Playing catch up in the blogosphere…

I’m still trying to find a daily routine.  During my first time around with Dwyerwire (2005-2007) I was mostly on the morning show and by the time 9:00am rolled around, I had my head full of the day’s news and current events.  It was easy to pick a topic and run with it.  It was a type (not pun intended) of therapy for me.  Working nights, which I did for the first 21-years of my career, you get up to speed throughout the day.  By the time I get into work, I’m already writing teases and working on a few stories for the 4pm newscast.  I would like to find a slot during the evening to blog but it seems something always gets in the way. 

Like reading the morning paper, I make my rounds on the Internet in the morning.  Posting right after that would be the best slot, but training for a half-marathon, non-profit meetings or some other commitment (full disclosure:  there may be a tee time in there… but not lately) often has me out the door.

The best way for this blog to succeed is to make it a habit, because those updated daily are the ones that I go to on a regular basis.  Duh.

Hang with me as I’m determined to find a routine that makes this exercise worthwhile, for both of us.

Rambling thoughts on a Wednesday morning…

I think Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher is far more steamed than he let on last night during his TV show.  The source(s?) leaking things to the print media about the Bud Adams-Jeff Fisher relationship is not on the up and up.  Fisher is usually in control of things, even when the team is not playing well, but this adds another wild-card.  I don’t have all the pieces put together but it seems to me the back-stabbing going on by those not in the organization are trying to create a distraction.  Of course, the way for all this to go away is to win. 

My two-cents on the QB thing… This coaching staff is the only ones that really know if Vince Young gives them a better chance to win than Kerry Collins.  If it thought that, VY would have been in the 3rd game when the Titans fell behind 14-0 at the Jets.  Winning is like a drug to coaches.  They crave it and will do anything to get it.  Change for the sake of change still gets you beat.  From the various media people I’ve spoken to, Young had an unimpressive training camp followed by a regular season where he puts in the minimum effort.  If your biz is going down the tubes, is THAT the type of person you give a promotion to?

Still ticked about an anniversary present for my parents that didn’t arrive on time.  I purchased it from what we all would agree is a high-end store and it was going to ship it for delivery arriving the day before the anniversary.  Then anniversary came and went without the gift arriving.  I received a call from the store stating that its company-wide tracking system was down and it didn’t know the whereabouts of the present.  Finally, it arrived 3-days after my parent’s 55th.  I called the store’s GM and said you have one more task.  Call my mother and apologize and tell her why her gift from her son and fiance didn’t arrive on time.  At least they did that right.  I’m telling you, customer service, even at the places that should be slam-dunks, ain’t what it used to be.

I haven’t lived in a house for years so Saturday night’s tick-or-treating thing should be interesting.  We now live in a neighborhood but there’s some mixed-use places around us.  I say we’ll buy a truck-load of candy and if nobody comes, we will still have a truck-load of candy!  Win-win!

Please Mr. President, make a call, one way or the other, about Afghanistan.

My fiance Lynley has been stopped up for more than a week now, and goes through a half-bag of cough drops at night.  Allergies?  Cold?  Crud?  Doesn’t have a fever so ruling the Flu out.  Is this going around?

Did the NBA really tip-off its regular season last night?

Baseball lost my at the ’94 strike.  Yankees or Phillies?  Forget it, I’m checked out.

Gotta head to downtown Y and workoff some of the weekend food from Phoenix.

Sorry about the blog blackout.

Spent the last four days in Phoenix at a Make-A-Wish convention.  I have a back-log of wonderful stories and pictures but won’t be able to do the posts justice until after this week’s “Titans On 2 With Jeff Fisher.”  Always fun to fill an hour on a bye week.  Somebody in the newsroom barked that it’s the first time in six weeks that the show doesn’t  break down a loss.  Well, that’s one way to look at it.

I’ll be back in the saddle Wednesday.

Class Acts.

Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and Defensive Coordinator Chuck Cecil could have been working at the office or home with family Tuesday night (heck, ANYWHERE but Opry Mills talking football).  Instead, they were guests of Head Coach Jeff Fisher on “Titans On 2 With Jeff Fisher”.

An 0-6 record, coming off a 59-0 loss at New England.

There is not an NFL head coach and two coordinators having a more lousy time the last two months. 

For one hour on live TV, they sat and faced the music.

I’m not naive to think that their collective appearance doesn’t, in some small way, help in the damage control department but there’s probably not another NFL city that would have had that trio together in such a public forum, especially considering the circumstances.

As I thanked them after the show, Cecil responded by saying, “It was kind of like therapy.”

Glad we could help Chuck.  Don’t even have to send a bill.

Whirlwind weekend.

Had a great visit in South Bend with my parents.

When I landed last night and heard the Titans score my jaw dropped.

I will address both when I have more time.

One “Titans On 2 With Jeff Fisher” note.

Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and Defensive Coordinator Chuck Cecil are our special guests tomorrow night.  First time in 13 years this has happened.  It was planned before Sunday’s game.  Bet they are thrilled.

Geeked about the upcoming weekend.

Dad, Mom, Lynley & me smiling BEFORE 2006 game vs. Michigan. Final score: 47-21 Michigan

Lynley and I are traveling to South Bend, Indiana for tomorrow’s USC-Notre Dame game.  We’ll be sitting with my parents, brother and his wife.  Mom asked if we would have any opportunity to “catch up.”  I said, “Sure Mom, because the game could be over by halftime and we can just shoot the breeze.”  Just about every game I’ve gone to the last few years, Notre Dame as been blown out.

Here’s hoping we won’t get a chance to really talk until AFTER the game.

I’m spoiled in that I went to every ND home game from 1972 to 1980 with several away games (including bowl games) sprinkled in.  My Dad used to be the one to get all “worked up” but he has mellowed and it’s my mother that rants during the game.  Don’t EVEN get her started on Charlie Weis.

ND has been waxed by USC the last few years.  The best I can hope for is a competitive game.

Notre Dame Stadium. Better watch the game closely because you only get one shot to see the play.

One side item on games at ND Stadium.  It seats 80,000 and is in great condition but it has no sponsorship signage of any kind and no jumbotron.  When an exciting play happens, you naturally snap your head to the left or right, looking for a replay.  Fuggetaboutit.  While I “get” that they want to maintain a “retro” look, this is carrying too far.  People pay very good money for a great game experience and not having a jumbotron is arrogant and a disservice to the fans.  Get with the times ND!

So, off to my hometown to hang out with the ‘rents.  Don’t worry ma, I won’t bring the dirty laundry.

Have great and safe weekend.

I’m fuming.

I received a bill from a surgical center for $561.

Short story:  Back in February while training for the Boston Marathon, I pulled something in my lower abdomen.  I thought it was just a pulled muscle and continued my training but the pain never went away.  Every time I would start running I would feel it but I didn’t want to bail on the race (stupid and stubborn).  I still felt it in July when I had my yearly physical.  My doctor referred me to anther doctor who thought it was a slight tear in a muscle that takes time to heal.  I had some sort of procedure done to check it out.  CT scan perhaps?  Anyway, nothing was found and I don’t feel the pain anymore.  Now I’m no hypochondriac, but since the discomfort wasn’t going away, I worried it might be something more than a torn muscle (grapefruit-sized tumor entered my mind more than once).  I wanted it checked out.

The cost of peace of mind? $561.

Insurance it picking up some of the cost but here’s what burns me.  For 25-years I have paid for insurance.  I am confident that I’ve been a bargain.  No serious health issues.  Yes, the occasional trip for allergies (since I moved to Tennessee 13-years ago) and for the flu.  No major drama.  We all know our own bodies pretty well and I knew that I had something that didn’t feel right and wasn’t going away.  Wanting to be pro-active, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a bigger problem. 

