Introverts and extroverts

Good morning! I started to write this note during the game last night when the big kid got the call to enter the game, but I could only concentrate on breathing during that time...why? Oye! Here we go....

As you know, the kid attends a school in the mountains in Pennsylvania. It's a well regarded university that has had some 'press' lately. Nevertheless, they play indoors in the winter and it does not mimic an actual field and playing surface.
Therefore, they are at a great disadvantage during the spring break travels since they play southern teams. If the goal is to win all of the games, then they failed. If the goal is to experience tough competition, then they succeeded.

With that said, after burning through the bullpen on Tuesday night, the team was left with a few guys to fill in the holes when the starter hit rock bottom during the third inning. And so, who got the call with the bases loaded and no outs? Yep, the big leftie.


Ok, so...how did it go? Wellllllll.....not great....but not bad......he walked in the first run (sad face), then struck the next kid out (happy face).....then a batter hit a single and two more runs scored.....then he got a pop up...another walk....out of the game......On the bright side, he is the only guy on the team with a 0.00 ERA. Although, at this point, the team is hanging their heads.

So, what seems to be wrong with our collected group of heroes? My perspective is that after losing their top guys last year through the MLB draft and graduation, they have a core group of guys who are fresh out of high school and/or arm surgery. Since Buddy has had limited pitching in the past few weeks after taking an entire year off, he is working his way back. Dad predicts that he will be back in form by late April. Until then, we will suffer as he walks or hits batters, strikes them out, gets them to pop up to an infielder, and so on.

 

Last night, we could listen to the game on the computer...it was tough to hear about the errors, miscalculations and walks. The pitchers are being shelled and the batters are struggling. Our poor Gopher has an batting average of .000. Can anyone spell "therapy"? He had not hit his stride yet, but I think that after he relaxes a bit, good things can and will happen.

I read a quick article about the New York Giants's football coach, Tom Coughlin who wrote a book recently on winning. He says that attention to detail, hard work, leadership, and his faith have helped him to carve out a winning spirit and team.

 

I guess that this will be the next book that I read after I finish "Quiet". Quiet was recommended to me by Ice who has a child like mine...competitive and introspective.....The author looks at the differences between introverts and extroverts and I have discovered that my entire family (nuclear, that is) is a group of introverts...yep, me too. 



How can an introvert teach? Well, according to the author, if the subject is a passion, then an introvert can be a very successful teacher. The difference is that this person needs down time before and after teaching, which is very true. I need to be alone in my office before I enter a class. After a class, I shut down to re-group. It's like a light switch that I can turn on and off. When I return home, I am almost comatose because I need to settle into my home role. Does that sound nutso? Well, I used to think so until I read the research in the book. Now I think that I am fairly normal. And so, what does this mean for Buddy? Well, he is basically an introverted person who would prefer the sanctity of his home, family, and room to collect himself. He has a better time with a few select friends such as Angel, Meat, and Gopher, which is one of the reasons why the party scene in his own house makes him crazier than the extroverts that he lives with....ahhh, now it makes more sense......There is nothing wrong with him, this is his personality and temperament...much like his dad's.
 

And today, the team has practice and the guys are complaining. I understand what the coach is doing. After all, they are not lighting up Texas with their talent but it is a matter of time. Let's see how they look in April. In the meantime, this introvert/extrovert for the next few hours has to work....

Later!

Recipe for success

As the pre and post Christmas fog begins to clear, I have discovered that I also forgot to bring the pineapple stuffing for the Christmas ham on Tuesday. The double recipe that I made on the 24th was found in the garage refrigerator. This makes my holiday blunder 4 for 4. In other words, since I did not have the potato concoction, appetizer, pineapple stuffing, and dip, I failed in my holiday effort to contribute to Uncle G's party. Fortunately, I did remember the ping pong tournament trophies. That sort of got me out of trouble....actually, once again, I think that no one noticed except me. But....

that's not the way that I roll....I try to live up to my promises and I actually thought that I did until yesterday when I found the casseroles (stuffing) in the fridge, What the heck? Is this early dementia? If it is, then what do I expect next? OR.....

is my life too complicated? In the old days when the kids were younger, I contacted a caterer and had her make the main meal and side dishes. That was pretty nice and a holiday gift for myself. Do I take on too much? Or too little? OR....

is it multitasking? I might be doing it wrong. Research suggests the brain is not designed to multitask, therefore, Do I think that I am any different than the subjects from the research studies? I am no Einstein or Steven Hawkings therefore, why do I think that I can have six balls in the air and not let any pineapple stuffing drop? Anyone need a side dish for ham?



