I Think I'm Crazy

I downloaded an app yesterday. I have over 150 on my phone, so the act of downloading an app isn't reason for alarm. I'll listen to arguments about the number of apps though...

The crazy comes with the kind of app I downloaded: a fitness app. Specifically, I now have C25K. Couch to 5K. (I'm writing this on my couch right now.)  for those that know me, they know I'm not a runner. I'm far from it. My experiences with running are painful memories. I have bad knees, so the impact isn't easy. I have scars on my right hip from a run/sprint. 

No word yet on whether I'll use the app. Maybe yoga is more my speed. But I'm considering it. Befriending my enemy. 

Maybe I'll be competitive in my next 5K...

Cheaters Always Win

I read an interesting article today in the USAToday, not necessarily well-written, but an intriguing argument.  The gist of the theorem: MLB players will continue to use performance-enhancing drugs because the rewards far outweigh the penalties.  A-Rod, even after serving a potential 211 game suspension, will stand to make an additional $60M+.  Nelson Cruz will be a free agent after a 50 game suspension; he stands to sign a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract.  These contracts are based on statistics.  Numbers.  Production.  Performance.  Enhanced with drugs.  The kicker: these contracts are guaranteed. 

Why wouldn't you cheat?  You get fame and notoriety.  You get swimming pools filled with cash.  You risk your health, to a degree, but you have all this money to spend on top-notch medical care after you retire.  Sure... your "manhood" may get smaller, but that will always look small next to the stacks of cash on your nightstand.

When I was in high school, I took pre-calculus and calculus from the same teacher.  Mr. Skie.  He was a great teacher, and he had a tried and true method to get students to understand the subject matter.  In fact, he even encouraged his students to call him at home with math questions.  He spent years refining his grading policy.  It was simple.  There were three tests each quarter worth 40 points each.  He also gave you 20 points for homework automatically, but he took away points when assignments were not complete.  You could not, however, lose any more than 6 points a quarter for missing assignments. 

He guaranteed his students 14 points.  You could spit in his face, and you wouldn't lose more than 6 points.  (You'd probably get detention though.) 

As long as you got at least 116 of 120 points on tests, you would still receive a mathematical A.  If you managed to get 112 points on tests, you were guaranteed an A-.

I used this to my advantage.  I rarely did my homework.  In fact, I only did so much as was needed to understand the math lessons.  This was probably his point all along; as long as you knew the material, you should be able to receive an A.

Mr. Skie, though, was irked by my lack of effort and the apparent ease with which I comprehended calculus.  (I can't even complete a simple derivative today.)  My parents often came home from conferences demanding that I do more homework.

My response was simple: what more did they want from me than an A?  If Mr. Skie was so upset about it, he should change his grading policies.  He should make the penalties for not completing homework more punitive. 

Until then, I would continue to bend the rules to my benefit.

Until MLB makes the penalties stronger with longer suspensions and greater fines (or limiting the amount of future contracts to a league minimum), players will continue to be incentivize to use PEDs.  For them, it pays to cheat.

Gaining Perspective

I heard a caller on a talk radio show say something to the effect that with age comes perspective.  The host seemed to agree, as if perspective is something that can be learned or earned over time.  In this sense, perspective seems equal to experience or, better yet, wisdom.  They were trying to answer the question of whether it is better to burn out or fade away, and the consensus seemed to be that youth was in the moment, but that age gained perspective to reach to proper conclusion that it is better to fade away.

I certainly hope that, over time, I gain experience and wisdom.  I like to think that now that I'm 35, I make better decisions than when I was 25.  Or 20, 18, 15. 

But experience and wisdom aren't perspective.  They are one or more perspectives.

By definition, perspective is a vantage point; it is the angle by which an object or situation is viewed.  Just ask any artist, any photographer.  In fact, artistic perspective is just about the only kind of perspective that is learned over time.  I remember pulling out rulers in art class, drawing perspective lines that met at an infinite horizon.  When I joined these lines with perfect vertical lines, I got a pretty realistic streetscape.  Yay for me.  This wasn't wisdom; it was hardly art.

Perspective in life is something that every person possesses regardless of age, experience or wisdom.  My perspective is uniquely mine at this point in space and time.  It is different than Stacy's or Grayson's, but theirs is no less valid or correct than mine.  To disregard their perspective as anything less than mine because they are younger (yes... I married a younger woman) is pretentious at best. To dismiss theirs now would be to dismiss my current perspective tomorrow... and I think my perspective is pretty valid right now.

