February 9th, 2022

 Everything my parents owned is sitting in a box in my bedroom closet. Everything left from their life is in a box, but everything they ever loved is in my heart.

Sitting in Gossage Grill with my dad learning to appreciate a cup of coffee with a hamburger....

....it isn't in that box, it is in my heart.

Holding my mom's hand in the elevator of a new skyscraper called Sears Tower....

... it isn't in that box, it is in my heart.

My mom made me a bowl of oatmeal on the first day of school from kindergarten through senior year in high school.

...not in the box.

My dad blared British Military Marching band music at 7:00am on Saturday mornings when I was hungover.

...not in the box.

What am I going to leave in a box after I die? What heart will I leave love in?

The hearts that will grieve for us will love us after we leave!

Leave less for the box and more for the heart!

February 8th, 2022

 I’ve had three conversations this morning. All before 5:00am…

I’ve talked with my father, I’ve talked with my mother and I’ve talked with Betty.

Betty is my Blazer, she is reliable and never talks back. We listen to the news together, we listen to music together and I always say thank you and I love you whenever I arrive at my destination.

My parents…. Well they thought they were getting eternal rest.

Wrong! I’ve been working their ass off since they arrived in heaven.

“Keep an eye on the kids, get me through this day, talk to Papa God about my friends mom, my friends dad, my friends daughter! They need his help.”

Everyday I’m bugging my parents.

My mom lived in Indianapolis. My dad ended up in Pittsburgh.

Heaven is actually closer to Cook County than Indiana and Pennsylvania.

Time change is getting closer, but I’ve already noticed the daylight is lasting longer and the shadows are slightly getting shorter.

I’m counting the days until you and I meet again…

February 7th, 2022

 Many, many years ago I walked into my dad’s house on a Friday after work.

“What the hell are you so happy about son?”

“It’s Friday dad! Going to meet the guys for beers!”

“Friday? Friday! Just remember Monday is two days away!”

He was right and Monday is here.

I think it was a John Mellencamp song that said winter days last forever, but weekends go by quickly.

Make the day good and call someone to tell them they are loved.

If you do that and make your bed you’ve had a good Monday!

February 6th, 2022

 I don’t have a very good vertical leap so I’m not jumping over hurdles, but I am dumb enough to bust through a wall.

Obstacles in life are usually there because we put them there.

They’ve actually been easier to conquer with age. Here today, gone tomorrow… unless you have an ex-spouse and that’s usually worse than gonorrhea.

That painful reminder that you should never pick someone up at O’Hare. That’s another story for another day.

Yesterday I won the “I’ve been drinking all day” t-shirt and yes…. It was a lovely day!

Today is Bob Marley and Ronald Reagan day. It is also Yorkshire Pudding Day.

I love Bob Marley, Love President Reagan and love Yorkshire Pud, but I decided to celebrate Pork Grind Day.

Pork Grinds don’t get the respect they deserve. The Snack shop at the Board of Trade had them…. me and a guy from the bond option pit were the only two that bought them.

Go get yourself a bag of pork grinds and thank me later.

The days are getting longer…. We are digging into February pretty much like we do every February.

Just listen for George Harrison… he knows it’s alright.

February 5th, 2022

     Slow but steady wins the race and always measure twice so you only cut once…

My whole career I have been put under stress from 7:20am until 2:00pm. I have to manage priorities and determine what needs immediate attention and what can wait.

I did it in a pit on a trading floor and now I do it at a desk in a trading office.

It’s all about Keep Calm and JumboLove…work with the stress and it won’t defeat you. Bad days aren’t created by stress….they happen because you let your guard down.

…..and when you let your guard down you become vulnerable.

My Oldman often said to me on those days when I let my guard down, “Hey Shakespeare! The only foe you have is you!”

That was Don Shepley’s way of saying “Men at some time are masters of their fates.”

William and Don were both wise men, but foes are in our lives.

Last week’s snowstorm gave my biggest foe traction that slid me off course.

