Friday night took me to Livingston with my friend and co-official John Flores (known to some as “JFLO”). Our good friend Tara actually drove us up there along with her kids! Why? Just for fun I suppose… and it was! The hour or so drive up and back gave us a chance to relax, catch up, and just hang out. When we got back to the Woodlands Tara’s husband Marty and Carrie both met us for dinner and a few drinks! Fun!

The game itself was pretty uneventful (especially considering the game I worked on Tuesday) and Livingston took the win over Montgomery, tying them for 2nd place in district.

Non-officials probably don’t know this, but many times we change in the coach’s office before and after the game. Most schools don’t have a separate locker room for officials (although some do – and thank you to those that do!), so we end up in the coach’s office. The worst thing about this is if the home team loses, especially if there has been a controversial call or two – because sometimes they just come right back in their office while we are trying to get the heck outta dodge!!

So, before Friday night’s game John and I (and Carl – the 3rd official on the crew) were about to get ready and I noticed a sheet of paper taped to the window inside that coach’s office that looked over the court. The paper was titled 100 Ways to Praise and listed 100 different ways to give someone praise – cool. I showed John and he thought it was pretty cool as well. In fact, on the way home he commented that he had wanted to ask the coach for a copy of the list, but he had forgotten.

This morning I was entering grades for the Baker class that I teach and putting “Excellent work” and “Great job” in the feedback for several students. That made me think of the list! I figured the list had to be out there on the “internets”, and a Google search on “100 Ways to Praise Someone” pulled it right up!

So, without further ado, here’s the list… Be sure to use it today to give someone praise!

100 Ways to Praise Someone

1. You’re on the right track!
2. You’ve got it made.
3. That’s right!
4. Super!
5. You’re doing a good job!
6. Exactly right!
7. That kind of work makes me very happy.
8. That’s really nice.
9. It’s a pleasure to teach when you work like that.
10. I’m very proud of you.
11. That’s it!
12. You’re really improving.
13. Superb!
14. Terrific!
15. Outstanding!
16. That’s the best ever!
17. That’s great.
18. You’ve got that down pat.
19. You remembered.
20. You figured that out fast.
21. I think you’ve got it now.
22. You’re doing beautifully.
23. That’s better than ever.
24. Tremendous!
25. Fantastic!
26. Keep up the good work!
27. That’s the way to do it!
28. That’s quite an improvement.
29. You haven’t missed a thing.
30. That’s the way!
31. WOW!
32. Right on!
33. Well look at you go.
34. Good for you.
35. Good going!
36. I liked that.
37. You out did yourself today!
38. Marvellous!
39. You did a lot of work today.
40. Keep it up!
41. Now you have the hang of it!
42. Way to go!
43. You certainly did well today.
44. You are really learning a lot.
45. You did that very well.
46. Now that’s what I call a fine job.
47. Nice going.
48. You must have been practicing.
49. That’s better!
50. Wonderful!
51. Nothing can stop you now!
52. Now you have it!
53. You are very good at that.
54. Now you’ve figured it out.
55. Congratulations!
56. You’ve just about got it.
57. You’re really working hard today.
58. That’s coming along nicely.
59. That’s much better.
60. One more time and you’ll have it.
61. You really make my job fun.
62. That’s the right way to do it.
63. Great!
64. Good Work!
65. I’m happy to see you working like that.
66. You are doing much better.
67. Keep working on it, you’re getting better.
68. That’s the best one yet.
69. A job well done.
70. Good for you!
71. Couldn’t have done it better myself.
72. You’re getting better everyday.
73. I knew you could do it!
74. You did it that time.
75. Sensational!
76. Perfect!
77. Fabulous!
78. Much Better!
79. Excellent!
80. You’ve just about mastered it.
81. Keep on trying.
82. Good thinking!
83. You’re learning fast!
84. Now you’ve figured it out.
85. You make it look easy.
86. Congratulations. You got it right.
87. The best.
88. Glowing.
89. Hooray for you!
90. Superior!
91. Spectacular performance.
92. That’s impressive!
93. Very creative.
94. Beautiful!
95. You must be proud of yourself.
96. That’s a good question.
97. Very good. Why don’t you show the others?
98. Today we made great progress.
99. I appreciate your effort.
100. I like how you work with the others.

Filed under: Officiating, Personal
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We went to Hermann Park yesterday to get our engagement photos taken… It was a blast!

Our photographers are amazing and Carrie and I loved what they captured yesterday with the two of us. Carolina and Kimberly took just under 400 photos – holy cow! Thank goodness for digital!

I have many “faves” and this is just one of them… Don’t you love it?!?

We really were having a great time – which is indicative of our relationship. Afterwards, since it was 5pm and we would hit mega-rush hour if we headed home then, we stopped by the Thirsty Cactus for a couple of margaritas and some queso and nachos. Kelli stopped by after work too to visit for a bit, which was fun.

It was a great afternoon and we were sooo pleased with the photos, which K&C had posted for us by this morning! I’ll let Carrie share her thoughts on her own blog, but wanted to get some wedding scoop on mine for once!

Filed under: Personal
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As I headed over to Klein Oak last night for their varsity game against Willis I was excited to work and ready to referee – and really happy that the school is just a short ten-mile trip from my house.

