Football season has begun! This past Friday the Triway Titans started their season with an emphatic win over backyard rival West Holmes, cruising to a 48-6 victory. Last year when we opened the season at West Holmes’ field, we were up 27-7 going into the 4th quarter but gave up 21 points in that final period for what was one of the worst heartbreaking losses a Triway team has had to stomach for some time. There was no doubt last Friday, though. Our defense dominated West Holmes’ offense and would have dominated them the rest of the game had we not put in our 2nd and 3rd string defenders in the 3rd and 4th quarters. On the other side of the ball, our offense could have scored 70 points, but instead we decided to work on our ground game.
Week 1 is gone, now, and it’s time to focus on our biggest rival – Orrville. Two years ago at their place we had them on the ropes, driving for a potential game-winning drive with 3 minutes to go but fumbled the ball (and the game) away. Last year we got the first win against Orrville in a while, and it was oh so sweet! Now we have another good team, and we’re hoping to make it two in a row against Orrville. However, there is one monster of a statistic that we’ll have to overcome: Triway has never beaten Orrville at Orrville. Ever. It’s time for a change.
Anyway, today is my 24th birthday. Woo hoo! I don’t really have much planned other than work and then a fantasy football draft tonight at 7:30 PM. It kind of stinks having it right in the middle of the evening, but I’m not going to ask the league commissioner to change the draft time just for little ol’ me. Besides, it’ll be fun!
Speaking of fun, it was fun last night playing Life the board game last night with Jennifer. I lost, though. Yes – I lost in the game of Life. I was a doctor but then lost my job, became a police officer, then had to go back to school, and finally was a retired veterinarian. I had a nice log cabin and was engaged (but never married). My total assets amassed $1.15 million while Jennifer’s added up to $1.6 million. Ouch! But good for her. Haha! It was annoying having to set up the game, though. There were plastic bridges and houses we had to break out of little tinker plastic sets then hook onto the board. There were game cards and spinners and pieces of cardboard that we had to organize and set up before we could begin. It was a mess, but we finally figured it out and got to play the game. (I now own the Yahtzee, Monopoly, and Life board games.)
I’m ready to take a nap right now. I’m working in our company’s remote office today, not in our normal location. We went to Five Guys Burgers for lunch, and it was very good. But just like on Thanksgiving Day, I am ready for a nap! And it’s not even 1:10 PM yet! But my lunch break is over, so it’s time to get back to work.
Smile! May God continue to bless you.
August 30, 2010
August 24, 2010
Twitter and Softball and Mowing, Oh My
I have been very busy lately with softball, house and yard work, hanging out with Jennifer, and lots of football. It’s been two full weeks since I last posted an update on this blog. I’m here now, though, so it’s A-OK! I just finished mowing my yard, which I hadn’t been able to do for twelve days! That should tell you how here-and-there I’ve been. I just got out of the shower and will be on the phone in a bit chatting with Jenn, so that’ll be a good ending to my day. Then I only have three more days until the high school football season starts! I can hardly wait for Friday night to roll around, itching for that 7:00 PM opening kickoff. Mmm…
I created a Twitter account yesterday. (Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/AndrewMarcum) For the longest time I swore I would never use Twitter since I thought it was useless; I would always say “It’s just a glorified Facebook status update.” Basically, it is! You can only have updates of 140 characters or less, and people can share or reply to those updates. However, once I joined, I found out so much more about it that I didn’t know, like the ability to “follow” people or create sub-pages with lists of certain followers similar to a newsfeed mailing list. I am going to be using Twitter this Autumn for posting and receiving scoring updates for local high school football games. I have “followed” a few other Twitter accounts from around here and in Stark County which are compiling football scores, and I plan to use those to help my never-ending endeavor to know the score to almost every game in Northeast Ohio!
Aside from creating a Twitter account, the next big accomplishment (well, more of a milestone than an accomplishment) was getting the Triway varsity football roster uploaded to MaxPreps. I’m the statistician for Triway’s football team just like I am for the varsity basketball and baseball teams; so duties such as posting rosters and stats and sometimes calling them into various newspapers falls on me. I enjoy it, though, and don’t really consider it “work” like some might. When the games start this Friday, I’ll be busy not only keeping stats for the game but also, at the same time, coordinating my text update ring of over 25 people from across Wayne, Holmes, Ashland, and Stark Counties. It’s a busy time but so much fun!
What else is going on? Umm… I don’t know, but there’s lots of stuff. I am going to Geauga Lake (or some water park, I’m not sure which) this weekend, so that will be fun. Then I have more softball this Sunday. Oh yah, last Sunday started the tournament for the double-header Sundays league in Lakewood. We won our first game in the bracket to advance into the double-elimination tournament. Then we lost our next game to get put into the loser’s bracket. Now we play this coming Sunday at 4:00 PM. If we win, we play again at 6:00 PM. However, if we lose, we are done. I finished the regular season 1st in batting average, 1st in home runs, 1st in on-base percentage, 1st in slugging percentage, 2nd in hits, 2nd in doubles, 2nd in triples, 3rd in runs scored, 3rd in walks, and 5th in RBI’s. That’s a pretty good line, if I do say so myself! Those numbers did not even include my 5-for-7 day with a walk, sacrifice fly, 3 runs scored, and an RBI in our two tournament games last Sunday. Hopefully we can get two more wins this Sunday, but sadly I don’t see that happening. We’ll find out then, though! Until then, see ya!
