Earlier this evening, a group of us met at a local pub to visit, share some laughs and hold a white elephant gift exchange. Don’t know what that is? More later.
This group of friends (14 attended…another 4 couldn't make it) has a connection with the hospital where I work. Many of us still work there. All the others worked there at some point in the past. Our paths crossed through the years as we worked together on projects or just down the hall from one another. In some way, we had some commonality over the years. We shared ideas together, moaned and bitched together, failed together and succeeded together.
At our exchange, we caught up on what was going on with ones we haven’t seen in awhile. We shared some drinks and appetizers, made small talk…and laughed like we haven’t laughed in a long time. Then we shared some funny gifts with one another and laughed even more.
A white elephant gift exchange, involves everyone bringing a wrapped, unmarked gift. Each person then draws a number. When it’s your turn, you go to the tree and pick a gift. You open it and pretend it’s the worlds’ greatest gift. After everyone oohs and aahs and laughs, the next person has the option of ‘stealing’ your gift, or choosing a new unopened one from under the tree. This continues until all the gifts are opened.
For the most part, it is some gift that you have received in the past that was the gaudiest…ugliest…stupidest…thing you have ever seen. So much so, you wanted to share it with your friends so you could all laugh together.
Now to be honest, some weren’t too bad. The gumball machine was a great gift…if you needed a gumball machine in your home. There were dishtowels, wall ornaments, snack plates, beer mugs, a ‘pickle to hide’, over-sized green Hulk fists that growled when you pounded the fists together. There were DVD’s that, at one time, were likely in the $5 movie bin at the local discount store…and then they moved into the $1 bin…and then into the ‘buy one/get one’ bin!
My gift that I picked? A troll!
It looked to be carved from a coconut. I’m thinking of contacting Jeft Probst of ‘Survivor’ to see if they want it for next years’ "Immunity Idol". If that doesn’t work, I’ll re-wrap it, and take it back for ‘next years’ white elephant gift exchange.
And we’ll all ooh and aah…and laugh like we haven’t laughed in a year.
Dan
Monday, December 14, 2009
GOING GREEN? YEAH RIGHT
Later this week, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will be wrapping up in Copenhagen, Denmark.
A city normally filled with bicycles; a city that has retro-fitted its old buildings to be energy efficient; a city with lush greenery, it is fitting that the topic of making a more 'green world' would take place in a city that is trying to lead the way.
Ironically, the rest of the world is bringing its old methods and ideas there to poison their air.
Leaders from 192 nations planned to attend the event that will conclude on December 18 after opening on December 7. Will those leaders find housing near the conference and be walking to the event? NO. Will they be using electric or hybrid vehicles for their transportation needs? NO. Well, that's not totally true...5 vehicles have been requested for use during the event.
No...more than 1200 limousines will be used for getting participants around. This, after 140 private jets will be flown into their small airport to bring in the attendees.
So many limousines were requested, they had to drive most of them in from neighboring Germany and Sweden because Copenhagen doesn't have that many.
The airport can't hold an extra 140 jets either, so some will have to fly in, drop off their passengers and then fly off to park in neighboring countries until time to fly back in to pick up their passengers when they're ready to leave.
Even our own President isn't helping. Rather than stopping by the conference while he was in nearby Oslo to pick up his Nobel Prize, he set back his attendance date to the final day, hoping to make a more effective presentation at its closing ceremony. So he flew to Oslo, back to the States, and then will make the return trip to Copenhagen and back again.
Organizers of the event, say the total carbon dioxide count for the conference will be 41,000 tons...roughly the same as the amount of carbon emissions produced in Morocco in 2006.
We have our priorities a little off center. We have good ideas, but we often times trip on our two left feet with bad choices...setting bad examples. Let's hope some realistic goals are set at the conference and we work to make them happen.
Dan
A city normally filled with bicycles; a city that has retro-fitted its old buildings to be energy efficient; a city with lush greenery, it is fitting that the topic of making a more 'green world' would take place in a city that is trying to lead the way.
Ironically, the rest of the world is bringing its old methods and ideas there to poison their air.
Leaders from 192 nations planned to attend the event that will conclude on December 18 after opening on December 7. Will those leaders find housing near the conference and be walking to the event? NO. Will they be using electric or hybrid vehicles for their transportation needs? NO. Well, that's not totally true...5 vehicles have been requested for use during the event.
No...more than 1200 limousines will be used for getting participants around. This, after 140 private jets will be flown into their small airport to bring in the attendees.
So many limousines were requested, they had to drive most of them in from neighboring Germany and Sweden because Copenhagen doesn't have that many.
The airport can't hold an extra 140 jets either, so some will have to fly in, drop off their passengers and then fly off to park in neighboring countries until time to fly back in to pick up their passengers when they're ready to leave.
