etcguybanner
Sports
Old Hockey Player Forgets About Scoring Stats
October 15, 2017
0
, , , ,

Eric characture cropped color(Hockey Player Magazine, October 2017)

“A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”  Wayne Gretzky

Some scoring statistics are best forgotten.

You’re not a hockey player until you’ve scored on yourself a saying goes, quoted by an anonymous player too embarrassed to admit doing it.  In hockey we score on opponents—not on one’s own team.  Gretzky prophesied that great hockey players don’t play where the puck is but where it will be.  That being said, I’m a great player behind my own goalie’s rear end. (more…)

Quotes From Famous People The Humor Project
Words of Wisdom – Mark Twain
September 25, 2017
0
, , , ,

etcguy mark-twain“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” –Mark Twain

Readers, given the shenanigans in Washington these days I don’t know what to say….  Take a break from the political nonsense and join the Etc.Guy Facebook page.

Sports The Humor Project
Eclipses, Baseball and the Dog Days of Summer
August 20, 2017
0
, , , , ,

etcguy eclipse imageThere sure is a lot of hype for a little bit of extra shade.

I received an email at work last week about Monday’s eclipse, alerting me to conserve energy.  The message was relayed from the California Independent Systems Operator, an organization that oversees the operations of our state’s bulk electric power system. Business Insider Magazine reports that the solar eclipse is expected to wipe out six gigawatts of solar electricity, 80% of California’s power.  Six gigawatts can power several million homes. Solar facilities, ranging from utility power plants to individual home solar panels, provide electricity for 4.8 million homes. (more…)

The Humor Project
Political Comic, Will Durst, Returns to Chico
July 29, 2017
0
, , , ,

will durst boxing glovesWe stay in touch because we want to.

A few years ago I interviewed Will Durst, an award winning funny guy, as part of my Humor Project (see “Baby Boomer Will Durst is a Comedy Innovator”).  The dude cracked me up for over an hour.  I could barely gulp my coffee.  A performer, political comic and humor writer, Durst fires shots across political aisles.  (more…)

Parents and Kids
Alexa, a Parent’s Assistant
July 23, 2017
0
, , ,

My parents bought into the virtual assistant world.  Their assistant, Alexa, connects toAlexa Amazon etcguy music, games, or anything cerebral.  Alexa answers nearly any question, whether it’s the weather in Missouri or the capitol of Romania.

I challenged Alexa to see how smart she is.

“Alexa, what is the Etc.Guy blog?” (more…)

Dating Outdoors
When a New Girlfriend Comes to Town
June 26, 2017
0
, , , ,

Howdy Readers,

I seldom share bytes on Etc. Guy but was intrigued when I heard from a New Jersey writer who stumbled upon my 2013 story “Daughter’s Dating is Dad’s Dilemma.” I wrote “Daughter’s Dating” when Kate, 16 at the time, entered the dating game.  Now 20 and in college Kate’s still sorting out the dating game.  Thanks to Sally Perkins, a writer for BackPacker Verse, who suggests that memorable dates can be on a hike?  – Eric

Chelsea Handler comedienne“Obviously, if I was serious about having a relationship with someone long-term, the last people I would introduce him to would be my family” – Chelsea Handler, American Comedienne (more…)

Holidays Parents and Kids
Kid’s Quitting is Father’s Dilemma
June 18, 2017
0
, , , , , , , ,

Etc Guy Maggie soccer fridge(Central Valley Business Times, June 14, 2017)

She lasted 90 hours over three seasons.  Maggie was not an outlier.  Not in soccer.

In Outliers author Malcolm Gladwell explains the “10,000 Hour Rule” which claims that the key to success is a matter of practicing a specific task for around 10,000 hours.  Consider Bill Gates, Wayne Gretzky or Mozart…former prodigies that hit 10,000 hours by their late teens.  Maggie will never become an outlier soccer player.  She quit 9,910 hours short. (more…)

Holidays
Happy Memorial Day 2017
May 29, 2017
0
, , , , , , ,
With my Air Force mom and dad

With my Air Force mom and dad

Just a quick note of appreciation to the men and women I know who’ve served in the military.  My dad (a physician) served twice in Vietnam, first in 1970 and again in 1972-73(?).  Dr.  J.B. Miller (retired colonel, USAF) was stationed in Cameron Bay.  In third grade I recall my classmates recording messages on a reel to reel tape recorder to our dads who were sent overseas.  Our teacher, Miss De la Cruz, set that up. (more…)

Quotes From Famous People The Humor Project
Andy Rooney (and fine print)
May 9, 2017
0
, , , ,

etcguy andy rooney“The one thing you can be certain of: Nothing in fine print is good news.”

Andy Rooney, American writer and  humorist, 1919-2011

Andy Rooney was a real smart guy, but his cranky observations made him a funny guy too. Among my present reads is “Years of Minutes, The Best of Rooney from 60 Minutes.”

(more…)

Sports
Young Referee Whistles While He Works
April 18, 2017
0
, , , , , , ,

eric-characture-cropped-color(Hockey Player Magazine, April 2017)

“You can’t applaud a referee.” Alex Ferguson, Coach, Manchester United

They are jeered, never cheered.  It’s black and white.

Great referees are invisible to the general fan but invincible to the general jerk.  Officiating is not for the faint hearted.  Hockey refs need thick skin—crocodile skin–beneath the stripes. (more…)

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Connect with EtcGuy

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

About Me

Writer, husband, father, ex-jock, lousy handyman, terrible mechanic who’s trapped in a house full of estrogen but lives to tell the story.

Book Tour Planning

Coming in 2015 – Book tours in Redding, California; Ashland, Oregon; Reno, Nevada.

Need a speaker? Eric can speak to civic groups, at company events, or even to your car mechanic. Except he doesn’t know anything about cars. Contact him at eric@etcguy.com.

Copyright 2014 EtcGuy.com | All Rights Reserved