Little League Lookback

Spring and Summer have hit Iowa and it’s the time of year when little league games dominate parents schedules.  My boy this year is in his first year of Bam Bam (think TBall with a big bouncy ball and big red bat).  My daughter plays with us in the back yard and next year will be looking for softball for her.  But all the playing reminded me of my little league days and a vivid memory.

In Garwin after 5^th grade, we had enough kids go out in 4-5-6 grade to have 2 minors teams, Garwin-Orange and Garwin-Black.  My teams first game was against Green Mountain, the school district we are consolidated with, and vs. friends we went to school with.  The Green Mountain team hadn’t won a game in like 2 years. 

My coach put me in the leadoff spot.  Green Mountain started the tallest kid in class, and then it seemed like he could chuck it pretty good, but there isn’t a lot of control.  I got drilled in the hip in one of my at-bats.  The rest of the details of the game, outside of the last inning are fuzzy but the last inning I remember clear as day.  We were going into the top of the 5^th (we only played 5 innings) and we were down by 1.  My buddy Bryan was on the mound for Green Mountain.  With a couple singles and a walk we had bases loaded, top of the lineup.  I’m up to bat, my buddy Pete was on third base, the tying run. 

I step into the batter’s box and did my “Nomar” of getting ready for the pitch.  Made eye contact with Bryan…it was on.  A hit or a walk we at least tie the game, and maybe even get the game winning run around from second.    So the scene is set and as can be expected I swing at the first pitch.  As soon as I swung and felt the contact I knew the result….got under it too much.  DAMN!  It was a perfect pop fly straight up to the pitcher’s mound and Bryan.  Can still see him waving off the 1b and 3b as I was running to first.  Ball hit his glove, game over.  An L, 0-1.  Green Mountain had their first win in 2 years.  I felt like I lost the game for us.

We went like 8-8 that year, going into the playoffs.  In the first game in Gilman, we were up going into the bottom of the 5^th…gave up a couple runs and my 5^th grade year of minors was over.  This may not be the fondest memory of my little league life but it’s the one that sticks out the most!  The next year though would be a lot better! 

Just Go With It --- or not?

Last night I rented Just Go With It, the new movie out from Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston, and also SI swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker’s acting debut.  Was excited for the movie as I’ve heard that it wasn’t bad….and IMO Sandler’s had some bummers in the past few years, compared to what he had in the 90s.  The movie felt like it was a more the same story line from The Wedding Singer than anything else.  Through the first half of the movie I was thinking to myself “I’ve seen this story before.”  I felt the relationship with Sandler and Decker was rushed and I was asking “how’d they get there”  The movie wasn’t good until the scene where Dan Patrick comes in with the Hula Dance off between Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Anniston.  With that scene and the next 35 minutes the movie was enjoyable and funny. 

Until the end I didn’t like Nicole Kidman’s character.  Anniston is well Anniston, she’s cute and can pull off funny stuff.  Sandler I thought was just happy to have an SI cover model there in a bikini and Nick Swardson I just wanted to hit with a 2x4.  Brooklyn Decker looked like a rookie acting, but you see why she is a SI swimsuit cover model.  Dan Patrick was good in his role and so were the kids. 

Glad I only did a redbox here for it. 

1.5 Stars out of 5.

Chilean Volcanic Eruption

This photos are just way to crazy.  Almost not real, and when I saw them for the first time my initial thought was that's Mordor from Lord of the Rings.  Crazy how scary, and awesome, Mother Nature can be.  

Photos from http://gizmo.do/jU47JJ


More photos can be seen here.

Lasting Image - Shaquille O'Neal

My first lasting image is actual a video.  Shaq was one of the most dominant figures in not just basketball but all sports.  He retired last week after 19 years in the NBA.  He has another famous dunk that destroys a basket but this one sticks in my mind because I was watching it live when it happened.  Shaq may have had better moments in LA with the championships, but below is my lasting image of Shaq.

What is your lasting image of Shaq?

Best and Worst of the Weekend – 15 year reunion

Best – So the weekend was pretty good on a whole.  Friday we didn’t do to much as I knew that Saturday was going to be a long day with things packed back to back to back.  Had all 3 kids out cold by 9pm! 

Saturday was a flurry.  Brayden had his end of year program with Lil Scholars preschool.  He was up on stage singing (and sometimes just standing) but he did a good job.  When he went up to get his certificate I let out a “way to go brady!” and he stopped on stage to look back not knowing where I was.  Was kind of funny.  Then we had to rush him out and get him to his Bam Bam game.  He had already been up for a while being the first one up, so this was an adventure.  He was getting to the point of being tired and crabby and just ornery.  He didn’t want to play and was hungry and more interested in the rocks and dirt.  Not to mention it was kind of warm too.  He got through about an inning and a half before tapping out.  He didn’t want to run past 1^st his second at bat. 

After that it was home and pack for Garwin.  I had my 15 year reunion on Saturday.  Can’t believe it’s been 15 years since we graduated.  We had about 12 of our class of 35 there.  I think we had more kids there than classmates.  But it was fun.  I’ve seen a few people since then with just running around Des Moines, and softball and stuff.  Others I hadn’t seen in a while.  Was really good to catch up with them and see them again.  Also loved being back in Garwin and at the park we just let the kids run and play.  Can’t do that here in Des Moines so much, so I loved just giving them that freedom.  They did pretty good too.  Afterwards drove around town and saw the new school addition, that looks really nice.  Then we drove around to see both the old houses and grandma’s old house.  Was kind of nostalgic and fun.  Loved growing up there! 

