Kevin's Ramblings…

I’m currently sitting in the airport, I’ve returned my rental truck, checked my bags in, passed through security, gotten a vanilla latte and thought, I should blog about my trip to Ontario.

It’s been a pretty busy 6 days.

I stayed in Calgary at the end of July to umpire a total of 5 games. One on Saturday morning for Babe Ruth and 2 more Saturday and 2 on Sunday for Baseball Alberta. The Saturday morning game was quite good, really well played. I then was able to check into my hotel early and take a break before driving East of Calgary for the 3pm and 6pm games. Those games were AA 18u. I figured it would be decent ball, I was wrong. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t as competitive as I figured it would be. I got back to the hotel by 9pm and ordered a pizza in. Sunday morning, I took advantage of the buffet breakfast at the hotel. Sunday, I drove down to Okotoks to umpire 2 15u AA games. The quality of ball was worse than the night before, however, the players seemed to enjoy themselves, so that’s what really matters.

Back to the hotel, cleaned myself up, it was a very hot and dusty day. I had a quiet evening, went to Denny’s for dinner.

I had an early start on Monday, per usual. No breakfast as it was a holiday, so the hotel restaurant was closed. I did some shopping. Bought a life jacket, a waterproof box for when I kayak and a replacement watch for the one that recently died. I also purchased myself a retro Astros jersey, #34, Nolan Ryan. It was a fairly expensive purchase, so, I said that the dogs bought it for me for my 50th birthday, even though I have no one to justify purchases to. Dinner was Denny’s, again, 3 meals in a row.

Tuesday was a relaxing morning. I stayed in bed and don’t check out of the hotel until just before noon. I killed time in the afternoon, I wasn’t meeting friends for dinner until 6. We had dinner at a new BBQ place in Calgary, it was great. They surprised me by buying me my dinner for my birthday. Thanks 🙂

I dropped off the truck at 9pm and they drove me to the airport. Check-in and security was a breeze. The flight to Toronto was delayed by 40 some minutes for whatever reason, but was otherwise uneventful. We landed late in Toronto, but that happens. I didn’t sleep much, just over an hour or so.

I had reserved a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited from Alamo. I got there just about 7am and provided my credit card and what not. When I went out to get my vehicle, the guy was sorry, but they didn’t have my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. I thought I was in the Seinfeld episode, “you know how to take the reservation, you don’t know how to hold the reservation”… I was offered a Rav 4. That’s a midsize SUV, so I asked if he’d be refunding me about $30 per day… I asked for a full size pick-up truck and got a Chevy Silverado. Not a bad truck, not as nice as mine at home though.

I made it to my aunt’s place by shortly after 8am. We headed out for our day at the Toronto Zoo. I was pushing her in her wheelchair, it was quite the workout. We stayed for about 3 hours, it was quite hot with humidity. We had an excellent dinner at Milestones. I slept well that night after not much sleep the night before. In the morning, I had a sandwich from Chick-fil-A, it was amazing. We walked to Hy’s Steakhouse for lunch, me pushing her wheelchair again. I left for Burlington around 4pm.

I met a former boss and her husband for dinner at The Keg. We had a great visit and excellent food. I stayed at the Motel 6 in Burlington with one of the softest beds I’ve ever slept on. Friday morning I met a friend at The Lancer in St. Catharines. The food was not very good unfortunately. The eggs were just weird, not sure what was up with them.

Lunch was with another friend (who knew I had so many?) and the pizza was excellent. I then headed to Kitchener to meet another former coworker, his wife and daughter. The meal at the smokehouse was great. I headed to St. Catharines with a pitstop in Stoney Creek at Costco.

Early Saturday, we all went out for a walk with my brother in law’s dogs. By 630am, it was already crazy hot and humid, I don’t miss that living in Alberta. I met a friend for breakfast at what we call The Greasy Spoon, actually Golden Grill, one of the best breakfasts around. I headed towards Peterborough to see a friend that I haven’t seen in 10 years or so. We had fun catching up. Saturday evening was spent at a friend’s place that I met in grade 7. She’s an excellent cool and Baker and the food was out of this world great. I didn’t get back to my brother in law’s place until after 2am.

I was taken back to the Greasy Spoon for my birthday on Sunday, another great breakfast. I did some running around, including getting stuff for my party. I was able to catch a nap before guests arrived.

My party was a success for sure. Had 20 people there, or so, everyone seemed to have a good time. I did as well, although I drank a bottle of ammerreto. I mixed it with OJ, so it was healthy. My last guest left around 10pm. I hit bed and immediately fell asleep (or passed out perhaps) and slept until 5. I got up and spent some time with my brother in law until he left for work at 6am. I went back to bed from 6am-9am and slept like the dead. I felt like a new person when I awoke up.

