Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Making my friend's day
One of the true joys of life is being able to help your friends and family out, or even on some special occasion suprise them with something that you know they will truly enjoy. Tonight I called a friend to invite him to a football game. The game is the Tennessee and Kentucky game, last of the season and we will be sitting third row from the field on the visitor's side. These are truly awesome seats and I could hear in his voice that he was thrilled at the invitation. Nothing makes me happier than giving a friend joy like that. It will be fun day and I am looking forward to it, not only do I get to see a good game, but the opportunity to spend a whole day with an old friend is even better.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The lengths we go
Today I had one of those things happen that all parents do not look forward to but know will one day happen. Do not worry nothing happended to one of my kids only one of their prized possesions. My daughter Lulu is almost 2 and one of her favorite things in this world is her SpongeBob SquarePants suitcase with the handle and wheels. She drags it all over the house and plays with it all the time. Today I walked into my office where she had left it, only to discover that one of my cats had urinated all over it. Not only is cat pee one of the most disgusting things in the world, it also ruins most everything it touches unless you can wash it out. A suitcase is not something that you can throw in the washing machine. So Daddy set out on a quest with close friend "Robert" in tow.
We started at Kmart in Ft. O where the original was bought, but to no avail. Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, and Academy Sports later and still no bag. I found many sponge bob back packs, just no suitcases with handles and wheels. You see that is the key she loves to haul that handle around and drag that case everywhere. So feeling beaten and thinking I was going to have to try and convince her that another style was really hers, I made one last stop. I walked into the Kmart in Hixson and searched all over the store. After a few minutes there to my aching eyes did appear a blue SpongeBob suitcase with handle and wheels. Not only was it what I was looking for in theory, it was also exactly like hers style and all. I was lucky enough to make it back home before they returned from daycare and set it in the exact spot where she left it. She walked in the door straight to my office and grabbed it and yelled "Spongebob Daddy!!" Not only did I divert a crisis, but I made sure that one of my childrens prized possesions was not ruined. Any of you out there with children know why i went to such great lengths. I may not can protect them from everything in this world, but like most of you other parents out there I will sure give it hell trying.
We started at Kmart in Ft. O where the original was bought, but to no avail. Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, and Academy Sports later and still no bag. I found many sponge bob back packs, just no suitcases with handles and wheels. You see that is the key she loves to haul that handle around and drag that case everywhere. So feeling beaten and thinking I was going to have to try and convince her that another style was really hers, I made one last stop. I walked into the Kmart in Hixson and searched all over the store. After a few minutes there to my aching eyes did appear a blue SpongeBob suitcase with handle and wheels. Not only was it what I was looking for in theory, it was also exactly like hers style and all. I was lucky enough to make it back home before they returned from daycare and set it in the exact spot where she left it. She walked in the door straight to my office and grabbed it and yelled "Spongebob Daddy!!" Not only did I divert a crisis, but I made sure that one of my childrens prized possesions was not ruined. Any of you out there with children know why i went to such great lengths. I may not can protect them from everything in this world, but like most of you other parents out there I will sure give it hell trying.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My New Music
Being a huge music fan, I have made a few musical purchases the last few days and wanted to share quick reviews of all. The first purchase was "God Willing and the creek don't rise" by Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs. This is an awesome album from front to back. There is not a bad song on it and to go a step further there are songs with many differing sounds. You can find instances of the blues, rock, and even a little folksy feel. It to me is a must buy for any serious music fan.
My next selection was "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry. Much like her first album this is a fun, flirty, and serious album. The radio already features "Teenage Dream" and "California Girls" featuring Snoop Dogg, but the rest of the tracks have a good sound as well. I find it to be an awesome summery feeling album. It is one of those that you throw in the player, roll down the windows and just sing along at the top of your lungs. Finally the aquisition that I am most proud of was "Nothing but the best" by the Chairman of the Board himself Frank Sinatra. This album of course is a greatest hits collection, but it is so much more than that. It is a must own for any CD collection. This album makes one long for the days of the old when a fedora and a nice suit were the norm for a man on the town. These are just my recent purchases, but check back from time to time for more musical purchases.
My next selection was "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry. Much like her first album this is a fun, flirty, and serious album. The radio already features "Teenage Dream" and "California Girls" featuring Snoop Dogg, but the rest of the tracks have a good sound as well. I find it to be an awesome summery feeling album. It is one of those that you throw in the player, roll down the windows and just sing along at the top of your lungs. Finally the aquisition that I am most proud of was "Nothing but the best" by the Chairman of the Board himself Frank Sinatra. This album of course is a greatest hits collection, but it is so much more than that. It is a must own for any CD collection. This album makes one long for the days of the old when a fedora and a nice suit were the norm for a man on the town. These are just my recent purchases, but check back from time to time for more musical purchases.
