The dangers of Facebook

Hi
My name is David
and I'm
(dramatic pause)
addicted to
facebook.com !

There! I said it! It started out rather harmlessly a few months ago. A few friends of mine were on here and it was a good way to keep in touch with people. I have a Myspace account, but it never really thrilled me.

Then a friend of mine, who shall remain nameless...JUSTIN, introduced me to playing SCRAMBLE on facebook. Suddenly I was hooked...you see, Scramble is a gateway game. They'll tell you it isn't addictive, but before long I was sampling other games as well.

Then I started the Strafford Survivor's Network... a group that was for us "old folks" who still like to talk and visit about the "good old days." There were about 15 of us initially... but I adopted the "pusher" mentality and got other people hooked on it and they told their friends and so on and so on and so on... Now, it's totally out of control!

Then the chatting began. It started out very simple... One or two people for 15 to 20 minutes a night...but than it began to gather steam until this past Sunday night when two spent 2 and a half hours chatting with 17 different people! Sometimes as many as 4 or 5 at a time!

And not to name names, Val, Stephannie, Donna, Buddy, Linda, Phil, Johnny, David and so on.... but I like chatting with you guys! It's bad! I know! But I want it...I need it...I crave it!

I even end up talking to people about weird things too... Last night, one of the people above confessed to me that their porn name was "Snuffles Bellview!" Then I confessed that I wanted to pick out my own porn name like George did on "Seinfeld" and be known as "Stretch Armstrong!" rather than "Laddie YY" which is what it really would be if I were to follow the rules of Porn Names. (My Wife thinks "Laddie YY" sounds a bit gay "not that there's anything wrong with that" but I have to agree.)

If I were to be truthful here I'd say that I like facebook because it gives me a chance to visit with people I admire, love and respect. It also gives me the chance to talk about where we've all been and where we're all going. Plus I get to rekindle old friendships that may have fallen by the wayside due to our hectic everyday lives.

Too many people have died that I've later thought I wished I'd had more time with...this may not be the perfect way to do that, but it's a step in the right direction.

So, take heed of the dangers of facebook...but if you must use it...use it wisely.

-David Cox
who apologizes for the whole "porn name" conversation... Thanks a lot, Snuffles!

Seriously, when is the dude coming?

Dateline: Independence, MO December 25th 12:15 AM

After several hours of unsuccessfully attempting to put 8-year-old Jared to bed, his Parents, David and Sherry, have simply given up. They have now locked the door to their bedroom, where they have strewn presents, both wrapped and unwrapped around the room.

Jared has been in and out of bed several times and has taken to knocking at the door asking repeatedly "When is he coming?" Referring, of course, to the jolly old man himself, Santa Claus.

Fed up with these interruptions and constant distractions, Jared's Father, David has given up on opening the door and sticking his head out and has opted instead for the "Go to bed, Jared" warnings, sternly whispered through the closed door.

Sensing the frustration in both of their voices, at 12:15 AM, David opens the door one final time in an effort to cease these interactions. He opens the door a crack to find young Jared, clad in button-up flannel "Incredibles" pajamas, standing with his arms out from his body in a sigh of resigned irritation. "Dad," he implores "Seriously, when is the dude coming?"

David, who is still a bit angry with Jared, kind of chuckles to himself, knowing that he was once the child in a situation similar to this and blames genetics for the fact that his Son is a "night owl," and never wants to go to bed, much less on Christmas Eve"

David also blames the local news channels for posting "Santa Updates" on the late news, that implore kids to both watch the late news while admonishing them to "get to bed cause Santa's in St. Louis and will be in the Kansas City area Shortly!"

Being a Dad, David knows that all of this is the "Perfect Storm" for kids. Too excited to sleep and still worried that they might have been just a tad too ornery for the big guy to come see them, and in Jared's case, this is a valid concern.

Sherry and David, nearing exhaustion from shopping that day and trying to get everything ready for the big day, in addition to the makeshift meal that had to be prepared after the bar-b-cue grill suddenly turned into a raging fire that had to be stopped in it's tracks with the help of a fire extinguisher that no one really knew how to operate.

So after a hectic day and a crazy night, complete with house guests, four dogs and lots of late-night wrapping, it was understandable that both parent and child would be nearing an impasse.

"Jared, I love you... Santa loves you....Your Mom loves you..." but if you don't get to bed, I can't go to bed and Santa won't even think about stopping here." David told his son.

