Thoughts for the Day, March 31, 2022: Two years and over 500 blogs later.

Orchid of the Day:  Leah, without her support, I would not be writing this blog two years later. 

It was two years ago today that I posted my first blog on this website. At the time I had no idea what I was doing or whether I would like it, but I was bored and I needed something to keep me occupied as we were in the early stages of what looked like a long and arduous pandemic. Here it is two years later, and I am enjoying it more than ever and still going strong.

My goals at the time, which have not changed, were to write about leadership (or lack thereof), life as I see it, and stuff that was important to me with a style that allowed my personality (or lack thereof) to show in my writing. Although my political views come out in my blog, I have tried to write about what was said or done and not attack the person. I have followed the principle that it is OK to disagree, but it is not OK to be disagreeable.

I decided early on to not market my blog or sign people up for the blog without their approval. I figured if it was any good, the blog would grow naturally.  I continue share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In.  Those who want it delivered directly to their email can subscribe by using the sign-up/subscribe button on the bottom of each day’s blog.  To date, 58 subscribers get the blog directly in the email.  I encourage people to share the blog as they see fit.

I have implemented changes based on suggestions of the readers and based on my own experience.  The additions of Quotes of the Day, Orchid and Onion of the Day, and Song/Video of the Day have evolved naturally but are not my original ideas.  They were copied from others. I am amazed at the number of suggestions I get for orchids, onions, and videos/songs. I have evolved with my editing as I am learning a few tricks of the trade.  I now draft all blogs on Microsoft Word, using the grammar and spelling editors available to me.  Thus, I make corrections on the draft before I copy and paste it to the blog website. 

One of the hardest things for me early on was wondering whether anyone was reading the blog or if anyone really cared what I thought. I found myself checking the website stats two or three times per week to see all the “clicks” and “views” the blog received.  After two years, I hardly ever check the website stats.  I only go to the website when I have been notified that a subscriber has made a comment, which like to read.  I have concluded the “stats” do not matter to me.  I am doing this as a labor of love and because I enjoy it.  However, I encourage readers to share their thoughts and comments with me.  It will help make the blog better.

One of the great benefits of writing the blog is that it forces me to stay current with events. When I started this blog, I didn’t subscribe to any publications.  Now I subscribe to the Detroit News and Free Press, MLive, the Bridge, the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, as well as the blogs of Nolan Finley of the Detroit News, Heather Cox Richardson (her blog is the gold standard), and most recently Bill Balenger, whose primary interest is state politics. I get very little information from TV or radio.  This gives me a broad perspective on issues.  I have also found that if my views are too far off center, I get feedback from my readers that helps “center” me. 

I rarely wake up in the morning knowing what I am going to write about that evening. The blog usually takes around two hours to write from beginning to end.  Finding the time to write has forced me to change my daily routine.  I now finish my daily workout by 8 AM.  I try not to cut into “Leah time” and “family time” because of my blog.  As a result, most blogs are written after Leah has settled in for her evening TV shows. I hear her shows while I am writing.  If I cannot find the time in a day; I just don’t write that day.  That is one of the beauties of writing your own blog.  

Early on, I limited how much I wrote about sports. I no longer avoid sports as a topic. I love sports for what they do to build character in the participants and how sports teach many of life’s lessons.  Sports has always been a big part of my life. As a sports official, a coach, a parent, and participant. I bring a perspective that most people do not have. I especially like sharing my perspective as a basketball official and umpire when appropriate. We see things in a much different way than the average fan.  See my Video of the Day.

God willing, I hope to continue the blog for another year. 

Even “Sparty” is not immune to drunk drivers.  I just saw this in the Detroit News.  Michigan State University’s famous bronze Sparty statue proved his mettle Thursday after a suspected drunken driver took his best shot. Officers with the university’s Police and Public Safety department were called about 4 a.m. Thursday to the location of the statue near Beal and Kalamazoo streets on campus for a report of a single-vehicle crash. They found the driver of the vehicle had fled, but they located a suspect later. The suspect was not injured. Officials said the man is not affiliated with the university. Police arrested the man, whom they suspected was highly intoxicated, and he was taken to Ingham County Jail. The police didn’t say if it was an undergrad, a graduate student, a professor, or a school administrator.

Pray for peace and tolerance. What are you doing to stop the violence?  Get vaccinated and get your booster.

Onion of the Day:  The drunk driver who tried to run over “Sparty”.  Obviously “Sparty” is not going to be wiped out by someone as challenged as a drunk driver.

Quote of the Day:  “Say it wasn’t you” Shaggy’s not so legal advice when you are caught red handed like the drunk driver who tried to run over “Sparty”.

Video of the Day:  Thanx to my good friend and fellow sports official, Dan Mausolf.