The Incongruities of Life

Best Playoff Game Ever in Modern Mavericks Era

2006-05-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Last night--Game Two, Western Conference Semis.

Unbelievable.

Don't Be Down on Barry

2006-05-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Watching Barry Bonds hit #712 last night and watching Bud Selig's press conference from a month or two ago, in which he said they were going to investigate Barry, made me realize something: I do not have any angst against Barry Bonds. Sure, I wish he had not done steroids. But MLB and Bud Selig should be to blame, not Barry. They knew about all the steroids junk from the early to mid-90s, yet they did nothing constructive to stop it. Now, all of the sudden they are getting bad P.R. about all the steroids mess, they are going to go after Barry. Barry is just a scapegoat in all this. He is one among many who did this.

And yes, Barry should not have lied, if he in fact did lie. But let's celebrate this--Barry is going to be #2 all-time. That is something to celebrate. Should he have done the 'roids? Nope, but neither should Jose Canseco, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmerio (where is all the angst against him that was there last year?); and, most importantly, Bud Selig should have stepped up and done something about this years ago. It's too late now, fool.

Phil Looks Old

2006-05-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

Dude, Phil Jackson looks old. I saw him on TV, last night, coaching. And man, he looks old.

Sports Breeds Realism

2006-04-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I love me Texas Rangers. They are by far my favorite sports team of all time, and they will probably always be. Whilst watching the last couple of games (at least the ones I can pick up without cable), the Rangers have carried a lead into the late innings of the game. Now, if I followed a good baseball team with a decent bullpen, including a halfway-decent closer, I would have faith that such a lead would result in a win. But not me. I know my Rangers. And I know my Co-Co Cordero. Every lead I have seen him being brought in to save this year has resulted in a blown save. He stinks. He's horrible. Okay, but moving on---watching Cordero come in and having that unsettled feeling in the bottom of my stomach each time made me realize something:

Sports, especially the Texas Rangers, has breed within me a realism. Life does not work out sometimes like it is supposed to. I do not think it has produced any real sort of pessimism, though others may argue it has. Being a Rangers fan has taught me to not get excited about it or it will not happen (thank you, Geoffrey Warlick).

Sports. Good for something besides just entertainment and causing Rhylan and I to almost spend numerous, consecutive days in his sweltering hot attic one summer.

Air Conditioning

2006-04-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Why is it "air conditioning?" Does the cooling of the air "condition" it? Why is the heating of the air not also "conditioning" of the air? Why is that called "heater?"

All air conditioning does is cool the air. Why do we not have a "cooler" and a "heater?" Why the "conditioning?"

Billboards

2006-04-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

We have got too many of them. They are everywhere. I was exiting off 35 onto 121 yesterday, and I could barely concentrate on the road in front of me because of all of the billboards in my view. Too many, clutters everything up. How much more beautiful would everything be w/o billboards? None of this advertisement junk.
And, as for the advertisement portion of it--people, take some classes on how to design advertisement. I took one class in college (yes, it was an elective that was supposed to be easy, hence my reason for taking it. And man, was it easy.). But that one class has taught me more than basically anyone else doing ad. design on how to design these things. Billboards are just cluttered with so many words---no one could read all those words as they whiz by.

Seriously.

Rob Thomas

2006-04-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

Should have stuck with Matchbox 20, circa Yourself or Someone Like You. You sounded good then, dang good. Now you are just a sell-out to the stupid sounding pop music scence. You are nothing like you were before. You have not had an original guitar rift in years. Why, man? Why could you have not stuck with music that sounded good? Why? Why?

U2

2006-04-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

I cannot stand U2. EVERYONE loves U2. I don't know why. It is not good music, it is just weird. It is just Bono straining his voice and sounding like a pregnant cat. I do not have to like them, dang it.

