I did this at the end of last year and it was well received, so I thought I would make this an annual thing. We are just a few days away from 2013, so I will be giving what I think is the best of each month. This year I have less to choose from. I didn't find myself not wanting to write, but felt that if I took the time to construct better posts that there would be more substance to what I write. Sometimes it is great to write about fun stuff, but there are also times when I want to write something that will make you think about a certain subject. Some months I don't have a large pool to choose from so there are some weak 'best ofs' months. Deal with it. And, of course, there are months that have a few good to great posts and that makes it a little difficult to decide.
January: Professionalism People!
February: Super Bore Sunday
March: Who is to Blame?
April: The Name Game (This is my favorite post of the year)
May: Words to Destruct By
June: Fall of the Umpires
July: Pop a Cap in That Pop
August: A Year Later
September: The Problem with Social Media
October: There is No 'We'
November: Basic Human Rights Protected
December: That One Play
I'm done writing for the year, all three days that are left in it. 2013 may have more posts, may have less. Who knows. They will all be important to me though and I'm the only one that matters.
28 December 2012
25 December 2012
The Christmas Post
*Author's note: I wrote this back in 2008 and I have since made it my Christmas Eve or Christmas day post. It is simple and makes it easy for me to say that I at least wrote something for the holidays. Enjoy the day everyone. Be sure to keep the television off as long as possible and love being with family and friends.*
We are watching A Christmas Story right now, and there is nothing better in this movie than the nostalgic feel of the Christmas morning scene. More than the kids ripping apart the wrapping, it is the expressions on the faces of the mom and dad. Just the joy that they have watching their kids.
We are watching A Christmas Story right now, and there is nothing better in this movie than the nostalgic feel of the Christmas morning scene. More than the kids ripping apart the wrapping, it is the expressions on the faces of the mom and dad. Just the joy that they have watching their kids.
As much as people think it is all about the Red Rider BB gun, the movie is more than that. It's about family, more than anything.
- Idolizing the father
- Having a life long understanding with your mother
- And the fighting with your brother
And the final scene of the mom and dad relaxing with the Christmas tree alight and the snow falling at night. Magic.
24 December 2012
War on Christmas
I'm just going to put this out there before I start: there's going to be some profanity in this post. Mainly because I will be quoting Quentin Tarantino's classic 'Pulp Fiction'. Well, not exactly quoting, but using an exchange from the movie and substituting some words.
I have always thought that the idea that there was a war on Christmas was ridiculous. I have never understood why some people do not like others saying 'seasons greetings' or 'happy holidays' instead of 'merry Christmas'. I thought about writing a serious post about the war on Christmas and how it has gained momentum thanks to people like Bill O'Reilly, but instead I wanted to keep it light and funny. Now, in my mind when I wrote this I pictured a Bill O'Reilly/Rush Limbaugh-esque type person going nuts after someone saying 'happy holidays' instead of 'merry Christmas'.
I hope this brings a little smile and laughter to everyone. If you believe that there is a war on Christmas, you're going to be offended maybe. And I know that my job will be done.
'Merry Christmas.'
'Happy Holidays.'
Why did you say 'Happy Holidays'?
What?
What country are you from?
What? What? Wh - ?
"What" ain't no country I've ever heard of. They say 'Merry Christmas' in What?
What?
What country are you from?
What? What? Wh - ?
"What" ain't no country I've ever heard of. They say 'Merry Christmas' in What?
What?
'Merry Christmas', motherfucker, do they say it?
Yes! Yes!
Then you know what I'm sayin'!
Yes!
Say 'Merry Christmas'!
'Happy Holidays.'
Say 'Happy Holidays' again. Say 'Happy Holidays' again, I dare you, I double dare you motherfucker, say 'Happy Holidays' one more Goddamn time!
Yes! Yes!
Then you know what I'm sayin'!
Yes!
Say 'Merry Christmas'!
'Happy Holidays.'
Say 'Happy Holidays' again. Say 'Happy Holidays' again, I dare you, I double dare you motherfucker, say 'Happy Holidays' one more Goddamn time!
