The NBA Draft -- I probably should care because a Kansas State Wildcat was selected as the No. 2 overall pick, but even as an alumni of that fine institute of academic and athletic dominance (don't snicker) I just really don't care. Plus, he would have never played college ball if not for the NBA's ridiculous rules.
The NBA to me is hardly more than a showcase of filthy-rich athletes playing a style of basketball slightly more organized than a driveway pick up game. The difference between college and professional basketball is unmatched by any other sport. I speak mostly out of ignorance of the finer points of the game, but I've heard the same sentiment from many other sports fans and commentators, so I'm sticking with it.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Share a Smile
I'm continually amazed at my son's ability to elicit a smile from even the most random of strangers. A couple weeks ago I took him for a walk around our neighborhood in his stroller. We came across an older couple (retirement age) who were absolutely smitten with my son. They caught sight of him and stopped to say hello. My son immediately gave them his patented toothless smile. They both chuckled and smiled back.
At any store it's the same story. We'll go through checkout line and the clerk will take a moment to say hello. My son will grin wide enough for them to see through his ever present pacifier. Often the clerk will say something like "What a cute baby," or "He's so happy." Today in the airport he exchanged smiles with a lady for several minutes while we waited to get his stroller tagged. She was standing 20 feet away, but that didn't stop him from engaging with her.
It makes my wife and I feel good that our baby can bring joy into people's lives. There is something about the innocence of a child that attracts people and breaks down barriers. Sometimes so much so that people even touch your baby without an invitation. But it doesn't bother you because they are just enjoying a pleasant moment with another human being.
I'm confident that we as adults still have the same ability to break down barriers with a simple smile, but we are all too jaded to let our guards down enough to allow someone else to elicit any kind of emotional response. It's sad really. Sure we trade a passing smile from time to time, but when do we ever take genuine interest in the life of a total stranger. I'm not talking about making funny noises and tickling each other's feet like you would to a baby. I'm just talking about some good, old fashioned Mayberry kindness. It's a shame what we've become...
But I can't leave you on that note. Instead, watch this video clip. I'm sure you've seen it before, but it never gets old. Enjoy and remember to share a smile with someone today.
At any store it's the same story. We'll go through checkout line and the clerk will take a moment to say hello. My son will grin wide enough for them to see through his ever present pacifier. Often the clerk will say something like "What a cute baby," or "He's so happy." Today in the airport he exchanged smiles with a lady for several minutes while we waited to get his stroller tagged. She was standing 20 feet away, but that didn't stop him from engaging with her.
It makes my wife and I feel good that our baby can bring joy into people's lives. There is something about the innocence of a child that attracts people and breaks down barriers. Sometimes so much so that people even touch your baby without an invitation. But it doesn't bother you because they are just enjoying a pleasant moment with another human being.
I'm confident that we as adults still have the same ability to break down barriers with a simple smile, but we are all too jaded to let our guards down enough to allow someone else to elicit any kind of emotional response. It's sad really. Sure we trade a passing smile from time to time, but when do we ever take genuine interest in the life of a total stranger. I'm not talking about making funny noises and tickling each other's feet like you would to a baby. I'm just talking about some good, old fashioned Mayberry kindness. It's a shame what we've become...
But I can't leave you on that note. Instead, watch this video clip. I'm sure you've seen it before, but it never gets old. Enjoy and remember to share a smile with someone today.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father's Day: Part I - The Adventure Begins
Act I
Scene 1 - We find our hero lazily sleeping in bed. His wife is feeding their child breakfast and sprucing up the house a bit. Our hero, Kevin, wakes up with thoughts of how much he has looked forward to this day. More so than even his own birthday. Thoughts of spending the day with his family, his two favorite people, run through his head.
Scene 2 - Kevin and his family eat breakfast and get ready for church.
Scene 3 - The family goes to church. Childcare is full so they take their son into service with them.
Scene 4 - The congregation sings "It Is Well." Kevin finds the song fitting since he is familiar with the story behind the hymn. The preaches deliver the message in the style of SportsCenter/PTI while his son grows restless.
