The Second Coming...

... Of a hall of fame quarterback to the Denver Broncos... decipher that as you see fit ;)

In case you haven't heard loyal reader, Peyton Manning has decided to continue his career with the Denver Broncos. I have a lot of mixed feeling about it, but overall, I like the acquisition. Looking forward to this season even more now.

So let's talk what the acquisition means, and let's start with the Broncos team and organization. Like I mentioned in my previous post, Manning is a class act on and off the field. He gives the defense time to recover and rest when he has the offense on the field, makes the offense smarter with play calling and decision making, and makes the coaches job easier and let's the coaches focus elsewhere. Where I come from, those are all wins. One of the biggest perks of Manning vs. Tim Tebow is his experience and leadership... things every team needs. I know there are questions about his health and if this is a big risk, and the truth is, it is a risk... just like any other player in the NFL. No one likes it, but injuries are part of the game. Look at Elvis Dumervil. Awesome season, awesome health, then goes out the whole season very early in the (pre) season due to a practice drill. And, like Peyton, Elvis came back and preformed well (had a little more help on the line with Von Miller, so his numbers were down, but still played great). The doctors from all the teams interested said Peyton passed their physical, and he's still recovering everyday. Plus, if he didn't think he could play, do you think he would? Guy has enough money and is already going to be in the hall of fame...

Speaking of Tebow, I applaud him like I have a good chunk of the time he's been in Denver. Even with speculation of signing Manning, he didn't cry and wine and want to be traded like another quarterback (who's name starts with J and ends in Cutler). He's been quiet and letting things happen (and I like to think he's been growing and learning). If it were up to me, Tebow would stay on the team and learn from the future and current hall of famers (to become a hall of famer himself), but we'll see what happens. Aaron Rodgers and Cry Baby Phillip Rivers are good examples of QBs ridding the bench and learning from HOF QBs (Brett Farve and Drew Brees, respectively). With that said, it looks like Tebow will be traded. This disappoints me, but from a business perspective, it makes sense. Tim Tebow's trade value may never be higher, especially if he's riding the bench... The Broncos also owe it to Tebow to let him find a team that will play him, since it appears Elway never loved the guy. I have to wonder who will back up Manning though, since I feel like an injury is possible (as mentioned above)...

It's hard to believe the circus of signing Manning was only 12 days long (he was officially released from the Colts on the 7th of March)... And even though it only took 12 days, it seemed much, MUCH longer. I felt the decision was holding the Broncos hostage. I would have been FURIOUS had Peyton decided on a different team. I do feel for the Titans who also went in pretty deep, changing their Free Agency strategy. I don't feel much for the 49ers who already have a stellar team (and now might be losing Alex Smith due to their interest in PM). The Dolphins just dug themselves into a hole (wonder if they are now happy they passed on Kyle Orton), and the Cardinals were just in the wrong position (and conference) at the wrong time. It'll be interested to see how Free Agency falls out from this point forward for the entire NFL, in addition to the draft (and the Tebow trade?) and what former Colts make their way to Denver (i.e. Saturday, Clark, and Stokley, among others).

As I mentioned, I do like the signing.  Like anything, there are pros and cons. I think the pros are more obvious and I've mentioned those previously, so what are the cons? Well, the cost for one. Someone wooed excessively will never come cheap. The Broncos have the cap space and the money, but should they have pursued multiple defensive players instead? Was this a good use of money for the Broncos? Personally, I think so. Like I said, Peyton keeps the offense on the field longer and helps the defense rest and be fresh when they take the field.  Another con could be the timing Peyton have left. He turns 36 on Saturday, so what? Three, four years? Then what? Tebow's young and could be groomed, but I'm starting to think the organization doesn't have much faith in Tim developing into what they want... To go with that, who can back up Manning? I hope Denver has a plan, because people get hurt... Finally, what about the supporting cast? If it's tailored to Peyton, will the team gel around his back up and successor? We saw how that has gone for the Indianapolis Colts... Hope Elway and co. have that in the back of their minds...

