Dome Pondering

Year 16 in higher education, loading. The landscape is changing. Self-philosophy over everything. Remains the inspiration. Changed, is me. Not "career building", but doing, what I now do. Self-spirit over everything. Becomes the motivation. Not significantly focused, but understanding effort and priority. Protecting, my spirituality. Where it should be. Year 16. Whatever, the change. My heart is free.

A possible change is coming to Major League Baseball!  That statement alone has triggered every baseball fan into their feelings, and what possibly could Rob Manfred have cooking for the game's future? As he's done before , Manfred dropped yet another controversial nugget, this time regarding possible expansion and realignment for MLB in the future.  To begin, I don't think this is set in stone...yet. I truly believe, like the "Golden Bat" rule was mentioned, Manfred is floating this out there to gauge the reception of it from fans and how it plays in the overall fan-o-sphere of sports discourse.  Second, I believe this is also a strategy for upcoming labor discussions. Everyone is geared up for the inevitable doom that is "to salary cap" or "not to salary cap". Work stoppage is likely, but a gentle early toss on the table of possibly adding more jobs for players can't be overlooked in labor negitoations.  Expansion Let's start here, as...

201. Would you rather swim in a pool full of Nutella or a pool full of maple syrup? Ummm, this is weird. I'll go with maple syrup for nothing other than consistency. It might be easier to move in the syrup, especially if it's good, natural syrup, rather than Nutella.  Regardless, I'm taking a shower afterwards.  202. Would you rather labor under a hot sun or extreme cold? Hot Sun. This has been proven. Just ask anyone who knows me. I find the extreme cold to be so off-putting. I really dislike snow days. It hurts my soul to wake up and see my entire yard and driveway filled with snow, and the thought of an upcoming shoveling and snow-blowing session.  I'll make it work in the heat. 203. Would you rather stay in during a snow day or build a fort? Ha! Staying in and curling up in sweatpants, a hoodie, and a blanket.  204. Would you rather buy things you don’t need every time you go shopping or always forget the one thing that you need when you go to the store? Forget t...

SummerSlam was awesome.  The first two-night event of its kind, I had the opportunity (and privilege, if you understand how difficult and expensive WWE tickets are now) of attending night two at MetLife Stadium. Having attended so many pro wrestling events this year, especially this summer, SummerSlam was a clear reminder that the WWE is really on a whole other level in regards to brand power, production, and overall impact.  The product at its core can be debated, and that is the beauty of where pro wrestling is right now - you have a choice. You won't find any tribalism here.  Nonetheless, Summerslam provided memories - in both endings on both nights, as well as for me personally, and my son. He's NEVER going to forget Summerslam 2025, nor the night Brock Lesnar returned.  We can talk matches, and work rates, and storylines, and whatever...but this event is marked by that, memorable moments.  Here are some quick thoughts on it all:  NIGHT ONE General Thou...

Beautiful,  is driving forward, sing along en route and looking in my rear view mirror at my kids. Undescribably, beautiful. 

What is it about? A woman moves back in with her parents following a shocking divorce. An unlikely affair with a younger guy revives her life and perspective on marriage. Who is in it? Melanie Lynskey - Amy Christopher Abbott - Jeremy Blythe Danner - Ruth Favorite Scene: Amy's dad, who is often much easier on her than her mom, comes to her bedside and gives her some money. She refuses, then he insists. She then asks, "whose happiness are you buying?" Favorite Quote: Where the f** is 'bottom'? Where the motherf***ing f*** is motherf***ing 'bottom'? Review: Hello, I Must Be Going was an interesting watch. I've always found Melanie Lynskey to be an intriguing actor, and her role in this was just that.  What makes this film so interesting is that, going into the film, you believed this would be a film documenting Amy's journey from recent divorcee into...well, wherever it is she goes. The beauty of this film is that Amy's journey was just a public...

We all continue to learn how to celebrate Hulk Hogan and his legacy, whether through the man Terry Bolea or simply the character Hulk Hogan. I choose to focus on the character, and in trying to separate the man from the entertainment that filled contributed greatly to pro wrestling.  I shared my sentiments earlier this week. This list is entirely mine. No need to celebrate or even remember it if you don't want to. If you're in that mode, here are my favorite Hulk Hogan moments: Honorable Mention - (Finally) vs. Bret Hart on Nitro Ahhhhhh yes, the match that eventually came to be. I'm a huge Bret Hart guy, and I enjoyed hating Hogan (within pro wrestling). For me, this match happened way too late, but even more so, it occurred on a Monday Nitro with absolutely no build or meaning. And yeah, the ending was awful.  I remember this simply because I wanted it to happen so bad, and it was one of those moments where I shook my head on the creative of WCW (And possibly, Hogan pull...

---19 Months--- Dear Son,  My guy, Milo!  I haven’t written many of these letters to you, yet, but I feel compelled to drop one at this time. You’re now 19 months old! A mere five months away from making us so happy for a full two years! And while you’ve added chaos to this life of ours, I cannot imagine life without you. As our second child, you’re shockingly a mere image of your brother in appearance, while your personality is the complete opposite (so far). You’re a prankster. Fearless. Curious. Decisive. And you eat EVERYTHING! And by everything, I mean, absolutely, any and everything! We have called you our "monster among babies" because, well, you are. And that recent check up of 99% percentile in weight and 95% percentile in height backs that moniker up. You are often mistaken for much older than you really are. Absolute, monster. But ultimately, as you walk and learn to talk (you love saying “no” and “all done”), if a toddler can have presence (at the time of this let...

What a complicated mess this news leaves me in. Hulk Hogan. Dead. At 71. I was never a fan of Hogan (in the world of pro wrestling)…I was a Macho Man Randy Savage guy, and later on, a Bret Hart guy (and still am). But like every other wrestling fan from the ’80s through now, Hulk Hogan’s presence and legend are undeniable.  Terry Bolea transcended wrestling as Hulk Hogan and helped the art form take its first step into the mainstream of pop culture.  He later reinvented the business once again with the greatest heel turn ever at Bash at the Beach 1996. Many have changed the business once, but twice? Significantly?! Hogan’s run as Hulkamania and as Hollywood makes a case for the best to ever do it - I can't think of anyone on such a high level on both sides of the pro wrestling coin as a babyface and heel. Every pro wrestling Mount Rushmore (as dumb as these lists have become) includes Hulk Hogan, period. But Hogan is also so instrumental in my ever-evolving ability to separate...