Greetings Fellow Optimists

Just today I was reading about “positive emotion.” How it “broadens what we want to investigate," and "when we’re interested, we want to get involved, to learn new things, to tackle new experiences. We become more open to new ideas,” according to Chip and Dan Heath in their book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard.  Well, yes. Yes.

Later, while I was fartin’ around on Google, I happened upon the old Optimistic Schmuck blog stats to see if there’s been any action in the last 7 years. It appears I have an audience of 7 in the Ukraine. I’ve never been to the Ukraine, but I can guess by what I’ve read about Ukrainians, they could use a little optimism. 

There is a lot to be optimistic about in Cleveland today.  Here we go…

2019 All Star MVP

Shane Bieber: So young, so fresh, and so clean, clean.  A girl can’t help but love his WHIP.

Chris Antonetti: Thanks for putting the Tribe into a position to get to the World Series. Keep taking care of Tito. Pisan. (btw, I was never a big Bauer fan.  The whole bloody hand game really kind of gave me the heebie jeebies. There’s a fine line between focused and delusional)

Just....ewww.

Jose Ramirez: Superman has his replica jersey.  

Jo-zaaaayyy

Comrades, I will be back. At least through October.

Cheer for Mentor High

Mentor vs Ignatius

The suit makes the man

The most exciting high school football game ever played went in favor of The Schmuck’s alma mater, Mentor High School Fighting Cardinals. The hubby and I were an emotional wreck by the end of 3OT. To quote my pal, Pearce, "They had to rent a semi to get Triv's balls back to up to Mentor." Good game, coach. Mitch Trubisky is indeed, Mr Football.  Over 400 passing yards, 138 rushing yards, and 6 TDs.  Whitmer Toledo is up for a smack down next Saturday.

The real MVP plays clarinet.   

“We’ve a team that’s fighting for us, Cheer for Mentor High”

Speaking of Rivalries

OSU vs. Michigan

So the Bucks are undefeated going into our 2012 season finale vs our rival, University of Michigan. 
Good Luck! Win! The End.

 

87.7

From Muse to Marley to Matthews, this new Cleveland station sounds like my iPod.  There are few commercials and I hope they keep it that way.  Archie in the morning makes my day.  Locally owned, locally listened to, I love it.

Thanksgiving

This is the Optimists’ Holiday.  Take a moment and think of all the good things that are right with the world and your life. I’m sure you can come up with 3 things.

The Amazing Race

Bonus: Personally, I'm thankful for Jaymes & James. This is quite possibly the best season of The Amazing Race…ever.

Who Says We Suck?

The Browns are 0-2. The Indians are, in typical fashion, spiraling downward to their ultimate first to worst finish..again. The Schmuck is digging deep for optimistic inspiration... 

Mojitos and Fajitas
...And I usually find it in food and beverage.  Let's face it, no matter how bad our team's record, we still gather at game time for good food and booze. If you have a bumper crop of mint in your herb garden like I do, have a mojito party! Here's the best recipe.  Even though summer is over, it's crisp and refreshing.  Pair it with some steak fajitas (Scott Fujitas?), turn on some Latin jazz. It helps.

Can We Handle the Heat?

And I’m not talking about the balmy weather our great city of Cleveland has been blessed with this winter.

Kyrie- NBA Rookie of the Month(s)

1. The Schmuck’s been on another long, soul searching, happiness hiatus since Week 4 of the NFL season.  (Actually I’m just a really, really busy working mom). But nothing injects the soul with optimism like a Cavs victory over the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks at the Q Saturday night.

I tuned in to learn who the hell was on our team besides Varajao, Jamison, and Irving since I’ll be at the game against Philly on Saturday.  Boy did I get a surprise - a real nail biting, down-to-the-wire victory. We had some good hustle, shooting, and defense.  Let’s see if we can keep the momentum going against “The Traitor” and his talents in South Beach this Tuesday.

2. Back to football.  Eli won the Super Bowl.  Congratulations. 

Now back to Peyton.  Rumor has it that Indy is releasing him this week. My friend Kevin wants him to come to Cleveland.  

Really?  A broken down, past his prime QB in Cleveland?  Trent Dilfer excepting, not our usual MO.  We draft college talent, don’t protect him nor supply a competent running game.  When he fails, the fans tear what’s left of him apart, limb by broken limb, like a pack of hyenas.

Decisions, decisions

The Schmuck wants him. Wants to believe he will sign with another small market, Midwest town and revitalize the team.  Wants him to teach our boy McCoy what it takes to carry a franchise on your shoulders. Wants him to show our team and front office that it takes years of hard work together to win. He doesn’t settle for anything but the best. He’ll be 36 next month. Could he do it again?  Would he do it again? Could he talk Marvin Harrison out of retirement for one last rendevous?

“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”

3. Set your TiVos!  The Mad Men Season 5 premiere is Sunday March 25 at 9:00 pm on AMC.  I’ve missed you so, Don Draper.

Bonus: Welcome Home, Afghani-Jack! 