So, overall, I am really excited to have Manning on board as a Bronco. I'll be sad to see Tebow go, but it could be what's best for all parties involved. There are risks, but "risk is the sweetener of life, so indulge" (anonomous)... Here we go, Bronco Country!

Crockett to Manning: "Hurry the Hell Up."

Broomfield, CO - Local Bronco fan and Captain Awesome himself Clint Crockett has a message for Peyton Manning: "Hurry the hell up."

"Listen, I want Peyton Manning in a Bronco's uniform," says Crockett, "but I'm sick of the team being held hostage". As of 6:00 EST on 3/15/2012, the 3rd day of Free Agency, the Denver Broncos have only signed one free agent and have yet to sign DT Brodrick Bunkley, the team's priority signing.

Crockett would love to see Manning sign with the Broncos. "I understand all the excitement around Manning. He makes a team better on and off the field. He makes the receivers better, he makes the offensive line work heard, and he gives the defense more of a break... Not to mention he is basically an offensive coordinator on the field." Crockett even went on to say that he think Tim Tebow should stay and learn from Manning. "(Manning is a ) future hall of famer. Even if Tebow and Manning play two different styles, how could you not learn from one of the greatest quarterback's of all time?"

When Crockett was asked about the Bronco's competition to sign manning, he said, "Well, Miami is an organization that's a mess and really in repair mode with the offense, so they're out. Arizona doesn't have the cap room and play in the NFC, against his brother (Eli), so I think they're out. Guess that leaves Tennessee, though I do not understand the appeal. Chris Johnson is slowing down and the o-line isn't helping, not to mention there's no one to throw the ball to."

Crockett also says this about Bud Adams' offer of a life time contract, "Mike Shanahan once had a life time contract, look how that worked out. Not only did he get lazy and self centered, but he loss the appeal of the fans and the faith of the team." Crockett also mentioned that when Bud Adams passes on, all bets could be off. "The selling point of life after football shouldn't matter for Peyton. He'll be able to do that almost anywhere, including Indianapolis."

When asked to summarize his feelings, Crockett said, "Denver is a great place to live. Lots to do, great weather, and not really that big or hard to get around. You want solitude, you can find it hear. The Broncos organization is making great strides to success, and that will only continue with or without Peyton... hopefully with."

"Bozley, You Are My Little Gentlemen..."

"...I'll take you to foggy London town 'cause you are my little gentleman..."

Okay, that song is really about Baxter from Anchorman, but it applies here.

In case you haven't heard, Carolyn and I became "parents" on February 3rd. We adopted a 15 pound, "three year old" Beagle (Chihuahua) Mix that we named "Bozley" (he's like Madonna or Cher, he only needs one name). After about a month, I think I'm ready to share some pictures and some thoughts on our little gentleman.

I think of Bozley like a superhero... Origins unknown. All we know is he was originally picked up in New Mexico... that's it. The shelter thinks he is three years old (with his birthday being 1/24/2009), but I think he's younger than that. He's still very active, like's to chew on things (luckily, mostly his stuff), and kinda puppy like, hence, I think he's younger. Regardless, our little gentleman is not potty trained (as we learned that the hard way), but he LOVES people and is pretty good at the "sit" command... this makes me think he belonged to someone but was an outdoor dog. He seems to like everything we feed him and he does not like other dogs, making me think he might have been on his own for while before being picked up by the dog catcher. Other than those thoughts, it's a mystery, like Wolverine...

We've had Bozley less than a month, but I can tell you that I love him and I'm pretty sure he loves us. He's so funny sometimes. He sleeps in our room in his bed (not allowed on ours), and as soon as one of our alarms go off, he's up ("snooze" is a foreign term to him apparently). But then he gets up and goes lie on the couch (he LOVES the couch) while we get ready, getting up every once and again to see what the deal is. Right now, we are leaving him in the crate while we're gone, though I think he's getting better all the time about "holding it in" until we get outside (In fact, I think when we're not home, he just sleeps, the rest the time, WATCH OUT! ;).

I like to think our boy is pretty smart. He's pretty good on walks, and we're teaching him some tricks... He's gotten better since this video...



We're working on "watch me", "high five", and "shake" right now... wish us luck (he's already making progress)... What other tricks should we teach our little man in the future?

