Poll: Who will win the Dems nomination in 2008?

What do you think? Now that Hill is in... Bill is in... and Barack and Edwards have been in during the past couple of weeks... who will win?

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NFL Championship Games = Predictions

Today's games should be great ones. I am going to get my presentation finished when Aidan naps and then be able to sit and watch both games. The pressure of putting together my presentation for Wednesday is getting to me a little bit. But, I think the material that I have put together - a photomovie with music and a powerpoint that explains our advisory program is pretty top notch. Hopefully my partner (a counselor) will agree and things will go smoothly.

I am anxious to finish the work and then move on to relax today and watch two great games.

Here's how I see it going down...

First game, Saints @ Bears:
The Saints offense is a lot better than the Bears offense. The Bears defense is a lot better than the Saints defense... but not lately. That's the difference. I think the Bear's D stumbles again in the playoffs. It's interesting to see how the Colts have played WAY better on D in the playoffs and the Bears have gone the opposite direction. Defense wins championships? Well, a great D can. This is a game that will be determined by the guts and destiny of the Saints Team. They know they are playing for a lot more than just themselves. A whole region of people from the Gulf Coast area are pulling for them. Me included.

Saints 37, Bears 27

Second game, Patriots @ Colts:
I think this is the best game of the day by far. The Colts have to get that monkey off their back, just like Steve Young did in the Super Bowl vs. the Chargers. It is weighing on Peyton Manning. I think the home crowd in the Dome really helps the Colts today. Their D won't be as good as it has been, and this will be another high scoring game. Manning will look more like Manning and the Colts will win it on a Vinateri field goal. Wouldn't that be ironic? The greatest clutch kicker in the history of the game leaves the Pats in free agency and goes to their rivals... only to beat them to win the Super Bowl in his first season away from the team. That would be a cool story.

Colts 41, Patriots 38

If it goes down like this, then the Super Bowl will have a Houston connection. First, Houston was awesome with great support to New Orleans during Katrina. There are still hundreds of thousands of people living in Houston that are from Louisiana. I hope they get something to bring them a little joy this year. I am definitely rooting for the Saints to go all the way.

Plus, in the AFC, the Colts are in the Texans division and Houston beat the Colts in week 15. :) Does that mean we are just as good as them? That we are really close to the Super Bowl ourselves? Probably not! But, it still is a lift to see how good the Colts are playing since we beat them. Maybe it will deliver some confidence to my home town team?

We'll see what happens. I usually think Championship games are a lot more 'defensive' and lower scoring than this. This weekend is the exception... of course, I could be totally wrong. That's happened before!

ESPN Predictions
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Misheard Lyrics - Fall Out Boy "This Ain't a Scene"

This is really funny...


...also into cats... also into cats...
that cracks me up!

Actual lyrics:

Fall Out Boy This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race Lyrics
I am an arms dealer
Fitting you with weapons in the form of words
And I don't really care, which side wins
As long as the room keeps singing
That's just the business I'm in

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress

I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate

I wrote the gospel on giving up
(You look pretty sinking)
But the real bombshells have already sunk
(Primadonnas of the gutter)
At night we're painting your trash gold while you sleep
Crashing not like hips or cars
No, more like p-p-p-parties

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
[ Lyrics found on http://www.metrolyrics.com ]

Bandwagon's full. Please, catch another

I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate

All the boys who the dance floor didn't love
And all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough
Sing until your lungs give out

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
(Now you)
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
(Wear out the groove)
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
(Sing out loud)
This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race
(Oh, oh)
This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race

I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate

Funny.

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The Week

What a busy and crazy week. We had a lot of weather problems all week long. In fact, Tuesday and Wednesday were a wreck at school. A student deceived the news stations in town by sending email and calling to tell them that our district did not have school on Tuesday due to the weather. News casts actually ran the report and many students did not come to school. It was wild.

From the Chronicle: Other districts that stayed open reported higher-than-usual absences. Humble ISD saw 23 percent of students out of class — about the same as the day before, when an e-mail hoax convinced some students class had been canceled.

The next day the cold and icy weather did come into town, but we had school. It was surprising because most districts around us canceled school. So that meant a little less than 1/2 of our students elected to stay home. Some students stayed home both days. It was a weird week.

Tonight Norma, Aidan and I went to Kingwood High School (our neighborhood school near our house) to see the Atascocita Girls Baskeball team play. Aidan and I had a good time running around through the school. Norma and I switched off watching him... he couldn't sit still in the stands long enough to watch much of the game, but he had fun running through the hallways.

