Day 12 - "Parking" Dude

Last night I went to dinner with my family in order to celebrate my step-daughter's 19th birthday. It was close to downtown, so naturally parking was a bit of a struggle. I pulled up to Marcella's and dropped my wife off at the door. Directly across the street was what appeared to be a parking area with meters, so I jutted across the street and pulled into the lot....curious about the parking attendant that was telling the car in front of me where to park. I pulled up and gave me the skinny - "You can't park in the front or the middle...if you park in the middle, you'll get towed...park in the back...and if you have any spare change, I'd really appreciate a little."

Ah, okay...now I get it. Great service though. I'm dense enough that I wouldn't notice the difference and end up with no car.

I reached into my change pile and grabbed what I could - put enough for 2 hours in the meter, and went over to the guy and told him "Thank you - you get whatever change didn't go into the meter." This man was the most gracious pan-handler I've ever encountered. He was truly thankful.....and told me that he loved me :)

Day 11 - Stepfather-Hood

Okay, I won't take a day for each activity....but tonight made me think that the past 11 years have allowed me to have at least one day, right? Tonight I got home with a desire to do nothing other than have some sleepy-time. But Mary....the 18 year old and youngest of my wife's children needed to record a speech on video and download it to the computer...which she doesn't know how to do. I wasn't in a teaching mood because frankly it's a lengthy process, especially when it's time to create the AVI/WMV/MP4/whatever file and save it to a CD. Today I did NOT complain (bullshit, I bitched like a female cat in heat humping a lightpole)....and DL'd the video, created an opening credit, and burned the CD. Of course I screwed up the ONLY CD that Mary had and she had to go out at 11PM to get more, but regardless....I burned the damn video. I even removed her major stuttering. So there's my day's gift...skillz, yo.

Day 10 - Sawin' Wood

I had the chainsaw out the other day when I saw my neighbor and remembered that she’d asked me some time ago if her husband could borrow my chainsaw. I reminded her of the request, but she informed me that while they did have a limb to cut down, her husband didn’t trust himself to use it while perched on top of a ladder. They were then going to hire me to cut down the limb. Silly neighbors. I went over to take a look at this monstrous limb that was sure to be 40 feet off the ground. Okay, it was a 2-inch thick limb and it was about 10 feet off the ground. I ran back to the house and grabbed my extended pole saw. Here ya go, Roy. Go to town. Won’t cost you a cent, and you’ll have a happy wife. I even had him throw the limb in the wooded area behind my house.

Day 9 - Twizzlers

Okay, this gets me caught up from the days I missed before. I have a colleague who went a little ballistic on me one day a couple of weeks ago. She later apologized, and we surmised that the problem was that our office ran out of red Twizzlers. I immediately went out and got her some. Today, I did the same. Twizzlers - first thing in the AM! Not an entirely selfless act. I give her Twizzlers...and she doesn't rip out my jugular.

Day 8 - Jolly Ranchers!

Ahhhhh, Jolly Ranchers! Who doesn't love them? More importantly...who doesn't love SOUR APPLE? Good stuff! Today I grabbed a handful of the little suckers (so to speak) and took them to my bartender. She gives me booze...I give her Jolly Ranchers. We're both happy.

Day 7 - Bonus Recommendation

Okay, this one is a little lame...because I should be doing it anyway, so it's not like I'm doing something "extra" here...but it's effort-based and I need something to fill the requirement for the day. Whatever - they're my rules. Today I recommended the admin assistant for a little bonus/award for some extra excellent work she completed. This qualifies her for additional rewards beyond the little one I'm recommending her for. Hope she gets it!

Day 6 - Bicycle

Sometimes, all it takes is a walk outside with a cup of coffee. I ran into my neighbor yesterday - he needed a bicycle. Well, says I...I just happen to have one that's been sitting in my back yard - needs a little oil and someone to ride it. Done. Now you can ride your bicycle...and sing about it, too.

