For those who don't know, my grandfather was a National League Umpire. It was really neat growing up having the chance to experience baseball up-close like I did. My grandfather's name was Billy Williams or NL UMP #24 as his personalized plates read:)Some of the greatest childhood memories I have involve going to baseball games at Shea Stadium and Veterans Stadium to watch my grandfather and then visit with him after the game. After the games, when we were waiting from him to clean-up, we would stand in the tunnels and watch the grounds crews clean-up the field. It was an awesome feeling to be standing there, looking at the stadium near empty and so close to the field. Often times players walked by on there way to the locker room or headed home, but I was rarely phased as it was common-place:) I did later find out that not everyone did this:) And it was very cool in 1986 when the Mets were Great and we were lucky enough to go and see so many games! My brother was even lucky enough to meet some of the players!
To get to the point, this week on the MLB Network, there were re-plays are many All Star Games, so I started looking into what All Star Games my grandfather had worked in hopes of being able to tape one to show my children. Through my research I stumbled across a book called, "As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires" by Bruce Weber. I could not get to the book store fast enough to buy it, because the excerpt was about my grandfather! It was beyond cool!!! Reading the book as brought back so many great childhood memories!
If you have a sec, look up the book and read the excerpt!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Learning...
Right now I need a place to "express" myself. I seem to be having trouble doing this as of late without ruffling a great number of feathers. I don't mind the ruffling part as much as I mind the expectation from others that I should a. care that I have ruffled b. apologize for ruffling and c. sensor myself.
Well, here is what I am NOT, I am not one to beat-around-the-bush. I am not ever going to be voted most popular. I am not a follower. I am not weak. I am not controlled by my husband.
What I am is, straight-forward, nondiscriminatory, a nurturer, passionate, intelligent, strong, explosive.
What I am trying to be is, conscience of how my life choice effect the very few people that are my life. I am trying to understand that not everyone is as strong as I am. I am trying to remember that small-town politics suck! I am trying to remember to trust Nobody outside my house.
With each stage I move though in life the lessons seem to be much the same and I have never been very good at falling-in-line and I am not sure I will ever be able to do so...you know what, I know I won't be able to and I don't want to. I don't want to live in Stepford, but I don't want my children to suffer because of that so where does that leave me? Right now it leaves me up at 2am wondering. Wondering, but knowing that no matter what I do or say I have a husband that will love and support that fact that I have opinions of my own and a right to express them!
Well, here is what I am NOT, I am not one to beat-around-the-bush. I am not ever going to be voted most popular. I am not a follower. I am not weak. I am not controlled by my husband.
What I am is, straight-forward, nondiscriminatory, a nurturer, passionate, intelligent, strong, explosive.
What I am trying to be is, conscience of how my life choice effect the very few people that are my life. I am trying to understand that not everyone is as strong as I am. I am trying to remember that small-town politics suck! I am trying to remember to trust Nobody outside my house.
With each stage I move though in life the lessons seem to be much the same and I have never been very good at falling-in-line and I am not sure I will ever be able to do so...you know what, I know I won't be able to and I don't want to. I don't want to live in Stepford, but I don't want my children to suffer because of that so where does that leave me? Right now it leaves me up at 2am wondering. Wondering, but knowing that no matter what I do or say I have a husband that will love and support that fact that I have opinions of my own and a right to express them!
Monday, July 6, 2009
A Few Things...
We are back home after 15 VERY long days at the in-laws. The trips up there, and anywhere family is involved in sharing living space with us, has become difficult for us. We are not a huge family, but there are five of us, and I will admit we have a LARGE family footprint:) Because of that, staying at other people's homes for more than 3/4 days is too much!
Ben and I are also finding it more difficult to travel to or with family as the kids get older. I know this may seem strange as you would think things would get easier as they get old and traveling in general has, but not when family is involved. The reason for this(for us) is that we live far away from family and only see them a few times a year. We have come to rely on friends and neighbors for babysitting and other "emergencies" because we had to. We have been VERY fortunate to have found a few really GREAT friends that have stepped up in ways you think only family will:) What the downside to this is that our families do not see how our children are raised day-in and day-out and when we are with them that is made very clear! From what they can eat when to what they can watch on tv, things that they would know if they were more involved. And I know that it is not by choice that we live so far away, but it makes it hard for me and the kids. To hear you kids being yelled at for having a snack in between breakfast and lunch(when they have been playing in the pool for hours)it is annoying! And then 20 minutes later you find your 7 year old watching CN(not allowed at our house)you just wonder!
The solution we have decided on is no more than 4 days with family, it is too much! We will spend our vacations as a family...the 5 of us! We don't spend enough time doing fun things together anyway!
Ben and I are also finding it more difficult to travel to or with family as the kids get older. I know this may seem strange as you would think things would get easier as they get old and traveling in general has, but not when family is involved. The reason for this(for us) is that we live far away from family and only see them a few times a year. We have come to rely on friends and neighbors for babysitting and other "emergencies" because we had to. We have been VERY fortunate to have found a few really GREAT friends that have stepped up in ways you think only family will:) What the downside to this is that our families do not see how our children are raised day-in and day-out and when we are with them that is made very clear! From what they can eat when to what they can watch on tv, things that they would know if they were more involved. And I know that it is not by choice that we live so far away, but it makes it hard for me and the kids. To hear you kids being yelled at for having a snack in between breakfast and lunch(when they have been playing in the pool for hours)it is annoying! And then 20 minutes later you find your 7 year old watching CN(not allowed at our house)you just wonder!
The solution we have decided on is no more than 4 days with family, it is too much! We will spend our vacations as a family...the 5 of us! We don't spend enough time doing fun things together anyway!
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