The other day on my way home from work I was listening to the radio and 4:00 Trivia came on. Normally, I never call in...even if I know the answer, but this was for two free movie tickets, so I HAD to call in.
The question was: "Stairs and bicycles are two of the top three inanimate objects that cause accidents. What is the third inanimate object?"
I thought for about two seconds when BALLS came to my mind. Balls, balls, balls, it has to be balls. People get hit with balls all the time. I've had two accidents where balls were the number one cause. When I was about 14 I played short-stop and I got hit by a line drive right in the mouth. It hurt really bad. No teeth were lost, but there was a lot of blood.
In high school, my coach had me out in right field, and I was sprinting to catch a fly ball. I ran so fast that I didn't pay any attention to my surroundings. The next thing I remember is literally bouncing off the fence with my FACE and landing on the ground. I had fence markings on my chin for about a week. *I caught the ball, though, but when I fell to the ground the ball fell out, and the umpire said it wasn't an out. What a lousy ump.*
BALLS! It has to be. So I start dialing. Busy signal. Redial. Busy Signal. Redial. Busy signal. Redial. Busy signal. I couldn't get through. Typical.
Then the song ends and someone guesses the toilet. Wrong. I know it's balls, so I call in again. Busy signal. Redial. Busy signal. Redial. Busy signal. Redial. Busy signal. I give up.
The next person guesses a ladder. Good guess, but wrong. So the radio host gives a clue, "It's something you throw." Ugh, I was right!!!! But I couldn't get through. I'm spinning angry.
I didn't even try again to call in, because only a dummy would call in and get the answer wrong. There was no use for me to keep redialing only to hear more busy signals. Those movie passes could've been mine. Balls.
Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Ride a Bike
Before the age of sixteen my bicycle was my only form of transportation. The faster I pedaled, the farther I ventured into my imagination: I was the cop, they were the robbers. I was a motorcyclist on the open road. I was the navigator of my airplane.
I grew up in a neighborhood with four other houses settled in a cul-de-sac. We all called it "The Circle." Across the road was my best neighborhood friend, Dusty. We would ride our bikes constantly around the circle, through our yards, and down to the stop sign at the end of our road only to turn around and do it all over again.
We would see how fast we could take the inside corner of "The Circle" where light sand and dirt settled. Sometimes we would wipe out. Sometimes not.
One time, Dusty rode on my bike handles. It wasn't safe, but it was fun. Especially when he flew off my handlebars because I hit the brakes too hard and quick. We never did that again. It sure was funny though.
When we drew our chalk houses on our driveways, our bikes were our cars and were parked in our chalk garages.
Our bikes acted as step-ladders propped next to a tree in order to get a frisbee down or to simply just climb a tree.
I would "repair" my bike in our garage. Fiddling with my dad's tools, not really doing anything to fix the unbroken bike, but to pretend that I knew how to fix my bike, because it was fun.
I loved my bike as a child. Almost everything I did growing up was with my bike. At first it was my sister's banana seater, and then I received my own NEW bike as a birthday gift around the age of 11 or so.
It saddens me to see some kids who don't appreciate the power of the bicycle. They are too busy with video games and television. My childhood was my bike and the adventures we had together, and I hope my kids (when I have them someday) will share this love too.
I grew up in a neighborhood with four other houses settled in a cul-de-sac. We all called it "The Circle." Across the road was my best neighborhood friend, Dusty. We would ride our bikes constantly around the circle, through our yards, and down to the stop sign at the end of our road only to turn around and do it all over again.
We would see how fast we could take the inside corner of "The Circle" where light sand and dirt settled. Sometimes we would wipe out. Sometimes not.
One time, Dusty rode on my bike handles. It wasn't safe, but it was fun. Especially when he flew off my handlebars because I hit the brakes too hard and quick. We never did that again. It sure was funny though.
When we drew our chalk houses on our driveways, our bikes were our cars and were parked in our chalk garages.
Our bikes acted as step-ladders propped next to a tree in order to get a frisbee down or to simply just climb a tree.
I would "repair" my bike in our garage. Fiddling with my dad's tools, not really doing anything to fix the unbroken bike, but to pretend that I knew how to fix my bike, because it was fun.
I loved my bike as a child. Almost everything I did growing up was with my bike. At first it was my sister's banana seater, and then I received my own NEW bike as a birthday gift around the age of 11 or so.
It saddens me to see some kids who don't appreciate the power of the bicycle. They are too busy with video games and television. My childhood was my bike and the adventures we had together, and I hope my kids (when I have them someday) will share this love too.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wednesday Musings: Take Thirteen (8 Questions)
Jill from Life After College tagged me in a questionnaire where I answer 8 questions. Since I was lucky enough to be tagged, I figured I would let it take my Wednesday Musings' place.
