I have to say, that when I learned I was going to be a father, and learned that I would be the one that stayed home with her during her first months, many many fears entered my mind. Would I be good at this, would she be all right in my care, would I actually enjoy it? Those and many more fears entered into my world.
After three months, almost four, I have to say that I enjoy it more than I thought I would. She's fun to be around. Yes, she's had her moments of crying for hours on end, and has driven me nuts from time to time. However, I wouldn't trade getting to know her for anything. I love seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, and look forward to her getting mobile and making me keep my eyes on her at all times.
As I type this, she is at my feet in her chair sound asleep. It's fun watching her sleep not just because she's so peaceful, but also because I can tell when she dreams. She moves and squirms and it's oh so cute and charming. I love it.
I am still afraid that I won't be the best dad for I can be all the time, but I will certainly do my best. No amount of fear can replace the joy of being around her, and doing the best I can to raise her to be the best darn girl she can be.
Every parent looks at their child and thinks it, or says it aloud, and I am no different but I have the most adorable little girl in the world. She's just too good to be true sometimes.
Until next time
P
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Standards
OK... I'm getting to that place again where I feel like we are declining as a society. I think that as a society we've lowered our standards for what qualifies as a good leader. I think we have lowered our standards and come to expect less from one another when we should be expecting more. I'm sick and tired of the phrase, 'better than the alternative.' It's like saying I chose the lesser to two evils.
Now before I go any further, this is not an attack of just the Democrats but also of my Republican party. I don't despise Democrats, and I don't think that being a republican makes you omnipotent. My problems are not the parties but their choices. I just feel that we've come to a point where the nominating committees are just pulling names out of a hat and saying, I think this guy could be a leader. Where are the leaders? Where are the Best and the Brightest? I look back on the previous two elections and think, was this best we could do? McCain and obama? In the previous California Governors race, that question was asked by me several times. Is this really the best we can come up with?
Where are the FDR's or the JFK's or Richard Nixon's or Reagan's, or the Thomas Jefferson's, or Abraham Lincolns of our political world? These are what I would call the best and the brightest. We've lost sight of that premise and lowered our standards to the point where we have decided on the lesser of two evils or the alternative.
I want to be inspired, to be compelled to be a leader myself, not to just feel like we got someone for the sake of getting someone. Let's change things by demanding that we get the best to be our leaders. I don't want to settle for the alternative, I want to know beyond a shadow of doubt that the person who gets my vote is one that is MOST deserving of it. We need strength, courage, and boldness, not weakness, uncertainty, and laziness.
Inspire us, and we will follow. Let's raise the standards of public debates in this country by not just attacking the other point of view, but telling us what YOU will do. That's the thing I abhor about the debates. It's all about saying why we shouldn't vote for the other guy. Tell me why I need to vote for you.
Let's raise our standards people and expect the best. Maybe, just maybe, we will get just that. No more alternatives or lesser choices, we get what we asked for.... The Best.
You may not agree with me, that's fine. But I think if you see that I'm trying to raise a level of debate, you'll see that I might be onto something. Again, I think both parties are at fault. Not just the one that I am not a member of. I am hoping to be inspired and I am hopeful that this November, that's what I will get.
Until next time
P
Now before I go any further, this is not an attack of just the Democrats but also of my Republican party. I don't despise Democrats, and I don't think that being a republican makes you omnipotent. My problems are not the parties but their choices. I just feel that we've come to a point where the nominating committees are just pulling names out of a hat and saying, I think this guy could be a leader. Where are the leaders? Where are the Best and the Brightest? I look back on the previous two elections and think, was this best we could do? McCain and obama? In the previous California Governors race, that question was asked by me several times. Is this really the best we can come up with?
Where are the FDR's or the JFK's or Richard Nixon's or Reagan's, or the Thomas Jefferson's, or Abraham Lincolns of our political world? These are what I would call the best and the brightest. We've lost sight of that premise and lowered our standards to the point where we have decided on the lesser of two evils or the alternative.
