Just A Dad Who Can't Say No

It's Christmas time - traditions and such

2009-12-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

Posted this on the "Front Porch" of Kentucky Sports Report, so I'm double-dipping, I guess. But just seemed more appropriate here than there, anyway. The question was asked about the various holiday traditions, and this was what I wrote about my own family's holiday traditions at this time of year.

We load up the RV and head to cousin.....no, that was a movie. I think having the septic tank pumped Monday made me think I was cousin Eddie.

Our traditions are pretty basic, but they work for us.

On Christmas Eve, we head to a children's church service at 4:30. Would love to go downtown to the Mass Mick mentioned, but somehow we're always preoccupied right now at midnight. Probably anxious about Santa, I guess.

Afterwards, we have dinner with close friends of ours at an Italian restaurant. Has been Macaroni Grill for several years, but this year it's a new place over by where Mick lives that is supposed to be very good. Reservations for 13 (my family of 7, and theirs of 6).

We arrive back home--kids are always anxious to get this done very quickly--because when we come back home, we have "family" Christmas exchanging of gifts. The big day is still Christmas Day and Santa, but this is a good warmup act, with extended family gifts being opened, the kids who drew each others' names (one for each) give their gifts, and my wife and I give the kids our one--and only--gift that we give them each Christmas. I give my wife heck about this, but I am very proud of this tradition.

We give each child an ornament. It's a nice ornament, usually something from Waterford, Lenox, something like that, always dated, sometimes signed, whatever. My oldest child has 20 of them from us, and this year will be # 21. Each year my wife spends weeks looking for the perfect ornament, and we buy 8 of them--5 for our kids, and 3 for godchildren. Our stupid ornament bill is crazy each year (they can range up to about $40 each!), which is why I give my wife heck, but the kids look forward to what theirs will be each year, and they are put away so that they will have them for when they begin their lives away from ours, and hopefully continue that tradition.

Christmas Day is for Santa, and contrary to when I was growing up, Santa generally wraps all the gifts. I'd be interested in seeing what Santa does at your house--I know he varies from place to place. When I was a kid, it was like "excitement overload" coming into our den, and seeing all the gifts immediately. Our kids are like those time-controlled capsules, where the excitement is parcelled out gift by gift.

The kids and their parents have a deal we strike on Christmas Eve on what time they will get up. A few days prior to Christmas Eve, we try to acclimate them to staying up late and getting up late. You may note that last night I took my 9-year old and 10-year old to the UAB Butler game. Then took them to have blizzards at Dairy Queen thereafter, and they went to bed at 11. They slept in a little today, and will stay up late tonight, and then again, on Christmas Eve, with church, dinner out, then presents, it'll be a little late again.

Christmas Day we have sausage balls, Dr. Pepper (well, for some), cheese balls, and any holiday fare you'd want for breakfast, including cake, because, hey, it's Christmas. The kids don't overdo that because they think anything like that is a treat anyway. For me, Santa usually brings me a box of chocolate covered cherries. I've always loved them, never buy them, and only get it once a year. So guess what I'll be having to accompany my breakfast?

At some point during the day, naps will ensue--I usually read a book beginning at this time, or sometimes, I'll take a drive out myself just to enjoy 45 minutes or hour driving around with almost nobody else out. I usually combine it with finding a place that has a newspaper, or getting batteries Santa forgot to get, or whatever. If somebody wants to ride with me, they can, but usually toys or naps prevail over getting in the car, so it's time I have to myself to think about everything, give some private thanks and appreciate the many blessings that have been bestowed. My heart will be a little heavy this year without the normal telephone call to my Mom, but I'll probably have a little chat with her during that drive, too.

We'll have turkey, broccoli cheese casserole, green bean casserole, and some normal family favorites for "dinner," which will be around 2:00 usually. Turkey is a Bates house of turkey fully cooked smoked turkey, courtesy of the place I teach on Tuesday nights. They have one delivered to me each year, Fed Ex'd in dry ice in a styrofoam cooler, and it is greatly appreciated by my family.

This year we'll add some packing for the trip to the Music City Bowl, as we'll be leaving the next morning.

That's about it. I miss the old time trips we used to make to either my parents or my wife's parents, but as time evolved, with all of our kids and their activities, friends, etc., it just seemed that it was time for us to create our own traditions.

A performing week from Monday through Friday

2009-12-11T21:41:00.001-08:00

OK, so I lied--my next post is actually.....right now. Waiting on my daughter to finish work tonight so I can pick her up, so why not add some lagniappe--a little something extra, like that fist-bump fireworks on the McDonald's commercial?

Side note--is it sad that I can't remember watching television, but I remember a TV commercial? Sad.

Anyway, Monday night was the Oak Mountain High School Christmas Choral performance. Much fun and joy spread in that show, which I have attended seven consecutive years. This year is special for us, as Sarah is performing in Chanter (the women's show choir) and Con Brio (the mixed show choir), as she did last year, but Andrew is also performing in the Craftsmen (the men's show choir). What a joy it is to have a child in all 3 performing show choirs!

Chanter is doing a tribute to ABBA, "Mamma Mia," and they have a lot of fun. I love that music, particularly live--I have a Dream, Mamma Mia, S.O.S., Take a Chance on Me, and Dancing Queen were all performed Monday. The Craftsmen have a Pirates theme--interesting to see them weave in songs like "Shake your Booty," "Larger than Life," "Everybody, Rock Your Body," and "Come Sail Away." Con Brio's is a modern theme--Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Bush Kevin Rudolf, etc. Love seeing the girls sing hot-n-cold; the entire group singing Boom, Boom, Pow (wasn't sure about it until I saw it, then loved it right away).

First competition is January 16th this year, I think, in Montgomery. They also do Albertville and Homewood this year. They competed in Montgomery last year--their first time there--and Albertville and Homewood will be new venues for them, dropping longstanding Auburn and Opelika competitions. Closer for us, but I will miss the Auburn show choir festival especially. We had some great trips down there, and a lot of family fun.

Collin stepped up to the plate today and had several songs he acted as "cantor" for today at the Children's Mass in school. He auditioned for it a couple of weeks ago, and was selected, and had a lot of "mike time" today. He has a very good voice, but is a little tentative right now. You could see his confidence growing with each song, though. He enjoyed it, and felt proud later.

And then we finished off tonight with the Alabama Stage Door performance (see my post from long, long, ago--maybe 30 minutes).

The one thing that I missed that I enjoyed last year was Caitlin's voice jury at Alabama. She has been lucky to find a spot each semester to take voice classes at the University. Had to audition to get in--it's for non-music majors, but there are limited spots--and I believe she has had these lessons, or classes, each semester, or maybe every one except one. Basically "free" voice lessons, which she enjoys. Her end of semester voice jury this year was Monday at 4:15, and we could not get to Tuscaloosa and back in time for eveerything, so we had to miss it. Hopefully she will get more chances to do that before she graduates, and we will be able to fit it in.

Tomorrow we're back to sports, as Rachel's basketball team attempts to bounce back from an opening 50-10 loss last week. They played a WNBA team, or so it seemed. I'll have to post a pic of Rachel attempting to guard a player more than a head taller than her, or being sandwiched between two 7-footers. When I post the picture, you'll know there's not much exaggeration.

Hope to have more blog posts through the rest of this month. Would like to get 1-2 a week in, but it seems I can never do that, so I end up making these monsterously long posts that nobody would want to read, anyway. Doesn't matter, I still enjoy writing them.

Til next time.

Premiere of Alabama Stage Door - The Red Nosed Revue

2009-12-11T21:23:00.001-08:00

Had a very nice time tonight at an unusual setting, the North Shelby County Library. Tonight was the official opening performance of the Alabama Stage Door, a brand new community theater company organized by friends and catering to the talent in Birmingham, but particularly, North Shelby County.

Expected to enjoy a little light Christmas fare tonight, with low expectations. Instead, was treated to a night with some very heavy-hitters in talent, and a show that zipped by oh-too-quickly.

Yes, it had moments of home-spun, "we're family, and we're kinda putting this together as we go along." But all in all, just a great bunch of people, with some extraordinary voices and talents being shared to put all in the Christmas Spirit--and hopefully, give a nice boost to Alabama Stage Door and their goal of their first full-fledged show in June, 2010.

As usual, my blog wouldn't be complete, it seems, without a reference to my children. And today was no exception, as Rachel had the distinct honor of being the first performer ever to perform for the fledgling company, as she took center stage with her sweet rendition of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Yes, she just got music this afternoon for it. No, she did not rehearse it until today. Yes, she gave Donner a son in Santa's team, as she mentioned Donner twice (Sr. and Jr.?) and sat Comet out for this ride. But proudly went front and center in a small room (is there any more nerve-wracking?) and did a terrific job.

Her friend Casey (Colin-The Secret Garden; Chip-Beauty and the Beast Annie-Annie, Jr.) was in the show and did a great job, too. But the show wasn't a "kid's show," although there were a frew sprinkled here and there. Great Birmingham adult talent, emceed by Mike Bridges, was wonderful. I don't mean to leave anybody out, but will mention a few--Susan Cook, who we met when she played the lead role in Beauty and the Beast with Rachel and Casey, had a couple of numbers that were excellent. An acapella group of seven--the Augmented Seventh, a group of UAB Singers, were tremendous. David Coker and Tommy McDowell did a duet of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" that would do broadway and the big screen proud. The show ended with a flourish, with "Santa Baby" from Susan Cook, "Merry Christmas, Darling" from Emily Lunsford and "I'll be Home for Christmas," sung a capella by the powerfully-voiced Clay Boyce, was a terrific way to end the show. My apologies to all of the other wonderfully talented performers who contributed to the show as well.

I especially enjoyed Mike Bridges and a "special guest" in which he and Kermit the Frog sang, "I'll have a Green Christmas." I remember him doing that way-back-when my oldest child--now a junior in college--was in middle school or so. Haven't seen it since then, but it was as good as I remembered, and a big hit with the little ones in the audience.

Terrific show, certainly got the money's worth, a mere pittance of a donation for 2 hours of live entertainment at 1/4th to 1/3rd the cost of a typical show.

I wish Alabama Stage Door the very best. Good people involved, including Donna Corneil, who has such a great part in insuring successes of shows at OLV, and now Alabama Stage Door, Kathy Ellis, MikeBridges, Dava Fant and others. Community theater is tough, and right now may be especially tough. But if somebody can make it work, these people can. Support your local theater groups the best you can, all of them, but keep your eyes out for Alabama Stage Door. They can use a little extra special boost to get started. Then again, can't we all?

Will have another post tomorrow. Stay tuned--more music and performance stuff.

Of turkey, shopping and football

2009-11-28T09:38:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. We do not travel for Thanksgiving, and it's just an enjoyable family time filled with far too much eating.

This year we tried to entice my brother and nephew, along with my Dad, but were unsuccessful. Maybe next year.

Our usual "Black Friday" shopping took place as normal. This year, though, we were very heavy on the online Black Friday deals. Makes more sense to us to go ahead and secure that bargain deal online--if you can get it--rather than fight crowds and be disappointed later. Also gave us two bites at the apple in most cases, as many of the Black Friday deals were available online before the stores opened their doors.

Susan and I finished online shopping around 3:30 a.m. on Black Friday--at which point she headed out and never went to sleep. She finished the brick-and-mortar store shopping around 9 a.m., and came back home and grabbed just a few hours nap. Andrew and Caitlin both hit the stores as well. We managed some success, and ended up getting almost every single item we were looking for this year. With five kids, and the bargains sometimes just too good to pass up, it's a big day for us generally.

We enjoyed the Alabama vs Auburn Iron Bowl yesterday....with Caitlin home, my girls were all rooting for Alabama, with the boys rooting for Auburn, and me managing to irritate both sides by getting excited for every good play and not rooting for either. Tonight Kentucky plays Tennessee. I'm sorta on the hook for going to Kentucky's Bowl Game this year, and if they win tonight, they'll go to Tampa...which has been pointed out to me is only 85 miles from Orlando and Disneyworld. Connect the dots, and the kids are big UK fans tonight.

