We’re closing in on that day. It’s the day that pitchers and catchers report to training camp for the upcoming baseball season, and I can’t wait. February 26th is another important day. That is when they run the Daytona 500. Why are these important dates? It signifys that spring and summer are approaching. I know it’s been a pretty mild winter so far, and I shouldn’t complain, but I just can’t wait for spring and summer. Everyone keeps saying that we are going to get hammered with snow in February…I hope everyone is wrong!

It’s a good thing I enjoy basketball. Both of my kids play, I coach, and I announce all of the high school basketball games at a local high school. It’s a very busy time of the year. It seems like all I get done when I’m not at work is either running kids to and from practice or announcing basketball games. There are so many parents that do this too! Some parents have multiple kids playing at differnt sites on the same day…I don’t know how they get too all of them, but they do! I do enjoy announcing games though. I get one of the best seats in the house and I get to listen to the coaches break things down during time-outs. I also enjoy coaching…most of the time I coach little kids, the 7-10 year olds. The best is when you teach them something and they realize what you’re talking about. The light goes on and they’ve got it. And sometimes I just enjoy being a Dad in the stands. I don’t have to announce or coach…I just get to watch them perform. That’s always fun too. If you get a chance to be involved in what your kids are doing, take advantage of it. Your kids will remember it as well. Time goes really fast!

As I am writing this in early January, we are experiencing a pretty mild winter. So far. And I, for one, am enjoying it. No snow would be ok with me. But it’s Ohio and we’re due. I realize that we ALWAYS get all four seasons here in full force. I’m sure that the snow here is just a matter of time. I saw last week where parts of Alaska received 15 feet of snow! Crawford County would be immobile for several weeks with that much snow. Even half that much and I would living here at the station for a few days. I’m sure the kids are waiting for a some snow days though. I know my kids are waiting for some snow. I think the older I get, the more I just don’t like snow. It’s like cold weather in general…that’s why a lot of older American migrate south for the winter. Just remember that if we do get any snow, I’ll be here at the station with delays and cancellations.

Did you survive the holidays ok? Did you get a chance to spend it with friends and family? My holiday felt like a blur. Because the holidays fell on Saturday and Sunday, I had to work on those Mondays where most everyone else took the extra day off. Then I took a couple of days off through the week to make up for it. That’s never good. Then you’re two days behind on regular work things. It’s almost not worth it taking the two days off (although I did sleep til noon one of those days!). Christmas and New Years seem to fly by every year; we spent a couple of days putting up the tree and one afternoon taking it down. My wife and I seem to put out fewer and fewer Christmas decorations every year. Because then you have to go around and clean them all up after the holiday is done. I know people that keep up lights and decorations through February. I say this all the time…but take some time, slow down and enjoy what is really important to you during the holidays.