Washington Redskins Top Three 2013 Concerns

I had another opportunity to write an article about the home town teams. This time I touched on the top three concerns from my point of view on the Washington Redskins roster going into this season. Give it a look and let me know what you think:

http://voices.yahoo.com/washington-redskins-top-three-concerns-going-into-12270087.html?cat=14

Thanks
Rob

The Change of Ownership of the Washington Post

Yahoo asked me to touch on some of the areas that I think the Washington Post should focus on moving forward under Jeff Bezos ownership….give it a look and let me know what you think

 

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-washington-post-future-bezos-12268767.html?cat=3

 

Thanks

Rob

Fish Update

So with finishing the masters degree, its given me a chance to focus some time on getting my fish tanks cleaned up and looking good. This will just be a quick update and later I will try to focus a post on each tank and the specifics.  I currently am maintaining the following:

150 Gallon Tank:  8  Vieja synspilum and 3 cichlasoma salvini cichlids along with two plecostomus

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This guy is about 9-10 inches long just to put it in perspective

120 Gallon Tank: 20 breeding pairs of Kribensis

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120 Gallon Tank: Male cichlid only tank

90 Gallon Tank: Silver dollars and Frontosa with Bristlenose plecos

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75 Gallon Tank: Two breeding pairs of Angels

75 Gallon Tank: Hodgepodge of cichlids

75 Gallon Planted Tank: Angelfish, Severums, tetras, livebearers, corydoras

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75 gallon planted pond outside on patio

50 Gallon Tank: Livebearers and grow out cichlids

40 Gallon Tank: Shell dwellers, Gold Tail Guppies, Cherry Shrimp

30 Gallon Tank at Office:  Gold Gouramis

5 Gallon Tank: Green Dragon Fantail bristlenose and Crystal Red Shrimp

Kosovo

Kosovo

The low hills blend as one,

The farms fight the ever creep of civilization

The force sits in the middle of this

It flows from one to the other

In and Out

Back and Forth

This force is here for peace

To ensure an end

To stop the blood of centuries past

To be a wall, a fluid wall

Ever changing, ever challenging

Trying to force a start anew

But always on the ready

Vigilant to defend its own

Careful to bear its might

Each part knowing its role

Knowing the history, present and making the future bright

The smiles, the handshake, the music

The force brings these and more

As it sweeps through this land

The force controls what it can

Influences what it can’t control

And provides the needed peace

Woe be unto those that oppose

For action is swift, decisive

Sometimes bloody and cruel

But necessary

Kosovo

I wrote this while stationed in Kosovo on a peacekeeping tour while deployed for the Army.

Dad in Delivery: Getting Baby Home

I had another opportunity to write about some of the wonderful experiences of becoming a dad for the first time.  I got to touch on what it was like to put the car seat in the first time and then drive my wonderful baby girl home for the first time.

http://voices.yahoo.com/dad-delivery-getting-baby-seat-getting-12252608.html?cat=7

Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Rob

New York Yankees: Future Star Watch

I continued my series of articles on Yahoo Contributor Network focusing on the minor league stars of teams in Major League Baseball.  This time I focused on the top five from the New York Yankees.  Give it a look, leave me feedback or let me know what you think here.

http://voices.yahoo.com/new-york-yankees-future-star-watch-glance-into-the-12244880.html?cat=14

Thanks

Rob

A Kiss

A Kiss

Lips move in,

Slight hesitation

A look, a breath,

Twinkle in the eye,

Easy smile,

A burning inside

A flutter of the heart

Of the eyes

What can you do?

Drawn in….slipping

Feel the crash

Is it right?

Do you care?

Can you know?

Oh well,

Brain too slow,

Heart too fast,

Fingers intertwined

Lips move in

A kiss

So simple

So complicated

But a start

To what?

Something simple, something complicated

Life is wandering slowly

Easily taken

Hope is there

I know

I care

Lips move in

A Kiss

The Rail

The Rail

The Rail,

The soft giggle,

The booming laugh

The drinks flowing

Music in the background

Cell phones chirping

Playing songs,

Darts flying,

People stumble,

Mix,

Mingle,

Stairs a nightmare,

Deja Cometh,

Tiff’s smile at the door,

Disco inferno spinning here,

Gyrations, dips and drops,

Smiles, handshakes,

Billiards in the corner,

Line to the restroom, so long,

Ladies in their sparkles,

Dances in the shadows,

Lasers from the ceiling,

Last call,

2 AM a blessing or a curse?

Afterparty,

Avoid the dope room,

Hear the music a block away,

Beer pong on a deck,

People upside down,

Taxi home,

People passed out,

Waffle House at 4 AM,

Triple hashbrowns,

Home again,

Shower, Bed, Goodnight

This poem was inspired by an evening I lived in Savannah, GA.  There are two bars, The Rail and Deja Groove, involved and of course the ever favorite Waffle House.  Savannah is a great city to have a good time if you ever get the chance.

