Change and Hope

Change and Hope.

Since "change" was the word everybody clung to, but never quite defined in the last 2 years of this campaign I'd like to take this opportunity to help define it.

Enough of the cross party name calling. I'm so sick of it. So you don't like the other party, big deal. Put on your big boy pants and grow up. You have to be 18 to vote, so how about acting like an adult while you're at it.

Now that voting has become "Chic" again, please learn something about the candidates during the damn primaries and vote THEN so the best possible candidate on either ticket can be chosen on election day.

Let's all take a nod from Senator McCain's concession speech last night. Losing graciously goes a long way, no matter what aspect of life or the venue. The country is still deeply divided and we have a long way to go.

Disagree with the President all you want, but how about respecting the position? The Office of the Presidency of the United States of America deserves it.

Let's please work on a sensible energy policy, defense policy, and economic policy. Sensible being the operative word here.

Can we please make this about America, and not party agendas? The world has gotten smaller and it's important to keep that in mind, but can we get our house in order first?

President-Elect Barack Obama wrote:

I may not have earned your vote but I hear your voice...and I will be your president too."

That is my single best hope, and a great start.

A wild ride

Would you like a GPS?

That was the question that was asked when I was at the rental car counter. "No thanks", I said. I have always been good with maps and I actually knew the area. Remember this.

I took my two kids to California to meet up with Mom who was out there on business. We figured it would be a nice little get away and we can take the kids to all the parks in Southern California (We all had a great time BTW)

We left the rental car desk at Long Beach Airport about 9 PM headed towards Irvine. I figured it would take about 30 minutes or so. We had directions to the hotel, printed and in hand. 405 South to 133 East and then the 241 Toll Road North, or was it South?

As we motored down the California Freeway system I employed my 10 year old so to read me the directions. He did a great job. It was late (2 hour time difference), we had just got off a nearly 5 hour flight and the backseat was dark. He was such a trooper and a big help to me.

We got to the 241 Tollroad and as we approached, he read out to me 241 North. Check. Here we go!

No sooner do I pass the point of no return does he say, "No South!"

Too late. We are committed to 241 North, and no turn-around in sight. This toll road winds through the foothills of Orange County connecting Irvine with Mission Viejo. That equals a long ass detour. Since I was NOT familiar with this toll road, and there didn't appear to be any places to exit and get back on to correct our course, I was left to travel the entire stretch.

Did I mention it is a Toll Road? And it's an expensive one. I don't remember all the individual amounts, but the grand total was between $15 and $20. That and about 40 minutes later we arrived at the hotel.

That GPS would've been sweet.

Daddy Daughter dance

Tonight, I am going to my first Daddy, Daughter dance. Before everybody goes "awwwwwwww" let me say my daughter is 6 and in First Grade. She wouldn't wear a dress if you bribed her with money, dessert or all the Pokemon cards in the world.

She also likes to tell people she is a tomboy (although she really doesn't know what that means - she says it because there is the the word "boy" in it) But make no mistake, she is all girl and sweet as a Cinnabon and she is excited to go to this dance tonight.

The "dance" is for all grades that attend this school (k-6) so there is going to be quite a dynamic there.

I am dreading it like nobodies business, and I'm trying to figure out why.

• I won't have to dance, so no big deal there.
• My daughter is going to play with her friends and be happy to go with me
• It's only a couple hours
• I know a few of the Dad's going and we get along just fine
• There will be food

So what's the big deal? I guess I'm just a putz.

Don't worry, my daughter will never know ;)

I wasn't scratching, really.

My wife and I were enjoying a bike ride the other day when for some crazy reason my seat became loose. I hit a bump and the bike seat clicked backwards. The front of the seat was now tilted upwards, and had me sitting in a funny position. Of course this happened about halfway through our ride. It couldn't have happened coasting down the driveway at my house.

At first it wasn't awful, as I just pushed the seat back down. But as the ride went on, the seat just kept getting more loose.

So, let me paint a picture - I am riding my bike, and about what feels like every 30 seconds, I am reaching down deep in between my legs to push the bike seat down.

I am about 2 blocks from my house and a car passes. The next thing I hear is some kid bellowing "YEAH MAN! SCRATCH THOSE BALLS!!!!" from the car.

I knew it was coming. Somebody was either thinking it, or was going to say it. They didn't disappoint. The best part is that I essentially gave these guys a story to tell at parties about "this guy riding a bike, digging at his balls" which is completely untrue, but that is what they "saw".

You're welcome. :)

Now that's just Stupid.

There is a very popular childrens book titled "The Stinky Cheese man and other fairly stupid tales"




It's an eclectic book that lampoons fairy tales. Several theater groups around the country have adapted the book into plays and musicals and we took our kids to one last weekend.


