My first pickleball tournament

For a while, there was cornhole. Then there was (and still is) triathlons. Then adult league softball. Now… a pickleball tournament. I guess it’s true that I love competition. Whether it’s throwing a bag of corn into a hole, swimming around a buoy, playing third base, or hitting a little plastic ball on a miniature tennis court.

I got a new paddle the other day because I can’t go into my first doubles tournament with a wooden paddle. That would just be such a rookie mistake. Of course, I AM a rookie, but you know what I mean. I’m partnering up with my sister who’s got a knack for pickleball. She’s already competed in two doubles tournaments (both with her husband) and a singles tournament where she scored a lot of points.

We’ve been practicing a lot, my sister and I. She’s gotten a lot better over the past few months. I think I plateaued last year. And it doesn’t help that I played 1v1 with my brother-in-law yesterday and he beat me 5 games to *cough, cough* none. Or maybe losing that much and that decisively will help me in the tournament today? I’ll be going in with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder and quite humbly, too.

Details to follow, should be a fun afternoon!

-Out of the Wilderness

World Series Game 7 is Why I Love Sports

Game 7 between the Blue Jays and Dodgers was pretty wild. It went into extra innings and as the score kept creeping up, so did the intensity. At one point, the Blue Jays were just two outs away from being the World Series Champions. As you know by now, the Blue Jays are not the World Series Champions because the Dodgers had a few key hits in the form of home runs in the 9th and 11th innings. Those could have been walk-off home runs for the Dodgers if they were batting at the bottom of those innings but because they were the “visitors,” the Blue Jays batted second.

The most dramatic moments, and two chances for the Blue Jays to become champions, happened in the bottom of the 9th. It was crazy. One out. Bases loaded. The batter hits to the second baseman. If he throws the ball anywhere else besides home, the game’s over (unless they performed a double play). He throws home and beats the runner by a split second. Two outs.

Same inning. Bases are still loaded for the Blue Jays. Two outs. A single wins the game. The batter hits a high fly ball between left and center field. Then a jaw-dropping outfield collision as the two outfielders sprint for the catch. Commentator: “Pages says ‘I’m the Captain now.'” 🤪

I don’t even like watching baseball but this World Series was pretty epic. The Blue Jays also had incredible plays to keep themselves in the game but for me, those two plays were the height of the anxious drama.

-Out of the Wilderness

The Xfinity Rabbit Stop Motion Commercial – The Music and More

Since I was a wee lad, I’ve loved rabbits. I even had one as a pet in middle school. Still miss that gray girl! Or was she a boy? I don’t remember ever finding out. My love for rabbits, I guess it’s because I grew up with a beagle and as an adult I’ve had a family of beagles. The beagles like rabbits for different reasons *I think*. Now there’s a cute little ad from Xfinity featuring stop motion rabbits. Must be a thing because there’s also a music video from Laufey featuring a stop motion bunny. Here’s the Xfinity ad, then scroll down for more…

The Song. The soundtrack of this commercial is called “The Green Grass Grows All Around,” a well-known song (and used in this JPMorgan commercial), this time performed by Louis Jordan. Here’s the full track…

Were you ready for all that cuteness? I noticed only one bunny had a baseball hat on which is a shame because there are two hats that just dropped in my Etsy store. These are 100% original, designed and created by me and my sister (we’re trying a patch hat thing). The rabbits should be wearing them but until then, check out the two designs (more on the way, too) at WildHatDesigns.Etsy.com and pick up a lid for your noggin today!

-Out of the Wilderness

The GEICO Gecko Model Commercial – Gecko Goes Commando and More

I never thought I’d see full nudity on broadcast TV but we are where we are, I guess. OK OK, I’m half kidding! But, technically speaking, the GEICO Gecko doesn’t have clothes on in this new commercial. Check it out then scroll down for more…

The commercial has me going down a rabbit hole. First, I tried finding out what this type of art is called. It’s either “figure drawing” or “the nude” according to the internet. But then I started to wonder… would I ever pose nude? Gosh, can you imaging the vulnerability of putting yourself out there like that? Everyone in the room seeing all of you– the good, the bad, the ugly. Let’s just say they wouldn’t be struggling with my proportions if you know what I mean! OK, I have no idea what I mean either. It just felt like the perfect time for a comment where I’m overcompensating for something.

I like the ad, even if I can’t recall after watching it many times what they’re advertising. *Watches again* Oh OK. The artist finishes her portrait fast, and she says the GEICO claims process is fast, too. Clever. Great acting too, with the spray paint embellishments and the paint splatter process.

Any of you out there tried a nude model art class? Tell about it in the comments below and if you need to, keep it anonymous ;).

-Out of the Wilderness

The MTV Puff Daddy Diddy Party Commercial That Didn’t Age Well

MTV doesn’t really show music videos anymore, but 20 years ago, it was a different time. Music on TV. No iPhones. And Puff Daddy, as he was known back then, threw parties. Check out this MTV Puff Daddy commercial inviting everyone to a Diddy party.

Well, that aged about as well as a Billy Cosby cocktail. And no, that commercial is NOT artificial intelligence. It’s as real as… a Bill Cosby cocktail? This is not a post about kicking anyone while they’re down. That’s not fun for anyone. But I just thought it was crazy that MTV had an ad 20 years ago showing Diddy parties as being kind of what they got exposed to be. His actions, which he was convicted of in court, were certainly terrible. He’ll be in jail for the next few years but if what he did was any worse, he wouldn’t be in jail. He’d be in Congress.

-Out of the Wilderness

-Out of the Wilderness