Luke at Christmas

Luke has had a really rough time this Winter after hurting his leg during our first ice storm. He's been limping a lot and has been spending more of his time upstairs with us rather than in his pen downstairs.

He's loving all of the attention and has taken over a lot of our time, but for the most part we've enjoyed his company, if not his barking when he wants extra attention.

For Christmas he got a giant bone that is about 2.5 feet long and is his pride and joy. In spite of his limp, he pranced around all day yesterday with the bone in his mouth, clobbering everything in his way with the bone in his mouth. You could practically see his smile behind that big, rawhide bone.

I hadn't seen him this happy or contented in a long time... I'm glad it cheered him up!

On Christmas Eve, Luke kept busy sniffing packages and pawing at boxes under the tree...which was fine till he started trying to open presents for us!

It was cute to see him so curious about Christmas stuff...he's always kind of ignored it before. Sherry and I laughed about it for awhile and then realizing that this would undoubtedly be his last Christmas with us, the mood turned sad. Sherry cried and I got misty eyed as we watched our old buddy, Luke trying to grab presents with his big paws...

Merry Christmas Luke and we hope we have you for a lot of this coming new year!

O Christmas Blog

Mom I think I have this game already
Dustin plays Bass at the Christmas Concert
Dustin strumming along
Jared runs so fast he's blurry
and below we see Jared playing for the "Rockets"

I haven't written in so long I don't know what to say...

other than, we're all doing well...except for Luke who turns 10 on the 28th of December. Happy Birthday old Buddy!

and I guess I should say "Merry Christmas!"

David

Pastor of Muppets and other songs I've heard and books I've read

Correction: The song is actually "Master of Puppets" but when I say it the Muppet way it drives my kids batty!!!

"Morning has Broken" was on "Pushing Daisies" last week and has been embedded in my skull ever since...

Hey, the new Steve Martin books (that's right, I said books!) "Born Standing up" (for grown-ups) and "The Alphabet from A to Y with bonus letter Z" (for kids and adults)are both fantastic! Steve is my comedy hero and ever shall be along with the great Red Skelton and the Marx Brothers and a couple of others here and there...

Also on my "HIT LIST" is ESPN Magazine. While I love SPORTING NEWS and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, I've got to go a step above and beyond and say that ESPN is the STUFF! Great pics, Great articles! You name it! It's FANTASTIC!

Speaking of fantastic, did I mention I have a crush on Kristin Chenoweth from "Pushing Daisies" ??? Not only is she pretty, perky and cute, she can sing like an angel! So much so, in fact that she got me to watch the musty, dusty musical "The Music Man" which was dusted off a few years ago and remade with her and Matthew Broderick. While the musical is a bit, shall we say "dated?" She and Matt are both very good in it...

Speaking of musicals (and we were, weren't we?) The new "Hairspray" could have been just another unneeded sequel, but it's really actually very good. The music is terriffic and the acting is pretty good, even if Travolta does look a bit like a giant Cabbage Patch Kid. Good job! Jared and I were dancing around the house after watching it!

Chenoweth (yes, I'm still stuck on her...) has two CD's out...one Christian and one Pop Standards and they're both GREAT! I'm listening to one of them right now!!!

Life is good here at "Casa de Cox" and no serious complaints... (it wouldn't be normal for me if I were totally well, so I'm sporting a sprained wrist, but no big probs...) Everyone else is good...EVEN our old buddy, LUKE!

Thanksgiving was nice and I'm looking forward to Christmas! Fa La La La La La La La La....

I'll write again soon...

Dave

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey Everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!



I haven't written in a bit and haven't really got any news to share except that I've been busy. We're getting close to the start of Basketball season and we seem to be keeping busy with housekeeping stuff... (raking leaves, cleaning gutters!!!)



Dustin and I spent a good portion of the weekend fixing some busted duct work in the attic, and let me just say that if I NEVER have to go into the attic again I will consider myself blessed.

I've also been on the roof twice in two weeks getting leaves out of the gutters, and although I don't have vertigo, I REALLY don't like walking near the edge of the house... makes you feel like you could easily fall, even if you're not going to.



See, I told you I had nothing to say! But somehow I manage to stay busy! Wish the writer's strike was over...cause I'm really going to miss "The Office." I still have a few eps of "Pushing Daisies" and "Chuck" and "Reaper" that I can see, but will miss them soon to if the writers don't write...



Guess I'll end this now...hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and don't overdose on Turkey and Football.


Happy Thanksgiving!



David

What the Devil have I been doing? Where has the time gone?

Okay,

So I've been much too, too busy to write... GOT IT? So for all of you who keep saying "Where's Dave?" "Why hasn't he written?" I've got news for you... I'm busy...okay???

Whew, that felt good....

Speaking of the Devil, did I mention that the movie "The Golden Compass" was written by Satan? Well, not really...but one of his minions wrote it....

For more on this, google "Atheist" and "Golden Compass" and see what you get... it's true...

Other than that, I've been working and working and working and working... Raking leaves, cleaning gutters, banishing squirrels from my attic, cleaning out the fish pond, Raking leaves (again), Working at the book store, working at the Library... (Li-Berry for all you out-o-towners), and working.... (and you wonder why I'm cranky?)

Hillary (yes, that one) emailed me to ask if I'd like to share a sandwich with her for $500.00...but I'm thinking for that kind of money I should get my own sandwich...

Fred hasn't asked me for money lately, nor has O'bama or the like...but that's okay cause I'm broke...

David

Today was the day

So I stayed up sick last night with a migraine and feeling really sick to my stomach. Something I ate? Poison perhaps? Today I slept a bunch and then ate some soup. I read the newspaper and checked my email. Then I slept a bunch more... I missed work and felt guilty about it, but I don't think I'd have made the 30 minute commute without a bathroom in my car.

I would have spent a large portion of my day in the bathroom at work too, so you see...work did not come into play at all.

I woke up around 3:00 this afternoon... got cleaned up and then layed back down at 3:30. Got up at 4:30 and got ready for my second job... "HEY! At least Half My Day was productive!!!"

Worked from 6 to Midnite with a growly stomach and a raging headache, but somehow I made it through and then I come home and can't get to sleep...What's up with that?

Today might have been the best day of my life, but I slept through it... DRAT!

David

It's time for my mid-life crisis and I have nothing to wear!

I always used to joke (semi-seriously) with my Wife, Sherry that if I had a mid-life crisis I would never buy a sports car, (can't afford one) cheat on her, (there's that whole promise I made to God and to her when we got married) or divorce her, (ditto the promise thing). So instead I would start wearing really loud shirts.

Well, I bought some of those shirts a few years ago (being the daring soul that I am) and now that my mid-life crisis is here, I have nothing to wear!

Here's how I know I'm in the midst of a crisis...

