So I had to discipline Isabella Sunday night. Ok, I yelled at her. She was way too wound up for bed time and wasn't listening. I felt bad so I had a quiet moment with her. I said, "Bella, I want you to know that even though I get angry with you that I love you very much. Nothing will ever change that." She replied, "Really? You will always love me? Even if I put tweezers in your mouth?" Junior chimes in, "Even when we're dead?". Me, "Let's go to bed kids."
Yesterday I was not feeling well. I had some sinus congestion and had a bit of a headache (I never get headaches so any headache bothers me quite a bit). Yes, I engaged my "holistic don't get sick" solution and am better today. Anyhow, let's just say I was a bit "short" with the kids if not downright crabby. So, when Junior was taking a bath I told him, "Junior, daddy didn't feel well today. I'm sorry if I wasn't as fun as normal. I want you to know that I think that you are great and that I love you." As he was putting shamoo in his hands in the shape of a circle he replies, "Hey dad, it looks like a lemon." Well son, I'm glad we could have this talk...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Childhood games...
My good friend Steve Czaban if you dare was talking about his father who is turning 70 this weekend. He went down memory lane and discussed how his dad got him a football at a Redskins game as a kid, sand for a sand trap that Steve had dug in his backyard, and didn't freak out when he built a field goal post out of quarter round (that was supposed to be for their house). It got me to thinking about my lonely childhood. Steve's dad always facilitated his games, and even coached, but like any dad he worked a lot. My father worked a lot as well. The guys on Czaban's show made fun of how he had so many made up games and that he seemed like he had no friends...he didn't argue. Living on a dead end street, having friends come over involved moms and driving and was frankly, pretty rare. Here are some of the ways I passed the time.
1. Like Czaban, I kicked field goals. I would put the seats of the picnic table on end on top of the table at either end. Meticulously balanced, the worked to perfection. I would stand in the other half of the yard (our front yard was separated by a short driveway, thus making two halves...actually 1/3 and 2/3's) and kick every type of football I had (real, good, crappy, nerf, etc.). It would always be the game winning attempt and if I missed there was always a penalty. I would then kick again...until I made it...never a penalty when I made the field goal.
2. I would throw this rubber/cork baseball off of the stone wall in our front yard. Because it was made of several layers of stone the bounce was unpredictable. If I fielded it cleanly I would throw it again and having fielded it cleanly again the "batter" was out. If not, an error. If I didn't field it cleanly in the first place it was a hit. On the ground was a single. In the air and off of the wall of the house, a double. Off of the living room window a triple (and very scary). Off of the roof a home run. I had the entire Pirates and Phillies line ups memorized and I pitched/fielded for both teams. The Pirates always won.
3. I would "pepper" with a volleyball off of the roof. I would serve it into the part that came to a "v". It would roll down and I would forearm pass it back on to the roof, set it onto the roof, then hit a roll shot one more time and repeat with a forearm pass. As long as it didn't go over the roof (which invariably it did) it was a blast.
4. I once stretched a volleyball net from the roof to the fence post of our street (our yard was below street level). I would then throw the ball onto the roof which would then bounce as if it was a set. I would take an approach and swing for a kill. Ingenious but boring as crap chasing the ball into the weeds every hit...it didn't last long.
5. I would spend countless hours chipping golf balls from one side of the yard to the other. It was challenging to not hit the elevated driveway wall as the ball would come back flying at midsection level. Further, a hit that would go long would disappear forever down the hill. We also had a flag pole tucked in the further corner of our 1/3rd yard. A true challenge to get it all of the way back there without losing it.
6. Evel Knievel was my hero and very often I would put on my skateboarding helmet (we didn't wear helmets to bike back then) and jump off of the curb into my neighbors yard (also below street level). I'm still not aware how I didn't get broke.
7. There was always "annoy the crap out of my sisters" but they needed to be there to play that and they got wise and rarely showed.
8. As a very young boy I remember playing army against...the wind. I would hide behind things and try not to get hit by...the wind. I lost so much I quit. My imagination had it's limits.
