Today is a tough day to be a Philly's fan.  Once again they are under 500.  They will enter June ... June!  Under 500.

But are we not used to this nonsense?  Year after year, season after season, what it means to be a Philadelphia Phillies fan is that you must suffer mediocrity.  I am so sick of hearing of the long suffering of the Boston Red Sox fans.  Give me a break.  Your team didn't suck for 20 years.  Sure you suffered tough breaks but at least your team was relevant.

The Phillies? We get mediocrity from top to bottom.  The owners.... Look at the team owners and management they put in place.  It's like a revolving door of mirrors.  We as fans never get a gung-ho "let's win" type owner.  We get people that treat the franchise like an episode of "Barney and Friends", you know the big purple dinosaur that kids learn lessons from of how to all get along nice. 

Don't get me wrong, while I love the philosophy of the current teams "stick together" mentality that has to be balanced.  But this is only the tip of the iceberg. 

And while I think a change is in the air with the Phillies I think the long suffering of the Philly fan will go on.  For instance, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard brought the grit and heart to the team it has not had for some time.  But owners and managers are still bent on just trying is good enough.

Beyond all this, I reflect on my youth watching Mike Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Gary Maddox, Larry Bowa, Steve Carlton, Tug McGraw and so many others that you saw love for the game and desire in.  And although it was ...   more »

I take a lot of pictures.  I think life is short and after my first son was born, I really got just how short life is.  His first year flew by so fast and it seemed like no time his birthday arrived.  I took some pictures but I took more video.  I video taped him so much up through the age of five it was nuts. :)  I stayed away from photos for the most part as I felt the video had more memory to it than photos. 

In any event, I saved as many memories as I could.  Harshly, an ex stole all the family videos from our home and I know I'll never see them again.  I've made issues of it in court but the system doesn't really have any means to helping me so she got away with it.  That's a whole other story but in some ways it puts meaning to my story here.

Your mind should be a camera.  We all have to take snapshots of moments in our lives.  Some just happen, others you have to tell yourself to remember.   It is why I say "these are the salad days."  If you've read my article about "the salad days" it is a line from Shakespeare which means you are waxing nostalgic.    For me to say, these are the salad days means to me you have to appreciate something special while it is happening.  

The memories you make in life are locked in your own mind.  The people you knew, the places you've gone, and the experiences you'll never have again... those memories you make are most valuable to you.  No one else can understand or appreciate them.  They can try and they can empathize but in your heart you know that the greatest value ...   more »

Writers NOTE: I wrote this article when I used Match.com.  I'm done so I think I'm safe to give this advice. I've had this article pending the right time to publish it and now would be that time.

Ok, online dating sucks. It does and it doesn't.  Yes you get to meet a lot of new people.  But you also get limited attention, knee jerk decisions and it is ultimately impersonal.  You have no chance of having someone become attracted to you when they have a check list of things that filter you out of being eligible.  Aside from that it's great. LOL
Having said all this, allow me to offer up some help to the women from a man's perspective.  I will be harsh; this will help you to know the truth. 

The Kid Hypocrisy
First up, don't say you love your kids more than anything only to later state that you love babysitters or that you are happiest when your children go to bed.  If you don't see yourself as a hypocrite, a man will. You may be able to fool yourself but a man sees you for what you are.  Sure man are gullible and willing to look past flaws, but don't assume we are dumb asses just because we let these things slide.

The I’m independent but I need a man Hypocrisy
Nine out of ten profiles I read assert independence.  Yes of course you are independent and strong.  That is why you are divorced and looking for another man.  Ladies, I hate to break it to you but in just one month of online dating (I have not dated anyone yet, I’ve only e-mailed and talked on the phone) I’ve talked to A LOT of women.  All but one said they missed having someone to come home to.   All expressed that regret and sadness that they didn’t have someone at the end of the day to confide in.  Just like Diane Lane in the movie Must Love Dogs they talk about eating dinner over the sink if they don’t have kids.   Ladies, I’m not trying to be uncaring.  I am compassionate.  So please don’t think I have it in for you.  I mean this earnestly.  You can’t win a man over by being too tough for love.  You can’t.  You know something ladies, you may in fact be that strong.  You man indeed be independent and capable of handling life’s adversities, but to win a mans heart, you have to master the art of being feminine.   This means fake it if you don’t feel it.  Fake it until you do feel it.  Don’t tell a man you are independent.  We already know you are, that is why you are single.   If you were not independent, you’d be spoken for.   Throw that word out of your vocabulary while dating or courting.  Men don’t want to hear it.  In fact when I see it in a profile I really think hard before making contact.  I don’t need to break through defenses.  I want someone ready to come to the table as an equal.  What is worse here is that for each woman that had independent down in a profile was ultimately the most bitter about not finding romance.  Ladies, you can’t have this one both ways.  Oh, you can but you will never taste love at its sweetest. 

I'd like to send a message to the ding-dong's still playing EA Sports Madden on play stations.

