Now comes the tough part

I am two weeks past surgery and now the tough part starts. The re-hab and boredom that follows a surgery of this type. For someone who is used to being on the go or asleep, the inactivity is tough. It is also frustrating to do exercises that all my life would have been very simple. It now becomes a grind and staying focused to get through it.

On the positive side, my son gets home from college this evening. I don't know if his football career is over but he is finished with Chowan. He told his mom the AD spoke to him on campus as he was preparing to leave and told him that he would be glad to help in any way possible. It is just a shame that he wasn't able to bring in a football coach that could do the job.

Basketball is full speed ahead. The Heels should be at full strength after Christmas and I hope they reach their potential. Their potential spells National Championship number 6 (I count 1924) Go Heels!

Caution: Not for weak stomachs

This is what a hip looks like 1 week post surgery. It actually looks worse than it feels and the tape burns on the right have been very sore.

I continue to do my therapy and some of the exercises are very uncomfortable. From all accounts I am through the worst parts and should start to improve rapidly.

I have had excellent care from my caregivers, from my surgeon all the way to the folks in physical therapy. Thanks to everyone that had a part in this, including all the staff that I had contact with at Caldwell Memorial.

Recuperation

Here I am one week post hip surgery and so far so good. I think I am progressing well compared to the average patient but then I am twenty years younger than they are so I should be.

My wife went back to work today to get some rest. I am sure it was harder taking care of me than doing her normal job. She really doesn't like emptying my urinal (can't say I blame her) or giving me a shot. That is another story.

These are really neat to help from developing blood clots, there are a series of 10 shots that are given in the abdomen. This gives me a new appreciation of what diabetics go through and I don't envy them. I plan to keep losing weight and watching my diet to help insure this doesn't happen.

I hope to have some shots of the bruising on my left thigh later in the week. It is very impressive and should be recorded for posterity (not of posterity however)

A little scary

It seems that we spend our lives waiting for the next thing and tomorrow the next thing is having my hip replaced. I know that this happens hundreds of thousand times a year but not to me. I am a little nervous and wish I had the early surgery so I would have less time to wait.

The after part is a little tricky as well. It is supposed to take the pain away from walking but how long will it take to recover and will it limit my activities. I will make the best of it, work hard and maybe like Bo Jackson, come back to continue my pro career.

Our new commissioners were sworn in tonight and I hope for the best. They have a long and difficult road in front of them as do all our elected officials. May their judgement be good and their motives pure.

That's all til after the surgery, wish me luck

Long Weekend

But it never seems long enough, when you get to be with people that you like and love. Had a great dinner with my in-laws Thursday, went to HS football game Friday night (Hibriten lost a tough one to end the season.) Had friends over last night for BBQ chicken ( you would have thought it was prepared by someone who was on Top Chef, the way people raved) and then lunch at Moms today.

After some rough times, it feels like my family (my brothers and I) are together again. I guess it is just a process in life and people go through different things at different times. You can't know what is happening in their lives, only yours. I am very glad that we are at ease with one another again. Hope it continues, we are all very lucky.

Go under the knife on Tuesday and I am a little apprehensive. I guess it is always a little scary when someone else is control. I guess in a way there is always someone else in control. You just need to be able to realize that and understand that you can only control certain things and pray that the things you can't control come out alright.

Heels looked sharp, even without Tyler H. I hope he plays Wed. night and hope the Hospital has ESPN. If not, I will go to fall back plan and listen to Woody.

Who's fault is it

I would like an answer to this question, but maybe I don't. It could be that it is a little of all our our faults. We have forgotten the past and we may be re-living some of it. Here is a column that was sent to me last week and I would like to share it with you:

Troubling Times Provide a Real Lenten Season

By Alan Eddington

While I have been hearing and reading various opinions regarding whether or not our national financial situation should be a matter addressed by organized religion and church leaders, I would submit that this topic could be richly rewarding for individual spiritual direction and meditation, as well as family and small group discussion.

For me, a meaningful and vibrant faith life must include the dynamic interplay between my life and the societal conditions in which I live. One of the societal conditions affecting my life is the economy of my community, my country and my world. So when this economy takes a significant down-turn, as it recently has, how do I deal with this reality in my faith life?

One of the centuries-old ‘spiritual practices’ of Christianity is the observance of a time of Lent. Traditionally, this is a 40-day period of fasting and withdrawal, modeled upon Jesus’ time of fasting and prayer in the desert, and occurs during the six weeks leading up to the Celebration of the Paschal Mysteries. The Christian Lenten observances in many instances, however, are what I would call ‘trial runs’ or ‘drills.’ It is an artificial time, a time when we try to impose upon ourselves, to greater or lesser success, what it is like to endure a period of denial and hardship, and how this impacts our spiritual foundation. I would submit that for people of faith, we now have a real time in our lives to grapple with denial and hardship. This will also be a time without the artificial boundary of 40 days, but rather, will last for a season, which is the true meaning of the Scriptural references of “40,” be it called to the mountain top for 40 days, or wandering in the desert for 40 years, or withdrawing into the desert for 40 days. For as long as this financial condition exists, that will be how long our ‘Lent” will last.

In these Scriptural Lenten seasons, what happens to the individual(s), and what is the result upon their lives? Two predominant factors seem to be present at the outset: a) God, Yahweh, the Father beckons them, and b) there is significant lack of clarity and understanding, ‘blindness’ if you will, around what is happening and what is to happen. It is after one has ‘drawn apart’ to grapple with the confusion and blindness within a setting of faith and constant prayer, that there emerges purpose and direction and peace-full confidence, that is to say, an authentic metanoia.

I would apply this spiritual tradition to our current economic situation. Perhaps the loudest collective clarion call resounding at the moment is, “Who can we blame?!” “It’s those greedy Wall Street tycoons!” “It’s those tax-and-spend liberal Democrats!” “It’s those laissez-faire, trickle-down economics Republicans!” But just how far beyond our own selves should we push this question of, “Who’s to blame?” This is the question that I would take with me into the desert, to grapple with vis-à-vis my faith principles, and to critically examine just how much of the ‘blame’ resides within my own life-style.

Just how tempting is that “apple” of a new home beyond our reasonable means? How tempting is that over-accessorized, gas-guzzling vehicle? How much will-power and self-control is there, when browsing the latest electronic gadgets at Best Buy? To what extent are the ‘good steward’ principles being practiced, when it comes to time, talent and treasure? Is financially responsible behavior, or extravagant spending, receiving the accolades of peers, and thus driving my fiscal decision-making?

Having taken stock of my own financial attitude and behavior, I have to ask, “What needs to happen in the living of my life that will be a truer reflection of my spiritual principles?” This is where I need to pray intently and intensely without ceasing, for guidance and clarity, and for the fortitude and resolve to act upon the answers to my prayer.

I do believe that we are being presented with a real opportunity to withdraw for a season of fasting and prayer. I do believe that this is a real opportunity for growth and insight. I do believe that this is a real opportunity for churches and church leaders to be credibly relevant!

© The Barrick Report, 2008.

Alan Eddington is a retired parish priest. He writes from his home in southern Illinois.

Published in:

• Christian Living

on November 21, 2008 at 12:52 pm

My wonderful wife said we have been through such a period in our lives, a time when I was not functioning at my highest (it it possible for me to function any lower?) We survived and we have grown closer. We don't require a lot to live and we don't have a lot of wants. Maybe a path to a simpler life will help us get through tough times as a country. I think we are about to find out!

