New Year's Resolutions

Once again, a few weeks go by, and I become entranced in updating what's going on in my life. Since last I wrote:

• I finally met my cousin Kenny's wife in person
• I attended a fun reunion of old high school friends at Howl at the Moon in Ft. Laud
  
• I saw the Seminoles win the Champs Sports Bowl in person in Orlando
• I saw the Seminoles defeat Western Kentucky in Basketball in person in Sunrise, where I grew up
• I saw Virginia Tech defeat Cinncinnati in person at the 2009 Orange Bowl, where I hung out with old friends Drew and Dave
• I saw a couple of great movies
• I had fun with Orange & Blue Donuts (which I never thought was possible)
• I went to a couple of birthday parties with Bailey and Riley
• I have yet to watch a complete NFL playoff game this season
• I have continued working hard at my rehab on my left achilles tendon

With so many things over the last few weeks, I decided to sit down tonight and talk about my 2009 resolutions:

1) I intend to update my blog on a more consistent basis. With so many crazy things going on in my life at different times, I should always take a moment for myself and write.

2) I want to keep my house more clean. It has been a battle for 4 1/2 years now and hopefully one we start winning this year.

3) I want to earn my APR certification in PR. I have belonged to PRSA for over 7 years now, and finally feel like I have time to commit to going for it. This is one of those personal achievements that I will be quite proud of when I can have those letters next to my name.

4) I want to spend more time seeing friends and fraternity brothers in person. Over the last month, I have already seen more people from the old days and current friends than I can ever remember, so my hope here is to keep doing what I'm doing.

5) I want my wife to know how proud I am of her for her dedication to going to the gym, which in turn has made me have to commit to waking up earlier to dress both kids long after she's gone in the morning. So far so good!

6) I want my rehab to be over soon, not because I don't like to go (my PT is a great guy and very funny), but because once I do that, I can start walking again (like I used to in Tallahassee), which will then hopefully spur me to follow my old eating ways rather than getting off course (which is easy to do when you're on your back for 3 weeks and unable to walk long distances for almost 3 months).

7) I want the Seminoles to beat the South Florida Bulls (my wife's alma mater) in September 2009, so she can't go on and on and on about it for three years (when they have their rematch in 2012).

8) I want to keep expanding my horizons with Social Media - A lightbulb went off in my head back in late-August and I have been fiercely active ever since. Twitter is my favorite and I want it to keep taking me to heights I never imagined.

9) I want to hold my emotions in check this August when Bailey starts Kindergarten on his first day of school. Boy, that will be quite a day. At least his mom will be down the hall!

10) Finally, I want to try and read one book a month. I have ALWAYS been a terrible reader. I would like to try to stick to this plan, so if anyone has any books they recommend that they think I would like, I'm all ears.

Happy 2009 to all!

Life is But a Tweet Away

Let me begin by saying I can't believe it's been over seven weeks since I last updated my blog. When I first started it, I fully intended to do it 2-3 times a week. However, between tearing my achilles tendon in mid-October and simply having other interests these days, I haven't found the time.

It's been quite an interesting year on many levels for me. I've had some rough patches but found a way to work through them. I feel more in control of things than ever before. I am not shy to voice my opinion and I've decided life is too short for games and drama.

I've got a beautiful wife who I first wrote to via http://www.jewishsinglesconnection.com/ (the predecessor to J-Date) on December 23, 1998, which means we have been together for 10 years now. She is my rock and my strength and I love her more than words can say. I'm trying hard to help keep the house clean and help more and more with things I used to put off.

We are fortunate to be blessed with two beautiful children - Bailey, our 4 1/2 year old son, and Riley, our daughter who turned one this past Sunday. They are both amazing children, and after so many difficulties trying to have both of the, we feel fortunate to be blessed with such wonderful kids.

My job at Tilson Communications is going well. I've been there for a little over 2 years and am enjoying the versatility of our clients. I am also speaking up a lot more and not shy when it comes to my opinion.

