THE FATHER BLOG

Happy Monday to all….I hope everyone had a great weekend. Just a quick update: Deke is doing very well and hasn’t seemed bothered since last Monday’s pit bull attack. His bites are scabbing over and he hasn’t even bothered with them other than the occasional lick. We have resumed our daily walks and he seems back to his friendly, loveable, goofy self.

And now for today’s off topic-topic…PASSWORDS

For us older folks who remember a simpler time when everything wasn’t online or when only minimal information was and you didn’t have to worry about hackers all the time….

That time has passed. Long gone. Imagine if these computer hackers used their brains for something productive and legal? Keep imagining….

So I bet most of us at one point a long time ago used: password123. Easy to remember and probably left it that way for years. Now we have to deal with the annoyance of creating passwords that have upper case, lower case, a number (non sequential), special characters, a noise, a color, a fictional animal…..and then change that password every 12 minutes!

OK…maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but you get the idea. Truth is…it’s for the best. Everything we do now is online and we probably need to take more care with creating solid passwords. Case and point….I woke up this morning to emails telling me my Microsoft Account was trying to be accessed several times in the middle of the night. A quick search showed me just how often my account was unsuccessfully accessed….and from Russia. I guess they aren’t lying when they tell us about Russian hackers.

Did they gain access….NO. Did I change some passwords that I think were not overly strong….YES.

Don’t take a chance…protect your privacy friends!

Yesterday was the official opening day of Major League Baseball. This is another one of my favorite days of the year. For someone like myself who grew up playing baseball and then continued playing into and through most of my 20s, there is nothing like it. Maybe it’s more now because it brings back memories of all the years my Dad would drive my brother and I around town looking for an empty field after he was done work to throw us batting practice. Or the thoughts of always seeing my Dad at the games….usually coaching me in my youth or watching all my High School games.

Mikey had another High School game yesterday (windy and 50 degrees here in NJ) and my Mom and Dad still showed up dressed in their winter coats and hats to watch their grandson play. Baseball has always been something that has bonded my family. We played it together, we watch it together, and we can all talk about it.

Here is a link to John Fogerty’s song “Centerfield” which always makes me happy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVTXn9Y3dM0

What sports have had the greatest impact on you and your family? Please share….then get out there this weekend and play if you can!

Here is a picture from one of Mikey’s 1st games. Pop-Pop was there for that one too!

Here’s another one from years ago…I was coaching and that’s Emily keeping the scorebook while I talk to Mikey.

And here’s one of Mikey getting a base hit in Cooperstown, NY….one of the best trips ever!

Hey everyone! This is Emily. My dad has talked about me multiple times now and I feel so cool to be a part of his blog! Hiking is a common theme when Dad talks about me, and I think it fits perfectly. Dad and I are always talking about and planning our next adventure. As a matter of fact we are both looking forward to visiting Vermont during the summer. We will be driving up to New York and staying for a night to hike in that area, and then all the way up to Vermont to explore the towns and hike some incredible mountains.

Something that Dad doesn’t mention but should is how much planning goes into our adventures. He always finds the most amazing trails to hike, the coolest places to stay at, and finds food options that I am alright with eating. It’s a rare occasion when something goes wrong, but if it does he is really quick to find a way around the problem and come up with something. Dad also has helped me overcome a lot of obstacles when it comes to going out of my comfort zone. I am not afraid to admit but trying new things and going new places has always made me anxious. I was like this until we went on a trip to St. Kitts.

A beautiful place it was, with some of the most amazing views I’ve ever seen. One thing Dad and I talked about while planning the trip was that there was a volcano to hike! I was so excited, but as the days approached I was a bit nervous to do this hike as my body was having a hard time adjusting to the temperature with it being so hot and humid. When it got to the day of the hike, we got up early and packed lots of water as we headed off towards the volcano. We were met with a man with a machete, which was one of the most interesting encounters I’ve ever had with anyone. He helped us find the trailhead, and then we were off.

It was a straight up hill. The first uphill was switchbacks, and after doing about maybe 6 or 7 of them I started to panic. The heat was freaking me out, and I wanted to turn around. Dad told me to sit, and try to eat something and we just talked for about 10 to 15 minutes. My Dad even took the two full water bottles out of my bag and put them in his so I wouldn’t have the extra weight. At the time I was incredibly grateful for this, but looking back I can’t thank my Dad enough for this. I mean he carried what was probably 5 lbs worth of water up the entire volcano. After I was able to calm down and decided to keep going, we made a turn and saw a set of roots that we had to climb up, this was the turning point in my anxiety. I got past that first root system and from there on out I was ready to do anything! We got to the summit of the volcano and I was so proud of myself. What was even cooler to look at was the look on my Dad’s face and seeing how proud he was of me for making it up that mountain. Dad and I still talk about this moment anytime we are on a hike or if I’m doing something scary because from that moment on my fear and my anxiety has been more manageable. I am able to do even more cool things and visit new places.

Without my Dad supporting me on that trip, I don’t think I would have made the progress I have been making. I am so incredibly thankful for Dad and all that he does for us. He truly is the best Dad out there. I can’t wait to go on many more adventures with Dad, and hopefully one day, it will be me planning something for the two of us.