Even our own President isn't helping. Rather than stopping by the conference while he was in nearby Oslo to pick up his Nobel Prize, he set back his attendance date to the final day, hoping to make a more effective presentation at its closing ceremony. So he flew to Oslo, back to the States, and then will make the return trip to Copenhagen and back again.
Organizers of the event, say the total carbon dioxide count for the conference will be 41,000 tons...roughly the same as the amount of carbon emissions produced in Morocco in 2006.
We have our priorities a little off center. We have good ideas, but we often times trip on our two left feet with bad choices...setting bad examples. Let's hope some realistic goals are set at the conference and we work to make them happen.
Dan
Sunday, December 13, 2009
MAN WITH CHARACTER
It is hard to have strong moral principles and stand by them. We 'all' want to believe we could, even when tempted. However, when the challenge is staring us in the face...would we?
Here's an example of a man who did. Given our economic times, how easy would it have been to put the money in your pocket, and tell no one?
Here's a man of character who didn't fold under pressure. As my dad would say, 'he did what was right'.
Dan
Here's an example of a man who did. Given our economic times, how easy would it have been to put the money in your pocket, and tell no one?
Here's a man of character who didn't fold under pressure. As my dad would say, 'he did what was right'.
Dan
Friday, December 11, 2009
FROZEN TONGUE
I mentioned in a recent blog that we watched the movie 'Christmas Story' last weekend. One of the scenes from the movie is when the boys argue about your tongue sticking to a metal pole when the temperature is cold enough. One of them tried it and sure enough...it stuck.
Recent news shows that this trick has to be retested each winter...somewhere.
I recall when I performed this trick...in the dead of summer at about 6 years old. We had an old refridgerator, like everyone in those days, that had to be defrosted when ice built up around the freezer. Along with the ice around the freezer section, ours had a metal door covering the freezer.
One hot day, thinking I could lick the ice off the metal door to cool down, I stuck my tongue on the metal door to take a lick. Unfortunately, there was no licking...because my tongue stuck to the metal door.
With no one else home and not knowing what else to do...I PULLED my tongue off...leaving the top layer of it stuck to the freezer.
After some pressure with a wet washcloth, the bleeding stopped.
The lesson was learned. I would NEVER do that again.
I guess we all have to 'try' a few crazy things as we grow up. That was one of mine!
Dan
Recent news shows that this trick has to be retested each winter...somewhere.
I recall when I performed this trick...in the dead of summer at about 6 years old. We had an old refridgerator, like everyone in those days, that had to be defrosted when ice built up around the freezer. Along with the ice around the freezer section, ours had a metal door covering the freezer.
One hot day, thinking I could lick the ice off the metal door to cool down, I stuck my tongue on the metal door to take a lick. Unfortunately, there was no licking...because my tongue stuck to the metal door.
With no one else home and not knowing what else to do...I PULLED my tongue off...leaving the top layer of it stuck to the freezer.
After some pressure with a wet washcloth, the bleeding stopped.
The lesson was learned. I would NEVER do that again.
I guess we all have to 'try' a few crazy things as we grow up. That was one of mine!
Dan
Thursday, December 10, 2009
UNDEFEATED
The term 'undefeated' is being talked about quite frequently around these parts lately.
The Indianapolis Colts are currently 1 of 2 undefeated teams in the NFL. At some point, there will only be one remaining at the end of the season, unless they both lose before then.
The Purdue Boilermakers mens basketball team are 1 of 10 undefeated teams in the top 25 teams in the country. There are other undefeated teams out there too, but they are not in the top 25 teams. Before long, those undefeated teams will be playing each other, so someone will fall from the undefeated ranks. Again, by the end of the season, there will only be 1 undefeated team left, if any.
One of my favorite undefeated sports stories goes back to my high school years. As a freshman and sophomore at Vincennes Lincoln, we had two consecutive very successful basketball teams in 1968 and 1969. The ' 69 team, made it to the final 4 of the state finals, undefeated. Unfortunately, 2 other teams made it as well, with the fourth team having only 1 loss. The combined winning records of the 4 teams was 105-1.
Along the way to the final 4, Vincennes had to defeat one of the other undefeated teams, to make it there. Adding that fifth team, the combined records were 130-1.
Unfortunately, Vincennes didn't become the state champion, but it was certainly an exciting time to get the opportunity.
Those in this area who are Colts fans, will hope for the same results...to get the chance to win it all.
I know Cindy and I will be hoping our Boilers make it to the very end. Undefeated, or not, we want the chance to be the final team left standing.
Dan
The Indianapolis Colts are currently 1 of 2 undefeated teams in the NFL. At some point, there will only be one remaining at the end of the season, unless they both lose before then.
