Robs Networking News and Notes

Robs Networkers and Welcome2URTeam

2005-07-19

Horsey Ball

Greetings Friends!

Yes, after a week hiatus I am back. Where was I? Well,

took the family to Rehobeth Beach, DE. I started thinking what

I should write in this Blog when I returned. All of a sudden it

hit me; my son was proudly carrying it on his shoulders. Wait! Wait!

Let me back up a bit.

The boardwalk in Rehobeth has a nice sampling of arcades and

games. Not to brag, but I am the legendary king of horsey ball.

Horsey Ball is a game that is played by up to 15 players; each

sitting on a stool rolling a ball up a wooden board that has holes

of different colors. Yellow moves your horse one spot. Blue Two.

Red Three. You can also get nothing if your ball falls in no hole.

I dominate in this game. I have calculated my winning percentage

to be in the 50 - 60% range over the last decade. My house is

filled with enough giant plush to start my own carnival!

My son Jake has been my motivation over the last three years.

He has his 2 giant plushes; but wanted number three this year.

Keep in mind that you have to beat 15 players 6 - 8 times in one

sitting to win one of these things. This year things seemed bleak.

We won a small plush but just didn't have our A game. On the last

day of the trip we were sitting around and I said to Jake....."How

about we go down there and just play till we win the BIG one. You

know we can!" Jake said "Dad, I'm in!"  (He's 7 years old.)

Well, the magic came back and I was living up to my nickname,

Mr. Three. Jake played every game right next to me; and came

close a couple of times to winning himself. On the final victory to

convert to the Giant Plush, I came from behind to beat the Dad next

to me by a whisker! He had lost every time to me and was a little

hot under the collar as I toted the giant Horse upon Jake's

shoulders. But hey, I loved every moment of it. So there's Jake,

on cloud 9 with his giant Horse. Every other passerby is making a

comment and oooohing and aweing. The kid is glowing and turns

to me and says, I did good, didn't I Dad. But hey, I couldn't

of done it without you....................

A cherished father to son moment.

Rob

2005-07-05

A Runners Story...

Ok, no hospital visits tonite so back on target!   ;)

As you can see from the title, we will be jogging into our

topic tonite with the hope of finishing in full stride!

I'm not sure when my period of running began; I will say approximately

1985 while still in High School. Never been the classic prototype of

a runner; too tall and too heavy (relatively speaking). It all began

as kind of a challenge. There was a race in the town that I grew

up in; a 10k if I'm recalling correctly. For those not into metrics;

that's 6.2 miles. Now, up until this point the extent of my running

was gym class half mile and mile outdoor jaunts. I guess all

athletes think they can do anything; and equate the nature of their

sport as qualifying for feats of endurance. There is no other sport

quite like running. It is you against you, in most cases. The glory

of the fast start and the early enthusiasm melts into the dispair of

leg cramps, lost breathing, and that pain in the side only a runner

understands.  We must move thought this....in running, business,

and life. As Lou Reed once said, "Don't let the Bastards Drag you

Down."

So, back to the race........

In casual conversation about the event I was told..........."You never

can do that............" "No way, you have to train years to do something

like that.........."  My ears perked up, "Oh really................?????"

(I thought.....) "Hmmmmmmm, we'll have to see about that.".

You see, if you really don't want me to do something, please don't

tell me I can't; for that is a tremendous motivator for me.

Well, with two weeks to the race I grabbed my buddy and we ran

each day leading up to the race. We progressively worked up to

the 6.2 distance and wanted to not jog but run it. The heat was

incredible! After one of the final practice runs; a guy brought one

of those resturant pop dispensers. Well, after the dry heaves stopped

I learned that pop and running don't mix.

Well, race day came and I believe I finished in 46 minutes or

something like that. My buddy finished ahead of me but not by

much. The two things I always have prided my self  in running was

to never stop and to finish hard. Even if you are a late finisher

the crowd always reacts to a hard charging sprint every time.

Finish what you start my friends!

This also began a 7 year period of restlessness and turmoil. From

a personal/social standpoint I had some inadequacy issues and

running always seemed to exercise some of those demons too.

I used to play "Eye of the Tiger", various Rocky Themes,

Chariots of Fire, and even St. Elmo's fire in my head. Someone

one asked me "What are you running from?" Hmmmmm...made

be think for a bit; and then I laced the Nike's up again. Now I

know what they mean. The seven year drought ended, career

prospects opened up and a relationship/family evolved as well.

I didn't feel the need to run anymore, seemed I answered the

earlier question and finally turned around and ran back to face

my problems. I do thank running for helping me find my way back;

in moments of dispair maybe I was saved from a sad fate....that

little 2 or 3 mile chance to climb those steps at the Philly Spectrum;

if you know what I mean.   ;)   So fear not, for the ending is happy...

maybe someday I'll lace those Nike's up again but this time it's me

and Jake (son) all the way!

Rob

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