For those of you who have seen 'Pulp Fiction', you will surely now these lines I have used, if you haven't seen it, I'm sorry because you will probably have no idea what is going on here. But the major question is, why haven't you seen the movie?
23 December 2012
Lions and Tigers
Watching the Detroit Lions struggle through the game last night against Atlanta, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to the Tigers from 2007 (and 2008, 2009, 2010). Last year, the Lions made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and gave the fan base hope that the worst was behind them. The Tigers made it to the World Series in 2006 before missing the playoffs the next four years, once again giving fans hope. Both seasons after the playoff year for the teams were a kick to the gut and ego. For the teams and the fans.
After the Lions made the playoffs last year, it seemed that everyone was high on them. From fans to the sports talking heads to the people within the organization, they were all ready to see consistent runs into the playoffs. And not just one and done years, but to go deep in the playoffs. The offense is there and ready for a shootout any given Sunday, but the defense is not. The lack of discipline and injuries week after week exposed them for what they really are: an immature group that needs to stay focused for sixteen weeks and beyond. Short of going out and getting free agents, they will have to build their defense through the draft. And by the time they develop some middle of the pack draft picks, the offense will need help. It's a vicious cycle.
As a lifelong fan of Detroit sports teams, I have grown custom to disappointment. The exception being the Red Wings who struggled when I was younger and I have little recollection of the 'Dead Wing' era as my dad called them. Outside of the Wings, the only championships I actually remember are all from the Pistons...and I can't stand basketball. Sure the Tigers won in 1984, but I was two at the time and as much as I would love to say I remember that year, not so much. I want to base my sports championship memories on World Series and Super Bowl wins, not just Stanley Cups and whatever the basketball championship trophy is called.
After the Lions made the playoffs last year, it seemed that everyone was high on them. From fans to the sports talking heads to the people within the organization, they were all ready to see consistent runs into the playoffs. And not just one and done years, but to go deep in the playoffs. The offense is there and ready for a shootout any given Sunday, but the defense is not. The lack of discipline and injuries week after week exposed them for what they really are: an immature group that needs to stay focused for sixteen weeks and beyond. Short of going out and getting free agents, they will have to build their defense through the draft. And by the time they develop some middle of the pack draft picks, the offense will need help. It's a vicious cycle.
As a lifelong fan of Detroit sports teams, I have grown custom to disappointment. The exception being the Red Wings who struggled when I was younger and I have little recollection of the 'Dead Wing' era as my dad called them. Outside of the Wings, the only championships I actually remember are all from the Pistons...and I can't stand basketball. Sure the Tigers won in 1984, but I was two at the time and as much as I would love to say I remember that year, not so much. I want to base my sports championship memories on World Series and Super Bowl wins, not just Stanley Cups and whatever the basketball championship trophy is called.
21 December 2012
2013: The Year of the Re-Read
While struggling to get into Walden, I looked through the stack of books I have yet to read. They are all books that I really want to read, but didn't find any of them interesting right now. I went to the book shelf to see if there were any books I hadn't yet read, but couldn't find any. Then I started to look at some of books I have already read. Is the point of owning books to just read them once or twice then never again? I think not.
For the next year, I will be putting the books I have not read back on the shelf and will dig into some of the books I have read already. I grabbed seven books to start with. Everything ranging from Hemingway to Stephen King to one of the few memoirs I have truly enjoyed. In 2012, I made a point to read six new books and it was tough at times because I felt like I was on a time crunch to finish the books before the end of the year. I don't want to pressure myself into finishing a set number of books. I've said it before and will say it again, I am a very slow reader. So whichever books I get through that'll be good enough for me this year.
It's like comfort food for the mind. All year long.
For the next year, I will be putting the books I have not read back on the shelf and will dig into some of the books I have read already. I grabbed seven books to start with. Everything ranging from Hemingway to Stephen King to one of the few memoirs I have truly enjoyed. In 2012, I made a point to read six new books and it was tough at times because I felt like I was on a time crunch to finish the books before the end of the year. I don't want to pressure myself into finishing a set number of books. I've said it before and will say it again, I am a very slow reader. So whichever books I get through that'll be good enough for me this year.
