Author: mikeljohnston1 (Page 39 of 267)
The excitement of Friday just isn’t what it used to be. I’m not about to kick off an exciting weekend or celebrate the end of a grueling work week. Instead, I reflect on an uneventful week of doctor appointments, 5k runs, granddaughter sitting, drug store visits, a haircut, chair yoga, birthday calls, reading, the movie “Jesus Revolution,” and more of several TV series, Lost, 1923, Gold Rush, Pawn Stars, and Curse of Oak Island. Watching the I.U. basketball loss was another 2 hours of wasted time. My wife was much busier, as usual, with bridge club, aqua-fit, dog park visits, tap class, cooking, and a book signing event. With this busy retirement schedule, upcoming travel expenses, and company in town we haven’t had a true ‘Date Night’ in several weeks. It’s nice to stay close to home, but that will soon change.
I organized an afternoon at the ballpark a week from Monday with some neighbors, taking advantage of our proximity to the Atlanta Braves Spring Training facility. Next week we’ll be in Vegas and Orlando, dealing with traffic, flights, hotels, shuttles, reservations, and lines – all my favorite travel hassles. We’re not even really going anywhere new. Friends and family will be the biggest attraction. When we get back in a week, more ‘framily’ are coming to visit, and we’ll begin preparations for our long-awaited trip to Egypt.
This Egyptian cruise has been postponed and rescheduled multiple times over the last three years. Four weeks away is the closest we’ve come to actually getting there with Covid, safety issues, and war interfering with our plans. I continue to observe the horror stories of my friends with airline cancellations, strikes, shutdowns, river level concerns, and lack of personnel taking the fun out of world travel. I don’t know what to expect as our departure date gets closer and closer. Is it even worth getting excited?
We have been exceptionally fortunate dealing with a lifetime of constant travel. There have been few serious setbacks. We’re in fact lucky that plans changed on our trip to Phoenix. My wife and I could currently be dealing with flight delays due to snow along our once planned route into Mexico and Tucson. Friends just spent a night in the Phoenix airport. We expect rare, cool temperatures in Vegas. Maybe the slots will be hot! Anyway, just as I was unprepared to write this post – just wingin’it – we’ll be just wingin’ it on our quest of being jackpot winners!
It was suggested by my son that I add a chapter about my dating experiences to my Storyworth book that the family bought me for Christmas:
I did not date much in high school due to my timid, unaggressive nature. As one of the youngest in my class, I was struggling with the nickname “Smiley,” couldn’t see past my big ears, acted immature, and was admittedly a mama’s boy. In retrospect, I missed some signs from the girls that I went to school with and instead spent most of my time dating a freshman from rival Concord High School that my good friend Grant and his steady girlfriend Keven put together for me. Her name was Debi, a skinny little thing with dark, stiff, puffy hair that was fashionable at the time. Her claim to fame was marching in the Rose Bowl as a band member, but I can’t remember what instrument she played. Although we were together for nearly my entire sophomore year, I never took her to a prom or dance at either school. My junior year, it took the support of a roomful of equally shy classmates and Mrs. Pippenger’s encouragement to finally convince me to make the phone call to Sue Scott. Eleanor Pippenger, my good friend Dennis’ mother, chaperoned overnight parties in the basement of her home where all of us “cool” guys would gather. She was our weekend mother, guidance counselor, advisor, Italian cook, confidant, and only female friend through those tough high school years. Both Eleanor and Dennis have since passed.
Sue was the daughter of a woman that worked with my dad at Miles Laboratories, although I don’t recall any suggestion on his part to ask her out. They were members of our First Presbyterian Church, and she was in my science and math classes, a much more serious and better student than I ever was to be. In fact, I think she ultimately became the Valedictorian of our class of over 1000 students. All I remember about our prom date was the after-party event at the Lake Michigan dunes, an informal class tradition. While the other girls were in their bikinis, working on tans, and playing volleyball or other interactive games, she was studying for a Chemistry exam. There was just no spark between us, as if I would have known what that was or what to do with it. It was our first and only date, filled with awkwardness and not too many things in common, despite my great intelligence and sense of humor. It did appease all four of our parents, knowing that we did not sit home alone on Prom night. Thankfully, I didn’t embarrass my dad or Mrs. Scott, as far as I know. Sue eventually laid eyes on another classmate, who she apparently married after school, but tragically he died soon after in a home accident.
