I’m a Daddy Once Again

Yesterday was a special day for me as Fender came into my life. He’s about 25lb and, best as I can tell, a purebred smooth haired Fox Terrier. (Update: Now that I have his records, I know he’s a Rat Terrier mix.)

I became aware of Fender on Thursday evening at ATX Twestival when my friend Blair (@austindirtydog) informed me of a rescue situation. You can read the really jacked up story about how a woman pretended to “find” Fender and turn him over to my friend Selene at Whole Foods. Further investigation revealed that this woman did not find Fender, but that in fact, was the owner of Fender.

Regardless, (as I brush away white Fender hair that has collected on my keyboard), Selene took Fender in and promised to find a good home for him. I got to meet him on Saturday when I brought my roommate (who needed to approve of the adoption) and my friend Kat (@RealAustin) and her fur kid Bear, a Boston Terrier, to Zilker Park to meet Fender.

I received word yesterday that Fender could not wait to be done with his traumatic week and find a new home with me.

He has begun settling in really well. I feel like he may have been abused because he has some skittishness, especially around men and sudden movements. But he’s so mild mannered and comfortable already. He seems to have some skittishness about parts of the apartment. For instance, he is really hesitant to go through the hallway to get to my room, but once he’s in my room he’s fine and won’t move. He slept all night with me and didn’t wake me up.

I remember when my ex and I had our son, Nicole made sure he understood that when Daddy was asleep, don’t wake him up. Devin understood this very early on. I’m not fun when I’m woke up. Fender seems to already understand this and peacefully waited for me to wake up this morning.

There’s still a lot I have to do and get at the pet store. I’ll have to experiment with food. He doesn’t seem to like the dry stuff but the raw meat kinds of food, he’s totally into. We’ll have to figure out how to make that scale economically. :-)

Of course, this means lifestyle changes for me as well. More time will be spent at home and I’ll have to plan for quick trips home every night, if I plan to be out late. There will be a lot more walking and maybe running. He’s got short legs so I don’t know how he’ll do running while I’m riding on my bike. He’s a hunter so he wants to stop and sniff out every little thing he gets a scent of. Heh.

I’m excited to be a daddy again, even if it isn’t quite the same as having a little boy.

A Tribute to My iTunes: a Short Story


Photo by Craig Cloutier
A short story.

It’s Raining in Baltimore a little toward Sullivan Street. I guess it’s going to be a Long December Round Here. This happens Time and Time Again. I guess that makes me the Rain King.

So, I’m just going to put my Hand in My Pocket, smoke some Mary Jane, and hope to Wake Up later. Isn’t it Ironic?

Or, sadly, I’ll end up heading Back to Hell since there’s no way to Prevent this Tragedy. It’s the nature of The Poison.

Or better, maybe I’ll wake up in the Arms of a Woman I can call Sweet Pea. And tell All my Friends who will think I’m scraping the Bottom of the Barrel.

That will inevitably lead to a fight where I ask them to Take it Back. Then I’ll feel bad and tell them that Maybe You’re Right and head back to the Old Apartment. I’ll feel bad about my life and imagine what I’d do if I had $1,000,000. Bah, It’s All Been Done.

Later, after I feel bad for awhile, everything will be cool between my friends and I and we will Come Together. Dear Prudence! Oh well. Oh blah Di Oh blah Da, life goes on. I’m so Tired and my life is so Helter Skelter. Good Night, I’m a Loser! Turn on the Rock n’ Roll Music. It’s Still Rock n Roll to Me. I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party. This happens Eight Days a Week.

I could get a hooker. But nah… Can’t Buy me Love. Is there Another Girl? Help! Let it Be… Maybe she’ll Stay.

So I head to Pflugerville…. Rockin’ the Suburbs. I do the Best Imitation of Myself… and Uncle Walter… who is a creepy old guy, so I get nowhere. At least there’s Video.

But I found her! She was an LA Woman which was a Shock to the System. After spending some Mony, Mony and a yippy Rebel Yell, we decide on a White Wedding. Oh What a Night!

She’s Always a Woman… Especially after she gets a Captain Jack and Coke. Yum. She’s already ready to Say Goodbye to Hollywood. She claims a New York State of Mind, but I’m convincing her that Austin is better. It’s just Honesty.

Shit, now she’s talking about Allentown. Pennsylvania?! WTF! And Maybe Miami 2017?! Plan ahead much? She’s too much of an Uptown Girl.

Whatever. I was Born in the U.S.A. and it’s all the U.S.A. Certainly not the Glory Days in Darlington County, thank God. Who likes Jersey anyway?

Mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm. This is what happens When I Go Out With Artists. We end up back In the Days of Caveman when God Shuffled His Feet. I Think I’ll Disappear now.