1. I'm tired all of the time
2. I'm angry way too much
3. I'm really getting stressed out
4. My kids don't listen to me
5. My Wife and I never have any time to ourselves
6. I'm having multiple health problems
7. The repair bills on my house and car far outnumber the amount of cash that I have
8. I have more hair on my back and shoulders than I do on my head
9. I'm tired all the time (yes, I know I already wrote that down, but I'm REALLY TIRED!)
10.I've gained too much weight to wear my loud shirts...so what's the use?

So, if you hear me Primal Screaming, or see me tearing out what's left of my hair, or if you happen to notice the twitch in my left eye...don't be too shocked....I'm having a mid-life crisis... oh, and all of you are invited to attend.

David

She was looking for love...he was looking for exercise...

How's that for provocative?

We're getting ready for our annual "Holiday" party meetings to start here at the old public Li-Berry and as for me, I'm looking forward to it. The planning part is usually a lot of fun for me and last year (as you may recall) I started a minor hoop-la (to-do, whatever) over the picture I sent out of Al Gore commenting on the party... ("It's getting hotter every year") which was a supposed quote about global warming that I just applied to the party...

Everyone thought it was funny except for one guy here who raised a HUGE fuss over it because he didn't think it was funny and thought I was making fun of Gore...which I wasn't and had no intention of...

So my first thought this year was "hmmm Who can I tick off this year?" When they asked me to be on the committee again this year I said I'd only do it if I could be provocative, edgy and funny and they said that's exactly what they were hoping for... So, here goes! We'll see if I can be as goofy as last year and still bring in a crowd.

Dave

Friends are Friends forever...

Today I'm sad... For a few reasons, but none more than the fact that today I found out that another person from the class of 1983 has passed away. My Friend, Rob... who I'd have to say was an "on again, off again" friend... died of a heart attack two months ago and I just now found out about it today.

Rob was one of my best friends in 7th and 8th grade. We were locker partners, next door neighbors, and endless pranksters...(just ask my Mom about all the times we played ornery tricks on her).

Rob lived on the next hill over from us... We both played trumpet in the school band, and every new year's eve (for several years), Rob and I would play our trumpets at midnight, the sound echoing out through the woods and over the hills... We'd walk through the woods at night across the dam at the end of our seven acre lake and we'd spend Friday nights at each other's houses, staying up late watching "The New Avengers" and "The Saint" and eating popcorn.

Rob's Aunt was Italian Royalty and every summer they'd invite me to go to Italy with them and my Dad always said no, but they'd bring me back the coolest souvenirs... I still have some cork, covered wine bottles that they brought me one year.

Rob and I had a falling out at the end of 10th grade... I think it was over a girl that I was dating that he liked...(as I recall), and although we had mutual friends, we never really hung out much after that... I still saw his folks from time to time and always was nice to him, but we just weren't close anymore. We had a good friend, William, that had gotten killed by a drunk driver, and that seemed to hit Rob more than it did me...(not that it didn't bother me...) So all these things sort of added up.

In college Rob came back from school a couple of times and we got together and went out with friends here and there. He visited college with me once and we went to a film class together... After that, I barely saw him anymore.

I invited his family to my wedding to Sherry, and he and his girlfriend came... We talked briefly and it was good to see him...

At my 20th high school reunion, we were sitting with Mark and Jennifer, and Rob and his Wife came over and asked if they could sit with us. I was kind of surprised, but pleased that he asked and we caught up on a lot of the old times and found out who still kept in touch with whom...
He said he had children and had just had a grandchild and we toasted to that and laughed about the stupid stuff we used to do and say...

Now Rob joins Deanne, Donnie and Becky... four friends who've died this year. I feel sad, I feel old... So, how do you get past that? I've lost some good teachers this year too... and they say that you lose people you know and you gain new people in your life... Gaining the new people is easy... saying goodbye, not so easy after all.

-David

Where I wish I was right now

Not that I'm dying to get away or anything... but then again, there's work, plumbing problems at home...the fact that my car is on it's last (legs) wheels...etc...

1. Germany--- I haven't seen my best friend, Klauspeter in nearly eight years, plus I've always wanted to go there and never have had a chance to go! Even though this would be a horrible time of year to go there weather-wise... I'd do it.

2. Any tropical island--- (except for the one on "LOST" or any of the editions of "Survivor." )Sun, sand, surf... Sherry and me at the beach... (I guess we could bring the kids too...)
What is not to like?

3. Australia--- shrimps, barbies, "G'Day" and all that... Again, sounds good to me.

4. The World Series--- yeah, it's chilly there, and the Sox are slapping the Rockies silly... But hey, it's baseball! I love baseball!

5. Alone with Sherry... We NEVER get any time alone... No date nights, no quiet time... what's up with that? Don't get me wrong, I love being with my Sons, I just miss the "dating" part of my relationship with my Wife. I don't want to get old before I'm supposed to... just give me dinner and a movie with Sherry once in awhile and I'll be okay.

6. Disney World---Happiest place on Earth...and guess what? It really is... I wanna go back...


Dave

Very Suave...Very Chic

The first picture was taken of me by my Aunt Charlotte... I look pretty good, huh? The Picture of Sherry was taken on a dinner train in Eureka Springs, Arkansas while we were on our Honeymoon. I think you can see one of the many reasons why I fell in love with Sherry.... It's my favorite picture of her... These pics were taken in July of 1989.

Various Pictures both recent and old

Jared's 2nd Grade picture 2007-2008
Sherry's School picture 2007-2008 David and Sherry...July 1989
Hair from the 70's... early 70's in two of the pictures and in the one where I've got the Peter Brady style...that would be way back in 1979!
Sherry at Christmas... Dustin at the age of two...looking very serious

"Pushing Daisies" is my favorite new show

If you haven't seen "PUSHING DAISIES" yet, what are you waiting for? It is simply the most clever, best acted, goofiest, most original show I've seen in years! You've got to watch this show!

-David

Jared Conquers all Media

After meeting Jack Harry from KSHB 41 SPORTS and Joe Posnanski from the Kansas City Star... it only seems natural that Jared should meet Denny Matthews, the Hall of Fame Announcer of the Kansas City Royals.

A history lesson

Today as Jared and I were discussing how the "Pitchback" (a sort of trampoline for baseballs that propels them back to the pitcher for pitching practice) was invented by Ned Pitchback and his partner, Larry Ballglove, (who is of course, the inventor of the modern electric toaster), we discovered that we may not know as much about history as we thought.

So we hit the history books and read about how when Albert Einstein was playing baseball, his nickname was "The Professor" and how he swung a mighty bat and had a batting coach who was the same guy who taught the monkeys to fly in the movie "The Wizard of Oz."
(Small world, huh? Even without the Munchkins!) Turns out that he also taught the monkeys in that movie "Field of Dreams," which is COINCIDENCE, about baseball!

