The End

I found this video over on youtube...good collection of some of the notable people that left this mortal coil in 2008.

Enjoy.




~ Glenn

Instant Karma

Karma

kar·ma (kärm)
n.
1. Hinduism & Buddhism The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny.
2. Fate; destiny.
3. Informal A distinctive aura, atmosphere, or feeling: There's bad karma around the house today.

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[Sanskrit, deed, action that has consequences, karma; see kwer- in Indo-European roots.]

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For a real life example see the New England Patriots.

Last season they were caught red handed bending the rules to video tape signals from opposing teams.

Their "genius" coach said he just misunderstood the rules. The rules that had been clearly and recently reinforced by the league before the beginning of the season.

Based on the the investigation by the NFL the team was fined and so was the "genius".

The Patriots used the motivation from their being disrespected (?) to drive to an 18-0 record only to have their perfect season (and lots of t-shirts and books) ruined by the NY Giants in the Super Bowl.

Fast forward to this season.

The first half of the first quarter of the first game and Tom Brady goes out with a season ending injury.

In come Matt Cassel...who has not started a football game since he was in high school.

And the Patriots, with the easiest schedule in the entire NFL start winning without Brady.

Beating up on weaker teams and Cassel suddenly throwing the ball like he knows what he's doing the Patriots are suddenly not only in contention for the playoffs but could win their division!

Cassel has back to back 400+ yard games (ended when he met the Steelers) and the Patriots finish with a four game winning streak!

All the Patriots needed was a loss by Baltimore or the Dolphins.

New England watched as the Ravens killed the Jaguars.

The Jets hosted the Dolphins.

And lost.

Karma.

The Patriots become the first team since 1985 to have an 11 win season and NOT make the playoffs.

Karma.

Matt Cassel is an unrestricted free-agent and the Patriots are going to have to either throw a lot of money at him or franchise him and hope some other team is desperate enough to make it worth their while.

Karma.

The genius is home watching the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

Karma

Its a bitch.

~ Glenn

Christmas Is the time to say I Love you

I truly hope everyone had a great holiday!

Here is the one hour crazy Christmas show I did last night for my weekly show!



Enjoy!

~ Glenn

Do they know its Christmas

My son Josh, 6 years old, reading the classic Christmas poem "Twas The Night Before Christmas".

Merry Christmas everyone!

~ Glenn

Silent Night

I think not!

Since I can no longer post my play lists to My Space I wanted to share my warped sense of Christmas humor here instead!

Click play on the player below and have a wonderfully twisted Christmas!

~ Glenn

Weclome to the Jungle...

I belong to a LOT of online sites.

Some of my favorites are the sports sites and one in particular is ran by the sad sack Cincinnati Bengals.

Their message board is a clever mix of smack talk and "jungle noise" where fans can argue even with people they agree with most of the time.

But recently there has been a trend to the smack talk. Since the Bengals can win on their won their fans are taking great pride in rooting for whoever beats the Steelers.

And the great mantra that goes up around this time each year: "Yeah, well, your team might have made the playoffs, but they'll be one and done!"

Recently I responded to those "one and done" Steeler haters:

My philosophy is this..just get to the payoffs and anything can happen.

Look at 2005. The Steelers had to bust their hind ends to get in the playoffs and went on a tear that lead them to their 5th Lombardi trophy.

Last year as the Steelers were limping into the playoffs I was at least help to hold out some hope because at least they made it. As they dropped that game to Jacksonville my wife, who is a newcomer to watching football, said well at least you won't have to worry about next week.

She couldn't have been more wrong.

Win that game against Jacksonville and anything can happen the following week.

So to everyone here who will take great pleasure if the Steelers lose in the playoffs...your jealousy is what I love!

Getting to the playoffs is just half the battle...but getting there allows you to play on. Something fans of the Bengals don't have much memory of.

~ Glenn

I love this bar...

We have a great time getting together to watch Steeler games!

Win or lose it is always an adventure!

I never liked to get with other people to watch a football game because I tend to get loud and upset when the team I am rooting for is doing poorly.

But for the last three years a group of us have been taking turns hosting the games and its turned into great fun.

However the best place so far is at my in-laws house.

They have the best set up in their basement with a full-sized bar, dart board, big screen television (with speakers even in the bathroom!), a pool table...its a great place to watch a game!

Not that this is an earth-shattering revelation to anyone but I thought I should at least thank them for putting up with all of us most of the time!

~ Glenn

Family Tradition

Whew!

Last Christmas party of the year is over!

Now we still have to get together with family on Christmas Eve and then the other side of the family on Christmas Day...but no more parties!

I love getting together with everyone and the more the merrier...but I'm worn out!

We didn't have Christmas "parties" growing up. All the relatives would come to my Grandmother's house on Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning after all the gifts were opened we would ride from relative to relative visiting (in the back of a car with no seat belts by the way)!

Now we have one for work, one for the neighborhood, one for the extended family on one side...I love them but I'm glad its over.

Until New Year's Eve.

I wonder who decided that we need to ring in the next second in the continuous flow of time with a big party?!?!

~ Glenn

Have a Holly Jolly christmas!

One week until Christmas!!

What the heck happened to this year?

Well there was a definite theme to our Weird news tonight:

1) Santa gets a ticket!
2) A teacher says there is no Santa!
3) Meet my daughter Adolf...Adolf Hitler!
4) Opposites attract!


A couple more novelty Christmas songs for you too!

Weird Al (of course) with his ode to a nuclear holiday!
Spike Jones (without the "z") and the classic tale of a boy and his Christmas wish!


NEXT WEEK:

One hour of Christmas laughter and joy starting at 11pm!

So after the presents are opened and the paper is cleaned up and the egg nog is gone...tune in and enjoy the last hour of Christmas with me here on My World!

~ Glenn

Don't worry, Be Happy

I am a worrier.

As you could read in the last post I probably worry too much.

I thinks its the influence of my Italian mother and grandmother!

But I'm going to try to stop...really.

I wasn't always this way though. In fact I used to be the most laid back guy you could ever meet. Nothing ever got me excite and I just cruised through life.

In fact I often said that I never got ulcers...I was a carrier!

But in the last 15-20 years I have started to worry about everything:

money
kids
life
death
the weather
making lists...lol

So how do you STOP thinking about how things could go wrong?

I'm not entirely sure...but I'm going to try...really.

Anyone have any suggestions?!?!

~ Glenn

Wasn't that a party?

We had our annual Christmas party last night...what a night!

I don't even know where to start, but I can tell you I was NOT the life of the party.

