TOKTWD

Take Our Kids to Work Day, Accenture Style

First the official words:

The overall theme was Corporate Citizenship and the importance of giving back to the community in which we live and work.

The younger group (age 6-9) helped out by stuffing backpacks full of school supplies for 50 homeless elementary children. These children are supported by Rainbow Days, a United Way agency. Each year Rainbow Days provides children in need with a new backpack filled with school supplies, as well as a school uniform.

The older children (age 10-14) followed the Corporate Citizenship theme by selecting a scenario that depicted an area of need for a community in a foreign country. They were asked to come up with a method and plan in order to create and implement the program. Everyone did a great job showcasing their skills, and coming up with creative solutions to world issues.

After lunch, kids were able to choose between joining their parents for parent shadowing time or playing games with the other kids and volunteers. When the group reconvened, they participated in a presentation about Aidmatrix and an office-wide scavenger hunt. At the end of the day each child was presented with a gift bag that contained a book light and other small gifts.

And now what really happened:

Lainey decided she was too old and cool to do this. At the end of the day she would say "Awe, the gifts were cooler this year." (I think she wanted that book light – last year they got a calculator)

The boys did not get to shadow me very long. I did get to bring them into my conference room for a bit. But then it was back to spreadsheets and conference calls for me.

On the way back to the other kids, Patrick broke out into a zigzagging split. And when I called out to him to slow down, he spun and whacked his head into the counter under local tech support's service window. BAM! None of the other kids bled or caused physical damage to the building. Yeah. My kids rule!

no subject

123... GO!

Not the Dice!

ACK! I knew I should not have left it out. I only dragged it out of storage because I was contemplating selling the contents on eBay.

They were there stacked on the floor when the kids came to visit. I knew I should have left them boxed up. Hidden them in the closet. Put them on the top shelf... ANYWHERE but out in the open.

But I didn't. Instead, as I obliviously microwaved dino-nuggets and prepared mac & cheese, I heard that innocent little voice say, "Dad, what's Dungeons and Dragons?"

I shouldn't complain. I shouldn't worry. Heck, it could mean a secession in the requests for Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic cards.

I'm not worried about the geek or fantasy factors. These kids already play Gauntlet, Gladius and Runescape. I've already invested a few hours into the "there is no such thing as a real Pokemon" conversation. D&D can't be any worse than that.

BUT THEY EXPECT ME TO BE THE DUNGEON MASTER! This is because I forced my 10-year-old sister to create a character, isn't it? Actually, this may be fun. It is a whole lot better than watching the boogers play Gameboy or sort Yu-Gi-Oh cards. And it is one more thing that will encourage Patrick to read. Now, should we force their sister to play just like we make her play the occasional board game? [insert maniacal laughter here]

Caprock Canyon and Trailways

Back to civilization and its ho hum landscape (at least compared to Caprock Canyons) If this weren't where my kids, my job and the 10 for 10 diet dr pepper sales were, I am not sure I would have come back. Well, I also like easy access roads that actually get someplace in less than 3 hours... someplace includes arenas that hose more than Friday Night Lights and the local American Idol contestant's consolation show.

OH! AND TREES big enough to hand a hammock on...

Anyway, Thursday found Katrina and I hiking to and through Clarity Tunnel.

You get a wierd sense of accomplishment carrying everything you need for a camp in one pack. Of course while the road looks like it goes on forever, we really only hiked about 5 miles in and 5 miles out.

Finding a relatively flat camping spot that was not either on the trail or suspiciously full of cow pie was a bit hard. But the scenery was georgeous.

Of course I'm told that the section of the trail we hiked is kinda bland compared to what is farther west and in the Canyons State Park Itself.

The next day we hiked out, had onion rings and root beer at the local diner and toured the old stone jail (can't pass up a hysterical marker)...

THEN we went to the Caprock State Park:
Red Rock and Spanish Skirts and Gypsum and mini-Grand Canyons everywhere!

I really must come back with the kids. Maybe Lainey will put up with a tent if she gets the chance to see bats and stars.

