Thoughts of a Common Man

Kathy went out on Black Friday. Didn’t go well. She was trying to get some crazy deal on an I-phone and because of some garbage with Verizon. So, because she can hardly move yet, I was hooked in. I headed into Wal-Mart, which I don’t do more than once a year, and headed straight to the electronics department. Laptops are only $300??? 50-inch televisions are $299? There are all kinds of cases for I-phones? Big headphones? I headed for the back counter and it seemed like 70 people were just standing around. “Is there a line here?” I asked. A guy in a ‘Make America Great’ hat said: “It’s a mess.” So, I edged by him and walked up to a guy behind the counter. “My wife was in here last night and tried, unsuccessfully, to buy an I-phone.” I handed him the slip of paper and he said: “Oh, I have that right here.” Couple of clicks later and he asked: “Are you the account holder?” “No.” “You’ll have to be in the account to get the phone.” He pulled up the...

It’s been a weird football season. There are some absolutely horrible teams: The Dolphins, Bengals, Giants, Redskins, Falcons, Jets (most of the time), Denver. Just awful. Like they aren’t even trying. So, it’s been hard to get a handle on whether or not the teams who are actually winning. Are they actually good? I have zero idea how good the 10-1 Patriots and 49ers are. The Ravens hammered the Patriots but the Browns also hammered the Ravens. The Bills? They needed final drives to beat the Jets and the winless Bengals. They got beat by the Browns and hammered by the mediocre Eagles. Yesterday, I imagined that they would be stuffed in Dallas on Thanksgiving. That’s what the Bills have done for the last 20+ years... ...lost when it matters most. Dallas went 75 yards to score on the first drive and I felt dread... ...not for me (I really don’t care) but for my boys. They’ve seen one playoff game in all the years they’ve been alive and the Bills scored 3 poin...

Truth be told, the longer you go, the less enthusiastic one may be about some things in life. It’s easy to do. “Life goes on. Long after the thrill of living is gone.” Mellencamp wrote a great line there, and someone quoted it to me after we found out about the death of a small town friend. And here comes Thanksgiving. An odd year here. We don’t have a kid in the house for the next four days. I have some mighty sore legs and I’m the healthy one. Kathy is still in a neck brace for another couple of weeks. The wind is howling outside. One show leads to the next. But I’m thankful. And lately, I’ve taken to ignoring the outside noise that has dominated the news. Russia’s plan for America was to bring unrest in the form of disinformation that would directly divide the country. It worked, and it wouldn’t have had there been some attention paid to what we need to be thankful for. We’re free here. I have a roof over my head, more than enough to eat, good kids, a wif...

So, my boy, Jake and I spend a lot of time talking about writing and artists. So far Jake hasn’t asked me much about actually doing the writing but he certainly appreciates a good lyric. I have sent him some of the most profound of all my favorite artists. “That’s why he’s a legend,” he said, after I went over ‘Moonlight Motel’ from the Springsteen record. So, I decided to open my mind a little. I actually love Slim Shady when he goes funny. The videos of Eminem’s comical raps are great and that guy can sling a phrase. But man, rap is hard for me... ...it’s usually played too loud and all I hear is the bass and they go fast! Jake sent me a quote from Springsteen when someone asked him who he liked. “Kendrick Lamar is making outstanding art.” What??? Bruce said that about a rapper? “You should try it,” Jake said. “Okay. I have a long drive,” I said. “Send me 5 songs I should download.” Jake sent the titles along. I definitely got bored on the drive. Loaded ...

Rick Perry, a guy who has never hit me as someone who is overly bright, did an interview where he made the claim that Donald Trump is ‘the chosen one.’ As in chosen, by God, not Vladimir. Now anyone who has read this blog understands that my faith in ‘the chosen one’ has never been all that much. I don’t know of one redeeming trait that he has. Doesn’t love dogs! How can you not love a good dog? Speaks nastily about every single person who doesn’t love him. If you love him he is nice to you. He lies. God chose him to lie constantly about everything? Let’s ask Rick Perry: Through history God has made some questionable choices as a leader of people. That’s what Perry said. Maybe God was going for full deception...throw people off the scent. God: “We need someone to save the world.” Saint Peter: “who you thinking about? Jimmy Carter is still building homes for the poor.” God: “He’s got a bad hip.” Saint Peter: “What about Trump?” God: “The fraud guy?? F...

On Saturday we gathered to celebrate Mom’s birthday and as usual, Jim made enough food for 500 and we all did our best to make sure Mom knows how much she’s loved... ...and she had a great time. Got some Red Lobster gift cards, some Yankees gear and a few scratchers...which she loves. And she looks great! At one point she was stepping out for a cigarette and my Aunt Franny asked her when she was gonna quit smoking. “I’m 80! It’s gone all right.” And Pops hooked us up too with wontons stuffed with pepper stuffing. They were gone. And when I think of Mom two words come to mind: 1). Books - my love of reading was her gift to me. And 2). Strength - she was pregnant 27 out of 31 months! She never stopped working when we were all there and the washer and dryer never stopped. She’d have your clothes back in your room, folded, and put away before you were ready to wear a shirt again. And she handled Dad... ...no easy task. So, we had a nice time... ...paying tribu...

The digits on my phone just changed to 1:00. I’ve been laying in my bed since 10:00. Yeah. On a Saturday night. Because I was coming off 2 lousy nights of sleep. It all started on Thursday night in a hotel. Asleep at 10:00 and wide awake at 03:00. I battled through night and got back to sleep from 4:30 to 6:00. Dead tired as I went through the work day. Friday night would be better. I didn’t sleep a straight hour all night. Sleep walking on Saturday. And here I am... ...exhausted. As soon as my head hits the pillow my eyes jut open. I even tried warm milk! And it usually passes as it arrives - quickly. But man. It sucks!