SIXTY-SIX HOTDOG HANGOVER!

IMG_1092
Originally uploaded by Liz is Working.

I have to tell you how humbled I am with Joey Chestnuts performance yesterday. Sixty-six Hotdogs and buns in twelve minutes is just unfathomable. We can all laugh because it's really just a guy eating Hotdogs, but I marvel at how the Human Mind and Body can be trained to perform such a feat.

I dont think I could COOK sixty-six Hotdogs without getting sick.

The show was pretty fun and Wing Kong and I had many laughs with my wife and sons during the pregame show. Some of my favorites:

A newly Clean-Cut 'Eater X' standing in from of the camera whistling. I mean who whistles anymore? Wing Kong on his new shave and haircut? "Looks like somebody has an interview on Thursday"

Tim Brown showing up to eat at the table wearing a suit!

During introductions, Crazy Legs Conti started pulling a ribbon from his mouth like a magic trick, and pulled a good 15ft out before he reached his spot at the table.

During introductions, Eater X held up a sign saying 'On the 7th Day God created Hartford' a referemce to his Qualifing City and probably his dedication to the now defunct Whalers Hockey Team. Pretty Tame stuff....until at the last second he flipped the sign over and it read 'hermonie dies...'. That of course is reference to the Harry Potter Finale and all the speculation that surrounds what will happen at the end. I was so caught off-guard that I laughed for several minutes thinking of 100,000 13-yearold girls screaming. Brilliant!

Humble Bob flashed his belly during the intros, teasing how some of the skinny Eaters like to show off their stomachs.

During the Ten-Second countdown to the begining ESPN, thosands of chanted 'Six, Five, Four...'at which point Pat Philnbin, the comic from Opie & Anthony (who is famous for Mugging at the crowd Three Stooges style DURING competitions) gets up and walks AWAY from the table as if he's oblivious...and not getting back to his plate moments after the contest started.

I had to get out of my chair for the contest, I was so nervous/excited.

In the first 60 seconds of a contest I can eat 5 HotDogs and Buns. I'm really proud of that. I go way down hill from there, but I had always assumed that Joey and Koby ate about 7 in the first minute. They each were above 10 in the first minute and Joey was at 20 at the 2 minute mark. WOW. Thats hard to imagine....

This was the first contest in which EVERYONE broke 20.

I think in the end it was pretty clear that Koby wasnt injured in any way as he added 10 HDB's to his total. He had a slight reversal at the end, and probably should have been DQ'd, but it's good for CE if he wasnt. It's bad for Pat Bertoletti though who only gets $2,500 for third as opposed to $5,000 for second.

Koby waited 6 years for someone to be able to eat as much as him, and now that he's been dethroned, I anticipate him to come roaring back for a rematch next year. That was really fun to watch, but the reality is that I would rather have been there competing. I dont mind losing, it would be an honor to lose to those guys!

2007 Nathans Hotdog Championship

nathans
Originally uploaded by steakbellie.

Tomorrow is the biggets event in Competitive Eating. While not the best run (I'd vote for Krystal Burger) or the most money, it remains the most visible contest in CE. This is the contest to be in. Eaters pay their own way to go to up to 3 different Qualifiers to reach the finals. The Finals are held accross the country (and world) and it can be expensive to find one that isnt loaded with top competitors.

If you watch it on ESPN, the coverage should start at 12 noon and show lots of background and intros. Most of the contest will cover Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi's rivalry. I also expect a subplot pitting America's top 2 female Eaters Sonya Thomas and Juliet Lee at odds.

There are many wonderful people at this table besides these four, and despite not getting any camera time or even having a shot in hell of winning, they will push themselves as hard as they ever have. Prize Money is finally being offered but only for the top 5 finishers. I think they should offer prize money down to the last Eater for the finals, so that there is incentive to come in 11th instead of 12th...otherwise why bother? An eater named Jed Donahue only ate 1 HotDog last year in the finals. I was angry at first but then respected what he did...why hurt yourself when there is zero at stake? I think that helped start the rallying cry amongst the Eaters for actual prize money.

Takeru Kobayashi lives in Japan and doesnt speak English. He comes to the US 2 or 3 times a year to compete in some of our contests. He is revered by the other eaters for his accomplishments and for his insistance that CE be treated like a real sport. Kobayashi himself treats it like a Professional sport, and now most of the Eaters emulate his fitness and training.

Three things happened this year that have drummed up a wave of excitement about this contest.

