Wow...

Wow: an exclamation of surprise, wonder, pleasure, or the like: Wow! Look at that!

Wow...or like my wife would say; "Oh Boy!"

Me...

 9 yrs old (1974)

sbb  31.3.10  (Never Can Say Goodbye . Jackson 5)  .  34

 

Lost in space...

Lost: no longer to be found: lost articles. 

Marvin Gaye sang the words "believe half of what see and none of what you hear" over 40 years ago (42 to be exact). Benjamin Franklin said the same thing about 160 years previously. Both were on to something...and most likely "on something". Musicians (all of them), early writers (De Tocqueville), and politicians (Marion Barry) all substantiate this fact.

Both Marvin & Big Ben (not the one that is getting ready to go to jail) must have been musing about the bags we check on when we fly...are those really my bags and did I hear correctly that I will see them again? It seems "Lost in Space" wasn't just a sitcom in the late sixties. Even though I enjoyed the Robinsons, Dr. Zachary Smith, and their spaceship "Jupiter2" it seems the title of their sitcom is more appropriate for the airline industry. It seems the friendly skies weren't that friendly to the tune of about 25 million bags in 2009. 

Young Will Robinson

Yes that's right reader -25 million freakin' bags. This is when the robot in "Lost In Space" would reply, "DANGER! DANGER! WILL ROBINSON!". For those who like to do math that works out to be 3000 bags every hour, every day that are lost.

...and I thought my "life" was the only thing that 

was empty...that and  Jessica Simpson's head.

(I mean really, does she understand the words that are coming out of her mouth)

This lost bag thing has become somewhat of a cottage industry. There is a business in Atlanta that claims all "unclaimed luggage" and sells it. Then there is the sweet couple from Phoenix that's been stealing bags at a rate of 3 a day and selling them at garage sales (they were busted with over a 1000 bags in their house...now that would be a great "Hoarders" episode on A&E). One guy even found a tagged piece of luggage with his name on it at a flea market -thus ending the gig for the perps.

But hold on...there is good news.

The 25 million lost bags in 2009 was a 24% improvement over 2008. Now I'm not sure what your views are on health care or "hair care" for that matter but I have to believe that every American (and a few Euros) finds this completely unacceptable.

 

This is completely ridiculous (no not her hair...health care...I mean lost bags). It's one thing for Houston to "have a problem", but New York, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Philly, Atlanta, L.A., Boston....

sbb  30.3.10  (Fly Away . Lenny Kravitz)  .  430

Happy to meet Picasso...

Happy: delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.


The first line in Leo Tolstoy's book, Anna Karenina, states: " All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way".

I was reminded of this fact last week when my wife and son (Ryan) were checking out "daddy's website".

    Ryan & Mimi (summer . 2009)

Upon closer observation of my site, Ryan realized that he has seen the picture of the old man (Picasso) holding the baby before. "Dad that is the same picture you have on your desk" he stated. I confirmed his belief then I asked if he knew who the man was.

Picasso
...this was my sites first "masthead".

"Poppa" he said,

"Close but no go" I replied. Can you say "Picasso?

"....Picaaasssoo" he replied, in typical 5-year old fashion. I told him that Picasso was a very famous artist.

He then replied, "I know...Mimi met him at McDonald's today". 

My wife and I are still laughing.

I don't need to tell most of you reading this how wonderful kids are and how they really do say the darnedest things. I still remember when Bryce was five (He's 14 now) telling me and his brothers one morning that he "didn't pee to bed" because the pee stayed in his underwear. 

Classic.

    Bryce (summer . 2006)

aka. Will Smith

Really? You don't see it. Look at those ears again and get back to me.

Ryan's comment was brilliant on so many levels. It displayed how amazing a young child's mind really is and how great and funny a creative imagination can be. For many children, life is (and should be) so simple. They wake up and hit the floor running. Each day is a new day with no left over garbage from the day before. They like to play with their toys and (in my house) they might not know a famous artist when they see one but they can recite every word in a Phineas & Ferb episode. They don't obsess about the details...they just live.

It was at this very moment I realized how happy we are as a family. Everything hasn't been easy (at times it has been downright unbearable), but it's times like this, when a family member meets Picasso at McDonald's, that I truly realize how fortunate we are.

 sbb  29.3.10  (What a Wonderful World . Louis Armstrong)  .  397

 

I got a Loser...

Loser: a person, team, nation, etc., that loses.

Like Webster said; a person (me), team (UK), nation (Iran), etc., (The Steelers) that loses.

...this ticket is a loser...see ya at work on Monday!

BTW, the winning numbers are:  23, 41, 46, 47, 52 +22










sbb  27.3.10  (Lonesome Loser . Little River Band) . 48

Daddy I love soooo much...

