Ask a man a question, he'll give you an answer; Give that man a Blog and he'll spew for the rest of his life.
I am one of the six people that still do not carry a cell phone. It’s not that I do not want one, I just don’t want to pay for one…continually, month after month. In fact, I believe the phone to be somewhat of an annoyance, so to pay for the privalege of people calling whenever they want just really…well, it doesn’t inspire me to run out, buy a phone and sign a contract to give my money away.
What really bothers me about cell phones is the belief that cell phones are mandatory now. How can you not have a cell phone?? Maybe it’s because I am not a social butterfly. Maybe it’s because I still like to have places to which I can say, “sorry, I didn’t have a phone”. Maybe it’s still a money thing, but I still feel complete without a cell phone on my hip or held to my ear.
The handless phone jacks are annoying as well. I don’t know how many times I have tried to figure out why the lady at the store is asking me what I want for dinner, only to notice the little wire hanging from her ear and across her shoulder. When I was little I was taught not to stare at the people talking to themselves on the streets. I guess that rule still applies but I am running out of places to stare!
The conversations are not just about what soup to get either! Sometimes the conversations are so personal, I get embarrassed to listen not that I have a choice but to listen. Why it is required to talk twice as loud into a cell phone then what you would do in normal conversation? Is there really any status to be won by announcing to the world that you have a cell phone and you use it?
Have you noticed that it is now OK to be late to meetings? If you call on the way and say you’ll be 15 minutes late, the rest of us sitting in the meeting waiting have to excuse you. You did call and let us know so it must be all right.
Driving with a cell phone continues to be an issue. I guess when you’re using a phone: turn indicators are no longer required, lane markers lines are optional, and sudden lane changes should be anticipated. It used to be that if you saw a car swerving all over the road, one would assume that they were DUI, now we just assume they got a call.
One day, I will have a cell phone- it’s ineveitable. My only hope is that my common courtesy and self respect stay intact.
(Continued from yesterday)
As the running back lumbered toward me and as I was fulfilling my obligation to close the gap between us by moving toward him, all the coaching and months of drills and practice were echoing over and over in my head. “Bend your knees. Get low. Power into the tackle”. Of course there was also the other voice in my head screaming, “Look at the size of that thing! Run Away!!!”
As the two of us were about to meet “officially”, I had a quick, but strong, shot of confidence and almost started saying, “I think I can. I think I…” and then POW!! Hope, confidence and all the hours of training could not compensate for the extra 95 pounds of running back.
Like a B.B. hitting a freight train, I went straight backwards and quickly noticed how I was seeing clouds instead of grass. At one point, my feet swooshed by as if running through the clouds. I was airborne, spinning head over heels, and slightly dazed.
Now nothing makes a big…sorry, huge running back happier then to run over the top of a vanquished opponent. This running back was to make no exception. And as I hit the ground and found myself on my back, I noticed the big boy again entering my space, this time exactly over me.
If one is upright and one extends one’s legs, there will be a penalty flag. It’s called tripping. If one is flat on their back and extends one’s legs straight up, it’s called a tackle. I stuck my legs straight up in the air and made the tackle. I agree, the style was not anything for the highlight reel, but it worked then and the two or three other times the two of us met later in the game.
My old football coach, Coach Hatch taught that it was the small things that mattered. But when you’re dealing with a big thing, a huge thing, bigger then you might be able to handle, I am sure Coach Hatch would advise, “Just do what you can”.
All dignity aside, of course.
I was a whopping 145 pounds at the conclusion of my High School Junior year football season. Weight training was now to begin for the upcoming season and goals needed to be set. I figured I would need to be at least 160 pounds by the start of the next season to secure a starting position. I began to eat.
I ate everything that moved, and anything that didn’t. I took on a job at Hardee’s not only to earn money to afford double lunches at school, but also to clean up on extra food at work! For months, I ate and lifted weights. I would do anything if it had the promise of raising my weight to my goal. Opening night, I had done everything I could and I tipped the scales at 150 pounds. I had only gained 5 pounds! My ambition had earned me the starting spot of defensive back on the varsity team, the 5 extra pounds would have to do. Everything went fine for the first two games and then we played Granger High School. Granger high school ran a tough running game anchored by a huge 245 pound running back. 245 pounds! He outweighed me by almost 100 pounds! I was a defensive back, but with their style of running attack, there was a very good chance he and I would meet. Meet we did. About half way through the first quarter, the big…no HUGE running back cleared the end of the line and started making his way into my territory. It was the two of us, one on one. (continued tomorrow).I’ve never owned a chainsaw before, but with all the trees I have, it was inevitable: I would finally have to get one. It wasn’t brand new and I didn’t get one until it was given to me, but I now am an owner of a Poulan 18” “Wild Thing” chainsaw.
I first used my new saw last weekend cutting stump roots before pulling them. I would dig a bit and then start cutting the roots with the saw, occasionally and often hitting the dirt, rocks, etc. down under the tree. Apparently I thought chainsaws should be used as trenchers as well. I was incorrect and the saw became very dull very quickly. I ended up resorting back to chopping the roots out with an ax.Here’s to a new week!
Deuteronomy 6: 4-7
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might.
And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
