I think the one lady was on strike!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-fRDG_yzlY&feature=related
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Cops & Ducks
A "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" classic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSs7NCWp6kA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSs7NCWp6kA&feature=related
Dena, Amazon Woman
Dena's art work is on display at Amazon.com! She was contracted by author Leo Kiesewetter to design the cover for his mystery novel. Here it is... surely the cover is worth more than $14.95 alone. It's a steal!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Leo+Kiesewetter&x=24&y=15
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Leo+Kiesewetter&x=24&y=15
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Who Says Europeans Don't Play Enough Defense?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/Video-Miracle-buzzer-beater-lifts-Croatian-team?urn=top,237060
Baggage-Free Living
"You have more of a feeling of personal resentment than I have. Perhaps I have too little of it; but I never thought it paid. A man doesn't have the time to spend half his life in quarrels. If any man ceases to attack me, I never remember the past against him." - Abraham Lincoln
If the guy can forgive half a nation plotting his death, how can I do less against those who challenge me in brash or even completely unwitting ways?
If the guy can forgive half a nation plotting his death, how can I do less against those who challenge me in brash or even completely unwitting ways?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Dunk You Very Much
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Video-Bango-strikes-again-this-time-from-above?urn=nba,237019
Out Of Our Hands
"I don't see what is to be gained by worrying. I do the best job I possibly can, and leave the results in the laps of the gods." - J.C. Penney
It's A Small World
"Obviously, circumstances alone do not make us happy or unhappy. It is the way we react to circumstances that determines our feelings. Someone said that the kingdom of heaven is within you. That is where the kingdom of hell is, too." - Dale Carnegie
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Relaxation And Recreation
"The most relaxing recreating forces are a healthy faith, sleep, music and laughter. Have faith - learn to sleep well - love good music - see the funny side of life - and health and happiness will be yours." - Anonymous
SAC 30th Year Reunion
The window let in the gloam of a cloud-covered sky, and the cool damp air of springtime as I rolled over in bed on this lazy Sunday morning.
To go or not to go?
It was 9:00. The reunion was at 10:30. My body felt the usual morning-after stiffness that follows a blitz of Saturday basketball.
I'd prepaid the $8 for the ISU Student Alumni Council 30th reunion breakfast buffet at the new ISU Alumni Center. I live ten minutes from it (unlike, for example, the person who flew in from California).
Let's go.
The introverted part of me has never been entirely comfortable in socially mingling crowds. It first struck me when I tagged along with a couple of college freshmen buddies to a fraternity party. I was out of there within fifteen minutes! This could become a post all about the various professional, family and other gatherings that I've passed over through the decades since... suffice to say that the backwards blessing of it all is a heightened awareness of others' discomfort that serves me fabulously well as a host/facilitator.
Introverts are energy-drained, rather than energy-fed, by reunions. So they rationalize: What's the lasting benefit? What lasting relationships can be kindled or re-kindled in so short a time? The larger plan of fate has whisked us apart like beach sand as part of a grand purpose. What would it serve for me to sit at a table with a group of strangers, or friends fairly engrossed in their stronger memories with each other?
Well, that was just useless thinking. This was a great time!
Jenny (Niedbalski) Chambers gave me one of those king-sized hugs of hers and we caught up on a dozen years of missed time. There were photos aplenty that stirred up warm, hilarious and forgotten memories. There were Karen Brown, Bambi Burgard, Trudy Gross, Scott and Lisa Swan, Laura Harris and Jennifer (Knight) Risher looking just as well as they did back then. And there was advisor Barb Todd, with that same energy and heartfelt speech that drew the introverted and extroverted alike into SAC as a big happy family. The philosophy she shared today - to be a mom who worked, rather than a working mom - was a spot-on explanation of SAC's wild success. Even for us "middle children" wallflowers who didn't realize it, she was Mom away from home. And those moments of inspiration are the sparkles of reflected sunshine that happen when two grains of sand on the beach come together in a moment of random yet beautiful destiny. In this case, a moment captured by a million photos snapped by dutiful spouses that are coming soon to a Facebook page near you!
To go or not to go?
It was 9:00. The reunion was at 10:30. My body felt the usual morning-after stiffness that follows a blitz of Saturday basketball.
I'd prepaid the $8 for the ISU Student Alumni Council 30th reunion breakfast buffet at the new ISU Alumni Center. I live ten minutes from it (unlike, for example, the person who flew in from California).
Let's go.
The introverted part of me has never been entirely comfortable in socially mingling crowds. It first struck me when I tagged along with a couple of college freshmen buddies to a fraternity party. I was out of there within fifteen minutes! This could become a post all about the various professional, family and other gatherings that I've passed over through the decades since... suffice to say that the backwards blessing of it all is a heightened awareness of others' discomfort that serves me fabulously well as a host/facilitator.
Introverts are energy-drained, rather than energy-fed, by reunions. So they rationalize: What's the lasting benefit? What lasting relationships can be kindled or re-kindled in so short a time? The larger plan of fate has whisked us apart like beach sand as part of a grand purpose. What would it serve for me to sit at a table with a group of strangers, or friends fairly engrossed in their stronger memories with each other?
Well, that was just useless thinking. This was a great time!
Jenny (Niedbalski) Chambers gave me one of those king-sized hugs of hers and we caught up on a dozen years of missed time. There were photos aplenty that stirred up warm, hilarious and forgotten memories. There were Karen Brown, Bambi Burgard, Trudy Gross, Scott and Lisa Swan, Laura Harris and Jennifer (Knight) Risher looking just as well as they did back then. And there was advisor Barb Todd, with that same energy and heartfelt speech that drew the introverted and extroverted alike into SAC as a big happy family. The philosophy she shared today - to be a mom who worked, rather than a working mom - was a spot-on explanation of SAC's wild success. Even for us "middle children" wallflowers who didn't realize it, she was Mom away from home. And those moments of inspiration are the sparkles of reflected sunshine that happen when two grains of sand on the beach come together in a moment of random yet beautiful destiny. In this case, a moment captured by a million photos snapped by dutiful spouses that are coming soon to a Facebook page near you!
High/Low Week 15 2010
On Friday I learned that I'd miscommunicated something to a co-worker in a way that was frustrating to her. Never a good feeling to see someone visibly confused and upset. What next? Apology, for starters... my job as a leader is to be clear about our vision. In that action, there's a balance between "enough" and "too much." I apologized three times, first in the presence of another co-worker when the issue first came to light, again after we were alone, and a third time in an e-mail to other members of the team who were impacted. That e-mail also explained the reasoning and the reality of my thoughts on the issue. I think that was "enough"... important to leave no stone unturned in these matters. To be reserved in communications like this is to sow the seeds of a deceiver, which is the downfall of trust. I also set out a plan for us to discuss the matter in a quick small meeting down the road. In my experience there are few worse actions in relationships than to choose a direction without sufficient explanation and discussion. Then we'll move singularly forward - no wasting time or their confidence in beating myself up in front of them.
Friday was an exhilarating day at the office. Tyson impressed Life Tax well enough to hire him into a leadership position. Such moves always involve some pain - in this case friends of mine were disappointed candidates for the job, and my own workload will trend upward in his absence for at least a few months. But if I've been able to influence Tyson as an employee to any positive degree that my old Life Tax boss Rusty Schopp did for me, then this result feels like repaying the place that still feels like my professional home.
Also, we hired a new programmer employee... the culmination of a year-long odyssey to sell the need for the position, patiently wait for divine intervention to deliver the right person and our good sense to make the selection.
Finally, some supervision duties were rotated in order to groom the future leadership of the department for what would otherwise be a more volatile change.
Thus succession planning rolls on for two key employees with retirement on the not-too-distant horizon, and I do consider it a blessing to have been brought to this department at this time for the match of my skills and experience to suit these needs.
Another long journey was victorious when I received a notice from the Secretary of State's office renewing our condo association's status as a non-profit. Since this involved completing over ten years of unfiled reports caused by the unwitting lapse of our status years ago, and an April 30 deadline looms to use this status to avoid a $50 charge for renewing our pool license, it was a blissful near-miraculous gift that the bureaucracy was so perfectly overcome.
Lastly, today was the reunion of the 30th anniversary of ISU's Student Alumni Council. More to come on that later, but you all know the emotional high of seeing old friends - one of the great fuels of many faiths.
