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Do you find yourself kinking up rather easily these days? Memory not what it used to be? As I lie in bed in the middle of the afternoon on a rather rainy Fourth of July, I got to thinking.  Was I actually going to lounge around on a national holiday because of the weather? Where has my energy gone? Was I secretly relieved that the rain may excuse me from having to wear myself down during festivities?  Then, as I let the claws of guilt get a hold of me to spring me from my afternoon slumber, I heard my husband declare from across the room, that the stiff body and lack of energy I was feeling was actually rigamortis setting in (thank goodness he could offer such encouraging words of motivation).  But it did get me thinking. Memory loss?  Yes. Because I am too busy.  My mind is constantly focusing on things from family and home, to work, appointments and schedules.  Alzheimer’s?  No way, just busy that’s all. Tired?  Yes.  Because I am too busy.  I try to fit as much as I possibly can in each day because I never know what wrench may be thrown the next day that could put me in a bind, so I have to stay ahead of the game. Then it hit me.  Should I just start taking it easy?  Cave to the inevitable.  Sorry, I just can’t do it.  I feel like if I slow down, I may never get back on track, so I always try to challenge myself.  I may have a couple days that I have to recoup, but then it’s on.  I get right back on track and set a new goal. I never pictured myself past my 40s, so in the coming years it’s going to get interesting. I just found out I have allergies and as much as it caught me by surprise, it wore me out in the blink of an eye.  I don’t know exactly what I am allergic to yet, but I do know I’ve never had allergies before.  The symptoms were severe enough that it warranted a trip to the doctors and some serious shots and medications.  Things are changing and some things I will have to learn to manage, but others, I will simply keep pushing the envelope. Eat balanced meals, exercise and get rest.  Sure, I will do it, but I am still going to have the junk, not beat myself up for missing a workout and I am certainly going to stay up late and do something fun.  I mean, I actually said to my daughter last week, “I can’t believe I am taking you to a 9:30 movie on a work night.”  Did that really just come out of my mouth?  Yes, things are changing. Lessons have been learned along the way and I suppose, as I look back over the last couple years, they may have been some type of predictable omen.  Like the time, in a dare from my daughter and her friend, I was asked if could I still do a cartwheel or a backhand spring.  I was a cheerleader so, confidently, I said, “Of course.”  Now picture it - an attempt at a cartwheel across the front lawn. This wasn’t so pretty and it really, really hurt, but I did it and they were impressed and I was quietly in pain.  I’m not going to ever say I can’t, but I will always say I will try. I’m going to use this wealth of knowledge I have developed from living to make the most of it.  I can’t beat it.  I can make the best of it.  Whether it be staying in that bed without feeling the guilt or getting up and going because I want to.  It’s my choice and I think the best lesson I’ve learned along the way as I have aged is prioritizing.  God, family, friends and home are all on the top of my list, but one thing I never placed at the top of that list was myself.  I was always too busy.  Lesson learned. Prioritizing oneself doesn’t have to be a selfish motivation; it is a necessity.  After all, if we don’t prioritize ourselves then how will we be able to be healthy enough to place the needs of everyone and everything we care so much about at the top?  We won’t because we won’t be there to do it if we keep letting ourselves come in last for the sake of everyone and everything around us. – Abraham Lincoln once said, “ In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” Keep setting goals.  Change with the times.  Youth is not in a flawless complexion or an athletic physique.  It is not found in the new college grad that just walked in and thinks he/she can now run the office, it’s not in the new mother making you wear a mask before holding her infant, talk to me after you’ve raised at least four; it’s in the soul. We hold all the wisdom of our accomplishments and mistakes.  It’s in the book we have written in our minds from all our life experiences.  It’s in our memories.  Holding onto youth in a healthy way is perfectly OK and it doesn’t mean you have been defeated if you can’t quite do that cartwheel across the front lawn anymore, it just means things are changing and it’s time to find another way to grow and accomplish ambitions. So, when things are changing, don’t let it get you down. Pick yourself up, move it up, move it down, sideways, backwards or forwards. Just keep it going and don’t stop.  I guess the mystery of not knowing what remains on our paths ahead can be scary, but being open to change is a great life motivator, too.  I guarantee some things may take you by surprise that you wish you would have learned many years ago.

