Bethany Talent Show - 2011

So I told you last year to watch out for this years performance at the Bethany Talent Show and I was right. They had it going on. The went to their generation (The 80's - big hair and bad clothes - probably more my generation but that's another story)and picked a couple of killer songs to open and close with - Journey's - Don't Stop Believing (Have you seen this sung at baseball games...it's classic 80s rock and Michael Jackson's - Thriller - on a personal note well before it was released as a single on went platinum 50 times - I was the first to call it being a huge hit...what, you don't believe me?  Half of the readers of this blog weren't even born yet, so you're going to have to trust me.)  You can't loose a competition with those two heavyweights in the mix but it doesn't hurt to have "Richard Simmons" show up.


Representing Providence this year were Travis, Minde, Rebecca, Jeremy, Melissa, Amanda, Ian, Jordan and Ashley*


The line up was the following:
Journey's - Don't Stop Belevin (1981) - It was a crowd favorite - Travis (Steve Perry), Jeremy and Ian
Toni Basil - Mickey (1982) - It was high energy and kept the crowd involved - Minde (Toni Basil), Rebecca, Melissa, Amanda and Ashley*
Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True (1989) - Lip Syncing at it's best with a funny track mess up - Jeremy (Fab Morvan) and Ian (Rob Pilatus)
Cyndi Lauper w/ special appearance from Richard Simmons - Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1984) - Rebecca (Cyndi), Minde, Amanda and Jordan
AND THE GRAND FINALE
Michael Jackson - Thriller - choreographed dance moves and a moon walk = winner, winner chicken dinner - Melissa (Michael Jackson), Travis, Minde, Rebecca, Jeremy, Amanda, and Ian


Here's the video of the winners:



*Ashley was on the injured reserve/unable to perform list for the performance.  At the final practice on Monday.  Ashley attempted to take the Mickey performance to the next level by adding a cheerleading move called a Russian (you will have to look it up yourself) but was unable to stick two landings in a row.  On her second Russian (after thinking the first was pretty easy) she rolled her ankle after landing and ended up breaking her ankle - ouch...talk about taking the performance to the next level.   I am going to recommend letting her take the trophy home.  Get Better, Ashley and no more Russian's (pretty sure Corey is on board with this decision).

It's Friday...

Last night was the first night of the Sertoma Classic football exhibition and there have been articles recently about the declining fan attendance and the Sertoma club trying social media and other new ways to reinvent the two day event that kicks off the high school football season.  The proceeds from the event are used for local charities.  I hope all their efforts help because it's part of my memories growing up.  I remember looking forward to attending because it was the official beginning of the high school football season and for the next 11 weeks plus the playoffs meant I would be somewhere in South Carolina watching Summerville High School football (from my earliest memory to 9th grade, I don't remember missing a game - cold or wet, we were there)  Johnson Hagood Stadium would be filled with fans looking forward to their first look at their team.  I was there to watch the green and gold Greenwave football team take the field and kick some ___.  Summerville was a small town back then and pretty much everybody in town was at the game.  The last car leaving town for a road game locked the gate and turned out the lights.  I grew up running on the field after the games with my friends.  But guess what, times have changed and Friday night doesn't mean going to the football game like it did when I was growing up.  It used to be the only option (it was almost like church on Sunday, mandatory) but now I only go to a couple of games each year.  There are those in town that haven't missed a game since John McKissick started coaching.  But now unless you know someone in the band, cheerleading squad or football team you're probably doing something else.  I wonder what kind of memories LA and will create on Friday nights for Aubrey and Wyatt...those were good times spent with family and friends...I hope we can attend a some Sertoma Classics and games on Friday nights.


Aubrey and Wyatt are loving daycare.  Wyatt finally stopped crying on Wednesday of this week when I drop him off.  He would cry for 2 or 3 minutes and then be fine.  Aubrey and Wyatt are playing on the same playground and Aubrey is loving playing with her brother on the playground.  Did I mention that Wyatt LOVES his monkey lunch box!  He has to carry it to the car, to daycare, to the car and to the house.  