I am guilty, however of wanting more TarHeel basketball victories and another National Championship. Go Heels!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Yes that's right, it is the start of college basketball! Heels had their first game and even though they were a little rusty and playing without two senior starters they won easily. I think this team can be very special, especially if they stay healthy and un-selfish. We will know for sure in early April.

I am working out hard, preparing for my hip replacement. I want to be as strong as possible, in hopes of helping my re-hab. I think my entire outlook will improve after getting rid of the pain. It isn't constant but it flares up every time I put it under stress. I know it won't be as good as new but should be better than what I have now.

Still watching HS football and the Hibriten Panthers have a real shot at going to the 2AA finals and the scary part is they may be even better next year. They have a few seniors but a really strong group of soph's. They have a young man named Trip Patterson that could be a serious DI athlete. Several others that are almost that good and a solid O-line.

Have my eyes set on the Apps and hope they make it back to Chattanooga. My goal is to be well enough to make that trip. Should have the staples out and back on my feet. It is good to have goals.

Who took the joy?

Today should have been a really great day for my staff and I. We had a huge announcement yesterday, $50 million in new investment and 200 jobs ain't to shabby for a small town. Instead, I feel tired and rung out.

I can't really put a finger on the cause, perhaps it is the recent election and the trauma brought on my this. It may be a cumulative effect of juggling so many balls for so long. Maybe it is the pain in my soon to be replaced hip or maybe I am just naturally grumpy. Whatever the cause, I find myself unable to enjoy the moment and this makes me sad.

I hope the situation improves after my surgery and the new commissioners get settled. I think I will have a better handle on what they expect and how they will govern. I hope they will give us the tools we need to continue to succeed and let us do our job. Just for those keeping score, in the last 23 months, the EDC has announced 2250 jobs and $703 million in new investment. Thanks to all the allies that made this possible. The list is long but this couldn't have happened without a great deal of support.

Caldwell 20/20 in focus

I finally got to see a copy of a proposal prepared for Caldwell County by a consultant from Atlanta ( i understand why they kept it so close for so long). The purpose was to determine what could be done to help the county move forward, into the new economy. For $150 k, they got exactly what I expected. The consultant proposes a public/private partnership, doing away with the current EDC, the City of Lenoir's EDC and replacing it with a new organization, managed by a board, directed by a high paid CEO and adding a worker bee and another staff person. This great accomplishment is going to be accomplished for only two times the costs of our current efforts.

I guess it is a little difficult for me to be objective but I think the EDC has functioned extremely well over the last two years (or thereabouts since it has been under my care.) We have announced numerous projects, lots of investment, we have a retention/expansion program, a new web site, a new marketing campaign, new GIS site (in March), a green commission (set up by the county commissioners) and a new workforce development program. I say, give us the $450 K and let us hire a couple of staff people, get these folks who seem to know everything involved and lets see what happens.

Their new structure will probably work after 12 or 15 months, after they hire their CEO, a new staff and the community gets used to them. Can this community really afford to give up 15 months of effort. I don't think so and I hope there are others that think like me. My biggest problem will be expressing my opinion Friday, without losing my temper. Stay tuned for the results.

Just Go Away

I had hoped that after the election the Gov from Alaska would simply ride off into the midnight sun. She isn't going quietly and much is the pity. She is playing the poor misunderstood, mistreated card for all it is worth. I may be blogging in my PJ's but it doesn't make my thoughts on the matter any less relevant than the fine reporters on many of the national news programs.

I have listened to her attacks, I have heard her gaffs and I am sick to death of hearing her blame everyone else for her failures. Let's just get it out in the open. She let her ego get in the way of her decision making process and she dove in way over her head. She was not ready for national politics, she was unprepared and she did not help the Republican ticket. I hope she runs again and is as unprepared the next time or better yet, let her have her own right-wing TV or radio program. She can then spew all the venom she likes without worrying about the facts. After all, why let the facts get in the way of a good story

This is still America, isn't it?

As if the local election had not caused enough consternation, I got a warning today that I had better be careful about my blog, that the Republicans might not like it. This came in a round about way after one of my few blog readers talked to this unnamed person about it over the weekend. I think he finds it amusing and he was sharing the humor (at least that's what I hope) The un-named source is very far right and would not be amused by my muse and there is the rub.

I am still very concerned by the local election and what it could mean to my job. I have heard from two of the elected that they have no plans to be any thing but supportive. I will take them at their word. I, however, don't think my writing on this blog, done in my home, on my own time should ever come into question. As long as I am not slanderous or disrespectful of this group, then what is the problem. Maybe I am naive but as I proved a few post ago, I have read the first amendment and know what it says. That I have the right of freedom of expression as long as I don't impinge on others. I respect others rights to do the same, I just don't have to agree with them. That is what makes America great!

Post Election Blah's

The election is over, winter is on the way and I am three weeks away from hip replacement surgery. There are more than a few things on my plate to keep my thoughts from wandering: Will I have a job after the new commissioners take office Dec 1? They made a lot of noise about making changes in my department and beefing up the efforts. I have to ask the question: exactly what do they want? If they want someone to promise hundreds of new jobs and tons of new investment, they have the wrong person. They can certainly find someone that will make those promises but delivery is a different issue. There are too many variables in today's economy to guarantee results. What I promise is that we will be positioned to make a run at new companies, we will market the area aggressively and leave no stone unturned in our efforts. I don't believe they will find anyone with more passion, knowledge of the local market, warts and all. I hope common sense prevails and not political gamesmanship.

Basketball season is just around the corner. I find it curious that my beloved Heels throttle UNCP and the headline in Charlotte Disturber reads: Heels weakness exposed. They won by 40 without the NPOY for heavens sake. Yes I know the battle on the boards was closer than it should be but this will be corrected and the missing parts will be back on the court soon. Heels will be a handful and it will take either an extraordinary effort by someone or a really off night to beat them.

Hibriten Panthers are the number three seed and maybe the best 2AA football team in the West. Time will tell and even if they are, Reidsville looms as the "Beast of the East" I am very proud of the efforts of the players and impressed that the coaching staff has started to show some flexibility after several years of being stubborn.

On a less upbeat note, I have been emailing with some of the Chowan Football coaching staff. It seems that their stories change quicker than the weather. I am sorry to see my son's football career seemingly come to a halt but am still puzzled by the many mixed signals he received from this school. I mean, they doubled his football money, he was first team throughout the spring, the line coach had good things to say about him, he worked his tail off during the summer and he was demoted to 4th team before the first day of fall practice. This was not a powerhouse and the players they played in front of him were either freshmen, retreads from other positions or imports from their previous program.

The only answer I received and the only one I will likely ever get was that both Jacob and I were under "mis-perceptions" and that he really shouldn't have been a starter last year. I was told he was a good player on paper but couldn't sustain blocks in their new offense. I would like to point out that the players on the field couldn't only not hold their blocks, they couldn't get to the defensive players to slow them down. I hate to be told a line of BS and would have a great deal more respect if they just told me that they didn't want him on the team because they felt he was a link to the past. If this year is any example of what the school can expect in the future, then this group will soon be the past and I hope forgotten as a bad dream. It will, however, come to late to help my son or the other players along with him that have been ignored, bullied and forgotten on the sidelines during this miserable campaign. One last note, after professing to be all about making sure the athletes received and education, one of the coaches had the audacity to complain about Jacob missing practice due to him having a late afternoon class. These are student athletes and earning a degree is what it is all about! He questioned how committed he was to the team. I ask how committed are they to producing quality young men? My respect level has sunken below the point of no return and come December, Jake can shake the dust from his feet. I hope the AD steps up and takes care of the other returning players, as they might not be so lucky to have other options.