Ever have one of those nights where all of a sudden you feel like you just want to be alone? Well that's not such a good feeling when there are 25+ people ready to have fun in your home.

Let me also say that I have nothing against people who drink. I like a few drinks myself and have been drunk more times that I want to talk about, but last night I drank enough to drown and never got a buzz.

So here I am, in my own house, sober, surrounded by people who are drinking and having a grand old time.

Yeah, I was a real downer.

Worst part was people kept think I was mad about something...I wasn't...not at all.

But because I was content to let them have their fun and not be in the middle of it then everyone worries.

And I appreciate the fact that they worry. At least I know they are paying enough attention to see I'm not happy...lol.

But overall everyone DID have a good time. I tried my best but just got more frustrated that I couldn't get into the spirit of a party that I had planned and invited everyone to.

And in the end I ended up making some people mad because I snapped about something stupid.

I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.

Michelle and I discussed it and it maybe boils down to the fact that I cannot just let things go. I see something that I don't think is right and I want to tell everyone so they can correct it.

It's my "superhero" complex.

Or as Michelle tells me "you can't save the world."

Essentially its true thought that I almost can NEVER just kick back and have a good time because I am always worried about what everyone else is doing.

And sometimes what they are doing someone NEEDS to worry about, but I guess that's not my job.

I guess I have to learn, and make a more concerted effort, to just let everyone be themselves.

I suppose part of the problem I have with that is some of those same people will be asking me the next day why I didn't stop this, or why I let that happen and I think that if I can nip it in the bud I won't have to deal with it the next time or the next day for that matter.

It's been that way for as long as I can remember. Someone asks me for advice...goes out and does the COMPLETE opposite...and then comes back crying to have me fix what went wrong.

And in the end all I end up doing is making myself miserable.

The other problem is that when I tell someone something I do it out of the goodness of my heart and I mean it. And when I get told that that is wrong it makes me upset.

If someone tells me to doing something I do it. And I don't want that person then telling me not to do it when they don't know any better.

There I go again...saving the world.

So what do you do?

Allow people to just be themselves and clean up the messes like always? If that's the case I'll STILL be miserable because I know what's coming.

Stop partying all together? Well unfortunately these are the people I regularly hang out with, some are even family, and that is not an option.

I guess in my mind (and there aren't many people who want to see what goes on in that mess) I just can't understand why people can't just have a good time without all the drama: there are either arguments, PDA's, inappropriate talk etc.

And I know the main culprit...alcohol.

People can't seem to just have a few drinks and relax and have a good time...they have to get blitzed, they have to go too far, they have to just do too much.

But there I go again...trying to save the world.

Just because that is the way I feel doesn't make it right. that's what I have to keep telling myself.

Just because I try so hard NOT to do anything that embarrasses my wife or family, nothing that will make anyone think I did something that crosses any lines of societal norms, doesn't mean I can make anyone else be that way.

I'm no angel, and I've made plenty of mistakes in my life...so I guess I try to help others.

But I can't save the world and to be honest I really don't even know why I want to anymore.

When, at the end of the night, you don't even get a thank you? You barely get a "we're leaving" and people rushing out the door?

That was as disappointing as anything else. And I have no one to blame but myself.

I expect people to appreciate what I do whether it is hosting the party or just talking them down from where ever they currently are.

And I want is a thank you...and I couldn't get it.

And of course all of this is moot because I know me and it might be a week, or it might be a year, but at some point I will make the same mistake again.

Luckily one person isn't trying to save the world...just save me.

Michelle will tell me and it will take me some time to turn the superhero thing off, but I will...because I know she is right.

But I'll still be disappointed in the people that I care about because I can't help them...even if they don't want my help.

~ Glenn

Radio Free Europe

Happy Holidays! (I wonder if that ticks off the right at all?)

Anyway...not much going on in my world this week.

We had some clips from the movie Elf which should be REQUIRED viewing for everyone during the Christmas season!

Two novelty songs for you this week. First another song from Da Yoopers who must get the majority of their radio airplay this time of year!


Then a song about the guy we all know. The guy too cool for his own good...SUPER SKIER thanks to the Chad Mitchell Trio!

In weird news:

1) A man nailed a Santa doll to a cross to protest smart people, er, either that or crass commercialism.
2) Rush Limbaugh thinks (how do you spell irony) that the problem with American cars is that they are TOO well made. Seriously.
3) What is it with people stuffing old, dead people in their freezers? Whatever happened to a nice shallow grave?

Next week my Christmas want list and more novelty stuff.

Christmas night, just two weeks from now a special ONE HOUR all Christmas special with clips and songs and stuff!

Talk to you next week!

~ Glenn

Eat it!

Did you know that its impossible to put five (5) Saltine crackers in your mouth at once and swallow them all in one minute?

Or in this case 1:30?



~ Glenn

These are a few of my favorite things

Want to see Santa at the North pole...complete with children coming to visit?
Main Page
Links to the inside and outside cams

Have a relative that doesn't seem to get all the words to those favorite Christmas songs right?

A fun visit to the North Pole!

And for those of you into stalking, er online tracking of Santa on Christmas Eve.

Enjoy and post your own if you have any!

~ Glenn

White Christmas

For those of you who enjoy a little of the white stuff for your holidays.


Of course I mean snow.


You know, the white wet stuff that falls from the sky?



Anyway...click HERE to find out the chances of having a white Christmas.



If you're from my area here is our map:


Of course its supposed to be 50 degrees here Tuesday...so we'll have to see how the next couple weeks go!

~ Glenn

Remember when

December 7, 1941 a date that will live in infamy.

Remember.

~ Glenn

Hair of the dog

Little video I found here:

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2855.html?theme=light

A dog pulls another dog off of a busy freeway in Santiago, Chile after the first one had been struck by a moving vehicle.



Of course the second dog may have just been looking for an easy meal.

~ Glenn

30 days in the hole...

So OJ Simpson is going jail.

If you haven't heard about it congratulations on coming out of your coma!

Two things:

1) While I can't say I followed THIS trial as closely as his last...I found the judge attacking OJ's personal character and calling him "arrogant" during the sentencing to be completely out of line.

2) Why in the name of all that is good and green were the Goldman's there? Did OJ steal from them? Were they involved int he trial in some way?

Sorry but OJ was NOT sentenced yesterday for the murder of your son. This was completely different and your unyielding desire for vengeance has worn thin.

The man was tried and found not guilty.

Whether you believe that it was correct or not it is the truth.

