Name Calling ?

Guys have it so much easier than ladies on so many things, but one that I noticed recently is when it comes to names.

Picture this:  You see someone a short ways off who looks familiar.  As you get closer you realize you know them ... but can't remember their name!

If it's a guy approaching another guy, the options are almost limitless:  dude, brother, my man, chief, and so on.  Guys can even create a sort of nickname based on how they know the other guy - Hoopenstein (basketball buddy), Working hard or hardly working (work buddy), Long shot (gambling buddy), etc.  Guys can also remember part of the other guy's name (first, last, initials, etc.) and it just works - Smithy, Joe, KC.

But for ladies ... it's not that simple.

You ever seen a lady holla across a parking lot "Yo Johnson!  How's it hangin'?!"

You ever heard two ladies cross paths in a hallway talking all "Girl how you been?" ... or ... "What up Yoga-lady?"

No, no you have not.

Because it just ... doesn't ... work.

In fact, if you're a lady and you don't know the other lady's name, there may even be a feeling of "Maybe I should walk the other way so she doesn't see me" to avoid the awkward interaction if she remembers your name.

Once again, it's great to be a guy!


Song Of The Day:
It's been a while since I featured a nice country song ... and this one isn't "nice" per se, but it fits this posts quite nicely.  "The Truth About Men" by Tracy Byrd is a song about how simple life is as a man.  While I appreciate the efforts that ladies go through, there's something to be said for keeping things easy and free-flowing.  Sing it my brothers!

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Who Is The Real Hero ?

One of my favorite stand-up comedians, featured in this blog before HERE if you want to see one of his routines, was Mitch Hedberg.  One of his more popular bits involves a description that goes roughly like this:
I have a belt that is holding my pants up.  But my pants have loops to hold the belt up.  I don't really know what is happening down there.

Who is the real hero?

It is with that symbiotic relationship of belt, belt loops, and pants in mind that I lead into today's post.

I believe that I am a pretty good person.  I live healthy (mostly).  I treat others kindly (mostly).  I strive to be a good husband and father.  I work hard (in my occupation and in other areas of my life).  I make people laugh (mostly on purpose).  I provide counsel and support to family, friends, and even near-strangers when occasion suggests it is appropriate.

It would be easy to look at all those things and have a sense of self-pride, or begin to feel a little higher than others.  It would be easy to credit myself for possessing and demonstrating those characteristics.  After all, I am me and nobody else can claim credit for my success.  They are MY successes.  I achieved them.  Yay me.

And yet ...

I am NOT the real hero.  I am not the secret behind the success.  I am not truly deserving of the credit for improvements I have made or consistency in my life.  That credit goes to the real hero.  That credit goes to the person who supports me publicly and in secret.  That credit is due to the person who quietly encourages my improvements and consistency.

It is my wife Karen who almost exclusively deserves that credit.

She is my reminder to live healthy and remain active.
She is my best example of treating others kindly.
She is the reason I know how to be a good husband and father.
She is supportive of me in all the hard work I do.
She is the one who laughs the most at my humor, and whose laugh I enjoy hearing the most.
She is my sounding board or practice patient for providing counsel and support to others.

I certainly recognize the hand of many others in this life and from the heavens who I owe a debt of gratitude to for their help as well.  But NONE of these had to choose to support me in the way she has.  NONE of these are called upon as often as I lean on her strength, wisdom, compassion, and belief in me.  I don't think I can ever really express my appreciation to her for this, but I'll enjoy spending eternity trying to do so.


Song Of the Day:
If you have ever heard the song "If She Only Knew" by Brett Raymond, I am impressed with your musical diversity.  The song is found on a CD titled Northern Voices - Faithful, which is a compilation of different artists.  But the actual singer deserves credit for this tune just like my wife deserves credit for any success I have or will achieve.  The tune itself could also easily be sung about her because what a catch she has been for me.

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Do You Ever Feel This Way ?

Song Of The Day:
Today was the kind of day I needed to lighten the mood.  It was a Monday in all senses of the word, and I know many people I work with felt it too.  Sadly, on days like this, it is easy to get caught up in an attitude of blaming others and acting more childish than responsible.
With that in mind, I choose to feature "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden as today's song.  I think kids (or adults when they act like kids) and animals are very similar in their primal dog-eat-dog nature.  We have to rise above this if we aim to truly live well.  Here's hoping that tomorrow more people choose to rise up instead of tearing down.

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Isn't That Kind Of Backwards?

I am a father of seven children.  They are each wonderful, at least some of the time.  Sadly it is a rare occurrence when they are all wonderful at the same time, but looking at the odds I guess I can't complain.

It is important that you understand how much I love my kids, collectively and individually, because what I'm about to write will almost certainly give you reasons to believe I do not even like them.

Father's Day is one of a few days each year when I actually don't feel guilty doing what I want (the others are my birthday and every other wedding anniversary - since Karen gets to pick our activities on even year anniversaries).

