1. This is what APEGS council looks like:
2. And now, the LDR in action!
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Daily Photo (2012-06-22)
The Daily Photo
1. This is what APEGS council looks like:
2. And now, the LDR in action!
1. This is what APEGS council looks like:
2. And now, the LDR in action!
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-22)
The Daily Affirmation
1. Scored my first goal of the summer soccer season tonight
1. Scored my first goal of the summer soccer season tonight
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Daily Photo (2012-06-21)
The Daily Photo
1. The reward for a day of meetings
2. The end of golfing
1. The reward for a day of meetings
2. The end of golfing
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-21)
Today I Learned . . .
1. The Chair of a committee in the APEGS organization can make a motion at a meeting they are chairing.
1. The Chair of a committee in the APEGS organization can make a motion at a meeting they are chairing.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
La Connexion Francaise (2012-06-20)
La Connexion Francaise
1. J'ai jouer slo-pitch deux fois aujourd'hui.
1. J'ai jouer slo-pitch deux fois aujourd'hui.
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-20)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. How much would it cost to buy enough real estate to build a regulation soccer field in Saskatoon?
2. Should I rip up all the grass in my back yard, re-level the whole surface, and plant fresh?
1. How much would it cost to buy enough real estate to build a regulation soccer field in Saskatoon?
2. Should I rip up all the grass in my back yard, re-level the whole surface, and plant fresh?
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-20)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I made my first cup of tea from Mr. Coffee this morning
2. That Direct Osmosis - High Salinity webinar was very interesting
1. I made my first cup of tea from Mr. Coffee this morning
2. That Direct Osmosis - High Salinity webinar was very interesting
3. We had a full roster show up for slo pitch again tonight.
4. I made numerous great catches in the field
5. Its nervously exciting to register for summer slo-pitch
5. Its nervously exciting to register for summer slo-pitch
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-20)
Today I Learned . . .
1. The Incredible Hulk first appeared in "The Incredible Hulk #1' in May 1962.
2. A Subway cookie only costs $0.60 individually.
1. The Incredible Hulk first appeared in "The Incredible Hulk #1' in May 1962.
2. A Subway cookie only costs $0.60 individually.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Ball Hockey Hit (2012-06-19)
Sometimes you can just tell what's going to happen next. There's a moment of pre-cognition and the coming few seconds seem to wobble, like bullet-time from a video game. Whether its a look in someone's eyes or just an anticipation of where the ball is going to go next, you can plan out perfectly what to do next.
He was coming down on me, slightly to my left. This is a perfect scenario for me, as my left is my dominant side. I could say it was a look in his eyes that tipped me off, but that would be a lie because he was looking down at the ball and I couldn't really tell what was in his eyes. But something in his body language told me what was coming. I've had this moment before when I play defence. I can usually count on it happening once a game. I've gotten it perfectly right 3 times in one game once. But when I'm on my position, the smaller moments happen plenty of times.
Its the same move that happens 100 times in a ball hockey game. Rush the defender, flip the ball between his feet and blow by him. It happens to many times that you wish you could go numb to the monotony of it. But though it happens to you 20 times in a game, there's that one time when you time it just perfect and you get to rob the forward of his glory.
The guy running in on me mis-played the ball just slightly. He let it get maybe half a foot too far to my right, and slightly out of his reach to correct it. It gave away his rush move. There it was, he corrected the ball's motion and flicked it between my feet. I've learned the hard less to not worry too much about the ball when this happens. Its too far gone to make the play. My key is what comes next.
The ball had gone too far to my left, so while he'd flicked it between my feet, there wasn't enough room between us for him to go for the cross-over. He'd left himself only the bull-rush on my left side. But I anticipated all of this, ignored the ball, and took a half-step to my left. Planting my feet firmly, I waited for the collision that was not inevitable.
My opponent was not as ready for the inevitability as I was. He seemed genuinely shocked when he crashed into my and I gave no more ground than a stone wall might give to a prairie breeze. The guy ricocheted off and fell somewhere behind me that I couldn't see, because I recovered and now with the clarity to do so, played the ball.
