A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

me

It’s all about getting to know somebody and their blog

Those who know me — and my blogging practices — know I don’t usually get into the “know me” sort of thing.

I always figured one could see what I was like through my writing or my photography etc. However, I recently joined up with the North East Bloggers Network, a group of — you guessed it, bloggers — who reside in the Northeast.

This gazebo is one of the most well-known items in my town as it once appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

Check and check.

First, I realize I’m a minority in this group as I’m one of only a couple male bloggers here. At least that I’ve seen. It’s funny because you can see differences in blogging style and such. But the beauty of the blogging world is all the different styles and such. This group, thus far, has been a lot of fun to be involved with.

Anyway, on with the show…

I’m based in upstate New York. It’s a small town, but I usually tell people I’m not far from Cooperstown. It’s a good bridge. If somebody is a baseball fan, that’s an easy connection. If not, most have usually heard of it. In theory, my area is also at the middle of the bottom of a triangle with Syracuse being the point and Binghamton and Albany being the bottom points.

This area is really nice for a lot of reasons. We’re engulfed in mountains and rolling hills. It’s pretty simple in regard to life. People know each other, most are friendly and it’s a great place for kids. That being said, it’s not always the best for activities. You need to pretty much travel 30 minutes if you want to do anything such as a movie, shop or things like that.

If you are into the outdoors, though, this whole area is great.

There are plenty of places to investigate for hiking, photography, biking and whatever else you might like outside. Though I don’t participate in them, fishing and hunting are massively popular around here.

As for me, I love being outside (in good weather). I’m an avid geocacher, love photography and really like getting out and exploring through hikes. I enjoy a bike ride and really can handle just going for a drive with my camera close by so I can see what kind of things I can capture. This area offers said opportunities. I’m also a softball junkie in the summer, play disc golf and just really enjoy trying to be as active as I can.

Blogging outdoors can be a way to get into a groove.

This area also is a great place to be able to get outside and blog. With a plethora or pretty quiet parks and areas, during the warmer months, I love to try and get out and blog in the outdoors. Of course I have to watch battery life, but it’s still nice to be outside and do some writing. Plus, it gives me a chance to people watch, which is also a fun thing.

My blog, which I’ve run in some form or another since 2005, is a potpourri of my life. There’s going to be photography, some sports stuff, geocaching, disc golf, happenings in my life, stories of my attempt to home brew and whatever else. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes funny, sometimes in between. Kind of like life. I even throw in a journalistic style story on occasion. I don’t consider the blog to have any one style, but more of a personal reflection sort of thing. I usually try and stay away from controversial things, however.

As for why I blog, well, I’ve always been a writer. I’ve written for newspapers for the majority of my career, have worked in public relations and have always been involved in communications. The thing is, when I do things like that, it’s for a living. When I blog here, it’s about my writing and things I want to write. I like it that way because I’m a little more free to write about things such as that.

I’m a fan of photographing waterfalls whenever I can. This is Taughannock Falls, outside of Ithaca, NY.

Truthfully, it’s a way for me to just write about whatever. Sometimes I get more views than others. Same with comments. But I keep typing away knowing one day in the future, I’ll be able to spend a weekend starting from the beginning and read all the way through this blog and smile. I’ll have gone through many things in that time period, so it will be fun to see the things I wrote.

I will also try and interject photography as much as possible, whether it be nature, everyday life, sports, covered bridges, waterfalls or whatever else.

I’ve also met a lot of people through blogging who I never would have met otherwise. There are some great people doing blogs. One day, I hope to hit up a blog meet or conference or something as I’d love to meet some of these bloggers face-to-face instead of just behind the screen! This community is pretty fun, though, and it’s one I like being a part of for sure.

It would take forever to go through all my posts and find every favorite one I’ve done, so I’ve gone through and picked a random sampling of those I have really enjoyed writing. If you want to see some more of my stuff, click the links below:

It’s nice to have found a smaller group such as North East Bloggers. Some of the others I’ve joined are bigger and everyone gets lost in a massive pond. This group has really been fun so far and I hope it continues that way.

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — a minimum of $5– you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted lap quilt or pillow. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Slipping up in the blog world

I’ve been a bit of hit or miss lately.

