January 8, 2009
It is what you learn after you know it all that counts. --attributed to Harry S Truman.
The top ten things I learned in 2008.
10. Sports--With the right upper management change (i.e. Bill Parcells hired by the Miami Dolphins to clean house), a one-and-fifteen team can make the playoffs the following year. The Kansas City Chiefs might have a prayer, you think?
9. Trendy things--After complaining endlessly about the hours of time teens fritter away on Facebook and iPhone, I have learned that those two very cool items may not be so bad after all and actually are a blast. Why did I wait so long to join the fun? Could Wii be next for me?
8. Fashion--Every girl these days wears tights, even in Florida. I have no idea why.
7. More sports--The Yankees spent $400 million plus in the off-season to acquire just about every great player out there. I learned that emotion in college may win games, but in the pros throwing money at the problem is the way to be successful, apparently. Take the Kansas City Royals or not, just one example that comes to mind right off the top of my head.
6. Government spending--Note that the above sports formula for problem solving does not apply to government. If we throw gazillions of dollars at bankrupt private corporations, all we get is deeper in debt. I learned that, but I am not sure Congress has.
5. More fashion--Sarah Palin's gorgeous wardrobe, although borrowed and criticized, beat Hillary's closet-full of pantsuits (especially the orange one) hands down.
4. Olympics--I learned that anyone could win in the Olympics. Dana Torres, a 41-year-old swimmer medaled and gives hope to everyone over age 40. Michael Phelps, who was afflicted with ADHD as a child, used that energy to propel himself to become the fastest swimmer and most-medaled in the world. And six-year-old Chinese gymnasts can win Olympic gold, too. Who knew?
3. One more fashion item--Gladiator-style sandals were the fashion thing in 2008. I realize that fashion trends repeat themselves every 20 years, but every 2,000 years?
2. Celebrities--Hollywood types continue to baffle me, and all I have learned from them in 2008 is that they think having babies and lots of them is cool. Good parenting? Well, they haven't turned the page on that one yet as they are too busy showing off the best baby "bumps" on the beach. Do I sound like I have been reading tabloids in the grocery store checkout line?
1. Personal--If one never puts away Christmas decorations, they are much easier to get out the next year. There is one downside to this practice however. If decorations reside for the entire year on the ping-pong table in the basement as ours did, it is a tad difficult for the grandsons to have a tournament or play the game with Grandpa. Just an observation and something I learned in 2008.