What I did not anticipate was what came next. As I moved from my planted position, and tracked the ball around the boards from behind the net, I sensed impending doom. I have no idea what it was that tipped me off that something was coming. I certainly couldn't see it. Nevertheless I took my eyes off the ball, just as a missile came rocketing at my from behind.
My bries sense of premonition was enough to save me, partially. The forward I had just wronged felt so aggrieved that he was taking a run at me from behind. Turning to my right at the last second, I just barely saw him coming and leaned away to my left. His wild, reckless run at me turned into just a glancing blow on my right shoulder. Unfortunately that's my most injured part right now. As I spun around looking for a ref to punish this idiot, I was denied, to my utter disbelief. I also let me team down, as my stunned shock left me out of a play that allowed the other team to score again.
I'd had enough at that point. There was 2 minutes left but I was finished with a referee that was that careless of my safety. Besides, my right shoulder was now aching again.
He was coming down on me, slightly to my left. This is a perfect scenario for me, as my left is my dominant side. I could say it was a look in his eyes that tipped me off, but that would be a lie because he was looking down at the ball and I couldn't really tell what was in his eyes. But something in his body language told me what was coming. I've had this moment before when I play defence. I can usually count on it happening once a game. I've gotten it perfectly right 3 times in one game once. But when I'm on my position, the smaller moments happen plenty of times.
Its the same move that happens 100 times in a ball hockey game. Rush the defender, flip the ball between his feet and blow by him. It happens to many times that you wish you could go numb to the monotony of it. But though it happens to you 20 times in a game, there's that one time when you time it just perfect and you get to rob the forward of his glory.
The guy running in on me mis-played the ball just slightly. He let it get maybe half a foot too far to my right, and slightly out of his reach to correct it. It gave away his rush move. There it was, he corrected the ball's motion and flicked it between my feet. I've learned the hard less to not worry too much about the ball when this happens. Its too far gone to make the play. My key is what comes next.
The ball had gone too far to my left, so while he'd flicked it between my feet, there wasn't enough room between us for him to go for the cross-over. He'd left himself only the bull-rush on my left side. But I anticipated all of this, ignored the ball, and took a half-step to my left. Planting my feet firmly, I waited for the collision that was not inevitable.
My opponent was not as ready for the inevitability as I was. He seemed genuinely shocked when he crashed into my and I gave no more ground than a stone wall might give to a prairie breeze. The guy ricocheted off and fell somewhere behind me that I couldn't see, because I recovered and now with the clarity to do so, played the ball.
What I did not anticipate was what came next. As I moved from my planted position, and tracked the ball around the boards from behind the net, I sensed impending doom. I have no idea what it was that tipped me off that something was coming. I certainly couldn't see it. Nevertheless I took my eyes off the ball, just as a missile came rocketing at my from behind.
My bries sense of premonition was enough to save me, partially. The forward I had just wronged felt so aggrieved that he was taking a run at me from behind. Turning to my right at the last second, I just barely saw him coming and leaned away to my left. His wild, reckless run at me turned into just a glancing blow on my right shoulder. Unfortunately that's my most injured part right now. As I spun around looking for a ref to punish this idiot, I was denied, to my utter disbelief. I also let me team down, as my stunned shock left me out of a play that allowed the other team to score again.
I'd had enough at that point. There was 2 minutes left but I was finished with a referee that was that careless of my safety. Besides, my right shoulder was now aching again.
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-19)
Today I Learned . . .
1. There is now an After Eight chocolate bar
1. There is now an After Eight chocolate bar
La Connexion Francaise (2012-06-19)
La Connexion Francaise
1. Je joue ball hockey bien.
2. Je dors maintenant.
1. Je joue ball hockey bien.
2. Je dors maintenant.
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-19)
The Daily Affirmation
1. A mini-Sprite in the middle of the afternoon
2. My recent Deal Extreme order has shipped from China
3. A Froster after a ball hockey game is a delightful treat
1. A mini-Sprite in the middle of the afternoon
2. My recent Deal Extreme order has shipped from China
3. A Froster after a ball hockey game is a delightful treat
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-19)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. Do I want to have a 'Hangover' type adventure?
