Father, Husband, Geek. One Cool Monkey.
Ben
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Homepage: http://www.onecoolmonkey.com
Posts by Ben
Disorganized
Jan 28th
It’s not entirely fair to use this title as the header for my first posting on the new blog, but it’s rather how I’m feeling at the moment. I’ve jumped in head over heels using WordPress (a piece of software I know next to nothing about) and I’m doing my best to work on two websites with it. I’m a regular webmaster, aren’t I? Yeah, not so much. But, it’s a start.
Thanks for reading. Come back sometimes soon – hopefully there will be something more interesting to read.
Change is Coming
Nov 5th
“A new dawn of American leadership is at hand…”
Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States of America last night. He is also our first president of African-American descent.
I don’t know that I can properly express the optimism and happiness I feel that my fellow Americans still have faith in our government, and still have hope that our ship can be righted and our problems at home and abroad addressed in a rational and responsible manner.
Until I can more properly express some of those thoughts, I wanted to leave you, my constant readers, with a couple of videos from Mr. Obama. The first is the “Yes We Can” video that made it’s rounds back in early ’08, urging voters to get out and vote at the primary and caucus level. But, it’s message is every bit as topical now as it was then. The chants from the crowd at his victory speech last night went “Yes We Did”, but that’s really not true. One step has been made, but there is SO much more to do. Mr. Obama never said those words himself, and I believe the reason is that he agrees – there’s a lot more to do.
The next set of videos are his acceptance speech from last night. The speech had to be broken up into 3 parts, but it’s really not that long (a little over 20 minutes all totaled). If you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend giving them a listen, regardless of your political leaning or party affiliation. As my friend Bill at Trusty Plinko Stick said so well, “I forgot what it’s like to have a president who’s a true orator. That man can *speak*.” Well said, and so very true. His acceptance speech is proof positive of that.
Yes We Can:
Victory Speech Part 1:
Victory Speech Part 2:
Victory Speech Part 3:
Please…Don’t Vote. Ok, Well, Maybe You Should….
Oct 3rd
What a great video this is…as long as people in this country still understand sarcasm. I think they do…I *hope* they do. I’ve made lots of assumptions over the past few months about the American populace, and they haven’t turned out to be as accurate as I hoped (check how close the race still is…), but I guess we’ll see.
So – the video asks for you to pass it along…and I request the same. Post it online if you have a place to post it, or just send a link to my blog or to YouTube so people can view it. To be honest, regardless of your stance in this political fiasco, you should be registered to vote, and you should VOTE. November 4th is fast approaching, and I would love to see this country shatter records for voter turnout. The only way it will happen is if we all go out and vote. So, register. Read…inform yourself…learn…share. Then vote.
Catching You Up
Sep 17th
I know, I said I would post again last night. It’s sort of true…I just didn’t do it here. Damn, what a great segue that was…
So, I have this pending gig as a blogger for a Dallas pro sports blog aptly named DallasProSports.com. They needed a piece on the Dallas Stars, who they want me to cover each week, by Monday night. Well…we had some family stuff come up and I didn’t get to it. But, last night, between helping my wife study for a big test she has today and trying to get some food in my stomach, I managed to scrawl out 7 paragraphs on the upcoming training camp the Stars are set to open, and that is the post I sent. I’m hoping it won’t be held against me, and they’ll let me keep posting for them, cause it sounds like a lot of fun. As of the time of writing this post, however, it was not posted. Maybe later tonight?
Now, other than that, I figured I would catch you up on what life has been like. Mrs. Monkey and I have finally come up with a plan for getting up with the Monkeyling that doesn’t involve us wanting to kill one another every morning. It’s revolutionary in it’s scope – get this…. We alternate days. I know! I know! Don’t spread the idea too much – we’re planning on patenting it. So, yeah…we each get to sleep in (8:00 AM) every other day. It’s wonderful.
I’m still working a lot of hours for my wonderful company and Mrs. Monkey is still going to school lots of hours. Those hours not taken up by work & school are ravenously consumed by the Monkeyling. But that’s a good thing – just peek at the photos that have been posted. How can ya not love that face?
AND, on a random tangent that has nothing to do with previous subjects, there was this new study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association saying that bisphenol A (BPA), a common ingredient in many plastic bottles, might be linked to more health issues than previously believed. I first found out about this issue when trying to find bottles for the Monkeyling. Mrs. Monkey was adamant on the “No BPA” rule, and after studying up, I agreed. For those who don’t know, BPA is used in hardened plastics in a wide range of consumer goods including food containers, baby bottles, water bottles, eyeglass lenses and compact discs. Many scientists believe it can act like the hormone estrogen, and animal studies have linked it with breast, prostate and reproductive system problems and some cancers. Fun stuff! Well, the new study that came out has shown there may be a link now with heart disease and diabetes in adults. It’s really not good. So, avoid bottles with BPA (or with the recycle number 7 on them, as they are most commonly found in those). Or, you can do what I did yesterday, and pick up a Sigg bottle. These things rock. I want another one already.
More Photo Entry Fun
Sep 16th
The Greeblepix contest for this month is up, and I’ve once again to submit a picture of the cutest little boy in the world (this determination is an independent conclusion, with no influence from any biased parties). How can you NOT think he’s just adorable, ya know? Anyway – real post coming later today. I’m such a slacker…
My Little Monkey
Aug 19th
My friend Aimee over at GreebleMonkey is running a photo contest, and the above is my entry. It’s one of my favorite shots of my little guy from this summer. Go check out all of the fun entries here.
