Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
I Love Stupid Hockey Coaches
Seriously, I do!
Just when things on the ice are getting sloppy and the kids are hacking foolishly and it’s just turning into a frustrating game to referee , a coach will usually come through with some STUPID remark or question – so dumb that it makes me chuckle for the rest of the day. The best part is when it’s a coach who’s whole demeanor has been “I’m Mr. Bigshot Coach”.
So Sunday I had my “Stupid Coach of the Day” experience during my 3rd & last game of the day. This was a game between the "two best teams in the division" (so OK, it’s the “C” league – which if you can figure out from the normal hierarchy of things, means it’s not the “A” league or even the “B” league – so being the two best is a relative issue). The teams were indeed better than most “C” teams – faster, better stickhandlers, more aggressive and harder hitting. The problem is that “C” players usually haven’t learned to “hit” correctly, and these guys were proving it as fast and often as they could. As I whistled my 6th penalty of the first period and was explaining to the player that you can’t legally check an opposing player who does not have the puck. Coach A of the home team overhead this statement and started in.
(Coach A) “WHADDAYOUMEAN they can’t check someone without the puck?”
(me) “Coach, your player was the puck carrier. The only person who can be legally checked IS the puck carrier. Therefore, your player can’t go and throw a check at the opponent.”
(Coach A) “WHAT? You mean to say if I have the puck and someone is about to hit me that I can’t hit him first?”
(Me) “That is correct”
(Coach A) “That’s BULLSHIT”
(Me) “That’s a bench minor penalty. Now you need to put another player into the penalty box.”
You can probably infer that by my labeling him as “Coach A”, there is going to be a “Coach B” (see how much smarter than hockey coach you are!)
Now about half way through the 2nd period and a dozen penalties and twice as many verbal warning to players during the course of action, I’ve had enough and resort to a stunt that I haven’t used in 10 years. I stop the game (but not the time clock) and tell the coaches of both teams that I want to speak to the team captains. As a courtesy (and because 14 year old “C” hockey players occasionally aren’t too bright either) I speak loud enough so that the coaches (and the parents who are now 80 feet away and behind me) can hear what I have to say. I tell them that they WILL NOT continue to play with their hands and sticks up around the head. I tell them that they WILL NOT continue to chase opponents half way across the ice to hit them. They WILL NOT crash into the crowd in front of the goalie after the whistle has blown. From this point on they are going to keep their sticks down and their hands close to the body.
(Coach B) “So your not gonna let them play hockey?”
(Me) “Not this kind of hockey. I encourage them to play the kind of hockey where they don’t try to remove somebodies head.”
(Coach B repeats, because these things apparently sink in slowly) “So your not gonna let them play?”
(Me) “That’s right Coach. I will not allow them to play they way they have been playing.”
Now, because technically I’m speaking to the team captains, I ask them if they understand my instructions. They claim they do, and that they agree to play the game under my conditions. I tell them to go back to their benches and let their teammates know that if they don’t play better that we will play the rest of the game 3-on-3 with two players always in each penalty box ‘til the end.
Not too long later, and after a few more penalties by the home team (the visiting team appeared to have taken the hint),
(Coach B quietly asks me) “Are you gonna keep calling these for the rest of the game?”
(Me) “Coach, that’s up to you and your players.”
(Coach A – in a weak attempt at humor, offers) “I hope you don’t wear out your whistle”
(Me – in the most sincere and professional voice I can muster at the moment) “That’s OK. I always carry a spare.”
Just when things on the ice are getting sloppy and the kids are hacking foolishly and it’s just turning into a frustrating game to referee , a coach will usually come through with some STUPID remark or question – so dumb that it makes me chuckle for the rest of the day. The best part is when it’s a coach who’s whole demeanor has been “I’m Mr. Bigshot Coach”.
So Sunday I had my “Stupid Coach of the Day” experience during my 3rd & last game of the day. This was a game between the "two best teams in the division" (so OK, it’s the “C” league – which if you can figure out from the normal hierarchy of things, means it’s not the “A” league or even the “B” league – so being the two best is a relative issue). The teams were indeed better than most “C” teams – faster, better stickhandlers, more aggressive and harder hitting. The problem is that “C” players usually haven’t learned to “hit” correctly, and these guys were proving it as fast and often as they could. As I whistled my 6th penalty of the first period and was explaining to the player that you can’t legally check an opposing player who does not have the puck. Coach A of the home team overhead this statement and started in.
(Coach A) “WHADDAYOUMEAN they can’t check someone without the puck?”
(me) “Coach, your player was the puck carrier. The only person who can be legally checked IS the puck carrier. Therefore, your player can’t go and throw a check at the opponent.”
(Coach A) “WHAT? You mean to say if I have the puck and someone is about to hit me that I can’t hit him first?”
(Me) “That is correct”
(Coach A) “That’s BULLSHIT”
(Me) “That’s a bench minor penalty. Now you need to put another player into the penalty box.”
You can probably infer that by my labeling him as “Coach A”, there is going to be a “Coach B” (see how much smarter than hockey coach you are!)