There was one other high school date that I made with Debra Stanley, but as was standard, never developed into more than a faint memory. On the other hand, I did soon strike up a serious dating relationship that started in summer choir camp (similar to infamous band camp) between my junior and senior years. Leslie was also an excellent student, apparently the dominant force of attraction with all the women in my life. I have pictures of both the Sadie Hawkins dance, where she must have invited me, and the 1969 Elkhart High School prom where I reciprocated. This relationship continued even after we both left Elkhart for separate colleges. I went to visit her at Stevens College in Missouri, making the long drive from Albion, Michigan but for some reason we eventually went our separate ways. She persevered to get her doctorate in psychology, served professionally as a counselor, and supposedly never married. Unlike, Sue and Debra, I have maintained contact with Leslie on and off throughout the years.
At Albion College, we initially selected our dating partners through what we referred to as, “The Joke Book,” a compilation of fellow student photos that we each received as part of orientation. As a result of a phone call, I once again selected a candidate well over my head and to no avail when I spent an evening with Ms. Putnam (first name forgotten), whose father was a major financial contributor through Dow Chemical, while the grandfather had a building on campus named after him. If I were to have married wealthy, this would have been my best opportunity, but I was too intimidated. I also had an underage drinking date that included an intimate conversation in a cornfield. Years later it was noted that she was hoping for a follow-up and kept the ear of corn that I presented her with as a treasured souvenir, but I repeatedly missed any cues related to appeal. For the rest of my time at Albion, I stuck with Anne, who I met through three Sigma Chi Fraternity brothers, conveniently dating related sorority sisters. The most memorable of our adventures, were when the six of us spent New Year’s Eve in Milwaukee skiing at the Lake Geneva Playboy Club, followed by a Bucks game. We also went together to a Three Dog Night concert at Cobo Hall in Detroit, later adding a Gladys Knight and the Pips performance and a Classics IV concert, both on campus. Numerous Greek dances/parties at our respective houses filled the rest of our time together. Anne eventually married the upperclassman who first recruited me into the fraternity.
To make another long story short (and perhaps less boring), it was then off to Bloomington and more toads to kiss, before hooking up with Marcia on the streets of New Orleans. She left Indiana University at the same time I did, and we moved into an Elkhart apartment while I finished my degree in South Bend. We were married in 1972 during a Fort Wayne Episcopal Church ceremony, and thus the dating of others ended.
The women’s season has shown very consistent play throughout the year, but with the men you never know if Hoosier-Jeckyl or Hoosier-Hyde will show up on the court. At 26-1, the #2 women faced another ranked opponent with the #6 Hawkeyes. The game reflected the competitive nature of both squads with Iowa edging ahead at the end of each quarter and leading 40-39 at the half. Applying the “Rule of 60,” the third quarter ended ominously at 61-58 in favor of the Hawks and their fierce leader, Caitlin Clark. She then proceeded to hit a dramatic buzzer-beater to win the game 86-85. With this wake-up call to the men, who were in danger of a let-down after Purdue, I felt strongly that they would respond on the home court by coming out strong. How wrong this fan was!
Following the lead of the women Hawkeyes, the men jumped out to early leads of 8-0, 16-5, and 21-12 on three Kris Murray treys. By halftime it was nearly the reverse situation from the first game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with the Hawks comfortably ahead 47-36 in Bloomington. Back in early January the Hoosiers held a 50-40 lead but faded down the stretch. This time, Iowa continued to stretch the lead for a 90-68 rout.
