2010 Boone Supernationals

First, let me start by telling you I love the Boone Supernationals.  It is an experience unlike any other.  If you love racing, you really need to add this event to your "Must-See" list.

The Supernationals are a weeklong dirt track racing festival.  This year over 805 cars participated in over 340 races, with 2,000+ green flag laps, all culminating in six Champions.  A Typical race day starts at 3 p.m. and ends somewhere between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. (No, I'm not kidding).

Sponsored by IMCA, the Supernationals draw racers and fans from all over the U.S. and Canada.  This year, the crowd was more diversified than ever.  The fans that pack the stands and the campgrounds are friendly, excited, and willing to talk racing at any level (Nascar, local track, F1, sprint cars).  There are plenty of activities during the week - meeting the drivers, pancake breakfasts, parades, and whatever else happens in racing campgrounds.

The racing is truly at the grassroots level.  Most of the drivers hold another job and use the Supernationals as their vacation for the year.  They have raced weekly at their local track; some are track champions, while others are just guys looking for a good time and a race.  While there are sponsorships, they are local sponsorships - the town plumber, hotel, restaurant, towing service and parts supplier. You won't find DuPont, Home Depot or  M&M's here.  Cars are more likely to be sponsored by Mom & Dad, Toby K's Hideaway, Harris Auto, Smith Farms or Victory Chassis. 

Fans have favorites, demonstrated by their T-shirts and cheers, but they are also willing to boo a driver for bad driving. (Last night a fistfight broke out on track between drivers during a last chance race, which sparked some excitement.)   At the same time, drivers are welcomed into the stands after their events and chat with the fans.

Last night, four Champions were crowned in the Hobby Stock, Stock Car, SportModified and Modified classes.  Jason Wilkinson of Neligh, Nebraska won the Hobby Stock A Main; Jeremy Christians of Horicon, Wisconsin won the Stock Car A Main; Brett Meyer of Lytton, Iowa won the SportMod Championship; Jimmy Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa was crowned the Modified Champion.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the races, talking to racing friends, meeting a few new ones, and getting lots of dirt blown on me.

Let's say taking three showers to get clean afterwards did not dampen my enthusiasm for the night...

Singing Away My Week

This week has been busy as one of my co-workers moved on, so I inherited a few more cases to handle.  This extra work comes at a good time as I do not currently have classes or homework to worry about.

I've been enjoying my choir rehearsal each Thursday night, even though it does consume some of my precious free time.  I find that it puts me in a good mood, even though I am tired by Friday!  We are already practicing for the Christmas concert, so I'm enjoying singing holiday songs (and some not so obviously holiday songs) each week.  What I am most excited about is that I am singing a harmony part and so far have been able to find my notes!  A lot of times, I struggle, but with this group, I am finding the harmony even though it is often dissonant harmony.  

With my hope to become a mother via adoption or foster care, I have been evaluating my life to see what will have to give if I add kids to the mix.  I think that una vocis would be one thing I keep, as it brings joy!  But, it may have to be something that I look at in the future.

Burning the Koran

A church of 50 people in Florida plans to burn multiple Korans on September 11th.  The publicity stunt (what else could it be?) has already generated much negative press, including condemnation from General Petraeus, Secretary of State Clinton, the Vatican and Angelina Jolie (I know you were waiting to see what her stance was!).

The church, which has been denied a burning permit, plans to proceed anyway.  The pastor, Terry Jones, says he wants the burning to be a warning message that radical Islam will not be tolerated.

While his message may be one that many agree with, the method of delivering it is problematic.  Instead of garnering sympathy and agreement, Jones' message will incite moderate Muslims into the more radical sects.  Unlike Christians, who are taught to turn the other cheek and will overlook an insult on their scriptures, Muslims are vowed to keep the name of their prophet and their scriptures sacred.

Petraeus is concerned that it will cause further problems in Afghanistan with the American troops serving there.  In reality, it will make evangelism more difficult in Muslim countries as American Christians are lumped in with this group of 50 who are burning the Koran.

This clash is a clash of cultures and values, with both sides misunderstanding each other.  The burning of one side's holy book will only incite more violence and trouble, not bridge the divide.

You Never Change, O God

Have you ever noticed that "You haven't changed a bit," is sometimes both a compliment and insult? Said by a friend we haven't seen for a while, it may be a compliment that we are essentially the same person they knew so well some time ago.  Said by someone near and dear to us in an argument, it may indicate that our behavior needs an amendment.

