A few weeks ago I wrote about the baseball themed pool party in my community and the fact that our table won as the most original table.
Last night we got to use our prize - tickets to the local minor league team. This team is part of the Philadelphia Phillies' organization and the team they played is part of the Washington Nationals' organization.
It has been almost 30 years since I attended a baseball game, that was at Shea Stadium in NYC. I've often gone to see games, starting when I was quite young. Very often in the summer, my parents, my brother and I would walk to the local baseball field, Dexter Park in Woodhaven, to see the Bushwicks play. When I was in my early teens, my father took to many games at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. I even got to see the last game played at Ebbets Field before the Dodgers moved to LA.
I was a big Yankee fan, mainly because of the players - Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto, and also because I had to be different from my friends who were Dodger fans.
But, back to last night's game. It was a beautiful night, perfect for baseball. The field is fairly new, and nothing like Yankee Stadium. Even though I really haven't followed baseball for a few years, it all came back. So did several foul balls, and I ducked a lot. Fortunately, none of them came close to me.
The game started out badly, the home team made an error resulting in a run. Things quieted down and it was a better game. The home team won by a score of 4 to 2, although they almost lost it in the 9th inning when the pitcher walked the first two batters. But they survived the inning. All's well that ends well.
I enjoyed the evening very much and am glad I went even though I wasn't looking forward to it.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Mail Problems
I don't know how it is in the rest of the country, but here in my little section of New Jersey, the mail delivery has been terribly late.
I've always gotten my mail late in the day, sometimes as late as 5:30 PM, even though mail is supposed to be delivered by 5:00. I guess some of this is my problem since I've accepted the late delivery as "normal". But, lately, it has gotten much worse. On Monday, I got my mail at 7:58 PM and yesterday I saw the mail carrier riding around at 7:30 PM.
This morning I decided to call to complain. I was told that the mail was being delivered later because the carriers start working later and some are working double shifts because of vacations. This doesn't make any sense. I would think that during this heat wave they would want to start their day as early as possible, before the real heat of the day. But, I guess they do like the overtime pay.
I don't want to be one of those old ladies who think things were better in the old days, BUT... in this case they were. When I lived in Queens, we had a mailman who walked the block, climbed up the stoop and slipped the mail in the door and there was much more mail to be delivered than now when we receive so much via email. The only time he rode around was to pick up the mail from the storage boxes located every few blocks. Sometimes, he even stopped to speak with the neighbors. We actually knew our mailman and got our mail at a respectable time, late afternoon. Now, since our mail carrier rides from house to house depositing the mail in mailboxes at the curb, we don't know who delivers our mail or when it will arrive.
In this case, give me the "Good Old Days".
I've always gotten my mail late in the day, sometimes as late as 5:30 PM, even though mail is supposed to be delivered by 5:00. I guess some of this is my problem since I've accepted the late delivery as "normal". But, lately, it has gotten much worse. On Monday, I got my mail at 7:58 PM and yesterday I saw the mail carrier riding around at 7:30 PM.
This morning I decided to call to complain. I was told that the mail was being delivered later because the carriers start working later and some are working double shifts because of vacations. This doesn't make any sense. I would think that during this heat wave they would want to start their day as early as possible, before the real heat of the day. But, I guess they do like the overtime pay.
I don't want to be one of those old ladies who think things were better in the old days, BUT... in this case they were. When I lived in Queens, we had a mailman who walked the block, climbed up the stoop and slipped the mail in the door and there was much more mail to be delivered than now when we receive so much via email. The only time he rode around was to pick up the mail from the storage boxes located every few blocks. Sometimes, he even stopped to speak with the neighbors. We actually knew our mailman and got our mail at a respectable time, late afternoon. Now, since our mail carrier rides from house to house depositing the mail in mailboxes at the curb, we don't know who delivers our mail or when it will arrive.
In this case, give me the "Good Old Days".
Monday, July 15, 2013
Justice
Now that the Zimmerman trial is over, until Eric Holder decides to press civil charges, let's talk about another murder, or several murders.
Over the 4th of July weekend in Chicago, there were 62 people shot, resulting in 12 murders. Where is the outrage about this? Why are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson not holding protests for arrest and conviction of those responsible? Why are the president and attorney general not pursuing those charges.
This is Chicago, the president's home town, the town being run by his pal Rahm Emmanuel. You would think that the president would want his town to be safer.
Is it possible that there is no racial element to these killings? Possibly they are black on black crime and not worthy of an investigation. There's no way to divide the country on the basis of race if they are black on black. The only crimes worth investigating and prosecuting are perceived as racial.
To paraphrase the words of that darling of the democrats, Hillary Clinton, with all due respect, the fact is we had one dead American. Was it because of racial profiling or was it because of a guy out for a walk one night decided to go kill some American? What difference at this point does it make?
I don't know if Zimmerman killed Travon Martin in self defense or not, but the jury has decided. Let's accept that decision and start looking into all the murders of young people in Chicago even if they are the result of black on black crime. The young victims in Chicago deserve justice.
Over the 4th of July weekend in Chicago, there were 62 people shot, resulting in 12 murders. Where is the outrage about this? Why are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson not holding protests for arrest and conviction of those responsible? Why are the president and attorney general not pursuing those charges.
This is Chicago, the president's home town, the town being run by his pal Rahm Emmanuel. You would think that the president would want his town to be safer.
