Year: 37, Day: 1

Ever have one of those laughs, like REALLY long laughs?  The kind where everyone in the room is laughing, doubled over and holding their sides because it was THAT funny?  Then everyone calms down, gets in a few deep breaths, then erupts into laughter again?

We had one of those last night, and before you ask ... wine, beer and tobacco were the only substances in play. It was my 36th birthday party and I get more excited every year about the prospect of not really doing anything but hanging out with good friends, good food and good drinks.  Rebecca did a pretty fantastic job of getting many of best friends and compadres together for just that.  The weather was beautiful, perfect for grilling and some backyard games.  The food was excellently prepared ... and it is the preparation that deserves the praise, not my flipping it over a few times on a hot grill.  The drinks were plentiful, and the company was (as usual) what really brought the whole thing together.

A quick side riff on people making the difference ...

"Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds." - Colin Powell

I'm a little biased, but I really do think very highly of the people I choose to spend time with (and who graciously choose to spend their time with me).  And while the laugh we had was great, the "deed" that accomplished it was anything but.

One of our party goers (and particularly, one of the more sober ones) ventured out onto the patio to take a phone call.  They claim that the screen door was wide open when they walked out.  At some point during their 10-15 minute conversation, "someone" must have closed the screen door.  (Note: I'm laughing again already as I try to type this.)

When the phone conversation ended, they made their way back towards a room full of people who were just generally conversing and in plain sight of the patio entrance.  WHAM!  Bumble, bumble, stumble ... then raucous, boisterous, belly laughs ... like a room full of Santa Clauses all erupted at the same time.  Yep, our first attempted screen door pass through of Spring 2010.

Our party guest was walking in rather than walking out, but this video should help if you've never seen this phenomenon before.  The real fun starts at the 30 second mark, but they're nice enough to replay it a few times.



Our guest had a similar reaction.  The immediate expression of "WTF!?" ... "Hey, that wasn't here before." ... "Oh man, I just ran into a screen door." ... "Is there any other way off this patio other than going back inside?" ... all wrapped up into one face, one moment, it was priceless.  They were a great sport and very self-effacing, and it was HILARIOUS.  Our youngest party goer wasn't even 2 years old yet and even he thought it was a hoot.

It was certainly a highlight of the night and a story I'll be enjoying for many birthdays to come.  "Luke Screenwalker" was also kind enough to offer to not only pay for repairing the screen and bending the frame, but to actually come back and do the work themselves.  I told them not to worry about it and as far as party casualties go getting a new screen door isn't that bad, but they insisted on making things right.

It was a classy gesture and all I can say at this point is c'mon over ... the door's open. ;)

MLB Week 2: Power Rankings

And they're in!  Power Rankings: Yankees in rarefied air.

Some of my favorites this early into the season:

- Disclaimer: Just a reminder, the following is subject to change. Not the Astros, but everyone else.

Ha ha ... so true.  The Astros are super pathetic this year.  Glad to see them pick up their first win against the Cards though. Zing!

- 2. Philadelphia Phillies - After first nine games against Nationals and Astros, Phils begin referring to schedule-maker as “our 10th man.”

Phils are 7-1.  Didn’t realize they did it against the Natty Lights and Astros.  Who’s next?  The Pirates?

- 3. Tampa Bay Rays - Nodding to one of Tampa’s most famous residents, Maddon suggests new Rays ballpark be built “on Jeter’s property out there.” Jeter says that’s fine, as long as nobody stands in Minka’s sun.

What can I say here?  Jeter?  Super model girlfriend?  I don’t think there’s anything else to add.

- 5. St. Louis Cardinals - Pujols to-do list: 1) Win second World Series. 2) Win fourth MVP. 3) Get that pesky John Connor.

Perfect comparison!  This guy is exactly like the Terminator.  Too bad the Yanks already have an All-Star first baseman.  Even worse, it’s too bad the Red Sox don’t.  Tell Deidre to get the bags packed for Beantown. :(

- 7. Boston Red Sox - Big Papi mortified when beat writer for Worcester Telegram and Gazette grabs bat and goes 2 for 5 against Royals.

