There is this part of me that wishes I could get paid to write about sports. Before I chose to go into education, I did want to pursue journalism. I never pulled that trigger. I wouldn't call it a regret, but if I lived my life over again knowing what I know now, I just might have tried that route. So I am going to take this opportunity to "play" sports journalist. I can pretend to be something I always wanted to be but lacked the confidence to try.
In this vain I have started my second blog which is devoted to sports. It is off and running. If you haven't noticed or taken a look, click the link to the right. But this post is about my objective and intent with that blog.
I have had a number of ideas and directions in which I wanted to go with it but finally settled on this: A forum. Instead of going solo which I originally was thinking, I acquired the help of a fellow sports fan who shares team allegiances but differs in opinion enough to make his partnership interesting. I also have asked numerous friends around the country to "contribute" through comments or posts of their own (still working that out). I figured this would help achieve my goals of creating a forum vibe or style.
We are only a week into this thing, but I like the direction it seems to be going. My hopes were that the dialogue on the blog would be much like that of a conversation you would have sitting at a bar watching a game, gathering around the water cooler Monday morning with your work colleagues, emailing friends of yours regarding the big game, spending time with your extended family at gatherings and holiday celebrations, at a cookout around the grill, tailgating outside the stadium before a game or while sitting in the stands watching the games and talking to your partners and/or fellow fans sitting in your row or section.
I figured that would best happen if I gathered up those people with whom I have these types of conversations on a regular basis and get them to contribute. That would hopefully create a critical mass of people creating and continuing discussion and debate and good natured trash talking. We can commiserate about losses and bad calls together. We can celebrate victories and glorious plays! We can predict and assess. We can analyze and breakdown and share what "should" have happened.
With this as the fundamental objective of the blog, I hope to gain more viewers and readers. Ideally, this blog would be circulated around more circles than just my own. More people would join in and comment and extend the conversation. After all, what do guys (and many girls) love more than talking sports? Well, drinking beer and watching sports...but I'm not stopping them from cracking a cold one while reading our blog. Assuming they are 21 and not driving anywhere afterwards.
The blog is already generating good stuff. Where it goes is yet to be seen. It is and always will be a work in progress. Baddeley and I have a good mindset for this baby. We both want to take our hallway conversations and share them with you. We know some people who share our passion and look forward to sharing this with them too.
Check it out!
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Would you......
....pick a million dollars off a tree?
Obviously the answer is yes, right?
Now, what if the tree only had leaves of $1 bills? Would you still pick from it until you had a million dollars? No strings attached except when you stopped picking, you can't pick anymore. Would you?
Ok, now how many people do you think would answer yes? At first glance I would say most people if not all would jump at a chance to get a million dollars, especially when all you need to do is pick it off a tree! Sounds pretty easy to me.
When you examine it beyond face value though, you quickly realize that it isn't quite that simple. The math shows that it is impossible to do without some breaks. Let me break it down for you.
Let's assume you pick one dollar per second and maintain that pace without fatigue. It would then take you a million seconds to finish. How long is a million seconds? Well, it is about 16,667 minutes. How long is 16,667 minutes? That would be about 278hours. And how long is 278 hours? 11.5 days.
So we are talking 11.5 days STRAIGHT of picking dollar bills to get your precious million dollars. That is without sleep, water, food or rest not to mention muscle fatigue.
With that said, let's look at it from a regular job standpoint. If you have 8 hours of picking a day, it would take 34 work days and 6 hours. So 7 full work weeks to get it done. Pretty profitable two months I would say. I'd do it in a heartbeat. I bet most people would. It couldn't be much different than working in a factory.
I thought of this scenario earlier today and hypothesized that, regardless of the physical limitations, many people would give up early despite the promise of a million dollars due to laziness or impatience.
If it is done in the work format I presented, I doubt too many people would quit. But if you let people go for as long as they could and break only when needing to eat or sleep then get back to it, I wonder how many people would still make it to a million. I bet they would get tired of it after a number of days and leave, forfeiting their chance.
Of course, while you may not be able to get to a million dollars, going as long as you can just might net you a nice chunck of change before it is all said and done.
What do you think? Am I crazy? Would everyone be able to stay long enough to get the full million with only food and sleep breaks?