Now about half way through the 2nd period and a dozen penalties and twice as many verbal warning to players during the course of action, I’ve had enough and resort to a stunt that I haven’t used in 10 years. I stop the game (but not the time clock) and tell the coaches of both teams that I want to speak to the team captains. As a courtesy (and because 14 year old “C” hockey players occasionally aren’t too bright either) I speak loud enough so that the coaches (and the parents who are now 80 feet away and behind me) can hear what I have to say. I tell them that they WILL NOT continue to play with their hands and sticks up around the head. I tell them that they WILL NOT continue to chase opponents half way across the ice to hit them. They WILL NOT crash into the crowd in front of the goalie after the whistle has blown. From this point on they are going to keep their sticks down and their hands close to the body.
(Coach B) “So your not gonna let them play hockey?”
(Me) “Not this kind of hockey. I encourage them to play the kind of hockey where they don’t try to remove somebodies head.”
(Coach B repeats, because these things apparently sink in slowly) “So your not gonna let them play?”
(Me) “That’s right Coach. I will not allow them to play they way they have been playing.”
Now, because technically I’m speaking to the team captains, I ask them if they understand my instructions. They claim they do, and that they agree to play the game under my conditions. I tell them to go back to their benches and let their teammates know that if they don’t play better that we will play the rest of the game 3-on-3 with two players always in each penalty box ‘til the end.
Not too long later, and after a few more penalties by the home team (the visiting team appeared to have taken the hint),
(Coach B quietly asks me) “Are you gonna keep calling these for the rest of the game?”
(Me) “Coach, that’s up to you and your players.”
(Coach A – in a weak attempt at humor, offers) “I hope you don’t wear out your whistle”
(Me – in the most sincere and professional voice I can muster at the moment) “That’s OK. I always carry a spare.”
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Last canoe trip of the season
Aunt Maria sent an email saying a couple of trees had come down at the pond, and although the canoe (that I had chained down there for the summer) was spared, I probably want to take it home now. Julie, Nikki, Yon, and Tim were the only people at home awake (Sue was in a heavily medicated sleep due to her bad back medicine). Julie was the only child to volunteer to go with me to get it. We decided that being a beautiful sunny albeit cool day, we should at least bring the life jackets and paddles (and warm coats and gloves) and take one last cruise for the year. The water in the pond was unusually low so Julie started by walking the shoreline to the left -over to the Rainbow Girls Camp looking for once-sunken treasure.
Then we paddled out into a light breeze and explored around the Camp Kiwanee boat dock area. We could hear the sounds of men’s voices and hammering and sawing up around the camps main lodge. As we drifted past below, we spotted my brother David and another guy working on side slope between the lodge and the waterfront. After chatting from our floating vessel for a few minutes, we headed back to our own piece of beach and hoisted the canoe onto the roof racks of the car. While I strapped the canoe down, Julie now went to the right, through the Cranberry Cove swim area to explore the now accessible shore along the Kiwanee side of the pond. Ater catching up with her, we followed the long uphill path to the Kiwanee Lodge to see what David was indeed up to. David and his friend Joe were mildly surprised to have unexpected company – particularly David when he then realized “Oh, that was YOU GUYS in the canoe we were just talking too!”. We got the run-down about the “viewing platform” they were going to build, then we joked about getting out before they roped us into helping. Of course, within moments they did – realizing that the two extra sets of hands would indeed be handy in lifting, balancing, and nailing into place the rough platform supports and bracing. After about 15 minutes of manual labor and wisecracks about how they should have hired a professional carpenter (which of co
urse Dave actually is) we were on our way again. Seeing that Aunt Maria was now home (she wasn’t when we came in) I figured we should take a few seconds to let her know we were indeed taking the canoe home. Of course this “few seconds” turned into a half hour, joined by cousin Maureen. On our way out we checked out the “split-in-half-but-not-yet-fallen” tree in Maureen’s yard that was potentially threatening to drop on her roof at the next good gust of wind.
All in all a very pleasant, unexpected, and rare stretch of relaxing middle-of-a-beautiful-day quality time for me and my Julie.
Happy Autumn!
Then we paddled out into a light breeze and explored around the Camp Kiwanee boat dock area. We could hear the sounds of men’s voices and hammering and sawing up around the camps main lodge. As we drifted past below, we spotted my brother David and another guy working on side slope between the lodge and the waterfront. After chatting from our floating vessel for a few minutes, we headed back to our own piece of beach and hoisted the canoe onto the roof racks of the car. While I strapped the canoe down, Julie now went to the right, through the Cranberry Cove swim area to explore the now accessible shore along the Kiwanee side of the pond. Ater catching up with her, we followed the long uphill path to the Kiwanee Lodge to see what David was indeed up to. David and his friend Joe were mildly surprised to have unexpected company – particularly David when he then realized “Oh, that was YOU GUYS in the canoe we were just talking too!”. We got the run-down about the “viewing platform” they were going to build, then we joked about getting out before they roped us into helping. Of course, within moments they did – realizing that the two extra sets of hands would indeed be handy in lifting, balancing, and nailing into place the rough platform supports and bracing. After about 15 minutes of manual labor and wisecracks about how they should have hired a professional carpenter (which of co
urse Dave actually is) we were on our way again. Seeing that Aunt Maria was now home (she wasn’t when we came in) I figured we should take a few seconds to let her know we were indeed taking the canoe home. Of course this “few seconds” turned into a half hour, joined by cousin Maureen. On our way out we checked out the “split-in-half-but-not-yet-fallen” tree in Maureen’s yard that was potentially threatening to drop on her roof at the next good gust of wind.All in all a very pleasant, unexpected, and rare stretch of relaxing middle-of-a-beautiful-day quality time for me and my Julie.
