Life

Henry and I just returned from taking Sarah to the airport for her trip to Chicago. I'm meeting her there tomorrow and we're going to her friend Kelley's wedding. President Bush happened to be flying into the Columbus airport for a fundraiser tonight and they were basically going to shut down I-270 at rush hour. So, I went home a back way and decided to stop at a stone company that is in the flight pattern for the airport. I knew Henry would love to see Air Force One if we were lucky enough to have it flying in from that direction.

As soon as we pulled in the drive, Air Force One appeared over the trees and we got a great look at it. It's a beautiful plane, I had the chance to see it up close in 1992 at the Akron Canton airport. Henry was very excited and asked to see another one. I told him there weren't too many of them. Here is a photo of the plane coming in. Okay, this is really a photo of one of Henry's toy planes that I bought him at Midway Airport but this is how it looked.

Does this photo look like its more than 50 kbs? I wanted to post a permanent photo under my info on the page and started out with a nice one of the family that I've posted previously. It was too large. So I cropped in on just our faces. Too big. So I switched gears and pulled a photo off the computer of just me with a beer and cigar in my hand at last year's CSX fishing trip in Florida. Still too large.

So I decided to just post a head shot of me. This head shot. And the message back: Over 50 kbs.

I've always had a large head but this is ridiculous.

Speaking of big fish, here are a couple guys on the trip two years ago with their bass. Mine were much bigger but I threw them back in.

Probably the main reason I'm writing a blog is to put some of my past experiences down on paper (can the internet be considered paper?). It helps me remember them and Lord knows I need that help at forty years of age. My Regula internship doesn't seem that long ago and I'll write some about my Spain and Europe adventures at some point but that's not a huge priority because I kept a diary during that trip and I have it somewhere in a box, all 30 typewritten pages. So over the next few months I'll discuss that and more, the Fiesta Bowl trip, 9/11, various big sporting events I've attended including the Masters, Indy 500, Kentucky Derby, nice golf courses I've played, political conventions I've attended, scuba diving, my sailing class in Key West, a cruise I went on with my friends, the Olympic trip in 1992, Las Vegas, college, my job with Regula, Inaugural Balls and more.

Today's version of fun/unusual things I've done: Several months ago I was in Springfield Illinois for work. I don't know too many people who have been to Springfield but I'll be nice and just say that there are better places in the world to visit. I'll be spending a day or two every month there from now on and that's okay.

Abraham Lincoln was another guy who spent some time there and without him, the capital of Illinois might be unbearable. There are some great historical things to see: Lincoln's home, tomb, law office, train depot, etc. They just opened a Lincoln Museum and it is very nice.

Well, a few months ago I had some time to kill before my flight out of town so I visited the Old State Capitol Building. There, on June 16, 1858 over 1000 delegates met and chose Lincoln to be their Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. He stood at the podium and gave his famous "A house divided cannot stand" speech about slavery. I was the only visitor in the Capitol that day and my tour guide let me go up behind the ropes and stand where Lincoln stood when he gave the speech. I thought that was really cool. Below is an excerpt from his speech that day:

"In my opinion, it (slavery) will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided.".

I had to golf today at State Representative Alan Sayre's golf outing in Zoar. Here is my threesome with Alan (in the green). I was stuck with Mike, the guy on the left who is trying to hold it in and Chrisy, who doesn't have to worry about holding anything in. We had fun.

I don't believe in this recent trend of not keeping score in children's sports and not rewarding kids for winning. I especially don't believe in giving every kid on every team a trophy at the end of the year. Winners get trophies. The other teams work harder and aspire to be the team that gets a trophy.

There is nothing wrong with winning. And losing teaches important lessons. What's the lesson learned when there is no winner or loser in a sporting event?

I don't remember ever playing on a championship baseball team. Or football. Or basketball. But I wanted to. I wanted to be the best. I played a lot of ping pong growing up and my dad would always beat me. I was a poor loser and remember crying and pouting at times because I couldn't beat him. But I also remember how sweet it was the day I finally beat him. It was easier after that but I'm glad he didn't let me win.

I can't wait until Henry starts playing sports. He already swings the bat like a champ and has always had a great arm. He'll shoot baskets all day at the neighbors and he told me he wants to be on the football team and not the marching band. I'm so proud.