Lose and the Cats will probably be going to Nashville for the Music City Bowl, or possibly to Atlanta for the Chik-Fil-A Bowl. Smart money has them going back to Nashville, which will be fun, but doesn't have the "oomph" that the former Peach Bowl will have. I'm hoping for a Cat win, or in that absence, for the Cats to play well and convince the Chikin' Bowl reps that they'll make a good SEC representative in that game. Goodness knows, the Cats fans travel.

Anyway, nothing too specific here. I need to find some time to prepare an Exam for the law school class I"m teaching, and to grade some papers I need to grade this weekend, but all in all, still going to chill the rest of the weekend as much as possible.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all.

In this Secret Garden......of Mine

2009-11-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

Well, the show concluded Sunday afternoon, and what a wonderful weekend it was.

Rachel did a fabulous job as Mary Lennox--I was so proud of her, for her poise, her timing, and that terrific British accent she maintained from the opening of the show to the closing line (above). I did not realize so many people attended the performances based on the number of compliments we received on her. I'm starting to wonder if this might be a case where there were 200,000 people that claimed "they were there" when an event occurred in a stadium that holds 40,000 lol. Rachel performed the role Friday night and Saturday night, and realizing that I'm just a proud, biased parent, I thought she did a truly magnificent job acting the part. She worked SO hard on it, for many weeks prior to the performance, both at rehearsal, and at home (or my office), running lines, working on acting and blocking and cues, and generally treating it as a professional role for which she was obliged to work hard. And she did. Often when we ran lines, she would, just for the fun of it, recite Dickon's line, or Colin's line, or Mrs. Medlock's, just for fun before doing her own. That told me she really knew her stuff.

Anyway, it was a great weekend. My Dad, Mother-in-Law and Father-in-Law all came in for the show, and were not disappointed. Our Lady of the Valley may be an elementary/middle school, but the shows they put on are much better than you would expect from that show. The director, Mike Bridges, and the two wonderful ladies who assist him, Donna Corneil and Dava Fant, put their heart and soul into it. The lighting is good, the sound guys do a terrific job, and they try, best they might, to make everything the same quality as you might see anywhere around town.

I have mixed feelings on what they did this year with the show. They took the 18 "lead" characters, and double-cast all of them, with one "lead" playing two nights, and the other "lead" playing one. That gave 36 kids opportunities to have more of a role in the play, which is a great thing--but it also limited the actual time on stage rehearsing for any one of the individuals. With Mike and Donna there with scripts ready to whisper a cue, it works, and realizing that it is "merely" a school play, that's probably the right thing to do. I would've loved to have seen this play, though, with all of the leads getting full rehearsal time with it. It was an excellent play as it was, though, and I have no complaints.

It's back to normal (thank goodness) now, with "free time" available. Rachel will begin going to dance again; an activity she basically lost for the last two months during rehearsal. Basketball season has begun, but that will merely occupy 2 hours of her time a week now, and when she arrives home, there will be no more running lines for an hour or two. It's a joy to be in a play, but it's also a joy when it's over to relax and regain some free time.

For me, it's back to work. The last two weeks I'm involved fairly heavily in doing whatever publicity I can do for the play, taking and printing head shots, with captions, cropping, etc., taking cast photos (for souvenirs), taking photographs and/or videography during the play (photos dress rehearsal this year, video the actual performances), and even making a couple of "props" this year--old photographs blown up to 11 x 17 that came out wonderfully.

I'm taking a quick early lunch break to write this, as I haven't done much of it lately and don't want to let this go, but I probably should get something to eat and finish up. For now, I'll continue to be content that"the memories and miracles are ever so fine in this secret garden.....of mine."

It's not bragging if you can back it up

2009-09-17T09:32:00.001-07:00

I started to use an offshoot of the original story I read on this--something about "Lawyer seeking tax xxxempt status has no happy ending," but I thought this was more in line with my previous comments about Tom Watson, and age being nothing but a number.

I was amused Tuesday as I read a story about a 77-year old tax lawyer who was denied tax deductions. Normally that doesn't amuse me, but the nature of his deductions was a source of some interest.

Apparently, the old geezer--and I better watch it, as those numbers will be at me before I know it--was deducting more than $100,000 per year in, let's say, courtesan costs. The old boy, who was single/divorced, claimed that he needed these visits to ladies providing sexual services to combat his depression, erectile dysfunction, etc. and claimed the expenses as medical deductions. All in all, he deducted more than $300,000 in "provider" benefits, performance aids, and the like.

He kept a "Tax Log" for each visit, purportedly including the first name of the "medical" provider, and presumably, the cost of each encounter, and submitted that for his evidence.

Alas, the expenses were denied. Nasty tax laws about not deducting the illegal payments and such.

I have a theory. My theory is that the guy will benefit from the publicity generated by the story, and that was part of it, and maybe a little bragging was part of it, too. Hey, look what I've been doing in my spare time!

I teach an income tax law class on Tuesday nights, and the story was timely. I always joke with my class that tax law is "sex, drugs, and rock and roll," and the story set the theme for Tuesday night's adventure in tax. Wonder what next Tuesday night's tax law story will be. Stay tuned.

Brooklyn Tax Lawyer denied happy ending

Weekend Rest.........not!

2009-09-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Started the weekend late last night by giving directions over the phone to two young ladies misplaced in downtown Birmingham after attending the Taylor Swift concert. Bless their hearts, it was confusing to them, they couldn't make the GPS work, and really, downtown B'ham--especially north of the Civic Center--ain't a place for a 20-year old and 17-year old to be spending much time after 11 pm, is it?

Woke up this a.m. and drove Sarah and Andrew to the ACT. Once again, we (meaning "I") failed to register them early enough to get the Spain Park location near our house, so they were transported to Shades Valley, maybe a dozen or so miles from our abode. No worries, we hit Chik-Fil-A for biscuits and it gave them a chance to wake up a little before heading in to what will likely be their last ACT ever!

Collin has a soccer game at 12:00 noon, and the schedule-makers were not kind to us, as Rachel's volleyball match is at 12:00 noon as well. Split crew, and I draw volleyball since I am the coach.

No rest for the weary, as after the games today (and thanks to Caitlin for being home this weekend to pick up Sarah and Andrew), we'll be replacing an attic door and ladder. We'll need that so that we--or a critter control type person--can come in and figure out how to remove the squirrels--we think--that have taken up an unpaid residency in the top portion of our home. Didn't hear any noise this morning, but we have heard it, and believe we have squirrels. We hope.

Tomorrow I will need to meet with another lawyer on three matters we have ongoing and get some work done prior to the week starting bright and early Monday a.m. Tomorrow I will also be attending the Thespian Induction ceremony at OLV. Rachel will be recognized as an "apprentice," since she's a 5th grader, and it begins with 6th grade. In other Thespian news, Rachel was also cast as "Mary Lennox" in OLV's upcoming Fall production of "The Secret Garden." It is the non-musical version of the play, but we are all excited for her. It will be her first big "starring" role.

The Secret Garden musical has always been one of my favorite plays, mainly because some of my favorite actors here locally were in it, and did a fabulous job. I recall years ago CenterStage performed the show at the Badham Theatre at Indian Springs School, and it was just terrific. Brent Jones and Frank Thompson did a duet, "Lily's Eyes," that just poured out to you. Mike Bridges was terrific as Ben, the Gardener, and Sarah James, and really, the entire cast, were special in that performance. Caitlin has a DVD of the show that I need to borrow to watch again in my spare time.

Which brings me to the conclusion of this blog post today, of course. There is no weekend rest, and other than these brief few minutes, my spare time this weekend is, of course, non-existent. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Yawn.....

2009-09-04T03:14:00.001-07:00

After fighting being awake since 3:30, I decided to get up and start the day about an hour ago (4:15). Working for myself, sometimes that gives me a great chance to get a head start on the day, and as long as nobody is reading this blog, they don't have to know that I can sneak in a mid-morning "nap" while the rest of the world is back at work for real.

Of course, that doesn't work so well when I have a client meeting, does it?

Not to fear today, there are no meetings on the agenda, but it is "vacation day," when we will be leaving for the beach. With active kids and a 20-year old in her 3rd year of college, it has become a rare experience when we have all been together--I believe this is the first time in three years we've all gone away somewhere. These moments are becoming all too fleeting, and I am looking forward to this one.

We're operating a "split crew" as 4/7ths of the family will be leaving today around noon, and Andrew and I will be headed to Tuscaloosa to pick up Caitlin , leaving about 5 hours after everyone else, then on to Pensacola Beach. The hope here is that some of us may get some beach time today, with weather "iffy" for the next 4 days.

Will be a long day today, but the fruits of the labor will be worth it. Sounds a bit like my family, too.

Happy birthday, Mom!

2009-08-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

I hate that I missed most of Mom's birthdays in later years, other than a quick telephone call, but I daresay what I wouldn't give to have "just" that opportunity once more.

Was a busy day today with school, work, volleyball practice and baseball practice, but managed to think of her today at times. With Ted Kennedy's passing, most will remember August 26 in connection with that, but I'll continue to think of Mom on this date.

Hope you had a great one, Mom.

Our Town -just 2 hours left to see it

2009-08-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note for anyone that happens to randomly run across this blog, lives in the immediate area, and is looking for a way to spend an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

Run, don't walk, to South City Theatre in Alabaster for the final performance of "Our Town."

I had "date night" last night with my 10-year old daughter, Rachel, and we both thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Saw some old friends that did a wonderful job in the show. It's a show that relies heavily upon the characters' abilities to draw a picture from Thornton Wilder's wonderful story, with a minimalistic--if any--set. The characters were outstanding in their efforts to do so. Mike Bridges, the OLV Drama Director and Assistant Principal, was amazing in the role of Stage Manager ( a narrator-type role, for those who have not yet seen the play). I don't know how many lines he had, but to keep them all straight, and to keep the story moving, with nothing else there is a difficult role that he mastered.

Everyone was wonderful, and this is not a review--but Rachel and I both enjoyed the performance of Emily Lunsford, who had us laughing and crying at almost the same time with her rendition of, as luck would have it, young Emily. Frank Thompson's performance of the newspaper publisher Mr. Webb was spectacular, and a big shout to our friend Raymond Quintero, who I thought did a wonderful job in his role in the final act as the undertaker. Really helped to set the scene.

I worried slightly that the show would be "too much" for my 10-year old, but it wasn't. We enjoyed the ride home last night from the show, with her asking me questions like, "the people in the cemetery represented the people after they were dead, right?" Remember, she's ten. I thought she did a good job of grasping the Stage Manager's ability to talk about the characters and the setting "after" the fact, then rejoin the "present," and that was her way of making sure she still understood how the play was being put together.

But enough--if you run across this, check it out yourself in the final performance. You'll be glad you did.

Age ain't nothing but a number

2009-07-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

OK, so Tom Watson fell just a little short. Holding a 1-stroke lead heading into the 72nd--and final hole, the 59 year, 317 day old young man's adrenaline was pumping like a 17-year old's, and he hit an 8-iron about 200 yards, pure and solid--but just past the hole and over the green. From there he drew a less-than-favorable lie, putted it within about 8 feet, but left the par putt that would have won the British Open just a little short.

A 4-hole playoff with Stewart Cink saw time finally catch up with Mr. Watson, and a runner-up, rather than a championship, was his final fate.

But that ought to tell us all that age ain't nothing but a number. If a 60-year old man, one who had his hip replaced in October, can go to one of the toughest places in all of professional golf to not only compete--not only make the cut, but challenge for, and actually tie for the title--then how much is left in all of us as we age?

Next year I'll be hitting one of those "milestone" numbers. While plodding along just fine at age 49, you gotta peek ahead just a little. Thanks, Tom, for letting me know it's all good up ahead.

The thunder rolls

2009-07-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Raining in Birmingham this morning, or more accurately, enduring a thunderstorm in the vicinity. Thunder here truly "rolls" between the "mountains," and makes it very loud and hard to sleep. We were up late last night attempting to see what we could do with the rest of the summer, and I had planned on sleeping in a little--ha! 6:30 rolled around far too quickly today, but couldn't be helped with the gentle rain accompanied by the all-too-loud thunder.

