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Bill photographed "Live (photo-op)" in front of the U.S. Post Office, Bradner, OH
in february of 2004!!
(Neither rain, nor snow, .... shall keep me from my appointed "ROCKING!!" :-)
ONLINE JOURNAL - Webpage 1!!
EVENTS
I HAVE EXPERIENCED:
(Journal Entries - April 8th, 2004 to April 7th, 2005)
(Entries after April 8th, 2005 can be found
on the "Journal-2 (04/05 - 9/13/05)" webpage by clicking HERE!!
(Editor's note: You can pretty much safely assume that if my daughter did (or is going
to) spend the night at my house, on any given saturday night, we will be (or were) in worship service at Aldersgate the following
Sunday morning! I didn't include our "appearance" every sunday we attend, (usually 2 or 3 a month), but we're always there
in "Spirit!" "It is an honor to worship our Lord" :-)
So other than that, here is what happened, or is going to happen!
LOL! :
(Special note: Let's go back to "9/11/01" ("Remember 9/11!!" :-)
Sept. 11th, 2001 A.D. - At the time the
first plane hit the tower, I was enroute to "Precious People Preschool" (a christian preschool for 3 - 5 year olds :-) with
my daughter in tow. We were pretty quiet and pretty tired that morning (usually we played "I spy..." or sang nursery rhymes
on the morning commute, but on that particular morning we just listened to the car stereo. I remember what CD playing. It
was "Here I go again" by Whitesnake. ("... Going down the only road I've ever known ...."* :-)
(*note - okay, I'll never
forget :-)
BACK TO THE CURRENT:
Thursday, April 8, 2004, 7 pm, 5/3 field, Toledo, OH! For the Toledo Mudhens homeopener! Our daughter and I will be cheering on "The Hens" from seats along the left
field line!! (Take us out to the ballgame.... :-)
(* note - we caught the first fly foulball down the left field line
of the 2004 season at fifth third stadium!! Well....actually I didn't CATCH it...it just kinda bounced off my chest and stopped
at my feet, after I misjudged it! Oh well! Got some autographs on it later in the season though! Cool! :-)
Easter
Sunday, April 11th, 2004, 7:30 am, Flower hospital pond, Sylvania, OH! For the Aldersgate United Methodist Easter morning,
outdoor, sunrise worship service!! Come and worship with our family Easter morning!! Praise God for "He Is Risen!"
(Easter
morning services (and the pancake breakfast back at the church! Mmmm! :-) have become a tradition with our family! and worship
around the pond is a great way to grow closer to Our Lord!! :-)
April - June, 2004 - Celebrate daughter's 2nd place
Co-ed youth soccer league finish! ("Go Light Blue!" :-) - "Way to go #1!!" Congratulations all players and teams! Great
season!! :-)
Fri., June 18, 2004 - ARCA/ReMax Race at Michigan
International Speedway! (My brother-in-law Dave, and I received a pair of FREE tickets from my neighbor, Blayne (he won
them off the radio K100) who couldn't attend because he had to work that day :-) We saw the Flagstar 200!! (Kasey Kahne
a rookie won that day! :-) We got some sun!! Cool fly over by Cobra Helicopters!!
Sat., June 26, 2004 - DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI - Eddie
Money concert!! Dave and I drove up there, our first time there (we actually took a wrong turn, asked for directions
and ended up at The Palace of Auburn Hills!! LOL!! (The bad news is - The Pistons weren't playing that night, but The Good
news is - we made it back to the right road and up to DTE in time for the show!! LOL!! :-) The tickets were FREE - "comps"
from a co-worker of mine at Kohl's - Eric Johnson - Whose Electric Rock/Blues Band "Five Horse Johnson", was the opening act
for Eddie!! (He couldn't get us back-stage passes, but we did get to go down front to the second row for his band's performance!!
:-) Heard alot of Good "Money" songs and met alot of nice people from Detroit area. We got out of there early and made it
back home with no problems. (It was the first concert I had been to in probably 10 years!! Except for the local bands at
the bars and the Downtown Toledo, FREE outdoor concerts, the "rally by the rivers" (Collective Soul/George Thorogood/Vince
Neil/etc... (even Eddie Money! LOL!:-) Gotta make a promise to myself to get to more concerts!:-)
Saturday, August
21, 2004, 12:30 pm, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn,
MI!! Cabela's 250, Busch series NASCAR race!! (My brother-in-law and I hope to be seeing another exciting race at MIS again
this year! :-)
*note 8/22/04 - Congratulations to Kyle Busch on his victory! You Rock!! (And to Mr. Biffle on his Nextel
Cup Series victory at the same track there the next day! )
ALSO... look for a few more performances at Aldersgate United
Methodist Church by the Praise Band this coming summer!! (We hope to see you at every show!! LOL!! My wife and daughter
were at the most recent performance there! Our daughter and her good friend, Alyssa sat in the front pew, watched me with
huge smiles on their faces, and played "Air-Drums" during our performace! It was one of the proudest moments of my life.
