DJ Webby’s 2nd Site

I have spent the last eight years coaching a youth bowling league at my local AMF Bowling Center. It got started when the husband of a co-worker said he needed help. Come to found out that is was the same youth league that I started out ... thanks to a good friend at the time in middle school that I had know in summer camp when I was in grade school. Initially I was asked to help out with the middle group (Bantam/Prep); these kids already had the basics of bowling ... they just need reminders. There were points over the years I felt more like a baby-sitter, making sure the kids stayed by their lanes, stopping the rosin bags from flying, maintaining a calm atmosphere. Of course, there could have been other things I could have been doing over the years on Saturday mornings. But for some reason I kept at it. Early on, there was that one morning just after a breakup with a long-time girl friend that I was glad I had something to wake up for and kept my mind on. Over the years, some of the coaches that were there when I started became busy with other things, so I felt compelled to stay on with it. At one point, I was the only coach left and ran the league alone for a whole summer. Thankfully a whole group of coaches came up from a Dade Center and we now have a good team of coaches. Seeing some of the kids improve over a year gives a bit of satisfaction.

I am still not sure if the title is a question or a statement, although looking at it again, it seems more like a question, just without the all important question mark. Several reasons, I guess, combined to the fact that I have not "blogged" in a while. For one, it took me several moments to even log in; with four possible email addresses, coupled with several different passwords, there were a bunch of different combinations tried before I got into Vox. Now, I could have attempted this several weeks (or months) ago, but I just couldn't find the motivation. There are several things that popped into my mind to write ... I even was thinking at the time, "I should blog about this." Maybe I will get to write/type/compose those ideas at some point.

I am sitting here getting ready for Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, wondering if I am going to shave before or after sleep, and decided to look over my scores from the past 2007-08 bowling season. We had our payout/award ceremony the Friday before the Memorial Day weekend, and I must say, everyone was thoroughly impressed. Never had I, or even my teammates, ever been in a bowling league where the league secretary went the extra distance as Karen Sutcliff did. Every team got a three-ring binder that contained all sorts of reports (that was for the team captain) for those interested. Also in the binder was a folder for each team member where she put stats sheets for the bowler; if your name appeared in the standing sheet for high game/series, a copy with your name highlighted was in there; if your name made the paper, a copy of the paper was included; certificates of achievement were also included for high scratch game and series. Most leagues just give a final standing sheet with the money envelope. So seeing how much thought and time went into this league's final week really made my decision to return simple and quick.

Being someone whom works on a computer all day, it is a wonder that I spend time on my laptop at home. It is also a wonder that I even maintain not only my own website, but also have a MySpace profile and now a Facebook page as well. I started Mioduszewski.com for obvious reasons: the name was available, I was studying web design, and it's an easy way to post photos from trips, parties, and other gatherings. I think I created a MySpace page while I was working at OfficeMax several years ago, probably due to the high popularity/buzz circulating about it. "Everyone is on MySpace." I started on Facebook a few weeks ago due to my new job trying to get a network set up. Then I started searching for family, high school alum, etc and finding numerous people. Heck, I even found some friends that I worked with at OfficeMax. Having messed around with both for while, there are lots of similarities, but also lots of differences.

This past Thursday I celebrated my 31st birthday. I am not one to seek out attention nor am I one to impose myself. I could be happy just going about my birthday like any other day of work and then home. But then, this week was not like any other, as my parents were down visiting from Hillsboro, OR for a few days. They had flown in on Tuesday evening where I had met them at the airport, and then on Wednesday they paid a visit to CableOrganizer and met almost everyone. Unfortunately both Holsteins were battling a bug picked up from their recent trip out to Seattle, Washington, so my parents only got to meet Valerie on Friday.

What an entertaining weekend! Saturday night was my roommate's birthday and we met some co-workers and others at Benihana's for some really good food. The show was not up to par as with Sushi Ray's, but the food was just as good, if not better. We then went to a fun, if not different bar. Now I'm not a fan of country music, especially when I heard a remake of an All for One song. So standing at the bar, seeing several dozen people hopping in unison was really weird.