Kobayashi's Mother passed away in March. There was speculation on a Japanese Blog somewhere that Koby was depressed and not even training anymore. Someone translated it roughly into English and the American Eaters gabbed like School Girls.

Joey Chestnut ate 59.5 HotdogsEveryone but the Champion must requalify each year to make the finals. The old record was 53.75 set by Kobayashi himself at the finals. Joey did this at his qualifier this year. Once again HUGE speculation amongst the eaters, Kobayashi has NEVER been beaten in America, Joey has risen to Koby's level, can Koby rise even further or has his capacity peaked?

You may have heard about this a few months ago when it happened, it was all over the news and a big deal in my neighborhood, as Joey came out partying with us after the WingBowl. Everybody loves him now.

A story broke that Koby has Lockjaw Another rumor based on something written in Japanese on a blog. While it may be based on a seed of truth, it's been pushed very heavily to generate excitement over wheather he will rise to meet Joey's challenge. Idont know any of the true facts here, but I expect
koby to compete and prepared to win.

Here's what Major Leauge Eating (the IFOCE) has to say about the contest.

"Since 2004, ESPN has covered the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at 12:00 noon on July 4th. This year's contest may well be the most highly anticipated matchup in the event's storied 92-year history. Takeru Kobayashi, the Japanese eating sensation who has won the contest for the past six years, has finally met his match. Joey Chestnut, a baby-faced boy-next-door from San Jose, California, has accomplished the impossible - not just breaking Kobayashi's record of 53.75 hot dogs and buns (HDBs), but shattering it, downing 59.5. American competitive eating fans sense that the coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt will finally return to American shores. This year, Nathan's Famous is putting up $20,000 in prize money to inspire and drive the competitors to their full eating abilities."

Here's the line-up and where they qualified (HDB stands for 'HotDog and Buns'):

Takeru Kobayashi, 53.75 HDB's, 2006 Champion
Always the favorite. He will be sitting in the center of the table. I've never competed agianst him or even met him.

Joey Chestnut, 59.5 HDB's, Tempe, AZ
A great guy out of San Jose. Only 23 years old, and is the only person ever to rise to Koby's level. He's eaten 2x of what I've eaten and more in some competitions. He looks like he's in serious pain when he eats, and you can damn sure bet he is willing to push himself when you and I would stop. When I first heard that he ate 59.5, I was so stunned that I stopped training for two weeks. Joey will sit next to Koby. My favorite Joey moment was when he drank a gallon of milk in 43 seconds to get into the WingBowl.

Pat Bertoletti, 46 HDB's, Las Vegas, NV
A culinary student from Chicago. You'll recognize him by his Mohawk haircut and headphones. Another favorite in my town for partying with my friends after WingBowl, hopefully he'll get some respect from ESPN, I mean 46 Hotdogs????? I cant help but smile when I see Pat. Afew weeks ago he ate 15.25 lbs of Strawberry Shortcake in 10 minutes.

Tim Janus, 41.5 HDB's, E. Hartford, CT
Tim paints a facemask on his face for events that is typically color coded to the event itself. A good guess will be Red White and Blue for the forth of July. The facemask is remeniscent of 'The Ultimate Warrioir' in Wrestling. He's been credited with many innovations in CE and I that comes from a Scientists curiosty about the world. Hypothesis, Test.
MTV has featured him in a documentary and surprisingly he's somewhat reserved and quiet in mixed company. He's always said nice stuff to me.
Women LOVE him.

Chip Simpson, 39.25 HDB's, Sunrise, FL
Chip just earned a doctorate in Physical Therapy this year! (Mom, How bad could this be if a Doctor is doing it?) Chip is built like an athlete, and has a stone face when competing. He wants to win. Everytime. I expect Chip to eat over 45 dogs at the table.

Sonya Thomas, 36 HDB's, Philadelphia, PA
Probably the second most important person to Competitive Eating. Sonya only weighs 100lbs but can eat more than 5 men. People who watch her eat NEVER forget what they saw. She is sweet and friendly when away from the table. They call her 'The Black Widow' My favorite stunt of hers was when she ate 65 hardbpoiled eggs in 6 minutes!