Friday was an exhilarating day at the office. Tyson impressed Life Tax well enough to hire him into a leadership position. Such moves always involve some pain - in this case friends of mine were disappointed candidates for the job, and my own workload will trend upward in his absence for at least a few months. But if I've been able to influence Tyson as an employee to any positive degree that my old Life Tax boss Rusty Schopp did for me, then this result feels like repaying the place that still feels like my professional home.
Also, we hired a new programmer employee... the culmination of a year-long odyssey to sell the need for the position, patiently wait for divine intervention to deliver the right person and our good sense to make the selection.
Finally, some supervision duties were rotated in order to groom the future leadership of the department for what would otherwise be a more volatile change.
Thus succession planning rolls on for two key employees with retirement on the not-too-distant horizon, and I do consider it a blessing to have been brought to this department at this time for the match of my skills and experience to suit these needs.
Another long journey was victorious when I received a notice from the Secretary of State's office renewing our condo association's status as a non-profit. Since this involved completing over ten years of unfiled reports caused by the unwitting lapse of our status years ago, and an April 30 deadline looms to use this status to avoid a $50 charge for renewing our pool license, it was a blissful near-miraculous gift that the bureaucracy was so perfectly overcome.
Lastly, today was the reunion of the 30th anniversary of ISU's Student Alumni Council. More to come on that later, but you all know the emotional high of seeing old friends - one of the great fuels of many faiths.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Great, Great Joy
Beware Hidden Bloggers... Dena and I are jamming to old favorites and sharing them with the world tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XGXHsfzmME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XGXHsfzmME
I Am Free
Whether you're a churchgoer or a freedom fan, this little anthem pumps the blood in the morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWv-UOHzaIc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWv-UOHzaIc
Fashion Shriek
Why is it cool for baseball managers to dress in the uniforms of their players? Maybe because the site of Lou Piniella or Tommy Lasorda in tight-fitting clothes adds subtle comic relief to the day.
I mean, wouldn't you pay an extra couple of bucks for a hoops game if Stan Van Gundy were dressed in a tank top and baggy shorts?
Or John Wooden?
There would be waaaaay fewer swimming and wrestling coaches, I think. Remember Mary Lou Retton's famous gym coach Bela Karolyi?
Oh, my. Take an extra sleeping pill tonight kiddies.
I mean, wouldn't you pay an extra couple of bucks for a hoops game if Stan Van Gundy were dressed in a tank top and baggy shorts?
Or John Wooden?
There would be waaaaay fewer swimming and wrestling coaches, I think. Remember Mary Lou Retton's famous gym coach Bela Karolyi?
Oh, my. Take an extra sleeping pill tonight kiddies.
Hole Some Advice
"You do not get stomach ulcers from what you eat. You get ulcers from what is eating you." - Dr. Joseph F. Montague
Friday, April 23, 2010
Three Steps To Worryshoot
1. Analyze the situation fearlessly and honestly and figure out the worst that could possibly happen as a result of this failure.
2. After figuring out the worst that could possibly happen, accept it, if necessary.
3. Calmly devote time and energy to trying to improve upon the worst which has been accepted mentally.
2. After figuring out the worst that could possibly happen, accept it, if necessary.
3. Calmly devote time and energy to trying to improve upon the worst which has been accepted mentally.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Working The Dirt
I think a couple of my favorite ingredients in a work environment are generosity and patience.
A former supervisor of mine would laugh at the patience part, since I once charged into a new position and laid a regime of record-keeping on top of my department that had all the effect of tossing anchors to swimmers.
Maybe it had something to do with the tiny plants that I decided to put in my office years ago to prove that I could, in fact, raise a living thing. Faithful semi-weekly watering has yielded deep green sprouts that color my office and bloom three times their original size. Meanwhile, I've been more accepting of life's gradual and inevitable change. Sprouts can shoot in random directions, and ideas can flower or wilt. If the soil is fertile with trust, and generosity is steadily applied, then in time the right answer for the team reveals itself. I can try to stretch the leaves faster than they're meant to grow and shred them in the process, I can twist them in a different direction and choke them off. And though I still slip into that destructive mode too often, the best results have come from waiting for the harvest.
A former supervisor of mine would laugh at the patience part, since I once charged into a new position and laid a regime of record-keeping on top of my department that had all the effect of tossing anchors to swimmers.
Maybe it had something to do with the tiny plants that I decided to put in my office years ago to prove that I could, in fact, raise a living thing. Faithful semi-weekly watering has yielded deep green sprouts that color my office and bloom three times their original size. Meanwhile, I've been more accepting of life's gradual and inevitable change. Sprouts can shoot in random directions, and ideas can flower or wilt. If the soil is fertile with trust, and generosity is steadily applied, then in time the right answer for the team reveals itself. I can try to stretch the leaves faster than they're meant to grow and shred them in the process, I can twist them in a different direction and choke them off. And though I still slip into that destructive mode too often, the best results have come from waiting for the harvest.
Call Waiting
"My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened." - Montaigne
I had a message from an insurance agent on my voice mail when I arrived at work this morning. The agent's making a request that will be a challenge to satisfy, and deals with a subject that I'm only modestly well-versed in. I spent a little time playing out different possible routes the call might take, with some worry about reaching a point where I'd be without answers. Then I said, What the heck? I'm just going to call her, and if I hit a bald patch say "I don't know, but I'll get you what you need."
Stay tuned... she wasn't in and I left a message. So I have all night to worry about how it might go when she calls. And I choose not to worry. As long as I'm optimistic, things will be fine. Meanwhile, I choose to enjoy the moment.
I had a message from an insurance agent on my voice mail when I arrived at work this morning. The agent's making a request that will be a challenge to satisfy, and deals with a subject that I'm only modestly well-versed in. I spent a little time playing out different possible routes the call might take, with some worry about reaching a point where I'd be without answers. Then I said, What the heck? I'm just going to call her, and if I hit a bald patch say "I don't know, but I'll get you what you need."
Stay tuned... she wasn't in and I left a message. So I have all night to worry about how it might go when she calls. And I choose not to worry. As long as I'm optimistic, things will be fine. Meanwhile, I choose to enjoy the moment.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Jumping For A Run
Maybe he's in the wrong sport!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Superman-leap-makes-Fordham-player-a-viral-video?urn=mlb,235668
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Superman-leap-makes-Fordham-player-a-viral-video?urn=mlb,235668
Monday, April 19, 2010
Trust-Worthy?
I was at a seminar today where the speaker suggested that putting a parent's estate in trust might be the way to go. The gist was that basically, a will is merely a set of instructions to the probate court. So while the will eases the probate process by clarifying exactly the deceased's wishes, it does not preclude the problems of probate. In fact, by definition, it ensures that the estate will go through those courts. This is a bad thing because:
1. Up to 5% of the estate can be skimmed off the top in court costs.
2. It may take 18 months on average for the process to be completed.
Whereas if you establish a trust in the parent(s) name(s), then no court gets involved. It costs maybe a few hundred dollars to establish a trust.
I'll be interested to hear if anyone in the blogosphere attaches to this post with their own comments! Otherwise, me and momma gonna have a talk.
1. Up to 5% of the estate can be skimmed off the top in court costs.
2. It may take 18 months on average for the process to be completed.
Whereas if you establish a trust in the parent(s) name(s), then no court gets involved. It costs maybe a few hundred dollars to establish a trust.
I'll be interested to hear if anyone in the blogosphere attaches to this post with their own comments! Otherwise, me and momma gonna have a talk.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Freidining With Squirrels
Last Sunday Dena and I got free tickets to see celebrity blogsuperstars at our local Steak 'n Shake!
Fade into the McLiving Room just after church services as we two settled in for some lunch. Cue the ringer on Dena's phone, with the volume turned up loud enough to hear the unmistakable booming bass tones of the voice of Husband Freidinger, hero of the widely followed blog Adventures in Fostering Hope.
AFH has covered the capers and clutches of Husband, Jane and their merry band of dogs (Atticus, Sasha) and squirrels (Elisabeth, Kate, or "children" according to the state of Illinois) for the better part of two years. We could hardly believe our good fortune and inside information as to this surprise tour stop en route to the Constitution Trail performance for a few overheated summer-in-April miles of rollerblading/bicycling/catching-squirrels-falling-off-bicycles.
[Note: How AFH has held off from renaming itself "Tales from the Funny Farm" is an ongoing mystery to readers]
These visits always have special significance all their own - the two biological kids of Duane and Darlene, and the two goofy musical blogging puzzle-crazed wits (or is it twits?) they chose to marry. Unfailingly this buries the needle of the fun meter way into the red zone.
