Hang Loose

On Saturday evening, my wife and I along with some good friends attended the Ohio State vs. USC football game. What a great night it was for football! What an incredible atmosphere it was! The only thing lacking that night was a Buckeye victory (they lost 18-15 when USC scored a touchdown with one minute remaining).

Prior to the game, many were wondering how USC's true freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley would hold up under the pressure of an extremely loud and intimidating environment.

I don't know much about USC's head coach, Pete Carroll, as a person, but I was very impressed with the way he handled his team this night. Before the game I watched through my binoculars as Carroll went from player to player and slapped them five, laughed with them and encouraged them. Then during a critical part of the game, when the stadium was as loud as I have ever heard it, USC called a time-out. As Barkley came off the field to chat with his coach, I watched Carroll laugh with his young player as if to say, "Isn't this fun?"

During a stressful part of a game, most would expect a coach to be serious, not laughing. Most would also expect the same stoic attitude from their leader in a stressful business environment.

Maybe all of us could learn something from Carroll when things are tough. Maybe we need to lighten up a bit and have fun to keep our teams loose.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:13

Redneck Fire Alarm

No great revelations here today...other than the thought that "laughter is good for the soul." I was recently sent this picture of a Redneck Fire Alarm. Just had to share it...

Smile, Part III

Here we are, two weeks before Christmas (Can you believe it?!). Other than some fleeting moments and some time in church, I hate to say this, but I haven't thought much about Christmas and I certainly haven't thought much about the true meaning of Christmas. Isn't that sad? It is and I'm somewhat embarrassed by it.

I have been consumed by my "to do" lists and the stress of life. Some of you can probably relate. I have heard it said that we are to "stop and smell the roses" and that we are to "enjoy the journey." I get all that, but yet I still find myself often striving for the destination and not even thinking about the journey, let alone enjoying it.

I am convinced that God is trying to get my attention in this area. He is telling me, take time to laugh and to smile...even at the simple things. This time of year I think that many of us can miss this.

Two posts ago I wrote about the importance of smiling. Then I did again yesterday because of something that was emailed to me. Well, something else was emailed to me that I felt I needed to share along these same lines and it comes from a book called Laughter is an Instant Vacation. Here are a few quotes that made me laugh. I hope they do the same for you.

My doctor is wonderful. Once, when I couldn't afford an operation, he touched up the x-rays.-Joey Bishop

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.-Ronald Reagan

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.-Zsa Zsa Gabor

If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel.-Will Kommen

Insanity doesn't run in my family. It gallops.-Cary Grant

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.-Robert Orben

Misers aren't fun to live with, but they make wonderful ancestors.-David Brenner

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.-Dave Barry

I'm not going to vacuum ‘til Sears makes one you can ride on.-Roseanne Barr

To attract men, I wear a perfume called New Car Interior.-Rita Rudner

If you love something, set it free. Unless it's chocolate. Never release chocolate.-Renee Duvall

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.-Calvin Trillin

I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.-Rodney Dangerfield

My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.-Rita Rudner

My husband wanted one of those big-screen TV's for his birthday. So I just moved his chair closer to the one we have already.-Wendy Liebman

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.-Douglas Adams

I have an aunt who married so late in life that Medicare picked up 80 percent of the honeymoon.-Don Reber

I hate housework - you make the beds, you do the dishes - and six months later you have to start all over again.-Joan Rivers

My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.-Henny Youngman

Inside me there's a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate him with four or five cupcakes.-Bob Thaves

A Magical Night

On Friday, our family of 5 went to Detroit to Comerica Park to watch the Tigers take on the Colorado Rockies. The entire evening could not have been better.

First, we arrived in Detroit just after a huge rain storm and we remained dry the remainder of the night.

Second, though we were the second row from the top of the stadium, we had great seats close to home plate.

Third, the Tigers played great and won 7-1.

Fourth, the fireworks after the game were incredible.

Fifth, and probably most important, we had a blast together as a family. I kept thanking God for this night. With my two oldest girls now 20 and almost 18, I was wondering how many more moments like this we would get to share as a family.

I did not hear one complaint or any bickering between our kids the whole evening (Connie and I were a different matter – ha ha). They got along so well and we all laughed often.

Perhaps the highlight of the trip was our ride home late in the evening. We were all tired and a little punchy so we started telling “no arms and no legs” jokes. Yes, this sounds somewhat heartless. I can assure you we meant no disrespect to those with disabilities. We were simply having fun…and a lot of it. So if you are disgusted that we would say such things, please don’t read any further.

Here is a sampling of some of the jokes we told and made up on our ride home:

What do you call a guy with no arms and no legs…

…in the ocean? Bob

…hanging on the wall? Art

…in the mailbox? Bill
…on the front door step? Matt
…in a bun? Frank
…riding a bicycle? Rex (think about it)
…in a pile of leaves? Russel
…in a pot of boiling water? Stu

This is just a small sampling. But the greatest part of it all was the laughter that was shared among us. What a gift! Thank you Lord!