So, while it is a free country and they are allowed to be in attendance, I don't need a spilt screen on my television showing them weeping about OJ going to jail finally.

See how much you collect on that civil suit with him jail.

Oh, that's right, its "not about the money"...its about "justice."

Gotcha.

I feel for their loss, but I also think at some time you need to get YOURSELF out of the public spotlight. Its is no longer about your son or justice it is about YOU.

Even Nicole's sister had the good sense to finally let it go and go back to her private life.

OJ is in jail.

Now you go away too.

~ Glenn

Turn The Radio On...

Welcome to December and Happy Hunting!

I'm ticked about people suddenly deciding that we can't support a bailout for the auto industry when they weren't so vocal against the one for the banks.

So after blowing off some steam we went right into the Holiday spirit with football talk and how the Steelers rule!

Then our second song of the show by Da Yoopers!

Weird news followed:
1) Its cold! In November! I'm stunned! And so are the turtles!
2) Ads on tests...
3) Stop having your kids drive you when you are drunk. Ok? Just stop.
4) Crap you can't make up that shows how life just isn't fair...

More Christmas stuff next week. I think I'll retire the "People I Hate" segment until after Christmas...just doesn't seem right, ya know?

Have a listen!

Back on the chain gang...

Is there anything worse then going back to work after a nice, long, relaxing, four day weekend?

Since last Wednesday until 8am this morning I had a really good weekend! LOL!

The kids well great, Michelle and I got a lot of stuff done and had some quality time, Thanksgiving dinner went great, the Christmas decorations are (mostly) done and the Steelers won! In New England!

But now I am back at the desk...and it is SO quiet here today!

Its the first day of rifle deer season in PA so the entire shop is off and most of my customers are too!

Luckily(?) the boss is coming into town today so I'll at least have SOME motivation to get back in the groove.

~ Glenn

Never Gonna Give You Up

Have you been rickrolled yet?

If you haven't before you have been during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade!




Great moment!

~ Glenn

Life Is A Highway

The thing I like most about Thanksgiving?

Four days off and nowhere to go.

My vehicle won't move further than a mile from home for the next three days!

We spent all day decorating (after my wife got home from the Black Friday sales) and with just a few touches left to go I'll put some pictures up when we are done!

Enjoy your weekend everyone and be safe!

~ Glenn

You Light Up My Life

Yeah!

It works!

Next project? Painting the inside of the house...AFTER Christmas! LOL!

~ Glenn

The Beat Goes On

I'm toying with the idea of starting another blog...not an everyday thing, but one that i can place a collection of thoughts on politics today.

If I do it (because, you know, I have so much free time) you'll hear about it here.

But in the meantime one of my main complaints in the Right wing Noise Machine and how they control the messages getting out.

I've always said that the key to any good revolution is to control the media. Luckily the right wing Noise Machine hasn't gotten THAT far yet...but they certainly have a lot of say so.

Thus, stories like this really tick me off!

Read and enjoy.

~ Glenn

Games people play

I'm going to move the NFC Power Ranking to Wednesday...bear with me!

Long day today with the kids getting haircuts after work and that involved running around after work and darn it I don't feel like thinking that hard tonight!

Be back tomorrow!

~ Glenn

I'm on top of the world

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the first ever Glenn Is Turning 40 NFL power rankings!

(And to the suits a the NFL? I ain't using any of your graphics or videos...just the names of your teams...plus I'm not making a dime of this so buzz off!)

More than half-way throughout the season and some teams have started to show their true colors!

We'll break it down by divisions staring with the AFC.

AFC NORTH

1) New Jersey Jets - with Alan Faneca blocking for Brett Favre the J E T S have gone from wannabes to first place in the division and a win over the Patriots. the running came is kicking in and Favre isn't making the big mistakes. This team should win their division and maybe a game in the playoffs. A lucky break or two and the Jets could maybe see the second round!

2) Foxborough Patriots - Wow. Call it the system, call the coach a genius, but whatever you call it the athletes that are stars on this team have stepped it up...on offense. The defense has still looked old and tired at times and Matt Cassel won't throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns every week. Let's remember this past week they beat a Dolphin team playing WAY over their heads this season...so all those stats go with a grain of salt.

3) Miami Dolphins - That said the turn around so far for the Dolphins has been amazing. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have shouldered the load that Chad Pennington's weak shoulder can't and they've played within their new system well. Add to that a switch back to the type of defense that make Joey Porter dominate again and you have a potential playoff team...but probably not.

4) The Buffalo/Toronto Bills - After a fabulous start the lack of real superstars has caught up with the Bills. Injuries and some lack luster play has really knocked this team for a loop...and in a division this strong thus year its just not going to be good enough.

AFC CENTRAL

1) Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben looks healthy again and is running out of trouble more. The back-up running backs have been doing OK with Gary Russel looking like a good short-yard back. And the receivers have some of the best hands in the league...well Ward and Holmes at least! The defense is #1 in the NFL and Jeff Reed is money virtually every time he's called on to kick. Division and more this year!

2) Baltimore Ravens - The defense is still stellar but is getting old. The offense has looked good to great at times but has folded up against strong defenses. How far can rookie Joe Flacco take them? Maybe a wild-card win? Time will tell, as will a tough stretch at the end of the season.

3) Cleveland Browns - By default because Cincinnati sucks that bad. The team has no leadership from ownership, coaches, or players. A few stars may make them interesting but they were over-rated coming into the season and played down to their own level most of the year.

4) Cincinnati Bengals - Um, 1-9-1? And Marvin Lewis is still there? I know Mike Brown like to give second, or third, or sixth (Hello Chris Henry!) chances...but Lewis has lost this team and the team has lost virtually every game this year. Time for major over-haul.

AFC SOUTH

1) Tennessee Titans - I had to put them #1...they've only lost 1 game...but I'm still not sold. Kerry Collins is using his third 15 minutes of fame and should anything happen to him the head case Vince Young is behind him. the RB's are really good and the defense has stepped up but they're don't seem like a team that is good...but rather a team that peaked already. They're going to take the division, but I don't see a Super Bowl in their future.

2) Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning, but he's playing like the Peyton Manning who was at Tennessee, not the one who won the Super Bowl. This team just doesn't seem to have an identity and is so schizophrenic that you don't know who will show up every week. Sorry guys, but unless someone falls off in the AFC East or North its no playoffs for the Colts this week.

3) Jacksonville Jaguars - Is there a reason that Jack Del Rio isn't questioned more? His switch to David Gerard last year was seen as a brilliant move, but the QB has performed this season. His one-two RB punch has been more of a jab than a good combination. The defense has blown up against some good teams.

