Hard Fouls and Fair Play

The end of the game between the Heels and the Woofies got ugly. There was no point to it and this type of thing should be stopped. This is twice this year that a Heel has been hacked at the end of a game by a team that is way behind. I don't mind playing hard. I myself played physically but to try and take a player down is uncalled for. The play against KY cost us Tyler Zeller and may cost us a Championship, when all is said and done. The play today just cost me my respect for McCauley (sp) and Lowe. Roy reacted as he should but everyone else seemed to think the woofies were the injured party.

If you don't want the Heels to try and score, hold the ball at the end of the game and run out the clock. If you want to play ball, play and take your medicine. The next time you "Hack a Heel", he may not take it so well.

I have tried to think of a single play when a Heel was called for a flagrant foul. There may be one and I am having selective memory loss but I can't recall any. Basketball should be a game of fluidity, not the hack and hold it has degenerated into. Go Heels, but don't go too hard, Henderthug is out there, just waiting to once again pounce and hack a heel

Where is the stimulus

I read a good article today on the current state of the economy. It was very concise and accurate about how we got to where we are, the cause and the effect. And finally how do we get out.

It ended by saying that a great deal depends on the POTUS and how he reacts during this very critical early part of this term. He must be decisive, positive and willing to make deals. If there is the slightest sense that he doesn't believe in what he is trying to do, we are in really deep s***.

I agree with this but also think that it is up to us to take responsibility for our actions and not expect to be bailed out. Even at 10% unemployment, 90% of us are working. Lets look for ways to help. We also need to be responsible and live within our means. We need to save, we need to teach our children to be responsible and once again we need to look for ways to help. I am not sure what my way will be. I already spend most of my waking hours trying to recruit new industry and help exiting companies survive. I will make a determination in the near term and share it here. I hope each of you will do the same. Lets pick up our friends and neighbors and show the rest of the world that Americans aren't the spoiled selfish lot they think we are!

Who's the guy on the right

A friend sent me this from a trip several years ago. This is Big John at the Anaheim Airport. I can't think about him, without thinking of my dad or the fact we named our son after one of his characters in a movie, "Big Jake". It is odd that he was so conservative and I am just the opposite and I love his movies so much.

It has been a long dry spell on the blog. For the four or five folks that read it, Sorry! I have been recuperating from surgery and have gone back to work. By the time I get home I am exhausted.

Since we have our new POTUS in the Whitehouse and the theme is change, I thought that change should be my theme as well. I have taken a new position as Economic Director in Stokes County, NC. Stokes is a county located between Forsyth County and the VA border. It has rugged beauty and a lot of potential. I have my work cut out for me but I love a challenge. Starting with ED 101 work, new web site, business directory and business visits. I hope I am up to it. The people seem really great and I can't wait to get started.

On the other hand, I will miss working with my board, my NCIC friends and the other folks from the area. I will still see them but not as often. We have had some good times, great successes but to move up, I must move on. If you aren't going forward, you are backing up. Wish me luck!

Now comes the tough part

I am two weeks past surgery and now the tough part starts. The re-hab and boredom that follows a surgery of this type. For someone who is used to being on the go or asleep, the inactivity is tough. It is also frustrating to do exercises that all my life would have been very simple. It now becomes a grind and staying focused to get through it.

On the positive side, my son gets home from college this evening. I don't know if his football career is over but he is finished with Chowan. He told his mom the AD spoke to him on campus as he was preparing to leave and told him that he would be glad to help in any way possible. It is just a shame that he wasn't able to bring in a football coach that could do the job.

Basketball is full speed ahead. The Heels should be at full strength after Christmas and I hope they reach their potential. Their potential spells National Championship number 6 (I count 1924) Go Heels!

Caution: Not for weak stomachs

This is what a hip looks like 1 week post surgery. It actually looks worse than it feels and the tape burns on the right have been very sore.

I continue to do my therapy and some of the exercises are very uncomfortable. From all accounts I am through the worst parts and should start to improve rapidly.

I have had excellent care from my caregivers, from my surgeon all the way to the folks in physical therapy. Thanks to everyone that had a part in this, including all the staff that I had contact with at Caldwell Memorial.

Recuperation

Here I am one week post hip surgery and so far so good. I think I am progressing well compared to the average patient but then I am twenty years younger than they are so I should be.

My wife went back to work today to get some rest. I am sure it was harder taking care of me than doing her normal job. She really doesn't like emptying my urinal (can't say I blame her) or giving me a shot. That is another story.

These are really neat to help from developing blood clots, there are a series of 10 shots that are given in the abdomen. This gives me a new appreciation of what diabetics go through and I don't envy them. I plan to keep losing weight and watching my diet to help insure this doesn't happen.

I hope to have some shots of the bruising on my left thigh later in the week. It is very impressive and should be recorded for posterity (not of posterity however)

A little scary

It seems that we spend our lives waiting for the next thing and tomorrow the next thing is having my hip replaced. I know that this happens hundreds of thousand times a year but not to me. I am a little nervous and wish I had the early surgery so I would have less time to wait.

The after part is a little tricky as well. It is supposed to take the pain away from walking but how long will it take to recover and will it limit my activities. I will make the best of it, work hard and maybe like Bo Jackson, come back to continue my pro career.

Our new commissioners were sworn in tonight and I hope for the best. They have a long and difficult road in front of them as do all our elected officials. May their judgement be good and their motives pure.

That's all til after the surgery, wish me luck