MY FIRST BOOK (When I was in the 2nd Grade)

You know, this writing and editing thing should be old hat by now. Heck, I should even be a famous, rich illustrator.

Just when I thought I was working on my first book, I discovered that I ALREADY have a book under my belt. Okay, maybe it wouldn't be classified as a book by some. Especially since it's only like six pages long.

But, in my eyes, it's a beauty. Okay, "beauty" may be too strong a word.

While going through some old items that my Mumsy gave me, I stumbled across my first book. My gem. Where it all started for me. Not only did I write it (apparently I wasn't old enough to edit it), but I also illustrated the sucker!

I penned what some would classify as something very near to "War and Peace" in Mrs. Daley's second grade class. It was when I was an up and coming author in the John Dewey Elementary School in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Don't worry about trying to find it on Kindle, at Barnes & Nobles or at your local bookstore. This is a one-of-a-kind gem. But, being the nice guy that I am, I have decided to share it with you...page by page, filled with love and wisdom of a second grade mind.

The book is called, "Big Bear." And now, for the first time in print...

Cover: This is the cover, presumably of Big Bear. I don't really remember what he's holding. Perhaps a small spear. Perhaps a rope, or a dead snake. I'm not sure. But he is colorful!

Page 1: The Indian and cowboys did mak freinds (I think that should be: The Indians and cowboys did make friends.)

Page 2: The Indian men help the Indian woman (women) to bake. (I think the Indian woman is holding a piece of bread.)

Page 3: The woman (women) make the food. The cowboys make the food because they have no woman (women). (Poor guys, out on the prairie with nobody to cuddle with). (Again, I think she may be tossing bread, but I can't be sure.)

Page 4: Some Indians are good and some are bad. They have bad weapons. The cowboys want to win. They have guns and rifles. (An artist rendering of a rifle with bullets is displayed.)

Back Page: I think this is a tomahawk. As you can see, this book was authored and illustrated by yours truly.


I now feel inspired to write even more now. And maybe, just maybe, seeing what a fantastic artist I was, I'll get back to illustrating my books as well.

Mrs. Daley's second grade class. The budding, handsome author is pictured second from left in the middle row (red shirt and blue stripe).

SOME OF MY FAVORITES

I like to write. It sometimes helps me to escape reality. Not that I need to escape from reality. My life is pretty doggone perfect, with a beautiful, funny wife; a silly, cute stepdaughter; a wonderful mom; great family and friends; and two of the best dogs in the world. (Though my wife would argue that we have, at best, one of the best dogs in the world.)

When I'm writing fiction, I enjoy creating characters. I like to see them evolve as the story progresses. Sometimes I have no idea how a character will evolve, until I get halfway through a story.

In reality, I've met some pretty colorful characters. As a sports writer and a sports editor, I've gotten to know some fascinating people. I've gotten to know some fascinating athletes. Some athletes were real jerks. But most that I've met are sincere, good-hearted people.

I've talked with and written about such NFL greats as Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints -- one of the nicest guys I've ever met), Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers -- who was an "aww-shucks" kind-of-guy coming out of N.C. State), Julius Peppers (Chicago Bears -- who took his sweet time dressing and getting ready before talking with the media), Lance Moore (New Olreans Saints -- again, like Brees, a really nice guy) and Vonta Leach (Baltimore Ravens -- a funny, smart, talented, nice guy all the way around).

Thanks to my job, I got to know some of the athletes really well, and consider some to be good friends. They are top-notch athletes, and even better people. Here are some of my favorites:

NFL

Terrance Copper, who is from Washington, N.C., is arguably the nicest guy I've ever met. He's a 10-year veteran of the NFL. A graduate of ECU, Terrance latched on with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. He's also played with the Saints and the Baltimore Ravens, before landing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now that I'm within a three-hour drive of K.C., I plan to attend a game or two to watch Terrance in action with the Chiefs. I've seen him play as a member of the Saints, and am anxious to see him in Arrowhead Stadium.
He is a wide receiver and a special teams ace.
I went to Terrance's wedding a few years ago. He returned the favor and came to my wedding in June.
When he returns home to Washington, N.C., he often gives back of his time and his money.

C.J. Wilson, a defensive tackle, is in his third year with the Green Bay Packers. C.J., who hails from Belhaven, N.C., is another of the nicest guys I've ever met. He would do anything for you, even as an NFL star.
Like Terrance, C.J. also attended ECU. He was a seventh-round pick of the Packers two years ago.
C.J. was fortunate enough to win the Super Bowl in his rookie season. I'm expecting him to have a breakout year this year.
Besides being a football standout, C.J. is a master of the keys. He can play the piano like nobody's business, often performing at church.

NBA

Damien Wilkins, seen driving between a pair of Miami Heat defenders (including some guy named LeBron at right), is a member of the Detroit Pistons. He's also played with the Seattle Sonics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks (where his uncle, Dominique Wilkins, was a superstar).
Damien is from Washington, N.C. One of the best parts about Damien is that he has given back so much to his hometown. It's not just with money. He has held a "Fun Day" in Washington, where the youth really get treated to some nice things. Damien always makes time to chat with anybody and everybody.
His selfless acts always impress me.

PRO BASEBALL

Brad Snyder is one talented guy. From Bellevue, Ohio, Brad was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs organization, and is now with the Houston Astros organization.
Currently, Brad is playing with the Oklahoma City Redhawks, a Triple-A afflilate of the Astros.
While he's been called up to the Majors before, I'm ready for Brad to get a good, long shot in the big leagues. He works his tail off each season. I think he's due.
I always loved watching Brad play in high school, whether it be baseball or football. He's got one of the sweetest swings I've ever seen.
And, like the guys above him in this blog, he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.

