Friday, August 31, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Becoming a Man
I passed a milestone this week. I bought only my second can of shaving cream, ever. I'm a 32 year old man.
That's right, I haven't paid for a can of shaving cream since 1993. I bough my first can of shaving cream the summer after I graduated from high school. I had received a razor in the mail from Gillette. I have always assumed that they purchased my name from the government after I registered with Selective Service. After I got the razor, I went out and bought some shaving cream so that I could actually shave.
You see, unfortunately, my family is missing the hair gene. I have so little hair on my body that I'm surprised I actually have any hair on my head. But the hair on my head is really thick and I've oftened wondered why it couldn't spread out some. This has some unfortunate consequences, such as the kids in middle school who thought I did not have eyebrows because mine were blonde and very thin. (They have since darkened near the bridge of my nose, but still look thin overall.)
I have also always had a baby face. Becuase I have little hair, I don't shave very often. But that still does not explain why I only on my second can of shave cream.
That summer, when I moved to college, they gave everyone in the dorm a "good stuff" box full of supplies like shaving cream, a toothbrush, cologne samples, asprin samples. It was basically a marketing gimmick. Well, they had one of these boxes in every room. There was an excess case of these boxes that was placed in the lobby for anyone to take as they wanted. Being a very cheap person (and out on my own for the first time), I raided that case with several other people. I stocked up on everything: Shaving cream, colognes, pills, whatever else was in that box. Most of that stuff is long since gone. But I had probably 25 or 30 cans of shaving cream. They all fit in an old Timberland shoe box. The cans are sample size, so they were only three or four inches tall and they filled this shoe box.
Everytime I moved (in and out of the dorm, into apartments, different cities), that shoe box always went with me. I could never seem to make any headway on using up all that stuff and thought about throwing it out from time to time because I thought I would never use it all. But again, I can be a very cheap person, so it stayed with me.
The problem was exacerbated by the fact that I have actually owned a couple of electric razors over time. So I rarely did a wet shave...only for dates and important events. Day to day, I would use the electric razor.
Well, sometime last year, there was an unfortunate accident with the razor. It was knocked off the bathroom counter (by someone who shall remain nameless but knows who they are) onto the tile floor and broke. Shortly after, I got a real job and have been shaving three times a week.
Suddenly, I started moving through the last few cans I had fairly quickly. I knew I was close to running out, so I finally bought a new can last week. Sure enough, I emptied the last can this morning.
As corny as this sounds, as I threw that can away, I couldn't help but think about how that stupid little can of shaving cream was a physical connection to my days at Lipscomb and a time in my life when I was relatively carefree. Back then, I did not have a wife, bills to pay, job to worry about. Throwing that can away felt like severing one more cord that tied me to a great time.
Don't get me wrong. I love my life and I am looking forward to things that God has in store for me, but I tend to be (overly) nostalgic.
While that can of shaving cream is simply an object, it somehow represented more this morning. Who knew that God could use a stupid can of shaving cream to remind me to treasure the moments I have now with the ones I love?
I certainly didn't.
That's right, I haven't paid for a can of shaving cream since 1993. I bough my first can of shaving cream the summer after I graduated from high school. I had received a razor in the mail from Gillette. I have always assumed that they purchased my name from the government after I registered with Selective Service. After I got the razor, I went out and bought some shaving cream so that I could actually shave.
You see, unfortunately, my family is missing the hair gene. I have so little hair on my body that I'm surprised I actually have any hair on my head. But the hair on my head is really thick and I've oftened wondered why it couldn't spread out some. This has some unfortunate consequences, such as the kids in middle school who thought I did not have eyebrows because mine were blonde and very thin. (They have since darkened near the bridge of my nose, but still look thin overall.)
I have also always had a baby face. Becuase I have little hair, I don't shave very often. But that still does not explain why I only on my second can of shave cream.
That summer, when I moved to college, they gave everyone in the dorm a "good stuff" box full of supplies like shaving cream, a toothbrush, cologne samples, asprin samples. It was basically a marketing gimmick. Well, they had one of these boxes in every room. There was an excess case of these boxes that was placed in the lobby for anyone to take as they wanted. Being a very cheap person (and out on my own for the first time), I raided that case with several other people. I stocked up on everything: Shaving cream, colognes, pills, whatever else was in that box. Most of that stuff is long since gone. But I had probably 25 or 30 cans of shaving cream. They all fit in an old Timberland shoe box. The cans are sample size, so they were only three or four inches tall and they filled this shoe box.
