Champagne taste with a beer budget

Good morning! Hope all is well in your world.

This is a shortie....

The big kid just left for Tampa. He is on a mission to investigate the training facility to determine whether he needs this type of protocol or the Seattle  venue. I am sure, yes, I am confident, that he will choose the most expensive facility. Call me clairvoyant. Call me a prognosticator.....call me correct.....whatever you call me, I know my kid and he always seems to select the Mercedes Benz versus the tricycle....champagne rather than beer....Egyptian cotton versus polyester....



He called me yesterday with a quick question...."Yoda wants me to buy a belt. May I?"

Sure, go ahead. Use the Amex.

Guess what? Dad shared with me this morning that the belt costs $250.00. What? Is it leather? Is it made of gold with platinum trim? He is going to sweat while wearing it? Are we serious? 250.00$ for a belt? Does he really need to keep his pants up with  Chanel belt? What? Can I live on peanut butter and crackers for a few weeks?


Yep....my life in a nutshell...will be working until I am old and grey....huh? I am old and grey? Well, no one knows what my real hair color is, so I may be old, but I cover the greys...



By the way, dad has not heard from the medical director at the university. Yes, they refuse to reimburse him for the surgery. Guess what? They have never met dad. They are in for the ride of their lives unless they cut that check. He is going to storm the university in his Acura.....Yep, they will be frozen in their Naugahyde chairs when he enters the room with his data. Oh boy, it will not be pretty....can anyone who can spell Naugahyde, spell 'malpractice'? Negligence? Physical harm? FERPA violations?   

I can spell them since I have spell check.....

OK, got to run!



Peace!

Looking for a job

Good Memorial Weekend to you! Here's to the valiant men and women who scarified for our country. May God bless them and their families.



Thank you for your patience. There has not been much going on this past week. The big lefty continues to work out four to five hours a day plus sessions with Yoda. He is thrilled because you can hear an audible whip of his ball and arm. Apparently, this is a good thing. Twaaap!



He is scheduled for a visit to Tampa next week. Apparently, the owner of the performance enhancing center (not steroids, work outs) wants him to pay up front, take a two day seminar next weekend (comp-ed), and sign up for a month or so of lessons, work outs, and analysis of technique. He is not convinced that Tampa is for him, so is keeping his options open.



Therefore, he will attend the next weekend seminar and make his decision next Sunday night when he joins dad and me in the south for a day. I can actually read his little ole mind and he is leaning toward Seattle. Although his PT does not know much about Seattle and prefers Tampa; the big kid is ready to do something that has not been fully endorsed by our incredibly wise Yoda. 

And now for the latest news...gossip.....rumor....probably true....

The big lefty's university has been blackballed from recruiting baseball players from our region.

Huh? What does that mean?

Well, the owner of the sporting and training complex has gotten wind of the activities in the mountains and is not pleased. Apparently, he has heard about the Czar's player preference and his inability to read quality performances. He also knows of the two highly sought after high school recruits who signed up for the university and were cut from the team. He also knows that the pitching coach is actually a catcher. Therefore, the team is not allowed to run a showcase in the sporting complex and the owner will not encourage any of his players to attend the school. Further, Yoda has had a thing or two to say and based on the way the big kid continues to come home injured with his body and spirits out of alignment, he has also crossed the school off his list of colleges for his players to attend. In other words, the school will not have access to any of the quality players in our area, which is quite large.

Am I surprised? Nope.

Word gets around. These coaches think that they have the magic beans that will create a competitive team. Yet, as we know from the last two years of posts, he has done nothing more than tank his players. The big lefty is  worried about the boys that he left behind especially Sky High. Here is a kid with unlimited talent whose body is being destroyed by the trainer as his spirits are equally in the dumps.

Oh well. Life is not fair. It never was and never will be. The guys are learning a huge lesson on how to get along with difficult people as well as what to do when your boss hates you. It is something that can be used in the future.

For now, my big kid is focusing on his baseball future and has given himself a year. So, he does what every other college graduate is doing...looking for a job....in the Major Leagues...as a pitcher...and not bat boy.

Have a nice weekend!

Peace!

Pray, hope, and don't worry

Good morning! Whew! Time has flown by and I am sorry that I have not posted, but I was given a deadline on a huge document and despite my best intentions with my laptop stapled to my lap for four straight days, I missed the deadline. As I sheepishly asked for an extension on Monday, the woman laughed and said: "Take a month..."

