Jacob!

Here are some pictures of Jacob at Halloween and getting into some trouble with his amazing climbing skills... I have attempted now many different ways to post video of him, but I just can't get it to load onto blogger. In the meantime, here's Jacob:

Messy Face:

On Halloween

Climbing:

That's it for now. I will try to get some video up sometime soon.

In the meantime, I will probably try to explain the new video I have uploaded to the left of this post very soon.... That one may also be my first attempt at a bi-lingual post. Anything written in German will also be written in English... we'll see how this goes (I will welcome grammer corrections).

Tortured Logic

I can't believe this country is even debating the topic of torture.

Here's what we know:

1. Torture often leads to "false positives" in the intelligence world. In short, a person will admit to anything, even something that is not true, to stop the infliction of severe pain or fear. The prisoner will especially admit what he or she thinks the torturer wants to hear.

2. Military leaders cringe at the idea of our side torturing because it opens up our troops to being tortured. Having American troops tortured is a bad thing.

3. TORTURE IS IMMORAL!!!

The Geneva Convention was established as a world-wide contract between nations acknowledging that the practice is immoral and agreeing not to do it to each other. If you think about it, that worldwide contract can be boiled down to an application of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The idea that we are dealing with savages who "want to kill innocents" and therefore must torture to "win the war on terror" is a ridiculous argument. It dismisses the importance of maintaining morality in a struggle, lowers our nation to the level of cold-blooded killers and compromises our principals.

I am not willing to compromise our principals. Our values have been our biggest asset in every struggle we have encountered, have kept us above the dirt as much as possible in war and has served as an inspiring example.

It offends me that this country tortures. I know we torture because this debate continues. Our new Attorney General won't say water boarding isn't torture. Bush says we don't torture, but he is evasive and vague when pressed about what he means by torture and has defined torture in various memos (written by YOU Mr. Gonzales) that essentially allow it. (The Geneva Convention is NOT quaint, Mr. Gonzales!!)

A president with any morals would step up and shout to the world, "this country does NOT torture under ANY definition of the term; our methods are and will continue to be moral and we will ALWAYS err on the side of humane treatment. We welcome the Red Cross into EVERY detention area we hold. We will never torture because it is wrong, unjust and unbecoming of a civilized people and because we refuse to win dirty!"

Anyone who suggests that the above statement from a president would embolden the enemy is foolish. If anything, such a statement would make clear that America would hold the moral high ground, which is every bit as strategically important as holding a hill in physical battle. Our enemies would cringe at the reestablishment of American moral authority.

Such a statement would do a lot to re-establish some moral authority and take off some of the smudges from our previously white hat.

For God's sake, why is this even being debated? America is supposed to be better than this.

Interview with Chris

Ladies and Gentlemen, your future pastor!

I moved to Colorado in 1991. My pattern has always been to find a few good friends and stick with those guys. In San Diego I was close to a neighbor named Daniel; in Virginia I met Wally (and later Alex); and in Colorado I met Chris, Tom, James, Book and Baggs. I'll stick to first names and nicknames to protect the innocent.

In Colorado, I pretty well latched onto one group of great guys, made a few additions in college and law school, and haven't looked back. We all went to high school together (except Baggs, who I met at CU) and have remained tight for many years. Just Friday night, four of us sat down and discussed how we all met and talked about some of the good old days.

Things change with time. People move, get married, etc. Chris is studying at Seminary School in Iowa and stopped by for a visit. He stayed at our hotel (i.e. basement) while in town for a wedding. As usual, he had a busy schedule, but I managed to grab hold of him for a few discussions.

Chris passed through town this weekend. You can find his musings by clicking on the "ganglylove" link on this page. I met Chris not long after moving to Colorado from Virginia and he and Tom were the first two friends I made here. I originally intended to create a "mutual post" in a conversation format, but it just felt better having one of our usual conversations and trying to summarize it.

You might say that I sat down with Chris for an impromptu interview Sunday night. My notes are scattered, but I attempt to reconstruct it the best I can. The rest I will summarize from memory. My dad always told me I made good decisions in picking friends, and I always took that as a big compliment. I have the greatest group of friends a guy could have and thought it would be fun to give the reader a taste of what we talk about and how we interact.

