a rogue’s posterous

somethings can't wait to be said...
About Me

Joel is a writer...well he wants to be...he tries to be and is sometimes successful. He's also a husband and a new dad. Stick around for the highs and lows and you can say you knew him when.

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What I'm Thankful For

For my faith in God and that I don't have to elaborate on it or hide
it to please my friends.

For my family. The ones I am with and the ones I'm only with in spirit.

For my sons. The best thing(s) I'll ever be responsible for.

For my wife. The prettiest, funniest, smartest woman I know.

For my friends. The ones I see all the time and the ones I only get to
see online.

For my job. Everyday, there are more and more people that don't have
one.

For my house. We don't own it, and won't be in it much longer, but for
now it keeps the rain off and the cold out.

For my iPhone. It may seem silly, but it's the way I'm able to share
this with you, sitting in my in-law's living room, holding Remy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Posted 5 days ago

A Mama's Boy

Judah is a momma's boy. I know this, because when I get home in the afternoon, he is awfully glad to see me, smiles and laughs and then immediately climbs into his mother's lap.

When I take him for walks by ourselves, there is usually a period of negotiation where I guarantee him some alone time with Mom in exchange for not taking her with us on the walks.

In the mornings when I get up, change his diaper, start breakfast and turn on his cartoons, I ask him how he slept and he responds quizzically, "Mom?" while looking around to see when she'll be joining us.

I feign hurt feelings over this occasionally, but in truth I don't blame him. Ella's a lot cooler than I am (thankfully, Remy hasn't figured that out yet) and he's spent much more time with her than he has with me (stay-at-home-mom and all). Also, I can sympathize, 'cause I'm more than a bit of a momma's boy myself.

I love my father, and as I've grown, he and I have grown closer (something about having to start trimming your ear and nose hair does that to you, I think), but it was Mom that I went to with (unfortunately for her) all my questions as a kid, and it's still her cell phone that I ring when I wanna chit chat. I ask about Dad, and at least a few times a month, ask her to put him on the phone, but I call her.

Today is that beautiful woman's birthday. Of course, a gentleman (and a son who doesn't want to get coal in his stocking at Christmas) could never divulge the lady's age, but let's suffice it to say that she's far too young to have two grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren. She's too young for it, but she does a darn fine job of it. "Oma", as she is known amongst the young'uns, is not only a good cook and a good listener, but she's probably the hippest grandma I know (which is why she had to come up with a funky name). She'll provide some tech support for your busted iPod or crashed computer, then beat you blind at cards, all while stirring a big pot of chili for the family get together.

She made our house the "cool" house when Jena and I were growing up, even though she'd never have allowed drinking parties or something like so many parents do trying to win their kids over. She didn't need gimmicks, she was just COOL. And she still is.

So, I'm alright with Judah being a momma's boy. I was, still am I guess. When you've got a mom as awesome as I (and Judah) do, it's hard not to be.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I hope it's a wonderful one.

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Posted 21 days ago

Conversations with Judah: Eggs

An ongoing series of conversations with my son, the Genius.

Judah: (after breaking several eggs on the kitchen floor) Eggs. Broke.

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Posted 1 month ago

One Man's Usefullness

I can't hammer a nail (not if you expect it to be straight). I can barely fix a flat and change my oil (and even then, I have to borrow some wheel ramps). I don't hunt, fish or carry heavy things. I am not what you might call a "man's man".

And yet, every now and then for a few brief moments, I get to feel like a guy that knows a thing or two that other people can use. It happens when I go home and spend 30 minutes cleaning junk off my Aunt's computer or installing the latest browser/OS update/Casual game. She feels delighted and I feel useful.

It happened yesterday (and today) when a former professor needed my advice on his TV problems. He's got a lovely 30" HDTV that he purchased in 2005 (on my suggestion) that has served him faithfully until the last few months. The color went completely haywire. Suddenly Charlie Gibson was a distasteful shade of green and the "NCIS" team was disturbingly blue...and I don't mean depressed.

On my way home yesterday, I spoke with him, running down the checklist of things I imagined it could be. My first guess was slightly disconnected video cables. Our Apple TV is exposed atop our entertainment center and occasionally a little elf (named Judah) will unplug the video cables for us. This leads to new and interesting visuals from our friends on "Word World" and "Sid the Science Kid." Having fixed this problem myself a few times, I was pretty sure that would fix HIS problems too, but it's rather hard to get behind his TV (darn you, built in entertainment cabinet!) so we explored a few other possibilities. Speakers not close enough to the screen to be a problem (it doesn't happen as much anymore, because almost everything is magnetically shielded now, but it can still happen), uniform color issues from all video components (so it's not just a bad DVD player or satellite box) etc. etc. Once my list had been checked and checked again, we agreed that the cables were our last resort. This morning, I got the email back that (after a back breaking removal of the TV from the cabinet) the cables were indeed the issue and beautiful color is once again my friend's to enjoy.

