The Score

It's odd when a celebrity passes away. One that you've never met, one that you've never had any real connection with. But, odder still when one passes away who connected with you, who actually had an impact on your life.

I'm not sure I've experienced that in my young life ... until today. Herb Score passed away today. The former pitcher and broadcaster for the Indians.

If you're unfamiliar with Herb Score, his professional career is a wonderful symbol of Cleveland sports in general. Promising young talent, only to have a catastrophic injury end his career, and along with it, the hope that he would lead Cleveland to the promised land.

But, it's not his playing career that connects him to me, it's his broadcasting career. He spent 34 years as the voice of the Indians, including the first 16 years of my life. In some ways, by listening to him on the radio night after night after night, Herb Score helped to raise me. He was a constant voice in my life. And, knowing he was retiring, part of the reason the loss to the Marlins in 1997 hurt so much (not that it needed much help, mind you).

And so ... it's an interesting feeling. Not the empty feeling and despair of losing a friend or a family member. But, not the unattached feeling of losing someone that you just hear about in passing and have no connection at all to.

Still ... I'll always have good memories of Herb Score. Calls only he could make like "Belle hits it to left field and ... it caught. No, its a home run!" or the magical call in 1995 when the Indians beat the Orioles to clinch the Central Division Title.

Rest in peace, Herb. I'll keep hope alive that one year, the Tribe will win a ring for you, yet.

The End

Well ... it's over.

The Campaign that is.

And, a streak of mine.

So far in my life, the candidate I've voted for in the general election for the Office of President of the United States of America has won. I'm fairly certain that streak is over (note that I've never voted for the winner, statewide or nationwide, for President in the primaries).

And, so, I happily bid this season goodbye. I am glad to be done with the ads, with the media coverage, with the way it makes people behave. Whomever wins tonight, there's a 99.999999999% chance that I did not vote for that person, but I pledge to respect and honor them anyways. The winner will likely not agree with me on many things, and I won't like much of his agenda. But I love this country, and I pledge allegiance to it, and to its leader.

And, just think, tomorrow morning begins at least one major party's campaign to find their candidate in 2012.

Something of my own, to look forward to

I don't add a "must-see TV show" to my list very often, nor very easily. Truth be told, outside of sports, most of what I watch on a regular and must-see basis comes to be that way because Rachel really enjoys it, and I start to like certain aspects of the show, and it becomes a show "we" watch faithfully as must-see TV.

Gilmore Girls was like this.

Survivor was like this.

The Office is like this.

Well ... finally, there's something that I have as my own must-see TV show.



And ... I think I finally like it because I enjoy the show itself, and not just because it's Star Wars.

See ... the show premiered as a movie pilot of three episodes strung together. And, I enjoyed the movie, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it only because it was Star Wars. That is, if you remove all the Star Wars-stuff and replaced it with non-SW stuff and told the exact story with similar dialogue, plot, and jokes ... I don't think I would have enjoyed it at all.

But ... with the episodes, I think, *think*, it's growing past that. And I'm enjoying them for what they are, not just for being part of the larger Star Wars Universe.

So ... if you've ever enjoyed Star Wars ... if you loved the classic trilogy, but struggled through the Prequels, if you hate the Expanded Universe, if you loved the prequels ... whatever your classification is, I think you need to give this TV show a chance. It captures the feel of the original Star Wars, with the action of the new Star Wars, and it makes me feel like a kid again, where I can get wrapped up in the action and the (often predictable) story, and just have a good time enjoying myself for half an hour each week, with not worries about what's happening in real life.


And, perhaps best of all, in the three weeks of the show, I don't think I've seen a single political ad. Hope I didn't jinx it.

The State of the Union

It's no secret I'm a conservative. I've made that known in previous posts, and in my conversations to people who know me.

And so, when I read an article like this one in the WSJ about a democratic supermajority partnering with an Obama White House, the hair on my neck stands up, and I get a non-Star Wars "bad feeling about this". (By the way, read the article. It's a good one, and gives you something to think about no matter your political ideology).

Unions running amuck. Socialized heathcare to anyone who wants it. Out of control taxes. A bigger green movement.

All things that aren't out of the realm of possibility (or probability). All things that I really don't want to see.

And yet, despite that, I can't, and won't, bring myself to vote for John McCain for president.