No one can narrate an experience with Jane's comic elegance, so I'll just lay out a bullet-point skeleton from the silly-uncle's perspective and let her fill in the cracks if she's so inclined:
- Dena sat between the girls on one side of the table. It was a genius strategy whose social insulation worked to perfection. Dena's body provided a physical barrier that negated inter-squirrel contact. Meanwhile, stationing the parents across the table caused any bolts of whinergy to discharge in parallel fashion rather than towards each other (I'm pretty sure that "crossing the streams" has a reinforcing effect, like warm and cold fronts generating tornadoes).
- Who came up with Kool-Aid milkshakes? What's next, steakburger custard?
- Darren and I talked about the local barbershop chorus and running a marathon. That is not a simultaneous concept, though it would be an extremely awesome sight.
- I was unable to talk Elisabeth into sharing her fries or mini-burgers (a kids meal delight that might disturb White Castle's patent lawyers) with me. When I can't even make it work with veiled threats involving video games, or successfully steal them, doesn't this suggest a serious flaw in her family values?
Fade into the McLiving Room just after church services as we two settled in for some lunch. Cue the ringer on Dena's phone, with the volume turned up loud enough to hear the unmistakable booming bass tones of the voice of Husband Freidinger, hero of the widely followed blog Adventures in Fostering Hope.
AFH has covered the capers and clutches of Husband, Jane and their merry band of dogs (Atticus, Sasha) and squirrels (Elisabeth, Kate, or "children" according to the state of Illinois) for the better part of two years. We could hardly believe our good fortune and inside information as to this surprise tour stop en route to the Constitution Trail performance for a few overheated summer-in-April miles of rollerblading/bicycling/catching-squirrels-falling-off-bicycles.
[Note: How AFH has held off from renaming itself "Tales from the Funny Farm" is an ongoing mystery to readers]
These visits always have special significance all their own - the two biological kids of Duane and Darlene, and the two goofy musical blogging puzzle-crazed wits (or is it twits?) they chose to marry. Unfailingly this buries the needle of the fun meter way into the red zone.
No one can narrate an experience with Jane's comic elegance, so I'll just lay out a bullet-point skeleton from the silly-uncle's perspective and let her fill in the cracks if she's so inclined:
- Dena sat between the girls on one side of the table. It was a genius strategy whose social insulation worked to perfection. Dena's body provided a physical barrier that negated inter-squirrel contact. Meanwhile, stationing the parents across the table caused any bolts of whinergy to discharge in parallel fashion rather than towards each other (I'm pretty sure that "crossing the streams" has a reinforcing effect, like warm and cold fronts generating tornadoes).
- Who came up with Kool-Aid milkshakes? What's next, steakburger custard?
- Darren and I talked about the local barbershop chorus and running a marathon. That is not a simultaneous concept, though it would be an extremely awesome sight.
- I was unable to talk Elisabeth into sharing her fries or mini-burgers (a kids meal delight that might disturb White Castle's patent lawyers) with me. When I can't even make it work with veiled threats involving video games, or successfully steal them, doesn't this suggest a serious flaw in her family values?
I'm Okay, You're Not Okay
"If you resist your initial inclination to get defensive you may be surprised at what happens. instead of, 'Why are you treating me like this?' try saying instead, 'You seem to be having a rough day.' Rather than, 'I didn't do anything, don't talk to me like that,' say, 'This seems to have upset you.' Don't take possession of his problem. It's his problem, not yours." - David Lieberman
The action of at least considering that the problem could be with the other person is a pillar of self-esteem. There's a line crossed into pompousness out there, but if I allowed myself to be drawn into a sense of guilt, anger or failure every time someone ratcheted up the drama level I'd be a basket case. Life is good; we're good; we're strong; that's the lens I'd like to see the world through.
The action of at least considering that the problem could be with the other person is a pillar of self-esteem. There's a line crossed into pompousness out there, but if I allowed myself to be drawn into a sense of guilt, anger or failure every time someone ratcheted up the drama level I'd be a basket case. Life is good; we're good; we're strong; that's the lens I'd like to see the world through.
High/Low Week 14 2010
Slim pickings on the low point this week. Here's one: I fell asleep in the La-Z-Boy on Tuesday evening and overslept the first half hour of the condo board meeting. Fortunately, when I walked in they were in the midst of an intense discussion that carried on for a few extra minutes, and by the time it quieted down we were past the allowable teasing period... more like everyone forgot.
Otherwise I was steeled against the temptation to complain. This was a better week than usual of recognizing my own peeves and diffusing them easily in advance using a bit of mental redirection.
I played hoops three times this week and my body feels great! Not even any of the usual cuts on the arms that result from taloned players and my arms-up defensive style.
Work was fantastic. Two of my three employees were out of the office, yet there were no flare-ups. In fact, I had the chance to work ahead preparing some lesson plans for a class that I'm teaching. There was time to dig into some of my team's performance statistics and note that our production is up 30% over last year, with 30% faster time service. Time to review several promising resumes for interviews next week to hire a programmer.
Has there ever been a better weather week in April? Five days poolside reading a fun 700-page basketball book.
I got word that Jack's back to normal health after a Job-like ten-day stretch of strep throat, vomiting, tonsillitis, headaches, and mono. Not to mention the recent California earthquake.
It occurred to me to file for a State Farm Good Neighbor Grant for the NCHS basketball program. $500 as a "match" for my providing 40+ hours of volunteer service.
The capper: A "Date Night" date night with Dena and Dona. Another chance to howl with laughter at the movie's cab driver scene. Engaging conversation over chai tea and lemon cake at Barnes & Noble until closing time. Another round of enjoyable conversation back at the condo for two hours.
These are the weeks that are especially important to dwell on how fortunate life can be. Swells like this come and go, and imprinting them into the mind builds a sturdy internal fortress against bad breaks. Thanks big guy!
Otherwise I was steeled against the temptation to complain. This was a better week than usual of recognizing my own peeves and diffusing them easily in advance using a bit of mental redirection.
I played hoops three times this week and my body feels great! Not even any of the usual cuts on the arms that result from taloned players and my arms-up defensive style.
Work was fantastic. Two of my three employees were out of the office, yet there were no flare-ups. In fact, I had the chance to work ahead preparing some lesson plans for a class that I'm teaching. There was time to dig into some of my team's performance statistics and note that our production is up 30% over last year, with 30% faster time service. Time to review several promising resumes for interviews next week to hire a programmer.
Has there ever been a better weather week in April? Five days poolside reading a fun 700-page basketball book.
I got word that Jack's back to normal health after a Job-like ten-day stretch of strep throat, vomiting, tonsillitis, headaches, and mono. Not to mention the recent California earthquake.
It occurred to me to file for a State Farm Good Neighbor Grant for the NCHS basketball program. $500 as a "match" for my providing 40+ hours of volunteer service.
The capper: A "Date Night" date night with Dena and Dona. Another chance to howl with laughter at the movie's cab driver scene. Engaging conversation over chai tea and lemon cake at Barnes & Noble until closing time. Another round of enjoyable conversation back at the condo for two hours.
These are the weeks that are especially important to dwell on how fortunate life can be. Swells like this come and go, and imprinting them into the mind builds a sturdy internal fortress against bad breaks. Thanks big guy!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Fantasy Basketball Champion
For the first time ever my fantasy basketball team took the crown!
I've commented before that winning leagues is beyond the draft, and about persistence and vigilance on the waiver wire. And of course, a little luck.
I will say that, compared to recent fantasy baseball teams, the people I drafted contributed well. Often my final roster looks little like the one I draft, but as you'll see this year was more solid.
The draft:
1. Chris Paul
2. Brook Lopez
3. Ray Allen
4. David Lee
5. Mo Williams
6. Mike Bibby
7. Al Harrington
8. Richard Jefferson
9. Mario Chalmers
10. Michael Beasley
11. Samuel Dalembert
12. Antonio McDyess
13. Grant Hill
This was the second time I picked Paul for my team, and the second time he was decimated by injury, playing only 45 of 82 games. By all rights I should have lost the league right there, and this post wouldn't exist... just another cursed season spent struggling to reach third place. Fortunately, Mike Conley was available and maturing into a veteran leader, and outplayed Paul for the season thanks to his health:
Paul 841 points, 191 rebounds, 480 assists, 96 steals
Conley 959 points, 191 rebounds, 425 assists, 109 steals
Lopez, Lee and Allen all shined as expected, filling up their position's key categories. I valued them more than the rest of the league, bumping them up in my draft ranking. And they all had good shooting percentages (I won the league FT% title by a landslide, at 81.4%). Of my original draftees, these were my top three scorers. And Lee emerging as the best-passing center in the league was especially useful when Paul went down; by rights we should've been swamped in the assist category but managed to come in fifth. Especially since...
