The Day After: Putting National Signing Day in Perspective

by T Kyle King on Feb 7, 2008 7:40 AM EST in Events Comment 5 comments

Now that the tumult of national signing day (no, not that national signing day!) has passed, the time has come for something completely unrelated.

Since recruiting season ultimately comes down to decisions made by youngsters, I elected to share a few recent examples from my own meandering experience, in order to illuminate the thought processes of those who have not yet reached the age of legal adulthood.

Much as Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar did when including Irene Ryan among their top ten babes, I offer the following as a sorbet to cleanse the palate:

On Tuesday evening, after realizing that he had seen "Veggie Tales" superhero Larry-Boy appear in one place with a cape and in another place without one, my son, Thomas, who is almost five years old, asked why this was.

"Maybe," I suggested, "he had a cape at first, then he went to see Edna Mode from 'The Incredibles' and she told him, 'No capes!'"

"Edna Mode's not in 'Veggie Tales,'" he replied. "She's not a veggie."

Earlier in the week, Thomas realized the true significance of the fact that he has a relative living in New York City.

"Mom," he asked my wife, Susan, "has Uncle Craig ever met Spider-Man?"

The following compliment was paid to me on Wednesday afternoon by a member of the high school mock trial team I am helping to coach:

"I like your grey suit/grey shirt/grey tie combination. It matches the grey in your hair."

Bear that in mind before becoming unduly overwrought over the college choices of teenage boys. Youth remains, as always, wasted on the young.

Go 'Dawgs!

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nice

stuff. my kids are too old to be really cute any more. they're in the 'grey' category.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
http://www.cornnation.com

by cornnation on Feb 7, 2008 8:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bringing the random, the danger of teenagers

Yesterday I found my three year old in the kitchen "singing" Jingle Bells in the form of chicken clucks. As you do. We're taking the kids to NYC this weekend so I'll have them keep an eye out for Spiderman on your son's behalf. In between proving that just because you can put a wooden model of the Statue of Liberty on the Guggenheim, the same is not true in the metal.

And at least you have hair about which youthful ingrates can comment. My 5 year old came up to me once with a picture and said,"Look, Daddy, I drew you! And I gave you hair on top of your head to make you happy!"

As for the perils of youth, my stepmother in law has a mantra that she tries to get my father in law to repeat when things are going badly for Michigan: don't put too much of your happiness in the hands of a bunch of 19 year olds.

by DC Trojan on Feb 7, 2008 10:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have no kids...

... but a co-worker recently shared this one regarding her very young nephew. He's newly out of diapers/training pants/whatever you procreating types use with the young'uns, and he's figuring out the rules for regular underwear. He recently asked if it was ok to fart in them.

I thought that was a great question. I mean, yes, it's ok, but you have to learn by experience, I suppose. The phrase "gamble and lose" comes to mind. Hm. Now I can hear Lawrence Olivier's question from Marathon Man in my head.

by NCT on Feb 7, 2008 11:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Celebrity Watch

Sadly, I haven't met Spider-Man, though not for a lack of trying on my part. Thomas has already learned the most important (and, frankly, most impressive) thing about New York - Spider-Man lives here.

The closest I've come to anything that cool was when I recently met the guy who played "Jive Dude #2" in the scene in "Airplane!" where Barbara Billingsley speaks jive. I was totally star-struck. His name is Al and he's a nice man and a fine actor.

by rebelcraig on Feb 8, 2008 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs