After an acrimonious exit at best to the hated Knicks in the first round of the playoffs last year, it seemed the ride had come to an end and the 2014 season to come would be titled: The Celtics are in the midst of rebuilding.
It all started with the departure of Doc to LA, the trade of Pierce and Garnett to Brooklyn and the ACL injury of Rondo seemed to have cemented the aforementioned headline.
Danny did what he does best, he dealt Pierce, Garnett and even Doc for plenty of assets. (First round picks in the next three out of four years) as well as expiring contracts in Humphries ($12Million which will come off the books next year.) He was eyeing the future, just as he did in 2006-07 season when he traded the fifth pick which ironically was Jeff Green to the Supersonics for Ray Allen and a handful of players to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. He essentially gave up a number of hopefuls (Jeff Green,Gerald Green and Al Jefferson) and serviceable veterans (Wally Szczerbiak, Ryan Gomes, Ricky Davis and Sebastian Telfair) for two sure fire Hall of Famers.
Although no one will admit it, I think the eye on the prize is this years supposedly deep and talented draft. How else would explain the woebegone more than normal Eastern Conference where the 5th-8th seeds sport a .500 or worse overall record.
So this is where I explain how I feel Ainge miscalculated this years team. I think he was banking on Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace to be less then engaged in this years team, sort of how Bogans ended up: disgruntled even though he was given a huge pay raise in this trade. I mean Humphries showed little to no enthusiasm at their press conference. Gerald has already secured his payday and was placed on a rebuilding team.
I believe he thought Sullinger would have taken much longer to get into a rhythm, coming off of back surgery and Rondo to have taken longer to come back. After all, Derrick Rose essentially took a year plus off. This would have targeted Rondo into February. Not having a true point guard until then could easily have seen the C's in disarray on the court. That basically left Brandon Bass, Avery Bradley and Jeff Green to steer the ship from the proverbial iceberg. Bass is consistent but I have always thought of him as that 5th option on the floor, Avery is known for his on the ball defending and Jeff Green is not someone I would consider as a number one option when you need to take over a game. Also, I can't but sympathize with him. I think people under estimate what he went through physically. Although he is inconsistent, I am willing to give him this full year before I judge his true value. I think $9M a year for the next 3 years is a steal. All that being said, I read into that: Here we come 2014 draft.
However, Jared has done nothing but be a solid, consistent and lately a double/double guy. Rondo, albeit a little slow motion unto Rondo's standards has been a stabling force on the offensive side of the ball, not to mention Jordan Crawford over achieved as a point guard that no one could have prognosticated. Kris and Gerald have often provided that energy, that spark off of the bench which I think has served rookies like Olynk well. I truly believe they have bought into what the 1st year coach Brad Stevens is selling and have been good soldiers.
Speaking of Brad Stevens, I think he might have been the biggest miscalculation of all. No, I do believe Danny saw the upside in Brad, I just don't think he thought he would have hit the ground running as he has with the belief of his players and gotten the consistent energy and effort that he has throughout these past 4+ months with such a diverse cast.
Ainge definitely has put this franchise in the right direction for the future but I think he miscalculated the pride in these players and the Captains leadership.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Sunday, August 25, 2013
6570+ days later
My wife and I just came back from dropping our eldest son, Timothy, off at college. Yup, some 6,570 plus days after he came into this world, we are in retrospect, letting him free. I have been trying to prepare myself for this inevitability for the better part of five months, right about when he submitted his letter of intent to W.P.I.
I think I did just fine, until we drove away after saying goodbye. My eyes welled up as we turned off of Institute drive. I took a deep breath and then 18 years of memories came flashing at me as if each event was happening again, right now. I know tonight is going to be a tough night, albeit a good tough, but tough nonetheless.
I can remember vividly him coming into this world. I was twenty years old. I was young, naive, scared. The hospital gave him this really cool hand knitted green hat. I remember him taking his first steps to me from our couch from our second floor apartment.We actually have a picture of that somewhere. I remember his first Christmas, just a month old, Dale bringing him down to me dressed in a surprise Santa outfit.
Fast forward a couple of years watching him fit in the bottom storage of our Entertainment system which remarkably we still have today, or carrying him on my shoulders all the way up Eagle Rock in West, Virginia. I remember the spur of the moment trip when I picked him up at Daycare when he was five and bringing him to his first Red Sox game, buying tickets at the gate.
We have had so many fantastic times: like dressing all in blue rooting for the Colts the year they made it to the Superbowl and I had them in the family football pool (Note: We are huge Patriots fans) Or his first time in Disney. I still marvel at older pictures like watching him brush his teeth with Nana. It's hard to fathom that he was once so small. I can't help but cling to the times of helping him learn how to ride a bike, play his first football game, beat me for the first time playing basketball.
I can't help but remember the day his younger brother was born, and the genuine love and kindness he showed to him. It was then that I realized that he was someone special, not because he is my son but because he is genuine. I have watched him grow from a little, innocent boy into a wonderful, caring, genuine young man. Mom and I are so very proud of you Timothy.
I'll treasure the days I came home to your amazing creativity and artistic talent after a long day of work. It's going to be a really hard day tomorrow when I won't be able to hear you yelling down to me, "Love ya Dad, have a good day." (Especially since I just broke down writing it.)
Although, I know you are starting a new chapter in life, one that focuses on you. That is the way it should be but if you don't mind, I am going to hang on to the last 18 years for the next few days.
Remember, just like I said to you tonight, "Have fun and Enjoy. Every. Minute."
Can't wait to see you in November... and I just left you 3 hours ago.
I think I did just fine, until we drove away after saying goodbye. My eyes welled up as we turned off of Institute drive. I took a deep breath and then 18 years of memories came flashing at me as if each event was happening again, right now. I know tonight is going to be a tough night, albeit a good tough, but tough nonetheless.
I can remember vividly him coming into this world. I was twenty years old. I was young, naive, scared. The hospital gave him this really cool hand knitted green hat. I remember him taking his first steps to me from our couch from our second floor apartment.We actually have a picture of that somewhere. I remember his first Christmas, just a month old, Dale bringing him down to me dressed in a surprise Santa outfit.
Fast forward a couple of years watching him fit in the bottom storage of our Entertainment system which remarkably we still have today, or carrying him on my shoulders all the way up Eagle Rock in West, Virginia. I remember the spur of the moment trip when I picked him up at Daycare when he was five and bringing him to his first Red Sox game, buying tickets at the gate.We have had so many fantastic times: like dressing all in blue rooting for the Colts the year they made it to the Superbowl and I had them in the family football pool (Note: We are huge Patriots fans) Or his first time in Disney. I still marvel at older pictures like watching him brush his teeth with Nana. It's hard to fathom that he was once so small. I can't help but cling to the times of helping him learn how to ride a bike, play his first football game, beat me for the first time playing basketball.
I can't help but remember the day his younger brother was born, and the genuine love and kindness he showed to him. It was then that I realized that he was someone special, not because he is my son but because he is genuine. I have watched him grow from a little, innocent boy into a wonderful, caring, genuine young man. Mom and I are so very proud of you Timothy.
I'll treasure the days I came home to your amazing creativity and artistic talent after a long day of work. It's going to be a really hard day tomorrow when I won't be able to hear you yelling down to me, "Love ya Dad, have a good day." (Especially since I just broke down writing it.)
Although, I know you are starting a new chapter in life, one that focuses on you. That is the way it should be but if you don't mind, I am going to hang on to the last 18 years for the next few days.
Remember, just like I said to you tonight, "Have fun and Enjoy. Every. Minute."
Can't wait to see you in November... and I just left you 3 hours ago.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Civic Duty?
Well, next Tuesday, November 6th, 2012, one of two things will happen for sure: We will have a 45th President of the United States or the existing President will serve another four years. This is about all I can be sure of. Everything else might as well be the result of a flip of the coin. (No, I will NOT choose our next President by flipping a coin) Sometimes, when I look at Senate choices and most definitely local town appointments, I wonder if I would be just as well served. Although, I have a number of thoughts swirling around in my head as the inevitable day looms.
I am registered as an Independent voter. An Independent is defined a voter who votes for candidates and issues, rather than on the basis of political ideology or partisanship. I have never understood the rational of voting for a straight ticket. Especially now, as I don't see the differences to be as great on a number of issues. However, this blog is not about whether one party is better then the other. I am not going to defend one Presidential candidate over the other. Rather, I am going to pose a couple thoughts that I don't think people ever consider when voting.
I, like most Americans, after eight years wanted our troops to come home. This was a "buzz" topic during the last election and it centered around time lines of bringing troops home. Pretty logical. Good Sentiment. So, you get elected. You arrive at the White House looking to tackle this agenda item. They bring in a box of files, pertaining to where "we" are in Iraq. You start looking over the files. As your keep reading, there are so many "items" you weren't privy too. Some of your predecessor's choices make a whole lot more sense now. It's not conceivable in our current state to withdraw troops without considerably hindering other objectives which have been intertwined over time.
You are running and you say, "I can cut this deficit in half in the next eight years." Sounds great. We should have never offered all these bailouts and the stimulus money was done wastefully. You are in office and then you hear that the money was put where it was, and the companies saved because of the nature of the house of cards. You pull the wrong one out and we would have seen something much more catastrophic then the Great Depression.
What I am trying to convey, is we can all promise you anything you want. Sometimes, we may even genuinely believe it 100%. Intentions as a whole are usually for the greater good. However, when we get to a place where the decision is ours and the result lays only with ones self, the weight of the world looms large not just figuratively, but with a Presidential election, literally. Before you mark that X next to a name or color in that scan tron circle, think to yourself what would I do if I was President? No Rhetoric because what you say affects 300+ Million people every time you open your mouth. This will be the most difficult thing you will ever encounter. You live in a fish bowl. You become the World's target: You're too soft, you're too hard. I got news for you, not every one's going to agree with you.
You're check box could change the world. But after all, it's your civic duty, right?