Chris is my Guinea pig.

Chris is in the second of three years for Seminary School and will be a full-fledged pastor when it's all said and done. Unfortunately for us, we're not sure he'll ever live close again. But, we hold out hopes.

ON COLORADO AND FRIENDS

Can we expect you back in Colorado?

"I don't know. As far as permanently, No. I hope I can come back, but to pin hopes and dreams on that is not reality. I like that I am in a place in life where my life is an open door. "

You don't have many reasons to come back here locally now that your mom is in Arizona and your dad is in Denver. I don't imagine we'll be seeing you too many more times for these visits.

"Someone once said that the family you are born into is there to prepare you for the family you eventually become a part of. I think we spend most of life with the community we surround yourself with as adults. I have grown to consider my friends like family. I always love spending time with close friends from my life."

You think that even though I used you for your car in High School? I mean, I needed a ride home and you were convenient.

"Hey, I used you for your video game system (Sega Genesis). You think I would have given you a ride if you didn't have a video game system? You think I'm that nice?"

Not really. Afterall, I had to worry whether your piece of junk would get me home in one piece. What kind of car was that anyway? I mean, it had a coat-hanger keeping the muffler on.

"It was a Grenada. 1981 Ford Grenada. The clothes-hanger was probably from 1993."

Some find it weird for high school buddies to stay so tight for so long. Thoughts?

"Most people meet friends for life in college. For me, I went to college at home. Tom, Dave, and James were still around... still close. That's probably why none of us made too many college friends. Although you were tight with Baggs and he's kinda become like the 6th Beatle. It was kinda instantaneous with him."

You were social butterfly in high school.

"I was never all that popular. I had 2 or 3 distinct groups. I helped lead James over to you guys. I had various groups of friends."

ON HANGING OUT / WORK

Free rides for video game fodder, that was a good deal for me.

"I will always remember 'Barkley for three!' (NOTE: video Charles Barkley beat Chris at the last second with an inconceivable three-pointer that sent Chris to the floor with grief circa 1992). We also played a lot of Joe Montana Football and Goldeneye. Those were some real fun times. I loved the 'one shot, one kill' settings on Goldeneye."

Your mom probably wondered what happened to you in those days.

"Mom always wondering where I was. She spent a lot of life wondering that. She worked and I worked."

Speaking of which, it was you who got me my job at KFC.

"Will you ever forgive me for getting you a job there? Then again, you owe me for getting you a job there. You owe me, because if you hadn't gotten a job there you wouldn't have that little guy on your lap there (little Jacob). You wouldn't have met that wonderful wife of yours."

I don't know if you remember, but you were taking me to a Rockies game when I first saw Jen. We stopped at KFC for free drinks for the road when she served me a Pepsi. I had worked at KFC the previous summer and was getting ready to start that summer (1995) as well. I made note to find out more about the cute one who fixed my drink. You gave me the 4-1-1. My first question was, 'how old is she.'

"I knew she was an engineering major at CSU."

I was secretly happy that she was in my age range because she looked possibly too young. I was glad she was my age.

"As opposed to the 17-year-old you asked for the under-12 buffet?"

Yeah, you will never let me live that down! That girl looked 12.

The pranks were the best there.

"I still remember throwing the roto-bird to you. 'Joe, go deep.' April (the manager) was so relieved when you caught it... until you spiked it on the floor."

Do you still do pranks at Seminary?

"I took the doorknob off a friend's door, turned it backwards and then was able to lock her in her room. But, she had actually done me a favor earlier that I wasn't aware of at the time, so I felt bad about that one."

"She got back at me by putting Rainbows and 'Just Married' on the windows of my car when Me and Ryan were going to drive to Colorado. We cleared that off before leaving."

ON SEMINARY SCHOOL

How has school changed the way you think?

"It has challenged the way I think, but given me a lot of answers to why I believe what I believe. It takes the blinders off of my faith. Also, it's helpful to learn of the history and how the bible was translated."

Has the process changed any beliefs?

"I know there has been some change, but can't say exactly what off the top of my head. I have a deeper feeling that community is more important now than before. Communal faith as well. Specifically First Corinthians."