Hair Dryers

2006-04-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

I have no real moral opposition to them or anything, but I refuse to use a hair dryer. I have found this out, as I often taken a shower right before I desire to go to bed--and I know not to go to bed with a wet head (by the way, I wonder if that is really true--will you get sick from doing such a thing?). Well as me hair gets longer, it takes longer for it to dry. Sometimes, my mind drifts toward using a hair dryer at such a time. But I always say, "No. I will just sit up and watch TV for a while, then my hair will dry."

Don't know why, but I will not use a hair dryer.

Boxers

2006-03-30T14:13:00.000-08:00

Today I had to wear white-tighties, due to my allowing there to be a boxer supply shortage. I have to say that I now remember why I switched to boxers in the first place. Boxers are muy bueno. And all you people who disagree are just . . . well, you are stupid. To my friend who enjoys boxer briefs--man, you cannot have the best of both worlds. And to another unnamed friend who has resisted the switch to boxers for all his life--just give in man. Your life would greatly benefit from such a change. beLIEVE me.

Convenience Stores

2006-03-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

Why I am so fascinated with convenience stores? For all my life, I have been fascinated with convenience stores. I love them. On trips, I like to check them out. When at home, I love frequenting them. I can buy something from a convenience store and it automatically becomes better.

Why?

Shut-Up Brian . . .

2006-03-27T13:23:00.000-08:00

Esteridge

All you do is piggyback off of the original thoughts of others. You just laugh and make cracks off of things others say. You have no good, creative original thoughts--the "original" thoughts you have are dumb (i.e. TCU beating Notre Dame). You just sit around, laugh at Galloway's awesomeness, and say, "Yes."

Jerry-Sell the Team

2006-03-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

That's it; I am finished. I have been a Cowboys fan all my life. I have endured much, put up with lots of crap. But this is it. In the words of Dale Hansen, "Character does not count." If T.O. is in; I am out. Until either Jerry or T.O. goes, I am no longer a fan of the Jerry Jones-owned Cowboy franchise.

For further explanation, see Dale Hansen's monologue about this. He gave it on the Sunday night sports show on channel 8 and also on his noon talk show on Monday on the Ticket.

America's

2006-03-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Last night, I worked really late at the church (more like early this morning). On the drive back to the house, I saw a great white light in between the trees of Horton Field. Yes, of course, it was America's Convenience Store. It got me to thinking . . . a lot of things could change in Hamilton, but that great beacon of light welcoming all travelers in was ever put out, my how my heart would be sad. Sure, there was that hiatus where it shut down for changing owners or something and then when they were remodeling. But, we can look past that.

I Do Not Want to Wash My Hair First

2006-02-27T15:14:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember, I have always washed my hair first, while showering. But it hit me the other day--I do not have to do that; I can do other things first while showering. I can wash the rest of my body first-then come back to my hair. So I will now do that. I challenge the conventions in my brain that made me think I HAD to wash my hair first. I do not have to; so I shall not do so.

The One Who Started It All

2006-02-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

A couple of hours ago, I was at an establishment here in town, and the guy who first presented ESPN to us on a cable format passed by me. I wanted to shake his hand and thank him for opening my life up to the goodness of sports and all that is truly sports. This, of course, was before ESPN went all Hollywood and stupid. This was EPSN-in its truest and purest form. Ahh.

Horses

2006-02-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

Last night, I shot some hoops, then while being in the basketball mood, I ran some horses in the "gym" at the church. Dude, my goodness, my body hurts. But, man it was good for me. I guess even while a kid, being made to run horses, I knew it was good for me. But, boy did I dread the end of b-ball practice, when we would shoot free-throws and have to run horses because of poor free-throw shooting.

Horses . . . ain't too bad.

Who Is The Boss?

2006-02-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

No do not get me wrong, I love me so good ol' Who's The Boss?, and I love me some Tony Danza--he is like a middle-aged Fonzy (which in a subsequent post, I need to describe how Henry Winkler's character of Fonzy, in my opinion, dominates so much of American culture and, especially, American pop culture). but, what did Tony Danza ever do to deserve the lead role on a network sitcom? It hit me this morning--I was watching his talk show he has going now, which ain't too bad, and it got me to thinking . . . who was Tony Danza before Who's The Boss? He was never a stand-up comic or anything. He never starred in any movies or other shows, at least that I know of. I think that is what I will do--I will just come out of nowhere and be the new lead actor in a network sitcom.

