A Fond Farewell
I have resisted writing this post because I didn't want to admit the news was true. A week ago, Zach Braff posted something on his Facebook page that I fully…
The Circle of Life
When we suffer a tragic loss, the best way to move on is to find meaningful something to fill the void. I can’t wait for that part if the grieving process.
With the nice weather a week or so ago, I decided we needed to cook out on the grill. After all, we could run around outside all day. What good is that without the smell of meat wafting through the air?
So I picked up some chicken from the store and got the fire started. These days, that takes a little work because the igniter in my gas grill – which is at least a decade old – doesn’t really work anymore.
I have to turn on the gas and slide one of those long, thin lighter things into the hole by where the propane is released. Naturally, I lean back as far as I can to make sure I don’t lose any valuable hair.
The fire started, and I threw the chicken on the grill. After a little while, I noticed something strange. The fire didn’t seem to spread naturally and was coming up above the grill rack and heating things up a little more than I wanted.
After a minute or two of investigation, I realized the little metal thingy (I think that is the technical term) which spread the flame evenly had come dislodged so that the flame came up one side completely unfettered.
We looked closer and noticed that not only had it shifted, but rust had seemed to take over part of it. For a moment, I got sad because I didn’t want anything bad to happen to the grill. Then I realized the wonderful silver lining.
I could go grill shopping.
My Officiating Experience
When I first got out of college 20 years ago, I wanted to find ways to stay involved with wrestling.
I couldn’t decide between officiating and coaching so I did the sensible thing – I did both. That lasted for two seasons when work and life made it clear that I had to give up one or the other.
Coaching won for a number of reasons. I thought many times about getting back into officiating, especially after I stopped coaching in 2001, but I always found a reason to stay away for one more year.
That all changed last fall. I took the officiating test and started working some local matches at the elementary and junior high levels.
Book Review: America’s Report Card
I hate conspiracy theories. I generally find them lazy, immature and selfish. I hate when people feel the need to assign blame to something only they can understand instead of…
A New Holiday
We have a crisis on our hands in America, people. We need to rise up together and make things right.
Everywhere I look, I see people arguing about all sorts of things. No one can agree on health care or national defense or how to deal with our economic problems. Everyone thinks they have the solution, but they don’t want to even think about listening to someone else’s ideas.
Far too often, we turn a blind eye to the many things that can unite us instead of tear us apart. One of those opportunities is staring us right in the face.
The NCAA Basketball Tournament starts on Thursday.
Our government gives us so many opportunities to honor our past. We get off for Independence Day and Memorial Day and Labor Day.
I don’t think we need to stop celebrating those days, but I wish we could find a way to focus on the future. Like giving everyone off on the first two afternoons of the big tournament.
Book Review: Froth
I generally don't like to look too much into the details about my food and drink. I know things aren't always pretty or simple so I just accept those kinds…
The Rest of The Brians
The big stars have collected their trophies, but we still have some fun to take care of. Let’s take a look at some awards that might not easily come to…
The Envelope, Please ….
Now that the pesky business of The Oscars has concluded, we can get down to the real awards: The Brians. For the eighth straight year, I will dole out awards…
Red Carpet
Well, the movie world is still talking about the Oscars from over the weekend. Apparently, James Cameron is still in a corner crying. Good. I have something better to focus…
Breaking the Law
I just wanted to get home. I didn’t have any crazy expectations. Fortune let me down, however.
The week after all the snow fell, my commute to Baltimore got a little more cumbersome than usual.
First of all, some roads still had snow covering part of the travel lanes. That really didn’t bother me too much. I understood those delays.
Then I had to deal with the various and sundry plans which municipalities and counties had to remove some of the huge piles of snow. That slowed me down a little bit, but not enough to make me too upset.
I had the biggest problem with other drivers, some of whom seemed better off staying home and waiting until spring. When there’s no snow on the road and no plows on the road, we should all agree to drive at a normal speed without causing undue harm to others.
That philosophy apparently didn’t work for a lot of people so as I got close to home two weeks ago, I just wanted to make the final few turns, park the car and sit on the couch.
Then I saw him. I started to pray when I noticed the lights on top of the car. I hoped God would spare me just two blocks from my house. I wanted this particular officer to somehow not notice the burned out headlight on my car, something I had only recently noticed.
God didn’t answer my prayers.