1. Female-Thongs or boyshorts?
This is a hard one. On one hand, thongthongthongthongthongthong. On the other hand, boyshorts are so cute and comfortable. So both. I'm wearing both right now...I mean, I pick BOTH!! Yes, I pick both, and I wear them both, but not at the same time...that would be weird.
2. What's your favorite kind of ice-cream?
Anything with peanut butter in it :) But at Culver's (custard instead of ice cream) I pick chocolate custard with Andes Mints...my nephew introduced me to it. He has good taste.
3. What's your most embarrassing moment?
Uhhh, gosh I can't think of any particular moment. I have stupid moments that are slightly embarrassing, but not omigod-I-CAN'T-live-another-day-embarrassing moments. I have a pretty good humor about these things, so I brush embarrassing moments off with a smile. Like today, I brushed off about three moments with my smile.
4. What age was your first kiss?
I was in 7th or 8th grade. I kissed a boy who played the trumpet. We were in one of the band practice rooms during recess. If we had a "pass" we could stay in from recess and practice our instrument. (I swear I wasn't a band geek) I played the trumpet too, so this boy and I practiced and then I gave him a kiss on the cheek. Hahaha, then I ran out and told my friend who was practicing in another room. I didn't abide by the "kiss and don't tell" rule. I was a rebel. A rebel who played the trumpet.
5. Do you prefer cats, dogs, or neither?
Cats, but I have a sister-in-law who is allergic. So if I ever get a pet, I would love to get a small dog for an apartment, but then when I get my own house someday I will have an outside cat ;) My whole life is now planned out.
6. Do you have any tattoos?
Yes. I look like Kat Von D. I'm all inked up ;) Haha, not.
7. What do you hope has changed in this world by 3010?
I hope we have cars like in the movie I, Robot where they drive themselves. Why am I saying "I hope..." I won't be around. Ooooh, but I hope that people will be studying my works in English class or watching my films and saying: "That Kinsey - she must have been pretty awesome back in the day."
8. What's your favorite book?
Hmmmm, I really enjoy all the Chelsea Handler books, but to be literary (as I studied the subject)...The Handmaid's Tale is really good. Margaret Atwood is brilliant! But my favorite, favorite, favorite book takes me back to the 5th grade - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Makes me want to get lost in the woods and eat berries and throw up from eating too many berries. What an adventure.
1. Female-Thongs or boyshorts?
This is a hard one. On one hand, thongthongthongthongthongthong. On the other hand, boyshorts are so cute and comfortable. So both. I'm wearing both right now...I mean, I pick BOTH!! Yes, I pick both, and I wear them both, but not at the same time...that would be weird.
2. What's your favorite kind of ice-cream?
Anything with peanut butter in it :) But at Culver's (custard instead of ice cream) I pick chocolate custard with Andes Mints...my nephew introduced me to it. He has good taste.
3. What's your most embarrassing moment?
Uhhh, gosh I can't think of any particular moment. I have stupid moments that are slightly embarrassing, but not omigod-I-CAN'T-live-another-day-embarrassing moments. I have a pretty good humor about these things, so I brush embarrassing moments off with a smile. Like today, I brushed off about three moments with my smile.
4. What age was your first kiss?
I was in 7th or 8th grade. I kissed a boy who played the trumpet. We were in one of the band practice rooms during recess. If we had a "pass" we could stay in from recess and practice our instrument. (I swear I wasn't a band geek) I played the trumpet too, so this boy and I practiced and then I gave him a kiss on the cheek. Hahaha, then I ran out and told my friend who was practicing in another room. I didn't abide by the "kiss and don't tell" rule. I was a rebel. A rebel who played the trumpet.
5. Do you prefer cats, dogs, or neither?
Cats, but I have a sister-in-law who is allergic. So if I ever get a pet, I would love to get a small dog for an apartment, but then when I get my own house someday I will have an outside cat ;) My whole life is now planned out.
6. Do you have any tattoos?
Yes. I look like Kat Von D. I'm all inked up ;) Haha, not.
7. What do you hope has changed in this world by 3010?
I hope we have cars like in the movie I, Robot where they drive themselves. Why am I saying "I hope..." I won't be around. Ooooh, but I hope that people will be studying my works in English class or watching my films and saying: "That Kinsey - she must have been pretty awesome back in the day."
8. What's your favorite book?
Hmmmm, I really enjoy all the Chelsea Handler books, but to be literary (as I studied the subject)...The Handmaid's Tale is really good. Margaret Atwood is brilliant! But my favorite, favorite, favorite book takes me back to the 5th grade - Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Makes me want to get lost in the woods and eat berries and throw up from eating too many berries. What an adventure.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Just Keep Swimming
Today is the first day that we are using our pool this year. We've had some pretty crappy weather up to this point. Also, we had to put in a new liner, since ours has weathered for about 20 years.
