Thoughts of a Common Man

If 2012 is it, as legend has it, we should really pile on tonight, huh? Chances are, I really won't. It hasn't been that kind of year, and I'm closing it out with a lot on the agenda, and when that happens, I sleep lousy, get antsy, and act like a douche. So..Happy New Year!!! But realistically, I feel a good year coming on. I don't expect it, but I will take it if it comes down the pike. And once more, we use this forum to talk ourselves into dwelling on the beautiful in what can sometimes be an ugly life. So no talk of Sandusky or Syracuse. No mention of Lohan or the Kardashians. Let's go with the idea that the faith and love that we have is quite enough for now. Like the belief that God is in heaven and that He will eventually show the way. Let it Be. There will be an answer. Let it Be. Like the love of a beautiful wife and wonderful children. They drive me up the freaking wall, but they make me laugh a lot too. And I am amazed by them, every day. Like the belief...

So, the book placed in the New England Book festival and despite the fact that the awards ceremony is dangerously close to where the Red Sux eat fried chicken and drink beer during games, I'm going! When I received the email telling me that the book would get an award I immediately thought of my family. My Mom, my brothers and sisters, and all the wonderful people who sent me beautiful words about Jeff and the story. Like one I received earlier in the day. Dear Cliff, I sat down to start the book and never put it down until I was finished. I cried my eyes out because I have felt that pain before. This was the first time anyone has ever been able to describe what I was feeling when my Grandma had a stroke and was in the hospital. Although she was older, she was healthy and the head of our family. I would stay with her as much as I could and I hated to leave her in the hospital when I had to return to my "normal" life. I remember all the glimpses of hope when she would say ...

So, if the resolution is to get healthy, drop a little weight, and feel better, can someone please tell me what the hell to do? Saw an article today that said drinking 80 ounces of water may not be good for you after all. Raise your hand if you ever saw an article like that before. I drink about 150 ounces of water a day, no lie. Eggs? Eat 'em? Don't eat 'em? Who the hell knows? Brown eggs? White eggs? Fried eggs? Egg whites? Scrambled? No one has ever really painted a clear picture there. Carbs are bad, right? Red meat...bad! Butter...horrible. But don't eat too much fish because of the Mercury. Clams will kill you. Pork? Chicken? Become a vegan! There it is, right? Wrong. Not happening. The other day we were talking about cutting back on carbs. A buddy of mine told me that perhaps it would be of benefit to eliminate one of two of my pasta days. He isn't my buddy anymore. I now eat a regular breakfast. I went from two sandwiches at lunch to one. I actually try to m...

So people are trampling one another for Michael Jordan's new sneakers that sell to inner city kids for $180 a pop. Every kid needs them. Downtrodden parents are trying to decide between heat for the winter or new shoes for their kids. I saw one mother attempting to buy them one at a time on an installment plan. This is something I really don't get. Of course, my friends know this about me. I usually kick it around in a pair of eight dollar Pro-Keds. I have never, on my own, bought shoes anywhere other than Pay Less. In fact, about eight years back, I was invited to my company's Christmas Party. One of the big bosses led me towards his Cadillac in the parking lot. He wouldn't tell me where we were headed, and I was a little shocked when he asked me to follow him into a shoe store where he bought a pair of black dress shoes for me. I've worn them twice since. But hey, I still got 'em. And it goes much deeper than that. During my pre-teen years I was the only rolle...

I don't know about you but I really don't like advertising when I'm having a tough time in a relationship, and despite the fact that I write a blog every day, I honestly don't say a hell of a lot about things that are troublesome. I was fascinated with the above sign that was posted in front of a real nice home not far from where I live. I don't really understand the message, I suppose, but I do get the angst and pain that went into what appears to be a 4 and a half year knockdown brawl. Divorce appears to be a real pain in the ass. It also doesn't seem like much of a financial move, but I'm just above the poverty line in marriage while my wife is upper middle class, but hey, I don't air such grievances. And you don't know whether or not to believe me anyway. But it's true. Anyhow...why advertise it? What is gained from such a sign? To embarass the other? Not a lot of respect there. Perhaps that's why the divorce happened. Revenge is a powerf...

Well, the house is getting there. I haven't taken the tree down yet. I may leave it until Saturday, but the clean-up went well, and there were a few surprises along the way. I cooked yesterday. 12 pounds of turkey, 10 pounds of ham, a batch of sauce with 3 pounds of meatballs and about 5 pounds of sausage. The sauce was perfect. We also had five pounds of roast beef and I peeled over ten pounds of potatoes and mashed them. Tried Jeff's secret on the gravy, and it was good. Not there, but good. And usually Kethy's family hardly puts a dent in that much food. They normally eat like birds compared to my side of the family who eats as if we are going to the chair right after dinner. Well, surprise...they ate nearly everything. They drank a dozen bottles of wine, a bottle of Jamesons and a bottle of Patron. All right, I helped a little. I pounded a pound of the pasta and tried a few shots. I cleaned as I went and Kathy cleaned even more than me, but there were still a few stray ...

So there's Matt's favorite present. A pint of rum that you might see a homeless man sucking on as he sits up against a building in any city in the country. Ahhhh, college. I'm not sure just how the present came to be the first thing he opened, or why the hell Santa brought him such a thing, but he is the kid that would never have a drink. Heretofore he has been a responsible kid. I just needed a laugh as the presents were opened (mainly because gift-wrapping being strewn about is an attack to my OCD) and he provided it. Once more, my beautiful wife did a tremendous job of buying and wrapping each present. The kids were appreciative, thanking her with each one. "What am I wood?" I asked at one point. "You just funded it," they said. But we had a great couple of days of being together and feeling the love that accumulates here through the year. One of my other favorite lines of the holiday came out, in church, of all places. I reached for Jake's hand t...