I don’t know why, either. Well, I guess I probably do. But usually, blogging has been my way to kind of get away from it all and just write for a while.

But I’ve been struggling lately.

I have a book full of ideas and I just can’t settle in and do them. My focus goes away. I think, for the most part, it’s the real world finally beating me down. There’s some reality hitting hard right now (job stuff) and it’s really getting to me.

I have a post almost ready to go. It’s basically the explanation of everything that’s been going on recently and with the job hunt. I honestly didn’t think this whole job hunt stuff would take this long — and longer. Heck, I received two more rejection letters the other day. I give those two credit — at least they told me I was no longer a candidate. Many nowadays don’t even send that. But, the post I have written has thoughts about the future and everything else. The problem is, I don’t know if I want to post it. I wonder if I’ve put too much out there. So I’m letting it simmer a bit before I decide whether or not to hit the “publish” button.

It’s not just with this blog, either. My other blog — Rattling Chains — has been tough for me to sit down and write, too. Thankfully, there are several awesome writers for the site as well and they’ve done a wonderful job. And, I had a bunch of stories I had written that were in the queue, so that’s saved me a little.

Life is tough, that’s for sure.

I don’t do much anymore. I apply for jobs. I, thankfully, have a part-time job once a week or two that allows me to keep writing in the field. And, it’s something newer on the resume, so that helps. On the weekends, I try and get out and be active.

Goodness knows sitting inside and on a computer all the time hoping for a job isn’t good for the ol’ health. And I’m sure I’ll hear about it at my doctor’s appointment this Friday. That being said, my weight has gone down, which is good.

I’ll be skimming through my ideas book soon, though. My hope is I can get back into the flow again. I have some good ideas, I just need to push myself.

Too, I’m working on a couple of side writing projects. Whether these become book-sized or just something smaller, I’m hoping to eventually be able to self-publish a thing or two (book format/Kindle etc.) and see what happens. The book field is so competitive anymore, so I just want to see what I can come up with.

Hopefully things eventually square themselves out. I can hope, anyway.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Notes from my noodle: March 21 edition

OK, this doubling up on blogs is tough!

Before I know it, I have one post elsewhere and then a neglect here. This is my apology to the friends of  A ‘lil HooHaa. As I get everything built up over at the disc golf blog I’ve created, I have made this one almost second in comparison.

It won’t always be that way.

But I have been working on getting that other site running and moving. Starting a new blog for a niche such as disc golf takes some patience because you have to line things up, get topics and ideas and line up a few extra writers.

We’ve done much of that thus far, but we have a long way to go.

And for neglecting here a little, my apologies. It won’t be a full-time neglect, I can assure you.

I’ve had some version of A ‘lil HooHaa since July of 2005 and I don’t plan on having it end here. Not because of another blog, anyway.

So fear not, I’m here. And I plan on being so for a long time. I just might miss here and there because of some other commitments. It’s my hope to build up a queue of stories, too, that I can post as needed.

But I have some other things in my noodle at this time, too.

While you are at it, however, if you like or are interested in disc golf — check out the new blog at RattlingChains.com.

***

I read a story today that talked about potential employers asking people during an interview for their Facebook password.

Seriously.

This person, apparently, has their Facebook stuff set to private (which is a smart thing. I do the same. Privacy, folks, is an important thing). During the interview, the interviewer turned and looked up said person and asked for his password to be able to look at his Facebook.

Say what? Talk about an invasion of privacy!

This gentleman promptly refused and withdrew himself from consideration for the position.

Look, I don’t use my Facebook to badmouth any employee — past, present or future. I don’t do it on the blog. I don’t do it. Why? Because burning bridges isn’t a smart thing to do. Especially in a public forum. No matter how something ended, whether bitter or not, there’s always something good to take away from the experience. It also gives you something to work for in the future, maybe as an improvement or something else.

Not to mention it’s public. Why would you want to blast someone where potential future employers would see it.

That still doesn’t give someone a right to ask me for my personal passwords and such to snoop around my Facebook, see my friends and all that. I have personal things on my Facebook — nothing major, but family things etc., — and the reason I keep things private is because I don’t want people to see these things. Well, outside my small group of Facebook friends.

