Thanks to 1. Always nice to be recognized.
My ride last night was a good one of 21+. Did twice around DCC. The one distraction was that they were putting in a couple of new streets in a new extension of the Stoney Creek housing development off of Forest Grove Road. And the concrete trucks were out in full force. My buddy with the paving company said that they did over 80 truckloads yesterday afternoon.
To an extent, the sprawl of the housing in northeast Bettendorf affects us bikers similarly as it does the wild life. The once lightly-travelled county roads are now as busy as arterial streets in town. You can no longer head out at 5:00 PM and expect an open road.
My American cleaning girl did a so-so job. She was far-less particular than my regular Russian gal, and not as good as the substitute Russian. She vacuumed and dusted, but I know that she spent less than three hours at what I told her was a four hour job. But she had only nominal instructions (from me), and the end result was ok. It just didn't exceed expectations.
We talked to 4 today here at the office. She happened to call at a time when 3 was also here. I share everyone's joy in reading her blog. She's looking forward to Barcelona. But she's really looking forward to seeing her sisters next week.
Clemons couldn't get out of the fifth inning in Colorado today. They'll need to score 7-8 runs a game for him to have a winning record.
All for today. I need to get a card for 4 to the USPS before the last pick-up. Her next letter from me will be delivered by 2!
Be careful out there.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tuesday
Just two thoughts for the day. But both could become Seinfeld episodes.
The first. Circadian rhythms. USA Today had an article in the Life section today about this topic. There was a symposium in New York last week, attended by "several hundred" researchers to discuss, "Clocks and Rhythms." Checkout Wikipedia. The body clock. Sun light. Temperature. How about gravity? Barometric pressure. Proximity to a final exam. Nearness of a wedding date.
Jerry and the gang could go on for hours.
The second. Surviving the day. I wasn't going to put this on the blog, but it is just too relevant to ignore. Mother Duck and 10-12 hatchlings. Waddling along the outside tables this AM at the Duck Creek SB's. Mother Duck electing to cross the four lanes of Middle Road. At 7:30. Almost making it. Girl on the phone. Late for work. Didn't even slow down. Five small survivors. Wandering the parking lot at the Holiday Inn.
Stupid me for not acting on my instinct to get out there and stop traffic.
On the other hand. Look on the roads and streets everyday. The only difference here is that we were eye witnesses. I wonder at what point in the development of the automobile that roadkill became a new form of unnatural selection?
We do need to live each day. And it helps to be a little lucky. So those of you who are reading this, regardless of what you might think, you have been a little lucky today.
I'm off to rinse Margret off. She's had a day of exercise.
Be careful out there.
The first. Circadian rhythms. USA Today had an article in the Life section today about this topic. There was a symposium in New York last week, attended by "several hundred" researchers to discuss, "Clocks and Rhythms." Checkout Wikipedia. The body clock. Sun light. Temperature. How about gravity? Barometric pressure. Proximity to a final exam. Nearness of a wedding date.
Jerry and the gang could go on for hours.
The second. Surviving the day. I wasn't going to put this on the blog, but it is just too relevant to ignore. Mother Duck and 10-12 hatchlings. Waddling along the outside tables this AM at the Duck Creek SB's. Mother Duck electing to cross the four lanes of Middle Road. At 7:30. Almost making it. Girl on the phone. Late for work. Didn't even slow down. Five small survivors. Wandering the parking lot at the Holiday Inn.
Stupid me for not acting on my instinct to get out there and stop traffic.
On the other hand. Look on the roads and streets everyday. The only difference here is that we were eye witnesses. I wonder at what point in the development of the automobile that roadkill became a new form of unnatural selection?
We do need to live each day. And it helps to be a little lucky. So those of you who are reading this, regardless of what you might think, you have been a little lucky today.
I'm off to rinse Margret off. She's had a day of exercise.
Be careful out there.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Monday
Another Monday in Ordinary Time.
FFF was good last night. Brats (with sauerkraut), turkey brats, salad and mixed fresh fruit. And a little Whitey's strawberry ice cream for dessert. Wine and a date for a Cub's game were my gifts. Both were good choices.
It was really good to talk to all the girls on Father's Day. They all live such busy lives. Taking the time to check in with Dear Old Dad is meaningful to me.
The big news in the fam is that 3 is now going to be joining 2 and 4 for the two weeks of European travel in advance of 1's wedding week. 3's a bit at loose ends as she awaits starting her Chicago job next month. This trip will pretty well round-out the last days of her pre-Real World life. I just hope that the three of them can survive two weeks of travel together without pushing one another into a moat at one of the castles that they might visit.
The College World Series is in full swing in Omaha. Seems like the same protagonists are there again this year. My fav Erin Andrews is doing color from the dugouts and the grand stands. She perfectly fits the sideline reporter niche on ESPN, but I bet she's too perky to get a promotion to a studio position. They need to be male or relatively dull females for those jobs.
My old (now deceased) friend Wally and I talked several times about getting out to Omaha for a couple of days for the CWS, but we never got it done. You need to be a fan of one of the teams playing, or a die-hard baseball fan to make that trip. But I will do it one of these years.
My SB's author-friend Tim is the Race Director for a kid's triathlon that they are having in Middle Park in Bettendorf on the 30th of this month. I volunteered last year (as did 4), and I have elevated status this year to supervisor of the parking lot/transition area. There was a bigger-than-expected turn-out last year, and with some additional publicity, I anticipate an even larger field on the 30th. I'm looking for a few more volunteers to herd the cats.
Is there anything so stupid as the NCAA enforcing a "no blog" rule during these baseball games? Oops. I forgot. We are talking about the NCAA. They invented stupid rules.
The scoring at the US Open Golf Tournament last weekend was so difficult that most of the players finished double digits over par. If you had to play that course everyday, you wouldn't have a problem with golf addiction. A good golfer at your local country club wouldn't break 100 at Oakmont.
I do find it interesting that the Pennsylvania Turnpike literally goes right through the course. Having made the drive between Dover, Delaware and the Midwest several times via that road, I know now that I can say that I have been at Oakmont. I just didn't know it at the time. And I wasn't there very long.
I'm off for a quiet evening. Maybe taking Margret to the DQ.
Be careful out there.
FFF was good last night. Brats (with sauerkraut), turkey brats, salad and mixed fresh fruit. And a little Whitey's strawberry ice cream for dessert. Wine and a date for a Cub's game were my gifts. Both were good choices.
It was really good to talk to all the girls on Father's Day. They all live such busy lives. Taking the time to check in with Dear Old Dad is meaningful to me.
The big news in the fam is that 3 is now going to be joining 2 and 4 for the two weeks of European travel in advance of 1's wedding week. 3's a bit at loose ends as she awaits starting her Chicago job next month. This trip will pretty well round-out the last days of her pre-Real World life. I just hope that the three of them can survive two weeks of travel together without pushing one another into a moat at one of the castles that they might visit.
