15 Years/ 15 Adventures Part 3

This last post about my adventures, in celebration of my 15 years of living in Kentucky, deals with more vacation destinations and a couple entertainment venues. 

11. Holiday World 
Before I move to Kentucky I had never ever even heard of this small family owned amusement park in Indiana. 

But after my first summer in the south, I understood that despite there being 2 amusement parks that were closer Holiday World was the place to go.

The park is in Santa Claus, Indiana the park; between the city of Evansville and Louisville, Kentucky just a few miles from I-64 on county road 162. But the mention of those cities and roads are just for reference purposes. It's really not close to anything. If you find yourself at the entrance to Holiday World it's because that was your destination or you are REALLY lost.   

Being hooked on thrill rides after my experiences on "The Hulk" coaster at Universal's Island of Adventure park and all the coasters at Dorney Park in Allentown, PA in 2010, I decided that it was time to go to Holiday World and take on their "Big 3." 

The park has a trio of world famous highly acclaimed wooden coasters: The Legend, The Raven, and The Voyage. 

I took my first trip to Holiday World in July of 2011. I went solo. The first time I'd ever gone to an amusement park alone. 

Standing with Santa during my first visit
to Holiday World in July 2011

If you go back and read my August 2, 2011 post you would wonder why I'm mentioning the park as one of my favorite adventures. Over the last 3 years my view about Holiday World has done a 180 degree turn.

I have been back twice in the last 2 summers and I must tell you that I am now a fan of all the coasters. I now feel that The Voyage is one of the best wooden roller coasters I've ever been on. 

Helping in that turn around were a couple of Travel Channel thrill ride specials that explained and explored the experience the coaster is designed to give the rider and just how it does that. 

The signage on the ride building of The Voyage

One of The Voyage's drops that towers over the surrounding trees

Holiday World is a great combination of world class attractions and an old time family oriented amusement park. It's water park, Splashin Safari, has two of the greatest water coaster rides ever. 

The park is a hidden treasure that's not well known outside the Indiana/Kentucky area. But for me it has become one of the 15 best adventures I've had since moving south. 

12. Lexington Opera House
On Mother's Day weekend of 2010 Paula and I took a two day trip to celebrate the success of our weight loss efforts since surgery the previous summer. 

We saw two plays in two days. One of the plays was the national touring company presentation of Disney's Beauty and The Beast on stage at the Lexington Opera House.

This restored historic landmark was a wonderful discovery for us. It is a relatively small charming venue with a great view from anywhere in the house. 

The view from the right side of the Lexington Opera House balcony

Over the last few years we have returned to the Opera House several times. We've seen "Cats" and "The Adams Family." I took my sons to see "Spamalot" there in January 2010.

We love the Lexington Opera House and hope to get back there soon. It's by far one of my best discoveries here in Kentucky. 

13. Chattanooga, Tennessee
In May 2011 Paula and I decided to do something she's wanted to do for most of her life. We went to see Rock City. The entire garden and the paths that weave through it is beautiful. 

The Lover's Leap area is extremely picturesque. Here is one of my all time favorite pictures of Paula and me taken on a landing below and to the left of Lover's Leap.  

The nationally known garden attraction is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We decided to make our trip a full vacation and explore the city. 

We also went to see Ruby Falls, rode the incline railroad, visited the Point Park on Lookout Mountain, toured the Tennessee Aquarium, enjoyed a riverboat dinner cruise, and walked across the world's longest pedestrian bridge to ride a carousel in Franklin Park. 

This panoramic picture was taken from Lookout Mountain near the sight of a historic Civil War battle. 

We also found a really cool hamburger joint called "Cheeburger Cheeburger." Paula enjoyed an afternoon at the spa in the Chattanoogan hotel while I visited the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. 

You can read my trip report in a series of blog posts starting on June 2, 2011. I never

Tucked away between the major cities of Nashville and Atlanta, Chatanooga is a city filled with history and natural wonders. More than likely, I would have never gone there if it hadn't been just 3 hours away. 