I want to be inspired, to be compelled to be a leader myself, not to just feel like we got someone for the sake of getting someone. Let's change things by demanding that we get the best to be our leaders. I don't want to settle for the alternative, I want to know beyond a shadow of doubt that the person who gets my vote is one that is MOST deserving of it. We need strength, courage, and boldness, not weakness, uncertainty, and laziness.
Inspire us, and we will follow. Let's raise the standards of public debates in this country by not just attacking the other point of view, but telling us what YOU will do. That's the thing I abhor about the debates. It's all about saying why we shouldn't vote for the other guy. Tell me why I need to vote for you.
Let's raise our standards people and expect the best. Maybe, just maybe, we will get just that. No more alternatives or lesser choices, we get what we asked for.... The Best.
You may not agree with me, that's fine. But I think if you see that I'm trying to raise a level of debate, you'll see that I might be onto something. Again, I think both parties are at fault. Not just the one that I am not a member of. I am hoping to be inspired and I am hopeful that this November, that's what I will get.
Until next time
P
Sunday, December 4, 2011
My Treasure
What a weekend! I have been blessed beyond words with the most precious looking and beautiful little girl. I have a daughter! Are you kidding me? I've heard it said as a line someone uses to hit on girls, and I've heard it this way as well, and that's how I mean it, but God was showing off when he made her. How on earth does he take a man like me, an amazing woman like my wife and the three of us create this treasure. That's what she is, my treasure. She my heart.
I have learned something this weekend too. To all my friends and family and relatives who have been blessed with motherhood, I salute you. It is not easy, but the gift is so rewarding. I have no idea how much pain you endure during, and how much it hurts after, but after seeing my wife be brave through her pain, and loving on her daughter while hurting, I am deeply amazed and impressed by women. You have more than my respect you have my appreciation for what you willingly choose to do.
To my daughter, Jordan Makayla, I say this:
I love you so much. I am honored and blessed by you. And even at only a day old, you made me smile, you made me laugh, and you impressed me with your smile, and perkiness. I know that I will make mistakes. I won't always say the right thing. I won't always do the right thing. However, I will love you with all my heart and protect you as you are my treasure, and heart. It is my hope and prayer for you that you live life to the fullest, that you love life with all you have, and that you never take anything or moment for granted. This is the best day of my life so far, and yours has just begun. I look forward to the moments that we get to share the memories we get to make together, as a family. May God bless your life, abundantly and much more than I could ever imagine.
Until next time
P
Monday, October 10, 2011
Spooky
So, it's that time of the year again. Halloween time is upon us, and the joys and fun of spookiest time of the year are just around the corner. I love it. People make way too big of a deal about the negatives of Halloween. It's only that way if you don't teach your kids to stay away from the negatives. This is a great time where kids can be kids and adults can relive their childhood memories.
I am looking forward to teaching my child about this day, about the coolness of this day and being responsible about appreciating the spookiness of this day. I want him or her to love getting dressed up, joining dad in trying to scare the heck out of mommy, and going on their first trick-or-treating adventure.
You can have fun and be responsible at the same time. You don't need to go over board with the spooky, but the right amount can be fun, and helpful. Helpful? Yes, helpful. We can give ourselves a break this time of the year. A break from the monotony of our lives or the responsibilities that befall us and let loose. We can experience what it's like to be carefree and have fun.
Do you remember what it's like to have real fun? I'm talking about the kind of fun that happens only on Halloween. My kid better love this day as much as I do. I mean it. They better.
Take the opportunity this year to experience the spooky. In a mature way. In a safe way. But take a moment and let your spooky come out. You'll thank yourself the next day.
Until Next Time
P
I am looking forward to teaching my child about this day, about the coolness of this day and being responsible about appreciating the spookiness of this day. I want him or her to love getting dressed up, joining dad in trying to scare the heck out of mommy, and going on their first trick-or-treating adventure.
