Thoughts of a Common Man

The New York Post is running an article this afternoon about a wedding that was busted up in Pakistan. The groom was 7 years old and the bride was 5. Talk about a death sentence. First of all, it's a horrible article for the simple reason that the parents of the children hooked them up in order to solve a long-running feud between the two families. The wedding would have went off too, but someone alerted the authorities and stopped the nuptials. Yet think of the horror! Can you imagine having been married at the age of 7? That's about at the peak of the "I hate girls period". We used to walk around with our thumbs up in the air. If your thumbs were down someone could touch you and say, "girls germs." I stopped playing that game about three years ago. Seriously, my boys are now in the middle of their "girls are weird" stage. I've tried to teach them to respect girls and women and to appreciate the fairer sex. When they argue with me I let them k...

Happy Halloween! I was never big on the Halloween issue, but today is different. It seems that the Springsteens always decorate their home in New Jersey to entertain friends and fans. Well the crowd around the house got so big last year that they had to not decorate the house this year. So, instead, Bruce released a song and posted it on his website with a video for all to enjoy. Guess what? I liked it! Yet it is the story of the Jersey Devil that is most intriguing. I heard the true explanation of the creature last year while I was watching a hockey game between the Sabres and the Devils. Legend has it that Mother Leeds had 12 children, and after giving birth to her 12th kid said that if she had another it would be the devil. On the night of labor Mother Leeds gave birth to child #13 who quickly changed form from a normal baby to a creature with hooves, a horses head, bat wings and a forked tail. I actually went to college with a few guys from New Jersey and I swear there was a guy na...

I've been waiting on pins and needles, praying that Exxon Mobil wasn't affected with the poor economy that has been plaguing the rest of the world. Imagine my joy when I opened up the paper today to see that they made $14.83 billion last quarter. Are you freaking kidding me? I guess I just don't understand. I guess that it is the same thing as me begrudging the mortgage broker his $414,000 seats at the Jets game. Or A-Rod making about a hundred grand per at-bat. I guess it all boils down to the fact that we are paid by who we entertain, or who we hold over the barrel. I guess that the system that forgets those at the bottom or those muddling along in middle class is the only system that truly works. Was this the grand plan? I don't believe that the wealth should be shared by those who are not willing to pull their own weight. There I said it - so much for my bleeding heart reputation. I don't believe in free lunches if you're capable of earning a living. Every t...

These twin bitches had a book signing at Barnes & Noble in NYC last night. Prior to signing book one they told their potential customers that there were rules to be followed: 1). No photos 2). Don't talk to either of the twins 3). Don't ask questions 4). They will not sign anything other than the book. As luck might have it - I had a book signing at Barnes & Noble this week too. Here was my rule: 1). Please stop and talk to me. Now I doubt my line was as long, but I guarantee you one thing - I got more out of my signing. As I showed up there was a woman waiting for me at the table. "I'll take all three of your books from this year," she said. "Do I know you?" I joked. "No, I just love your books," she said. We talked for a few minutes about each book. We discussed what was happening in her life, and I signed something witty in each copy, and shook her hand. I could have left right then and there. For the next two hours, I shook hands an...

Two of the last three nights I've been excused from watching the big television. The boys got the wrestling pay-per-view on Sunday night and last night Matt needed the big tv to watch the UB Bulls. I was relegated to my room - which ain't so bad, all things considered. Yet there were 57 channels with nothing on and I was just flipping through when I saw a documentary on the Hindenburg explosion. I didn't know all that much about it -so I watched. It was just 1937 and this massive thing was flying through the sky with a virtual dog and pony show to greet it as it landed. For those of you who know the story - it basically exploded. In this day and age, my mind was on how many people died. Unfortunately, it is the information by the minute society that we live in - 36 people lost their lives - not a big deal by today's standards. Yet what got me was the voice of the announcer who was charged with bringing the big ship in - I'm thinking Bob Costas or Al Michaels in this...

Some people buy season tickets to their favorite team and not being able to go to the game, give them to a relative or friend. I just read an article about David Findel, a Jets fan, who won an auction to buy the best seats in the house at the new Jets Stadium. Season tickets here in Buffalo will set you back about a grand - Findel will be paying $414,000 for his two tickets next year. He said that he probably won't sit in the seats though - he purchased them for his two kids who are 11 and 7. His kids will get a VIP Parking Pass, will have a full course meal served to them at a fancy restaurant, can walk the field before the game, and get to watch the Jets suffer through another crap year. Here's the kicker - what does Findel do for a living? He's a CEO for a mortgage broker firm. Ah, no wonder he has all that extra cash sitting around so his kids can be entertained. Isn't that what's wrong here? Do I begrudge this guy his wealth? Yeah, damn right I do. Should he sh...

