Time stood still for a small moment this past week (Don't you just love that I used a measurement of time to define a period of timelessness? In fact, try to define timelessness without measuring it at all in someway. Tough stuff.) My sister, Carley did something incredibly reckless and got married, to someone else, on Black Friday.
Funny thing is, I have never seen her happier.
Really, coming from a guy who cut his teeth on making people laugh and smile, that is something to say. But I can't honestly think of a time when she smiled bigger or longer than when they were pronounced husband and wife. She nearly launched right out of the room.
As a big brother of three ladies, I have now allowed two, to be married - which is, again, something I never thought I would let happen. But it was an interesting moment for me, amidst all the chaos of the post-Thanksgiving merchandise massacre and the hormones of a bride and her entourage, to stop and realize how happy my sisters are with their husbands. There is a little bit of magic there, something we forget about; something I am obviously failing to capture with alliteration and punctuation-but people still get married, happily and strive to live for another person.
I think perhaps I just got lost in polotics and tabloids that keep screaming about the failures of society and the need to fix everything, and thus forgot that if two people really care about each other, things seem to work out. Props to my parents for surviving four crazy children...and me. Congrats to Nichelle and Matthew for their happy years of marriage. Best of luck to Carley and Paul; its going to be a fun ride. And lastly, many thanks to my wife for dealing with me thus far. Our little moment of timelessness is measured in laughs and tears - mostly tears that come from laughs because, lets be honest; I am just THAT funny - and one beautiful little girl who has not ceased to amaze.
It is my hope that the happiness continues, in-spite of the world around.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Who gave that chick a gym membership?
So I got jumped today, by my wife. It was an un-provoked (unless owning her at frogger constitutes as provoking) attack that was swift and merciless. Highlights from today's match include:
"Dog, you smell."
"Yeah, it's part of my strategy."
"You see, right then you were like a space ship and I was the moon. You launched at me and I just slingshot you right around. And then the moon fell on you."
Fear not, I fought off and neutralized the assassin. No amount of Oakridge Bootcamp will ever make her strong enough to take the title of wrestling champ in this house!
"Dog, you smell."
"Yeah, it's part of my strategy."
"You see, right then you were like a space ship and I was the moon. You launched at me and I just slingshot you right around. And then the moon fell on you."
Fear not, I fought off and neutralized the assassin. No amount of Oakridge Bootcamp will ever make her strong enough to take the title of wrestling champ in this house!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Comfort found in Bixby
Former President George W. Bush, speaking today at Ground Zero in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, quoted the words of another president who sought to console a Massachusetts mother after she suffered another unspeakable tragedy.
Bush, who was president on Sept. 11, 2001, said Abraham Lincoln “understood the cost of sacrifice, and reached out to console those in sorrow as best he could” in his November 1864 letter to Lydia Bixby.
A widow living in Boston, Bixby had lost five sons who fought for the Union in the Civil War, some in battle, some afterward.
Lincoln wrote the letter at the request of then-Governor John Andrew, namesake of Andrew Square in South Boston.
“I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom,” Lincoln wrote in the one passage quoted by Bush.
The remark was preceded by another moving passage. One that captures the mans desire to lift the grief of a woman surrounded in loss, yet recognizes his inability to do so.
“I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save,” Lincoln wrote.
Bush, who was president on Sept. 11, 2001, said Abraham Lincoln “understood the cost of sacrifice, and reached out to console those in sorrow as best he could” in his November 1864 letter to Lydia Bixby.
A widow living in Boston, Bixby had lost five sons who fought for the Union in the Civil War, some in battle, some afterward.
Lincoln wrote the letter at the request of then-Governor John Andrew, namesake of Andrew Square in South Boston.
“I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom,” Lincoln wrote in the one passage quoted by Bush.
The remark was preceded by another moving passage. One that captures the mans desire to lift the grief of a woman surrounded in loss, yet recognizes his inability to do so.
“I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save,” Lincoln wrote.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Things I wish I wrote.
You can see that "there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow (of death) again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires.