14. Chicago Vacation
The first time I went to Chicago was in 2008 when I went to the puppet festival in nearby Illinois. I drove into the city just to see the baseball stadiums: US Cellular Field and the legendary Wrigley Field. 

Four years later, in the summer of 2012 Paula and I went on vacation to the windy city. It's very easy to get there. All we had to do was get on I-65 and head north. It's about a 6 hour drive. From my hometown of Phillipsburg, NJ it would have been an twice that far. 

For the short time we were there we really did a lot of things. Here are some of the places we went: Willis Tower, Hancock Observatory, The Magnificent Mile (aka Michigan Avenue), The Field Museum, Alder Planetarium, Navy Pier, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, the shore of Lake Michigan, Brookfield Zoo, Crown Fountain, the Cloud Gate sculpture, and US Cellular Field. 

I took a lot of pictures and included a lot of them in my blog trip report. Here I'm including 3 that are among my favorites. 

Tyrannosaurus Sue In The Field Museum 

Our "Selfie" and reflection in the Cloud Gate Sculpture

Leaving our mark on the shore of Lake Michigan

We stayed for 4 days and I left with one conclusion. I love Chicago. I had such a great time that I wrote and posted a 10 part trip report on this blog. If you're interested you can read it starting with the August 24, 2012. 

One final thing about this vacation that still has relevance in my life today. It was during our time shopping on Michigan Avenue that for the first time ever I walked into a Lego store. Enough said. 

15. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Since 2001 I have been to Gatlinburg, Tennessee Five times: Once on a church marriage retreat, once for a family wedding, and 3 times on vacation. 

Paula and I love going to this area and have had a lot of good times there. 

The most unique time spent there was the weekend of James and Brandi's wedding. We didn't do a lot of sight seeing those few days but we had a very good time. We helped our son and daughter-in-law start their life together.

Mr. and Mrs. James Connor Jr.-Just Married

We also shared a large cabin with our family including my sisters and their family who were visiting from PA.

Our Wedding Trip Cabin Gang

Our Gatlinburg vacations have been in a variety of situations. In 2001 we went with just our son, James. 

In October 2011 we went by ourselves and had a great time seeing some of the attractions and doing some shopping. It was a nice getaway weekend. 

Taking a break from shopping near The Old Saw Mill In Pigeon Forge

We also toured the Titanic museum; one of the best we've ever been to. It is an amazing tribute to the people who perished infamous 1914 disaster. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the museum but here's a shot of the unique design of the building.  

The Titanic Museum from the Outside

 Just last September we went to Pigeon Forge with our friends, Patty and Mark and spent a couple of days exploring the Dollywood theme park. 

Mark, Patty, Paula, and me outside the Saw Mill Restaurant before heading to Dollywood

Paula really likes the Gatlinburg area and so do I. With so much to do in an area that's so relatively close there's no doubt that we'll be going back whenever we can get away.   

This completes my list of 15 adventures I've had over my first 15 years living in south central Kentucky. 

I know that through the lens of the world my life is extremely ordinary, maybe even boring. I'm not considered successful by any means. But from my point of view I have had a "Forrest Gump" like life. 

First and foremost I have a personal relationship with my creator by and through His amazing grace. 

There are people in my life I love and and treasure with all my heart. I am humbled by how much they love me.   

And I have been to more places and done more things in my life than I ever thought would. 

A lot of that has been because of the best decision I have ever made. The choice to move to Kentucky and marry Paula; the woman who is and always will be the Love of My Life. 

Looking back on these last 15 years brings back a million great memories but it also fosters a flame of hope and anticipation. I am certain that the next 15 years and beyond will be filled with even more blessings and many more adventures. 

15 Years/ 15 Adventures Part 2

After spending the night in a Motel 6 in Columbus, OH, it  at 8AM on the morning of Saturday March 13, 1999 I set out for the 2nd part of my journey to Kentucky. I was feeling rather lonely; like I would imagine a crew member of the USS Enterprise would feel while beaming from the ship down to a planet. In between two worlds, I was very much in an emotional state of "flux". 

