Monday, March 17, 2008

Tidbits

1. It pisses me off a little how competitive my work volleyball team is. I want to win too, I really do. But it's supposed to be fun. Winning the league means nothing. And yeah, I'm one of the worst players on the team because all I know how to do is hit and I can't do that on a men's height net, which basically neutralizes me. But still, I'd like to play my allotted games without feeling like my teammates resent me for being on the court.

There are nine players and three games, so math would dictate that everyone sit out one game, right? But I always feel compelled to sit out two because they want to win so badly and I feel like a liability. And if I don't come forward and volunteer to sit out a second game, I can totally feel them waiting for it to happen. And the exasperation. And geez, I'm not THAT bad. I can set decently and I usually bump a received serve somewhere in the vicinity of the setter. And I can serve. So come on, can't we all just calm down? This is supposed to be a fun way to get some exercise and meet some new people, not an ubercompetitive pro league.

2. Swistle asked me to do a guest contribution for her baby names blog, and of course I agreed. I was especially excited about it because the post I worked on was for Devan, and I love her. The post is up, so go vote and help Devan decide what to name her baby!

3. J.M. Tewkesbury of The Chronicles of Tewkesbury tagged me for a meme where you are supposed to write a six-word memoir. I struggled with it a lot more than I expected to, but I finally came up with something. I was going to say it was halfway decent, but I'm not sure (and I definitely played fast and loose with the word "memoir"). Regardless, here it is:

Need baby; will settle for dog

What about you? You don't necessarily have to stick to exactly six words, but can you write me a one-line memoir in the comments?

49 comments:

  1. Am tired; would like perpetual weekend. :)

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  2. If I were in your volleyball shoes, I'd love to say I would wait until one of the most important games of the season and "accidentally" throw it for the team. Because seriously? Recreational volleyball should be fun. As you said. It's like childhood P.E. all over again.

    I'm very impressed with your six word memoir. Because you are normally one wordy gal (in a good way). Mine would have to be:

    East Coast gal calls Midwest home.

    Yeah, not so good, but it'll have to do for now.

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  3. Your memoir is my memoir. Like, to a T.

    Anyway, I just read your baby name post - good job. She has a TON of names to choose from now!

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  4. Need More Money to Accomplish Goals.

    hee hee. I want to live on a farm (we're renting right now) but land requires big $$ so we have to keep saving! Argh! hee hee.

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  5. I hear you on the volleyball thing. I joined a recreational league in the city and still felt like it was all about winning. I took a year off but I think I'll join again this year. I also feel like the fact that I'm usually the largest person on the team makes them assume I can't play and that is just grrr worthy.

    I'm not good at keeping things short, so I'll need to think on this memoir some more.

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  6. I can't say anything because I am one of those crazy people that cares too much about winning.

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  7. Sweet little memoir and fun blog, thanks for participating:)

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  8. I suck at sports. The end.

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  9. New Yorker would rather be reading.

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  10. boyfriend says no to baby, pass the guinness.

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  11. I LOVE BABY NAMES. Its my obsession.

    Also back at my old job I had the opposite problem. In a co-ed basketball league... every team (5 on 5) had to have 1 girl on at a time. I was the only girl on my team and they made my play the whole time (instead of recruiting more girls. None of the other girls in the office were any good. I was better than most of the guys). I was overworked and used like a robot! Under appreciated! Isn't the point to have fun? I'd ahve had more fun if I could REST every so often! (There were 12 guys... they'd each play a third of the game while I played the full hour. AH)

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  12. hmmm

    always happier in love; need chocolate.

    that is a great meme!

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  13. Thanks for the guest post on the names. I enjoyed reading it very much!!! :)
    Want my dog?

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  14. ALSO - suck about volleyball! I love volleyball but I"m not that good. I can definitely understand what you're saying here. It's supposed to be FUN and EXERCISE, not just WINNING!

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  15. Jess- you did such a great job on your baby names guest post... so thorough and thoughtful!

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  16. The volleyball thing sucks. It SHOULD be fun, and ADULTS should be supportive of the efforts of all teammates, regardless of ability, and NOT make you feel pressured to sit out an extra game.

    Your baby name stuff was great.

    I have a bunch of those six-word things running around in my head. Here's one:

    Wasn't really hungry; ate it anyway.

    Or how about:

    Can't seem to break Murphy's Law.

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  17. a) HATE THAT. it's why i quit waka kickball, even though it's so popular around here. omg, people, it's KICKBALL. we're here to DRINK.

    b) i'm so impressed / excited swistle asked for your help! so cool!

    c) i think my memoir would be "me: pretending to be a grownup"

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  18. People seriously need to take a chill pill. It's just a game. Yeesh.

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  19. I couldn't play volleyball because if people started being annoying I would spike at their heads.

    Or I would at least try to, I'm not really athletically inclined.