4) Houston Texans - What can you say about a team that had to have its nickname remind them where they play? Perennial losers they might just get out of the basement thanks to the ineptitude in Jacksonville.

AFC WEST

1) San Diego Chargers - Yeah, I know they have a losing record and they are two game behind the Broncos...but they are STILL the best team in this division! And besides, and 8-8 or even 7-9 record might WIN this division. With the defense reeling since Shawn Merriman went down the first week the offense hasn't been able to pick up the slack. If Phillip Rivers can get hot and LaDainian Tomlinson can find some of that old voo-doo that he do so well this team takes the division...and promptly goes nowhere.

2) Denver Broncos - Jay Cutler can light up the Rookie Mountains...but the team as a whole has lost that magic of the past few years. No longer does seem that a new running back can simply be inserted into the system and run for 1000+ yards. And the defense looks very average. Other than the home-field advantage there is no reason to think the Broncos will go anywhere this season...even if they win the division by default.

3) Oakland Raiders - They are still in Oakland right? Anyway Crazy Al's House of Football is one giant mess...but they have shown glimpses of at least being able to beat the lower tier teams in the league. A new coach (and new owner...if that should ever happen) will go a long way toward determining where this team goes next year. Luckily for them this division seems to be weakening and an average year next year might be good enough.

4) Kansas City Chiefs - If Herm Edwards truly believes you play to win the game what the heck are the Chiefs doing? No QB. No RB. Porous defense. A sad demise for a franchise with a pretty good history. Edwards has to go, and emphasis on the QB and defense next year with some injury issued resolved and who knows? Like I said this is shaping up to be the NFC West of the AFC and a weak division might be winnable for a team that just gets hot enough!

Whew!

Tuesday the NFC!

~ Glenn

Imagine...

I'm not quite 40 yet.

But I can remember a time before the Internet.

Before cable television....when our house got 4 channels.

Before CD's.

Before cassettes!

Technology has grown by leaps and bounds during my brief time here on Earth.

I imagine it was like people born at the turn of the 20th century suddenly seeing automobiles and airplanes.

But imagine a time without recorded sounds.

Everything you heard...you heard once.

Nothing saved...ever.

Until the phonograph was invented that was the way it was...or was it?

In 1860, 17 years before Edison's phonograph, a Frenchman recorded an unknown person singing.

218 years later we figured out how to play it back.

That's simply amazing to me.

Click here to read the whole story and to hear the first sounds recorded.

And thing about how many sounds were lost forever.

~ Glenn

Words get in the way

Some days...believe it or not...I have nothing to say.

Today was one of those days.

There was work to do around the house and my dad and I installed an outside lamp post.

Funny story about that:

It was a gift from my mother-in-law...last Christmas.

I promised my wife I would put it up.

Apparently I waited too long! LOL!

It was 19 degrees when I got up...35 when we started and 29 when we finished...but its done!

Well, mostly.

The wires are ran and the base is poured and now its just a matter of waiting a few days for the base to set and then putting the lamp up.

Do you care?

Probably not...but its MY blog! LOL!

They can't all be entertaining!

~ Glenn

Radio Gaga

Show 36 Links!


Happy Thanksgiving!

It was tough going on air this week with the Steeler-Bengal game still undecided, but I had faith on my home team and they came through!

By the way...the REFS SUCK! Honestly, can't the NFL afford to hire younger guys who can keep up with the play? How can they make a call when they can't even breath after running downfield!?!?

Still, I have to give props to the fans of the Bengals...they have to go through some really tough times with that team!

So since it was the Thanksgiving show we had some great comedy bits from Lewis Black, Adam Sandler and some wonderful older stuff from Andy Griffith!

After the closing credits it was time for weird news!

1) A cougar attacked! And it wasn't the hot kind of courgar either!
2) A German supermarket chain got caught poisoning their garbage to keep the homeless away. Funny, maybe they could just have GIVEN it to them since they were throwing it away anyway?3) A woman hid a rotting corpse in her bathroom so she could continue collecting the social security for her religious leader. I had two jokes...listen to hear them...they're funnier that way!4) Wisconsin water authority threatned a lien on a blind, 74 year old woman's house because she owed 1 cent from last year. Yea, she never saw that one coming....


NEXT WEEK:

A one hour show!

I'm going back to my love for local radio and playing back a 45 minute program recorded live at a local hospital and performed by my daughters school. Its Christmas carols and musical presentations.

I feel its important to support our local communities even in the age of a global community via the world wide web.

Join me!




~ Glenn

Across the Universe...

I'm a space geek.

Nerd, dork, whatever.

I've been fascinated with outer space and space travel for as far back as I can remember.

I watched the entire Cosmos series when it first aired...AND read the book that came out afterward.

I would read anything I could get my hands on about the planets and the stars and deep space.

Some of my favorite movies of all time involved other worlds and space aliens and questions that can't be answered!

So it is that lately I have been catching a lot of stuff about the Universe on television.

It helps that with the advance of digital cable I have 100 channels to pick from, but it seems like there is a new show on weekly about the different theories on dark matter, space travel, UFO's, aliens, string theory, etc.

And I have found myself loving it still!

What does that I wonder?

Both of my parents were readers, so I probably picked up something from that.

Some of the earliest books on the subject of space I remember were my dad's. And he has always had an interest in UFO's and aliens also...so I probably got that from him too.

But this fascination also leads to a lot of stress too! LOL!

When you look at how small we (as humans and the Earth itself) is in the grand scheme of things you can get a real inferiority complex!

Plus there are so many things out there that can go wrong and kill us all...and we have no control over it.

If you sat around and focused just on that stuff it would really be a depressing life! LOL!

Luckily there are so many wonderful things in the Universe that you can find enough joy in the beautiful things to over-ride the feeling of imminent doom!

~ Glenn

I hate everything about you...

On my radio show I have a semi-regular feature called "People I hate".

Now "hate" is an awfully strong word, but I REALLY do not like the people who have been feature so far.

Since many of you have never heard my show (and I STRONGLY encourage you to do so) here is a partial list of the people I hate.

In no particular order:

Oprah Winfrey
Tiger Woods
Tom Cruise
Ryan Seacrest
Starr Jones
Rosie O'Donnell
Ben Stiller
Jerry Seinfeld

Just to name a few.

Some of them haven't even been featured yet...but they will be!

~ Glenn

What's going on...

A quick update on my radio show for the next couple weeks!

This weeks its the Thanksgiving show!