Kris Murray finished with 26-points and Tony Perkins added 23, plus 10-rebounds, and 8-assists, just short of a triple-double. The hot Hawkeyes crossed 60 at 15:44 with a dominant lead of 61-40. They would ultimately make 13-threes thanks to Payton Sandfort’s five. Indiana only hit two from beyond the arc in eleven attempts. Turnovers were not the issue or even free throw shooting, but rebounding again reared its ugly head, as I.U. missed their opportunity to clinch a double bye in the upcoming conference tournament. The high-flying Hawkeyes were coming off an unbelievable 13-point comeback in the final 94 seconds against Michigan State.
Trayce Jackson-Davis led the hapless Hoosiers with 26-points and 13-rebounds, following up nicely after his worst game of the season against Purdue. However, the hero of the Boiler bash, Jalen Hood-Schifino was disappointedly mediocre with 8-points, 5-rebounds, and 2-assists. TJD will play his last home game on Sunday against Michigan, but JHS may not be such hot property after these last few days of discussions and interviews about top draft expectations. He may need more NCAA time to prove consistency with his game. This fan is counting on a better performance just in case this freshman sensation is truly experiencing his Senior Day early.
I picked up my granddaughter Nora from preschool the other day and was met at the door by her frustrated teacher Miss Wendy. Nora was apparently disrespectful and inattentive, disrupting her classes that morning. I told her that I call her, “Ignora” when she on occasion gets out of control and doesn’t listen. Most of the time, she’s fun and cute, but I too know the frustration of caring for small children. I knew my work was cut out for me during the few hours when I had “Grandpa J” duty that afternoon. She obviously needed to work out some frustrations and get some fresh air. I immediately took her to Wellen Park to play in the tiny houses they built for charity so she could use her imagination and blow off some 4-year-old steam. I was not aware of the giant Jungle Gym they had constructed in the grassy area by the lake. Other kids her age were actively engaged in swinging from the ropes like Tarzan.
Nora is at the age where she is fearless, with the exception of the tiniest of spiders. Ironically, this playground structure was like a giant spider web with ropes weaved together around timbers that stretched seemingly endlessly into the sky. I was relieved to see that the synthetic surface underneath was spongy soft because it immediately brought out my fear of heights and the danger of someone falling. However, she seemed to scale the beast with ease while I held my breath. The higher the other kids climbed, the braver she got. Her lovable, independent nature was clearly evident on last week’s carnival rides. I was envious of her confidence and flexibility, wishing that I was a kid again. However, in my day, steel Jungle Gyms were built on concrete surfaces that broke arms and legs. I watched many a classmate loaded into an ambulance during recess after a fall. Obviously, I learned to fear heights. My hands were sweaty and tightly clinched into fists while I watched, just as if I was getting ready to climb a ladder.
We learn to fear, so why spiders scare Nora and Jungle Gyms don’t is the difference between the two of us. I must have been taught that most spiders are useful creatures, but still worry about the black panther that was rumored to have escaped near my childhood neighborhood. Hopefully, Nora fears the alligators that sometimes wander into our yard, just as our schnauzer Tally is scared of little girls like her. In over 70 years of life, I’ve grown to be terrified by the reckless nature of human beings, particularly Florida drivers as they speed and weave carelessly through traffic like they’re racing to win the Daytona 500. There was a time when I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel of a car, now my palms sweat on I-75. Maybe grandson Gavyn is smart in wanting to wait to learn how to drive. Right now, Nora is the most fearless in the family.
It sounds easy – but it’s not! Chair yoga is not sitting and watching TV but rather all about balance, stretching, and proper breathing. I just completed my 5th class, so there’s still a lot to learn. I have trouble controlling my breathing, lack the necessary flexibility, and definitely need the chair for balance support. A neighbor friend talked me into going, and now I’m committed to make it a regular part of my retirement routine, every Tuesday morning at 10:15. I’ll miss next Tuesday due to our trip to Las Vegas but will seek a chair in front of a winning slot machine. In all seriousness, it is something you can practice at home, but I haven’t taken the time. Perhaps when I am more familiar the stretches it will seem more natural.
