Too late to apologize?

My recent bugaboo is excessive apologizing. Seems as though I've harped on anyone who has used the word "sorry" to me, of late. It can get old. My motto: Don't apologize for that which you cannot control. Although I'm guilty of it, too, for sure.

But then this afternoon, as I prepared for my game tonight (another L), the One Republic song Apologize came across my iPod. All right, so it was the Lil Wayne remix version, but still--it got me thinking...

Can it really sometimes be "too late to apologize?"
Or does the old adage "better late than never" apply here, too?

In the spirit of covering my bases, let's find out. Going to try and think of anyone who deserves an apology from me.

I'm also going to attempt to be discreet, in an attempt to be "publicly private," if you will. Here goes...

TK: Not going to lie, you're the driving force behind this entire blog--aside from the kick-start from One Republic, of course. I'm sorry for what I said in a blog 13 days ago. Though sincere, it was a horrible approach, and not the time or the place for it. I know you saw it, and not sure you'll see this--or that you even care anymore. But I shouldn't have done it, and I'm quite sorry. It's been a horrendous year-plus, and I just get frustrated very easily these days (no excuse). If you see this, your forgiveness would be greatly appreciated.

Cat who showed up a couple months ago, and never left: I'm sorry I broke your foot. I'm not sorry that I slide you out of the way when you're in the doorway. And I'm not sorry about always telling you I hate your species. Cats are stupid. See, no remorse. I didn't break your foot on purpose. You shouldn't have been standing right behind me while I was playing catch. So it's really your own fault. But still...I didn't see you there when I stepped back, and I feel a little bad--so I'm sorry about that.

DS: You will never read this, and probably couldn't care less, but I was a bad friend to you. I quit talking to you (and several other female friends) when I was with my now ex-girlfriend 2+ years ago. She was an insanely jealous psychopath, and it was the only way to keep her happy--at least temporarily. We were once very close friends, you and I. You've since deleted me from your life, and it's all my own doing. I maybe should have handled that better, and I didn't. I'm sorry.

AW: I'm just sorry--in general. I really don't even need to elaborate. It's worked out for you, and that's so awesome. Me? Eh.

JB: We had us a pretty dramatic debacle last year, eh? I was caught in the middle of a situation having nothing to do with me, and didn't know what to do--or say, and to whom. Seems to have worked out, since all seems copacetic nowadays, but still...it was a tough spot, and another situation I maybe should have handled better. I'm sorry.

Self: Dear me, I'm sorry I keep you up at night making you think about silly nonsense. I keep telling you that I'll work on it, and I really am trying. It's just hard. So shut up. Still...sorry. I'm also sorry I haven't been living up to the standard of ethics I've set for you/me. I'll continue working on that, too. Thanks for understanding, self. Yeah, no problem--that's what I'm here for.

God: I'm sorry for not talking to you more often. Sadly, it's often when I need you most that I forget to talk to you. Silly, huh? I'll continue to try and do better.

All: I'm sorry I haven't been able to provide you with anything more interesting to read--especially lately. I honestly have no idea who all even reads this nonsense. Sometimes, I'm led to believe that I have upwards of 100+ readers on a few things I've written. But most the time, I wonder if it's more than 5. Regardless, apology to the masses. I expect more of myself, and you should, too.

Finally: To anyone who's ever said "sorry" in a situation that didn't really call for it (myself included)...

Here's a 9-second video. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-VP8wnFwo8

Do the right thing,
Derrick

2009 Pretty Prairie Bulldogs football

The 2009 Pretty Prairie High School football season came to a disappointing end Friday night, as the Bulldogs fell to the Falcons from Baileyville B & B.

Baileyville was a deserving, well-rounded team that plays good solid football, and is well-coached.

But this isn't about them.

This is about the Pretty Prairie team that took a previously-unbeaten record four-plus hours north to see what it was made of.

On the field, the Bulldogs lost the game--their season was over. Then the helmets came off.

Let's rewind.

Pretty Prairie opened its season by surrendering 22 unanswered points to South Barber. The rest of September? Pretty Prairie 172, Opponents 28. They never looked back.

On October 9, the Bulldogs provided their home fans with the game of the season in a clash with the visiting Claflin Wildcats--pitting two teams who'd gone down to the wire the previous season, with Pretty Prairie coming up on the wrong end.

