Last Weekends in Review...

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weekends...

My parents, my sister Gena, and brother Philip came in for a visit a couple of weeks ago. We had an excellent time (even with Philip).

We spent Sunday afternoon in Dahlonega. This is the place the famous quote, "There's gold in them thar hills" was uttered. There are a lot of interesting little stores and nice restaurants surrounding town square...

My dad, Kelsie, Cameron, and I played a little golf at Riverpines GC. We split up into teams - my dad and Kelsie against Cameron and me. I'll let you guess who won...I'll give you a hint...my dad will be paying Cameron's college tuition...

Sheri went back to St. Louis for a few days for work. Her parents came to help me take care of the kids (yes, it's too big of a job for me by myself). Jim and Bonnie are always a BIG help and I enjoy spending time with them. On Saturday Jim, Cameron, and I played gold at Lanier GC. It was fun - in spite of our scores...

On Saturday, Jim, Bonnie, Cameron, and I went to Dahlonega (yes, the same place as the week before). It was a lot of fun. We shopped, ate, and listened to Blue Grass Music. Every Saturday from May (I think) through November a bunch of musicians get together and have a Blue Grass Jam in Dahlonega's Town Square.


I love all kinds of music and on Saturday I found out I also like Blue Grass. Here is a little bit from my favorite Blue Grass song...Dooley. You can sing along...here are the words:

"Dooley, slippin' up the holler

Dooley, tryin' to make a dollar

Dooley, give me a swaller

And I'll pay you back someday."

They don't make music like this anymore!

Jewel was watching me as I was singing Dooley. Here she is tapping her tail to the beat...

WE ARE IN TROUBLE...

I am on stay-cation this week. It’s a stay-cation because Sheri is at a training class in San Antonio and so I’m hanging around the house taking care of the kids, running errands, and working on numerous projects (like vacuuming up the crumbs from under the couch cushions). It’s rained almost everyday this week and so I’ve spent a lot of time inside with the TV on.

Most of you who know me know I am a political junky and so as I’m working on my projects (like scrubbing the dried up, crusty toothpaste [with the little piece of hair sticking out of it] out of the toothpaste cap) I have the political and business news shows on my TV’s. I’ve been listening to shows like Bloomberg, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business - sounds interesting, doesn't it?

Yes, I know most of you are thinking, “Kenny, get a life…” but I find politics and discussions about the economy very interesting. I’ve listened to dozens of conversations/interviews between politicians and anchors/talk show hosts on topics such as health care, the economy, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., etc.

Now, granted, watching these news shows can give you a distorted view of the world because all they report is the bad news. Sometimes it’s like watching three episodes of Jerry Springer late at night – you start to think everyone’s brother is sleeping with his step-mother – which we know isn’t true...I think. But even though I know I am seeing a distorted view of this country when I watch these news shows, I have to be honest with you, our country is in trouble! Not a little bit of trouble...big trouble...trouble which will not be easy to undo...

I like to joke about a lot of things but I am not joking about this. I am not the type of person who cries wolf (except when I'm sick) or a Chicken Little who claims the sky is falling (except when I think I'm getting sick) - but make not mistake about it - the decisions our federal government is making, in the name of helping us, are bankrupting our country. Our country is in serious trouble! If we continue following the path of change we are currently on - our children will grow up in a changed country...a country which will be vastly different from the country you and I have grown up in. We are on a direct path to becoming a financial basket case - and the Executive Branch of the Federal Government knows it and they don't care! Yes, you heard (read) me correctly - they know their actions will bankrupt our country but they DON'T CARE!

I will explain...in painful detail...exactly what I'm referring to...in my next post...unless I win my tennis match tomorrow against Stevie Wonder and Ironside...

Composure...

Composure: Webster's Dictionary defines Composure as, "calmness or repose especially in frame of mind or in bearing or appearance." My definition of composure is, "calmness and self control in the face of adversity." Keep this in mind...I'll come back to it later.

The way ALTA (Atalanta Lawn & Tennis Association) is set-up is based on sub-divisions. Each sub-division is a team (my team is Gran Forest), each team plays five games (matches) every Saturday, sub-divisions play against other subdivisions. This Saturday my team, Gran Forest, was at home and played against Fieldstone sub-division. The first matches began at 9:00am and the last match finished around 2:00pm.

Saturday mornings are more than just sitting around watching tennis. The home team supplies food and drink for all the players and the fans and so it's more like a big party or picnic with tennis matches going on in the background.

Here is a picture of some of the fans hanging out watching two of the early matches.

Okay, back to composure. On the last post I mentioned I finally won a match against a wily 72 year old veteran who had two leg braces, one arm brace, and glaucoma (or was it cataracts?). Well, this week Steve (my teammate) and I played against two experienced tennis players. One guy was in his thirties, he was very good. The other guy was about 66 years old, he had one leg brace, he walked with a serious limp, and I'm pretty sure he had pace maker. I'm getting to composure...

These older experienced guys are not nimble on their feet but they can place the ball with unbelievable precision. This veteran could place the ball down the middle, he could poke it down the side line or back line, he could lob it over our heads, he could dink it just over the net. He made us run around like a couple of chickens with their heads cut off.

Now don't take this wrong, this man was a very nice guy and I don't think I'm better than him BUT, BUT, BUT I don't think my expectations are too high when I think I should whoop him at tennis!!!! It kills me that I lost to a man who couldn't bend down to pick up a tennis ball at his feet because of arthritis!!!! So, why do I mention composure? BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR MY COMPOSURE I WOULD HAVE SCREAMED AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS, "I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOSING TO A MAN WHO RIDES AROUND ON A SCOOTER WHILE HE'S SHOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE - AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Okay, I feel better...now I can go back to pretending like I have composure... :)

Here's a video I took while Cam, Kelsie, and Cam's friend went to the driving range last week. It was pouring out but there was nothing else to do and so we hit some golf balls and got soaked.

First Major Tournament Win!

As you know I am playing on my sub-division doubles tennis team. Sunday I played my third match; the previous two matches were close (sort of) but my partner and I came in second place. But this Sunday it was different - we pulled out a tough three set match!

The first set went to a tie breaker - we won 7-5, we lost the second set 4-6, but we came back and won the third set 6-4 to win the match!

The other team had a guy who I guess is in his late thirties who was inexperienced like I am, BUT, they also had a wily, crafty, experienced, veteran who kept them in the game. He played the angles superbly and had a great strategy.

Here's a picture of the crafty old veteran; after the game as he was taking off his arm brace and his two leg braces, he congratulated me on playing a good match. He went on to tell me he is 72 years and although he would love to stick around to watch the other matches he couldn't - because later that afternoon he was having outpatient surgery to remove his two cataracts.

The U.S. Open?

Today was a first for me...my first tennis match. I am playing on my sub-division ALTA tennis team - ALTA stands for Atlanta Lawn & Tennis Association. There are different skill levels starting with A1 (Pro), A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, C1, C2, C3, and then finally there is my level - level C4. I am one level above playing against people in wheelchairs and two levels above blind players.

I'm still trying to perfect my game...here's a short video of my serve...not pretty but I got a point on this one...

Game, Set, Match...!!

Weekend in Review...

We spent Labor Day weekend in Nashville, Tenn with our friends the Kotlarczyks, the Klaus', and the Henrys. We spent the weekend playing golf, shopping, swimming, and hanging out together. We had a lot of fun...

On Saturday and Sunday the guys played golf...

Here are the golfers - from left to right; Sam, Mike, Michael, Cam, and Ron. We had perfect weather for golf both days...

On Sunday, Cam, Michael, and I played together. Michael and I played a golf game called Bingo, Bango, Bongo, Bam to make it a little more interesting. I can remember when I used to whoop him at golf...now he whoops me...and he takes a few dollars from me at the same time.

I can't tell you how good of a golfer Cameron is now. It is so exciting and so much fun to be able to play a good, competitive came of golf with my son. Here is a video of him driving the ball about 135 yards straight down the middle. The one part of his game he needs to work on is HIS GOLF CART DRIVING!!! He is the most dangerous golf cart driver I've ever seen in my life! :)

BTW, I thought it would be helpful to have a video of my swing to help me identify any mistakes I was making. I got a 9 on one hole, an 11 on another, and a 59 on the front nine so I thought it would be helpful to see what I was doing wrong. I gave the camera to Cameron and here is the result. When he finished I said, "Cam, did you video my swing?" Cam said, "Yup dad, got it."

Politics - Read at you own risk...

I have been watching and listening to the health care debate over the past few months. I've also been emailing and calling my Senators and congressman to make sure they know my opinion on this extremely important issue. I won't go into the details of why I'm against the type of health care reform being discussed but suffice it to say I am VERY against it. If you have 5 hours to kill you can call me and I'll explain why.

As most of you know I enjoy watching the Sunday News Shows almost as much as I like watching baseball and football games. I know I'll get a liberal view when I watch "This Week", "Meet the Press", and 'Face the Nation". I know I'll get an outrageously liberal viewpoint when I watch the "Chris Matthews Show". I also know I'll get a moderate to conservative view when I watch "Fox News Sunday". I like to watch and listen to the liberal shows to make sure I hear all side of the issues. I think it makes my opinion stronger but it can be very frustrating to me when the hosts of these shows let their liberal views shine through.

On such an important issue as changing the way our health care system functions shouldn't news show hosts try and present a fair, unbiased view of the issue? Maybe I'm naive but that's what I expect.

