Johnny Damon, Drawn to the Dark Side

You know, I really enjoyed watching Johnny Damon play center field for the Red Sox these past four years. His defensive skills, except for his below-average throwing arm, were incredibly impressive. His bat was incredible some years, like 2005, and fair others, like 2003. But he was definitely a fan favorite.

I would have been upset if Johnny had jumped to another team, but I would understand. I would have been really upset if, several years down the road, he had ended up playing for the Yankees, but I would have gotten over it. But to be drawn to the Dark Side, months after playing four years with the Red Sox, fighting the Evil Empire in so many classic battles...

To be a true Red Sox player, one must have a true understanding of the rivalry. One must have a sense of right and wrong. A sense of good vs. evil.

Johnny Damon was a hero to many in Red Sox Nation. He had a cult following. He was an icon. But so was Anakin Skywalker, before he was lured to the Dark Side by greed. Mr. Damon sold his services to the highest bidder. I thought Johnny was beyond that. Apparently not.

I have never been more disappointed in a baseball player in my life. Johnny Damon, a Yankee. How can it be so? Who would have guessed? But some people are not strong enough to resist the Dark Side. Luke Skywalker resisted, but it wasn't easy. George Bailey almost accepted a job from Mr. Potter in It's A Wonderful Life, but good won out. In Stephen King's The Stand, the whole story was about those who would give in to the Dark Side of Randall Flagg, and those who chose a harder life and to follow Mother Abigail and the side of Good.

Johnny is siding with Emperor Palpatine, Mr. Potter and Randall Flagg. He is choosing the easy way out, the evil way. But evil does not always win out. It seems to me that Johnny will someday see the error of his ways, but, by then, it may be too late.

Christmas Movies and Specials

When I was a kid, I could not wait to see those Christmas specials. Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Santa Claus Is ComingTo Town, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Frosty. I absolutely loved them! I'd know exactly which ones would be on when and I'd plan my schedule (not that it was too busy at eight years old) around them.

Yet, here I am an adult, and I still can't wait. Only now, I have them all on DVD or video and I can watch them whenever I want. Thank God, I married a woman who loves them as much as I do. We spend from Thanksgiving to Christmas watching specials and Christmas movies every night we are home.

I'm not sure if watching them brings back memories of being a kid, or if it is something else. Watching them brings a sense of peace, a sense of goodwill toward mankind, a sense of family. It's hard to explain why I enjoy watching the Christmas specials so much. I like to sing along with the songs: "Put One Foot in Front of the Other", "I'm Mr. Heatmeiser", "Holly, Jolly Christmas", "Silver and Gold", "Christmastime Is Calling", "Thank You Very Much", and many others.

Here are some of our favorite Christmas Specials:
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Twas The Night Before Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Fat Albert Christmas
Frosty The Snowman
How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Here are our favorite Christmas movies:
Scrooge (the musical version of A Christmas Carol)
Christmas Vacation
A Muppet Christmas Carol
Ernest Saves Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey)
It's a Wonderful Life
White Christmas
If You Believe
A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott version)
Polar Express (a new favorite of our's)

And finally, here are a few of our less thought of Christmas "things" we like to watch:
Are You Being Served Christmas video
The Night They Saved Christmas
Little House On the Prairie: Christmas At Plum Creek
Little House On the Prairie: A Christmas They Never Forgot
Roots: The Gift
West WIng Christmas episodes
White House Christmas (an annual Christmas show on HGTV)
Harry Connick Jr. Christmas Special
The Homecoming (the pilot movie for The Waltons tv series)

In closing, I have no idea why I love these shows and movies so much. But I do.

Little Dogs vs. Big Dogs

I have always been a fan of big dogs, never liking little dogs at all, until recently. I always considered little dogs to be nothing more than cats in disguise. In fact, it wouldn't have surprised me if a scientist somewhere had discovered that little dogs were not even part of the canine family, but were actually their own species, or maybe even closer related to felines.

When I first got my dog, Washington, 11 years ago, I wanted a bog dog. A friend told me his dog, a German Shepard-Wolf hybrid, had just had puppies. He said he thought the father of the pups was a Saint Bernard. I thought wonderful, you can't get much bigger than a St. Bernard-German Shepard-Wolf mix. So I told him I'd gladly take one of the puppies. Later he told me he was wrong about the father, that it was a Golden Retriever. By this time I had already had my heart set on the puppy, so it did not disuade me.

Washington, as I found out on the day I moved into my first house, ended up being the largest of the litter, and also the gentlest. She was the only pup that crawled up into my lap when I went to pick her up. She has been a true blessing to me, a companion and friend, ever since. I was married 4 years ago and my wife and stepson joined my family, meaning myself and Washy. Washington is a 95-pound bear of a creature, who has never growled at a single person, and only barks when extremely excited.

