The Blame Game!

Recently there has been a rash of outbursts by young people. I deal with these comments and  dis approvals often. It seems that young people feel that they the right to expound anytime, anywhere and to whomever they want. I know all about the first amendment. It gives everyone a right but not the right to be rude, ignorant and downright disrespectful. It does matter to whom and when comments are made. I do not blame the young people. I blame their parents, teachers, coaches and anyone else who has been neglect in their duty to teach kids to be respectful, know their place and deal with adversity. I am tired of hearing about some one's feeling being hurt. People win and lose everyday and move on. Not everyone gets a trophy or a raise. It's all right to get an honest evaluation to learn and grow from. Our government doesn't endorse all the world leaders but when met face to face are given the respect they deserve as being leaders. It seems that there are too many followers these days and not enough leaders. A narcissistic society breeds nothing but selfishness and conformity. Let's teach our kids to be respectful, well mannered, tough and to become unique individuals.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Thanksgiving, another reason to give thanks. I give thanks everyday. I look around and see how fortunate I have been. I am especially thankful for my beautiful, loving wife who puts up with everyday and has kept me healthy. She also has taught me what an exceptionally talented, thoughtful and contemplative person she is. I'm thankful for my son and grandson, for all my loyal tennis clients, and my health. I'm thankful that in my later years I have made some wiser decisions. Nice to forget all the stupid, unreasonable ones in the past. I'm thankful I'm old. That I have the values that seem to be missing from today's younger society. I am fortunate to have several pets that have filled my life with joy. So enjoy the day and be happy you're not the person who is negative and does not see that even though not everything is good, there is a lot that is.

The Shell

I have known and met many people. With exception of my wife, I am not still good, close friends with them. I have tried to understand why this is. I do have many peripheral friends. Friends that when you first meet them are anonymous to you. My peripheral friends have a shell. The few that I have allowed to have that shell cracked to expose the inner person have been close friends for a while. Once the stuff of life starts oozing out the friendships starts to wane. The family members come to light. The relationship with the spouses becomes apparent. The dynamic issues in the family interferes with the relationship. I am not as lucky as other people. I find it difficult to to feel the same about someone once the shell has been broken and the yoke is all out. I love the adage "No one see you like someone else". It is that perception that is really the most important. I do care about the person that I project to others. Not that other people's opinions are always the most important but I would like the image that I have of myself to be close to the one that I show my acquaintances.

The Shell

I have known and met many people. With exception of my wife, I am not still good, close friends with them. I have tried to understand why this is. I do have many peripheral friends. Friends that when you first meet them are anonymous to you. My peripheral friends have a shell. The few that I have allowed to have that shell cracked to expose the inner person have been close friends for a while. Once the stuff of life starts oozing out the friendships starts to wane. The family members come to light. The relationship with the spouses becomes apparent. The dynamic issues in the family interferes with the relationship. I am not as lucky as other people. I find it difficult to to feel the same about someone once the shell has been broken and the yoke is all out. I love the adage "No one see you like someone else". It is that perception that is really the most important. I do care about the person that I project to others. Not that other people's opinions are always the most important but I would like the image that I have of myself to be close to the one that I show my acquaintances.

Why the National Anthem?

In light of recent news of people and athletes not holding their hands over their hearts during the playing of the American National Anthem and others sitting down during it's playing has led me to this blog. All day there has been commentary on why the National Anthem is played at sporting events and other occasions. They question the value of playing it even though many of the participants and guests are not American. They don't understand why. Well, I may not be the most flag waving person, especially abroad but this I understand. After 9/11 there was a wave of patriotism in the United States. God Bless America had begun to be sung at the seventh inning stretches at baseball games. That wave, to my knowledge has not ebbed. When the Anthem is played it is on American Soil at an American event. Regardless if some of the participants are not American they are lucky to be playing in America for American teams. I also believe the same respect should be paid to foreign anthems played the United States. I don't buy the feeble excuses that someone forgot or was caught up in pregame practice. You are in the United States, Honor The Anthem.

Likes and Dislikes

I decided to discuss my likes and dislikes in no particular order.

