David versus Goliath Part 1

Good morning!

Cue the theme from Rocky......

Here it is....this is the day when David of the north battles the Goliath of the south. Rocky battles Apollo Creed.....That's right. The big lefty is scheduled to start against the Yankees. Is he ready....well.....



If you are a regular reader, you know that on Saturday, he entered the game and did not throw well. He knew it. I knew it. The entire stadium knew it. When we had a discussion about it, he shared that he did not have ample time before entering the game to warm up. He also said: "my arm is dead. Lifeless."

Ok, this is not good especially with Goliath on the schedule. Hmmm....what can we do to inject some life into your dead arm? Adrenaline shots? Massage? Acupuncture? Acupressure? Aroma Therapy? Dubble Bubble?? This was especially nerve wracking for ole BPM.



Crud. Double crud. Triple crud.

All I could do was listen and not give in to negativity. My only role...it did not cost me a penny. I had to shut my mouth, listen, and not offer advice. He only wanted to vent and I let him. And yes, for those of you who know me....as he ranted.....I let my mind wander to warm weather, sunshine, pretty flowers, and singing birds.....

Back to the story......

When I got to town yesterday with a car full of food, he and I finally got together as he worked with his banned arm tube and  said:

"My arm has life. I can move it. It whips."

A miracle. Indeed.

While he worked out, he stopped and said: "I am nervous."

Crud, Double crud. Triple crud.

Now, it was time for me to speak.

Ok, this is natural. You have a game. However, you have done this before with bigger teams (if you count the local powerhouse in 8th grade). Remember what you said to me in Texas..."I am going to punch them in the face and make them bleed." Where is the face puncher that I was with two (or three...I forget) weeks ago?

"You're right. I am going to punch them in the mouth. I'm ready."

And that, my friends is where we stand. The face puncher....focused....arm whipper is ready for action.

Man, this can wear a person out. I believe that my next academic degree with be a doctorate in psychology. I can use it especially if he does well and moves to the next level or doesn't.

On another note, I saw two scouts in the stands on Friday night. I was praying that he would enter the game...but.....nope....oh well, there will be more opportunities.

Now it is time for me to put on my game face as I watch my David battle Goliath.





No eating until after the game. After all, I don't want to throw up. Yeah, I am a tad bit queasy, but I will never let him know. After all, this is what he has craved. It is time.

Go team.

Peace!

Weird Weekend

I'm back. Sorry about the lack of posts over the last two days....BUT.....

On Saturday, I had the slowest day, which is pretty cool. I ran errands around town. The day was beautiful and I assumed that the kid would not pitch since he was starting on Tuesday night. I was WRONG....more later....

On game days or any other day that I travel with the team, it is not my son's responsibility to entertain me. I am self sufficient and can do lots of things on my own. Plus, I am trying to finish the magazine that I have to publish in the next few weeks. In other words, I have plenty to do.

So, I ran the errands and hit the outlets....While at Sam's Club, I picked up a few items for the house and a big tub of 385 pieces of Dubble Bubble chewing gum for the big kid. I figured since he gave up dipping, he would appreciate the gum. I also picked up some Rice Krispies treats and gave them to him on Sunday.

On to Saturday's game...the day was spectacular! Low 60's, sunny, I was in heaven....until the sun went down...then the chill hit...but before that.....

The game started at 4 instead of 6 due to the weather. I knew that he would not pitch, but I went anyway since I was in town.....

As I watched the game, once again....the bases loaded and the reliever was taken out....fine....fine....who runs out? Yeah, you know who....

I was stunned. What the heck?

Anyway, he did not look confident to me, but what do I know?

The first batter hit a dribbler (only a few feet in front of home plate)...the pitcher runs....dives...throws the ball to the catcher and just misses the tag. Runner safe....oh boy.

The next batter walked on five pitches...the Czar walks out...kid out of the game....if I had blinked, I would have missed the whole thing. It was so fast.

After the game, the team had to journey to an alumni meeting and dinner, so I was on my own....

While I sat in my room next to the lobby eating my chicken wrap for dinner (extra lettuce), I got the texts that ranged from "I'm outta here" to "I am done."


If I had not been hungry, I would have lost my appetite. Yes, I was sad that he did not strike out the side, but I could tell that he did not have the velocity. So it goes, right? After a while, I stopped answering the texts and let him rant in silence....