Day 5 - Donation

A couple of months ago some assclown went to the restaurant Haiku in Columbus, OH - got hammered - skipped out on his bill - jumped in his SUV - then ran over Rachel Widomski as she tried to stop him. She is now paralyzed. Some of the local folks have been having a fund raiser for her. Today, I simply donated some cash.

In return, I received a variety of donated merchandise. A couple of hats, some keychains and some t-shirts. I kept a couple of shirts, and then gave the rest away to my children and my neighbor. A double-giving day!

Day 4 - $ for Tunes

Today was a simple giveaway. I was in my local hang...pub....okay, hole in the wall bar (known as Traditions). The bartender is always playing music in the jukebox...and it isn't cheap. She uses her tip money to play the tunes. Often, she'll invite the rest of us to join in the music selection. It isn't often that anyone helps her out with the cost. At least not that I've noticed. So on my way out I threw some bucks into the machine and told her to have at it.

Day 3 - CD

I got a little behind in my posting and my actions, as I was out of town. So I have been working to catch back up. The difficulties continue in trying to think of something decent each day. Not to mention I don't want to seem like some sort of weirdo going up to people and trying to give them stuff.

On Monday, my wife and I returned our rental car after a weekend trip. I was grooving to some Jack Johnson on my drive to drop off the most excellent Ford Explorer that I had been cruising around in. Ah-HA...my CD! So I left a Jack Johnson CD in the CD Player for the next driver. Hopefully...the next driver doesn't hate it.

Day 2 - Scrap Metal and Java

Already this morning I started to think - oh crap - how the Hell am I going to give something away for 365 days to 365 people? I don't even KNOW 365 people. Well, sometimes the answer drives up in a big white van.

This weekend my wife rented a dumpster, which of course means that this weekend I worked my ass off (as did my cousin so many thanks to him) hauling junk to the dumpster. Unfortunately, I broke out the rear window of my pickup, but I won't bitch about that here.

This morning a white van pulled up to the driveway. I've seen it around the neighborhood. Anytime something is thrown out, this white van comes through the area like a homing pigeon. "Ya got any metal?" Sure thing, pal. I opened up the rear door and he went on his merry way. I was already dressed for work, so I couldn't help....but I did bring him a nice fresh cup of Starbuck's coffee. He said he'd probably make $50-$75 off the metal I tossed out. Kinda wish I'd taken it to the recycling joint....but if I had...then I wouldn't know what to give away. And he needs the fitty more than I do.

Day 1 - Massager

DAY 1 - 364 Giveaways to go!

This past weekend, my wife and I were cleaning out our house - always a joyous experience filled with a little mold, plenty of dust, enough doghair to knit a colony of mutts, and always a few slap-happy moments.

Several years ago the company we both work for had a company picnic, complete with door prizes. One of those door prizes went to my wife - who spent the rest of the day telling everyone that she'd just won a vibrator. It was actually a "massager." Well...I think it CLAIMS to be a massager, but with a little bit of personal research, you can find more pictures of it used in precarious locations, than you can on someone's back - despite being labeled the " InfraTechUltra Deluxe Infrared Massager with Heat". WITH HEAT??? Yikes - think about the exciting nights you can have alone! It massages....it heats...WAIT....it INFRAREDS!

http://www.pnkmarketing.com/backend/pimg/p1278f11.gif

So giveaway number 1 goes to my cousin's wife - who I am sure will be able to put it to great use...massaging, heating and infraredding her..........back and shoulders.

The 365 Days of Giving Something Away

I was sitting in a seminar today that was about dencency...helping...managing emotions...reacting to emotions...and how we should all try to do more with and for those who are around us.

My personal stance on it all is that we should indeed help those around us. I often stop for broken down cars, people with gas cans in their hands, or helping to push a broken down car. Not all the time, mind you. Sometimes, I leave it to someone else to help. I even feel guilty about it when that happens, but there are times where the consequences of being late to my destination just don't outweigh the "severity" of the situation.

As someone who is generally pessimistic and untrusting of everyone's motives, I have decided to embark on a year long task to give away something that I have. Something minor...something major....well, mostly something minor. This will be for one year. And if I can manage it, it will be to someone different every day.

....stay tuned. I start today!