brushback pitches , personal reflections and unsolicited opinions

in lieu of doing real work, i have decided to pen another random post. aren't you among the lucky ones?

• it's official: the redbirds are 15 games over .500 and I'm a believer! this cardinal's team seems to have all the elements that make up a champion, including: surprising contributions by veterans (see chris carpenter and tony womack), sufficient starting pitching (yes, with the way morris and williams have been pitching this area requires a leap of faith), a dependable bullpen, world class defense (everybody repeat after me, 'defense wins…') and gaudy offensive production. i haven't believed like this since '96.
  
• around 6:45 this morning, before escorting kellie to the commuter rail, i tried to catch the cards-cubs highlights on sportscenter. as per usual sc failed to satiate my need. instead of the highlights I was looking for they offered a segment on the worst calls in sports history. the last heart wrenching clip they showed was, you guessed it, the dumbass call don denkinger in the sixth game of the '85 series. after watching the this clip for the umpteenth time and realizing that it has been 24 years since our last world series victory I am tempted to say something like "at least don denkinger is dead!" but I'm a christian gentleman, so I won't say that.
  
• yesterday was my grandfather's 83rd birthday. happy birthday papa! when I consider the significant part that papa (who shares the honor of being my favorite person with my wife) has played in my life one experience often comes to mind. I must have been eight or nine years old when my grandparents took me and my cousin amy on a short business trip to ft. smith, arkansas. on friday afternoon, after papa had finished his business in the area, he took amy and I down to the hotel's indoor pool for a little swim. while we were playing in the water papa kneeled down and had me climb upon his shoulders and then amy climbed upon mine. papa was the firm foundation of the little pyramid that we built there in the holidometm and he has continued to be our foundation for the 19 years that have followed. papa, you are a man above reproach and my co-favorite person on the planet. words are unable to express my love for you. happy birthday! i hope that God grants us a few more years together. Wow, this room just got a bit dusty…
  
• last night at homechurch we said goodbye to ben russell for the summer. ben is our virtuoso violinist and budding theologian who is going to spend his summer gracing the koussevitzsky concert shed at tanglewood. tanglewood is the enchanting summer home of the boston symphony orchestra and the boston pops. if you are interested in joining our home church for all-inclusive evening out at tanglewood (multiple samuel smith four packs and various white wines will be included) let me know. we'd love to have you join us!

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