What is something you have experienced that exceeded what your expectations were? Everything and anything qualifies. Something you probably thought would be good initially anyway, but was even better. 

Mine is becoming a grandparent 5 weeks ago. I always had all these thoughts in my mind and knew it would be great, but I just wasn't prepared for how it actually is. It's a love your mind can't comprehend until it happens. It has changed everything and this little granddaughter of mine has me completely wrapped up. 

Fortunately, my daughter and her husband live close and I have been able to see her every day of her young life so far. Many days for a huge part of the day. It's such a blessing. 

Congratulations on becoming a grandparent! That is a special moment. I still have fond memories going to my Grandfather's house as a child and helping him with his garden. Definitely a special moment for you and one that you will treasure and I offer my highest congratulations. 

On this end, there are several different ones that come to mind but none as touching as the one TilghmanPride brought up. Mine would probably trace back to college and something taught by one of my professors, Dr. Virgil Davis at Ashland Community & Technical College. Professor Davis was one of the most popular professors on campus. I had him for my two required psychology courses in the spring and fall of 2007. While I certainly learned a few things from his lessons, one time I went to his office and we talked for about an hour. I was still undecided in terms of my direction at the time.

Dr. Davis told me how growing up, he wanted to (1) be a professor, (2) counsel people, and (3) run a karate studio. He told me how he was often told in school not to pursue multiple careers and to stick to just one thing. For some reason, that was the part of the conversation that stuck in my mind but never thought would come into play as my goal later on would be to graduate and become a CPA. Fast forward to 2017, and the opportunity came up to call games for a semi-pro football team which I found interesting. I enjoyed it, that and hosting an interview show that we had, but even then I shied away from doing things like editing videos which I never thought would be my cup of tea

Later on that would change. I would get more and more involved and now, I would say that I broadcast probably 150 games per year total if I had to guess. Mostly basketball, but some football and volleyball and the occasional game involving soccer or baseball. Working in public accounting is my main career. But as often as I broadcast or do interviews, it sure feels like a second career. For every game, it probably takes the same amount of time for preparation. And editing interview videos can take quite a bit of time. But there been some neat experiences with exciting games and some of the guests like professional wrestler Tito Santana, Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese, or Liberty University basketball coach Ritchie McKay that I have had the opportunity to interview. Other than the numbers aspect in sports that come up, the two careers area totally different from each other and even in some ways will clash such as this time of the year when I am deep in tax season in tournament time.

I often think back to that conversation Dr. Davis and I had. Never did I think it would eventually apply to me. 

16 hours ago, TCR said:

Congratulations on becoming a grandparent! That is a special moment. I still have fond memories going to my Grandfather's house as a child and helping him with his garden. Definitely a special moment for you and one that you will treasure and I offer my highest congratulations. 

On this end, there are several different ones that come to mind but none as touching as the one TilghmanPride brought up. Mine would probably trace back to college and something taught by one of my professors, Dr. Virgil Davis at Ashland Community & Technical College. Professor Davis was one of the most popular professors on campus. I had him for my two required psychology courses in the spring and fall of 2007. While I certainly learned a few things from his lessons, one time I went to his office and we talked for about an hour. I was still undecided in terms of my direction at the time.

Dr. Davis told me how growing up, he wanted to (1) be a professor, (2) counsel people, and (3) run a karate studio. He told me how he was often told in school not to pursue multiple careers and to stick to just one thing. For some reason, that was the part of the conversation that stuck in my mind but never thought would come into play as my goal later on would be to graduate and become a CPA. Fast forward to 2017, and the opportunity came up to call games for a semi-pro football team which I found interesting. I enjoyed it, that and hosting an interview show that we had, but even then I shied away from doing things like editing videos which I never thought would be my cup of tea

Later on that would change. I would get more and more involved and now, I would say that I broadcast probably 150 games per year total if I had to guess. Mostly basketball, but some football and volleyball and the occasional game involving soccer or baseball. Working in public accounting is my main career. But as often as I broadcast or do interviews, it sure feels like a second career. For every game, it probably takes the same amount of time for preparation. And editing interview videos can take quite a bit of time. But there been some neat experiences with exciting games and some of the guests like professional wrestler Tito Santana, Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese, or Liberty University basketball coach Ritchie McKay that I have had the opportunity to interview. Other than the numbers aspect in sports that come up, the two careers area totally different from each other and even in some ways will clash such as this time of the year when I am deep in tax season in tournament time.

I often think back to that conversation Dr. Davis and I had. Never did I think it would eventually apply to me. 