Football is Religion
I am not sure if anyone is more excited than me that Football is back. I love all sports but there is nothing like football. I love the whole atmosphere, the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers from the concession stands, the sound of the band and the fans in the stands, and the visions of bone jarring hits. There is no other game like it.
In the south football is like religion. Each team with their legions of followers believe that their way is the right one. You have the "Big Orange", the "Tide", the "Dawgs", the "Dores", the "Bayou Bengals", the "Rebs", the "Cats" and the list goes on and on, but what all those teams have in common is they are all in the SEC. In the SEC we don't hate all other conferences in America, we don't have to waste the time. The other conferences know the SEC is the gold standard by which all others are measured against. Ohio State comes out every year just as this year and is ranked in the top 5, but by years end they either fall dramatically, or get their ass handed to them in the BCS game by an SEC powerhouse.
Only in the south will you find children named Bear, Dooley, or Herschel, after their parents football icons. Only in the south do we have weddings that are colored like a favorite team, or receptions and services around game time. In the south if your wedding happens to fall on the same day as Alabama Vs. Auburn, or Georgia Vs. Florida you might not see the turn out that you normally would. It may not be normal, but that is what makes it awesome. Only in the south will we sit in the stands and watch our favorite team get their ass kicked and stay until the final whistle. I once sat in Sanford Stadium and watched Alabama beat Georgia by 42, while people around me were still reasoning how the "Dawgs" could come back. It is a passion that most will never understand, but for those who live it, it is just the way it is. As a man, I do not always hear everything that my wife, or mother says to me, and when quizzed will most of the time get it wrong, but if you ask me questions about SEC Football from 10 years ago, I can probably answer easily. I may not always remember my moms birthday, or my parents anniversary, but I can guarantee you that I remember "Run Lindsey Run!!!". I don't always remember my Pin Number, but I can never forget "WE just stomped on their face with a hobnail Boot and broke their nose!!!" Football is a religion in the south and church is about to be in session.
In the south football is like religion. Each team with their legions of followers believe that their way is the right one. You have the "Big Orange", the "Tide", the "Dawgs", the "Dores", the "Bayou Bengals", the "Rebs", the "Cats" and the list goes on and on, but what all those teams have in common is they are all in the SEC. In the SEC we don't hate all other conferences in America, we don't have to waste the time. The other conferences know the SEC is the gold standard by which all others are measured against. Ohio State comes out every year just as this year and is ranked in the top 5, but by years end they either fall dramatically, or get their ass handed to them in the BCS game by an SEC powerhouse.
Only in the south will you find children named Bear, Dooley, or Herschel, after their parents football icons. Only in the south do we have weddings that are colored like a favorite team, or receptions and services around game time. In the south if your wedding happens to fall on the same day as Alabama Vs. Auburn, or Georgia Vs. Florida you might not see the turn out that you normally would. It may not be normal, but that is what makes it awesome. Only in the south will we sit in the stands and watch our favorite team get their ass kicked and stay until the final whistle. I once sat in Sanford Stadium and watched Alabama beat Georgia by 42, while people around me were still reasoning how the "Dawgs" could come back. It is a passion that most will never understand, but for those who live it, it is just the way it is. As a man, I do not always hear everything that my wife, or mother says to me, and when quizzed will most of the time get it wrong, but if you ask me questions about SEC Football from 10 years ago, I can probably answer easily. I may not always remember my moms birthday, or my parents anniversary, but I can guarantee you that I remember "Run Lindsey Run!!!". I don't always remember my Pin Number, but I can never forget "WE just stomped on their face with a hobnail Boot and broke their nose!!!" Football is a religion in the south and church is about to be in session.
Welcome Back to My thoughts
I am sitting here at my laptop letting my thoughts run out of my head and it is amazing to me how many thoughts seem to drift back to my children. I can remember a day when all I thought about was women, sex, and drinking, but now at the ripe old age of 35 it is the thoughts of my children, wife, and simple things like what is for dinner that seem to dominate my mind. Today is Thursday and for Chrissy and I that is date night. If you are married and do not have a date night, this is something that I highly recommend. It is not that I want to be away from my children, but for this one night if even for a couple of hours, Chrissy and I can talk to just each other about adult things. It can be refreshing to hear her work problems, or triumphs without hearing "DADDY!!!" in the background. This is a night when we can go eat anywhere, because we do not have to worry about wether or not the chosen place serves chicken nuggets and french fries. These nights help you reconnect as a couple and not lose the reasons that you are together in the first place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)