2. Why do people take advantage of me, and why do I let it happen?
1. Do I want to have a 'Hangover' type adventure?
2. Why do people take advantage of me, and why do I let it happen?
Monday, June 18, 2012
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-18)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. Would owning a used car lot be fun?
2. Why am I not successful?
1. Would owning a used car lot be fun?
2. Why am I not successful?
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-18)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I am on the smallest hole of a belt I bought after I'd already lost some weight.
2. I feel so much better with my hair cut off.
3. I scored a GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!
4. Froster. the end
1. I am on the smallest hole of a belt I bought after I'd already lost some weight.
2. I feel so much better with my hair cut off.
3. I scored a GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!
4. Froster. the end
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-17)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. If I wanted to buy a really luxurious, super comfortable office chair, where should I shop?
1. If I wanted to buy a really luxurious, super comfortable office chair, where should I shop?
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-17)
Today I Learned . . .
1. You can't effectively deep fry a slice of pizza.
1. You can't effectively deep fry a slice of pizza.
La Connexion Francaise (2012-06-17)
La Connexion Francaise
1. J'ai manger les saucisses et la nouveau pommes da terre.
2. J'aurai une boisson gazeuse.
1. J'ai manger les saucisses et la nouveau pommes da terre.
2. J'aurai une boisson gazeuse.
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-17)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I just did a complicated integration by parts problem and got it completely right before checking the answer.
2. We finally broke a miserable losing streAk tonight with a win in ball hockey
3. NBA Finals from the hot tub. Does it get better?
1. I just did a complicated integration by parts problem and got it completely right before checking the answer.
2. We finally broke a miserable losing streAk tonight with a win in ball hockey
3. NBA Finals from the hot tub. Does it get better?
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Speed (2012-06-16)
I was on my way back from the grand opening of a water
treatment plant that I’d designed. This
one had been a long and twisted road.
The design I’d first committed to paper was only know being christened
complete – 5 long years later. But the
final was reached and the treated water was not distributed from the reservoir.
I hit the highway with a brief screech of tires and sudden
acceleration. There was traffic oncoming
and I wanted to get out in front of it.
I settled in behind a 4 door Volkswagen sedan, on the four
lane stretch that ran past the village.
The speed limit was slowed for the sake of the towns people, but only to
90 lm/h. Soon the sign said 110 again
and my foot hit the accelerator.
The traffic that had been oncoming, as I pulled out onto the
road, soon passed on the left. The pair
that were in a hurry were a black Range Rover and another 4-day grey sedan that
was lumbering to keep up.
I pondered my options.
I had the time, I could loaf back in the pack with the Volkswagen. Or I could press down on the accelerator and
match the speed of this high-flying Range Rover as it steamed on towards the
city at a high rate.
I made my choice. A
snarl erupted from my tailpipe as I lunged forward past the Volkwagen.
Right off the move, the Range Rover seemed like a fussy
driver. I settled in behind it at a
comfortable 150 km/h and was content to just cruise like this the rest of the
way home. But the snotty driver got it
in his head that he was too good for a caravan, and tried to zoom away.
Serious?
It took barely more effort than tot swat a fly, for me to
accelerate, and again be behind the lumbering wagon. I wasn’t following close, instead choosing to
stay far enough back that you could no longer read the Range Rover’s license
plate. I wasn’t trying to make anyone
uncomfortable, I just wanted the cover of a group to hide my speed.
Still behind us struggled the grey sedan vainly. Wanting to stay with the lead dog, but
clearly not up for the task.
This attempt to pull away was repeated twice more, as we
rocketed towards civilization on the 4 lanes of blacktop. Once after having passed the procession of
charity bike riders, who in a large group crawled along the highway on their
bicycles. A motorhome signaled the rear
of their procession. A multi-axle truck
signaled the lead. When we were clear of
their hazard, the Range Rover burst forward again, trying to break free.
Like a fisherman with a reel, I pulled it back in
again. The effort no more troubling than
reading one of the signposts that went by like a picket fence.
The third time he tried to pull away, I was lost in a
reverie of what was playing on the radio.
I can’t even recall at this moment anymore what it was that held my
attention. Nevertheless when I looked up
the Range Rover had zipped ahead of me, and now I would have to be serious if I
wanted to close the gap.
For some reason I got angry.
