Let's give thanks

It's always around this time of year, when the wrap up another calendar year with the holidays.  Time spent with families, loved ones, children and friends.  These holidays even prompt us to finally pick up the phone and dial up a long-distance relative, perhaps for the first time this year.

However, no one person or one family is perfect. There are always issues to be dealt with and obstacles to overcome.  Every single day I give a small little thank you for all of the things I have, and by no means am I perfect. 

But sometimes it takes a particular instance to make you stop and realize how lucky we are.  A trip to the local hospital will reaffirm this thought.  No matter how big or important our situation is, there are always others worse off.  I offer a prayer to all of those who are struggling with things that can make my challenges seem really minimal.

Don't believe me?  Take a visit some day to the local Children's hospital and see some of the challenges these brave kids are battling every day.  Challenges they didn't ask for when they were born innocent and beautiful.  But challenges they aren't afraid to back down from and have such wonderful support from doctors, nurses, volunteers and community members.

So as the holiday's approach, and everyone becomes so focused on buying material items, just take a second to reflect on the good things blessed upon you and your family, and send a little prayer of support to those a little less fortunate.

College Hoops Heating Up For This Guy

I know college football season is still going, and quite frankly, there are some great storylines to come and games I'm looking forward to seeing as we approach rivalry weekend.  Especially with the possibility of mass chaos erupting with some well-deserving teams being left out of the BCS championship. I would like nothing more than to see the BCS blown up and follow the playoff system first introduced by Sports Illustrated a few years back.

However, to me, nothing is quite better than the college hoops season. I'll admit that some of the early games didn't really excite me as I've been tied up with football and as it does every year, the seasons seem to start earlier and earlier.

But here we are just before Thanksgiving and the last two nights have drawn me to the tv.  With remote in hand, I was in pure bliss with all of the incredible games going on:  UConn - Michigan State, Duke-Kansas State, UCLA- Villanova, Kentucky-Washington - which by the way was played at full tilt in a tiny, but packed to rafters, Lahaina Civic Center in Maui.

The problem that plagues most early season games is that you rarely see a good, quality matchup.  Teams will stack their pre-conference schedules with easy wins.  Wins are what matters most when it comes to deciding whether 20-win teams, or 19-win teams, get into the prestigious Super Bowl-like hype machine NCAA Tournament.  Much to the dismay of fans and ticket holders.

But flip on one of these games when you have a chance and you see games being played just as if they were trying to advance to the next round of the tournament or fighting for their playoff lives.  Pride is on the line with these guys and the result is incredible.

One thought that comes to mind while watching UConn-Kentucky being played in a small gym in Hawaii.  Both schools play in massive NBA arenas, but try to picture two historic programs meeting up in some gym, no refs (yes they are actually there), no coaches, basically shirts vs. skins.

Awesome stuff.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of Year

Yes, it may be November 7, but already Christmas music has hit the radio airwaves.  And I welcome it.  Sure we are a few weeks away from the Christmas onslaught of the shopping rush and deciding what to get people.  But I welcome the thought of what Christmas really means:  a time for sharing and being with loved ones.  This will be the second Christmas for our little Liam and I look forward to waking up and seeing him smile with all of the presents under the tree. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year.