Paige Ryan Mullen - born July 14, 2004.
My wife and I were married October 18, 2003. So, as Joe Jackson would say if he were here, "You do the math!"
My life? In progress...
As for the last 20 years - here they are in sixty seconds:
Six years at Bloomsburg University (not kidding) . . . took my Journalism and Political Science degrees to Harrisburg for seven years . . . then back to North Catty for four years . . . ran for public office, lost . . . ran again, lost again . . . back to Harrisburg . . . promoted, then demoted . . . promoted again, then demoted again . . . apparently, I have an “attitude problem” – whatever . . . somewhere in there I became a PIAA basketball official, met my future wife, got married, and had a daughter . . . well, okay, yes, my wife had Paige, but she’s still daddy’s little girl . . . and I can’t imagine what I did before she came into my life.
Any questions?
Saturday, February 25, 2006
In Progress
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48 comments:
Oh God, she's so cute! Look at those eyes! Dare I say she looks like you?
too cute, i dont know your wife, but i would have to say she looks like you!
hey matt, i think its time for another class photo, dont you?!
it's 1:00, we're on our way out the door, i'll post another scheckler shot tonight.
todd- See you at softball practice. Cute kid !
She's a Mullen!!!! Todd..my brother Scott is also a PIAA basketball official. Little girls have a way of wrapping us dad's around their finger don't they.
looks like she going to be a little heartbreaker. Better watch out Mullen
todd - like what kristen said, she looks like you.
but yeah, attitude problem? i can't imagine.
I have a question for mullen... how do you pronounce "ambidextrous"?
If you can remember that, I'll forgive you for being relatively hard to contact via a half-assed internet search for the past decade or two.
Hopefully this isn't redundant comment:
Very nice-looking child you co-produced. You can really see the 'mullen' in there.
Todd, good to hear from you. Your little girl is adorable, as everyone has said. With those beautiful eyes she will be breaking hearts one day.
TMM, you're going to be reprimanded by the reunion nazi Matt for such a short bio. Trust me, I've been there. I hope to get his approval with the next one.
Reunion Fascist Pauko
For those who don't know:
Mullen has failed to mention that after high school, he started going by "Mike". I guess it worked better with ladies.
Our gang mostly still uses Todd, but sometimes a Mike slips out, so don't be alarmed.
Thank you all for your kind comments about Paige. She has my eyes and my wifes blonde hair. She is a perfect blend of our personalities. So yes - we are afraid. Very afraid.
Robb---I have little doubt I'll be coaching something in the next 10 years!
Randy---You are so right about the finger-wrapping. And I will make Long-e and the rest of those guys extremely happy by sayiing that, unless anyone asks, I will not tell any basketball officiating stories (although I have a couple really good ones...). How long has Scott been doing it?
Steve---Many thanks for many things. So have you been lurking all this time waiting to pounce? I owe you and Colin an e-mail - I'll see about making good on that Sunday. Hope you're well. And for the record, which is the funnier memory: using our golf voices on the tape recorder at my house - or making fun of a certain someone so badly, they had to call their parents to come pick them up from a sleepover? For me - I chose "c" - us thinking we were safe up in the rafters of that old North Catty pavillion when the hurricane went through and uprooted some of those trees... What the hell were we smoking?
Dave---My bio seemed fine. I hit the high points. No one had any questions. Besides, you, long-e, Matt, Joe, and just about everyone else I ever met has told me I talk too much (which I do), so I thought this was a nice way to go. And, uh, oh yeah, bite me.
Oh yes, definitly an attitude problem...
TMM, that's what I thought, too...
Scott just started this year....but has also applied for the Whitehall Girls head coach job.
randy - is scott married with children?
Todd, she's absolutely adorable! Love those baby blues. All right, I'll ask. Give us a story on your basketball officiating duties.
Andrea - Scott is married....had twin boys (both just started college this past fall) The one was on the Whitehall boys basketball team last year and they were one game away from the State championship game. Both are really good kids. Both of my brothers live really close by to me.
Um...Mare. You are playing with fire.
Sorry Longe. I didn't realize. Can I take the comment back? How do you erase in this dang blog!
mary, click on the garbage can, if you're serious
Kristen---Thanks for at least adding the "if you're serious" at the end.
No problem---as advertised no basketball officiating stories. But I may bring my whistle to the reunion - Long-e will love that!
Now Mr. Mullen. You are more than welcome to enlighten the class of your officiating career. Hey...you and I started officiating the same day!
Now THAT is an officiating story I should tell. And I will, just not tonight. Good call, Mr. Long.
[Wow - that looks weird w/o the "-e" at the end.]
tm,
The golf thing: not in my RAM.
The sleepover thing: we weren't making fun, we were imposing ethical standards against his will. The "MAKING FUN until he called his parents to come pick him up" was when we harrassed the Nazi kid at leadership camp. How's this for memory: Mark Yuleman.
The hurricane: rafters? We were ducking behind an upturned picnic table. A falling tree destroyed the original wooden NCatty pavillion minutes after we fled. "The raindrops look like a herd of cows!"
Good times.
