New Blog

New blog site- http://jeffspain.wordpress.com

Only one post up there that explains the change. This blog will be left up for the time being but hoping to shift everything over to the new page.

As always and hopefully for the future, thanks for reading...

Jeff vs. The Hurdle

The events that transpired this morning may just have given me the opening scene to the movie about my life. Here's how it would go in script form:

EXT. COLLEGE TRACK- DAY

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who is playing in the background of this scene. (If you don't know the song, here's the YouTube link you can play in the background as you read below)



Very early morning. Sun is bright at a low angle as it has recently risen. Temperature is brisk outside. Dew is still on the grass. Camera pans down to a group of 20 people spread out at the far end of the track. They're warming up for their upcoming boot camp exercise class.

WORKOUT TRAINER
Ok, let's get started

Individual/small group shots of the various people working out are shown. Most are in distress, having a look on their face of "Why is she doing this to us?" Some are troopers and fighting through the pain. Random comments and groans are thrown about the crowd.

JEFF (V.O. (voiceover))
I am not a morning person. Will never claim to be. Sure, at 6 AM, there have been moments of alertness over my 30 years of being on this earth. But after jumping jacks, running planks, bleacher climbs, and endless squats, alertness, clarity, and well, just about every ability related to my mind goes out the window.

JEFF is still not seen as the camera continues to pan through the increasing pain. The WORKOUT TRAINER demonstrates with ease the different exercises she wants the group to do. The WORKOUT TRAINER only counts in two sets of 10 as if she's enjoying the fact that once she gets to 10, she starts over again at 1. Also along the way, the WORKOUT TRAINER is very supportive giving good comments to the group and individuals.

JEFF (V.O.)
We've all been there. You're barely awake but there's still an enjoyment in the air. The sky holds some broken, sweeping clouds. Birds are chirping in the distance...

Camera pans to WORKOUT TRAINER in the middle of the voiceover.

WORKOUT TRAINER (in the background but still audible)
Sidesteps around the track!

WORKOUT TRAINER demonstrates three of four sidesteps

WORKOUT TRAINER (in the background)
Watch out for the hurdles!

The workout group staggers out onto the track. The camera starts a large pan into the group.

JEFF (Continuing V.O.)
... you know, one of those moments where you look up at the sky and think, 'This is a beautiful day."

The group continues their side steps. Some get ahead of others. The camera gets closer to the group. It slowly starts at the back and pans through different people's faces.

JEFF (V.O.)
You know, I probably shouldn't have put that much thought into the sky or the birds or the clouds. Especially at 6 in the morning. Should have paid more attention to reality...

Camera centers in on JEFF who doesn't look too winded, sidestepping along with ease.

Camera steps back to see JEFF suddenly sidestep onto the crossbar at the bottom end of a hurdle. He looks down, not fully aware of what's happening. His feet start to get caught up. With full force, his body starts to fall into the hurdle as it falls towards the ground.

Writer/Director note- make sure that the song is exactly at 7:46 for this next part.

Camera freezes on JEFF's face midway through his tumbling towards the earth. It's a face of surprise with signs of angst.

JEFF
Hi, my name is Jeff, and this is my life.

JEFF continues to not exactly know what is happening. His feet become tangled. His body twists towards the direction his force is moving. He puts his hands up to try and stop the fall. They do a fairly good job of absorbing the impact. But his face smacks flat into the track with his mouth literally becoming one with the track gravel. His head bounces off the track.

JEFF puts his hands underneath him and pushes himself off the ground. Other workout people start to come to help.

JEFF (V.O.)
One random event after another. I swear there have about 100 random incidents in my life where, if there were a home video camera on me, I'd win that $100,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos. You've just witness number 101.

JEFF continues to get up, checking for blood near his lip and nose. He also checks the fake front tooth he has to make sure it wasn't broken. It's fine. Some of the workout group assure him he's not bleeding.

JEFF (V.O)
The things that go through my head I also wish could be recorded. Take for example that the only thing I was thinking as my head ricocheted off the ground was, "Wow, that track is pretty spongy. I barely even felt that faceplant".

JEFF continues to dust the red gravel off his hands and knees. His face not only becomes red from embarrassment but also from the red gravel he picked up as makeup as he made out with the ground.

JEFF (smiling)
I'm ok. Just a little scratched up.

JEFF continues to sidestep on.

JEFF (V.O.)
Oh, and as you'll learn, I've had a ton of great jobs. From wearing a Tiger costume to docking boats and pumping out their, wait, knowing my life, this is a PG rated movie. I bring this up because I've just picked up another job, removing the hurdles from the track before workout class.

END OF SCENE

Much more editing that needs to happen but it's a first draft on what was an interesting morning:-)

Thanks for reading...

Chris and Stacy's Graduation

4 years of Law School. To me it seems like yesterday that the family was sitting on the Loyola Marymount lawn watching him graduate from undergrad. But here we are, 4 years later, and Chris is officially a lawyer.

