Friday, September 23, 2005

Rock Star

I was reminded of some fond memories while in Charlotte this past week. I had just finished eating a nice Italian dinner at Bertuccis and was walking back to my car as I heard the sounds of a band creeping across the parking lot from a fairly hidden patio. I moseyed over to find a hole-in-the-wall bar. I had to ask how to get to the band and I was given directions to walk back through the kitchen and out to the patio. When I got there, there was a 3-piece band (acoustic guitar, keyboard & congas) playing what I assumed to be original music. There were 5 others sitting on the patio socializing and enjoying the music. I sat alone and listened for a bit. They played some Grateful Dead covers and were having a good time. I was reminded of the short stint in high school that I did with a Rolling Stones cover band. We called ourselves December’s Children, a reference to a more obscure Stones album. The lead singer in this band reminded me of Jeremy our lead guitarist. I’ve often wondered what happened to Nat, Jeremy and Jim. We shared some good times.

Friday, September 16, 2005

You’re an attorney?!?

In yet another example of American entitlement, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has sued 5 major insurance companies on behalf of victims in MS for not covering “storm surge”. While on the surface it appears that the AG is standing up for the little guy, the law suit is a bit preposterous. The victims had purchased hurricane coverage. It is my understanding that the policies clearly stated that they did not cover water damage. AG Hood’s argument is that the policies did not expressly state that “storm surge” was not covered, and, if they had the insureds would have purchased additional coverage. C’mon. What part of “does not cover water damage” is incomprehensible? While it is sad that many if not most people that suffered loss were underinsured that is no reason to require the insurance companies to pick up the slack. I’m sure that I don’t fully understand my automobile insurance and all the different coverages, but whose responsibility is it is I fail to elect a particular type of coverage? I can’t expect the insurance company to cover the losses I didn’t insure unless there was a gross misrepresentation. Again, “does not cover water damage” doesn’t sound like the insurance companies were really trying to hide anything. That being the case, the policies are CONTRACTS. The insurance companies agreed to assume a specific risk in exchange for a premium, a premium that calculated only that risk. C’mon Jim, during this trying time you need to find a better way to be helpful.

Trust your gut

I’ve long lived by the personal rule that I don’t eat sushi in an empty restaurant. The logic seems clear to me, if there isn’t a steady stream of customers how could you expect the fish to be fresh. Well, I was in Richmond, VA this week and I found a restaurant on upromise.com (as a percentage goes to my daughter’s college fund). It seamed like a nice restaurant based on the menu offerings and prices. When I walked into Manhattan’s the place was empty save for a hostess. Go somewhere else. I continued in and joked that I was the first one in for the evening. The hostess seated me and continued to tell me that she would be the hostess, waitress and bartender. Everything but the cook. Leave now. Against my better judgment I ordered. When the fried green tomatoes came they weren’t bad…but they weren’t great. The mere fact that there was no garnish told me that nothing on the menu would be worth its price. Well, I’m in now. Next came the bread, I opened the basket to find store-bought, halved, warmed hamburger rolls, either stale or crusty from being rewarmed. My goal now was just to get out. I told you so. The dinner came and didn’t fail to disappoint. “Would you like another glass of wine?” No, thank-you. “How ‘bout dessert, honey?” No, thank-you. Check please!

God is pro-abortion

I was speaking to a friend of mine last week and the topic of my wife’s recent miscarriage came up. Of course she apologized profusely and was saddened for us. We now know why people wait to announce a pregnancy. It is more awkward telling your family and friends about the miscarriage than it is sad to go through it. Anyway, one thing she said was that it was meant to be. I told her that I didn’t think it was “higher power” meant to be but that I agreed, it was just nature’s way of weeding out the bad pregnancies.

It got me thinking. I could have just as easily heard many people saying that “it was God’s will”. If that is true, then wouldn’t God be in favor of abortion? If life begins at inception, the miscarriage ended the pregnancy and this was God’s will then God willed to abort the pregnancy. God must be pro-abortion, or at least pro-choice. Hmm….just an “I Thought.”

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Well Hello Again!

It has been some time since my last blog (which was also my first). I had a thought today to write some ideas and couldn't find my blog. I thought it ironic that I googled "grinovich 'I Thoughts'" and did not find but one link (isn't there a name for that? Googlewhack?). It wasn't a link to my blog but a link to my friend Costa's blog which referenced my first blog entry. Interesting.

Anyway, as I was working I thought that I should have a place to write down some of the things that I felt really important. The idea that prompted this was the way that our Series 6 materials referred to Variable Universal Life Insurance (VUL). Most of the mentions had negative inferences and I thought that I really need to develop a good seminar and market VUL to both help people and make a little coin.

Another task I feel worthy of commitment would be organizing and/or advancing the awareness of atheism, free thinking or secular humanism. I've often thought that there are more people of like mind but as we don't congregate on Sundays we aren't aware of each other (nor are others aware).

Hopefully, I'll make more of an effort to write here regularly as I also thought it would be neat to keep a diary of my experiences with my daughter, Kaya.