It may have been the temerity of thinking that a lumbering wagon like a
Range Rover could out-speed my V-8 Mustang.
That probably was it, but when my foot pressed that accelerator to the
floor this time, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that the Range Rover was not
going to get away.
The speedometer did not jump to attention with my foot. My car itself seemed to have been lulled to
sleep at a drowsy 150 km/h. But after a
few seconds of my foot to the floorboard, it seemed to rouse from its dreamy
reverie. The relentlessness of my intent
was finally impressed, and the needle started turning towards the end point.
First came 160. I
held steady on the accelerator. 170 came
soon enough on its own. Still I did not
relent. Now was 180 and the Range Rover
was firmly in sight and getting closer.
A decision needed to be made. My purpose was to catch that lumber
wagon. But as the needle hit 190 km/h I
felt a giddy headiness wrap itself around my brain. The Range Rover was being effortlessly reeled
in, like the garden hose after you finish watering the lawn, but I didn’t
really care about that anymore. I was
driving faster than I ever had before, and there seemed no exhaustion of the
supply of speed.
I went passed the Range Rover like another might have passed
a picket fence. I felt alive like few
things in life will ever make you feel.
I screamed “Good Bye” as my position passed his, and still I hammered
onward towards home. The first few
markers of reaching home were just peeking forward in my view. But I did not relent.
The dial hit 200. I
had never known anything this fast. The
car was not concerned about the velocity we were travelling. It actually seemed to be having fun. The tailpipe was snarling, like a satisfied
animal with its kill. The wind was whipping
past the canopy, making a whistling noise that I’d only ever witnessed in an
airplane.
Still I raged onward.
The pressure of my foot on the accelerator was now in a dangerous game
of chicken with my sense of fear. How
far would I push this? When would I lose
my nerve?
The speedometer now read 210 km/h. I had never travelled this fast in a car
before. My foot was down on the
accelerator, but the car was getting towards the outer reaches of its
ability. The pace of the needle was
slowly, though my foot did not move from the gas pedal. My home city rose up in front of me with
alarming rapidness, but I did not relent.
The needle wavered at 210.
Did I want to push this any further?
Could I face more fear? The signs
of the city were all around me as I travelled near twice the speed limit. Was there anything more to prove?
I felt the sense of exhilaration in my chest. It was an exultation; energy in my heart that
I couldn’t put there by any other means.
The joy and the excitement, it forced me to go onward. But the wavering of the needle at 210 made a
cold sense of fear creep up from my belly towards the white hot sun in my
chest. It cooled the molten exhilaration
into icy stings of fear.
My foot pulled back.
Fear had won. I watched as the
needle began to fall slowly back towards sanity.
It was a little surreal, how 150 km/h now felt slow, after
the rarified air I had just touched. It
had been only seconds but I felt like I’d touched something special. As I took the turn into the city, of lights,
stop signs and right turns, I felt oddly relaxed. To come to rest at a stop light felt like a
story ending. But that brief few moments
would live with me forever.
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-16)
Today I Learned . . .
1. The food at Chili's has an absurd number of calories in it.
1. The food at Chili's has an absurd number of calories in it.
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-16)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. Why do I weigh 3-4 pounds less in the morning, between the time I first get up, and when I've completed 30 minutes of weight lifting?
1. Why do I weigh 3-4 pounds less in the morning, between the time I first get up, and when I've completed 30 minutes of weight lifting?
La Connexion Francaise (2012-06-16)
La Connexion Francaise
1. Je porte du moyen maintenant.
2. J'ai alle vite.
1. Je porte du moyen maintenant.
2. J'ai alle vite.
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-16)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I just completed a very tricky integration problem without looking up the answer first.
2. I really enjoyed a Tim Hortons frozen Lemonade
3. I drove faster than I ever have before in my car today
4. We made a late comeback to win the soccer game tonight
1. I just completed a very tricky integration problem without looking up the answer first.
2. I really enjoyed a Tim Hortons frozen Lemonade
3. I drove faster than I ever have before in my car today
4. We made a late comeback to win the soccer game tonight
Friday, June 15, 2012
.jpg)
.jpg)
La Connexion Francaise (2012-06-15)
La Connexion Francaise
1. Je ne fais pas calcul mal.
2. J'ai une idee.
1. Je ne fais pas calcul mal.
2. J'ai une idee.
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-15)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. How do I become the gold standard of healthy?