Cell phones have become a part of our everyday lives, an accessory almost as common as the clothes we wear. There are even apps which allow us to determine where our friends are by tracking their cell phone location or assist in finding lost cell phones.  That said, my guess is most people would assume that law enforcement agencies cannot access our cell phone data in furtherance of a criminal investigation absent a search warrant issued upon a finding of probable cause.  Such an assumption would be wrong as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in U.S. v. Graham, No. 12-4659 (May 31, 2016), the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in U.S. v. Carpenter, 819 F.3d 880 (April 13, 2016) and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in US v. Davis, No. 12-12928 (May 5, 2016), recently issued decisions over a period of seven weeks, each finding that law enforcement agencies can obtain information without a search warrant.  Specifically, law enforcement may obtain cell phone tower location records indicating where an individual’s cell phone was at a given time from wireless carriers without first obtaining a search warrant issued upon a finding of probable cause.  While cell phone tower records do not provide information regarding the content of the communications themselves or the precise location of the cell phone, they can provide such information as telephone numbers, date, times of texts and the time and length of calls in addition to the location of the cell tower that connected the calls or transmitted the texts.  By ascertaining the location of the cell tower transmitting a call or text, law enforcement can narrow down the vicinity of the location of the cell phone at any given time. Each of the cases began when law enforcement obtained information from cellular phone providers under the Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2701, et seq., which requires telephone service providers to produce records pertaining to a subscriber or customer if a court of competent jurisdiction finds there is specific and articulable facts showing there is reasonable grounds to believe the records are relevant and material to an on-going criminal investigation.  The information at issue included the locations of cell phone towers which connected calls and/or transmitted texts to/from the defendants’ cell phones.  This information enabled law enforcement to place the defendants in the vicinity of crimes at the time the crimes occurred.   In each of the cases, the defendants challenged the admission of the evidence as a violation of their Fourth Amendment Right against unreasonable searches and seizures.  That is, the defendants argued that law enforcement was required to obtain a search warrant issued upon probable cause to obtain the cell tower information from the wireless providers.  The Fourth, Sixth and Eleventh Courts of Appeals disagreed, each finding that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to cell tower records maintained by wireless providers in the normal course of business. A critical fact relied upon by the courts in finding that a search warrant was not necessary was that the information at issue was information gathered and maintained by a third-party, the wireless provider, in the normal course of the wireless provider’s business.  For example, wireless carriers necessarily track their customers’ phones across different cell towers to connect and maintain their customers’ calls.  The carriers also keep records of this data for such purposes as finding weak spots in their network and determining whether customers exceed their voice/data plan allotment, among other purposes. Thus, the cell tower data was compared to a mailing address, phone number or IP address which facilitates personal communications, rather than being part of the content of the communications themselves.  The courts drew a clear distinction between the need to have a search warrant to obtain the content of the communications themselves from the need to have a search warrant to obtain the non-content information that enables wireless providers to transmit communications.  A search warrant is needed to obtain the content of the communications themselves.  However, a search warrant is not needed to obtain the non-content information, such as cell tower locations, which wireless carriers maintain in the normal course of business for independent business purposes. Part of the reasoning invoked by the Eleventh Circuit is that the public at large knows that cell towers are used to connect calls, transfer data and cannot track a cell phone’s precise location, only the general vicinity of the cell phone.  This knowledges also implies a voluntary relinquishment of information to the wireless carrier in order to facilitate the sending and receipt of calls, texts and data.  As the cell phone tower records belong to the wireless carrier, a third party, and not the individual cell phone user, the cell phone user does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in those records.  Without a reasonable expectation of privacy in information voluntarily provided to a third party, a search warrant is not needed and law enforcement’s acquisition of information kept in the normal course of business by a third party wireless carrier from the wireless carrier itself is not a search subject to Fourth Amendment protections. What these decisions mean in our everyday lives is that law enforcement officials do not need a search warrant to access cell tower records when investigating criminal matters and our use of the cell phones which have become such a part of our daily lives may provide law enforcement information regarding our locations that we did not know we were providing.

