Worst practice of the season

Second week of baseball.  The Orioles had our worst practice of the year.  I have to remind myself they are just 9 and 10.  We were looking good on last Tuesday and even in the cold Saturday.  Good hard work for both hours of practice.  Tonights could not have been any worse. 

We started out Ok in the batting cages but not as solid as Saturday.  We lost their attention early on but still got everyone at least a full bucket of balls.  No one was swinging hard with the cold coming in.  Bad habits during soft toss from even the good hitters.  Clay and Kaleb put in some solid work.  William and Gman did not.  Peyton and Caydon both showed that they remembered what we worked on Saturday.  Hunter and Marcus both can be much better.  No Jacob for the second weekday practice.  

During fielding hour we just fell apart.  Gloves not getting to the dirt.  Throws all over the infield.  Outfielders not backing each other up.  I think everyone of them had to run the pole at least one time tonight.  I made Kyle send Gman running because he had his hand in his pocket while standing in the field.  William had to run 2 times for building dirt piles.  Marcus, Peyton and Kaleb where the only ones who put in full effort tonight.

Part of this has to do with the cold.  Part is that it was an after school practice.  And a big part goes back to that they are 9 and 10 year olds.  Have I said lately I really do enjoy doing this. Very good kids and a very good league.

Looking like an infield of Jacob at first.  Eric and Peyton splitting time at second.  William and Kaleb as our 2 shortstops and two-thirds of our rotation.  Gman will be starting at third.  Clay is the catcher, back up firstbase and the third man in the rotation.  Peyton, Marcus, Hunter and Caydon are the outfielders.  We have not looked at a batting line up yet or had kids pitching to kids.  Hopefully we will be able to get a scrimmage in before the start of the season.

Next update will be on the E and Red Wings. 

Sorry no posts this week. I have been very much out of it since Sunday. Kidney stone was very painful and I am still feeling it in my lower back. Beth took a picture of the stone if anyone wishes to see it. Not sure why anyone would but its available.

Baseball has started with both boys getting to practice this week. Mom made it up for the weekend. The boys loved having her here. Baseball meeting on Saturday and Beth taking me to the hospital on Sunday did not give her much of a weekend. We have found a team mom for Gman's team, The Orioles, but are still looking for one for E's. Beth is so in charge with this it is amazing.

 Hope everyone has a great week.

 
 PS Remember the guy I am coaching with family in prayer. He has an uncle who they do not think is going to last the week.

March Madness

March is like a holiday in Kentucky. The reason for the celebration is basketball.  We get to root for our favorite college teams no matter which ones they are.  We get the greatest high school basketball tournament in the nation, both boys and girls.  And they all remind me of my grandparents.

My first basketball memory is of Granddad.  It is not about playing or even watching.  It was a curse word.  I never heard the man say many but the first one I remember ever heard him say was watching a basketball game. The 1978 mens national semi-final game University of Kentucky versus the University of Arkansas.  UK was not playing that well at half time and led by just 2 points.  The start of the 2nd half was when the word was said.  I would remember later that Joe B. Hall was the coach of Kentucky (Eddie Sutton ironically was coaching Arkansas).  The phrase I remember was "what the hell is Joe B doing?" Joe B had benched 3 of his starting five players and my Granddad was not pleased with the decision.  Come to find out Joe B was right and the final score was a 64-59 UK victory.  The next game was UK beating Duke for the national title.  I can not remember ever hearing another curse word come out of my Granddad's mouth.  I know he said them from time to time but not often and never as important.  

The basketball memory I keep coming back to with Mama Jo was about a spring break trip while in college.  There was an infamous trip taken in the early 90s by 5 very nice young men.  There was a discussion about getting our ears pierced before we left for the week.  3 of us did but I was one of the 2 who did not.  A week of much fun but very little sun (coldest week in Corpus Christi history I know it was) later and we drive back into Murray.  It was a night of the regional basketball tournament.  Scott and I decided to go see the games because we knew our friends and family would be there.  Sure enough we saw lots of people and were having a good time when I felt a tug on my ear.  "Well I see you were smart enough to not get it done" was what Mama Jo said.  How she knew we were even thinking about getting our ears pierced the week before was one of her secrets.  She always knew.  

