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Happy Halloween
October 31, 2006My Halloween is off to a great start.
I woke up early this morning, about 7:30, to get ready for the day. I wasn't going to wear a costume, I just had to pee real bad.
Anyways, I let the dog out. And for those who don't know, I have a Great Dane. I love the dog, its just a 120 lb. puppy, but she is a hard head.
I let her out this morning and went on about my business.
But in a chain of unfortunate events, the gate from my backyard to the front yard was open.
After 20 minutes of realizing my dog wasn't making any noise I peak outside.
The day had begun. What a Halloween.
My dog is just curious, I guess, so she likes to just sniff around.
I chased her outside, but didn't wear any shoes. Man was it cold outside this morning. Especially when you walk through the grass.
After a couple of houses and some walking down the middle of the road in City View, I finally rangled in my dog.
But the fun park about trying to drap my dog is when she doesn't have a collar on.
When you grab a 120 lb. dog by the neck skin, they tend to slam on the brakes.
Not so easy.
So, I'm half awake and my feet are freezing and my dog is being a butt head.
What to do, what to do?
I finally make it back to my yard with the dog through a little encouragment. It worked, but not as quickly as I'd liked it to work.
As soon as I stepped in my grass, I just so happened to plant my foot in the only sticker patch in my front yard.
Man that sucked.
So, I'm half awake and my feet are freezing and my dog is being a butt head and I have like eight stickers in my left, bare foot.
I get them all out, wake my wife up to open the front door and restart my day. So I think.
I walk outside, this time with my shoes, to relock the gate. I get that done, but walking back towards the door I figure I can take my aggression out on a soccer ball in the backyard.
Big mistake.
I go to kick the ball, it bounces off the grill, I go to kick it with my right foot again. (My soccer skills on display at 8 a.m.) I start to land on my right foot, but plant it on the concrete and I roll my ankle.
So I have a frozen feet, and now a rolled ankle. What a day, what a day.
I hope I started your day off with a laugh. Looking back, it wasn't worth it. Happy Halloween.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Teens do make a difference
October 30, 2006I volunteered my time with some teens this past weekend, and we didn't cause that much trouble.
Well, a little bit, but that's not the point.
I actually had some fun. We "cleared land" according to my assignment sheet, but we did way more than that.
I was a community captain for the Hirschi JROTC group.
And if I can say so, a good bunch of young men and women.
In high school I only volunteered my time once.
I thought it might be good on a transcript. I did it because my brother had too. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was in high school and he got caught.
I'm not saying "my poor brother." He got what he deserved. For God's sakes, we are supposed to get in trouble; we're kids for crying out loud.
But I volunteer, he had to go. We did some work for a Habitat for Humanity project. It was fun. I was too young to really do anything, but I felt like I accomplished something at least.
But the JROTC were good kids. There was a little pip-squeak, but he was actually giving some of his time away.
And there was also a youth, church group giving away some of there time.
And to the three or four home owners we were helping, I know it mattered to them.
Can't wait to do it again next year.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 04:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
David Stern for President...of the NRA
October 26, 2006I read a small article in the newspaper today about David Stern, commissioner for the NBA, and his feelings about his employees carrying guns.
NBA players' images are synonymous with being thugs. As you read this, I could put some money on it too, that a basketball player somewhere, either professional or in the collegiate ranks, is one cleaning his/her gun or smoking weed.
Its just a fact in my eyes. I don't know if it’s the professional image associated with this type of behavior, but someone somewhere is doing this.
But in the Stern article, he goes on to defend his players carrying guns. Something along the lines as, "I don't care if you have them, I know about protecting a home, but that's where they should be kept."
Is Stern a card carrying member of the NRA (national rifle association)?
What kind of republican, right wing attitude is that? Not saying guns are bad, they’re mostly bad. I subscribe to the “Guns don’t kill people, people using guns kill people” theory.
Stern went on to cite some statistic proving that people who carry guns are more likely to be shot than a person who doesn't.
DUH. Maybe because it’s from the invincible, can't hurt me, I'm looking for trouble attitude. As a fan of the NBA, I would also like to the see some stats on the actual amount of players in some type of drug rehab program.
