Why Are You Limping ?

Today at work many people asked me the title question of this post.  Despite my desire to respond sarcastically and act all offended like "This IS how I walk!  Why are you picking on me?!" I chose the discretionary path and just fessed up to my injury.

I sprained my left ankle yesterday playing basketball.  This is rather unimportant in and of itself, but the way in which the injury occurred gave me an idea for a blog post.

What age do you perceive yourself to be?

We hear the expression 'She's an old soul.'  We know people who are 'wiser than their years' or deal with people who are 'old enough to know better.'  But I think each one of us views ourselves as a certain age or at a certain stage in life.

I have a friend who has always seemed like he is nearing retirement.  It's not just his hair color (frosty white) or his complexion (his face has lots of wrinkles), but his mannerisms and activity level.  He just seems old.

I myself, think that I am still in my late teens or early twenties.  I engage in stupid behaviors (eating ice cream for dinner, staying up way past my bedtime).  I look at middle-aged (40 or older) people and wonder how they have any energy for anything.  I use slang words and listen to Top 40 music (sometimes).  And I play basketball with reckless abandon and expend much more energy and effort than someone MY age should.

The reality is too harsh to write here, but suffice it to say that I am NOT that young (nor is my friend that old).  In fact, I am very close to what I used to consider middle-age and that truth stares at me in the mirror each morning.  I find myself wondering things like 'what happened?' or 'how did I get here?' or 'when did I start growing hair there?!'  I don't like these questions.  I don't want to believe it is happening.  So instead I hustle for my own rebound on a shot I shouldn't have missed, and in the process land my slower foot on an opponent.  TWIST.  ouch.  Game over ... at least for a few days.  :)


Song Of The Day:
It's not a new song any more, but I did recently hear "Human" by Christina Perri on the radio and it felt appropriate for this post about the fragility of our physical bodies.  I think it's human to play hard, but it's also human to forget that we're not teenagers any more.

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Did Anyone Bring A Ball ?

Few things in this life are as frustrating to me personally as what happened just about 30 minutes prior to me writing this post.

There is a process and commitment involved in getting ready to play basketball.  You need the right shoes and attire if you plan to play vigorously, leading to a good sweat.  Then you have to drive to the court with the hope and expectation that others will be there to play.

It is upsetting enough when you don't have even teams, or if no one else shows up to play ... but nothing is more bothersome than this: nobody brought a basketball.

Sigh.

Looks like it's ice cream and some Big Bang Theory on DVD to console myself.


Song Of The Day:
When disappointment happens, it is important to move past it quickly.  Good music, like "No More Running Away" by the a capella group The Pitchforks can help this happen.
My apologies that the audio of this song is so poor in the link above ... search for it on Spotify and you won't be disappointed!


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Why Don't You Come Watch Me Play More Often ?

Tonight was the final game in our church basketball league.  It just so happened to be the equivalent of a Championship Game (we abolished an actual playoff years ago when things got too competitive).  Our opponents had gone undefeated for their season, and were clearly the better team all year.  With youth, precision passing, unselfish play, and swarming defense on their side it was even fun losing to them.  And they were our only loss this season, so we were relatively clearly the next best team.

Tonight was unique for two reasons:
First, our team only had 5 (five) guys show up to play: Trent VanDenberge, Kyle Ambrose, Dustin Larsen, Mark Puhlman, and myself.  I was our center, standing at roughly six feet nothing (I am aging so it's probably closer to 5'11" nowadays.  (The other team had 10 guys so they were subbing constantly and running us ragged).
Second, my parents were in town from Arizona and despite the 10:00pm start time, they came out to cheer on their son.

I'll skip to the end of the game because it's late and I'm exhausted, but suffice it to say that we only lost by 2 points: 79 to 77.  I was so proud of my teammates who hit clutch shot after clutch shot and never gave up hope that we could win.

