CIAA

The annual CIAA basketball tournament has taken over uptown Charlotte this week.  The CIAA is an athletic conference made up of several traditionally black colleges.  For one week a year students and alumni gather in Charlotte to watch basketball, party, and party again.  The CIAA is a place to see and be seen.  I am envious because I have only been back to my alma mater once in the last 16 years.  To see these large groups come back and see friends from their school days and celebrate where they came from is very cool.  My favorite part of the week is to see the cars that come to town to be shown off.  I park at a high end hotel everyday and this week each year it is overrun by the nicest ensemble of cars that you will ever see.  Bentley's, Rolles', and Fiskers.  It is really neat to see so many high end cars in once place.  There is talk of the CIAA moving to another city in future years.  I hope not. Not only does it help the city of Charlotte it allows me to see up close the cars I hope to own one day.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Green thumb

One of my favorite parts of Spring, besides the end of Winter, is the opportunity to work in the yard.  I'm not talking about cutting grass and trimming hedges I'm talking about working the garden.  It takes a tough guy to plant pretty flowers!  I have really let the yard go over the past few years.  The drought of 2007 and several late frosts have cost me a lot of money in lost plants and flowers.  That along with life just being busier has led to the yard to suffer.  I hope to turn that around this year with not only several nice flower gardens but some vegetables as well.  Probably tomatoes and maybe some peppers. There is not much better than a fresh tomato pulled from your own garden.  True it takes them all Summer to ripen but it is worth the wait.  I've already begun to prune and trim in anticipation of the warmer weather. The good thing about this blog is that it keeps my honest so by writing that I am going to have a nice yard this year means that I am going to have a nice yard  Right?

Until tomorrow,
Dave

The Pets

I can't believe I have been at this for nearly two months and haven't once mentioned my pets.  Dogs, cats, fish, snails….we have them all.  Let's start with the dogs.  Gray is out almost 15 year old Italian greyhound.  The kindest most awkward creature on the planet.  He lives to stay warm which has been a challenge this winter.  Chip..short for Chippewa, is our 9 year old Maltese.  Nice guy with a  bit of a weight problem.  His dad was 6 pounds while is mom was 4.  Chip is pushing 15 pounds.  A genetic freak who we love anyway.  Lulu is the oldest of our cats at 14.  She doesn't come out much except to get scraps while I make my daughters lunch each morning.  Biscuit is our 13 year old tuxedo cat who loves his dad and is always by my side.  Kenzie lives in the garage due to her issues with the other cats.  Sometimes I feel bad for her but she is happier out there.  Can't say much about the fish except that two of the three are almost 4 years old.  That is old for a fish in this house.  The recent addition of a snail wraps up our zoo.  You probably notice out pets have one thing in common.  They are old.  When things start to go bad in a few years it will really go bad.  For now we love all of them and are glad they  are here with us.

By the way the surprise shower today went smoothly.  I delivered the dad to be to the party with no problems.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Surprise!

Tomorrow is a big day for me.  I have been tasked with bringing the guest of honor to a surprise baby shower.  I have created a fake meeting that has to last exactly 15 minutes.  After which I need to somehow get this guy to a conference room on the other side of the floor.  I have put a lot of thought into my plan and I still have no idea.  How am I going to end the meeting early? What am I going to say to convince him that he needs to go to the other room?  I really want it to be a good surprise…not one of the awkward moments when they know something is coming but not sure what.  I will report back on the results and how I made it work.  I remember when my wife was expecting how moved I was by the party thrown by my co-workers.  I wanted to do the same for this guy.  But hopefully his wife won't have the baby the day after the shower like mine did.  Hard to believe that was almost 7 years ago.  Well wish me luck tomorrow.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Junior

As I mentioned last week I am going to try to follow NASCAR this year. Yesterday was the Daytona 500 and fortunate for me but unfortunate for everyone else there was a six hour rain delay. This delay allowed me to actually sit down and watch the last 50 miles without interruption. I pull for Jeff Gordon usually but it was great to see Dale Earnhardt Jr win his second Daytona 500. I remember the day his Dad died at Daytona 13 years ago. I lived in Raleigh and had just got off a plane and was driving back to my apartment. It was one of those events that you will remember where you were when you heard the news. You could tell how excited Junior was with the win and made me think he may be the driver I end up pulling for. And nobody besides me knows this but Junior drives the #88 and that just happens to be my lucky number. Let's see if I can watch races in back to back weekends.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Sundays

