Thursday, September 27, 2012

Eureeka!

We have a problem in America.  Drugs are a huge issue.  Drugs have caused stupidity, robbery, assaults, and even murders.  There is just so much that happens because of the drug crisis in America.  Well, America, I can honestly say that I have finally found an alternative to crack.  I have finally figured out something that people would do considerable damage for that won't kill them.  I should get a medal for this.

Wednesday, the class I work in at school went to Homestead Creamery in Wirtz, VA.  This is a local dairy farm and creamery that sells butter, ice creams, and milks.  The food is tremendous.  They actually sell an orange cream milk that tastes just like a Dreamsicle.  They usually give touring groups free samples milks and ice creams for the people to taste.  My favorite flavor ice cream is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.  I usually go with it with little to no hesitation.  However, for some odd reason, I decided to attempt to taste a new flavor I'd never thought would make a good ice cream flavor.  Now, I'm pretty much jonesing for it everyday.  I honestly think I'll buy about 10 cartons of it when it hits the Kroger stores.

Pumpkin flavored ice cream is amazing.  If you ever get a chance to have Homestead Creamery Pumpkin Ice Cream, get it.  Enjoy it.  After that, you can thank me for introducing you to this glorious ice cream.  I truly believe that this can replace crack as the most addictive thing ever.  If you're really wanting to stop smoking cigarettes, drinking liquor, or watching terrible reality shows, replace them with Pumpkin Ice Cream.  I'm that high on it.  And the best thing, you don't get high off of it.

There you go, Nancy Reagan, if you introduced this during your Just Say No campaign, I pretty much guarantee that the drug war would have been nothing but a water balloon fight. I do expect a large paycheck and royalties from this breakthrough.  I would say that Homestead Creamery deserves something, but the sales they'll make from their Pumpkin Ice Cream is more than enough.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Turn Back Tuesday

I'm turning the clock back to last night because, quite frankly, I'm still stewing.  Feel free to enjoy this.

I'm sure most of you have seen, read about, or heard about the incident that happened during the end of Monday Night Football.  I want to preface this by saying that this has nothing to do with my love for my Packers.  I do want to say that this epidemic is going on across the league.  There are so many terrible things that are going on in this, and last night's game was really the icing on the cake.

Here's video of the play...


Now I don't know about you, but when one person catches a ball and another person just kind of throws his hand on the ball, the person who caught the ball has possession, not the person who threw their hand in there.

This is just the terrible refereeing that has plagued the league this year because of the referee lock out.  The refs are locked out because they want a pension plan as opposed to a 401(k).  That's pretty much the brass tacks of it all.  So instead of the actual referees who have trained for years for this, we get a group of incompetent men who are trying their best, but are in way over their heads.  I've seen so many former players, current players, and other athletes weigh in that they are baffled by the calls that are made.

This could cause a big problem in the grand scheme of things.  These replacement referees could be easily used to fulfill bets in Vegas.  They could be compromising the integrity of the game for their own selfish interests.  It's actually happened.  One of the replacement refs is an unashamed Saints fan, which is fine.  Except when that referee will be officiating a Saints game.  Yeah, that almost happened.  One of the replacement refs told a player to do well because that player was on his fantasy team.  That can't be happening in this league.  There is absolutely no way that this can be acceptable.

I know that the commissioner of the league, the actual referees, and the NFL owners have seen all this happening.  Of course the league will write it off and keep the decision final, it protects their interests.  The NFL doesn't want to own up to defeat.  However, the pride of the NFL leadership is taking away from the fun of the game.

And about the integrity of the game, remember the Bounty Program in New Orleans?  The game itself is suffering to almost biblical proportions due to the pride of the ownership.  It's really terrible that this is happening.

I hope the commissioner can see this blog and understand how sick this situation makes fans.  I already left one of the 70,000 voice mails on his phone...

Monday, September 24, 2012

Monday Top Ten

Sorry, I didn't do an open letter this past Saturday.  I was just so worn out from all the things I do over the course of a week that I just couldn't bring my creative juices up.  Today, I have a great amount of things on my mind.  Today's top ten is a list of the top ten things that are socially unacceptable that I really want to do.

10.  Ask How Much a Five Dollar Footlong Costs
Something about asking questions that answer themselves just makes me giggle.  The joke used to be asking how many layers were in a 7-layer burrito, however the burrito has been discontinued.  So, it's the sandwich that shall now be mocked.

