Phoebe wishes you a Merry Christmas

Phoebe and I are hanging out this morning and just about to start getting ready for an early Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa (Suzette's parents) in Sarasota this afternoon. We'll be heading to Jacksonville to see my folks (Oma & Opa) later this week, so it's Grandma & Grandpa's turn today. Sooooooo, Phoebe wanted to say hello to everyone and wish you an early Merry Christmas.

Phoebe six years ago:

...and Phoebe a couple of days ago:

TJ was a smart man

Thomas Jefferson once said, "The course of history has shown that as government grows, liberty decreases."

There's a reason that the saying "never discuss religion and politics" is known by most everyone. I'm usually the last person that wanted to have a political discussion; it just wasn't something that interested me that much. Political science and I never mixed. However, I find myself feeling a bit "randy" today, so here goes:

* no "Randys" were assaulted (verbally or otherwise) as a result of this post *

It seems that some people nowadays, no matter what their viewpoints are, get really upset and challenge you if you have a different political perspective from their own. It's gotten much worse over the past 10 years, but maybe that's because I didn't pay much attention back then. Now that I'm older, I've started to notice more and have a better perspective of the political world around me.

For full-disclosure, I am what most would call a conservative-libertarian (if there is such a thing). I like the idea of smaller government, individual freedoms and rights, lower taxes, protecting our borders, living to the words of the constitution, and a kick-ass military among other things. However, I understand the need of multi-party politics in our country and appreciate differences of opinions. I think people should be able to work together to get to a desired result.

I get really tired of watching shows on TV or listening to the radio where both sides of the fence do nothing but say how bad the other side is and who did what to who and yada-yada-yada. Let's focus on the future, shall we?

I didn't vote for Obama, but it's not because I wanted McCain per se. When looking at the information I had on Obama, it just wasn't something I'd look for in a president (hence the TJ quote above). However, now that he's been voted in as president, let's see what he can do. Just like people now have BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome), there are going to be those that will be totally against anything Obama. I'm not of that ilk. I certainly want Obama to be successful because it reflects upon our country and I'd like to see the USA get back to prominence again. No, I'm not talking about what other countries think about us; I could give a rat's ass what anyone thinks about our country - screw them if they don't like us. What I would like to see is for people (in general) to begin feeling good about their country again and doing what they can to help others while also helping themselves. I am an American and proud of it, beeeotch!

Speaking of that, I'd like to give a shout-out to anyone currently serving or previously served in the US military - YOU ROCK! My dad was a drill sergeant in the Army and served in Vietnam, and his father-in-law was a lifer in the Navy and served in Korea (and I believe WWII). If I had any sense at all when I was young I probably would've joined myself, but I clearly didn't have respect for that type of authority then and wanted to get away from it as soon as I could. The things you learn as you get older, eh? With age comes wisdom . . . and a bigger belly. I have the utmost respect for everyone that has served their country and wish you the best.

One of the things I believe has changed dramatically over the past decade or so is how people/groups are so easily offended these days. People are now going out of their way to find something that offends them and then raise a big stink about it. It's as if some people just live and wait to be offended. Whether it be something concerning race, religion, gender, "sexual preference," or whatever. Maybe I should be offended about Big Bird because he has big feet and I have big feet, so therefore Sesame Street thinks that people with big feet are like Big Bird?!?! AHHHH!!! I'm calling PBS RIGHT NOW! Here's a suggestion: live your life!

Hell, you watch some of the cartoons when I was a kid and try to imagine them being made now. Hmmm, "what makes the red man red" was a good one in Peter Pan. Think that would fly now? Ummmm, NO. What about those black crows in the Dumbo movie? Stereotyping? Hmmm.

Now, if you read a review on most any current show or movie, there's going to be some person or group claiming that they're offended because of something that was said or what they think was inferred. Even Iran was "insulted" because a character in the upcoming movie The Wrestler is named Ayatollah!! Who freaking cares what Iran thinks about an American movie?!?! If I recall, don't they have TV shows that talk about Jews are dogs and should be killed?!