I am registered as an Independent voter. An Independent is defined a voter who votes for candidates and issues, rather than on the basis of political ideology or partisanship. I have never understood the rational of voting for a straight ticket. Especially now, as I don't see the differences to be as great on a number of issues. However, this blog is not about whether one party is better then the other. I am not going to defend one Presidential candidate over the other. Rather, I am going to pose a couple thoughts that I don't think people ever consider when voting.
I, like most Americans, after eight years wanted our troops to come home. This was a "buzz" topic during the last election and it centered around time lines of bringing troops home. Pretty logical. Good Sentiment. So, you get elected. You arrive at the White House looking to tackle this agenda item. They bring in a box of files, pertaining to where "we" are in Iraq. You start looking over the files. As your keep reading, there are so many "items" you weren't privy too. Some of your predecessor's choices make a whole lot more sense now. It's not conceivable in our current state to withdraw troops without considerably hindering other objectives which have been intertwined over time.
You are running and you say, "I can cut this deficit in half in the next eight years." Sounds great. We should have never offered all these bailouts and the stimulus money was done wastefully. You are in office and then you hear that the money was put where it was, and the companies saved because of the nature of the house of cards. You pull the wrong one out and we would have seen something much more catastrophic then the Great Depression.
What I am trying to convey, is we can all promise you anything you want. Sometimes, we may even genuinely believe it 100%. Intentions as a whole are usually for the greater good. However, when we get to a place where the decision is ours and the result lays only with ones self, the weight of the world looms large not just figuratively, but with a Presidential election, literally. Before you mark that X next to a name or color in that scan tron circle, think to yourself what would I do if I was President? No Rhetoric because what you say affects 300+ Million people every time you open your mouth. This will be the most difficult thing you will ever encounter. You live in a fish bowl. You become the World's target: You're too soft, you're too hard. I got news for you, not every one's going to agree with you.
You're check box could change the world. But after all, it's your civic duty, right?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The week of the Teeth
So, I woke up earlier this week and my gums were really red. Didn't think much of it cause sometimes it happens. I just gargled with some warm salt water and went on about my day. Well, the next day I had a bump. So, more warm salt water. It proceeded to get bigger and by Day 4 I called my dentist. I had an abscess. I didn't feel the normal pain as it was on a tooth that I had already had a root canal on and a crown nine years earlier.
My dentist told me that I was about 99% likely to lose my tooth. What? Lose a tooth? Me? I brush everyday, twice a day, floss and use Listerine. How the heck did my tooth get infected? Well, apparently the tooth which I had the root canal and crown on nine years earlier had a fracture as well. My tooth actual cracked completely in half under all that wonderful work, thus allowing things in. So, off to the endodontist for confirmation. Two days later, it was extracted but not before lots of novacaine,
My biggest fear is Death. However, losing my teeth is a close second. So, I am down one 6 year molar. It took two full days for the bleeding to stop. Nothing like drooling like a mad man with guaze stuffed in my mouth. Yes, it has no asthetic value but dammit, I don't want to lose my teeth. So, I have investigated about getting an implant. My biggest concern is my other molar will absorb all the pressure and it will be next, seeing it already has a crown due to my excessive, incessant grinding at night.
Well, implants are kind of expensive. Basically it's going to cost me around $4500 to replace it, including the extraction which I already paid for. That is a lot of money for a tooth but it's my main molar. Sheesh! There's always something.
Also, this week, my oldest had his four wisdom teeth out. Originally, I was going to keep mine and put it under the pillow to see how much I would get but my middle child would seriously consider yanking all of his teeth out, so we scrapped that idea. But 5 teeth in one week in my house. Wowzers!
My dentist told me that I was about 99% likely to lose my tooth. What? Lose a tooth? Me? I brush everyday, twice a day, floss and use Listerine. How the heck did my tooth get infected? Well, apparently the tooth which I had the root canal and crown on nine years earlier had a fracture as well. My tooth actual cracked completely in half under all that wonderful work, thus allowing things in. So, off to the endodontist for confirmation. Two days later, it was extracted but not before lots of novacaine,
My biggest fear is Death. However, losing my teeth is a close second. So, I am down one 6 year molar. It took two full days for the bleeding to stop. Nothing like drooling like a mad man with guaze stuffed in my mouth. Yes, it has no asthetic value but dammit, I don't want to lose my teeth. So, I have investigated about getting an implant. My biggest concern is my other molar will absorb all the pressure and it will be next, seeing it already has a crown due to my excessive, incessant grinding at night.
Well, implants are kind of expensive. Basically it's going to cost me around $4500 to replace it, including the extraction which I already paid for. That is a lot of money for a tooth but it's my main molar. Sheesh! There's always something.
Also, this week, my oldest had his four wisdom teeth out. Originally, I was going to keep mine and put it under the pillow to see how much I would get but my middle child would seriously consider yanking all of his teeth out, so we scrapped that idea. But 5 teeth in one week in my house. Wowzers!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
So, you think your a coach?
This is more of a tirade then anything. Sorry, but I need to vent. My middle son plays AAU basketball. Before I go into it, I am going to say that AAU is not what it was when I was a kid. I won't deny there was a little politicking of Dad's who knew Dad's. And then there are coaches who pick athleticism over fundamentalists, hard working and coach-able kids. Heck, that still happens these days. What really bother's me is when coaches bark out commands and expect kids to get it.
"Screen away from the ball." "When you get in the post, drop step, seal the defender off." "After you pass, cut and then back out." "Make sure you box out." "When you get the ball, get in the triple threat position." "Use the baseline." "Make sure to yell Help if you get beat." "Make sure you set a pick for your teammate with the ball and roll off." "When your in zone and the ball is here, you need to be here."
These are all legitimate statements. Kids should learn how to do these things. These all have great purpose. However, they are yelled out without showing the kids why they should be doing this. They run here, and then they run there. They ask for the ball way out at the 3 point line, which none of them can make unless they heave it like a baseball. It absolutely aggravates me the ignorance and arrogance these guys have.
I was at a practice tonight where they told the kids to screen off the ball. This is done to create movement, to help get other teammates open. Screen off the ball? They can't even run a simple pick. If the kid makes the pick right, the ball handler doesn't wait for the pick to get in place. Why? Because he doesn't understand the kid is creating a "roadblock."
I asked my son tonight, do you know what a drop step is? Not that he should because he's always playing point but just the same, he's like no. Well, thanks coach for explaining it.
These kids are at the age where they learn by doing and understanding. Once a kid knows why he is throwing a pick or why he needs to keep the triple threat (Ability to pass, shoot and dribble) available and sees it work, they will trust it and do it more often. Oh, and if you show a kid to box out and little Johnny can see that he can box out Benny who is 30 pounds more then him, it will create confidence and be willing to do it.
Just because you can shoot a ball, doesn't mean you can coach.
"Screen away from the ball." "When you get in the post, drop step, seal the defender off." "After you pass, cut and then back out." "Make sure you box out." "When you get the ball, get in the triple threat position." "Use the baseline." "Make sure to yell Help if you get beat." "Make sure you set a pick for your teammate with the ball and roll off." "When your in zone and the ball is here, you need to be here."
These are all legitimate statements. Kids should learn how to do these things. These all have great purpose. However, they are yelled out without showing the kids why they should be doing this. They run here, and then they run there. They ask for the ball way out at the 3 point line, which none of them can make unless they heave it like a baseball. It absolutely aggravates me the ignorance and arrogance these guys have.
I was at a practice tonight where they told the kids to screen off the ball. This is done to create movement, to help get other teammates open. Screen off the ball? They can't even run a simple pick. If the kid makes the pick right, the ball handler doesn't wait for the pick to get in place. Why? Because he doesn't understand the kid is creating a "roadblock."
I asked my son tonight, do you know what a drop step is? Not that he should because he's always playing point but just the same, he's like no. Well, thanks coach for explaining it.
These kids are at the age where they learn by doing and understanding. Once a kid knows why he is throwing a pick or why he needs to keep the triple threat (Ability to pass, shoot and dribble) available and sees it work, they will trust it and do it more often. Oh, and if you show a kid to box out and little Johnny can see that he can box out Benny who is 30 pounds more then him, it will create confidence and be willing to do it.
Just because you can shoot a ball, doesn't mean you can coach.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
A little Time off
I have decided to take a little time off from Facebook. The last couple of weeks, I have noticed I waste an inordinate amount of time on this social media site. Every night I come home, eat dinner, play a game with my youngest and onward to my little I-pad to play Words with Friends. As I watch TV, and wait for my fellow WWF play their words, I hop onto Facebook, looking for replies to messages, updates to posted comments and thinking of witty comments to post as my status. Yes, it's all really sad. My wife and I play a game of virtual scrabble every night from across the room. This is a bit odd, seeing we own the REAL thing.
Okay, I digress, this post was about going on a Facebook sabbatical. I have, well, I don't know how many friends I have (that would require that I go onto Facebook) but the reality is, I check the same 4 or 5 people all the time. And well, they're people I actually call to hang out with anyway. I have said all along that Facebook needs to have a cut and dry way of grouping people, such as acquaintances, friends, family, and colleagues. I have heard that there is a round-about way to do this. Although, I know there are some people that might take offense to how they are grouped, so it's just a little too late for that. I know I have and that's just stupid. I shouldn't care but it makes me think of elementary school. That in itself is enough to commit my self to a local psychiatric ward. I'll always have a self-esteem problem, just the way I am wired. Not to mention, I don't need to know what people had for breakfast, lunch or dinner or what their daily routine is. Are they expecting I might drop by? Well, then why don't they just ask. Also, I have gotten to the point that I actually think about what I am going to post sometimes, and who might see it... that's just a RED flag.
Another bone I have with Facebook is how they get you to unknowingly allow anyone to see or use your data. Ever try to do one of those questions or apps? In fine print it gives the party who created o sponsored it to have access to your data. Also, I don't know how many laptops I have fixed because they have been infested with Malware, seriously slowing down and degrading the performance of your machine.