It wasn't really a big deal for me. I was driving home, so the conversation didn't cut into any family/personal time. I don't live within 100 miles of my friend, so I didn't even have to politely offer to help him move the TV! All I did, was listen to the problem and pass on a little technological info I've picked up along the way.

And it made me feel like a useful man.

To whom do I owe my techno know-how? Three parties are largely responsible and all are about to get big props:

1. Mom - Working for the local school board, she was exposed (and therefore I was exposed) to whatever the latest computer tech was. I remember well playing with the menu driven OS pre-Windows. There were 10 options, three of which Mom would ever let us choose (I don't think SHE even knew what the other 7 would do) but I couldn't get enough. A few years later, we got a computer in our home (Win 3.1 Baby!) and a full-on geek was born.

2. Chris - My cousin is several years older than me. When I was seven or eight, he was driving around in a restored 60's Mustang. When I was just getting ready to learn to drive, he had already been installing car stereos and such for years. He taught me everything I know about wiring, clean installation (which applies far outside the car) and acoustics. I was the first kid in my class with surround sound in his room, always had one of the best "bang for your buck" car systems, and was handy to have around if your speaker blew or your amp gave out.

3. The Radio Center - My first "real" job was as a DJ. From running the board and intro-ing country tunes, my job expanded to include voice production and a lot of computer/website/system maintenance. It also included the ability to bring home lots of spare parts. I rebuilt my secondary computer about ten times in the three years I worked at the radio station and learned more about the guts of electronics than I ever imagined I would need to know.

This skill set has been great for me. It helped get me the job at the Radio Center, then helped get my current job. But the number one thing it does for me is keep me from ever feeling useless. When the neighbor is building a porch for his wife or a treehouse for his kid, I don't feel inadequate. I just smile. Because when his network crashes or his stereo goes on the fritz, I'll be there. Then I'll get him to build MY kid a treehouse!

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Posted 1 month ago

Most Changed

My high school reunion was this past weekend. Out of the small class of 51, about 30 showed up with their spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends etc. We did the standard, voting on "Least Changed Boy/Girl", "Most Changed Boy/Girl."

Physically, most of us hadn't changed that much. Maybe we're a few pounds heavier or lighter, maybe our hair is a little darker/lighter/thinner/gone. Maybe we dress a little nicer or carry ourselves with a little more seriousness now that we're legitimate members of the tax paying world. But it was easy to see the star athlete, the nerd, the cheerleader, the class president inside these almost 30 year old men and women.

But fundamentally, we are all different. The ten years that have passed since we walked across the stage for graduation have changed us. We're wiser, less naive, maybe a little jaded, definitely more focused on our goals than on our popularity or social standing. We make adult decisions everyday: which bill to pay and which to let slide, whether to take the higher paycheck or the larger benefit package, to have a baby now, or hold off until we're a little more financially stable. We've largely let go of the petty misunderstandings and differences that kept us from being friendly ten years ago. We've grown up.

Sunday afternoon I watched another group and realized the same can be said of them. They don't make the silly mistakes that have held them back in the past. They aren't worried about beauty contests or which clique they're supposed to be seen with. They show up everyday and make adult decisions. They work hard and are focused on their long-term goals. The New Orleans Saints have grown up.

We heard rumors about this growth in training camp. That this year, things were different. Things have been different before. Things were different when we got Archie Manning. Things were different when we drafted Ricky Williams. Things were different when Jim Haslett was focusing on defense. Things were different when Reggie Bush arrived. But suddenly, things really are different.

The Saints I grew up with would have lost the game at Philly. The tears we Saints fans have cried over big early leads blown by sloppy defensive play could fill the Superdome.

The Saints I grew up with would have lost the game at Buffalo. Take away Drew Brees and all our receivers? That has always equaled a loss.

The Saints I grew up with would have crumbled against the expectations of 4-0. The mighty Giants behind the golden arm of Manning the Younger would have laid us low, and reminded us why we're the 'Aints, not Championship contenders.

The Saints I grew up with would have laid down after that terrible start last night. 4 interceptions from Brees? 4??? Fumbles galore? The complete inability to handle this Wildcat offense that the national media is so enamored with? We should have been done.

