But apparently along with all this greatness came tons of depravity.

Either this stuff just didn’t get reported, my parents kept me intelligently sheltered from it, or I just didn’t know. I am naive. There are so many things I didn’t know about these, MY, Dallas Cowboys from the early 90′s. I, unfortunately, am not sickened by any of it. I guess it’s just that nothing really shocks me all that much. However, it’s truly fascinating to me. I tend to enjoy biographical literature more so than fiction. I am a big fan of seeing what is behind the scenes. That’s why I love the Special Features on a DVD/Blu-ray, or watching How It’s Made on the Discovery Channel or any number of it’s children stations. Oh yeah, I own and have read Hulk Hogan‘s and both of Mick Foley‘s “auto-biographies” because being behind the scenes and seeing how things got to where they are now is fun for me.

How ’bout Dem Cowboys!

Photo Credit: Jeff Pearlman

Katie had made me lunch and while I was munching and watching a DVR’d episode of Man vs. Wild, the one where Bear gets stung in the face by a bee and his whole head swells up, I ate some Cooler Ranch Doritos and I had one of those flashback moments. I was magically transported back to elementary school. One of the summers of elementary school to be exact.

When I lived in California for the second time I distinctly remember my Mom putting me in summer school. I can’t recall exactly why, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because I needed to get caught up in anything. Well, during recess they always had some concession stand open, or something close, and Mom would give us some change or a dollar once in a while and I always got myself a bag of Cooler Ranch Doritos or a Bomb Pop.

So there ya go. I was 7 or 8 years old again today while eating lunch.

I definitely know that Katie will be pleased with it and I will look much more presentable when I go into the FBI office to have a sit down with this Agent I’ve been in contact with. Anyways, while I was at Howard’s I got quite a lesson in history from several of the barbers and patrons. One man in particular who went by the name of Woody.

He is one of the spriest 83 year olds that you will probably ever meet. He talked about how his grandfather’s old war stories were from the CIVIL WAR, his great-grandfather’s stories were about the Spanish American War and his great-great-grandfather’s stories were about the Revolutionary War.

He mentioned to me how the book/movie Grapes of Wrath quite accurately summed up his family’s struggle across the U.S. My barber, his name escapes me, related a story to me how his family packed up everything they owned in a ’36 Dodge and headed for California during the Great Depression as well. It was awesome, trust me.

Another really cool note from all of Woody’s stories was how so many people ended up in Bakersfield, California (my birthplace) of all places when coming to the West Coast. He had previously lived there as well as I. He mentioned that he also used to have a body shop in Merced, CA where my grandparents (parents of my mother) also currently live.

Another story he told with great vigor was when he worked as a forest firefighter in the Dakotas and watched the creation of Mount Rushmore. He was particularly enthused to tell me about one time he took a picture through those coin operated binoculars of two men hammering away from a scaffold beneath one of the the president’s noses that made them look like a Hitler mustache, keeping in mind this was back in the 40′s.

Well that’s probably the coolest history lesson I’ve ever had, it truly is a small world.

Jan. 1, 2006 – The year was started off right in The Woodlands, Texas with a small peck on the cheek from Ms. Katie Horecka at midnight… My first New Year’s midnight kiss… Joseph B. proposed to Melanie (I included this because I saw the ring before Melanie did).

Jan. 21 – I took Katie on our first date.

Feb. – I got my first dog, named Max… Unfortunately I was not able to keep him. He wasn’t a big fan of staying in my backyard and would get loose on a near daily basis.

Feb. 19 – I gave a talk at Raider Awakening 34 at Camp Rio Blanco in Crosbyton, Texas.

Mar. – I went camping for the first time sans-family up in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas… I went to Texas Rangers spring training in Arizona and got to see six MLB games in five days with my Dad, Uncle Peter, and Grandpa Jack.

May – I saw many of my good friends graduate from Texas Tech… May 10 was my official first year anniversary of my working as an Associate of Perot Systems as a Desk Side Support Tech… Katie took me home to Katy, Texas (Houston area) for her cousin and brother’s high school graduations and to meet the family and visit Galveston and the beach.

June – I took Katie home to meet the family in Highland Village, TX (Dallas area) and to go to two Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros games, we were 1-1 that weekend.

July 30 – I had a small helping hand in Andy proposing to Abby at CTK. There was a nice little recreation of their first date.

Aug. – I moved into Laura’s house, taking over her spot as she was soon to be married to Mark. I ended up gaining two of the best roommates I’ve ever had and two more brothers.

Aug. 19 – I was the a groomsman at Mark and Laura Asmussen’s wedding in Lubbock, Texas… Katie said those “three little words” to me for the first time, bonus.

Sept. – My brother, Jesse, became Br. Jesse when he received his habit and took his novitiate vows (he reads this and may correct me if I’m wrong).

Sept. 2 – I went to Kevin and Mary Morris’ wedding. I used to live next door to Kevin in my old apartments near St. E’s. I don’t give that guy enough credit for getting me involved in church and becoming who I am today.

Oct. 28 – After the Texas Tech/Texas football game we had the biggest party we’ve had at the house. It was easily the most fun costume party I have ever been to.

Nov. – For Thanksgiving my Mom, Dad, and I visited my brother, Br. Jesse, at his St. Benedictine monastery in Norcia, Italy. Boy do those monks know how to cook.

Dec. 17 – I went with Katie to one of her high school friend’s weddings in Abilene, Texas… I insignificantly helped her cut the groom’s cake.

Dec. 23 – I cashed in the tickets Katie gave me for Christmas and took my Dad to see the Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers game which Dallas won 3-2.

Dec. 29 – I was a groomsman at Mike and Casey Hefferly’s wedding in Lubbock, Texas… Texas Tech beat Minnesota 44-41 in overtime after overcoming a 31 point deficit, the largest in NCAA bowl history.

Jan. 1, 2007 – I ended the year the way in which it began, with a kiss from Katie, three weeks shy of our first anniversary, or 12 monthaversary as Laura might say.

If I’m missing anything important please don’t hurt me but instead remind me nicely. Have a Happy New Year and God Bless.