That would be interesting. Then Stern could defend it with "I know the benefits of weed, these kids come from, usually, high stress areas of society. Just keep it at home."
Can't wait.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
What I've been up to.
October 25, 2006I apologize, for the last two days I've taken a little off time. Boy did I need it.
During the weekend, I juggled working here - with the cops beat - and helping my father-in-law redo the electrical at my house.
The work was fun, exciting, stressful, depressing and all the other little emotions you can throw in.
But living in Wichita Falls and wanting to do any type of construction work can be a challenge.
My father-in-law is a construction genius. I'm telling you, anything that can be done using your hands, the man can do.
You don't really appreciate the craft until you see it first hand. This isn't the first time I've seen it, its just the first time I've had the chance to blog it.
From this weekend though, I've taken two things out of it. Both the city/building officials and TXU are great.
I called TXU to get my electric turned off to do the work and they were there 30 minutes later.
I went to the city to get a home builders permit, and they walked me through what needed to be done to meet code.
When I needed the electricity to be reconnected, TXU called me, I didn't have to call them, to make sure everything was going OK and to tell me they would be there about 3 p.m. They were there at 3:05.
Thanks TXU and Wichita Falls building officials for your help. Last but not least, thank you Lynn Bennett (my father-in-law).
Posted by Clayton Hein at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
What are you wearing???
October 19, 2006An MSN study went deep into the "Dating" archives to try and judge a man based on the choice of costume.
It's interesting and hilarious. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that a Superman is a knight in shinning armor and covering something up at the same time.
Who would have thunk it? I was always taught that judgment shouldn't be rendered in any case, but trying to choose you man based on his choice of costume is nonsense.
The study goes on to analyze what a Pirate, Elvis, Devil and Vampire costume mean.
The Pirate is a bad-boy, with a darkside, but he may be selfish in bed. Who thought that one up?
Elvis wants the attention, and is eager to please.
The Devil should be self discribing, but the MSN site says he's exciting, but has a "who the hell cares" attitude.
The Vampire "exhibits sexual prowess," the site stated.
I wanna meet the women who have slept with this many guys, dressed in costumes, to be an expert on this area of study.
I wonder what they wear to the party? Playboy costumes?
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Costume Changes of the Future
October 17, 2006I grew up in th 80s so not a lot of people are going to want to continue, but I wanna look back in time and take a stroll down the Hallowenn Costume memory lane.
How have costumes changed over the years? I'm going to say a ton.
You can buy basically anything now a days to look like an extra in a movie. In the 80s Halloween costumes really started to change.
Consumers wanted something different, mainly kids, in my estimation when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles showed up.
It was no longer a little bear costume, or an M&M, it was Ghostbusters, TMNT and the next super hero on the block.
I really don't know that much about the times of yore, or what my parents' parents wore, but I can just guess. It was a hippie, or a famous couple or something out of Shakespeare.
Now you get suited and booted up no matter your age group. Now its about the accessories. What ever happened to the $3 face paint package so you can look like a Vampire. How about the ol' sheet over the head trick to look like a ghost.
You really didn't care that much about the eye holes to see, you just wanted the candy. No everything looks like it passed inspection of the highest standards.
I remember the coolest costume I ever wore. It was a Joker, from Batman, costume I got from Pansy's by the mall. It had the coolest mask and an outfit that let me look even more like the part. It was a couple of years ago and cost about $50 bucks and dang was it hot in that damn mask.
But I miss the facepaint. I also miss dressing up with my buddies in our favorite football player's jersey. Those were the days.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
The U
October 16, 2006The Miami Hurricanes are awful.
Larry Coker's ship is sinking - fast. After Saturday's debacle, I don't know what to expect out of one of my favorite college teams.
That "Bravado" they always talk about is just a faternatity that stays out of handcuffs. They have swagger, but they haven't won much in the past couple of years.
Larry Coker walked into a great situation that Butch Davis left him. The drop off in talent can be seen, and they haven't landed all the blue-chips like they used to.
But who's counting?
A total of something like 18 players were suspended as a result of the brawl between the U and Florida International.
