Resolutions for 2011

Today's post will look back on my 2010 resolutions, and forward to those for 2011. 

As I noted last year, most of us find at least one thing to improve about ourselves in the coming year. I think the intent of a New Year's Resolution is to clean up the big problems in your life. Theoretically, the older you get, the fewer big problems there are to clean up. I know this is true with me.

I could resolve to lose weight, but why?  I did lose 15 pounds in 2010 for a brief instant, but put most right back on.  What a waste (or waist) of time.  I tried very hard to be a swell guy all year, but just how swell can one guy be?  I guess I could be more giving, serve more people, hug a tree, work for world peace, be a better husband/father/grandfather, blah, blah, blah. Again, I am having a difficult time coming up with a single improvement opportunity for 2011 so I will continue to focus on little things that I can do better.

Here is my assessment of the 2010 resolutions, and my new list for 2011.

2010

• Accept more back rubs from my wonderful wife - Sadly, I didn't do well with this resolution.  It seems that I need a willing partner to succeed, and -T wasn't that willing to provide more back rubs.  In 2011, I resolve to only set goals that I can attain on my own.
• Notice how clean the house is more often, and complement Terri on her excellent work.  A-.  I did notice.  I could still improve on the complements.
• Renew my effort to visit every BBQ joint within 20 miles. - A+.  I am unaware of any new BBQ joints within 20 miles that I have not visited.  I even hit one near St. Louis twice.
• Read more books, listen to more music and watch more TV.  A+.  It's what I do and I am good at it. 

So what could be left to do in 2011?

• Stop buying Apple products.  Two iPods and an iPad should be enough for anyone.
• Stop pretending to be a Wildcat fan, UK or KSU.   The Jayhawks are now 12-0 on the season with a 66 game home court win streak, and continued their streak of 154 consecutive sold out games.   Within the next 3-5 years, they will also be the winningest college basketball program in history.  When this is your team, it leaves little time to follow second tier programs.

I already feel the improvement. 2011 is going to be a good year.

Playoffs!

I haven't blogged in over 2 weeks.  Those who wondered if I was sick or worse, no I am not dead.  You be the judge of whether I am sick.

Over that 2 week stretch, a rather amazing thing happened.  The Chiefs made the playoffs.  The Chiefs have proved my prognostication skills are lacking several times this year.  First it was the opening game of the season, played in a rainstorm on Monday Night Football.  Going in, I saw no way for the Chiefs to win that game.  The Chargers were and still are a better team on paper, but have one glaring problem.  They can't win in bad weather as proved in their last loss to Cincinnati.  The Chiefs also proved me wrong by winning the last 3 games of the season.  I felt they could only win 1 or 2.  But with St. Louis and Tennessee games won handily, only Oakland remains.  This was to be a war with the winner going to the playoffs.  In that scenario it would have been a difficult win.  But with the conference title wrapped up and Oakland already eliminated from the playoffs, the Chiefs should win this game rather easily and finish with an 11-5 record.  Impressive on the surface.

I still hold the belief the Chiefs were given an easy schedule so that pro football would remain viable in Kansas City.  This team is marginally better than last year's 4-12 team. But due to weakness of schedule, they will be 11-5 and realistically could be 13-3.  They let 2 wins slip through their fingers in Houston and Oakland.  Do you remember the old man from KC that predicted a 8-8 season, only to be rebuffed by the young kid from Memphis, the self-proclaimed football expert?  That kid predicted a 4-12 season.  I don't feel a bit embarrassed by my 8-8 prediction.

The Chiefs deserve their playoff spot.  They had a very good season, weak schedule not withstanding.  They were just that bad the past few years.  But before KC becomes giddy with visions of a Super Bowl, a little realism is in order.  In the first round of the playoffs, KC will likely face the Jets, Steelers or Ravens.  If they draw the Jets, it could be an entertaining game.  If it is the Steelers or Ravens, forget about it.  Remember that each of these 3 teams compiled a similar season record playing a much tougher schedule.  Expect the Chiefs to go down in the first round. Bet the house on it.

