Books

The following are some good books I have read in the past few months... Wish I had time to write at length about each one. I recommend them all as they have played a role in shaping who I am...

"The Tender Bar"
"Lion In The White House...Teddy Roosevelt"
"Peace Like A River"
"The Shack"
"Swimming In A Sea of Death"
"Clapton...Autobiography"

George Bush

Anybody watch the interview with President Bush last night on Fox news? I'm not a registered Republican or Democrat and at times have supported both individuals and ideas from both parties. That being said, I really enjoyed the exclusive interview. I know that he is not very popular at the moment and I realize people in his own party have even questioned the effectiveness of his presidency. Conservatives feel that he abandoned sound fiscal principles when reelected and spent money like a "drunken sailor" while liberals feel that he kills innocent women and children. All I know is that he seems like a decent man and a man that is principled. He believes his primary job is to protect the American people and spread freedom. I like him. I think he's tough and not afraid to lead...and we should respect him for that and give him credit for those two outstanding qualities.

**It will be interesting to see when the next President is elected and actually has to walk in his shoes and feel what he's felt...how they will feel about him then. Maybe they will wish they would not have spent so much time slandering him and second guessing him??? I'm not so sure 50 years from now he won't be thought of as one of our great presidents...

Law School

It's official. I scored well enough on the LSAT and was accepted into Cooley Law School this weekend. I spoke with my adviser today and will begin on May 5. I will be taking Torts I, Contracts I and Intro. to Law during the first trimester. If all goes well It should take me 4 years. It could be as quick as 3 but with working full-time as well as being a husband and father I chose the 4 year schedule and might even extend it to 5.

I have had the desire to obtain a terminal degree for several years now. The two subjects that I have been interested in are the law and New Testament theology. I was going to have to go back and get an M.Div before I could begin a PhD program in Theology and it would have required me being away from my family too often...Cooley Law School is right around the corner and has a great reputation...recently voted the 16th best law school in the country, so law school it is!

I am going in with no expectations. I have been told that it's the hardest thing I will ever do (sometimes requiring 700-1000 pages of reading per week and 20 hours of studying outside of class time) and I plan on taking it one day at a time never forgetting that my family and my job at Rochester College are my top priorities.

Article About My Father

This article appeared on the front page of the sports section this morning...thought I would share it.

http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/012008/spo_20080120238.shtml

**Copy and paste it into your address bar and it should come right up. If not go to theoaklandpress.com

Which Candidate?

As my previous post mentioned I have really enjoyed the presidential race (coming soon to Michigan!). I'm still not sure who to vote for, there are still probably five candidates that I could legitimately side with. Five years ago I would have sided with Huckabee (or a candidate like him), three years ago I would have probably leaned toward Obama...however, its amazing how a little girl can change the way you think.

There's a little 3 year old girl that I'm madly in love with and I want her to grow up in a safe and war free America. I think McCain will do the best job protecting our country. Say what you want about him being too moderate, too liberal on fiscal issues and too compassionate with illegal immigrants...he knows how to defend a nation and he's no nonsense. I like that.

That being said, I'm listening hard to Romney, Obama and Huckabee as well. I originally really respected Rudy as a leader but he's dropped of the map...maybe he will make a comeback with FL and I will throw him back in the mix?

But every time I think about the world Abbey might (or might not) grow up in I think of McCain's toughness.

Two Dream Jobs

Two Dream Jobs

I made up my mind at a very young age that I wanted to be a college basketball coach. Therefore, I spent several years preparing. Even though I am not coaching now I still feel most comfortable coaching. I have been helping my dad's team sporadically this season. And although I have not made many practices and only a few games I have enjoyed each one. In fact, I met up with the team a few days ago in Huntsville, AL for a game vs. an NCAA Division II opponent, University of Alabama-Huntsville. Something triggered in me during the game and I forgot I wasn't the head coach...or even a coach at all (sorry Dad and Brian)! I had an absolute blast for 40 minutes and remember saying to myself, "there is nothing in the world I would rather be doing at this moment." At one point I looked down and noticed that I was in front of the scores table screaming instructions to our point guard...and he was listening attentively to every word! Again, I feel most in my element when coaching.

That being said, for several years I have had a fantasy "dream job" and now I have two. I have always loved traveling. I am proud to say that I have been to 48 states (I will eventually get to Alaska and North Dakota), every National Park west of the Mississippi, several places in Canada (not just Windsor!), France, Italy, Switzerland and Africa. So, my "dream job" is to be a free lance writer for Travel and Leisure magazine (the only magazine I have ever subscribed to). I would love to be able to travel around the world experiencing adventure after adventure and write stories about it. Again...its a "dream job" not one I would actually ever pursue...I don't think?

Now I have a second. I think I would love to manage a Presidential campaign. I can't think of anything I would rather do than stay up for 72 straight hours, drink 64 ounces of coffee a day and travel across the country managing a campaign. I would love the competition, strategies, emotional highs and lows, shaking hands, writing speeches, tracking opponents progress, never ending stress and pressure...sounds right up my ally! I would also enjoy keeping my candidate pumped up and feeling on top of the world...maybe even be the candidate myself! I got my first taste of this lifestyle while coaching in the NCAA Division I tournament. I stayed up for 48 straight hours after we received our bid, got addicted to coffee and had an absolute blast...all the time thinking, "my dad's got the best job in the world."

I have really enjoyed following this Presidential race. I have been more engaged this race than ever before in my 33 years. I have watched every debate and usually stay up late watching CSPAN when FOX and CNN switch to something else.

Below are some thoughts:

Best Politician
Mitt Romney

Best Overall Leader
Rudy Giuliani

Best Commander in Chief
John McCain

Most Likeable
Mike Huckabee

Most Raw Talent
Barack Obama

Most Confident
Fred Thompson

Most Believable
Bill Richardson

Most Emotional
Hillary Clinton

Most Superficial
John Edwards

Most qualified, experienced and ready to bring about change...
NO IDEA

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