The class is right after I finish my run and just a golf cart ride away. Today was 5,175 consecutive days, the tenth longest streak in Florida. It will of course continue in Vegas and then Orlando next week when my wife and I are there with the grandkids. It will be a good change of pace to run some different routes than the familiar path I tend to religiously follow every single day. It’s fun to say “hi” to all the regulars that I’ve met in the past two years of living here. Many of them I’m unfamiliar with by name but their faces are a daily fixture. We did get a new Islandwalk directory, but not everyone is listed. I often feel like I’m stalking when I see someone turn into their driveway or front door, so I memorize their street number and look up their address after the run. My wife has met several during her daily trip to the dog park with Tally. I wave as I “slog” by, making mental notes as to their identity.
There’s a couple with three dogs that I see most mornings, but only know him because of an Iowa sweatshirt that he wears. I recently acknowledged a guy in an I.U. hat also wearing a Rutgers t-shirt. He was wearing all I.U. gear the day after the Purdue victory, obviously proud of that accomplishment. There is a group of women that are in the chair yoga class that pass by most mornings with a friendly “hello.” The instructor rides her bike down the wide sidewalk path that I follow. N.Y. Yankee guy wears the hat when he walks the dog, and many other unidentified “neighbors” give a nod of encouragement.
I’m hoping that chair yoga will help with my running, although the first few times it made my muscles stiff the next morning. I need help with speed and balance, feeling like the ground is unsteady under my feet or working against me as I try to make progress, like going the wrong way on a moving sidewalk. Too many times I’m easily passed by a speed walker that I find particularly embarrassing. The harder I work on trying to go faster, the more my pace seems to slow. Ultimately, I’m just trying to make it to the chair at the end.
We’ve come to discover that we live in a very unique neighborhood when it comes to country of origin. Last night, we were invited to partake in a Hungarian feast with foods impossible to pronounce, with the exception of goulash. The family escaped the Russian occupation in World War II, while the son at age four, our neighbor, waited many years to reunite with his parents in America. We’ve also tasted many new Italian, Greek, and Armenian dishes since moving to Florida.
We’ve cultivated a whole new group of friends here in Venice, after nearly two years from leaving Portland. It’s been the result of neighborhood meet and greets, block parties, get-acquainted dinners, Borrego Boyz luncheons, and folks we’ve met at the dog park, fitness classes, and clubs. They’ve come primarily from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. We all moved in about the same time, each “hungry” to meet our new neighbors. I can’t think of another time in my life, with the exception of high school and college, where I’ve met so many people in such a short period of time. I’ve even found a DNA cousin in the mix.
A group of us are headed to the St, Pete Indycar race this weekend, while we met other neighbors for Stottlemyer’s BBQ in nearby Sarasota this past Saturday. Friends from Ft. Wayne visited this past weekend, and we’ve always referred to each other as a “neighbor,” even though we never lived on the same block. Most of these new friends do indeed live on the same street in similar homes with the same maintenance issues. In addition, we all experienced the windy aftereffects from Hurricane Ian, although the damage to each home varied drastically. Our house was fortunately on the lucky side of the street.
There have been many pitch-in opportunities at our various get-togethers. For example, we’ve had an Indy 500 party and celebrated the Chinese New Year at our house. We’ve tried out a neighbor’s new pizza oven, danced for dinner in several lanai settings, feasted in each other’s driveways and dining rooms, plus hauled our crockpots from one house to another and brought-in 2023 together with a progressive dinner at several stops along the block. No one had to worry about driving home under the influence – it was a short walk for each of us. Many surprise meetups will certainly pop up in the future, but last night, we were all hungry for Hungary.
It was the Hoosiers that came out “Spartan Strong,” jumping to 17-10 lead on a Miller Kopp trey and didn’t commit a turnover in the first eight minutes of the game. I think both the Spartans and their fans had mixed feelings about playing in the wake of a tragedy. The lead then grew to 22-13 before I.U. was outscored 22-7 in the final minutes of the half. This collapse coincided with the exit of Jalen Hood-Schifino after picking up his second foul. Trayce Jackson-Davis appeared to be lackluster without a break and managed nine points while committing four ugly turnovers.