DANCERS

I guess I really didn't know how NBA teams or NFL teams picked their cheerleaders and dance teams. That is, until I did a story about it for the newspaper.
Lindsay (left) and Brittony (right) are both members of the Charlotte LadyCats, the No. 1 dance team for the Charlotte Bobcats. Both are from North Carolina, and both went to ECU. In fact, Brittony went to the same high school as C.J. Wilson (Northside High School).
Besides dancing, the ladies do all kinds of charity work with the LadyCats -- from helping out with Boys & Girls clubs, to helping send off troops, to helping to build and paint playgrounds at schools.
They are way more than just beautiful ladies. They are sweet and caring and giving.

OLYMPICS

Lauren Perdue went to London with a dream, and she came home with a gold medal.
I did a story on Lauren in 2008. She then talked about her dream of competing in the Olympics. Her dream came true this summer.
Not only did her dream come true, but Lauren also helped the 4x200 relay team win a gold medal.
Lauren, who is from Greenville, N.C., has had a sensational career at the University of Virginia. She has one more season to compete for the Cavaliers, and I'm expecting huge things from her.
She already has her sights set on returning to the Olympics in 2016. I'm thinking there's a good chance she will add to her gold medal collection.
Lauren, deservedly so, earned all kinds of fans while she was in London. This sweet, pretty, outgoing young lady is also one of the nicest people I've ever met. She deserves nothing but success.

 SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

This shoutout goes to the athletes and dancers I've mentioned. Thanks for being great role models. You all deserve nothing but success.


SONG OF THE DAY

"Born in the USA," by Bruce Springsteen.

DIGGING "STARS EARN STRIPES"

One of my favorite new television shows is "Stars Earn Stripes." Of course, I keep saying, "Stars AND Stripes," but my beatiful wife keeps correcting me. I think...THINK... I finally have it right.

The show comes on Monday nights on NBC. Here is a link to the website (http://www.nbc.com/stars-earn-stripes/) and here is their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/StarsEarnStripes).

The show is hosted by General Wesley Clark (retired) and some gal from Entertainment Tonight, quickly making her an authority on all things military. It's an action-packed show where celebrities are teamed with real-life (or former) military people. There are members from U.S. Army Delta Force and Green Berets, U.S. Navy SEALS, U.S. Marines, police officers and Walmart security guards. Okay, I made that last one up. I just wanted to see if you were still paying attention.

The best part of the show is that the celebrities help to raise money for military charities.

The celebs and the real-life heroes gather at a remote training facility. They are challenged to execute complicated missions inspired by real military exercises. (I got that off the NBC site.)

So far, celebs have had to drop out of helicopters and into water. Two of the celebs couldn't swim and had to be saved. They have also had to learn how to shoot pistols, long-range weapons and cool stuff like that.

The cast includes Nick Lachey (he was once married to Jessica Simpson, who once asked if Chicken of the Sea tuna fish was fish or chicken), Dean Cain (who played Superman, and I think my wife secretly has a crush on him), Todd Palin (who is married to some political lady), Dolvett Quince (who helps people lose weight and yells at them in the process), Picabo Street (who has one of the coolest names ever, and was an Olympic gold medalist), Terry Crews (a HUGE dude who played in the NFL and is an actor), Laila Ali (who stars in a Kohl's commercial...oh yeah, she is also an awesome boxer with a famous dad), and Eve Torres. I like Eve, and not just because she's a WWE Diva. Well, that has a lot to do with it. Who doesn't like WWE Divas?

                                                 Eve Torres. She's a WWE Diva!


The best part of the show for me is learning stuff from my wife, who is a Marine. She's a retired Marine, but once a Marine, always a Marine.

She's done cool stuff like jump out of helicopters, scale walls, shoot pistols, shoot long-range weapons and other ninja-like stuff.

I usually don't come back with stuff I've done as a sports writer in the face of danger. For example:
"Oh yeah, I once had a really bad meal during halftime of a game, but I sat through the ENTIRE second half and then wrote my story."

Or:
"One time, during the state championship high school football game, I went to sit down in a chair, but I misjudged where I was and I almost fell down. IN FRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE! True story!"

Or:
"I once reached into my computer bag to grab my laptop, and let me tell you what...I suffered the nastiest paper cut imaginable. Not only that, but then I got salt on the wound. SALT! Can you wrap your head around how much that smarts?!"

I don't want to make her feel bad. I'm nice like that.

Anyway, the show rocks. The military rocks. I've got nothing but respect for the military, and not just because my wife is the sexiest, sweetest military lady in the world.


NEED A COVER MODEL FOR YOUR ROMANCE BOOK?

This is Thor. He's sexy, and he knows it.


SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY
My shoutout goes to my friend, Sean Leonard, a fellow graduate from the awesome 1983 class of Hudson High School. Sean always writes nice or amusing things, and I greatly appreciate him! Go Explorers!


SONG OF THE DAY
"Every Breath You Take," by the Police. It was the song that spent the most time at No. 1 in 1983.

MY PROPOSAL TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

Ya know, Nicholas Sparks isn't the only romantic guy from New Bern, N.C. I proposed to my beautiful wife while I was living in New Bern, home of Mr. Sparks. He's the guy that's written, "Dear John," "The Notebook," "A Walk To Remember," "Message in a Bottle," "The Best of Me," and several others.

By the way, I've met Nicholas and did a story on him for the newspaper. He's a really nice guy.

Oh, spoiler alert...since I wrote, "wife," that means she accepted the proposal.

I met Allison while I was working as the sports editor of the Sun Journal in New Bern. The newspaper gave me the opportunity to propose to Allison. Let me say this...it was about 4 p.m. when she read the proposal. I was nervous. For one, if she said, "no," I would be devastated. And for another, if she said, "no," I would have to write another column REALLY quickly.