Finally, Facebook has become just another place that people can talk about anything without having to really confront whoever they are talking about or too. Not to mention, words can never have the proper inflection in tone. What's even worse, as someone I know posted, "You can say no to someone or completely ignore them without having the awkward feeling." Just another cop out in my mind.
I do think there are some great uses of Facebook such as creating a page which promotes activities for people to attend without feeling pressured. It also is a great way to get your word out. Although, if you use a platform like Facebook to solicit donations for some cause, would you call these people?
For now, I am going to spend time with the people that I see everyday and Facebook is just going to have wait its turn.
Okay, I digress, this post was about going on a Facebook sabbatical. I have, well, I don't know how many friends I have (that would require that I go onto Facebook) but the reality is, I check the same 4 or 5 people all the time. And well, they're people I actually call to hang out with anyway. I have said all along that Facebook needs to have a cut and dry way of grouping people, such as acquaintances, friends, family, and colleagues. I have heard that there is a round-about way to do this. Although, I know there are some people that might take offense to how they are grouped, so it's just a little too late for that. I know I have and that's just stupid. I shouldn't care but it makes me think of elementary school. That in itself is enough to commit my self to a local psychiatric ward. I'll always have a self-esteem problem, just the way I am wired. Not to mention, I don't need to know what people had for breakfast, lunch or dinner or what their daily routine is. Are they expecting I might drop by? Well, then why don't they just ask. Also, I have gotten to the point that I actually think about what I am going to post sometimes, and who might see it... that's just a RED flag.
Another bone I have with Facebook is how they get you to unknowingly allow anyone to see or use your data. Ever try to do one of those questions or apps? In fine print it gives the party who created o sponsored it to have access to your data. Also, I don't know how many laptops I have fixed because they have been infested with Malware, seriously slowing down and degrading the performance of your machine.
Finally, Facebook has become just another place that people can talk about anything without having to really confront whoever they are talking about or too. Not to mention, words can never have the proper inflection in tone. What's even worse, as someone I know posted, "You can say no to someone or completely ignore them without having the awkward feeling." Just another cop out in my mind.
I do think there are some great uses of Facebook such as creating a page which promotes activities for people to attend without feeling pressured. It also is a great way to get your word out. Although, if you use a platform like Facebook to solicit donations for some cause, would you call these people?
For now, I am going to spend time with the people that I see everyday and Facebook is just going to have wait its turn.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Brady vs. Manning
Well, since the Indianapolis Colts made it into the playoffs as of 7:00 Est. time, I couldn't help but think how do these two rival QB's compare?
When you hear people talk about the elite quarterbacks in the league, you hear Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as #1 and #2. Arguements hsve been made that Peyton is a better passer, I mean he has about 20,000 more passing yards then Tom. Not to mention Peyton has 397 career touchdowns compared to Brady's 261. However, their career passing rating's are nearly identical, Peyton at 94.9 and Brady at 95.2. Here are their carrer stats as listed on NFL.com:
Peyton Manning: 54,564 Yards, 397 Td's 198 Int's
Tom Brady: 34,744 Yards, 261 Td's 103 Int's
2010 Stats:
Peyton Manning: 4,436 Yards, 31 Td's, 17 Int's
Tom Brady: 3,900 Yrads, 36 Td's, 4 Int's
So, all things considered, maybe Peyton has the edge. Peyton has been MVP 4 times, Tom once. I mean Tom Brady is having a historic year as far as protecting the ball, throwing some 320+ passes without a pick. Peyton has played a full 13 seasons as opposed to Brady's 9. Two seasons, Brady played in one game, in 2000 as mop up duty and then in 2008 where he was lost due to a ACL tear. Even if you give Tom 4 years with 33 Td's (4 more then his average) and 4,400 yards (550+ Yards more then his average), he still comes up a little short to Peyton.
Not so fast. Tom Brady has been to the Big dance 4 times, winning 3 in 9 full seasons. Peyton has been to 2 superbowls, winning 1 in 13 full seasons.
So, what measures a quarterback, how many yards they have? How many Td's? How many Picks? Or how many Championships? Peyton held the record for the number of Td's in a season, until Tom broke it in 2007. Peyton has never lead his team to an undefeated regular season.
Don't get me wrong, Peyton is the master of the 2-minute, no huddle offense. I am scared with the game on the line, and Peyton has the ball. He burned us in 2006. Not to mention, he has some pretty funny and creative commercials. However, I give the nod to Brady with the edge in championships 3-1. And doing it in 4 less seasons. That's .333 average to a paltry .076 for Manning.
Go Patriots!!
When you hear people talk about the elite quarterbacks in the league, you hear Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as #1 and #2. Arguements hsve been made that Peyton is a better passer, I mean he has about 20,000 more passing yards then Tom. Not to mention Peyton has 397 career touchdowns compared to Brady's 261. However, their career passing rating's are nearly identical, Peyton at 94.9 and Brady at 95.2. Here are their carrer stats as listed on NFL.com:
Peyton Manning: 54,564 Yards, 397 Td's 198 Int's
Tom Brady: 34,744 Yards, 261 Td's 103 Int's
2010 Stats:
Peyton Manning: 4,436 Yards, 31 Td's, 17 Int's
Tom Brady: 3,900 Yrads, 36 Td's, 4 Int's
So, all things considered, maybe Peyton has the edge. Peyton has been MVP 4 times, Tom once. I mean Tom Brady is having a historic year as far as protecting the ball, throwing some 320+ passes without a pick. Peyton has played a full 13 seasons as opposed to Brady's 9. Two seasons, Brady played in one game, in 2000 as mop up duty and then in 2008 where he was lost due to a ACL tear. Even if you give Tom 4 years with 33 Td's (4 more then his average) and 4,400 yards (550+ Yards more then his average), he still comes up a little short to Peyton.
Not so fast. Tom Brady has been to the Big dance 4 times, winning 3 in 9 full seasons. Peyton has been to 2 superbowls, winning 1 in 13 full seasons.
So, what measures a quarterback, how many yards they have? How many Td's? How many Picks? Or how many Championships? Peyton held the record for the number of Td's in a season, until Tom broke it in 2007. Peyton has never lead his team to an undefeated regular season.
Don't get me wrong, Peyton is the master of the 2-minute, no huddle offense. I am scared with the game on the line, and Peyton has the ball. He burned us in 2006. Not to mention, he has some pretty funny and creative commercials. However, I give the nod to Brady with the edge in championships 3-1. And doing it in 4 less seasons. That's .333 average to a paltry .076 for Manning.
Go Patriots!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Reflection
It's been a crazy 2010. It started out pretty good. In January, I was probably, ironically enough as you will see, in the best shape I have been in for a few years. I was doing physical therapy to stabilize my back that has been a constant battle for the better part of 9 years. I was doing twenty planks with a pushup in between, doing the treadmill for 20 minutes 3 times a week and even started light plyometrics. I went down to Florida, took a class in preparation to upgrade/migrate our servers from Novell to Suse Linux. Spent time with family while I was there and reconnected with a great high school friend. Then March 24th came. I woke up with chest pain, difficulty breathing and headed to the emergency room. I was diagnsed with pericarditis, the inflammation of the sac around the heart due probably to a virus. (I was most disappointed that I had to miss a long prearranged Celtics game with my dad and brother.) So, anyway, for a couple of months, I struggled with fatigue and discomfort. Just as I started feeling better in June, I threw my back out and started physical therapy again.
Move forward to July 5th, and I had the identical feeling to March 24th. Not wanting to go to the ER, figuring I could just see my primary and they could start me on the same course of treatment, I waited until the morning. I mean why incurr the ER expense when I felt I knew what was wrong and what they would do. Well, after going to the clinic, they sent me to the ER due to my EKG being abnormal and I was again diagnosed with pericarditis. I ended up taking 2 weeks off (doctors orders) from work and still feeling exhausted, frustrated that I was dealing with this again trudged along. I had been basically a bystander during my first vacation in April as we rented a beach house in North Carolina, spent the month of June trying to overcome my back, July stuck at home, sick and constantly tired with the threat of not being able to go on our second vaction to The Anchorage. So, I ended up going to see my provider 5 times in the month of July still complaining of chest discomfort and a constant sore throat.
So they gave me more medication, antibiotics and a referral to a otolaryngologist. I spent my second vacation sleeping a lot, doing preventative excercises for my back wishing the pain would just go away.
During the end of the August, I was diagnosed with laryngeal papilloma which I blogged about after having a successful surgery in October. The follow-up from my surgey was all good news and my next follow up is in February. Although, just before and after the surgery, I still was having chest discomfort where they now thought possible heartburn as another bout of pericarditis was ruled out, thankfully. I dealt with a bout if IBS (irratble Bowel Syndrome) which I am still placating. So, off to see a GI doctor. They did an upper edoscopy which revealed mild inflammation. This again was a good sign but I basically went through the motions on my third vacation this year to Capon Springs in October as I was still having night sweats, my back was acting up and food just didn't agree with me, especially ice cream. And to make it worse, the IBS was not helping matters.
So, here we are in December and I have had an MRI on my back showing a disc herniation and desiccation to the point I do stretches every morning, ice, wear an SI belt and use a gel on my back to make it through work everyday. I still fight IBS and pretty confident at this point that Milk and cheese are not friends of mine.
Why do I write this? Well, as a reflection to how this year physically has been a long battle that I wish on not my worst enemy. Although, I have still had a lot of good times:
I got to rent a house on the beach with my family and the Kirkpatricks in NC.
I rented a suite twice this year to watch the Cetics with my family, where we won both games and my family had a FANATASTIC time.
I spent a week with my family and parents fishing and catching the most Bass I have ever caught.
I have witnessed my oldest win a championship in high school football, 11-0 baby.
I have been able to watch my middle child look like pistol Pete and my oldest make the JV team.
