false

No. Such an easy word to say, right? Come on, say it with me. No. That was easy, wasn't it? So why can't I ever say it when that's what I mean? I'm thinking No, but Yes comes out of my mouth. Ugh!

Because of this inability to say such a simple word (say it with me again, Noooo), I have found myself once again agreeing to give up my Sunday afternoons for a few months to keep score for our company's softball team. I think this is going to be my fourth year to be the scorekeeper. After the first year, I said I wasn't going to do that anymore because I really didn't like having to make the committment for every week for so long. And each time, the guy heading it up comes to my office, asks if I will do it again, and before I know it, this phrase has come out of my mouth: "Sure, I'd be glad to!" Last year, they even roped me into playing a game. Again, I wanted to say "No", but they were going to have to forfeit the game because they wouldn't have enough players. And considering some of the players had drove over an hour just to play, I agreed to do it. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am - shall we say? - out of shape. So out of shape, that I can't run very fast at all. I could get a hit, but was always thrown out at first. Plus, I can't catch, and they played me as catcher. I don't want to get hit by the ball, so I usually move out of the way. Not a good way to play if you're the catcher. Oh yeah, and I can't really throw the ball either. I have horrible aim. Always have had.

So, now I'm off to practice saying No. Maybe I will be able to actually put it to use the next time someone asks me to do something I really don't want to do. Actually, I have to go to the office for a little while. One of the tech guys asked me if I could come in over the weekend to download and e-mail to him the files that I do every Monday morning because he wants to take care of them Sunday night. Again, "Sure, not a problem!"

No. Non. Nein. Nyet. não. Geen. 不. Ingen. la. So many ways to say it, so maybe I can start to use one of them.