For those of us not on vacation, this week is a scheduling nightmare. Work during the day, baseball every night plus some extra curricular events like dentist visits and meetings. And here I was looking forward to a "short" week!
This afternoon, Carter and I both had dentist appointments and each had some work done. So we get home with our numb mouths and faces just in time for supper. We couldn't really delay since Carter had a 7:30 game tonight.
This week they are doing regular league games and some tournament games. So he plays a regular game Wednesday night but tournament games Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A point of information here. I knew he had 5 games on the schedule. I just hadn't seen the schedule and did not know the times and locations. I didn't even know if we were the "home" team or what. I asked Coach Austin last night if he had to have someone work concessions for each of those tourney games. He said probably, yes. So I thought I'd be nice and volunteer to take that first game (tonight). You know what they say about good intentions... they can come back to bite you in the ass. Or something.
Seriously.
After supper, Jim says we should probably drive separately in case he has to stay late to close concessions and I can take Carter home since it's a school night and all that. They take off a few minutes before me, I grab my purse and head out.
Since Mead Field is located on the other side of Rapids, I was a bit worried about getting to my shift on time because I had to stop for gas. No worries, I was there in time to relieve some other mom just in time.
I start selling concessions and was keeping plenty busy. I saw the teams warming up but didn't pay any more attention to it until the game was going to start. That's when I noticed the red team was not our Reds team, but the Cardinals. What the heck? Where is my team?
There's no one else playing at the other field so I call up the other member of the Coaches' Wives Club and ask: "Where the heck's the game?" She was thinking I'm calling from the concession stand wondering why our game hadn't started yet. So she says, "I know. They're still playing softball." I say, "No, I mean where the heck are we playing??" Oh, "Kellner," she says.
For those who don't know Rapids. Mead is 20 minutes away from home. Kellner is less than 5. Grrrrr.
I was completely embarrassed, humiliated and pissed off -- at hubby and me. He didn't hang up a schedule anywhere at home. And I didn't look for it. I assumed and you definitely know what happens then!
Total rookie mistake a veteran baseball mom like me shouldn't make. But it gave plenty of people a good laugh. (I haven't found the humor yet.) And, of course, it gave me something to blog about. Well past my bedtime.
By the way, the Reds (the real ones) did win the very late game 13-9. Good thing someone's paying attention!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Redneck Woman
I'm not saying I'm a Redneck Woman because I hung out at a race track for 5 hours on my day off. I'm saying I'm a very RED neck woman because I literally have a red neck, arms, face, legs, any body part exposed for those 5 hours. Ouch.
Yup, the blue jay on Blue Jay Drive officially declared it summer today! With a high of 88, we will agree. It has arrived. (For today anyway.)
I knew we were in for a hot one when it was super muggy already at 8:30 during my morning run. That was not a good time. Came home and kitty was wedged up to the screen door, soaking in as much sunshine as possible. If there's anyone who can give me a run for loving the most sun, it's her. She was not too happy when we closed up the house later to turn the air-conditioning on!
Before the race, 10 lucky young fans got to meet Colin and all the Super Late Model drivers and give them high-fives.
There's his new #44 car! We were pretty excited he qualified with the 3rd-fastest time. The race was 100 laps and, since I was there shortly after 1 p.m., I was quite toasted -- neck and all -- by the time his race started. I ended up moving around taking pictures to get some good angles. Unfortunately, Colin bumped into someone after a crash not involving him, and he got some damage.
You can see the damage here. He ended up leaving the race for some other mechanical reason. So we have another DNF (did not finish) on his record this year. It turned out to be a bad day for a lot of drivers. Of the 24 cars in that same race, only 15 ended up finishing it! Weird. Must have been the heat!
Despite my sunburn pain, we all trekked down to the Pits afterward to get his autograph (hey, the family still has to ask!).
Yup, the blue jay on Blue Jay Drive officially declared it summer today! With a high of 88, we will agree. It has arrived. (For today anyway.)
I knew we were in for a hot one when it was super muggy already at 8:30 during my morning run. That was not a good time. Came home and kitty was wedged up to the screen door, soaking in as much sunshine as possible. If there's anyone who can give me a run for loving the most sun, it's her. She was not too happy when we closed up the house later to turn the air-conditioning on! Jim and Carter had tournament team baseball practice at 6 p.m. so they wisely stayed home in the A/C and I was off to the races by myself. Don't worry, I've got my "racing family" of fans we always sit by so I knew I wouldn't be alone. Plus, my in-laws were going.