You can have fun and be responsible at the same time. You don't need to go over board with the spooky, but the right amount can be fun, and helpful. Helpful? Yes, helpful. We can give ourselves a break this time of the year. A break from the monotony of our lives or the responsibilities that befall us and let loose. We can experience what it's like to be carefree and have fun.
Do you remember what it's like to have real fun? I'm talking about the kind of fun that happens only on Halloween. My kid better love this day as much as I do. I mean it. They better.
Take the opportunity this year to experience the spooky. In a mature way. In a safe way. But take a moment and let your spooky come out. You'll thank yourself the next day.
Until Next Time
P
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Dynasty
Hey everyone, sorry it's been a while since I've posted anything, but to be honest I haven't had that much to write about these days. There's just so much that one could complain about, and I didn't want to be one of those people that only write to complain about something they have zero chance in changing. This one's about good times, about good people, and great memories for me.
As has been stated numerous times, I love basketball. It's my favorite sport, it's what I ended up coaching, and it's what I watch, when I can.
These days, the idea that professional basketball could happen for the following season is looking less likely by the day. With the pros signing deals to play in Europe, it's looking like owners and players aren't seeing eye to eye and the fans are going to be the ones that suffer because of the nonsense. Does anyone remember when the NBA was fun, and there were teams that were good because they had the best players, and the idea of money wasn't what made them good, but it was the way the played on the court? I do, it's called the nineties.
This is when the greatest dynasty (my opinion) in professional basketball was dominating the game. Of course I am referring to the Chicago Bulls. It's been a long time since the Bulls were dominant, and for those of us who were privileged to see them, we saw greatness. We saw hope. We saw, Michael Jordan.
For years, the comparisons have been made between Jordan and Kobe, Jordan and Lebron, Lebron and Kobe. I'm sorry, but Michael is a class that stands alone. The man went to the NBA Finals six times, won the title six times, and won MVP of the Finals six times. There is no comparison. From the position of leader, Michael Jordan is far and away better than both of those two men combined. Talent alone, dictates that, but character too. I'm not referring to Michael nowadays where he has let his life spin out of control, but when he was a players, and when he was the standard for excellence.
As good as he was, he was one man, and didn't win the title by himself. He was surrounded by a group of players that no one else wanted, and when they beat the Lakers (YAY!) in 1991, for their first title, little did they know that this was the beginning of what I feel was the greatest dynasty of the modern era. From 1991-1993, the Bulls were hands down, the best team in Basketball. They beat the Lakers, Blazers, and Suns for their first 3-peat and did it with style, class, and more highlights than any of todays teams. The Bulls were a team. Yes they had the greatest player on the planet, but they weren't Michael Jordan and the four guys who pass to him, they were the World Champion Chicago Bulls.
Michael retired in 1993 to play baseball. (Very bad move) but he returned in 1995 the next 3-peat that came for the Bulls was more impressive than the first one. In the 95-96 season they went 72-10, a record for wins that still stands to this day. They lost three games in the post season and won by twenty points in the championship game against the Seattle Sonics. (Or what you might know today as the Oklahoma Thunder) Then, the following year they went 69-13 and beat a very good Utah Jazz team in six games to win the title. Michael even scored 38 points in game five with food poisoning. Are you kidding me? In the clincher, he didn't even score the winning basket. It was a little guy named Steve Kerr, (great name) who hit the shot with four seconds remaining to lift the Bulls over the Jazz. The next season, they went 62-20, and beat the Jazz again in six games to win their third title in a row and sixth overall for the decade. In game 3 they set the record for the biggest margin of victory, beating the Jazz 96-54.
I mean, they are the greatest dynasty the sporting world has ever seen since the Celtics of the 1960s when they won nine in a row. The Bulls passed the ball, played defense, believed in one another, and Phil Jackson, took five men, and seven that no other team wanted and turned them into the greatest show on earth. For three years no matter where they played, it was a sell out crowd. They were cheered wherever they went, and when they won, they won with class. When they lost, they lost with class too.