Holy shit! I totally forgot about the Hitler youth! Too friggin funny! Nice turn of phrase regarding "imposing ethical standards against his will" - I'll be using that at some point [the check is in the mail].
Sorry I didn't get an e-mail out yesterday - I was reading books to Paige and we were singing songs. It was just too much fun. Then after she went to bed - well, I covered how I wasted my computer time in a different comment. I've got problems.
But I do owe you and Colin a shout.
Owe us an email? With interest you owe us a couple. Good to see you are doing well and I am glad that you forwarded my info on to matt so he could contact me. I guess that I am getting pummeled on this board (not by myself but in a group of nameless people) as a drive by contributor so I will try to be more involved. I read this thing every day, posting is a littlle bit harder for me. Lazy and I have no computer at home at this point. Not good reasons but they are mine. I continue to wait for the email.
C--Lazy is not a problem. I respect that you're honest! Plus, even if you're not commenting, at least we know you're checking in.
And if I didn't say it in you're bio post - I'm real glad to hear about all the happiness swirling around you and yours!
Do you remember tape recording our D&D sessions and doing color commentary in our "golf voices"? What was that? Like a million years ago?
Col: one of these days I'll call back. Is that a home, work, or cell you gave me? i.e., when's a good time?
T/M: I don't seem to have the ability to log in to the blog (post) other than following a comment. I suspect the problem is my own blignorance, but there you go...
Both: don't remember the commentary, but I remember "going to the tape" to resolve disputes (probably 'polish prankster'-related disputes).
Matt: Did Steve "accept" his invitation to the blog?
Steve: If you did, it's not that hard. And I'm surprised you don't remember the "golf voice" commentary. I almost added in my last comment that I think you were the best at it:
[in a hushed voice]
"Colin is about to attack. He's going to use the 20-sided die . . . oh! A 17! A fantastic roll! We'll have to see how much damage he did."
And yes - we typically had to go to the tape for polish prankster issues. Good call there.
Todd, I remember it all very well even though it seems so long ago. I remember one of the best parts was crushing the buug with the mic and replaying that about a hundred tims.
Steve, You have my cell phone. Call it anytime when you have the time. Polish prankster...will he be at the reunion?
You know I used to have that tape somewhere and it just occured to me that I might know where it is today. I am going to check the box tonight and let you guys know.
Easy on the Hokies Mullen!
enlighten me, colin, what is a hokie anyway?
C--The bug!!! Yes!!! I was holding that one in reserve in case it was needed to jog anyone's memory. And yes, we replayed that over and over. Too funny. If you find that, I will laugh my ass off. I don't doubt you have it - right next the tape of the Villanova-Georgetown Championship game. Didn't we used to listen to that in your car to and from the raquetball club?
The PP has been discussed. At this point the decision is to not invite him to any official event, but let him know - if we can - about where we'll be staying and perhaps have a few adult beverages post-official event if he wants to swing by.
C/S--Have either of you stayed in touch with Joe Basilone at all or know how to get in touch with him?
K--Too many jokes . . . brain overloading . . . head going to explode . . .
Kristen, Hokies is a bad nickname. It is a nonsense word in a fight song. That will strike fear into the hearts of any opponent. Before that VT was the fighting gobblers. It is amazing to see the piture of your kids they are the spitting image, at least in my foggy memory, of you and Brad. We hit Sunset Beach every summer. 30 minutes above Myrtle just across the N.Carolina border.
Todd, Summer of 85, Bethlehem Racquetball club. How many hours did we log in that place. Seeing the PP would be interesting it has been 30 years since i have seen that guy. No contact with Joe. I haven't spoken with anyone other than Steve in a decade or more which is what makes this so great. Was the GTown vs Nova final the same year as Lehigh vs GTown in the first round?
Colin & Kristen - Some of us live in Hokendauqua......does that make us Hokies?????
C--Quite possibly, but I'm not 100% sure. The BRC was the place to be! When I was in the LV and working in Bethlehem, I drove by there every morning. And each time, literally, I chuckled to myself at some of the memories.
<-driving up Mike's post count
honestly, I go to all the trouble show up and everyone's upstairs fighting about a reunion venue.
Todd,
This is my 1st night on the blog - damn this thing is ADDICTING!! Good to see your post. Your Daughter is precious. The picture reminds me of my daughter as well. Isn't it funny how children just change the world?? I saw your "Officiating post" on another link (where you asked the coach to sub for his player) - classic! I don't understand the "attitude problem" you referred to...I view it as Kind of like not arguing balls & Strikes...there just isn't any respect today. You would have been better served ejecting both of them on the spot (Of course, that probably would have provoked gunfire from the crowd...you just can't win!!).
Sorry to hear about your Seahawks. I think you and my brother are the only Seahawk Fans East of the Rockies....I'll be enjorying the steak dinner he lost on our bet. If you don't recall I am a die-hard Steelers fan (Kudo's to Freeman for not jumping off the Eagles band -wagon...We'll have to ask him what he thought about the whole TO Thing -that really screwed my Fantasy season!!). Anyway, now that I've given you several areas to respond....I look forward to blogging with you soon -or catching up in person.
Jeff
P.S. -My parents voted for you too (I think....).
