What's been going on since October 2021?

Click on the eye to see most recent photo gallery and comments. Updates in progress.

2022 Highlights

Jan: Makayla plays on her high school basketball team as a freshman, and we attended games.

Jan: For myself another year of volunteering at Cleveland Metroparks on the Clean team.

Feb: Kathy retires from DXC & begins her new life by signing up to volunteer on the Cleveland Metroparks Clean team. This gives us another avenue to schedule hiking trips and see new reservations together.

Feb: Michelle moves from her first rental flat after many issues with minor repairs and health concerns. She was able to find a better rental property and a better parking and garage setup in the same town.

Apr: Cleveland Indians baseball team officially becomes the Guardians. Sad to say goodbye to Chief Wahoo and the TRIBE as I have been a fan of theirs since 1959. Glad to still have MLB in town!!

Apr: I began my 3rd year as a Starter/Ranger at Meadwood Golf Course. Duties end on Oct 31. Two 4 hour shifts each week and free golf for me any time the course is open.

May: I attended my first Cleveland Guardians game and hosted friends Jamie & Garrett, Mike Fry, my daughter Michelle and her friend, Erin. Cle tied the game in the last of the 9th with a 2-run homer but lost 5-4 in 10 innings. I vowed not to wear any Guardians gear until they make the playoffs.

May: Kathy & I started our very first garden with the help of our children Tony & Michelle. Our crop yielded tomatoes, redskin potatoes, spinach and zucchini. It was fun to see the progress thru the summer.

Jun: Visited my brothers-in-law in northeastern TN and attended a live outdoor Bluegrass concert near the Covered Bridge over the Doe River. Incredible music and a beautiful late spring evening.

Jun: The next day we did our 4th National Kidney Foundation Walk. This time we were remote in TN on the Appalachian Trail. We hiked about 3 miles along the TN and NC borders thru Carvers Gap.

Jul: Kathy's brother Mike had back surgery the week after the 4th of July, and stayed with us recuperating until early September. It was very rough for Mike and required multiple stays in hospital.

Jul: My brother Ted & I played in our 2nd West Tech Ryder Cup Golf Outing. We win our first point, but the team lost to the World team opponents. Shale Creek Golf in Medina, OH was the course location.

Aug: Kathy & I attended the Drum Core International finals in Indianapolis with high hopes for the Canton Bluecoats team that her brother Bob helps coach. No championship this year. Edged out by Blue Devils.

Sep: Kathy & I were hit by a deer on I64 on our way to spend my birthday week in the Outer Banks, NC. Passenger rear door and back fender damaged but nobody hurt except the deer. Car is drivable.

Oct: We spend a week in a beach house and do several hikes and sightseeing tours in OBX. When we return, my daughter Erin & husband Tyler host a 70th birthday party for me. We had a great time even though the Browns missed a last second field goal and lost a football game on tv in their barn.

Oct: Cleveland Guardians make the playoffs in their first year and I celebrated with a new Tee shirt.

Dec: Kathy sings in her first concert with the Lorain Community College Chorale group. It was a holiday themed concert. Kathy had joined in early fall and practiced on Mondays each week. Very fun time.

2023 Highlights

Jan: Grandson Max fractures his right femur crashing a dirt bike on an indoor practice course the first week of the new year. Max gets a titanium rod in his femur and toughs out a couple month rehab.

Jan: Kathy & I begin our 2nd year volunteering on the Cleveland Metroparks Clean Team.

Mar: My daughter Erin celebrates her 40th birthday and a party is hosted by her husband Tyler. On the same night, my wife Kathy sings in her 2nd LCCC Chorale concert. I shuttle between events so we can attend the party after the concert. It was great to see how many of her friends were able to attend.

Mar: A few days after Erin's birthday, I fly out to Spring Training in Goodyear, AZ to see the Guardians with Mike Fry. We attend games at the Dodgers training camp and the World Baseball Championship. The WBC was held in the Arizona Diamondbacks stadium in Phoenix. We saw Canada beat Great Britain 18-8.

Apr: I began my 4th year as a Starter/Ranger at Meadwood Golf Course. Free golf for me. I am looking forward to getting my grandsons out on the course this year.

May: We clean up the garden area and set up for the new growing season. Another round of the same with green onions and dill added to the mix. Improvements from our first lessons help the process.