I headed for Oshawa for my last Ontario meal with a friend and former coworker, Red Lobster and Endless Shrimp was on the menu. We had a good tim catching up. I didn’t sleep well last night, unfortunately, and I’m drowsing off here while writing this. I’m now waiting until 930 when I can board my flight. My rental truck has been returned and all is well.

I’m hoping for an uneventful flight home. I’m staying in Calgary tonight, I knew I’d be tired so I booked a hotel.

It was a whirlwind trip, zoomed by. Always nice to visit, better when you go home maybe…

I have not been sleeping all that well at home lately, typically waking up early, 3/330 in the morning, that’s too early. What is it with hotels, I wake up even earlier. Yesterday it was just after 2am, same with today.

I went for a buffet breakfast in the hotel yesterday morning. Decent food, nothing to write home about though. I headed to Okotoks to umpire around 730. I stopped at Costco to fill up the truck. Bonus there, the gas is about 10 cents a liter cheaper and I get my 2% back on my Costco membership.

I got to the park plenty early. Got dressed for the plate. My partner was a young umpire, 15, like the players in the game. It was an uneventful game, ended after 2:40 due to time limit. Not great baseball by any means. It was hot as well for Alberta, temps in the low 30s…

I was on the bases for the second game with another very young and very green umpire. He did a decent job. The game ended in the top of the 5th inning with the home team ahead by more than 10 runs. It was dry like a desert, and sandy like one too. I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel and have a shower. That’s a wrap in umpiring until Fall. I’m glad that I got back into it.

That leads me to this morning, awake shortly after 2am, too damn early. I see a nap in my future for sure. Nothing really on the agenda for the day. I plan on doing some shopping perhaps, that’s about it. I’m looking forward to heading East late tomorrow, well, get early Wednesday morning actually. It’s been 2 years since I’ve been back to Ontario, in sure to have a great time.

For any Canadians reading, enjoy the holiday today. Have a good week as well.

I got a call around noon on Friday from Costco Optical that my new sunglasses had arrived. I decided that I would pick them up on Friday as opposed to waiting until Tuesday and going all the way from Calgary to Lethbridge and back to get them. I made sure it was ok to drop the dogs off earlier than planned and it was. I’ll miss Blondie, Hera and Twix for the next 10 days for sure, but they’ll have a great time.

The drive to Lethbridge was uneventful. It took 1:20 to get to Lethbridge and then the final 3.9 kilometers took 42 minutes. Mayor McGrath Drive was insane and the lights along the way were so unsynchronized it was pure madness. The lineup for gas was at least 10 cars deep, so I didn’t fill up, not worth my time. I got my sunglasses, they are great and it was so nice not having scratches to look through. I had dinner with the neighbours and did last minute things for my trip on Friday evening.

Was up bright and early Saturday and left for Calgary at 650am. I umpired a great Babe Ruth game at 10. It was over at the time limit at 1230. I headed for my hotel and was able to check in early. It was nice being able to relax for a bit with my feet up.

I headed East of Calgary to a little town for my 18u double header. The weather was hot for Alberta, very hazy with lots of smoke in the sky. My plate game was good, surprisingly, I didn’t even get hit by any foul balls, a nice change. The second half of the double header was a quick, 1:45 game that ended in the mercy rule.

It was 35 minutes back to the hotel. I ordered a Domino’s pizza and it was delivered quickly, I tipped the driver well.

My schedule for today has been changed about 4 times, I’m now heading to Okotoks to umpire 15u ball at 9am and noon. Should be a good day.

Monday and Tuesday will be relaxing before I head to Ontario. Nothing really planned except dinner with friends Tuesday evening. I’m looking forward to that and my trip, of course.

Have a great Sunday.

Today is my last day at home for 10 days or so. I’m dropping the dogs off at boarding around 3. They’ll have a great time, as they always do. I’m hoping that my new sunglasses that I ordered from Costco arrive today. If they do, I’ll make a quick trip to Lethbridge. If they don’t, they’ll arrive Tuesday (more than likely) and if I want them prior to heading to Ontario, I’ll have to make a longer trip from Calgary to get them. We’ll see what happens.

Tonight I’m going to the neighbours for dinner. It’s good since I then won’t have leftovers. I need to clear out some perishable food in the fridge. Don’t want to come home to rotten stuff.

I had to Calgary tomorrow morning around 630 and umpire 3 games. I have an additional 2 games on Sunday then that’ll wrap up umpiring until Fall Ball in September.