This was just running through my head and I thought I would share it with you. I have been blogging about so much personal stuff and depressing stuff, I figured it was time for a lighthearted, hypothetical scenario to think about.
Obviously the answer is yes, right?
Now, what if the tree only had leaves of $1 bills? Would you still pick from it until you had a million dollars? No strings attached except when you stopped picking, you can't pick anymore. Would you?
Ok, now how many people do you think would answer yes? At first glance I would say most people if not all would jump at a chance to get a million dollars, especially when all you need to do is pick it off a tree! Sounds pretty easy to me.
When you examine it beyond face value though, you quickly realize that it isn't quite that simple. The math shows that it is impossible to do without some breaks. Let me break it down for you.
Let's assume you pick one dollar per second and maintain that pace without fatigue. It would then take you a million seconds to finish. How long is a million seconds? Well, it is about 16,667 minutes. How long is 16,667 minutes? That would be about 278hours. And how long is 278 hours? 11.5 days.
So we are talking 11.5 days STRAIGHT of picking dollar bills to get your precious million dollars. That is without sleep, water, food or rest not to mention muscle fatigue.
With that said, let's look at it from a regular job standpoint. If you have 8 hours of picking a day, it would take 34 work days and 6 hours. So 7 full work weeks to get it done. Pretty profitable two months I would say. I'd do it in a heartbeat. I bet most people would. It couldn't be much different than working in a factory.
I thought of this scenario earlier today and hypothesized that, regardless of the physical limitations, many people would give up early despite the promise of a million dollars due to laziness or impatience.
If it is done in the work format I presented, I doubt too many people would quit. But if you let people go for as long as they could and break only when needing to eat or sleep then get back to it, I wonder how many people would still make it to a million. I bet they would get tired of it after a number of days and leave, forfeiting their chance.
Of course, while you may not be able to get to a million dollars, going as long as you can just might net you a nice chunck of change before it is all said and done.
What do you think? Am I crazy? Would everyone be able to stay long enough to get the full million with only food and sleep breaks?
This was just running through my head and I thought I would share it with you. I have been blogging about so much personal stuff and depressing stuff, I figured it was time for a lighthearted, hypothetical scenario to think about.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Lifetime Struggle
My wife loves this show called "Brothers and Sisters." I must admit I have found myself getting caught up in the story lines as well. I have never claimed to be one with valid judgements when it comes to quality music, tv, theater or any form of art, but I feel the writing is awfully good on this show.
The episode she watched today on the DVR was about one of the characters' daughter. She was only 2 years old and had liver problems due to the medication she took as a premature infant. As the story twists like any television show does these days, the father is not the biological father. To complicate things, both of his brothers donated sperm "anonymously" to help him and his wife conceive. The owner of the successful sperm was left unknown. This is important because his daughter needs a liver transplant and the donor needs to be the same blood type, or in other words, the real father. The mother did not match. So hi jinx ensued as the "real" dad was discovered along with all the surrounding drama that relates.
I bring this up because of the difficulty I had watching this whole thing. I couldn't walk away but I felt like I was getting punched in the stomach repeatedly. I was getting emotional....more emotional than I should have been I suppose, after all this is just a show and there is no question of my fatherhood. Aside: I am sorry to be so over dramatic, but I am trying to accurately depict my emotions during this experience.
There were two aspects of the show that affected me in such an intense way. First, my daughter too is at risk of liver damage due to particular circumstances. I can't help but worry about her liver, especially when I am reminded of it. I am doing the necessary precautions and will continue to do so but the prospect of it just sneaking up on us scares me to death. The inability to control the matter scares me more. I suppose I technically could choose to avoid this risk but the risk involved with this other choice is far greater.
Secondly and more powerfully, I was really struggling with watching the father at the hospital. It took me back once again to the worst experiences of my life. I was reminded of the times I have been in the hospital, not for myself, but for loved ones. I have been the one in the room with my wife or daughter through the problem. I have been the one talking to the doctors hearing diagnosis and making decisions. I have had to report to the family in the waiting room. I have been the one burying my head in my hands allowing myself to cry the ridiculous, embarrassing, audible kind of crying. I have had to struggle with the feeling of wanting to be alone then suddenly being too scared to actually do it. I have had to watch my loved ones in tired, drugged up, pitiful states that was so difficult to see without wishing I could trade places....especially the little one who was so young, fragile and vulnerable. She was literally in a cage of a crib while being transported to the NICU where she was at risk of respiratory arrest while she was loaded up with medicine to get control of her problem. I sat there all night staring at the monitor, making sure I would get the nurse at the slightest hint of no breathing. I bet I have written this before. I bet I will write it again. This has been something I doubt I will ever recover from. To this night I still walk in her room when she's asleep to make sure she is still breathing. And everyday I deal with the daily process of keeping her condition under control and being cognisant of anything that could be a sign of something that needs to be addressed. The fear and worry never goes away.
