This will be my last post on this site. I've finally moved over to WordPress. There are simply many more useful tools over there, and I personally love the dashboard they give users for ease of management. Go check it out when you have the time. Be sure to read the 'About' page for a quick explanation of the title.
http://kevindowker.wordpress.com
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Mission Improbable
Baltimore Convention Center
December 12th
1700 hrs
I have between 5 and 10 minutes to retrieve the CD from my car. After running through the auditorium, scaling two escalators and back up another set of stairs to reach the building's exit, I enter Pratt Street at a sprint. There are cars everywhere. I weave through traffic, ignoring pedestrian traffic signals and avoiding collisions with families and couples out on walks, going to or returning from the harbor's array of restaurants, stores and tourist sites. I can see my destination 5 blocks ahead - it seems like miles. My chest begins to burn as the mid-thirty degree air slices through my lungs, warning me to slow down, but I know I don't have time. I have to get to the sixth floor of the parking garage, grab the CD from my trunk, and run back before time runs out. I check my watch - it's been 2 minutes since I realized the CD was missing. Thankfully the remaining four or five traffic signals seem to yield to the intent of my mission and I'm able to reach the corner, though I have to wade through scores of people waiting for tables at a restaurant or club - I don't stop to find out which. I enter the parking garage near the elevators - the elevator door is opening and about to go up - YES! The elevator's sole occupant hits 2 as I scream inside my head - can't you see I'm in a hurry and have to get to the 6th floor now!!! She gets off at 2 and I pound the button that closes the doors. The remaining seconds of the ride seem like forever; I check my watch - 3 minutes have elapsed. The elevator doors open - there's my car. I'm at the trunk with keys in my hand in about 2 seconds. I hit the trunk release on the key; I open the trunk - there's the CD. I grab it, close the trunk and run back to the elevator and hit the button wondering if I should take the stairs. I hear nothing - the elevator must be near the bottom floor. Stairs it is! I'm down the six floors of stairs in a few seconds, exit the parking garage on Market Street, round the corner and I'm back on Pratt. Back through the crowd of people, and once again I'm sprinting, dodging cars and people carrying large bags no doubt stuffed with Christmas presents. My lungs are on fire and my head is almost spinning from a lack of oxygen. I haven't run this far this fast in months. Again the traffic signals obey my non-verbal commands and I'm back through the Convention Center doors. I check my watch - 6 minutes have gone by. Am I too late? I think I'm too late! Down the stairs, up the escalators - just a few hundred feet to go. I'm not too late!!! I made it.
Gymnastics Competition Entrance Fee: $12.00
Hot dog and gatorade at concessions: $7.00
Realizing you left your daughter's music CD for her floor exercise in your car 6 blocks away with just a few minutes before she has to perform: Priceless
December 12th
1700 hrs
I have between 5 and 10 minutes to retrieve the CD from my car. After running through the auditorium, scaling two escalators and back up another set of stairs to reach the building's exit, I enter Pratt Street at a sprint. There are cars everywhere. I weave through traffic, ignoring pedestrian traffic signals and avoiding collisions with families and couples out on walks, going to or returning from the harbor's array of restaurants, stores and tourist sites. I can see my destination 5 blocks ahead - it seems like miles. My chest begins to burn as the mid-thirty degree air slices through my lungs, warning me to slow down, but I know I don't have time. I have to get to the sixth floor of the parking garage, grab the CD from my trunk, and run back before time runs out. I check my watch - it's been 2 minutes since I realized the CD was missing. Thankfully the remaining four or five traffic signals seem to yield to the intent of my mission and I'm able to reach the corner, though I have to wade through scores of people waiting for tables at a restaurant or club - I don't stop to find out which. I enter the parking garage near the elevators - the elevator door is opening and about to go up - YES! The elevator's sole occupant hits 2 as I scream inside my head - can't you see I'm in a hurry and have to get to the 6th floor now!!! She gets off at 2 and I pound the button that closes the doors. The remaining seconds of the ride seem like forever; I check my watch - 3 minutes have elapsed. The elevator doors open - there's my car. I'm at the trunk with keys in my hand in about 2 seconds. I hit the trunk release on the key; I open the trunk - there's the CD. I grab it, close the trunk and run back to the elevator and hit the button wondering if I should take the stairs. I hear nothing - the elevator must be near the bottom floor. Stairs it is! I'm down the six floors of stairs in a few seconds, exit the parking garage on Market Street, round the corner and I'm back on Pratt. Back through the crowd of people, and once again I'm sprinting, dodging cars and people carrying large bags no doubt stuffed with Christmas presents. My lungs are on fire and my head is almost spinning from a lack of oxygen. I haven't run this far this fast in months. Again the traffic signals obey my non-verbal commands and I'm back through the Convention Center doors. I check my watch - 6 minutes have gone by. Am I too late? I think I'm too late! Down the stairs, up the escalators - just a few hundred feet to go. I'm not too late!!! I made it.