Happy Autumn!
Friday, November 02, 2007
Running Up Plenty (GO PAT'S)
(sung to the tune of RUNNING ON EMPTY by Jackson Browne)
Looking out at the turf rushing under Moss’s heals
Looking up at the ball in the sky, and the mismatch he’s revealed
He’s 6foot 5, and jumps 12 feet high, and they’re covering him three-on-one
And I know where he’s running now, he’s just running on
Running on – scoring a touchdown
Run it up – run it high
Running up – scoring ‘til the last gun, leave you so far behind
Gonna do what we can just to make it so you babies cry
Now don’t be confused, we can whoop you without the need to spy
Scores 69 to your 17 and we’re throwing to 81
Of course we could take a knee but that’s just no fun
Piling on – another touchdown
Run it up – run it high
Running up – scoring ‘til the last gun, leave you so far behind
Every team we beat, we beat them so complete
That they need some reason to believe that it must be that we just know how to cheat
If you stay and fight, that’ll be alright
We’ll just send 5 guys wide, and our dust you will eat
Looking out at Wes Welker and Randy and Stallworth and Watson and more
I don’t know how to tell you all just how easy it seems to score
Tom looks around for the pass rush but his offensive line won’t let them through
Just for a little surprise, well we can run it too
Running on – another touchdown
Run it up – run it high
Running up – scoring ‘til the last gun, leave you so far behind
Belichek’s really tempted To make opponents lose their mind
He’d love to stick it to them and make them kiss his behind
You know I don’t even know why they're wasting our time
Playing out the 4th quarter when they’re so far behind
Looking out at the turf rushing under Moss’s heals
Looking up at the ball in the sky, and the mismatch he’s revealed
He’s 6foot 5, and jumps 12 feet high, and they’re covering him three-on-one
And I know where he’s running now, he’s just running on
Running on – scoring a touchdown
Run it up – run it high
Running up – scoring ‘til the last gun, leave you so far behind
Gonna do what we can just to make it so you babies cry
Now don’t be confused, we can whoop you without the need to spy
Scores 69 to your 17 and we’re throwing to 81
Of course we could take a knee but that’s just no fun
Piling on – another touchdown
Run it up – run it high
Running up – scoring ‘til the last gun, leave you so far behind
Every team we beat, we beat them so complete
That they need some reason to believe that it must be that we just know how to cheat
If you stay and fight, that’ll be alright
We’ll just send 5 guys wide, and our dust you will eat
Looking out at Wes Welker and Randy and Stallworth and Watson and more
I don’t know how to tell you all just how easy it seems to score
Tom looks around for the pass rush but his offensive line won’t let them through
Just for a little surprise, well we can run it too
Running on – another touchdown
Run it up – run it high
Running up – scoring ‘til the last gun, leave you so far behind
Belichek’s really tempted To make opponents lose their mind
He’d love to stick it to them and make them kiss his behind
You know I don’t even know why they're wasting our time
Playing out the 4th quarter when they’re so far behind
Monday, October 29, 2007
Unsolicited advice that Sue say's I shouldn't leave on Katies blog
Katie, Katie, Katie….
Let me start by saying I love reading your blog. You are certainly able to clearly and thoughtfully articulate to the world (all 5 or 10 of us) your thoughts and dreams and fears. It made me smile to see me listed by name in your dream sequence. You should know that we all love you dearly and want the best for you in all that you do. So – against the advice of the smartest person I know who tells me that bloggers don’t really want to hear my opinions, and that women don’t want men to fix things but just listen – I will foolishly offer you some well intentioned words of advice and a well aimed kick in the pants (all with great love and caring).
(What can I say – I’m a father and part of a fathers job is to give unwanted advice, so here goes).
(ps: does the phrase “Be afraid, be very afraid” come to mind here?)
(Stop me if you’ve heard this one before)
(Stop here if you don’t want to hear this at all)
=================
Katie, Katie, Katie,
you have clearly determined that God has:
1. given you a calling
2. created you with the ability to fulfill that calling
3. shown you signs
4. offered you an opportunity
5. done this all with unmistakable clarity
you are able to eloquently convince all of us that:
1. this is all true
2. you are ready for this change
3. you are excited for this to happen
why do you insist on:
1. worrying about if you should do it or not? (you already know the answer)
2. looking to friends and family for advice and guidance? (we would rather give support for your decision, but until you decide, we can't because we don't know what to support)
If you resist following God’s advice (advice you prayed for and clearly received an answer for), why on earth would you follow ours? Faith is trusting in the unknown. If you are on a journey of Faith, how can you not trust?
