Friday, November 25, 2011

11/25/11

The LL and Megan returned at 4:30AM and Brandon left for work at the same time.  Siena and I got a good night's sleep and ready to take on the movies this afternoon.  We'll have to wait for the ladies to awaken, I'm afraid it will be a rough day for them.

For some strange reason I have been thinking about phobias.  The BM is not afraid of much but there are two things that do get me.  I am perified of snakes and clowns make me uncomfortable.  It really doesn't matter if the snake is big or small, I will get out of the way and sometimes even run.  My legs don't move me nearly as fast as in my youth, but they can pick it up a little when a snake is around.  I really don't know where my fear originated, I guess it is due to the fact that I don't know if it is poisonous or not.  I have always figured if you stay around to try and determine that, it may be too late.

Now clowns are different.  I am not petrified of them, I just think they are creepy.  Their faces are painted this ghostly color with bright markings in different designs.  I don't find them amusing, attractive, or endearing,  The clothes they where are not normal either.  I can be around them, but I don't want to touch them, talk to them, or even engage in anything with them.  They need to keep their space from me and I'll be fine.

So the Christmas season has officially started.  I am not a fan of the holidays.  I know, Bah Humbug!  I love it for my grandbabies and I do like the music.  I just think it doesn't have the meaning that was intended.  As I stated previously in another blog, I am not overly religious, but I do believe in God and Jesus Christ and that's what Christmas is about.  I just wish we'd just wait until a few days before, gather family again and celebrate.  Gathering the family is stressful.  The older you get, the more difficult it becomes.  The extended families that happen through marriage of your children and them living their own lives make those traditions when we were younger only memories.  This year we will have Chrismas on December 11th.  It is the only time we can get everyone together.  This is no one's fault, just the way it is.  Maybe this is another reason I am not a fan of the holidays.

Off to another day of fun with my granddaughter.  That is something I am a fan, spending time with her always brightens my day!  Happy Friday.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning and the turkey is in the oven with the Prime Rib Roast getting at room temperature. Brandon and Siena are getting the Christmas lights untangled with Megan and the LL going through the ads.  The BM is seated and in position for a day of football.

Thanksgiving is a day we give thanks for the freedoms we have, worshipping the God we believe in, thinking of family and friends we care about, and being fortunate to be born in a country that allows us to have the means to do what we please with the right worth ethic and education to succeed.

Things I am thankful for:

  • Family that cares about each other and supports all in whatever they choose to do.
  • A God that is loving and fiorgiving, boy do I need that.
  • Grandchildren that are different as night and day, but I love them all the same.
  • The Lovely Lady that supports and loves me no matter how many faults I have and those faults are extensive.
  • Public schools that gives every child an opportunity to be as fortunate as I have been.
  • Children that have succeeded in spite of the many words of advice the LL and I have given them.
  • The smell of fresh cut grass on a beautiful Spring Day.
  • A big old steak cooked just right for me to enjoy.
  • The Bengals, because it gives me something to hang onto that is really pretty meaningless.
  • Kentucky because it is a state of hospitality and beauty like no other.
  • A golf course that is forgiving to my errant shots (haven't found many of those).
  • Songs that when I listen to them I think, I should've written that.
  • My Republican friends, even though they are generally incorrect in their thinking, but are stubborn enough to believe they are:)
  • My Democrat friends, and they are fewer than the previously mentioned, because it helps me realize there is some sense of sanity in this country:)
  • A country that allows us to choose who does govern us.
  • The men and women of the armed forces who fight for all those things we take for granted.
Finally, my cousin Kia has been diagnosed with kidney cancer.  I am thankful that she has the family and friends to help her beat this thing, plus the faith in a God that will help her get through the rough tmes that may come.  I love you cuz' we are all thinking and praying for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

11/23/11

The LL and I arrived in Atlanta last evening and we are ready to spend some family time with Brandon, Meagan, and Siena.  Airport travel isn't fun, but we made it a few minutes late and considering the holidays it was really pretty good.

We have some shopping to do this morning for Thanksgiving dinner, then I have a couple of meetings.  We're going to spend the evening at Stone Mountain.  I've never been there, but they are in full holiday season mode.  I think we'll be letting Siena do whatever she wants with Santa and the rides.

Back to the airport thing.  It is unbelievable how much the Cincinnati airport has changed.  There was no one there at 5:00 when we arrived.  We were the only people at the security check point.  Five years ago we would have had to wait 45 minutes, at least, to get through security.  It's sad with the number of flights they have lost.  Without a vibrant airport, the local economy will suffer.  I remember when you could fly anywhere nonstop.  There are very few places to fly nonstop to now.  Delta held us hostage with prices, then abandoned the area.  I don't know what can be done, but we need to add flights or we have a first class facilty with no use.  So sad.

