I'm too tired to think of anything here. Time to admit defeat.
Wild Beasts – Wanderlust
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y3lDcnLA8o
Seems like most of these guys' songs are about doing the dirty. Except for this next one, which might be about being the father of Godzilla or something like that.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG5t7XXhCPA
Down Under Diary
A look at the Australian League.
Sports! Sports! Sports!
I grew up in a small town. I loved sports. I played four sports throughout the year up until my senior year of high school. I wasn't spectacular but was pretty good at track so that made me passable at other sports.
My oldest is turning 14 soon. She plays soccer and dances. She will also most likely run track in high school next year. The problem is that I think the soccer commitment is ridiculous. She plays on a travel team in the fall and spring/summer. She also plays for her school team in the fall. Practice for her spring team starts in November - essentially two weeks after the fall season ends.
I keep reading about how parents are pushing the kids to do this. I'm sure there are parents that push their children in sports but the majority of parents I talk to don't like the time commitment. It is the organization that is pushing this.
I am happy that she is active and seems to enjoy it. I tell her she doesn't need to go to the offseason practices but she likes to do it. As long as it isn't too much for her, I guess we'll go with it. I'm just not sure she knows how much is too much.
This brings me to child #2. She will turn 12 this winter. She plays for the school volleyball team in the fall and dances. Volleyball is a few days a week in the fall. Dance is 1-2 days per week throughout the school year. She doesn't do any sports or physical activity in the summer. I worry that she doesn't get out and move enough. She used to play softball and basketball but as they got to be bigger time commitments, she wasn't that interested.
I just wish a sport was a sport. I don't know if it is a small town versus suburb thing or a generational thing but I just feel like there is too much specialization and not nearly enough playing of sports just for enjoyment.
December 15, 2014: Ohhhhhh Snap
I spent a lot on my wife this Christmas, but just learned that she spent three times as much on me. She doesn't care and doesn't want me to do anything more, but I sure feel like I should.
Happy Birthday–December 15
Nig Clarke (1882)
Eddie Robinson (1920)
Ray Herbert (1929)
Haywood Sullivan (1930)
Sammy Esposito (1931)
Stan Bahnsen (1944)
Art Howe (1946)
Mike Proly (1950)
Bud Bulling (1952)
Mo Vaughn (1967)
Rick Helling (1970)
Kevin Cameron (1979)
Ryan Pressly (1988)
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Jackson
Let's check out some of my favorite 2014 stuff this week.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72sphSj6zT0
Rick Nelson – Lonesome Town
Quiet round here.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhLgACJ4uhw
December 14, 2014: The Ice
Last night I re-learned how great a live sport hockey is. My elder daughter sang the National Anthem with her school choir, so we got great tickets on the cheap. I also continued my streak of only attending games that end in shootouts.
Happy Birthday–December 14
John Anderson (1873)
Lefty Tyler (1889)
Bob Weiland (1905)
Eddie Smith (1913)
Rusty Peters (1914)
Bobby Adams (1921)
Sad Sam Jones (1925)
Bob Clear (1927)
Pete Whisenant (1929)
Jim Roland (1942)
Jerry May (1943)
Greg Goossen (1945)
Bill Buckner (1949)
Craig Biggio (1965)
Ken Hill (1965)
Scott Hatteberg (1969)
Marcus Jensen (1972)
Billy Koch (1974)
Rodrigo Lopez (1975)
Dave Gassner (1978)
Bob Clear was in baseball from 1945-1987 as a minor league player and manager, major league coach, and as a scout.