Thursday, August 28, 2008

One Thing

One thing that really frustrates me about the state of politics in America:

I've been flipping in and out of the Democratic convention. And, without fail, I've seen some variation of the following out of every speaker:

"The Republicans are evil. They have poor policies. Etc, etc, etc. And we will unite the party, be rid of bi-partisanship, and it won't be about Democrat vs. Republican, but about doing what's right!"


So, really, you spend a big chunk of time trashing the people across the aisle, telling us how bad their policies and practices are, and how they have no business in America, and then in the next breath, you tell us that you're going to help lead us into a non-partisan America and unite the country?

And you expect us to believe you?

Really?

And I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the exact same thing will be said next week at the GOP convention.

Frustrating. Stupid. Annoying. Irritating. American Politics.

Slap Happy for Mexican Food

Rachel and I have been on a Mexican food kick. It all started the night that Mexican Night at the Zellner's Changed Our Life (That's going to be a chapter in my autobiography, by the way).

We do it often. Sometimes tacos, every once in a while enchiladas, and, recently, taco salad on occasion. Plus, the occasional trip to Maria's Tacos. But that's rare, and the real point of making Mexican is that we make it once, and with just a little work, we've got leftovers for about four meals. And it's cheap!

Normally, we'll make big grilled burritos. We take a giant burrito shell, fill it with a thick layer of cilantro rice, then cheese, then red/hot sauce (if it's mine), meat (either chicken or beef), refried beans, corn, and then more cheese. Lately, we've added sour cream to the mix. It's delicious! One of our favorite meals.

Anyways, on to the point of the blog entry. The wife was a bit slap happy today. I sent her an e-mail before lunch asking a dumb joke.

Q: What do you call a charming Mexican entree?

A: A Beau-rito

She thought it was hilarious.

So I sent her another one just before I picked her up.

Q: What kind of Mexican entree costs $200?

A: A Tac-Go!

And this proceeded a phone call with several more:

Q: What is a lawyer's favorite Mexican entree?

A: Case-adillas!

Q: What is a foot's favorite Mexican entree?

A: Toes-tadas!

And ... my favorite one of all ...

Q: What kind of Mexican entree do rulers eat by the dozen?

A: Inch-aladas!

(Go ahead ... laugh ... yes, it's stupid, but it's okay to laugh)



Sometimes, it's just good to be stupid and laugh. Got any to add?

Monday, August 25, 2008

Sunday, August 24, 2008

One-Thousand, Four-Hundred Thirty-Two

1,432 days until the London 2012 Olympics begin.

I'm such an Olympics junkie.

At least it's a lot shorter until Vancouver 2010.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Is There Something Wrong With Me?

So, Rachel and I just finished watching "The Golden Compass" on DVD.

This might not seem newsworthy, until I give you a little bit of back story.

I'd never read the novel(s) it was based upon, and when I saw ads for it when it was given a big theatrical release, it didn't really appeal to me at all. It seemed to be the sort of movie that I'd only watch if I happened to be around other people watching it. And, no longer living in a fraternity house, those days are, for the most part, behind me.

And then, a few weeks ago, I got pointed to a web site run by some Mega-Righteous Christian Group which completely denounced the movie (and books) as anti-God, anti-Christianity, and a great danger for children to watch, as it surely would lead them down a path of a godless life and into eternal destruction. And I think I'm toning down their hyperbole a bit. Only I don't think they thought it was hyperbole.

So, after reading that, I decided I had to see the movie. Not because I thought the plot looked overly interesting. Not because I particularly liked the actors in the movie. Not, really, because of any element of the movie itself.

But because I wanted to see what these ultra-righteous Christian groups were going on about.

And, I tend to think it's much ado about nothing.

And I hope they make the sequels.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Political Humor

Because sometimes the best truth comes in the form of the exaggeration:

The Liberal Insult Generator and the Conservative Insult Gnerator.

Because, it's sadly true, that often our political contests comes down to which candidate can convince the public that their insults are more true, more meaningful, and more relevant. Ain't that a sad state of affairs.