Life in a small town

The election is over and things are starting to sink in. Caldwell County, NC is probably one of if not the most Republican County in the US. It is about 63% registered republican and it votes that way.

Thus, good people, people who could make a difference to this county, who are registered Democrats or Independents have a very difficult time getting elected. I think it probably has something to do with the area being sheltered in earlier times and it has retarded the growth of a two party system here. I hope that the three commissioners that were recently elected realize that having allies in Raleigh is a good thing and we must reach out to them to continue to successfully build our economy.

I think Pres. elect Obama ( I really enjoyed writing that) is off to a good start on setting up his government and it appears that he is reaching across the aisles to put the right people in the right positions. I pray that he is successful and that we can once again be the United States of America.

Tonight is the Night

That I hope starts our country on a different track. We have elected a man that I believe has the chance to unify our country. I hope that we look to him to provide leadership and that the masses aren't looking for a handout but are heartened by his story and say, I now have the opportunity to become more than I ever thought possible. If this happens, we can see a turnaround in the attitudes of our population. I will say a prayer tonight that this is what will happen.

As great as this makes me feel, I am disheartened by our local race for county commissioner. The group of three that ran together and all stated that they would hire a new Economic Development Director for Caldwell County were elected. I am not sure what this means for me and my family. We have had great success in the recent months and I never thought that I could be a political casualty. I will simply continue doing my job and let the chips fall where they may.

1 Day til ?

So we are almost there. There have been a lot of stories posted all over the web and so much venom and mistrust sewn that it is hard to believe that we are all one country and that on Sept 11, 2001, we were as united as we have been in 60 years. That has slipped away and tomorrow is another chance to make it right. Both candidates have talked about reaching across the aisle and making things better. If America is to be the country she once was and I hope she can be again, this must happen. The parties must settle their differences and make a stand for what is right for America and all Americans, not just the ones they agree with. We can't allow big corporations to control our government and we can't take away the ability of Americans to reach for a better life. I don't believe we should soak the rich, I also don't believe they should be able to avoid their responsibility just because they can hire better lawyers. I think our Constitution is a grand document and it is the law of the land. We, in the past have been a nation of laws and everyone knew what we stood for. That line has been blurred and it is a dangerous time. If we don't have elected leaders that check their egos at the door and do what is right not what they want, I am terribly afraid that our country's time as a world leader is numbered. Please, hold your elected officials responsible and if they don't do as they should, fire them and hire a new bunch.

That leads me to my next thought: I have read about numerous dirty tricks that people are using to take away a persons right to vote. This is one of the most reprehensible actions that I am aware of. I hear many people talk about our soldiers dying for this right and to have some cretin creep in and look for ways to disallow voters from the other side form voting is beyond my comprehension. Our society is one person, one vote. I do not have to agree with you and I probably won't but I will defend your right to say it. Anyone who is caught and convicted of this crime should be sentenced to the fullest extent of the law. If they do it and get by with it, I hope at some point they are made to pay a price for their actions. It isn't cute, it isn't funny and it should not be tolerated!

Finally, no matter which side you are on, VOTE! We as Americans have a duty to do so and if you don't then as far as I am concerned you give up your right to complain. Don't let this happen.

Go Heels! (I just thought that needed to be said)

3 Days Til ?

Haven't heard a lot of whoppers today until I heard Sen. McCain's campaign chairman say that Obamma was spending money in ND, AZ and GA because he couldn't figure how to reach 70, what he didn't say way the seventy he was looking for was 370. If the polls are to be believed and I look at the poll of polls for info to see that these states have moved to toss up status. Not only that but AR and SD have now been moved to the leaning side.

I don't think anyone knows precisely what is going on but the numbers looking increasing difficult for the McCain and Gov Sarah "if we lose I'll let my husband secede from the union" Palin to reach the 270 number. For I sake, I hope the polls are correct.

4 Days Til ?

I thought that Gov Sarah "my head is exploding from all these lies coming out of it" Palin had dug about as far as she could. This afternoon, however, she proved that I had once again underestimated the depths of her ignorance. I heard her with my own ears say "I don't know whats going to happen here if I can't call Obama out on his associations. I think my constitutional rights to free speech is being violated by the press. In other words, why are those mean old people in the press calling BS on the line of half-truths and outright falsehoods I have been spewing over the past month.

To avoid being fooled by this tripe, I went to the Bill of Rights and here is what the first ammendment says:
Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Now if I understand this correctly, The infamous Gov of Alaska is the one that wants to violate the constitution by infringing upon the rights of the press to report what they hear. This ammendment even gives FOX news the right to report on the kind of issues they want to talk about, no matter how ignorant they may be.

The handlers for this out of control wreck should try and keep a muzzle on Gov. Palin. The POTUS and his cronies have already violated several tenents of the Bill of Rights and I don't think we need this loon from Alaska trying to take away another. Go home Governor and shoot a moose! Maybe you are good at that, you certainly stink as a candidate for a major office in the US government.

6 Days Til

I am tired of the characterization of the folks on the right that all liberal are lazy and on the dole from the government. I would like to say that my wife and I work very hard every day of our life.
We have not been bailed out. When I lost a business due to foreign competition, no one bailed me out and I don't expect them to. I don't appreciate Joe the Flubber or Gov. Sarah "Flailin around" Palin and Sen John McCain saying that I am not a real American because I don't buy what they are trying to sell.

I am a christian, I have only been married once, I have never cheated on my wife, beat my child, I think America is the best place in the world. I own a gun and know how to use it. I pay taxes and I hurt for all the people that are losing their jobs due to greed and incompetence in Washington and on Wall Street. The difference between me and Mr. Plummer, I try to do something to help the people in my county. Tell me Joe what have you done to advance the cause of anyone but yourself. Ever since your made up plea to Sen. Obama, you have shamelessly promoted yourself, hiring a publicist, looking for a book deal, a recording contract. Well Joe, don't give up your day job, because when you are through with your fifteen minutes of fame, you will need the tax breaks that that socialist is offering. Get real Joe and while you are at it go away and take the plastic queen with you!

7 Days Til ?

With seven days to go, the McCain/Palin "I'll say anything to win tour" is out in full force. They still can't stay on task and their storyline bounces all over the place. First Sen Obama is a socialist, then he will fail in Iraq (if we had listened to the Senator and me, we wouldn't have been in that mess to begin with). They are trying to scare off young voters, tell dems that their election day has been moved til Wednesday and any other dirty trick that they can think of.

Don't let them win. We need a change and we absolutely, I know it in my heart do not want Gov Sarah "I am a Diva and I admit it" Palin one heartbeat away from being POTUS. If you haven't made up your mind by now, then think about what our enemies would try with the governor in the Whitehouse. Pleas oh please don't let this happen. I wouldn't mind it if it were just the conservative base and the really patriotic Americans that would suffer, but they would take the rest of us with them. If the majority does not speak then they deserve to suffer whatever fate a Gov. Palin can bring to bear.

On a slightly different note, I don't believe there are any undecided voters left at this point. If you can't choose between the obvious difference in this election, you probably can't decide on whether or not to get out of bed. Make up your mind and vote

8 Days til?

My friends the Chowan coaching staff continue to flounder in their first season. After berating the team for another bad performance, they announced that the offense would be running for the entirety of the practices this week. I find it odd with one week to go that they are trying to make a point and don't have a clue what that point is. If the point is that they are in control, I think that is lost in their 2 and 7 record. If it is that they want to run off the players they have left and start over, they will probably be successful. I want attack them on a personal level but as football coaches they leave a lot to be desired!