Atlanta has this new HOV lane called the Peach Express.  You have to pay a toll to ride in it.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  You pay an annual or monthly fee, get a sticker, and then it's yours to use.  If you drive in it without a sticker, they send you a ticket from the many cameras along the way.  So someone like me that really doesn't know the rules could use the lane, get home, then a couple of weeks later get a ticket in the mail.  Thats tourist friendly!

Well gotta go and shop for the Thanksgiving dinner!  Catch you later.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

11/22/11

The BM and his lovely lady are hoppin' on a plane an heading to Atlanta to see the eldest son and family.  Thanksgiving Day is one of my favorites because I do three things, eat, watch football, and lay around and take several naps (if i didn't have to go to the restroom every 30 minutes I wouldn't have to move, I'm still waiting for the invention that can solve that dilemma).  I am REALLY good at all three.

I won't pay attention to the lovely lady and daughter -in-law read through all the ads, make a plan on when they are going to leave and map out their Black Friday.  They will probably start shopping sometime around midnight.  It probably won't surprise you, but I don't get it.  The LL already has her holiday shopping completed and the credit card will only ding, ding, ding on something that no one needs.  But I better not say anything because the LL had has a 3 gig memory of things she says I do that makes no sense and she can rattle them off at warp speed.  So I'll just lean over , take another bite of the turkey sandwich, wash it down with a beverage and nod off again until the announcer on the football game starts hollering on another great play made by the Cowboys.

Now I do like Thanksgiving dinner.  I don't particularly like turkey but I do on Thanksgiving.  I think it is the emotional part of all those grandmother feasts I had when I was a youngin'.  I really like dressing, gravy, green bean casserole, and the pecan pie.  I don't care for cranberry sauce out of can that still has its mold form intact, anything that is encased in some kind of jello, and any salad that doesn't have just ranch on it.  How 'bout you?

BM is concerned about the Bengals game this weekend against the Brownies.  They haven't played that stinker game yet and every team does.  We'll see if the same old Bengals show up and lose one they shouldn't.  I had resigned myself to the fact that this was going to be a rebuilding season and I'd be happy with ANY win they had.  But no, they've played much better than expected and have a real shot at the playoffs as a wild card.  That means I'll start getting angry when they lose a game and that just isn't good for the old BM's heart.  Thus, I'll return from Atlanta on Saturday, go to the game on Sunday, and get way too involved in this silly game.  I'm back to - if they win, my Monday's are awesome, if they lose, I'd just like to sulk and be left alone.

Happy birthday to my nephew Brent.  Take care of that new little one, she's a cutie!!

Hopefully, I'll have time to catch you tomorrow.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Random Thoughts 11/21/11

Periodically I am going to write all these things that roll around in my mind.  Sometimes they'll be opinionated, emotional, amusing, angry, sad, confusing, stupid, you get the point.  I have spent the last ten years of my life on the road and things just pop into my mind that when I get to my destination often pop out.  I'm gonna try and remember as many as I can and share to those limited few that you might enjoy.

My background is an educator at all levels, as a teacher, coach, and administrator.  I am not overly religious and sometimes am uncomfotable with those that are.  I am a father to two sons with daughter in laws, two stepchildren with one son in law and one still living at home at age 23.  But I'm most happy to share that I have three grandchildren with one on the way.  Finally, I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world who is exciting, maddening, and really the only person I pay attention to when I have to.

My interests are the BENGALS (my one and only real weakness), most sports, history, '70's music, reading, humor, broadway plays, and lots of other stuff.

My random thoughts will be about all of these and much more.  I usually spend a lot of thinking "why".
Here are some:

Why do schools ring a bell 6-8 times a day and give students 4-6 minutes with few rules to go someplace they can get to in 2 minutes or less and wonder why they "get in trouble"?

Why do women have to go into excrutiating details in telling a story?  Stories have a beginning, middle, and end.  Details bore men.  I really don't need to know what someone was wearing to get the gist of the story.

Why do grandchildren do the things your children did and you thinks it's ok and you beat your kids for the same behavior?

Why do some Christaians judge people publicly when the Jesus they follow did not?

Finally, why do I hate those people that wave those stupid yellow towels?  I am sure the majority are good decent people, just don't wave that thing around me or in my stadium?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!