But I did make it to Bowling Green later that day, around 4PM Central time, if memory serves me correctly.

Now here's the 2nd part of my series on the adventures I've had during my 15 years of living in the south.  

6. US Space and Rocket Center
I am a fan of the Apollo space program from the 1960s. I've read a dozen books on the subject, watched as many movies, TV shows, and documentaries about that time period that I can find and I have a small collection of Saturn V rocket models. 

Only 3 hours away from my Smith's Grove home is the US Space & Rocket center. The museum serves as the official visitor's center for the Marshall Space Flight Center. The facility is literally the cradle of the development of the technology and hardware that helped the United States win the race to the moon. 

Among the exhibits on display are a space shuttle, an Apollo command module, a lunar module, and my all time favorite museum display, a actual Saturn V rocket.

In May 2006, I got opportunity to stand underneath a real Saturn V rocket!!!! I can't tell you how thrilling that was for me. Even 8 years later it still makes me smile. Look closely at the picture below. Take my word for it that's me. 

I also had the chance to walk around a lunar module in a setting that was meant to simulate being on the moon. I added the stars in the back ground to this picture to make me look like I'm on the moon. This is one of my all time favorite pictures of me.  

If I had to choose my favorite vacation, after the two trips to Walt Disney World of course, it would be the one to the US Space and Rocket Center.    

7. Branching Out To Ballparks
I didn't realize it before I moved here but south central Kentucky is a great place to live if you are a baseball fan. There are a lot of cities with Major League teams within a days drive. It's like the trunk of a tree with branches reaching out to many Major League Baseball stadiums.

Over the last 15 years I've been to see 5 teams in cities that are relatively close by. I've been to see the Cincinnati Reds play at least 6 times, the Chicago White Sox twice, I've been to see the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers each play once.

Out of all the ballparks I've been to I would have to say that Miller Park in Milwaukee was my favorite. It was the first, and still the only, domed stadium I'd ever been to. The experience of walking from a parking lot under an umbrella trying not to get drenched in a rather heavy rain and into a stadium where there's a completely dry baseball field was a very strange and unique experience. 

This picture was what I saw through the windshield of my Vue just before I got out of the car to walk in to the ballpark. 

This is the view from just behind the section where I sat for the game. 

Minor league baseball had been even a bigger part of my Kentucky baseball experience. I've already mentioned the Louisville River Bats, but I've also been to see the Sounds, the AAA team in Nashville several times. 

Of course without a doubt the team that has been the biggest part of my baseball fandom over the last several years is the Bowling Green Hot Rods. From the start of the 2009 season until 2012 I had a season ticket plan. I've been to dozens and dozens of their games. The most unique experience I've had at Bowling Green Ballpark is being a guest commentator on their radio broadcast for an inning during the 2012 season.

As far as I'm concerned there is no doubt that living in Kentucky has made a big difference in the way I've been able to enjoy baseball. Over the last 15 years I've gone out to the ballgame probably more often than I had the entire 39 years I lived in the Lehigh Valley area. 

Now I know I wrote in yesterday's post that these 15 adventures are not in any order. For the most part that is true but these next 3 have to be grouped together to maintain a logical continuity. 

8. Zanies Comedy Club
I'd always wanted to go to a comedy club but never had the chance until I moved to Kentucky. Zanies comedy club in Nashville, Tennessee is where I've been going to see my favorite stand up comics for more than a decade. I've gone to shows by myself, with my wife, with friends, and even church members. 

Among the most famous comics I've seen are John Pinette, Frank Caliendo (pictured below) and Bob Zaney. 

The most common genre of stand up comedy I've seen at Zanies is Christian comedy. This group of "clean comics" have included: Jeff Allen, Brad Stein, Ken Davis, Paul Aldrich and Taylor Mason. 

Without a doubt the two Zanies headliners that have had the most influence on me are ventriloquists Taylor Mason and Jeff Dunham.  

