Kevin's Ramblings…

Today was a relaxing day, a very relaxing day. I woke early, as I always do, 4am. I only got about 4 hours sleep as I went to bed around midnight last night.

I had several naps during the day, to catch up on missed sleep last night. I took the dogs to the dog park, it’s starting to dry up, the lake in the corner is about 1/5 the size it was last week.

I got a Cobb salad from Chopped Leaf. They are a bit pricey but the salads are excellent. I had another nap after dinner and slept a few more hours, hence, I’m awake at nearly midnight and not tired at all.

I’ve got nothing planned this weekend. No umpiring at all. My next game is Monday. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, so the dogs and I will likely go down to the river and they can splash around.

I will be busy umpiring this spring and summer. I’ve already got somewhere around 40 games assigned between Calgary North and Babe Ruth. I’m looking forward to it.

My friend T arrives late Tuesday night. I’m sure it’ll be a good visit. We are doing touristy things. We will be hitting up Banff on Friday, going to the Calgary Zoo another day, the Calgary Tower perhaps and I think we are going down to Crowsnest Pass where I used to live.

I’m looking forward to the week, I’m sure it’ll zip by faster than normal, they do say time flies when you’re having fun.

I umpired the 22u league again this evening. It was at a diamond in the middle of nowhere south of Calgary. The pay was decent, $75 for the game and $30 for mileage. Pretty good pay for just over 2 hours of work.

I was on the bases again and my partner behind the plate was a father of a player I coached a number of years ago. It was good to see him again and it was a good game.

The first four innings were excellent, a pitchers duel. After the starter was pulled, the wheels fell out from the visiting team.

It ended at the 2:15 mark and the score was about 10-2. We were paid right away via e-transfer which is nice.

It was almost an hour drive home so I’m hoping I don’t have too many games at this diamond. Good news that Apollo was a good boy while I was gone for almost 5 hours, nothing damaged and nothing eaten. Good boy, Apollo. Twix was a good girl, as she always is.

When I got home, I sold two of the baseball gloves I had for sale on marketplace so that was good. I’m not coaching any longer and have no intentions to coach again so I figured I’d get rid of them.

A late dinner and some TV wrapped up the evening. My next game is Monday night.

I umpired game two of the season tonight. It was for Calgary North Baseball and it was the 22u league.

It was an interesting game. I was on the bases. The final score was somewhere in the neighbourhood of 28-0 and ended in the bottom of the 5th inning due to the mercy rule, thank goodness for the mercy rule.

All in all, a very boring game. I had exactly 2 calls on the bases and they were the easiest calls one could have, the runners beat the ball to the base by at least 5 feet.

Well, it was an easy $75 anyway and the weather was gorgeous. I umpire again tomorrow, on the bases again. Cash game, I believe and I get an extra $30 in mileage as well.

I’m going to be busy umpiring since I’m off work, it’ll keep me busy and hopefully, out of trouble.

I’ve got two double headers on the weekend for Babe Ruth. I’m glad baseball season is back.

I had my first game last Wednesday evening for Babe Ruth. I continue my umpiring season tonight for Calgary North. The game is in the deep south of Calgary at New Brighton Athletic Park. Tomorrow I’m even further south, outside of Calgary actually.

I’ve asked the assignor not to schedule me south of New Brighton moving forward, driving 60km one way too umpire a baseball game is sort of crazy to me and she agreed. For some reason, she thought I live in South Calgary whereas I’m actually just about as far north as one can be and still be in the city.

I’ve got two double headers this weekend at the diamond that I usually umpire at. I’ll be making some decent money this season for sure.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to umpire in the Regional tournament this July or not, I don’t know if I’ll be asked. Time will tell. Regardless, I’m probably getting at least 5 games a week, so it’ll keep me busy and, hopefully, out of trouble.

I purchased a new helmet last week, I won’t put it to use until the weekend as I’m on bases the next two games. It was past time for a new one at the old is about 8 years old now. It was under $300 at least.

I’m looking forward to a few months of excellent baseball. Hoping I won’t get hit too often and when I do, may it always hit padding.

Play Ball !!!

It’s my first full week off on leave and I woke up at 2am and that was too early for my tastes so I went back to sleep and slept until 3am. I can accept that.

So, I’m up. Apollo has gone out to pee and I’ve peed (I’m sure you’re glad to hear that). Coffee is brewed and ready for consumption. I think I’m going to make a cafe mocha today.

I also have some pound cake for breakfast. Sounds like a good start to the week.

Gotta love having insomnia. I woke up this morning at 2am and knew I was up for the night.

I’ve had this on and off for 30+ years and although I suppose I’m used to it, it’s still freaking annoying.

I get up, let the dogs out and watch a movie or TV or play video games, something to pass the time anyway.

This morning, I’m watching a great Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino.

I’ll probably go back to bed at some point and have a nap. It’s a Sunday so there’s nothing much going on today.

Now that I am off work, there’s nothing much pressing to do most days. I do return to umpiring this week on Wednesday evening, so that’ll hopefully keep me out of trouble.

I have some friends visiting in May, two separate trips one in the beginning of the month and one at the end of the month. I’m looking forward to both.

For now, while I’m not sleeping, I’ll watch movies and write blog entries.

I hope you’re sleeping well.

I’ve had a cough for about 6 months now. On April 11, it was a Saturday, I started coughing up blood. This continued until Sunday. On Monday morning, I visited my doctor, he was concerned to say the least. He sent me to see an oncologist at Noon on the Monday.

I had a biopsy and then a second to confirm the results of the first biopsy. I then had an MRI at 3pm.

At 4pm, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer which had also spread to my brain.

To say the least, I was absolutely shocked to the core.

It’s been 10 or so days now, and I’ve accepted this. I’m told that I have less than a 1% chance to see the New Year. Well, doctor, I’m pretty damn stubborn and I don’t accept that I won’t be around in 2027.

I’ve declined treatment and the oncologist agrees with my decision. I saw what chemo and radiation did to my Mom and I won’t go through that. I feel great now and I don’t want that to change.

I’m off work on leave and plan on living life to the fullest.

Wish me well, if you will, but please don’t treat me differently than you did yesterday. Thank you.