Williams... got hurt... aaargh. He played 69 games, including a couple sat out after the Cavs had wrapped up the conference championship. Still, when he played, he delivered what I planned.
Bibby and Chalmers were niche players that I wanted for 3 point shooting and in Chalmers' case for steals as well. But Bibby's value was diluted by the arrival of Jamal Crawford in Atlanta, and Chalmers was ineffective as a sophomore. I dropped both of them within the first month. So in case you're counting, that's my top 4 point guards who all underperformed. It's hard to overstate Conley and Lee's contribution in the assist department!
I don't know how I landed Jefferson, I knew his game would be an ill fit for the Spurs and dropped him pretty early. McDyess was just bland - my first cut of the season. I liked the Hill pick, but his production was average in many things, and in fantasy you need someone who'll either do one thing exceptionally or several things above average. So he was gone in November as well.
I thought correctly that Beasley was undervalued, and he delivered 14.8 points, 6.4 boards, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks while keeping his turnovers below 2.0 and shooting 80% from the charity stripe.
Victory came from a series of good fortune, occasionally disguised as bad fortune:
Dalembert stunk up the joint in the first few weeks (I dropped him), then became a beast for two solid months (I got him back before anyone noticed - whew!). He and Erick Dampier (who I held for a month until he was besieged by mysterious ailments) clawed us out of a huge blocked shot deficit to the point that we ended the year in second place in that category.
During November one team dropped Mehmet Okur, the well-rounded Utah center who shoots 3 pointers as well as performing adequately in the paint. In these situations the team in front of the waiver line gets first crack at newly released players, and I was far enough behind that someone else snapped him up. Darn!
That first month also revealed a surprise emergence of 3 point gunner Danilo Gallinari, who perfectly replaced the treys I was hoping for from Bibby. Plus he averaged about a steal and more than half a block a game. Vigilance saved the day in finding him before the competition.
The two masterstrokes, though, were the pickups of Danny Granger and Andrei Kirilenko. Both were fighting injuries and dropped by their teams. Granger was a hero for us - number 6 overall draft ranking, so salved the pain of the Paul injury. What was that owner thinking dropping him? Having missed Okur earlier, I was at the front of the waiver line and got him. And he became my main man. While Kirilenko succumbed to his injuries eventually, he gave me two fantastic months of blocks, steals and shooting percentage. These two pushed us into the league lead with room to spare, which we needed to hold off challenges the rest of the way after the injuries struck.
This season had it all... misfortune, struggle, perseverance, astute drafting, timely and strategic waiver wire hunting, and ultimately a satisfying win for the good guys.
I've commented before that winning leagues is beyond the draft, and about persistence and vigilance on the waiver wire. And of course, a little luck.
I will say that, compared to recent fantasy baseball teams, the people I drafted contributed well. Often my final roster looks little like the one I draft, but as you'll see this year was more solid.
The draft:
1. Chris Paul
2. Brook Lopez
3. Ray Allen
4. David Lee
5. Mo Williams
6. Mike Bibby
7. Al Harrington
8. Richard Jefferson
9. Mario Chalmers
10. Michael Beasley
11. Samuel Dalembert
12. Antonio McDyess
13. Grant Hill
This was the second time I picked Paul for my team, and the second time he was decimated by injury, playing only 45 of 82 games. By all rights I should have lost the league right there, and this post wouldn't exist... just another cursed season spent struggling to reach third place. Fortunately, Mike Conley was available and maturing into a veteran leader, and outplayed Paul for the season thanks to his health:
Paul 841 points, 191 rebounds, 480 assists, 96 steals
Conley 959 points, 191 rebounds, 425 assists, 109 steals
Lopez, Lee and Allen all shined as expected, filling up their position's key categories. I valued them more than the rest of the league, bumping them up in my draft ranking. And they all had good shooting percentages (I won the league FT% title by a landslide, at 81.4%). Of my original draftees, these were my top three scorers. And Lee emerging as the best-passing center in the league was especially useful when Paul went down; by rights we should've been swamped in the assist category but managed to come in fifth. Especially since...
Williams... got hurt... aaargh. He played 69 games, including a couple sat out after the Cavs had wrapped up the conference championship. Still, when he played, he delivered what I planned.
Bibby and Chalmers were niche players that I wanted for 3 point shooting and in Chalmers' case for steals as well. But Bibby's value was diluted by the arrival of Jamal Crawford in Atlanta, and Chalmers was ineffective as a sophomore. I dropped both of them within the first month. So in case you're counting, that's my top 4 point guards who all underperformed. It's hard to overstate Conley and Lee's contribution in the assist department!
I don't know how I landed Jefferson, I knew his game would be an ill fit for the Spurs and dropped him pretty early. McDyess was just bland - my first cut of the season. I liked the Hill pick, but his production was average in many things, and in fantasy you need someone who'll either do one thing exceptionally or several things above average. So he was gone in November as well.
I thought correctly that Beasley was undervalued, and he delivered 14.8 points, 6.4 boards, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks while keeping his turnovers below 2.0 and shooting 80% from the charity stripe.
Victory came from a series of good fortune, occasionally disguised as bad fortune:
Dalembert stunk up the joint in the first few weeks (I dropped him), then became a beast for two solid months (I got him back before anyone noticed - whew!). He and Erick Dampier (who I held for a month until he was besieged by mysterious ailments) clawed us out of a huge blocked shot deficit to the point that we ended the year in second place in that category.
During November one team dropped Mehmet Okur, the well-rounded Utah center who shoots 3 pointers as well as performing adequately in the paint. In these situations the team in front of the waiver line gets first crack at newly released players, and I was far enough behind that someone else snapped him up. Darn!
That first month also revealed a surprise emergence of 3 point gunner Danilo Gallinari, who perfectly replaced the treys I was hoping for from Bibby. Plus he averaged about a steal and more than half a block a game. Vigilance saved the day in finding him before the competition.
The two masterstrokes, though, were the pickups of Danny Granger and Andrei Kirilenko. Both were fighting injuries and dropped by their teams. Granger was a hero for us - number 6 overall draft ranking, so salved the pain of the Paul injury. What was that owner thinking dropping him? Having missed Okur earlier, I was at the front of the waiver line and got him. And he became my main man. While Kirilenko succumbed to his injuries eventually, he gave me two fantastic months of blocks, steals and shooting percentage. These two pushed us into the league lead with room to spare, which we needed to hold off challenges the rest of the way after the injuries struck.
This season had it all... misfortune, struggle, perseverance, astute drafting, timely and strategic waiver wire hunting, and ultimately a satisfying win for the good guys.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Good Neighbors
When you have 32 neighbors living in close proximity, occasionally there are strong disagreements that aren't resolved quickly between those involved. Recently the condominium association put into place a formal process for handling rules violations. Although legal action would only arise in extreme situations, it'd be important to have fairly gathered and documented evidence and offered sufficient chance at more peaceful resolution. This month we got our first two written complaints. The next step is to hold a hearing, inviting each party to attend, which happened tonight. It worked wonderfully! The neighbors agreed quickly to a mutual solution. The Board president did a super job facilitating the conversation. What could have been a tense confrontation ended up with one of the most festive atmospheres of the year. Who says there's no God?
Best-Sounding Negative Statement
The next time you're feeling crabby and someone asks you how your day's going, you can just plaster a smile on your face and say "Each day's better than the next!" Unless they think twice about what you just said, they might be fooled into thinking you're in a great mood.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Bizarro Post
Dona recently did a post I liked about important things that are NOT happening in her life. Sort of like if Bizarro Superman did Twitter posts:
"kryptonite rocks (lol)! can't get enuf of it. now if lois lane would just step off, life would be total awsum."
"saw bank robbery, for real! guns and hostages and everything. so cool. late for lunch with lex luthor so couldn't stick around."
How about it?
Today went great. I got up a little later than usual, around 5:00, but managed to make up lost time by eating my donuts in the car on the way to the office and postponing the shower. Just to be safe I downed an extra Red Bull to shake off the sleep-fog.
Always sweet to kick off the day with an 8:00 meeting. I took a ton of notes and dropped them on the "minutes" pile on the floor of my office. I may have to move that pile soon, as the grease from the "bacon" pile is starting to soak up into it. My boss met with me today for my performance review and while we mostly ended up talking about gardening, fishing and feelings (thank you, spare box of Kleenex!) he eventually gave me a 15% raise. He gave some great feedback - some people (especially the men) aren't as huggy as me, and others want me to stop taping Bible passages on their monitors. Hopefully he can just get me out of this supervising gig soon, the only idea less interesting than leadership is being in a rock band!
