I Broke Down

-
Back years ago around 1998 I made a deal with my kids.

Matt, being the oldest of the dopes...and the only one actually coherent at that time - (Sam wasn't even here!) got to decide on 4 teams to choose to win a championship.

If any of those teams won one...they would get a pool.

Matt chose:

1). The Buffalo Sabres

2). The Buffalo Bills

3). The Charlotte Hornets

4). The Oakland A's

I tried to explain to him that the idea behind it was to actually get a pool and that he should probably choose the Yankees...but he had his mind made up.

The Sabres almost actually got there immediately, but lost in the finals.

The Bills...well...sorry to kick a franchise when it's down...haven't been in a playoff game since '99.

The Hornets aren't even there anymore...that choice has turned into the New Orleans Pelicans (Matt is a strange bird).

And the Oakland A's finished dead last and look down for a while. They did make me nervous a couple of times, but despite having a movie made about how great they were in losing to the Yankees...

Had Matt chosen the Yankees on that day in '98...they would have had 4 pools.

Anywhoha...

End result:

Nothing wet to soak your body in!

Until yesterday.

I relaxed the rule.

A hot tub became available and I was asked by my nephew, James, if we wanted it.

"If you bring it to me and set it up," I said.

"Deal."

(My nephew forgot more about building things and fixing things than I ever knew).

A couple of hours later...

...the water was getting warm.

At the precise time when the tub was being set up, the Bills were falling behind the Jags 27-3.

The boys were livid.

I felt badly for them.

"Well, you got a hot tub," I mentioned.

"Shut-up!" they said in unison.

I can't wait to soak my tired legs!

But I'm thinking there will always be a kid in the tub!

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