More cool or at least interesting things from life: Last March I went on a golf trip to New Orleans with three work friends. Now it isn't hard to have a good time in the Big Easy and we didn't disappoint. One night we found ourselves in Harrah's Casino, Matt playing in the High Roller area and me playing with the commoners. One thing lead to another and I headed back to the room at 5:00 am with $3400 in my pocket. My single greatest triumph at the blackjack table. And no one there to see it but the dealer and a bunch of people I didn't know. Nevertheless, what a great feeling to pull chip after chip out of my pockets. I had no idea I had won so much. Wonder if that's why they give you free drinks at the table?

Washington, D.C. is an exciting place for a Massillon boy. I was accepted into Congressman Regula's intern program following my senior year at Kent State. I planned on taking my last 3 credits in Madrid Spain that summer so I had to cram it in before that trip and after my finals, a feat I managed by taking all five exams in a two day period. Not fun.

Mom and dad drove me to D.C. It was exciting, my adult life seemed to be starting. My apartment was way up 16th Street and a I had a roommate from Canada. While I didn't see him much, I did see the cockroaches appear the same day they sprayed for them.

I took the bus then the subway to Capitol Hill every day. Working on Capitol Hill was a rush for me. While there was the usual copying and opening mail, Regula's office also made sure that you could do some real work. The two things I remember working on was a development near the Manassas Battlefield (Bull Run for us Yankees) and drilling in ANWR, the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. Editorial: We have to drill for oil in more locations. Cheap oil and gas has already been extracted. If you don't want us to drill for oil and gas in Alaska, off the coasts or in your neck of the woods, that's fine. But don't complain about $3 gasoline. Amazing that ANWR is still being debated today, nearly twenty years later.

It was fun going to work every day. Special access in the Capitol Building was a power trip. Eating lunch on the steps on a beautiful May afternoon was special. Writing constituent letters seemed important. Maybe this is what I was meant to do? I thought my career path would veer down the intelligence path, toward the CIA or DIA. I had taken the Foreign Service exams and knew that was a long shot. Congressman Regula took a couple interns to lunch in the Congressional Dining Room and I remember telling him I would likely be back after the summer looking for a job with the CIA. My neighbors back home actually hooked me up with a guy for an interview with the Defense Intelligence Agency while I was in D.C. and I started down that path. I had Potomac Fever and I probably wasn't heading back to Massillon.

The Carnation Queen from Alliance Ohio visited us when I was an intern. Angie was beautiful and a fun girl and her internship with Regula started after mine ended. But, I did get to accompany her to the top of the Rotunda. A Member of Congress has to take you up there, its a harrowing walk up rickety old stairs but well worth it when you get outside and see a view few people get to see.

I didn't have any nice clothes for my internship. Mom took me to an Akron mall and bought me a blue blazer, a bad gray/white sportcoat and some pants. I was excited when new interns would start work in the office. I had been the only one for a couple weeks and didn't know anyone else my age there. One day I was opening my mail, wearing my new sport coat, when in came a new intern from Akron. Wearing the same gray/white sportcoat I was, probably from the same store. Great. But Tom Reubel and I became friends and he lives a few miles from me today. I was in his wedding and he was the best man in mine two years ago.

There are a lot of receptions for members of Congress. Every day the schedule for the Congressman would be sent around and I was always amazed at how busy he was. He didn't do too many evening events so the staff would attend them if they wanted. Tom and I were given the green light for one and attended the National Coalition for Sheep Shearing and Dog Racing (or something similar, who can remember?) reception in the Rayburn Building. I'm not sure what the issue was but I do remember the spread: shrimp, wings, crab cakes, veggies, desserts and all the beer and liquor you could drink. For free. Now remember that we were college students and although I was being paid a nominal amount, I was saving it for Spain and Europe. What a night. What a perk. We ended up at some dive bar and I spent most of the money in my wallet. I'll take the time now to publicly thank that cab driver for taking me home even when I told him I didn't have enough money to get there.

Tom and I also went to Ocean City Maryland over Memorial Day. We got there late and got a room over the Brass Balls Saloon and Bad Ass Cafe. I think they added Bad Ass Cafe after our trip but it wasn't much of a place and I don't remember a lot of details about the short vacation.

My month internship flew by. But I was staring at my trip to Spain and a little more education so I was okay with it. Mom and dad came back down to see me off. I put them up at the Vista Hotel, a place Marion Barry would make famous a few years later when he bought cocaine off a hooker there. It was very nice although mom and dad thought the little bottles of liquor in the fridge were part of the room rate. I'm still not sure whether we were ever charged for those but I know all the Chivas was gone. I also took mom and dad on a grand tour of D.C. My Congressional ID allowed us to drive around Arlington Cemetary and got us down to the crypt in the Capitol Building. We hit as many places as we could before they dropped me off at National Airport and my adventure continued.

