Starting in the 8th grade, I knew, like most 8th grade boys, that I was immortal and invincible and invulnerable. Unfortunately, what I knew decided to clash with reality one day.
We were at football practice - we didn't have our practice uniforms yet, so we were doing drill in shorts and t-shirts. I was the fastest kid in the 8th grade (for real - you might not believe it to look at me now, LOL), and the coach had us running pass routes. Even though I was slated to be a running back, I loved being able to break out and catch passes.
When my turn came up, it turns out that I was going to be covered by my friend Craig (who was over six feet tall) and his older brother Mark who was in high school and was even taller than Craig. I was maybe 5' 8" at the time, so it was gonna be tricky to catch the ball between two "trees." But I was up to the challenge because I was cocky and fast.
I ran out and got between Craig and Mark, figuring the ball would be thrown when I broke past them.
Wrong!
I looked up and saw that the pass was coming down right in the middle of us, and being the shortest, it didn't look too promising. But I leaped up and somehow managed to snake my arms between the brothers and get one hand on the ball. I pulled it down and grabbed it with the other hand.
Yes! I caught the ball and I was not about to let go!
And then we were all tangled up.
And we fell.
Somehow I ended on the bottom of the pile, but I held onto the ball, although the dirt under my left wrist was really hot!
Uh oh! I remembered the last time something like that burned. It couldn't be happening again. No way!
We got up, and my wrist was swelling. Just like in the 2nd grade, the coach got a hold of my parents, who took me to the hospital where I got x-rays and a cast. At least this time it was only one arm.
I'm one of those people who believe we have guardian angels watching over us. And I sometimes get a little too adventurous and need some help from my guardian angel. And I think this was one time when maybe, just maybe, I had gotten a little too full of myself and because I was too stubborn to drop the ball, my angel decided to drop me.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
"I live for my dreams, and a pocketful of gold"
I heard a story on NPR yesterday morning about how many dollar coins are stored away by the Federal Reserve, because Americans apparently don't want them.
I'm one American who loves these coins. They are nice and heavy and gold in color. They are a conversation starter. I'll put them in a tip jar and find that my service gets a little better. They make wonderful treasures to hide to make a potentially boring present more memorable. Since 2007, they have been minted with the face of each President - U.S. Grant being the latest. And they jingle just like any other coins.
Maybe most people don't like them, but I do. And I find that they are hard to find, which makes each one more of a treasure to me. I finally do have a place where I can get them. There is a vending machine that accepts dollar coins, and I found that if I put $1.00 in smaller denomination coins (nickels, dimes, quarters) and push the coin return, the machine will spit out a nice, shiny dollar coin. I have several Presidents and a few Sacajawea ones as well.
I think it's cool to have a pocketful of gold jingling a merry tune as I stroll through life.
I'm one American who loves these coins. They are nice and heavy and gold in color. They are a conversation starter. I'll put them in a tip jar and find that my service gets a little better. They make wonderful treasures to hide to make a potentially boring present more memorable. Since 2007, they have been minted with the face of each President - U.S. Grant being the latest. And they jingle just like any other coins.
Maybe most people don't like them, but I do. And I find that they are hard to find, which makes each one more of a treasure to me. I finally do have a place where I can get them. There is a vending machine that accepts dollar coins, and I found that if I put $1.00 in smaller denomination coins (nickels, dimes, quarters) and push the coin return, the machine will spit out a nice, shiny dollar coin. I have several Presidents and a few Sacajawea ones as well.
I think it's cool to have a pocketful of gold jingling a merry tune as I stroll through life.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Stillwater teams compete in Odyssey of the Mind World Finals » Local News » Stillwater NewsPress
An article in the local paper about some of our Odyssey of the Mind teams competing in the OM World Finals.
Although the team I was involved with didn't make it to Worlds this year, everyone had a great time working together and competing in the Regional and State competitions. Odyssey of the Mind is a great program for kids K-12!
Rockin' Photoshop
I love Photoshop. I got to use it at a previous job once, and I learned how to so some pretty awesome techniques with it. Since then, as things have changed, I've learned Gimp, which is a lot like Photoshop.