On April 1, 2006 Michael and I went to see Jeff Dunham. This was before Jeff became the comedy star that he is today. He was still working in clubs back then. 

Seeing Jeff that night reminded me how much I loved the art of ventriloquism. It was his performance that helped me make the decision to try to learn to be a ventriloquist again. 

Seeing Taylor Mason, on stage showed me a that you can let the audience in on the joke when it comes to the reality of performing ventriloquism and even include them in the act. His non-conventional approach on stage gave me a new perspective on performing.

Here's a picture taken after his performance on Feburary 13, 2012. The pig is named "Paco." 

He has also written a wonderful book entitled "The Idiot's Guide To Ventriloquism." I have it on my Kindle and refer to it often. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn ventriloquism from the ground up or even just wanting to learn how to write good solid comedy material. 

Experiencing just exactly what good comedy performances look like is good for anyone who aspires to be on stage themselves or even if they just want to be funnier. Not only that it's a great way to enjoy a night out with your friends.

For me Zanies has given me the chance to see some of the best comedy around right from the front row.    
  
9. Vent Haven Ventriloquist Convention
After seeing him at Zanies in the spring of 2006 I started following Jeff Dunham's blossoming career. While doing so I heard him mention that was an annual convention for ventriloquists. He said it was an event he tried his best to attend every year. 

While searching the internet for some help in learning ventriloquism again I found information about the Vent Haven ventriloquism museum in Kentucky, near Cincinnati, OH. I also found out that Vent Haven was the sponsor and host of the ventriloquism convention I'd heard Jeff Dunham talk about. It was taking place in July 2006. 

The convention's website gave all the information I needed to know including a schedule of "classes" that would be offered. I decided that I wanted to go to the convention to meet and learn from the experts. 

I went for 2 of the 4 days of the convention. I met the puppet maker Steve Axtel. Over the years I have purchased many of his puppets and products. 

I took classes from a few ventriloquists that I had never heard of at the time. That doesn't mean they weren't the best in their field. Mark Wade, Tim Horn, and Pete Michaels were at the top of their field. The fact that I had never heard of them before just told me that ventriloquism was in need of a public revival. 

That revival would be led over the next few years by and Jeff Dunham and Terry Fator, who gained national attention when he won America's Got Talent a year later in 2007. 

By the way I did get to meet Jeff Dunham and have my picture taken with him. The "Jose Jalepeno" puppet he is holding was used in his lecture to discuss the importance of flexibility and the skill of improvisation in performing. 

I took a tour of the Vent Haven Museum here are some of my favorite displays including some Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell characters. 

Also while at the convention bought several props to help me get started in my own ventriloquism career. 

The most important purchase I made on that trip to Fort Mitchell took place in a truck stop along I-65 at exit 105 which is marked Lebanon Junction/ Boston.   

That's where I got my first puppet, Irving the fish. It just so happened that the Sunday morning after I got back from the convention I gave the children's sermon at church. 

Excited and motivated from the convention I decide to take a bold step. I cut a whole in a shoe box and used Irving to present the sermon. As you can tell from this picture both the children and the adults (check out the choir members in the back ground) were captivated by my efforts. I was hooked. I've been doing ventriloquism ever since. 

Being in a place where I could go see Jeff Dunham at Zanies In Nashville and see the potential of the world of ventriloquism at the convention was a life changing series of events. And a couple of years later I would experience yet another event that would also encourage me in my puppet ministry. 

10. One Way Street's International Puppet Festival 
Two years after going to the Vent Haven Convention I went even further north to just outside Chicago to attend yet another gathering of ventriloquists. This time the group's interest was more specialized. It was festival of Christians who worked with puppets. 

One Way Street, a Christian based puppet ministry materials and supply company out of Centennial, Colorado, held the festival annually on the campus of Olivet Nazarene College in Burbonais, Illinois.

The International Festival of Christian Puppetry and Ventriloquism was a week long learning "camp" mostly for church groups made up of kids and teenagers involved in puppet ministry. But there was a program and classes offered for ventriloquists as well. 