The races started at 3 p.m. but the time trials were at 1:15 p.m. So I got there at 1:10 p.m., just so I wouldn't miss our nephew Colin's qualifying. After taking some sketchy photos last week during the night race, I wanted to get some good photos today since it was guaranteed sunny out.
Before the race, 10 lucky young fans got to meet Colin and all the Super Late Model drivers and give them high-fives.
There's his new #44 car! We were pretty excited he qualified with the 3rd-fastest time. The race was 100 laps and, since I was there shortly after 1 p.m., I was quite toasted -- neck and all -- by the time his race started. I ended up moving around taking pictures to get some good angles. Unfortunately, Colin bumped into someone after a crash not involving him, and he got some damage.
You can see the damage here. He ended up leaving the race for some other mechanical reason. So we have another DNF (did not finish) on his record this year. It turned out to be a bad day for a lot of drivers. Of the 24 cars in that same race, only 15 ended up finishing it! Weird. Must have been the heat!
Despite my sunburn pain, we all trekked down to the Pits afterward to get his autograph (hey, the family still has to ask!). Then I came home and took a cool shower and yes, you don't have to guess... enjoyed just a spoonful or two of a cool treat! Ahh, summer...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Extra, Extra
With this 3-day weekend, I had to treat one of the days as an "extra" -- as in "I should probably do something today I don't want to do because I'll still have a day off tomorrow." In other words, nothing too fun, that's for sure.
It probably didn't help, we slept in a bit and went to late church. That throws the Sunday schedule off by a few hours. After church, Carter and I had a little shopping to do so it was afternoon already when we got home.
I put on my old floral apron -- which I pretend transforms me into a domestic goddess -- and got to work. I "baked" potatoes on the grill after the brats were done, made a tasty grape salad and balled a watermelon. (Sounds funny, but I think that's what I did.) It was already 2 p.m. when I sat down to eat lunch but at least I got some things made for the week.
After that, I had to choose between 2 time-consuming projects. Since the weather was cool and somewhat sketchy, I chose the indoor one.
Basically, I spent several hours loading 5 months' worth of photos off our camera, saving them on our computer, uploading them unto the Walgreens website, ordering prints, them moving the photos off the computer onto a flash drive. Just a time-consuming, laborious project that had to get done so I could clear the camera off for more baseball and racing photos!
When supper was over, I decided to take a little 2-mile walk so I could at least get some exercise and fresh air. It was never really sunny out today or warm enough, for that matter, for me to worry that I was missing any deck chair time.
There are rumors, though, that tomorrow may be perfect for that. Something tells me that 4 or 5 hours at the race track will give me all the sun I need! Then I'll need an extra day again to recover!
Unfortunately, I won't get it.
It probably didn't help, we slept in a bit and went to late church. That throws the Sunday schedule off by a few hours. After church, Carter and I had a little shopping to do so it was afternoon already when we got home.
I put on my old floral apron -- which I pretend transforms me into a domestic goddess -- and got to work. I "baked" potatoes on the grill after the brats were done, made a tasty grape salad and balled a watermelon. (Sounds funny, but I think that's what I did.) It was already 2 p.m. when I sat down to eat lunch but at least I got some things made for the week.
After that, I had to choose between 2 time-consuming projects. Since the weather was cool and somewhat sketchy, I chose the indoor one.
Basically, I spent several hours loading 5 months' worth of photos off our camera, saving them on our computer, uploading them unto the Walgreens website, ordering prints, them moving the photos off the computer onto a flash drive. Just a time-consuming, laborious project that had to get done so I could clear the camera off for more baseball and racing photos!
When supper was over, I decided to take a little 2-mile walk so I could at least get some exercise and fresh air. It was never really sunny out today or warm enough, for that matter, for me to worry that I was missing any deck chair time.
There are rumors, though, that tomorrow may be perfect for that. Something tells me that 4 or 5 hours at the race track will give me all the sun I need! Then I'll need an extra day again to recover!