It's supposed to be 88 degrees and sunny! Yes!!! HOT WEATHER! I love it.
I remember as a kid swimming with my brothers and sisters. Oftentimes, we would set up a volleyball net and have friends over to play. Then we got a slide. That was a very exciting time for us.
We found that we would slide down faster if we put my kickboard under us as we went down the slide. Surprisingly, no one got hurt.
When I was really young, I remember being thrown into the pool by my older brothers - Blake more than Boyd. This resulted in time-outs for Blake, and me crying (of course!).
Luckily for me, I grew up with two pools to play in. My neighbor, Dusty, also had a pool. Dusty and I spent most of our summer afternoons in the pool playing "Shark" with his older brother Derek. Then Dusty and I would get tired of swimming, so we would build forts on the deck out of lawn chairs, towels, and pool toys. That was my favorite.
As far back as I can remember, swimming has always meant summer to me. It's sad that I've grown away from being thrown in the pool and playing "Shark" with Dusty, but we all have to grow up...that doesn't mean I have to stop from forever playing those games though - I have young nieces and nephews!
It's supposed to be 88 degrees and sunny! Yes!!! HOT WEATHER! I love it.
I remember as a kid swimming with my brothers and sisters. Oftentimes, we would set up a volleyball net and have friends over to play. Then we got a slide. That was a very exciting time for us.
We found that we would slide down faster if we put my kickboard under us as we went down the slide. Surprisingly, no one got hurt.
When I was really young, I remember being thrown into the pool by my older brothers - Blake more than Boyd. This resulted in time-outs for Blake, and me crying (of course!).
Luckily for me, I grew up with two pools to play in. My neighbor, Dusty, also had a pool. Dusty and I spent most of our summer afternoons in the pool playing "Shark" with his older brother Derek. Then Dusty and I would get tired of swimming, so we would build forts on the deck out of lawn chairs, towels, and pool toys. That was my favorite.
As far back as I can remember, swimming has always meant summer to me. It's sad that I've grown away from being thrown in the pool and playing "Shark" with Dusty, but we all have to grow up...that doesn't mean I have to stop from forever playing those games though - I have young nieces and nephews!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Light as a feather
One of my favorite slumber party memories with my girl friends when I was younger was playing games like "Light as a feather, stiff as a board." We would pick our culprit (normally it was the smallest friend) and gather around her body. With two fingers from each hand under our skinny little pal, we listened as the person at the head of the body rubbed the soon-to-be levitated girl's temples tell a story ( a scary one). In the story, the person would die, and then all of us girls would chant "light as a feather, stiff as a board" over and over.
Then we would giggle and have to start over, because our laughing broke our concentration and that was obviously the reason why our lightweight friend wasn't levitating in my basement at 3:00 in the morning.
Other times we would sneak in the bathroom and try the Bloody Mary trick - which was probably one of the most exciting/funny, but scarier moments during our slumber parties. (We didn't get much sleep at these parties).
We would huddle in the bathroom and turn off the lights. Then we would say "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary" through our tightly clenched teeth and squinted eyes. Unfortunately, we never saw Bloody Mary. I don't know what was wrong with us as children, but the thrill of seeing a child serial killer intrigued us. I blame scary movies.
After the absence of a Mary's apparition in the mirror, we resorted to biting down on Lifesaver's Peppermints. Ya know, the white ones. They spark in your mouth. You have to have the lights off to get the whole effect. Try it.
Then there was the Ouija board. My friend Hayley had one, and after we watched Scary Movie 2 one night, we decided to converse with a dead person. By the way, I recently watched Scary Movie 2, and can easily understand all the references. It's too funny!
Anyway, we got out the obituary section of the newspaper and tried to contact some dead lady. It didn't work. It never worked.
So why did we keep trying? It seemed like almost every slumber party we had, we tried to levitate someone of summon Bloody Mary to rip one of our faces off. We were thrill seekers. Luckily, nothing ever happened...or did it?? (Cue the creepy music).
Then we would giggle and have to start over, because our laughing broke our concentration and that was obviously the reason why our lightweight friend wasn't levitating in my basement at 3:00 in the morning.
Other times we would sneak in the bathroom and try the Bloody Mary trick - which was probably one of the most exciting/funny, but scarier moments during our slumber parties. (We didn't get much sleep at these parties).
We would huddle in the bathroom and turn off the lights. Then we would say "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary" through our tightly clenched teeth and squinted eyes. Unfortunately, we never saw Bloody Mary. I don't know what was wrong with us as children, but the thrill of seeing a child serial killer intrigued us. I blame scary movies.
