Got a happy story? Special midweek edition

Eddie C and sobermom usually do the happy stories on Friday nights. I got to meet Eddie C and he's as great in person as he is online. I hope to meet sobermom in the future. Here's something I wrote for The Mystery of the Haunted Vampire that I'm crossposting as sort of midweek happy story diary (not intended to replace the usual Friday night diary).

Sorry for the lack of updates. We’re in the middle of No Lines Dodgeball season at home, the sport that has replaced "Two Ball Soccer with Squirt Guns" as the official sport of the Carnacki house.

I’m currently fourth in the standings behind the 7 year old, 10 year old and 4 year old in wins. Yes, technically that puts me in last place, but I’d prefer to think of it as 4th place with a shot of moving up.

Generally it’s been very close and exciting matches though I have the disadvantage of providing a bigger target.

The rules are simple: 1 on 1 with no out of bounds and no time limit. 2 playground balls are used. A hit without touching the ground first is 1 point. Catching the ball is 1 point. The ball can be used to block the opponent’s ball. The first to 10 points wins.

The 7 year old’s strategy is to hold both and stalk in close for the kill and throw at the ankles. But if you hold your hands down to catch the ball there, she’ll quickly aim at the head.

The 10 year old goes for the sudden charge. The 4 year old’s strategy is more complex: run until her opponent gets tired of chasing her then go swing on the swing set. It’s quite effective. Charges that she’s not playing fair are usually met with derisive laughter from her and calls to "swing me higher." I’ve come close to winning several highly competitive games and have led for many of the games only to have my leads suddenly disappear to furious comebacks. Regular blogging of the irregular will resume at some point. Until then look for more chapters and photos for The Howl of the Werewolf on Wednesdays and Fridays.

...

That's my story for this evening. I just came in from playing. It's hot, I'm sweaty and both the dog and I are tired. Ms. Carnacki is reading to the girls and I'm going to bed. Your story can be about anything you want it to be.

•  Tip jar

  Soon to be an Olympic sport.

  by Carnacki on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:23:25 PM PDT

  •  Ah, Carnacki......

    reading this I had a sudden flash of old happy memories of monster water fights with hoses, buckets and anything that would carry water.  And games of Calivnball croquet with new rules being made up as the game progressed.  Those years fly by too fast - so glad to see you enjoying them.... and your 4th place finish ;-)

    by Cronesense on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:27:16 PM PDT

  •  Glad to hear you cracked the Top Four!

    ;-)

    Not really much of a story, but I was happy to swim a mile today at the gym. I've been building my laps up slowly, and was only supposed to go to 62 (from 60). But I said, what the hell, at tacked on the extra 10 to make 72 and an even mile. Feels good! Part of an extensive cross-training regimen. Doesn't include dodgeball, however. Although, believe it or not, there are adult d-ball games at my gym. I may have to check them out one of these days!

    by earicicle on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:32:36 PM PDT

•  It's kinda hard to top

  sheddhead's happy story. :)

  But I do head back home from Texas tomorrow, for which I am mightily happy. I miss my dog, I miss wine, I miss swearing, I miss being able to breathe outside...

  And, happily if oddly, I'm pretty excited to get back to school in a few weeks. The summer has absolutely flown by, but I miss the kids.

  by Albatross on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:28:12 PM PDT

  •  Albatross

    Sheddhedd's diary inspired me to post this. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day politics and forget we're a community. If Netroots Nation shows anything, it's community is very important as we build this netroots movement.

    by Carnacki on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:30:12 PM PDT

    •  Indeed.

      I missed NN but, for me, these diaries are all about why it matters what we believe and what we work for.

      by Albatross on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:34:00 PM PDT

    •  Thank you, Carnacki!

      :)

      by sheddhead on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:36:01 PM PDT

•  Well,

  dodgeball at your house sounds much more civilized that whatever the heck that barbaric, cruel game was we were suppose to be playing in junior high.  You remember?  The one where the jocks literally tried to knock your head off your shoulders with a dodgeball?  I hated that game.  I was one of the few people I knew who cut gym class because of that idiotic game.

  Here's hoping you move up in the standings, Carnacki.  Sounds like you've got some fierce competition.

  by Dreaming of Better Days on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:29:43 PM PDT

  •  Dreaming of Better Days

    I always come so close to winning and then they go for the big comeback. One of these days!

    by Carnacki on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:31:13 PM PDT

•  My happy story

  My boss is very difficult to please.

  So, with great surprise, she responded to a working draft I sent her with a simple "I like it! Forward it to [beep]!"

  I replied: "I'm printing this email."

  No response to that.

  That was the signal to get back to work. :)

  by cskendrick on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:30:47 PM PDT

  •  I got a new boss, last week.

    Same job, new boss.

    Happy, happy, happy!

    by sheddhead on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:36:46 PM PDT

•  My happy moment is Sadie's new impression...