Everytime I moved (in and out of the dorm, into apartments, different cities), that shoe box always went with me. I could never seem to make any headway on using up all that stuff and thought about throwing it out from time to time because I thought I would never use it all. But again, I can be a very cheap person, so it stayed with me.
The problem was exacerbated by the fact that I have actually owned a couple of electric razors over time. So I rarely did a wet shave...only for dates and important events. Day to day, I would use the electric razor.
Well, sometime last year, there was an unfortunate accident with the razor. It was knocked off the bathroom counter (by someone who shall remain nameless but knows who they are) onto the tile floor and broke. Shortly after, I got a real job and have been shaving three times a week.
Suddenly, I started moving through the last few cans I had fairly quickly. I knew I was close to running out, so I finally bought a new can last week. Sure enough, I emptied the last can this morning.
As corny as this sounds, as I threw that can away, I couldn't help but think about how that stupid little can of shaving cream was a physical connection to my days at Lipscomb and a time in my life when I was relatively carefree. Back then, I did not have a wife, bills to pay, job to worry about. Throwing that can away felt like severing one more cord that tied me to a great time.
Don't get me wrong. I love my life and I am looking forward to things that God has in store for me, but I tend to be (overly) nostalgic.
While that can of shaving cream is simply an object, it somehow represented more this morning. Who knew that God could use a stupid can of shaving cream to remind me to treasure the moments I have now with the ones I love?
I certainly didn't.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
New Mexico rules!
Having grown up in New Mexico, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the state and I will always keep an eye on the college programs there -- the UNM Lobos and the New Mexico State Aggies -- even though I am a big Hurricane fan. And ever since my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Breast Cancer right before my wedding, I have had an interest in the issue of Breast Cancer. So I was really pleased when I read this article this morning. My only regret is that I can't go to the game and support this effort.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Poof
Just like that, what had been a quiet storm season suddenly got interesting. Nothing to worry about yet, but we will keep a wary eye on the developments.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
I Shoulda Been a Cowboy!
I'll write about our annivesary later. Right now, Julie and I are about to head up to West Palm Beach to see Toby Keith tonight with our friends Jeff and Sarah. Jeff was in law school with me and is a fellow country music fan. The surprising thing is his wife wanted to go. She usually complains when he plays country music.
I'm really excited. I love Toby's music. One of the things Julie and I have missed since moving to Florida is country music. There is one station and it is just OK. When concerts come this far south, they usually only make it to West Palm, so we don't go to many of them. But this one is on the weekend, so we are going.
Hopefully it won't rain.
I'm really excited. I love Toby's music. One of the things Julie and I have missed since moving to Florida is country music. There is one station and it is just OK. When concerts come this far south, they usually only make it to West Palm, so we don't go to many of them. But this one is on the weekend, so we are going.
Hopefully it won't rain.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Celebration
After posting yesterday about the Dodgers' dismal performance, they came through with a win yesterday. Too bad they dug themselves a nice little hole that they will have a hard time escaping. I'm not hopeful for the playoffs just yet.
It's hard to get excited about preseason football, and no stock should be placed in what happens during the preseason, but it sure was nice to watch some football last night. It was really nice to see Tony Romo perform well in his two series. Hopefully he can shake off the playoff bobble and come back strong this year.
The real celebration is tonight. Julie and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Of course, we celebrated by putting off our real celebration until tonight. We'll be going to Red Fish Grill tonight because Julie wanted to do something on the water. We found out about this place earlier this year when we were supposed to have a firm dinner there. But when the Senior Partner tried to make reservations, the place had been booked for a wedding reception. So we were eager to try it out. We will also exchange our gifts tonight. We have had fun buying each other the traditional gifts and it is always fun to see how creative we can be. I had a bit of a mental block this year and was not as creative as I like to be. I hope that Julie likes what I got her.
