inventory

Tonight the world will celebrate the coming of 2012, and rightfully so. I guess I'm right there with everybody else, the only difference, while I am enjoying a fine bourbon I'm also timing contractions. Not a typical way to pass a new years eve, but its all good.

With the turning of the year it seems appropriate to reflect on the past 12 months and take stock of the success and failure. It would be easy to look at bank accounts and possessions to gauge how the year ended up, but a really true measures of where you are at in life calls for a but more introspection. It seems to me that if a person really wants to understand their self worth; one of the true measures is what you have been able to do for the people you count among your friends. I'm not speaking of how many time you bought lunch, or beer, or whatever, but have you been there when they were down. Were you there to enjoy the times they were on top, and did you really relish their good times as much as they did. I expect if you can answer yes to both these questions than your value as a friend out weighs most every thing else that most people associate with worth.

For me, I feel fortunate to be able to count maybe a half dozen people among my friends. Some of them I don't see but once or twice a year,  but that's neither here nor there. For those that have solid relationships time does not seem to be a barrier. In 2011 I was able to renew (face to face) two relationships with old friends that reach as far back as ten or more years. I while I understand that the good times we spent drinking and shooting pool helped to build the relationships, I'm forced to wonder what forged them to the point where time has no meaning. Is it a bond between like souls that can't be explained, or is it something more simple? Truth is I don't know, and I guess, in the end it does not matter.  What really matters is that true friends are never gone.

True Friends are never gone. This is one of the life lessons I learned in 2011. Until this year I have always thought the people drifted in and out of life with no meaning or purpose. Tonight, I'm glad to say that I have learned another way of thinking: our friends are exactly what Webster says they are supposed to be. And I have not even broached the meaning of family relations; which are stronger yet.

I wish each of you a fruitful 2012


   

300 south

There is something about a chance to go go home that allows a person to, for a second, forget about all the troubles of the world. For me letting go of things starts on interstate 75 south about 50 miles north of Atlanta. I can't explain why, but for what ever reason, on the drive home the musical lyrics sound a little more refreshing and the feeling in my soul becomes a little more bright.  It is with out fail that by the time I make the right on to the Georgia-Florida Parkway that I have forgotten worldly trouble and my mind is free drift in and out of good days gone by and better days to come. All these good feelings are, I believe, multiplied this trip simply because of the time of the year.

I have to admit that I'm not huge on the whole Christmas vibe, but its a valid reason (pretty well mandatory) for my family to come together and enjoy each other's company. And Yes, some of our traditions facilitate the connection. After all, how can you not enjoy going to church half drunk on Christmas Eve? My people have been doing it as long as I remember. I do find the exchange of gifts a bit cumbersome, but even in that I can see the pride that the the practice of giving can bring. If I had the understanding about what made other folks happy I'm almost certain I would take the same pride in giving as they do, but it seems I'm a little deficient in that department.

Allow me to address the new year.
2011 has been pretty tough for my clan, but it seems that (knock on would) we are on the rebound. Ever one seems and good health and expansion mode is in full effect. It is interesting to watch our little family expand and contract this time of year. Our way seems to add and subtract places at the table every Christmas (and we add with open arms). But for the first time in resent memory every one is truly well liked and welcome back to close 2012.

I hope every one had a Christmas to remember and has a  happy new year.

my tunes

Tonight the house is filled with the smell of pork chops and grits and I just got back from Five Forks Grocery Store with a 6 pack of Bock. Not a bad way to pass a Saturday night. I spent a large portion of today with cleaning and cooking around the house with a pair of ear phones belting out out my favorite tunes. Which has got to thinking that it would be selfish not to share a few of the best artist and songs with you guys.

Whiskey Myers - I found these guys on i tunes some how and I'm sure glad I did. They are from east Texas, but you would think they grew up in the same house as Ronnie Vans Zant or Gregg Allman. They have a sound that clearly is the closest thing to southern rock since the peak of Skynard. Their web site (http://www.whiskeymyers.com/band.htm) also list Cross Canadian Rag Weed and Reckless Kelly as major influences; that's a can't miss. I would recommend "Ballad of a Southern Man" and "Nobody Knows Her Name" as good tracks to start with.

Avett Brothers - I can't recall if I mentioned these guys or not in my last post about music. If not, here we go. This band lands a little on the folk side of things to my ear which is no surprise considering their North Carolina roots.  I believe their strength is the strong lyrics they produce and is evidenced in the song "Head Full of Doubt." One of my dear friends once asked me to recommend a song for the repeat button and I went with "Alabama Pines" by Jason Isbell, but "Head Full of Doubt" would have worked to; its that good.

The Greencards - This band may not be for everybody as they are deeply rooted in bluegrass and instrumentals. I love their style and sound. Whats better than a violin/fiddle? Nothing.
Their "The Brick" Album is a great place to start.

