Saturday, 24 April, 2010
Hey Slugger
While it's true that Arthur Doubleday didn't invent the town of Louisville, he probably was it's reason for such a wonderful spirit. As every young lad that has held a Louisville Slugger in his hands, and every young lass that has swung that bat to discover a supremely satisfying kerthwack of energy in the ball leaping from a stick of wood, to arc high in the air, Baseball and Softball will always ignite something beautiful in the soul of those who love the game.
And when in Louisville, there is no better place to discover, or rediscover, that same spirit in yourself, while remembering those long ago dreams, than in the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. This shrine is a testament to the American Pastime, and all the truly amazing people that have piqued our attention, and amazed us with their prowess. Baseball, and yes Softball too, is a game like no other. Oh sure, our Brit cousins have Cricket, which is reputedly a fine game, but simply not even close. They also have Rounders, which is closer to our Baseball, but still not in the same league. Baseball has become a world Class game, with Major Leagues in just about every developed, and some not so developed, countries.
Each and every player will happily tell you that there is only one true bat to be used, a genuine Louisville Slugger! They've been crafting the bats of our Professional teams for well over a century, and there is no other bat that comes close to the proper feel, and swing of the real deal!
So, Slugger, when in Louisville, a trip to the home of the best bats in the world is no strike out. In fact, you really don't need to be an avid fan of the game to enjoy the tour. My dearest beloved Barb, who really can take or leave sports in general, had a wonderful time, and enjoyed herself quite a bit. The tour is a real treat. You get to walk thru an honest to gawd, working factory, and learn some fun factoids along the way. The factory has an air conditioning, venting, humidity controlled system that allows both workers, and tourists alike to walk thru without having to breathe massive amounts of wood dust. No small feat in a plant that produces as many wooden bats in a day as they do!
As you amble thru the production process, you notice just how clean the environment is, and also learn about the various steps in making the bat to a tolerance of 1/1000th of an inch! Wood species, weight, configuration, grading, and also each particular`player's unique specifications, all play an important part. For you Baseball aficionados, Ted Williams (a major hitter back in the day, for you non aficionados) once turned a bat back in, because it didn't feel right in the neck area. The bat in question was taken back to the factory and measured. It was, in fact, 5/1000th of an inch out! This just demonstrates the relationship a hitter has with the bat. At various points along the way, you get to see short videos describing a particular step in the process, and some well known players giving a quick anecdote about "his" bat. To a player, they all used the same phrase about how the bat feels in your hands. Seems they all very much enjoyed "having some good wood in your hands". Of course we giggled!
After the tour, you get a free (never mind the cost of the tour) souvenir, mini bat. If you wish to pay for it, you can even get it engraved with your own signature. Nothing says success like your very own John Hancock on a little stick of wood after all!
The Museum part is also a celebration of both the company that makes the bats, and the players that use them. I actually held a 1918 Babe Ruth bat, and also a Mickey Mantle! I turned down the David Ortiz for the Mickey Mantle as the sweet young thing that was ogling after David Ortiz had no idea. Then outside for some pictures at the largest bat in the world (120 ft tall, 68,000 lbs) and time for us to take a 7th Inning Stretch.
We collect Ace the DufusDog from our car, along with the GPS'r and PDA, to do a bit of Geocaching downtown. Barb had picked out a particularly fun cache, one that afforded us a great panoramic view from the 9th story of a parking garage, and led us to another parking garage. Happily, we didn't hafta huff and puff up 9 storeys this time! She cleverly finds the cache that was quite well hidden, and then it's off to find food for us.
We happen along the main street of town, which was quite busy with the 13,000 High School students (and their attendant Adults in tow) of the DECCA conference. These students are all involved in a business oriented competition, and the girls outnumber the boys by at least three to one. Lucky lads. So Barb, Ace, and I find a Pizza by the Slice eatery, with outdoor tables. Barb bravely volunteers to go inside and get us food, while Ace and I sit and defend our table from any would be intruders. Of course, while my intrepid wife is standing inside, and making those all important luncheon decisions, Ace is the star of the sidewalk! Elvis himself would have been demoted to a mere background item as each and every girl that sauntered by would have to stop and pet the puppy! and I gotta tell ya, they build em differently than when I was in High School!? Not that we didn't have our own beauties, mind ya, but each and every one of these girls was stunning in her own right! Not easy being me, really.
After a fun lunch, and much loving for Ace, and more giggles for Barb and I, we finally leave town for the next part of the journey. I drive thru some very hard rain, thunder and lightening. As we approach Nashville, we stop at a Welcome Center to relieve our
Bladder-O-Meters, and call ahead on our cabin. But what is this? Our reservation doesn't start until the next day?! What! Oh frack! Breathe... ok, so maybe they can get us in a day early, despite the owners having something of a family get together. With all the thunderstorms going thru, they had postponed their event, and already had our cabin set up, yea! Somewhere between my uber busy, but well intentioned (and still the bestest wife in the world) and the sorta ditzy, scatter brained wife owner, the dates had got jumbled up. but once again, fortune was on our side, and God smiled on us. We were happily greeted, and warmly received into our little Southern Chalet.
