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My 18-month-old granddaughter lives half of her life in Miami, Florida and the other half in Nassau, Bahamas. While that may be great for her, I hate being so far away. With the use of our iPhones and Facetime, the distance issue becomes so much easier. Ella and I have a Facetime visit every few days - my daughter is so wonderful about keeping me in Ella's life and I so love her for it. Here is how a Facetime visit works. I answer my Facetime call and on the other end is the face of my beautiful granddaughter! I wave to her and she waves back. I ask her what she has been doing all day and just carry on a conversation with her. Since she doesn't talk a whole lot, she just listens and carries me all over the house! Since my daughter has taught Ella sign language, if I mention something that she knows the sign for, she signs - her favorite being duck! She will take me in her little carnival tent from Ikea and we tell stories and share secrets! Sometimes she lays me on the floor and walks off. My daughter will say, "Ella, you left Gigi over there, go get her!" Ella will grab the phone, give me a big smile, and carry me off somewhere else! When Ella has the phone, I see all kinds of strange things - eyeballs (which is now a vocabulary word), bellies, nostrils, ceiling fans - you know how it goes if you accidently leave your video camera on and walk around. One of Ella's favorite Gigi things to do is to have me smell her feet and exclaim, "Poooo, tinky, tinky" - holding my nose. For a while, as soon as she saw my face she would hold her nose and say, "Poooo." Ella now puts her foot to the phone for me to smell her feet and make my exclamation of "Poooo, tinky, tinky." If she's sitting in her high chair when the Facetime goes through, she automatically lifts that foot up for me to smell over the phone! Speaking of high chair, many times my daughter will set the phone up while Ella is eating her dinner. We talk while she eats and she shares her food with me! I take a bite and say, "Nummy, nummy, nummy." Of course, those silly words are part of the vocabulary as well. She does the sign for milk and grabs her cup to drink. She shares her milk with me over the phone as well. A few weeks ago was the ultimate Facetime visit. I was in the kitchen fixing dinner so I set the phone on the counter so she could watch. Somehow the phone was set up so I could see her and she wasn't carrying it. We started playing Ring around the Rosie. I was spinning around the kitchen and each time I would finish the song, she would do the sign for more and I would have to sing it again. I finally had to tell her Gigi was too dizzy to sing it again. So she grabbed the phone and took me over to her stuffed ducky. She decided the ducky wanted a nap (injecting the sign for sleep) and took the duck into her room to put it in the pack and play. She told Mommy she wanted in the pack and play as well. So, in she went to join ducky and in I went to join them both! So we jibbered and jabbered and sang songs. We played with her talking dog, Violet, and worked on repeating all the words she knows how to say. Ella, ducky and I played in the pack and play for probably 20 minutes! All the while, my daughter is getting a lot of things done out in the kitchen! When it's time to say goodbye, Ella and I wave to each other. I tell her to blow me a kiss and I blow her one. Blowing kisses is never quite good enough though, so she grabs the phone and plants a big one on it for Gigi!! Hysterical. While Facetime visits don't beat real visits, they sure fill in what seems like the huge spaces between visits in such a positive way. It's so much better than in the old days when you tried to keep the long distance relationship alive with photographs and an occasional telephone call. Thank you modern technology!

