Great weather and more baseball…

Posted on May 12, 2018 by kdarcy21

The Babe Ruth Silent Auction was held last night at Schanks South Bar, lots of items to bid on, good food and lots of people.  I stayed for a couple of hours, left shortly after 9pm.  I guess I am getting old eh. Had a good time though, didn’t bid on anything, there was some nice stuff but nothing that I needed.  I did buy two raffle tickets for Westjet tickets to anywhere they travel.  I didn’t win.  Oh well.

This morning the dogs and I went to the offleash park for an hour or so.  It was already nice and warm by 9:45 when we got there.  I was thinking of letting them go for a swim in the river, but I didn’t really have enough time to walk around and let them dry off, so we had to pass on that today.

I umpired a double header this afternoon.  Not bad ball.  I did eject two coaches (one from each team) in the second game – complaining on calls.  Oh well, pretty routine stuff.  Those were the first ejections of the year, I hope that they are rare, no one likes getting ejected.

I have another double header tomorrow, same times, 1pm/4pm and the weather is supposed to be just as nice as today.  It’s a good way to spend a weekend and the money is a nice bonus.

 

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Baseball is a big part of life…

Posted on May 11, 2018 by kdarcy21

I am fairly busy with baseball right now.  I have retired from coaching and luckily, I don’t miss it at all.  I am now busy with umpiring, 4 days a week or so.

I had a AA game last evening, Babe Ruth league, Giants vs. Rockies.  I used to be the Club Manager for the Rockies although none of the players on the team were there when I was last with the club (2 years ago).  Most of the coaches were though.

I had to do the game alone, no partner was available.  I am OK with that, it’s 1.5 times the regular game fee.  It was a good game, the Rockies came out ahead in the end after trailing.

It was a cool evening, 9C but no rain.  Not too bad for middle May in Calgary.

Tonight is the yearly silent auction for Babe Ruth at Schanks, a bar in south Calgary.  I will see if there is anything good to bid on and have some eats with other baseball people, it’s a good group.

I have 2 double headers this weekend, both days.  I was asked to take a 3rd game on Sunday but a triple header is a bit much for me, and too long for the dogs to go without going out.

Enjoy your weekend.

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World Series bound – not THAT World Series…

Posted on May 10, 2018 by kdarcy21

Last month at a Babe Ruth board meeting, I was asked if I wanted to apply to umpire in the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series in Branson, Missouri in August.  The hotel and food costs would be covered by the tournament host committee, Babe Ruth Calgary would cover the cost of the flight to Branson.  Originally, I declined because I would be away for 11 or 12 days and that is pricey for boarding 3 dogs.  I then thought about it and figured since it was possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity that I’d go.  I can use money I earn umpiring to cover the dogs boarding costs.

So, I sent in my application and booked the time off work, in the event that I was chosen.

Well, yesterday morning I received an email confirming that I had been selected to umpire.  It will be an interesting experience for sure.  The baseball should be quite good.  The players are 12U, it starts to get competitive at that age and this will be the best of the 12U from all over the place.

I have never been to that part of the US before, but I am sure it will be hot and humid in early August.  I am looking forward to the trip.  I am also looking forward to 3 weeks off of work in total, even if it is a mostly working vacation.

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Napping and umpiring – not at the same time…

Posted on May 8, 2018 by kdarcy21

As I have noted, I umpired 2 double headers this past weekend.  Being the first games of the year, I think they tired me out.  I had a nap after work yesterday, figured I’d nap for an hour or so – 2.5 hours later I woke up and had to rush – dogs needed to go to the dog park, had to feed them and myself and then off to another umpiring assignment.

This year, Babe Ruth is handling the umpires for our A league, using older players in the AAA and AA league to cover these games.  I was umpiring with one of the younger guys.  It was a good game, from what I have come to expect of 13/14 year olds playing ball on regulation sized fields.  We were done shortly after 9pm in a lopsided game.

Apparently, the long nap in the afternoon didn’t affect my sleeping last night.  No games now until Thursday so I will enjoy some relaxing evenings for a few nights and I am sure the dogs will like having me at home.

I do have 2 double headers scheduled this weekend as well.  I received an email wanting me to take a 3rd game on Sunday so that would make it a triple-header – ummm, no thanks – 2 is enough, plus I don’t want to leave the dogs for 9-10 hours, that’s a bit nuts.  I am using the money I earn umpiring to pay for the dogs boarding when I am away a couple of time this summer.  I also enjoy baseball so it’s a win-win.

 

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Lots of umpiring…

Posted on May 7, 2018 by kdarcy21

I opened my 2018 umpiring season this past weekend.  On Saturday, I covered a senior men’s double header.  I had previously umpired in this league a few years ago and it wasn’t the best league to do.  It has improved which is good.  The games were pretty quick and the weather was perfect.