In January 2005, storms swept through the northern part of West Virginia, dumping unprecedented amounts of rain. Flash flooding was widespread.  The water from overflowing creeks and streams poured into the Ohio River, causing it to rise above flood stage.  The river rose so high that storm drains in areas like Benwood and South Wheeling couldn’t discharge.  Instead, the water backed up steadily, filling streets, basements and homes. At the time I was pastor at a small church in South Wheeling.  I remember standing on the steps in front of the church and watching as the water inched its way closer and closer.  I knew I couldn’t stop the water, but I could be ready to help when the water finally receded. My wife and I hopped into a van and began a daylong trip gathering supplies.  We drove as far as Morgantown, W.Va., and Washington, PA to buy bleach, brooms, brushes, rags and other cleaning supplies.  When the people of South Wheeling were finally able to begin their cleanup, we were ready.  Our church was fully stocked with flood relief supplies that we freely gave away.  With a dedicated, hardworking group of volunteers, we spent nearly a week on the ground providing help to our neighbors.  We even served breakfast and a light lunch and provided a place for people in the neighborhood to gather, rest, talk and pray.  It was wonderful to know that we were being God’s hands and feet in this difficult time. Just last week the state was hit by another, even more devastating flood.  Over 40 counties have been declared disaster areas.  The photos of the communities affected by these flood waters are, to say the least, heartbreaking. You may be wondering what you and I can do.  May I offer these suggestions: HELP. Especially if you live in or near the affected areas, you can provide helping hands for those who have suffered damage and loss as a result of the flooding.  If you’re coming from outside of these areas, it’s best to contact FEMA, the Red Cross or one of the other organizations that are coordinating relief efforts. GIVE. If you possibly can, consider donating toward the relief and cleanup efforts.  My wife served as a volunteer with Red Cross, and if you don’t have any other relief organization in mind that’s certainly a good place to start.  There are many other churches and reputable relief organizations that already have mobilized and sent teams to help with the cleanup.  Do your homework and give as God leads you to give. PRAY. I can’t overestimate the power of prayer.  Especially in times like this, we should come together in prayer to remember, encourage and empower our neighbors who are facing tragic loss.  Whether it’s in a large group setting or a quiet moment alone with God, please take time to pray. When President Kennedy spoke here in 1963, he observed that, having come out of the Civil War, our state was “born to turmoil” and faced its share of challenges.  But then he added a personal observation:  “I know of no state…whose people feel more strongly, who have a greater sense of pride in themselves, in their state and in their country, than the people of West Virginia.”  I, too, am a proud West Virginian, and I know that we will rally together as we face this latest challenge.  I also know that, with God’s help, we will heal and we will face the future with an even greater strength and sense of pride.

If you read my prior blog, “Ugh! I’m Single and Middle Aged,” then you’re aware that I dipped into the web of online dating. As interesting as that was, I did find someone through this system who I am totally head-over-heels, crazy-stupid in love with.  This man is Jim and he is MY “knight in shining armor.” The online dating experiences we had both endured prior to meeting each other had been torturous, meaningless and frustrating.  When he and I made contact, it was definitely the start of something I never dreamed humanly possible.  Now, the beginning of our first date was absolutely horrible!  It was awkward, we struggled with conversation, we both became tensed and I personally thought there wasn’t any chance of survival!  I literally thought when we got up from our dinner it would be “Adios and good luck to ya!”  But, during our walk back to the vehicle, something clicked or changed and neither one of us to this day really know what, how or why that happened.  Needless to say, the remainder of the date (obviously) went very well. As a young girl, I, as I’m sure most little girls do, dream of our perfect man.  Mine consisted of someone who would laugh relentlessly with me, who respected me, had my back, defended me, protected me, who would be my “prince charming” and do all the wonderful romantic things like send cards and letters and flowers and such.  He would be my best friend and the person I would talk with about anything and everything without reservation or hesitation.  I would be myself with him 100 percent through and through.  I wouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed of anything about myself and he would support me.  He would admire me for me and wouldn’t try to change or criticize who I was.  He would be kind and caring.  Personally, my list of the perfect man went on and on.  Oh, and of course, he would like everything I liked and have no complaints about any of my horrible traits or habits.  (Yeah, right! Right?) I have been so fortunate because I found MY perfect man.  Jim is this person and by far, much more than I ever expected from a companion.  At times, I think he’s got to be completely insane to put up with me, but he does and I have been so excited about life since he came into mine.  He tells me all the time how lucky is he because he never thought he would ever find compatibility or the type of connection we have with each other. Bottom line:  Jim treats me like a queen.  I have never asked nor have I expected to be put on a pedestal, but this is what he does.  He has the kindest and softest heart.  He always compliments me and never demoralizes me.  He has appreciation and respect for our relationship and doesn’t hesitate to demonstrate it.  He makes me laugh and is ALWAYS telling me how fortunate he is to have me in his life.  One of the best qualities about Jim is his ability to communicate with me, which to me is the most important aspect in a relationship.  He communicates with me on so many different levels, from off-the-cuff humor to the depths of his admiration and love for me.  Talking with him is by far the one of the best parts of our relationship.  I love to talk and believe that keeping the lines of communication open is the key to a lasting relationship.  We just click on so many different levels that we are both sometimes amazed and shocked! Having Jim come into my life has given me so many new reasons to look forward to tomorrow. Through a lifetime of ups and downs with my prior relationships, I truly did not believe that my soulmate was out there, let alone my “knight in shining armor.”  With all of that said, it is with honor and pride that I accepted his proposal of marriage during our recent cruise to the Caribbean.