Just take a chill pill, people. It'll be okay. I promise, if you take a deep breath and worry about the things you can control, everything will be just fine.

Anyway, enough with the ranting and raving. Let's all just get along, okay? And if you can't, then SCREW YOU!

A day in the life

Today is Monday and it's a good day. The weather is terrible (although still in the 70s - don't you love Florida?) but I don't care. I'm loving life in spite of the fact that if you turn on the news it seems like the world is coming to an end. I have a great family, friends, and appreciate all I have. Sure bad things are bound to happen, but it's how I respond to those things and learn from them that will make me stronger.

5-9 is better than 4-10

The Jags beat the Packers today 20-16! Was it the best game ever? Nope. Am I happy? Always. Celebrate victory and learn from defeat. I will have good dreams tonight.

Hopefully you will too.

GO JAGS!

Ok, so they've sucked pretty bad this year (is it possible to suck worse than bad?). Injuries and issues aside, it's still been a year of struggles for my Jaguars. Today the Jags play the Packers (booooooo) at 1pm in Jacksonville. Only 3 games left this season, can they win at least one more?!?!?
Maybe they could sign me up?

Vic Ketchman (senior editor of Jaguars.com) keeps a live blog during the games: http://www.jaguars.com/ingame/ It's pretty cool except when the Jags have been stinking up the place the past couple of months.

Dude where's my blog?!

Greetings fine people. I know it's been a while since my last post and probably all 2 of you out there are really upset about it. So never fear, a new post is here!

Like many, I really love music and can appreciate many different types, however my roots are with rock & roll more than anything else. Sure, I have memories of my folks "jamming" to James Taylor and Judy Collins, but I've put them in a place I hope no one ever finds.

I have to credit my friend Chris for cultivating my music palette in the late 80s. Without him introducing me to then called "alternative" groups like Toad the Wet Sprocket, Camper Van Beethoven, R.E.M., & especially Jane's Addiction and the Pixies (best band EVER), I wouldn't have developed a love for music as much as I do. There were many times when we just cruised along listening to stuff I'd never heard before and wasn't being played on the radio. It brings back many good memories. Oh sure, Chris had to bear with me playing the Cramps, U2 out the yin-yang, the Tuff Darts, and the crap that I used to record myself (yes, there ARE tapes of that, but certainly not child-appropriate or even worth listening to). But since we were usually in his truck, we listened to his stuff. That was fine by me.

It's been a while since I've heard a song or band that caught my attention. I know I'm going to sound old here, but the crap I hear on the radio is just that: crap! That's why I mostly listen to talk radio now (OK, I AM old). While I was waiting to get my haircut a while ago, I was glancing through a Rolling Stone magazine. I can honestly say I hadn't heard of ANY of the songs in the top 50, and not very many of the bands/singers either. I guess that's why I don't get Rolling Stone anymore.

All of you have probably seen the Geico caveman commercials over the past couple of years. For whatever reason, I find them hilarious! Especially the dude at the airport looking at the "so easy, a caveman could do it" sign in disgust, or the tennis commercial with Billie Jean King . . . SCOREBOARD! But my favorite is the one with the two dudes getting off of their motorcycles and walking towards a couple of "hotties." Then they notice a billboard above them with the infamous quote and they turn around and high-tail it. I guess they really aren't THAT smart, right?



Well the song on that commercial sounds like something from the alternative 80s era, so I looked it up. Come to find out it's from a Swedish band called The Sounds. The song is called Hurt You from the Dying To See You album. They've been around for a while and their "sound" is pretty damn cool. I downloaded their two albums on iTunes and for the most part it's pretty good. They sound like a retro Missing Persons with more of a rock sound. As always, YouTube comes to the rescue. I found this video of them on Letterman a couple of years ago performing "Seven Days a Week" and I loved it. It gets better everytime you watch it:




Don't you love it when you find a new song or band that you haven't heard of before and you can't get enough? It reminds me of those days cruising around with Chris listening to God-knows-what and loving every minute of it.