Is it just me, or do other people think it’s weird when you see rock stars playing well beyond their years.  I mean, I understand that they have a fan base and their music was good at one point, but when is the madness going to stop.  I saw Jon Bon Jovi on SNL last week, and it was just kind of weird.  It was a bunch of 40-50 something men trying to act like they were 22.  You can only wear so much make up and have your jeans on just so tight.  The band members were wearing what appeared to be Cruel Girl jeans or some other leather butt huggers and the several of them were trying to pull off a younger look with straw fedora hats.  It wasn’t working for them.

Now listen, I loved Bon Jovi in the past like any good child of the 80s should, but that was the 80s.  I just think it’s weird when these guys keep playing and nothing changes or adapts in them.  They are not rock stars any more, and yet there are people willing to treat them as such.  It just kind of baffles my mind.  So, memo to all the old rock stars out there.  Accept that time happens, and please stop trying to act like you are 25.

We care about so many things this time of year.  We care about the music concerts and skating on ice.  We care about the Lightning Deals on Amazon.  We care about Christmas movies and It’s a Wonderful Life.  We care about being with family.  We care about decorating a tree.  We care about eating cookies and hot apple cider.  We care about buying gifts for everyone.  But what about Jesus?  Do we still care about him?

It saddens me that so many people make Jesus a sub-character in this story.  While we are busy buying marine jewelry for our soldier in Afghanistan or a taser C2 for our daughter living on her own, have we taken the time to give a gift to Jesus?  The wise men brought gifts.  We know this part of the story – precious gifts.  What have you given to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?  Or are you too busy with Christmas errands like the putting up greenery on the stair case wood spindles.  That’s not what he wants from you.  He wants your heart.  He wants you.  Mary chose what was better when she sat at the feet of Jesus, while her sister Martha was busy, “cooking the Christmas ham.”  Slow down.  Breathe.  Invite the Spirit into your heart and celebrate this Christmas like you never have before.

It’s Thanksgiving, which means we are in full holiday shopping swing.  I just wasted a lot of my work day because Amazon has some killer deals all week.  They are calling it Great Black Friday Deals, and they aren’t kidding.  You can find some amazing discounts there.  I picked up I am Legend for $2.00.  That’s what I’m talking about!  I also picked up some new accessories for my cell phone, a case for it and a headset for calls.

Now, I have the shopping bug!  I’ve already been to this site to buy some swaddling blankets.  They had great deals on aden + anais muslin wraps, which are phenomenal for helping a baby sleep long.  Now, I’m on the hunt for some other toys for my nieces and nephews, and I found some good deals here.  They have a great selection on Playmobil toys.  But instead of buying for just myself and family, I need to take care of my wife too.  I was thinking of getting her some Indian jewelry.  She rarely asks for anything special, but I know she really likes bangles and chandelier style earrings.

This is why politics absolutely drives me crazy. ABC’s Jonathan Karl is reporting that there is language in the latest bill that will give $100 million dollars to Louisiana. Why? The bill won’t pass without the support of Louisana’s Mary Landrieu. And because she is playing hardball for her vote, she’s basically getting paid off. What’s really irritating is the fact that there is 2 pages of difficult language to read that could be boiled down into one word, Louisiana. The language disqualifies all other states but one for getting funds.

Now, I understand that Louisiana was hit by a natural catastrophe. It’s not like they’ve been holding a lot of shows like the Homerama Cincinnati show lately.  Their state was seriously damaged by Katrina.  Hundreds and thousands of people were in the hospital being treated.  They mine as well have gotten a pair of these for themselves.  New Orleans was tragically hit.  I get that.  And it’s not helping these people that makes me upset.  It’s the sneaky, deceiving, corrupt way that politicians are doing it.  Let’s bribe you to get a vote for our health care plan.  These guys are jokers, and it pisses me off.  They mine as well dress the part.

Halloween is tomorrow night.  Are you ready?  Here are the Cincinnati times.    I’ve got my bowl of candy and am ready for all the trick or treaters to come by.  I don’t think I’m going to dress in a costume this year though.  I’ll leave that to everyone else.  There are enough crazy costumes out there to make up for one less.  I like seeing the kids come by though.  It’s such a bizarre holiday for them.  I’m sure I’ll see tons of Harry Potter again this year and probably a surge of Twilight vampires.  You’ll still see the cartoon characters.  Boys still love the Ben 10 Omnitrix and littler ones will have Yo Gabba or a Super Why costume on.

To me, what I don’t like the most of Halloween is all the vandalism.  People going around in their gothic boots and dark clothing thinking they can just do whatever you want.  I don’t know why this night brings it out more than others.  Is there anything worse than a smashed pumpkin on your porch and toilet paper everywhere?  Awful.

Hope I can avoid that this year and it will be a good Halloween.  Good thing I have a dentist appointment lined up for next week!

The Bengals took one on the chin yesterday.  After a surprising 4-1 start, yesterday’s 28-17 loss to the Texans was a big let down.  This team was saying all the right things all week, but it was almost as if they were throwing a party a bit too early after sweeping the division in the first round of the AFC North.  Our offense was anemic in the second half, calling only 4 run plays.  Somehow, Houston was able to make us a one dimensional team by stopping the NFL’s leading rusher, Cedric Benson.  Not good.  There were some missed opportunities, turnovers, penalties and sloppy play overall.  Houston had a 100 yard receiver in both Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton. Not good.

