The Wee Ones :)

What is it about kids that just makes you smile? I can't say for sure, but I know that that is true.

I write with two (recent) examples.

Number one; I was linesman in a Major Atom B game the other night. (Atom is 10 and 11 year olds, and "Major" indicates that it was a competitive game.) As a linesman I have to tell everyone on the ice when a team (depending on which end I have, and they play is in) is onside or offside*.

It's something as simple as yelling (or in my case "projecting my voice") "No!" or "Clear!" when they're onside, and washing out at the blue-line (which is like the "safe**" signal in baseball). And "Offside!" repeatedly until they are once again onside, when you then say "Good!" or "Clear!"

When you officiate hockey at the Novice level (ages 8 and 9), they sometimes need a little more encouragement. To get them to respond to being offside (which they haven't the faintest about) you need to yell numbers, names and colours, and tell them to "get out." To get them to go back in it's "ok, you're good," "go go go!" and "go get 'em!" :)

Anyway... After doing this a few times in front of the visiting team's bench, the back-up goalie leans over the boards and says, "You got some lungs on you!" It was the cutest thing EVER! I couldn't turn and face him, but I thanked him, and couldn't hide my gianormous grin.

Later his blocker was hanging over the boards, and I bumped it by accident, as I skated by, and he was like "Sorry!" I said, "No problem buddy, it's alright."

He was a cute little kid. Makes me smile just thinking about it. :)

Number two; doesn't really involve a kid, per say...

The guy who refereed the game I did today noticed afterwards, that I had a pump. He knew it was a pump right away, which was cool.

He started asking a whole bunch of questions; "Do you wear it when you ref? ... Is it difficult to use?" stuff like that. After a bit he told me his 9 year old daughter has type I diabetes too. Then he asked questions about other stuff. I let him know I'd had diabetes since I was 3, and that I can relate a little to how she feels.

He told me that she felt like "her life was over," and all that. 9 year olds eh?

But she knew that *shiver* a Jonas Brother has diabetes too. I told him yeah, and there've been hockey players with it too. So it only really limits you if you let it. "For instance," I used myself as an example, "I want to be an NHL referee, and" I kicked my ref bag "I'm not gonna let it stop me."

He smiled (because he could see his daughter'd be fine), and told me "Right on buddy, and you got no fat on yeh."

I told him a pump is just a small adjustment from syringes (because it pretty much is), and that it's all a comfort thing. That it's pretty simple. You just dial in your blood sugar, tell it your carbs you're eating, and it does the rest.

He was all curious about knowing carbs in food and stuff. He thought it'd be hard. I told him that stuff at the dinner table - like mashed potatoes, for example - is guess work, but you get the hang of it. I said that stuff you eat regularly becomes habit. "Like, I have the same thing for breakfast every day; toast and peanut butter," not true, I have that most days, but I was making a point. "The package says how much is in how ever many slices of bread. The first time you check, the second time you're checking to make sure, and soon you know exactly how many carbs are in two slices of toast, and peanut butter." 40g at my house, just by the by. :P (42g at Ashley's, depending on the bread.)

I saw the realization click in, and he was a little more relaxed about it. I finished out by just saying that if they want to learn more about it, or think it's a good idea, to just talk to their doctor.

He piped up, "I might just have her talk to you," in a 'she needs to see someone with it that is getting along fine,' sort of thing. It warmed my heart. :)

We talked a bit more, and he learned that I'd only been using my pump a month or two. I think he got a little more comfortable with the idea of his daughter maybe getting one from that. Just the fact that I talked about it, and found it pretty easy, and could explain stuff to him in ways he could understand, in that amount of time, helped.

Anyway, so there's my "Wee Ones" stories.

:)

*When the puck crosses into a team's offensive end and one or more players of the attacking team (with the exception of the player in control of the puck) already have both skates in the offensive end. (The "offensive end* is indicated by the blue-line.)

**When a player running the bases makes it to a base without being tagged my the player holding the ball.

I was just being a dick, 'cause it's fun...

Where I'm Whirring Right Now

Did you know it's actually spelt "whirring"? I though it could be "wurring," or "whurring," or maybe "wherring." Dictionary.com says it's "whirring," so that's what I'll go with.

Got as few things buzzing around in my head right now. They didn't just start now, they've been there a while, but I figured I might as well get them down now, asI really haven't written in a while; for which I do apologize, once again.

Keep in mind, none have anything to do with any of the others, so I seem disconjointed; I am being disconjointed.