What about if I didn’t get it checked out?  What if I just lived with it and it turned out to be that grapefruit-sized thing?  Then I’m a patient costing thousands and thousands of dollars.  Instead I’m just another runner with a tweaked muscle and socked for $600 out of pocket for it.

Why am I tagged for $561?  Because I CAN pay?

Many of you right now are probably shaking your head, sighing and then saying to your computer screen, “Welcome to the game, John.”

I just feel I’m being punished for having good genes, taking generally good care of myself through the years, and being a member of the workforce.  Sock it to the healthy, little guy that can pay.

I don’t think health care should be free.  Just reasonable.

I don’t think receiving a medical bill for a procedure should be some like spinning  the prop on “Wheel Of Fortune.”

Why couldn’t I shop around for the procedure I needed and make a choice based on reputation and cost?

I know, I know.  Welcome to the health care debate John.

Why does the sound of rain early in the morning always equate to wanting to  lay in bed longer?

I received a cell phone call during a commercial break of last night’s “Titans On 2 With Jeff Fisher.”  I didn’t recognize the 615 number and thought it was strange that anyone would call me during the live show at Opry Mills.  I retrieved the message right after the show and it was a a Titans employee leaving a rather direct message of what he thought of a segment on the show.  He stated (very directly)  that some statistics were taken out of context.  I reflected on that segment and I can see how he could make a case but it wasn’t intentional.  We spoke moments later and he quickly stated that he was just pulling my leg but needed to have some fun and blow off some steam during a very tough time.  I have no problem being called out if my presentation isn’t perceived as accurate.  Gotta admit it startled me though.  Through the years, I’ve always enjoyed our talks off the record as he’s given me a better understanding of nuances of the game.  So he “got me.”  Boys will be boys.

One of the more remarkable stories I’ve seen on News-2 is the exclusive that video journalist Jerry Barlar nabbed of a missing man.  As the man’s son says in this clip, stories like this don’t usually end up like this.  Can’t help to think that the prisoners out on work detail feel a sense of accomplishment as well.  A “feel good” story for your Wednesday.

Okay, I rarely get hooked on those silly Internet games that make the rounds but this one got me.  It’s said to be used by fighter pilots in the Air Force.  Don’t know if it’s true but he had me.  Check it out for yourself by clicking here.  Anything 18-seconds and better is considered brilliant.  After a few tries (okay, dozens) I’m up to 16-seconds.  Today’s a new day!

My fiance Lynley and I went to the Farmer’s Market Sunday afternoon near Bicentennial Mall to buy a few pumpkins for the porch.  The place may be on of the most underrated places in Nashville.  Check it out for yourself.  You won’t be disappointed.

After a pot of coffee and dazing as lazy cats collected their 5th nap of the morning, time to get to the downtown Y.

Returning 20 of 22 starters from a 13-3 team, what has happened to the Titans?

I’m busy putting Head Coach Jeff Fisher’s TV show together and usually I have a clue about the team but the ’09 version has me stumped.  Can only imagine how coach feels.  He has his hands full.

Fullback Ahmard Hall is our special player guest.

News-2 anchor Bob Mueller could soon offer his John Hancock as this:

“Bob Mueller  HOF”

My co-worker Bob Mueller heads back to the St. Louis area this weekend to be inducted into his high school Hall Of Fame.  This isn’t just a sports award but for all-around contribution and success in life since graduating Highland High School in… well, even boys don’t discuss their ages in public.

To viewers, Bob has been a comforting, trusting face on Nashville TV for nearly three decades.  What may not transcend the screen is that Bob is a funny, extremely approachable person that will forget more about TV news in this town than most of us will ever know.  The guy is sharp, has a core value of journalistic beliefs and will shoot the breeze with the new production camera guy as easily as the owner of the company.

So Bob goes into his high school’s Hall of Fame tonight.

He’s already in the “good guy” HOF.

If you are a friend of his on FB (and really, who isn’t?) send him a a congrats.

Have a great and safe weekend.