Merritt Island Sr Little League

Jean-Luc went to his first practice today. It wasn't too bad. Myself and one of the other coaches were unable to hit fly balls consistently and Jean-Luc had to step in and do it for us. Thank you Jean-Luc. Of course he hit maybe ten fly balls and then he had to go practice pitching and it was up to me again. I'm way out of practice. Hitting the grounders for infield practice is so much easier.

Little League (R) 2010

Well the 2010 Little League (R) baseball season is here. Christopher is on the Pirates. Anton team name changed from the White Sox to the Red Sox. Jean-Luc's team is also the Pirates for now. The name may change as the coach is not sold on it. It is the team he was on last year but they had a different manager then.

I haven't been much help on the field. It has been freezing cold down here in Florida (but a lot warmer than my family up in the more northern states - TN and PA). Lots of rain the past couple weeks as well.

No practice tonight or flag football games. RAIN

Pittsburgh Pirate management is at it again

Well, today the idiots in charge of the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Adam LaRoche to Boston. It appears to me that the Pirates are a feeder club for Boston. I certainly hope that the Pirates get World Series rings this year if Boston happens to win it all.

All-Star Practices

The All-Star practices are going well. Scrimage game last night against the 10 year old All-Stars. Went okay. Not great. Just okay.

Tired Little Guy

I took the boys to the baseball clinic last night. The rain held off until it was almost over. So it ended 10 minutes early. Two more clinics left. Wednesday and Friday for Chris and Wednesday and Thursday for Anton.

We got home last night after a quick stop at Dairy Queen on the way home with Jack and Julius around 8:45. Chris went straight to the bedroom and within minutes he was sleeping.

I would like to say it was all the running he did at the clinic but I think it was more the swimming today at day camp.

Days after McLouth

Day 2 updated - Pirates are now 1 - 1. Can't figure out how to hit the ball when Mike Hampton pitches against them.

Day 2 - so far so good. Pirates are now 1 - 0 after trading Nate the Great to the Braves - boo hiss.

Pittsburgh Pirates Owners

They are at it again.

Last year they trade away Nady and Bay. Now they trade away McLouth. To the Braves no less. At least Bay and Nady went to the American League were they can't come back to haunt us. Maybe that is why the Braves released Glavine so they can pay Nate.

Good-bye and good luck Nate.

Pirates owners - you suck.

Merriitt Island Little League - Closing Ceremonies

May 29, 2009 - Merritt Island, FL - Ron Smith Park at Tropical Elementary School.

Between the rain storms we were finally able to squeeze in the closing day ceremony. A lot more people showed up than expected because of all the rain. But all in all a very nice ceremony.

I personally want to thank all the managers and coaches, parents and family, volunteer umpires, and all the MILL Board members for a great season.

To the Reds - good luck in the District 22 Tournament.

Fall ball isn't as far away as people think.

Boy Am I Tired

This is how it went.

I woke up this morning around 5:35. I showered and went to the family room to sit and watch the last 10 minutes of a Twilight Zone episode (one of the newer ones). I changed the channel so we could watch the news at 6:00. At 6:08, I got up to put the coffee on. I was then told to go wake Jean-Luc up as he had to finish some home work. I did that and went outside to get the newspaper. I proceeded to set the table for breakfast, get the milk out, and get the coffee on the table.

We almost always (97% of the time) read the paper while we eat breakfast. I had a doctor appointment at 8:30 so I was in no hurry as the boys went off to get ready for school. Chris had to be there by 7:30 to get a paper signed by his teacher and then go to do the WTTT (school TV station) stuff. So around 7:05 I asked Carla what I need to take with me when I dropped off her camera for repair at Best Buy on my way to work (the new 2 week old camera's strap had come undone and it dropped onto the cement at the baseball field yesterday afternoon). I took the camera and lens, the receipt, and my briefcase out the door to the car. The boys had put all their school stuff into it already. We all marched in a kissed mommy goodbye.

I dropped Chris and Anton off at school about 7:25. Jean-Luc and I stopped to get gas and then went to the ATM to get some money. Since JL didn't have to be at school just yet, we stopped by the Lazy Bean Cafe and I got a coffee. JL got a bagel with cream cheese (must remember to by some) and a cherry smoothie or something like that. We left there and I dropped Jean-Luc off at school.