Was Michael Jordan hard to play with? Probably. The man set impossible standards to measure up to. Was it rewarding to play with Michael Jordan? Do I really need to answer that? If you played with him in that decade, you won a title. It doesn't get any better than that.
Who knows what might have happened to that team had the owners decided not to resign Jordan, Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman? The Bulls could have become the first time since the Celtics to win four or maybe even five in a row. They were that good and had that much potential.
They reminded me why I loved the game, why I had passion for it, and inspired me to be the best coach I could. I miss those days. I like the game, but I can't say that the league today is better than it was back then. The Players are not the same caliber, at least not all of them, and the style of play isn't the same. I am grateful I grew up in the era of Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and wish so badly that people who are seeing what's going on today could see the game back then for what it was, pure, great, and fun to watch.
Hopefully it can get there again someday, and that we can be treated to a man with the passion and talent of Michael Jordan. Maybe someday.
Until next time
P
As has been stated numerous times, I love basketball. It's my favorite sport, it's what I ended up coaching, and it's what I watch, when I can.
These days, the idea that professional basketball could happen for the following season is looking less likely by the day. With the pros signing deals to play in Europe, it's looking like owners and players aren't seeing eye to eye and the fans are going to be the ones that suffer because of the nonsense. Does anyone remember when the NBA was fun, and there were teams that were good because they had the best players, and the idea of money wasn't what made them good, but it was the way the played on the court? I do, it's called the nineties.
This is when the greatest dynasty (my opinion) in professional basketball was dominating the game. Of course I am referring to the Chicago Bulls. It's been a long time since the Bulls were dominant, and for those of us who were privileged to see them, we saw greatness. We saw hope. We saw, Michael Jordan.
For years, the comparisons have been made between Jordan and Kobe, Jordan and Lebron, Lebron and Kobe. I'm sorry, but Michael is a class that stands alone. The man went to the NBA Finals six times, won the title six times, and won MVP of the Finals six times. There is no comparison. From the position of leader, Michael Jordan is far and away better than both of those two men combined. Talent alone, dictates that, but character too. I'm not referring to Michael nowadays where he has let his life spin out of control, but when he was a players, and when he was the standard for excellence.
As good as he was, he was one man, and didn't win the title by himself. He was surrounded by a group of players that no one else wanted, and when they beat the Lakers (YAY!) in 1991, for their first title, little did they know that this was the beginning of what I feel was the greatest dynasty of the modern era. From 1991-1993, the Bulls were hands down, the best team in Basketball. They beat the Lakers, Blazers, and Suns for their first 3-peat and did it with style, class, and more highlights than any of todays teams. The Bulls were a team. Yes they had the greatest player on the planet, but they weren't Michael Jordan and the four guys who pass to him, they were the World Champion Chicago Bulls.
Michael retired in 1993 to play baseball. (Very bad move) but he returned in 1995 the next 3-peat that came for the Bulls was more impressive than the first one. In the 95-96 season they went 72-10, a record for wins that still stands to this day. They lost three games in the post season and won by twenty points in the championship game against the Seattle Sonics. (Or what you might know today as the Oklahoma Thunder) Then, the following year they went 69-13 and beat a very good Utah Jazz team in six games to win the title. Michael even scored 38 points in game five with food poisoning. Are you kidding me? In the clincher, he didn't even score the winning basket. It was a little guy named Steve Kerr, (great name) who hit the shot with four seconds remaining to lift the Bulls over the Jazz. The next season, they went 62-20, and beat the Jazz again in six games to win their third title in a row and sixth overall for the decade. In game 3 they set the record for the biggest margin of victory, beating the Jazz 96-54.
I mean, they are the greatest dynasty the sporting world has ever seen since the Celtics of the 1960s when they won nine in a row. The Bulls passed the ball, played defense, believed in one another, and Phil Jackson, took five men, and seven that no other team wanted and turned them into the greatest show on earth. For three years no matter where they played, it was a sell out crowd. They were cheered wherever they went, and when they won, they won with class. When they lost, they lost with class too.