Could you imagine being asked to fork over this stuff at an interview?

The story also notes that the city of Bozeman, Montana, until recently, asked for passwords and accounts for things like Facebook AND your e-mail!

I really would like to move on in my employment hunt. But if things like this are a requirement, is it worth working for a company like that? I’ve always liked to separate work and private life. I’m not going to let a potential employer — or anyone else for that matter — rifle through my personal e-mail.

Not a chance.

I realize it’s a buyers market out there for people looking for work, but that doesn’t give someone the right to play big brother to me. If someone wanted to see my Facebook, I have nothing to hide. I’d gladly show it. With me in control of things. There’s no need to surf my friends and such. You want to see my posts? Fine. Photos? Sure.

But e-mail? Never. There’s private things between friends and family and me. I’m not letting someone know every bit about my life. Unless said interviewer is willing to part with all their private info, I’m not doing it, either. That’s just wrong and a total invasion of privacy.

Has anyone had this happen to them? How did you react?

***

I don’t know about where you are, but the weather we are getting in my area is insane.

At one point when I was out and about today, it was 78.

In March.

In Upstate New York.

That’s just crazy. To think area high schools might get to play baseball and softball this year before April comes is even more crazy. I realize March games are usually on the schedule, but it’s rare for them to actually be played.

This years might prove it different.

Some cooler weather is coming in the coming week or so as things are supposed to dip into the 50s — which is my kind of weather. I’m hoping to get out and do a few things as well to break up the job hunt a little. Hopefully I’ll be employed soon enough, so then when getting out of work, I’ll appreciate the weather a bit more!

But high 70s in March. I can’t believe it!

***

I’ve been working on a story that will be partially on this blog sometime in April.

But the story, which involved professional wrestling, is really captivating and I think I can make it more in-depth and more detailed. Far more than for a blog because of it’s possible size.

So I’m looking to maybe try and get an Amazon Kindle Single.

The Singles are really nice reading. They range from 5,000-30,000 words and are quite in-depth reports or short fiction. The story I am working on, which I obviously won’t want to give away ahead of time, is compelling. I thought it was going to be pro wrestling and it goes way beyond that. I think it’s going to be some really good reading.

And, remember, to read a Kindle single, you won’t necessarily need to own a Kindle. You can get the free app to read things on smart phones, computers, iPads etc. They usually range in price from $1-$4. But the acceptance rate is different. They need to approve it, which I think is great because it makes you really write some of your best.

I’m hoping, when all is said and done, they’ll like my piece and want it as a Single.

And hopefully, people will buy it. I know most of what I do out here is free, but I assure you if it gets accepted, it’s one heck of a story. Plus, you’ll be helping an unemployed dude make a few cents!

More on this as it gets closer.

***

In closing, I’m going to get more on track here. Stick with me. I won’t be giving this up. I just need to get things on schedule on the other blog and get some things in my life taken care of. So I may miss a day or two here, but understand that I won’t be going anywhere. I love this blog. I really do. And I plan on doing it for a long time.

And please consider giving to my Relay for Life fundraising attempt. Remember, you can win a homemade quilted scarf. Details in my tag below!

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — even a small amount — you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted scarf. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! 

Life with Earl: The Beginning

Long before there was a sitcom about a guy named Earl, I was writing about a down-home bumpkin named Earl.

It’s true.

During my college days in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was on the golf course with a few friends. It was a stacked-up day and there were people out hacking around and having major pileups on each tee pad.

When I say hacking, think to the movie Caddyshack when Spaulding is out whacking the ball around:

“Fart!”

“Double fart!”

That was the issue this day. The three of us who had come out to enjoy a round of golf were held up at the 13th tee (which was a long par 5, so an even bigger backup).

It was soon after this moment, that we met Earl. Just three of us. Me, Mike and Jay. Though the legend of Earl grew (and it was humorous to watch certain people act as if they had actually met Earl, but hadn’t) and with that I made Earl a somewhat fictional character for a weekly column in the school newspaper.