I've learned you idiots are still harassing each other and still losing relationships with your wives, girlfriends and what have-you.  There is some disinformation going around too and frankly under normal circumstances I'd let you chase your tail but today I'm in a fighting mood.

I'm about tired of being pissed on and having my paraded ruined will I'm minding my on god damn business.  So here is what you need to know. 

Yes I pulled the plug on MaddenOnline.us.  The site didn't fail.  History is being re-written because I'm no around to remind you fools why I pulled the plug on the site.  That site was killed at the height of success.  Sorta.  I mean I paid for a dedicated server to run that site.  I supported you all for about a year while trying to build a proper revenue stream so the site would pay for itself.  After all you guys are cheap!  You pay for one video game a year and play it all year!  You don't go outside and get any sun for all I know.   The game is a time sink!  Get a life!

I pulled the plug after I the first quarter renewal of all your credit cards came due and 90% of your credit cards were declined!  That is off the charts for dead beats in any industry folks!   So I wasn't about to waste my time after year of hard work on so many guys that did nothing but complain and give nothing back to the community.

I walked away from the video game for a good reason.  It was NOT my life.  It was a F'n game guys.  It still is just a game.  ...   more »

This week a friend and neighbor died.   I’ve had some ups and downs over this.  To begin, she never told me she was ill and dying.  The day she died I didn’t know what to do.  I saw the paramedic van, but just couldn't bring myself to go to her house and inquire. 

Just two days before, Sandy had left her truck in the driveway running.  She said it was locked and she would have to wait until her husband got home with spare keys.  I stayed there a few minutes to talk to her trying to make sure for myself that she was alright.  Something didn’t seem right.  I tried to find a way to open the hood so I could perhaps kill the engine.   But then returning to speak to her, I had to ask her for certain, are you sure you locked yourself out?  Are you sure you are OK?   She said yes.  I went and checked all the doors and in fact the drivers door was unlocked.   I shut the truck off and handed her the keys.  She thanked me sincerely.

Something didn’t seem right. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I checked on her again the next day. 

I really didn’t understand but something wasn’t right.  Just three months ago she was there for me and my kids and all this time I didn’t know she was dying.   At the funeral yesterday it was revealed that she knew for some time she would pass.   As I paid my last respects at her coffin, flowers were inside with the words, “Mommy” beneath them.  I just fell apart.  My lips couldn’t stiffen ...   more »

This year my little league team won a shut-out game 10-0.  I remember telling them, "Enjoy this moment boys.  They don't happen often."  I wanted them to understand that when something great happens, you have to savor it and appreciate it.

Today was my great day and I savored it, I appreciated it.  From good news from court to my son getting his first bike with training wheels (his grandparents came over the house with a new bike for him), to much more.  The lady in my life and talk at night for hours and there is something to be said for peace-of-mind.  

Tomorrow is the beginning of Canal Day weekend.  Fireworks and games for the kids.  This year I'm a volunteer.  It will be a busy weekend with friends and loved ones... 

Tonight I've been working on my part two of the Aeroplane City trilogy, DangerMan.  It's funny each time I set down to continue this story I think more and more like Dalton.  I also find myself in so many character roles.  It can get hard.  You have to imagine yourself in the role of a woman when trying to write Araby.  And that can be hard.  You want view how she desires love from the feminine viewpoint, but when you have known tough unfeeling women as I have, you have to wonder if love really is the ultimate desire for a woman.  It makes you rethink some of the character motivations despite already having set the character standards up a long time ago.

My other challenge is the world of Aeroplane City.  I think of the detail and how that effects the infrastructure of this world I've created.  It is daunting.  You write and then days later you come back and find you want to make something better and more believable.  After all, every little detail needs to be believable when you are trying to get your reader to accept a normally unbelievable world.

DangerMan is a character so near and dear to me. He's easy to write but hard to explain.  After all, DangerMan is me on paper, living a life that I would attempt to live had I had to make the decisions he has to make.  I would take a bullet for someone I loved, so DangerMan has to live that way.  I would walk away from love if it meant losing my honor, So DangerMan (Dalton) would do the same.  I would throw down my pride for love, so again DangerMan has to display that same quality even though it is a ...   more »

The billboard reads, “Life is short, get a divorce.”   Tell me one person that agrees with this method of advertising legal services?  Being recently divorced I think I’m fully qualified to weigh on this subject.  My perspective is that it is sad. 

What does that billboard really mean?  Nobody is fooled, it means one thing said many different ways, “married people, look what you are missing.”  It means, “Go ahead, quit on someone that loves you.”  It means, “Quitting is for winners.” CorriFetman the divorce attorney defending this ad in news pieces has the gall to imply the billboard ad is (get this) “gusty, unique, outcome oriented…”

The firm that created this ad claims that it offers hope and is optimistic.  They give no consideration that the ad is clearly designed to motivate people to give up on their marriage, and if they do… there are victims to this act.   Look at me, my youngest son at four actually prays at dinner at grace saying, “…and let mommy and daddy get back together.” 