Wow, there should be ten...but there weren't. It clearly was a simpler time back then. I don't remember freaking out about Jimmy Carter and inflation or housing interest rates, let alone the gas shortages. I just needed a game to play. Anyone up for some home run derby?
1. Like Czaban, I kicked field goals. I would put the seats of the picnic table on end on top of the table at either end. Meticulously balanced, the worked to perfection. I would stand in the other half of the yard (our front yard was separated by a short driveway, thus making two halves...actually 1/3 and 2/3's) and kick every type of football I had (real, good, crappy, nerf, etc.). It would always be the game winning attempt and if I missed there was always a penalty. I would then kick again...until I made it...never a penalty when I made the field goal.
2. I would throw this rubber/cork baseball off of the stone wall in our front yard. Because it was made of several layers of stone the bounce was unpredictable. If I fielded it cleanly I would throw it again and having fielded it cleanly again the "batter" was out. If not, an error. If I didn't field it cleanly in the first place it was a hit. On the ground was a single. In the air and off of the wall of the house, a double. Off of the living room window a triple (and very scary). Off of the roof a home run. I had the entire Pirates and Phillies line ups memorized and I pitched/fielded for both teams. The Pirates always won.
3. I would "pepper" with a volleyball off of the roof. I would serve it into the part that came to a "v". It would roll down and I would forearm pass it back on to the roof, set it onto the roof, then hit a roll shot one more time and repeat with a forearm pass. As long as it didn't go over the roof (which invariably it did) it was a blast.
4. I once stretched a volleyball net from the roof to the fence post of our street (our yard was below street level). I would then throw the ball onto the roof which would then bounce as if it was a set. I would take an approach and swing for a kill. Ingenious but boring as crap chasing the ball into the weeds every hit...it didn't last long.
5. I would spend countless hours chipping golf balls from one side of the yard to the other. It was challenging to not hit the elevated driveway wall as the ball would come back flying at midsection level. Further, a hit that would go long would disappear forever down the hill. We also had a flag pole tucked in the further corner of our 1/3rd yard. A true challenge to get it all of the way back there without losing it.
6. Evel Knievel was my hero and very often I would put on my skateboarding helmet (we didn't wear helmets to bike back then) and jump off of the curb into my neighbors yard (also below street level). I'm still not aware how I didn't get broke.
7. There was always "annoy the crap out of my sisters" but they needed to be there to play that and they got wise and rarely showed.
8. As a very young boy I remember playing army against...the wind. I would hide behind things and try not to get hit by...the wind. I lost so much I quit. My imagination had it's limits.
Wow, there should be ten...but there weren't. It clearly was a simpler time back then. I don't remember freaking out about Jimmy Carter and inflation or housing interest rates, let alone the gas shortages. I just needed a game to play. Anyone up for some home run derby?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's advice
Yes, two new posts in 12 hours...how about that.
A few quick pointers for this most contrived of all Hallmark Holidays. Some of these are borrowed from my good friend Erik Kuselias of ESPN radio, the rest are mine...you figure it out.
1. If she has to work today, you better get something delivered to her there. By four o'clock she will want you dead as others get their gifts and she doesn't.
2. Please make it something she wants, not something you want her to want. Sexy this, or smelly that is not what she's looking for (if she doesn't already like it).
3. If she says it's not important to her, get her something anyhow...just do it.
4. If she says it's not important and really means it, you are blessed. Buy her something anyhow.
5. Make her a card, don't buy one. If you are not creative, just write a note (more than two lines) it will go much farther than a $4 card.
6. Ladies, agree to do something with him that he knows you don't want to do, and enjoy it (sports event, his restaurant, his t.v.).
7. DO NOT BUY HIM FLOWERS.
8. For you married women, hit the Victoria's Secret like it's a pinata and you don't have a blindfold.
9. Ladies, you may buy us something you like us to wear (clothes, perfume). We are not scared or sensitive (this doesn't work the other way around, see #2) and would love to know you like what we look like or smell like.