Jared turned to his Father and asked "But really, what time do you think he'll be here?" David walked Jared to his bed and tucked him under his covers..."Good night, Jared." He said.

Dateline: Independence, MO December 25th 7:00 AM

Barking dogs, an 8-year-old's voice, and the sound of small footsteps running down the hall wake David from a deep sleep.
"Dad, I got a WorldseriesbaseballfromtheBostonRedSoxandsomebaseballcards
andaBostonTeeshirtandsomehotwheelsandaPS2ControllerandsomeDVDsand..." Jared shouts, but doesn't stop there. As he continues blurting excitedly all David can muster in response to the verbal clatter is a bleary
"Huh?"

Later that day as the wrapping papers were discarded and the meals had been eaten and naps had been taken, David realized that in spite of the horrible economy and
the general "hectivity" of the season...it had turned out to be a pretty good Christmas. His family had still remembered the birth of Christ as the reason for celebration and they'd been thankful for all they'd been given. They were thankful for their house guests and all the dogs and for one more holiday with Luke, who pranced energetically around the house with his gigantic rawhide chew-bone becoming himself a pup once again at Christmas.

Even if for one day all the world can be perfect and filled with love...it gives us hope for the coming new year that all will be right once again.

-David

The Dreaded Christmas Letter

Gas Prices were HIGH
The Mood was low
and of course we all know how the economy turned out.
George Bush tried and failed, as did many a politician.
Obama won the Presidency and a lot of legends died...Goodbye Paul Newman!

So here we are
on the Precipice of 2009
Where do we go from here?
Let's stop and pray for a moment and then
We'll do what we always do...
Take another step

Here at Casa de Cox we had an interesting year
Sherry kept busy working at the school and shuttling the boys to various events.
Dustin kept busy with his music, both playing it and working with a local band
as an equipment man and working the lights during concerts.
Jared kept busy with basketball and baseball, earning both state and national awards for his efforts. He also moved around the infield in baseball a lot and ended up as a very solid pitcher for his team, the Bulldogs.
I started drum lessons, had knee surgery, helped to plan and then missed... my high school reunion, and I worked on a Presidential campaign that failed. I also won a radio station contest to take 50 of my co-workers to a Royals game with free tickets and food for all...It was a lot of fun!
Luke kept surviving his cancer battle, though at times it seemed his arthritis might be the thing that would finally stop him.
Socks joined our family and instantly became Luke's best buddy and in the process she stole our hearts.

As the year draws to a close we see more changes in the year ahead...

Sherry's parents moving back to Springfield, which means the absence of our
closest friends and confidants...our fix-it man and our babysitter too...
Cutbacks at the Library both on jobs and on money, while business there is better than ever...
Dustin still busy with his music and happily "going with" his Girlfriend, Amanda.
Jared's Basketball team, the Timberwolves, continuing to succeed after a 4-0 start to the season and seeing him grow as a pitcher during baseball season.
Sherry and me celebrating 20 years of marriage in July of 2009 and the start of our 22ND year together as a couple. (Where does the time go?)

We also hope and pray for a better economy, peace for the world and for man to start looking out more for his fellow man. We hope to see our nation and our world turn to God for guidance and direction and we pray for our new President to make the best decisions for our country and it's people.

We wish you all the best for Christmas and a Happy New Year too! We love you all and sincerely hope you'll all keep in touch throughout the year!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

David, Sherry, Dustin and Jared

remissing you

First, I should take a minute to thank a few people for making my blog what it is...(or am I blaming them for it...? Hmmmm...) In any event, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention....

1. My Family
Many a blog topic has come from the antics, I mean, "activities" of my family.
Sherry, Dustin, Jared, Luke and Socks have each inspired several blogs of note.
Dustin and his musical aspirations, Jared and his sports achievements, Sherry and
our daily lives, Luke and his Cancer woes and the addition of Socks to our family
have provided me with plenty of fodder to write about. So, Family...Thank You and
I love you!

2. My friends at the Library and at Barnes and Noble
Gail, my snarky black female Libertarian friend, who often inspires or prods me
into blogging with her insightful, intelligent comments. Gail, I couldn't,
wouldn't write near as often without you around. I enjoy our discussions at work
and do think we need to team up for a podcast someday...

Michele, who ALWAYS reads my blog and let me steal her "Renaming the Reindeer"
line in response to my constant singing and whistling at work.