Are You Ready for the Summer?

The Schmuck is back from hiatus by popular demand and itcouldn’t be any sooner.  I feel somenegativity seeping in what with LeBron in the NBA playoffs and the OSU footballprogram going to straight to the toilet…here’s a refreshing look at what’sgoing right in the world.

Did someone say ice cream?

1. Happy Summer!  It’s officially here with record breaking heat.  Hey, we asked for it. Eat some ice cream. Go swimming. Plant some flowers. Take in a ball game. Sit on the porch and watch the sunset at 9:00 p.m.

2. Take in a ball game.  Despite a little streak of bad offense, theTribe is still leading the AL Central by 5 games.  Our pitching staff has been hot- Tomlin has aleague high 7 wins. Chris Perez’s 14 saves ranks #2 in the league (and as manyas Mariano Rivera, I might add) Keep the momentum going by voting our guys ontothe All Star team! Do it now.  Here’s thelink.

All Star Game Voting

And while you’re at it, buy sometickets and get to the ballpark. Indians Tickets

Working up an appetite

3. Fire up the grill!  After a day in the yard or at the pool, makesome ribs, corn on the cob, and watermelon. Wash it down with a cold beer. Clickhere for Mary Jane’s Famous Belly Rub recipe and my go-to Tortellini salad withfresh tomatoes and basil.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

March is finally here, and there is oh so much to be optimistic about.

"It's a Game!"

March Madness

This is truly the best sporting event ever invented. All season teams fight for a ticket to the dance.  They play their hearts out proving to the world that they deserve to be there. They give 100% every minute on the floor because they must win to play another day or go home. Its where...

•  a kid from Wofford College (enrollment 1,500 - about the size of my high school class) can play on national TV

• teams like Butler can go to the championship 

• you hold your breath as you kneel and pray that the shot to tie the game at the buzzer goes in

• you clench your bracket and scream out loud when one of your Final Four eeks out a win in double overtime.

• you don’t give two hoots about your bracket when a 14 seed is beating a 3 seed in overtime.

• you share it all with your friends and family over a few beers and some Pepperoni Pittsnogles.

Best of all, it’s 12 hours a day for the next four days. Go Bucks!

St. Patty’s Day

Although my kegs and eggs days are probably over for life, who doesn’t love corned beef and green beer?  Plus, what other day of the year can you get away with talking like a leprechaun all day?

Girl Scout Cookie Season

Every year, my husband and I “accidentally” buy “too many” boxes of cookies.  “Oops!  I didn’t know you ordered five boxes too!” Mmmmm… Thin Mints out of the freezer, Samoas at midnight, Trefoils with coffee, and Do-Si-Dos for dessert after corned beef and cabbage.  I always have a box handy… sitting right next to my bracket.

Martha Stewart Wants To Be Me

 …even though she doesn’t even know me.

Last week the theme of one of her shows was “Happy Hour.”  I anxiously clicked it from the DVR list, poised with a pen to copy down some of her fantastic cocktail recipes. But when the show started, I learned it wasn’t about cocktails at all.  It was about little things to do or look for every day that can make you HAPPY. What a stellar idea!  I think she’s following The Optimistic Schmuck anonymously.

Here’s a summary of some of “her” ideas:

Pictures of babies WITH dogs can make you downright blissful

• Look at pictures of babies. (check)
• Own a dog. (check) 
• Exercise. (check) 
• Eat salmon. (check)Mmmm… My Dad’s secret to awesome salmon. Grill it with a glaze of
  3Tb Brown Sugar
  2Tb Soy Sauce
  1 Tb Dijon
  Then serve with a sauce of
  1 Tb Glaze from above
  1tsp white vinegar

• Make your bed every day. (check)  I am a bedmaker.  My husband is not. For 10 years now I’ve been pleading with him since he is usually the last one out of bed.  Making the bed makes the room look neat. It declutters my head. Martha adds that you feel happy when one chore is checked off your list as soon as you get out of bed.  It makes me happy to make lists and check them off. (check)

Bonus:  Here is a recipe for a great Martha cocktail that makes my friends and me very, very happy...The Winter Solstice.

Mother Nature Gave us a Taste of Spring!

Julia's Hanging Out

Blustery but warm, my brother Scott and I dressed the kids in jackets and boots and took them to the playground last week. The snow was almost completely melted and it was plenty muddy. Who cares, it was 56 degrees and we were on swings and slides. 

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business

The best show on TV is having a “reunion” of sorts. Not sure who I’m rooting for yet.  I will not let my disgust of country music dissuade me from The Cowboys- they should have won back in Season 16.  But I love the Globetrotters too.

Thank God they didn’t ask Rob and Amber- I would boycott.   I miss Jonathon and Victoria from Season 6.  They made my marriage look like paradise. 

And where are Brian and Greg, “The Brothers” from Season 7?  Brian is probably busy doing more hilarious Miller Light Commercials.