OK, on to my big kid. On Christmas Eve, he walked into the bedroom at 5:30 am after a late night working in the bakery. "I am going to throw...then going to work..."

How are you going to throw in the dark?

"Going to the high school, turn the car head lights onto the mound and throw..."

Coming from him, I believed it. Anyone else, I would have had their head examined. But that's exactly what he did...off to throw baseballs in the 20 degree temperature in the dark guided by the car's head lights. And so baseball fans, this is what you have to do to make it in division 1 baseball....

The recipe for success is as simple as the pineapple stuffing recipe. It consists of ambition, drive, motivation, a bit of crazy, and a car battery from Sears. That's it. let's see how it works in the new year.

With that said, I am going to try NOT to multitask today....My mantra is to take one thing at a time....finish the first project...go onto the second...then the third...the fourth....fifth..and so on...have lunch.....

Later~

Chillin'

It's heating up in the northeast! Based on my last post, it will be impossible to be cool over the next few days if one does not have air conditioning. Let's have a show of hands....is air conditioning the greatest invention of the 21st century next to the laptop computer and Spanx? Today, air conditioning surpasses Merlot and vanilla vanilla cupcakes from the bakery.

Speaking of Cupcake, I think that she is staying cool in one of her stylish outfits. When Tink was a little girl, she had the most amazing clothes....then the teen age years hit and well........Don't get me wrong, she is still a cutie, but the clothes selection is somewhat....hmmmm...no words for this one. In contrast, Buddy's wardrobe is a cross between clearance rack at TJ Maxx and whatever is given out free by the team.

Yesterday, I went to PT with Buddy and went through my leg strengthening exercises while he worked on his balance and arm stretches. It was fascinating as we worked next to each other. I discovered that we have the same "grunt".  It goes something like this: "shhhhh ewww ahhhh''.....
As I finished first, a professional quarterback walked in for therapy. I must say, Buddy is bigger and taller than this guy. Thinking of how many times he was tackled in a professional football game, his body and bones must be mush. I can see why he needs PT. If I had a three hundred pound tackler grabbing my calf muscles and legs, I think that once I received my million dollar bonus check, I would fly to an island, change my name, and live in obscurity while trying to recover from being knocked down by such a tremendous force. What guys will do to earn a living....

On to tomorrow's agenda...Buddy and I are headed to college. He has to undergo training since he is helping at a boy's baseball camp next week. Yep, I hate what they call it but it is today's reality: "Sandusky training." The guys are learning what is and is not appropriate when it comes to kids. I would think that this would be a no-brainer, but sadly, in our crazy society, we need all individuals who work with children to have child abuse and criminal background checks as well as this type of training. It protects the children as well as the counselors. I do believe that this is just the start of this type of training. Schools, parishes, day care centers and so on will be required to run programs like this to protect all involved. This is thanks to a few degenerates who prey upon the most vulnerable....shame on them.....

After the training, he wants to return to his apartment and clean it to prepare for moving out. In a word, "no." No, I will not be part of the process and be holding a mop tomorrow. If his bedroom is any indication of how his apartment has been kept over the past few months, I will not join him. In fact, I may hose him off before he gets into my car. Isn't that maternal love? While he is at his training and disinfecting the apartment and scraping the gum and toxins off the carpet, I will be in the library teaching my online courses, in the coolness, peace, and solitude of a comfy chair. Maybe I will bring one of the Starbucks cool ice tea and lemonade concoctions. Yeah....

And so, it's time for me to get a move on. Tink needs a ride to work and I want to swim a few laps. Have the coolest day~

Crunch Time

Yes...it's "go-time". Buttercup has been in labor since midnight and it looks like there is no turning back. She is ready. Grammy and Poppy are ready. I am not ready. Why?

Hmmmm, after careful thought, this baby is the next generation in the BP family. It means that I now have a great-niece. Yes, she will be great, but it is pretty clear that I am now one of the aunts that I always considered "old" in my youth. Ouch!

I know that getting older is inevitable, but a baby really punctuates the reality. I was thrilled when Buttercup was born because she was our first niece, and now, here is her baby. Wow....life does go on, doesn't it?

And so, I will fulfill my responsibilities as soon as possible, drive by the bakery and pick up some baby cookies and get to the hospital as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I cannot be there to sit with Big Sis but my spidey senses tell me that she has her hands full and does not need one more person in the mix. Even if it is me....her favorite middle sister.....:-D

As far as my leftie is concerned, he has his sociology final then will be home tonight for a week. He has to return to campus next week for the final home stand. I am not sure how he will get there. Perhaps he can drive the baby's Little Tikes cozy coupe or take the Mega Bus.....

Got to run....boil hot water...get towels.....Merlot time....nope, let's make it champagne!