The Sky Is The Limit

In the Summer of 2010, I found a new passion that I hope will last a lifetime. After turning down an opportunity to jump out of a plane a decade before, I had regretted it ever since, yet did nothing about it. Then, last June I overheard my friend Jerry talking to another patron at Greene's Ale House about a skydiving expedition. He said that they had someone drop out of their group and that they were seeking another. As if someone had taken over my 'inner voice of reason' I heard my self blurt out:

"I'll do it!"

Jerry looked behind the bar at me and asked if I was sure. He said he was going to place a phone call to make sure none of the others had found a replacement yet. I said go ahead, I'm in. Low and behold I got the spot. After many weeks of patient anticipation due to a rain out of our first appointment, we traveled to Ovid Airport and jumped. By the time my toes reached the ground I knew I was hooked.

Upon watching the video of my jump with my Father, he told me he wanted to go too. I said that's great Dad, but I don't think you fit the profile, so to speak. He was over the required weight limit. I'm glad to say that lit a fire under him, and with extreme determination he lost over 70 pounds!

Earlier this Spring I received an e-mail from my Step-Mother, Donna, about a hundred dollar discount from something called Groupon, if you jumped at the Whitford Airport in Weedsport, NY. I was very skeptical at first because I'd never heard of a company called Skydive CNY which was run out Whitford. My thought was why hadn't we heard of this place last year when we traveled more than twice the distance to Ovid, NY. However, much to my delight, I found out that Skydive CNY was a brand new company that started this year, and that was why none of us had ever heard of them before.

In April, I booked us an appointment for Saturday, May 14th. And after twelve straight days without a drop of rain, we woke up to cloudy skies and the threat of precipitation. Holding onto hope that we'd have a window to jump, we drove the short distance to Weedsport. We had to watch a couple of instructional videos as we signed our lives away, releasing Skydive CNY of any liability, in the event of our untimely demise. After brief ground training that lasted about ten minutes they told us to go into town and grab some coffee or breakfast because the conditions were not good for jumping.

We found a diner and had a nice breakfast. We killed about an hour and headed back to the airport with hopes that Mother Nature would co-operate with us. However, that heartless wench was being difficult. One of the instructors told us we were free to sit and watch TV or just hang out. Time ticked by and boredom was setting in. As my Dad and I chatted about anything that would take our minds off of the weather, I noticed that Donna had separated herself from the conversation and was reading a book on her phone. Figuring I could lighten the mood a bit I decided to have a little fun at her expense.

"Ya know Dad, if I had any idea we were going to be delayed this long, I would have scheduled that appointments for our tattoos first and then came to the airport."

It took a couple of seconds, but Donna finally realized what I had just said and immediately protested. We all had a good laugh about it. However, shortly after my little joke played out, the instructor informed us that the radar wasn't looking too good and we most likely weren't jumping that day.

We piled back into the car and took the somber drive back home. I remember thinking out loud that it had better fucking rain tomorrow too. We had just come off the better part of two weeks of sunshine and I'd be damned if "our Saturday" was going to be the only bad day during that stretch. As it turned out it rained the next day and several more days following that.

When we got home I immediately went to the website and booked another jump for the following Sunday at 12:30pm. As the week wore on the weather looked sketchy for the afternoon of our jump so I called the airport and reluctantly moved our appointment up 4 hours earlier. I would be playing in a captain and crew golf tournament for Thirsty's Tavern on Saturday and the idea of being up that early the next day didn't sound too enticing. I've played in that tournament every year that they've hosted it. To put it bluntly, it has always turned into a huge drunk fest.

Knowing that my Dad had worked so hard to be able to jump I decided to stay sober on Saturday so we could jump sooner rather that later. I realize that doesn't exactly make me a champion of the people, but our mission had to be completed. The schedule at the airport was filling up fast. If we didn't get our flight in soon who knew when we would get to go.

Thankfully, Mother Nature was in a better mood on Sunday. I'm only left to assume that she had her "monthly visitor" the previous week and was on the rag that day. Luckily, Mother Nature's "Aunt Flo" was gone for the time being and the skies were clear.

We each grabbed a jump suit and began getting prepared. As my instructor Jeff was tightening my harness he wryly asked:

"Is your 'sofa' in the center of your living room, if you catch my drift?"