I wish Corri would call me.  Believe me; she’d get some compelling words.  She’d get a sense of the humanity she seemingly lacks.  But let’s face it; someone that lacks a moral compass won’t be bothered by anything they hear.  Her words, “we don’t cause divorce, people cause divorce, lawyers don’t.” are a cope out.   The fact is simple, using logic I once learned when I sang in a band, “your audience will find you” (play whatever style music you desire), this firm is really advertising this message, “we have no moral compass, if you don’t either, hire us.”

I do believe a good lawyer is an ...   more »

OK, I'm a life long Phillies fan.  I don't get upset, or wound up over losses.  I just don't.  It sucks that is true, but it is only baseball.  But what does get under my skin is when a person or even in this case an organization is in denial.   I won't go on, we all watch them if you are local to Philly that is...  But every year I got to their website and they are not the best team in the league.  But they live in denial on that web site! 

Can't they just admit to struggling or wishing they could have done something better?  Instead EVERY TIME you launch the homepage you get that stupid video of them doing the ONE single great thing in the last 10 games!  LOL

I mean they could lose six games in a row, but you'll get a high-light of them turning a double play followed by a towering home run shot.  And those highlights will be from games they lost!  The don't even show a highlight of a homerun from a game they won!  LOL  How I long for the day I can see a walk off home run highlight on the day they win a game!   Is it too much to ask guys? Yer killing me over here...

I'm one for privacy.  My home is my sanctuary.  Over the years I've jumped at chances to keep my personal information private even if I'm a public person. :) The average adult person receives average of 41 pounds of advertising mail.  That’s beyond the mail you actually expect and receive.

The down side of this excercise you have to do the leg work. Be aware you should do this for every person in your home over the age of 13.  If you move, do it again.  If you do this it will take up to three months to see noticeable results.

How Do I Opt Out?

For pre-screened credit card and home refinance offers which pull their information from the four credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis.  These bureaus are also the culprits selling your contact information.  To stop this you can use this web site: www.optoutprescreen.com/ or you can  call: 888.567.8688.  I’ve done this.  You will need to call from your home phone for best ease, and you will need to provide your social security number and date of birth.  This works for five years.

This site charges you one dollar on your credit card to remove you from other circulated lists you may be on.  Their URL is www.dmaconsumers.org The direct form link: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing they also have a form for opting off phone calls, (charge 5$) www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offphone

Their contact address is:

Direct Marketing Association                                           
1615 L St. NW, Suite 1100                                
Washington, DC 20036           

Want to stop those ValuePak mailers?

http://www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppression/s/DisplayMailSuppressionForm.  Hint, you can stop similar companies by simply snail mailing these companies at their return addresses requesting you be removed.

Removal from “Resident” mailing lists: http://www.advo.com/consumersupport.html

Advo ...   more »

What Kind of Fool

Somewhere, somehow...
Take me to the place I knew so well
When life was all it was supposed to be.

Love me, hate me.
Make me feel invisible again.
I can forget I even knew your name.

What kind of fool are you?
What all you want is everything.
What kind of fool are you?
When you don't want my love...?

Who knows, who cares?
Why you had to play that stupid game.
You know you've only got yourself to blame.

What kind of fool are you?
What all you want is everything.
What kind of fool are you?
When you don't want my love...?

How many times did I hear my friends tell
How many times did I listen to a word they said.
How could I know that there was someone else you were loving instead.

What kind of fool are you?
When you find that all your search for means nothing at all.
With no one by your side.
 
What kind of fool are you?
What all you want is everything.
What kind of fool are you?
When you don't want my love...?

What kind of fool are you?
What kind of fool are you?

Talk about strange things ...Sometimes life throws you curveballs and you have to learn how to hit them.  I've had a number of months like that you know.  And as you all know, I learned to hit them.

Last night...  almost right after I posted my article about my own path to greatness... Life threw me a nice juicy fastball.  LOL, Thanks life.   The person this applies to will understand. :)   Today is a good day, one where you feel your feet don't touch the ground. :) 

Let me tell you about my mood today.  Imagine you are in a race and you just turned a corner and see the open road.  You can slam that pedal down now  ...and you do.  That is where I’m at.  In the past few months I have realized my plans. 

At one time I thought of revenge, and quickly dashed it from my mind.  Revenge is like your soul looking back in the mirror casting judgment on you.  To feel you want revenge is one thing, to act on it is where you lose honor and self-respect.   Then another time I wanted to people to feel sorry for me because I thought there was no justice or that justice’s blind eye would never look back my way.  Then justice did come back my way and for every injustice I’ve been a victim of, I’ve witnessed that one by one, the truth is finally coming out.

That brings me to now.  I’ve come to know myself again.  I’ve got my confidence back.  I feel my momentum of my story.  The story of my life that was once handed over to my love.  I gave up me for her.  I gave up my identity for someone else.   Now for you hopeless romantics out there ...you ain’t lost me.  Not yet. :)  But I will say this.  I’m on my own path to greatness now and for all the love in the world, you better be willing to offer the same.  Only the bravest of among you need apply.

Me and my boys Declan and Dalton are close.  We are amazingly close.  That journey of what we ...   more »