I turned off my television

I turned off my television. Once this is written, I plan to walk away from the computer for a while too.
Starting today, I am challenging myself to spend less time "connected to the world" and more time connecting with life.

I found that I spend an exorbitant amount of time on my phone, computer, and in front of the television. At the same time, I have NOT spent nearly enough time with my wife, step-daughter, parents, siblings, and in nature. I think it's a sickness really. An addiction like any other. I feel that the only way to improve is with small steps that lead to bigger changes.

I challenge everyone to reconnect to your life. This is not an attempt to claim "holier than thou" status. I will not judge you if you don't or can't.  Just a simple request to change the way we live together...one small improvement at a time.

I realize this means you may not read my blog as often. I am OK with that if it means a better life for you and those around you. I'm not suggesting that we become hermits and poop in holes we dug with a hand shovel. I'm just saying that maybe it would do us all some good if we take a few moments a day to not be reachable and to enjoy things that we (myself included) overlook or take for granted.

Did the events in Boston precipitate this post? Maybe. Who is to say for sure? I've known I had this problem for a long time, but refused to pay attention. Perhaps it's too late....I certainly hope not!

Here are the changes I hope to implement:

1. Turn off the television for at least an hour a day.
2. Step away from the computer for the same hour.
3. Refuse to check my phone during that time frame.
4. Talk to my wife about her day.
5. Sit outside/Get out in nature.
6. Take a walk....maybe a short hike even.
7. Occupy myself with chores....the house is always in need of a cleaning of some kind.
8. Pet my dogs.
9. Write more (Often I write my first drafts the old fashioned way...in a notebook with ink and paper)
10. Read more!!!
11. Pray (Again....I'm not here to judge or preach. This is MY 12 steps. I won't push my beliefs on you if you promise to do the same for me.)
12. Talk to my family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers more often...IN PERSON. (I'm not the most social person, so this one will be a challenge, but it's time to man up and make a change.)

That is my 12 step plan of action. Feel free to use it...or modify it and make it your own. Or, even delete this if you want....for that matter delete ME as a friend if that is what it takes. No matter what you decide, I hope this makes you think and consider change.

And so it begins. Thank you for listening.
See you in about an hour....maybe!

J. C. Gardiner 4/21/13
backwardsjeff@gmail.com
FB -  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backwards-Jeff/122548301200263
Twitter - @BackwardsJeff
Twitter #2 - DearCrabby (aka @JeffroGardiner)  

Downtown Cincinnati Nicknames

As a life long resident of the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region, I am pleased to see that Downtown Cincinnati is finally shaping up (it's about time you caught up with NKY....only took a decade or so). The Banks, Horseshoe Casino, parks, restaurants, Great American Ball Park, Paul Brown Stadium,etc, are all very nice and well thought out, BUT the area could use a snazzy/trendy new nickname so that all the hipsters will come spend their hard earned money on craft beers and plastic mustaches on a stick.

BackwardsJeff Regional National Global, LLC (herein referred to as BackwardsJeff) also has maintained a strong presence in the region since it's inception in January of 2012. As a public service, BackwardsJeff has dedicated this post (and roughly 20-30 minutes of SOLID research) to the renaming/nicknaming of Downtown Cincinnati.  We (as if there is really more than one person) also included some thoughts/ideas that may enhance the area and/or some of the businesses.

In the interest of full disclosure, the staff at BackwardsJeff is somewhat bitter about living in the so-called "Greater Cincinnati" region. In my biased opinion, I feel that Northern Kentucky did more, and sooner, to build up the banks of the Ohio River, so perhaps the most fitting name for Downtown Cincinnati would be Northern Northern Kentucky!! I mean, why not? The "Cincinnati Airport" is located in Boone County Kentucky anyway. This only makes sense.

As always, feel free to contact me or share your own thoughts, as BackwardsJeff always encourages creative thinking. And, in typical BackwardsJeff style, you will find plenty of SWEET links, cleverly disguised throughout this post.

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD

• Since it is in the Southern, or "Lower" part of the city, I propose  the "LowDown."
• It used to be that Cincinnati was a ghost town after 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, and everyone was in bed after Jeopardy in "NightGownTown." 
• This is a far cry from Cincinnatis heyday as a hot spot for the sport of Boxing with legends such as Ezzard Charles making his home here. Perhaps this could be remembered by calling the area the "ThrowDown."
  
