Update on 'Refrigerator' Perry

CBS2 Chicago/AP reports that the former Chicago Bears/Philadelphia Eagles player William 'Refrigerator' Perry is upgraded to Fair condition. 

This is good news.  I am really pulling for a good and complete recovery.

It will be a rough and tough road for him, as I have earlier wrote about.  But now it's all uphill.  Once he gets over the hill, it just gets better.

-- Matt

What Were They Thinking??

This story from the AP has really struck a cord within me. 

Basically, over the skies of Lower Manhattan NYC earlier this morning.  Police and authorities said this was a 'staged photo op' with a decoy Air Force One plane and fighter planes behind that.

Why?  Why would anyone approve of this?  Is there any logic going on with this person?  So, the person apologized.  Fine.  Now resign.

In this day in age of the world, the people of NYC are always going to be on alert.  They are always going to worry.  And no doubt that they would.  People of NYC are tough people.  But a event like this are just stupid.

-- Matt

Be Smart and Don't Panic

This blog post is not a normal posting here, so just bear with me ...

That is the words of advice you hear on the news now.  Every channel.  Every network.  All because of this 'swine flu' bug that is going around.

And I want to express that point, yet bring up some topics that may not have been brought up yet.

First of all, don't panic.  This is not Steven King's 'The Stand' virus.  America and the world will be here tomorrow.

Second, use common sense.  If you are sick, stay home.  If you know someone who is sick, keep your distance.  Not saying this to be rude or anything, but you don't want to get sick at all, now do you?

Third, and this point has not been brought up yet ... HOW did this happen?  What was the reason?  This is not food poisoning, and this wasn't done by unprocessed food or bad conditions to raise that.  So, how is this happening, and why.  That is an answer we need now.  Not later.

I think President Obama and his team are handling this crisis well.  And we need to do so as well.

-- Matt

Former Chicago Bears' Player in Hospital

You see this headline, and it just might be another story to you.  And to most people, it would.  But if you read the article from ESPN.com, you will see that it hits close to home for me personally ...

William 'The Refrigerator' Perry is in a South Carolina hospital in serious condition after he had a relapse due to the after effects of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.  He was diagnosed with GBS back in June of 2008, and he is back in the hospital again.  He is listed in serious condition, but is expected to fully recover.

About 6 years ago, I was diagnosed with GBS at the age of 22.  It was the scariest time of my life.  But, the recovery that I made helped me realize who I was and what I can accomplish was a person.  I made almost a full recovery, although I really can't run.  I also have nerve pain in my feet and ankles from time to time.  And that is expected to stay with me for the rest of my life.

Myself aside though, I really do feel for Mr. Perry.  What he must be going through is very scary and the thought that I know what he feels is quite surreal.

My heart and thoughts go out to him and his family.  My advice:  Keep your head up, believe in your faith, make a goal to get back where you were before this all happened, and don't let nothing stop you.  This could be the most rewarding time of your life, and your sense of yourself that you develop after this is something you will keep forever.

I will make it a point to keep up to date very closely to this story.  Let's all say a prayer/thought for him.

Best of luck.

-- Matt

Classy Pizza Place

While I was in Connecticut this weekend with friends of mine, we ate at this pizza place, Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT.

This place has been featured in national travel shows on Food Network and I also think the Travel Channel.

New Haven was a very neat town that also has Yale in it. The people in the town were very nice and this pizza joint was on spot.

They make the pizza's in a coal oven that reaches temps of over 2000 degrees. The pizza was excellent, with a bit of a smokey taste. But with the unique shape of the pizza (an oval meets a square), it seperates it from the rest.

If you ever get to that city, make sure you check it out. You won't be disappointed.

-- Matt