I dislike the mother of the Dragons but I do like Lea, the Mother of the Hens.
I dislike all the unwritten rules in Baseball but I like unambiguous rules.
I dislike middle of the roaders I do like people who can take a stand one way or the other.
I dislike products that say on the packaging Improved or new recipe. I like products that say the old one sucked so we canned it.
I dislike preachers who speak of religion as if it were fact. I like people who treat religion as it is, Faith that it exists.
I dislike most of the Saturday Night players who have tried to make it in movies. I like the ones who went on to other successes other than lame movies.
I dislike complainers and excuse makers. I like people who play and shut up.
I dislike many of the new country singers. I like the old school singers and thew old songs.
I dislike anything I pay full price for. I like buying things with good discounts.
I dislike political correctness. I like that it has exposed as being the opposite of the truth.
I dislike disliking things but I like that I put Likes first in the Title of the blog.
And Finally I dislike loads of things but I like that I have guts to make a decsion and take a stand even if it's unpopular
     

May observations !

May flowers have bloomed, summer is around the corner and it's time again to get things off my chest. Let me start by saying that I am doing this cold turkey. I do not have a bottle of water or a cup of coffee on my desk. It seems if people do not hydrate every five minutes they'll dehydrate and implode. I don't know how I ever played outside as kid without something to put in my mouth. My park was at least 20 minutes from my house without any water.  Maybe I didn't survive and this is  just a dream. I never thought I would have more than a dozen of anything but now I have fourteen hens. Truly one of nature's wonders. An incredible, edible egg from a hen. Little things mean a lot to some people like Harold cathing a ball in all four outfields.  I love change. I love challenges. Each change means leaving something behind. I know and have my rule that you can never go back and that what has been left behind will see you in a different light. Some will understand what you have done, others will resent you, and others will eventually maybe do the same thing. Status quo is bliss.
It is interesting how many of my friends find me living in the country a good topic of conversation now. I guess we get tired of talking about prostates, chemo, and who made up these uneven teams. I hope everyone has a good summer. Keep that bottle of water close by and I'll talk to you soon!

What I've learned from Game of Thrones

Hi! Been away awhile. I watched the first episode of season six of Game of Thrones, got hooked, and watched the first five seasons on Demand. Now I've caught up and I have to wait like everyone else for the next episode. My wife likes it too but finds it too bloody. I guess I am like most people when you see a lot  of something you become numb to it. So it is with the violence and nudity in the show. Oh yeah look another head rolls, another boob, what a surprise he killed his parent. What I have learned is that honor is one of the most important things. Kings, Queens, Lords and Ladies never had to prove they deserved the title, just coming of a womb was enough. Political correctness thankfully didn't exist. People called a bastard a bastard with no ramifications. The word was not mightier than the sword People did read and write and even knew how to read cursive writing. Those who couldn't showed a real eagerness to learn. All this without core testing in the schools. Finally, what everyone has learned from Game of Thrones is that Women still rule with intellignece and guile. See not much has changed. Thank you for educating and entertaining me so much!

New Year Observations!

Well a new year is here and I'm glad I came along with it. I have had some thoughts pop into my head and since the space up there is limited I need to air out a few of them.

I am deeply saddened by the recent passings of David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Glenn Frey.  I have liked all of them but it is more personal because they are my contemporaries. I literarily grew up with them and followed their careers. We are all the same age and anyone's demise does affect me.  I remember when I taught high school the announcement would come over the PA system that a teacher had passed away. Even if I wasn't close with that person I always shed a tear outside my classroom for them. You can't share a space with someone and feel nothing when something happens to them.

The word Available has become of interest to me. I hear that wifi is available. My friends are available. Discounts are available. The list goes on. The problem with the word is that people take it as a definite. Sure wifi is available in GM cars if you pay for. My friends are available if they have the time. Discounts are available if you have the coupons and they haven't expired. It is a word that implies one thing but means sometimes the opposite.

Once again the award season is upon us. Golden Globes, Sag Awards, People's Choice, Grammys, Academy Awards, Tony Awards. Why can't just the best be nominated the awards regardless of race or creed. Someday it may all be a diverse group of nominees. So be it.  The word Best means above all others not pretty good.

Lastly this became evident with the film The Martian. Classifying it as a comedy just so it could garner an award was gratuitous at best and downright silly. An embarrassment for the foreign press awards.