The Whole Wide World

-
I suppose that we all have the urge to call something the absolute worst or the greatest ever.

People do it all the time.

Kids say G.O.A.T.

The Greatest of All Time.

I hear it about Michael Jordan and it makes my skin crawl a little.

I say it to my dogs all the time:

"Who's the greatest dog in the whole wide world?

You have to emphasize 'whole wide' to make it even more effective.

Order a pizza sometime...the box that it comes in will proclaim it...the 'best pizza in town'.

So I don't throw around the labels lightly.

My dogs are the greatest in the 'whole wide' world.

Mariano Rivera was the G.O.A.T. of relief pitchers.

Springsteen is the greatest entertainer in the history of the world.

Chamberlin was the greatest basketball player ever.

So...

...I rarely do it.

"This is the worst winter I've ever been a part of," I said to my beautiful wife.

"Pretty bad," she said.

She wasn't quite yet ready to proclaim it.

"85 inches of snow in November. We haven't seen temperatures over 30 all month. Every other day we are under an advisory of sorts. Cold, blowing, freezing, sliding off the road, slipping on the ice."

"We're just getting older. Seems worse."

Perhaps.

Maybe it is just like Jordan.

Maybe we're saying it enough and people are just repeating it.

Like replaying his game-winning shot to win the title against the Jazz. A play he pushed off on.

He was about 8 for 40 in the game.

Yet I look out the window.

Blowing snow.

Freezing temps.

Yep.

I'm saying it.

It's been the worst winter in the whole wide world.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more