I was at the doctor's office at 8:10 and was told I was early. Of course I was early, I'm a Steinmetz! I sat down and started to read my book. I was aware of other people signing in and sitting down. The nurse was calling names and I wasn't hearing mine. I wasn't too concerned as I was early. I got into reading my book and more people came in and got called back. I was starting to think I was forgotten as it was not 8:55 and my appointment was at 8:30. All the other people were just there for lab work it turned out. I noticed them walking out with the white cotton ball and white tape on their arms. Just as I was about to get up and ask if I was forgotten, the door opened and I heard my name.

The time was about 9:05. I got weighed and the nurse asked when the last time I had an EKG done. My answer was never. So we went to the room to get an EKG done. Took longer getting all the little diodes hooked on than it did to actually do the test. Then off to the other exam room for temperature and blood pressure readings. Then wait for the doctor.

I waited maybe 5 minutes and the doctor came in. He looked over everything. I was given a clean bill of health. Blood pressure was good (he said it has never been an issue with me), EKG couldn't be better, I had lost two pounds from the prior visit six months ago, good cholesterol was up and bad cholesterol was at the same spot it was last visit (good sign), kidneys and liver functioning normally, and my blood sugar was okay but still creeping up to the dreaded 125 mark. He mentioned that if it measures 125 two times in a row that indicates diabetes (which runs in the family and why I have six month visits now instead of yearly). He told me to exercise a bit more and do watch what I am eating (portion control). I mention I would be coaching my little one in fall baseball again this year (roped into that by the Little League President - he is going to manager). The doctor said running around with the kids would be a good thing and definitely wouldn't hurt. And that was the end of the appointment.

Then the drive to Orlando after stopping at Publix to use the restroom. There was no way I was going to make it to Orlando without using the restroom.

I was on my way to Orlando at 10:04. I got to Best Buy to drop off the camera and lens for repair. The camera would be sent off to Nikon for repair but lens' don't get repaired. They get replaced. The man helping me told me to go to the camera area and get a new one and they would exchange it out for me. I walked over and talked to the same lady who sold us the camera and lens two weeks ago and she called someone over to help me as she was helping someone else. That person arrived and I told him I needed a new lens for exchange and he looked in the locked bin and they had none there. He checked his computer and they had none in stock. Just my luck. Now what to do. I go back over to the man helping me with the repairs and I told him they don't have any in stock. He checked the computer and said there are two on order but he doesn't know when they will be in. They have two in Kissimmee, one in Altamonte, etc... all places I really did not want to be going to as I should have been at work by now. Since I love my wife a lot, I decided to go to the Kissimee location down by The Loop and get the new one there for her. They gave me store credit for the lens and warranty and off I went with my receipt for the camera and headed to Kissimee. The time 11:23.

We had been to The Loop a couple weeks ago when we bought the camera. We had a late lunch at Mimi's Cafe that day. I got to The Loop and saw the Best Buy across the street. I thought about turning at the light but decided to go straight as there had to be an entrance right there. No such luck. I had to go down to the next light and make a u-turn (legal at that light). I went back to the other light with Best Buy on my left and turned there. There is the entrance but there was no cut through the median. I had to go make another legal u-turn at the next light. Hard place to get to. The lady there was very helpful and I was out the door with a new lens and warranty and headed to work at 11:53.

I decided since I missed all morning anyway, I might as well run the other errands I had to do. I stopped at Michael's to get some modeling clay for Anton. It says it never dries out on the label - we shall see. We are good at making liars out of labels. Well, modeling clay ain't cheap. Twelve small blocks (various colors) cost me $48.44 (there goes some of that money I got out of the ATM this morning). Then I went to the Sports Authority to get a bucket of wiffle balls ($39.99 - WOW) and a baseball batting tee ($24.99) for the boys to use at home. Anton needs to start swinging the bat. We switched him back over to the right side of the plate after batting lefty forever. Chris can use some swings too. So can Jean-Luc. So another $70 spent there. Chris may need a new helmet but I can't buy that without him.

I head to work and get in at 1:00. Now my work day starts and boy am I tired.

I've decided I'm staying in tonight and not going to the Merritt Island High School baseball game. And I have little steaks to cook for dinner. And some tater tots. And some green vegetable that I'm sure we have in the pantry (if the little lizard didn't eat everything).

Merritt Island Little League

Tonights make up game between the Rays and the Tigers was postponed again due to rain. It will be rescheduled for another day.

Merritt Island Little League

Tonights games : Rays vs Tigers and Indians vs Orioles : have been cancelled due to rain. The game is shifting to tomorrow - Wednesday at 6:30 PM at Audubon Field 1.

Tomorrows game: NMILL Yankees vs White Sox : has been postponed until after spring break. I did not hear the reason.