I remember watching my wife being led off to the OR to finish off a horrid week of bad news, arduous decisions and worse results. Even though she was a strong adult, I still felt helpless and powerless and had those same wishes that I could trade places. I had to hear later how "successful" the procedure was even though it meant the end of our dreams and plans and opened up more uncomfortable questions and anxiety that we both continue to deal with together and on our own.
I guess I am a glutton for punishment but something in me wanted to watch this and feel this pain. I immediately though I should blog about it and share my feelings. This blog has been therapeutic.
In addition I find myself worrying about my daughter's future. Not only in terms of physical health but mental health. It is so hard for her to make friends her age because she is so far behind. She cannot communicate with her peers in a way they can understand. I worry bullies or mean spirited kids will be able to take advantage of her easily. I am afraid she will lose her sweet, simple happiness and become very sad as she discovers these things. I suppose every parent has their fears for their kids though.
I suppose these are feeling that will be with me the rest of my life.
The episode she watched today on the DVR was about one of the characters' daughter. She was only 2 years old and had liver problems due to the medication she took as a premature infant. As the story twists like any television show does these days, the father is not the biological father. To complicate things, both of his brothers donated sperm "anonymously" to help him and his wife conceive. The owner of the successful sperm was left unknown. This is important because his daughter needs a liver transplant and the donor needs to be the same blood type, or in other words, the real father. The mother did not match. So hi jinx ensued as the "real" dad was discovered along with all the surrounding drama that relates.
I bring this up because of the difficulty I had watching this whole thing. I couldn't walk away but I felt like I was getting punched in the stomach repeatedly. I was getting emotional....more emotional than I should have been I suppose, after all this is just a show and there is no question of my fatherhood. Aside: I am sorry to be so over dramatic, but I am trying to accurately depict my emotions during this experience.
There were two aspects of the show that affected me in such an intense way. First, my daughter too is at risk of liver damage due to particular circumstances. I can't help but worry about her liver, especially when I am reminded of it. I am doing the necessary precautions and will continue to do so but the prospect of it just sneaking up on us scares me to death. The inability to control the matter scares me more. I suppose I technically could choose to avoid this risk but the risk involved with this other choice is far greater.
Secondly and more powerfully, I was really struggling with watching the father at the hospital. It took me back once again to the worst experiences of my life. I was reminded of the times I have been in the hospital, not for myself, but for loved ones. I have been the one in the room with my wife or daughter through the problem. I have been the one talking to the doctors hearing diagnosis and making decisions. I have had to report to the family in the waiting room. I have been the one burying my head in my hands allowing myself to cry the ridiculous, embarrassing, audible kind of crying. I have had to struggle with the feeling of wanting to be alone then suddenly being too scared to actually do it. I have had to watch my loved ones in tired, drugged up, pitiful states that was so difficult to see without wishing I could trade places....especially the little one who was so young, fragile and vulnerable. She was literally in a cage of a crib while being transported to the NICU where she was at risk of respiratory arrest while she was loaded up with medicine to get control of her problem. I sat there all night staring at the monitor, making sure I would get the nurse at the slightest hint of no breathing. I bet I have written this before. I bet I will write it again. This has been something I doubt I will ever recover from. To this night I still walk in her room when she's asleep to make sure she is still breathing. And everyday I deal with the daily process of keeping her condition under control and being cognisant of anything that could be a sign of something that needs to be addressed. The fear and worry never goes away.
I remember watching my wife being led off to the OR to finish off a horrid week of bad news, arduous decisions and worse results. Even though she was a strong adult, I still felt helpless and powerless and had those same wishes that I could trade places. I had to hear later how "successful" the procedure was even though it meant the end of our dreams and plans and opened up more uncomfortable questions and anxiety that we both continue to deal with together and on our own.
