Thanksgiving, 2011

Tomorrow, I will be going to Iowa to celebrate Thanksgiving with some of my wife's family.  It is a tradition that we have done every year since we were engaged, and one I have grown to love dearly.  It is a wonderful time to see members of her family I don't get to see very often.  It is also a time to relax and unwind. I get a few days off to stuff my face with food, shop, and otherwise, take it easy (I usually catch up on a lot of reading on this trip).  

 Photo from holidaywallpapers.org

So I am definitely thankful for that.  But there are plenty of other things I am thankful for this year:

• I am thankful for the fact that my wife and I are both now working.  While I would certainly prefer to have an actual teaching job, I am just glad to still be working at all (especially given what a tough year we have had).  I feel very confident that my current position will lead to something better, and we are so fortunate to have the jobs we do given the our economic situation.   Speaking of which . . .
• I am thankful that we are in a decent spot financially.  No, not great; not even that good; but decent.  As I said, we are both working, and we are able to make ends meet.  We are making enough that we are somewhat financially secure from month-to-month.  Hopefully, we can get to a point where we can afford a house, as well as afford to have a child.  Mentally and emotionally, we are ready for both.  But we have to be patent for now.  We are, however, a lot more financially secure than we were when we first got married.  We were basically broke, but we have been able to save since then.  And as with out job situation, we could be a lot worse off given how so many other people are doing in our country.  While we are discussing economics . . .
• I am thankful for the Occupy Wall Street movement.  I won't say I agree with everything they are doing, and I sometimes wish they had more specific ideas (like these).  But it is long overdue that a movement such as this exists.  By that, I mean people actually marching in the streets and bringing attention to all of the damage done by the excesses and deregulation of our economic system.  I don't know what reforms will ultimately come of this movement, but I know that there are a lot of dedicated people who will keep it going. 

Photo from http://weheartit.com/

• I am thankful for Weight Watchers.  That's right, Weight Watchers  I've been on the diet 2 months, and have almost lost 10 pounds.  I am sure I would have lost a lot more if I exercised more than 3 times a week.  I have tried for years off and on to lose weight, but this is the only thing that has really worked so far.  I won't say it's for everyone.
• I am thankful that an old fraternity brother and one of my best friends became a father yesterday.  I mean this especially because I know he has had some of his own personal struggles in recent years, but now seems more focused and at peace than he ever has.  I can't wait to visit him and see the baby.
• I am thankful that after months of going back and forth between a physical rehabilitation program and the hospital, my grandmother has finally settled into a proper nursing home.  And she seems happy about being in the nursing home, which is a pleasant surprise.
• I am thankful for books (especially my new Kindle), video games, and movies.  OK, that is the lazy, materialistic American side of me.
• I am thankful that I decided not to give up on this blog. 
• I am thankful for Missouri Tigers football.  So this hasn't been our best year for football.   But we've got one more game: our final border showdown with Kansas  before we go to the SEC.  M-I-Z . . .

Photo from The Boston 'Zou

• I am thankful that in a month from now, I will get to spend Christmas with my parents and my childhood friends in Central Missouri.
• I am thankful for my dog, and for all of the progress we have made in improving his behavior this year.  It wasn't that long ago he was barking at every little noise he heard, and trying to bite my hand when I reached over his head.  But my in-laws were gracious enough to pay for us to take him to a behavior specialist (you heard me right).  I love you, you crazy little mutt!
• I am thankful for this . . .

 . . . and this . . .

• I am thankful for my wife!  I love you more than anything in the world!

Why Do I Give A Shit About Sports?

Photo from Fantasy Knuckleheads

This question was posed by The Punk Patriot on a video he made for his blog.  He doesn't understand how any normal human being could care about sports because, essentially, what happens in the game doesn't really effect anyone's life.  I have never been asked this question before, but I thought this was a great question to ask.  As both a progressive activist, as well as a sports fan, I felt some obligation to answer.  First, here is the video he made:

I wrote my response in the comment section of his post, but I've decided to also put my answer on this blog post.  Here it is:

Why do I give a shit about sports? Great question, and one I am trying to wrap my head around because I've never been asked before. I just grew up loving sports (and everyone else around me loved sports) and I never really thought about it (kind of like religion for a lot of people in that regard). I will try my best to answer it.

Part of it is a connection a fan can develop and feel with a team, teams, or individual players. Does that connection matter in the grander scheme of things? No, but it's fun and feels good to have that connection (although for some, that connection can get unhealthy).

Part of it is that sports is a form of entertainment, similar to a movie, TV, book, etc. It has amazing moments of excellence, devastating moments of defeat and failure, suspense, twists and turns, and all of that other good shit.

And sports is something that, at the end of the day, usually doesn't really matter. It is something that a person can take interest in outside of the hardships of everyday life. It's insignificant fun and 99% of the time, someone's life in doesn't change when they watch sports (that can be reassuring).

As someone who cares about activism and real-world issues, I can understand how that could be frustrating to understand. But there is something refreshing about being able to get together with a friend or relative who you have almost nothing in common (politics, religion, etc.) and be able to root for the same team together. All the other major issues of life don't matter for a little bit. Does that come off as corny? I'm sure it does, but it is the best answer I've got.

Also, while sports is greatly dominated by corporate interests (which I do hate) there are athletes and sports writers who care greatly about progressive politics. I recommend you read some of David Zirin's stuff. He writes about Sports for The Nation.

By the way, despite an solid season of play, I am disappointed that my St. Louis Cardinals could not keep up with the Brewers in the NL Central.  At least I have the Kansas City Chiefs and, more importantly, Missouri Tiger football to look forward to.  M-I-Z . . .Z-O-U!!!