It’s Friday i’m in Love. I’m also High and sing a Lovesong. Why Can’t I Be Like You, bring you Close to Me In Between Days. Let’s Go to Bed. Just Say Yes.

Eek, I find out she’s a Woman Like a Man! Run!!!! Does this make her the Blower’s Daughter? Ick! Cheers Darlin’! I don’t want to ask you to Be My Husband. I don’t roll that way. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! LA Woman, my ass…

So Morning Calls and I think of a Ghost of a Good Thing. There’s Several Ways to Die Trying.

I’m So Damn Lucky. This is woman #40. Six after #34. In case you can’t do basic math. Should I Stay or Leave? On to #41? It’s Out of My Hands. This is the Last Stop. I’m such a Pig she says drunkenly. Go ahead, woman… Crash Into Me. Talk to the Bartender. That’s not water. Don’t Drink the Water. It’s from the Louisiana Bayou where they make Alligator Pie with Big Eyed Fish, Captain…

Heh. Crack a Bottle, you’re drunk. I’ll get you home, babe. Especially with an A*s Like That. I’m So Bad. One shot 2 Shot. It’s Curtain’s Down. We’re Going Through Changes, Slim Shady. Space Bound!

It’s So Easy. Get on the Nighttrain, Mr. Brownstone. You’re Crazy, Sweet Child o’ Mine. Don’t Cry.

I’ve got 99 Problems, girl, and that’s as Real as it Gets. I can’t be Young Forever. I want to Run this Town, but I guess I’ll need an Encore. I’m So Ambitious.

On to the Next One.

State of the Union Drinking Game

I polled Twitter on what kind of drinking game activities should happen tonight during the State of the Union. I’ve aggregated responses, along with my own thoughts, into this State of the Union Drinking Bingo.

Prepare to be drunk by 8:15pm CST tonight.

That’s an F-18!

That bright star? The afterburners from an F-18 Hornet after takeoff from the USS Carl Vinson.

 

Source: Navy News Service – Eye on the Fleet.

Disparaging “Player” Fans

A lot of football around these parts lately, so let me stir things up… Again. I know I’m going to get the Haterade. I’m okay with that. I have opinions and they are ALWAYS right.

Let me gripe about a certain type of fan for a moment. These aren’t the fans that jump a bandwagon because a team wins the Superbowl, although I can go down that road too (I’m looking at you, Steelers and Patriots fans). These aren’t the fans that call themselves fans and can’t bring themselves to find a way to listen or watch their team on Sunday, instead choosing to go to brunch!

Nope… These are the fans that profess their love of players over teams.

Photo by Ryan Lejbak

This ain’t college people. Your dear player from your alma mater six years ago is now getting paid money to do his job on a pro level. Those teams are a conglomerate of players from many schools. It’s always good fodder internally among teammates. For instance, Ben Grubbs came from Auburn and Haloti Ngata came from Oregon. Better believe there was some internal team rivalry over the BCS Championship game.

But at the end of the day, they play as a professionally paid team of competitors.

I see this in big proportions in University towns like my own Austin, where college football is the name of the game and Texas players are supported vehemently.

Yes, we know Vince Young graduated from UT and led the Horns to a National Championship win. We also know he has sucked, overall, as an NFL player.

We know Ricky Williams was a Heisman trophy winner… but he’s also kinda sucked as a person since he went to the NFL.

Cam Newton? Yeah he won this years National Championship, but guess what Auburn fans… he’s a cheater and will have to send that Heisman trophy back, just as Reggie Bush had to. Just wait. But go ahead and root for the Bengals, who are likely to draft him (Carolina is already committed to Clausen, Denver is [foolishly] committed to Tim Tebow and the Bills have a great QB in Fitzpatrick leaving Cincy looking for answers at that position).

More so, when I see fans rooting for players instead of teams, it screams lack of information and real fandom. Now I know there are exceptions, but this is the perception that I see.

Look, we know you’re proud of your school and the players that have come from it. But that doesn’t make you an NFL fan once they get drafted. Get a spine, pick a team and stick with it.

Now… I face the firing squad. Bring it on. ;-)

Pittsburgh Sports Radio vs. Baltimore Sports Radio

With the AFC Divisional game – a.k.a. Armageddon – set to kickoff at 3:30 CST on Saturday, I have altered my daily routine a bit. Normally, I listen to 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore over the internet. This week, however, I’ve taken great interest in what Pittsburgh is saying about the Ravens-Steelers matchup. For this, I’ve been also listening in on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan.

The first thing I noticed is that they really aren’t talking about the game, for some reason. They have this unnatural obsession with Penn State Basketball and Penguins hockey. Bah! Penn State and the Pens aren’t in the post-season right now. The Steelers biggest game of the year is Saturday! Whatever.