The rest of the afternoon, and evening we dined on frozen pizza, chips and salsa, and enjoyed a majestic thunderstorm! Yup, Life is good, and we're quite happy to enjoy our blessings! A very comfortable bed, with a very real down mattress awaited our tired bodies, and the peacocks serenaded us as we smiled at each other, and knew that love, once again, had provided.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Indiana Wants Me...
Friday, 23 April, 2010
Indiana Wants Me...
Today starts just way too early for my usual sensibilities, somewhere around Still Too Damn Dark, and There Be A Cup Of Coffee, we roll out of bed, and I struggle to regain what passes for consciousness. As the coffee does it magic thing, and the sky starts to lighten, my mostest wonderous wife manages to put up with my grumblings and sputtering to life with her usual, loving sense of humor.
This fine morning, however unusual at it's arrival to my stream of consciousness we are getting up oh so achingly early to get on the road for our personal Spring Break! The aforementioned mostest wonderous wife in the world had chosen Nashville as our destination, with an overnight layover in Louisville.
So we trundle ourselves to the already mostly packed car, (thank gawd), make sure that Ace the DufusDog is in the back seat, and congratulate ourselves on our super human ability to commence the drive at 7:30 in the fracking morning! WOW! For me this is quite an achievement, no less than finding the Titanic, or winning the Lotto.
The drive down the coast of Michigan was easy, and quite beautiful in it's early Spring wardrobe. The further South we drove, the temperature would gently warm a bit, the sun would shine, and we decided that those items would be good omens of things to come.
A few potty breaks later, (one of the reasons we first new we were so right for each other is, that we seem to operate with the same calibration on our Bladder-O-Meters), and we're being welcomed to Hoosierland, hurray! But soon enough, hunger is approaching, and Ace thinks that he needs to stretch his fuurry feet as well. Hmmm... ok, well, we seem to specialize in wonderful, out of the way, Mom & Pop eateries. Nothing against the Applebee's and Cracker Barrels, but we just prefer honest, local fare. and the Food Gawdz usually smile on us in our eternal quest to avoid the chains. In this instance, that most certainly was true! If, for whatever odd reason, you manage to get to Argos, Indiana, then you simply must stop at The Log House Restaraunt.
Home made food, like you would find at GranMa's, friendly service, and a rustic decor all conspire to fill your tummy, without emptying your wallet. I dived, headfirst, into a piled-on Pulled Pork BBQ sanny, with perfectly greasy Onion rings (yes, Onion Rings do need a certain amount of grease to enhance the experience, but not so much as to be dripping, or soggy), while Barb fell in lust with her Grilled Turkey & Cheese on Walnut Cranberry bread. But the true discovery was the Cranberry Apple Chutney! Oh My Gawd... It was such heaven that we bought a bit extra for the road...
So, push on we did, and down the road we go. Our next break to stretch crampy leg muscles would involve our favorite pastime, Geocaching. We've been active in this little hobby cum addiction cum sport cum social network for somewhere around nine years now. We've done Geocaches that were ridiculously easy, to insanely difficult. We've managed to find, and even place caches in 4 countries, and almost every State that surrounds Lake Michigan, as well as many other lands. Yet, somehow, despite all our expertise and travels across that particular piece of land, finding a cache has always eluded us! We've tried "Park & Grabs" that refused to be grabbed, we've attempted mildly difficult caches that became imposserous, and even had thought to break our Susan Lucci style of always being nominated and never getting the prize with some downright absurd caches. Each time we came up as empty handed as the OJ Alibi Club. Ahhh... but this time, this was finally the charmer! At long last Susan Lucci wins the Emmy, and we find the cache! The song birds chirped merrily to each other, and the villagers all came out to the town square to dance in a spontaneous, yet precisely choreographed, Waltz. Yes, Indiana finally wanted us!
Back to car, with treats for Ace, and back "On The Road Again", a smooth sail the very long rest of the way thru Indiana, and at long las we pull into our hotel in Louisville. Unlike eateries, we do prefer the chains when it comes to having a clean and comfprtable room to crash for the night. Happily, at the Comfort Suites there, Dufusdog was welcomed, I got points, and we all enjoyed a great room. My wallet also enjoyed the price, so all was good.
There was a DECCA convention in town (13,000+ High Schoolers, with chaperones, who were there to compete in some Business competition). This means that Ace had a LOT of loving from all the girls, and made many new life long friends. We found dinner at another local establishment, authentic Mexican, yum! El Caperal served us some wonderful tummy stretchers, and Barb enjoyed a genuine Margarita, while sipped down a Modelo Especial.