Our only complaint about our "Winkleboz" is how well he does - or does not - get along with other dogs. Actually, we don't know that. What we do know is Bozley goes nuts when other dogs are around. We'll be working on that as much as possible of course. Luckily, we'll have some help. With our weekly training at Petsmart, our walks around our neighborhood, and with Seren, we're hoping to see improvement sooner rather than later. Any suggestions on socializing are welcomed.

Now that I got the complaint out of the way, I can talk more about why I love "my special little guy." First of all, he's adorable. In case you haven't noticed, he's cute just sitting there. Then seeing him follow you where ever you go and know he wants to make you happy, well, that's the icing on the cake. If our little boy shows you his stomach, you can try to resist it, but I do not think you'll succeed. As you can imagine, Care and I were both leery on getting a dog, but when we made the more spontaneous action and got Bozley, well, there hasn't been a moment of regret. And while I'm writing this, Boz is curled up next to me after making his nest of some blanks on HIS couch... I wasn't kidding when I said cute.

So Care and I are proud to be parents. Of course, we'll raise Bozley with what we've seen and loved with our previous and family dogs, Hambone, Psycho, King, Chowder, Doc, and Seren. We're excited to pass on those experiences/thoughts with Bozley, and even more excited to share our baby with the world. And if your not yet convinced on how cute and awesome Bozley is, and why it's so great to have a pup, I invite you to watch the video below...

End of Season Bronco Review...

... Like I know what I am talking about ;)

So now that I've had some time to sit and process the Broncos season, I thought I would share my thoughts on the past year and on what to expect (& want) from the future.

Overall, it would be difficult to not call this season a success. Personally, I thought we would be lucky to go 4-12... Instead, we went 8-8, made the playoffs, and won a playoff game... The Broncos went as far as the Saints, Texans, and Packers, and farther than the Steelers, Bengals, Falcons, and Lions... Looking back to that 1-4 start, who would have thought eh?

I hope the Broncos realize now that this raises the bar for next year, with the potential of both coordinators coaching others teams. Hope this also motivates the off season training to be intense.

Let's review each segment of the team, hand out some cheers and jeers, and see what else comes up, shall we?

Offense - All we heard about most of the year was Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow's a winner. Tim Tebow can't be a quarterback in this league. Tim Tebow this, Tim Tebow that... I'll talk more about Tebow later, but instead, I thought I would comment on other parts of this group. Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker finally came to play, the Offense Line has gotten better (wouldn't know it from that Patriots playoff game, but still), we had a run game, and we didn't turn the ball over as much as it seemed at time. These are all great STEPS and the team must keep working on it.

Offense MVP - Has to be Willis McGahee. This "washed up" running back came to play and he took advantage of the opportunity when Knowshon Marino was hurt - either at the beginning of the season with a hamstring issue or when he was added to the Injured Reserve (IR) later in the season. McGahee isn't perfect, and has to work like the rest of the team to improve, but it appears he has some "gas left in the tank" that he's willing to burn for the team.

Honorable Mentions - Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Tim Tebow

Offense LVP - Eddie Royal. Remember when he was going to be the future of the franchise? That was 3 years ago... since then? NOTHING much. He had some great catches, and some great hustle, but he hasn't done much to step up as a playmaker. He's third on the depth chart, where he should be, but he's the veteran starter now that Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney are gone and should be leading the youngsters, vs. the other way around. His special teams play will keep him on the team, but he really needs to step up his game if he wants to be a success.

Other Mentions - Ryan Clady, Julius Thomas, Orlando Franklin

X Factor - ... Tebow. His offseason is what will make or break this team. He had a good year, but he really needs to depend on himself and not the defense or the opponent to succeed. Now, I think Tim has the work ethic to really improve, and I think a lot of people forget that a) he didn't have any kind of offseason or training camp last year due to the lockout and b) He wasn't trained to the starter at the beginning of training camp... He doesn't get either excuse this year, plus he gets training from hall of fame quarterback John Elway, so he HAS to perform... his career (and possibly others), his team, and everything depends on it.

