What Does That Sign Say ?

I do enjoy the convenience of taking pictures with my phone (I always have a "camera" with me now) because life is filled with odd moments that just need a photo to be able to share some amazing, or most of the time in my case, funny experiences.

The picture below was taken at my kids' Middle School (Skyview), which is about a half-mile from our home.  They have a large scrolling display board posted outside the front of the school, where there are often messages and reminders of important dates or activities coming up.  But the other day while driving by I noticed that the normally black with red lettering sign looked starkly different.  I drove closer to get a better look and found it amusing what the sign said.

I know this wasn't on purpose, but the phrase "No Schedule Found" being displayed on the big board during the summertime when school is out of session was highly amusing to me.  Of course there's no 'schedule found!'  The kids (and teachers and administrators) are on summer vacation!  No matter how hard you try, you'll almost never find a 'schedule' for summertime!


Song Of The Day:
I was technically out of middle school when "Summertime" came out, but it always reminds me of those middle-school summers.  Once in high school, summers are filled with more activities, so middle-school summers are the last true "free" times to be enjoyed.  I love this song and I know I am not the only one who can quote every lyric!  I tip my hat to DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince for composing such a long-lasting, memory-conjuring, and all around perfect reminder of summers gone by song.

...

Is That Why We Go Bald ?

It's not like it's a big secret or anything.  It happens to lots of guys, probably most guys eventually.  You may not be aware of it at first glance, although with some men it is VERY obvious.  Often it is the man himself who has the problem that is one of the last to know, mostly because he can't see it.

I'm sure he is celebrating his
team's championship this year
and NOT his loss of hair.

I've begun to notice a distinct thinning of hair atop my head.  This is more evident when my hair is cut much shorter (but no, that is not the reason I've grown it out to combing length - it may be a contributing factor but it's not the main reason).  Inspecting the area a little more closely, it becomes evident that it is about the size of what I would guesstimate most of those balding guys' hair loss area appears to be: about the size of a small bread plate.  I've been mourning the loss of many good hairs over the past few months, while also pondering on why our hair disappears anyway.

So here is my completely-untested-and-destined-to-be-proven-flawed-but-it-makes-sense-to-me theory of why at least my hair is thinning in that yarmulke area.  I blame showering and shampooing.

Think about it for a minute.  Men, when you stand in the shower pondering life's mysteries (like what cereal to eat for breakfast today), where is the water spraying on your head?  For me, and I would guess many men (a total guess since I've not seen other men in showering situations), the water is usually spraying right at that spot on my head.  And what do we know about the force of water in nature?  It eventually erodes anything!  Strike One.
Now add in your shampoo and/or conditioner.  Think here again about where you begin shampooing your head of hair.  Doesn't it pretty much always start at the apex of your head?  Strike Two.
And after rubbing it in roughly (to get a good lather going) right in that spot, you'll often begin rinsing the soap out by having the water run where?  Right on that same spot!  Strike Three.  There's got to be some connection right?!

Oh sure you could reject this theory by pointing out that my forehead is enlarging too.  But I believe this is the soldiers on the front line realizing there is a war being lost in the middle of the battlefield and they are trying to retreat like cavalry that will never make it.  Brave little soldiers.  Just stay put where I need you most.  No one really looks back there much anyway.


Song Of The Day:
I'm excited that Nickel Creek is back together again and has a new CD.  I've heard a few of the songs, but they mostly just reminded me of one of their best songs ever which I've never shared here.  "When You Come Back Down" is more of a lost love song or one of inspiration, but in typical me fashion, it is me letting my hair know I'll always be here to welcome it home if the grass isn't greener wherever they went.  Just like the line "I keep looking up, awaiting your return."  It's a beautiful Sunday song anyway!  :)

...

Is That Your Pew ?

3 of my 4 daughters enjoying some
drawing time during Sacrament Meeting
(Ben was tired)

I love going to church, most Sundays anyway.  There is a familiarity to the experience and I am grateful for my children's ability to settle into positive patterns while at church.  It teaches social skills and provides an opportunity to gain faith and belief in something greater than themselves.