So than we began to discuss Ronald Reagan and his impact on the world of pro-skateboarding and how Pat Sajak almost became President when Regan got shot. But the downside of that is that Pamela Anderson, who was about six years old at the time, would have been the First Lady, which she was totally unprepared for.

Our reading brought us to facts about the Titanic, and we found out that the Dad from "Alias" wasn't even on the boat at the time that it sank!!! He must have gotten off before it hit that lighthouse...and I'm thinking he may have taken off with that fat lady from the movie "Misery" and the chick that was living with Clint Eastwood for so long.

So, we found out about baseball, monkeys, Einstein, the Titanic, Ronald Reagan and Pat Sajak (among other things) and we completely forgot that the Super Bowl was on! Funny, I didn't know they ran it in the middle of the season... won't that spoil the ending?

David

Dustin's School Picture

Jared Comparing his shoe size to Shaq's at the Sprint Arena in Kansas City.

Jared and David renewing the old MU vs. KU rivalry




The New Sprint Arena in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri is AWESOME!

Some stuff I seen this week or so

Jared batting, THE OFFICE returns for another season and Alex Gordon breaks his nose during the Royals final game of the season...

CORRECTION

I'm sorry, that last blog should have read

"3 Things I can't UNDERstand about Bob Dylan"

David

3 things I can't stand about Bob Dylan

1. Mwfee too waba mo neeb

2. Zoo dippy nam oh kipper san

3. Nazza mo famma da naaaaaz do wib

Broken Nose Broken Toes that's how it goes

So this week Jared moved from playing First Base to playing Third. He hates it... He's been at first for nearly three years and I can understand why he's nervous...however, he needs to view it as a step up because his Coaches really want him there because he's quick and can throw...



Speaking of third base, we went to the final Royals game of the season which ended with Alex Gordon (3rd Base) getting his nose broken. (Jared then leaned over to me and said "See Dad, that's why I don't want to play 3rd!")



Mike Sweeney also said his possible goodbyes...and it was heartwarming and sad at the same time... hugs were thrown, tears were shed...



Luke tried to kill me this week when a opossum invaded our neighbor's yard. As I was trying to get the "super-hyped-up dog" into the house, I stubbed my toe on the edge of the sliding glass door. As Luke lurched forward, I tried to catch my balance with my right foot which was damp from the rain and when I stepped onto the kitchen tile floor, my leg flew right out from under me.



I landed on my busted up knee, my left wrist and the left side of my head... luckily no broken bones, but a couple of nice black and blue spots here and there... (sorry bout the broken toes headline...it was catchy!)



Luke was pretty sick over the weekend but appears to be doing better now..(in spite of neighborhood varmits and putting "hits" out on his owner!)



All is well at our house (for now...) but we'll keep you posted...



David

Win a Date with Bill Clinton!!!

No it's true, it's really true! (swoon, swoon)

Go to hillaryclinton.com for details...

This is a great contest idea... so if you are a F.O.B. (Friend of Bill) or as the Democrats refer to Republicans as (Clinton Haters) then I encourage you to enter to win!

So, put on your best blue dress and get ready to meet a wannabe First Lady... Mr. Hillary Clinton himself.... Good Old Bill....

Luke's Rough Days

On any given day I run into one of my Neighbors, either at the store or somewhere local or even just as we make eye contact over the back fence. Eventually they'll ask "How's Luke doing?"

My standard answer is that you wouldn't even know he was sick from the way he eats normally and plays with the boys.

That may have come to an end this week since Luke's had a couple of rough days.

Tuesday night I heard Luke start to whimper. So I waited a minute or two to see if he would bark to signal that he needed to go "potty." Although sometimes, if he smells popcorn or one of his other favorite "find under the couch cushion" snacks, he'll bark too... but this time the barking that started sounded really urgent.

I let him out and when he got to the edge of the deck, he heaved up all of his dinner. He then proceeded to eat a bunch of grass, drink a lot of water and then heave it all up.

He then barked to come back in and about 30 mins later we repeated the process. Only this time he had to potty and it was, shall we say "loose."

The evening gradually went downhill because as soon as he'd come in from outside, he'd lay down in the living room floor and refuse to move on to his pen. Then we'd start with the whimpering and repeat. I finally got to bed around 3:00 AM and had to get up at 6:00 to go to work... let's just say it wasn't my best day at work in the past few weeks.

Thursday night and Saturday night were the same. On Sunday (today) he spent the day drinking gallons of water and either peeing or puking it all back out. He was also starting to limp a bit. Now the Vet has said that the limping may be part of his cancer, or it may be old age, but he's having some trouble getting up from laying down.

So, we're keeping an eye on our old buddy Luke... We know his days are numbered, but we hope that number is high and that they will be pain and symptom free for the most part.

Luke, we love you and we've got unlimited amounts of hugs and belly-rubs left for you.

David, Sherry, Dustin and Jared...

David interviews David AGAIN!!!

DMC---Hi, we're back with another interview with David and I've got to say the last time was just a thrilling event for me.

David-Thanks, I feel the same. (laughs)

DMC-So, anything new going on?

David-It's been kind of a weird week, so let's not dwell on that...

DMC-Okay, I'll just toss out some random moments then...

David-Shoot...

DMC-What would you say is the worst thing you've ever seen?

David-Thanks, start with an easy one...(laughs). That's tough...I've seen a lot of horrible things in the news about Rwanda and Dar fur, but the single most shocking "picture" I've ever seen was in one of those "Year in Pictures" magazines that TIME or LIFE magazine puts out. It had to be the early to mid-1980's and they had this horrific picture of a kid who had tried to climb a fence to retrieve a baseball and he had fallen on this metal spire at the top of the fence. The spire entered under his chin and came out through his mouth... Now keep in mind this thing was like 8 inches long and pointed, so he's just hanging on this fence from his jawbone! They had to cut the fence and take it and him to the hospital on a flatbed truck and amazingly enough...he lived!

DMC-That's really gross!

David-Hey, you asked!

DMC-What's the best thing you've ever seen?

David-One Christmas, my former Boss, Jesse Pacheco and a group of us from the Library went to a local mission to pass out toys and goodies to the kids. Jesse's a big guy, with an even bigger heart and he's just perfect as Santa...

So, we had all donated money or food or toys, and we're passing them out and being totally broke at the time, I'd only been able to contribute about $5.00 at the time, so I'd gone out and bought all of these flavored candy canes...not the peppermint ones, but several other flavors.

I'd gotten about 5 boxes of them and I was handing them out and this absolutely beautiful little girl who was about 5 or 6 years old takes a couple from me and then looks up at me and says "Oh I like these!" She says and then goes running off to show her Mom.

We were there an hour or two and as we were getting ready to leave, she runs back over to me and hugs me really hard and tells me thank you and then, with her bright eyes and wide smile she looks up and says "This is my favorite present...I love you!"
"I love you too, sweetie" I said.

When I got home to tell Sherry about it, I cried.

DMC-That is a wonderful memory.