Nor can I, or will I, bring myself to vote for a GOP candidate for Congress this year.

I'm sick of American politics. Completely sick of it.

I'm sick of two parties controlling the system, and both being controlled themselves by fringe, far-right and far-left groups. I'm sick of the NRA and the religious right having outrageous demands that have no place in actual Conservative America. I'm sick of MoveOn.org and the socialist left pushing for policies that have no place in common sense America. I'm sick of bloggers on both sides, whether it's defending poor choices, mocking a misquote, digging up thirty-year-old stores, or mocking a voter who happened to ask a question. I'm sick of "fair and balanced" being a euphemism for "spin in the other direction, and probably going further than the original spin'. I'm sick of debates that aren't debates, but rather are candidates sticking to a script of talking points.

I know I'm not the only one. I'm not the only one who wants to hear actual ideas. Details, and not just "I'm going to do this better".

A monkey can create a campaign platform that says "we need to better the country, make it safer, and make the economy stronger." A third-grade student could do that. Every person in America thinks that's a good idea.

I'm not the only one who wants the people we send to Washington to actually represent me. When an Ohio Senator tells the press he's getting thousands of calls and e-mails from people in Ohio with 95% of them against a bill, and then votes for the bill, I lose the last shred of faith I have in the system, at least in the system being run by the bums we're sending to Washington.

This has really turned into a rant on all of politics in America, and it wasn't intended that way. I really wanted to just rant against the GOP, the party that is supposed to come closest to my ideals. The party that claims it wants a smaller government, that it wants to fight wasteful spending, and that it wants to represent people like me.

And, yet, facing the possibility of what that article points to coming to pass, I'm turning my back completely on the GOP and voting for none of the bums that want to represent me in Washington.

Which is fair enough, because I feel like they've completely turned their back on me, too.



And, I don't feel a third-party vote is a thrown-away vote, but that's a blog/rant for another day.

A New Start, Around the Corner

I couldn't decide which phrase I liked better: getting a fresh start, or turning the corner. So, I decided to use both.

Now, what am I referring to? I'm, of course, referring to my professional life. For about two years, I've been a struggling Aflac agent. They're a great company, and I respect them and the way they do business. But, the work simply hasn't been paying the bills on a consistent basis.

So, I made a decision a little while ago that I needed to branch a bit, find more income, and find steadier income.

And ... here's where I stand.

Tyler Betts is still an Insurance Agent, ready to meet your needs. I'm now contracted with three companies, with a fourth to possibly come.



So, for all of your insurance needs, be they Life, Disability, Gap, Dental, or whatever, I can be your one-stop shop. Remember that!

And, I've also started a full-time job that is not 100% commission.



Can you hear me now? Good, because I've also got a job working base + commission for a Verizon Agency. So, come to me with all of your cellular phone and wireless needs!

Got that? Insurance and Wireless ... when you need any of them, come to me!


Because, really, this is a new start. A new corner I've turned. A new page in my life.


And I will find success.

The Difference

The Difference between a faith and a religion, I think, comes into focus in the tough times. When things are down. When the chips fall on the negative side. When you lose, you're hurt, you're in pain, and nothing seems to go right.

I happen to think that if I simply had a religion, something that gave me comfort and knowledge of an afterlife, I'd be lost in times like this. I'd be wondering why the glories of others in my religion failed, repeatedly, to come to me.

I like to think I have faith in Jesus, and the ways he teaches. Faith that if I continue to do the things he taught, that if I continue to seek after him, it's going to be fine. And I'm going to continue to have relationships and encounters that matter.

I don't need to drink Kool-Aid to think that all that matters is the end.

I've got faith to know that my God is there by my side, keeping it from being any worse.

And, more importantly, I've got faith in my God that the people he's brought into my life are going to stand by my side and be the comfort and support that I need.

Slap Happy for Mexican Food

Rachel and I have been on a Mexican food kick. It all started the night that Mexican Night at the Zellner's Changed Our Life (That's going to be a chapter in my autobiography, by the way).

We do it often. Sometimes tacos, every once in a while enchiladas, and, recently, taco salad on occasion. Plus, the occasional trip to Maria's Tacos. But that's rare, and the real point of making Mexican is that we make it once, and with just a little work, we've got leftovers for about four meals. And it's cheap!