Though they are part of the weekend I am not a huge fan of Sundays. They represent the end of the weekend and a new week of real life. Real life is good right now and I enjoy my job but that has not always been the case. I have had jobs in the past where I dreaded Mondays and did not want the weekend to end. Sunday mornings are usually nice and calm but after you hit 2 or 3 in the afternoon you start feeling Monday morning getting closer and closer. Sunday nights mean getting to bed at a reasonable hour but over the past decade meant some pretty good TV. The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead all have aired on Sunday night which is bitter sweet since they were usually the last thing enjoyed before the new week begins. I think I wrote about this today because I have a challenging week of work ahead and I'm really not looking forward to. But like I said before Sundays of years past have been a lot worse. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Apps

No I'm not talking about the applications you buy for iphones or droids, I'm talking about appetizers. I was at lunch today and someone ordered potato skins and it got me thinking. What is the the best appetizer? P-skins are up there and so are nachos. Not much beats a good plate of nachos. Chips and salsa rock when you are at a Mexican restaurant. And when you are feeling crazy maybe go with queso and chips. Another favorite is pigs in a blankets. One of the most amazing food creations ever. Well the best appetizer ever is of course............mozzarella sticks. Fried cheese with marinara. Come on..don't try to convince me there is anything better.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

ACC's

I have a niece who is a swimmer for the Virginia Tech Hokies. This weekend marks the end of her college swimming career with her fourth and final ACC Championships. The Championships this year take place in Greensboro, NC as they did last year. Two years ago they were in Blacksburg VA and Atlanta the year before that. The ACC's are the one meet I get to attend each year and it is always fun to watch her swim. Regardless of the results this meet brings to an end more than a decade of hard work. Do you want to see a symbol of dedication than look for a collegiate swimmer. Can you imagine getting up early every day during your college days and getting in a pool and pushing yourself to be better. Oh yeah and when you are not in the pool your are in class or study hall. There is time for fun but you really have to make the time. There have been chapters in my life that I was thrilled ended and some that were sad. I'm sure it is a mixture for my niece but at least she will always be able to look back and see what she accomplished through her efforts.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Muscle Car

I am a long way from being able to afford one but I hope to own a muscle car one day. I watch classic car auctions on TV all the time and wish I had the money and space to buy a few. When the day comes that I can buy something I am going to be completely torn on what to buy. I will have a couple rules for sure. First it must have been made in America and preferably Detroit, MI. Secondly, it must have only two doors. Lastly it must be fast. I prefer Chevys over Fords so I am thinking about a Camaro, Nova, Chevelle, or Impala. It will have been built sometime between 1960 and 1974. Color will be basic...maybe dark blue or black..possibly with a pin strip. I really want to be a gear head and the only way to get there is own a classic car. I usually say check back in a couple months for an update but for this one you better check back next decade.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

The Band

My senior year of high school I was in a band. We were not good but it was a really fun time. We assembled to play the talent show at school in the spring before graduation. I played guitar and one of my good friends played the drums. We needed a singer and quickly recruited our one friend that sang in the choir at school. We got the drummer's brother to play bass and two underclassman to play keyboards and a second guitar. We practiced a lot starting at one members house before eventually getting the boot and playing in my basement. My parents were great about it and I don't remember them complaining once. We practiced two songs: Rockin in the free world by Neil Young and New Years Day by U2. To this day I still have both songs completely memorized. I remember the tryout was a disaster and we actually blew out the schools PA system which delayed the talent show a couple weeks so a new part could be ordered. At least it gave us a couple extra weeks to practice. The show came and went. We played fine but the highlight was the weeks leading up to it playing music with friends. I miss that as I am more of a solo artist these days. What was the band's name you ask? We had two over the life of the group. First it was Stationary Nomads and other times we were called Birth Cry. Don't blame me for either but I didn't have any better suggestions. I wonder what the members of band are doing these days? I guarantee if we ever get the band together we could play those two songs without missing a beat.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Home Improvement