Unfortunately, I won't get it.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Helping Hands
We can't always measure our productivity by what we accomplish for ourselves. Sometimes it accumulates in what we do for others.
That's just my fancy way of saying we didn't do squat in our yard or house today, but we managed to lend a helping hand to a few others. So we don't feel too badly about it!
I got up before 8 -- not because I wanted to go running, but because the phone rang. Since I was up, I got dressed and did the longest run in my life -- 7 miles! And I lived to tell about it. Somehow you're going to get the false impression this is getting easy for me. It's not. But I'm always amazed I only need to walk when I am "scheduled" to and I don't run out of breath or cramp up in my legs or my side. I hope my slow progression of increased miles keeps that in check.
Got home from my run and Jim and Carter were already helping the neighbor across the street dig out some stumps from a handful of trees he recently cut down on purpose -- not from any storm damage. The guy next door was helping, too. When I later saw them carrying a ladder to fix a yard light for a guy down the street, I started to suspect this was going to be one of those guys' days where they keep finding projects to keep them out of the house and away from the women. It might have just been a coincidence -- but then I saw one guy changing the light bulb and 3 of them holding the ladder. I'm just sayin'...
I realize I still could have gotten started in our yard but after I showered, I didn't want to get dirty again. I had some errands to run and then we had a graduation party later. There's always tomorrow...
After the graduation party, we decided to drive around and tour some of the tornado damage from last Sunday. There are so many trees down! I kept thinking of my parents' yard after their tornado last year. It's just sickening.
Our tour ended up at an ice cream place. (Jim is learning!) So Carter and I were thrilled with that!
When we got home, some friends called and invited us over for supper and batting practice and a camp fire. What the heck, we might as well go there and ignore our yard some more!
I took my own car over there because I had to leave at 7 p.m. and head up to Stevens Point for a gathering with some very special friends. It was one of things where I set out to help someone else and, in the end, it ended up helping me. Funny how that works.
I like it.
Maybe we'll get to our weeds and planting tomorrow. If we don't, something tells me I'm not going to be that bothered by it. But if I see the guys walking around with that ladder again...
That's just my fancy way of saying we didn't do squat in our yard or house today, but we managed to lend a helping hand to a few others. So we don't feel too badly about it!
I got up before 8 -- not because I wanted to go running, but because the phone rang. Since I was up, I got dressed and did the longest run in my life -- 7 miles! And I lived to tell about it. Somehow you're going to get the false impression this is getting easy for me. It's not. But I'm always amazed I only need to walk when I am "scheduled" to and I don't run out of breath or cramp up in my legs or my side. I hope my slow progression of increased miles keeps that in check.
Got home from my run and Jim and Carter were already helping the neighbor across the street dig out some stumps from a handful of trees he recently cut down on purpose -- not from any storm damage. The guy next door was helping, too. When I later saw them carrying a ladder to fix a yard light for a guy down the street, I started to suspect this was going to be one of those guys' days where they keep finding projects to keep them out of the house and away from the women. It might have just been a coincidence -- but then I saw one guy changing the light bulb and 3 of them holding the ladder. I'm just sayin'...
I realize I still could have gotten started in our yard but after I showered, I didn't want to get dirty again. I had some errands to run and then we had a graduation party later. There's always tomorrow...
After the graduation party, we decided to drive around and tour some of the tornado damage from last Sunday. There are so many trees down! I kept thinking of my parents' yard after their tornado last year. It's just sickening.
Our tour ended up at an ice cream place. (Jim is learning!) So Carter and I were thrilled with that!
When we got home, some friends called and invited us over for supper and batting practice and a camp fire. What the heck, we might as well go there and ignore our yard some more!
I took my own car over there because I had to leave at 7 p.m. and head up to Stevens Point for a gathering with some very special friends. It was one of things where I set out to help someone else and, in the end, it ended up helping me. Funny how that works.
I like it.
Maybe we'll get to our weeds and planting tomorrow. If we don't, something tells me I'm not going to be that bothered by it. But if I see the guys walking around with that ladder again...
Friday, May 27, 2011
Gateway to Summer
Hello, Weekend. You have been a longtime coming! Not just because you are just any old weekend, but this one is considered the "official" beginning of summer. So let's get it started!