Normally, we'll make big grilled burritos. We take a giant burrito shell, fill it with a thick layer of cilantro rice, then cheese, then red/hot sauce (if it's mine), meat (either chicken or beef), refried beans, corn, and then more cheese. Lately, we've added sour cream to the mix. It's delicious! One of our favorite meals.

Anyways, on to the point of the blog entry. The wife was a bit slap happy today. I sent her an e-mail before lunch asking a dumb joke.

Q: What do you call a charming Mexican entree?

A: A Beau-rito

She thought it was hilarious.

So I sent her another one just before I picked her up.

Q: What kind of Mexican entree costs $200?

A: A Tac-Go!

And this proceeded a phone call with several more:

Q: What is a lawyer's favorite Mexican entree?

A: Case-adillas!

Q: What is a foot's favorite Mexican entree?

A: Toes-tadas!

And ... my favorite one of all ...

Q: What kind of Mexican entree do rulers eat by the dozen?

A: Inch-aladas!

(Go ahead ... laugh ... yes, it's stupid, but it's okay to laugh)



Sometimes, it's just good to be stupid and laugh. Got any to add?

I've Mentioned Before

I've mentioned before that I don't particularly care for bumper stickers.

Yet, one caught my eye today as I was driving around at lunch time, and I had to share it.

Hope it gets a smile from you, too, whatever your political affiliation:

People Who Annoy Me

This is a list that I'm building. It doesn't often have specific people on it, but I make exceptions. Rather, it usually is populated by people who tend to do a sort of thing.

And, today, I'm looking at you, Mr. "thinks that stopping briefly at a stop sign and then going regardless of right-of-way or who arrived first man".

Yes, this guy (non-gender specific term) annoys me.

Case in point.

Today, a little before five, I arrive at one of Findlay's most dangerous intersections, at the corner of Western and Sandusky (yeah, it's a boring town, and that's about as dangerous as it gets, give me a break, non-Findlay folk). I arrive and stop and the guy to my right goes, as does the guy to my left. As I'm starting to accelerate, the guy who had been behind the guy to my right decides he's made his stop and it's time for him to go. So he does.

Grrrr.

That is all.

People like you raise insurance rates and cause bad accidents, sir!

Enough is Enough

Do you ever want to get into a window and scream out to the rest of the world "enough!" or "enough is enough!"?

About any number of things.

Well, I finally reached that point last month. I didn't shout it from a rooftop, or a window, or a podium, or anything like that.

I just started to quietly go about my business to make it not what it was.

Let me tell you what happened last month.

I looked at myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw. At all. It drained my to realize that. It sapped away my confidence. And when you're in a sales industry, confidence is your #1 friend.

Then I got on the scale. And I weighed in at a completely unacceptable 269.5.

Two-hundred, sixty-nine, and one-half pounds.

Of flesh, and blood, and bone, and, most of all, fat.

And I said to myself, at that very moment, enough is enough. This is going to change.

Today, I got on my scale again, and I'm at a slightly more acceptable, yet still unacceptable 256.

Already down 13.

57 more to go.

But I feel I should celebrate the 13, because I think it's an accomplishment.

So, who wants to go the China Buffet with me to celebrate?

A Joke

Ok, so I'm a sucker for groaner jokes. The kind that make you groan, because they're so stupid, but yet you can't help but at least chuckle at them.

So, here's my favorite, and I'd love to hear your favorite "groaner" joke(s)


Two termites walk into a bar

One looks at the other and says "Hey, where's the bartender?"

The Power of Words

Yes, it's been a while since I've blogged.

So what.

I'm sure my readership of 5 has survived.

Anyways, I have a nice anecdote of how I saved $38.

So, Friday night, our Dish Network service went a little crazy. And by a little crazy, I mean that USA network refused to tune in, even though every other channel did. Which made me more than a little upset, because Friday night was the season debut of Psych.

But, I dealt with that, and watched something we had on DVR.

So, Saturday morning rolls around, and our Dish Network service is even more on the fritz. No channel is tuning in. So, I go online to Dish Network's live chat help desk. And through an hour of working on it, I finally get it back to where it was Friday night: USA not working. At this point, the program/person I was chatting with informed me that the only solution was to have a technician come out at a charge of $29. I told the program/person that I wouldn't pay that, and asked to speak to someone else, so I was instructed to call and talk to someone on the phone.

