I am not the most socially astute person, in fact, my cluelessness is somewhat legendary. However, when the cues are not directed at me I can pick up on a great deal, and it became clear to me a few weeks back that that coach's daughter, Allie, a young lady going into 9th grade, has a crush on Michael. For those who think my imagination might be running a bit wild, in both of the most recent games we have overheard her telling her girlfriend's "He is so cute," among other things.
My guess is that she finds this young man, several years her junior, charming because of the manner in which he carries himself. Michael does not sprint into the dugout, he gallops in a way that is almost skipping. He does not walk a straight, efficient line into the batting cage, his footwork is practically dancing. Michael is a good looking kid, but I think that she is most charmed by the fact that he exudes happiness. On the game ball he earned the other night, there was one name that caught my eye above all the others, "Allie."
RAP (6.27.2008)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Give Me the Most Expensive Thing on Your Menu!
For all their similarities, there is no denying that Michael and Alex are different people. While Michael was earning his gameball, Alex was organizing a game of "Wall Ball." He wasn't a participant in it, instead he used his Alex skills to charm, glad hand and recruit all the other sibling (many much older) to take part in this contest while he watched and controlled it. As is his want, he shared the money he came into earlier that day by declaring that he would buy the triumphant gladiator Ice Cream (the most expensive item at the snack bar) and a large drink. What can I say, he is my little politician?
In this case, he is operating in the same fashion as Gaius Julius Caesar did, who perpetually used his personal resources to throw parties and contests. While his technique might be reminiscent of Caesar, he is still my son and has a bit of my dramatic flair; at the end of the contest he walked over to the snack bar with the winner in tow, put his 10 dollar bill on the counter and told the young ladies with a grand smile, "give me the most expensive thing on your menu!"
RAP (6.26.2008)
In this case, he is operating in the same fashion as Gaius Julius Caesar did, who perpetually used his personal resources to throw parties and contests. While his technique might be reminiscent of Caesar, he is still my son and has a bit of my dramatic flair; at the end of the contest he walked over to the snack bar with the winner in tow, put his 10 dollar bill on the counter and told the young ladies with a grand smile, "give me the most expensive thing on your menu!"
RAP (6.26.2008)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The One Foot "Triple"
You know what happened, but I am writing this postcard so that it the events that transpired 6.23.2008 become part of the record. Michael had a good game on the diamond, going 3 for 4.
He was his team's lead off batter, and opened the game off with a single that was a one hopper to third base. Eventually he parlayed that hit into the first score of the game (see the front). The next hit was the interesting one; it was a bad pitch and he jumped out of the batting box; as he vacated the area, the ball hit his bat and went about a foot. The umpire yelled "fair," and his coach and I screamed "run!" He sprinted to first, and with the aide of a bad throw was safe; with some encouragement, he took off to second, and then with the attention on the runner scoring he went all the way to third... on a one foot pseudo-hit. In his final at bat, he hit the first pitch towards the short stop and made it the protection of first base.
He had none of his trademark miracle catches, but it was good enough to be awarded the game ball, and that made him very happy.
RAP (6.25.2008)
He was his team's lead off batter, and opened the game off with a single that was a one hopper to third base. Eventually he parlayed that hit into the first score of the game (see the front). The next hit was the interesting one; it was a bad pitch and he jumped out of the batting box; as he vacated the area, the ball hit his bat and went about a foot. The umpire yelled "fair," and his coach and I screamed "run!" He sprinted to first, and with the aide of a bad throw was safe; with some encouragement, he took off to second, and then with the attention on the runner scoring he went all the way to third... on a one foot pseudo-hit. In his final at bat, he hit the first pitch towards the short stop and made it the protection of first base.
He had none of his trademark miracle catches, but it was good enough to be awarded the game ball, and that made him very happy.
RAP (6.25.2008)
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Good Kittens
The kittens were cracking the boys up Monday night, so I shrewdly grabbed my digicam and captured a few of their antics. What you see here is Bruce executing their patented ladder climb. That is a steep ladder, but they have never had a problem with it; when they were younger, they would sprint up it, like a bolt of lightning, but on this evening he leisurely scaled his way up to join Grayson on the top bunk.