The College World Series is in full swing in Omaha. Seems like the same protagonists are there again this year. My fav Erin Andrews is doing color from the dugouts and the grand stands. She perfectly fits the sideline reporter niche on ESPN, but I bet she's too perky to get a promotion to a studio position. They need to be male or relatively dull females for those jobs.
My old (now deceased) friend Wally and I talked several times about getting out to Omaha for a couple of days for the CWS, but we never got it done. You need to be a fan of one of the teams playing, or a die-hard baseball fan to make that trip. But I will do it one of these years.
My SB's author-friend Tim is the Race Director for a kid's triathlon that they are having in Middle Park in Bettendorf on the 30th of this month. I volunteered last year (as did 4), and I have elevated status this year to supervisor of the parking lot/transition area. There was a bigger-than-expected turn-out last year, and with some additional publicity, I anticipate an even larger field on the 30th. I'm looking for a few more volunteers to herd the cats.
Is there anything so stupid as the NCAA enforcing a "no blog" rule during these baseball games? Oops. I forgot. We are talking about the NCAA. They invented stupid rules.
The scoring at the US Open Golf Tournament last weekend was so difficult that most of the players finished double digits over par. If you had to play that course everyday, you wouldn't have a problem with golf addiction. A good golfer at your local country club wouldn't break 100 at Oakmont.
I do find it interesting that the Pennsylvania Turnpike literally goes right through the course. Having made the drive between Dover, Delaware and the Midwest several times via that road, I know now that I can say that I have been at Oakmont. I just didn't know it at the time. And I wasn't there very long.
I'm off for a quiet evening. Maybe taking Margret to the DQ.
Be careful out there.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Sunday
Just a quick report today.
The DeWitt ride with Pete this AM was tough. Glad he was there to pull me in. It was close to 90 by the time we got back. With a little head wind.
News from LV and AM. Congrats to niece/cousin Sue W. for completing Grandmother's Marathon yesterday. LV hit 108 yesterday. Hope the A/C is working. And it looks like John will not be able to make the wedding.
I don't think that I mentioned that Basso got a two year suspension this week for his doping problems. With credit to time already served, he'll be able to race in 2009. His defense was a Clintonesque, "I smoked it, but I didn't inhale." The commissars didn't buy it. Given his flat-out lying to everybody and the climate today, he may not find a place on a top-line team. He gets what he deserves.
FFF with 2 and 3 this evening.
Stay cool.
Be careful out there.
The DeWitt ride with Pete this AM was tough. Glad he was there to pull me in. It was close to 90 by the time we got back. With a little head wind.
News from LV and AM. Congrats to niece/cousin Sue W. for completing Grandmother's Marathon yesterday. LV hit 108 yesterday. Hope the A/C is working. And it looks like John will not be able to make the wedding.
I don't think that I mentioned that Basso got a two year suspension this week for his doping problems. With credit to time already served, he'll be able to race in 2009. His defense was a Clintonesque, "I smoked it, but I didn't inhale." The commissars didn't buy it. Given his flat-out lying to everybody and the climate today, he may not find a place on a top-line team. He gets what he deserves.
FFF with 2 and 3 this evening.
Stay cool.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Saturday
Another hot one here.
My pal Pete and I went out to Davenport's West Lake this AM to watch the triathlon. Lots of spectators. 600 yards in the water. 15 miles on the bike. Three mile run. Rather than a mass entry into the lake, they started individually at three second intervals. It took almost an hour to get all the competitors into the event. My new employee Jessica was doing the race. We saw her in the transition area between the swim and bike elements.
There is a major triathlon in Des Moines tomorrow with like a million dollar purse. Hy Vee is the sponsor. A story in the paper this morning talked about the Tendall girl from the Century Heights neighborhood who was a gymnast/diver at PV. She is nationally competitive as a pro triathlete.
Another friend of mine (my age or so) who was in the golf event this week is a runner who recently did a 50K run! I mean, fitness is great. But isn't there a limit?
No big plans for today. A little ride at some point. Still in recovery from golf.
We talked to 4 yesterday afternoon. She wasn't in bad spirits and was looking forward to her weekend. Still a little sore from the purse incident.
Pete and I are doing DeWitt in the morning. They are doing some much-needed repair work to the Duck Creek bike path in central Davenport. Widening and re-surfacing, I think. Parts of it between Duck Creek Park and Eastern Avenue have been very rough for several years. That's the part that gets flooded whenever there's a lot of rain.
In a shockingly good development, my back yard neighbor had the dead and dying trees cut down yesterday! There's still some clean-up for them to do, but at least I don't have to worry about trees falling on my house in the next storm.
I paid $2.79 for gas today.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Be careful out there.
My pal Pete and I went out to Davenport's West Lake this AM to watch the triathlon. Lots of spectators. 600 yards in the water. 15 miles on the bike. Three mile run. Rather than a mass entry into the lake, they started individually at three second intervals. It took almost an hour to get all the competitors into the event. My new employee Jessica was doing the race. We saw her in the transition area between the swim and bike elements.
There is a major triathlon in Des Moines tomorrow with like a million dollar purse. Hy Vee is the sponsor. A story in the paper this morning talked about the Tendall girl from the Century Heights neighborhood who was a gymnast/diver at PV. She is nationally competitive as a pro triathlete.
Another friend of mine (my age or so) who was in the golf event this week is a runner who recently did a 50K run! I mean, fitness is great. But isn't there a limit?
No big plans for today. A little ride at some point. Still in recovery from golf.
We talked to 4 yesterday afternoon. She wasn't in bad spirits and was looking forward to her weekend. Still a little sore from the purse incident.
Pete and I are doing DeWitt in the morning. They are doing some much-needed repair work to the Duck Creek bike path in central Davenport. Widening and re-surfacing, I think. Parts of it between Duck Creek Park and Eastern Avenue have been very rough for several years. That's the part that gets flooded whenever there's a lot of rain.
In a shockingly good development, my back yard neighbor had the dead and dying trees cut down yesterday! There's still some clean-up for them to do, but at least I don't have to worry about trees falling on my house in the next storm.
I paid $2.79 for gas today.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Be careful out there.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Friday
Back at work after the better part of three days on the golf course. Roy and I didn't totally embarrass ourselves, but we had a few holes that were real stinkers. In the end, it was a good time and I hope I can do it with him again next year.
Hot here. 97 yesterday. They say it will be in the 90's for the next few days.
Five weeks to 1's Big Day.
My substitute Russian cleaning lady has taken a vacation, so I have a substitute-substitute coming in on Monday. I'm going American.
Fridays at the office in the Summer tend to be pretty low-key. My goal today is to get through the stuff I have ignored over the last three days, and have a clear slate for next week.