Having been ministering to the children in my church with ventriloquism for 2 years I was excited that there was a gathering of other Christians who were involved in the same ministry. 

I learned a lot from the classes and met a lot of fellow Christian ventriloquists.  Among the experienced and inspirational vents I met was Liz Von Seggen. I learned more from her during the few days I was at I-fest than any other ventriloquist I've ever met. 

The best thing about I-Fest was finally meeting others who aspired to be successful in their ventriloquist ministry and being taught by those who already had been. It showed me that even though sometimes I felt very isolated in my ministry there were others out there who were just like me. 

There you have 5 more of the 15 adventures I experienced during my first 15 years living in south central Kentucky. I have the final five  and wrap up my retrospective of my first 15 years in Kentucky in tomorrow's post.  



  

15 Years/ 15 Adventures Part 1

Today is the 15th anniversary of the day I left Easton, Pennsylvania for the "Wide Open Spaces" of Kentucky. 

It was about 11AM on March 12, 1999 that I drove onto the on ramp of Interstate 78 and headed west across Pennsylvania on my way to the town of Bowling Green more than 750 miles away. 

Building a life with Paula is the reason I moved to the Bluegrass State and my life today is wrapped in the love and family we share. 

I could write a book about the way I've been blessed, the things that have happened, and what I've done in the relatively short time I've lived here. There is so much I can't even begin to whittle it down to just the highlights. 

But I do want to write about something to acknowledge this significant anniversary. So I have decided to focus on geography and experiences. 

So in this three-part series I'm going to celebrate just one of the differences that moving to start a life with Paula has made in my life. I'm going to list 15 things I've done over the last 15 years that I wouldn't have ever done had I not moved to Kentucky. They are my personal adventures. Some of them have changed my life. 

In addition, I probably would not have done a lot of them without Paula going along as my travel companion or if she hadn't encouraged me to go on my own adventures.  

These 15 things are not in any specific order I just listed them as they came to mind. I've also combined some multiple adventures into one because they have happened in one general area over a long period of time. So really there's a lot more than 15 but that's how they fit in with this series.

1. Singing On The Stage Of The Grand Old Opry
When I was a kid my parents watched the Grand Ole Opry show on TV every Saturday night. Their dream was to go to Nashville and visit "the Opry" themselves someday. They never got to go. So when I took the backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry House, which is next to the Opryland resort hotel in Nashville, TN, with my sisters it was a very emotional experience. 

The Opry House On Opryland Drive in Nashville

The occasion became even more memorable for me when our tour guide asked the group we were in if anyone wanted to sing in a special area of the stage. I quickly to advantage of the opportunity. I stepped forward and stood inside the circle that has the wood from the original Opry stage at the Rymon Auditorium. 

The Circle of Wood: A part of the stage where Country Music Pioneers performed

I sang a verse of the song "Act Naturally" made famous on that very stage by Buck Owens. 

The next year Paula and I would return to the Opry House to attend a live Saturday night show. 

In 2010, in a most unique experience, my son, Michael, and I were part of the audience for the taping of a 10 year anniversary special celebrating the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour." It was taped in the TV studio in the back of the Opry House building. The same studio where they taped the TV show, Hee Haw. 

2. Going To The Rymon Auditorium
The original home of the Grand Ole Opry radio show broadcast on Nashville station WSM since the 1925 was the historic Rymon Auditorium in downtown Nashville. It was the venue that came on television at the time I was vowing to my parents that I would take them to the Opry. 

Our view from of the stage at the Rymon

I finally made it there for the first time myself in 2011. Paula, Michael, and I went to see Weird Al Yankovich in concert. A far cry from the weekly showcase of country music that the auditorium is famous for. But it was a fun night anyway. And I now can say I've been to the Opry in every way possible. 

3. Destination Louisville
The most southern northern city there is. That's what I call Louisville, Kentucky. It's only 90 minutes or so north of Smith's Grove. For 10 years I've been going there to take advantage of the great things it has to offer. 