What I have below is a SMALL, VERY SMALL example of how the main stream media frames the debate. They frame it and influence it by the questions they ask and the questions they don't ask.

Below in red are excepts from the transcripts from Meet the Press. I have also included my comments in yellow. You tell me if our 'Independent Press" asks the questions you need to have answered in order for YOU to make an informed decision on health care reform or...or not.

MTP - DAVID GREGORY: "This morning, a special hour-long discussion making sense of health care. What are the issues at the center of the debate? How would reform affect your health care? Separating fact from fiction in the fight. And what does it mean politically for President Obama?"

I thought it would be an informative show based on his opening. But I was quickly disappointed when I heard his third question. Keep in mind this is a question from the host of the most watched Sunday morning news show. Also, keep in mind his stated goal is to "make sense of health care":

MTP - DAVID GREGORY: “All right. But let’s talk about the tone of the debate. There have been death threats against members of Congress, there are Nazi references to members of Congress and to the president…Senator Coburn, you are from Oklahoma. When this element comes out in larger numbers because of this debate, what, what troubles you about that?..."

Senator Coburn answers David Gregory's question. Although I'm not sure how this is going to help people to "make sense of health care". If I were a cynical person I would say he was trying to marginalize the people who are against the current health care reform proposals and therefore marginalize their opinions - but that's just my opinion:

MTP - SENATOR TOM COBURN (R-OK): "Well, I’m, I’m troubled anytime when we, we stop having confidence in, in our government...."

David Gregory being the top reporter for NBC didn't feel Senator Coburn's answer was sufficient to help us "make sense of health care" and so he asked a follow-up question. In my opinion David Gregory was a little more animated when he asked his follow-up - but that's just my opinion. Now I'm not sure how the answer to this question was going to help me understand the health care issues but maybe NBC News knows better than me:

MTP - DAVID GREGORY: "That’s—but wait, hold on, I want to stop you there. I’m talking about the tone. I am talking about violence against the government. That’s what this is synonymous with."

Eventually David Gregory did ask some non-subjective questions which might help people "make sense of health care". He asked about cost. This is an important question because we need to know how we are going to pay for it. Here is his question to democrat Charlie Rangel.

MTP - DAVID GREGORY: "…How do you fund reform? It’s going to be expensive…I want to bring in Charlie Rangel, congressman of New York, of course, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee."

Pretty good question - "HOW DO YOU FUND REFORM?" Maybe David just started off slowly but now his award winning reporting was taking over...now I needed to hear how Representative Rangel thinks the reform will be paid for.

MTP - REPRESENTATIVE RANGEL: "…when the people of the industry can tell you that they can save tens of trillions of dollars by working with the president, then you know that we can resolve most of this by stopping what we’re doing wrong."

Now, I thought this response, from a leading Democrat, was interesting. He just said, "TENS OF TRILLIONS" of dollars can be saved by working with the president. Surely, this deserved a follow-up question. I expected Davy to ask, "Where did you get that statistic from? Who calculated it?" At the very least it deserved, "Excuse me Representative Rangel. Did you really mean TRILLIONS or did you misspeak?" I waited and waited but there was no follow-up question from our top reporter from the top news show.

A little later David Gregory asked a executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce a question. This man made some interesting points related to unintended consequences of the proposed health care reform.

MTP - DAVID GREGORY: "Let me bring in Bruce Josten . He’s the executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. They have a perspective on this."

Bruse Josten is concerned that a public option will encourage many employers to cease providing their employees with health care because their employees could receive health care from the government. A VERY likely scenarios in my opinion. This would increase health care costs for the government which would require taxes to be increased to pay for them.

MTP - BRUSE JOSTEN: "...and independent researchers in the health care analytical area, as well as CBO, have expressed concerns that many employees could migrate away from employer-sponsored cover because of that competitive cost advantage..."

Senator Dashele chimed in and made an interesting comment:

MTP - SENATOR DASHELE: "I think the argument is kind of interesting. It is that, well, this is going to be so popular that people are going to leave the private sector and go to the public sector."

Senator Dashele's comments either showed his ignorance or he really thinks we're a bunch of idiots!! The point is NOT that people would leave their private health care for public health care because it's more popular - IT'S BECAUSE THEIR PRIVATE SECTOR HEALTH CARE WOULDN'T BE OFFERED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS ANYMORE IF THERE IS A PUBLIC OPTION!!!!!

I waited for a follow-up question from our crack reporter, from the top news show in America, but unfortunately I'm still waiting.

So, can we rely on politicians or the main stream media to provide us with facts and relevant information related to health care? Can we rely on them to ask politicians the tough questions we need answered to help us make informed decisions concerning health care?