The one who shall not be named for reasons too numerous to mention. You too have
inspired much discussion and topics for blogification. You'll always be my little
"crack baby."

And Eloise, Mel and everyone else who has ever said "Hey, good Blog." Thank you!


3. Those of you who write to me to say "good blog" including all of my old Strafford
buddies...Donna, Marty and everyone...I thank you... I write for me mostly, but
love the fact that you "get" what I'm trying to say... THANKS!

4. And anyone, everyone and all who've kept me blogging for the past couple of years
keep responding... let me know you're out there!

So, I'll keep writing one way or the other and we'll see how it goes...

Take care,

David

Renaming the Reindeer

Do you ever start to sing a song, only to realize about half way through that you've forgotten the words? Or worse yet, maybe you never really knew the words??? I think that it's worse for me when it comes to Christmas songs because you only hear and/or sing them once a year.

The other day "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" came on the radio, and as is often the case, I began to sing along. So I'm going pretty smoothly (as is often the case) and I get to the part about there'll be da da da da da da da da da da da and
da da da da da da da... And I realize that I'm actually singing da da da da da etc... (you get the idea) and I don't know the words... Then I realize that I don't think I've ever known the words! Usually I sing out "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas La, di da, di da..." and then kind of hum along the way never really finishing the song. (which has to be a terribly annoying thing to those around me who wonder "Does he not even know this song? Why doesn't he shut the heck up?")

So today at work I start singing, as is often the case... sometimes just for fun I'll sing in the style of Sinatra, or Harry Connick, Jr. or even the late, great Nat King Cole... or sometimes I'll do my Willie Nelson imitation or even go so far as to sing songs in Steve Irwin's voice... "CRIKEY!" In any event I realize I've forgotten the names of the reindeer that hang out with Rudolph in the classic song..."What's-his-name the red nosed reindeer."

So I'm going along singing "You know Dippy and Trippy and Crappy and Daffy, Titus and Stupid and Muammar Gaddafi... but do you recall, the strangest reindeer of all?"
And all I could remember at that point was "Randy the bow-legged cowboy" which was one of the dumbed-down versions of the song we sang when we were children.

So...what the heck is wrong with me? Am I that confused? Is it the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder? Am I just forgetful? Should I write the words down? Why is a Middle-Eastern Dictator's name in the middle of a kid's Christmas song? I suddenly realized that I don't have any answers to these questions...so I'm going to think about it and get back to you next year...Okay?

Hey, have a Merry Whatchamacallit and a Happy whosit...

Dave

Oh the weather outside.....stinks....

I love snow...it's beautiful! I think it looks great from the comfort of a fireside chair while you're sipping hot chocolate and nibbling on some popcorn. It's light, it's fluffy, it's sparkly too...but here are some things about it that "ain't so great!"

It's cold
It's wet
It's cold and wet
It's slick
It's a pain to drive in
It's a pain to shovel
and it's cold (and wet)

If I were snowed in, I would love it... If I'm driving in it, I hate it.
A few years ago, I decided to relive my misspent youth by taking Dustin and some friends up to the horseshoe shaped valley near the school. It's the perfect place to sled because one side is a steady, but steep slope and the other one is a suicide hill.

I'm partial to suicide hills having grown up on a fantastic sled-run of a suicide hill in good old Strafford, Missouri. It was a long, "S" curved hill that was steep enough that the county would close the road at the top of the hill if it snowed even more than a couple of inches. It was every sled-lover's dream!

So, I decided that at the age of 30 hmmmmmphthing that I was going to outsled the kids and even try some ramp jumping. We played for hours, sledding away...ignoring the cold that turned our ears and noses to icicles and made our fingers and toes tingle and burn. We would slide down the hill and then run up it as fast as we could only to go flying down the hill once again. No ramp was too big, no hill too high.

The next morning the alarm rang and as I sat up in bed I discovered that I couldn't move my arms...oh, and it really hurt to breath! Plus, my back was one gigantic knot so it was at that very moment that I realized I was no longer a child...oh sure, I can still act childish from time to time, but the aspect of playing in the snow has lost most or all of its appeal.

So, now when I look at snow I don't think of fun and games...I think of driving and shoveling...both of which are not fun. Moving to Florida is starting to look like a viable option. Anyone ready for Disney World?

It's warm
It's only wet once in awhile
It's warm and wet once in awhile
It's slick (as in Smooooooth)
It's fun to walk around in
And you never have to shovel...

Dave