Halftime!

For this analogy, you can use whatever sport you like that has a halftime. My favorite sport is football and since I’m watching football while typing this, here you go….

The gun goes off signaling the end of the 2nd quarter and it’s time to head to the locker room. The goal for halftime is quick and simple – get refreshed and get reenergized. You want to learn from, and adjust to, what was thrown at you in the first half. By the time you walk out of the locker room, you want to be focused and mentally prepared to handle whatever comes your way in the second half.

I turned 45 years old this past summer. I like to think it’s my Halftime. Need to evaluate the successes and failures of the first half and make the appropriate adjustments. I know I can play better. I know I can execute better. I’m going to need to change my approach to life a bit if I want the results I desire. I need to reorganize the game plan. I need to get off of facebook for a while. Need to get back to writing (more than 160 character sound bites). Need to write more jokes and get back on stage. Need to get back into my workout routine. Eat better. Live better. Be more productive in my career. I feel I’ve been a good example for my daughter, but I know I can still improve. Be a better father, son, brother and friend.

It’s important to understand the critical difference between life’s halftime and a football game. In football, there will be another game next week. In life, this is the only game you play. I’m not looking to be in position to need a “Hail Mary” pass at the end to pull out a win. I want to bust out of the locker room, make a statement on the first possession and keep rolling till the end. Who knows - If I play well enough, maybe I can take this thing into overtime.

E-mail to my staff......

I sent this e-mail to my staff today and thought I would share with all. The location may change to Waterford, but I'll keep you posted.
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Raise your hand if you just wanted to stay home today. Yes, 48 degrees with pouring rain says – I want to stay home, lay on the couch and fall asleep to a mindless movie. Something like “Weekend at Bernie’s,” where no matter what part you fall asleep and wake up to, they’re still carting around a dead guy somewhere and pretending he’s still alive. Gilligan’s Island are good reruns to doze off to as well. You know the episode where they have the perfect way to get off the island, until Gilligan messes it up............again! Oh wait, that was every episode. I gotta say, after about the 12th time Gilligan did that, I think I would’ve had the professor make me a bamboo pistol with coconut seeds for bullets and wounded Gilligan a bit to keep him out of the way.

Anyway.......For those that weren’t at our staff seminar on Tuesday, I wanted to let everyone know of the challenge that was laid out. Our final count for closings for April was 590 – a new monthly record for Capital Title. Congratulations to all for being a part of the busiest month in our 35 year history. Separately, I had brought up about being at a sports bar in Pittsburgh that had a mechanical bull. I let everyone know that if I wasn’t wearing a suit that day, I would have given it a try. Then Melissa Davis let us all know of a place in Novi that has a mechanical bull and that I could still give it a try. Not sure, but I’m guessing they play country music there too. So here is the challenge that was laid out............If we close 600 or more closings in a month – we’re all gonna meet up at that place in Novi and I have to play “Suburban Cowboy” and give it a ride...........and that’s no bull.

I have my own cowboy hat that I bought in Sedona, but I’ll need to borrow some cowboy boots from Wendy Carlock’s husband. I’ll even get some of that gum that looks like chewing tobacco for the full effect. Another co-worker (who will remain nameless) suggested that I “ride that bull like its dirty”. Since I don’t even know what that means, I’ll decline that request. I will request a Boz Skaggs song to be played when I ride the bull and anyone who was age 15 or older in 1980 should get that reference. I told my daughter of the challenge and she definitely wants to be in attendance for this, so she is rooting for a record month in May or June.

The next 6 – 8 weeks are going to be pretty crazy, so let’s stay focused, stay strong, support each other and prepare yourselves mentally. And know that if we cross that 600 mark, there will be an entertaining evening awaiting the celebration.

Have a great day and thank you for all you do!

--
Tom

Finally taking the plunge......

....Yes, the Polar Plunge........so I need your help. I was involuntarily volunteered to jump into the Detroit River as a fundraiser to help the Special Olympics of Michigan. I have successfully avoided this meaningful duty for the past 5 years, but my time has come. These monies help fund the training and competitions for over 17,000 athletes throughout the state – so its a great cause. My goal is to raise $500......so I’m looking for 50 $10 pledges.

If I don’t raise any money, then they won’t let me jump in the Detroit River.........in February...........where the temperature of the water is the least of my worries. So don’t be the person that allows me to sit home that day watching the Winter Olympics next to my fireplace while drinking hot chocolate. Donate today so I can take the plunge!