I did not fall and my patience will carry me further to the higher path.

Today is the first weekend of Six Nations Rugby.

Ireland and Wales kickoff the morning followed by England and Scotland.

Later in the day MLR (Major league rugby) kicks off as well. Chicago doesn’t have a club so I am a NOLA Gold supporter! Geaux Gold!

Saturday is rugby day!

The crockpot is empty and the bed is empty, but a Bloody Mary, a couple scrums, a pizza and friendship should make this cold Saturday warm and exciting!

Swing low, sweet chariot

Coming for to carry me home!

Billy Hamilton's birthday and the February 4th Morning Chalkboard...

       I’ve been consistent on the past “February 4th Morning Chalkboards.”

Yes, the sun comes up every 2/4 around 7:00am in Chicago and sets ten minutes after five in the evening.

But….. it’s always Billy Hamilton’s birthday…..

For years I’ve called his mom to thank her for having a son that became a dear friend For me.

I’ll probably call her later.

The last few years Mrs. Hamilton has been suffering from dementia. I make my annual call and we talk for a few minutes. Then later in the day Mrs. Hamilton will see her caller ID and call me back…. Four or five times!

We have the same conversation. She asks about the Shepkids, how old they are and their names. We talk about our health. We talk about how great Billy is…. Four or five times.

In the next few years Mrs. Hamilton won’t be around to call on Billy’s birthday. So if I’ve learned anything the last few years…. it is to cherish our parents and our friends parents…. They go to heaven at this point in OUR lives!

February 4th, 2022

 No matter how many wrong turns I take I still end up on the same path.

                                        Man of few words today.
                     It’s been a long week and I’m tired of battling an old foe. I should have stayed in Oak Park, I should have listened to my old man.
                Today is my dear friend Billy Hamilton’s Birthday…. If you know him wish him a happy birthday.
                          Days may be cold, but they are getting longer!
          It’s a Make chili in your crockpot and love in your bed kind of weekend!

February 3rd, 2022

     Hope! Whenever it is promised by someone, usually a politician will end up a broken promise.

Hope should be a personal promise. It shouldn’t be a crutch, but it should be used during the toughest of times to give us optimism.

The weather this week is fitting for the first week of February. Two months from today the weather will be appropriate for the first week of April!

Hope Spring Eternal!

February 2nd, 2022

      All is well that end’s well…today’s quote is real simple for a snowy day.

All people deserve to be loved. Trust is something that is earned. Don’t be an assclown in someone’s day.

The ride into work was a little hazardous, but it’s the ride home that might be treacherous.

The balance of winter and the arrival of spring depends on a rodent this morning!

Try not to run into Ned Ryerson today!

February 1st, 2022

 I tried to think about any enemies that I might have… maybe a couple washed up Chicago Board of Trade guys and a girl from Hinsdale was all that I could come up with…

Then I thought maybe… if I don’t have any enemies then who do I think is a dick?

….And the list grew long quickly.

But who thinks I’m a dick?

I’m sure that list is long…

A couple guys from the bond room, maybe a couple people from high school, definitely a girl from Hensdale.

I think it’s pretty good not having enemies at my age. I will have to explain about the people who are dicks when I go to heaven.

I’m pretty sure God doesn’t let Dicks in heaven….

Though we are all one forgiveness away from eternal brotherhood…

Even the dickheads.

For every dickhead that I’ve met in life I have ten people who call me friend.

That’s pretty good…

Unless I count my friends and I’ll still collect a handful of dicks…

Thank God I suck at math.

And in the spirit of Betty White… thank you for being my friend.

Chinese New Year

Happy New Year to the Tigers…. Tigers are cats so it’s the year of the cat!

“Like a watercolor in the rain

Don't bother asking for explanations

She'll just tell you that she came

In the year of the cat.”

Any oldie, but a goodie…

Enjoy the weather that has been forecast for the next forty eight hours! It’s about as accurate as a Bob Avellini pass…