It's like comfort food for the mind. All year long.
10 December 2012
Finally!
For the first time since moving to Minnesota, we have gotten hit by a big winter storm. I know that we have only been up here for just over a year, but when we did move we anticipated having snow during the winter. And not just a few inches here and there, we were expecting it to snow and stay for the winter months. Not only did we expect it, but we hoped for it.
Living down in Kansas for six years, we had to deal with not have much of a winter. The most snow accumulation we ever saw was between six to eight inches. Not much to shake a stick at. And it didn't stay around for very long. We only had one white Christmas, and it was the best one of all because of the snow. It makes everything just seem so festive. Besides being so far away from home and tucked into the Republican strong hold that is the midwest, not having snow at winter time was the worst part about living in Kansas. Well, that and the insanely hot summers.
When we moved, we did not anticipate to have the kinds of winters that we grew up with. Growing up on the door step of Lake Superior you get use to three or four feet of snow in the winter. Lake effect snow makes for long winters and by the time March or April rolls around, you start to get a little sick of it. Mainly because by that time all the nice white snow is gone and all that you are left with is the nasty gray snow that consists mostly of dirt and salt from the roads. So we lowered our standards on winters and hoped for maybe a foot or two of snow, that's not too much to ask for is it? Last year we were disappointed by the lack of snow. I chalked it up to Mother Nature playing a prank on us. Something along the lines of 'You think you can move north and get a winter?! I'll show you. BAM! Warm winter months. Suckers.' She's a bitch like that.
The weather is fickle and you cannot control it. You can only prepare for it and react to it. The reaction we had yesterday was that we didn't leave the house and kept the blinds open to watch the snow fall. And did it ever. I woke up around 8:30 (sleeping in for me) and it didn't stop for about twelve hours. It's tough to say how much fell, but I believe the general consensus is in the range of ten to fourteen inches throughout the Twin Cities. Now if that isn't reason enough to stay indoors and wait for everything to be cleared out, I don't know what is. That is how we reacted to it, staying inside. There were over three hundred car accidents as a result of the weather. Yesterday was one of those days where if you didn't need to be outside, it was best to stay inside. I prepared for the weather this weekend by making plans not to leave the house. I picked up a few things from work before leaving Friday afternoon knowing that the weather was going to get bad. The reason I did was because I didn't want to go out in it.
Living down in Kansas for six years, we had to deal with not have much of a winter. The most snow accumulation we ever saw was between six to eight inches. Not much to shake a stick at. And it didn't stay around for very long. We only had one white Christmas, and it was the best one of all because of the snow. It makes everything just seem so festive. Besides being so far away from home and tucked into the Republican strong hold that is the midwest, not having snow at winter time was the worst part about living in Kansas. Well, that and the insanely hot summers.
When we moved, we did not anticipate to have the kinds of winters that we grew up with. Growing up on the door step of Lake Superior you get use to three or four feet of snow in the winter. Lake effect snow makes for long winters and by the time March or April rolls around, you start to get a little sick of it. Mainly because by that time all the nice white snow is gone and all that you are left with is the nasty gray snow that consists mostly of dirt and salt from the roads. So we lowered our standards on winters and hoped for maybe a foot or two of snow, that's not too much to ask for is it? Last year we were disappointed by the lack of snow. I chalked it up to Mother Nature playing a prank on us. Something along the lines of 'You think you can move north and get a winter?! I'll show you. BAM! Warm winter months. Suckers.' She's a bitch like that.
The weather is fickle and you cannot control it. You can only prepare for it and react to it. The reaction we had yesterday was that we didn't leave the house and kept the blinds open to watch the snow fall. And did it ever. I woke up around 8:30 (sleeping in for me) and it didn't stop for about twelve hours. It's tough to say how much fell, but I believe the general consensus is in the range of ten to fourteen inches throughout the Twin Cities. Now if that isn't reason enough to stay indoors and wait for everything to be cleared out, I don't know what is. That is how we reacted to it, staying inside. There were over three hundred car accidents as a result of the weather. Yesterday was one of those days where if you didn't need to be outside, it was best to stay inside. I prepared for the weather this weekend by making plans not to leave the house. I picked up a few things from work before leaving Friday afternoon knowing that the weather was going to get bad. The reason I did was because I didn't want to go out in it.