All Right, Fine, I'm In

2006-02-14T12:53:00.000-08:00

For years now, I have been resisting the urge to like Coldplay. Every since they became big a few years ago, it seems like Coldplay is the cool, chique band to like. Everybody likes them because they're Coldplay--and I have always been like, well whatever, I will like who I want to. But I have to admit, their music is pretty good. I guess I can like them now.

Picking Who to Root For

2006-02-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

I was somewhere the other day (the library, maybe. It is kind of sad because I actually have no idea where I was. Really, I think of myself as a fairly smart person--but I have no like recollection of where this memory is from), and I saw a book or something entitled, "How to Pick Who to Root For"-or something along those lines. It got me to thinking, I need to come up with a formula for how to pick who to root for in games where you do not really have a vested interest, because your team is not involved (e.g. Cowboys fans' involvement in Super Bowls for the last 10+ years, Mavs Fans in playoff games where Mavs are not playing, and Rangers fans in World Series games--okay all World Series games ever played).

Here goes:

1. If your team is not playing, root for a team you might have a side-interest in (e.g. In a World Series game, I will go ahead and assume the Rangers would not be playing in it. That being said, if, pre-2005, the Red Sox were playing, I would be rooting for them, because they used to be my #2 team.).
2. If your team is not playing nor is a team you have a side-interest in, look to see if either team is a rival of your team, then pick the other team (e.g. If the Redskins/Eagles were playing in the Super Bowl, I would automatically root for the other team, in lieu of the Cowboys' rivalry with both said teams.).
3. If none of the above works, root for the team that is playing from your team's main conference (AFC/NFC, AL/NL, Western Conf./Eastern Conf., Big 12, etc.). Then, if said team wins, it makes your team look better, especially if they played that team during the year, played them a number of teams, or, especially, dominated that team throughout the year.
3B. If there are two teams playing from the same conference (like the NFC title game), pick the team that comes from your team's division, because a win would make your team look better (If it was the Giants (assuming Eli Manning did not exist) vs. the 49ers (and your name is not John Medlock), you would pick the Giants, because it would make your team (in this case, the Cowboys) look better).

If this system sounds a little strange, think about it. In the high school football playoffs, who do you always root for after your team goes down in defeat? The team that either beat your team or the team that beat that team. Why? It makes your team look better.

So . . . the moral of the story is: when picking a team to root for in a game that you really have no vested interest in, pick the team that would make your team look better--because doing so will make both you and other fans be more optimistic about next year.
It is all about next year . . . and it is all about optimism.

What's the Deal With . . .

2006-02-03T15:35:00.001-08:00

Israel?
Why is everyone so preoccupied with Israel? I mean, really, what's the deal?
Do not ge me wrong. I am sympathetic to the cause of Jews after what happened to them in the Holocaust; and that's great that they were given a new nation in 1948. But my theory is that everyone wants to protect and watch out for, including the U.S., because of premillenial dispensationalism--because of an illogical interpretation of the Bible, particularly The Revelation. Think about it, people! Revelation is not meant to be a literal script for the end-times. It is an allegorical story for how good will ultimately win over evil.

What's the Deal With . . .

2006-02-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Blogs Are Still Stupid

2006-02-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have a blog. Yes, I write on a blog.
But blogs, as I have maintained, are dumb.

Case in point . . . I feel like I should write something on my blog, because it has been a few days since I have written anything. But, no. In the spirit of "down with blogs," I say no. I will not write an original, creative thought-because I do not have one. So, I will not come up with one. Rather, I will let it come to me.

Blogs are stupid.

