The Hooters Girls Take Us Into The Final Full Week Of April, Yankees Get John Sterling A TV & Hit By What?!?
I forgot how bad I hate digging through clay, but the effort given on Sunday sets the tone for the rest of the summer
Did I consider it fun on a Sunday to dig out a 3' x 25' run of sod and then dig out a 12 ½ foot trench of clay (that's part one; the other 12 ½ feet still to go) to plant the $35 arborvitae from Costco ($57 at the box stores)?
Not at all. It was absolute punishment for the mind and body, but if I've learned anything over the last decade, it's that if I want to actually enjoy summer on the patio sitting there doing NOTHING but listening to the birds chirp and Yacht Rock on the lowest sound level, then NOW is the time to bust my ass to get dialed in.
That's now two Sundays in a row spent in the field busting ass. But, I can see the payoff coming in a matter of weeks when I'm sitting back, relaxing and thinking back to taking a pickaxe to tree roots, sod and clay.
But, the results are immediate. I think you can see why I will cherish these arbs like I cherish my wife and kids. Look at that screen we're about to have.
Why so close, you ask? We don't want to wait years for these to fill out. I don't want these to get real fat. The goal is to take them up about 8 feet and then square them off. There are six more to go which will give us the 25-feet of screening we're looking for.
Trust me, I'm not a huge fan of cedars/arbs getting to 15-20 feet high. I want these to be tall enough for privacy, but not too tall for a 6' stepladder.
They say to never meet your idols…well, my meeting with John Daly went well and now Mrs. Screencaps' favorite YouTuber answered her question
When Mrs. Screencaps told me she asked Laura from Garden Answer a question I was worried. Would Laura shatter Mrs. Screencaps by saying her question about thistle was dumb? Would Laura be thrown off by the book that Mrs. Screencaps wrote?
Mrs. Screencaps is on a heater lately with her gardening. I just didn't want her to be destroyed mentally going into the summer.
Then, Sunday morning, IT HAPPENED. Laura not only read the entire novel Mrs. Screencaps wrote, she gave incredible advice that we'll be using this summer.
Flight to Augusta question
- Jim M. writes:
I'm assuming it was without incident. Your colleague has a running list of all airline screw ups...he's making us all nervous!! Out of opening day, sorry, weather sucks, and still recovering from surgery . Spinal fusion. Keep us updated on your team, love hearing about rec ball...travel ball ruined everything
Kinsey:
- The flights were perfect. On the way down, we were in first class pods thanks to Canoe Kirk's smarts and a little luck from the Delta gods.
- Saturday's house ball practice was interesting. We started to crank up infield practice and introduced baserunners, which threw their brains into chaos. We also worked on fly balls which went way better than I could've imagined. The one thing I'm quickly learning is how much teaching is needed at this level on the finer points like cutoffs, reminding the kids to get outs/prevent playing hero ball throwing the ball around the field and bad habits like right-handers trying to field the ball off to their left. We have a ton to work on, but the kids have amazing attitudes. We're going to have some fun.
Kids and MLB
- Duncan in Georgia writes:
My 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter can name almost every player in MLB - all because they played MLB the Show for a year straight, and they watch youtube highlights almost every day. We went to the Braves game tonight and my son was telling me how to pronounce Luis Guillorme's name. And when I mentioned that Nathaniel Lowe went to my alma mater, Mississippi State, my daughter said "don't confuse him with his brother Josh who plays for the Rays".
They might be in the minority of kids these days, but some still know all the MLB players. Now, my kids have switched to Fortnite, so this could change in the next year LOL.
Bankruptcy for the RSNs might end up leading to fewer blackouts
- Travel Ball Hardo Chris B. in Houston writes:
I don't think the blackouts that guys are typing about have anything to do with the old concept of selling tickets to games. I think everyone is referring to blackouts on MLB Extra Innings - right? Local networks (RSNs) shouldn't ever be blacked out, as far as I'm aware. MLB Extra Innings is blacked out because the RSNs own the broadcast rights to their respective teams in their territories. I won't pretend to be an expert on this, but I think the problem is that if MLB Extra Innings showed the local games then alot less people would pay for the RSNs which are massive revenue sources for the teams. This seems like it may be on a path to getting fixed, or at least changing, as many RSNs have bankrupted recently and I think many more are either struggling or or not paying their teams nearly as much as they'd prefer.
Also you mentioned not having blackouts on NFL games? I haven't had the Sunday Ticket in several years, but back when I had it (on DirecTV) the local games were always blacked out on the Ticket and I had to watch them on the local broadcast network.
PS - it's frickin awesome that your kids go to the neighborhood park to play whiffle ball. Cherish that. Your kids are in the greatest age... playing with kids down the street, you coaching rec ball, etc. Those are wonderful times.
Kinsey:
Trust me, I've been doing quite a bit of introspection over the period we're living in right now. We're officially entered the sweet spot with our kids. There's always action for the kids. Yesterday, Screencaps Jr. took off on his bike to the big park with other 11 year olds in the neighborhood. Then, he got home and there was constant action in the front yard as I was busting ass digging in the clay.
I keep reminding everyone in this house that this is a big summer and to get out and play hard, including Mrs. Screencaps.
Listening to Dickie Betts at the beach
- Not Amish Paul writes:
Thank you for all you do to help the ScreenCaps Community! My family and I went to the beach today, I was playing selections from the great Allman Brothers band. Dickie Betts was a Sarasota resident and one of the greatest guitar players ever. I saw them practice in a Warehouse some 30 years ago, I remember a young, blonde guitar player shredding, didn’t realize until many years later it was Derek Trucks. Once again, on behalf of the ScreenCaps Community, thank you.
#myparentswereAmish
Raiders fans
- Shawn in Canby, OR writes:
RAIDERS FANS
- dad of a guy I used to work with was nearing retirement as an Oregon State Police Trooper, working down south on the border with California.
- running drug interdiction/traffic on northbound I5 coming into Oregon from California
- Pulled over a large silver SUV, tinted out windows, speeding, riding low, California plates, Hispanic (likely drug mule)
- everything with the gal checks out and he let's her go
- she asks "why did you pull me over?"
- as he's nearing retirement, he says over his shoulder as he walks away: "because of that giant stupid Raider sticker on you back window"
Raiders fans are usually guilty of something
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That's it for this beautiful Earth Day. The sun is out. The birds are flying into the arbs looking at possible new living arrangements. Our resident cardinals are chirping away. The kids are off to school and it's time for the last full week of April.
Let's go get it. Summer is on the doorstep. Let's put in the work and finish April strong.
Go have a great day.
Email: joekinsey@gmail.com