I'll try to add more later.
Be careful out there.
Hot here. 97 yesterday. They say it will be in the 90's for the next few days.
Five weeks to 1's Big Day.
My substitute Russian cleaning lady has taken a vacation, so I have a substitute-substitute coming in on Monday. I'm going American.
Fridays at the office in the Summer tend to be pretty low-key. My goal today is to get through the stuff I have ignored over the last three days, and have a clear slate for next week.
I'll try to add more later.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thursday
Roy and I had a so-so day on the course. He played real well on the first nine, and we both played poorly on the third nine. I shouldn't play more than 15 holes a day. Two more nines today.
But a good time regardless of the golf.
I worry about 4. She had an incident last night the details of which she can relate to us when she gets back to a computer. She's ok, but a little unsettled. Another of Life's lessons. Those endorphins have her going through one of those down cycles.
Hang in there, Kiddo. We all have your six. (That's guy talk for being your wingman...:)
Junior did go the Hendrick. It should be interesting.
This will be a full day for me today. Awards dinner this evening after golf. I won't be getting any prizes.
Be careful out there.
But a good time regardless of the golf.
I worry about 4. She had an incident last night the details of which she can relate to us when she gets back to a computer. She's ok, but a little unsettled. Another of Life's lessons. Those endorphins have her going through one of those down cycles.
Hang in there, Kiddo. We all have your six. (That's guy talk for being your wingman...:)
Junior did go the Hendrick. It should be interesting.
This will be a full day for me today. Awards dinner this evening after golf. I won't be getting any prizes.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Tuesday
Today was the "practice round" for our golf outing. Roy and I played 15 holes before he had to leave for a meeting. Which was fine since I had already played more than my back preferred. I need to score a lot better tomorrow to avoid embarrassment.
Another enjoyable entry from 4.
The news on the wires from the Left Turning Nation is that Junior will announce tomorrow that he will be joining Hendrick Motor Sports next year. Which is huge news, and a bit of a surprise. It will put him on the same team as Jeff Gordon who is the one other driver whom Junior's rabid fans love to hate. In some respects, it's like the Yankees or the Lakers. The rich get richer. And Jimmy Johnson, last year's champ, is also on the team. But the Lakers and the Yankees have shown that having the most talent doesn't guarantee a championship.
I ended up on the deck at Gov's last night with some friends. One of those perfect evenings for the deck. Little wind. Warm but not hot. No precipitation. Good fellowship.
Margret is showing some age. Her right front tire is worn down to the steel belts on the outside of the tire. This uneven wear is the result of an out-of-balance wheel. I had to get the wheel worked on shortly after I bought the car when loose lug-nuts had bored the holes too big. The stud holes were welded and then fitted, but I could tell that the tire was wearing irregularly.
I'm going to look at replacing all the rims with original equipment (which is slightly less-flashy than the chrome wheels now on the car). It will be a little more expensive, but the current wheels and tires are actually bigger than what should be on the car, and I have a tire-rub on the right front when I turn hard to the left because of lack of wheel-well clearance.
A collector/classic car is a little like boats, airplanes and/or horses: it's usually financially best if you have a friend as the owner.
Lots of stories out there on the passport application processing problems. Who's to blame? Individuals for waiting too long to apply? Or the government for not staffing properly? A little of both is my guess. The Feds are now saying that they will refund fees paid to "expedite" an application. Then again, how much safer are we to have passport ID's rather than birth certificates for passage through our Canadian and Mexican borders? Does anyone seriously believe that a committed terrorist is going to be stopped by the lack of a passport? Preparers of fake documents are probably having a great year.
The lead story in USA Today today was Alzheimer's in "younger" adults. Roy and I think we could both be test cases.
So I'm off to rest and prepare for the big tournament. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Another enjoyable entry from 4.
The news on the wires from the Left Turning Nation is that Junior will announce tomorrow that he will be joining Hendrick Motor Sports next year. Which is huge news, and a bit of a surprise. It will put him on the same team as Jeff Gordon who is the one other driver whom Junior's rabid fans love to hate. In some respects, it's like the Yankees or the Lakers. The rich get richer. And Jimmy Johnson, last year's champ, is also on the team. But the Lakers and the Yankees have shown that having the most talent doesn't guarantee a championship.
I ended up on the deck at Gov's last night with some friends. One of those perfect evenings for the deck. Little wind. Warm but not hot. No precipitation. Good fellowship.
Margret is showing some age. Her right front tire is worn down to the steel belts on the outside of the tire. This uneven wear is the result of an out-of-balance wheel. I had to get the wheel worked on shortly after I bought the car when loose lug-nuts had bored the holes too big. The stud holes were welded and then fitted, but I could tell that the tire was wearing irregularly.
I'm going to look at replacing all the rims with original equipment (which is slightly less-flashy than the chrome wheels now on the car). It will be a little more expensive, but the current wheels and tires are actually bigger than what should be on the car, and I have a tire-rub on the right front when I turn hard to the left because of lack of wheel-well clearance.
A collector/classic car is a little like boats, airplanes and/or horses: it's usually financially best if you have a friend as the owner.
Lots of stories out there on the passport application processing problems. Who's to blame? Individuals for waiting too long to apply? Or the government for not staffing properly? A little of both is my guess. The Feds are now saying that they will refund fees paid to "expedite" an application. Then again, how much safer are we to have passport ID's rather than birth certificates for passage through our Canadian and Mexican borders? Does anyone seriously believe that a committed terrorist is going to be stopped by the lack of a passport? Preparers of fake documents are probably having a great year.
The lead story in USA Today today was Alzheimer's in "younger" adults. Roy and I think we could both be test cases.
So I'm off to rest and prepare for the big tournament. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Monday PM
Just a few lines before heading out for the evening.
I'm still adjusting to the organization of the new Hy Vee grocery store. I'm pretty sure that they have patterned their location of products the same way in all their new stores, but I am slow on the uptake. The learning experience has taken me past lots of products that I'm not sure that I knew existed. The old store is down, and my guess is that the new parking lot will be done by mid-July.
The Sopranos finale was the topic of discussion on the morning news shows. Never have watched it. So I took a pass on the finale. Interesting that a cable show can now draw so much attention from mainstream TV watchers. Then again, Sportscenter is a cable show too. Although ESPN is included on most basic cable services while HBO is on a premium package.
On our first TV on the farm ( black and white, of course), we got reception for KTVO Channel 3 Ottumwa/Kirksville, which I think was a CBS affiliate, and WHO Channel 13 Des Moines which was an NBC station. After that, we occasionally, but not often, picked up WOI in Ames which was an ABC station. There was an antenna on the East side of the house that extended a few feet above the roof peak that had an electric control on the top of the TV that you played with to adjust for the signals.
