Chesley McNeil's Blog

Dear Chesley,

I really wish you would pay a little attention to me. I know you are so busy being Mr. Outsiden and all, but there comes a time when you should pay attention to the little details in life and I, my friend, am a little detail.

It's been more than a month since you've communicated with me and I'm feeling ignored. Don't you understand that the people of Western New York want to know what's going on in the world of Chesley? I am the way to do that yet you choose to ignore me.

I hope this little reminder somehow helps you to find a few minutes in your day to remember me. Talk to you soon...(I hope)

Love,
Your Blog

(The precedeing message was typed on April Fool's Day with the approval of Chesley McNeil by his esteemed collegue Marissa Bailey. ;-) )

I will be attending an event in a few days where I have to speak. The event highlights fathers and their children. Of course, I thought about talking about my kids, but as I began to think about fatherhood I thought about my dad.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend many years with my father. He passed away when I was only nine, but I remember the things he taught me.... just by the way he lived life.
I'm not sure that our personalities match, from what I remember, he was never too talkative. He was more the lessoning type. He wasn't a big man, but his hands were massive to me!
My dad worked hard, and spent a lot of time providing for the family. Nothing in our house went to waste. I learned my first recipe from my father...throw everything in one pot, cook it, and eat it. He was a simple man and never wanted much. He'd say "you gotta eat, you gotta wear sneakers." Got that from him too!
Not sure how athletic he was, but you will still find giant bowling trophies sitting on top of the old floor model TV at my mother's house.
My dad was cool too. He drove a mustard colored Chevy Malibu, with shades, and had pork-chop sideburns...you know....like SHAFT.
I use to sit on his back while he listen to Sam Cooke Records, tunes that he'd often whistle everywhere we'd go.
He always stopped to help people, no matter how tired he was.
I don't remember him being too angry, although he never liked when I messed up in school.
He was adamant about me being the very best, and I loved him.
Cool, stylish, calm, athletic, and selfless.
I hope the apple didn't fall to far from the tree.
By the way...his name was Chesley.
Thanks Dad.

Okay! We got the kids a Wii for Christmas. Turns out, it's a pretty fun game, at least it gets them up and moving around, working much of their bodies instead of just the thumbs. The problem is that it's fun for mom and dad too! Now, I don't know about your children, but mine are pretty competitive(they get it from their mother), and they are pretty good at the Wii. Even my 5 year old son can bowl 3 strikes in a row. Here's the bigger problem. I have threw my back out twice trying to keep up with my kids at tennis, golf, baseball, and bowling. I can't win.
Of course my wife says it's just a game! And I tell her, "you can't let the kids win!"
Next, they'll believe they can beat you at everything, then they'll try to take over your house. Maybe I'm looking at this too deeply, but I believe it's all psychological. I mean, no matter how old I get, I want them to always think twice before challenging dad. This way I keep the metal edge. Look, my mom is 68 years young....and wouldn't think about taking her on.
Does anyone know a good Wii rehabilitation center?????

This is truly my favorite time of the year. Normally people are very happy, with all the gift giving and receiving, but like Charlie Brown, I believe that Christmas has gone way too commercial! Maybe it's just me, but it seems that people are more and more up-tight!!! All the shootings, fighting over the nativity display, calling the Christmas tree a holiday tree......what happen.
I know I can't shelter my children, but my wish this year is as they get older, my wife and I can continue to keep the magic of the season alive, and they will pass it along to their children, and their children to their children... that love is the true meaning for the season.

Not that I ever doubted the boy, but all summer long my son has been bragging about how much he has improved playing football. Ever day after summer practice, he'd hurry home to tell me all the great things that he had done. Of course, being the supportive father, I said...yeah, yeah son, it doesn't matter unless you do it in a game. Well what do you know, two games into the season, and my son has not played much, but each time he has entered the game, he has scored a touchdown.
From the time my first son was born, like many proud dads, I dreamed of the day where I would be in the stands watching him score points in whatever sport he wished to play, but I never imagined the overwhelming joy I get each time he lines up on the football field and plays his heart out! It's like a gift at Christmas ever Thursday. Thanks son.

Summertime in Western New York is so nice, and this summer has been great! But I can always tell when it is about to end especially working the morning show here at Channel 2.
1. The street lights are still on at 6:15am when I go to spot coffee for live shots (it's getting darker).
2. A family of bats always shows up at the same time in an outside corner window of our office.
and 3. The kids start getting tired of swimming(I never got tired of the pool when I was young).
Yes folks, summer is slowly fading away. Are you ready for some Football??????