When I got home Dena was in her fifth hour of SportsCenter, which gave me a perfect opportunity to get outside and rotate the tires on my car. I also got over to Lowe's to pick up some drywall, and Kroger to grab some beer and smokes. Gotta enjoy them while I can, one more trimester to go and it's all over...
"kryptonite rocks (lol)! can't get enuf of it. now if lois lane would just step off, life would be total awsum."
"saw bank robbery, for real! guns and hostages and everything. so cool. late for lunch with lex luthor so couldn't stick around."
How about it?
Today went great. I got up a little later than usual, around 5:00, but managed to make up lost time by eating my donuts in the car on the way to the office and postponing the shower. Just to be safe I downed an extra Red Bull to shake off the sleep-fog.
Always sweet to kick off the day with an 8:00 meeting. I took a ton of notes and dropped them on the "minutes" pile on the floor of my office. I may have to move that pile soon, as the grease from the "bacon" pile is starting to soak up into it. My boss met with me today for my performance review and while we mostly ended up talking about gardening, fishing and feelings (thank you, spare box of Kleenex!) he eventually gave me a 15% raise. He gave some great feedback - some people (especially the men) aren't as huggy as me, and others want me to stop taping Bible passages on their monitors. Hopefully he can just get me out of this supervising gig soon, the only idea less interesting than leadership is being in a rock band!
When I got home Dena was in her fifth hour of SportsCenter, which gave me a perfect opportunity to get outside and rotate the tires on my car. I also got over to Lowe's to pick up some drywall, and Kroger to grab some beer and smokes. Gotta enjoy them while I can, one more trimester to go and it's all over...
Rod Our Savior?
Today I pray in the name of Rod. He is not bigger than the universe, but bigger than me by a good three inches in height and six inches in waist. Not creator of the earth, but possibly creator of my computing capabilities. Not all-seeing or all-powerful, but will shape my future.
In other words, Rod the computer guy for Dena's company is coming to our house on Wednesday to upgrade her machine's memory. While he's here I'm planning to ask about a laptop. I've been listing our questions, desires, and equipment.
1. The HP desktop computer will stay. Why? It has 8 gig of storage space, and is set up for both printing and my recording studio. I've also got my iTunes library there... though perhaps there's a way I could access it by another computer even if I'm not formally networked?
2. Thanks to Jane, we have a LinkSys wireless router. I'm hoping that we can get wireless Internet access. Actually, if we can't, then conversation is over.
3. I'd like to have the laptop be a Mac, since I'm told that I don't need to keep buying virus protection so often (or maybe at all). People tell me it's just a better operating system. And potentially, the voice recording software is better in Mac form, which would give me some flexibility.
4. My most important software includes Excel, Word, and Quicken. These files need to be transferable back and forth between the Mac and PC.
Hopefully almighty Rod can answer these questions and more. Or perhaps some readers can!
In other words, Rod the computer guy for Dena's company is coming to our house on Wednesday to upgrade her machine's memory. While he's here I'm planning to ask about a laptop. I've been listing our questions, desires, and equipment.
1. The HP desktop computer will stay. Why? It has 8 gig of storage space, and is set up for both printing and my recording studio. I've also got my iTunes library there... though perhaps there's a way I could access it by another computer even if I'm not formally networked?
2. Thanks to Jane, we have a LinkSys wireless router. I'm hoping that we can get wireless Internet access. Actually, if we can't, then conversation is over.
3. I'd like to have the laptop be a Mac, since I'm told that I don't need to keep buying virus protection so often (or maybe at all). People tell me it's just a better operating system. And potentially, the voice recording software is better in Mac form, which would give me some flexibility.
4. My most important software includes Excel, Word, and Quicken. These files need to be transferable back and forth between the Mac and PC.
Hopefully almighty Rod can answer these questions and more. Or perhaps some readers can!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
High/Low Week 13 2010
Another week passes where I feel fortunate in struggling to recall what the low point was.
I've been trying to adjust my body to an hour earlier schedule, so that when basketball season starts up again I can make a fuller portion of the practices after work. Yet, I still have my night owl internal clock. When sleep is lost, the compromise becomes naps. And Hidden Bloggers know that tired crabbiness is my weakest point.
So internally, there were a few moments at the office when I felt like cutting a conversation short. Friday late afternoon was one of those times. And I'm glad that at that moment, instead of rushing something that could've diminished a relationship, I just let it lie for the weekend with the understanding that my energy will be up come Monday. I remember Ferris Buehler saying "Anything is peaceful from one thousand, three hundred and fifty-three feet." That maxim's been true in my relationships too... many times irritation is easily cured by a little temporary distance. Take a chill pill and lie down! In fact, with regard to that particular work issue, I came up with an idea over the weekend that will turn a negative into a positive. It works!
While at the bank running an errand my eyes laid upon a brochure highlighting "Smart Money Week." This is a fabulous concept! Throughout April 17-24 a series of free seminars is held around town promoting financial health on myriad topics. Ones that I've got on my radar screen (you'll see a popular theme of mine):
Risk-Free Retirement
How To Get To Retirement
Investing For Retirement
Planning For And Managing Assets In Retirement
Mutual Fund Investing
How can you beat this?
I enjoyed a couple walks down memory lane this week. First I cashed in some iTunes gift cards and used them to buy a couple of albums reminiscent of my college years... Out Of Time by R.E.M., and the best of The Doors. Then ISU pal Craig Fata posted a series of photos from our spring break trip and Walker Hall living in general. The old dorm is gone, but the feeling lives on. Neighbors rock!
I've been trying to adjust my body to an hour earlier schedule, so that when basketball season starts up again I can make a fuller portion of the practices after work. Yet, I still have my night owl internal clock. When sleep is lost, the compromise becomes naps. And Hidden Bloggers know that tired crabbiness is my weakest point.
So internally, there were a few moments at the office when I felt like cutting a conversation short. Friday late afternoon was one of those times. And I'm glad that at that moment, instead of rushing something that could've diminished a relationship, I just let it lie for the weekend with the understanding that my energy will be up come Monday. I remember Ferris Buehler saying "Anything is peaceful from one thousand, three hundred and fifty-three feet." That maxim's been true in my relationships too... many times irritation is easily cured by a little temporary distance. Take a chill pill and lie down! In fact, with regard to that particular work issue, I came up with an idea over the weekend that will turn a negative into a positive. It works!
While at the bank running an errand my eyes laid upon a brochure highlighting "Smart Money Week." This is a fabulous concept! Throughout April 17-24 a series of free seminars is held around town promoting financial health on myriad topics. Ones that I've got on my radar screen (you'll see a popular theme of mine):
Risk-Free Retirement
How To Get To Retirement
Investing For Retirement
Planning For And Managing Assets In Retirement
Mutual Fund Investing
How can you beat this?
I enjoyed a couple walks down memory lane this week. First I cashed in some iTunes gift cards and used them to buy a couple of albums reminiscent of my college years... Out Of Time by R.E.M., and the best of The Doors. Then ISU pal Craig Fata posted a series of photos from our spring break trip and Walker Hall living in general. The old dorm is gone, but the feeling lives on. Neighbors rock!
Quick, But Not In A Hurry
"Be quick, not in a hurry." - John Wooden
"Few people besides coaches and sportswriters recognize that the only constant in our championship teams was quickness - some players were tall, some were short, but all were quick." - John Wooden
"Few people besides coaches and sportswriters recognize that the only constant in our championship teams was quickness - some players were tall, some were short, but all were quick." - John Wooden
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Practice Can Be Enough
"I don't rate myself too high as a 'game' coach, but I was among the best when it came to conducting practice. And practice is where a championship is won." - John Wooden
It's encouraging to hear how far a person can go through the force of sheer preparation, even if not an intuitive genius in foreign situations. Thinking on one's feet is a great capability, but not a necessary one to come out a winner.
It's encouraging to hear how far a person can go through the force of sheer preparation, even if not an intuitive genius in foreign situations. Thinking on one's feet is a great capability, but not a necessary one to come out a winner.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Date Night
I didn't do a post about "Did You Hear About The Morgans?" because the previews looked corny enough for us not to see it in the theater. We saw it on pay-per-view at Mom's over Easter weekend. And it was much better than I expected, a perfectly passable fun time! Mainly it was Hugh Grant's character that won it for me. He's got this British-mumbly way of delivering punch lines and it seemed that the script was written with this directly in mind. I'd recommend DVRing it, or renting it if you'd like a date night in.