It seems as if Indiana is not taking advantage of the three, despite their efficiency. Tyson Walker countered with five in seven attempts, while the Spartans doubled the Hoosiers from behind the arc. It was 61-48 at the 8:24 mark, with I.U. failing to follow the “Rule of 60” in an 80-65 loss. TJD finished with 19-points, 7-rebounds, and 5-assists, followed by JHS with 16. The loss was the 24th out of the last 26 trips to East Lansing, reflecting my disappointing “O for East Lansing” fan experiences at Breslin Hall.
With foul trouble and tired legs, the I.U. bench has provided little support for the starters, offering just one basket and four free throws. Tamar Bates was again scoreless and has averaged only 2.4 points per game since his 17-point gem in the first Spartan meeting at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
I don’t like the way this season is ending. Rather than finishing strong and on a roll, the Hoosiers look tired and wounded. With no bench strength, the Purdue five looking for revenge, a rematch with Iowa, the BIG tournament, and the Big Dance ahead, it’s looking like a recipe for disaster. We also don’t know what to expect from Xavier Johnson if and when he returns? If he can give Indiana 10-15 productive minutes a game, it could be just what the doctor ordered down the stretch.
The productive Spartans also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Indiana 33-24 overall. This will be a big factor in the upcoming Boiler battle, the second of the double road test, the first of which just fell flat on its face. Purdue went 11-1 at home in 2020-21, 16-1 in 2021-22, and 13-1 so far this season. It could prove to be Mission Impossible, since no one on this team, including Coach Mike Woodson has ever won in West Lafayette.
Coach Knight apparently continues to support the Woodson era, reporting to practice once a week. 38-years ago he hurled a chair across the Mackey court following a technical foul. The upcoming matchup will feature two consensus All-Americans for the first time since 1992-93 when Calbert Cheaney led Bob Knight to a pair of wins over Coach Gene Keady and Glenn Robinson. They did not necessarily go head-to-head like Zach Edey and Trayce Jackson-Davis. 2013 was the last Hoosier win in West Lafayette, since then it’s been nine straight Boiler wins, a habit that needs to be stopped!
While the men stumbled, the women thrived, claiming a Big Ten title for the first time in 40-years. They topped the Boilermakers in Bloomington on Senior Day as I.U. star Grace Berger and backup big Alyssa Geary received their accolades. Mackenzie Holmes and Sara Scalia have also been in the program for four years but still will maintain eligibility. At 25-1, their only loss this season has been in troublesome East Lansing, without an injured Berger. Former Boiler player, Teri Moran is completing her ninth year in Bloomington, as the women’s all-time winningest coach. South Carolina remains the only undefeated team left in the country. Thanks to Maryland, the upcoming game at Iowa is no longer a tie-breaker, as the Hoosiers, who beat the Hawkeyes earlier this year at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, claimed the outright regular season championship.
When the men finally took to Gene Keady Court, I was not expecting what happened, as the odds were definitely against the road-weary Cream and Crimson five. For the first time since 1983, I.U. completed a four-game home-and-away sweep in men’s a women’s basketball. It still seems unlikely that both will claim a Big Ten title, as was the case 40-years ago, although the Woodson team is only 2-games behind with two to go, plus there is also the tournament championship possibility. He did finally secure his first win in West Lafayette as both coach and player in the 79-71 victory and move to 20-9 overall. Most importantly, the Hoosiers crossed the magical sixty mark first on a Trayce Jackson-Davis jumper at 9:55 for a 61-50 bulge.
Reminding me of Isiah Thomas, freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino proved his worth as a potential NBA draft pick with a career high 35-points. Trayce Jackson-Davis scored just ten but dished-out seven assists, relying on the support of long-time teammates Trey Galloway and Miller Kopp, who each added 13 points. Zach Edey proved to be a legitimate candidate for national player of the year. There is no rest for the weary in this stretch run, as the Hoosier women travel to Iowa and the men tackle the Hawkeyes at home.
