NFL Lockout

Like many of you I hope the lockout ends and there isn't a loss of real games, but it has provided us with some classic material. Check out this remake from Field of Dreams.

Photos of the Day

While driving through Springville earlier today I came across this classic billboard. Got to love me some Hank Hill!

Jared, the Builder?

Two months ago Tara and I bought the kids a new playset.  Our old swingset has worked great, but we could tell that Kennedy had outgrown it.  To use the swings she would shorten the chains by looping them over the top bar.  So, when Toys R Us had their spring sale on the large wood playsets, our fate was sealed.

The problem is that the playsets are complicated to assemble and I knew it would take more time than I could invest.  The boxes sat on our back porch ever since.  Every week I would hear about it as the kids inquired as to when I would finally build the new playset.  I put it off cause I knew I wouldn't have time until the first draft of my book was turned into the publisher.  Since I shipped the draft off a week ago, there were no more excuses and the holiday weekend became a perfect time for a new project.

I am not a handyman.  I am comfortable using tools, but I am prone to making mistakes and not following the directions very well.  The result embodies the adage - "There's never time to do it right, but there's always time to do it over."  I can't tell you how many times I had to take out the bolt and reassemble part of the tower.  Either the boards were on backwards or I stripped one of the screws.  Eventually, everything came together and the project was finished.  It only took four days, two people, and a few deposits in the Swear Jar.

The results speak for themselves as our 4th of July BBQ was the perfect opportunity for the crew to break in the new playset.

ISTE 2011: Back to Philly

In 2005 I went to Philadelphia for the first time.  As part of my trip to NECC conference I was able to see historic sights, watch the Red Sox, eat great food, find a few geocaches, and learn some new tricks with technology.  Let's just say ISTE 2011 in Philadelphia was pretty much a repeat.

I really like going to Philly.  It's a fun town with plenty to see and lots of great things to eat.  On this trip I did some of each.  Each night it seemed there was something going on and a delicious place to eat.   The diet certainly took a beating during my week in Pennsylvania.  Good thing I hit the hotel gym or else I would have ballooned recently.

A few of my favorite events from the trip:

• The ISTE Affiliates Meeting:  this was one of the primary reasons I went to the conference this year.  As the President of the local affiliate, it was my responsibility to attend the national meeting and learn from the other state representatives.  I am very excited for our conference in March!
• Taking the ferry across the Delaware River and into Camden, NJ.  This was the capstone of my trip from 2005.  Back then I spent a lot of money and time trying to find a way to Jersey for a geocache and I came up empty.  This time I had to get a geocache in New Jersey and this was the best way to make it happen.  It was a fun little trip and we were able to find two caches along the Camden Promenade.  
• Geno's vs. Pat's:  On Sunday night I ate a Philly cheesesteak from each place and I have to say the winner is - Pat's.  Don't get me wrong, they were both awesome.  I ate at Geno's with the rest of my group and took the Pat's sandwich back to the hotel with me.  Even with it being a little cold I like the Pat's sandwich better.  Don't hate me!
• Watching the Red Sox - I can't believe I got to see them again.  That makes 4 our 7 years.  Wow!!!
• Presenting at ISTE:  This trip gave me another opportunity to present in front of a national audience.  It never gets old and in my line of work, it's a huge honor to share with my colleagues.  Our presentation on iPads went well and I hope we'll get another chance to present in the future.

Here are a few more photos from the trip....

Diary of a Red Sox Fan

A few months ago I learned that the Red Sox would be in Philadelphia during the week of my conference. I can't believe this keeps happening to me, but I can't turn down the chance to see Boston when we're in the same city.  There was one problem - tickets.  Since the Phillies are the best team in the National League it is really tough to get a ticket to a game.  Toss in the fact that the Sox are one of the best teams in the American League and add to that the flight from Boston to Philly is dirt cheap - well, you can see this wasn't going to be easy.

I entered a drawing on the Phillies website for tickets to the game, but I think they didn't really have any for fans that weren't willing to purchase a three game pack.  Since I wasn't going to buy tix to Phillies games against the Astros and the D-Backs I figured my chance to attend the game were zero.  Then some friends of mine let me know they were going to buy tickets via StubHub and they asked if I wanted to go with them - what do you think?

Game day was finally upon us and my worst fear game to fruition - Cliff Lee was on the mound for the Phillies and half our team wouldn't be playing.  I like interleague games because it's helped me watch some Red Sox games I never could have seen before.  I don't like it when the games are in National League parks because you can't play the DH.  Who really wants to watch the pitcher strikeout?

In spite of the talent disadvantage it was fun to see Boston play again.  Josh Beckett was on the hill for the Sox and he pitched well, only gave up 5 hits.  The problem was 2 of those hits were home runs.  Cliff Lee was, well, Cliff Lee and the Red Sox could only get 2 hits the entire game.

Final Score:  Phillies 5 - Red Sox 0.

Still, it was fun to go to the game with friends.  It was great to be in a ball park again.  It was cool to break out my Red Sox jersey on the road and hear it from the fans.  Overall, a pretty good evening.