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Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
"A's" for MacDaddy
Congrats MacDaddy!!! MacDaddy made the Oakville A's Rep baseball team once again. Practice will start after the holidays. MacDaddy is happy to play with four returning teammates and friends who also secured spots on the team. He looks forward to meeting the newbies of the 2009 A's team soon.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
When in Rome...
Friday, September 19, 2008
I Can See!!!!
I remember my thoughts when I first put on glasses. I couldn't believe and didn't understand that people could actually see that far. A-mac finally got her glasses. After three consecutive annual eye doctor visits being told you are on the border of needing glasses, A-mac finally crossed that border.Eye like the way they look....
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
One Dog Year Equals Seven Human Years
We have all heard this statement. Last night at about 2am our two+ year old dog, COCO woke up and jumped off our bed. I heard her. In the back of my mind, I was hoping MacMom would get up and take her downstairs to let her out. The dog sat on the floor and whined...wimpered. I decided to get up and go let her out.
Got downstairs and all COCO wanted was a drink off water. She got her drink, turned around and walked back upstairs and jumped back into bed.
Did I really just walk a 14 year old downstairs to get a drink of water?
Got downstairs and all COCO wanted was a drink off water. She got her drink, turned around and walked back upstairs and jumped back into bed.
Did I really just walk a 14 year old downstairs to get a drink of water?
Monday, September 15, 2008
We're No Angels!!!
It became offcial last night. Lil Lefty traded in her angel wings for a tiger roar! Lil Lefty got a call from her new softball coach and she accepted a position on the Mississauga Tigers Squirt II Rep fastpitch team. A-mac has already started practicing with her new team, the Brampton Blazers Novice I Rep fastpitch team.
Funny... we live in Oakville. It is a shame that the Oakville Girls Softball Association (the Angels) has had so many bumps along the way. Now, in order for our kids to play in well run organizations with competitive teams, we end up driving to other towns.
Funny... we live in Oakville. It is a shame that the Oakville Girls Softball Association (the Angels) has had so many bumps along the way. Now, in order for our kids to play in well run organizations with competitive teams, we end up driving to other towns.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Ruth, Boggs and Damon all did it
Babe Ruth, Wade Boggs and Johny Damon are just three of the many players who have played for rivals.
A-mac finished her softball season, had a couple weeks off and then had to start try-outs for next year's team. There was some "drama" in the softball organization within the town that we live, and we had generally assumed our kids would be better off playing in a neighboring town. The drama could fill an entire blog by itself. This creates a challenge for us busdrivers, but in the end, we do what we think is better for our kids. A-mac was mildly made aware of a team in a neighboring town that she should be able to play for.
I suggested that A-mac should go to the try-outs for the Brampton Blazers. Brampton is the "arch rival" to our home town and the organization that beat Lil Lefty in her championship game. Brampton has a long history and always fields good quality teams. Up until now, we believed that Darth Vader was from Brampton.
Because of the drama within our home organization, several girls from A-mac's last year team also attended the try-outs for Brampton. People generally want there kids to play on a good team. There were 30+ kids at tryouts on the first Tuesday night.
First Night Lesson. A-mac did not do well the first night. She was just one of many. On our ride home she asked me what I though about the try-out? I explained that I suspected the coach already knew 8 kids he wanted on his team. After tonight, I would think he decided, he did not want 1/2 a dozen girls that came out, which leaves about 15 kids in the mix for 5 - 6 spots. While, A-mac did not do her best, I also assumed she did not do bad enough to be eliminated. She, along with 30+ other girls, wore a white T-shirt. I suggested that she should wear something "softball" OK, but something that differentiated her from the pack. We talked about how this was like an interview or an important test and how she did not seem to be prepared of focused enough on making the team (or getting the job, or performing well on the test...). She did enjoy the company of the girls and seemed to fit in well with the new friends she had met.
Second Night Lesson. A-mac wore a green T-shirt from a softball tournament and sufficiently stood out in a positive manner. She played better! She fielded and threw better. She hit well off the T. Again on our ride home, we talked about how valuable tryouts are because later in life there will be more important events that can benefit from the experience of "tryouts". I suspect the coach had increased the number of kids that were not going to make the team and the number of kids that he wanted. I still believed A-mac was in a pack of undecided.