One discovery I made this year that has changed the way I approach everything is a micro-blogging service called Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/). In 140 characters, you tell people what you are doing, answer questions, and basically communicate with people of similar interests. I first discovered the service in late-August through a tele-seminar that I wasn't expecting to learn much from.

Then, a lightbulb went off. I immediately understood how great this service was. I saw it as a tool for personal and professional use. I try to integrate a little humor into my tweets whenever possible.

In almost four months' time, I have tweeted from events such as Dunkin' Donuts grand openings, Alan Snel's Tampa Bay Rays celebration ride, an FSU-Miami Football Game, Dania Jai-Alai, Pompano Park at The Isle Casino, an AC/DC Concert, the launch of @TrulyNolen on twitter, rehab appointments for my left ankle, and much more.

I have also discovered the power of people, as a Chicago-area PR professional named @PRSarahevans created a weekly group discussion at http://www.journchat.info/. Created as a way to bring PR professionals together with journalists to discuss relevant topics to each profession, it has caught on like wildfire and I have met so many great people over the last two weeks. In addition, I'm always taking the principles I learn in the discussions back to the office where I work and sharing with my great colleagues.

The way I have my Facebook account set up, my Twitter updates often reset my FB status. I have had friends make snide comments about the amount of updates I do.

You know what? If it makes ME happy, I'm not going to let others bring me down. If I want to tweet a set list from AC/DC, that's my choice. If my friends don't want to read it on FB, they can skip my page that day. If someone on Twitter doesn't like it, they can unfollow me.

So, fair warning to my Facebook friends - I'll be tweeting from our Nova High Class of 1990 (and other classes) reunion at Howl at the Moon this Friday night. Know why? Because I want to. Period.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all and too all a good night!

I Voted - You Should, Too!

Voting has always been one of the most important things to me in my life. Despite my torn achilles and despite certain-record crowds for the 2008 Presidential Election, my wife and I braved the long lines on November 1 and went to Parkland Library about 20 minutes north of us to early vote. Thanks to some very nice poll workers and people in line, we were able to vote quicker than expected and everyone in line seemed to be full of pride no matter who they were supporting, and didn't mind waiting for hours at a time to vote.

I have always taken my right to vote very seriously. I remember pre-registering to vote in High School right before I turned 18 and then my first ever large scale election was the governor's race in Florida between Bob Martinez and Lawton Chiles. I voted that election (and all of the elections while I attened college) by absentee ballot.

I always understood how important it was to vote. I think part of that was because I had such a great American Government teacher like Mr. Kenneth Bass in high school. He was by far one of the best teachers I ever had and I gained an appreciation for the fine art of politics back then. Heck, one of my classmates from that very class is now the mayor of Hollywood, Florida, so he apparently gained the same appreciation!

Being off my feet as I will be, I'm looking for newer ways to follow Election Day without feeling out of touch. The Palm Beach Post (which is teaming up with many other Florida newspapers in this respect) is going to have a live, interactive Twitter Map that day, available at http://www.palmbeachpost.com/, often as the main art of on the home page, at least until polls close and maybe longer.

Reporters and observers will be at all the polling places, watching for problems, and a reporter from the Post will be tweeting what they see and hear (such as: broken printer, fainting, count problem, legal challenge, etc.) Each tweet (from a special account called PBP_votes) will appear on the map, with a bubble pointing to where the problem or news report comes from. As I am a tweet-a-holic, I can't wait to see how this all works (along with the other goodies at http://www.twitter.com/ that day as well).

So remember, no matter who you are supporting (whether it's Fred Armisten and Jason Sudekis or Darrell Hammond and Tina Fey), vote on Tuesday, November 4. There may be no right as an American more important than this.

My Wife Doesn't Have to Dress Up on Halloween - She IS Wonder Woman!

