Great Start

Astros Fire Ed Wade and Tal Smith

Why I'm not an Astros fan

I grew up in Houston.  I've lived here most of my life.  I haven't wanted to, but that's the case.  During that whole time I've been an Astros fan.  That is until this year.

The Astros have had plenty of ups and downs.  They've gone to the World Series and then plummeted to where they are now.  I was fine with them being horrible for a long time, until just recently.  Being horrible isn't why I am not a fan of them.  Moving to the American League isn't a problem with me.  None of the guys on the team are a problem either.  I stopped being a fan when they made my son cry.

Let me explain.  The Astros were horrible this year.  We knew they would be, but we went to games anyways.  We took my son and we told him about the players.  He really latched onto Hunter Pence and liked him.  Then, midway through the year they announced the team was going to be sold and had a buyer.  I thought this wasn't so big a deal and could be really good.  After all, Drayton Mclain has done a horrible job recently.  He fired the general manager that got the team to the World Series and they've gotten worse every year since.  In fact we've even sent of all of our best players.  Most of the time they've gone to the Phillies, coincidentally where our current general manager came from.

I thought to myself hey, maybe they'll spend some money and improve the team.  Instead I watch as they dismantle it.  They essentially announce they are giving up for the next few years and building a young team.  I think to myself that Hunter Pence, at 28, could be a good veteran to keep around and build the team around, so I'm good with this.  Then, with the new owner's approval they proceed to screw it all up.  Apparently he wants the budget around 100 million or something else low.  With Carlos Lee sucking up 1/5 of that we're looking at a tall order.  Do do this they get rid of every good player they have on the team, including Pence.  When my son heard about this he stared crying.  I swore off the team at that moment.  From them on I haven't watched a game or done anything with the team.  I started rooting for the Rangers.  That worked out a lot better at least.

Moving forward the Astros can win me back.  If I see this new owner actually making an effort to be good then it will be a start.  Firing the whole management office at the Astros would be a great first step.  Doing whatever you have to do to dump Carlos Lee and swearing to never make a mistake like signing a washed up player believing you can make them good again would be a good second step.

Maybe someday the Astros will be worth following.  They don't have to be good, but the team should at least be making an effort.  If the ownership and management is going to act like they don't care then I don't know why I should either.

Movember

It's Movember, the month formerly known as November, which is dedicated to growing moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men's health. I have joined the movement and will be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My moustache (Mo) will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds for cancers affecting men.
Why am I so passionate about men’s health?
* 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
* A man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 2.2 minutes
* 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
* 24% of men are less likely to go the doctor compared to women
Please support my efforts by making a donation at http://mobro.co/RobertSterner.
You can even write a check payable to “Movember Foundation”, reference my name and Registration Number 1988196 and send it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726
If you’d like to find out more about the type of work you'd be helping to fund by supporting Movember, take a look at the Programs We Fund section on the Movember website: http://us.movember.com/about


Here I am clean shaven.  A retarded looking mustache should be coming.

Movember is a registered 501 (c)(3) charity, donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

ETBU, Year 10

We recently went up to Marshall for Kendra's 10 year college reunion.  On the way up Levi asked Kendra for his sun glasses.  She ended up giving him hers.  He thought it was hilarious and we got some pictures.

When we got there we went to a talent show.  Levi wasn't as happy about that.

There are lots of oak trees on campus, so Levi took up acorn collecting.

Several of Kendra's friends came up and brought their kids.  here's Levi with Peyton, Kendalyn, and Josiah.

Waiting for the parade.

Still waiting

Playing with Josiah and his Sister after the parade.

Oooh, candy.

Group shot of all of Kendra's friends and their kids.

Another shot at the football game later.  Levi is being lifted up in the background.

During the football game I was watching the UT game on a portable TV and Levi was bouncing while Kendra caught up with friends.  It all worked out pretty well and the weather was great.

Later we went to a pizza plays that had a play room.  Levi and Kendalyn played some air hockey.

Then later they ran around some outside the pizza place

The next day we went to Kendra's friend Michelle's house to see her horses.

Levi wasn't so sure.  At first I thought he was going to be like his mommy and afraid of horses.

Then he saw Kendalyn riding Snickers.

And Peyton.

And now he wanted to ride.

And he liked it.

On a date.

Brother keeping an eye out.

Then we drove down Stagecoach road.  This is an old road in essentially the same shape it was in when stage coaches would drive down it.  The road actually wore down and is below ground level.  It is of course said to be haunted.

Levi in his cool shirt.

Here he is in the cape Kendra's friend made for him.  Super Levi.