In your dreams, God has shown you all of the wonderful things He has already provided you with on one train. On the other train He shows you many more wonderful things that He has in store for you. At some point in time they will join together (instead of crashing into each other with one winning over the other - maybe your feeling of being pulled in different directions is a result of the effort you are supposed to go through to join the two trains together. God will give you the power to do so). He has offered you this possibility at the perfect opportune moment in your life.
(remember Captain Jack Sparrows advice: Wait for the opportune moment).
You have free will and can choose whatever path. If you are destined to be somewhere, He will get you there – no matter how hard you make it on Him (and on yourself). If you take a different path than the one He offered you, He will walk with you on your path – constantly getting in your way to try to divert you towards the right direction.
(and you will hear Captain Jack’s voice saying “If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it”)
Here is a question that you have probably heard before (it’s not my own).
“What decision would you make if you had no fears?”
I already know the answer because you have already made it clear, which means that YOU already know the answer, which in turn means that your next blog should be about what to pack and whether to fly out of Boston or Manchester.
Of course you know all of the wonderful people that you will be leaving behind – people that will continue to love and support you. What you don’t yet know is all of the wonderful people and adventures that are awaiting you in Chicago. Maybe whatever you have hoped for in life but have not yet discovered is waiting for you out there. Every moment you hesitate to go find it leaves you standing here unfulfilled and incomplete. Maybe you will go there, find what you are supposed to find, and stay. Maybe you will go there, find what you are supposed to find, and bring it back to share with us. Whatever the answer is, it’s out THERE – not here.
So there it is. My unsolicited advice, advice that I was advised against giving (clearly I don't listen to advice either). I was sternly told that normal people who write in a blog DON’T REALLY WANT TO BE GIVEN ADVICE. I am evidently not normal people – If I write a thought that inspired anyone to want to offer advice, I would hope that they would not withhold it from me – even if the advice was “DON’T BE AN IDIOT - LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!”
Let me start by saying I love reading your blog. You are certainly able to clearly and thoughtfully articulate to the world (all 5 or 10 of us) your thoughts and dreams and fears. It made me smile to see me listed by name in your dream sequence. You should know that we all love you dearly and want the best for you in all that you do. So – against the advice of the smartest person I know who tells me that bloggers don’t really want to hear my opinions, and that women don’t want men to fix things but just listen – I will foolishly offer you some well intentioned words of advice and a well aimed kick in the pants (all with great love and caring).
(What can I say – I’m a father and part of a fathers job is to give unwanted advice, so here goes).
(ps: does the phrase “Be afraid, be very afraid” come to mind here?)
(Stop me if you’ve heard this one before)
(Stop here if you don’t want to hear this at all)
=================
Katie, Katie, Katie,
you have clearly determined that God has:
1. given you a calling
2. created you with the ability to fulfill that calling
3. shown you signs
4. offered you an opportunity
5. done this all with unmistakable clarity
you are able to eloquently convince all of us that:
1. this is all true
2. you are ready for this change
3. you are excited for this to happen
why do you insist on:
1. worrying about if you should do it or not? (you already know the answer)
2. looking to friends and family for advice and guidance? (we would rather give support for your decision, but until you decide, we can't because we don't know what to support)
If you resist following God’s advice (advice you prayed for and clearly received an answer for), why on earth would you follow ours? Faith is trusting in the unknown. If you are on a journey of Faith, how can you not trust?
In your dreams, God has shown you all of the wonderful things He has already provided you with on one train. On the other train He shows you many more wonderful things that He has in store for you. At some point in time they will join together (instead of crashing into each other with one winning over the other - maybe your feeling of being pulled in different directions is a result of the effort you are supposed to go through to join the two trains together. God will give you the power to do so). He has offered you this possibility at the perfect opportune moment in your life.
(remember Captain Jack Sparrows advice: Wait for the opportune moment).
You have free will and can choose whatever path. If you are destined to be somewhere, He will get you there – no matter how hard you make it on Him (and on yourself). If you take a different path than the one He offered you, He will walk with you on your path – constantly getting in your way to try to divert you towards the right direction.
(and you will hear Captain Jack’s voice saying “If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it”)
Here is a question that you have probably heard before (it’s not my own).
“What decision would you make if you had no fears?”
I already know the answer because you have already made it clear, which means that YOU already know the answer, which in turn means that your next blog should be about what to pack and whether to fly out of Boston or Manchester.
Of course you know all of the wonderful people that you will be leaving behind – people that will continue to love and support you. What you don’t yet know is all of the wonderful people and adventures that are awaiting you in Chicago. Maybe whatever you have hoped for in life but have not yet discovered is waiting for you out there. Every moment you hesitate to go find it leaves you standing here unfulfilled and incomplete. Maybe you will go there, find what you are supposed to find, and stay. Maybe you will go there, find what you are supposed to find, and bring it back to share with us. Whatever the answer is, it’s out THERE – not here.