On to the political front, the GOP candidates are stuck on the socialism kick and once again, especially in Gov. Sarah "these clothes aren't mine, I am just trying them out before I send them back" Palin seems to have forgotten about her native Alaska. In are report from the New Yorker magazine (which I am posting a section of below) she is part of a plan that takes huge amounts of money from oil companies that have oil leases in Alaska and turns it over to her citizens. She calls this sharing, I call it redistributing or if you want to get down to it: socialism! Hello pot, my name is kettle! Or maybe she just forgot about this while she was gazing across the Bearing Sea to Russia.

For her part, Sarah Palin, who has lately taken to calling Obama “Barack the Wealth Spreader,” seems to be something of a suspect character herself. She is, at the very least, a fellow-traveller of what might be called socialism with an Alaskan face. The state that she governs has no income or sales tax. Instead, it imposes huge levies on the oil companies that lease its oil fields. The proceeds finance the government’s activities and enable it to issue a four-figure annual check to every man, woman, and child in the state. One of the reasons Palin has been a popular governor is that she added an extra twelve hundred dollars to this year’s check, bringing the per-person total to $3,269. A few weeks before she was nominated for Vice-President, she told a visiting journalist—Philip Gourevitch, of this magazine—that “we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs.” Perhaps there is some meaningful distinction between spreading the wealth and sharing it (“collectively,” no less), but finding it would require the analytic skills of Karl the Marxist.

9 Days til ?

The presidential race is coming to an end and thankfully, so is the football season for Chowan University. The new coaching staff have bullied and stumbled their way to a 2-7 mark thus far, losing games to teams that are not that good by huge margins. The latest example was a 51-36 (not that close) decision to JC Smith. The Bulls did whatever they wanted on the field and shouldn't have been able to. For a coaching staff that is fond of telling players that were starters last year and should be playing this year:" you aren't playing because you aren't good enough. Tell that to your parents." Well let me tell you: YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO COACH AT THIS LEVEL AND YOU SHOLDN'T BE HERE NOW! You can't motivate the players, you don't know how to treat your supporters and most of all you don't know how to build a program (here's a hint, you don't do it by ignoring a coaching legacy, who is still around and has the stadium you play your home games in named after him.) I am appalled that this is going on and I think the football alumni that support this program should be as well (HERE'S A HINT, LOOK AT THE DONATIONS THE PROGRAM ISN'T RECEIVENG THAT THEY HAVE IN TIMES PAST.)

I don't understand their motivation and I don't understand why they don't have their best team on the field (by all indications the scout team O easily handles the first team D on a daily basis)
I do hope they enjoy their ride and if they don't improve they fade back to NAIA or High School, where they belong. There, coaches have to worry about what parents say. At the college level, it shouldn't matter. To these thin skinned coaches, it must. It is a shame they haven't advanced beyond that level and I don't think they ever will!

Good luck to the players, no matter where they are next year.

11 days til?

Will it ever end? Just watched Charles Gibson interview Sarah "The clothes really don't belong to me" Palin and Sen. McCain. Why is the Senator there? Doesn't he trust her to answer the questions? Is he afraid of another blown interview? Does he just enjoy her company? She is a big girl, send her out and let her take care of herself. That's the way it will be, if heaver forbid, they get elected and something were to happen to the Senator. There wouldn't be any do overs, the decisions would be hers. That is a thought to terrifying to consider. Voter early and often (oops, I better watch it or I will be accused of voter fraud.)

12 Days Til ?

I think the world is tired of this election, I know I am. I think the candidates have been running for election all their lives. I know Sen. McCain has been running since 2000 and Sen Obama has been running since 2004. The process is too long and way too expensive. I hope they have energy to work on the huge mess they are going to inherit, since our current Non-POTUS has decided to just walk away and leave it in more capable hands. That might be the best decision he has made since 2001.

Hurry up Nov 4!

On another note of dismay, the so-called coaching staff at Chowan U decided to leave my son off their football travel squad this week. I am thankful in a way, now he won't have to stand on the sideline and be ignored while they make their mess. Here is a very telling stat: the CU offensive line (and they are offensive) has given up 4.1 sacks/per game on average this year. That is double the number they averaged last year. I hope the quarterback has good health insurance. I do hope the team finishes up the season healthy. I hope for wisdom for the coaches, so far that is a distant dream.

Latenight with Roy in one day! Go Heels!

14 Days Til ?

I will digress from my normal political discussion tonight and go to division II football. I saw what was probably the worse performance of a football team Saturday evening that it has ever been my displeasure to endure. From the moment they left the tunnel, before the opening kick-off, they were lethargic and without fight. It only became worse after that.

I don't fault the players for this. This is a lack of coaching and motivation. The team that was on the field was disorganized and if there was a game plan, it was gone after the first snap. After three offensive plays and a short punt (probably 11 yards) the opponents scored on one snap. The floodgates opened and what ensued was a massacre.

My brother and nephew were in attendance and left after three quarters. He and I both played sports at various levels all our lives and he looked at me and said he had never seen such a poor job of preparation in his life. I had to agree. My son then apologized to him and the rest of the family for putting us through this. He asked why we stayed and we advised that we loved him and his desire to play than we hated watching such a thrashing.

I know this is the first year that the coaches have been in this position but I didn't think it was the first time they had ever been to a football game. They may be wonderful people off the field but from all indications that I have seen, they are not what I expect from a university that has a long heritage of athletic excellence and a really good reputation. I hope they are able to improve on their performance in the coming years but I have my doubts. They appear to be inflexible and unwilling to try and improve. Otherwise, why when they are hopelessly out of ball games, why don't they work on building depth? I imagine there will be a mass exodus from this program after the season and they will be playing players that they recruited next year. I will only warn the parents of these recruits to ask the parents of this years team and the players themselves if this is an environment that they have enjoyed.

I will have a discussion with the coaches after the season. I won't do so at this time because I think they are vindictive and narrow-minded and I would rather they not take it out on my son. He has kept a good attitude and deserves better. If it takes something like this to build character, the Chowan University football players should have it in abundance.

15 Days til ?

Just a sign of how fragile the times are: my wife's entire design team was laid off today. We have made jokes about her being an endangered species, an employed textile worker. Unfortunately for many of her friends and coworkers, it is now a reality. My wife is fortunate that she kept her job. I think it goes deeper than that. She has worked very hard to improve her skills and isn't afraid to learn new things. She will be okay no matter but I am happy that for the time being she is still employed. We are just hunkering down, trying to save money and weather the storm.

In other wonderful news, my pro sports career took a big hit today. I learned that I need to have hip replacement surgery. I always thought it was for old people and I just don't think that 49 is old. It was pretty evident from the x-rays that my left hip has suffered some type of trauma and I have bone grinding on bone. For those of you that haven't tried it, don't. Surgery is scheduled for January.

On the election front, it was just announced that Sen. Obama was taking two days off from campaign visits to be with his grandmother. I think that this, maybe more than anything else shows he has his priorities in the right place. At the end of the day, who among us wishes that they had worked more and spent less time with their family. I know how precious my mother is and how I miss my father and grand-parents. If given the choice of spending one more day with them or being president, I know what I would choose. I think people should give sit up and take notice. This is a man that has character! I am proud to be able to cast a vote in his favor.

16 Days Til ?

It may be 16 days til the election but it is less than 7 til Late Night with Roy. I am trying to stay low key about my Heels just as I am about the election. I know Roy can handle the situation on the court, I just wonder if Sen. Obama can handle the dirty tactics from the GOP. I am quite sure that there are some tricks left in the bag and the attack dog Gov Sarah "Look at me I look like Tina Fey" Palin will be spreading her special brand of venom.