NOTES

As usual, our conversation took many other turns after I stopped taking notes. We talked about how we have all changed and grown and how each of us have gone through a variety of life experiences.

We talked about how life is like a movie; how fun it was for the others to try to get me to drink when I was dead-set against it; how none of us made any of the parents nervous or suspicious and just how much fun it was growing up together. It was fun to look back on that and to once again talk into the wee hours about life. I never get over new perspectives on old memories. Chris' theory about my loosening up was that I finally learned to "come out from your dad's shadow." Only tight friends can make such observations.

Chris likes to say he'll always have a lawyer, and I think I've found my pastor. So, I guess you could stay, we're still just using each other. First it was video games and beat-up cars, now professional services. Can't beat it.

Examined Life

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

- Socrates

It has been said that great books, if they are truly great, change your life. Without any contemplation, I can name two such books.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley inspired me to turn off the television (or at least limit its demand on my time) and pick up productive hobbies.

But no book changed my life quite like the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. It is more than a biography, but a road map to an examined life written by one of the most remarkable people in world history.

I believe that examination of life and the resulting changes in habit lead to happiness and virtue. I do not advocate the substitution of Benjamin Franklin for the chosen religious text of the reader. But there is no source for life view that will not benefit from the road map provided by Mr. Franklin. It is an example of how to be virtuous in our organic world. From his attempt at perfection through 13 daily rules to the examples of an altered life, I present it all to advocate an examined life.

Try to be a better parent, better friend, better sibling, better professional or a better and more honest citizen than you were yesterday.

Anyone who reads the autobiography will see that it was no accident Benjamin Franklin lived one of the most thoroughly successful lives ever (although success comes in all shapes and sizes). He won international fame for his scientific discoveries, donated inventions to public use (rather than profit from the patent), negotiated alliances and peace and accomplished more than I can justly list here. His most impressive quality to me, however, was a willingness to diagnose and treat his own life in ways that added virtue. More so than accomplishing impressive feats, Ben Franklin accomplished in life by doing things the right way. I am more impressed with his use of celebrity to bring the issue of abolishing slavery before the very first US Congress than by his discovery of electricity or his mapping of oceanic currents. I respect that more because it was the right thing to do and the decision was steeped in integrity.

When I revisited the autobiography I discovered that my motivations for this blog were similar to Franklin's motivation for his autobiography. I do not intend to write an autobiography, and I do not bring the stature of a founding father to the discussion, but both of us were motivated by a desire to communicate lessons learned to a son.

Like him, I strive to show my son that anything worth doing is worth doing honestly.

Franklin's book starts with "Dear Son," and includes this explanation:

"I have ever had a pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes of my ancestors. You may remember the enquiries I made among the remains of my relations when you were with me in England and the journey I undertook for that purpose. Imagining it may be equally agreeable to you to know the circumstances of my life - many of which you are yet unacquainted with - and expecting a week's uninterrupted leisure in my present country retirement, I sit down to write them for you. "

No one is capable of perfection, but anyone can benefit from the steps taken by a man who ventured far closer to it than most others.

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES

Happiness seems to come from peace of mind. Franklin's 13 virtues assist in obtaining peace of mind.

It is a legendary story that Franklin attempted to fulfill each of these 13 virtues every day and famously kept a checklist for that purpose. However, he acknowledged that the task was impossible and soon gave it up. After all, we are all fallible beings. Although perfection is impossible, idleness regarding virtue will not further happiness. Just like the mathematical formula that always approaches zero without ever touching it, so will we always strive for the unattainable.

For me, anyone who believes that what we do on earth matters must conclude that how we conduct ourselves must also matter. With that in mind, I give you Franklin's 13 virtues (and a few of my comments):

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation. (I add to make it a point to defend those not present or unable to defend themselves.)

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, i.e. waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions. (Make family time more precious than professional time)

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid Extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. (Hold no grudge)

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable. (Bring none of those trifles to bed at night)

12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring - never to dullness, weakness or the injury of your own or an other's peace or reputation.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates. (Be faithful, but not judgmentally so).

Quite a list. Even Franklin failed famously at some of those. But, given that some failures are to be expected, it is important that a person be mindful of the goal.