9.  Celebrate Columbus Day with an Invasion
Truth be told, Columbus basically rolled up on an island and took over.  I want to do that.  It think this Columbus Day, I'm going to roll up into someone's house, sit on their couch and tell them I live there.

8.  Ask a Random Girl to Marry Me...in Front of Her Man
I don't know why I want to do this, but it seems fun.  Seems kind of funny too.

7.  Answer Everything with, "Because I'm Black?"
I've never done this for a whole day.  I've gone a couple minutes at the most, but not a whole day.  I will do this, and maybe record it.

6.  Streak
I'll probably never do this...I've done it on a hallway at college, but never outside in the open.  Just seems like a fun thing to do.

5.  Use a Women's Restroom
Women always use the men's room.  When they do that, it's resourceful.  When men use a women's restroom, they're perverts.  Oh, just a heads up women...when you use our toilet, don't complain about the seat being up.  That's our toilet.

4.  Drive-By with a Water Gun
This happened to my friend in college.  I want to do that now.  Just roll up on unsuspecting people and shoot them with a super soaker or something.  Maybe even water balloons.

3.  Kiss an Irish Person
You ever see one of those t-shirts that say "Kiss Me I'm Irish"?  Well, next time I see someone wearing it, I'm taking them up on their offer.  I just want to know what they'd do if I actually did that.

2.  Put a Ring on It
Beyonce says that if you liked it, you'd put a ring on it.  Next time I see something I like, I'll find a ring and put it on it.  What it is, I'm not sure.

1. Bring 13 Items to the Express Lane
The sign clearly says 12 items or less.  Just doing one more is more annoying than anything else.  I probably would never do that because I've been the victim of it.  Most people wouldn't notice, but I do.  Because I hate it happening to me.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Music Friday



I haven't done a Music Friday in a while.  I don't really know why I picked this song other than sometimes, it's good to have that cool chick for a friend.  The problem is that some women take a simple invite as a friend and turn it into a marriage proposal.  Sometimes, a guy just appreciates a female's company as just that, company.  I wish more people can see platonic relationships as just platonic.

It seems like this society is so romantic relationship oriented that sometimes a simple call or text can be read into 100 different ways to Sunday.  It's just silly for us to only consider that every single conversation with the opposite sex is for a certain purpose.  In fact, I guess I can understand how people can think that.  With all these reality shows and such telling people that you haven't done anything until you do something with someone, women always are on guard.  There aren't enough people with enough respect for themselves or others to go about these kinds of things with a bit of dignity anymore.  Yeah I know that's harsh, but it's the way it is.  Bring back friendship and effort.  Bring back trying to show a little respect before becoming something exclusive.

And if a dude just invites you to dinner or something nice, don't be all guarded and pretend he's all into you.  Sometimes, he just thinks you're cool.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Epidemic

There is a problem going on in America.  Something that has plagued society for years, but seems to be a bigger deal this time around.

Yesterday, I received a text from my roommate to pick up a chicken sandwich and a burger for him.  I didn't mind doing it for him.  When I get to the drive-thru, I order a McDouble and a McChicken.  What I heard next was mind-boggling.

"I'm sorry, we don't have the meat for the McDouble."

I'm sorry, you are a burger joint.  Since when do you run out of burger?  That's ridiculous.  There's really no excuse for running out of your main product.  That's on management.  I don't get how that can happen.  The nice cashier said that it was because it was a busy day and the sold out.  Well, that whole recession thing isn't true if people have enough money to spend on McDonald's to the point they run out of product.

It's not like this hasn't happened before...



...or not.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Hectic Hump Day

I haven't really done this in a while.  I have a lot on my mind.  Here I go.

1.  The joy I see in my fella's face when I react to a bad card in UNO makes my exhaustion worth it.  The flying household items when he loses, not so much.

2.  Sometimes, I have to sit back and process all the craziness in my life.

3.  I honestly love my co-workers.  I truly think they are the reason I keep on going.  That and God's provisions and willingness to supply me with energy when I need it the most.

4.  I don't understand how college conferences can use the geographical names they go by with the teams that are in it.

5.  They say Dr. Pepper Ten is not for women.  It's not for men with well working taste buds either.

6.  McDonald's ran out of beef for their burgers.  They say it's been busy.  I say the people aren't nearly as suffering as the Democrats or Republicans want them to think they are because of the other.

