Happy Holidays to all that have read my blog the past two months. My thanks to all that took time to look in on this little corner of cyber space to check on life through the eyes of a 10 year old boy. Also a special thanks to the 32 (yes I counted them) notes from those that said how much they enjoyed reading my musings. However, it has been called to my attention by a former classmate that no one wants to read the things I write because I am too big a bastard. So in the true Christmas spirit, I am closing my blog to spare you any further discomfort from my writings.
Additionally, in good conscience, I can no long consider this 10 year old boy, The Funniest Guy I Know, that distinction belongs to this former classmate that took time to make this observation. Due to geography and the overall balance of the relationship, it is impossible for me to do a twice a week post on the new title holder. It has been fun, at least for me, my apologies for subjecting those that made just over 700 hits on the blog to such unpleasant opportunities.
After the Holiday, I will evaluate the situation and perhaps I will be back with a different insight into our world other than the eyes of a 10 year old boy. I am pretty certain I will still be as big a bastard as ever, it becomes hard to change on the north side of 55, but thanks to this former classmate you will have been warned. As Hunter Thompson might say, "Buy the ticket, take the ride." Don't go on the next ride with me, tricked and eyes closed. My Christmas gift to you and my astute former classmate. For me it was fun while it lasted.
It's always funny until someone gets hurt. Then it is just hilarious!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I Know What I Like ....
Not much can top getting in the truck and starting a Saturday morning with an 11 year old boy, just wandering around. No real agenda and what others may call wasting time, I prefer to think of it as Jerry Jeff Walker said, “Just some of the fun you can have in your pick up truck.”
Around my home town there seems to be an abundance of sculptures going up that I believe I could have come up with if given the opportunity. Jake seems to be as lost as me at this “art work.” Probably a good thing he does not realize people are being paid, and paid well, for many of these pieces or the guitar and skateboarding could quickly become a distant second and third in his life priorities.
In driving around town, Jake did ask several times why the people didn’t clean up the junk. I attempted to explain it was artwork and people where placing it for people to see and enjoy. The concept seemed to completely fail to resonate with him. Finally, after many of his same questions about cleaning things up, I ask Jake. “Do you know a lot about art?”
“Nope, but I know a lot about junk. Why don’t they clean that stuff up?”
From the mouth of kids. Abstract art; a product of the untalented sold by the unprincipled to the utterly bewildered.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK
Jake's mother has an amazing little pump for blowing up things like balloons and such, don’t believe I have ever seen one quite like it, perhaps you have.
Those of you that are regular visitors of my little four corners of tail telling will recall, two of Jake’s great passions are his guitar and his skateboard. While visiting Jake this week he was running around wearing his ever present skateboard helmet. I am sure you have all seen them and if not, shame! He was also carrying his mom’s little pump, hose run through one of the many holes in the helmet. When I ask what he was doing, got a good reinforcement of why Jake is the funniest guy I know. “Ah, redneck air conditioning.”
Kids are smarter than all of us. I don’t know one with a full time job!
Those of you that are regular visitors of my little four corners of tail telling will recall, two of Jake’s great passions are his guitar and his skateboard. While visiting Jake this week he was running around wearing his ever present skateboard helmet. I am sure you have all seen them and if not, shame! He was also carrying his mom’s little pump, hose run through one of the many holes in the helmet. When I ask what he was doing, got a good reinforcement of why Jake is the funniest guy I know. “Ah, redneck air conditioning.”
Kids are smarter than all of us. I don’t know one with a full time job!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
ARE THERE HILBILLIBILLIES ANYMORE LEWIS?
Just can’t imagine there are any that read my blog and have not seen the movie Deliverance. Lewis takes his friends on a river rafting trip they will never forget into the dangerous southern back country. Also, I doubt there are many, when they're thinking of the movie, that don’t instantly recall Bobbie’s encounter with the two toothless inbred hillbillies that make him squeal like a pig.
OK, you don’t, it is just me. However that was my mind set when Jake called this week and asked if I had ever heard of a movie called, Deliverance! Immediate flashback to that part of the movie. Cautiously, perhaps even reluctantly I told this 11 year old boy, “I think I remember it.” Come on, it is the holidays and I was being placed in a position to have a conversation I did not want to have. Put yourself on my end of the phone.
Jake said he had been on the computer and found something about it on Youtube. That certainly didn’t bring me any comfort. And yes, Jake had found a scene from the movie he wanted to talk with me about. Gulp.
He had found a genetically defected boy, my words not Jake's and another guy playing a great song. Completely forgot Jake rocks the guitar. What is well known to us as, Dueling Banjos, was a brand new discovery to an 11 year old boy. He was calling because in watching that scene over and over, Jake figured out the guitar part and wanted to play it for me. Which he did.
After the call I thought about the movie and the banjo scene was every bit as memorable as the one I first thought of, why did my mind go that direction? If you have an answer, keep it to yourself.
Jake, just keep rockin’ the guitar, finding good music and see you soon. Young minds are uncluttered and seem to know the important stuff.
OK, you don’t, it is just me. However that was my mind set when Jake called this week and asked if I had ever heard of a movie called, Deliverance! Immediate flashback to that part of the movie. Cautiously, perhaps even reluctantly I told this 11 year old boy, “I think I remember it.” Come on, it is the holidays and I was being placed in a position to have a conversation I did not want to have. Put yourself on my end of the phone.
Jake said he had been on the computer and found something about it on Youtube. That certainly didn’t bring me any comfort. And yes, Jake had found a scene from the movie he wanted to talk with me about. Gulp.
