Pooped NOT me............

Ollie

we began our 1st 10K training on our own today

I charted out about 2.5 miles in the neighborhood

and on the last stretch home my 4 legged partner

slowed down so much I had to practically drag her home.

There was no way i was gonna carry her

70lb butt the remainder of the way.

building ollie memories

What have I stepped into.

holla

Bucket List...what the hell/might as well

day 1 training

Saturday 2/27

7AM

Crossroads Oakley

approx 45 in attendance

male, female

young ,old

black, white

oh yea Im training for the "Flying Pig"

Cincinnati marathon 10K 

60-64 division

"We will see where this ends up"

I may even be able to take Ollie with me

that will make it fun.

I think.

Undivided begins

A new 5 week series is starting here at crossroads

regarding race relations in Cincinnati

 and for some strange weird reason

I signed up to be a co-facilitator and lead one of the small groups

approx 100+ groups

consisting of 

1 black facilitator

1 white facilitator

4 white people

4 people of color

opening night 800 -1000 participants

its gonna be a good thing

note to self...give grace

holla

Payton gets both wishes

Wish 1. a basketball hoop at home!

Wish 2. good weather to use it.

life don't get no better for a 11 yr old

who's almost 12

29 -17 Victory number one...............finally

Payton chose Chipotle

to celebrate their first win.

I wanted Frisch's 

but it was his victory

 It was a great win, we took the lead at 1/2 time

and never let up

Payton even scored a basket

The team was pumped to finally get their 1st victory.

"How sweet it was"

kind of like being heaven sent.

"Thank you Lord"

30 - 22

Another lost 

but looking on the bright side Payton had 2 baskets

both from breakaway steals, the length of the court

to easy finger roll type layups

i can tell he's been watching Steph Curry quite a bit.

"sorry no pics I was way to into the game to even take my camera out"

I must relax!

"Hands up Don't Shoot"

typically is used in reference to a posture used when confronting the Police ....however

in this case Jayda is supposedly learning the art of "Defense" in reference to basketball

I'm with you granddaughter

Im a little suspect on what he's trying to teach you  

also

stay alert!

its a sign.

some

will

understand.

" well hello 2016 ..............so its like that?"

A test of Faith

Mon 1/4

My Frito Lay merchandiser job of 3 yrs abruptly ends, supposedly due to a so called mandatory cut back that caught me completely off guard at the end of yet another 12 hr work day (Spidey senses tingling). I immediately met with a Union steward and requested a hearing. A grievance Hearing date was set approx 1 week away to retain my job. Union steward advices me to file for unemployment ASAP.

Tues 1/5

File Unemployment (1^st time ever in 60 yrs) extremely long on hold times, very confusing, a daunting task while also applying for a variety  of jobs as mandatory requirements for unemployment.

Weds 1/6

Informed by unemployment that Frito has not reported any earnings in Ohio for my entire employment since 2013. WTF?

(Spidey senses tingling 2^nd time)

Thurs 1/7

Long on hold times…still no Ohio earnings reported

Fri 1/8

long on hold times…still no Ohio earnings reported

Sat 1/9

Crossroads race relation training begins…new initiative. Perfect distraction to my recent dilema

Payton’s 1^st basketball game LOST

Mon 1/11

Jason’s surprise 10 day visit begins

Weds 1/13

Apply to drive for UBER “but wait my Santa Fe is 1 yr too old, has way too many miles plus I must past a background check”

Thur 1/14

UBER officially approves me to drive (but I’m not driving until I get this unemployment fiasco handled)

Fri 1/15

Still no Ohio earnings reported by Frito

Rrrrgggghhhhhh. very disheartening no earnings = no unemployment benefits

Sat 1/16

Attended the funeral of my high school best friend Lance Spell ……bummer

Payton 2^nd game LOST

Sun 1/17

Rest relax and regroup

Mon 1/18

Still no Ohio earnings posted, on hold for hrs

Tues 1/19

Still no Ohio earnings posted, on holds for hrs

Wed1/20

Ohio Unemployment case closed due to no earnings reported…I immediately filed an appeal thank God I had saved every pay stub earned since 2013…”TAKE THAT FRITO”

Thur 1/21

Unemployment case reopened in Kentucky this time.  why? Cause that’s where the Frito main DC is located and possibly where the earnings were reported even though I worked in Ohio.

Grievance hearing held. no decisions told I should hear something within 1 week (Spidey sense tingling 3^rd time). The Union steward feels confident I will be re-employed soon

Jason leaves for left coast. His and Alex bonding is fragile. His and Payton bonding is solid

Alex is 16,Payton is 11, this explains it.

Fri 1/22

Contacted Social Security regarding early retirement benefits. Just in case my 3 yr plan needs  be moved to a 3 month plan. Just sayin

Sat 1/23

Payton’s 3^rd game LOST

Damn I see a pattern

Sun 1/24

Alex while driving meets a black ice curve too fast  hits a mailbox and totals his car…just that fast. Air bags deploy he’s not injured thank God. but scared to death. Cited with a loss of control ticket No speeding ticket.

Mon  1/25 no news

Tues 1/26 no news

Weds 1/27 no news

Thur 1/28

No word from Frito or union regarding my JOB

(Spidey senses again)

No news is good news right? NOT!

Fri 1/29

Frito waiting to 11 hr of their final day to respond denies unemployment benefits claiming I refused their offer to return to work.

I went berserk with KY unemployment on the phone I shouted “that’s a BOLD face lie and I can prove it”. I then contacted the Union steward and he was equally astounded stating Frito lay is committing perjury if they decide to take that stand.

He threatened to take this case up the ladder to his supervisor.

After a 30 min conversation of listening to  the facts Ky unemployment grants me the decision and assures that my benefits should begin within 2-4 days.

KY Unemployment: “be prepared Frito can still

file an appeal.”

Me:“ trust me I’m prepared”

Sat 1/30

Payton 4^th game LOST

Great just great

Fast forward 2-4 days

Thur 2/4

Wake up early restless, 5AM, open my computer, sign onto my PNC bank account

whallla

My unemployment benefits arrived

WOW! WTF? I’m still dumbfounded.

Exactly 1 month to the date my 3 yr job ended.

I went the entire month of Jan with no income

“Hello 2016”

The stars are aligning so please stay tuned……..and my faith is steadfast.

Lesson learned

Webster dictionary

Perseverance: the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even  

though it is difficult.

Court Day for Alex.........

8:30AM

12 NOON

"bout sums it up"

The alex journey continues.

He dodges yet another bullet.

no license suspension, has to attend ONE 2hr class on driving.

that's it.

lucky dog

his focus now is on getting his saturn repaired 

as soon as he possibly can.

Lockland classmates class of 71...the cool white ones

Great seeing my fellow graduating classmates

This was an impromptu last minute gathering

at Ken Harmeyer's bar 

"Augies" 

located in Reading, Ohio

 Ladies only L-R

Gale Harmeyer, Janet Tucker, Debbie Emerson, ?

 L-R

Jeff Rnadolph, Rick Babcock, Don Biggs, Me, Larry Ralston,Ken Harmeyer

Frank Johnson, Don Edwards, Paul Nicolau, Chris hedebger, Dennis Rodgers

 These guys looked great

It was a bitter sweet because we were

forced to reflect on how many of us had passed on.