So far!! :-)
Sept. 14, 2004 - "One of my favorite days!!" ;-) - Sleep in, go to the driving range with my dad, see
my high school graduation class president, try out his Si3 driver, tag some 250 yarders! Pick up daughter, back home, steaks
on the grill, birthday cake (lots of candles for "wishes!" (no I'm not gonna tell ya! LOL! :-), open presents, celebrate,
etc...
(pictured
above: Mom, "Birthday Boy Bill", and Kylie! :-)
Sept. 18, 2004 - Aldersgate UMC Men's Club Annual Chicken Barbaque
- Come on out and enjoy a delicious chicken dinner! MMMmmmm MMMmmmm Good!
Sept. 24, 2004 - Maumee Showcase Theatres
- Opening of the new Katie Holmes movie "First Daughter"!
(rated PG thank you very much! :-) I plan to campaign for the movie out in front of the theater before the show! ("Elect
First Daughter!!" :-)
Sept. 24, 2004 - Whitmer H.S. varsity football game vs. St. Francis. Whitmer Stadium, Clegg
Rd., Toledo, OH, 7 p.m., Alumni Marching Band will perform at halftime for the homecoming game!! Come on out, listen to
us, and cheer the "Panthers" on to victory!!
(note: My apologies, unfortunately I wasn't able to keep this engagement,
but I'm sure the band was terrific as usual!! (Probably more so this year! LOL! )
Sept. 25, 2004 - Aldersagte UMC
10:45 worship service. Performed on the drums. (Steve Burress - guitar, lead vocals).
Friday, October 15, 2004 -
Aldersgate UMC - Men's Club Chili Cook-off (tickets $5.00). Methodist and Food always go WELL together!! (I was "kitchen
cleanup crew leader", thank you to all the unexpected helpers!! Doug C. and Floyd B. especially for the outstanding work!
:-)
Satuerday, Oct. 16, 2004 - Sleepover!! My "First Daughter" and her two cousins. Dominos, movie (probably the
conclusion of "Red Fury" - seems like my daughter can't get enough of horse movies!! Ha Ha!)
Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004
- 8:30 worship service (with my daughter), Aldersgate UMC, lead by Pastor Marilynn Schroeder.
9:30 - "Parenting Class"
lead by Pastor schroeder in the Pastor's office. This is a great class, lots of good techniques to be learned!! (My daughter
will be in Miss Amy's K - 3rd grade sunday school class!! WooHoo! :-)
After church a road trip to B.G.S.U. Moore musical
arts center, and on to Bradner, OH for pictures!
(above
is Kylie and Bill "Bradner" on lawn of the Bradner Town Hall and Opera House!! "Bradners in the House People!!" LOL!! :-)
Friday,
Oct. 22, 2004 - Toledo Sports Arena, #1 E. Main St., Toledo, OH - Toledo
Storm Home Opener (with my ex's brother-in-law!! :-) Followed by a FREE concert after the game in the exhibition hall
by FIREHOUSE!! (Firehouse is one of my favorite "80's" bands!
During their last visit to Toledo, I gave them a copy of our "'90's Retro Metal" band, SWIFTKIK (Notice that we spelled "Swift-kiCk" intentionaly WITHOUT the "C"! LOL!! Just gotta be different,
don't we!! :-) I hope I can get a chance to talk in person with the members from firehouse and see if they had a chance to
listen to our demo tape ("Kik Me!" (I gave them each a copy on their last visit to Toledo! :-) Who knows, maybe they thought
it was pretty good!! :-)
(*note - 04/05 - congratulations Storm on making the playoffs!! congratulations on a great season!
Looking forward to seeing ya in the fall!! :-)
(10/23/04 - I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE HOCKEY GAME AND CONCERT!! IT ROCKED!!
The Storm Won! AND FIREHOUSE ROCKED!! MAJOR BONUS!!! - I got to get the members of FIREHOUSE'S autographs!! ALLEN, MICHEAL
(greatdrummer - one of my "Hero" drummers), C.J. (his lead vocals Scream!!) and Bill!! I highly recommend their new album!!
Oct.