2. Should I be waxing my car?
3. How come you just don't find that many girls named Tiffany in real life?
1. How do I become the gold standard of healthy?
2. Should I be waxing my car?
3. How come you just don't find that many girls named Tiffany in real life?
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-15)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I looked up the stats from Wednesday's ball hockey game and I got credit for my 1 assist.
2. My iPad replacement part arrived today!
1. I looked up the stats from Wednesday's ball hockey game and I got credit for my 1 assist.
2. My iPad replacement part arrived today!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-13)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I was disappointed that there was going to be no ball game tonight but given that its pouring right now, I think we're going to end up on the right side of that decision.
2. My effort level in ball hockey was vastly improved over Monday's game
1. I was disappointed that there was going to be no ball game tonight but given that its pouring right now, I think we're going to end up on the right side of that decision.
2. My effort level in ball hockey was vastly improved over Monday's game
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-13)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. Is it too much to ask to want a girl that would know how to integrate?
1. Is it too much to ask to want a girl that would know how to integrate?
La Connexion Francaise (2012-06-13)
La Connexion Francaise
1. J'adore gateau.
2. Il pleut. Je ne joue pas softball.
1. J'adore gateau.
2. Il pleut. Je ne joue pas softball.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-12)
Today I Learned . . .
1. An artesian well occurs when water enters a porous geologic structure (like sand, gravel, sandstone, limestone) that is trapped between two layers of an impermeable geologic structure (like a clay or shale). Water enters the porous geology at a higher elevation. It flows downward, and at a lower elevation, can not escape do to the impermeable layers that trap it. If a well is drilled into this porous geologic structure, the gravity pressure can be sufficient for the water to erupt from the ground without mechanical pumping.
1. An artesian well occurs when water enters a porous geologic structure (like sand, gravel, sandstone, limestone) that is trapped between two layers of an impermeable geologic structure (like a clay or shale). Water enters the porous geology at a higher elevation. It flows downward, and at a lower elevation, can not escape do to the impermeable layers that trap it. If a well is drilled into this porous geologic structure, the gravity pressure can be sufficient for the water to erupt from the ground without mechanical pumping.
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-12)
The Daily Affirmation
1. I really enjoyed the result of cutting a circular pattern into my front lawn
2. After many months of planting nothing but white grapes, I have finally mastered them and can move on to new grapes.
1. I really enjoyed the result of cutting a circular pattern into my front lawn
2. After many months of planting nothing but white grapes, I have finally mastered them and can move on to new grapes.
The Daily Photo (2012-06-12)
The Daily Photo
1. My under-desk "kitchen"
2. What kind of tree is this?
3. Newly planted grass, first coming out of the ground
4. Circles in the grass
1. My under-desk "kitchen"
2. What kind of tree is this?
3. Newly planted grass, first coming out of the ground
4. Circles in the grass
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-12)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. Why do adapters have to be so much bigger than the electrical plug itself, effectively blocking at least one additional receptacle space?
2. Can you be thinner without having lost any measurable weight?
3. Would I enjoy watching European soccer live?
1. Why do adapters have to be so much bigger than the electrical plug itself, effectively blocking at least one additional receptacle space?
2. Can you be thinner without having lost any measurable weight?
3. Would I enjoy watching European soccer live?
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Daily Photo (2012-06-11)
The Daily Photo
1. The mini-shelf that I built tonight, with pieces of an actual shelf, and a board I bought at Home Depot
2. This is what ball hockey looks like
1. The mini-shelf that I built tonight, with pieces of an actual shelf, and a board I bought at Home Depot
2. This is what ball hockey looks like
The Daily Affirmation (3012-06-11)
The Daily Affirmation
1. Enthusiasm from someone you didn't expect.
2. New book order arrived!
1. Enthusiasm from someone you didn't expect.
2. New book order arrived!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Today I Learned . . . (2012-06-10)
Today I Learned . . .
