CHECK THE TAG

Hey, guys...Christmas is fast approaching, but please, before you buy your wife or girlfriend a gift, check the tag!!

For Those Who Inspire, Especially My Dad

It seems only fitting to add a post in honor of the Boston Red Sox. World Series Champions for the first time in 86 years. But, I'm not going to do that. Sure, I'm going to mention it here, because it was an improbable victory...86 year drought...down 3-0 to the Yankees in the ALCS...winning that series 4-3...sweeping the Cardinals...

Inspiring to say the least. But, all that being said, I just wanted to hit one more time on the guts that Curt Schilling displayed. He pitched game 2 on a Frankensteined right ankle, allowing only 4 hits in 6 innings. When interviewed, Schilling said when he woke up, he couldn't even walk.

Only a few people have inspired me like this with their determination.

Schilling (who also inspired back in 2001 when he pitched 3 World Series games...games 1, 4, and 7).

Randy Johnson, who in 2001 pitched game 2 and game 6 of the World Series, and then shocked everybody by coming in to finish game 7, retiring all 4 batters he faced.

Michael Jordan. I mean, come on. Jordan did everything in basketball, and I don't care what you say, his coming back to basketball for the Wizards was GREAT. I think of him every time I step on the volleyball court, and how he had knee surgery at age 40, and still went out and made the Wizards a decent basketball team. This guy is amazing.

Lance Armstrong. After beating cancer, he has won 6 Tour de France cycling races. Amazing. (and if you want to talk about the rumors of illegal drugs, go find the Balco website and leave the Armstrong comments to yourself!!)

Andre Dawson. This guy deserves more credit than he ever received. He played in the Major Leagues for 21 seasons, despite having knees so bad he would have to get pain shots daily just to hobble out on the field, he won 8 Gold Gloves in Right Field, made 8 All Star appearances, and is one of only 4 men to have 300 Home Runs and 300 Stolen Bases in his career. Maybe the most underrated baseball player of his, or any, time.

The last, and most important, is my dad, Dave Gillespie. This guy is a true inspiration. He's played volleyball for longer than I've been alive...and basketball...and soccer...and golf...and softball...and, well, you name it and he's played it (except maybe hockey, but, come on...it is Indiana). He's 55 and he still laces up the volleyball shoes 3-5 nights a week and plays at a very competitive level. He may have lost a step, but consider this...he's 55, he has been told that he needs a total hip replacement (which he opted not to do yet, due to the fact he would outlive it at his age), he's been playing for 30+ years.

But, despite all that, he's STILL A SMARTER PLAYER THAN MOST! If you need a play to happen, he will make it happen. Last night, for example, he hit the front row. We were playing to 21, rally scoring, and the score was 19-19. While he was in the front row, he tooled one blocker for a point (hit it off his hands and out of bounds) and rolled a shot into the back corner for a point. It was truly crunch time, and he delivered.

He still blocks, hits, passes nails (that's a good thing), and he cleans the gym floor nightly by diving to make the impossible, possible with amazing defensive plays. He has inspired me as a player to concentrate on my All-Around game, like he has. He also has inspired me to give 100% on the court at all times. I just look over at him next to me on the court and it doesn't matter if i'm tired, cause I know he's tired...it doesn't matter if I'm hurting, cause I know he's hurting...it doesn't matter if we are down, because I know he's thinking we can win...and so am I. He's also made me a better person outside of the game because of his humility, his generosity, and his compassion. He is truly one of the good guys in this world...a world that is better for having had him in it.

No matter how good it feels to watch Jordan play basketball, or to see Schilling take the mound with the bum ankle, it will never compare to the feeling I get when I look and see my dad playing his heart out game after game on the volleyball court right next to me. It's the greatest feeling in the world.

Share Beauty Spread Hope

As my friendly anonymous poster added to my previous blog about the LiveStrong bracelet, here is a picture and link to the Target website where you can purchase a Pink Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet. Or you can simply drop by any Target store and get one. I highly encourage you to purchase one.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=13324131_bxgy_cc_img_b/601-3642768-0553738?asin=B00030IWO8

LiveStrong: Part 3

I was mad as hell when I read this story.

Jewelry? Are you kidding me? It wouldn't be as bad if the ban was on ALL things worn, ie watches. (Of course, excluding religious or medical medals.) But this ban is on JEWELRY which I don't believe a rubber band is.

