Friday February 7, 2003
Publicly Speaking
Don Knots used to do a comedy bit about a
public speaker who was so nervous, his hands shook to the point where his
notes launched into the air and blew away in the breeze. That’s the kind of
speaker I am. I lack confidence, my voice quavers and my knees shake. I’d
rather sky dive without a parachute than give a speech. It’s a common phobia
and fear of public speaking is usually at the top of the list of things
people dread. (Yes, I’ve heard about Toastmasters)
One of my job duties deals with the installation and maintenance of a
semi-sophisticated devise that monitors weather, then networks with a
computer in my shop. The device automatically adjusts irrigation times all
over campus based on the data we get from the weather station. (Yada Yada,
insert sales pitch here)
My problem is that the device is just unique enough to draw attention from
the media and other institutions that are looking to conserve water. At
least once a year I end up having to explain to small groups of people how
the device works. So far I’ve survived the ordeal because I’ve been able to
keep the presentations casual and I make sure that I’m outside on location
when doing my “Show & Tell”. If it ever rains and I have go through this
indoors at a podium, I’ll be in trouble.
Anyway, today I got to do my show for a nice group of people from a small
University in Utah. Mostly, they were on a field trip to San Diego, paid for
by their employer. The stop at our campus was today’s obligatory work
related function before they headed to the zoo or beach. Always eager to
please, I kept it short then directed them to the bus stop.
Scripps Pond - SDSU
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October 30, 1966 Monday
The trip to Disneyland was as it always is every year I go.
We got on the bus at North Island and by 8 o'clock we were at Disneyland.
It’s really a wonderful place. It’s not just an amusement
park. There aren’t any cheap penny arcades out to get your money. Walt
Disney has really gone all out to make Disneyland the happiest place on
earth. Disneyland has made it possible to do things we’ll probably never
have a chance to do in our life. You can take a jungle safari, ride
bobsleds, take a submarine cruse and you can even fly to the moon.
Today we went off daylight savings time. It’s going to take
getting used to seeing it get dark at five o'clock instead of six. I look
forward to these changes though because it breaks the monotony. It’s the
only change we have around here and I like it.
Tonight the kids are coming around for Halloween although
tomorrow is the real night. Kids nowadays are so impatient they can’t even
wait one day. I’m guilty too though because I did the same thing when I was
a kid.
Anyway, only about 3 groups of kids came so tomorrow night
there should be more. It makes me sick when I see kids older than me
trick-or-treating.
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