Back to the hotel, have Ace take us for a walk, and then to soon bed, perchance to dream. first however, was the not inconsequential matter of removing a tic, that had successfully buried it's tiny, and yet quite disgusting head into Ace's shoulder. Apparently said tic didn't get the memo from two days prior, when Barb (being the good Mommy) has deposited Anti Flea & Tic on the dog. Well, ok, it must be a foreigner from Hoosierland, and thus didn't subscribe to our Michigander ways of life. After a fruitless search thru our room for tweezers (how can such a simple tool be missing from our always-be-prepared TDY Kit?) and upon inspection of the pliers in my Leatherman Multi Tool, I decide to Man Up, and do it like a primate. So I get our poor, furry hero in a one armed headlock, with beloved Barb wrestling to keep the rest of his body still, I fold a paper towel into an Orgami style envelope and proceed to treat the tic as a misbegotten pimple from an angst ridden teenager. In a remarkably short amount of time, I actually extracted Msr Tic-Tac-Toe, and give him a fitting burial at sea, a la commode.
We spent about 12 hours in the car, but it was a lovely start to our Spring Break Adventures!
Indiana Wants Me...
Today starts just way too early for my usual sensibilities, somewhere around Still Too Damn Dark, and There Be A Cup Of Coffee, we roll out of bed, and I struggle to regain what passes for consciousness. As the coffee does it magic thing, and the sky starts to lighten, my mostest wonderous wife manages to put up with my grumblings and sputtering to life with her usual, loving sense of humor.
This fine morning, however unusual at it's arrival to my stream of consciousness we are getting up oh so achingly early to get on the road for our personal Spring Break! The aforementioned mostest wonderous wife in the world had chosen Nashville as our destination, with an overnight layover in Louisville.
So we trundle ourselves to the already mostly packed car, (thank gawd), make sure that Ace the DufusDog is in the back seat, and congratulate ourselves on our super human ability to commence the drive at 7:30 in the fracking morning! WOW! For me this is quite an achievement, no less than finding the Titanic, or winning the Lotto.
The drive down the coast of Michigan was easy, and quite beautiful in it's early Spring wardrobe. The further South we drove, the temperature would gently warm a bit, the sun would shine, and we decided that those items would be good omens of things to come.
A few potty breaks later, (one of the reasons we first new we were so right for each other is, that we seem to operate with the same calibration on our Bladder-O-Meters), and we're being welcomed to Hoosierland, hurray! But soon enough, hunger is approaching, and Ace thinks that he needs to stretch his fuurry feet as well. Hmmm... ok, well, we seem to specialize in wonderful, out of the way, Mom & Pop eateries. Nothing against the Applebee's and Cracker Barrels, but we just prefer honest, local fare. and the Food Gawdz usually smile on us in our eternal quest to avoid the chains. In this instance, that most certainly was true! If, for whatever odd reason, you manage to get to Argos, Indiana, then you simply must stop at The Log House Restaraunt.
Home made food, like you would find at GranMa's, friendly service, and a rustic decor all conspire to fill your tummy, without emptying your wallet. I dived, headfirst, into a piled-on Pulled Pork BBQ sanny, with perfectly greasy Onion rings (yes, Onion Rings do need a certain amount of grease to enhance the experience, but not so much as to be dripping, or soggy), while Barb fell in lust with her Grilled Turkey & Cheese on Walnut Cranberry bread. But the true discovery was the Cranberry Apple Chutney! Oh My Gawd... It was such heaven that we bought a bit extra for the road...
So, push on we did, and down the road we go. Our next break to stretch crampy leg muscles would involve our favorite pastime, Geocaching. We've been active in this little hobby cum addiction cum sport cum social network for somewhere around nine years now. We've done Geocaches that were ridiculously easy, to insanely difficult. We've managed to find, and even place caches in 4 countries, and almost every State that surrounds Lake Michigan, as well as many other lands. Yet, somehow, despite all our expertise and travels across that particular piece of land, finding a cache has always eluded us! We've tried "Park & Grabs" that refused to be grabbed, we've attempted mildly difficult caches that became imposserous, and even had thought to break our Susan Lucci style of always being nominated and never getting the prize with some downright absurd caches. Each time we came up as empty handed as the OJ Alibi Club. Ahhh... but this time, this was finally the charmer! At long last Susan Lucci wins the Emmy, and we find the cache! The song birds chirped merrily to each other, and the villagers all came out to the town square to dance in a spontaneous, yet precisely choreographed, Waltz. Yes, Indiana finally wanted us!
Back to car, with treats for Ace, and back "On The Road Again", a smooth sail the very long rest of the way thru Indiana, and at long las we pull into our hotel in Louisville. Unlike eateries, we do prefer the chains when it comes to having a clean and comfprtable room to crash for the night. Happily, at the Comfort Suites there, Dufusdog was welcomed, I got points, and we all enjoyed a great room. My wallet also enjoyed the price, so all was good.