(I still use the old technology "rabbitt ears" in my current house to pick up the local stations since I refuse to pay the additional fee to include those stations on my dish contract. Originally, the local stations were not offered through the dish in this area. When the technology became available a few years ago to offer those channels to dish customers, I elected to forego the convenience. So now to get network TV, I need to switch wires on the back of the set. And even then, the ABC channel is a bit sketchy.)
In a full turn to another direction, in baseball, "rabbitt ears" is what we labeled an opposing player who acknowledged some razzing from our bench. It was usually a pitcher, and once he started listening to us, we piled it on. I doubt if our antics lead to many Irish victories, but we had a good time. (In today's age with things like ESPNU coverage of college games, we couldn't get away with that kind of conduct.)
Lots of comments about 1's picture in the paper yesterday. Even from her PV varsity basketball coach whom I ran into at the store last night.
4 and I have exchanged a few text messages from Espana. It works. I haven't got the bill yet.
The professional peloton is in east-to-southeast France this week for the Dauphine-Libere race which is one of the last warm-ups for le Tour. Discovery has an "A" team there so I would expect them to do well. Levi could win. But there are a lot of other strong riders using this event as a measure of their form in anticipation of the bigger race next month. I think Dauphine-Libere is the newspaper in that area that sponsors the race. Per Wikipedia, Grenoble is the capital of this area known as le Dauphine, a title likely derived from a ruling family in the Middle Ages that used a dolphin in it's coat of arms.
There has to be a crossword clue in that mix of sport, geography and history.
I'm off to hit some range balls to get ready for the golf event this week with my pal Roy. Two range sessions is plenty of practice, right?
Great to read 4's journal. She has a gift.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
I'm still adjusting to the organization of the new Hy Vee grocery store. I'm pretty sure that they have patterned their location of products the same way in all their new stores, but I am slow on the uptake. The learning experience has taken me past lots of products that I'm not sure that I knew existed. The old store is down, and my guess is that the new parking lot will be done by mid-July.
The Sopranos finale was the topic of discussion on the morning news shows. Never have watched it. So I took a pass on the finale. Interesting that a cable show can now draw so much attention from mainstream TV watchers. Then again, Sportscenter is a cable show too. Although ESPN is included on most basic cable services while HBO is on a premium package.
On our first TV on the farm ( black and white, of course), we got reception for KTVO Channel 3 Ottumwa/Kirksville, which I think was a CBS affiliate, and WHO Channel 13 Des Moines which was an NBC station. After that, we occasionally, but not often, picked up WOI in Ames which was an ABC station. There was an antenna on the East side of the house that extended a few feet above the roof peak that had an electric control on the top of the TV that you played with to adjust for the signals.
(I still use the old technology "rabbitt ears" in my current house to pick up the local stations since I refuse to pay the additional fee to include those stations on my dish contract. Originally, the local stations were not offered through the dish in this area. When the technology became available a few years ago to offer those channels to dish customers, I elected to forego the convenience. So now to get network TV, I need to switch wires on the back of the set. And even then, the ABC channel is a bit sketchy.)
In a full turn to another direction, in baseball, "rabbitt ears" is what we labeled an opposing player who acknowledged some razzing from our bench. It was usually a pitcher, and once he started listening to us, we piled it on. I doubt if our antics lead to many Irish victories, but we had a good time. (In today's age with things like ESPNU coverage of college games, we couldn't get away with that kind of conduct.)
Lots of comments about 1's picture in the paper yesterday. Even from her PV varsity basketball coach whom I ran into at the store last night.
4 and I have exchanged a few text messages from Espana. It works. I haven't got the bill yet.
The professional peloton is in east-to-southeast France this week for the Dauphine-Libere race which is one of the last warm-ups for le Tour. Discovery has an "A" team there so I would expect them to do well. Levi could win. But there are a lot of other strong riders using this event as a measure of their form in anticipation of the bigger race next month. I think Dauphine-Libere is the newspaper in that area that sponsors the race. Per Wikipedia, Grenoble is the capital of this area known as le Dauphine, a title likely derived from a ruling family in the Middle Ages that used a dolphin in it's coat of arms.
There has to be a crossword clue in that mix of sport, geography and history.
I'm off to hit some range balls to get ready for the golf event this week with my pal Roy. Two range sessions is plenty of practice, right?
Great to read 4's journal. She has a gift.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Monday AM
Back at work. Good weekend. Busy week ahead.
The ride on Saturday went pretty much as scheduled. I left my place around 6:20AM and arrived 84 miles later in Galena around 2:00PM. I stopped a total of five times for meals and snacks. The weather was near perfect with sunshine and a helpful, small southwesterly breeze. The full ride on Saturday to Dubuque is right at 110 miles, but my abbreviated route is a good day for me. My backside was looking for the barn after the 60 mile mark. That Sunday return trip has little appeal.
2 met me at the appointed tavern right on time. I was sipping an adult beverage on my couch by 4:30.
It's a ride of around 1500-1600 cyclists, most of whom pass me on the road.
Sunday was a bit of a recovery day, although I did get my yard done and went to the driving range to hit some balls in anticipation of three days of golf later this week with my pal Roy.
1's engagement picture/announcement was in the paper on Sunday. Look'n good!
Sounds like 4 has been doing some travelling and stuff in Espana. She advised me today that my 6/1/07 letter was finally received.
More later.
Be careful out there.
The ride on Saturday went pretty much as scheduled. I left my place around 6:20AM and arrived 84 miles later in Galena around 2:00PM. I stopped a total of five times for meals and snacks. The weather was near perfect with sunshine and a helpful, small southwesterly breeze. The full ride on Saturday to Dubuque is right at 110 miles, but my abbreviated route is a good day for me. My backside was looking for the barn after the 60 mile mark. That Sunday return trip has little appeal.
2 met me at the appointed tavern right on time. I was sipping an adult beverage on my couch by 4:30.
It's a ride of around 1500-1600 cyclists, most of whom pass me on the road.
Sunday was a bit of a recovery day, although I did get my yard done and went to the driving range to hit some balls in anticipation of three days of golf later this week with my pal Roy.
1's engagement picture/announcement was in the paper on Sunday. Look'n good!
Sounds like 4 has been doing some travelling and stuff in Espana. She advised me today that my 6/1/07 letter was finally received.
More later.
Be careful out there.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Friday
Beautiful day here today. Storms last night took out the dish for a while. All my digitals clocks had to be set a couple of times.
The Tour of the Mississippi River Valley (TOMROV) is this weekend. The schedule is to ride from Bettendorf to Dubuque on Saturday (about 110 miles), and then back via a slightly different route on Sunday (about 95 miles). I'll be riding to Galena tomorrow and having 2 pick me up for the ride back home. I've figured out that I don't need the dorm room mattress, or the Sunday ride to make it a successful trip.