Lets stick to the issues. We are not socialist, any more than we are elitist. If the info I read on the proposals of the adjustments to the tax rates are accurate, Sen. Obama's plan just takes the top income levels back to where they were 8 years ago. Trickle down doesn't work, never has, never will.

Lets go to a flat tax and do away with all the tax breaks. If you make over a certain level you pay your tax. This is a simple way to handle the situation and just think of all the tax lawyers and accountants we could put to work in some efficient manner! This goes for corporate taxes as well as personal.

Go Heels!

17 Days Til?

My wife and I voted today. Take a guess who we voted for. No, It was not for Sen. McCain and Gov. Sarah "Caribou Barbie" Palin. I hope it makes a difference.

Watched a little of the McCain/Letterman show. I know when I make mistakes, my bosses don't usually take "I screwed up" as much of an excuses. That is sorta like "the sun was in my eyes", "I tripped on my shoe lace" or "The devil made me do it." If he lies to a talk show host "I have to rush back to Washington to save the economy" rather than tell the truth "I have to go do an interview with Katie Couric to bail my VP candidate out of another mess," how is he going to handle a real crisis? His actions in Vietnam were laudable, his recent actions would be laughable, if they weren't so scary!

On to Gov. Sarah "I want to campaign in Pro-American areas" Palin. Well Gov. Palin, I don't know how to break his to you, but everywhere you have been is America. My vote counts just as much as your loyal subjects and I am a loyal citizen. I just don't subscribe to you views and I never will. You can pry my constitutional rights to disagree with you from my cold dead hands but I will not relent to your rightist views. I think we have a right to read what we want to, I believe that God created the world but it has evolved, that man is harming the environment and a woman has a right to say what happens to her body. Go back to Alaska and before you return, try to learn just a little about what is happening in the world and that you can't just run roughshod over anyone that disagrees with you. You have limits, and ethics are not just for other people.

19 Days Til

I watched the candidates at the Al Smith gala in NY this evening. Both were engaging and funny. It is a shame that the McCain running for president has been forced away from what might be his true nature by his desire to be POTUS. I think the pressure to consolidate his conservative base has forced him to make decisions that he is uncomfortable with and in my opinion, it will cost him the election.

I don't thin he can distance himself enough from the past eight years and that he can survive his VP choice. Not once last night did he say she was ready to be POTUS. He only talked about what she could do to help him, if they are elected. My darkest dream is having Sarah "Let him stay maybe he can learn something" Palin in the Whitehouse as the representative of the Executive Branch of our Government. If that is the second best we've got, we have reached depths that are unimaginable! Please America, DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!

20 Days Til ?

I just finished watching the third and final debate. I watched it on CNN tonight to watch the undecided voters rate their feelings. There were points early when Sen. McCain did well but he lost his focus and I think his chance as the debate went on. I don't care about Joe the Plumber or Columbia and their trade. I do care about health care cost, the deficit and the economy. I deeply care about the make-up of the Supreme Court and on all these matters, Obama in my mind did a superior job.

Ayers makes no difference. I think Sen. McCain failed to make a case that Gov. Sarah "I'll be glad when she fades back to Alaska" Palin would be a good president if something happened to him. The thought of the former beauty queen and attack dog being in the White House gives me cold chills.

Please Sen. Obama, don't mess up in the last three weeks!

21 Days Til?

I have to ask a question this evening. Are we the American people so shallow and easily led that we will vote for a candidate based on the color of his skin? Will we be hood winked into voting for an unstable and confused candidate because he has tried to scare us? I hope the answer is no! I think Sen. Obama is an intelligent and hardworking man, who on his on initiative turned his life into something beyond what could be expected. I don't agree with some of his policies and that is ok. His message has been consistent and I think he has the best interest of the county in his heart. This is the first time I have felt this way in eight years. I respect Sen. McCain for his service to our country. I would never question that he is a patriot. I do, however question his judgement (VP pick Sarah "I thought they were heckling me" Palin), his grasp of the economy and his inability to pick an issue and stick with it. That is why I am voting for Sen. Obama and I don't care what color his skin is!

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22 Days til ?

As I watch the McCain campaign flail its way towards election day, I have to ask if there is something clinically wrong with the senator from Arizona. He switches directions so often than he needs a map to find out where his position is on any given day. Could he be manic? It is hard to believe that anyone who has all their faculties can be this erratic. Is this a man that we want to lead us through a crisis? I don't think so.

And then there is Gov. Sarah "McFlailin" Palin. She has never seen a McAttack she wouldn't make and don't let the truth get in the McWay. Now she says the report from Alaska finds in her McFavor. I clearly read that it found her to have acted unethically and in violation of statutes in Alaska. I'm not sure whatMcRreality she lives in but I hope in 23 days she goes back to it, to never be McHeard from again. You heard it here first, I think she will go back to Alaska and get caught in the same web she cast for others. You can't treat people any way you want to without there being consequences. It will catch up with her and her "first dude". It is just a matter of time. Where there is smoke there is usually fire and there is definitely something smoldering in Alaska.

24 Days Til?

It is hard to feel angry on a day like today! My sons team won for their first game in the CIAA conference (even though he didn't get to play he was happy). My Tar Heels beat the Irish! The sky was a beautiful shade of blue and I was able to spend the day with my wife. It don't get any better.

Let the politics go for a day and relax. There is plenty of time in the next 3 plus weeks to dissect all that is wrong. I think for now, its time to be thankful for the good things.

25 Days Til?

Just got home from a really good HS football game. Two evenly matched teams, very few mistakes and the game decided on a fumbled snap of a two point conversion effort. 21-20. Both teams showed great sportsmanship and it was truly a shame that one had to lose.

It is a shame that our candidates running for the nations highest office can't show the same type of fair play that I saw on the field this evening. We are the United States of America and we need to start acting like it. We have some real issues to deal with. We have two wars that we are in (unfortunately), we have a global meltdown in our financial markets, rising health care prices and we are getting gouged by the oil companies, even as prices for oil and wholesale prices for gas are falling. These are issues that need to be addressed, not who Obama sat beside in the third grade and what his middle name is.

I don't like the tone that the Republicans have set up. I find in spiteful and very dangerous. I don't like the fact that the Obama campaign has responded in a negative manner, even though I think they had to. Let's have this election decided on the issues. We need to demand that our elected official respond to what we need and not try to sell us a bill of goods. I ain't buying it, now or later!

27 Days til?

I have been on the road for the last five days and my haven't they been a show. This is a meltdown of a lifetime and a wild ride it has been. I hope that if things solidify, that I never see their likes again.

I have been in Miami, staying in a five star resort and if the service I had there is any indication of what the rest of the US is providing, no wonder we are having a meltdown. It seemed like they were doing me a favor, anytime I needed anything it was a hassle. They only had one key to the mail room, and the person working there was never in, I had to have my card key replaced daily and had to play twenty questions if I didn't have my ID. Now, I don't know about you but I don't usually take my ID to the ice machine or to workout so it was very inconvenient to not be able to get in my room to get my ID to get a new key. There was a ton of work going on, over $1 billion in renovations and I can promise you, that without and apology, they won't get my bucks to help pay for it.