She did say, "yes." Of couse, I thought she said, "I don't know," at first. That got the heart racing. But she said, "yes." YES!!!

We've been married since June 2. I couldn't be happier.

Here is a link to my proposal (http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/window-99846-nice-arrival.html)

And here it is if you don't want to click the link:

MY TEAMMATE FOR LIFE

Sitting at a table in a quaint coffee shop in downtown New Bern, I nervously stared out the window.

Watching pedestrians scurry by the window, bundled up in protection of that frigid December air, I awaited your arrival.

You walked in, the howling wind growing quiet as the door slowly closed.

When you placed your hand in mine, your cold fingers clasping with mine, it warmed my heart. And put me at ease.

It was our first date. I thought perhaps, before your arrival, it would be a nice chat. A nice distraction from basketball season.

Little did I know that you’d still be with me through baseball season and into football season.

I feel blessed that you came into my life. That I get to look into those magical brown eyes and stare at that amazing smile.

That I get to hear that laugh. Oh, that boisterous laugh.

You are a wonderful mom. A terrific cook.

My best friend. The love of my life.

No matter what we do, whether it’s dinner out, watching a movie, relaxing on the island or simply enjoying the quiet summer evenings on the back porch, I cherish each moment. Because I’m with you.

Sure, we have our differences. You like the Chiefs and I like the Browns. You like the Royals and I like the Indians.

You aren’t fond of some of the most awesome shows on television — Swamp People, Pawn Stars, American Pickers — but you watch them with me. Of course, you make fun of the people and me in the process, but it’s all good. It’s all good.

I like it that you like sports, and I love that competitive edge to you. You’re willing to go toe-to-toe with me in some of the most exciting athletic events in the world, like bowling, miniature golf and Skee Ball.

And I appreciate you for not gloating after beating me in some of these endeavors. Of course, I was injured during some of them…my “horrific” bowling injury — an all-too-frequent mishap that has plagued many an athlete. Ahem!

(Of course, I’m not sure if you didn’t gloat because you’re a good sport or because of the note I had the kind gals at the counter write to you…after instructing them how to spell “gloat.”)

You even love my high-energy puppy, Thor, which is fantastic. Ok, I should say, you tolerate Thor.

He will be a puppy for just another 14 or so months.

You even got the approval of the Horn-n-Supper group, notorious for being tough on outsiders. (Ok, we both know they are loving and giving people.)

I’m so thankful you came into my life, and I’d like to make that permanent.

GULP...(Pause for dramatic effect)...
On that cold December day, you gave me your hand.

Will you give me your hand, warm my heart again, so I may place a ring on your finger?

Allison Rhett. Sweet, funny, beautiful Allison. Will you make me the luckiest guy in the world? Will you be my teammate for life?

Will you marry me?

 

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY
To Allison, who makes me happier every single day.

SONG OF THE DAY

"I Got You, Babe," by Sonny and Cher.

Thor Photo of the Day: He is a handsome boy, isn't he?

MORE FROM "HOME RUN FROM HEAVEN"

Here is a blurb from my first book, which I'm hoping to publish later this summer or early fall, "Home Run from Heaven."

This is the synopsis:

Dylan Bell, a freshman in high school, grew up idolizing his father, who played ten years of Major League Baseball. When his father passed away because of cancer, Dylan was heartbroken. But thanks to a new, always-getting-into-trouble puppy, a loving family, a supportive girlfriend, and his strong faith, Dylan grows as a baseball player and as a young man. With a little bit of help, and a lot of faith, Dylan just may be able to lead the Hudson Redmen to a place they have never been before in school history.

And here is the blurb:

Just a couple of minutes before the service was to begin, I turned around in my chair. I couldn’t believe what I saw. It seemed like everybody from Hudson was at the funeral. Heck, it seemed like everybody from North Carolina was at the funeral. There were hundreds of people lined up to pay their respects, including several of my dad’s former teammates. I couldn’t help but smile and get a little misty eyed.

“Hey, B, check it out,” I said to Brian. “Turn around. You think anybody stayed home?”

Brian had the biggest smile on his face. “Doesn’t surprise me,” Brian said. “Dad was super, super cool.”

The minister made his way to the front of the crowd. Once everybody quieted down, he got started. Now I’m not sure if this was divine intervention, a quirky act of nature or what, but I fully believe my dad and somebody else upstairs had something to do with it. The minister bowed his head and said, “Don Bell was…”

As soon as those words finished coming out of the reverend’s mouth, the rain stopped. Completely. Not only that, the clouds parted and the sun came shining through. An incredible rainbow seemed to pop up out of nowhere. It warmed things up nicely. I looked into the sky and it almost seemed like there was a special ray of sunshine just for us. I looked at my mom, who was smiling from ear to ear. Katherine and Brian were smiling, too.

“It feels like somebody is hugging me,” Katherine said. “Is that silly?”

“No, baby,” my mom said. “I feel it, too. It’s nice, isn’t it?”

Katherine then hugged my mom. I put my arm around Brian. He whispered in my ear, “I feel it, too, bro. Do you?” I nodded, gave him a wink, and said, “Like dad said, he’d find a way to be there for us.”

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

My shoutout goes to my friend, Lindsay, who is a member of the Charlotte LadyCats. The team not only performs at the Bobcats' basketball games, but members do A LOT of charity work as well.

Lindsay and her teammates just helped out with the Boys and Girls club of Greater Charlotte. I know she and her girls help to put on smiles wherever they go.

The LadyCats also did an appearance for soldiers who were about to be deployed.

Lindsay, who I've known since she was a dancer at ECU (East Carolina University...Go Pirates!!), is just as sweet as she is pretty.