So last night's activities are still fresh on my mind--having given up on a vacation due to this commitment or that commitment, the task is now placing kids in what camps or activities may be remaining. And even that's hard.

Took a large "desk calendar" from Office Depot yesterday, and filled it with remaining commitments the rest of the summer. There were blocks for days where there is literally no space left--between plays, rehearsals, Jr. Miss pageants (Sarah), golf (Andrew and Collin now), work (Sarah), college visits, trips to/from Tuscaloosa (Caitlin), doctor's appointments, social engagements (kids, not parents), school (Sarah), and the like, it made everything near-impossible.

For Rachel, who has been very busy 4 or so nights a week with play rehearsal (Leeds "Beauty and the Beast" opens this week--go see it!), just trying to find her an art workshop or camp. We missed out early this summer on a couple of opportunities, and it seems there aren't many opportunities remaining. But we're still looking.

For Collin, trying to balance soccer, basketball and golf. For golf, there are a couple of short clinics we're signing him up for, and that might be all we do. The best soccer camp we can find for what he needs overlaps with what our favorite basketball camp may be. So one of them may have to give, unless something else pops up.

But enough of a brief distraction from getting a few things done. Doing a little publicity for Beauty and the Beast this morning, as well as for Our Lady of the Valley, and need to get that accomplished before leaving to teach a class at 10. So back to it! The rain and the thunder isn't nearly so bad once you decide just to get up out of bed, by the way. I didn't feel that way around 6:15 this morning, though!

Happy Fourth of July

2009-07-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

No real theme to this post, so wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July seems as good as any, considering the date.

Been busy as usual. Trying to balance personal and business is always a tightrope walk with the wind gushing and operating without a net, it seems.

I guess the big story going on now is college visits. We have been to Auburn, Vanderbilt and Birmingham-Southern, and really liked two of the three. We had high hopes for all three and were disappointed with one. Next week we stay close, and visit Alabama on Tuesday and UAB on Thursday. Considering I teach a class on Monday and Wednesday, and considering that each week I pick up Caitlin from Tuscaloosa on Wednesday or Thursday and return her on Sunday, and considering Rachel is in play rehearsals four or five nights a week now--well, you can see how the tightrope act balances, can't you?

I've still been "tweeting," but most of it has been for Kentucky Sports Report, a quasi-business function, I guess. I have CartLaw and AlabamaLawyers, as well as DarrellKSR that I also "tweet from" on separate Twitter accounts, so those, plus this Blog, mean it's spread a little thin. Wish I could say the same for my waistline.

Was also volunteered to help Leeds with publicity for "Beauty and the Beast," the play that Rachel is in, and I'm glad to help. I like the director, Cliff Keen, and it has two of Rachel's schoolmates in it, as well as her school's drama director, Mike Bridges. Really doesn't take that much to help publicize an event like this, so I'm glad to do it. But adding that to the rest--well, I don't think I have reached that "straw that broke" but I can always see it nearer and nearer.

Went bike-shopping with Andrew yesterday. He's getting a more serious bike for his birthday. He enjoys bike-riding, and will no doubt take one with him to campus whereever he goes to school, so a good one is almost a college necessity for him. Saw a couple of bikes yesterday that cost more than a couple of cars I have bought. We're nowhere in that vicinity, but well over the low-end "Huffy" type bikes I'm used to buying.

Too much to do today to blog long, so I'll close. Here's wishing everyone has a happy, and safe, 4th of July holiday.

A Quiet Night....

2009-06-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

Rare, in my part of the woods.

Oldest daughter is at college this summer, but for only 4 days at a time (Sun-Wed.) Sue and Rachel are at her play rehearsal....play will be heating up soon. Tonight's rehearsal is expected to go well past 10:00 p.m. Glad school is out.

Sarah and Collin went to see Night at the Museum, II-the Smithsonian (I butchered the title, but something like that.)

Andrew is quietly on the computer, or working with his guitar. Not sure which.

Which leaves me sitting in blissful quiet--no radio, no television, telephone ringer is off, and virtually no noise. Amazing how good that can sound with just the click of keyboard keys gently interrupting the silence.

No profound thoughts tonight; just realized that I had not updated this blog in awhile and wanted to do so while I had a minute. I have, as usual, been busy--I go back and forth to Tuscaloosa twice a week now, school is winding down and I will have my "summer vacation"--all of one week off, before school begins again--and workload is very heavy right now. My "play" time, if you will, has been devoted to going to play basketball at the gym with Collin--managed to do that three times last week, and intend to do the same this week, too.

I now have some "Twitter" accounts where brief updates are posted. If you're one of the two people who occasionally read this, I can also be found at Twitter accounts CartLaw, AlabamaLawyers, DarrellKSR, and MyKSR1.

I reached age 49 last week, and age 50 now is ahead of me more quickly every day. I don't feel that old. I'm out of shape and overweight, but basketball--even though it's fairly gentle--still comes rather easily and I'm enjoying it. Looked at pictures from 23 years ago last week (from Hawaii), and saw how skinny I used to be. Would like to approach that again before I reach 50, and start over.

Not much of an exciting update this time, I know. Going to enjoy the quiet a little more before people start arriving back home. Wow, how sweet this sounds.

A moment of pause

2009-05-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

I had such high hopes for this blog. When I started it, it was going to meet two needs I thought I had--one, to satisfy my "pleasure" writing, to talk about my life, my family, in a little of a journal-diary sort of way. No reason for anyone to see it but me, but don't really mind if others do, either.

The other was a little of trying to connect a little more with my Mom and Dad. My Dad "threatened" to get a computer for several years, and my brother and I finally decided to get a small netbook computer for them for Christmas, and get them hooked up to the internet world. With that occurring, I thought this would be ideal for me to sit down late at night, or early in the morning and update what is going on. (note--it's 11:30 p.m., and I was also up on the computer this morning at 4:15 a.m. Kinda weird hours, but that's the nature of my sleep habits).

In my fantasy world, Mom would sit at home, with the netbook on her lap, and read about her son and his family and tell her coffee ladies, or lunch bunch about things I failed to mention during our weekly telephone calls. I pictured Mom sending emails to me, Sue, and connecting with her niece, Sandy through the internet. I thought she would get more use than Dad.

Unfortunately, as we know, Mom passed away before realizing any of this. On January 20 of this year she left our world for a better one. I now she's keeping up with us and our busy life, but I'm still disappointed that the plans did not work out as I thought.

My gusto for writing these blogs has been severely dampened by her passing. It's strange--at first I wasn't going to tell anyone; just write for the sake of writing--much as I am doing now--and then I thought how wonderful it could be to let Mom in this way.

So much has happened this year. The kids are all getting older, as we all are, of course. Wonderful moments are occurring-Caitlin continues to make us proud with her desire to succeed in school, and her acceptance into nursing school with stellar grades. Andrew and Sarah are rounding out into a very fine young man and woman. Rachel and Collin continue to delight us with school, play, and their activities.

I would have loved to have talked to Mom about little things, too.

* Rachel cooking dinner for the family with her girl scout troop. Should've seen her with her apron with "Rachel" on it.

* Collin and his up and down soccer season. He played "up" a year this year, and there were some good moments, and some not so good.

* Andrew progressing with his grades getting better and better, and his ACT scores looking like they will get him in the college he wants. He has matured and grown and is eye to eye with his Dad now, a big change from the days when his sister Sarah towered over him.

* Sarah, with her work, her friends, her show choirs, and her wonderful grades and personality. She's a handful, but we love her.

And not all good newes. Times like Caitlin having relationship issues with her boyfriend of several years, Michael. Or maybe her past boyfriend. I haven't asked many questions, but she has been very upset for days, although she is getting better.

Life goes on, the saying goes, though, and so will the blog.

Next week will be a busy one. I have a statute of limitations running the week after next, but with the bad schedule, may have to try to sneak in some work on it. Tuesday I have all day meetings planned. Wednesday I teach, and will likely be driving to Memphis thereafter. Thursday I will be in Memphis all day and come back late at night. And Friday I will (probably) be moving Caitlin back into her dorm. She has nursing orientation Saturday morning, but somehow Alabama has told us that she cannot move in until Sunday. They have required orientation a day before she can move in? Where are people from out of state supposed to stay?

In addition to this blog, I have four "Tweeter" accounts set up--one for Kentucky Sports Report (www.twitter.com/MyKSR1), one for me (twitter.com/DarrellKSR), one for my law practice (twitter.com/CartLaw) and one for a joint venture I'm doing with a colleague (twitter.com/AlabamaLawyers). So now in addition to this blog, and the posting, and writing on Kentucky Sports Report, I have "tweets" to post on four different Twitter accounts.

Collin's soccer season is over, but he's playing in a 3v3 tournament in a week, and may continue with other tournaments this summer.

Rachel is involved in her first community theatre production, which will take us deep into June and July. It has a three-week run of 10 performances, so in addition to many weeks of rehearsals, dress rehearsals, tech week, etc., she'll have a lot of actual performances, too. It's "Beauty and the Beast." Rachel is a beauty, but in this play, which is in Leeds, Alabama (birthplace of Charles Barkley, about 30 minutes from our house), she's a villager and castle character/pepper shaker. She'll be good in it.

We've been fighting with Sarah's school about a computer class they want her to take, and we don't want her to take, because it will bump either one of her two choir electives, or her 4th year of Spanish. So we've worked out a solution where she'll go to college this summer, take a college level computer course, get college credit for it, and get credit for the high school class.

We also were told earlier this week that neither Sarah nor Andrew would be allowed to take AP English--a decision that we do not agree with, as they have met all prerequisites, including teacher approval--and the principal advises they are working on a solution. We'll see.

And Sue, bless her heart, continues to make it all work somehow. Our house is a madhouse--literally. The schedules are one that would make a railroad train conductor dizzy. I have my G1 phone with all of its applications, and my Palm PDA, with its calendaring, and my Google calendar, and I sync everything daily (or almost so)--and somehow, I still miss things she just remembers. I don't know how she does it, but she does.

So there's a lengthy return to the blog--it's 11:55 now, a 25 minute blog, which is a very long one for me--and I'd really rather get back to more frequent, less wordy, but for now, we'll take what we can get.

Corridor "X"

2009-05-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Have made the trip to/from Memphis a couple of times now, and I can't decide whether I like the trip or dislike it.

It's on business, which requires me usually to arise around 4-4:30 a.m., drive 250+ miles to Memphis, spend all day looking at documents, and then drive back, usually getting back home between 9 pm-11 pm. Glamorous life of a lawyer, huh?

But Corridor "X" is the predecessor to what eventually will be I-22. It's a fine start for an interstate system, the road is great, and until you arrive just outside Memphis--if then--the traffic is very limited. So it's an easy trip.

But there's almost no scenery to speak of. And when you get on Corridor X outside of Jasper, be prepared to drive. And drive. And drive. Make sure your car is filled up with gas, you have eaten or have food supplies, and don't expect any bathroom breaks, as there just isn't anything at all for about 100-150 miles or more. Now, while I like to get on the road and get going, I also like the security of knowing there's a gas station/convenience store/restroom available in case either the car or I need refueling, or a pit stop. I intentionally refrain from drinking my general two large mugs of coffee in the morning, limiting it to sipping on one for many miles for fear of generating the need for a pit stop.

I don't know how long it will take for gas stations and convenience stores to be constructed along that highway, or what is needed to make it a full-fledged interstate. The two may be related. But for now, it's just a nice, easy, but kinda long drive due to the lack of conveniences along the way.

I think my next scheduled trip is May 26. I may see if we can do an overnight trip this time--drive up, start at a reasonable 10 a.m., work til 7 or 8 p.m., spend the night, and begin the next morning at 8 a.m. Seems more productive than making multiple trips....and if we spend the night, I know I can find rest rooms when I need them after I'm there.