But don't fret, there are a few romantic bones in my body and I did not let Tuesday pass without any recognition of the significance of the day. I woke Julie up at 12:05 A.M. to say happy anniversary first. I then brought her chocolate from a chocolate shop we found out about earlier this year near my office. She's been asking me to go get chocolate and I waited until now to surprise her with some.
So I'll post later to talk about our gifts and our dinner.
It's hard to get excited about preseason football, and no stock should be placed in what happens during the preseason, but it sure was nice to watch some football last night. It was really nice to see Tony Romo perform well in his two series. Hopefully he can shake off the playoff bobble and come back strong this year.
The real celebration is tonight. Julie and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Of course, we celebrated by putting off our real celebration until tonight. We'll be going to Red Fish Grill tonight because Julie wanted to do something on the water. We found out about this place earlier this year when we were supposed to have a firm dinner there. But when the Senior Partner tried to make reservations, the place had been booked for a wedding reception. So we were eager to try it out. We will also exchange our gifts tonight. We have had fun buying each other the traditional gifts and it is always fun to see how creative we can be. I had a bit of a mental block this year and was not as creative as I like to be. I hope that Julie likes what I got her.
But don't fret, there are a few romantic bones in my body and I did not let Tuesday pass without any recognition of the significance of the day. I woke Julie up at 12:05 A.M. to say happy anniversary first. I then brought her chocolate from a chocolate shop we found out about earlier this year near my office. She's been asking me to go get chocolate and I waited until now to surprise her with some.
So I'll post later to talk about our gifts and our dinner.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Baseball
Well, Barry Bonds has broken the all time homerun record. I can't stand it. Not so much because of the allegetions of steroids and other performance enhancers, but because the guy is a big jerk. He's an egotistical crybaby. To have him hold the home record and the The Face of baseball's most treasured statistic is a sad day.
I consider the post Barry Bonds era to be Baseball Held Hostage. Today is day 2. Hopefully one of these days Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols or some other power hitter will come along and break Bonds's record.
As for the Dodgers, they continue their annual tradition of fouling up the place after the All-Star break. They usually go in the tank right after the break. This year they waited a while...even built up a lead of a few games. Now they have lost 15 of the last 19 and have been shut out three straight games. As usual, looks like there is really nothing to be interested in beyond September again.
Of course, the best thing about baseball in August is that football is just around the corner. The Cowboys have been in camp for a while and have their first pre-season game tonight. And the Hurricanes started practicing this past week. This is an exciting time. If things come together, some people consider the Cowboys a contender in the NFC. Meanwhile, even though it will take a while to undo the damage of the Larry Coer era at UM (I liked the guy, but it became painfully evident the program was headed in the wrong direction), you can't help but be excited about Randy Shannon. Things are looking up.
So I am anxiously awaiting a new football season with a new coach for both my college and NFL teams. I guess we'll see how it goes.
Until kick-off, I can at least stay entertained with my fantasy baseball team. And who knows, maybe the Dodgers will sneak into th playoffs again so that they can get swept again just like last year.
I consider the post Barry Bonds era to be Baseball Held Hostage. Today is day 2. Hopefully one of these days Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols or some other power hitter will come along and break Bonds's record.
As for the Dodgers, they continue their annual tradition of fouling up the place after the All-Star break. They usually go in the tank right after the break. This year they waited a while...even built up a lead of a few games. Now they have lost 15 of the last 19 and have been shut out three straight games. As usual, looks like there is really nothing to be interested in beyond September again.
Of course, the best thing about baseball in August is that football is just around the corner. The Cowboys have been in camp for a while and have their first pre-season game tonight. And the Hurricanes started practicing this past week. This is an exciting time. If things come together, some people consider the Cowboys a contender in the NFC. Meanwhile, even though it will take a while to undo the damage of the Larry Coer era at UM (I liked the guy, but it became painfully evident the program was headed in the wrong direction), you can't help but be excited about Randy Shannon. Things are looking up.
So I am anxiously awaiting a new football season with a new coach for both my college and NFL teams. I guess we'll see how it goes.
Until kick-off, I can at least stay entertained with my fantasy baseball team. And who knows, maybe the Dodgers will sneak into th playoffs again so that they can get swept again just like last year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)