A friend of a Rock Star's dad

I'm laboring over a title for this one. It has to do with growing up. With getting older, but not getting old. And it poses the question, what was it like to be a friend of Mr. Morrison, Mr. Hendrix or even Mr. Jager (that is, Jim's dad, Jimmy's dad or Mick's dad). At work during lunch, we often all sit at a table reserved for the "other group." For years I've eyed suspiciously the group of old guys who sit near us. Today I relized that we're those guys. We've been doing this lunch thing for a long time now. But let me skip to Rock Stars. The topic lately has been Milo. Milo's the cool guy in the red and white stripes. Though Milo is one of the original members of RaRaRiot, I usually just think of him as "Tom's son." It's cool to have a friend who's the father of a Rock Star. It's great to watch Tom's excitement as he talks about the next city, the travel van, the free sneakers and the latest copy of Rolling Stone, or when he shares the next video or song before it's released...shhhhhh.... As I write these words I can't help think that Mick's dad had friends just like us. Friends who sat at lunch or coffee and talked politics and current events and listened to him brag on his son. I love it! But even if RaRaRiot becomes the next Rolling Stones, I suspect I'll always think of Milo as "Tom's son."

Bloom County AKA Guy Humor

Bloom County, at least in my opinion, is one of the greatest comix in the world. I miss Opus. I miss Bill the Cat...Ack!

I don't have any idea why this is funny - but it is. It's really funny. Not roll on the floor laughing funny, but better. It's a deep slow whole face smile that comes from somewhere inside. The fact that women don't get it just makes it that much better!

God's economy

A friend had this posted on her site and I thought it was very worthwhile to post on mine:We are living, as everyone knows, in an extraordinary time of economic fear. Warren Buffet says our economy is in shambles, and is not expected to recover for at least another year, if then. His Berkshire Hathaway stock has declined 44% since 12/07. Millions have lost jobs, homes, value in homes, investments of all kinds, and retirement funds, not to mention losses due to disasters, family crises, and personal health.History records a rich man who suddenly lost everything: his son's house, all his children, all his transportation, his entire business, employees, and investments, and then he painfully lost his personal health. At that point, his wife was so discouraged and bitter, she suggested he curse God and die.Thankfully, the man had not also lost his mind. If he took her advice, then what? To whom else could he possibly go for help, if not to God? He wisely replied, "Though He kill me, I will hope in Him."Only God knows the future, and what we will have to go through. Only He can rescue us from this worldwide financial catastrophe. It is prudent for us to not curse His Name and die, because He is certainly the only One who can save us."If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Sixth Grade Math...it's what I do (AKA "Facebook")

I have a facebook page and 100+ friends. That's not unusual, in fact it's probobally kind of small given today's culture. There's one "friend" however, who after 31 years has once again made an impression. Let's just call him Mr. Sobierajski for conversation sake. I always believed he had our best in mind, despite his "...get with the program" attitude and Spock like precision and intensity.

I was lamenting in the Chris is... portion of facebook. 6th grade math. Fractions. Bleck! I've been helping my daughter/relearning 6th grade math. Imagine how 1977 flashed back when this message sprang onto my PDA: "Suck it up Button..."

That voice with it's Drill Sergeant timbre came back like a flood, and along with it so many thoughts that melted into a remembering smile. I hated math...but still appreciate Mr. Sobierajski. He may actually be the reason I passed Calculus - barely!

Where's George

Wheresgeorge.com is a website that tracks dollar bills as they travel across the state. We're George purists in this house; though I'm not beyond buying a bill from a friend, I'm not stamping my own bills and sending them. They have to be legitimately found or received. For us, the game works like this.
1. Find a wheresgeorge bill
2. Log it in with a both descriptive and funny entry
3. Read the history and then edit the description because it wasn't funny enough
4. Wrap it up with a nice not and send it on it's way (at least a month after we intended to).
* Here's where we diverge from George purity. I don't spend the bills - we send the bills as far as we can think to send them (or to the person who will enjoy it the most and play).
5. Hope our friend logs it in, writes a note that's not LAME, and spends it or sends it.

The most interesting of our current 7 bills came from a dancer...you know...a stripper. She noted that she gets a lot of ones in her "profession," or something like that. We laughed, washed our hands thoroughly with soap, and then sent the bill on to my brother! Read into that whatever you like!

Everyone else please forgive this inside joke... Hey buddy, spend it at the "meetings!"

Obama - Where were you?