I've not clicked through them all so far (obviously, with 27,000 each), but among my favorites so far are:

fanatical bathroom-sex-seeking wackjobs (Conservative)
angry vegan-exalting losers (Liberal)
wide-stanced Constitution-shredding fascists (Conservative)
irrational Satan-appeasing bleeding hearts (Liberal)

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Repost of a Repost From This Time Last Year

This is an entry I posted last year on this date. I'll post it again:


This is an entry I posted last year on this date. I'll post it again:





1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!


13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.



Happy Anniversary Rachel.

I love you.


Happy Anniversary Rachel.

I love you, now and forever.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

I've Mentioned Before

I've mentioned before that I don't particularly care for bumper stickers.

Yet, one caught my eye today as I was driving around at lunch time, and I had to share it.

Hope it gets a smile from you, too, whatever your political affiliation:

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

People Who Annoy Me

This is a list that I'm building. It doesn't often have specific people on it, but I make exceptions. Rather, it usually is populated by people who tend to do a sort of thing.

And, today, I'm looking at you, Mr. "thinks that stopping briefly at a stop sign and then going regardless of right-of-way or who arrived first man".

Yes, this guy (non-gender specific term) annoys me.

Case in point.

Today, a little before five, I arrive at one of Findlay's most dangerous intersections, at the corner of Western and Sandusky (yeah, it's a boring town, and that's about as dangerous as it gets, give me a break, non-Findlay folk). I arrive and stop and the guy to my right goes, as does the guy to my left. As I'm starting to accelerate, the guy who had been behind the guy to my right decides he's made his stop and it's time for him to go. So he does.

Grrrr.

That is all.

People like you raise insurance rates and cause bad accidents, sir!

Once Again

Rick Reilly is spot on

Give the article a read.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the backstory, but I am. And when the latest element of this saga broke public, I was sickened by it. Mainly because, as the story started, I was so encouraged by it.

I think this paragraph sums it up perfectly:


2nd Lt. Campbell felt like he was hit in the nose with a shovel. Every day during his four years at West Point, he was reminded of and lived by the Cadet Honor Code: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Instead the Army lied to 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell. Now he gets to tolerate it.


I hope one day Caleb Campbell makes it to the NFL.

I just wish it were going to happen this season.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

A New #1

On my list of people who just need to shut up and go away:

Brett Favre.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Something I Hate About Politics In America

It's only August 4th, and I'm already sick of campaign ads. yay for living in a "swing state".

Yet, that's not what I hate.

I wouldn't mind them if they were substance, issue-focused, and factual.

But they aren't. They never are.

And what I hate about America, is that the polls show that John McCain is narrowing the gap between he and Obama by running nonsensical attack ads that do nothing to address the problems facing our country.

It leaves me completely frustrated.

And if you read my earlier posts, I was honestly excited for the election this year. I thought we had a good chance to see some honest debates about policies and problems in America. But, it seems neither of the major candidates that got through really want to do that.

Both of them, every time they open their mouths, say and do something that pushes me further away from wanting to vote for them.

I'm getting closer and closer to just flying this:



But I can talk about that later ...

Enough is Enough

Do you ever want to get into a window and scream out to the rest of the world "enough!" or "enough is enough!"?

About any number of things.

Well, I finally reached that point last month. I didn't shout it from a rooftop, or a window, or a podium, or anything like that.

I just started to quietly go about my business to make it not what it was.

Let me tell you what happened last month.

I looked at myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw. At all. It drained my to realize that. It sapped away my confidence. And when you're in a sales industry, confidence is your #1 friend.

Then I got on the scale. And I weighed in at a completely unacceptable 269.5.

Two-hundred, sixty-nine, and one-half pounds.

Of flesh, and blood, and bone, and, most of all, fat.

And I said to myself, at that very moment, enough is enough. This is going to change.

Today, I got on my scale again, and I'm at a slightly more acceptable, yet still unacceptable 256.

Already down 13.

57 more to go.

But I feel I should celebrate the 13, because I think it's an accomplishment.

So, who wants to go the China Buffet with me to celebrate?