Random Thoughts for the Week of July 18, 2013

Well, no more small talk, let’s get right to it!

• Feel nothing but pride as a member of the Husker Nation as Team Jack won the ESPY award last night for “Best Moment in Sports.”  I think it says a great deal about our team, football fans and mayhaps ESPN fans that a moment outside of the regular season can move enough people to support Jack, his family and their cause and give out this award.  My thoughts always turn to the other kids on Team Jack who suffer from the same brain cancer and didn’t get their turn to run down the field.  I count my blessings, say a prayer and thank God that there is still some goodness in people in the world … and they live and play in Nebraska.
• For the love of God, people … leave the British Royals alone!  I know if I had that many reporters and cameras waiting outside my hospital (before we even got there) when Alex was born, I would have taken a squirt gun to them all until they left.  This is not a moment for the world or even really for the British Nation.  It is a moment for that family that is about to be blessed with the birth of a child.  Let’s show some dignity here.  I suppose you can call all the labor experts you want who can diagnose Kate’s due date based on the size of the bump under her dress, but I don’t have to watch or read the blather every time I look at the news.  Can we focus on some real problems?
• My pathetic Congress is at it again.  Congress declared “victory” last week by agreeing with itself not to filibuster itself.  Uh.  Let me get this straight.  Your time that you should spend governing the people and our county has been spent making a deal with yourself not to stop governing?  I have the greatest form of government in the world and the worst leaders doing the governing, from the top down.  I’ll be amazed if anything gets done in the next four years, much less improving the nation in any way, shape or form.
• McDonalds did it right preparing that budget class for its employees, and we should be supporting them 100%.  Here’s a company who recognizes that the majority (I think) of its workforce is making far below the standard wage, and it’s proactively working with them to provide for themselves and their family.  Mindi said it to me best last night … people are simply living beyond their means.  The people who complain about this program and the fact that it highlights that minimum wage earners might need two jobs to meet their needs are missing a vital point: people choose to live beyond their means!  They spend money on cigarettes and Friday nights at the bar.  They have children before saving and budgeting for their needs, sometimes more kids than they could ever support.  They waste money on things and don’t thinking responsibly.  McDonalds is actually doing something to make that better.  I wish our school system could say the same.  If people are joining the workforce before they learn to balance their checkbook, then they reap the whirlwind.  I applaud McDonalds for actually trying to help them.  I wish they’d take the advice and trim the fat a bit in their lives and take responsibility for their fiscal lives.  Then maybe they’d be on the road to a better life down the way.  Stepping down from the soapbox on that one …
• It’s sad to see anyone, including famous actors, die from overdose not long after leaving rehab.  My problem at this point is more with the people he was with before he died.  Apparently none of them thought to look after their friend who has been struggling with this for so long.  Someone had to sell him that shit.  I doubt anyone will be charged criminally for it, but I always wonder why the hell someone isn’t.
• My thoughts on the Zimmerman verdict?  I don’t think it could have gone any other way for two reasons.  First, the defense put on a way better case than the prosecutor.  Don’t get me wrong, they did fine, but their witnesses just got beat by the defense’s.  They were out-lawyered, but good.  Second, and most importantly, the Florida laws tied the hands of that jury more than anything.  In other states Zimmerman would likely have been tried and convicted.  In Florida the current laws gave enough room for him to get away with it.  I prefer to see justice done in any murder, and in this case (as others) the justice will likely come monetarily, if not with a prison sentence.  If nothing else, George Zimmerman’s life as he knew it is over.  He’ll have to go far, wide and do many, many good deeds to remove the blood from his hands.  And even then, he’ll have to live with the repercussions of his acts for the rest of his life.  There is some justice in that, at least.
• I’ve watched the “Today” show for a long time, and if you ask me that team hosting it has as much chemistry as a junior high school dance.  I think a change in ranks is needed before I can get energized about the show.  They still land the big interviews, and that’s a credit to the producers.  But as far as entertaining and energizing me for my day, Good Morning America beats them hands down.  Maybe it’s all just a matter of what we want with our coffee these days.  Shrug.
• I love coffee.
• The Green Bay Packers announced this week that Brett Favre’s jersey number will not be retired this season.  I’m not surprised, but why the delay?  What’s the problem?  Weird.
• I love hot tub.
• Moving forward on the trip to Rivera Maya.  80 days away.  My god, that feels like a lifetime from now, especially while I’m sitting at work writing this blog.
• My unwritten goal is to lose another 10 pounds before we leave.  That basically means 1 pound a week.  I’ve been averaging at best 0.3 pounds a week for the past few months.  Discipline, discipline, discipline.  That and a shitload of running.  If I can even lose 6 more pounds and get under 210, that’ll be record territory in recent history and heading strongly in the right direction.
• After my run last weekend, I’m really nervous about making the Corporate Cup in under an hour.
• I think if I’m to survive much longer in corporate America I will need a good, healthy vacation with many drinks and Mindi.  Then I should be good to go for a bit.
• Turning 40 doesn’t feel bad today.  We’ll see about that in a few months.
• I love lamp.
• “Despicable Me Minion Rush” = my new addiction.  Goodbye, Temple Run 2.  It’s been a hoot.
• Need an electrician for the man cave.  Anyone know anyone?

Until next time, got to play Minion Rush now instead of this writing shit.