May: Kathy sings in her 3rd LCCC Chorale concert with a spring theme. She is loving it for sure. I am now a full-fledged roadie for Kathy and support her retirement fun in music and travel arrangements.

May: Kathy & I attend a wedding at the Columbus Zoo. My good friend Dale's son Kyle was married to Maria out on a deck over the Scioto River. Great time and we stayed overnight near the venue.

May: Two days after the wedding, Kathy's dad Bob has his 2nd knee surgery and begins recovery. At 86, it was difficult to perform the rehab and there were several post-op issues over the coming months.

Jun: My nephew Wyatt brought his family up from Alabama to celebrate his 44th birthday on the same day my daughter Michelle turned 29. Two days later we attended our 5th NKF 5k Walk fundraiser. I got to see my great-grandson Andrew Janollari for the first time since he was an infant in 2019. We all walked together around the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and surrounding park areas near Lake Erie.

Jul: I played golf at Meadowood with my grandsons Max & Joel for the first time ever. We had only played putt-putt golf and hit balls at the Sportsville driving range prior to this event.

Jul: My brother Ted and I played in our 3rd West Tech Ryder Cup outing. This time we won 2 points and our match, but the team again lost to the World players. The better we get, the worse the team does.

Jul: Kathy & I did the Cleveland Metropark 5k race/hike at Wendy Park. It was sponsoring the Cleveland Police K9 units and there were several police dogs at the start and finish area of the race.

Aug: Before the new school year started, my daughter Erin and I took my grandkids to an Alpaca farm in Medina, OH. We got to move around amongst the animals and feed them up close. Very fun trip.

Sep: Max & Joel played in the local football fall leagues for 6th and 5th grade teams. Their sister Hattie played outdoor soccer and participated in cheer team training and competitions. I get to fill in as a shuttle driver to practices and see as many games for each as possible. So special to hang with this group.

Sep: Kathy begins her 2nd year in the LCCC Chorale again practices on Monday evening thru May.

Sep: Kathy has a hospital emergency trip for high blood pressure and is treated for hypertension. Just two days later, Kathy's father Bob passed away after never fully recovering from the May knee surgery.

Oct: Max joins the city basketball league and plays for the 6th grade team. I am fortunate to be able to see him play most of the games that will go on into Feb next year.

Dec: Kathy sings in the holiday concert for the LCCC Chorale. She is really loving it even more now.

2024 Highlights

Jan: We hosted another fondue party to bring in the new year. Grandchildren now old enough to put their own skewers in the boiling peanut oil. Dipping either steak or chicken, and shrimp for seafood lovers.

Jan: Max continues playing club basketball and I am able to attend almost every game. Also keep the practice and T3 shuttles going throughout the winter months.

Jan: Hattie picks up the pace on the Cheer team and participates in multiple competitions.

Feb: On the 29th Kathy & I attended the Cle Car Show at the IX Center. Not really looking to replace my Chevy Traverse but interested in seeing what compares to it now. I sat into a Subaru Ascent and liked it so much that we went to the dealer for a test drive. Then I traded in my Traverse and leased the Ascent.

Mar: Kathy again sings in the LCCC Chorale, and the experience is getting better every time.

Mar: Max finishes basketball and moves on to join a Lacrosse team. Can't slow this boy down.

Apr: Brother-in-law Rob hosted a family reunion at his farm in TN. We rented a nearby Airbnb and six of us travel down for the long weekend. We got to meet several members of Deana's (Rob's mate) family who also live in TN. It turned out to be a very nice day and a great time on the mountain farm.

Apr: I finally decided to buy a battery-operated lawn mower from EGO and retire the gas machine. I already had a leaf blower and an edge trimmer that both run on batteries. I have a small yard that takes less than 2 hours to maintain every week and new mower has enough charge to complete that job easy.

Apr: I'm now into my 5th year as a Starter/Ranger at Meadwood Golf Course. Still able to play free golf.

May: We get our garden going for the 3rd year now and get to enjoy home grown vegetables again.

May: Kathy sings in her 3rd and final LCCC Chorale concert of the season. Another spring theme and you can see the group improvement having sung together since September of last year.

Jun: Kathy & I attend the wedding of Jamie & Garrett out in Mentor. A beautiful day and it was very special as I have become much closer with my friend Dale's daughter after his untimely death in 2015. We share a love for sports, and I am able to provide stories of my times with her dad after we met in 1967,

Jun: Playing golf at Meadowood I shot even par (31) for 9 holes on the White course. First time ever doing this on any course. Seven pars, one bogey and a finishing birdie. It only took 25 years playing this course.