1 is down to six weeks. I think that this is her last day of school for the year.
3 is back in C-town.
I may not make an entry tomorrow. If we get back in good time, maybe. Otherwise, I'll file a report Sunday.
Have a great weekend.
Be careful out there.
The Tour of the Mississippi River Valley (TOMROV) is this weekend. The schedule is to ride from Bettendorf to Dubuque on Saturday (about 110 miles), and then back via a slightly different route on Sunday (about 95 miles). I'll be riding to Galena tomorrow and having 2 pick me up for the ride back home. I've figured out that I don't need the dorm room mattress, or the Sunday ride to make it a successful trip.
1 is down to six weeks. I think that this is her last day of school for the year.
3 is back in C-town.
I may not make an entry tomorrow. If we get back in good time, maybe. Otherwise, I'll file a report Sunday.
Have a great weekend.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Thursday
More literary theft. The QC Times ran a big article today, with a picture, about a territorial red-winged blackbird.
Nice entry by 4 today. She subsequently talked to Mom about the bull fight, and said that she wouldn't be going back to another one anytime soon.
My pal Bill heads up to northern Ontario, Canada early tomorrow to spend a week fishing with five long-time friends at a remote lake. I'd be bored silly by day two.
My tux for 7/20 is on order.
Just not all that motivated today. I'll try to add more early tomorrow.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Nice entry by 4 today. She subsequently talked to Mom about the bull fight, and said that she wouldn't be going back to another one anytime soon.
My pal Bill heads up to northern Ontario, Canada early tomorrow to spend a week fishing with five long-time friends at a remote lake. I'd be bored silly by day two.
My tux for 7/20 is on order.
Just not all that motivated today. I'll try to add more early tomorrow.
Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Wednesday
I think our family may be partially responsible for the growth in SB's stock.
3 and I did tenderloins ar The 11th Street Precinct in the Village today. We had tentatively planned to do brats at Golick's, but it started to rain right at noon, so we went to Plan B. It was a good Plan B.
Craig Wilson was lamenting that "old" feeling in his column today about the bright-eyed summer interns at the paper. It was another case of idea theft.
I was lucky last night on my ride. I compounded my test of good fortune by not only riding at the busiest of times, but I also elected to spend a couple of miles on the busiest road. On at least one occasion on Middle Road, while trying to ride the white line at the edge of the road, I slipped off the road and onto the gravelled shoulder, with a car speeding past on my left, just inches away. When I immediately guided back to the pavement, the lay of the land was smooth. If there had been a ridge, I could have gone down, and there might have been a bad result.
2 and I are headed to Men's Warehouse after work to get me fitted for my tux for the 7/20 event. The last time I was in a tux, I was a groom.
I see where JR and crew are sampling life in Italia. The Discovery support staff had equally fine things to say about Italian transportation systems a couple of weeks ago when they had to shuttle to the mainland after the first three stages of the Giro on Sardinia.
Hope everyone has a good evening.
Be careful out there.
3 and I did tenderloins ar The 11th Street Precinct in the Village today. We had tentatively planned to do brats at Golick's, but it started to rain right at noon, so we went to Plan B. It was a good Plan B.
Craig Wilson was lamenting that "old" feeling in his column today about the bright-eyed summer interns at the paper. It was another case of idea theft.
I was lucky last night on my ride. I compounded my test of good fortune by not only riding at the busiest of times, but I also elected to spend a couple of miles on the busiest road. On at least one occasion on Middle Road, while trying to ride the white line at the edge of the road, I slipped off the road and onto the gravelled shoulder, with a car speeding past on my left, just inches away. When I immediately guided back to the pavement, the lay of the land was smooth. If there had been a ridge, I could have gone down, and there might have been a bad result.
2 and I are headed to Men's Warehouse after work to get me fitted for my tux for the 7/20 event. The last time I was in a tux, I was a groom.
I see where JR and crew are sampling life in Italia. The Discovery support staff had equally fine things to say about Italian transportation systems a couple of weeks ago when they had to shuttle to the mainland after the first three stages of the Giro on Sardinia.
Hope everyone has a good evening.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Tuesday
One of the big stories in the sports pages these days is Billy Donovan's flip-flop on leaving the two-time defending NCAA bball champion Florida for the bigger NBA money in Orlando. The original move to the Magic was announced with considerable fanfare late last week, but by the weekend, he was already having second thoughts. The last couple of days have been spent by the various parties in efforts to save whatever face might be savable, and to make sure that Donovan is certain that he wants to go back to Florida.
This is another very public example of the essence of being human. In spite of all the fame and fortune that had accrued to Donovan in his career, which has been nothing short of a rocket ship to the top, his heart betrayed him when his mind had rationalized that yet another move up the food-chain was the natural order. As his new reality began to set in, it occurred to him that what he would be walking away from was more important than the money and professional progression offered by the NBA.
There are the personalities in the sports media who will portray this episode as a shadow on Donovan's otherwise lustrous resume. He'll be ridiculed by the writers on the NBA beat as a "college" coach, as though a college coach is something less of a man than the guys running the pro teams. After all, the NBA is where the best ball is played, by the best players. And you don't have to jump through the silly hoops (no pun intended) of recruiting or getting players to class.
Personally, I'm glad he's staying in the college game. I have no problem with the flip flop. He's not the first groom (or bride, or coach) to get to the altar and see that a mistake is being made. Can you say Dana Altman? The Magic 's owners will be honked-off for being jilted, but they'll have a Plan B. How many college coaches have made it big in the NBA anyway? And Florida will have a long-term winner who will keep the blue-chippers coming to Gainsville.
My neighbor lady, who is a bit of a yard/garden OC (obsessive/compulsive), recently asked me to let her have my clippings from my yard the next time I cut my grass. She uses grass for mulch in her garden, and their mower's catcher had broken so they weren't able to produce their own mulch. Now, I only catch my grass when it gets out of control, which it hasn't been due to less rainfall. But, trying to be the good neighbor, I caught my grass each of the last two times that I mowed, producing a couple of large yard-waste bags each time.
And now the punch line to this hum-drum story. Last night, the husband stops me as I'm leaving on an errand to let me know that he had returned the now empty bags, and that he had an implement that you could put on the back of the mower to precluded the need to catch the grass! When I told him that I was only catching the grass to help out his wife, he just chuckled and went back to work in his garden. I'm not making this up.
Had a nice chat with 4 today. She says that she will be adding to her blog soon. She sounded good.
I'm off to the bike. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
This is another very public example of the essence of being human. In spite of all the fame and fortune that had accrued to Donovan in his career, which has been nothing short of a rocket ship to the top, his heart betrayed him when his mind had rationalized that yet another move up the food-chain was the natural order. As his new reality began to set in, it occurred to him that what he would be walking away from was more important than the money and professional progression offered by the NBA.
