Driving Distances Between Vehicles

Back when I was learning to drive, I went through a computer program for Safe Driving that my Dad had (I believe I did this on a commodore 64...cutting edge stuff at the time!).  One of the things that always stuck with me is the amount of space you leave between you and the car in front of you.  So when the car in front of you passes a sign, then the specified number of seconds should pass before you reach that same sign.  

Good Roads/Weather - 2 to 3 seconds

Rain/Wet Roads - 3 to 4 seconds

Snow/Ice - 4+ seconds

I don't think too many Minnesotans (or possibly Americans) have heard this or if they have they don't seem to care.  It really worries me when you are driving on snowy roads and the car behind you is driving like the roads are in perfect condition (meaning they are about 1 or 2 seconds behind you).  If more people were to live by these guidelines, do you think we would have more car accidents.

Have you ever heard of these guidelines?  How do you determine how close to follow to the car in front of you?

Possibly Getting Sick

Wanda has been sick this last week with a common cold (primarily a cough).  I am afraid I may be coming down with this as well.  I have a slight cough but nothing too serious.  I am taking some extra Vitamin C pills and drinking lots of orange juice in hopes of thwarting of the cold.  I really don't want to be sick over the Christmas holidays!

I did get a flu shot earlier this year, but I don't think this is a case of the flu as much as it is a general cold.  The main issue she had was she had a cough and she was cold...and if you know Wanda you would know that something must be wrong if she is cold!  She has actually been wearing a coat this last week! 

My favorite sport to play

Katrina asked me to blog more often and I told her I would try.   So here is another post about one of my favorite sports to play: Volleyball.  Let's start out with a little history of me and sports

Pre-High School

I loved playing baseball.  I was a pitcher and an infielder for the most part.  My dad spent a lot of time with us in this sport and I loved it.

High School

My Freshman year I tried out for Tennis but did not make it.  I wish I would have tried volleyball instead.  During the 2 other seasons I played Basketball and Softball (baseball was not offered as part of the school).  I did play one year of Baseball but the teams were not even and they would not even let me try pitching.  Instead they stuck me in right-field.  Thus, I pretty much quit playing baseball and just played Softball.

My Sophmore - Senior years I skipped tennis and played intramural basketball to get me ready for the basketball season.  I continued to play Basketball and Softball.  No volleyball or baseball at all.

College

The only sport I played in college was intramural volleyball.  This probably got me started in the sport the most.  It was a lot of fun...even though I wasn't very good.  Wanda only came to one of my games in which she saw me being very aggressive and though I was going to kill myself.  Too much for her to handle. 

I did play a little basketball, but nothing serious.

Post-College

I started playing some volleyball out at Central Park with people from our church.  I was trying to get enough people out to play every week but this proved difficult.  In the process, we had people from the volleyball leagues join us after their games thus giving us more people.  Most of the Grace people dwindled off aside from a few of us.  Playing those summers led us into playing every week all year around.  

Most of you already know that I play volleyball most every Tuesday for 4 hours.  This is not a league but is instead just an open gym where you can showup and play.  I have gotten to know many of the individuals who go to this every week and it is something I always look forward to doing.

The past 3 months I have been playing in a league on Thursday nights as well.  Some of the people on the team I met while playing out at Central Park a few years ago.  They needed a sub early on in the season and thus they asked me (I had subbed a couple times the previous season).  While I was a sub, I did manage to play every match aside from 2 weeks in which I did not play.  As a sub, I was not expecting to play too often...although this ended up not being the case.  I'm not complaining too much as I got to play in the leauge for free.  As a team we did ok.  We came in 7th out of 13 teams.  I would say we got better as the season progressed.  

The league is over for the season, I skipped volleyball last week, and I can't make it this week due to going out of town.  I am looking foward to next Tuesday so I can get out and play again.

All that being said, I wish I would have gotten into this fun sport while in High School as I really do enjoy it.  Plus, then I could have possibly been one of the few people each year that made the varsity team in 3 different sports...assuming I could have made the varsity team.   If there were 4 sports, I think I would of liked to try some more Tennis as that is another sport I really enjoy.

Any suggestions/requests for topics for my next post?  Anything my faithful readers want to know about me?

Going to be an uncle!

I have been an uncle-in-law a few times now.  But I am now happy to report that I am going to be an Uncle for the first time!  My brother and his wife just had their first ultrasound and were able to hear the baby's heartbeat!  I am so excited for them and can't wait to see them again.  Hopefully they will be able to come visit in Feb/Mar and then we will be going to see them in August most likely.

Some things just don't work out like you want

We had a guy staying with us for part of last week.  So he could get into the house, we gave him Wanda's key since I would typically be home when Wanda got home.  I had the day off on Friday but I did still have to take Bailey to an appointment on Friday morning.  I got up and got ready, woke up Wanda and left.  I was almost done at the Vet when I got a call from Wanda.  She had just left the house, after locking it as usual, and realized she couldn't get in the garage.  I hadn't unlocked the garage door before I left so she was now locked out of the house.  I rushed home and 15 minutes later I let her into the garage so that she could go to work.  Not a great way to start out the day...especially when you are starting to come down with a cold.

That evening, the Xpedition class had a Christmas party starting at 6pm.  Wanda had to work till 6:15 and she was not feeling well so she was going to go home.  At about 6:45 I got a call from Wanda.  She could not get into the house.  She was smart enough this time to not lock the garage so she could get back into her car.  I was supposed to either leave a key in the garage or unlock the house.  

Thus - In 1 day I managed to lock her out of the house twice!  

The next morning, Wanda left early for work and I had a meeting at 8:30 at the church.  I got a call from Wanda at 8:00.  She had left her work keys and some other items she needed at the house.  She works in Wayzata...about 25 minutes away.  Then it takes another 25 minutes to get from Wayzata to Roseville for my meeting.  I left the house, headed to Wayzata to drop off the keys then immediatly left to go to roseville for my meeting which I was about 30 minutes late for.

Ever feel like things aren't going your way?!?!

Christmas Survey

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate hands down

Colored lights on tree or white? Indifferent.  Colored, White, Blinking, Fading...Doesn't matter.

When do you put your decorations up? Earliest - Thanksgiving; Latest - Not at all.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Why do I have to exclude the dessert!?!?!  Fine - I would have to go with Ham.

Favorite holiday memory as a child? Getting my first deer (it happened around the holidays...not sure when).

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't recall.  I don't think my parents ever promoted Santa too much.

Snow! Love it or dread it? I love the snow. I hate the drivers and the cold weather.

Can you ice skate? I have ice skated once in my life.  I did ok but I would not classify myself as having any talent with it.  My stopping skills could use some work: View video for an example

Do you remember your favorite gift? Not sure what the favorite was, but I would have to say I enjoyed getting a pellet rifle and later a shotgun when I was younger (I don't recall if they were Christmas gifts, but I am going to count it either way).

What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? It is a wonderful time to reflect on Christ and all he has done for me. It is also a great time to be able to see family.

What is your favorite holiday dessert? Ahh...so this is where I get to choose the dessert.  I would probably have to go with a good homemade Pumpkin Pie with coolwhip and some crushed nuts on top.

What is your favorite tradition? Don't really have a favorite and never got into the tradition part of it too much.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? No real favorite.  I enjoy the Point of Grace, Michael W Smith, and Katinas christmas albums though (also the only ones I own).

Ever recycled a Christmas present? Does recylcying a recycled Christmas present count?