I love home improvement. No not the Tim Allen sitcom from the 90's but the actual betterment of my home. The problem is I suck at it especially the DIY stuff. I eventually figure things out and do an OK job but my first attempt at something often leaves a lot to be desired. The thing about DIY home improvement, like DIY auto repair, if you do it right it saves you so much money. I've learned over the years which jobs I am comfortable taking a stab at and which ones I leave to the professionals. After the tile disaster of 2004 I know flooring will not be done by me again. This week I am replacing the hardware on our doors. It is going OK but as expected I've hit a couple snags. This will be a big year for small upgrades to the house so stay tuned for success stories and tales of failure.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

NASCAR

I live in heart of NASCAR country. A few miles down the road is Charlotte Motor Speedway, a hub for the sport. The majority of the race teams are based within 15 minutes of my house. But there's a problem....I'm really not in to NASCAR. I've followed from a distance and seen the sport grow in popularity and grow into a main stream sport. I've made several attempts to follow the happenings from week to week but each time my interest eventually tires. This year is going to be different. This coming weekend is the big race...the Daytona 500. Like spring training in baseball, the Daytona 500 means spring is almost here. I'm committed to following each race each week. I don't have a favorite driver but I tend to pull for Jeff Gordon. He is sponsored by Dupont which appeals to me due to my days spent in Wilmington, DE, Dupont's home town. He also drives a Chevrolet...I drive a Chevy too. I also want to experience a race live in person. I want to be a part of one of the great subcultures.....NASCAR fans. So this is the year to dive head first into NASCAR fandom and see if there is something there for me. Check back in a few months and see how its going.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Beards

Beards are in vogue these days. Credit the stars of Duck Dynasty I guess. It seems everywhere I go I notice more men with beards. Not just normal beards that have never gone out of style but I am talking about long, ungroomed, gnarly beards. They are now socially acceptable and I even see them in a the white collar work place. I have never been a beard guy. I remember a high school teacher of mine who wore a beard said the only reason to have a beard is the hide the uglies. I know I'm ugly so if I could have done the beard thing I would have. The problem is they are just so uncomfortable. I have a week old beard right now and it kept getting caught in my cell phone yesterday while I was talking to a friend. They are itchy and they collect food. The longest I ever went without shaving was about a month and a half. It was 2002 and I had recently lost my job. I swore I wouldn't shave until I got an interview. Well I didn't make it. It had to go. The last reason I don't do beards is have you ever seen those guys that rub their face all day. I mean leave that thing alone. Maybe someday I will really try the beard thing again for now I will leave it others to carry the torch.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Fishing

Fishing is probably the first real hobby I can remember.  Oddly I don't remember when it became a hobby.  It either started while fishing off the dock at Bay View, MI or at the pier at Gross Pointe Farms, MI.  I was fortunate to live near the water for much of my childhood.  The Great Lakes were a great place to become a good angler and I remember spending a huge amount of time with a line in the water.  When we moved to York, PA I still loved to fish but the fishing left a lot to be desired.  Eventually other hobbies trumped fishing and I went many years without catching a fish.  It wasn't until we bought our home in Charlotte that I got hooked (pun intended) on fishing again.  We have a large pond in our backyard stocked with bluegill and largemouth bass  Now I can be fishing within 5 minutes of deciding I want to go fishing.  This past summer on a trip to Maine I went on a chartered trip with my father in law, brother in law, and niece to catch stripped bass in the Kennebec River.  We caught several large fish but more importantly it was a day full of lasting memories.  That is the great thing about fishing.  Its not always about the fish you catch but about the time you spend with people waiting for the fish to bite.  My daughter appreciates fishing and I look forward to making more memories at the pond in our yard or wherever we catch the next one.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

If I hadn't….