I have seen great improvements in my yougest who suffers from seizures.
I was able to spend a week with my family and extended family at the most relaxing place on Earth.
I was able to purchase a carvan that my family has been pining for, for years.
I am even more grateful and thankful to:
My wife who supports me unconditionally and is a rock at my side.
My kids who constantly make me unknowingly proud and smile every day. Make no mistake they know how to get under my skin.
My immediate and extended family who I constantly feel lucky to be part of.
that although I have dealt with my own trials and tribulations, nothing has been "serious."
I bid farewell to 2010, and so LOOK forward to 2011. I hope my appointment on Monday reveals a course to correct my back for good and for the better. I hope my cousin has a fabulous 2011. I look forward to my trip in February to Disney, my trip with my Uncle to Pittsburg, to spending more time with family and friends with less pain and discomfort.
I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and limitless 2011.
Move forward to July 5th, and I had the identical feeling to March 24th. Not wanting to go to the ER, figuring I could just see my primary and they could start me on the same course of treatment, I waited until the morning. I mean why incurr the ER expense when I felt I knew what was wrong and what they would do. Well, after going to the clinic, they sent me to the ER due to my EKG being abnormal and I was again diagnosed with pericarditis. I ended up taking 2 weeks off (doctors orders) from work and still feeling exhausted, frustrated that I was dealing with this again trudged along. I had been basically a bystander during my first vacation in April as we rented a beach house in North Carolina, spent the month of June trying to overcome my back, July stuck at home, sick and constantly tired with the threat of not being able to go on our second vaction to The Anchorage. So, I ended up going to see my provider 5 times in the month of July still complaining of chest discomfort and a constant sore throat.
So they gave me more medication, antibiotics and a referral to a otolaryngologist. I spent my second vacation sleeping a lot, doing preventative excercises for my back wishing the pain would just go away.
During the end of the August, I was diagnosed with laryngeal papilloma which I blogged about after having a successful surgery in October. The follow-up from my surgey was all good news and my next follow up is in February. Although, just before and after the surgery, I still was having chest discomfort where they now thought possible heartburn as another bout of pericarditis was ruled out, thankfully. I dealt with a bout if IBS (irratble Bowel Syndrome) which I am still placating. So, off to see a GI doctor. They did an upper edoscopy which revealed mild inflammation. This again was a good sign but I basically went through the motions on my third vacation this year to Capon Springs in October as I was still having night sweats, my back was acting up and food just didn't agree with me, especially ice cream. And to make it worse, the IBS was not helping matters.
So, here we are in December and I have had an MRI on my back showing a disc herniation and desiccation to the point I do stretches every morning, ice, wear an SI belt and use a gel on my back to make it through work everyday. I still fight IBS and pretty confident at this point that Milk and cheese are not friends of mine.
Why do I write this? Well, as a reflection to how this year physically has been a long battle that I wish on not my worst enemy. Although, I have still had a lot of good times:
I got to rent a house on the beach with my family and the Kirkpatricks in NC.
I rented a suite twice this year to watch the Cetics with my family, where we won both games and my family had a FANATASTIC time.
I spent a week with my family and parents fishing and catching the most Bass I have ever caught.
I have witnessed my oldest win a championship in high school football, 11-0 baby.
I have been able to watch my middle child look like pistol Pete and my oldest make the JV team.
I have seen great improvements in my yougest who suffers from seizures.
I was able to spend a week with my family and extended family at the most relaxing place on Earth.
I was able to purchase a carvan that my family has been pining for, for years.
I am even more grateful and thankful to:
My wife who supports me unconditionally and is a rock at my side.
My kids who constantly make me unknowingly proud and smile every day. Make no mistake they know how to get under my skin.
My immediate and extended family who I constantly feel lucky to be part of.
that although I have dealt with my own trials and tribulations, nothing has been "serious."
I bid farewell to 2010, and so LOOK forward to 2011. I hope my appointment on Monday reveals a course to correct my back for good and for the better. I hope my cousin has a fabulous 2011. I look forward to my trip in February to Disney, my trip with my Uncle to Pittsburg, to spending more time with family and friends with less pain and discomfort.
I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and limitless 2011.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
16
Well, just as the title invokes, my oldest has turned 16 yesterday. I am taken a-back by the whole actuality of it. Part of me says, "How did this happen?" Part of me thought this would never happen (Well, the theoretical part) but here he is. He is a sophomore in high school, playing Varsity football and doubling up in Math so he can take a college prep class his senior year, a thought of his own volition.
I think the one thing that sticks out more than all others is he seems to be genuinely happy, which at this age, is not a readily occurrence.
16 Years ago, just turning 20, I was truly awe-struck that my wife and I had created this little human being. It seems like it was yesterday. A lot of things seem like they were just yesterday. His first day of Kindergarten, his first steps, both of which I remember clearly. I was by our couch and my wife was in the kitchen. She put him down to see if he would stand before the flop... and he took three steps to me and fell into my arms. (Yes, the kitchen and Couch were that close back then) I remember Unkie giving Timmy a push on the zip line as I video taped it. And in a second, there was just the zip line (he was okay) I have his first father's day gift he ever gave to me that he did all by himself.
I just recently was scared out of my mind as he accelerated into our driveway on a short jaunt in the car, thinking I was going to have to get a new garage door. But he stopped in time. Phew!
I am extremely proud of my son, even more so to be his father. I hope the next 16 years can create as many memories as the first 16. I also hope he can be as happy then as he is now.
Happy Birthday, Tim.
I think the one thing that sticks out more than all others is he seems to be genuinely happy, which at this age, is not a readily occurrence.
16 Years ago, just turning 20, I was truly awe-struck that my wife and I had created this little human being. It seems like it was yesterday. A lot of things seem like they were just yesterday. His first day of Kindergarten, his first steps, both of which I remember clearly. I was by our couch and my wife was in the kitchen. She put him down to see if he would stand before the flop... and he took three steps to me and fell into my arms. (Yes, the kitchen and Couch were that close back then) I remember Unkie giving Timmy a push on the zip line as I video taped it. And in a second, there was just the zip line (he was okay) I have his first father's day gift he ever gave to me that he did all by himself.
I just recently was scared out of my mind as he accelerated into our driveway on a short jaunt in the car, thinking I was going to have to get a new garage door. But he stopped in time. Phew!
I am extremely proud of my son, even more so to be his father. I hope the next 16 years can create as many memories as the first 16. I also hope he can be as happy then as he is now.
Happy Birthday, Tim.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
They're Baaaack... and eradicated (at least for now) too.
Well, for those who know and for those who don't, I had laryngeal papilloma's as a kid from birth until I was 11. I had many surgery's to remove these little buggers. There biggest threat to me was the possibility of blocking my airway. I was in remission until I was twenty-six when they resurfaced. Once again I had them removed by laser. I have a cool picture somewhere, but God only knows where I stashed it. Well, 9 years later and they came back. This is one of those things that no one really knows why they keep coming back or what triggers them.
Often been told that Caffeine can exacerbate the situation, which may be why I have never been a huge soda drinker but I do love my occasional Mountain Dew.
Anyhow, I went for my surgery this past Friday. In at 7:54 and out at 8:24. Although, I don't remember any of it as I was put under anesthesia and woke up at 9:30. Trust me, I was okay with that. They have come a long, long way. I remember staying the weekend in Children's Hospital in an oxygenated tent for this procedure as a young lad. This time, I was there for a whole 5 hours from check in to check out. They sent a bit out to be biopsied but they have always been benign and I am hopeful that trend continues.
So, for the next 48-72 hours I am playing charades with my family and keep my white board close at hand. Actually contemplating going to a Halloween party as a mime. My wife is not a big fan of charades but she is a good trooper. Here's hoping for at least another 10 year remission but I'd be okay with a forever remission too.
Often been told that Caffeine can exacerbate the situation, which may be why I have never been a huge soda drinker but I do love my occasional Mountain Dew.
Anyhow, I went for my surgery this past Friday. In at 7:54 and out at 8:24. Although, I don't remember any of it as I was put under anesthesia and woke up at 9:30. Trust me, I was okay with that. They have come a long, long way. I remember staying the weekend in Children's Hospital in an oxygenated tent for this procedure as a young lad. This time, I was there for a whole 5 hours from check in to check out. They sent a bit out to be biopsied but they have always been benign and I am hopeful that trend continues.
So, for the next 48-72 hours I am playing charades with my family and keep my white board close at hand. Actually contemplating going to a Halloween party as a mime. My wife is not a big fan of charades but she is a good trooper. Here's hoping for at least another 10 year remission but I'd be okay with a forever remission too.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Awe Inspiring
You know, sometimes you watch a movie, and get that unexplainable tingling sensation.
You know the one, where you get a lump in your throat and your eyes begin to water. You want to cry but you try to hold it back because you're with other people and they might not feel the same way and well, frankly, society puts a stigma on emotion.
This sensation can happen when you're sad, unbelievably happy, beyond proud or just plain inspired. I have had this a number of times in my life.
I have had it watching "Field of Dreams" when the young "Doc" Archie crosses the line to help a young girl choking on a hotdog. I have had it when my Nana passed away and I read a letter she left my aunt. I have had this feeling when I was away at college and missing my parents something awful. I get it every time I listen to Cats in the Cradle. I had it again tonight after watching this video: Gratitude for Lucy
My cousin did everything: the video, the music, the lyrics, soup to nuts. He is the undoubtedly one of the smartest, most talented people I know. He is as modest as they come. He is truly awe inspiring.
Thanks for just being you, Shawn.
You know the one, where you get a lump in your throat and your eyes begin to water. You want to cry but you try to hold it back because you're with other people and they might not feel the same way and well, frankly, society puts a stigma on emotion.
This sensation can happen when you're sad, unbelievably happy, beyond proud or just plain inspired. I have had this a number of times in my life.