With summertime officially here, many families are packing their bags for a summer vacation. Finding something for everyone is the key to an unforgettable enjoyable experience for all. I never thought of Las Vegas as a destination for a “family vacation,” but, when we were there a few months ago with the law firm, we found a resort that had no gambling machines and all the things we look for when we go away including palm trees and a lazy river.  So, we went for it.  We booked a vacation for our entire family in Sin City. We just returned home from vacation and we all had a blast!  From the little 6-year-old running around Madame Tussauds wax museum in amazement of how lifelike the sculptures appeared to us girls enjoying the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden Dolphin and Tiger Expedition. The guys checked out Counting Cars and every luxury car exhibit you could imagine.  I think my son was serious when he asked his dad if we could rent a Lamborghini for the day because, after all, it was only a grand for six hours - (he forgot momentarily that money doesn’t grow on trees, at least not at our house). It didn’t matter. It was too small for all of us anyhow, which seemed like a better answer. Each day we enjoyed floating in the pool and lounging about the lazy river with temperatures on the average of 109 degrees.  We’d bounce around the town as late as we could keep on the move.  We were able to experience shows, rides and found so much to do - just as we would have anywhere else. The highlight for us was the Criss Angel Mindfreak show because we have all been fans for years.  Criss levitated, sawed someone in half (we covered the little ones eyes) and even appeared right next to my husband when he had been on the stage just a moment before. He was covered in a drape and then POW, there he was.  We were completely amazed.  It was like nothing I had ever seen before. This was truly a great vacation and every single day was filled with fun and surprises.  We truly were able to find something for everyone.  I can tell you this was my third trip to Las Vegas and the first there with my children, and it was the best one yet.  We plan to take them back, there is so much more to do. Now we’re home and back to reality. The first thing we noticed that made us realize vacation was over was that multiple cicadas pummeled my car on the drive back from the airport. While being back home is a good thing, we are already ready to plan our next excursion because the fun in the sun has just begun. If you have planned a getaway this summer, I hope nothing but the best for you and your families.  Everyone deserves a break from reality, a getaway from the stress.  If you haven’t made plans, I hope you are able to relax a bit more than usual this summer, enjoying the warmth while it’s here.  Happy and safe travels to all wherever you may go.