I have made my own alterations to this list (beyond just my comments), and I imagine there are as many varieties of lists as there are people based on personality, desires, values, strengths and weaknesses. The important part is to have a list at all. Unfortunately all too few are willing. After all, in Franklin's words "How few there are who have courage enough to own their own faults, or resolution enough to mend them!"

EXAMPLE

My favorite example of an examined life in action came when Franklin, a young man, decided to change his whole approach to argumentation. The story goes that Franklin often found himself and his arguments dismissed because he brought arrogance and stubbornness to the discussion. The book goes through his analysis of himself as he decides to add phrases such as, "you make an interesting point, but have you considered.....?"

Franklin notes that by listening, communicating with respect and softening the blow of a factual or argument correction, he could show his point on the merits. Shouting and pounding on the table, however, served to halt all listening and set the listener to argue against even the most well founded points for the sake of dragon slaying. This is just one small part of life, yet it warranted the attention of Mr. Franklin because it was on his mind.

How a life is examined may be determined by the examiner, so long as the process happens.

The Autobiography is very short. It ends abruptly because Franklin died before its completion. Still, I feel it is important to learn from those who came before us. It goes without saying that I strongly recommend the book to anyone who contemplates the merits of an examined life.

Jacob!

Finally, I have pictures of Jacob to share! And, as a bonus, they are all very recent.

I can't really describe how this little guy has changed our lives. Of course, I can only speak for myself. There was a time in my life when goals and advancement were much more important. Then came Jacob. My number one goal in life now is to maximize my time with him.

He says "cheese" and "Please" and a number of other words that he speaks with varrying frequency. I hope you enjoy these photos of our little guy.

What a flirt. The shirt says it all!

Playing Peekaboo

Jacob with Dad

By the way... he can climb!

NOTES: I have tried a few times to post a short video of Jacob at the park, but so far cannot get Blogger to upload the video. I'll have to play with that some more.

OTHER NOTES: I am now half-way through "Fiasco." Just like Seth, who posted on my first Iraq post, I am at a loss for words to see just how badly this military campaign was bungled. Unlike the political books I've read to this point (like "State of Denial") this one goes through the nuts and bolts failures of implementation. What a read. I recommend it strongly, but make sure you are ready for outrage.

Surge Ahead

Just like everyone, I was anxious to hear what General Patreaus would report to the nation on September 11, 2007. Unfortunately, by that scheduling timetable, someone decided once again to make a subtle gesture to try to link 9/11 to Iraq when no rationally-thinking humans left in this world can make any such connection. To quote George Tenant from page 341 of his book "Let me say it again: CIA found absolutely no linkage between Saddam and 9/11." That has been communicated TO the President, BY the President and still some choose to believe this (apparently because it comforts them).

This argument is over. There is no connection. All supposed connection theories and allegations have been proven false. To those out there who persist in this idiotic theory, it's time to move on. Just stop it.

There are a few topics of discussion from the Petreaus Report I want to discuss. First, many were unnerved by how a four-star general could be put in this position in the first place. It was very unusual to see an officer in that position. Second, the testimony showed once again just how divided this nation has become. The results has been to embolden both sides in an increasingly ugly national debate. Finally, the substance of the testimony preached more of the same and did little to give us hope for better results in the future.

GRILLING A GENERAL

It was unfortunate to watch such a highly-decorated military officer get grilled like that, but that was the bus under which General David Patreaus was thrown. Since January, the President has been telling critics of his "surge" policy to "wait until Gen. Patreaus gives us his update on the progress of the war." If he said that once, he said it 10,000 times.

And he said it again, and again, and again... and... you get it. Every critique of the strategy and the war in general were met with "wait for Gen. Patreaus, then we can talk." The "deal" brokered between Congress and the President to allow funding for the war before the surge was announced depended upon this report.

Some have criticized critics of the war for grilling the general. I believe that criticism is misplaced. General Patreaus was thrust into that position. When the President will not engage in dialogue and the reason given is the coming report that took on celebrity status, there was no other choice. Critics were to either pander to and defer to the General or do their duty by quizzing the only one who would answer questions.