But let's not forget the Kobe to his Shaq, the Joe Torre to his Derek Jeter, the Jim Halpern to his Michael Scott, the Oprah to his Rachel Ray... Congrats to Stacy for graduating too! Also, a big thank you for her help in supporting/coaching my brother through these past four years!

This year though,there was an added bonus. Each year, two students are chosen to give the student reflection speech at graduation, one from the day section, and the other from the night section. This year, Chris's speech was selected from the evening section to address the graduates.

No words really to say other than it was a hell of a speech. Video below with a brief glimpse of the after party with Chris and Stacy's friends and family.

End of Another Year in Residence Life

A big thank you to the students that I was able to work with this year in the apartment area. Special thanks to the Community Advocates who are graduate students living and working with me in the apartment area.

Each year in May, there is a large banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of the staff and to award those who have worked hard to connect and enhance student life. In addition to these awards and acknowledgments, there is also a "Res Life by the Numbers" in which funny and sentimental numbers are provided on the work all the staff did. This year myself and the great Matt Colaprete stepped up to the mike and did our best. Below is the video taken by Uche Okereke, one of the CAs in the apartment area.



Thanks again to the students and staff for a great year!

Brief List Of Things To Say Before I Die

I think a lot of us have those moments we remember when we've said the perfect thing at the perfect time. Whether it was helping out a friend or taking a stand on something, the right phrase can create a lasting memory.

Now, I'm not talking movie lines or pick-up lines (I'm good at one of those...), I talking about those statements that the world seems to just stop for. It's a moment when there's a dramatic pause where the person who hears it takes a brief moment to let it marinate in their mind before reacting.

Don't know when I might be able to break these out but I'm hoping that, at some point, I can say these without flinching or second guessing it's use:

• "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a plane to catch"- Who says that nowadays? Everything in our lives is so planned out that we can't just interrupt a meeting or event to say this line. Usually what gets said is, "Hey, can we make this quick, I've got to get somewhere." I picture saying this line after successfully handling a heated debate, putting on my suit jacket, and walking out the door. Problem is that my next line would probably be, "Now where the heck did I put my suitcase..."
  
• "No, that's ok. I'm going to pay cash"- I'm hoping in the future that I can walk onto a car lot, pick out a nice convertible, listen to the salesperson give their speeches about the features. Then, as they break into the financing discussion, I can politely put up my hand to stop him/her, dramatic beat as he/she thinks, "Who the heck does this guy think he is?", and I give them the line that will change their thinking to, "Jackpot".
  
• "You're going to need to push me out of this thing"- I was chatting the other day with someone who's been skydiving. I told him I could never do it. Kinda true. I don't think my legs could get up from the side of the plane, walk over to the door, and take the leap. I'd really have to have the tandem guy/girl carry me like a baby over to the door. Or maybe I can get knocked out somehow only to have them give me an epi-pen (not in the heart!) right as I'm standing in the door.
  
• "I think a pool would look nice back here"- My grandparents had a pool in their backyard. It was home to birthday parties, graduation parties, huge 4th of July parties, and epic battles involving a beach ball and someone jumping off the diving board (going to be the subject of a whole other blog post). Granted, we were only there for the fun times, so I imagine there was a lot of other times where it was a big frustration to them. But I have always wanted to be looking inside a new home, starring out from a back glass door, with my arm around my wife, and saying this line. Which would be even cooler if after we both looked at each other, we turn to the realtor, and in unison, say, "We'll take it!" (ok, it's cheesy, but it's my cheesy)
  
• "I have all the time in the world"- Just to make someone's day to know that they have my full attention no matter how long they need it.

There's probably more but this is what was in my head as I'm trying to get to sleep tonight. Let me know if you think of any other ones.

Thanks for reading....

Happy Birthday Mom!

"Because I said so..."

She'll probably kill me for starting off her birthday post with that statement but, Mom, give it a few minutes. It'll all come full circle in a second.

"Because I said so" seemed to be her favorite term when I was growing up. I vowed many times, as I was stomping up the stairs, that I would never, ever, use that phrase with my kids. Well, lo and behold, I actually broke it out today in dealing with a few students on campus. "Because I said so" was a mantra that I could never buy into. I kept thinking, "Who the heck does she think she is?" (STOMP) "Why does she think she's so smart?" (STOMP) I honestly just pounded my foot against the floor instinctively.

So, to the topic at hand, your birthday. I have some birthday thoughts using that favorite statement of yours...

• Because I said so, my mom is a darn good cook. Cookies, cakes, dinners, lunches, picnics, parties, etc. All egg free, nut free affairs. Covered many times before but, because I said so, she's a darn good cook.
• Because I said so, my mom is a darn good nurse. ER was one of those shows that connected with a lot of people. For me and my family, it gave us one more insight to my mom as she grew through her 20s and 30s. As an ER nurse herself, I remember turning to her to see her face during some of the episodes we would watch as kids. The stories she would tell about her friends, about the doctors, and about some of the patients were priceless. One story I remembered as I called her during the series finale was that she was involved in a historic surgery. Serving as a nurse during the first artificial heart transplant, she was in and around the room as medical history was unfolding.
  
