Okay, so 2016 is only a week old.
Okay, so I didn't make any big New Year's Resolutions.
This year, I'm going to work on small stuff. I mean, unless your name is Jack and you traded your cow for magic beans, a seed isn't going to become something big overnight.
I'm looking at small changes, small challenges, small random acts of kindness.
Small stuff.
It's already paying off, even though I didn't intend for it to. My favorite Starbucks barista currently works in the Starbucks inside Food Pyramid in Stillwater, OK.
A week or so before Christmas, we were talking about birthdays close to Christmas. She mentioned she was going to turn 20 on December 23. That's Christmas Adam! (You know, right before Christmas Eve?). She also said that she was going to have to work all by herself that day. Dang! Working by yourself, with no backup, on your birthday which is two days before Christmas kinda sucks.
Well, being in the Christmas Spirit, I gave her a bigger tip than usual, telling her to save it for her birthday. Then, on December 23, my daughter and I went back to the store to pick up some last-minute items for baking Christmas goodies and, sure enough, there was the Starbucks gal, shivering in a blanket because every time the automatic doors to Food Pyramid swooshed open, a cold Winter wind blew in, right toward the Starbucks spot.
I didn't get any coffee that day, but I put a couple of dollars in her tip jar and wished her Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas. She was delighted that we remembered her birthday, and thanked us for remembering and for the tip.
I felt pretty good as I was shopping, and when an elderly lady dropped a package of frozen food before it reached her cart, I scurried over and picked it up for her.
Small stuff.
And I've carried it over to the New Year. I've gone a little out of the way to help others, to compliment people, to pick up litter when I get out of my car, to spend more time actually actively listening to people, and to, for lack of a better term, be a Boy Scout towards others.
And the payoff?
Yesterday, I went to the store with my daughter. Our favorite barista was there. We ordered our usual drinks, and she put an extra shot of chocolate in our order at no charge. When her coworker asked her about the extra chocolate, she replied, "Hey, these are my people! I gotta take care of them."
My people. Your people. I think if we take the time to do a little extra for our people, the world will be even better.
Small stuff. Start there.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Friday, September 18, 2015
Sir Galahad and My Quest - Only in My Dreams
I had one of my vivid dreams last night - the kind with colors and smells.
I fell asleep, completely unaware that today (September 18) would turn out to be #NationalCheeseburgerDay. In my dream, I ended up on a personal quest to find the best cheeseburger.
It started with finding myself with some friends at a fair-like event. Game booths were here and there, and there were several white tents where you could buy food. One of my friends wanted a salad, maybe a tuna salad, and a person wearing a white apron and a chef's hat said to go to the yellow tent.
We looked around for a yellow tent, but every tent was white.
Finally, we approached a tent to see if anyone inside could help us, and there was a tiny sign above the opening that read "SALADS" in yellow lettering, with a tiny picture of a salad bar.
So my friend got her salad.
Another friend wanted barbeque, and had to look for the red tent. And someone wanted cotton candy and had to go find a brown tent. And on and on. So we split up.
I wanted a cheeseburger. A person (not the same one as before) in a white apron and a chef's hat said to go to the blue tent.
Finally, I spoke up. "All the tents are white! You keep telling us to find these different color tents, but they're all white!"
She pulled herself up to her full 5'1" height and looked up to me and said, "We are sensitive to the needs of people who are colorblind, so we made all the tents white."
"Then why," I asked, "do you tell people to look for red or blue or yellow or pink tents?"
"Because the signs are on the tents, and they are written in the colors you are looking for, of course."
[My dreams often don't make sense, but she spoke so convincingly, I believed she made sense]
"Okay," I said. "Could you at least point me toward the blue tent? I really want a cheeseburger."
With an exasperated-sounding huff, she waved her hand in a vague direction NW of where we were standing. "It's over there," she said. "Geez, can't you read?"
"Thanks," I replied, shaking my head in wonder at how weird this was.
I thought about how much the Knights of the Round Table had while questing, and how Galahad came closest, perhaps even getting a glimpse, but never actually touching the Holy Grail.