My Heart Hurts

2006-01-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

The Chicken Express in Hamilton just stinks. I got a combo meal, and I recieved a roll. Are you kidding me?? Is this the Comanche Chicken Express from the late '90s. When you stop giving me biscuits, I stop giving you business. I was already close, anyway, though. This was my official last time to eat chicken at that establishment. The chicken is so skimpy and old-looking. The fries taste like crap; and they didn't even give me any ketchup.

Forget about it, eh?

Kobe

2006-01-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

What a ballhog. I have always thought the same thing about Wilt Chamberlein. Really. Everyone has always admired his 100 points; now everyone is admiring Kobe. I have always thought Wilt was just a ballhog. Seriously, you have teammates, Kobe. Every time I think of Kobe, I think of that picture Sportscenter used to always put up of him, when referring to him with his Colorado trial. He looked all serious, yet extremely goofy.

Speaking of Kobe, Randy Galloway made the comment on GAC this afternoon that Kobe is just a ballhog, to which I had to call in on the show. I thought I would give an idea of the conversation I had on the radio today. I called in, and less than a minute later, I was on air. It is all about orginality and creativity, my friends. This makes my 3rd appearance on espn radio. You all remember my first. Last week, I think it was, I was on Dennis and Engle. They were talking about Roger Clemens. Producer Mike Taylor made the comment that he did not want Clemens because he has always teased the Rangers in the past, to which I called in to agree. Steve Dennis loved my thoughts.
Anyways, back to today (these are not exact words but a good summary nonetheless):

Galloway: I hear that Brian from Carrollton agrees with me.

Me: GAC Daddy, I totally agree with you; Kobe is nothing but a ballhog.

Estridge: Well who else does he have on his team to score?

Me: Lamar Odom. . .

Estridge (interrupting me before I could go on): Oh come on now (and more rantings and ravings against me).

Me: Estridge, this is just like when you thought TCU could beat Notre Dame in football.

(Estridge in the background yelling at me.)

Galloway: Yeah, ha ha ha. But remember, I agreed with him.

Me: Yeah, but remember, you were wrong, weren't you?

Galloway: Yes, I was-that's right! Thanks for the call.

I have arrived; Galloway remembers me.

Fountain drinks. . .

2006-01-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

are awesome. Seriously, why have I not been drinking these more? I got one the other night on my way out of town, and I thought, "What a deal!" 32 oz. of DP for 99 cents. You try to buy that in a bottle, you get like 20 oz. for $1.29 or whatever. Where have you been all my life, fountain drinks?

Save Water?

2006-01-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

I cannot label this thought as my own. One of the fine youth in the youth group I serve, Jeremy Edins, came up with this. But seriously, where does water go? It does not exactly go away, does it? So, why should we "save water?" Now I am all about conservation and helping the environment out. . . but how can we lose water? And are we in danger of not having enough?

De-wight Yoakum is Freakin' Awesome

2006-01-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

Seriously. . . no matter what mood you are in, Dwight Yoakum is some good listening.

I challenge you to find me one person who does not like Dwight Yoakum. . okay there probably is someone, but that person is not a very smart individual.
Not only is his music awesome, but the dude can act (Sling Blade).

Peyton and Matt

2006-01-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

Peyton Manning and Matt Leinart: shutup.
Many of you know about my deeply-held anger towards the Manning family. Well Peyton did nothing but add to it this weekend. After the game (which you lost, ha ha), you throw your offensive line and protection, as a whole, under the bus, then say you don't want to say much because you are a good teammate. Bologna--you and your whole family are dumb. By the way, how many championships have the Manning family (all 3 of them) ever won at ANY level? That would be a big goose egg.

Matt Leinart. Shut-up. You got beat, then you had the nerve to say that your team is still better. That was the whole point of the game, to see who was better. What a baby.

It is time for these supposedly rough, tough football players to start growing up and acting like men.

