuff differently depending on the person, if my memory serves me right. I haven’t seen that program since its initial run. I have never seen an episode of “The Office” from America. Is it as great as the English Version? I have seen all of those and think they are outstanding!
Dave Chasteen
February 2nd, 2008
Yes, you bested me at pool that evening, but I will be back one day to challenge you again. By the way, I think there were some fantastic pictures of me that evening which you chose not to include.
But don’t forget, I did beat you at chess. I will repeat the feat any time you choose, sir.
Chris Tangeman
February 2nd, 2008
We saw each other in late Jan ‘07 when I picked up Briana to go sledding.
Carolyn Gelm
February 8th, 2008
Dave-
I have yet to see the American “Office” but you are right, the BBC version is a riot. Brad tells me the American version is as good.
Aaron
February 8th, 2008