It's been a while...I'm still here. A lot has changed, so we will get caught up here in the near future.  The summer of 2022 will be a lot of fun with a few side projects that I am really excited about. Let's get it going with the Pacific Office Automation 147.  NASCAR is back in the Northwest and its coming to Portland International Raceway. I accepted a fun job, working as the event host and co-public address announcer for not only this race, but I'll be serving that same role for the Grand Prix of Portland, coming to PIR in September. I got to do that job last year and absolutely loved it.

Days 590-618...

Days 590-618...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...sort of.  I say that jokingly for me, however I do wish that everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! So it's been about a month since I last shared what was going on with me.  In that time frame, I found out I had a very slight tear in my left MCL.  Luckily it won't require surgery and that is some good news.  After the ER visit, I was referred to a sports medicine doctor.  This is where all the fun really begins.  First off here is what my left knee looked like when I was in the ER.

You can tell how much swelling there was when you compare it to my right knee.  Needless to say it was painful.  Fast forward three days and I was seeing the sports medicine doctor.  He looked at the knee and after discussing my health and history, he decided that I should probably have my knee drained as it was filled with fluid.  What happened next was nothing short of amazing.  After removing several ounces of fluid from my knee, the pain was gone and I had almost full movement of my knee back.  The fluid was a bright yellow color and almost instantly he said I had a gout flare in my knee, the cause of the swelling.  A second injection, this time of medication was administered and I was good to go.  I had received x-rays prior to having my knee drained and that is where they discovered the slight MCL tear.  With the knee now drained and recovery starting, I was instructed to stay off my feet and not work until I had sufficiently recovered.

With the doctors notes and physical therapy starting, the attention was on Christmas and the trip to Sunriver.  I was looking forward to getting out of town and just spend some relaxing moments in the Central Oregon air.  The family went over on Saturday before Christmas and I was to follow the next day.  Sunday was a beautiful day for a drive by Oregon standards. Showers dotted the landscape and as I passed Detroit Lake, I started to wonder where the snow was.  It didn't take long for me to find it.  Just about 15 miles from the intersection of highways 20 and 22, the snow started falling.  It was pretty and the roads were still wet.  Temperatures were in the lower 30's but not to freezing just yet. The drive was pretty as the snow was starting to accumulate on the trees and just about five miles later, snow was packed on the road.  When I approached the intersection of 20 and 22, the snow let up and road surface returned to water.  Once I started to make the climb toward the Santiam Summit, the road became snow packed once again and it would stay that way until I made the decent on the eastern side.  Finally just about Suttle Lake the road dried out and I knew I was just a couple more minutes from my favorite place in Central Oregon, Black Butte Ranch.

I stopped off at the ranch and took some photos of the showers making its way over the Cascades.  It was pretty cool to see the downslope effect of the showers drying out and disappearing.  I headed on to Bend and then to Sunriver to meet up with everyone.  It was going to be an amazing Christmas.

The trip was too short but I had a great time and I was ready to come back home.  New Years Eve came and went and 2019 arrived with me still dealing with a knee that wasn't sure what it wanted to do.  After several physical therapy sessions, the knee was feeling better and stronger, but still had some pain every now and then.

As we've progressed into 2019, things are looking up.  I really appreciate all the kind words and support that I've gotten the last month.  Its not easy for me to be as low key as I have been, but I know that I've needed to recover with my knee.  I'm looking forward to what this year brings and I pray that 2019 is a good year for all of you as well.

Coach Mario Cristobal's remarks at the Oregon pep rally

Earlier today, The University of Miami announced that head coach Mark Richt had announced his retirement.  With the news of the opening, Mario Cristobal quickly became a candidate to return to his alma mater and take over the program that has struggled as of late.  Oregon fans expectedly became nervous having just gone through a similar situation last season before Mario Cristobal was named head coach, replacing Willie Taggart.