• Because I said so, my mom is a good driver. I have no idea where we were coming back from but my friend Joe was in the car with my brother, my sister, my mom and I. I was ticked about something that day and Joe and Chris knew it. Seizing the opportunity, they didn't just sit around and let the opportunity pass by... nooooo... they grabbed it by the horns and rode it right on through. I then say something stupid and my mom starts in on me. As I sat there, very politely, hands crossed like a good little angel... yea who am I kidding, I was spewing out words with the arms flailing, being all sorts of dramatic in the middle seat of the van. But then those magic words came out of my mouth, "That's it. Pull the car over. I'm getting out and walking." A little setting background for you. Wynantskill is at the top of a hill, ney, a mountain, that begins in Troy where this is taking place. About 15 minutes away from my house, I blurt out these words not even thinking she'll stop the car. BBRRRRRRUUUUUTTTTTTT. Car stops. Without even a beat, her head turns around, and I think it was Joe who slides open the van door right on cue. My bluff had been called. My drama level went from "Melting Wicked Witch of the West" crazy to jaw dropping silence. To be honest, I think that was the turning point of realizing, this woman doesn't mess around. Sure there were some incidents after this but, I don't know if she ever knew the impact that driving moment of clarity had on me.
  
• Because I said so, my mom is a darn good mom. It's true in many ways that I wouldn't be here without her. When people ask about how I found out about my allergies, I tell them the story and include that on the way to the hospital, I had to be thrown in the air in order to get me to breathe (it's apparently a baby's instinctive reaction to take a breath at the top of the throw). If I had been born to any other person, would I still be here? Those late nights of breathing treatments where I dug my teeth into the mouth piece as I could barely breathe from asthma, angry that she was making me do those, she stuck by me and rubbed my back at 3am while saying, "Take deep breaths." Because I said so, I think I don't have major asthma and allergy issues because she was a darn good mom in staying strong through some tough times.

Because I said so, I hope she had a Happy Birthday today. Thanks Mom for all the support you not only give me but the entire family.

Love,
Jeffrey

Thanks for reading...

Ode to Seasonal Allergies

French horn bellows from the orchestra... Violin tuning... Flutes and clarinets play a run.... and the drum section does a wicked solo that amazes the crowd (ok, so maybe that last part would never happen...)

Tap, tap, tap from the conductor that gathers the attention of everyone. He/She raises their hand and the instruments come to a ready position.

The Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel begins to play. (For those who might not know this classic, here's a reminder)



Hello seasonal allergies my old friend
It seems that we have met again
The pollen outside is just starting
The grass that once was yellow is now greening
And the sunflowers that are slowing growing in the grass
Soon will change
To the bane of my existence

In restless weather, my nose alone
cannot avoid the yellow storm
Neath the buds of the treetops
I turned my car to supermarket
Where my body and my cart dashed right to Kleenex aisle
Split the family
That blocked my Puffs without lotion

And let's not forget my aching head
Ten pounds of pressure, maybe more
Nose spray doesn't do the trick
Nose spray kinda makes me sick
It's the ache that Tylenol just won't cure
twice a year
In the spring and in the fall

Oh and I hear about that Neti-Pot
People left and right talk about it a lot
fill the pot with warm salt water
then one end goes in which ever nostril
Let me stop you right there because that just isn't natural
I could drown
from this contraption that's really a torture device

And then people thought I was crying
actually no they called it sobbing
all that pollen made all these tears?
Itching them was not helping
and the doctor said "Don't itch them cause you'll only make them worse"
what's he know
about the bane of my existence

Thanks for reading...

It's Been a While

No excuses for not posting other than not much to report. Things continue to go well with the family. My Dad is back to work. My Mom is diligently solving the world's problems. Chris is graduating in a few weeks from law school (and the lucky punk not only played Trump National but also picked the winner of the Masters Tourney). And Amy is still having fun out in Boston. No complaints.

But one update to pass along. Starting in Junior High, acting became a big part of my life. I did a few shows a year both at whatever school I was attending and in community theater. As life has continued to change recently, I found myself getting back into somethings that I sacrificed.

One day I hopped on Craigslist and ended up in the actors wanted section. As I looked through, a lot of jobs were asking for a headshot. I'm still at the point, and probably will be for many many years to come, when I think to myself, "Hmmm... Maybe I should go back to a cheaper hobby?" Headshots are expensive. So for a while, I put the thought in the back of my head.