Defense - What a different a year makes huh? This team came to play and did a decent job making key plays when they had too, especially at the beginning of the year. I would like to see more turnovers and initial tackles made from this group next year...

Defense MVP - HAS to be our buddy Von Miller. Yes, he was drafted 2nd and everyone had high hopes, but guess who didn't disappoint? He should be defensive rookie of the year. He had 11.5 sacks in the regular season, but really, he should have had more. The injury to his thumb/hand didn't do him any favors... BIG expectations next year.

Honorable Mentions - Elvis Dumervil, Champ Bailey, Brodrick Bunkley

Defense LVP - ... Andre Goodman. The receiver he was covering was always making plays. I realize he had some important interceptions throughout the year, but they were more luck than anything (Mark Sanchez through the ball right to him, as did Chris Ponder). Most the time, he couldn't keep up with his man and, after all the effort the defense put forth, the team either was scored on or at least "moved that chains." He's had a couple bad years, and I think it's obvious why Miami let him go...

X factor - Robert Ayers. You heard his name mentions with tackles and sacks the more the season went on... This is because he's a 4-3 defensive back and is actually doing what he was drafted to do... If he keeps improving, the line can really get better and stop the run/pressure & sack the QB... I have the faith, but it's a wild shot for sure.

Special Teams - Prater can kick... period. Sign him and hold on as long as you can.
Britton Colquitt is pretty good too... Our returns could be better... maybe Royal should only return kicks...

Coaching - Again, what a difference a year makes huh? I like John Fox, and I think he got better as the year went on. Now that he's established with the organization and the players, it's time to not be as conservative... having Tebow improve will allow that. Fox has the talent, now it's time to use it to the full potential (this isn't a high school football team after all). I'm hoping the coordinator positions will be staffed with the same coordinators as last year, or at least someone on the same level, as that could really affect the game. But with a team solidifying, the playbook can grow and be better than ever.

So the draft - The Broncos need to focus on the defense more than anything. I believe Bailey should be switching to safety, which means we need a good cornerback (especially if Goodman leaves like I think he should), maybe a safety (though I like Carter more and more and maybe, just MAYBE, Moore can improve), and then defensive lineman (I like the linebackers, though we could always improve).

As for free agency, we need a QB to back up Tebow, a veteran for sure, especially since Tebow is still a youngster and could still use some mentoring. A running back in an option, though I think Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson deserve a shot as well. I'm not a coach, so I'm not going to dissect what else the team needs.

There are my year end thoughts on this SUCCESSFUL Broncos team... very excited for what the future holds and I hope the organization can really build on this past seasons accomplishments...

Thanks for reading! Comments (and other feedback) are always appreciated!

So This is the New Year (2012)

Once again, I’m not going to start this blog with my traditional "The New Year" song lyrics (written by Death Cab for Cutie) since I've done it a couple times before, but if you would like to see those lyrics, which are very fitting, see my "So This is the New Year (2008)..." post.

But I have a great feeling about 2012... especially since 2011 was pretty awesome... I think 2012 is going to be full of change, and I'm excited about it.

So, without further adieu, let's review my 2011 resolutions...

Improving my culinary skills even more... Again... Fail. I made a few fun meals, but nothing worth bragging about. Ever since Carolyn moved in, she does more of the cooking, I do the dishes. It's a great system, especially since Carolyn makes some great meals, but I hope to at least contribute more in 2012... but I'm not adding this to my resolutions for next year.

Volunteering... at all! Sad. Another fail. I looked into it, and it just never worked out. My only saving grace was my donating in 2011 was much more than years past. At least $20 a month (which will continue to be the case in 2012), plus raising almost $400 for Junior Achievement, and almost $1,000 for prostate cancer/men's health awareness in "Movember"... I dunno if I'll do those events again and/or raise as much cash, but I hope to make up the difference in donated time :)

Complete at least two home improvement projects... Finally, Success! And big thanks to Carolyn for this one. When she moved in, I installed new locks and new blinds, along with buying and assembling furniture (not all of it was from IKEA) and helping Carolyn add her personal touch through decorating and painting. I feel better now.