He had found a genetically defected boy, my words not Jake's and another guy playing a great song. Completely forgot Jake rocks the guitar. What is well known to us as, Dueling Banjos, was a brand new discovery to an 11 year old boy. He was calling because in watching that scene over and over, Jake figured out the guitar part and wanted to play it for me. Which he did.
After the call I thought about the movie and the banjo scene was every bit as memorable as the one I first thought of, why did my mind go that direction? If you have an answer, keep it to yourself.
Jake, just keep rockin’ the guitar, finding good music and see you soon. Young minds are uncluttered and seem to know the important stuff.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Hard Questions. Easy Answers.
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.
When I decided to give this blog a try, I failed to put into my calculations the difficulty of writing twice a week about a subject that is in constant motion. Jake is the funniest guy I know for many reasons, but a big one is, he is a wealth of activity not bogged down by worry and regret. He may grow into that, but let’s all hope not.
Over the weekend, Jake was in Memphis to participate in the St. Jude Run. Mom, Dad and sister all ran the half marathon, Jake ran in the 5K with a family friend, Maddie. While it was never actually said, Jake did indicate that he could have run faster but stayed with the anchor he was pulling. That alone may be the beginning of a lesson to be used later in life. Jake did not run off and they crossed the finished line side by side. Yet another lesson?
Jake said it was a great weekend and was very impressed with the Peabody Hotel, but still doesn’t have his mind around adults getting so excited about ducks walking on a red carpet then swimming in the fountain.
After our brief conversation, he was off to finish his work for school today and I was left to consider what a wide and fast life Jake lives. Probably a major resource for his humor. I sit and worry about what I will write twice a week in my own little piece of cyber space I share with you that stop by while Jake is out getting it done.
“Life is what happens to you while you are busy making plans.” John Lennon.
When I decided to give this blog a try, I failed to put into my calculations the difficulty of writing twice a week about a subject that is in constant motion. Jake is the funniest guy I know for many reasons, but a big one is, he is a wealth of activity not bogged down by worry and regret. He may grow into that, but let’s all hope not.
Over the weekend, Jake was in Memphis to participate in the St. Jude Run. Mom, Dad and sister all ran the half marathon, Jake ran in the 5K with a family friend, Maddie. While it was never actually said, Jake did indicate that he could have run faster but stayed with the anchor he was pulling. That alone may be the beginning of a lesson to be used later in life. Jake did not run off and they crossed the finished line side by side. Yet another lesson?
Jake said it was a great weekend and was very impressed with the Peabody Hotel, but still doesn’t have his mind around adults getting so excited about ducks walking on a red carpet then swimming in the fountain.
After our brief conversation, he was off to finish his work for school today and I was left to consider what a wide and fast life Jake lives. Probably a major resource for his humor. I sit and worry about what I will write twice a week in my own little piece of cyber space I share with you that stop by while Jake is out getting it done.
“Life is what happens to you while you are busy making plans.” John Lennon.
Monday, November 28, 2011
New Traditions
Jake was gone over the holiday on a trip out west. I have managed to speak with him briefly about his trip and Thanksgiving. A few minutes with Jake can still be an eye opening talk. I learned that Thanksgiving tradition has changed a bit from when I was his age. It seems the two biggest impressions he came home with are: they don’t appreciate great skate boarding inside the airport and rather than football on TV, Scottsdale has an awesome skateboard park to work off those turkey pounds. Thanksgiving tradition!
Even the brief talk reminded me of Jake and me attending the, Tony Hawk Boom Boom Huck Jam. For those not familiar with Tony Hawk, I have it on good authority he is just the best darn skateboarder of all time. His Huck Jam Tour started as a Vegas type show with the best skateboarders, BMX riders and motor cross crazies ever. The music features, believe it or not, Alice in Chains and Social Distortion. Again I was reminded it was great and if it was to loud, I am to old. The big feature being a million dollar custom made half pipe. If you don’t know, don’t ask.
Amazingly great to see the excitement in Jake’s eyes as these X-Game athletes demonstrated their talent. Not Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, but every bit the awe! Each one a hero to a young skateboarder. The highlight being, The Hawkman actually giving Jake a high five. Life could not be better.
It was a wonderment to a young boy to see so many great "stars" and a lesson for a 50 plus year old Uncle that needs his own, Boom Boom Huck Jam. The older we get, the harder it is to have heroes, but it is kind of necessary.
Even the brief talk reminded me of Jake and me attending the, Tony Hawk Boom Boom Huck Jam. For those not familiar with Tony Hawk, I have it on good authority he is just the best darn skateboarder of all time. His Huck Jam Tour started as a Vegas type show with the best skateboarders, BMX riders and motor cross crazies ever. The music features, believe it or not, Alice in Chains and Social Distortion. Again I was reminded it was great and if it was to loud, I am to old. The big feature being a million dollar custom made half pipe. If you don’t know, don’t ask.
Amazingly great to see the excitement in Jake’s eyes as these X-Game athletes demonstrated their talent. Not Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, but every bit the awe! Each one a hero to a young skateboarder. The highlight being, The Hawkman actually giving Jake a high five. Life could not be better.
It was a wonderment to a young boy to see so many great "stars" and a lesson for a 50 plus year old Uncle that needs his own, Boom Boom Huck Jam. The older we get, the harder it is to have heroes, but it is kind of necessary.
Friday, November 25, 2011
THANKSGIVING
Jake grabbed his skateboard and headed west for Thanksgiving. While it may not be the highlight of his trip Jake ran in the Turkey Trot and is getting in some valuable time on his board. He did take time to call and wish a happy Thanksgiving and said how lucky he was to have the life he lives.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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