Saturday night we went to drive to see dad in Marshalltown then.  Mom was gone in Memphis all week so thought he needed a visitor.  He was sleeping when we got there, no surprise.  The kids ate a brownie there and we left some with dad.   Brayden wanted to stay with grandpa, probably will get them there some weekend so he can play with grandpa.  On the way home the kids were out cold, and took a bit to wake them up to get them in the house. 

Sunday I told the kids I’d make them pancakes and then get them outside and doing stuff in the morning before it got hot.  We hit Columbus Park to swing a bit and then one of their favorites, the sculpture park.  They just ran.  Addy I think may be a good little runner.  She was moving pretty good.  Brayden will get there, he just needs a little more time to get longer legs to keep up with Addy.  After that we went to Pete Crivario Park and the wading pool.  The kids and I were there 2 hours playing.  They loved the water, played with other kids and ate lunch.  Were pretty good there.  Brayden then CRASHED big time!  It was nice.  I got about a 30 min nap in.  Not long enough.  The rest of the day was keeping cool, grilling and watching X-Men.

Worst – one little accident Brayden had at the wading pool.  I’ll keep it at that. :)

On tap – I hope to get to see XMen First Class sometime this week.  Also 2 more bam bam games and also 2 softball games.  So a busy week!

Coed Softball Update

Last night I was able to get back to Indianola and play some coed softball back with my team.  I’ve missed the past 3 weeks due to kids stuff.  My boy and oldest girl both had stuff going on, and I want to be involved so unlike last year when I missed 0 games, I missed 7 so far this year.  But I got to get both in last night.  We played a team we should and did beat and then also a team we just have fun with.

The first game I had a couple of nice hits.  My first one I had ducks on the pond, ripped it to left center and 2 runs got in.  The second at bat I hit it to left and motored around into 2^nd with a slide.  Got the knee a little bloody and the shirt even dirtier!  Got stuck out there on 2^nd after leading the inning off with a double.

We ended up winning in dramatic fashion after giving up a few lazy runs, we scored in the bottom of the 7^th and won.

Next up was a game vs the Rivals.  Have a lot of fun just jawing and stuff with them and joking.  I had 2 at bats against them in this game too and got singles both times.  Both times the girl behind me hit it to the shortstop and we got doubled up.  Lost the game.

Overall it was a good fun night.  Really missed hanging out for a little bit with the team.  It was really a nice stress reliever and break.  I showed up there with an upset stomach and feeling exhausted, left feeling really good, and a lot of energy.  Should be able to get to at least a game or so next week.

Stats:

Season	5	6	3	2	0	0	1	2	0	0	0.833	1.167	0.833
	H	AB	1b	2b	3b	HR	R	RBI	BB	K	AVG	SLUG	OPS
Game 2	1	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0.500	0.500	0.500
Game 9	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	1.000	2.000	1.000
Game 10	2	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000

Best and Worst of the Weekend - 3 day weekend!

Best - Friday night the weekend started out great!  Date Night!  We had a great night with supper at Flying Mango and seeing Bridesmaids and going to Mullets.  Which I'll have to go to breakfast sometime to with the boy!

Saturday we woke up and Mom was still here from babysitting.  The kids (all 3 kids that is!) and I ran errands while Shawnna slept than hit the Jordan Creek Mall for the kids to play.  We got home and grilled out and took a long walk.  All during the walk Brayden ran the whole way while Addy rode her scooter.  He was tuckered out and crashed easy.

Sunday I woke up to Shawnna making snickerdoodles.  WINNING!  We hit Kung Fu Panda 2 early at 11 and then the rest of the day was spent taking the van apart to check out the radio and hanging out with some friends and then grilling some tasty steaks.

Monday I took the older kids to the zoo today to see the dinosaurs exhibit.  They were just mechanical skeletons with dinos over them.  The TRex was cool, but didn't car for the others.  It was also really packed today but we still spent a good hour there.  More grilling today and some planting out in the flower garden and it was another good day in the 3 day weekend.

Happy Memorial Day to all the veterans who served and those who are currently serving.  My Memorial Day memories usually all come back to going to the cemetery in Garwin with a poppy on my outfit.  My grandma would get up and set the wreath for the auxilury and then they'd read all the Garwin vets who have died and what war they served.  The cemetery would have the roads all lined with Old Glory and then all the vets had a little flags.  Miss those days, and wish you could go back one time.

Worst - Going to go with my allergies, they are killing me right now and well you remember the most recent.  Brayden and I struggling this weekend with them.

UPDATED - worst was also all the plumbing and gutter work I did this weekend.  My arms are sore a bit.  So is the back.

To go sports wise, what the heck is up in Columbus.  Jim Tressell resigned today, I had a feeling it was coming but then word is coming there might be more with Terrelle Pryor, oh and we still haven't had NCAA sanctions yet.

Then you have #88 in Charlotte were you thought he was ending his win less drought and then ran out of gas.  Yea, he ran out of gas.  Bad luck for Dale Jr.