BASEBALL

Mid-February marks the beginning of spring training for major league baseball. First the pitchers and catchers report to camp, sometimes joined by a few dedicated over- achievers who are either in the final year of their contract, or they simply procrastinated on their workout regimen over the course of the winter and thought they best get a jump on getting in shape.

I love to hear the reports coming out of spring training camps in Florida and Arizona. They're full of hope, wild predictions, and anticipation for the coming year. A team that finished in last place, has hopes of becoming a contender, even though they have the same rag-tag group of players they had the year before. Ahhhh, there's something wonderful about having a hope for the future. Thanks for the reminder of this important truth Jeremiah.

Spring training also means Spring is coming to the hearty souls who live in the north country. That in itself, brings all kinds of hope to me! I'm hoping my son can score some tickets for us.

Early prediction....Tigers will win the ALCS and then the World Series.

STRETCHING IT TO NEW LEVELS

Limosine design used to be so predictable. Take a Lincoln Continental or a Cadillac and then stretch it out to two to three times it's normal size and then tint the windows, throw in side seating, stereo, tv, and a small bar, and a jar of grey poupon and you were good to go.

Lately, limo's have taken on many different looks...elongated Hummers, SUV's, VW Beetles, and now recently spotted - a pickem-up truck. I snapped a shot of this one in Chicago on Michigan Ave. a couple of weekends ago.

ONE MONTH IN

Alright, we're officially one month into a new year - 2008. A new year, psychologically, provides an opportunity to lay down a plan for the future...a new year, a new beginning.

This year I did just that, and a month has gone by and I have not yet worked my plan. However, all is not lost. Over the weekend I have been working on a personal assignment - looking in the rearview mirror at the past year, in order to identify the highs and lows, the soaring and the bumps and stumbles in the following areas of life: Personal, Family, Vocation, Faith, and Community. What brought energy and what drained energy.
It has been an interesting journey...and well worth the time.