Cranks My Tractor

Say It with Me – “R Kansas” City

 
I enjoy writing and have approached newspapers across the country about carrying or linking to my material. They are always very kind whether they agree or not. Growing up in the newspaper business, I know that small town newspapers are always strapped for manpower and resources. The newspaper industry as a whole is struggling with competing against and/or utilizing the internet.

I just look at it as trying to help, because it gives them a little more content and me an opportunity to “cyber travel.” That’s my reward; I can say a newspaper in Oregon or Wyoming or Canada is linking to me. It doesn’t cost them anything.

Tea and Cap'n Crunch in Colorado

I was in Boulder, Colorado working on a NASA project a few weeks back. We were working twelve hour shifts and I was getting pretty worn out. It just happened that I was able to take a full Saturday off. It would change my life.

This is going to take me a little while, so stay with me.

Boulder, Colorado is a beautiful place with a lot of nice things to see and do. So I started mapping out my Saturday early in the week. There were a couple of places I really wanted to see and one big thing I had always wanted to do. I’ve been to Boulder a few times, but never seem to have time to get to see anything. The view of the mountains is pretty breath-taking if you live on the Virginia peninsula and rarely get to even see a hill.

The "David Factor"

I love the spring. Baseball is in full swing from the Major League to the local youth leagues. For the first time in about 30 years, I am watching from the stands. It’s hard to do when you have been on the field every spring for that long. However it does give me time to reflect on a lot of things (while sitting in the bleachers). The single thing I loved the most about coaching baseball was the players. So many characters and occurrences that I got to meet and witness.

I started coaching baseball in Oxford, Alabama in 1980. That is, if you want to call “t-ball” baseball. I volunteered to coach my baby brother’s team. I was 17 and he was five. I remember handing out the jerseys and the hats. There is nothing like seeing a child’s anticipation for their first uniform.

A New Set of Eyes

Sometimes all we need is a new way of looking at things.

I was grading papers and doing some typing the other night when I started getting blurry-eyed. Do they still call it typing? I was typing. I wasn’t sure if it was my eyes or the fact that it was about one in morning. I do have glasses, but I very seldom wear them. When I wear them, I scratch them – so I figure it’s best not to wear them.

More Power to You!

 

 These social networking sites seem to be getting bigger these days; in particular Facebook.  You know how it works; you get together with friends from high school, college, and work.  You share pictures and thoughts and tell each other “Happy Birthday” and “Happy Anniversary.”

 

The Foxitarian

Having a 12 year-old son is wonderful in so many ways. I particularly enjoy conversations that start out with “There’s this girl at school…” or “This girl at church…” 12 year-old boys like girls; they just don’t want to admit it yet.

I knew this must be a “woman of interest” when my son tells me multiple times that “______ is bothering me” or “_______ is chasing me”. He repeats it and then slips up and tells me these things that happen at church events like he used somebody’s phone to text ____ ( when she’s across the room). He seems to want to put himself in a position to be “bothered”. I understand this.

Shirts, Report Cards, and “Not in the Mood for Italian Sausage”

It’s Spring Break in Virginia and the weather is beautiful. My family and I have been going to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for the last couple of years and are disappointed that we won’t be headed that way this spring. Considering it only takes a couple of hours for us to get there, I’m missing it even more after being in the car with three children and two dogs for five hours with at least that many more to go. We are going on our first “College Road Trip.”

Spring Break also brings the end of the first nine weeks grading period. There is usually no cause for alarm. However this term, I am particularly proud. We’ve had conduct issues in the past; it’s just part of being a boy. Sounds like a good excuse doesn’t it?

Well I am happy to report that we got a “check” for “Improved Conduct.” I would have liked to had a little more information than a check mark, but I will take it. How about an “A” or an “S” or even a happy face, why a “check” for Improved Conduct? It’s kind of like saying, “You are normally a screw-up, and you just weren't as bad this time.”