A kindly gesture can go a long way. Making kindly gestures a part of your everyday behavior is ideal, but realistically it doesn't always happen. Sometimes, just sometimes, that kindly gesture may need some talking into before you actually do it, but at least you made the right choice. Something recently happened that made me want to address this very issue. I try to make a general conscientious effort to open the door for people whether they are older or younger; male or female; it's just a nice thing to do. I try to greet people with a friendly smile and say hello or pay a little closer attention to someone who may seem to be having a day where they kind of need a friend or maybe for just one good thing to happen and, sometimes, for no reason at all. I must admit I am very proud when I do those things effortlessly. I am proud when I do it even if I had to talk myself into it. I am proud that I am ashamed when I do not. Recently, on the way home from work, my youngest child was in extra-hyped mode. With this said, it's not a normal-hyped mode. She has a condition that she cannot control. It is hyperactivity disorder. With this condition, things need to be done a little differently with her in order to manage the impulsiveness. There are nights where my child may sleep only two or three hours. She is on top of the world as soon as she wakes and does not stop at a reasonable hour. This can be quite exhausting depending on the day and you never know when that will occur. Then it happened and I want to say thanks, Jane! I had to stop off at one of the stores in Elm Grove on my way home that night. The store was packed and people were lined up at the register. My child was running from aisle to aisle, grabbing things, and being overly loud. I broke out into a sweat as I tried to get everything accomplished that I needed while being respectful to the other patrons and trying to keep a close eye on my child and get her to calm down. It was finally my turn at the register. Now, I know Jane had to be frustrated. I mean, after all, my child was grabbing at things and being loud while Jane hurriedly tried to process the other customers in a timely fashion, but as I came to the check-out, she calmly placed both her hands on the counter and said, "So, how's your day?" I was floored. You mean she wasn't going to give me the evil eye or short-tempered voice because of the 20-minute disruption that just took place in the store due to my presence with my child? I stopped right there and said, "I am just in shock that you asked me how my day was! Thank you! You don't know what that means." Jane told me her father had Alzheimer's and it helped her to be tolerant and understanding in a situation like this. I felt at ease, relaxed and welcomed into that store. Those little words made such a difference. The story doesn't end there. When I arrived at home, I explained to my husband the frustration I had felt with what had occurred and then what the clerk had said, and how I was so shocked because you just don't see enough of that anymore. I was so grateful for her kindness that meant so much to me in that moment. About an hour later, my husband and I went for our nightly jog. Just as we had begun, my husband said, "We need to stop and push." I looked over and a young mother had run out of gas. Without hesitation, we pushed her car to safely get her out of harm's way. We jogged back to our home where my husband retrieved a can of gasoline and we put what we had in this young gal's tank so she could get to where she needed to be. Then we were on our way. This girl was so grateful and shocked that we changed our path to help her, which to us was a natural thing to do. All I kept thinking on that jog was how lucky I was to have a husband that immediately jumped in to lend a hand and what kindly gestures can do for someone. I guess if we all turn up the heat a little on our efforts those kindly gestures could make a really big difference. You never know, it may be a difference that changes someone's circumstances forever. --Best wishes, with a smile.   A kindly gesture can go a long way. Making kindly gestures a part of your everyday behavior is ideal, but realistically it doesn't always happen. Sometimes, just sometimes, that kindly gesture may need some talking into before you actually do it, but at least you made the right choice. Something recently happened that made me want to address this very issue. I try to make a general conscientious effort to open the door for people whether they are older or younger; male or female; it's just a nice thing to do. I try to greet people with a friendly smile and say hello or pay a little closer attention to someone who may seem to be having a day where they kind of need a friend or maybe for just one good thing to happen and, sometimes, for no reason at all. I must admit I am very proud when I do those things effortlessly. I am proud when I do it even if I had to talk myself into it. I am proud that I am ashamed when I do not.

I must live a terribly boring life. I cannot think of anything to blog about that think people would be interested in. I have reviewed my life in my mind - let's see - Monday through Thursday (my new work week!) I am at work. Friday and Saturday, I am at home. Oh, wait! Friday and Saturday during spring, summer and into the fall, I am hitting up garage sales. This is an activity that my husband also enjoys, so we garage sale (or go "garaging") and then sometimes go to breakfast. I love to dig through other people's "stuff" and sometimes I am rewarded with a really great find! I "do" the Awana Christmas Store at my Church (First Baptist of Wheeling), so I need lots and lots of good, clean "stuff" for ages nursery through 12 th. I have found that grandmas get Christmas gifts they can't use, since by the time they get to that age, they have everything. This is good for me! They keep the gift in its original box, and VOILA! I purchase it for a great price in their garage sale. So, not only do I have great items for the store, I get the items at a great price. OK, back to my boring life. On Tuesday nights, the end of August through the middle of April, I can be found at St. Clair Lanes, pretending to bowl. I am the League secretary, so I blame my beginning of the year bad bowling on all the interruptions I get while trying to bowl. This next week I will have to put my money (or my ball), where my mouth is, since things will have settled down and the interruptions will be at a minimum. I am the organist at First Baptist of Wheeling and Saturday evenings you can find me there practicing for the Sunday morning service. I love to play and enjoy practicing. The music team at FBC is great and we enjoy each other and what we do. I also have another weakness - I love the Mall!! I admit it. I have many friends who work there, people who have become my friends because I love to go to the mall. I don't understand people who say there is nothing at the Ohio Valley Mall for them. I shop in almost all the stores, except children's and young teens. And the mall is a safe and comfortable place to walk. In reviewing my rather boring, mundane life, I find I actually like it. Because right now, boring is good. My husband has been ill a good bit this past summer, in and out of the hospital, and I didn't have time to be bored - just stressed and anxious. I'll take boring any day! So in taking time to write this blog and in reviewing my life, I would say I am one blessed woman. I have a great husband, many good friends, a wonderful Church family and a job I love. How great is that?   I must live a terribly boring life. I cannot think of anything to blog about that think people would be interested in. I have reviewed my life in my mind - let's see - Monday through Thursday (my new work week!) I am at work. Friday and Saturday, I am at home. Oh, wait! Friday and Saturday during spring, summer and into the fall, I am hitting up garage sales.