It is amazing to think that Aidan will go to high school there someday down the road. He's so little now and only 2. I found myself imagining how things will be then when he is in high school. Who knows what we'll be dealing with in life then. But, hopefully he will be a happy young man and eager to enjoy his time there.

The school is really a dump. It's a wonderful school and highly rated for it's academics and athletics, but it is old and worn out. They are renovating it now and over the next 3 years it will basically be completely rebuilt. It needs it!

Tonight I am working on a presentation that I will be giving at the University of Houston for our Advisory program. The presentation is next week. I kind of got elected to do it, although I am no expert on Advisory. I will just do my best during the hour to explain what our Advisory program is like (it's a very glorified version of "homeroom" where we work to develop students social, emotion and academic development over a 4 year period. We have the same kids from fresh-senior year). Plus I will be using a photo movie with music and a powerpoint to try to give them an idea about how AHS does things. I showed the photo movie today to our Advisory coordinator and she said she cried watching it. So that made me feel pretty good and I think she got the point of what I was trying to convey. Advisory is all about the individual student needs and making relationships with the kids. :)

I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend at home with Norma and Aidan. It is going to be cold and rainy. Norma and I are finally going to catch up on 24 and watch some football on Sunday. A nice relaxing weekend! Whew.



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Dad - 1 Year Later

R.I.P. T.E.D. Oct. 8, 1947 - Jan. 14, 2006

Today is the one year anniversary of my father's death. Strange thing is that the weather in Houston is going to be the same as the day he died for the next 3 or 4 days. Cold, rainy... ugly. The weather fits.

I have been keeping myself pretty busy today. Cleaned the house this morning after making Norma and I breakfast burritos (which were kickass). Went and got my haircut. Watched the first half of the 1st game today on TiVo, slept for an hour, watched the 2nd half and OT on TiVo.

But, now Norma and Aidan are still asleep for his nap. And I'm sitting here alone. And I'm thinking about my Dad.

The whole thing just stinks. It stinks that he is gone. It stinks that I am so far from my family on a day like today. It stinks that Aidan isn't going to know him. It stinks that I don't have his image or voice on tape... or video. (although I really will have to look and see if I took any video of him during his trip to Houston a couple of years ago).

It stinks that I don't have my Dad around any more. For me. I guess I have been worried about everyone else this weekend. The brothers-sisters have been sending lots of email... talking about how they are feeling. I've been listening. But, suddenly this afternoon... it's me that is upset... for me. I guess that is suddenly selfish? I don't really seem to care right now.

My Dad loved competition. He loved his Steelers and Pirates. He definitely loved his kids and loved his grandkids (probably) more. It is just a shame the world is void of that kind of love now. It feels like (to me anyway) that a big chunk is missing from this world.

It's 2007 now. After today, it'll be one year since he has passed away and not "in the past year my Dad died." I won't be able to say that anymore. I am glad about that. It is good that time is passing. It is probably the only thing that makes it bearable for everyone. Time.

Everyday I have a thought that flutters through my head when I have doubts. Doubts about 'feeling' like doing my job, or not being in the 'mood' to do something I must. The thought is... I want my Dad to be proud of me. I know for certain it pushes me at work. Probably too much. Kids say to me in class sometimes, "We don't have any other teachers that would do what you just did." I don't think that is because I am special or something... but probably because I am driven. I am pushed by my Dad still. Growing up I always wanted to do well for him so that he would notice me. All of those football practices in the heat, rain, mud or with a 102 degree fever, I kept pushing myself. I know that wherever he is now... I want him to look down on me and notice me still.

It's all I can do to keep myself going. Just keep thinking about how he would want me to be the best. So that's what I do. To some it seems that I am not a "mess" about him. But, in reality "my mess" is inside driving me to keep working... to keep being a great dad... to keep being a great husband. I must have a pretty good mess going... because I must admit, I have been doing a pretty decent job.

After a year of being with out my Dad, that's all I can do.

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I Love Mom

click on pictures to see larger images
There is nothing like the love a boy has for his Mom. In the picture on the right he is hiding from the red beams from my camera that try to take away 'redeye' (but never succeed). Such a big boy. He is really getting taller. When I walked into the workout room and saw him sitting there on the bench, his feet were almost touching the ground. Amazing.


This is a picture of Aidan hugging Norma's teddy bear from when she was a little girl. It's really interesting how much he loves it. It's old and beat up, but he hugs it like it's one of his brand new ones.


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Why I Hate Bill O'Reilly

It doesn't get any clearer than this video. If you don't have an opinion of O'Reilly, I think you will after watching this. If you already do have an opinion and it's negative, after watching this video it will be more so.



How do people get away with this?