Third Night Lesson. A-mac was concerned that she was not going to make the team. We discussed that there will be times you tryout for something and do not make it. I have had dozens of unsuccessful job interviews, but always try to learn and improve from the experience. In the back of my mind, and believing I know how this works, I suspected that if I was not approached by the coach at this last night, that more than likely A-mac would not make the team. They were scheduled to play a pick-up game off a pitching machine. Teams were divided and based on what I saw A-mac was assigned to the "not interested" team. Another dad mentioned to me at the beginning of the tryout that he had been called by the coach that day and his daughter was offered a "soft spot" on the team. This confirmed my thought that I had to be contacted tonight if A-mac was to make the team. At, the beginning of the tryout A-mac was on the bench - another bad sign. I watched the first two innings and these girls were good. A-mac could play with these girls. They were good. Fun ball to watch. Later that inning, A-mac batted and hit a single between third and short. The next time up, she was given the bunt signal and bunted well (arg!!! not a way to demonstrate what should be your best attribute - hitting) I really wanted her to be able to play on this team. The whole time on the bench she "chattered". She was very positive and supportive of people playing. She was the only voice that could be heard at the diamond. She was into the game. "She was A-mac"!!! I thouht to myself that of all the girls there I would want someone on my team with the attitiude that A-mac was showing. I was very proud of her. The next at bat, she ripped a line drive between left and center field for a stand-up triple and probably could have scored. In between, she made two good plays at third, throwing out runners at first. I saw the coach call A-mac over and saw them talking. Then, I saw A-mac point to me. The coach came over and offered A-mac a spot o the team. Way to go A-mac!!!
The whole ride home she said she wants to play on Brampton. She liked the girls on Brampton. Two other girls from her team last year were also offered spots on the Brampton team. After a night of well earned exuberance, we discussed that she had made a committment to try-out for another team and that she should keep her committment. We went to the try-out on Saturday morning. A-mac did well and the team was good. She, however, had decided she wanted to play for Brampton.
First practice with her new team was last night.
A-mac finished her softball season, had a couple weeks off and then had to start try-outs for next year's team. There was some "drama" in the softball organization within the town that we live, and we had generally assumed our kids would be better off playing in a neighboring town. The drama could fill an entire blog by itself. This creates a challenge for us busdrivers, but in the end, we do what we think is better for our kids. A-mac was mildly made aware of a team in a neighboring town that she should be able to play for.
I suggested that A-mac should go to the try-outs for the Brampton Blazers. Brampton is the "arch rival" to our home town and the organization that beat Lil Lefty in her championship game. Brampton has a long history and always fields good quality teams. Up until now, we believed that Darth Vader was from Brampton.
Because of the drama within our home organization, several girls from A-mac's last year team also attended the try-outs for Brampton. People generally want there kids to play on a good team. There were 30+ kids at tryouts on the first Tuesday night.
First Night Lesson. A-mac did not do well the first night. She was just one of many. On our ride home she asked me what I though about the try-out? I explained that I suspected the coach already knew 8 kids he wanted on his team. After tonight, I would think he decided, he did not want 1/2 a dozen girls that came out, which leaves about 15 kids in the mix for 5 - 6 spots. While, A-mac did not do her best, I also assumed she did not do bad enough to be eliminated. She, along with 30+ other girls, wore a white T-shirt. I suggested that she should wear something "softball" OK, but something that differentiated her from the pack. We talked about how this was like an interview or an important test and how she did not seem to be prepared of focused enough on making the team (or getting the job, or performing well on the test...). She did enjoy the company of the girls and seemed to fit in well with the new friends she had met.
Second Night Lesson. A-mac wore a green T-shirt from a softball tournament and sufficiently stood out in a positive manner. She played better! She fielded and threw better. She hit well off the T. Again on our ride home, we talked about how valuable tryouts are because later in life there will be more important events that can benefit from the experience of "tryouts". I suspect the coach had increased the number of kids that were not going to make the team and the number of kids that he wanted. I still believed A-mac was in a pack of undecided.
