Just a Little of This & That

Sam called last night. He talked about getting their return date, or at least an approximation. He was excited about that. As always children surprise you with things. He asked for football cleats. He wants to play for the company/brigade football team. Go figure. Maureen talked for a while before I did, so she will have different stories.

The previous post had a picture of Big Kenny and the White Falcons. Sam said the country music wasn't his thing so he didn't go. FYI, the picture above is the 2-325th packing to leave Ft. Bragg for Haiti.




You know what happens when you don't take care of business? Weeds, that's what. The garden doesn't look like the above, but that is after some effort was applied. The mower broke and manual labor had to be applied, more entropy would happen. Say, What? You know part of the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, things move from a place of order to a place of disorder, entropy. Ya gets more weeds if ya don't hack them down.

That kind of happens in life also, not just gardens. Hopefully this week will be spent cleaning and discarding and putting things in order.

Certainly there will be plenty of baseball this week.

Cool Beans!

Singer Big Kenny after giving a concert at the docks in Haiti for the 2-325 White Falcons, Sam's group. The brigade has their own Facebook page with pictures and information.

Sam sent a text and posted on Facebook his brigade is coming back to Ft. Bragg on 1 May.

We're in the midst of the Visalia-Tulare tournament. Got a win yesterday against Tulare Western. Not pretty, but it's a W.

What If. . .

I spent yesterday on an interview panel for our school's Senior Exit Interview. This is a process that we started about 8-10 years ago to prepare our graduates for the "Real World." They must prepare a portfolio with introductory letter, references, resume and work samples. They must also give a 3-5 minute speech about a learning experience during their high school years and answer some questions from a panel of three. I have always enjoyed seeing our students in a new way and I'm always surprised by some that burst from their shy bubble to show off some skills. Yesterday was no exception.

I also enjoy hearing about our own children and how they complete this project. As a parent we go through the anguish of listening to the belly-aching at home, but rarely get to see the end "public" product. As an insider I get to at least hear how the offspring do. Yesterday was another example of much gnashing of teeth at home and a wonderful performance at school by Wils.

During the day I had a conversation with another participant that caught me off guard and saddened me. The person asked if I had heard that the US of A now has more oil reserves in North and South Dakota than the Saudis and other countries of the Middle East. "Good, light oil like the Saudis, and it will last at least a thousand years."

I am saddened that we now don't have to confront our need to change. Much like a heroin addict that finds a $20 on the ground, or a parent that bails out a child's overdraft charges.

I Feel For the Guy. . .

In the previous picture. Poor guy is wading into the water to gather what is left of his fleet. The guy probably works a tough job 40 hours a week with maybe a bit o'overtime once in awhile for the things he dreams of. Like this truck that hauls his butt to work and the boat, a fiberglass Bayliner. This is not the boat you will see in Wooden Boat magazine. It's the working class boat for guys like this one in the shorts that are masquerading as knickers that are in style now. It floats just fine and gets Captain Guy to the fishing spot he wants to be to catch tonights dinner for the family and he.

Now look in the background at the four deck apartment trying to pass as a boat. That captain has no clue what Captain Guy is going through or ever will.

I think I'd rather be with Captain Guy than the floating apartment owner.

Do You Ever Feel. . .

That you are going the wrong direction at times in your life?

You Gotta Break. . .

A few eggs to make an omelet.

It's been an interesting week. For the first time is a while we didn't play as many games as there were days in the week. We actually practiced a few days. Practice is good.

After spending a month talking and texting with Sam quite a bit, not doing such is another adjustment. March brought the phone companies charging for calls to Haiti and internet service for Sam would be in the thousands of dollars. Not kidding.

We lost Big Red. She was the friendliest hen I'd been around. When you walked near, she's start clucking her greeting. She would walk up and expect a ear rub like a cat. Just plain friendly. Gone, but not forgotten.

Lost one and won one on the baseball field this week. The process of melding young men into a group moving in the same direction will always have its ups and downs. It's the parents that I still wish I could get on board.

Friend Jody has a chance to guide the COS baseball team to more wins than any other coach today. He's moving beyond my college coach and the man that got me started coaching, Bert Holt. Coaching young men is quite an adventure.

Parenting is also an adventure.

Gardens are sprouting and food is growing everywhere. Just in time.

There is nothing like riding a bike on a warm spring evening.

Looking forward to this weekend.

Something Not So New Under the Sun

Ever wonder what a place really looks like? This is mobile phone view of the docks and bay at Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Courtesy of Sam, stationed there after the earthquake.



Sam is in here somewhere, or out working. This is his new digs and his company Bravo Company 2-325, 82nd Airborne. Credit to Google and someone for the photo.


More of the 2-325 82nd Airborne.




The enduring view of entering the Bay Area from Altamont Pass and the San Joaquin Valley. Four lanes going incredi-fast down a road sometimes four abreast. NASCAR has nothing on some commutes.



Brad was tested for his new hearing device at Stanford. We got to eat at one of our favorite restaurants in Palo Alto and drool over guitars at Gryphon Guitars. Great day for Steve, Maureen and Brad.

Random Thoughts for a Sunday Morning

A while back I named this truck Christine. You know, like the Stephen King novel. I secretly have liked this truck, but would like to make some changes like raising it a bit so that one could carry a real load in the bed. Sam originally bought it, but being detained overseas, Wils has been driving it. Or at least when it starts. This last week it has been running consistently and Christine has reminded me why she is a good truck, despite the name. And she is owned free and clear.



We have played plenty of baseball this week. Six games in six days with one more rained out and to be played later. The team is starting to come together and roles are being defined. Yesterday was the culmination of the Farmersville Baseball Classic. After the preliminary games, we were seeded third. Wilson pitch most of the game against the #2 seed, Kern Valley, and we won 3-2. It was an intense game and the Butterflies roared like Lions. In the championship game we forgot how to catch and throw and lost to a good Fresno Christian team 6-2. After the game and the trophies were handed out, the two teams and coaching staffs gathered, intermingled and were lead in prayer by a player. You certainly don't see that every day. I ended the night with a visit to the JV team playing the late game in the Mt. Whitney tournament. The Baby Butterflies also played an intense game and beat Mt. Whitney 4-2. Mark, our JV coach, couldn't make the game so Jesus, a long time JV and Varsity coach took the team. Marshall and I decided to help so the Little Monarchs had three varsity level coaches helping them. It was fun to be in the dugout with Marshall, Jesus and AJ again.



The cat here lying languidly with Sam is Sofie. Sofie is our only cat that isn't fixed, yet. Well you know what happens when that situation exists. Sofie had her litter last night. Six wonderful kittens. So now all friends and relatives can step right up and pick a number to choose their very own cuddly ball of fur.

Rain, Rain Go Away. . .

Come again another day. The childhood enthusiasm that made us sing that song anticipated something good to do. The exuberance of youth with a game to play. As adults we know we need the rain for some many things that continue our survival; crops, grasses for cattle, even washing dishes and flushing the loo.

In the Garver house the coming of rains signal the beginning of baseball season, and especially tournaments at the beginning of the season. Tournaments mean many games in a few days or a week. Well the rains have disrupted and postponed the first two games of the first tournament and pushed it into the second tournament. With more rain on the horizon, the Exeter Monarch Nine should change their name to the Mudville Nine.

But I'd still rather have the rain so that I may eat.

Here is the view Sam has from his "barracks" overlooking the Port-au-Prince docks.