Boom Boom’s Life Lessons #3

Religion is a sensitive subject for many.  For the rest it’s a very sensitive subject.  For Boom Boom it was a fabric woven through his life.

Boom Boom was born and raised Catholic.  He attended mass EVERY Sunday and almost always once more during the week.  He was an usher at most services helping out wherever he could.  He joined the Holy Name Society (a men’s group involved in many worthy causes within the parish) and rose to the presidency.   When the Catholic Church worldwide realized (finally) that fewer men were entering the priesthood, they anointed a chosen few to a level of Minister Extraordinaire (a layman’s version of priesthood with a limited role).  Boom Boom was the first one of a chosen few in his parish for this role.  He gleefully accepted.

But.  But, Boom Boom only showed the way to the church and his devout faith.  He didn’t shout the way.  He delivered it in his actions, not words.

His offspring continued with their devotion to lesser or nonexistent degrees as they reached adulthood and had children of their own.  He never ever suggested that any straying from the strict devotion that he practiced was a wrong turn in their lives.

The willingness to sacrifice, the willingness to help, and the willingness to have unyielding faith in your beliefs, whatever they may be, was the silent message he sent to all.  That message has great application in anything worth pursuing.

As with many lessons it took a while to fully understand and appreciate this one.  It is now much appreciated.  Stay strong in your beliefs and keep the faith!

Strange Bedfellows Indeed.

In the fall of 1992, some 26 years ago, The Cosby Show created by Bill Cosby ended an incredible eight year run.  It spent five years as the number one rated television show.  Bill Cosby starred in it too as Dr. Cliff Huxtable, nicknamed  the “Greatest Television Dad.”

In the fall of 1996, some 22 years ago, one Eldrick Woods(call him Tiger) “created” on the golf course by his father began an incredible run on the PGA tour.  He spent five straight years from 2005 till 2010 as the number one ranked golfer in the world.  TV ratings for golf doubled on the weekends he was in contention for any ol tournament and tripled if it was a major.

In the fall of 1998, a 33-year-old partner, and rising star in the law firm Kirkland and Ellis named one Brett Kavanaugh, left to join Kenneth Starr as Associate Council in the office of Independent Council.  Kavanaugh was a principal author of the Starr Report to Congress, released in September 1998, on the Monica LewinskyBill Clinton sex scandal.

Now fast forward to on goings in this week.

Disgraced

A now 81-year-old Bill Cosby was sentenced to no less than three years and up to 10 in the Pennsylvania state prison system.  He was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting a then Temple women’s basketball coach in 2004.  He was deemed a “sexually violent predator” by the presiding judge.   Over 60 women came forward in the last many years to publicly accuse Cosby of one assault or another.  The statue of limitations expired on 59 of them.

A now 42-year-old Tiger Woods completed a journey that has him back on top of the golf world.  He won the final PGA tour event and was welcomed on the Ryder Cup team.

Comeback Complete

His fall from the top started on Thanksgiving night 2009 when his texts to a mistress was discovered by his then wife.  His fall from grace included no less than 11 women coming forward with tawdry tales of their trysts with Tiger.  Rehab for sexual addiction was followed by a loud divorce.   His confidence was shaken and his invincibility taken.  Severe back troubles led to multiple surgeries and a long physical rehab.  A detour on the rehab road came when he was arrested for DUI.  Blood tests found a medicine cabinet and a trace of marijuana in his system.

The Whole Truth

A now 53-year-old Brett Kavanaugh sits very close to a seat on the US Supreme Court.  His ascension to the door step of the number one court in the land via various higher level judge appointments makes for one impressive resume’.  However the star of the Starr report about Clinton’s sexual scandal must sit patiently as a star witness, Dr Christine B. Ford, testifies about her recollection of an alcohol infused supposed sex scandal of his own.   He then gets his turn to testify.  She contends that a then 17-year-old Kavanaugh sexually assaulted and may have even attempted to rape her at a party in 1982.

Cosby’s legacy is rightfully in ruins.  Tiger’s rebound is rejoiced.   What is Judge Kavanaugh’s future?

The Cosby Show was a sitcom that coined TV ratings gold.   Tiger’s aura is a reality sports show that coins TV ratings gold.  Tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee testimony will be a reality TV show that no sitcom writer would dream to write.

The Cosby Show ended each week to the tune of “Kiss Me.”  Trust me.  How will tomorrow end?

It would take an insanely accomplished, confident producer in Hollywood to sell this script.  Image result for pictures of harvey weinsteinSomeone like Harvey Weinstein.

 

 

 

A Feather in One’s Cap.

For a deed or job well done you may have heard your mom, a mentor, or a “report to” of yours applaud your work.  Perhaps you have been told to “put a feather in your cap.”  High praise indeed that feather is.  It’s a make-believe symbol of honor and achievement.  Or, way back when people did add a feather to one’s head wear.

But what is the origin of such a phrase? Well, as it is with many old school or old world expressions, that is a subject of some debate.

Way back in 1599 an English writer and traveler Richard Hansard noted that Hungarians should only wear a feather in their cap if they had killed a Turk.  The more feathers in your hat the more dead Turks.