I knew exactly what he was referring to. Let's just say that if you're a guy, and you're going to be traveling at 120 mph, and then be suddenly slowed to about 14 mph in a matter of seconds, you're going to want to make sure your "junk" is free from the restraints of the harness wrapped around your legs when the parachute opens. I jokingly responded that my 'nugget pouch' was free of any danger. With the harness and suit in place, we were off to the runway with inspired excitement to board the aircraft.

Although it was a small plane, probably the same size as the ones I had jumped from last year, this flight was a million times better. For starters, the engine was much stronger so we reached our desired elevation in no time. But the quicker climb wasn't the only part I liked better about jumping at Weedsport. Shortly after takeoff one of the instructors pointed out the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY off in the distance. Next he pointed out the cooling tower at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Plant in our home town of Oswego. I told him that's where we were from and we were very familiar with those surroundings. He asked my about another land mark in the distance and I explained to him that it was the Steam Station next to the harbor on Lake Ontario. Although the buildings were too small to identify individually, I could actually see the dense cluster of houses and buildings where Greene's is located. I thought that was really cool.

It was around this time that we got linked up to the instructors. Before I knew it the door was open and that familiar sound and smell could be detected, as the icy, cold rush of wind was in the cabin of the plane. It was at that point that there was no turning back. Not that I'd want to back out, but this is the breaking point. There's just something that isn't natural about sticking your foot out of a moving plane two miles above Earth. But the reward is worth more than words can say.

Dad and Mike left first, and Jeff and I were right behind them. That rush during the free fall was the greatest feeling in the World. I'm sure that never gets old. After about 25 seconds or so, the chute opened and we got the feeling of being propelled back upwards. The fun didn't end there though. Jeff made a couple of turns and handled the toggles over to me. He told me to turn the chute until I could locate the airport. I was pleased with myself that I found it quite rapidly. Last year in Ovid, the instructor asked me to do the same thing and I could find the runway to save my life. Fortunately, I wasn't responsible for finding the landing zone or I might still be out in a field somewhere.

During our return to the ground on the canopy ride, we did a number of spins and such. That's probably the closest you get to feeling like you're on a roller coaster. That part was an absolute blast as well. Then it was time to come in for the landing. This is the part where injuries could happen if you don't follow instructions. I'm happy to report that both of us made picture perfect landings as we slid in on our asses. No broken bones, no twisted ankles, and most importantly, no bruised "COIN PURSES"!

The best part of the experience was seeing the huge smile on my Dad's face when he landed behind me. It made all of that blood and sweat that he put himself through to be able to do something with his son that made this jump so much more special. The hug we shared in the middle of that grassy field will be with me for a lifetime. I'm so proud of him for his dedication to making that day possible. We've already purchased a second jump for later on this Summer. It's just a matter of picking out a date to go again. All I can say is that I can't wait to be stepping out of that plane again in the very near future. It will be another dream come true.

Preaching to the Choir

I am a man of many "hats", so to speak. I have been a bartender for 13+ years, a well decorated athlete for as long as I can remember, and most recently, an amateur writer for the past couple of years. This past week I added another "hat" to my wardrobe. I've become an Ordained Minister through the Universal Life Church Monastery.

With this newest endeavor comes a great deal of responsibility. This coming August I will be officiating the marriage of two wonderful people whom I'm proud to call friends. Mr. Justin Hall will become one with the lovely, vivacious, and multi-talented Miss Sheena Roberts. This spectacular event will take place at The Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Vernon, NY, with 150 of their closest friends and family. I am honored that they think highly enough of me to be a part of the most important day of their lives. Or maybe they think I will be cheap because I don't have a resume in this field yet. Know this, I'm gonna get paid!

Allow me to enlighten you as to how all of this came to fruition in the 1st place. A year ago or so I received a very strange text from my friend Brendan. He wrote that he and his girlfriend of 5+ years, Nichole, would like me to go on-line and get ordained so I could marry the two of them. Without giving it a 2nd thought I said sure. He responded by saying they would pay for my credentials, and as an extra incentive I could wear Duke jersey to their wedding if I so desired. I was a bit confused as to why they thought wearing a jersey would somehow give me the incentive to get ordained, so I called him.

"Is there something you and Nichole would like to tell me?"

