TommyLog – We Need A Lot More Bobs Around Here

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet master PGA Teacher Bob Burns from Appleton, WI. I listened and was in awe the difference he is making without beloved wounded veterans. Bob helps teach vets who have been injured in the line of duty how to golf. Not just how to golf, but how to overcome things that their services of the country has taken away from them, like a lost limb or joint.

Bob showed me this huge 5″ thick 3-ring binder picture after picture of examples of how he helped soldier after solder. Some with lost legs, and arms. some bound to wheel chairs. Bob custom made golf gloves, braces and clubs for each individual to help them overcome their special needs and situations. Such a small act left such a HUGE impact. The more I looked,  the more the tears came and I just got so emotional seeing the smiles on these vets faces after spending time with Bob.

Bob was awarded 2014 Wisconsin National Guard Association Recognition Award for his service to these veterans.

What an honor it was to meet Bob and to see what he has done for our men and women in the armed services. The world needs a lot more Bobs in it!

I need to be more like Bob!

TommyLog TECH – Never Get Lost with Waze #VZWBuzz #AD

Do you remember those over-sized, folded maps of days gone by? When was the last time you actually unfolded one? Traveling has gotten so much easier with the advent of GPS. The tool I think I use almost every day to help me navigate is a app called Waze by Google. Using Waze on my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with the 5.7″ screen is just a dream come true. The huge screen makes navigation just a breeze.

Waze take GPS navigation up a HUGE notch. It links you to other “wazers” in the area to share the happenings on the road. “Real time reports of traffic slowdowns, police presence, accidents, road hazards even gas prices can all be communicated using Waze. You can even report inaccuracies in the map to get them fixed.

**NOTE** Please be safe using Waze by only accessing it while you are stopped or by a passenger in your vehicle.

Using Waze to never get lost on my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is totally “Tommy Approved”!!

Waze can be downloaded from the Google play store or from the iTunes store and I was wrong, Waze is available for windows phone.

For more information on how to get your very own Samsung Galaxy Note 3 from Verizon, Here’s a link http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/device/smartphone/samsung-galaxy-note-3-black

[DISCLAIMER — I’m one of the cool kids who has been asked to play with and test technology for Verizon. They asked me test and share my thoughts. All my words are original and my own.]

 

TommyLog – Reconnecting Thanks to Thrively

Ok kids, today I want to talk about how the website Thrively.com helped me reconnect with my son. Tommy is your typical 14 year old buy who spends copious amounts of time eating, going to school, playing Minecraft and Pokemon, and, of course, sleeping.

After being invited to look at the site, Tommy was asked to take a short 20-25 minute assessment — basically finding out what he loved to do. After the assessment was complete, he was given a listing of possible aptitudes, one of which was archery.

So one rainy Saturday afternoon we took the advise Thrively.com had given Tommy and went to the Old 45 Archery range not too far away from my house. We were greeted there by the one of the owners, Jeanette Baerwald, and left it in her capable hands to teach us the archery ropes. Not 10 minutes later we were in “free shooting” mode- popping balloons down the range and trying to best the last shot. We had a blast!

Tommy's Archery ExperienceSeeing Tommy find something he was good at…thanks to our friends at Thrively– was nothing short of amazing! He actually WANTED to do this and he wants to go back. But more importantly, it is something we can do together. I’m just stunned!

Thank you Thrively for helping me reconnect to my son in a way I never imagined!

If you want the chance to use this amazing resource and help unlock hidden potential in your son/daughter/niece or nephew –and watch them soar like Tommy, please checkout  www.thrively.com and sign up for yourself.

NOTE: This post was written through a partnership with Thrively. The joy in my voice and opinions are all my own!

TommyLog – Someone To Believe In You!

Ever had one of the those life defining moments when you realize that someone believes in you? Well over the weekend I suddenly realized who was the first person, other than my parents, to really believe in me and my abilities.

Nothing is better than having someone believe in you– and help kick start your confidence at such a pivotal point in your life.. Well Joe was that very person.

THANK YOU Joe for over 20 years of friendship and believing in me. You and your family rock and you have left a HUGE impression on me!

TommyLog – Leave A Situation Better Than You Found It

I have been driving around in a loaner car for the past 6 weeks while my dear accord gets fixed. Sad story,hurts me to talk about it 🙂

It’s so important that when people loan you something to return it in as good as or better condition than when they gave it to you. An example of this is that I had the Saturn, graciously loaned to be my our good friends the Gabor family, THANK YOU Tori for letting me use your car while you are away on study abroad… I had that bad boy washed, lightly detailed and oil changed today.

So do you leave situations with a flame thrower or do you try to leave situations better than you found it?