First Cup used in Hockey 1874, First Helmet Used in 1974. 100 Years? Really?

I saw a comment about this on Facebook the other day and it struck me funny. I had to sit down immediately and do some quick research and found that it was true. In 1874 the first "testicular guard" known as the "cup" was used in hockey, to protect the family jewels. In 1970 and 1971 we began to see goalies use helmets and masks for face protection, but it was not until 1974 that we saw players begin to wear helmets as a team. 100 YEARS? 100 Years later men finally decided that we should protect our brains? I am still in shock after reading this over and over again. I can understand a little that men were probably only thinking of pain first. If you were struck between the legs with a hockey puck traveling at 90 miles an hour you will be throwing up in pain for the next week even after the surgeon removes your stomach from your throat. But, if you are struck in the head with a hockey puck at 90 miles an hour you are going to wake up in the hospital because it will knock you out. No one was thinking of brain damage back then, example Muhammad Ali and the struggles he goes through now. Even Jim McMahon who played in the 80s cannot even name players he played with because of the brain damage he received from football hits. So obviously we were not educated enough to think about brain damage, but lets think of this from another angle. What about the face? For 100 years hockey players thought, "my face may look like a Picasso painting, but as long as my man hood works she will be turned on to me."? Really? I thought this and then just google photos of hockey players. It is hard to find a hockey player with a full set of teeth or a straight nose. I mean I know every woman out there thinks Wayne Gretzky is the hottest thing to come from hockey, but he got lucky or plenty of plastic surgery. There are other questions regarding this to be answered. NBA players and NFL players are known for having illegitimate kids running around everywhere, but you do not hear this from hockey players. Is it because not all of them are wearing the cup or because they are wearing the cup but should have worn a face mask. So this could point to the fact gentlemen that you may have protected the family jewels, but it still takes a pretty face to get a woman's attention. 100 years? Really?
Still confused........from the beach (with sunscreen protecting my face).........Brian

Rich Mullins Hold me Jesus

Why do moms always want another baby?

The only person that can hold the answer on the question of why mothers always want another baby, besides God is a mother. But, let me as a father and a husband take a stab at this question and lets see if I come any closer to finding the answer than I do at pinning the tail on the donkey blind folded. As the father of a 2 year old little girl and a husband to a hard working wife who is an amazing mother, I have a small authority to try an answer this question. My authority may be as much authority as to picking out the fabric for our bedroom, but my opinion counts a little since I am one half of the equation to producing another child in our home. This question is one that I have asked my wife and myself more frequently as our daughter is growing up. With a change in health insurance recently we were informed by the insurance company that there is a 18 month waiting period before they will pay for the birth of a child. Needless to say to a mother, wife, and woman such as the woman I am married to, this is very upsetting. My wife and I would love to have another child and she would love for the next one to be close in age to our daughter that is 2 years old. I have seen my wife more upset about having to wait to have another child than she has been about anything. So I ask her the question and I ask myself the question, why are moms always wanting another baby? As a Dad I see another mouth to feed, more future expenses, more work, more everything...........but also more smiles, laughter, and fun. BUT, I am not sure that is what a mother sees. As I watch our little girl grow up and become more independent and also more okay with Daddy helping her, I watch my wife's needing and request for having another child become stronger. So as I try to answer this question of why does my wife and mother of our daughter want another child? Why do women that have teenage children wish to have another baby? I think it is the feeling of being needed, the feeling that this baby survives because of her. Now I have tried to make my wife feel more needed around our house as our daughter has become more independent. I have left more laundry on the floor that needs to be picked up, I have left more dishes in the sink, I have forgotten to recycle, and I have asked her to wait on me more.  As shocking as you may find this, it did not help. It actually reversed into complaining about how I do not help out enough. WOW! So the feeling of being needed only works from a baby? A feeling of being needed to survive can only come from a newborn and unfortunately once that newborn has become 2 years old and independent the feeling will come back again. I believe the only way out of this vicious cycle is that one day when the mother gets the urge for another little bundle of joy, you can only hope she is too tired from chasing the other children to ask you for another baby. Right or wrong, this is just one Dad's wrong opinion..........if you ask a woman.

From the beach................Brian

It wasn't you John Mayer, it was me.