Gymnastics Competition Entrance Fee: $12.00
Hot dog and gatorade at concessions: $7.00
Realizing you left your daughter's music CD for her floor exercise in your car 6 blocks away with just a few minutes before she has to perform: Priceless
Thursday, December 11, 2008
First Band Concert
Cierra plays the french horn in her sixth grade band. She performed in her first concert last night at Mountain View High School, playing four songs and doing it with a remarkable sense of confidence. Cierra's not the "performing" type - even though she swings, flips, prances and dances in front of crowds of hundreds in a skin-tight leotard while every motion from the top of her head to the tips of her toes is scrutinized by seemingly unforgiving judges in her gymnastics competitions.
After the concert, as I approached with a small bouquet of flowers, she grinned from ear to ear. I asked how she felt up there; she said she felt fine, especially since the band had practiced for the student body earlier in the day, thus removing several of the pre-performance butterflies.
Tomorrow, we're off to the Baltimore Convention Center for the Christmas on the Chesapeake gymnastics competition. She'll be performing all four events this time, whereas in the last meet she had a slightly injured ankle which removed her from the balance beam and bar events. I'll be sure to post pictures and maybe even a video!
After the concert, as I approached with a small bouquet of flowers, she grinned from ear to ear. I asked how she felt up there; she said she felt fine, especially since the band had practiced for the student body earlier in the day, thus removing several of the pre-performance butterflies.
Tomorrow, we're off to the Baltimore Convention Center for the Christmas on the Chesapeake gymnastics competition. She'll be performing all four events this time, whereas in the last meet she had a slightly injured ankle which removed her from the balance beam and bar events. I'll be sure to post pictures and maybe even a video!
Tori Is Now Living Her Passion
This past Saturday Tori finally enjoyed her first official horseback riding lesson. Yes, she's ridden several times over the last few years and that, coupled with her voracious appetite for reading anything horse-related resulting in unexpected knowledge and skill for a first-timer, allowed the trainer to decide Tori was ready to go beyond the basics and try a little loping and trotting with her horse, Katy. Tori had an excellent lesson, though she needs to unlearn some bad habits taught by the more recreational horse riding places she's been to, but that will come in time. Her trainer was very impressed with Tori's skill, interest, knowledge and demeanor throughout the entire lesson, which began with Tori shivering in the mid-30 degree temperature and ended with Tori's amazement at the shear strength of animals this size. The trainer asked Tori to command Katy to lope and Tori squeezed her legs just a little too much and the horse took off immediately. Tori's head flew back, the helmet slipped snuggly over her nose, and her hands miraculously found the saddlehorn as she hung on for 10 bounding steps that ended abruptly as the trainer jumped in front of Katy and flung her hands up in a command the horse recognized as "stop". I was a little worried as I wasn't sure how Tori would react but I shouldn't have been surprised to hear Tori's muffled giggle through the helmet covering her face. Later she commented on just how strong Katy was and how she was almost thrown. (Jadey, I'm sure you'll appreciate this story.) It was an absolute thrill to watch Tori enjoying her greatest passion. She's quite anxious for her next lesson.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
"Kids Say" Installment
I haven't had the privilege of sharing humorous comments from the mouths of my kids lately. Tori rarely fails to disappoint when her lips part to reveal what's churning in that little mind of hers.
While driving south on 95 today, after having dropped Cierra off at her gym for practice, we slowed to the usual snail's pace near Quantico. If you've lived in this area for any considerable amount of time you'll notice the presence of several very familiar-looking helicopters gracing the presence of Quantico and the surrounding communities of Dumfries and Stafford. One of these helicopters passed over us as we sat in traffic and I gladly pointed it out to Tori and who it belonged to. She responded with a fair amount of interest and returned to her book in the back seat.
Out of the blue she says, "It would be cool if you were president, Dad. Then you could meet Bob Dylan."
Yes, honey, that would be cool. Let's hope our new President-elect has loftier motivations for desiring to lead our country.
While driving south on 95 today, after having dropped Cierra off at her gym for practice, we slowed to the usual snail's pace near Quantico. If you've lived in this area for any considerable amount of time you'll notice the presence of several very familiar-looking helicopters gracing the presence of Quantico and the surrounding communities of Dumfries and Stafford. One of these helicopters passed over us as we sat in traffic and I gladly pointed it out to Tori and who it belonged to. She responded with a fair amount of interest and returned to her book in the back seat.
Out of the blue she says, "It would be cool if you were president, Dad. Then you could meet Bob Dylan."
Yes, honey, that would be cool. Let's hope our new President-elect has loftier motivations for desiring to lead our country.
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