Dancing Barefoot and Just A Geek

   Both of these fine books by Wil Wheaton were quick reads. But that was not surprising considering how pleasant it is to read his writing. Both of these relied heavily on content from his blog (which happens to be one of the mainstays on my newsreader) and as I've come to expect, his stories were thoughtful, self-deprecating, and quite funny!

   For some reason a lot of people, particularly online, have been and continue to be excessively nasty to Wil, because he happened to play an allegedly unlikable character on Star Trek: The Next Generation when he was a teenager. Leave the guy alone - he did a great job in Stand By Me and has morphed into a solid writer as well. Plus, as a good husband and father, he is a solid role model for aspiring celebrities. It would sure be nice if more celebrities came across as real people - unpretentious and unassuming.

   Do yourself a favor and pick up these books - you'll enjoy them!

Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good

   I love books like this. Sarah Lacy's description of "The Rebirth Of Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0" (as her full title states) is a tale about entrepreneurs mainly, and their quest for multiple startup successes. Because I follow most of the people she focussed on via blogs and the interwebs, there was nothing too surprising to me in the book but it was a fun read nevertheless because of the details she provided about the humans behind the legends (or in some cases legends-in-the-making).

   Good stuff.

The Terror Presidency

   Another relatively quick read, Jack Goldsmith's book was very well-balanced.

   Since it had been sitting on my shelf for over a year, I had forgotten what point-of-view the author was coming from, having read rave reviews about it more than a year prior.

   I was struck by the evenhandedness that pervaded this entire book. It was clear from the beginning that Goldsmith cared a great deal about doing the right thing, not necessarily what the Bush administration wanted him to do, even as the head of the Office of Legal Counsel in Bush's Justice Department.

   Definitely interesting to read five days shy of Bush's departure from the White House and Obama's inauguration.

Teacher Man

   A New Year's resolution of mine is to read more books this year. I've always loved to read, and especially books (fiction, non-fiction, biography, you name it). But this past year has seen me drowning in periodicals and reading tons of blogs and online articles as well.

   So I started off the year by reading Frank McCourt's book about his thirty years in the New York school system.

   I have to admit I laughed out loud several times. His honesty and self-depracation throughout really made me like his character..him.

   I've often said that being a teacher is the most important job one can have and I stand by my criticism of the low rung on the pay scale that our society has placed the profession. If the Obama administration can do something about accelerating the work people like Michelle Rhee (in Washington, D.C.) are doing to bust the teachers unions in public schools, perhaps this will change. We'll see.

A Grand Experiment Comes To An End

   I started this blog because I thought it would be a cool way to both chronicle, and discuss with others, my family's relocation to Colorado from SoCal. I posted sporadically for the first few years we were here and then made a New Year's resolution at this time last year to pick up the frequency.

   Specifically, to post at least once a day the entire year.

   And I did it.

   I got almost no comments the entire way through which is fine..but a little sad, I suppose. I touched on all sorts of topics though not surprisingly, given the goings-on in 2008, I weighed in heavily on politics, most notably the presidential campaign.

   My resolution to post daily was to force me to keep a journal of sorts. I have always had a strong memory but have a history of Alzheimer's in my family and fear tremendously the possibility of a day when someone brings up something we did thirty years ago and I can't remember it.

   So a journal has always appealed to me.

   However, it is exhausting feeling obligated to blog every single day. So that is going to end for now. Instead, when I see something compelling, whether it be serious or seriously funny, I will drop a line or 75 here and we'll go from there.

   Take care of yourselves, particularly in this challenging time we're living in right now. I hope your 2009 is a prosperous year!

Nothing Screams White Trash More Than

   a rageddy mullet and a sloppy mustache. I see this ensemble and immediately think white trash.

   However, if there was a competition held between two equally disheveled gents with equivalent coifs and upper lip decorations, the edge definitely goes to the guy that emerges from a ratty El Camino!!

   Maybe it shows my age (mid 30s) but damnit - I cannot imagine going into a new car dealership and saying "Gee whiz, honey, look at that new El Camino - I can't imagine being fortunate enough to drive one of those beauties off the lot!"

   But it must have happened..How else would enough of them have gotten into circulation for them to trickle their way down to becoming to white trash what the K car was to 80's federal government workers?!

80 MPH Gusts - A Nice Gentle Breeze

   I know the winter can be rough for us but damnit, we've just had brutal wind this season.

   Our neighbor's play structure, anchored with concrete footings, blew over!

   I NEED TO GET A DAMN WIND TURBINE INSTALLED and make some money on at least some of the inconvenience we face when we can't sleep due to high winds all night!

I Love A Good Headline!!

   In the wake of the Chargers' thumping of the Broncos for all the marbles in the AFC Worst last night, the Denver Post was full of classic headlines this morning.

   My two favorites have to be "Out Rout" and "Season's Beating" - the latter being priceless IMHO!