Music & Movies

2006-01-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

What did ancient cultures pass along to us that we can know about them? Poetry, writings, that kind of stuff.
Well I have become convinced that our passing along will be music and movies.
I was convinced of the movies last night, while flipping through channels, occassionally stopping at the Golden Globes thing (which I did not focus on much-I really cannot stand those award shows. Actually now that I think about it, I am really against all award shoes. Even the ESPYs. I was a little uncomfortable with the ESPYs started back in the mid-90s. First, because it was just weird to Hollywood-up sports and make sports need an award show. As we all agree upon, sports is sports and it don't need no HOllywood! Secondly, because at the end of the first ESPY, they did this weird kind of tribute to the NY Rangers--remember, they won the Stanley Cup in '94, and it was like a long time since they had done so. But it was weird--they did not celebrate any other championships. That just heightened my angst, even at a young age that the sports business is too in love with NY everything. . . anyway, I digress). While glancing at the Golden Globes thing, I noticed some really good-looking movies I had never seen nor heard of. It showed me that, as a society, we really are capturing our consciousness on movie reels. And that's cool. I need to watch more (good) movies. They are saying lots of things.

Also, music. Whilst listening to ye ol' Gin Blossoms Greatest Hits CD (which by the way is so good) on the way to church today, I thought about the thoughts/feelings/emotions that go into those things. Now I love me some good music. Made me think. . . our music is a parallel to like poetry and stuff in the day of Shakespeare.

Some Housekeeping Notes

2006-01-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

Can anyone view the picture I have in my profile? I can no longer view it for some reason, but I wanted to see what people who have real computers with real internet can see.

Also, Fundy, dude your picture just makes me laugh. It is so hard for me to take anything you say serious (which now that I think about it might be your strategy) when I read your comment and then see your pic.

Okay, okay, back to rantings and ravings.

How to Solve All of the World's Problems

2006-01-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Turn signals
If everyone would just use turn signals, life would run more smoothly for everyone. I really believe this situation is a microsm of life. People do not respect other people enough to show them their intentions for lane-changing. In a similar way, we do not have respect for other people. We are all about ourselves, not looking out for anyone else.
So, please people, when you are changing lanes on Airport Freeway, it would help me and everyone else if you would just indicate to us that you would like to move into another lane. It really is just a matter of respect.

What's the Deal With. . . (The First Official Post of the New Year)

2006-01-03T12:49:00.000-08:00

CD wrapping?

Why do they have to make it so hard to get in to those things? I mean really. . . it took me like 10 minutes to get in to my new D-wight Yoakum CD I bought today. What purpose is really served if a 25 year-old person has to set time aside to get into a CD? Why wrap it so tightly? Why make the sticker with the name of the CD so hard to get off? You know what I'm talking about--you pull the sticky stuff off, and only a little comes off. You do it over and over again, and it finally all comes off.

What's the Deal With. . .

2005-12-31T22:15:00.000-08:00

Pets?

I have decided to quit referring to pets with names. So, to dogs, I will say, "Hey dog." We refer to animals with human-type names, but we do not expect human behaviors from these beings. If I refer to a dog with a human name, I should expect human-type activities from him/her; therefore, I should not be okay with the dog running and jumping on people when someone comes to the door. I should not be okay with the dog chewing up my shoes. I should not be okay with the dog doing things humans would be reprimanded for.

New Year's Zest

2005-12-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

As John Lennon says,

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun.

Usually, with the new year, I just think, "Oh well, another year." But the older I get, the more I really think about the new year as a new beginning. 2005 was kind of an interesting year for me. How bout you? I do hope for a good 2006--I hope lots of different things can be resolved.

What did you learn this year?
I learned that my plans and thoughts for the future may be WAY OFF from what might actually come about. I have learned to be more open-minded--things really cannot fit into a nice box the way I have them planned out to be (this has also shown me that if I had that inclination, I could probably make for a really good fundamentalist! Though that sometimes tends to be my nature, I know I need to work daily at getting away from it). I have learned that I need to be thankful for what I have (thought it may seem little, it can work, "that'll do, donkey," it's okay). Watched It's a Wonderful Life last night. Hadn't seen it before--good stuff. I graduated with my M.Div this year--that's quite a feat! (and in just three years, with a 4.0). I made a career and a geographical move. Friends & I started an internet radio show. I got Shawn Bradley's autograph. Things really are okay--I have much to be thankful for, and much to look back on from the previous year and be happy about. Got to watch two state championship football games--in the same day.