Smile! May God continue to bless you.
I created a Twitter account yesterday. (Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/AndrewMarcum) For the longest time I swore I would never use Twitter since I thought it was useless; I would always say “It’s just a glorified Facebook status update.” Basically, it is! You can only have updates of 140 characters or less, and people can share or reply to those updates. However, once I joined, I found out so much more about it that I didn’t know, like the ability to “follow” people or create sub-pages with lists of certain followers similar to a newsfeed mailing list. I am going to be using Twitter this Autumn for posting and receiving scoring updates for local high school football games. I have “followed” a few other Twitter accounts from around here and in Stark County which are compiling football scores, and I plan to use those to help my never-ending endeavor to know the score to almost every game in Northeast Ohio!
Aside from creating a Twitter account, the next big accomplishment (well, more of a milestone than an accomplishment) was getting the Triway varsity football roster uploaded to MaxPreps. I’m the statistician for Triway’s football team just like I am for the varsity basketball and baseball teams; so duties such as posting rosters and stats and sometimes calling them into various newspapers falls on me. I enjoy it, though, and don’t really consider it “work” like some might. When the games start this Friday, I’ll be busy not only keeping stats for the game but also, at the same time, coordinating my text update ring of over 25 people from across Wayne, Holmes, Ashland, and Stark Counties. It’s a busy time but so much fun!
What else is going on? Umm… I don’t know, but there’s lots of stuff. I am going to Geauga Lake (or some water park, I’m not sure which) this weekend, so that will be fun. Then I have more softball this Sunday. Oh yah, last Sunday started the tournament for the double-header Sundays league in Lakewood. We won our first game in the bracket to advance into the double-elimination tournament. Then we lost our next game to get put into the loser’s bracket. Now we play this coming Sunday at 4:00 PM. If we win, we play again at 6:00 PM. However, if we lose, we are done. I finished the regular season 1st in batting average, 1st in home runs, 1st in on-base percentage, 1st in slugging percentage, 2nd in hits, 2nd in doubles, 2nd in triples, 3rd in runs scored, 3rd in walks, and 5th in RBI’s. That’s a pretty good line, if I do say so myself! Those numbers did not even include my 5-for-7 day with a walk, sacrifice fly, 3 runs scored, and an RBI in our two tournament games last Sunday. Hopefully we can get two more wins this Sunday, but sadly I don’t see that happening. We’ll find out then, though! Until then, see ya!
Smile! May God continue to bless you.
August 10, 2010
A Bright Spot
It is now August 10th, seven months after Jennifer and I officially became part of a committed relationship. The last seven months, or nine months since we met, have been fun, exciting, trying, stimulating, and engaging at some point or another along the way. Some people have a check list of what they want in a significant other and at some point have to evaluate that person to see how he or she matches up with the expectations and/or standards set forth beforehand. For me, though, I have yet to find a reason to go to the paper to see if she is worth it. I know she is.
Jennifer makes me smile and makes me laugh. She engages me and supports me. She also makes me think. In my humble opinion, all of these things (and more) are needed for a healthy relationship. I’m thankful for the ways that Jennifer has helped make me a better and more well-rounded person. I’ve learned a lot from her, and I’m sure there are many more lessons to come (and I welcome them!) Sure, some of that may come from her “more experienced” status as an adult (to put it nicely), but that’s beside the point. Haha! Just yoking! She is only 25 years old, and I turn 24 years old in twenty days. So those who want to call her a cougar, well… by all means, go ahead! But when it comes to “robbing/rocking the cradle,” I’d say not so much. Am I that young? I like to think I don’t act or live like such.
Either way, I hope and expect that Jennifer and I will continue to push each other to become better people constantly. That encouragement and drive to never settle for mediocrity or a quasi-content, semi-productive life is something that I appreciate and look forward to. I’ve always said that someone is not right for you if neither of you have anything to contribute to help make the other a better person. I’ve found that in every aspect of our lives, Jennifer and I have pieces of ourselves that can be used to help shape the other into a better person; and I hope that we both continue to push each other to want to be better, more enjoyable, more thankful, more humble, friendlier Christians.
Don’t get me wrong; I am not talking about making or telling somebody to change. (No one should ever straight-up tell his or her significant other to do or stop doing something of which he or she is uncomfortable or unsupportive doing.) I’m just stressing the importance and invaluable meaning of both individuals being comfortable and courageous enough with each other to bring up improvement opportunities, and both understanding the other’s motives in doing such. This is not really a reflection of Jennifer and me in any specific aspect of our relationship or individual lives, nor am I lecturing or bragging about anything. I just think, in general, this principle is one that must be present, in some capacity, in every friendship and every relationship. When we stop engaging each other, when we stop pushing, when we stop caring about the betterment of ourselves and those around us (without being judgmental), that’s when things begin to crumble.
