Hybrid Parking...Really?

I can't speak for other parts of the country but i'd assume it's happening in other cities, towns, and states. Now, I have a special place in my heart for the handicap and I'm all for helping out expecting mothers but if I want to drive a vehicle that burns regular octane gasoline then so be it!

I'm starting to see special parking spots in parking lots for "Hybrid Cars" and "Low Emissions Vehicles" and the such. Are you kidding me? Seriously!?

Expecting mothers? Fine. I understand. If you are with child then sure, pull up right next to the store.

Handicapped people? Of course and god bless you.

Employee of the Month? Cheesy as hell, but why not? Go for it buddy and congrats to you!

But this whole nonsense of allowing special spaces for hybrids and low emissions and cars that run on corn or whatever is just plain stupid to me. I would venture to say that most of the people driving those cars didn't buy the car for the special spot at the grocery store. Heck, I'd bet most of them didn't even buy the car to save the planet but rather for the long term investment of saving money on gas, that's all. Lord knows they didn't buy the car because of how cool they look because they look stupid.

I just don't get it. You drive a car that's a little safer for the environment so we're going to let you park closer? Doesn't add up to me.

What's next? "Having a Bad Day" parking spot? "Gay/Lesbian" parking spot? "My Husband's Cheating on Me" parking spot? How about "I'm Too Damn Lazy" parking spots or "Expecting Father" spots or even "I'm In a Hurry" parking spots?

I'm not making this up. In the last 3-4 months I've seen either "Hybrid" or "Low Emissions" parking spots popping up all over the place. Grocery stores, business parks, hotels/casinos, etc. It's crazy.

That's All. Thanks for reading...

Those were the Days...These are the Days

I recently turned 31. And the other day I was hanging around a younger, college type crowd. A younger kid asked me if I missed being in college and being in my early 20's. I didn't want to get into a long, philosophical conversation with this 20-year-old kid so I said something along the lines of... "Yeah man, those were the days. Best time of my life...."

But honestly, truthfully, I don't miss those days. And I think it's kind a shame when people say that.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed being 18-19 years old. In college, trying to get beer with a terrible ID, girls, balancing school and work. Wondering what party to go to. Good times.

I also enjoyed being 21 and getting to gamble legally, out of the house, still school and work, more freedom. Good stuff.

When I was 23 I started my teaching career and I look back at those days fondly. I was single, my career was just starting, I was coaching, having a great time.

Mid 20's I owned my car outright, my insurance premium was coming down, it took longer to get over a hangover, I felt more comfortable in my job, and life was good.

Late 20's was great too. Even better actually. Got married, making more money, new house. Life's good.

Now, I'm 31. Happily married. Awesome wife. Kid on the way. Still no car payment. Making 40% more money than when I started my career, 2nd job which I enjoy, good friends and good health insurance (something a 20 year old could care less about).

See, the thing is, I don't miss those days when I was younger. They were great times but I actually prefer being 31. My life is better. And I think if an individual works hard and values the right things, then life does get better with age. Or, it can get better with age. I don't feel like I peaked at 22 and I don't ever wish I was in high school again. Those days are gone, and although I look back on them with fondness, but I don't long for them. Life's good for this 31 year old. Hell, bring on 40! No, No. I take that back. Let's enjoy the 30's....

Gig Em!

Last weekend I was in College Station, TX. Home of the Texas A&M Fightin' Aggies! When God created ‘traditions’ he must have been thinking about Texas A&M. My Lord (no pun intended) this school has some traditions. There’s traditions for everything. I can’t verify this but this school probably has a tradition for your first restroom experience on campus. Who knows?

Well, one of the many traditions in AggieLand is this thing called the “ring dunk.” I’m not an Aggie so my terminology might be off but basically it’s a time-honored tradition for when a soon-to-be graduate gets their class ring. It happens when the coed has enough credits (usually junior year some time). Well when the ring comes in the student dunks his/her ring in a pitcher of beer. Usually, several students participate in the “dunk” altogether. It's an event.

The idea is simple. Drink all the beer until you get the ring in your mouth. Try not to puke your face off and then put the ring on your finger. Yeah! It’s preferred that you drink as fast as possible. Puking is expected. From what I have gathered, you're exceptionally ‘cool’ if you can do this quickly and not lose your lunch. Well, this past weekend I got to witness one of these events. It was amazing! I got teary-eyed just watching it. Mind you I didn't know any of the ring dunkers and I get emotional for no reason sometimes.

Heck, I don’t even have a class ring. And as much as I love beer I’ve never slammed a whole pitcher of it. I got chills watching this in action. I saw a couple tough guys puke but all in all it was such a cool thing to witness. I really do have a place in my heart for College Station and I’m glad I married an Aggie. It’s truly a wonderful place and it is truly an experience in itself. The tailgating was unbelievable, as was the game I attended. But the best part of the whole experience is the people. People care for one another and there’s only one thing that matters… a Texas Aggie victory.