I can't believe it's been five weeks since I last had some thoughts to type here. Half of that was because I was busy and the other half is because, for those who don't know, I tore my left achilles tendon on Friday October 17 and have been on bedrest ever since. My surgery to repair it was on Wednesday October 22 and I have a doctor's appointment later today to get fitted for a cast so I can hopefully start getting back into the swing of things. My boss was kind enough to lend me a laptop this week so I could start getting back into the swing of things little by little.

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My thanks to all of my friends from Twitter, Facebook, work life and real life (lol) who have continually checked in on me, who are praying for me, and who want to know if there's anything they can do to help. I appreciate all the sentiments and am so glad I have such great friends and so many people who care about me and my well-being.

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That being said, I don't need anything. Want to know why? Because MY WIFE IS WONDER WOMAN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SOtH1MNXtQ&feature=related

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She has somehow managed to A) Get both kids ready for school (something I usually do), B) Leave me lunch by the side of our bed so I don't starve, C) Drop off the kids in the morning (something I usually do), D) Go to school to teach her 4th grade Rugrats, E) Check on me during the day, F) Pick up Both kids, G) Come home and work on the house (something I help out with) while I spend time watching tv with the kids, H) Make dinner for all of us, I) Bathe the kids (something I normally do), J) Dress them for bed (something i normally do), and K) Tuck the kids in for bed (something I normally do).

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How she is doing all of this with a chipper outlook and no complaints, I'll never know. I truly married a special woman. I always knew that. I just didn't know that I married Wonder Woman.

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So honey, in case I haven't said it enough...I love you more than words can say. You mean the world to me. Just tell me WHY you've kept this secret identity hidden for so many years!

Don't Change For You, Don't Change A Thing For Me

My life has always seemed like one big 1980's mish-mash of songs. From "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths to "Nobody's Diary" by Yaz to "Bring on the Dancing Horses" by Echo and the Bunnymen, these songs remind me of so many good times in my youth. However, they seem even more poignant today.

One song that really reflects my mood lately is a song I discovered a few years ago by accident. During the 1980's, the only songs they ever played of INXS on the radio were "What You Need", "Need You Tonight", "New Sensation", "Devil Inside", and "Never Tear Us Apart." When I got Sirius Radio a few years ago, I instantly became hooked on Channel 22 - First Wave. On it was a song called "Don't Change" by INXS. I became curious and looked for it on YouTube, and it can be found at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMrL_4NyQr0

Something about this song has stayed with me since the first day I heard it. Then it dawned on me why. Without going into too many details, I've changed a lot of habits. I'm not as dialed in to Fantasy Football as I used to be. I don't watch a lot of sports on TV. I haven't watched a single Monday Night Football game this season as of yet. I go days without responding to friends' emails. There's many other things I could say here, but I think I've said enough.

Through it all, my wife and soulmate has been my rock. She has blessed me with two beautiful children is always there when I need her. Then, listening to this song last week, it became quite clear - the song foreshadows how 2008 started for me and where I am right now - if it wasn't for Sara, I don't know what I would do.

So honey, from the bottom of my heart...

I'm standing here on the ground
The sky above won't fall down
See no evil in all direction
Resolution of happiness
Things have been dark
For too long

Don't change for you
Don't change a thing for me

I look forward to waking up tomorrow and seeing nothing but sunny skies!

Two Decades Later

I have to admit, I have been seduced by the all-power being that is Facebook. Although I grew up using a Commodore Vic 20 and got my first modem (a VicModem no less) in 1982 (and then upgraded to a Commodore 64 about a year later) and have always been involved with computers, somehow I never made it to Facebook.

Now, 262 friends later (all of whom I truly know in some way, shape or form), I don't know how I functioned with out. This is the story of finding one person in particular and feeling better knowing she is doing well.

When I was a teenager, there was a running joke one of my friends had with me that I had a "Girl of the Month" club. I seemed to date girls for a week or two and then move on. Then I met her.