May we never slow down

2009-05-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Weekend roared in and roared out. Collin had his First Communion today, which was a special event. It occurred while there were tornado sirens going on outside the church, with weather forecasts showing the church potentially in the path. Fortunately, we were spared all but the excitement.

Have finished editing/copying DVDs for How to Eat Like a Child and Dear Edwina, Jr. and will get them to the professional video place Thursday.

Rachel found out this weekend that she was cast in Leed's "Beauty and the Beast," and is floating on cloud 9. With tomorrow her 10th birthday, it was a nice birthday present.

Sarah's end-of-year show choir performance is tomorrow night at 6. I give a final exam from 5-7 pm tomorrow, but I managed to give a take-home Final so I think I'll be able to leave by about 5:30.

Tuesday I will be getting up at 4 a.m. to drive to Memphis. And the best part is, I will return Tuesday as well--nice, full day.

Wednesday is the read-through, or opening meeting for the cast of Beauty and the Beast.

Friday we may go to Tuscaloosa and help Caitlin pack up some things. Or at least we'll be going Saturday to load her up as she has to move out. Of course, her summer session begins May 29, so we'll be moving her back into a dorm then. And then we'll have to move her out of the dorm when the summer session ends. And then we'll have to move her into her apartment when she goes back for the Fall. More than a little ridiculous, if you ask me.

End of school things are happening, dance recitals for Sarah and Rachel, Collin's soccer through the rest of May with practices, matches, and tournaments, new play rehearsals for Rachel, and moving Caitlin home--and back again.

May we never slow down. Just don't spin fast enough that I fall off.

Just to get another post in before the month ends

2009-04-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

Looked up and saw another 17 days have passed. My, how time flies when you're having fun.

Since the last post, there have been double-digit number of soccer games and practices for Collin, Rachel has "starred" in "How to Eat Like a Child"--she's now on YouTube, officially, with her scene of "How to Beg For a Dog-Say Yes," tax returns have been done, and I have been back and forth to Tuscaloosa four times. And may go tomorrow.

Was proud of Rachel, as she, at nine years of age, decided to audition for the Leeds Art Council production of "Beauty and the Beast." She went Tuesday night and left feeling good that she did it, but figures realistically she won't get cast. Fingers are still crossed for a role--any role.

Had the pleasure of listening to oldest daughter Caitlin's "voice jury" today. Felt a little like a stalker as nobody is allowed in the room with her, but she told us we could hear her outside in the hallway, as she had heard others, and invited us to come. Was strange hearing her voice so high--she has undergone a lot of training--and she did the German song she sang justice. Afterward Sue, Caitlin, Collin, Rachel and I went out to dinner and enjoyed a nice evening together. Arrived back in Birmingham at the very reasonable hour of 8:30-ish, which tells you how nice it is to have a daughter only an hour or so away at college.

Back to work--have a deadline for some discovery tomorrow in a case and getting ready to call co-counsel on it. I'm hoping to pretty much finish up most of it tonight and have very little "official" that needs to occur tomorrow. Sue's mom is coming in from New Orleans on the 9:05 flight for Collin's first communion Sunday, Rachel's 10th birthday Monday, and Sarah's choral concert. In the meantime, we have soccer continuing, dance for Rachel and Sarah as they move toward recitals, girl scouts and boy scouts, volleyball registration and pre-season practices, and Sarah will be in the Shelby County Junior Miss Pageant this summer, and some preliminary work on that has begun. And school and work--and oh yeah, the class I teach at Jeff State has Final Exams Monday, too.

So everything about normal. Missed seeing my buddies Frank Thompson and Dianne Daniels do Harvey at South City Theatre, and was very disappointed that everything hit at once for two weeks surrounding their performances. I'm a big fan of cozy theatre, and enjoy the occasional "Harvey," non-musical, life-is-good, family friendly performances, and I have no doubt that it was a real treat that I missed. Maybe some day they'll repeat it and I'll be sure and catch it then.

Til later--a rededication toward more frequent updates. Oh, I've also started four Twitter accounts too, so I ought to be "updating" all over the place (3 are business related--one my own law practice, one a joint venture law practice with another attorney, and one Kentucky Sports Report). As I said, everything about normal.

One Short Day in the Emerald City

2009-04-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

Or, more accurately, in the Magic City of Birmingham.

Oh, but what I would do for Elphaba's magic spell book to give a little more time in each day. I glance at the old calendar PDA and it is filled each day. Sue and I wanted to go see Wicked--again--for a 3rd time in just over a week--if we can make it, but the odds of that appear long.

Tomorrow night--soccer. Wednesday night--dance--but if there was a way to get "lottery' tickets we could probably find a way to go for the 7:00 show. I teach at 5:00, though, so I can't be downtown at 4:30 and wait for the lottery at 5:00 "just in case." Thursday night--dress rehearsal for Rachel's "How to Eat Like a Child." Friday night--opening night show. Saturday is filled with a 12:00 soccer match, a 5:00 soccer match, and a Saturday night How to Eat Like a Child show at 7:00. Sunday has a 10:00 soccer match and a 2:00 matinee of How to Eat Like a Child, so that leaves the very last performance Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. Again, if there's a way to get lottery tickets at 4:30 p.m.--don't know how, since we'll be about 40 minutes away with a show that probably won't end until, oh, about 4:30 p.m.--but if we could, we'd try that one.

As you can see, each day is a short one in the old Magic City. I know I could pick up Balcony tickets again, but we've done that once, and would love to see the show again from a "reasonable" distance if possible. Watching it from the last row in Continental and the first row in Orchestra, as we did for Saturday's matinee, was incredible. I didn't realize just how much you "catch" when you're close enough to see facial expressions clearly, gestures, motions, and little things going on the stage that you missed from way up in the Netherlands from Balcony Row X.

We'll see. I won't hold my breath.

On a related note, my special thanks to Helene York (Glinda), Marcie Dodd (Elphaba), Colin Donnell (Fiyero), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Morrible), Tom McGowan (The Wizard), and Kristine Reese (Nessarose) who took time out to visit, sign autographs, and have their photos taken with Rachel, Caitlin, Sarah and Elizabeth (my niece) after the shows Saturday and Sunday. They could not have been more pleasant. Marcie Dodd saying, "I love little children" was such a wonderful thing for her to say. We wish them all the best and much success and happiness in their careers and in life.

One short day.....

Wicked-ly Wonderful

2009-04-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

Getting excited about seeing Wicked--again--this weekend. We have the "good" tickets from our group purchase for the Saturday matinee, with some truly excellent seats. Last night we whet our appetite as we had picked up some not-so-great tickets for a song and saw it--OMG, how good can a show be?

Very entertaining production--just watch it and the time flies by. I won't say Marcie Dodd as Elphaba stole the show, as this was a production incapable of one person "stealing," but her voice is truly incredible. Her "Defying Gravity" as the first Act closed was spine-tingling good.

I thought Helene York, playing Galinda, was up to the task acting the part of the self-absorbed rich beotch, but wasn't sure that her voice was as good as Dodd's. By Act II, she had more than held her own, however, and her comedic sense of timing was outstanding. I also thought Colin Donnell as the initially self-absorbed to match Galinda Fiero was wonderful, and had a voice to match.

The production itself was, well, quite a production. From the bubble Galinda comes down on in the opening scene, to the Wizard's mask, to the flying monkeys--who I thought did a terrific job of what a flying monkey would look like, act like, and move like, if they them--the whole thing was well worth the 5-stars awarded to it by Alec Harvey, and well worth the standing ovation that began before the curtain call for the entire cast.

And all of that was from the Netherlands, aka, Balcony, Row X. I felt like we were "defying gravity" ourselves from that far up, but we quickly forgot the distance and the angle when the wonderful actors and the production started. Will have great orchestra seats for Saturday's performance, dead center, or better Saturday. I can't wait.

Wasting away again in Margaritaville

2009-03-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well, there have been no margaritas made or consumed--yet, but we arrived at Santa Rosa Beach yesterday for a sorely needed attitude adjustment session.

Weather is beautiful, about 80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. Had a beautiful sunset we watched go down over the ocean yesterday, settling gently down from the hot yellow to the fiery reddish-orange with a purple tinge.

Just before the sun set we watched the dolphins playing about 75 yards from shore. Wonderful day.

Mid-March Madness

2009-03-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

Busy time of the year, and college basketball is at its zenith. That's not a good combination for me.

Postponed a meeting I had today scheduled at 1:30 because my Wildcats were playing with a tipoff at 12:00 noon. We rescheduled to tomorrow at 1:00.

So Kentucky wins today, and their next game is--yes, tomorrow at 12:00 noon again. Rescheduled meeting again for Monday. There are no games scheduled Monday, so I should be ok.

Have a client with a near-emergency need to get something filed in the next few days to thwart an unjust Order. Being a solo you can't exactly turn down those kind of things when they come in; you just make time and do it. Next week is the kids' Spring Break, but Sarah is working this weekend, and to my knowledge, we have no plans to go out of town. The two schools where I teach are both in session next week, and I am subbing for another teacher on Wednesday as well, so odds of doing anything look slim.

Maybe there will be a last minute trip somewhere, who knows?

Glamorous life

2009-02-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

Highlight of my work week? Getting up at 4 a.m. to drive to Memphis, spend all day poring over 46 banker's boxes filled with documents, and driving back to get home at 9:30 p.m., skipping dinner.

Glamorous life, huh?

On the "good news" front, I was selected by Birmingham Magazine as one of Birmingham's Top Attorneys for 2009. Page 104, top of the page, you'll find my name as the first name listed under the category of "Tax" attorneys.

Err, that is, spelled "Darell." Yup, they misspelled it. At least they spelled the last name right, and the name of the firm correctly.

A good day of sports

2009-02-21T12:28:00.001-08:00

Rachel's team played at 9, and won again easily, 17-4. She played some point guard as well as forward (her usual position), so she was excited about that.

Collin's team (the one I coach) had an easy time today, winning 30-6. I'm a big believer in sportsmanship, and having had a child play on the opposite end of more than one lopsided score, it's a difficult thing for me to see even being on the other side. Today we played everybody, kept our "star" players out more than half the game, inverted our guards and forwards and centers so they were all playing different positions, asked our main scoring threats to pass the ball to others who had not scored so they could shoot--and we still won by 24. We had six different players score, and it could have been all nine pretty easily, as the other three had multiple shots that just did not go in.

Didn't like the way the schedule lined up--next week we play the undefeated team who has not played a close game all year--except one. We lost to them in overtime by 2. I'm sure they'll be looking for revenge, believing we caught them off guard. We'll see. We've had no practices in two weeks now due to gym conflict, and have 1/2 court on Thursday for an hour, so there will be little-to-no preparation for the game. We'll still show up. We'd like to win.

Then saw my beloved Wildcats whip our hated rivals, the Tennessee Vols, by 19 on a CBS telecast. Always enjoy that.

Collin and I shot baskets at halftime, and he's shooting again. That boy loves basketball.

Ahh, young hope and audition time

2009-02-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

It's time for the elementary school spring musical, and Rachel is excited. She has decided she will sing "Good Morning, Baltimore" for her audition piece and asked me to print the lyrics for her tonight so she can begin memorizing them.

The plays this Spring will be something that the school has never done before. Instead of one play, they are splitting them up into two One Act musical comedies. The first one, "Dear Edwina," will feature only children from 6th, 7th and 8th grades. The second one, "How to Eat Like a Child," will be just for children from 1st through 5th grades, so Rachel is excited about having an opportunity for a bigger role than "normal." She's a good little actress, expressive, dedicated, and with a sweet voice, but you never know. Wish her luck.

Collin--well, who knows if he'll try or not. Basketball season is coming to an end, and soccer is about to start, and that may be enough for him. We'll see.

It's Thursday, and plans "mostly" set

2009-02-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

"Chanter," the women's show choir, is going to Opelika Friday because they perform so early Saturday morning. We, on the other hand, will stay in Birmingham Saturday morning to watch Collin and Rachel run the Kid's Mercedes Marathon. We should be done by 11, and then we'll hop down to Opelika and get there by 1-1:30 or so (depending on if we drop off kids at home or not).

