4... Finally.

I'll be brief. It's late, I'm tired, and thinking about this makes me a little depressed.

Thank god the Cards finally won tonight! It only took them a week to remember how to do it! Pujols saved the day again tonight. And ho stoked am I to see Jimmy Edmonds back in the lineup this last week!!! Now's the time to light a fire in someone's ass because...

A three way tie between St. Louis, Houston, and Cincy wouldn't favor the Cards at all. First, a make-up game at home on Monday against the Giants (which they have to win!), then a road game either against Houston or Cincinnati on Tuesday. And after they win that game (which they'd have to in order for there to be an "and") another road game on Wed against whichever team is left.

The best thing to do is increasingly-overlooked option three; just win out to win the division straight. No tie-breakers, no arguments or confusion. Just win the next 4 games and take the division championship into the playoffs. Then it's a clean slate! Just play good baseball.

I won't be resting easy until I see that last "W" and my boys at the top of the division after the 1st.

Good night, and good luck.

I'm Just Havin' Fun, I'm Just Gettin' Started, Y'all!

Track of the moment: "The Birdman", Our Lady Peace

It's definitely fall. A raimstorm that scatters colored leaves, and two consecutive days and nights of temperatures below 60 will make that notion a cold sense of reality. Still, it's not all bad. I think that this is probably my favorite time of year if for no other reason than the feeling I get. I mean, it's the time for everything to really change. People say that spring is the time for renewal and change, but I think autumn fits the bill better. Think of it; yeah, spring gives you green grass, and warm weather. The birds come back from an extended vacation. Spring is even the traditional time of year for all things.... fertile(what?!) But it never eally delivers on the promise of change and renewal. By the time you really notice that spring is in full effect, it's already given way to summer. For me, it's just 90+ days of pollen and rain, pollen, and rain mingled with the obnoxious sounds of birds streching their out of tune vocals after 6 months of inactivity.

But autumn... the changes are so vivid, Stevie Wonder'd have a double-take. it jsut hits you; from crazy heat and humidity to really cool and nonexistent humid factor. The leaves on the trees change color faster than your mom changes boyfriends!!! I feel satisfied with it. Autumn delivers in so many ways that spring could only dream of. This, is the season of change.

April and I had an interesting conversation tonight about a terrific mix of topics, from remeniscing about the week L.J. (Littls John) was born, to our siblings, and taking advantage of our time here in the world. It was quite interesting. It made me think of this idea I had about a motnh or so back...

This guy I know was talking to me about all these things he wanted to do before he died. He sounded so passionate about it all, and really hopeful. So I asked if he'd ever thought about putting any of it to action. His expression read blank and puzzled. He had only thought about half the dream. Not once had he ever considered doing any of the great things he "so desparately" wanted to do before his card was up. Seems like such a waste of time to me. I completely understand that, when it comes down to it, dreams are really all we have. But if you're capable in nearly every way, there's no good reason for not following your dreams, wherever they may take you or how risky/uncertain the may seem. Take the chance... the biggest risk I could never live with is the risk of having too many "what if"'s at the end when I contemplate my life.

I digress.... my intended point was this thing I had thought up because of that conversation. And so anticlimactically, it's this: so many people make a list of these sort of dreams (i.e. "Things to Do Before I get Married", "Things to do Before I Turn 30", etc.). I thought I'd take my a bit further. I'm going to make a book with pictures, images of the things I want to do, and places I want to see before I die. I'v ebeen slowly formulating that list in my head before actually putting it to paper, but what really got my gears turning was my Dad's visit last week. Let me elaborate for a bit He told me that when he was in the hospital back in March after his last heart attack, he was genuinely scared for the first time in his life about dying. That's not a splash of cold water, that a migraine-inducing pelt from a hail-stone! He's made it a poin in the past year to see every one of his grandchildren, to do more things that he wants to do, and to live as much as possible. While that's great advice to give anyone, it's much harder to practice when the world is so fastpaced and oriented around the aesthetics of monetary wealth. But my dad has come to embody that particular aspect of the American Dream; he's becoming quite proficient at playing the guitar (who knew he'd wanted to play his whole life?!), he's making a trip in the coming weeks to see the only other grandchild he hasn't seen yet, he came out here to see his youngest grandson (and namesake) and his daughter-in-law. He's the youth director at his church, he's been on retreats and camping outings more often this year than his entire life before, and he's playing baseball/softball again.

