I ended up umpiring 3 games on Saturday. I was scheduled for a double-header, but the league sent out an email looking for additional umpires so I picked up a 7pm game in the tier 3 division. It was actually a really good ball game, ended up with the home team coming back to win in the bottom of the 7th inning. It was a long day of umpiring though. I started at 10am and finished just after 10pm.

I went for breakfast yesterday to Phil’s with a friend. I had the steak and eggs, an 8oz sirloin, and I must say it was one of the tastiest steaks I have had in a long time. It was perfectly cooked as well, just a bit above medium. I wish I could cook a steak to my actual liking, but no – I either have a rare steak or a well done steak, not medium, it doesn’t seem possible.

I received an email when we were having breakfast that the 10am games were cancelled due to poor air quality in Calgary. The smoke was rather thick, visibility was only a few hundred meters. We sat and chatted for a bit since I didn’t have to be anywhere for 10am. I was sort of hoping at that point that the 1pm games would also be cancelled so I could head home early. I got back to my hotel room around 10am and my wish was granted – games for the rest of the day were cancelled so I headed home.

I picked up the dogs on the way home – they were very happy to see me and I was very happy to see them. It had been almost a week since I saw then, an age for them, I am sure. I am now home until the end of the month, no umpiring next weekend at all. The following weekend, I umpire some games for Baseball Alberta and then I head to Ontario for 6 days. I am looking forward to the trip, should be an excellent time.

So, not too much planned for the next two weeks other than trips to the lake with the dogs and I intend on getting Blondie to swim, so I hope that’s a success. I don’t want to have the world’s only non-swimming Lab. I am sure she’ll take to it with me in the water with her, time will tell.

Enjoy your week.