Third Night Lesson. A-mac was concerned that she was not going to make the team. We discussed that there will be times you tryout for something and do not make it. I have had dozens of unsuccessful job interviews, but always try to learn and improve from the experience. In the back of my mind, and believing I know how this works, I suspected that if I was not approached by the coach at this last night, that more than likely A-mac would not make the team. They were scheduled to play a pick-up game off a pitching machine. Teams were divided and based on what I saw A-mac was assigned to the "not interested" team. Another dad mentioned to me at the beginning of the tryout that he had been called by the coach that day and his daughter was offered a "soft spot" on the team. This confirmed my thought that I had to be contacted tonight if A-mac was to make the team. At, the beginning of the tryout A-mac was on the bench - another bad sign. I watched the first two innings and these girls were good. A-mac could play with these girls. They were good. Fun ball to watch. Later that inning, A-mac batted and hit a single between third and short. The next time up, she was given the bunt signal and bunted well (arg!!! not a way to demonstrate what should be your best attribute - hitting) I really wanted her to be able to play on this team. The whole time on the bench she "chattered". She was very positive and supportive of people playing. She was the only voice that could be heard at the diamond. She was into the game. "She was A-mac"!!! I thouht to myself that of all the girls there I would want someone on my team with the attitiude that A-mac was showing. I was very proud of her. The next at bat, she ripped a line drive between left and center field for a stand-up triple and probably could have scored. In between, she made two good plays at third, throwing out runners at first. I saw the coach call A-mac over and saw them talking. Then, I saw A-mac point to me. The coach came over and offered A-mac a spot o the team. Way to go A-mac!!!
The whole ride home she said she wants to play on Brampton. She liked the girls on Brampton. Two other girls from her team last year were also offered spots on the Brampton team. After a night of well earned exuberance, we discussed that she had made a committment to try-out for another team and that she should keep her committment. We went to the try-out on Saturday morning. A-mac did well and the team was good. She, however, had decided she wanted to play for Brampton.
First practice with her new team was last night.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Finally, A Jays Game...
We finally got to a Jays game this year. We went with the families from Lil Lefty's softball/fastpitch team.
A fun time was had by all.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Provincial MVP
The link below is to the Ontario Provincial Women's Softball Association (PWSA)website. Look at the mite (10U) MVP.
Way to go Lil Lefty!!!!
http://www.ontariopwsa.com/content/view/26/9/
Way to go Lil Lefty!!!!
http://www.ontariopwsa.com/content/view/26/9/
First Day of School
We had a busy summer. Lot's of "ball". We went on trips to Cleveland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, New York City, Toledo, Buffalo, Niagara Falls and several other Canadian cities. There were very few, I can only remember one (probably the activity was cancelled due to rain), days where the calendar was blank. It rained a lot. It was cooler (mostly in the 70's) than a Texas summer. There was constant activity in our house. I include A-mac banging away at the computer and Lil Lefty and Mac Daddy playing on the Wii or outside playing with neighborhood pals.School started yesterday. Adorned in new clothing and backpacks full of school supplies and lunch boxes packed (oh, how I miss hot lunch!), all three kids excitedly headed off to thier first day of school in their new classrooms. Luckily, none of my kids were banished to a portable classroom in the parking lot. After one day, feedback was the expected "goods" and "bads" of who they got as their teacher, friends in or not in their classes, etc..
Monday, September 1, 2008
Shuffle Off to Buffalo
On our one free day of the summer, we decided to spend the day in Buffalo, New York. Niagara Falls, NY is a little less than an hour from our door and Buffalo is only 20 minutes farther. A day of shopping at the Niagara Outlet Mall and the Walden Galleria Mall made us feel like we were back in America... and we were. Milk $2.99 (compared to $4.71 in CA), Gas $3.91( -vs- the $6.00 a gallon we normally pay), Dick's Sporting Goods, Aeropostale, Hollistar and Abercrombie and finally lunch at Chilli's - PRICELESS!!!
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