tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25757062598337826792024-02-18T23:03:07.519-08:00Sheer RidiculousnessSpike. Sports. Speculations.Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-52511111451850233512019-09-06T20:17:00.002-07:002019-09-06T20:17:22.495-07:00Football Friday: Send in the Teddy Bears<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflR9DEeGEFtL5rlOTmlHJgRDl8wdmNLb7AXL2WQ5SReXmaD35xfDaBLSX1FUcmwfGIjRAL-bssvY8h2Q2EJpy4vR36vdUIg9T2JVuJ4oO3FwzqBu4se0VIrw1lqA5mT25IoktXg2OTYv_/s1600/IMG_9112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflR9DEeGEFtL5rlOTmlHJgRDl8wdmNLb7AXL2WQ5SReXmaD35xfDaBLSX1FUcmwfGIjRAL-bssvY8h2Q2EJpy4vR36vdUIg9T2JVuJ4oO3FwzqBu4se0VIrw1lqA5mT25IoktXg2OTYv_/s320/IMG_9112.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Baby Lukoshus</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For Bears' fans, such as myself, it has been a long offseason. A season that started with the signing of Khalil Mack that overnight energized a fan base that had been craving a new <i>Monster of the Midway</i>, ended with <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2019/01/football-friday-60-minutes.html">a double doink</a>. The days following that missed field goal were somewhat surreal, Cody Parkey went on the <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/cody-parkey-went-today-show-morning-and-chicago-was-not-having-it"><i>Today</i> show</a> to talk about the experience, and <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/cody-parkey-field-goal-challenge-win-free-beer-year-eagles-nfl-bears-fans-pressure">Goose Island</a> offered any fan who could kick the field goal Parkey missed free beer for a year (and eternal glory). No one made the field goal and Parkey was cut from the Bears... and all Bears' fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. To be honest, probably on both fronts as I think it would have only made things worse had some "regular person" off the street hit the 43-yard field goal thereby adding insult to our emotional injuries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">Still, we made it through the offseason that in my case has included a disappointing NCAA Tournament, the Broncos signing Joe Flacco and hiring Vic Fangio (I only cared about the latter, the former made me laugh), a roller coaster of emotions with the White Sox, utter and complete frustration at the abysmal play of the Colorado Rockies, and unseasonably warm temperatures in the last part of summer in Denver. Therefore I was ready for football, regular season, commemorate the 100th season, celebratory football. I don't have it in me to watch much of the pre-season games. I came to realize that herein lay my problem last night: I was expecting a "real" football game, and what I saw, outside of the play of the Bears' defense, was something akin to a bonus pre-season game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">In the offseason, I purchased a Khalil Mack jersey. I wanted to represent the Bears of now instead of longing for Urlacher to shave his head and come out of retirement. Now that he's in the Hall of Fame, that's no longer a viable option. Plus he seems to like the hair... My purchase, however, was also driven by the fact that it came with a 100th Anniversary patch. I am such a sucker for milestone markers like this one. Last night was the opening of the 100th season of pro football, and the 199th meeting of the Bears and the Packers. Soldier Field was rocking, filled to capacity with people who wanted to be there, many of which probably overpaid for their tickets. It was a national audience with NBC commentators wearing 1920s attire, which according to Cris Collinsworth was quite hot. This line alone is indicative of the game: the commentators had to resort to talking about their wardrobe to fill the air time, in large part because, like those of us watching the game, they were bored.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">There were moments of excitement with Aaron Rodgers being shown the turf five times and holding him to 203 passing yards and one touchdown. Sadly shutting down the Packers' offense meant that the Bears' offense had to come out onto the field. Here's where I think the game plan went awry. I am thinking that Coach Nagy should have sent my soon to be born niece's stylish teddy bear into the game rather than the offensive players that missed the memo that the regular season started last night. The offense needed to overcome one touchdown and they couldn't do it. The only points were a 38-yard field goal from new kicker </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eddy Pineiro. A guy that will be kicking with a target on his back until he shows that he can stay away from the goalposts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The trend across the league this season seemed was to sit the starters during the pre-season for fear of injury, but it came at the cost of live game reps. *Said as the person who has never played football,* I do not see how you can simulate the true feel of a game in practice. The timing was off, penalties incurred due to panic (I'm looking at you 1st and 40), and clock mismanagement were all ridiculous moments that should not have been allowed to happen in a regular-season game. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am I worried about the Bears over the course of the season? I don't think so. Am I annoyed at the disappointing play last night? Absolutely. Am I relieved that the Bears' defense looks like a formidable force worthy of the moniker, <i>Monsters of the Midway</i>? You bet. Do I think the Packers' defense is that good? No, but that could just be because I can't validate anything done by the Green/Yellow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until the Bears' offense is a well-oiled machine, however, the players need some reps in the pre-season. The concern around injuries is valid, but the solution is not to put them in bubble wrap on the bench. There may need to be fewer pre-season games - the fans don't like them anyway - and maybe an extra regular-season game that allows each team to have a blow-up moment like what we saw last night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bring on the Broncos in Week Two, and since I will be at the game, I would like to see Da Bears (both defense and offense). Please don't make me <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUnLwM1JfKI">buy the teddy bear and double doink goal post</a> that Brett Favre is pushing, just so that I can throw it onto the field in disgust.</span>Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-27431084492093306932019-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-25T08:00:00.910-08:00Football Friday: 60 Minutes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA7szebZYprBYCOddV-JHoQbG8dbU2UiMkXAd9egxNCwB0hxYHWx_ObK6Xlh7qeYK_8JT5qvDVdMLLUcX4neftKGNQx16MecE_-uTUlG05RDwbe8scroGwWX7Q-v2LXKm_b-S4dCmTEBD/s1600/zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="198" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA7szebZYprBYCOddV-JHoQbG8dbU2UiMkXAd9egxNCwB0hxYHWx_ObK6Xlh7qeYK_8JT5qvDVdMLLUcX4neftKGNQx16MecE_-uTUlG05RDwbe8scroGwWX7Q-v2LXKm_b-S4dCmTEBD/s200/zebra.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.zebrapen.com/product/hl-refill-yellow-2pk/</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;">A pro football game is four, 15 minute quarters for a total of 60 minutes. When </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">watching</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"> a game, you need to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">allow</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"> at least three hours, but </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">usually</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;">, more time to allow for something ridiculous to happen. Let’s be real: something is going to go awry. At the end of any given game, someone will be unhappy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;">In my mind, the NFL playoffs ended when the Bears were doinked, well really double doinked, from the playoffs. Did you see what I did there? If not, here’s a </span><a href="https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/video/the-double-doink-cody-parkey-s-missed-field-goal-gives-eagles-win" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;">video</a><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;">. In Parkey’s defense, the kick has been ruled a block, but I still stand by the fact that I called the miss before it happened. I did not anticipate the double doink, otherwise, I would have gone out and purchased a (winning) lottery ticket with my newfound psychic powers. As a Bears’ fan of many, many (lean) years, I have learned to manage expectations. Even though I allowed myself to dream of the possibility of the Bears winning the Super Bowl, which I did do; I am not sitting here weeks later blaming Parkey. The defense did not play at their best. Going for two after the touchdown was probably a foolish call. Trubisky never found his rhythm, etc., etc., etc. A football game is 60 minutes, too much energy, strategy, and effort go into it; so to boil it down to one play feels like a disservice and dare I say ridiculousness? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Eagles came out the victors of their game against the Bears and had to go on the road to face a formidable New Orleans Saints team. The Eagles seemed to be flying high (more wordplay), after beating the team that allowed them to even make the playoffs. The <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2019/01/football-friday-mitch-please.html">irony</a> is not lost on me that this is the second time in as many playoff appearances that the Bears have allowed their opponent into the playoffs, but there you hate it. Anyway, the Eagles go into the Superdome to play a team that absolutely embarrassed them during the regular season (48-7), and one that is playing really good ball with a seemingly ageless quarterback who went to that other school (Purdue). The Eagles get out to an early lead scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter, but that would be their score at the end of the game. New Orleans was able to take a 20-14 lead that seemed to be in jeopardy as the Eagles were driving down the field with mere minutes left in the game when Alshon Jeffrey - who did nothing for me in fantasy football by the way - let a very catchable ball go through his fingers. It felt like the equivalent of the baseball going through a players legs (it went through the wickets)! As mad as I was at Jeffrey, both for the aforementioned fantasy disappointment, but also for his criticism of the Bears coming into the game; this loss is not squarely on his shoulders. The Eagles’ defense held a high-powered offense to 20 points, the offense needs to be able to score more than 20 points. The Eagles even making the playoffs after Wentz went down again was nothing short of miraculous. Still, at some point, the better team is going to prevail. The whole of the 2018 Saints was better than the defending Super Bowl Champions this go around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is all leading to the mother of blown calls and one-off moments. The Saints seemed to have the game in hand over the Rams. I am sure Saints’ fans had started purchasing plane tickets to Atlanta, planning a road trip, or at the very least planning their Super Bowl parties. Then comes a blatant hit on a WR, Tommylee Lewis by the CB Nickell Robey-Coleman before the ball arrives. If you’re a college basketball fan this is when you insert the Dick Vitale diatribe, “come on ref, even I could see that and I’ve only got one eye...” In all seriousness, it was an epic fail by the official. Even Robey-Coleman said he didn’t play the ball. The Rams take the game to OT and kick a game-winning, Super Bowl ticket punching field goal to win. Now you have a New Orleans attorney suing the NFL, eye doctors offering NFL referees free eye-exams, Saints’ fans signing petitions to try to get the game replayed, and Sean Peyton telling anyone that will listen that the NFL head of officials acknowledged the call was blown. Here’s the rub for me, however, and it lies in the overtime. New Orleans won the coin toss. They received the ball, as everyone other than Marty <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/12/28/bill-belichick-takes-the-wind/77967278/">Mornhinweg</a>, would choose to do. If the Saints score a touchdown, the game is over. Even scoring a field goal at least forces the Rams to match it. Instead, Brees is picked off, the Rams get the ball and score the field goal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In many ways technology with the power of instant replay, and the challenge system now wide-spread in sports today has ruined us against the possibility of human error. Blown calls, missed strikes, erroneous safe/out, they are all part of the human dimension of sports. Did this official make a mistake? Absolutely. Is it an offense worthy of termination? That is not for me to decide. I just know that I have made some whopper-sized mistakes in my life, and I would hate for any of them to play out before the public. Again, this game should not have come down to one make-or-break play. The Saints had their opportunity in overtime, they were not able to capitalize on it. The Rams won the game, and the opportunity to (hopefully) beat the Patriots. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back to the fact that I am a Bears' fan... I am sitting here with my head held high knowing that my team beat the NFC Champions and <i>should</i> <i>have </i>beat the AFC Champion Patriots. Onward and upward for the Bears, but it is time to find a new kicker.</span></div>
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-54540682893360312132019-01-06T19:03:00.000-08:002019-01-06T19:03:28.512-08:0019 for 2019<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PpY9Ec4fE1Z9Em2-GShUJf7utqctdh5K8iykHaK3zAYeMYjjD8jOGjCEf7-zuAxYRcbd-8UTM-PeKyu02MT8CZ7Wx0oYqTO_4mcrzfOPWoWHiEPTAv2zxZb7mkl6qWSVLd2_9xeRX8fz/s1600/IMG_0421.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PpY9Ec4fE1Z9Em2-GShUJf7utqctdh5K8iykHaK3zAYeMYjjD8jOGjCEf7-zuAxYRcbd-8UTM-PeKyu02MT8CZ7Wx0oYqTO_4mcrzfOPWoWHiEPTAv2zxZb7mkl6qWSVLd2_9xeRX8fz/s320/IMG_0421.jpeg" width="233" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A bayberry candle b</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;">urned to the socket b</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;">rings food and larder and gold to the pocket.</span></span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />At the <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast-episode/149-happier-18-for-2018-roz-chast/">suggestion</a> of one of my favorite authors (Gretchen Rubin), Danny and I created a list of the nineteen things we would like to do in 2019:</span><div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Build our mini block Camden Yards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Make the leap to Instagram</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Launch <i>Danny and the Designated Driver</i> (documentation of his beer escapades) and evaluate this blog... is it something I wish to maintain?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shutterfly Projects: Wedding Album and Killmer Family Thanksgiving book with Aunt Alice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Visit Gunnison National Park</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Create more white space... both in our home and on our calendar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rainforest Yoga at the Butterfly Pavilion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Schedule a weekly Power Hour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will not buy books, perfume, or DVDs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do at least one shared health-focused activity per month </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Plan a trip to Baltimore, Union City, and the Region</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take a couples' cooking class</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">See Steamboat Springs in the summer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whip the yard into shape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hike Green Mountain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Try fly fishing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Host a holiday beer swap</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Send Christmas cards and maybe an epistle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Work toward weight goals</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I expect there will be times where I have to remind myself that these are goals for a <i>year. </i>I also hope that I can be graceful toward me and us in our efforts to meet this list. Still, it was fun to think about what could be done in the coming year. </span></div>
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-5235823840306170302019-01-04T10:27:00.001-08:002019-01-04T10:27:22.163-08:00Football Friday: MITCH PLEASE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMNo95wdBK49Fi7IXQA_RoOQ_aiff2w5fvFyr2cGqw7QBOOQaPVgLTpkss_9cEGiqmPKtvgDpmevWQLhrXX25U1k1arGQNF5s71yduCfxKalcTdiA4nvrJSp-bRGbKlFlZ44IARBQPPOs/s1600/IMG_3251.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMNo95wdBK49Fi7IXQA_RoOQ_aiff2w5fvFyr2cGqw7QBOOQaPVgLTpkss_9cEGiqmPKtvgDpmevWQLhrXX25U1k1arGQNF5s71yduCfxKalcTdiA4nvrJSp-bRGbKlFlZ44IARBQPPOs/s320/IMG_3251.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's January and I am dusting off my blog, both as part of my 19 for 2019 (forthcoming list), and because I can write about my BEARS. In a positive light, no less, as we are in for bonus football (aka the playoffs). Considering the Chicago Bears have not been in this spot since 2010, I had to refresh myself on the terminology.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do not like to dwell too much on the playoff run in 2010 </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as the Bears lost to the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Yes, the Packers, the team that defeated the Bears in the "play or go home" game 17. Worse yet, the Pack went on to win the Super Bowl. All around, it was a dismal end to an otherwise solid season that included an NFC North Championship... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now it's January 2019, the Bears have claimed the title of NFC North Champions, and were again pitted against a division rival who had to win to make the playoffs. Both the opponent (Minnesota Vikings) and the outcome were different this time around. Perhaps Coach Nagy is a franchise historian who felt that one team from the NFC North in the playoffs was enough, or maybe he hates that stupid <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w05Yknc42uM">Vikings' horn</a> as much as I do, or maybe he wanted to carry another win into the playoff. Whatever the reason, I was grateful for the result.