7.  Mitt Romney's comments about how 47% of the people will vote for Obama no matter what is a bit short sighted.  Just makes people think that he's disenfranchised and clueless about the people he's claiming to want to serve as President.  He really has to work on that.

8.  Barack Obama needs to stop underestimating his supporters with promises that he can't keep.  Although I do admit that Republican filibustering has been a huge part of the reason his promises were broken, you can't deny that he hasn't quite lived up to the expectations.  It seems like he's just saying things and hoping that the people that love him will just blindly follow him.  It's not fair to the supporters to have to support Obama just because he's one of them.

9.  I really want to see what it would take to run for President in 2016.  I wonder if I could run simply using my Facebook profile, blog, and a YouTube channel.  Maybe buy billboard space in some major cities and really get my name out there.  Of course, I'd run as an independent because I hate Republicans and Democrats alike.

10.  Sometimes, my heart hurts for hurting people.  I want so bad to be there for them, but my busy schedule and distance kind of puts a whammy on that idea.  Just know that I'm here for you.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Turn Back Tuesday

Today's flashback goes back to me describing my celebrity crush.  Enjoy.

Tyrone and Beadle, sitting in a tree

So, what have I learned from that blog till now?  Well for one, none of my friends know Michelle Beadle.  Second, it'll probably be a while before I find that Michelle Beadle type lady.

Truth be told, I'm okay with that.  I know that eventually, there will be that perfect girl for me.  The one that I look at and say, "oh snap, where have you been all my life?"  I've met some women who started out pretty great and ended up being a tad nutty or just plain ungrateful.  Life sometimes throws the wrong person at you.  That's when you stop taking pitches from life and letting God throw the pitch.

Yeah I know, I should just let God throw the girls at me from the start.  However, I'm a human.  Sometimes I let the eyes tell me something that God doesn't want me to hear.  That was a pretty clever line, I should run with it.

Anyway, one day I'll find that special someone.  For now though, I am having fun with the special ones.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday Top Ten

I wasn't sure what to make a top ten list of.  In fact, I wasn't sure exactly what to talk about.  I guess I'll just go in a sports themed direction.  Sorry, mom.  I know you hate sports.

Today's top ten is basically, the top ten moments from this past weekend of football.

10.  Penn State's First Win Under Bill O'Brien
This win was needed for the program.  The Nittany Lions needed to seriously get out of the shadow of Joe Paterno.  The whole Sandusky thing left a black mark for years.  That win helps everyone realize that football goes beyond Paterno.

9.  Empty Miami Stadium
Sun Life?  More like Done Life...
The University of Miami was a national super power.  They were known for having swagger and panache that pro teams were jealous of.  Last Saturday, they fell to dark times.  Not sure what to say about this except that Miami isn't what they used to be.  It's a shame too, because Miami used to be why people watched football, either to see them win or to see them lose.






8.  Replacement Referees
These guys are terrible.  I'm sure Commissioner Goodell is looking at these games thinking how terrible these refs are.  When they called a clear pass downfield a fumble, that was it for me.  Dan Dierdorf tried to justify the call by saying that it could have looked like fumble in real time.  Greg Gumbel quickly 86'd that idea.  It's just sad.  Goodell needs to just give the real referees whatever they are asking for and more.  Football can't go through this.

7.  Liberty vs Montana
My Flames lost, it was sad.  However, the Flames played a true traditional FCS power.  Montana has been on top for years.  It was huge for my Alma mater to be able to play someone with that much prestige.  Sometimes, it's more about the journey than the victory.

6.  Stanford beats University of Southern California
Southern California was supposed to be the national champion.  They were supposed to dominate their conference.  When Stanford beat them, especially without Andrew Luck, it showed that anything can happen.

5.  Arkansas' Downfall
Last week, they lost to University of Louisiana-Monroe.  This week, they got stomped by Alabama.  Everyone said Arkansas would be the monkey wrench in LSU and Alabama's plans for being champions.  Not really sure what this does.  All I know is that Arkansas failed the minute Bobby Petrino decided to cheat on his wife with an intern.  Shame, really.

