Disqus - Latest Comments for Steve

Re: I’ll Never Make It as a Driving Instructor : Frank

Steve — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:51:47 -0000

Not only that Frank, but Sheryl has the Mottet gift for the sharp breath intake that will keep them free from all accidents as well!

I can't imagine driving lessons...we've just now begun to let Ben sit in the front seat...driving lessons are only three years away.

Good luck and safe driving for all of you!!

Re: M. Night and Me

Steve — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:26:45 -0000

Combining with a post from your other blog...
I was walking past Sardie's in NYC and walked past Mel Brooks I didn't have a camera so I just kept walking others were asking for his picture as I passed. A couple of steps later, these girls asked me "Is that guy famous or something?" Of course I told them it was Mel Brooks to which their response was "Who's that?"...man I must be old

It is nice to know that even famous people have to put one foot in front of the other to walk and breath in and out just like us little folk.

Re: Scents I Like in Small Doses

Steve — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:25:06 -0000

Since I have lived my entire life in Iowa (but never on a farm) the small dose smells that I can relate to are:

- Money (at least that’s what they call the smell of manure around here….)
- A skunk (preferably alive)
- Anhydrous Ammonia
- New mown hay (or alfalfa) at least until my eyes start watering, the sneezing begins and my nose makes like Mr. Coffee..drip, drip, drip…

But you can never get enough of smelling Mr. Sketch scented markers!!

Re: Bike Philly, PodCamp and a Quick Weekend

Steve — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:36:33 -0000

Frank, now that your are working up your milage, you can come to Iowa at the end of July and join 10,000 of your closest frieds in RAGBRAI (http://www.ragbrai.org/)...I'd even pull my bike out of mothballs (or the rack on the garage wall) to join you. Heck even Lance Armstrong had such a good time two years ago that he came back and almost rode the entire six days. That is until he had to fly back to France as one of his former co-conspirators, I mean teammates was winning the Tour de (if they don't catch me it's not cheating) France.

Re: Friday Night Lights

Steve — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:34:17 -0000

This too is my favorite time of the year as well, fresh crisp mornings, football weekends and playoff baseball (which is even better this year since the Cubs are actually in the hunt for post season play!!).

Your nephew Ben had the key play for his 6th grade team on Saturday morning. With less than 2:00 to go in the game and the opponents pinned deep in their own territory he stripped the ball from the opposing QB and rumbled into the end zone (OK so it was only a couple of yards) for the only score of the game. The crowd went wild, his mother cried and he was mobbed by his team. Lynda’s reaction was a little delayed since they are all about the same size and are wearing helmets. But when the mob cleared from the end zone here came #2 (a defensive lineman with the number 2)…jumping up and down and getting high fives from everybody.

Without a doubt it is one of the coolest things in the world to see your child succeed through their own hard work and determination in what ever their endeavor they have chosen and to have that success recognized by someone other than their parents.

Re: Tear Jerkers

Steve — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:46:46 -0000

There is one scene in “Sandlot” of all baseball movies that gets me a little choked up. The boys are playing baseball under the illumination of 4th of July fireworks and Ray Charles is singing “America the Beautiful” in the background always brings tears to my eyes….just writing about it now is doing it. Oh to be young and want nothing more than to play baseball rather than watching fireworks (or keying cars). And it’s Ray singing that song that brings the hankie out.

Good luck to the Phillies please dispatch those pesky Rockies with all due speed as my Cubs do likewise with the Diamondbacks for the Cub/Phillies showdown…and then who do you root for??

Re: Last Second Victory

Steve — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:50:08 -0000

Thanks for the post Frank! Ben thought it was pretty cool to see his name in ‘print’. His team finished the season last week…however, they were on the other side of a last second victory. His team scored a touchdown (and two point conversion) with under a minute to play to send the game into overtime. However, in overtime the opposition scored a touchdown on 4th down to win. Just like Tami said they were aching at the end of the game. But after a long and very positive talk with the coaches with the team after the game Ben was ready for a shower (it was Africa hot that morning) and some lunch. Unfortunately, it was a day of aches for everyone in our family as all of our teams (Hawkeyes and Cubs) went down to defeat that day.

Re: DJ Jazzy Frankie

Steve — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:29:43 -0000

You're very welcome Frank! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Did you listen to Cannonball as well? Might I also suggest some Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Wes Montgomery and Satchmo (Louis Armstrong) as well.

Have you started to tackle #15 on your list as well?

Glad you made it back safe and sound to Philly. It was good to see you over the holiday. Now only about 360 days left until the Mottet clan decends on your neck of the woods...

Re: No More “Good Morning, Good Morning”: One Year Later

Steve — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:47:26 -0000

Thanks Frank for reposting this...it has been a tough day for some. It was good to read this again and to remember that Howard laugh (not that it was one you would ever forget).

"Put another log on the fire...cook me some bacon and some beans..."

Re: PA Votes Today

Steve — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:06:19 -0000

I'm glad all Pennsylvanians get to finally enjoy the same excitement and energy that we felt here in Iowa all those many, many months ago...and better yet, you can go to your polling place in shritsleeves rather than twelve layers of winter clothing.

This is what participating in the political process is all about!

Re: Treadmill Hint #13: Walk Straight

Steve — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:26:34 -0000

Another helpful hint (speaking from personal experience) along with putting the left foot in front of the right...make sure you keep you feet on the moving "belt sander" portion of that particular instrument of pain…the side portions don’t move and stepping on that area will cause you to unexpectedly pitch forward with a grace that is usually reserved for such serious shows such as “America’s Funniest Viedos” and leave you with a reminder as you currently have…luckily I was the only one in the gym at the time so I got savor the embarrassment all to myself…I have since moved to an equally insidious apparatus (the elliptical machine) it has a lower start value for demonstrations of elegance and style but a higher chance of a more perfect execution…I think a fall from the treadmill is a mandatory .8 deduction…

Re: Three Things I Never Taught My Sons

Steve — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:39:50 -0000

Sometimes I too feel that I haven't been the best at passing along some of those things that my father taught me to my son...however, we both have been fortunate to have others help...Cub Scouts (whittling), Howard (chopping down trees...imagine that!), Bob (hunting) just to name a few.

It seems that there are so many more pressures on everyones time, work, school/homework, sports and other activities (not to mention the transportation time there!) that there is prescious little left to teach let along learn some of things that used to be our leisure...maybe I need to send him to Tinkering School :http://www.tinkeringschool.com/blog/2005/about/