David-One of the best I have.

DMC-Let's go easy on the next couple of questions... What are your favorite movies?

David-Casablanca, Star Wars, Field of Dreams, Chariots of Fire and When Harry Met Sally.

DMC-Favorite songs?

David-Anything by Nat King Cole, Stephen Curtis Chapman or Chris Tomlin... "Hold on to the nights" by Richard Marx is "Our Song." Every couple should have a song, don't you think?

DMC-Hey, I'm asking the questions here!

David-Sorry...

DMC-What makes you most nervous?

David-Other than my kid's basketball or baseball games? Or driving in Kansas City traffic? I'd say the war in Iraq, finances, my health, and a lot of other things...

DMC-Favorite food?

David-Chicken Cordon Bleu is good... Cashew Chicken is a favorite... most potato dishes...

DMC-Any foods you hate?

David-I'm not a big fan of beer or coffee...are those foods? I don't care for eggs or raisins much.

DMC-Favorite Actor or Actress?

David-Of all time, Jimmy Stewart and Lucille Ball... Currently, I'd say Tom Hanks or Steve Martin and Ashley Judd and Reese Witherspoon.

DMC-TV Shows?

David-Did I answer that last time? I don't remember...anyway..."Lost," "Cheers," "Frasier," "The Office," "My name is Earl," "Scrubs," "30 Rock," "Heroes," "Hill Street Blues," "Bob Newhart" "Freaks and Geeks," "Brooklyn Bridge," "St. Elsewhere" and "Green Acres."

DMC-That's a lot!

David-My Dad worked in television for 40 years...it's in my blood!

DMC--Well, again...this was great! Thanks for your time but we're out of it!

David-You're out of my time?

DMC-You know what I mean... See ya!

Whelmed? I'm OVER Whelmed!

Okay, so no one hardly ever comments here on the blog, but I've gotten TONS of email about my recent blogs on Grandma's Death, Luke's Cancer and my recent interview with myself...
So, Thank you all for writing...thank you all for reading...and thank you all for being our friends!

It's been a weird few weeks... an old friend of mine from High School's Father died by falling off a ladder. Another friend's Dad died from being gored by a bull... and that's just stuff I know about personally! If you factor in all of the weird WORLD news that's been happening you must come to the conclusion that the world is a Wacky Place.

Thank God (literally) that even in the face of wackiness, there is still a God out there looking out for us and ready to catch us when we trip up along the way...

When I think of all that God has done for me and has yet to do for me I'm overwhelmed...

So in spite of the pain and death in the world (and please take a moment to pray for my friends and their families) there are still a lot of great things going on. Look around you...if you don't see something good then look harder....and then, if you don't see something good...MAKE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN!

David

David interviews David: an in depth look behind the scenes of a blog

DMC- So I'm here today to interview David, the creator, writer and editor of "More of Dave's Generic Ramblings." How are you, David?

David- Not bad, actually...thanks for asking.

DMC- You sound like you might have a cold.

David- Now that you mention it, I have been fighting one for the last few days, but I am feeling better.

DMC- Let's get right to the questions, shall we?

David- Ask away!

DMC- So, tell us a little bit about yourself.

David- Well, I'm 42 years old, married for the past 18 years to my wonderful Wife, Sherry. We have two boys who we love and who keep us very, very busy! I keep busy working two jobs, and I like to write a bit from time to time as well as keeping busy in Scouts, Politics and Youth Sports...oh, and Church activities too... Maybe I should have mentioned that first! (laughs)

DMC- Wow, you do keep busy. What motivated you to get involved in politics?

David- Both of my parents were politically active and one of my most vivid memories as a kid was going to hear Bob Dole speak when he was the Republican nominee for Vice President along with Gerald Ford. My Parents were actually big Reagan supporters, but when Ford got the nomination over Reagan, they towed the party line. I still have video and audio tape of me interviewing Senator Dole for my school paper!

DMC- I can see why you'd remember that. It sounds interesting... So, is it safe to say you're a Republican?

David- I've always been pretty Conservative, although I'm more liberal than my parents will ever be! I tend to vote split ticket, but since Clinton was President I've become more of a Republican and if Hillary should ever win, I may have to take over Alec Baldwin's timeshare in Canada and then become the most Republican Republican that there ever was!!!

DMC- Who do you like in 2008?

David- As I saw who was running, I couldn't pick one person that I really connected with. I like that McCain is a war hero and I admire him for that, but don't like his stand on several issues.
Guliani is very good on the war on terror, but his waffling on other issues bothers me. Ron Paul is interesting, but too much of an isolationist... so I was just waiting for Thompson to enter the race. Now if he will pick J.C. Watts as a VP early on, I think they'll be unbeatable.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Scares me, Obama is charismatic but does not have enough experience and Edwards is a joke.

DMC- On to other things... What would you say would be your ideal day?

David- We were fortunate to take a trip to Florida last year and just had the best time ever. We got to go to NASA and all the parks down there, but my best time was an afternoon at the beach with my family and my in-laws...it was just a wonderful day.

DMC- What are your worst fears?

David- That I will somehow fail my family and/or fail God. I also fear drowning and outliving my kids.

DMC- Speaking of kids, what about them makes you proud?

David- Well, first off...they're both very smart. Much smarter than I was at either of their ages.
Dustin is very savvy at Music and has definite tastes in several musical styles. He's an accomplished bass player and will probably end up in the music industry.
Jared is our daredevil and excels at baseball and basketball. I think someday he'll play in the Major Leagues.

DMC- How about your Wife...how does she make you proud?

David- Just the fact that she's stuck with me this long is enough to make me proud! I've got to say that she's had a hard time in life being hard of hearing, and I'm proud that she's come to accept it and work with it over time. When I first met her she was shy and afraid to speak up for herself...Now I can't get her to stop speaking up for herself! (laughs) I'M JOKING!!! I love her for too many reasons to even list here.

DMC-5 quick questions...and then will let you go....
1. If you could rule the world, how would you make it better?
David-I'd do away with paper tax forms and subscription cards and junk mail...we could save the forests if it wasn't for all of the wasted paper.

2. Favorite athlete of all time?
David- I'm biased, but I'll have to say George Brett. When I was growing up, he was the man, and here in Kansas City...he still is!

3. Cake or Pie?
David- Pie, it seems like there are more choices if you go with pie.

4. 8 people, past or present...who would you invite to dinner?
David- Jesus, Red Skelton, Johnny Carson, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jimmy Stewart, Ronald Reagan and Lou Gehrig.

5. Dream Job?
David- Oscar Winning writer, director and producer.

DMC- That's all the time we have...David, thanks for being such a great guest.

David-Hey, no problem....any time!