A Thing a Year – Part the Third
Jul 27th
24. The human metabolic system is a finicky, annoying thing to deal with through the course of a lifetime. But, essential to life and all that crap.
25. Sometimes, I need to be reminded just how good I have it, and what a great number of blessings I have in my life. This also goes for most people I know.
26. Walking on a cold, snowy evening, where the blanket of snow falling is so thick that just about the only thing you hear is the snow crunching and squeaking underneath your feet: One of the best ways to sort through your thoughts.
27. Doing a job that you love has a way to make a work-week feel not at all like one.
28. It’s easy to say that you wish thing thing or that thing hadn’t happened in your life, or the life of a loved one. But, it should always be remembered that we are who we are because of the road we’ve traveled.
29. Everyone should write, even if they’re not a writer and no one will ever read it. You will be amazed at what you learn about yourself through the process of writing.
30. Tattoos are a wonderful thing, but should be considered long and hard before acquiring them. 5 years was just about right for me.
31. You can’t have enough pictures of your child or pets.
32. Getting back in shape at 24 was a much easier thing to do than at 34. “They” weren’t kidding.
33. It’s always good to take every opportunity to tell a loved one that you love them. Always.
34. A rudimentary education will take about 13 years and last you from Kindergarten through secondary school. A good education will encompass some years at a university as well. A *great* education is the one that seeks no end, and allows you to soak up new knowledge from every aspect of your life.
A Thing a Year – Part the Second
Jul 26th
13. Delayed gratification is a bitch. But, still probably for the best.
14. Drinking 1/2 an ounce of water for every pound you have, every day – no exceptions – leads to feeling better and actually losing weight. Weird.
15. Sports are a universal unifier, bringing together people despite economic and social boundries. This is a good thing.
16. It’s tough to hate family, even if you want to. This is also, probably, a good thing.
17. Everyone should grow up knowing the joy of a New England snow day; a foot of new snow on the ground, bundled up to feel like the ‘Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man’, and off to play with friends for a day of uninterrupted sledding, snowball fights and football.
18. There are at least 2 different ways to give The Finger in the United States. While only 1 is the correct way (oh yeah, that’s right, I said it, Zen Mike), both will land you in jail in Midland, TX.
19. It’s best to avoid angering bouncers who have significant others in law enforcement.
20. Hockey is the best sport, ever, hands-down.
21. Some people think that high school was the worst years of their life, while others think that it was the best. Either way, it’s still probably best to leave it in the past, to be re-hashed over copious amounts of alcohol, 5, 10 and 25 years down the road.
22. “A best friend is one soul sharing two bodies.” I heard this anonymous quote years ago, and loved it immediately. Although it’s kind of cheesy, it’s really the closest description I can think of for someone who knows you so deeply without any reason why.
23. Pizza is the best food, ever, hands-down. I once told a friend of mine, “You’ll know when I’m sick because it’s the only time I’ll ever turn down pizza.” I was 18 at the time. It’s still true 16 years later.
To be concluded…
A Thing a Year – Part the First
Jul 25th
A Thing A Year – 34 Life Lessons I’ve Learned:
1. Attitude is everything. When you’re down in the dumps, life dumps on you more. When you stay positive and happy, you’ll be amazed at what you can do with just scraps and a smile.
2. The first axiom is much easier believed than put into practice.
3. Money isn’t everything. But, everything wants money.
4. A day spent without music is like a black and white film – what’s going on might be great, but something seems to be missing…
5. A good writer is a great reader. A great writer…well, I need to go read…
6. Everyone should experience a summer night in a place where you can see the stars overhead and hear the crickets all around you.
7. Never be afraid to try new foods. You never know when you’re going to find your favorite food.
8. Always take time in your day to do something you love. Even if it’s just 5 minutes with a great book, or on the phone with your best friend/significant other. Those 5 minutes can make a long day bearable.
9. It’s too easy to forget the joy of being a kid. Do things as an adult that take you back there…walk…ride your bike…skip…make random snow angels or stop to jump in a puddle.
10. There’s no way to accurately convey to a non-parent what it’s like to be a parent, because there’s no way to describe how someone can make you feel worse about life than you ever have, while at the same time making you feel happier than you ever than you ever thought possible.
11. The only mark many of us will leave on this earth will be a negative one – we should all be striving to make positive changes in this world to contribute to it instead of constantly taking.
12. Dogs are the best friend a kid can ever have.
To be continued…
Vacation Recap
May 12th
I am back from vacation today. Mrs. Monkey, the Little Monkey and I all went to Florida to visit my mom and her husband. As we were in the state, my Dad and stepmom drove up from the Keys where they live, and we all got to visit. It was a really great vacation in the sense that we got to visit with lots of family I don’t see too often. And Cole loved the water available to him in Florida – pools, ocean…he was in heaven. But, someone needs to teach that boy that when you’re on vacation, you don’t NEED to get up at 6:30 AM. Ugh. I got up earlier on vacation than I do when I’m home and working. Oh well.
Whilst in Florida, I managed to infect my finger. Not sure how it happened, and the urgent care staff who tended to me didn’t seem to have any guesses to hazard either, so it remains a mystery. I would post the picture, but the last person I shared it with went running from the hills and hasn’t been heard from since. If you really want to see, let me know, but we’ll just leave it categorized as “gross”. It has since recovered quite well, thanks to antibiotics and pain relief, so I should be back to normal before long.
…well, as normal as I get.
