Need a laugh?
Posted by Eric on October 5, 2008
Here is a video of my friend Clay performing at the improv. Just watch the video for some parenting related comedy. Trust me, it’s funny.
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Tags: entertainment, video
Category: Blog, His
Bleeding Cubbie Blue
Posted by Eric on October 3, 2008
Since it is that time of year, I’d like to tell y’all a little story and rant just a little bit, but only a little bit. My dad grew up on the North side of Chicago and (thus) grew up a fan of the Chicago Cubs. Being my father’s son, I too grew up a Cubs fan just like my daghter is starting to become. You see, true Cubs fans are born into it; they are born into a life of always falling short and “waiting for next year.” We Cubs fans have 100 years of futility and unfulfilled dreams weighing us all down and shaping our world views. It isn’t that we want to be pessimists, honest, we just can’t help it.
At some point during the soon-to-be-over baseball season my daughter discovered that if she asked me if she could “Watch Cubs,” that we could snuggle up in the recliner and prolong bedtime a few minutes while watching a little Chicago Cubs baseball. What father could resist watching baseball with his little girl? Along the way I’ve told her all about Theriot, D-Lee, Dempster, Soriano, Soto, and Zambrano (that’s her favorite but she insists his name is Ambrano, without the Big Z). I’ve tried to explain (as best I can to a 3 year old) the rules of the game but she simply likes to comment on guys running, throwing, and swinging the bat.
The Cubs were better than I thought they were capable of this year. There were even times when I has nothing to complain about and was actually a little giddy talking to people about my Cubbies. It was magical and to share that with my daughter made it even more special. It all (however) came crashing down like a house of cards this past Wednesday with the debacle that was game one of the NLDS. My daughter knows nothing about curses, billy goats, or Steve Bartman and doesn’t understand why I might yell at the TV when Ryan Dempster walks 7 batters in less than 5 innings (who wouldn’t). She doesn’t yet understand that the season is over (even if not offically yet) or that the boys in blue sometimes play day games, but someday she will. She also doesn’t understand how Cubs fans like me live and die with each win and loss but, like all true Cubs fans, someday she will.
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Tags: his thoughts
Category: Blog, His
Just one of those days
Posted by Eric on September 4, 2008
Have you ever had one of those completely terrible days at work? One of those days that just leaves you shaking your head, gasping for breath, and wondering, “Where exactly did the last nine hours go?” Well, today was one of those days where everything was an issue and nothing seemed to go as planned.
At about 5:30 I decided that I’d had just about enough of it and headed out into the pouring rain, trying to make my way home. As expected, traffic was horrendous. Why is it that people seem to forget how to drive whenever any sort of precipitation is falling? When I finally made it into the garage and through the door, all I wanted was to see my little girl; my smiling almost-three-year-old baby girl. Sometimes when you have a bad day it only takes one little smile from you child to make everything else just sort of disappear. One little, “I love you,” to make your worries fade away. Well, that didn’t happen.
I tried to give her a hug and got, “No!” I tried to kiss her head and got, “No!” Looks like when it rains it pours even at home. At least tomorrow is Friday.
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Tags: his thoughts
Category: Blog, His
Bye George
Posted by Eric on June 24, 2008
I don’t know why it surprised me to learn that comedian George Carlin passed away Sunday at the age of 71, but it did. I mean, he’s been doing his thing since before I was born and even though his material was often indecent and crude, it was also satirical and thought-provoking. I thought he was great.
Now I didn’t hear Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words” bit until 20+ years after it got him arrested, but it still (even today) poses the question of what speech is acceptable for mass-consumption and what isn’t. In my eyes (however) that isn’t his most memorable performance.
As silly as it sounds, one of my favorite movies is Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure which starred George Carlin as the mystical guitar-playing guru Rufus. He also appeared in Dogma and even as the voice of Fillmore in the animated Pixar film Cars, a movie that our daughter Hailey can’t get enough of.
So whether you loved him or loathed him, George Carlin is gone. And at least at our house, he will be missed.