Chris's Musings

Every morning when I get dressed, I open up my clothes drawer and grab a set of uniquely designed Gap boxers and get ready.  I didn't pay for a single pair of these... like many of you, I received them from my mom as Christmas gifts.  Every year... and I'll get a restock this year as well. I'm sure that most of you get some kind of "practical" gift every year from your mom (I've confirmed that my mom is part of a collective practical-gifter club that gives socks, underwear, etc. every year for Christmas).  And like many of you, I try to act emotionally up for the yearly "surprise" but I just don't feel it.  Do I hear an amen? However, every morning I would be lost without these gifts.  I wear them almost every day. Several (I couldn't tell you how many) months ago, an old girlfriend surprised me one day buying me a few ice cube trays to put in my freezer.  Yes - I don't have an icemaker in my freezer and didn't have any cube tra...

To Luke Joekel and Jake Matthews: Congratulations on all you have accomplished at Aggieland to this point in your careers.  Our victory this weekend has a lot to do with how you were able to hold back the biggest, baddest defense in the nation and give our man Johnny time to work his magic.  You are the unsung (well, not really) heroes of the Aggie resurgence and I am very thankful to you for that. I'm sure you've heard, the NFL wants you this year.  Apparently Jockel, you could get drafted #5 or even higher, and Jake in the late first round (wouldn't it be cool to play in Houston like your dad?).  This is impressive for offensive tackles, especially two from the same team, to be considered.  It'd be the first time two offensive linemen would be drafted in the first round in almost 20 years, and you are both Juniors? So, trust me if I understand if you take the money.  You have a big opportunity ahead.  I've watched The Blind Side... I know how v...

In light of my last post, I thought I would write something a little more thoughtful and less provocative. The reason I put my thoughts out yesterday is that I really am disillusioned with what appears to be a vast number of people voting for, really either candidate, that are voting based on image, score points in debates, or how the candidates look on TV.  Basically, the election has become some kind of popularity contest. I respect liberals who are voting their conscience, are thoughtfully paying attention to the issues, and really do want to see a stronger federal government in the economy.  There are very good reasons for these views, and while I disagree that this is the way to go I do respect them for having those views and share a lot of the dreams they have for cleaner air, better health, and more social justice. What's been interesting to me has been that basically this election has come down to this one question:  "Who is to blame for the situation we find ...

I can imagine that I am not the only one that will be happy when Tuesday's election is complete, the political ads have been shuttered, and news stations across America will be freed up to talk about important issues like who will cast the next Star Wars movie versus unimportant things like the economy, the rise of terror in the "new Middle East," who's paying or not paying their so-called "fair share" of taxes to support our ginormous Federal bureaucracy (or Bureaucrazy!) in Washington, and the alleged and fictitious "war on women" Republicans want to wage. But seriously, Tuesday's vote may be one of the most important in decades... at least since 1980, perhaps 1932.  The visions and philosophies of the two candidates vying for the White House could not be more different.  However, I'm not certain if we're really (and I mean, really) voting based how the candidates would actually govern and what the government would actually look lik...