I often think about what I would be doing if I hadn't become an accountant.  With so many interests I know there are careers that would be a bit more appealing for me.  Before I get to those let's discuss my reasons for becoming an accountant.  Well I guess there is really only one.  It goes back my high school days when we had visitors come in and describe what they did.  I remember the accountant saying that everyone needs a good accountant so there will never be a shortage of work.  That stuck with me and when I got to my junior year in high school and was able to take accounting I did.  Aside from 6 months about 11 years ago I've been employed for the last 19 years (knock on wood).

What would I be doing if I had my choice?  Tough decision.  I've always wanted to be an archaeologist. Egyptology is a favorite of mine.  The thought of uncovering a tomb that had been buried for 3000 years is very appealing.  Egyptologists don't get rich and they have to spend a lot of time in Egypt (go figure) so it has its drawbacks as well.  I also like operations and knowing how things run.  I often think that working in operations backstage at my favorite place, Walt Disney World, would be a true dream job.  I don't think knowing the secrets behind running the most popular tourist destination in the world would lessen the magic at all and more than likely elevate it.

For the time being I have a great job and don't mind going in each day.  But who knows, maybe someday I will turn one of my passions into a career.  I better hurry.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Comfort Guy

Are you one of those people that will come home from a long day and before doing anything else you change into something comfortable?  I'm not.  I am known for falling asleep in the same clothes that I've worked in all day.  Shoes on, belt on, keys and wallet in pocket, etc.  Often I don't even make it to a bed to sleep in.  If I'm tired enough I can spend an entire night in a chair or love seat.  My daughter I am finding is the exact opposite.  She often complains about how her socks are uncomfortable or how a tag in her shirt is bothering her.  I try not to complain or argue because when you think about it one should be comfortable in life.  I'm not sure I will ever change but I have recently rediscovered an article of clothing I hadn't worn in a very long time.  And I love them.  Sweat pants are quickly becoming my new best friend.  Maybe I will be a comfort guy one of these days.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Pax

This winter in Charlotte has seen record low temperatures and now a real winter storm.  This storm actually has a name….Pax.  Pax? Not sure I've ever known or heard of anyone named Pax but I'm glad to make your acquaintance.  Pax started out with some snow yesterday but the real impact wasn't felt until today.  Snow and sleet started early this morning and continues now as we approach ten o'clock.  No school for the kids and I had to work from home today and will more than likely have to tomorrow.  I learned a long time ago if you don't have to drive in winter weather then you shouldn't.  The mess a couple weeks ago in Atlanta where thousands were stranded on the highways on icy roads was just a reminder what not to do when the weather gets bad.  I'm reminded of the time I drove from Wilmington, DE to York PA in a snow storm.  It was a slippery drive but I was fine until my truck did a 540 and ended up facing the wrong direction.  My brother joked that my truck ended up facing south pointing me to a new life in North Carolina.  After the spin I pulled into the next parking lot I saw and called my parents to come get me.  That was 18 years ago and to this day I avoid the snow.  If someone tells you they know how to drive in the ice and snow they are full of it.  Smart people stay home.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Winter Olympics

Are you in to the winter olympics? I'm not. I missed the opening ceremonies and have caught a few minutes of speed skating, half pipe, and figure skating. These sports just don't keep my attention. The summer olympics at least has sports where the athletes compete against each other. These snow sports seem to be mostly athlete versus clock or judge. I do enjoy skiing and hockey but those will more than likely not draw me back to NBC's coverage. Though there is no swimming or track and field, the winter games do have one event I watch every four years. Curling. Yes, that game where some Canadian slides a stone down the ice while his buddies sweep in front of it. Can't you picture our friends from the north getting together on a Friday at the local rink to drink a few molsens and sweep the ice. I like to call it Canadian shuffle board. I joke about it but you know if I ever get the chance to going curling I would be all over it.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Castaway

Castaway is one of my favorite movies. It stars Tom Hanks and tells the tale of his survival on a tropical island after a plane crash. I am fascinated by the thought of surviving on only what nature provides you. This movie came out before Man vs Wild and Survivor Man. Two shows about how to survive in the wilds of our planet. I watch these types of programs whenever I can. To date I have never had to utilize any of the skills I've learned (knock on wood), but it is nice to have a basic idea on how to make fire and build a shelter.