Yes, I know its not until next week...

This week comedy bits and thoughts on the purely American Holiday along with the normal crazy talk!

Next week (on Thanksgiving) something special:If the turkey hasn't put you to sleep early stay up.If you caught a nap then stay up! We'll kick off the Christmas season (yes, I wait until after Thanksgiving) with some special stuff that you just won't want to miss!

In this special ONE HOUR version of My World I'll be playing back a Christmas concert given by my daughter's school.

Why, you ask?

Because in the days when I was growing up and developing my love for radio, LOCAL radio stations still existed...not the giant corporate monsters they are today. And they would have carried (and cared about) a group of school kids singing and performing at a local hospital for their "Festival of Trees".

So in honor of that kind of tradition I will re-play the performance uninterrupted and unedited.

Its sports and politics and kids and marriage and funny songs and weird news and all the things that make up my world...every Thursday at 11pm! on My World!



~ Glenn

Games people play...

Two posts to day to make up for my slacking this week! LOL!

First, my kids...or children as some people prefer.

I used to talk about "kids" before I had them and I knew one person who asked if I was planning on raising baby goats because THOSE are kids...we have "children".

Yes, my friends are a pain in the hind quarters too.

But I digress.

I love my kids.

Veronica is going to be 11 and Joshua is going to be 7, both in January.

When their birthdays roll around around go into detail on the miracle of their births...but today I just wanted to say how happy I am that they get involved in stuff.

When I was 10 I think I had played one season of baseball (I sucked) and that was it.

Roni has played four seasons of soccer and now two years of league bowling. Plus she is involved in school activities like the performance arts.

Josh just started his first year of bowling, but I KNOW I wasn't doing anything like that in first grade!

So here are a couple clips of my KIDS. I love 'em and don't know what I would do without them!





~ Glenn

Spirit of Radio..

Show 35 Links!
Not a lot going on this week but I found time to make fun of the right wing noise machine to start the show!

The "People I Hate" segement came back with a fury and Ryan Seacrest felt my wrath!

I had a Spike Jones (with an "S" not a "Z") song all cued up for your novelty song this week...but played the wrong one! LOL! Enjoy it anyway!

No weird news, but it will be back next week!

Give the show a listen and give me some feedback...I thrive on the criticism!



And don't forget to add me as a friend everywhere that I am selling myself out on!






~ Glenn

Family Tradition

I have been studying my family's genealogy for many years now.

In fact there are times when I become obsessed (as my lovely wife will gladly tell me) and it is all I want to do.

But after a while you find that there are no more surprises. You hit one brick wall after another and you lose the will to keep looking.

So it was recently that I was considering ending my memberships and the various sites I use for my research.

But just tonight my daughter said she needed some information on members of our family you served in the military.

And there are more than a few!

My father was in the Air Force and served in Germany during Vietnam.
His brother was in Vietnam in the late 60's.
Their father was in the Army and was station in Panama during World War II.
My other grandfather was also in the Army and was in France during WWII.

I was showing her pictures and newspaper articles...even my grandfathers WWII duffel bag that still has his canteen, sandwich maker and other items he carried with him half-way around the world over 60 years ago.

So as I dug around for information the old genealogy bug bit me and I started going through my old files again.

It was then that I remembered a chance email from this past summer.

A distant relative had turned up doing research and was looking for information that I had. Our common ancestor was long gone, but I had the dates and info she needed. In exchange she said she had pictures of the person in question.

One problem.

She traveled during the summer and would not be to her home state until winter.

I was willing to wait.

Coincidentally, tonight as I was preparing to email her and see if she ever made it home I got an email with three pictures of my great aunt!



Its like finding a treasure!

Pictures of someone that you studied and know so much about, but never knew what they looked like!

My dad had never seen the pictures and didn't recognize his own aunt. He's going to show them to my grandmother (his mother) and see if she knows anyone else in the pictures.

I realize its not Indiana Jones finding the Holy Grail...but it gives me hope that there may be more discoveries and there might be more to my family than I already know after 10 years of research.

~ Glenn

What's your name

So I've been posting my odd thoughts and random ideas for almost a month now...anybody out there?

It would be interesting to know if people are ACTUALLY reading this (other than you dear...I know you're interested)!!

So if you casually happen across here, or followed one of the links I have posted elsewhere...leave a note or become a follower.

Its free and it will be good for my ego!

~ Glenn

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.




Thought you would to know that.

~ Glenn

Here we go...

Frustrating loss for the Steelers today.

Everything seemed to bounce the right way for the colts with a tipped pass going for a touchdown (btw...the most used phrase used during a Steeler broadcast? "In front of Ike Taylor") and another tipped ball completed for a first down.

Add in some untimely Big Ben INTs and it added up to a game the Steelers could have won bu did not.

So now they find themselves tied for first place with the Baltimore Ravens and holding the tie-breaker at this point.

I have two complaints about the game:

1) Bruce Arians calls an awful game. He mixes everything perfectly for about two drives a game...the rest of the time he has a knack for calling the exact wrong play.

2) I spent the better part of 30 minutes explaining to my guests during the game that the left tackle of the Colts was regularly tackling our DE. Yet ZERO holding penalties were called on the Colts.

The inconsistency of calls (especially holding) is very frustrating for me. It seems like certain teams never get called and holding only gets called during plays that go for positive yardage...even if the hold had nothing to do with the play.

But this loss falls on the Steelers who played fairly well despite their injury situation.

They are in the middle of a tough stretch and a win today would have been great...but they are professionals and need to shake it off and get ready for next Sunday!

GO STEELERS!!

Long Day's Night

Its been a long weekend so far!

Went out with friends last night (Friday) and then hand some more friends over tonight (Saturday).

So I'll keep this short and sweet.

Go out and buy a domino game...its alot of fun! LOL!

That is all!

GO STEELERS!!!

~ Glenn

Mexican Radio?

The weekly edition of my internet radio show is up...here is the related information!



Back to reality!

The election is finally over!!

Even though it still dominated the begining of the show I am SO glad to have it finally be done with!I wrote a more expansive blog on my thoughts here.

We discussed how the right wing noise machine hurt McCain more than helped him all the while trying to save their own butts.

And now they are eating their own!

I'd give you links to all of their sites, but why encourage you?

So on to weird news!

1) Farts are good for me! Not so much for you...
2) A kid got sued for damaging a car...that hit him and left him for dead.
3) If you call the police a lot you might get arressted.
4) A hernia operation of a 10 year old angel fish...I can't make up a funny line for that.

Join me again next thursday at 11p for more stuff.