Things I hate, Part 1: Getting a last minute call to fill in for someone at Longaberger Golf Club for a work event.

Things I hate, Part 2: 187 yards away, uphill, with the wind, perfect 5-iron to 12 inches for a birdie.

Well, the news is out, Sarah is pregnant. I've had a lot of hits on my blog since I've sent out a link and now probably need to put some more interesting things on here. Now that we have our new camera, I can post a lot of photos. Other than a short trip to Chicago this weekend for a wedding, life should be slow until we go camping July 15.

So, you may be stuck reading my musings. I've been wanting to start a journal about all the fun things I've done in my life (mostly so I don't forget them) and maybe I'll start compiling random events on this page. I'll start with a short one:

In 1990, while working for Congressman Ralph Regula, I had a chance to have lunch with the Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. This was not a cast of thousands but was a small lunch of probably six people in a hotel room at the (now) Marriott in Canton. Al Albacete, the Director of the Canton Art Museum, became a friend and arranged it. For a 25 year old kid who had just visited Spain it was a memorable experience.

Which somehow just reminded me of another cool thing I did in 1988 while interning for Regula in D.C. McGeorge Bundy debated someone else famous (this is why I am writing this down, so I can try to remember things like who the other person was) in a Senate hearing room about Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense system. Now you have to know that I was an International Relations major at Kent State and they had a prestigious NATO program so I had taken a lot of defense/NATO/military history classes back then so it was a fun thing for me to see.

I supported missile defense then and wonder if the doves and liberals appreciate Reagan's foresight now that North Korea has the ability to shoot nuclear weapons at us?

A missile shield would be nice with all the kooks in the world.

Next up, more stories from my internship in Washington, D.C. in 1988. Has it been that long?

Here is a photo of a little boy who is being very bad tonight. But, we got our new camera and its always fun taking pictures of Henry.

Whew, long weekend. Friday was raining so we didn't end up leaving until 1:30 and checked in right at 4:00. It cleared up and was beautiful, just in time for a few cold ones, steaks and bocci ball. A great evening. Saturday gave us the perfect Cedar Point day, high of 70 with no humidity. Couldn't have asked for a better day. Henry enjoyed the park although I think the rollercoaster we went on was a bit much for him. We left the park at 6:30 and drove to Cleveland and the Hampton Inn.

Sunday morning we were up early and went to the Cleveland zoo for a couple hours. Henry like the camels, elephants and reindeer. Then, back to the Jake for a 4-2 Reds win. Amazing that the Indians offered Red fans 1/2 price tickets on reds.com . This series sure has changed.

Busy weekend but fun. Sarah is still not feeling well but she'll likely milk this pregnacy for all its worth. And I'll let her, she deserves it or will at least.

Good News! The pregnancy test turned out positive and we are expecting a baby next February around Valentine's Day. Looks like a lot of good changes are in store around here and both Sarah and I are excited. We have plenty of time this time around though so we're looking forward to the next few months.

Today is a rainy day and not good for our Cedar Point trip. But we'll just leave a little later and relax in our cottage on the lake tonight before hitting the park tomorrow when its supposed to be 74 and sunny. I bet there will be a few beers being consumed with our steaks tonight. Rain, rain go away...

I found out this morning that a guy I went to High School with in Massillon passed away. It makes me sad, I ran track with him and passed the baton on our almost (.01 second) state final 400 meter realy team. Jim Bushe, rest in peace. You were one of the good guys.

Today was an exciting day, we visited Sarah's doctor after receiving two positive home pregnacy tests. I'm a little skeptical of them however, I'm just not certain how accurate a Discount Drug Mart test can be. Regardless, they took a blood test so we'll know tomorrow morning for sure. What ever happened to the rabbit test? Hmmmm.

Tomorrow we are headed for Cedar Point with Henry and the Tibbitts (our neighbors). On Saturday, we'll likely head to Massillon for the night then I have the suite for the Indians v. Reds game on Sunday. Go Reds!

This is a great shot of the Briggs family on a vacation last year at Buck Lake in Canada.

Wow its been a while since I've posted to this blog. I need to kick it up a notch, forty has come and gone. Interesting that I never took a long, introspective look at my life on my birthday but I have everything I want and that feels good.