Random Friday: On Turning Four

No, I’m not talking about my mental age.

My son turned four this past week which means I’m four years into my world domination plan. One of the gifts we gave my son was a toolbox with plastic toys so we can train him on building the mega-lasers and fortresses needed to take over the world. Turns out that before you start dominating the world, you have to start taking baby steps. And then toddler steps. And then 4-year old running terror steps.

In these past four years, I’ve learned a lot. For example, you can get a four year old to believe anything. That’s come in useful as a tool for manipulating my child to do my bidding. We were at the mall one day and he asked about a picture of a zombie with rotting teeth and without skipping a beat, my wife and I told him that’s what happens when you don’t wash your face and brush your teeth. There’s still complaining when I brush his teeth, but he’s at the sink at “two” on a three count.

Meta Bloggling

The point of this Random Friday series was to get back into the flow of blogging. But I am concerned that my Blog will turn entirely into random Friday blog posts. I guess it’s incentive for me to try and post some substance once a week as well. Or turn the knob down a bit and make this an every-other random Friday. The Fridays in between would be perfectly ordered and predictable Fridays and not worth blogging.

Friday Appreciation

And for the weekly thing I appreciate, it’s the sport of Soccer. Or Football as the rest of the world calls it. It’s interesting to me how quickly my British friends jump on me when I call it “Soccer”.

Bloody ‘ell! It’s called Football you stupid Amurrrrrican.

Which is ironic because the name Soccer comes from Association Football, which was invented, where else? England. The term was shortened to “Asoc” which forms the basis of the the word Soccer. In the words of those cheesy Anti-Drug PSAs, I learned it by watching you!

My summer soccer season started this Monday and we won our first game 5 – 4. Sadly, we went from 1st place in our division in the Winter season to last place last spring, which means we were relegated to a lower division for the summer season. Hopefully we can pull ourselves back up because things are a bit chippier down here.

After each game, I’ve somehow become the chronicler of our great deeds and I write-up a game report I send out to my teammates full of timeless sports classics such as Boom Goes The Dynamite. The fact that I have no future in sports writing is pretty safe. I toyed with the idea of posting the write-ups to my blog, but I didn’t want to turn my blog solely into a collection of Random Friday write-ups and tales of old men playing Soccer.

I’m on vacation next week so things should be quiet for me here. Unless past behavior is any indication in which case I’ll blog a thousand technical posts. Thanks for reading. Smile

What others have said

Requesting Gravatar... Wife Jun 10, 2011 2:05 AM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
I like these Friday posts. Keep them coming!
Requesting Gravatar... The Q Jun 10, 2011 5:57 AM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
Arrrrrr today be Speak Life a Pirate Friday!

Shiver me timbers! Them scurvy dogs callin' this "soccer" will walk the plank to meet ol' Davy Jones.

Them random Friday posts are like rum to our bowels and like the wind that blows on a gustless night. Arrrr, y'better keep them comin' or else to the Hempen Halter with ye, landlubber.
Requesting Gravatar... Toukarin Jun 12, 2011 12:54 PM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
Actually, "Soccer" is pretty much used in Asian countries and not "Football". It's accepted as a universal way of distinguishing between American Football ("Football") and Football ("Soccer") else it's confusing as to which one you're referring to (especially when people are aware and do watch both).
Requesting Gravatar... Steve Dz Jun 12, 2011 11:40 PM
# Four year-olds will believe anything...
My 4 year old is convinced you can smell when you are getting near a tunnel. He's totally bought into it at this point. I'm sure I'll pay for this when he's older...
Requesting Gravatar... Claire Jun 13, 2011 11:50 PM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
Funnily enough, "soccer" is a truncated form of "Association," as in "Football Association." It used to be spelled "socca," from "Assoc." I also enjoy these posts!
Requesting Gravatar... Aaron Jun 14, 2011 6:09 AM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
Unfortunately, my son (2 yrs. old in July) will be taking over the world too. Maybe they can work together on this world domination plan, as we don't need any more conflict.

And after having lived in the Cayman Islands for 3 years and befriending numerous Brits, it no longer feels right to call it Soccer. Whether that's because I fear their drunken tirades or not is beside the question...
Requesting Gravatar... jjalan Jun 15, 2011 2:56 PM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
Wait till he grows and read this blog !
Requesting Gravatar... Redmond Salon Oct 02, 2011 7:04 AM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
Haha, this post made me chuckle. 1) because I have a 4 year daughter! You think a 4 year old boy is bad! :) 2) because I run a blog that would do great with a Random Friday strategy, because the current strategy leaves the blog very outdated! :-) Hope to see more random thoughts like this! Thanks for involving the family in your post.

PS. I'm going to use the zombie tactic, if given the chance :)
Requesting Gravatar... Andrew Newey Feb 25, 2012 9:02 AM
# re: Random Friday: On Turning Four
I love your idea of doing a minimum 'fun' blog every Friday Phil. Congrats on sticking with it too! :)

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