Sunday, December 14, 2008
Random Thoughts on a Random Day
Well, it's been a month since I've updated this electronic thinking board...so it's time to catch up. I'll do it by the catagories which you see above.
Family
Elliott is amazing. He's 11 years old. He has a very nice girlfriend, and last night went out on his second date. We went also (subjecting ourselves to the horrible movie "Twilight") to keep an eye on things. She is smart, funny, nice and cute as a button. I can say with total confidence that girls never looked at me at that age with anything but disdain, but here's my son with a crush on a wonderful girl (who also seems to have a crush on him).
Elliott also posesses an amazing voice. He had a solo at his school's choral concert last week. He's also smart and funny.
My question is...how did he get this good? I mean, I'm his father. I do not nor have I ever possessed so many of the talents he has. Did he just luck out with all of the great qualities which Tracey's side of the family has? Maybe G_d, in his/her infinite wisdom, just wants me to feel like a shlub next to my son?
As for my eldest, Jacob proved something to me yesterday which I could not be prouder of. He was at a wrestling tournament, as is often the case for him on a Saturday. He had lost his first match (against someone who he knows he can surely beat) and was standing around to see who he was going to face in his second match. When that person didn't show up, Jacob said that he'd be happy to take his place and wrestle the kid he had already lost to again. That kid declined. Then Jacob suggested that they wrestle in the place of his final match of the day, just to get the practice and for the fun of competition. That kid declined again. Jacob mentioned this to his coach, who then intervened with the kid and his coach, and both turned him down again.
Jacob may not be the greatest wrestler on the planet, but I give him full credit for his willingness to put himself out there again and again no matter the circumstances. It shows both courage and fortitude that I am so glad he posesses.
He's a teenager, a pain in the tush and louder than any human I know. But, he's growing into a good man, which is all I can ask.
Tracey is the queen of school book fairs. This time though, she was in charge of the book fair at the boy's middle school. Even though she got about zero support from the administration of the school and not a ton more from the PTSA, she was still there every day and every minute it was open. I love her so much.
Not only is she the best wife a man can have and a wonderful mother, but she is a great example to others about committment.
Finally, we took a trip to Arizona for Thanksgiving.
We drove. I will say that one more time so it will sink into your head. We drove.
Across Texas. All the way across Texas. I loved most of the trip out there, except for the part from San Antonio to El Paso. Mile upon mile upon mile of empty nothingness. And there are no drugs which can make it anything more than a pain to drive.
I loved seeing my father and step-mother. It was a blast to get to know my extended family there also. They were all so welcoming and loving. It was a great time. I loved it, and I will think fondly of it always.
Then came the trip back....yech!!!
More driving through Texas. Mile upon mile upon mile of Texas. Included in this wonderful journey through Texas was a ticket for speeding. So I'll remember that part of our trip for the 16 hour period of driving which also cost me a couple of hundred bucks for trying to shave 30 minutes off the trip.
Sports
The Braves are in trouble. They need at least one more starting pitcher and someone who can hit a homer from time to time. None seem to be on the horizon. Crap!!!
On the better side of life, Georgia Tech beat the crap out of UGA in this year's football game. Hell YES!!!! May this be the beginning of many years of us doing the same.
Bowl season starts next week, which means I get to watch much football while working. Ok by me...even if it is Ball State vs. East Carolina (or whatever match-up comes down the pipeline).
By the way, the local hockey team is playing an amazingly bad brand of hockey. They should pay people to come and see them.
Politics
Barack Obama is putting together one superb cabinet. I could quibble about a pick here and there, but as a group they seem to be incredibly knowledgable and competent. After the last eight years, this is something I will welcome.
Also, I am sick and tired of Republicans who are more than willing to watch millions of people lose their jobs yet are more than happy to support foreign car companies getting hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks from the states they represent. The level of hypocracy is so huge as to be astounding, except it's coming from politicians so I'm not that shocked.
And I continue to countdown the hours before W leaves office. Saw that movie, by the way. It's not that bad but it actually made me feel sorry for him. This is a man who proved the Peter Principle over and over and over again.
Political Scum
Gov. Rod Blogojevich of Illinois. Enough said.