Huh? A month? I missed four great days of weather....Lil A's soccer game, working out...watching football games, running errands and so on...and I could have had a month's extension if I had asked a few days earlier....which has me a bit bugged. Had I known that there was some wiggle room on the deadline, I would not have tortured Tink and Dad over the weekend. They were the ultimate victims of my frenzy...."Bug off....can't you see that I am working...YOU ARE TALKING!....don't you have anyone else to talk to?" Actually, I was not that verbally rude, but trust me, the patience was thin....very thin....They were innocent of all charges.

I should have just left the house and gone to the office and shut the door and turned on the coffee pot, but NO, I stayed home and the fall out from the nuclear attack settled on them. Ahh...no worries, I will make them some cupcakes and all will be forgiven.

And so, as Tink and dad slowly reenter my life....the big kid has called on a number of occasions as we succinctly chatted about baseball and school. Since I am headed into class in 20 minutes, I'll be succint too....

~Over the weekend, they had their first scrimmage. He was on the mound with the coach standing behind him...comfy, eh? Anyway, he called and said: "I have bad news and good news. What do you want to hear first?"

hmmm...you pick...."OK, I walked 4 in two innings, struck out one, and gave up two earned runs."

Is that the good news or bad news? "The bad news..."

OK, shoot...the good news is.....

"I hit 90 mph"

That is when I completely and unashamedly lost it. As he was describing what had happened, I began to heave and sob, although, he thought  that I was having an allergy attack. He did it! He hit 90! That has been his goal from when he was a baby and in tee ball. No, as a five year old, he did not say: "Mom, some day I am going to throw 90 miles an hour, now hand me a juice box..." No, it has been a career goal ever since he learned to throw a baseball. And with all of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication, he did it....and I cried....So many ups and downs...mono...Lyme disease....poor coaching...doubts....soul searching....fears and struggles...wow...90...

On to the next....After the game, he had to run the stadium four times (once for each walk). The coach said to him: "you have what it takes to be the best pitcher in baseball." Again, I cried....

The next time that he was on the mound, he missed the signal for a fast ball and threw a curve to Big Red. The coached screamed at him, called him a moron, and said:"Go run....you will either be the best pitcher in baseball or the best runner...you choose...."

The kid is trying...really trying, and proving himself to be coach able. So the new coaches like that...although the pitching coach has a thing for running if a guy screws up. If it was me, I would have collapsed and died on the warning track. Fortunately, the big kid is in big time shape.

So now what? Well, he called yesterday..."Mom, pray for me." Yes, hunny....I always pray for you, Tink, dad, Bullpen grandmom, grandpop, lil A, for world peace....to end hunger...the family...friends....the Pope...."

"MOM! On Thursday, the major league scouts are going to be in the stadium to watch me. I gotta hit 90 again! I need you to pray for me!"

Oh, that kind of request....hmmm...how shall I approach it? "With all due respect, Lord, you know that my son has wanted to be a major league pitcher. I also know that there are big problems in the world, like hunger, nuclear threats, genocide, and so on. But, if you could clear you calendar on Thursday for a moment, please help the big kid to hit 90 at least twice, preferably, 5 or 6 times. Thank you, God...I love you."

How is that? In all seriousness, I do pray as much as I can and he is in my prayers. but I am really not sure that I should pray for a 90 mph fast ball. Although, why not? If he can do something positive with these skills, then he will need to hit 90 to make a major league difference in perhaps the lives of kids, fans, teams, and players. After all, he is a good guy and God will use him in unique circumstances to do good.

And so, my dear readers...on Thursday, could you utter a simple prayer for the big kid who has big dreams? He knows that he cannot do it alone and will need some spiritual help to keep him calm and focused on his goal. The Lord will not be throwing the fast ball, but he can keep him grounded and focused on his target.

By the way, if you are chatting with God for the big kid, please keep Big Sis's husband, Big M in your prayers. He is in the hospital having a number of tests. Tomorrow, hopefully, when things settle, I will share the story with you.
 
Thanks a bunch!

OK, gotta go to class now.....