There was a DECCA convention in town (13,000+ High Schoolers, with chaperones, who were there to compete in some Business competition). This means that Ace had a LOT of loving from all the girls, and made many new life long friends. We found dinner at another local establishment, authentic Mexican, yum! El Caperal served us some wonderful tummy stretchers, and Barb enjoyed a genuine Margarita, while sipped down a Modelo Especial.
Back to the hotel, have Ace take us for a walk, and then to soon bed, perchance to dream. first however, was the not inconsequential matter of removing a tic, that had successfully buried it's tiny, and yet quite disgusting head into Ace's shoulder. Apparently said tic didn't get the memo from two days prior, when Barb (being the good Mommy) has deposited Anti Flea & Tic on the dog. Well, ok, it must be a foreigner from Hoosierland, and thus didn't subscribe to our Michigander ways of life. After a fruitless search thru our room for tweezers (how can such a simple tool be missing from our always-be-prepared TDY Kit?) and upon inspection of the pliers in my Leatherman Multi Tool, I decide to Man Up, and do it like a primate. So I get our poor, furry hero in a one armed headlock, with beloved Barb wrestling to keep the rest of his body still, I fold a paper towel into an Orgami style envelope and proceed to treat the tic as a misbegotten pimple from an angst ridden teenager. In a remarkably short amount of time, I actually extracted Msr Tic-Tac-Toe, and give him a fitting burial at sea, a la commode.
We spent about 12 hours in the car, but it was a lovely start to our Spring Break Adventures!
Monday, April 5, 2010
GrandBaby Bunny Blog...
Another beautiful day here in the Hundred Acre Woods By The Inland Sea! Spring has sprung, Easter is just past, and I'm sitting in my jammies, coffee and keyboard in hand. (No, not the same hand, silly) Yup, life is good, no question about that at all.
And just to make my life even better, we recently had a wonderful visit with our GranBaby, oh and her parents too! *chuckle* Son DJ, his wonderful wife Katie, and the star of the show: GranBaby Jane, came traipsing up here the weekend before Easter. The newest member of the Bunny Clan is 10 months old, about 20 pounds, and very bright and engaged with her environment. Her parents are wonderfully loving, attentive, and manage to say "No" (and mean it) at just the right times. DJ and Katie have a very natural style of parenting, and they work well together as a team. The result is a happy, intelligent, and beautiful girl.
Of course, to Barb and I, the little miss is a treasure, and a joy, like no other. I was never a parent, so all the Baby Ohhhs and Ahhhs are new for me. But Barb says I have good instincts with people, children and babies. Plus she gives me tips on what to do, and how to do it. Good thing as otherwise I fear I'd do the Wrong Thing, and make whatever into a really Bad Situation! But so far, no Rookie GranPa mistakes that weren't solved by some loving or that venerated sport of new parentage: Baby Bouncing!
Happily, GranBaby Jane is (mostly) a delight, and quite happy to be in your arms. Bouncing is sometimes required, but that's a rather small price to pay for having a minute or two of total, unbridled joy. When the family went to church we were late (as per usual), so we got to sit in front, where the "Late Lutherans" have to pay penance, and can't slip into obscurity for the Service. Early in the Service, Jane was quite gleefully burbling along, and contented herself with Daddy's lap. So, being the beaming, proud GranPa that I am, during a relatively lesser important moment of the service (no, not the Sermon) I sneak a glance at her, two seats away. Busted! Ho boy... she alerts on me like a Redneck at a Monster Truck in a Mud Bog! She smiles right at me, and giggles as she gets handed over a couple of people to finally nestle in my arms, and on my chest. During which procedure, our rookie GranPa has (finally) learned to also remove the eyeglasses and put out of sight. Which means that the *only* thing he can see clearly is her beautiful face. Just the way she wants it!
Back at home, one fine morning as Mom and Dad took advantage of the Family Baby Sitting Service and slept in, (pure bliss for them both!) GranPa and Munchkin played Table Hockey. She would stand up at the edge of the coffee table, and we would shoot a red, plastic drinking glass across. It was a tight game, and I hung in, but she simply was too much for me, and won hands down! GranMa Barb also had many turns with the Mighty Mite, and loved every second. Sure Baby Jane was fussy and cranky sometimes, but she figures that she's earned that right as a growing, questioning, pushing the boundaries, 10 month old.
GranMa and GranPa had a wonderful extended weekend with our family. We got to get caught up with DJ and Katie, and I got to grill steaks one night. In Northern Michigan, our family are Meatatarians, and Katie also thinks this is good thing! DJ even showed me how to grill Asparagus, yummee :) So love can take many forms, can't it? Sometimes it simply is a nice dinner with your family, and enjoying their company. And even if I was never a Father, I now get to have a much more time honored title: GranPa!
