Thoughts of a Common Man

It all started with Egypt and the overthrow of the government after the citizens got so tired of being oppressed. Now we have Libya sort of wising up and threatening to overthrow Gadhafi and the oppressive regime there. Gadhafi had an interview today where he said that things were actually peaceful in his country. If it weren't for the Charlie Sheen interviews he would have won the award for dumbest statements made all day. But the biggest problems concerning Americans should be the unrest caused by crazy budgets established in Wisconsin and a bunch of other states, including New York. Unions are being threatened. Schools are being threatened. Gas prices are through the roof. And Two and a Half Men is going off the air. I give up on trying to find any sort of answers. I am sort of just sitting back watching it all unfold as the world seems to be spinning in a rather strange manner. Is there a way out of it? Should America help Libya? Does Egypt need money? Do we have enough money t...

After a long year of taunting one another back and forth the bet between Sam and his Uncle Chuck was finally settled when the Packers beat the Steelers for the Super Bowl...by one single point...to earn a free dinner, with one guest...at a nice restaurant. It's about way more than the dinner. First off, I am so grateful to Chuck for taking on such a task. Through twenty some years I made the exact same sort of bet with Jeff. Those who read Oh Brother! will realize that there was a lot at stake...dinner and bragging rights. Chuck was graceful enough to keep the tradition going with Sam...who is one of the all-time greatest trash talkers at the ripe old age of ten. Since the bet was settled Sam has tormented Chuck with nightly phone calls reminding him of the final game. There are a lot of belly laughs as they go back and forth. Feeling like he may have had enough, Chuck decided to settle up last night. Now Sam is not the biggest kid in the world. He is not really known to eat to pai...

Don't you just want to bash in the faces of those who, in the time of crisis, tell you things like, "God doesn't give you anymore than what you can handle?" I was thinking about that today as I did something that I told myself I would refrain from doing: reading and watching really sad things. There is just so much heartbreak that someone mentioning that God has your back when you feel like you are a step away from collapse, can lead to murderous thoughts. But I suppose that there is comfort in believing in the fact that you can rise above all that you face. It is certain that if you think obsessively of difficulties that you will be defeated, so there has to be that faith. Faith hurls obstacles aside and crushes fear. Faith makes life dynamic, vital and joyful. The answer to all struggles is certainly faith. Whole-hearted, all-out, enthusiastic faith. As I wrote that sentence I kind of shied away from it, knowing that it is not a Bible-thumping, God-fearing type of c...

So Lindsay Lohan has looked good in her last two appearances, huh? Unfortunately they were both court appearances, but you can't knock the outfits. I took a good look at the article but I doubt the judge was impressed. Then again, maybe he was. It seems like the judges do a little bit of a grandstand when there are high-profile celebrities involved. Where else would the judge promise jail time during the arraignment? Isn't that supposed to be a little proceeding where no one says anything? Everyone wants their ten minutes in the sun. Also, it seems like my rehab buddy, Charlie Sheen isn't doing real well handling his anger issues. News across the press today says that the show is over and will not be back. It seems as if Charlie went nuts on the creators of the show. That's what happens when you take away the crack, the booze and the hookers. And they expected sunshine? Of course, the show will go off prime time but will live on for years in syndication and no one will ...

Went to the hockey game last night and since it was work related I got to sit in one of the suites where they bring food in. I had sampled a bit of dinner before the game, but what the hell, a man has to eat, right? Besides rehab is allowing me to partake in more food since I don't have to worry about booze. So I was eating a few chicken wings when this woman explained to me that she doesn't eat any meat. I had a bunch of stray thoughts, none appropriate, flash across my brain, but I asked her how she found it satisfying to eat a meal. I love pasta, and eat nearly all vegetables, but no meat? Can't do it. In fact, I was so inspired by the discussion today I stopped by Elk Provision to stock up on some meat, and I was thrilled to pay the bill, knowing that the freezer will be full, and that I can have steak for dinner...tonight, tomorrow and the next six days if I want it. "We were running low," I said to Ed, a man who I know only because our family has been buying...

As we all know by now I am not too handy when it comes to fixing things, so it is certainly strange that I make my living in the construction industry. It was even more strange when I was a construction laborer as I worked my way through college. I had no idea what or how we were building anything. I made my living as a grunt, lifting things others didn't want to lift and carrying heavy weight around the site. I was good at it too. Couldn't do that anymore if I wanted to. Yet I remember a day long ago when I was working with a carpenter as he was nailing something to something. "Put some pressure on the wall," he said. "Okay, wall," I replied. "You are unemployed and you have three hungry kids who want to go to college." The guy laughed his ass off. I thought of that today as I tried to get my work done. Things have been unbelievably busy over the last few weeks, and it seems it is all I can do to get to the weekend so I can rest a little. In other...

So, my brother was out with a buddy of his last night and as I worked, he sat on his phone and ass-dialed me, allowing me to listen into his conversation a few times. The vibrating phone soon got on my nerves, so I began ignoring the calls. Safely tucked into my hotel room bed, I was thankful that the calls had finally stopped. I watched a bit of the basketball game and then picked up my phone again to see that I had missed yet another call from Jim. Thinking he had mistakenly dialed me again, I didn't call him back. Moments later, the phone came alive again with Jim's picture popping up. "What!" I yelled. "Cliff, this is Mike, Jim's friend. Thank God you answered." "What's going on?" I asked. My heart was in my throat already. "Your brother got into a fight. He was arrested and I have credit problems. I can't help him make bail." "Oh God, no!" I said. I was now at full attention, tossing the covers aside, thinking o...