Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and $100!

Dominic started baseball this summer. We tried this experiment last year but he got bored with hitting off the tee and wanted to be pitched to so he lost interest.

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning he plays ball and as a father it kills me! No not ha ha kills me but rather "get out the way let me do it" kills me.

Well one of the things that really gets on my nerve is his hustle. Between innings he walks on and off the field. On the third out he is either the last to get to his spot on the field or the last to get in line to bat.....AAAAGGGHHH!!!

"Come on Dominic lets see some hustle"
"But dad I am conserving my energy"
"Your eight"

The other thing that gets on my nerve is when all the other kids are on their way out to their positions on the field he decides at that time to get a drink of water. He has only been standing there for 15 minutes waiting to bat, but no it is better right before he heads out there so everyone has to wait for him.

So here is my solution, every kid has baseball shoes with cleats. Honest to god he is the only one without them, so with the promise of he would run on and off the field and around the bases with some effort we bought him a pair of black cleats that he can wear for baseball and flag football in the fall. And wouldn't you know it worked, he now runs off the field on the field around the bases with some enthusiasm. I am not sure how happy I am that I needed to bribe him but oh well.

Then with his "company" money he earned shoveling he bought his own bat and batting gloves, cuz at 8 you need batting gloves....It is all about the look you know.

Dad was nice enough to buy 10 baseballs to practice with at the diamond and both Tommy and Dominic have a great time. Me, well I am out $100 just so he can run on and off the field.

Tommy's World

Tommy has a unique ability to remember his dreams, vividly. I know my Dad has this ability also. I think most people remember them when they first wake then they fade but most of the time you just don't care enough to remember, not Tommy.

Apparently last night I was the funny one in his dream. By funny I mean "wearing fake antler's" funny.

What Are the Schools Thinking?

Dominic came home the other day with his physical fitness tracking in school. Chinups...Check
shuttle run...Check
100 dash...Check
sit ups...Check
push ups...Check
body mass index...Very poor

wha??? Apparently Dominic has very poor BMI which in turn says he is fat. Yeah have you guys seen this kid lately, he is far from fat. Now I know this country is going through a childhood Obesity crisis as of late but Dominic is so not fat. He is strong, healthily pain in the ass 8 year old boy. Now I know what the charts say but doesn't the phyed teacher look at that and say "well that's not right". Let alone testing 8 years olds, the complex issues that they go through as teenages is hard enough but think of the consequences of this testing.....Wonder what the rates of bulimia or anorexia among teens is..Up or down?" KNOBS!!!

To the Moon

Golf is an interesting game. I know that sometimes women don't see eye to eye regarding golf, when in fact they are on to us men. See most men play for the ability to leave the real world of work, family, kids, wives, bills, broken windshield wipers for at least 2 hours and if you are playing 18 that is in all day affair.

Golf can be addicting, most say it only takes that one good shot per round to bring you back and if you can manage 2 or 3, well then your on to something.

Here is what I like about golf, I get to spend that time with people I like. I am very picky about who I play with. I love the time I get to spend with my Dad playing golf. He whips my ass every time but I don't mind because I always come away smiling and never regretting that time. I like to play golf with my buddy Perry, we don't play enough and always say so after coming off the last tee.

Last week I bought Jen a set of clubs, used of course, just to see if she might have an interest and if she might be any good. I got the whole set for under $65 bucks but they were a good set of clubs for her. Dominic got clubs from Grandpa chucks house that he had bought for my nephew Colin, but Colin lost interest, so I got them for Dominic.

On Monday we all went out to the driving range, Jen tee'd up her ball, grabbed her driver and proceeded to hit shot after shot about 200 yards (which I think might be farther than my dad). There were some ugly ones but more good ones than ugly, she might think different but I was watching her. I try to stay away from helping her, just so I can save my marriage but she is really good at letting me know when she needs some help and I am trying to be really good at knowing when to stop helping.

Dominic did well too, the clubs are a little long but he likes the driver (just like his dad). Tommy got to hit also and was surprise how well he did, for a 5 year old anyway (not to high of expectations).

I have hopes that we will become a golfing family, where else can you walk through some of the most beautiful countryside with people you love? And unlike camping I get to go home to my bed and bathroom versus a tent and spiders.