Dorseyville Daze

Mourning for Megan

It is funny to me how attached we get to the personalities on television news. My grandmother used to love Walter Cronkite. He could do no wrong in her eyes. In college, I woke up every morning to Charley Gibson (pre-"Charles" back then) and Joan Lunden. My friends preferred the Today Show. The more you watch these guys the more they become a part of your life. And even though we have never met them they become part of our family. Am I alone in this?

I don't watch network news anymore. Over that past years the networks have gotten so political and culturally biased that I do not trust anything that they tell me. It may all have an air of truth but they certainly spin it in a liberal manner. I don't like it and I won't watch it. (That includes the afore mentioned Charles Gibson.) We are thankful for our local Fox station which has become a part of our morning routine. Having a local morning show is great here in Dallas as they do the traffic often which greatly helps planning the morning commute. And that is where Tim and Megan come in. As the hosts of the morning show, they have become a part of our family. But now Megan is leaving to return to LA to be closer to her family. I am crushed. How can I be so attached to her? She travels a lot and when she has been gone it has been very disappointing to me. But all was not lost because I knew she would come back. But, alas, she will not come back this time.

They have not announced, to my knowledge, who will replace her - as if that were possible. But I guess that humans are fickle and will adapt when necessary. The same is likely true with me. Only time will tell.

Friday Night Lights

I saw this in a Directv email this morning:

NEW SEASON. NEW NETWORK. NEW WONDERS.

This fall, the lights shine on the Dillon Panthers only on DIRECTV.

On October 1, all-new episodes of Friday Night Lights premiere on The 101 Network — exclusively on DIRECTV. And they come to you uncut and commercial-free.

The New York Times calls Friday Night Lights “a wonder.” Time andEntertainment Weekly have hailed it as one of the top-ten TV shows. The American Film Institute has named it Television Program of the Year. And the only place you’ll experience this poignant drama series this fall is on DIRECTV.

UNCUT. UNINTERRUPTED. UNAVAILABLE. UNLESS YOU HAVE DIRECTV.

If you haven't seen Friday Night Lights, this a a great show. I don't know if I feel this way because I am from a small town that loved its HS football or what. The acting isn't great but somehow that makes everyone in it seem more real. It was on NBC for a couple of seasons and now it looks like it will only be on Directv. What about those who like it that don't have Directv? Hmmm. This is odd. I am so glad I have Directv.

Don't look behind the curtain.

The olympics are well underway and have proven to be pretty exciting. I have loved seeing Michael Phelps and following along on his journey to become the most decorated olympic athlete in history. I have been on the edge of my seat while watching the men's and women's gymnastics. All in all, it has been pretty entertaining.

The opening ceremonies were just incredible. However, I found myself thinking about the people involved the whole time. I guess I don't really know what it is like to live under communism. What I know about it is largely anecdotal. But as I was marveling at the precision of the drummers and the sheer size of the production in general, I couldn't help to think about how long it took to get it as perfect as it was. It was really remarkable. How long did these people practice? I heard somewhere that they practiced hours and hours for days and days. Do they have jobs? Did companies sacrifice productivity for the sake of the state? How much do these people get paid? One of the segments said that the vast majority of Chinese people get by on $2/day. Did I hear that right? The ruling class is VERY wealthy. Everyone else just survives. If that is so, do these people realize that? Even the Chinese athletes are taken from their families at very young ages to train. They rarely see their families. Are all of these sacrifices made voluntarily? I guess everything is done for the good of the state. I don't get it.

So, even as I was impressed by the expansive scope and technology of the opening ceremonies I had a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. It might have been the lunch that I had eaten earlier but I suspect it was the realization that China, a country often vilified for it's disregard for civil rights, had spent billions of dollars so that people like me would sit in amazement at their spectacular job. We will probably never know how much this Olympics cost them or how much debt they are left with.

Later, I heard on the news that the sweet little girl in the red dress was not singing but lip-syncing. Also, the fireworks on television were not the same fireworks that were experienced live. They had been enhanced with computer-generated graphics for the television viewers. I understand, I suppose, China's desire to look good to the world. But this is a perfect example of what communist regimes try to do. Let's make it look perfect and maybe they won't notice what is behind the curtain. It makes me wonder how much of the ceremony really was computer controlled. That would explain the precision. Whatever you do, ignore that man behind the curtain.

Steelers of my heart.

Right up front I will say that I am not as much of a football fan as I once was. These days hockey has this guy's heart. But for the past ten or so years I have been rooting for the Steelers. I don't know when it actually happened or why? I grew up hating them. Back when Dallas was in it's glory days (and the Steelers were in theirs) my family hated them. So what changed? I ask myself that. As far as Dallas goes, I admit that I am a "fair weather" fan. If they do well, I will be "on board" but don't really care about them one way or another if they are bad. And face it, with the exception of about 3-4 years in the 90's, there really haven't been too many things to get excited about.

The Superbowl wasn't all that great as far as it goes. I like the razzle-dazzle plays by the Steelers which added a bit of excitement to an otherwise lack-luster game. It was great to see Cowher finally get a title and really something to hear the Bus hang it up. I will be interested to see if that actually happens or if he got caught up in the emotion of the ceremony. I think maybe it's time for him to park the Bus. What a way to go out!

Commercially speaking, it was really kind of dull. I like the fridge commercial and the young clydesdale (Rhonda figured that one out). There were just a few that made me laugh though. It is amazing that these companies spend so much for these 30 second spots. (And Budweiser had like 11 of them.) I don't know how wise the investment is on some of those. A lot of times I will remember the spot but have no recollection of the company that is being advertised. (The cat herders from a year or two ago) That, in my book, is not a good investment.