After the absence of a Mary's apparition in the mirror, we resorted to biting down on Lifesaver's Peppermints. Ya know, the white ones. They spark in your mouth. You have to have the lights off to get the whole effect. Try it.
Then there was the Ouija board. My friend Hayley had one, and after we watched Scary Movie 2 one night, we decided to converse with a dead person. By the way, I recently watched Scary Movie 2, and can easily understand all the references. It's too funny!
Anyway, we got out the obituary section of the newspaper and tried to contact some dead lady. It didn't work. It never worked.
So why did we keep trying? It seemed like almost every slumber party we had, we tried to levitate someone of summon Bloody Mary to rip one of our faces off. We were thrill seekers. Luckily, nothing ever happened...or did it?? (Cue the creepy music).
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Driving in the Dark
I think my fear of driving in the dark started back when I was younger. We would drive two hours up north-usually in the dark-to my grandparents (literally over the river and through the woods), for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc... I felt like we were always on the lookout for deer. One time, I was in the backseat with my sisters when my mom yelled, "DEER!" My dad slammed on the brakes, the Barbies in the back window flew forward and hit me in the head, and we may or may not have hit the deer (I can't remember...it was obviously a traumatizing moment for me).
Ever since that experience, I hate deer or anything that decides to cross the road blindly at night. Ugh, why can't they just look both ways and cross when it's safe??
Last night, I was driving home from River Falls. It was 11:00pm and absolutely no one else was on the road with me. No one. My hands were choking the steering wheel in the 10 and 2 o'clock position, and my eyes continually scanned the road and ditches for little red eyes. Then I saw something, but it wasn't a deer...maybe a coyote or a fox...it was low to the ground and it sprinted across the road. I didn't slam on my brakes, because there was no need to, but my heart was pounding a mile a minute and my lower body went numb - no joke. I hate driving at night.
I have another story too. Back in high school I was driving my friend Andrea-the one I was visiting in River Falls-back from a volleyball game. We live in a semi-farming community, so horses and cows are fenced in close to the road. So we're driving down the country road and I see a gigantic animal about 200 yards away.
"LION!!!" I yell. My common sense must disappear when I'm caught in a frightening situation, because there is no way that lions live in Wisconsin.
Andrea asks, "Where?" But now I've slammed hard on the brakes. In front of us is a ginormous Clydesdale Horse that looks like it is about to eat us and the car whole. Mr. Ed's steroid cousin starts creeping towards us.
"What do I do? WhatdoIdo?" I scream to Andrea, who is pretty calm compared to me. She tells me to back up and drive into the owner's driveway. So I do. There, we get out and walk to the owner's door. The horse follows and we watch it lounge around in the yard as we knock. Andrea explains to the owner what happened and he puts the horse back where it belongs.
Now that the adrenaline rush has subsided, Andrea and I laugh uncontrollably the rest of the way home.
So for all the deer, coyotes/foxes, and horses out there: Stay off the road, please. I don't want my last words to be "Lion!" as Bambi prances from the ditch into my headlights.
Ever since that experience, I hate deer or anything that decides to cross the road blindly at night. Ugh, why can't they just look both ways and cross when it's safe??
Last night, I was driving home from River Falls. It was 11:00pm and absolutely no one else was on the road with me. No one. My hands were choking the steering wheel in the 10 and 2 o'clock position, and my eyes continually scanned the road and ditches for little red eyes. Then I saw something, but it wasn't a deer...maybe a coyote or a fox...it was low to the ground and it sprinted across the road. I didn't slam on my brakes, because there was no need to, but my heart was pounding a mile a minute and my lower body went numb - no joke. I hate driving at night.
I have another story too. Back in high school I was driving my friend Andrea-the one I was visiting in River Falls-back from a volleyball game. We live in a semi-farming community, so horses and cows are fenced in close to the road. So we're driving down the country road and I see a gigantic animal about 200 yards away.
"LION!!!" I yell. My common sense must disappear when I'm caught in a frightening situation, because there is no way that lions live in Wisconsin.
Andrea asks, "Where?" But now I've slammed hard on the brakes. In front of us is a ginormous Clydesdale Horse that looks like it is about to eat us and the car whole. Mr. Ed's steroid cousin starts creeping towards us.
"What do I do? WhatdoIdo?" I scream to Andrea, who is pretty calm compared to me. She tells me to back up and drive into the owner's driveway. So I do. There, we get out and walk to the owner's door. The horse follows and we watch it lounge around in the yard as we knock. Andrea explains to the owner what happened and he puts the horse back where it belongs.
Now that the adrenaline rush has subsided, Andrea and I laugh uncontrollably the rest of the way home.
So for all the deer, coyotes/foxes, and horses out there: Stay off the road, please. I don't want my last words to be "Lion!" as Bambi prances from the ditch into my headlights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)