I didn't have the time to call into the radio show and offer my perspective on perspectives... so I have this blog, and my perspective is this:

We all have perspectives; it isn't something that is gathered over time.  It is just something that changes over time.  At this moment in time, I'd prefer to fade away. 

Tomorrow, though, I might prefer to burn out. 

Both will be valid to me in the moment, and that is all that matters.



 

Sunburn

Sunburn is nature's hangover.  You have to pay for the fun you had the day before.

Sure... we have sunscreen.  It is a wonderful invention, but it is rarely as effective as you think.  Personally, I forget to reapply as the day wears on... I think I'm fine.  My skin feels warm, but that is the point of being in the sun, right?

Today was a sneaky day... the sun was warm, but the clouds were just thick enough where the sun wasn't too bright.  AND there was a breeze.  I didn't put on nearly enough sunscreen.  My neck is a bit crisp today.

The worst part about it, though... Grayson got his first sunburn.  It isn't bad, but he certainly has a rosy glow to his cheeks and nose.

The good news is that he doesn't seem bothered by it.  It isn't bad at all, and it will be gone by Tuesday for sure.  Of all the firsts we've been tracking (first "mama", first banana, first time rolling over), this is one that probably won't make the baby book.  It is, however, something that will happen more, especially with summers at the lake.

Welcome to your first summer "hangover."  I still think the boat ride was worth it.

Something I Haven't Done in a Long Time

Today: I read. 

Okay, so I read every day. I read headlines and the occasional article. I read countless emails and a handful of blog posts/buzz feeds. I read every day. 

But I rarely read a book. For pleasure. 

Today, the extended family took a boat ride around the lakes; Stacy and Grayson took a nap. Delilah laid at my feet. I got to sit on the deck and read a book (hardcover!). I was able to pick up the book I referenced about 8 weeks ago: "Tell My Sons."  I had read the forward and a handful of pages, no more than two at a time, but I hadn't really gotten to sit down with the book. 

In about an hour, I was able to read about 50 pages. I never was a speed reader, but I'm clearly rusty. Regardless, I was able to get into a rhythm, to sense the author's style, to see themes develop. The first few chapters are both heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring. I can't wait to carve out time to read more. Knowing now that the author recently lost his battle with cancer, I'm even more intrigued to we how he ends the book, his message to his sons. I want to see if he stays true to his word that the book would act as a reference later in life. 

The lesson I learned today: I can still enjoy reading. 

Up North

This is more status update than blog post. I'll claim it's because I'm mobile, but it has more to do with it already being 11:00. 

We are up north this weekend. Left the cities around 7:00. Made great time. It's a full house this weekend: Nana and Papa, uncle Brian and aunt Erica, cousins Logan and Brynn. And, or course, Delilah. 

Time for bed. The lake and a car show tomorrow. Papa gets to show off his 1965 LeMans. 

3 Big Things Today

1. Grayson discontinued his cranial cap.  That's right.  G won't be wearing a helmet anymore.  His head is as close to perfect as we are going to get it, and he has reached an age where the helmet would less effective.  Basically, his head's growth rate has slowed significantly.  This is a huge day for him, and for us as parents.  I can't count the number of times I've been asked why G had a helmet... was it because he has seizures?  I understand why people ask, but it gets tiring trying to explain that your son is normal, that he doesn't have a neurological or mental disorder that requires him to protect his head.  No more.  G gets to feel the wind in his hair (and the edge of the coffee table on his forehead).

2. Gay marriage became a thing in Minnesota today.  I've written enough about this in the past, so I won't write much... but this is a big day.  Starting at midnight, 42 couples were married at Minneapolis City Hall by the mayor.  Crowds cheered.  Couples kissed.  Love was recognized, honored and celebrated.  Yay.  I can't wait to see more couples get married.  I have a feeling in 50 years, people will look back on this day the way they look back on Rosa Parks today.  Also, yay to Rhode Island.  Same thing; different state.

3.  Grayson was born 10 months ago.  This means that he has officially spent more time outside the womb than he spent in it.  I can't believe how much he has changed and grown, especially over the last 2 months.  He is about ready to walk; you can see his mind churning, working to figure out how he is going to get around.  Talking is also around the corned.  Life will change.  Again.  Loving every minute of it.