Look me up on Myspace or Facebook and check out my new blog as I count down to my 40th birthday!

Thanks kids!

~ Glenn

Election Day

So did anyone catch the election results?

I kid, of course.

Last night was truly remarkable as Barack Obama garnered the the most votes ever for one candidate running for president. Breaking the record just set the last presidential election.

Oh and he's black too.

OK, "African-American".

Really he IS African American as he had a father from Kenya and a mother from the US.

Kinda neat since a lot of people who say they are "African American" don't know if they are from Africa or not...just a point I wanted to make.

The best part of the whole thing was to watch the right wing noise machine attempt to spin the win into a future loss.

I actually heard Sean Hannity say he was only hoping and wishing for the best for Obama and that he would not be as mean spirited as the "left" had been against President Bush.

That statement came after his NEW opening that is about three minutes of people like Rev. Wright and a lot of Obama quotes taken out of context implying that he is anti-American and wants to do in every person in the US.

Rush Limbaugh spent 20 minutes explaining how he is now only to let "real, proven conservatives" play and anyone who wants in "the game" will have to prove themselves first.

He also said he was not going to be "bitter" while talking through his teeth or yelling the entire time.

I'll give rush this much though: He set himself up from the start to be a winner. If McCain won it was only because he had decided to back him. If McCain lost it just goes to prove he was right that McCain should not have been the nominee in the first place.

Rose, of Quinn and Rose, was talking with a caller about how she went and prayed after voting.

She didn't say if she prayed for what was best for the US or if she prayed for Obama to lose. I would have called and asked but she seemed upset already...

So its started already.

Obama hasn't even been sworn in yet and pundits are ready to blame every wrong move on him.

Its going to be a long four years.

Or not.

One republican friend told me that they are already looking at the 2010 election to regain some seats in congress...sigh.

~ Glenn

Something about you

This was originally posted on my Myspace page.

For some reason it seems to want to screw up the page so I am re-posting it here for the sake of linking it and making my life just that much easier!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was brought to my attention that I have never posted anything about me on this page!

I guess I never thought anyone would be interested as my family and “real world” friends already know all about me, but maybe I should.



I am 38 years old and live in PA. I’ve been married to my best friend since October 26, 1996. We met on a blind date (set up by a mutual friend) in 1994. We went out again a week later and then saw each other every day after that until about three months before we got married (and then only because Michelle had to take a business trip).

We have two great kids.

Veronica was born January 27, 1998. She was 3-months premature and scared the heck out of us! After some great medical care we brought her home in April, 1998. She is 10 years old and (knock on wood) has no lingering effects from her early troubles.

Joshua was born January 9, 2002, also 3-month early. He gave us MORE of a scare…as did Michelle as she had some complications that required some great medical care also! Michelle came home in a week, Josh three months later…and he too has shown no (knock on wood) complications from his early adventure.


I’ve had several jobs. My favorite was morning DJ at WPQR-FM in Uniontown, PA. I left there when the checks stopped clearing! I moved to WASP-FM (before they were bought by the conglomerate that is Froggyland) but the pressure of being on call 24 hours a day (and the lack of high pay) was putting strain on my relationship with Michelle. I switched careers completely and went to work for Rainbow Rentals delivering and cleaning appliances and furniture. After a few years I had taken their management class and was given my own store in 1998. Traveling back and forth to Johnstown, PA, Michelle and I were debating a move when I was offered my current job at Craft Tire. I now have a two-minute commute to work and better pay and some freedom when I have to leave for family matters!



Through it all Michelle has been my constant.

Despite the job problems or personal problems I know she’s the one to right my ship…even when I don’t think it’s wrong! LOL! We’re not perfect…we squabble and have our differences just like any couple that has been together as long as we have…but we find a way to work things out and for that I am eternally grateful. I’ve made some good friends over the years. Some I am still in contact with, some I may never see again. None ever supported me the way Michelle has.

That’s about it. I have a wonderful family (that extends to in-laws, parents, my sister and her family, my nieces and nephews) and overall a pretty good life. And I guess that’s all anyone can ask for.

~ Glenn

At this moment

So tomorrow is election day...I should be pretty sure who I am voting for, right?

I always wondered who those "undecides" were in the surveys.

After almost two years of primaries and two months of non-stop ceoverage with 24-hour news cycles EVERYONE should be pretty sure who they are voting for,

But I'm still, well, undecided.

I liked McCain in 200 and thought what Rove and the RNC did to him in South Carolina was a disgrace.

Eight years later I still prefered him to the other Republican candidates, but he's allowed that same RNC to dictate his campaign and he doesn't appear to be himself.

Then he picked Sarah Palin and tall.

How disappointing.

You mean to tell me there was another attaractive, conservative woman who ACTUALLY KNEW SOMETHING in the entire country?!?!

And then there is Obama.

He speaks well, I agree with many of the social ideas he has and his tax plan would benefit me and my family.

But is he ready to serve?

And what happens if he wins to all those people who simply will not like him because of his race? Will we see another uprising?

Something has been brewing for years now and that might push us over the brink.

But then two words keep me from pulling the lever for McCain: President Palin.

So with less than 24 hours left I am one of the idiot "undecided" voters.

Who knows? Maybe something drastic will happen before I cast my vote. If not I hope I have a good idea before I go in.

~ Glenn

Its begining to look a lot like Christmas

Well now that Halloween is officially over we look forward to the next big Holiday...Christmas!

What, you thought Thanksgiving was next?

Pshh!

All the local stores had their Christmas displays out a good two weeks before Halloween.

I've seen local people who are starting to put up the christmas decorations since the weather is so nice!

People, please.

It can be 20 degrees below zero that day, but the decorations do NOT go up until the day after Thanksgiving.

Its no wonder people think their lives are so rushed these days...they do it to themselves.

Its still a good three weeks until Thanksgiving.

And Thanksgiving is a wonderful, American holiday that should be celebrated on its own not used as a kick off for the christmas buying season!

Relax...enjoy the fall weather and the time before the maddening Christmas rush.

Enjoy the month of November and each day until thanksgiving and then get ready to celebrate Christmas.,,you'll be happier for it.

~ Glenn

Working for a living...

For the past ten years I have worked at a preety good place.

The best part of taking this job was having weekends off.

I always worked weekends from the time I held a job: McDonalds, car wash, hotel, radio stations, rental places...all of them had weekend hours.

So the joy of a Saturday off was pretty cool!

Now I wish I worked! LOL!

OK, not really, but our weeknds are so filled I might as well.