I have had it watching "Field of Dreams" when the young "Doc" Archie crosses the line to help a young girl choking on a hotdog. I have had it when my Nana passed away and I read a letter she left my aunt. I have had this feeling when I was away at college and missing my parents something awful. I get it every time I listen to Cats in the Cradle. I had it again tonight after watching this video: Gratitude for Lucy
My cousin did everything: the video, the music, the lyrics, soup to nuts. He is the undoubtedly one of the smartest, most talented people I know. He is as modest as they come. He is truly awe inspiring.
Thanks for just being you, Shawn.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Phone call answered!?
So, a year ago I posted that I had a perplexing phone call. Well, just so happens is I found out my friend is living in Florida. Believe it or not, this past January I had a training for work in Florida. So, I gave him a call.
We got together for dinner half way through my stay. I wasn't sure what to expect. I hadn't seen him in more then 5 years, maybe more. He was there waiting in the parking lot when I got out of training. He looked pretty much like the same guy I knew before except his hair was shaved. And to him, I was the same goofy guy with a mountain man beard. We basically started off our conversation as if I had just seen him last week. I suppose that's how you know you have certain friends that rise above others, not in what they do or say (well, I suppose that's not entirely true) but in how you can pick up a conversation like nothing ever happened and your comfort level is high. Close friends I truly believe are like that. I am lucky to say I probably have 5 of these.
Anyhow, I am glad that I was able to hang with Mike after all this time and still have a great time even if he did kick my butt in scrabble and looks as if I will be seeing him in the near future.
Time does heal.
We got together for dinner half way through my stay. I wasn't sure what to expect. I hadn't seen him in more then 5 years, maybe more. He was there waiting in the parking lot when I got out of training. He looked pretty much like the same guy I knew before except his hair was shaved. And to him, I was the same goofy guy with a mountain man beard. We basically started off our conversation as if I had just seen him last week. I suppose that's how you know you have certain friends that rise above others, not in what they do or say (well, I suppose that's not entirely true) but in how you can pick up a conversation like nothing ever happened and your comfort level is high. Close friends I truly believe are like that. I am lucky to say I probably have 5 of these.
Anyhow, I am glad that I was able to hang with Mike after all this time and still have a great time even if he did kick my butt in scrabble and looks as if I will be seeing him in the near future.
Time does heal.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Trifecta!
Haven't you ever just wanted to goto the airport, jump on a plane and go somewhere? Anywhere? Do something you have always wanted to? And sometimes fret, you may never get to? Well, I did this with my father and brother this past Monday.
All do credit needs to goto my father and brother on this one, but I was fortunate to tag along. And well, I'd like to share the story.
My Dad has said numerous times he has wanted to go here and there and well, he hasn't done it for one reason or another. Life does get in the way, you know. Unexpected bills, job changes, kids, and so much more tend to creep in on those best laid plans.
So my brother called me up on the phone and said, "I want to take Dad to Philadelphia for a cheese steak for Father's Day, you in?"
I replied, "What date?" He said, "Monday, the 21st." "I'm in."
So, Monday morning, I woke up 4:30 to get ready. I got myself to my parents at 6:00am. Plane leaves at 7:05 and we're a half hour away from the airport. Time to go. My Dad was brushing his teeth, getting a bag of stuff, like coffee, water, snacks.
My brother is like, "We got to go. You can't take that bag where we are going?"
Dad is like, "What?" (We didn't tell him anything. My family likes surprises.)
Tim says, "We got to go. We have a schedule. Got your photo id?"
My father says, "Yes, but I don't like being rushed."
Off we go. We get to the airport and my Dad's like, "Are you serious?"
"Yup. Here's your ticket."
"We're going to Philidelphia? I see a Philly cheese steak in my future."
Tim and I smile and we get to the check point. It's like 6:45 now and we all get pulled aside for extra screening. No big deal, but um, we are cutting it a little close. My dad goes to sit down to put his shoes back on and we hear over the intercom: "Berube, party of 3, you're plane is boarded. Berube, Party of 3"
So, now I am sprinting to the gate and my Dad is still tying his shoes. "We're here. They are right behind me." I proclaim.
We were the LAST 3 to board so we all got to sit in the middle seat with strangers. Good times. The ride was only an hour, no big deal. We end up in Philidelphia around 8:30 or so.
Here we are in the airport and my Dad's like, "A McDonald's. Want to get breakfast?" We say sure and off we go. People who know my Dad knows he likes, no strike that, he loves food. And he is a BIG DOLLAR MENU FAN. So, our first meal in Philadelphia was McDonalds.
Then off to the train. Took about a 1/2 hour and we get into town. After negotiating a mall which seemed like an endless maze, we make it outside onto Market Street.
A guy on the road looks at me and says, "You see the Liberty Bell?" I reply, "Nope." The stranger says, "Straight ahead!" I am guessing with my back pack, Boston hat and full beard, I was screaming tourist. So, we get to the visitor's center and first up is the duck tour, I mean, 10AM is a little early for cheese steak. The duck tour was okay. More entertainment then history but still fun. We got little quackers. I don't think they realized what they were getting into giving my Dad a quaker. I mean, he might be 59 1/2 but he definitely has an inner child (which my brother and I boast often). We get on the boat and sits behind us and the endless, "Quack, Quack, Quack" starts with my Dad saying, "I can be pretty annoying" with a laugh, we just laugh at each other as this is HIS day and he's having a blast. There was a quiz time on the tour and the guy was like, "If we get hit by a cannon, then we would be ______" My Dad yells sitting ducks!! and the driver says, "We'll be on the bottom of the Delaware." My Dad says again, a little louder "We'd still be SITTING DUCKS!" A quote I will never forget.
An hour or so later we get back to the center and it's time to get down to business, go eat a Philly cheese steak. We goto Geno's first. I felt it was like having a steakum and wasn't too impressed. Dad and Tim were more forgiving. I got a steak with provolone and onions. The other two got the same but with American. Right across the street was Pats. Time for round two.
Now, this was a cheese steak I was looking for. The steak was juicy (Greasy) and I got it with cheese Whiz and Onions. Added some salt and ketchup. Heaven. Dad and Tim got the same. Then my Dad added Hots! "It's not hot" he says, biting into it. All of a sudden he takes the peppers out and challenges us. Um, if my Dad takes them out, then there is no way on God's green earth I am going to bite. We met some guys from Louisville Kentucky who just came down from Bike week in Laconia.
Two steaks down. Tim's like let's go to Jim's next. My Dad's like, "Serious?" Off to Jim's it is. It's really hot out and we walked about two miles to get there and are starting our trek back. My Dad's like, "They should have a bike to rent? Or a Vespa? How about a Segway?" We laugh and keep trucking along. We come upon a bar called the Wooly Mammoth and have a beer. Then off to Jim's This steak and cheese for me was the best. Tim and Dad still claim Pat's as the victor!!
We go back and see some tourist attractions like Independence hall, the liberty bell, have some ice cream/root beer floats and believe it or not, its time to go home.
I cannot begin to tell you how many laughs we had. We laughed at each other, we laughed with each other. We stopped and had dinner in the airport. Tim and I had this really excellent crabfry bisque and my Dad had crab legs. Absolutely excellent.
Dad bought us T-shirts which we will no doubt have for years to come to remind us fondly of our trip. These will spark so many great memories of our trip!!
On the way back on the plane my Dad was like, "Next Year, Chicago?" We'll see.
As we left him at home, and walking out the door, Dad says, "I think I saw a sub in the fridge."
I love you Dad. Happy Father's Day.
Great Idea Tim. So, I highly encourage you if your contemplating that trip... just take it!
All do credit needs to goto my father and brother on this one, but I was fortunate to tag along. And well, I'd like to share the story.
My Dad has said numerous times he has wanted to go here and there and well, he hasn't done it for one reason or another. Life does get in the way, you know. Unexpected bills, job changes, kids, and so much more tend to creep in on those best laid plans.
So my brother called me up on the phone and said, "I want to take Dad to Philadelphia for a cheese steak for Father's Day, you in?"
I replied, "What date?" He said, "Monday, the 21st." "I'm in."
So, Monday morning, I woke up 4:30 to get ready. I got myself to my parents at 6:00am. Plane leaves at 7:05 and we're a half hour away from the airport. Time to go. My Dad was brushing his teeth, getting a bag of stuff, like coffee, water, snacks.
My brother is like, "We got to go. You can't take that bag where we are going?"
Dad is like, "What?" (We didn't tell him anything. My family likes surprises.)
Tim says, "We got to go. We have a schedule. Got your photo id?"
My father says, "Yes, but I don't like being rushed."
Off we go. We get to the airport and my Dad's like, "Are you serious?"
"Yup. Here's your ticket."
"We're going to Philidelphia? I see a Philly cheese steak in my future."
Tim and I smile and we get to the check point. It's like 6:45 now and we all get pulled aside for extra screening. No big deal, but um, we are cutting it a little close. My dad goes to sit down to put his shoes back on and we hear over the intercom: "Berube, party of 3, you're plane is boarded. Berube, Party of 3"
So, now I am sprinting to the gate and my Dad is still tying his shoes. "We're here. They are right behind me." I proclaim.
We were the LAST 3 to board so we all got to sit in the middle seat with strangers. Good times. The ride was only an hour, no big deal. We end up in Philidelphia around 8:30 or so.
Here we are in the airport and my Dad's like, "A McDonald's. Want to get breakfast?" We say sure and off we go. People who know my Dad knows he likes, no strike that, he loves food. And he is a BIG DOLLAR MENU FAN. So, our first meal in Philadelphia was McDonalds.
Then off to the train. Took about a 1/2 hour and we get into town. After negotiating a mall which seemed like an endless maze, we make it outside onto Market Street.
