Sunday, June 21, 2009

Jennifer Lin or If you don't have anything nice to say

I think you should listen to this young woman. The music is beautiful and moving and really quite amazing. What always amazes me (in not such a good way) is the need in others to criticize instead of celebrate wonder. I decided to post the following comment on the Youtube site...in case it's too far down the list when you see this, here's my contribution. I hope I recieve hate mail!

"Loser prima donnas. Her talent is amazing and the piece is amazing. Appreciate it for what it is and keep your criticisms to yourself. Didn't your mothers ever tell you that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?"

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Giver


The cover is worn and slightly ripped. The Newbery Award sticker has seen better days. But isn't this what great books are supposed to look like.


"Sir?" Jonas said shyly.

"Yes? Do you have a question?"

"It's just that I don't know your name. I thought you were The Receiver, but you say that now I'm the Receiver. So I don't know what to call you."

The man had sat back down in the comfortable upholstered chair. He moved his shoulders around as if to ease away an aching sensation. He seemed terribly weary. "Call me the Giver..."


I've read The Giver a number of times now, and it gets better with each reading. The best times are when my bride reads it aloud to me...or to us. Today we all took turns reading to each other this provocative book about society and sameness and the the terribleness of conformity taken too far. Like Atlas Shrugged, but so much better. I hope you read it, or better yet, I hope you can find someone like my bride to read it to you!


The F-Bomb!!!

I know what you're thinking. Why is a good conservative man like myself throwing the F-bomb around anyway? Well, let me tell you... One isn't supposed to mix religion or politics into social setting. They can be real wet blankets on conversation right? Who cares. I was in a discussion with another man a few days ago, we might have been talking about coincidences or something equally preposterous. It was a fun conversation when I did it. I didn't mean to...it just slipped out. Old habits are so hard to break... "Buddy, some times you just have to have FAITH!" No, I didn't mean the encouragement kind, I meant the God kind. He flipped, "I can't believe it. I can't believe you just used it. I can't believe you just dropped the F-bomb!" Somehow I think God will forgive me ;-)

Got the shoes... or Some Dads just get it - Part 3

I know the drill...find a picture. Write something that's hopefully meaningful. Post it on my blog... I would, but I don't have a picture - just a verbal account. As men societaly, were often distant from our families. Wrapped up in work, or football, or anything but our kids and our families. But not all of us.

My friend gets it. And he's got the t-shirt to prove it. He's got girls, and they dance. The girls dance, the dads hang out and act cool while waiting to pick them up. At least that's how it was. this year my friend talked the dads into doing a number...you know, a routine...the dad's got up on the stage and performed for the girls. Choriography, costumes, practices and actual rythm (I'd of failed miserably!). Businessmen, engineers, truck drivers maybe - I don't know. What matters is they got up there and got involved in the lives of their kids...their daughters. Sons are easy (I think - I don't have any). But girls are wired differently. Girls take some figuring out. They're meant to be cherished and pursued and a little wrestling never hurts ;-). So if you ever run into a guy with a shirt on that reads, "Been there, done that...got the shoes" get a visual of him in costume with ballet slippers (tutu optional!), and then pat him on the back and say, 'nice job!'

Monday, June 8, 2009

White Flags...it's a French Thing

This is Fort Niagara in NY. The castle and fort were built by the French, but taken by the British - it remains at that point in history. Notice the flags to the right of the photo. The fort flies the British flag (right), the American flag (middle) and the French flag (left). At this time in history the French flag didn't exist as we know it...the French flag was...white. I leave you with this question: Is it a coincidence that the French flag and the flag of surrender are one in the same? You decide!


For those of you who are French and great friends (met or not yet), forgive me. For any corporate officers for the company I work for, I'M ONLY JOKING...