--- All right I need to stop picking on the Bills. They've lost 2 of 3 and people are starting to blame me and my mindless predictions - so here's another one - they will win big against the Jets next week to reclaim first place. I'm thinking 28-17. I must say that I enjoyed the local radio talk this morning though - I love the people who are so passionate about it that they want to jump in front of a bus after a loss. Don't worry - they win next week. --- The World Series is entertaining to some, I imagine - insomniacs mostly - I had trouble year after year watching the Yanks in the playoffs - no chance I can do it now - I do keep the tv on so I know the score if I happen to wake up at 2 AM when the game is concluding. Why can't they start the games earlier? There is a whole generation of fans that have no idea what World Series ball is like after the third inning. --- They uncovered a plot to assassinate Obama - somehow you knew that was just a matter of time. Tod...

I was driving through Pennsylvania last week and in the small towns of Union City, Centerville, and Titusville it seemed that there was a political sign on each and every lawn. I counted three straight for McCain and then two in a row for Obama. One of the McCain signs was just a few feet away from the neighboring Obama sign. I imagined all sorts of battles going on between those two landowners. What's the point? I wondered. Is someone actually going to change their mind about who they're voting for based on what sign is on what lawn? I'm sure that a lot of people who read this blog have an opinion about who I'm voting for - but can you be sure? Does it matter who I vote for? Or who Barbara Streisand votes for? Or Keith Urban? Or Bruce? They say that the results are all but in for New York State - it's 59% Obama and 25% for McCain. What I don't get about polls is that they based it on 527 voters. Seems like a mighty small sample. Does the fact that New York will...

I'm trying to think of the last time there was a candidate that commanded so much interest. From the Tina Fey dead-on impressions through the shopping gate and travel gate questions associated with her family ties, it is hard to ignore that Sarah Palin is like a hurricane blowing through. Why? Because she's good-looking? Because she's folksy? Because we know all of the intimate details of her family? I don't know - but I must say that I read every article about her, and I am certainly drawn to her speeches and to Tina Fey who deserves an award for her impression - watch that and not laugh - even Sarah laughed at it last week when she joined SNL. Yet this is just me - I don't get it. I can't see her as the president of the country. Not now, not in 4 years, not in 16. I'm not being bigoted or sexist - I just can't imagine it. Perhaps it is all because of the preconceived notions that we have for our leaders - that they be Ivy-leagued schooled or middle-age...

Today I visited a steel fabrication shop that employs about thirty guys. These are your common, hard-working, hard-living types of guys who never let their fear show. This afternoon, I sensed that they were kind of worried. One of their jobs was shut down by the bank and although there was still plenty to do, they could see further than the trees in front of them, and the mood wasn't good. One guy who is within two years of retirement was looking at the Dow Jones Report on the computer. "I've watched about thirty grand that I had for retirement drift away," he said. Another man complained about the cost of groceries and the fact that his raise didn't 'cover shit.' "I have to think of moving on," he said. "I've been here 15 years, and they bankrupted the whole freaking country." So now we are debating bailing out the rich guys again and hope they trickle enough down to the men and women who are actually doing the work. I don't cl...

For the third time, we were asked to attend a religious meeting at the church so that one of our children could make their First Communion. I'm not sure how I ended up being elected as the go-to-guy for this assignment, but I remember attending a service with Matt, then Jake, and last night was Sam's turn. "Who do you want to go with you?" I asked Sam as he returned home from school yesterday afternoon. "Actually, I like Mom better," he said. "So let's go with her." Sam is nothing if not honest, but I feigned hurt. "I always take the kids to this," I said. "Mom has to help with homework and do stuff here, I'll take you." The reason why I wanted to do it, is because I actually enjoy the meeting. They speak about the role of God in the life of the child, and show us a quick movie on the importance of tradition in the everyday activity of the family. Besides, it's an hour of quiet, in the middle of a busy week, and it h...