  ...of the obscenely, disturbingly, achingly happy woman in the new Secret antiperspirant commercial, walking the streets of Manhattan, alternatively flashing and sniffing her pits.

  There truly is nothing funnier than a freckle-faced, eight-year-old girl standing in front of your parking space, turning and shouting, "Hey, Mom...flawless...and FRESH!"

  by Melody Townsel on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:33:26 PM PDT

  •  Don't you love it

    when kids imitate commercials?

    My seven-year-old can sing all of the freecreditreport.com jingles :-D

    by ChurchofBruce on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:36:32 PM PDT

•  My radon filter was fixed tonight.

  And it only cost $280.

  That's not too bad for 1/2 of work.

  I'm sooooooo happy.

  by HairyTrueMan on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:34:21 PM PDT

  •  BTW... I was being sarcastic.

    Note to home sellers... service your radon filter BEFORE the home inspection.

    by HairyTrueMan on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:36:12 PM PDT

•  My Happy Story

  I'll be having a 'second coming' party sometime soon.

  LOL

  by LOL jesus on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:36:29 PM PDT

•  Well.... I'll tell this

  of all my relatives, there is only one Republican.  And he cheated against his kids when playing sports.

  by plf515 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:42:20 PM PDT

  •  He's going to HELL.

    LOL

    by LOL jesus on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:43:05 PM PDT

•  My 6 year old

  likes to make up games.

  In many, I am the "tickle monster" or the "kiss monster" and, if I "get" him he gets tickles or kisses.  Then there are more rules of things I am not allowed to do.  He will also pretend the edge of the bed is a waterfall, and I have to save him.

  by plf515 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:44:49 PM PDT

•  I took a walk today ...

  with my great niece & nephews, Sage - 8, Isaac - 5 & Rolen - 3, from my mom's house over to the playground at my old elementary school. The same route that I walked for over 7 years of my youth.
  Boy times have changed ... none of them could believe that I had to walk "that far" everyday.

  We had a great time. The school has changed little. Not only did I get to spend time withy my favorite children, but I got to reflect on my school life when I was their ages.

  by akdude6016 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:47:48 PM PDT

•  Happy story?

  Well, my car was broken into last night.  Smashed a window, cost me $180 to fix, made me miss a large chunk of today waiting for the glass repair person.  But you know what?  It's just stuff.  They broke into my car and stole a couple of dollars in change.  I don't like it, but I've spent today trying to be really angry about the whole episode (and, truly, I am about some parts of it), but on balance I just can't be that mad.  I don't want it to happen again, but it's just stuff.

  Is it weird to call that a happy story?  Maybe I'm a weirdo.  But I'm not going to fall for the trap of hating the world because a handful of people are either mean or desperate enough to break a window.

  by socratic on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:48:35 PM PDT

  •  I DID NOT break the rear windshield on my car

    for a second time in one week!  

    Alas, in carefully closing the trunk in such a way as to ensure the little plastic knob thingy from the bike rack could not get lodged between the trunk lid and the glass again, I was failed to watch the other end of the rack, so instead I sheared off one of the 2 primary bolts that used to hold the bumper on.

    Ok, maybe this isn't so happy either. Darn.

    by mataliandy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 10:19:03 PM PDT

•  O.K, I'll share. :---)

  I robbed a Bank today, and demanded fifty thousand!!
  When I got home and counted it, it was actually fifty-two thousand!! Talk about happy!

  by I give in to sin on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:51:42 PM PDT

  •  I give in to sin

    I hope you remembered to toss out the dye pack.

    by Carnacki on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:37:37 PM PDT

•  I got a happy story, read it...

  here.  Hope you enjoy : )

  by frangstration on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:52:46 PM PDT

•  I didn't kill anyone today...

  I deserve pie

  

  by SoCalHobbit on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:54:30 PM PDT

  •  Heh

    That reminds me of something I once said to my boss when she was talking about "good customer service." I said to her, "Hey, I haven't killed any customers yet! That's good service!" :-)

    by ChurchofBruce on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:45:21 PM PDT

  •  My blueberry bushes are loaded this year

    Made a blueberry cobbler for dessert tonight.  Think I will go have some now. Yum

    by DEQ54 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 08:01:35 PM PDT

•  we have a new family member

  this is pecos billy mojo

  

  attacking the remotes as a feint while really preparing to get son's toes!  

  by jlms qkw on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:58:05 PM PDT

  •  Adorable

    Pecos clearly was Tmeant for you.  

    by vigilant meerkat on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:35:46 PM PDT

•  My happy story...

  My daughter is still flying high after a spectacular swim meet this past weekend. How do I know this? Because my 10-year old pre-adolescent has been cheerful, polite, happy, talkative and engaged with us all since leaving the meet on day 1.