A guy on the road looks at me and says, "You see the Liberty Bell?" I reply, "Nope." The stranger says, "Straight ahead!" I am guessing with my back pack, Boston hat and full beard, I was screaming tourist. So, we get to the visitor's center and first up is the duck tour, I mean, 10AM is a little early for cheese steak. The duck tour was okay. More entertainment then history but still fun. We got little quackers. I don't think they realized what they were getting into giving my Dad a quaker. I mean, he might be 59 1/2 but he definitely has an inner child (which my brother and I boast often). We get on the boat and sits behind us and the endless, "Quack, Quack, Quack" starts with my Dad saying, "I can be pretty annoying" with a laugh, we just laugh at each other as this is HIS day and he's having a blast. There was a quiz time on the tour and the guy was like, "If we get hit by a cannon, then we would be ______" My Dad yells sitting ducks!! and the driver says, "We'll be on the bottom of the Delaware." My Dad says again, a little louder "We'd still be SITTING DUCKS!" A quote I will never forget.
An hour or so later we get back to the center and it's time to get down to business, go eat a Philly cheese steak. We goto Geno's first. I felt it was like having a steakum and wasn't too impressed. Dad and Tim were more forgiving. I got a steak with provolone and onions. The other two got the same but with American. Right across the street was Pats. Time for round two.
Now, this was a cheese steak I was looking for. The steak was juicy (Greasy) and I got it with cheese Whiz and Onions. Added some salt and ketchup. Heaven. Dad and Tim got the same. Then my Dad added Hots! "It's not hot" he says, biting into it. All of a sudden he takes the peppers out and challenges us. Um, if my Dad takes them out, then there is no way on God's green earth I am going to bite. We met some guys from Louisville Kentucky who just came down from Bike week in Laconia.
Two steaks down. Tim's like let's go to Jim's next. My Dad's like, "Serious?" Off to Jim's it is. It's really hot out and we walked about two miles to get there and are starting our trek back. My Dad's like, "They should have a bike to rent? Or a Vespa? How about a Segway?" We laugh and keep trucking along. We come upon a bar called the Wooly Mammoth and have a beer. Then off to Jim's This steak and cheese for me was the best. Tim and Dad still claim Pat's as the victor!!
We go back and see some tourist attractions like Independence hall, the liberty bell, have some ice cream/root beer floats and believe it or not, its time to go home.
I cannot begin to tell you how many laughs we had. We laughed at each other, we laughed with each other. We stopped and had dinner in the airport. Tim and I had this really excellent crabfry bisque and my Dad had crab legs. Absolutely excellent.
Dad bought us T-shirts which we will no doubt have for years to come to remind us fondly of our trip. These will spark so many great memories of our trip!!
On the way back on the plane my Dad was like, "Next Year, Chicago?" We'll see.
As we left him at home, and walking out the door, Dad says, "I think I saw a sub in the fridge."
I love you Dad. Happy Father's Day.
Great Idea Tim. So, I highly encourage you if your contemplating that trip... just take it!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Perplexing Phone Call
Hey, so I have not been great on the whole blog thing... and as someone I know dear to my heart said recently, "With all the things that have happened and you blog about Monday?" Yes, I have been UNBELIEVABLY BUSY with Baseball since like the last week of Februrary until well, last week. So, I have all kinds of things to write about and will be forth coming. However, something has completely consumed my mind right now: A perplexing phone call. This phone call was not even to me but was meant to be relayed to me.
Person calls one of my best friends fathers:
"Hello, I was hoping you might be able to get a message to Joshua Berube. A girl by the name of Christine still lives at Badger street. Her Mom passed last year and I just thought he should know."
Father replies, "Why don't you just call Joshua?"
Person on phone, "No, that's okay, can you just let him know?"
Father: "Okay."
Person on phone: "Thank You." And Hangs up.
Now, a couple of things make this rather perplexing. One, the mother who passed away was someone I knew rather well as she was Christine's Mom and his (the person I assumed made the phone call) grandmother and guardian so-to-speak while he was in high school. However, she passed away last August, in August of 2008.
Second, the person who I believed called was probably my friend who I have not spoken to in like 9 years. It was an unfortunate event. We were at one of my best friend's wedding (Actually, the father of the best friend who he called to relay the message) and well, we had A LOT to drink. We were all having a great time. He wanted to leave as he was planning to fly home early in the morning but I felt he had way too much to drink to be able to drive. I forced him to give me the keys.
One of those moments I think we all think about from time to time, do I stop them and take the wrath that might come with it? We all know when we have too much of something: alcohol, drugs, whatever, everyone acts differently. Some get mean? Some get funny? Some get Angry? Some get just crazy? Usually it stems from whatever has been going on in our life at the time. Sometimes it just happens.
Or do I let him go because he is my friend and he'll be okay. And tomorrow no one will remember it happened. What happens if that tomorrow doesn't come?
Well, this person meant a lot to me, so as I said before I forced him to give me the keys. It wasn't pretty. Someone saw what I was doing and tried to help me, made things worse. Anyways, I got the keys and they slept in the rain until they came to my motel unwillingly to sleep it off until it was time to go to the airport. I even woke up to wake him up so he wouldn't miss his flight.
He was still bent with me that morning. He left. I tried to talk to him a few times afterwards but he really didn't want to talk to me. So, I let it go. I hoped that eventually that he would talk to me or write me a letter to get whatever it was out. We had some great times in high school and he came to my wedding 5 years later and then to our buddies 3 years later even though he was some 700 Miles away.
I told him shortly afterward and I am telling him again, I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AGAIN. I didn't want to and would never want to not have that tomorrow because I was worried I might hurt his feelings and maybe even embarassed him because I wouldn't let him go. No, I didn't trust you behind a wheel that night but even to this day, I would trust you with my life.
If you ever read this Mike, you are always welcome at my house and I would treat you just like I did that night and forever, like my brother.
Maybe someday I will get that phone call. Maybe this was a way for him to get me to contact him, I don't know. I'll sure try.
To say the least, that phone call perplexes me.
Person calls one of my best friends fathers:
"Hello, I was hoping you might be able to get a message to Joshua Berube. A girl by the name of Christine still lives at Badger street. Her Mom passed last year and I just thought he should know."
Father replies, "Why don't you just call Joshua?"
Person on phone, "No, that's okay, can you just let him know?"
Father: "Okay."
Person on phone: "Thank You." And Hangs up.
Now, a couple of things make this rather perplexing. One, the mother who passed away was someone I knew rather well as she was Christine's Mom and his (the person I assumed made the phone call) grandmother and guardian so-to-speak while he was in high school. However, she passed away last August, in August of 2008.
Second, the person who I believed called was probably my friend who I have not spoken to in like 9 years. It was an unfortunate event. We were at one of my best friend's wedding (Actually, the father of the best friend who he called to relay the message) and well, we had A LOT to drink. We were all having a great time. He wanted to leave as he was planning to fly home early in the morning but I felt he had way too much to drink to be able to drive. I forced him to give me the keys.
One of those moments I think we all think about from time to time, do I stop them and take the wrath that might come with it? We all know when we have too much of something: alcohol, drugs, whatever, everyone acts differently. Some get mean? Some get funny? Some get Angry? Some get just crazy? Usually it stems from whatever has been going on in our life at the time. Sometimes it just happens.
Or do I let him go because he is my friend and he'll be okay. And tomorrow no one will remember it happened. What happens if that tomorrow doesn't come?
Well, this person meant a lot to me, so as I said before I forced him to give me the keys. It wasn't pretty. Someone saw what I was doing and tried to help me, made things worse. Anyways, I got the keys and they slept in the rain until they came to my motel unwillingly to sleep it off until it was time to go to the airport. I even woke up to wake him up so he wouldn't miss his flight.
He was still bent with me that morning. He left. I tried to talk to him a few times afterwards but he really didn't want to talk to me. So, I let it go. I hoped that eventually that he would talk to me or write me a letter to get whatever it was out. We had some great times in high school and he came to my wedding 5 years later and then to our buddies 3 years later even though he was some 700 Miles away.
I told him shortly afterward and I am telling him again, I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AGAIN. I didn't want to and would never want to not have that tomorrow because I was worried I might hurt his feelings and maybe even embarassed him because I wouldn't let him go. No, I didn't trust you behind a wheel that night but even to this day, I would trust you with my life.
If you ever read this Mike, you are always welcome at my house and I would treat you just like I did that night and forever, like my brother.
Maybe someday I will get that phone call. Maybe this was a way for him to get me to contact him, I don't know. I'll sure try.
To say the least, that phone call perplexes me.
Monday, February 16, 2009
It's Monday
Yup. Monday, the day after Sunday. You know, the day where you say, "Hmmm, that whole diet thing I was trying last week ran into a few snags." I'll start today, a new beginning to my week. Monday, the day where you may be sad it's here because, well, the weekend was awesome for whatever reason and you didn't want it to end. Or quite possibly the opposite is true, you couldn't wait for Monday to end the madness which ensued this past weekend. Either way, in most cases Monday is a fresh start. Not sure why everyone dislikes Monday so much.
Well, I am going to find something to do, play guitar, start chapter one of DarkBASIC, maybe play some pool. I don't know. But I just don't have the energy to type anymore, maybe 'cause it's Monday.
Well, I am going to find something to do, play guitar, start chapter one of DarkBASIC, maybe play some pool. I don't know. But I just don't have the energy to type anymore, maybe 'cause it's Monday.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Backup Day
Well, there is Valentine's Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, President's Day, New Years Day and I am adding another day: Backup Day. Yup, I by here now declare January 31st, Backup Day.
Backup Day you ask? Yes, Backup Day. What do you do on backup day? You backup your music, your documents, your pictures, your e-mail and anything else that might be impossible to or really arduous to replace or recreate.
As many of you know, I am a computer guy... and well, these things even happen to me. Yes, I went to turn my computer on and I got the dreaded message, "Winodws cannot find c:\winnt\system32\blah blah blah and cannot boot your system into Windows. Please insert your repair cd into the drive and hit R"
Hit R? Insert Repair CD? What repair CD? I NEVER got one of those but my computer is telling me I did!! So, like any end user, I reboot thinking this will solve the problem... and well, it doesn't. So I hit F8 and get a menu. I tried safe mode... nope. I tried the whole, choose this option for the last time your computer worked and same FREAKIN' message. Oh-oh!