So, I called. And I got someone who at first wanted to walk me through all the steps I had spent an hour walking through with the online support. Once he realized I wasn't happy with that, he simply had me walk through to get him the readouts of the signals, and he concluded that the only solution was to have a technician come out for a cost of $29. So, I reminded him that if I simply moved my address, they would bring me a new dish for free. He was unimpressed with this information and told me there was no way to remove the fee, as I was already getting a $70 discount on the service.

I then made no mistake in the level of my voice as I asked Rachel "Do we still have the coupons or DirecTV?" This changed his tune a little bit, but he was adamant that there was nothing he could do about the fee. I told him I was frustrated that my four years of loyal service meant nothing, and that I was shocked that Dish Network would lose a customer for a measly $29.

And then he made a big mistake.

He said "Sir, I understand how you feel"

I snapped back with a

"No, you don't understand how I feel. You're not in my situation, and you cannot possibly understand how I feel. I'm in sales, sir, and I understand the trick you're trying to pull, and I can guarantee you, it won't work on me".

in quite the emphatic tone. And that's something I'm careful to never say to anyone. Because it's true: I'm not in their situation, and I don't know how they feel. I may have heard similar things, or been in a similar situation myself, but I don't know how they feel. But that's enough of my sidetrack.

Apparently, this was enough to finally change his tune, as he came back with "well, I can give you a credit on your next bill of $29 to cover this, so on your next bill, you will see a charge of $29 and a credit of $29. Is that acceptable?"

Of course, this is what I'd wanted since I made the phone call, so I said it was. Then, he informs me that he cannot schedule a technician to visit me until Friday. Which meant I'd have to go a week without the full service I'm paying for. So, I asked him if he really thought I should have to pay full price for a partial service for an entire week. He started to say one thing, stopped himself, and with great reluctance said "I'm authorized to give you a credit of $8 on your bill this month because of the inconvenience, is that acceptable?"

Well, it was, and that's how I went from them wanting me to pay them $29 to them giving me back $8.

Not bad, I'd say.

Back in the '30's

So, I normally don't post about or pass along an online quiz, but this one tickled my fancy and was unique enough to pass along ...

103 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

I Feel

I feel ... like myself again.

And I didn't remember how good it felt.

About two-and-a-half weeks ago, I had a migraine headache. I no longer have my old prescription drugs that allow me to actually kill my migraine. Just OTC drugs that help me kill the symptoms and get on with my life.

Well, the effects of this particular migraine had been lingering, even if I didn't want to admit it. Finally, today, I feel free of them. My head isn't cloudy and swimming, and I don't perpetually feel semi-loopy, and I haven't felt dizzy all day.

It's a wonderful feeling.

But this one was lingering almost as long as the first one I was diagnosed with. And I needed to take a shot of Demerol in the but to get rid of that one.

Glad I didn't need to go through that again.

Rules of the Game

Or, rather, odd rules that I seem to live by.

More particularly, music rules.

It seems that for certain songs, I almost involuntarily react a certain way when they come on the radio. I can't explain it. Unless it would almost certainly cause me physical harm, I have a reaction to certain songs. It's almost a rule.

Here's the ones on the top of my head I can think of:

-Hang on Sloopy, by the McCoys. When this comes on I have to do the O-H-I-O during the chorus, unless of course I am driving in heavy traffic or getting a haircut (almost made that mistake once)
-Livin' on a Prayer, by Bon Jovi. When this comes on I have to crank up my radio about as loud as it can go, and sing along with the chorus, usually at near the top of my lungs.
-Dare, by Stan Bush and You Got the Touch, by Stan Bush. Every time I hear this song, I start quoting random lines from Transformers: The Movie
-Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen. Wayne's World reenactment, or at least as close as I can come.

I'm sure there are others, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Anyone else have this reaction to certain songs? If so, what are the songs and rules of your life?

Late to the Party

Ok, so I am horribly late to the party, but I have recently discovered the awesomeness that is Podcasts and subscriptions thereof. It's nice to have information I want ready at my fingertips when I want it, and delivered to me automatically on a regular basis.

