I’ve been away from the blog – and computer – for more than I expected the past few days. I’ve been sorting and organizing files from various events, trips, organizations, and projects. These had been kept in the room I use as an office. But I hadn’t used it as an office lately – because of the piles from events, trips, organizations, and projects. (It really isn’t that bad. The room doubles as a guest room, which we kept set up during the summer. The bed comes down early next week, which will let it really convert back to a home office.)
Organizing has been a good project for the past few days though. Dave Matthews Band comes to the local concert venue today, and I’m excited to see the band again. (I have the best wife ever – thanks again for the birthday gift…) While a longtime fan and an avid traveler, I haven’t hit the road often to see the live shows. Somehow, this is only my fifth concert.
The concert starts in just a few hours. I’m spending a few minutes revisiting some of the fan sites and listening to concerts from the past few years..
While at the pool on Sunday, my companions and I were people watching. One group we eventually focused on was a teenage couple that was particularly touchy-feely. We tried to figure out how old they were, whose parents they were with, and whether any of us could have felt so unconcerned about the parents and strangers around the blissfully unaware couple.
One of the women in our group finally decided to go ask their age. (15 – nope would not feel comfortable with a set of parents around.) The part of the story that became more entertaining quickly was how she got around to asking their age.
She began by asking how the two teens knew each other. That brought stares from the two who didn’t know how to respond to the question. The girl tried again: You two look so cute together. How long have you known each other? The couple responded to the second approach (a year) and answer the other quick questions my friend asked.
I kept thinking about this on the drive home from the pool. I’m not sure what they thought of the first question, or whether it was the surprise of someone intruding into what they thought was solitude, but they simply didn’t answer. The second question – which began with a compliment – drew them in. The couple responded when my friend framed the question in a friendly way.
It isn’t that “how do you know her” isn’t friendly. It’s neutral. But “you look so cute” is friendly. It reminds me of the old positive-negative-positive lesson of feedback that I was taught in high school.
Framing your remarks – even in an offhand and incidental conversation – is the best way to get a response.
Last year, we borrowed my father-in-law’s second grill. We put it to use and ended up grilling more than 60 times during the year. This year, we set out to grill out at least 72 times.
The only dry part of the Memorial Weekend cook-out was the grill lighting.
This summer has been particularly moist. It’s been cloudy and wet – half the days in July had rain. But my wife and I have done a good job sneaking in meals at the grill. It’s been a few more lunches than expected (and even breakfast one time). Our big Memorial Day bash was drenched – the out-of-town guests still said they had fun. We’ve dodged rain drops to grill and to pick and choose the days and meals we cook outside.
Earlier today, we grilled out for the 60th time this year. We’ve done the classics – burgers and hot dogs, steak, and chicken. We’ve grilled brats, salmon, tilapia, and pork chops. We’ve even grilled bacon and sausage (but not the famous explosion). And we’ve grilled countless vegetables as sides to almost all of these meals.
Summer is winding down. Fall weather is great – but it isn’t always the best for grilling. Grad classes start a little more than a week from now. That will bring shifts in our work and responsibilities. My wife and I have a busy few months planned – organizing and combining books and movies, scanning photographs, wrestling with boxes of files from one of the community groups I’m involved with. There’s also a handful of weekend trips – weddings and orchard visits among them – scheduled.
Here’s looking forward to at least a dozen more times over the grill.
I just returned from a week-long trip to Ohio where I got to see friends and family, visit Cedar Point, attend a friend’s wedding, and spend part of two days enjoying my genealogical hobby. (Picture shows me recording the location of my fourth-great grandfather’s grave. The ancestor, Zebulon Whipple, served in a Connecticut militia during the Revolutionary War.)
It’s always nice to get a few days at home to relax. This time was an experience. It had been years since I had been home for a birthday or visited the town’s summer carnival. We visited the Columbus Zoo for the birthday. The festival was packed with people, but I hadn’t realized it was so – compact. As a kid, it seemed a lot bigger than two blocks.
Work begins again tomorrow (Tuesday). Freshman begin move-in on Thursday. Classes start next week. I can’t believe summer’s coming to a close.
At least I got one good trip out of it.
