I attended Shawnee High School in Medford, NJ for my junior and senior years of high school. I played football both of those years, working my way up from the new kid on the block to junior varsity to varsity back-up to varsity starter and one of the best players on the team. Every fall, I think back and reminisce on those days. There's a certain nostalgia this time of year, from the smell of cut grass that reminds me of two-a-days at the very end of summer to the crisp aut

"The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere." -- Michel de Montaigne I've known of at least a couple people who are completely lost in life, jumping from one thing to the next -- job to job, educational degree to educational degree, and relationship to relationship -- not out of any sense of curiosity or wanderlust, but rather out of an apparent incapability to know their true selves, like a blind person walking until hitting a wal

"Amiga, amigo: si usted cada vez sonríe menos, algo serio está pasando. Haga la prueba del espejo, sonría muy cerquita y observe." -- starting at 3:14 in the song above

I lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a handful of my middle school years. It was one of those years that I started running track and field, something that I eventually got good at, particularly the 110-meter high hurdles. That's a story for another day, though. Today's story is about the first time I went with my team to an invitational track meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I distinctly remember getting off our team bus and smelling the smell of chocolate in the air. It

"The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses; When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness." -- Proverbs 3:33-34, from Today's Reading Working in the field of law, I've observed arrogance and bullying behavior in action, particularly among some attorneys. Sometimes certain clients may like to see this sort of behavior by someone representing their interests in Court. I pray to God, no matter

I attended Gettysburg College for my undergraduate studies. During my freshman year, although I realized the attraction of joining a fraternity for the sake of being part of a clique and having a ready-made social life, I resisted and did not pledge a fraternity. The next year, though, my sophomore year, I gave in to the pressure of both the above-mentioned points and pledged a fraternity. I'm no longer in contact with any of the members of my fraternity and joining is one

Toes digging in the warm sand. Sea breeze rustling your hair. The sound of seagulls nearby, along with the steady crash of waves. The sun strong and insistent upon your skin. You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think, life is good.

Puma, Wagner, Heslin, Scotty B., Ragone, Nate Hall, and others . . . It's still hard at times to fully grasp that these guys have passed away. It's hard to put my feelings into words. I'll keep it simple, and suffice it to say that I think about each of you from time to time.

I periodically cite quotations at the beginning of my blog entries as a starting point for my written thoughts that follow. I shouldn't have to say this, but I'll do so to make clear for the record: just because I quote someone doesn't mean that I agree with them 100% or even at all. If the requirement was that my beliefs must be in complete and total congruence with someone else in order for me to quote them, then I wouldn't quote anyone at all, ever. (I'm not so sure that

Today is a good day for the simple fact that we are alive. It won't always be so, so do not take it for granted. The present is a gift. And the future lies before you. Make of it what you will. Today is a good day, it's up to you to make it even better.