So, I'm looking for suggestions to add to my list. Things that would be good for me. Along my interests and that jazz. So, please, feel free to fire away. Here's what I'm subscribed to so far:

SalesRoundUp
Daves Ramsey
Relevant Magazine


(And what are the odds Trevor and/or Ryan suggest the jOURney teaching podcast to me? I'd say right around 100% ... or at least they would have, had I not posted this.

iTunes Update

A little behind this month, but oh well. Let's see what we've got:

Top 25 Most Played:

1. Ellery - Anna
2. Fort Minor f. Styles of Beyond - Remember the Name
3. Pillar - For the Love of the Game
4. Stan Bush - You Got the Touch
5. P.O.D. - Alive
6. Switchfoot - Ammunition
7. Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down
8. Leeland - Hey
9. O.C. Supertones - Who Can Be Against Me?
10. Skillet - Collide
11. Thousand Foot Krutch - Rawkfist
12. Flyleaf - Fully Alive
13. Disciple - Rise up
14. Hawk Nelwon - Everything You Ever Wanted
15. Terry Cashman - Talkin' Baseball (Baseball and the Tribe)
16. Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
17. U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
18. 12 Stones - Lie to ME
19. P.O.D. - Change the World
20. Plain White T's - Hey there Deliliah
21. Skillet - A Little More
22. Deleriou5? - Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?
23. GRITS - Here We Go
24. Skillet - Rebirthing
25. Switchfoot - Meant to Live

New this Month

Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love

iTunes Update

May 1 ... let's see where we're at ...

1. Ellery - Anna
2. Fort Minor (f. Styles of Beyond) - Remember the Name (Clean)
3. Stan Bush - You Got the Touch
4. Switchfoot - Ammunition
5. P.O.D. - Alive
6. Pillar - For the Love of the Game
7. Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down
8. Flyleaf - Fully Alive
9. Hawk Nelson - Everything You Ever Wanted
10. O.C. Supertones - Who Can Be Against Me?
11. Skillet - Collide
12. Thousand Foot Kruth - Rawkfist
13. Tom Petty - Free Falling
14. U2 - Pride (In The Name of Love)
15. Disciple - Rise Up
16. P.O.D. - Change the World
17. Skillet - A Little More
18. Terry Cashman - Talkin' Baseball (Baseball and the Tribe)
19. 12 Stones - Lie to Me
20. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
21. Tait - All You Got
22. never|the|same - Lives of Grace
23. Leeland - Hey
24. Pillar - Bring Me Down
25. Skillet - Rebirthing


New this month:

Leeland - Hey
David Crowder Band - Here is Our King
Randy Newman - Burn On
The Toggs - Wild Thing
The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
Delirious? - Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?



as always, suggestions on things I may like based on this schizophrenic music list are always welcome ...

1%

So, a little while back, I made a post about what I want. And I listed off several things. But I also named a #1 thing. And that was a signed and completed M0138 form. That form would create my first official group with Aflac.

Well, yesterday, I did an enrollment to finalize my first official group with Aflac. And, man, did it feel good.

I finally feel like I've got momentum and confidence in the field. It certainly wasn't an easy group to get (cold call, plenty of objections, etc), but it's done. My first group.

My first SSC told us that to really have a good career with Aflac, you need 100 groups. That means I'm 1% of the way there. Only 99 more to go!

99 more groups to get on the wall, 99 more groups to get ... I get one signed up, then enroll them ... (you know how the song goes) ...

Here's to more success.

(BTW, I leared while searching for that picture that August 5th is International Beer Day. Who wants to celebrate with me?)

Now that's customer service

Don't you just love automated e-mails from the companies you work with?

For instance, this past weekend, I filed our state and federal taxes with hrblock.com. Painless enough, and simple enough, and just the easiest way to do so (and the last year I can do it that way, next year my forms will be too complex with actual income from Aflac to worry about ... didn't quite make enough on my 1099-MISC this year to make it worthwhile to get a professional).

So, today, I get an e-mail from hrblock.com telling me that time is running out and I need to file soon. Apparently, they didn't get their own memo.

Just made me chuckle.

In addition, I am mad at San Fransisco Oven. They up and moved out of Findlay with no advance warning that I was aware of. And they keep e-mailing me really good coupons.

Jerks.