Often I'm getting asked by my children, "where were you when..." Rather than try and remember, or just making it up - "Uh...I was in a coffee shop when they stormed Normanday..." I thought I'd capture the moment now. January 20th, 2009. I was at a meeting in Ithaca with my boss. We were driving home and stopped at the Short Stop Deli to eat. Reuben, Sobe green tea, chicken noodle soup with really big noodles. Popular place with a big TV playing. We stood at the counter to eat our sandwiches and watch the TV. The VP was sworn in without event. And then Obama. Just before he took his oath a couple of ladies...who were a couple...walked in standing close like couples do. Then a guy with big rings on each finger, long curly hair, a feminine fur coat and army boots. A student calling her family, "Turn on the TV, it's important you see this." As Obama spoke, a 30ish man who probobally doesn't make enough money to pay taxes turned and shouted at me, "he's gonna raise taxes, that's what he's gonna do. My great grandfather was in Normandy as a paratroop. Was his father a paratroop? Did he pay taxes? He's gonna raise our taxes!" Ithaca is a liberal town, and honestly I can't think of a better place to have watched Obama sworn in...right next to the ladies, the guy, the other guy and my boss. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those as Jerry Seinfeld would say. But it just seemed to fit. The Audacity of Hope...that's all I have to say. So, where were you?

Write your own story...

When I started this blog thing, I struggled to find center, to find a meaning and a purpose. It helps to friend who steers me when I go astray...or when he thinks I've gone astray ; ) Somewhere in this written journey, I have found purpose. To write a story - my story. Sometimes it's about a moment. Sometimes about an event. Sometimes a memory. And sometimes it's just good old fashioned sarcasm! But it's important because it's mine. The stuff that piqued my interest, touched my heart, angered me or made me laugh.

My editor often passes on wisdom I have to steep like tea to realize fully. And though it shocks me each time, his words can be profound ; ) So, I was scolded for adding the year in review as a JibJab entry, and instructed to write my own summary of 2008. I think the JibJab fulfills my "sarcasm quota." My friends words however point to a much more important theme. Think about these words and make an effort.

"life is too short....you read others.....but write your story."

Thanks for reminding me why I do this thing that I do Mr. Editor.

Happy 2009!

The Year in Review (2008) - JibJab (PG Rated)

Amish have needs too

I've pondered for 20 minutes what someone accustomed to riding in horse and buggy might need from Peebles...but still, there they are.

Perhaps I jumped too quickly to a conclusion. The mall hosts a theater, a liquor store, a laundromat, a movie store, a hair salon, a coffee shop, Staples and a gas station!

Girl speak?

I'm blessed with three wonderful daughters. Each unique and beautiful in their own amazing ways. But their language. Not only is the talking incessant, but can anyone translate this?

"Most people think I'm a girly girl but really I'm a tomboy but I don't dress like a time boy and I mostly act like a tomboy but sometimes I act like a crazy rabid squirrill - yeah." No pauses, no commas, not slowing down in the sentence. And at the end, the all telling "yeah." Like there's deep truth and meaning that's obviously implied if my male mind could only grasp it. Yeah...

Paratrooper...It's what I did!

Silent night...

It was a nice service. Christmas eve 2008. We sang, we listened to the Christmas story unfold. We smiled and found our heart warmed by the thought of a baby in a manger some 2000 years ago. It really is amazing. A baby. God became a baby. Mary held him and marveled at the though of it, at the sight of it. And when the reading was over, there would be one more song. Silent night. By candle light. The room darkened except the two ushers candles in the front of the church. Two by two the candles in the room lit up filling the entire room with a golden and glorious light. We sang from our hearts and it was worshipful...beautiful. As the song ended, the pastor spoke so softly. "If you could not raise your candles. Place your hand behind the flame. Now gently blow out the candle." There was beautiful ceremony even in extinguishing the light. "Hold your candles and pause for one more moment." I was on the edge of my seat. Waiting...waiting for that last pearl of wisdom, some glowing reflection of the Savior's birth...something deep and meaningful. And then he said it, "It helps the wax to cool." I had been waiting for some last reflection - he was waiting to protect his carpet and upholstery!

I mean no disrespect. No minimizing of Christmas. But it is funny isn't it?

Carbon Footprint

I don't mean to be insensitive to the whole "Green" initiative. Afterall, I work for a liberal arts college. I went to greenbuild. I'll be LEED certified before summer arrives. Still, I can't resist posting this...must be my past!

Do you know this man?

I do. He wrote the book (literally) on 'high speed - low drag.' Around Christmas time each year, I like to visit the internet looking for Army buddies. I punched in a name and to my surprise, a photo came back. This photo. In fact, there were several postings with this image all over the net. It's kind of cool in a military sory of way. Hoping to stumble on a few old buddies, instead I stumbled on one who doesn't exist. Shhhhhh....