It's sad that something with a positive message, like the LiveStrong bracelet can come out, inspire people, support people, support Cancer research...

And High School kids get DQ'ed.

Unbelievable.

It's a good thing the decision was reversed, but I'm sure there are probably parents on the other side, parents of the kids who won because of the DQ, who are upset that their son/daughter lost, then won, then lost again.

"The rules are the rules, and they broke them!!" I can almost hear the angry parents say.

Wow, I know it probably happened, but that's even more wrong than the DQ. I hope that these parents all set a good example for their children, and tell them the disqualification was wrong.

At least I think it was wrong. Not because of the message of the bracelet, but because I don't see it as jewelry.

...............................

After I read this story, I immediately went to the Nike Outlet to buy a bracelet. Sold out. So, I went to Lance's website and ordered some.

www.wearyellow.com

I should have gotten one a long time ago. I have a grandfather who is fighting cancer (among other things) and an Uncle, whom I love dearly, that is a cancer survivor. When I get my bracelet, I will wear it proud.

12 million bracelets have been sold already...but that's not enough. I hope you will go to the website, or the sporting goods store, or where ever you can buy a bracelet, and buy one...buy two...buy ten.

LiveStrong: Part 2

Oct. 13, 2004

Stung by criticism of its action, a high school district has
reversed a decision to disqualify cross country runners for
wearing Lance Armstrong LiveStrong wristbands.

The decision was reversed because "adequate prior notice
had not been given to the participants," Bruce Biehl, Kellam
High School's principal and chairman of Beach District cross country,
said in a statement released Tuesday.

More than 20 runners were declared ineligible in a meet last Wednesday
for wearing the popular LiveStrong bands.

Runners will be allowed to continue wearing the wristbands for
the rest of the district cross country season, he said. Biehl added that
clarification will be sought on wearing the bands during regional and
state competitions.

A flood of e-mails protesting the decision followed a story Saturday
in The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk detailing the Beach District's action.

The decision to disqualify the runners, Biehl said, was in keeping
with a recently drafted National Federation of State High School
Associations ruling classifying the band as jewelry. But Biehl
acknowledged that runners and coaches weren't given much notice.
The Virginia High School League circulated the new policy to schools
on Oct. 4, two days before the meet.

Many of the runners in last Wednesday's meet said they were
unaware that the bands were classified as jewelry and would have
taken them off had they known they risked disqualification.

"Our kids certainly weren't wearing them to be defiant,"
said Mike Nestor, coach at Ocean Lakes High. "We're kind of in
awe of everything that's happened."

But Nestor said the controversy has served as a learning tool for his athletes.

"Sometimes you wear that band but forget what it's really for,"
Nestor said. "I've received e-mails from all over the country from
cancer survivors voicing their support. Through their stories, we've
learned what an inspiration that band really is."

LiveStrong: Part 1

Oct 9, 2004 -- VIRGINIA BEACH — LiveStrong? Not in cross country.

The fluorescent yellow wristbands are a cultural phenomenon.
But at a meet Wednesday, the Beach District’s top cross country
administrator ruled that they fall under the category of jewelry.
The result: More than two dozen runners were disqualified for wearing them.

“It’s the stupidest rule I’ve ever heard,” Bayside coach
Lanny Doan said. “We’re talking about a rubber band.
It’s not going to harm anyone.”

Ocean Lakes coach Mike Nestor said that no warning was issued
to runners at the start line Wednesday at Sportsplex, adding that
his girls team lost because of the disqualifications.

"Basically, we lost because of a cancer-support bracelet,”
Nestor said. “This is a friendly sport. I’d rather be told kids had
to take them off before they run than told 'Gotcha!’ afterward.”

Ocean Lakes senior Drew Midland has worn his since July. He was
one of the 26 runners who were disqualified.

“The ironic thing is our team had something called 'athlete of the meet,’
and we were giving these Lance Armstrong bracelets out to that person,”
Midland said. “It never crossed my mind that they would count that as jewelry.”

There are 12 million LiveStrong wristbands in circulation, and they
sell for $1 apiece. All proceeds of sales go to the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, which provides practical information to cancer survivors.

Armstrong is quite possibly the world’s most famous cancer survivor,
having won cycling’s Tour de France six times after battling testicular
cancer. He has vowed never to take off his wristband, and nearly
every track and field athlete at the recent Athens Olympics wore
the wristbands in competition.

