I'm still alive....

So, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a very happy New Year. We had a great holiday, and John was a blast. Not to sound materialistic or selfish, but I think this was the best "present" holiday ever! I ended up with a GPS system, a Wii (for both myself and Sharon), some new movies and other things, and a trip to Vegas at the end of January (from Sharon - more on that later)!

But anyways.....it's time for my first "observation" of the year - TEXT MESSAGING. I don't want to sound like an old guy who is out of touch with technology, but I think that the whole text messaging craze has gotten RIDICULOUS. It's flat out rude at times. When you are with or around other people (ie., hanging out, at the mall, etc.), put the phone down. Better yet, leave it in the car. While I am an avid cell phone user, I think that the "convenience" has made us go waaaay overboard with things like this. I'm not talking about the occasional texters; I'm referring to those whose phones never quite seem to close. Sometimes, I yearn for the old land-line phones and answering machines (minus the telemarketers). If I'm not home, I will just talk to you later. End of story.

I'm also thrilled to see that the legislation for smoke-free restaurants is back before the delegates again, although I don't think it will ever pass. Smokers constantly talk about their right to smoke, but your right stops where it infringes on mine, habit or not. How would you like it if someone with Tourette syndrome sat down next to you smokers in a bar and and spontaneously shouted obscenities in your ear all night? It would get annoying, wouldn't it? Seems to me that it is the same as you blowing your smoke in my face. You don't ever think about the health of those who are serving you either, do you? So delegates, please put the tobacco companies aside and pass this legislation. Smokers will find another place to smoke.

Maybe then they will also ban text messaging.