Rich LeFevre, 34 HDB's, San Francisco, CA
Rich is a retired Accountant who lives in LasVegas with the lovely Carlene. He's probably the only guy here that doesnt even train. He's in his Sixties and is always a fan favorite. Probably only weighs 130lbs. They call him 'The Locust'

Bob Shoudt, 32 HDB's, West Chester, PA
Bob is the best Eater out of Philadelphia and PA for that matter. He's always been kind and encouraging to me and Wing Kong. I'm always impressed at how he can do this at such a high level and still be a family guy. (he's the first one listed here that has children that I am aware of) Just my fooling around with this sport has proven stressful on the family, so it speaks alot about the support he gets from his wife and children to do this for 3+ years. They call him 'Humble Bob'

Hall Hunt, 28.75 HDB's, Charlotte, NC
Hall is possibly the proudest Florida Gator you'll find. A year ago I would have told you that he was about my level and somebody I could beat on a good day. His improvement to 28.75, made that claim pretty hard to live up to. Hall listens to the soundtrack of 'Repo Man' continuously prior to competeting. I dont get it.

Arturo Rios, 27.5 HDB's, New York, NY
'The Natural' grew up a couple of towns away from me in New Jersey. He's a father of three, and really is a natural Eater. Two weeks ago he ate 21 against me at the Molly Pitcher Qualifier. A week later he improved to 27.5 whatever....
:)

Pat Philbin, 27 HDB's, Cranbury, NJ
Pat is one of the few Big Guys at the table. Watch how he eats, he starts out slow, and keeps the same pace as all the sprinters get full and stop. He's a comedian and has a large fan-base from being on the 'Opie and Anthony' radio show.

Erik Denmark, 26.5 HDB's in regulation, 3.5 in OT, Flushing, NY
I know Erik only through email as he lives in Seattle and we dont go to much of the same contests. Like Hall, I was sure I could beat him on a good day. He improved so much it would have to be a VERY good day. Like Chip Simpson he seems to have mental toughness and I would not be too surprised (only jealous) to see him break 30.

Juliet Lee, 26 HDB's, Norfolk, VA
Juliet's two daughters and her husband travel with her to all of her competitions. She's been doing this less than a year and has already made a huge impact. I dont know why there arent more women competitors, but I'm grateful to have her at the table. You'll remember she beat me at the contest I went to in Myrtle Beach a few months back. Look for them to possibly seat her next to Sonya, so they can stoke the rivalry.

Crazy Legs Conti, 24 HDB's, Bloomington, MN
A special person to CE, Crazy Legs has been around for more than 6 years, in a sport that wears people out in 2 or 3 years. He has competed in nearly every type of food and holds or has held records of all types. I appreciate his wit and am always impressed by his ability to talk on camera. There's a documentary about his life that played at the TriBecca film festival, and I believe that it has just gone on sale as a DVD.

Dale Boone, 21 HDB's, Atlanta, GA
I've never met Dale, but he's said nasty things to many people I respect. He plays the badguy, and is a loudmouth. He wears a Coonskin hat and rings a big bell. A positive thing I can say is that he isnt afraid to sign his name to mean comments, when others just post anonymously.

Allen Goldstein, Avg. of 25.33 HDB's, Wildcard
An 'Old School' Eater out of New York. One of the first people to prove that you dont have to be a fat-ass to do this at a professional level. Allen is built like a tank, and has worked hard year after year to get his numbers this high.

Tim Brown, Avg. of 24.67 HDB's, Wildcard
I dont know a damned thing about Tim other than he's from Chicago. I hope to meet him this year.

So there's alittle about the people at the table. I will try to add links to their photos for the ones that I have. All of them are very interesting!

I will be watching (and feeling left out) from home with Wing Kong, and we will be eating Hotdogs and yelling at the damned TV with a bunch of kids and barking dogs. Enjoy!

Eight Words for w and scooter (eight words)

Have you
No Respect
for this
Great Country?

Striking a Chord

Diamondback
Originally uploaded by steakbellie.

Y'all remember a few posts ago, my sons bike was stolen on the last day of school. It was a terrible blow to him, as he had taken such good care of it, and had helped purchase it with his hard earned money. He really felt violated, this was something he treasured, and some stranger had stolen it. I was crushed for him.

A week after, things had begun to settle in the house. We had filled out a Police report, and were hopeful that by some miracle that would find his beautiful Blue Diamondback. Realistically we also started planning how we could get him a replacement for the Summer.

What we got was a Happy Ending, and we all learned something.

I'm going to mention some people that did a great thing. I don't do this to embarrass them, but to share with you readers this great story.