28, 2004 (wed.) - Fishing at Oak Openings Metropark with my daughter. Witness the Lunar eclipse and the 4th game of the
world series.
(Note* - Congratulations to The Boston Red Sox (and fans - which "Grampie" happens to be practically a life-long
fan one of! :-)
Oct. 29, 2004 (fri.) - Seagate Convention Center, Toledo, OH 4:30 p.m. EST - The Honorable President
George W. Bush and The Distinguished First Lady Laura Bush Re-Election Campaign Visit! Yes, Sir Mr. President Sir! We are
listening, and YOU Have our VOTE November 2nd SIR!! :-)
(photographs to be posted soon - photo credits - you know who!
;-)
Sun. Oct. 31, 2004 A.D., Aldersgate UMC, Toledo, OH - ("All Saints Sunday" worship service!) Don't forget All Saints
Sunday is one of the 5 days of the year that Christians celebrate their Baptisms. Happy Baptism Celebration day to: Jesus
Christ, (Thanks John the Baptist! :-), my daughter, myself and all you other baptismees!!
Tues., Nov. 2nd, Emmanual
Baptist High School, Laskey Rd., Toledo, OH - VOTING!!! (Need I say more People!! :-)
Fri., Nov. 5th, Whitmer High
School, Clegg Dr., Toledo, OH - The Ohio State University Marching
Band Concert!! - My daughter and I will be attending the showcase by TBDBITL!! Awesome - Be There!!
Nov. 24-26th,
2004 - Beautiful Cincinnati, OH! Celebrate Thanksgiving with relatives - Feast! (I got to say "Grace" :-) (My daughter
and I saw some "Live, wild, turkeys" at a rest stop on the way down there! - reminded me of my satirical faux photo of Katie
Holmes' "Pieces of April" LOL!! :-)
Fri., Nov. 26 - Toledo Sports Arena, 1 Main. St., Toledo, OH - Professional Boxing
Match - 6 bout card featuring Dallas
Vargas (succesfully defended his Ohio State Title (7th round TKO), and younger brother Devin Vargas (2004 Olymipic boxing
team captain - victorious in his pro debut, 1st round KO at 2:33!! Congratulations to both!! Thank you to all the contenders
for their great bouts!! (special mention to Martin Tucker who also won his pro debut by KO, (he too works out at Glass City
Boxing Gym with the Vargases) former UT football player Dan Whetzel, and Dante Craig of Cincinnati (2000 olympian))
BONUS
= Besides all the LOVELY Ring Girls, I also got to see Thomas "The Hitman" Hearnes (former world champion!)!! AND a gold
medal winner from the 2004 olymipics!! (I was also intrigued by other spectators in the audience. "We have celebrities "incognito"
in Toledo!?!!" Yes!? Cool, huh!! :-)
Sat. Dec. 18, 2004, Kroger Store, Monroe st. & Secor rd.,
Toledo, OH, 5 -
6 p.m. - "Bell Ringing" volunteer for the Salvation Army,
through Aldersgate UMC men's club! Come out and donate, say "Hi" and get some good groceries at the same time!
Sat. Dec.
18, 2004, 7 p.m. - ?, In front of the TV/DVD player celebrating KATIE HOLMES' 26th Birthday! (I'll be viewing a "Katie-Fest" to include: GO!, The Gift, Pieces
of April, etc., etc... (until the early morning hours of Sun. Dec. 19th!! LOL! :-)
Dec. 23, 2004, thurs., Toledo Zoo, Broadway, Toledo, OH - The Zoo's annual "Lights of Christmas" lighting display, with family
and friends. "It gives me the chills every year!!"
(**Note - postponed until a later date due to inclement weather conditions
- 8" of snow!! (see Dec. 24, 2004:-))
Fri., Dec. 24, 2004, 12:00 noon - ?, Ottawa Park, Toledo, OH - SLEDDING with
the daughter!!
(? - ? - Soaking in hottub of water, followed by healthy application of IcyHot!! Ohhh..Owwww )
(*note - you can download the following video of Kylie
sledding on my Geocities "FREEBILLTO"
website! - 1.1 mb/14sec/MPeg1 format! "Ya got to love sledding! It's COOOOL!" LOL! :-)
Kylie Sledding, Ottawa Park, Toledo,
Ohio (12/24/04)
December
24th, 2004 - Christmas eve "Candlelight" worship service, Aldersgate UMC, 7 p.m. - "Singing Praises to our Lord" celebrating
the birth of Jesus Christ our saviour!
