Another first game

While Darby's first independent league softball game was on Tuesday, her first school team game was tonight (technically the school team played their first game on Monday, but Darby was at practice for her other team). She didn't have as many defensive opportunities as at the Tuesday game, but her offense was solid. She did ground out once, but she also had a solid RBI single, drew a walk, and scored a run (from first) on a triple by the following batter. Unlike Tuesday's game, Darby's team won today, though we definitely need some help at pitcher. Thought we might walk-in the tying run for a minute there.







The album has been updated with these pictures.

No more RCIA

Tonight was my last RCIA class. Can't believe I've been attending that class for eight months already, but it is now done, and I learned a great deal. I also met a lot of really good people. Definitely glad I did it, even though I didn't participate in the indoctrination aspects.

Welcome recognition

The company treated my software team to a recognition lunch today for achieving a major milestone. We also received letters of appreciation from the division manager. It was a nice gesture, especially for the team, which earned a free meal and then some. They work hard.

In case you were wondering, I ordered a 14oz New York Strip. Y-U-M. One of the best I've had in some time.

I could totally do that all over again.

A party for moi?

As of today, I officially volunteered myself to host a party. A low-key, very select invitee party (for a group of former colleagues and their spouses), but essentially a party nonetheless. And if you discount children's birthday parties and consider the fact that I was a band... ahem, member... in high school -- along with a number of other considerations about me -- you'll realize just how non-qualified I am to be a host of this nature. So... I'll be taking suggestions. I have three weeks to prepare. Did I mention that two of the three weekends between now and then I'll be out of town or otherwise indisposed?

First game, first out

Darby had her first softball game of the Spring season tonight, and though they lost, they had an excellent game defensively, especially Darby. The coach essentially said she was the defensive player of the game at shortstop, and it started right away. The very first pitch resulted in a grounder straight to her, which she charged, and zinged to first for the first out of the game. It was the most textbook play I've ever seen her make, and it really set the tone for the game.

She had several other good put-outs, including a nicely caught fly that looked for sure like it was going to get by her. Also she had a nice diving stop that saved extra runs from scoring.

The only scary moment was a missed fly that hit her in the chest. It so barely missed her head that every parent in the crowd gasped because we all thought it hit her face first. But she bounced right back up like it was nothing and got back in the game.

Overall it was a very impressive effort. I think all the extra practice the last month or so has really paid off.









The album has been updated accordingly.

i can has soda?

You know... it was a pain in the posterior trying to find things to drink at various eating establishments when I was "off soda" for lent. But after forty days of just not getting soda, today I sorta forgot that lent was over. I remembered on the way back from lunch and was rather disappointed in myself for not having indulged in a sugar-laced carbonation high. Instead, I shook my head, and took another sip of my unsweetened tea.


BUT I CAN HAS SODA!!!!

Softball schedule

For you local family friends and relatives, I've updated the calendar with the softball schedule. Well, what we know of it anyway. And what we can make. We have a firm schedule for one of Darby's two teams. The other we won't have for a couple weeks, but we can't make half the games for the schedule we have because of known conflicts with the other team (the calendar only reflects games we anticipate playing in). Also, one of her teams is doing tournaments the first two weekends in April, but we don't have game schedules yet.

If you see dates you like, let me know and I'll send you location details. But be specific because the locations will vary as one team plays at the same complex every week, but the other team travels around OKC. And the tournaments are all over the metro. Keep an eye on the calendar if you're thinking about going to a game as many changes are forthcoming.

Bunch-O-Updates

Noticed how slim some of the trip photos were in the album, so I added probably a couple dozen pics where I could. Also, a couple of trips that weren't previously in the album were added.

I smell pretty

At work today, the "sanitation engineer" grabbed my shoulder with his right hand on the way down to pick up my trash can with his left hand in order to empty it. Sure, he was wearing gloves, but those are for HIS protection, not mine. After he dumped my trash, I watched him reach into the trash can to pull out the remaining sticky items with the very hand he grabbed my shoulder with as I pondered... how many other times has he done that before me? How much of other people's sticky goo is now on my shoulder?

After he left, I stared at my shoulder for what felt like a solid minute, with my jaw wide open in shock as I shrieked internally... what the heck did he do THAT for? What the heck am I gonna do about this shoulder? Frickin EEEWWWWW!!!!

It was a total Seinfeld moment. Jerry would be proud. The only difference was that Jerry would have taken off his shirt and thrown it away on the spot. I didn't think that would have worked out so well today, even though I was wearing an undershirt.

So, instead, I had a co-worker spray me down with Lysol. Leaving me smelling flowery for sometime afterward. But for most of the day I remained rather suspect of my shoulder and what critters might have been lurking there.

What to do with myself...

The kids will be out of town for spring break. AND Easter. So what will I do with myself? Work mostly. The last couple months have hit the vacation time hard with various kid activities between four and six that often required me to leave early, and I haven't been great about making up the time. It will be good to actually get a normal full week in.