That's crazy. But how long the players are suspended for remains unknown. Hopefully the NCAA throws the book at 'em both, mainly at Miami. The Hurricanes should know better.
Larry Coker needs to reign in his ending parade, before he gets canned. At times in sports its just best if a team goes in a better direction.
It's time Miami went in a different direction. Yes he won a national championship there, but it was Coker's first year with talent he didn't really recruit.
I just hope I don't see Michael Irvin preach about the U anymore on ESPN. If I was him, I would be ashamed of being an alumnus.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Why I'm Here
October 12, 2006I'm contemplating why I work at the newspaper.
Am I supposed to work here? Do I have a blessed hand that makes my words more important than others.
I'm just messing around. I'm just making fun of Terrell Owens. What an idiot.
I can believe he has the audacity to question why he's on a team.
The Cowboys are 2-2, and he hasn't played that well. Cry me a River, Mr. Owens. I wish I was a Cowboy. Hell, I wish I was a reporter who covered the Cowboys.
So you don't like your job?
Well why did you sign that little thing called a "contract?"
You are set for three years with about $30 million. What more do you need? Just asking.
Maybe if you didn't complain about your hamstring during the offseason and you built some comraderie with Bledsoe instead, you wouldn't be in this little pickle.
I saw you screaming at your coaches on the sideline, and I know you thing Bledsoe stunk up the world versus the Eagles last Sunday, but come on, really.
You are an athlete, but you are not a teammate. You keep proving this point over and over again.
I don't know why, but in my heart of hearts I kinda feel for you.
But you are only four games deep in a season. I takes forever to build a good relationship with a quarterback. Look at all the good recievers with a crappy quarterback.
Keep leaving you quarterback out on the high-and-dry and he'll leave you on a high-and-dry in route.
Let me know and I'll trade you spots. But only if you really don't want to be a Cowboy. Hell, you can keep your salary and I'll keep my pitance.
(940) 763-7597. I'm always here to talk!
Posted by Clayton Hein at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Bullet with your name on it!
I'm going to ruin my buddy's, Robert Morgan - fellow TRN reporter, fun.
He reviewed The Departed, the new film with Jack Nicholson, for tomorrow's NEXT.
I'm ruining it because I saw it last night, and its one of th better films I've seen in a long, long time.
It has the gore of Scarface, the attitude of about every Jack Nicholson movie and the bravado of a Martin Scorsese production.
The film is good. But don't continue reading if you don't want to spoil the movie.
You're still not reading if you don't want it spoiled do you? Good.
Well, Matt Damon is a gangster who becomes a cop, and Leonardo Dicaprio is a cop who becomes a gangster.
The movie is about getting the other guy smoked out first. Who wins? Not going to tell you that. Come on, I'm not that cold-hearted.
Watch the film. Jack is great, Matt is great, Leo is great. Even the supporting actors, like Alec Baldwin, Marky Mark and Martin Sheen play excellent roles.
What are you waiting for, go see the movie!
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
6-3A Picks
October 11, 2006I'm a Burkburnett alumnus, so I have to stick with the Bulldogs in the 6-3A playoff football race.
But I'm still not so sure.
Hirschi keeps winning, and Vernon, Graham and Iowa Park are always competitive.
Who to pick, who to pick?
I still like Burk. They have Nate Brown, of course, but Spoon is starting to become a better quarterback each week.
Iowa Park, from what I can remember, has traditionally won the district. And Vernon is always right there.
I guess we'll see in the upcoming weeks when the top four, Burk, I.P., Vernon and Hirschi play each other.
I'm rooting for Hirschi, by the way, just 'cuse they've sucked so hard the past couple/five years. After Jerad Estus left, a good friend of mine, they kinda started to go down hill.
I know enrollment is also affecting their progress, but it seems like the coach is making magic with what he's got.
Now that the Huskies have a little confidence it doesn't seem like they could be kept down for long.
As for Burk, they usually tank when they get to the playoffs. I can't remember an important game they've played in the last six or so years that meant anything. Is Dalke the right fit? Hicks sure wasn't. Hicks had a hell of a lot of talent when he coached, but the program seemed to under perform. (That was for Mark Rangel - how's it going by the way?)
