I stand corrected (baseball gripes pt. 2)

I have a correction to make on my post yesterday, they did not charge people $1 to park in a city parking lot. Nope, not at all, instead they charged $2. Some people turned around and decided to go other places, some people where very up front about how it is dumb to pay to park your car (and the lot is not patrolled by security, sure the cops hang around but only near the entrance to the place). Quite a few others said that if they where going to have to pay that much just to get into a ball game, this was the only game they where going to see. General admission is $5, add the $2 to it to park and already you are paying $7, and this league is not even minor league, its below that. Some people started to move some of the cones that where put up and parked without paying, and some people where directed by city police to park in a grassy area free of charge. Over all I still think the whole idea is dumb, and as much as I want to see this new baseball league succeed, I kinda want to see mistakes like this burn them really bad. I was also without a walkie-talkie (which I was promised at the beginning of the game in case I needed help), there was a water station but I was the only person taking the money so a break was way out of the question, and I was not given help until the cars where so far backed up the city cops started to come around and ask who the boss was.

Take me out to the ballgame

Has I type this I have about 25 minutes to go until I have to start getting ready at home to get ready to start work at my second job. I will be working at the local ballpark as a "parking lot seller", basically I have to stop people as they enter the ballgame and charge them $1 to park their car. While this is pretty standard at a major league game, it seems overkill and downright ridicules for a smei-pro game in an town that is the size of the one I live in. Sure, it is only $1, but the last team we had here didn't charge for parking, and the general admission seat was $1 cheaper. Another problem is that on the teams website and in the printed schedule there is nothing printed about this little extra charge, fans are going to be surprised with it at the gate has they drive in. So right off the bat (no pun intended) you are paying $2 more for a game, and this comes in the face of 2 previous baseball leagues that crashed and burned and left a sour taste in the mouth of people who decided to become loyal fans, only to have the operation go south and the gates to close up within three seasons or less. I am going to go in and do all I can, but to tell you the truth even though the first pitch has not been thrown out there might be some problems all ready.

Its all elementary

So today the 5th grade class I am a part of (where I help out a special needs student) had a birthday party for him this morning. After that they went bowling, had lunch at the park, went swimming, then had free time at the end of the day. I tell you, today for some 5th graders it was just too hard of a day at school. He enjoyed it all, so that was really cool.

The drama

There where cheers of joy, and tears of pain. Good performances where praised, while bad ones where quickly covered up with excuses. There was nervousness, excitement, anxiety, and doubt all rolled into one. It wasn't a movie or a play I am talking about, I am referring to what I saw at the elementary school I work at this afternoon: The day before student council elections when speeches are given and all posters are taken down afterwards. Seems like the pressure can be a bit much for some kids, and they can be devastated by losing. I saw one girl who, for some odd reason that I don't know of, was taken out of the running for vice president. She sat through the speeches sitting about 12 feet from everyone except for a teacher, and she cried the whole time. My heart kinda went out to her, because these kids may be young, but they put a lot of time and energy into getting their name out there to the other students to get elected. I told her that it wasn't the end of the world and things would get better, but I doubt she listened or believed me.

Timing

Recently I have been reminded of God's timing. I was reminded that in the world we live in everything is really fast paced, so we get used to being able to get very fast results. We still have to keep in mind that when God is working something out, it is on His timing, not ours.

Sorry

Sorry for the lack of updates people, not sure why it has been a few days. Seems like over the past weekend lots of stuff happened, and it seemed like so many things where going on that I could have pondered about on here. I have been doing pretty good, feeling good, and God is good. I got a free picture in my work mailbox today, its the staff picture that was taken for the school yearbook, and all the people in the picture got a free copy. Kinda funny, I thought I would never ever be in a school picture since the day I graduated high school, now I might show up three times in an elementary school yearbook.

Some like it hot

Not so sure I do. It has gotten up over 100 degrees where I live this week, and this weekend we will get temps close to 110. A family member invited me over to use their pool this afternoon, sounds like a good idea.

Tables turned

Ever been in a situation where you had to teach someone something that you knew, only to realize at the end of it that person probably showed you a thing or two and all without even trying? It can be a pretty eye opening experience.