Alas, what I had envisioned for Early — a comedy of errors in some less than perfect situations — was thrown aside after a “Hooters” story by one in the journalism department. So I had to make Earl deal with some more “real” issues to keep him in the paper.

So I did that.

Over the years, I’ve thought about continuing Earl. Maybe a book. Maybe something else. But for now? I want to bring Earl to the blog. And with that, I’m going to put below the original story about Earl (with some edits… I’m more refined as a writer now, you see…), so you can all enjoy Earl and appreciate him for what he is.

Earl will live on here on my blog.

Every once in a while, he’ll make an appearance. With the world transforming as it does, I don’t think I’ll have any issues putting Earl in some kooky situations.

—

First, when you go on a golf outing, there are several rules to follow. You should always make sure you have a foursome. If you don’t, the odds are the course will stick someone with you or someone will catch up to you and ask to join your group.

That’s how we met Earl.

On a nice fall day, three of us were playing a quick round of golf. Once we caught up to several slow groups, the quick round ceased. Passing wouldn’t matter as there were three or four slow groups.

As we sat on the 13th tee waiting to play, we saw him for the first time. Toting a pull card, we witnessed an interesting golfer.

Actually, he reminded me of Spaulding from Caddyshack.

After many strokes and putts, he finished hole 12 and waddled up to the 13th tee, where we were still waiting.

“Hey, ya mind if I join ya?”

In Earl’s world, there was no need for introductions. After looking him over, I shot a quick answer.

“Yes.”

The look he gave made it feel like we just filled his ass with some buckshot.

“I’m just kidding,” I said. “Join right up.”

Those words are ones that I might have ended up regretting, if not for being a writer. But as a writer, anything interesting can always make a story. Brief introductions followed and after we had said who we were, he proclaimed himself as Earl.

A local golf professional, no doubt.

“Just missed that darn birdie on 12,” Earl said as he looked back to the 12th green. “I’m, having one hell of a day.”

Reality was I, too, had just missed a birdie on 12, but in a legitimate way. Earl’s counting skills on the course likely weren’t up to snuff as we had witnessed him hack away at least seven or eight shots.

Still, the odds were we weren’t having anywhere near the day Earl was. To think we only had six holes to get to know the big man.

Before we go further, however, I must tell you a bit about Earl. He wasn’t the brightest of people and he’s not going to grace the cover of GQ anytime soon. He appeared to be in his late 30s and we weren’t sure of his womanizing ways, though he was quick to point out several lady friends that he’s had over the years.

Soon enough, it was time to play on.

As I pulled out my driver — something new to me that past summer — Earl peered at me. This is where the fun began.

“Hey, whatcha hittin’?” asked Earl.

“Big Bertha Hawkeye,” I said, probably bragging a bit as the club had a large price tag at the time.

“HEY! Ya mind if I break… err… I mean hit it?” Earl inquired.

“Yes, I mind.”

Earl was a bit shocked. After all, who was I to turn down this golf prodigy? But he accepted the answer and sulked off a little bit. So I hit. Then Jay. Then Mike.

And Mike, well, he’s a big hitter. Long off the tee, it’s impressive to watch.

Earl was equally impressed.

“Wow! You rocked that ball,” Earl proclaimed. “That swing was awesome. It was so easy. I’m gonna call you the Big Easy!”

(Side note: For the remainder of college, Jay and I continued to call Mike “The Big Easy.” Mike, too, is from a town not far from me and anytime I’ve ever run into him, I’ve always reminded him of this nickname. Good times.)

Earl’s shot wasn’t so, well, easy. He shanked it to the left, into a cow pasture than ran to the side of this hole. He was confident in his ability to find the ball, however, and he dashed ahead to look for it. The rest of us were in the middle or on the right side of the fairway, so we split.

Jay, who was a bit of a comedian, was chuckling already about Earl.

“Where the hell does this guy come from?” Jay asked as we approached his ball. “I can’t believe they would allow someone like him on a course.”

And for those of you who know anything about golf and etiquette, we soon found out that Earl was top of the line.

Jay sized up his shot, went into his backswing and was coming through when…

“I FOUND IT! LOOK GUYS! HERE’S MY BALL!” shouted Earl as topped his shot and his ball dribbled ahead maybe 35 feet.