1. If you know what's going to happen, and you watch closely, you'll notice that at the end of Back To The Future III, Marty puts the manual transmission on his new 4x4 truck into reverse, before the light turns green
1. If you know what's going to happen, and you watch closely, you'll notice that at the end of Back To The Future III, Marty puts the manual transmission on his new 4x4 truck into reverse, before the light turns green
Blog Question(s) Of The Day (2012-06-10)
Blog Question(s) Of The Day
1. Is there enough water in a wet towel that it can conduct electricity?
2. What race is Yoda?
1. Is there enough water in a wet towel that it can conduct electricity?
2. What race is Yoda?
French Connection (2012-06-10)
French Connection
1. I'aime mon nouveau chapeau baseball
2. Je vais avoir un boisson gazeuse
1. I'aime mon nouveau chapeau baseball
2. Je vais avoir un boisson gazeuse
Hat sizes
What's the deal with hat sizes?
I've got four hats in the last year. Each one fits differently than any other one. I don't get it. My original blue Montreal Expos hat was a 7-1/4. It fit great so I resolved to buy 7-1/4 for all future hats.
I got a Phillies hat from my sister for my birthday last year. Following my policy, I got a 7-1/4. It fit decently so I was satisfied. But then in the fall I wanted a Blue Jays hat so I got one at SportChek. I believe I had a gift card or they were on sale. I had a reason to be getting it at SportChek. They had no 7-1/4, but they did have a 7-3/8 so I took that. Its only 1/8 of an inch bigger, which is a pretty small discrepancy. The hat is enormous. You could get a small child in beside my head inside this hat. 1/8 of an inch should not make that much difference.
Then I bought two hats simultaneously today. I stuck to the rule, and picked up 7-1/4 hats for both. They had an anti-theft device in them so they weren't really try-on-able in the store. I got out to my truck and giddy as I was, I had to fix the brim and try them on.
Each was 7-1/4.
The red Washington Nationals hat was very, very snug. Bordering on too small but based on my experience from last fall, I wasn't moving up a size else it would require walking around with a child hanging next to my right ear to make it fit right. It was snug but I wasn't uncomfortable wearing it so I declared it good.
The blue Montreal Expos hat was spot-on perfect. It fit my head exactly the way a hat is supposed to. It was just about 10% too snug. You have that security of knowing there's no way its blowing off when you're lined up for a 3-iron on the 12th hole at the Harbor Golf Course at Elbow, where the wind screams off the prairie landscape like the sonic blast coming off a space shuttle launch. The hat I wanted most fit better than anything else I tried to buy/get in the last year. It was like coming home.
Four hats. Four different fits. All of these hats trying to approximate the sense of perfection that comes only when I wear a Montreal Expos cap.
I've got four hats in the last year. Each one fits differently than any other one. I don't get it. My original blue Montreal Expos hat was a 7-1/4. It fit great so I resolved to buy 7-1/4 for all future hats.
I got a Phillies hat from my sister for my birthday last year. Following my policy, I got a 7-1/4. It fit decently so I was satisfied. But then in the fall I wanted a Blue Jays hat so I got one at SportChek. I believe I had a gift card or they were on sale. I had a reason to be getting it at SportChek. They had no 7-1/4, but they did have a 7-3/8 so I took that. Its only 1/8 of an inch bigger, which is a pretty small discrepancy. The hat is enormous. You could get a small child in beside my head inside this hat. 1/8 of an inch should not make that much difference.
Then I bought two hats simultaneously today. I stuck to the rule, and picked up 7-1/4 hats for both. They had an anti-theft device in them so they weren't really try-on-able in the store. I got out to my truck and giddy as I was, I had to fix the brim and try them on.
Each was 7-1/4.
The red Washington Nationals hat was very, very snug. Bordering on too small but based on my experience from last fall, I wasn't moving up a size else it would require walking around with a child hanging next to my right ear to make it fit right. It was snug but I wasn't uncomfortable wearing it so I declared it good.
The blue Montreal Expos hat was spot-on perfect. It fit my head exactly the way a hat is supposed to. It was just about 10% too snug. You have that security of knowing there's no way its blowing off when you're lined up for a 3-iron on the 12th hole at the Harbor Golf Course at Elbow, where the wind screams off the prairie landscape like the sonic blast coming off a space shuttle launch. The hat I wanted most fit better than anything else I tried to buy/get in the last year. It was like coming home.
