HELLO 2007...

Been away a while. It’s been a really busy time. We have a baby coming any day now and also the place where I work is laying off some 5,000 people in short order. Not the most stress-free time. But here are some musings…

HALF OF COLOR-CODED LEVELS OF PARKING GARAGE SOME SHADE OF BROWN

I went to Amy’s most recent doctor’s appointment. Going back up to the car afterwards, I noticed that the first four floors were RUST, ORANGE, BROWN and BRONZE. Okay okay, orange is not brown, but it’s still kind of in the ballpark if you ask me. At least two of the colors would be indistinguishable to the casual observer. And why would you pick brown?

The top four floors were all blue.

HOPES AND DREAMS COME TO DEVASTATING, HILARIOUS END

I confess: I watch American Idol. My wife’s interest and mine are kind of inversely proportional as the competition progresses. Once the real competition is underway, I can barely stand watching, but these few first episodes are pure gold.

How do some of these people think they can sing? Are their friends and parents actually encouraging them and feeding the disconnection with reality? I don’t really care, it’s just endlessly amusing to watch someone talk big and then have all hope extinguished.

That probably makes me a bad person, but honestly I think the delusional American Idol throngs are a symptom of our entitlement culture. To wax libertarian for a moment, it’s bad enough when simple “need” is the sole justification for getting something. But to feel entitled because you “want” something is even worse. And yet, I think this is what makes most would-be contestants try out and expect a reward when they have no actual skills.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO CRUSH SKULLS OF OTHERS WITH MY MIND STILL A "WORK IN PROGRESS"

Without boring you with the details, if I had successfully acquired this ability, there would have been several fatalities resulting from a recent trip to CVS.

OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE OF PRESIDENTIAL-FUNERAL COVERAGE IS FINALLY OVER

Granted, the death of a former President is news. But do we really need a round-the-clock, multi-day vigil for Gerald Ford. I’m sure he was a great guy, but when the your death threatens to be covered longer than your actual presidency, isn’t something amiss?