The Purdue Boilermakers mens basketball team are 1 of 10 undefeated teams in the top 25 teams in the country. There are other undefeated teams out there too, but they are not in the top 25 teams. Before long, those undefeated teams will be playing each other, so someone will fall from the undefeated ranks. Again, by the end of the season, there will only be 1 undefeated team left, if any.
One of my favorite undefeated sports stories goes back to my high school years. As a freshman and sophomore at Vincennes Lincoln, we had two consecutive very successful basketball teams in 1968 and 1969. The ' 69 team, made it to the final 4 of the state finals, undefeated. Unfortunately, 2 other teams made it as well, with the fourth team having only 1 loss. The combined winning records of the 4 teams was 105-1.
Along the way to the final 4, Vincennes had to defeat one of the other undefeated teams, to make it there. Adding that fifth team, the combined records were 130-1.
Unfortunately, Vincennes didn't become the state champion, but it was certainly an exciting time to get the opportunity.
Those in this area who are Colts fans, will hope for the same results...to get the chance to win it all.
I know Cindy and I will be hoping our Boilers make it to the very end. Undefeated, or not, we want the chance to be the final team left standing.
Dan
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
JOHN LENNON
Most of you know I'm a Beatle fan...have been since 1964. Today I heard a John Lennon song and was reminded that yesterday was the anniversary of his death.
John, Paul, George and Ringo had split (as the Beatles) 10 years before. Each had gone on to have solo careers, (John and Paul most successfully), but they were all in the news on occasion.
I still remember waking up to get ready for work on the morning of December 9, 1980, to hear the radio announce that John was murdered the night before. Most people know he was on his way home from working on his most recent album and a fanatic shot and killed him. The same guy who, earlier in the day, had gained an autograph from John, as he stalked him in preparation for the murder.
That morning, on hearing of his death, is one of those 'where were you when you heard' moments for me.
John was the more radical Beatle, but as the years would prove, he was the most sincere about his ideas for world peace.
A wonderful goal to have...a, thus far, impossible one to achieve.
Dan
John, Paul, George and Ringo had split (as the Beatles) 10 years before. Each had gone on to have solo careers, (John and Paul most successfully), but they were all in the news on occasion.
I still remember waking up to get ready for work on the morning of December 9, 1980, to hear the radio announce that John was murdered the night before. Most people know he was on his way home from working on his most recent album and a fanatic shot and killed him. The same guy who, earlier in the day, had gained an autograph from John, as he stalked him in preparation for the murder.
That morning, on hearing of his death, is one of those 'where were you when you heard' moments for me.
John was the more radical Beatle, but as the years would prove, he was the most sincere about his ideas for world peace.
A wonderful goal to have...a, thus far, impossible one to achieve.
Dan
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
CLEAN WATER ?
My doctor wants me to drink more water. After reading today's article in the Times, I might have to reconsider.
Last year, I had slowly gotten to the point that I was drinking a six-pack of diet Coke a day. Then, one day I suffered from a kidney stone...and it got my attention! I was later told by the urologist that I should drink more water. I have since cut my diet Coke intake to one a day and began drinking more water.
My brother, Dave, has a real problem with bottled water. I think he believes we're being 'horn-swaggled' into believing we're drinking safe, clean, healthy water from those bottles. Who's to say the real quality of the water being put in those bottles? I'm reminded of a cartoon I saw once, showing a couple of guys using a garden hose running from a faucet at the back of a house, to fill a crate of water bottles.
I don't want to believe it, but I'm cynical enough to believe that my brother may have something. That water might just be 'regular water' packaged in a fancy plastic bottle. And the millions of plastic bottles going into our land fills is another matter.
But this headline doesn't make me feel very good about drinking 'any' water.
I'm reconsidering going back to my diet Coke and taking my chances!
Dan
Last year, I had slowly gotten to the point that I was drinking a six-pack of diet Coke a day. Then, one day I suffered from a kidney stone...and it got my attention! I was later told by the urologist that I should drink more water. I have since cut my diet Coke intake to one a day and began drinking more water.
My brother, Dave, has a real problem with bottled water. I think he believes we're being 'horn-swaggled' into believing we're drinking safe, clean, healthy water from those bottles. Who's to say the real quality of the water being put in those bottles? I'm reminded of a cartoon I saw once, showing a couple of guys using a garden hose running from a faucet at the back of a house, to fill a crate of water bottles.
I don't want to believe it, but I'm cynical enough to believe that my brother may have something. That water might just be 'regular water' packaged in a fancy plastic bottle. And the millions of plastic bottles going into our land fills is another matter.
But this headline doesn't make me feel very good about drinking 'any' water.
I'm reconsidering going back to my diet Coke and taking my chances!
Dan
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