However, recently I was temping and was called upon to cover for an office receptionist who was out for the day. I quickly ran out of things to do (lots of slow periods), but then I found an older copy (CS2) of Photoshop. I'd started out learning CS3, so it was pretty easy to refresh my memory with the techniques, and I found some tutorials online.
I rediscovered my love of Photoshop. And in the process, I created some of what I call "Vacationing Penguins" pictures. Two of them are posted here. Those plus a third one are on my Facebook page.
Photoshop rocks!
However, recently I was temping and was called upon to cover for an office receptionist who was out for the day. I quickly ran out of things to do (lots of slow periods), but then I found an older copy (CS2) of Photoshop. I'd started out learning CS3, so it was pretty easy to refresh my memory with the techniques, and I found some tutorials online.
I rediscovered my love of Photoshop. And in the process, I created some of what I call "Vacationing Penguins" pictures. Two of them are posted here. Those plus a third one are on my Facebook page.
Photoshop rocks!
Monday, June 27, 2011
I Can't Think of Anything to Say
Odd. I'm usually not at a loss for words, but for some reason I can't think of anything to blog about today. Normally, I have something in mind when I sit down at the computer to start writing. Occasionally I find something on the Internet that I pass along.
Today is different. I've drawn a blank. Maybe it has to do with temping as a receptionist today. Between visitors popping in and out of the office, and answering and transferring phone calls, I haven't really had much time to ruminate on some topic.
I'm sure by tomorrow I'll come up with something interesting. Perhaps I'll post another story from my life. Maybe I'll hook up my Bamboo Fun tablet and draw something, then post that. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, though.
I do know what happened today. I just realized I found something to write!
Today is different. I've drawn a blank. Maybe it has to do with temping as a receptionist today. Between visitors popping in and out of the office, and answering and transferring phone calls, I haven't really had much time to ruminate on some topic.
I'm sure by tomorrow I'll come up with something interesting. Perhaps I'll post another story from my life. Maybe I'll hook up my Bamboo Fun tablet and draw something, then post that. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, though.
I do know what happened today. I just realized I found something to write!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
"Graveyard!"
As we got closer to the cemetery we drew in our breaths and held them until we'd passed on down the road. The we let our breaths out and began to breathe normally, once again safe and know that we'd thwarted the plans of the zombies and ghosts and other undead spirits.
This was a game we played as kids. We would hold our breaths as we passed a graveyard, believing that by doing so the undead spirits (especially the bad ones) would not know we were alive and therefore not follow us or, worse, get inhaled into our bodies to possess us.
Boy, we had macabre imaginations back then!
I taught this to my kids. And today, as we approached the city cemetery along 6th Street, I interrupted our conversation and exclaimed, "Graveyard!"
We sucked in our breaths and waited until we passed. After we got past I had a moment of maturity flash into my head and I said, "Aren't I a little too old for this? I mean, technically I'm a adult and should be mature but now."
"No, Dad," piped up Tyler. "Technically, you're an adult. Mature...not so much."
The little wise guy! Okay, he did have a point of sorts. I suppose theoretically I should behave as a mature adult, but that doesn't mean I do. I want to see where in the rules it says I have to be mature. It's scary to think what I'll be like when I'm 70, or 90, or beyond.
It's gonna be fun, though!
This was a game we played as kids. We would hold our breaths as we passed a graveyard, believing that by doing so the undead spirits (especially the bad ones) would not know we were alive and therefore not follow us or, worse, get inhaled into our bodies to possess us.
Boy, we had macabre imaginations back then!
I taught this to my kids. And today, as we approached the city cemetery along 6th Street, I interrupted our conversation and exclaimed, "Graveyard!"
We sucked in our breaths and waited until we passed. After we got past I had a moment of maturity flash into my head and I said, "Aren't I a little too old for this? I mean, technically I'm a adult and should be mature but now."
"No, Dad," piped up Tyler. "Technically, you're an adult. Mature...not so much."
The little wise guy! Okay, he did have a point of sorts. I suppose theoretically I should behave as a mature adult, but that doesn't mean I do. I want to see where in the rules it says I have to be mature. It's scary to think what I'll be like when I'm 70, or 90, or beyond.
It's gonna be fun, though!
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