A Double Header of a Sunday

holy crap!
thank you for the bday wishes

So, it's my birthday AND it's Father's Day.

Double Whammy!  Nice.

I haven't written in here for a while.  Been really preoccupied with... well everything.  Work, +Android Coliseum, band, teeball, etc...

I know I know... I keep promising to be more active on here.  I try to make an honest attempt.  But, things get in the way.  Even my 'social networks' are lacking - despite that somehow I'm nearly at 9k circlers on G+.  Wow.

Let's get caught up ... first up... today:

Still kinda blushing... [7/11]

a sample of what I might do
for our team photos this year

So - those of you who know me, know that as egocentric as I sometimes am... I really don't handle compliments well.  I'm not saying I'm self deprecating, or bashful, just maybe I'm not really trusting when it comes to people complimenting me.

Anyways, I'm still kinda taken back by a tiny comment today, and it's going to my head.

Teeball season is almost upon us and although the weather is conspiring against us, Sharron got the coaches for this year to get together and talk about the upcoming year.

Then she turned to me and said "Ryan, we had a lot of nice compliments about your coaching last year, would you like to share what you did"

I was taken aback, not really because of the compliment initially, but more so that I wondered who, because to be honest, I was just faking it.

Anyways, I was kinda stoked to hear about that.

Not a complete fail of a week [37/60]

The past few weeks have just been a flurry of activity and a real test to my stamina.  I think I'm weathering okay as I'm nearing the end of it all.


A few hours left of my work week, and then I'm on to vacation time.


The 'almost fail' referred to in the title comes from a few details:

• I haven't been biking much this week... with time frames, meetings, and generally my health I've only biked today [friday].
• We officially are going into over time for the CD recording... it's been a gruelling time with that.  Not only physically, but for the instruments and the fluctuations it has been emotionally pulling.  At the end of yesterday we were 2 tracks short to be completed.  So we will use our mixing time to do some more recording.  And just now they're even talking about doing some more tracks. /shakeshead

• teeball is over... and despite how little was really 'accomplished' in teaching the kids about playing the game, I think they (and I) really enjoyed the time.  it was awesome handing out the medals to the kiddies yesterday.

So, yeah, not a complete fail... but it's tiring enough that I feel beat up.  I'm going to enjoy this week of vacation time I have coming up.  Picking up a new tent on the weekend for our camping trip in mid-July... Minocqua will now be a breeze compared to 10 days of continual piping ... so long as it's not blisteringly hot like last year.

Waiting for my One [33/49]

My One X, that is... They said a few weeks ago it'd be that Friday... then a couple of days ago, the next day.  It's supposed to be end of day today... It's 2:18 and it's the only reason I'm still at work.


It's a gorgeous day.  I didn't bike, unfortunately, but yesterday I biked 2x (had a lunch meeting to get to), so I'm counting it, but still won't call this week a perfect streak tho'.  le sigh


Still... plans for a good weekend: staff get-together tonight, teeball make-up games, band practice, somebody's birthday, father's day...


crud... need to get dad something... and it can't be a crappy gift neither.


Did I tell you yet about Tokyo House?  Oh so good.

All you can eat sushi... can't argue with that.


The grads are out of the way, now just the parades to do... and the recording next week.  Should be a fun time.

Teeball & Gonna miss ya Tom [26/41]

So, after a few weeks of crazy amounts of rain and flooding, they've finally reopened the parks for our teeball games with the kids.
I was nervous and at the same time super excited to do this coaching thing.
I did my homework today to be ready:

It did not disappoint.  A bunch of wee kids running around with little gloves and hats and their jerseys.  Awesome.  I had no clue what I was doing, but I don't think they minded.

Funniest part was Dean's soccer coach, from Li'l Kicks, was there.  I wonder if she recognized us, or many of the drills that I stole from her regimen! :)

It was great to do it.  I don't know why I hesitated.  You couldn't pay me enough to make me stay at work and miss it.  Which is why it sucks that I have to miss this Thursday and next for pipeband performances.  But those will be the only (I'll even sacrifice being late for other band commitments).

After we finished teeball, we headed over to Waverly for the iHelp program, where they were offering tech advice to those that want to use their mobile devices.  As the 'android guy' I was asked to help out where I could.  And there were lots of Apple products about... and it was not only great to offer help and give some insight, but really solidified my choice of a mobile OS (you can really see the limitation of the iOS platform when trying to explain to them things they should do, only to find they couldn't do it).


On the way home it was time for the post game ice cream cone and then we were at home.  And man I'm tired.


Only to turn my phone on and see that Tom (the other writer on the AiC blog) has decided to step down from the lead position.  He's got a new month old son, and is packing up to move the family to a new home, so he's got a lot on his plate.  it's a bummer, but something I can all too easily understand.  I'll miss your writing Tom, and not just because it means more for me, but you were a good writer with a lot of enthusiasm for what we do.

Another week in the books [24/39]

Yup another week done in the books.
Wednesday I got a chance to bike again... and I debated putting up bigger numbers because I ended up having to bike across town for a meeting... like Waverly... a 30 minute bike ride!  But ... I didn't count it.

Still no teeball this week as the parks are still closed / flooded.  Was getting really excited for it.

I also figured out that as much as I love math, I really dislike economics.  Oi, that was painful to watch/listen to.

Then I got to set up Caelan on his pipes this week.  Excited as this means that's 6 in the past year... at least.  Let's hope these stick.  Some of these guys have real potential.

So, reviewed another phone, and then I was supposed to get the One X (really excited to demo that one), but I had to miss the 2nd half of Friday at work for Dean's open house at Agnew.  It was so cute.

Sucks I missed out on the phone (then again no delivery guy to pick up the old phone, nor drop off the new one at least by 3pm when the office kinda shut down).

Tomorrow is the Shelter House Relay... and the mayhem begins as we have a fair number of gigs coming up (tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, next Thursday, the next Saturday is a fair bit too).

July should be a fair bit busy as well.  Hopefully doubling up one of the parades.  But at least I'm taking some holidays during July.