Speaking of which... the reason I bring up the Morgans movie is that likewise, my movie excitement pulse was mostly neutral in similar fashion as I previewed "Date Night" starring Steve Carrell and Tina Fey. I loved Carrell in Get Smart (own it) and in most everything else. And Fey is a gifted comedy writer and actor herself.
Still, I wasn't planning to take it in but for an unlikely recommendation. While flipping radio stations and landing on a Chicago sports talk show, I hear two pack-a-day couch jockeys talking about what a great movie this was. When guys who are paid to bemoan every real and imagined fault... take two minutes to rave about a romantic comedy? I had a hunch that this could be the next "Morgans."
Home run!
The high-level story line is vanilla: boring married couple decides to be "exciting" by taking someone else's restaurant reservation, and in doing so stumbles into the middle of a crime. But gags come alive in all shapes and sizes. There's Carrell and Fey sizing up other diners across the room and making up fake dialogue. The recurring Mark Wahlberg character, or should I say caricature (to say any more would tip off too much). The physical comedy of people walking into stuff. And a side-splitting, tear-jerking scene involving a taxi cab. And as Hidden Bloggers know I require, a happy ending for all.
I think we'd go see this one again in the theaters. All it would take is, say, a brother and sister-in-law to take us up on it. :)
Speaking of which... the reason I bring up the Morgans movie is that likewise, my movie excitement pulse was mostly neutral in similar fashion as I previewed "Date Night" starring Steve Carrell and Tina Fey. I loved Carrell in Get Smart (own it) and in most everything else. And Fey is a gifted comedy writer and actor herself.
Still, I wasn't planning to take it in but for an unlikely recommendation. While flipping radio stations and landing on a Chicago sports talk show, I hear two pack-a-day couch jockeys talking about what a great movie this was. When guys who are paid to bemoan every real and imagined fault... take two minutes to rave about a romantic comedy? I had a hunch that this could be the next "Morgans."
Home run!
The high-level story line is vanilla: boring married couple decides to be "exciting" by taking someone else's restaurant reservation, and in doing so stumbles into the middle of a crime. But gags come alive in all shapes and sizes. There's Carrell and Fey sizing up other diners across the room and making up fake dialogue. The recurring Mark Wahlberg character, or should I say caricature (to say any more would tip off too much). The physical comedy of people walking into stuff. And a side-splitting, tear-jerking scene involving a taxi cab. And as Hidden Bloggers know I require, a happy ending for all.
I think we'd go see this one again in the theaters. All it would take is, say, a brother and sister-in-law to take us up on it. :)
Little Things
"I don't like sloppiness on or off the court. Players not only were well-groomed and dressed neatly on road trips, but also put towels in the towel basket and not on the floor, picked up soap and turned off their showers, and put gum and candy wrappers in the wastebasket. I insisted on this because sloppiness in one areas breeds sloppiness in another."
"Little things done well is probably the greatest secret to success."
- John Wooden
"Little things done well is probably the greatest secret to success."
- John Wooden
Sound of Illinois Barbershop Chorus
Remember my New Year's resolution to find an organization that I might like to be active in during retirement? Dena spied this:
http://www.soundofillinois.com/newsite/index.html
Interesting! I might have to check out one of their performances. Looks like they've got one coming up in Peoria on Saturday April 17.
http://www.soundofillinois.com/newsite/index.html
Interesting! I might have to check out one of their performances. Looks like they've got one coming up in Peoria on Saturday April 17.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Running A Padua
Tyson made an inspiring point:
"I think they should give a half marathon a different name. It makes it seem like you went half way and stopped. It's a distance of race like any other, and an impressive accomplishment. Good job!"
Historians may know that the marathon was named for a Greek town and a famous messenger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon
I was curious to see if there were any town 13.1 miles from my doorstep. So if anyone has a message to deliver to Padua, give me a shout. And meanwhile I'll ponder whether to run a double Padua later this year.
"I think they should give a half marathon a different name. It makes it seem like you went half way and stopped. It's a distance of race like any other, and an impressive accomplishment. Good job!"
Historians may know that the marathon was named for a Greek town and a famous messenger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon
I was curious to see if there were any town 13.1 miles from my doorstep. So if anyone has a message to deliver to Padua, give me a shout. And meanwhile I'll ponder whether to run a double Padua later this year.
Running With The Boys
For the first time in twenty years, I participated in a high school open gym on the basketball court.
Coaches play along with the program players in order to fill out the teams with enough to run. In today's case, my showing up brought the number to 16, enough to play two full court 4-on-4 games.
These guys had been playing for an hour by that time. I had been sitting on my kiester at a desk for 8 hours by that time. They were loose, I was stiff. They're LESS THAN half my age. When I was their age, I was playing at a small private school. NCHS is in the largest size high school class in the state.
That might explain why the head varsity coach put me on a very talented team. And why my lungs died a thousand deaths in the first half hour. By the end of the hour, I had about two highlight-reel worthy plays, an assortment of hustle plays and grunt work contributions (picks, rebounds, assists). My shooting was diverse - a smart mixture of air balls from several spots around the court, including one under the basket, and one blocked. Bottom line - I suffered no injuries and won eight games. Hopefully the first of many good days!
Coaches play along with the program players in order to fill out the teams with enough to run. In today's case, my showing up brought the number to 16, enough to play two full court 4-on-4 games.
These guys had been playing for an hour by that time. I had been sitting on my kiester at a desk for 8 hours by that time. They were loose, I was stiff. They're LESS THAN half my age. When I was their age, I was playing at a small private school. NCHS is in the largest size high school class in the state.
That might explain why the head varsity coach put me on a very talented team. And why my lungs died a thousand deaths in the first half hour. By the end of the hour, I had about two highlight-reel worthy plays, an assortment of hustle plays and grunt work contributions (picks, rebounds, assists). My shooting was diverse - a smart mixture of air balls from several spots around the court, including one under the basket, and one blocked. Bottom line - I suffered no injuries and won eight games. Hopefully the first of many good days!
Star Power
"The star of the team is the team." - John Wooden
Or as they say, the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the one on the back.
Or as they say, the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the one on the back.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tornado Whatzit
Weathermen have the best job. Radar shows big angry red blotches of electronic clouds barreling our way? Looks like rain. Maybe 30% chance. But let's proclaim 60% just to be safe. Then the sun comes out, and we're golden. Type some temperatures on the screen. Read them out loud for two minutes. It's Miller time.
Unfortunately, they are also the source of countless fatalities. I'm talking about tornado forecasting.
People, what is a warning? If signs warn me about smoking, or bears, or Goodfield tap water, that means I should be careful to avoid these things. I should not seek them out. This rule keeps me safe. So when I see "tornado warning" on the screen, the colors pinpointing my county are not scary to me. "Tornadoes may appear in this area," the sensible mind concludes. "Nothing to worry about, just be careful." Because if there were in fact tornadoes ripping through my community like a carnivore through a picnic basket, surely someone would yell something more immediate. Like, "Watch out for that tornado!"
Weathermen disagree. Probably because they skipped English classes in favor of temperature-typing and blotch-monitoring. They advise us to "watch" tornadoes that don't even exist. And when one does show up, they beguile us out into our vegetable gardens, naively and faithfully trusting in their "warnings" and putting our lives in their hands, while they excitedly turn back to the radar to see if they can spot teeny humanoid-sized blips flying in every which direction from the center of the tornado-blotches.
You can bet that if someone warns me that a giant asteroid could strike Chicago, I'm doing a background check to see if he was once a weatherman.
Unfortunately, they are also the source of countless fatalities. I'm talking about tornado forecasting.
People, what is a warning? If signs warn me about smoking, or bears, or Goodfield tap water, that means I should be careful to avoid these things. I should not seek them out. This rule keeps me safe. So when I see "tornado warning" on the screen, the colors pinpointing my county are not scary to me. "Tornadoes may appear in this area," the sensible mind concludes. "Nothing to worry about, just be careful." Because if there were in fact tornadoes ripping through my community like a carnivore through a picnic basket, surely someone would yell something more immediate. Like, "Watch out for that tornado!"
