That’s me above; the guy in the cervical collar. I’m recovering.

Recovery

Belief

Recovery says something bad happened. It’s common to feel that way. People hear you’re recovering and their concerned immediately. Insert sappy greeting card sayings here.

Truth

Recovery is about rebuilding and reforming. Rarely is about making a thing new.

In my case, it’s about rebuilding my stamina and strength. I’m not recovering from a fall, a heart attack, or being run over by a car; I had a necessary surgery.

Surgery wasn’t needed to save my life but my way of life. I chose to jump in immediately to preserve that life. Bad things were going to happen. Surgery hopefully prevented most of that.

This is my choice.

Choice

Recovery is a choice.

You will get hurt, broken, or need surgery or other procedures. You must choose to recover.

It’s more than resting. It’s about moving forward.

There will be days that means sleeping, other days walking, and yet others in a room with a priest. These can all be part of recovery, but only if you let them.

It’s frustrating to think about and be recovering. It’s more frustrating to accept what’s happened and give in.

I’m choosing this time in my life to choose new habits and paths.

There will be more walking, more work into my posture, and commitment to improving my health overall.

Next

Impossible. Me, I can’t do it alone. I’m blessed to have family and friends to be alongside. God has provided much.

You. Make it possible for someone else. If I, with all I have at my disposal, will face challenges, then many will find it harder.

I challenge you. Make someone’s recovery a time of growth and beginnings. Help them create a new foundation.

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A few weeks back I posted the Name That Tattoo Contest. Several great ideas were suggested.

The winner is Michael with the suggestion of ‘sunshine.’

Random selection with thanks to Random.org.

Here’s a few of my favorite suggestions:

• Social
• @nanna_j
• fire breathing dragon

Social is king these days and important to what I do.

Nanna J is my life of course; @nanna_j is my wife.

Fire breathing dragons are cool. Dragons are also considered symbols of wisdom and intelligence. I’m totally full of both. Back me up here.

All great ideas!

I’m not getting a sunshine tattoo or even a rising sun. Something is brewing in my mind’s eye with a combination of a buddha, a cross, and something symbolizing inner peace.

Another idea combines a cross and an anchor. Thank you @SgtHotPants for that.

I’ll be sending an email to Michael and keeping everyone posted as ideas firm up.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter – @tojosan – to keep in touch.

Thanks for all of the ideas and images.  Jump in and leave a comment if you’ve got more suggestions.

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This is personal. Please listen.

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So which 100K sketch do you like best?

If you’d have asked me 4 years ago if I’d send 100k (one hundred thousand) tweets, i’d have laughed.

Here I am having just crossed that mark and on my way to the next thousand.

Commemorating it seems silly to some. Fellow St. Louis area tweeps are cheering. Cool though is to get a wee bit of media attention.

Remy, of 93.7 The Bull show Mason & Remy, caught me up short about a week ago. He noticed I was approaching 100K tweets. He asked the epic question, “What will you do for your 100K tweet?”

I responded immediately, “I’m going to tweet on your show!” And so the ground work was laid.

Mason contacted me later in the week to line up how we could do the 100k tweet on air. Negotiations were rough but I agree to to call in, along with my friend Chris Reimer (aka @RizzoTees), and tweet the epic 100k tweet while recording on the show.

Skipping to the good stuff here. I’m including Mason, Remy, Chris, and myself on the two radio segments. One focused on the 100k tweet, and one on Chris’ effort to support Pratzel’s.

2-4-11 Tojosan On The Bull

2-4-11 RizzoTees On The Bull

I’d love for you to take a moment to listen in, and another moment to share your thoughts about either the 100k tweets, Pratzel’s or even on Mason and Remy.

Getting there has been fun, long, short, epic, laughable. You name it; I’ve felt it.

What’s driven me? Relationships, conversations, and exploration. It’s been all about me some days, while other tweets have been to raise funds, raise awareness, uplift friends, or just to listen.