"Con Brio" performs at 2:40, so we should be fine for arriving before then. So we will miss Sarah in Chanter, but see her in Con Brio.

We will not be making a late night out of it, but may hang around a little longer to see how things are going. I think they have a "top five" groups that perform later, and if Chanter or Con Brio make it, Sarah would perform again--but we'll likely miss that, since we wouldn't know if they were performing until we will probably be back in Birmingham.

Will be busy, a lot of camera and video work, and about 250 miles, I figure--probably on an Enterprise rental car. Let's see....where else can we go Sunday to maximize that car?

It's Tuesday..time to plan for the weekend

2009-02-10T12:02:00.001-08:00

That's sort of a misnomer. Planning would be something you do and stick to it. That's not often our modus operandi.

This weekend should be a "down" weekend for us. Neither Rachel nor Collin have a basketball game. Both are running in the kids version of the "Mercedes Marathon" Saturday morning and we're trying to work out the time (they are different for different ages, but they will allow you to switch times if you need).

Sarah is completing the 3rd and final "public competition" for show choir this weekend. Three weeks ago she was in Montgomery, and after a weekend off, was in Auburn last weekend. This weekend she's in Opelika. We were toying with the idea that we may skip it--rumor has it they may be competing as early as 8 a.m., and Opelika is a 2-hour drive--but she may be doing more with the mixed group than she normally does, and if so, we'd like to see it. So we're waiting on the schedule to be revealed (hopefully she'll know when she gets home today) to see if we can work it out.

Our ideal situation would be if they compete in the afternoon, so we could watch Collin and Rachel run and then go to Opelika. If Sarah has that "enhanced" role, at least I will go and tape it, but I've never seen the Mercedes Marathon, and hopefully can fit it all in.

Sunday should be a down day. That'll be nice.

A typical busy weekend...and thanks to Enterprise

2009-02-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

Sitting here relaxing with a cup of coffee, watching Collin eat his cheerios and drink his chocolate milk I made, reading about the Kentucky Wildcats, and posting a couple of stories from my favorite UK writer, Larry Vaught doesn't sound like "busy." It's just the calm after/before the storm.

Everybody else at the house is still sleeping in, after we arrived back home around midnight last night. Yesterday Rachel had a basketball game at 11 a.m., and Sarah was competing in the Auburn Show Choir festival. Sarah's groups performed at 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., so we had time to go to Rachel's game across town--or at least part of it.

Spoke to her coach and asked if we could take her out early. She said, "NO!," just kidding. So I told her we wouldn't leave unless we had a 10-point lead.

Rachel scored the first bucket of the game on a rebound and offensive putback--for being one of the shorter players, I'm always excited to see a rebound--and we were off. But the whole team was "off," and we struggled to a 9-4 halftime lead. So we stayed for the 3rd quarter. Rachel scored another basket in the 3rd quarter, and the team broke out of its funk to outscore their opponent 12-2 in the quarter, and we left as the 4th quarter began with us scoring again for a 23-6 lead.

We zipped down to Auburn in a little Chevy Aveo rental car from Enterprise. We have three older cars, and when we go out of town--almost always, surrounding a weekend--we get a rental car from the good people at Enterprise. Their 50% weekend rates are very good and hard to turn down for anybody, much less people with cars with odometers all in the 6 figures, as we have. For $15 a day for two days (picked it up Sat a.m. at 9 a.m.), it's hard to beat. Also figured we're getting well in excess of 30 mpg, which is probably close to double the mpg we'd be getting with the van, so our fuel costs are being cut in half.

Caitlin came down from Tuscaloosa for the weekend so she could go to the Festival as well, and visit with Auburn friends from high school. She spent the night in Auburn with a friend and will be coming back to B'ham today. Michael gave her a ride to B'ham, but we will take her back this afternoon--after Collin's 4:00 basketball game, and maybe after Rachel's 5:00 basketball practice. (Oh yeah--we'll be using the rental car again. Did I say we maximize the use of those cars? I'll put over 400 miles on it this weekend, all for $30. Better their cars than mine).

We had a good time at the Festival yesterday, but none of the OMHS show choirs placed, a very disappointing result. Last week we were in Montgomery at a larger competition--and the women's show choir finished 1st, the men's show choir finished 1st, and the mixed show choir finished 2nd. So you never know what judges are thinking.

Next week ends what I call their "spectator competition season," as they travel to Opelika for the Southern Showcase. After that, they will have some different types of regional/state competition that are during school hours, and not meant for spectators. Sarah has been an alternate this year with the mixed group--she does two of their five or six songs in competition--but next week she is supposed to do all six (of course, in addition to performing all the songs with the women's show choir). So if at all possible, we'll try to make it to Opelika next week, too. (Enterprise, keep a car back for me, willya?)

Off to get ready for church.

A few memories and thoughts about Mom

2009-01-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

Mom fought a hard fight, and was the "miracle lady" to survive as long as she did. Three years ago, when I ran her doctor out of her room who told her she was going to die in that hospital bed, my dad could not cook, clean, wash clothes, or even dress himself. He's color-blind, and wears a suit seven days a week, so you can imagine the possibilities. Mom used to shake her head over things that he thought looked good together. I truly believe that the reason she lived as long as she did was because she knew Dad would be even more lost than he is today had she died then.

Those two loved each other so much. Mom once told Dad that she wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth, something I bet they told me a million times. Just three weeks short of making their 50th wedding anniversary, she obviously changed her mind many years ago, and my brother and I, and my wife and Mom's six grandchildren are glad she did.

Mom supported Dad in so many ways, but she also had a way of keeping Dad grounded. Dad told some old stories while we were there looking at pictures, some of which I had heard many times, and others that were new to me. One story he told couldn't help but make me laugh. Dad was giving a speech one day at one of his conventions, and he thought he did a pretty good job. Mom had traveled to the convention with him, and at the end of the speech, he received a standing ovation. (Dad later said that it didn't hurt that he was their boss, and that "might've" had something to do with it.)

Anyway, after the speech, he and Mom went to lunch together, and Dad--feeling his oats, looked over at Mom and told her, "You know, there aren't that many great speechmakers in the world."

Without batting an eye, Mom looked at him and said, "And there's one less than you think there is."

That was Mom, keeping the equilibrium where it should be. Mom and Dad have lived a modest life, never having much money, but plenty to make them happy. When she survived the April, 2006 hospital stay, Dad told her that they could do anything she wanted--he asked her if she wanted to go to Paris or Italy, or anywhere, and they could. Of course, she was on oxygen and traveling anywhere was an ordeal, but she told him that she was happy being right where she was. And she was.

Mom loved Kentucky basketball, and as we did our moving from Kentucky, her love for the Wildcats didn't stop. Some of the logistics became difficult following them--living in Mobile, and finding radio reception for games was troublesome, having the rare televised game in the early to mid 1970's was like finding gold. Mom and Dad were polar opposites when it came to being a Kentucky fan--Mom was patient, never gave up (she and I would watch the 31-point comeback; Dad calls it a UK loss when they fall behind in a game, turns the game off, walks out of the room--and then returns). They were a perfect yin and yang.

The story I remember most about Mom and Kentucky basketball was when we lived in Mobile. The year that Adolph Rupp retired, Kentucky was struggling with "new" coach Joe B. Hall, and one of the Mobile Press Register sportswriters wrote a column that said, "Rupp is gone, and so are the Wildcats."

Mom cut out the article and saved it--she knew she would need it, and showing her patience, sure enough, the Wildcats rallied and won the Southeastern Conference. She wrote a letter to the newspaper and told the writer he was right--"Rupp is gone, and so are the Wildcats....straight to the NCAA tournament as SEC champions."

They published her letter in the paper and I think it embarrassed her. She never wanted fanfare; that wasn't why she wrote the letter--but her husband and children were proud of that letter.

I could tell so many stories--we all have them of our Moms and Dads, I know. So many good memories.

As most of you know, I have five children, a rather large family in today's times, and it comes with the price of a very busy lifestyle. I wished we had time to visit more with Mom and Dad, and I wished we lived close enough where she could've visited more with us. Several years ago, I thought about calling Mom one night as I drove to teach the Tuesday night law school class I teach, and did. It's about a 30-40 minute trip. The next week I made the same call. And for almost every Tuesday night after that, we had the same tradition. My brother would laugh about Mom running him off the phone--"It's Tuesday night, and Darrell will be calling," she would tell him.

Mom would "take notes" of our phone conversations--she would tell me about Dad and work (he's 74, and still working), my brother Ray and his little boy Casey, and I would go down the list and tell her about the week's activities with all five of my children. She was so, so proud of her grandchildren--and would've been if they never accomplished anything. After Dad arrived home, she would take those notes, and relive our telephone conversation with him.

Mom never minded that I was in a car, with the cell phone occasionally dropping, or an occasional child or my wife calling in where I'd have to take that call. It worked so well with my busy life that often if I found myself in a car for 20-30 minutes, I'd make a call to her. In fact, while I was taking care of a few minor errands before leaving town for her funeral, I thought of something I wanted to tell Mom, and instinctively reached for my phone to call her. I bet I'm going to do that a million times.

Since Mom went to the hospital, I've either been there, or have called daily to check on her. I often spoke with my brother, who was probably a little more accurate on giving me the straight scoop than my Dad, who was often around my Mom after she arrived back at home, and probably wanted to stay optimistic the entire time.

I've been emotionally preparing for what happened this week for almost three years, knowing the ultimate outcome would be what it was. I called Mom Monday night--the last week or so, it was really calling Dad, as she was weak and slept a lot--and during the conversation with my Dad, she woke up before I ended it, and told me she loved me. I told her I loved her.

That was the last thing I ever heard her say, and the last thing she ever heard me say. It wouldn't matter-we know our family's love is strong--but I'm still glad I called Monday night before she died. I'm also glad I spent six days with her in the hospital right before she came home. Losing Mom, it's hard to appreciate all the blessings we truly had, some of these among them. Not too many people are fortunate enough to know and be able to cherish those moments.

Thanks for letting me write just a little about Mom. As Dad told his preacher and my brother and I, if she's not in heaven in a better place, there's not much chance for the rest of us.

God bless us all. He blessed my life with my Mom for all 48 of my years.

A loss

2009-01-20T17:29:00.000-08:00

I wish I were writing about a ballgame one of my children lost, or someone's job. Those would be a lot easier to handle.

My mom passed away peacefully in her sleep early this morning. With my Dad, and her husband of 49 years, 11+ months at her side, I am certain that is the way she would have planned it if she could.

I know she's in a better place, and free from the restrictions she had in later life, but it makes it no easier. I spoke to her last night--she told me she loved me, I told her I loved her, and that's how we ended the conversation. I did not know those would be the last words I'd hear from her.

I was driving today and thought about something I wanted to tell her. I often spoke to her in my car while driving to/from somewhere and had a few minutes to spare. She never minded the road noise, or the dropped calls (sometimes), or the occasional child calling in that I'd tell her I had to get, or even walking into my class or my home and the zoo that normally exists interrupting or terminating our conversation.

Mom, I'm sure I'll reach for the phone and call you soon. Somehow, like you always were, I know you'll answer my call.

Back in town

2009-01-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

Mom has improved such that she's in a private room--I returned home on Wednesday after six days in Monroe, and with Mom moving out of CVICU later that day. She's doing much better, although there are still some issues that we don't want to dwell on too much. I'm happy she's getting stronger, and pray she will continue to regain health.

Nothing critical was going on when I returned, but just a ton of "little things" needed addressing--it's all I can do to remember most of them--and it just reminds me why I don't take many true vacations. Just too stressful to return after taking many days off.

Collin's first basketball game of the season is tomorrow (I can't remember if I have mentioned, but I am--of course--his head coach.) We lost by 1-point to this same team last year, so we hopefully have the revenge factor going for us.

Back to work...too much to do to blog.

Waiting in the CVICU Waiting Room

2009-01-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

Well, my New Year's Day trip to Monroe, La. has continued through today. I changed my plans of going to Memphis and instead headed out Jan. 1 for here, and stayed here. Mom is still in CVICU, but doing better. I arrived here this morning in the hopes of speaking to her pulmonary physician about 2-1/2 hours before visiting hours, but I have not been summoned.

