In which I post some new links

I added some new links over on the sidebar. Since they're new I thought I'd post a quick description of them here, in case anyone is curious about what they are. Check them out if you want to. All sites come recommended by me. Take that and a dollar to the Dollar Tree and you can buy something for the kitchen.

Websites I Check Every Day

Brandon Sanderson
This is the Livejournal blog of fantasy author Brandon Sanderson. It gives some interesting insights into his writing processes from time to time.

Robert Fulghum
If you're a Fulghum fan, you'll like this. It's just a regular blog that reads like one of his books. Quite enjoyable.

Television Without Pity
Television recaps and forums and pop culture blogs. It's not the site it used to be, but it's still pretty darn good.

Things What Things
Linda Holmes used to write for Television Without Pity, where she was known as Miss Alli. Now she's off on her own, posting her thoughts on TV and other pop-culture tidbits.

Writing Excuses
A writing podcast moderated by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler (creator of Scholck Mercenary), and horror novelist Dan Wells. Topics are usually sci-fi/fantasy based and range from the business of writing to the creative process to the genres themselves. Very insightful if you have an interest in the writing process.

Webcomics

Garfield Minus Garfield by Travors
Garfield strips with Garfield digitally removed from the images, making it a strip about Jon and his various neuroses.

The Order Of The Stick by Rich Burlew
The sword-and-sorcery adventures of a D&D-style adventuring party, drawn as stick figures. It's a lot funnier than it sounds, especially if you've played D&D.

Schlock Mercenary by Howard Tayler
The continuing sci-fi adventures of a comedic band of military soldiers-of-fortune. Frequently features bad puns, which is always a plus in my book.

Sluggy Freelance by Pete Abrams
A deadly but hilarious combination of magic, a switchblade-wielding rabbit, a hyperactive ferret, a woman who can turn into a camel, explosions, slackers, and beer. And that's just within the main cast.

xkcd by Randall Munroe
Stick-figure comedy for the mathematics/science geek in all of us. Some of it is pretty esoteric, but it has its moments.

I will probably add to these lists as time goes by and I discover new and exciting places to go on the web. If you have sites that you think I should know about, add a comment below or shoot me an e-mail. I'm always looking for new things to waste my time with!

In which it's been two years

To the love of my life:

You always tease me that I never write about you in my blog. Well, this entry is all yours.

Two years ago today we stood in front of that skinny little preacher man in that beautiful mountain chapel and they played our song and we became a family. I was scared to death. I had no idea what marriage was going to be like, what being a full-time dad was going to be like. All I knew then was that I loved you, and I loved those kids, and that somehow we were going to make it work. And we have.

Two years later, I can't imagine my life without you or the kids. I'm learning more every day about what it means to be a husband and a family man. It's not always easy, and I know it hasn't always been as smooth as we hoped it would be. We're still here though, stronger than ever, and ready to keep moving forward together as a family. Thank you for making these last two years the best of my life. I can't wait to see what is yet to come.

Happy Anniversary.

I love you.

In which we finished our season

We played our season closing doubleheader last night. We lost both games to finish the season 1-9 and in the league cellar. In game 1, Bo's All-Stars (who came into the game with an 0-9 record) beat us 11-7. We scored four runs in the top of the first inning then couldn't hold them off. I was 2-3 in that game, caught a pop foul behind the plate, and tagged a runner out at the plate. I almost tagged another one out later, but the throw was just a little late.

Game 2 was a rematch with Wild Wings, who beat us 11-7 in the first game of the season. This time they beat us 14-4. Again, we took an early lead, with two runs in the first, and again we couldn't hold it. I went 1-2 with a double (the ball wound up rolling all the way to the fence in center field, my hardest hit ball of the season) and an RBI, and I threw a runner out at first on a little swinging bunt. I almost tagged a runner out in this game too, but the throw and the runner arrived at the plate at the same time and the ball popped out of my glove. All in all, probably my best night of the season. Figures it would be the last one.

We'll probably be playing again in either the summer or fall season, so hopefully I can carry some momentum into the next season, whenever it is. I'll have recaps then, too. Whee!

In which we play well but lose anyway

We're 1-7 now. We played LifePoint Church. They beat us again, then they prayed with us again. It was only 13-3 this time, so we were a little better than before. It's too bad, really--we hung close then gave up like 6 runs in the next to last inning. Same thing has happened three or four times this year. We close the season next week with a doubleheader vs. Wild Wings (who beat us 11-7 earlier this year) and Bo's All-Stars, who we haven't played yet, and who have yet to win a game. Maybe we can win that one! We'll see.

Mom and Dad came to the game. Mom brought her camera and took a bunch of pictures and shot some little videos. I've got some of them here. Enjoy!

Your faithful blogger



Here's the pitch!



Eat your heart out, Bob Uecker



Keeping an eye on the ball



Didn't miss this one!

In which we were a man (and 10 runs) short

We played last night with only 9 players. ESAB was the opponent and they came into the night undefeated. They came out of it undefeated as well, beating us 13-3. It was another case of us playing well and staying close, then giving up 6 runs in the next to last inning. We had only three outfielders and they took advantage of the wide open spaces to rack up several inside the park HRs. I got on base once via a walk and was 0-2 in my other appearances, my worst night of the year at the plate.

Darlene and the kids came, as did my parents and my niece Mia. They all had a good time cheering. I wish we could have won it for them. We fall to 1-6. Next week brings a rematch with LifePoint Church, who beat us 17-1 in the first week of the season. As it turns out, going into last night that has been their only victory of the season. Figures. Hopefully we'll do better against them next week. Maybe they'll ask us to pray with them again.