They Went to the Game and All I Got Was This Lousy Sweatshirt

Well almost everyone here is waving a blue and white Kansas City Royals flag in hopes of a World Series sweep of the San Francisco Giants.   I was really in hopes of another blue and white team (Los Angeles Dodgers)  when I heard that they might have a chance. A California Freeway World Series would have been ideal.

Back in the 1970's I was an avid baseball observer. Although I never went to any games during that time, I watched whenever they were on television. The best years for me were during that time of 73-78 when players such as Ron Cey, Steve Yeager, Danny Lopes, Bill Buckner and Steve Garvey were my  dream team players. Also the announcing duo of Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett made the play-by-play one of the best. (Vin Scully still continues to announce at the age of 86). They provided some exciting baseball for many years with little drama that the sport has now. I think the biggest drama was who was caught using  pine tar on their bats and the occasional bench clearing.

After that time baseball was a little boring for me, until flash forward to 1988 and the Dodgers were again in the World Series. That year my husband and son were fortunate enough to get to go to a series game. My son probably remembers very little of it (age 3) but I remember David saying it was one of the most exciting games he had ever witnessed.  Not only memories came home that night but souvenirs. Since I was back skating around this time they gifted me with a sweatshirt.  Though I wore it rarely skating, I have kept it after all these years.

Mind you my husband wasn't and has never been a sports fanatic. Many have told me I am lucky to not be a "sports widow". I actually watch more sports than he ever has.  After this game he really got disinterested. I remember shortly after this one of the biggest player strikes occurred and it really soured his feelings on salaries versus fans.

Around 1991 my son had started playing t-ball a little. The coach found out that our local Ford dealership was having a local Reseda, CA boy who had made it to the big leagues sign autographs.  The player had been in the 1985 World Series and his name was Brett Saberhagen. He was lucky enough that day to receive an autographed baseball and baseball card. 

Fast forward a couple weeks ago when the Royals were not yet in the playoff games my daughter got tickets through her work to a game. It was a day for firsts in that it was the first ever game for granddaughter Hadleigh and also I think my daughter's first game ever. Although they lost that day they stayed until the end and since that day, Hadleigh became a fan of the Royals, for now. Maybe I can persuade her to wear Dodger Blue some day.

Are We Losing The Ability and Chance to Write?

Not a day goes by where I am not seeing the debate about technology and the true hand written word on the Internet or newspaper (for those who actually still read a paper you hold in your hand that gets delivered to your home).  A definite strong debate about the pros and cons is happening everywhere.

 I first wrote about this debate on this blog back in June, 2011. "The Written Word Changing How We Communicate? My last comment in that blog; "don't take away something that makes each person unique". In a time where we keep pushing individuality and non-conformity why are we still having this debate?

In just about every article I have read on the subject the first statement made is "schools don't have the time to teach due to constant-changing curriculum". Penmanship, a word most over the age of 20 know but those under probably need to Google should still be important as it is what makes individuals unique.

In both an article I read recently that a friend tagged on Facebook, written by Melinda Carstensen for the Lake Elsinore, CA-Wildomar Patch News and also this past weekend in our local Sedalia Democrat Newspaper by Bob Satnan was that computers are replacing the true written word.

I know it may seem strange as I am typing this blog that by doing so I have went the way of the computer, but I still do a good majority with a pen or pencil in hand. I personally still write and sign checks, I write my grocery list, I even write thank you notes. I take notes to even help with what I am writing on the computer.  Although my cursive writing isn't as clean as it used to be and my print gets sloppy (I got rid of the knuckle bump years ago) people that have known me for years say my writing still looks pretty much the same.

Mr. Satan told of a story in his article that went back to his school years in that a teacher accused him of having someone else complete an assignment he turned in. As it turned out after his mother accompanied him back to school and explained the difference was the first part had been done before he was told he couldn't go to basketball practice until after his homework was done. (remember those days of rushing through something just to get it done so you could do what you wanted to do?) If  he had done his assignment as they do today on a computer how do you verify it belongs to that person and someone else hasn't done the keystrokes?

Everyone has those days of rushing through something and not taking the time to do something presentable the first time. Is that where we have come to with regards to the hand written or cursive word? Are teachers, because of scheduling not wanting to take the time? Are parents not having enough time in the daily schedule to help children learn?

My oldest granddaughter is just starting to learn letters and numbers. I told my daughter why not use both. Let her use the computer/tablet to trace over the letters to learn but also have paper to actually put pencil in hand and get experience in writing it. I would not just want her or any of my grandchildren to just mark X as a signature or not know how to write. That will go back to the times of illiterate people who couldn't read or write. Wouldn't it?

Even learning keyboard functioning makes for a lot of room for errors. Since our local newspaper was purchased by a larger company in the Midwest and have let go many local writers I have noticed the proofreading practices are below acceptable. Not an issue goes by that I don't notice a proofreading error or a duplicate article written in the same paper with a different headline. Is this because someone is getting sloppy and doesn't have the time? It probably wouldn't matter if they were hand writing it or typing but its just another sloppy short cut.

