1699. Distractions

I imagine a life where the human race is unified and driven towards a singular purpose–be it exploration to the stars, defense from a common threat (again from the stars, or zombies, or disease, or maybe a super AI… I read and write a lot of scifi). Since we don’t have that world, I too fall deeply into my distractions from the fact that we don’t have that world. Presently I am distracted by football.

The most interesting and disappointing football situation of the season is the firing of Rex Ryan. This is a purely New York fan thing. Here’s what I didn’t like about Rex–he stuck with players even if they sucked. I kinda like that about him from a distant standpoint, but I recognize that it means guys like Geno Smith (terrible QB who will have an occasional gem of a game a la Rex Grossman) get to run their mouth and continue sinking franchises. I hope the Jets have a change of heart and bring the dude back. If not, let him go to ESPN where I can hear him talk football all week. Regardless, I will follow and like whatever team he coaches next. I’m willing to bet Revis Island goes with him.

Outside of Rex, I’m starting to get excited about the upcoming college football championships. I’m a long time Oregon fan and a more recent Florida State fan (I wanted to go to the U but they wanted no part of me once I got over it, I got over them… besides, FSU had Deion). To see them go head to head for a shot at Alabama (I give Ohio State no chance) will be a fun fun night. Nobody gives FSU a chance, forgetting the fact that they are not only the only undefeated team in the tourney but are also the defending champions. It has been so long since FSU caught a whuppin that their defense dropped the word ‘lost’ out of the vocabulary. Now with Oregon it is a different set of challenges. The Seminoles are going to be playing their toughest game of the year on thursday, regardless of if they win or lose.

1698. Reflections on a Monday Night

I woke up this morning thinking about all the good that comes out of having kids and living the life I do. Then I yelled at my kids once or twice for what amounted to, well, stuff kids do and are expected to do. It led me to recognize how differently I can perceive reality based on whether I’m deep in it or rising above it. My youngest reminds me constantly to rise above hate (of course, that’s the motto of his favorite wrestler, so there’s that) and I intend to. However, when I’m in the thick of dealing with the nutty personality of my kids (3 boys is a lot. A lot a lot), I can’t see the forest for the trees.

I think the key to recognizing how valuable and special life is has everything to do with taking a moment to reflect. It has been weeks since I did that in any substantial way, and as a result I spent a few weeks lamenting about how crappy my situations are and how much stuff there is to do. On the other hand, I could be dead, homeless, or just hanging in there. I could lack talent, or be frightfully ugly, or just be an asshole. There are some many terrible and negative paths that life flows towards and very few and narrow paths that flow towards goodness. I’ve been blessed to be on the path towards goodness and that’s why it is important to me to do something with the opportunities I have.

Heck, if I don’t, I don’t know what is going to become of my little ones. My kids watch me for ideas about what to do. I want them to see a man who is strong, proud, and above all else, driven.