Learn some new skills and things... Alright, another success. Between brewing beer with my brothers and taking Improv classes compliments of Carolyn, I feel like I learned a lot and I'm lucky that I get to keep learning with the beer, and maybe the improv at a later date...

Make some positive moves professionally... Ugh... This is basically a no. With the economy and other factors, no big changes professionally... Could be a lot worse, and I'm not complaining, just wish I could meet this goal.

Physically, I want to gain 10 lbs by the end of the year and be in better shape that I am now... I'm going to go ahead and say this is in progress. To be honest, I think I achieved this a one point in the year, but didn't keep on all the weight (slowed down on my workouts a bit), so making progress, achieved, then loss the goal... but still pushing.

I want to do an even better job communicating and updating with all my friends... Made a dent and got a start going on with this. Making arrangements for lots of gatherings, including my 30th birthday and a few happy hours...

To go along with that last one, I would also like to spend more time with family... I think this is a success. Luckily I've been able to see a lot of my parents, including holidays and fun events. I've seen my brothers a lot more too, especially since we have been brewing brew together... no complaints.

This one might be a little of a surprise... I would love to catch more shows and observe more culture... Ugh... I guess this is a no. Only went to three concerts and one show... REALLY hope that changes next year...

Finally, I would like to Blog more... Success! Given, my topics weren't the greatest or deepest, but at least I was able to share some thoughts and things on my mind at the time. Now that I've raised the bar...

All in all, 2011, was a great year. Lots of fun hanging with friends and family, and semi productive... now to work off of that for 2012...

Volunteering... SOMETHING! This is the year. Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, SOMETHING would be great! Open to suggestions, and looking for people to join...

Complete at least two home improvement projects... Right now, I'm short on project ideas, but I'm open to any suggestions.

Learn at least two new skills and things... I have a guitar, but I don't really know how to play it... I want that to change. Also thinking of taking the plunge... and buying a DSLR camera... and I would need to learn to use it (and take a refresher on Photoshop)... We'll see what else comes along.

Make some positive moves professionally... This one is tough. Hard to make a move right now... But I'm 30 years old, I have some great experience, now to use that to use it to my advantage and make some magic happen ;)

Physically, I want to be 150 lbs by the end of the year and be in better shape that I am now... I dunno why I can't hold onto weight... There are worse problems to have I suppose... Anyway, Carolyn and I joined the Paul Derta Rec Center, so my lifting routines can now have a little more variety, and I can play hoops again!.. Plus, guess who's captain of a dude's indoor soccer team? VERY excited to start that again (if you know anyone looking to play, let me know ;)

I want to do an even better job communicating and updating with all my friends... The Happy Hours will continue... As well as game nights, poker games, and a BBQ (tentative)... and we'll see what else I can muster up ;)

To go along with that last one, I would also like to spend a good amount of time with family... We did good on this one, like to go two for two... Think that can happen, especially with the beer brewing continuing...

I'm hoping I can catch more shows and observe more culture...... Part of the reason spending time with my rents won't be an issue is we bought season tickets to the Denver Performing Arts Complex this year... that makes me VERY happy... Hoping some good shows come through the area this year too... it's been to long since I've seen anything at Red Rocks...

Finally, I would like to Blog at least once a month... I like writing. I like sharing. I like giving people the option to read what's on my mind... so why not right? Almost succeed with this last year, might as well role with the momentum... and I already have some great ideas (at least I think think their great). Stay tuned... ;)

Yeah, I know, there's not much new or surprising here, but I have a feeling it's going to be a big year, so I want to leave some room open for things that might come up and/or happen...

Anyway, here’s wishing all of you a great 2012 and that it is more the best year yet (especially since this is the last year before the world ends, according to those Mayans). Feel free to write me, call me, whatever, and let me know how it’s going, since it’s always nice to hear from you.

Happy New Year!

Clint
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It's Time...

... For everyone to accept social media and jump on the bandwagon.

Hello again true believers! As always, thanks for reading this nonsense. Believe it or not, this is fun for me, and not only that, it is semi therapeutic...