I
My wife and I did our first “grand” trip to Disney World in August of 2012, with accommodations at the Contemporary Hotel, one of the Monorail stops. Granddaughter Maddux was three and grandson Gavyn five. It was our first experience dealing with a child’s disappointment of being too short to ride. Eleven years later, it’s now four-year-old granddaughter Nora’s turn to be the smallest family member, measuring 39″ in height. “Nona” and I took her to the Venice Italian-American Festival last night when the tape measure came into play, as the most appealing rides required a minimum of 42″. This is a frustration factor that little Nora Grace will also have to face in our upcoming family trip to Disney World in a few weeks.
The annual carnival and feast was advertised to start at 4 p.m. but the rides didn’t actually open until five. The Venice High School marching band performed, but an hour wait is tough for any youngster. We were hoping to beat the crowd and grab a bite to eat on the way out. Instead, a line was forming at the ticket window, so we were forced to stay longer than originally planned. During the “endless” delay, we purchased an order of dirt and worms (Oreo crumbs, gummies, and mini donuts) and decided on $20 wristbands instead of individual tickets. My daring wife agreed to be her partner on the fun house, but afterwards changed her mind when the only exit was a “filthy” spiral slide. She held up several kids during her cautious dismount. I then ended up on the giant rainbow slide, with all of Nora’s “favorite colors,” sitting on a potato sack to protect us from the friction.
Nora went solo on the revolving rabbits, choo-choo train, flying dragon, and spinning boats. “Nona” joined her on the mini-rollercoaster and another faster-spinner that I was glad to miss out on. We all stopped for spaghetti and meatballs, along with mac & cheese, but there was too much excitement in the air for total cooperation. Finally, we got a few bites of chicken nuggets into her stomach after threats of no cotton candy. My wife took her to the face painting booth for a mermaid mask, where she laughed when the artist gave me pink cheeks. After a few more repeat rides, she sank a basket (with a little help from the concessionaire) to win a giant unicorn that she renamed “uni-horse.” It appropriately matched the outfit she was wearing for glitz day at pre-school. The last stop before driving home was for blue cotton candy. I had not been to a carnival since the 2016 Sarasota County Fair and hope that last night’s will be my last.
Trayce Jackson-Davis surpassed his coach, Mike Woodson (2,061), for fifth place on the all-time Indiana University basketball scoring list (2,081). After the narrow Illinois victory, his total stood at…. Calbert Cheaney leads the pack at 2,613, followed by Steve Alford at 2,438, Don Schlundt at 2,192, and A.J. Guyton at 2,100. TJD needs just 20 more to top A.J. Most likely that will happen in East Lansing.
Coach Michael Dean Woodson was I.U. player Woodson from 1976-1980, under the watch of Coach Bob Knight. That team won the 1979 NIT over rival Purdue 53-52 on Tourney MVP Butch Carter’s dagger. Carter was also the hero with two seconds to go against Ohio State when he sank two free throws to get them to finals. Woodson was named to the first team All-Big Ten and went on to win a 1979 Pan American Games gold medal as captain of the U.S. basketball team. His senior year at I.U., Woodson, along with Isiah Thomas, won the conference title, was named the 1980 Big Ten Player of the Year, recognized as a NABC All-American, and ultimately awarded the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball. Purdue evened the score with Woodson, upsetting the #2-seeded Hoosiers 76-69 in the 1980 NCAA Sweet 16. He then went on to play and coach in the NBA, winning a championship ring with the 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons as an assistant during the 2003–04 season.
The number 60 probably means little to Coach Woodson. He was born in 1958 and turned 60 in 2018 while serving as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Atlanta Hawks hired him as a head coach in 2004, where he served in that capacity for six years before moving on to guide the New York Knicks 2012-2014. It’s now his second year at Indiana University.
Coach Woodson was undoubtedly proud watching TJD score 26-points, grab 12-rebounds, and block five shots in leading the Hoosiers over the Illini 71-68. It was the senior’s fourth 25-10-5 game. Per ESPN Stats and Info: “No other player in the Big Ten has more than one such game in the last 25 seasons. In fact, the rest of the Big Ten has recorded 5 such games combined over that span.” It took that kind of effort to pass his coach on the list of I.U. scoring greats.