Although high school cross country rules state that “no contestants
shall wear jewelry with the exception of religious or medical metals,”
runners consistently are allowed to compete while wearing wristwatches.

Linda Babb, Kellam High school’s athletic director and the administrator
who oversees Beach District cross country, said she twice issued warnings
to coaches about the “no jewelry” policy. She added that coaches received
copies of the rules at the beginning of the season and were e-mailed prior
to Wednesday’s meet with reminders that the rule would be enforced.

Princess Anne sophomore Katy Winsper said the runners were reminded
at the starting line that they needed to remove all jewelry. Winsper had
a thin elastic hair band around her wrist, unaware that it was illegal.
Winsper won but was disqualified.

“Are you kidding me?” Winsper said afterward.

Landstown’s Shannon Ralston had run her best time of the season
but was disqualified for wearing the LiveStrong band.

“I think it’s a silly rule,” she said. “But had I been told at the
starting line, I would have obeyed it.”

Angry Rant # 5

Why do you have to do it restaurants? Why do you have to have the "pitcher" of soda that sits in the corner for God only knows how long before you bring it to my table to refill my drink? Don't you know what that is doing to the soda?

Watering it down!! Oh, the humanity!! Why do you have to bring me watered down soda? Is it that unimaginable to have to walk my cup to the back and refill it from the fountain? I don't think it's too much to ask!

I guess the question is: Why? I have a few theories, but I think I already know the answer.

It is policy to have the "pitcher" of soda

1. so the diner can get a refill right away, instead of having to wait for the waitress to go to the back and return.

2. so the waitress doesn't have to spend her time going all the way to the back.

3. so the company can save money by watering down soda.

4. for the convience of the diner and the waitress.

It's probably # 4. Convience. I think it's a conspiracy...

Restaurant Owner: "HA HA!! My plan is working perfectly! I will serve watered down soda and save a ton of money. Then, because the waitresses won't be making as many trips to the back, I can have less waitresses serving more diners!! I can get rid of extra dishwashers, too, because each drink will be refilled instead of coming out in a new glass!! I will be RICH!!"

Ok, maybe not...But next time I go to the restaurant, I'm asking for a fresh soda!!

Schilling

I was watching tv back in '88 when Kirk Gibson, riddled with knee pain, stepped to the plate in the World Series for the LA Dodgers. His team was down 4-3 to the Oakland A's in the bottom of the ninth. Gibson, who wasn't expected to play because of the knee pain, was called on to pinch hit versus the almost unstoppable A's relief pitcher, Dennis Eckersley.

The result...a game winning 2 run home-run.

I was also watching in 2002 when Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb broke a bone in his ankle (fibula) during an NFL game versus the Cardinals in the first quarter...on the third play of the game...but finished the game, completing 20-25 passes and throwing 4 touchdowns.

The result...a Philadelphia win, 38-14.

While both of these were performances worthy of awe, they almost pail in comparison to the heroics of Curt Schilling in game 6 of the NLCS. Schilling, a 37 year old pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, took the mound in game 6, despite having a dislocated ankle tendon.

I know what you may be thinking..."McNabb had a broken ankle," well, a broken fibula supports none of you body weight...what Schilling had required surgery due to the fact that the tendon is responsible for stability. Once the tendon is torn, they pop out of the supporting ligaments that hold them in place and dislocate. Once this occurs, recurrent dislocation and tearing of the tendons is inevitable. In other words, once you pop, you can't stop.

Schilling had to have three sutures put into place in order to hold his ankle together so he could pitch. Being a right handed pitcher, all the weight of the pitch comes from the right ankle, which was the ankle he had injured.

Dispite the injury, he took the mound. With blood seeping through his sock, he pitched 7 beautiful innings and led the Red Sox to victory.

Why would someone play in these conditions? I, being one who has played through injury, know the answer to this question. Heart.

He said there would be no greater feeling, than to shut 55,000 screaming Yankee fans up.

He did it.

And so did his team. After being down in the best of 7 series 3-0, the Red Sox did what NO other professional sports team in North America has done. They won the next 4.

In game 4, with the Yankees up 4-3, the Sox garnered up a last second rally that tied the game. They won on an Ortiz homer in the 12th.

In game 5, an Ortiz homer in the 8th tied the game. It took 14 innings before Ortiz came through one more time with a single that drove in the game winner.

Game 6 belonged to Schilling.

