Okay, so what does this image have to do with what happned to me last Friday night at my son’s Football Booster club kick off? Well, let me tell you…my imagination on overdrive again.

It was a busy Friday about a week ago because I had to get Joaquin to school at 8am for football pictures, my haircut at 9am then pick up the boy at 10:30am. Emmy in tow we successfully accomplished our mission.

After all the running around, we got home and I worked while they watched TV for the day. It was their last week of summer vacation and we had an early day on Saturday since the Antonian Apaches had a football scrimmage in Burnet TX so he had to be at school early the next morning.

At 4pm, Liz came home to take Emmy to the open house at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. I took Joaquin to the Football Booster “kick off” ice cream social at Antonian High school. I’m not much for crowds but since he was a freshman, I should go.

We arrived at 6pm and the head coach proceeded with the whole “Rah-Rah-Rah!” thing. He even did a “football clinic” for parents (mostly Moms) that didn’t understand the game. He enlisted the help of Fathers and used them as examples of what each player would do on the field. I was picked to demonstrate how a running back would hold the football, run, then stiff-arm a defensive player.

I think I did pretty well but noticed my young freshman son Joaquin, shrink into the crowd (he hung out with the other freshman players — too cool to sit with Dad) fearing I would do something embarrassing.

Ahh, teenagers…so nervous we will embarrass them…not yet my son…not yet…

Then the Auction started. They had to auction off to “boost” the money coming into the football squad. Seemed kind of fun. They even had the cheerleaders there to do the “Price Is Right” model thing.

1st up was a football signed by all of the Freshman football players with a sliver sharpie.

“What do we have for a starting bid!?” Screamed the over enthiusiatic Dad they had recruited to be the Auctioneer. “Bids start at $20! – do I hear $30?”

It sold for $300. What a great way to start the Auction. I wonder what they’d get for the next items?

Ooooo…that stadium package looks cool. An Antonian staduim chair, umbrellla, baseball hat, blanket and rain cover. What more would you want?

“Starting bid for this football stadium package …how about $100!”

I immediately tapped out — no thanks. It sold for $300. Good decision on my part.

Then the JV football was up next, presented by one of the Apache Cheerleaders. Same ball, same silver sharpie signatures from all the JV players…“Let’s start this one off at $200! Do I hear $250?”

“We have $250! Do I hear $300! How about $500! Do I hear $500!”

I almost choked when heard, “I’ve got $800! Now $1,000!”

Did I just hear, $1,000 dollars?!

(continue reading…)

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Tomorrow the summer ride is over for my kids. They start back to school. My son starts high school, my daughter into 5th grade. They begin a week early since they go to Catholic School.

It just seemed like a short summer but who am I kidding?

We did a lot but now the fun begins for the Saldivar Clan. Academics are the important thing for our kids but they love sports as well. Joaquin is giving Freshman football at Antonian High school a try and Emmy is going out for the Volleyball team at Blessed Sacrament.

The good news is that “hopefully” both will be playing for the school teams. Actually, Joaquin is on the team but Emmy still has two more tryouts tomorrow and Tuesday.

This could mean our weekends will be free since CYO was mostly played on the weekends. Practices should also be held at the respective schools so that will help as well. I hope.

I’m strapping in — it’s gonna be a fast ride.

Oh and if you’re wondering about the cool school bus photos – it’s real. Found it on this webpage.

Jet-powered school bus reaches 350 mph, eliminates tardy slips — Autoblog

Beto

Popularity: 9% [?]

At least my watch that is. Most of you know how geeky I can be but this watch is a god-send for someone as “vain” as I am. See, I’ve had to start using reading glasses this past year.

All normal I’ve been told.

But a good friend of mine, David Gunn, showed up one day with this KUEL watch. It was an iBeam. It didn’t look like mine but it had the same characteristics. It had a an easy to read dial and a maginfying glass built right into the crystal. This way if I didn’t have my “cheaters” while reading a menu, I could flip up the crystal and “voila!” I’m in business.

I bought one soon after.

It also had another cool feature. An LED spotlight. And  this sucker is bright. You push the orange button and this powerful little LED illuminates the darkest of hallways (no zombies there) or a map to find your way out of the (horror) house (with zombies).

Yeah, my imagination in over-drive again.

Most of my family just roll their eyes when I show them my watch, “Of course you have that watch. Why wouldn’t you?” They smile. As I do. Oh and it has a compass too. See it? Plus it has dual time zones, a stopwatch, countdown timer, blah, blah, blah.

I’ve had this watch for about 2 years now and the LED battery finally died. So I took it to this jewerler by my work and after three days I got my trusty Gizmo back with 3 new batteries – yes 3 – one for the watch, two for the LED.

I’m giddy again and armed with the power to vanquish any zombies lurking in the shadows when I go to bed…plus I can tell what time it is in Germany (Jim).

Yes, my adult human night light.

Beto

Popularity: 11% [?]

Better than shooting yourself in the head right?

Another interesting game found while I was surfing.

Beto

Party Roulette Water Balloon Game by ALLY on JANUARY 5, 2010 For once the prankster version of a device is more innocent than the actual version. Now you can own a party roulette version of Russian Roulette. Instead of holding a real gun to your head, you’ll be holding a plastic one with a massive water balloon attached to it. Then as it goes round and round again, the odds of you getting soaked become more and more likely. You can purchase the Party Roulette Water Balloon Game for $17.98 from the Prank Place. Source: Technabob

link: Party Roulette Water Balloon Game | Foolish Gadgets

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Okay, I’m a big fan of the original Conan the Barbarian movie. I loved the soundtrack and just appreciated the movie with “Ahh-Knoll-D.” So when I saw this on a website I frequent, I just had to watch it. I was not disappointed. If you are a Conan fan – this is for you. I’ve posted the original link below.

A musical version of Conan the Barbarian that must be seen to be believed

Beto

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