• If we continue to attract  Aussie's, then an appropriate nickname would be the "DownUnder."
• Alternatively, this could also be known as the "TieMeKangarooDownTown."
• As more "workers" for the "oldest profession" begin to populate the area, how about the "HoDown"?
• With "Toby Keith's - I love the bar and grill" being in town, "HoeDown" could even have multiple meanings (the HoeDown link is to a CLASSIC Bugs Bunny 'toon...it's a personal favorite...check it out)

• Speaking of the explosion of restaurants in the region, perhaps an appropriate nickname could be the "ChowDown"
• Most of the restaurants are also bars, so why not the "Drink_'er_Down?" (credit to my wife, BackwardsDawn, for that one)
• To truly bring the Hipster crowd into the fold, though, we'll need a bunch of thrift shops where they can purchase clothing in "Hand-Me-Downtown."
• If you prefer that your wife, or significant other, is not made aware of your adventures in Cincinnati, then maybe it should be called the "DownLow (DL)." 
• Likewise, you will NOT want to bring your soon to be ex-girlfriend to this area because Breaking Up is Hard to Do, in the "Down_Dooby_Doo_Down_Town."
• The smelly part of the city would need to be referred to as "DownWind." 
• DownWind would likely be located to the east of all the Cincinnati Chili establishments.

• By not passing a law to allow casino gambling, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is really missing out on the opportunity to build a mirror image -including a Horseshoe Casino - of Cincinnati across the river, calling it "DoubleDown." 
• Or even a mirror image turned on it's head called "Upside-DownTown." (BJ Note: this is one of my personal favorites and so it gets a picture. It's my blog, and you aren't the boss of me, so I'll do what I want!!!)

 

Upside-DownTown....coming soon to Newport, KY (except, not really)

THE RHYMING NICKNAMES  (Yeah....like you didn't know this was coming) 

• It is certainly not the intention of this writer to DownPlay the importance any of the existing nicknames play in the city's image. That being said, some of the previously thought up names are sad and DownRight silly. For example, Cincinnati already likes to call itself the "Queen City" so the easiest rhyming nickname for this little slice of the Royal Kingdom would be "CrownTown." 
• Sure there is "The 'Nati" sometimes also known as the "Nasty 'Nati;" however, if we go back to this, BackwardsJeff will be living in "FrownTown." :(
• I've also never understood why Cincinnati is so proud of this "Porkopolis" thing that sometimes is associated with the city, but if they really want to keep with this theme, then how about "SOWnTown?"
• Taking a tip from Cleveland, if the current owner of the Bengals ever left we'd say; "If_it's_Brown,_Flush_it_Down." I realize this isn't really a nickname for an urban area, but this is MY blog...so back off :P
• For BackwardsJeff, though, a more fitting name - based on the politics involved and the length of time the city and county took to get this right - might be "AssClownTown."

BUSINESS IDEAS/ENHANCEMENTS

• If the owners of the Horseshoe Casino REALLY want to fit into the area, they should encourage dealers to bounce from side to side as they "mix" their cards and call it the Ickey Shuffle!!
• Welcome to the Jungle Boogie at all Bengals games with their new theme song in the "GetDownGetDown." Credit again to BackwardsDawn for the inspiration on this one.
• There would need to be a Fondue district. Of course this area would be called "MeltDown."
• For festivals and other events, the Port-A-Potty area NEEDS to be called "DownLoad."
• If nothing else, there really should be a Chris Farley themed hotel where all the beds are shaped like a cargo van, so that you can tell friends and family that you are living in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!! (How has nobody thought of this yet?)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be careful if you go to the LowDown to ChowDown and Drink_'er_Down before partaking in the HoDown. You may end up in a ThrowDown. Which will require your activities to remain on the DownLow (DL). You and your soon to be ex might also find yourself visiting the Down_Dooby_Doo_Down_Down, where you ultimately end up LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!!

TA DA!!!! I hope you all enjoy this crap....

Copyright J.C. Gardiner 03/06/2013
backwardsjeff@gmail.com
FB -  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backwards-Jeff/122548301200263
Twitter - @BackwardsJeff
Twitter #2 - DearCrabby (aka @JeffroGardiner) 
BackwardsJeff does not own, or claim to own, any of the picture or video content provided in the links on this or any other page associated with this blog.