My dad, ever being the statistician, kept my "line" for the night and I am very grateful because it was arguably my best game ever.  37 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and only 2 turnovers.  My favorite shot was a running three pointer from just beyond half court that beat the buzzer in the first half, tying the game at 38 apiece.

So in honor of my awesome parents, whose presence always seems to coincide with my best games, I pose today's blog post title question.  :)
Love you mom and dad!


Song Of The Day:
I've recently become quite a fan of Imagine Dragons (thanks Jordan for suggesting them!) and their newest song "On Top Of The World" is fantastic!  It describes how I am feeling this evening and is a great tune to end the day on.  Thanks again to all of my teammates (and competitors) tonight!  That was the most fun I've had in a long time playing basketball!  Y'all are fantastic friends and everything that is right with semi-competitive sports!

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Out Of Control ?

One of the many titles I currently maintain is that of Physical Activities Director.  This is limited to church-related activities in our Stake (geographical boundary) here in Colorado Springs.

Perhaps the main responsibility I have in this role is to coordinate and supervise over the Men's Church Basketball season.  It certainly is the activity that requires the largest time commitment from me, but I rather enjoy it.

All of that is just background information to set the stage for today's story.

Yesterday evening, I reiterated a few rules and reminders for both teams prior to both games being played.  I specifically asked the brethren to watch their emotions and intensity during the game.  I further encouraged them to remove themselves from the game if they found their emotions running high.  This was brought on by an incident last week, which was the result of two players NOT controlling their anger.

Fast forward to the last 10 minutes of our basketball game, which was intense and had a close score.  One of my teammates grumbled as he headed to the bench during a timeout "I'd better sit down or I'm going to punch somebody."  Recognizing that he was trying to stop a bad situation from becoming worse, I put my hand on his shoulder and said "I appreciate you choosing to sit for a bit.  Thanks."

His response stunned me.

He pushed my hand away and snapped back with "DON'T!  Just DON'T!  I don't need your appreciation so just shut up!"

After reflecting on this, I have come to the conclusion that he really made the right decision to sit out the rest of the game.
If you're so upset that you will get angry at a teammate when he is complimenting you then you're clearly too out of control to be playing basketball!


Song Of The Day:
Although it is more of an anthem, I thought of Eminem's award-winning song "Lose Yourself" when writing this post.  I think the line "you own it, you've got to never let it go" is appropriate for this brother who seemed to realize he shouldn't be playing any more that night.  Also, we hung on to win the game by one point in overtime so I guess that ties in too.  :)

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What Foul ?!

It usually only takes one or two pick-up games with someone before you can tell their Basketball Personality type.  There are dozens of different types, but only two that I simply cannot play with: the "I never foul anyone" guy ... and ... the "elbows, knees, and cheap shots" guy.  Often, these two descriptions fit the same person.

The problem with the "I never foul anyone" guy is that he gets fouled EVERY time he misses, whether there is anyone NEAR him or not.  And then, when he leaves a recognizable hand-print on your arm, (from where he slapped you so hard it could be heard inside another gym miles away) and you call a foul (because he NEVER will), the look on his face is sheer incredulousness.  That guy makes me want to respond in kind ... so instead, I usually just stop playing until his team is off the floor.


For those who said I was just acting hurt,
here is the bruise picture proof
that I did, in fact, get fouled (elbowed) HARD!

The problem with the "elbows, knees, and cheap shots" guy is that he misunderstands the concept of basketball being a "non-contact sport."  Of course it's not entirely non-contact.  It can't be.  But that doesn't mean that you should swing all the way to the other end of the spectrum and ensure contact at every opportunity!  This is the guy who sticks his knee out when you get past him on a drive to the hoop.  Or the guy who never learned how to play proper defense.  So when your back is turned to him, his immediate response is to initiate the kind of spooning that should be reserved for married couples in the privacy of their own bedroom.  He also lives by the motto "nothing easy" which means it's going to hurt if you plan to shoot or score.

When either of these guys shows up while I am playing basketball, I quickly change defensive assignments or, if necessary, stop playing entirely.  It's just better that way.


