Half-vast thoughts of a dabbler

Criminy dutch ... 12 days since I posted. What gives?

Lots of disjointed things, actually. Took on a little bit of "free"-lance ... couple of seminars on networking and re-careering ... start an online class today ... a volunteer stint at a community garden ... checking out some other volunteer opps ... investigating a low-budget trip to Italy. (Really!) It hasn't gotten too far yet, but my thinking here is that as soon as I commit and purchase the plane tickets, the job offers will come flying in and I'll have to eat the tickets. Given the current state of affairs, that could be a good problem to have.

If you think I might be a bit confused and conflicted, you're probably right. This is the problem of being unemployed. It hovers over most everything, so it's hard to give a full-fledged commitment to anything. ... Sure, I'd like to be more active in volunteering, but my first priority is finding work, and when I do find work, then I won't have the time to fulfill my volunteering commitment. I'd really like to learn to speak Italian, and play the guitar, but I don't want to be half-vast about it, and I question the wisdom of committing the time to be fully vast.

So I dabble at this and dabble at that -- not because I don't have enough to keep busy, but to keep myself in circulation. This "networking" stuff is slightly uncomfortable for me. I realize the value of it, but the people who are really part of my network -- the "circle of trust" -- know what's going on in my world and are looking out for me. This expanded network -- it just feels like I'm imposing. I guess that's why I'm trying it -- so I can get more comfortable with the process.

By the by, here are a couple pointers I learned along the trail:

* 24 years of experience at one thing is too much -- unless it's twittering. Makes me dated. Better to have 10-plus years experience, plus, of course, hundreds of followers on twitter.

* My resume needs more buzzwords, phrases like "operational efficiencies" and "relationship building" and "organizational advocacy" -- stole that one from Josh Byrnes.

* It's better to be less than honest about my salary history. But I'm not quite sure how much less than honest -- just enough to not price myself out of a job while not selling myself short.

Somehow, it seems just a little disingenuous. They say it's supposed to be about selling yourself, but really it's about selling what you think they want to buy.

Some of us are more comfortable selling something we believe in and hoping that it matches what they want to buy, rather than vice versa.

Keeping the faith

Some days it's not so easy to keep the faith. But here's a little inspiration from an old friend, courtesy of the great Capt. Harry Allen. (Warning: Contains language that some viewers may find objectionable.)

Guns and horses

Was up early this morning, so took an unplanned detour and rode out to Coon Bluff at sunrise. What a soothing and restorative place at that time of day. The gentle rushing of the river, a few geese and a blue heron flying by, just a hint of fall in the air as the sun peaks over the mountains.

And then, a real treat. Across the river, three of the wild horses cooling off and enjoying some breakfast; further upstream, another cluster; to my left, on my side of the Salt, another group, not 20 yards from me. Must have been at least 15 in all, including some moms with youngsters in tow -- the most I've ever seen in one place.

I could have done without the soundtrack of the season, however. Nothing like the staccato clap of dove hunters in the distance to disturb the serenity. I keep forgetting what it is that's so sporting about dressing in camo from head to toe and blasting away at little birds at sunrise. Or is it the satisfaction of rustling up some mighty good vittles?

And that's our word of the day

Vittles.

Today's shuffle

Ripplin' Waters, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Ballad of a Well-Known Gun, Elton John

Blam, Elmer

Ka-pow, Fudd

Blam, Elmer

Ka-pow, Fudd

Blam, Elmer

Ka-pow, Fudd

The reluctant blogger

I could well have titled this "the infrequent blogger'' -- either would be accurate.

Tens of readers -- anybody? -- might have noticed that I'm not blogging every day. It's not for a lack of ideas -- I've got notebooks and scraps of paper with scribbled ideas scattered all around. A lot of them come to me when I'm out on the bike, and on occasion the whole blog is fleshed out by the time I make it home. Sometimes I misplace one or two, but there's still a good week's worth or more ...

Michael Vick

Dove-hunting season

NPR

Library books

Corporate rudeness

Chien-Ming Wang

Flagstaff

Not working vs. unemployed

Courage

Reading the news in print vs. online

Dave's Diner

Good bad foods

... how could I go wrong?