There are so many more stories I need to write down before I start to forget them.  From trips to Oxford Mississippi to see the Cats play or going to  EKU to watch the Lady Marshalls complete an undefeated season.  I have these and many more basketball memories because of my wonderful grandparents.  

Rainy week

It has been a very spring like week in Kentucky.  Lots of rain and temperatures going from freezing to the mid-60s.  So lots of sneezing and coughing in the Milburn house.  E and I have the worse of it so far.   Hopefully the meds both boys are on will keep them for getting something worse.

Last week seemed to drag and be a lot less busy than normal. This week has been flying by.  Basketball, brass practice for Gman, and baseball getting started makes this a very busy time.  Basketball will winding down with its tournament next week.   E will be back on the Red Wings for year 2 of t ball.  Gman has moved up to Mustang which is the first year of real baseball in Pony Leagues.  He will be on the Orioles.  If you are looking for a baseball league in Lexington please come check out Southwest Pony.

I must say can barely wait for the season to start.  I know we get really busy for a while but it is as much fun for me as it is the boys.  Beth likes it also but she gets very stressed when the boys are playing.  She has the makings of a very big baseball mom.  She reminds me of the story when Mama Jo got a technical foul called on her during a basketball game.   She is so good at the park and with the league.

Everyone remember to pray for her and her grandmother who had a heart attach this week.  And remember to tell the people you love what you think of them.

Just a small post

Small post this week.  I was going to say not much going on but it has been a busy week.  Saturday had work for me, basketball games, pine wood derby and the blue and gold banquet.

A fast visit from Lynn and Granny on Saturday and Sunday made the boys weekend.  Not sure how but we ended up on Saturday night at Gatti Town to eat.  It may have not been to best idea but for once the pizza was fairly good.  I think it was because they were so busy they kept fresh pizza out the whole time.

Sunday saw the Board meeting for baseball.  I am helping coach Gman again this year.  I know I was not planning on it but the league needed coaches in his age group.  So just as a reminder we will be starting fund raisers again in about 3 weeks. It will be the coupon books this year instead of the Qudoba coupons.  As soon as Beth or I know more we will let all interested parties know.  Oh and before I forget adds for the yearbook and banners for the fields if anyone is interested email me.

I hope everyone had a beautiful spring day like we did in Lexington today.

2nd Post

The 40 hour work week.  Work place safety.  Vacation days.  Sick days. Most health insurance coverage.  Ending unlawful terminations.  Fair labor practices including equitable pay and hiring procedures.  Those are the easy ones.

These are some of the things that American workers have because we have had labor unions with the ability to collectively bargain with companies.  The main stay of unions is to push for a higher wage and better  benefits for its members.  This has historically led to better wages and benefits for all workers.

Some of the harder ones.  Civil rights.  Americans with Disability Act.  Overtime pay.  Child labor laws.  Meal breaks.  Price stability.  All of these have their roots in unions.

Unions are like all large organizations.  They are not perfect but they have produced a lot of positive results for workers and the nation as a whole.  They will need to change with changing times and the needs of their members.  But to allow them to be outlawed and removed from the nation will lead to a very slippery slope.

Would you want to work more for less money in a job where you were not safe from harm?

Kind of rambling I know but I did not want to write a big history.  Have a good night all

2 Blogs Today Bubba Weekend First

 I am going to post 2 times today. I actually had 2 different ideas pop into my head at the same time. Please laugh with me not at me.

 The first one was that I had not talked about our great Bubba weekend. I had a wonderful time seeing my brothers and their wives. I have said many times I am lucky to have Marc, Brian, Scott, and Gary in my life. Megan, Angie, Missy and Ellen make the four of them better, almost as much as Beth makes me better. We all as the saying goes married up. Beth has posted some of the pics on her FB, so please go look.

The thought I had was about what brought us together. The MSU/BSU now BCM was very good for all of us. People like Keith and Carol Inman, Morgan Owens, Tim and Jenny Green, and so many more helped to shape all of us. I want to encourage myself and everyone who reads this to support our local ministries and groups like that. They do make a difference in peoples lives.

My college years helped to shape me and I hope I can help shape others. Post 2 will be from home tonight with a little research. Thanks again everyone.