In case you didn't know -

• Today I don't have classes until the afternoon, and then my long weekend can finally start.
• I'm less annoyed than I was in the post below. I'm glad I spoke my mind.
  
• The Bowie Baysox lost to the Trenton Thunder in their last home game of the season (3-9). We were in the stands last night. It wasn't pretty, but they head into the playoffs 1st in the Southern Division for the first time ever.
• The Bowie Big Dog is the best 1/2 pound hot dog I have ever had - I split it with the wife. 1/2 Pound! That's a huge wiener!

I'm Just Saying.

I think I was raised to be a pretty considerate, and polite person. That being said, I can also be rude and disrespectful when I feel the need. I can be a jerk, and I know that about myself.

I am a grown man, and even though I have yet to have children, and am fairly new to responsible married life I am distressed nowadays when I am treated as if I'm a still child.

I am not an idiot. I know the right thing to do and if it is in my power I try to do that right thing BECAUSE that is who I am NOT BECAUSE others decide it would be best.

Olympic OOPS!

You lost. You missed out on the bronze medal. What do you do? Hang your head and weep in frustration? Congratulate your opponent and hold your head high as a proud contestant? Jump to your feet and start raining blows upon the Swedish Ref?

It amazes me to think that these athletes have the honor of representing their country, their culture before a world-wide audience and they throw tantrums when a call goes against them. Now I understand that some judgments, calls, points scored or penalties taken are inaccurately assessed sometimes. I also understand that athletes compete their whole life for a chance at Olympic Gold - the emotions run high, the pressure is unbelievable- but to kick a referee in the head for making a call against you?

That's not how my parents raised me.

Admittedly, I am the least competitive of 3 brothers - I was the least athletic, as well. But when I lost, for the most part, I think accepted that loss with a pinch of DIGNITY. Sure, I bitched about it on the ride home from the game, or meet. Probably moped around for the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself but I was able to look in my opponents' eyes at the time and be a good sport.

Now this Cuban athlete and his coach are banned for life!!! One blown opportunity, and an amazingly horrible lack of discipline have ended this athlete's career. Of all the wonderful triumphs, and heart-warming success stories from these 2008 Olympic games I think I am most aware of this tragic example of Poor Sportsmanship!

Now & Then

Now is never back then. Back then you couldn't wait for it to be now. The good times from back then - where are they now? The peace of mind that you long for now was just as unattainable back then. Now am I an adult? Now am I responsible? What was I then? What did I hope to be now? What did I see then in my now? And still there are unanswered questions to be solved later - not now and never back then.

Can't Sleep Again.

Tossed and turned.
Flipped between Track and Field Olympics and Rushmore.
Registered at www.paperbackswap.com for fun.
Pain's endurable when I pee.
Stitches aren't bothering me.
Hands almost back to normal - still aches.
How many percocet is too many?
Can't focus on my book.
Stuck on a few scripts... need to see one through.
Wish first day of the NFL season would hurry up and get here.

I Was Attacked By A Bad IV!

My IV infiltrated my arm during the night. I was uncomfortable, and alerted the nurse bu by the time she removed the tube, the following morning, my left hand and wrist had swelled to twice the normal size. My hand looked like it was about to burst. It was most uncomfortable, and apparently easily avoided if your nurse does her job. Now I'm home from my hospital stay, the swelling is almost gone, and the kidney surgery appears to have gone well.

Olympic Thoughts

• Beach Volleyball is just fun to watch. Kerri Russel and Misty May-Trainer are phenomenal, in a 'sweaty chicks in bikinis' type of way!
• Michael Phelps is pretty amazing even with my life long distaste for the sport of competitive swimming.
• Synchronized diving has to be so much more difficult than sitting on the couch and saying, "Ooh, they made to big s splash. That's gonna hurt them."
  
• The US Men's Gymnastics Team, after almost choking up their medal position on the pommel horse, came back and walked a way with the Bronze Medal and then showed the world how Gangsta men in leotards and stirrup-pants could be. "Team USA, baby! That's what I'm taking about! Let's get It! That's How We Roll!"
  

My First Bowie BaySox Game!

Bowie BaySox 6 - New Britain Rock Cats 4

My parents took us to a BaySox game. My first minor league game ever. It was too much fun. Thanks Ma & Pa. I appreciate it.

I got my first foul ball at a baseball game. My brother would tell you I stole it from a 10 year old but the ball rolled into my hand. He doesn't know, besides, he was too busy...
...being SEXY!



The highlight of the game came when a teenager in front of us pierced both of his cheeks with safety pins. My mother was aghast. I turned to her and said, "I may have been obnoxious back then but I wasnever an idiot!"

Beijing - DAY 1

I realize that the post below may come across a little anti-Olympics. On the contrary, I love the Olympics! Nations of the world unite to compete in friendly contests of athleticism, and display their patriotism for everyone to see.

I admit that I was overwhelmed by the scope of the pageantry of the Opening Ceremony. It was incredible - and long. I have decided though that from henceforth I will try to be as positive and supportive of 2008 Summer Games.