Growing up in a house with three girls undoubtedly has its ups and downs. We steal clothes and we argue. We team-up against my parents to get what we want for dinner instead of what they have planned. We make each other laugh and sometimes make each other cry. Above all though, my sisters are my best friends. Recently, I completed my 17th and final dance recital weekend - a weekend I realized would have to happen, but never really imagined. Out of all the routines, however, nothing was more special than dancing in a trio alongside my two sisters. In preparation for the annual Turn It Out Dance Academy recital, dancers practice routines for the majority of the year. Choreography is taught typically between August and October and performed at various competitions and outings between February and the June recital. Our family trio, however, was choreographed in May leaving us just three weeks to perfect the routine before the big performance. That’s an easy task for veteran dancers to the competition scene like my 13-year-old sister, Kamryn, and me, but Karringtyn, who recently completed first grade, struggled to remember the dance and her technique. To make up for the lack of studio rehearsals, Kamryn and I, who had performed duets in years prior, took matters into our own hands by turning our living room into a practice facility each evening. The day before our recital, Karringtyn could not have been more excited for our sisters performance. The day of the actual show was a different story; nerves seemed to have gotten the best of her 7-year-old self as she hysterically cried and became sick before taking the stage just at the morning rehearsal. At that point I believed she had no chance of walking on stage for the actual show. Thankfully, I was wrong. Karringtyn completed our rehearsal flawlessly, boosting all three of our confidences. While Kamryn and I each made a minor mistake in rehearsal, Karringtyn remembered each step and turn as if she had known the routine for months. As we watched the acts before our routine in the actual show that evening, I could watch the nerves come over Karringtyn again. Before we walked on stage I asked if she really wanted to do the dance or if she was too nervous to which she answered, “Yes, Kayley. We have to do this for you and Mom. This is our last dance together.” The lights dimmed, we hit our beginning pose and the tears started rolling down my face. Our song, “Sisters are Doing It” spoke for itself as the dance was flawless. Kamryn executed every turn, and Karringtyn remembered her steps. I could not have been more proud of both of them for pulling off what seemed impossible. As we hit our ending pose, all three of us then cried and embraced one another in a hug on stage. We hustled off the stage as the next act was ready, but our hug continued. Out of the dozens of routines, venues and performances, that was my only opportunity to dance alongside my sisters. From my first recital to Karringtyn’s last (assuming she dances until her senior year), my parents will attend 29 years of shows. It seems pretty crazy that in 29 years, we were only to share the stage once, but the moment was unforgettable. In the audience I know my parents and grandparents could not have been more proud of all three of us for working together and sharing the stage. I’d like to think even my dad shed a tear as he watched us together for the first and last time. Living and dancing with two sisters is definitely eventful. There’s always an explanation for a missing shirt or headband, and there is always something for us to do. As I look back on my senior year and life in general, I am glad that we have moments like my final recital to share. I could not be more thankful for dance to be an activity we each love and my dance teachers for giving us the opportunity to be together on stage. Now I leave the stage to them and hope they continue the legacy of the Miller sisters in recitals to come.

My son’s wife sent me a text on Saturday morning asking what I was doing on Sunday.  My son had a motorcycle race, and she asked if I would like to go.  She also said they were going to the pool/waterpark that afternoon if I was interested.  I had just come in the door from working out in the yard.  It was only 10 a.m. but it was already hot.  I intended to work in the yard all day and get the grass cut.  So I elected to go to the pool with my son, his wife and my 2-year-old grandson. I think we got to the park around 1:30.  There were four pools at varying depths and with various features.  There were slides for adults and for kids, various fountains, a really big bucket that would fill up and then dump over and also a lazy river.  Since I have decided to face some of my fears and live life to the fullest now that I’m 60, I said I would go down the steep slide.  After playing in the water with my grandson and going down the lazy river with my daughter-in-law, and all the other things I could find to put off the slides, the time came! First I went down the not so steep, twisty-turny slide.  Whew! Got that one of the way.  My son and I climbed back up the stairs and I nervously stood in line for my turn to go down the steep slide.  This steep slide is nothing like what you see at the big water parks but for me – it was a steep slide.  My turn came and I nervously sat at the top of the slide.  Normally it would take me 10 minutes just to get the courage to go down but in all my elderly wisdom, I just went for it.  I screamed all the way down which seemed like a very long way.  My son, my daughter-in-law and my grandson were thrilled.  They cheered and cheered.  Then my son got the brilliant idea of sending me down the slide with his Go-Pro.  If you don’t know what that is, it is a very small video camera.  He bought it to attach to his helmet when he goes dirt bike racing. I went back up the steps to take the Go-Pro down the steep slide.  This time I couldn’t muster the courage so he sent me down the twisty-turny slide instead.  The video was very silly. My son took the Go-Pro down the big slide and then he went down another slide that is short but dumps you into 12 feet of water.  He wanted me to do that one, too.  I had no problem.  I took the Go-Pro and held it in my hand while I went down the slide.  It was super fast and you hit the water hard.  I felt the Go-Pro leave my hand!  As soon as I came up out of the water I shouted to my son that I had lost his Go-Pro.  We could see it laying down in the bottom of the pool.  The life guard didn’t want to stop the people from using the slide so my son decided he would just go down the slide again.  He hung onto the sides and went down the slide very slowly.  When he got to the bottom he stood up and dove for the camera.  Fortunately for me he was able to retrieve it.  He said the camera was facing up! He was really excited to see me go down the slide, the camera go flying in the air and sink to the bottom of the pool.  People continued to use the slide so there would be multiple people going over top of the camera and then it would show him diving for it.  When he went to re-play the video, the camera wasn’t even on!  He was disappointed and I do think it would have been hilarious to see all the activity that went on while the camera was at the bottom of the pool. In spite of the whole camera debacle, I had a great day with my son, my daughter-in-law and my grandson.  The poor little boy was so tired at the end of the day.  We took bets on how long it would take him to go to sleep in the car.  His mom won with her prediction of seven minutes!  Thanks for the great time guys!  One more item off the bucket list!