So there it is. My unsolicited advice, advice that I was advised against giving (clearly I don't listen to advice either). I was sternly told that normal people who write in a blog DON’T REALLY WANT TO BE GIVEN ADVICE. I am evidently not normal people – If I write a thought that inspired anyone to want to offer advice, I would hope that they would not withhold it from me – even if the advice was “DON’T BE AN IDIOT - LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!”
Monday, October 15, 2007
Carver Townie Tune
My favorite morning radio station WROR with Lauren & Wally is having a contest. One one the morning team guys, Tom Doyle, does parodies of songs and local towns -- called Tom's Townie Tunes. They decided to have listeners submit "Townie Tune" songs of their own about their own towns, with the grand prize being $5000 and having Tom Doyle record it and play it on air.
OK -I can do that (and could really use the 5 grand!!!)
(sing to the tune on Jimmy Buffet’s Margeritaville)
Livin’ near the Cape
Way down route 58
Watching the tourists at King Richards Faire
The traffic is a pain
Down by Savery Lane
Pickup trucks of all sizes are all we own here
Wasting away our day down here near Edaville
All our houses surrounded by bogs
Some locals complain that no one knows our real name
well it's CARVER
and no, it's NOT on Cape Cod
I don’t know the reason
Our taxes are squeezin’
Now no one who’s from here could ever afford
but we’ve got 20 sub shops
And one Chinese restaurant
With this kind of nightlife no wonder we’re bored
Wasting a whole days pay down here at Edaville
Trying to get my family a ride on the train
Some people say the Lights look good in the snow
All I know
Our winter’s nothing but rain
Over there at the gun club
It’s not even a good pub That's too bad,
maybe all the zealots would just stay in there
Our Catholic Church filling
The old Star Market building
If our God's in a strip mall we haven’t a prayer
Wasting away a day down here near Edaville
Waiting for those cranberries to float
Some people say we’ve got some old gov’nors name
But I know
We have no reason to gloat
Yes and
Some people complain theres chemicals, noise, and fog
Why’d they buy
A house by the bog
OK -I can do that (and could really use the 5 grand!!!)
(sing to the tune on Jimmy Buffet’s Margeritaville)
Livin’ near the Cape
Way down route 58
Watching the tourists at King Richards Faire
The traffic is a pain
Down by Savery Lane
Pickup trucks of all sizes are all we own here
Wasting away our day down here near Edaville
All our houses surrounded by bogs
Some locals complain that no one knows our real name
well it's CARVER
and no, it's NOT on Cape Cod
I don’t know the reason
Our taxes are squeezin’
Now no one who’s from here could ever afford
but we’ve got 20 sub shops
And one Chinese restaurant
With this kind of nightlife no wonder we’re bored
Wasting a whole days pay down here at Edaville
Trying to get my family a ride on the train
Some people say the Lights look good in the snow
All I know
Our winter’s nothing but rain
Over there at the gun club
It’s not even a good pub That's too bad,
maybe all the zealots would just stay in there
Our Catholic Church filling
The old Star Market building
If our God's in a strip mall we haven’t a prayer
Wasting away a day down here near Edaville
Waiting for those cranberries to float
Some people say we’ve got some old gov’nors name
But I know
We have no reason to gloat
Yes and
Some people complain theres chemicals, noise, and fog
Why’d they buy
A house by the bog
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Blog MEME
it's another meme! (received from the wonderful MARGMOR - I wonder who she really is behind that ghost-writer name?)
Here's a fun quiz made up especially for bloggers. The rules are easy. Just post the quiz on your blog and answer the questions, then pass it on to five other bloggers, and link to them in your post.
(sorry, you mistake me for someone who’s savy, or who follows the rules)
1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo?
the what’s it's?
2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there?
can't get there from here
3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be?
run-of-the-mill-poorly-trained-formerly-Protestant-basic-believer (is that even one of the choices in the available drop-down list)
4. Are you a comment junkie?
ABSOLUTELY – love to leave them (have been known to go overboard), love to see if they will actually get posted or not (someone gets all snooty and refuses to post comments that may have any hint of dissagreement or dissent - where's the fun in that, so I am compelled to see how much I can get away with saying before I cross her editor line -- BAAAH HUMBUG!) (just a little game I like to play)
I love to get them (and I don’t care if you agree or not) and am always childishly bummed when nobody leaves comments for me (I spend a lot of time being bummed)
5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on?
Well “duh”! I love to read how witty I was!
6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog?
Sure, often – well, actually always with inserting some "witty" made-up name – I have every faith that you know who I really am! (the stupid wisecrack remarks would give it away anyway so it's not like "anonymous" is anything anonymous)
7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on?
actually, THAT I don’t put much thought into, although I suppose I would be flattered (and could be easily tricked into thinking it means you like me if you added a link to me - but alas, I'm not linked there so I know too well where I despondantly stand)
(:-(
8. Which blog is the first one you check?
HerMajesty of course (Always start with the queen! Who knows, maybe she said something nice about me!)
Then, faithfully every day (work is slow, so usually OCDishly multiple times – how am I supposed to know what time of day somebody might post, and I'd hate you to have you think that you didn't get read until the next day?) Mary, Margo, Paula, Mary’s graveyard blog, my own (just in case somebody left a comment and I didn’t get the email notification – no, I don’t screen them. If you comment, it’ll be there - say whatever you want - good, bad, or scathing). Now Julie, Corey and neice Stephanie have blogs – so my list is growning.