Brought my laptop with me, and was pleasantly surprised to see the hospital had wireless internet available.

Cell phone coverage in this area for my cell phone is horrible--I generally have to drive about 10 minutes into town to get solid coverage--but with the holidays, I don't think I have missed much in work. I miss my own family and kids, and hope to get back soon and see them.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T20:27:00.000-08:00

We're 1 hr, 33 minutes from 2009 in this part of the world, but only 33 minutes on the East Coast. The end of 2008 brought some last minute client issues that caused me to work when I basically was taking some time off, but they were for friends, and really not terribly burdensome.

My Mom is in the hospital, and prospects don't look good for her. Any random thoughts and prayers that anyone can pass along her way would be appreciated. She was taken by ambulance Monday morning struggling with her breathing. The doctors said she wouldn't survive a similar episode in April, 2006, but she did, and even the doctors credit prayers and a miracle. Well, we need one more.

Mom does not appear to be in imminent danger at this point, but before a potential dangerous situation presents itself, I'll be headed there. My plans--which are subject to change--are to head to Memphis tomorrow and cover the Kentucky bowl game Friday, and then head to Monroe on Saturday. I pray that the New Year will be a good one for us all.

Winding down 2008

2008-12-30T07:21:00.001-08:00

Wow. Christmas came and went. The kids were excited when Santa came, and disappointed when their two "Elves," (Elfis and Claire) departed for the North Pole after their month-long visit with us.

I have basically taken the last ten days or so of 2008 off, with the exception of a couple of pressing needs for clients that could be handled remotely. Visited Sue's family in New Orleans last weekend--leaving Caitlin, Sarah and Andrew to hold down the household while Sue, Collin, Rachel and I departed for two nights. Had a great visit, and a wonderful dining experience at La Parvenu, a restaurant in North Kenner--highly recommended if you're in the New Orleans area. Setting is in a quaint house, and the food was spectacular--at least the artichoke soup, salad, filet mignon, bread pudding and lemon crepes. Hey, I split desserts, so don't think I ate all of it.

Yesterday the boys and I joined friends and attended the PapaJohns.com Bowl game between Rutgers and North Carolina State. We were handed Rutgers signs and "clappers" from a very well-organized cheering section when we went in, found ourselves generally on the Rutgers side of the field, and so we became Rutgers fans for the day. They won in an exciting 29-23 contest, and the boys had a great time.

In the not-so-good news category, my Mom is not doing well and was taken by ambulance to the hospital yesterday. She suffers from COPD after years of smoking. She was intubated yesterday, and my Dad and brother, both of whom live there in Monroe, La., were optimistic based on what the doctors were saying. One day at a time, though, and any spare prayers you may have to go this way are appreciated.

Counting down to Christmas

2008-12-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

It's a busy time of the year. Clients want end-of-year things done. Christmas shopping continues, although my limited requirements are shopping for my lovely wife--who, generally without complaint, shops for all of my family as well as hers. She also does the shopping for my Mom, who is limited by her health.

Caitlin is home from college where she has completed her Fall semester at Alabama, and will officially be a Junior in number of hours a semester early. She has done extremely well, and has thrived socially and academically in that environment.

Sarah and Andrew are finishing up their classes this week--it's still important, as OMHS counts "semester" grades only, and this quarter will end the 1st semester. Both are doing very fine in their classes and we have no worries about their success.

Collin's birthday is 4 days before Christmas, and this week his class will celebrate his birthday with doughnuts Sue will bring in for him. Rachel is in front of the television drawing Christmas pictures--she has no homework tonight, for the first time in many weeks (during the weekday).

All in all, it truly is a wonderful time. And that's even before Santa Claus visits.

8 hours of Sleep? Ha!

2008-12-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

They say a person needs eight hours of sleep a day, or maybe a little more when they are a teenager. Just finished helping Sarah go through conversational Spanish (it's their final for this quarter), so she won't be in bed until midnight.

And I'm taking a look at a Critical Book Review Andrew is turning in tomorrow for his History class--he's still up, finishing it--so he'll be a "Monday morning bedtime" as well. Both will be rising around 6 a.m., and, well, even I can do the math.

After both took the ACT yesterday and Collin and I discussed them leaving for college--somehow I don't mind that they asked Dad for a little help today. Soon enough I won't have that privilege. I'll miss it more than the sleep.

It's ACT Time Again...

2008-12-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

Dropped Sarah and Andrew off this morning at Spain Park High School to take their ACT. They have both done well on the last one they took at the end of their sophomore year, and attributed some of it to taking several practice exams in June before the test. This one--no preparation at all, so they have little-to-no expectations. Sort of another "tune-up" getting used to it.

Collin came in and asked where they were and I told him that they were taking college entrance exams, and he asked if they were going to college. With a little melancholy, I told him that year-after-next there would be only Collin, Rachel, Mom and Dad at home, with the three older ones in college.

Life goes by fast.

Speaking of fast, Spain Park High School is immediately past Jefferson State Community College where I'll be teaching. With very little Saturday morning traffic, I timed how long it took from my driveway to the building I will be teaching in (you pass it on the way in to Spain Park). It was all of 4 minutes. I think I'm going to like that.

Hey, a new teaching gig....

2008-12-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

Went to speak with the program director at Jefferson State Community College and was offered a class to teach for the spring semester. I'm excited about the class for two reasons--one, it's in an area I very much enjoy--the societal issues surrounding law and business, and two--it's in my backyard. Almost literally.

The class is taught at the Shelby campus on Valleydale Road, which, I guess if you really stretch it, may be 3 miles from my house. It's a 5:00 - 6:15 class, so it makes for an easy arrival home by 6:30, which is not too late at all.

New class, which means a) I haven't read the materials; b) I haven't prepared any materials; and c) since I haven't taught it before, I'm in for a learning curve. New school for me, so I have to learn all the ins and outs, protocol, etc.

I counted them up today--this will be the 21st different course I have taught, either in college or law school. Maybe I should open my own college.

Calendar Madness

2008-12-10T22:18:00.000-08:00

As I printed out Collin's basketball schedule so I could input it on my PDA, and Rachel's basketball schedule, so I could input it on my PDA, and Sarah's show choir competitions, so I could input it on my PDA, I received a call from Susan reminding me of the HVAC guy coming tomorrow, Collin's cub scout meeting tomorrow that conflicts with Rachel's swim practice (as well as a conference call I have in my "other" job that occasionally pays for some of these events) and dance practice.

I look at my PDA every week and every week it's the same thing--I see "pieces" of free time, even when my work week is slow. And every week it's the same thing--it doesn't include Sarah's work schedule, or the kids needing a ride to the movies, or for laser tag, or whatever.

I find myself every week making a "Weekly To Do" List. It is combined with personal and business things "to do." I prioritize each of them from 0 to 5 (0 being OH-right now important, to 5 being "done.")

And each week I find that I put more and more of the priorities down to "4"--as close to 'done' as you can get, sorta out of sight, out of mind.

There's just too much to do. Too many calendared events. Too many places a child *has* to be, too many things they *have* to do. It's fun for them, and enjoyable for us, as parents, but sometimes you've just gotta slow down and take stock.

I think I'm going to call a week long moratorium on "events." Let me find my calendar and see when I can fit that in......

Arrested in Tuscaloosa

2008-12-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Almost.

Caitlin attends the University of Alabama, and Sarah was going to spend the weekend with her and attend the Alabama - Auburn game, or the "Iron Bowl," as they call it. So I dropped her off at the dorm and stopped in at a Sam's Club before returning home to do a little shopping.

No problems yet.

It was around 1:00 and I thought I'd check with Susan and see if I needed to look for anything that we missed on Black Friday, and grab a bite to eat at the world-famous Sam's Club dining facility. Hot dog and a coke was $1.70. Hey, at least you can't beat the price.

So I gobbled down the drink and coke, threw away my trash (it was disgusting how some people are animals and left their leftover food wrappers, receipts, and drinks on a table without cleaning it themselves. So I was careful to make sure I threw away all the trash.)

A quick look around, a refill on my Diet Lemonade ("one for the road,") and I was headed out the door.

The Sam's Club Police Force stopped me before I made it through the door.

"Sir, I have to see your receipt."

I was startled. I looked to see if I was carrying something, or picked up something absent-mindedly and forgot to check out. I hadn't.

"Ma'am, I don't have a receipt. For what?"

"Your drink. We have to check receipts for drinks."

OK, so I figured I was on Candid Camera. If I'm ever placed in one of those shows, I am determined to have a good time with it. So I practice--sometimes daily, it seems, in my wonderful state of residence.

"I don't have a receipt for my drink," I told her.

"Did you ever have a receipt," she asked?

"Yes, a long time ago, I had a receipt." I then looked at her to see if she would ask the next question.

"How long ago?"

Meanwhile, of course, there is a crowd lining up behind me. It's 1:00, and the "Iron Bowl" and everyone wearing the same color of crimson red in the store is anxious to get home, or to "the Quad" at Alabama and watch the game. The Sam's Club Police Force and I are holding up their plans.

"I didn't look at my watch when I bought it. It was today, though. Does that help?"

"Well, where is the receipt for your drink," she asked me?

I hesitated before giving this answer--I thought it might present trouble. But I plodded ahead.

"I never got a receipt for a drink," I told her.

"I THOUGHT YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD A RECEIPT," The Sam's Club Police Force bellowed.

As calmly and politely as I can be, I explain to her that I had a receipt, but the receipt was for the hot dog and drink special--it was $1.70, plus tax. I told her that while I never had a receipt for the drink, I did have a receipt for the drink and hot dog. And I wasn't carrying the hot dog any more because I had eaten it.

"OK," she said. "Can I see your receipt for the hot dog and drink special?"

"Well, I don't have it," I told her, and cringed. I knew that wouldn't be an answer she liked.

"YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD IT," she bellowed--again--before reaching for her gun and handcuffs. OK, so she didn't have a gun and handcuffs. But she did place her hands on her hips and look mean at me.

"Where is it?" Ahh, now a question I can answer.

"It's in the garbage can," I told her. It's right next to the hot dog wrapper I used. If you want to find it, it's the one for the hot dog and drink special for $1.70, and the wrapper will have a small mustard and pickle relish stain on it, as that's what I put on my hot dog before I ate it. Which is why I am not carrying the hot dog."

The Sam's Club Police Force then began the arrest process. They called a Magistrate Judge over to get an arrest warrant, otherwise known as "The Supervisor."

"Sir, hold on here. I have to call my Supervisor."

The line behind me grew longer, and more menacing. I pointed to the lady as she turned so that the people would know who to blame. It probably did not help that I was wearing my blue Kentucky 1998 NCAA basketball championship Windshirt, but at least it wasn't Auburn colors.

The Judge arrived, and began considering whether to issue the arrest warrant.

"Sir, where is your receipt," she (another she--good to see females in the Judiciary, I thought) asked.

"It's in the garbage can. People are such animals, I offered. There were people leaving their wrappers, drink cups and receipts on the tables. I threw away mine." I thought I might get some points for being enviromentally-friendly. I noticed Sam's Club was selling the environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags at their counters, and thought that might score me some brownie points. But the I remembered that I wasn't really being ecologically friendly, I just picked up my trash and contributed to more garbage, so that probably wouldn't work. Plus I still didn't have my receipt.

She looked perplexed.

I offered a solution.

"Tell you what," I said. "How about if I finish this drink, and throw it away in the garbage can next to my hot dog wrapper and my receipt, and walk out again. Will that work?"

The lady looked pleased. "Yes sir, that will work, she told me." The Judge walked away.

So I walked back to the dining area and had a second thought. Plus, I wanted something to drink "for the road," so I got a little more refill (I had been sipping on it during the ordeal). I looked around, and saw one of the receipts lying on a table. I scooped it up, and began walking back through the line.

"Sir, you said you were going to throw that away," Tuscaloosa County's finest Sam's Club Police Force member told me.