If you have been reading our staff blogs, you know that I have a passion for everyone who can donate blood. If someone needs a blood transfusion and I can help, I’m there. Or if the Blood Bank is dangerously low and I can help, I’m there as well. Well, there is a Blood Drive from noon to 5 p.m. today, June 21, at Wheeling Hospital - Basement Level.  Please consider going to this drive to donate your blood. THEY DO ACCEPT WALK-INS. You never know when a family member or friend may need a blood transfusion, so go ahead and “do the right thing” by scheduling an appointment or just walking in tomorrow.  It will make you feel better knowing that you are helping out someone in dire need.  You won’t know who, but you can possibly help someone in need of a blood transfusion from a traumatic event or even a health problem. Come on, don’t be afraid. It only takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish.  You can do it. You can help your neighbor, friend, co-worker or even a STRANGER!!

Boo Bear is my 10-year-old Siberian Husky who sometimes gets bored easily, and can be a little destructive. Several years ago, my husband and I were planning a late night out, and prior to leaving we told our son to make sure he put Boo Bear back in his crate before he went to bed.  We got home late from our party, went to bed and just a short while later woke up to some strange noises in the house. My husband went to check it out and found that my son had forgotten to shut Boo in his crate and Boo had managed to get himself shut in the bathroom.  My husband got him out of the bathroom (without turning on the light) and put him in his crate.  At that point we thought everything was fine and we all went to sleep—little did we know. The next morning, I discovered that I couldn’t get the bathroom door open.  When I finally did----OH MY!!!  What a scene of destruction!  The shower curtain was torn down and ripped to shreds, wallpaper was chewed off the walls, the wooden trim surrounding the doorway was torn down, a section of carpet was chewed off the floors and there was toilet paper all over everything.  Boo apparently got a little bored when he was stuck in the bathroom.  We had wanted to remodel that bathroom anyway…Boo’s demolition of it just got us started a little earlier than anticipated.  Recently, he decided that, while he was on his tie-out cable in the yard, he would just go ahead and chew up the satellite cable….this would explain why I didn’t have any TV in my bedroom.  It took me a couple of days to figure out what was going on, but without a doubt he was the culprit.  A call to Direct TV was made, and we were back in business within a few days. About a week after the TV cable incident, he also decided that instead of just lying on the wicker loveseat and chair on the front porch, he would just destroy them.  Well, those got replaced too because, after all, they were old weren’t they?  He’s quirky---he likes to sleep on his back in the bathtub or in his newest sleeping place, which is in the closet.  He also has a thing for flip flops---he’s destroyed several pairs!  I make excuses for him a lot because I love him unconditionally, and he keeps us entertained, always on our toes and he has an unconditional love for us as well.  One thing I have learned over the years is that with some dogs you need a lot of patience, and you should always expect the unexpected.  I’m not exactly sure what he will get into next, but I’m sure he’ll find something and we’ll end up eventually laughing over it.

