Showing posts with label Square Dancing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Square Dancing. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Long time no talk

So it has been a "couple of days" since I've dropped a blog post.

Well, this blog finds me in a mental situation that I'm not exactly happy I am in.  To put everyone's minds at ease, no I'm not thinking of hurting myself or anything along those lines.

I have been the president of a square dance club for five of the past seven years.  To say that I'm getting burned out would be an understatement.  The problem is that when I ask everyone in the club if they would like to run for vice president, every single one of them say one of two things.  Either a) "But you are doing such a fine job, I wouldn't want to ruin your track run."  or b) "I'm much more of a follower than I am a leader."

I'm about to say screw it and walk away from the whole mess.  But then, I feel guilty about not fulfilling my duties so I go back and try and figure out who I could ask to run for VP or president.

In other news, since my last post I have been hired as the PA Announcer (for 3 sports) and Play-by-Play Announcer (for 3 other sports, including baseball!) for the Point Loma Nazarene University Sea Lions.  While I love these jobs, they don't pay worth shit.  I also am a reporter for a website that specializes in high school sports.  I have also offered to do Play-by-Play for the high schools, but no one has been willing to pay the $50 to bring me out to do that.  It is really bugging me since I laid out $800 for the equipment this past summer.

I think I'm done venting and stuff.

Talk to you in a few weeks.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Auto Club Speedway and the Boys

Well, I know it's Thursday night and I did it last Sunday, I should have written earlier. School remember....

So last Sunday, Matty, Phil, Stephen and myself all went to Auto Club Speedway for the Pepsi 500. We got up to Fontana and got our passes and found our way to the press box situated between the ESPN booth and race control. It would have been really cool to have watched the race from there.

From there we were kicked out, mainly because someone at the track didn't have a clue where we were supposed to be. So we eventually got to the correct press box above pit road, sounds better than what it actually was. From where I was sitting in the press box I was able to see about 5 seconds of racing every lap (the avg lap times were in the 39-46 sec range). The rest of the time I was either paying attention to the worlds longest fantasy football draft (another story altogether, look below) or cranking my head up and to the right so that I could watch the ESPN feed which was on HD, but also on a 7 second delay.

Now about the fantasy football draft.

The draft seemed pretty straight forward, 18 rounds for a 10 team league. So much for being a simple draft. There were a few rookies, usually no big deal. The big deal came when some of the owners where either not paying attentino to who had been drafted or just gave up only 5 rounds into the draft. The draft got underway as the National Anthem was being sung at the race. 4 hours later as the race was closing in on the checkers (finish), the draft was only in round 14. I finally gave up, and told everyone to just pick the best player available. A fantasy football draft, no matter how long it is should take more than 3 hours. Absolutely ridicioulous. I even asked for a clock to be put on the picks due to the talent pool being dwindeled down so far I was informed that they were going as fast as possible. That might be the truth, but when everything is looked at from a impartal viewpoint, after the 5th round, you should be able to make a pick (if you know who has been picked) within a minute at the most.

So this weekend, I'm going on yet another trip, I'm going up to "Don't forget the lyrics" in the mornign with my mom. Then on Saturday, after announcing the Cuesta Panthers Vs. Grossmont Women's Volleyball match, My mom, Julie (hopefully Mary) and myself all head up to Lakewood to meet up with the Mays and then to Bako to surprise a friend.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

And then it was summer

WOW, my fears of Wichita in June came true today.....HOT and kinda sticky.

I woke up today late (10:30) and took care of the standard morning things. We found a Denny's for breakfast and then came back to the hotel. I called the Mays and since we were all going to be going to the same places, we did it together. We went to the NSDC to get our badges, and while the Mays were taking care of some problems they were having with the badges, we shopped at the NSDC booth (since it was the only booth open, it was not a hard choice to see where we wanted to shop!). From there we migrated over to Sheplers here in Wichita. Sheplers is a big time western catalog business that has a few actual stores (LV & Wichita to name a couple). The Mays found some stuff, I found a really sweet looking Budweiser shirt, but they did not have it in my size (I found the only one and it was a small, there is no way a small is going to fit me!!!!). After that and the group seeing someone get pulled over by Wichita police we went to a local eatery (Town & Country) to have dinner. I had a mesquite grilled catfish plate, mom had Beef brisket, and dad had wait for it...... a salad!!!!!!!! During dinner (since I know Jesse will bring it up) I was eating mom's jello that had fruit inside of it. I made a few wrong turns and quite a bit of it ended up on either me or the floor (refer to the May's P.A.D. possibly for more information).