This past June, we added another dog to the family. My wife wanted a lap-dog. Now this took some convincing in arder for me to accept a little dog into the family. But finally, I agreed. Washington was nearly 11 at that time, and had long wanted another dog for companionship, plus I knew she would not be around for too many more years.

After considering pugs and Jack Russells and cairn terriors and several other breeds, we settled on a miniature pincher. After answering an ad in Uncle Henry's magazine, we purchased Harrison. Harry, as he quickly became know, was 2.9 pounds when we picked him up. And he quickly became a joy to us, and by us I mean my wife, myself, and Washington.

Harry is both the lap-dog my wife wanted and the companion Washy has wanted. He is now six months old, closer to 10 pounds, and he rules the house. He'll go from chasing Washington (and vice-versa) around the house to sleeping in your lap, from barking at the slightest sound to crawling on top of you while you are laying on the bed or couch and licking your face. He is a joy and has quickly become a valuable member of the family. Washington loves him and he has helped Washington find the puppy inside herself once again.

I know I never thought I would like a little dog, but I was wrong. They can definitely be as loving and fun, and as much work, as a bog dog. I'm not sure which type I prefer. It is really a toss-up. Dogs are dogs, whether they weight 95 pounds or 10 pounds. They are truely man's best friend and I am truely glad to have both Washington and Harry.

Stunned by Theo Epstein's Decision with Red Sox

I was absolutely stunned by Theo Epstein's decision not to accept the Red Sox's offer of $4.5 million over 3 years to continue as their general manager. He did an absolutely incredible job in his previous 3 years, and I have heard it said several times that this was considered his dream job. Why would he walk away? He has denied it had anything to do with a conflict with Larry Luchino, as was rumored. He said he just could no longer put his heart and soul into the job. I just can't imagine that could be all there is to the story.

I'm sure the hours are horrible, it is probably a 24-7 job. But come on. It's the Boston Red Sox. And he was in charge. He made all the decisions. It's every true diehard Red Sox fan's dream job. All of us who play fantasy baseball, or online or computer baseball games, its what we dream of doing. How could anyone who is that much a fan of the game of baseball, in particular the Boston Red Sox, walk away from their dream?

I'm also worried that the timing on this is horrible. The Sox have free agents to try to re-sign. Spots to fill, both on tthe field and in the coaching ranks. The timing could not be worse. And the Sox's assistant GM was just signed by another team. This has me worried. They need to find someone fast, for a position that they should not rush trying to fill. With this dilemna, I'd say the only choice is to get an experienced interim general manager. One with experience, but who might or might not be interested in the position beyond temporary. They need someone with a lot of experience to come on board fast, knowing it might be temporary, but knowing there is a lot of work to do in the weeks ahead.

Maybe Theo would available?

Going to Conferences

As a teacher, one of the things I hate the most is going to a conference. For one thing, I hate being away from my kids. (This is how I refer to my students.) All I do all day long is think of all the things I could be accomplishing if I was back at school teaching my kids. I watch the clock and think, "Oh, right now I'd be in the middle of first block math," or "Now I'd be walking the kids to exploratries."

Besides that, there is the hassle of making sub plans. This takes a long time to put together, first of all. Second, it's always busy work, because you can't expect even the best subs to teach a lesson and not end up doing it over again after you get back. So instead you give them something to keep them busy, so they won't give the substitute a hard time. Then, after you get back, you have all the correcting to do, the follow up on misbehaving kids, the room to clean up, etc.

All in all, I would much rather be at school. It makes my life easier and, besides, I rarely get much out of the conferences, anyway.

Halloween

You know, I really hate Halloween. I consider it a horrible holiday. Think about it, kids go around from house to house begging for candy, and playing tricks on people who don't have any. Doesn't this sound like it should be illegal? In fact, any other day of the year, other than October 31st, it would be. Why then is it okay to do this on this one day of the year?

Don't call me a scrooge for disliking (loathing, actually) Halloween. I love Christmas, I can't wait for Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day is awesome, but Halloween just bugs me. Before I was married (4 years ago), I used to plan to not be home on Halloween. Some years I'd hide in my classroom at school until very late correcting papers (I teach sixth grade). I'd arrange to get home well after the last "trick-or-treat-ers" had stopped knocking on people's doors. I'd let my sister know she could stop by the school with her two little boys to pick up their Halloween candy, but no one else would be able to find me.

Now, my wife makes me help her pass out candy. I'm in charge of grabbing hold of the dogs so they don't get out and she gives out the treats. I hate it. It's not like we get that many kids, either. Last year we set a new record: 4. But I still hate it.

School will be interesting tomorrow. The kids will either be riding sugar-highs, or sugar-lows. Either way, it will be nuts. I think November 1st should be a national school-day-off.