. . .and engineers will just use it to fling Ping Pong balls.
In an effort to boost morale or to promote teamwork or perhaps just to get rid of an excess of Ping Pong balls and moustraps, the "higher ups" at the air force base announced a contest: Create a device that employs a mousetrap to catapult Ping Pong balls into a bucket 10 feet away.
After a trip to the hardware store and a few hours hunkered down in the garage, Jared emerged with a contraption. We spent the better part of last weekend launching Ping Pong balls across the living room, as Jared fine-tuned his Ping-Pong-a-pault and practiced for the big event. (Elizabeth and Anna LOVED this--Elizabeth would launch the balls and Anna would shriek with delight as they flew through the air and bounced and rolled around the room.)
Competition day dawned cold and grey. At the gymnasium on base, the geeks were out in full force. In the first round Jared tied with another engineer for first place, but the Mouse-a-pult had suffered some injuries. (We probably shouldn't have played with it *quite* so much over the weekend!) Jared had to resort to a quick-and-dirty repair job, heavy on duct tape, to be ready for the overtime round. But would it be enough? He took his place at the competition table, waited for the signal, and began firing. Another engineer happened to record the final round on her cell phone and shared it with Jared, so you have the select pleasure of actually watching the action:
That final shot--the one that hit the floor and then bounced into the bucket--put Jared one point ahead of his competitor, securing for him not only the gift certificate but also bragging rights. If only launching Ping Pong balls with a mousetrap were something one is apt to want to brag about. . .But truly, we ARE proud of our husband/dad and his many talents, including this one. Holly is particularly grateful for this skill--it's going to come in handy when our kids come home with one of those assignments that science teachers design to be engaging, authentic learning experiences but which inevitably ends up with a parent sitting with their frustrated, exhausted child at the kitchen table at 2 AM, surrounded by duct tape, cardboard, and muffin tin liners.
(Oh, and Jared has just informed me that I have left out much of the high drama regarding the duct tape repairs. . .you'll have to ask him for the details.)
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4 comments:
That is the best blog entry I have ever read. And that includes those by Bret Michaels, Rock of Love.
Seconds before the final buzzer sounded the swift movement of his wrist released the contraption’s coil and launched the tiny ball high into the air. Time stood still and the crowd’s collective gaze rose to meet the shiny orb as it reached its apogee. For a split second it hung there, suspended like an early evening moon set against the azure sky.
He squinted slightly, his eyes fixed to the translucent 5 gallon ice cream bucket ten feet away. Days earlier this container was packed with Western Family French vanilla, its contents later scooped to make root beer floats for a dozen awkward Miamades. But today this bucket would hold his victory. LONG LIVE THE NERD-KING!!!
Jared, you kept your cool under such great stress..it was pure poetry in motion and we feel proud to just be associated with you, to know you, and to have actualy have touched and worked with the mousinator itself. What a delight.
Now move your sights to a Panda launcher using a rat trap..think how fun that would be. And we all know Panda would love to fly through the air and land in a bucket.
But---seriously, congrats!! I loved how everyone was on your side and cheering you on! Our country is safe in the hands of engineers like you guys!!
Love you!
Momila
Just keep in mind when you get that late-night call from us that it won't be about the kind of emergency you're expecting. It will be to get Jared's last-minute help on fixing our kids' science projects. We'll have to make sure to hook you up with the Adobe video-conferencing software that Erik works on. Anyway, congrats!
Holly, this was hilarious! It's so fun reading how you write things. Give Jared mine and Aaron's highest regards for winning the competition. :) I'm personally looking forward to those Pinewood derbys someday. My mom always said that nerds make the best husbands. I think they make the best dads too!!!
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