I came close, much like Sir Galahad (sure, he SAID he was looking for the Holy Grail, but he was a young man and hungry for adventure and all things grilled).
I found a white tent, and the little sign above the tent flap said "BURGERS" in blue, with a tiny picture of a hamburger on a plate beneath the lettering.
I walked into the tent, and there were three people seated on folding chairs at a small table.
I said, "I'd like a cheeseburger. Some fries, too, please. And a drink and also a hamburger with jalapeno slices."
They looked at me like I was some kind of nut. One of them said, "Do we look like cooks?"
"Well..." I began, but realizing this was probably a rhetorical question I said, "If I wanted to get a burger, is there somewhere else I should go?"
The back of the tent was wide open and there was a sidewalk between it and a wide, low building.
The person who had spoken waved his hand toward the building and said, "You might try there."
So I ended up at a building where the people at the door asked strange questions. Convinced of my sincerity, they had me wait while they prepared my meal - which included the cheeseburger, a hamburger, some fries and a drink.
I wandered into an area with two arenas. One arena had small (in number) marching bands competing, and the other arena had a bicycle rodeo. For the little ones there were tricycle acts.
The finale was a guy on a weird bicycle that was also like a Tron Lightcycle, which he rode about to a high speed and shot into the first arena that had just finished with the last band.
He rode on a track that had a couple of loops, and at the bottom of the biggest loop he release about 8 - 10 Lightcycle mini-bots that rounded up a herd of other mini-bots into a net.
It was amazing.
I woke up before I could get the cheeseburger. But it was there. I could smell it!
I fell asleep, completely unaware that today (September 18) would turn out to be #NationalCheeseburgerDay. In my dream, I ended up on a personal quest to find the best cheeseburger.
It started with finding myself with some friends at a fair-like event. Game booths were here and there, and there were several white tents where you could buy food. One of my friends wanted a salad, maybe a tuna salad, and a person wearing a white apron and a chef's hat said to go to the yellow tent.
We looked around for a yellow tent, but every tent was white.
Finally, we approached a tent to see if anyone inside could help us, and there was a tiny sign above the opening that read "SALADS" in yellow lettering, with a tiny picture of a salad bar.
So my friend got her salad.
Another friend wanted barbeque, and had to look for the red tent. And someone wanted cotton candy and had to go find a brown tent. And on and on. So we split up.
I wanted a cheeseburger. A person (not the same one as before) in a white apron and a chef's hat said to go to the blue tent.
Finally, I spoke up. "All the tents are white! You keep telling us to find these different color tents, but they're all white!"
She pulled herself up to her full 5'1" height and looked up to me and said, "We are sensitive to the needs of people who are colorblind, so we made all the tents white."
"Then why," I asked, "do you tell people to look for red or blue or yellow or pink tents?"
"Because the signs are on the tents, and they are written in the colors you are looking for, of course."
[My dreams often don't make sense, but she spoke so convincingly, I believed she made sense]
"Okay," I said. "Could you at least point me toward the blue tent? I really want a cheeseburger."
With an exasperated-sounding huff, she waved her hand in a vague direction NW of where we were standing. "It's over there," she said. "Geez, can't you read?"
"Thanks," I replied, shaking my head in wonder at how weird this was.
I thought about how much the Knights of the Round Table had while questing, and how Galahad came closest, perhaps even getting a glimpse, but never actually touching the Holy Grail.
I came close, much like Sir Galahad (sure, he SAID he was looking for the Holy Grail, but he was a young man and hungry for adventure and all things grilled).
I found a white tent, and the little sign above the tent flap said "BURGERS" in blue, with a tiny picture of a hamburger on a plate beneath the lettering.
I walked into the tent, and there were three people seated on folding chairs at a small table.
I said, "I'd like a cheeseburger. Some fries, too, please. And a drink and also a hamburger with jalapeno slices."
They looked at me like I was some kind of nut. One of them said, "Do we look like cooks?"
"Well..." I began, but realizing this was probably a rhetorical question I said, "If I wanted to get a burger, is there somewhere else I should go?"
The back of the tent was wide open and there was a sidewalk between it and a wide, low building.
The person who had spoken waved his hand toward the building and said, "You might try there."
