Since I still cannot sleep I thought I might post something of a lighter nature than my previous several, just to show that all is not doom and gloom around the Raven household.

 

Previously I mentioned the pending baseball game between my clan and my friend John's .  Things seem to be moving along quite nicely as to the readiness of my team this year.  We should do well.  As I mentioned a couple of my employees played ball in college and neither of them are that many years out.  They have provided the punch we need I think.  Of course that old rascal John likely has a few tricks up his sleeve as well and we have both kept to our word not to spy on each other during these weeks of practice.  I have heard through the rumor mill that he has brought in a ringer or two himself this year so it should be an interesting game.  They nearly always are.  Of course back at the beginning, when my grandchildren were too small to really participate and his children were in their mid to late teens we had a tendency to be soundly crushed.  Of late however we have really held our own, winning our fair share.

 

I am looking forward to the game this year perhaps more than usual as this is the first time we have officially allowed outsiders to play.  Not that it has never happened before, a convenient boyfriend or distant long lost cousin pops into mind.  We have both used various ploys to bend the rules.  They are our rules so we can bend them if we choose I guess.

 

Anthony has offered to play but I think I'll hold him back this year in order to avoid any possible conflict.  I think he'll still be around next year.    I have told him to be ready just in case though.  Heh heh!

 

I spoke to John the other day and he is sounding like he might be prepared to concede defeat even before the game begins.   The old reprobate has something up his sleeve I think.  He never concedes until the last out!

 

At any rate this years game should be interesting and I expect quite a turnout.  Each year more and more of the towns folk have shown up to watch the game.  It has become almost an official part of the community's July 4th festivities.  There are a few who resent the attention given the game but they sound largely like a bunch of whiners.   Give it a rest folks.

 

A local metal band even offered to play during the seventh inning stretch, but we declined the offer.  It seemed a bit ostentatious to us really.  Besides some the old farts around town might get their panties in a bunch over that one.

 

I don't really get it though, it just a family game played simply for the pleasure of it in reality.  No one gains a thing by winning or suffers with a loss.  We all party hardy after the game and the loser always says, "Wait til next year!"

 

soaring