Song Of The Day:
Every time I call a foul and someone complains about it I wish there was a huge stereo that would immediately break into the chorus from the song "Would I Lie To You?" by Charles and Eddie.  Can't we all just accept each other's calls?

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How Do You Attack An Oncoming Cold ?

There you sit, enjoying the day, when all of a sudden you get that tingling feeling.  It could be a scratchy throat that doesn't go away quick enough.  Maybe it's a sneeze that forces you to use two tissues afterward.  Or perhaps your head just starts to feel cloudy or congested.

NO !!!

Here comes a cold, but I will not allow this to happen!  I do not want to be sick!  I am unwilling to waste my precious time off from work!  I don't want to go through a box of tissues a day or not be able to taste my food!  This is NOT happening!  Time to take preventive action!

Isn't everyone just full of helpful
advice when you start to feel ill?!

I have friends who swear by their Neti pots and others who use Emergen C in these situations.  At one point in my life, I would aggressively ingest massive quantities of orange juice and double my normal hand-washing practices.
These all have their place, but lately I have one preferred method for combating an oncoming cold: increased physical activity.


Tonight I felt the first hint of a cold (coupled with allergies, which always complicates things), and so I ramped up my physical activity.  I coerced my oldest son into helping me sift the last of the rock pile in the front yard ... and then further coerced him into taking MANY wheelbarrows of dirt from the front to the back yard.  This was thoroughly exhausting (my son and I both agreed) ... but it wasn't enough!  So I went and played 90 minutes of basketball (3 on 3) and really got my sweat on.

There is just something about physical activity that always makes me feel like I can beat this cold down until it doesn't dare show up again.  #feelingincontrol  :)


Song Of The Day:
I haven't heard the song "Smile" by the artist Vitamin C in way too long.  So it certainly fits here, both for her name and the fact that winning a battle against a cold certainly makes me smile!

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How Do You Unwind After A Long Day ?

As expected, today was looooong and tiring.  Getting to bed late last night because of the concert and an absolutely every minute is filled with meetings schedule at work combined to exhaust me today.  So instead of working on more "projects" I rewarded myself with a chance to unwind.

Two things help me "unwind" more than anything else, at least when I'm a temporary bachelor anyway.  First, exercise (in this case basketball).  Second, stand up comedy routines (in this case, some good clean fun with "Thou Shalt Laugh 2" and not as clean but just as funny stuff from Ben Bailey).  When I am feeling beaten down from the day's events (and not in the mood to read), either of these activities will quickly lift my spirits and re-energize me.  But tonight, getting to do BOTH completely relaxed me!

I recommend Ben Bailey's comedy special, available on Netflix.  If you don't recognize the name, I know you'll recognize the face.  He's the Cash Cab guy ... and that is actually part of his bit.  I won't say more or I'll spoil it.  But I will say that I plan to watch it again when Karen comes home, even if she doesn't laugh as loud as I will.  :)

So how do you unwind?  A good book?  Some wine on the back porch?  A relaxing bath or massage?  Listening to music?  Meditating?
Whatever you choose, I hope you take time to let yourself relax, especially after a crazy busy day.  You deserve it!

Song Of The Day:
I've included two versions of the song for today, because both are just so excellent.  Phil Collins performs the original "Take Me Home" but don't miss the opportunity to hear the Tufts Beelzebubs' version linked HERE.  I honestly can't decide which one I like better.

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Ever Been "On Fi-i-i-ire" ?!

One of the downsides to my P90X workout commitment, has been that I had no extra energy to participate in pick-up basketball games during the week.  This caused two concerns: first, it made me sad (because I love basketball); and second, it ruined my reasonably accurate shooting stroke.

During the church basketball season, I could not make 3's to save my life!  My shots were always long (could I hope this was due to stronger arms?!) and just didn't feel right ... but I was only playing ball one time per week (pre-P90x I was playing 2-4 times a week).  This only exacerbated the first concern above (it made me more sad).

