Saturday, May 3, 2008

Catch Up - Memes x2

About a hundred years ago I was tagged by a couple of you to do a meme and I'm finally getting around to doing them now.

I usual I won't be tagging anybody else with these, but if you feel so inclined feel free to join in.

The first one is from Lady in Red who I met while commenting back an forth with Ron. Whenever I see her name pop up I think of Sammy Hagar singing, "Red, Red, I like Red. There's no substitute for Red." This is what she had to ask:

WHAT ARE YOU READING?
The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people

This is from John Grisham's 2005 book, "The Broker"

Leaking like an old dike, the Hoover Building practically sprayed gossip onto the streets of Washington. And there to collect it was, among many others, Dan Sandberg of The Washington Post. His sources, though, were far better than those of the average investigative journalist, and it wasn't long before he picked up the scent of the pardon scandal.

I'm only a couple of chapters into this one and am hoping it will capture my interest like so many of his others have done.


The next one is from a darling southern girl by the name of Rhea who resides in the BIG ole' state of Texas. Be sure to go by and say Howdy. You might throw in a couple y'alls too. Those go over big down there!

She offered up the following:

The Rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your entry.

And the winners are. . .

1) At the ripe old age of six years old, I was the bat boy for my oldest brother Gene's little league team the Senators. I remember getting to wear a uniform just like the players and at the end of the year got a small wood toy bat as a sort of trophy.

2) I was once taken to school (high school) in the back of a police car. The officer, Dick Davis, yeah that was his real name, accused me of truancy and after searching me (WTF) made me get into his car and go to school. He then proceeded to march me into the office like a criminal and had the principal call my mom, who happened to inform them that I had a dentist appointment in another hour. So I was in fact not cutting school, but was simply outside the school grounds talking with some friends when perhaps I should have stayed at home waiting for her to pick me up. The principal and the cop both had egg on their faces and I got to look cool for a couple of days as word made it around campus that I had fought the law and the law didn't win!

3) I suffer from CRAFT. (Can't Remember A Flippin' Thing) My mom might argue that this is an inherited trait that has only affected the males in our family, i.e. my dad, brothers and I, but as much as I'd like to blame it on genetics, truth is, it's probably just a form of laziness. I say this because I have an uncanny way of remembering numbers of all sorts and when I was cooking for a living, I could recall intricate recipes without having to look them up. Apparently these things had/have some sort of subconscious importance that makes my brain retain them while virtually everything else glides over the synapses without leaving so much as a trace burned in to the memory banks.

4) My Eustachian tubes in my ears never turned vertical like the vast majority of people's do. (This is what allows fluid in your ears to drain properly) As a result, I was plagued by more than my fair share of ear infections as a kid. Later when I took up SCUBA diving, it made it very difficult to clear my ears as I descended in the water.

5) I once fell in love with a girl who broke my heart. I thought she was the one for me and I would have done anything to have had it work. She went into the Marine Corps back in Quantico, VA while I was living in northern California. She broke off the relationship a couple of months later and left a rather large hole in my heart for quite some time. Later, when I met Lisa, I would realize Ann had done me a tremendous favor by saying goodbye. Whenever I listen to a Garth Brooks song in which he sings, "Some of God's greatest gifts. . . are unanswered prayers." I reflect on what I thought I wanted and how He had a better plan for me.

6) My mind is like a Los Angeles freeway; no matter what time of day it is, it's always busy. I'm almost constantly in motion and relaxing is not something I do real well unless I'm camping. This is when my alter ego takes over and I am the picture of mellow. Put me in the great outdoors with my tent trailer and I become the poster boy for the phrase "Chill". Back in civilization I'm like a one man wrecking machine trying to do thirty-six hours worth of stuff in a twenty-four hour period.

I now have just one more meme that Kimmie asked me to do and I will take care of that in the next couple of days.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

31 comments:

R.E.H. said...

From your description - I suffer from CRAFT too. Although, I'm the other way around. I have a knack for remembering numbers - but from your example - I cannot for the life of me remember a recipe. Each time I make the food, I have to have it right in front of me reading it step by step.

Some interesting facts you shared about yourself.

Lady in red said...

good choice, I have not read that one yet but I have read the painted house and the last juror.

I do enjoy John Grisham's books

LiR

Sandi McBride said...

Great MEME Jeff...and that Garth Brooks song worked for me, too...and Craft is a genetic thing, it affects every man from about age 16 to death...didn't you know?
I'm a huge Grisham fan, he tells it like is unlike in those CSI shows where the case is solved in 37 minutes (Commercials)...life doesn't work quite that well.

Akelamalu said...

I've read The Broker - it's really good.