*shrug*


Tattoo

Yes, I am contemplating getting a tattoo. I'm thinking of getting it in ten months, which'd be sometime in July. I placed it there for a few reasons. One, I've had people say "Wait a year on it," and some have said, "Six months is a good wait time." Twelve plus six is eighteen, divided in two (to get the average) is nine, so ten should be just fine. I just finished designing it, and got it okayed (as in doable), so ten months would be ... July, and; two, it has much to do with TV I watch (alone, and with Miss Ashley), and that would be after all the seasons this fall/winter have concluded.

I plan to get it on the upper right side of my back (shoulderish), but I'm not doing the stereotypical "dude shoulder tattoo" thing. I want to be able to take part in the work force, as I will need to be employed outside of refereeing to survive, before I really start taking off there.

To do that, I needed to keep it in the torso area. And as I refuse to get a tattoo on my lower torso, I confined myself to the upper torso.


Here's the current picture that has been put most places I am usually (ie. Above my TV, over my bed, the stairs to my room, and my computer in my room. Also it's the wallpaper of my cell phone, laptop, and computer.)

In "real size" it's 4.5 inches tall, by about 4.3 inches wide.
Apparently that'll take about three and a half hours to do, and cost close to $500.

Now, there are a couple shows on there that are on the chopping block this season; Dexter and Grey's.
I didn't like them much last season, even though I do really like them.

Dexter, was sort of sketchy, and not as good as it's first two seasons, which was really disappointing to me. And Grey's had a good start and finish, but not so good in the middle. We'll see how they turn out this season.

The Mentalist was on there, but I didn't like last season at ALL, so it got cut. A tangent, and yet not...


School
I thought I was missing school. At first I couldn't put my finger on why, but after some though I think I got it. It's not the class; definetely not class or the work.
The social aspect. I'm not a really social guy, so I know that sounds weird, but it's true.
I miss being around a large group of the same people (who I vaguely know) on a regular basis. Meaning, "Going to the mall wouldn't cut it."

Both dad, and Miss Ashley have said, "Well go back." I put some thought into it; and I guess I could. But I will NOT go back and run up my student debt for shit I won't ever need.

So today I went browsing. I could only find two things I want, or might like to know as a part-time student. Digital Music Production (http://bit.ly/c8NMa5), and Graphic Design (http://bit.ly/dpFQCN). Each one has stuff I'd like to learn, and the good thing is that I can pick the courses I want to learn at my pace, which is awesome.
So, say if there's "How to Draw a Dude Picking His Nose" I can just not take it, 'cause fuck; that's completely and utterly useless.

I looked at Digital Music Production 'cause I like music. I've done the "sing into the computer" thing, and want to know how to make it better. There's a course on making your at home studio, and guiatr lessons for beginners. "No previous music experience required." Awesome, 'cause I'm instrumentally challenged, but would LOVE to learn to play guitar.

Graphic Design I looked at because I like playing with stuff like that. In my Photography course, that was on of my favourite things. And I deisgned my tattoo; so learning how to use all those programs better would be of good use, if I ever decided to do something that involves graphic design, or maybe want another tattoo; it'd work out to my advantage.

I mean there's nothing cooler than being able to go, "Yeah, I designed that," and I think as a tattoo, it'd be even cooler. But we'll see. I mightn't even want another tattoo.


Work
I am looking for a job. I want full-time emplyment, and I want to be at least a little happy with what I do for now. It certainly won't be a career, as I want refereeing to be my career, but like I said before, "I need something now in order to survive."

I am currently living with my parents, but I can't use their health insurance once I turn 21. I turn 21 beginning of February, so the clock's ticking.
It also doesn't help that I'm diabetic. That makes living - even without paying rent and utilities (in the future), food, etc. - VERY expensive. So I need full-time employment, decent pay, and benefits.

In Conclusion
...figured I'd put that so we'd all know I wasn't continuing on the last section.

THAT is what's running through my head right now.
Cheers.

Taking a Break...

...where's my Kit-Kat?
Nah, I'm kidding.

Been busy the last bit. Summer season of baseball's started, I'm still working, and reffing once a week.

Got a neat idea from Miss Ashley. She found a 30 Letters in 30 Days thing, which is pretty cool.
I looked it over and found, "I don't have names to many of the letter." So I decided I'll start once I get a name to each of the letters.
That should be fun.

Some more good news; Facebook mobile's working once again, I can send and receive wall posts, pokes, and receive messsages.
Hurray for that.
(Is it "recieve," or "receive"? I dunno. I'll follow the I before E rule on this one, as it looks right.)

Back to work!
Later.