4.  My Gamecocks
They haven't lost, yet.  I'm very happy about this.  We have a very very tough test against Missouri this Saturday.  And, it's on CBS.  The Gamecocks are terrible on CBS.  However, I'm enjoying the ride so far.

3.  Packers Win
Last week, everyone but the Packers won in the NFC North. This week, everyone but the Packers lost in the NFC North.  Doesn't matter, cream rises to the top.  I'm very happy that my Packers have brought it back.  Let's keep it going.

2.  My Fantasy Team
My team has scored 177 points this week.  I'm pretty proud of that.  The best part is that I could have scored 186 points if I started Brent Celek instead of Vernon Davis.

1.  Arizona beats New England
I'm not particularly happy about that.  However, it just goes to show that you can't just assume your team is above everyone else.  You have to go out there and show your power every week.  Any given Sunday, anyone can be beat.  If you're not on your P's and Q's, you're going down.  I'm just kind of shocked it happened to a normally disciplined team like the Patriots...okay, I giggled a little when I saw the final score.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Open Letter Saturday

I'm sure most of the people who will read this will agree with me.

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

I don't know what happened, but you seem to be smelling your own funk.  How in the world could you possibly think that banning large sugary drinks would some how save the people from obesity?  Look, I totally agree that our nation is the unhealthiest, by far.  I agree that we do way too much eating and sitting and not nearly enough moving and shaking.  Our foods are processed, injected, and manufactured.  There is just a lot of scary things that are happening to our foods.  

I just have to wonder why you think stopping the size of sweet drinks will do anything.  How about making regulations that restaurants and stores can't use preservatives at all in their foods?  Where are the food police when some cafeterias, if not all, are using ammonia in their meats?  I'll tell you where they are, collecting the money from whoever is lining their pockets.  

It's ridiculous that people feel like they need to tell people how to eat.  In the end, it is the choice of the people on what to do with their bodies.  If they want to eat all gross and never stop drinking sodas, that's on them.  I know that last statement on bodies and such will be used for other arguments, but I'll say that belly fat and babies are completely separate from each other.  However, that's for another time and place.

I just don't like hearing that sodas have to be regulated.  Especially when there are liquor stores selling 40 ounces and grocery stores selling that Four Loco mess, it makes me wonder what you have against sugar.  

I understand banning smoking in restaurants because that second hand smoke can hurt you.  I understand noise ordinances.  However when you start telling the people that sugary drinks aren't going to be tolerated when there are 100 things worse, you start to make me question your integrity.  Jesse Ventura said it best, "if you want to know why anyone does anything in life, follow the money."  Basically, let's see what financial gain banning certain sized sugary drinks will bring to NYC and to Mayor Bloomberg.

But for now, I bid you a good evening as I enjoy my 30+ ounce Coke from McDonald's.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Thinking...

Sometimes, my mind kind of wanders.  By sometimes, I mean all the stinking time.  Today it wandered a lot. I had a lot on my mind.  There are some crazy things happening in my life.  Hearing some strange news doesn't help much.  I often wonder why things happen.  I mean I should be aware that sometimes God puts things into your life that makes you think about where you are.  Particularly, makes you think about where you are in your life and in the eyes of the Lord above.

I know where I want to be in my life.  I know what I want my career to be.  I know where I am called.  The problem is, a lot of outside forces aren't cooperating.  Makes me wonder if I'm doing the right thing when that happens.  It makes me question my calling.  Sometimes it feels like the mean neighborhood kid has my favorite hat and keeps running around the giant tree while I'm chasing him.  Kind of unfair.

However then I think about where I am in God's eyes.  Am I doing it right?  Am I following the right call?  It makes me question if God has been kind of pulling my leg about my calling.  I know He's not, but sometimes I have to wonder if I'm in the right place.

Now to share how I know I'm in the right place.  The fact that God has blessed me in everything I do.  The fact that even though things aren't perfectly in order.  The fact that everything is kind of fuzzy, but I still am standing strong.  Truth be told, I couldn't possibly be happier than where I am right now.  I love the people around me.  I love the work I do.  I love the things I'm doing outside of career.  It seems like everything is kind of coming together a little better.  I truly believe it is only a matter of time before I am where I, and most importantly God wants me to be.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm there now.  The end game is a little up in the air, but I think I'll get to that goal soon enough.

