Kelly Smith Weblog Aficionado: Just a guy vs. Life

I am sick of kids... This morning, like a lot of other mornings I showered, shaved, and dressed listening to the incessant back and forth between two little boys. As a husband, father, and worker I really don't like starting off my morning with a bunch of foolishness. I'm an adult I don't have time for such things. No matter what the issue is with these kids, it gets blown up into something dramatic. I know I shouldn't be like this, but I am tired of their little asses. I can't go into the specific details of what this argument was about, because quite frankly I don't know. The real issue was lost in the name-calling, denials, and excuses. Once the argument reached a fever pitch I had to break in. I said, "Oh the both of you little bastards need to shutup! You make me sick!" I turned off the television and stormed out of the bedroom. Devon and Robbie were sitting there eating there cereal and I said, "Are you two ready to head out ...

BET Member of the week... BET Member of the week is your's truly, Dkelsmith. Thank you...thank you....thank you..... I don't think I get anything cool like a free tee shirt, but the exposure is pretty cool. If I had been thinking I would have asked for a referral link to my weblog. I would like to be able to generate more traffic to my blog. Of course, I think that has a lot more to do with the fact that I don't post daily, and perhaps the subject matter I cover isn't really compelling. While I do like to touch on politics and the military, I like to focus a lot of attention on family life. Since I am not part of a dysfunctional family none of the interesting subjects like drug use, domestic violence, infidelity, or anything like that applies to me or any of my little family. Oh! speaking of family, my oldest son got All A's and B's for the third consecutive 9 weeks period, my younger son, got all S's and E's on his kindergarten report car...

John Kerry: Black like me? "President Clinton was often known as the first black President. I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second."...[John F. Kerry] I was cruising some of my favorite blog reads and came across a spot on Oliver's site that talked about John Kerry and his mission to connect with all populations of U.S. Voters. In a quotation from USA today, it referenced that quote with this line.... "Kerry signaled his resolve to cement his support among blacks this week when he told a radio interviewer, "President Clinton was often known as the first black president. I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second." I was mildly amused when I heard about Tony Morrison referencing Clinton in that way. Don't get me wrong, I liked Clinton despite the attention to his personal life and business dealings. However, I was taken aback by how the idea of him being a "Black President" ...

And then there was one... Despite remaining attuned to the decorum of the Democratic nominee process, John Kerry is the last man standing in the Democratic Selection Process. Sharpton and Kucinich have not called an official ent to their campaigns, Dean quit but his name is still on the ballot. If I was Kucinich I would be mortified that I was dead last, even if it even is a field of three. http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/04/elec04.prez.edwards.suspension/index.html

The reason I have not supported gay marriage.... I don't support gay marriage for one reason, and one reason alone. I discovered that I had a prejudice bias against the homosexual lifestyle. Don't worry....you haven't run across a racist, homophobic, sexist individual's weblog, I am simply stating the reason why I don't support it. I never made a conscious effort to like or dislike homosexuals, I suppose that there was always a level of unconscious indifference regarding them. I was always quick to say, "Hell, I'm not homophobic, what someone does in the privacy of their own bedroom doesn't bother me." But for some reason the gay marriage issue has, and I had to do some soul searching in order to find out why. I suppose that the urge to chastise homosexuals starts at an early age. I knew to call the boys who could not run fast, catch a ball, or take a punch without crying, "sissies" when I was in grade school. In later year...

Boulder Colorado... Sixth rape allegation surfaces at CU I just don't understand what is going on in Boulder. Everything from the alleged sex parties to lure recruits, to the unreported six elleged rapes, to the football coach. I went to Boulder for 4 days in 1999, and I have to tell you that I loved the place. I walked around on the University of Boulder campus quite a few times. The one thing that surprised me greatly was the fact that there were absolutely no overweight people there. Everyone was jogging, walking, roller-blading, and working out. The campus was absolutely beautiful, the air was fresh and clean, and there was no smoking in any public facility. Shoot, I thought I had found paradise. I don't doubt that there are some shady goings on in Colorado, but I do wonder why these rape allegations have not come out until now. I don't completely dismiss the veracity of these claims, but I do submit that SOMEBODY had to know SOMETHING. I pray to God...