Angie's List

Good morning! Hope all is well. I am sitting in the family room waiting for the electrician to stop by to fix an outdoor light. He is reliable and I found him on Angie's List. This is not a commercial for Angie but a warning for home owners throughout the US.....why?

Well.....last winter, the freezer stopped working.

I was dismayed and called the Appliance Doctor. Why am I using the actual name in the blog? Hmmmm...why indeed....here is the story. The AD comes to the house to check out the freezer....as he walks into the kitchen, he says aloud: "Gee, you have a nice house." Warning signs went up but I kept my head and showed him the freezer. "You need a little wire, new freon, and something something".....OK, how much? Now, this is a fairly new freezer. The GE that I have in the garage is over 25 years old and I had it serviced once. Therefore, I am still astonished that the big fridge in the kitchen needed anything at all. Again....how much? Without missing a beat...he says "$1000.00". Huh? What? For the freezer? We are not encrusting the ice trays with gold and diamonds. All I need is for my ice cream to stay frozen. "$1000.00."

Ok, so I call dad. I am not going to spend that kind of money on a little wire and freon. No way....I catch him at a bad time. He's busy and the AD and his flunkie are staring at my house. Dad doesn't blink...'pay it, the guy is there.' Really? Oh, I do not like where this is going. And so, I gave him the nod to do the work that took less than one hour. As he completed the work, I said to AD: "I feel that you are stealing from me right in my own home..."


"oh no, ma'm. These are the prices set by the United Refrigeration Association."

"Uh, really. The URA endorses that you enter my home and rip me off?"

"Those are the prices..."

Ok, I numbly handed him the check. He had to actually pull it out of my hand because I was seething for a number of reasons. First, I called AD. Second, I am an idiot for paying it. Third, I should have thrown him out of the house and called someone else.

AD and his flunkie left and according to dad's records cashed the check right away. I was furious and called the AD agency to complain. Apparently, my repairman is a subcontractor. Therefore he can set his rates.



Without returning my five calls and three emails, I gave up and learned a valuable lesson. And I share it with you: "Do not use Appliance Doctor!"



Moving on....I needed some electrical work done. So, alot smarter and much poorer, I joined Angie's List. As I perused the ads and read the customers' ratings, I called three electricians for estimates. That's right...estimates...in writing....

Electrician number one comes in...looks around....looks at the work that needs to be done and says: "$4000.00. I know it may seem high, but I do excellent work as you can surmise from Angie's List." When I reported back to dad on this estimate, I cannot repeat what he said.


On to number two...his ratings were good. Customer service ratings were high. I called him. He answered immediately and came out the next day. He walked around the house and before he even opened his mouth, I said to him: "I am tired of being overcharged." Not blinking, we continued to look at the work and he offered some good suggestions. He sent the estimate through email and came out $2800.00 less than the first guy. Why? I dunno...Although I have a few suspicions....

Electrician number 1 called me after number 2 left. He immediately wanted to know why I did not choose him. As I told him that he was too expensive, he exploded. "You will not have a better electrician out there. I always come back and take care of my customers. I may be able to decrease the estimate if I tinker with some of the work!"

OK, dude...if you could 'tinker' with the price, why did you try to hose me in the first place? That's right, you thief! I am much smarter now and a lot poorer after the AD fiasco. I never called him back and almost feel like posting on Angie's List how he tried to bully me after I rejected his proposal. But, he would know that it was me who posted, and I do not want to see or hear from him again.

Right now, electrician number 2 finally made it to the house and is outside since one of my lanterns burned out. Yeah, I know....it is only a few years old. But this nightmare began a few months ago when dad went to change a light bulb in the lantern next to the garage. He actually broke it while trying to pry the base off. So, I took the fixture to an elderly man who rewires lamps and lanterns. After paying $100 to fix a $125.00 fixture, electrician number two re-hung it to the garage. Sadly, this weekend, the lantern did not work, so I called my reliable, cost effective guy back.

As he took the lantern off, number 2 could see that my elderly man who charged me $100 to rewire it, placed the wrong wires in the fixture. Therefore, the wires burned out. So, he has rewired the lantern for the second time in three months and charged me $100.00. Now, I have paid $200 dollars to rewire a lantern that was only $125.00. I had to...it matches the others AND they no longer make it. So, I am stuck.



Now,  what do we learn about hiring service men and women to come into the house? I'll tell you....