I'm not really familiar with Vernon, but I know they bring a good squad to the table.
Iowa Park is an anomaly. After the Swenson boys left, I don't think there are any left; they started to stall out in playoff time.
Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. I probably am.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Buying Shares
October 10, 2006I finally put my foot in the water.
After the 30 point jump in Google the last week, I decided to climb on before it went all the way to $500 a share.
Jim Cramer, of CNBC's Mad Money, has nothing but good things to say about Google. After they bought YouTube.com earlier this week, the general idea was that this stock's limit was the sky.
But being skeptical is key in the market.
I just want to make some money. I've analyzed a couple companies on the internet through TD Ameritrade, and I've got to say, I still have no idea what I'm really doing.
I'm only 24 years old and this is my first walk on Wall Street. It’s exciting, intimidating, confusing and more importantly exciting.
Where else can you put a couple bucks and get a huge return in a short amount of time. But, where else can you put a couple bucks and see it all was away.
It's down right scary.
But you have to love it.
In Jim Cramer's book, Real Money, he makes a very true and valid point. America doesn't exactly teach people how to balance a check book, so why would they want to teach people to play the stock market.
It's gotta be one of the ways the rich stay rich and the poor get poorer. My advice, put a little money aside and see what happens. Talk to any successful person and ask them if they have money in stocks. 10 out of 10 are going to say yes.
You don't get more money by not investing. Heck, pick up Cramer's book and decide for yourself.
This might have to be a voice for the young, underpaid family man and his portfolio.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thanks for the help
October 09, 2006I want to think everybody we left First Baptist Church after one of Sunday's afternoon service for nothing. You really help out a bunch.
There were only a select few people who came in to the parking lot my brother and me where in, but not a one asked to help out.
After all that hustle and bustle, I guess I can tell you what went wrong.
It’s not all that big a deal, but my brother's battery died in his pickup. He had to leave it in the church parking lot over night. We returned with all the tools to take the battery out.
After about 30 minutes of working by ourselves, not a person leaving church that day, parked in that parking lot, asked us for help.
I thought it was strange at first, and was just going to forget about it. Then my brother mentioned something when we left to go get a new battery.
I could only agree with him. The point isn't that we needed help; we finally were able to complete the repair after about two hours.
The fact of the matter is that nobody even asked if we could use a hand. That’s what got to me. I mean, we were outside a church. It’s probably THE biggest church in Wichita County and surrounding counties.
I guess I just have to forget and forgive...that's the only thing I can do. No use in crying over spilt milk.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Teachers with Guns
October 06, 2006
MADISON, Wis. - In the wake of school shootings in Wisconsin, Colorado and Pennsylvania during the last two weeks, a state legislator says he plans to introduce legislation that would allow teachers, principals, administrators and other school personnel to carry concealed weapons.
This sentence is fresh of the Associated Press wire/MSNBC.com Web site.
All I have to say is how ridiculous. Rep. Frank Lasee, a Republican, is one of the people supporting the idea.
My question is, how did this guy got into office?
Why people be willing to give guns to teachers when they can't give them enough money to (1) attract better teachers and (2) increase overall school funding.
I can't see any teacher with a gun. The only one who could hypothetically handle a gun, in my mind, is a coach. And coaches already have too much testosterone flowing through their bodies. These guys already threaten their students with a paddle, give them a gun and see what happens.
Think about a 22-year old woman, fresh out of college, with a freakin’ gun on her hip. Or think about the 60-year woman, with a gun in her handbag.
Who's gonna’ win that one, a super-charged 18-year old football playing unstable, hormonal child, or the woman.
How much would we have to pay teachers then? Have schools gotten that bad that we need to arm our teachers? Say it ain't so.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Jennifer Anniston
October 05, 2006I just watched "Friends with Money" last night, and i gotta say I liked it.
The dynamics of relationships were right on, and Jennifer Anniston's character was well done.
This is my first time talking about a movie on my blog, so stay with me.
Three groups of friends, all married, have something wrong with their relationship.
Two aren't having enough sex, two have too much money and two fight too much.
