Day 871: Bodhi Day

Today is Bodhi Day, the Buddhist days of reflection commemorating Siddhartha Gautauma’s enlightenment, at which time he became known as Buddha.

I had a hard time finding a video providing more details… this is the best I could find:

Day 890: Football, the Amazing Bane of My Existence

In the past I’ve shared my addiction to professional football.  But that hasn’t always been the case.  Honestly… I hated football for a very long time.

My parents grew up being Baltimore Colts fans, but when my father was transferred to Atlanta (where I was born) they never really followed their team.  And when the Colts moved to Indianapolis, any respect they had for the game was lost.  So, for the most part, I grew up in a football free household.

That is until my brother joined the High School Marching Band.

In Cobb County, Georgia, High School Marching Bands are a big deal.  Bands from Cobb County consistently compete at the national level in the Bands of America circuit… often times winning divisional and regional titles.  In 1992, I actually marched with Pope High School to a Southern Regional Title (the first time a Cobb County school ever won a Bands of America title of any kind).  Check it out the first movement… I actually found our winning performance on YouTube.  I’m the dude playing the trumpet, actually at the 1:08 minute mark I’m standing on the 40 yard line in the inverted triangle:

In 1998 and 2002 Cobb County’s Lassiter High School won the Bands of America National Title.  And this year, I was very pleased to hear that Cobb’s Kell High School (a program that is only eight years old) not only won the Bands of American Southern Regional Championship… but, they also won the Bands of American Mid-Eastern Regional Championship (the only Cobb school to win two regional titles in the same year.)

Anyway… it goes without saying, but I love High School Marching Bands… but, I don’t like the fact High School Marching Bands have to perform at football games… because if there is one thing in this world that I don’t love… it’s High School Football.  And for seven years I was subjected to High School Football week after week.  Plus, the fact that an average Cobb County Marching Bands normally has a more successful season than an average Cobb County Football team never helped my ability to enjoy the game.

Then, in 1989, our family focus on football shifted from high school to college when my brother started at Georgia Tech.  Of course, he joined the marching band, and of course, my parents and I went to every game to support him.  Now, I love my brother and it was great to have the opportunity to see him… but I don’t really like college football either.  Even all these years later… I don’t really understand the Polls and the BCS computer used to rank all the teams.  I never really understood all the hype… College football is simply unclear to me… from every angle. 

So finally, after nine years of attending football games that I didn’t care about, in the winter of 1994… I quit marching band, I stopped going to football games, and I attended a college without a football team.

However, little did I know… five years later, football would reenter my life with a vengeance.

Now, I know I’ve told this part of the story before, but I will tell it again for those of you who are new and don’t have time to read the archives, but just before the start of the 1998 season, my roommates and I lamented over the fact that we didn’t follow a football team… being dudes… we figured it was time to give it a shot. 

So, we decided to pick one team and follow that one team fanatically for the entire season win or lose.  We ended up picking a team all three of use grew up with in one way or another… a team not known for being all that great… we picked a team that had only made it to the playoffs five times in their thirty-two year history… we were gluttons for punishment… because we picked the Atlanta Falcons.  Little did we know…

That season we fanatically cheered the Atlanta Falcons on to their second Division Title in franchise history.  We cheered them through the playoffs and to their first ever Conference Title… and we cheered with all of our hearts as the Atlanta Falcon played (and lost) in their first ever Super Bowl berth.  It was a magical season.  And from that point on I was hooked.

And now, twelve years later… I am still a raging Falcons fan.  And this year, I am beaming with pride as the Atlanta Falcons have achieved two new milestones. 

While the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons played on the evening of November 8^th… I was arriving to work on November 9^th.  Upon my arrival my boss called out to me, “Hey JP!  You’re Falcon’s are on TV playing one hell of a game, get your ass in here.”  It pays to have a supervisor who loves football as much as I do… and there we were… on a Friday morning in Pakistan… watching the Falcons narrowly beat the Ravens. 

But, this single game has much more significance to a Falcons fan.  First, since beating the Ravens, the Falcons have maintained their first place standing in their conference.  I can’t say for sure, but I believe this is the first time they have every led their conference during regular season play.  Second, for the first time in franchise history, after beating the Ravens, the Atlanta Falcons were the number one team in the NFL.  This only lasted for a few days… they are now in third place… but I am so incredibly proud of my team for their achievements, regardless of their ability to maintain.

GO FALCONS!

Day 869: Yet Another Reason to Support Toys for Tots!

Reports: Marine helping Toys for Tots stabbed

Staff report
Posted : Friday Nov 26, 2010 16:40:18 EST

A Marine was stabbed Friday in Augusta, Ga., while assisting with the annual Toys for Tots holiday drive, according to television station reports.

Police told television station WRDW that Tracy Attaway, 39, fought with several customers in a local electronics retailer, the station reported on its website. During the incident, a Marine was injured and taken to a local hospital, according to the report.

Television station WAGT identified the Marine as Cpl. Phillip Duggan. The station said Duggan was taken to Eisenhower Army Medical Center at nearby Fort Gordon after being stabbed in the back.

Police told WRDW that Attaway attempted to take cameras and a laptop from the store.

-Marine Corp Times 

Day 868: Parkas and Pot… and a Little More Pot… okay… A Lot of Pot

You know?  It’s actually starting to cool off a bit and it’s really nice.  During the day we’re averaging temperatures in the middle to high 70s and at night it’s actually dipping into the 40s.  I love it.  We’re having beautifully comfortable days and cozy nights perfect for curling up under a blanket to watch a movie… if only Serena and they boys were available to cuddle.