I recognize the irony here, but sometimes, the thing I want most on MY Father's Day is to have those that call me dad just not bug me all day long.  No requests for reading books.  No listening to pointless stories with no plot or recurring characters.  No jokes that make no sense but require me to laugh like they're hilarious.  No reaching toys or other things from high shelves.  No changing diapers or helping comb hair.  No having to explain why Game 5 of the NBA Finals is important or answering who I want to win.  No sharing some of my bacon or ice cream or having to justify why I get whatever snack I feel like and you only get cookies (you GET cookies !!  When I was a kid that was a great day!). No making yucky sounds when I kiss your mother a little longer than you think I should.  No grumbling when I ask you to pick up YOUR mess in MY house.  No fixing you another plate of dinner before I've even had my first helping.  No pumping bike tires, or your basketball, or even getting something out of the attic since it's 'finally summertime.'

None of it.

I just want to NOT be an "all-the-time daddy" for just a little while.  Yes I will miss it and gladly take back my responsibilities tomorrow.  Yes I will find life a little more hollow when it's all about me today.  Yes I will reflect back on the day and wonder why I wanted to be alone.  Yes I will have made a mental list of things we will do as father and kids within the coming month and be excited about checking things off it soon.

But today ... I think I want some ME time.


Song Of The Day:
There's a recent song on the radio called "Am I Wrong" by Nico and Vinz.  The lyrics seem to be written as a love song, which I think can mostly be interpreted to fit into a father's love for his children.  I also like that the title is a fitting commentary for this post.  Is it really that wrong to want a few days of ME time each year?  Is it really wrong to want to not have to be a hard-working father on Father's Day?
Yeah, probably ... But it's my day so that's what I'm choosing!

How Do You Break The Rules ?

In the bathroom at church a few weeks ago, I noticed the following helpful guide on the paper towel dispenser.

I couldn't resist the temptation to live dangerously and with complete disregard for directions.  Oddly enough, nothing bad happened ... including the supposed BIG BLACK X that was supposed to appear.  I was greatly disappointed, but my hands dried off just fine.


Song Of The Day:
Clearly the above description of breaking the rules is not very concerning.  It reminds me of those outrageous rebels known as The Bobby Fuller Four.  You may remember their song "I Fought The Law" but clearly they were up to serious no-goodery.
Anyone who believes these young men (at the time anyway) were fighting against the law will probably also see me as a terrible person who doesn't follow picture directions on a paper towel dispenser.  Crazy times right?!

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What Do You Do During Your Commute ?

Changing work schedules has affected my commute days and times.  This has had a mostly positive affect on me, with just a few lessons learned about where or when not to traverse certain intersections and roadways.

One of my favorite things to do during my commute is to leave behind thoughts and feelings of where I'm travelling from and contemplate where I am headed.  This helps me get into the proper mindset for whatever my destination is, whether it be work, church, home, basketball, or some other event or meeting.

All the Case Kids (from Mother's Day 2014)

My favorite commute is always the ride home regardless of where I am travelling from.  I like to imagine what the sights and sounds will be when I open the door and sometimes even daydream a little about the surprised looks on the faces of my beloved family if I am coming home early or if I enter from a door they weren't expecting to see me at.  I also like to make a mental list of activities to be completed or interactions to have, whether they be a kiss for my wife, listening to the kids' recap story of the day, or something less exciting like mowing the lawn.

I am not always successful in this transition (and I'd love to blame it on the commute being shorter than I expected, but that's almost never true), but when I am, it makes a world of difference.  I can hit the ground running, so to speak, and am much better prepared to play whatever role is asked of me.


Song Of The Day:
I actually enjoyed "On My Way Home" by Enya as a sort of returning from my church mission song.  I used to daydream about the flight home from Los Angeles with the words from that tune playing softly in the background.  Now I sometimes think of it as I drive home from work or church or any other place.  As stated in the lyrics "On my way home, I'll remember all the best days" and typically those are days with family and friends.  Now who wouldn't want to daydream about those times?!

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When Would You Ever Use This ?

When I first got my work laptop some years ago, I noticed that there was a little button just above the screen.  Naturally I pressed it and a little light popped out that shined on the middle of the keyboard below.

At that moment, and forever afterward when I saw the little button, I wondered to myself (and sometimes out loud) the title of this blog post.  I am a rational person and tried to contemplate any of various scenarios under which a keyboard light would be useful.  I could come up with no logical reasons.

Until today.

Sitting in a dark classroom at work today (I was observing one of our trainers and he was using the overhead projector but needed the lights off so everyone could see the screen), I opened my laptop to send a few emails.  I quickly found this task to be quite the challenge.  I am a three-finger typist, so I still need to look at the keyboard (most of the time) when I type.  It was really dark and I couldn't make out the letters or other keys ... and then a light went off (in my head).

I pressed the almost never used button and VOILA!

I can see!

Many emails were sent.  The small light was not even a small distraction to the members of the class.  Everyone wins.  And I finally know when to use that handy little light!


Song Of The Day:
Sometimes new information comes to us and we can hear hallelujah choirs singing.  Today, I thought of the song "Shine" by Collective Soul .  It would have been even more amusing if I'd broken into the chorus in the middle of the class and, while pushing the button, sang loudly "Come on and SHINE!"  But I didn't.  The thought did cross my mind though.

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