In the news this week was a story of a fisherman from Central America who was adrift in the Pacific Ocean for over a year. He finally washed ashore in the Marshall Islands in the south pacific. His story is almost too amazing to believe. A storm blew he and his fishing companion off course and out to see in late 2012. He survived by eating birds and turtles raw. Something his companion refused to do and ultimately succumb to starvation. Can you imagine floating for over a year without seeing land. Wondering when it will rain to give you something to drink and when a lost bird may land on your boat so you can eat. I hope this story isn't a hoax because it is one of the most amazing survival stories ever.

I've told my wife that if I ever go missing, lost at sea, buried in an earthquake, or lost in the wilderness to just keep looking for me. I will fight to get home until I am home. Life is a blessing and the thought of being able to see my family again is more than enough to keep me fighting for another day.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Zombie Apocalypse

Tonight marks the return of my favorite TV show…The Walking Dead. If you haven't watched before don't start now. Wait for AMC to run a marathon or buy the DVD's so that you can see it from the beginning. I had heard about it but had never watched it before last Summer. I took advantage of one of those marathons and got caught up before the most recent season began. The mid season finale was before the holidays so its been a while since the last new episode. I told someone that the mid season finale was one of the best hours of television I had ever watched. So needless to say I am excited about the second half of this season.

The show has got me thinking what would I do in case of a zombie apocalypse. First of all I would be terrified. You never know when a "walker" could pop up and try to eat the brains of you or a loved one. Where would I go and how would I protect my family. Well I have a plan…can't share it with you but I have a plan.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Ted Agu

On a recent flight from Charlotte San Francisco a young man sat across the aisle from me. He was quiet and slept most of the flight but he stuck out. He was in a University of California at Berkley sweatsuit and had the number 35 on his school backpack. I saw him at baggage claim and again on the airport train that took us to the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station. As I waited for my train and he waited for his I googled #35 on the Cal football roster. I saw his name was Ted Agu and he was from Bakersfield, CA. He had been a walk-on to the team and was a pre-med major. By reading that little bio on the school's web-site I could tell this was a kid I could pull for. I remember thinking I need to check the stats this Fall to see if Ted got to play much. Well last night when I pulled up espn.com I saw a headline saying Ted had passed away after a training run. I was saddened. Two weeks earlier I had never heard of him and if I hadn't looked him up that day I would have just skipped past the article. Not sure what all this means but wanted to share.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10419721/ted-agu-defensive-lineman-california-golden-bears-dies


Until tomorrow,
Dave

Diggers

As I've mentioned I have a lot of hobbies. One of my newer ones may end up being my favorite. Christmas before last my wife gave me a metal detector. I had wanted one for many years and I was thrilled to finally have one of my own. My interest in metal began when I was very young. My grandfather had one and would occasionally use it around the yard at our summer house. It stuck with me. My interest was awoken in recent years after watching a show called Diggers on the National Geographic Channel. It is about two guys who go detecting and always end up finding a lot of cool stuff. I am a bit spoiled as I found a beautiful ring on the beach one of my first times out. Since then I've found a lot of nails, beer cans, and pieces of fence. You never know what you are going to find when the detector goes off and it is that hunt that makes detecting so much fun. I used to make fun of those guys detecting at the beach wearing dark socks and sandals and now we are brothers. See you Memorial Day guys.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Plan B

Who would you want to play you if your life became a movie? That is a really tough question to answer. Let's be realistic....I don't look like Brad Pitt or many of the leading men in Hollywood. There are a lot of actors I respect but the lack of resemblance takes them out of the running immediately. Sadly they need to be a bit rotund. You can make an actor with hair look good bald but you cannot make someone who is thin look fat. And though I'd be flattered, I don't expect someone to put on a hundred pounds to play me. He would also need to deep as I am a pretty complicated character. Until this week I thought Phillip Seymour Hoffman would be my choice for the role. He was great in Almost Famous and Moneyball...two of my favorite movies. He joined the cast of the Hunger Games in the second film....another favorite of mine. Sadly his addictions took his life this week. Sad for many reasons but mostly because three kids lost their Dad. Since the story of Dave hasn't started filming yet there is time to recast the role of me. But who....? Think Jack Black is available?

