8.02.2010
Picnic Day (Australia)
What are your plans for Picnic Day (Australia)? Duh. You're going to eat outside. Perhaps with Australian themed food? Whatever you do, make sure that it is an experience.
Win with Civility Month
Alright, so I'm gonna be honest. I was not super-thrilled about starting this thing off with "winning with civility." I had hoped that August 1 would be something like, "Be a Hero Day" or "Cure Cancer Day," you know, something exciting and worthwhile. In any case, I decided that since the premise of this blog is to have experiences and, in particular, new experiences, winning with civility might not be such a bad idea as I don't often:
A) Win
B) React to a win civilly
note: I'm not a jerk or anything, I just like to jump and yell and dance when I win. (And if it's one of my brothers, I will sometimes stick my index finger in their face and say "whooooooo!")
My plans for celebrating this day were not overly complex. Basically, they were to:
A) Win
B) React to a win civilly
I knew that we had church all morning and that directly after church we were heading for a reunion of my wife's family in Circleville, OH. After that, we were to travel to Springfield, OH to pick up our dog from my parents' house. I was concerned that I wouldn't have time to participate in any contests or games, but as it turned out, these travels provided fertile ground for some friendly competition.
I had forgotten that it is tradition at the family reunion to have a watermelon seed spitting contest (WSSC...I am lazy). "Perfect," I thought, "I can react civilly to a win at a WSSC." The only question was, could I win?
Well, as it turns out, this was a far less sanctioned event than I had hoped. What makes a sport a sport is a firm set of rules which increase difficulty to an appropriate extent and which must be applied equally to all participants. This WSSC certainly lacked these elements. There was no limit as to the amount of tries that a "spitter" got. Rather than using a chalk line or a concrete barrier or an electrified wire as a foul-line, we used a wiffle ball. In fact, after the first three or four contestants, the wiffle ball disappeared (to be used in a wiffle ball game!!!) so we "guesstimated" as to where the line was. Most egregious, however, was the fact that if a seed could not be properly "spotted" after it was spit, the spot was determined by the first person who said, "I think it landed over here somewhere."
Now as it happened, I was chosen to go first, even though I had never spit competitively in my life. Though, as an amateur I'd had much experience spitting everything from gum (which I try to spit out, kick up in the air, and catch in my mouth) to spitballs (sorry Mrs. Spriggs) to "loogies." Therefore, I felt I had developed a pretty form for achieving maximum distance. So I stepped up to the line...errr...wiffle ball. I rolled my tongue (that's the secret). I bent my knees. And as I lunged forward with my legs, I spit. I spit like I'd never spit before. It was beautiful. and I SAW my seed float through the air and soar past "the bush." But nobody else saw it. To be honest, I never saw where it landed, but I can attest it was definitely past any shrubbery that was involved. Quickly, one of Megan's cousins (or uncles...who knows) said those fateful words, "I think it landed over here somewhere." And my effort was marked several feet short of the bush (by a wiffle bat).
As the event wore on, nobody else got close to the bush. This despite the fact that the line moved forward by a noticeable margin with each successive spitter. In the end I can safely say that I spit a watermelon seed the farthest, despite not technically "winning."
Rather than file an official protest with the WSSC governing body, I decided to let it go in the name of civility.
I did participate in two other competitions during the course of the day. I defeated my brother in a modified game of frisbee golf in which we use freestyle frisbees (rather than discs) and various markers around our yard. After my victory, I congratulated him on a good competition and wished him well in the future (I only meant one of those things sincerely). After that, my dad and I lost to my mom and my wife in Euchre despite my best attempt to be civil throughout the game. For the record, my mom said she liked it better when I was obnoxious. Apparently, she values sincerity over civility.
What did you do to celebrate Win with Civility Month? Post your stories in the comments section and e-mail any pics to yeartocelebrate@yahoo.com.
A) Win
B) React to a win civilly
note: I'm not a jerk or anything, I just like to jump and yell and dance when I win. (And if it's one of my brothers, I will sometimes stick my index finger in their face and say "whooooooo!")
My plans for celebrating this day were not overly complex. Basically, they were to:
A) Win
B) React to a win civilly
I knew that we had church all morning and that directly after church we were heading for a reunion of my wife's family in Circleville, OH. After that, we were to travel to Springfield, OH to pick up our dog from my parents' house. I was concerned that I wouldn't have time to participate in any contests or games, but as it turned out, these travels provided fertile ground for some friendly competition.
I had forgotten that it is tradition at the family reunion to have a watermelon seed spitting contest (WSSC...I am lazy). "Perfect," I thought, "I can react civilly to a win at a WSSC." The only question was, could I win?