Probably the most crushing blow was the season ending injury to Antwan Odom.  Odom had an NFL best 8 sacks going into the game, but he tore his achilles and wound up surrounded by doctors and Landau uniforms by day’s end.  This is a huge blow to the Bengals defense, who finally were getting a pass rush.  They haven’t had a rush in years.  We also lost Petko on the day, two major hits to our D-line.  You mine as well just hit me in the face with a wood dowel because yesterday was painful.

Hopefully, Marvin can get the boys to regroup next week against Chicago.  Not having the pass rush will hurt against Cutler, who seems to be getting better each week.  Good for him.  Bad for me and my first round fantasy draft pick, Matt Forte.  He’s not playing like a #1, and he’s not getting the touches.  Grrrr.

I still have hope in the Bengals, but yesterday was a game that playoff teams should have won.

Yes, it’s true.  Pretty soon, you’ll see the mega superstar break his 8 year retirement.  Garth Brooks’ name will be up in lights soon at the Wynn Resorts hotel and casino in Las Vegas.  He’s planning on breaking his retirement with 15 different concerts scheduled.

It remains to be seen how the country music fan base will accept his comeback.  Like many of us, I went crazy for Garth in the 90’s.  While all my friends were into rap and rock, I donned my 2 Garth Brooks t-shirts twice a week, each.  The guy was electric.  The guy was exciting, and his music was good.  I would listen to his No Horses and In Pieces albums over and over and over … on my tape deck.  So yeah, I guess times have changed a bit.  But if history tells us anything, it’s that Garth is a force.  He was the one guy that was able to make my dad turn in his Indiana Jones hat for Resistol hats.  I’m not saying he looks good in either, but Garth brought a mob of people to the country music scene that never would have been there otherwise.  Some people don’t like him for that.  Others love him.  But as the number one selling solo musician of all time, you have to take notice.

I’ve been kicking around a few costume ideas, but haven’t settled on anything yet for Halloween.  There are so many good costumes to choose from out there, but you don’t have to buy from a costume store.  You can put something together on your own that looks just as good.  For example, this store has a great top hat selection and you could go as the Mad Hatter.  I’d have to talk my wife into dressing up as Alice, but that’s a nice conservative costume that I think she would do.  Or, I could go as Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones.  Check out the great selection of Indiana Jones hat fedoras to choose from.  Plus, I’d get to unbutton my shirt as a bonus!  I’d need a good leather messenger bag for that costume too, which I think I could borrow from a friend.  If that fails, I could go as a MMA fighter.  I could shop here for all kinds of good stuff.  Hmm, so many good ideas to choose from.  Sooner or later, I’ll need to pull the trigger.

Alice and Mad Hatter

If you saw the Bengals game yesterday, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  Even if you didn’t see the game, don’t worry, the highlight will be replayed a ba-zillion times today and for the rest of my life.  Yet another addition to the snake bitten Bungles lore.  For the rest of my life, I’ll have to watching freaking Brandon Stokely score on the luckiest play to win a football game in the history of football.  It was so bad, Chad Ochocinco said he has never even seen something like that in a video game.  And with the beautiful come from behind victory that was in our grasp, Kyle freaking Orton throws a prayer to the sideline that has no chance.  Leon Hall bats in the air, and the Broncos ensue to kick me in the nuts as hard as they possibly can over and over.  Call the ambulance.  I need to see the Cherokee medical scrubs ladies.  This one is going to hurt for a while.

I was all geared up to watch the game.  I had my Carson Palmer jersey on.  My wife was even dressed up and sported her bangle bracelets, a good choice.  We watched our offense sputter the whole game, while our defense played great.  Then, finally in the fourth quarter, we put a drive together and went up.  Surely, victory is ours.  Not so fast.  These are the Bengals.  They will find a way to lose at all cost.  It is the one thing they have been consistently good at year after year.  F!!!

This picture pretty much sums it up.  ”Look at me, I just made the luckiest catch ever!  Weeeeeeeee!”

Brandon F***ing Stokley

I swear, this picture just makes me want to attack someone.  Stokley could use these to defend himself.  I can’t believe that happen, but I can.  Thus, the curse of being a Bengals fan.

I commend the President for trying to encourage students in his speech.  However, I did think the timing of delivery was a bit weird.  The address was given in the middle of a school day.  Here’s my problem with this.  If parents are so foundational in the training of students and their education, why wasn’t this speech given when kids could be at home with their parents listening?  Instead, teachers, if allowed, had to stop what they were doing in the middle of school and tune in.  I just find that strange.

This breakdown of where the responsibility lies is the real issue to me.  Again, I think it’s great that Obama is encouraging kids to pursue their education for themselves and for this country.  We don’t want a work force that is only qualified to work in a factory and make wood spindles.  We are falling behind in the world from an education standpoint.  But the problem lies in majority with parents who don’t know how to train their kids.  Most parents train their kids to control chaos as opposed to impart any real wisdom.  So, as long as their kid behaves, they’ll be rewarded with all of those pirate party supplies.  But if not, then it’s going to be a war at home.  I’m not saying you have to break out with weapons against your children.  I’m saying that the parent is a huge part of the education process.  Spend time with your kids.  Teach them to obey.  Train them in righteousness.  The result for families and this nation will be far stronger than a speech from the Oval Office.