My Weekend

My wife was off of work both Saturday and Sunday, which is rare when you're an ER Nurse, so we had a 2 day weekend like regular people. It was great to have nice weather on a weekend when both of us were off to enjoy it.

Saturday we slept in and then went up to Mansfield to go through the old Ohio State Reformatory with a few of my friends and had a great time. We didn't see any ghosts by the way. Check out their website if you've never been there before. They've done a lot of things to refurbish the building. They have a gift shop in one section and what they've been able to do with it is impressive...

http://www.mrps.org/

Sunday we slept in again and then headed to Hoggy's for dinner. Sunday is "cheat day" as far as our workout/diet plan goes so we get to indulge in what everyone else usually eats all the time. It's a nice change from high protein healthy stuff. After that we went over to Easton so I could buy some cologne and to walk around in the nice warm weather.

On the way home from Easton we went through the Starbucks drive-thru and then did a little bit of yard work. We're planning a patio out back and also starting a project to build a small "wall" around the side of our front yard flower bed using natural stone.

Overall it was a great weekend.

Tom

My Message

Today MyCoshocton.com went live, which is the video and reader contributed content section of my website EastCentralOhio.com. I started my site initially to prove a point and that point is that any individual can make a difference in their community whether those in charge let them or not. The site is enormous and it's written in a programming language that I didn't know the first thing about when I started putting it together. I taught myself how to operate the entire thing while adding my own content. I've had a few new sign-ups recently but it's still not to where I had hoped it would be at this time. I'm still plugging away and I guarantee that eventually it will reach the level I'm picturing in my head.

You can also improve your community by taking steps on your own. You don't need anybody else to help you initially and once people see that you're serious about making a difference help will "come out of the woodwork". I've met several very intelligent and motivated people with goals very similar to mine when it comes to the Coshocton area.

Don't be afraid to take steps on your own. If you're determined, willing to work at things, and have patience things will work out in the end.

Tom

Stewart Field Project

I found out after further research yesterday that the Coshocton Board of Education approved the Stewart Field rehab groups request to proceed with trying to upgrade the facility. I suppose I should have done more research on this before writing my previous post and not been so aggressive towards leadership. This was a good decision by the board and I think it's great that this group would take on a project of this magnitude. The facility has needed upgrades for at least 15 years now.

I never played football or soccer but I've always been a fan and have attended many events at Stewart Field. It's a facility seen by many out-of-town visitors attending events and the nicer it is the better it will reflect on the community as a whole.

I'm thinking about offering my services as a fundraiser to this group. I think this is an excellent project.

Tom

Community Improvement

I'm not a happy camper this morning because I made the mistake of checking the Coshocton Tribune forum postings while eating breakfast. I shouldn't even log onto that site because a lot of the people who post get me worked up and into a bad mood quickly. I'm a progressive guy and I'm all about progress. I've known for a while that a private group of parents were going to attempt to raise funds to install artificial turf at Coshocton's football stadium. I'm all for this project because it improves a community and a school district facility in an area where most people are currently against spending money on anything. You have to make people want to move somewhere and right now I see no reasons to move into the city of Coshocton. There just isn't anything special about it.

Now back to the turf issue... I received a few complaints from my posting on the Tribune forums about how I was planning to support this project so I've decided to address them here...

Outside money will look bad - Well folks since there are no jobs in Coshocton most of Coshocton High School's alumni now live somewhere else. I plan to support this project when it proceeds and since I lived in Coshocton for 22 years and graduated from the school district It makes sense that I'd want to support a project related to improving the district. A lot of public school districts have alumni networks just like colleges that they use to solicit funds for projects such as this turf install.

It will look bad to the parents at Washington because the school is closing - If you want your schools to stay opened you vote FOR levies. When the community votes no the parents who are willing to put their own money behind their kids (the parents who voted for the levy) should be able to raise money for a privately funded project to improve the facilities their kid uses. When schools are closing and budget cuts are being made one thing is for certain...there will be no facility improvements funded by the district anytime soon so the only way this stuff is going to get done is if private groups take it on. In all honesty, I don't care how this project will look to parents at Washington. They've gotta understand that these are two completely unrelated things. People aren't going to donate money to support operations for the entire community's school system after an election indicated the majority of citizens don't value education but they will spend money to directly impact the facilities their kid uses because they want what is best for their kid even though the community doesn't.