Four hats. Four different fits. All of these hats trying to approximate the sense of perfection that comes only when I wear a Montreal Expos cap.
Olympian Sports
I have to throw out a plug right now.
Yesterday was very frustrating. I had money left over from Christmas that I still hadn't spent. But I got an idea this week for something that I would want, so I was going to go out on Saturday and get it.
Notwithstanding is the fact that I got a last start yesterday, and it was raining cats and dogs, so the mall was borderline zoo-ish. So I went to Midtown, because I wanted licensed apparel, so my first thought was "Jersey City". What else would you think of first? Sure its all wickedly over-priced but that's where you should be able to find such things.
I wanted the official on-field cap of the Washington Nationals. Red hat with a giant white W on it. Not some strange variant but the everyday home hat. Huge rack of hats at Jersey City. They did not have the red one. They had some stupid black one with a red/blue DC on it that may be a special edition hat, but isn't the everyday red one. Huge rack of hats, not the official one.
WTF!?!?!?!
There's another hat store just down from Jersey City. I was dejected by this point, but its close so I looked anyway. Same problem. Lots and lots of hats. Lots of variety in some things, but not an official on-field Washington Nationals hat. About 27 different god damn variations on the blasted Yankees but no Washington Nationals. (FYI - god damn Yankees)
I also looked in SportChek but that's 5 minutes of my life I'm not getting back.
So I'm sitting in my basement last night, feeling kinda morose about my lack of luck with this hat issue. I still want one but now I'm looking at ordering online, and while I do that, its just not as satisfying as leaving a store clutching your purchase. Then, like an epiphany, I had inspiration. What about Olympian Sports? Every time I go in there, it seems like they have about 100,000 pieces of licensed merchandise. I have a whole Sunday; it'll cost me an hour, at most, to go check. Worse case is no worse than how I was feeling last night.
So I go into Olympian Sports today just after lunch. Up the stairs to where the bulk of the licensed stuff is. Bang, there is a wall of hats. 20 seconds of analysis and I figure out where the MLB hats are. (strange that a ball cap is synonymous with baseball, and its not even the largest category in the wall'o'hats) My eyes immediately snap to the red hats and in about 5.3 seconds I find my whole grail - the red on-field Washington Nationals hat! The search has concluded; I reach nirvana!
Wait! What's this!?! Right next to the red Washington Nationals hat is something that looks like a solid, royal blue Montreal Expos hat. I blink. It is a solid, royal blue Montreal Expos hat! I thought this doesn't exist!?!
Exist or not as a new product, there it is. Something I've been lusting at for almost 5 years is right there in my trembling hands. First I lost (or thought I had) my blue Expos hat. Then I found it behind a book shelf but my examination of it suggested it was dirty as hell. (not surprising as I'd had it since I get it for my birthday when I was 18) So having found it, I tried to clean it. That didn't work and it no longer looked all that fresh. So I wanted to buy a new one, but my searching said they didn't make it brand new anymore.
Now here in my quivering hands was the hat that I'd wanted for so long. I debated whether to purchase it for, oh, about 2.3 seconds before concluding this was a no-brainer. My faithfulness was further rewarded when each hat was about $2.50 off list price. My breathless search was concluded successfully and I got a discount. Could this have ended in any better way?
So now I have both hats that I wanted. And I've reached a conclusion. I am not pissing around anymore. My first and only direction when I need something sporting good related is to go to Olympian Sports. This has happened 3 times that I can remember in recent memory. I wanted something, tried somewhere else first only to search out Olympian as a last resort. They have not disappointed. Thus my future policy will be to just go to Olympian and stop getting frustrated.
I recommend to anyone that reads this that they follow the same policy.
Yesterday was very frustrating. I had money left over from Christmas that I still hadn't spent. But I got an idea this week for something that I would want, so I was going to go out on Saturday and get it.
Notwithstanding is the fact that I got a last start yesterday, and it was raining cats and dogs, so the mall was borderline zoo-ish. So I went to Midtown, because I wanted licensed apparel, so my first thought was "Jersey City". What else would you think of first? Sure its all wickedly over-priced but that's where you should be able to find such things.
