it's tough to blog when you're workin' so hard!

So it's been awhile since my last post, that's for sure. It sure is difficult to blog when you're working full time, that's for sure. But there's been a lot going on down here in good old CT...so sit back and enjoy.

The Rock Cats finished up Labor Day weekend by finishing the season with a five game winning streak. The series was quite a lift for all of us, even if we did ride off into the sunset at 69-72. A break here and there, and we'd be way over .500 this year, and that's unfortunate. Yet alas, the boys have packed their bags and gone on to wherever they're due next...the Arizona Fall League, Caribbean baseball, 40-man roster callups, etc. Hopefully, we'll be able to get out of the gate quickly in 2008 (April 3, 2008 to be exact--not April 2 as reported below) and pile up the wins early. I'd love to have a great, winning summer in '08.

Congrats to my pal Mike. He won the Harley Davidson motorcycle we were auctioning off over the summer. Here's a great snapshot of him (albeit from a camera phone) on it, enjoying his new "baby."

The bowling season begins for me tomorrow night in Ware. I'll be reuniting with my teammates from Monson for another season of knockin' 'em down...hopefully, knocking a lot of 'em down. I'd love to really do well this year, taking home a few bucks in the process. The black Vipers are shined up and ready to go...along with the new bowling shirt to match the website colors! But I'm also praying that I can get into the Wednesday league at Roll-A-Way as I'm hearing great things about it (14 teams!). The night sounds like it's going to be simply awesome.

Be that as it may, unfortunately for my son, he won't be starting this Saturday. He broke a finger on his bowling hand late last week, and he's in a splint. Fortunately, my little guy isn't in much pain, but it puts a damper on his spirits; not to mention the fact that it's his dominant hand. Here's hoping he'll be dragging his yellow bag out soon...I know he's dying to get started.

We're also looking very forward to Comcast taping #1, which will be held September 23. Who's in, anyway? I'd love to see a huge showing for that taping, just to make the noise level big and exciting for the broadcast. Heck, the strike jackpot is a cool $1,000 to start off (only one person rolled a strike last year, and that was in the first week!), so if you think you're good, get your behind to Woburn that day. It's sure to be a great one.

The new teaching gig is far too interesting for me, that's for sure. I'm finding the dichotomy between parochial school and public school to be huge, at least when it comes to Catholicism. I can't tell you how many times I've recited the Lord's Prayer since I was hired! While the kids are all normal, everyday kids that mirror those of the public schools, they have a spiritual side that is celebrated much more often. They're much more inquisitive than public school students (as evidenced by the number of students who ask me about the United Church of Christ), and they're...in most cases...more willing to practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.

For example, a student of mine left the room to use the lavatory today. He was gone for an extended period of time, and I became concerned that he'd decided to hang around a bit too long in an effort to get out of doing some work. However, what I found later was my student had accidentally hit a kindergarten child with a door, so he took some great pains to ensure that the 5-year old would stop crying and get to the nurse's office to have the bump on his head checked. And during quiet study hall, the very same student asked me if he could go check on his accidental victim. This would never happen in a public school setting...that child got a positive and proud note to go home today. I hope his parents took the time to praise him for the level of consideration and understanding he presented to me today.

In some cases, they're sheltered. I see where many of them don't understand some of the ideals brought about by their public school friends. One of my 8th graders asked me why kids "have to dance together so that there's no light between them." She'd never heard of what the kids call "grinding" and when she experienced it at a public school dance to which she was invited, she was put off by it. I found that to be fascinating when compared to the 8th graders I encountered two years ago in public school. Those kids just couldn't wait to "be with a boy" and "hook up." In fact, one child was giving lessons on self-love at her home! Possibly those kids need a few more activities in their day...just to keep them busy.

I've found they certainly don't like being picked to read a morning prayer over the PA system. And that is something they're going to have to get over very quickly. I don't like it when one of my students does his or her best to avoid a chance to talk to God. It's not how they're being brought up, and it's not what's being taught in the church and/or school. Therefore, when they're caught laughing about who got picked, they're put down on the list. This is where I find these kids to be typical. I guess I just find some of the atypical nuances to be striking...and at times quite unexpected.

I'm also looking forward to being interviewed by John Resler, creator, producer and host of Naked Jazz Dreams on Cyberstation USA. John has been to many a Rock Cats game, and he's interested in doing a show discussing minor league baseball and it's attractions, of which he counts me as the biggest one in CT...possibly New England. He claims my act is discussed by minor league fans on both coasts, at many water coolers and is quite well known. I find this to be nothing short of amazing. Allow me to digress.

I'm a teacher; an amateur philosopher; a father; a fiancee, etc. I know and understand where I fit under each of those hats. What I cannot understand is the notion that people actually go to Rock Cats games to not only see baseball, but to see me yell, scream, jump up and down and eventually get upwards of 7,000 fans yelling along with me, "Let's go Rock Cats!" Honest to goodness, I don't get it. I absolutely do not consider myself any part of the attraction of the games, but apparently I am. And I find that a little unsettling as I cannot figure out where that fits in with my self image. It doesn't compute for me. I guess I could say I consider myself a bigger fan of the Rock Cats than I am of the Red Sox (oh the horror), but an in game attraction? I don't think so.

Nevertheless, John wants to put me on the radio and talk about minor league ball. I'll let everyone here know about it when the date is picked. It might be closer to next spring, but we'll see.

And we keep on plugging. I've finally got the wood poachers out front to stop the chain saws (they're snitching the wood from the dead trees the tree service is taking down), so I have some quiet. Maybe I can plan out a few days for next week and/or make my quiz now? Nah, I want to watch the Red Sox...the kids can take that quiz another day!

Then again...maybe I want to really nail 'em for tomorrow. Yeah...I think I'll do that. Ciao everyone!