College Road Trip

CRT is a reasonably funny movie that kids of most non-teen ages will enjoy, and with a G rating there is nothing even remotely objectionable. The girls and I caught a matinee after softball practice today and they enjoyed it pretty well, though Darby wanted to see Horton instead. Maybe next weekend.

This very summer we'll be doing our own little college road trip for Darby. As there are only an estimated three more summers we'll be visiting Arizona before it's time for Darby to head off to college, we'll be visiting the campus of the University of Arizona each visit to Tucson so that Darby is plenty familiar with the campus. Fortuitously, I have a cousin that a graduated from U of A, who will be showing us around.

New DL time

Though my driver's license wasn't due to expire until July, I recently learned that having an incorrect address on a driver's license isn't entirely legal, so I thought I'd get that done while I was at the tag agency for my vehicle registration. Perhaps I should have waited, as my new picture is decidedly less pleasant than my last.

Greater forces at work

One of those days... you know, where the universe is simply entirely against you? I left work early to take Darby to an appointment. While I was starting out in southeast OKC, driving to northwest OKC to pick up Darby, and then to southwest OKC to the appointment, I gave myself about fifty minutes to do all this in, which I think normally would have been plenty of time. Except for the unanticipated traffic due to the emergency road repair going on, squeezing I-40 down to one lane, and backing it up for many miles. So even with all that lead time I gave myself, we still arrived thirty minutes late for our appointment. I called ahead, but by the time we got there, they had put us in the back of the queue. So while we were already thirty minutes late, we may as well have been an hour late, as that's when we were finally called. Bleh.

Ridiculously long Mondays are back

It's that time of year. When Mondays are completely crazy. Leave work early to pick up Darby from softball practice (team #1), grab a quick dinner, take Darby to softball practice (team #2), go directly from softball practice to piano lessons, get home about nine. In most ways it's worth it. But don't ask me as much on a Monday, as I'm likely to give you the "effoff" look or something.

There's no freezing in baseball!

It was twenty-six degrees outside at practice time and we were out in it along with probably every softball team in town, with the season just a couple weeks away. I know at the complex we practice at there were three teams out there, despite the weather.

Darby was VERY crabby this morning, so I felt like Jimmy Dugan. It didn't help that she was up until four in the morning at a church lock-in last night, but the cold really brought out her unpleasantness. She complained so much (more than the rest of the team) that I about snapped-out a "Are you freezing? Are you FREEZING? There's no freezing in baseball!"

She really about had it when she was in the batting cages as her hands were so cold they were about to break off so the vibrating bat didn't help. Here's a pic of her all bundled up and practicing bunting.

10KBC

Fortunately I only paid $3.75 to see 10,000 B.C. tonight. While it was entertaining in the effects and action perspective, it was highly predictable and it was riddled with technical problems in terms of the history (for example, the appearance of metal swords during what is supposed to be the stone age). Bottom line is it definitely wasn't the semi-historical-ish epic like Gladiator or 300, which is what I had hoped for.

If you can get away with spending just a few bucks, it doesn't hurt to catch it, but I wouldn't recommend paying the going street price for first run movies.

Interview time

I've got two new positions open on one of my software teams (a java developer [PDF] and a certification and accreditation specialist [PDF]) and interviewed a developer today. Looks promising, but we've got to look at a couple more folks before we can make a decision. I actually don't like doing interviews, but it's got to be done pretty well. Too many not-so-good results with not-so-in-depth interviews in the past. Know anybody with the skills I need? Send them my way.

You heard it here first

I'm not saying it will happen. But if it does, you heard it here first. With OKC's recent endeavors to become a "big league city", I sent an email to the mayor asking that he not just focus on the NBA. I noted Oklahoma City's prominence in the world of softball (with the Women's College World Series, the World Cup of Softball, and the Softball Hall of Fame, among other events), and that the National Pro Fastpitch league is expanding in 2009. I suggested that, considering the sell-out crowds we get at the aforementioned events, he consider getting an investment group together to bring an NPF expansion team here to Oklahoma City. What better way to secure OKC's prominence in the softball world into the future?

Pro Football in OKC?

If the folks with the UFL (United Football League)... AND... you OKC enthusiasts have anything to say about it, yes. If you'd like to help make it so, go place your vote.


(OKC Lightning, no disrespect intended)

So, what's the catch?

We're a few weeks into Spring softball practices, and this week, one of Darby's two teams asked her to be their backup catcher. She's played catcher before, years ago, and then again for one game this past winter/indoor season.

So this morning, following regular softball practice, the team had pitchers and catchers practice, and Darby did pretty well (better than expected). If she can keep with it, it will further improve her value to the team (which has become more competitive for positions this season). Maybe it will also further her options as she develops over the years into high school and college.

Here's a picture from the album.