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On to the post-season and a match-up with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. The irony of this game is that I told Danny should Philly get in, they could cause some damage for teams. They are not the team of last year, but they seemed to have once again found their way under Nick Foles. As a Bears fan of 25+ years, I have to operate with cautious optimism and a huge helping of hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the core of this hopeful optimism is the defensive Monsters of the Midway. While Khalil Mack is the face, the Bears D is also sending three additional players to this year's Pro Bowl: DT Akiem Hicks, CB Kyle Fuller, and S Eddie Jackson. Teams continue to prove that defense wins championships, specifically the Ravens and the Broncos of recent memory. The Patriots continue to enter into shoot-outs with teams and line up a defense that is <i>good enough</i> to get the job done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This leads me both to a point of personal confusion, and the outer layer of my hope. This Bears' offense could be <i>good enough</i> to play against anyone. They employ a diverse offensive scheme, led by Nagy and his out of the box thinking, two different running styles in Cohen and Howard (HOOSIER), and Mitch Trubisky a quarterback who can run and limit the stupid mistakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yet, it feels like the national media and my local Denver market analysts, seem to be focused on Trubisky as the lynch pin. Now I am cutting the Denver guys some slack as they seem bitter about how the Broncos are playing abysmal football and show no signs of figuring out a direction anytime soon. Case in point: Chuck Pagano made a strong impression on the front office. How is he different from Vance Joseph? I digress. I struggle to understand, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">however, why other people are so down on Mitch? Perhaps it's because of that aforementioned 25+ years of watching the Bears and their merry-go-round of quarterbacks that would take until next week to list; but Mitch and I are good. Was I concerned when the Bears jumped up in the draft to get him, yes. Was I annoyed that he is a Tar Heel, absolutely. Does he give me heart palpitations</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> like Jay Cutler, absolutely not!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that MT has the potential and athletic ability to be a very solid QB in this league. At some point he is going to have to start trusting his arm more than his legs, but for now he's a big kid who can become a running back as needed. The Bears offense also lacks a true, consistent number one receiver. While there are advantages to spreading the ball around, it has to be hard for a QB not to have that one guy who you know is going to catch the ball if Mitch gets in the general area. All the great QBs have had their favorite receiver. Mitch needs to find his, or Pace needs to get him one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was not a Bears' fan in 1985, but I was 2006-2007 (Bears vs. Colts, Super Bowl 41). The Bears had a formidable defense, a ridiculous special teams dimension, and a blah QB by the name of Rex Grossman (Sexy Rexy). The 2015-2016 Denver Broncos (Super Bowl 50) had a powerhouse defense and an end of his career, Peyton Manning. Manning did not win that Super Bowl, Von Miller was the MVP for a reason. Super Bowls 35 and 47 went to the Ravens and their dominate defenses. I have heard comparisons between this Bears team and the Broncos of Super Bowl 50. Relax JDP (Danny), I am not saying that Mitch Trubisky is Peyton Manning. I do, however, believe that sometimes the biggest impact a QB can have is staying within his lane and his own skill set.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So... MITCH, PLEASE play your game and BEAR DOWN.</span>Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-81012533914286623572018-02-20T19:13:00.000-08:002018-02-20T19:13:08.472-08:00Let's Go to the Constitution<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Man James Madison and Me at the National Consitution Center, Winter 2010</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have watched a lot of sports in my day (pause for a reaction of shock and awe), and for some reason, a line that has always stuck with me is, "let's go to the videotape." The second chapter of the with the same title by Warner Wolf with Larry Weisman asks what we could learn had there been videotape in the early 20th Century. If we were able to review play-by-play would it help determine with certainty that the 1919 Chicago White Sox (called the Black Sox World Series) did actually throw games? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"If they really were taking a dive, why did the White Sox bother to win Games 6 and 7 of the best-of-nine-Series?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cue the <i>Field of Dreams </i>reference...</span><br />
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"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Maybe in heaven, I will get to ask Shoeless Joe Jackson who hit .375 and made no errors throughout the whole series if he really did take money to throw the Series. In the meantime, I need to stop digressing after I say that I think I need to go home and watch <i>Field of Dream</i>s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All this is a lead up to saying, let's go to the Constitution and more specifically, the Bill of Rights to get a better sense of the 2nd Amendment as that has become a hotly debated issue around the rash of violence in this country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Disclaimer: This is not directed at P Trump as this issue is a bipartisan one as neither party has done enough to take action against the ease of access to guns.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the best classes that I took at Indiana University, Bloomington in the pursuit of my Bachelors' in Secondary Education, Social Studies was Constitutional Interpretation. The crux of the course was looking at the different ways in which the Constitution is analyzed for legal purposes. An interesting article from the <i>Huffington Post</i> outlines <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-reid/fourteen-ways-to-interpre_b_12735744.html">14 ways to interpret the Constitution</a>, 14! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Within those methods, I believe the focus for the sake of a discussion around the 2nd Amendment is </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Textualism (Literalism, or Plain Meaning), which is what I think is being utilized and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Living Document (Aspirational) the technique that would allow for conversation and perhaps even change. In other words, this is the approach that I utilize and my studies of American History lead me to believe the framers - specifically <a href="https://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2012/08/who-would-you-spend-day-with.html">my man James Madison</a>, intended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of my favorite episodes of <i>The West Wing </i>is called "The Supremes" in which the staff is charged with helping President Bartlet name a nominee to the Supreme Court following the death of a very conservative justice. In comes Evelyn Baker Lang (Glenn Close), a brilliant and wildly liberal appellate judge and Christopher Mulready (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">William Fichtner) a staunch conservative...</span><br />
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<span class="character" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000335/?ref_=tt_ch" style="color: #70579d; text-decoration-line: none;">Evelyn Baker Lang</a>: </span><span style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am not... </span>No<span style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I am not rewriting Article I. I am saying that a gun free school zone...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="character" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001209/?ref_=tt_ch" style="color: #70579d; text-decoration-line: none;">Christopher Mulready</a>: </span><span class="fine" style="font-style: italic;">[Cutting her off] </span>Is not a federal issue. In Lopez</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="character" style="font-weight: bold;">Evelyn Baker Lang : </span><span class="fine" style="font-style: italic;">[Cutting him off] </span>Lopez overturned 50 years of precedent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="character" style="font-weight: bold;">Christopher Mulready: </span>No, it stated that a plain text reading of the Commerce Clause does not allow Congress to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="character" style="font-weight: bold;">Evelyn Baker Lang : </span><span class="fine" style="font-style: italic;">[Cutting him off again] </span>A plain text reading of the Constitution values a negro at 3/5 of a man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="character" style="font-weight: bold;">Christopher Mulready: </span>Hence the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="character" style="font-weight: bold;">Evelyn Baker Lang: </span>Oh, how generous. Thank you</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This exchange serves to articulate the fact that a textualism (plain text reading) of the Constitution does not take into account the time and space in which it was written. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments of the Constitution) also "shows its age" in the Third Amendment: "</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law." Other than the Revolutionary War or perhaps the Civil War, what other time in history would this rule apply?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A textualism (plain text) reading of the second amendment does not acknowledge that much has changed since 1787. The framers of the Constitution could not have fathomed automatic assault weapons used in battle, let alone used against their own children or friends or neighbors in an educational or entertainment environment. The framers of the Constitution were some of the most educated men of their day, I have to believe they would have valued safety in schools. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instead, I believe that the forward-thinking framers of the Constitution would have expected their successors to employ a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Living Document (Aspirational)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> viewpoint of this document. As a student of history I have stood in awe on more than one occasion at the fact that there have only been amended (updated) 27 times, and two of those have to do with alcohol! In 231 years, lawmakers have only made 27 changes to this document that shapes the law of the United States of America. An aspirational view of the 2nd Amendment would allow lawmakers to allow for people who wish to arm themselves to do so, but within some level of rational thought, that would limit access to assault weapons or other firearms that your average citizen does not need to carry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each time the news reports that another crime has been committed with a gun, I think of the word beget. <i>Not the reproduction definition...</i> Rather the thought that violence begets more violence. If people think the way to protect themselves is to carry a gun, does that not encourage other people to arm themselves? It feels like such a vicious cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until someone breaks the cycle, I am going to continue to vote carefully and consider each candidate's record on accepting donations from special interest groups especially the NRA. I will also make a donation to <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/ab-everytown-default/?source=ggnp_DON18_ET&utm_source=gg_n_&utm_medium=_p&utm_campaign=DON18">Every Town for Gun Safety</a>. The irony of these plans is that the framers of the Constitution did not even allow me to take these actions as women were not given the right to vote until 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution. What do you think my man James Madison and his compatriots would have to say about that one? Or perhaps I should say, "how do you like them apples?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will leave you with this striking quote from Supreme Court Cheif Justice Warren Burger (Conservative - appointed by P Richard Nixon), "The Gun Lobby's interpretation of the Second Amendment is one of the greatest pieces of fraud - one of the American people by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime. The real purpose of the Second Amendment was to ensure that state armies - the militia - would be maintained for the defense of the state. The language of the Second Amendment refutes any argument that it was intended to guarantee every citizen an unfettered right to any kind of weapon he or she desires."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Proof that a Textualism interpretation can work too...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-45143948977588958102018-01-13T07:25:00.000-08:002018-01-13T07:25:14.629-08:00One Final Broadcast: The Love and Kindness of Mister Rogers and Grandparents<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last year for the April meeting of the board, I was asked to give the opening devotion. I get terribly nervous in these instances where I am surrounded by highly educated (many of them theologically trained) people, but for this one, the timing was well suited in that I truly had been thinking a lot about my grandparents. Today would have been my Grandpop's 88th birthday, so I again find myself thinking about him <i>more than usual</i>. While there are days marked on a calendar where I can anticipate that I will be thinking about my grandparents, but truth be told not a day really goes by where they don't float across my thoughts. It may be something sensical like my sister taking me to see <i>The King and I </i> stage play as we grew up watching all the Rodgers and Hammerstein movies (except <i>South Pacific</i> which was a one-time showing). Or it could be something more random like a visit to the grocery store's deli department and thinking how Grandpop would have approved of their selection and the person who cut the meat (or disapprove as the case may be). It is in these moments of grief that I am reminded of the fragility of life, and try to tell myself not to squander time or opportunities. We can give ourselves a lot of things, but more time is not always one of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>One Final Broadcast</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lately, I have been thinking a lot about grandparents, mine specifically. On Easter Sunday my grandmother turned 90, and this past Tuesday was the third anniversary of my grandfather’s death. Many people knew my grandfather as Alice Killmer’s husband of 64 years, father of two, a veteran of the Korean War, an employee of Acme markets for over 40 years, a life-long Episcopalian (let it be known, however, that he had Presbyterian leanings), but to his five grandchildren he was Grandpop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My Grandpop retired at 55 and has encouraged us all to do the same. Since most of us will not be lucky enough to follow that lead, the life lesson regardless is that he knew how to live life to the fullest. Even in his last years when dementia took his mind, he was always in good spirits. There are times when the grief washes over me, and my only solution is to put on one of his shirts. He had a quality collection of flannel shirts, and everyone in the family went home with one. I also have a terribly scratchy wool sweater that I wear at times when I miss him an extra lot. In fact, I am wearing it today. I am convinced it is real love if you are willing to wear an itchy wool sweater that also gives off a Mr. Rogers vibe (a direct quote from my youngest sister). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I see a lot of similarities between my Grandpop and Mister Rogers, each with their own gentle spirit that the world needs more of. I would now like to read a short section </span>from<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the book, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World’s Most Beloved Neighbor </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">by Amy Hollingsworth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The very last time I saw Fred in person, I asked him a question for no apparent reason, except perhaps out of idle curiosity. It didn't fit with the rest of the interview or even the context of what we were talking about at the moment. In fact, I didn't even remember asking it until I looked back the interview tape years later. Hearing his answer again, after his death, I found that his words had a 'quality of eternity' about them, as if they were spoken from eternity and not from the conversation we happened to be having that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'If you had <i>one final broadcast,' </i>I asked, '<i>one final opportunity</i> to address your television neighbors, and you could tell them the single most important lesson of your life, what would you say?'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He paused a moment and then said, ever so slowly: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Well, I would want [those] who were listening somehow to know that they had unique value, that there isn't anybody in the whole world exactly like them and that there never has been and there never will be.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And that they are loved by the Person who created them, in a unique way.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If they could know that and really know it and have that behind their eyes, they could look with those eyes on their neighbor and realize, "My neighbor has unique value too; there's never been anybody in the whole world like my neighbor, and there never will be." If they could value that person -- if they could love that person -- in ways that we know that the Eternal loves us, then I would be very grateful.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"And I think that from where he sits in his new neighborhood, Mister Rogers is just that, eternally gratefully."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eternally grateful. I am eternally grateful for my grandparents, as well as many people. I truly hope you have someone (or someones) that you too are eternally grateful for having in your life.</span></div>