Was Michael Jordan hard to play with? Probably. The man set impossible standards to measure up to. Was it rewarding to play with Michael Jordan? Do I really need to answer that? If you played with him in that decade, you won a title. It doesn't get any better than that.
Who knows what might have happened to that team had the owners decided not to resign Jordan, Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman? The Bulls could have become the first time since the Celtics to win four or maybe even five in a row. They were that good and had that much potential.
They reminded me why I loved the game, why I had passion for it, and inspired me to be the best coach I could. I miss those days. I like the game, but I can't say that the league today is better than it was back then. The Players are not the same caliber, at least not all of them, and the style of play isn't the same. I am grateful I grew up in the era of Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and wish so badly that people who are seeing what's going on today could see the game back then for what it was, pure, great, and fun to watch.
Hopefully it can get there again someday, and that we can be treated to a man with the passion and talent of Michael Jordan. Maybe someday.
Until next time
P
Monday, June 13, 2011
Coward
So, I have to write about this and laugh. I received an email a few moments ago; someone read one of my blogs, and criticized me for having an OPINION, and writing out said opinion. This person left no name, just cried, and told me that have no right to complain about things I don't know anything about.
Maybe... and that's why I stick to the things I do know about, and can give an opinion on. Look at the title of my blog, it's my thoughts and OPINIONS. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me, that's fine, you're entitled to do that, but what gets me is that they left their name off it.
If you got a problem, tell me who you are, don't write an anonymous response to me and tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. That makes you a coward. You obviously disagreed with me, and I could care less that you disagreed with me, but I don't need this anonymous B.S.
I spoke my mind, about something I have passion for, and yes, I stand by every word I said, and regardless of whether you agree, I wrote based on what I saw, and what I thought. Allow me to do that, and I will allow you to argue with me. Healthy debate is fun, and good.
Cowardly attacks on my thoughts and views on things? That's not acceptable. Put your name on it, or Don't talk to me. Now, you've wasted enough of my time.
Until Next time
Preston
Maybe... and that's why I stick to the things I do know about, and can give an opinion on. Look at the title of my blog, it's my thoughts and OPINIONS. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me, that's fine, you're entitled to do that, but what gets me is that they left their name off it.
If you got a problem, tell me who you are, don't write an anonymous response to me and tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. That makes you a coward. You obviously disagreed with me, and I could care less that you disagreed with me, but I don't need this anonymous B.S.
I spoke my mind, about something I have passion for, and yes, I stand by every word I said, and regardless of whether you agree, I wrote based on what I saw, and what I thought. Allow me to do that, and I will allow you to argue with me. Healthy debate is fun, and good.
Cowardly attacks on my thoughts and views on things? That's not acceptable. Put your name on it, or Don't talk to me. Now, you've wasted enough of my time.
Until Next time
Preston
Move on
I am not going to jump on the Lebron James hate wagon. I don't think adding another critic to his life is necessary. Here we are, not even 12 hours removed from the closure of the 2011 NBA Finals and I've seen critic after critic come on TV and offer their two cents and opinions about how he played, what this loss means, and the effort he put forth in this series.
Yes, some of it is required when you talk about the biggest stage of professional basketball, I get that, but going on and on about how this is yet another let down of his career, is taking it a little too far. People keep making comparisons between him and Michael Jordan. OK, well, Jordan didn't win titles either until the Bulls put the right people around him. He came into the league in 1984, and didn't win until 1991. Lebron will get his time, it's a mathematical certainty. But, what gets me is how people jump all over him because he hasn't done it yet. Newsflash, he's 25, not 40. He's not over the hill, he's in his prime.
He's getting better, improving his game. Let his personal life be his personal life. Why do we need to comment on things that have nothing to do with us? What makes people think that we are entitled to way in on other peoples decisions with their own lives? Especially when we don't even know them! The man wanted to leave, and take his talents elsewhere as he put it last summer. He had every right to do that. He honored his committments to Cleveland, and he decided it was time to move on. I think we need to do the same. I don't live in Ohio so I don't care, but it amazes me how much people do.