But we weren't. With Saints "fans" jumping off the bandwagon by the dozens, Drew Brees told his head coach to put it on him. To put up or shut up. Payton gave him a chance, and Brees put up. He put his money (and his golden arms) where his mouth was and got into the endzone. The bandwagon jumpers slowed a bit, uneasy at this continued attempt at victory. But most of 'em kept jumping off.

Then the real change in the Saints showed itself. The defense, long the laughing stock of the NFL (and professional sports as a whole) stood tough. The Saints lauded offense sputtered, and the defense stood strong. Cutting drives short, forcing field goals instead of TD's and even scoring themselves when Brees and the offense couldn't get it done. 

Darren Sharper is easy to point to as the difference, and Holy Moses knows he's a major one, but it extends through the rest of the secondary, the linebacking corp, the defensive line and into the special teams. We've now got leaders, real leaders on both sides of the ball. Men who don't accept failure as an option. Men who don't know how to lay down. Men who will win, if they can get others to follow them.

The Saints have grown up. And I'm gonna follow them all the way to February and another trip to Miami. Are you with us?

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Posted 1 month ago

Movie Reviews by Joel: The Wolf Man (1941)

As a kid, I always loved horror movies but was also a big scaredy-cat. The classic Universal Monster Movies were a way that I could have my cake and still get some sleep.

Having already seen the Scorecese version of "Cape Fear" as well as "The Terminator" (terrifying the first time I saw it) my Mom rented the 1930's "Frankenstein" and Lon Chaney Jr.'s "The Wolf Man." 

My opinions of "Frankenstein" have been so coloured by my experiences with "Young Frankenstein" that it's hard to remember what it felt like the first time I saw that one. But, "The Wolf Man" is still fresh. I loved it immediately. The atmosphere created by the claustropbic (and foggy) set design, the doomed man performance by Chaney and the easy to remember and impossible to forget rhyme all are etched in my memory.

Today, as part of the Halloween season and in honor of the latest trailer for the impending remake starting Benicio Del Toro, I rewatched my beloved monster movie. Everything is there even 20 years later. It's still moody, still just a little cheesy and still 100% enjoyable.

Judah and Remy are still a little young for monsters, but when they're ready, I know what their first will be.

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Posted 1 month ago

1999

1999.

Some people remember it as the year Prince likes to party as if it were (diagram THAT sentence). Some people remember it as the year Snake Plisken escaped from New York (remember when '99 was "the future"?). Others remember it as the year George Lucas raped their childhood. I remember all those things, but I also remember my first new car. My first personal computer (our family had one for ages, but this one was MINE). But mostly, I remember it as the year I graduated High School.

Growing up in North Louisiana in the southern equivalent of a factory town (a paper mill town), I went to private school my whole life. This wasn't fancy pants private school like some of you may imagine. It was
mostly a way to ensure that we wouldn't be taught about birth control or too much about evolution. It was also to help ensure we'd have small classes and one on one time with teachers.

My Senior class was tied for the largest class ever from PVA (Prairie View Academy) with 51 students. With just 51 in our class, we could throw a party and actually expect (and sometimes get) everybody to show
up. Obviously we had cliques, (how can you not if you have more than three or four people together) but our cliques were mostly accepting of each other and there was a lot of crossover.

This weekend is our tenth anniversary. For the past two or three weeks, I've been trying to decide how that makes me feel. For one, a little old. It's been 10 years since I was a punk kid, raring to get out of my parents house and start my "real life" in college. It's been 10 years since I started college. Naive and excited about the wide world before me with the "big city" of Ruston as my playground.

10 years ago, I was a pre-law student.
10 years ago, I listened to rap music almost exclusively.
10 years ago, I'd never really been in love.
10 years ago, I didn't like beer.
10 years ago, the most important point on my resume was "National Honor Society member".
10 years ago, I'd never acted in a play outside of my local community theatre.
10 years ago, I'd never left the country.
10 years ago, I'd never lived alone.
10 years ago, I'd never paid rent.
10 years ago, I was nobody's "daddy".
10 years ago, I was a kid.

A lot changes in 10 years.

On the one hand, it seems as if high school was just yesterday. On the other, it seems as if I've lived a dozen lives since then.

I can't wait to see my classmates. Those people that I shared that long ago life with. I imagine that their list of "ten years ago" is
similarly entertaining. I can't wait to talk about it over a cold beer.

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Posted 1 month ago

Conversations With Judah: Snacktime

Part of an ongoing series of conversations with my son, the wise-
cracker.

Joel: (on noticing Judah chewing on his train tracks) Son, are you so
hungry you need to eat your train tracks?

Judah: (smiling) Yes.

I swear, he doesn't get it from me.

