Back to it after a rainy (and still raining) spring...

Well, again the best-laid plans can sometimes get waylaid.  Many greater men than I have probably said that over the years; I’m not the first and certainly won’t be the last.

So, flashback to Winter 2011.  Steelers are in the Super Bowl, I was flying high with some good family news, things at work were cruising along, and the Blog Spot to be known as CaritasHR was on the way to be a blog sensation.

At least we got the Mirrorball!

Oh, how things can change.  Overall, life continues to be great and I am thankful every day for the many blessings I see.  But I have heard it said that in life there are four big changes you can go through unlike any other:  getting married, buying a house, having children, and changing jobs.  (I would also add that as a Steeler fan losing the Super Bowl cause a change in your viewpoint for a while, but I digress…).

So no new kids, house, or marriages to report, but I did make a big change in role.  Starting a few weeks ago I accepted and started a new position with a great local organization, Invacare, where I’ll be overseeing the North American HR function with some work in OD that will also involve global work.  For me at this stage it is a great and exciting opportunity and a new challenge I am ready to face.

The Cavs-An Eyewitness Account of the End of the Streak

Last night we attended one of the greatest games in Cleveland pro sports history.

Nope, not an AFC championship game…

No, not a World Series match up…

We didn’t even witness the return of the Cleveland Force…

This game topped them all.

Cavaliers are also not very wise on their mascot choices

Only in Cleveland can the crowd get jazzed like we just won a championship when we stop a 26 game losing streak.  Yes, we can breathe again…the Cavs are now 1-26 over their last 27 games.

Now Cleveland is still considered by Laura and I to be the “adopted” home; however, we are quickly creeping up to that age in life where we have lived in Cleveland longer than we have lived in what we will always call home, Pittsburgh.  There are still very distinct lines drawn when it comes to football, but in basketball and baseball we always hope to see the Cavs and Indians do well.

My Super Bowl Memories

Ah, Super Bowl Weekend.

For anyone from the Steeler Nation there is nothing more enjoyable than getting to this time of year and knowing there will be Black and Gold colors all over the television.  All seems right with the world when we know the Terrible Towels will be waving over Dallas Stadium.

What have I gotten myself into?

I would argue that for anyone growing up in Western PA during the 70’s there were not too many greater cultural influences than football, specifically Steeler Football.  Families huddled around televisions every Sunday to catch the games.  Playing in the backyard we fought over who would get to be Terry Bradshaw, Franco, Mean Joe, or Jack Lambert.  The kid in the Coke commercial was the luckiest kid in the world and the most famous child celebrity in our neighborhoods right ahead of Mikey (“He likes it! He likes it!”) and the kid whose stomach blew up from having too many Pop Rocks and drinking Pepsi.  One of the greatest days in elementary school was when Rocky Bleier came to speak to us.  We really didn’t understand what his Fighting Back message was all about back then, but we knew we were seeing a real live Steeler in our auditorium.

Best (recent) Super Bowl commercial...EVER!

It definitely appeals to the geek in me.  This may just edge out the e-Trade babies!

Darth Vader v. the Volkswagon

My Blog and Me

I spent a Sunday afternoon back in November setting up a Blog.  I thought "this will be cool!"  I'll be able to memorialize great content, articles, relevant information, and share it with hundreds of followers (have to dream big) that would all share my similar interests and likes.  I mean, c'mon, who wouldn't want to read the musings and adventures of a Gen X Dad who works in Human Resources and spends his free time determining which movie gives the better moral message to his kids, Despicable Me or Toy Story 3?  (For the record, How to Train Your Dragon trumps them all but I think it was aimed more at Dad's than kids anyway).

So I signed up at Blogspot.  I worked diligently on the formats, fonts, and layout I thought would be appealing.  I added pictures that were pleasant and I hoped captured the spirit of the site.  I went with the name CaritasHR (which will be the subject of a future post) and I triple and quadruple viewed it to make sure it all looked good.

Then 2 things happened.

What it is to be a Steeler fan

There have been many stories I've read over the years that talk about what it is like to be from western PA and growing up a Steeler fan. It definately a way of life and a link that anyone who grew up in the 70s in the area will share. Enjoy!

espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/