Another pasta moment

 In some random group training today and the instructor broke us up to groups of 4... gave us a random powerpoint slide... and had us practice briefing that chart to the other 3 people.  I got my slide... thought about it for 5 seconds... had my concept... rehearsed it in my head and was ready to go.

Sat through the first two people's "presentation" and I had no idea what they were talking about.  They spent more time analyzing the content and complaining about their program than following the instruction.  Here I am wondering... "Did I hear the instructions wrong?!?"

Then came my turn.  

I started with a "hook" - a lead in question.  "How do you eat an elephant?"  (Pause for dramatic effect) "One bite at a time."  Then I pulled the analogy to the topic.  Sliced, diced, and carved my way through how we'll choke if we try to do too much.  And also... while you're eating the torso, start thinking of how you want to serve up the hindlegs.  Wrapped it up with... and that is how we can achieve our goal and address (wait for it) the elephant in the room.  It was easy... natural... and it worked.  I thought nothing of it... all in a day's work.

Then a Director went and I had no idea what she was trying to say either.

Come time for open feedback around the room... one guy in my group raised his hand and said, "We had one guy in our group give a VP level briefing." And he turned and looked at me.  I simply smiled and nodded.  

As someone would say... another pasta moment. 

10 year legacy

 Ran into a couple at church today..  someone I met eons ago at SJCAC.  I walked up and re-introduced myself.  Both the husband and wife recognize me.  The wife even went as far as saying, "This must have been 10 years ago when my son was still a baby.  We were in the cryiing room together... and you ended up holding up son for an entire hour.  And my son did not cry.  So I knew, 'This must be a good man.' " 

There are some things that you do... that can haunt you or bless you for the rest of your life.  

Ready. Aim. Fire!!!!

Was taking a piss the other day... and a fruit fly zips by.  Then it busts a you-y and comes back! This time I was ready for it... and just like Hawkeye or 節別, I took aim and drenched it.  Wiping it out and knocking it haplessly into the vast ocean of the toilet.  Haha!!! We can't aim, huh!? We always miss, ey?!.  Not today. 

No ants

For the first time in a week… I wake up to no ants in the kitchen. 

Happy place

After his first XC meet of the season, we're on 280 heading home.  It was dark.  Quiet.  Peaceful.  SW and brings up his love for the ride to tournaments on a Friday nught. After a long week of school, the traffic, the calm, the stillness, the dark, getting lost in mysterious places, the bad restaurants, the smell of the Best Western, crashing cuz he’s so tired. He loves all of it. But not when we go as an entire family... only when it's with a single parent. 

Then he said this was his last season for club volleyball. No more. Hanging up his knee pads and sticking with only school volleyball. My heart sank. So many fond memories in spite of all the complaining. We don't have a lot of things in common anymore.  Volleyball was something I planted, cultivated, and dare I say, relied on, to stay connected with them.  It somehow brought our family closer together in so many ways,  

And that bond... is about to end.  

Random act of kindness

Was at Smart and Final one day... I parked my car and what do I see??? The mother of all pet-peeves - an abandoned shopping cart.  So I did what any kind hearted, considerate person would do... I walked over and adopted it since I needed a cart any ways.

Was walking up and down the aisles and the store cart-collector walked past me... stopped... and said, "Sir, thank you.  You probably didn't hear me earlier.  Thank you for grabbing the cart.  That was cool."

"My pleasure."  And indeed... the pleasure was all mine.