I guess I am a glutton for punishment but something in me wanted to watch this and feel this pain. I immediately though I should blog about it and share my feelings. This blog has been therapeutic.
In addition I find myself worrying about my daughter's future. Not only in terms of physical health but mental health. It is so hard for her to make friends her age because she is so far behind. She cannot communicate with her peers in a way they can understand. I worry bullies or mean spirited kids will be able to take advantage of her easily. I am afraid she will lose her sweet, simple happiness and become very sad as she discovers these things. I suppose every parent has their fears for their kids though.
I suppose these are feeling that will be with me the rest of my life.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Thank You
Every now and then I feel the urge to thank those of you reading my blog. This is one of those times. I write this thing because I really enjoy it. I like discussing things on my mind. I have a lot of stuff on my mind, as does anyone really. But I enjoy putting it out there for others to read.
While I have had plenty of fun spewing my venom to the world for my own selfish, egocentric, vain reasons, there hasn't been much discussion on this blog. But that is ok. This is NOT a call for everyone to start commenting. Part of me wants more comments to fulfill some sort of need for validation. It is like that phase we all went through throwing "keggers" back in college. You would measure the success of the party by how many kegs you finished off. Somehow your supposed popularity was indicated by this. And the more popular you were, the cooler you were and therefore more worthwhile.
Well, that is how I felt anyway. I'll admit it. My point is, that same feeling creeps in at times. I want to be popular. I want to feel as though this blog is worthwhile. I think this could be measured by how many people comment on it. I feel like I go overboard sometimes in plugging this blog. I just linked it in an email thread with some friends but mostly strangers. I was hoping to continue an awesome discussion we had going. I wanted to create some buzz on this blog. Side note: Does anyone know how I can get new comments listed on the side of this blog so viewers can see new comments on old posts? My sister in law has that feature but I can't figure it out on here.
I have learned though that comments don't necessarily mean as much as I think. I don't really care what strangers who may so happen to browse through here think. I shouldn't. What I care about it how my friends and family enjoy it. I get a ton of positive responses from friends and family about the blog all the time. That is awesome. I love that. I love hearing that people liked what I wrote. Or I love hearing them reference old posts in our conversations. That is, in the end, the point.
So thank you.
Thanks Chris for having some fun guessing the other bands on my list. And thanks for other good conversations about the blog. It is actually the late night metaphysical discussions we would have back in the day that has inspired many of these posts. Granted those late night discussions may have been fueled by the partying earlier in the night but I haven't lost memory of them.
Thanks Kathryn for setting the blog as your homepage...or at least in the past.
Thanks Michelle for commenting on how you enjoyed the view into the education from a different point of view as your own. And thanks for calling me out on Pearl Jam.
Thanks Zac for consistently chiming in. Thanks for your help and opinions. Valid, educated opinions.
Thanks Chad for bringing up the posts at school to help lighten the day.
Thanks mom for lending your support and encouragement as well as your educated expertise on the spiritual posts..
Thanks Jackie for being so over the top complimentary about my stuff.
Thanks Doug for giving your two cents when we talk about the sports stuff.
Thanks Dad for keeping my grammar in check and jotting notes of your observations to share with me on trips out to Chicago to help Doug move. And tanks for passing the word to your friends at church.
Thanks Jenn for giving me the idea in the first place.
Thanks Mike T. for lending your eloquent insight and opinion and point of view as well.
Thanks Nelson for opening my eyes about MMA.
Thanks Kasper for reading for the sports posts and using them against me in our sports debates while religiously watching our Cleveland teams lose at King Ave 5.
Thanks Carrie for sharing your heart felt opinions about my Ally posts.
Thanks to Hostetler for quietly reading my blog then referencing a post during our pre-Vegas (errrrr...Veags) excursion with Travis out and about Los Angeles, CA.
I know I am forgetting people. For ANYONE who has been reading this blog regularly or casually, THANK YOU!!!!
It is very cool talking about this stuff with you guys. It really is.
While I have had plenty of fun spewing my venom to the world for my own selfish, egocentric, vain reasons, there hasn't been much discussion on this blog. But that is ok. This is NOT a call for everyone to start commenting. Part of me wants more comments to fulfill some sort of need for validation. It is like that phase we all went through throwing "keggers" back in college. You would measure the success of the party by how many kegs you finished off. Somehow your supposed popularity was indicated by this. And the more popular you were, the cooler you were and therefore more worthwhile.