A couple of weeks ago I was extremely heartened by John McCain. Someone stood up at one of his rallies and said - "I'm afraid that if Obama is elected we will be faced with terrorist attacks because he is a terrorist." McCain shot down the man's argument by saying - "That's not true. Obama is a decent man. He's not a terrorist." This morning I saw an article that said the GOP is sending out flyer's that denounce terrorism - with photos of 9/11 destruction and a picture of Obama next to the falling towers. That's such crap. Obama a few weeks ago announced that he would fire anyone who brought up Sarah Palin's family as a target. Peace reigned for a few weeks as Sarah's life was digested by the American public. Today the story breaks that she took her family with her on trips paid for by the people of Alaska. I wonder who broke that story. That is essentially what makes me sick about politics. It is now time to turn off the news, flip t...

It's about time someone said it - there is absolutely nothing that really dulls the symptoms of the common cold. I have a doozy of a cold right now and it just shouldn't be happening to me. I just had the ankle problem - doesn't God have someone else He could've picked on? He could've given me a week out of the barrel. And yet, I know people are suffering with a lot worse and a cold is just a cold - roll with it, suck it up and tough it out (although I'm getting weary of hearing that from the wife and kids - wish I'd never brought it up). Anyway the point of this blog is that the cold medicine that you buy over-the-counter isn't worth the box it comes in. I end up really doing a number on myself because I want to just feel better and I'll mix and match all kinds of crap to try and get a balance. Not a great idea, either. One other thing, I have noticed is that when I don't feel well, I go out of my way to let everyone and their brother know it. I...

Not real keen on being 44 - I suffered through my ankle injury - it's feeling much better, thank you, but Sunday found my temple of a body to be an inviting host to a cold virus. Luckily there wasn't a lot to do on Sunday, so I rested well. Yet Monday morning found me to be feeling under the weather as well. I jumped out of bed and headed down to see the boys as they prepared for school. I didn't feel much like joking, but we always share a laugh before I leave. Jake picked right up on my cold - "I thought you were too big and strong to get a cold," he said. "Ah, poor baby, suck it up." I explained that I planned on sucking it up and heading off to work. "I can't be held down by a cold," I said. "I'm the strongest man in the world." Of course, Kathy was passing by. "You're the strongest man in the world ?" she asked. I heard the kids laugh. "Of course I am," I said. "I'm big, I'm strong, an...

So, I told you that the Bills were going to be great this year. As a matter of fact, I'm going to say it now - they will win the Super Bowl. Trent Edwards is a better quarterback than Tom Brady. Marshawn Lynch is not only the best running back since OJ Simpson, he's also the same sort of great guy. Actually... it's been fun to chide everyone about the Bills, but the truth is, its great for the community to have a common goal. It was what I always liked about sports, and it is fun to actually sit and watch the games without knowing the outcome - its been a lot of years since they were even competitive. I also told you that the Boston Red Sox wouldn't go quietly and that you can't hold down Big Papi for too long... ah hell, I was going to try and be gracious and funny, but I just can't - I still hate the Red Sucks. The final I told you so moment of the weekend concerns my boys running the fantasy football team that I'm the Steinbrenner-like owner of. Matt and ...

Okay all you haters - Yankee phenom Joba Chamberlin was arrested for DUI and it's funny but my wife said - "Oh you'll hear it on the blog now." And rightfully so - getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking is a stupid move and one that deserves ridicule. Twenty-one years old, making millions of dollars, and not being able to find someone to drive you around after you've been drinking? The root of the problem being that you feel as if you're above the law. We'll see what Joba says about it and how he handles it. Hopefully he makes amends and pays the price. I'd hate to see him blame the media for bad press - like Lynch did, but hey, they're both young men who need to get it right and make better choices. I always joke with my wife that half the reason I got married was so someone was there to drive me home from weddings and get-togethers where I go overboard. The other half of the reason is so I can finish off the meals she orders at restaura...

You know you're getting old when the family says - we'll do whatever you want to do today - and you can't think of anything that sounds like fun. Let's take stock - sore ankle, losing my hair, three great kids, a wonderful wife, a lot of friends and a great family. I'm 44 - same age as Reggie's uniform number - I might be old - but I'm doing all right. Old by Paul Simon The first time I heard "Peggy Sue" I was 12 years old, Russians up in rocket ships and the war was cold How many wars have come and gone? Genocide still goes on Buddy Holly still goes on But his catalogue was sold. First time I smoked, guess what - paranoid The first time I heard "Satisfaction" I was young and unemployed Down the decades every year Summer leaves and my birthday's here and all my friends stand up and cheer and say man, 'You're old." Getting old Old Getting old. We celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day And Buddha found Nirvana along ...