My wife comes to me and says, "You lost everything?" I reply, "Um, it hasn't bothered you the last 5 years." This is how long my machine has been running. Just to give you an idea, I was still running Windows 2000. I kept saying, I should probably back this stuff up as I was getting a few error messages but I dismissed as everyone always does cause I could still get on to the internet... and get mail, so my machine was working just fine for me. Plus, I have like 4000 songs... thousands more pictures and LOTS of video I have yet to edit and put onto DVD. That takes time and well, I want to waste my time on the internet instead of being productive right now.
Well, right now, I can't get the internet or ANYTHING else. And I have 5+ years of pictures I really would like.
So, I spent 3+ hours installing Windows Xp (I am NOT a fan of Vista and Microsoft is already working on a replacement) loading all the basic programs I feel I need and all the drivers for what seems like tons of external devices. Can't find my video card? Where did I put that disk, it's got to be here somewhere. I wonder if it made the last move. And then I had to transfer all my data from my old hard drive onto my new one. Phew! All my pictures, music, documents and video made it over.
Now, its time to back it up. Yes, it will take a few hours and although I might be a little luckier then others when it comes to salvaging files and fixing computers, it's still a pain and sometimes, there are things I can't save or fix. So, I am taking Backup day just to do that. You can have more then one backup day a year. Maybe I will do August 31st as well... since I seem to take the most pictures and video during the summer and at Christmas.
Plus, look at it this way, I can put all my pictures on one DVD and have a slide show on my TV. That might be cool to sit back and see thousands of pictures on my home TV and watch what I did the last 5 years and see my kids grow and think of all the good times. I can make a couple music cd's for the car. Heck, I might even make copies. This could be fun.
So, get those Flash drives, cd-r's and Dvd-r's out and back stuff up. I guarantee, maybe not today or even a year from now, but at some point, you'll be glad you did.
Backup Day you ask? Yes, Backup Day. What do you do on backup day? You backup your music, your documents, your pictures, your e-mail and anything else that might be impossible to or really arduous to replace or recreate.
As many of you know, I am a computer guy... and well, these things even happen to me. Yes, I went to turn my computer on and I got the dreaded message, "Winodws cannot find c:\winnt\system32\blah blah blah and cannot boot your system into Windows. Please insert your repair cd into the drive and hit R"
Hit R? Insert Repair CD? What repair CD? I NEVER got one of those but my computer is telling me I did!! So, like any end user, I reboot thinking this will solve the problem... and well, it doesn't. So I hit F8 and get a menu. I tried safe mode... nope. I tried the whole, choose this option for the last time your computer worked and same FREAKIN' message. Oh-oh!
My wife comes to me and says, "You lost everything?" I reply, "Um, it hasn't bothered you the last 5 years." This is how long my machine has been running. Just to give you an idea, I was still running Windows 2000. I kept saying, I should probably back this stuff up as I was getting a few error messages but I dismissed as everyone always does cause I could still get on to the internet... and get mail, so my machine was working just fine for me. Plus, I have like 4000 songs... thousands more pictures and LOTS of video I have yet to edit and put onto DVD. That takes time and well, I want to waste my time on the internet instead of being productive right now.
Well, right now, I can't get the internet or ANYTHING else. And I have 5+ years of pictures I really would like.
So, I spent 3+ hours installing Windows Xp (I am NOT a fan of Vista and Microsoft is already working on a replacement) loading all the basic programs I feel I need and all the drivers for what seems like tons of external devices. Can't find my video card? Where did I put that disk, it's got to be here somewhere. I wonder if it made the last move. And then I had to transfer all my data from my old hard drive onto my new one. Phew! All my pictures, music, documents and video made it over.
Now, its time to back it up. Yes, it will take a few hours and although I might be a little luckier then others when it comes to salvaging files and fixing computers, it's still a pain and sometimes, there are things I can't save or fix. So, I am taking Backup day just to do that. You can have more then one backup day a year. Maybe I will do August 31st as well... since I seem to take the most pictures and video during the summer and at Christmas.
Plus, look at it this way, I can put all my pictures on one DVD and have a slide show on my TV. That might be cool to sit back and see thousands of pictures on my home TV and watch what I did the last 5 years and see my kids grow and think of all the good times. I can make a couple music cd's for the car. Heck, I might even make copies. This could be fun.
So, get those Flash drives, cd-r's and Dvd-r's out and back stuff up. I guarantee, maybe not today or even a year from now, but at some point, you'll be glad you did.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
High Expectations
You know, tonight, I went to one of my sons and asked if he had any homework. His response was, "No." I asked if he had studied his spelling? He said, "Yes." So, I asked him to get his words and I would quiz him. It didn't take long before I found out that he really hadn't studied but merely went through the exercise to write the words once as required and no more. He told me that I didn't give him long enough to answer. I told him to write the words three times each. He continued to tell me that I wasn't being fair and so I told him ten times each and asked if he wanted to make it fifteen.
I asked my oldest if he had any homework and he said, "No." I asked him if he had read for 20 minutes. He was like, "Why? When did I have to start reading for 20 minutes daily?" I replied, "When did I tell you, you didn't have too?"
High expectations? Maybe.
The rule for as long as I can remember in my house and when I say my house, I literally mean: My House. The one I pay for the mortgage for every month. The one where I am known as Dad... has been when you get home, before anything else, barring going to the bathroom is doing homework and nothing else until it is done. If you have sports after school and you come home late, then you can eat, but then homework. Granted, I make exceptions for some nights but generally, the above applies.
Homework consists of stuff that is due tomorrow or by the end of the week, say a spelling test. I ask that my boys do there homeowrk in smaller doses. Obviously, my 14 year old may have a math assignment due the next day and that comes first and say the book report due in two weeks, well, if he reads for 20 minutes a day, might actually enjoy the book and finish early without having to read and write it all in one night.
I expect the absolute best out of my boys academically. Neither one of them have a learning disability nor a weakness in any subject matter, at least for right now. Matter of fact they both excel at Math and Science. My oldest actually took the SAT's as a 7th grader as part of the John Hopkins Talent Search for Gifted Students and scored higher then 23% of the seniors that took it that year. He qualified for their enrichment program. Basically, he can take classes in the Math and Science's at his pace online in conjunction with his normal class load. I have not yet pushed this because he also plays three sports: Football, Basketball and Baseball. Not to mention he plays in a jazz band (trombone) and takes guitar lessons once a week. He is for the most part a well rounded kid and I would be wrong to not say that I am not proud of him because I am. I am VERY proud.
His younger brother is also smart. He looks at things in ways that most nine year olds don't. He had an arguemnet with his mother over wearing a coat on a most frigid day as he just wanted to wear a sweatshirt. She was like, "No, um, it's cold out and I say you are going to wear your jacket." He came back with: "Well, people fought and fight for my rights. They developed this thing called the constitution to protect my rights and its my right whether I want to wear a coat or not." Yeah, this can definitely be construed as being a smart ass but I also like to look at as an above average answer and ingenious comeback.
Okay, I don't accept anything less than a B. I use to be all A's. Why? Because I see the potential in my kids to do that high level of work. As a kid, my parents wanted me to do well, but they never made a huge deal as long as I had a B average. So, I coasted through high school, doing whatever it took to get a B average. However, today, I really wished I had paid a lot more attention in school.
Although, a few things made me lift that lofty expectation of all A's. My kids, most notably my oldest was trying so hard to meet that expectation in fear of letting me down, he was driving himself insane and when he took Algebra as a 7th grader, had his work cut out for him especially during football season where it was 6 days a week. Also, I have an extremely intelligent cousin who when as a kid, his father expected nothing less than a A and he talked about how badly he wanted to rebel. Although, I will never know and its really not my place, but I do wonder at times, did that rigid stance allow him to excel as he does today in music among other things. He may not see it as exceling but he can do things that a lot of people just couldn't, period.
I don't want either of my sons to rebel, so I give them a little breathing room. Let me clarify that my oldest takes Trombone and Guitar on his own. I offered to pay for rental and lessons. He accepted. Also, he took the SAT's on his own as well. I told him I thought it was a good idea but if he didn't want to, because it was a 5 hour test on a Saturday, that he didn't have too. As far as the sports, I don't pressure him into playing... okay so maybe I lobbied for baseball, but nothing is a mandate, well, except for homework. Although, if he asks, I will practice with him on the sports until he cannot take it anymore. Just the other day, I took him and his friend to shoot 100 Foul shots and a 100 regular shots. If they hit less then 50%, 5 out of 10, they ran a lap. They both missed 5 only like 3 times. I will help either of my kids on any of their school work, they just have to ask.
My oldest is really hard on himself and part of that I know is me and I do try to tell him over and over, as long as he does his absolute best academically, I can accept that and as well with the sports. If he leaves it all on the floor/field and has fun, then the results don't matter. He should be proud of himself and know that I am proud of him. But why do anything if you're not going to give your all? I won't lie, I do live vicariously through him a little but I often ask my wife to make sure I never cross that line because this is his/their life, not mine.
I just want as many opportunities available to them. I don't want them to never try and maybe miss that opportunity that later down the line never becomes one because they didn't give themselves the chance. I want them to expose themselves to as many things academically and athletically as possible. I believe strongly that during these first 8 years of school, they build a foundation which allows them to start focusing on things they truly like. And maybe they go a whole different route when they are done high school. All I care is that in the end, they are happy but I am going to do everything in my power to make sure they have the skills to pick their own way and succeed in whatever they choose.
High expectations? Maybe. High Hopes? Definitely. Can they ever Fail in my eyes? No. But I don't want them to ever think I failed them but not pushing or nuturing them. And I don't want them to ever think they cannot do something but rather know, if you want something bad enough and try hard enough, I will be there every step of they way to get you to realize your dreams.