Over John Mayer's career as a musician I have watched him from a far. As someone who did not turn his music off when it came on the radio, but someone who was not going to go out and buy his cd or even pay the .99 cents on itunes. In my mind John Mayer was a pretty boy and was singing his music to the backstreet boys crowd. I mean who were all these 13 year old girls going to listen to when they turn 18 and it was no longer cool to watch 40 year old men in orthopedic shoes singing about how much they longed for her. So I assumed John Mayer was there for those girls as he sang to the maturer 18 year olds letting her know "her body is a wonderland." As a father of a 2 year old that song made me want to whack John Mayer over the head with his guitar, but as a husband that song had me looking forward to my daughter going to bed. (wink! wink!) If Victoria's Secret was smart they would be playing this song in all of their stores and their sales would set a new record. It was a love hate relationship for John Mayer and I. In the past couple of years I have seen John Mayer come out with more creative music as he has shown his passion for the Blues. OH JOHN, you found my heart.......maybe. I was not a John Mayer fan, but I was keeping an eye on him more. I am a person who believes in respect, I want to see people respect their elders and give respect where it is deserved. That was when it happened for John Mayer and I, the 51st Grammy Awards they had BB King and John Mayer play a duet together. My first thought was what are they doing letting that hack play with "The King of Blues!" John sat there like a kid sitting in front of his idol, maybe with a little less drool than I would have, but he was almost in amazement sitting next to BB King. Then the two of them played and amazing duet together and I was gaining respect for John's playing abilities, but was more impressed on how excited he was to be around my favorite musician, BB King. Then John Mayer decided to change my opinion of him when the song ended and John Mayer stood, not to bow or accept applause, but to honor 81 year old King of Blues, BB King. John, I appreciate your respect for someone who laid the ground work for musicians like yourself. Respect for BB King who now is a multi-millionaire but at one time was hopping trains and living on the street just to play the blues. As I gained respect for John Mayer I began to research his music more and as a musician myself I began to appreciate the level of music John Mayer plays at. The amount of difficult music he plays where you would have to have multiple guitars tuned to different keys. So John Mayer your old music may scare me as a Dad and excite me as a husband, your new music excites me all around, but it may have been my attitude. So John, with that I you the famous break up line.......not as a break up, but as a way to say you gained a new fan..............it's not you, it was me.
From the beach....................Brian

25th Anniversary of Super Bowl Shuffle

Wow it is hard to believe that this year is the 25th anniversary of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl Shuffle. If you were not around in the 80's it is time you do a quick YouTube search of the famous dance. As I reflect on this event there are multiple things that shock me about the 25th anniversary of this dance phenomenon. Is it shocking that the bears have not won a Super Bowl in 25 years, no that part is not shocking since they have went through about 23 quarter backs since Jim Mcmahon. Also the Chicago Bears did get one other Super Bowl chance when they were out smarted  in the 2007 Super Bowl by mastermind Peyton Manning. As a child I remember running around my yard throwing amazing passes with my Jim Mcmahon sweatband and now I feel old realizing that I have seen those twenty five years fly by. What is most amazing to me is that on this year of the twenty fifth anniversary of the Super Bowl Shuffle the Chicago Bears are one win away from being in the Super Bowl of 2010-2011. Whether you are a Bears fan or not (and I am not), you have to feel a little bit of Bears pride in your heart if you were around for the Super Bowl Shuffle in 1985, isn't there a little Super Bowl Shuffle in all of us? Who can forget Mike Singletary, Jim Mcmahon, Walter Peyton, Refrigerator Perry, and Coach Ditka? And what are the chances the Bears could put up another Super Bowl win and we could see the Super Bowl Shuffle resurrected? With my favorite football team already put out of contention for the Super Bowl, I must admit I am on the Chicago Bears side cheering for another Super Bowl Shuffle. "We are the Bears shufflin through, shufflin on down, doing it for you......" So come on fans everywhere, come on Chicago Bears of 2010-2011, get the world and those of us from the 80's another chance to see the Super Bowl Shuffle.
From the beach.......Da Bears!!!............Brian

8th grade student creates #1 iphone game

When I was in 8th grade I was trying to make sure I did not sweat through my shirt, let my voice crack in front of girls, or smell like milk past its expiration date. What happened to 8th grade? Now there are kids like Robert Nay of Spanish Fork, Utah who refer to themselves as a coder. Robert is famous for creating the #1 ranked game on iphone as of January 2011 and he is in the 8th grade. His new iphone game he has created called "Bubble Ball" has even taken over the famous "Angry Birds" game that most people have stored on their smart phones. I am thirty-one years old and I have 2 documents pending on my printer right now that I can not get deleted off and I spend much of my day trying to keep my 2 year old from stuffing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the printer. In 8th grade Robert should still be struggling with a changing voice, having embarrassing feelings about his teachers, and asking his parents to drop him off at the mall to cruse for chicks. What 8th grade student has been creating video games long enough to create a #1 seller on the iphone by 8th grade. Where are the child labor laws on Apple? When I was in 8th grade I was showing my friends how to blow into the original Nintendo when it would freeze up and I was considered a technology genius. Oh how life has changed and it scares me as a father of a 2 year old. Technology is speeding up our world and now our children. Hey Robert when you get done signing autographs on your iphone can you swing by and fix my printer?

