Man, my 11 year-old step-son really made me feel old this morning. Here’s the story…

We’ve been playing the new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game lately. However, before I let him get the game I made him listen to some of my Aerosmith CD’s so he’d have an appreciation of the music before getting into the game. He’s really enjoyed their stuff and has been asking a ton of questions about the band and different songs. So, I’m out washing my car on Thursday and fired up the old boom-box I keep in there to listen to when I’m working in the garage. And, I look up and there’s an old cassette of Aerosmith: Classics Live.

Great album, by the way.

So, this morning I told Tommy I found something for him and went and got the cassette. I handed it to him and then I got this:

“How am I supposed to watch this tape?”

Are you freakin’ kidding me? Has it been that long since cassettes were around? Surely this kid has seen a cassette tape - much less heard music from one?

Needless to say, I’m feeling really old this morning. I need another cup of coffee. But, I will tell you this Aerosmith’s version of “Mama Kin” on Classics: Live rocks!

This weekend marks the final home stand that LSU’s baseball team will play in famed Alex Box Stadium. Next year they move into a new facility just down the street which will be state of the art in college baseball. Everyone is hoping that the character, traditions and magic will transfer - but who knows? 

I grew up in Baton Rouge and unfortunately moved away in 1996. But, I was there in the early days of the Coach Bertman era of LSU baseball. My father was on the Coaches Committee then, so I was very fortunate to get to know the team and every little nook of Alex Box.

I have so many memories of that place and the people. It was a great place and time for a young teenager who loved baseball. Here are a few:

• The first regional trip in ‘85 to Austin, TX - that one started it all.
• Andy Galy’s sweatband that he wore all the time at practice with “OMAHA” on it.
• Riding back on the plane from a trip to play Central Florida when Robbie Smith wore a Goofy hat from Disneyworld all the way home. And, how nervous Eric Hetzel’s mom used to get when he pitched - she couldn’t watch at all and would go hide somewhere.
• I can’t tell you how many hundreds of buckets of balls I soft-tossed to Albert Belle in the batting cage - he was so nice to me.
• I went to every game in the ‘86 season - home and away - except for the final series against Kentucky when I got sick.
• The first trip to Omaha in ‘86 was incredible. I remember missing the bus from the hotel to the stadium and having to catch a ride with Jim Mashek, one of the Advocate reporters. Man my Dad was mad at me.
• Not to mention all of the Kid’s Clinics I attended as a kid there - that was great getting tips from pros from all over the major leagues.

The best thing that I can say about Alex Box is that, at least for me, being a kid in Baton Rouge infatuated with baseball - Alex Box was THE aspiration. It was the goal. I never made it, but I got a taste. That place made the years when I was between 12 and 14 some of the best of my life.

I was clicking through the channels today, ended up on the Military Channel and came across this fascinating story of a Hero:
31st MEU dedicates building to Marine killed in Iraq

 I did a little research and found the rest of the story and background info here:
Sgt. Rafael Peralta, American Hero: Everyone should know his name

Here’s an excerpt:

During the firefight, a yellow fragmentation grenade flew out of the room, landing near Peralta and several fellow Marines. The uninjured Marines tried to scatter out of the way, two of them trying to escape the room, but were blocked by a locked door. At that point, barely alive, Peralta grabbed the grenade and cradled it to his body.

His body took most of the blast. One Marine was seriously injured, but the rest sustained only minor shrapnel wounds. Cpl. Brannon Dyer told a reporter from the Army Times, “He saved half my fire team.”

The thing that got me in this article was this:

Kaemmerer recounts how later on the night of Nov. 15, a friend approached him and said: “You’re still here; don’t forget that. Tell your kids, your grandkids, what Sgt. Peralta did for you and the other Marines today.” Don’t forget. Good advice for all of us.

Take your own opinion of what’s going on and put it to the side for a moment - this guy is a hero. He was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor not long after his death. A side note: the only time a general first salutes someone of lesser rank is when that person is a Medal of Honor recipient. Usually, salutes are initiated by those of lesser rank as a sign of respect to their superiors.

Here’s the Wikipedia source: Sgt. Rafael Peralta.

Footnote: I am not interested in political views regarding the issues with terrorism or Iraq. I always try and separate politics from the Military and the men and women who serve. I hope you do too, because, for the most part, they just do what they’re told - plain and simple. That’s their job. The politicians set the policy and I’m not opening that can of worms.

I spent some time on the water over the Labor Day weekend and got a chance to do a little water skiing. I forgot how much exercise it was. When I was a kid in Louisiana, we’d spent a ton of time on Lake Bruin in the summer and I could ski all day - of course I was a few pounds lighter.

I skied about 2 months ago and was sore for a week. It was a great motivator to get in the gym and start working out again. Sure enough it paid off. I was just a little sore on Tuesday morning. Now I just need to work the cardio so I can stay up a little longer.

I went to see my old friend Tall Paul last night. I had forgotten his unique take on Lyle Lovett’s classic, “If I Had a Boat” - or more affectionately known as “The Boat Song”. Enjoy…

Life is too short. Try something new or set a goal and go for it.

I have been compiling this list for a while now. It is ever-growing. I have accomplished some of them and there are many yet to be accomplished things. I keep this in my Blackberry so when the mood strikes - I can add a new thing to the list. Here it goes:

1. Spend New Year’s Eve on Jost Van Dyke, BVI
2. Swim with dolphins (again)
3. Swim with Whale(s)
4. Ride in a hot air balloon (done 4/28/07)
5. Learn to sail
6. Collect sand from all of the beaches we visit
7. Rope a calf (done)
8. SCUBA dive (I have about 50 dives in my log, but there are many more oceans to explore)
9. Play Augusta National
10. Own a boat - preferably with a lake house
11. Catch a bonefish on a fly
12. Learn to surf
13. Play guitar with Eric Clapton or John Mayer
14. Attend Rock-n-Roll Fantasy Camp