9. Have you met any other bloggers in person?
People I know are the only ones I care to follow. It's a neat way to keep in touch despite everybodies crazy busy schedules and "other-side-of-Boston" geographical obstacles which make it hard to see each other on a regular basis
10. What are you reading?
say what? Books? (You mistake me for somebody who reads anything OTHER than your blogs?)
Well I did just review the USAHockey rule book 2007-2009 edition - time to take my annual referee test.
I pass this quiz on to :
I got no one – they are all taken already
Here's a fun quiz made up especially for bloggers. The rules are easy. Just post the quiz on your blog and answer the questions, then pass it on to five other bloggers, and link to them in your post.
(sorry, you mistake me for someone who’s savy, or who follows the rules)
1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo?
the what’s it's?
2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there?
can't get there from here
3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be?
run-of-the-mill-poorly-trained-formerly-Protestant-basic-believer (is that even one of the choices in the available drop-down list)
4. Are you a comment junkie?
ABSOLUTELY – love to leave them (have been known to go overboard), love to see if they will actually get posted or not (someone gets all snooty and refuses to post comments that may have any hint of dissagreement or dissent - where's the fun in that, so I am compelled to see how much I can get away with saying before I cross her editor line -- BAAAH HUMBUG!) (just a little game I like to play)
I love to get them (and I don’t care if you agree or not) and am always childishly bummed when nobody leaves comments for me (I spend a lot of time being bummed)
5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on?
Well “duh”! I love to read how witty I was!
6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog?
Sure, often – well, actually always with inserting some "witty" made-up name – I have every faith that you know who I really am! (the stupid wisecrack remarks would give it away anyway so it's not like "anonymous" is anything anonymous)
7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on?
actually, THAT I don’t put much thought into, although I suppose I would be flattered (and could be easily tricked into thinking it means you like me if you added a link to me - but alas, I'm not linked there so I know too well where I despondantly stand)
(:-(
8. Which blog is the first one you check?
HerMajesty of course (Always start with the queen! Who knows, maybe she said something nice about me!)
Then, faithfully every day (work is slow, so usually OCDishly multiple times – how am I supposed to know what time of day somebody might post, and I'd hate you to have you think that you didn't get read until the next day?) Mary, Margo, Paula, Mary’s graveyard blog, my own (just in case somebody left a comment and I didn’t get the email notification – no, I don’t screen them. If you comment, it’ll be there - say whatever you want - good, bad, or scathing). Now Julie, Corey and neice Stephanie have blogs – so my list is growning.
9. Have you met any other bloggers in person?
People I know are the only ones I care to follow. It's a neat way to keep in touch despite everybodies crazy busy schedules and "other-side-of-Boston" geographical obstacles which make it hard to see each other on a regular basis
10. What are you reading?
say what? Books? (You mistake me for somebody who reads anything OTHER than your blogs?)
Well I did just review the USAHockey rule book 2007-2009 edition - time to take my annual referee test.
I pass this quiz on to :
I got no one – they are all taken already
Friday, October 05, 2007
The Island - Oct 2007
Work is slow, so I had the day off. Kids were at school and Suzie was sleeping (after working the over-night shift). I was alone for the day and it was a warm fall day, perfect for taking a little canoe ride out to the island (no - not THAT island, the Green Harbor River family island) to see how things looked. Eric has been out during the summer to mow and clear some, to keep it from getting too over grown.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
It's Almost That Time again
I just checked the calendar and counted back to when the last edition came out, and now I can feel the excitement building within. I faithfully (obsessively-compulsively) check every day to see if it's arrived (sometimes twice a day) even though I know I'm being silly - it'll get here when it gets here - but every day that it DOESN'T arrive means it's one day closer to arriving. Of course I (and many other fans I know) am eagerly looking forward to the latest edition of the "PAULA QUARTERLY REPORT" ( http://pflan.blogspot.com/ ). She is clearly the smartest blogger of us all. Instead of constantly satiating our greedy need for daily attention, she cleverly holds us at bay - making us desire her insight and philosophy all the more. Pure genius she is - and we impatiently wait, hoping today will be the day that she blesses us by sharing her genius with us.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Rink Rat
Hockey season 2007-2008 is officially open! 25 years of refereeing youth hockey and still enjoying it (even the clueless coaches and hapless players). It helps that my legs are still twice as long as most of the kids so I can still out-skate them end-to-end. And what's not to love - it's the one place I can go knowing that I have the authority to win every arguement (even if by some longshot I'm actually wrong, the stripes make me right).
Shame I don't get to wear them at home!
Al Oerter - 4-time Olympian Gold Medal Discus winner
Just heard on the radio that former Olympian discus thrower Al Oerter passed away today at 71 years old. Why on earth would this be noteworthy to me?
