My little girl is already a year and a half! Where's the time going?Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Graduation Day
Tonight is commencement for Indiana University South Bend. It's actually held at Notre Dame because we don't have large enough space on campus. So, for one day, the Irish campus is decked out in IU red.
As the students come forward to receive their diploma, their names are read off by one of our faculty members in the speech department. He does a very good job and really nails some of the long international names. A name like mine would be easy to pronounce. Or would it?
Flashback to 1987 when I'm graduating from Huntington College. As I walk up to get my diploma, the academic Dean calls out my name as "Rick Deenie."
As the students come forward to receive their diploma, their names are read off by one of our faculty members in the speech department. He does a very good job and really nails some of the long international names. A name like mine would be easy to pronounce. Or would it?
Flashback to 1987 when I'm graduating from Huntington College. As I walk up to get my diploma, the academic Dean calls out my name as "Rick Deenie."
Monday, May 03, 2010
Anna's Final Quiz Meet
This past Saturday was Anna's final quiz meet of the year. She joined the team at Trinity Evangelical Free Church and this year they studied I & II Corinthians. She really enjoyed it a lot. During one of the quizzes, it went into an overtime 5 question round. She answered the final question in overtime which gave our team the victory. Way to go, Anna!
We asked her what she enjoyed the most about quizzing, and she said when she placed in the top 10 and received a medal (which happened at her first meet). When asked what she didn't like, it was when she didn't place. Hmm, it seems she is able to correlate the effects of studying the material and doing well in a quiz. Next year, she says she'll definitely study more.
It was fun to just play the role of parental observer this time after several years of coaching (and this particular quiz meet at Trinity is one I would have had to coordinate). My parents were also able to be here the quiz, as was Dorene's parents. Anna will be back next year to quiz over John.
We asked her what she enjoyed the most about quizzing, and she said when she placed in the top 10 and received a medal (which happened at her first meet). When asked what she didn't like, it was when she didn't place. Hmm, it seems she is able to correlate the effects of studying the material and doing well in a quiz. Next year, she says she'll definitely study more.
It was fun to just play the role of parental observer this time after several years of coaching (and this particular quiz meet at Trinity is one I would have had to coordinate). My parents were also able to be here the quiz, as was Dorene's parents. Anna will be back next year to quiz over John.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
At the Table Tennis Tournament
Today I played in the 46th annual St. Joseph Valley Open table tennis tournament. This year it was held at a brand new facility at Holy Cross College (across the street from Notre Dame and where "Rudy" first attended). I went in having come off a horrible tournament last November where I didn't win a single game and was hoping to do better.
That I did. I came home with a 3rd place trophy in one of the events I entered. I know, you're asking "So what 10-year old oriental kid did you have to beat to get this trophy?" Well, first of all, he was only seven . . .
I ain't kidding. There was this little dynamo that was the star attraction of the day. Every time he played, there was a crowd. I drew him in my final bracket of the day. I called Dorene and told her I was about to play this kid that was a little shorter than Cameron (our 8 year old). I watched him play and he was moving all around the floor, not missing too many shots. When it was my turn, I quickly dispatched him in the first two games, because his weakness was, well, he was so doggone short he had no reach. I hit it to the opposite side and he couldn't get there. Well, at least at first. By the third game, he was moving even quicker and returning a lot of shots I thought were winners. Although, he was so small, I look over and all I see is this paddle waving around furiously. I can't believe how quick he was. He took a game off me, but I came back and won game 4 easily and the match.
So, here I am, 38 YEARS OLDER than this kid. Of course I want to win, but it's oddly conflicting to rejoice in your triumph over someone born in 2003. Although I wasn't the only one having trouble, he was giving lots of older players fits. Although older is a relative term . . . everyone he played was older, anyone younger and they'd be in diapers.
So, I took out little Michael Tran and advanced. I was oh so close to advancing to the finals but lost a 5-game match to a kid from the South Bend club, who is irritatingly nice, so it's hard to get upset at him for beating me. But at least this time I came home with a trophy, something I hadn't done in a couple years. I still have a little bit left.
Note to Steve the next time you are at the Fort Wayne Club. I told a few of your club members sitting close by (Ron Forks, Ricky Reed and others) to take a vow of silence and not tell you I barely beat the little pipsqueak Michael.
That I did. I came home with a 3rd place trophy in one of the events I entered. I know, you're asking "So what 10-year old oriental kid did you have to beat to get this trophy?" Well, first of all, he was only seven . . .
I ain't kidding. There was this little dynamo that was the star attraction of the day. Every time he played, there was a crowd. I drew him in my final bracket of the day. I called Dorene and told her I was about to play this kid that was a little shorter than Cameron (our 8 year old). I watched him play and he was moving all around the floor, not missing too many shots. When it was my turn, I quickly dispatched him in the first two games, because his weakness was, well, he was so doggone short he had no reach. I hit it to the opposite side and he couldn't get there. Well, at least at first. By the third game, he was moving even quicker and returning a lot of shots I thought were winners. Although, he was so small, I look over and all I see is this paddle waving around furiously. I can't believe how quick he was. He took a game off me, but I came back and won game 4 easily and the match.
So, here I am, 38 YEARS OLDER than this kid. Of course I want to win, but it's oddly conflicting to rejoice in your triumph over someone born in 2003. Although I wasn't the only one having trouble, he was giving lots of older players fits. Although older is a relative term . . . everyone he played was older, anyone younger and they'd be in diapers.
So, I took out little Michael Tran and advanced. I was oh so close to advancing to the finals but lost a 5-game match to a kid from the South Bend club, who is irritatingly nice, so it's hard to get upset at him for beating me. But at least this time I came home with a trophy, something I hadn't done in a couple years. I still have a little bit left.
Note to Steve the next time you are at the Fort Wayne Club. I told a few of your club members sitting close by (Ron Forks, Ricky Reed and others) to take a vow of silence and not tell you I barely beat the little pipsqueak Michael.
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