A couple of weeks ago Bills quarterback Trent Edwards was hit on a pass attempt and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. He suffered a concussion and you'd have thought the world was going to end. Newscasts started with the story, telling the sad tale and there was a sheer panic hanging in the air. On October 7th, Army Sergeant Michael K. Clark, 24, of Sacramento, California was killed in Iraq from injuries suffered when he encountered small arms fire while on dismounted patrol for the 4th infantry division. The day after Edwards concussion the Buffalo News ran at least three stories about poor Trent. We found out that he had spoken with teammates and was coherent. The entire city let out a collective sigh of relief. Army Corporal Reuben Fernandez, 22, of Abilene, Texas, died on October 11th from injuries suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device while working with the 1st Calvary Division. On Tuesday I found out that Trent Edwards had grapefruit...

The media is going to eat poor Joe alive. He owes money on his taxes and he's not really a plumber. God help him. He had the gall to ask about having enough money to live a life and he's going to be thrown to the wolves. Yet why? Why are we talking about $250,000 as the cut-off when most Americans are simply struggling with the idea of having enough money left over to pay their freaking gas bills? I understand that there is an economic crisis going on, but if I'm like most Americans, I don't feel anything but fear. Is my job going away? Will the kids have a chance to go to college? Can anyone be a plumber and still survive in this day and age? You know what? While the rest of the world is in a financial crisis, I felt great today because I was able to fill up my car for less than $50. It's a lot like hitting your hand with a hammer - it feels great when you stop. Not paying $4 per gallon is pure ecstasy - and that's how they get you. I actually felt great today ...

A couple of months back my father called with some bad news - his best friend through the years had died of cancer - and Dad was certainly upset. "I was friends with him for over 50 years," he said. "Can you imagine having a great friend for that long?" I keep moving through the dark, with you in my heart, my blood brother. Of course that's a Bruce line and one I think of each and every time I consider the great buddies who've shared my life with me. I'm not going anywhere and neither are they - so I figure I will get 50 years in with each of them. Hell, Al and John have been friends for almost 40 years already! Yet I had good friends on my mind all day today because I called my buddy Jeff to wish him a happy birthday, and it blew my mind that he's 45 freaking years old! In three days I'll celebrate my birthday and we always laugh about the fact that I used to give him a present and he'd return it to me three days later. (The same gift!) I qu...

So Marcia Brady is writing a book about all sorts of bad things she did. Who didn't have a crush on Marcia Brady? She was hot and perfect in the Winny Cooper sort of way. Winny Cooper will always be my favorite, but how can you not notice when Marcia Brady says that she traded sex for cocaine. What would Greg Brady think of this? Obviously not much because he did her too. Think about that freak show - the father was gay and died of AIDS - Florence Henderson actually did Greg Brady - her freaking step-son for god's sake - and Marcia was turning tricks for dope. Looks like that broken-ass family didn't do very well on teaching morals. Perhaps that man dressed up as the maid should have helped out a little more. So - I'm enjoying the baseball playoffs now that the Red Sucks have lost 2 in a row. I shouldn't be like this, but I am - I have a ton of friends who just root against the Yankees not caring who wins and I must admit its kind of cool. Anyway what about Big Pop-...

Okay so ex-boxers, ex-cops, and ex-beauty pagent contenders are running for public office. How about an ex-college-binge-drinker, who likes to read and write? I am officially a candidate. Here's my platform: 1). I have a plan to reduce taxes and create jobs. See previous post. 2). I have a plan to run your car on pure water - yes water - salt water nonetheless so we don't run out of drinking water. You want to hear the plan? Vote for me. 3). I have solved the gay marriage problem. We'll just allow them to couple up as men-women have done for years and years - but we will just rename it - we'll call it garriage. As in, "I'm garried to Bill." We just invent a word - give them the same rights. Let one of them be the man and one of them be the woman - they can pick it on the form. Quick question - what do they say during the wedding anyway? I now pronounce you husband and husband? 4). Abortion? Want one? Take it to court - let a judge arrive at the conclusion...