There are the personalities in the sports media who will portray this episode as a shadow on Donovan's otherwise lustrous resume. He'll be ridiculed by the writers on the NBA beat as a "college" coach, as though a college coach is something less of a man than the guys running the pro teams. After all, the NBA is where the best ball is played, by the best players. And you don't have to jump through the silly hoops (no pun intended) of recruiting or getting players to class.
Personally, I'm glad he's staying in the college game. I have no problem with the flip flop. He's not the first groom (or bride, or coach) to get to the altar and see that a mistake is being made. Can you say Dana Altman? The Magic 's owners will be honked-off for being jilted, but they'll have a Plan B. How many college coaches have made it big in the NBA anyway? And Florida will have a long-term winner who will keep the blue-chippers coming to Gainsville.
My neighbor lady, who is a bit of a yard/garden OC (obsessive/compulsive), recently asked me to let her have my clippings from my yard the next time I cut my grass. She uses grass for mulch in her garden, and their mower's catcher had broken so they weren't able to produce their own mulch. Now, I only catch my grass when it gets out of control, which it hasn't been due to less rainfall. But, trying to be the good neighbor, I caught my grass each of the last two times that I mowed, producing a couple of large yard-waste bags each time.
And now the punch line to this hum-drum story. Last night, the husband stops me as I'm leaving on an errand to let me know that he had returned the now empty bags, and that he had an implement that you could put on the back of the mower to precluded the need to catch the grass! When I told him that I was only catching the grass to help out his wife, he just chuckled and went back to work in his garden. I'm not making this up.
Had a nice chat with 4 today. She says that she will be adding to her blog soon. She sounded good.
I'm off to the bike. Have a great evening.
Be careful out there.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Monday
Hard to believe that it has been a full week since the QC Criterium. We have the race volunteers' party tonight at a pub over in Rock Island.
I was surprised to learn that the Hawkeyes had been in the top 25 nationally in basketball attendance until last year when they dropped to 29th. My guess is that if they win with the new guy, they will get back up there. People don't have a lot else to do in Iowa in the Winter.
I got hooked on the movie "Accepted" last night when I was cruising through the movie channels on my dish. That's the story about a kid whose applications get turned down by all of the colleges to which he applies. So he and a couple of his friends invent a school, set up a website, and end up with a student body. The protagonist was previously on the TV show "Ed". Mindless humor.
All for today. I need to get out of here.
Be careful out there.
I was surprised to learn that the Hawkeyes had been in the top 25 nationally in basketball attendance until last year when they dropped to 29th. My guess is that if they win with the new guy, they will get back up there. People don't have a lot else to do in Iowa in the Winter.
I got hooked on the movie "Accepted" last night when I was cruising through the movie channels on my dish. That's the story about a kid whose applications get turned down by all of the colleges to which he applies. So he and a couple of his friends invent a school, set up a website, and end up with a student body. The protagonist was previously on the TV show "Ed". Mindless humor.
All for today. I need to get out of here.
Be careful out there.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Sunday
Just a few lines today.
I did get up to De Witt this AM. I was a little later out of the blocks than I had planned. But a 6:15 departure worked ok. 47+. Breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe. Several other riders were out on the road as well. Lots of red-winged blackbirds, but none in attack-mode. (I did have one dive-bomb me yesterday, just like my friend from last year.) One unruly dog.
The variety of road-kill along my route today was impressive. The wet weather brings out the snakes, toads and the like which have no chance with a 2000 pound vehicle pounding along at 50+ MPH. Add in your normal assortment of raccoons, skunks, birds and squirrels and you have quite the menu. Could this be American Midwest sushi? On a bike, you get a real close-up view of a lot of anatomy. That you would rather not see.
Sorry for that brief insight into cycling's little talked-of panorama.
Looks like 4 was not able to find a computer over the weekend.
Ellen Goodman's column today was about the environmental benefits of gardening and raising your own food. It's worth the read. Very tongue in cheek. One comment, actually a quote from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, about the energy costs to transport an item of fresh fruit from California to Philadelphia, and the resultant need of the consumer to spend an hour on the treadmill in Maryland was especially good.
Speaking of environmental protections, how much good does it do to recycle the sleeves on your SB's coffee? There's a local SB's competitor who is giving customers a free cup after 10 usages (I think) of the same sleeve. I think they've been reading my former GF Sheryl's global warming blog.
Actually, if we wanted to get Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer involved in the discussion, we could debate the relative environmental impact of the use of a sleeve versus the use of a double-cup. Add a sleeve to a double-cup and we're talking serious stuff.
Another of life's challenges has occurred to me with the change of my Russian cleaning ladies. The new gal is not quite as good at keeping my stuff in the right places, that is, the places where I keep my stuff and expect to find it. Not a lot of exceptions, but each time she comes, there are always a couple of items slightly askew.
I'm off to my domestic duties.
Have a great day.
Be careful out there.
I did get up to De Witt this AM. I was a little later out of the blocks than I had planned. But a 6:15 departure worked ok. 47+. Breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe. Several other riders were out on the road as well. Lots of red-winged blackbirds, but none in attack-mode. (I did have one dive-bomb me yesterday, just like my friend from last year.) One unruly dog.
The variety of road-kill along my route today was impressive. The wet weather brings out the snakes, toads and the like which have no chance with a 2000 pound vehicle pounding along at 50+ MPH. Add in your normal assortment of raccoons, skunks, birds and squirrels and you have quite the menu. Could this be American Midwest sushi? On a bike, you get a real close-up view of a lot of anatomy. That you would rather not see.
Sorry for that brief insight into cycling's little talked-of panorama.
Looks like 4 was not able to find a computer over the weekend.
Ellen Goodman's column today was about the environmental benefits of gardening and raising your own food. It's worth the read. Very tongue in cheek. One comment, actually a quote from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, about the energy costs to transport an item of fresh fruit from California to Philadelphia, and the resultant need of the consumer to spend an hour on the treadmill in Maryland was especially good.
Speaking of environmental protections, how much good does it do to recycle the sleeves on your SB's coffee? There's a local SB's competitor who is giving customers a free cup after 10 usages (I think) of the same sleeve. I think they've been reading my former GF Sheryl's global warming blog.
Actually, if we wanted to get Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer involved in the discussion, we could debate the relative environmental impact of the use of a sleeve versus the use of a double-cup. Add a sleeve to a double-cup and we're talking serious stuff.
Another of life's challenges has occurred to me with the change of my Russian cleaning ladies. The new gal is not quite as good at keeping my stuff in the right places, that is, the places where I keep my stuff and expect to find it. Not a lot of exceptions, but each time she comes, there are always a couple of items slightly askew.
I'm off to my domestic duties.
