2 steps forward, 3 steps back

No matter how much progress I think I am making in any relationship it becomes very clear that I just don’t have the right answers…most of the time.

See, I am a type-A. And I know you’re like me in some way. Well, at least you know someone like me. You know…the kind of person that always has to be right.

Or the life of the party.

Or the one with the last word.

And therein lies my problem. I’m the “last-word” kinda guy. I guess that’s why I’m in sales. It definitely helps me make my living but it cripples me when I take that skill-set in to my personal life.

See, Rosanna is a type-A, too. But unfortunately for us, it’s not a Laurel and Hardy type bonding. When it’s good, it’s REALLY good. When it’s bad, it’s DEFCON 5000. My thought is that I have hard time listening.

Yes…I just admitted that I have a fault. I know, I know…for a type-A it’s extremely inappropriate to admit fault. But you know what? A lot has transpired in the last few months of my life that makes me believe I should do more listening. Half of the problems I encounter in life and love stem from my (in)ability to listen.

Believe it or not, she really has a lot of good and important things to say. If I would listen to how Rosanna feels or what she wants to do or how I make her feel then maybe she would get the hint about how I truly feel about her.

I tell you all, I truly am the luckiest guy alive right now. I have put her through such an emotional roller coaster of a relationship, it’s amazing to me she’s even still around. And I’ve come close to losing that several times now.

Progress isn’t about losing ground, it’s about gaining it. Relationships are about open communication and a willingness to listen.

So I’m sorry for not always listening to you.

I’m sorry for not completely understanding your needs.

I’m sorry for not learning from my mistakes.

But I’m not sorry for loving you. I need your love and I want the whole world to know it. Rosanna is my love.

Now if I can just get this whole taking steps thing down.

mbc

The importance of a scar

The most wonderful thing God has blessed us with is the 8 or so pounds encased in our skulls. Not only does it serve neurological functions for motor skills etc., it also stores information, memories, that serve as markers for significant events in our lives.

So, when something in life happens (good or bad) it leaves an indelible mark within the framework of our brains. The ironic thing about it is that when something positive happens to us, we call it a memory. When something negative happens to us we say that we’re now “scarred.”

But think about it: a scar is hopefully a permanent reminder of a negative experience that brought you to a positive place.

For Rosanna, this is certainly true.

Imagine hearing that a part of your body isn’t functioning and that you need to have it removed. The doctor tells you that your life will be normal after you have the operation but it will leave a scar in a place that will be public.

Of course you’re going to ask lots of questions.

Back to the point, here. I’m glad we have scars. I’m glad that we’re forced to appreciate what we have sometimes. All too often we get comfortable and forget to stop and appreciate the job, the money, the house, the car, the iPod…

A scar is about appreciating life.

So yeah, scars are pretty important.

One cut can change a life

And that’s what it did for Rosanna. When she found out that her body wasn’t operating correctly, it would change her entire view on life.

It all started when she was sitting with her mom at lunch. Mommy-dearest noticed a lump in the left side of Rosanna’s throat and pointed it out to her. And like any person concerned about their well-being, Rose went to the doctor to find out the story.

What she found out would change her life forever. And the reason for the surgery would get in to her head and drive her crazy.

A hyper-active thyroid.

That’s all. It’s a common problem people have, its a low-risk surgery, but it’s enough to drive anyone crazy. “What if they hit an artery?” “Are my vocal cords in danger?” “Will I look normal after this?” No problems at all. The surgery was a complete success and shes expected to be just fine.

The good news is that she’s going to feel better and her body will be better off having had this procedure done.

What’s most of exciting through all of this is that her viewpoint has changed. Sure…she’s still experiencing a little pain, but she’s seeing things differently. She can now understand what it means to be alive and healthy. Her overnight stay at Royal Oak Beaumont was enough to tweek her senses and look on the bright side of life.

So keep praying for a speedy recovery and a good-looking scar. And if you ARE reading this, stay tuned for an action-packed next few days. I have lots of good stuff coming.

