Still kickin', but with almost NO sleep

First off, sorry for the major lag on the blog. As many of you know, Emily & I were expecting our first child at the end of March. Well....Things have kicked into high gear a little earlier then expected. Emily gave birth to Ruby Matilda Even on March 21st, 2008 at 6:52pm. Hands down the best experience of my life. So many feelings and emotions went through my head and still do. I can't believe that sometimes that she's real and actually in my arms. The gift of life is truly amazing and I have forever changed how I handle my life. Ruby was 9lbs 12oz at 21 inches long. My brother, mom and Emily's mom were there for when it all happened and left before a mini blizzard shook the area.

Emily & Ruby are doing great. Ruby is keeping her mom & dad scrambling every few hours to facilitate her needs. Shocking at how many diapers one little human can create. She is just the cutest little baby on the planet and sporting a full head of thick, dark brown hair. She has started waking up a little bit more each day and is opening those eyes and starting to check out her new world. Of course it gets me thinking on how fuct this place is and I'm sorry that little Ruby and others of her generation have an even bigger mess to clean up when she's get to be our age. One topic that I'd like to talk about today is Charity.

"Charity" is almost like the new fade in the 21st Century. Now, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be my Catholic upbringing or just pulse on America, but why is charity the new fade? I was always taught that Charity isn't supposed to be something that you broadcast about yourself. In fact, the bible states that you are NOT to reveal that you are the one giving charity. It is something you do for yourself, the donor & God. Now, I'm not going to all bible beater on you, but it makes sense. If you decide to donate money, time, food, clothes, etc, why are you doing it? Now, we aren't dummies because guys like Bill Gates HAVE to give otherwise the US Govt will come after him in the tax department. That's how it goes with big business and anyone that millions of dollars, you get a tax break if you donate. I myself have done this as well, not my motive for doing it, but a benefit that I have used. My biggest beef right now is American Idol. Don't get me wrong, it's great that a show like that is able to use it's star power to give Millions of dollars back to the people in need, but at what expense? Of course they are hoping for a major ratings boost. Which they'll get because they have been promoting the HELL out of it and are bringing in every HOT celebrity to help raise money. But now MySpace is doing a contest to get your name read on the show for donating and you could win a trip to the final taping of the show? Talk about exploiting a great cause MySpace. Any time that I give (nice try, I'm not telling you how much or when/where or even the who) I do it because even though I have very little, I am already better off then some folks in this world. I eat well, have a great secure job, make decent money, have decent health benefits, have an amazing partner and have been given the gift of a child to hold and care for, life is going pretty good. But, by no means are we rich. With me working solo, bills pile up faster and the money is even more reduced, but giving back is the right, moral, and kind thing to do. I know that even though I have very little to give, I will find a way to help out my fellow man. Any chance I can help someone I will. Call me a sucker or even gullible at times, but I'm just too much of a weeny to let someone struggle. Pennies, dimes, dollar bills...They all add up over time and can be used to help some little child that can barley get of bed because of a disease.

There's a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode that hits in on the nail with this very topic. Ted Danson and Larry David both give to a charity but Ted decides to go as "anonymous" but at the same times tells all of his friends that he's anonymous. So of course Larry has issues with it and does the same thing to prove a point. Of course he's right and how idiotic is this when someone doesn't want the acknowledgment for giving, but rubs his friends noses in it. Basically my point is, if you give, shut your mouth. Give because it's the right thing to do, not to have power over people or to get a big tax break or even have your name in lights as a major contributor. Do it because your are helping someone that is less fortunate then you and could really use a hand.