Chicago

So, I applied for a job in Chicago with the American Heart Association. As some of you may know, I applied for this same job a year and a half ago. I ended up being one of two finalists for the position and they gave it to the other candidate because she had more in-state experience.

Well, she has left that position and it is now open. Considering the response I received from them following my last interview, I give myself an excellent shot at getting the job. I assume I will at least get an in-person interview so I'll be on my way to Chicago at some point this month. If they offer me the job, I'm not sure if I will take it, I will have to think about it. All of this won't matter if I don't get an offer. So I'm not even going to worry about it for now. I guess this is my chance to move on from Lansing and finally go to Chicago like I always talk about.

We'll see what happens.

Return to the softball diamond

I returned to playing softball 100% this week. I could finally grip the bat completely and it paid off. I went 5 for 5 and hit 3 in-the-park homeruns. It was a great game. Now I will be able to play in my two fall leagues without any problem. My days of head first slides are probably over.

What I do

This is what I do for a living. Advocacy for the American Cancer Society. Check out that sweet scar from my surgery. And the hand splint is the new summer fashion!

Broken Hand

So, I broke my hand 10 days ago making a diving catch in one of my softball games. This Monday I had surgery on my left hand. My doctor put my third metacarpal back together with a titanium plate. I've been home all week recovering. I underestimated the recovery time. I had hoped to be back at work by Wednesday but ended up taking the whole week off. My hand is swollen and still in pain. I expect to using it more frequently next week.

My doctor said I may be able to play softball as early as three weeks from now. Not sure if that will happen but I'm glad I will be able to play again this year. I may have to hit left-handed when I return but I'm going to work at it. I like the challenge. After two weeks of doing nothing because of my hand, I need to get back into shape. I plan to play a lot more tennis.

The underlying racism against Obama

These are the types of emails that the closet racists are sending out to mislead people. I compare these tactics to those that the Nazi's used to play to German resentment and hatred of the Jews that aided in the election of Hitler. I walked through the German history museum last year in Berlin and I can easily see the comparisons.

I find it hard to believe that people think this is alright to pass along. These emails make me embarrassed to be an American and I love my country. I wonder if these people do because this is not advancing our society, it's turning the clock back to a time that we recognize as a dark period in our history.

This is why this election is historic. We cannot give in to this disguised racism and hatred. What is also alarming is the number of emails that this chain has already gone through.




<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>> EMAIL I RECEIVED TODAY

--- On Sat, 6/28/08, wrote:
From: Subject">Subject: Fw: Fwd


Subject: FW: Books

Please read and heed! If you don't read anything else, read the last statement Obama made.

Think you know who this man is? This possible President of the United States !! Read Below and ask yourselves, is this REALLY someone we can see as the President of our great nation!!!!

Below are a few lines from Obama's books; In his words!

From Dreams of My Father: 'I ceased to advertisemy mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when Ibegan to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiatingmyself to whites.'

From Dreams of My Father :'I found a solace innursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosityagainst my mother's race.'

From Dreams of My Father:< /U>'There was somethingabout him that made me wary, a little too sure ofhimself, maybe. And white.'

From Dreams of My Father: 'It remained necessary to prove which side youwere on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and namenames.'

From Dreams of My Father:'I never emulate whitemen and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into myfather's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all theattributes I sought in myself , the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.'

And FINALLY the Most Damming one of ALL of them!!!

From Audacity of Hope:'I will stand with the Muslims should the politicalwinds shift in an ugly d irection.'

* If you have never forwarded an e-mail, now is the time to Do so!!!! We CANNOT have someone with this type of mentality running our GREAT nation!! I don't care whether you a Democrat or a Conservative. We CANNOT turn ourselves over to this type of character in a President. PLEASE help spread the word.


--- On Sat, 6/28/08,

Wouldn't you, like to be a big brother to someone like me

To all you teacher types and others,

At my work (American Cancer Society), we have 2 summer kids camps for cancer survivors that are in need of more volunteers especially male volunteers.

Just wondering if any of you would be interested in helping out. I hear it's a lot of fun. I may be doing the Young adult camp in July.Here's some info on the 2 camps we have, let me know if you are interested or if anyone you know is interested.

----Camp Catch-A-Rainbow---- campers are ages 7-15 and are cancer survivors. June 14-20, 2008. Volunteer orientation is on the 14th. Campers arrive on the 15th. Held at YMCA Camp Storer in the Jackson, MI area. We ask that if someone is interested in volunteering that they be able to stay for the whole week.

----Young Adult Retreat---- retreaters are ages 16-20 and are cancer survivors. July 10-13, 2008. Held at St. Mary's College in the South Bend, IN area. We go on different outings such as a day trip to Chicago, water parks, amusement parks etc. More male and medical volunteers are always needed.

Thanks,

Matt