Chuck

Written by Lori from Gal-lori

You know the old saying, ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ and while I usually like my writings to you all to be funny and entertaining, today, with this picture, I must stray from my norm.

My Dad.

Can you see it? Can you feel it? Can you just tell the kind of guy he is? Take a moment before I fill you in to see if you can guess.

No, don’t read on yet. Really. Don’t scroll down yet. Look at the picture and see if you can tell what is under that hat and behind those glasses. C’mon, it’ll be fun. See how good you are by judging a book by its cover…or a man by his picture.

The strong silent type
No bullshit
Tough love
Tell-it-like-it-is-you-always-know-where-you-stand.

That’s Chuck.

Even his name says that. Chuck. Say it out loud and you’ll know what I mean.

The guy everyone turns to.
The one we all know we can depend on.
The one that has seen things that we could only imagine, but don’t dare to try.
The guy that knows right from wrong.

Chuck.

The guy that has a faith that he never talks about but you know it’s there. Strong.
The guy that loves country music.
The guy that hunts and fishes but feeds the ducks and squirrels and swans and orioles and finches, and, and, and…

The guy that had a photo album of his best friend, his dog.

But something happens to those strong silent tough guys when they get older. When they have grandchildren. They become ‘Papa Chuck’ and words come out of their mouths that you hardly ever imagined.

Babycakes.

Yes, Chuck says Babycakes now, and when you ask my three year old daughter, ‘What does Papa Chuck call you?’ She proudly, but sheepishly will tell you, ‘Babycakes.’

He’s always been that way though, with words like Babycakes inside.

Family man.
Loyal friend.
A great husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and cousin.

He’s like a whole range of bears all rolled into one. The great grizzly bear on the outside, fierce and protective and teddy bear on the inside, loving and caring beyond belief. I’ve even heard him called polar bear once because of how cold he used to keep the house.

Chuck.

That’s my Dad.

Am I just clueless? Don’t answer that.

Written by Lori from Gallori

You know what I don't get? I don't get NASCAR. There, I said it. Being from Indiana, home of the Indianapolis 500 I think I just committed blasphemy.

So someone tell me. What is it about watching cars with stickers on them race around the track so fast that you can't read them anyway? I've been to the time trials for the Indy 500. The weekend before the race where the cars (I guess it's really the drivers) drive as fast as they can around the 2.5 mile track to qualify for the race the following weekend. I was young, maybe 12 years old, and I have to say that looking back it seems like it would be a good subject for a mockumentary. You sit there and wait and wait and wait and then in the matter of a split second you hear the sound build, crescendo, and fade away in a blur. VROOOOOM! Done. Gone. Until the next car came around your little portion of the track. Yee haw!

Now, maybe a full on race is more understandable. You get to see lots of cars buzzing, litterally, that's what it sounds like, around the track. 200+ mph locusts buzzing past in a swarm. Once in a while you get a spin out or a crash and the yellow flag comes out and everyone circles waiting for the green.

But still. Unless you have lots of money bet on it like horse racing, what is the appeal? Is it the beer? Is it the crashes? Is it the ladies lifting their tops in the infield? Is it the total package and fast cars just happen to be there? Or do y'all really like watching cars zoom by?

Ok, so, maybe I can understand it a little. But what I really don't get? Watching NASCAR on tv. It's like watching bowling but only seeing the ball roll down the alley. At least in bowling you can see the bowlers. Do you watch it for the snappy commercials? I know there isn't a halftime where you could at least hope for a wardrobe malfunction or hot little cheerleaders. I understand the appeal of professional wrestling better than I do NASCAR. Wait. What does that say about me?

I did watch the newest Herbie movie (as in Herbie the love bug) that featured NASCAR but this one is the Matt Dillon, Lindsay Lohan, Mac computer guy version. I do have to say that the two NASCAR drivers that made a cameo were pretty cute. But again, you never see their faces when they're racing. So that can't be it.

I know I'm missing out on something because NASCAR is really big. I mean, you can even get a NEXTEL (beware, sound on that link) phone with your favorite car number, or something like that, on it.

Oh, and speaking of the sponsor logo decals. I think that since they whiz by in a blur that someone should design them so that they're meant to be viewed at 200 miles an hour. Kind of how, this guy that does sidewalk chalk drawings has to draw this to get this. Allow for the speed distortion.

Ok, I'm getting off the topic. But that's it in a nutshell. I don't get NASCAR. But then again, I don't get fashion either.

Lori Greenberg is a glass bead maker that blogs from her studio in Cave Creek, Arizona. You can read more of her ramblings at: Gallori