Another one of their unusual traits is that like to go on walks with the boys, often accompanying Michael and Alex to the creek, which is about a quarter mile away. They stay with them the entire way (with some panting) as graceful and curious escorts. They are good kittens who love each other (can't stand to be apart) and the boys, so even if they couldn't climb ladders or keep the boys safe on their journeys, we would still laud them.
RAP (6.20.2008)
Another one of their unusual traits is that like to go on walks with the boys, often accompanying Michael and Alex to the creek, which is about a quarter mile away. They stay with them the entire way (with some panting) as graceful and curious escorts. They are good kittens who love each other (can't stand to be apart) and the boys, so even if they couldn't climb ladders or keep the boys safe on their journeys, we would still laud them.
RAP (6.20.2008)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Score that Tied the Contest
Saturday afternoon, Michael's Royals faced off against the diabolical Devil Rays in a contest of bat and ball. The forces of good and virtue scored 4 runs, of which Michael had an RBI, was a run and had a RWI ("Run Walked In"-ha!) to tie the game at 4-4. In addition, late in the match, while at second, he fielded a grounder cleanly and ran to the base to force the runner out. A pretty good game in a losing effort (5-4), and he was almost rewarded with the game ball, but it was not to be.
Baseball is boring, I don't think that is in doubt. Michael has snagged everything that has been hit to him, but you are fortunate if that is every other game, so I try to make it as fun for him as I can by providing him with big league chew (which he shares, good for his social integration) and rewarding with him ice cream for good efforts. However, nothing I do makes his face light up like it is when his foot was touching home plate for the tying score on the front of this card.
RAP(6.19.2008)
Baseball is boring, I don't think that is in doubt. Michael has snagged everything that has been hit to him, but you are fortunate if that is every other game, so I try to make it as fun for him as I can by providing him with big league chew (which he shares, good for his social integration) and rewarding with him ice cream for good efforts. However, nothing I do makes his face light up like it is when his foot was touching home plate for the tying score on the front of this card.
RAP(6.19.2008)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
You Want Your Targets to Be Comfortable
As is my want, we spend around an hour and half at the pool about 4 evenings a week. I prefer to go in the early evening when the sun's rays must traverse enough of the atmosphere that its touch is warm to the skin, but not strong enough to require immersing our bodies in protective chemical concoctions. The boys split their time between the pool and the new splashground. Most of my pool time is used in the hot tub, but I usually finish in the shallow end hurling the boys through the air in acrobatics so familiar they each have their own moniker (the elevator, the helicopter, space train rocket chair etc.).
The pools have relaxed their rules, and now the kids are allowed to bring toys, the most popular of which seem to be squirt guns. Alex tells me the water on the splashground is very cold compared to the pool, so he refills his rifle from the pool. After all, you want your targets to be comfortable.
RAP (6.17.2008)
The pools have relaxed their rules, and now the kids are allowed to bring toys, the most popular of which seem to be squirt guns. Alex tells me the water on the splashground is very cold compared to the pool, so he refills his rifle from the pool. After all, you want your targets to be comfortable.
RAP (6.17.2008)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Don't Look Back
"Don't look back" is a piece of pop philosophy the permeates our literature and culture. In addition to being advice on how to live our lives, it is a also a good maxim to practice while trying to advance from home to first base.
Every kid on Michael's team does the same thing to their detriment. As they run to first base they watch their hit. Some of the time, like this instance, that costs them; Michael was a step short of arriving at first safely. If he had run head down, he would have made it, but the siren's song of the ball skipping through the infield was too much.
RAP (6.16.2008)
Every kid on Michael's team does the same thing to their detriment. As they run to first base they watch their hit. Some of the time, like this instance, that costs them; Michael was a step short of arriving at first safely. If he had run head down, he would have made it, but the siren's song of the ball skipping through the infield was too much.
RAP (6.16.2008)
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