Finally dance time came around, neither mom nor I did a lot of dancing (Mom 0, Chris 1 -- Tip scoreboard) mainly because we were as tradition, getting all of our ducks in a row for the rest of the convention. We were trying to find where the L&F booth is (really hidden behind two different halls, ours will be more in your face) and finding out what time we are going to be working the 58th NSDC shop (it was never open tonight, so we still have no idea).

Anyways so now it is time to go to bed cause we need to be at the Mays RV around 8 so that we can go to the Salt Mines about 1 hr NNW of Wichita, and when we are up there, we are going to an Amish restaurant for breakfast (hope mom can find something to eat). Later!

P.S. If you care, Fresno State ended up winning the CWS tonight after defeating Georgia 6-1. Zach Stone (son of NBC 7/39 Sports reporter/Weekend Anchor Jim Stone) bothered me tonight during the dance to let me know that the Central Valley Bull Dogs ended up winning the game with the guy form RB closing the game out. Memo to Zach, who give a bleep. It was not Wichita State, Miami, or Rice in the finals. Both Bull Dog (Dawg for Georgia) teams got hot at the end of the season, Fresno State was only 4 games above .500 going into the conference tournament, they really should not have even been in Wichita. They got there the only way they could by winning the WAC tourney, and then getting luck in the CWS tourney.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Good for me

Well I guess this is one thing to do when you can't sleep, blog. This could be an interesting blog, who knows how much sense it will make as I'm writing it at 3:10 in the morning (PDT).

Well, to catch you up on what is going on in my life. Single Spinners had their first open week in class last night, we had 8 people come by, obviously we are hoping for more to come over the next two weeks. Since I'm the VP of Spinners, that means I'm also the class coordinator. Lots of memorization of names over the next few weeks. The plan I have for this class is to have a hands off approach for the first month. If I see any cliques forming I'm going to break them up, unlike the last few class coordinators we have has at Spinners.

After the dance, instead of coming home and working on homework, I decided to swing by the 24Hour fitness in College Grove (a shopping center in SD for those that don't know) and signed up for a membership. Not a bad deal either, normally with the initiation fee and processing and all the other junk, it comes out to be about $185 & $40/mo. Well, the guy that I talked to gave me a real deal, no initiation fee. Just first / last and a small processing fee of $24 for a grand total of $72 w/ monthly $24 dues. The only draw back to it is that it is the one club only, if I want to up grade to all clubs, I'm guessing it will jump up dramatically.

Well, I'm going to again try and fall asleep, I went to bed originally around 12:30.

Monday, April 21, 2008

What a weekend....

So, for those that actually care (I know Jesse doesn't but bear with me buddy), the SDCC baseball team swept a doubleheader from Westmont College in Santa Barbara by scores of 5-4 and 2-0. The team has five games remaining in this season, the team right now needs to win out and have quite a few other teams lose at least two games in order to get into the playoffs. Taking a quick look at the potential 2009 season schedule some interesting opponents are shaping up for the Hawks. If the potential schedule that I have been hearing rumors about are true, then the Hawks will be taking on Lewis & Clark State, Sioux Falls, Occidental, San Francisco State, UC San Diego, CSU-Bakersfield, and in what could be a very questionable matchup.....San Diego State.