If there is anyone that I associate with parenting it is Carlos Whittaker...check out these posts - When Your 5 Year Old Say's , Hamster's, Death, and Losing Your Lessons, and Butterflies, My Parenting Manual and The Death Of Freedom.  We don't get it right each day but we unconditionally love our children and I might think I got it all figured out but I don't.  I am just along for the ride and I am loving every day, minute and second I get to spend with Aubrey and Wyatt and I hope (with some help) I don't screw them up along the way...


Danny and Greg are finishing up the pre-party for Hootie and The Blowfish at our house on Saturday.  Come join the fun with them - we won't be home.


Feeling sorry for my Gamecock fans this week - Post and Courier article headlines last Sunday - 12-0 (gee, thanks) and this week the cover of Sports Illustrated (does anybody buy that anymore?) "Best Gamecocks Team Ever".  All they need now is the cover to NCAA Football 2011 and that should just about do it for a 6-6 season.  But who believes it all that jinks stuff anyway...anybody got a rabbits foot for Danny and Cory?


Did you see the crash last week at Watkins Glen and Boris Said's interview after the race...classic old school NASCAR
(Crash - 4:18)


Boris Said Interview (1:21)



Yes, that's right in one interview Boris said "scardy cat...text me his address...he needs a whoppin...he's a chump...baby punches...I will find him...he will show up at a race with a black eye.."...Greg might not want to answer the door if he orders a pizza.  He might get a special delivery.  Send me that video to post.

I thought of this video today and wanted to share it and yes, I took typewriting in high school with a typewriter very similar to the one in the video (I am old...don't hate me because you missed the 70's and 80's). (make sure you turn up the volume)





By now you have heard about he the two bombs that went off this week in college football:
1.  The Shapiro Bomb that could level The U football program.

• If you haven't taken time to read this article, you should
• Some of the best tweets on The U 
• Note To Self:  Never sleep in a bed at the Mercury Hotel South Beach - @DanaSargent
• Miami Hurricanes Motto 2001-2008: Boats and Hoes - @peterburnsradio
• If I were a player and didn't go to Miami and I read about missing out of free hookers, I would be LIVID #alligotfromFSUwasfreeshoes - @drewmagary
• I would be LIVID if I was a player at Miami and no one filled me in on what was going on...wondered why everyone was going to the "library"
• Not sure what the fall out will be but I bet The USC is watching closely...wonder if their AD is on the enforcement/infractions committee (if so, The U this is going to hurt.)
• Be careful when you burn a bridge...they might be able to rebuild it.

2.  The Bomb...opps I mean Bong that Oregon quarterback and cornerback/kick returner hit before being pulled over for 118MPH.  When asked who's got the marijuana the quarterback replied "We smoked it all." [Eugene Register Guard, The Oregonian, KATU News]...nice response - nothing to see here officer "We smoked it all.", Oh and by the way he didn't have an id, his license is suspended and he just walked away with a ticket for excessive speed over 100MPH.  It happens every day to you and me...right.  Oh x 2, the coach when asked about it defended the quarterback basically saying nothing to see here, he didn't get a ticket for controlled substance, passed his road side test and was let go - football coaches would make great politicians. 


and Finally, I was going to post this a couple of weeks ago but didn't so today's your lucky day


That was close...we(United States of America) almost defaulted on our loans which (according to my banking consultant, Michael Wood is not something I should to with my personal loans, so it can't be good for the government to say "not going to be able to pay you back this month, can you let it slide for 30 days...I promise I will have the money by next Monday or the second Tuesday of next week) would have meant we wouldn't have any money to give this guy in the video for his rent that he wasn't using for rent. Glad to know the system isn't broke...gives you a warm fuzzy feeling about those in charge of the money YOU and I give them. I hope Judge Judy follows through and sends this to Congress.



I couldn't end a post on that note so here is something that you are going to laugh at...

Babypoloza 2011

*Mission Accomplished - started with 12 and came home with 12
*Looks like Babypoloza 2011 was a success - Aubrey and Wyatt's fish had a blast - we have eight new fish and two set of twins
*If you want a recap, read last year's post and just add a couple of sentences about rain.
*Just because the event is over, keep reading Our Life for any breaking news stories about Babypoloza 2011.  I am on top of this story and have my sources looking for any developments. 

