The Magic of Sports

So...this past weekend, I was out shopping at Costco, and I was wearing my Green Bay Packers hat. As I was sitting my daughter in the cart, I looked up and saw this guy staring at me...I thought it was a little weird right?! But then I saw what it was...he was wearing a Green Bay Packers hat as well. Then the magic happened...there was a split second we gave each other a little smile and a understanding nod.

Now I didn't know this guy, I had never seen him before in my life, but for that moment, we were friends...two strangers connected by one thing...Sports.

In thinking about this post, I remember all the times where I will be out in public (wearing a hat with a team logo,) and the people I really notice are those who might be wearing something with the same logo on it. There are even times when I'll be wearing my U of U hat, and someone will walk by and whisper "Go Utes!" It is awesome, and for you sports fans out there, you know what I am talking about.

I can't speak for other sports fans, but if I dissect my mind, I love showing off my favorite sports teams, and by wearing it, I feel like I am an extension to the team...then, when I see others wearing the same colors, logos, whatever...I see a "teammate."

I firmly believe there is a kind of magic when it comes to sports...and with that, I want to share one of my favorite videos. I can't watch this without getting the chills...this is the magic that I am talking about -> Sports Magic

An Apology to my Wife or "Cold Soup"

So a year or so ago, I heard about this iPhone application called Foursquare where you could use your mobile device and "check-in" to places. If you were lucky enough, you could even earn Foursquare Badges...pretty exciting I know.

However, as Foursquare opened up in more cities, you could start to see the application behind it. Businesses were using it to engage their loyal fans/customers/patrons in a whole new way...through their mobile devices by offering "Specials." This is pretty exciting and cool.

So needless to say, I jumped onto Foursquare because it was the "New Shiny" and I wanted to be a part of something...and that is where it all started.

Since jumping onto Foursquare, I have adopted other geolocation applications like Gowalla, Whrrl...Yelp...etc. etc. etc. - I wanted to check each of these to see what each of them brings to the table and really wanted to see how businesses were using each. Maybe I could get some ideas...

ANYWAYS, I think my poor wife has exercised as much patience with me as she possibly can...I mean it is like when we go through the drive-thru, I'll grab the food and go pull into a stall so I can check-in. (In reading that, I realize how sad it is.) Or when we go out on a date...I'll put my phone on the table and check-in, leave a tip, see who else might be there...you get the idea, only to look up and see her giving me "That Look," the "Put that @#%& thing away right now."

Even when I'm out with a buddy, he'll have half his burger or sushi thrown down before I can leave a tip on Yelp. Sadly, after all the checking-in, I have even noticed that my food has gotten cold. (Uggh, this is really sad...rethinking publishing this post now.)

If you really know me, you can testify that I have my phone on me 24/7 and that I am always on it...email, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare...text messages...it has really started to drive people nuts how my iPhone has morphed into another falange. Maybe I do need to give it a rest...or at least calm the freak down.

So sorry Jen...sorry it seems like I am out on a date with my phone and you sometimes seem to be the 3rd Wheel...I'll be better, I promise.

So my resolution is this...wait a second, my phone just beeped...

Patience

So earlier this evening I was filling a prescription at the local drug store...nothing too exciting except they had one window open and three of us in line with one gentleman at the window.

"No biggie!"

Right?!

Well, this guy at the counter is going on and on about how he needs to do this and needs this and the poor pharmacist calmly answers that "Sir that prescription has already been filled today, that paper you have right there is a photo copy...I'm sorry sir, I cannot do a complete fill on this particular one right now...sir, that is a photocopy, and it has been filled and is in our records."

- 5 minutes pass, and now four people in line -

I ask the guy in front of me, "Hey man, how long've you been here?" To which he replies "10 minutes...{sigh}"

This guy at the window is ranting that he needs something else blah blah blah blah blah blah...I've stopped trying to listen and looking to see if another pharmacist is working." Another window opens up and

- 4.5 minutes later the two people in front of me have picked up their prescriptions and are out the door. "Hello how can I help you?"