10. For my unattached readers, when you ask someone out for a first date ask them to go for ice cream at the best place in town. If they say no, it's you. Everyone likes ice cream.
A few quick pointers for this most contrived of all Hallmark Holidays. Some of these are borrowed from my good friend Erik Kuselias of ESPN radio, the rest are mine...you figure it out.
1. If she has to work today, you better get something delivered to her there. By four o'clock she will want you dead as others get their gifts and she doesn't.
2. Please make it something she wants, not something you want her to want. Sexy this, or smelly that is not what she's looking for (if she doesn't already like it).
3. If she says it's not important to her, get her something anyhow...just do it.
4. If she says it's not important and really means it, you are blessed. Buy her something anyhow.
5. Make her a card, don't buy one. If you are not creative, just write a note (more than two lines) it will go much farther than a $4 card.
6. Ladies, agree to do something with him that he knows you don't want to do, and enjoy it (sports event, his restaurant, his t.v.).
7. DO NOT BUY HIM FLOWERS.
8. For you married women, hit the Victoria's Secret like it's a pinata and you don't have a blindfold.
9. Ladies, you may buy us something you like us to wear (clothes, perfume). We are not scared or sensitive (this doesn't work the other way around, see #2) and would love to know you like what we look like or smell like.
10. For my unattached readers, when you ask someone out for a first date ask them to go for ice cream at the best place in town. If they say no, it's you. Everyone likes ice cream.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Many posts all at once...(updated)
Ok, I admit it. I haven't posted in way too long. I really appreciate all/both of you that told me to post again. I also admit that I am having an unbelievably good Friday night. Yes, I am here at Lowe's (Ryan, not the Home Depot knock off) blogging, while watching an MMA card that is streaming live on Sherdog.com (that includes Ken Shamrock, who has lost 7 of his last 8 fights, fighting a dude who is 6'8" tall and weighs 385 pounds...and has lost 5 of HIS past 6 fights), and watching the NBA rookie/sophomore All Star game (kind of), the whole time eating pizza. There are some other things I'd rather be doing...just not many.
Anyhow, I have been super busy and have had many posts in my mind. Thus, I will put them here in quasi-list fashion. If you want to hear more about any of the items, let me know...I will expand.
*The last two days for me have been "No thinking" days. I have had such little sleep that I do not allow myself to think. I don't mean to not think at all. I'm talking about thinking about the future, about where things go from here, how I'm going to provide for my family and what God's plan entails on a detail basis. Being so tired I would spiral downward into negativity and cynicism. I tell you what, it's been nice.
*Speaking of thinking, I have found out lately that I think a lot more than most people. Not better mind you, just more. The other day Rachel and I were talking and after Rachel talked for about 30 seconds I asked her if she wanted to hear what I was thinking about while she was talking (I had told her about my hyper thinking). Of course I was thinking about what she was talking about but much more. It took me 3 minutes to explain all that I was thinking about for those 30 seconds.
*I would like to thank Alex Rodriguez for his steroid use. I went almost six moths without hearing the words, "TAINTed sample". Tee hee hee. I laugh every time.
*Further, why is the identity of the source that outed A-Rod's steroid use so protected while the actual test was supposed to be "anonymous"? Shouldn't that be protected?
*The stimulus package is a slap in the face to all Americans...except those who want big socialized government.
*24 and Lost are ridiculously great shows. They look at the phrase "jump the shark" and say, "We are jump the shark".
*This MMA show "WarGods" is partially sponsored by "Wasabi".
*Michael Phelps gets high in November and is ridiculed (appropriately). Santonio Holmes gets high in November and becomes Super Bowl MVP (...also appropriately).
*The Grammy's confirmed, once again, that I (and we, if you follow Christ) are not from this world and do not belong here.
*My Saturn has over 108,000 miles on it. A good buy.
*A senator tried to add an amendment to the "stimulus" bill that would mandate that all construction workers for any of the projects had to be United States citizens. They wouldn't even bring it to a vote. Yes, union workers, your Democratic elected leaders love illegal immigrants more than they love you.