It's probably not for lack of time, either -- but I will say this: Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing -- you'd never have known -- but for me, blogging comes with just a touch of guilt. If I'm sitting in front of the keyboard spouting off into cyberspace, I'm not doing something else that might be considered productive. Like contributing to the state of domestic tranquility while the Mrs. is at work. Or using that time in front of the keyboard to make sure I'm uncovered every stone in the search for gainful employment. Or exercising. Or reading. Or volunteering.

It might best be described as lack of purpose.

In my world, blogging is like an exercise in online journaling -- the same sort of pen-to-paper writing we might have done back in the day -- only it's public, so none of the juicy stuff.

I've got a lot of thoughts rattling around in my cage, some of them I believe in strongly, but that's all they are -- thoughts. I've got no special access, no insider knowledge, so what I have to say about Michael Vick should be no more valid than what the guy two bar stools over has to say. I don't mind sharing my opinion if asked, but you've got more important things to spend your time reading about.

That's it for now. Got to get cooking on tonight's World Famous Sausage and Potatoes.

Might write about it tomorrow. ... Or not.

Word of the day

Fracas

Can O' Corn chronicles

I know, I know.

The only thing worse than having to listen to someone talk about his/her fantasy team is having to read about it. But there is a method to my madness.

Call it Chapter 2 in Reinventing Dave. Can't say what my next gig is going to be, but other than pole dancing (Kerry Fehr's got dibs on that one), can't rule anything out. Who's to say I can't be the next Fantasy Blogger for Humongous Worldwide Network.com.

Just building up my portfolio. So talent scouts, read on. The rest, come on back another time.

First, a few words about the title: Can O Corn has been the handle of my Janet Cooke Memorial League team since the great Jerome Stockfisch introduced fantasy baseball into the Tribune newsroom back in 1984. Hate to brag, but we're the most-decorated and longest continuously run team in the league (not counting the Vintage Bordow, which underwent a name (and a faith) change from Hebrew Nationals. (By the way, Vintage is well on his way to a breakthrough championship this year, breaking a drought exceeded in length only by the Chicago Cubs. Well done!)

So even though I'm really going to be writing about fantasy football, Can O Corn Chronicles is the title I'm going to be giving to any fantasy post. It just sounds right.

Second, a few words about content: I don't really intend to write a whole lot about "my team" -- more about the experience. 

Unlike baseball, my experience with fantasy football has been intermittent, and it's been a few years. My brother organized a league this year for family members only (we have a big family), so how I could I say no.  Small stakes, but big bragging rights.

My dad is 79 and probably can't name five quarterbacks since Y.A. Tittle retired, but he's playing. My niece is 12, she's teaming up with her mom  -- probably for no other reason than to get the best of her 13-year-old bro. My sister in New Hampshire might have heard of the New England Patriots, but pretty sure she doesn't know Randy Moss from Randy Johnson.

This is the beauty or curse of the computer age. Six of the 10 teams were drafted by real live people -- four by auto-pilot. My guess is the computer-generated teams will probably smoke my fanny.

I thought I did pretty good getting Larry Fitzgerald, Peyton Manning and Adam Grant as my top three picks, but the experts beg to differ. The braintrust at Humongous.com rank them as the 9th, 22nd and 35th best players available -- not too impressive for a 10-team league. Hope Aunt Kathy's Idaho Spuds take it easy on my Taunting Frenchmen, who are already a 20-point underdog in the first week projections.

I've always regarded fantasy football as fun for all. Kind of like the NCAA basketball pool. Get a little lucky, and the food editor can show up the hot-shot sports writers ... in fact, it happens every year. Nowhere near as intense as baseball. You only have to pay attention one day a week. Only need to worry about a small, select group of players. And the online sites can take care of that for you. Check out anyone of them, and they all spend a lot of time crunching the numbers, and the  player ratings are almost all the same: Peterson, Turner, Jones-Drew, Forte, Williams, etc.

Most of the sites tell you more than you need to know, and you can prepare for the draft in less than an hour. Humongous.com publishes an all-inclusive and insightful Draft Day Manifesto, but it's way more than most of us need to know -- unless you're playing for huge bucks.

If you're league is more like Futbol Lumia, a few simple suggestions will suffice.