So I ended up at a building where the people at the door asked strange questions. Convinced of my sincerity, they had me wait while they prepared my meal - which included the cheeseburger, a hamburger, some fries and a drink.
I wandered into an area with two arenas. One arena had small (in number) marching bands competing, and the other arena had a bicycle rodeo. For the little ones there were tricycle acts.
The finale was a guy on a weird bicycle that was also like a Tron Lightcycle, which he rode about to a high speed and shot into the first arena that had just finished with the last band.
He rode on a track that had a couple of loops, and at the bottom of the biggest loop he release about 8 - 10 Lightcycle mini-bots that rounded up a herd of other mini-bots into a net.
It was amazing.
I woke up before I could get the cheeseburger. But it was there. I could smell it!
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Like a Pig's Tail
Around 4:30 this morning, the cat decided to pester me until I opened
one eye. Then he meowed at me like, "Oh hai! Did you know I'm hungry?"
"It's still dark outside, you goofball!" I said to him.
He went to the window and nudged the blinds aside to let the light from the streets and parking lot in.
He kept reminding me that he was hungry, but I wasn't going to give in.
I paced up and down my body, probably to make sure I didn't get up without him noticing. As if!
I drifted in and out of awareness, but never fell completely asleep.
Finally, at 6:30 my alarm went off. Captain Morgan knows what that means - I have to be alert enough to turn the alarm off, therefore I must be awake, and thus it was time for food!
He knows that once my feet are on the floor I'm awake (I'm pretty sure I don't sleepwalk any more) and I'm going to stay that way for awhile.
But not at 4:30.
That's too early!
Or, like a pig's tail, twirly!
"It's still dark outside, you goofball!" I said to him.
He went to the window and nudged the blinds aside to let the light from the streets and parking lot in.
He kept reminding me that he was hungry, but I wasn't going to give in.
I paced up and down my body, probably to make sure I didn't get up without him noticing. As if!
I drifted in and out of awareness, but never fell completely asleep.
Finally, at 6:30 my alarm went off. Captain Morgan knows what that means - I have to be alert enough to turn the alarm off, therefore I must be awake, and thus it was time for food!
He knows that once my feet are on the floor I'm awake (I'm pretty sure I don't sleepwalk any more) and I'm going to stay that way for awhile.
But not at 4:30.
That's too early!
Or, like a pig's tail, twirly!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The Semester is Still Young!
Okay, so here's what happened today...
After my early morning class, I went back to my office to make a few corrections to my syllabi (my students are probably ecstatic that I've decided on office hours so early in the semester!). I made the corrections, saved them to my flash drive, and sent the updates to the department administrative assistant (Bonus! Now that she knows, I'll actually get a sign for my office!). I also posted the syllabi to my two classes that they pertain to.
Next, I thought I'd look up some interesting things to present for my 11:30am class. I teach another section of the same topic on Monday evenings, and with next Monday being MLK Day (no classes), I don't want my 3-days-a-week class to get too far ahead of my Monday-only class.
I found a couple of interesting videos and downloaded them to my flash drive - which I use a lot because I teach in Stillwater and in Tulsa, and I like to have everything with me no matter where I am on a given day.
I also made a "Tip of the Week" short presentation to show the class. Again, saved to the flash drive.
Do you see where this is heading?
By this time I'm pretty pleased with myself, being on top of everything so early in the semester.
Well, 11:15 rolls around and I knew I needed to get to class, but that I needed to make a quick bio-break. No problem. I grabbed my books, my travel mug (Oops! Empty!), and stopped at the restroom before heading down the stairs and across the street to when my class meets.
I got into the classroom early enough, booted up the computer, and went out to fill my travel mug from the water fountain while the computer did its start-up thing.
I got back to the classroom, it's 11:25, and I reach into my pocket for my flash drive.
Flash drive.
Uh, flash drive?
Where is my flash drive?
I checked another pocket - the one where I put my keys after locking the office door. No flash drive.
AAARRRRGHHH!!!
"Don't go away! I'll be right back," I told the class, still filing in.
I ran down the stairs, out the door, and back across the street to the building which houses my office, along with one of the slowest elevators known to humankind.