The rematch did not disappoint, culminating in thrilling fashion, as the Bulldogs closed out Claflin, 46-44. In the waning seconds, ailing quarterback Hunter Pittman threaded a nifty pass in traffic to freshman Alex Mains just inside the left pylon. Mains made the catch of a lifetime in the endzone to give Pretty Prairie the lead. Claflin moved down the field with a couple quick--albeit long plays, but was brought down just short of the goal line by the Bulldog defense as time expired.

Hysteria in a community of barely 600.

Pretty Prairie coasted through its next two games before grinding out a win versus Goessel and smashing Udall in its Bi-District game. They then rolled past an unsuspecting Frankfort squad (40-8) to set up a Sub-State battle with the defending State Champion Baileyville Falcons.

Pretty Prairie won 11 games for various reasons.

Leadership: Ben Ketchem, Cole Kirkbride. If you watched even a single game, nothing else need be said. True, Pretty Prairie "only" loses two seniors, and could be even more formidable next season. However, those are two tough seniors to lose.

Touchdowns (and lots of them): Junior Daniel Krehbiel has to be considered one of the top running backs in Kansas for his play in 2009.

Play-making: Hunter Pittman and fellow junior Tanner Hines were integral play-makers on offense for the Bulldogs as well, while the defense was a harder-hitting group than anyone seemed ready for. Junior Seth Hastings was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks all season long. Junior Josh Kaufman laid a smashing hit on a Frankfort player that looked like it should have landed him in a coma. Brilliant football play. Freshman Stetson Broce seemed to always have a nose for the ball as he racked up tackles and interceptions throughout the season.

Teamwork: Perhaps the most cliche rally cry in sports, but you'd probably be hard pressed to find a closer-knit group of young men than the 2009 Bulldog football team.

Coaching: Over the course of eight-plus years, I've concluded that C.T. Young could catch a fish, teach it to grow legs, run a slant route, and catch a pass over the middle. OK, perhaps a bit far-fetched. But my guess? Probably not by much. He knows the game of football, and loves it. And it shows in the attitudes of his players.

Back to Baileyville, KS--Friday, November 13.

I know the guys on the team will most likely see the Sub-State loss as a failure, a disappointment, unfinished business, all that stuff. I've played sports all my life--I know how it works.

But...

As the young, dispirited Bulldogs walked off the field in sorrow, helmets in their hands and tears in their eyes--senior captains Ben Ketchem and Cole Kirkbride stood firm at midfield applauding the victors from Baileyville--the type of defining moment that turns boys into men in an instant.

Goosebumps.

In that very moment, as if never before--I was proud to know those two young men. Ben and Cole, I'm proud to call you my friends.

Kudos to you both for always playing--and acting the right way. Trust me, people notice.

To the rest of the Bulldogs,
Congrats on a great season. You will be back.

Derrick Mead

PS--Tried to tinker with a pic. Looked good when I finished, but came out blurry for some reason. Enjoy.

Thankful for laughter...now where did I put it?

Every day seems to bring a new reason for sorrow. Just today, I discovered some news that would devastate at least 601 people (at the 2000 census) simultaneously if they all found out (only a few know). Perhaps best they don't. Epic panic would probably ensue.

BUT...

This is not about that.

It's time to focus on happy things. The little things.

You know what, let's take it a step farther. It's November. I'm not a big Thanksgiving guy, but why not dive in? Let's talk about things I'm thankful for (SO not the direction I planned to take this blog less than a minute ago)...why not? Everyone else seems to be.

I'm thankful for...

My dog, Pete. He may be fat and ugly (traits we probably share), but no matter how many girls get on my nerves, Pete's always around. I'm reminded of Carrie Underwood's song The More Boys I Meet...well, to paraphrase:

"The more [girls] I meet, the more I love my dog."

I figure if Pete can smile, I might as well. Seriously, look--he's smiling in the picture. How awesome is that?


I'm also thankful for...

Technology:
- My BlackBerry (the phone, not the fruit)
- Having texts waiting for me when I wake up
- Text messaging in general
- My Macbook. Macs are much better than PCs. If you disagree, we might not be friends.
- My iPod--it's purple, and I like it

People:
- My family...most the time.
- New friendships
- Old friendships that last
- Friends who are better friends than they realize
- Really beautiful women

Sports:
- The opportunity to play something I love (basketball)
- Chicago Cubs, Bulls, Bears

Possessions:
- Flip-flops
- Cubs hats...all of them
- Books, movies

I could probably go on. But I'm (finally) getting tired, and I think you get the picture. This is not exactly a productive blog, but oh well. Lastly, a little joke to go out on...