The Native American tradition of adding a feather to the head-dress of any warrior for his bravery is well-known and well documented.

However, if you though as an American child it was a cool thing to recite/sing Yankee Doodle it may not have been after all.

Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni’.

It turns out that the word Yankee was used by the Brits to describe the naive or inexperienced.  Doodle was a “polite” way of inferring dumb or simpleton.  Simpletons were also called noodles.  Macaroni was slang for a dandy or fop.  A dandy or fop was how someone who paid far more attention to their appearance than to their substance was known.  That is, just by putting a feather in your cap doesn’t yet make you accomplished at the task at hand.

In short London mocked the revolutionary militia from day one of the uprising.  I guess the Ugly Americans got the last laugh.

As the late Paul Harvey would bellow,  “and now you know the rest of the story.”

 

Meet Abby Roux and her Doggedly Optimistic Look at Life.

Scroll down if you dare after reading this brief post.  Somebody’s watching.  There she is.  Meet Abby Roux.  This beauty of a four-year old Vizsla is the Boom Boom’s Room exclusive and official mascot and watchdog She has to pull double duty for us at the outset, budgets being what they are you know!  Expect her to bust into the Room at times with her tail in full wag to give us a whimsical look at life as she sees it.  Her first thought begs your interest below.

Old age and toilet paper are a lot alike.  The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!

Abby and Boom Boom shook on the deal last evening.

Welcome on board Abby.

 

 

Let Mike the Tiger Geaux! Neaux!

A well-meaning, California-based group has collected 35k plus petition signatures encouraging the powers that be to let Mike VII the Tiger, the live two-year old LSU mascot, go free.  Read more here.  This isn’t new news.  The group Care2, which claims 40 million members, started a similar petition after Mike VI lost a long battle with cancer about 18 months ago.  Mike VII replace Mike VI last August.

The Boom Boom Room has a few thoughts about the Care2 initiative if you care to read them below.

  1.  This live tiger was born in captivity and rescued due to poor living conditions and violations by the previous owner.
  2. According to animal experts he has never been in the wild and cannot be released into it since he has never had to hunt for food and therefore could not survive.
  3. His habitat cost over three million to build.  It covers over 1.5 acres.  It has an indoor area as well as an expansive outdoor area.
  4. The outdoor area includes a cool pool.  The indoor area has a “warm” area and a “cooling” area.  He can choose his body temp whether he is inside or out essentially.
  5. The LSU vet examines him regularly and is on call 24/7 making his health a great priority.
  6. Vet students care for the animal daily.  This gives them an ongoing learning opportunity.  This gives Mike great attention.
  7. His diet is better than yours and mine.
  8. LSU no longer encourages or forces the animal into a smaller mobile cage to parade him around the field on game day.
  9. The average lifespan of these glorious animals increases by over 33% when placed in this type of environment.
  10. The worldwide wild tiger population is and has been under siege due to poaching.  Skins can fetch several thousand dollars in the black market.

Maybe Care2 should care more about that illegal poaching that kills thousand of tigers each year than one tiger who lives a pretty pampered existence.  And, isn’t it easy to “sign” a petition online?  “Sign here if you are against caging live tigers.”  Duh.  Thirty five thousand signatures from an organization that boasts 40 million members sounds pretty darn indifferent too.  Aren’t there many trees that still need a hug?

Mike sez, “I am tiger, hear me happily roar.”

 

Welcome to Boom Boom’s Room

Welcome to Boom Boom’s Room.

Pull up a chair.  However, it’s recommended that you sit on the edge of your seat.  Why?  It’s because today’s world is very polarized and driven by emotion and spin.  Too often people are either for or against something and their minds are closed.  Robust discussion and great debate, once deemed healthy, are now considered “offensive.”

It’s easy to say the obvious.  Too many go along to get along.  It’s harder to think beyond the surface, use logic, think critically, question conventional wisdom, and speak your mind.  That is exactly what we do here.  We have something to say, and say it we will.  And, we hope that you will too.

So what’s with this name-boomboomsroom.com?   Boom Boom was my father’s nickname bestowed upon him by my niece and oldest nephew long ago.  Thankfully, it stuck.  And his teachings (my life’s lessons) have stuck with me.  So, if it’s news, sports, or learnings from life, it’s here and it’s unabashed.  It’s that spirit that drives me.  It’s time to say and do what needs to be said and done.

Lefty and Shorty?  Glad you asked.  You’ll meet them soon enough.

Engage. Enrage. Enjoy.

Boom Boom’s Life Lessons

One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life.   He could say so much by saying so little.   A statement at just the right moment resonated in my young, eager eardrums.  How I interpreted or applied it was up to me.  No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.

My intent is to simply drop them here from time to time for reflection in your life.  Perhaps you can benefit as I have.  Whether all of the quotes were originally his(the vast majority are), or if he was himself inspired by a few along the way isn’t relevant.  The message is.  Our first one of many is below.   Enjoy.  Engage.

“Champions sweat when no one else is watching.”

Perhaps this quote will inspire you to share a story or a thought with a loved one.