Fast forward about a month and I'm sitting in a club meeting for a group I advise. At the end, I randomly pipe up with, "Anyone know of someone who takes headshots?" The only thing heard in the room was the "whoosh" of everyone's head as they turn towards a woman in the room who laughs, dramatic beat, then says, "Um, yea. Me?". Come to find out, she needs someone to model for her for a class project. So we agree that she takes the headshots, I'll do what's needed for the pictures she needs.

Now, side story, yes, the face did turn red (about a 2 on the Red-Face-O-Meter) as I said, "But you know, there's just some stuff I won't do...". To which she turned red and said, "No! It's not that type of project." Laughter, laughter, laughter, and Jeff's face getting even redder (bump it up to a 6)...

Below are some of the outtakes from the headshots and from the pictures for her project. Thanks to Katie Gio for her awesome photo taking abilities.


Thanks for reading...

At my brother's request...

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the future top lawyers of America.

One of those days

Need to preface this post with the fact that I recognize there are many people out there that have had many bad days. There are friends out there right now who are in much worse places than me and this post is in no way, a comparison to some of the days you're having.

But today wasn't necessarily a bad day. It was a combination of the guy from Office Space who was just rolling with the punches, and a series of events that I cocked my head to the side and said to myself, "Huh... That didn't go as planned."

A few minor things happened in the morning but we're going to skip ahead to the new bane of my existence, ITunes one touch ordering. Most of the days, I admit, the ordering is completely by choice. I have no excuse for some of the music I've spent music on. Yes, your Honor, I did click the button. BUT, today, yes at work (I had a lunch meeting! I get make up time right?), I was looking through the catalogue for a long lost song (Eric Carmen, Make Me Lose Control, can't wait to hear what my brother Chris has to say about that one) and ended up in the movie section. Wanting more information about a movie, I clicked what I thought was the link to see more. Nope, all of a sudden, I see download start pop up. Huh... That's not right...WAIT! DAGNABIT!!! Cancel button! Cancel button! Hell any button! Yep, caps lock does nothing...

$14.99 later, I'm the proud owner of My Best Friend's Girl. Um, yea? But I smiled...

A few hours later, I walk into my boss's office and see some baked goods on her desk. I'm always up for finding a new tasty treat so I ask to take a look at the ingredients. What do you know? No eggs! No nuts! Jackpot! I turn to her, not in a cool, calm, or collected way. Nope, it was more of the way a five year old looks when their parent take the cookie out of the jar, places it on a napkin, and hands it down to them. Not exactly when it hits their hand, but that moment as the cookie is in the air. (Side story, can't wait to see this look on my own child's face... one day...) Quickly grabbing one of these tasty treats, I take a huge bite and think they're not half bad. Chatter back and forth soon followed that I have no recollection of because I was thinking, "Sweet! New treat to put on the list!". I left her office and finished. About five minutes later, I cocked my head to the side and thought, "Huh... This doesn't feel right." I could mentally picture the name of the item being crossed off the safe list as I could feel my mouth swelling and my teeth start to hurt. I go back to take another gander at the ingredients and they look safe. But sometimes that's just the thing. As best as people try, sometimes things get tossed around and something not Jeff friendly ends up in the wrong place.

This wasn't an epi-pen type of incident. There's a protocol for that if it were to happen at RIT.

But the Benedryl that I did take contributed to my next incident. I've started cooking more and tonight was a nice herb tilapia and salad. A few minutes after taking the Benedryl, I put the fish in. Well, the drugs take about 20 minutes to kick in and the fish was done in 15. Yep, didn't time this one out right. As I go to grab the pan, it slips and the fish falls to the bottom of the oven. Cue the freak out about the fire alarm going off. Thankfully it didn't but dinner was ruined. I put the pan, with the destroyed, unintentionally blackened fish, on top of the stove, cocked my head to the side, cracked a little smile, and thought, "Huh... That didn't go according to plan"

To be honest, I should have expected that last one. Same, exact thing happened the last time I tried to cook tilapia. I blame the drugs for clouding my memory. So maybe it did go according to plan? Third time will be the charm!

Thanks for reading...

My new desktop background

it's all about the lines in our lives

Didn't really see this theme until a few updates in but it can't be denied. We all cross some lines in our lives. Whether by tripping, pushed, or testing the other side, it's how we get back to the other side of the line that defines us. So with this, some updates:

• My dad is doing much better. The lines cut in his chest and arms are healing nicely. While a still a little sore, the whole family is happy to report that he's doing well.
  