On to politics. Is Sen. McCain senile or does he truly not get what is happening to us? The markets are in a total meltdown and all he and Sarah "I sent my hubby to tell those mean ole legislators in Alaska to leave me alone, I ain't answering any of their stinkin questions"Palin can do is drudge up the past of Sen. Obama. I don't give a rats a** about William Beyers. I also don't care that Sen, McCain has a large supporter that set up the foundation where Sen. Obama and Beyers met.
These are non-issues. What I care about is that the market is 40% off its high, jobs are melting faster than butter and my 401K is dwindling as we speak. The government needs to respond to the peoples needs. Not support us but give us hope and the ability to pursue happiness. I can tell you that happy is not where I am today and I can't see a 72 year old that can't even control his supporters to lead us back to the promised land.

31 Days Til?

As the dust settles from Thursday and the bad news continues to hit on the economic front, I think Tuesday's debate could tell the story of this election campaign. If Sen. Obama is successful in tying Sen. John "This is a crisis, I am going to shut down" McCain to the POTUS and his policies, this race is over. There are to many questions and too much on the line to continue with the course we are on. I don't agree with all that the Obama camp has to say. He does, however have a plan or at least the beginning of a plan and that beats what I have heard from the McCain camp. It is not a time to freeze the budget, or cry the "Sky is Falling". It is also not the time to vote for a false "folksy" candidate, Gov. Sarah "there isn't anything in my eye, I am winking at you" Palin. We need change that gets us back into the game in education, science and technology and Sen. Obama seems to get it. Only time will tell. If he doesn't we can fire him in four years and hire someone else.
(That's what my employers would do if I don't perform, as it should be)

33 Days Til ?

Being as objective as I can, Gov. Sarah Palin proved tonight that she can deliver a line. She did it for 90 minutes with very few gaffs. She however did not answer the questions that were asked of her. She had a script and she stuck to the script. Only when she strayed from the script did she do real harm.

These times include agreeing with Sen. Biden on gay unions and saying that she thought VP Dick "lets go hunting, you won't need a gun" Cheney was right and the VP should have more power under the constitution. She did better than 84% thought she would, how could she do worse, but it was very much what I expected.

Sen. Biden was a little stiff at times but he showed a clear knowledge of the facts and time after time attacked Sen. McCain's record. He did what he needed to do. Who won? I guess that depends on you perspective. A draw has to go to Obama/Biden because they are in front.

Next: can the house pass a bill or does the Dow drop below 10,000. Stay tuned to see your immediate economic future tomorrow. They can't write this kind stuff in Hollywood.

34 Days Til ?

One day til the VP debate! I am curious how it will turn out. I don't see how Sen. Sarah "I read everything they put in front of me" Palin can do worse than I expect. I am concerned that she will be somewhat coherent and come off like a rock star. Her best and only chance is to attack Obama as being inexperienced and keep attacking. That is something I think she is good at. She has shown she has tenacity and is able to stick to a story line as long as she doesn't have to think. She has not shown the capacity to answer direct questions on domestic or foreign affairs. I heard one report today that compared her unfavorably to the POTUS. Now that is scary!

Today is my 25th wedding anniversary and I am lucky to have married above myself. She is a good woman who only showed poor judgement once, when she agreed to marry me. She has stuck through the good times as well as the bad and I am thankful for her every day. I am glad that she is the person that she is. She would be a much better role model for women than what we have presented by the Sen. John "I take offense when you say I don't tell the truth" McCain. Strong, smart, creative, beautiful and a wonderful mom. Happy Anniversary Baby! I love you more each day.

35 Days til?

More of the same. More of the "Blame Game" concerning Wall Street and more of my favorite governor, Alaska Gov. Sarah "You journalist think Alaska is in another country" Palin.

I hope we survive until the election. I really don't think anyone has a clue how to answer this crisis and if they did, we couldn't agree long enough to make it work. The bottom line is no matter what we do, it took years to get in this mess and it will take a while for the economy to recover.

I think Thursday's debate will be a show. I know Sen Biden has issues with over talking and sometimes does it with a foot in his mouth. I wonder how the Alaska governor can talk with no thoughts in her head as opposed to foot in mouth. If she is able to make it through 90 minutes without imploding I will be shocked. What if they ask her a tough question, like describe how you would fix the credit crisis and how does this differ from what is on the table or Why did it take Sen McCain 22 hours to get from New York to Washington when we were in crisis and why did he stop to have a gourmet meal on the way. Stay tuned and don't you dare touch that dial!

36 Days Til ?

Today may have been one of the most bizarre that I have ever live through. First Senator McCain has a press conference and says a deal is done and how wonderful it is that he made this happen. Then the deal doesn't happen and it is Sen. Obama's fault. Then after Sen. Obama advises that we need to put politics behind us and make a deal happen, Sen "I really don't know what I think" McCain calls for a deal.

The sum total of this is a 777 point melt down of the stock market. What does this mean to me? Probably not a lot as I figure to work til I die, but to many people it means the loss of a lifetime of work and savings. It is the culmination of years of greed and stupidity and we are all paying for it.

On another point, I can give you a great idea for a debate: Lets have Sen. McCain debate himself and his VP candidate, Sen. Sarah "I was only talking to a voter so it doesn't count as a quote" Phalin. They seem to switch sides and have different opinions on many fronts and since neither really cares about the truth, it should be a rousing good time.

On a sad note, my big dog is not feeling well and I am very concerned for him. Hope Murray feels better tomorrow

37 Days Til?

I refer back to my comments on remembering history and the S&L collapse in the early 90's. I am speaking specifically about the Keating 5 and one of its most infamous members, none other than Sen. John McCain. He was not convicted of wrong-doing, but was chastised for making bad decisions. Now the Senator was in his 50's at the time this occurred and you would think by then he would have a strong enough sense of right and wrong to make the right choices. He didn't then, he didn't with his support of POTUS Bush and Iraq. He didn't with his support of deregulating the banking community and he didn't with his choice of a running mate, Gov Sarah "I'll get back to you on that" Palin.

If this is the mans track record, lets send him back to Arizona to live out his days in obscurity and not send him to the Whitehouse. I know Sen. Obama has his failings and there are many questions in my mind about him but on the issue of Republican Sen. John McCain my mind is made up.

38 Days til

The debate did nothing to change my mind. I don't think Sen. McCain has a grasp of the difficulties facing our economy. I think he focuses on a narrow vision and the big picture is too much for him. I wish both men had been forthcoming about their plans for dealing with the aftermath of the bail-out. What are we going to cut to pay for it? How are we going to reduce our debt? Can we have a fair tax-code? Are the lobbyists going to continue to control our government?

I think Sen Obama held his own in the foreign policy section. He did agree with McCain on several issues and this will hurt him but he got in a few shots including "a person with good judgement would have never had us in Iraq to begin with." He is correct that the surge is a tactic and is being used to reach a strategic priority: getting us some breathing room to get the he:: out of Iraq. I felt McCain made a blunder on his section about the bracelet. Yes it was touching, but if I were a family member of a VietNam vet, I would be upset with his characterization that their deaths had been in vain. They served their country as bravely as any soldier and just because the final object was not attained, he was diminishing them. Same with Korea. He should know better. And finally, he has been no friend to veterans. He is rated near the bottom in veterans affairs by the veterans themselves!

I think it was close but for Obama that is a win. He is ahead and he didn't need a big night, Sen McCain did.

I wonder how Gov. Sarah "I can see Russia from Alaska and that makes me a foreign affairs expert" Palin will fair Friday?

