DJ Vs Balloon I

It's Not The Knockdown That Defines Us

On September 30th I will be participating in a 5k race called "Olivia's 5k Wish Run and Walk", it is the second year of the event . This event will celebrate the life of Olivia Coia who was loved by so many and lost her battle with Breast Cancer in 2010.  I did not know Olivia, but I wish I did, from what I I have learned about her she was an amazing woman who touched the lives of many people and even though she is no longer with us, she is continuing to touch and inspiring people like me in which whom she has never met.

The Start of Last Years Olivia's 5k Wish Run and Walk

The purpose of this entry is not to raise money for the event, I made a promise that I will only try to hit people up for their donations once a year and I did that already with this years Laurel Run. However if you do want to donate or participate please visit their website for information. The purpose is to talk about David , Olivia's father.

I received a friend request on Facebook about a year ago from Mr. Coia and I honestly had to ask my wife who he was. My wife , who knew him told me the story about Olivia and about the 5k race that is in her honor . I decided  to accept the friend him, and I am glad I did. Dave is a true example of someone who got knocked down and no one would have blamed him if he did not get back up, but he did , and his reasons for moving forward will inspire you . Here is a part of an article that appeared in "The Observer " a local newspaper from Dunkirk,N.Y. on September 16,2012.

"Before she died, Olivia made her father promise to carry out her last wish.

"If I don't make it," she said, "then I have a wish. If you could, have a run in my name. The money can be raised somehow to help with research for triple negative breast cancer and to make sure my kids (her students) are somehow taken care of with a scholarship."

David is fulfilling his daughter's wish. On Sunday, Sept. 30, the second annual Olivia's 5K Wish Run will take place at 11 a.m. at Evangola State Park. Proceeds will benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass., (through Dr. Eric P. Winer) and the Olivia Coia Memorial Scholarship Fund."

You can read the entire article by clicking here

Dave has also started running himself, and his times in the 5k's that he has participated in have only gotten faster. He says that his daughter is with him and I am sure she is. Olivia was a marathon runner . I receive a ton of motivation from Mr. Coia. There has been several times after a bad run or race that I am feeling not so good about myself and my performance . Then almost like clock work there is a post from David on Facebook that makes me feel better and makes me get back out there and give it my all.

He is a true example of someone who did not let the knock down define him , what is defining him is the way he is getting back up. 

A Line from  the Movie "Rocky Balboa"

My Thoughts on Art Modell's Passing

I heard the news this morning of former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell passing and I have to admit this bothered me a little bit and I am not sure the reasons why, for this is the man that ripped my heart out when he moved the football team out of Cleveland formerly known as the Browns and relocated them to Baltimore and named them the Ravens. If you knew me at the time, you knew how upset that that made me, being a die hard Browns fan. However, the reaction to Modell's death hit me a lot harder than I would have thought.

I never wished him bodily harm like many other Browns fans, I only wished that his team would have failure and that I could laugh at him and the Ravens fans for the rest of my life as my Browns( after they returned in 1999) would rack up many championships and Modell's Ravens would be the laughing stock of the NFL

Just in case you have not paid attention, my wish has not come true...

Today, it struck me that he was a man , who made some people really angry , but he was also a man that was a father, a son, a friend and so on. People cared about this man whom I have listed on several polls as the most hated man in Cleveland sports. (Yes even above LeBron James). He has even brought me happiness for a good part of my life as well and I am thankful for that.

So what I am trying to say that even though I can not forget what he did , I do wish that Art Modell rests in Peace .

Scanning My Head On This Rainy Tuesday Morning

As I look out my window and see the rain clouds from what used to be Hurricane Issac coming in , I am also listening to Mumford & Sons , so many thoughts are entering my head and  I want to bring them to you in no particular order:

You can't gripe unless you vote

• I have made a conscience effort to try not to post anything political in the past few weeks on my Blog, Facebook page or Twitter . I guess I have come to the realization that no matter what I post , it will not change the mind of Obama supporters, just as anything posted by Obama supporters will not change my mind. There is such a stark difference between the two candidates and the direction that they want to take the country , we all have a choice to make on the first Tuesday in November . When that choice is made then we have to live with it and hope that we are either wrong or right.

Admit it ..we have all done this

• Why did God give us Nose hairs or for that matter Ear Hair ? Is this punishment from the original sin ? What is the purpose of  having hair in these areas? I looked up nose hair and here is a link to the answer, I guess it is somewhat beneficial. Then why is there ear hair?I guess there is an answer for that too

My Uncle Denzil's grave-site

• My wife has been doing researching our family tree and I have to admit that I am fascinated in everything that she is finding . Especially about my Father's side of my family. My Dad passed away this past February , and it is hitting me that I don't really know too much about his side of the family . I wish that I would have asked him more about his family when he was alive, but finding out more about him in some way is bringing me closer to him now.My sister also just recently visited where my dad and I know it was an emotional trip for her. She took this picture of my Uncle Denzil's  grave site, which is located right next to my grandfather's (my Dad's Dad). I have to say that even though I was always proud to be my father's son, that pride grows with every piece of new information that we learn.

• OK fellow Cleveland Browns fans, it looks like we are going to have yet another rough year. On our 53 man roster we have more than half of our players are either in their 1st or 2nd year. I know that the plan is to build a team that will have continued success over the years , so we have to take our lumps now. I admire that the current leadership is sticking to the plan of building through the draft and hopefully this will result in long term success down the road, but as a Browns fan, I would like to see some progress this year. A four to five win season is not what I call progress.Please watch the video I inserted , it sums it up how we feel.

I guess that is it for today, if there is ever anything you would want my opinion on let me know by emailing me  or by writing in a comment below. Have a great day!