Steve--Thanks for driving up the post count. And what is up with all that racket upstairs? I may have to call the landlord (that would be Matt - I call him "The Mod"). Yes. I'm a dork. Nothing has changed. What about you and Colin - if they build it, will you come?
Jeff--I'm sorry I didn't put anything up in your post ealier. I was hoping you'd check in eventually - and I thought you'd give me shit - hell, everyone else does. Kids DO change the world - Paige has helped me with my rage problem, but not my attitude problem, no that is mine to keep. Which makes me laugh now that I think about it, because I complain when other don't show any respect. Perhaps I'll explain the "attitude" comment in a different post. Dude, the Seahawks came up small. And no offense, it's not like the Steelers brought their "A" game either. For such a close game, it was not very well-played. And I guess I forgot Dave was a Seahawks fan - you know, long-e used to be a 'Hawks fan, but got sucked in by the Eagles - not sure when. And savor that steak dinner - the officials earned it for you! Just kidding - but you knew I had to throw it in there!
P.S. Then they were the only ones. Except me. And my mom. Hell, I think Dave's parents voted for my opponent.
Yeah, not to wiz on your cornflakes tm, but my mom would've voted for Joe Strohl if he was the D running against Harhart. I think St. Loretta's actual words included the term "republican tool".
Prolly couldn't make a reunion, but would enjoy reading about it here.
Mullen....make a note: We need a laptop and an internet connection at the reunion. Vicki, Steve, and others can be present via the blog....
Todd, Damn no tape! Oh well.
Long-e--It's funny you mentioned that because I wondered how difficult it would be to hook up a webcam at the cocktail party. How cool would it be for people who can't make it to log-in and watch and listen! And we could even have the blog up so they can post and attendees can respond in real time!
Matt--Is that really stupid or is it possible, depending on the facility we end up partying at?
It's long, but please enjoy:
Super Bowl Sunday was my best day ever. Sure, at first glance, you wouldn't think so, but it was. And more importantly, I'm glad I've finally become the kind of man who can recognize that.
Sunday morning started off with our water heater bursting. Hot water was everywhere - well, everywhere except coming through the pipes. After arrangements were made for the delivery and installation of a new one - on Monday - I began the tedious task of cleaning up the basement. I salvaged what I could, tossed what I couldn't, and drained what little water was left in the tank. Filthy and disgusting, I took a freezing cold shower. Hey - I lived with 15 guys in a fraternity house that had only two showers - so it wasn't fun, but it wasn't my first one either.
My next engagement was to do battle with our very own empire of the ants invading our home from the back door and into our kitchen and family room. The recent warmer than normal temperatures combined with lots and lots of rain seemed to have gotten them all riled up - and they were hungry for some take-out. Or dine-in, I'm not sure. Doesn't matter. The point is that while I was occupied with the hot water heater, they made some progress. Then again, they're only ants. So I swept them out, put out some ant traps, and cursed their adventurous wall climbing ways.
By 6:00 p.m. I was exhausted and plopped down on the couch to watch the Super Bowl. Not just any Super Bowl, but one in which my Seattle Seahawks were playing - their first ever. You see, I grew up listening to my father and my uncles bitch and moan year after year about the Eagles and I swore, at a young age, that I wasn't going to turn into that. So I became a Seahawks fan. We had a simple arrangement - when they were good, they were on tv, when they were bad, they were 3000 miles away. Nonetheless, like most sports teams, they still manage to break your heart. And the Super Bowl was no exception.
So what made this day so special? My daughter Paige. She dutifully followed me around the house doing her 18-month-old play-by-play of the proceedings. She rooted for me at every turn and consoled me when I suffered a setback.
"Daddy downstairs," she explained to my father-in-law when he came for a visit. "Daddy cleaning," she reminded him. "Daddy dirty," she said when I emerged from the basement and extolled me with "Daddy take bath" as I headed up the stairs to the shower.
I found her in a crouch near the back door with her hands on her knees when I returned. "Hi ants!" she mused and laughed. This was followed by a sad and sober "Bye ants!" as I expelled them. When I finally landed on the couch it was time for her dinner and - ants be damned - we let her eat in the family room so she could be with daddy during the beginning of the game. "Football!" she said. "Touchdown Seahawks," came later, after some coaching.
She stood by the coffee table with her plate on it and slowly ate. We counted to ten and sang the alphabet song between bites of her meal and plays in the game. As I sat on the couch just behind her to make sure the food went where it was supposed to, she put her hand on my leg and patted it softly.
I smiled. I was happy. I let out a sigh. As I did, Paige lay her head down on my leg and hugged it. "Daddy tired," she observed. "I love you Paige," I said fighting tears. "Love you daddy," came the reply.
Best day ever.
Todd,
The game was pretty boring -nobody really played to win, just not to lose. Looks like Paige was the real winner that day- precious story. Everyone with kids probably feels the same -wouldn't trade them for the world.
Jeff
P.S. -I'll have to post some Super bowl party pics for you later....it was a family event for us too.
Mullen, don't you know it's not nice to make a pregnant lady cry? Sweet story. It's amazing how kids change us. :-)
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