So far the USA has already won a Gold, Silver & Bronze medal in Women's Fencing and there's only been 1 fatal stabbing of a US citizen; by a Chinese man who then threw himself out the window to his own death. One day into the Olympics and 2 men are dead (The attacker and the relative of the volleyball coach.), and 2 men are wounded (The Chinese translator and the other American citizen; both stabbed in the attack.).

Ladies & Gentlemen... The World In Which We Live!

JUST LIGHT THE FRIGGIN' TORCH ALREADY!

I'm tired. My dog's pacing cause she has to go out. I've read two graphic novels, and the opening ceremony is still going on.

At the end I heard a anchorman say something like, "An opening ceremony that defies all superlatives."

I'm not sure if these qualify but I'll try...

Most Amazing!

Longest Ever!

MOST AMAZING LONGEST EVER! (Does that count?)

Sure some of the visuals were amazing. The pyrotechnics were awesome. The kids were cute. The drummers rocked! The gymnast, acrobats and high-flyers were inspiring.

Then came the Parade of Nations. I always love it. Athletes from over 200 nations march in - this time it wasn't alphabetically cause of the Chinese Language - and wave their flag, shoot video, and make cell phone calls to relatives back home. I would've enjoyed it more if it hadn't been brought to my attention that something like 84 of those countries have never medaled in the Olympics. The team from those countries would march into the arena and the announcer would say something stupid like, "This is their Olympic event right here. This is the highlight of their Olympic experience just marching in the Parade."

Jack Ass!

Oh, and then when it was FINALLY time to light the Olympic Cauldron8 Chinese Athletes helped carry the torch through the arena. 8 different Athletes! The country of Niger, I believe, has only 1 athlete competing in these Olympic Games but it took 8 athletes from China to light the Cauldron once the torch was in the building! Not to mention the last guy, Li Ning! Boy was that cool to watch! He gets the flame lifts into the air on wires and the creeeeeeeeeeps around the entire length of the stadium awning before lighting the Cauldron. It took forever! He's supended in the air moving his legs so it looks like he's running sideways and, apparently, he outran the visual projections cause I swear they slowed him down at one point. I was ready to stroke out just waiting for him to go ahead at light the damn thing!

The Opening Ceremony was soooo long that I almost forgot about the atrocities committed by the Chinese government against the people of Tibet, and the whole religious intolerance thing they got going on over there.

In case you weren't paying attention, the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing have begun, and after 5 hours of programing the Olympic Cauldron was finally lit.

Let the games begin.

Poor Guy!

That's gotta suck, being replaced by that fossil. Hope you land on your feet, buddy. I'll look for you in my Fantasy Draft.

And Done...

One of my 'goals' for this Summer, when I am only working part time, was to read the Incarnations of Immortality Series by Piers Anthony. I have enjoyed his fiction since I was younger, and decided to read the original seven books in the series straight through, author's notes and all. The series which I have mentioned before is an entertaining science fiction/fantasy story wherein Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil, and Good are Offices which must be filled with qualified Mortals who perform the job, temporarily, as best they are able in order to help organize the Chaos that birthed our Universe. 2,435 pages later, I read the author's notes too, I am done.

Some books I sailed through, and others I took a little longer getting through the chapters. Some books I loved, while others were good but missing something. I did enjoy the world Piers Anthony created and revisiting key events through the different perspectives of the characters in each book. For example, the first book sets up the importance of this one character who several years into the future will play a key role in defeating Satan's plans for the world. This character and her importance are evident in each volume as different strategies are employed nullify her role. At times it was like reading about historical events through differing and often times contrasting perspectives. The portrayal of the Incarnations was fascinating especially that of the the man who became Satan, and the self-absorbed God who was too busy with self-contemplation to relate to the humans who prayed for his guidance.

Doesn't quite sound like the enjoyable Summer read that it actually was, I know, but I enjoyed it.

946 Miles Later

We're back. The Pinney Reunion 2008 was a blast.

On Friday Sara and I packed up the car, grabbed the Tootsie and hit the road around sun up. Annapolis to South Woodstock, Vermont isn't the longest road trip ever but we were on a mission. We'd been looking forward to this trip since we missed the last reunion 2 years ago. My mother's distant cousin owns a Bed & Breakfast in Vermont and for one weekend every other year my grandmother's extended family descends on South Woodstock and takes over the Hyacinth House.

We spend the weekend hanging out with distant cousins, drinking local beers, shopping in town and playing a wiffleball game or two. This year was no different. The weather cooperated for the most part, and it only rained Saturday night but we didn't mind.

It's funny how the reunion has changed over the last 16 years or so. Babies grow into young kids. Young kids grow into teenagers or young adults. Singles into married couples and married couples into families. The old people get older and sit and watch from afar. Some faces don't even show up anymore.

Ah, C'est La Vie! Time marches on and we are replaced by younger, cuter party animals like Savannah here.
- The road trip was memorable only because of the $ we threw into Sara's car so it could make the drive, the defunct AC - we didn't have that much moolah - the blown radio fuse, and the 4 traffic jams we were blessed with on our return leg. I don't mind the driving, we fixed the radio, and Tootsie is an excellent traveler. (She's now traveled through 12 states on various road trips.)