Well, first off, because I have met him. I would have been somewhere between 3 and 6 years old. Our neighbors across the street had a farm and the oldest boy Al Hall was an Olympic medal winning Hammer thrower and a friend of Al Oerters. Occassionally, the two Al's would practice together in a field on the farm.
(see also http://30phillipsst.blogspot.com/2007/02/playing-in-fields-or-halls-farm.html )
Secondly, as I was looking to see what info I could find about Mr. Oerter, I discovered a fascinating (to me anyway) comparison between him and my daughter Julie. They both started out as runners in high school, at 15 years old they both switched to discus, they both compete(d) for fun as a hobby (OK, a very serious hobby for Al) and competed with the simple goal of just throwing as far as they could (Al claimed to not understand why throwers started having rivalries because in his day they were all friends, during and after competition - and I see Julie having the same philisophical outlook). After retirement, Al took to painting as a professional artist - which is of course Julie's ultimate goal in life.
Who knows, maybe Julie will make the Olympics some day - just to complete the comparison.
(read article about Al Oerter at
http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=21022.html )
Thursday, September 27, 2007
This just Poppled into my mind (NO, that’s NOT a typo)
Actually it’s a thought I’ve had off and on for a number of years now – about developing a musical religious program (using mostly all secular popular radio songs). I already developed a concept regarding mixing secular and praise music into a youth retreat format while acting as the music director for YOW retreats (Youth Outreach Weekend). YOW is no longer, but the concept remains – looking for a new outlet. Sue attended a 2-day retreat for area Youth Ministers which was run by two young men who’s act/program/call-it-what-you-will is known as “Popple”. They sing and play instruments and joke and lead prayer and witness and in general, evangelize – and I missed it. I did get to stop in later at night just to meet them and casually jam for a bit. They seem like real nice guys, and it’s cool to think that their “job” is to travel around the country getting paid to put on retreats/programs of various durations/intensity. Not a bad gig if you can get it. It’s probably good that I didn’t get to see them “in action” ‘cause I’d probably spend way too much time thinking “I could do that” (actually, you reading this is proof that I already have) even though logistics if nothing else would say otherwise. Having a wife & kids and being a wandering minstrel just doesn’t go together very well (damned family values are killing me!). I suppose it would help to for starters actually develop a program (it’s not enough to just have an idea and have an ability) but we have trouble finding the time to attend retreats, never mind develop and run one professionally. But maybe some day I’ll have time to work it all out (of course “that day” will probably be as I lie in my bed, an invalid at the nursing home. I’ll do lots of good thinking then!). Sue could be the MC and primary speaker and I would be her support/fill-in-the –gaps/offer-a-different-voice-perspective/music person (I know –it’s hard to imagine us in those roles but I think we could pull it off convincingly). Whether a real possibility or just a pipe-dream, it’s fun to envision it. And of course, we’d need a catchy name for ourselves.
(no Margo, not Both Dakota's)
(no Margo, not Both Dakota's)
The High Holy Cathedral of Saint Ted
Fenway Park - Thursday Sept. 20th
Earlier in the week my friend Mark called Sue to ask if we wanted his tickets to the Thursday Night RedSox game. Mark has “week-night-games-only season tickets” (who knew you could be that specific?) and we have managed to attend a few games over the years on night that he was unable to go. So, four games left in the regular season, a chance to clinch 1st place (if we were to win and if the Yanks had been kind enough to lose), of course we want to go!
Alright, so we lost and the Yankees won – but we totally enjoyed ourselves at baseballs greatest shrine!
Earlier in the week my friend Mark called Sue to ask if we wanted his tickets to the Thursday Night RedSox game. Mark has “week-night-games-only season tickets” (who knew you could be that specific?) and we have managed to attend a few games over the years on night that he was unable to go. So, four games left in the regular season, a chance to clinch 1st place (if we were to win and if the Yanks had been kind enough to lose), of course we want to go!
Alright, so we lost and the Yankees won – but we totally enjoyed ourselves at baseballs greatest shrine!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Happy Phone Call
So I'm at work and my phone rings (usually means it's an upset customer) so I answer with my best Customer Service voice and am pleasantly surprised to hear Mary's chearful voice saying "Hi Papa" (she apparently doesn't know that I now have my own cell phone back from Corey -- and funny but she is the only person in the world who refers to me as "Papa" not that I mind, it's sorta cute - just an observation as I don't know where it originated from or when). Just wanted to tell me who she bumped into as she was returning to work from lunch break and happened to hold the door for a very large mailman who was entering at the same time. OK - I already know who THAT is before she tells me. Boston, Mail Man, Very Large -- the one and only "Little Drummer Boy" Andy. She of course confirms this to be true. He recognized her and spoke up first - she (who until just recently was still a kid and apparently never picked up on the fact that Andy was a mailman or that he worked in Boston - but to her credit did know he was very large) was at first caught off guard (the shades threw her off?) and then recognized him. So she told him how the family was and he told her about the movie that was coming out that he was an extra in (Game Plan), and that he hasn't played the drums for a while (well I coulda told ya that - they are still in storage at our church for the past 6 months). Anyway, what a nice surprise call - hearing unexpectedly from a loving daughter about a good friend - made a nice day even better.