Is it possible that there is no racial element to these killings? Possibly they are black on black crime and not worthy of an investigation. There's no way to divide the country on the basis of race if they are black on black. The only crimes worth investigating and prosecuting are perceived as racial.
To paraphrase the words of that darling of the democrats, Hillary Clinton, with all due respect, the fact is we had one dead American. Was it because of racial profiling or was it because of a guy out for a walk one night decided to go kill some American? What difference at this point does it make?
I don't know if Zimmerman killed Travon Martin in self defense or not, but the jury has decided. Let's accept that decision and start looking into all the murders of young people in Chicago even if they are the result of black on black crime. The young victims in Chicago deserve justice.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Responsibility
I was raised with the understanding that I should take responsibility for my actions. I still believe in that and get annoyed with those who refuse to accept responsibility when they either make a mistake or do wrong.
A few weeks ago I received my first traffic ticket EVER, in 50 years of driving. The light was just turning red when I went through it. I probably could have stopped, but decided to go ahead and take my chances. Of course, I was caught. I accepted my ticket and went on my way. That was on Saturday.
The following Tuesday and for a few days after that I received letters from several lawyers offering to help me with my case. They would represent me in court and help me plead "Not Guilty" and fight my ticket.
Of course, I paid the fine. I was wrong and I, thought I hate to admit it, did go through the red light. I deserved the ticket, although I hate to have that spot on my record.
What really bothers me about the whole thing is the fact that there are people who won't take responsibility for their actions and there are people willing to help them avoid taking that responsibility, for a fee of course.
I just find the whole idea of getting away with doing wrong so distasteful. That's what is wrong with our society - no one is responsible for their actions and problems anymore.
A few weeks ago I received my first traffic ticket EVER, in 50 years of driving. The light was just turning red when I went through it. I probably could have stopped, but decided to go ahead and take my chances. Of course, I was caught. I accepted my ticket and went on my way. That was on Saturday.
The following Tuesday and for a few days after that I received letters from several lawyers offering to help me with my case. They would represent me in court and help me plead "Not Guilty" and fight my ticket.
Of course, I paid the fine. I was wrong and I, thought I hate to admit it, did go through the red light. I deserved the ticket, although I hate to have that spot on my record.
What really bothers me about the whole thing is the fact that there are people who won't take responsibility for their actions and there are people willing to help them avoid taking that responsibility, for a fee of course.
I just find the whole idea of getting away with doing wrong so distasteful. That's what is wrong with our society - no one is responsible for their actions and problems anymore.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Party Time
Last night I went to a pool party at our clubhouse. There was a theme, "Take me out to the ballgame" and they were offering a prize for the best and more original table decorations.
Naturally, there were several Yankees and Mets tables. There was even a table for the Blue Claws, the local farm team of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Our group took a table, but one of the ladies suggested that we not follow the crowd. She suggested we make our table in honor of the Rockford Peaches. If anyone of you remembers, that was the team in "A League of Their Own" that was so popular several years ago.
To get us all into the mood, we had a private showing of the film which followed the formation of the All American Girls Baseball League which was formed during WWII because so many of the major and minor league players were being drafted to fight the war. I never knew this league existed. They lasted until the mid-'50s.
We went all out. One of the other ladies (the only one of us who isn't retired) bought pink T shirts for the ladies and white T shirts for the two men in the group. She also researched the team and printed team pictures, individual pictures and logos. She printed the logos on heat transfer paper and then ironed them onto our shirts and red hats. For the backs of the shirts, she ironed on our first name and house number.
Our table looked great, I even made several bags of peanuts. As a last minute thought, she made a scoreboard, showing nine innings and of course that the Rockford Peaches won.
To keep everything fair, the DJ was in charge of selecting the winning table. He made two passes around each table then announced that we were one of four finalists. Finally, he made his decision and.....
WE WON!!!!!!
Each of us at the table won a ticket to a Blue Claws game the end of the month.
It was a good night. It's good to be a winner.
Naturally, there were several Yankees and Mets tables. There was even a table for the Blue Claws, the local farm team of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Our group took a table, but one of the ladies suggested that we not follow the crowd. She suggested we make our table in honor of the Rockford Peaches. If anyone of you remembers, that was the team in "A League of Their Own" that was so popular several years ago.
To get us all into the mood, we had a private showing of the film which followed the formation of the All American Girls Baseball League which was formed during WWII because so many of the major and minor league players were being drafted to fight the war. I never knew this league existed. They lasted until the mid-'50s.
We went all out. One of the other ladies (the only one of us who isn't retired) bought pink T shirts for the ladies and white T shirts for the two men in the group. She also researched the team and printed team pictures, individual pictures and logos. She printed the logos on heat transfer paper and then ironed them onto our shirts and red hats. For the backs of the shirts, she ironed on our first name and house number.
Our table looked great, I even made several bags of peanuts. As a last minute thought, she made a scoreboard, showing nine innings and of course that the Rockford Peaches won.
To keep everything fair, the DJ was in charge of selecting the winning table. He made two passes around each table then announced that we were one of four finalists. Finally, he made his decision and.....
WE WON!!!!!!
Each of us at the table won a ticket to a Blue Claws game the end of the month.
It was a good night. It's good to be a winner.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
She's Back
What a perfect time for the re-opening of Lady Liberty.
Hope you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July.
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