I ran upstairs (did I mention my office is on the 4th floor? No? Well, it is), unlocked the door, frantically looked around because the flash drive was not still in the computer, which is where I had it last. Or so I thought.
I started unloading my pockets.
I had cargo pants on.
Many pockets.
I found my flash drive in a pocket that I don't put things in.
.
.
.
Unless, apparently, I'm in a hurry and not paying attention.
.
.
Yeah, I had it all along.
.
.
.
I ran back to class, put my flash drive in the classroom computer, and began class.
I showed them the syllabus pertaining to their class, and told them it was also uploaded to the class website.
I showed them the videos.
I showed them the Tip of the Week.
I spoke to them a little bit more about the class, things to expect, and assigned them a reading.
I let them go a little early.
.
.
.
As they were drifting out, one student came up to me.
"I don't know if you know," he said, "but the syllabus you posted for our class is the one for your 8:00 class."
.
.
.
Ah, the semester is still young!
After my early morning class, I went back to my office to make a few corrections to my syllabi (my students are probably ecstatic that I've decided on office hours so early in the semester!). I made the corrections, saved them to my flash drive, and sent the updates to the department administrative assistant (Bonus! Now that she knows, I'll actually get a sign for my office!). I also posted the syllabi to my two classes that they pertain to.
Next, I thought I'd look up some interesting things to present for my 11:30am class. I teach another section of the same topic on Monday evenings, and with next Monday being MLK Day (no classes), I don't want my 3-days-a-week class to get too far ahead of my Monday-only class.
I found a couple of interesting videos and downloaded them to my flash drive - which I use a lot because I teach in Stillwater and in Tulsa, and I like to have everything with me no matter where I am on a given day.
I also made a "Tip of the Week" short presentation to show the class. Again, saved to the flash drive.
Do you see where this is heading?
By this time I'm pretty pleased with myself, being on top of everything so early in the semester.
Well, 11:15 rolls around and I knew I needed to get to class, but that I needed to make a quick bio-break. No problem. I grabbed my books, my travel mug (Oops! Empty!), and stopped at the restroom before heading down the stairs and across the street to when my class meets.
I got into the classroom early enough, booted up the computer, and went out to fill my travel mug from the water fountain while the computer did its start-up thing.
I got back to the classroom, it's 11:25, and I reach into my pocket for my flash drive.
Flash drive.
Uh, flash drive?
Where is my flash drive?
I checked another pocket - the one where I put my keys after locking the office door. No flash drive.
AAARRRRGHHH!!!
"Don't go away! I'll be right back," I told the class, still filing in.
I ran down the stairs, out the door, and back across the street to the building which houses my office, along with one of the slowest elevators known to humankind.
I ran upstairs (did I mention my office is on the 4th floor? No? Well, it is), unlocked the door, frantically looked around because the flash drive was not still in the computer, which is where I had it last. Or so I thought.
I started unloading my pockets.
I had cargo pants on.
Many pockets.
I found my flash drive in a pocket that I don't put things in.
.
.
.
Unless, apparently, I'm in a hurry and not paying attention.
.
.
Yeah, I had it all along.
.
.
.
I ran back to class, put my flash drive in the classroom computer, and began class.
I showed them the syllabus pertaining to their class, and told them it was also uploaded to the class website.
I showed them the videos.
I showed them the Tip of the Week.
I spoke to them a little bit more about the class, things to expect, and assigned them a reading.
I let them go a little early.
.
.
.
As they were drifting out, one student came up to me.
"I don't know if you know," he said, "but the syllabus you posted for our class is the one for your 8:00 class."
.
.
.
Ah, the semester is still young!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Oklahoma State Football is Only One Facet of the Gem
The Cowboys have had a rough season. It started bright enough, playing a close game against powerhouse Florida State, and some victories early on. But even then the injuries and inexperience had begun taking their toll.
As the competition grew tough, the question marks and uncertainties became concerns, and the Cowboys lost a game, and then another, and many fans, particularly those who had expected a near-flawless season with the youngest team in Division I Football, began to lose hope and started to lay blame wherever they could.
