Another collection of random thoughts that have been rattling around my head and helping me pass the time.--Yesterday I went to the Fresno State football teams spring Red and White scrimmage. Sam, Wilson and I drove up to see Brad and go to the scrimmage. We ate lunch and walked to the stadium, which is across the street from Brad's apartment. Interesting for a coach to watch another sport's practice. Football, or at least the college teams I've watched are much more regimented than I have ever been. Maybe I should try it.
Our local player, Vince Pascoe, saw much action. And it was fun to listen to the fans near us discussing the quarterback controversy. There are three quarterbacks vying for the top spot. The junior from CVC in Visalia that did the tradional FSU gray shirt/redshirt thing and is the experienced one. The local Fresno former all-high school sophomore that can run, but has difficulty passing. And the incoming freshman that is the younger brother of the former FSU star and NFL quarterback. The radio talk guys have been drooling about this for a while.
--Go to http://weharvestlife.blogspot.com/ to see the latest on our suburban sharecropping. Maureen doesn't talk much, but she has worked very hard for the last two weeks getting this ready. The pictures are of me, but I'm just the brute force, she is truly the artist and brains behind this operation. Sam and Wilson have been a great help in the preperation. It is going to be a fun summer.
--This was another wonderful week in Monarch baseball. This season has been hard in ways I've not experienced much before. And the normal ways coaching is hard have been worse. I had the police try to intervene in one discussion, but my assistants stepped up and set him straight. To call them assistants is a misnomer. They are great coaches in their own right. Two have been, or are, varsity coaches. It really is different when you are responsible for everything in a program.
We as a team have five games left and have to win three to make the playoffs. This week we had a great chance to rise up and be counted, but seemed more interested in prom preparations than baseball. To their credit, they focused before the end of the game, but it was a bit too late to win.
--Brad mentioned yesterday that he recieved an email brom the school that there had been a shooting in the apartment complex next to his. Not what we want to hear. Deep down as a parent you might expect to hear that from your son in the Army, but not from the college student son. But wasn't Fresno the murder capital of the US at one time?
--I edited my "books being read list" today. It seems a bit long, but there are some interesting reads there. Too bad I have too little time to read, or fall asleep when I try.
--I finally finished "Full Metal Jacket." I needed three different nights before I finished it without falling asleep. Still a weird movie and not a complete version of the times and places I'd like to believe.
--Did I say I'm really proud of Maureen and the garden/vegetable gig we're into?
--I've got some of the baseball field projects done and a few in the process. This year has been strange regarding the field. At one point we had a 30,000 pound asphalt roller on the outfield to try and take out the ruts. Did pretty well, but it took an exterminator to make a dent in the gophers and squirrels. I counted 20+ squirrels running off the field one day. I did find a 4 foot gopher snake the other day. He didn't want to go in a hole, but was escorted off into the oleanders for safe keeping. I keep trying to take a few of our bountiful cat population to the field, but Maureen won't let me. I will feed them occasionally, Dear.
The bullpens have been tilted and the fence is on its way to being put back up. It will help to have three mounds for practice and someday the extra tunnel will give hitters more practice.
I did order the wrong size slats for the fence. I'm in the process of using a bandsaw to make them work. I've got it down to about an hour to do one bag of 78 slats. 2 bags done, 8 to go.
--My workplace has undergone quite a change in the last year. With two retirements and a death, the English department is changing. I'm not sure that more change is on the way. I knew this day was coming, but didn't expect it for a few more years. I like the people I work with and I think I'll like the additions, but I don't like being the voice of the department. I'm really a coach that teaches English, as opposed to an English teacher that coaches. I don't know how much longer I will coach, but I do know I will be teaching longer. This will have to be a change in how I think and work.
--We had temperatures of 90-95 degrees last week. A portent of things to come. This will be a fun summer if you like roller coasters. Whoopee, we're in for a ride.
--Sam is leaving in a few weeks. Part of my discomfort is that I like being around our children and he won't accessible. Even though Brad doesn't live here, he still is an hour away. Sam won't be. I guess that is part of being a parent and growing up. I'm also guessing that others in the family will need some time to transition and I'm not talking about adults.
--The garden is a delight to walk through. It will be fun this summer to see two yards lit up with plants.
--The chickens are getting big. I am looking forward to building their house. When, I don't know. I have some ideas on making it a bit whimsical, but speed and expediency beats whimsy most times.
--We still have cats to move to loving homes. The way I look at it, we could ship a cat to PA, Mt. Shasta and Napa and it would be cheaper than if the Garver clan invaded for a weekend. Don't you agree?
--I have become accustomed to Maureen's home baked bread and now her homemade strawberry jam. The homegrown potatoes in soups or grilled have been great. I am so looking forward to this summer and getting fed. That may sound a bit self-centered, but food is important and Maureen is the hostess with the bestest. Or something like that.
Life is full and that should be considered good.
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