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-15156184574938498412017-03-06T17:25:00.002-08:002017-03-07T11:29:51.018-08:00This "Toupee" Shall Pass: Diversion Technique #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">President Trump has been our reality for six weeks. Somehow it feels longer, but it also serves as another reminder of how quickly time goes by. It is now March, which means that I have not yet been successful at slowing down time. That concept, however, is a whole separate tangent. Still the focus of this edition of diversion technique or "<a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2017/01/this-toupee-shall-pass-diversion.html">This 'Toupee' Shall Pass</a>" is: <b>Exploration.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of my favorite authors, <a href="http://gretchenrubin.com/about/">Gretchen Rubin</a>, recently reminded me that "...<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/faking-itand-9-other-secr_b_143010.html">people who do new things</a> -- learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places -- are happier than people who stick to familiar activities that they already do well." I think it is easy to believe that the only way to accomplish this goal is by planning a trip to some new destination; but there are so many other ways to find joy right in your own area.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This point was reinforced of by someone I have known since elementary school whom I live vicariously through on Facebook as she is quite the globe trotter. She has spent much of 2017 in Tokyo with a few side trips to other Asian countries. A number of people started messaging her after the election about how much they enjoy her travel posts/photos because they are a nice distraction (diversion!). She went onto remind us all that we can post non-political things too, including something like finding joy in a cup of coffee and sharing it through social media. We don't need to be on the other side of the Pacific Ocean to do that. <i>Thanks, Valerie!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While I do revel in having someone ask me, "where are you going now?" after posting some silly airport experience (usually a result of morning brain) because I do enjoy traveling. Yet, I also take great pleasure in being a tourist in Denver. I have lived here for almost 10 years (in May), and I am still finding new and interesting things to do. For instance, so far this year Danny and I have tried: the National Western Stock Show; a Monster Jam truck rally; and "</span><i>Thank you for being a friend. In drag," The Golden Girls</i> (now that was a hoot, especially the guy who played Dorothy). This weekend, the docket includes Frozen Dead Guy Days. Please note that most of these things are done using some kind of discount offering - Groupon, Goldstar, etc. are worth subscribing to, or at least checking before you buy full priced tickets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yet, I also like to be a tourist in other places whenever possible. Working for a national organization means that I travel for work with some regularity. I often go sight-seeing on my own dime, even if it means coming in a day early. An example would be my side trips in Boston last week - <a href="https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/">Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum</a> and the <a href="https://www.jfklibrary.org/">JFK Presidential Library and Museum</a> were crammed in before my meetings started on Sunday. It was fun to see that my parents took advantage of the opportunity to come into Cleveland a day early to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as they were picking up my sister and her boyfriend en route to visit our family in Baltimore for Christmas. My in-laws also jumped at the chance to continue on to Quebec City after joining Danny and me on our Cleveland leg of our east coast baseball adventures of 2016. As an aside, the four of us all enjoyed Cleveland more than we would initially thought. A lot can be done in 36 hours visiting, "the mistake on the lake."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's always fun to think about what's possible. In fact, I have read that adventures create a trifecta of happiness: the planning/anticipation, the doing, and the memories after the fact. Let's be honest, I may take more pleasure in the first part (the planning) than most; but this may prove that others enjoy it too. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope you will think about living out the quote from the Dalai Lama: "Once a year, go someplace you've never been before." I used this quote on the back of our <a href="https://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZNWrduzZNmTrY&cid=SM-PBAPP">photo book</a> for 2016 because I took pride that Danny and I had accomplished it. And if you do it, I would encourage you to send yourself a postcard about it; in an effort not to forget what all went into this year, we made a conscious effort to document our fun through postcards.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have fun, the year is still young!</span></span>Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-19386607166940877182017-02-05T18:24:00.000-08:002017-02-05T19:53:35.649-08:00Why I Chose to March<span id="goog_857876171"></span><span id="goog_857876172"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is estimated that 3.2 million <i>people</i> joined in <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2017/01/this-toupee-shall-pass-diversion.html">Women's Marches</a> around the United States, with more than a quarter million participating in solidarity around the world. Even though we will never know the actual figure, there were a lot of people troubled by the current state of our government. Two weekends later, I am still thinking about why I decided to participate. So here goes...</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a woman of faith I take Luke 12:48 very seriously: "<i>From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.</i>" I have worked hard as an adult to put a roof over my own head, provide for my family, and go to graduate school. I would be terribly remiss, however, in not acknowledging all that I have been blessed with and the riches that have been shared with me to provide me so many opportunities. My parents and extended family ensured that I never went without, was provided a quality education including a bachelor's Degree, and even straight teeth (braces are not cheap). Plus as a woman especially, I am grateful that I live in a country where I can do what I want, when I want. Not everyone in this world can say that, even in 2017. All this is to say not everyone, even someone born in this country, is as fortunate. I feel a sense of responsibility to help those around me, due in large part to what has been given to me. Is this system perfect? Absolutely not; but it is the system we have and we must work within it to help those in need.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have availed myself of the many services that Planned Parenthood has to offer women. I went to a clinic in college when I was trying to figure out "how to be an adult;" but I did not understand health insurance nor did I have a gynecologist to help diagnose what was causing problems below the waist. Sadly this organization has become predominately associated with providing abortions, but let's be clear that only <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/5414/5678/8221/PP_Numbers.pdf"> 3% of their overall services are abortions</a>.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think Betsy DeVos is wildly unqualified to be the Secretary of Education. Even though I may no longer be a teacher, I still have serious concerns about the education system in this country. I truly believe we are falling short of preparing our future generations, and the appointment of such an inappropriate candidate shows that President Trump is not attuned to the need for education reform. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After graduating from college I was having trouble finding employment that provided me with access to or enough compensation to afford health insurance. I went nearly two years without health insurance. I was very fortunate that I did not require any serious medical care, or have a pre-existing condition that would require on-going care. The Affordable Care Act allowed minors to stay on their parents' insurance up until age 26. If this had been an option for me, it would have sustained me until my current position that provided benefits. The repeal of the ACA without a viable replacement is unconscionable. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I believe that global warming is a real phenomenon that requires the full attention of the EPA among other organizations, as well as the full attention of each person. I have serious concerns about the world we will be leaving for future generations if we continue to ignore the impact of our dependence on fossil fuels, and our consumptive nature as a society.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, I believe that the millions of people around the country who participated in marches in their respected locations were availing themselves of the right given all Americans by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for peaceable assembly and free speech (along with airing our grievances, freedom of RELIGION - all religions, and freedom of the press). I fear many have lost sight of the fact that the Bill of Rights is comprised of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, not just the second one that allows people to bear arms.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even though I have more personal reasons why <b>I</b> chose to participate, this is all that I feel is fit to print. As it is I I cannot speak for anyone else who participated in a march, nor do I think that everyone who opposes them feels the same way. At the end of the day, I hope we can remember in tense situations such as this that neither side is all about "you" nor "me."</span></div>
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<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-73292903653842837932017-01-27T06:44:00.001-08:002017-02-24T10:58:52.774-08:00This "Toupee" Shall Pass: Diversion Technique #1 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, a week after the inauguration of this country's 45th President, Donald J. Trump, I find myself anxious, pissed off, scared, and really all the negative feels. I cannot possibly stay in this mental state for four years, so I need to work on a diversion technique. More than one really, but in the short-term this is what I have come up: "This 'Toupee' Shall Pass" blog series. Every couple weeks or so, I hope to provide myself, and possibly others if you have read this far, an idea of how to take your mind off the current political landscape.<br />
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Before I explain my first idea, I want to explain the overarching concept of this series. Last weekend, my sister and I joined more than 200,000 of our closest friends in the <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/25/reflecting-on-the-womens-march-on-denver-8-letters/">Women's March on Denver</a>. One of many marches that took place across the country and around the world. More on that event later; but the phrase, "This 'Toupee' Shall Pass" came from a sign that I saw at the March. The expression really struck me, I think due to a combination of my faith, as well as my love of history. After I stopped laughing at the play on words, I felt a strange sense of momentary peace. I need to believe that the framer's of the Constitution, especially perhaps my man <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/07/political-apathy-vs-self-preservation.html">James Madison</a> built a system of checks and balances intended to safeguard the people from a single leader. The Executive Branch (the President) is actually the weakest branch of the three by design. I can only hope that the Legislative (Congress) Branch does their job by holding the President in check and meeting the needs of their constituency, many of which did not vote for President Trump.<br />
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Now where did my diversion idea for this week (and this whole series, really) comes from? It actually goes back to the fact that I am continuing a New Year's Resolution that I started in 2016 (and actually kept), which is to explore one new restaurant and one new activity/place per month for the whole year. Since I enjoyed it so much, I continued into 2017. The new activity for this month was to finally attend the National Western Stock Show as it is a HUGE deal here in Denver. Groupon provided cheap tickets for Thursday night's rodeo, so we decided to give it a try. After eating wildly unhealthy food: a bacon wrapped hot dog, a deep fried Twinkie (!!), and s'more flavored mini-donuts, we took our seats for the main event. After being totally confused watching cowboys compete in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding, <b>out came a little kid riding a sheep also known as <a href="http://www.nationalwestern.com/rodeos/mutton-bustin/">Mutton Bustin' </a></b>. And then it happened again and again... as there were many little kids who had won their age specific tournament. At the end of the event they were each given a trophy that was definitely taller than most of those kids, and probably taller than me. I truly laughed so hard that I was crying. After seeing how much fun I was having, Danny told me I needed to document this on the blog. He believed that I could come up with a bunch of ideas to help me think about something else. Secretly, I think he just wanted to get me to start blogging again - be careful what you wish for, JDP!<br />
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If you find yourself frustrated, scared, etc. I highly recommend watching <b>YouTube videos on Mutton Bustin'</b> - just avoid the ones that talk about the bad things that can happen when you mix a kid under 55 pounds and a sheep. Nobody wants to see that - it won't help.</div>
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Until next week, let's keep our chins up, and if you feel so inclined write your representatives to share how you feel (<u>support or dissenting opinions</u>). Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings, but expressing those opinions in a constructive, non-judgmental manner is the only way the American Democracy can work and thrive.</div>
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<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-65536061956405205292016-04-06T08:55:00.002-07:002016-04-06T08:56:17.882-07:00Keep Calm and Carry On OR In Which We Explore the Utterly Perplexing Art of Decluttering With Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a lot of ordained and theologically trained colleagues, which is a wonderful blessing. Our staff and board functions tend to start with a meditation/devotion/prayer, and in the "old days" when I first started I was part of a rotation, so I only had to prepare one or two per year. A combination of a smaller staff and my role as a Vice President means I can't really duck the responsibility any longer. This past weekend the staff came together, and I was asked to give one of the closing devotions. When it came time I thought my boss had forgotten, but no... So I gave the caveat that I was nervous mainly because I had combined two very separate resources into one devotion (when really I was freaked out because the people around the table are MUCH MORE qualified) to speak on such topics. Since it was well-received and because perhaps other people need help in keeping calm, I share my devotion with you:</div>
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from Kristin van Ogtrop’s article which appears<b> </b></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">in the April 04, 2016 issue of </span><i><u><span style="color: #479cd6; font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://time.com/4270371/in-which-we-explore-the-utterly-perplexing-art-of-decluttering-with-joy/">TIME</a></span></u></i><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> and </span><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Max Lucado, <i><a href="http://www.faithgateway.com/in-a-crisis-keep-calm-and-carry-on/#.VwUxGPkrKCg">God Will Carry YouThrough</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the days leading up to the war with Germany, the British
government commissioned a series of posters. The idea was to capture
encouraging slogans on paper and distribute them about the country. Capital
letters in a distinct typeface were used, and a simple two-color format was
selected. The only graphic was the crown of King George VI.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first poster was distributed in September of 1939:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YOUR
COURAGE<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YOUR
CHEERFULNESS<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YOUR
RESOLUTION<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WILL
BRING US VICTORY<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soon thereafter a second poster was produced:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FREEDOM
IS IN PERIL<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEFEND
IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These two posters appeared up and down the British countryside.
On railroad platforms and in pubs, stores, and restaurants. They were
everywhere. A third poster was created yet never distributed. More than 2.5
million copies were printed yet never seen until sixty years later when a
bookstore owner in Northeast England discovered one in a box of old books he
had purchased at an auction. It read:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">KEEP
CALM<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AND
CARRY ON<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The poster bore the same
crown and style of the first two posters. It was never released to the public,
however, but was held in reserve for an extreme crisis, such as invasion by
Germany. The bookstore owner framed it and hung it on the wall. It became so popular that the bookstore began
producing identical images of the original design on coffee mugs, postcards,
and posters.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[Personally
I am having trouble keeping calm. I have also been trying] to understand
Japanese supernova Marie Kondo, who approaches organizing as a painstaking,
solemn process of finding joy in every corner of your house.<br />
<br />
I am the editor of a magazine with organizing at its core, and I happen to know
that many Americans, in fact many of you reading this column, are complete
slobs. The best part of it is that you don’t really care that much; your slobby
nature bothers you the way your hair bothers you. As in: Eh, that’s just the
way it is. And this is fantastic, because it means you have a sense of humor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
know that mess is just mess, not a metaphor for the lack of control you have
over your mental health, intelligence level or chances of getting into heaven.<br />
<br />
Kondo recently published a new book, her second, called <i>Spark Joy: An
Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up. </i>Even
though the book has charming little illustrations, this is a very serious
volume for very serious people who don’t think it’s weird to throw out a
screwdriver because it doesn’t spark joy and then try to use a ruler to tighten
a screw instead. That’s what Marie Kondo did, and the ruler broke. And then
Kondo was really sad, not because she recognized the stupidity of trying to
tighten a screw with a ruler, but because the ruler had sparked joy.<br />
<br />
Does anyone besides me think this is completely bananas?<br />
<br />
Trying to follow Kondo’s advice is like, oh, I don’t know, listening to
dolphins communicate or watching Star Wars in Farsi. I know something extremely
important is happening, and I can almost understand it. But just almost. And it
makes me wonder: Are all the people buying her best-selling books doing it …
ironically? It reminds me of watching the March presidential debate when Donald
Trump crowed about his manhood. I kept waiting to hear a voice say, “Live from
New York, it’s Saturday night!”<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve
been to Japan only once, and one of my favorite things about the trip was going
into a store to buy a little inexpensive something and watching the clerk take
15 minutes to wrap it, like it cost $3,000. It was amazing, magical, perfect. I
mean, I don’t take that kind of care in wrapping Christmas presents, even the
expensive ones. So maybe the difference between me and Kondo is the
difference between a slobby American with mediocre gift presentation and an
elegant Japanese shopkeeper who will wrap any item carefully, even if it’s
worth only $7.50.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although
I do spend much of my work life thinking about organizing, I am never ever
everevereverever going to fold my underwear like origami, as Kondo instructs. I
am also not going through my house (don’t even get me started on the garage) to
hold each object firmly in both hands and wait to see if it sparks joy.
Needless to say, Kondo did that, and now she uses a skillet to pound in nails
(picture it, people) because she threw out her un-joyful hammer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However,
Kondo has given me an idea. Any organizing expert–including Kondo–<u>knows the</u>
<u>goal is not managing physical stuff but managing the stuff swirling around
inside your head</u>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so I’ve decided to eliminate a few things from my
head that don’t spark joy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[Or perhaps you can
appreciate] <i><span style="color: #00b050;">the
reminder from another generation to keep calm and carry on.</span></i><span style="color: #00b050;"> <i>You can do the same. You can’t control the weather.