In the meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy every step of this journey.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Turn Back Tuesday

Usually, I post a blog that I had already done in the past and reflect upon what I was thinking when I typed it.  I also add new thoughts to the opinion. And in some instances, my opinions change, or at the very least are tweaked.  Obviously, today is a very interesting and somber day.  So instead of bringing back an old classic, I'm going to just talk about my feelings about this day.

A lot of you may not know this, but I was born in Brooklyn, NY.  I do claim South Carolina as my home, mostly because most of the significant events of my life happened there.  However, there is always that New Yorker in me that comes out when needed.  The day that the attacks on our country happened, the New Yorker in me really shined.  I was angry.  I was upset.  One of the coolest landmarks I'd ever been to was destroyed.  I still remember the field trip we went on in the third grade to see the Twin Towers.  When those towers fell, it ticked me off royally.  I wanted to fight anyone who said that Allah was a god of peace.  I wanted to give anyone who cried the words Jihad a black eye.  This is real talk, people.  

However, I quickly and readily realized that God can bring anything bad and turn it to good.  There is always that silver lining that we talk about constantly.  What happened after that attack pretty much showed everyone that we as Americans can come together for a common cause.  That common cause is...well, I'm not sure.  It's been so long since we were united in something that I kind of lost track of what it was we're trying to do in the first place.  When you put up a poster or a bumper sticker that says "Never Forget" and then flip off the driver who cut you off, you're being a hypocrite.  When you boycott a pizza parlor simply because the owner picked up the president in a show of love and appreciation, you're kind of telling everyone that God Bless America is just a cute little phrase or a nice song to sing at a Yankees game.  It's really a whole lot of bull you're spewing, truth be told.  

Yeah I know, I'm being critical, but I have a right to be.  You go about, telling everyone how 9/11 was the worst tragedy you ever experienced and that it made you realize that you need to change, yet you constantly disrespect and spit on other people's pursuits of happiness because it's not what your happiness would entail.  It's really a crappy way to go about life.  You keep telling everyone how you were affected heavily by it, but you would just as soon tell a CEO of a corporation that answering a question honestly that you're boycotting his establishment in the name of rights and freedoms.  What kind of sense does that make when you want rights, yet as soon as someone questions that right, you fly off the handle and scream intolerance.  

Look, I like you America.  You're a great country, greatest in the world if you ask me.  If you disagree, you should consider going to the country you do think is better and try that one.  Not trying to kick you out, but you shouldn't waste your time in a place that doesn't make you happy (see "dating relationships" for similar opinions).  However, America you have lost your way.  You have forgotten why we bonded together on 9/11/01.  You have constantly pissed on the memory of those who died in those plane crashes, fought to defeat those who performed the heinous acts, and the families of those victims with your constant arguing over who or what is better.  

God can't bless America if Americans can't bless each other.  It's not a fair trade.  It's actually kind of wrong to ask for blessings and well wishes if all you're going to do is ignore the unity.  This election is a perfect example of how not to do things.  So much, "I'm better than this guy" or "this guy can't do it like me."  What happened to, "I'm going to bring some ideas to the table, let's ignore the greedy people and do what's right." That's not keeping 9/11 on the brain when you only succumb to the rich people.  I'm sure the criminals who did the attacks on 9/11 didn't care about how rich someone on the plane was.  Their goal was to ruin us, and truth be told, I think they accomplished their goal.  When we are constantly battling and arguing and forgetting to remember that day, we are nothing but ruined.

So go on and post your banners, flags, pictures, and cute, whimsical Photoshopped and Instagram'd Facebook posts.  I'll just treat people like God wants me to treat them, and we'll see who remembered what.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Why I Haven't Blogged In a While

I didn't blog on Friday or Saturday.  I'm sorry about that.  However it had been a tough week for me.  However, I must say that I couldn't have begun to get through it without God.  God has been nothing short of amazing to me.

I always wonder why people don't trust God more.  It seems like everyone just tries to get through on their own for as long as possible before finally succumbing that they need some help from God.  I also don't get how people can live without believing in God.  I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.  In fact, considering how some of God's people act at times, it's actually kind of expected now.

Some of God's people can do some down right awful things in the name of God.  It hurts really.  However, that wasn't my goal of this blog so I'll start a new paragraph talking about why I love my Lord.