Just a few words... My daughter is learning to communicate, so I thought I would try and record some of her speech. If you aren't ready to say, "Awwwwwwww!", then don't click my audblog link. audio post of Alexandra saying a few words powered by audblog

And the dirt goeth... It seems that the report about an alleged affair between John Kerry and an "intern" was much ado about nothing. Both Kerry and the girl as well as her family categorically deny everything. Newspapers in the UK ran wild with this one. Some people complained of a media "blackout", but I think that to the contrary it was "responsible" coverage. Not that Matt isn't responsible. But, I think that he would have been happy to have brought out to party shaking scandals all within a 15 year period. Not that he has any particular interest in bringing out some dirt on anybody, especially the Dems. Well, we are poised to see how Kerry, Edwards, and Dean do in Wisconsin. Kerry is already heavily favored, and now one of the issues that should be in the back of Dean and Edward's mind is, "How do I gain points and delegates in this race without doing damage to the party as a whole." I submit that they need on...

The Dirt Cometh... There is a developing story on the Drudge Report that points to marital infidelity on the part of Senator John Kerry. Additionally, some thirty year old photos surfaced that show Kerry and Jane Fonda (albeit they were not seated together) at the same Anti-war protest. He is the frontrunner, and seems to have been gathering momentum, but there is nothing like a trist with a mistress and a link to Hanoi Jane to throw a monkeywrench in the works. We will have to see what the future holds. [developing story] Reference Link

9-11 Public Forum to include Clinton and Bush? http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/12/911.commission.ap/index.html Just an interesting tidbit. The Commission is going to seek to have testimony from: George Bush(43), Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, John Ashcroft as well as their counterpart/predecessors from the Clinton Administration. I wonder what kind of details we can piece together?

Decapitation attempt? (CNN) -- A convoy carrying Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East, was attacked Thursday during a visit to Iraqi defense forces in Fallujah, U.S. officials said. No one was injured. Abizaid was accompanied by Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. Color me funny, but I don't think it is a good idea for more than one general officer to be in the same aircraft or ground vehicle at a time. Despite all of the problems that the U.S. armed forces have encountered in dealing with insurgents, we have still shown ourselves to be a strong and unwavering force. However, those Iraqis who are sitting on the fence in regard to how they feel against the Americans may have found a "successful" attack on the Americans something that would draw them into insurgency. No bones about it, if you kill the CentCom commander and the CG of the most powerful and mobile Airborne Division in the wor...

Jazz anyone? Last night, I went to the Kentucky Center for the Arts to see Jazz luminary Wynton Marsalis, and the Lincoln Center Jazz orchestra. I have heard live jazz music played before, but this completely changed my perspective of Jazz music. Marsalis is the winner of 9 grammy's and a Pulitzer prize. He took the stage and introduced everyone in an archetypal husky, but cool Jazz speaking voice. All we needed was for him to have shades on and be puffing on a cigarette. Man, the guy is an absolute musical genius. Last night they played some of the definitive works by composers such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Thelonious Monk, and Charles Mingus. They did do a few contemporary pieces as well. Marsalis broke this down into the "New Testament" and "Old Testament" of Jazz. The crowd, including me, was held spellbound by not only the high caliber musicians, but the historical anecdotes that he offered about the pieces an...

Black History Month: A look forward February is Black History month, a month that is both reviled and despised by some in this country. There are some whites who feel that this is "yet another undeserved, or unneeded handout to black people." Some people feel that this is special pandering to blacks that further confirms the "blackmail" that is being exacted upon the country as a whole for the slave trade. To many people, the "shame" of slavery is paralyzing us because to speak out against special consideration or acknowledgement of black oriented events is tantamount to racism. I just want to say that when we look at the Black experience in America, it can be said that at one time, people thought that we had contributed nothing of any merit from 1619 to 1926. Hence, the start of Black History Week. Because it has gone through several changes, I think the the reason and the relevance for this observation has been lost. Though, I think the need for...

Does Aaron McGruder have a right to be hostile toward Condoleeza Rice? Because this is the United States, I would say, "Yes" with absolute certainty. Because we are Americans we don't have to go along with the policy of our government. We are free to protest, we are free to question, and in some cases we are free to refuse. I think that is one of the greatest things about this country....that one word that is dear to all of us...."Freedom". The creator of the popular "Boondocks" comic strip reportedly caused some discomfort at an anniversary dinner for the Nation magazine here last month when he told the mostly anti-war audience, "I've met Condoleezza Rice and called her a murderer to her face." Late last year, McGruder made Rice's love life the topic of his comic. "Maybe if there was a man in the world who Condoleezza truly loved, she wouldn't be so hell-bent to destroy it," one of his "Boondock...