People need to move on to the issues of their own lives and stop trying to recapture what is lost and never going to happen again. The man lost, he's beating himself up enough, there's no need to add to it. Talk about his game, talk about his shot selection, his passing, defense, rebounding, and other things related to the GAME, but leave the personal stuff alone. It's not our business. Also, if you're not a basketball player, coach, trainer, or other related job in the field of basketball, stop trying to make yourself sound like you know what's going on. That is why I am entitled to talk about this, I'm a coach, i've got credentials. (Which by the way, is a joke. Don't read anything more into that.) Some of the people I've heard, are ridiculous, and don't know what they're talking about. But it's entertaining and all part of the circus.
Lebron, I thought you gave it your best, you just came up short. Now, I was rooting against you, but not because I wanted to see you lose, but I just wanted to see Dallas win. No hatred involved, just wanted to see Dallas win. I've told my friends, you can win it next year, this year is Dirks.
I just find it hillarious how much involvement regular people have in the lives of professional athletes. Like we have a say in how they live, or where they work. It's not our lives people, move on, and live your own life.
It's time to get off the "I HATE LEBRON JAMES" train, just because he plays for another team. If you're going to hate him because you're loyal to the team that he's playing against, nothing else. It makes you petty otherwise.
Congratulations to the Mavericks. They deserved it. Lebron, Wade, Bosh, your time will come. And I look forward to seeing it happen.
Until next time
P
Yes, some of it is required when you talk about the biggest stage of professional basketball, I get that, but going on and on about how this is yet another let down of his career, is taking it a little too far. People keep making comparisons between him and Michael Jordan. OK, well, Jordan didn't win titles either until the Bulls put the right people around him. He came into the league in 1984, and didn't win until 1991. Lebron will get his time, it's a mathematical certainty. But, what gets me is how people jump all over him because he hasn't done it yet. Newsflash, he's 25, not 40. He's not over the hill, he's in his prime.
He's getting better, improving his game. Let his personal life be his personal life. Why do we need to comment on things that have nothing to do with us? What makes people think that we are entitled to way in on other peoples decisions with their own lives? Especially when we don't even know them! The man wanted to leave, and take his talents elsewhere as he put it last summer. He had every right to do that. He honored his committments to Cleveland, and he decided it was time to move on. I think we need to do the same. I don't live in Ohio so I don't care, but it amazes me how much people do.
People need to move on to the issues of their own lives and stop trying to recapture what is lost and never going to happen again. The man lost, he's beating himself up enough, there's no need to add to it. Talk about his game, talk about his shot selection, his passing, defense, rebounding, and other things related to the GAME, but leave the personal stuff alone. It's not our business. Also, if you're not a basketball player, coach, trainer, or other related job in the field of basketball, stop trying to make yourself sound like you know what's going on. That is why I am entitled to talk about this, I'm a coach, i've got credentials. (Which by the way, is a joke. Don't read anything more into that.) Some of the people I've heard, are ridiculous, and don't know what they're talking about. But it's entertaining and all part of the circus.
Lebron, I thought you gave it your best, you just came up short. Now, I was rooting against you, but not because I wanted to see you lose, but I just wanted to see Dallas win. No hatred involved, just wanted to see Dallas win. I've told my friends, you can win it next year, this year is Dirks.
I just find it hillarious how much involvement regular people have in the lives of professional athletes. Like we have a say in how they live, or where they work. It's not our lives people, move on, and live your own life.
It's time to get off the "I HATE LEBRON JAMES" train, just because he plays for another team. If you're going to hate him because you're loyal to the team that he's playing against, nothing else. It makes you petty otherwise.
Congratulations to the Mavericks. They deserved it. Lebron, Wade, Bosh, your time will come. And I look forward to seeing it happen.
Until next time
P
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)