*There is a huge difference between being broken personally and going through a Godly brokenness . The first, you are sorry for what you've lost...personally. The second, you are sorry for what you have done and how it affects God. A Godly brokenness is the only one that leads to repentance.
*Seek to understand how you've hurt someone long before you ask for forgiveness.
*The real reason for this recession/depression is simple. Government forced on greedy banks/mortgage firms to relax regulations on lending. "Owning a home is a right" they basically told them. They lent to people they wouldn't normally lend to (people who couldn't afford the loans). When they defaulted (didn't pay) the banks got screwed. The government then bailed them out...with your money. Other industries saw this and said, "Hey, we want money too." and it started. With this stimulus bill the government is borrowing money to fix past mistakes (and spending a ton on ridiculous pet projects). Have you ever heard of people paying off one credit card with another? Ever heard of paying one bill and letting others go? Have you ever heard of this being a good idea? No, it's horrible and every financial analyst will tell you not to do it. Yet, this is exactly what our government is doing...and worse.
*The Onion News Network (I think they are new but they have some good reports) reports that the real cause of the recession is that everyone gave their money to Obama's campaign fund...that's funny.
Anyhow, I have been super busy and have had many posts in my mind. Thus, I will put them here in quasi-list fashion. If you want to hear more about any of the items, let me know...I will expand.
*The last two days for me have been "No thinking" days. I have had such little sleep that I do not allow myself to think. I don't mean to not think at all. I'm talking about thinking about the future, about where things go from here, how I'm going to provide for my family and what God's plan entails on a detail basis. Being so tired I would spiral downward into negativity and cynicism. I tell you what, it's been nice.
*Speaking of thinking, I have found out lately that I think a lot more than most people. Not better mind you, just more. The other day Rachel and I were talking and after Rachel talked for about 30 seconds I asked her if she wanted to hear what I was thinking about while she was talking (I had told her about my hyper thinking). Of course I was thinking about what she was talking about but much more. It took me 3 minutes to explain all that I was thinking about for those 30 seconds.
*I would like to thank Alex Rodriguez for his steroid use. I went almost six moths without hearing the words, "TAINTed sample". Tee hee hee. I laugh every time.
*Further, why is the identity of the source that outed A-Rod's steroid use so protected while the actual test was supposed to be "anonymous"? Shouldn't that be protected?
*The stimulus package is a slap in the face to all Americans...except those who want big socialized government.
*24 and Lost are ridiculously great shows. They look at the phrase "jump the shark" and say, "We are jump the shark".
*This MMA show "WarGods" is partially sponsored by "Wasabi".
*Michael Phelps gets high in November and is ridiculed (appropriately). Santonio Holmes gets high in November and becomes Super Bowl MVP (...also appropriately).
*The Grammy's confirmed, once again, that I (and we, if you follow Christ) are not from this world and do not belong here.
*My Saturn has over 108,000 miles on it. A good buy.
*A senator tried to add an amendment to the "stimulus" bill that would mandate that all construction workers for any of the projects had to be United States citizens. They wouldn't even bring it to a vote. Yes, union workers, your Democratic elected leaders love illegal immigrants more than they love you.
*There is a huge difference between being broken personally and going through a Godly brokenness . The first, you are sorry for what you've lost...personally. The second, you are sorry for what you have done and how it affects God. A Godly brokenness is the only one that leads to repentance.
*Seek to understand how you've hurt someone long before you ask for forgiveness.
*The real reason for this recession/depression is simple. Government forced on greedy banks/mortgage firms to relax regulations on lending. "Owning a home is a right" they basically told them. They lent to people they wouldn't normally lend to (people who couldn't afford the loans). When they defaulted (didn't pay) the banks got screwed. The government then bailed them out...with your money. Other industries saw this and said, "Hey, we want money too." and it started. With this stimulus bill the government is borrowing money to fix past mistakes (and spending a ton on ridiculous pet projects). Have you ever heard of people paying off one credit card with another? Ever heard of paying one bill and letting others go? Have you ever heard of this being a good idea? No, it's horrible and every financial analyst will tell you not to do it. Yet, this is exactly what our government is doing...and worse.