Because of our consistent attendance at church, our family has our own more or less designated pew.  Virtually nobody ever sits in the front row, as though this was some unwritten social faux pas, but our family pew is the one right after that.  Yes, this is closer than most people would choose to sit, but there's one key reason for it: legroom.

This second bench seat is the first full-sized row.  The first pew is about 3/4 the length of a full pew, which means there are about four feet on either end of the bench with nothing in front of you.  This is excellent for me, as I have longer legs than typically fit comfortably in church pews.


Song Of The Day:
I know we're talking about benches or pews here, but this post is also about Sundays.  Craig Morgan's song "That's What I Love About Sunday" conveys some thoughts on both subjects.  I love Sundays and I also love having our own family pew at church.

...

How Was Your 4th Of July ?

Around this Case household, the 4th of July has come to mean one set thing for the past five+ years: a day at the VGRA pool.  My wife has been the President of the Pool Board for this local community pool for most of that same time period, and has done a remarkable job leading the board and helping turn this pool around (but that's another story for another post).  On this day every year, the pool has a MASSIVE party, primarily for pool members.  The party has had a few elements change of the years, but one thing has been constant: it's just plain old good family fun!  There are relay and individual races (including watermelon pushing contests and wet t-shirt swimming [trust me, it's hard to swim in an over-sized wet t-shirt]).  There is also a series of "money dives" for different age groups (to make it more fair).  I'm grateful for the strong swimmers each of my kids are because they always do well in those money dives.  To be fair, almost always is the money re-invested in the pool itself by way of the snack bar, but the kids get to choose how to spend their money so it's all good.

There is also a very loosely facilitated water-balloon tossing "contest" which is depicted in the picture to the right.  Some people take it really seriously and get quite a great distance apart from one another before inevitably one of the pairing mishandles a catch and gets a balloon bath.  For others, that bath happens on the first toss.  No matter, as there are buckets full of water balloons to try again with.

As much of a challenge as it can be to watch over our 7 kids mostly by myself (remember Karen is busy running the grill or staffing the check in table or supporting the whole pool in some way), it always ends up being a very enjoyable way to spend most of our day.  I get a little swimming in and a little sun on my skin and usually a little time to read or just chat with other people.  We're usually too exhausted at day's end to go watch any fireworks, but the kids never seem to mind.


Song Of The Day:
I just love Brad Paisley's music and his song "Water" just fits nicely with the theme of this day's post.  One of the lyrics states "all you really need, this time of year ... is a place that's near: water"  Quite a bit of the fun at these pool parties involves things that aren't so much in the water as near the water.  Wise words song-writer, wise words.

...

Which Is It ?

On the TV show "Psych" the main character, Shawn Spencer, has many catchphrases, which he mostly says to his sleuthing partner Burton "Gus" Guster.  One of my favorites is a line he uses when there is an insignificant argument over word choices or semantics.  Shawn will say "I've heard it both ways."  To which Gus will often respond "No you have not!"  And then I just laugh and laugh.  But it got me thinking ...

Is it "flesh it out" or "flush it out"?
- In meetings at work or church I often hear people use both of these phrases, and I'm not sure which one is actually the most correct for the situation.
When I hear "flesh it out" my first reaction is that sounds gross, what are we human anatomy scientists?!  But then it also makes sense, especially if we're talking about an idea that needs more depth or details being spelled out.
But then "flush it out" really sounds more appropriate when you're trying to get rid of something like dirt in your eye or poor performance results.  I suppose it too also sounds gross.

Is it "supposedly" or "supposably"?
- There's a funny scene from an episode of Friends where one of the characters, Joey, finds himself saying the word "supposably" to himself multiple times to see if it sounds right.
I know what supposedly is and when it should be used but I always thought supposably was a made-up or incorrect word ... but it actually is a variation on the word "suppose" so it has it's place in our lexicon.

I wonder what other phrases or words are out there that would generate the response "I've heard it both ways."