07 December 2012
That One Play
Every year, each team's fan base starts with hopes and dreams of reaching the World Series, well maybe not the Royals' fan base, but most every team's fan base. Obviously not every team can win or even make the playoffs. There are teams that just completely run away with their divisions, others struggle to make it to the top. Those teams that struggle to make it to the post season seem to have a defining moment. Either for the good or the bad. Last year, I thought that when the Tigers got swept in the double header against Minnesota near the end of the season that it was over. I had started to look forward to 2013 and then Chicago collapsed. It was a bright end to a long season.
The last two years the Detroit Tigers have not only made it to the playoffs, but have won the division. Two years ago, won it convincingly. Last year, not so much. It was exciting, don't get me wrong, but it should have been a repeat of 2011. There are two moments from both of those years that stand out in my head as a turning point towards their making the postseason. Just that one play that put an extra spark into the team for the rest of the year. That one play that revitalizes the fans into believing their team is going all the way that year.
Last year it was the 'Oh Jackson!' play. It took place at the end of August, just in time for the playoff run. The run that took them to the American League Championship series. They fell to the Rangers, we all know this. It brought hope that 2006 wasn't a fluke and they had put a team together that can make several runs into the playoffs.
This year, we had this play. It also took place at the end of August, just in time for the playoff run. It excited the entire stadium. The team looked ready to run out onto the field and hoist Dirks up on their shoulders and carry him back for a celebratory beer. This year, they made it to the World Series, but let's not talk about it.
Spring training is still a few months away and the Winter Meetings have concluded. There is nothing worth while to talk about baseball wise until pitchers and catchers report. Until that time, enjoy those two clips. I know they make me smile over and over.
The last two years the Detroit Tigers have not only made it to the playoffs, but have won the division. Two years ago, won it convincingly. Last year, not so much. It was exciting, don't get me wrong, but it should have been a repeat of 2011. There are two moments from both of those years that stand out in my head as a turning point towards their making the postseason. Just that one play that put an extra spark into the team for the rest of the year. That one play that revitalizes the fans into believing their team is going all the way that year.
Last year it was the 'Oh Jackson!' play. It took place at the end of August, just in time for the playoff run. The run that took them to the American League Championship series. They fell to the Rangers, we all know this. It brought hope that 2006 wasn't a fluke and they had put a team together that can make several runs into the playoffs.
This year, we had this play. It also took place at the end of August, just in time for the playoff run. It excited the entire stadium. The team looked ready to run out onto the field and hoist Dirks up on their shoulders and carry him back for a celebratory beer. This year, they made it to the World Series, but let's not talk about it.
Spring training is still a few months away and the Winter Meetings have concluded. There is nothing worth while to talk about baseball wise until pitchers and catchers report. Until that time, enjoy those two clips. I know they make me smile over and over.
05 December 2012
Thanksgiving in December
We are having Thanksgiving today. The other day I wrote about not mixing holidays, but there are exceptions. We had to go home for my wife's grandmother's funeral. We left the day after Thanksgiving and found no reason to cook a big meal to just let it sit in the fridge for six days and go bad. What we ended up doing was postponing Thanksgiving until my next day off. Which is today. We do have some Christmas decorations up, so we have a mixed bag of holidays today. Whatever.
We don't really have a big dinner celebration for the holiday so it didn't feel like we missed out on having it in November as opposed to December. That is one of the nice things about not having family in town. You don't have to prep a big meal. We did have a little bit of a meal on Thanksgiving. Stuffing and rolls. That was it. So just a taste, but not enough to make me not want more. And besides, it is still fall like right now. Not like there is a ton of snow on the ground that would convince me it is wintertime.
