I don’t know about you, but…

I have no idea what the new year will bring, but I know I am going to do my best to enjoy the ride. But first…

I don’t know about you, but…

I feel that when you say something that is later proven wrong, you have no choice but to admit it. In my November column I mentioned that I thought leaf removal would last well into December. But that’s not the case. The post-Thanksgiving snow event happened over the Thanksgiving weekend. That did not allow me ample time to get leaves picked up before winter set in.

Also, the big Pin Oak tree in my back yard didn’t realize that because of the snow on the ground, I would be unable to remove any leaves, and kept dropping its leaves. By the way, fallen leaves on top of snow is a really ugly look. Who knows when I will be able to get around to removing them off my lawn? But I pretty much know it will be well into 2026 before that is accomplished.

I don’t know about you, but…

I have a love/hate relationship with technology. For everything that technology enhances in my life and makes life easier for me, there are many, many more things that I really dislike about technology.

For example, one thing I really enjoy about technology is that I am able to stream any radio station that I would like to listen to at home, in my car and through my hearing aids. I listen daily to radio programs from stations out of St. Louis, Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal and other places that were unavailable to me in the past. I am also able to listen to just about any musical artist I want anytime I want.

One thing I really loathe about technology is that it seems to stop working just when I really need it. Another thing about technology that I am not thrilled with is the fact that, before I can get used to a new or improved technology, it becomes obsolete and I have to learn how to use a new or updated version. Are you kidding me?

I don’t know about you, but…

I also dislike updates on my cell phone. They seem to cause me more problems than the number of good things that they do. I’m not sure why the updates are necessary.

I don’t know about you, but…

If I never have to deal with the Social Security Administration again, it will be too soon. I’ve experienced 30-minute waits on hold, only to be told that the best that can be done to help my problem is to give me a telephone appointment about two months down the road. Are you kidding me?

Recently, on multiple occasions, I had the chance to run into athletes that I used to coach. I hadn’t seen one for over 40 years. I don’t know about you, but…

A chance to reminisce about special times in one’s past with individuals that share those memories is really an extra special event. It never gets old.

Speaking of fond memories, I don’t know about you, but…

I would bet that some of you know about KMOX radio, the voice of St. Louis. KMOX radio officially signed on the air on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1925. KMOX has kept St. Louis informed and connected for 100 years and has had a month-long celebration of its centennial anniversary during December.

I have special memories of when I was a youngster and sneaking a small transistor radio under my pillow to finish listening to Jack Buck and Harry Caray call a Cardinal game that lasted past my bedtime. I also have fond memories of listening to one of my favorite sports shows, “Sports on a Sunday Morning” broadcast on KMOX from 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday. I still use technology to listen to that show and more on KMOX. Sometimes simple pleasures have a way of enhancing life.

I don’t know about you, but…

I believe January is a great month to watch a high school basketball game. I would encourage you to get out and take in a game. And when you are at a game, please support your favorite team positively, and whatever you do, give the officials a break.

Are you aware that the lack of officials for high school basketball, as well as most other high school athletic activities, is putting the events in jeopardy?

If you have the ability, I encourage you to give officiating a try,
especially if you are one to constantly criticize the officials. It is a job that I used to do and would still do, if I had the physical ability to keep up with the game. I believe that many of you would be more lenient on officials if you were in their shoes. And to all the officials that I have criticized unfairly in the past, I apologize. If I could turn back the clock, I guarantee that I would treat officials differently.

Jan. 4 is National Spaghetti Day, I don’t know about you, but…

I think any day is a good day to enjoy your favorite pasta. Even though I realize that spaghetti is categorized as a “bad” carb food, it is a food that I never get tired of consuming. And the ways I enjoy spaghetti are too numerous to mention here.

Jan. 7 is National Chicken Wing Day. I don’t know about you, but…

I think that if you are eating a chicken wing without a bone in it, you are consuming a chicken tender or nugget, but definitely not a chicken wing. Wings have bones in them! I’m just saying!!

Geez, all this talk of food can make a body hungry. I don’t know about you, but…

I believe that the older I get, the harder it is for me to lose weight. That is because my fat cells have been around so long that we have become pretty tight and losing them would be like losing good friends.

In Kewanee history, on Jan. 15, 1979, Kewanee schools closed for the first time in 12 years due to too much snow. I don’t know about you, but…

I remember this date very well. It was my first year living in Kewanee and my first year as a teacher at Kewanee High School. I was coaching Freshman Boys Basketball, and due to the lack of gym space, we practiced before school. I was told that Kewanee never closes schools. Well, somehow, I, and about a half a dozen of my players, actually made it to the high school for practice before we were informed that school was cancelled. Go figure. I guess you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.

Jan. 31 is National Backward Day. I don’t know about you, but…

This day seems to provide an opportunity for you to reverse your way, your direction, or simply your shirt. Eating dessert first? The possibilities to celebrate this day are endless and only limited by your imagination. .yad doog a rof ekam dluoc sihT Maybe I could skip my nap on Jan. 31?

Speaking of naps, I don’t know about you, but…

To me a couple of things that make me want to take a nap are too much eating and too much snowy weather. Well anyway, let’s close with a thought of the month. This month’s thought is advice from an unknown source–Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time. Really, don’t do it!!!