"What?" was his response.

From a few miles away, on the phone, things suddenly became clearer for me. I think I could smell the alcohol on his breath through the phone.

"Are you two engaged?" I inquired.

That seemed like a logical deduction from my end. Apparently not.

"No, why?"

"I don't know. Maybe because you just sent me a text and requested that I get ordained on-line. How foolish of me to jump to such a conclusion" was the best I could come up with.

He then proceeded to tell me that the two of them had been drinking during an afternoon cookout and the topic of marriage had come up. I of course expressed my astonishment to the fact that they had been tipping the bottle. Nonetheless, he conveyed to me that they had not yet made a commitment to each other to remain together for the rest of their lives. By the end of that particular call I began to wonder if I could have Brendan committed, to a mental institution!

But I digress. Word had gotten out that I was going to become an ordained minister. Justin and Sheena had caught wind of my plans. I'm not sure how they found out. It must have been published in the church bulletin at St. Thirsty's. They approached me and asked if I would do it for real. I thought about it for a moment and said why not.

I must admit that I'm a bit apprehensive about public speaking. It's something I've dreaded my entire life. But what better way to attack and conquer a fear. With God in my corner, how can I go wrong. My good friend Mai is already an ordained minister too. I'm sure I will be able to pick her brain for advice as well.

Getting ordained was the 1st step. Now I have to choose a marriage kit to guide me through the service. There are a bunch to choose from, varying in cost. This church is pretty liberal though. They allow you to customize each wedding to the couple's individual wishes. Once I have purchased the kit and get my minister's ID I just have to register with the County Clerk's Office and it's a green light.

I cannot say that I have plans to make a second career out of this. It's definitely something I would never have anticipated doing. I do have a feeling that good things will come from this in the future too. I mean what chick wouldn't want to hook up with a minister?

So until we meet again, bless you my children. I must now go heal the sick, feed the hungry, and clothe the poor.

SOUTH BEACH DIET

I realize it's only been three games since the Carmelo Anthony trade to my beloved New York Knicks, but it feels great to be excited about the NBA this late into the season. The boys from Broadway went into the "House LeBron James Built" and stole the show last night, knocking off the Miami Heat 91-86. Although I believe the addition of Carmelo was a huge factor in this contest getting so much hype, there was a great deal more going on in South Beach last night.

For starters, I would be re-missed if I did not give a public thank you to my good friend Dave Herring for his contribution with regards to the Knicks becoming a relevant team again. He has officially removed the curse which he put on New York in 1985 when the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing. The scary part of his actions was that he not only did he remove a dark cloud over the Knicks, he transferred the misery to the University of Connecticut. He did so mostly because UCONN hired former Syracuse football coach Paul Pasqualoni this past off season. And of course the curse was applied to the UCONN men's basketball team as well. Withing hours of Dave transferring his hex the basketball program was immediately hit with sanctions. Head coach Jim Calhoun has been suspended for the 1st three Big East games next season, and the program was also cited for recruiting violations that may lead to a reduction in scholarships. Dave, I am still amazed on a daily basis at the strength of your magical powers. Keep up the good work. And don't be afraid to put a spell on the Red Sox this Summer as well.

As far as this season's Knicks are concerned, lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. Although they did upset the Heat in Miami last night, and they did play a great defensive game, it is only one win. After allowing 34 points in the first quarter last night, New York buckled down and only allowed 52 points over the last three periods. That is reason for hope as they head towards the post season for the first time in since 2004. It's encouraging because all I've heard in the last week since acquiring Melo is that he and Amar'e Stoudamire play no defense. That may be true for the most part, but at least the team proved that they can play defense when they want to. However, they are only 2-1 since the trade, and that includes a road loss to the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers this past Friday night.

What I think is getting lost with the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony is the rest of the players involved in the deal. I realize that in a couple of years hardly anyone will be able to recall who else was involved in this deal with the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Look, I get it. Who the hell is Timofey Mozgov(and no, i didn't misspell the name) or the often injured Anthony Randolph. These are just a couple of the forgettable names involved in this trade, but the Knicks got more than just Carmelo Anthony.