Loved reading those facts about you Jeff.

Mel said...

<--- can't remember sick'em either--I figure that's why the Big Guy invented sticky notes.

And it's been a while since I've let myself 'leisure read'.
k...I might take life a bit too seriously sometimes, too.

;-)

I'm thinkin' I oughta go play.
Sidewalk chalk does wonders for that syndrome, yaknow.

Nicole P said...

This was fun to read.
So Gene is your brother in real life? I was curious about that. I didn't know if it was biological or some sort of blog brotherhood.
Good to know.

Jeff B said...

REH- I've always wondered why some things stick and others don't. It seems like if we had the ability to remember some things well, we would be able to remember ALL things well.

LiR- His style of writting tends to draw me into the story right out of the gate.

Sandi- The TV crime/court shows crack me up. Like you eluded to, everything is laid out nice and neat for them, but Grisham takes it to another level in his books.

Akelamalu- glad to hear that it's a good one. Now if I can just eek out some time to read it.

Mel- Sometimes we just have to put on the breaks to life and let go. sidewalk chalk sounds like a good type of therapy to me.

Nicole- It's true. Gene is my real life brother. With all the sarcasm we share I've had people ask if we really like each other or not. We definitely do get along; it's just are way of saying, "I love ya man."

He's still a dirty rotten dog, but like any stray that wanders into the yard, he kinda grows on ya after a while.

Kimmie said...

Hey Jeff...this was really good! I especially like learning about CRAFT, I definately have that. Your #5 was so very sweet also. You are right on with your conclusion of your broken heart. God did have another plan for you. :-) Isn't He is Amazing!
Smiles,
Kimmie

buffalodick said...

Interesting stuff! Around these parts, we call it "CRS" Can't Remember Sh*t...

Travis Cody said...

I've been enjoying catching up on memes. I think I have two more to go.

Utter Basketcase said...

I am such a dumbarse!!! I didn't even know that you and Gene were brothers!!!!

BLONDE!!!!!!!!!!!

ffs!

xx

Cath said...

Hey Jeff! I suffer from CRAFT too! Are we related?

Jeff B said...

Kimmie- He is indeed. I'll be getting to your meme soon.

Buffalo- I've heard it called that too. Either way, I'm gonna forget something!

Travis- I couldn't believe how many you've done lately. Mimi's dungeon will not be in your future.

Giggle- Don't be too hard on yourself. use that blondness to your advantage.

Crazycath- We may well be, but I can't remember!

Schmoop said...

If I don't write something down, it's gone from my head forever. Cheers Jeff!!

Odat said...

Hey...did you ever get you tubes tied??? ;-)

Peace

nitebyrd said...

Jeff, I love that CRAFT thing! It sounds so much better than some of the other names for forgetting everything. Of course, I can't remember any of them right now. LOL

I also like to know that younger people suffer from this. :)

Glad you found Lisa to fill that hole in your heart.

Jules~ said...

my older daughter has had the same ear problem. Finally a couple of years ago they turned down. The rusults though have made hearing interesting for her. As you can probably relate, after hearing in high pressure for so many years...every day noises are now really mega loud. She almost always has to wear earplugs.

Rhea said...

Jeff, I'm glad camping gives you the opportunity to chill. Everyone needs to have something to help them relax.

I love the school truancy story. I can't believe the officer went searching for you! wow. Were you a repeat offender? (I'm picture Ferris Buller now...)

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

My son had to have tubes put in his ears as he was almost totally deaf from the fluids in his ears...

I also had my heart broken and then realized that it was the best thing that ever happened as I now have the most wonderful woman in my life.

none said...

Interesting stuff. I think I have a similar problem with my ears.

Swimming and riding in Airplanes are very distressing activities.

Heartbreak. It's one of the toughest things to get over.

katherine. said...

CRAFT
little league
truant
racing mind
and you drink that Dr Pepper stuff.

why does this sound familiar????

maryt/theteach said...

Great read, Jeff! Glad you got to your memes - I always like finding out things about my blogging friends... :D

Mel said...

*thinkin' of ya and hoping all is well*

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

WHERE ARE YA JEFF ME BOY?

Sandi McBride said...

Just checking in to see if you had a new post...hope you are okay
Sandi

katherine. said...

hmmm.....maybe you are over at Gene's???

j said...

Hey Jeff, just checking in with you!

Be blessed,

Jennifer

Gene Bach said...

Hey Jeff, you're ugly and your mother dresses you funny.

nitebyrd said...

Hi! Just stopping by to see how you're doing.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

just checking in on you

Jeff B said...

I'm alive and kicking! Thanks for the well wishes and concerns.

Sorry for the lenghty absence.