    I've been avoiding the 6 word memoir thing for weeks. I work in education with a writing focus and people have been talking about it and I AM STUMPED.

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  20. Spring break over; in the library.

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  21. I feel like I've done this memoir on someone else's site, but can't remember when or what it said...

    I guess mine would read:

    She always chose the hard way.

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  22. Monday again; please pass the tequila...

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  23. I hate when people are overly competitive. It totally takes the fun out of sports.

    Sometimes stretched too thin; need vacation.

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  24. Loved your baby name post at swistle's!

    Counting calories; Feel like wide load.

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  25. arrgh I agree, I hate it when a fun recreational sport becomes a serious strategy plan that can ice you out of your usual lunch table.
    It is supposed to be fun.
    When I suck at a sport, I always do he trick and go up to the best player and ask for help on a certain trick. flattery works in weird ways

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  26. I love volleyball. I used to play every summer (sand league), then I had a child and all my hobbies went out the window!

    Hope the "competitive streak" doesn't drive you too crazy because that can ruin the fun! :)

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  27. That is the exact reason I hated organized sports as a kid.

    -You can always do it tomorrow.

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  28. Oh, I used to be the best vollyball server in school. They loved it when I was in that position. I could place that ball in their weakest spot EVERY SINGLE TIME.

    However, that was the ONLY position I could play. Bump? Not really. Set? Uh, no. Spike? bwaaaa-hahahahahahahahahaha no.

    Love your memoir; mine is boring.

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  29. I like this! And your guest post at Swistle's.

    Here' my memoir:

    Perpetually pregnant; when will she stop?

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  30. I don't play on any teams like that, they would always be mad at me for not winning!

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  31. Ah, 6 words?! This is so challenging. I'll have to think and be back.. In the meantime I'm going to go read your guest post!

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  32. Gah, the volleyball thing reminds me of highschool. I loved volleyball and thought i was pretty good - in class, it's not like i was on the TEAM or anything. But there was this one girl who always glared at me if i missed the ball and made me feel like i was somehow so beneath her in volleyball greatness that it ruined the whole experience for me. I was good, dammit. Especially for being one of the bigger girls.
    You should "accidentally" spike the ball against their mean heads. What?

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  33. People who are too competitive at office sports teams make me angry.

    it's not fourth grade dodgeball people, let's get some perspective here.

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  34. I love yours! For mine...trusted loved ones, was let down.

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  35. My memoir - or epitaph for that matter - might be:
    Cooked food. Ate it too.

    Stupid organized sports! Argh!

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  36. I hated PE in high school because of how the athletes would take it seriously. Hello, we are supposed to be LEARNING and HAVING FUN, and you PINEHOLES are ruining it.

    My memoir---hm. Agreed on deathbed: no more babies.

    THANK YOU for doing the baby name post with me! You did a great job!

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  37. Good for you for sticking to the volleyball team, I am not sure I could be around a team like that. You're right, it is supposed to be fun. I have a feeling with a team like that I would dread every game and that wouldn't be worth it.

    My meme:
    Need happiness, wants to enjoy life.

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  38. It took me years to figure out that some people play sports because they are fun, not to be good at something. I'm still learning.

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  39. Trying to write; banging head against wall.

    Also, dude, I don't know what's with me tonight, but the opening line cracked me up. You have a work volleyball team! And it's psycho competitive and for some reason, that kills me, because dude, I AGREE. WORK VOLLEYBALL SHOULD NOT BE COMPETITIVE.

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  40. Ooh, I like lspoon's (the first one there, right up at the top). That pretty much sums it up.

    If hyphenated compounds can count as a single word, then my six-word memoir could be my description from Noelle at The Daily Tannenbaum's blogroll:

    Serial dater, borderline wino, award-winning speller.

    Yep; that's me. :-)

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  41. noooo...i JUST posted this exact same request! and here i was thinking i was all original...but oh well. i hope i get a good turnout, its such a cool concept!

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  42. That's exactly why I never play *social* sports. I can't stand being average, and I hate how competitive everyone gets...

    Very nice six word memoir.

    Thanks for your last comment- made me feel much better :-)

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  43. Generally disenchanted - Match.com, here I come!

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  44. Your six word bio could be mine, too!

    Let's hope we both get dogs (if not babies) SOON.

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  45. Love your six-word memoir! It made me chuckle and reminded me of a friend who was incredulous that a friend of theirs would have a baby without first having a dog! Thanks for participating!

    Oh, and about that volleyball rant: I hear ya. Seems like so many things in the town are about being competitive and slaughtering the opposition, which spills over into stuff that should just be plain recreational and fun. Sometimes, I think this town needs to get a life.

    Okay, bitter, angry rant over.

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  46. Okay, I'm back! 6 words: "Fueled by intense passion- and wine."

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  47. Ooh, I love that meme! I am totally stealing it to use on my blog tomorrow!

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