Chauncey "Mr. Bigshot" Billups was a huge part of this deal, as we've already seen in his short 3 game career in the Big Apple. He brings not only a defensive minded edge to the point guard position, he also has a championship ring and Finals MVP trophy from his days with the 2004 Detroit Pistons. He also hit a huge three pointer with a minute to go in last nights game to give the Knicks the lead back for good. In addition to Billups, New York made a huge splash by acquiring former Duke legend Shelden Williams. He single handedly took over the game in his brief stint on the court last night. Had Billups not hit such a clutch shot in the waning seconds, Shelden would have undoubtedly been awarded game MVP honors. Just listen to his stat line from last evening. 1 offensive rebound, 1 steal, and 1 assist in three minutes during the second quarter! Although he was 0-2 shooting from the field, I think we all saw his potential for sparking this unit to a deep playoff run this Spring.

The best part for Knick fans last night was how they won the game. Midway through the 4th quarter Carmelo asked to switch defensive assignments with Bill Walker so he could guard LeBron head to head. In Miami's last two possessions LeBron was forced into a tough shot by Melo, which was subsequently blocked by Amar'e Stoudemire. Then he chucked up a brick from 3 point range with Carmelo's hand in his face, sealing the deal for New York. As much as I detest ESPN's Skip Bayless, I can't wait to hear him tear LeBron apart today.

The victory last night was a huge stepping stone for the new look Knicks. It showed that New York has a huge upside for this season as well as the years to come. Although they are done tweaking the roster for this season, I'm sure the next couple of years will involve some more fine tuning of the team for a championship run. My best advice, keep playing suffocation defense and acquire as many Duke Blue Devils as humanly possible. Follow that plan and I see a parade in the very near future for the City of New York.

Reverse The Curse

The NBA will be on center stage tonight as some of basketball's biggest stars gather at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to compete in the 60th edition of the All-Star Game. Many of the usual suspects will take part in this years mid-season exhibition game. Kobe, LeBron, Chris Paul,and Dwight Howard will take to the court, as well as New York Knicks superstar Amar'e Stoudemire and his future teammate(hopefully) Carmelo Anthony. I'll revisit Melo's situation a bit later.

There will be a number of new-comers headed to L.A. hoping to make a name for themselves as well. The Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love will make his debut in this years festivities, in addition to SportsCenter dunking machine Blake Griffin of the hometown Clippers. Also joining these future stars this weekend were a group of 1st and 2nd year players that competed in the Rookie Challenge game which took place on Friday. I'd have to say this is my favorite part of the entire weekend. The rookies get to take on the sophomore all-stars in a battle of the young guns. The ironic part about the Junior All-Star game is that most of the participants would still be in college if they hadn't left school early for the riches and celebrity that comes along with the pro game. I can't fault them for chasing the cash, but it just makes you wonder what the NCAA Tournament would look like had these guys stayed in college. Oh well.

Of course All-Star Weekend wouldn't be complete without the 3 Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk Contest. James Jones of the hated Miami Heat took home the 3 point crown, which was hard to for me to comprehend. I was under the impression that Miami only had 3 players on their roster. I thought that only LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were playing on this year's Heat squad? I mean that's all they need to win the championship that the media already crowned them with when that rat fink, LeBron James, took his talents to South Beach last Summer, right?

Allow me to visit this year's version of the Slam Dunk Contest if you will. The most impressive jam of the night came from Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He took flight from the free throw line, ala Michael Jordan, and sent one home. The only difference between his dunk and MJ's was that Ibaka took off behind the foul line. Jordan's foot actually went over the line on his posterizing dunk. But I guess I'm splitting hairs on that one.

For me it seemed like this years winner, Blake Griffin, already had his name engraved on the trophy before the contest started. Look, I get it. He is a freak of nature. His athletic ability doesn't come around that often, but could I please go one day without seeing an ESPN montage of his dunks? They've been promoting the Dunk Contest for weeks on SportsCenter, practically begging for Griffin to win. What sucked about this year's contest was how the winner was determined. They had a panel of judges that rated the preliminary round of dunks to pick the two finalists. The winner was crowned by the most votes via text messaging. Who the hell was going to vote for the other finalist, JeVale McGee of the Washington Wizards, over Blake Griffin. I actually watch the NBA on a regular basis so I'm at least familiar with McGee. But I can't say that the rest of the country has any clue as to who he is, and it was reflected in the final tally. I was actually surprised to see that Griffin only received two thirds of the votes. So he jumped over a friggin' car to slam the ball home. Remember when Dominique Wilkins and Dr. J used to dunk without props? I know its just for entertainment, but enough already.

