WordUp by Chad Gramling

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As you probably already realize, I blog here at WordUp pretty infrequently. It’s not that I don’t have thinks to say or that I don’t want to blog them. In fact, the truth is, there are many things I observe and consider but I just don’t ever get around to blogging it out.

This is NOT one of those “Woe is me, I don’t like to blog here and I’m shutting it down” posts. WordUp will remain open, probably indefinitely. However, in terms of priority, I have to get back to the real reason(s) I started blogging.

The primary ponders in my head as of late have been specific to 1.) purpose, 2.) focus, and 3.) opportunity. I’m not a “pro-blogger” but I am getting back to making blogging fit into strategies that further my ambitions. And my ultimate worldly ambition hasn’t wavered from the same thing it was five, ten, fifteen years ago; to become successful enough as a writer to be financial secure so I can do it as a full-time job. Stephen King I am not, but R. Karl Largent (REST IN PEACE MR. LARGENT), maybe.

That being my focus, when I started on this WordUp Journey, it was to help further my longed-for career. Along the way, it became a melting pot for what was on my mind, family updates, and telling stories. Judging by the most often used search phrases for this blog, it is also a place where people seek out pictures of Jack Osborn and/or Jodie Seetin. Does any of that present an opportunity for furthering the core ambition? Not really. Right now, the opportunity is at BaseballinFortWayne.com. Some really great things are happening over there in terms of Northeast Indiana baseball history as it happens and as it happened. That being the opportunity, I’m running with it and doing some other great things to complement the blog, which has developed a solid following and is generating good exposure.

But this now all goes back to the core: writing and baseball. BBIFW allows me to combine both and I love doing it, but I don’t think that particular niche will 1.) help me make it into a full-time career nor will it 2.) completely scratch the itch I have for writing fiction (novels).

All this said, you’ll begin to notice some change ’round these here parts very soon. I’m going to streamline the site, this blog and perhaps develop another blog that is specific to helping me achieve that core. Neither blog will likely get updated on a daily or even weekly basis on regular intervals, only when necessary or the mood strikes. BBIFW may even begin to evolve a little bit as I begin some things to help expand search engine placement, and generate more traffic.

Get set, cause I’m making a run at it! Stay tuned.

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The Downtown Auburn Business Association is currently presenting “Out of the Box Art: A Celebration in Trompe L’Oeil.” The summer art exhibit features several “boxes” of art that are done by local artists in the style of Trompe L’Oeil; which is attributed to the style of painting that achieves the sense of being three dimensional. If you haven’t yet gotten down to see these wonder creations, I highly suggest you do so.

However, whether you have or haven’t. I’ve taken a bit of time to put together a little video that provides a virtual look. My apologies to the couple that I missed. I took two trips and still didn’t get them all. If your art does not appear in the video, please do not take it personal. I tried to get them all, but between my limited map skills, video capabilities and my wife and two daughters getting tired and cranky, I just couldn’t get all of them.

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Daphne “Big Bird” Gramling and Stella “Little Chick” Gramling

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There are some days that you take everything for granted and dwell on everything but what is good.

And then there are moments you realize how lucky you are.

For me, that moment was last night when I opened my eyes, let loose a horrific groan and realized I was not dead or paralyzed.

I had just fallen about 8 or 9 feet from a ladder and landed flat on my back onto strips of soffit and fascia that had remained outside since last winter when I did not get them done in time. Underneath those materials were several pieces of steel (the kind used for metal shelving) that I had saved from my father’s trailer since he passed away about seven years ago.

When I got to the top of the ladder, I realized the left side was not flush with the gable end of the roof. It was then that I also realized I should have positioned the ladder against the house and not the roof top (live and learn). It seemed that the moment I realized that the ladder was not stabile, it spun. Yes, it spun . . . and I went down.

I flew through the air and landed flat on my back. Luckily, I missed the workbench and the items that were on it – though I did scrape my right arm on something and have a pretty rough beef jerky spot.

When I hit the ground, there was a flash in my mind (I think I hit my head too) and then a brief blackout. I opened my eyes a second or two later and instinctively groaned. Then I thought to myself in this order:

1. I hope I won’t die
2. I hope I didn’t land on anything sharp
3. I hope I am not paralyzed
4. I need to get up NOW!

I very slowly rolled over and stood up. When I emerged from behind the workbench, I saw four-year-old Daphne staring at me. She was stone faced and quiet. Then I thought, Good, she can go get help if I keel over . . . but she has trouble with doorknobs and won’t be able to get out of the yard – I might die.

Luckily, I didn’t. Luckily, I missed everything and the hammer I was carrying did not hit me after I fell. Luckily, Daphne didn’t see her dad kill himself as a result of sheer stupidity (and no, nobody else was home).

Now, those who know me best also know I have taken much worse falls, but this one is still hurting me today. My back and neck are sore and my head still cries out for Tylenol aver 4 or 5 hours.

But I’m alive and I can move my limbs. Pretty lucky if I do say so myself.

P.S. The wife has now forbidden me to use ladders when she isn’t home.

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I’ve had my first article accepted at Dugout Central. Check it out. Comment and click the Thumbs Up icon to show your love!

Hopefully we’ll see more of my articles published over there. Much of the content I submit will be will be Northeast Indiana related (akin to what I am posting at BaseballinFortWayne.com), but this situation gives me the opportunity to scratch other baseball itches if the wind blows that direction.

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I wanted to send out word that I will be part of a DeKalb County Author’s Book Singing on Saturday, May 17th. It takes place at MJ’s Bookmark on South Main Street in Auburn from 1-4PM. Hope to see you there. But don’t come for just me. There will be many other local authors there and I know I am pretty excited to meet with them and hear about their books and publishing experiences.

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I got my Flip Camera today. Pretty cool. Here’s the first video I made; staring the two most talented Gramling girls of course…

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Okay, I swore that I would sit on my economic stimulus money to spite President Bush. But I guess I couldn’t resist spending a little bit on this cool little video Flip Ultra camera. I have a Sony HandyCam (let me know if you are interested in buying it), but getting video from it to a computer is pretty much impossible. This camera, which is friggen cheap looks like it will be a sinch. Thanks President Bush!

Anywho, can’t wait to start using it to video Daphne and Stella, or some baseball this summer. Should add a new element to my blogs. It’s about time.

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As you probably know, I don’t get offended very easily. In fact, I openly claim that nothing offends me. However, there is one thing that comes frighteningly close: When people try thinking for me. I guess some people don’t have anything better to do than but into people’s lives and tell them how they should live, think, act, feel or work. That just ain’t civil in my book.

Throwing that out there for reactions, thoughts or comments.

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So, we go to Wrigley and the Cubs suck. We put up with belligerent Reds fans on the train ride up, then we deal with two giddy Reds fans we meet up with and then we make the long train ride home with about a half dozen drunken cubs fans. Why do “I Live for This” again?

Anywho, win or lose (and it’s usually lose), Wrigley is always a good trip. Too bad Griffey’s 596th and Joey Votto [see also] had to combine forces with Ted Lilly and the AWOL Cubs’ offense to ruin the actual game.

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