Plus, where else can you staddle the width of the Red River?

The Mummy Sleeps Soundly (NOT)

I finally used the last of a Bass Pro Shops gift card I received as a thank-you for working until 5AM one "night." I proudly selected a SlumberJack 30o Mummy bag. It was shiny and light and packed down incredibly small in the included compression pack.

MAN! Was I ready to go hiking.

I forgot it had been a long time since I had slept in a mummy bag. AND that was in a nice comfy 1950s era down-filled army garage sale special... ON A COT.

I wanted to toss and turn, but I could not. I was in a mummy bag. I wanted to sit up and stretch, but I could not. I was in a hiking tent that is the very same basic dimensions and shape as a mummy bag. I wanted to lay down flat, but I could not. I did not see the root ball to that grass clump when I pitched the tent. My bad.

Modern camping technology did not play nicely with me on this trip. Last week I made an impulse buy and pimped-my-maglite for about $5.99 with a push button on-off switch and a LED conversion. BUT... when I tested the batteries at the trailhead, I somehow managed to twist the new LED bulb leads and short the whole thing out. So when we got to Clarity Tunnel, I had a very warm, very dark mini-maglite. Of course, Clarity Tunnel is just over 500 feet long and runs roughly East-West. As long as the sun is up, it is probably never too dark to walk through Clarity.

Now the little Korean-war era camp pot I borrowed from Katrina... that worked great. It packed up nicely, sliding over the bottom of my wal-mart clearance army-style canteen. I probably have one or two of those stashed somewhere in Minden. Before my next hiking trip, I am going to need to visit either Dad's shed or an Army/Navy store.

New Orleans' Saints v. Chicago Bears. NFC Championship!

New Orleans' Saints v. Chicago Bears. NFC Championship!

Today would be historic. The New Orleans Saints had never played in the Championship game. Could they really go to the Superbowl? I was hopeful.

I watched the first hour. The Saints dropped and coughed up the ball… BUT they also held Chicago to mere 3pt FGs. They were only down by 9 when I had to take Paul to a poorly scheduled Cub Scout meeting.

Through the miracle of cell phone service I was able to keep half a brain cell focused on the game. But luckily I did not have to watch it. I do not know if my nerves could have handled it. By halftime New Orleans had finally scored a touchdown but so had Chicago. Then in the 3^rd quarter NO did it again!

I had hope but could not see the game. I did not see it when they missed a fieldgoal or gave up a safety. I did not see that last fumble. Instead I was helping Paul make a case for his Cub Scout stuff. We also used eraser clay to make luau-themed decorations. I expect everyone at the Blue and Gold Banquet will be most impressed with Paul's volcano and my orange flamingo.

But eventually we were done and headed home. Once back in the apartment, I got to watch Chicago make all those go ahead scores in the 4^th quarter. The Saints defense looked tired and our offense looked ineffective but at least the team was still trying. I was sad but proud. And then it was all over.

And the strangest thing happened. I had a feeling that it was over. The football season was over. My team almost made it. But they did not make it. What was the point of The Superbowl now? What was the point of the AFC championship? Was this what people felt in cities with "good" teams?

I had never had to worry about the outcome of the playoffs before. Weird. I mean I had attended The Saint's first ever playoff game in The Superdome (they got skunked by Minnesota). But after that crushing defeat (I was young and hopeful), year after year, I never really worried about The Saint's progression in the playoffs.

This year was different. I thought they could make it. Wow. It was probably an hour before I remembered to turn on the Indy/NE game. But football is still football. I am ready to watch The Superbowl. But I am even more ready for next year… Go Saints!

Dallas Hazardous Weather Update

As a result of the ongoing hazardous weather conditions, employees with the necessary resources should work remotely and remain productive.

My response: OK but Leonard owes me lunch so I came to work anyway.

Leonard owed me lunch because the Saints beat the Eagles. I had a half muffaletta and a bowl of gumbo at The Alligator Café (EatGator.com). Yummy!

(I would have been buying Lenny a Philly Cheese-steak somewhere if the Saints had lost)