You aren’t in charge of the economy </i></span>[or the upcoming Presidential election, which]<span style="color: #00b050;">
</span>I have started to think is just one long Kabuki performance, and
I can no longer muster any joy. <i><span style="color: #00b050;">You can’t undo
the tsunami </span></i>[or the
inexplicable bombings in Brussels or Pakistan]<i> <span style="color: #00b050;">or
un-wreck the car, but you can map out a strategy. </span></i><span style="color: #252525;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="color: #00b050;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember, God is in this crisis </span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[and the clutter]<i><span style="color: #00b050;">. Ask Him to give you
an index card-sized plan, two or three steps you can take today.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PRAY TO
GOD<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AND
CARRY ON</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-50471339883312092632016-03-10T11:59:00.000-08:002016-03-10T11:59:00.284-08:00My Letter to the Orioles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oHR1ltUARcouvWJvQbsfOvsu_3fLXzFgKW8CY_2C-f-e4imf4ONFodetuoB5gSKgkKlE2dilxrio976EKwsduTdYZ8gmawwtsbvmZSjfDFDOSjet1y__Kdg7iH-lF6Z0dE0VfDAiSPte/s1600/Orioles.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday on Facebook, I put Joyce of the Baltimore Orioles ticket office on notice that if she is that unhappy with her job that I would be glad to take over. Well today, I wrote my first ever complaint letter. I really wish I had followed up with the Mariners after my experience that I entitled, <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/04/fear-beard-aka-seattle-mariners-ticket.html">"Fear the Beard" aka The Seattle Mariners Ticket Office</a>. Still, this exchange with the Orioles stung even more because of my life-long history with the team. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am working on a list of "Thing I Think, I Think" about baseball in general - so more to come. In the meantime, here's my best attempt at an effective letter...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">March 10, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scott Rosier <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Manager, Season Plan
Sales <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baltimore Orioles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oriole Park at
Camden Yards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">333 West Camden
Street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baltimore, MD 21201<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Mr. Rosier:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am writing this letter to you in response to a most
unpleasant exchange that I had with Season Plan Sales Representative, Joyce
Noto on March 9, 2016. The reason for my call was to purchase tickets for an
upcoming Orioles Game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a life-long baseball fan, with many fond memories of the
Orioles this interaction was especially disappointing to me. Even though I was raised
in Philadelphia, Chicago, and now live in Denver, my family roots are in
Baltimore; so I have always kept a close eye on the Orioles. Like so many
children of the 1980s, I grew up admiring Cal Ripken, Jr. I had a crush on
Brady Anderson in my teen years, I was angered by the fan interference play of
the 1996 ALCS, and I will never forget watching, on TV, the numbers on the
warehouse change to 2,131 when Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record. The Orioles ascent
from the lower ranks of the ardent AL East to be more competitive gives me
hopes for both the White Sox and the Rockies to figure things out one day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As an adult I have become a ballpark chaser. To date, I have
been to 18 stadiums, and my upcoming road trip of five stadiums in nine days
will get me closer to completing the goal. Camden Yards may not have been my
first baseball experience (Veterans Stadium), but it is the ballpark that made
the biggest impact. Each stadium I go to is compared to Camden Yards. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have seen delightful
parallels in use at Comerica Park and Coors Field, which is also where I was
married; but they’re not quite the same.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span> </span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I am a Millennial, I am rather “old-school” in that
part of the ballpark chasing experience is talking with locals in the ticket
office. The enthusiasm and pride that many of the ticket agents display for
their home ballparks is contagious. Plus I get the inside track on the best
place to catch a game. I recognize that there is a mixture across Major League
Baseball as to whether teams sell lower quantities of tickets for individual
games. In an effort to be prepared, I made an inquiry back in February to find
out the stance of the Orioles. I spoke to a very pleasant man who said that the
ticket office would be glad to assist me once the tickets went on sale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Based on this information, I trust you can understand why I
was shocked to have been immediately transferred to Tickets.com. So I called
back, and had my regrettable exchange with Ms. Noto. She did not understand why
I would want to speak to someone in the ticket office who, in her words “could
see the green grasses of Camden Yards, rather than ‘Hazel’ at Tickets.com.”
After I explained my reasoning a second time, she tersely stated that this has
been the practice of the Orioles for 27 years. She went on to say that unless I
wanted to be a season-ticket holder there was nothing she could do for me. Even
though there are teams that will not sell individual game tickets, this is the
first time I did not even have the opportunity to converse with an agent about
the nuances of a ballpark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I proceeded to purchase my six tickets for a game in May
through Tickets.com. Please understand that I refuse to let this impact my
experience at Camden Yards, especially since this will be my husband’s first
trip, but the whole incident left a bad taste in my mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For those of us on the outside the opportunity to go to the
ballpark every day for one’s job feels like a privilege that should be treated
with respect. I trust that this is not the way that the Orioles do business; so
I wanted to make you aware of your employee’s actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you for your attention to this matter. Go Orioles!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-74544267089548404902016-01-27T10:30:00.003-08:002016-02-01T06:49:50.819-08:00You can have Roots AND Wings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iC5ZA28qJZ-3_5SzFMJQaZgYm4kP9My4s9jRd6f4KrEsQ2HgqlundjfhTXrceOgQ2OGkJ85IyQLlmKAd2i3wRE8eZZoQrlScX1SHN-Ai_AQra2LG8P5EasOr5bXoeBDj1Zke0kPvkHaA/s1600/IMG_2464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iC5ZA28qJZ-3_5SzFMJQaZgYm4kP9My4s9jRd6f4KrEsQ2HgqlundjfhTXrceOgQ2OGkJ85IyQLlmKAd2i3wRE8eZZoQrlScX1SHN-Ai_AQra2LG8P5EasOr5bXoeBDj1Zke0kPvkHaA/s320/IMG_2464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In May I will have lived in Denver for nine years. Not too bad for an accidental <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-can-i-change-my-name-and-location.html">transplant</a> who as a child had trouble with a week long sleep away camp. Still I often wonder, is Denver home? The answer is yes and no for as the picture says, I will never be completely home again. Rather, I have embraced the idea that I can have "roots <i>and</i> wings."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last year I flew back to Indiana for a dear friend's milestone birthday party. I did what many of us who have spread our wings have done, I way overpaid for the ticket. I went back and forth about whether I could spend the money, and by the time I came to the glaringly obvious conclusion of, <u>I <i>want</i> to be there</u> - the flight prices had gone up. Still when the birthday girl hugged me, and her daughter (also my best friend) hugged me, and my parents came with me to the party, I knew I had made the right decision; the cost was the furthest thing from my mind. My Dad remarked that I seemed to know everyone at the party, and when I realized that I did it further reminded me that along the way I had become a part of their family as well as my own. There may be no greater feeling than to feel wanted and as though you belong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was at this party that my Dad also asked me a question that has been bouncing around in my head for quite a while now, "where do I call home?" I realized that some of it may be contextual as I say I am going home when I head toward Indiana and Denver, but I also realized that I will never again only have one home. This is also why the song, "<a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/nashville/video/pl55199661/VDKA0_wpc6nu79">Roots and Wings</a>" from one of my favorite television shows, <a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/nashville">Nashville</a>, really resonated with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So many places, I wanna go</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So many people I wanna know</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I wanna stay</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I wanna leave</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I want it all</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I've got to believe</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You can have roots and wings</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You can have everything</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You can know where you're from</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And still wanna fly</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having roots and wings was "normal" in my family. This really started with my paternal grandparents as they were the first to move away for either side of the family. They moved a three hour car ride away, which as my Grandmom reminded me is a big help as sometimes our wings take us further away. When my parents were married, they also moved away from their parents - Durham, Nashville, Philadelphia, and now Highland, Indiana. The closest I ever lived to my grandparents was two hours, which grew to 10-12 hours when we moved to Indiana. So I thought this is what "everyone did." I ass-umed that everyone understood the fear, trepidation, and excitement that comes from spreading your wings. I also thought that others would know just how much <b>support</b> is required to put roots down somewhere else. When you move away from your current life, you are trying to start a brand new one some place else. It's a scary proposition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So many choices I've gotta make</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So many voices I'm trying to shake</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>They think they know</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What's best for me</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>But I want it all</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I've gotta believe </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You can have roots and wings</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You can have everything</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You can know where you're from</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And still wanna fly</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This assumption bubble of mine was burst when Danny asked me how far I thought the average person lives from their Mom. I said 50, well as it turns out, it's only <u><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/24/upshot/24up-family.html?_r=0">18 miles</a></u>. Well crud. Danny, my family, and I are not as "normal" as I thought. Suddenly I understood why at times I am fighting the spoken/unspoken mindset of, "well you <i>chose</i> to move away, so you <i>should</i> be coming back to visit." I didn't even realize that this mindset existed until my Mom explained that she had to fight it with her father. I don't think as children we fully understand what our parents have gone through until we experience it ourselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is well known that I did not make the move to Indiana on my parents any easier, and it was not until I went away to college, which was really the first time I had left home that I think I began to understand how scary that move must have been for them. Still when I went to Indiana University I was only three hours away. My Mom came down to take care of me when I had pneumonia. My parents </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">brought me home to deal with my wisdom teeth extraction, and later on my turbinate reduction (nasal) surgery. My parents helped me move everywhere, they even moved me to Denver. This is especially impressive considering they had just moved my sister out there earlier that same year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't think I truly felt on my own until I moved to Denver. I even had to move myself, but I discovered the beauty of paying for movers (also worth every penny). I was now a plane ride or <u>a really long, boring drive</u> away from my parents and sisters (fortunately Denise and John came back to the mountains). Yet, people make that boring drive or take a plane ride to come see us with regularity. My Mom made that trip when I had a <span 18.2px="">fundoplication (surgery for pronounced reflux), both my parents came to help me pick out a wedding dress, my family will be with me when I graduate in April, my grandparents got on a plane for the first time in over 20 years to come see what Colorado has to offer. My Dad attends my work place's educational offerings. Danny's parents have made the awful drive, but his Mom wised up and opted for a plane this past summer. The list goes on and on (and on). Danny and I had more than half of our wedding guests travel from all over the country to be with us. <u>Do you think I could have lived in Denver for nine years and Danny for five without that</u>? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 18.2px="">The other reason we have built <u>a wonderful life here</u> is because we have set roots of our own down here. We have been blessed through the development of a community. My fantastic sister and brother-in-law are also here, which helps tremendously because sometimes you just need your family. But you also build a family - those people who will drop what they're doing to help you. Those people who will see your hidden "bat-signal" that says, hey I just came back to town after visiting "home" and I need to know that I am loved here too. So they take you to lunch or ask you out on a girls' date. They are the people who invite you into their homes for the holidays so that you know you're not ever alone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Nevertheless, things are not always rosy when you let your wings take you away. You miss things. A couple Christmases ago there was a scary family medical situation that I was working with my sister on via text. Danny had to stop me from driving east in the snow and hoping for the best. Or when Danny's parents have major medical surgery, and you can't be there to care for them the way you wish. Sometimes you also have to fight the attitude of "if you lived closer we would do more for you," which really just feels like "I don't support your decision to live away from here/us." There are also times where people tell you that they don't have the money to visit you, but in the same breath tell you about the 72" television that now hangs on their living room wall. It really sucks to not feel like a priority. It is also hard to know you have "x" amount of vacation time, and a finite amount of income. All this requires a balancing act of all the places you want to go with the strong desire to be with the people you love and miss terribly. Thus, you do the best you can, and prioritize those who make you a priority. You also give special kudos to people who say things like, "you're really brave" or "I am proud of you as building a life somewhere is not easy."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">I think that is the biggest lesson I have learned in the last (almost) nine years: being an adult is about determining priorities. The older I get (crap, how did 34 get here so quickly) the more I have come to reciprocate prioritization. When I first started making trips "home" I tried to see everyone, do everything I wanted, and eat everything that I can't get in Denver (hello lemon rice soup and a solid gyro). Then I realized well darn, I can't do it all. I will never make it to all the places I want to go, nor will I ever be able to make everyone happy. It's just not possible. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">Shortly after my grandfather passed away my grieving process took me down the path of discernment regarding our living situation. Danny and I are a package deal now, so I don't get to make that decision alone anymore. Then I realized that even if we moved back to Indiana that I would never have everyone around me. I would miss my sister and brother-in-law in Denver, as well as our many friends, and my grandmother would always be in Pennsylvania, and aunts/uncles/cousins in Baltimore, Dallas, Phoenix, Bogota, etc. It is also complicated by the fact that Danny's family lives in a different part of Indiana as well as Ohio. There will never be just "one place" that will make me or "us" as a married couple</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><i><b>Home is where the heart is</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><i><b>And that will never change.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 18.2px="">So months later, I am ready to say my home is Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, and all the places where so many people who have made an impact on my life currently reside. I now believe that if you choose to let yourself acknowledge it, you can in fact have everything, most especially "roots and wings."</span></span></div>
Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-18942474221235032062015-12-31T13:39:00.000-08:002015-12-31T13:39:35.109-08:00Kansas City: A "Three Brewery" Tour<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkSpuk6FhvQon-mLJz3h5oX26LW9c69v1Q1Erkr1nMH3ZvKkSsz1Ofb5MM9XQ1ALWyKvGjVd9SUZsHzYyOoL_twJHsyfDVu0Ayn93FmHTEYqm2Ss0F9Z0loZF3zKtBIZTiID865txiGII/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkSpuk6FhvQon-mLJz3h5oX26LW9c69v1Q1Erkr1nMH3ZvKkSsz1Ofb5MM9XQ1ALWyKvGjVd9SUZsHzYyOoL_twJHsyfDVu0Ayn93FmHTEYqm2Ss0F9Z0loZF3zKtBIZTiID865txiGII/s400/IMG_1802.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please note the Spike Photobomb<br />
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Sing along with me as I work to share the tale of the Labor Day weekend road trip to Kansas City to the tune of the Gilligan's Island Theme Song. In case you need a refresher, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfSLuEj99d0"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>. If it is stuck in your head until mid-January, 2016 please forgive me.<br />
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<i><br />Just sit right back</i></div>
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<i>And you'll here a tale</i></div>
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<i>A tale of a (beer-filled) trip,</i></div>
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<i>That started from (drive in CO)</i></div>
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<i>Aboard this (Rav-4)</i></div>
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<i>The mate was a mighty (drivin' woman)</i></div>
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<i>The Skipper brave and sure,</i></div>
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<i>(Just two passengers) set (out) that day,</i></div>
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<i>For a three (brewery) tour,</i></div>
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<i>A three (brewery) tour.</i></div>