In the end, it turned out it wasn’t even Earl’s ball, so he just dropped another and played on.

What can you do in a situation like this besides laugh?

So, we covered our faces with our towels and started humming the song “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks as we walked up the fairway.

After finishing the hole, Earl proclaimed a six. A bogey. Not bad, considering he lost a ball, duffed several more and three-putted. It’s some tricky math in Earl’s world.

Another wait followed on the next tee. So, Jay started up, as per normal.

“So Earl, what do you do for a living?”

“A lot of things.”

“Such as…?”

“Well, I was workin’ down in Philly as a contractor, but I hated it. So I am in the area here doing odd jobs.”

“Where you living?”

“Mackeyville.”

I was lost as a tourist in the middle of Europe.

“Where the hell is that?” I asked.

“About a mile that way,” said Earl, pointing east.

Turns out it was a tiny little place not far from where all of us went to college. Who knew?

At that point, the fairway opened up and Earl stepped to the tee. He popped his drive way right of a par-3 and swore up a storm.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Earl swears more than a sailor on leave.

After finishing that hole and started the next hole, we again had a wait. The investigative journalist in Earl shined through.

“You guys go to college here?” he asked.

We all replied yes.

“I was taking college classes online through Penn State,” said Earl. “That stuff is a bunch of gobbeldy f—ing gook.”

He pondered his next thought.

“So whatcha guys do for fun? Go to the bars, find the ladies or what?”

We all just stared at him. Quite the switch in thoughts and he was excited to know what a few college kids liked doing. He had a look of excitement on his face. A Kodak moment. Kind of like a kid who uncovers a stack of Playboy’s for the first time.

“Uh yeah, we go out. Parties, bars, whatever,” The Big Easy answered.

“Man, I’d like to see some of those college women,” Earl said. “I’ve gone to a couple bars in town, but I gotta get out more. Maybe I can join up with you guys,”

I think my jaw stayed in the middle of the 15th fairway for quite a while when Jay said “sure.”

That’s how it all began. Earl got some phone numbers. The saga of Earl would continue.

We finished the round. Jay actually let Earl hit his Bertha driver later in the round, praying the whole time nothing would happen.

And Earl, well Earl continued as he had. Swearing. Hitting’. Chillin’.

The end of Earl was not to be, however. And it will continue on here at A ‘lil HooHaa. Welcome back, Earl.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!

50 questions that free your mind: No. 18

As part of my Day Zero Project, I will be answering the 50 Questions That Free Your Mind. For each of these, I will blog an answer and then it will be linked here as well. Some of these will have longer responses, some will be extremely short. But by the end of the Day Zero Project, I will have answered all of these.

No. 18: Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

I think to a point, yes.

Letting it go will be easy soon enough, I hope.

I have always tried to make sure that I leave things behind. The reality is, we can’t go back and change history. What we’ve done is over and one must move on. Still, we’re humans, yeah? That means the mind, body, soul and heart can hold on to things a little longer than needed.

With me? It’s some ill feelings I have toward some people. I’d rather not go into specifics because I don’t want to make things sound extremely bad. But, it has to do with my current economic situation. Put 2+2 together and I’m sure you can get the right answer.

I think once I get something to better my situation, that will easily go away because I’ll have found some happiness.

And let me be clear — these feelings aren’t there because of what happened with me. They really aren’t. It’s because of how it happened.

I’m sorry that I’m beating around the bush with some of this, but I feel I have to do that.

The reality is the last year of my life has been rough. I’ve discovered new things, I’ve understood other things, but how I got here is something that really bothers me. And, I’m sure, that the many of others in my same situation feel the same way.

But it’s not as easy as someone saying “forget about it.”

When you pour your heart, soul and everything else into something, you hope for a return, of sorts.

Not the door.

So that stays with you. However, I think it leaves you when another door opens and you scoot through.

Then, and only then, can one feel truly free.

I’m sure I have something else out there that I am holding onto that I need to let go. We all have that, I would imagine. But for now, I don’t see it. I’m focused on the task at hand, so I can let go of the thing I really need to let go of, which will ultimately help me find some closure.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!