snow days

so we FINALLY got a sizable snow - well sort of - overnight and the gang got a 2-hour delay from morning classes. not sure of the change in administration practices these days but it seems we've been having a more liberal class cancellation intervention than we used to. not that i necessarily think it's a bad idea, i just think it's a bit funny. "we used to walk to class in the snow, barefoot, for like four miles." nah i'm not that old but i guess i can remember when campus really never closed for any snow event - minus the blizzard of '93. now that was a monumental event because the university shut down for an entire week. luckily it happened on the weekend before spring break was to end, so many of the young 'uns were still at home or basking in the warm sun on the coasts of florida. yeah, they missed the three feet of snow...actually an event i'd rather not witness again anytime soon.

i got to thinking about how much i loved snow as a kid. at the slightest hint of snow, i would literally stay up hours upon hours waiting on the stuff to fall. although i do believe we had more snowfall when i was younger, it never seemed to be enough for me. our neighborhood was the most popular spot for sledding since we had the notorious hill (a town street actually) where everyone congregated for hours of sledding. the hill was just about 25 yards from our house and we thought we were the luckiest kids in town to be so close to all the action. the town maintenance department would actually bring a truck by with a flat board or even old car hood and drag it behind to pack the snow and ice for us instead of scraping the hill like the other town streets. now who does that these days? i dare say not many, if any, town administrator today would allow such a thing to happen.

someone would always have a 5-gallon drum barrel (i think that is what they were?) and have a fire blazing from it and of course there would be burning tires and such. we would sled, sled, and sled on our classy "flexible flyers" until our fingers and feet were so dang numb that we could hardly stay out any longer. and, never fail, mom would always have either piping hot chocolate or cold snow cream waiting for us when we decided to finally call it quits for the day.

those were truly memorable moments on snow days that one hopes never melt away...

getting back on the horse

breaking a bone in the foot can set you back a few months, i am prime example. today was my first day back out on "the loop" for a lap of fresh air. a remarkably warm january day for boone standards, i set out with a buddy to try out my new shoes and my rested feet. i obeyed the doctor's (and phil's) orders and attempted what i call 1/2 and 1/2. walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile...and hope that the righty wants to play the same game i want to play. for the most part i think i did well, but i guess i'll know more tomorrow when i get back on the horse...

i've recently been following a friend's travel blog from south america. i am amazed at the experiences and stories he is sharing with us. and it inspires me to try and maintain my blog more frequently. thanks, sam, for encouraging me to make a post new years resolution about blogging. i don't think he'll me mind sharing a link to his most interesting and unique blog. Go to http://samstravels7.blogspot.com/

it's a new year!

...a new year, but not quite a new me. i am still lagging on maintaining a consistency of blog entry and i thought seriously about making it a new years resolution, but sadly that didn't happen either. it may have been the fact that my new years celebration started mid afternoon and didn't end until 2:00 a.m. i think i may be getting too old for such shenanigans but i guess 12/31 only passes 'round once a year.

speaking of passing 'round, i made my final visit to the orthopaedic doc this morning. he says i can "get back at it". i almost asked, "what is 'it'?" but i held back. heck i haven't had "it" in a while *note this could be any number of thing so get your mind out of the gutter* but i am ready to find "it" now that the new year has come and the doc says i am ready to go. fortunately, i didn't waste that generous contribution from santa (a.k.a. some special parents) on new asic trainers for nothing, so i will be back on the loop in the next day or two, weather permitting, to see how the old right appendage feels. do wish me luck.

i know i should be working, and i am, partially, as i take a break from writing copy for a brochure and helping proof the proposed front page of the web that would post tonight if app wins the "pontiac game changing performance". the winner will be announced during that "other" national championship game between the buckeyes and tigers. it would be splendid if we won the $100,000 for the big michigan stunner! what a way to start the new year and putting the final cherry on top of yosef's national championship sundae from 2007...keep those three fingers crossed!