• Just got back from a placement conference in my field. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh hosts an an annual placement exchange in which a number of schools come together and interview a large number of candidates seeking a position in residence life. Year after year, schools try to one-up each other with the different swag or advertising idea. RIT came up with a pretty neat idea involving a grade school right of passage. Ever do those origami fortune tellers? For example, sometimes after asking a question, you pick a color and for each letter you fold the paper a certain amount of times, then picking a number, you fold it that number again, revealing your final choice of number. VOILA! Future. Well, we changed it up a bit to make it RIT specific like "You'll find your career in RIT Res Life!" I might invent an origami paper folder because after a few times of trying to fold the darn things, our minds turned a little batty, and eventually, a throwdown was issued. It then turned into this:

• We probably have all been there whether through our parents yelling at us in the back seat saying, "Hey! Look it! I'm drawing a line down the center of this seat. You stay on this side, and you on the other. Don't cross it!". Or it's the awkward knees or elbows touching where you pull away quickly once you realize they're touching. But on an airplane, there's only so much room to play nice. In addition, they build two separate seats. There's already a line built into the row! And you'd think people would have the sense not to cross it. Oh no. On this recent plane trip, it happened twice. First time, I think the guy only gave me half a seat. Literally, Mister I'm going to spread my legs like I'm doing a ski jump and cross my arms like posing in a music video, decided to ignore the line. Then, his half brother sat next to me on the way back trying to emulate the ski jump (He skipped the video). Ever once in a while there would be a shift of position and I'd quickly reclaim some space. It was an ongoing battle that I didn't do so well in.
  
• This brings up another airline traveling question. Are you the type of person to rush onto a plane once they start boarding? Me, I'm thinking, "Why rush on there only too sit for another 20 minutes while I wait for everyone else?" Maybe they're trying to stake their claim in the seat space war? I like the lobby and the 20 minutes of fresh air and open space I'm going to get. Maybe it's just me?
  
• Love is like hopscotch. You get some friends together and draw out the pattern of lines you want to go with to start, always having a place for two feet to land somewhere along the way. You throw the pebble and jump through course skipping the square where you landed the pebble. I thought I was at the end of my course having done the whole one foot, two foot thing. But if you're playing in my game, you miss some steps, there's a crack in the pavement you trip on, you miss the square you really want, and you've always got to watch out for the school bully who's there clapping with a big smile on their face only to knock you down when right as you think you've reached the end. So here's what I've decided, I've worried for too damn long about the pebble, the crowd, the cracks, heck, even the rules. I'll draw the board how I want it to start. And when I get to the two feet, I'll turn, grab my partner, break the chalk in half, and we'll go the rest of the way together. Our rules. Our game. Now where did I put the chalk...

Thanks for reading.

The Day After Valentine's Day

Tonight, driving back from Albany, I saw two shooting stars, and subsequently had two wishes. The first one had to do with hoping for a successful recovery for my dad (he's continuing to get better. Some hiccups along the way thanks to an infection and changes in medicine but long term looks good). The second had to do with love. And with it being so close to Valentine's Day, thoughts of the past can't help but enter my mind. True, a few did revolve around the obvious but most centered on that today is the anniversary of my Grandma Spain's passing away.

My Grandma was a talented and amazing person who continues to impact my life. Her English teacher background got me through high school. Every paper, no matter what the class, was not handed in unless it was driven or walked up to their house and reviewed. Upon arrival, we would sit down at the living room couch, the coffee table's drawer would open, and out came the pencils. Soon after, my grandfather would drop off a Pepsi and water for us to drink.

Her influence extends beyond the grammar as she was also into music and, my favorite, baking. While I would never blame her for my pudgier years (or life), she did know how to make a mean pie or cookie. And I knew how to make a mean meal (yes, I did not say snack) out of them. Even when there might have been something she made that I was allergic to, there would always be a side treat of pie crust sticks that were made right before the egg or nuts went in. My mom and her would collaborate and share ideas to always be part of a major meal or event at their house.

Any time I think of her though, the one thing that pops into my mind is the way she would yell my name when I walked though their door over the past couple of years. Few people call me Jeffrey but she did it with a few extra "J"s. It's a soundbite that will stick in my mental IPod for the rest of my life.

It must be mentioned and acknowledged that without her influence, who knows what this blog might look like. Structure, ethic, and ideas came from many members of my family. The confidence came from her. That confidence to put pen to paper. That confidence to type these words. But most of all that confidence to explore an idea and constrain it to sensible amount of statements the can get the point across in a honest and effective way.

Three years ago, on Valentine's Day, I received a card in the mail that on the front had a couple cute drawings. One is of a bear, with a halo, dancing on a cloud. The other is of that same bear sitting on the cloud holding a heart. Now, while I do believe in some out-there things, I don't believe that she's dancing with bears in heaven. But I do believe that she's up there dancing, singing, heck even baking, and making others smile.

And I do believe that she's been holding onto a few hearts for the past couple of years. But mine is ok to put down right now. There's a few others both in the family and outside of it that could use a little holding right now. Mine's in a good place. Just don't let it get too far away.

I saw two shooting stars tonight. And while it may have been space debris, what if it wasn't? Was if it was a little nudge? What if it was a "JJJJeffrey"? What if it did happen while I was driving through a town she used to tell me about all the time? What if it did happen on the anniversary of when she passed away? What if it did happen in a part of the sky that I just so happened to be looking at twice? What if she did go up to God and say, "Hey, could I borrow these for a minute?" Things happen all the time that make you go, "Would you get a load of that?" and I'm ok with thinking this was just a little sign that she's still around.