OK, just one comment. I must admit, the man had a set of testicles the size of planets. Truly impressive in so many ways, most of them sickening to think about. Hey, plus what a classy wife.
Family
Elliott is amazing. He's 11 years old. He has a very nice girlfriend, and last night went out on his second date. We went also (subjecting ourselves to the horrible movie "Twilight") to keep an eye on things. She is smart, funny, nice and cute as a button. I can say with total confidence that girls never looked at me at that age with anything but disdain, but here's my son with a crush on a wonderful girl (who also seems to have a crush on him).
Elliott also posesses an amazing voice. He had a solo at his school's choral concert last week. He's also smart and funny.
My question is...how did he get this good? I mean, I'm his father. I do not nor have I ever possessed so many of the talents he has. Did he just luck out with all of the great qualities which Tracey's side of the family has? Maybe G_d, in his/her infinite wisdom, just wants me to feel like a shlub next to my son?
As for my eldest, Jacob proved something to me yesterday which I could not be prouder of. He was at a wrestling tournament, as is often the case for him on a Saturday. He had lost his first match (against someone who he knows he can surely beat) and was standing around to see who he was going to face in his second match. When that person didn't show up, Jacob said that he'd be happy to take his place and wrestle the kid he had already lost to again. That kid declined. Then Jacob suggested that they wrestle in the place of his final match of the day, just to get the practice and for the fun of competition. That kid declined again. Jacob mentioned this to his coach, who then intervened with the kid and his coach, and both turned him down again.
Jacob may not be the greatest wrestler on the planet, but I give him full credit for his willingness to put himself out there again and again no matter the circumstances. It shows both courage and fortitude that I am so glad he posesses.
He's a teenager, a pain in the tush and louder than any human I know. But, he's growing into a good man, which is all I can ask.
Tracey is the queen of school book fairs. This time though, she was in charge of the book fair at the boy's middle school. Even though she got about zero support from the administration of the school and not a ton more from the PTSA, she was still there every day and every minute it was open. I love her so much.
Not only is she the best wife a man can have and a wonderful mother, but she is a great example to others about committment.
Finally, we took a trip to Arizona for Thanksgiving.
We drove. I will say that one more time so it will sink into your head. We drove.
Across Texas. All the way across Texas. I loved most of the trip out there, except for the part from San Antonio to El Paso. Mile upon mile upon mile of empty nothingness. And there are no drugs which can make it anything more than a pain to drive.
I loved seeing my father and step-mother. It was a blast to get to know my extended family there also. They were all so welcoming and loving. It was a great time. I loved it, and I will think fondly of it always.
Then came the trip back....yech!!!
More driving through Texas. Mile upon mile upon mile of Texas. Included in this wonderful journey through Texas was a ticket for speeding. So I'll remember that part of our trip for the 16 hour period of driving which also cost me a couple of hundred bucks for trying to shave 30 minutes off the trip.
Sports
The Braves are in trouble. They need at least one more starting pitcher and someone who can hit a homer from time to time. None seem to be on the horizon. Crap!!!
On the better side of life, Georgia Tech beat the crap out of UGA in this year's football game. Hell YES!!!! May this be the beginning of many years of us doing the same.
Bowl season starts next week, which means I get to watch much football while working. Ok by me...even if it is Ball State vs. East Carolina (or whatever match-up comes down the pipeline).
By the way, the local hockey team is playing an amazingly bad brand of hockey. They should pay people to come and see them.
Politics
Barack Obama is putting together one superb cabinet. I could quibble about a pick here and there, but as a group they seem to be incredibly knowledgable and competent. After the last eight years, this is something I will welcome.
Also, I am sick and tired of Republicans who are more than willing to watch millions of people lose their jobs yet are more than happy to support foreign car companies getting hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks from the states they represent. The level of hypocracy is so huge as to be astounding, except it's coming from politicians so I'm not that shocked.
And I continue to countdown the hours before W leaves office. Saw that movie, by the way. It's not that bad but it actually made me feel sorry for him. This is a man who proved the Peter Principle over and over and over again.
Political Scum
Gov. Rod Blogojevich of Illinois. Enough said.
OK, just one comment. I must admit, the man had a set of testicles the size of planets. Truly impressive in so many ways, most of them sickening to think about. Hey, plus what a classy wife.