So when all was said and done I was satisfied. My team came out on top. Now... I can get back to hockey. The puck drops in about two hours. Go Stars!!!

Then there was silence...

I was watching Joan of Arcadia the other day. It really is a pretty good show. In the season finale last year, Joan experienced something new and scary. God became silent. As I watched, I wondered what that must feel like.

I don't know, in some ways, I feel like He is silent now. Don't get the wrong impression. I know He is near and that He hears me. I even feel His presence at times. I desire...I strive to feel his presence. But in my current jobless struggle I want to hear Him. I want to do what He wants me to do.

So what have I done? Well, I have applied for lots and lots of positions but with each passing day my confidence and self-esteem are taking blows like those quick, hard jabs to the body that aren't really noticeable but hurt deep inside.

I am so conflicted because my heart is to be with my kids. After traveling for so long (and missing many of Trey's growing years) I really felt God leading me to change directions in my life/career. That is why I didn't take the job they offered me when UA merged with Regal. Now, I question if that was the right decision. (On the other hand, I know that I am in a place now in my relationship with God and my family that I would not be if I had continued with UA.) So the past really doesn't matter, I guess. What's done is done and I can't change that. So now, I go forward into the darkness and just hope for the best.

Last night, I told a friend, "If I ain't got faith, I'd have nothing." That is so true. Is that what I am meant to learn? I know God is near but I just can't seem to hear Him. It seems that in this moment on this issue He is silent. Why?

Bright Lights and Bright Futures

I got my eyes checked this morning. The doctor said they were fine. I am a little bit near-sighted. He said that would come in handy because I wouldn't have to use reading glasses later on. I hate getting my eyes checked. They shine that bright light in my eyes... I know how Gizmo felt. "Bright Light!!!" "Bright Light''!!!" I guess I am good for another year or two.

School is out in three weeks. It is inconceivable to me that Trey will be finished with 7th grade. It seems like he just started. Wow... does time fly or what? Noah is graduating from preschool. That is interesting to me. It is not even real school and they are making a huge deal about it. As you can see, he looks all studious but don't let that fool you. A closer look will reveal that he is graduating with a paper towel spindle. It took all year to earn it but he did it and, by golly, we are so proud. I wonder what he will have to strive for in kindergarten. Seriously, it is hard to think that he will be in kindergarten. Everyone is growing up. This year marks the start of what we will call the "Nephew Graduation Journey". Actually, it kinda started two years ago with my nephew Josh, sort of, but now it gets rolling downhill and the next, oh, say 12 years we have eleven nephews (and one neice) graduating. Again, it just doesn't seem possible.

I am stressing over a TV show, well, really two TV shows. They are on TechTV, which was purchased by Comcast. I don't know if these shows are going to remain on or not. Don't worry, I don't actually lose sleep over this stuff but those shows have been a source of entertainment for me for about six years since TechTV launched in 1998. One is called Call For Help and the other is The Screen Savers. They are a guilty pleasure and satisfy my "geek" appetite so I don't have to wear that awful pocket protector.

Speaking of Tech... I ranted about CompUSA a few weeks ago (a well deserved rant, if I must say) but now let me sing the praises of a different company. The company is PowerbookResQ. They are a division of MacResQ. This company has it right. Their customer service is unparalleled. I have had a SuperDrive (cd and dvd writer) upgrade and a hard drive upgrade from them. In both instances, they shipped a box on the day that I ordered it, I packed it and sent it back to them, they upgraded the stuff and then shipped it back. They use what they call three way overnight shipping. I sent it on Wednesday and got it back on Friday. That is awesome. It puts these local guys to shame. And you know what? It is not anymore expensive either. Especially when you consider the cost of not having your machine for two or three weeks. I recommend this company for anyone who needs Mac repairs (computers, laptops, iPods.)

I changed the site a bit. I was getting bored with the other colors. Also, I was watching Call For Help one day and this "web log expert" was talking about do's and don'ts. He said the worst template anyone could ever use was "this one". On flashed the familiar red, green, blue, and gold template that I had been using. I felt so lame. I didn't know that was the "worst template you could ever use." So I bowed to the pressure (although it took me nine months... okay, there really wasn't that much pressure) and changed it. Let me know what you think!!

Listening to : The Best Thing from the album Oxygen by Avalon

I Thought I Had Seen It All

Oh wait, I did see it all. My first reaction was to ask Rhonda, "Did I just see what I thought I saw?" The next thing I did was a mistake. I hit the rewind button on my TIVO to confirm that, yes, I did just see what I thought I had seen. Was I shocked? Yes. Am I surprised? No. The NFL stated that MTV would not produce another half-time show. What did they expect was going to happen? MTV has never been known for family entertainment. I guess the question is if the Superbowl is family entertainment. The next question: Was it intentional? Of course it was. I don't think JT can seriously say that it was unintentional after the rest of the gyrations and thrusts throughout the rest of that performance. Anyway, the rest of the half-time show wasn't any better.

And then there are the commercials. I thought that, as a whole, they were kind of lame. Only a couple really made me laugh and I can't really remember what product they were pitching. So that was not that great. Although the game started slowly...very , very, slowly, it got better. But even at that there was only about 18 minutes of great football.

In my mind, it all comes back to the end of the half-time show. Which is why it happened in my estimation. It is interesting to me that my pastor preached a message earlier that day about how the culture we live in is trying to drag us all down. It (the culture) is after the minds and hearts of our children and young people. I believe that is true and this was a great illustration of that. The whole half-time show was aimed at a young demographic. I certainly wasn't that interested in any of the entertainment(?) and couldn't even understand what they were lip-syncing most of the time.