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts

*Babypoloza is just two days away...getting ready

*Congratulations to my nephew Carter and his finance Katie P (KP) on getting engaged.  Wedding date set for December 2012.
 
*School started back for LA on Tuesday and kids started back at daycare...much better than expected for the kids.  Wyatt loves his monkey book bag and lunch box and except for screaming and crying his head off for a little while after I leave, he is doing great.  Aubrey was up and ready to go to school on Tuesday, she loves it and I will remind her of this in later years.

*Happy Birthday to Jenn H, the wife of the founder of I'm Just Sayin.  You can read about her here.

*Did you know that 7 out of 8 cars on Hwy 165 on Sunday mornings go to Ashley Ridge Church (at least my informal survey had those results)

*Ashley Ridge Chruch went to Rwanda on a mission trip this summer and I went to ARC on Sunday to hear about it because I believe in what ARC is doing and Jenn is "Our Life's" favorite female pastor/church planter and I had been reading on "Courtyard" about the mission trip and her thoughts after returning (for some reason I can't link directly to her posts but click on the Courtyard link and go to Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 to begin reading)
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 - Rwanda Countdown
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 - Rwanda, Part One
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 - Rwanda, Part Two

Then watch this video on some of the participants reflections

Now listen to her message from last Sunday on their mission trip to Rwanda.

I am trying to get perspective on the genocide that took place - The tri-county area (Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester) population according to the 2010 Census was 664,607...not a million - lets add Bamburg, Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort and Colleton counties to get within 2,000 residents of 1,000,000.  Can you grasp/imagine 22% of the population of SC eliminated in 90 days?...However, the genocide is not the news today but the reconciliation and the rebuilding is the news and ARC is apart of it.  Keep up the good work here and all over the world. 

*I had another post on the debt crisis but decided not to post but this video is a simple explanation of our crisis.  People will argue about the effects of cutting spending but for the purpose of this blog - this is just educational for our readers not a discussion form for debt crisis. Hope it helps you understand what's going on...

*And now on to happier thoughts: 

*You can't be a blogger in the South and not mention college football from August to January...might get you killed.  So in an effort to preserve my health and my few remaining good years.

*Football Subplots as the season nears - 22 days

• Will the constant reminders by the SC Baseball ("We got two how about you?"  "Did you get your ring? Oh, I forgot your on the football team.") team provide the motivation to the football team to capture THE National Championship and thus bring the Rapture that Captain Kook thought was going to happen in May.

• While on the National Champion talk this year is the 30th celebration of Clemson's National Championship - You can read all about it "Looking Back... A Walk Through Clemson's 1981 National Championship Season".  I am forwarding it to Dabo and the entire Clemson football team for the point made in the article about Clemson's defense - "Clemson's kick-sand-in-your-face-and-take-your-lunch-money style of defense" and Vince Dooley's comments that "Clemson intimidated us." - which is a great lead into this joke - Where is the only place Georgia Bulldog Herschel Walker hasn't been? Clemson's End Zone - We need more of this attitude.
• Alabama's football team has been sponsored by T-Town Menswear...suits for everyone
• Hope Clemson's new Offensive Coordinator, Chad Morris's, maximize plays offense doesn't turn into a bunch of quick 3 and outs.  Makes sense when executed properly but could be a Defensive Coordinator's worst nightmare - Clemson's DC if it doesn't work and the opposing team DC if it works.
• Clemson's schedule thoughts
• Defending National Champion - Auburn (Murder's Row, game 1)
• Preseason Atlantic Division Champion - Florida State (Murder's Row, game 2)
• Preseason and Defending ACC Champion - Virginia Tech (Murder's Row, game 3)
• Unknown Potential - North Carolina
• Pain In Your Backsides - Boston College, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, NC State
• Sister Mary's Children of the Blind - Troy, Wofford
• Rival - Revolutionary War Heroes
• I think Dabo is one year away, he is bringing in the talent but it has to mature (like a good wine)...only problem is after a losing record last year he might not get another year if this season heads south.
• We Are Clemson...where right now we lose a couple of games each year we shouldn't...in the last 6 years our record in games decided by one possession is 11-23 (source www.footballstudyhall.com).  The good news is we don't get blown out very often but Dabo has to be able to win the close games something that has been very elusive for Tommy and Dabo - see above about intimidating opponents and taking their lunch money.