* Have a plan. And make sure it's not the same as everybody else's. Figure out whatever strategy works for you, and let 'er rip.

* Know your league rules -- the various quirks of how points are awarded. You might have to experience it for a year to truly understand, but try to factor in the obvious stuff. A roster that dominates yardage leagues might fail dismally in touchdown leagues.

* Have fun. Draft players you'll enjoy following. If you can't stand the Cowboys, pass on Tony Romo and go with Philip Rivers instead. You can hold off compromising your principles in the final week of the regular season, when it's win or go home.

* Beware Aunt Kathy's Idaho Spuds. They grow 'em dirty up there.

Word of the day

Nostrils. Best use in any published work or spoken conversation earns special commendation from It's not my idiom. Any and all contestants welcome for the next 24 hours.

Today's shuffle

Just for fun, I'm posting the random musical selections that I find to be a rather useful relief valve from the 1,000-pound gorilla lurking in the shadows.

I'm a great believer in staying active during these times of inactivity. At all times, actually. What I don't buy is the notion that the physical activity can flip a switch and ease the mental overload.

Get on the bike, go for a run, swim some laps (just not in Mesa), pull some weeds in the infernal heat -- all good stuff. But for me, it often only sharpens the mental focus on the tumultuous stuff.  It permeates the nostrils.

But I've always found that a few good tunes allow my brain to wander and alter my perspective. My stuff is mostly retro, but it works for me. (Reader suggestions always welcome.) Here's today's mix.

Come on Sheila, Zac Richard

Have a Little Faith in Me, John Hiatt

Cowboy in the Jungle, Jimmy Buffett

Love Has Got Me, Wendy Waldman

Mother Earth, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Some Dreams, Steve Earle

Four Strong Winds, Neil Young

Gallileo, Indigo girls

Einstein on the Beach, Counting Crows

Cajun Song, Gin Blossoms

Song for the Life, Rodney Crowell 

Amnesia, Pousette-Dart Band

Jackie Wilson Said, Van Morrison

Me and Willie, Emmylou Harris

Life During War Time, Talking Heads (when I make it to the Big Leagues and step to the dish, this'll be what you hear playing on the PA)

 

Anyone for a dip?

Once they start playing football, it seems like we ought to be in full fall mode. Of course that's not true when you live in the hottest place on earth.

It was 100 when I finished my bike ride this morning, 105 now, and supposed to be 106 tomorrow. Still another three weeks till we're officially done with summer, and probably six till we get some real fall weather.

For those of us whiling away the long hot days, you'd think that swimming would be a welcome recreational activity, but that's all a matter of geography.

Here in Mesa -- formerly of the slogan "Great People, Quality Service,'' until any such pretense was done in by budget cuts -- the pools were officially closed on August 1. Not September 1, mind you, but August 1 -- not halfway through the "official" summer. They're open for all of nine weeks -- but no Sundays, no holidays. Even the beautifully renovated Kino Pool -- an $8 million project for about 54 days a year of public swimming in the hottest place on earth.

When you do get to swim in Mesa, you pay more for the privilege than your neighbors: $3.50 adults, $1.75 kids.

A quick but unscientific scan around the Valley showed a wide range of disparities, but taking all things into account, Mesa and Phoenix are about in a dead heat for worst swimming cities.

Here's what I found:

Phoenix: $3 adults, $1 kids -- closed since JULY 26!!!

Chandler: $2 adults, 75 cents kids -- some but not all pools still open.

Tempe: $2.25 adults, $1.25 kids -- indoor lap pool open.

Gilbert: $2 adults, $1 kids -- closed since Aug. 8.

Scottsdale: $2 adults, $1 kids -- some pools still open.

I couldn't really get a good read on Glendale -- looks like they have different rates and different schedules for each pool, so not sure if the westsiders can still take a dip.

How can this be? My theory is this: The people of influence have backyard pools, athletic club memberships and the like -- they don't even think about the public pools except when their kids are competing in swim meets. And the people who need the public pools don't have the influence to get their needs met.

Wall of distinction

Today's shout out goes to Kara Fort, who graciously gave my resume a needed makeover. More than that, she's just a good-hearted lady, and the world can always use more of those. 

Read this

My first link to important reading:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/opinion/27kristof.html?_r=1&th&emc=th