Banking on a Healthy 2009

I've decided to roll the dice a little during open enrollment (for health insurance at my work) this year. For the first time in...ever?...health insurance is not going up for us if we keep last year's plan. But this year, despite having five kids, I have decided to take a chance and raise the deductible and raise the maximum out-of-pocket expenses on my insurance.

The more kids one has, the greater the chances something expensive could go wrong regarding their health. But worst-case scenario (money wise, not health-wise, heaven forbid) is that we would end up spending $11,000 out-of-pocket this year, including deductibles. That would pretty much drain our non-retirement reserves, unless it happened after a couple things mature.

The plus of course is that our monthly premiums will go down. I'm gambling on good health in 2009 for the whole family. I'm hoping for it, too, and not just because of the money.

Tough Night at the Lanes

Dang, did bowling suck tonight. I bowled a 548 off games of 165, 182, and 201. Our first place team took only 7 out of 28 points. If I am ever going to make the comeback* I want in this game, I will need to get my current equipment re-drilled and get some new equipment to boot. I will also need to simply bowl more. Or I should just learn to be happy with a 548, which hasn't been the case in about 25 years.

But I learned a couple things tonight that I wouldn't have years ago, so that's a good thing. Unfortunately, one of them, not to be afraid of the far inside line, I didn't figure out until late in the third next.

We'll get 'em next time.

* This is somewhat of a misnomer, as to make a comeback, it is presumed that one actually was somewhere desirable to begin with. With a career high average of just over 200, and only two honro games (290 and 300) to my credit, that's hardly accomplishing anything in this sport. And yes, I called it a "sport."

Homersota Jumps The Shark

When I first heard of the Web site Homersota.com, I loved the idea and couldn't wait to check it out. This was over a year ago, and for the most part, it didn't disappoint. Some of the regulars mentioned, such as Mike Max and Dave Lee, were certainly deserving of the ribbing. But over time, I've found it to be a good idea that, unfortunately, really isn't done very well.

I remember first visiting Jumptheshark.com some ten years ago, and while it, too, has become a more clever idea than the actual entertainment value of visiting it provides, it at least is good for many a chuckle and even somewhat interesting thought (as much as pop culture can provide, anyway).

While I am probably in no position to criticize a good idea, while I sit here on my boring, free blog, I think Homersota.com has jumped the shark for, among others, the following reasons, in no particular order:

1) The most obvious reason is the lack of updates. You used to be able to find a Homer of the Week; now it's Homer of the Month, and the most recent entry is July 2008.

2) Questionable sources. Unlike the political site Mediamatters.org, where even if you disagree with the authors, you are at least provided with links, in context, to the original source of the story. Homersota tidbits often seem like they came from a friend of a friend who heard it from someone.

3) Questionable opinions. It's everyone's right of course, but to wit:

Honoring an example non-homerism from "this month" (July 2008): Some blunt commentary from columnist Patrick Reusse as he stated Coach Tim Brewster was “delusional” and that his team would not win a Big Ten game in 2008. (Snide remarks: Hindsight isn't just 20/20. While the Gophers are a pleasant surprise at 2-1 in the Big Ten thus far, and 6-1 overall, I don't see how any thinking person who follows the Gophers actually believed they would not win a Big Ten game this year. This type of non-homerism does not deserve positive reinforcement; it deserves ridicule.)

And how about this supposed example of homerism (from June): “Shooter” Walters wrote that Joe Mauer would be great at pitching to teammate Justin Morneau if he were to participate in the All-Star weekend’s home run contest. (Snide remarks: Context, please. And is this among the best you could find for a whole month? I think it would be very cool had Mauer pitched to Morneau, and I'd bet he'd have thrown more strikes than Morneau saw, despite ending up winning. Any Twins fan who saw the HR Derby this year knows what I mean.)

4) For the same reason I've never been a big Tom Barnard of KQRS fan, the personal jabs bug me on the site. I'd rather see the homerism made fun of than the actual people. (Barnard has made a very nice living out of basically reading us the newspaper and making fun of people just, well,... just because he knows they're idiots.) There needs to be more substance, context, etc. to make it that personal. But then, maybe I'm being too Minnesota nice here.

There is time to turn it around at Homersota.com, however, and it's certainly better than no Homersota.com at all. There still is a lot of good humor and plenty of things with which I agree on the site. Plus, I like the drawings. It just seems that as for the periodical updates, the author has been getting a little lazy. There is plenty of homerism to report on; let's hope Homersota.com can un-jump the shark.

Hmmm...that gives me an idea. Think of a show that jumped the shark, but then recovered for the rest of its run. That would be a good idea for a new Web site. Like maybe if Happy Days had gotten better after Joni and Chachi got married. (I know, it didn't, and of course they spun off to a new show...but stay with me here.) Then you could have a term like, "Married Chachi."

So you could say, "Yeah, that show really jumped the shark with that one episode, but then it married Chachi the next season, so it was good again."

I've got some work to do with this latest early retirement idea of mine. Meanwhile, here's hoping Homersota.com marries Chachi.

Kegling Again

Sad to say, but through much of high school, the Alexander Ramsey High School bowling league on Fridays was about all I looked forward to, at least during the winter months. Now, after a five-year absence from bowling in leagues, I have joined a league in Apple Valley.

The nice thing about this league is that it is three-man teams, which means you are done in about an hour-and-a-half. Five-man teams are a bit too much, because you sit and wait so much. I think four-man teams are ideal, because it is still nice to socialize at the lanes, but if I were to choose between three and five, I definitely prefer three.

It's also nice that there is no smoking in the bowling establishments anymore.

I am only bowling part-time, perhaps once or twice a month. The main thing I want to make sure of is that I get 21 games in by season's end so I'm eligible for handicap tournaments. So far, I've bowled one week.

My intent was to keep a lot of fun stats on bowling this year, but I've temporarily misplaced my makeshift score sheet from my first week. I scribbled it on a torn corner of "The Metro Bowler," a publication only slightly more interesting to non-bowlers than blog posts about bowling.

I do remember my scores: 206, 195, 206, for a 607 series. What was odd, and very un-like me historically, is that I had only one open the whole night, a Greek Church in the second game. My spare shooting has never been my strong point, but I am going about it differently this year. I will go after all 10-pin, 6-pin, and 6-10 leaves with a 13-pound "house" ball. A plastic ball with a conventional grip won't hook (much), and at that weight is easy to control. So far so good, but I've got to string more strikes together next time.

Hopefully, before my next league night, I'll have some new equipment to use and talk about. I'll "spare" you for now...if you've made it this far, that's pretty good.