Just remember that a cut CAN change a life.

mbc

They blew it but I STILL believe

It was theirs and then it was not.

And I was so excited to see Orlando carry the energy and drive for most of the game. But like most people when under pressure, they buckled.

Boy, did they buckle big.

An even series was literally just one minute and some change away. So I guess I am confused why now all of a sudden there is added pressure to win three straight games in a row. I don’t understand how you can get paid millions of dollars to play a game and then make costly mistakes that are completely unnecessary.

I blame it on Stan.

Stan made the call to keep the star shooting three-pointers when he should have had the team playing balanced, tight-point basketball. Sometimes you have to do what’s right, not what’s desired.

I’ve believed in Magic since the days of Shaq, Penny, Grant and the like.

And I STILL believe.

A stern realization

A lot of my friends came to a stern realization at a younger age than me.  And it sucks, but that’s how life deals you the cards sometimes.

But when it hits you, it hits you hard…and there is absolutely NOTHING you can do to stop it.  The good news in all of it is that it’s a matter of fact that will change your life.  It starts families, it unites people, and it really DOES make the world go ’round.

I’m talking about love.

I know I’ve mentioned this a couple times in previous posts, but I really want to focus on this one right now.  I’ve been through a really rough road with this one in the past and even in the present.  But it’s worth when you finally connect with it in such a powerful way.

And for me, that way is Rosanna.

I had planned on blogging about this on Monday, but my draft was deleted somehow, so all of what I’m about to tell you comes from memory.

There are three things about her that convince me that this realization truly is relevant to me.

1.  Her motivation and drive + my motivation and drive gets stuff done. She has an amazing drive and fervor for life that makes mine pale in comparison.  It’s amazing to me that everything she touches is successful.  She has this way of getting things done that compliments this.  Just the other day, she got a hold of my phone company and handled what could have been a very costly situation for me.  I had been working to resolve this issue for 2 months.  She made one phone call and was able to resolve the situation in under 12 hours.  It’s just the way she’s wired, and it makes me believe strongly that we compliment each other well.

2.  Her humor is infectious. She and I share a humor that is rooted in stand-up comedy and the like.  It’s because of her and point number one that we have been able to laugh with several comedians: Carlos Mencia, Frank Caliendo, Dane Cook, Pablo Francisco, Nick Swardson and Robin Williams.  I have yet to meet someone that shares the same love for stand-up that I do.  Even better, though, is that we love to laugh at life.  We have many inside jokes and we find reasons to laugh.  We both agree that laughter is the best medicine and we’ve tried to stay healthy over the last 2 years.

3.  Her love goes pretty deep. I’ve been over my head many times in the last few years and this time, I definitely don’t mind drowning in THIS pool.  Let me ask you, have ever felt so strongly about something that nothing could sway you away from it?  Have you ever stuck your feet in the concrete to stand by something you absolutely 100% believed in?  Well, that’s how I feel about this love we have for each other.  And despite the fact that we’ve gone through some pretty tough stuff over the last 2 years, that concrete has not easily come undone.  Sure, it’s got cracks and what not, but it’s surely held the test of time.

I am luckier than the luckiest gambler in Vegas for what I have.  I was sent the most perfect being to spend the rest of my life with and I am more than excited to see what the future holds.  At 28 years old I have finally realized that it takes time to get the perfect fit for a life partner.

Luckily for me, the fit is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!

And that’s what I realized.

mbc

It’s been a tough night

Today was one of those days that just turned in to “one of those days.”

At least, for the Red Wings.

First things first, the Wings didn’t cut it tonight forcing a Game 7 at the Joe.  They put up a decent effort against Pittsburgh, but they just couldn’t get it done.  For whatever reason, there were slow getting to the puck and just didn’t have the steam like they did last Saturday.  It seemed like Pittsburgh was getting all the chances and crashing the net more often then they were hanging back.  Of course, they stayed consistently on Detroit like hawks to keep that puck out of their Zone.