Many have speculated and rumors have even surfaced that the military as a whole is unhappy with the way this was allowed to play out. I would be very surprised if the military EVER again consents to one of its own being used by the President as a shield as Gen. Patreaus was this month.

It was embarrassing and should never happen again. But I cannot blame Congressmen and Congresswomen for grilling the only one who will answer for what is going on. They have a very important job to do.

SURGE IN BELIEF

Both sides feel they were validated by the testimony. Those deferential to all things military or supporters of the war heard the phrase "making progress" and will use that to justify more patience. Those against the war or critical of the surge heard how slow and difficult that minor progress has been and will use that to strengthen an argument for withdrawal.

The bottom line is that Democrats don't have the votes to override a veto and cannot do anything to stop this war unless they get those votes. Frustrated Republicans have been switching sides regularly, but not in the numbers necessary for a veto-override.

The President continues to be defiant and to simply dismiss his critics and prosecute this war as he wishes despite the majority of Americans' beliefs on the subject. Critics continue to be apoplectic about the "original sin" of invasion in the first place.

I also can't get past the original sin. The more I hear what a mess this situation is the more I want to scream that we shouldn't be in this mess in the first place. As the article cited a few posts down in a comment on Executive Privilege, there is a lot of anger on both sides.

The challenge is to rise above that for a solution. But, strategies can't continue to be jammed down every one's throat by one side. That continues to happen with the now open-ended status of the war in Iraq. The 5,700 promised to come home before Christmas were scheduled to come home anyway based on time served there already. In other words, there was no concession.

I'm open to solution talk, but I don't think there are any good options. I do say this, though: If we are only a cork in the bottle stopping catastrophe (I'm not even sure we're even that considering the crisis there anyway), then that isn't worth the lives of our soldiers. If that Civil War will have to burst out of its bottle at some point whether 1 year or 20 years from now, just let it happen and get us out sooner than later.

The argument that bad things will happen if we leave is losing its strength rapidly. It looks like bad things could happen WHENEVER we leave. Heck, it looks like bad things are already happening.

My hope is that the next President will be able to unite this country again. Since it is now clear this will go on into the next Presidency, I only hope a unifying candidate emerges.

MORE OF THE SAME

No matter the circumstances behind the testimony, however, it was what it was expected to be. The substance of the much-anticipated testimony could be summed up as "more of the same."

What did Patreaus and Crocker really say? That can only be determined when we know exactly what the purpose of the surge was. To paraphrase W Bush, the purpose was to provide enough physical security to give "breathing room" to the political process in Iraq.

So, what did they say? Simple. They said that has not happened. No one testified that political progress has flourished or even progressed. The "government" in the capital of Iraq still does not control the nation, still does not pass necessary laws, still does not have the support or allegiance of much of the provinces (including Anbar, which remains against Al-Qaida AND the government in Baghdad), and still cannot provide its own security.

When you boil it all down, the testimony acknowledged failure of its stated purpose. It could only report "progress." If you listen to speeches from the 60s and 70s our military made nothing but progress right up until the last helicopter left Saigon and the name was changed to Ho Chi Mihn City.

I don't buy it.

Most telling for me was when John Warner, a conservative hawk, asked if this plan, as presented by Gen. Patreaus, would make America safer. General Patreaus just said "it will help us achieve our objective in Iraq." Warner responded "does THAT make America safer?" Patreaus said "I don't know" and explained that he is focused on Iraq. Although it is the job of politicians usually to deal with those kinds of questions, I cannot imagine Eisenhower saying after D-Day anything other than "absolutely, our actions here today made our country safer." Why? Because that situation had clarity.

That illustrates why this is a very different and unique situation. That is why this country is divided. Because there is no way to equate those two things (Iraq and safety). There is entirely too much grey in this war. No answer that could ever be provided in this fact situation could ever unite this country behind a given strategy. There is too much grey. Does it make us safer? Debatable. Does it have anything to do with 9/11? This was grey, but is now clear. Did it rid a country of WMD? No. What exactly did we accomplish? Not clear. Grey.

Grey is the byproduct of a war without solid moral grounds.

