Football Memories

Sam loves football.  I was pondering how I could turn his interest in football into a learning opportunity when my mind took an unexpected turn down memory lane.  While I might have grown up without a television, I was always surrounded by books.  My mom would periodically take me to town and I would bring home a stack of books from the public library.  I had an affinity for American History, but a different type of American History would often find it's way into the stack as well.

    I wanted to be just like Bart Starr.  I studied how he held the ball and how he played the game.  Unfortunately, the only time I got to play was on the playground at our country grade school, I was never allowed to play on an organized team.

Now that we live in the frozen tundra, I thought this might be fun book to page through together with my son. I found one online and it arrived just a few days ago.

Superbowl I!!!

Bart Starr, MVP!

The age of technology is great in many ways, but nothing beats holding an old book in your hands!  Every kid should grow up with books to pour over.  Books that invest their dreams, their hopes, their imaginations.

The "Beer Cave"

We traveled down to the Cincinatti area over Thanksgiving to visit family.  The cultural experience would not be complete without a visit to the "Beer Cave."  If you aren't familiar with the concept, it is a drive through quick shop of sorts.  You  drive your car in, tell the attendant what you want, and drive on out.  

This one is located in the bustling metropolis of Morrow, Ohio, population approximately 1,200

We weren't in the market for any beer, but we did buy some Cheetos and chocolate milk to keep the little guy happy!

I Will Never Leave You

I took a vacation day today and was doing a little painting upstairs.  Sam was downstairs playing.  Suddenly he stopped and hollered:

"Dad?"

"Yes, Buddy?"

"I just wanted to know where you are."

"I wouldn't leave you buddy."

I was struck with the parallels between my son's relationship to me and my relationship to God.  How often I want to check in and make sure that He is still there.

He replies back to me:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Thanks, Lord.  I just wanted to know where you are.

Road Trip!

This past weekend my lovely bride and I embarked on our own road trip. This one had a definite purpose in mind.

GO CATS!

We passed some sights along the way

Finally we reached the holy grail

At game time the place was rockin'!

Finally, the win after 4 OT's!!!!

The "architect" who has twice rebuilt K-State Football heading off the field

Give coach Bill your vote for coach of the year!

Kansas State Wildcats 53 - Texas A&M Aggies 50

		1	2	3	4	4OT	T
	TA&M	0	14	7	10	19	50
#14	KSU	0	14	0	17	22	53

It's a lot of fun to watch your alma mater be successful on the football field.  Sadly many programs are successful on the field, but not in the classroom.  I am proud to say that Kansas State is one of the better programs in college football when it comes to educating student athletes.
K-State Places 16 on Academic All-Big 12 Football Team

"This continues a long tradition of academic excellence at K-State, the finest land grant university in the nation. Kansas State's football and all-sports graduation rates have led the Big 12 Conference in each of the last four years.Head Coach Bill Snyder has established a track record of encouraging academic achievement, and the effort of those student-athletes has not gone unnoticed. K-State has had 10 Academic All-America selections under Bill Snyder, plus eight CFA National Scholar-Athletes. According to Diverse magazine, K-State ranks 10th in the nation among all Division I football programs, and tops in the Big 12, in graduating African-American student-athletes."

Next up, Texas. 
GO CATS!
Make steak out of those Longhorns!

Road Trip Songs

The video I previously posted has put me in a road trip mood.  Here are a few songs that have sprung to mind:    

Some day I dream of driving as much of Route 66 as I can.  In my dream I'm driving a fully restored Nomad pulling an old Airstream trailer.  The only real problem here is that my lovely wife does not share this dream.  Maybe in time I can sway her.

I don't know that this one is quintessential, but you have to have a song about the Highway Patrol!

Of course no road trip selection could possibly be complete without CW McCall!

Breaker 1-9 and 10-4 good buddy.
Dare I admit to being alive during the CB craze? I remember learning to fix CB radios in my high school electronics class.  Yikes!

I should head down to a truck stop and see if they still make those things.

The Ultimate Roadtrip?

I came across this road trip video today.  See the USA in 5 minutes on time lapse!  I was amazed at how much of his road trip I recognized.  It gives me the itch to be on the road again!  You can learn a bit more about this trip and see a trip map at the photographer's blog.  



See you on the road!

Death-Defying Boys And Their Epic Poems

Boys are made for adventure, for dreams, for conquest.  When they are young they dream big, but it seems that their hopes are often soon dashed.  Thanks Tony for the reminder that I am helping my son build, understand and protect his own epic poem. 

But here was Caleb not knowing any better, thankfully, asking for stories of his death-cheating self, because this is what our children look to from us, the first stanzas of the epic poems that are themselves. We were riding in my pickup with his three younger brothers, who took interest as well. Boys like death-defying stories.

 Read the whole article here, it is worth your time!

Image ◊ Good Letters: The IMAGE Blog ◊ Death-Defying

I Can Deny It No Longer

Growing up, it seemed I was surrounded by engineers.  Everything had to be analyzed ad nauseam.  The world was entirely black and white, there were no shades of gray.  I decided to rebel against that and become the anti-engineer.  I fully denied any and all inner tendencies associated with what I perceived to be an engineering mindset. 

However, it is hard to escape genetics.  The first step came about 13 years ago when I came to recognize and embrace my inner analytic. 

Yesterday while working on my snow blower I had a crushing discover.  It started so innocently.  I was merely removing the belly pan from the machine to lubricate the appropriate surfaces.  I removed four bolts, pulled the pan and to my shock and horror, I found myself delighted, enthralled, exubrant, even about what lay in front of me.

This is in high gear

I pulled out my phone, started taking pictures and marveled over the design that had been revealed.  I was aware at the appalling implications of this discovery, but I couldn't help myself.  I then began moving the gear levers to confirm what I suspected and marveled even more.  The shear ingeniousness of the design and the simplicity of it was awe inspiring to me.

This is in low gear

Here it is in reverse

I guess I can deny it no longer.  Inside of me there is a mini-engineer trying to find his way out.