Then, last night, it was like a miracle unfolded!

I was en fuego from the start of the very first game!  It was honestly like the flaming basketball and crazy announcer and crown noise from the original NBA Jam video and arcade game.  Not only were my three's back, but I was making almost ridiculous shots look easy (I asked other players as the night wore on and they confirmed I wasn't just dreaming this amazing experience.  A few hard fouls made sure I was awake too!)

As I think back, I realize that I played 4 times last week, and had already played once this week ... so perhaps I just needed to get back into the swing of things.  I surely do not expect to stay that "hot" but as long as my shot isn't gone forever, as I feared it might have been, I am no longer sad at all!  :)

Song Of The Day:
Both the song title and artist name relate to today's post.  Tears For Fears was a quintessential 80's group, although their music was not often very sad.  Their song "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is one of my Top 5 Favorite Songs of All Time, and it was on my mind last night as I ruled the court.  Good times!

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What Is Your "Simple Pleasure" ?

I have often heard the phrases "the best things in life are free" and "it's the simple things that make life worthwhile" when older (or wiser) people are talking about what they value in life.  Having spent a fair amount of money on a variety of activities, vacations, food, material things, and just to keep a roof over my family's heads, I am not entirely sold on the first common phrase.  But I also do not discredit it entirely.  The second phrase (or variations on that theme) however, has spoken to me a lot more lately.

Here is a brief list of some "simple" things that I derive some serious joy from, given the right circumstances:
 - A comfortable chair after standing for a long time.
 - Stretching my legs after a hours of driving in the car.
 - ANY food after "fasting" for 24 hours.
 - Ice cold water after exercising or working in the yard.
 - A hug from a 2 year old (your own child / grandchild is often best).
 - My favorite song coming on the radio station right before I get to work or home.
 - Finding shade from the hot sun.
 - Making a game-winning shot (for me this means basketball)
 - Hearing the words "I Love You"
 - A warm shower after getting sweaty or dirty (yard work, cleaning, exercise, etc.)
 - Sneaking Honey Nut Cheerios from my toddler during Sacrament Meeting at church.
 - Crawling into a warm bed knowing you get to sleep in the next day.
 - Laughing until my sides ache.  And then laughing a little more because you just have the giggles.

How many of these ring true for you?

What other simple pleasures bring you great joy?

Song Of The Day:
I think the perfect song for this post is "The Simple Things" by Jim Brickman feat. Rebecca Lynn Howard.  The piano melody (of course) is just beautiful and the words to the song echo several simple things for which we can be grateful.

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Where Did This Wall Come From ?!

This post is NOT about me (or anyone else for that matter) being clumsy and walking into walls.  Although that would be an interesting one ... hmm, idea for an April Fool's Day post?

This post IS about metaphorical walls that sometimes seem to come out of nowhere.

I believe we all have them.  I have recognized them most often in sports' seasons, especially when high school players move on to college, or college players move to professional leagues.  But I think anyone who is involved in any sort of repetitive activity is susceptible to these walls.


I have hit a wall when it comes to my motivation around my P90X workouts coupled with my healthier eating habits.  An argument could be made that my "cheat days" on the food front were the first layer of bricks in this wall, but I don't think that's it.  I think it is more of a combination of three things:
 - First, lack of more tangible, physical results from the first 6 weeks.
 - Second, a shift in perspective (who am I trying to impress with some resemblance of a "beach body"?)
 - Third, the realization that NO workout is as enjoyable for me (including before, during, or afterward) as playing a few hours of basketball!

That last thought is probably the main part of this wall.  I have had to give up mid-day basketball on Mondays and Thursdays during these workouts.  And with the church basketball season in progress I have only been playing about 25-30 minutes of ball one time each week.  I think I miss it more than I thought I would.  Not sure how I feel about that though ...