I wanted the official on-field cap of the Washington Nationals. Red hat with a giant white W on it. Not some strange variant but the everyday home hat. Huge rack of hats at Jersey City. They did not have the red one. They had some stupid black one with a red/blue DC on it that may be a special edition hat, but isn't the everyday red one. Huge rack of hats, not the official one.
WTF!?!?!?!
There's another hat store just down from Jersey City. I was dejected by this point, but its close so I looked anyway. Same problem. Lots and lots of hats. Lots of variety in some things, but not an official on-field Washington Nationals hat. About 27 different god damn variations on the blasted Yankees but no Washington Nationals. (FYI - god damn Yankees)
I also looked in SportChek but that's 5 minutes of my life I'm not getting back.
So I'm sitting in my basement last night, feeling kinda morose about my lack of luck with this hat issue. I still want one but now I'm looking at ordering online, and while I do that, its just not as satisfying as leaving a store clutching your purchase. Then, like an epiphany, I had inspiration. What about Olympian Sports? Every time I go in there, it seems like they have about 100,000 pieces of licensed merchandise. I have a whole Sunday; it'll cost me an hour, at most, to go check. Worse case is no worse than how I was feeling last night.
So I go into Olympian Sports today just after lunch. Up the stairs to where the bulk of the licensed stuff is. Bang, there is a wall of hats. 20 seconds of analysis and I figure out where the MLB hats are. (strange that a ball cap is synonymous with baseball, and its not even the largest category in the wall'o'hats) My eyes immediately snap to the red hats and in about 5.3 seconds I find my whole grail - the red on-field Washington Nationals hat! The search has concluded; I reach nirvana!
Wait! What's this!?! Right next to the red Washington Nationals hat is something that looks like a solid, royal blue Montreal Expos hat. I blink. It is a solid, royal blue Montreal Expos hat! I thought this doesn't exist!?!
Exist or not as a new product, there it is. Something I've been lusting at for almost 5 years is right there in my trembling hands. First I lost (or thought I had) my blue Expos hat. Then I found it behind a book shelf but my examination of it suggested it was dirty as hell. (not surprising as I'd had it since I get it for my birthday when I was 18) So having found it, I tried to clean it. That didn't work and it no longer looked all that fresh. So I wanted to buy a new one, but my searching said they didn't make it brand new anymore.
Now here in my quivering hands was the hat that I'd wanted for so long. I debated whether to purchase it for, oh, about 2.3 seconds before concluding this was a no-brainer. My faithfulness was further rewarded when each hat was about $2.50 off list price. My breathless search was concluded successfully and I got a discount. Could this have ended in any better way?
So now I have both hats that I wanted. And I've reached a conclusion. I am not pissing around anymore. My first and only direction when I need something sporting good related is to go to Olympian Sports. This has happened 3 times that I can remember in recent memory. I wanted something, tried somewhere else first only to search out Olympian as a last resort. They have not disappointed. Thus my future policy will be to just go to Olympian and stop getting frustrated.
I recommend to anyone that reads this that they follow the same policy.
Daily Photo(s) (2012-06-10)
Daily Photo(s)
1. Today's project:
2. Future project:
3. My new hats
4. Wearing the Washington Nationals hat
5. Wearing my new Montreal Expos hat
1. Today's project:
2. Future project:
3. My new hats
4. Wearing the Washington Nationals hat
5. Wearing my new Montreal Expos hat
The Daily Affirmation (2012-06-10)
The Daily Affirmation
1. Miami Dolphins cheerleaders lip syncing "Call Me Maybe"
2. Not only did I find the Washington Nationals hat I wanted . . . I found a royal blue Montreal Expos hat I wanted that all my research online said, DIDN'T EXIST!!!
3. I filled in every column on my tracking spreadsheet today
1. Miami Dolphins cheerleaders lip syncing "Call Me Maybe"
2. Not only did I find the Washington Nationals hat I wanted . . . I found a royal blue Montreal Expos hat I wanted that all my research online said, DIDN'T EXIST!!!
3. I filled in every column on my tracking spreadsheet today