Scene 5 - The family heads home before the end of service resigned to catch the message on the internet at a later time.
Act II
Scene 1 - Kevin opens his Father's Day gifts. He already knows what they are, but is excited nonetheless. He fells a bit like a kid in that way.
Scene 2 - It's nap time for everyone and the boy is pretty fussy. His wife puts him in bed between both of them figuring that will help put the boy at ease. Our hero quietly watches as his family naps peacefully beside him. He thinks to himself, there isn't much he rather be watching more.
Act III
Scene 1 - The family heads to Target to pick out a kiddie pool. Kevin wanted to get the boy out for a little splash time.
Scene 2 - They all head to WW Cousins for greasy hamburgers and onion rings. It's dad's day after all.
Act IV
Scene 1 - Kevin prepares the kiddie pool while his wife makes a few plans for their impending trip to California.
Scene 2 - The water in the pool was a bit too cool for his son so in order to comfort him, Kevin had to cram his man-sized frame into a three-and-a-half-feet wide pool. He thinks to himself, there is no where else he'd rather be.
Act V
Scene 1 - The day winds down on the couch as our hero watches the drama of the US Open play out on television. He thinks to himself, what a great day.
The End
Scene 1 - We find our hero lazily sleeping in bed. His wife is feeding their child breakfast and sprucing up the house a bit. Our hero, Kevin, wakes up with thoughts of how much he has looked forward to this day. More so than even his own birthday. Thoughts of spending the day with his family, his two favorite people, run through his head.
Scene 2 - Kevin and his family eat breakfast and get ready for church.
Scene 3 - The family goes to church. Childcare is full so they take their son into service with them.
Scene 4 - The congregation sings "It Is Well." Kevin finds the song fitting since he is familiar with the story behind the hymn. The preaches deliver the message in the style of SportsCenter/PTI while his son grows restless.
Scene 5 - The family heads home before the end of service resigned to catch the message on the internet at a later time.
Act II
Scene 1 - Kevin opens his Father's Day gifts. He already knows what they are, but is excited nonetheless. He fells a bit like a kid in that way.
Scene 2 - It's nap time for everyone and the boy is pretty fussy. His wife puts him in bed between both of them figuring that will help put the boy at ease. Our hero quietly watches as his family naps peacefully beside him. He thinks to himself, there isn't much he rather be watching more.
Act III
Scene 1 - The family heads to Target to pick out a kiddie pool. Kevin wanted to get the boy out for a little splash time.
Scene 2 - They all head to WW Cousins for greasy hamburgers and onion rings. It's dad's day after all.
Act IV
Scene 1 - Kevin prepares the kiddie pool while his wife makes a few plans for their impending trip to California.
Scene 2 - The water in the pool was a bit too cool for his son so in order to comfort him, Kevin had to cram his man-sized frame into a three-and-a-half-feet wide pool. He thinks to himself, there is no where else he'd rather be.
Act V
Scene 1 - The day winds down on the couch as our hero watches the drama of the US Open play out on television. He thinks to himself, what a great day.
The End
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Utter Disappointment
My wife and I are big M. Night Shyamalan fans. Sure everyone liked The Sixth Sense, but not many were fond of Lady in the Water. We like 'em all. Signs is in my top three movies of all time. So you can imagine our excitement leading up to The Happening.
Not at all what we were expecting to say the least. I guess because there are things we have come to expect of Shyamalan's movies. We love the plot twists and the how his characters struggle with faith and their purpose in life. The Happening didn't have either of these elements. It was a dark, disturbing, somewhat predictable, creepy movie.
I don't fault they guy for wanting to make something different. It's obvious he's not trying to make the same movie over and over and I can appreciate that, but give me something to work with. The real disappointment is that Night's next movie will be a live-action adaptation of a children's TV show on Nickelodeon. Come on, seriously? That said, I'll probably become the biggest Avatar: The Last Airbender fan over the age of 11.
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