Party on!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Years Eve Party song list
It only took 2 long evenings and about $50 spend on i-tunes for songs I could not find. Here is our song list for the 80's party we will be attending tonight. Starting with some slower jams and working up to the hits that will make you sweat! (Some changes will still be made)
Party on!
Party on!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas thoughts
Christmas and the end of the year is a great time to reflect on the year past and to plan ahead for the coming year. I love Thanksgiving – good food, family, friends and no pressure to ‘give’, but Christmas might be my favorite holiday: the great smells of cookies, candles and the tree help make everything warm and cozy. Then there are all the feel good events we all attend: the charity fundraisers, family and friends lunches, dinners and parties.
But when did ‘Merry Christmas’ become politically incorrect? It is strange to me that Christians I know well will tell me ‘Happy Holidays’ or that there is this expectation that I should not say ‘Merry Christmas’ to a non-Christian but preferably just a ‘Happy Holidays’ – and that’s what we should put on our Christmas cards as well to our Jewish and Muslim friends. I sure believe in God, but do I need to know which religion people are practicing and should that influence me on addressing them one way or another? And would I be offended if someone told me ‘Happy Hanukkah? I would be honored to be embraced by them in their beliefs and sure don’t expect anybody to be offended if I wish them something good based on what I believe in.
But when did ‘Merry Christmas’ become politically incorrect? It is strange to me that Christians I know well will tell me ‘Happy Holidays’ or that there is this expectation that I should not say ‘Merry Christmas’ to a non-Christian but preferably just a ‘Happy Holidays’ – and that’s what we should put on our Christmas cards as well to our Jewish and Muslim friends. I sure believe in God, but do I need to know which religion people are practicing and should that influence me on addressing them one way or another? And would I be offended if someone told me ‘Happy Hanukkah? I would be honored to be embraced by them in their beliefs and sure don’t expect anybody to be offended if I wish them something good based on what I believe in.
Come on people have some common sense!
Merry Christmas to all!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tiger and the tabloids
It is quite amazing how much media time and coverage is dedicated to tabloid news, rumors and reality shows. Of course the fact a large percentage of our populations follows those stories does not help.
Did Tiger screw up and do we have the right to dig into his personal life to find out all the details? Some will argue that with all the millions he is being paid we can hold him to a higher standard and maybe the companies paying him to represent them feel the same way – or they may not.
Marriage in general does not mean what it used to – in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy…. It does not seem to matter anymore like it did for our parents. They fought through their issues, ignored them or just figured that’s how it is. Nowadays people just give up and move on. I have no idea which is better and who is happier.
The divorce rate in the US is between 41-50% in the last few years, but the statistics in pro sports and the entertainment industry are staggering! There are estimates out there of over 70% and possible up to 90% in pro sports. I personally must say that a vast majority of all the players I played with and against are no longer with their spouses from back then.
But are they so different than other successful people on top of their respective industries? There are roughly 340 NBA players every year – the best 340 in the world! To get there is almost like becoming the CEO of a big company. You cannot be an average guy. You have to be talented, driven and maybe a little crazy or off-center.
The emotional and physical highs and lows a player is able to experience are immensely different than inking a big deal in a board room. Those feelings are almost impossible to duplicate. Just imagine making that impossible shot to win a game in front of 20k life spectators and millions more on TV against a big rival in the play-offs. When and where will you get that feeling again and especially after you are done playing? You see guys get in trouble for gambling, racing their cars, women, drugs or getting in physical confrontations. Are they looking to duplicate those moments or at least get close to it? When the most memorable moments in your life are determined by adrenalin and testosterone levels it is a challenge to chill out and be “normal”.
With money and fame everything that can get you in trouble is available all the time – women, cars, parties, drugs, etc. I am not excusing the behavior, but don’t expect above the norm performance from all without below the norm behavior from some.
As far as Tiger is concerned he has not really hurt anyone but himself and his family so far. People and especially kids who see him as a role model might be disappointed, but why do we expect more from him that from any other married man? In reality half of us are divorced and I am sure we all have divorced friends – do we judge us or them like we judge Tiger?
Did Tiger screw up and do we have the right to dig into his personal life to find out all the details? Some will argue that with all the millions he is being paid we can hold him to a higher standard and maybe the companies paying him to represent them feel the same way – or they may not.
Marriage in general does not mean what it used to – in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy…. It does not seem to matter anymore like it did for our parents. They fought through their issues, ignored them or just figured that’s how it is. Nowadays people just give up and move on. I have no idea which is better and who is happier.
The divorce rate in the US is between 41-50% in the last few years, but the statistics in pro sports and the entertainment industry are staggering! There are estimates out there of over 70% and possible up to 90% in pro sports. I personally must say that a vast majority of all the players I played with and against are no longer with their spouses from back then.
But are they so different than other successful people on top of their respective industries? There are roughly 340 NBA players every year – the best 340 in the world! To get there is almost like becoming the CEO of a big company. You cannot be an average guy. You have to be talented, driven and maybe a little crazy or off-center.
The emotional and physical highs and lows a player is able to experience are immensely different than inking a big deal in a board room. Those feelings are almost impossible to duplicate. Just imagine making that impossible shot to win a game in front of 20k life spectators and millions more on TV against a big rival in the play-offs. When and where will you get that feeling again and especially after you are done playing? You see guys get in trouble for gambling, racing their cars, women, drugs or getting in physical confrontations. Are they looking to duplicate those moments or at least get close to it? When the most memorable moments in your life are determined by adrenalin and testosterone levels it is a challenge to chill out and be “normal”.
With money and fame everything that can get you in trouble is available all the time – women, cars, parties, drugs, etc. I am not excusing the behavior, but don’t expect above the norm performance from all without below the norm behavior from some.
As far as Tiger is concerned he has not really hurt anyone but himself and his family so far. People and especially kids who see him as a role model might be disappointed, but why do we expect more from him that from any other married man? In reality half of us are divorced and I am sure we all have divorced friends – do we judge us or them like we judge Tiger?
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