But Jennifer is just there. Mainly because she's not in a relationship and still is in love with a one-night stand from a while back.
One husband appears to be gay, be he isn't. One husband is just a big ass. And the other seems to be a pretty good guy.
One wife gets enraged too quick, one isn't paying attention to anything and the other is too sympathetic.
We all have a group that we hang around and something is wrong with everybody in the group. Either this is amiss, or that is out of place, but something in everyone's relationship is usually messed up.
It's just how you deal with it that makes the difference.
In the end, Jennifer ends up with the right guy. He's unassuming, but he's genuine. And it really ends with everybody in a happy situation.
So if you think your situation is wrong, or you know someone else's is odd, just know they are the ones to work it out in the end. And remember, not everyone should be married. You know you have that life friend that's single, but you want to hook them up with somebody.
Just let it happen on its own. Because it usually will.
And I recommend the movie to anybody. Guys, if you're attracted to Jennifer Anniston, you could possibly "stand" to put up with it.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Floundering franchise
October 03, 2006My coworker pointed out to me today the lack of people at the latest Wichita Falls Wildcats' game.
My angst isn't with that of the people who don't go. We know Wichita Falls is a lukewarm town that can get excited over the new and good.
But what's coming out of Kay Yeager Coliseum is neither new or good.
There's not that much exciting going on over there. The stadium should be a rocking, and have an open invitation to come a knockin'.
But they're not.
My frustration is over the lack of successful market.
Come on, everybody does free hat/t-shirt/souvenir night. But where is the originality. It doesn't really feel like Wichita Falls owns the Wildcats.
That's what we need.
In other successful markets - 100,000 population, 7,000 seat stadium - the ideas don't cease to exist my any stretch of the imagination.
But the imagination is what they have.
I've heard of a "Bible Belt Night" before. The first 100 or so, got a free belt buckle that had "bible belt" read across it.
How hilarious is that?
What happen to mohawk night. I would love to see a couple of women come and get there heads shaved just so.
And the military is the step child for the team. Yes they give free tickets to the game, but for the defenders of the nation, is that really enough. They signed up, willing to die for us, and we give them a couple of hockey tickets for they will.
Wildcats, where's the love?? I just want a hug.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Defenseless Gurode
October 02, 2006Julius Jones, Cowboys running back, had just scored on a 5-yard run, putting Dallas up 20-6 in what wound up as a 45-14 victory. Cowboy Guard Andre Gurode's helmet came off, and Titan defensive takle Albert Haynesworth, standing over him, used his right foot to kick Gurode in the head.
Thats one of the most disgusting incidents in sports that I'm old enough to remember.
And at one point I actually liked Haynesworth. I thought he was a good player for an emerging team.
Boy was I wrong.
But that's not that bad.
Stuff like this happens all the times in sports - in the last 10 years or so. The "Super Athlete" is destroying sports, one game at a time.
I still the remember the fallout from the Bill Romanowski. For those who don't know, in a training camp incident a few years ago with the Oakland Raiders, Romanowski sucker punched Marcus Williams.
From what I remember, Romanowski was the ass of the football world. If this guy wasn't on steroids, who was?
Romanowski supposedly pushed the guy, and when Williams head was snapping back in the direction of Romanowski, his helmet fell off.
Romanowski then unleashed a hell-ish punch that caved the side of William's face in.
William's career was over at that point.
I remember reading William's side of the story in ESPN magazine. Williams called the cops for criminal charges...nothing happened. Williams said Romanowski promised to help with medical bill...nothing happened.
No don't forget, at the time Romanowski was an established pro. Williams was a nobody on a contract that didn't hold much weight.
Williams was let go... and Romanowski continued on with his pathetic career.
Williams tried to win money via court decision a couple of years back. If I remember right, Williams didn't get much. Now he's left without much and a faulty half-side of his face.
That's the worst incident in sports I can remember. Unlike the Kermit Washington punch on Rudy Tomjanovich, Rudy was able to make a professional recovery.
Albert, Romo, Kermit...you will go down in sport's history as bad guys - in my book. At least Albert has the ability to rebound with a couple of pro years left in his body.
Pray that he does.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