When he got to my room (next to the lobby) and after the dinner, he and I had a discussion and I asked questions.....

"How many balls did you throw before you took the mound?"

Three.

"That's it? Three?"

Plus the practice ones on the mound.

"Oh, I see. And you are expected to throw strikes with three practice balls. You definitely need to quit since you don't have what it takes."

He started to relax.

Then he said: "My arm is sore...dead...no life...no velocity. I am done."

No. I don't accept that...although, let us see what happens. Finally, he worked out a bit with his shoulder tube and then headed for his room.

This was my chance to go to bed since I was tired and we lost an hour due to Eastern daylight time....however, since my room was next the the lobby and Czar, I may have slept two hours...


As I closed my eyes, the Czar and his children were watching a cop show and I could hear the bullets and guns firing. It was like I was at the OK Corral. So, no sleep for a while...then at 4 am (or 3 am if you forgot to turn the clocks forward), the kitchen staff came in and started to prepare the lobby for breakfast. Like the morning before, I knew that they had arrived since they were loud, laughing, coughing, breaking and dropping things, and vacuuming....Yeah, all in the middle of the night. Finally, I got out of bed, got dressed and complained to the front desk.



"Excuse me, but I have the room adjacent to the lobby. it is so noisy in here, I cannot sleep. Honestly, I never complain, but I have not slept in two nights."


The desk clerk looked at me and said: "I believe you. You really look tired...."

Uh, thanks.....

"I will make a notation and have the manager call you. Perhaps you can get a room discount."

This would be nice since I can barely see through my swollen eyes.



Fortunately, the Starbucks down the street was open and I grabbed a quick grande pike....boy, did I need it.

After a few hours, I woke the big lefty up, and we went to mass, then IHOP for the usual...pancakes and french toast. He was feeling better and laughing. My goal was to leave for home then go to the next city on Tuesday....but life does not happen the way we want it, right?

On Saturday night, when he was in despair, I promised that I would journey to the next city on Monday rather than Tuesday and bring his banned equipment to use in my room. He could not carry it on road trips and since I had it, he could hide it in my room.

On Friday night, since I had his shoulder tube and weights he was able to work out in my room quietly so the Czar (who was staying in the room next to me) would not know that I had the tube (remember, this equipment is banned). As he worked out, he perspired...then it began to stink in my room. Ew...but I am accustomed to the locker room and sneaker scent.....sniff....cough....gag....

Back to the story...I left on Sunday morning and had promised the guys that I would bring home made baked ziti before the next game. However, as I planned the menu, it got bigger and bigger.....and finally....I knew that I was in trouble because I promised ziti, salad, and chocolate bombs (recipe is below).....

The reality is, anyone who compliments BP momma's cooking gets treated. That's all a person has to do and whammo.....they are fed, watered, and tucked in....


As I prepped the meal, Tink called with the news that the team broke the losing streak and won big! They scored 16 (or 18, I don't remember) runs. Naturally, I started to receive texts.

"Mom, it was the bubble gum!"


Huh, the gum? really?

"We chewed the entire bucket."



The entire bucket? All 360 pieces? Really? These guys are going to need an emergency appointment with the dentist.


I texted back. Do you need more gum?



"yes, please."



Ok, I planned to stop at Sam's Club on the way to the game on Monday.

With that, I had several errands to run to get the ingredients for the pasta, Mrs Consuelos' bolonese sauce, the bombs, and salad. I finished the prep work Sunday at 8 pm.



On Monday, I had the rest of the cooking work to do and assembled the ziti, baked it, finished the bombs, made cookies, and decided NOT to make a salad. No energy....I made an executive decision to buy a salad at Sam's when I picked up two more buckets of Double Bubble chewing gum.

As I went through Sam's Club, I made another executive decision and filled the cart with Double Bubble, cookies, vegetable platter, and a big bag of Hershey's candies. We were ready for a party. My only fear was that I would poison the entire pitching staff and be banned from future games. I still have that fear since they have not had the pasta yet.

Once I pulled into the hotel parking lot, I texted the kid to help me to get the food out of the car. Immediately he was with me, looked me in the eyes and said:

"I don't know how to tell you, but we just found out that we have to attend another alumni dinner. We can't have the pasta."