In game 7, Johnny Damon hit two home-run (one being a Grand Slam) in Boston's 10-3 victory, behind brilliant pitching by Derek Lowe.

Boston hasn't won a World Series since 1918. Maybe this will be the year, maybe not, but you can't deny the inspiration of Curt Schilling...to play on that ankle was crazy. But sometimes, in order to accomplish your dreams, you have to be a bit crazy.

Musicology #1: Rocket Man

I am a fan of the music of Elton John. Your Song, Levon...I won't bore you with a greatest hits list, but it would be very large. One song I like, but never really thought about much is Rocket Man.

Yes, I know, we all know the song...but have we ever really dissected the lyrics? What is this song really about?

(NOTE: To all the smarty-mcfarties out there that are sure to say: "We all know this song is about cocaine use because Bernie Taupin said in such in such year to such and such magazine..." Yeah, I read that, too... AND even MORE people are probably kicked back thinking, "What an idiot, this guy is trying to tie the lyrics of this song with what Elton John would have meant, when, in fact Bernie Taupin wrote the song, not Elton!!" Yeah, I know that, too, just humor me, ok?) Now that is out of the way, let's begin:

MUSICOLOGY #1: Rocket Man

When I hear this song, I don't want to fight for the argument that it is about a strung out coke-head, who has lost it all on the Fairy Powder. I also can't get behind the theory that it is about a man going into space...for real. I like to subscribe to a theory that goes a little something like this.

Rocket Man, in my opinion, is about Elton's wanting to tell the world of his sexuality. Let me explain, line by line.

She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then

Elton, the gay man still, at this point, trapped in a straight-man's body (Rocket Man was written in 1972...Elton John became openly bi-sexual in 1976.) The opening verse is basically the main character coming to grips with being gay. He tells wis wife of his double-life, and the results are her packing his bags pre-flight (before he "flies" away from his home). When he leaves for good, he's going to be "high as a kite" (happy, excited by his new found freedom.) But then the song goes from glee to worry.

I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight

The first line "I miss the earth so much I miss my wife" is saying he doesn't miss not having a woman in his life, but rather having a person in his life who understood and loved him. "It's lonely out in space." In the '70's, and still today, being gay or lesbian isn't accepted as main stream, and I'm sure they feel isolated and lonely that they aren't as accepted as others...a feeling like being in space. Timeless Flight? How long will these views be octracized?

And I think it’s gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I’m not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no
I’m a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone

The chorus is saying it's gonna be a long time before the main character doesn't feel like he's in space. A long time until he feels accepted. He's not the man they think he is at home, this straight man who has a passion for women, but rather, he's a rocket man. Meaning, he perfers "rockets"...do I need to explain what this is a metaphor for? Rocket in his pocket? Ok, let's move on. "Buring out his fuse" to me represents the gay man's inability to have children of his own, thus burning out his fuse...his family name. (yes, a gay man can adopt and the name can live on, but no blood relation...except through serrogate...you caused me to overanaylis, are you happy?)

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did

Mars, the red planet...red represents anger. Anger, in any form, is no place to raise a kid. Elton John's real childhood included a strict father...maybe, this line is saying don't raise your kids in anger for who they are, because that only makes them feel small, and "cold as hell." If you are constantly angry, then how are you raising that child? There is, in fact, no one there to raise them.

And all this science I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man

The science Elton speaks of is the theory that some believe homosexuality wasn't a born trait, but rather a learned trait. One that could be corrected or "cured" with electro-shock, religion, or more straight living, no pun intended. But Elton counters, "it's just my job five days a week." Elton knows he didn't choose to be gay, he is. That's his life, his job, to be a rocket man...a gay man.

.......................

So, I leave you with this to ponder. Rocket Man...a coked out Astronaut, or Elton's cry for acceptance? You be the judge.

Forward This To 10 People!!

What's the deal with these e-mails that people send, claiming that "if you send this to 10 people, something will pop up on your screen," or "If you don't forward this to 20 people, something bad will happen." That's crap, on both accounts.

Why would a guilt trip make me more apt to forward a funny joke, or inspirational message? Wait, I got this one...IT DOESN'T!! If anything it makes me more apt to delete said e-mail. Even if it means that I "don't care about the sender if I don't send it back." (Sorry to all who send me these e-mails and I don't return them...I do care!!)