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Just like Gilligan and his friends, it was supposed to be a three brewery tour. Of course, the picture of the beer that came home with us, you can see our adventure took a detour. Let's start from the beginning. Danny and I had long talked about taking a road trip to Kansas City, and the fact that my White Sox were playing the Royals that weekend felt as though the stars aligned telling us to go. So I purchased the tickets, booked a room in Independence, Missouri, and started exploring things to do in Kansas City on Trip Advisor. As an aside, a resolution for 2016 is to <i>contribute</i> to Trip Advisor as I have become an avid consumer; if nothing else it sure is a fascinating sociological experience. I digress. Anyway, Trip Advisor listed three breweries in Kansas City, so those were added to our list of places to visit.</div>
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<i>(The driving was windy)</i></div>
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<i>The (Rav) was tossed,</i></div>
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<i>If not for the courage of the fearless (ha!) crew</i></div>
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<i>The (corn would get us)</i></div>
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<i>The (corn would get us)</i></div>
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<i>The (Rav arrived in Independence)</i></div>
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<i>Of this uncharted area</i></div>
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<i>With (Laurie)</i></div>
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<i>And (Danny too)</i></div>
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<i>No Millionaire (though that would be nice)</i></div>
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<i>(Or) his wife</i></div>
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<i>(Definitely no) movie star </i></div>
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<i>The professor was missed and (so was) Marry Ann</i></div>
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<i>Here in (Kansas City).</i></div>
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We arrived in Kansas City on Saturday evening with just enough time to change and head to Kauffman Stadium, arriving for the bottom of the first inning. I am fairly certain a beer was consumed at the game, but the real ridiculousness started on Sunday morning. Being Labor Day weekend we had to cram a lot in to Sunday as many things were going closed on Labor Day (i.e. the Wizard of Oz Winery). More on that momentarily. </div>
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The original itinerary went something like this: BBQ for lunch (because when in Rome...); National World War I Museum and Memorial; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Boulevard Brewing Company; 75th Street Brewery; Kansas City Bier Company; Truman Presidential Library. When I spell it out, I think we accomplished about half of those things. Here's a more accurate (read: actual) itinerary, and you'll see why we were as ridiculous as Gilligan and his fellow castaways:</div>
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<li>The place we were told (by a local) to go for BBQ was closed on Sunday, which led us to turn to Yelp, which suggested Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ. Excellent food AND happened to be located across the way from Union Station. So their traveling exhibit from the National Football Hall of Fame replaced the WWI Museum.</li>
<li>Next while driving to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (fascinating and well done) we stumbled upon Double Shift Brewing Company and Border Brewing Company. During this stop I was able to watch the Sox SWEEP the Royals (!!!) Those two breweries replaced Boulevard Brewing as that one is easy to get in Colorado. Then we drove to 75th Street Brewery and Kansas City Bier Company. Now this is when things got silly, and truth be told it was my fault. Just call me Gilligan...</li>
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While in the bathroom at Kansas City Bier Company I saw an advertisement for an upcoming event that included a brewery called <b>Flying Monkey Brewery</b>. Again the idea of "when in Rome" felt applicable. Well I became a little possessed and determined that Danny was going to try this beer. Apparently they do not have a tap room, they only distribute, which of course meant I had to find it at a liquor store. After dinner we (read <i>I) </i>was on a mission that I thought would be simple. There was a nice looking liquor store not too far from the KC Bier Company, so we stopped there, and they were sold out. Still the first two beers (starting from the left) came from that store. The second one from the left is actually from Nebraska (the horror!). After that the liquor stores were going down hill in quality - the last one of which was probably not the safest place to be, and included a proprietor who thought I was asking about Rum. I shook my head and gave up (for the night).</div>
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The next morning we started home, but not without stopping at the Truman Library. I even met a Truman impersonator! The Library was fascinating as it included all kinds of documentation around the decision to use the Atomic Bomb in WWII. After having visited Hiroshima, I found particularly interesting. One will never know if it was the right decision, but having the background helped understand the decision a bit better.</div>
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Driving through Kansas we had seen signs for the Eisenhower Library, and decided to stop there on our return trip. Of course just before crossing into Kansas (from Missouri) we did another liquor store search. This one yielded the middle bottle of beer, but still no Flying Monkey to be found. So our trek /quest continued. Now would be the time to mention that I try to get a shot glass for a dear friend on my travels, but decided that she probably already had a shot glass from Kansas City. So I wanted to get her a bottle of wine from the Wizard of Oz Winery in Wamego instead. Much to my dismay, the town of Wamego, literally the whole town, had shut down for the holiday. While there, we regrouped and did yet another liquor store search. This led us to a liquor store called, "<a href="http://www.librarydiscountliquor.com/inventory.html">The Library</a>" in Manhattan Kansas (home to Kansas State University). I called and much to my delight they carried the beer! So to Manhattan we went. This liquor store produced the three beers to the right, as well as Kansas City Royals wine for Beth. Apparently the wine was sub-par, but the cork was fantastic!</div>
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If either of us had had a "library card" that would have yielded a discount. This exchange alone may have been enough to make the whole escapade worthwhile as the Flying Monkey beer was only so-so. I felt the same way about Eisenhower's Presidential Library as he was a very reluctant President. Much of the exhibits were dedicated to his time as a General in WWII. While I am not diminishing those accomplishments, it was just an interesting in comparison to other museums I have visited. Although I do have President Eisenhower to thank for the interstate highway system, which I use quite frequently.</div>
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<i>So this is the tale of our (road trip)</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I hope this proves a couple things: first, the beer escapades are not </span><i style="text-align: start;">all </i><span style="text-align: start;">Danny's fault, and I do get mine. The history lover in me really enjoyed this trip, and I am grateful that Danny goes without protest. We have an unspoken agreement: I don't complain about beer, he doesn't complain about meeting my various cultural needs.</span></div>
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Next trip though, I want to find that millionaire! Please join me in 2016 as I hope to re-engage in my blogging adventures/tales of ridiculousness. Never a dull moment here in the Pechie household, except perhaps on NYE where the two sickies will be lucky to make it to 10:00 PM (Mountain Time).</div>
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-29979762453528351152015-06-27T18:27:00.006-07:002015-06-27T18:27:59.507-07:00God's Sense of Humor OR Tales and Lessons from a Grown Picky Eater<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fear, Joy, Disgust, and Sadness from <br />Disney Pixar's Inside Out</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I am at that stage of life where a number of my friends have kids. One of the byproducts of this fact is that my Facebook feed is filled by all sorts of parental anecdotes and/or lessons. One such article that caught my attention was an article that appeared in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">Huffington Post</a> entitled, "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-mid/6-words-that-will-end-picky-eating_b_7139710.html">6 Words that Will End Picky Eating</a>." Before I tell you the six words, let me share my story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I am living proof that God has a sense of humor. S/he made me an introvert who shies away from any sort of attention while also making me a terribly picky eater in a family of people who were foodies before there even was such a concept. I am also the grandchild of people who lived through the Great Depression, so food was not something to be wasted. In fact my <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2014/05/you-are-loved-and-missed-grandpop.html">Grandpop</a>, who was also a butcher, once wrote me an email dedicated entirely to soup. At the end he asked if I was hungry, but fortunately I did not have to explain that none of them were particularly appealing to me. On the soup front, I have come to appreciate a solid cream based option (i.e. the lemon rice soup of Northwest Indiana that I fill other people's Facebook feeds talking about, Lobster Bisque, etc. while I am not a fan of broth soups, which is what my Grandpop was writing me about that day).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Back to the six words, "<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">You don't have to eat it." While this was apparently life changing for this particular mother, it was not at terribly helpful for me. The way I see it, this makes the assumption that there is a conscious battle between parent and child about what will be consumed. Perhaps at times I was just trying to be a defiant little sh*t; I was known to do that more than once (sorry Mom/Dad - thanks for still loving me). Honestly though, more often than not, it was a texture/consistency issue for me. Let's be clear, I WANTED to like "normal" food such as hamburger, eggs, carrots, peas, milkshakes. For whatever reason I could not do it. The food felt strange in my mouth. In my junior year of college I had pretty major nasal surgery, which I consider a great turning point. My palate has expanded quite a bit as I have gotten older, yet I often cannot seem to shake the "picky eater" moniker. Again, we're back to the normal food thing - I have given up on the egg or pea thing ever happening, but I have been known to eat a hamburger. And steak - my Grandpop was thrilled when I ate steak. Even though I put blue cheese on it, which he considered to be a sin, I was eating steak!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Back to the article, "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Somehow I [the author] stumbled across Ellyn Satter's groundbreaking 2000 book </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense</em><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">, and it was literally a life-changing read. Satter, a registered dietitian nutritionist and family therapist, promotes a "division of responsibility" for meals: the parent decides </span></span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">when</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> to eat, </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">what</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> to serve, and </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">where</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> to serve it, and the child decides </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">whether</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> and </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">how much</em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> to eat. There is always something on the table you know the kid will eat, like rice or fruit or bread, so all new, experimental foods are paired with familiar foods." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Thankfully my parents seemed to subscribe to this theory way before the book existed. They made sure I did not starve, but they also recognized that I was never going to be what is irritatingly (some call it affectionately) known as a "good eater" nor was I going to be a member of the "clean plate club." Yet, they worked very hard to adapt to my needs. There was one night where my Mom tried so very hard to get me to drink the milk from my cereal. I sat at the table for what felt like hours (probably 7-10 minutes) pouring more and more cereal in to the bowl without adding any more milk with the hope that it would all go away. After the milk turned a color that must have resembled a rainbow assorted vomit, she mercifully let me be excused. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">I also remember conversations when I became a teenager about what I was going to do when I started dating. Sure I was nervous when I would go out with a new guy about what I would order on the menu, but I managed to get through it. I also became a bit more adventurous, especially when going to meet the new family - I did not want to embarrass myself (again there's that whole not drawing attention to myself thing). I still feel bad that my now mother-in-law made me a special dessert the first time I met the family because Danny mentioned I was unsure about carrot cake. As an aside, she was very understanding about my inability to eat anything really cold at that point because of my esophageal spasms. Again, there's God with that sense of humor. I was diagnosed at 27 with pronounced (acid) reflux that finally required surgery. Yes, I was the woman in her 20s who had regular appointments in the gastroenterology department.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">So what in the world am I saying? Besides the obvious fact that my body and I have a weird relationship with food. More than that, I feel that I need to be able to talk about being a picky eater, instead of being super sensitive, bordering on being ashamed of it (as I have long been). Did you see the Disney Pixar movie, </span><i style="line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIDYqBMFzfg">Inside Out</a></i><span style="line-height: 21px;">? If you haven't, please do. From the moment I knew that it was a story of an 11 year old girl, Riley who moves from Minnesota to San Francisco, I wanted to see it! I don't want to be a spoiler, but what I took away from it, which my Mom helped me articulate, is that you have to let people (of all ages) feel what they need to feel. The same goes for having a child who is a picky eater. It is easy for this non-parent to say, but if you have a picky eater in your life I would encourage you to, first, take them to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. So much of what we taste is based on our ability to smell; and as someone who cannot that had a profound effect on my ability to taste. Next, please work with them on it. Being a meanie-poopie head (very technical term) about it will more than likely not help the situation. Finally, keep (re) introducing things. As my parents said more than once, but I did not believe them at the time, I enjoy things now that I would not have dreamed that I would like as a kid. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Again, eggs, never going to happen; so let's give up on that one. Nor am I the person to take to an incredibly fancy restaurant as it may be lost on me. Still, I can make a mean bowl of cereal. In fact, I would be called a cereal connoisseur, if there is such a thing...</span></span></span></div>
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<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-57684676451485264922015-02-19T15:14:00.002-08:002015-02-19T15:14:35.787-08:00The Spike Series: Meet my Sister, Ceres<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi, people, Spike here! First things first, I want to use my Constitutional right to air my grievances. My woman has not posted anything in many days, which means telling you all <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-spike-series-man-got-me-grill.html">the story</a> of my road trip back in JULY has not happened yet. Then she goes and compounds that by making her first post of 2015 about my new sister, Ceres. I don't know why I am shocked though, Ceres is taking a lot of my stuff, so why should my blog series be any different. Oh well, <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/p/the-spike-report.html">The Man</a> says I have been a champ about everything else so I will try to be good about this too... Everyone I want you to meet Ceres.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My people adopted Ceres from the <a href="http://copugrescue.org/">Colorado Pug Rescue</a>, which is the same organization that brought Laurie and me together. The Man and my Laurie were not really actively looking for another dog, but after reading about her story on Facebook she touched their hearts. Ceres, aka Siren or Baby Girl, is believed to have been part of a puppy mill and was either hit by a car or thrown from a car. Either way no one came to get her from the shelter where she was taken, and so the Pug Rescue helped her get better, just like they did for me! Ceres has had surgery on her hips, some teeth were pulled, and she has been spayed. Everyone keeps saying she is extremely well-adjusted for everything that has happened, and are also amazed at the fact that she does not need any on-going medication. She one ups me there as I still require twice-daily eye cream.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She came to us with the name Siren (because she does this occasional whine/howl thing that kind of sounds like a siren), but her foster parents had taken to calling her baby girl. Either way she did not recognize her name, so The Man proposed changing it to Ceres. Laurie wanted to keep it as Siren, so they took it to Facebook; well as you can already tell, she lost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Why Ceres? </i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0gtAFSFRf7TPrzxP6FgVYbxPSbFmM0PNeDfgNCFnMrMpfAJdn6Tg_blrt_0Xp7fI3-i5VHuYVrrcyNplcpvKiXU1o3ax4pJ8z92upNd38ULYNoqxl9pzIoLcHMPOnRfIRDM3e7Njvr8w/s1600/Ceres_RC1_single_frame_by_Dawn,_12_February_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0gtAFSFRf7TPrzxP6FgVYbxPSbFmM0PNeDfgNCFnMrMpfAJdn6Tg_blrt_0Xp7fI3-i5VHuYVrrcyNplcpvKiXU1o3ax4pJ8z92upNd38ULYNoqxl9pzIoLcHMPOnRfIRDM3e7Njvr8w/s1600/Ceres_RC1_single_frame_by_Dawn,_12_February_2015.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3199996948242px; line-height: 14.7839994430542px;">A picture of Ceres taken by the </span><i style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3199996948242px; line-height: 14.7839994430542px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Dawn (spacecraft)">Dawn</a></i><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3199996948242px; line-height: 14.7839994430542px;">spacecraft 12 February 2015. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When The Man first proposed the name, Laurie thought he was saying <a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/siri/">Siri</a> (the Apple Woman) because she is not a science NERD like him. Then he explained that Ceres <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">(</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">minor-planet designation</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">1 Ceres</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">) </span><span class="nowrap" style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">/</span></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><span style="background: none; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none !important;" title="/ˈ/ primary stress follows">ˈ</span></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><span style="background: none; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none !important;" title="'s' in 'sigh'">s</span></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><span style="background: none; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none !important;" title="/ɪər/ 'ear' in 'beard'">ɪər</span></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><span style="background: none; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none !important;" title="/iː/ long 'e' in 'seed'">iː</span></span><span class="IPA nopopups"><span style="background: none; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none !important;" title="'z' in 'zebra'">z</span></span><span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">/</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">is a </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">dwarf planet</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> located in the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">asteroid belt</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">, which lies between the orbits of </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Mars</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> and </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Jupiter</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">. Considering how tiny she is (about 14 pounds soaking wet), the name seemed to fit. Plus, I reiterate, Laurie lost.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">So how are things going in our house? Honestly, they are going well. We had a couple minor setbacks - it was really cold the other day AND the <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-spike-series-but-why-is-white-stuff.html">WHITE STUFF</a> came back so she and I both struggled with it. Then there was the matter of "during the day" sleeping arrangements. My people bought Ceres an enclosure, a soft kennel type thing, that she Houdini-ed out of in about three seconds; so they tried me in it. I was not loving that option, which means we are experimenting with us each having our own bed in the powder room. Fingers crossed, but that seems to be going okay - although Ceres and I seem to entertain ourselves with musical beds because she STEALS MY BED! Still, I move out of her way, share my toys as needed, and even share snuggles with my Laurie, which is kind of a <i>really</i> big deal...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Although the snuggles and the day-time bed sharing does bring up an even larger concern - sleeping arrangements in the big bed at night. Laurie has this theory that I grow bigger in the bed, kind of like those <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ENHB04/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2/192-7510162-5992607?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=02WT0X9NR3BBVXE9TZCQ&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687622&pf_rd_i=B000096R2E">magic growing capsules</a> that turn into a shape in water. So you can imagine that two pugs and two people has brought about conversations of getting a king size bed. Until that happens, I have taken to throwing myself against Laurie to the point that she almost falls out of the bed because Ceres has taken the prime real estate (in between my, I mean <i>our </i>people). Still the picture below, taken this morning, would indicate we may be figuring things out. More to come from the soon to be called, "Spike and Ceres Series," but I still get one more post to myself when Laurie finally lets my tell the story of my really long road trip!</span></span><br />
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-74168529846970564862014-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:002014-10-31T06:00:07.909-07:00Football Friday from On Her Game - To the Bears' GM, Phil Emery: Here’s a Dictionary<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This post for <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/09/football-friday-from-on-her-game-where.html" target="_blank">Football Friday</a> for <a href="http://www.onhergame.com/author/laurie/" target="_blank">On Her Game</a> is a reflection of how worked up I was following yet another painful Bears game. </span></i><br />
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As I sit here stewing over another atrocious Bears game, I find myself wondering why I continue to hold on to my allegiances. I live in my own house in Denver, with the mortgage to prove it, am married to a man with terrible allegiances (Colts and the Manning led Broncos), yet I still root for my Bears with a passion. By personal standards, I came late to the football party (around age eight), and I would always cheer for whomever my Dad was rooting for during a particular game. When we move to the Chicago-land area, he became a Bears fan, and so did I. Nearly 25 years later, I am still at it.</div>
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I recently came across a fantastic joke in the latest edition of <a data-mce-href="http://www.rd.com/" href="http://www.rd.com/">Reader’s Digest</a>:</div>
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“Three fans were bemoaning the sorry state of their football team.</div>
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‘I blame the general manager,’ said the first fan.<br />
‘If he signed better players, we’d be a great team.’</div>
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‘I blame the players,’ said the second fan. ‘If they made more of an effort,<br />
we’d score more points.’</div>
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‘I blame my parents,’ said the third. ‘If I’d been born in Seattle,<br />
I’d be supporting a decent team.’”</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Now, to be clear, I don’t blame my Dad for teaching me to root for the Bears. He also taught me to be a White Sox fan rather than the Cubs, and I know I have a better life because of it. Plus I am an adult, who is now informed enough to make her own decisions on who I want to cheer for during a given game. That will not stop me, however, from blaming both the GM Phil Emery and the Bears players for their continual missteps on the field.</span></div>
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Let’s start with Phil Emery. This is the GM who followed Jerry Angelo, a man who drove Bears fan, namely me absolutely bonkers with mistake after mistake, most notably in the draft. Shall I regale you with tales of running back or quarterback woes? For the sake of my own sanity, I am going to skip the list. Let’s suffice it to say, a majority of them can no longer be found on any roster in the league. So in steps Emery, who appeared to make an immediate positive impact, until he did not; unless you want to count a negative impact? I believe in my heart Emery and I parted ways philosophically when he refused to resign Brian Urlacher. The man who led the defense that resurrected the “Monsters of the Midway,” and took the Bears to the Super Bowl; a championship they would have won if the offense had even a mediocre quarterback. No, Sexy Rexy (Rex Grossman) does not even meet the bar of mediocrity in my mind.</div>
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I got off the topic at hand, which is Emery. Instead of signing Urlacher, he decided to spend a majority of the Bears available salary cap monies on the offensive side of the ball. I am not disagreeing with the thought, with the exception that the pendulum swung wildly to the other side. There is no balance! At this point, the personnel on the offensive side of the ball have the potential to be one of the best in the league. Note that POTENTIAL is the operative word in that statement; whereas the defense, marred by injuries and suspect talent, is without a leader or an identity. No, Lance Briggs does not count as a leader, and I will spare myself the personal anguish of thinking about safety Chris Conte. Most every game I scream at the TV, put me in coach, I can play better than him! Yes, at 5’2”, 1—, female, and slow, I still contend I can be a better pro-safety than Chris Conte.</div>
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Back to my man Urlacher, a consensus future Hall of Fame linebacker, whom I still miss terribly, who had <a data-mce-href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2242154-brian-urlacher-comments-on-jay-cutler-leadership?hpt=hp_t2" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2242154-brian-urlacher-comments-on-jay-cutler-leadership?hpt=hp_t2">this to say</a> on Jay Cutler, “Financially, he is one of the elite guys in the <a data-mce-href="http://bleacherreport.com/nfl" href="http://bleacherreport.com/nfl">NFL</a> ... he just hasn't produced like an elite quarterback. You look at the [Tom] Bradys, the [Peyton] Mannings, the [Aaron] Rodgers, the [Drew] Brees, those guys win every year, even with no one around them. Rodgers has no offensive line. He wins. Brady has no receivers. He wins.”</div>
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Fear not my fellow Bears fan; Phil is here to reassure us that Jay Cutler is an ELITE quarterback in salary and talent, “<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-emery-cutler-elite-bears-20141021-story.html" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-emery-cutler-elite-bears-20141021-story.html">Emery</a></em><strong><em>:</em></strong><em> "Jay Cutler is a winning quarterback in this league and no matter how you analyze the history of quarterbacks in the NFL, if you have a winning record you are an elite player at that position.”</em></div>
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This would be the point in the article where I would call, bull sh*t.</div>
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I want to see the Bears’ front office, led right now by Phil Emery to consider how they are delegating their resources. There needs to be an acknowledgement that <a data-mce-href="http://www.onhergame.com/2014/08/okay-jay-the-bears-are-yours/" href="http://www.onhergame.com/2014/08/okay-jay-the-bears-are-yours/">signing Cutler to a lucrative contract</a> came at the expense of the defensive side of the ball. And until the Bears start consistently winning, or at least playing up to the offensive potential, I am going to send Emery a dictionary so that he can consult it for the definition of the word ‘elite.’ </div>
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For those of you keeping track at home, <a data-mce-href="http://www.dictionary.com/" href="http://www.dictionary.com/">Dictionary.com</a> defines it this way:</div>
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noun<br />
1. (<em>often used with a plural verb</em>) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.</div>
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2. (<em>used with a plural verb</em>) persons of the highest class: <em>Only the elite were there.</em></div>
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1. representing the most choice or select; best: <em>an elite group of authors.</em></div>
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The recent play of Jay Cutler does not warrant the support from his General Manager, but there is little doubt that his paycheck certainly does.</div>
Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-13924825966364128602014-10-27T13:02:00.000-07:002014-10-27T13:02:04.921-07:00I Wear his Shirts; I Hear her Voice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout my undergraduate education at Indiana University (HOOSIERS!), I took a few rock 'n' roll history courses. During the first day of one of those classes the professor asked us to raise our hands in order to identify what part of the music we each listened to, as we tend to fall in to one of two groups: the beat/instrumental or the lyrics. I am in the latter category, which is part of why I enjoy <i>some </i>country music. I take flack for it, but I do enjoy songs that tell stories or have something to say. For the record, talk of tractors, drinking on planes, or alcohol in general do not qualify. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, to my point of "outing myself as something of a country music fan," I really like a song by Lee Brice called, "<a href="http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=i+drive+your+truck&qpvt=I+Drive+Your+truck&FORM=VDRE">I Drive Your Truck</a>." It is about a guy whose brother was killed in combat. Rather than going to visit his brother's grave, he feels close to him by driving his truck. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ever since I lost </span><a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2014/05/you-are-loved-and-missed-grandpop.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my Grandpop</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> earlier this year, I have found myself thinking a lot about the process of grieving. Not just the loss of my paternal grandfather, but also my maternal grandmother as these are two losses that have had a profound impact on my life. Just like the guy in the song, I do not feel close to either of them at their graves, but rather in other ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My maternal grandmother (my Mom-Mom) passed away when I was in high school. When I think of her I think of buttons, the beach, Disney World, a really comfortable chair with an ottoman, and this one very distinct conversation. I have this larger than life chair and ottoman that I refuse to part with even though it does not really fit in my house anymore, I think in large part because it reminds me of sitting in her apartment in Baltimore in that chair with my feet propped up. There was also that conversation. I was just starting to reach the age where it was fun and cool to really chat with your grandparents, and I was telling her about this English teacher that I had in high school who was really giving me fits (Highland alums - think Junior Year with Mrs. Berg). This teacher really made me feel less than; and my Mom-Mom's response, "you don't have to take that from her!" It was the sassiest thing I had ever heard Dorothy Poist say, and it has stuck with me! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have this bulldozer in my life, a person who drives me absolutely crazy, and I have recently realized that I can apply what Mom-Mom said to me then, "I don't have to take that from her!" And you know what, I am not going to anymore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grandpop, my paternal grandfather, was the only grandfather I grew up with as my Pop-Pop (maternal grandfather) passed away when I was around 4 1/2. His loss has been very difficult for our family, but we keep him close in many ways including wearing his flannel shirts. He had a quality collection of flannel shirts, and everyone went home with one. I also have a scratchy wool sweater that I wear at times when I really miss him. Yes, it's real love if you are willing to wear an itchy wool sweater that gives off a Mr. Rogers vibe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am still caught off guard at times by my feelings of grief. I will be minding my own business, and a thought will float in to my mind, and I will just be overcome with emotion. I have been thinking about him a lot during the baseball playoffs. He would have been especially impressed by the play of many of the outfielders as he always appreciated a good throw to the plate. I also taught Danny to keep score at a game, just like Grandpop taught me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have also been thinking a lot about my going to my grandparents' house in November for Thanksgiving. He won't be there to greet me with a "HiYa!" and a kiss on the cheek. My Grandmom will be there, however, and I cannot wait to give her a big hug. She is so tiny, I am always afraid I will break her, but I know she understands my need to hold her tight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please hold on tight to those you love, we only have a finite amount of time together, and it's never enough. Until I am reconnected with my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop, along with my Grandpop, I am going to continue to wear his shirts, and hear her voice. </span></div>
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<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-50920195154558553612014-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:002014-09-19T06:00:01.784-07:00Football Friday from On Her Game - The Strange Case of Dr. Jay and Mr. Cutler<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This post for <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/09/football-friday-from-on-her-game-where.html" target="_blank">Football Friday</a> for <a href="http://www.onhergame.com/author/laurie/" target="_blank">On Her Game</a> is my attempt to recap the craziness that ensued on Sunday night. The jury is still out on my fantasy team, but just like the Bears I am going to try to improve each week, starting by playing the right players as they don't do me any good if I leave them on my virtual bench! </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For this Bears’ fan there was a lot more trepidation than anticipation leading up to last night’s match-up against the 49ers. I always seem to forget how difficult it is to predict game outcomes in general, but especially in the first few weeks of any NFL season as there is very limited basis for fan speculation/media hype. Rather, you are looking at one week of regular season highlights/game tape combined with scrutiny of the moves made in the off-season with some wishful thinking thrown in for good measure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I let all that get the best of me thinking about this game. I had no idea what to expect from the Bears who did not have a particularly strong showing in an overtime loss to the Bills. Yes, THE BILLS! Then the Bears had to come off that loss and travel to San Francisco to face a team that many predict (hype!) will make a strong playoff push, in their stadium opener, in Primetime, with the strong possibility that Marshall and Jeffrey were not going to play. All a realistic Bears’ fan could hope for was not to get blown out in front of a National TV audience. See there is that hype again. Unfortunately in the first half it appeared that the Bears were going to do their level best to live up to those bleak expectations. The defense appeared to be playing in a state of paranoia or in the Bears case a fear of their often suspect secondary, specifically the safety help coming over the top (or not as the case may be). They were trying so hard to rush Kaepernick that they were being eaten alive by the screen pass. Still they managed to keep the offense in the game despite a cheerless offensive performance in the first half, the evil “Dr. Jay,” if you will. That is until something clicked or maybe it was someone (Quinton Dial) pounding on Cutler’s sternum right at the end of the first half. Jay reported post-game that it felt like his stomach met his back. Again, <a data-mce-href="http://www.onhergame.com/2014/08/okay-jay-the-bears-are-yours/" href="http://www.onhergame.com/2014/08/okay-jay-the-bears-are-yours/">say what you want about Cutler</a>, but don’t tell me he isn’t tough. Whatever it was, Cutler and the rest of the Bears were of a different caliber in the second half. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey also each turned in a gutsy performance as they were clearly playing hard despite their injury limitations. Of course Marshall stole the spotlight with three touchdowns, including a one-handed grab that is sure to make <a data-mce-href="http://espn.go.com/video/sportscenter" href="http://espn.go.com/video/sportscenter">SportsCenter</a> Top 10 Plays of the Week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before going out with a shoulder injury, free safety Chris Conte made a superman like interception on Kaepernick, which was one of four turnovers caused by the defense along with four sacks, and only allowing 129 yards rushing. These stats are made that much more exciting given that two of those turnovers were from rookie Kyle Fuller who should see more playing time with the unfortunate loss of Peanut Tillman for the season (triceps).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now for my own version of hype: what if the Bears could play like this for a whole game? What if the <em>right</em> Jay, the “Mr. Cutler persona,” the tough, <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">composed</span> guy who does not try to win the game with one (often errant) throw, were to show himself with true consistency? He has an incredible fourth quarter rating, but it really would be okay if he spread that out across the whole game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Right now the Bears are tied with all three of the other teams in the NFC North with a record of 1-1. It is too early to make speculations, but that is not going to stop me. What if the Bills are better than people anticipated? If that’s the case, maybe the Bears are too. They have a tough schedule ahead, but last night was certainly a second half for the offense to build upon and about three quarters for a defensive that demonstrated this is not the miserable Bears D of 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, thank you Bears for doing right by my Mom and winning on her birthday. She deserved it – she’s the best.</span></div>
Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-71322644036086758152014-08-30T07:00:00.000-07:002014-08-30T07:00:04.917-07:00Thoughts on STUFF OR Going from a 'Forest'er to a Leaf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This post is quite overdue as Danny and I purchased the Leaf back at the end of March, but we were just reunited with it last week after about six weeks (I was rear-ended) - so I am using that as my catalyst to write down my thoughts on the subject of "stuff" in general and perhaps our cars in particular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In my 32 years plus, I have come to understand that I have a weird relationship with things in general, but that eccentricity particularly manifests itself when it comes to clothing, cars, and watch out if I have deemed something to be at all sentimental. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a short-lived fascination with the show, <a href="http://www.fyi.tv/shows/tiny-house-nation">Tiny House Nation</a>, which is capitalizing on the small house movement that appears to be sweeping across the country. I say short-lived because the show quickly began to feel redundant in that there are not very many different ways to show a family moving from a large house to a tiny house (typically under 400 square feet), and the inevitable purging of stuff that is required to make such a lifestyle shift. Plus, I found that I was beating up on myself because I do not think I could ever do it, and quite frankly I do not need a television show to be the reason I feel down on myself. I can do that all on my own, thank you; plus it goes against my pursuit for <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-spike-series-man-got-me-grill.html">100 Days of Happiness</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you know me at all, or have read my blog, I think you know that once my brain starts down a path, God only knows where this thought process would land - as Danny has said, my mind is like a wide receiver running a route: zig zag, crossing pattern, over the middle, etc. So once I started thinking about moving in to a tiny house, and what all that would entail, I started to think about my feelings toward <i>things </i>overall. First this led me to my wardrobe - I have a fear of clothing. There I said it. Or perhaps it is that I have a fear of <i>shopping</i> for clothing. On more than one occasion I have come close to hyperventilating when I walk in to a mall or any store that sells clothing. I see all these fun pieces, but have no idea how in the world to make an ensemble. Then if I get something put together, I have trouble paying for it. Not that I don't make money, but rather I severely struggle with spending the money for this purpose. I do not know what an appropriate budget is for clothing in relation to my household income level. And then if I do pull the trigger, I invariably end up with buyer's remorse feeling as though I was consumptive, spending too much on myself, etc. Plus I just want to look cute and put together - because I figure that perhaps it will help me fake it until I can find the requirements make it. *Big Sigh*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, imagine what it is like to go car shopping with me! Let me repeat: I have a weird relationship with cars. Perhaps it is because I have had a string of strange things happen to my cars. Stick with me here: My first car (Chevy S-10 Pick-up Truck) was totaled while parked in front of my parents' house (as I slept through the whole thing). Its replacement was a Saturn S2 that had a tree fall on it, also while it was parked in front of my parents' house; somehow the car was fine. Shortly thereafter, however, the air conditioning compressor went out as I was driving to Michigan, which stranded me in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I paid to fix it only to drive it into a decorative rock (in Michigan, because apparently their rocks are pretty heavy), which did many dollars worth of damage. About a year after I got the car back I traded it in for my beloved Scion XA because I never did feel safe in the Saturn after getting stranded because of the air conditioning compressor. I provide this caveat because I understand that the rock incident was totally my fault, the car did nothing wrong. Anyway, after five years with my Scion, the car that brought me to Colorado, and one year before it was paid off, it drowned. No really, the car was flooded in front of my office. The fact that I was particularly traumatized after the flooding, combined with the fact that I wanted to feel safer driving in Colorado winters led me to purchase my first ever SUV and first brand new car - a Subaru Forester. I really liked the Forester, but I always seemed to suffer from buyer's remorse especially since the whole process of purchasing the car was particularly disastrous. Has anyone ever had a really good experience buying a car?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you still with me? If so, thank you. Last year we also had to replace Danny's car at which time we purchased a Toyota Prius. Besides the fact I called my Dad on the verge of a meltdown at the mere thought of buying a house AND a car in the same month, I have done just fine with that purchase. In fact, I have developed an attachment to the Prius akin to my Scion. Anyway, from time to time I would ask Danny whether we should consider trading in the Forester as it never felt like the right car for us, except on really crummy driving days, in which case I loved that thing! So I contacted a friend to get an appraisal on the value of the Forester. Based on the estimated value, it was finally the time to consider something else. About three days later, Danny and I end up at the Nissan dealership near our house as I come from a family of Sentra owners. So I wanted to consider a Sentra. Danny wanted to test drive the fully electric Nissan Leaf. Both of us loved it, much to our surprise. When the numbers came out to be pretty much equal, it felt like a real opportunity to utilize electric technology. Not to mention I thought it was funny to go from a 'Forest'er to a Leaf - get it? Yes, I am a dork.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think you can officially call us 21st Century hippies - with an electric car and a hybrid. Just don't laugh too hard until you see our monthly gas bills...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So what in the world am I talking about? I think at times I feel pressure to have less things, to live a more simplified life. While this is a good goal, and one I am certainly trying to embrace: it needs to be done in a more personal way. There are just some things that I am not ready to get rid of or purchase <i>right now</i>. Still, I don't think that means I will not feel differently later. Just like many other things, this is an ongoing process. I am absolutely embracing the idea of spending money on experiences rather than things, especially when I travel. Yet, sometimes I like to have a memento to invoke the memories from that experience. They way I see it, this has to be all about a balance, and perhaps that is why I really resonated with an article from <u><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/solution-seekers/index.html#whats-new">Real Simple</a></u>, <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/lee-woodruff-essay-00100000129044/index.html">"What I Learned from Purging Most of my Stuff (and Why I Wish I Hadn't)</a>." <b>Sometimes, things do matter</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now if someone can just teach me how to build a wardrobe, I would be eternally grateful.</span><br />
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-2170852526789650632014-08-22T07:25:00.001-07:002014-08-22T07:25:21.461-07:00Why I DO Support the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204404245171951">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.killmer">Suzanne Killmer</a>.</div>
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I am pretty sure that this morning I literally woke up standing on a soap box. While I have <i>heard</i> that sleep is supposed to be a restorative time for rest and rejuvenation, my brain does not always seem to get that memo. Further proof that being married to me can be an exhausting task, just ask Righteous Flower (Danny's Mayan Name) who was bombarded by a sampling of my frustration around critics of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge right before he walked out the door for work around 6:45 a.m.
A friend recently shared that he would not be participating in nor supporting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge even though he had been challenged by numerous people. Of course this is his prerogative, but then the debate went further with this article entitled,"<a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/570755/this-is-why-critics-are-slamming-the-als-ice-bucket-challenge?cmpid=sn-111021-facebook-na-eonline">This is Why Critics are Slamming the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge</a>" from E! - you know the Network that can bring the Kardashians in to your living room, which is a whole other <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/06/ten-on-tuesday-ten-pop-culture.html">phenomenon</a> that I still do not understand. I digress. Of course the source notwithstanding, I would like to share my own perspective on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.<br />
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I always strive to be honest, and in that spirit I will make it clear that I have not dumped ice cold water on my head. Rather, I made a donation to the <a href="http://webco.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=CO_homepage">ALS Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter</a> in my Mom's honor since she helped care for a woman with ALS; so she knows first hand what an awful disease this is, and why a cure is so desperately needed. I would like to say that water conservation was at the heart of my decision, as eluded to in the critical article, but to be honest I felt as though my money was more valuable than any video I could create as I am not overly animated or particularly dynamic (unless I am <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2014/08/football-friday-from-on-her-game-three.html">yelling at the TV</a>, apparently).<br />
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Now to the crux of the argument that I found myself making this morning before I was even fully awake. The outspoken critics of the challenge appear to be of the opinion that it is not raising awareness of what ALS actually is or how it impacts people. I would vehemently, yet respectfully disagree, as raising funds is a form of awareness. To put it in perspective, "in the last 22 days the National Chapter of the ALS Association has raised 22.9 million. Last year for the ENTIRE YEAR they raised 23.5 million." That statistic came out three days ago, at that rate the number could be over 25 million dollars. I struggle to comprehend how money of this staggering amount could be raised if people did not have at least a vague understanding of what their money was going to do. People do not give their money to just anything - and I say that with YEARS of nonprofit fundraising under my belt.<br />
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The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, combined with other marketing campaigns such as the video released by Major League Baseball on the 75th Anniversary of Lou Gehrig's "<a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-first-basemen-recite-lou-gehrig-s-luckiest-man-speech-in-honor-of-75th-anniversary-070214?cmpid=tsm:fscom:foxsports">Luckiest Man Farewell Speech</a>", have in fact contributed to a heightened sense of awareness that this disease exists and needs to be stopped! The video from MLB featured all 30 first basemen (and a cameo by Yankee Derek Jeter) reciting the now-iconic oration. Lou Gehrig passed away before his before his <b><u>38th birthda</u>y</b> from this awful disease that now bears his name. Please take a moment to watch the video.<br />
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As I said, I have YEARS of nonprofit fundraising in my experience, both in professional and volunteer capacities. I currently work for a <a href="http://www.samaritaninstitute.org/find-a-location/">Network of Samaritan Centers</a> that on average have to raise 30% of their operating budget every single year. For many this is a matter of keeping the doors open! This money is required to treat people with or without the ability to pay, meaning they also have to subsidize those people with insurance along with self-pay clients. Do you think that any non-profit leader would appreciate criticism around a campaign that is raising millions of dollars with out any overhead (staff time, operating costs, etc.)?! I have spoken to numerous nonprofit professionals who are at their wits end trying to think of new/different/fun ways to raise money in an effort to continue to provide much needed, quality services to people in need of care. Can you imagine carrying that burden on a daily basis? I can because I have experienced it. Do you think the critics of this campaign have?<br />
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Perhaps before you criticize efforts to bring about awareness and raise funds to combat or support something, anything; please think about the <i>people</i> involved in the process. Each day on my Facebook news-feed and other media outlets, amidst videos of people dumping ice water on their head, I see people <u><b>talking about and donating</b></u> to help end the suffering related to ALS! I also see people sharing that they have been diagnosed with this terrible disease. This is also a form of awareness because once you know someone who has been impacted, this abstract becomes very personal and very real! I only wish we could figure out a way to draw this much attention (both awareness and money) to other awful plights in this world: hunger/poverty, lack of access to clean drinking water, mental health, MS, diabetes, cancer. Whatever your cause is - please do your part to help support it, but also be careful about criticizing others efforts. Negativity does not help further any cause.<br />
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<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-57861419566938503672014-08-15T07:00:00.000-07:002014-08-18T07:36:10.870-07:00Football Friday from On Her Game - Okay Jay, the Bears are YOURS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This post for <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/2013/09/football-friday-from-on-her-game-where.html" target="_blank">Football Friday</a> for <a href="http://www.onhergame.com/author/laurie/" target="_blank">On Her Game</a> is my first of this new season. I watched the first quarter of the first pre-season game. The Bears had flashes of excitement while I am fairly certain that the Eagles received a stern talking to from their coach given all their penalties. Here's hoping the Bears can bring some excitement to the upcoming season, and that I can draft a decent fantasy team!</span></i></div>
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While my Bears fandom has not wavered since my family arrived in the Chicago-land area in the early 90s, despite the agony that was Super Bowl XLI, along with the fact that I am an official Colorado Transplant with a Denver phone number and a mortgage. Yet, my feelings toward Jay Cutler have not been necessarily favorable as documented in former writings (<a data-mce-href="http://www.onhergame.com/2013/10/back-on-the-bears-qb-merry-go-round-where-it-stops-nobody-knows/" href="http://www.onhergame.com/2013/10/back-on-the-bears-qb-merry-go-round-where-it-stops-nobody-knows/">here</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.onhergame.com/2013/05/a-memo-to-jay-cutler-its-time-to-really-play/" href="http://www.onhergame.com/2013/05/a-memo-to-jay-cutler-its-time-to-really-play/">here</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.onhergame.com/2012/12/offensive-ineffectiveness-bursts-the-bears-bubble/" href="http://www.onhergame.com/2012/12/offensive-ineffectiveness-bursts-the-bears-bubble/">here</a>, etc.). What I might have omitted is the excitement I felt when Cutler was first traded to the Bears as it felt like the possibility that the quarterback ridiculousness that had plagued the Bears over many seasons was finally coming to an end. I may have also failed to mention that <em>perhaps</em> I wandered around my house (with that pesky mortgage) for many days muttering, <a data-mce-href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11310664/why-non-elite-quarterbacks-such-andy-dalton-get-elite-contracts" href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11310664/why-non-elite-quarterbacks-such-andy-dalton-get-elite-contracts">$126.7 million with $54 million in virtual guarantees</a>, which was the agreement as reported by <a data-mce-href="http://espn.go.com/" href="http://espn.go.com/">ESPN</a>.</div>
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In spite of my often contentious, albeit one-sided, relationship; since I am rationale enough to understand that Cutler does not know who I am, the Bears leadership has decided that Jay is their quarterback of the future. A decision that I can only hope proves to be a good one, not just the realization of, “who else was it going to be?” A number of quarterback contracts have been called in to question lately as the league appears to be coming to the conclusion that sometimes teams have to pay up big money to quarterbacks who are perhaps ‘good enough,’ and that the notion that there are more than 32 athletes who could be deemed ‘exceptional’ is impractical. This may explain why guys like Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Joe Flacco, and Andy Dalton are able to take what could be considered borderline mediocrity to the bank. Although I must say that Matthew Stafford served my fantasy team of 2012 <em>well enough</em>, for whatever that is worth.</div>
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Anyway, back to Jay. While one can question some of his personal attributes – his apparent, sometimes reckless, arrogance or his smug facial expressions; one cannot question the toughness that has been required to handle the turmoil he has had to endure in Chicago, nor his arm strength. At times the risk is not necessarily worth the reward, but there are enough of those <em>other </em>times when he lofts a ball up there for one of his “Towers of Offense” to go up and get; and when they come down with the ball, this Bears fan erupts like no other. No really, my dog gives me funny looks and my husband threatens to put me on YouTube.</div>
