Every summer, the University Hospital volunteers put on a Classic Car Show on the field where the CHAC trains, here at the Big U. It's a big fund-raiser for the Hospital and the cars are absolutely Ahhh-MAZ-ing. Anyway, when I see the guys starting to set up for the show I always take down our weight over bar standards and move the cabers to a storage area that's a few yards off of the field, so that no disasters take place. I moved the WOB standards after practice last night.

So this morning I come in and the guys are setting up tents actually on the field that we use, which is unusual. Usually it's all on the neighboring field, which is 4x the size. Anyway, so I start schlepping cabers across the field, like usual. Over in the corner, near where the storage area is, there are 6-8 Hispanic guys setting up tents. As I carry the second caber over I hear some laughing and catch the phrase

".....la ****** en la minifalda linda!! "


***** = a derogatory term that we don't use on this forum. "minifalda linda " = "cute miniskirt"

So I put down the second caber, ignore the guys and bring back the third one, to the sound of more laughter.

The fourth caber is "The Whomper". The Whomper is 16' 6" and just shy of 90 pounds. It took me two full seasons to build the timing, skill and strength to turn "The Whomper".

As I carry it across the field, I stop the nice photographer lady and ask her to put her foot on the small end so that it won't slide. She does, and I stand the caber up. Everybody on the field is watching. I pick it, adjust it, get it going, and bang that bad boy over for a nice 12:00. Nice.

So I walk over to the gaggle of men who'd been laughing at me and calling me nasty names, thinking I didn't understand the language and pick the biggest guy. I get him out on the field... all his buddies are hooting at him. I demonstrate again...lock your fingers, get 'waaaay down...pick, pull the caber to belt level, head down the field, POP, and knocked The Whomper over again. Now it's his turn.

Of course he couldn't even pick it up. He never had a chance, this stuff is NOT easy. So then *I* picked it and transferred it to him. He held if for about 4 seconds and lost it off to the side. Well, *duh* but of course he didn't know. His buddies are still hooting at him and laughing. So I pick it and turn it again, OK, I didn't get a 12:00 this time, but I turned it. We picked it up and took it over to the storage area.

Laughs, smiles and handshakes all around. I never said a word in Spanish, they have NO idea that I know what they're saying. I COULD have been a jerk. Instead, I tried a different tack....and it worked.

->Great way to start the day before work.