I’m looking forward to heading East. It’s going to be a good time.

Enjoy the long weekend, to any Canadian readers anyway.

Just another week until my trip back to Ontario. I am greatly looking forward to it. Nothing much planned for this week. It is supposed to be warm, temps in the upper 20s, so I think the dogs and I will visit the lake a few times. I will enjoy the extra time with them as I won’t see them for 10 days or so when I am away. I know they will be well looked after though, so that’s good.

I drop them off on Friday evening. I umpire a double-header on Saturday for Baseball Alberta, which got changed over-night last night. I am now umpiring at 3pm in Strathmore, Alberta. Definitely, a bit out of the way for me, for sure. I umpire at 3pm and 6pm, so the evening game will be cooler anyway. I will have to see if I can check into my hotel before I leave for the first game, but it is doubtful I can check in by 1pm, we’ll see.

I am umpiring 18u on Saturday and 15u on Sunday. I have partners for both games anyway, so that’s good. I think next season I will likely stick with Babe Ruth baseball games. I know where the parks are and the pay is a bit better. I am also very familiar with the league.

I would like to try to do another World Series next year, if I can. I will have to see how things are then. It would be cool anyway.

So, back to this week. It’s an early start today, woke up just after 3am. As I said, not much planned, nothing really. At some point, I will have to go to Lethbridge to Costco to pick up my new prescription sunglasses. The ones that I have been using are getting old, are really scratched and the prescription is old – I don’t really think they are at all good for my eyes any more. At some point, I would like to send them to Oakley to get a new prescription put into them. They are the only ones who will do it.

Well, enjoy your week, I know I will enjoy mine. Gotta get stuff ready to travel back to Ontario. I have decided I will pay to check a bag at the airport for my trip. It’s going to be easier than trying to jam everything into a weekend bag. It will also give me some room in case I buy anything in Ontario and I always seem to buy something.

It’s been a quiet and relaxing week. I’ve spent time with the dogs, going to the lake, and have enjoyed some real down time.

For the first weekend this summer, I have nothing going on. I was going to umpire, as per usual, but no one was available to either look after my dogs nor let them out. I feel bad that I can’t help out with any games, but I’m not willing to leave the dogs for 10 or 11 hours and go to Calgary to umpire a double header. Going for a single game makes no sense either, I’d spend more in gas than I’d receive in a game fee.

So, today, we’ll go to the lake again. Nothing else planned, although I may go for breakfast.

This coming week will likely zoom by. Nothing really planned though. Friday, I will drop the dogs off at boarding and they’ll stay there until August 11. Saturday, I head to Calgary to umpire two double headers for Baseball Alberta. I’m umpiring 13u and 15u, should be fun.

I’m staying in Calgary until I fly out to Toronto on late Tuesday night. I’m taking the Red Eye to Toronto. I arrive just before 6am on Wednesday morning and have a rental vehicle to pick up. It’s going to be a busy and fun 6 days in Ontario. I’ll see some friends that I haven’t seen for 10+ years and others that I saw just 2 years ago on my last trip back to my home province.

I’ll be driving all over the place. From Peterborough to Kitchener to St. Catharines and points in between. My schedule is jam-packed. I’m really looking forward to my trip.

Well, it’s the weekend, hopefully you’ll enjoy yiurs, I’m sure I’ll enjoy mine.

I’ve had a slow few days, which is good. June and July have been relatively busy, relatively busy for a guy who’s not working that is. So, a couple of more down days is welcome. I have no umpiring this weekend either.

I was going to umpire 2 games on Saturday, but no one is available to look after my dogs at all. The people where they normally board are full. Crowsnest Pet Care is taking some well needed downtime and are going on vacation with their families. My neighbour is on vacation so she can’t let them out for me and my other neighbour is also away. If I was to umpire on Saturday, I would need to leave at 7am and would not get home until 6pm or so, this would be for a double-header. There is no way I want to leave the dogs for 11 hours. They’d be OK, other than a bathroom break, or two. So, I will skip umpiring this weekend.

I hope that the weather is nice, I will take the dogs down to the lake on the weekend. I am trying to get Blondie to actually swim. She is currently the world’s only non-swimming Lab. When she was a puppy, we were in Ontario and I didn’t want to take her to Lake Ontario as should would have grown a second and third head. When we got to Alberta, we’d go down to the Bow River but the current freaked her out so I think she developed some sort of fear of water.

We have plenty of lakes here that are great, no current and not overly deep. Island Lake, which is about 10km to the West of where we are is awesome. You can walk right in, steps away from the parking lot, it’s not deep so it warms up in the summer and there is absolutely no current. Wish me luck anyway, Blondie doesn’t take well to “new” things.