Well, that is how I felt anyway. I'll admit it. My point is, that same feeling creeps in at times. I want to be popular. I want to feel as though this blog is worthwhile. I think this could be measured by how many people comment on it. I feel like I go overboard sometimes in plugging this blog. I just linked it in an email thread with some friends but mostly strangers. I was hoping to continue an awesome discussion we had going. I wanted to create some buzz on this blog. Side note: Does anyone know how I can get new comments listed on the side of this blog so viewers can see new comments on old posts? My sister in law has that feature but I can't figure it out on here.
I have learned though that comments don't necessarily mean as much as I think. I don't really care what strangers who may so happen to browse through here think. I shouldn't. What I care about it how my friends and family enjoy it. I get a ton of positive responses from friends and family about the blog all the time. That is awesome. I love that. I love hearing that people liked what I wrote. Or I love hearing them reference old posts in our conversations. That is, in the end, the point.
So thank you.
Thanks Chris for having some fun guessing the other bands on my list. And thanks for other good conversations about the blog. It is actually the late night metaphysical discussions we would have back in the day that has inspired many of these posts. Granted those late night discussions may have been fueled by the partying earlier in the night but I haven't lost memory of them.
Thanks Kathryn for setting the blog as your homepage...or at least in the past.
Thanks Michelle for commenting on how you enjoyed the view into the education from a different point of view as your own. And thanks for calling me out on Pearl Jam.
Thanks Zac for consistently chiming in. Thanks for your help and opinions. Valid, educated opinions.
Thanks Chad for bringing up the posts at school to help lighten the day.
Thanks mom for lending your support and encouragement as well as your educated expertise on the spiritual posts..
Thanks Jackie for being so over the top complimentary about my stuff.
Thanks Doug for giving your two cents when we talk about the sports stuff.
Thanks Dad for keeping my grammar in check and jotting notes of your observations to share with me on trips out to Chicago to help Doug move. And tanks for passing the word to your friends at church.
Thanks Jenn for giving me the idea in the first place.
Thanks Mike T. for lending your eloquent insight and opinion and point of view as well.
Thanks Nelson for opening my eyes about MMA.
Thanks Kasper for reading for the sports posts and using them against me in our sports debates while religiously watching our Cleveland teams lose at King Ave 5.
Thanks Carrie for sharing your heart felt opinions about my Ally posts.
Thanks to Hostetler for quietly reading my blog then referencing a post during our pre-Vegas (errrrr...Veags) excursion with Travis out and about Los Angeles, CA.
I know I am forgetting people. For ANYONE who has been reading this blog regularly or casually, THANK YOU!!!!
It is very cool talking about this stuff with you guys. It really is.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Some of my Favorite Posts
My list of posts is growing. I looked back on some of them and thought to myself that there are some really bad, boring, poorly written posts.
But I also noticed some posts I am rather proud of. So I wanted to highlight them in case they have been lost in the pile of posts since. And for those of you reading this blog that didn't in the beginning, please check these out. I feel like they represent me and my intentions for this blog the best.
So here is my shamelessly egocentric list of my stuff:
1) Good Friday
2) Moral Framework
3) Ode to the OG
4) Break the Chain
5) The Huey Karma
6) Fatherhood
7) What's worse than a poser?
8) A little football will cure your ills.....
9) Fan Behavior
10) My Evolution of Spirituality
11 Pandora's Box
12) Being a Better Person
13) Right Vs. Wrong
14) Best and Worst Day of Your Life
15) Insignificance
16) Motivation
And here are some topics I have had swirling around in my head of late. I want to write about them at some point:
Sticking up for those you love....
Buddhism and the Book of Matthew....
Exorcising old demons.....
Sticking to commitments......
Softball....
My affect on others......
Disconnect between parents and teachers and its role in the disintegrating state of public education in America.....
Family curses: Me and my Grandpa....
Going against the mainstream making you part of the mainstream.......
But I also noticed some posts I am rather proud of. So I wanted to highlight them in case they have been lost in the pile of posts since. And for those of you reading this blog that didn't in the beginning, please check these out. I feel like they represent me and my intentions for this blog the best.
