Move over Lord Byron

From time to time I come across something created by one of my children that just blows me away. Each of the kids has produced a song, a photograph, or a drawing that has displayed a talent I can't explain and am overwhelmed by. Now unlike other parents who might somehow overestimate the talent of their children, or boast and brag about even the slightest accomplishment, I've never been accused of such hyperbole.

The other day I came across a poem written by Clara Grace, and felt sure this was the germination of greatness. The poem talked of love and the angst of not being certain one is loved. I knew right away that one day, and one day soon, she would take her place along side the greats like Yeats, Byron, Keats, Blake, and dear Ole' Uncle Walt.

I went to her to ask what torments of a nine year old heart could bring about such profound languish and suffering. She informed me that it was not a poem at all but rather a song. What or who had been her muse I inquired. Turns out she was trying to right a song like the one she saw on the Naked Brothers Band.

Apparently Byron may be safe a bit longer.

Show Offs!

I hate when people show off. Not only is it rude, it points to the shallowness and insecurity of those doing the bragging. I got my quarterly high school magazine the other day, and sure enough, two such glory hounds had to tell us of their latest accomplishments.

Jamy Wheless was a year behind me and a hack artist at best. A couple of lucky breaks, a chance opportunity to wash George Lucas' car, and bam! he takes his talent for stick figures, and a Cray computer and becomes the lead animator for Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and The Chronicles of Narnia, among others. I bet the dude roams around Hollywood wearing an ascot.

Then there's Bill Dedman. Bill recently joined MSNBC. Somewhere along the way he found a Pulitzer Prize laying around and claimed it for his own. I bet he hangs out in bars with Keith Olberman trying to pick up wonkettes using words like gravitas, and politico.

Unlike these two who are trying to take more than their allotted fifteen minutes of fame, I have more compassion for my fellow human being. My concern for my co-inhabitants of the planet has allowed me to place the protection of my brother's self-esteem above any petty glory I might achieve for myself. I have forsaken Oscars, Pulitzers, and even a Noble Prize or two so those around me won't feel bad about themselves. I'm just a giver that way.

Now Jamy and Dedman couldn't pick me out of a lineup, but if I do run into them I'll remind them that nobody likes a showoff.

Class Leads to Class

Today we saw two men, inspired by champions, who followed the examples they had seen to become champions. Tony Dungy has often pointed to Eddie Robinson as the man who not only opened the door for him to be a head coach in the NFL, but also the man who illuminated the path.

Peyton has turned being "Archie's boy" from something that most have viewed as pressure, instead into the foundation for his success.

Class leads to class, and Tony and Peyton have shown us class leads to sucess.

Congratulations to them both and all those in the Colts organization.

Do it for Johnny U!

Even better, do it for Art Donovan!

Colts 38 Bears 21

Thank God they didn't name him Nimrod!

The Knoxville News-Sentinel set out the call and got almost 50 kids together that were named after Peyton Manning. Peyton's family is known to be one familiar with the Bible, and all I could think was thank God they didn't give him an Old Testament name.

Not surprisingly many are already setting Peyton up to be a loser. According to Jim Rome and other talk radio shows, Peyton not only has to win, but win in "Manning like fashion" in order to truly win. Remember, these are the same folks that gave Charles Woodson the Heisman.

What those of us who have followed Peyton since 1994 already know is that no matter the outcome of the game, Peyton is a winner. The reason so many young men and women have been named after him is not his arm, but rather his heart. I hope and pray that come Sunday Peyton earns a championship ring to go on one of the fingers attached to his golden arm. But no matter the Super Bowl's outcome, Peyton has already shown us what the definition of a winner is on and off the field.

Go Colts!

Snow Angel

This was today's only snow angel. The four inches of snow we were suppose to get turned out to be just an inch. No snowmen or sledding, but at least we got a daddy/Gracie day to eat waffles and hot chocolate, and watch Narnia and other movies. Gracie didn't get to make any snow angels, but I got to watch one.

Politicos reveal Stupidity

Yesterday, Scott Barker at the Knoxville News-Sentinel had a great piece about Knox County Commission's secret meetings in appointing the new county officers. After all fuss and expense to get us to this point, our great representatives decide to knowingly violate the state's open meeting law. Within a few hours of the votes, Knoxville attorney Herb Moncier had filed suit stating that the appointments weren't valid. Here we go again, and the tax payers get to shell out thousands of dollars to lawyers to sort out the mess. The commissioners themselves should be forced to pay any legal fees resulting from their stupidity. Too bad we can't just impeach the whole bunch for being idiots.