Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Sk8ing

So, before we had Adley, Tisha and I would discuss whether or not we would introduce or expose (as opposed to allowing their natural interest guide them) our children to the "board sports." This is due to the fact that along with the fun of extreme sports, comes the stigma and influence of its "underground" and "alternative" roots. Now, I of course think to the future days of riding down the slopes next to my son, watching him do the tricks I only wish I could still do; or taking him to the skatepark and videotaping his new moves like my father did when I was younger. However, I was not immune to the negative affects of the "alternative" scene - I can honestly say that my skating peers were not the best examples - which I cautiously think about when exposing Adley to the sport. It is a concern that makes me think - if I introduce him to a sport that is known for having a majority of its athletes portrayed as rebellious "criminals" (skateboarding is not a crime!) am I to blame if he falls off the deep end? Or is the influence that strong? Is it more about the personality of the individual and their character, rather than the influence of their peers? You see, I came upon the sport because of curiosity, not because my father introduced me to the sport when I was, say 1 or 2 years old. I had a choice...maybe it was the curiosity that lead to trouble...

One day while digging through the shed I found my brothers old, green floral print banana board. I sat on it and rode it down the hill - not very fast because the wheels were completely rusted out, but it peaked my interest. Soon I found my neighbors had wider, bigger boards and I wanted one. So, I asked for one and as a cautious parent does when their child "thinks" they are going to completely embark on this new found sport of theirs, they buy the cheapest possible equipment to see if the child is serious. So, we went to Valu-City and bought a complete Varaflex board. I rode it for a couple weeks and realized that it wasn't too cool to have a Varaflex - it was better to have a Powell Peralta or Santa Cruz or Sims skateboard. So, I went down to the basement, stripped off the griptape and trucks, got the black paint out and did a remodel. Slapped some stickers on the top deck and put clear griptape over it. Now, I had a "naked" board or "blank" deck. After a few months, I saved up and bought new trucks and wheels. Before I knew it, my dad and I were driving home from the lumber yard in a Chrysler convertible with sheets of plywood over our head for the coolest ramp ever. From then on for some reason, no matter what the style or how overtly some of the negative messages/influences there were in the skateboard industry I was always supported by my parents. But, I'll always remember my mother asking the guy behind the counter at the skate shop "Now, why does everything have to have another meaning, like "Sex Wax" or "Pygmy Nuts"? Can't you just put "Wax" and "Nuts and Bolts"?"

Well, Tisha and I came to the conclusion that now-a-days sex, drugs and rock and roll can just as easily be introduced in the locker room, so it really comes down to the character and foundation of the individual and maybe even some prodding at the guy behind the counter. I turned out alright didn't I, or did I? Either way, Adley received his first skateboard before the age of 2, more than six years before I knew what a skateboard was, as a gift from Anneke his new born sister. Six months later he has learned a trick or two.

So, here's to your character Adley - we believe in you. I look forward to riding with you in the future...

posted by Curteis at 6:54 PM 8 Comments

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Help!

I'm currently a stay at home dad. As noted previously, there have been a few hangups in obtaining my license, so I've been playing the waiting game. I've used this opportunity to do some research into the life of a stay at home mom. Overall, I wondered, what do mothers who stay home caring for their children do all day? Simply asking this question to my wife seems to invoke eye rolling, exasperation, and demands to change a higher percentage of the dirty diapers of our two children. Because my first research method led only to dead ends, I've decided to try a new method, object exploration. I've began exploring objects in our home not used when I'm home, and therefore logically used by my wife in her child-caring duties. This object, however, has stumped me. Can anyone tell me what my wife possibly uses this inflated green ball for?

posted by Curteis at 7:24 AM 3 Comments

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Thought or Action...

Image from: beingII.com

So, over the past few months I have come to the realization that most of my planning is 90% action and 10% thought. As opposed to my wife who is 10% action and 90% thought. As a result I tend to underestimate the timing of things and rely heavily upon contingencies.

For example, in our move to North Carolina my job is contingent upon me receiving a North Carolina real estate license, which is contingent upon me passing the NC real estate exam, which you can only take in the state of NC. In order to take the state exam you need to qualify for it by either having a license in another state (which I don't have) or have enough education hours that meet the requirements of NC laws (also, I don't have). So, in August (yes, August) my plan was to get licensed in CA and then be eligible for the NC state exam. Well, after signing up for the state exam ($25 fee) I found out that it will take 4-6 weeks to recieve the license, then it will take an additional 2-3 weeks to process the application for the NC state exam. Simultaneously, I find out that I need more education hours to receive the CA license anyway, so I opt for the transfer of education hours to NC and sign up for classes in San Diego(NC requires actual classroom hours; CA you can take online). After which I found out that you can't take the class test any sooner than 2 1/2 weeks after the registration date and if you sign up for two classes at once, which I did, then the earliest is 5 weeks (2 1/2 for each class) which puts me at this week - the week we leave for NC.

As you can see this doesn't allow for any hang-ups. For example, after finishing my courses this week my certificate states that I took a correspondence course not an actual classroom course. So, after calling everyday this week I will finally have a new certificate tomorrow that shows I attended class. Oh, also this week I hadn't received my background check from NC, which was only supposed to take 7-10 business days, however, it ended up taking a month because I had lived in more than 8 places and 4 states in 7 years. So, tomorrow I should have everything to send off for my NC state exam application, plenty of time before we leave on Saturday. Let's hope that my education requirements are sufficient, they can process it by the first week in October and I pass the test or else...I won't have a job. Does anyone know where I can get a cashier's check...by tomorrow?

posted by Curteis at 11:09 PM 2 Comments

Friday, August 24, 2007

Blogging...

So, this is my new blog. I have chosen Courier as the font because this is what I used in college to fill up space on the page. Tisha has been blogging for sometime now and I have decided to start my own. This will most likely not be as exciting as the family blog, but it will be something to fill your mind with when you are bored. Not like there aren't enough blogs out there...

posted by Curteis at 9:36 PM 1 Comments