Live Free Or Die

It’s really hard to tell you exactly how much I love my home state right now, but I love it so very very much.

NH Fires First Shot of Civil War

Legislators Tell Fed to Back Off

It’s funny that I grew up in the state that’s at the forefront of “state rights” and is drafting resolutions like that, only to then move to the only state that was once it’s own country, Texas. I think, realistically, these are the only two states that would willingly start a second American revolution. I would support both whole heartily. Go ahead NH, the good’ol boys here in Texas have our back.

UPDATE: 02-19-09:
Texas, as I predicted, passed their own resolution today. Link (pdf). Awesome. You guys want to start the revolution now or wait a little while and see what happens? Yeah, me too.

Tek

I’ve got to say something real quick. I don’t know if it’s the New England cynicism that I’ve somehow escaped by not living there for the past few years, or maybe people are just having a bad week or what, but what the hell is with all the Jason Veritek hate? Especially from that rag, the Boston Herald. Nearly ever article has a slant and every comment is nasty. What the hell? Did I miss something? Yeah, he’s getting older, but he’s won you assholes two World Series trophies, played in MORE games than Carlton Fisk, beat up A.Rod and has been the single most loyal player to the Red Sox franchise in the past 30 years. Seriously? You want him to go? Who’s going to catch for you then? The rookie, Josh Bard? Really?

Listen, I realize he’d having a hard time at the plate. I realize his 2nd-base throw-out percentage is getting lower, but you know what, he’s NEVER let us down back there. He caught Shilling’s bloody sock night. He caught Beckett, Pedro, Shilling AND Dice-K in the World Series. That is not an easy thing to do. His number will be retired right along side Fisk and Williams and Yaz. And, when he finally does retire, I’d say it’s a pretty good bet that he’ll be the new catching coach shortly there-after.

Maybe I’m over estimating the “intangibles” as some sports reporters would put it. Maybe what he offers is only mediocre catching and a little leadership. Let me put it to you this way: I would rather have 20 Jason Veriteks in my club house, and come in 3 in the AL East, than a bunch of fucking ass-clown All Stars and win another banner. I’m serious. Sometimes loyalty and character are worth more than batting percentages.

I have more respect for that man as a player than any other player in the major leagues. Name me ONE other player that’s played for only one team for more than 5 years, let alone 12. He is THE Red Sox franchise player of this generation. He’s my captain, he’s your captain, now fucking deal with it.

I’m looking forward to this season. A lot. Complete with Tek behind the plate, where he should be.

That is all.

Root Canal

As I mentioned before, I’m in need of a root canal. More specifically, it’s going to happen today, in just a few hours. I’ve never had a root canal before and I’m more than a bit nervous about it. When googled and thusly described by the appropriate Wiki page, which in retrospect seems like a bad idea now, it seems like some sort of medieval torture. They drill down, into your roots, take a tiny needle sized file and REMOVE your nerve, then fill it with some sort of goo. The article was more than likely written by the ADA or a dentist because it mentions on various occasions how this is completely painless since normally, the root is already dead.

Shenanigans.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, about anything that profession pretends to do for you has ever been or ever will be “painless”. Dentists say going to the dentist is painless for two reasons. A: to make you feel like a complete pussy (and therefor less likely to complain) when it actually does start to hurt and B: so that people who apparently blacked the entire experience out, can say to all their friends that “it really wasn’t that bad” and feel all macho about not remembering it.

Have I mentioned how much I dislike dentists.

Oh, and I’m a bleeder.

I can’t wait. Actually, yes, yes I can wait.

Playing for Change

I normally don’t post this sort of thing. Usually my humanitarian efforts are limited to volunteering at our church during Christmas, but this, this is something else entirely. It’s well put together and actually quite a good audio mix. Take a look.

Least Fun

Trying to update service packs, for Windows XP, running in Parallels, on my Mac Book Pro = The least amount of fun I’ve had today. Wow does it suck.

Stupid Teeth

I don’t really know what I expected, I haven’t been to the dentist in about 15 years. On Saturday, one of my fillings broke and I had a big hole in one of my back teeth. Obviously I had to go get that fixed. I went this morning and now I have a temporary cap in there for the moment, and I’m waiting for the feeling to return to my face. I get to have a full root canal and a crown at some point next week. I can’t wait. The upside is that since I went today (2008) and I’ll go back next week (2009) I’ll be on different calendar years and the insurance has to pay out more. They pay 80% towards it and a max of $2k a year. I still have to cover 20% but what I did today doesn’t come out of my max for next year, so that’s good.

Anyway, my head is (obviously) splitting and I’m going to go lay down.

Matt out.