That is awesome! Rewarding I'm sure, but extremely busy. That is most definitely a lot of work. 

Tito Santana was one of my favorites back in the day, that is so cool!

On 3/30/2025 at 9:05 PM, TilghmanPride said:

What is something you have experienced that exceeded what your expectations were? Everything and anything qualifies. Something you probably thought would be good initially anyway, but was even better. 

Mine is becoming a grandparent 5 weeks ago. I always had all these thoughts in my mind and knew it would be great, but I just wasn't prepared for how it actually is. It's a love your mind can't comprehend until it happens. It has changed everything and this little granddaughter of mine has me completely wrapped up. 

Fortunately, my daughter and her husband live close and I have been able to see her every day of her young life so far. Many days for a huge part of the day. It's such a blessing. 

I concur, becoming a grandpa 4 years ago has been even better than I ever thought it would be. That's saying a lot because I had high expectations of how great it would be and it has far exceeded them. 

Well, mine is not nearly as important as any of yours, but I was shocked how much I loved it when I took my son to Washington DC. It was my first time ever going and it was one of those shrimps where you you were thinking about how soon till I can get it over. I loved it though. The Lincoln Memorial is overwhelming and just seeing the history there is very inspiring and almost emotional.

On 4/17/2025 at 1:26 PM, PP1 said:

Well, mine is not nearly as important as any of yours, but I was shocked how much I loved it when I took my son to Washington DC. It was my first time ever going and it was one of those shrimps where you you were thinking about how soon till I can get it over. I loved it though. The Lincoln Memorial is overwhelming and just seeing the history there is very inspiring and almost emotional.

Good one. I grew up in the area but hadn’t been back until our son was nine and displaying an interest in history, science, art, just about everything  

Watching his jaw drop as we got up to the Mall from the Metro was worth the 9-hour drive all by itself.  

Trip to Acadia National Park in Maine almost three years ago.  Usually not my kind of thing, but I really enjoyed it.  Place is incredible. 

8 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

Trip to Acadia National Park in Maine almost three years ago.  Usually not my kind of thing, but I really enjoyed it.  Place is incredible. 

Over the last few years, we have tried to visit a national park each year. I never thought they would be my thing each, but every time I go, I am blown away by some of our country's incredible landscapes. Feels like an entirely different world. I am hooked. 

On 5/16/2025 at 8:43 PM, AC Slater said:

Over the last few years, we have tried to visit a national park each year. I never thought they would be my thing each, but every time I go, I am blown away by some of our country's incredible landscapes. Feels like an entirely different world. I am hooked. 

I'm going to Glacier and Yellowstone in the beginning of August. Looking forward to a bucket list trip

 

Our vacation to Puerto Morelos (near Cancun) last year exceeded our expectations.  The picture shows our beach front view in our all-inclusive hotel.

1 hour ago, rjs4470 said:

I'm going to Glacier and Yellowstone in the beginning of August. Looking forward to a bucket list trip

 

Those two are on my list. I'd like to tow the motorcycle on a trailer and see a lot of that area on 2 wheels. 

On 5/17/2025 at 10:13 PM, sportsfan41 said:

Those two are on my list. I'd like to tow the motorcycle on a trailer and see a lot of that area on 2 wheels. 

You ride on the trailer with the motorcycle?  Ride the motorcycle don't trailer it. I have rode over 1000s of miles on motorcycles never trailerd best time ever. I know longer ride now though bad wreck last summer.

On 5/17/2025 at 9:08 PM, rjs4470 said:

I'm going to Glacier and Yellowstone in the beginning of August. Looking forward to a bucket list trip

 

Yellowstone was definitely better than I imagined!  You will love it!  Yellowstone and our Alaskan cruise were two trips that exceeded my expectations.

Still waiting and hoping for the grandparent experience.

Better than expected. 
 

When I was 19 or 20 (keep quiet, Parker) my parents took me to see The Nutcracker in downtown Baltimore.  Being a cool guy of that age, I wasn’t expecting much. 
 

I was transfixed. 

On 5/25/2025 at 7:29 PM, mcpapa said:

Better than expected. 
 

When I was 19 or 20 (keep quiet, Parker) my parents took me to see The Nutcracker in downtown Baltimore.  Being a cool guy of that age, I wasn’t expecting much. 
 

I was transfixed. 

I took my daughter to see the Nutcracker when she was about 7.  It was the first ballet for both of us.  Halfway through, she asked me why none of the dancers talked.  I had no idea.  We both thought it was a play with dancing.  Couldn’t believe how culturally ignorant I was.  Not gonna lie. I hated it.