Chris Rodell's Blog, page 101
June 24, 2014
How I nearly quit after Day 3 of my new job
(745 words)
So I’d gone nearly 22 years without a single co-worker. How long did it take for me to get involved in a petty dispute that made me want to quit?
About 17 hours.
I guess I’m just not cut out to work with my fellow man.
The dispute was over a mistaken pizza topping abbreviation.
That an unwanted vegetable was the root cause of me nearly quitting will probably give
So I’d gone nearly 22 years without a single co-worker. How long did it take for me to get involved in a petty dispute that made me want to quit?
About 17 hours.
I guess I’m just not cut out to work with my fellow man.
The dispute was over a mistaken pizza topping abbreviation.
That an unwanted vegetable was the root cause of me nearly quitting will probably give
June 23, 2014
World Cup teams should be religious fanatics
(751 words)
I think the World Cup would be more compelling if the teams were comprised of those who share extreme religious beliefs.
So instead of games like, say, Cameroon v. Brazil or Croatia v. Mexico, viewers would be treated to matches between Christians and Hindus and the Sikhs against the Fightin’ Scientologists.
I think athletic competitions between bitter enemies helps
I think the World Cup would be more compelling if the teams were comprised of those who share extreme religious beliefs.
So instead of games like, say, Cameroon v. Brazil or Croatia v. Mexico, viewers would be treated to matches between Christians and Hindus and the Sikhs against the Fightin’ Scientologists.
I think athletic competitions between bitter enemies helps
June 19, 2014
Use rice if phone drops in toilet
(795 words)
I can tell the mean season’s begun because all the area salt shakers are getting all riced up. That means we’re in for about two straight months of humidity that makes it feel like we’re all living inside one giant dog’s mouth.
I don’t remember salting up the rice when I was a kid, but I do remember humidity so oppressive it turned salt shakers into ketchup bottles; we’d
I can tell the mean season’s begun because all the area salt shakers are getting all riced up. That means we’re in for about two straight months of humidity that makes it feel like we’re all living inside one giant dog’s mouth.
I don’t remember salting up the rice when I was a kid, but I do remember humidity so oppressive it turned salt shakers into ketchup bottles; we’d
June 17, 2014
Why soccer/metrics won't ever measure up in USA
(1,085 words)
When I heard this morning that USA had beaten Ghana I didn’t realize it was our national soccer team beating their national soccer team.
I thought it was Seal Team 6 and they’d conquered all of Ghana.
It’s once again time for that quadrennial event that I’ve for the last 40 years been hearing was going to make a soccer lunatic out of me.
It’s once again time for the
When I heard this morning that USA had beaten Ghana I didn’t realize it was our national soccer team beating their national soccer team.
I thought it was Seal Team 6 and they’d conquered all of Ghana.
It’s once again time for that quadrennial event that I’ve for the last 40 years been hearing was going to make a soccer lunatic out of me.
It’s once again time for the
June 16, 2014
The Pond's new bartender debut: me!
(1,284 words)
Well, the Pirates have yet to lose on a night when I’m tending bar.
Coincidence?
Perhaps. But I thought it might be helpful to let the Bucs know they have a potential slump buster out behind the bar in Latrobe.
I worked my second night in a row Friday and put up with a lot of jokes that it was only the second night I’d ever worked anywhere.
How did it go? Was I
Well, the Pirates have yet to lose on a night when I’m tending bar.
Coincidence?
Perhaps. But I thought it might be helpful to let the Bucs know they have a potential slump buster out behind the bar in Latrobe.
I worked my second night in a row Friday and put up with a lot of jokes that it was only the second night I’d ever worked anywhere.
How did it go? Was I
June 15, 2014
RRS: Why Father's Day always makes me blue
Gone 10 years, I’m not feeling as blue as I did when I wrote this for Father’s Day ’11. Those are his ashes in the decoupaged wine decanter I crafted for that purposes. I love being a Dad, but I still — on this day especially — really miss being a son.
I’m not sure why Father’s Day always makes me blue.
A writer’s website asked me to compose a short piece about Father’s Day. I know I’m
I’m not sure why Father’s Day always makes me blue.
A writer’s website asked me to compose a short piece about Father’s Day. I know I’m
June 12, 2014
On unicorns, bartending & Roberto Duran Duran
Tending bar tonight for the first time in 29 years has me feeling like a kid on the night before Christmas, only instead of lots and lots of presents I’ll be getting lots and lots of drunken conversation. So much going on today I thought it might be a good day for a round-up so here goes …
• One friend said me tending bar at The Pond tonight (and tomorrow) is the most exciting Latrobe bar
• One friend said me tending bar at The Pond tonight (and tomorrow) is the most exciting Latrobe bar
June 10, 2014
Back behind bars: me
(689 words)
I’ve hinted before at positive developments regarding my prospects. I’ve been offered my first sizable speaking fee and major corporations are considering bringing me in to share my book’s message.
I’ve never felt this encouraged before. Ever. It’s all coming together.
So wouldn’t you know it, just yesterday a buddy offered me a great job right here in Latrobe. Decent pay,
I’ve hinted before at positive developments regarding my prospects. I’ve been offered my first sizable speaking fee and major corporations are considering bringing me in to share my book’s message.
I’ve never felt this encouraged before. Ever. It’s all coming together.
So wouldn’t you know it, just yesterday a buddy offered me a great job right here in Latrobe. Decent pay,
June 9, 2014
What California Chrome teaches us about race relations
(714 words)
It dismays me once again to be the one to correct the national sporting press for misleading the American public into thinking we’re in the midst of another crisis of bad behavior.
Happened again this weekend when sports pundits declared California Chrome owner Steve Coburn, 61, a sore loser for his post-race explosion after the horse failed to win the Triple Crown.
Coburn
It dismays me once again to be the one to correct the national sporting press for misleading the American public into thinking we’re in the midst of another crisis of bad behavior.
Happened again this weekend when sports pundits declared California Chrome owner Steve Coburn, 61, a sore loser for his post-race explosion after the horse failed to win the Triple Crown.
Coburn
June 6, 2014
A D-Day story on Ike, Blue Angels & Arnold Palmer
(803 words)
This is the one weekend a year when every dog, bird and woodland creature walks around with the very same WTF? expression.
The Blue Angels are in town!
Or not.
More on that in a bit.
It’s the Westmoreland County Airshow at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. It’s a big deal and draws tens of thousands of people to Latrobe. Headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels,
This is the one weekend a year when every dog, bird and woodland creature walks around with the very same WTF? expression.
The Blue Angels are in town!
Or not.
More on that in a bit.
It’s the Westmoreland County Airshow at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. It’s a big deal and draws tens of thousands of people to Latrobe. Headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels,