And just to make my life even better, we recently had a wonderful visit with our GranBaby, oh and her parents too! *chuckle* Son DJ, his wonderful wife Katie, and the star of the show: GranBaby Jane, came traipsing up here the weekend before Easter. The newest member of the Bunny Clan is 10 months old, about 20 pounds, and very bright and engaged with her environment. Her parents are wonderfully loving, attentive, and manage to say "No" (and mean it) at just the right times. DJ and Katie have a very natural style of parenting, and they work well together as a team. The result is a happy, intelligent, and beautiful girl.
Of course, to Barb and I, the little miss is a treasure, and a joy, like no other. I was never a parent, so all the Baby Ohhhs and Ahhhs are new for me. But Barb says I have good instincts with people, children and babies. Plus she gives me tips on what to do, and how to do it. Good thing as otherwise I fear I'd do the Wrong Thing, and make whatever into a really Bad Situation! But so far, no Rookie GranPa mistakes that weren't solved by some loving or that venerated sport of new parentage: Baby Bouncing!
Happily, GranBaby Jane is (mostly) a delight, and quite happy to be in your arms. Bouncing is sometimes required, but that's a rather small price to pay for having a minute or two of total, unbridled joy. When the family went to church we were late (as per usual), so we got to sit in front, where the "Late Lutherans" have to pay penance, and can't slip into obscurity for the Service. Early in the Service, Jane was quite gleefully burbling along, and contented herself with Daddy's lap. So, being the beaming, proud GranPa that I am, during a relatively lesser important moment of the service (no, not the Sermon) I sneak a glance at her, two seats away. Busted! Ho boy... she alerts on me like a Redneck at a Monster Truck in a Mud Bog! She smiles right at me, and giggles as she gets handed over a couple of people to finally nestle in my arms, and on my chest. During which procedure, our rookie GranPa has (finally) learned to also remove the eyeglasses and put out of sight. Which means that the *only* thing he can see clearly is her beautiful face. Just the way she wants it!
Back at home, one fine morning as Mom and Dad took advantage of the Family Baby Sitting Service and slept in, (pure bliss for them both!) GranPa and Munchkin played Table Hockey. She would stand up at the edge of the coffee table, and we would shoot a red, plastic drinking glass across. It was a tight game, and I hung in, but she simply was too much for me, and won hands down! GranMa Barb also had many turns with the Mighty Mite, and loved every second. Sure Baby Jane was fussy and cranky sometimes, but she figures that she's earned that right as a growing, questioning, pushing the boundaries, 10 month old.
GranMa and GranPa had a wonderful extended weekend with our family. We got to get caught up with DJ and Katie, and I got to grill steaks one night. In Northern Michigan, our family are Meatatarians, and Katie also thinks this is good thing! DJ even showed me how to grill Asparagus, yummee :) So love can take many forms, can't it? Sometimes it simply is a nice dinner with your family, and enjoying their company. And even if I was never a Father, I now get to have a much more time honored title: GranPa!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
One Man's Journey & Misadvenures of a Weekend ;)
Woosh! Where did the time go? Not just a weekend's worth, but 34 years. Wha? It was quite a ride this weekend past for your humble narrator, oh my goodly men and gentle ladies.
Let's start more or less at the beginning... well ok, not 34 years ago because that would be just way too long to sit and read in one take. Saturday morning I get up and prep for a 5 hour drive downstate, to meet up with some chums from my High School, and some of their spouses along as well. It was an informal Class Reunion, but we represented three or four years of graduates. I hadn't seen any of these people since back in the day, and some I never knew at all. I moved from Michigan to Ohio right before my Senior year, and so didn't get to graduate with all my friends. I did, however, make new friends at the new school, and walked with them. But after High School, then on to University, then moving around the country (mostly to the West Coast), then finally moving back to Northern Lower Michigan... well I simply lost touch with the old gang.
A few months ago, my dearest High School flame found me on FaceBook, and we renewed a wonderful friendship (isn't it great when Technology actually is a force for the good?). She, and her best buddy (from back in the day, and now) organized a get together, just for giggle and grins. And yes, there was plenty of both at the Event!
So I cruise down to my old stomping grounds, and park myself at Mom's. It's always great to see her, and I love her dearly. My former flame, Faye (not gonna say old... wouldn't be prudent) picks me up, and we're off to a nice, not so little, Pizzeria. People start arriving a bit early, and we gather in the bar to meet and greet, establish old friendships and forge new ones. Our party has a back room, and we swell the ranks to about two dozen people! Probably more, but I really didn't count heads as I was having too much fun! I got to meet some new friends that I didn't know from back then, and of course, we all had a bit of sport to go along with our deep dish pizza and beer.