We looked online to buy tickets and learn about the show and we see this line in copy on their website:


"Note to Parents: While the word “stupid” appears in the title of the show, it is never said during the production. "

Unreal.

We have gotten to a place where it's not even ok to say the word "Stupid".

The title of the book is in the promotional material, on the marquee outside, on the website - all using the word "STUPID" - yet they refuse to say it in the show. They actually use the word "goofy" instead. While "goofy" certainly is a good alternative I can't comprehend why it had to changed in the first place.

What is so offensive about "Stupid"? I have actually heard with my own ears parents using much harsher language around their kids. It seems in some households that dropping the "F-bomb" has become dinner table approved, yet "Stupid" has become worthy of censorship and shame.

It just seems so stupid - I mean goofy.

Goldie-who and the 3 what?

My daughter is in Kindergarten and last night she had homework (don't get me started on homework....that's the subject of a totally different blog). This homework was a worksheet with 8 squares laid out on a sheet of paper, 4 on top, 4 on the bottom. Some of the squares had pictures in them, others were blank. The assignment was to "make a movie" and complete the story that was being told in the pictures. By looking at the squares with the drawings already there, the story was obvious.

At least it was to me and my wife. My daughter however, did not know the story of Goldielocks and the Three Bears.

I was pretty surprised. My brain did a fast rewind through her life a I tried to remember if we had ever read her that story - nope. Then I started to think of the other "classics" and I was coming up pretty empty. Then I started to realize which stories she did know.

Jack and the Beanstalk - only because of Disney's "Mickey and the Beanstalk". Same with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, you get the picture. It was obvious that the only exposure they had to classic fairy tales was through movies like Shrek and Hoodwinks. Yep - movies. And they have even been demoted to satire and lampoon.

The movies they watch have become the new fairy tales. The new stories that kids hold dear. I am not declaring the classics D.O.A, but their foothold in the culture is clearly over.

Christmas.....there are 2 of them you know.

First the P.C. disclaimer: I am not out to offend anyone. I am only letting my point of view out, a point of view that is "on the outside looking in". Besides, barely anybody reads this so what the heck.

Now onto the meat.

Several things this Holiday Season have piqued my curiosity and interest. Among them are news story about the Seattle airport taking down their Christmas tree decorations because a Rabbi suggested they should put up a menorah (with an "I'll sue you if you don't" contingency), saying the phrase "Merry Christmas" in public, and an elementary (public) school violin "concert" where a Jewish boy refrained from playing any "Christmas" themed music.

People seem to have forgotten, or perhaps they never knew, that there are actually TWO separate Christmas's in the USA. YES, there are two, one is secular, one is religious.

Christmas Trees, Jingle Bells, Santa Claus, Holly, Yule Log, etc. - All secular, NOT religious. This is the holiday that the United States made a National Holiday. There are scores of religions that base celebrations around this time of the year. And December 25th is a sort of culmination of all that, with one day set aside.

The Nativity, Joy to the World, Angels, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Matthew 1:18- 2:23 - Religious!

See the difference?

The thing is we have a choice to celebrate one, both, or none of these. It's sort of like making the Fourth of July a National Holiday. Some people celebrate, others don't. Everybody gets a day off.

Back to the Seattle Airport - I fully understand and appreciate the Rabbi's desire to see a menorah in the airport (but disagree strongly with the "or else I'll sue!!). The problem is Christmas trees are not a religious symbol, where the menorah is. The irony is that a Christmas tree is probably the best choice for an innocuous, non-exclusive symbol of the holiday. I wish more people could see this aspect of the story.

This same clash of Faith surfaced at a Holiday violin concert that was put on by the public school my daughter goes to. The important detail here is that it's a public school - think about it, would any public school these days make their student body play religious themed music? I don't think so. So it was very curious for me to watch a Jewish boy decide to not play "Jingle Bells". There is nothing about "Jingle Bells" that even hints at anything religious. It's about dashing through the snow, and laughing all the way. Having fun in the snow riding on a sleigh.

I can understand if he chose not to play "Joy to the World" or something, but these types of songs where deliberately excluded from the show.

The term "Merry Christmas" can mean a couple different things too. It is saying "Have a great holiday" but I don't think it even means "I am Christian and I am forcing my beliefs on you". Yet the latter is exactly how some people take it, and I find that sad.

I could give a rip if somebody said "Happy Chanukah" or "Wonderful Kwanzaa" or whatever to me. I would take it as it was meant - somebody wishing me well, and being friendly. Heavens NO! Not that!

Can't we all just enjoy the time of year that all religions have set aside for peace and happiness among men (and women) ;)