I’ve seen instant reports of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, eruptions, assassinations, and happy things as well. It’s awesome to tweet or get a tweet about a birth, a wedding, a person finding salvation, or even someone scoring a great deal online.

Twitter grew from something of passing interest to a nation wide obsession. Yep. I still scream out at times, “they don’t get it”, like any good geek. Mostly though I’m happy that the world continues to shrink for me and others.

Okay. I think I’ve written more here than my last 100 tweets, so I’ll wrap it up.

Listen.Share.Tweet

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Happy New Year from Noobart.com

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Taking stock of 2011 it was a year of blessings, both welcome and not so much.

My brother, Taggart, has gotten worth with his ALS. Currently he can control just one eye. He’s unable to speak or communicate other than with a letter card held by his wife.

Jeff Pulver hosted #140Conf in neighboring Kansas. I spoke and was wowed by many others.

Bring a tweep to lunch had its third year. New faces, new restaurants, and some interesting new tastes. Can you say Habanero infused tequila?!

A ruptured disc rounded out the end of my year. Surgery took place the day before Thanksgiving. The collar is off on December 27.

What was your year like?  What stuck with you the most? A lesson learned? A person you met? A challenge you faced?

Leave a comment. Send a Tweet. Blog about it. Go.Love.Share.

Quick video treat:

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Just breathe, it’s become the mantra, or words to live by for Sharon and I.

I’m always reminding others to step back and breathe. Give themselves permission to slow down and regroup. Likewise, we apply this to our own family life.

Honoring that, and taking a step in a new direction, we got matching tattoos.

If you follow me on Twitter, you’d have heard me talk about this for months ahead. It was only recently though that I decided on these words, just breathe. It was also recently that I made the commitment to go forward.

Pepto, an artist at Trader Bob’s, did this, my first tattoo. He took great care to capture it how I imagined, both by designing it ahead of time, and actually tattooing me.

Pepto came recommended by Meredith, a friend of the family. Meredith has several tattoos from Pepto, all of which turned out quite well.

Will I get another? If the right design comes along, definitely. I’m already cooking up an idea or two, and Pepto seems ready for the work.

When life seems too complex, the task to daunting, or the emotions too high, just breathe.

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Tag, my brother, designed these shirts for an upcoming ALS walk.  Tag is afflicted with ALS and has formed a team for the September 11th walk in Marion, Il.

Family, friends, caretakers and more will be walking with Tag for the 5k course. He will be motoring along in his wheelchair. The rest of us have to actually walk. Ha.

If you’re interested in joining us on that walk, give me a shout. Tag would love your support.

Thank you friends for your continued support, prayers, and positive energy.

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Buddha magnets, devil ducks, and The Encyclopedia of Immaturity. Think my family and friends think I have interesting tastes.

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MT. VERNON PROFESSIONAL

FIRE FIGHTERS

BBQ COOKOUT

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT TAG JORDAN

WHEN: FRIDAY, JULY 16TH, SERVING BEGINS AT 11:00am

WHERE: MVFD FIRE STATION 1, 1100 MAIN ST. MT. VERNON

WHAT: OUR FAMOUS SMOKED PORK BBQ, BEANS, CHIPS AND A DRINK.

DINE-IN OR CARRY-OUT, WE’LL GET YOU SERVED QUICKLY ON YOUR LUNCH HOUR!

PRE-ORDERS ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING

242-6880 PRIOR TO THE DATE. ORDERS ON THE DAY OF THE BBQ SHOULD BE PLACED TO 242-2299. DELIVERY IS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES IN TOWN, SPECIFY PREFERRED DELIVERY TIME WHEN ORDERING.

Tag Jordan is a Mt. Vernon man who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a year ago. All the proceeds from this BBQ will go to him and his family to help with medical and household expenses.

Note: Tag is my brother. His wife and kids face a daily challenge dealing with ALS.

Official site for the Fireman’s BBQ Fundraiser

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