Half of the giant bat outside the
Louisville Slugger Museum

On my first trip in 2005 I went with a church group to the Louisville Slugger museum. It is a "must see" for any baseball fan. 

I've seen 4 baseball games at Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats, AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

Home of The Louisville River Bats AAA Team

The Kentucky Center, performing arts venue in Louisville is where Paula and I have seen the touring company performances of: The Lion King; Wicked; and Sister Act The Musical. 

The trip to Louisville that will always be the most memorable to me happened last May. That's when we went with James, Brandi, and Aria to the Louisville zoo It was my grand daughter's first trip to a zoo. 

Aria and Me taking a break during our day at the Louisville Zoo

4. Visiting Our Nation's Capitol
In June 2010 as part of my year long 50th birthday celebration Paula and I spent a day in Washington DC on our way to visit my family in Pennsylvania. 

A "Selfie"taken on the National Mall while resting on a bench near the Washington Monument

We spent a day on the National Mall visiting the buildings that make up the Smithsonian Institute. We went to the Air and Space, American History, Natural History museums. 

We had planned on doing a lot more including a visit to the National Zoo on our way out of town. But the heat of the day and all our other activity tired us out. By the time we left our third museum of the day we headed to the hotel. 

The next day the thought of walking around the zoo didn't appeal to us at all. We dismissed our plans and headed to visit my family. 

We really wanted to see the other sights but there is so much to do in DC that it would take multiple trips to do it all. We'd like to go back but when it's cooler. 

5. Two Walt Disney World Vacations 
I was contemplating making these adventures the last on the list because they're probably my favorite and most surreal. 

In 2004 and 2010 Paula and I went to Orlando, Florida for vacations at Walt Disney World. The first one was with our sons and the 2nd was by ourselves. Both trips were milestones in our lives.

In January 2004 we took our first trip as a family. We took a flight out of Nashville and spent 5 exciting and exhausting days in Walt Disney World. We had a lot of fun. It turned out to be the only vacation we would ever take with just the 4 of us. 

Paula hiding between Michael and James
Outside Mission Space in Epcot January 20, 2004 

After the trip I spent the rest of the year writing about it and putting together a book that captures all the memories from a trip I know I would have never taken if I had not moved to Kentucky.  

In 2010, at Paula's suggestion in order to celebrate my 50th birthday, just the two of us took a road trip to Orlando to spend 4 days there. 

We went to all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks and spent a day at Universal Studios' Island of Adventure. While there we explored the new Wizarding World Of Harry Potter section of the Island of Adventure park. 

The trip was also a triumphant return to a place we loved after our weight loss surgery. 

The best picture from the best vacation ever

Although it wasn't as detailed, I wrote down my recollections of that trip in a "book" as well. 

There you have the first 5 of the 15 adventures I want to mention as a way of celebrating the anniversary of the week I moved to Kentucky. 

There are 10 more to go. I'll have the next 5 in Part two tomorrow. 




   

Ten Years Of Tim

Today want to take a moment to mention something that set this past Sunday apart other than what I wrote about in my post. I want to acknowledge the 10 anniversary of Tim Colovos  being the pastor of Oakland Baptist Church. 

I went to Oakland with Paula (who grew up in the church) on Tim's first Sunday back in 2004 to "check out the new guy." I've been part of the church ever since.  

Now there are all kinds of accolades that can deservedly be tossed Tim's way in regard to his ministry and leadership as Pastor. But today I want to write about the effect Tim Colovos' encouragement and friendship has had on me over the last decade.

From the first time I reached out to be involved in the children's ministry at Oakland Baptist, Tim has been my among greatest supporters. 

It's one thing to be supportive of a church member who wants to help with Children's Church on Sunday mornings. Because, generally speaking, faithful and committed workers in that area of ministry are hard to come by. 

It's been Tim's confidence and faith in what I've tried and done in Children's ministry over the years that has helped me stay involved for such a long time. He has allowed me to try just about anything; giving me the freedom to learn and discover what works and what doesn't.   