Stupid Letter of the Week

Just as there are no stupid questions, there are no stupid letters.  Instead, there are only stupid people who ask questions and write letters.  Gregg Gehrig of Overland Park is one of those people.  His stupid letter to the KC Star follows:

End tax cut for rich



Paying taxes is an honor reserved for those who make money. Politicians of both parties have conned the public into believing that taxes are evil. In 1960, the rich were taxed at a higher rate. The middle class was so robust then that a man could support his family with just one job.

Now the effective tax rate on the rich is low. What’s evil is the national debt exacerbated through this redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the rich.

The national debt didn’t appear overnight. It took decades of giving tax breaks to the rich and war spending. David Stockman, Reagan’s budget director who coined the term “trickle-down economics,” said recently that wealth doesn’t trickle down because the rich hoard the wealth.

It’s time the rich do the honorable thing by telling the politicians, whom they bought, to tax them more. Giving the rich an additional $700 billion doesn’t help.

The rich won’t create new jobs. Instead they’ll keep the money until they die. Then their heirs will pay a reduced estate tax.

Let’s tell Congress to restore taxes on the rich.


Gregg Gehrig
Overland Park

Gregg has heard the liberals refer to the Bush tax cuts as tax cuts for the wealthy so many times that he now believes it is fact.  He is so gullible that he doesn't question the statement or search for the truth on his own.  I have to wonder what rich guy stole his lunch when he was a child.  Something obviously scarred him for life.

So to quickly correct Gregg with a few facts: The Bush tax cuts were not for the wealthy alone.  THEY WERE FOR EVERYONE WHO PAYS TAXES!  Sorry Gregg they did not cover those who don't pay taxes.  Giving money to those who don't pay taxes is called entitlement spending.  Liberals like to use that to buy votes. 

Congress is now debating who should be fortunate enough to retain their current tax rate.  Republicans want everyone to retain the current tax rate, while democrats want the rate to increase for those who make more that $200k individually, or $250k for couples.  You live in Overland Park Gregg.  Overland Park is a fairly affluent community.  Allowing the democrats to RAISE taxes (tax cuts are not the discussion) would impact most families in your fair city.  Doing nothing would RAISE taxes for virtually everyone in your town.  Is that what you want?

History is not on your side Gregg. Taxing the so called rich does not work.  Allowing them to keep a larger portion of their EARNINGS has repeatedly worked to invigorate the economy.  We need economic invigoration now.  You need to understand that America does not have a under-taxation problem  WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM.  Congress is out of control and the power shift from democrat to republican does not guarantee that our spending problem is solved. 

Only when spending is bought under control can we once again expect to see the federal budget approach balance.  Raising taxes on anyone will not increase revenue. That false argument has been disproved time and time again.  The lie continues to be repeated when morons like you believe what liberals say.

Chefs are Toast

Not officially.  I mean the Chefs win their division if they win their last 3 games.  It is in their control, that is certain.  They could win all three, but a chance and actually winning all three is 2 completely different things.  With Oakland's loss last Sunday, the Chefs could have won the division with a win over San Diego. 

One small problem.  They aren't as good as San Diego.  The result was a 35-0 loss that wasn't really as close as the score would indicate.  Oh sure, the Chefs didn't have their starting quarterback.  Nobody is going to miss Brodie Croyle when Cassell returns.  It was good that any quarterback controversy was nipped in the bud last Sunday.  It was unfortunate that Cassell had appendicitis.  Unfortunate things happen and good teams adjust and continue to win.  Cassell might have turned Sundays 35-0 loss into a 35-10 loss.  He wasn't the difference between a win and a loss.  The Chiefs can't complete with San Diego on a dry field with nice weather. 

All that remain is 3 winnable games against St Louis, Tennessee and Oakland.  They could go 3-0 and win the division.  Or they could go 1-2 which is far more likely.  San Diego has 3 easier games left on their schedule.  They will finish 10-6.  And, they are a pretty good team that is peaking at the best possible time.  If San Diego goes 3-0 and the Chefs lose 1 or more, San Diego wins the division. 

