Stress.

I am stressed.  If some workers cared did they might just watch themselves.

Starting in mid-May through to July 1st is the busiest time around here.  My other blogs should make that clear. 

I explain very clearly what I want, what I want done and how I want it done.  Why am I questioned?  Just do it.  Quit arguing with me or other workers.  You're not in charge.  That's my job to tell them what to do.  Who gives a shit how you put a trash bag in the can, just put it in there.  Believe it or not you're not doing such a bang up job as you think.

Next week is the last week of ball games and as sad as that may be (since I love baseball), most of my focus can go to the pool for the remainder of the season until flag football and volleyball start in August.

The Little League Championship game will be next Friday.  On Monday and Wednesday we'll see who gets to play in it.  Have not had any trouble with parents, coaches ("The Good ..." are involved here) or players.  Pretty smooth going.  Nice group of people this year.

Softball for girl's 2nd-3rd ended last night, 4th-6th will end tonight along with the t-ball girls.  No problems there either.

PeeWee tournament is Tuesday and Thursday next week.  A bit of a disagreement with some but nothing major until you did what I asked you not to do.  Now we have a problem.  We did.  It's done now.  But I do hold a grudge.  Just so you know.  Go ahead and tell my boss, chances are he already knows because I told for you. 

T-ball for boys will be over Saturday.  I hear "This is the last time I'm coaching!" a lot.  C'mon!  The smallest kids are the most entertaining and frustrating.  "Like herding cats."  (I did see a PeeWee player dancing in the outfield.)

It has rained a bit this season but when people call at 8:30 in the morning asking if we'll have games at 5:30 that evening, I'd like to say I'll get my crystal ball out and check.  I don't though.  I can be a smart ass in my head. 

That's not as bad as when there's a possibilty of sprinkles and you ("The Ugly..") call three times to see if I'm going to cancel the games.  Uh, no.  For the third time, no.  Yes, I did get a little put out with the last time you called and you could hear it in my voice and then you tell me not to get upset.  Get real.  The fun part is you call a member of the park board asking the same question you asked me and I'm sure you mentioned that I was a bit if a bitch.  It did rain during the game.  One set played through it.  A few sprinkles didn't hurt anyone.  The other set resumed play.  No thunder, no lightening, no downpour, no cancellation.

I recall this same "Ugly" didn't want to listen to me when I did call a game in a thunderstorm a few years ago and he said we'll just keep playing.  Made it pretty clear to anyone within earshot that I called the game and I was not responsible for what may happen. 


There is a way to get people to do what you ask.  The nice way which is what I try at the start.  "Hey, could you do this for me, please?"  or "Why don't you...?"  It may turn into "I said to do ______ (fill in the blank with some mundane chore) or "Do it now!"  I try to remain as calm as possible to avoid certain words, usually the bad ones. 

When another worker tries bossing or bullying another, I don't care for that one bit.  The more experienced ones are there to help and guide, not throw their weight around and crush the newer ones.  Like I said, who gives a shit how the trash bag is put in the can, just get it in there.  The end result is the same.

Baseball, baseball, baseball!

Tonight will be a great night for baseball.  There will be three Little League games, a 7th grade Prep game, two Rookie softball games and the town team (Cubs) will be playing.  I believe the freshman are playing at 11:00 this morning.  Maybe I should be getting things ready in the concession stand.  In a minute.

I love baseball.  Dad used to take us to the Royals games.  We'd go on Ball Day, Bat Day, Cap Day, on Halter Top Day my brothers looked so cute!  We'd sit in the cheap seats where all the action was.  People had more fun there.  And we did too. 

Sometimes dad's cousin and his son would come too.  When they got together...watch out!  Not sure if mom was working those days or it was just a day for us to get out of her hair.  Probably the latter.  We were a bit of a handful. 

Not sure what was the best part of those days.  Was it the ball game, the special treat of a hotdog, maybe that us kids weren't fighting even though they, stupidly, put wooden bats in our hands?

Mom worked at the Golden Buffet in North Kansas City.  First as a waitress then the bookkeeper.  Her boss would give her his tickets to his box seats occasionally.  If I didn't think I was special sitting behind first base! 

I remember one game, for some reason I was a little bored with it, Vida Blue hit a single.  I'm thinking it was John Mayberry at first.  Vida made it to base, Mayberry tossed the ball back.  Vida Blue steps off the bag and Mayberry tagged him out.  Mayberry never threw the ball back!  He went through the motions but never threw the ball.  The stadium roared.  We laughed.  The look on Vida Blue's face was priceless.  And we were close enough to see it.

A few years ago I couldn't think of what to get dad for his birthday.  I came up with baseball cards with Freddie Patek, John Mayberry, Cookie (Cookie! Cookie!) Rojas, Paul Schaal, all the oldies when we were growing up.  Those times meant a lot to me.  I saw him looking through them later like a little kid.  It made me smile.

Beautiful day out.  It'll be a beautiful night for baseball.



At one game recently, I got after some kids for throwing rocks. "Please don't throw rocks!  Someone could get hurt!"  A parent said, " This is coming from someone who showed my kid how to make bombs?!"  Shut up, Kevin.  They were dry ice bombs.  It was science.