Hawaii 5-0 rolls back on TV

I decided to do some studying tonight.

CBS network has a remake of "Hawaii 5-0".

As a kid watching McGarrett and Dan-o, it was a cool show. And it was based in Hawaii.

The theme song and visuals went well together.

As part of the remake, CBS has a contest on its website for the same theme song.

There are five finalist videos to watch and vote on. The winner will be announced Oct. 4.

In the remake, you get the depth of the character from their personal life. It is all right, but it would be great if the producers would just go back to the good guys and the bad guys in each episode.

Why do all shows have to add the dimension of personal life.

Can't it just be about making the bad guys pay?

I do not need to know McGarrett is trying to find the man who killed his father.

It's another sign I am middle-aged.

Book me, Dan-o.

Come on get happy with the Partridge Family

Hard to fathom that 40 years ago (Sept. 25, 2010) "The Partridge Family" debuted on ABC.

It followed another favorite of mine, "The Brady Bunch."

On a Friday night, it was a great way to spend an hour.

I believe my first TV crush was Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady). Then came along Susan Dey as Laurie Partridge. Oh, heart be still.

To this day, I do not think my Dad understands what I saw in those shows.

If I remember, he called the TV the boob tube. It had to do with it being mindless. Not like books, which made you learn.

Oh, the generational differences. But Dad didn't kick me out.

The shows were great getaways. Forget the crap going on in fourth grade. I have to learn the new song to impress my classmates come Monday.

Boy, I lived for those shows.

And I will catch an episode here and there from time to time. And YouTube makes it possible to listen and watch the Partridges perform their songs.

"I'll Meet You Halfway" is one song that made me think of a certain girl in the neighborhood who I was in love with. As a matter of fact, I still have a tender spot in my heart for her.

Enough for the trip down memory lane.

Back to reality.

Foundation shaken but can be repaired

How many of you have had your foundation shaken?

You are out there all alone.

There is family and friends, but you still are flying solo.

An empty feeling hits.

The fixing part doesn't seem close.

Doubt becomes that vulture watching you.

You would give anything to take the pain away, whether it is yours or someone you know.

I long for the days when I would be comforted by the hug from my Mom. Or Dad putting his arm around me and telling me in that matter of fact way that the dark will become light.

That feeling is there, but ...

I will continue to look for the magic wand or that hero.

Though the path is long, I know I am covered.

The pain I feel is not hurtful but growing pains.

These days I look in the mirror and the person I see I tend to like.

The guy is working on strengthening his foundation.

Coming out on the other side will be a wiser, stronger, more thoughtful man, co-worker, friend and stranger.

Reasons you haven't heard from your son in college

Ten reasons why your son hasn't contacted you since starting college:



I have a paper due every other day.



Still getting the hang of doing laundry in a co-ed dorm.



University servers are crashing because of all the music downloads.



Working really hard not to be homesick.



I forgot to tell you I have a girlfriend.



Ballroom dancing class involves a lot of video study.



We never had parties like this in high school.



Intramural croquet team plays the 9 p.m. game every night.



Trying to hack into the university's computer system takes a lot of time.



Streaking the quad takes a lot out of you.

Is the dream dead?

It is a question many have asked.



This time is was President Barrack Obama on the receiving end.



It came during a meeting Monday from a 30-year-old man who recently graduated law school.



"Is the American dream dead for me?"



Obama answered, "Absolutely not."



The president added the problems of many decades need to be addressed.



Maybe the dream is not dead, but it is being redefined.



People juggling two and three jobs is becoming a scary norm.



People have learned that living within their means is the new dream.



I hope the people we have as our leaders understand it. Stop building a house of cards and begin building a stronger foundation.



Then we can feel the dream lives.

A co-worker heads off to France and a new adventure

Today was the last day for one of my co-workers.

Caleb Benoit is taking a sabbatical and traveling to France. He will be teaching English at several schools in France.

The wiser than his years Benoit took French in high school and college.

I thought about giving him a bottle of ketchup for his fries. I thought better since he needs room for his tennis racket and hiking shoes.

The 27-year-old will be in France for nine months. Besides teaching, he will traveling to other European countries.

He has a fondness for tennis and auto racing, and Europe has both in abundance.

For the past eight years, I have enjoyed working with this young man.

He has a dry sense of humor and is not afraid to challenge even his older co-workers.

Caleb has made this middle age man think a lot more.

At times he has reminded me of a young person I knew.

Morning deadline lines at the newspaper will not be the same.

In a couple of weeks, Caleb jets off to France. His parents will sorely miss their son.

They should take heart in this -- they have raised a fine, young man. He is making the world a better place.

Safe travels my friend.

We will carry the torch for you.

Trying to slow down my life

Can anyone help?

I am looking for the pause or freeze button on life.

Here I am in middle age and life is passing me by too damn fast.

My folks are getting older. No way!

But I look at them and see they have aged some. I rub my eyes and I see them as they were 30 years ago. Then I blink and they are in the mid-70s.

Mom and Dad are still vibrant. But when did they lose the skip in the step? Where did that extra ounce of energy sneak off to.

I want to freeze them in time.

Then if you have children, they are probably now adults entering that stage of life's journey I would love to be back in.

Just tonight I was thinking, it was fun back in my 20s and there was three-quarters of my life ahead of me.

Accepting I am the age I am is not the problem. I just was hoping I had more time with family.

The older ones are heading off the stage, while the younger ones are taking their spots to grab the headliner role.

Damn. When did life hit the fast forward button?