One positive, for my wife anyway, for having our Thanksgiving a few weeks late is that she doesn't have to watch or listen to football all day long. Plus I don't have to watch the Lions choke away another game. *Whimpers softly*
We don't really have a big dinner celebration for the holiday so it didn't feel like we missed out on having it in November as opposed to December. That is one of the nice things about not having family in town. You don't have to prep a big meal. We did have a little bit of a meal on Thanksgiving. Stuffing and rolls. That was it. So just a taste, but not enough to make me not want more. And besides, it is still fall like right now. Not like there is a ton of snow on the ground that would convince me it is wintertime.
One positive, for my wife anyway, for having our Thanksgiving a few weeks late is that she doesn't have to watch or listen to football all day long. Plus I don't have to watch the Lions choke away another game. *Whimpers softly*
02 December 2012
December Music and Decorations
As we have turned the calendar to the month of December, Christmas music has started to play all over the place. It did not start magically playing once November ended, oh no, that would be too easy. And it didn't even just start playing on Thanksgiving or the day after that. Every once in a while on the radio stations, I would hear a holiday song start to play. I say start because I refuse to deal with anything Christmas related until the month of December starts. I am stubborn like that.
You are not going to see me really change my opinion on the music or decorating for that matter. I know plenty of people who start putting Christmas decorations up before the turkey is out of the oven Thanksgiving night. Bully for them if that's what they want. I approach holidays one at a time. There shouldn't be any overlap. Plus there has to be some down time with your house or apartment all gussied up. A return to normalcy for a week or so before the whirlwind that is the last month of the year. For all the complaining people do about the retail giants putting Christmas stuff out in October, I sure do see a lot of decorating in November. Just an observation. Christmas is the one holiday where we seem to go 'all out' for. At the moment, we have three totes of decorations and that doesn't even include all the ornaments for our little tree.
The other major change when December rolls around is the music. For one month, the music is all upbeat and happy. It gives me a break from the music I normally listen to which is nice to have. No political underlying lyrics or depressing ballads or heavy metal. I love the classics from Bing Crosby to the Rat Pack to Elle Fitzgerald. There are some modern versions of the oldies (but goodies) which are well done too. However, I have determined that from track one to the end, my favorite album has to be the Charlie Brown Soundtrack. I wrote about this a little bit last year and I did some intense Christmas music listening last year, and this is what I have determined.
I think that the best chance I have to get through this extremely busy (and often infuriating) time at work is to delve right into the season. Surround myself with the positives and disregard the people running around buying their over privileged kids the newest technology that I cannot afford. For lack of a better phrase, to 'go to my happy place'.
You are not going to see me really change my opinion on the music or decorating for that matter. I know plenty of people who start putting Christmas decorations up before the turkey is out of the oven Thanksgiving night. Bully for them if that's what they want. I approach holidays one at a time. There shouldn't be any overlap. Plus there has to be some down time with your house or apartment all gussied up. A return to normalcy for a week or so before the whirlwind that is the last month of the year. For all the complaining people do about the retail giants putting Christmas stuff out in October, I sure do see a lot of decorating in November. Just an observation. Christmas is the one holiday where we seem to go 'all out' for. At the moment, we have three totes of decorations and that doesn't even include all the ornaments for our little tree.
The other major change when December rolls around is the music. For one month, the music is all upbeat and happy. It gives me a break from the music I normally listen to which is nice to have. No political underlying lyrics or depressing ballads or heavy metal. I love the classics from Bing Crosby to the Rat Pack to Elle Fitzgerald. There are some modern versions of the oldies (but goodies) which are well done too. However, I have determined that from track one to the end, my favorite album has to be the Charlie Brown Soundtrack. I wrote about this a little bit last year and I did some intense Christmas music listening last year, and this is what I have determined.
I think that the best chance I have to get through this extremely busy (and often infuriating) time at work is to delve right into the season. Surround myself with the positives and disregard the people running around buying their over privileged kids the newest technology that I cannot afford. For lack of a better phrase, to 'go to my happy place'.
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