Lindsay and the LadyCats are multiple winners of the NBA Dance Team contest.

For more about Lindsay and what some of the LadyCats do, check out her Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/ladycat.lindsay) and her Twitter Page (https://twitter.com/Lrg0429).



SONG OF THE DAY

"Just to See You Smile," by Tim McGraw. It's a fun song that reminds me of my beautiful wife.
She's the most beautiful lady in the world to me. She's funny, smart, sweet and sexy. I love her like I've never loved another.

 

Thor (and Tasha) Photo(s) of the Day

Thor (top photo) looks a bit "fabulous" in his glasses. Tasha (bottom photo) looks pretty doggone studious.

ONE MILLION DOLLAR CHEETO?

So as I'm scrolling the internet while doing some research for my next book (at least, that's what I tell myself), I stumble across a gem on eBay. Somebody is looking to "earn" $1 Million for a Cheeto. (Try saying "One Million Dollars" like Dr. Evil in the "Austin Powers" movies. It makes it seem even more ridiculous.)

So, yeah, $1 Million for a Cheeto. True story.

Ahh, but this isn't your typical, mouth-watering Cheeto. This is a "Heart Rare-Collectible 1 of a kind 'Cheeto' Heart Smiles." So that's why the crunchy snack isn't just a couple bucks. No, it's in the shape of a heart...and a smile. So it makes sense to charge One Million Dollars (Dr. Evil voice while holding a pinky to my mouth) for it.

Here is the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200570041013

My snack food of choice is usually the potato chip. Sometimes I will wander away from the chip and go the pretzel route. I like the little nuggets. Coincidetally, so do our dogs. But that's another story.

There's really never any "cool" or "odd" shapes when it comes to potato chips. I've never seen a heart-shaped potato chip. Or a smile. Or have I, but I just haven't noticed? That's it. I'm just going to have to increase my intake of chips and start looking for funny-shaped crunchy pieces of heaven.

After all, I owe it to my family. If I can land a chip that will bring us One Million Dollars (Dr. Evil voice), we could get that pool that we "need." Or that family-friendly Aston Martin I've had my eye on lately.

ACHIN' OVER AKIN

So, it doesn't really give me the warm fuzzies knowing that Rep. Todd Akin hails from the same city where we live now (Wildwood, Mo.). Akin, a member of the Republican Party, is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district.

I don't normally talk or write about politics. It's just not my bag, baby. But, his comments about "legitimate" rape left me scratching my head, and stewing just a bit.

Here is a good story on what Akin said when it came to his view of abortion:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/us/politics/todd-akin-provokes-ire-with-legitimate-rape-comment.html

In the interview, Akin said, "“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Shutting that whole thing down? What??

Missouri is the "Show Me" state. I need you to show me a little more common sense, Mr. Akin.


SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

To my dog, Thor. Because he's resting beside me and it's the easiest shoutout to make at the moment.

SONG OF THE DAY

"Mr. Blue Sky," by ELO. I always feel good whenever I hear that song. ELO just flat out rocks.

Thor Photo of the Day: He's like an angel...on the outside.

IT'S RAINING; IT'S POURING; MY DOGGY IS SNORING

I came down to the basement to do some work. When I first came down here, it was nice and sunny outside. Now, it is raining and thundering. I thought it was thundering earlier, but that was just my dog, Thor, snoring away.

He's had a rough day. He went for a walk...six hours ago...and he's gobbled down some pretzels (bad daddy giving him "people" food). I draw the line at chocolate and wine. I'm selfish like that.

The thunder has me thinking about our other dog, Tasha. She is a sweet, slow-moving, 9-year-old Olde English Bulldog that absolutely hates storms. She is pictured below resting under the house, or playing hide-and-seek. (Doesn't look comfortable to me, but she seems to be enjoying it.)


Tasha will follow Allison, my beautiful wife, wherever she goes, within millimeters of her feet. The old gal has been known to shake and shiver when thunder comes rolling around. (For the record, I'm talking about Tasha here. My wife is not an old gal. But my wife has been known to shake her...well, never mind.)

Tasha seeks shelter under tables or, if she happens to be alone at bedtime, in the bathroom. I'm not sure why she goes in there, but maybe she figures if a tornado comes...or if she's feeling dirty and wants to get clean...she can hop into the shower. Seeing how she likes to roll in the dirt, I'm thinking "shower" isn't her first choice.

PRAISE TO MY BETROTHED

My lovely wife made my day yesterday. Well, she actually makes my day every day, but yesterday was special.

She presented me her edited version of my book, "Home Run From Heaven." I appreciate her so much for taking the time to not only read it, but to come up with some great suggestions. She even caught a few missing words, wrong words, etc.

I'm a blessed man that I landed her.

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

This shoutout goes to Tommy Mygrant. Check him out here on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tommy-Mygrant/121419721213726?sk=info)

Tommy is a true success story. Here is his bio on his Facebook page:
Independant Team Beachbody Coach from North Central Ohio. I became a corporate success story after losing 112 lbs with Beachbody programs like P90X and Shakeology. Honors include 2009 Million Dollar Body Game ($50,000 winner), April 2009 Top Sponsoring Coach, and a featured story in the 2010 P90X infomerical (#1 in the country). I work as a network marketer and public speaker for schools and corporations sharing my thoughts on health, wellness, weight loss, lifestyle, achievement, and success. I'd love to connect with you!!

Tommy has been on television, on videos and in the hearts of many who have followed this true leader.

I instantly liked Tommy when I met him on the football field while covering the Bellevue Redmen football team. He was a stud player and a beast on the field, but one of the nicest guys you will ever meet off the field. His passion for life, his passion for his friends, his passion for his job and his passion for the Redmen just make me smile.