So here is my shamelessly egocentric list of my stuff:
1) Good Friday
2) Moral Framework
3) Ode to the OG
4) Break the Chain
5) The Huey Karma
6) Fatherhood
7) What's worse than a poser?
8) A little football will cure your ills.....
9) Fan Behavior
10) My Evolution of Spirituality
11 Pandora's Box
12) Being a Better Person
13) Right Vs. Wrong
14) Best and Worst Day of Your Life
15) Insignificance
16) Motivation
And here are some topics I have had swirling around in my head of late. I want to write about them at some point:
Sticking up for those you love....
Buddhism and the Book of Matthew....
Exorcising old demons.....
Sticking to commitments......
Softball....
My affect on others......
Disconnect between parents and teachers and its role in the disintegrating state of public education in America.....
Family curses: Me and my Grandpa....
Going against the mainstream making you part of the mainstream.......
Saturday, April 26, 2008
State of my Blog and other Tidbits
State of Blog
Well, I started this blog earlier in the year in an effort to write more and avoid annoying people with emails about topics I like to debate or talk about. I also was hoping friends and strangers would browse through and join in with their opinions and perspectives to help me shape mine.
I like what has come of this so much that I am bugging my wife with the time I spend on here and have recently tried to ween myself off a bit to respect her needs. But I am not quitting this blog. Nor does she want me to.
Anyway, I have been sticking to the sports theme a whole lot of late which is cool. That is a huge part of my life. It is what I enjoy the most. I'd be a farce if I came on here saying I want to write about what I think about and enjoy and avoided that subject completely. There is more to me though contrary to popular belief. I think I have shown that with some of the posts I have put on here. I plan to get back to more of that.
Spirituality
Right now, nothing is coming to me to write about and I don't want to force it. Plus, the book I am reading on Buddhism is awfully dry. Not much to really write about. I am enjoying the book as I learn more about this way of life. It still appeals to me greatly. But I haven't had much I can reflect on that others would want to chime in on. That may change as I make my way through the book. I plan to read the Book of Matthew in the Bible after this. My Dad recommended it. I plan to discuss it and the comparison to Buddhism with my Dad, you and those in the blogosphere in the near future.
Education
I am really burned out with my career so my education reflections may be on hold. Plus summer is fast approaching...my "healing" time.
More Fatherhood
I also wanted to add that I love having a daughter and wife. When I hear "My Girl" by the Temptations I have these two beautiful people to think about and appreciate. Can't use that song with a son. Maybe in less than 7 months I'll have a son to experience the same kind of thing with as he grows up. Probably a different song though.
NFL Draft
I am watching the pre-draft special on ESPN and just have to say I love Tom Jackson. I always have. I have fond memories of when he and Chris Berman and Pete Forgot-his-last-name-but-he-has-since-passed began NFL Primetime in the late 80's / early 90s. I loved watching for Browns' highlights. It was the highlight of the weekend, ending it with the memory of a great Cleveland Browns victory. Anyway, this guy is steady and knows his stuff. It is the one thing that keeps me coming back despite the mindless laughing they all keep doing nowadays. For some reason we have to have a comedy up there for the fringe fans. I just want my football with some spontaneous humor from time to time. And I don't need the panelist cracking up all the freaking time.
Oh yeah, and the Browns had a kick ass draft last year with their acclaimed top three picks and the little talked about pick of McDonald at the DB position which made Bodden expendable. And this may sound funny since they don't have any picks the first day, but this year's draft is a good one in my mind because they used the picks to get Brady Quinn last year as well as Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers (who the Bungles tried to get) on the DL where we NEEDED help. More to come on this for sure.
Music
A band I have recently fallen in love with is The Hollies. My brother and dad would play "Bus Stop" in our basement back in the day when we had friends over and it was always a fond memory of mine. They did a great job and it was a cool tune. Later, I was able to parlay their musical talents into a little ditty for my wife at our wedding reception. I rewrote some of the lyrics to fit how my wife and I met and put it to the music of "Bus Stop." My bro and dad played behind me as I sang to my wife who had never heard this version before. Everyone watched. Those of you who know me know I can't sing to save my life and it wasn't pretty. But it was so much fun and I enjoyed every second of it and felt the rush of performing in front of close to 100 people if not more. It was also cool to meet up with my dad and bro to practice leading up to the "show." I enjoyed the bonding.
