TacoBell anyone?(A gutter catastophy)

#1Ricky Petersen -Little Neck,Queens-2004 #2 Tammy,Ammba and Ricky-Little Neck,Queens-2004

This is Ricky. he is Ammba's god father and my best friend. He is a guy who, no matter what, will be there when you need him. We've known each other for over 22 years. I have hundreds of pictures of him, but this is all I could find today. I didn't end up writing yesterday, so I am starting the story of this fine lad today. After 15 years I decided to start bowling again. This decision was my attempt to start to move away from the gymnastics world. I was saturated and becoming burnt out. Not with anything specific, I just had no other friends other than gymnasts. I was feeling a little inbred. I went to a bowling alley in Commack off of Jerico turnpike. I asked if there we any leagues available, and this nice girl set me up with a team that night to bowl. I was the youngest member by at least 30 years. The team was very encouraging and I bowled relatively good that night. I left feeling good that I was doing something for myself that didn't involve gymnastics and being around people who didn't know me was very freeing. The next week there was this very cocky, arrogant guy , who I didn't like on sight, and was bowling on my team as well. I asked "Where's Roy?" and " who is this guy?" Well he jumped right in and said "hi, I 'm Ricky Petersen, are you on my team?" I said "So, what happened to Roy?" He said "ask them I have no idea who Roy is. I was told you guys needed a bowler." Meanwhile league is starting and this guy is taking charge and giving orders. So much for liking all my team mates was my 1rst thought. I asked the other guys what happened. The told me Roy died and Ricky was his replacement. "Don't worry this guy is even better than you . Now we won't finish last." Wow! That was a shock, well if everyone else was o.k. with it thought I would be too.
It turned out Ricky was an incredible bowler and like no one I had ever met before. Late that night we hung out and talked. I found he was pretty smart, a little goofy, but pretty smart and wow! he really could bowl. That paved the way for our friendship, he felt about bowling the way I felt about gymnastics and our differences were refreshing for both of us. He started to bowl in more leagues and tournaments and he was doing amazing. He spent time teaching me and introducing me to the bowling world of Long Island. He warned me of all the dangers and mistakes people make. Being even more arrogant than he was, I went ahead and made all of them. Looking back it much of been very frustrating for him to watch. There is a lot more to tell, but that lays the ground work for this very colorful character. You will be hearing more Ricky stories as we go on. One quick story I will tell is the one of "Ricky's gutter ball" after 10 stike in a row. I was with Unc {I've mentioned him briefly before, he was my mentor, protector and role model.} And Ricky was bowling . Unc loved to watch good bowling, he started bowling at 70 years old and became very good. The whole bowling alley was behind watching Ricky about to bowl 300. In walks my ex-wife Diane, who had a voice like nails on a chalk board. She screams "Hey Jody! I brought Taco Bell" at the top of her lungs, meanwhile the bowling alley as so quiet you could hear a pin drop.{Ricky, did you like that pun?"} He was in the middle of his backswing and he throws it right in the gutter. Now in his defense he was playing the gutter line and Diane's voice is unsettling, even to the dead.{maybe Roy heard her} Ricky spins around and looks at her and yells "what the fuck is wrong with you? You stupid bitch oh my god!! Jody is she with you?" I shake my head, shrug my shoulders and plead " Ricky , I didn't know she would show up in fact I don't know how she found me." Diane yells to Ricky " Hey asshole I am glad you through it in the gutter and for you information, I am his wife!! So there!!" She then stomps out of the bowlng alley in a dramatic huff.. Ricky fires me a glaring look that says "This is very far from being over." Unc is just about falling out of his chair with laughter, Ricky then finishes the 10th frame I can't remember what he shot, but it wasn't 300. Unc stands up and goes to Ricky and says something and they become friends instantly. I am however in the doghouse. This time justifiably so. Well I am off to practice bowling! Submitted for your approval. Jody

Lumps of clay!

#1 (Jody Shultz)Ammba Shultz Cozumel, Mexico 2005
#2Ammba Presidente Hotel,Cozumel










Hello readers, today is Sat. March 29th, 2008, very early in the morning or late the night before. Ooops, I didn't make it. I fell asleep. The photos I picked today are.an idea in teaching motion I'd like to share with you. The first one is of me spotting Ammba on a roundoff. That's a tumbling movement that leads into all the big tricks you see on T.V. Basically it's a cartwheel the turns you around so you can flip backwards. If you watch children playing invariably you'll see some form of it. You don't have to teach or even mention it, it's being done on every playground all over the world..The reason I'm spotting her is to do something I call molding. The body has a different way of learning than the brain does. It's nonverbal, tactile. Kinesiology is the scientific term for it. The same way you can't explain things to a baby, you need to physically manipulate them through it. Then slowly assist them less and less until you're just standing there for security.The results of this concept are seen in the 2nd photo. It appears as if she is training for some brutal professional wrestling attack leap. Actually she is just jumping off something high yelling " Papi, look at me! I'm flying !" I of course mockingly retort " No baby that's way to high! You're scaring me, I can't look!" A giggle and then this continues until it's dark, she becomes bored or hungry. It's a fun game between parent and child, building self confidence in their ability to take reasonably safe physical risks.
This confidence didn't just sprout it was nurtured along with a strong sense of self preservation. Each individual has their strength, weaknesses and a predilection to activities they enjoy. Ammba is by no means the bravest kid on the playground, but she isn't scared to try new things. Some she likes, some she doesn't. The point I'm trying to make is whether you're a parent, a coach, a teammate or just someone interested in studying people and movement, verbal explanations are of very little use to the body, it's hands on contact that translates the message the quickest. Another point I'd like to draw attention to is eye/hand coordination and depth perception. Yesterday I discussed Chihuly and glass blowing. So the next time you want to learn something or teach something physical, remember the language of touch. Another quick point in the spotting photo, someone took the time and patience to walk me through the steps until I could walk them alone. This is perhaps the reason I feel a necessity to pass on what I know. My mother, who I don't have a photo available, but will soon, told me "Jody, you can't pay back the person that teaches you , you can only pass on what you were taught." She also said "intelligence is not measured in tests, but rather in ones abilities to make connections." Another quick story she always told was. A man went to the doctor. The doctor asked him what was wrong. He shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't know"
"Does it hurt anywhere?" He replies " I don't know." Well what can you tell me about your problem. He replies "I don't know". The doctor nods his head and says this is going to require a referral. He gives him the name of another doctor to see. The man asks what kind of doctor he is. The doctor replies " I don't know, you'll have to go and find out. All I can say is he specializes in cases such as yours. The man goes to the doctor and finds him to be a veterinarian. I hope this ties up all the loose ends. Submitted for your approval.
Jody