If really makes me wonder why that guilt trip would be on the end of e-mails. Here are my theories:

1. The originator of the e-mails makes money upon the forwarding of their e-mails. The more times it's forwarded, the more scratch they put in their pockets.

2. The originator of the e-mail has extremely low self-esteem, and really wants to be validated by having someone return the story about "the kid who was going to kill himself, but decided not to because the other kid stopped and helped him one day after the bullies knocked the books from his hands..."

3. The originator was a mother...or a wife. (Where guilt trips breed.)

4. It just seemed like a fun thing to do.

Well, I know some of the people who read this blog, so I'm going to say definately not #3, because wifes and mothers don't lay guilt trips...

I don't know which is right, if any. Maybe it's part of the story...I don't know. All I do know is I'm not gonna play the game. Send me the e-mails, and I will read them...but don't expect me to forward them along to 10 people.

If you liked this post, forward it along to 10 people and you will receive a crisp $100 bill!! ($100 will be sent to you via e-mail...it is a federal offense to copy, produce, or reproduce the currancy of the United States of America.)

ERROR

Anyone having trouble with the picture I posted either coming up slow, or not at all? Please leave a comment and let me know...Thanks!!

WATCH OUT

Oh, boy, you guys are in big trouble now!! I figured out how to put pictures on this thing!! Technology, ain't it fun?

Test Photo

Misty May

THE PERFECT $5

Have you ever seen the movie Reservoir Dogs? It's a movie by Quentin Tarantino...before Pulp Fiction...anyways, there is an exchange that always stuck with me at the very beginning of the movie between the guys and Mr. Pink (played by the brilliant Steve Buscemi).

In the exchange, Joe (the head honcho), and the rest of the crew, where having a casual breakfast at a little Diner. Joe received the check, and asked that the crew pick up the tip. One by one the guys ponied up their greenbacks, except for the smug Mr. Pink.

Mr. Pink says he doesn't believe in tipping.

"I don't tip because society says I gotta. I tip when somebody
deserves a tip. When somebody really puts forth an effort, they
deserve a little something extra. But this tipping automatically,
that shit's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just
doin their job. "

He goes on to say, basically, some jobs are deemed tip worthy (i.e. waitresses) and some are not (i.e. McDonalds). They both serve you food.

This got Becky and me thinking. Why do we feel inclined to leave the same tip, regardless of the service? When is it acceptable not to tip, if at all?

We eat out...a lot. We go to some fairly nice places. We know how much 15% is. But, we don't know why we should feel obligated to leave that, when the service wasn't there. So, we developed a system.

THE PERFECT $5.00

Before you go all googlie-mooglie thinking $5 is a cheap tip, consider this: Our meals hardly ever surpass $20. $5 would, in the case of a $20 meal, be 20%. A fine tip by any standards.

Ok, so here's the plan. We start with five One dollar bills, layed out in a row at the back of the booth...so the server can plainly see. Then we deduct a Dollar if the server fails on any of the following tasks...

1. 2 MINUTE RULE: If someone isn't at the table in two minutes to either get your drinks, get your order, or tell you they will be with you in a minute (and actually come back in a decent time period)...$1 Deduction.

2. 5 MINUTE RULE: If you don't have your drinks at the table within five minutes of sitting down...$1 Deduction (at this time, orders should be taken)

3. If at any time during the meal, your drink becomes empty...$1 Deduction PER OFFENSE. This should never happen...unless you drink it down before the server is out of sight, in which case, you drink too fast and should pay him/her an extra dollar cause they have to work even harder!! SLOTH!! We don't drink very fast, so the cup should be kept with drink.

4. If I have to stop the waitress and ask her to refill my drink...$1 Deduction.

5. If the server asks me if I would like a refill...and I'm drinking water...$1 Deduction. (Water is FREE, fill my glass!! Soda doesn't really cost that much more...like .00008th of a cent per glass, but I won't penalize for that...usually.)

There are other smalls things that could add up...none of these warrants a $1 Deduction by themselves...

1. The waitress tries to take a plate before I am finished, without asking if I'm finished.
2. The main course comes before the salad.
3. The server takes your order, and refills the drinks, but the hostess/other servers get your drink order, brings your food, takes your dishes, etc. (A personal pet peeve)
4. If the meal is cooked wrong, it's not the server's fault...but they should be returning with the manager.
5. Server spills water on the table when refilling the drinks and doesn't at least bring back a napkin to help mop it up.