I'm tired of all the whining and crying about how things will look and what if this/what if that that goes on in Coshocton. You don't lead by worrying about who gets upset and how things look..you lead by making things happen and by improving the community. If I were in Coshocton right now I would be an independent candidate for Mayor. There is just no leadership at all in that city right now. The County is way ahead of the city at this point in time. You can't worry about upsetting a minority of people and then axe a project that is a "no-brainer" improvement of the community's amenities.

Tom

Hail Storm Lastnight

We had a pretty significant hail storm here in New Albany last night that left my yard and driveway covered in marble and pea sized hail. No damage fortunately but it was cool to watch. We had 3 hail storms last summer and a tornado touched down across the street in Upper Albany West...hopefully this summer is not as bad as last year storm-wise. We did luck out last year and had no damage though some of our nearby neighbors weren't as fortunate...especially over in Upper Albany.

I haven't heard anything back about the job I applied for in Coshocton. This is it though as far as trying to help out by getting directly involved in things back there go. I took the time yesterday to go through my old job application records and I have applied for 26 different jobs back there over the past two years (several without pay) and haven't received any feedback what-so-ever, not even a "we're sorry we filled the position" note. I'm not a cocky or arrogant person but I am confident in myself and I think I'm more talented than the majority of the people running things back there. They just will not, for whatever reason, give me a chance.

I had to move to Columbus because I was given a chance here when I wasn't in Coshocton and until they understand that people with talent go where they are wanted the Coshocton community will continue to bleed young people. I try the best I can from a distance to make a difference in Coshocton. If nothing comes of this job I'm turning my attention elsewhere because I have no doubt someone can make use of my excellent skills, knowledge, and "can do" attitude. If Coshocton needs me for anything then they can come to me because I'm done going to them.

Tom

What Happened To The Weather??

Good grief it's only 36 degrees right now and my driveway is dusted with snow....just yesterday it was 81 degrees and I was wearing shorts...

Man I hope this "reminder of winter" doesn't last long. I'm ready for heat.

Tom

New Fitness Plan

I'm trying out a new fitness plan as of yesterday in an attempt to both improve my muscle definition and add a little bit more mass. The plan has two components...

1. The Meal Plan - Six Meals/Day

• Meal 1 - High Fiber Cereal w/lowfat milk, fruit, or yogurt (low - fat), or a meal replacement bar
• Meal 2 - Protein Bar
• Meal 3 - Lunch - Turkey, chicken (if sandwiches w/whole wheat bread), cottage cheese, lowfat cheese, fruit and/or vegetable
• Meal 4 - Protein Bar
• Meal 5 - Supper - Lean Beef, Turkey, Chicken, brown rice, cottage cheese, lowfat cheese, baked potato, vegetable and/or fruit
• Meal 6 - Protein Shake, fruit

I can use different variations of similara foods in the mail plan. I can also have coffee if I want it. Day 7 is "Cheat Day" so I can eat pretty much whatever I want that day. I've heard the longer I'm on this meal plan the less I'll want to eat "junk" foods.

2. The Workout Plan

• Day 1 - Arms, Shoulders, Abs, Calves, light cardio
  
• Day 2 - Chest, Back, light cardio
  
• Day 3 - Legs, Abs, Calves, light cardio
  
• Day 4 - OFF

Then repeat. I will use the "muscle confusion" theory and mix sevearl different movements and weight levels into my workout so keep myself from "getting used to" anything. My best lifts right now are..

The Preacher Curl - 140lbs - 3 sets of 8 reps (sometimes I'm try to pyramid up on this)
The Hammer Curl - 2 sets, 8 reps with the 35lb dumbbells, 1 set of 8 reps with the 40lb dumbbells
Seated Leg Lifts - 3 sets, 8 reps 215lbs.
Seated Leg Curls - 3 sets, 8 repgs 175 lbs.

Bench press is probably my worst lift...I've never been a big fan of it.

I'll make blog entries every now and then noting my progress.

Tom

Washed The Car & Relaxed Today!

I washed my car today complete inside and out for the first time in about 5 months. It's looking good and I'll add some pictures when I have a chance. I also helped my brother move an entertainment center from his old apartment to his new apartment and met Allison for lunch (Chipotle - Westerville). It was a pretty relaxing day overall. Even moving the entertainment center went smoothly. It's nice again outside this evening and I hate to think about going back into work tomorrow. I hope I hear back about one of the jobs I've appied for soon.