Let me first begin by saying, I love where I am in life. I have a very fulfilling career, a great husband, and some awesome kids. However, juggling the three can be challenging-especially now that the kiddos are back in school and the hubby is on the dreadful 12-hour night shift. My schedule is very hectic. I have roughly an hour commute to work, so it's getting up at 5:00 a.m., kids up at 6:00 a.m., pack the school lunches and out the door by 6:45 a.m. I arrive back home around 6:00 p.m. to do a quick "drive by" to pick up my son for football practice, then I hang out at the field until 8:00 p.m. and head back home to make dinner. Oh, let's not forget dishes, homework, showers, and the "Hey by the way, can you wash my uniform for tomorrow's practice?" and well...crash-all to do it over again the next day. Would I change it for the world? Absolutely not! But, with the way my family's schedule is, I am ALWAYS in search of some quick dinner recipes that make things a little easier for me in the evenings. I am certain that many of you who are reading this are in the same boat and know exactly what I'm talking about. Here are a couple quick and easy recipes that you can whip up on a weeknight and maybe allow yourself a few minutes of free time to wind down before hitting the sack. Hope you enjoy! Chicken & Biscuits: ¼ cup of butter ½ very finely diced small onion 2 tablespoons of chicken flavored granule crystals 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour 1 ½ cups of chicken stock 1 ½ cup milk 3 cups of shredded cooked chicken Melt butter in skillet. Add onion and cook over medium heat until soft. Add garlic and stir. Add flour over the onion mix and stir. Cook this for a few minutes. Slowly add in the chicken stock, milk, and seasonings and then whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil and cook for a few minutes until it begins to thicken. Add the shredded chicken and cook for a few more minutes just to allow the chicken to warm through. Serve over hot biscuits. (My family likes it over mashed potatoes also) Sausage and Peppers: 8 Italian Sausage links 1 large can of tomato sauce 1 green bell pepper (sliced into strips) 1 onion (sliced) Provolone Cheese slices Hoagie Rolls Coat the bottom of your slow cooker with some of the tomato sauce; add the Italian Sausage links, onion and green bell pepper. Poor the remainder of the tomato sauce on top. The Italian Sausage, onion and pepper will blend together and season the tomato sauce. Set it to cook on low for 6 - 8 hours. (I usually pick up some mac or potato salad at the deli as a side) French Bread Pizza: 2 loaves of French bread 1 jar of pizza sauce (2 jars if you like lots of sauce) Topics that your family likes (Pepperoni, bacon, green peppers, pineapple, mushrooms, onions, olives, etc) 3 Cups of Mozzarella Cheese (shredded) Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees. Cut the French bread in half (length wise), place the halves on a cookie sheet open faced and spread ¼ of the jar on each side. Place your toppings on and then sprinkle the shredded cheese over top. Bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. Cut into strips and serve. (I usually throw a salad together and call it a day)

Twenty years ago today, I was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Notre Dame. I loved football. Although I appreciated Notre Dame's academic reputation, as well as its status as the most well-known Catholic university in the country, I can't help but think that the opportunity to be around Notre Dame football caught my attention when I was filling out college applications. I even thought that I might try walking on to the football team to be a scout team quarterback at some point (Notre Dame haters --- this is the place to insert your favorite Rudy joke). Luckily for me, I got to keep playing football when I got to Notre Dame. Legendary Irish coach Knute Rockne had started the Interhall Football program in the 1920s. Coach Rockne was astute enough to recognize that an intramural tackle football program would allow him to scout for players that might help him on special teams or otherwise. This program continues today and is one of only two such programs in the country. On October 2, 1994, on the first series of an Interhall game, it was 3rd and 14. I ran an option play to the right. I gained 17 yards and a first down but would never play another down. On the play, I was tackled by three defenders at the same time. I immediately knew I had a serious injury to my left knee. As I laid on the field, the coach and referee ran over. All that I could say was "Did I get the first down?" They told me I did and I said, "OK. Good. I