With that said, in my search to find a copy of "Bus Stop" I realized The Hollies had a number of songs I recognized and enjoyed. In fact I enjoyed them a whole lot! And many of their songs are so different than the others. They have songs like "Bus Stop" and then a more classic rock style "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress." Then the intimate "Air That I Breathe." The soft rock classic "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." The bee bop pop style "Carrie Anne" or "Just One Look." And these are just the popular hits. There is so much more about these artists I want to find. Yum, good stuff.
Well, I started this blog earlier in the year in an effort to write more and avoid annoying people with emails about topics I like to debate or talk about. I also was hoping friends and strangers would browse through and join in with their opinions and perspectives to help me shape mine.
I like what has come of this so much that I am bugging my wife with the time I spend on here and have recently tried to ween myself off a bit to respect her needs. But I am not quitting this blog. Nor does she want me to.
Anyway, I have been sticking to the sports theme a whole lot of late which is cool. That is a huge part of my life. It is what I enjoy the most. I'd be a farce if I came on here saying I want to write about what I think about and enjoy and avoided that subject completely. There is more to me though contrary to popular belief. I think I have shown that with some of the posts I have put on here. I plan to get back to more of that.
Spirituality
Right now, nothing is coming to me to write about and I don't want to force it. Plus, the book I am reading on Buddhism is awfully dry. Not much to really write about. I am enjoying the book as I learn more about this way of life. It still appeals to me greatly. But I haven't had much I can reflect on that others would want to chime in on. That may change as I make my way through the book. I plan to read the Book of Matthew in the Bible after this. My Dad recommended it. I plan to discuss it and the comparison to Buddhism with my Dad, you and those in the blogosphere in the near future.
Education
I am really burned out with my career so my education reflections may be on hold. Plus summer is fast approaching...my "healing" time.
More Fatherhood
I also wanted to add that I love having a daughter and wife. When I hear "My Girl" by the Temptations I have these two beautiful people to think about and appreciate. Can't use that song with a son. Maybe in less than 7 months I'll have a son to experience the same kind of thing with as he grows up. Probably a different song though.
NFL Draft
I am watching the pre-draft special on ESPN and just have to say I love Tom Jackson. I always have. I have fond memories of when he and Chris Berman and Pete Forgot-his-last-name-but-he-has-since-passed began NFL Primetime in the late 80's / early 90s. I loved watching for Browns' highlights. It was the highlight of the weekend, ending it with the memory of a great Cleveland Browns victory. Anyway, this guy is steady and knows his stuff. It is the one thing that keeps me coming back despite the mindless laughing they all keep doing nowadays. For some reason we have to have a comedy up there for the fringe fans. I just want my football with some spontaneous humor from time to time. And I don't need the panelist cracking up all the freaking time.
Oh yeah, and the Browns had a kick ass draft last year with their acclaimed top three picks and the little talked about pick of McDonald at the DB position which made Bodden expendable. And this may sound funny since they don't have any picks the first day, but this year's draft is a good one in my mind because they used the picks to get Brady Quinn last year as well as Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers (who the Bungles tried to get) on the DL where we NEEDED help. More to come on this for sure.
Music
A band I have recently fallen in love with is The Hollies. My brother and dad would play "Bus Stop" in our basement back in the day when we had friends over and it was always a fond memory of mine. They did a great job and it was a cool tune. Later, I was able to parlay their musical talents into a little ditty for my wife at our wedding reception. I rewrote some of the lyrics to fit how my wife and I met and put it to the music of "Bus Stop." My bro and dad played behind me as I sang to my wife who had never heard this version before. Everyone watched. Those of you who know me know I can't sing to save my life and it wasn't pretty. But it was so much fun and I enjoyed every second of it and felt the rush of performing in front of close to 100 people if not more. It was also cool to meet up with my dad and bro to practice leading up to the "show." I enjoyed the bonding.
With that said, in my search to find a copy of "Bus Stop" I realized The Hollies had a number of songs I recognized and enjoyed. In fact I enjoyed them a whole lot! And many of their songs are so different than the others. They have songs like "Bus Stop" and then a more classic rock style "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress." Then the intimate "Air That I Breathe." The soft rock classic "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." The bee bop pop style "Carrie Anne" or "Just One Look." And these are just the popular hits. There is so much more about these artists I want to find. Yum, good stuff.
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