40 Days til?

I don't know what kind of Presidential candidate can't make a phone call and tell a TV host the truth. How hard can it be to say "Dave, I know that I am supposed to be at your place taping a show now but I have got to go cover for my VP candidate. She just made a mess with Katie and I have to try and cover the gaff." He didn't say this, instead he said he had to rush to Washington to save the economy. He didn't have time to tape the show, he was leaving for the capitol immediately. Well 22 hours later, he finally made it. I know that both sides stretch the truth and take liberties with the facts but to tell such a lie to a TV host is beyond comprehension. If this is the type of character that Sen. McCain thinks is presidential then I think my mind is made up on who to vote for. This needs to be and issue. If he can't stand up to David Letterman, how will he react to a real crisis. Oh, I know "the sky is falling, the sky is falling, but you can trust me because I am a maverick and tell the truth." NOT!

42 Days til ?

Sic weeks until election day and the picture is less than crystal clear.

I have so many questions I would like to have answered but I don't think that is going to happen. How can an economy that our President, Sen McCain and Sec Paulson say is "fundamentally sound" less than 10 days ago suddenly be in crisis. If the economy was sound why does the POTUS have a team working on a crisis plan and why does the VP only show up to do arm twisting on decisions that should be made in a calm and informed manner, yelling we must do this now. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! WE DIDN'T NEED TO RUSH INTO IRAQ AND WE SHOULDN'T RUSH INTO 700 BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT.

If after a calm discussion it is determined that we need to bail out the banks, lets do it. Lets do it with a plan that has a chance of working and can be monitored, not in something hatched by POTUS and his cronies without seeing the light of day.

I also want to hear Gov "Failin with" Palin answer some questions. I am tired of her canned speech and I am tired of photo ops. I go back to the old Wendy's commercials "Where's the beef"
All I hear are platitudes and the party line mixed with exaggerations and no substance. I will not vote for someone on sound bites alone!

Day 43 til ?

The markets felt worse than I did today. They took another tumble and the Fed and Congress wrangled over how to best bail out Wall Street.

The campaign rhetoric is up and McCain says it is all Obama's fault. If Sen. Obama has enough power to create this fiasco as a Senator in less than four years then he is a power to behold. A junior who Sen. McCain says can't handle the job of POTUS but can ruin single handed the financial markets in such a short time, remarkable.

I tend to think it is the fact that thanks to Pres. Bush and his cronies, Sen. McCain included, the fox was watching the hen house. Lets review, you put a lot of type A personalities in charge of companies, they are awarded bonuses for huge profits and no one has over site and the situation gets out of control. Imagine that
1 Its like putting a six year old in a room with a glass of milk and a jar of cookies and saying make sure you only take a few, we know we can trust you. Guess what happens, a trillion dollar buyout.

We need free markets but not without some control. Look at the melt down of the S&L's in the 90's and whats happening now. Let the markets flow but at least have someone watching the 6 year-old with the cookies. It is obvious that Sen McCain and Sarah "Failin with" Palin are not willing or capable of this.

45 Days til ?

I saw a friend at dinner this evening and we briefly discussed the presidential election. He said he was undecided on who to vote for but was looking at McCain because he has two daughters and liked the thought of them having a woman to look up to. I can understand this but not the woman who the Repubs have thrown at us.

I have women in my life that I admire and they are strong women who are intelligent and think for themselves. The difference is they don't have to impress their will on others to make their point. They think for themselves work hard and don't take credit for what others do or embellish their activities (ie lie). I am proud to call them friends, neighbors, wife and mother. I trust their judgement and their opinions and they are nothing like Sarah Palin. For this I will be forever greatful.

46 Days til ?

I can't remember who said it but it goes "those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it" is very close to the truth. We have Sen. McCain with his "the fundamentals of the economy are solid" speech sounding much like Herbert Hoover. He of "a chicken in every pot" and "Hooverville"(look it up) fame. We have financial markets that are teetering on the brink of collapse because of excesses and being able to run unchecked for the last 7+ years and a President who just doesn't get it. Not sure what role he is playing in all this.

I am of course referring to the "Great Depression" that held our county in its grips for over a decade and some rural areas, even longer. There were rules put in place at that time to make sure such a collapse couldn't happen again and yet due to some very short-sighted, right wing politicians, who removed the oversight of our nations banking system, here we are again. You would think we would have learned our lesson but with a presidential candidate that isn't sure where Spain is and that they are an ally in NATO, I am sure history doesn't matter. Reality is obviously different when you have a rich wife, more houses than you can count and even at his advanced age makes important decisions based on how the opposite sex looks than how they can function.

I hope the bail-out plan takes hold. I'm not sure America can withstand another depression and I am quite sure we can not stand 4 more years of Bush, brought to you via the McCain and "Failin with" Palin ticket.

47 Days til ?

So today I heard GOP Presidential candidate John McCain give us a geography lesson. Per the
Senator from Arizona (which is in this hemisphere) Spain is in it as well. Latin America to be exact. Maybe when he was a young man (before continental drift took place) it was but now, not so much. He also gave the impression that Spain which is in NATO and sent troops to support us in our legal efforts in Afghanistan is possibly not and ally? What world does he live in. Oh I know, it is the one where it is OK to abandon your first wife who is injured and in need of care, to marry an heiress. It is the world where President Bush has a high approval rating and should be supported. It is a world where Gov Sarah (Failin with) Palin is ready to hold the office of VP of the United States, but it is not my world.

He is so out of touch that he probably doesn't know that Francisco Franco is still dead.

In other news, it is OK to ignore supeno's if you are "First Dude" of Alaska but if you or I do it, we go to jail. It is OK to wire tap and read other peoples email if your are in President Bush's world but it is an outrage and someone should go to jail if it happens to a VP candidate who is using such emails in a questionable manner anyway (to possibly avoid the freedom of information act concerning public documents.) Don't you just love double standards.

I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings. Maybe those pigs wearing lipstick will fly or not.

48 Days til ?

We saw more news today of what Sen. McCain's fundamentally strong economy looks like. AIG was bailed out to the tune of $85 Billion. If this is a sound economy, I don't want to see a recession. Oh but wait, now it isn't strong, we are in a crisis and Sen. McCain is says he is good in a crisis.

He should not be allowed to play both sides of this. He has been a US Senator for 26 years. He has been one of the power brokers who was in charge of not overseeing this mess and now we are supposed to let him be in charge of cleaning it up. I don't think so! We can't wait for his "Blue Ribbon Panel" to determine what is wrong and make recommendations to fix it! By the time this takes place, it is very possible he will have forgotten what the problem is.

In another very interesting twist, I saw today that Sarah "Fallin with Palen" has as six of her top advisers, employees that were.....now wait for it.... recently employed by our Commander in Chief George "Mission Accomplished" Bush. Now in all fairness, she needs some help to get up to speed on what is happening in Washington, because Alaska is a long ways from DC but why would someone who wants to be a Maverick bring on these hired guns. This is just more of the same.
I hope the numbers that I have seen today are the start of a trend and the bounce to the McCain/ Palin ticket is deflated and we at least have hope that something fresh can be bought to the Whitehouse.

49 Days to ?

I have been watching the run-up to the presidential campaign very intently. If we once again fall for the Republican game playing and rhetoric then we deserve four more years of what Pres. Bush has delivered. From the selection of Sarah failing with Palin, to the speech today that our economy is fundamentally sound, it is obvious that Sen. McCain is out of touch with reality.

Mrs. Palin has more questions surrounding her than a round of Double Jeopardy. If it is true that she got on a plane and flew 8 hours to have a baby in Alaska after her water broke then I question her judgement. If she said she did and it wasn't true she is a liar. In this case I am not sure which is worse. Then three days after delivering a baby with special needs, she is back at work? I once again question her priorities and her judgement.