Timeline for September 2007

Watched Jared play Baseball
Grandma Died
Drove to Springfield
Ate Cashewed Chicken
Dustin was sick
I worked a lot
Went to basball practice
I was Sick
Someone blew up my mailbox
Bought stuff to fix mailbox
I worked a lot
Jared got a bunch of free baseball cards from a friend
Went to church
Baseball game cancelled due to rain
Watched the Emmys
Ate Pizza (probably a mistake)
Blogged

This is how we do it baby...

I'm not sure why I titled this entry that way, except to say that this is one of the titles of songs that have gotten stuck in my head over the past several weeks.

I hate it when songs stick in my skull... once in awhile they're really good songs, or at least catchy ones, like the theme to "Northern Exposure." Great TV show, catchy song too. Then there's "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega. Nothing bores through your brain quite like this tune...
"AAAAAAGHHHHH!" It's horrific! It reminds me of the scene in the movie "Star Trek the Wrath of Khan" where the ear worm monsters are entering Chekov's (SP?) brain through his ear and you hear him screaming. It's just like that...really!

A friend of mine at work, (and you know who you are MICHELE!) has Wham's song "Wake me up before you go-go" on her cell phone as a ringtone. Guess what happens when her phone rings? For three entire days after that happens, that horrid, putrid, sickening song is stuck in my brain! Thanks a heap Michele!!!

Some songs like "How great is our God" by Chris Tomlin, will stick in my head for a few days after church, but hey, that's okay...because by singing it in the car I'm praising God, right?
Of course, now I'm going to have to explain to God how I can blog George Micheal and Chris Tomlin in the same blog... Tomlin good, Michael bad...

Anything by Eva Cassidy that sticks is good...or Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Steven Curtis Chapman or Norah Jones. Heck, John Mayer and Richard Marx are okay too...occasionally the Beatles or the Rolling Stones or Amy Grant will stick around... but George Michael...that's a no go-go...

Dave

Things I been thinkin' bout

Sorry for the grammatical errors in the Title... Dustin has been emailing me in "teen-speak" which is to say that whenever he and his friends IM (instant message) each other they talk in a way that defies logic...

"Dats wat I'm talkin' bout...yo!" (maybe not that bad, but you get the idea...)

Here's what has been on my mind:

What happened to the wave of retro music that hit again a couple of years ago with Nora Jones, Michael Buble, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr. and Eva Cassidy (among others)... I still love that stuff...is no one else listening to it anymore?

Is politics getting boring, or am I getting jaded? It takes a lot more to impress me than it used to.

As much as I love fried foods, why are they trying to kill me?

I should have cried more at my Grandma's funeral.

Why do I get so much junk e-mail?

Am I not the movie buff I once was?

Why do I even bother to get mad at the Kansas City Star when I know that they're going to have 30 pages of football coverage every Sunday during the season and they only have 2 pages of baseball during the baseball season?

Why is it that pretty women who breastfeed their children cover up and ugly ones don't?
(I don't mean this to sound sexist, and I'm not trying to gawk, it's just something I've noticed...
go ahead, ask the guys at the bookstore where I work...they'll tell you this is true!!!)

Why do I laugh but still get embarrassed when I hear a dirty joke?

Why do I stay up late writing when I should be in bed?

David

Why are all these fast food places trying to sell healthy food? Do they really think the organically grown fans are going to go to McDonald's for their health fix?

This is the picture I was really looking for...

Okay here we are again...IN COLOR!

I'm not sure why Cousin Linda and I are the only ones looking off to our right (again, not a joke)... but this has always been one of my favorite pictures.

This would have been taken when my Grandma Cox died and was probably the very last time that we were all together.

David (I'm still in the front row on the far right...)

More and More Family History

Here it is...1971 and this looks like a scene from the Waltons. I'm not going to name all the names of these goofy kids, but I will tell you that I'm on the far right (no jokes from you anti-Republican types...okay) and I'm on the front row making a Jared-esque face...

David (my Sister, Kayla is two rows up from me next to the guy in the white T-Shirt and glasses)

Family History

Recently my Uncle Roger sent us a disc filled with hundreds (if not thousands) of family pictures. The following are some of my favorites...

The first is of My Dad, Doyle Cox...it was taken in 1946 and is obviously a picture of him on the track team...(Dad, how come you never told me you were on the track team?)

The Second is from 1926 and is of my Grandparents, Floyd and Elizabeth Cox...(Dig that wacky flapper hairdo!)

The third picture is of my Dad and was taken in 1947, which may have been his high school graduation photo, but since I'm horrible at math, I'm not sure...I'll have to ask my Dad.

Last and certainly not least, is a picture of two skinny young kids (who the heck are they???) on their wedding day. Well, the pretty one looks like my wife, and the handsome one looks like Tom Selleck... (if you squint your eyes a bit)

David

Grandma Fry

My Grandma died on Friday and as sad as I am, I'm thankful for the time that we had her here with us. She was 94 years old and did really well until the last year or so.

We saw her in April and although she sometimes needed reminding of who we were, she still was glad to see us and told us that she loved us.

I knew at the time that it would most likely be the last time I saw her, but you always hope that those you love will be around forever...

I'm glad my Wife and kids got to know her too...

I love you Grandma Fry...

Worlds of Fun

So this weekend we had fun... we had "WORLDS OF FUN!" Which is to say that we, the Griswolds, trekked all the way across town to our local amusement park and spent the day sweating and spinning, twirling and falling, zipping and zapping all over the place.

We did have a good time.... the weather was warm, but not overly toasty and the crowds were not bad at all! I was shocked! I figured we'd be in the middle of a stampede or something, and honestly...the crowds were totally tolerable!

We got there right when the park opened, and because we were smart and bought discount tickets ahead of time, we zipped right through the gates. It was warming up already at 10 AM and so I suggested we hit the rides that ordinarily get the biggest crowds and get them out of the way.

Our first ride was "Fury of the Nile" which is your standard river-raft ride. Sherry and the boys and I got one of the giant inner-tube boats to ourselves, and proceeded to get drenched. It was fun, but the thing about Fury of the Nile is that it lacks a certain something. Whereas Silver Dollar City's similar ride has the cool, dark cave with the lights under the water that thump-thump to a loud heartbeat effect, Nile is just rapids... it's fun and wet, but has no character...so to speak...

We then rode the antique cars, which is a staple of amusement park rides... I loved them when I was a kid, and now my kids love them... even Dustin (I'm too old for kiddie rides) enjoyed driving his Mom around while Jared took me for a ride. (Let's just say that Jared better sharpen his driving skills in the next several years or he "ain't gonna be drivin' me around!")

We somehow managed to squeeze in several of our favorite rides several times... Bumper cars---Twice... Scrambler---Three times... Octopus---Twice... Dustin likes to ride the ride where the room spins and the floor drops... I think he rode that about 5 times!

We rode the train and the merry-go-round and even the round-up (although that's not what they call it at "WOF" I think they call it the "Bamboozler" or something fancy like that...)