I've been ruminating on  Malachi 3:6: "I the Lord do not change."  What exactly does that mean?  And what does it mean that we humans are constantly in a state of change?  If we are created in the image of God, how has sin warped us that we are in constant flux?

We pride ourselves on evolving and changing as we age.  At the same time, we hate change in our lives - we hate new things sprung on us at work, someone sitting in our seat at church, and (I at least) loathe changing hairstyles.

God does not change.  He remains the same loving, merciful and holy being He always was.  He does not change his mind.  He does not recant his promises.  He is committed to going the distance for those He loves.

On the other hand, we promise and fail to follow through.  We lie to others and ourselves.  Our emotions change and we over-react.  We leave a loving God and chase after people and things that cannot satisfy. We change by growing ever closer to perfection during our journey here on earth, but we never achieve perfection this side of heaven.

But God, our ever-constant companion, has promised perfection and holiness to us if we love and honor Him alone.  In the end, we achieve the  unchanging by changing from our sin.

Friends

I wrote a couple days ago that Paris Hilton appeared to have a friend problem, as she keeps getting in trouble with her "friend's" drugs.  I thought I'd expound a bit on that idea.

As a criminal defense attorney, I see people get swept up into situations that initially seemed innocent.  This, however, is the exception, not the rule.  Many more people slide into illegal activity by hanging around those who are already engaged in marginal activities.  Marginal activities like over-indulging in alcohol, using marijuana (which is a gateway drug that leads to meth, coke, herion, etc), vandalism, theft or other crimes.

By hanging around people who think these behaviors are OK, or who even celebrate this way of life loosens the restraints that may have previously held the influencee back.  Before they really think things through, they are engaging in the same marginal behavior.

Often, the hardest part for people dealing with substance abuse addictions is getting away from the people they socialize with and who are fine with the substance abuse use.  In other words, it is hard to ditch the guys during football season if they are your friends and it involves drinking heavily while watching the game.

I don't remember how many clients have told me that they were fine being an "island," staying away from the bad influences until one showed up at the door and offered "pseudo-relationship" (and a bag or bottle of something).

Settling at the lowest common denominator is common in friendships - that is why parents are right to be worried about their kids.

Recognizing when a person is a bad influence is a skill everyone needs to develop and recognize when it is happening in life.  I know that I have "friends" whom I have decided are not good for me - their company does not encourage me to be a better person.  I know I have to be on alert to their ideas and influences in my life when I am around them, and I need to evaluate how I relate to them.  On the other hand, I have friends who I don't have to filter those things with because their influence is encouraging and uplifting.

It appears Paris's friends fall into the "bad influence" category.  Her worldview allows drug use to be accepted.

Paris Hilton

As a lawyer, I am a bit amused by Paris Hilton's recent legal troubles.  She's arrested in a car driven by her doped up boyfriend and the police find drugs in her purse.

First, she claims the purse isn't hers.  Then, she claims that is was her purse but someone else had borrowed it.  Apparently some of the contents were hers, as she used the lip baum inside during the course of the stop.

This is the third time this summer Paris and her associates have been busted for drug use and possession.  First, she was detained for marijuana possession in South Africa.  A friend claimed the drugs where the friend's and Paris skated free.  The second episode happened in Corsica, and again a friend said the marijuana was hers.  This time, Paris is the only female in a car.  She has a purse with drugs in it, while her boyfriend has drugs both in the car and in his bloodstream.

It would appear Paris has a drug problem.

It comes as no big surprise: Paris has been hanging around with people who have had acknowledged drug problems for years: Nicole Ritchie, Lindsey Lohan, etc.  Whether she uses or not, she is hanging around with people who do.  It apparently does not bother her that others use drugs in her presence.

Hopefully, Paris gets a substance abuse evaluation, is honest about her own careless attitude about drugs, and gets the help she needs.

And ditches the "Friends" who have lead her to this point.

Fantasy Football

My fantasy football draft is this weekend.  I never know how I should be listing the players.  I usually end up with some sort of automated pick.

I'm never sure how they rank the players - I see this year that Drew Brees is listed above both Adrian Rodgers and Peyton Manning.  Bret Favre is no where to be seen, but Adrian Peterson is #2 on the ESPN listing.

Each year I become more and more convinced that the rankers have no idea what they are talking about and are really in a back room somewhere throwing darts at a list of players' names.

I am excited about the league this year - we usually have fun playing each other as most of the league are family members or close friends.