can't get up." They called an ambulance and I was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital. Upon arrival, I was told by the doctors that I had badly damaged my knee and they were worried that I may have ruptured my popliteal artery and that if it wasn't evaluated and fixed immediately, I could lose my leg. I was scared to say the least. Thankfully, that didn't happen. However, I did tear my ACL, LCL, MCL, medial meniscus, lateral meniscus, and dislocated my kneecap. The Notre Dame football team orthopedic surgeon who operated on me said it was the worst knee injury he had seen in over 30 years. What he told me next may have hit me the hardest though --- he told me that I would never be able to play football again because I would never regain the strength and range of motion in that leg. I was devastated. I had started playing football when I was 10 and had never even missed a practice. But, then it happened. I was in the hospital for three weeks recovering from surgery. One day shortly after the surgery, a priest came into my room to visit. He was the head coach of the Interhall football team that I was playing on. He knew how crushed I was that I wouldn't be able to play football anymore. We talked for  awhile and he said, "Have you ever thought about coaching?" As a 19-year-old college student, I probably hadn't even thought about what I was going to have for dinner. So, I told him I had never really considered it because I had always thought of myself as a player. He said "I've been around you and coached you and you really know the game. The University wouldn't normally allow an undergraduate student to be a head coach. But, next season, I'm going to come to the first couple of practices and then step aside and let you take over. How does that sound?" I told him it sounded great. He was as good as his word and one year later I was a head football coach. In that first season, I lead the team to the championship game. The university rewarded me by selecting me to coach the all-star game where my assistant coaches had been assistant coaches to Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz. I'm quite certain that I learned more about football from them in that week of all-star practice than I had in years of football before that. And they were my assistant coaches! The following season, I once again took the team to the Finals and actually got to coach the last tackle football game to ever be played in the original "House that Rockne Built" before stadium renovations began the following day. After three more years of coaching during law school, three more trips to the playoffs, and getting to be featured on an NFL Films segment on ESPN2 about Interhall football at Notre Dame, the University rewarded me with my very own letterman's jacket with the interlocking "ND" on the chest. I was intent upon coaching for as long as I could. To this day, I continue to coach football. I have had the great learning experience of being a head coach at Bishop Donahue, the wonderful experience of coaching in  seven state championship games (by the way, we won them all!) at Wheeling Central, and the honorable experience of coaching in the OVAC All-Star game. When I injured my knee, I thought my football career was over. As it turns out, it was just the beginning of it. That single event that I thought was one of the worst things that could happen to me turned out to be something that helped shape and define the next 20 years of my life. I continue to have the joy of being around great young people every day and get the opportunity to teach them about football, life, and hopefully have a positive impact on their lives. I now have four children of my own. I get to experience seeing them and my wife when I come off the field, along with their smiles, and I look forward to one day getting to coach my own sons. So, the next time that something happens in your life that seems to be really bad, remember that God has a plan for you. He knows before you do where you are headed. And, it might just turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Twenty years ago today, I was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Notre Dame. I loved football. Although I appreciated Notre Dame's academic reputation, as well as its status as the most well-known Catholic university in the country, I can't help but think that the opportunity to be around Notre Dame football caught my attention when I was filling out college applications. I even thought that I might try walking on to the football team to be a scout team quarterback at some point (Notre Dame haters --- this is the place to insert your favorite Rudy joke).