It's simple.  I love Him because He loves me.  Notice I didn't say "loved."  Loves is in the present tense.  So basically, I'm saying that it's continuous.  It will never end.  God allows me to be alive when I don't deserve it.  God allows me to prosper when in fact I deserve to suffer.  I know it's crazy to hear.  It sounds like I'm full of low esteem, but truth be told, I'm blessed.

One day, I'm sure everyone I know will truly get how blessed I am.  One day, everyone will see that God is real.  I know it bugs you Atheists out there, but you'll learn.

God is good, all the time.  All the time, God is good.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Real Talk

This past weekend, I had a pretty funny experience.  If you're an animal activist, feel free to scroll down to the end of this.  A bat came into my home.  I won't go into major detail, but one of us wasn't coming out alive, and I'm still blogging.  A broom, bug spray, fallen blinds, a golf club, and a plastic bag were among the many items used in the battle with the bat.  

Now I know what you're thinking, how could you do this to a little bat?  Well it's simple.  It's my house.  If you're in my house unwelcome, I have the right to remove you in any condition I see fit.  I hate to break it to you, but this is my property.  

Now I have to go on a bit of a tangent.  I hear a lot about shark attacks in America.  In fact, there is a movie about a shark attack and how a girl survived to become a superstar surfer.  Good for her.  However, I'm going to offend some people with this.  It wasn't a shark attack.  In fact, there are no such things as shark attacks.  Shark attacks do not happen.  You see, what you call shark attacks, sharks call defending their property.  Do you live in water?  No, you don't.  When you go swimming in the ocean and a shark bites your foot off, it's because you were in their house.  When I hear the news talking about shark attacks, the first thing I say is, "sharks are walking on land now?"  If a shark gets out of the water and mauls you, by all means call it a shark attack.  However, when you're in the water, you are trespassing.

If I see any type of creature come into my house that doesn't belong or live there, they are in deep doo doo. I have no care for trespassers.  

Just a question for the vegetarians/vegans/animal activists.  If you love animals so much, why do you eat all their food?

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Hectic Hump Day

So I've had some thoughts this week.  Feel free to partake.

1.  Football season has started, and I couldn't be happier.

2.  I gave my Sunday School class an incentive to study their Bibles.  I told them to work on a sheet and if they bring it back, I'd put them in a drawing for a prize.  And just to show how important this is, I'm doing the sheet, too.  I won't however, be in the drawing.

3.  So I learned about blood born pathogens today at school.  They're gross, wear gloves everywhere you go.

4.  I'm tempted to change from the football game to watching Fox on Demand to see Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef...

5.  Anyone know where I can get a more powerful cell phone battery?  My poor battery has the life span of a County Fair Goldfish.

6.  I refuse to watch either of the National Conventions until there are conventions for every party and every candidate on television.

7.  Speaking of, it seems like people are just kind of blindly jumping with their party with no real reason outside of how much they hate the other guy.  It's really annoying.  Neither candidate is worth my vote.  I'm voting for someone I like.  Me.


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Turn Back Tuesday

Today's flashback takes us back to a Friday the 13th where I just went all grumpy.

My Frustrations with Friday the 13th

Look, superstition is a silly concept. We make our own luck.  Like I said in the blog, luck is when preparation meets opportunity.  You don't get things due to luck or happenstance.  You get things through hard work and faith in the Lord.

I watch a lot of people just kind of wish and rub magic 8 balls in the hopes they get what they want.  It doesn't work, folks.  God gives you things based on how you earn it.  You work your tail off and show effort, God will bless you.  You don't need to catch a lucky break.  You just make your opportunities with hard work.

I don't have much to say.  All I know is that Friday the 13th means nothing of significance.  The movies weren't even that great...

Monday, September 3, 2012

Monday Top Ten

I hope all of you have had a great Labor Day.  I did, mostly because I spent it watching Macho Man Randy Savage on WWE Classics on Demand for a majority of the day.  I figured this week's top ten will be my list of my favorite things about football season.

10.  Food
I tend to step my food game up around football season.  Not sure why, but it tends to bring out the best in my cooking, and in some cases my eating.  My food of choice, chicken wings.

9.  Liberty Football
When I was in college at Liberty, our football team was terrible.  I don't think our football team won 10 games combined in the three years I went there.  Now, I tend to check out many Liberty games on ESPN3.com.  It's fun to see my old college consistently win 9 or 10 games a year.  I still believe Liberty is the best football team in Virginia.