Two old men were fishing off a bridge as they had done daily for many years. Suddenly a funeral procession came down the road.

The one old man reeled in his line, lain down his pole, faced the street and bowed his head until the procession had passed. He then picked up his pole and started fishing again.

The other fisherman was amazed and stated "I didn't know you were that religious."

The other looked at him and said "Least I could do, we've been married 42 years."

Do the right thing,
Derrick

"...then we get the khakis. Then we get the chicks."

This will not be a happy blog. I'll try to sneak in a laugh or two, but no promises.

Let me start by saying this...

I am a happy person. I love Jesus, all the people close to me, and the Chicago Cubs. In that order. Unless the game's on TV--then flip-flop numbers two and three.

I almost always have a chipper anecdote to supply to anyone who'll listen. Most of you know what I'm good at: making people laugh, spelling stuff real good-like, and hitting the occasional jumper.

But ... I have a talent many people are unaware of--hiding it when something's wrong. I usually put on a good front, feign a smile and brush things off with ease. Well, I'm not very fond of that talent at the moment, so I'm here to vent, in a way. Bear with me. Here goes nothing...

It's been a hard [expletive] year--to say the least...

Work--or lack thereof.
362 days ago, I quit my job. Regardless of what has transpired since, I don't regret it.

My reasons:
A. I don't regret things. Ever--solves nothing.
B. It was a sales gig that I hated (and sucked at); I would've been let go soon, anyway.

From November-June, I subsequently applied at 57 different establishments--yes, I kept track. Three interviews. One second interview. No real inklings. The phrase "over-qualified" is something I will never understand.

More of the same since I was forced to move back home.

I've since been called a "bum" by someone who doesn't even know the first thing about me. Not to sound cliche, but if you're one of those kinds of people--keep my name out of your mouth, period.

"Loser" has been bandied about.

Today, I was called "lazy" by someone who's a good friend, yet seems to have developed a propensity for hurting my feelings.

Don't do that. Call it "Truth-Hurts-Syndrome," if you want. But I mean, c'mon. Regardless of your opinion, who talks to people that way? The moral? There's almost always more to a situation than what you know--so watch the way you speak to people.

I do have an idea for (hopefully) next year--teaching/coaching out-of-state--but I need to save up some money in the meantime before that even becomes a legit plan. So far, no go.

Girls--or lack thereof.
136 days ago, she said she still loved me.
Less than 94 days later, she was engaged to someone else. Awesome.

I recently moved on from an ex-girlfriend who...let's face it...didn't treat me very well. There, I said it. No qualms about it anymore--things happen. While I can honestly say I don't miss her (hooray, me), the situation itself took a toll on me. You know, leaving doubts and such. Not the "all girls are the same" kind of doubts. Those kinds of baseless stereotypes irritate me, and I'm not ignorant enough to buy in. Just the impatient, "when's it my turn?" kind of doubts--you know.

Plus, I'm picky. Very picky. To any who don't know me, it might seem pompous. Shoot, maybe it is. It seems to take a lot for me to find a girl I really like. When I finally do, there's always a pretty substantial roadblock. Specifically, she's either got a boyfriend (who's generally an idiot), or is simply ridiculously unattainable. And yes, I have specific--and very recent examples for each.

Regardless of the circumstances, it just never seems to matter. Especially over the last year. It's been a strain, without a doubt.

I'm almost 25 years old. I have no job, no money, no girlfriend--no life. And no excuse. When it rains, it pours. And I haven't seen the sun in months.

I know, I know...
In my own words...Boo frickety hoo, right? I'm done now.

Chin up, have faith, it can only get better, keep trying--all that fortune cookie mumbo-jumbo. Got it. Just had to get this out. And now I have.

Finally, come to think of it--maybe some of this is partially linked together.
Maybe Coop from BASEketball had it right all along...


"I'm telling you it's jobs. We gotta get jobs. Then we get the khakis. Then we get the chicks." - Joseph R. Cooper [BASEketball]

Bright side: I already own khakis. See, told you--glass half full kind of fellow.

Do the right thing,
Derrick

Ignorance is bliss...well, sometimes.

Here is a list of all the things I know...

#1:























Do the right thing,
Derrick