Fall is just around the corner. I'm a huge fan of fall. The air is crisp and cool. College football returns. The leaves provide a colorful backdrop for my daily commute to work. I also enjoy making my annual pilgrimage to Oglebayfest to renew old friendships, shop, and sample the cuisine. But fall also has its downside--pumpkin. Before you know it, the valley will be overrun with every imaginable pumpkin-flavored food and drink. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin cookies. Pumpkin lattés. Pumpkin milkshakes. Ugh! Don't get me wrong, I've really tried to embrace the whole pumpkin thing. But the simple truth is I don't like the taste. When I eat it, my face puckers up like I'm eating a mouthful of sour patch kids. I do eat one piece of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving as a nod to tradition, but I confess that I smother it with whipped cream to hide as much of the taste as I possibly can. Word of my aversion to pumpkin has gotten out. Some of the kids at my church have jokingly dubbed the "pumpkin hater." It may be an exaggeration, but clearly there's no love lost between me and the endless parade of pumpkin edibles. So I guess I'll put it to you. You can be my jury. Am I right in avoiding the pumpkin, or am I missing out on one of the best things fall has to offer? Fall is just around the corner. I'm a huge fan of fall. The air is crisp and cool. College football returns. The leaves provide a colorful backdrop for my daily commute to work. I also enjoy making my annual pilgrimage to Oglebayfest to renew old friendships, shop, and sample the cuisine. But fall also has its downside--pumpkin. Before you know it, the valley will be overrun with every imaginable pumpkin-flavored food and drink. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin cookies. Pumpkin lattés. Pumpkin milkshakes. Ugh!

Does your job have hidden perks? Mine does. These perks may not be exactly the kind you would think of, but I'd like to share them with you. You see, I take my job very seriously and the people that come into this office looking for our help get my best effort in everything I do on their case. With this can come some sweat and tears along the way; so, where are the hidden perks? Let me explain. As a paralegal here at Bordas & Bordas, I work on some of our most complex cases including medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, industrial explosions, just to name a few. With these types of cases, you can imagine that many of the people I help fight for are severely harmed or even dead. Sometimes this is a harsh reality I deal with on a daily basis - so where are those perks? Well, along the way, I get to know the families of these very important people that we represent and I get to know them on a level so deeply because I get to witness firsthand their experience which is often times hard to bear. By the time a case goes to trial, I try to do the best job possible for these special people. They have already been through so much. From day one of the initial client interview to sitting through a lengthy trial where they relive their traumatic or catastrophic experience over and over again. It's then that I realize those special perks. I've made a friend. I've been an honorary guest into someone's family circle. I stand by their sides, fighting for that one sliver of justice. A justice that can't bring back a loved one or a justice that can't undo harm caused by another, but a justice to help make someone whole again. It is then that they may begin the healing process in order to go on and move forward in life. So, those are my hidden perks. Perks that are irreplaceable.

Wheeling is not just where members of the Bordas & Bordas family work, it's also where we live. Therefore, giving back and contributing to the Friendly City's outstanding community is an important part of our mission. Featured below are just a few of the many recent philanthropic sponsorships we are honored to be a part of. The West Virginia Auxiliary of the Congregation of St. Joseph is located right here in Wheeling. The sisters are hosting their 25 th annual Gala/Reverse Raffle on October 9 th at the Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino and Racetrack. Money raised by the Gala will help the Auxiliary meet the needs of the women living at Mount St. Joseph. Eager to ensure that the sisters are well taken care of, Bordas & Bordas supports the Auxiliary's efforts and annual event. Oglebay Institute was formed in 1930 and has since grown to include six facilities throughout Wheeling that offers hundreds of community and school programs for members of the city, county, region and state. The Institute provides entertainment and instruction in the arts, history and nature year-round via theatre, camps, exhibits and more. The first annual Oglebay Institute Golf Scramble was held a few weeks ago at the Wheeling Country Club to raise money for the Institute and its mission. The firm made a donation towards the inaugural event. Have you ever wondered about the Lions Club of Northern West Virginia? The members describe themselves as ordinary men and women with a common goal of meeting the needs of the less fortunate and making his and her communities and the world better places for all. The Lions recently held their annual Dan Dague Memorial Car and Bike Show earlier this month to raise money for the West Virginia Lions Sight Foundation. Bordas & Bordas supported the Club's efforts again this year. Trevan McCracken was born to a local family on September 19, 2013 with a rare congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. HLHS causes the left side of the heart's chambers to develop too small to work effectively. Trevan underwent his first open heart surgery at just four days old and his second at five months old. A third surgery is scheduled for approximately the two-year mark. Donations and contributions have lessened the financial burden of substantial medical bills for the McCracken family. We are happy to help this family in their time of need. Bordas & Bordas is honored to be involved with such outstanding organizations, events and causes. We will continue to reach out to community partners who are passionate about making a difference. As always, we encourage everyone to support these very worthy causes in any way possible.   Wheeling is not just where members of the Bordas & Bordas family work, it's also where we live. Therefore, giving back and contributing to the Friendly City's outstanding community is an important part of our mission. Featured below are just a few of the many recent philanthropic sponsorships we are honored to be a part of.

