Sending My Taxes to Fresno

Today I mailed my completed tax forms to the IRS in Indianapolis for my state return and to Fresno, California for my federal return (that's the mailing label I was provided). Wait a minute. Fresno? Not a city that probably many people know about, but seeing as I grew up in California's San Joaquin Valley, I know exactly where it is. So, here are my Fresno memories:

• We actually lived 60 miles south of Fresno in a little town called Pixley. Don't even try and tell me you know where that is. Compared to Pixley, traveling to Fresno was going to the BIG city.
• Fresno is the raisin capitol of the world. In the 3rd grade, we took a field trip to the Sunmaid raisin factory. At the end of the tour, you get a box of raisins. In the 5th grade, we toured the olive factory in Lindsay, California and you got to sample olives. I much preferred touring the Hershey chocolate factory as a kid.
• We traveled to Fresno a lot because they had a big Christian bookstore that my dad liked to go to. They also had a nice big mall.
• Not nearly as popular as the Ft. Wayne Komets, but we occasionally ventured out to see the Fresno Falcons hockey team.
• I really got into Fresno State University basketball in the early 80's. They had a good team and went all the way and won . . . .the NIT tournament. Hey, it was still exciting for that part of the country. Go Bulldogs!
• In the early 80's, Fresno was named the worst city in the country, and there was a mini-series called "Fresno."
• All the t.v. stations we got were based in Fresno. I remember once while on spring break with a college friend in Flint, Michigan, we turned on the news and there was a former sports anchor from Fresno. Hmm, went from Fresno to Flint (which also at one time was named worst city in the country).
• Nothing much exciting happened around Fresno, except for one time in the neighboring city of Chowchilla in 1976. A school bus full of kids were kidnapped and buried underground in a semi-trailer. That was one of the first 24/7 news stories I remember following. It turned out good, as all the kids were rescued, but everyone was riveted waiting to hear news, because nothing like that had ever happened anywhere.

Take good care of my tax forms, Fresno. Send me a refund, but you can hold the raisins.

Working the ACT

IU South Bend is a testing site for the ACT, so many Saturdays I am on campus administering one of these exams because I'm the site coordinator. This past Saturday, I gave the ACT Explore, which is a pre-ACT exam designed for elementary age students.

It's a pretty easy gig. I just need to arrange the rooms and other workers, and make sure all materials are held in confidence and returned immediately. Students are always easygoing and follow the rules. Even though the verbal instructions ask if anyone has any questions, I don't think anyone's ever asked a question in the 15+ years I've been doing this.

Of course, I wasn't at the ACT Explore exam in January, when one of the elementary age kids did have questions/suggestions. It was after the break and the adminstrator asked if there were any questions. This 5th grader pipes up, "Yes, how about if we go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves." So, they did that. Then, the same kid asks "How about if we find out what everyone wants to be when they grow up?" So, they did that too.

Oh yeah, why wasn't I at this particular exam? Well, I was playing the role of the parent this time around and as such, wasn't allowed to be an administrator. So, yes, that was Anna in the testing room getting everyone to introduce themselves and disclose their future ambitions (my colleague said, "your daughter is a real trip"). If you don't know my daughter, let me tell you that is pretty much par for the course. Put her in a group, and she's already getting them organized.

Oh Yeah, the Olympics Begin Tonight

I had kinda forgotten this was a winter olympics year, and with them being held in Vancouver, we'll likely see a majority of events live. I don't really know who our prospects are, except for Apollo Ohno and basically all of our snowboarders, who I don't know by name, except for Lindsay Jacob-Ellis, who tried to show off 4 years ago at the finish line, fell down, and finished with a silver.

I'm not familiar with our figure skaters, but that will soon change because coverage of that event goes 24/7 once the games begin. I'll still tune it at times. I especially like some of the skiiing, such as the men's downhill (one of my earliest Olympic memories is Franz Klammer winning it in wild fashion back in 1976). The luge and tobaggon can be fun to watch, and also the ski jumping. Speed skating is kind of boring, and hockey just doesn't cut it anymore since 1980 when our true amateurs beat the Russians.

Well, That Stunk!

Thought we had the makings of a Super Bowl blowout after the first quarter, but the Colts really let this one get away. I thought the Colts lost this one in the final minute of the first half. When they stopped the Saints at 4th and goal, that was huge. But then they went all conservative and went 3 and out, giving the Saints time to get a field goal and swing the momentum back their way. I think that gave the coach more confidence to go for the onside kick to start the half, which was a huge gamble that paid off.

Did Drew Brees have an incomplete pass in the second half? He just totally picked apart the Colts pass defense. Manning couldn't get anything going either, only tried the long ball a couple times. He then had his Brett Favre moment at the end with that horrendous interception for a touchdown. They just couldn't get things to click the second half, but the Saints were totally unstoppable. But it didn't help as it seemed the Colts really never let their offense loose. Way too conservative play calling on the part of the coach.

As for the other part of the game:

• In the group I was with, everyone laughed the most at the Dorito's commercial where the dog puts the shock collar on the guy at the park bench. That was good.
• The "casual Friday" commercial was also pretty good.
• A good chunk of the commercials were pretty lame. How many did Budweiser have? They sure had a bunch.
• So, what was all the big deal over the Tim Tebow ad? That was much ado about nothing. Unless you knew the story behind the ad, you probably had know idea what it was even about.
• I wish Danica Patrick wouldn't attach herself to the risque Go Daddy commercials. That's when we always have to distract our kids.
• I'd say the halftime show with The Who was possibly the worst show in quite a while. I wasn't sure Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend were going to make it through their set. Just not a whole lot of energy.

So, another successful season for the Colts. They've won more games than any other team over the last 10 years. That should be commended. However, in that same span, Tom Brady has won 3 Super Bowls and Ben Roethlesberger has won 2.

Oscar Nominations

This year, a total of 10 movies were nominated for Best Picture. I've seen two of the nominees thus far, so I'll need to get busy in time for the Oscars on March 7. The nominees are:

• Avatar - I'm the only one on the planet who hasn't seen it yet.
• The Hurt Locker - However, very few on the planet saw this, as it made less than Avatar made in one hour, but it's supposed to be very good. The director, Kathryn Bigelow, used to be married to James Cameron, director of Avatar. Can you imagine if she beats him out, since his movie has made so much money?
• Precious - I don't care if I see this one, no matter how tastefully it deals with incest.
• Up in the Air - Not a single person I've talked to has really liked this movie.
• The Blindside - On the other hand, every single person I've talked to has really liked this movie; I'll try and check it out; heard Sandra Bullock is especially good.
• Inglourious Basterds - I did see this one and it was sort of odd; not the action movie you may be expecting, but lots of long dialogue scenes with quick bursts of violence, and it rewrites the ending of WWII. Not a boring movie, but not one I'd consider great, either.
• Up - Pixar can do no wrong.
• District 9 - Cool sci-fi film from South Africa; very well done, I liked it a lot.
• An Education - Please raise your hand if you've heard of this movie.
• A Serious Man - Again, please raise your hand if you've heard of this movie.