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| The Killing of Claus |
| Why is it these days that every time we turn around, some fringe group is always trying to kill Christmas? I am probably the least religious person around, raised without religion, but folks need to lighten up and enjoy this time of year, regardless of what it is called and the reasons behind it. I just happen to pass one of those cable news stations yesterday and here were two idiots (I would call them gentlemen, but they were arguing) were arguing over this time of year, one saying we should call it the "Christmas Season" while the other favored, "Holiday Season" because of the religious implications it has. My guys neither of you two will be the fat man's list this year. Schools are even taking this battle further. Now correct me if I am wrong, but school aged kids, are they not supposed to enjoy Christmas. But administration and facility alike are taking that away from kids. No more Christmas Break, it's Holiday Break. No more references to Christ, because that is religious. Guess that means there can be no Manger Scene. Oh and Christmas carols? One of the two aforementioned "idiots" said they changed the words from "Silent Night" to "Cold Night?" What the hell? I will tell you one thing right now, my son will grow up knowing what Christmas is and enjoying, just as I did when I was a kid. We will buy a Christmas tree, hang Christmas lights, have a Christmas dinner and exchange Christmas gifts. It is unfortunate that type of battle is even being waged. With all the problems in the world and topics to argue over, why does Christmas have to be ruined? |
| W6ONV on Tuesday 13 December 2005 - 18:18:38 | Read/Post Comment: 5 |
| The REAL World |
| I feel spoiled right now being on maturity leave. Okay, so I don't actually get a paid leave from my company (whom I hate to work for), but who would provide unpaid leave. Sorry, but unpaid leave doesn't pay the bills. See, I had this all planned out at work. Up until a few days before my wife actually gave birth to our son, I did not tell anyone about our pregnancy. Why? It was not because I was not proud as a "soon to be" father or excited for my wife and I. I just did not want to share with the people I work with, who are work acquaintances more than they are friends. So the first time they found out about our new arrival was that Wednesday, November 30 before we gave birth. Here in lies the problem. As it was nearing the end of the year, I was out of all my personal holidays and vacation days, I am not senior enough to hold Christmas off, so usually by October I have used up all my days. After passing along some information about the situation, I was give a week off. Well, seeing as our son was born nearly 5 weeks early, we had to deal with some minor complications, nothing life threatening, but it just added more stress to the situation, knowing I had to be back to work in three days once we arrived home from the hospital. I was able, with assistance to get an additional 12 days off to extend my “leave” through the 19th of December. Only problem, I am sort of robbing Peter to pay Paul here, because these are my regular days off, so it could mean I will end up working two months (or more) straight in order to pay the time back. Just what every new father wants to do! I may have a reprieve though. This would allow me to use my 2006 vacation in order to cover the time off. This is a good thing that means the mortgage gets paid for January! It also means that I will have been paid for these 20 days, but loose out on much of my vacation time for next year. This is a small price to pay for some a great moment in our lives, where we brought a son into the world. It also works well, because now I will have used up my vacation time, so when it comes time to make an exit from this company (yes, I hate my job!), I can basically flip them the bird and walk out, into a better situation that will help provide for me and my family, even though they have been more than accommodating to me for the past month. Shit happens, sometimes it happens to you, and sometimes you do it to others. What matters most is the health and well being of my family. |
| W6ONV on Monday 12 December 2005 - 12:45:04 | Read/Post Comment: 7 |
| The Money Pit |