For those of you into reality television, do yourselves a favor and tune in Sunday night for the season finale of the year's most dramatic television series. Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Following a record-setting, 73-win season and leading the series 3-1, NBA MVP Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors find themselves on the brink of elimination thanks to the back-to-the-wall heroics of LeBron James, whose Cleveland Cavaliers evened the series and stole all the momentum Thursday night in Cleveland. For the high-drama fan, Game 6 had it all. Conflict. (Arguably the league's two best players, who play vastly divergent styles, squaring off.) Trash talking (Lebron James' emotion-fueled, cathartic scream in Steph Curry's face). Stare downs (Steph Curry's finger-pointing "we'll see” laser stare after being ejected at the end of Game 6, with LeBron under his skin the whole way). Jay-Z and Beyoncé cameos (Self-explanatory). If that weren't enough, everything got amped to 11 Thursday night after Steph Curry's wife, Ayesha, tweeted that the NBA was "absolutely rigged" after a series of highly questionable foul calls and no-foul calls went against Steph Curry in the second half on Cleveland's home court on the path to the Cavalier's second straight win of the series. Now, for casual sports or non-NBA fans, what makes this all so compelling is the genuine human emotion behind all this. First and foremost, LeBron James and Steph Curry are excellent representatives of the NBA and ambassadors of pro sports in general. They are both seemingly, genuinely outstanding fathers and citizens. Neither of them are the trash-talk, stare down types they've occasionally become in this series. This series is all about competition and the raw explosion of emotion it creates. Emotion that, try as one might, can't always simply be contained or managed. But containing and properly channeling that emotion is the key to prevailing in a tug-of-war slugfest like the one on display here. Unless, of course, Ayesha Curry is right and it's all fixed. It's hardly just last night's officiating that has fueled similar speculation of the fix being in amongst some fans. Golden State was in serious trouble last series against the Oklahoma City Thunder when one of the Warrior's best players, Draymond Green, struck an Oklahoma City Thunder player in the groin with his foot. Many thought Green's actions were intentional and that he should have been suspended for the next game.  But the league decided to let him play and the Warrior's came back and won that series after it looked like they had no hope. Then in Game 4 of the Cavs series, Draymond Green was again involved in a groin incident when he took a swipe at LeBron James, who let his emotion get the best of him when he stepped over Green who had fallen down. A tangle (LeBron's actions were widely viewed as a "Dis" move on his part). The tables were then turned on Green, when he was suspended for the incident with James in yet another controversial decision by the league, given James' actions that precipitated Green's response and the fact that the Warriors looked poised to win the Finals in 5 games at that point, thereby depriving the league and network of two additional, multi-million viewer Games 6 and 7. James did his part to take advantage of Green's suspension and fuel the conspiracy speculation, by exploding for a 41-point triple double performance in Game 5 and riding that momentum to another 41-point outing in Game 6 to set up the must-see reality television event of the Year. So is Ayesha Curry right? Is the NBA "absolutely rigged?”  As a devout believer that most, if not all, reality TV is highly manipulated, in a word, no. At least not in the way Ayesha Curry implied in her tweet, which she quickly deleted by the way. While I think it's impossible to argue that the officiating and league decisions are not a factor here, at the heart of all of these decisions and consequences beats the intensity of the player emotion that is unleashed by competitors operating at the elite level. When the players can't contain it, it's up to the officials and the league to manage that emotion. Sometimes that means punishment. Other times that means understanding. It's complicated by nature. Therefore any decisions are going to carry a certain amount of contrarianism, and I think the officials and league are simply doing the best job they can to weigh and account for the multitude of factors at play in a high-emotion drama.  But that's part of what makes it all so juicy. So Sunday night, sit back, strap in and enjoy what looks to be a wild ride to glory for either a record-season defending champion or a city who hasn't won a major league championship in 52 years. If that's not dramatic reality television, I don't know what is.