Here in Erie County we have an ex-boxer running for State Senate. We also have an ex-cop, who looks like a guy who got battered by a boxer, running for something or other. Day after day, hour after hour, I've listened to the commercials for the candidates. The one by the boxer is what galled me into writing this blog. Here's the dialogue: "Joe Mesi has a plan for reducing our dependency on oil." "What's the plan?" I asked. I didn't get an answer. During the debate, McCain explained that he had a plan to fix the economy. He also stated that he had a plan to catch Bin Laden. He finally, had a plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Of course, I have followed it closely enough to know some of his plans, but he wasn't able to expand on it at the Town Hall debate. I can imagine two people watching the debate not knowing anything about the candidates. Woman: I'm voting for McCain. Who you voting for? Man: Obama Woman: But McCain has a plan. M...

This injury has allowed me plenty of time to examine the family dynamic. Some real truths - the dogs sleep a ton. The fake little show of being glad your home means very little in the course of their day. Since I've been on the couch mostly, I've noticed that their eyes are closed way more than they're open. Secondly, my kids all have unbelievable secure personalities. Sam has taken to calling everyone, "Hon". Jake moves through the house like a tortured clown - swinging on the emotions from high-to-low, waiting for an opening to bust someone's chops (lately I'm his target). Matt continues to make me marvel on how he gets things done - when I've never actually seen him work at all. And of course, Kathy is walking around smugly waiting for me to ask her to set up the doctor's appointment. It won't happen. Which brings me to me - sitting there - bored with television. So, I did what comes naturally and began to read. I read every word of every ne...

I've been writing this blog - religiously - for the past 11 months. I started doing it because it was a free way of writing, and there were certainly no constraints on my style. I will continue to do it for the same reason. It's a lot of fun to write completely in the mood. If I want to be funny, I give that a go. If I want to be serious, I have at it. If I want to voice my opinion, I do it, because it keeps my wife from having to hear it every second of the day. Yet, there is more to it, I suppose. I've always been a compassionate type of person and as I noticed that I was at blog 300 - a nice round number - I tried to capture what the real reason is behind my having to be heard. Maybe it's because I had a bunch of siblings and we were all encouraged to be vocal. Perhaps its because I've had a lot of friends over the years who've enjoyed what I've written. Maybe I just want a new, wider audience. Anyway, I certainly will try and remain compassionate as I wr...

Given the choice of being healthy, wealthy or wise, it really isn't much of a contest. Problem is, I'm currrently none of the three. The ankle injury suffered at the hands of the children in the driveway basketball game has developed into a real problem. Yet it only hurts when I put my foot on the floor. Which reminds me of an old joke: Plane crashes in the wild and everyone on board except for one man is killed. He survives in the wild by eating the flesh of the corpses, and weeks pass before the crash is discovered. When the rescuers come upon him they survey the scene, and note that the man was always badly injured in the crash, suffering fractured ribs, and broken limbs. "Does it hurt?" one of the rescuers asks. "Only when I laugh," the man replies. Talk about a sunny disposition. And I'm trying to be sunny about the sore Achilles and ankle. I've logged plenty of couch time with Kathy and the boys asking if I need anything. Yet there is plenty of...

Sam came to me the other day and said - "Dad, I put your name in on You-Tube and you're there. How'd you do that?" Well, first off, not a big deal to get on You-Tube now, is it? Yet how I got there was for the trailer to House of Miracles . You can visit it by copying and pasting the embed at: URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceZZeW6-euY embed: param name="movie" value=" Do me a favor and take a look -the stars of the book, Anthony Stinson and Olivia Stockmeyer deserve all the credit in the world, and they are included in the trailer. There's a place for you to rate the video - do it! do it! do it, please! It'll only take a few minutes! Additionally, Cindy, Jen, Lisa, Megan and Nicole deserve a nod here - they are not part of my harem, but the unbelievably dedicated staff of Sterlinghouse . The author gets the credit on the cover and every page of the book, but I have to tell you, it would not be possible without a great sta...

