I have a lot of old crap sitting around the house, so I decided to try unloading some of it on craigslist. It's been a few days now and... the response has been interesting. Based upon the emails I've received so far in response, I could've just saved everybody some time by emailing every Nigerian scam artist directly and saying, "Do you have any interesting business propositions I could listen to?" These guys are on my ad like a Tasmanian devil on a Whatchamacallit bar.
For reasons I don't really understand, I'm part of the local Trinity Alumni Association. (Clarification: I understand why I'm allowed to be a part of it as I passed all of my classes and didn't wet my pants onstage at graduation, but I don't always understand why I participate.) Anyway, part of my job for this year is to organize an outing to the Zilker Park Kite Festival. For the non-Austinites, Zilker Park is a big park here in Austin where the Austin City Limits festival is held. For non-kite people, a kite is two sticks covered by plastic, with a string attached to one end.
I'm a little anxious about all of this. Not because it requires organization or because it's a family event, but because I am completely inept with a kite. I was as a kid and then, last Easter, I tried again and failed. I understand the concepts, and I have an outstanding mental model for the whole kite thing; I just can't seem to implement these ideas with an actual kite + wind scenario.
I fear I'll have absolutely no credibility at this event whatsoever. The first time I break out my Garfield kite, I'll take off across the field with the kite held high over my shoulder, only to stumble, fall down, and inadvertently allow my kite to careen into the groin of an elderly person or perhaps a set of Siamese Twins, who happen to be joined at the groin.
Maybe what I'll do is show up without a kite. Whenever anyone asks, I'll tell them I have a fancy one, the Rolls Royce of kites, but it's in the shop, getting souped up. It was already pretty bad-ass, but I needed soupier. And since I'm so spoiled by my Rolls, I'll be abstaining from all kite-flying and perhaps hiding under the snow cone machine.
Posted by Cody at February 21, 2007 8:46 PM