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Still, Cutler has been playing with a target on his back since he came to the Windy City. I love Chicago, I miss it terribly, but it is not the easiest sports town in the world. I would be considered one of the milder critics… The expectations that were placed on him, especially given the lack of weapons or protection that was provided for him, combined with the fact that he was brought in by an organization that had long valued the defensive side of the ball amounted to sheer lunacy. Plus Cutler appears to be one of the only people in the world who does not care what people think of him. I have heard those people exist, but have rarely seen it demonstrated so vehemently; and to be honest, on some level I wish I knew how to do that at times.</div>
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Much of these challenges have changed however, the Bears sent four offensive representatives to the Pro Bowl including an offensive lineman, have hired an offensive minded coach, and given Cutler one of the most formidable receiving corps in the league. AND HE GOT PAID! So, now Jay, I am going to try to lead a positive charge, from my little corner of the internet, toward giving you some much needed support and good press. This is your team with the ultimate goal, hopefully sooner rather than later, for you to lead toward winning a Super Bowl. While participating is exciting, I am not sure my marriage may not be able to withstand another loss at the hands of a Manning-led team.</div>
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<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-11056017056094792982014-08-13T13:28:00.005-07:002014-08-13T13:28:59.729-07:00The Spike Series: The Man Got Me a Grill!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Hi, people, Spike here. I have not been able to communicate with you all in a while, and I want to make it clear that it was not my fault! See Laurie has been feeling very overwhelmed over the last number of months; and when she gets that way, one of the first things to go is blogging. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To put things in perspective, the pictures on this post were taken the night that Laurie started her <a href="http://100happydays.com/">100 Days of Happiness</a> project (#100happydays), and well today is Day #62. That first post included the grill and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100758/">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</a> bubbles...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Back to me</b></u> because seriously folks, I did not care about the bubbles! Nope, not even a little bit. You see, all I could focus on was the grill (and the food it makes). <a href="http://sheerridiculousness.blogspot.com/p/the-spike-report.html">The Man</a> brought home this beautiful black charcoal contraption earlier in the summer. I did not really understand it at first, but I could tell it may be worth investigating based on how happy he was about the purchase. The Man put it together right away, but waited until Laurie was out of the house to <i>really</i> use it for the first time. What I mean by <i>really</i> is that The Man made something that Laurie would not necessarily approve of my eating - you guessed it, he made STEAK! Really good steak, and he let me eat off the bone! Then when my Laurie came home, he downplayed how much was left... Ssh - don't tell her, but I ate enough to know that only good things come of that black grill thing. I also know that when Laurie is out, the boys at home will play!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I let my people think that the grill is for them, and I do understand that on occasion things are made on it that I do not get to taste - such as those brats in the picture, or my people's new favorite hot dogs (<a href="http://www.ballparkbrand.com/#!/products/premium-franks">Parks Finest by Ball Park</a>). Still, I have enjoyed enough steak and ribs (yep, sometimes I get a piece of the Man's "special ribs" - again, don't tell Laurie) to declare that the Man brought the grill in to our lives in an effort to solidify our relationship. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My great-grandmother, Laurie's Grandmom, really loves to hear my adventures. So it won't be too long before I am back to talk about the road trip I went on back in July. I went to eight states, in addition to Eastern Colorado, including four new places. I even enjoyed <i>most</i> of it! Please come back and hear about that - I like the lovin' and attention!</span></div>
<br />Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-56539741043687864102014-08-07T11:49:00.002-07:002014-08-07T11:49:25.031-07:00That's the Thing about Expectations...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>...They may just be pressure in disguise.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have found myself watching a lot of <i><a href="http://www.hbo.com/sex-and-the-city#/">Sex and the City</a></i> recently, to the point that my brain is starting to chronicle things "Carrie Bradshaw" style - hence the title of this post. If you have never seen the show, Carrie writes a weekly column along that were later published as books, but the columns usually follow the episode marked by a thought-provoking statement or question. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year has been an emotional one (both positive and negative), but also one that I can only hope </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">will mark a time of growth in my journey. Thus far this year has tested my faith, my inner and outer strength, and my ability to observe happiness (both in myself and others). Yet, it has also been defined by trying to understand expectations - again my own but also others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past weekend was the Samaritan Institute's Annual Conference, which is a large gathering of Samaritan personnel (read: mostly clinicians). While it is a tremendous amount of pressure for a perfectionist such as myself, it is also a wonderful time to gather with people I have worked with, largely at a distance, over a number of years. My time with the Institute has been marked by transition, both personal and professional, and all of these changes have brought about the underlying theme of expectations. On the personal front: when are you going to get married? (Done). Now it's when are you going to have a baby? (I have NO BLOODY IDEA). On the professional front: what will happen once you receive your MBA? (I have two classes done out of 12 total, give me a moment to figure it out). While I know there is a caring foundation for each of these questions, it feels as though there are societal and "Samaritan" expectations mixed in. Both areas being tough to navigate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Setting aside the professional side of things, let me tell you how much fun it is to be a 32 year old, married woman living a 1,000 miles away from her family without a clear answer to the "children question." The first time I met my now father-in-law, he asked me when I was going to give him more grandchildren (he already has one). FIRST TIME. The funny thing is at the time, my thought was something along the lines of, "oh that's nice, he likes me enough to want me to stick around." Yet, nearly three years later, the question, which he has not asked again, is not funny or at all helpful. Rather, it feels as though Danny and I are somehow inadequate because we do not have a public or immediate plan to have children. And do you want to know why - <b>neither of us feel ready</b>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No amount of societal expectations or pressure from well-meaning family (read: one person) can provide those feelings for me or him. A very dear friend of mine of the same age, just announced that he and his wife are pregnant. After my initial feelings of joy and delight for them, my next thought was I wonder if they can explain, "how did they know they were ready" so that I can learn something. Are you ever really ready - me: the planner, Type A personality, may have to accept that I may never feel <i>fully</i> prepared for such a life-altering event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's the other part of expectations that I have given a lot of thought to this year - they can provide a constant battle field. I am realizing that Danny and I have spent a good chunk of our nearly two year marriage (and nearly five years of being a couple) battling each other's expectations for the other person. Each of us was modeled a marriage of longevity (my grandparents, 64+ years; my parents, 40 years; his parents, 39 years). Yet, what has worked for a couple is always going to be unique to the two people in the relationship. I have come to accept and try to understand that I have expectations for what a good, healthy marriage <i>should </i>look like, whereas Danny has his own (different) expectations. SPECTACULAR! Still, he and I are working on it each and every day - some times with more success than others; but the most important thing, I hope, is that we are trying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For now, please know that Danny and I are scared to death about the thought of having non-fur child(ren). Asking <i>when </i> it will happen, or reminding me that I am not getting any younger, or asking me if I think I will be a good parent, are not particularly helpful. Rather, I would appreciate a reinforcement of the sentiment that I received from a dear friend: this is not something that is necessarily in our hands - <b>I cannot plan everything (dammit! they may not stop me from trying)</b>. Or for all the parents out there perhaps you have some insights on - how you decided you were ready (or, again, as ready as you were going to get?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until then, I am going to enjoy my time with my husband, work on my MBA, and do my best to spread the feelings of happiness that I receive from so many people.</span></div>
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Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-6809918803536714272014-05-09T11:20:00.000-07:002019-01-04T13:38:46.602-08:00You are Loved and Missed Grandpop.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving 2012 </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two weeks ago today, our beloved Grandpop passed away. My sisters and I spoke on behalf of our family at the service. I was proud of what we wrote together as it was truly a group effort to do our best to convey just how much he is loved and missed. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The love, prayers, and outpouring of support (and sweets!) have certainly be felt and appreciated by our whole family.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He will be forever in our hearts, and I trust we will all be together again. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 200%;">I<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ntro (Denise): <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We want to thank everyone for being here today – it is clear to see how much our grandfather was loved. Since he epitomized living life to the fullest, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate him by sharing some of our family’s memories and collective life lessons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 200%;"><i><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Sweets (Steph):</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the important life lessons Grandpop taught everyone was how to access that extra compartment in your stomach meant especially for sweets. When you thought you were too full from a great steak dinner, one always had room for dessert. From the dixie cups full of M&Ms, the handfuls of Werthers in the Buick, to the ice cream Sundaes, and Mondays, and Tuesdays... We are sorry to say that the rummage sale will be less one pile of shirts because of the inevitable spill of Hershey's syrup down the front. In his words, "How'd that get there?"<br />
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of our favorite family memories is the elaborate gingerbread houses that Grandmom and Grandpop made each holiday season. They were filled with MnMs and decorated to the brim with candy. To this day, each Thanksgiving visit has no less than 100 gingerbread men decorated and ready to be eaten. Thanksgiving dinner in our family is an event to envy, from the amazing stuffing to the perfectly carved turkey, Grandmom and Grandpop know how to do it right. If you stopped and looked in their freezer right now, there's enough meat to last a lifetime. Being a butcher from an early age, Grandpop was incapable of passing up a good looking piece of meat while completing one his favorite pastimes, a trip to the grocery store. I think we can all recall an endless conversation with him about a favorite recipe or local restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 200%;">He Knew How to Live Life to the Fullest (Laurie):</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Our Grandpop retired at 55 and has encouraged us all to do the same. Since most of us will not be lucky enough to follow that lead, the life lesson regardless is that he knew how to live life to the fullest.</span><br />
<br /><span style="line-height: 200%;"> Grandmom and Grandpop introduced us to musical theater by taking us to see shows at the Music Box Playhouse, starting with Children's Theater (to this day though, Stephanie is </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">afraid</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> of </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">Rumpelstiltskin and was not </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">willing to take a picture with him) and later dinner shows such as Meet Me in St. Louis, A Christmas Carol, and Grandpop's favorite, ShowBoat. In fact, we were even known to arrive an hour before the theater staff - just to be sure we were not late.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 200%;"> In addition to being timely, we were all taught the rules and etiquette of bowling and miniature golf. I can hit the proper arrow on a bowling lane, but after that, the ball still does its own thing. We also know how to address the golf ball, and to not stand behind the person swinging the club. In spite of years of trying, none of the grandchildren ever did beat Grandpop.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 200%;"> In this spirit, Grandpop taught us all that it's not about the winning, it's the fun had while doing it. Grandpop loved to "deal" a winning hand to the youngest at the table just to see the pure joy on their faces when they realized they had an instant corner in Pit or the elusive and lucrative 8-9-10 of the same suit in Michigan Rummy. The looks on our faces in those moments were still recounted years later many times over.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 200%;"> There is no way to count the number of days we have all spent at Knobels Amusement Park over the years. When we first started going Grandmom would ride the little roller coaster, laughing that infectious laugh and Grandpop would join us for the teacups - helping us to spin our cup as hard as possible. Then they would both join us on the bumper cars - making sure we all got to bump each other as went around the track. Grandpop would usually let out a whoa or gotcha! As the years went by they were both content to follow us around the park, glad to see the grandchildren enjoying themselves even if they were no longer able to participate. Don't worry, we all enjoyed a funnel cake (or two) together. It always seemed that whenever Grandmom and Grandpop were walking or sitting on a bench together that they were holding hands...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Intangibles (Denise):<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Grandpop had a great number of “intangibles” that modeled to his children and grandchildren how to have a good laugh, to be virtuous, moral, thoughtful and kind-hearted. As he used to say, “Grandpop knows everything.”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He was a devoted husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. His love for his family was transparent, especially for Grandmom throughout their 64 years of marriage. Our Aunt Alice recalls a time when she was walking the dogs with Laurie and it began to rain; Grandpop got right in his car and drove around the neighborhood until he found them. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While that day may have been about the rain, he never needed an excuse to go out for a drive. Perhaps it was his uncanny ability to find the best parking spots everywhere we went, always telling us that they knew he was coming or that they have saved the best for us. He also had a special attachment to his 1993 Buick with an ultimate goal of 200,000 miles. The car now sits at 185,000, and we are trying to figure out how to drive “that boat” the remaining distance. The Buick also had a remote control that was a rare commodity at the time, and to the grandchildren, the car had a magical trunk that would open upon Grandpop’s command or with a wave of his hand.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grandmom and Grandpop also made a special effort to be with us whenever possible, whether it was on our college campuses, at Grandparent’s Day, or the Ferry Stop on Cape May as a surprise for Scott and Kurt, they always went the extra mile (as there were many miles between us) to spend time with their family. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 200%;">Conclusion:</span></i></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For these and so many other life lessons and memories, we want to say “thank you,” in which our Grandpop would not have said “You’re Welcome” but instead responded with “You’re <b><i>Velcome</i></b>.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a tribute to our wonderful Grandfather, we ask that you all go home <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>and make yourself a nice, big ice cream “<span class="aqj">Tuesday</span>.”<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2575706259833782679.post-69358082018166738662014-03-29T09:56:00.002-07:002014-03-29T09:56:39.992-07:00Okay God, Olly Olly Oxen Free!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lately I have found myself thinking a lot about the game hide and go seek. I still remember a few really good hiding places that my family would use, and there is one particular game that has been sticking out in my mind. I was "it," I had found my sisters, and then the three of us starting looking for our Mom. At the time it felt like a really long time, and so finally we gave up. It must have been a respectable amount of time because she did come out after a few pleas. When she came to us we asked her where she had been hiding, but she would not tell. It was clearly a really good spot, and she wanted to be able to use it again. You know to this day, I still have no idea where she was hiding. Our house was not huge, and when there were three teenage girls living in the house it felt REALLY small! So where in the world could she have been?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't know that in our games we ever called, "olly olly oxen free;" but lately I have been trying to use that concept with God as I am having trouble seeing his/her plan in all that is swirling around me. I have too much faith to think that I have been forsaken, I just think s/he is doing a really good job of hiding right now. Just like I knew my Mom had not really vanished, I know God is still there somewhere. Sometimes I find myself wondering why things cannot be a little more clear, just a little bit easier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot provide specifics, but let's just say that things around me are feeling like that notion that at times the "truth is stranger than fiction." In my nearly (two days shy) 32 years on this earth, God has always led me to the place where I was supposed to be and helped through me some pretty ridiculous stuff. So I do trust that everything will work out in God's time, not mine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So until it becomes more clear, I am going to keep playing the game knowing that one day God will appear as my Mom did during that rather intense game of hide and go seek. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until then, if you hear me saying "olly, olly oxen free," please know I am just trying to understand what the greater plan is for my current craziness. </span>Sheer Ridiculousnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12811415880188547332noreply@blogger.com0