Have a great day.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Saturday
I stopped in to check mail this evening. It rained hard here early this AM, but it's been pretty nice the rest of the day. I got in a +31 mile ride which went well except for the last couple of miles when I was dead into the wind. I may try breakfast in DeWitt tomorrow to test my mileage.
Enjoyed the comment from 1's betrothed. I'm thinking about a numeric designation for him. Maybe 1A.
An after-thought to the whole A-Rod incident occurred to me when I read that the victim third baseman was playing in his first or second major league game. A-Rod could have been pulling a stunt on a rookie that a veteran would never have fallen for. The Yankee manager, Joe Torre, came out yesterday and said that it was not a good play. Probably to send the message to the other Yankee players that A-Rod wasn't representing the organization in that action.
My SB's friend who wrote the book had a book-signing event at Border's today for a couple of hours. I had started my ride and was on Forest Grove when I remembered, so I did a turn-around and made a brief appearance at the store. I had never met the ultimate fighter who was the subject of the book, and I was surprised at how small he was physically. Not 5'10" and not 170. I think that some saying about dynamite in small packages may apply.
And my mailbox yielded Spanish fruit today. A card from 4 with a very nice greeting. Snail mail crossing the pond seems to work. For those interested, her address is:
K_____ H_____
Summer Language and Culture
CIEE Study Center in Seville
Calle Muniz y Pabon, 9
41004 - Sevilla, SPAIN
The "n" in Muniz and the "o" in Pabon each have a little half-caret over them.
She was on the Rock of Gibralter today. I'll be anxious to hear her tale.
The Giro in Italy wraps up tomorrow. An Italian is winning. One of Discovery's rent-a-stud's from the last couple of years, Paolo Savoldelli, who is with a different team this year, won today's individual time trial. Good for him. He rode well for Discovery for those two years, including an overall win in the Giro. I liked his style. Still do.
A free lance writer gal in Bettendorf does a human interest column each week in the Bettendorf News, and I think that she's taking my material. She had a something-less-than-original piece last week about getting solicitations from AARP for membership as she is approaching the age. And her husband is already a member. But she isn't quite that old. Actually, I didn't read the whole thing, so I may have missed her point. Like pooh-poohing that 10% discount at Motel 6. A few weeks ago she had a column on birds' nests around their house and yard. Like 4000 Days didn't devote numerous entries to my 'fraidy-cat robin hatchling last year.
The sincerest form of flattery.
Speaking of flattery, for those Iowa State fans in the crowd, their mascot Cy has won a competition on the SPiN ON SPORTS page of CBS Sportsline as the Most Dominant College Mascot On Earth. Check it out at: cbs.sportsline.com
All for today. Hope everyone has a fine Sunday.
Be careful out there.
Enjoyed the comment from 1's betrothed. I'm thinking about a numeric designation for him. Maybe 1A.
An after-thought to the whole A-Rod incident occurred to me when I read that the victim third baseman was playing in his first or second major league game. A-Rod could have been pulling a stunt on a rookie that a veteran would never have fallen for. The Yankee manager, Joe Torre, came out yesterday and said that it was not a good play. Probably to send the message to the other Yankee players that A-Rod wasn't representing the organization in that action.
My SB's friend who wrote the book had a book-signing event at Border's today for a couple of hours. I had started my ride and was on Forest Grove when I remembered, so I did a turn-around and made a brief appearance at the store. I had never met the ultimate fighter who was the subject of the book, and I was surprised at how small he was physically. Not 5'10" and not 170. I think that some saying about dynamite in small packages may apply.
And my mailbox yielded Spanish fruit today. A card from 4 with a very nice greeting. Snail mail crossing the pond seems to work. For those interested, her address is:
K_____ H_____
Summer Language and Culture
CIEE Study Center in Seville
Calle Muniz y Pabon, 9
41004 - Sevilla, SPAIN
The "n" in Muniz and the "o" in Pabon each have a little half-caret over them.
She was on the Rock of Gibralter today. I'll be anxious to hear her tale.
The Giro in Italy wraps up tomorrow. An Italian is winning. One of Discovery's rent-a-stud's from the last couple of years, Paolo Savoldelli, who is with a different team this year, won today's individual time trial. Good for him. He rode well for Discovery for those two years, including an overall win in the Giro. I liked his style. Still do.
A free lance writer gal in Bettendorf does a human interest column each week in the Bettendorf News, and I think that she's taking my material. She had a something-less-than-original piece last week about getting solicitations from AARP for membership as she is approaching the age. And her husband is already a member. But she isn't quite that old. Actually, I didn't read the whole thing, so I may have missed her point. Like pooh-poohing that 10% discount at Motel 6. A few weeks ago she had a column on birds' nests around their house and yard. Like 4000 Days didn't devote numerous entries to my 'fraidy-cat robin hatchling last year.
The sincerest form of flattery.
Speaking of flattery, for those Iowa State fans in the crowd, their mascot Cy has won a competition on the SPiN ON SPORTS page of CBS Sportsline as the Most Dominant College Mascot On Earth. Check it out at: cbs.sportsline.com
All for today. Hope everyone has a fine Sunday.
Be careful out there.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Friday
Weather here today. Tornado's touched down in Muscatine. A little excitement.
No big plans for the weekend. I'll be putting some miles on the bike.
For those interested in a few pics from the bike races last weekend, click on the View Photos button in the QC Criterium box on the home page of www.CriteriumFinancial.com
I have a tomato-eating rabbit in my yard.
Seven weeks from tonight is 1's big day.
Off for the evening. Have a good one.
Be careful out there.
No big plans for the weekend. I'll be putting some miles on the bike.
For those interested in a few pics from the bike races last weekend, click on the View Photos button in the QC Criterium box on the home page of www.CriteriumFinancial.com
I have a tomato-eating rabbit in my yard.
Seven weeks from tonight is 1's big day.
Off for the evening. Have a good one.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday
Lots of material today.
We have the Rhubarb Festival this weekend in one of the local Illinois towns. Not that I am making any reservations. I remember Mother having a couple of rhubarb plants by the small grape arbor in the backyard of the old house. Never had much taste for rhubarb since the time in my youth when I took a big bite of a piece of pie that I thought was strawberry, but was in fact rhubarb.
John's comment about an ND burial plot for me in response to Craig Wilson's Wednesday column brought a small smile to my face. I had read the article myself and my thoughts were about a fellow '71 grad whom I saw many times in the '70's and '80's at the same South Bend bar we had frequented as undergrads, Corby's. He ended up getting a PhD and teaching at ND, maybe even still. He certainly has earned an honorary spot at the bar (although Corby's has long since met with the wrecking-ball).