Coach Mario Cristobal addressed the crowd at the Oregon pep rally earlier today in San Francisco as Oregon wrapped up its last practice before tomorrow's Red Box Bowl against Michigan State.  

Here is what Coach Cristobal said...

“We are grateful and thankful for the amount of energy and passion that you bring every single time not only when we step in Autzen Stadium, but when we go on the road and you know as we pull up here and see all this energy and all this passion, all this juice, I’ll you tell what, there is no one in the country like you, I can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate ya.”

“This is going to be an unbelievable game now okay, this is a game I think everyone across the country will be tuning in to because its two great teams going at it, okay, with two strong cultures and that’s what college football is all about.”

“These guys have been working like no team I’ve ever been around.  Its an honor to be around them, but I want to let them get you fired up because you already got me fired up.  I gotta settle down a little bit, alright?”

Obviously with less than twenty four hours before kickoff, I wouldn't expect any news to come out in regards to Coach Cristobal or any other coach on the Oregon staff.  Any news would come after the game concludes tomorrow afternoon.

9pm update:  The AP, ESPN and several other sources say that Miami has hired Manny Diaz to take over the program.  Diaz left twelve days ago to take over Temple, but apparently has had a change of heart. 

Days 567 to 589...

Days 567 to 589...

Hello everyone!  It's been a very busy three weeks since I've last posted.  In that three weeks time span, I watched Oregon beat Oregon State in the Civil War, my brother got married and I somehow managed to make my knee swell to the point where I can't walk on it.  I didn't anticipate the blog break, but its been a refreshing change of pace and I will resume the project coming up on Monday the 17th.  I'll post on the 16th with a recap of what has happened from Wednesday thru the weekend.  Here are some of the highlights that happened during the break...

I started at Amazon's PDX 5, the distribution center in Hillsboro, but have been off of work with the knee issue.

I've taped three awesome episodes of B Squared Weather including Bonnie and I breaking down a busted snow forecast for Oklahoma City.

I saw my brother marry the love of his life and we are so excited to welcome Marissa into the family.

I attended the first Blazers game of the season for me which was also Brian Wheeler's first home game back on the radio call.

I have another doctors appointment on Monday to look at my knee after Sunday's walk in clinic visit and last nights visit to St. Vincent's ER department.  I appreciate all the support that everyone has given me and I look forward to resuming a normal blogging schedule.

Civil War series part 3

When Oregon State welcomes in Oregon this afternoon to Reser Stadium, chances are that you will notice that the two marching bands are on the field together.  This isn’t new, but a tradition that started several years ago.  Here is the Oregon State / Oregon pregame from a couple years ago.

I wanted to talk with people who have played in Civil War games for the Oregon Marching Band and Oregon State Marching Band.  I connected with Linda Molder who played for OMB and Brandon Hildebrand played for OSUMB.  I asked each a set of questions to get their views of what Civil War is like behind the instruments.

Question 1. What is Civil War like for the band?

BH: “Game day was awesome. The whole week built up to it and when the game finally got to kick off the energy in the air was electric. Both bands also got together earlier in the week and played flag football, it was fun!”

LM: “I always had fun playing at the Civil war game. Everyone is so hyped up and excited.”

Question 2. What is it like sharing the field with your rival band?

LM: “The OSU band was always very welcoming and excited to have us there and vice versa. We’re all there to play music, entertain the crowd and cheer on our team.”

BH: “Sharing the field was good, we were more friends than rivals.”

Question 3. Does Civil War mean more because it is against your in-state rival?

BH: “Especially for me, I grew up a duck. I am originally from Eugene and then converted to the beavers when I went to school at Oregon State.”

LM: “I do. I think everyone plays harder and wants to win more against our main rival. We’re playing for bragging rights as well.”

There you have it; the bands want to win too.  I believe that both Oregon and Oregon State’s bands are some of the best in the conference and on the west coast.  We will see later today who takes home the win and which band gets to celebrate another Civil War win.