  Of course, it could just be that she's enjoying her parents a whole lot more these days, but I'm banking on the former :-).

  by brillig on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:03:58 PM PDT

  •  The younger of my two boys was a swimmer

    throughout high school - just finished his career this past March. Cheers to your daughter. Swimming is a sport that is VERY demanding and any accomplishments are to be celebrated.

    My son's coach used to say that you can always tell the swim parents because they're first in line to get their kids driver's licenses so that they can stop having to drive to 5:30 am morning practice. : )

    by frey60 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:14:44 PM PDT

    •  Oh god...

      they practice that early when they get older? Mine is 10, so we get the afternoon/early evening practices, but the omfg-it's-early meet sessions.

      She swam 6 bests out of 8 events, and finally cleared a hurdle she's been chasing since December, a best time in the 50 Free. Yes, I'm proud of her, does it show? :-)

      by brillig on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:19:22 PM PDT

      •  Yes, twice a week, at least for the high school

        team, and it's a long season - end of November till the beginning of March. Don't worry, it gets to be a badge of honor after awhile. On the plus side, the boys on my son's team almost to a person were polite, respectful and got good grades. The coach says it's because swimming is a self-selecting sport, meaning that you have to have lots of determination and drive to stick with it.

        One of the greatest things about swimming is that no matter how you do stacked up against others, is that you always have your last best time to beat. Congrats,you should be proud because you know how hard she worked to get 6 personal bests in one meet.

        by frey60 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:25:54 PM PDT

•  I spent the last 5 days as a "Troll"

  That's not as bad as it sounds - it's what my fellow Michiganders call those of us who live "below the bridge" (The Mighty Mackinac) AKA we live in the lower peninsula.

  Hubby and two boys - 20 & 18 - were camping and just taking in all the natural beauty - Whitefish bay, Pictured rocks, Tahquamenon falls, etc. Despite their ages, it is just great that the boys still like to spend time with Hubby & me, and a good (and relaxing) time was had by all.

  by frey60 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:06:59 PM PDT

•  My kid has a job

  finally. Ater 6 months of suggestions, followed by six months of increasingly intense nagging, she's working at the local fruit stand. And I get fresh corn and peppers and I think she's bringing home peaches tonight

  by Many Dogs Barking on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:38:47 PM PDT

•  My kid made me very proud this week

  This is the 12-year-old daughter.

  What did she say?

  "Hey, Dad, can I learn how to play the guitar?"

  Brought a tear to the eye of this ol' guitarist, it did :-).

  So, yes. Birthday is Oct 24th. Guitar will be gift. And another rock and roll chick shall be born :-).

  by ChurchofBruce on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:47:24 PM PDT

•  new job = more hours = more ca$h

  but i get to stay with the same great boss =D

  by chauie on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:49:16 PM PDT

•  My nephew admitted to Tufts Medical School

  ..the Dean even called him. He was prepared to go to his second choice Loyola.
    Bummer for me is he will all the way across the country instead of 90 miles away.
   He's a great young fella with good instincts and a patient calm way about him.
   I had nothing to do with it except not drowning his dad while teaching him to sail. And not dropping him on his head while changing his diaper, the dad/my brother...
   And after me nagging about it, my neice is now skippering/steering their 15' sailboat in the local races while my brother tries to micromanage her every move...tries, but fails, heh.

  by KenBee on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 07:55:49 PM PDT

•  I'm in love.

  And my cat is really really cute.
  http://www.youtube.com/...

  by smellybeast on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 08:03:19 PM PDT

•  None here, except that Eldest

  Son is graduated from college with a BS in a week or two.  That is a good thing.

  But I have no source of income like I did at one time to continue to support their efforts.  I am just about a worthless person, and that realization is dragging me down.  Warmest regards, Doc.

  by Translator on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 08:16:45 PM PDT

•  My happy story...

  So I'm walking around at Netroots Nation and someone calls out my screen name.

  I abruptly turn.

  This very handsome man says, "hey,  I'm Carnacki...You told me to look for you."

  I say, "OMG, it is such a pleasure to finally see you in person!"

  We talked for a while and that is my happy story.

  So great to meet people that you admire from a far.

  by navajo on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 09:26:13 PM PDT

•  Carnacki look out!

  Mama's got a Super Soaker;

  

  It was great meeting you too and I wish I'd found this diary last night.

  Love your little dodge ball story but I could have added little since all of my dodge ball memories are pretty violent. As a matter of fact we called it Dodge Rock.

  Just kidding but the the one gentle childhood game that I was a big fan of was Run, Catch, Kiss. The girls usually outnumbered the boys and it often finished nicely.

  Actually I started a Happy Story about youthful sport. Funny how these things occur. With Happy Story a comment often becomes a diary.

  That is some great series that you left to us. I just love writing them.

  I hope you are having a great day and enjoying the wonderful life you describe.

  by Eddie C on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:38:02 AM PDT