We had a fun week as the all-star baseball season began, Abby had no softball games again this week (she’s gonna have a ton to make up!), we finally got a little bit of rain (though not nearly enough) and the temps broke just a little bit before bumping right back up again. The fair returned to town as we prepped for our summer vacation.
Late last Sunday, Greensburg’s own Alex Meyer was on national TV as a pitcher for the Minor League Futures All-Star team vs. the World All-Stars. He faced 2 batters, getting one to ground out and striking out the other one on the way to a 17-5 blowout – way to go, Alex! Abby had him as a substitute teacher a few times and she has a couple of autographs, including one on the cast from when she had the four-wheeler incident! We spoke last week of the passing of a legend in the TV business – Andy Griffith. But I failed to recognize another great actor from before my time that also passed. I also knew him from black & white re-runs as a child on McHale’s Navy. Earnest Borgnine died of kidney failure at the age of 95 over the weekend. It continued to rain on & off Sunday night – in fact the sun was absent the entire afternoon. It was dark and eerie all day…but cooler at least! Rob went to the Sand Pebble and said the beach looked real good despite the recent heavy storms that had washed away some of the beach in other areas. We woke up to a downpour on Monday morning! Unfortunately it only last a few minutes and I still ended up having to water the Blue Spruce later that night. Ann took the day off from work to run the kids to the doctors. Matt went in early to football practice then to physical therapy for his shoulder where he saw Phyllis & Dick (Phyllis is still rehabbing after her tumble down the stairs a few months back) who gave him a ride back to Gma’s house where Luke was playing Hot Wheels w/ Memaw. Meanwhile, Ann took Abby to the doctor up in Indy, re: knees & scoliosis. She was told her knees could be one of a couple different things but she is being referred for physical therapy up in Indy to see if it will help in lieu of surgery. As for her back, she was referred to a spine specialist. Ann had an early reading on her mammogram and there was a spot that needs to be re-checked, which only heightened our anxiety today. Matt was back to double football practices in the evening. Luke & I practiced pitching in the back yard as it was much cooler today. That night, Ann made fiesta pork and cuscus for dinner (yum!). Matt & I watched the MLB All-star game activities – i.e., Home Run Derby w/ Prince Fielder winning the title again for 2nd time. He tied my idle, Ken Griffey Jr., for most all-time! And in other sports happenings, it looks like Steve Nash will play for the Lakers this winter…now if they can land Dwight Howard, we’d be set…
I talked to Mom a couple times today – she’s back at home now with the wonderful folks at Hospice coming to the house twice a week to give her the IV antibiotics that she was getting at the hospital. She has to continue with the meds for another three weeks. Her docs suspended her chemo treatments this week to allow her body to continue healing itself and just take the week off. She sounded a little tired but otherwise very upbeat and was excited about Rob & Sharon coming over for dinner and Robby cooking pork chops on the grill – wish Ann & I could be down there as well… Matt had football at 6 am again (wrestling has been cancelled UFN). Abby had volleyball practice and Luke spent the day with Gma. That evening, Luke had his first all-star baseball game vs. the other all-star team from G’burg (the team he was on last year). Coach Derrick asked me to be his assistant this year and help out, so I coached first base and warmed the boys up beforehand. Luke batted 6th and played left centerfield. He didn’t see much action defensively with no fly balls and maybe 4 groundballs in his direction – I think we may move him up to pitcher for the tourney here in a couple weeks. We tweaked his batting stance and it was successful as he went 5-6 from plate in a 9 inning game. He hit the fence three times with two triples, a double, a pair of singles and a line-drive out to 2nd base. He also had 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored in a 25-6 romp! After the game we picked up Matt from evening football practice at about 8:30 (he is having 3 to 4 hour practices now) that night and we all went out to eat at El Reparo to celebrate Luke’s big game. Matt & I were disappointed to learn that the DVR did not record the MLB All-Star game but we saw the highlights of the National league winning big, 8-0! That means that the NL will have home field advantage in the World Series this year…now if the Reds can just make it that far. We came home and everybody got cleaned up and fell asleep on the couches…
The kids had the day off on Wednesday and enjoyed sleeping in and being couch potatoes all day when the outside temps rose near 100 again. That evening, Luke & I practiced pitching in the backyard for about a half hour or so and Steve Nash officially signed with the Lakers! Woo! Hoo!!
Ann was given a clean bill of health during her follow up mammo appointment first thing on Thursday morning. Yeah!! Abby had volleyball practice and Matt had football practice. Abby spent the day at the city pool with her friends and Luke & I had all-star baseball practice at North Park on a very hot afternoon / evening. There were rumors of thunderstorms in town but Ann & I saw nothing in Columbus and by the time we got back home there were neither puddles nor any evidence so it must have been short-lived. Matt was back at football practice that evening and ate a late dinner with us as Ann made one of our favorites – biscuits & gravy – yum!!
We had a Friday the 13th that was mostly uneventful. Matt had football and physical therapy for his shoulder (he hurt it again last night at football practice). Abby & Luke were riding the go kart and Luke wiped out while riding on the back and got a nasty little case of road rash on his leg. I sure hope it won’t interfere with his fun next week! Ann went scrapbooking at Mrs. B’s and it was Grace’s 11th birthday. We called in to WTRE and added it to the birthday list. I talked to Rob a couple times and he and Sharon found a house! They made an offer and it was accepted. The bank has to do an inspection and if all goes well, it will be theirs. It is a beautiful home that has lots of room, a pool, etc – and is only a few minutes away from Mom & Dad’s house to boot. It would be perfect…we wish them luck. Lots of activity on Facebook this week – we have lots of pictures of Abby, but also the Hot Wheels exhibit at the Indy Children’s Museum, Chris Scheu at Wrigley Field, Wendy & Bethany, Lafayette’s Dog & Suds two way car, Aunt June w/ her grandchildren from Barney & Steph – Nick, Ryan & Haley – in New York…as well as Aunt Sue, Grace Potter (who was on Jimmy Kimmel this week!) and Lindsay as well as several of my old childhood neighborhood – Columbian Park.