And it worked.

So now it’s back to 0 and 0.  But don’t think for a second that Friday night’s going to be any easier.  While the Wings have shown us time and time again that they can kill at home, there’s a slight difference when it’s the Stanley Cup on the line.

Both teams want it.

Both teams need it.

And both teams can’t live without it.

It’s that drive and determination that’s going to make Game 7 either really boring or really interesting, depending on who shows up to play.  My money is STILL on the Wings.  It was on them when they were 1-0 to start out the season.  They are a constant in the NHL and they continually set the standard for how the game should be played.

The sad part about it is that Pittsburgh is a sore team.  They don’t know how to win and they certainly don’t know how to lose.

In fact, it was funny…I was listening to 97.1 The Ticket today and Carson/Anderson played a clip of Saturday’s post-game interview.  Mike Babcock was being interviewed by all the national sports reporters and the topic came up about the Wings finding out that the Penguins talk trash about them.  A reporter asked Babcock if that got the team fired up and he came back with, “Let me ask you…when we win, do you hear us talking trash about them?”

This guy’s not a Canadian Idiot…he’s a Canadian genius!

And that’s what makes this thing tough for the Penguins.  Detroit is at such a higher caliber than they are.  Obviously they’re the older team with more experience.  They’ve been around for a while and they know how to handle the newer skater that thinks his poop don’t stink.  Don’t think for a minute that Zetterberg hasn’t handled the likes of a Sidney Crosby once or twice in his career.  The kids’ good, but darn it: he’s no Pavel Datysuk or Kris Draper.

Friday will be interesting.  I think we’re going to see 60 minutes of continuous, physical hockey all the way around.  It’s going to be a fight to the finish and the team with the most points is going to win the contest (…according to John Madden.)

So mark my words, Friday WILL be another tough night.

mbc

Do you believe in Magic?

I’m sure it’s the blog title of thousands of Orlando bloggers out there, but I pose to you a question that is meant in all sincerity:

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?

Orlando center Dwight Howard reacts as the Lakers force overtime in their 101-96 loss to Los Angeles in game two of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

And as the song clearly states, “…well, I hope you do.”

I’m not completely focused on hockey right now.  Let us not forget that I have a huge passion for basketball.  Baseball’s a bit too long for me and well, I can only fantasize about Detroit having a somewhat decent pro-football team.

Sure…if the Pistons had made it to the NBA Finals this year, I probably would have stuck true to my allegiance.  And since hockey wasn’t on tonight, why not take a gander at these NBA Finals?  After all, it is one of my biggest sports passions AND it just so happens that there is good reason for me to watch this series unfold.

First, I would love to see any team other than my hometown Pistons take on the seasoned-like-Lawry’s Lakers.  There is WAAAAAAYYYYY too much drama surrounding that ball club.  I mean, c’mon: we get it.  You have all-stars on the team AND you happen to know how to play basketball.

Am I a Kobe hater?  Well, I’m not going to go buy his jersey, but I will say it felt pretty good in 2004 to watch Chauncey, Rip, Rasheed, Ben, and Tayshaun take down the Dynamic Duo in Kobe and Shaq that year.  Orlando has it in them with the powerhouses of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis.  They could get this thing done.  I mean, the Pistons did.

Secondly, before my grandfather passed away in October, he and my grandmother watched every Magic game on the Sunshine Network FAITHFULLY.  I called her last week to ask her about this series and without even flinching she told me she had full confidence in her team.  I just hope Paa-paw gets to see his boys win this ring.

Thirdly, it’s going to be a fight to the finish.  While Orlando is down 2-0 as of tonight, they sure put in a valiant effort.  Taking the game in to overtime is the kind of pressure they need to put on LA to make this thing happen.  Let’s try to stay away from playing any more than we have to, but that’s the intimidation they need to get that trophy.

So to answer my own question: yeah…I believe in Magic.

And I believe that it’s going to take 7 tries for them to put the nail in this one.

It just takes a little believing…

mbc