Song Of The Day:
Both the title of today's song and the lyrics (if you're weird like this*) apply quite well to the above subject.  "Wonderwall" by Oasis is a song I didn't appreciate fully until after hearing an a capella version of it.  The original (linked above) is still my favorite version to date.
*I know the song is about love, by why does the wonderwall have to be a person?  The lyrics "I don;t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now" and "maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me" could easily be applied to an activity like basketball ... ehh, maybe that's too much of a stretch.  Nevermind.  :)

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Where Is Everybody ?

Last night for our church basketball game, only 5 guys showed up to play for our team.  That means no subs ... and we were playing against a team that had 12 guys come out to play.

Needless to say we did not win that game.

Oh sure, for the first half we hung with them (only down by two at the break) but it was evident very early on in the second half that we small band of brothers were exhausted.

I just don't understand.  Some weeks it seems like everyone and their brother (and their neighbor and their three friends from work) show up to play.  And other nights, we run with barely enough to field a team.  Why so random?  I guess it must be issues with commitment (typical "guy" thing!)

Song Of The Day:
The song "I'm Tryin'" by Trace Adkins came to mind while we few men tried to keep up with the other team.  Sometimes, that's all you can do.  :)

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Are You In Charge Here ?

That's the question I got asked tonight at church basketball.  And of course I answered in the affirmative ... and then asked how I could help.

Tonight marked the start of the first full Men's Church Basketball season that I am fully in charge of.  From creating the schedule to coordinating the permission to schedule the building for the games to updating and supervising rules changes and of course, keeping the coaches and other leaders in the league abreast of all of the above.

I have some great help from my buddy Mike Hepworth, who agreed to accept the assignment to be our basketball specialist.  Because of that, I only have to be at the church one night each week instead of two.  He helped out a lot last year ... and yet was still willing to serve this year to.  A big ol' southern "bless your heart" shout out to Mike!

The game was close.  My team (Oakwood) lost by 11, but we came back from some big deficits in the first half and actually cut the lead to 7 points with 3 minutes to play.  The other team (Meridian) shot the lights out and it seemed every oddbounce landed in one of their player's hands for an easy layup or ridiculous, but made, toss-up shot.  Fun was had by all.  Tempers didn't flare (except people like me who get mad at themselves for silly mistakes).

It's gonna be a good 8-week season!

BTW ... I still did my Plyometrics workout for P90X when I got home.  Tomorrow will prove just how bad an idea that was!

Song Of The Day:
Today's song is actually a very short song that you'll recognize if you lived in the 80's and remember when there was only ONE KIND of Gatorade.  I have no idea who originally sang "Be Like Mike" but this version linked above was remixed by MC2 and the video (if you watch it) contains Michael Jordan's best 10 dunks (you can argue against it ... but not with me ... I'm just sharing the song!)

**Astute readers may make the connection between this song and our basketball specialist.  :)

Really?! The "Original" JC?!

Oh yeah! That's my nickname all right! Sure there have been others, most that I will not repeat here because some were downright mean and from those terrible teenage years, but this one has really stuck with me.

A sampling of those that did not "make the cut" include:

*Stick Boy

S. P.

Just Josh

Slick

*Golden Boy

JC

Herky Jerky

*J Cheese

*Desua Alcott

Several of these nicknames have unique backstories (feel free to comment and ask for one story per person and I'll be glad to entertain your curiousity). But most stem from my many years of playing basketball where there seem to be more than a few Joshs on the court at once. This is the genesis of The Original JC, but I cannot recall whose idea it was to coin the name. What I do know is that for the better part of the last 5 years that has been my pen name of choice from computer passwords, to Facebook game names, and especially on the court. I even bought the domain name some years back but I never bothered to create a website and am certain it has been put to much less exciting use!

Not a long post today, but forever more (if the question comes up) future blog readers will be able to have some simple explanation of my blog name.

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*The above nicknames were added after suggestions, comments, etc. from avid readers of my one-time (so far) blog post. Thanks! Keep the suggestions coming! :)