Facing the New Year

Every year around this time I try and take stock of some of the things that went on and see if I actually accomplished anything.  Well after poking around here goes:

I went thru a second operation in April.  This was the second one in 4 years.  This one went far beyond the other one.  The pain and the scope of it was super intense.  I pray that I never have to go thru it again.  I have busted my tail to insure that this time.

I started to play softball again and in the process found that I actually enjoyed it this time around.  I really hadn't played in 3 years because I didn't enjoy it but this time after the operation I took some time and figured out what I enjoyed and started doing those things again.

I went to some cool Penn State games again this year.  I can't tell you how much I love my school and how much I love going and showing my team spirit.  To this day, I still say that was the greatest accomplishment of my life.

I lost some family members to cancer this last year and so that sucked big time.  The weird things was that I lost them in the same week.  My birthday week....bummer.  Their death though help me reconnect with some family members and make some new relationships that I didn't have previously.  For that I am lucky.

So...I look forward to '08 and the challenges and surprises it has in store for me.  This year is the presidential election so that will be a new thing for me.  I have switched to an independent and so that is a new position for me.  Lots of luck to everyone in '08 as well...Holla if you hear that!!!!

A Charlie Brown Heavy Metal Christmas

Everyone that is or was in my age bracket at one time knows about A Charlie Brown Christmas. This completely changes everything. This possibly could be the best interpretation of a Xmas classic I have ever seen. Please watch this and share with your friends and family and laugh loudly. Holla if you hear me.....

Can it get any better than this

I was searching thru some of the Xmas songs that I love so much and I found one that you don't really hear every year. The great Dominic the Donkey!!! I have found this song makes me smile and laugh everytime I hear it. So take a listen to Lou Monte sing about Dominic and remember that Xmas is the best time of year and should be shared with those you care about. God Bless and Have a great Xmas!!!!

The Steroid Mess

Yesterday, The Mitchell Report came out in baseball and supposedly revealed the depth of which steroids had penetrated the game. On the surface, I hoped as a life long baseball fan that this report would shake baseball back to reality and help reground the game back to it's roots. I was disappointed to say the least. This report did nothing except expose names without any real substantial evidence to back the claims made in it. Most of the claims came from first hand accounts from 2 people. In other words, this was hearsay evidence nothing more. A lot of the players named were far gone out of the game and others have no impact on the game now. What concerned me most was the fact that report specifically asks for no player to be disciplined for their part in the steroid era. My question is then, why do the report in the first place then? If there was never a follow up or meaning to do the report why spend 60 million dollars on it? Because most of the evidence is based on hearsay most of the players know that if they are suspended they will win the appeal because they cannot be convicted by baseless words and no solid evidence. In some cases, players named in the report might not have even done steroids at all. For example, Brian Roberts of the Baltimore Orioles is listed in the report even though his only connection to it is that a former teammate said he heard Brian Roberts say he might have tried steroids 1 or 2 times. Mind you, this player never saw Roberts take them but now Roberts is in the report and the fact is he will be ever tainted by the allegations. How did this report serve to make things better when there is no solution presented in it? The suggestion was that baseball enact more stringent testing. Duh!!!!! People have been clamoring for that for over 4 years now. I believe baseball tried to do what is right but got caught in their own end game. What I mean is that baseball wants to clean up the game from enhancing drugs but those drugs have helped produce record number of attendees to games and players hitting longer home runs, etc....Baseball wants to appear that is trying to do right but also stroking the golden goose and insuring that it continues to lay the golden egg. I am sorry yesterday was a sad day because a report came out that only reiterated what we already knew. Anyone could have told you that. Holla....

Van Halen Live San Diego Cox Arena Dance The Night Away

I just wanted to post this clip from the van halen tour that is coming to our town of pittsburgh in march. Van Halen with David Lee Roth was a big part of my life when I was a teenager. I remember the one summer I purchased all of their tapes at one time and played them over and over. I remember how depressed I was when Hagar replaced Roth. I never saw Van Halen before and swore I never would until Roth returned. I can't fucking wait!!!!

Random Thoughts

I realized I haven't posted any update lately but with the holidays it is tough to keep up with all that needs to be done. People know how much I love Xmas and the season so it is difficult for me take time to write down what I am thinking. Well I have some time now and here goes. Please note some of these things may only be related to Pittsburgh but I think you may enjoy them anyway.

1. Why does John Madden when he is here in Pittsburgh to call a Steelers game have to mention that the city is based on the confluence of the Mon and Allegheny River and forms the Ohio River. Does anyone here in Pittsburgh actually not realize that we live near rivers? Why does this moron have to point that out every frickin time he is here???

2. When you are trying to catch a bus that is like 100 yards away why do you feel the need to get in the street and run right at it. That is so stupid. Do you think that by waving your puny little arms you will stop that big old bus. Doubt it...Stay on the sidewalk and you can waive your arms there or better yet get there earlier....

3. It is a shame that the death of Kevin Dubrow was the only way lately that Quiet Riot could get in the news. They were a great band that were a symbol of my teen age years. People forget all the time that they were the first metal band to ever have a number one album on the charts. It happened in 1983...long before anyone could claim they were popular. Rest in peace Kevin.

4. Does it make you somewhat sad that almost all Pittsburgh Steelers fans are alcoholics?

5. I love women...I love them alot...I can't live without them...but to a woman a man is weak if he expresses how much he loves something. Then we are torn apart if we don't admit to things because the woman thinks we don't share. Is it any wonder why prostitution is still around?

Holla if you hear that.....