I arrived at the gym a little before 6pm for my 7pm game. Only the game wasn’t at 7pm, but 7:30pm – so I was quite early. I had been watching a little bit of what I thought was the first half of the JV game, but it was really the second half of the sophomore game! Worse, there were two coaches officiating the game — oh, the horror!!

When I was signing in to get paid I realized that the JV game hadn’t started. So, I approached the JV coaches and asked if he wanted us to work the JV game for them, since I and one of my co-officials were already there. They were ecstatic! See, coaches don’t really want to referee – they want to coach! They happily accepted my offer and we went to get dressed – quickly – so that we could start the game.

The JV game went off without a hitch – in fact, it was the easiest game I’ve worked all year! No problems other than a fan that I shushed about halfway through the 2nd quarter. He was being incredibly annoying and I just didn’t feel like taking heat from this guy that didn’t have a clue! I think that my shushing him got to him a bit because he quieted down for most of the rest of the game.

After the JV game we took a short break, went back into the locker room and conducted a quick “pre-game” with our 3rd official for the varsity game – as he was pretty new to 3–person officiating. We got back to the court with about five minutes left on the clock before the start of the game, held our captain’s meeting, shook hands with the coaches, listened to the introductions of the players and the Star-Spangled Banner, tossed the ball up, and were on our way.

The first three quarters of the game came and went pretty quickly – and without any issues. The players were playing, the coaches were coaching, and we were officiating. The fans were a bit rowdy – but nothing abnormal – and my buddy from the JV game was there still watching, but he was mostly behaving himself.

As we started the 4th quarter, Willis was down 40–27 and was trying to battle their way back into the game. As I rotated over into position just in front of Willis’ bench I heard a familiar cry: “Ref! Ref!” I turned to see what the issue was – something on the floor perhaps, a coach wanting a time-out, a scoring mistake. Instead what I saw shocked me – a Willis player had collapsed off of the bench and was lying on the floor unconsious.

Immediately and instinctively I stopped play. Then I heard something that in 11 years of officiating I have never heard after blowing my whistle.

Silence.

The enormity and gravity of the situation struck immediately. There was not a sound in the gym as I quietly instructed the players on the court to go to their benches. The players immediately headed towards their benches and took a knee on their respective sides of the court. However, there were no sides anymore. No one cared about the game, about who won, about the missed foul call, or anything else. There was a singular focus now.

I escorted my crew off the court and behind the table. We sat there watching the coaches and trainers attend to this player – Jarrett. “Jarrett, open your eyes if you can hear me.” , keep your eyes open for me.” “Do you want to talk to your dad, Jarrett?”

I sat there in shock as I witnessed this surreal experience – hoping and praying that this kid would be ok. A few times he was slow to respond to the constant requests to keep his eyes open and appeared to stop breathing. I sat there as several people were saying “Open your eyes Jarrett!” and gently slapping his face… After a few moments I would start thinking, “God! Please! Open your damn eyes!!!”

I didn’t think that I could handle watching this kid die right on the basketball court – and my thoughts were with his teammates, coach, and father standing over him – whom I was sure could not handle it.

After about ten minutes – but what seemed like an enternity – the fire and rescue arrived and attended to Jarod. Another twenty minutes passed before the ambulance finally got there to take him to the hospital.

As Jarrett was wheeled off of the court and out the doors, the players and coaches headed towards the center circle on the court. I said, “Let’s go.” to my co-officials and we joined them in the middle of the court, knelt down, and said the Lord’s Prayer together. The pricipal of Klein Oak high school understated, “Obviously the game is a very low priorty right now.”

With the clock stuck at 7:21 we all – fans, coaches, players, and officials – slowly and quietly made our way off of the court – each of us trying to process what we had just witnessed.

I’m not sure of Jarrett’s status – although I know that when he left the medics said that his vitals were fine. Please keep him and his family in your prayers and I will post an update as soon as I hear something.

Update: I emailed the Klein Oak coach and found out that Jarrett was moved to Texas Children’s hospital and seemed to be doing fine, although still undergoing tests and observation. I was very relieved to hear that!

Filed under: Officiating, Personal
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Sometimes I find that I am just blah and cannot get inspired to do things, but other times I am rearin’ to go and can crank out work and get things done like nobody’s business. It seems to go in cycles… I think I am on an upward cycle right now – that is, getting inspired. I woke up early this morning (thanks to Hydie running around and her collar making noise!) and couldn’t go back to sleep, thinking of things that I need to do, want to do, ideas about our business, etc.

We should hear something back today about our possible merger with this other company – so that is probably part of the reason for my inspiration today. I am really looking forward to taking things to the next level. To see our company that we have worked on and toiled over for the past five years really grow into something huge would be amazing!

So, where do you get your inspiration? When you have tons to do and don’t feel like doing any of it… or when you need to be creative and inventive, but just can’t… what do you do?

Filed under: Business
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Do you know what the best thing is about today? It is a new day! And it can be whatever you want!

At the start of a new year I tend to get a sense of renewal. What do I want to accomplish in 2006? What are my goals, my aspirations, my desires? Sometimes it’s tough to focus on what we want to do for a whole year – but it’s easy to focus on today!

What do you want to do with today? Learn something new? Spend some time with friends or family? Pursue a new hobby? Start a new job?

2006 can be better than 2005 – and it can be whatever you want, but it starts with today!

Filed under: Personal
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