Some sad statistics that were covered in the article by Melinda Carstensen are truly disturbing:

45 states and the District of Columbia have followed Common Core Standards since 2010 which gives schools the option to teach cursive but DON'T require it. (so far I am not a proponent of Common Core)

Many educators no longer feel cursive is worthwhile, as writing moves to tablets and computers and state tests dictate curricula

By grade 12, half of classroom assignments are written on computers. Many schools around the country are also assignment a computer to each child for the school year.

Most parents state children can not read their teacher's cursive handwriting.

States such as Georgia, Massachusetts and California have taken steps toward making cursive mandatory. Tennessee lawmakers are fighting to keep.

One sad look toward the future of why hand writing is detrimental to how our society will evolve is during the George Zimmerman murder trial, 19-year-old Rachel Jeantel testified she couldn't read a letter that a lawyer handed her. It was written in cursive. Sad and unacceptable.

I will continue to take pad to paper and will use my trusty computer and tablet. You can do both if you put your mind and hand to it. No one can take that away, unless you let them.

Season's Change

Well here we are again. Summer flew by and fall has tiptoed in quietly this time around. The trees are just slowly as of today starting to turn the different brown, yellow, orange, red hews that bring the autumn season into full view.

Sadly fall and winter are not my favorite seasons. I know it is God's plan to let things happen and plants, trees and other living things must close the door to life and bring new life in but sometimes you stop and think it is just too soon.

This morning I opened the local newspaper to two wonderful pictures of butterflies. The migration of monarch butterflies has started its voyage to Mexico for the winter. One such nectar stop was the Highway Gardens at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The aster flower, native to Missouri helps make the trip a little easier. Although the deforestation in Mexico has caused the monarch to decline, steps are being made to protect and restore these beautiful flying wonders.

 I was glad I stopped by the highway gardens this morning and saw a few stragglers who wanted to stick around a little while longer.The window of opportunity is small to view them so I was glad the day was nice enough to catch a few.

As I was taking the pictures my thoughts went to a school friend who passed away this past weekend. We went all through school K-12. Although after graduation we saw each other at a reunion and more recently connected on Facebook occasionally, it was sad for me to think that someone I played on the playground growing up was gone too soon.   When I read the news on Facebook my first memory that came to mind was that she was the first person I remember in school that had food allergies. I am sure there were others but today everyone seems to be allergic to everything.

Like seasons changing, butterflies migrating, friendships come and go. Take time today to say hi, e-mail or message a friend or family member.

Missouri State Fair 2014 Experience

Each year in August our town of 22,000+ people braces for an influx of people from all around the state and beyond. Traffic becomes interesting, planned errand running which usually takes a short time becomes a car trip that makes life interesting. For 11 days the main roads become a traffic jam most don't know how to navigate.

The fair is a time for people watching, riding rides, eating over the top food (a corn dog is always a must have). Fried green tomatoes, funnel cakes, pineapple cones, its definitely not a stick to your diet form of entertainment.

This year although the weather was cloudy (at least it didn't rain), humid, (I found damp spots on my body that I never thought about being damp before) it was 9+ hours of walking, eating, sitting, observing, and watching two 4 year old girls have the time of there lives. Hadleigh and her friend Kyra got to experience new foods they had never tried and rides they were big enough and daring enough to ride this year. They are definitely growing up. While they grow up the adults in attendance (my daughter Jennifer, David and myself) started to feel our ages pretty quickly.

I remember the first trips to the fair we made when our kids were both kids themselves. Now they bring there kids to experience the fair like they have done over the years. We all find ourselves shaking our heads at the differences between then and now.  Times have definitely changed.

After seven hours of eating and taking the little ones around, it was time for David and I to do something we hadn't done in years (usually David isn't home around fair time so it was a special touch to celebrate our 30th Anniversary). When we saw Sara Evans last at the fair she was an unknown to Nashville country music but a New Franklin, MO hometown favorite that we remembered at the Budweiser tent stage. She put on a great concert of all her first hits and now her most recent songs also.  It was a family reunion of sorts when she brought her two sisters who were her former backup singers to do a song. At her encore she preformed a Bruno Mars song with a twist "When I was Your Man" and Neon Trees "Everybody Talks". Joe Nichols opened for Sara and also put on a great performance. He is definitely back.

The fair is the swan-song to summer with days later the school year will be starting and fall will be just around the corner. Enjoy the rest of summer, I know I will be.

Everything to be Blue Over

Sneaking a berry

This past weekend my daughter and granddaughter and I took a little adventure. Our local paper had a great article about a local blueberry farm that had just opened up this week for people to come and pick blueberries. Anne's Acres in Lincoln, MO is a family-owned and run farm that looks to be a great addition to our locally grown produce.