I'm a sucker too for covers here are a few good ones
"Simple Man" artist The Rambles
"Sledge Hammer" artist Dave Matthews Band
"Pursuit of Happiness" artist Lessie (not for the kids)
"Train to Birmingham" artist Stoney LaRue
"Two Out of Three Aint Bad" Artist Jamey Johnson
"Wichita Lineman" artist REM  Yes I said REM

I hope ya'll enjoy, and I'm always looking for new music. If you have a gem don't keep it to your self. Pass it my way.

hot stove: the what the hell are the marlins doing edtion

I am well aware that most of the folks that read my post are not avid baseball fans. But hey, don't feel bad about that nobody is perfect.

For those of you that don't follow the hot stove season, last week Major League Baseball hosted its annual winter meetings. Every year all the trade rumors and free agent signing crescendo at the winter meetings. This is the week that every baseball fan defines their team's off season success and failure. While I understand the hype and fanfare that leads up to the Winter Meetings, I don't buy the concept that a baseball team's season is dependent the events of last week. That being said it was relativity depressing to watch the Marlins sign Reyes, Bell, and Buehrle while the home team didn't do anything. I guess the good news was that the Phillies and Nats didn't make any head lines either. More good news: Albert and CJ are in the American League West not in Miami too.

Now that I have had some time to digest the three major signings that Miami made I'm not sure that they will be the beast of the east that every one else seems to thinks they will be. If you combine each of the three player's W.A.R. (wins above replacement) the marlins spent $191 MILLION on eleven more wins than they had last year. That puts them at about a .500 team. Of course I'm not counting on Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramiez coming back strong. If they both have the seasons that they are capable of then maybe they could win 90 games and contend for the wild card. I guess we will have to see. 

I'm still waiting on the home team to make their move. Most of the rumors that I have read or heard involve the Braves trading our all star pitcher Jair Jurrjens for an out field bat. I really like that guy and hope that Frank does not make that move. I would rather see one of the young pitching prospects (not Teheran) and Prado for a bat in left. We could also sign one of the non-tenders to a short term deal to add some power to the out field,  Luke Scott comes to mind. 

On the subject of short stop; the Braves have changed their position some what since the beginning of the off season. It looks like we are going to have Tyler Pastornicky  playing short every day. With the Brave's track record of bringing up rookies the last few years (Heyward, Kimbrell, and Freeman) I can't argue with their decision. However, my gut is they may be rushing this kid a little to quickly. 

One more quick point: I really hope that our two non tenders find their way back to Atlanta. Moylan and Conrad are quality players and seemingly good guys. Any one that remembers the 2010 Hanson start against the Reds knows what kind of player Brooks Conrad can be. And if we trade Prado, who is going to back up Chipper? With out Moylan I'm not sure that our pen is deep enough; O'venbrell  was over used last year and I don't see any one to pull the slack like Peter Moylan could if he comes back healthy.       

leaving raleigh

A day ago I left one of the coldest most dreary cities I have ever stayed in, Raleigh, North Carolina. Every time I have ever been in Raleigh my favorite part of the whole trip was the I-40 west sign. Now, to be fair to the city I have only been there between the months of December and February. I'm almost certain that Raleigh has nice days just like any where else, but I haven't seen them. So the logical train of though would be that yesterday morning when I left four hours before I was scheduled to that my mood would lift, but on occasions no matter how bad the weather, eight hours from home is a good thing.

The bad news came Tuesday morning just as the meetings in Raleigh were getting underway. And even though I was shocked and disturbed by events in back home in Georgia, some things don't seem real until you see it for your self. The denial of reality, in this case, was aided by good company of a few friends that are quick with a joke and generous with their whiskey. I even had the distraction of the Pujols' contract to keep my mind busy for bulk of the drive home. But even I can't avoid whats real forever. 

It was probably not until I was on the northern corridor out side of Atlanta that I began to let the gravity of the week's event take hold of my mind. By the time I made the right hand turn in to the funeral home my soul was heavy with questions, pity, and (let's be honest) a fair amount of anger. Once I entered the home though the anger faded completely away and was replaced with an over whelming feeling of something I don't have the words for. I only know that I wished for the people most affected by Tuesday's suicide could recover from their grief as soon as possible. After all, the pain the they were feeling was no fault of their own, instead it was caused by a  selfish act of a desperate man. 

I have always struggled to understand how life could be so bad that a person feels like the best alternative is nothing. I also find the act of suicide cowardly and selfish, perhaps the most selfish act conceivable. How can a person with any internal strength, or belief, or faith, or good old fashion kiss-my-ass leave their friends and family behind to pick up the mess they have made of their life? What is the weakness in a person's heart that allows them to turn their back on everything? Why are they not able to enjoy life's pleasure enough to want to live them? These are just a few of the questions I'm left wondering, but hoping not to dwell on.