*The Onion News Network (I think they are new but they have some good reports) reports that the real cause of the recession is that everyone gave their money to Obama's campaign fund...that's funny.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Feeling ill?
No, not an "anti - Obama" post. Not a "hey, how does it feel Arizona?" post. No, it begins with a confession.
I used to be a antibiotic addict. No, it wasn't for the rush of dry mouth or the need to be disciplined enough to remember to take 3 pills the size of Rosie O'Donnell's sweat drops (what the?) each day. It was because I would get roughly 3 sinus infections each year. Sinus' drain down the back of my throat day one, sneeze like crazy day two, stuffy head and nose day three through seven, and then asthma and chest congestion for the duration. Sometimes I would get a prescription for a decongestant the size of Oprah Winfrey's hypocrisy (a crack at her postmodern theology, not her weight) and forget which I was supposed to take two of and either be really decongested or not at all. Also, not good to mix with two glasses of champagne on New Years eve at Michael and Michele's house in 2000. Not drunk, just vomiting for hours quietly so no one would have less of a good time. I figured back then there had to be a better way.
A guy we had on staff suggested echinacia to me. Being that he had an extensive narcotic background (as in, did drugs. Way in the past though we would joke about it a lot. He would laugh so hard he'd cry, only I never saw him laugh...just cry). I figured it to be highly suspect if not illegal. I mean, cocaine could clear your sinuses too but has it's drawbacks. I didn't trust him. So I tried it, the echinacia not the cocaine. I stand here today free of antibiotics for 9 years.
I have learned a few things about herbal supplements.
1. I don't take them everyday. When I start to feel my sinus' drain, I start popping. Usually, it stops there. It never, ever stopped there before echinacea
2. As I have spread the love about echinacia I have found that one should only buy it at GNC or Vitamin World. They will guarantee you how much of the supplement is in each capsule. Other brands do not do that. I buy the Herbal Plus Standardized Extract, 100 -500mg capsules from GNC for about $16.
3. Many studies have "proven" it doesn't work. Granted, these studies have been funded by the medical or pharmaceutical industries who have every reason to not want it to work but there's nothing to see here...move along.
4. I nice boost of emergen-C (powdered vitamin c) will help as well when you are ill. Ummm, make sure you mix it with water and don't eat it like a Dip n Stick (remember that crazy candy and how sad you were when it was gone and you ate the stick)?
5. I have probably had 3 or 4 full blown infections over the past 9 years but they have lasted no more than a week when I treat it with my herbal attack. I used to go to the doctor for my antibiotic after one week and it would then last two more.
6. I nice pick me up when you are ill or near ill is one of favorite finds...5 hour energy. I could post about this bad boy all by itself, and perhaps I will soon but it helps too. I will sip on one for a few hours (rather than drink all 2 oz. at once as usual). It is chock full of B6 and B12 vitamins and other good stuff. I have found it to help.
7. If my throat is a little scratchy I take Halls Sugar Free Vitamin C drops. Tasty and another boost of Vitamin C. Just don't take too many. Your lips will get those nasty splits/cracks that remind you of the time you let your mouth touch the water fountain.
8. There are many in the zinc or Airborne product line camps. More power to them. The zinc and vitamin C don't like each other so I pass on the zinc. The Airborne is fine but is just a mix of all of the things I take in larger quantities.
All that being said, our society is way too dependent on drugs and prescriptions. I want to save my antibiotics for when I get something nasty (probably from a hospital visit and unrelated to the reason I was there in the first place). If you have any of your own remedies, I want to hear them. I'm always open to new thoughts. An ex-something of mine once said, "Your problem is, you always think you're right." Yeah, YOU'RE right. I should walk around thinking, "I'm sure I'm wrong...tell me what to think. Well, that's what the drug companies want me to believe. I will tell you this. If I only think that all of the above help me...and THAT helps me? Boo yeah! Nine years free of Anti-biotics my man, nine years.