But even in areas of ministry other than children's church Tim has given me opportunity, even if it was in front of the entire church in the Sunday morning service. 

One of the first things I can remember doing on Sunday mornings was reading the announcements. But of course, I didn't read them in the conventional manner I injected humor; lots of humor. To most people it was probably something that should have been part of Saturday Night Live on NBC and not the morning worship service on Sunday morning. 

I do think I got a bit carried away and started including more punchlines than information the people in the pews needed to know. 

After a couple of months it was decided that, except for special situations, the best way to communicate the announcements would be through the bulletin. 

I consider my time as the "announcements guy" my first opportunity to be in front of the church trying to get laughs. The experience has come in handy.

After that Tim gave me the opportunity to combine my the two ministries I enjoyed: teaching children and being funny (or at least trying). The children's sermon on Sunday mornings turned out to be the perfect place for me to use my creativity. Once again Tim gave me his support, no questions asked. Over the years I've given the children's sermon he has never put limits on what I've done. 

Even when I emptied an entire bottle of mustard onto a hot dog on a plate on a table sitting on the red carpet of the church platform he just laughed along with everyone else. 

In 2008, I introduced puppets and my not yet proven ventriloquism ability on a Sunday morning. It's now the key element in most of my children's sermons.

But the freedom Tim has always given me with the children's sermon has had an effect on others as well. Over the last few years a couple of other church members have started taking their turn giving the children's sermon and have gotten very imaginative. And it's all because they know that it's okay to do it. That stems from a culture of trust and creativity perpetuated by Pastor Tim. 

Now please allow me to go back to ventriloquism for a moment. When I felt comfortable enough with my ventriloquist skills that I wanted to minister in ways other than children's sermon Pastor Tim allowed me with no hesitation. 

I have done routines at the start of many morning worship services, sung songs with a puppet on Sunday nights and Revival services. I have even used a puppet to introduce a well known gospel singer, Karen Peck. 

The final thing I want to mention that demonstrates how much Tim believes in me happened this past Christmas. Under the watchful eye of our associate pastor, Mark (who also showed great faith and trust in me), Tim allowed me to write an original script called "Christmas On The Air" to be presented as the 2013 children's Christmas play. 

It turned out to be pretty good and I owe at least part of those results to knowing that no matter what I came up with I would have the support of the pastors. 

So, as you have read, I've done quite a few things in ministry over the last decade at my church. And those are just a few. But none of it would have ever been possible without the encouragement and support of Pastor Tim Colovos. I can't use those two words enough. 

As friends, Tim and I have had a lot of great times over the last 10 years as well. 

During the first year we knew each other we got lost on a labyrinth of roads in the Smokey Mountains at 2AM in the morning. We spent a night sitting in the parking lot of a new car dealership in Indianapolis waiting to try and get on a TV game show (see January 26, 2014 post). Those are stories that Tim tells better than I do. Ask him about them the next time you see him. 

We've gone fishing together and I've been his guest at a hockey game and an audio animatronic dinosaur show at the big arena in Nashville.   

There are so many other stories and experiences we have shared over the last decade. But the thing I want to thank Tim for again is his faith in me.

I don't want to be corny but it's is so true when I say he's one of the special people who have been the wind beneath my wings. For that I am forever grateful. Thank you, Tim 

The Week Ahead

If you're like me, as you start out each week you do your best to try prepare for what you believe will happen over the next several days. 

Of course things almost never work out exactly as you anticipate and there is plenty of "detours" due to having to deal with the unexpected. For me, faith in God, who has everything under control and watches over my life, helps keep me as steady as is possible for me. 

As I look ahead to this week, I see that it holds some promise for me. 

There will be no chance of any winter weather so I will be working all 5 days for sure. Warmer temperatures also means having fun with outside with the kids at the school.  
     
When I auditioned in January and applied in February for a variety of jobs with the Hot Rods baseball team I was told that I'd hear from them about whether or not I've been hired by March 15th. 