Huh! What! Seriously? I just spent the last 24 hours getting ready for this and you are blowing it off?
Fine, I don't care. Eat it tomorrow.

"We can have it after the alumni dinner."

Don't be ridiculous. I honestly don't care if you eat it or not.

"Really, mom. The guys want it. They call you a saint."

Dude, get real. It's pasta. I boiled some water. No canonization necessary for this.

"Honestly, they want the food tonight."

And here is where we stand.....I am in my room typing this post. The guys are at the alumni dinner. The hotel kitchen has the ziti with directions to place it in the oven at 7:30 pm at 300 degrees for 35 minutes. Hopefully, it will not burn.



Hopefully, it will taste good.

Hopefully, the guys will enjoy it.

Hopefully, no one gets sick or food poisoned.

Hopefully, they win tomorrow night.

Hopefully, this post now ends.

Peace!



Recipe: Chocolate Bombs

1 package Oreos
1 package cream cheese
Giardelli's melting chocolate wafers

Crush Oreos and mix with softened cream cheese. Roll into little chocolate balls. freeze for one hour. Melt the chocolate wafers. Dip the rolled oreos. Let harden. Enjoy!

Baked ziti and a losing streak

Good morning! I want to send a get well shout out to Wildcat's brother who is recovering in the hospital. Get better soon!

On to the world of baseball......

Yesterday's game was moved from 6:30 to 4p due to the weather. This was a good thing. Although, the coaches did not make the decision until 1 p and I had not left the house for the game. Once I quickly punched the information into navigation in the newly cleaned car, I noted that the drive was 2 hours and 45 minutes....Oops...got to fly like Mario Andretti....unfortunately, Mario could not penetrate the traffic on I-95. I think that it is a hoot when tractor trailers move in and out of traffic like they are Subarus. It is not an easy feat and I believe that it is dangerous.



Note to all truck drivers...don't hate me.....but I think that you and the road will be much safer if you stay in your lane and do not try to weave. That's all I am sayin'

Now, the game......

As you and I knew....the kid was supposed to enter the game to pitch an inning. Did that happen? Uh, hmmmm....no.....

The starter was hit early. He gave up two runs in the first two innings and settled in. The opposing team was not like the Texas team and not like the team that they will face on Tuesday night. In other words, they were beatable and this time, the defeat was not due to pitching. When it came time to enter the bullpen, I could hear the big lefty warm up....boom....boom...boom...as the ball hit the glove. No one else's ball made the sonic sound except his. As the Czar called to the bullpen....out runs.......you guessed it....

Stoner!

Uh huh....coach appointed team captain who failed two drug tests is the first to come out. He loaded the bases and got out of it. Now at the top of the 9th, the team loads the bases with no outs. if they score, they had a chance to go to the bottom of the 9th and perhaps win the game. Guess who would have come out to the mound? My guess was the big guy.



Sadly, the closing pitcher was able to get the last three outs and everyone went home.

On to the hotel....we are staying on campus in a Hampton Inn-ish place. In other words, there is a free breakfast and seating area. After the game, rather than going out since the guys pulled into the hotel at 5am, I bought pizza and shared it with some of the other pitchers. These guys are so nice, that when the birthday cheesecake came out, I promised to come back to town with baked ziti, Caesar salad, and more goodies. Not sure what I was thinking, but when the compliment my cheesecake, I will do just about anything to make them smile. Perhaps the baked ziti will bring good luck....one never knows. Perhaps, yes, perhaps....it will help to break the losing streak especially if I use Mrs. Consuelos' bolonese sauce.

And so, the game is at 6:30 tonight, then the guys have to meet with the local alumni club who are sponsoring a dinner. This means that I am on my own all day.



I have the laptop and am trying to complete an article for a magazine, but my brain doesn't work all day, so I have to find something to do....when looking online for some of the local sites, I found a Fire Museum....that's it.....a Fire Museum.....OK.....



When I was in Texas, I visited the George Bush Library and Museum. This was pretty neat. Nothing like that is around here, except for the Fire Museum. BD and I were looking for things to do last week and found the Button Museum online. We never made it there, but it is now on my bucket list.

Time for me to write....deadlines loom.....I am fully caffeinated.....



Peace!