8.  Messing With Hokie Fans
I don't know why, and I don't know how it started, but I love giving Virginia Tech fans a hard time, particularly on Facebook.  When I moved from Charleston, SC to Roanoke, VA, I was exposed to what I feel is an unhealthy fandom of said team.  Mostly because the fans have a terribly bad habit of expecting more out of their team than they actually have.  I think they were spoiled by that one year they went to the National Championship game with Michael Vick.  I do think the Hokies are a very good football team.  However, God's gift to football is not one of the titles I'd give them.

7.  High School Football
Pretty fun to hear about these kids doing awesome things.  I haven't seen a high school game in a while, but I do want to go to some games this season.  I do have an issue with some of the expectations and pressure we put on these kids.  They're just kids.  Let them play and have fun.  Stop living your life vicariously through a sophomore with pimples.

6.  Alone Time
When I'm watching football, most of the time, people leave me alone.  I love it.  My mom knows that there are times where I want to just watch my game and be left to my own devices.  Most of my people know that I can watch a football game alone and enjoy it a lot more than with friends.

5.  Recall Button
Some people call it the jump button, others call it the previous channel button.  Point being, it jumps from one channel to the next, which means I don't have to waste time on commercials.  Also means I don't have to listen to terrible announcers.  I'm looking at you Joe Buck and Jim Nantz...

4.  Lee Corso
If you're not sure who he is, he's the old guy who puts mascot heads on to choose which team he believes will win a game.  He's also one of the most knowledgeable people about football on the planet.  Seems like the older a commentator is, the more I respect them.

3.  South Carolina Gamecocks Football
I remember the day I learned about Gamecock football.  I had just moved from NYC to Charleston.  I was about 9 years old.  I was going to the bathroom when another kid asked me who I thought would win between Clemson and Carolina.  I asked who they were and what were they playing.  They said football.  I said Carolina.  I decided I'd follow the team I said would win.  Been following them ever since.  So proud of their recent success.

2.  Green Bay Packers
You'd think they'd be number one.  Sorry, there is one thing just a tad better to me.  Anyway, been a Packers fan since the days of Brett Favre.  Now with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, they're just as impressive. I know we can't win every game, but I do know that we can be competitive all the time.  

1.  My Cheesehead
Yeah, I keep my cheesehead right next to me during football games.  I love my cheesehead.  It's the coolest thing in the world.  It sits next to me during any Packers game.  I'll wear it in public.  I wore it to school the day after the Packers won the Super Bowl.  I ran around my neighborhood with it on that very night.  I think I may wear my cheesehead during my wedding.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Open Letter Saturday

Another open letter from my brain to your computer screen.

Dear Anyone Willing to Do This:

We have a problem.  Here in America, we have a terrible thing called the Two-Party System.  It's a part of politics that causes a lot of terrible people to be considered the best candidate for jobs they don't deserve.  You see, in America, you have to claim a particular party in order to be considered worthy of an office.  When you run for something, the first thing they ask is if you're a Democrat or Republican.

Truth be told, neither party has really done anything to tickle my fancy.  Republicans talk all about conservative-ism and moral compasses.  However all I ever see are affairs and scandals.  All I ever read about is tax cuts for the people who need them least.  Doesn't the Book of Hebrews say that caring for the widows and orphans are the best way to show your religion?  And the Democrats seem to go the other direction and forget that you have to at least make an effort to get back on track before giving people assistance.  Yes, it's good to help those in need, but there has to be a bit of accountability.

The point is, neither of the two parties have any type of win-win situation.  Notice I didn't say compromise.  Compromise isn't what is needed, both sides need to win.  The best way to do that is with someone with God's best interest in mind.  God asks for help for those who need it, but also wants everyone to work their tails off to be successful.  God wants morality, but He won't force it on you.  God never forced anything on anyone.  That would make us robots.

Anyway, I'm not sure if anyone will ever really be the perfect candidate.  So I'm just asking anyone that I know will be a good politician to work their magic and do something.  Tell anyone who will listen that it's time to rock the boat and stop giving our vote to a candidate we know isn't perfect.  You don't have to vote for the least of two evils, vote for the best candidate of all.

Sincerely,
Person sick of the same ole, same ole.