Become a Penny Flipper

I recently started flipping pennies.

 

This is to say when I see a tales up penny on the ground, you know, these faceless pennies known for their unlucky properties, I flip it over and leave the suddenly lucky heads up penny on the ground to be later discovered by someone who may see it, pick it up and add a little luck to their day.

Hopefully by doing so I am not causing some kind of luck disturbance in the world or altering the lucky benefits of these coins in comparison to their counterparts that naturally fall heads up. My intentions are pure. I just think the world could benefit from this overwhelming untapped luck potential.

It's just that, well, sometimes people need a little help finding something lucky or positive about their day. If we go around snatching up all the heads up pennies while leaving the tales up ones behind, eventually all we'll have is a bunch of bad luck piled all around and a bunch of humans who don't understand they can be part of the solution to sort it all out.

So, maybe we can spread the luck. If you see a tales up penny, flip it and help someone else find a lucky day. Who knows, one day maybe it'll be you who needs a little extra luck and it will be nice to know someone else flipped a penny for you.

Share Words as People Do

So, I think it is peculiar how people on couches can find a connection with people on TV. It’s strange. It’s strange because the people on the couch do not know the people on the TV nor will they likely ever meet, have the opportunity to chat and spend the time to get to know each other.

Even so, I reluctantly admit I am one of these couch people. I can't help it. Sometimes they are in my living room and chatting in a way that makes sense to me or I've been affected by the things they've done or created. I've asked myself the hypothetical question of who I'd be interested in meeting and talking with should the opportunity present itself. Being a new blogger, I'm going for the light-hearted five-person sit and chat scenario rather than one involving the heaping pile of serious issues and realities worth discussing... Perhaps another day. Anyway, here’s my list, in no particular order:

Christina Applegate – I found we shared similar opinions and emotions to the dancers and choreographed pieces on So You Think You Can Dance. I enjoy dance quite profoundly but it is not a passion I share with anyone in my life and I think it would be wonderful to sit and talk with someone who reacts to dance the way I do.

Cheryl Henson – I believe that The Muppets and Creatures of Jim Henson were a significant part of the village of individuals who raised me. I would love to thank her and her family for the amazing gifts they’ve given.

Stephen King – I evolved as a writer in my appreciation of Mr. King’s ability to choose and distribute his words. Writers are fun to talk with and it could be a potentially enjoyable conversation.

Daniel Tosh – He makes me laugh and I’m curious if my understanding of his humor is what I think it is.

Ellen DeGeneres – I think her energy and the sincerity she expresses are beautiful and feel it would be quite nice to share a conversation.

There are many other conversations I believe would be interesting to share, so don’t be offended if you are a well-known person and not listed above. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll meet someday and share words as people do.     

What does it mean to grow up?

I read a great list on buzzfeed.com titled 16 Things That Happen When You Become An Actual Adult. Granted the intention of the piece was focused on financial stability, but it got me thinking... Based on some of the attributes mentioned, it seems I'm still far from achieving this particular life goal- to be an adult. To help comfort myself during this time, I thought it might be fun to make my own list of the reasons why I am far, far from becoming an "actual adult" - While I'm super excited for those who have managed to make this impressive transformation, perhaps there are other overgrown children like me out there who lack the ability to properly grow up and don't mind so much.

15 Things That Let Others Know You Haven't Grown Up Yet

1) You enjoy coloring with crayons and "arts and crafts time" can still be used as a method of entertaining you so you don't get out of hand.

2) You prefer riding a bike to driving a car.

3) You have little trouble falling asleep... unless you are really excited.

4) You believe - without question- that The Muppets and Beings born at Jim Henson's Creature Shop are real.

5) You save money in a plastic jar for special things you want to buy.

6) With the exception of items given to you by parents and grandparents, ALL of your jewelry is either sterling silver or plastic. The really good pieces are both.

7) You sing aloud often and talk to yourself on a regular basis. Sometimes you sing the conversations you have with yourself because once you start, you can't stop.