"I changed my mind," I told her. "I wanted a drink for the road." After thinking about how that sounded, I corrected myself. "I wanted a diet lemonade for the road."

"But you can't take it out without a receipt," she told me.

"And here it is," as I proudly displayed someone else's receipt.

She started to say something--I'm not sure what--and then shook her head, scribbled a black line over the receipt, and handed it back to me. Not wanting to litter my car, I promptly took it back, threw it away in the garbage can in the dining facility, and walked out.

I glanced back, and the entire Sam's Club Police Force on duty had her head down, and was shaking it from side to side. I think she saw all the receipts and hot dog wrappers on the tables and was surprised people didn't clean that up.

Turkey Day and "The Day After"

2008-11-28T18:01:00.000-08:00

There is much to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving "season." My family has our health, food, clothing and shelter provided, and "The Day after Thanksgiving" sales have concluded.

In our house it's an annual rite of passion. Having that large family, you see, gives rise to a large number of gifts. Add in the glad-to-do-it shopping for my Mom, and the number of gifts to be purchased can be quite staggering--as can the dollars emptying from bank accounts.

So we embrace the process, while trying to avoid rushing in blindly. We have some rules--

* We do not go to any store where the lines are building, and a "bum rush" can occur.
* We do not travel anywhere near the vicinity of the Galleria Mall and the tens of millions of shoppers in that area.

Other than that, we're all in.

This year we purchased a TV for the family, online, on Thanksgiving night at Sam's Club. The gift is from my mother and father-in-laws, and is greatly appreciated. Nailed that down about 10:30 p.m. last night, and this morning at 6 a.m., they were sold out. No idea when they did, but it was gone.

Found other bargains at Radioshack.com, Walmart.com, Staples.com, Sears.com, CircuitCity.com and Amazon.com, all within the safety and comfort of my own home.

Meanwhile....

Susan, Caitlin and Andrew headed out at 4:30 a.m. this morning to hit some of those same stores for things that could not be obtained online, and other stores as well. Since we didn't go to bed until after 2:00 a.m. "plotting" our strategy, they were fueled by adrenaline.

It was a very successful day--we haven't calculated our savings yet, but it's generally substantial, and worth the effort.

In somewhat related news, a Wal-mart employee was trampled to death this morning in Long Island. See why we don't do the "standing in line, waiting on a door to open" thing? What a sad tragedy.

You Leave Your Water Running When You Brush Your Teeth

2008-11-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

Had a friend of mine in Kentucky tell me that he received his water bill, and it revealed that he had used 996,000 gallons of water last month. The bill was $2,067.00. It was in error, and his water company fixed it, but not before a momentary shock hit him.

He reminded me of the story I told him last year while Birmingham was in a drought, with water shortages resulting in "upcharges," and restrictions. Here's the story I told him at that time. Refresh your coffee; it's a long one.

I'm not *the* most earth-friendly person on the planet, but I do my part. We recycle papers, plastics, etc. by dropping them at a depositary a few miles from our house (Heardmont Park). I have installed low-flow shower heads in every bathroom, and low-flow faucets in every sink. We purchased a front-loading, water-mising, top-rated washing machine last Fall that holds one of the biggest loads you can run. In a family of seven, these things add up. Or so I thought.

So the other day I'm reading my newspaper, and I see where the water board has implemented surcharges for going over an allotted amount of water usage each month. I don't know what we use on a regular basis, so I call customer service to discuss the matter with them.

I tell them that I have a large family, and I am concerned about our water usage, so I wanted to see how much water we have been using.

"Do you have your old bills," she asks me?

No ma'am--I pay my bills online, and throw them away when they are paid.

"Some people keep all their bills for tax purposes," she tells me.

I'm thinking, what kind of homeowner keep a water company bill for tax purposes, but I don't say that out loud. I'm not getting a good vibe from the early parts of the conversation.

"No, ma'am, I don't keep mine for tax purposes. I don't deduct my water usage, so that's not one of the bills I keep."

"OK--can you give me your account number?"

Again, I feel inadequate, because I do not have my account number. I eagerly volunteer to her that I know my address, and she says she can look it up from there. I feel adequate again.

"You have no problem," she tells me. You usually use 13,000 or 14,000 CCFs."

I ask her if I can water my lawn.

"Sure, she says. But don't go over your allotment."

I ask her what my allotment is, since I haven't heard it called that.

"12,000 CCF's," she tells me.

My math isn't the greatest, but I remember my > (greater than) signs from grade school, and we seem to already be on the wrong side of the < mark.

"Ma'am, it looks like we are already over what we are supposed to use."

"You're wasting water," she bites. I don't know where that came from, as she suddenly becomes hostile.

"I don't think so," I tell her. I then proceed to tell her the water-saving things that we've done, but explain that with an active family of seven, including five kids who sometimes get themselves and their clothes dirty, it requires water to clean them and to feed and irrigate them.

"You let your water run when you brush your teeth, don't you," she asks me?

I use the Sonic care toothbrush that stays on for two minutes, and never, ever have I let the water run. I tell her that.

"Somebody in your house is letting the water run when they brush their teeth," she tells me as if it is a mathematical axiom that I did not learn when I was learning my "greater than/less than" signs.

I tell her that I really don't think that's the case, but that we have a large family, and water usage is required. But that I'll do a toothbrush check tonight, and make sure that everybody knows not to let the water run while their toothbrush is going.

"How do you water your lawn," she asks me next.

I don't, I tell her. That's part of the reason I was calling--I wanted to try to stay within all the guidelines, but my grass is dying, and needs water.

"Do you have a 55-gallon drum," she inquires upon receiving that response?

My kneejerk reaction is to tell her I have hundreds, or thousands of them because the question seems so absurd to me, but instead, I tell her no.

"You should get one. Then you can put your bathwater in the 55-gallon drum, and use it to water your lawn. That would save you water right there." She is apparently very pleased with my answer and her response, and I get a "so there," kinda feeling through the phone lines.

The absurdity of the entire thing has become comical at this point, and I want to remind her that it would not save any water, since I'm not using any water to irrigate my lawn at all, but I let that minor detail go. Instead, I start thinking about the 55-gallon drum and my bathwater.

"I don't take baths," I tell her. "I use showers."

(Now my 6-year old and 8-year olds take baths. But I wasn't going to tell her that, at least not at this point. Would lose the comic value).

"You probably take too long of a shower," she scolds me as if I am my 6-year old child.

I get pretty dirty, I tell her, and that it takes a certain amount of water to get me clean. I ask her if the water company knows how long of a shower I take, and express concern that their monitors would be that good. She misses the latent sarcasm.

"Everybody wastes water in the shower," she states matter-of-factly, as if that's another mathematical axiom I missed in grade school.

I think back about the 55-gallon drum, and thinking I'd be helpful, I tell her that maybe I can move the 55-gallon drum that I don't have into the shower with me while I shower, and that it would catch the water that doesn't hit my body, and is otherwise wasted.

She admires my creativity, but throws up a roadblock--

"Sir, will it fit in the shower with you in it?"

I express shock, and ask if the water company not only monitors the water usage in my shower, but can "see me" and knows how big I am.

"No, no" she tells me as if I am completely serious. "The 55-gallon drums are big, and I didn't know if it would fit in your tub."

My shock turns to a feigned relief, and I tell her not to worry, that I take a shower in a true shower, which is large enough for my body as well as the 55-gallon drum.

"Good, it'll work then." She's happy we've found a way to save water. I then decide to pull the rug out from under her then.

"Do you know if water is heavy," I ask her? When I fill the 55-gallon drum up with the water from my shower that does not hit my body, and then carry it downstairs so I can dump it out on my lawn, will it be heavy?"

"Yes sir, it'll be heavy. I recommend that you bring it down before you fill it."

I asked her if she meant bring it down when it was half-full, and she explained that the 55-gallon drum should be empty when it is brought down, and stay on my lawn. She then tells me that she guesses my idea won't work of keeping the drum in the shower with me, since it'll capture the water from the shower before I can move it.

Not wanting to push my luck on the conversation, I thank her, and tell her that it looks like I have a problem with the surcharges and exceeding my allotment.

Relieved that she appears to be getting rid of me, she attempts to alleviate my concerns--"No sir, you don't have a problem," she tells me. "Just pay it."

And that was my answer. No problem--just pay it.

Postscript--if you think this lady was in jest in talking to me about the 55-gallon drum, I saw the Birmingham Water Works on the news last night telling people to......save their bathwater in 55-gallon drums, and use it to water their lawn. The lady on the news may have been funnier--she actually said that everybody that lived in a house or apartment should have one (55-gallon drum).

I'm expecting to drive by local apartments and see hundreds, or thousands, of 55-gallon drums based upon her recommendations. I knew I should've bought all those drums I was going to tell the lady I owned. What a secondary market that could've been.

Everything I Really Needed to Know I learned in Kindergarten

2008-11-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

Had a hearing today in a Federal Judge's courthouse. These are the things I needed to know for today.

a) How to count. Discovery was overdue by "x" number of days. Learning how to count in kindergarten takes care of that.

b) How to mind. Deadlines were imposed. If our respective clients knew how to mind those deadlines, we wouldn't reach the 3rd thing I needed to know, which was....

c) How to get yelled at. Mostly I learned that even before kindergarten, when I broke a lamp as a toddler, or spilled coffee grounds, or milk all over my parents' carpet growing up. That one was easy. Nothing like being a grown-up and being yelled at by a Judge like you were four years old. Funny thing; that seems to be the best thing some Judges can do. (Judge B., if you're reading, I don't mean you.)

Second funny thing, you learn to get immune to that kind of thing fairly quickly. Come to think of it, it's sorta like being immune to your parents' yelling growing up, too. Guess I learned that by kindergarten as well.

Now to figure out how to get my clients to pay for this mind-warping experience.....

Catching up

2008-11-16T22:13:00.000-08:00

Wow...September rolled through, and so did October, and not a single post. Started this blog with the idea that I'd pop on here every couple of days and update, and as usual, the best intentions....

Volleyball season came and went--volleyball banquet was today. We had a good group of 4th grade girls, good parents, and I had help during practice from a high school volleyball player, all of which contributed to a successful season. We didn't place in the top three, but our Athletic Director told us that we finished higher than any other team in our league that had not played before, as the top 3 teams all played the season before. That was good for the girls to hear.

With one season ending, another begins...we had our basketball "draft" tonight. I am again roped into coaching my son's 2nd grade basketball team, and this year, there are enough players to field two teams.

We sat down and "graded" players as if we were holding the NBA Draft, and basically, I kept the same team I had last year. We graded my team with 3 "A" players, 1 "B" player, and 6 "C" players, and the other team with 3 "A" players, 2 "B" players, 1 "C" player, and 3 unknowns. So it's pretty close to as fair as you get.

What else has happened? Bought a car from eBay Motors early in the Summer, and after weeks of wrangling with a crook in New Jersey, it finally appeared in Birmingham needing work, as expected. Fortunately, the eBay Auction insurance company paid for the work it needed, and it appears I will come out of the transaction fairly well....other than I still do not have the car, as it has been sitting at my auto mechanic for weeks now as well. He's been "tinkering" with it. I don't want to push him too much--I bought the extra car so my daughter, who was home from the University of Alabama for the summer, would have one to go to/from work and other events. So when she returned, there existed no further urgency, and I have allowed him to take his time working on this or that with the car. It's a 2000 Volvo C70, and will be my first two-door car in many years. It's not perfect, but it'll do for me to drive around town. And with the economy where it is, I'm not inclined to spend much money--if I had it--on any car at the moment.

We are one week removed from the opening and closing of "Once Upon an Island, Jr.," performed by the Our Lady of the Valley School Drama Department. From Caitlin's performance in the 4th grade (10 years ago, if I count correctly) in Oklahoma!, to now, oh my, what a difference!. Director Mike Bridges brought a lot of wonderful theatrical enthusiasm to the little school, and it has given all of my children great self-confidence to speak in front of others, and be self-assured. Caitlin has been in many, many productions, including many community theatre productions, mostly small ensemble parts, but always doing her best. She does not fear anything, and I credit the beginnings at OLV with her gaining self-confidence, and her being cast in many CenterStage productions with her realizing the pursuit of excellence and allowing it to carry over into her personal and academic life, both of which she's championing right now.

