We are heading to Boston on Tuesday. Three of us for fun and another to take the Bar Exam. The kids and I are planning to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum and the Aquarium. My wife is answering 200 multiple choice questions over an eight hour period. On the second day she will get to answer essay questions for another 8 hours while we hit the Union Oyster House for some chowder.
It is not fair.
She has spent hours preparing for this and granted, the exam will bring closure for this chapter of our lives. Meanwhile, the kids and I will be seeing the seals and sea lions. Definitely not fair.
She will have sleepless nights and worry between the two parts of the exam. We will be swimming in the pool and Fanueil Hall. Surely, this can't be fair.
What are the three of us to do? Stay in and read? Don't see that happening...
Boston is not fair.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Rock Band
I have a very generous sister in law that give the family wonderful gifts. The problem is she gives the wrong person the great gift.
Case in point, the latest wonderful gift has been Rock Band she gave to my kids for Christmas. Rock Band is the game that allows you to belong to a band and play music at different levels of challenge. Whether it is the guitar, the drums or vocals, you get to rock and be part of a band.
The problem is that Natalie and Ethan's parents enjoy the gift more than they do. Much of the music is from our era. It also is a bit of an escape from studying or dealing with issues.
We all have a need to escape from our world now and then. Thank you Auntie Libby of thinking of the "big kids." Next time you hear "Don't Fear the Reaper" or "Train Kept a Rollin'" you can see me on guitar.
Case in point, the latest wonderful gift has been Rock Band she gave to my kids for Christmas. Rock Band is the game that allows you to belong to a band and play music at different levels of challenge. Whether it is the guitar, the drums or vocals, you get to rock and be part of a band.
The problem is that Natalie and Ethan's parents enjoy the gift more than they do. Much of the music is from our era. It also is a bit of an escape from studying or dealing with issues.
We all have a need to escape from our world now and then. Thank you Auntie Libby of thinking of the "big kids." Next time you hear "Don't Fear the Reaper" or "Train Kept a Rollin'" you can see me on guitar.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?
I have grown up in an era of baseball where money ruled and free agency didn't allow for the tradition of baseball to thrive. You could rent out your services to the highest bidder and lend your services to one playoff run. The next year you could be somewhere else.
In other cases, owners making millions of dollars and paying little for players while fans watch an inferior product on the field. What is it David Letterman said, "Today is opening day and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs."
But now, we are in an era of steroids, denial, lying and cowardice. Players are juicing to make it to the big leagues, compete at a high level, and even eclipse records. Anything to be the best! This fact is nothing new, anything to be the best.
Human nature and competitiveness make sports so high pressured and make athletes do immoral things. Money and fame bring out the worst in some. I pine for a simpler day if there ever was one.
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?
In other cases, owners making millions of dollars and paying little for players while fans watch an inferior product on the field. What is it David Letterman said, "Today is opening day and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs."
But now, we are in an era of steroids, denial, lying and cowardice. Players are juicing to make it to the big leagues, compete at a high level, and even eclipse records. Anything to be the best! This fact is nothing new, anything to be the best.
Human nature and competitiveness make sports so high pressured and make athletes do immoral things. Money and fame bring out the worst in some. I pine for a simpler day if there ever was one.
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lincoln Again
"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time"
-Abraham Lincoln
I wonder if when he came up with these quotes or speeches he thought "Oh, that is a good one." He has so much attributed to him that I wonder if he did give himself credit for some of them.
The amazing thing about Lincoln is that he was truly self taught, self-driven and self-sustained. He didn't get anything from anyone. People looked at him in his youth as someone who would never amount to much. As he grew in age and political stature, people thought he gave a nice homespun speech compared to the big machine politics of the cities and the Northeast. Finally as the Election of 1860 came about, they finally looked to him as a moral guide for a generation. A generation that needed a moral guide. This was a guide who built his own future based on his moral principles and hard work.
It was said he spoke with conviction. He spoke with certainty. He spoke with intelligence. I bet he did know when to give himself credit
-Abraham Lincoln
I wonder if when he came up with these quotes or speeches he thought "Oh, that is a good one." He has so much attributed to him that I wonder if he did give himself credit for some of them.
The amazing thing about Lincoln is that he was truly self taught, self-driven and self-sustained. He didn't get anything from anyone. People looked at him in his youth as someone who would never amount to much. As he grew in age and political stature, people thought he gave a nice homespun speech compared to the big machine politics of the cities and the Northeast. Finally as the Election of 1860 came about, they finally looked to him as a moral guide for a generation. A generation that needed a moral guide. This was a guide who built his own future based on his moral principles and hard work.
It was said he spoke with conviction. He spoke with certainty. He spoke with intelligence. I bet he did know when to give himself credit
Monday, February 9, 2009
Week of Lincoln
We are celebrating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln all week at Rye Junior High School and particluarly on Febraruy 12th. There are a number of activities that are highlighting the man, his perserverence and his Presidency. A pretty amazing story from humble beginings, he is a testament to how someone with an incredible intellect and work ethic could rise to such a stature. My first Lincoln quote is:
The books and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places... Always bear in mind your own resolution to scuceed is more important that any other thing. - Abraham Lincoln
The books and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places... Always bear in mind your own resolution to scuceed is more important that any other thing. - Abraham Lincoln
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