Derek Jeter. Why has he been so admired? I get it. He's the shortstop for the New York Yankees. But, a lot of other players have been too. He's won World Series, been a perennial all-star, etc. But, others have been too. He is a well-spoken, good-looking guy. But, others have been too. What made him so different? To me, it's the fact that he is a great employee. Huh? That's right. He's a great employee. He shows up everyday and does his job. He treats everyone around him with respect. He sets an example for others in the organization to follow. He never complains. He gives credit to others. He speaks highly of his employer. He never embarrasses them. He is always ready. He shows enthusiasm for his job. He does everything with class. He has stayed with the same organization for years. And, he comes through the biggest at the biggest moments. What more could any employer ask for? Thus, it is only fitting that in his final at-bat at Yankee Stadium, every one of these traits came shining through as #2 walked to the plate and immediately hit the first pitch he saw into right-center field for a game-winning walk off hit. It reminded me so much why I love sports. But, it also reminded me that we can learn so much from sports. So, why not take a page from the Captain's book? Why not be the Derek Jeter of your workplace? In the end, you just might be remembered and admired too.

For all of the young couples out there, I'm here to tell you that this business of being a parent is every bit as difficult, frustrating and exhausting as you have heard. Doing it right, or at least trying to do it right, is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year job. Being a parent will be the greatest source of stress, worry and heartache you will ever experience. And despite all of that-despite all of the work, the worry, the terrible twos, the teen years, and the "you're too old to understand what I'm going throughs"-I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Along with my wife, my daughters (Brittany and Caitlin) and my son (John III) have brought me more happiness, pride and joy than I could ever have imagined. The other day was a day, which, for me, was filled with conflicting emotions. I went to Wheeling to help my daughter, Brittany, load her rented truck so she could head off to Austin, Texas. She spent several years in Austin as she went through law school at the University of Texas, and last year, after graduating, she came back home to work as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge John P. Bailey of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Her time on that job ended a few weeks ago, so she packed up to head back to Austin, where she will work as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Sam Sparks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. I was filled with pride as I thought about my little girl and what she has accomplished thus far in her young life. At the same time, I was filled with sadness as I drove away from her empty apartment, knowing full well that she won't be coming back. The cruelest part of being a parent is that you try to raise your children to be independent and self-sufficient, and the reward for your success is their taking off for newer and bigger challenges, most of which can only be found a few thousand miles from home. You have to allow me a few sentences to brag about my daughter. At the age of 17, she decided she wanted to spend her first year of college at Richmond International University in London, England. She headed off to a new city in a strange country where she would know absolutely no one, and she was as excited as she could be about doing it. I flew over with her, and I can still remember walking down the street after getting her settled into her dorm room, tears flowing freely. I hated London for taking my little girl away from me; I still hate London. Of course my reaction was and still is completely irrational, but parents aren't always rational when it comes to their children. After her first year of college, Britt returned to the States to spend another year at American University in Washington, D.C., and her last two years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. You have to know my daughter to appreciate what a wonderful contradiction it was to see her at SMU. Britt is as liberal and idealistic as anyone I know, and SMU is a bastion of conservatism. She used to put her short hair up into a sort of fake Mohawk, just to make sure folks knew she was different than the rest of her classmates. I especially remember an episode when a female classmate confronted Brittany in the parking lot about something that had happened earlier in class. Words were exchanged, and in proper conservative fashion the young girl slapped my daughter in the face. In proper West Virginia fashion, Britt responded by dropping the young lady with a hard right to the nose. Conservative Texas, meet West-by-God-Virginia. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Brittany was graduated from SMU Magna Cum Laude, and was inducted into the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. She was accepted into law school at the University of Texas, where in her first year she won the Thad T. Hutcheson Moot Court Competition over 300+ other students. In her second year she was selected for membership on the Texas Law Review, and in her third year she served as Articles Editor for that nationally-known publication. She was graduated in 2013 as a member of the Order of the Coif, reflecting her rank as one of the top students in her class. She had employment offers from literally every one of the top international law firms in the country, along with offers to clerk for several federal judges across the U.S. In her usual fashion, Britt chose the job she felt would be most challenging and rewarding. So, after a year in Wheeling, she is off again to Austin, only this time I'm betting it's for good. I suppose I've always known that Britt would never be happy staying in West Virginia. Don't get me wrong, she loves the area and she loves her home. It's just that ever since she was a little girl, she has always needed to have new adventures, new frontiers to explore and conquer. I can still remember something she said to my Dad when she was about 4 years old. Whenever I would take Britt to visit my parents, Dad would put her into her Big Wheel, and they would take a ride down the sidewalk and around the block. Before they took off on their ride, Dad would always make Britt promise she would go slowly so that he could keep up. She never did. One day after she had ridden off for what seemed like the 100 th time, Dad asked her why she kept breaking her promise. I can still see the sparkle in her eyes as she told him "I'm sorry, but I just have to go fast, Granddaddy." I know Dad understood. So, as my daughter heads off to begin the next part of her life, I hope she remembers the things I tried to teach her over the past 28 years. Be confident in your abilities; you can be anything in this world you want to be. Take the time to enjoy life along the way; work hard and play hard. Treat everyone you meet with kindness and respect. And most of all, remember that whatever happens and wherever it happens, your Dad will always be there for you. Always. Now go ahead and go fast, my Little Hugger. Granddaddy will be proud.   For all of the young couples out there, I'm here to tell you that this business of being a parent is every bit as difficult, frustrating and exhausting as you have heard. Doing it right, or at least trying to do it right, is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year job. Being a parent will be the greatest source of stress, worry and heartache you will ever experience. And despite all of that-despite all of the work, the worry, the terrible twos, the teen years, and the "you're too old to understand what I'm going throughs"-I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Along with my wife, my daughters (Brittany and Caitlin) and my son (John III) have brought me more happiness, pride and joy than I could ever have imagined.

Growing up I had one of those bedroom doors that wouldn't stay open on itsown. I was probably age five or six when a neighbor gave me a doorstop as a gift. Not just any doorstop - it was a pig made out of a plastic bottle dressed in a pink dress with a big pink hat. Now I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but I didn't like this pig...at all. She wasn't cool, she wasn't trendy and she certainly didn't "go with" my room. But she faithfully did her job of keeping my door propped open for many years. She even survived being drug down the hallway and having her face partially chewed off by my dog, as well as many nights of me kicking her across the room to shut my door. When I got married and moved out my mom tried to get me to take the pig. Absolutely not....I told her to throw it away. Little did I know that day that I started a chain of events that has carried on to this day. Not giving a second thought to this pig, I went on my honeymoon and settled into married life. A year or so went by and upon returning from a vacation I came home to find the pig wearing sunglasses and holding a sign that read something like, "Did you miss me?" No I didn't. I called my mom who advised that she didn't have the heart to throw the pig away and told me to do it. Well looking at her with her little pink dress and hat and chewed up face, I couldn't pitch her either. So in the closet she went. Several months later I dumped her back at my parents' house - I think I actually hid her in a closet. After that she showed up in my bathtub. Wanting to get my mom back good, I took her to her place of work and sat her in her styling chair (my mom was a beautician), put a roller in her hair and wrapped a cape around her and hoped my mom would get the point. Needless to say we have spent the last several years passing this pig back and forth. We are both always surprised to see her. I even packed her in my parents' moving van when they moved to Florida and hid her in their garage. From there, she ended up back in my bedroom - I found her staring at me from behind a quilt rack while I was on the phone. Back to Florida she went - I stuffed her in my parents' trunk late during the night before they left. This was in January 2014, and she hasn't been seen since...until the other night. It was around 11:00 pm and I woke up to the sound of my husband yelling, "Shannon, what's at the bottom of the bed?" (That is the censored version). Yes, it was the pig. My mom had apparently shoved her under the covers in our bed before she left for the airport that morning. So the next move is mine. I have a couple ideas of what I'm going to do with her next and I absolutely know what her ultimate fate will be. She's been around for about 30 years, so she deserves a good send off. But until then...mom, be prepared. Growing up I had one of those bedroom doors that wouldn't stay open on its own. I was probably age five or six when a neighbor gave me a doorstop as a gift. Not just any doorstop - it was a pig made out of a plastic bottle dressed in a pink dress with a big pink hat. Now I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but I didn't like this pig...at all. She wasn't cool, she wasn't trendy and she certainly didn't "go with" my room. But she faithfully did her job of keeping my door propped open for many years. She even survived being drug down the hallway and having her face partially chewed off by my dog, as well as many nights of me kicking her across the room to shut my door.