Well, as it turns out, this was a far less sanctioned event than I had hoped. What makes a sport a sport is a firm set of rules which increase difficulty to an appropriate extent and which must be applied equally to all participants. This WSSC certainly lacked these elements. There was no limit as to the amount of tries that a "spitter" got. Rather than using a chalk line or a concrete barrier or an electrified wire as a foul-line, we used a wiffle ball. In fact, after the first three or four contestants, the wiffle ball disappeared (to be used in a wiffle ball game!!!) so we "guesstimated" as to where the line was. Most egregious, however, was the fact that if a seed could not be properly "spotted" after it was spit, the spot was determined by the first person who said, "I think it landed over here somewhere."
Now as it happened, I was chosen to go first, even though I had never spit competitively in my life. Though, as an amateur I'd had much experience spitting everything from gum (which I try to spit out, kick up in the air, and catch in my mouth) to spitballs (sorry Mrs. Spriggs) to "loogies." Therefore, I felt I had developed a pretty form for achieving maximum distance. So I stepped up to the line...errr...wiffle ball. I rolled my tongue (that's the secret). I bent my knees. And as I lunged forward with my legs, I spit. I spit like I'd never spit before. It was beautiful. and I SAW my seed float through the air and soar past "the bush." But nobody else saw it. To be honest, I never saw where it landed, but I can attest it was definitely past any shrubbery that was involved. Quickly, one of Megan's cousins (or uncles...who knows) said those fateful words, "I think it landed over here somewhere." And my effort was marked several feet short of the bush (by a wiffle bat).
As the event wore on, nobody else got close to the bush. This despite the fact that the line moved forward by a noticeable margin with each successive spitter. In the end I can safely say that I spit a watermelon seed the farthest, despite not technically "winning."
Rather than file an official protest with the WSSC governing body, I decided to let it go in the name of civility.
I did participate in two other competitions during the course of the day. I defeated my brother in a modified game of frisbee golf in which we use freestyle frisbees (rather than discs) and various markers around our yard. After my victory, I congratulated him on a good competition and wished him well in the future (I only meant one of those things sincerely). After that, my dad and I lost to my mom and my wife in Euchre despite my best attempt to be civil throughout the game. For the record, my mom said she liked it better when I was obnoxious. Apparently, she values sincerity over civility.
What did you do to celebrate Win with Civility Month? Post your stories in the comments section and e-mail any pics to yeartocelebrate@yahoo.com.
7.30.2010
August Schedule
As promised, here is the August schedule. I have some great ideas for some of these celebrations. Others, I am clueless about. Remember, feel free to offer suggestions on how I (perhaps we?) can experience life.
August
1. The Start of National “Win with Civility” Month
2. Picnic Day (Australia)
3. National Night Out
4. National Chocolate Chip Day
5. National Underwear Day
6. National Fresh Breath Day
7. National Mustard Day
8. Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Night
9. National Resurrect Romance Week
10. National Duran Duran Appreciation Day
11. Elvis Week
12. Sewing Machine Day
13. Friday the 13th
14. National Garage Sale Day
15. National Relaxation Day
16. Joe Miller's Joke Day
17. National Thrift Shop Day
18. Bad Poetry Day
19. National Medical Dosimetrist Day
20. National Men's Grooming Day
21. National Senior Citizens Day
22. Be an Angel Day
23. Audiobook Appreciation Month
24. National Waffle Day
25. La Tomatina Day
26. Women's Equality Day
27. Oil and Gas Industry Appreciation Day
28. Be Kind to Humankind Week
29. More Herbs, Less Salt Day
30. National Toasted Marshmallow Day
31. National Inventor's Month
August
1. The Start of National “Win with Civility” Month
2. Picnic Day (Australia)
3. National Night Out
4. National Chocolate Chip Day
5. National Underwear Day
6. National Fresh Breath Day
7. National Mustard Day
8. Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Night
9. National Resurrect Romance Week
10. National Duran Duran Appreciation Day
11. Elvis Week
12. Sewing Machine Day
13. Friday the 13th
14. National Garage Sale Day
15. National Relaxation Day
16. Joe Miller's Joke Day
17. National Thrift Shop Day
18. Bad Poetry Day
19. National Medical Dosimetrist Day
20. National Men's Grooming Day
21. National Senior Citizens Day
22. Be an Angel Day
23. Audiobook Appreciation Month
24. National Waffle Day
25. La Tomatina Day
26. Women's Equality Day
27. Oil and Gas Industry Appreciation Day
28. Be Kind to Humankind Week
29. More Herbs, Less Salt Day
30. National Toasted Marshmallow Day
31. National Inventor's Month
7.21.2010
Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
Hi. I'm Rob. I'm not a professional writer (as I'm sure you'll be able to discern from my rambling, incoherent posts). I am also not famous and despite what my mom may have told you, I am not particularly exceptional. I am, however, passionate about experiencing life.
That may sound like an oddly common subject to experience passion over. Doesn't every human being experience life?
No. They do not.