There is a phone message from our local bike shop. It's the owner, and he wants to talk to my son. My son is excited to call back, hoping that his bike has been found and returned to the bike shop (the local bike shop stamps all of his bikes with serial #'s and keeps them on file for just this purpose)

I talk to Frank first.
"Listen, I got a phone call from a man from some Eating Organization in New York City, He overnighted me a check to purchase a new bike for your son"
"No Shit."
"I thought he was kidding"
"Nope"
"Bring your Son down to pick out the bike"

What had happened, was that one of the two brothers that run the IFOCE, heard about the bike being stolen, and felt that he was in a position to help. More than just having empathy, he was called to action, and put together a fund in which several of the IFOCE organization staff, and some of the Eaters themselves donated cash, which the organization matched. The whole process and check was completed in a day.

Ch@rlie was stunned, and his voice cracked when he relayed the story. He couldn't figure out why a stranger would do something like this for him. My wife and I felt exactly the same. While we could replace the bicycle, we couldn't replace what was really stolen...his trust in mankind. These people did what I could not.

The bike that the IFOCE bought for him was the nicest Diamondback that the store carries. He got a new helmet (the original was stolen too) and the biggest, heaviest bike lock available. He stills marvels at what happened and how someone he doesnt know was moved by his story, I'm certain he will carry this act of kindness the rest of his life...I sure will.

On CE

Most of the people who read this blog know that I live a double life as a Competitive Eater. I hope the stories have been entertaining and not too self serving or over-cooked. I hope it has been informative and not too disgusting.

This Fourth of July will be the Nathans Hotdog Championship and for the 91st straight year, it will go on without my participation. I failed to reach my goal of 20 HotDogs again this year, and I didnt outright win either of the Qualifiers I entered and had to sit-out my third chance for work related reasons. I'm ok with all of that, as this is a personal journey for me to see how hard I can push myself to reach my goals, and to meet so many interesting people.

I have 2 important Posts to write in the next 2 days.
1. You often hear me say how great the people are who do this. I have a story that proves it.
2. I will write a Primer for you for the contest that will be aired on at 12 noon on ESPN. I will include some incite into the likely winners, and some background of what I know about the other 15 people who will get much less face-time.

Shit Flows Down Hill

RISE AGAINST
Originally uploaded by steakbellie.

We are soaked in sweat, enough to wring out. It's my sons first show, and I'm proud to be here with him. I didnt know we were allowed to like the same music, seems wrong in some way.

Some roundish twenty-something guy in black keeps pushing him...Just because he can
I squint my eyes and flash my gritted teeth, watching. He pushes him again, and I cross the pit in two strides and drive my shoulder into his chest with all my weight.

He doesnt even bother to hit back just sort of shrinks backwards into the crowd.

There's always somebody looking out for you....

Thought for the day

Sometimes when God closes a door,
He makes sure the windows are locked too

QVC (haiku)

work is in the way
dont these people understand?
wait till next year? ugh

17.5 Hotdogs

perhaps I need more excercise
damn

Si Jus Puis

11:01
I'm OFF!!!!!!!

caged

did you ever see a big cat in a cage? Passing time, slinking back and forth against the bars....annoyed.

My first meeting was done early.

We are doing photos of the Senior Staff today, so I am in my suit.

pacing the hallway and waiting

waiting for the freaking Photographer to show up..he's already an hour late and still has to do setup. Doesnt he know I have a lunch date in New Jersey?

grrrrrrrr....

It's only the Duece

Molly Pitcher
Originally uploaded by steakbellie.

Many of you are familiar with my quest to break the twenty hot dog barrier in the Nathans Competition last year. Twenty Hotdogs and Buns in 12 Minutes is the arbitrary line that divides the best Eaters from the rest of us. It is the Four Minute Mile. It is your first Academy Award. There are other milestones, but this one is the most talked about.

I consider Hotdogs the most difficult food to speedeat. They scare the shit out of me, but this is an opportunity that I've waited a year to prove myself against. I have found the greatest obstacles involved to be mental. It hurts to eat that much that fast, and you must be willing to push past all of the satiation points. Too much Salt, Too much fat, Too much Food. Your brain will let you know that it's time to stop early in the contest. Watch the Eaters between minute 5 and 6, they are suffering with the meatsweats and it's pretty ugly.

Tomorrow there is a 50/50 shot that I will be competing in the Molly Pitcher Qualifier for Nathans Hotdogs. The contest is at noon in Cranbury, New Jersey and the winner gets a seat at the finals at Coney Island on July 4th. It will be on ESPN again this year.

