Spring Weather

With all of the bad weather we have been having this week I am take this chance to tell one of my favorite stories about Granddad  

Every spring, during the Quilt Show, a large part of my family would go camping and fishing on Lake Barkley.  I am not sure which was more important, the crappie run or getting Uncle Wayne out of Paducah during the show, but the fact both happened at the same time worked out well.  Not everyone would stay the whole time at the lake but for about a month 3-4 campers would be set up and anyone who had time off would go up to fish and relax.  I remember these trips fondly.  I was so happy that Gman got to go 1 time with me and Granddad to the camp and had a chance to fish a little.  But back to the story.

Spring weather in Kentucky usually means storms followed by hot and humid and the more storms.  One morning a large storm came up and kept us from fishing early in the day.  The storm gave way to sunshine and Granddad said lets go fishing.  He had put in a new brush pile a couple of bays over from the camp site and wanted to try it out after all the rain.  So off we went from Carmack Bay to Demumbers Bay.



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After a few hours fishing the weather took a turn for the worse.  We put on our rain gear and decided it was time to head to camp.  Just then it started to pour down.  Granddad took over driving the boat as we left the bay and entered the main lake.  The wind and rain was terrible.  I looked back over my shoulder at the sound behind us.  What I saw was just about the most frightening things in my life.  A tornado came out of no were near Willow Bay.  It hit the lake and did not stop.  It crossed over and headed toward Eddyville.  Granddad held me down in the boat as low as I could go.  We made it back to camp very wet and wind blown.

We later learned that the storm had hit Calvert City taking off part of the roof from the Church of Christ and damaging the screen at the Calvert Drive-In..  I will always remember the sight and sound of that tornado and Granddad keeping me as safe as he could.

Vivian thanks for reminding me to write down these stories.  I will try to do more of them.

Another round of thunderstorms and bad weather last night.  I hope everyone got through it ok. 

Week three at the new office is going better than week 1.  The office itself has been OK but my attitude was terrible the first week.  I hope the ladies in the office did not notice.  I have to keep reminding myself that I can only control my actions and not the actions of others.  I tell this the E almost everyday.  He has my temper. He gets mad at things he can not control.  I am trying to teach him to let it go and just worry about what he can control.  I need to keep this in my own mind.  It is tough for both of us but I can not be lazy with it while trying to teach him to do it now.  

E won his first game last night.  It was the make up game from Saturday.  Gman is 0-2 with the coaches costing them the first win.  The second game we only hit for 1 out of the 5 innings.  Got to get them all in the game early and we will get the win.  

Everyone have a great day. 

Opening Day

Opening Day at SWL Pony League is here and its rainy and cold.  T ball games have been cancelled and E is not real  happy.  Gman got his game in.  It was a true ABC Wide World of Sports moment.  The thrill victory and the agony of defeat for the Orioles.  Bottom of the 5th and 2 outs.  7 to 5 lead over the Diamondbacks. We get the strike out and think the game is over.  Blue says 2 mins to go play ball.

Needless to say Diamondbacks score 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th.  We have suffered out first lose of the season.  Coaches cost the boys their first win by not watching the clock.  They played great with a great effort on both sides.  Gman was a little rusty at third but did at least swing and had a stolen base.  No hits but he did swing and looked better at the plate.  

More later when I have time to think about it more.

I hope everyone had a better week than I did.

First week in the new office was ok but found out it was a temporary move not the promotion I thought it was.  So I am still just in limbo with the job situation.

I can't seem to do anything right this week. From one day to the next it was just a crappy week.  I keep trying to think of something anything to make it better but it is not working.  I am short tempered and just in a bad mood for the week.  So this post is not even helping me to let it out so I may stop it short.

I hope everyone has a good week next week as well.

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.