Nobody deserves more success than Tommy!

Oh, and go Redmen!!

SONG OF THE DAY

"Wake Up In It," by my friend, Christi Paul. Check it out on iTunes.

The ever-talented Christi, a regular on CNN, also has a book out, "Love Isn't Supposed To Hurt."

You can check it out here:
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Isnt-Supposed-Hurt-Christi/dp/1414367376





Thor Photo of the Day: He's a handsome boy. But pure evil sometimes lurks behind those brown eyes.

MAKING PROGRESS

I'm making some progress on this whole book-writing thing. Last night, I got some feedback on my first book. It read, "It doesn't matter what you write, as long as there is a photo of you in the book. You are, by far, the most handsome writer ever. Put a photo of you in there, and you will be a best-selling author!"

Okay, I may have embellished that just a wee bit. Okay, doggonit, I made the whole thing up.

In seriousness, I got a response from a sweet lady who read my first book, "Home Run From Heaven." She shared it with her son. I sent out a few copies so people could read it, edit it and critique me on it. Her response was the first I've received, and it was a great response. She said I should be proud of the book, and that really made me smile.

I can't thank her enough. She really boosted my spirits.

Here is what the book is about:
Dylan Bell, a freshman in high school, grew up idolizing his father, who played ten years of Major League Baseball. When his father passed away because of cancer, Dylan was heartbroken. But thanks to a new, always-getting-into-trouble puppy, a loving family, a supportive girlfriend, and his strong faith, Dylan grows as a baseball player and as a young man. With a little bit of help, and a lot of faith, Dylan just may be able to lead the Hudson Redmen to a place they have never been before in school history.

I'm thinking it's kind of Young Adult, with a splash of Romance, a dash of Christian and some Paranormal thrown in there for good measure. Hopefully, it will be published sometime this summer.

ON DECK

I've decided on my next book as well, though I may be going back and forth between two books. I've got something tentatively lined up along the lines of the Olympics, but I need to hammer some things out first.

In the meantime, I will be writing something geared more towards kids. It will be about a pair of fun-loving yet mischevious dogs.

My plan is to start writing that this week, maybe even today.

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

This shoutout goes to a friend of mine, who I've known since she was in middle school. Amber Bollinger moved from Ohio to California, following her dream to become an actress. She has done just that!

Amber has done modeling and has acted in a number of films. She is one of the most talented ladies I know. Besides being beautiful, Amber is as funny and as sweet as they come.

She was an incredible athlete in high school, setting numerous records, and that helped land her a scholarship with the University of Cincinnati track team. She did pretty phenomenal there, too.

Amber has always been entertaining. She's going to be huge one of these days. She's doing something she loves, and not a lot of us can say that.

You can follow her on:
Twitter https://twitter.com/mariebollinger
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/mariebollinger
Tumblr http://mariepartee.tumblr.com/archive

Check out her movies here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2592497/

I couldn't be happier for, or more proud of Amber.

SONG OF THE DAY

"Imagine," by John Lennon. I've always loved that song.

Thor Photo of the Day: He had big paws as a youngster. He certainly grew into them.

Post Olympic Hangover

I'm dragging today. Maybe it's because I didn't sleep very well. Maybe it's the excitement of the NFL season kicking off, and with it the hopes of the Cleveland Browns winning the Super Bowl. (I'll wait for you to quit laughing before I continue.)

Perhaps it's because I have Olympic Hangover. I'm rather bummed that the Games are finished.

My beautiful wife brought up an interesting question last night: What was your favorite part of the Olympics?

So, that got me to thinking. My favorite part was seeing my friend, Lauren Perdue (below), win a gold medal with her teammates in the 4x200 relay race. It was her first Olympics, so that's pretty darn impressive. I know she had a blast there, just by looking at her photos on Facebook. I can't wait to talk with Lauren more about her experiences in London, and I'll be sure to share some with you.

Other than that, my second favorite part of the Olympics was watching the U.S. beat Japan, 2-1, in the gold medal game in women's soccer. It was so cool to see Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Abby Wambach and the rest of the U.S. team celebrate.

The swimming races were awesome. Some of the track events were spectacular. The volleyball and gymnastics were cool. And the synchronized swimming...well, I don't really understand that sport.

So what was your favorite part of the Olympics?

NFL

Speaking of the NFL, as I get ready to watch the Cowboys-Raiders game on Monday Night Football (even MNF preseason football rules), two of my buddies played in exhibition games last week. C.J. Wilson of the Green Bay Packers had one tackle in a 21-13 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

Terrance Copper of the Kansas City Chiefs had two catches for 16 yards (along with one tackle) in a 27-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Terrance took a hard hit by Adrian Wilson on one play. Wilson apparently hit Copper while Copper was a defenseless player. I'm going to check in on Terrance later to make sure he's okay.

I've know Terrance for 10 years and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He even attended our wedding (below). It was pretty cool having an NFL player at our wedding!

POWERBALL

So the Powerball is up to $305 million. I'm going to play. I would whisk my lovely wife away to a wonderful vacation, and maybe buy a winter home in Hawaii, or Australia, or Italy.

What would you do if you won that kind of money?


SONG OF THE DAY

"Home" by Phillip Phillips

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

To my beautiful wife. Look at her in the photo above. She's awesome, right!?

 

Thor Photo of the Day: Just chilling.

C.J. Wilson is a beast.

A sports fan's kind of day

Packers, Indians and Olympics

Today is a great day for sports fans. Well, I'm excited about it.

I get to watch my buddy, C.J. Wilson of the Green Bay Packers, play tonight on ESPN. C.J. is a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive end for the Packers. He's working hard to start fulltime this year for the green and yellow.