It's been almost five years since Chesley Sullenberger landed flight 1549 on the Hudson River. For anyone that has forgotten, Captain Sullenberger, a retired Air Force pilot, saved the lives of all 155 of his passengers when his aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia airport in New York City. A seasoned professional at the time of the incident, Captain Sullenberger explained how he managed to live up to his responsibilities at the moment of truth: "One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. And on January 15 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal." This past summer, our own Billy Teufel helped to save the life of a Boys State colleague. Upon finding a friend having a seizure, and without a pulse, Billy kept his wits about him, knew where the automated external defibrillator was located, and used it to restore the boy's heartbeat. Billy and his fortunate friend are proof that you don't have to be a forty-year veteran to perform up to high standards in a moment of crisis. The simple rule of doing the best you can do connects Captain Sullenberger and our Billy. Finding themselves in a challenging situation, both took responsibility immediately. Both took strong action in accordance with their training, knowledge and skill. Neither one of them walked away, tried to shift responsibility to others, or made any excuses whatsoever. They were there to do the best they could and nothing less, showing their dedication to high standards: an obvious sign of good character. What these two did stands out these days, among so many people, and institutions, that do the opposite. Far from seeking to do the best they can, many today are focused on "what is the least we can get away with" as their guiding principle. We've been treated to three weeks of it from the NFL. Both the league and the teams have tested the water again and again - how little can they do about domestic violence and get a pass? How little can they do about child abuse, and get away with it? Is a game suspension for child abuse enough? If not, how about two or three? At least the for-profit NFL admits it's in the business of making money. Colleges like Florida State are doing the same thing with players under investigation for sexual assaults: "Can we get away with a half-game suspension? Okay, how about one game?" This kind of thinking rots our culture and our character. We need to get away from "what's the least we can get away with," once and for all, and get back to the real question: "what is the best we can do?" That simple choice makes a difference all around us. There's been an unprecedented increase in black lung among our coal miners recently. Changes in mining techniques have been exposing miners to more dangerous dust compositions. Coal dust is the only known cause of this disease. Two Senators, Jay Rockefeller (West Virginia) and Robert Casey (Pennsylvania), are seeking to address the issue. But while these two leaders are asking what is the best we can do for sick and injured miners, others are ready to take the other side, insisting on staking out the territory of the "least we can get away with." And this is the same year we learned that a crooked doctor had wrongfully denied over a thousand miners their rightful benefits. We've seen the way corporations profit at the expense of human lives over and over again. Whether it's the toleration of violence and abuse in pursuit of football glory and money, or undercutting the health of working men and women with poor safety in the mines to squeeze extra dollars from coal, the principle is the same. We are constantly choosing the standards we want for our society. Captain Sullenberger's actions - as you would expect from an Air Force man - pointed us in the right direction: We need to aim higher. Billy Teufel got the message, will we? It's been almost five years since Chesley Sullenberger landed flight 1549 on the Hudson River. For anyone that has forgotten, Captain Sullenberger, a retired Air Force pilot, saved the lives of all 155 of his passengers when his aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia airport in New York City. A seasoned professional at the time of the incident, Captain Sullenberger explained how he managed to live up to his responsibilities at the moment of truth: "One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. And on January 15 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."