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Posted 1 month ago

Why the iPhone Has Ruined Me for Every Other Phone

@montaignejns Made an interesting statement last week on Twitter: Just looking at my iPhone apps. I actually have 8 apps that I use more than the phone "app". That got me thinking, how much do I use my iPhone as a phone?

After some careful consideration, not that much.

Since this summer, I've been jailbreaking my phone. This gives me access to a few "non-Apple approved" apps as well as some interesting functions that the standard iPhone doesn't allow. It's also made me even more productive with the little computer in my pocket.

My Top Ten Most Used apps:

1. Facebook: I am an unabashed, unashamed Facebook-aholic. I've loved Social Networking since the first time I signed into Facebook and MySpace (why wasn't this stuff around when I was actually IN college?), but what Facebook has evolved into is so cool. It's the hub for your online life. A place to catch up with friends, play games, waste time, express yourself, share photos with family and "poke" people that you otherwise would never interact with. The 3.0 version of the iPhone app is only lacking push notifications to make it the best app on the iPhone.

2. qTweeter: Jailbreak app for instant tweeting/Facebook status posting. It runs in the background so you can post from any application.

3. Tweetie 2: recently updated version of the best Twitter app for iPhone. It's fast, it's pretty and it just works. Three things you want when you're talking about instant gratification social networking.

4. Messages: The text message/SMS app built into the iPhone is not only really well built, but is the #1 way I communicate with family and friends. Text messages are quicker, less intrusive and more efficient than actual phone calls. Unless I'm driving, this is probably the way I'm going to answer or pose a question to you during the normal business day.

5. Byline: A Google Reader app, that turns a great service (Google Reader) into a perfect mobile news service. It's got offline caching (although with the iPhone I'm almost never really offline), integration with my folders, labels etc. as well as the ability to email links or open them in Mobile Safari. If you read more than a couple of websites, I strongly recommend Google Reader. If you read those websites on your iPhone or iPod Touch, I strongly recommend Byline.

6. 1Password: One of the most brilliant programs for Mac has a perfect mobile translation and it keeps me from using 12345 for all my passwords. If you use a Mac, get the desktop version of this immediately.

7. Trip Cubby: The first (and one of the few) apps I actually paid money for. This tracks mileage for work reimbursement or tax deduction purposes. While my needs and use of the program are simple, it's got a lot to offer to anyone who travels for work or charity.

8. ESPN Radio: Before the iPhone, I had three things playing in my radio. 1. A mix CD, probably Beatles or Zeppelin, 2. Local talk radio, or 3. ESPN Radio. It's the only reason I know anything about baseball, the way I can ever have any kind of conversation with my wife about soccer, and the source of most of my football knowledge (which is extensive). This app cuts my ties to the fuzzy AM station that carries ESPN near me, and keeps me from searching the dial while travelling. Now, I just plug in the iPhone and choose whether I want the stock national show, a different local show from roughly 15 major markets or one of the myriad of podcasts available from ESPN. Genius.

9. Wikipanion: I've joked on more than one occasion that the iPhone is the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" made real. This app makes that true. Sure, Wikipedia can't always be trusted as accurate. Sure, you should balance anything you read there against your own good judgement. But if you wanna settle an argument over the year in which the New England Patriots were formed, or how many Bond movies Connery appeared in, this is the app to do it.

10. What's On: My grandfather had a TV Guide. My father has an onscreen guide brought to him by his cable company. I (he of no cable, over-the-air, watch-it-online notoriety) have "What's On". It allows me to create multiple "locations" so that when I'm in Baton Rouge at the in-laws' place, I don't have to hunt for the newspaper or wait for the TV Guide channel to roll around to something interesting. I know what's playing and on what channel wherever I am, pretty much instantaneously. You can even set push reminders in the app for shows you don't want to miss. Handy for a man that needs to remember when the good college football games start.

Alright, so in honesty, I probably use my "phone" app more than the last three or four on this list. That wasn't really the point of this post. The point is that while I could find a gadget to give me most of these functions other than the iPhone (a laptop would do just about any of them) I already have my phone with me. And THAT is the real beauty of the iPhone (or, to be fair, any full-featured smartphone). You are tethered to the phone (most people anyway) why not make it as useful as possible? 

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Posted 1 month ago

Conversations with Judah: Sun/Moon

An ongoing series of conversations with my son, the genius.

Judah: (watching Planet Earth time-lapse footage) Sun! Moon!

Ella: Judah, when does the moon come out?
Judah: Night.
Ella: But, Judah, did you know that the Sun and Moon aren't really moving? We are. Did you know that?
Judah: (without a moment's thought) Yes.

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Posted 1 month ago