Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Tomorrow, April 26, marks three years with my new hip. Seems to be working just fine. It's not perfect, of course, but it's much better than what the original had become. It was nothing but two bones rubbing together. I was afraid I was going to set myself on fire. Hurt like the dickens, too. There was absolutely no way to get comfortable. Replacing that one part solved a lot of problems.

Now, it's hard to compare my new fake hip with the original model. The Original Manufacturer made a pretty good product. But these parts do wear out.

So, I'm going through the life stages: build up, maintain, repair, and spare parts. I may be at the spare parts stage, and I am glad that medical science keeps improving these parts. Besides, my new part reduced my overall average age. However, I am not ready to repeat the experience any time soon.

Right on Track (and Field)

Pre-season conditioning for track and field is underway at the high school, and, right on cue, here comes the cold, wet weather. It seems to be a rule.

I'm a volunteer coach for the throws (discus and shot put). This means that I'm at practice daily -- like a good-boy volunteer. Some will ask why a coach is needed for throwing things. Those two events (discus throw and shot put) only look simple. There is nothing simple about it. And, we will never get the techniques right. That's why we practice under a structured program.

Since we are not yet allowed to actually go outside and throw, we are hoisting weights. The boys are mostly football players, so they're involved with the football weight workouts, but the girls are under my care. And they do work. Neither the core groups of boys nor girls whine about their work. They just do it, and they will stay right with you. Good kids and fun to work with.

Hopefully, when we can actually go outside and begin throwing, the implements won't seem so heavy.

Inauguration Day!

I don't think that I have ever watched as much television in one day as I did yesterday, January 20, 2009. In fact, I may have watched more on that day than I usually do in a week.

Inauguration Day! Fascinating--and mesmerizing. The whole thing. Even the flubbed oath which underwent a do-over today.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics-whitehouse/20090122/Obama.Oath.Do.Over/

Now, to work -- and much work there is to do. Even I know that.

Congratulations and best wishes, Mr. President -- to you and to all your team -- which includes all of us.

I Still Like Toys.

So, the holidays are over, and all the purtys have been put away. Friends and family have been visited. Parties have been attended. Folks have been entertained. Money has been spent. And, a good time was had by all -- I think. Of course, my bride does most of the work. I certainly do my part -- by keeping out of the way.

I did treat myself to a new little toy, however. No, not a new flat screen TV, since my old big-box TV is still good. Besides, I can fall asleep in front of my old one just like I could in front of a new one.

I bought a new electric pizzelle baker. My old electric one had seen better days, and I was not going to use the old stove-top baker that I have. My mother and dad used it, but it is labour-intensive, and I am not in to that. For those of you who do not know what a pizzelle is, you should look it up. Basically, it's a thin, crispy Italian cookie -- somewhat like a waffle. They taste good.

I have made one batch already, and another one is due to be made soon.

Happy New Year to all.

Santa Rocks into Town

Once again, Santa came. Amazing. Sometimes I wonder if he really pays attention throughout the year, or if he is just very forgiving.

Grandson got a "Guitar Hero" game. He is really quite good at that game. Late in the afternoon, my bride, my daughter, grandson, and I were huddled around the game -- each with a different part to play -- yes a regular rock "band." Grandson was good. The rest of us were very marginal, but he was very patient with us as we tried to learn. For those of us of a mature age, there is nothing easy about that game

Our renditions of "Hotel California," "Beat It," and "Eye of the Tiger" were just barely recognizable -- at the "easy" level. We actually made it all the way through the last one without getting cut off by the game.

But, we had a good time.

Merry Christmas to all.

An Enjoyable Evening

Last night, our high school freshmen had their end-of-season football banquet. Grandson was among those joining in the celebration.

Eating was done. Some awards were given. A song was sung. An appropriate speech was given. Videos were played. A good time was had by all. But, the best thing in my opinion was seeing the relationship that had developed between the coach and his players. It was pretty good. The kids liked him, respected him, and enjoyed playing for him. The team also won two-thirds of their games.

I am very appreciative of the work that the coaches and players did and the way they conducted themselves.

Good lesson here if only we could see it.

I will refrain from adding to this. I got it from a friend of mine via email.

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
'That laundry is not very clean', she said. 'She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.
Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:'Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?'
The husband said, 'I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.'