Bits of news

So I realized today that I missed a congrats for someone in the class of 2005: My cousin Matthew. Way to go cuz! God continue to bless you and keep you safe. In other news last night I went to see a musical (Adventures of Lewis and Clark) put on by the school district and the kids of the elementary school I go to. One of the songs that had my attention during their weeks of practice and at the event was a song called "Wayfaring Stranger". It caught my ear because the song sings basically about God and heaven, but I was amazed that it was in a public school performance (since they do everything to keep God out of schools). Then I thought it could just be coincidence or something, or reading too much between the lines, until I searched for the song online and discovered it was an old gospel song. The song lyrics where changed a little bit to fit the musical, but they still kept enough of the orginal feel.

No news is good news

I suppose. I have done stuff but I am not really a person to go on and on about details of my days, I mainly post about more interesting things. I think I have one: I was almost knocked out of commission by a 2 year old this weekend. The opponent was "Trevor", and I give you a money back guarantee that he is the cutest 2 year old you have ever seen, period. Anyways, he standing next to me on a bench I was sitting at, he was looking at me and smiling, then all of a sudden out of nowhere he pulls his right hand back and swings it as hard as he can and made a good impact with my nose. Didn't really hurt, but it sure did catch me off guard. I think when it comes to little kids I have a "kick me" sign taped somewhere on me, this is not the first time a kid has attacked me for no good reason.

To the class of 2005

Fought the stress, passed the test, it was a hassle, but you got your tassel! Congratulations y'all.

Congratulations

I would like to take a moment and personally congratulate one of the 4 people I know graduating this semester from college. Wendy T, you have worked long and hard, and even had to overcome a few things along the way. You are an awesome, talented person, who definitely has the heart for helping kids to learn and grow. You are going to touch and inspire so many lives throughout the years, and you have touched mine by showing me that no obstacle should stand in the way of your goal. God bless you so much mi LM.

3 things

You know that question of "if you where stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you want with you"? Well, I think I have come up with my answer: Food, my diabetes supplies, and a boat capable of getting me to civilization in a day or less. Just because I am stranded doesn't mean I am going to stay that way.

Little late

Well, this is a little late, but I want to say best of luck to everyone going though finals this week in college, especially to anyone at NAU or AWC. Wendy, Ms. Thompson, Jennifer, and Megan, you all have fought long and hard this semester, keep up the hard work, its almost over!! :-) Seems like lately I have been running behind to do things, think I have an invisible anchor that is attached to me.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy mother's day to all the mommys out there. My church did a special service for today, so I did something that I have not really done in a very long time: I invited someone to church. And not just anyone, but someone who has probably not stepped foot in church for a regular Sunday service in at least 10 years, and they know of Jesus but that is all, they just know He existed at one point and died on the cross. This person who accepted my invitation was my mom. I think she liked the service, she seemed to be smiling at the end of it and took time out of her busy morning to go, she could have easily said she didn't have enough time. It felt good to be at church with a member of my family in attendance, hopefully one of these days I will see both her and my dad there every Sunday morning, until then I was glad to see she came and enjoyed herself.

Poli-tricks

So the kids at the school I work at are getting ready to run for class offices. One of the little guys in the classroom I work in wants to run for vice president, he even started to make up posters and pins. He got a little too eager, he asked me if I would wear one of his pins and I said yes, turns out he is not allowed to start putting his name out there until the 16th. Already at 10 years old these kids are trying to find a way to cheat the system to get some extra votes.

These shoes where made for walking

So I did a 10K walk to help raise money for the American Diabetes Association on Saturday. I was a team captain, and some family including my parents where on my team. It was good, but I am still feeling the burn. I guess it reminds me of a saying: Before you draw a conclusion about someone, walk a mile in their shoes. This way, you will be a mile away and have their shoes.

I fought the car and the car won

Well, only a little bit. I had a problem where every so often after I would start my car I could still hear the starter on, then after a second or two it would finally shut off. I bought a new starter relay and installed it this afternoon. Things that went wrong: I lost a nut that holds most of the wires onto the relay, had to go digging around the shed to find one that would fit. I think I now have a blister on one of my fingers from touching the little light under the hood of my car, I wanted to unplug it since I was going to keep my hood open for a little while, and I found out that just because the bulb is small it doesn't mean it can't get as hot as the sun. My car did start and operate like normal when I got done, so I guess it was a success.