But before I met her, I met her friend through a school function in late-1987. I didn't even drive yet, but managed to talk my way into going over her house where I hung out several times. Nothing happened, except I began to play pickup football with a bunch of guys in her South Broward neighborhood.

Then one day, it all changed. I met Madison. She was watching us play football one day and she came over and introduced herself. I was immediately awestruck. Just like any 15-year-old boy would be.

As January 1988 rolled around, my friend, another guy and I went to the beach with her and two of her friends. It started out as one of the worst days of my life. My buddy (the only one old enough to drive) continually hit on Madison even though he knew I was the one interested in her. He was even doing ridiculous things to her in the ocean, so I just kept to myself.

When I called Madison that night, she told me I misread everything - that she was not interested in my friend, she was interested in me. Music to my ears.

We dated for four months. It was such a happy time in my life. I was going through my Meat Loaf phase (for those who know me, they know what I mean), and she and I were singing every word to every song on Bat out of Hell. For a guy who didn't drive, I somehow managed to see her quite frequently.

Then, like a comet out of the sky, the relationship ended. Although she really liked me, I made her feel a little uncomfortable about something and we went our separate ways.

I then ended up dating another girl from that neighborhood, and I know Madison wasn't thrilled about it, and we just lost touch after that.

I went to college and did often wonder how she was, because it was one of things where we were such good friends - if we had parted on normal terms, we probably would have stayed friends.

I did google her name through the years as I got older and better with the internet but always came up empty. Then along comes Facebook. My beautiful wife sets up a page for me - I start searching, and one night, I type in Madison's name. Shockingly, I found her. I posted on her wall but didn't expect a response because 20 years had now passed and maybe she didn't feel about our friendship like I did.

A day later, she responded and said she was thrilled I did. She was now married and said she often wondered what happened to me.

We continued to talk - I shared pictures of my two kids and the story of how my wife and I met and got engaged in New Orleans. It was as if it was 1988 all over again. Time stood still.

20 years and 5 months after a very tough day in my life, Madison and I had lunch near my office in Boca Raton and it was as if it was 1988 all over again. We reminisced about the old days, talked about the directions our lives had taken and looked forward to continuing to remain friends in the future. We even laughed about Bat Out of Hell.

I can't think of anyone I've ever gone longer seing between visits. I'm so happy she is doing well and that we are once again in contact. I look forward to her meeting my wife and kids and sharing some new experiences - except this time, instead of playing football, I think we'll all be watching!

Boundless Energy

As I get older, I am finding that while I still keep the same crazy hours I always have (i.e. 4-5 hours of sleep per day), I may be slowing down just a bit. In this picture of my daughter Riley and me, I think I'm ready for a nap. Riley, on the other hand, seems to be picking up my mantra at an early age.

Riley is 8 1/2 months old now (once again, evidence that TIME FLIES), and she is so different than Bailey ever was. As evidence of this:

1) She refuses to let me feed her without her grabbing her jar of food and getting her hands all filled with peas and stuff. Bailey was never a Grabby McGee!

2) She fights sleep at all costs. While this is similar to my schedule, I don't fight sleep - I just don't sleep. She will close her eyes and then force herself awake - we caught her doing this at Disney the other night, and it was really funny.

3) She is a lot more vocal than Bailey ever was at this age. While Bailey will not stop talking NOW, I don't recall Bailey making so many "ma ma ma ma ma" "ba ba ba ba ba" sounds at this age.

4) She tricked us in the van today on the way home - we thought she was hungry because she wouldn't stop crying, and when I stopped the car in Boynton Beach so Sara could feed her, she instead decided she wanted to play with Sara instead of eat and she kept cracking herself up about it. Sneaky little thing, my daughter.

5) Last but not least, she always cracks up around Bailey. Of course, I do too, but that's a totally different story.

Oh, to be that young again and be able to have that kind of energy. I miss those days!