As a result, we should never expect anything but more of the same until someone disconnected from the "original sin" of invasion takes office. It just stinks that so much bad must happen while we wait.

NOTE: Still working on getting those pictures of Jacob transferred (at this point I'm trying to fill a disc). I expect to be able to get that done this week. I may even be able to post a short home movie of Jacob. Stay tuned.

Wahoo-wa

I have stumbled upon some problems trying to get our new laptop to recognize our older digital camera. Therefore, my plan to write about Jacob, complete with pictures, will have to wait until I figure out this technological riddle. That also explains my delay in posting.

For now, I figured I could talk about my day today (Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007). I went to Laramie Wyoming to watch the Virginia Cavaliers play the Wyoming Cowboys with my buddy Mike. I've been a big Virginia fan since I started going to their games in 1983. My dad and I attended just about every home game from then until 1991. Naturally, one does not drop a team after spending so much time rooting for them. I lived and died with those UVA teams when we lived in Virginia and have followed the team ever since.

Unfortunately, it was different this time. I had contemplated taking Jacob with me, but it was too hot, he is too active (and mobile) and it would probably have only served to distract me from the game and annoy fellow spectators. So, I left him home. I'm glad I did. My hope was to take him to a UVA game just as my dad took me. Afterall, this was probably one time the Wahoos will ever come around these parts again.

Not only did UVA get killed and look horrible, but it was just different this time. Many would wonder why I would root for a team I only followed over one from which I received a degree. I can't really explain it other than that there was always something special about UVA. Probably because when I went to those games, I had my dad all to myself. I was about 7 or 8 when I started going to those games and was about 14 or 15 when we moved. Those are ages when alone-time with a parent is important.

I can still remember being angry at dad when he used "my" ticket for a friend of his who was visiting from out of town. I remember feeling hurt that he would contemplate taking anyone else. Kids don't understand those things sometimes.

I now know that it will never be like that with Jacob and UVA. Simply put, that was for me and dad and no one else. It will never be duplicated. Watching my first live UVA game without my dad pretty much sealed the deal for me. It'll never be the same again. And, that's OK. In fact, it's actually comforting to know that it really was the quality time and not the game that mattered. It was equally comforting and depressing to realize that.

It is important for kids to have something they can do with each parent exclusively. I hope to have something like that with Jacob. I've already decided that if Jacob is interested and has the attention span (and after a few trial runs when he is old enough), I will look into Colorado University season tickets. Then that can become our special time. If he isn't interested in CU football, we'll find something else. It could be anything. I don't care what it is, sports or not. But, one way or another we will find something that will be for us only.

Jacob has already taken to helping Jen in the garden and is always thrilled to get in the mud and pick the flowers. I hope he finds something that the two of them will also have as mom-son time (and it looks like they have an early leader in gardening). I think such intimate relationship building with parents individually builds strong connections.

For now, I walk away from the train-wreck performance by Virginia in Laramie without too much disappointment. No matter how much UVA stunk, my memories are safe. I was at the 1990 game when Virginia beat Clemson for the first time in 30 tries. I still remember the scream of the crowd when the punt-returner broke free down the sidelines and it was obvious that the curse was over. I found a You-Tube clip of that moment and it's just as I remembered it. Please see the first play from the TOP video I linked to the left of this post (titled 1990 Virginia vs. Clemson football part II). The punt return is the first play you see. Pay special attention to late in the run when the crowd realized together "holy cow, he didn't step out of bounds and is still going!" That squeal is still vivid in my memory. If you watch both links, they provide all the highlights from the game.

What great times. I am already watching closely to make sure Colorado is on the right path so the team will perform well for me and Jacob down the road if that's what we end up doing. (It didn't hurt that they beat CSU today... although I'm still usually only relieved when they win that game as opposed to happy). But, even if they don't get better quickly, I remember suffering through a 55-0 loss to Clemson in 1984. I remember because I couldn't blow my new UVA horn unless Virginia scored. When UVA blocked a fourth-quarter extra point, dad let me blow the horn. It made the 1990 game all the sweeter.

I look forward to my Jacob time, no matter what it is. And I hope it'll some day be as special for him as it was for me when I was the kid. And I imagine I'll just root for UVA alone... which is just fine by me.