1. always check references
2. sign up for Angie's List and read the reviews
3. Don't be bullied into hiring someone because he claims that he is 'good'. The really good guys do not make it a proclamation. They do the work. And then, they leave you with a few dollars in your pocket.
4. Always get an estimate. If the estimate is too high, show them the door and shut it on their way out.



There are honest repair people in this world. You have to take your time to find them. Don't let haste color your common sense.



Ok, I now need electrician two to fix my smoke detector. Does anyone have a money tree?

Later!

Oh Lawd! You look hot!

Hello! Fall weather has hit the region and I am not ready yet. The waistbands are still too tight and I am going to have to take drastic measures this week.....more about that later. A quick hint...it involves food or the lack thereof.

On to a very new research study that I actually agree with even before I see how the study was conducted. It seems that men stop caring about how they look at age 46. In other words, they give up. On the other hand, women gut it out until 59. Moreover, men start to give up 26 months after they are married.




Is this true? How many people did they poll? Did they look at the labels and sizes of their subjects' clothes? Did the researchers actually ask the question: "Do you care how you look today? Really? When did you stop caring?" Interesting....who in their right minds would have dreamed up this study and methodology? Perhaps one day while sitting at the picnic table eating her bagged lunch outside the classrooms, a social sciences professor declared after observing the clothes and demeanor of the teaching faculty suggested: "Hey, these people don't care how they look! I wonder how old they are and if they are married! Something to ponder....perhaps I can get a big government grant to pay for this inane study???"

And so, what are my thoughts on the topic? Well, as you can surmise, based on the number of months in my life that I have been on a diet, I do care. Although I frequently think: 'why?' Isn't there a point where a person just says "screw it" and plows into the cheesecake with a fork without cutting a slice? Aren't we supposed to have some fun in life? After all, eating rice cakes and Special K bars are far from fulfilling. It leaves a person wanting more and more...yet, we deprive ourselves in order to stay the magic size.

Also, how much money do we pay for hair and make up? How many of us start the coupon clipping as the end of year sales start and wait until everything on the rack is 75% off with a 20% off coupon? All we really want to do is hang out at home with our stretchy yoga or athletic pants on and a tee shirt, so why are we looking for the next great look?

I remember attending my 5 year reunion after high school; I guess that I was 23 years old and was astonished at how the guys looked...balding and fat. On the other hand, the girls looked amazing.



This year marks a big anniversary of the high school football team's  city championship win. I was in the stands and watched Big M, my brother in law, catch the wining touchdown in the end zone. It was a super day for the high school and now they are marking its anniversary in October and honoring the original football team. Obviously, Big M will be a large part of the celebration.




I mentioned this to Big Sis (Big M was her high school and college boyfriend and now they are married....), and said: "You have to get something special for the celebration to wear." her response was: "I am wearing jeans." OK, jeans are OK, but they have to fit and NOT be mom-jeans.

After all, we will be in the stands to see how your classmates have aged and whether they have given up or not.

Now supported by the aforementioned research, she doesn't understand my logic, so I will work on a poster presentation to enlighten her on the very important aspects of showing up for a reunion looking better, hotter, and younger than the rest. Is this too shallow?



Not that she has hit 59 yet as mentioned in the research....she has lots of time......However, with the spotlight on the team and their spouses, she has to bring it..... Therefore, I submit for your consideration...What is the most craved sentence a person wants to hear at a reunion?

Not.....'boy, you really let yourself go...'
'...you look, uh, nice....'
'is that really you?'

Instead a person wants to hear:
"You look the same" (dubious, this could backfire if you had pimples and braces in high school)
"You haven't aged!"
"Oh, lawd...you look fine!"

Yep, I like the third sentence which is why I will continue to care how I look  past the age of 59 'cause I foresee lots of reunions in the future with those of us who took care of ourselves and can see the invitations without their glasses and walk through the doors of the high school gym without our walkers.

As far as Big Sis is concerned, I am on the case and will kidnap her and take her to the clearance rack with my coupon to find jeans that fit and do not need to be pulled up when she sits. Scooby, a make up artist, will apply her make up and I will find the right top and sweater. Big Sis does not know this now, but when the hero of the city championship game is introduced, she will be by his side....and people will say......

"You look the same"
"You haven't aged!"
"Oh, lawd...you look fine!"

have a great day!