Faye was a charming, and beautiful "Hostess With the Mostest", along with fellow royalty Casey and Leslie. I got to be a social butterfly, and talk with a few peeps I remembered, plus meet some FB buddies in the flesh. Fellow StarFleet Commander Jerry, and I, felt it our obligatory duty to tag team on the Royalty in Residence, and keep them in line (yeah.... riiiight).
Alas, however, even Cinderella's Ball had to come to a close, and so did ours. It was still rather early, so Faye and I trundle off to go find a couple of geocaches, in the dark! She had never Geocached, and I've been involved in it for about 9 years now. Sooooo... Mr. Expert Geocacher takes the newbie out, and promptly cannot find either of the caches nearby?! It just figures, huh? But Faye was a gracious sport about it, and seemed to genuinely enjoy our time together. As did I. Soon enough we also need to make a night of it, and so we say our goodbyes, with promises that it won't be another three plus decades before we see each other again.
The next morning, I'm up at the crack of about 10 am or so, and back on the road to home, yea! A beautiful adventure with a really great group of people! Who knew we'd all end up being such a great group back then? Ahh... sweet memories help to fill the five hour trip back upstate where the deer and the antelope play, and where my lovely wife lays waiting.
I toddle in about 3pm, with just barely enough time to shower and shave, change clothes, then back in the car and off to a Red Cross meeting! Barb volunteers to drive (clever girl knew I wasn't going to!), and the meeting was also a fun event. When we get together to schedule who's going to be on call four our county, we tend to make it a social gathering as well. This night featured a Turkey dinner, with all the trimmings! Oh, and a few bottles of wine, just to help the scheduling go down a bit easier. But *finally* we head back to home, well fed, but I'm oh so tired after the last 48 hours! Ahh... now I can finally crash hard, and well deservedly... Up to about 2am when we get a call from (yup, it just had to be) the Red Cross! We're on call, and there's a house fire. So I grudgingly get up, get dressed, and out the door we go. We arrive at the scene to find a trailer, a family, and a couple of Fire Departments. Happily, the family was all safe, and no one was injured. We provide assistance for the family, and get them a hotel for a couple of days, and some also provide for food, and clothing. Which means that, we really, finally, do get home at 6am! And yes, this time it's for real, I do crash, and dream very peacefully.
So... what a weekend, eh? Filled with lots of renewal, laughter, love... and yes some tragedy. But it was all about Life, and what we do with it. This coming weekend, I think I'll grill some steaks, and read a book.
Let's start more or less at the beginning... well ok, not 34 years ago because that would be just way too long to sit and read in one take. Saturday morning I get up and prep for a 5 hour drive downstate, to meet up with some chums from my High School, and some of their spouses along as well. It was an informal Class Reunion, but we represented three or four years of graduates. I hadn't seen any of these people since back in the day, and some I never knew at all. I moved from Michigan to Ohio right before my Senior year, and so didn't get to graduate with all my friends. I did, however, make new friends at the new school, and walked with them. But after High School, then on to University, then moving around the country (mostly to the West Coast), then finally moving back to Northern Lower Michigan... well I simply lost touch with the old gang.
A few months ago, my dearest High School flame found me on FaceBook, and we renewed a wonderful friendship (isn't it great when Technology actually is a force for the good?). She, and her best buddy (from back in the day, and now) organized a get together, just for giggle and grins. And yes, there was plenty of both at the Event!
So I cruise down to my old stomping grounds, and park myself at Mom's. It's always great to see her, and I love her dearly. My former flame, Faye (not gonna say old... wouldn't be prudent) picks me up, and we're off to a nice, not so little, Pizzeria. People start arriving a bit early, and we gather in the bar to meet and greet, establish old friendships and forge new ones. Our party has a back room, and we swell the ranks to about two dozen people! Probably more, but I really didn't count heads as I was having too much fun! I got to meet some new friends that I didn't know from back then, and of course, we all had a bit of sport to go along with our deep dish pizza and beer.
Faye was a charming, and beautiful "Hostess With the Mostest", along with fellow royalty Casey and Leslie. I got to be a social butterfly, and talk with a few peeps I remembered, plus meet some FB buddies in the flesh. Fellow StarFleet Commander Jerry, and I, felt it our obligatory duty to tag team on the Royalty in Residence, and keep them in line (yeah.... riiiight).
Alas, however, even Cinderella's Ball had to come to a close, and so did ours. It was still rather early, so Faye and I trundle off to go find a couple of geocaches, in the dark! She had never Geocached, and I've been involved in it for about 9 years now. Sooooo... Mr. Expert Geocacher takes the newbie out, and promptly cannot find either of the caches nearby?! It just figures, huh? But Faye was a gracious sport about it, and seemed to genuinely enjoy our time together. As did I. Soon enough we also need to make a night of it, and so we say our goodbyes, with promises that it won't be another three plus decades before we see each other again.