I'm sure I'm missing some, but that is a pretty comprehensive list. When all is said and done...the remaining Dollars stay for the tip. It's not a fool-proof method, but it works rather well.

The ROOT Of All Evil

Kids, take care of your teeth. Don't spend your life in the dentist chair...nobody needs that trauma.

I went to the dentist today. I have this tooth, you see, that is in bad shape. Last year, I chipped in on a Taco Bell Burrito (how you may ask? Well, let's just say it had more to do with my wisdom teeth pushing my teeth together, than the burrito.) Anyhoo, the tooth continued to chip, and gap and in general, crumble away.

Last week I hit rock bottom. The pain was bad, so I scheduled the dreaded dentist appointment. Let me say this about my past experiences with dentist:

When I was younger, I didn't go. When I got a little older, I did...to the tune of about a dozen fillings. After the last one, I vowed to never go back and get "The Shot." You know the one I'm talking about...the mouth numb shot they give you that's suppose to make the proceedure painless. Forgot one thing, THE SHOT HURTS!!

I hate that shot.

I succeeded in my plan to abstain from dentists until a few years ago. I had a bad tooth that led to the dentist chair. That's when the bad things started.

1. I needed a double root canal.
2. They wanted to do it right now.
3. "The Shot" hurt mighty bad.
4. "The Shot" didn't work.
5. The pain was comparable to the following. Tooth...nail on tooth...tap, tap, SLAM!! Nail IN tooth. Pain ensues.
6. "The Shot #2...#3...#4...
7. Then, a mystery substance was poured into my gapping tooth.
8. Doctor forgets to tell me this will make my heart race.
9. Faux Seizure...I say Faux, cause it wasn't a seizure, but I was shaking around like I was having one.
10. 5 or 6 total trips
11. Several hundreds of dollars.
12. Me vowing to never have a root canal again.

This time, the tooth was one of the top back ones...by the pointy tooth, not a molar. That was nice, because when the doctor pulled it, it shouldn't be noticable. That's what I had planned on, a pulled tooth. The doctor had other plans. He wanted... dun, Dun, DUN!! The root canal. "It won't hurt," he said. "Yeah, that's what the last dentist said, too," I responded.

I sat in the chair for ten minutes explaining why I didn't want the root canal.

"It's either that, or I'll pull it and give you a bridge." A bridge, apparently, involves drilling and what not, too...plus it's more expensive.

Ten more minutes...

"What if you pull it and don't put in a bridge?"
"Your teeth will shift. It's like taking a brick from the center of a wall...eventually the foundation will start to crumble...blah, blah, blah."

Five more minutes.

"You want me to make up your mind for you, don't you?" he says. No, I want to get UP AND LEAVE!!

So, I made my decision. Pull it. (thinking, ha ha!! I just won't come back for the bridge, sucka!!)

He leaned in for "The Shot." And you know something? For the first time EVER...the shot did not hurt!! I was beeming with confidence. I shook his hand and thanked him a couple times just for the shot not hurting.

He came back and I, with my new found confidence, beemed "Root Canal!!"

And so it was. He slapped a root canal on me, and I only flinched one time (and that was because I was so confortable, when I finally felt a little pain, I flinched.)

Pain scale from 1-10, 10 being high...probably 2. Most of that came from sitting with all that stuff running down my throat. Pain level was a 1.

Thank you, Dr. Gerry, for giving me hope that dental surgery doesn't have to hurt.

Until the bill comes...

12/08/1980: R.I.P. Mr. Lennon

What were you doing on December 8, 1980? I was only 3 years old, so I can't honestly say...but that was the day the music truly died.

Five gun shots.

One hit nothing.

Four ripped into a musical genius.

The man who killed John Lennon (whose name I will not justify by typing) was up for parole this week. After having killed a legend, he only received a 20 years to life sentence. Not "Life without Parole", or the "Death Sentence"...20 years to life.

A possibility for parole. It just doesn't seem right.

However, the light shining on this story is that the man DID NOT get paroled. Probably good for him. Who would want anything to do with the "man who killed John Lennon?" Nobody.

What could have been? What if John were still alive, writing music? Like him or not, the man was a genius in the art of music...he was one of the most influential musicians of all time...and his music was like nothing anyone has ever done. So ahead of it's time, yet, so classic, so fresh, so raw and different.

Listen to the popular songs...Imagine... Watching the Wheels... (Just Like) Starting Over... Jealous Guy...