Jun: We participated in our 6th National Kidney Foundation 5K fundraiser walk remotely this year. It fell on Michelle's 30th birthday. The JP Hikers team was able to reach their goal again this year.

Jun: Kathy & I rented a beach house in Kitty Hawk, NC on the Outer Banks. It was a three-story home with a back yard pool about 100 yards from the beach. Just a short board walk over the dunes. Rob & Deana were able to join us along with Tony, Matt and Makayla. Did some hiking and sightseeing. Also went to an all you can eat seafood restaurant 2 times. The pool, hot tub and beach access kept us close to the house.

Jul: Michelle ended her supply chain consulting job with RRA and accepted a job with the FAA. We traveled to Chicago together for her orientation sessions and security briefings.

Aug: A series of tornadoes touched down in the western suburbs of Cleveland on the 6th. Kathy & I were driving home and were underneath a rotating cloud that was humongous. We could see dangling tails in the clouds, and the wind was blowing debris across the road. Fortunately, we got home with no issues except our power was out for over two days. Tyler provided us a generator to keep the fridge going.

Aug: Michelle, Kathy & I visited the Cleveland Botanical Gardens out at University Circle. We had a fun walk thru the place and saw the daily release of butterflies into the enclosed environment. Afterward, we enjoyed dinner on the outside patio deck of Shooters Restaurant on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River.

Sep: Makayla enters her senior year of high and is now working at a local Dairy Queen.

Sep: Max & Joel play on the 7th and 6th grade football teams in Avon. Hattie keeps up with the Cheer team. Papa, that's me, gets to attend competitions and provide shuttle support for another school year.

Sep: Kathy continues into her 3rd season with the LCCC Chorale and decides to also join the LCCC Concert Band. She plays the clarinet and learns the band director is a longtime friend of her brother Robert.

Oct: Kathy & I travel to TN to visit her brothers. It has been only a week since Hurricane Helene swept thru the area. Lowlands are flooded around the Doe and Watauga Rivers. It is only about 100+ miles from the Asheville, NC area that was completely ravaged by the storms and twisters.

Oct: We celebrate my 72nd birthday at Rob's farm. I spend a few days hiking the farm perimeter and clearing out tree limbs and debris from the hurricane. We planned to attend the local high school football game and ended up volunteering to help set up concessions at an alternate location in Johnson City. Kathy even worked with Deana at the lower concession stand. Rob, Mike and I enjoyed the band show from down on the field level and watched the game from the end zone where the band was set up and playing.

Oct: There was a very beautiful northern lights show over Lake Erie on the 11th, and we drove down to see the spectacular views after dark. It actually was better seen on our phone than with the naked eye.

Oct: 12th. It has been exactly 3 years since the last time I updated my website. The good news is I have made it here to celebrate my 48th year as a living kidney donor. Updates for the last 3 years to follow.

Nov: Once golf season ended, I decided to go to the local YMCA to work out 3 days a week. I walked the track and rode stationary bikes to get about 8,000 steps in just over an hour. Continued this into 2025.

Nov: Max & Joel begin indoor racing at Route 62 joining the Amateur SX Championship series. Racing continues into 2025 with 6 scheduled race weekends about 3 weeks apart.

Dec: The Avon Eagles high school football went unbeaten this season and won their first Ohio State Division 2 championship. My grandsons Max and Joel were able to attend the game with the dad Tyler.

Dec: Kathy performed in the LCCC Chorale holiday concert. Then Kathy had her first band concert and finally is back into the music scene. It has been a great experience for both of us. She as the performer and me as the roadie and support & sustain team. I truly love watching her play music, and sing!

2025 Highlights

Jan: Another new year's fondue party and the Ohio State Buckeyes win big and go on to win the first extended playoffs in college history. Our 3rd NCAA title this century. Nice start to the winter!

Jan: Kathy & I are signed up for another year of volunteering with the Cleveland Metroparks Clean team. We continued to find new venues to hike and clean as the park system is very large.

Feb: Joel plays a variety of percussion instruments with the 6th grade middle school band at the high school auditorium. It was on a Saturday with multiple grade levels playing throughout the day.

Feb: Max joins the lacrosse team again and I am able to attend only a few games. Hattie is heavy into the Cheer team and tumbling sessions. I do more Hattie shuttles so Erin can see Max play lacrosse.