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Signing Day

Today is an unofficial holiday for many college football fans. Today is the day high school seniors sign their letters of intent to go play football at a particular college. Unlike professional sports where free agency and the annual draft allows them rebuild, college coaches must hit the road 9 months a year recruiting and selling their school. I used to care about national signing day. I wanted to know who was going where and especially get to know the young men that would be playing for my team in the future. This year I officially stopped caring. Social media has given these kids a voice and when you hear their voices you realize the are just kids. The constant attention of famous coaches goes to their heads and they consider themselves celebrities. I hate to give them bad news but before their head gets too big they need to realize they have not accomplished anything. I'm glad you were great in high school but remember you were playing against other high schoolers. Instead of caring about who signs where I now start caring when they are part of the team and at the school. People make money by covering these kids as they think through their decisions. They give those super fans the fix they need to get them through until next season. This is America and they are trying to make a living. I just think there is so much more out there to do and care about than where joe senior is thinking about going to school.

Until tomorrow,

Dave

Spring Training

In ten days the pitchers and catchers of my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers, will report to spring training in Lakeland, FL. Baseball is my favorite of all the major sports and the Tigers are my favorite team regardless of the sport. Spring training represents an annual new beginning for baseball fans. Fans of all teams except one end the previous season with disappointment and when the teams report in February to Florida or Arizona that disappointment is forgotten. The players have almost two full months in the warm weather to get ready for the long upcoming season. I have attended several spring training games in Florida over the years and it is a great feeling knowing winter is nearing an end and regular season baseball will be returning soon. I've never been to a game in Lakeland but have seen games in Orlando, Tampa, and St Pete. One of these years I will visit Lakeland in March to see my Tigers, but this year I will be there in spirit awaiting what I hope to be a championship season. Check back in October to see how it plays out.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Taxes

I began working on my taxes this evening and it has taken most of the night. I wanted to comment that though I am an accountant and should love doing my taxes I really find it to be a chore. Tax programs like Turbo Tax make it a lot less painful compared to the days of pencil and calculator but I still don't like it. I am one of those people that over pay during the year so I can get a large refund each Spring. Again, not the typical path for an accountant but it also leaves a buffer in case there are some unexpected happenings during the year. This years return was pretty vanilla and only took me a couple hours to finish. In a few weeks I'll get that nice refund check and maybe take the family on an adventure. We'll have to start thinking about where we'll go.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

Super Sunday

The Super Bowl is always a fun event to watch even when I don't have a dog in the fight. Between the food, commercials, halftime show, and the actual game there is always enough to keep me entertained. I was hoping something noteworthy would come out of the first half of tonight's game so that I would have something to write about. Thus far the commercials have been just OK, the game has been a blow out, and the half time show was fine. I find what I want to write about has to do with none those. I has to do with an very odd thing I've noticed on the sidelines of football games all season. I may just be missing something since I never played organized football at any level. Here it goes....why do football players need someone else to squirt water into their mouths during a time out or while they are out of the game? Is it the fact they are wearing a helmet? Most of these guys have been playing football for over a decade so you would think they could figure out how to not hit the face mask when taking a drink. And don't these guys who are doing the squirting ever miss and if they do don't the players get mad? I know...random observation but I may have to do some research on this one.

Until tomorrow,
Dave

One month down

January has come and gone. From a blogging standpoint I kept my commitment to do a post everyday. I did fall asleep early one evening and failed to post a blog before midnight but made up for it by doing two the next day. The blog hasn't gone exactly as I planned. I had anticipated doing more lengthy posts with a little bit deeper content. I still might get there but so far the blog has more like a journal. By then end of this I think you'll know just about everything about me. I have not struggled for topics thus far and by mixing in some current events and some very random thoughts I think I should be able to get through the end of the year.

January was good month for me. Home and work life were good. We stayed healthy (knocking on wood). I got to California for a few days and Charlotte saw some of the coldest weather in decades. I didn't really set goals for the month but for February I hope to get more active and start exercising more. Check back in 28 days and see how I am progressing with that.

Until tomorrow,
Dav