That brings me to the worst part of All-Star Weekend. The Celebrity All-Star Game which took place on Friday night. Or should I call it the Justin Bieber Showcase. This "game" featured a bunch of actors, entertainers, and former NBA legends making a mockery of the game. I know this event really had nothing to do with the sport of basketball. It's the league's attempt at drawing in fans that wouldn't normally tune in to watch their product. I can live with that. But could someone please just kick the ever living shit out of Justin Bieber? Just once, someone please bitch slap him until he becomes a pile of sobbing rubble. Then shave off that friggin' mop of hair on his head. I'm not disputing that I'm jealous that he has all of that hair, and I'm clinging to what's left on the top of my dome. But enough already. Someone has got to have some dirt on that little douche-bag that would send his career up in flames. If I hear the term Bieber Fever one more time I'm going to puke!

Enough about that ass-napkin. Let me get back to Carmelo Anthony. Could my beloved Knicks please get this trade done already? For over two years I watched as New York made no attempt to win because they were saving money to sign LeBron James in this past off season. The front office promised to return the Knicks to past glory and contend for the NBA Title again. We all know how that guarantee worked out. Don't get me wrong, Amar'e Stoudemire has been a very good move for the Knicks, but it just seemed like a consolation prize when James opted to join the Miami Heat.

Now Carmelo Anthony has refused to sign a 3 year, $65 million dollar deal to remain in Denver. Either he's the stupidest man in America, or he really wants to return to the East Coast where he was born. For god's sake New York, make the trade! In an ideal world Melo would just finish the year out in Denver and sign with the Knicks in the off season. That way they wouldn't have to give up any players to get him, but if they let him slip away to the New Jersey Nets or LA Lakers, the Knicks may never recover.

Carmelo Anthony coming to New York would practically guarantee that my fellow long suffering Knicks fans and I would return to the promised land. With the former Syracuse Orange legend on the roster my good friend, and Shaman, Dave Herring has promised that he would lift the curse which he placed on the Knicks in 1985 when they drafted Patrick Ewing from the hated Georgetown Hoyas. Although I had not yet met Dave at that time, I could never have imagined what a powerful man he would become. Although the Knicks selection of SU star Andy Rautins last Summer was a step in the right direction with regards to Dave reversing the hex, from his mouth to my ears he promised that he would officially lift the curse if New York lands Melo. In fact, he has already been in touch with the gods and they too are receptive to the Knicks winning their 1st title since 1973.

The NBA is definitely heading in the right direction in my humble opinion. Overall, the league is coming close to returning to the height of popularity which it hasn't seen since the 1980's. I hope you all turn the dial to TNT at 8pm tonight to watch Carmelo and company dazzle us with their skills. And Dave, I've got you on speed dial, ready to make that call when Melo becomes a Knick.

Long Time No See

I know it has been way too long since I've posted on this site. In fact, when I just logged in I was required to submit my password, which never used to happen to me. I guess there was a very good reason for that. My last post was from August 18th, 2010. WOW! Could it really have been nearly 6 months? Yup.

It seemed like I was on here almost daily, either searching for feedback from my most recent posts, or blabbing about something that happened to me at work that day, in an attempt to turn it into some kind of humorous anecdote. If I wasn't looking for some sort of reassurance that my audience felt I was funny, I was keeping a tally on how many hits per post I was registering. As I recall, I was getting around 80 to 100 people visiting my site per post. And I was really encouraged by that number. I know in the grand scheme of things, that's not a very big audience at all, but I sure was pleased with those numbers.

It was around that time that I realized I was no longer writing for the right reasons. I was trying to come up with something bigger and better each time I posted. I felt some kind of unrealistic pressure to out-do myself in hopes of not only keeping the followers I already had, but also increase my "numbers". Since August 18th there were other blogs that I had outlined, but never wrote. In fact, when I just logged on a few minutes ago, I deleted the last draft that I had started to create on October 16th, but never finished. I didn't publish it because in my eyes it just wasn't good enough.