I want to be liked by everyone. I want to please everyone. I want to be enjoyable company for everyone. But in reality we know that’s not possible. Even Jesus, the One and only purely perfect Person to walk this planet and who never sinned, was despised and killed. (Woh! Step back. I don’t want anyone to think I’m making myself out to be like Jesus. No way! Sure, I always 100% strive to live my life as Jesus did and as Jesus would today, and to give Him the glory in all things; but in no way am I drawing similarities between the two of us for my own “praise”). So being perfect, other than Jesus, is not possible. But can we continually strive to be a pleasing, beneficial presence when amongst friends, family, and strangers alike? You betcha! I want to grow old knowing that I did things the right way, treated people how I (and they) wanted to be treated, made life better and more meaningful for others, and had a limited number of (or no) regrets about the decisions I made along the way. I think the last one (no regrets) is nearly impossible since hindsight is always 20/20, but it’s something for which we can always strive; Think through every decision and every phase of our lives so that when we surpass the hurdles and issues that come our way, we can be satisfied not only with their results but also how we handled them.
Anyway, I’m kind of getting off track. Today I want to talk about Jennifer and the bright spot she has been in my life. There is not much darkness here, but she has really brightened up the dim areas. I remember a little while ago when Jennifer thanked me for being in her life. One of my parents, I think my mother, saw that and, in turn, thanked Jennifer for being in my life. I think it speaks volumes about Jenn that even others can see the difference and spark she has been able to contribute to my little world. :-)
Smile! May God continue to bless you.
Jennifer makes me smile and makes me laugh. She engages me and supports me. She also makes me think. In my humble opinion, all of these things (and more) are needed for a healthy relationship. I’m thankful for the ways that Jennifer has helped make me a better and more well-rounded person. I’ve learned a lot from her, and I’m sure there are many more lessons to come (and I welcome them!) Sure, some of that may come from her “more experienced” status as an adult (to put it nicely), but that’s beside the point. Haha! Just yoking! She is only 25 years old, and I turn 24 years old in twenty days. So those who want to call her a cougar, well… by all means, go ahead! But when it comes to “robbing/rocking the cradle,” I’d say not so much. Am I that young? I like to think I don’t act or live like such.
Either way, I hope and expect that Jennifer and I will continue to push each other to become better people constantly. That encouragement and drive to never settle for mediocrity or a quasi-content, semi-productive life is something that I appreciate and look forward to. I’ve always said that someone is not right for you if neither of you have anything to contribute to help make the other a better person. I’ve found that in every aspect of our lives, Jennifer and I have pieces of ourselves that can be used to help shape the other into a better person; and I hope that we both continue to push each other to want to be better, more enjoyable, more thankful, more humble, friendlier Christians.
Don’t get me wrong; I am not talking about making or telling somebody to change. (No one should ever straight-up tell his or her significant other to do or stop doing something of which he or she is uncomfortable or unsupportive doing.) I’m just stressing the importance and invaluable meaning of both individuals being comfortable and courageous enough with each other to bring up improvement opportunities, and both understanding the other’s motives in doing such. This is not really a reflection of Jennifer and me in any specific aspect of our relationship or individual lives, nor am I lecturing or bragging about anything. I just think, in general, this principle is one that must be present, in some capacity, in every friendship and every relationship. When we stop engaging each other, when we stop pushing, when we stop caring about the betterment of ourselves and those around us (without being judgmental), that’s when things begin to crumble.
I want to be liked by everyone. I want to please everyone. I want to be enjoyable company for everyone. But in reality we know that’s not possible. Even Jesus, the One and only purely perfect Person to walk this planet and who never sinned, was despised and killed. (Woh! Step back. I don’t want anyone to think I’m making myself out to be like Jesus. No way! Sure, I always 100% strive to live my life as Jesus did and as Jesus would today, and to give Him the glory in all things; but in no way am I drawing similarities between the two of us for my own “praise”). So being perfect, other than Jesus, is not possible. But can we continually strive to be a pleasing, beneficial presence when amongst friends, family, and strangers alike? You betcha! I want to grow old knowing that I did things the right way, treated people how I (and they) wanted to be treated, made life better and more meaningful for others, and had a limited number of (or no) regrets about the decisions I made along the way. I think the last one (no regrets) is nearly impossible since hindsight is always 20/20, but it’s something for which we can always strive; Think through every decision and every phase of our lives so that when we surpass the hurdles and issues that come our way, we can be satisfied not only with their results but also how we handled them.
Anyway, I’m kind of getting off track. Today I want to talk about Jennifer and the bright spot she has been in my life. There is not much darkness here, but she has really brightened up the dim areas. I remember a little while ago when Jennifer thanked me for being in her life. One of my parents, I think my mother, saw that and, in turn, thanked Jennifer for being in my life. I think it speaks volumes about Jenn that even others can see the difference and spark she has been able to contribute to my little world. :-)
Smile! May God continue to bless you.
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