Been thinking a lot ...

Throughout the day, I have a number of thoughts (I wonder just how many) and think about writing. But by this time of the day, after yet another long day of work, I'm usually ready to relax with some TV and/or PS3 and climb into bed. So I don't blog about all of those ideas. But I'm in a writing mood, so here goes ...

1. Congratulations, Alan Walker. Alan's TCU Horned Frogs (or Horney Toads, as I like to call them) whooped my Tulsa Golden Hurricane's tails tonight, 35-21. With four turnovers, the game actually could have been a lot worse. I lost. I admit it. Not proud of it. But my season is not over. And, Alan, remember you have to come to Tulsa next season!

2. Was listening to some old school music, and by "old school" I mean my early college days, and came across some lyrics that really made me think.

Pardon me while I throw up.
I guess some people never grow up.
What happened to the salvation you claimed?
It breaks my heart to see how much you've changed.

I have my share of old friends who have changed greatly. When I look back on where we came from to where we are today, sometimes I admit I'm shocked. And I've done my fair share of chewing on some butts for some very poor decisions. But strangely hearing this song, "What Have You Been Doing Lately?" by one of my favorite bands, Relient K, didn't make me thing of old friends. It made me think of myself and how much that chorus can apply to me today.

I can't even tell you how many times I've been to church in the past year since all of that crap went down at church. Seldom would be a generous way of describing my church-going routine. I'm not one of these people who believes you can only get close with God by going to church, but I also don't undervalue its importance. We've talked time and time again about getting back in church, and I have a ton of excuses that I keep using. Eventually, I'll get fed up with the way my life is going, and all of the dumb and stupid things that I do, and find a new church home. Maybe then I won't break my own heart by how much I've changed.

3. I'm breaking my own rule here, because this is supposed to be about Strictly Sports. But I want to talk a little politics for a second. I caught a few minutes of tonight's third and final presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. Here we are, 19 days away from the big vote, and I have no clue whose side I'm on. Honestly, I feel like writing a long blog on this topic as Election Day gets closer, but right now, neither one of these candidates appeals to me. I've changed a lot since the idealistic kid who cast his first presidential vote for George W. Bush eight years ago. Heck, I've changed a lot since voting for Bush again in 2004. They say hindsight is 20/20, but if I had those decisions to make all over again, I'm not sure I'd do it again.

Which is why I'm so hesitant to vote for McCain. This isn't the Maverick who ran against Bush in 2000. Although McCain had a great line in tonight's debate -- "Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush you should have run four years ago." -- there's no denying he has become more Bush-like since he ran against him in 2000. McCain gained a reputation for being a maverick because he's moderate and has never hesitated to take on the Republican Party conservatives. But because of that, he couldn't gain the support of the base. To an extent, he still hasn't seized the base -- that's Sarah Palin's job -- but he's certainly veered more to the right since 2000. Meanwhile, I've veered more to the left. After being a staunch conservative as a youth, I now consider myself more moderate.

Don't get me wrong. By no means am I a liberal. And voting for Barack Obama is likely not going to happen. His record is nearly radical. He's much farther to the left of center, where the majority of Americans are, than McCain is to the right. It's not even close. It has nothing to do with race and nothing to do with party. I have no problem voting for a Democrat if he stands for the same things that are important to me. But what is important to me? That's certainly changed in the past eight years.

I still am anti-abortion. I still believe in the power of the American people and would rather limit the role of government. All of these are conservative tendencies taht are engrained in me. However, I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm a 26-year-old with a wife, a mortgage and a 401(k) that has lost nearly 70 percent of the money I've put into it this year. The economy is more important to me than it ever has been before. Why? Because it's my money now. That's why. I believe all of us should be concerned about the state of the economy. In my eyes, it's the No. 1 factor in this election. And historically, Republican presidents haven't fared very well with the economy. Just look how badly things have gone in the past eight years under Bush. Yes, there are some external factors like 9/11 and the Iraq War, but in my lifetime the Democrats have done a much better job with the economy than the Republicans.

Since neither McCain nor Obama really get me going, there's also the third-party candidate. I haven't done just a ton of research on Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate for president. However, I do think he has good ideas on the economy, the war in Iraq, health care and taxes. In my eyes, Bob Barr is the best candidate for president. The problem I have with voting for him is I do not want to waste my vote. I've heard the argument time and time again, and I'll make the same one. I want to cast a vote that will impact the presidential election. Voting for Bob Barr, while he may be the best candidate, isn't likely to have a major impact. I believe only about 2 percent of those polled in the country are going to vote for him. Is that really a vote well spent?

With less than three weeks to go, count me among the many Americans who remain undecided upon where their vote will go. At least I still have time to make an informed, intelligent decision.

Before and after

So I've been growing out my hair and my beard. I honestly can't remember the last time I'd had a trim of either one.

I decided, randomly, out of the blue, that I wanted to grow my beard out until New Year's. Just was curious to see how long it could get. The wife, though obviously not the most pleased by my decision, struck up a compromise with me. Grow the beard, but cut the hair. Didn't have to be totally short, but at least get a trim. At least look professional. Or the most professional possible with an extraordinarily long beard.

Well, today was the day set aside to get that first haircut as part of the bargain. Instead of just getting a trim, though, I decided to go with something completely different. "Short," I told the stylist when I sat down in the chair. "How about this?" I asked her as I pointed out a picture.

"Wow, that's really short. Going for something totally different?"

As I looked at the picture again, I thought to myself, "Man, that is really short." Luckily, the phone rang. My stylist went to answer it, and I flipped through a few more pages and found a style more fitting. Still short, still different, not quite as drastic, though. Take a look for yourself ...