. . . I guess I really do have a lot to be thankful for.

What's the Deal With. . .

2005-12-31T09:40:00.000-08:00

Gift certificates?

Until this year, I have always thought gift certificates were good ideas. If you give one to someone, they can get what they want, and it does not require a huge amount of effort out of you. But think about it. . . I wonder if just simply giving money to someone would be a better idea. If you give money, that person can do ANYTHING they want with it. However, a gift certificate requires someone to spend that "money" where YOU want them to. So, it is like giving someone money but with restraints. Doesn't that strike you as strange? Well, maybe not. But still--it straps someone to spend this "money" given to them not how THEY want to but how the person giving the gift wants to. I guess the correct qualifier might be if someone gives you a gift certificate to a certain place because they know you want something, that could be purchased there.
I.e.--I want a car stereo. Said person knows that, so he/she get me a gift certificate to Best Buy. Now that is a good idea--they don't have to go through the mess of trying to figure out which product to purchase, and they allow me to get what I want. The contrast, then, would be if someone wants to give me a gift but has no real idea what I want, so they just up and get a gift certificate at a certain place they want to see me spend their money at--something's weird with that.
One possible solution to all of this might be these new gift certificates that are good anywhere--I got one that is called "Simon" or something. Anyway, you can use it anywhere Visa cards are accepted. Now that is a good idea--you can use it anywhere, especially for people like me who would just save cash if I received only cash (with these cards, you have to buy something(s)).

The Secret of Life?

2005-12-28T10:53:00.000-08:00

I recently heard the Faith Hill song, "The Secret of Life." I guess I heard it on the radio--must have been a really boring time in the car for me to turn to a station playing it. Then again, maybe it was on a mix station or something.
Anyways, I digress. . . in this song, she talks about all of these things that life is really about--like the small things and stuff. Got me to thinking about the secret of life. I really think the secret of life boils down to these two things:
1. The ability to think clearly--How much of the mess we get ourselves into has to do with our thoughts? We mouth off to someone because of how we think about them, not necessarily how they are. We get scared and stressed out about something--we act on those thoughts, then we see that the situation was actually much different, we just created it to be a certain way in our head. There is a Jack Johnson song that goes, "If it ain't this, then it's that. As a matter of fact, she hasn't had a day to relax since she's lost her ability to think clearly." We underestimate the ability to think clearly.
2. The ability to put ourself in someone else's shoes--We criticize and judge others so quickly without ever stopping to think about what could be going on in their lives to make them do this or say that, etc. Now sure, we will probably be like Clint Black when we do so--"And if I could only put myself in your shoes, I'd walk right back to me." But still, we have to learn the ability to put ourself in someone else's situation--then, still, we might think they should do something differently or whatever--but we would have a better perspective.

. . . just some thoughts.

Down With Blogs

2005-12-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, even though I now have a blog, I am still morally against them.

Makes You Think. . .

2005-12-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

Just saw an old schoolmate at the bank. It has been seven years since I have last seen him (or thereabout, I may have seen him a time or two along the way). Man, sure makes you think. You ought to value the time you have with people. He just lost his mom in a sudden thing-said he had not seen her for a year, now she is gone. Man, sure makes you think.

Why?

2005-12-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Whoever came up with using the middle finger to show to someone in a fit of rage?
I quote my good friend, James Hassell, who wrote this on his blog:
"Stop flipping people off. When you flip me off, I will laugh at you and slow down more. Plus, the site of your elongated middle finger looks quite hilarious to me. Have you ever looked in a mirror while your middle finger is extended? Why is that offensive? You might as well stick your uncovered butt out the window--just as funny."
Really, what does the middle finger do?
I saw two vehicles the other day on the service road of 75 the other day flip each other off. All they did was cancel each other out, and then they both left the scene mad. What was accomplished?