It all started on Tuesday afternoon when my wife called to ask if I had any ideas about dinner. It's a daily conversation that is usually easily handled because I normally have an idea. On Tuesday, I was a little tied-up with work and I was annoyed with the question. "We didn't take anything out," I said. "I'm clean out of ideas." My wife has learned to gauge my moods - I'm usually either happy or extremely agitated - she took it as agitated and said - "We'll think of something," and she got the hell out of the conversation. Now, I'm not kidding here - about two miles later, I was driving down the street and the traffic in front of me kept swerving out of the way of three boxes sitting dead center in the road. Believing that I'm a good guy, I pulled over and stepped out of the car with the full intention of pulling the boxes to the side of the road. A middle-aged black man met me at the boxes. "What the hell is it?" I ...

... the less I understand. --- I thought the bailout would work and that we could continue our ways, untouched by the panic that the economic crisis is causing. My people keep saying it will work out and that the confidence will be back and that we'll correct it all without missing a step. Yet the numbers are boggling my mind. I saw an executive with AIG mentioning that his $22 million golden parachute was earned. When a member of Congress asked if he'd give some of the money back - he offered a one word answer. "No." Great guy. --- The debates are great, aren't they? The moderator asks a question and the politician answers, not with what they'd do - but what their opponent wouldn't do. Then if we do get a straight answer, the next guy stands up and says - "That's not quite right...you voted against what you just said." Confusing. --- I hate being driven by fear. Someone once said - and I'm not smart enough to figure out who - that the be...

A friend of mine sent me this (thanks Mary Lou...thought it was perfect for a post). 1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow. In fact, just go away and leave me alone. 2. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any. 3. No one is listening until you Fart. 4. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else. 5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. 6. If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments. 7. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. 8. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. 9. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. 10. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person ...

A couple of months ago I was driving the wrong way down a one-way street when this lady had the audacity to smash into the side of my car. I received two tickets and a sure insurance increase to go along with my missing fender flare. Well, I finally had my day in court today. Unfortunately there were 100 or so others who shared my appointment time. We were herded like cattle into a room that was way too hot. I got there 15 minutes early so I took my place in line - 32 nd from the front. Another bit of misfortune struck as I was standing next to a woman of about 70 years of age who took to bitching about anything and everything, including her speeding ticket - she was tagged at 76 in a 65 - and it smelled to her like a setup. I did a lot of nodding. "Look at the money these sons-of-bitches are making," she moaned. "Why don't they concentrate on getting drugs and violence out of the neighborhoods? Why are they picking on common people who are just trying to get to wo...

I love talk radio. I listen religiously to Howard Stern, switch to ESPN, and usually end the day with Jay Thomas. I have Sirius Satellite radio and don't know how I lived without it. Yet days like today its a blast to listen to the local sports station. Once the Bills got smoked (as I predicted) I couldn't wait to hear the people acting as if life itself had ended. "They need to fire the coaching staff," one irate caller said. (They're 4 and 1 - firing their coaches after one loss would be the funniest thing ever). "They need to take it to another level," another caller said. (Can someone please explain why the hell anyone would ever utter that statement? What the hell does it mean?) "They need to give 110 percent every time out there," another brainiac said. (Out of what? 200?). "It's time for all these guys to step up and show what their made of." (Another inane comment that means absolutely nothing at all - what are they stepp...

Basically I never left the house this weekend. There were a couple of trips to the grocery store, of course (I have spent about thirty-thousand dollars in blue drinks through the years) and the kids have taken a liking to barbecued spare ribs- which aren't cheap, but what the hell? There were loads of laundry to do. The grass needed to be mowed. I put away the patio furniture so it doesn't blow across the lawn during a freak fall storm, and I cleaned the dog crap out of the backyard. I must tell you - Melky and Shadow are fairly regular. Kathy ran the boys to swim and to get a haircut, did a ton of cleaning, changed the bedsheets, and on and on. The battle over homework should start fairly soon. We had ham and baked potatoes yesterday and pasta with other family members is slated to get underway around 12:30. The office will close soon after. And then, we get ready for another week of work. And why the detailed recap? Because this is what it is. This is living and all that mo...

When I was a kid, and on into my teen years for all that matters, my brothers and I would sneak down to Grandma's house just before lunch. We'd make sure that we were there at least 1/2 hour early so she would boil enough pasta for all of us. Then we'd sit with grandpa and we'd share lunch with them. Those meals were some of the best ever, and not only because Grandma was a first-rate chef. Yet we understood that we were leaving right after we ate because as my grandfather liked to say - "The office closes from 1 to 3." John Mellencamp when asked why he started playing in a rock and roll band said that he just wanted to get a nap every day. He's certainly now in a financial position to make it work. I'm not - but I do realize what Grandpa and Mellencamp were chasing. Around here the office closes down at 1 PM on weekends. It was a habit that started when the kids were young and it was impossible to sleep past six am. We put the kids down as close to ...