She may be a fine person but everything I am able to find shows her to be mean spirited, vindictive and small minded. If you disagree with her or her policies, you could potentially find yourself on her list. Not a good place to be if you have a job in Alaska. I find this type of personality to be common among people who wish to be thought of as brilliant but are something else. I would rather chew on aluminum foil than be subjected to listening to anymore of her half truths and fabrications (she did not sell the jet on Ebay and she did support the bridge!) I have had pit bulls and she gives them a bad name!

I hope the Democrats get their act together and quash this threat. I for one am not sure how much more of the current prosperity we can stand. I don't blame the Republican party for all our current woes. I think people should take responsibility for their actions. I think government should only try to make sure that the playing field is level and not tipped in the favor or whoever has the biggest purse. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is what the Preamble offers and that is what we deserve.

Football Kickoff

Football season is in full swing and what a strange spread of emotions they have caused so far. I guess it is silly to invest so much time and thought in a game but I do. First my son was left off the travel squad of his DII team after starting last year. I as well as his mother were puzzled by this. How can someone with his talent and work ethic be ignored on a team that frankly hasn't shown any signs of being competitive this year. To say the least I was puzzled to say the most I was irate!

My TarHeels had a real struggle to beat McNeese State and their season really looks to be in question. Many people have pointed to them being much improved and they may be but if the first game is any indication it could be another long year for the Heels.

Hibriten HS is off to a great start. The team as a lot of speed, some really talented skill position players and pretty good chemistry. They could make some real noise come playoff time. They may struggle against big athletic teams. They play Bandys on Friday night and that game could tell a great deal about their season. Win it and they should finish well, lose and the season is a big question mark.

More on my son. After being left off the travel squad, he worked hard and was named the "Scout Team Player of the Week". To me this would be akin to kissing your cousin, OK but nothing to get all excited about. On top of this announcement, his line coach called him three times during his 8 AM class. He got in touch with him afterwards and to his and my surprise was told he would be playing center with the first team this week. He has never played center in a game situation or if he has, it has been very little. He must have made a real impression this past week. My advise to him is to go all out and leave nothing on the field. Not only this week in football but in life as well. Come to think of it I think I will take the same advise.

Learning that everyone is not looking out for your best interest is a tough lesson. It is sad that you can't take people at their word or think that most people are honorable. The bottom line is that when faced with the choice of doing the easy thing or the right thing, I believe most choose the first.
I know I have but I hope that most of the time I choose the right thing.

It really hurts when someone you love and have tried to teach to take the high road faces the harsh realities of life. You want to protect them and make sure they don't get hurt. Unfortunately you can't always do so. Your only choice is to remain steady and keep repeating the lessons you have passed on all these years: do your best, take care of what you can and be able to look at yourself in the mirror and like what you see.

Tough Day

I went with my son to check in for his second year or college. As I mentioned in a previous post, he plays football at Chowan University. It was tough because it was almost six hundred miles of driving and it is hard to drop him off. I don't care if he is 18 or 80, I guess I will never get used to him being out of the house.

We start raising our kids with the express purpose of them leaving home. Everything we do is to help prepare them to face the world. I think he has the skills to be successful, he is intelligent, good looking, funny and has a good work ethic (he worked his tail off getting ready for football, dropping 25 pounds over the last six weeks). He will be OK, I guess it is me that I feel sorry for. Every time he leaves now, I start to feel older. I know that I have done my job but it hurts to push him out the door.

On a positive note, the coaches were upbeat about the team and his friend Garrett was named as d line coach. He is a fine young man and I am glad they rewarded his loyalty to the program with a job. I will give updated on the teams progress as it becomes available. The need depth on the O Line and at the skill positions. They need to shore up the defense and the kicking game. Other than that, I think they will be fine. Time will tell.

Southern Rock, Random Thoughts and CIAA Football

Just got home from seeing Charlie Daniels. I might not agree with all his politics but I sure love his music. Charlie might be old but he can put on one heck of a show. His band was outstanding and his drummer was the best I have ever seen live. Thanks to Blue Ridge Electric for hosting us.

Chancellor Peacock from ASU was there, I can't believe he showed up with out the three trophies. I wonder how he is going to handle all three at the football games this year. I guess he could wear one on a chain around his neck or maybe make it into a hat.

Oil prices have dropped by $25 a barrel and yet it doesn't make me feel a lot better. I know all it takes is one storm in the gulf or Iran making Hawk like sounds and it will go back through the roof.

I was in Baltimore for a workforce conference this past week. It is amazing how much money is spent trying to get people to go to work. There are training programs everywhere and jobs that need to be filled and no one to take them. One of the instructors asked me if I thought that people would move 200 miles to take a good job if the opportunity presented itself, I told him I didn't think so. I think we are spoiled and many of us want someone else to take care of us. What heppend to personal responsibility.

The predicitions for the upcoming CIAA football season came out on the 24th ( I think) and my sons school Chowan University was picked to finish sixth in their division. This is Chowan's first year in the conference and while I think they are going to be improved it is hard to argue with the pick. The team is young and doesn't have a great deal of depth. This being said, I think there is a chance for them to surprise some teams. I saw more determination and discipline in the spring than I saw all last year. I think Coach Place will make a difference and I think Coach Nesbit is top notch. Two things need to happen to make this program take off. The coach needs more athletes and they need to upgrade their facilities. The school has a rich heritage in sports and I think it can be rekindled. I hope to be able to help in this effort over time. Meanwhild Go Hawks! I will be the fanatic in the stands yelling even if the game isn't going the way I want.

Lesson's I Need to Learn

As I watched oil prices go bonkers again today, I took a moment to step back and think about a note that a dear friend sent me many years ago. She wrote "May God grant you the courage to change the things you can change, the patience to accept the things you can't and the good sense to know the difference." My friend is no longer with us, lost to a senseless act in the early 80's. I know this wasn't her original thought, but if I could only learn to take this advice, my life would be a lot less intense.

I get fired up over many reports I read and tied up in knots over the idiocy of the world. I then step back and say this must stop and I proceed through the day trying to tackle the challenges that are within my control. How can I help some of our local businesses hire more people, can that empty building be re-used, can I help this new business get of the ground. Who is on my side and how can we make things better.

It doesn't change the problems of the world but it does in some small way help make my little corner a little better. Maybe if everyone takes this approach and tries to make their corner better and think about what helps the whole instead of how can I get ahead, we can change the things that are not under our control.

At least that helps get me through the day.

Post 1 Do I feel safer today?

I consider myself to be a patriotic American. I can't however for the life of me decide how I am any safer today than I was prior to our weak congress and our hawkish president taking away a large slice of our civil liberties.

I am of course talking about the bill that Mr. Bush gleefully signed into law today. This law as I understand it allows the FBI to acquire wire taps without due diligence and without probable cause. If they want to listen my conversations or read my emails, they don't need a reason, they can just do it. I have heard a lot of people say that this isn't a problem if you aren't doing anything wrong. I disagree. Any time we willingly give up personal liberty and due process guaranteed under the constitution, we are weakening the very thing that made this country the envy of the world.

I think the congress and the President are responsible for this erosion or our rights. I can't not vote for this President again but I can and will never vote for anyone or support anyone who for the sole reason of trying to get re-elected, vote against their convictions for such an obviously subversive law.

I can't blame the President, he just continues to travel down the road to perdition that he has followed for the last 7 years. I can blame a democratic majority that doesn't have enough spine to stand up to a tyrant and do the right thing. I am ashamed to be a registered democrat and I will change my registration ASAP.

I guess I have vented enough for today. I hope you will come back to my blog in the future.
I intend to write about the things of which I have a passion. My family, the sports I love and this country. I am proud to be a Tar Heel, and American and a Patriot. I just don't have to like where we are headed.