Weathermen disagree. Probably because they skipped English classes in favor of temperature-typing and blotch-monitoring. They advise us to "watch" tornadoes that don't even exist. And when one does show up, they beguile us out into our vegetable gardens, naively and faithfully trusting in their "warnings" and putting our lives in their hands, while they excitedly turn back to the radar to see if they can spot teeny humanoid-sized blips flying in every which direction from the center of the tornado-blotches.
You can bet that if someone warns me that a giant asteroid could strike Chicago, I'm doing a background check to see if he was once a weatherman.
Happy In The Eye Of The Beholder
As I settled into the driver's seat after exiting the bank this morning, it struck me how unusually happy I was. Not a random happiness, but one specifically tied to accomplishing a series of minor errands.
Why so happy?
I'd picked up a new supply of checks, and stopped by Men's Wearhouse and Barnes & Noble to use up a few gift certificates. Gift certificates are both perfect and flawed as a present for me. On one hand, it's free stuff of my own choosing at my favorite stores! On the other hand, it involves shopping.
I'm from the species of humanity for whom shopping is less intriguing than flossing. Except for consumables, I may walk into a store once a month and it usually involves gym shoes. It has something to do with finances, perhaps, but that wouldn't explain the senseless deaths of expired gift cards that passed away from neglect while sitting in the front compartment of my car.
I realized that this feeling of satisfaction and relief, having completed the task of driving out and evaluating the goods, was the highest of the week. And I ran a half marathon two days ago! I guess that's why cavemen were so handy to have around. Go kill a mastodon, other physical stuff? No prob. Just don't ask me to gather the right color moss to decorate the cave.
Why so happy?
I'd picked up a new supply of checks, and stopped by Men's Wearhouse and Barnes & Noble to use up a few gift certificates. Gift certificates are both perfect and flawed as a present for me. On one hand, it's free stuff of my own choosing at my favorite stores! On the other hand, it involves shopping.
I'm from the species of humanity for whom shopping is less intriguing than flossing. Except for consumables, I may walk into a store once a month and it usually involves gym shoes. It has something to do with finances, perhaps, but that wouldn't explain the senseless deaths of expired gift cards that passed away from neglect while sitting in the front compartment of my car.
I realized that this feeling of satisfaction and relief, having completed the task of driving out and evaluating the goods, was the highest of the week. And I ran a half marathon two days ago! I guess that's why cavemen were so handy to have around. Go kill a mastodon, other physical stuff? No prob. Just don't ask me to gather the right color moss to decorate the cave.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sprouting Success
"There is nothing stronger than gentleness." - Abraham Lincoln
Oaks don't grow by shouting or pushing. Water, sunshine, patience and a little pruning raise the strongest trees... and people too.
Oaks don't grow by shouting or pushing. Water, sunshine, patience and a little pruning raise the strongest trees... and people too.
Candy Helps, Too
"Young people need good models, not critics." - Anonymous
I admit it - I talk too much. And admission is the first step to recovery. Whether old or young, telling someone how to be is only of interest to those who want to listen. Consequences follow mistakes, but otherwise why pound a lifestyle down someone's throat? How often is "you should" a more effective mentoring phrase than "you might consider"?
I admit it - I talk too much. And admission is the first step to recovery. Whether old or young, telling someone how to be is only of interest to those who want to listen. Consequences follow mistakes, but otherwise why pound a lifestyle down someone's throat? How often is "you should" a more effective mentoring phrase than "you might consider"?
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Right Priorities
"Coach Ward Lambert's priorities in basketball were simple: conditioning, fundamentals, and team spirit. His priority as a person was more direct and demanding: stand up for what you believe - even when you stand alone." - John Wooden
We just finished another annual round of determining raises for employees. As with any experiment in scarce resources, there's inherent tension within the process. This year it seemed that conflict was resolved professionally, that the greater good was uppermost in mind rather than individual biases. The ability to step outside oneself for the larger cause is part of the essence of "team spirit."
We just finished another annual round of determining raises for employees. As with any experiment in scarce resources, there's inherent tension within the process. This year it seemed that conflict was resolved professionally, that the greater good was uppermost in mind rather than individual biases. The ability to step outside oneself for the larger cause is part of the essence of "team spirit."
Getting Down To Basics
"Before Coach Curtis would let five players work together as a team, we had to perfect every basic skill he could think of - passing, defending, rebounding, making all the different types of shots, and more." - John Wooden
I've seen this approach not only in basketball, but even in reading about highly successful swimming coaches. And for that matter, by choir conductors. Mastering the basics individually helps dramatically in blending them together when it counts.
What are the basics in daily life? Perhaps how we handle criticism, defeat, loss of control, success, compliments, the unexpected. Then when we face these at full speed in our relationships, we handle them gracefully and well.
I've seen this approach not only in basketball, but even in reading about highly successful swimming coaches. And for that matter, by choir conductors. Mastering the basics individually helps dramatically in blending them together when it counts.
What are the basics in daily life? Perhaps how we handle criticism, defeat, loss of control, success, compliments, the unexpected. Then when we face these at full speed in our relationships, we handle them gracefully and well.
13.1
The half-marathon's complete!
After Mom filled us with an Easter dinner of pasta, this morning having taken the day off work I rose about 9:00. Last night I'd started drinking some water to make sure that my legs weren't sluggish this morning, and I continued that by downing about 25 oz. or so while getting ready.
In my arsenal were another 50 oz. of water in a bottle, a baseball preview edition of Sports Illustrated, and my iPod. On this gorgeous 75 degree sunny spring day I donned a tank top, pair of shorts with pockets (in case I needed to carry the iPod), two pair of socks and my trusty 10.5 black New Balance running shoes.
As expected, the twenty treadmills at Four Seasons were mostly empty. I hoped that by starting around 9:30 there would be something good coming on T.V. as I got there. It was my lucky day, the movie Evan Almighty was just kicking off.
I'd done some math prior to starting. Bearing a goal of finishing in under two hours (ignoring a ten minute restroom break, during which I also downed a banana that I'd brought along to guard against muscle cramps), I figured that running at an 8 minute mile pace for the first six miles would enable me to run the rest of the way at a comfortable 10 minute mile pace.
I started at the "10" pace for the first three minutes or so, to give my body a little warm-up time. Breaking into the faster pace was about what I expected it to be. Under my original plan, I'd handle those sprint portions in two, three-mile pieces. Once I got into it though, I realized that it was going to be pretty hard to kick into that high gear again once I settled into the lower gear. So it was that, as Steve Carrell's character was trying in vain to shave a God-induced permabeard, I polished off the six-mile burst. This turned out to be a great move. The ten minute mile clip was like a walk in the park compared with that!
I took my break at the hour mark. The movie ended with a good half hour of running left to go, and I gladly and easily flipped open the mag. Having run long segments during the previous three weeks, I'd developed a controlled and smoother gait that kept my head level enough to be able to read it even as it was attached to the machine.
Once the final seconds ticked away, I walked through a five minute cool down period. Then I stripped off the tank top, socks and shoes and replaced them with a sweatshirt and slides. When I got home, I started filling a hot bath while doing a series of lower body stretches for my Achilles' tendons, calves, hamstrings and back. At last, a healing hour in the tub with a fresh book in hand, contact lenses tucked away to relieve my eyes, accompanied by another bottle of water to keep me on the way to re-hydration. I probably consumed 100 oz. by noon in all.
As I sit here chronicling tonight, my muscles are a bit weary but in no significant pain. Following Hal Higdon's online novice training schedule worked like a charm. The two full days of rest and the light exercise week preceding today had my body ready to handle the rigors of the feat and pass with flying colors. Taking Monday off work to do it was an accidental stroke of genius, as it just so happened to fall on Opening Day of the baseball season and the NCAA championship basketball game, so there was plenty to occupy my mind while lying on the couch in quiet recuperation. I think this may have to become an annual ritual (the Opening Day off, not the half marathon)!
After Mom filled us with an Easter dinner of pasta, this morning having taken the day off work I rose about 9:00. Last night I'd started drinking some water to make sure that my legs weren't sluggish this morning, and I continued that by downing about 25 oz. or so while getting ready.
In my arsenal were another 50 oz. of water in a bottle, a baseball preview edition of Sports Illustrated, and my iPod. On this gorgeous 75 degree sunny spring day I donned a tank top, pair of shorts with pockets (in case I needed to carry the iPod), two pair of socks and my trusty 10.5 black New Balance running shoes.
As expected, the twenty treadmills at Four Seasons were mostly empty. I hoped that by starting around 9:30 there would be something good coming on T.V. as I got there. It was my lucky day, the movie Evan Almighty was just kicking off.