Mar: Makayla is lead organizer of her high school prom fashion show as well as a participant. We are able to see the program and enjoyed her dancing and walking the runway. A nice family dinner followed.

Mar: Kathy has back-to-back LCCC Chorale and then band concerts on the 8th & 9th. Excellent shows.

Mar: Max & Joel complete the 6-race circuit at Route 62 will some nice results. Max's highest finish was 4th place overall in the 85 Open 9-15 Beginners' group. Joel made the podium with a 3rd place finish in the Sat Pit Bike Open group. I did not travel near Columbus for any events. I followed on the website.

Apr: Kathy & I attended a concert by the LCCC Patriot Band at the college. Kathy is considering joining this band either this coming fall, or the following year. It was a very nice performance.

Apr: I had my annual check-up at Cleveland Clinic on the 24th. Results of blood tests revealed that I am entering the pre-diabetes stage based on my A1c value of 6.1. I have also moved into the stage 3 of chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on my eGFR value. I am scheduled to meet with a kidney specialist on June 20. For now, continued exercising and moderation of diet, are the only actions.

Apr: On the 28th, Kathy & I attended a celebration of life for her former boss, and my former bowling partner, Andy Lasko. Her passed away from heart failure after a 20+ year battle with Parkinsons.

Apr: Year 4 of our garden with several updates and additional plants added to the plan.

May: Back at Meadowood Golf for now my 7th season there. Late start due to rainy weather.

May: Kathy played clarinet in the LCCC spring concert on the 4th and sang in the LCCC Chorale concert the following Saturday evening. We continue to enjoy the experience, and I am an even bigger fan now.

May: Kathy and I are signed up to participate in our 7th annual National Kidney Foundation 5k walk on Sunday June 8. The walk begins and ends at the Cleveland Science Center near downtown. I have pledged to walk at least 555,555 steps from Cinco De Mayo thru to the kidney walk.

May: We got to see Joel on the percussion instruments at the spring middle school band concert.

May: Makayla went to her high school prom. We were able to meet her date and get some pictures before they went to the dance and on to the after-prom festivities.

May: Makayla was honored at her high school awards ceremony and presented a college scholarship to assist with her tuition and books as she attends Lorain Community College this fall to study nursing.

Jun: Makayla graduated from high school on the 1st. It was a beautiful day and the ceremonies took place in the stadium outside. We all went to Cozumel for Mexican food afterwards.

Jun: Today on the 8th, Kathy and I participated in our 7th straight National Kidney Foundation Walk in downtown Cleveland. For the first time, I am a kidney donor and also a kidney patient. Our JP Hikers team raised twice our goal amount for the first time. Wyatt and family were able to join remotely from their Alabama home. Ted walked 6.5 miles at Seneca Golf Course as his contribution to the team. It was nice to be back at the Cle Science Center with Kathy for this years' events. I beat my step goal by walking 609,112 steps in the 34 days leading up to the event. Nearly 18k steps per day average.

Jun: 9th, I had a metabolic panel and A1c blood test today. Glucose down from 126 to 93 after 6 weeks of nutrition management activity. A1c down from 6.1 to 5.8. Still a bit high but the 3-month average should go down if I can continue to handle the food intake. However, my eGFR and Creatinine numbers have not gone as well. I was able to schedule an ultrasound for the 10th and am awaiting those results.

Upcoming:

Jun: Graduation and birthday party for Makayla on the 14th. She turns 18 on the 27th.

Jun: Meeting with kidney doctor to determine my status after two months of diet and exercise improvements on the 20th.

Jul: Kathy is taking Matt, Tony & Makayla on a cruise from Jacksonville, FL to the Bahamas.

Jul: My brother Ted and I will again play golf in the West Tech Ryder Cup outing on the 11th.

Aug: Kathy turns 65 on the 14th. We are going to the Hocking Hills lodge on the 16th for 3 nights and days of hiking and sightseeing in the Amish country in southern Ohio.

Oct: On the 12th, it will be 49 years since the transplant. I'm hoping I never need one myself.

Always: Keep exercising, hiking & eating well. Volunteering with the Cleveland Metroparks, Meadowood Golf Course & National Kidney Foundation fund raisers. Enjoying my grandchildren to the fullest with fun experiences and shuttle rides to their events and practices.

Until we meet again ... I wish everyone peace, love and happiness for all times!!