Every time I come home I turn into a child.

When I visit my parents I am not a delight. I am perpetually tired. I do not help with any chores. I come and go at my leisure. And I drop my laundry in the hamper with the expectation that it will magically appear on my bed a day later clean and folded. The worst part is that I totally get away with it.

I am like a spoiled child that knows he cannot get punished. The pathetic part is that I am a 28 year old child. I am fully aware of my transformation yet seem unable to stop it.

Yesterday, I tried telling myself that I have a very demanding job and that my parents understand I need to rest. To this, I quickly reminded myself that my parents are twice my age, run two companies and work twice as many hours as I do and if anything I should be tending to their needs.

Apparently, the reality check did not work because today, after leaving to have breakfast with a friend, I was back on the couch watching my mom prepare lunch while my dad set the table. I could barely muster up the strength to answer their questions as I lay staring at the ceiling.

After conducting a short survey I have found that others in my age bracket experience the same transformation when visiting their parents. This should bring me some comfort but it doesn’t. Instead, it makes me worried about what will happen in 30 years when we are the parents and we are laying along side our kids, staring at the ceiling, waiting for someone to make us all lunch.

My Alter Egos

When I go back to Austin I usually drive my mom’s European sports sedan. I love the car and it suits me very well. It is exactly the car I would own did I not live in a city where rent eats up most my paycheck and a car is not a necessity. However, on some visits I have the privilege of driving my parents’ run-around pick-up truck.

It is a nice truck that has large racks attached to the pickup bed. The racks make it even more practical but clearly define it as a tool of the trade and not simply a mode of transportation.

I have been driving the truck for several days now and am really enjoying that observers (yes, I agree with you - there are surely many) are puzzled. Why is this preppy and clearly white collar guy pulling up to super hip coffee shops in a work truck? I have come up with three plausible scenarios:

1. I am a painter – this seems very tedious and does not excite me but I like that people have noticed my attention to detail.
2. I am a landscaper – I fear my current muscle mass makes this a bit of a stretch but the beard I was sporting until yesterday was sending strong signals about my love for working outdoors.
3. I am a furniture maker – this is the most obvious choice. How could I not be a crafter of high end sustainable furniture?

Most Awesome Public Statement of '08

I do not know anything about the political ideology or background of the current Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. What I do know is that this is one of the most refreshingly honest statements I have come across. The statement is in reference to the US Senate seat which will become vacant if Senator Hutchison steps down to run for Governor of Texas.

"After a great deal of consideration, and much soul-searching, I am today formally announcing my intention to join many of my fellow elected officials and not seek the U.S. Senate seat," Patterson said. "I have been urged by many of my fellow Texans to seek this seat ... actually only a few Texans ...truthfully just a couple members of my staff and a few other officeholders who want my job ... so I'll sit this one out."

The Kentucky Derby, Playboy and Ellen

The Girls Next Door is a reality show featuring Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends. They all live together at the Playboy Mansion, have posed nude for Playboy and are referred to as Playmates. The show appears to be part of a branding strategy designed to introduce the Playboy brand to new audiences - women, young girls and gay men, I assume.

In an episode I caught last weekend (don’t judge me), the Playmates attended the Kentucky Derby and were greeted by large crowds at the various social events they attended. I was surprised to see that the majority of their fans were middle aged women and teenage girls. One mother could barely contain her excitement when her daughter got a signature from one of the Playmates. She told the camera crew that her daughter, who could not have been more than 12, was a huge fan.

Did this woman get caught up in the moment or was she genuinely excited that her daughter looks up to women who make a living posing nude for Playboy?

I like Ellen DeGenerese. She is funny, seems good hearted and has a great TV show.

Carmen Electra was on Ellen’s show yesterday promoting her latest appearance on the cover of Playboy. I believe she said it was her fifth time to be in the magazine. At the end of the segment Ellen held up a copy of the Playboy issue and encouraged everyone to go out and pick up a copy. To this, the entire audience of early thirties women cheered with all their hearts.

Did Ellen and the audience get caught up in the moment or do they really think the latest issue of Playboy is something worth cheering for?

In my opinion, Playboy has every right to publish and promote itself but is a degrading magazine that should be looked down upon by decent people. I fear Playboy is doing a very good job of making me seem like a prude who can’t relax and just get caught up in the moment.

Here we go

Well that was fun. I got to pick a name and a design template. Actually, I pushed the wrong button and Blogger chose this design for me. It appears they know their users well because I am pleased with their decision. It is simple, comfortable, and to the point - just like I hope this endeavor will be for me and whoever comes across it.