I encourage anyone reading this to go to a Texas A&M game. Spend the weekend there. Go to Whattaburger, Chick-Fil-A, Yell Practice, the Dixie Chicken and yell gig ‘em to a couple strangers. I promise you this… you’ll love it!

The Good Life of My Dogs...

The other day I was half asleep on the couch and Animal Planet was on the tube. I heard some lady say something like “poor doggy” and I don’t believe she was talking about this dog’s financial situation and I did notice the dog was in relatively healthy shape, so it got me to thinking…

The majority of dogs in this world (including my dogs) have an amazingly wonderful life. My dogs have it good and I wouldn’t even consider them spoiled.

Luxuries my dogs have that I don’t:

My dogs do not have to work. Not one single day of my dogs' life will they have to log any hours at a job.

Sleep. My dogs get as much sleep as they possibly want. In fact, sleep is one of their “to-do’s” every single day. Must be nice.

Wiping after pottying. Nope. They just get to go and that’s it. No additional work.

Food. Their meals are given to them everyday. No variety? Who cares. They get fed twice a day. No preparation and no clean up. Not too shabby.

Weekends? Every day is Friday for my dogs.

Annoying people. No worries. My dogs can’t understand English and therefore if someone annoys them they can just walk away.

Exercise. My dogs enjoy it but if they don’t do it it doesn’t matter anyway. They’re in great shape no matter what.

Complete joy, happiness and fulfillment. They get this every time someone comes home. It’s like they hit the doggy lottery when the garage door opens.

So don’t ever, ever feel sorry for a dog. Well, don’t feel sorry for my dogs anyway.

Ruff.

Untitled

As strong as you are let me catch you when you fall

Reaching out to stars might not be enough today

Show me your soul through your words

That’s how I want to

That’s how I want to Remember you

I’d like to say hello with no words

I’d like to choose my way but I can’t choose yours

That’s how I want to

That’s how I want to Remember you

We can make it but we’re running short on time

But there’s a chance it may not work

That’s how I want to

Remember us

Baby

My wife's pregnant. I'm excited. I really am. I don't think anyone is ever totally prepared to have a kid. It's life changing (I've heard this 200 times). There's truly nothing that can prepare you for having a newborn. I know this. I have two very good friends that are brand new parents. I can't say I envy them, and I've picked their brains as much as I can, but again I'm sure my wife and I have no idea what's really going to happen until the baby actually comes. Sleepless nights and shooting poop are two things I am not looking forward to.
Many people keep telling me how great its going to be and how my life will never be the same. I keep thinking to myself: yes, I know my life won't be the same. How could it be? Your life can't be the same when you're responsible for another human being. Hell, my life wasn't the same when I got a dog. This I can't imagine! But come hell or highwater, ready or not, the baby is coming. My wife and I have decided to wait to find out the sex. I tell people this and they think we're crazy. I figure why not be surprised? After learning santa is your parents and turning 21 they're aren't too many cool surprises in life. So, we'll wait. We'll be surprised.
I know deep down my wife wants to know but she's being a good sport for me. My wife has a hunch it's a girl so it probably is. We have names we like but I'm sure it'll change. I figure if my wife and I can be half the parents our parents were for us, then our kid will be just fine.
I just hope the baby's head isn't as big as mine or my wife will endure unimagineable pain and will probably file for divorce immediately. I hope my baby likes me. I hope my baby has my wife's smile. I hope my baby likes beef jerky. I hope my baby isn't ugly. I hope my baby likes the Buffalo Bills and the Texas Aggies.
I hope my baby....

I'm Busy

Its been a while since I last blogged. I'd say I was busy but that's such a lame excuse. Isn't it? That's got to be the #1 excuse in the United States of America.

Hey Jim, where were you the other night? Oh sorry, I was busy.

Hey Shannon, can you make it to my house to go over the blah blah...

Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I'm busy.

Tony, what's up, I haven't seen you in so long...

Sorry bro, I've been busy.

Ok, so were all busy. Everyone in America is busy. We have very little free time because we're so busy. And if were not that busy were going to use that as an excuse every time you ask us where we've been or what we've been up to! It's true.

What's unfortunate is that many of us truly, are that busy. In this country, on average we start working when we are teenagers. By the time some are in our mid to late 20's we've been part of the work force for a decade. And many of us will work until were 65. 30 year career sounds nice doesn't it? But most of us will actually work about 50 years of our lives. And we'll do this with about 1-3 weeks of vacation scattered into those years.

Why? I don't know really. We all have to work at some point or another. The alternative is being broke and homeless. So, unless that's that you want, you'll be working. In some countries the average vacation time per year is 8-12 weeks a year. The only job in the U.S. that has that kind of awesomeness is a teacher. Well, that's why I am one.

But for the other 90% of people its 1-2 weeks off a year for 40-50 years of their livelihood. I hate looking at it like that but it's the truth.

So, I guess we really are busy.

I guess the only solution is this: like what you do. And party like hell on your days off and on your vacations.