Enter the Boo Birds.
The Boo Birds for most teams show up after two losses (after one loss at OU), and they increase in numbers as a team loses. Too bad their energy couldn't be directed in more positive pursuits.
As the competition grew tough, the question marks and uncertainties became concerns, and the Cowboys lost a game, and then another, and many fans, particularly those who had expected a near-flawless season with the youngest team in Division I Football, began to lose hope and started to lay blame wherever they could.
Enter the Boo Birds.
The Boo Birds for most teams show up after two losses (after one loss at OU), and they increase in numbers as a team loses. Too bad their energy couldn't be directed in more positive pursuits.
Maybe a tough season can be turned into learning opportunities and will result in a better season next year.
As
a student I had a terrible semester once, but instead of feeling like a
failure and/or blaming my professors for my lack of success, I figured
out what went wrong, and followed up with back-to-back 3.75 GPA
semesters.
I wouldn't write Mike Gundy off yet. I think the future is still shining bright for #LoyalAndTrue Cowboy Football fans.
And, as I've said before, Oklahoma State University is not a one-trick pony.
In athletics, we (and I can say "we" because I went there, graduated from there, and teach there) have high-caliber programs in wrestling, baseball, men's and women's basketball, equestrian, cross country, track, softball, soccer, and others. We're a dominant NCAA force in some of these, and contenders in the rest.
We also have some of the best academic programs as well, and as one of America's Healthiest Campuses, a healthy body, mind and spirit are encouraged for all.
So go ahead and boo because you expect a perfect no-loss season to define your happiness.
But most of us don't think that way.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Even Though I'm Not Captain America, I Voted As If It Matters
A funny thing happened on the way back from voting. Perhaps this note to my students explains it best...
"Dear Class,
I'm without a car this morning. Normally, that's not a problem.
However, I walked up to where I vote when the rain had let up, and on the way back (and it started sprinkling again), I decided to take a shortcut.
Again, normally not a problem.
I jumped off a small wall and, thanks to all the rain the night before, right into grass-covered muddy spot (the grass was longer than it looked, probably because the tips were just peeking out of the silty puddle). My shoes are muddy, as are my once-clean pants, and I'm still laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
At least I voted, so there's that.
I'm going to get cleaned up (NOTE TO SELF: Just because most of the Avengers (except the Hulk - he's a mess) can jump off walls and buildings and not get muddy, it doesn't mean I can do the same thing), and then work from home.
The lab, of course, will be open for you to work on your projects. If your teams want to meet elsewhere today, I'm okay with that.
I also think that perhaps you, too, might be debating on whether to vote or to come to class. I'm not really a political animal, but I do think elections are important, even if my vote only counts as one among millions.
We will have class Thursday.
And I will not be muddy.
Thanks,
LD"
I hope you vote today, even if it's just to cancel out my vote. I'm okay with that.
"Dear Class,
I'm without a car this morning. Normally, that's not a problem.
However, I walked up to where I vote when the rain had let up, and on the way back (and it started sprinkling again), I decided to take a shortcut.
Again, normally not a problem.
I jumped off a small wall and, thanks to all the rain the night before, right into grass-covered muddy spot (the grass was longer than it looked, probably because the tips were just peeking out of the silty puddle). My shoes are muddy, as are my once-clean pants, and I'm still laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
At least I voted, so there's that.
I'm going to get cleaned up (NOTE TO SELF: Just because most of the Avengers (except the Hulk - he's a mess) can jump off walls and buildings and not get muddy, it doesn't mean I can do the same thing), and then work from home.
The lab, of course, will be open for you to work on your projects. If your teams want to meet elsewhere today, I'm okay with that.
I also think that perhaps you, too, might be debating on whether to vote or to come to class. I'm not really a political animal, but I do think elections are important, even if my vote only counts as one among millions.
We will have class Thursday.
And I will not be muddy.
Thanks,
LD"
I hope you vote today, even if it's just to cancel out my vote. I'm okay with that.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Loyal and True
I've been an Oklahoma State University fan (all sports, not just football) since I was a little kid growing up in Oklahoma City. My dad was a high school coach (mostly football, but he assisted at various times with wrestling, basketball, and track), and I learned a lot about sports through him. I also learned about winning seasons, losing seasons, and in-between seasons (those lingering around .500 with many close games that could could have been victories but for a broken play or two).