Here's more about C.J. (http://www.packers.com/team/roster/C.J.-Wilson/e0fe2993-47b1-4bfc-b875-9b9f1dabb283)

The Packers play at the San Diego Chargers in an NFL exhibition game at 7 p.m. (St. Louis time/8 p.m. Eastern).

I've known C.J. since he was a freshman at Northside High School in Yeatesville, North Carolina. (I swear, I didn't make that name up.) I can still remember the first day I met C.J. He walked up to me during a volleyball match I was covering, introduced himself and we spoke for a good 20 minutes.

I instantly liked the kid. It was so much fun watching him grow physically and mentally, and develop into an outstanding football player for the Northside Panthers, and then the ECU Pirates.

He was hoping to go high in the NFL Draft, but didn't get selected until the 7th round by the Packers. He was NOT happy about being drafted so high. (http://www.wdnweb.com/2010/04/25/wilson-lands-with-packersformer-northside-ecu-star-picked-in-seventh-round/)

It all worked out for C.J. He ended up winning a Super Bowl in his rookie season.(http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/took-94719-toward-trophy.html)

Through it all, C.J. has always kept God first. That's one of the reasons why I like and respect him so much. (http://www.newbernsj.com/articles/wilson-94628-association-pamlico.html)

What many fans might not know about the Packers' beast is that he is a heck of a piano player. He plays in church, and then eats the piano after he's done playing. (Okay, I made that last part up.)

It's so nice to see great people, especially friends, exceed at such a high level.

ALSO ON THE MENU

I also get to watch the gold medal soccer match between the U.S. and Japan, a rematch of the World Cup final.

Oh, and the Cleveland Indians are on the MLB Network. The Tribe takes on the Boston Red Sox. I know, the Indians have been struggling lately. Buy they are still my team.

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY

The shoutout goes to C.J., a good friend who still stays in touch even during the hustle and bustle of football season.

You can follow C.J. on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjwilson95

 

SONG OF THE DAY

"We Are Young," by Fun. It is a catchy song and it just makes you feel good.

Thor Photo of the Day: He's always had an interest in sports...and destroying things like tennis balls.

A SAMPLE FROM MY BOOK

Instead of actually writing something, I'm going to provide a couple excerts from my book, "Home Run From Heaven."

Here is the premise:
Dylan Bell, a freshman in high school, grew up idolizing his father, who played ten years of Major League Baseball. When his father passed away because of cancer, Dylan was heartbroken. But thanks to a new, always-getting-into-trouble puppy, a loving family, a supportive girlfriend, and his strong faith, Dylan grows as a baseball player and as a young man. With a little bit of help, and a lot of faith, Dylan just may be able to lead the Hudson Redmen to a place they have never been before in school history.

And here are a couple samples from the as-yet-to-be-published-waiting-on-some-editors-and-cover-designer book:

My name is Dylan Bell and I’m 15 years old. I’m already six feet tall, have wavy brown hair, and blue eyes.
For some reason, girls seem to like me, even though I think I am kind of a dork. They talk to me a lot. It certainly doesn’t hurt that I have a cute dog that follows me everywhere. Come to think of it, I’m sure the girls talk to me just so they can pet my dog. Thor, who has a shiny, long golden coat, deep brown eyes, and a tail that is stronger than my baseball bat, has never turned down a chance to be pet, has never turned down a play date, and has never…NEVER…met a stranger.
I’m going out with the prettiest girl in school, Allison Bollinger. Allison is almost as tall as me. She has long brown hair and the prettiest blue eyes I’ve even seen. We’ve been dating for over a year. She is a three-sport star, but she specializes in volleyball. Allison is also really good in track and basketball. She is already getting lots of interest from colleges, especially in volleyball. Even if she never gets a scholarship for sports, Allison will earn something for her grades. She’s at the top of her class. I sometimes wonder, if she’s that smart, what is she doing with a clown like me?


And here is one more:

One evening, I was talking with our next door neighbor, Jenny, when I happened to turn around to check on Thor. I was already in a somewhat lousy mood because I had a somewhat lousy practice.
My buddies on the baseball team had stopped by earlier. They were shooting baskets in the driveway. I looked and looked and couldn’t find Thor anywhere. I called for him and whistled for him, but he had simply disappeared.
I turned around to tell Jenny that I had to go search for him when, all of a sudden, I saw a flash of fur out of the corner of my eye. It was Thor. He had managed to get through the small opening in the fence and was heading straight to the street. As if I wasn’t in a bad enough mood already!
“Jailbreak ! Jailbreak!,” I screamed. “The little guy is making a break for it!”
Jenny stood there frozen, her eyes wide open. She then started to laugh.
I hopped the fence and made a mad dash toward Thor. Hearing my screams, Scott, Gregg, Dennis, and Terrance came racing around the house and joined me in my pursuit. Five against one. We would have Thor back behind bars, errr, inside the fence, in no time. At least I thought the odds were in our favor.
I thought I had Thor trapped against a tree. But as I bent down to grab him, he got into a stance to do his “business.” At least, he PRETENDED to get into a stance. I stood up and took a couple steps back to give him some room. You know, to be polite and all. And, well, because Thor’s “business” usually didn’t smell like roses. Just then, he made a break for it, heading toward the street again.
“You just got punked,” Terrance said with a laugh. “Man, where is Ashton Kutcher. He would have loved that.”

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY:

My Mumsy, who is the best mom in the world! Just wanted to show her some love.


SONG OF THE DAY:
"Just the Way You Are," by Bruno Mars. It reminds me of my beautiful wife.

Thor Photo of the Day: Thor and a ferrett have a staring contest inside a pet store.

Haley Hiatt is a true inspiration.