That means that sometime this week I will find out if I will be working at Bowling Green ballpark this summer or not. Either way I'll be glad to finally know.

After having a great time at the Brick World Lego expo this past Saturday (Thanks to Rescue Robot for watching over the blog in my absence) I have over 200 pictures and videos to sort through. I will be sharing them on Facebook and writing on this blog about my experience.  

I know I have mentioned it before but this week I'm going to be making some big decisions and changes in regard to my ventriloquist puppets and how I use them. I will let you know what they are when they become final. 

Last but not least is news about a cool way to start off the week. Today for the first time in almost 11 years, we are having new living room furniture delivered to our home. We bought a new sofa and love seat from Ford's Furniture last Friday. I will be posting pictures on Facebook after we get it set up. 

So there you have my perspective on this coming week. I know there will be other things that come up and I will write about them as they do. 

Right now, inspired by all the great Lego models I saw at the expo on Saturday, I'm going to start building my Volkswagen bus camper for the 2nd time. Wish me luck. 

53 1/2

Today I am 53 1/2 years old. Adding the "and a half" to your age is usually something only done by young children, teenagers looking toward being old enough to drive or those waiting to turn 21. But as chronologically cognisant as I am, today, the halfway point on the calendar between my birthdays, is significant to me. Six months from today is my 54th birthday. 

Right now I have only one goal I am determined to achieve  by September 9, 2014. I set that goal last year during our weekend vacation at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,TN. 

The main reason I wanted to go visit Dollywood, in September 2013, was to ride their newest highly acclaimed attraction; America's first winged coaster, Wild Eagle. 

But as it turned out I couldn't ride it because I could not fit into the seat. That was very disappointing and embarrassing. I decided that day that by the time my birthday came around again I would return to Dollywood after losing enough weight to be able to ride Wild Eagle. That's still tops on my birthday goal list.   

As I look back on the first 6 months of my 54th year, I see a lot of changes. The change in my work situation has been the major issue. I'm still working on finding the right path in regard to that area of my life. My effort to get healthy and lose weight is still a top priority as well. 

As I look to the next 6 months leading up to my personal chronological benchmark. I anticipate a spring and summer full of many hours of riding my bike and walking my dog. But due to the pain I've been experiencing in my left knee lately I don't know just how much of that is going to happen. 

Without a doubt the thing I've accomplished in the last 6 months that I am most proud of and have enjoyed the most is playing the ukulele. 

I have essentially taught myself to play using e-books, You Tube videos and websites as resources. My personal music catalog includes old time standards, children's songs, pop songs from the 60's and 70's, hymns, and worship songs. 

I have played for my granddaughter (which was and continues to be a major inspiration in my determination to learn to become a better player. Read my January 2, 2014 post for more), for the kids at the school where I work, and for both the children and adults in church. 

I'm by no stretch of the imagination an accomplished ukulele player but I can play enough to be at least a little entertaining. Playing and singing alone in my living room is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic things I do these days.

Finally, in the next 6 months I want to make a defining decision in regard to the place of ventriloquism in my life. God been speaking to me and showing me how I need to deal with that a lot recently. More on that in future posts. 

But I just had to make mention of today, March 9, and it's significance to me in regard to helping me to keep moving forward. 

Guardian Of The Factors

Attention all RH Factors readers: 

Greetings, I am Rescue Robot; built from Lego Creator Kit 5764. 

"Ron: The Blog Master" has gone to a Lego expo in Indianapolis, today. 

So while he is making his way north on I-65 and exploring the exhibit hall on the Indiana State Fairgrounds, I have been appointed "Guardian of The RH Factors blog."

My prime duty is to continue the "year of blogging daily." Having done that with this post I will proceed to accomplish my secondary goal. 

That is introduce readers to the idea of special guests being part of this blog. Look for other characters to fill in for "The Blog Master" in the future. 

Thank you for your attention. Now I must return to my appointed duties. For first and foremost I am...

The Guardian of The RH Factors