Thanks,

Rob

The Ladies

The Ladies

The air is alive

Can you feel it?

There’s a spark

So close to excitement

This place is abuzz

Pain, joy and a hope

A hope for the past

Yet they move on to the future

The show is amazing

The players all gather

The performance, so grand!!

These ladies show caring

Individuals

Yet somehow, one group

They care for each other

The grace of these ladies

To take life in stride

Relying on the group

Pushing on alone

How much easier without us?

Yet how dull?

The tears,and the stress

Relief-happiness

Oh these ladies

And the men that torment them

Dad in Delivery: Ten things you need to know

I had another great opportunity to write an article for the Yahoo Contributor Network, this time about some of my experience of becoming a father for the first time.  I tried to touch on what I thought were the most important things that a first time father should know as he prepares to help his significant other through pregnancy.

http://voices.yahoo.com/dad-delivery-ten-things-know-12237416.html?cat=25

Let me know what you think.
Thanks

Rob

RUN

Run

The Horses

Let them run

They are so beautiful

So alive

The fluid motion

The easy grace

They are so nosy

Wanting what you have

Wanting more

Which makes you dig

Dig deep in your soul

Where the shadows lie

That’s where you find your true self

These animals

They yearn for your affection

They let you run

Run wild and free

Not with your feet but with your mind

I

Can go anywhere

Anywhere in the eyes

Of an animal

Try to see just what they see

And just how they see it

You should try it sometime

You

Might get lost

But these animals will bring you back

Back to the world that’s worth living

They are a gift to be treasured

Protect them

And let them run

Run where they see fit

This is why they are here

They are here to show

You and I

Just how

Important

Being able to go

Go anywhere

Is to the soul

Never forget this

Lest you forget who

You

Are

RUN

The Crow on the Cross

The Crow on the Cross

As the bird took flight

It was quite a sight

A black bird, A black heart

One that gave me a start

This call that it gave

Spoke of anger and remorse

The message it sent

To warn of its path

I know not what it said

But could feel the hoarse cry

As it pierced the warm air

Fear not what is done

For it will not change

The undone is the unknown

So take care in progressing

But press forth with your mission

For it is what makes you

Who you are

I caught this on the wind

As the bird flew on

The noble crow landed

Upon the cross

And became silent

The quiet was chilling

For it was unknown why the call stopped

But I realized it stopped

Because it felt peace

No more anger

No regret

But was this the crow or myself

This feeling of sweet relief

Of letting go

Those things that would bring unhappiness

All gone away

I sang to the sky

For the burden was gone

All that remained

Was a Crow on a Cross

The Hawk

The Hawk

Seen by many as a bird of prey

Deadly in so many ways

I feel that most see only this

And never realize what they miss

The beauty that surrounds this bird

Is best seen, and second heard

The grace with which it soars

The embolden spirit it explores

I watch it wing through the sky

To see a chance to go on high

Imagine what it might be like

To soar through clouds and out of sight

The view allowed from that great height

Is best described by the Sun’s bright light

I wish I could see what the hawk sees

Way up above the ground and trees

The chance to watch all other life

To know more than the rest

Gives us freedoms to look ahead

To make decisions well, not bad instead

The call also procures demand

That sweet, shrill sound shows how to stand

Stand out above the best

Open challenge in its voice

Daring the world to respond

Moving with the wind

Making the world take notice

Notice of its intent not to be silent

Emboldened to be itself

Fortitude to ride the air

Face the challenge

Open wings, Open talons

Fierce and proud

The Hawk

Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League Stars

I continued my series of articles on Yahoo Contributor Network focusing on the minor league stars of teams in Major League Baseball.  This time I focused on the top five from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Give it a look, leave me feedback or let me know what you think here.

http://voices.yahoo.com/arizona-diamondbacks-future-star-watch-glance-into-12232932.html?cat=14

Thanks

Rob

Atlanta Braves Minor League Stars

I continued my series of articles on Yahoo Contributor Network focusing on the minor league stars of teams in Major League Baseball.  This time I focused on the top five from the Atlanta Braves.  Give it a look, leave me feedback or let me know what you think here.

http://voices.yahoo.com/atlanta-braves-future-star-watch-glance-into-the-12230129.html?cat=14

 

Thanks

Rob