There is also a theme where all of the plungers (did I just say - plungers?) dress in costumes for this event. And awards are even given to the most creative costumes. So I will treat you to lunch at J. Alexander’s if I use your costume idea. Try and think of something that won’t weigh me down once I enter the water............unless of course, you don’t want me to come out of the water. Something that covers my feet too, because I’m not sure what I could step on down there. I thought about dressing up as Jimmy Hoffa, cause he may already be in there and it would be funny seeing him come out. I also thought about a toaster costume cause that’s just funny – no extension cord though.

Anyway, send your costume ideas to me and send your donations to the website below. You can send me cash too, and I’ll make sure it gets where it needs to go...............to my hospital co-pay for hypothermia and the antibiotics for the ensuing rash. ;-)

Got 10?

<http://www.firstgiving.com/tomlico>

"Kneed" Me?

Well, I had my first "procedure" of any kind this morning, other than dental work. Also, it was my first time under any anesthetic that didn't have the name "Jack" or "Jose" attached to it (that's a whiskey and tequila joke for those a little slow today). I am typing this just 2 1/2 hours after the completion of my surgery. So I still have some anesthetic flowing through me and the vicodin is starting to kick in. That is my disclaimer if I type anything that doesn't really make sense..........like this whole blog post. ;-)

I was not allowed to have anything to eat or drink after midnight last night. So just for fun, I walked in the surgery center at 7:00 am holding an empty Tim Horton's coffee cup. I told the woman at Registration, "Don't worry, it's decaf." Then she felt it was ok to razz me about me wearing my flannel pajama pants to surgery. I pointed to her scrubs and said, "You didn't dress up for this either." Nice way to start out a surgical procedure - exchanging smart-ass remarks with the registration desk.

The people at the Beaumont Surgical Center were outstanding........until they shaved my leg. She asked, "Left knee?" I said, "Yes. My left, your right." "Huh?" In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have been making jokes about which knee to operate on. Oh well. I asked her how long it takes to grow back. She said, "I don't know, I never let mine grow this long." Nice. Left leg is shaved 6 inches above and below the knee. That'll be a great look when I hit the gym in a couple of weeks for physical therapy. I asked her to shave the other leg the same way for some symmetry. She said, "No dice. You're on your own with that one."

Then the anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. I asked if they had any flavored anesthetics, you know, like at the dentist. I preferred "cherry" or "cookie dough" if they had it. He told me that he would see what he could do. I also let them know that I'm an aspiring comedian and was hoping to get some material from this. So everyone was having fun sharing other stories for me. I just wanted to make sure everyone was awake and alert and that they knew if they screwed up, I would make fun of them on stage. Accountability. Yeah, that's it.

They then wheeled me down to the operating room, slid me on the table, injected me with the cookie dough anesthetic and I was asleep quicker than the Lions give up a touchdown. Woke up an hour later in the recovery room. The word got out that I was a part-time comedian and they were asking for jokes. I was still waking up, so I would tell them jokes in and out of consciousness. They thought it was funny how I would start telling a joke, then fall back asleep in the middle of the punch line. I told them to look me up on youtube for the whole joke. I think I made up a couple of new Tiger Woods jokes too......or maybe that was just the "cookie dough" talking. They asked if I felt nauseous. I told them - "Only when I watch a Lions game." It got to the point where the anesthesiologist was giving me a "rim shot" after the jokes.

My mom was a trooper through the whole thing. After years of her taking my dad for hospital visits and procedures - and watching my dad do the same thing......it was a walk down memory lane for her. Glad I could comply.

After all said and done, I was back at my house by 10:45. Got situated in the recliner with remote in hand and turned the tv on. Shortly thereafter, I was in excruciating pain. Yes, watching Drew Carey host "The Price Is Right" is incredibly painful to watch. Fortunately, I have a whole bottle of vicodin by my side. Half the bottle is for me, the other half is to sell to cover my co-pay. Tell Obama, I have my own health care plans. Anyway, I put in a movie which helped ease the Drew Carey induced pain and made protein shake.......cause I'm starving!

I have an ace bandage wrapped from my foot to my thigh and I have to leave it on for 3 days. Glad I took a shower this morning.......cause its gonna be a few days. Probably should have kept that part to myself. Might limit the visitors this weekend. Because I'm a sentimentalist at heart, I am using the same crutches my dad used when he had knee surgery in 1968. That probably wasn't a good idea either.

Thanks again for all the well-wishes. I really do appreciate it. It's nice to know how many people think they're in my will. I had a great experience and I'm having a great day........because that is my choice. It's a choice we get to make every morning, so choose wisely!