The next morning, I'm up at the crack of about 10 am or so, and back on the road to home, yea! A beautiful adventure with a really great group of people! Who knew we'd all end up being such a great group back then? Ahh... sweet memories help to fill the five hour trip back upstate where the deer and the antelope play, and where my lovely wife lays waiting.
I toddle in about 3pm, with just barely enough time to shower and shave, change clothes, then back in the car and off to a Red Cross meeting! Barb volunteers to drive (clever girl knew I wasn't going to!), and the meeting was also a fun event. When we get together to schedule who's going to be on call four our county, we tend to make it a social gathering as well. This night featured a Turkey dinner, with all the trimmings! Oh, and a few bottles of wine, just to help the scheduling go down a bit easier. But *finally* we head back to home, well fed, but I'm oh so tired after the last 48 hours! Ahh... now I can finally crash hard, and well deservedly... Up to about 2am when we get a call from (yup, it just had to be) the Red Cross! We're on call, and there's a house fire. So I grudgingly get up, get dressed, and out the door we go. We arrive at the scene to find a trailer, a family, and a couple of Fire Departments. Happily, the family was all safe, and no one was injured. We provide assistance for the family, and get them a hotel for a couple of days, and some also provide for food, and clothing. Which means that, we really, finally, do get home at 6am! And yes, this time it's for real, I do crash, and dream very peacefully.
So... what a weekend, eh? Filled with lots of renewal, laughter, love... and yes some tragedy. But it was all about Life, and what we do with it. This coming weekend, I think I'll grill some steaks, and read a book.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
March Madness & Mayhem...
This post is dedicated to all you guys n gals, especially abroad, that are scratching your heads and wondering what the "March Madness" is that seems to be infecting so many of your, otherwise what passes for, normal friends?
So, I'll attempt to explain, in easy to use words, the even easier to get concepts, and mystique, of our national craze. (ok, I'll also give a link to the Almighty Gawd of Info, Wiki, here). I haven't read it, so you'll hafta tell me how I do.
Simply put, March Madness ( clever marketing name) is our nation's College Basketball Championship Tournament. It is a round robin, single elimination tournament that stretches for almost a fortnight (that's two weeks to us), and yields a true National Champion. The presiding organization of all College Athletics here is the NCAA. (Often referred to as NC2A) There is a Men's, and a Women's Tournament, and the gals tourney can be as exciting as the men's. I am a big fan of the gals that got game! In some sense, they are even more pure athletes. But I digress. (wow, only took me to my 2nd blog).
Schools all over America (ok, the States to you chums and mates abroad) vie to get into the "Big Dance" here, and it starts with a field of 64. Since it's a "win or go home" scenario, we have clever nicknames for each Round. But being Americans, we don't bother with the first two Rounds *chuckle*. Thus, the Third Round is known as the Sweet Sixteen, then the Elite Eight, then the Final Four, then the Semi, and lastly the Final. See how easy that was? You're practically an expert already.
I'm not going into the complexities of the games itself, suffice it to say that if you put the ball thru the hoop more times than your opponent, then you win. It's the *how* of putting "the brick" thru the "rim" that becomes so fascinating. And so grueling. It's the history of the schools, and players, that adds so much to the human interest side of the many great stories going on.
Well over 90% of these kids are NOT going to be Professional Basketball Players. Instead, they are playing, now, for ideas like School Spirit, Team Pride, and Love of Sport. And it shows. This is simply a presentation of some of the best sports, and pure athletes, in the world. Period. You cheer as they win, and cry as they lose, all at the same time.
You revisit old rivalries in College Sports, and see new ones created. You hold your breath as the scrappy, but overwhelmed team from Podunk State becomes the Cinderella Story and advances by actually upsetting Big Whoop University. As if Podunk State had been granted a wish by it's Fairy GodMother. Gonzaga State (real name) is a regular at the "Cinderella Ball". They have been bridesmaids quite a few times, but never the bride.
And there is *always* the "Upset Round"! For no discernible reason, two, or three, or four underdogs are suddenly smitten by the Basketball Gawdz that be, and are elevated past a vastly superior team. This is usually where most of us that keep track of these things and also upset! *chuckle* Speaking of which, when you hear people talking about how their Boards, or Brackets are doing, that simply means they have filled out a form (either online, or printed out as part of a pool to bet) and are discussing the results.
You can play along on any of several sites, I have Brackets on Yahoo, CBSSportsline, and ESPN. And you can get all sorts of advice on who you should pick, and why. This year, however, I'm going to the top... all the way. Aye yup, watched a video of President Obama. Last year he got trashed in the first round, but then did quite well and picked the eventual winner. Not sure what it means, but he and I agree about the Final Four, and thru the National Champion. We just have a minor parting of the ways as to how to get there. My dear, late, mother, however, would base her picks on who had the prettiest team colors, and the cutest mascot. She beat me every time.