Now about last weekend. We (my Mom, Matt, and I) left San Diego and flew Virgin America to San Francisco International. First let me say, Virgin America blows my former employer OUT OF THE WATER. Some of the finer points of the VA experience are the fact that TV is free (unlike my previous employer), music videos, and chattin within the plane. Every single seat is covered in leather, and the seats are made by Ferrari (you can't get much better than that). We arrived in San Fran at 3:45 pm on Friday. After a 2 stops on our way to Sacramento that totaled maybe 10 minutes, we arrived at our hotel at 8:15 pm. We got settled in and got ready for the dance and went to the dance. After the dance some friends and I went to Denny's for a post-dance hangout.


On Saturday, we went back to the convention, and had fun during the day dancing and hanging out with friends. I was chosen to coach a square in the annual Youth compitition against my good friend Jesse. Jesse going into this weekend was a clean 5-0 against me, well, you can now make that 5-1 as my square finally got me off the schnid.


Saturday at the after party, Robert Woodard stepped up to the stage to call. For those who don't know, I do know how to call, but thanks to everyone in SD not giving me a chance over the last four years. Andy Allemao who graduated in the same class as I did is now not only calling throughout the state, he is getting out of state gigs now as well. Me, nothing since no club will give me a shot at practicing in front of live squares. That is all for my venting.


On Sunday, Mom, Matty, and I all left Sacramento after driving by the state capitol, and then making our way to Vacaville to visit the Outlet Center. After purchasing a few items there, we went to a great Italian place, where the sexiest looking woman in all of Northern California is working. She is So Cal quality trapped in nowhere-ville in Nor Cal. Wow, I'm still thinking of her two days later.


We made our way down to "the city by the bay" and stopped in the middle of the bay on Treasure Island. This brought back some memories for me as I spent two weeks on this base when it was still a Naval Station.
We took a few pictures from the middle of SF Bay and then we went down the Embarcadero in SF I have no idea how I did it, but I found Lombard Street, and went down that famous street. Saw the TransAmerica building from several different angles.
From there, we made our way over to SFO (the airport code for San Francisco International, in case you didn't know). We flew home to SD and then fell into bed.
This is a great warmup for me as this summer I will be traveling to the Mid-West. On that trip my Mom, Dad, & I will be visting Des Moines (where my Dad grew up) then over to Omaha to watch some CWS action, and then down to Whichita for the National Square Dance Convention. It should be fun. Til I write again, Later.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Greetings from a very bored person

So welcome to bog 1.008, with a week between bog's you would think alot is going on in the life of Chris, well, you would be wrong.

Monday - School & take care of Elizabeth's dogs.
Tuesday - School, Elizabeth's dogs, and square dancing.
Wednesday - School, Elizabeth's dogs, and watching the CSU-Bakersfield Roadrunners defeat the USD Torreros.
Thursday - School, Elizabeth's dogs, and hand and foot
Friday - School, hosting dinner with friends, and work
Saturday - Patriots football and Clear Channel "holiday" party

As far as stats class is concerned, not going well. I believe that even though I really don't have time to re-take the class, I think that I might have to re-take it.

When the regular spring semester begins on the 28th, I will be taking English, Physical Anthropology, Principals of Information Systems, MicroEconomics, & the crash course is Public Speaking. A very full course load!

News of the weird: Thanks to the AP.
WEST HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - An obstetrician saved his wife and six children from a fire that ravaged their home, delivered a baby while the house was still smoldering and then got cited with building violations. Dr. Herman Weiss said Friday "was just my day."The 37-year-old awoke around 3 a.m. to the screech of a smoke detector and the sight of flames inching up an outside wall of his Long Island home. He got his family to safety, then was paged and went to a hospital to deliver an infant around 6 a.m.The fire brought scrutiny from building inspectors, who cited the Weisses with a discrepancy in plumbing plans and living in the house without a certificate of occupancy. Weiss said the family had hired a lawyer to get one.The family has been ordered to tear down the damaged house. Weiss said he hopes to rebuild in the same place.

Well, lets look at this from a very impartial view. If they have been living there, then why not overlook the fact that they don’t have the permit and let them live there. Sheez, city governments and they wounder why they have a bad reputation.

Unti we get together again for bog 1.009, see ya latter.

PS If you are wondering how the resolutions are going, they are are still in effect.