Thanks for reading...

25 Random Things

Recently, a few friends on facebook have been making a list of 25 random things about themselves. After you create this list, you supposed to link it to 25 other people and it then becomes the modern day chain letter.

To just pick 25 people would be tough.

Now let's be honest, this whole blog is full of random things about me. This will be the 95th post to this blog so I'm guessing there's already a ton of random things you've learned about me and my family.

Without any more fanfare or explanation, here's my list:

1. My brother and I slept in bunk beds. I was on the bottom bunk.
   
2. I got so mad at my parents one time that I put my heel through the wall (I was laying on my side). I kept it covered for three years with a wall calendar. It was one of those magic eye calendars and my parents and family just thought that I really liked that particular month's picture.
3. During nights I can't go to sleep, I turn on AM talk radio. Usually the show on at the time is Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell or George Noory. They talk about all sorts of strange topics including ghosts, aliens. Problem is that sometimes the topics are so "out there" that they only keep me up longer.
   
4. I've only called into one radio show. I had to be 12 or 13 and my parents had some friends over for the evening with talk radio on in background. The early evening guy on 810 WGY was named Don Weeks and the topic got onto the big snowstorm we were getting that night. My dad calls me into the room and says that I need to go outside and start shoveling. "Frustrated" at this because there was only 2 of 10 or 12 inches on the ground, I picked up the phone and called the show. I told the screener that I was "frustrated" that my dad was going to make me go out when the storm wasn't even over yet. I think I ended up at the top of the list because I got right on the air. I tell him my story and, thinking he's with me in my battle, he tells me to put my dad on the phone. Thanks to the delay, they hadn't heard me on the radio until I hand my dad the phone and say with a big smile, "He wants to talk to you..." They start chatting and all of sudden, I hear my dad start talking as if Don Weeks is taking his side! Let's just say I had my head down in disappointment and my butt out the door before the delay caught up.
   
5. I've got a few nicknames, "Spainer", "Dockmaster, "Holcomb", and "Scooter"
6. Not a fan of coffee.
7. I miss NYC everyday.
8. I'd like to visit every baseball ballpark before I get too old to travel
9. The only bone I've ever broken is my nose. Actually done it twice thanks to an unfortunate biking accident and an unfortunate collision with another person's face before a basketball game. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, an injury can occur before a basketball game when the teams are warming up. Thanks to two people from opposite teams not watching where they're going, I got knocked out, a concussion, and a broken nose.
   
10. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
11. The distance in age between my brother, sister, and I is the same (down to the month) between my dad, his brother, and his sister.
    
12. I've never been arrested, however a cop one time picked up my bike over his head and tossed it about 10 feet. I was 9 or 10.
13. At a two week summer camp, I won a dancing contest and a gold medal in basketball.
    
14. I'd like to have more time to get back into acting. I've played different characters ranging from King of a Kingdom to the wearer of the One Ring, from a bell boy to a husband, and from a guy who gives a speech to an apple to a James Bond wanna-be.
15. Most of my fears boil down to the question, "What is going on behind the closed door?"
16. I only know one magic trick. It's a card trick that I have no problem passing on the secret tactic of how it's done.
17. There are times that I wish I told stories out loud as well as people tell me I write them.
    
18. I teeter between wanting to have a family as big as a baseball team or as big as a curling team (shame on you if you don't know what curling is...).
19. Favorite food is a hot corned beef sandwich with american cheese on white bread. Now, this corned beef has to be fresh (the stuff at the Wegmans deli counter is NOT fresh nor is it really corned beef). But eating those will probably be few and far between in the future.
    
20. I used to play A LOT of video games. So much so that I was a beta tester for two games. I'm also a recovering World of Warcraft player. If I could break free, so can you! Now interests have shifted more to music and writing.
21. I am an awkward hugger in public but I'm a huge hugger at heart.
    
22. I believe in a heaven and hell. I also believe that the people who've passed on still have a connection to the world we live in. The world works in mysterious ways and it has a funny way of showing it.
    
23. Equality for all. It shouldn't have taken this much time in our world to truly come to understand and apply that statement for all.
    
24. I do everything right handed except swing a golf club and baseball bat. My dad is the exact opposite.
    
25. I try very hard at everything I do. Sometimes though, it's not good enough. It takes "two to tango" in a lot things in life. But I don't mind the dance. I'm pretty good at it actually. Don't usually step on toes and there's a nice dip towards the end. But I'm not going to give away any more of my dance secrets...

Thanks for reading. More to come...

Adventures in Vermont

First off, big kudos to the students who planned the OCASA (Off Campus and Apartment Student Association) ski trip this year and thank you for letting this guy tag along. It was definitely an adventure surrounded by bad hair, silence, snoring, a google maps FAIL, and thinking that Verizon guy is full of crap.