"Dangers and difficulties have not deterred us in the past, they will not frighten us now. But we must be prepared for them like men in business who do not waste energy in vain talk and idle action. The way of preparation (for action) lies in our rooting out all impurity and indiscipline from our organisation and making it the bright and shining instrument that will cleave its way to freedom."
- Nelson Mandela, "No easy road to freedom." September 21, 1953.
"Dangers and difficulties have not deterred us in the past, they will not frighten us now. But we must be prepared for them like men in business who do not waste energy in vain talk and idle action. The way of preparation (for action) lies in our rooting out all impurity and indiscipline from our organisation and making it the bright and shining instrument that will cleave its way to freedom."
- Nelson Mandela, "No easy road to freedom." September 21, 1953.
Fresh Start
Tonight I haven't been able to sleep; most of this week, even. I am having a do-you-like-who-are crisis, and if I am losing sleep, you can guess the answers I am getting.
In efforts to become someone I would rather be, I have created an action-item list;I my game plan to a cooler me strategy:
Who do I want to be?
1. A practical and spiritual force & protecter of my family.
2. Loved and cherished by my wife.
3. A sought-after leader.
What do I want to change?
1. My thoughts. I am a grown man, it is time to stop thinking like an adolescent.
2. Clean words. Its time to elevate my vocabulary to a higher level of intelligence.
3. Control my emotions. Learn to bridle the raw emotion that makes me unique without choking out my passion.
* I want my actions to reflect how I feel inside -- I need to be true to myself.
It is my hope that writing this in a public semi-public setting will help solidify my move to make a change. Its time be something better than what I have been. It is time for a fresh start and a new beginning. I don't need to find myself, I just need to be myself.
In efforts to become someone I would rather be, I have created an action-item list;I my game plan to a cooler me strategy:
Who do I want to be?
1. A practical and spiritual force & protecter of my family.
2. Loved and cherished by my wife.
3. A sought-after leader.
What do I want to change?
1. My thoughts. I am a grown man, it is time to stop thinking like an adolescent.
2. Clean words. Its time to elevate my vocabulary to a higher level of intelligence.
3. Control my emotions. Learn to bridle the raw emotion that makes me unique without choking out my passion.
* I want my actions to reflect how I feel inside -- I need to be true to myself.
It is my hope that writing this in a public semi-public setting will help solidify my move to make a change. Its time be something better than what I have been. It is time for a fresh start and a new beginning. I don't need to find myself, I just need to be myself.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Short of Perez
This is an excellent article highlighting the true character of a man. Its obvious that everyone makes mistakes, expecting people to not screw up is ridiculous. However, expecting people to react like Pat Perez is exactly what this world needs:
Article by Shane Bacon
http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Pat-Perez-disses-young-fan-immediately-does-the?urn=golf-wp4519
There isn't really any reason why Pat Perez is one of my favorite golfers on tour. He's fiery on the golf course, and doesn't mind showing his emotions, which can range from great to mad to happy to downright explosive in a matter of seconds. A year ago at the Waste Management Open, Perez opened with a great 65, and when asked how he felt about his chances, he told everyone he didn't like them, saying he never really enjoyed the golf course and didn't think it suited him very well. It's that stuff that people in the media appreciate, because it's honesty, and that isn't always what comes from players.
So when Perez stormed off on Sunday at the Reno-Tahoe Open after finishing in second place, missing three putts within 10 feet on the last three holes to lose by a shot to Scott Piercy, you figured his blood would be boiling, but little did he know that the cameras were following.
Perez walked under a spectator rope, and as one kid offered up a ball for him to sign, Pat just kept walking, and cameras caught the boy crying (video has since been taken down by YouTube). What did Perez do once he realized what happened? He took to Twitter, offering up a sincere apology to the boy, saying, "Yeah. Was a d**k move. I apologize for my actions. Had a lot of emotions going yesterday when I got done. Unprofessional."
And now what is he doing? Something even better.