So, I'll attempt to explain, in easy to use words, the even easier to get concepts, and mystique, of our national craze. (ok, I'll also give a link to the Almighty Gawd of Info, Wiki, here). I haven't read it, so you'll hafta tell me how I do.
Simply put, March Madness ( clever marketing name) is our nation's College Basketball Championship Tournament. It is a round robin, single elimination tournament that stretches for almost a fortnight (that's two weeks to us), and yields a true National Champion. The presiding organization of all College Athletics here is the NCAA. (Often referred to as NC2A) There is a Men's, and a Women's Tournament, and the gals tourney can be as exciting as the men's. I am a big fan of the gals that got game! In some sense, they are even more pure athletes. But I digress. (wow, only took me to my 2nd blog).
Schools all over America (ok, the States to you chums and mates abroad) vie to get into the "Big Dance" here, and it starts with a field of 64. Since it's a "win or go home" scenario, we have clever nicknames for each Round. But being Americans, we don't bother with the first two Rounds *chuckle*. Thus, the Third Round is known as the Sweet Sixteen, then the Elite Eight, then the Final Four, then the Semi, and lastly the Final. See how easy that was? You're practically an expert already.
I'm not going into the complexities of the games itself, suffice it to say that if you put the ball thru the hoop more times than your opponent, then you win. It's the *how* of putting "the brick" thru the "rim" that becomes so fascinating. And so grueling. It's the history of the schools, and players, that adds so much to the human interest side of the many great stories going on.
Well over 90% of these kids are NOT going to be Professional Basketball Players. Instead, they are playing, now, for ideas like School Spirit, Team Pride, and Love of Sport. And it shows. This is simply a presentation of some of the best sports, and pure athletes, in the world. Period. You cheer as they win, and cry as they lose, all at the same time.
You revisit old rivalries in College Sports, and see new ones created. You hold your breath as the scrappy, but overwhelmed team from Podunk State becomes the Cinderella Story and advances by actually upsetting Big Whoop University. As if Podunk State had been granted a wish by it's Fairy GodMother. Gonzaga State (real name) is a regular at the "Cinderella Ball". They have been bridesmaids quite a few times, but never the bride.
And there is *always* the "Upset Round"! For no discernible reason, two, or three, or four underdogs are suddenly smitten by the Basketball Gawdz that be, and are elevated past a vastly superior team. This is usually where most of us that keep track of these things and also upset! *chuckle* Speaking of which, when you hear people talking about how their Boards, or Brackets are doing, that simply means they have filled out a form (either online, or printed out as part of a pool to bet) and are discussing the results.
You can play along on any of several sites, I have Brackets on Yahoo, CBSSportsline, and ESPN. And you can get all sorts of advice on who you should pick, and why. This year, however, I'm going to the top... all the way. Aye yup, watched a video of President Obama. Last year he got trashed in the first round, but then did quite well and picked the eventual winner. Not sure what it means, but he and I agree about the Final Four, and thru the National Champion. We just have a minor parting of the ways as to how to get there. My dear, late, mother, however, would base her picks on who had the prettiest team colors, and the cutest mascot. She beat me every time.
Monday, March 15, 2010
In the Beginning...
Well, maybe not that far back. I've been blogging for a bit in SparkyLand and FakeBook, and have received some very kind words of encouragement to continue. So I'll start my blog n blather in here, and then link to there.. see? Right over there.
If you've come for some wonderful homespun wisdom today, or a great dissertation on the lowly state of politics, or some other answers to the world's many troubles and woes, sorry to disappoint. I'm sure I'll touch on those, and many other subjects when the time comes, but really this blog is here mainly for me to have fun.
Aye yup. It really is all about me *giggle* Well, ok, me and you. It's how we laugh at ourselves and love each other. And all the other stuff that happens along the way. Nothing is so trivial that it doesn't get noticed, nor too important to make fun of. (yes, I did just dangle that preposition).
Perhaps we can all learn a thing or two along the way, and mostly learn about ourselves, and how we can improve upon that! So, with that, now that you've read this particular piece of ilk, since it's a lovely day out there, lets all turn off our computers and go outside to play nicely with each other!
If you've come for some wonderful homespun wisdom today, or a great dissertation on the lowly state of politics, or some other answers to the world's many troubles and woes, sorry to disappoint. I'm sure I'll touch on those, and many other subjects when the time comes, but really this blog is here mainly for me to have fun.
Aye yup. It really is all about me *giggle* Well, ok, me and you. It's how we laugh at ourselves and love each other. And all the other stuff that happens along the way. Nothing is so trivial that it doesn't get noticed, nor too important to make fun of. (yes, I did just dangle that preposition).
Perhaps we can all learn a thing or two along the way, and mostly learn about ourselves, and how we can improve upon that! So, with that, now that you've read this particular piece of ilk, since it's a lovely day out there, lets all turn off our computers and go outside to play nicely with each other!
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