My mom is 78 years old, goes on daily walks, plays pickleball as often as possible, and texts me regularly about the Sixers (“That’s it! I’m not watching anymore!”) and Phillies (“I can’t believe Tajuan Walker is STILL on the team!”) Back when we first started the CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge, I told her about it and the qualification criteria of 10,000 steps. Her response was to slightly scoff and say “Only 10,000? That’s easy. I should enter.”

There’s a legendary family story that I like to tell about my mom and I. We have similar personalities in that we are both fairly even keeled and not terribly emotive, which masks a ferocious competitive streak that only shows up when provoked. Back when I was in high school, my mom was a decent racquetball player and played in a couple local leagues. I would play occasionally and could hold my own with others my age. I rarely played against my mom because my school sports schedule and her league schedule rarely lined up properly for us to play.

During my senior year of high school, in the middle of my basketball season, my entire family was invited to a birthday party that was being held at the rec center where mom played racquetball. Mom asked if I wanted to play and I said “Sure, why not.” I thought it would be fun to compete against each other.

For background, I should mention that around this time my mom was about 5’5”, slim build, and in her early 40s. I was 18, 6’3”, and since it was mid-basketball season, probably in the best shape of my life. I’d be selected to the All-League team a couple months later (sorry, couldn’t resist adding that. Yes, I have Glory Days playing in the background). It wasn’t David vs Goliath, but it was definitely large son vs. much smaller mother.

She destroyed me. It wasn’t close. The first two games were 15-3, 15-2. She didn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but she would place it in locations I couldn’t reach. She would hit these high looping serves that would land perfectly in the back corner of the court that would have me swinging and flailing like Charlie Brown trying to hit a fastball. It was frustrating, embarrassing, and I was absolutely seething inside.

We decided to play one more game, and Mom started with a very mediocre serve that came directly back to me for an easy return. On her next serve, the same thing happened.

Wait a minute, I thought to myself. Is she deliberately hitting me easy serves?

She did it again on her third serve, and now I was outraged. It was embarrassing enough that I was getting killed by my 40-year-old mom, but now she was going easy on me, too? I cracked.

“Don’t you dare let up on me!!” I screamed at her. “Use your normal serve!”

“What do you mean?” she said innocently. “That is my normal serve.” Then she smiled and went back to hitting serves in the back corner. I lost the third game, 15-3.

(Note from Scott: I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that I also have a racquetball story from my younger days when I was cocky and played someone from my parents’ generation, although to be fair, he was a nationally-ranked 45-year-old racquetball ace and not a 5-foot-5 woman I called, “Mom.” We’ll save this story for another day.)

Today is the start of the sixth CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge, sponsored once again by Talem Health. Lucky for all of you, Mom will not be participating, so you have a chance. Here are all the details you need to know.

• The challenge begins today (Monday, April 7) and will go until the end of the day on Sunday, April 13
• The challenge is to record at least 10,000 steps in one day. For each day during the challenge period that you record 10,000 steps, please send in a screenshot of your step-counting device with the number of recorded steps, either by email (thecmeguy@gmail.com) or text (267-666-0CME [0263]). Please include the following information:
  • Screenshot of number of steps
  • Date of steps
  • Name
  • Email
  • Physical mailing address (we need this to send you merch)
  • T-shirt size
• For each day you achieve 10,000 steps and send in a screenshot, you will be entered into a random drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card (there are five gift cards; you cannot win more than one.) Winners will be drawn during the week of CMEpalooza Spring. You can send in each day individually, or you can send them all in at once at the end. It doesn’t matter to me.
• The person who records and submits the most steps in one day wins a $250 Amazon gift card
• Everyone who enters even one day will receive some free CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge merch from Talem Health. We’re still finalizing what it will be, but it’s usually good stuff.

Thanks everyone and good luck!

CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge sponsored by:

Before I forget, Derek has asked me to remind everyone that the 2025 Spring edition of the CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge begins on Monday. So if you have been doing the couch potato thing while watching four episodes of The Rookie each evening, perhaps this weekend would be a good time to get off your duff so that you are ready to get your steps in for when it really matters next week.

Now on to our blog entry for today…

Yes, you read correctly in the headline. I know that you have been procrastinating all week and telling yourself, “I know that I should make the CMEpalooza Signs of Spring a priority, but I can’t break myself away from these cute cat videos!” Well there friend, I’m here to tell you that Fluffy is going to need to wait, because the deadline to submit your entry (or entries if you are feeling particularly bold) is today at 5 pm ET.

If you need a reminder about how our special Sponsor event works, you can click here for all of the details, including links to the forms you need to download and instructions on how to find the answers. I would estimate that it will take you 10 minutes of research per entry if you work diligently. Maybe less. And I even have a special Friday bonus offer for you — because the answers to the April Fools Day category clues have gone “poof!” from the specific Sponsors’ websites, you can put down anything you want on your answer form in that section and I’ll give you credit. Who says I’m not a nice guy?

One question we often get from people is, “But if I win the CMEpalooza Sponsor contest and collect my $100 Amazon gift card, doesn’t that mean I will be disqualified from the many, many other giveaway opportunities being offered this spring?” And the answer to that is unequivocally, “No.” I am not sure that anyone has actually won multiple prizes in the same season (though we have had many repeat winners in certain giveaways over the years), but there is nothing in the official CMEpalooza rulebook prohibiting this.

So then what’s stopping you? Get to work, pilgrim.

Since Derek has curiously avoided his usual crutch of coming up with Top 10 lists when he doesn’t have a better idea for a blog post, I figured I’d step up to fill the void (note from Derek: point of clarification — I usually only do Top 5 lists. Top 10 lists are too much work.) So, in the wake of Monday’s announcement about our special sponsor event entitled CMEpalooza’s Signs of Spring, I thought I’d provide you with the Top 10 reasons you should spend time this morning doing something other than completing one or more contest entries.

That’s right – there is nothing more important than completing one or more contest entries this morning. No, not that grant proposal that is due “urgently.” No, not that outcomes report that your supporter asked for 2 days ago. No, not even that scheduled faculty call at 10 am. That can all wait. So put on your OOO for 30 minutes or so and get cracking on The Signs of Spring. (note from Derek: I take it back. Top 10 lists are not too much work if that is your list. Cheater.)

I’ll even give you a note for your boss if you need one.