The Chefs could end the season with a respectable 10-6 record, but not go to the playoffs.  That is probably appropriate.  Remember, my contention all year was the NFL gave KC a weak schedule to ensure that pro football remains successful in Kansas City.  It is working well.  The city is again behind their team.  I am not sure they are much better on the field than last year.  I am certain that if this year's team played last year's schedule, they would not be 8-5 and leading the division.  They would probably be on track for a 4-5 win season.

It is better this team sits out the 2010 playoffs.  Regardless of who they would face, they would be pounded.  The result would be embarrassing for a division winner.  It could harm the young player's psyche and damage them for their careers.  It would be better to mature for 1 more year before moving on to the next level.

Madison's Debut

On Sunday, I posted an abbreviated video of my grand daughter Madison's first singing performance.  Below I have made the entire video available.  The longer version is mostly the solo performed by the male character in the song, but -T and I really enjoyed watching Madison prepare herself for what had to be a stressful performance. 



I am amazed that Madison did so well.  I remember her mother performing a solo part 25 years ago in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in front of a much smaller crowd.  Before she sang, I thought she was going to throw up due to nerves.  Madison seems to enjoy the singing in front of others.  I know she enjoyed the attention paid to her after church.  Several people made a point of chasing her down to tell her what a great job she did.  After each, Madison had an ear to ear smile.  What a day for her and her grandparents.

Winter

The temperatures have dropped to uncomfortably low levels.  Last weekend's wind tore shingles off the neighbor's house and blew out a basement window at our house.  What an inconvenience. 

The house feels cold.  A week ago I was on the beach. Cabin fever is spreading.  This is just the beginning.  Officially, winter doesn't arrive for 8 more days.   

This morning I went outside to retrieve the newspaper, silently cursing the 5 degree bone-chilling cold.  Then I looked up.

This is what I love about winter. What a beautiful start to the day.

I'm Still Here

I just noticed that it is December 10th and I haven't posted yet this month.  I'm not making excuses (yes I am), but it has been a busy start to the month.  That job thing continues to get in the way of what I want to be doing.  It started last week when I attended 2 days of classes where I was taught how to use Jedi mind tricks on customers and direct reports.  Watch out -T, -L, -A because they say the tricks work on family members also.

Immediately after the mind trick class, -T and I left KC for Orlando.  We arrived Wednesday evening after the typical full flight.  It was our first experience with the new TSA full body scanners.  I am happy to report they don't seem to want to scan old fat guys.  -T wasn't so fortunate.  She was ahead of me in line.  The TSA agent waved her into the scanner line, but directed me to the old metal detector line.  I guess the vomit bags back in the scanning room were full, so they were only scanning good looking people. 

On Thursday and Friday last week, I reported to the local office and worked with peers and internal customers for a couple days.  -T did was she does best - worked out, lounged by the pool and shopped.  It was a well deserved two days of rest for her.  On Friday night we dined with good friends from the area at an upscale restaurant named Season's 52.  It began our weekend of eating as much seafood as we could.

Saturday morning we moved on to New Smyrna Beach to a condo owned by our friends. They were gracious enough to allow us to stay there a couple of nights. The weather was spectacular, sunny with calm winds and a high temperature around 70. The mornings there and in Orlando were in the 40's. Locals were wearing parkas and heavy sweaters and whining about the cold. It felt like paradise to us.

I'll show the rest of the weekend in pictures.  We took the solo shots on the beach just after arriving in New Smyrna Beach.  It's our "The hillbillies from flatland Kansas have arrived" shots.



The beaches were deserted.  A huge difference from summer visits



This was as crowded as it got.



   



Shot was taken just across the parking lot from our condo.





On Sunday a cold front moved in just after noon and cleared out the few who were on the beach.



A nice little park on the inter-coastal.