The problem is that I have a HUGE meeting at work that people are flying in for in Philadelphia. It's super unfortunate that these are overlapping, but I am going to bend reality to try to make this happen. I may be the first Eater to compete in a suit. Can they let me eat by Conference Call? If it all goes to shit, I have one more opportunity to pull it off before the 4th.

I havent talked about my training this year, but it is progressing along. I've had ALOT of advice from the top 10, and most of it is effective knowledge that I am only just begining to understand. Everyone has been supportive and kind.

Being fat makes eating harder, so I've lost 10lbs in the last 3 weeks. I lost the weight through Diet & Excercise, and when I say Diet & Excercise I really mean SlimFast & Masturbation.

My pain tolerance and concentration has improved as well. Last night I ate 19 Hotdogs and Buns in 12 minutes and then ran 3 miles. I didnt shit myself so I must be ready. It's only one more hotdog and it wont require any running afterwards....just a fast drive back to more meetings in Philly.

The great Competitive Eater Crazy Legs Conti has posted an interesting Blog Entry on the Major League Eating Website. I will reprint it without permission here, because I'm in that kind of mood. The title of the post is NOON. Noon is when the Finals start every year on July 4th. Crazy Legs won a seat at the finals soon after writing this.

There is a handwritten sign above my desk at work. Granted, its not much of the desk, just a large folding table in a giant liquor room in the basement of a swanky strip club. The sign itself, isn't much; all it says in red sharpie is "NOON". Just like that, in caps on a random piece of loose leaf paper. It's taped to the back-side of the beer cooler, not even the meat aging vault, where the best cuts from the best cows, mature and marble according to the physics of dry humidity. One cooler over from the meat vault is where they keep the seven pound lobsters, but the sign, the sign that says, "NOON" is simply affixed to the back-side of the no frills beer cooler. I see it every moment of every day that I sit in this chair in front of the computer (the only computer with Internet that I access; I prefer my typewriter at home).

The sign was originally a reminder to sign up for the Strawberry Shortcake World Championships. The sign-up procedure, the emails and confirmations have all passed, yet the sign is still there. Slowly, like the way Colonel Hall Hunt use to eat before he became the Baddest Ass eater on the circuit, something about the sign dawned on me. The noon in question wasn't the noon of the strawberry shortcake sign-up after all. The noon on the sign, was the noon. The exact moment in time that every Major League Eater strives to arrive at. I think you know the one. It is a noon like no other, and until you have arrived at the noon, its very hard to describe to others.

Perhaps reading the last line of "Vision Quest" (the book, not the movie) can give you and idea. I think I might go back and read it tonight. Motivation comes from many sources, but it all originates in the mind. See, ones stomach can get full, but ones mind cannot. So this week, with the passing of many noons (but not the noon) my body will take in soft malleable foods, but my mind will digest the denser, chewier, tougher thoughts. A singular focus will result. A focus that is like strapping on a helmet and hurling oneself into an Impressionist painting, but instead of a horse rearing back or a woman's elbow resting on a table, this painting simply has a man staring at a sign that says noon.

dippin' dots (eight words)

Is it still
Ice Cream of
the Future?

Toys for Troops

http://www.toys-for-troops.com/
Gnight Girl, a friend of this blog, has started an important website to help make a difference for her son and all of the soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Very few people support what is going on there, but despite your feelings we must remember that while we have the luxury of watching Seinfeld reruns or surfing the web for pictures of Britney Spears, these boys are stuck in a very scarey reality that they cant get away from.

It's amazing that people would be willing to put their lives/health/youth/sanity on the line merely because we asked them to. We need to find a way to keep them safe and a way to get them home, now that we know that the whole thing was based on Intentional Lies.

This website helps gather things like Beenie Babies and Soccer Balls. How does that help? Our soldiers can give them to the children of Iraq and try to win over their hearts and minds. To try not to be viewed as the badguys. Perhaps keeping a desperate youth from lashing out against our Soldiers with guns or bombs in the future.

Our Government has proved that Soldier Safety is low on the priority list (remember how many YEARS it took to get personal body armor and Armored Humvees, yet priorities like HALIBURTON was paid ontime)

Checkout the website. It's a brilliant idea.