Back to my point. Social media is huge, as we all know. I heard that one in 12 people in the world is a facebook user... and I heard that sometime over the summer, so the ratio could be different now. That's only facebook mind you. And that's not just the United States, which I would think would be an even crazier ratio. How many of your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other family members are using social media? I have all of the previously mentioned family members on facebook plus some. Co workers, family friends, childhood friends, school yard chums, and you name it, they're using social media. And social media is being used to meet future significant others, potential bosses/co workers, volunteer captains, and future amigos...

So why are the other 11 people in the group of 12 not using facebook, which we'll assume is the most popular? I've heard a number of reasons, some of which I'll address now.

- "I don't want everyone to know everything about me." To me, this is an extremely silly statement. All of these social media sites let you set your security level. You can set up who sees what, whether it's pictures, your thoughts, your location, who you interact with, and so on. Guess what? You can even customize who can see anything by reaching out to others or accepting/declining requests from others. I'll touch on why people should join later, but as you can see, this excuse doesn't hold much water with me.

- "I would never use it/update it." So? No one is asking you to update your social media sites often. Heck, you don't even sign in if you don't want to. I feel that in today's world, being a part of social media is a great way to stay in touch and have a constant point of contact with the world. Have your settings to receive e-mails, then log in when you have a certain number or a notification from certain people, whatever.

- "I'm fine without using it." Yeah, you might be. But to anyone who says this, I never, NEVER want to hear about how you missed out on an event, news, or anything really. The Nuggets recently resigned their biggest free agent, and guess how I found out about it? That's right, social media, actually quite a bit before I read more on ESPN.

Those are only a few of the examples I can think of why I have heard not to use social media... If you hear of more, let me know, I'll argue them too.

So now the fun part: Why should anyone join a social media site... here we go.

- TO STAY IN TOUCH! This is the biggest reason anyone and everyone should be a part of some social networking site. As mentioned earlier, having a social media page is an excellent source to reach out to someone. Let's face it, people move, e-mail addresses change, phones get lost, people change jobs, and names change. By having a social media interest, you can ensure you’re available to stay in the know either through watching or having a central point of contact... plus, you can use social media to log in with other sites, and I personally like the idea of having one less password to remember.

- Use the functions of social media. Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, and others are constantly updating their platform to be more user friendly. For example, facebook just added the timeline feature, which can be neat to see when some major event happened in someone's life. You can use facebook to set up events, sharing time, location, details, and even pictures for the event with public or just those invited. I'm hoping someday Google Plus integrates Plus with Calendar and events. Twitter keeps it more simple, and I like that (you decide who to follow and if that person wants to follow you, great, but they don't have to). There are some cool ideas in the works too, so it keeps it interesting. I like how businesses are using social media in addition to their other business/marketing plans. Contests, special offers, coupons, company info, and contact options all found in the same place you can find info about your friends... One other feature, you can customize what you see and with whom you are interacting. I like that you can be friends with someone, but block their status updates (among other shared data), because, let's face it, there are some silly things people post online.

- Back up pictures. I had to mention this separately as I feel this is a huge "pro". We’re in the time of digital pictures (no idea what kind of "film" they even produce anymore). And with Camera's being AT LEAST 10 megapixels, e-mailing photos is a thing of the past... so how do we visually share memories, events, and just plain fun? That's right boys and girls, social media. Not only that, but I really like the idea of adding photos to social media sites to back them up because, let's face it, their servers and networking infrastructure are much better equipped for security and back up then our local PC hard drives...

- Niche Sites. I do like that different social networking sites are used different ways. Best example: LinkedIn. This social networking site is to be used strictly for professional networking... and is set up to strictly for that purpose. Yes, you can link it to other sites (like twitter), but you don't have to and only should if it's for professional purposes. Believe it or not, MySpace is still around. With the customization allowed for this site, I feel that this is more pointed toward the younger generations. Let’s not forget about the number of dating sites out there. Whether general, like Match.com, or more specific, like J date, there’s something there for every single it seems. There are even some set up primarily for gaming (sorry I have no examples, I haven't been using these). See? Something for everyone and every interest.

Let me know if you think of more reason to jump on the bandwagon of these social networking sites.

