Ode to My Ankle

My ankle and I have had many adventures together, but as the picture above shows I fear it may be time to trade it in for a new one. Apparently when God was handing out strong ankles...I was in line for the food.

I remember back when we had our first encounter with tragedy, it was baseball season...6th grade All-Stars. I tried to steal third and as I slid my ankle turned the wrong way as I hit the base. I couldn't get up. It was crutches for me as I missed the last 2 games of the series...which we lost.

Then there was 9th grade spring training. My chance at the big time...spring practice at the high school. Unfortunately for me, that ended when some biggin fell on the back of my leg and rolled up my ankle. Crutches again...and I missed out on asking this really hot girl to the dance that year.

Let's not forget the lock-in, 11th grade. Rolled my ankle playing basketball within the first 2 hours of an all night lock-in. Nothing quite like spending an exciting lock-in at the Y with your leg propped up.

Years roll by and so does my ankle...sprains here, strains there. Sometimes swelling...sometimes crutches...sometimes just a weird limp for a day or two.

It hasn't been all bad...football, basketball, wrestling, and even karate were without problems most of the time. I did make it down the aisle with my beautiful wife without incident. Survived Wilderness Trek without a tweak...and of course the latest trip to Six Flags and White Water.

So as I recover from yet another sprained ankle, I guess I owe my ankle some props. Without it I would have never known all the wonderful variations of ankle braces there are in the world (I think I have worn them all)...I wouldn't have known you can still get hurt even when you wear them. How about all the cool things you can do on crutches...when you're bored...and everyone else is playing the games you can't.

Here's to you ankle...may we have no more incidents, sprains, strains (or automobiles). There's no way I can sit on the sidelines for the rest of my life.

BTW, anyone know any good strengthening exercises?

ALFA Bathroom Song of the Day

Ok...so I started this whole blogging thing with a little bathroom humor...namely my concerns with the musak level in the bathroom at work. One, it was never loud enough (lots of sounds need to be drowned out in there) and B, there's only so many times you can handle the musak version of ABBA's hit, "Dancing Queen".

Being the grown-up that I am (no laughter please) I had let that rant go and succumb to the fact that there was nothing that could be or would be done...

Fast forward to present day...I am proud to say that in a world where most people listen to their own life soundtrack via their cell phone or the 3 iPods they own, something has happened to the musak system! No longer are we exposed to elevator versions of hit songs from the past. We now have actual songs playing over the speakers...with words...AND songs everyone knows! It's hard to express the joy that came over me as I was delivering a cancellation request to another department when I heard Prince's "Little Red Corvette".

So now, the bathroom trips are complete with actual hit songs that, if brave enough, can be sung along with whilst "taking care of business".

In honor of this momentous event, I submit for your approval...The ALFA Bathroom Song of the Day...

I was torn about deciding our first winner. There were two stand out performances on Friday, July 7, but since there can only be one winner I present to you...(drum roll please)...

"Faithfully" by Journey!!

"Highway run...Into the midnight sun...Wheels go round and round...You're on my mind..."