I'd done some math prior to starting. Bearing a goal of finishing in under two hours (ignoring a ten minute restroom break, during which I also downed a banana that I'd brought along to guard against muscle cramps), I figured that running at an 8 minute mile pace for the first six miles would enable me to run the rest of the way at a comfortable 10 minute mile pace.
I started at the "10" pace for the first three minutes or so, to give my body a little warm-up time. Breaking into the faster pace was about what I expected it to be. Under my original plan, I'd handle those sprint portions in two, three-mile pieces. Once I got into it though, I realized that it was going to be pretty hard to kick into that high gear again once I settled into the lower gear. So it was that, as Steve Carrell's character was trying in vain to shave a God-induced permabeard, I polished off the six-mile burst. This turned out to be a great move. The ten minute mile clip was like a walk in the park compared with that!
I took my break at the hour mark. The movie ended with a good half hour of running left to go, and I gladly and easily flipped open the mag. Having run long segments during the previous three weeks, I'd developed a controlled and smoother gait that kept my head level enough to be able to read it even as it was attached to the machine.
Once the final seconds ticked away, I walked through a five minute cool down period. Then I stripped off the tank top, socks and shoes and replaced them with a sweatshirt and slides. When I got home, I started filling a hot bath while doing a series of lower body stretches for my Achilles' tendons, calves, hamstrings and back. At last, a healing hour in the tub with a fresh book in hand, contact lenses tucked away to relieve my eyes, accompanied by another bottle of water to keep me on the way to re-hydration. I probably consumed 100 oz. by noon in all.
As I sit here chronicling tonight, my muscles are a bit weary but in no significant pain. Following Hal Higdon's online novice training schedule worked like a charm. The two full days of rest and the light exercise week preceding today had my body ready to handle the rigors of the feat and pass with flying colors. Taking Monday off work to do it was an accidental stroke of genius, as it just so happened to fall on Opening Day of the baseball season and the NCAA championship basketball game, so there was plenty to occupy my mind while lying on the couch in quiet recuperation. I think this may have to become an annual ritual (the Opening Day off, not the half marathon)!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Prayer Of The Optimist
I'm not what I ought to be,
Not what I want to be,
Not what I'm going to be,
But I am thankful that I'm better than I used to be.
- Anonymous
Not what I want to be,
Not what I'm going to be,
But I am thankful that I'm better than I used to be.
- Anonymous
Two Sets Of Threes
Never lie,
Never cheat,
Never steal.
Don't whine,
Don't complain,
Don't make excuses.
- Joshua Wooden
Simple enough... tough in practice. Every day that I can successfully wipe out the virus of the victim mentality is a great one.
Never cheat,
Never steal.
Don't whine,
Don't complain,
Don't make excuses.
- Joshua Wooden
Simple enough... tough in practice. Every day that I can successfully wipe out the virus of the victim mentality is a great one.
Everyone's A Teacher
"Always try to learn from others, because you'll never know a thing that you didn't learn from somebydy else - even if it's what not to do." - Joshua Wooden
John Wooden's dad would probably also therefore encourage people to get outside the house and find ways to interact with others. Plants grow without moving around. People don't.
John Wooden's dad would probably also therefore encourage people to get outside the house and find ways to interact with others. Plants grow without moving around. People don't.
What To Try For
"Don't try to be better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can be. You have control over that. The other you don't." - Joshua Wooden
High/Low Week 13 2010
Coach John Wooden equates success with doing all you can to become the very best you can be. So it's okay to have a few turnovers. Being human, mistakes happen. For example, failing to cancel an insurance policy timely such that for the rest of the year due to IRS regulations we'll have to pay premiums on two health policies. Or ordering the wrong-sized checks for our condominium association treasurer's log.
What's with the diet recently? I've been letting myself slide, I think, in anticipation of all the calories I'll be dumping during the half marathon this week.
I've not been way up on a high horse recently, but enough so that I can clearly see that I need to step down the ladder of humility a few pegs before I break something. Tiny signs add up, a cutting joke here, a mildly cocky comment there. Next week would be a good time to tighten the screws.
This week I successfully explored a relationship with the ISU Honors Program as a possible organization to be involved with in retirement. Successful exploration in this case meant determining that I should move on to others. The polite message was that my skills could probably be better used in other places. They may well be right. What drew me here originally was a reminiscent sense of community that made living in the Honors House a wonderful experience, one that may not be recaptured from an administrative view point, or at least under current leadership. Plus, there is the subtle obstacle of finding a parking place! In that sense "volunteering" at ISU on a regular basis requires a monetary donation as well. I've turned my thoughts toward Heartland Community College, or the ISU Alumni Office, or a hospital, or retirement home, or... on we go boldly exploring.
Jack and I have completed our fantasy baseball draft! Opening Day is today, basically extended through tomorrow, with beautiful weather and me taking a vacation day. Exciting...
Dena and I got to go for a couple of nice long runs now that the weather has returned to suitable for me.
At work, I remained caught up this week, got a nice raise, and also am looking forward to teaching a class on Tuesday.
Living the dream yet one more week!
What's with the diet recently? I've been letting myself slide, I think, in anticipation of all the calories I'll be dumping during the half marathon this week.
I've not been way up on a high horse recently, but enough so that I can clearly see that I need to step down the ladder of humility a few pegs before I break something. Tiny signs add up, a cutting joke here, a mildly cocky comment there. Next week would be a good time to tighten the screws.
This week I successfully explored a relationship with the ISU Honors Program as a possible organization to be involved with in retirement. Successful exploration in this case meant determining that I should move on to others. The polite message was that my skills could probably be better used in other places. They may well be right. What drew me here originally was a reminiscent sense of community that made living in the Honors House a wonderful experience, one that may not be recaptured from an administrative view point, or at least under current leadership. Plus, there is the subtle obstacle of finding a parking place! In that sense "volunteering" at ISU on a regular basis requires a monetary donation as well. I've turned my thoughts toward Heartland Community College, or the ISU Alumni Office, or a hospital, or retirement home, or... on we go boldly exploring.
Jack and I have completed our fantasy baseball draft! Opening Day is today, basically extended through tomorrow, with beautiful weather and me taking a vacation day. Exciting...
Dena and I got to go for a couple of nice long runs now that the weather has returned to suitable for me.
At work, I remained caught up this week, got a nice raise, and also am looking forward to teaching a class on Tuesday.
Living the dream yet one more week!
Hawks And Doves
While reading a book about Indiana basketball recently, I came across the chair-throwing incident of legendary college coach Bobby Knight. In describing those who berated and supported him through newspaper editorials I saw the phrase "hawks vs. doves."
It brought me back to my annual performance review which took place informally on Friday morning. It's been a fine year professionally, and the only bit of coaching offered was, to paraphrase, that I sometimes spend too much time trying to create harmony rather than making a decision and moving on.
What a spot-on assessment! Hidden Bloggers know that a keystone of my leadership philosophy is inclusiveness. Within the last two weeks I've had to make tough calls on matters where unanimity did not exist, and likely some disagreed with the decisions. That's a fine part of the authority with which I've been blessed. The other aspect of that responsibility, which I feel to be more important, is to foster a sense of teamwork and ownership among everyone by gathering and debating sufficient points of view as we did in these cases. "Analysis paralysis" is counterproductive. But inclusiveness is exponentially productive, creating not only better rounded decisions in the short run but a culture of togetherness, respect and humility that inspires those who tend to be motivated from within, which in my experience describes most people.
I'll always be a little out of place working among hawks. My integrity rests on doing what I can to be a dove, accepting whatever consequences that may have upon my pay.
It brought me back to my annual performance review which took place informally on Friday morning. It's been a fine year professionally, and the only bit of coaching offered was, to paraphrase, that I sometimes spend too much time trying to create harmony rather than making a decision and moving on.
What a spot-on assessment! Hidden Bloggers know that a keystone of my leadership philosophy is inclusiveness. Within the last two weeks I've had to make tough calls on matters where unanimity did not exist, and likely some disagreed with the decisions. That's a fine part of the authority with which I've been blessed. The other aspect of that responsibility, which I feel to be more important, is to foster a sense of teamwork and ownership among everyone by gathering and debating sufficient points of view as we did in these cases. "Analysis paralysis" is counterproductive. But inclusiveness is exponentially productive, creating not only better rounded decisions in the short run but a culture of togetherness, respect and humility that inspires those who tend to be motivated from within, which in my experience describes most people.
I'll always be a little out of place working among hawks. My integrity rests on doing what I can to be a dove, accepting whatever consequences that may have upon my pay.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)