Lastly, what's the deal with all of this "pro-biotic" stuff being good for you? Does that mean the anti-biotics are really...really bad? Do they not like each other? Sharks vs. the Jets kind of thing? I'm out of my league here.
I used to be a antibiotic addict. No, it wasn't for the rush of dry mouth or the need to be disciplined enough to remember to take 3 pills the size of Rosie O'Donnell's sweat drops (what the?) each day. It was because I would get roughly 3 sinus infections each year. Sinus' drain down the back of my throat day one, sneeze like crazy day two, stuffy head and nose day three through seven, and then asthma and chest congestion for the duration. Sometimes I would get a prescription for a decongestant the size of Oprah Winfrey's hypocrisy (a crack at her postmodern theology, not her weight) and forget which I was supposed to take two of and either be really decongested or not at all. Also, not good to mix with two glasses of champagne on New Years eve at Michael and Michele's house in 2000. Not drunk, just vomiting for hours quietly so no one would have less of a good time. I figured back then there had to be a better way.
A guy we had on staff suggested echinacia to me. Being that he had an extensive narcotic background (as in, did drugs. Way in the past though we would joke about it a lot. He would laugh so hard he'd cry, only I never saw him laugh...just cry). I figured it to be highly suspect if not illegal. I mean, cocaine could clear your sinuses too but has it's drawbacks. I didn't trust him. So I tried it, the echinacia not the cocaine. I stand here today free of antibiotics for 9 years.
I have learned a few things about herbal supplements.
1. I don't take them everyday. When I start to feel my sinus' drain, I start popping. Usually, it stops there. It never, ever stopped there before echinacea
2. As I have spread the love about echinacia I have found that one should only buy it at GNC or Vitamin World. They will guarantee you how much of the supplement is in each capsule. Other brands do not do that. I buy the Herbal Plus Standardized Extract, 100 -500mg capsules from GNC for about $16.
3. Many studies have "proven" it doesn't work. Granted, these studies have been funded by the medical or pharmaceutical industries who have every reason to not want it to work but there's nothing to see here...move along.
4. I nice boost of emergen-C (powdered vitamin c) will help as well when you are ill. Ummm, make sure you mix it with water and don't eat it like a Dip n Stick (remember that crazy candy and how sad you were when it was gone and you ate the stick)?
5. I have probably had 3 or 4 full blown infections over the past 9 years but they have lasted no more than a week when I treat it with my herbal attack. I used to go to the doctor for my antibiotic after one week and it would then last two more.
6. I nice pick me up when you are ill or near ill is one of favorite finds...5 hour energy. I could post about this bad boy all by itself, and perhaps I will soon but it helps too. I will sip on one for a few hours (rather than drink all 2 oz. at once as usual). It is chock full of B6 and B12 vitamins and other good stuff. I have found it to help.
7. If my throat is a little scratchy I take Halls Sugar Free Vitamin C drops. Tasty and another boost of Vitamin C. Just don't take too many. Your lips will get those nasty splits/cracks that remind you of the time you let your mouth touch the water fountain.
8. There are many in the zinc or Airborne product line camps. More power to them. The zinc and vitamin C don't like each other so I pass on the zinc. The Airborne is fine but is just a mix of all of the things I take in larger quantities.
All that being said, our society is way too dependent on drugs and prescriptions. I want to save my antibiotics for when I get something nasty (probably from a hospital visit and unrelated to the reason I was there in the first place). If you have any of your own remedies, I want to hear them. I'm always open to new thoughts. An ex-something of mine once said, "Your problem is, you always think you're right." Yeah, YOU'RE right. I should walk around thinking, "I'm sure I'm wrong...tell me what to think. Well, that's what the drug companies want me to believe. I will tell you this. If I only think that all of the above help me...and THAT helps me? Boo yeah! Nine years free of Anti-biotics my man, nine years.
Lastly, what's the deal with all of this "pro-biotic" stuff being good for you? Does that mean the anti-biotics are really...really bad? Do they not like each other? Sharks vs. the Jets kind of thing? I'm out of my league here.
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