I'm told my wait will be approximately 10~15 minutes...guy still at window complaining about something (the poor pharmacist keeps smiling and searches on here computer..."I'm sorry sir, that prescription has been filled already, and I can't give you more."

- 12 minutes go by "Scott, you're ready" -

I pick up my prescription and walk out to leave looking down at my phone.

- 30 + minutes, this poor pharmacist kept it together with one of the most obnoxious customers I have ever seen. I watched 11 people come and go all the while this bozo whined and cried about trying to fill a prescription twice.

I stopped to look at their beverages on my way out, and saw the guy step aside, and I wanted to go compliment the gal on the way she handled things...but I thought she was probably sick of talking and needed a break. :)

I'll stop in again soon and thank her for keeping her head.

Loyalty? Not so much

Sorry for the Twitter rant, but one of my favorite applications on my iPhone recently went through a massive overhaul, and in doing so created a better product. Kudos to Hootsuite for making something great even better. I liked the look of it, so I paid the $1.99 or whatever it was for the application, and I enjoyed using it as I found he interface to be such that enabled me to use Twitter in a whole new way. Here is where it gets sticky...with the upgrade, they made it so you had to purchase the "New & Improved Hootsuite...sure there is still a free version of it, but many of the functions you had in the previous version were gone or not available in that version.

Uggh, so here it is...Hootsuite upgraded their software (which is to be expected,) but then to turn around and essentially screw their existing customers (who paid for the app already) by charging them again for the app is about the stupidest thing ever. Here is where Hootsuite went wrong IMHO...They had an existing fan base...a group of users who loved the product...a group who talks to each other and promotes your product...so why on earth would you turn your back on those people and not offer that generation of early adopters a free upgrade?? Chances are, they are going to talk about the improved services, application, etc etc etc. But now, they have gone elsewhere. I have! Way to crap the bed Hootsuite!! You've lost me as a customer, and where I may not have mean that much to you overall, it makes me feel better to give you the Proverbial Bird!

Haunted By Memories...Updated 6/14/2010

Usually when you talk about Hauntings, you think of things that are bad...scary...frightening...horrific, but the Haunting that I am talking about is something different.

Have you ever had something happen to you, or met someone or been somewhere that 'haunts' you? For example...say you meet someone years and years ago, and that person made an imprint on you. It is possible that you may never see or talk to this person anymore, but they are always on your mind. Has this happened to you? It has to me...

Has something happened to you when you were younger that you can remember so vividly that you can describe exactly what happened? It has to me...

So with this in mind now...what are the things that "HAUNT" you?

In the upcoming weeks, I am going to be making a couple of videos of some of the things that Haunt me.

This blog post has been haunting me...to finish it

My Wordle - What My Twitter Friends Think of Me

http://www.wordle.net/ - Image attribution

You Know It Is Time...

So my dear wife had a craving for a fresh fruit smoothie. We have all the ingredients needed, so I thought, "Why Not? It sounds good...let's do it."

One thing...

Our blender is the one we got on our wedding day, and has seen many, many blends...so needless to say it is kinda old and loud...ok, really loud.

All the ingredients had been added, and I was ready to go when my wife said that we better not do it in the house because the children are deathly afraid of it, and it wouldn't be a pretty picture should it be the blender that woke them up.

So out I marched to the garage...in 32 degree weather carrying a frozen blend of milk and fruit. Pretty sure I woke the dead with my blending, but I think I'd rather face zombies than a screaming child! After all, I did recently see Zombieland, and I have taken the 32 Rules of Staying Alive to Heart.

To educate yourself on the 32 Rules, I recommend you go here:

http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_16631.html

So to wrap it all up, You Know It Is Time to replace your blender when you have to go out to the garage to blend something.

That is all. I love you all, you are all my children... :)