Santa Claus

My first year really playing Santa. Done at 9 PM. Time to watch Jay Leno.

Merry Christmas

Merry Chirstmas to everyone!!

Too Long

It has come to my attention that someone actually does read my blog! Yea! But if I don't update I will lose my reader(s). So as I look at a blank screen, I find myself with writer's block. In this case, nothing is quite intimidating. It is quite amazing how nothing really adds up to something. I remember one time at a Greatful Dead concert a guy was walking around selling, "absolutely nothing!" He would say, "I have absolutely nothing for sale! You can buy absolutely nothing for only 5 dollars." He had several customers buying absolutely nothing. Some asked if they could get nothing in different colors. Of course they could! Some were buying nothing in red or black or orange. Some people were buying little nothings and big nothings. I also saw someone buy four of nothing. He dropped twenty bucks for four. It takes a novel entrepreneur to sell nothing. It would be so much easier to sell something, but one just doesn't make as much money as selling nothing.

Well, maybe he was selling more than nothing, because everyone walked away with hearts filled with joy. I found the scene hilarious (no I did not buy nothing...but I wanted too). Nothing can be filled with opportunity. Every now and then, I feel that I have nothing, nothing to have, nothing to offer, nothing going on. But I remind myself of how valuable nothing can be. I remind myself of how dozens of people were buying nothing and getting something, and there are days I am rich in nothing. It doesn't happen often in my life, but in the life of my students, I see it everyday. My students think they have nothing; they are nothing. I try to tell them what a great opportunity it is to have nothing. I tell them the story of buying nothing and they love the idea that they are rich with nothingness. However, I assume that they leave and forget the lesson, because no one has ever come to tell me how nothing got them something. But maybe in the future, when they feel like nothing, they will remember how valuable nothing can really be.

Better Now

I am better now...have been for quite a while. Thanks

Sick

I'm sick of being sick. This sore throat is making me sick. I am sick of this cough. I am sick of hearing about the swine flu. I am sick of sore skin and I am sick of a sore back. I'm sick of being lazy and having no energy. I was happy to watch X-Men Origins today; I finished two books I have been trying to finish for quite a while; I finally read a magazine article that kept me reading and laughing, but I'm sick of why I had time to do these things. I don't want to lay around any more. I am sick of it.

October 14

Today is one of my favorite historical days. It starts with William the Conqueror defeating the English at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Thank you, William, for the English language. In 1947, Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in his X-1 Jet Rocket airplane. And my favorite, in 1912, while campaigning in Milwaukee, Theodore Roosevelt was about to give his speech when he was shot in the chest. After assessing the damages, he decided to give his speech with the bullet inches from his lung. Talk about tough! Happy October!

An American Lion

I just finished watching part 2 of Teddy Roosevelt: An American Lion. I only hope that some day in my life, I will get to meet someone as great as T.R. While he, like all Presidents, made several mistakes, his accomplishments as a president and a human being are tremendous. He stood up for his beliefs, battled the seemingly invulnerable, and lived life as a true adventure. Two favorite moments of his life are first when he was leading the Rough Riders he wouldn't say "charge," he would say, "follow me!" And, second, while campaigning in Wisconsin in 1912, he was shot in the chest, and "with a bullet lodged next to his left lung and blood gushing, he delivered an hour long speech." I admire him for his love of family, conservation of land, sense of adventure, and love of country. He was an amazing American.