My middle daughter, Sarah, who played the lead role of Cinderella in her 7th grade year, was wonderful in that show and, although she never "caught the bug" the way Caitlin did, has excelled with school, personal life, and in show choirs for her high school. Cinderella was the last show she auditioned for, and decided it would be her "Swan Song." It was the only show she did at OLV in which she had lines. Talk about a grand entrance and exit!

My son, Andrew, had numerous fun roles at OLV in the various shows, including Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof, the cheerleader in Cheaper by the Dozen, the undertaker in Oliver! and many others. He doesn't think anything of getting up in front of large or small groups now and giving speeches or organizing friends, and again, that is a credit.

So now it's my youngest daughter Rachel. Rachel had a role created for the show by Mike as one of Daniel's young friends. She had a lot of stage time, and she cherished the small solo she sung during the show. Sitting at the very back of the "Life Center"--the Gym, or the modified theatre--doing video work for the performance, I heard her loudly and clearly with her sweet voice. Can I imagine being nine years old and singing in front of several hundred people on stage under the spotlight? Not on your life--but this is just one of the things that literally hundreds of OLV children have gained from their experienced in OLV theatrical productions over the years. Caitlin, Andrew, Sarah and Rachel are no different than many others who will carry these benefits throughout life.

The show itself was wonderful. From an audience standpoint, the production was nearly flawless. Minor technical issues with sound/microphone, which seem to always exist in even quality local theatre, were ironed out by Saturday. I finished watching the show earlier this afternoon on a rough DVD I created from the back of the gym, and the sound was very good, with or without characters who wore body microphones.

As far as the young men and women are concerned--the school is a "regular" school, and the talent is always mixed. But they maximize their talent, and again--from a regular audience member standpoint, I do not recall seeing one word of one line missed, or fed, to any cast member during the show. Considering the cast consisted of more than 90 students from 1st through 8th grade, that's an amazing feat in itself.

It's late, and I have court in the morning, so I'll close for tonight with a promise to fill in more later. If I can have 30,000+ posts on KentuckySportsReport.com, the least I can do is to have some regular old blogging about my life. I promise to make the posts more regular--and more concise--in the days and weeks to come.

Politically speaking, what's in a name?

2008-08-22T08:36:00.001-07:00

Having some difficulty absorbing friends at the sports message board with their political thoughts and ideals. Most see things in black or white, with little gray.

Have erased much of what I posted--have learned that sometimes it's just better to discuss sports with sports friends, and politics with political friends, and never the twain shall meet.

Of course, it's good when they all mix perfectly, but not necessary for it all the time.

Glad President Obama will be occupying the White House next year. Actually glad that George Bush won't, as much as anything--John McCain would've been an improvement as well. I do look forward to some judicial appointments being made by Democrats in power, as the vast majority through the federal judiciary were Republican appointees, and some balance would be nice. And as Forrest Gump might say, "That's all I have to say about that."

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping...into the future

2008-08-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

So I'm wondering when this post will be dated--it's 11:52 p.m. on Thursday night, local (Central) time, but by the time I finish, it will probably be midnight Friday morning. When I saw the time I thought I needed to get to bed, but really wanted to wind down a little first by making a post, and this title came to mind.

It also came to mind for another reason--no, not that melancholy feeling I had when dropping off my oldest at college Sunday--this one was because my 16-year old daughter was telling me some of the songs they will be performing this year in her women's show choir group, "Chanter,' and her mixed show choir group, "Con Brio." I always enjoy them because they bring back memories. And my daughter is always a little bewildered that dear old Dad actually knows any of the songs, failing to realize that these "new" songs to her are old classics to me.

Songs like....

"Proud Mary," the Tina Turner classic.
"Freeze Frame," by the J. Geils Band. She told me "Freeze Frame," and I immediately said "J. Geils Band," and she looked at me like I had two heads.
"September," by Earth, Wind & Fire.

See why I started thinking about time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping....into the future?

They weren't all old classics. "Feel like a woman," by Shania Twain, was one that's a little more "up to date." The opening song to "Little Shop of Horrors" was another one.

And for the life of me, I can't remember the 6th song she told me. They traditionally perform 4-5 songs for each group, so there will be 8-10 songs total, but I think they had 6 locked down.

It's been a tough week of work. Working for myself has some advantages, and some disadvantages. It seems when things happen, they sort of all pour in at once. And you have to address them, because you never know when they will stop again. And that dreaded asking clients to pay you bit gets old, of course.

But it allowed me to easily take Collin to Cub Scouts at 4:00 in the afternoon earlier this week, take Andrew to a podiatrist appointment (and pick him up at school at 3:00), and attend Collin's first soccer practice of the year at 5:30. So it's all good in the end.

Having dinner tomorrow night with a friend's wife, parents, and their son who will be attending college in Birmingham. My friend and I played on my high school golf team together in Louisiana, and after attending college at LSU and working in Texas for awhile, he allowed his company to relocate him to Jakarta, Indonesia, where he has lived for 15 years or more. So it's funny how life runs full circle, with his son now moving from Jakarta to attend school in the same town I live in.

I'm sure they will be thrilled to hear about the five people killed in an apartment complex about five miles from where we live. Oh, did I leave that gruesome discovery out? It's too late--now Friday, so I'll have to save that for another day.

Back to college.....

2008-08-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

I headed back to college yesterday, and moved in a dorm.

No, I'm not having a mid-life crisis and returning to school. Caitlin, my 19-year old, is beginning her sophomore year at Alabama. So Mom and I moved her in yesterday.

It's always fun to see young men and women enjoying the best years of their lives. We rode up on an elevator with two frat boys who had obviously been...."enjoying" themselves a little. Since there were, at that time, four parents on the elevator, they were doing their best to seem "normal," and avoided breathing, or any other bodily expulsions, in our general direction, to quote Spamalot. The other Dad turned to me and said, "It looks like they've been to the Library."

To their credit, the young men were perfectly polite, and smiled hearing that, knowing that we knew their "secret."

Ahh, such was the times.

College for Caitlin is in Tuscaloosa, just an hour away from home. It's always a bit of a melancholy time for me when we move her in, knowing that it's part of life, growing up, and moving away--albeit, not really moving very far, and only temporary--for now. I enjoy moving her--one of the few times "Dad" can be of real assistance, hauling things, parallel parking to get a better angle for unloading, hooking up the computer to the internet, the cable to the TV, etc. And with a family of five, it's not often that Mom and I get to spend much time with her alone. So the drive, the unloading, and the helping to "fix up" her room are kinda precious, when you think of it that way.

And then there were four.

It was a good summer having Caitlin home, but now we're down to four. With Sarah and Andrew doing more and more things with their friends in their "free" time, we're quickly becoming a more "normal" sized family of two children.

I won't know what to do. Maybe I'll take up a hobby with my free time.

You gotta have a first time for there to be a second time

2008-08-15T18:25:00.001-07:00

And that's not some underhanded, behind the scenes titillation, just an acknowledgment that teaching 3rd and 4th grade girls a brand new sport is difficult the first day, and will (hopefully) be easier the second day.

Had 10 girls show up today (have 13 on the team). After I explained that I was on the 1980 U.S. Olympic volleyball team, and would have them all bump, setting and spiking by midseason, I told them the truth--we're there just to learn the game, have fun and enjoy ourselves. And I never played (or coached) volleyball.

Some highlights of the practice.

We played "dead fish." "I like to play dead," one of my players told me. Based on how they all moved to the ball when it was hit over the net, I think they all enjoyed doing that.

Second highlight of the practice? Water break. For some reason, they can be dead tired from doing drills, but announce water break and you have 10 kids shrieking, yelling, cheering--and running--to the water fountain, or to their water bottles.

It's indoor volleyball, in an air-conditioned gym. We have two water breaks per practice. What happened to football practice, two-a-days, in the middle of the summer, with no water til you were done?

I know, I'm showing my age. I feel it most days, too.

Watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff

2008-08-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

in your new Mercedes, so goes the old joke, is an example of "mixed emotions."

Had a client call me today--"we need your help," she said. "You were right, we shouldn't have done business with them without putting it in writing."

Sigh.

I've only done this for 20-something years, and although there *are* new things under the sun, a) there aren't that many of them, and b) the old things under the sun still surface more than the new ones.

The mixed emotions are that it does give me more legal work to do. That's generally a good thing, although (again), I hate it when a client ignores the advice you give and gets in trouble.

Interestingly enough, I believe lawyers get a bad rap for their integrity, but (so far), I'm a bit perturbed at the lawyer who wrote my clients a letter. Wrote it two days ago, and said that they had 10 days to pay for something (that my client did not receive, but that's another matter), or else they would consider their legal options, including possibly suing them.

So two days goes by--literally, from the DATE of the letter, just the day after receipt of it--and wham, they get notice that they have been sued by this company. So they said "10 days," and sued in 2.

Haven't spoken to that lawyer yet, but I am interested in finding out why the misrepresentation. Could be for a good reason. I'll see.

So much for business.

Tomorrow begins my journey as a volleyball coach. I received a bag of seven volleyballs today, and was told that the net needed to be lowered to 6'6 (down 10 inches from regulation height) for the little ones I coach.

Other than that, I'm on my own. A friend's daughter, who is a junior in high school on her high school's volleyball team, has volunteered to come help me after her practice, so she could be a big help.

We hope.

For most of the girls, it is their first time to play any real sports, and for all of the girls (even the 4th graders), it is the first time they have ever played volleyball.

On a separate note, I took Collin (my 7-year old) to his first Cub Scout meeting of the year today. While there, the Den Leader turned to the parents who were in attendance, and solicited an Assistant Den Leader.

The silence was deafening.

No, I didn't step forward to do that. But I didn't say "no," either. Glad there wasn't a specific question asked of me to force that decision-making process.

More tomorrow.

Inaugural address

2008-08-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

Wow--what the heck am I doing? Satisfying the insatiable desire to write, chat, talk, I suppose, even without time to do it. So I'll "make time."

That seems to be my motto--if there's not enough time, just make some more. As if there is a "Kraft Macaroni and Cheese" instant box type concoction that could do this; how ridiculous, of course.

So why the title?

Well, as the father of five active children, ages seven to 19, you might think that's enough. And it is. But to that I have a full-time law practice that keeps me busy. "Full-time," I said. And I am a publisher of a sports magazine, Kentucky Sports Report, with daily web duties as well. And if that's not enough, I enjoy teaching--have taught at Birmingham School of Law for twelve years, and have been an adjunct professor in the Paralegal and Accounting programs at Virginia College for five years.

So my time is full, right?

Nah. You can always add a few more grains of sand to your cup.

Last fall I had decided enough was enough--no more "volunteering" for me. I had coached my kids in basketball for about ten years, serve on the school's PTO Board (Chairman of Publicity), perform publicity for school and community plays, do the photography and the videography. So no more.

Ha!

"Darrell," the school's Athletic Director called out to me with the plea of a man needing a big favor. "I need a coach."

My son's first grade basketball team.

"John, I can't do it. I teach three nights a week already."

So that's how I became the head coach of the first grade basketball team.

I picked up my son from basketball camp last week. While there, the same A.D. called out to me, "Darrell....." (I knew how the rest would fit).

"No, John. I can't do it." It was a feeble attempt. I know how the script goes, and there's no ad-libbing permitted.

"Darrell, we need a volleyball coach for the 3rd/4th grade girls."

So that's how I became the head coach of the volleyball team. Of course, it includes my 9-year old daughter, Rachel. She's "excited"--I think--that I will be her coach. She told me I could not call her by any of the "pet" names I call her at home while I am in practice. "Dad, you'll embarrass me," she said. She's probably right.

First practice is Friday afternoon/evening. I have two full days to learn how to coach volleyball. Wish me luck.