Sunday was another day for firsts. Originally there was going go to be 6-8 of us attending the game, but then I got two phone calls of bailouts. Not wanting to be the victim of circumstance, I did not back down. I will not go into the night. (I think that was the lines from Independence Day) So I met Juan at his place and we carpooled to the BankAtlantic Center to catch my first ever hockey game. The Florida Panthers had previously won 6 games prior to this game against the Atlanta Thrashers. Right off the start of the game, the Panthers scored a goal, not even two minutes into the first period. They added another later on, but the Thrashers scored their first (and only) goal in the second period. In the third period, the Panthers would add their third goal at the start of a power play. Literally, seven seconds into the power play they scored. Hockey I would say is one of the few sports that really has to be seen in person, not one television. Baseball would be the only other sport I can think of like that; granted it is slower, making it more relaxing. The arena is a LOT colder, a bit more fast paced (duh), but way more entertaining than baseball.

Panthers_landscape

There is something slightly reassuring about completing a somewhat difficult task. When we first moved into our apartment, the light in the patio did not work. The fan worked fine, but even after Sebastien replaced the bulbs, the light would not work. Well, if the light section won't work, go to the hardware store and get a new one. I even found one that said it fit standard fans. Of course, I found out the hard way our patio fan wasn't a "standard" fan as the light kit was too small for the fan unit. Huh, ok. Returned the light kit and, instead of getting another light kit that "may" fit, went with a complete fan unit. So the following Sunday, I shut off the appropriate circuit breaker and proceeded to disassemble the existing fan. Then, with Seb's help, we got the new fan motor up. It took a little ingenuity to get the wiring done as the household grounding wire was too small to work with; Sebastien came up with the idea to cut the ground wire from the old fan's mounting bracket and "extend" the short ground house wire. Once he had that wire connected, it was just a matter of getting the other wires together and the motor up onto the bracket and testing the unit. Attach the fan blades, housing, and light bulb, switch the circuit back on, and flip the switch. Ahhh. Spinning blades and light. All in less than an hour. Now the next time we have a poker night, there can be two tables going.

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It amazes me sometimes how many people are so reserved, caught up in being cautious, withdrawn in their circle ... that even a simple smile is difficult to find. When I was younger, much, much younger, even looking people in the face was difficult for me. It was easier for me to either look at the sidewalk or a person's shoes than to look them in the eyes. Then, over time, I sort of grew out of it ... I've learned people who are more scared of me than them. Since then, I have made a point to look more at faces than feet. When someone looks back, I am surprised ... when someone (specifically strangers) gives any sort of greeting, I am in shock. I can remember walking along a sidewalk, passing a guy going the opposite direction, and being so surprised that he said "Hello" that I almost forgot to reply the same. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, I subscribed to Yahoo Personals about a month ago (for a 2nd go around) and am wondering why respect is just as sparse online as on the street. I've about a dozen messages and twice as many Icebreakers (quick, free, pre-written Hi) and have to even get a "sorry, busy" reply back. People work, people live, people are busy. I get that ... I can be that. It seems that with life becoming increasingly more high-speed (internet, phones, TV, food, cars) that there is less time to do simple things because we can now do more things in a day.  A dating site is empirically a bar without the loud music or drinks ... you're putting your best features, how you look, what you are looking for, out there for the world to see. At the club, if an ugly dude/chick approaches attempts conversation ... most people give a polite declination. But then again, I don't frequent bars or clubs because of the loud music.

After 30 years of being on this planet, you would think I would understand how things work, how human nature varies from man and woman ... person to person. I am amazed at how numbers can be given without regard to replying when they are called. I thankfully have forgotten how many times I have been given a girl's number, I called, and gotten no return call. But then again, I have a few friends that have also neglected to call back, either. One I called to wish Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, and have yet to hear back from. But if I remember correctly, he's a workaholic.

With the end of one calendar is the start of a new calendar. Some people view the start of a new year as the chance to change themselves. A chance to drastically change some aspect of their life ... lifestyle. Many people make a "resolution" to loose weight, quit smoking, or give up some other habit. This is most noticeable in advertising circulars; for exhibit A I point to Sports Authority. Their ad this past weekend featured equipment labeled for those wishing to loose weight. Why don't we see follow up ads the rest of the year? Not re-emphasizing the most important (& probably most-made) New Year's Resolution gives reason to give up. I remember reading somewhere that it takes 30 days for brain to commit to a routine; if you continually do something (like go for a walk after dinner, read a chapter) every day, then it will become a habit. Now I know what you're saying, "Not for me, David. I still haven't been able to commit to doing _____." Wanna know what I say to that? Thhhbbbbb!!!! Hmmm ... everyone is different, what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. With a population of several billion people on this planet, and a genetic code made of up only a couple million, then it stands to reason that not everyone can be whatever. So unless you wish to continue buying hair color, go right ahead. Stick with it. That's all it takes, anyway. Find out what it takes for you to stick with it.