I also had a little league baseball experience that verged, at times, on being a living example of "Charlie Brown All-Stars." This was before the age of "Everybody is a Winner." We learned to be gracious when we lost, and to be good sports when we won.
But this post isn't about me. It's about the Cowboys.
With such a young and inexperienced team, I'm pleasantly surprised that OSU is 5-2 at this point in the 2014 football season. Each week these kids (the starting lineup's average age is 19 or 20, maybe?) are gaining experience and getting their lumps. Most may have been recruited from schools where the wins and accolades came easy.
At the college level, things are much different - new faces, new looks, learning to work together with new teammates. It's not easy at times to make the adjustment.
Things will get better. There will still be losses - the toughest part of the schedule is here - but these players will survive. They might need to reach down inside ("...do some soul searching," as my dad, would say to his players) and find a way to play above their level. And believe me, it gets hard sometimes to reach down when you're criticized by armchair quarterbacks, who can sit back and watch a game with their drinks and snacks and pick apart things from afar.
When you're in the thick of the action, you don't always see the gaping hole opening to your left, or seeing the secondary target being more open when you're looking at your primary receiver. Your peripheral vision is hampered by your helmet. The roar of the crowd bounces all around and you may not hear a teammate calling to you. If the linemen are towering over you, you might not know whether they are clearing the way, or about to be overcome by an unexpected play. Likewise, if you are setting up a pass block, you might not know that the play is busted and you now have to clear a way for somebody running the ball.
So many things happen in the chaos, and the players have to adjust to changing situations. Experience makes it easier, but it never becomes easy. These guys aren't pros. They will get to play with some of the same teammates for up to four years. Then it's over. Maybe they'll be good enough to go to the pros, but most don't get that opportunity.
Yes, I am an Oklahoma State Cowboys (and Cowgirls, too) fan. These kids are students, are people like you and me, and they work hard to do things that most people cannot or will not do in order to succeed.
Win or lose, I ride with the Cowboys!
I also had a little league baseball experience that verged, at times, on being a living example of "Charlie Brown All-Stars." This was before the age of "Everybody is a Winner." We learned to be gracious when we lost, and to be good sports when we won.
But this post isn't about me. It's about the Cowboys.
With such a young and inexperienced team, I'm pleasantly surprised that OSU is 5-2 at this point in the 2014 football season. Each week these kids (the starting lineup's average age is 19 or 20, maybe?) are gaining experience and getting their lumps. Most may have been recruited from schools where the wins and accolades came easy.
At the college level, things are much different - new faces, new looks, learning to work together with new teammates. It's not easy at times to make the adjustment.
Things will get better. There will still be losses - the toughest part of the schedule is here - but these players will survive. They might need to reach down inside ("...do some soul searching," as my dad, would say to his players) and find a way to play above their level. And believe me, it gets hard sometimes to reach down when you're criticized by armchair quarterbacks, who can sit back and watch a game with their drinks and snacks and pick apart things from afar.
When you're in the thick of the action, you don't always see the gaping hole opening to your left, or seeing the secondary target being more open when you're looking at your primary receiver. Your peripheral vision is hampered by your helmet. The roar of the crowd bounces all around and you may not hear a teammate calling to you. If the linemen are towering over you, you might not know whether they are clearing the way, or about to be overcome by an unexpected play. Likewise, if you are setting up a pass block, you might not know that the play is busted and you now have to clear a way for somebody running the ball.
So many things happen in the chaos, and the players have to adjust to changing situations. Experience makes it easier, but it never becomes easy. These guys aren't pros. They will get to play with some of the same teammates for up to four years. Then it's over. Maybe they'll be good enough to go to the pros, but most don't get that opportunity.
Yes, I am an Oklahoma State Cowboys (and Cowgirls, too) fan. These kids are students, are people like you and me, and they work hard to do things that most people cannot or will not do in order to succeed.
Win or lose, I ride with the Cowboys!
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