I'm not going to lie, social media isn't perfect. I like playing games, but their interaction with social networking sites doesn't sell me. If fact, I hate knowing how someone's farm in Farmville is doing, or what achievements someone had with Words with Friends. Also not a fan of all the spamming that can occur with fake accounts and virus links (just like instant messaging and e-mail). Additionally, some people do go overboard with it. I don't need to know how you're feeling ALL THE TIME. I don't need to know that you THINK life is constantly hard/a struggle. In fact, don't be surprised if I have a post in 2012 with the tune of "Clint Crockett's Guide to Social Networking". But, with all that said, I'm a HUGE fan of where we are going and think it's time we embrace the change and settle in, because I'm pretty confident that if a popular motion picture about one social networking site's creation is in existence, then social media isn't going anywhere.

As always, thanks for reading everyone. Love to hear back from you, so feel free to leave a comment or two :)

Clint

My Thoughts/Experience With No Shave November or "Movember"

Hello again faithful readers.

Hope this finds you well. Hope your holidays are filled with love and good cheer :)

So I think you all should be aware of, I participated in No Shave November, or "Movember" for the first year ever. An interesting experience to say the least, but worthwhile for sure. Thought I would share some thoughts about the events in the last month.

First, I have to mention how generous people were for their giving with this cause, especially a number of my co workers at Staples. I originally thought I would lucky to raise $100, then $200, then $300, then $500, and ending with aiming for $1,000. I was only $50 short as of this entry (donations still welcomed and appreciated at http://mobro.co/clintcrockett). A big thank you to all of you who have (or will) contribute. I do plan to thank you in a more personal way as well.

Second, my facial hair grows quicker than I thought. I remember growing out my beard my senior year of college and feeling like I barely made a dent... not the case anymore. Long, shaggy, itchy, I'm am truly a man's man now... Not sure how I feel about it. Either way, it is what it is.

Third, there are a lot more people doing this then I thought. And most of them are doing it to be a part of something to raise awareness and rally people together. I'm glad I raised funds in addition to the awareness part, but I am touched by how many others take it among themselves to pay tribute to men and men's health... And I hope next year will be even bigger.

Next, I do believe this is a little bit of a sacrifice. At the beginning, my skin was the works I think it's ever been... As the hair grew out, it got better, but it's tough to shave again (I'm sensitive). I never really had much of a sacrifice in the sense of looking professional, but I could see that being a barrier. The biggest obstacle though was not being able to get as close to Carolyn. She didn't complain, she grinned and "beard" it, but I know there were times when she didn't appreciate it. Heck, towards the end, there would be times I'd go in for a kiss that would be interrupted by my nose neighbor going up her nose or rubbing her the wrong way (puns are fun). Thanks for being so tolerant for the cause care :)

Yes, I will be doing this next year. My goal is already set at $1,000... for my team. That's right, I think we can get some more peeps aboard the "Mo Foos" team and raise some cash for prostate cancer foundation, LiveStrong, and other men's health organizations (don't believe me? Check out the website http://us.movember.com/about/). I also might trim and groom a little more than this past year, maybe just do the mustache, whatever it takes to get attention and sponsorship... who's in?

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure has done amazing things and raised insane amounts of money for breast cancer treatment, research, and awareness, but they've done all of this in the name of women (who are much more strongly affected by breast cancer, though men can get it too. Ask my Grandpa). I really feel like November should be Prostate Cancer awareness month (according to WebMD, "About 80 percent of men who reach age 80 have prostate cancer cells in their prostate"). But we don't need a ribbon, we have our mustaches (AKA Mos) to spread the word and show our support, but that ladies should wear a light blue ribbon, per Wikipedia. Next year, I hope to rally even more support, drum more interest, and really get the ball rolling on this movement, and I hope you'll join me.

There you go, my thoughts on the past month. Hope you agree, but if you don't, that's cool. Regardless on how you feel, I hope you keep your loved ones close and count your blessings over the holiday season... And remember, a new year is right around the corner.

Drop me a line soon amigos!

Clint

P.S. If you have a loved one fighting cancer, make sure to check out FamilyAssets.