I suppose we could all take a go at finishing the phrase "I sweat …" and see if we could top each other’s humor. Of course the sentences would have to be true, and I am assuming the one I heard today is. I was talking with a friend of mine, he happens to be a bigger guy to. Although I can’t really talk, he probably has 50 pounds on me. When asked if he sweats a lot. He replied, "I sweat reading a book."
In light of my recent basketball post. I thought I would post this video I was reminded of the other day. It is an old SNL skit in which Charles Barkley takes on Barney.
I’m not pretending to have been a great basketball player, but it is my first love when it comes to sports and the sport I know the most about. While my knees (weight gain) keep me from playing the way I want to, I still feel like I could/can teach the sport to others. The following is a conversation I had the other day with my middle son that led me to believe otherwise.
(Walking home after playing baseball, and with a play ground ball which he had been dribbling.)
Me: “You are a good dribbler.”
MS: “When I’m a dad, I’m going to play basketball.”
Me: “I could teach you everything I know about basketball if you would like.”
MS: “DAD … I already know more about basketball than you!”
Me: “Oh …”
MS: “Barney can do a cool trick with a basketball.” (He then went on to describe the trick.)
Me: (In my head) “I don’t like Barney.”
Happy Cinco de Mayo ! And yet another holiday we U.S Americans manipulate so that we can party (read drink Mexican beer.) Don’t get me wrong I am all for celebrating non-obligatory holidays that aren’t even celebrated in their own country of origin. I support Mexico, and all Mexicans today as they take advantage of all of us who will buy, eat, or drink Mexican products, food, or beverages. Jarrito’s anyone?
Some men in society seem to be lacking in understanding and proper usage of the nickname "Buddy" or its often used shorter counterpart "Bud." I always sensed there were some rules to guide the use of "Buddy," just as there are guidelines to how and when nicknames can be applied. Today someone younger than me referred to me as "bud" multiple times. I caught myself, before I opened my mouth to correct him of his error. Now, like four-square, I know I don’t have all of the guidelines associated with using "Buddy" or "Bud" in reference to someone else, but I would at least like to start the list.
You can’t refer to someone older than you as bud or buddy. It’s disrespectful. Buddy or Bud is most often associated with young boys, and should continue to be used in this manner. There is a certain age when Buddy transitions into Dude, Man, Homey, etc. To continue using Buddy in reference to someone your own age, older, or even slightly younger is demeaning to that person, and is a poor choice of words on your part. Some may use the word Bud to indicate that they think they are some how superior to the person that Bud is bestowed upon. The person buying the hot dog, may refer to the person selling the hot dog as Bud, and in doing so is making the statement that I am better than you because I buy hot dogs and don’t have to sell them. In truth, the person selling the hot dog, doesn’t himself eat the hot dog, nor does he work for the guy buying him the hot dog, and could in fact use the word bud to refer to the person buying the hot dog.
There must be an age bubble in using the word buddy. A ten year old could call a five-year-old Buddy. However, a ten year old could not call a nine-year-old Buddy. Is a five-year gap enough? I think it depends on the represented age. A 70 year old could not refer to a 65 year old as Buddy, but could easily refer to someone in his 20’s as Buddy. Maybe after age 10 and again after age 20 the rules change. No one over the age of 30 should ever be referred to as Buddy, unless their father or grandfather started calling them that when they were born. Otherwise, think of something else to say.
I’m not sure I have given any clarity on the matter. However, I think we need to come together on the proper usage, and spread the news before I try to correct someone, or worse yet, forget my peaceful ways and punch someone in the face while the word "Buddy" still hangs in the air.
"Maturity is knowing when and where to be immature."
While taking my oldest to school this morning my life somehow lost its bearings and started morphing into the world of NASCAR. As I pulled up to the curb to drop my son off, the five cars previously unloading their, oh so precious cargo, simultaneously pulled away from the curb, in line towards the exit. For a minute, I thought they were leaving pit row at Daytona, and that if I didn’t hurry I might get off the lead lap. Instead of driving the standard NASCAR car of today, I was stuck in my Dodge Grand Caravan, and most of my competition was women in over-sized gas guzzling SUV’s.
As I was stopped, ready to exit the parking lot watching the crossing guard do her job of stopping traffic and saving kids lives, the guy parked next to me actually looked at me gripped his steering wheel, clinched his teeth, and gave me the classic head nod signaling to me that he wanted to race. He followed this maneuver my laughing, which was good for his sake, because I would have killed him off the line.
I rolled down my window, and jokingly said, “I was just thinking that dropping kids off at school here is just like a pit row for NASCAR.”
“I was thinking the exact same thing,” he replied.
We laughed together, knowing that our deep longing at that very moment was to be on an oval somewhere going 180 mph.
“Good times,” he yelled to me as he drove off.
Good times indeed!
"The price of smart is plenty high, but you can pay for stupid the rest of your life."