From the beach.......Brian

dishes hold secrets

In the past few months I have become a stay at home Dad. I knew I had a lot to learn. Not just as a father since I would be spending more time with my daughter than ever before , but I had a lot to learn around the house. I knew from being married for 8 years that my wife and I folded laundry different and early in our marriage I had this crazy idea that she liked doing laundry. In 8 years of marriage my wife did teach me some secrets around the house. She informed me for one that the toilet seat enjoys being down better than up and placing my dishes in the sink after dinner does not qualify as doing the dishes. So now here we are 8 years into our marriage with a 2 year old little girl and my wife trusts me to be a stay at home Dad. To prove to my wife and myself I took on my new job like Muhammad Ali. I was doing laundry before it could hit the laundry basket and dinner was hot and ready when she got home. I made it look easy because I was the champ, fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Then the champ was hit with a left hook that he was not ready for. My daughter was to attend an event that night when I received a text from a mom asking us to bring a pan of Brownies to the event. This was no problem, I grabbed up a box of brownie mix and read the directions. Here came the left hook, duck champ duck! Directions said to use a 13 x 9 pan, what? Now I know any woman that can cook could walk into the kitchen and pick out a 13 x 9 pan on the first try. This champ did not want to take a knock out, so after looking at 10 different pans I did what any champ would do. I went to the garage and got my craftsman tape measure, I could almost here the crowd roar as I was holding the trophy over my head. The chant in the kitchen continued to grow as I cooked, champ! Champ! Champ! It wasn't until later when the left hook caught me on the chin. I made a joke in a Facebook post about my greatness, when my dad's secretary saw my post. Being an amazing cook she let me in on a little secret about dishes, the size of the dish is inscribed in the bottom of the dish. Wow, thank you dish makers everywhere what a great idea. I am still flying like a butterfly, but I may have lost a little of my sting.
From the beach..........The Champ!

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Crowd finishes National Anthem for 8 year old

Just when you think there is no hope left in America, when the President is speaking at a memorial service and it sounds more like a pep rally. Eight year old Elizabeth Hughes does an amazing job singing the National Anthem when her microphone cuts out. You can hear a few giggles from some rude women, but they are hushed quickly by some fans and they sound of thousands of fans finishing the National Anthem for 8 year old Elizabeth Hughes. The video clip shot by a ticket holder of the Norfolk Admirals has become a sensation on YouTube. If you listen to CNN or Fox News you will feel as if the world is crashing in upon us and you will feel like climbing in a hole. But then you see Norfolk, VA come through and show some small town atmosphere that makes you proud to be an American again. If  the Norfolk Admirals did not get enough attention with Elizabeth Hughes first National Anthem singing debut, they have now invited her back for an encore performance on February 5th, 2011. I will admit that I have not followed the the Norfolk Admirals season, but I am going to guess that they will see possibly their first sell out crowd on February 5th. I imagine that the National Anthem and Elizabeth Hughes will hear one of the largest cheers the National Anthem has seen since 9-11. Norfolk Admirals I think it is classy that you have invited 8 year old Elizabeth back to let her complete the National Anthem, but please do not try to capitalize on this touching moment. At the moment I feel that Norfolk and the Admirals are a classic American town and team, but if you invite Lee Greenwood in to sing a duet with 8 year old Elizabeth Hughes........Well, that just may squash it for me.
From the beach........Brian

My daughter, my little stranger

Originally posted November 6, 2008......

My daughter, my little stranger.

So my wife is due to deliver our first born which is going to be a little baby girl according to doctors tests. Having no preference I was excited and shocked when they announced that we were having a girl. Also a little nervous because of the fact that I feel I will need to be more of a protector than with a boy, but excitement is what I am feeling.

It hits me as we are drawing near to the due date that I am about to meet a perfect stranger. In just a few short weeks I will meet a little person whom I have never been introduced to. My first introduction to this little person will be at the exact same moment she takes her first breath of this air that I breathe here on the planet that I call home. She has never been to this planet that I take for granted, her first moment on planet earth, USA, Indiana, and I will be there to greet her. She is a little stranger that God has given to me and she will call me Dad, a name that I have never been called. This little stranger that I have never seen will be so new to me and in the same moment seem so familiar because there will be traits in her that I will recognize from before. Will she have my goofy laugh, will she smile like my wife whom she has not met but she will look a lot a like. What a moment this will be when for the first time ever we will meet because God has granted me the opportunity to be called Dad. God has so kindly smiled upon me and will be intrusting me with a little stranger that he has created. A little stranger that will take her first breathe in this world she does not know and at that moment I will lover her instantly. In this life my wife and I have dated, been engaged, married, and grown to love each other more each day. The longer we are married the more our love has grown and will grow, but this has happened over time. Amazing enough this little stranger that will be entering the world on this special appointment God has set for us called "the delivery date" and I will love her like I have never loved someone before. In the blink of an eye, the tick of a second on the clock in the delivery room, in that instant I will be filled with the deepest of love for a little stranger I have never seen before. It is at that moment when she takes her first breath of her life and she will know me as Dad and I will call her "my daughter."
Can't wait to meet you little one.
With Love,
Soon to be called Dad