• Formula for potentially wrecking your football program and pi**ing off the large donors - fire the head coach after media days and before camp starts after publicly standing behind him for a year, tell donors he's our guy, give to the program...see UNC (check out their blogs for the details, it's going to get interesting in Chapel Hill...however, the football team has the talent to rise above)

*Someone told me the NFL was no longer striking...the big "Who Cares" event of the summer followed by the NBA's bigger "Who Cares" event.  I actually do care because on Sunday's I get to watch football while I sleep on the sofa and it gives me something to channel surf with while watching NASCAR.

*How long before the NFL's 1/2 day of practice (no more two a days in preseason) filters down to college football...bunch of over paid lazy prima donnas...work at most 7 months, play a sport you love, and want to only work 1/2 days for 1 month during preseason practice...get a real job. Oh, by the way I will not be attending a game again this year (unless someone reading this blog, gives me free tickets).

*The first round draft picks were really happy about the CBA - for comparison: 

Sam Bradford, 1st Pick 2010 Draft, St. Lewis Rams signed a six-year, $78 million deal, which has $50 million of guarantees and has a maximum value of $86 million making it the largest contract ever for an NFL rookie

Cam Newton, 1st Pick 2011 Draft, Carolina Panthers signed a four-year $22 million deal, which was all guaranteed.  Cam lost $28 million guaranteed and potentially $64 million.  However, in other news his father signed a deal also with the Panthers for $28 million.

Talk about bad timing...but to be honest I like the new rule about rookie contracts because Sam Bradford's contract is what I despise about professional sports - not $$$ incentive to perform.  If your the best, you get paid like the best.  If you are average, you get paid average and if you suck, you get cut (or if your a quarterback, you might get signed just to hold the clipboard and keep track of something).    

*So a local preacher has been arrested for kidnapping and raping two girls both who are prostitutes.  I don't understand.  Why did he have to use a gun and why did he rape them?  It is evident that these ladies regularly had "relations" with men for cash.   Was it because it was against his morals to pay for "it"? I bet he is wishing he would have just paid for it now.  A case where being cheap didn't work out to good.  Oh, and by the way, his moral compass was way off kilter because he took them to a trailer at the church to rape them...what was this guy thinking.  I don't understand. Story and video here.

*Since I mentioned NASCAR and a preacher, I feel obliged to share this prayer with you...

Babypoloza 2011

I mentioned the countdown here (but now it's time to get serious) to the biggest concert of the year in Charleston - 2011 edition of Hootie and The Blowfish on Daniel Island.  I told you about last years concert and the events that took place and I even made a prediction that came true.  Greg and Jenn have a beautiful baby boy named Daniel that I had exclusive coverage to publish the first picture. 

In honor of last year, I have decided to name this years event Babypoloza 2011.  I was glad the event was sold out after everyone read my blog about the potential results 9 months after attending a Hootie and The Blowfish concert (I didn't want to scare anyone away but wanted them to be informed).  LA and I are going back along with some friends who have signed a disclaimer releasing "Our Life" from any responsibilities for anything that happens before, during, or after this event for a period of 100 years.  Those that have signed the waiver include:  Michael and Adrian, Danny and Jenn, Cory and Ashley and Greg and Jenn.  That's right Greg and Jenn are coming back...true gamers and not scared to break their previous record.  They must want to put some distance between them and the rest of the class for the record they currently hold for most children in Providence (currently at 3).  Greg and Jenn are banking on some major surgery Greg had done a few weeks ago.  After last year's result, I couldn't have taken the chance and probably would instead choose to stay home and destroy all my Hootie and The Blowfish cassettes (yes, they had and sold their music on cassettes when they first started), cd's and deleted them from my computer, ipad, ipod (iwhatever).  They have a lot more faith and trust in other people doing their job correctly than I have.  Greg, did you ask the doctor his success rate and what his liability was if he wasn't successful?

This should be fun...stay tuned for a full report.
PS - During August you can enjoy the music of Hootie and The Blowfish right here.