HALEY IS A HERO

While watching the Olympics, I sometimes wonder where the athletes get their inspiration.

I know lots of people look up to athletes as role models. Some athletes do make good role models. Others are downright awful.

Haley Hiatt is an athlete. She's playing volleyball at Pitt Community College. But Haley is so much more than "just" an athlete.

She's been a hero to me ever since I met her in 2008. Haley was a student at Washington High School when she discovered that she had cancer. As the sports editor at the Washington Daily News, I asked Haley if it would be okay to do a story on her battle with cancer. She was more than up for it.

When she walked into the gymnasium on a chilly November day in 2008, she had a stocking cap on her head. But she didn't wear it just for the cold. Haley was bald, one of the many negative aspects of chemotherapy.

I didn't know what to expect out of the interview. Haley seemed shy and quiet at first. But once she opened up, she opened me up to a whole new world.

This 15-year-old was, in a word, amazing. She played volleyball for the Washington Pam Pack. Just wanting to play volleyball again, to get out there with her teammates and friends, helped fuel Haley's desire to get better. To be "normal" again.

There were ups and there were downs, but Haley stood strong through it all. Her faith played a big part in that.

Haley is a role model. To me, and to many others. While she's beautiful enough to be a model herself, she's often behind the camera these days taking pictures of her friends, and of nature. She has an eye for beauty.

If you want to read more about this amazing young lady, here is a link to the story.
http://www.wdnweb.com/2008/11/16/hiatt-spikes-her-cancer/

Haley has overcome a lot in the early years of her life. She's more than willing to share her struggles and triumphs. I believe, and I think she believes, that she was put here for a purpose. I believe great things will happen for Haley, because she truly deserves it.

I've kept up with Haley through the years. She's become a dear friend, and I love her dearly.

Below is a column I wrote about Haley:
http://www.wdnweb.com/2008/11/20/haley-a-true-inspiration/

Haley a true inspiration
(published Nov. 20, 2008 in the Washington Daily News)
When Haley Hiatt walked into the Washington High School gymnasium, my heart skipped a beat.
I had never spoken with Haley and didn’t know exactly what to expect. I was meeting her for the first time, and was there to do a story about her battle with cancer.
After I asked the first question, there was an awkward silence for a minute. It seemed much longer.
Maybe she was nervous. Maybe I was nervous.
I asked her a second question, and she answered immediately. Once we got past that first question, it was off to the races.
I was full of questions, some of which I wasn’t sure I should ask. But Haley was honest. Brutally honest.
The more questions for her, the better. Maybe it was therapeutic for her. Maybe it was therapeutic for me.
I was intrigued by her battle with Hodgkin’s disease. How she got it. When she got it. How she got rid of it.
It wasn’t an easy story for me to do. My father died of cancer and it ripped my heart out.
Talking about cancer isn’t exactly something I wanted to do.
But Haley made everything easy. This girl, all of 15 and without much hair, put me… ME… at ease.
Within minutes she and I were laughing. She had silly jokes and I laughed. I had silly jokes and she laughed.
It was the first time I met Haley, but it seemed like we had known each other for years.
Haley has that kind of endearing personality. You’re drawn to her by her smile. By her laugh. By her humor. By her story.
It’s a great story. A story of perseverance. A story of battling, and beating, cancer.
Haley is a high school student. She is a volleyball player, and a darned good one. She is a basketball player. She is a track athlete. She is a teenager.
But Haley is so much more. So, so much more.
Haley is an inspiration.
Haley has an incredible view on life. Her bout with cancer brought her closer to her family, closer to her friends and closer to God.
Through her ordeals, which included treatments of chemotherapy through a port that is still in her chest, Haley has held her head high and faced each challenge with a brave face.
She said she wants to be a role model for kids.
This girl, this amazing, beautiful, talented, caring and funny girl, is a role model for kids. But she’s also a role model for adults.
That hour I spent with Haley, talking about her cancer, laughing over silly jokes, taking photo after photo around the school, will be one that I will remember for a long time.
When Haley walked out of the Washington High School gymnasium, she took a piece of my heart with her.

SHOUTOUT OF THE DAY:

It goes without saying, this shoutout goes to Haley.
You can see more of Haley on her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/haley.e.hiatt) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/hehiatt)

SONG OF THE DAY
Hero by Mariah Carey.

Thor Photo of the Day: Just so darned cute.

Alex Morgan rules. That's all there is to it.

 

ALEX MORGAN RULES

And other nuggets of wisdom

Just when I thought the Trampoline event was going to be the heart-stopper of the Olympics, here comes the soccer game between the U.S. and Canada. I watched the whole thing. I was so mesmerized that I didn't even leave the couch to get a bag of potato chips!

Canada's Christine Sinclair had a phenomenal game by scoring all three of her team's goals. But the U.S. came through in the clutch to win, 4-3, in extra time. Oh, sorry, I should have put "spoiler alert" or something like that at the top.

Megan Rampinoe had two tying goals for the U.S., and Abby Wambach's goal on a penalty kick made it 3-3.

Alex Morgan, who thinks I'm super cute (okay, I may have made that part up), had the biggest goal of the night. Her header in the late, late stages of the match gave the U.S. the win, sending the Americans to the gold medal match against Japan. That contest will take place Thursday.

The kid just comes through in the clutch. Alex Morgan rules. That's all there is to it.

OTHER GAMES I'D LIKE TO SEE

I'm all psyched to catch some Trampoline action. Our neighbor girls have a Trampoline, but so far all I've seen them do is jump up and down on it. I'm not sure if they are practicing for an upcoming Olympics, or just giggling and talking about boys while jumping up and down.

There are some other games I'd like to see in the Olympics. How about Hide and Seek? Or Kick the Can? Oh, I used to rule at Kick the Can.

