I keep a few balls in my office.  I have a hardball, a soft rubber ball, and a small blow up beach ball.   There are all recreational diversions, sometimes used on boring conference calls or long Friday afternoons.  I also have a yo yo.

The self toss only gets me so far.  I need something more.  So sometimes I stand about ten feet away from my couch and kick the beach ball gently into the air.  The idea is to have it land on the couch, and then not bounce off onto the floor.  Think it is so easy?  Ask David Henry.  I, on the other hand, have become a champ.  It requires a light touch and slight backspin.  You are invited to come try it. 

There is not much I can do with the baseball, other than hold it and practice my grip.

The soft rubber ball has the greatest utility as I can throw it against the wall and it bounces back.  I can even do it sitting at my desk, until it falls on the floor somewhere and I pick it up a few days later.

Playing with my baseball on Friday reminded me of when I was a little boy in Little League.  My first team was Goodman's Hardware.  I pitched.  I used to walk around my house practicing my wind up.  It made my mother crazy because whenever she was talking to me about something I would be standing there doing my windup.  I can see how that could be annoying when you are trying to talk to someone and they keep throwing an imaginary pitch.  I was a kid, what can I say.

My new office game is to pitch my rubber ball and aim at a spot on my couch.   I do a full leg kick, wind up, and WHAM!   Right in the sweet spot!   At least I am throwing a real ball.  My mother would be laughing.