I must admit as a kid I was not a real blueberry lover, but as I have gotten older I have definitely acquired the taste for them. Ditto my daughter and granddaughter also love them.  We got up early and ventured just a few miles south of home, grabbed our buckets and started picking. I had no real idea how many we would pick since it was our first time and we were not sure how long we would be at the farm I knew that we wanted to have enough to at least freeze some and make blueberry pancakes and muffins.

The process of cleaning and drying went pretty quickly and ten Ziplock bags later (roughly a little under 5 lbs worth) we are set. We probably would have had more but unfortunately they were so enticing to my granddaughter Hadleigh she put more in her mouth than in the communal buckets for home. We threatened to have her weighed when we finished.

It was a great first experience and I am sure we will keep it in mind for next year. One to factor in a little longer time to pick more berries, and a little less taste testing.

Architecture/Construction Everybody Has to Start Somewhere

I came across this picture the other day on Pinterest and basically it made me think of my situation for the past week. I am not sure this may or may not be some one's home. The saying "a person's home is his castle" has a universal meaning. If you have watched any Home and Garden program on just about anything to do with home repairs or home remodeling it is most definitely not an easy process. What sometimes is a weekend warrior project usually turns out to take twice as long. Budgets are usually out the window after the first hour you start the project because you usually find what may have started off as a small issue now becomes much more detailed than originally thought which in turn will cost more money.

On my go to Sunday Morning program a segment on architect recently was on Moshe Safdie who has been the architect to some of the most beautiful and noted structures around the world. The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO and the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. are just two such structures. What started on paper in his mind ended up as beautiful pieces of structural artwork for all the world to enjoy.

It has always fascinated me traveling around and see some interesting architecture that you really, wonder what an interesting concept for a building! Growing up my grandparents would take me to a restaurant called The Parasol Restaurant in Torrance, CA. It is no longer there but the pretty pink parasol was always a conversation piece of the community for many years. Although I never ate at the Hollywood Brown Derby, it was a part of early Hollywood for decades. Its derby shape was known around the country and world. Who doesn't remember the I Love Lucy episode with Lucy and William Holden--classic!

With all the famous and infamous structures around the country built and designed by some of the most renowned architects and building construction individuals my little situation seemed ever so easy to take care of--NOT.

With all the unseasonably strange weather we have had the past few years it finally caught up to the roof. Little did we realize what could have been a very easy and routine fix turned out to be more than what we or anyone bargained for. Unfortunately, sometimes you are left with shaking your head as to why people do things they way they do. Safeguards, planning ahead and working in a structured environment doesn't seem to be the work plan for everyone. 

I do not, never have and probably never will live in an expensive palace but you want to be dry, and be able to move around with ease in your home. Right now I am not yet at that point, but hopefully I will see the light at the end of the tunnel very soon.

I was being overly facetious in putting the above picture up but at this time, that is exactly what is appropriate for how I am feeling.

 

Birthday Wishes--Whatever Way You Do It Will Be Appreciated

I know I am not alone when I say sometimes the older you get birthdays are just different. Every day you wake and can say you have made it another day is a birthday. When you are young like my granddaughter's both are excitement abounds with celebrating with friends, games, cake and ice cream.  A young face holding up little fingers to indicate how old they will be put a smile on your face. Yes, we all did that same gesture at one time in our life, but now not enough fingers and toes can be found to do that same gesture for me.

I am always amazed at someone who has reach 100 years old all the wonderful, interesting and ever changing world they have experienced. Sometimes the faster paced and ever changing world becomes overwhelming I am sure.

Over the weekend I again got inspiration for my blog from CBS Sunday Morning.

Toledo, OH retired salesman Jim Gagnon really always enjoyed his job. He loved meeting people and learning about them. So much so over the years he has kept track of many of them on every birthday. Many hand written ledgers of people he met selling or some he only met once briefly but believed it was important enough to keep birthday information on them and each day takes time to make a phone call, ask them how they are, and then wish them a Happy Birthday. Some might think well what else does he have to do with his spare time? But, actually such a warm, kind and thoughtful message can make a person's day even better. It really takes such a little moment in even a busy schedule.

For those social media users, Facebook will alert you of your friends birthdays if you want. Sometimes on certain days I may have two or more friends that I always try and make sure I send them even a one sentence message on the big day. I'm sure they appreciate and how long can it take really?

I have a few childhood friends that for some strange reason the date just sticks out in my mind. One is around the time my traditional school year would get out for summer break so that is pretty easy to remember. The other childhood friend was really the only person I knew for a long time that had an August birthday. A few years ago both mentioned "WOW we can't believe you remember".

Some dates really stick in my mind because they have the same birthday as a relative. No limit seems to exist for some dates. 

Be it a card, a phone message (really please don't text), a lunch or dinner date, a small token of the day its always nice to be wished birthday greetings. You never know, you just might make the person's day even more special. I kinda wish I knew Jim Gagnon.