Maybe Marco Polo? Of course, I wouldn't participate in that. I'm not that strong a swimmer. Or Tag? You can have individual Tag and team Tag. I think I may be on to something.

SONG OF THE MOMENT

Along with my Thor Photo of the Day, I think I will start a Song of the Moment. I grew all nostalgic while "jamming" out to my Pandora during my rather so-so workout this morning.

Today's Song of the Moment is, "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners. It's just a feel good song that puts you in a good mood.

SHOUTOUT TIME

I'm also going to come up with a Shoutout Time, where I will give a shoutout to a friend, fellow writer, athlete, or whatever I feel like...because it's my blog.

Today's shoutout goes to Kimmy Kim, who does some great comedy stuff. Check her out on Facebook and YouTube. She is hilarious.


https://www.facebook.com/#!/HollywoodisHard/info


https://www.facebook.com/#!/HeyKimmyKim


http://youtube.com/hollywoodishard

Thor Photo of the Day: Just hamming it up for the camera.

A CURE FOR OLYMPIC FEVER

DARE TO DREAM, BUT BE PREPARED FOR MUSCLE CRAMPS

Is there a cure for Olympic Fever? I'm so caught up in it, that I'm seriously considering training for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Okay, "seriously considering" may be a bit of an exaggeration.

Nonetheless, I can't help but get energized when I watch some of the athletes perform on the field, or in the pool or in the sand. Watching Gabby Douglas fly around on the uneven bars gets my heart pumping faster than when I hear a bag of potato chips being opened.

The U.S. women's gymnastics team was amazing. McKayla Maroney was inspiring on the vault. It made me want to tackle the pommel horse. Of course, it would be named the "pummel" horse after it would have disposed of me. I'm not that strong a gymnast.

The races in the pool have left me on the edge of my seat. Well, at least leaning up a little higher while I'm sprawled out on the couch. I have so much admiration for Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin.

I'm not sure if Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever, but you sure could make an argument for him. Franklin is just fun to watch, especially because of her bubbly personality. It almost makes me want to dive in the pool and race. The thing is, I'm not that strong a diver. And I'm not that strong a swimmer.

My sweet and beautiful stepdaughter, Katherine, who recently turned 11, thinks Phelps is good. We had a deep conversation about the U.S. swimmers not long ago.

Me: What do you think of Ryan Lochte?

Her: I think he's pretty cute.

Me: What do you think of Michael Phelps?

Her: He's good, but he's really not that cute.

Ahh, she's got a future as a swimming announcer one of these days.

SO MUCH FOR THE TIME TRIALS

There are so many Olympic events, I figured that I had to find one that would suit me.

Not long ago, we purchased bikes for the family. I climbed on Black Stallion (I just made that name up for my "hardcore" bike) and set off on an adventure. I was going to race as fast as I could, trying to gear up for the Time Trials in the next Olympics.

I think I may be a few days past my prime, because I fell out of medal contention within five minutes. I mean, I was gassed. Granted, it was hot. Sticky, even. But I think it had more to do with me not being in the best cardiovascular shape. I had some muscle cramps the next day. You see, I'm not that strong a bike rider.

MANY MORE EVENTS TO GO

Alas, there are many more events for me to try. And, if I go by sweet Katherine's theory, I have at least, at minimum, 12 more years to find my event and qualify for the Olympics.

 Her: Hey, Kev.

Me: Yes, K.

Her: You know, most people are lucky to go to the Oympics once or twice. But not for basketball.

Me: What do you mean?

Her: Well, in basketball, you can go to like 10 Olympics.

Me: Really, 10, huh? So they could play in the Olympics until they're like, what, 60?

Her: Yeah, basketball players can do that. Oh, and tennis players.

With that in mind, I'm heading to the couch with a bag of potato chips to watch the Games. I figure I don't have to get serious about my Olympic dream for another five or six years.

Thor Photo of the Day: Taking a little break on our walk to, umm, smell the flowers.

Lauren Perdue shows off the gold medal she won at the London Olympics.

AS GOOD AS GOLD!

Lauren Perdue earned a gold medal on Wednesday during the London Olympics. On Thursday, the first-time Olympian received that gold medal.  She proudly wore it around her neck while taking pictures with some of her friends and teammates. Lauren was nice enough to share some of the photos with me, and I'm now sharing them with you.

Lauren, a resident of Greenville, N.C., who is now competing at the University of Virginia, helped the U.S. women's relay team win the 4x200 event. She was the lead leg in the preliminary round, helping the Americans secure a spot in the finals.

From there, Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Allison Schmitt took over. The foursome won the gold medal in a new Olympic-record time of  7:42.92. Lauren earned a gold medal for being a part of the team.

The ever-gracious Wahoo swimmer was thrilled to be a part of something so exciting.

"What an incredible few weeks it has been leading up to this moment!" Lauren texted me shortly after the U.S. won the gold. "I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics and also contribute to a gold medal relay tonight. The relay tonight was spectacular. Each one of us has worked incredibly hard for this moment and I could not be more proud of my USA teammates."

Lauren is done competing in these Olympics. She is staying in London to watch more of the action, and to cheer on her U.S. teammates.

The future looks bright for the affable swimmer, who has been swimming since she was 8 years old. More gold may be in her future.

I'm planning to write much, much more about Lauren, her quest and her dreams in the near future.

Below are more pictures of Lauren and her gold medal -- definitely a beautiful sight.

Thor Photo of the Day: Thor just relaxing on a pillow...giving me the look of, "okay, dad, quit taking so many photos of me!"

Thor shot for the day: Thor decided to take a little nap after playing with his ball. He seemed pretty doggone comfortable on the air mattress.