December 25th, 2004 - Celebrate the birth of Christ! Ho! Ho! Ho! - Eat drink
and be Merry! ("God Bless Us All" - "Tiny" Tim Crachet - "A Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens)
Sun., Jan. 16th, 2005,
1:00 pm, Seagate Convention Center, Toledo, OH - "Extreme Monster Truck Nationals!" - I'll be checking out all Monster Truck
thing with one of my good buddies! YeeHawww Ya'all!! Fire 'em up!!
(Special thanks to Burger King and Bennett Mangement Corp.
for holding the sweepstakes from which I won the tickets!!
Jan. 23-29th, 2005, Toledo, OH, Vacation!!
(Fun, Overcast, Cold, snow, computer, online chatting, ps2ing, jamming, songwriter, rehearsing, dining out, spending money....ah,
the good times...!! :-)
(Additional events (read:"duties") enjoyed included: school drop-off and pick-up, copying report
card ($2 deficit accrued!! Way to go daughter! :-), collaborating on homework (playing teacher (me:"Mr. Bradner" and then
student: "Billy" !! :-), followed by storytime, entertaining company and catering guests "dinner", rollerskating with daughter,
mom and "poppy" down the basement, and then pizza and karaoke with them. (I got to play guitar while they picked out songs
and sang! :-). "Pocahontas" CDRom on computer, bedtime story, goodnight prayers. (Jump to 1:00 am!) - hold daughters forehead
during naseau, checking vitals, calling mom and pediatrician, cleaning up naseau, warming up car, waiting in ER and triage
for 1 and 1/2 hours, bid daughter and mom well, return home, wash and disenfect towels, handcloths, bedding, bathroom floor
and carpeting. Update bio info, exhaust into bed, prayers of well-being and recuperation, prayers of thanks for the Toledo
children's hospital and ER staff (you rock docs!! :-), reflect on luckiness (dream of more coming vacation excitement :-)
!!
(*note - thanks to all those who prayed for our daughter's quick recovery - she's fine now and doing well! Way to go
daughter's Mom - you're the best mom/nurse ever! :-)
Sat., February 12, 2005 - Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH - renew annual membership to the Toledo
Zoo for my daughter and I!! (Her favorites are the polar bears! Mine the Tigers!! :-) See all the exhibits and animals,
take pictures, enjoy life together! (Hope to post some pictures soon! :-)
Sun., Feb. 13, 2005 - Early morning church
service with daughter, A little shopping at her favorite store, trip to Kroger's to drop off recyclables (newspapers, plastic
bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bags :-)
Thurs., February 17, 2005 - Ohio Skate - Elementary school Skating Party with
daughter and her classmates - (My mom says to me: "Just don't fall!! LOL!!" :-)
(Then later after dropping my daughter
off at her home, on into work to strip, seal, and wax the restroom floors!)
(* - note to mom: Sorry mom, I did fall, but
only once
:-)
Sat., Feb. 19, 2005 Westland lanes, Toledo, OH - bowling with my daughter! (I hadn't taken her bowling
many times previously, but the night before, with her mom at forestview lanes, she bowled a 105!! :-)
(* note - she didn't
get as high of score as the night before, but we had loads of fun! :-)
Tues., Feb. 22, 2005 - An unexpected little
mishap, that I'll just chalk up to one of life's misadventures! (Oh well, ya live and ya learn!)
Sat., Feb. 26th,
Bradner home - Cleaning! My daughter (being the expert cleaner her dad is PLUS her mom is AND MORE!!) and I cleaned for 4
hours straight! Fish Tank, laundry, vacuuming, bathrooms, mirrors, dusting, dishes! She earned $4.50 from my payroll!!
(The girl is gonna have unlimited wage-earning potential!! :-)
March, 2005 - hope to be seeing some Toledo Storm, ECHL
hockey games!! Go Storm! (.600 winning percentage! :-)
March 6th - 15th, 2005, Vacation in florida with my daughter!!
Yeah!! Sun, Fun, Beach, water, women, R-n-R!!... (Clearwater Beach North, Tarpon Springs, Busch Gardens, (see picture below
of me next to Dale Jrs. show car! LOL! :-) Honeymoon Island, Howard Park, etc...) !!!