It is impossible for me to babysit my own kids.... Strange title, huh? Well, it is true. It is impossible for me to baby sit my own children. The reason that I say this, is the fact that people sometimes give men undeserved credit for watching their children, or caring for their children when their wives are away. I submit that a man NEVER babysits his own child. He merely continues to act in the capacity of a father. If a woman is out in public with her kids, do people assume that she is "watching them", just because her husband is not present? Still confused? I will try and illustrate this... Not too long ago my dear mother-in-law passed away. Understandably, my wife has been stressed out handling arrangements and overall dealing with her loss. Some of her friends came into town and decided to take her out shopping and hanging out on a Saturday. They were gone most of the day and came back in the evening. To my relief, my wife looked more refreshed, and...

Afro-Saxon An Afro-Saxon is a white person, who despite his genetics, tries his best to dress, talk, and act, like the stereotypical "Homeboy". Here is a transcript of my lunch order. He will be called a White Afro-Saxhon Homeboy. (W.A.S.H) The guy I saw had light brown hair, blue eyes, and was obviously caucasian. I will call him W.A.S.H. I walk up to the counter..... [W.A.S.H] "Whuddup Homey, whut can I git foya today?" [Me]... pausing in disbelief ...."Umm...I'll have a large Philly Cheese Steak with pizza sauce, and hold the onions. I also have a coupon for a free small one." [W.A.S.H] "Cool..cool...You want fries or sumpin else wit dat?" [Me] "Yes, I'll take a small fry." [W.A.S.H] "You don't want no drank?" [Me] "No thank you." [W.A.S.H.] "You fa sho? The lemonade be TIGHT!" [Me] "No thanks, I'll just have the sandwiches and fries....

Bland assurances... I am not sure what you thought of the State of the Union address, but it was far from the speech that I expected from a President seeking reelection. From what I deduced, he is banking his reelection hopes on the fact that nobody wants to switch Generals during a war....even an unpopular war. In the beginning the doves squawked about us waging war unilaterally against Saddam, and continued to squawk and coo that we would stand alone in the end. The high point of his address did stymie the anti-war crowd with a laundry list of countries that have contributed troops and resources to the war effort, he gave no real time table for transition of power, or reduction of force in theatre. In regard to the economy he gave a lukewarm assurance to fiscal conservatives by stating that discretionary spending would only increase by 4% over the next year. Additionally, he held on to the notion that tax cuts and other Reaganesque measures such as spending increases would...

Radicals amaze me..... The attached rendered photo of the Time magazine photo of military personnel as the "Person of the Year" shows exactly what some people think of our military. I will finish elaborating on this shameful photo later on. I got this from the DC Independent Media. http://dc.indymedia.org/media/all/display/17011/index.php?limit_start=24 I wonder why they are so independent? In speaking to a lot of Americans, it can easily be said that not a lot of people are happy with the way things are in America, and throughout the rest of the world. Many of the problems that Americans talk about are attributed to the President. I am not going to go into my personal thoughts about his culpability in our floundering economy, but I do have to say that I am not one to believe all of these sinister plot conspiracies. I have heard preposterous notions that went so far as to say that he was "responsible" for the WTC bombing just so he coul...

Update As you can see I have not blogged for nearly a month. This is not because no major events have happened. Quite the contrary, so much has happened that I couldn't find time to commit it online, though I have chronicled a great deal of things in my journal at home. First off my Mother-in-law passed away after battling cancer. She died on the 22nd of December. This is something that hurt me deeply. She and I had the atypical Mother-in-law to Son-in-law relationship. I can't imagine that it was possible for her to have treated me any better. I did my best to be a supportive husband to my wife during that time, and obviously I was worried about my children. But, I felt like I was a complete wreck at the time as well. We carried on with Christmas, and though it was a sad time, reminiscing about her carried us through. That is the way that she would have wanted it. She will certainly be missed, her kindness, her generosity, her laugh, her smile, her presence. Ev...

The lexicon of Alexandra.... I sit and listen to the words that my daughter is saying, and I am amazed at how much she has grown. I remember when I held her for the first time, I thought about all of the "firsts" that we would experience together. Namely her first word. In a way, I had imagined that it would be some glorious moment out of the blue where I would here her say something clear and coherent out of the blue. "Hey Renee! The baby just said, 'machine oil!' Yeah right.....Now that she is saying words, I can't recall what her first one was, or when she said it. It turns out that Alexandra understands most sentences and phrases that I use. The only problem is that I can't understand what she is saying. In fact, all of the cute cooing and gurgling that I thought she was doing just for the heck of it was more than likely an attempt at communication. Unfortunately I was too dull to catch on. However, as of late I have made it a point to ...