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Posted on 07/04/2002 12:10:57 AM PDT by Mama_Bear
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What a GREAT thread this is!
Can't help but join in on the Dodgers comments.
I spent my teenage summers at the Spokane Indians ballpark watching the Dodgers AAA farm team in the PCL.
I had the opportunity to watch a lot of the "kids" develope into Major League players. Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, Frank Howard the Sherry brothers just to name a few. Wills lived across the street from my grandmother when he first came to town.
Every year, the Dodgers came to town for an exhibition game, and the AAA team beat 'em everytime. Those exhibition games allowed me to see the "biggies" - Duke Snider was my hero. I once saw Frank Howard hit a home run over the center field fence (411 ft.) and that ball was still climbing on the way over the fence.
Now living deep in Giants and A's country, I'm still a die-hard Dodgers fan - And, they're still in First Place.
"The check's in the mail?"
LOL! I expect the money to start pouring in any time now!
Some Like It Hot
What happens at these Fahrenheit temperatures:
+65 - Hawaiians declare a two-blanket night.
+60 - Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one).
+50 - Miami residents turn on the heat.
+45 - Vermont residents go to outdoor concerts.
+40 - You can see your breath. Californians shiver uncontrollably.
Minnesotans go swimming.
+35 - Italian cars don't start.
+32 - Water freezes.
+30 - You plan your vacation to Australia.
+25 - Ohio water freezes. Californians weep. Minnesotans eat ice cream. Canadians go swimming.
+20 - Politicians begin to talk about the homeless. New York City water freezes. Miami residents plan vacation farther South.
+15 - French cars don't start. Cat insists on sleeping in your bed with you.
+10 - You need jumper cables to get the car going.
+ 5 - American cars don't start.
0 - Alaskans put on T-shirts.
-10 - German cars don't start. Eyes freeze shut when you blink.
-15 - You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo. Arkansans stick tongue on metal objects. Miami residents cease to exist
-20 - Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you. Politicians actually do something about the homeless. Minnesotans shovel snow off roof. Japanese cars don't start.
-25 - Too cold to think. You need jumper cables to get the driver going.
-30 - You plan a two week hot bath. Swedish cars don't start.
-40 - Californians disappear. Minnesotans button top button. Canadians put on sweaters. Your car helps you plan your trip South.
-50 - Congressional hot air freezes. Alaskans close the bathroom window.
-80 - Hell freezes over. Polar bears move South. Green Bay Packer fans order hot cocoa at the game.
-90 - Lawyers put their hands in their own pockets.
If there's anyone who is dying to get some more practice downloading these videos, here's the one that I couldn't get uploaded in time for July 4th.
This should have been Number III:
Uh, oh!
OKAY!
Willie is on the right!!!!!
Sheeeeezz!!
The next day, I talked to the children, and explained that it was O.K.to sleep with Mom when the storm was bad, but when I was expected home, please don't sleep with Mom that night. They said OK.
After my next trip several weeks later, Karey and the children picked me up in the terminal at the appointed time.
Since the plane was late, everyone had come into the terminal to wait for my plane's arrival, along with hundreds of other folks waiting for their arriving passengers. As I entered the waiting area, my son saw me, and came running shouting, "Hi, Dad! I've got some good news!"
As I waved back, I said loudly, "What's the good news?"
"Nobody slept with Mommy while you were away this time!" Alex shouted.
The airport became very quiet, as everyone in the waiting area looked at Alex, then turned to me, and then searched the rest of the area to see if they could figure out exactly who his Mom was.
Can't help but join in on the Dodgers comments.
Feel free!
I had the opportunity to watch a lot of the "kids" develope into Major League players. Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Willie Davis, Frank Howard the Sherry brothers just to name a few.
Wills lived across the street from my grandmother when he first came to town.
Must have been wonderful. Was your grandmother friends with Maury's family?
Every year, the Dodgers came to town for an exhibition game, and the AAA team beat 'em everytime. Those exhibition games allowed me to see the "biggies" - Duke Snider was my hero. I once saw Frank Howard hit a home run over the center field fence (411 ft.) and that ball was still climbing on the way over the fence.
And, of course, he wasn't taking 'steroids'. LOL
They used to get a new suit for that shot, didn't they. Or was it the right field area?
Now living deep in Giants and A's country, I'm still a die-hard Dodgers fan - And, they're still in First Place.
They've blown their last two. : ( But....once a fan, always a fan. : )
You're looking especially lovely today. : )
ROFL...unsuccessfully, I am certain...MUD
"The check's in the mail?"
Hmmmmm, don't think I will hold my breath. LOL
That's okay, this job may not pay very well, but it sure is lots of fun. And, I looooove the people I am working with. :-)
Howdy, 'who'.
How did the pups make out last night? Fully recovered, I hope.
They are marvelously resilient, unlike their human companions.
Mits did quite well. Grady barked a lot. Yes, they're fully recovered, thank you. : )
Lawyers put their hands in their own pockets.
LOL!!
I have so many happy memories of attending games with my Dad. Those really were the golden days of baseball. Another book you might enjoy is 'Snow in August' by Pete Hamil. It is a novel (and fantasy) but really captures the flavor of those times.
1. Don't imagine you can change a man - unless he's in diapers.
2. What do you do if your boyfriend walks out? You shut the door.
3. If they put a man on the moon - they should be able to put them all up there.
4. Never let your man's mind wander - it's too little to be out alone.
5. Go for younger men. You might as well - they never mature anyway.
6. Men are all the same - they just have different faces, so that you can tell them apart.
7. Definition of a bachelor: a man who has missed the opportunity to make some woman miserable.
8. Women don't make fools of men - most of them are the do-it-yourself types.
9. Best way to get a man to do something - suggest they are too old for it.
10. Love is blind - but marriage is a real eye-opener.
11. If you want a committed man - look in a mental hospital.
12. The children of Israel wandered around the desert for 40 years. Even in biblical times, men wouldn't ask for directions.
13. If he asks what sort of books you're interested in, tell him checkbooks.
14. Remember a sense of humor does not mean that you tell him jokes, it means that you laugh at his.
15. Sadly, all men are created equal.
During the waning years of the Depression in a small southeastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Brother Miller's roadside stand for farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively. One particular day Brother Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Brother Miller and the ragged boy next to me:
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas......sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla'time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with "
No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize aggie-best taw around here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not 'zackley .....but, almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red taw."
"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said: "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys and their bartering.
Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Brother Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore short haircuts, dark suits and white shirts obviously potential or returned missionaries.
They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took my hand and led me to the casket.
"This is an amazing coincidence," she said. "Those three young men, that just left, were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt. We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red marbles.
Sure was! Today's game is all about money. One more strike, and I'm leaving baseball.
Charles Krauthammer had an excellent piece in today's Post Dispatch on this very subject this morning.
Another book you might enjoy is 'Snow in August' by Pete Hamil.
It is a novel (and fantasy) but really captures the flavor of those times.
Thanks, I'll check it out. : )
Am I looking especially lovely today? I put flowers in my hat and everything. :-)
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