I asked my oldest if he had any homework and he said, "No." I asked him if he had read for 20 minutes. He was like, "Why? When did I have to start reading for 20 minutes daily?" I replied, "When did I tell you, you didn't have too?"
High expectations? Maybe.
The rule for as long as I can remember in my house and when I say my house, I literally mean: My House. The one I pay for the mortgage for every month. The one where I am known as Dad... has been when you get home, before anything else, barring going to the bathroom is doing homework and nothing else until it is done. If you have sports after school and you come home late, then you can eat, but then homework. Granted, I make exceptions for some nights but generally, the above applies.
Homework consists of stuff that is due tomorrow or by the end of the week, say a spelling test. I ask that my boys do there homeowrk in smaller doses. Obviously, my 14 year old may have a math assignment due the next day and that comes first and say the book report due in two weeks, well, if he reads for 20 minutes a day, might actually enjoy the book and finish early without having to read and write it all in one night.
I expect the absolute best out of my boys academically. Neither one of them have a learning disability nor a weakness in any subject matter, at least for right now. Matter of fact they both excel at Math and Science. My oldest actually took the SAT's as a 7th grader as part of the John Hopkins Talent Search for Gifted Students and scored higher then 23% of the seniors that took it that year. He qualified for their enrichment program. Basically, he can take classes in the Math and Science's at his pace online in conjunction with his normal class load. I have not yet pushed this because he also plays three sports: Football, Basketball and Baseball. Not to mention he plays in a jazz band (trombone) and takes guitar lessons once a week. He is for the most part a well rounded kid and I would be wrong to not say that I am not proud of him because I am. I am VERY proud.
His younger brother is also smart. He looks at things in ways that most nine year olds don't. He had an arguemnet with his mother over wearing a coat on a most frigid day as he just wanted to wear a sweatshirt. She was like, "No, um, it's cold out and I say you are going to wear your jacket." He came back with: "Well, people fought and fight for my rights. They developed this thing called the constitution to protect my rights and its my right whether I want to wear a coat or not." Yeah, this can definitely be construed as being a smart ass but I also like to look at as an above average answer and ingenious comeback.
Okay, I don't accept anything less than a B. I use to be all A's. Why? Because I see the potential in my kids to do that high level of work. As a kid, my parents wanted me to do well, but they never made a huge deal as long as I had a B average. So, I coasted through high school, doing whatever it took to get a B average. However, today, I really wished I had paid a lot more attention in school.
Although, a few things made me lift that lofty expectation of all A's. My kids, most notably my oldest was trying so hard to meet that expectation in fear of letting me down, he was driving himself insane and when he took Algebra as a 7th grader, had his work cut out for him especially during football season where it was 6 days a week. Also, I have an extremely intelligent cousin who when as a kid, his father expected nothing less than a A and he talked about how badly he wanted to rebel. Although, I will never know and its really not my place, but I do wonder at times, did that rigid stance allow him to excel as he does today in music among other things. He may not see it as exceling but he can do things that a lot of people just couldn't, period.
I don't want either of my sons to rebel, so I give them a little breathing room. Let me clarify that my oldest takes Trombone and Guitar on his own. I offered to pay for rental and lessons. He accepted. Also, he took the SAT's on his own as well. I told him I thought it was a good idea but if he didn't want to, because it was a 5 hour test on a Saturday, that he didn't have too. As far as the sports, I don't pressure him into playing... okay so maybe I lobbied for baseball, but nothing is a mandate, well, except for homework. Although, if he asks, I will practice with him on the sports until he cannot take it anymore. Just the other day, I took him and his friend to shoot 100 Foul shots and a 100 regular shots. If they hit less then 50%, 5 out of 10, they ran a lap. They both missed 5 only like 3 times. I will help either of my kids on any of their school work, they just have to ask.
My oldest is really hard on himself and part of that I know is me and I do try to tell him over and over, as long as he does his absolute best academically, I can accept that and as well with the sports. If he leaves it all on the floor/field and has fun, then the results don't matter. He should be proud of himself and know that I am proud of him. But why do anything if you're not going to give your all? I won't lie, I do live vicariously through him a little but I often ask my wife to make sure I never cross that line because this is his/their life, not mine.
I just want as many opportunities available to them. I don't want them to never try and maybe miss that opportunity that later down the line never becomes one because they didn't give themselves the chance. I want them to expose themselves to as many things academically and athletically as possible. I believe strongly that during these first 8 years of school, they build a foundation which allows them to start focusing on things they truly like. And maybe they go a whole different route when they are done high school. All I care is that in the end, they are happy but I am going to do everything in my power to make sure they have the skills to pick their own way and succeed in whatever they choose.
High expectations? Maybe. High Hopes? Definitely. Can they ever Fail in my eyes? No. But I don't want them to ever think I failed them but not pushing or nuturing them. And I don't want them to ever think they cannot do something but rather know, if you want something bad enough and try hard enough, I will be there every step of they way to get you to realize your dreams.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Torch Has Been Passed...
...from the 43rd President, George W. Bush to the 44th President of The United States, Barack Obama. This has been a relay race of 200+ years and I would have to say on whole, we have done well as a Nation to run a pretty steady race.
I must say I was kind of Awestuck with the transfer of power. I mean think about it, where else in the world could you hand over power of this nature in front of 2+ million people and hundreds of millions watching by way of TV or the Internet and have a peaceful environment.
Today, listening to President's Obama speech during the inauguration, I truly felt his words were more than just rhetoric. I felt a sense of hope, of change. He told us how it is today, what he hopes for tomorrow and most importantly, that we have to take responsibility for our future. And today, January, 20th, 2009 was a historic day for America. We elected the first African-American to lead our country.
I am no way discounting what our last President did or how he handled or didn't handle situations before him during these previous eight years. Love or hate Bush, agree or disagree, being President must be one of the more difficult occupations you could ever encounter. You live in a fish bowl. You become the world's target, you're too soft, you're too hard. You speak for 300+ Million people every time you open your mouth. I got news for you, not everyone is going to agree with the President. Um, not everyone is going to agree with you either.
I think the next six months will tell us a lot of who President Obama is as a leader, as a man. I don't expect miracles just steady progress in fixing our infrastructure: the economy. To keep a strong voice of hope and peace home and abroad. Good Luck and God Bless.
I must say I was kind of Awestuck with the transfer of power. I mean think about it, where else in the world could you hand over power of this nature in front of 2+ million people and hundreds of millions watching by way of TV or the Internet and have a peaceful environment.
Today, listening to President's Obama speech during the inauguration, I truly felt his words were more than just rhetoric. I felt a sense of hope, of change. He told us how it is today, what he hopes for tomorrow and most importantly, that we have to take responsibility for our future. And today, January, 20th, 2009 was a historic day for America. We elected the first African-American to lead our country.
I am no way discounting what our last President did or how he handled or didn't handle situations before him during these previous eight years. Love or hate Bush, agree or disagree, being President must be one of the more difficult occupations you could ever encounter. You live in a fish bowl. You become the world's target, you're too soft, you're too hard. You speak for 300+ Million people every time you open your mouth. I got news for you, not everyone is going to agree with the President. Um, not everyone is going to agree with you either.
I think the next six months will tell us a lot of who President Obama is as a leader, as a man. I don't expect miracles just steady progress in fixing our infrastructure: the economy. To keep a strong voice of hope and peace home and abroad. Good Luck and God Bless.
Monday, January 19, 2009
5240
What? 5240? What is that? All-time passing yards for a season from an NFL Quarterback? No. Your pick four for the lottery and you got a feeling you're gonna hit it BIG? No. Okay, I give.
5240 is a project my cousin Shawn Farley is doing. He explains it as a project in which he is going to create, write and play 52 new songs in his 40th year on the planet. I don't know why I am paraphrasing, go watch the video here: 5240. He explains it while being entertaining.
So far in January, he has released a song every Monday morning along with a video explaining a little bit of what he did, answering some feedback posted at his blog regarding the song released the week before and other bits and pieces. I must say that I look forward to every Monday morning for the next song. Not sure if the video was part of the grand scheme but they are truly entertaining, even if you don't know him. I don't know as time goes on, if said time will permit the zany but informative videos but I sure hope so.
He has written and released three songs thus far:
Help Is On The Way
Squandered All My Time
The Last Time We Talked
Just click on the link above and it will download it for ya. Or if that doesn't work, put your mouse cursor over the link and right click and choose save target as and you can download the .mp3 right to your computer and listen to it over and over. I have dedicated a folder on my hard drive and plan to make cd's of my favorite songs.
Okay, so what kind of music is it? Your asking the wrong guy. I am not good at this and you know what, it shouldn't matter. Go click on the above links and check it out for yourself. Let him know what you think. I think I will do that in my next blog.
5240 is a project my cousin Shawn Farley is doing. He explains it as a project in which he is going to create, write and play 52 new songs in his 40th year on the planet. I don't know why I am paraphrasing, go watch the video here: 5240. He explains it while being entertaining.
So far in January, he has released a song every Monday morning along with a video explaining a little bit of what he did, answering some feedback posted at his blog regarding the song released the week before and other bits and pieces. I must say that I look forward to every Monday morning for the next song. Not sure if the video was part of the grand scheme but they are truly entertaining, even if you don't know him. I don't know as time goes on, if said time will permit the zany but informative videos but I sure hope so.
He has written and released three songs thus far:
Help Is On The Way
Squandered All My Time
The Last Time We Talked
Just click on the link above and it will download it for ya. Or if that doesn't work, put your mouse cursor over the link and right click and choose save target as and you can download the .mp3 right to your computer and listen to it over and over. I have dedicated a folder on my hard drive and plan to make cd's of my favorite songs.
Okay, so what kind of music is it? Your asking the wrong guy. I am not good at this and you know what, it shouldn't matter. Go click on the above links and check it out for yourself. Let him know what you think. I think I will do that in my next blog.
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