I like the upside down "Zulu" and we all (save for Sherry) loved the "Spinning Dragons" which is a roller coaster with a cart that spins on it as you go up and down hills and around very tight curves... GREAT RIDE... there's even a video of it posted on Youtube that was taken from inside the cart!

Other than the fact that the end of our day looked like an episode of "COPS" complete with multiple arrests and yelling and screaming (thanks to a Dad who was threatening to kill the ride operators and half of the security staff).

The following day was Labor Day and we ate cookout food with my In-Laws and swam in their pool and other than that did not much of anything... (well, I did mow the lawn and fix the air conditioner... I'm not totally lazy, you know...)

It was a LOT of FUN!!!

David

Strafford High School, Strafford, MO Class of 1983

Hey Everybody,

Yesterday I started contacting people just to see if anyone was interested in seeing how old we've all gotten... and so far, I've heard from about 4 people who seem interested. I sent an email to about 20 people who were either in our class or knew people in our class... (Thanks to living in a small town!)

I hope this works... I haven't heard from anyone officially, so I don't know where we stand on this, but thought I'd get some buzz going from this direction... Hopefully it will work...

Hey, if you know anyone who knows anyone...let me know...

David

Got an email from an old friend we used to be real close

Hi Everyone,

During this past year the Strafford High School Class of 1983 has lost three (3!!!) of our fellow classmates...all to illness, which makes me look at mortality a bit closer and makes me sigh a sad sigh, because at one time, I was good friends with each one of them.

So the fact that they're all gone makes me sad, and the fact that we can never be as close as we once were makes me even sadder.

Then you have to start to ponder about all of the people you've been friends with over the years and now you've lost touch with them.... they moved away..... they got married... they had a million kids and are too busy to call... they joined a weird cult...

Today I emailed an old friend of mine that I haven't talked to or been talked to by in several years. I still consider him one of my best friends, ever, but we just kind of drifted as people sometimes do... I got married, I moved away, I have 2 kids and am too busy to call... all of these are valid, yet stupid excuses... He's my friend, I shouldn't have drifted or have let him drift away... trouble is, I did this with several friends over the years.

It wasn't' intentional...just a "Time passes faster than you realize" sometimes and before you know it, three, four, eight, ten years have gone by...and you think "I should call, so in so" and then you think, "No, they're probably busy, I don't want to bother them..."

I guess what I'm trying to say is "BOTHER THEM!" Reach out... if you don't and they don't, it's all your fault because you know you should have and you can't control the fact that they didn't because they're busy or got married or moved away.

Life is a series of random interactions... Your loved ones and friends are the anchors that hold them together....

Call...Email...Write...Visit...

Oh, and by the way...I got an email from an old friend just a few minutes ago... we used to be real close...and I think we still are...

David

I'm not sure I really understand this, but okay...

Recently MSNBC had a big blow-up about a discussion they had regarding ads for Levi's jeans.
In the ad, there is a young man pulling up his jeans and as he does so, a phone booth pops up through his floor with a beautiful young lady inside... (the entire street with cars etc... also pops up too but the lady is the main draw here ) and so he and attractive girl go walking off together down the street... awww...

The controversy that erupted was over the fact that on the Gay Cable Network, they are running the same ad, although when he pulls up his pants this time, a young attractive guy is in the phone booth. They then exchange sly looks and walk off together down the street.

I don't really have a problem with this because...
1. It's on a gay channel, so I'm assuming they probably show stuff like this all the time.
2. I'm also assuming that Levi's is willing to take the hit in sales that will come from people who don't want to buy from a company that caters to Gay couples, thinking that they'll be seen as progressive and will sell more jeans to gay people.
3. It's kind of a dopey commercial anyway and I'm not sure what they're trying to say with it...
"Hey, buy Levi's and gay guys and hot chicks will knock down your apartment building with a phone booth!" (WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING TO OUR CHILDREN!!!)
4. I don't find this commercial near as dopey or as offensive as the one where all of the musicians are sitting around playing and singing "VIVA VIAGRA!!!" Since the musicians are all middle age or older, I'm guessing this isn't a frat party, so are they.... GAY??? There they are, all back slapping and happy and singing about what??? Getting ready for sex??? YUCK!
(WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THIS SENDING TO OUR CHILDREN???)

So I guess if it hadn't been for the dreaded INTERNET, I never would have known that Gay people wear jeans and knock down buildings with phone booths... and then I have to wonder, what century these people are from if they're using a phone booth??? I guess a cell phone only causes minor damage to apartment buildings...

David

TV PARTY TONIGHT TV PARTY TONIGHT

Just got back from a screening of several TV pilots for the Fall Season with the KC Star's own Aaron Barnhart...

Not a lot to get goofy over this season, although there were a few bright spots...

"Kid Nation" looks to be controversial, questionable and yet somewhat moving in this reality show about 40 kids turning a ghost town into a real town with no help from adults. Thesmokinggun.com has turned up some scorching info about the show and the contracts the parents signed to get their kiddos on TV...

"The Sarah Connor Chronicles" is a spin-off of the "Terminator" films and takes place between T-2 and T-3. The effects are razzle-dazzle and the violence is...VIOLENT!!! But it looks interesting to be sure.

"Aliens in America" is a hoot-filled show about a nerdy friendless kid with cash strapped parents who raise llamas for extra dough and figure they'll get their Son a friend and earn some cash by hosting a foreign exchange student from London... Trouble is he's from London by way of Pakistan and he's Muslim to boot. The edgy/funny situations here pile up quickly, and as someone who once hosted an exchange student, I could relate to some of the circumstances...
GOOD SHOW!

"Pushing Daisies" is another interesting show about a man who can bring the dead to life with one touch, and send them back with a second touch... The look and feel of the show is priceless and the dialogue is catchy and hip. Look for the restaurant with the classy name "The Pie Hole."

"Chuck" is a show I'm dying to see every episode of. Chuck is a nerd who works at a BEST BUY type store and works as a member of the "Nerd Herd." One day he happens to find out all of the government's super-secret secrets and becomes a hunted man. The mix of action and comedy here is top-notch... GOOD SHOW!

"Women's Murder Club" is the new Angie Harmon drama about four women who solve crimes. Harmon is good in the show, but the editing is too flashy and somewhat confusing. This is the same problem that
"Dirty $exy Money" has... This new show starring Peter Krause, Jill Clayburgh and Donald Sutherland is about a lawyer at the beck and call of a Kennedyesque family with enough troubles to keep him busy for a long, long time. The look is good, and the actors are fine...but....
it's way too busy for it's own good and I think may wear the audience out before long.

I'm anxious to see "BIONIC WOMAN" and "BACK TO YOU" but haven't gotten to yet, and will try my best to avoid "CAVEMEN" and "CARPOOLING" at all costs.

