Thursday, December 21, 2006

Long Time, No Rant...

I have been gone a long time, but it is the holidays, and isn't everyone busy?

First things, first: I have been watching my beloved Tar Heels play ball, sometimes very well, sometimes not so well, but I have been enthralled with every second. I have also been watching other teams. My darling son asked me, "all bias aside" (like I would answer a question with a bias!), who has the better players, Carolina or dook. I told him this year, like last year, we did, hands down. Last year, the same. Year before, dook did. If their players are sometimes better, why did I despise the program so much? I explained that their coach epitomizes their program, just as our coach does ours. I don't have much respect for someone who chooses to play for that coach (or any other coach that I see as less than sportsmanlike), when they have a choice, and if they are being recruited for dook, they do have a choice. There are plenty of good, clean, fair coaches in the NCAA. In the pros, a player doesn't have a lot of choice, but at that level of college ball, they do.

Having mentioned the pros, just let me say that I believe that the fighting, punching, spitting, etc., in the league that we are seeing is inexcusable. These athletes have a gift, and while I realize that basketball (or whatever) is still a job for them, they get to do what they get to do because people watch them do it. I am sad when my kids talk about how well the spoiled brats (we all know who they are) play, and don't get to see (on highlights), or aren't impressed with people like Tim Duncan, or (my personal sports hero) David Robinson (I know, he is retired--but he went with a bang, didn't he?). These folks are impressive, on and off the court. Fans don't get a bye, either. Can you not just appreciate the talent of some of these people? Sportsmanship is shown both on and off the field or court. Do you want your children watching what you do? Or your grandmother?

Next up: I was saddened last Saturday when I pulled into the parking lot of my favorite book store. My favorite bookstore (OK, not exactly my favorite, but the most convenient) shares a parking lot with Toy R Us. First off, I really despise the big box stores. But what made me really sad is this: do people really need all this stuff? The day after Thanksgiving--what was that about? All the complaints about money, gas prices-for Pete's sake, but people think nothing of spending several hundres dollars for an iPod or other MP3 player--FOR A CHILD!! Who will lost it soon, or step on it, or whatever. Really amazing to me what we are teaching our children about giving. Don't tell me "Oh, we buy gifts for charities" etc. Use your time. Take you kids to a place where they can do some good. Show them the importance of school so they don't end up needing charities. Let them fail, so they will know how to pick themselves up. Amazing.

So, another Carolina game tomorrow, then Christmas, and another busy week. I hope yours is more peaceful than mine, although I am going to give peace another try in this house.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Day Before the Big Day

You know it is going to be a good day when the telephone wakes you up, and it is someone who drives you crazy at the other end repeating something you told him yesterday.

You know the day is getting better when you realize that you have to drive a kid to an appointment less than 30 minutes later.

You know that you have everything under control when your toilet overflows while you are calling to said 14-year-old, who is in the shower.

You know it can't get any better when you realize the plunger is locked in the bathroom with said 14-year-old shower taker.

I have company, well, family, but they don't live in my house, coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving. Given that statement, the obvious conclusion is that I have a lot to do before then. Given the way my day has started, it is going to be a heckuva Thanksgiving dinner!

If I have all the family over to my house for Thanksgiving, why can't I do what I want? It is supposed to be over 70 degrees, and I think that the kids, who don't like "Thanksgiving food" generally, should be allowed to eat pizza outside. Looks like a win-win, to me, but two of the men (my husband being one of them) think the kids should eat like the rest of us. OK, so does he do the dishes? Actually, he probably will, because he is a good guy.

So have a wonderful holiday, whatever you eat, and wherever you are. Be thankful for everything...

Monday, November 20, 2006

Introduction

I was thinking about a really good book I read this year, and asked my husband "How do you start a blog?" He was on his computer, and he said, "Well, let's look it up..." He found this site, began my page, and left it to me to continue. I have no idea what direction this rant, I mean blog, will take. Most likely, I will sometimes talk about college basketball, or the right or wrong thing I am doing to my kids, or the state of the city, nation, or world. Sometimes, I do nothing noteworthy, but sometimes I do. For instance, this week, I went to an Interfaith Prayer and Devotional Service. I am a confirmed Catholic, went to a Fundamentalist Christian high school, raised in a Southern Baptist Church, so I consider myself a bit of a hybrid as far as organized religion goes. Anyway, this was an interesting evening. We had a couple readings from various faiths, some prayers, and some music, including a really very cool song called "Chant Medley" which included a phrase from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim (I think?) and another faith tradition that I don't remember. It was beautiful, and the group divided and chanted with the CD. It was beautiful, and I think God smiled at us.

So anyway, that was maybe not the high point, but maybe the most different thing I have done lately. I will keep you posted...