- Those of you who ski or have been to a ski lodge will know what I'm talking about. But anyone can feel free to tell me their thoughts on the following statement:

There is no such thing as a bad hair day on a ski mountain.

It's true. You can walk into a ski lodge, whip your ski hat off, have the worst hat hair in the entire world, and no one will look at you any differently for it. I walked in to get lunch the first day and did my usual double take as my hand went for my hat. But then, I took a look around, and it was like people were saying to me, "Go ahead! Let it run free! Let it breathe!" I was amongst bad hair friends and it felt good.

Problem is that you get comfortable with this feeling and on the way home, walk into a Subway for a quick lunch, stand in line next to a cute girl, do the cordial Jeff Spain smile, get one in return, and whip the hat off. She then turns (and I really wish I was kidding), looks toward the hair, and then giggles. That's right, giggled. I'd have to say it was a six out of seven on the Jeff Spain red face meter.

- That dude with the glasses from Verizon along with the "network" apparently have never been skiing at Smuggler's Notch in VT. Wonder what would happen if, in that guy's walk around the world he suddenly happens upon Smuggler's Notch. What would he do? No one would answer his "Can you hear me now?" Would those commercials finally stop? I guess I picture him going, "Well, I guess I'll just wait here then..."

What it comes down to is that it was weird to be without cell phone service for three days. You don't realize how much you rely on it until it's gone.

- Nowadays, we find directions by heading to Mapquest or Google Maps. Maybe even you've got your own GPS unit in your car. It gives you fairly accurate directions with the street names usually being correct but sometimes the distances are a little off. To set the stage for this part of the story, you need to know two things,

1. The map of what I'm looking at:
2. The directions so far are fairly correct and have brought me to Point A, Stowe, VT, about one mile away from Smuggler's Notch.

Route 108 is a small two lane road that drives up into the Vermont mountains and connects the two ski resorts. So I start driving up and come upon Stowe Ski Resort, then I hit a large snow bank. Literally, the road ends into a large snow bank. There's a sign that says "Road Ends Here" so I'm thinking that I've reached Point B on the map but maybe the resort got bought out recently. I park the car, take a look around, and notice that the "hotel" is under construction. It's getting dark and there's only 3 or 4 cars in the parking lot. Not seeing a soul around, I get back into my car, start driving back towards the town because I'm playing the Find A Cell Signal game, and call Smugglers Notch. A very nice woman answers the phone and the conversation goes something like this:

Me: Hi. Um, I think I'm at your resort but I don't know where to go.

Nice Woman: Oh, well just follow the signs to our check in desk.

Me: Don't really see any signs. All I see is construction.

Nice Woman: Did you almost run into a snowbank?

(Now two thoughts go through my mind, either they're sitting in some high perch getting a laugh out of all the people who drive towards the snowbank only to pause for a few seconds as if it's going to magically move, then turn around, OR, something is not right here.)

Me: Ha ha. Yea I did. Did you all see that or something? (Yep, went with option one)

Nice Woman: Oh no honey, you're on the wrong side of the mountain. Our place is on the other side. You need to....

At that point, my mind completely shifts to frustration. She could be telling me the winning lottery numbers and I wouldn't have remembered them. I had just experienced my first

See, if you look closer at the map Point B is in the completely wrong place. It should be up where the 108 symbol is. Oh, and the other thing it FAILS TO MENTION, during the winter, the space between the two 108 symbols doesn't get plowed. If you want to get to the other side of the mountain, you have to drive, oh, FORTY FIVE minutes out of your way. Gee thanks Google Maps. If I had cell phone service by the time I calmed down, I would have called.

Overall I had a blast on the trip! Thanks again to OCASA.

Thanks too for reading:-)

Happy Birthday Amy!

She's 24.  I just can't believe how much time flies...

Amy turned 24 today.

She's a working professional.

She's got her own apartment in Boston.  

And it was only a short time ago when...

• Amy probably came into this world dancing.  The singing part she's still working on (and we'll talk about that in a second) but dancing has been a huge part of her life.  In turn, that meant her brothers came out to all the performances.  Sure, we probably put up a fit but, in all honesty, at the end of the show, during the big finale, we were on our feet clapping and hooting pretty darn loud for her.
• Siblings weekend was always a blast with Amy at Canisius.  She was always a magnetic force at those things.  It was amazing after she left the amount of people who would come up and say, "Your sister is awesome." 

Those Canisius days also transition nicely into one of the things I think I'm most proud of her for doing.  When she first started looking at colleges, Canisius suddenly popped up on the list and after driving through a blinding snowstorm on the Thruway, she was able to take an official tour and talk with staff from Admissions.  After deciding that it was the place for her, questions started to pop up about if she would only be known as "Jeff Spain's sister".  But that never became the case.  From day one, she stepped on that campus and put her own mark there to the point that when I go back and visit, I'm sometimes referred to as "Amy Spain's brother".  She took that four years and made damn sure to get the most out of them.  