Glass Blowers,Rabbis and Bull Frogs!

#1Julius Shultz-Botanical Gardens,Bronx(2005)

#2Chihulys' work

As you can see this is a link to this artists site.The picture I took a couple of years ago. I put it up today because it caught my eye. Dale Chihuly's story is amazing to say the least, if you are really interested I put the link above the photo so you can learn more and see his work.To quickly sum up what I think is amazing is the fact that here is probably the best glass blower in the world and through some freak accident he loses his eye. Thus eliminating his depth perception, and his ability to create and practice his craft. Why have I brought this up? Well, it's to emphasize and bring attention to the fact that there is something to be learned in every crisis, injury tragedy or whatever you choose to call it. Chihuly has done what no other artist or athlete I've seen or heard of do. He shifted gears and kept his creative passion and brought his craft to the next level through team work and vision. The man with the cane is not Chihuly , he is my father, and since I didn't mention him yet, these 2 images go together in my mind. He introduced me to this exhibit at the botanical gardens in the Bronx. This was taken a few years ago and through creative exercises he no longer needs the cane. He goes to the gym 3-4 days every week for many years now. I won't reveal his age, but I can tell you he is over 21. There's a story my father tells that I will share with you. There as this man who just had his 10th child and was in a panic about where everyone was going to fit. The small house was crowded before , what would he do now? He went to consult with his Rabbi and said " Rabbi , I can't take it anymore the house is to small for all of us and I am going out of my mind.Can you help me please?" The Rabbi replies " Yes son, I can but you must do everything I ask and not question it. Can you do that? The desperate new father say " oh yes Rabbi! I will I will. " The Rabbi says" Do you have any chickens?" The man replies " Why, yes I do." The Rabbi says " I want you to take all the chickens and move them into the house. Then come back next week." The man blinks and shakes his head and says " But , Rabbi ! The Rabbi reminds him of his deal. "o.k, I'll do it , but I think you're crazy" The Rabbi says " That may well be true, but you said you wanted help so here it is." The man goes home rounds up the chickens and brings them in the house. The wife complains, the children cheer and laugh, the man is feeling worse and even more hopeless about his situation. The week feels like a month and there is untold chaos in the house. He returns to the Rabbi downtrodden and exhausted, because now there is no where for him to sleep. The Rabbi asks him " So, how did it go?" The man raises his head and replies " Well Rabbi if you must know I feel even worse, if that's even possible." The Rabbi strokes his long gray beard and says " That's curious it has always worked in the past." The man shrugs and says " Well it didn't help and I now have chicken crap all over the house." The Rabbi says " Well son it appears you're a special case and here's what you do next. Do you have any goats?" The man nods, " Well bring all of them into the house as well, immediately, and come back in 3 days." The man cursing himself for asking for this lunatics help returns home and does as the Rabbi suggests. Now there's total pandimonium. Goat bleating, chickens clucking, screaming kids and an angry wife. 3 days feel like a year. He returns to the rabbi with his story of woe. The Rabbi says " O.K. now we're making progress, save your judgements and do as I tell you ." The man weakly nods "Do you have any cows?" The rabbi asks. The man walks away and says "Let me guess they're coming in too." "Right you are " says the Rabbi " "But, come back tomorrow." The beaten man limps home and walks the cows into the small house. He is now over 2 weeks without sleep. He returns to the Rabbi and looks up at him. The Rabbi says " I want you to go home and remove all the livestock from your house" The man perks up and trots home to do it. The Rabbi says " That should do the trick." Well that night was the best nights sleep he can remember and awaking refreshed he runs to thanks the Rabbi for his new luxurious big house. The Rabbi smiles and the man leaves happy. This story really explains my father. So now you have a feeling of the characters in the play to follow. Oh! One other little goody he likes to share is " Eat a bull frog every morning and the rest of the day won't seem so bad."

My first blog and how I lost it. Ouch!!

Sorry, this blog got erased by accident. I will rewrite it when I get a chance. That's a mistake I don't plan on repeating. Losing something you write with one wrong push of a button is a lesson in life about backing up what you write, or any medium recording creative material. I have been victim to both, random deletes and entire hard drives crashing. Talk about losing something into thin air, where does one go look for these items? A virtual lost and found, now there's a thought.