So: Informal. very or extremely: I'm so happy.

Today's blog is courtesy of my 4 yr old son Addison. He left this voicemail for me this morning. Enjoy!

 Hi Daddy!...Mom it beeped!

ok...

Daddy I love you sooooo much. Next time can we...tomorrow can we go to the gym..Um...when were done at the gym can we go eat at...Um...no not McDonald's. 

I want to go to the pancake place. Bob Evans. Can we go to Bob Evans.

Dad...yeah...

Tomorrow we going to the gym, then going Bob Evans, and then were going to home.

By Dad...love you.

I love you too Addison Reid...I love you too...

sbb  26.3.10  (Your All I Need To Get By . Aretha Franklin) . 130

A is for Austin, A is for Awesome...

Austin: REVERED. To regard with high respect tinged with awe: venerate. Honor.

Many years ago I had the privilege and pleasure to read a book called the "Color of Water" by James McBride. James is a musician, author, & screenwriter. He is also the 8th of 12 children. All were raised in Brooklyn's Red Hook housing project by their Jewish immigrant mother from Poland. Her name was Rachel Shilsky, later she changed her name to Ruth McBride. 

His landmark memoir is considered an American classic. 

The "Color of Water" spent a little over 2 years on the New York Times bestsellers list. His bestseller is a gripping description of how it was to grow up in a large, poor, & black family that was lead by a white, religious, and strict Jewish mother. Their mother's father was an Orthodox rabbi, but later became a devout Christian after her first marriage to Andrew McBride...a black man.


The title of the book was taken from a response that James' mother gave him when he ask; "what color is God?" Her reply was simple...He is "the color of water".


Ruth McBride was an amazing women and mother. All TWELVE of her children went on to college and graduated. Three of the children are doctors, two are teachers (one in special education), one is a chemistry professor, one became a medical office manger (the most difficult job of all...dealing with doctors all day is no small chore), and one became a University Chairman in Afro-American History. James graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in music composition and earned a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Like I said, Ruth McBride was an amazing woman. Funny (not really...sad more like it) how most people know more about Tiger Wood's 6th mistress and Brittney Spears than they do Ruth McBride.

I often wondered how she could have possibly send "12" children to college. Yesterday I gained a better understanding. My 18 year old son, Austin received a letter from Denison University outlining the details of his full scholarship starting in the fall of 2010 (Denison is over $48,000 a year to attend...Austin actually received $42,000 in scholarship monies)). When my son's mother (Tracey) called to share the information with me I told her that I needed to get off the phone.

I couldn't compose myself...I started crying.

I was sitting in my car, at a gas station, crying. 

I then realized it is mothers like Tracey and Ruth McBride, who put their children first every single day, that make things like a college education possible. They raise them during the best of times and the worst of times. They get up and show up every single day...never giving in to giving up. Being a single father is tough, but it doesn't scratch the surface of what a single mother has to endure. 

Congratulations son...you are amazing. Thank you Tracey...you are awesome.

I love you both...

sbb 25.3.10 (Hallelujah . k.d. lang) . 506

 

No socks, great style...

Style: an elegant, fashionable, or luxurious mode of living.

The first thing I noticed when I glanced at this picture was these aren't my kids. Anytime I see a picture with kids in it and their not mine I'm truly relieved. 

Get the picture? 

I have a lot of kids. Many evenings when we venture out to eat it's not unusual for everyone but the wait staff to call me dad...I mean really, it looks like a flippin United Nations meeting when we all sit down and break bread (literally & metaphorically). 

Secondly, I noticed  the "no socks"...a personal favorite of mine. When I lived in West Palm Beach, Fla. I would often see well dressed men with a tan that only Giorgio Armani & George Hamilton would envy, wearing "no socks" with loafers and a blazer. 

Images of the Kennedy boys running around Palm Beach in their khaki poplin suits wearing loafers and "no socks" chasing women around with more than just bare ankles, often floated through my mind. Those kind of guys always look so rich...my wife says they look so rich because they are so rich. 

She has a point.

Even though the guy in the picture is wearing saddle shoes (Loafers, saddle shoes...enough already...I'm starting to sound/feel like Carrie Bradshaw) he strikes me as a man that takes fashion serious. A man with a certain distinctive taste, a man that has style. 

Add a bow tie and he would really be GQ. 

sbb 24.3.10   

 250

American Boy . Estelle (feat. Kanye West)

youtube 

 

 

Have to start somewhere...

Start: to begin or set out, as on a journey or activity.

There has to be a beginning so there can be an end...so lets start today.

sbb 23.3.10 (Start Me Up . Rolling Stones) . 37