Stuff I'm Thankful For
What the hell, its Thanksgiving. Just spent some quality time with some of my friends, eating their food, hogging their computer, and gabbing it up about whatever nonsense fills our heads at the moment. So here's the whole list (well, the part I can think of at the moment) in no particular order:
1. All my friends. Yeah, I know I talk a mean game and can pretty much come across as a grizzled old man who's more than content to live life alone as long as I've got Vienna Sausages to eat over the sink and cold Mountain Dew in the fridge. But truth be told, there are those souls out there that, for reasons they'll take to their graves, have befriended myself. More power to em. Whether its friends I've gotten to know through Rocky, Hockey, blogging, online, offline, or any other life interest, you've all brought my life much merriment and learning and I'm a better person for knowing each and every one of you. Kudos for putting up with an angry ol cuss such as myself.
2. cheese in a can.
3. Any musician who has recorded anything I've listened to ... ever. Music is one of the true, pure joys I can claim in life. My CD or MP3 player never argues with me (I guess I can forgive the occassional power outages), plays precisely what I ask of it, and puts me in the mood for whatever I care to listen to. The last year especially has been pretty damned awesome what with me getting to see what will possibly the final performance of Jason & the Scorchers as well as my fave current band, The Donnas, on the cusp of what I hope is all the stardom they hope to achieve in life. Add to that the fact that the very first album I bought is going to be released on CD soon, and I've had a good run, musically.
4. The fine folks at Mountain Dew for creating a fine caffiennated drink, along with the new addition of Code Red. Dr Pepper is still worthy of praise and thanks for the many years of caffiene it has provided me as well. Its still the second most caffienated drink out there, and you have not lived till you go to Waco and visited the Dr Pepper Museum. I heartily recommend the Dr Pepper Malt.
5. Whoever came up with the idea of hockey. While I remain a fan of all sports, hockey has always had a captive fan with me. I hated to see the old Ft. Worth Texans fold in the early 80s, but I've got the next best thing to the NHL in my hometown right now, so I can't complain. Go Aeros!
6. Whoever came up with the idea of eternal hope. Cus being a University of Houston alum, it comes in mighty handy. I'm not big on idolizing sports heros, but all the ones I do have are from UH and have genuinely taught me a valuable life lesson based on their performance on the field of play. Danny Davis has taught me that anything is possible as long as you set your mind to it. David Klingler has taught me that sometimes the goals in life you aim for aren't necessarily the ones that God has in store for you. On a macro scale ... Football has taught me patience. Basketball has taught me even more patience. Baseball has taught me the joys of minor triumphs and major heartbreaks. Golf has taught me the joy of having a history to look back on with pride. And last, but not least, volleyball has taught me that women's sports are far more entertaining when women bounce.
7. The 99-cent hamburger. Sure, there's cheaper, but the idea of a 99-cent burger is that its a full size burger, but cheap. Whenever I have no clue what to eat, this old standbye will always remain by my side.
8. Wal Mart. The cheapskate within me has eternal thanks for knowing where to find the cheapest loaf of bread, the cheapest television, and the cheapest bland clothing.
9. Every source of comedic material I have ripped off since the dawn of time. Whether its Bob Newhart, Jerry Seinfeld, Stephen Wright, Sam Kinison, Lewis Black, or the inspired works of fellow Muppets, Statler & Waldorf ... you have each given my life's work a method to evoke my madness. I will continue to rip you all off from here to eternity.
10. My inner child ... for pretty much running the show. Job well done!