"Everyone. Someone please help me find that kid!! Got something big for him. Thanks. Start the search in Reno"
So, if anyone has any idea about who that kid was, fire Pat a tweet at @patperezgolf and let's see if we can't help out a little golf fan and make Perez sleep a little bit better tonight.
It's nice when a bad situation gets turned into something good in a matter of a few hours, and hopefully the boy gets his autograph and we can find out just what Perez has in store for him.
My temper has got me into enough trouble in life. My mistakes are many and the people I have hurt are now getting club jackets. I try to be the best person I can, but I fall short. But now I know how to be better.
I want to be like Pat Perez when I grow up.
Article by Shane Bacon
http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Pat-Perez-disses-young-fan-immediately-does-the?urn=golf-wp4519
There isn't really any reason why Pat Perez is one of my favorite golfers on tour. He's fiery on the golf course, and doesn't mind showing his emotions, which can range from great to mad to happy to downright explosive in a matter of seconds. A year ago at the Waste Management Open, Perez opened with a great 65, and when asked how he felt about his chances, he told everyone he didn't like them, saying he never really enjoyed the golf course and didn't think it suited him very well. It's that stuff that people in the media appreciate, because it's honesty, and that isn't always what comes from players.
So when Perez stormed off on Sunday at the Reno-Tahoe Open after finishing in second place, missing three putts within 10 feet on the last three holes to lose by a shot to Scott Piercy, you figured his blood would be boiling, but little did he know that the cameras were following.
Perez walked under a spectator rope, and as one kid offered up a ball for him to sign, Pat just kept walking, and cameras caught the boy crying (video has since been taken down by YouTube). What did Perez do once he realized what happened? He took to Twitter, offering up a sincere apology to the boy, saying, "Yeah. Was a d**k move. I apologize for my actions. Had a lot of emotions going yesterday when I got done. Unprofessional."
And now what is he doing? Something even better.
"Everyone. Someone please help me find that kid!! Got something big for him. Thanks. Start the search in Reno"
So, if anyone has any idea about who that kid was, fire Pat a tweet at @patperezgolf and let's see if we can't help out a little golf fan and make Perez sleep a little bit better tonight.
It's nice when a bad situation gets turned into something good in a matter of a few hours, and hopefully the boy gets his autograph and we can find out just what Perez has in store for him.
My temper has got me into enough trouble in life. My mistakes are many and the people I have hurt are now getting club jackets. I try to be the best person I can, but I fall short. But now I know how to be better.
I want to be like Pat Perez when I grow up.
Friday, July 8, 2011
You are what's wrong with the world
In response to the an article posted by the Associated Press on yahoo sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rangers-fandeath), a Yahoo! member who goes by Thursday N posted this:
Must have been one lousy fireman if he couldn't even keep his balance in a baseball stadium. Imagine him trying to hold onto a kid in a burning building. Good riddance. The people of Brownwood are probably sleeping better, knowing this clown isn't "protecting" them.
Oh, and Hamilton, the drinks are on me!!!
What is wrong with you? Is your piddling ego so incredibly fragile that you have to mock a dead man's memory to feel good about yourself? Or do you need the attention? Do you need the world to know that Thursday N exists and has an opinion, and the only way your narcissistic, cretinous little mind could come up with was to mock a man's death. You are what's wrong with the world.
Oh, and to the first person that kicks this guy's ass senseless, drinks are on me.
Must have been one lousy fireman if he couldn't even keep his balance in a baseball stadium. Imagine him trying to hold onto a kid in a burning building. Good riddance. The people of Brownwood are probably sleeping better, knowing this clown isn't "protecting" them.
Oh, and Hamilton, the drinks are on me!!!
What is wrong with you? Is your piddling ego so incredibly fragile that you have to mock a dead man's memory to feel good about yourself? Or do you need the attention? Do you need the world to know that Thursday N exists and has an opinion, and the only way your narcissistic, cretinous little mind could come up with was to mock a man's death. You are what's wrong with the world.
Oh, and to the first person that kicks this guy's ass senseless, drinks are on me.
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