Category Archives: Life

Jan5

his boots were made for blockin’

Posted on January 5, 2022 by beth

life is all about luck and timing

this story recently resurfaced and was too good not to share.

Cleveland Indians pitcher Kyle Denney won’t complain about having to dress like a cheerleader again. The white go-go boots that went with the outfit might have prevented a bullet from seriously injuring his leg.

The rookie was hit in the right calf by a shot that came through the side of the Indians’ bus in Kansas City as the team traveled to the airport after a victory over the Royals. The bullet caused only a flesh wound, probably because of the tough leather of the knee-high boot, Denney and his trainers said.

All of Cleveland’s rookies were decked out in outfits on the bus that weren’t their usual dress, part of a hazing ritual. An Oklahoma native, Denney said his teammates told him to dress as a USC cheerleader because the Sooners are ranked second behind Southern California in the Associated Press college football poll. “I’ve never been so glad to have a USC thing on.” Kevin Hallinan, senior vice president of security for the commissioner’s office, met with Kansas City police on Thursday regarding the shooting, which happened as the bus traveled along a highway ramp.

Hallinan said the shooting appeared to be random, and that police had no suspects. Team trainers removed the bullet from Denney’s leg while he was still on the bus, and he stayed overnight at a Kansas City hospital before rejoining his team.

“As soon as the skin heals, it should be fine,” Denney said at the news conference, where he wore a suit and walked without a noticeable limp. “The way he handled the situation was pretty awesome,” said outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who was sitting across the aisle from Denney and was grazed by debris. “Now I know the guy can pitch in the big leagues, ’cause he got shot by a bullet and was about as calm as can be.” Indians spokesman Bart Swain said there was momentary panic on the bus before teammates realized Denney was not seriously hurt, and Ludwick said that is when “a lot of jokes started flying.” Denney said he hopes the shooter realizes the consequences could have been much worse.”I thought it was just another prank, like a firecracker or something,” Denney said. “I didn’t know I was shot until I saw the blood.”

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“when you see someone putting on his big boots, you can be pretty sure an adventure is going to happen.”

-a.a. milne

—

Credits: Washington Post, Andres Ybarra /AP -2004

Jan4

good words.

Posted on January 4, 2022 by beth

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sometimes finding good words is a walk in the park.

—

“good words are worth much, and cost little.”

-george herbert

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gallup park in winter, ann arbor, mi, usa

Jan2

brim.

Posted on January 2, 2022 by beth

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on new year’s eve

i was reminded

that life

is at least half full

and often at the brim.

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“life’s enchanted cup sparkles near the brim.”

-lord byron

Dec27

thirty one cents. (and lots of interest due)

Posted on December 27, 2021 by beth

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many years ago

way back in first grade

i took thirty one cents

from hillman bailey III’s open desk

it was a matter of greed and opportunity

that spurred me on

i was really wanting candy from the store

sitting right in front of me

there appeared thirty one cents

almost dropping in my lap

i would repay hillman one day

when i got a job

at least this is all what i told myself

when i bought candy at the store

with my windfall

it didn’t taste as good as i expected

feeling lousy inside

i never told hillman

never made any attempt to make the situation right

but over the years i’ve thought about it

from time to time

today when paying cash at the grocery store

thirty one cents

dropped into the change slot

left it for the next person

maybe they had a child who wanted candy

silently said i was sorry

donated it back into the universe

on behalf of hillman bailey III

trying to make good on my word.

—

“guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.”

-erma bombeck

Dec23

an answer.

Posted on December 23, 2021 by beth

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THE NIGHT TRAVELER

Passing by, he could be anybody:

A thief, a tradesman, a doctor

On his way to a worried house.

But when he stops at your gate,

Under the room where you lie half-asleep,

You know it is not just anyone—

It is the Night Traveler.

You lean your arms on the sill

And stare down. But all you can see

Are bits of wilderness attached to him—

Twigs, loam and leaves,

Vines and blossoms. Among these

You feel his eyes, and his hands

Lifting something in the air.

He has a gift for you, but it has no name.

It is windy and woolly.

He holds it in the moonlight, and it sings

Like a newborn beast,

Like a child at Christmas,

Like your own heart as it tumbles

In love’s green bed.

You take it, and he is gone.

All night—and all your life, if you are willing—

It will nuzzle your face, cold-nosed,

Like a small white wolf;

It will curl in your palm

Like a hard blue stone;

It will liquefy into a cold pool

Which, when you dive into it,

Will hold you like a mossy jaw.

A bath of light. An answer.

—

credits: poem from Twelve Moons, 1979 by Mary Oliver, painting – google images

Dec22

all is bright.

Posted on December 22, 2021 by beth

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out seeing the lights tonight.

may you and your family be filled with light and laughter.

—

“always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

-e.b. white

Dec19

zero finders, one keeper.

Posted on December 19, 2021 by beth

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The $50 cash prize along with a congratulatory note hidden in a locker on campus.

With every new college semester, students are faced with multiple syllabuses outlining the subjects in their classes. But do students read them thoroughly? One Tennessee professor put it to the test. Kenyon Wilson is the associate head of performing arts at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and decided to put an Easter egg in the syllabus for his music seminar class this past semester.

When Wilson put the reward in the locker, he left a note inside that read “Congrats! Please leave your name and date so I know who found it.” He was also sure to set the combination lock with a certain number in the noon position, to determine whether any students had tampered with the lock, but the combination was never even turned. “I had great hopes, and I’d be just as happy having this conversation if one of my students found it on the first week.” Wilson told CNN.

Wilson waited until final exams were done and the semester was over before checking the locker.

He revealed the unclaimed cash in a Facebook post. He said that students have been “good sports” about it. “I know my students read, and I don’t expect them to religiously go through word-by-word but if they did, I wanted to reward them.”

Haley Decker, a recent graduate from the university, took Wilson’s seminar-style class for the past 3 and a half years and was one of the students who failed to find the hidden cash this past semester. “I honestly thought it was hilarious. This class typically is the same format every semester, so students know what to expect and don’t take the time to read the syllabus like we should.”

Decker said she texted a group of friends that were in the class with her and everyone thought it was a clever move by Wilson. “I think this was a really smart experiment for Dr. Wilson to test out,” Decker said. “It definitely made the music students realize that despite repetitive information you should still read through your syllabus carefully.” The professor notes that it was all in good fun.

The hint read: “Thus (free to the first who claims; locker one hundred forty-seven; combination fifteen, twenty-five, thirty-five), students may be ineligible to make up classes and …” This would have led students to a locker that contained a $50 bill, free to the first student to claim it. But at the end of the semester, when he went to check the locker, the bill was still there.

“It an academic trope that no one reads the syllabus,” Wilson said. “It’s analogous to the terms and conditions when you’re installing software, everyone clicks that they’ve read it when no one ever does.” The class was made up of 71 students. Wilson said his syllabus typically doesn’t change much, but with Covid protocols there was some new information this time around. “There’s a standard boilerplate that doesn’t change. The university has us put a lot of legal stuff towards the end,” Wilson added. “But on the first day of class I told them there was stuff that had changed, and for them to make sure they read it.”