Fathers Day (American Sonnet)

My Dad had a physical, if not violent childhood
He never once hit me but I still learned Right from Wrong

I remember being disappointed to find out he wasnt in Vietnam
I'm laughing at how stupid and naive I was

My Dad didnt go to Woodstock or Love-Ins in his twenties
He was busy working to put himself through College

There were no drunken Sunday afternoons for him later
We went to Church and then mowed the lawn together

My Dad was a Chemist
He taught me how to change the oil and how to make a pipe-bomb

He says he regrets working so much when we were young
but I understand the drive to provide, now that I am a father too

My Dad always found something nice to say to me and told me he loved me
It made a difference, Thanks Dad

Drawing the Ace (haiku)

keep that poker face
good enough to win the pot?
maybe if they fold

Some Asshole Stole My Sons Bike

I'm furious
We're both heartbroken
He the Mechanical one. He fixes everybodys bikes and skateboards for all the kids on the block. He often takes 2 old bikes and combines the parts to make a new Frankenstein one that I immediatley throw away on trash day.

We bought him (and I think he contibuted too) an expensive bike. It's a blue Diamondback. I have an appreciation for bicycles, and this wasnt something you could pick up at a toy store.

He took great care of it, kept it clean and locked up. Kept it out of the rain. Didnt let his brothers borrow it.

Ch@rlie was celebrating the end of school at the schoolyard last night with a game of tag. Didnt lock it up, because he was just running around the field with his friends, and some fucker stole it. He was so careful all the time, and I'm angry that he HAS to be that careful. He's broken up and I regret that he has to learn this lesson, he was the only one of my kids that even bothered with bike locks and helmets.

It was taken from a really nice neighborhood, most likely by some of the spoiled rich kids who feel they are entitled to the world that live there. They will abuse the shit out of his most prized possesion and dump it in a creek behind their house.

So fucking mad......

when you're ready (eight words)

you will do it
instead of
wishful talk

double baggers (eight words)

this is a beauty shop;
in name only

the best Friday ever

I hope you can share the sick joy I get from reading the following AP headine:

Screaming Paris Hilton sent back to jail

I love it for so many reasons. I can actually see the entire thing play out, without hearing another detail of the event.

Desperate lawyers in the finest of suits, stuttering for any reason to save their client. A dull witted heiress cruely given a brief glimmer of hope, and then thrust back into the gates of hell. Billion Dollar parents baffled that money couldnt fix this.

I will enjoy this for a long time...

how to get hooked

The Kid Can Run
Originally uploaded by steakbellie.

The worst thing that can happen to rational person on their first trip to Atlantic City, is that they win. Even if it's $5, they are ruined for life and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to recreate the adrenaline of that moment. You will never match the excitment of your first kiss.

Last week my 13 year old ran in a 5K run that went through my neighborhood. He's in excellent shape and runs and does pushups and situps on his own. He placed 1st for 14 and unders and won a watch and a gift card for the movies. (22:33) He came home and immediatley signed up for another 5K. I see the excitement in his eyes when he talks about it and I'm sure that the boy is hooked for life. I'm grateful it's not Gambling or Competitive Eating.

Tonight is the race, and he's upset that he couldnt train all week, because well, he's the one who smashed his head a few days ago. The Doc gave the all clear and I doubt I could keep him back anyway.

If he wins will the victory be as sweet?

I'm running too but will probably finish long after him. Probably a week later. I can run far, but am famously slow and particular 5K is unique in that only .1 miles is flat the rest is hills....ughhh....also on the news this morning was a heat advisory to stay indoors today and avoid strenuous excercise.

We've proved many ways to be hard-headed this week.

The last shopper at the yard sale (eight words)

all of this junk
just feels
picked over

The boys are ok

Things can get scary, fast. I'm grateful to say that it everything is fine and that my son is back at school today. I think his friend goes back tomorrow. He looked pretty horrible and had difficulty walking for an hour or two after diving (cannballing) into the local pool and hitting heads with his friend in the water. Both of them reacted well, and scrambled out of the water before collapsing.

Looking back it's scary shit. They are lucky to just have a few days off in a fuzy headed cloud of forgetfullness. Forgotten words and absentmindedness. The Doc said to expect that. Maybe I've been concussed too?

Thanks for your kind words......

Sunday Math

2 boys roughhousing along side the pool
Equals 4 Hours in the ER
0 complete memories of what happened
2 Catscans
2 Concusions
0 Bleeding Brains
and 4 Grateful Parents!

TB patient: 'I hope they dont sue forgive me'