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.