The kids have bowling, they used to have soccer, there are always one get together or another...it just goes on and on.

The worst is housework.

I'm just not the "handyman" type.

Yet I find myself doing all those little things I don't know how to do!

Luckily my dad can do just about anything and today he helped (read as: did it himself) frame our new sidewalk and is coming back tomorrow to mix and pour the sidewalk.

So that will be Saturday and Sunday gone again.

But in the end it will be something done that needed done and it will be over.

Then next weekend I can relax...I think.

~ Glenn

Always look on the bright side of life

I used to be a really happy person.

Not that I am unhappy now with anything in particualr, but I used to be the guy who never got upset.

Easy going and laid back...I always said I didn't get ulcers because I was a carrier!

But the older I get the more I seem to lose my temper.

And I'm losing it quicker and quicker.

Little things bother me like never before and when something is going right my reaction is to curse and get mad.

I really don't like being that way!!! LOL!

I'm trying to get better at controling it again, but there are so many different stresses now that as soon as I get one under control another sets me off.

Work.

Money.

Politics.

Work.

Traffic.

Work.

Work.

You get the point...

So for all of you like me here is what I suggest:

Take a moment...take a deep breath...and smile.

Relax.

Whatever it is its not the worst that can happen. And if it IS the worst? Then it can't get any worse!

That's what I am going to try to do for the entire weekend...I'll probably be easier to get along with too!

~ Glenn
(chillaxin')

On the road again...

I just got back from 13 hours on the road doing sales.

I left the house at 5:20am and got home after 8pm!

A lot of riding and a lot of miles...but I'm happy to be back home!

Back to a regular, well thought out blog Thursday...until then enjoy this video that I did about four years ago.

My daughter had our son playing dress up and, well, the video just made itself!




Bitch
Uploaded by 3rdtryproductions

The Box

Its funny how one thought leads to another.

Just the other day I posted how life gets in the way of doing certain things. I barely have enough time for the stuff I'm supposed to do, let alone the things I want to do.

But life, in my opinion, is fluid.

You take it as it comes and even the best plans can get screwed up.

In other words life does not fit into a nice little box.

Some people do not get that.

They think you can regulate everything. Everything should be "just so" and any deviation is a mistake.

Sorry, but life isn't perfect.

Sometimes the kids get sick when you need to be somewhere.
Sometimes a machine doesn't do what it is designed to do, even though it did it every time before and after.
Sometimes the manufacturer knows what is best for the operation of the machine...not you.

I actually had a conversation this morning (well he was talking and I was shaking my head in disbelief and rolling my eyes) where I was told that we needed to change the redial delay on the fax machine.

Yep.

Apparently the fax machine that we have had for over 3 years has a four minute delay for re-dialing if the line is busy.

He wanted it changed to one minute because four minutes is entirely too long.

Seriously.

I wanted to ask if he meant exactly one minute or if 67 seconds might be more perfect.

Who stands around and thinks about these things? The old fax machine didn't even have the redial function. This has been a nice little feature that keeps the secretary from having to keep resending when a line is busy. But now the delay is too long! LOL!

Sorry, but life doesn't fit in a box...even when the item you're talking about did COME from a box.

There are so many things to do and worry about and think about during a day that I can't understand why anyone wants to have THAT much control. You'd lose your mind trying to control every second of your day.

Sometimes things just "are" and you can't change them. Sometimes you CAN change them but maybe you shouldn't because they are that way for a reason.

We didn't change the delay yet.

But I'm sure if we don't it will come up again because it didn't fit in the box.

~ Glenn

When I Need You

Today is the 12th anniversary of one of the biggest days in my life.

Today, in 1996, my lovely wife Michelle and I exchanged vows.

Like any marriage there has been ups and downs and for the life of me I sometime STILL do not understand why she puts up with me! LOL!

She has been my moral compass and the steady hand that keeps me from going to extremes.

She has given me two great children and more support and friendship then I should be allowed in a lifetime.

She has accepted my faults and allowed me to be myself.

She is the one person who can get me to do anything and yet asks for almost nothing.

She knows everything about me and still seems to love me! LOL!

We are not the perfect couple (no one I know is) but we are good for each other and in the end that is all that matters.

I love you honey and I can only wish and hope that we can continue for many more years to come.

~ Glenn

Oops...I did it again!

The blogging ever day thing is hard!

It amazes me how much life can get n the way of just taking 5 or 10 minutes and spewing out some random words to fulfill a self-made promise.

But none the less I miss my post on Saturday so I'll try to do today.

Look for a some great pictures too as we had a community Halloween party last night!

A word about that too, if I may:

People...have a good time when you party, but always remember that there is a tomorrow and someone will remember what you did! I know, I'm the buzz kill, but its amazing how people act like there is some sort of time-space warp during parties and every one's memory will be erased before the next morning! LOL!

More later!

~ Glenn

On the radio

I have been hosting an internet radio show for the past six months.

Every Thursday at 11pm I spend 30 minutes forcing my opinions on an unsuspecting world.

So since I already posted one blog entry today I'm going to be lazy and just repost the show here for people to listen to!



In addition I also post a blog with links to the vaiours stories and stuff so y'all know I'm not pulling it out of my hind end.

Here is a copy of that blog also:

We talked politics for the last time before the election with an emphasis on how unready Sara Palin is for the job.

So I turned to some people I trust for information on the presidential candidates. Two people with just slightly less experience than Mrs. Plain: My six year old son and my ten year old daughter.


Since Sarah Palin and Tall couldn't answer a third grader's question I pulled out a great novelty song form the host of "Are you smarter than a 5th grader", Jeff Foxworthy. A duet with Jeff and Alan Jackson "Games Rednecks Play."

Here's your weird news for the week also:

1) Five steps to remaining sane...where's the fun in that?
2) A woman goes to the emergency room with a broken leg, never sees a doctor and gets billed!
3) Your choice...pay your bill at the waffle house or go to jail.Next week...60 MINUTES!!!All halloween novelty songs and clips! Perfect for saving and playing at YOUR party on halloween!


Don't forget to look me up on Myspace and Facebook and add me as a friend!


Talk to you then!~ Glenn

Yesterday

Well, that didn't take long.

I forgot to blog yesterday...and I realize there are not that many people even reading at this point but I feel obligated to at least throw a line or two up!

So I'll post two today...yay me.

I really didn't forget yesterday.

I prefer to blog after the kids have gone to bed at night...but I went to bed.

I knew, I just blew it off.

Welcome to my world...lol!