The Ottumwa lawyer whom I accompanied on my first-ever visit to ND as a high school junior, by rail, bought a condo near campus in his retirement and I think spent (still?) a lot of time each Fall in South Bend to get the full appreciation of the gridiron season. Most people with a second home might go a little further South. Winter in South Bend defines the term, "lake-effect snow".
Sports fans can be over-the-top in support of their teams. There are many stories about local team supporters, as well as college and pro fanatics. Whether it's where they are buried, or what they may be buried in (or with), people can make a statement with those decisions on final arrangements. It makes for good stories, but it's not like it changes the end results. When you're dead, you're dead.
A discussion of final resting places has made it to this blog previously. I do think that it is relevant for the immediate family to have a place to visit their departed loved ones (especially for those tragically called home early). It gets a bit sketchy for the 3rd generation, and becomes little more than history for the 4th generation. At least with a Mt. Rose destination, the girls will be able to celebrate with some kind of repetition, memories of the best of our times.
Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees made headlines for a couple of reasons yesterday. I'll leave the more salacious backpage gossip to the Enquirer, but the baseball story is worth a few comments. While running between second and third last night for what must have been a probable third out infield pop-up, he yelled something at the third baseman who was making the play (likely, "mine", or "I got it"), that caused the third baseman to back off, and the ball dropped for a hit. To my knowledge, A-Rod did not deny that he tried to confuse the third baseman.
The opponents and many commentators have criticized the play as "bush league", a term used to deride action that doesn't belong in "the show". This raises into discussion the whole concept of the "unwritten" rules of baseball. Actually, baseball probably has more unwritten rules than any sport. While each sport may have a few common "sportsmanship courtesies", baseball is rife with do's and don'ts. There are endless varieties of the "hidden ball" trick to get runners to step off base for an easy tag out. Fielders often fake base runners on who is covering a bag, or whether a ball has been caught or thrown. These are all "okay" and generally acceptable in terms of the "spirit of the game".
A pitcher attempting to "send a message to a batter aims below the shoulders with the inside pitch, while the shortstop making the relay on the double play aims at the head of a runner not starting his slide early enough in the play. As a runner, it's your job to "take out" the pivot guy on the double play. It's generally okay to steal signs, if you can. Bench jockey's "ride" the opposing pitcher. You don't say anything in the dugout to a pitcher tossing a no-no. You don't bunt for the first hit in a late game, no-no situation.
The list goes on.
I'm not sure if A-Rod's action falls into the definition of "bush league" conduct. It may be marginal. I want to say that it's not "old school", but it may not be such simply because the old guys didn't think of it at the time. I don't think many of those Hall of Famers lost much sleep on how they won, as long as they won. Think Ty Cobb or St. Louis' Gashouse Gang. They weren't choirboys. (Doesn't the NFL have some written rules that limit the defense's rights on yelling out signals designed to confuse the offense? And the NBA has at least had discussions about player conduct in attempts to distract a free throw shooter.)
Okay. I beat that to death. No wonder my readership numbers are down.
I'm off to the bike. Have a great evening. Buenos dias/noches.
Be careful out there.
We have the Rhubarb Festival this weekend in one of the local Illinois towns. Not that I am making any reservations. I remember Mother having a couple of rhubarb plants by the small grape arbor in the backyard of the old house. Never had much taste for rhubarb since the time in my youth when I took a big bite of a piece of pie that I thought was strawberry, but was in fact rhubarb.
John's comment about an ND burial plot for me in response to Craig Wilson's Wednesday column brought a small smile to my face. I had read the article myself and my thoughts were about a fellow '71 grad whom I saw many times in the '70's and '80's at the same South Bend bar we had frequented as undergrads, Corby's. He ended up getting a PhD and teaching at ND, maybe even still. He certainly has earned an honorary spot at the bar (although Corby's has long since met with the wrecking-ball).
The Ottumwa lawyer whom I accompanied on my first-ever visit to ND as a high school junior, by rail, bought a condo near campus in his retirement and I think spent (still?) a lot of time each Fall in South Bend to get the full appreciation of the gridiron season. Most people with a second home might go a little further South. Winter in South Bend defines the term, "lake-effect snow".
Sports fans can be over-the-top in support of their teams. There are many stories about local team supporters, as well as college and pro fanatics. Whether it's where they are buried, or what they may be buried in (or with), people can make a statement with those decisions on final arrangements. It makes for good stories, but it's not like it changes the end results. When you're dead, you're dead.
A discussion of final resting places has made it to this blog previously. I do think that it is relevant for the immediate family to have a place to visit their departed loved ones (especially for those tragically called home early). It gets a bit sketchy for the 3rd generation, and becomes little more than history for the 4th generation. At least with a Mt. Rose destination, the girls will be able to celebrate with some kind of repetition, memories of the best of our times.
Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees made headlines for a couple of reasons yesterday. I'll leave the more salacious backpage gossip to the Enquirer, but the baseball story is worth a few comments. While running between second and third last night for what must have been a probable third out infield pop-up, he yelled something at the third baseman who was making the play (likely, "mine", or "I got it"), that caused the third baseman to back off, and the ball dropped for a hit. To my knowledge, A-Rod did not deny that he tried to confuse the third baseman.
The opponents and many commentators have criticized the play as "bush league", a term used to deride action that doesn't belong in "the show". This raises into discussion the whole concept of the "unwritten" rules of baseball. Actually, baseball probably has more unwritten rules than any sport. While each sport may have a few common "sportsmanship courtesies", baseball is rife with do's and don'ts. There are endless varieties of the "hidden ball" trick to get runners to step off base for an easy tag out. Fielders often fake base runners on who is covering a bag, or whether a ball has been caught or thrown. These are all "okay" and generally acceptable in terms of the "spirit of the game".
A pitcher attempting to "send a message to a batter aims below the shoulders with the inside pitch, while the shortstop making the relay on the double play aims at the head of a runner not starting his slide early enough in the play. As a runner, it's your job to "take out" the pivot guy on the double play. It's generally okay to steal signs, if you can. Bench jockey's "ride" the opposing pitcher. You don't say anything in the dugout to a pitcher tossing a no-no. You don't bunt for the first hit in a late game, no-no situation.
The list goes on.
I'm not sure if A-Rod's action falls into the definition of "bush league" conduct. It may be marginal. I want to say that it's not "old school", but it may not be such simply because the old guys didn't think of it at the time. I don't think many of those Hall of Famers lost much sleep on how they won, as long as they won. Think Ty Cobb or St. Louis' Gashouse Gang. They weren't choirboys. (Doesn't the NFL have some written rules that limit the defense's rights on yelling out signals designed to confuse the offense? And the NBA has at least had discussions about player conduct in attempts to distract a free throw shooter.)
Okay. I beat that to death. No wonder my readership numbers are down.
I'm off to the bike. Have a great evening. Buenos dias/noches.
Be careful out there.
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