One of the better shows (and I'd say my fave along with "CHUCK") is "REAPER" which involves a young man who on his 21st Birthday discovers that his parents have sold his soul to the DEVIL (Ray Wise of "Twin Peaks") and now he has to be a bounty hunter of souls who have escaped from Hell.

It's funny, silly and has good effects, thanks to Director Kevin Smith ("CLERKS").

Was glad to get to see some of these shows...Thanks Aaron! And brought home a "Jericho" T-Shirt and a bag of "Jericho" peanuts too...

David

PRESIDENT BUSH RUINED MY DAY!

I know it's easy to blame the President for this and that and some of the other things that are happening in the world... I mean, heck...the Democrats would blame him for the Cards losing the '85 World Series if they could...

But today I place the blame squarely on HIS SHOULDERS! PRESIDENT BUSH MADE ME 8 MINUTES LATE FOR WORK TODAY!!!

This week has been a crazy/busy one here in KCMO with OBAMA, HILLARY, McCAIN and FRED THOMPSON (VOTE FOR FRED!!!) all being here within the past three days and then to top it all off, the Commander in Chief is here today!!! In a building that is built right over the highway (which had to be closed so that no one would attempt to drive under the building with a bomb and blow it to smithereens!)

Now I understand the need for Security and the need for shutting down the highway, but please!!! During morning rush hour??? I barely had time for breakfast this morning after taking several detours and then sitting and sitting and sitting in traffic...

So, say what you will about this President...but how many of you have been late to work because of the President??? Those other things aren't nearly as important as my being in my office and at my desk on time...

Priorities, people...Priorities!!!

Dave

I have nothing to say

I have nothing to say today, so I thought I'd just post a picture of this pretty Swedish girl that I know...her name is Arfjen Arfjensen and she is new to this country and aspires to be a model and actress...

Here she is... Arfjen Arfjensen!

Dumb thing Wicked This Way Comes

WARNING: THIS BLOG INCLUDES ADULT THEMES... SOME MATERIAL MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR MINORS...


Dumb people exasperate me! Like the person yesterday who was way too busy with her Industrial-Waste Sized Barrel-o-Soda Pop to be bothered with actually staying in her own lane on the highway!

Like the person who cut me off in traffic this morning because while she is proficient at putting on makeup and talking on a cell-phone while driving, she lacks the intelligence to flip the switch on her turn signals!

Like the rock group "Anti-Flag" who explains that their name means "Anti-War" not "Anti-United States..." huh, I wonder why they didn't just call themselves "Anti-War?" Duh...
(and yes, I know this is America so any dumb person can express any dumb opinion...)

And people who say "My Bad..." To which I respond "MY BAD WHAT??? BREATH??? ATTITUDE??? GAS??? WHAT???"

That doesn't mean they're stupid or anything...just finish the dumb sentence!!!
Of course, I'm sort of guilty of that once in awhile because I always say
"Have a good one..."

So I guess people have the right to say "Have a good what???"
George Carlin said that people saying "Have a good one" is one of his biggest pet peeves so now when people tell him that he responds by saying...
"Oh, I already have a good one...what I'd like is a longer one!"

Which reminds me...since we're on a body-part topic... Dustin (my 13 year old) came to me yesterday and said that Jared (my 7 year old) had a question for me...

Then Jared proceeded to ask "Dad, what's a Vagina?" (of course you have to picture Dustin snickering in the background)
I answered "It's the state right above West Vagina." (now picture Dustin nearly falling on the floor, laughing...)

It's never dull at our house, but then again...we're not Dumb People...


David

Goofing off

Today we went to Kansas to window shop at the LEGENDS shopping center and at NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART. If it can't be found at NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART, it cannot be found anywhere! Ended up buying some of this and some of that....

The Legends is pretty cool! The T-Rex Cafe is rather interesting as is this one stagecoach/wild west restaurant that I suddenly cannot remember the name of. All I know is that the girl riding the mechanical bull sounded as if she was dying in spite of the fact that she was going only 2 miles per hour on the very non-threatening beast.

We did a bit of shopping there as well and ended up buying not very important things... it was kind of fun and not all that expensive. I did find out that if I had a billion dollars in spare change, I could really go crazy at NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART and at Sports Nutz, which has all of the coolest baseball stuff EVER! (and the reason I keep typing the name in all caps is because it is the BIGGEST STORE ON THE PLANET!)

The synchronized fountains at the LEGENDS and the interesting art work and the fact that it's next to the Kansas Speedway and the T-Bones baseball stadium only adds to the fun you can have there. I'm not much of a shopper, but even I enjoyed spending several hours there.

It was fun just goofing off today...

David

Whatever Happened to...?

I was just waxing nostalgic the other blog about the TV Show "Freaks and Geeks" and lo and behold...there's an article on the show and what the cast members are "up to" these days... It got me thinking about other actors, singers and the like and what they're doing now...

David Naughton---Actor (American Werewolf in London), Singer ("Making it" and the "I'm a pepper" commercial)

Rex Smith---Actor (Sooner or Later, Pirates of Penzance)

Erin Gray---Actress (Buck Rogers, Silver Spoons) I had a HUGE crush on her!

Catherine Bach---Actress (The "REAL" Daisy Duke on the original Dukes of Hazzard)

Markie Post---Actress (The Fall Guy, Night Court) Last seen in There's something about Mary) What the heck happened to her???

Leanne Hunley---Actress (Days of our Lives, Dawson's Creek) FOUND!!! She recently returned to Days of our Lives after a 20 year absence...and she still looks great!

Kristy McNichol---Actress (Family, Empty Nest) My first big Actress crush. Rumor has it that she's teaching high school in California... I eagerly await her return to stardom.

David

Of Simpson's and Men

So today I had the day off and decided that since the boys have to head back to school on Monday that I should take them someplace fun. We headed out early to the movie theater in Blue Springs so we could catch the early matinee of the "Simpson's" movie.

I've always been a casual fan of the show and have missed several episodes of the series, but still know a majority of the characters and am tuned in to their catchphrases and idiosyncrasies. In any event, I don't know what I was expecting, but the movie turned out to be much funnier than I anticipated.

It's PG-13 for a couple of reasons... In one scene you see a brief flash of Bart's twig and berries, while in another, a defiant Homer flips "the bird" to a crowd of townspeople who wish him dead.
Also, Marge (who has the best scene in the whole movie and will nearly move you to cartoon tears) also has the biggest potty mouth by uttering the worst curse word in the film.

The plot is kind of silly (or as Dustin said..."This is stupid!") but I had numerous Laugh-Out-Loud moments during the film. Also, Bart and Flanders come off a bit less harsh and a bit less goofy in the movie than they do on TV. One minor quibble...why isn't Mr. Burns the villain of the piece, rather than the US government?

It's good, but even Homer points out at the beginning of the film..."Why pay to go see something you can see on TV for free?" I'd see it at the movies and I'm not just saying that cause I did see it at the movies... Jared wants to buy it on DVD, so if any of you have him on your Christmas list...Hey, there's an idea! "D'oh!"