(Pictures and stories upon return
home!! :-)
(and
one of my daughter at Busch Gardens - of course it has The Clydesdales in it! :-)
Good Friday, March 25th, 2005
A.D. - Good Friday worship service, 7 pm, Aldersgate UMC
8:30 - Drop off "Friends and Family" coupons to Kohl's "Friends
and Family" sale. (Special mention to one couple of my close friends, and congratulations to them on his daughter's Regional
Volleyball tournament victory (They already won State, so Look out nationals! Here they come! (They went to nationals last
year! Yes We Can! Expect Great Things! :-)
9:20 pm - Cinemas - "Be Cool" - "Uma and John, you Rock!" Special thanks
to my good friend Dave, for going to see the movie with me, then coming over to play PS2 video games! This guy Rocks at "Shellshock
- 'Nam '67"! I can't believe how fast he goes through the levels!! And Max Payne too! He BEAT that game for me in about
3 sittings!! Cool! :-)
(*03/29/05 - A Big "Thank You" to all of you who redeemed the coupons I gave out! We appreciate
your support!! Couldn't have done it without you!! Keep up your patronage!! You Rock!! :-)
Saturday, March 26th,
2005 - Spend day with daughter! (Thanks to mom, poppy, and poppy's friend Roy, for dropping our daughter off, and staying
long enough to hear her "LIVE from the family room!" Concert! :-) Weekend chores and games with daughter: (include but not
limited to: ) grocery shopping, recycling, bike riding, playing basketball in the driveway, playing pitch and catch, dinner,
house cleaning, dominos, playstation 2 - "NBA Street 2" (she usually "schools" me good at this! :-) and Wheel of Fortune!
(excellent game to use as a learning tool!! :-), "jam session" on musical instruments down the basement (I hope she teaches
me her new "Jake Brouhary" song!), bedtime stories, prayers ("Dear God, please let there be world peace, please help all the
sick people get well, please be with my great grandma and grandpa in heaven, please help my mommy and my poppy find good jobs,
(and 2 days later he got a lucrative job offer, and mom got a job within 2 weeks!! - "See duaghter, God really does hear our
prayers!!" :-) please help my dad be a rock star so I can be one too, (that's my personal favorite!), etc., etc., ....amen!"
:-), and then sweet dreams of peter cottontail hopping down the bunny trail! :-)
Sunday, March 27th, 2005 A.D., 7 am
- Sunrise Easter Service with my daughter at Flower hospital Duck Pond, Sylvania, OH - then pancake breakfast immediately
following back at the church! (Mmmmmmmm!! :-) (*note - unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy much of an easter together, she
came down with the flu again. She was only able to lay on the couch, watch "The Incredibles", and deal with her naseau.
(she felt so sad that we had missed Easter dinner at her "Nana and Papa's house"- ("I'm sorry dad, it's my fault we won't
be able to go to the party." - aww, bless your heart daughter, we'll be able to get together there for other holidays. You
just get better! :-) (And she did! - thanks again for coming over "Dr. Mom" and poppy! And thank you for announcing your
engagement to me! (Nice ring Jeff! I'm very happy for you both! I hope you have a long, happy marriage together!! :-)
Tues.,
March 28, 2005 - File my tax returns!! Sweet!! It's "Good to be an American!" (Yeah that's it...or, is it: "Proud to be
American" :-) Oh well, same difference!! :-)
April, 2005 - Spring cleaning at Kohl's!! (actually started way before
this, like right after remodel, and continues until Next remodel!! LOL!! ("Cleanliness is next to Godliness!!" :-) Special
thanks to our District Maintenance Supervisor, Mr. Tracey Stewart, for his help getting, and keeping our store clean with
great shopability!! (And a VERY Special "Way to go Team!" to our terrific housekeeping and maintenance associates: Norma,
Marquiette, Riley and Dustin! You All Rock! Keep up the great work! :-) (In the words of a former D.M.M.: "Everyone wants
their store to be the Cleanest!" Amen!! :-))
Sat., April 2, 2005, - I have the night off work, my daughter will be
spending the night here that night. So...as you know, we get to bed early so we can make it to worship service the next morning!!
:-) (We split the domino games that night (1 - 1) :-)
Wed., April 6, 2005 - Our Daughter's first soccer practice of
the season!! Mom, Step-dad, and I took her to the practice. She has a great team! We met some very nice parents, and teamates!
Our coaches are terrific! (Page and Mike! They are great with the children, and very friendly and knowledgable! Jeff and
I had lots of fun "practicing" our soccer off to the side of the field! (He used to be a soccer player! He's pretty good!
:-) I think we're going to have a great team! Goooooooo Gooooooold TEAM!! LOL! :-) After practice, Jeff, mom, our daughter,
one of our daughter's best neighbor friends, and I went to Wendy's to eat! Good food, good fun, good people (one of the most
fun dinners I've had in awhile (can't wait until the actual soccer games start! LOL! :-)
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