I know lots of peoplewho are traveling or camping or jamming their 3-days' schedule with activities. Knowing this is our last "free" weekend until August, we are not going to do that. And we (certainly not me) are not going to feel guilty about any lack of productivity!
Today was a great start -- to the weekend, not the slacking part.
This was Carter's last Friday of school so his summer vacation is right around the corner. Hubby enjoyed some beautiful sunny weather playing golf with a friend in Green Bay. I had a crazy busy day at work but didn't mind because "Summer Hours" started today -- that's that great perk of a 3 p.m. "dismissal" on Fridays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
It really is an appreciated bonus. It's nice for people traveling who want to hit the road early. It'll be great for our baseball tournaments that start Friday evenings in various cities in Wisconsin. And it's awesome to get home early and get my Saturday chores done on Friday night. OK, I probably won't keep that up too long, but it was nice tonight to get some things done so I can sleep in tomorrow and ease into day 1 of the 3-day weekend.
Carter and I had also talked about hitting some garage sales tomorrow but we'll see how that goes. Found out this evening my next-door neighbor is having one this weekend. I loaned her some tables in exchange for "renting space" and selling some of my books and Carter clothes left over from my spring sale with the babysitter. It was already organized and marked so I figured it was worth a shot.
Carter also is putting his old "too small" bike on there since he got a new one for his birthday. Right away he says, "I get the money for it!" I asked the neighbor if she figured I could get 10 bucks for it. When she said I mostly likely could, Carter says, "Put $12 on it!" He's a wheeler dealer already! (And we ended up putting $15 on it, but said we'd take $10.)
Hopefully, if he's still so profit minded, I can get him on another can-gathering walk this weekend. I saw some cans in the ditch on my new running route. Probably only 8 cents' worth, but every penny counts, right?
I just hope it's nice enough to get outside. Between rain showers and cool temps, it doesn't look too promising until Monday, but we'll make the best of it.
We better. I promised my deck chair some serious quality time!
I know lots of peoplewho are traveling or camping or jamming their 3-days' schedule with activities. Knowing this is our last "free" weekend until August, we are not going to do that. And we (certainly not me) are not going to feel guilty about any lack of productivity!
Today was a great start -- to the weekend, not the slacking part.
This was Carter's last Friday of school so his summer vacation is right around the corner. Hubby enjoyed some beautiful sunny weather playing golf with a friend in Green Bay. I had a crazy busy day at work but didn't mind because "Summer Hours" started today -- that's that great perk of a 3 p.m. "dismissal" on Fridays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
It really is an appreciated bonus. It's nice for people traveling who want to hit the road early. It'll be great for our baseball tournaments that start Friday evenings in various cities in Wisconsin. And it's awesome to get home early and get my Saturday chores done on Friday night. OK, I probably won't keep that up too long, but it was nice tonight to get some things done so I can sleep in tomorrow and ease into day 1 of the 3-day weekend.
Carter and I had also talked about hitting some garage sales tomorrow but we'll see how that goes. Found out this evening my next-door neighbor is having one this weekend. I loaned her some tables in exchange for "renting space" and selling some of my books and Carter clothes left over from my spring sale with the babysitter. It was already organized and marked so I figured it was worth a shot.
Carter also is putting his old "too small" bike on there since he got a new one for his birthday. Right away he says, "I get the money for it!" I asked the neighbor if she figured I could get 10 bucks for it. When she said I mostly likely could, Carter says, "Put $12 on it!" He's a wheeler dealer already! (And we ended up putting $15 on it, but said we'd take $10.)
Hopefully, if he's still so profit minded, I can get him on another can-gathering walk this weekend. I saw some cans in the ditch on my new running route. Probably only 8 cents' worth, but every penny counts, right?
I just hope it's nice enough to get outside. Between rain showers and cool temps, it doesn't look too promising until Monday, but we'll make the best of it.
We better. I promised my deck chair some serious quality time!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Slacking Off
It's that time of year when the last day of school is within sight and just about every student is gradually slacking off.... and closing their eyes, wishing it was here already. We have one of them living under our roof.
Carter is getting so anxious. I can't blame him. Most nights he's busy with baseball and doesn't want to be "bothered" with homework. (Will that last book ever get read, I wonder?) Plus, there's the fact the days are longer and it's "too light out" to go to bed.