Song Of The Day:
Since this post references Psych, one of the best ever shows on TV, and they regularly reference the 1980's, it's only appropriate to share a great 80's tune.  I've chosen "What You Need" by INXS for two reasons: I haven't heard it in a long time - and - it contains examples of some lyrics that could be heard both ways.  LOTS of songs are like this actually, but that's another post for another day.

...

What's Your Irrational Fear ?

I have a fear of sneezing in front of large groups of people.

No, I am not kidding.  Yes, I do realize this is completely irrational.

What am I worried about?  Well, for starters, I actually worry that some sort of mucus or snot will come out of my nose, or that some phlegm from my throat will launch across the room or table I am seated at and spray all over someone else.  And to compound either worst case scenario described there, I will be completely unprepared and have nothing with which to wipe this disgusting bodily fluid from my own face or the face of anyone I accosted.

The fear is so bad that I have actually trained myself to withhold sneezing during these settings.  This may cause me serious health issues later, but I'm honestly willing to accept them in exchange for not experiencing the awkward sneeze in front of a group.  There is a downside to this skill though, as my face contorts in some odd ways when keeping the sneeze in.  If someone is looking directly at me while I'm doing this, it causes some very odd stares and conversations afterward.  No matter, it is still better than snot missiles or having boogers on my face.


Song Of The Day:
What would a weird post be without a Weird Al song?  It'd be a travesty!  So here is "Gotta Boogie" and if you haven't heard it before, enjoy the lyrics ... they will make you rethink words we use in music (and it just might help ruin any 70's music for you).

...

Could It Be That Simple ?

I am by NO means a tech-savvy person.  You know how some people naturally seem capable around computers or technology?  Not me.  On some level it is a minor miracle every day that I am able to successfully navigate different systems or electronics.  I jokingly say this is why my wife and I continued having children ... so they can help us as things continue to get more complicated.

That said, I have tried very hard to keep up with different technological advances.  I spent the better part of a full day at work testing different bells and whistles when we migrated from LotusNotes to Outlook.  I am now quite capable of doing some impressive (to me anyway) things with my calendar and emails and contact lists, etc.  I also challenge myself, on at least a semi-regular basis, to download new apps on my iPad or phone and/or to use new software on my home or work computer.  This probably still leaves me behind really effective users of system enhancements, but it keeps me close enough to the conversation that I can ask for help without being unable to describe what I'm actually trying to do.

Regardless, I am always surprised when things turn out the way I wanted them to, or even more so in situations where I can help someone else with their technological challenges.  A fellow Blogger had shared with me several months ago some struggles that she was having with her Blog.  She complained (and rightly so) that her blog was no longer allowing her to insert pictures where she wanted them, or move them around, or adjust the text with bold or italicized type, etc.  At the time, I just expressed my sympathies, knowing full well there wouldn't be anything I could do to help.

Then this past week, I happened to be speaking with her at a time we were near a computer, so I helped her pull up her blog.  I quickly saw how terribly formatted the screen was and couldn't believe she had even continued blogging under these circumstances.  It was horrible!
So after a few minutes of just surveying the scene, I noticed a two-button-like section on the task bar just below the title section of the blog post.  One option showed "Compose" and the other was titled "HTML."  I clicked on the button labeled compose and immediately the Blog text looked just like I am used to seeing when I write mine.  It was "fixed" just like that.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy so I tested the set-up by writing a ghost post.  I used different text styles, added pictures (both from the computer and from a web address), rearranged where everything laid on the screen, and tested the view of the post.  It worked.  My fellow Blogger was ecstatic and I was happy to have helped.  :)


Song Of The Day:
I thought I had shared the following song on my blog previously, but a quick search of my songs of the day list revealed it had never been used.  Score!  So please enjoy the excellent a capella stylings of Straight No Chaser and their rendition of "Fix You" which was originally done by Coldplay.  Some of the lyrics state I will try ... to fix you and that's always all I can offer when it comes to technology.

...