Bag of Randomness for Monday, May 2, 2016

Screenshot 2016-05-01 at 11.11.32 PM

  • WifeGeeding and the kids vacated the premises and my high school and college friends stayed the night so we could honor our late friend by selecting a scholarship recipient. Along with that, we feasted, did an escape room experience, watch a lot of sports, and acted like we were twenty. Good times.
  • On Friday, I posted a picture of the tee-ball field I made BoyGeeding, and in that picture home base is backward. Yup, I should have known better. However, even when I do place it where it is facing correctly, BoyGeeding will turn it around because he prefers Mike Schmidt’s signature on the plate, to be facing him as he stands behind the plate.
  • While working on my latest DIY project on Sunday, I was using my newly purchased drill press. However, that darn thing didn’t come with a drill chuck which was supposed to be included and the store was already closed. While trying to make due and get the bit as tight as I could, I almost stuck a screwdriver through my hand. While it didn’t go all the way through, there was a decent amount of blood and I look like I was almost crucified. And yes, I know crucifixions were actually through the wrists.
  • I loath going jeans shopping, but I’ve been putting it off for a while. For one, it can be humbling for us chubby folks, two, it’s hard to find the right fit/comfort and style, and three, it’s one of those long term commitment purchases (at least for me). However, I’ve lost some weight and my jeans are too baggy, and too many times I’ve bought something smaller and only grew into the old pair again, so I’ve been hesitant on this new purchase because I didn’t want to “jinx” things. The pair of jeans I’m replacing has a 40-inch waist, but my new pair is a 34-inch waist, which is just a tiny bit snug, but the next size up was just too loose. I haven’t bought that size waist in a pair of pants or jeans this century, so it was a bit of a surreal experience. Granted, I know not all waist sizes are the same when you compare brands, but I did buy the same brand and style.
  • A challenge for me when blogging is that I like to share personal experiences because it’s a bit therapeutic and I think it helps others connect and relate. However, my fear is the perception of my doing so is a way to gain sympathy or to boast, and that certainly isn’t the intention.
  • I didn’t find President Obama’s video at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner all that funny until former Speaker John Boehner made his appearance. My favorite of all these videos was Clinton’s last where it shows him doing chores around the White House, riding a bike inside, playing Battleship with the Joint Chiefs, and chasing a car Hillary was riding in to deliver her a sack lunch. Go ahead and hate the man all you want, but the skit was funny.
  • Random Correspondents’ Dinner fact, Richard Pryor hosted the last year of LBJ’s presidency.
  • Until reading this article about Malia Obama’s college choice, I had no idea Harvard encouraged taking a year off after high school graduation and that she was born on July 4, “Harvard encourages admitted students to defer for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work, or spend time in another meaningful way. The student must not enroll in a program at another college that would grant that student a degree.
  • Buzzfeed – Brides Can Now Get Married In The Heart Of Disney World Like Real-Life Princesses – WifeGeeding and I came pretty darn close to getting married at the Grand Floridian.
  • I think Anna Kendrick is the modern equivalent of what Meg Ryan was back in the Eighties and Nineties. That came to mind as I watched some of Joe vs. The Volano this weekend.
  • GIF – Kid experiences brain freeze for the first time‏
  • BBC – Russian ‘eternal flame’ replaced by cardboard painting
  • Most likely, Bastrop – Where Was Texas’ First Barbecue Joint?
  • Softball team loses championship on walk-off after premature celebration
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8 Responses to Bag of Randomness for Monday, May 2, 2016

  1. Triple Fake says:

    Ditto on the jeans purchase. The problem is that there are very few odd-numbered waist sizes, so it's not unusual to be torn between too tight and too loose, and future weight changes. And don't get me started on inseam!

  2. Ben W. says:

    I was doing some sprinkler repair this weekend and somehow squirted myself in the face with muddy water…twice. After reading your story, I don't feel so bad. Be careful, man!

    I, for one, read the blog both for the humorous/interesting links and for the personal info. In a world where human connections can feel few and far between, I feel like I've made a friend, even though we've never met in person. The great thing about the Internet is that it is limitless – if someone doesn't like what they read here, there are millions of other options available to them.

    Harvard realizes what the rest of us know, too: teenagers are dumb, and they do dumb things. By "encouraging" kids to go out and experience some actual life, Harvard gets a first-year class that has at least a little more maturity and understanding of life. But Harvard has the financial stability and prestige to promote this process. Most colleges/universities are just looking for that sweet, federally backed student-loan money, so why would they encourage kids to delay giving that to them for a whole year??

    As much as my wife and I love Disney, we didn't think about getting married there (for a number of reasons). Of course, we did honeymoon there, so there's that. And we've talked about maybe doing a vow renewal there for our 25th anniversary. It may depend on whether we hit the lottery. An in-park wedding venue, with a customized ceremony and reception for 100 people will set you back about $75,000.

  3. Michael Willoughby says:

    Not only was it backward, "home base" is actually "home plate."

    • John Mackovic says:

      He was just doing his Ted Cruz impersonation.

    • Geeding says:

      LOL. Oh man, it's pretty clear that my baseball knowledge is very limited. I never played any organized ball, the closest I came was a handful of softball games and don't watch much baseball. But hey, never too late to learn, eh?

  4. Rex Kramer says:

    in the jeans department try banana republic. hear me out, they still carry boot cut and have odd numbered sizes and i've learned that they are very forgiving either way. When I bulk up, i'm still able to wear them, when I slim down, they still feel just fine with a belt on. I was hesitant to get them in the beginning, had always been a levi guy, but you can never find boot cut levis anymore. everything is skinny hipster jean now and i've got too much pride to go down that road.

  5. sara says:

    Don't even get me started on Women's vanity sizing. I've dragged my hubby along and shown him how the same number size clothes are sometimes WAY off. He now understands the emotional turmoil of jeans/pants shopping I feel, and why I can't just walk in and grab my size without trying it on like he does.

    Also, my inseam is 28. I am 5ft 1. When I find jeans that fit, I buy 4.

  6. John Mackovic says:

    I enjoy your blog, and I do relate to a lot of it. I'm also a small town boy, we're a similar age and I think we are in a similar job field. I'm not half-Asian, but my two kids are, so I am interested when you talk about that part of your life and your experiences.

    Keep up the good work!

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