This is purely subjective, but it seems to me that many people, perhaps most, live their lives in such a way so as to attempt to experience comfort rather than to experience life. They find their little niche, they snuggle in, and they try and ride out the inevitable highs and lows of life without getting knocked about too much. Now I need to insert a caveat here. I know very many wonderful people who prefer comfort. I am in no way superior to such folks. If that is you, it is not my intention to disparage you or your family or your job or your neighborhood, etc. But that is just not for me. I don't want to be that. I don't want to do the same things in the same ways over and over again. The world has been created with too many opportunities to experience to not take advantage whenever we are blessed with the chance to do so. There are foods to eat, songs to sing, people to meet.
The good Lord has given most of us 5 senses (apologies to Ray Charles, Helen Keller, and Haley Joel Osment, et al) and I intend to make use of each of them as they were designed, namely, to facilitate enjoyment and thus gratitude for all that I experience.
Beginning August 1st and lasting for a year, I am going to chronicle 365 days of experiences that I have. But as I mentioned earlier, I am not particularly exceptional. Therefore, I will attempt to employ some novelty in my blog by two methods with the goal of producing a marginally interesting blog.
1. My experiences will all be based upon the myriad "holidays" that are celebrated in the U.S. and around the world. I don't only mean holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas (though I don't plan on skipping the turkey). Instead I'll focus on holidays like Morse Code Day (May 24) or World Toilet Day (November 19). Some of the holidays are worldwide, some are national, some are colloquial. Some will be serious, most will be silly, all will be experiential.
2. I want to share these experiences with you. It's my hope that my wife and 3 year-old son will join me in some of my exploits, though I know my wife well enough to know that I will hear the phrase, "You're on your own," more than once. But I am putting out the invitation for you to participate in this blog. Maybe you can help me think of a creative way to celebrate National Plum Pudding Day (Feb. 12, and my birthday). Maybe we can go out for tacos on Cinco de Mayo. Maybe you have your own celebration and you want to send me some pics. This is intended to be an interactive experience.
Because most days of the year are the celebration of more than one thing, I will be working on my "official" list of holidays for the year so that I can post it and you can plan ahead. That being said, I am pretty flexible, so Collect Rocks Day may become National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day (September 16), but I will try and give plenty of notice.
I have no idea what direction this blog will take. Maybe it will be nothing more than a writing exercise and something to show my grandkids. But maybe it will be something more. Whatever it is, it will be an experience.
That may sound like an oddly common subject to experience passion over. Doesn't every human being experience life?
No. They do not.
This is purely subjective, but it seems to me that many people, perhaps most, live their lives in such a way so as to attempt to experience comfort rather than to experience life. They find their little niche, they snuggle in, and they try and ride out the inevitable highs and lows of life without getting knocked about too much. Now I need to insert a caveat here. I know very many wonderful people who prefer comfort. I am in no way superior to such folks. If that is you, it is not my intention to disparage you or your family or your job or your neighborhood, etc. But that is just not for me. I don't want to be that. I don't want to do the same things in the same ways over and over again. The world has been created with too many opportunities to experience to not take advantage whenever we are blessed with the chance to do so. There are foods to eat, songs to sing, people to meet.
The good Lord has given most of us 5 senses (apologies to Ray Charles, Helen Keller, and Haley Joel Osment, et al) and I intend to make use of each of them as they were designed, namely, to facilitate enjoyment and thus gratitude for all that I experience.
Beginning August 1st and lasting for a year, I am going to chronicle 365 days of experiences that I have. But as I mentioned earlier, I am not particularly exceptional. Therefore, I will attempt to employ some novelty in my blog by two methods with the goal of producing a marginally interesting blog.
1. My experiences will all be based upon the myriad "holidays" that are celebrated in the U.S. and around the world. I don't only mean holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas (though I don't plan on skipping the turkey). Instead I'll focus on holidays like Morse Code Day (May 24) or World Toilet Day (November 19). Some of the holidays are worldwide, some are national, some are colloquial. Some will be serious, most will be silly, all will be experiential.
2. I want to share these experiences with you. It's my hope that my wife and 3 year-old son will join me in some of my exploits, though I know my wife well enough to know that I will hear the phrase, "You're on your own," more than once. But I am putting out the invitation for you to participate in this blog. Maybe you can help me think of a creative way to celebrate National Plum Pudding Day (Feb. 12, and my birthday). Maybe we can go out for tacos on Cinco de Mayo. Maybe you have your own celebration and you want to send me some pics. This is intended to be an interactive experience.
Because most days of the year are the celebration of more than one thing, I will be working on my "official" list of holidays for the year so that I can post it and you can plan ahead. That being said, I am pretty flexible, so Collect Rocks Day may become National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day (September 16), but I will try and give plenty of notice.
I have no idea what direction this blog will take. Maybe it will be nothing more than a writing exercise and something to show my grandkids. But maybe it will be something more. Whatever it is, it will be an experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)