This report aired on Olbermann's show in June, 2006. The only thing that makes me feel better is that this stat appears below the video on Youtube: Views: 108,176.
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Why Rumsfeld Really Got Fired

Thanks to Mr. Chris for sharing this one...



It really is one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. Great work.

Perfect after a night of 'puppeteering' by the President. How can you reduce troops by around 20,000 a few short months ago... then take Hell for Iraq... "listen" errrhmmm, ignore advice on Iraq... and then come back with a PLAN: Increase troops by 20,000. ????? Is he insane? What kind of a solution is the same plan that he had before?

I need a drink. And I don't drink.

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Weekend

We are having a nice relaxing weekend here at the house. Aidan is a little sick with a cold... so that is a bummer. But, it has forced us to lay low and make sure he eats, drinks and is sleeping well.

Watching a lot of football and doing some cooking. I made some awesome nachos for lunch today and Norma is slow cooking an incredible pot of Chili. Mmmmm, I can't wait to eat that for dinner. It is going to be GOOD.

Back to work in the morning and it should be a good week. I have taken Wednesday off to go to an immunologist and allergist. I need to get retested and see how my allergies may be effecting my immune system. I have been sick a ton over the past two years and it is about time I get to the bottom of it. Who knows? I am just hoping to find out some information that may help.

I can't believe it is 2007 already. It is about a week away from the day that my Dad passed away last year. I have been sad thinking about him all during the football season and it is peaking now during the playoffs. It is just not as much fun to watch football without him to talk to about it. It really is hard to believe he is gone, even after all this time.

I don't know how we are all doing it - getting along without him. But, we have to. So we do. Anyway, I am not blogging about this to bring myself down or anyone else. I just miss him. Today is a good day. The chili is going to be good. Spending time with my beautiful family is good. I am going to try to think of those good things.
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New Poll - Super Bowl Winner?

The best time of the year... the NFL Playoffs. Who will win it all this year?

My money would be on the Chargers, best overall team. But, I am rooting for the Saints. How can you root against New Orleans after everything they have been through? Wouldn't that be an awesome story?

Get Your Poll Widget

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Cowher Powers Down

This isn't very surprising after what has been rumored all year long, but it still does sting. I remember when they hired him and I said, "Bill Who?" Boy did he take Steelers fans for a great ride.

I am sure that after winning the Super Bowl last season things were different for him. He had reached the top of the mountain and things look differently from up there sometimes.

I wish him the best of luck, but I can not see him roaming the sidelines for another team. It WILL happen in a couple of years, but it is just hard to even imagine. Could he possibly come back with a team like the hated rival Cleveland Browns? I just can't see it. But that is rumored as well. He played in Cleveland.

Thanks for the ride Bill. 15 great years. I sure won't feel as close to the Steelers now that you are gone.

Bill Cowher to step down as Steelers Coach on Friday Afternoon
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"Gimmie a Pee!"

Aidan does really amazing things everyday. But, today he did two of them that really stood out.

On our way to take him back to day care for the first time in a couple of weeks, we were worried about how he would do back at Mimi's. Norma said to me, "Do you think I should just take his bink (pacifier) before we even get there?" He doesn't usually use it at Mimi's but, he has been depending on it more with us the past couple of days - for some reason. Aidan looked at his Mom, smiled real big and POPPED it out of his mouth and handed it to her. We were stunned.

He understands everything. Scary.

Tonight while in his bath and after I had scrubbed him and washed his hair, Aidan was playing up a storm. I stepped around the corner of the bathroom to talk to Norma while she was on the computer. I heard him splash in the bath and turned back to look at him. He had crawled out of the tub and onto his brand new training potty. He was going, "Peeeeeeeeee!" And Aidan started pointing to the real toilet for me to sit down and join him for a pee. So I did. It was all cute and everything and I called for Norma to come and see. Well, then he had to have her sit down and join him as well. So she did. Everyone was happy.

A moment later we were ecstatic. As Aidan got up we noticed, HE DID PEE! We were shocked. The little dude sat down on his own and went to the potty on his own. I was shocked. Norma and I were just shouting and pointing at it like it was gold. Same color, but still not as valuable. :)

He is really an amazing little dude. Not talking much at all. But, doing amazing things. I should note that he has been especially verbal the past few days, but not with much we can understand. He does say, "Gooooo!" "Ma Ma", "Da Da", "Ga Ga", a lot... and he is saying "NO" and "Yea" so that's great. But, not much communicating. I think it is coming soon though.

When we went to pick him up today at the sitter's I noticed right away that he seemed so much taller than the last time we picked him up. He is getting skinnier and thinner and seems taller. It's just amazing to watch him grow up. I am a very lucky person.

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