David

Freaks and Geeks and Hot Fuzz

Actually I should say that it's old TV Shows and new movies...specifically one of my favorite older television series, "Freaks and Geeks." I've been going back through the series on DVD and I've got to say it still ranks among some of the best TV series of all time. It's practically flawless in the way it captures not only the look and feel of the 80's, but of the teen angst that all of us (or at least most of us) have gone through.

On the newer side there is "Hot Fuzz," a film that was released with some fanfare earlier this year. It's a British film from the makers of "Shaun of the Dead" and features many of the same actors...(in different parts, of course!)

It also features a lot of laughs, a pretty decent story, some offensive language and buckets and buckets and buckets of blood! It also stars a who's who of British actors and comedians. You'll be busy saying "Hey, look...it's the guy from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and there's that guy who played James Bond in a couple of movies..." all while characters are being beheaded in technicolor fountains of gushing blood. (It's more funny than gory, really...)

So, watch "Freaks and Geeks" and "Hot Fuzz..." and save me the aisle seat...

Dave

The Democratic race for the White House

Okay, so Hillary is not black enough, Obama isn't white or black enough and John Edwards keeps showing his cleavage... are these our only choices??? No sale for me...THANKS!

I'm still firmly in the Fred Thompson group and until you can convince me otherwise (and by the way, give up on that right now cause it ain't gonna happen!) I'll continue to stay with Fred.

Yesterday in Iowa, J. Eddie kept a crowd of Iowa-folk waiting in the hot, hot sun while he was piddling around with his schedule and running late. Do you think the nitwits that waited for an hour in 100 degree heat will still vote for him? I guess they might if their heat-stroke is bad enough because your brain would have to be fried to vote for this pampered white boy!
(if you didn't have doubts about him before, just think of the fact that he spends more a year on his hair than most people spend on their cars, houses or children!)

Oh sure, he looks and sounds good, (but so does Cindy Crawford and I wouldn't vote for her...no offense, Cindy!). So, what is it that you're looking for in a candidate?

1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. Someone who isn't afraid to lead
4. Someone who doesn't base their every move on the polls
5. Someone who has the same values as I do
6. Someone who can find a way to run this country without raising taxes
7. Someone who won't bow to special interests
8. Someone with a deep love of country and a strong faith in God
9. Someone who respects and protects the sanctity of life (specifically the lives of the unborn)
10. Someone who will not lie, cheat, steal or lie (yes, I mentioned that twice in case you weren't
paying attention...or in case you had to ask what the definition of "lie" is...)

I don't ask for a lot, but then again...this person will be working for you and for me... and not the other way around!

David

What in the world is wrong with you???!!!

So the other day I try to do something nice and stick up for someone that our family really admires and what do I get? Some dopey pinhead with half a brain writing to my Son and telling him off for writing the letter!!!

Of course this coward wouldn't want to write to an adult...no, that would be the "smart" thing to do...but to pick on a young kid who didn't deserve it is below the belt...so to speak.

This clown thinks that if he uses obscene language he can prove whatever his point is, but his main goal is to get a rise out of our family...which he does, but then we quickly realize that this is his aim and it's best to ignore him...

By writing this I'm not sure I'm totally ignoring him, but still it allows me to vent.

If I ever meet this dope my first question will be "What in the world is wrong with you???!!!"

David

One of the best books....EVER!

Sorry Guys, but I'm not referring to the latest "HARRY POTTER" opus, but rather to Joe Posnanski's "The Soul of Baseball: a trip through Buck O'Neil's America."

Funny, sad, inspiring, remarkable... there aren't enough positive adjectives to describe this book. It moved me to tears more than once and made me smile and laugh out loud. If you ever had the chance to hear Buck speak in real life, you can hear his voice as you read his words!

Posnanski does a fantastic job of capturing Buck's spirit and undying love for baseball and humanity.

Buck O'neil was the Heart of Kansas City and the Soul of Baseball...


David

All the stuff that's good

Okra... I think I've mentioned this before, but I'm addicted to Okra

Fried Chicken... Unless you're vegetarian, you have no excuse not to love Fried Chicken

"Lost," "The Office," "My name is Earl," "Scrubs," and "30 Rock" if you haven't seen these shows you're hopeless!

Nat King Cole, Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy, Steven Curtis Chapman and Chris Tomlin... start listening today, get hooked on them today! Some of the best Singers and Songs...EVER!

Baseball... I'm not the only one hooked on it, am I???

Baseball part II: The Royals, Yankees, Boston and Cardinals... My Favorite teams!

Baseball part III: Buck O'Neil, George Brett, Ozzie Smith, Mike Sweeney, Lou Gehrig... My Favorite players!

Jesus Christ... He's the real thing; the only one! IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM YOU REALLY, REALLY SHOULD GET TO KNOW HIM BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM....There's NOTHING!

Church... We're lucky, because we go to the best church in Independence, MO... EAST SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH!!! AND, We have the best PASTOR EVER!!! Take a bow, Pastor Fred!

Friends, we have a lot of great friends in this world!!!

Family, hey, we have a great family too!

The Ocean... one of the many wonderful things God made!

These are just some of all the stuff that's good!

David

The point I'm trying to make...

I had two really good blog ideas this morning on my way to work...but somehow I've forgotten them both.


CRAP!


Dave

How Harry Potter changed my life

Once again I have survived "Harry Potter Night..." that is, the bookstore where I work and the momentous occasion that is the new release of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard and his latest adventures.

This being my third "Potter" party, I consider myself an old hand at these things. This one was no worse than the previous two... maybe a bit louder and rowdier, but still a lot of fun. One really nice aspect is that some of my good friends and former co-workers, the seasonal employees and some past employees often come back and help out, as do family members.

My family was there to assist, including Cousin Kyler from Colorado and several of my friends from B&N... Karen, Cynthia, Mary, Amy & Adam, Steve and many more showed up to help along with My Wife and Two Sons, and Kyler of course
.
It was fast, it was furious, it was sweat-inducing and it was fun. Some of my cohorts even showed up on TV on the local news. (If you look closely you can see Dustin's shirt, Steve's back and my fat head in a Harry Potter Hat.) Ashley got some decent air time, as did Mark, and you can see some of our regular customers in some of the crowd scenes.

I'd guess we had over 1,000 people there, but you know what? As busy as it was, it was a bit hard to count! I took about 400 some pictures of Harry Potter fans, some of whom were dressed to kill (or to quidditch...one might say).

We got out of the the store sometime after 3:30 and I was tired to say the least. The Newspaper was in my driveway when I got home and I was too wound up to sleep, so I read it and then crashed in bed. Later that night (at 6PM to be exact) I was back at the store selling Harry Potter's book... I haven't read a one of them, but I've probably handled thousands over the years...

Dave

Goodbye Harry, and good luck!