I seem to be bragging about my dad, and y'know what, I am. I'm really proud of him for the things he's done. I'm glad that he's still able to teach me so much about this kind of stuff.

That being said, my "picture-list" is going into full effect very soon.

If you read this, I'd like to know:
What is the one thing that you'd like to do most of all before you die?

Feel free to send pictures. I'll try to post some of them in my next entry. I'll give you some of mine then too.

'Til then,

good night, and good luck...

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Song of the moment: "Heard the World" - OAR

My Pops is comin' in tonight. I'm really jazzed, and a bit nervous. I haven't seen him in almost two years (longest span of time since he was in the Corps). This will be the first time for him to meet April and, of course, his Grandson John. I'd love for this trip, as brief as it may be, to be great and memorable. I can't wait for him to see my family! Maybe I'll take him into D.C. and show him some sights... now if only I can get a hold of the camera for the day!

_________________________________________________________________________

Is it just me, or is the idea of a military tribunal so... unethical? Should the U.S. really be trying to play world police to this extent? Or to any extent? Trying to impose democracy on another country whos basic beliefs are almost contradictory to a democratic state the way the U.S. knows it is the 21st Century equivelant of Rome trying to bring advanced lifestyles through the rest of the Eastern known world through military conquests and corrupt beaurocratic governors. And the military tribunals? It just doesn't say "U.S.A.!!!" to me. The two ideas don't mesh at all.

Hmmm...

If you're looking for a reason to get wild tonight... it's that half-way mark to St. Paddy's Day! There you are, go nuts!

Remember, a cookie is just a cookie, but Newtons... well, they stick to the roof (cieling?) of my mouth.

Good night, and good luck...

Lacking Principle, Anyone?

First, let me address the obvious; I'm not sure how, or why, but my past posts are gone, and I'm not sure how to get them back. I can still see them when I go to the url for "Consequence", but I can't edit them or anything. I've tried sending multiple inquiries to Blogger, but apparently my words have fallen on deaf ears. (shakes fist in anger and frustration)

Life is, well, in progress. A bit better every day. The family's doin' fine. John is growing like the oak tree that springs up overnight. April is doing great too!!! She finished a couple of blankets recently that she had been working on. Kudos to her! I'm trying to teach her some more basics about using a camera, to teach her a new skill she can develop.

Tomorrow's the big day. Five years since the face of humanity changed completely. Five years... that have felt like an eternity. Every day since then has brought news events in spite of their undeniable distinctions, are more regurgitated than ever; people kidnapped, bombs exploding, innocents dying, bodies found, terrorist group releases audio/video tape, President Bush calls for resolve against "Islamic fascists" (WTF?!?!), more bombs explode, more innocents found slaughtered, etc. It's depressing. Good news isn't hard to come by, but why would any news conglomerate want to print or broadcast a story about a group of young kids who worked had to raise $10,000 for the fight against world poverty when there are millions to make from political sponsors by airing proselytistic inculcations that favor one extreme or another. I digress...

I've been doing research, when I can, about Mohammad Khatami, the former President of Iran. I was intrigued by his pro-democratic views, his ideas for the world, so I began to research his work. I don't agree with all of his views, but alot of them (alot of major opinions of huge issues) are congruent with my own. His dissatisfaction with the policy that the U.S. has adopted in the Middle East (that has, and will continue to increase extremism as well as further the negative sntiment towards the U.S. that has begun burgeoning), and his thoughts on terrorism, politics with ethics, and Dialogue Among Civilizations. He does have an opposing view on Hezbollah-Israel, but I think he has true convictions for that.

The future seems so fragile now; like an apple hanging onto it's weakened treelimb by the tiniest of threads, wavering dangeruosly close to oblivion with every hint of a breeze. Something's gotta give somewhere, or we won't have to wait for the next ice age before we're thrown back into pre-historic living.

Love each other... love yourselves, but love each other too; regardless of what the other person looks like. A whole world shares the same air, the same Sun, same Moon, same hopes, dreams, fears. We're all made in the same manner... so let's live in those similarities, rather than dwelling on the differences.

That's it... for now.

Good night, and Good Luck...