Today they head to doggie day care for the day to socialize with their dog friends. They have a great time and come home exhausted. It’s my day to run around, I have not decided what running around I need to do. I typically go to Lethbridge to Costco, but I don’t think I need anything. I am sure I will find something to do.

Enjoy your day.

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.

Today was a great day. I didn’t wake up until 4:50am. I know that most of you would think that’s pretty early, but for me, that’s sleeping in. Since I don’t have my dogs until Sunday evening, I didn’t have to get up and tend to them, so I stayed in bed until after 6:30. Pretty lazy. Pretty relaxing.

I had coffee with my across the street neighbour and we caught up. It was nice and cool outside, perfect for coffee and a hoodie.

I headed to Crowsnest Lake around 8:30, my friend and I were going kayaking. Two and a half hours later, we finished up, my shoulders and arms are sore, I have not kayaked in a LONG time and I was not used to it. It was a lot of fun though and I think I am going to buy myself a kayak at the end of the season.

I had a great nap in the afternoon, napped almost as long as I kayaked. Dinner tonight with a friend at an amazing Mexican place in Twin Butte, Alberta. Absolutely fantastic food.

I head to Calgary tomorrow for umpiring. I was supposed to do a double-header tomorrow but I picked up a 3rd game at 7pm to help out. I had no plans for tomorrow evening, so this will work well. I am now umpiring at 10am, 1pm and 7pm and again on Sunday at 10am and 1pm. I then head home after the second game and stop on the way to retrieve my dogs. I will be very happy to see them after 6 days and I am sure they will be happier to see me.

No umpiring next weekend, I am taking a weekend off. I was going to do a DH on Saturday, but no one is available to let my dogs out and I can’t board them as those friends are full. I don’t mind a weekend off, believe me.

The season is winding down already, seems very quick. I do umpire for Baseball Alberta on the weekend before I head to Ontario and that might be it. I am unsure what baseball will be left when I get back in the middle of August. If there is some ball, I am sure I will umpire some more games. I will take on some Fall Ball as well, pending what happens with Hera’s surgery.

Speaking of Hera, today marks 6 years since I took her home from the Calgary Humane Society. You’re a great dog Hera, and I am glad to have you in my pack.

My mini-getaway to Calgary is over. I checked at the hotel and to book another night last night would have been $135 plus tax, more than I wanted to pay for sure. I had booked it at pre Calgary Stampede rates, so I got a good rate but didn’t want to pay that much for an extra might. So, I checked out at 11am yesterday.

I visited a couple of malls and did some window shopping. I stopped at Thai Express for lunch. I ordered General Thai Mango chicken and ordered it very hot, but not hot enough to kill me, she laughed. Man, it was hot but good. I got a good sweat on, my nose was running like a faucet and my mouth was burning off of my head, but it was good. It took about 20 minutes for the burn to subside. I don’t know why I do this to myself.

I didn’t have much to do in the afternoon. I was remotely thinking of heading to the Stampede, but I didn’t have anyone to go with and it’s really expensive once you get in there so I decided to pass. Instead, I had a nap in my truck. I slept for about 1.5 hours and felt refreshed when done.

I got to the park WAY early for my 7pm game, over 2 hours early actually. That’s ok, I sat in the shade and used my phone. Thank goodness for phones, what did we do before them?

The game last night was excellent. The home team held a 5-3 lead going into the 7th and it looked like we would get out of there early, but the visitors wanted none of that and scored 4 runs off of the new pitcher who just couldn’t find the strike zone.

It was 7-5 going into the bottom of the 7th and although the home team threatened (they got a runner to 3rd), it wasn’t meant to be. The pitcher threw quite hard and I believe it was a complete game victory. Well played on both sides, few errors, just really good baseball.

I headed home at 9:30, stopped briefly as I normally do in Okotoks for a drink and a bite to eat and made it back to the Pass just before midnight. It was a busy few days.

Today, I need to bring my truck in for service. The doors aren’t unlocking when I put it in park and the drivers door won’t actually open from the inside. I called a few Ram dealers in Calgary yesterday, but none had availability. So, back on the road this morning to Fort Macleod. I hope it’s a quick fix, at least it’s under warranty.

I am heading back to Calgary this weekend for another couple of double headers. Umpiring is starting to wind down, I have 3 weekends left. It’s been a fun summer of umpiring for sure and it will give me some needed cash for my trip to Ontario.

Almost the weekend for any working folks, hold on, it’s almost here.