I guess I've finally come to the realization that I'd developed some type of writer's ego. And what a shame that is. What started as an interesting little hobby of mine had somehow become "work" to me. I was no longer enjoying what I was doing. I had turned a creative outlet into a job. A very non-lucrative job at that. How did I let that happen?

I'm not sure how many of you know how Boozer's Blog ever came to fruition in the 1st place. The initial blog originated from an e-mail that I sent to a couple of my regulars that come into Greene's. It was one of those "you're not gonna believe what some idiot that came into the bar and did yesterday" e-mails. I'm not going to rehash that whole story now. If you'd like to read it, it's titled Cash For Gold. It's the 1st blog I ever posted on MySpace, which eventually morphed into what Boozer's Blog has become today.

After I sent that e-mail my creative juices seemed to get flowing. I forwarded it to a friend who had a blog of her own and asked her what she thought of my little tale. Not only did she like it, she posted it on her own blog site and exposed me to her audience. As I recall, she had about 200 followers at the time and the response was wonderful. For someone who never picked up a book unless I was required to for school, and hated writing even more when I was growing up, I was pleasantly surprised to find that people thought I had a knack for writing.

In the beginning of my blogging career, if I can call it that, writing was easy. After more than a decade of being behind a bar there didn't seem to be any shortage of instances that I could turn into a story. I was also able to tap into a great deal of experiences that had occurred in my life to this point, and again, tell a funny story. Although I plan to continue with that style to some extent, I think many of you whom have read my posts in the past are going to notice a change in Boozer's Blog in the future.

As I said before, I kind of felt like my writing was getting stale. In an effort to mix things up a little bit, my plan is to change my style at times. Although I'm sure much of what I create will continue to have a sarcastic edge, I want to start writing about whatever I'm thinking or feeling at any given time.

For example, many of you who know me very well, it's obvious that I am a huge sports enthusiast. Just look at the bulk of my wardrobe and you can quickly tell which teams and players I identify with. I know a great deal of my previous posts have been sports related, but I was trying too hard to make them funny all the time. If I wasn't ripping Brett Favre "a new one" every time he created his own drama through the media, I was making light of the trials and tribulations that come along with being a life-long Buffalo Bills fan. That's not to say that those topics won't arise again in future blogs. They'll just be observed in a more matter-of-fact way.

I actually considered starting a 2nd blog site entirely devoted to sports. It's probably the easiest topic for me to write about because of my passion for my favorite teams. It seemed like a more appropriate place to write, without constantly feeling the need to be joking around all of the time. That's when I came to the realization that I DON'T HAVE TO BE FUNNY ALL THE TIME! The audience I already have just might enjoy my opinions about the sports world, or any topic for that matter, without always forcing a humorous twist into the post.

Sometimes its kind of funny how life works. For weeks now, even months for that matter, I've had a number of readers ask me in person or on Facebook if Boozer's Blog was dead. I typically responded by saying that I had something in the hopper, or yes, I've written "stuff" that I didn't post because it wasn't good enough yet. And then time would pass again, without having any motivation or desire to tap into my creative writing process.

A few days ago my Aunt Emilie asked if she'd been out of the loop because she had not received any notifications about my blog lately. I guess she missed reading about some of the absurd thoughts that are often running through my head. I also got to thinking that there are probably others who feel the same way too. Then it dawned on me early this morning, as I lay awake in bed at 4:25am. With a nagging sore throat, that has been a slight inconvenience to my life the last couple of days, I figured something out. There's one person who has definitely been missing out on my blog lately. That person was me.

Shortly there after I decided to get out of bed and finally do something about it. So I trudged downstairs, threw on a pot of decaf coffee. Not for the caffeinated boost, but because I like the taste, and began this writing exercise. I think that's the most accurate way to classify this post because that is just what it is, in fact, an exercise. I've been away from something I truly enjoy and love for a long time. I found myself out of writing shape. Like any athlete or musician, writing takes practice to stay in shape as well.

And as I near the end of this blog I already find myself feeling better. It may just be the soothing warmth of the coffee, or maybe it's the feeling of being inspired again. But the pain in my throat has diminished significantly. I don't intend to make some ceremonious comeback to Boozer's Blog. Like all things in life, there's a natural ebb and flow. And now I feel like the tide is flowing back into shore.