The second thing I notice is that when they do talk about the Steelers, there is a tenor of fear and concern about the game. In contrast, Baltimore seems downright giddy about the matchup. Maybe that is because Baltimore already beat Pittsburgh at Heinz field and came damn close to beating them again at M&T Bank stadium.

This, of course, is the rubber match. Baltimore has no reason to think they can’t beat the Steelers and advance to the AFC Championship game.

And, if the Jets were to take care of business against their bitter rival, the Patriots, Baltimore would host that AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium.

Nice.

Atari Co-Founder Allan Alcorn Discusses the Creation of Pong – Nicholas Jackson – Technology – The Atlantic

Atari Co-Founder Allan Alcorn Discusses the Creation of Pong – Nicholas Jackson – Technology – The Atlantic.

Great Quote of The Wire

Same fuck-ups in the same shit detail, workin’ out of the same shithouse kind of office. You people lack for personal growth, you know that?

-Lester Freamon, The Wire

Deal Of A Lifetime: First Marriage Proposal On Groupon

Deal Of A Lifetime: First Marriage Proposal On Groupon.

Eight Best Sports Moments of 2010

I realize I’m a bit late on a 2010 wrap-up post but I don’t care… I’m a big sports fan. Sports is something that my life revolves around to a large degree. Here are my top sports memories (good and bad) of 2010. In no particular order.

Team USA Wins Group, Loses in Group of 16

World Cup soccer was at a fevered pitch around the world… and it wasn’t the Vuvuzelas… Or maybe it was. Regardless, the United States won Group C for the first time since 1930 with a 1-0-2 record, having knocked out Algeria and reaching a draw with England and Slovenia. They then lost to Ghana in the Group of 16 round ending early morning bar visits across the United States.

USA vs Norway - Mens Hockey - Canada Hockey Place - Vancouver British Columbia

Photo by Kris Krug

Cinderella Butler Loses in the NCAA National Championship

Who’s Butler? No one really knew, despite the school having visited the tourney 10 times, before they made a stunning run through the tournament in March. The impressive upstart Bulldogs found themselves in the National Championship game where they were beaten by the Duke Blue Devils… as Duke tends to do.

To make this memorable Cinderella run, Butler had to run the gauntlet of UT El Paso, Murray State, Syracuse, K State and Michigan State. They finally lost to Duke 61-59 in a game that ended up much closer than anyone expected. The tourney raises the question (again) of why the BCS still refuses to go to a playoff system that would allow such a story to develop in football.

Mike tells her to stay away from his plaque

Photo by Brad Ward

San Francisco Giants win the World Series

The San Francisco Giants paid another visit to the World Series in 2010 and finally won it all against the Texas Rangers. They did it with dominating pitching carried on the arm of Tim Lincecum… who looks like something right out of a hipster bar on the East Side of Austin or Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The bleachers

Photo by Randy Chiu

Brett Favre’s Penis

Okay… we’re not going to talk about that. So instead, we take a look at the recipient of such junk, former Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger. Hubba hubba hubba.

Olympian Killed in Tragic Luge Accident

The Winter Olympics were not without tragedy, this year. Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a practice run at British Columbia’s Whistler track when he lost control of his sled. The sled slid up the wall and he left the track hitting his head on a steel support pole. He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Luge

Photo by Cheuk-man Kong

Canada Checks the USA, Sidney Crosby booed on Return to Pittsburgh

Speaking of the Olympics, Men’s Hockey was dramatic with a highly-viewed final between the USA and Canada. The USA tied the game on an empty net push just before the end of regulation and Goalie Ryan Miller had his breakout, playing stellar hockey throughout the tournament. On shootouts, however, Pittsburgh Penguin star (and Canadian) Sidney Crosby scored the game winning shot to hand Canada a 3-2 win. On his return to Pittsburgh, Crosby was booed at Carnegie Mellon Arena. It was kinda surreal and satisfying.

Sid the Kid

Photo by Allie from Vancouver

Mike Vick Kills the Redskins in Prime Time

Mike Vick is back and bigger than ever. In 2010, he dominated the Washington Redskins on Nov 15, 59-28 putting up numbers that were both awesome and ridiculous. He put up 300+ passing yards, 50+ yards rushing, 4 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs. The Skins looked downright pedestrian.

Lebron James Defines Narcissist in Prime Time Announcement

Former Cleveland Cavaliers stars Lebron James made a spectacle of ego by holding a much-ballyhooed press conference to announce his intentions to return to the Cavs, or sign a deal with the Heat or Knicks. He announced he was “taking his talent to South Beach” and the Cavaliers owner promptly melted down. As did the fans.

LeBron James

Photo by Keith Allison

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