This past weekend, my family held our 5 th Annual Sonny Palmer “Sunshine Classic” Golf Tournament. The event was organized shortly after my brother-in-law’s untimely death back in January 2012.  Sonny was a veteran of the Air Force and also passionate about the needs of our wounded vets.  So, in his name, we began the Sunshine Classic, which is now a yearly tradition. As in the past four years, the golf tournament was held at the Fairway River Links Golf Course in Rayland, Ohio, which is a beautiful course along the Ohio River.  I feel this is also becoming a tradition for the River Link’s owners as we are asked each time if we are coming back the following year.  We try to keep the participants to 25, four-person teams.  This helps keep the tournament manageable, as it is well organized and the teams move along the course in quick fashion with each team having the use of a golf cart, and the golfers are then finished by late morning. This, our fifth year, the weather was as beautiful as the four previous. This year, the post-tournament luncheon was held at the PAP (Polish American Patriotic) Club in South Wheeling where we were welcomed with open arms by Shotgun (who is President of the club) and we are already making plans to host the event next year.  As I said, this is a family event and all the food is prepared by Sonny’s family for the golfers to come and enjoy after the 18-hole round of golf.  The PAP Club is spacious and has an outdoor (covered) veranda that is perfect for our event. All golfers receive a gift bag and a ticket for a door prize donated by our generous business community.  We also raffle off many other donated items.  We have a grand door prize and a 50/50 raffle that we sell tickets for prior to and during the event. We have a Chinese raffle with all baskets put together and donated by each of Sonny’s siblings and in-laws.  This all goes over very well and we have lots of fun. As I have said in a previous blog, this event not only helps our wounded warriors who come back from horrible situations and find they struggle with daily life, it also helps our family deal with Sonny’s loss that is still painful to this day.  Most who participate in this golf tournament knew and loved Sonny.  If they did not know him prior to participating in the tournament, they know all about him now and many have said they are coming back next year. I again want to thank the businesses in our community for the many donations.  Bordas & Bordas has sponsored a hole at the tournament for five years—another tradition—that we are so grateful for. To date, Sonny’s family, through the success of the golf tournaments over the past four years, has made donations to The Wounded Warrior Project that total $13,725.  Once again, my sister, Debby, and Sonny’s siblings, Linda, Dink, Mike and Mark are contributing this year’s proceeds to WWP in hopes that in some small way our wounded warriors will benefit.   Sonny would be pleased about that. Susan

He’s never asked me for a thing and he’s never given me false expectations. Rather, he’s taught me a few things and he taught me with consistency. He taught me with discipline and he taught with love. He taught me honesty.  Why?  Because no matter how hard and tempting it can be from time-to-time, honesty and ethics builds credibility.  He taught me that at the end of the day, you can look in the mirror and know you did the right thing.  Sometimes that makes for a rough journey, but it’s the only way. He taught me responsibility.  He taught me that we all have choices in life and no matter the choice we make, we must be responsible and remain responsible for that choice.  Walking away is not an option.  You make the best of the situation.  Don’t blame others.  Responsibility leads to accountability.He taught me to be reliable.  Be the person someone can count on even if you can’t always count on others.  Follow through and be trustworthy. He taught me that I have to work hard and keep my nose to the grindstone.  He taught me to set goals and keep those goals high.  Maybe re-arrange them from time to time, but never give up. He taught me that even when I do these things, the world may still not always be kind and that I will always have to face those challenges, but I can do it with a strong backbone. Even though he taught me these things, I didn’t always listen. There were times I gave him a run for his money.  I made him throw his hands up in the air and say, “Where did I go wrong?”  He even drove me to church in my hot rollers once because I was dillydallying.  He was not going to miss it and neither was I! Regardless, this wise man has loved me unconditionally. Who is this man? My Father. I am a grown woman who, still to this day, when I am sad, afraid, concerned and need direction, I look to him.  He has never steered me wrong, nor will he ever. My father recently turned 71 years old.  He works and looks like he is much younger and can work as hard as a 20-year-old. He still takes exceptional care of himself and he never complains.  He isn’t a father who is always hugging and telling you he loves you.  He is a father who shows you his love. My father still checks on me to see if I need anything.  Sometimes I call and, in the conversation, I may mention something is amiss with an appliance, my car or the yard, and complain because my husband won’t be home until late and here I am with another thing I have to deal with and next thing you know, he shows up.  He just says it’s no big deal.  He always shows up no matter what. My father has always been my greatest strength in this world.  He has taught his children by showing them an example that never wavered. I know how lucky I am to have my father alive, in good health and able to engage in the lives of his children and grandchildren, something that many fathers never get to do perhaps because  they can’t retire or because of an illness.  My dad has been a pillar of support from the day he married my mother and started our family.  Family has always been the single most important thing this man has ever had.  I try to let my father know how much we love him, how lucky we are to be his children and how thankful we are for his guidance. My father spends no moment idly.  He spent years working long, hard days and driving quite a distance to make an income that would allow him to comfortably provide for us in this Valley.  As a child, you don’t realize how long and grueling it can be to leave the house at 5:30 a.m. and get home after 7 p.m., only to attend one of the children’s activities or work on a home project. It continued once he became a grandfather.  He told me one day I would learn, one day I would understand and he was right.  The sacrifices he has made for our family have not been fruitless. My dad means the world to me and to my children.  This weekend is only a symbolic day to appreciate our fathers, but we need to cherish every day we have with them. Thanks, Dad, for everything.  May you have a wonderful Father’s Day and know I am the luckiest girl alive! Happy Father’s Day to All!