How many games does he have to struggle before you can realistically start using the word “slump”?

- 16. Los Angeles Angels - Matsui returns to Yankee Stadium, gets ring, taunts new teammates with silly Rally Monkey dance.

Matsui is first class all the way.  Ring presentation and Jeter prank were both great!  Aren’t monkey brains a delicacy in Asia-Pac?  Let’s hope Hideki finishes that little furball off.

And then to the dregs…

- 29. Baltimore Orioles - O’s draw 9,129 for game against Rays. Officials explain there would have been more, but, you know, the O’s are, um, awful.

- 30. Houston Astros - Management, in search of upcoming “gimmes,” circle all off-days.

According to who?

I was taking the kids to school this morning.  We were talking about our upcoming day with Sirius XM 20 in the background.  Orianthi's "According to You" came on, which resulted in both kids pleading, "Can we turn it up!?"  I guess they don't enjoy talking about their day as much as I do hearing about it.

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of hearing this gem, it's starts with:

According to you
I'm stupid,
I'm useless,
I can't do anything right.

And goes on with:

But according to him

I'm beautiful,

incredible,

he can't get me out of his head.

A standard teenage tale of woe ... the guy I'm with doesn't like me and the guy I like I'm not with.  I asked the kids (when the song was over) if they could describe to me what they thought the song was about.  My daughter (6) says, "All I know is that Oprah sings it."  My son (9) must have picked up on an upcoming life lesson and kept his response short with, "It's about a girl who's stupid, useless and can't to anything right."  Eureka!

To which I replied, "According to who?"  Their responses were some guy, her boyfriend, etc.  OK, good enough.  So I asked, "What should she do?  What would you do if you were her?"  I'd secretly hoped for a different response, but what I heard didn't shock me ... she should be with the person who thinks she's beautiful.

Ah, yes ... but, what if someday rolls around and that person now thinks she's useless, stupid and can't do anything right?  What now?  She's right back where she started.  Crickets.  Blank stares.  One request to turn the radio back on.

I asked my daughter, "Do you think you're beautiful?"  She bashfully (as bashfully as someone with her confidence can) said yes.  I asked my son, "Do you think you're stupid?"  He looked at me and with his voice he just said no, but with the rest of his facial expression he was closer to, "Dad, I'm in the f'in accelerated program.  What do you think?"

Perfect!  So why does she care if he thinks she's stupid, useless and can't do anything right?  Again, crickets.  Blank stares.  Why attach your self worth to some boy or some girl who can wake up one day and change their mind?  Why not allow what you think about yourself to be more important than what anyone else thinks of you ... your friends, the school "system", even your mom or your dad?

Hmmm ... this had to have been puzzling for them.  So let's get this straight Dad, when you're hollering at me because I spilled a bag of chips and I don't clean them up in less than 30 seconds, it means I'm really only clumsy or screwing around if I THINK I'm clumsy or screwing around?  It really doesn't matter what you think?  Well it matters a little I guess, but we didn't actually get that far.  Maybe they'll give it some thought today at school and we'll see where it goes at dinner.  Unless of course someone spills something, then it's all over but the shoutin'. ;)

It's a difficult but important concept to discuss with kids who put so much emphasis on pleasing others, doing what they're told, trying to make mom, dad, teacher, coach, friend, etc. happy.  They're judged at school by their grades, at home by their parents, and at practice by their coaches.  It's amazing any of them learn to think and feel and live for themselves.

Maybe it's just the transitional age of my kids from the necessary boundaries and rule setting of young childhood to the more rebellious teenage years.  Perhaps we're going through the more vague and often confusing pre-teen years.

What's your experience been in building self-esteem and self-worth in youngsters?

How do you balance it with boundaries, rules, chores, etc.?

Anywhere, here she is in the flesh ... well, in video anyway.  Enjoy!