Then listen to the songs that aren't on the radio...Oh, My Love... Old Dirt Road... Steel and Glass... Nobody Told Me... My Life... Isolation... I Found Out...

You can't replace that. You just can't.

No, Dear

There's a tv show on CBS currently called Yes, Dear. Maybe some of you have heard of it, maybe some have not. Well, for those of you not in the know, the show is about a married couple who lets the wife's sister and brother-in-law move into their guest house because the sister and bro-in-law have fallen on hard times.

To make a long story short, I will jump ahead to my question:

The brother-in-law, played by Mike O'Malley, is CONSTANTLY wearing a hat. Always. At the house, hat. At work, hat. At the dentist, hat. (ok, maybe he doesn't at the dentist, but you get the idea.) This is bothering me a lot. I can't even watch the show because this guy and his stupid hats!! Truth be told, I can't watch the show because the show really isn't that good, but damn his hats...they just don't help.

I thought maybe this guy is just a hat fan because of his character. Middle Aged, balding, sport nut kinda guy. Ok, hats, I get it. But then I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of watching 28 Days with Sandra Bullock, and who would appear on the screen? Mike O' Malley. AND HE STILL HAD THE HAT ON!! Can you believe this!

Why does this guy insist on the hat? It's one of the great tv mysteries of all time.

1. Why does Mike O'Malley constantly wear a hat?
2. Why did Jerry Seinfeld walk away?
3. Why can't Elaine, George or Kramer have a new sitcom that lasts more than a season?
4. Why did the Fonz "Jump the Shark"?
5. Will Kevin and Winnie Cooper ever hook up?
6. Why would you try to base a tv show around Bob Saget?
7. Why did those shows (Full House, Funniest Videos) actually do well?
8. Why did the 6 Brady Kids stay in two rooms? (see previous post)
9. Why don't those Simpson kids ever grow up?
10. How old is Mr Burns anyway? How about Ned Flanders?

Ok, so these obviously aren't the greatest tv mysteries of all time. But they are things that baffle the mind. But, if you ever see this guy on Yes, Dear without a hat, make sure to let me know, because then I would have to write a post about why he DIDN'T have his hat on in that show.

The Brady Bunched

We all know the story:

A lovely lady...bringing up three very lovely girls...all of them having hair of gold, just like their mother, with the only difference being the youngest one was in curls. (Which looked quite goofy in the later years...)

And of course there was:

A man named Brady...bringing up three boys of his own...these four men were living together, but they were oh, so alone.

Ok, from what I can gather, the "Bunch" all packed into Mike Brady's pad. But the question that has me baffled is this:

Ole Mikey Boy is obviously pretty well off, I mean, he can support 6 kids and a wife, live in a nice house, have a groovy convertible AND a maid...all on an architect's salary (and probably some killer child support from the ex-Mrs Brady and the ex-Mr Carol ... yeah, I said Mr Carol, do you know her previous married name?)

However, with all this, the kids still have to live three to a room. Why can't they all have their own room? Maybe Mr Brady's house just isn't big enough for the "Bunch". Well, let's think about that.

Here are the rooms:

Living room (with the couch and the front door in sight...at the bottom of the stairs). Obviously no place for a bedroom. That's a no.

Master Bedroom: Another no, as the parents need their place to shag, because obviously they are rather found of it. That's a no.

Kitchen: Obviously, no.

But that leaves:

1. The Boy's Room
2. The Girl's Room
3. The Attic (later home to Greg)
4. The Rec Room (the room off the kitchen where projects were always done...could easily be a room)
5. The Den: Come on, Mike, you selfish SOB!! Take your work to the office and give that room to one of your kids!!
6. HELLO?!? Alice has a room. Tell her to go shack up with Sam the Butcher and give that room to one of your kids...what kind of parent would give a whole room to a maid, but make the kids live 3 to 1?

So, there you have it. Instead of giving the kids their space, Mike and Carol caged them up like rats. Pretty sad. Does anyone know where Oliver slept once he came along? He probably had to sleep in the Boy's Room, since Greg had gone to the attic.

What have we learned from this?

Either the Brady parents like to keep their kids caged like rats, or Mike was a very bad architect...after all, couldn't he design a house with a room for everyone?

PS...In case you were curious...Carol's maiden name was Tyler, and her previous married name was Martin...

PPS...Mike's first wife died, so no child support from her.