Dallas vs. Houston and RESPECT

I enjoy a good gentlemen's bet every once in a while, so that's what I decided to do when the Houston Texans showed up on the Dallas Cowboys 2014 football schedule. Fans throughout the state always trash talk about who is the better team, and if there was a preseason championship trophy, the Houston Texans would win it because they always beat the Cowboys in the preseason. But, unfortunately, the preseason doesn't count Texans fans. They think they are God's gift to the state of Texas, a team people can put there hope in after several years of defeat as a Cowboys fan. They haven't had a team since the Oilers decided to pack up and move to Tennessee, so who can blame them? Yes they have a very gifted team and were a few plays away from going to the Super Bowl in their 12 year existence a few seasons ago. I remember it like it was yesterday when they revealed the Houston Texans logo and new team. It's what the city of Houston needed to shock some life into the city. I mean come on, the Rockets weren't a playoff team and the Houston Astros were better off playing in a high school arena. When the Texans came to Houston, it sparked a whole new, needed rivalry for the state of Texas and rights to who would be the better team for years to come.

The first encounter with the Texans was rough, they did beat the Cowboys in their very first meeting back in 2002, and just like the Olympics, only play each other in the regular season every four years. Since, Dallas has beaten the Texans twice, leaving the rivalry at 2-1 Dallas. I have been a Cowboys fan since they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1995 Super Bowl. My father has always been a fan, my family members the same, so I carried the tradition. My wife is from Houston, and all her family members are Houston Texans fans. All of my co-workers are Texans fans, so it should only seem right to have a bet with a fan. Besides respect on the line, we each bet a jersey of the winning team and the loser has to sport the winner's team on social media. I drew up the contract in about 15 minutes, we both signed and had the document verified for fun. I told all my family and friends that me and a co-worker had a bet going for the game. Me and him were very nervous come game-day and once the game started, the nervousness grew instantly.

The game was interesting from the start, with both teams turning the ball over. I'm watching the game at my in-laws house with six Texans fans, just me and my wife supporting the Cowboys. As the game drags on recklessly, Cowboys strike first with a field goal. Texans strike with the first touchdown of the game to go up 7-3. The second-half is when the game got really interesting as the Cowboys took a 17-10 lead with 5 minutes to go in the fourth. I thought the game would be over up, until the Texans defense forced the Cowboys to punt with not much time ran off the clock. Texans went to work fast as they tied it up, but with 40 seconds left, it looked like Dallas was about to upset. Dan Bailey missed a 55 yard field goal to win the game, letting the time expire. At the start of over-time, the Texans had won the coin toss and I thought for sure the game was theirs. Reluctantly, Dallas was able to force them to a three and out situation and get the ball back. Everyone in the house was on the edge of their seat as Dallas started moving the ball, and then boom! Tony Romo, the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys hit his target, Dez Bryant, for a long-yard bomb, setting the Cowboys up to kick a field-goal and that was all we needed when Dan Bailey finally hit the game-winning field goal. My wife's family was pretty devastated when the ball passed the two yellow, giant goal posts. No words were exchanged, except for a hand-shake out of respect, and well, I have a new jersey added to my collection. How bout' them Cowboys!

Difficulty with the Times

Being a writer is something I thought would be easy. I constantly tell myself "You'll write this time, you'll write this time," but "this time," never happens and I go months without writing anything. My wife is constantly telling me that in order to get where I want to go, I need to write all the time. Sounds easy coming from her and although she motivates me to want to get to a computer and put my thoughts into words, I procrastinate very much. I do find writing to be relaxing and stress relieving, much like letting all those bottled up thoughts out into air for society to enjoy. Here goes another chapter in my life that needs to be expressed. This post isn't for sports or a sports topic, it's for me to get out that necessary pressure that I have stored up.
Life has been well for me, but like any other person who is bored, I want something else, something new and refreshing to wake up to every morning. I do not have that now, but I do love the people I work with and enjoy expressing ideas and creativeness. (I apologize if any of this is "improper" grammar, but I need to get my mind used to writing)The financial industry is very stressful, but every once in a while I get a customer that is of great interest. For example, he likes to share his thoughts about his wife who is deceased, his projects that he is working on at home, (he's a carpenter) and how life was in education. He definitely is one of my favorite customers and I enjoy every time he graces me with his presence. Then you'll get an arrogant person who believes that they make all the money in the world and if I don't refund a fee, they'll take their business elsewhere. I get it, you're upset because banking used to be free, but guess what? People cheated the system so the government had to regulate to make sure checks and balances are in place so people can't cheat. Regardless if you take your business elsewhere, you'll get the same, if not worse, treatment. We are all adults, or at least act like we are, so as adults, we should hold each other responsible for our own actions and not blame others like your bank. You as a customer choose to over spend or miscalculate money you thought you had in your account, so guess what, you got a fee for that. It's the same thing you tell your children, you have to learn from your mistake and suffer the consequence. If there are no consequences, then life is going to be super easy, but it is not.
Enough bickering, I just needed to express that. Now, I am in search of a new career, but have had no luck obtaining it. Like I said, I enjoy the financial industry, it has it's perks, but it does not pay enough and the hours can be ridiculous (I know I am there for 9 maybe 10 hours a day, but am only getting paid for 8) and customers issues can also be ridiculous. The people I work with are interesting, fun and each add a unique aspect to the business. They are what make me want to get up every morning and go to work. They tell some of the best stories, and are truly a family when it comes to their connection. Maybe if I would have been at this location in the beginning, I would find my line of work much interesting. It is definitely going to be tough leaving them.
I've started my search for a new career in the field of education, a few of my college friends are in education, my wife is in education etc. I do find teaching interesting, but I don't want summer vacation to be the only reason why I teach. I lack passion, desire and focus right now. I want instant gratification, but I know it will not happen. Why do I feel like working towards something is so difficult? Why am I in this funk and cannot get out? Maybe if I keep a constant focus on writing, it will lead to more productivity. I wanted to be a journalist for some reason; I want to explore, uncover, teach and be a story-teller. I want to have meaning in my career again. So here it goes, again, I will become a more productive writer and find the time to let my thoughts flow into this keyboard.