8) Snow makes you happy

9) You don't think it's odd when people of the same gender or of different races kiss each other because you just think it's nice to see humans who are happy.

10) You'd rather play and laugh with your friends then discuss stock options, consumer reports or politics.

11) You need to be reminded on a regular basis that it's not always appropriate to answer all questions with complete honesty and the word "tact" is used a lot during the lectures.

12) You spend more time in the ocean than you do on the beach.

13) You enjoy smiling at and talking to strangers even though you've been told it's dangerous.

14) You believe that a bad day can be made better with a hug, comfy jammies and maybe some ice cream.

15) Not only do your children want to spend time with you but they surprise you every day by how amazing they are despite having you as a parent.

Thoughts on the Start of Football

So- the start of football season has arrived and I say “yay!” with genuine excitement mixed with a hint of anticipated exasperation. Excitement because I enjoy football- I enjoy sports in general—but with that enjoyment comes the knowledge that football begins as the race for playoff baseball heats up, creating a season filled with repetitive sports radio and its offspring, overspill guy-talk.

 

I enjoy overspill guy-talk. It’s entertaining for a few hours stretched out through the year. It provides interesting insight on the deepest desires of men and the significant simultaneous degree of envy, love and hatred they hold in their hearts for people and events that have little to no actual connection to their own well-being. It’s, well its mind-blowing to me and it builds this time of year to the point that most social events fall victim to the all encompassing conversation dictator. Did you see so and so do this or that? What were they thinking? That call was B.S! and on and on and on...

 

I do specify men here, but acknowledge the few exceptionally well versed and passionate women so their feelings won’t be hurt. Don’t get me wrong, I’m completely down with girl power in every respect but I do hold the personal opinion that there are a rare few women who successfully hold the complete and equal ability to throw down proper sports talk. It’s impressive to watch. Makes me a little jealous, but they’re a bit like unicorns so it feels right to be in complete awe of them.

 

Now, as I've said, I enjoy sports. 4 ½ of the men in my life and possibly 5 of the women think I’m reasonably athletic. I spent 30 of my 37 years learning and loving baseball and I broke the noses of two people through many years of soccer. I played volleyball in high school, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hockey and attend as many Patriots games as the family schedule allows. I'm a scenic mountain biker and, though I can’t do anything too impressive yet (C'mon inner American Ninja Warrior!), I feel like a powerful beast when I rock strength and conditioning at Dynamic. Yet, even with that extensive experience, I do not consider myself capable of participating in hard-core sports talk- I guess the anticipation mentioned above is a bit overstated... perhaps it's just- - - a lack of enthusiasm for extensive hypothetical conversation? 

 

Surprising, since I provided those exceptional arguments to support my sporting credentials but, truth is, I’m primarily an observer during whichever season happens to be upon us (though I give a bit of effort during hockey season). I know this of myself without question. I prefer my public sports talk and observations to be limited to small knowledge pops here and there. I dig the atmosphere but know that though I certainly have the mental ability to understand the finer details, statistics and strategies of these games, I am not capable of gathering enough motivation to do so to a degree required to meaningfully participate in the overspill and I don't think my contributions, regardless of their insight or potential brilliance, would be taken seriously. Its likely assumed I read or heard my opinion somewhere...

 

So knowledge pops work well for me. Quick bits of sports talk that do not continue on and on. They leave one free to voice an opinion and move to other topics. I got to know one of my greatest friends discussing the ground rule double many, many years ago. Short conversation with many perks. Just a fun fact. 

But tonight I’m typing and the fanatic fan is flip, flip, flipping between opening night football and rivalry baseball games and prepping for his next social occasion. I'm giggling at commentary and glancing up occasionally when something interesting happens. I love the safety, so it’s fun we’ve made it back to football in time to see. As for baseball... I did hear all night that every pitcher who faces him should try to hit Ortiz. I think it’s hilarious and wonderful how fantastic his night has been. Maybe that’s the real reason I should refrain from sports talk?