In honor of the college basketball season gearing up, I will demonstrate the best way to drink diet coke. Drinking it this way has a bit of nostalgia. My grandmother used to keep these little coke bottles in her cellar. In the 70's and 80's my sister and I would run with excitement to get our very own bottles of coke. First, grandmother would put a little sweat band on the bottom of the bottle so it wouldn't leave a mark on her furniture. Then, grandmother would give us a bendy straw, and we'd slurp it dry. We'd take the glass bottles to the grocery and get money for turning the empty ones in. They sell the little bottles of coke here, and from time to time I buy them for sentimental reasons.
The only bottle opener I have here is the one I packed in my suitcase. My dad gave it to me for Christmas one year, and since he's no longer with us, I especially enjoy using it and thinking of him. So, as the old saying goes, "Have a coke and a smile."
Annie came home with this bookmark she made at school, and it cracked me up! You gotta hand it to her for the creativity and urgency associated with reading, but it lacks a little on the politically correct side of things, especially if she had attended an inner city school. Anyway, this bookmark's a keeper. I may even get it laminated.
In case you can't read it: "Bust into Reading like a Police on a Case"
We have a new stray puppy on the street! Since dogs usually run in packs here, they don't get near people. However, I'm wondering if this dog was either strategically placed here since there's a dog-loving family here (guess who?). Or, he was the runt in the pack and the mom left him. Regardless, our kids have been loving on him. Since most nationals see dogs as dirty creatures, they are rarely played with. So, I know it's counter-cultural to love on this street dog. Because he waits outside our apartment each day, it kind of gives away the little secret that the American family has a thing for dogs. His name was "Peaches" and then the kids changed his name to "Corey" because he was eating an apple core. Here he is showing off his soccer skills. So, do any of my canine-loving friends want to come over and adopt this sweet thing...Peaches Corey the Stray Soccer Dog?
I remember where my first born learned to ride his bike without training wheels. We'd been contemplating for weeks when to take them off. We picked the least hilly spot in the neighborhood. It was in a cul-de-sac of small town Kentucky. Mike unscrewed the training wheels, and we headed out. I carefully held onto the handlebars to stabilize the bike as David pedaled. Then, I'd let go and run alongside him for a few feet, and then I'd grab the handlebars when the bike looked too wobbly. We repeated this numerous times until he was steady and secure.
It was pretty much the same story with Abby and Annie, and then came Emma.
Emma has asked me for 2 weeks to please get the training wheels off her bike (that has an un-inflatable flat tire that hasn't made it to the bike shop). Since the bike is unable to be ridden due to the un-inflatable flat tire, I haven't bothered to take off the training wheels.
Now I know she's been a little bothered about the training wheels thing. She has 3 siblings who don't need training wheels. And, gasp, she has a friend a year younger who does not need training wheels. And she has good-for-nothing parents who won't get her blasted bike repaired!
Today I was at a friend's house visiting in the kitchen. Emma was outside playing. After a few rounds of tea, I looked off the balcony to check on Emma. I saw this cute little child riding a bicycle. I did a double take. It was EMMA on a bike without training wheels. Riding like a pro. Not even wobbly. First time ever to try a bike without training wheels. I nearly jumped off the balcony to congratulate her!
Hopefully my first 3 kids have fond memories of hearing mommy's voice from behind yelling, "You can do it! You're riding! Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling! I'm not holding on. Oh no, I'm coming, honey!" Not Emma. That little independent, determined kindergarten kid took matters into her own hands (or feet). She will remember a voice calling from a balcony above, "Oh my WORD, Emma, you're riding a bike! You taught yourself!" Sometimes you just gotta "do it". I'm proud of that little kid. I like her style.
P.S. We'll post pictures once the good-for-nothing parents get the bike functioning (with good tires and NO training wheels).
Because we all need to stretch our minds and think a little more each day, here are some quotes from the man who explains the complicated in a simple and understandable way, Yogi Berra. BTW - these are great to ask a kid to explain to you as well! Enjoy!
A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.
Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.
Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.
Even Napoleon had his Watergate.
Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.
He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious.
How can you think and hit at the same time?
I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.
I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?
I never said most of the things I said.
I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question.
I'm a lucky guy and I'm happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary.
I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.
If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.
If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer.