So to Amy, much love and wishes for many more birthdays, brews, trivia nights, and random bear sightings. 

A few more random things..

• If you've got a second while reading this, send a positive thought my dad's way to get better.  Thanks.
• One of things I should have said that I am not thankful for are spoiler sites.  There are a few sites out there that basically will tell you everything coming up in a tv show and a few years ago, Jeffrey got a little click happy and ended up ruining the big surprise at the end of Lost. This year though, I'm staying strong and don't know anything about this year's season premiere.  
• So I've basically discovered that I make other people look good at basketball.  We're playing a few days ago and one of my coworkers basically put in 4 three pointers, while my hand was practically in his face.  After I stop guarding him, he goes cold.  I go back, boom, two more.  Then some other people get into the game and, well, they turn into Michael Jordan.  Crazy, spastic shots dropping like a video game.  
• One of the challenges of having owning a Toyota Corolla is that it also looks like a Honda Civic, Ford Focus, VW Jetta, and other small cars.  Throw in the popular grey color and chances are in a parking lot, you'll see a few similar looking cars.  Well this poses a problem when your walking and not paying attention.  I have, over the past couple of weeks, walked towards my car, hit the unlock button on my key, heard the "beep beep", then put my hand on the door handled, pulled, yet at the same time thought, this doesn't feel right.  Suddenly coming back to reality I realize what is happening.  I'm trying to get into someone else's car.  Thankfully the door has never opened and no one has ever seen it (I don't think) but as soon as it happens, I do the quick look around and mouth "sorry" to the world.  
• Also speaking of cars, to the car that pulled up next to me the other day while I was blasting and singing at the top of my lungs, "Let My Love Open the Door" by Pete Townsend, to the same car that continued to drive along side me while it continued into "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne, to the same car full of students from RIT who witnessed someone getting way too into the music, you're welcome.  Glad I could put a smile on your faces.  Thank you for not laughing too hard.  Thank you for the round of applause.  And thank you for not thinking I was choking because of my face turning a deep shade of red. 

Other Updates

Some other updates:

• A big Thank You to Nick and Melissa Ippolito for finding the Swedish Fish Aqualife candies that DO include the grape flavor!  Although there were only 5 or 6 in the package of 50, it brought back good memories and created a darn good brand new one.
• Any dream interpreters out there?  I know there are, heck some of you even took that dream interpretation class that was our Religious Ed 101 class at Canisius.  Problem is that I've got no idea where to go with these ones:

1. Tree feel on my house in Wynantskill.  I think it's from my last trip home in which I helped clear some of the tree debris from the recent ice storm.  However, thanks to the ice, didn't quite make it up on the roof but my mom and I did have a field day with a branch that didn't quite make a clean break.  We threw everything at it.  Even tried getting up on a ladder but it wasn't coming down.  But for some reason, I'm thinking there's a deeper meaning to this one...
2. I keep having a dream about attending my high school reunion.  Each time it's in a different place.  Some I recognize, others are weird, and some are just impossible.  
3. Little confession, I used to use my graphic calculator to store formulas or other items I could use for a math test that I was "supposed to memorize".  So maybe karma is paying me back with my dreams about becoming a math teacher, giving my students a final, then taking all their calculators away.  Then all of a sudden, parents rush through the doors and I wake up.  No idea..
   

• Some pics from the Christmas holiday:

Thanks for reading:-)  Hope your New Year is starting off pretty darn good.

Another On Ice Adventure

Again, love my job.  You never know what might pop up.  Say, for example, putting on a hockey helmet, taping paper cut out dog ears to it, grabbing a few other Res Lifers, and becoming a human dog sled team.  Oh yes, I give you, Human Dog Sled Racing:

(Pictures courtesy of, at her request, Felissa Ippolito)

2100 people saw this live.  I'm the "dog" running behind the sled attempting both to keep up and make sure the sled doesn't go into the wall.  

As you might remember, the last time I was out on the ice, this happened:

Luckily, I stayed on my feet:-)  However, the next night, the T-Shirt cannon came back out and what happened?  The guy operating it tripped over the goal they had moved for the Zamboni (spelled correctly on the first darn try!) and while the crowd gave a big laugh, I did the "Awww, hell" and knew exactly what was going through his head, "Protect the $5,000 t-shirt gun".

Congrats!

So a more appropriate post to congratulate a good friend who got engaged.  

To Joe and Jennifer, I wish you many days of happiness, smiles, and days of making each other laugh. 

Now if only I could find a good picture...

One more thing I'm thankful for...

Thankful- The Military 

Thanks to the men and women in our nation and oversees who put thier lives on the line everyday to protect everything from your right to drive down the street to my right to write this blog.  

This especially goes out to the old friends, students, and cousin I know serving in the armed forces.   

A big thank you for all that you do.