Sunday was Opening Day for Babe Ruth.  I did another couple of games.  I am a bit sore today, not use to being on my feet that long since I have a desk job.  I also got hit on the shoulder with a foul ball that missed the thick padding on my chest protector and hit the thinner padding – thanks ball.

Another game tonight with a younger, new umpire and then I have a few days off.  I am well on my way to being able to pay for dog boarding later this summer when I am away.

The weather has been great, spring has finally arrived. Hopefully, it will stay dry now.  Enjoy your week.

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Baseball, umpiring, spring is here…

Posted on May 4, 2018 by kdarcy21

On Tuesday night, I distributed all of the uniforms for the 2018 Babe Ruth season. All of the teams actually showed up to pick up their stuff, I was almost shocked.

Tonight, I did some uniform exchanges. Even though we give plenty of opportunities for players to get sized, they don’t then they need something changed. Oh well.

I also distributed umpire shirts, hats and equipment tonight. All in all, it was a productive evening.

Tomorrow I have a double header to umpire in the men’s league and another double header on Sunday for Babe Ruth. I need to pay for dog boarding for the various trips I have this year. I have another game on Monday night. It’ll keep be busy and out of trouble.

The weather is supposed to be nice, spring has finally arrived. I hope the nice weather stays.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Wow, no updates since November

Posted on April 30, 2018 by kdarcy21

Well, I have not posted anything since the middle of November.  I guess I have not had the writing bug, at all.

I am still alive, this is likely good news.  The winter was a long and cold one, I mostly hibernated.  Spring has arrived, finally.  Baseball season is upon us.  I am not coaching again and am not missing coaching either, so that’s good.

I am on the Board of Directors again for Babe Ruth, I handled the uniforms this year.  They will be given out this week and my job is essentially done.

Umpiring should start this weekend or next week.  The parks open today and tomorrow, always a good sign.

Hopefully I will get the urge to write more often – guess we’ll see.  🙂

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Coffee

Posted on November 14, 2017 by kdarcy21

As readers might remember, I have had insomnia off and on for a number of years.  Not constantly, it happens about once a year and lasts for 3-4 months.  Very irritating, to say the least.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I had a bad cold and combined with that, I wasn’t sleeping at all.  I was a zombie through the day and exhausted in the evening, yet, I couldn’t sleep.

I decided to cut out caffeine.  No more coffee in the mornings, no cola products.  For the first while, it was tough not having that pick me up in the morning.  I am drinking decaf coffee since I do like a hot beverage in the morning and don’t really care all that much for tea.  I am also drinking a lot more water, several glasses during the day and at least two later in the evening.

The good news:  I am sleeping quite well.  I do wake up a time or two every night but typically that is to get rid of some of the extra water I am drinking.  I am sleeping over 7 hours a night though so that’s awesome.  Not much of a bad side, other than I am missing the occasional latte from Starbucks.  I have totally given up on caffeine products and although I could go back to regular coffee and see if it affects me, I’d rather sleep, so, by caffeine.

The Fall has zipped by.  Baseball season ended a few weeks ago, it was good to umpire into October this year.  I am on the Board of Directors for Babe Ruth again, it will give me something to do and maybe keep me out of a bit of trouble.  I am on vacation this week, using up the remainder of my time for the year.  It has been a nice relaxing week.

Nothing much else going on, I guess I am preparing for winter hiberation.

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An almost mandatory update…

Posted on October 16, 2017 by kdarcy21

It is now the middle of October, I didn’t want to post at the beginning of the month and start some regular monthly update, that would put too much pressure on me.

September was good – the hot weather stayed for most of the month but I did have to start using the heat a few days here and there towards the end of the month.  Actually, I think I had to turn it on for the first time before summer officially ended, but hey, it’s Calgary.

I did quite a bit of umpiring in September and early this month, Fall Ball.  Not the best quality baseball but not that bad either.  I am done now, it has been too cold, generally, to want to stand outside and call balls and strikes and safes and outs.  It was, in general, a good season of baseball.

I was off of work last week, used some vacation time.  Nice and relaxing, other than having a cold which is now gone.  I also have insomnia again, it is a yearly thing.  Lots of fun there.  If it is like previous years, it will stick around for 3-4 months or so and then I will sleep well again.

I did buy a lottery ticket on Friday, expecting to be able to retire today.  Well, I am working so guess how I did on the lottery.

Have a good one, until the next update.  🙂

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My monthly blog entry?

Posted on September 1, 2017 by kdarcy21

It looks like I am not in the blogging mood lately, another month has passed and no blog entries during August, other than welcoming it in.  Well, August is over and it is now September.  Wow.

August was a pretty relaxed month.  No umpiring, other than a tournament last weekend.  It was my birthday at the beginning of the month, happy birthday to me, I suppose.

Fall Ball starts this weekend so that will keep me out of trouble for September and into October, depending on how long the nice weather holds out.

Nothing else much going on so not a lot to report.  Enjoy September.

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