Now, I’ll admit, temperatures in the 40s are cold.  Being a southern boy from the States, I normally break out my Member’s Only Jacket once daytime temps start dipping into the low 60s or 50s… and I’ll probably dig out a more substantial winter coat once daytime temperatures are consistently in the 40s.

The key word here is ‘daytime’.  Low temperatures, of course, occur in the middle of the night.  Normally between 2 and 4am.  Although it dips into the 40s here… by the time 8 or 9am rolls around, we’re back up in the 60s… and by lunch time the 70s.  Sure, a light jacket might be in order some morning… but not often.

That said, I am amazed at the number of people wearing Parka’s in the middle of the afternoon over here… and this trend started about a month ago when daytime temperatures were still in the 80s.  Now, Serena wasn’t surprised at all.  When she lived in Kenya, it was very common for locals to bundle up when the temperatures dropped in the slightest ways… but Kenya lies in the torrid/tropical climate zone.  Islamabad lies in the temperate climate zone… and more importantly, Islamabad falls on the 33^rd parallel.  Do you know what other city falls on the 33^rd parallel?  My home town… Atlanta, Georgia.  Discovering that piece of trivia was eye opening to me.  Especially the fact that Islamabad sits at a much higher elevation as Atlanta… which would suggest lower temperatures… but it’s hotter here and culturally folks are much less equipped to handle cooler weather.

Beyond wearing Parka’s in the middle of the afternoon, once the sun goes down it is very common for locals to light fires for additional warmth.  These fires with rage throughout the night… and by morning the city is pretty thick with smoke… and my clothes often smell like I’ve even been roasting marshmallows all night... er… more like ‘baking’ marshmallows… if you catch my drift… wink-wink nudge-nudge.    

Hmmm… that joke may have gone over your head, let me explain.

You see, to fuel these fires, local Pakistani’s will burn anything lying around… wood… brush… weeds… weed… did I mention weed?  Grass, ghanja, Indiana ditchweed, pot… or let me be more specific: marijuana.

Now, I’ve never been into drugs… but I did go to college… and I studied theatre… so, I would be lying if I said I didn’t know what pot smelled like… and folks… in the wintertime… Pakistan smells like pot.  A lot of pot.  It’s pot city up in here.

From the moment I wake up in the morning to the time I go to bed at night, its pot, pot, pot.    Seriously… Californians should move here.  This entire city has to be on one giant contact high… which would explain why I’m always hungry. 

Dang it!  I just want a box of Girl Scout cookies!  Is that really too much to ask for?!?

Day 867: The Talk

Day 866: Harvard Quidditch Team?

So… um… yeah… So, I’m a self admitted ‘nerd’… although, being a former actor and avid griller, I prefer the word ‘geek’.  Geeks , of course, are known for their theatrical abilities, as well as, their prowess for preparing meats… like chicken.

Now, since the jury has been out for quite some time… I think I’ve finally figured out why I never went to Harvard or any other Ivy League school (although College of Charleston was considered Ivy League once upon a time… a long… long… time ago).  Anyway, besides my subpar SAT score and dismal High School GPA, I have recently discovered the real reason I wasn’t Ivy League ready: I’m not nearly nerdy enough.

  I know!  How could that be?  I’m uberGeek!  I love Star Wars and Harry Potter!  BUT, you will never…. I repeat, you will NEVER catch me playing Muggle Quidditch:

(BTW: My favorite part of this video is the two guys at the end in the ‘Harvard’ chant circle.  The look on their faces says it all: ‘This is way better than home economics.’)

Day 865: Gilliam & Skype, Part 2

To continue with yesterday’s theme, skyping with Gilliam is just as special as skyping with Grayson. 

Gilliam was only 6 months old when I left for Pakistan, so having a chance to interact with him every day is priceless.  I’m always greeted with a warm smile and a wave.  He’s calling me ‘Da’ now… and tries to give me kisses on the screen.  Which are just as awesome as the ‘computer hugs’ Grayson and I exchange.  And our patented ‘I love you’ hand squeeze.

Gilliam is just an awesome boy… if you’re following our monthly music videos you’ll see some of my perspective of watching him crawl for the first time and now cruise around tables.  I can’t wait to see him and I think skype is doing wonders to curb any unfamiliar feelings he might have about me when I get home for Christmas.

Now… the thing with Gilliam and Skype is that he’s always trying to get closer to me (the computer) and as his arms flail around he hits keys at random.  At least once every conversation Gilliam inadvertently opens some feature of Serena’s laptop that she’s never seen before… and then Serena is forced to figure out what it is and how to turn it off.  The best is when Gilliam changed the setting on her webcam to show her desktop instead of them.  I ended up staring at myself in skype from their perspective.  It was really funny. 

Also, if you are familiar with skype, there is an instant message feature that runs in tandem with the video chat.  Which is AWESOME!  Because we can talk about Christmas openly around Grayson, but type what the actual present ideas are.  Now, Gilliam also likes this feature.  When we video chat, I will get a lot of instant messages that look like, “lsdkhSlkasb3441”.  Very cute… well… it gets cuter.

The other day Serena and I were talking about my upcoming R&R… my departure date is getting closer and closer.  And we’re both VERY excited.  Serena started joking around and saying, “I wish you could come home now.  I want to go to dinner with my husband!  Now!  Now!”  Then Gilliam sent me an inadvertent message that read, ‘sasa.’  Serena started to laugh hysterically.  “That’s right Gilly, send Dada home now!”

You seem confused… well, I was at first too… but I figured it out.  ‘Sasa’ is Kiswahili for ‘Now’.  Remember, Serena is fluent in Kiswahili.

Sasa, Now… I’ll be home as soon as I can!

Oh!  BTW: Happy First day of Hanukkah everyone!

PS: Pauline… no, I haven’t finished ‘The Chair’… yet.  I left off with Costello’s flight being diverted.