Another couple of reasons why I don't want my kids wearing shirts with Bills running backs names on them: Of course, OJ will now (hopefully) spend the rest of his life behind bars. Much as I felt when he was elected into the Hall of Fame: "Good for him, he deserves it." Some may say that perhaps my ill-will toward Marshawn Lynch is borne of a problem that I had idolizing an explosive back with a million-dollar smile. We held the man on a pedestal when he didn't belong on a foot stool. Enjoy the cell, Juice, think of Ron and Nicole - perhaps you can sort that whole mess out. Secondly, Travis Henry is a back that my son did watch and idolize. "He's a beast," my kid told me a few years back. I didn't think he meant it literally. This week, Travis was arrested for distribution of cocaine. He had been suspended from the league a few times and was ultimately fired by Denver. When he was here in Buffalo he was accused of raping a minor. I don't know ...

I watched the VP debate - every second of it. By the end, the double-speak and misconceptions made my head spin and I had trouble getting to sleep, but I thought it was interesting to say the least. No car wrecks - the candidates were well-prepared. Maybe too well-prepared in some instances. Yet I won't discuss winner or loser. I just need to compare it to a prize fight I once saw: Leonard- Hagler . My brother was a huge Marvelous Marvin Hagler fan. He loved the way Hagler brutalized an opponent. Me? I enjoyed watching Sugar Ray Leonard - who always entertained the crowd and really knew how to move, mug for the camera and get the hell out of dodge when it got too heated. Leonard won the fight and I rode my brother hard. It was a real entertaining fight to watch as Sugar Ray ran in, threw a hundred little jabs that wouldn't knock out my sister, and smiled real wide as Hagler became frustrated with his inability to land a solid punch. The judges declared Leonard the winner. My...

I have a college buddy who loved doing the following skit with me. Him: You don't know even know how to argue. Me: Yes, I do Him: No, you don't. Me Yes I do. I argue better than you do. Him: No, you don't. I've never met anyone who argues worse than you. Me: You're the worst. Him: No, I'm not. You get the idea. We'd go back and forth and drive other people crazy. (No wonder we had trouble picking up girls). Yet we also loved to debate anything at all. I've had a number of friends who've also fallen into that category. I'll argue anything and I'll do it until the veins in my neck pop out - even if I'm wrong. (Right? Johnny C.). This all comes to mind because of tonight's debate. There are a lot of people predicting that Sarah Palin is going to make a complete ass of herself. I heard one talking head say that it will be a lot like watching a car crash. It will probably be a lot less. Historically these debates are filled with cliches ...

My internal clock was on high today - October 1st - baseball playoffs! What better time of the year? Games on all day! Fastballs! Home Runs! No 360 pound linemen trying to catch their breath after smashing into the guy across from them. No loudmouth receivers yelling throw me the damn ball. Baseball! America's past time! Peanuts, cracker jack and steroids, oops forget that one. And what do I get? Millwaukee versus the Phillies! Yipee! Millwaukee is best know for Dahmer - then Laverne and Shirley! They won the same amount of games this year as the Yankees and they're playing the Phillies - who won their division, but haven't won a playoff game since 1980. Tomorrow I get the Tampa Rays who play in a barn where if you hit a catwalk in a certain area it's a foul ball - and if you hit it in another area - it' a home run. They built their team because they stole the Yankees money in the "it's not fair" rate share plan. They should get a nice crowd for the ga...

It certainly is scary to consider what is really going on - Sal from the Howard Stern Show was arguing that blacks are voting for Obama simply because he is black. Others were of the opinion that it just wasn't the case. So, Sal went out with a recorder and started asking questions. "Who are you voting for?" All three interviewed responded: "Obama." "Does it bother you that he favors staying in Iraq and not withdrawing the troops?" "Not at all," was the favored response. "Do you agree with Sarah Palin as his choice as VP." "Yes, I do." They all said! "So, you think she'll do a good job as Obama's Vice-President." "She'll be great," was the response. God help us all. Perhaps it was just an isolated case, but to not even know who's running with whom? No wonder we're on the verge of bankruptcy.