| Sometimes I feel like Walter Fielding (Tom Hanks) from The Money Pit, "Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him. Okay, so I am not dead, but home ownership, while a great blessing is a neverending list of "STD!" No, STD does not stand for sexually transmitted diseases, it's what wives call a "honey do list," I call it a "shit to do" list. Okay, that was borrowed from my buddy in SoCal, whose list stretches down a door damn near the floor! Wouldn't you know it, there is always one item that is the proverbial, "monkey on your back." That project has lasted, well almost two years now. What started out as a, "Oh, let's just paint the master bathroom, turned into my (okay, our) personal money pit. The paint was selected by my wife and I sanded and prepped the walls. I believe I finished the entire bathroom and she thought it was too dark. In all honesty I was not too excited about the color either. This is when she tried her hand at faux painting. Let's just say it failed miserably.     That is when I took a wrecking ball to the bathroom and tore everything down to the studs. You know how good that made me feel? My hands! The power of destruction! Sorta felt like the Tool Man, Tim Allen, "MORE POWER!" Unfortunately, now the bathroom was completely unusable and stayed that way, door closed for some months. After clearing out the bathroom of all unwanted pieces, the rebuild slowly began. I rewired the outlets, added a light, updated the plumbing and hung new drywall, all in anticipation of a new look to the master bathoom. Now, the journey is nearly complete. We laughed at the sales rep at an overpriced, home store when we told him of our project and he priced it between $10,0000-$15,000. Nice stuff, but WAY out of our price range. We look at the time and everything we have bought, including many new tools (I think I now hold stock in Sears) and you realize the grand total grows ever higher. While I am excited the master bathroom is nearing completion, minus the shower door and the mirrors we need, I will get to cross this off my STD list and look down the page for the next step in the money pit. Landscaping! ...to be continued. |
| W6ONV on Sunday 11 December 2005 - 11:53:15 | Read/Post Comment: 6 |
| Let's Welcome the 80's Back |
 It was with much anticipation I started a show entitled, "Just Push Play" on Inside The Game back in January. The show was a continuation of sorts from an all request 80's show I did on Friday nights some years back. So earlier this year there were some programming changes at the station and I was able to revive the 80's! It has been since May...damn nearly 7 months since I last hosted Just Push Play. With life priorities being what they are, something has to give and this was one of a number of things I did that had to be shelved until a later date. That date is rapidly approaching. Starting on Wednesday, December 14 beginning at 13PST/16EST/21GMT I will be going back to the 80's with Just Push Play. The show does have a standard format, but if I get a wild hair, I will deviate from it and go with what I know (sometimes that isn't much). This week's feature have us checking out the future on the Boob Tube as we review Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Erin Grey was so hot in that spandex suit! Our Flick Pick of the week is a classic from 1986. I think we all wanted to be Bueller...Bueller. That's right, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The Album Rewind will take a look at Rio from Duran Duran. All that and music you forgot to remember. |
| W6ONV on Saturday 10 December 2005 - 19:01:49 | Read/Post Comment: 10 |
| World Cup Draw |
 I gotta be honest, as a young, through high school and yes even two years in college I played footie. For those in America we know it as soccer. The World Cup is held every 4 years (sorta like the Olympics but more exciting), but the competition spans a three year qualifying period. This year the host country is Germany...ja, Zee Germanz! Today was the draw for the unseeded squads, which were divided into three "pots" by geographic location. When the draw was complete, there were 8 groups labeled A through H. For those in the USA, they are in Group E, along with Ghana (first time qualifier), the Czech Republic and European powerhouse, Italy. Group E is already being called, "group of death, where any of the four teams could qualify for the next round or be eliminted. Of course when it comes to World Cup action, I always enjoy watching Italia, a country rich in football history. Their last World Cup championship was back in 1982, since then their best showing was 1994 as the runners-up to Brazil who won 3-2 on penalty kicks after the extra time expired at 0-0. Did I mention these guys kick ass in FIFA Soccer for Xbox? Their current squad is very strong from Christian Vieri, (Italy's greatest striker the last decade) to Fabio Cannavaro (Captain of the 2005 Italian national team) and Gianluigi Buffon, keeper for Juventus (Italy's oldest, most successful football clubs) and the national team. The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany finals are scheduled in 12 venues in throughout Germany between 9 June and 9 July 2006. Group E action begins on 12 June with Italy facing Ghana and the United States taking on Czech Republic. |
| W6ONV on Friday 09 December 2005 - 22:04:09 | Read/Post Comment: 7 |
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