So here to make up for it is one the friggin' funniest videos I have seen in forever and a day:

Let it go

There are, as of this writing, two weeks until we as Americans select the one person who will represent us to the rest of the world.

Let's look at the choices:

1) John McCain - A long time public servant who also served his country bravely in the Vietnam War.

His running mate is Sarah Palin. Governor of Alaska with limited experience in politics but shes cute and apparently loves her family enough to try and get a guy fired for divorcing one of her family members.

2) Barack Obama - Senator from Illinois with limited government experience but a youthful enthusiasm.

His running mate is Joe Biden...basically John McCain with a bigger mouth.

Scary isn't it?

What is scarier to me is that some people will be voting for one of those pairs simply because of race.

John Murtha said that Western PA (the area I live in) is essentially racist...and the media went nuts.

But he was right.

Right now I could name you over two dozen people, people I know personally and who I could count as friends, who simply will not vote for Obama because he is black. People who are lifelong democrats. People who never even bothered to examine either person's tax plan, or health care plan, or ANY plan.

Driving through our county I would put the ratio of Obama signs to McCain signs at roughly 1 to 100, and this county hasn't voted a Republican into a meaningful political position since Abraham Lincoln.

But its more than that. I talk to people and they will tell you in no uncertain terms that just won't vote for a black guy. (Well, one guy would. He's a rabid right-winger who makes Ronald Regan look like, well, his son Ron. He'd vote for a black guy if he was a true conservative...or so he says.) One guy told he's voting for Obama because he figures he'll get assassinated and Biden will make a better president then any of the other people running.

A teacher in Florida got suspended for a racial joke about what change really means.

Rush Limbaugh says Colin Powell only supports Obama because he is black. (Does that mean Rush only supports McCain because he is white?)

Sorry kids...race is still important and it may decide this election.

Think about that for awhile: The position of the President of the United States of America may be decided by a bunch of racists who don't care a whip about what is best for them...except that they don't want a black guy telling them what is best for them.

That is scary.

I'm Glenn and I approve of this message.

Everybody hurts sometime

My knee hurts...lol.

I've always battled my weight...with it winning most of the time.

When I was younger I was always heavy, but I was active. I love playing basketball, football, anything sport that I could get a pick up game going in.

But for the last several years (like 10) I've been way too far over weight and not nearly active enough.

I've tried several diets and the one that has worked the best for me is the Atkins diet, which I am currently on again. It works for me because I never get tired of eating meat and cheese and eggs!

It always works for me because I have been fortunate to never have a problem with high cholesterol or heart disease. Even while on the diet. Maybe I have good genes?

Anyway, my knees have never been great, but they have always held out for the most part.

Tonight they didn't hurt either until I tried to bend the left leg and it felt like there was a band around my knee. Its a little swollen, but I banged it against the car door last week and twisted it tossing a football with my son the same day.

Naturally I won't call the doctor...its not in my DNA to run to the doctor every time something is slightly out of order with my body. I like to let the body heal itself, but I'm afraid with my advancing years it is healing slower and slower! LOL!

Sadly, that's the most interesting thing that happened today!

I'll put some ice on it ignore it and hope it goes away!

~ Glenn

Losing my religion.

The diocese of Greensburg closed my home church today.

Well technically it will close October 30th, but today was the last mass at St. Vincent de Paul.

The announcement was made two weeks ago. The Bishop said it was after three years of studies and meetings and after all that they gave us two weeks to say goodbye.

The church was established in 1888 when the area of Fayette County was vital and alive. 120 years later the area is depressed and dying. Over the years the businesses could not adapt to the changing business climate and owners simply moved away. choosing the easier route of moving to greener pastures rather than making hard choices to stay where they were supported by their employees and the communities that sprouted up around them.

I understand the business decision that the diocese made. You only have so many employees (priests) to fill so many jobs (parishes) and you make cuts when and where you can. But this isn't a business...this is the Roman Catholic Church.

Spreading the word of Jesus Christ for over 2000 years.

Starting and fighting wars.

Being martyred and killing in the name of the Lord.

This building that will be closed forever is not the only one I have attended in my life. I was born to a catholic family and attended catholic school my entire life so I think I understand a little bit about how the church runs.

And I don't like the way it is running today.

Especially, in closing this parish, the Bishop has said that the priests time is more important than that of the congregation. For the past five years our parish has shared a priest with another parish about two miles away. The priest was required to spend two hours a week at our parish.

That is all.

Now, in the wisdom of the diocese not only will he not have to do that he will only have to do two masses at the other parish. That will force people to change their mass choices and cause undue stress on the resources of the remaining parish. (Cramming twice the number of people into the same space.)

And the Bishop says "it is not about what is nice, but what is necessary."

Good for him.

As the church has evolved (how do you spell "irony"?) over the centuries into the current business model that it is today I've found a certain hypocrisy that while it claims to be more modern in its business practices it can not modernize its theology.

Basically priest cannot get married.

I understand the reasoning: Jesus never said they could, he didn't, so they don't. Period.

And yet other things have changed:

Lay ministers can distribute the Eucharist.
Altar girls.
Non-Latin masses.
Removal of kneelers at the altar.

The list goes on...but priests cannot get married in the roman Catholic faith.

Has it damaged other faiths? I've seen no evidence that says a married minister cannot continue to perform his duties. Nor have I seen where un-married ministers perform their duties any better than married ones.

So rather than look at this one simple change that may lead to the relief of the priest problem they continue to leave their heads stuck in the theological sand and say "our hands are tied."

The parishioners go above and beyond to support their home churches. They give time and money. They do all they can...except what the Church will not let them do. And it because of that one thing that the churches are being closed.

So in an area where the churches are the last ties to a time of prosperity they are now being taken away just like the businesses were over the years. Do to an inability to change and a desire to what is necessary...not what is nice.

Here are some pictures from the last mass.

The saga begins

So why would I celebrate the year before I turn 40?

A couple reasons:

1) I never planned to live that long! For years my running joke was that I didn't expect to live past 40 and now with the date just one short year away I'm starting worry that I was either right ...or wrong! Either way I'm screwed!

2) Why not? I know that sound over simplistic, but its true. I plan to enjoy every day until next October 18th (and hopefully beyond) as a way of helping others ease into their 4th decade.

As the year unfold I'll be posting every day.

Some will be short thoughts, others will be my typical long diatribes on whatever has set me off that day.

I encourage everyone to share their thoughts on getting older, er better.

Like any life there will be ups and downs and I look forward to every one of them!

So, since it IS my birthday I'm going to take the rest of the day off!