I can almost feel sorry for him, but I don't.
I am completely jealous, though. Of him and Daddy.
Yup, hubby is taking off starting tomorrow and all next week. He's not really going anywhere, other than the golf course, but that's just what worked into his schedule. Unfortunately, it doesn't work into mine. We may work at the same place but we are in 2 completely different departments and have 2 completely different deadline schedules. Once in awhile we get a day or 2 off together if it coincides with some event or plans. But that's not going to work this time.
And yes, I am completely jealous if him!
At least we all get Monday off for Memorial Day.
I do hope Jim enjoys his time off and that Carter can suffer through these last 3 1/2 days of school OK. (He's done next Thursday at noon.) My hope is that I will have an ultra-productive 3 days at work next week and join those slackers on Friday.
Just like the school kids, I'm gonna close my eyes and wish it...
Carter is getting so anxious. I can't blame him. Most nights he's busy with baseball and doesn't want to be "bothered" with homework. (Will that last book ever get read, I wonder?) Plus, there's the fact the days are longer and it's "too light out" to go to bed.
I can almost feel sorry for him, but I don't.
I am completely jealous, though. Of him and Daddy.
Yup, hubby is taking off starting tomorrow and all next week. He's not really going anywhere, other than the golf course, but that's just what worked into his schedule. Unfortunately, it doesn't work into mine. We may work at the same place but we are in 2 completely different departments and have 2 completely different deadline schedules. Once in awhile we get a day or 2 off together if it coincides with some event or plans. But that's not going to work this time.
And yes, I am completely jealous if him!
At least we all get Monday off for Memorial Day.
I do hope Jim enjoys his time off and that Carter can suffer through these last 3 1/2 days of school OK. (He's done next Thursday at noon.) My hope is that I will have an ultra-productive 3 days at work next week and join those slackers on Friday.
Just like the school kids, I'm gonna close my eyes and wish it...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Rain Check
It's hard to believe I am looking out the window at a pretty pink and blue sunset sky now when it's been raining for some 12 hours. Love how it stops just in time for the moon to show up, but not in time for any sporting events in our area anyway.
Part of me is not terribly bummed about having Carter's "40-some degrees out and 7:30 p.m. on a school night" game called off. I think you know why. But now we have no ball park action until next Tuesday night! What will we do with ourselves?
Probably become couch potatoes like we did this evening!
Tonight I got some groceries while hubby did a load of laundry and we both got to watch the season finale of a mutually favorite show, Modern Family. Laugh-out-loud funny as always!
Now I'm going to catch the finale of the season finale of American Idol. Don't hate me for jumping in at week 24 or whatever. I actually did see parts of about 3 or 4 episodes. I've heard the finalist Scotty sing before, but this was the first I heard Lauren, the other finalist sing. They are both talented. I think it doesn't really matter who wins. They both will go someplace in the entertainment biz.
They'll never be as famous as Oprah, though!
I know today was her last episode of her talk show. My work schedule has not allowed me to watch her much at all in the past 10 years or so. But I catch highlights once in awhile and know she's still trying to do some good and change lives. My only regret is not finishing my book in time to make it on her "Oprah's Book Club" list!
Meh. Who needs her?
Part of me is not terribly bummed about having Carter's "40-some degrees out and 7:30 p.m. on a school night" game called off. I think you know why. But now we have no ball park action until next Tuesday night! What will we do with ourselves?
Probably become couch potatoes like we did this evening!
Tonight I got some groceries while hubby did a load of laundry and we both got to watch the season finale of a mutually favorite show, Modern Family. Laugh-out-loud funny as always!
Now I'm going to catch the finale of the season finale of American Idol. Don't hate me for jumping in at week 24 or whatever. I actually did see parts of about 3 or 4 episodes. I've heard the finalist Scotty sing before, but this was the first I heard Lauren, the other finalist sing. They are both talented. I think it doesn't really matter who wins. They both will go someplace in the entertainment biz.
They'll never be as famous as Oprah, though!
I know today was her last episode of her talk show. My work schedule has not allowed me to watch her much at all in the past 10 years or so. But I catch highlights once in awhile and know she's still trying to do some good and change lives. My only regret is not finishing my book in time to make it on her "Oprah's Book Club" list!
Meh. Who needs her?
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