Thursday, February 21, 2013

Rise and Shine --- Hey, Old Man Winter...

Good Morning and how about that wind?!?
Woke up this morning with a stuffed-up head. I didn't feel so bad last night. Just the normal run-down type of thing. This morning, though, the sniffles.
OK, I've officially had it. The cold, the wind, the rain, the short snowfalls.
 ENOUGH!
Bring on the spring. I guess it's always tough this time of year because we see the Phillies practicing in the Florida sunshine and we are shivering under our blankets.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it could be much worse. We could have snowflakes pelting our faces as we try to keep up with the shoveling. We could be outside scraping the windows down every morning. The heat could go out.
I'm not complaining about the winter. I actually find the cold somewhat exhilarating most days, but it's now time to go.
Old Man Winter, you've overstayed your welcome.
Bring me singing birds, growing grass and a couple of games of H-O-R-S-E in the driveway. I want to ride my bike without wearing gloves.
Bring me baseball that's played somewhere except on the television. I want to color Easter eggs. I want fresh tomatoes not grown in a hothouse in South America.
Then again, it is kind of nice to stay under the covers...

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Monday, February 11, 2013

Rise and Shine --- All about the music

Good Morning and I'm still trying to figure out exactly who Hunter Hayes is?

A few years ago, I watched the Grammy Awards and felt very out of touch. The voices were foreign to me, a person who thought he was keeping up with the times.
So, having dedicated myself over the past couple of years to at least give a listen to new stuff. My radio has been tuned mostly to WXPN (I slowly realized other stations were playing the same 10 songs over and over and over again).
I found some really good music being created. I knew who the Lumineers were before they hit the stage. I had listened to Halestorm before they ran up on stage. My morning routine normally includes the Alabama Shakes playing in the background.
I was glad to see Mumford & Sons win for one of the best albums put together in years.
I might not get fun., but they certainly seem to put on a good show.
In fact, the worst part of last night's show, was when Elton John took the stage. Sir Elton, yes, you are a legend, but let the new people sing.
So, maybe I'm not as out-of-touch as I used to be.
Then again, who the heck is Pitbull and how did he get up there?

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Rise and Shine --- It was only a matter of time

Good Morning and how about those 76ers?!?

I got sick. My daughter got sick. I told the boys it was only a matter of time until it hits them.
That's the thing about these winter not-quite flu bugs. They spread around the house.
I sat at home yesterday with a sick 10-year old. Well, sitting maybe not, but we were home.
Usually a cast a weary eye when he says he is sick. He's been known to pull a fast one every now and again. This time, though, the temperature told me it was true.
I feel bad when it happens. I wish we could live in a house where nobody gets sick. That's just not the way it happens, though. Once the bug is introduced, it has to run through everybody.
I just hope it doesn't come back to me. The cough I came up with this morning, though, might be telling another story.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Rise and Shine --- Go away

Good Morning and it's another day of clearing off the car.

 Not that I'm complaining or anything.
It's much better to have these little snow squalls instead of those blizzards from a couple of years ago.
Remember that year, I think it was 2010 (a year I've decided to destroy from my memory), when there was one blizzard after another. We had like 20 inches one day, then less than a week later another dozen.
Yeah, that was a bad winter. This has not been a bad winter.
Sure, it's been cold and the PECO bill is out of hand, but I'll trade that for little snow.
Still, I'm sick of winter. I want it over. I want to get out and plant some flowers. I want to be able to walk around without bundling up. I am just sick of sitting around inside this winter. I'm sick of the complaints when I say 'No more video games.' I'm sick of watching bad TV because I've read all the books.
 In an attempt to just get out last weekend, we went bowling.
Now, I figured bowling was lost on this generation. I mean, do they even show bowling on ESPN any more? Little did I know that Saturday's are a big bowling birthday party day. So, after being turned away at two places, we were able to finally land a lane at the third.
A few things hit me as we tried to knock down the pins. First, the smell in the bowling alley has not changed since I was a child. Second, it's much better (cheaper) to go bowling on a Sunday morning than a Saturday afternoon. Third, it's much more fun to see an 8-year old get a strike than actually getting one yourself.
We weren't breaking any records in two games, but, for the most part, it was fun.
How do I know? Well, on the way out I was asked, "Can we go again next week?"