Conflicting Games

I received such a nice email earlier today from a dear friend in Gamblers Anonymous regarding yesterday’s post. The world would be a much nicer place if everyone were associated with a 12 Step Program because this program believes in three of the core values of a wonderful life; honesty, open-mindedness and willingness. I think I can throw in their from my experience acceptance, tolerance, patience and having a positive state of being. As I mentioned yesterday I do my best to open my mind to all sides yet my mind seemed to have been closed to an opposing view because I just don’t understand. This is where the “Serenity Prayer” comes into play for me because these are the things I cannot control like the thinking of others. I can only “control” what is inside of me and thankfully through recovery I continue to have an awakening each and every day.

Life is moving right along and here it is another Tuesday as the year is about to be closed out. Is it really almost the end of October? Time does fly when you are having fun and I can say from experience it also moves fairly quickly when you are not having so much fun!!!

The weather out here in sunny Southern California is very typical for the latter portion of October where shorts are needed during the day while an extra blanket helps in the evening. I believe the temperature fluctuates between 40 degrees from the high during the day to the low in the evening. This is quite a dramatic swing and really an air conditioner can be needed during the day and conceivably the heat can run in the evening. We refrain from either of these in our households due to the cost and I have decreed that the heat won’t go on until one day in January!! I may amend this as the price of oil continues to fall and fortunately we have natural gas as our heating component. I guess there is one silver lining to this economic crisis the cost of gasoline has fallen dramatically; however; even at $3 a gallon it really is no bargain just part of the conditioning!!!

I have gotten into “Heroes” and have obliged my wife by adding another television show to my viewing schedule. The other show is “Raising the Bar” which airs on TNT also on Monday evenings. It is yet another legal drama but I do enjoy the shows thus far but there are scenes when they are in the local jail that hit too close to home for me. I don’t understand why everyone wears “street clothes” because that wasn’t my experience; everyone was in a wonderful hue of orange!!!

“Heroes” is pure imagination and I have stopped trying to figure out where the show is going since I have no idea. It seems the proverbial “Pandora’s Box” has opened up and all Hell is breaking loose. Good is bad and bad is bad along with some bad being good, got it??? I certainly don’t but it does keep it interesting. As far as the other televisions programs and believe me my wife watches many of them; I have no opinion. I gave “Life on Mars” a shot and although it is a wonderfully crafted show it is yet another “cop drama” with the hook that it is staged in 1973. It is cool noticing how far we have come as a society in 35 years and seeing 8 track tapes is quite a kick along with all the non-technology that existed such as the rotary telephone.

This evening represented a conflict in the baseball/softball schedule. My daughter had a game and my son had a game at virtually the same time about 5 miles apart. This meant I would take my son to his game and my wife would take our daughter to her game. This has happened in the past and really I don’t like missing any of their games but since I am a coach on my son’s game I am obligated to be there. It is not an obligation it is a pleasure to be able to help out with my son’s game and I am eternally grateful.

My son’s team seems to have stumbled because tonight they lost their second game of the season. It was apparent the other team was much better coached and prepared for the game. Their players had improved dramatically from the first time we played. They were making plays that in the past were hits but last night these were outs. Our team didn’t play so well and fell behind 11-1 but their bats woke up and cut the deficit to 11-10. The final tally was 14-10 and my son once again played very well. He went 2 for 4 but he hit the ball all four times. He grounded out to the shortstop which is normally a hit but the opposing team’s shortstop was very good making this a routine play. My son did smack to hits into the outfield and made a great play as the catcher. He took the team’s loss in stride and maintains his wonderful attitude.

When we got home we received a report about my daughter’s game. They lost but there seemed to be some controversy. Apparently the team they faced had the coach which is always surrounded in some type of controversy. I am a huge proponent of what you put out is what you get back and this coach has such a tremendous amount of negative energy that these types of things continue to happen. I don’t know the details about the controversy but it appears winning at all costs is part of this coach’s mantra which is all I can say. My daughter went 0 for 1; striking out and walking. She seemed to be a bit off of her game but she did make a play at shortstop. Peaking ahead at the schedule there is only two weeks remaining in the season and one more conflicting date where both of our children play at the same time. This is a wonderful way to spend part of the evening and everyone had a great day!!!