I have been sending out Christmas cards since my 20s. It’s something we did growing up and it is one of those traditions I am loathe to abandon. Even before I knew that you were supposed to send “Thank You” cards to the sweet little grandmothers who handed me $20 after church just because I was graduating from high school, I knew that sending Christmas cards was polite.
Back home, we taped up the cards we received from friends and family, around the extra-wide door frame leading from our dining room to our living room. And each year, it was filled, inch-to-inch, with cards–most proclaiming some religious sentiment (“Hosana In The Highest! For Unto You A Child Is Born!”) based on the fact that nearly all of our family and most of our close family friends’ families, were church-based. But, the cards were wonders of glitter and poetry and they stuck in my memories almost even more than any gifts I received under the tree.
When you’ve raised nearly $1B in funding from investors, you can start doing things that challenge the status quo–I guess. Although, some would say that true innovators challenge the status quo BEFORE they ever become successful.
Whatever.
If you watch television at all, you’ve no doubt seen this spot by the stationary bicycle company, #Peloton:
If you don’t care to watch the video, basically a woman’s husband/boyfriend/partner gives her a Peloton for Christmas. She ends up using it–a lot–and the next year she makes a video for him (wow, I’m sure he LOVED it) of her using it and thanking him for giving it to her.
I ask my fellow “Men Over 40” if they have EVER given their wife/girlfriend/partner a piece of fitness equipment as a gift?
That’s right, you haven’t. And that’s because you know if you did, you’d get excoriated for it by everyone she knows and these days, everyone she is even remotely connected to on the Internet.
Men “our age” know that a fitness-related gift is the same as suggesting your partner needs to lose weight.
#Amiright?
But now Peloton appears to be trying to right that particular ship by suggesting that not only is it OK, but that’s she’s going to LOVE it.
Feels like a trap.
I reached out to Peloton on Twitter to get their thoughts on this and I’ve apparently gotten lost in the Holiday shuffle. But, as soon as I hear back, I’ll let you all know.
As was reported in my previous blog about dog cruciate surgery and the chimney fire, it’s been an interesting couple of weeks. These things usually come in 3’s, so I’ve been waiting on the other shoe to drop.
I thought it might be my oldest son’s “potentially” sprained tendons (or ligaments, I can never remember) in his hand from holding the ball for his younger brother who was practicing kicking field goals. Yeah, the younger brother kicked more “hand” than “ball” and we feared the worst. But, after a few days in a brace, he’s going to survive apparently.
I’m now thinking that Tragedy #3 was my beloved #AlabamaCrimsonTide losing its starting QB (again, and again) for good this time. Our boy @Tuaamann took, what appeared to be, a garden-variety sack in his game against Miss St. this weekend and dislocated his hip. It’s worse than it sounds and it’s taking him out of the game for likely a year. It’s the same injury that ended Bo Jackson’s career.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) is carted off the field after getting injured in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
I thought it would be pretty cool if Bo (an Auburn alum) reached out to Tua. For those not from the south, there are fewer heated rivalries than Alabama and Auburn. For Bo to reach out, would go a long way to building some respect.
But eh…who needs respect between football rivalries! That’s what makes it fun.
Still though, it’s extremely unlikely our 3-Star QB is going to get us through the CFB playoffs and even TO the NC, even IF the stars aligned and we somehow got in with one loss.
But, it was a lot of fun watching Tua play. My oldest son (MLI) and I got to see him play this year in Tuscaloosa and that’s something neither of us will ever forget. Mostly because it was 115 degrees in the stadium at kickoff, but still.
Roll Tide Tua. You’ll always be part of the Crimson Nation!
Postulates & Pastimes 