Across My Own Universe
I just saw the new musical/movie “Across The Universe”.
Stunningly good – and that’s my completely biased opinion.
I’m not sure how to describe it. I’m not sure why or even how it affected me. I’m sure there must be deep psychological reasons and underlying issues and repressed memories and unfulfilled dreams churning inside of me that lots of therapy could wring out. In 1969 I started high school, my brother started college, the Vietnam War was raging, psychedelia and hippydom was trying to spread peace and love even if it meant fighting the police and National Guard, and music (specifically The Beatles) was sort of a lightning rod for channeling young people’s emotions.
I liked the musical “Hair” – the music, the story, the performers, the vibrant colors – but the characters did seem somewhat like exaggerated charactatures of common 60’s strereotypes. I’m sure that somewhere those exact characters existed, but I didn’t personally know any that were quite that extreme (in their own individual stereotypes) and it was certainly a stretch to think they all would have ended up associated together as they were in the plot. This story feels real, the characters are not larger-than-life. You do not feel like “here is the hippy, here is the tortured soul, here is the innocent sweetheart”, even thought they are all there. This would be a very good story without the music (or with different music). But here, the story line fits the music, or the music fits the story line – not only fits but is an essential part of the dialogue and the plot. It is heresy (to some Beatles fanatics) to imply that somebody could actually improve a Beatles song, but the interpretations of the songs so impressively fit the mood of each moment of the movie (no, not fit the mood – define the mood) that I was so glad that they didn’t just use the original Beatles songs, they recreated them powerfully. As stand alone songs they are beautiful, sweet, sad, joyous, and well loved friends forever. Used within a story, with characters who bring specific emotions out of them, with visual and physical content applied to them they can make you cry in pain or shake your soul or leap for joy or fall in love. AND you could insert yourself into the story as being any one of the characters and feel exactly what they were feeling on screen. But in the end, I’m not too interested in explaining the movie to you – although I will highly recommend you go see it (especially anyone between the ages of 50 – 60).
What I wish I could address is the way I respond to music (and I’m sure I will fail in trying). Most of you might want to simply stop here now, as the rest is destined to come off sounding like a vain attempt at being transcendental and pseudo-psychological and self-indulgent or just a load of crap. As much as I know I should not attempt to explain, I am much more stubborn than I am intelligent – so here goes.
There is something about certain music (not all music) that affects me deeply. Sure, lots of music can prompt lots people to tap their toes, bounce their heads, rise up and move or sing. It’s a common reaction and for some people, the primary function of music – simply entertainment. The right music can make my entire being hum. My insides react like a tuning fork that has encountered the exact matching frequency and responds by spontaneously vibrating. Susan was actually able to sense it as it was happening (she herself has an amazing ability to tune in to other peoples feelings) even though we were just sitting still – holding hands or with my arm over her shoulder. Harmonies and certain chord progressions (and usage of dischords) do that to me. It’s not a note, but the combined affects of specific notes- used simultaneously, or in sequence as the resonance or memory of the previous note is still audible. It literally moves my inner being like a microwave oven setting the molecules of frozen food into motion and generating tremendous heat. In particular, the songs “Dear Prudence” and “Because” nearly brought me to tears during the movie – and she could feel it through my arm. These are songs that most people easily pass over – would never show up on anybody’s list of “1000 greatest songs ever recorded” or even “top 20 Beatles songs”. But for me it’s as if I’m the earth, with a thick solid crust. Underneath is a mass of molten emotion, well contained (some may argue TOO well contained) and only able to occasionally vent through narrow, temporary outlets. But somehow, from somewhere, some harmonic vibration causes the lava to become excited and boil with greater intensity, building up pressure. This can cause the outer crust to feel excitedly alive and unusually flexible – bordering on ecstasy, but also bordering on pure serenity. It is complicated, and made more so as I feel as if I could easily go into a trance-like state if only I would allow it. What if I totally gave in and let it all flow out? (Is this where an accusation of being anal-retentive comes into play?)
There is an old story about a scientist who is working on the concept of the song that gets stuck in your mind and you can’t get it out. But of course you eventually do. So he studies and experiments and tries to construct “the perfect song” that you would happily NEVER get out of your head – and he succeeds and goes into a blissfully vegetative state for the rest of his life. His assistants are of course desperately tempted to know what the song sounds like but can see what their fate will be if they dare listen.
I have wondered what would happen if I assembled my perfect collection of songs (it would be HEAVILY dominated by Beatles) and put on my headphones. Maybe my controlling my insides from boiling too much is saving me from certain self-absorbed destruction, or maybe I’m preventing an incredible inner force from coming forth and redefining a totally transformed version of me. Like the scientists assistants dilemma, is it worth the risk? Why am I like this (not the long-winded story-telling problem (that’s a different issue), the inner musical vibration thing)? Do other people feel this way? About other things? HerMajesty about babies and puppies? Certainly some religious people feel this way about God? Maybe it’s like Timmy and his numbers in his head? Am I (are we) supposed to do something about it or simply live with it? But it’s not like I could turn it into a career or save peoples lives with it. It’s just my own personal universe.
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