Odd or Even?

Roman Gabriel wore number 18 with the Rams, then was given number 5 when he was traded to the Eagles. Today I learned that he switched back to 18 in 1976 for the last two years of his career. Back during gas rationing Gabriel didn’t know how to answer when asked “odd or even?”. Since he wore number 5 at the time, he replied “odd” – and got his gas.

Friday: worked until 6 pm. Homemade lasagna for supper. Leftovers all weekend.

Rain washed out my round of golf on Saturday morning. Housework instead. Vacuumed out Ceil’s car.

28 in Sunday School. 20+ more baptisms in the worship services, including one teen so visibly excited to be baptized. Then Clay called the high school seniors and their parents to the front for a prayer of dedication. Over 100 people crammed the front.

Sunday afternoon I pulled my summer shorts out of the attic. Packed up my sweaters, and swapped out the winter hanging clothes for summer. Made up golf bags and clubs for Matthew and Anna. Took Ceil’s car to gas up the tank.

Winner by a nose in NASCAR and the Kentucky Derby.

Watched a little of the Tom Brady Roast on Netflix. Man have times changed. Locker room “humor” on steroids. Still, refreshing that such jokes can be told in our age of everyone getting offended. Still some took offense. Brady took a verbal beating, and only took offense when elderly Patriots owner Robert Kraft was verbally attacked. Lots of jokes at Gronk’s expense – and Bill Belichik. Brady fired back: “who doesn’t remember where they were in September 2001, when those two Jets struck Drew Bledsoe”.

Dodgers swept the Braves. What is to be expected from the best team money can buy (with an unlimited payroll). Braves were missing three All Stars. Hoping for a better outcome this October.

Monday: back to the gym. Treadmill.

Seinfeld on SNL to promote the Pop-Tart movie. Jerry's hair looks like episode with the low pressure shower nozels. 

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/nE7ZAOx4dHU?si=sgvur1dj6rKPb2Mz__;!!AE29DT8V!XN1Etj_MqZk7dwiQ5BFlyJC4dsl53i2tLv7ctfG1zQPRjfZmxY-LWblMipZ7fd4RkjOhFq4ClB-sfUjTX-g$

Seinfeld’s favorite things. Seems kinda contrived. Glad his friends give him grief about the outdated Nike Shox that he wears.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/YL2sr99Sv18?si=8dRiTcrzB3LGGyRG__;!!AE29DT8V!WxgOFKnrRbQ4QrebRfUVWmG8VFwhSi83--n3tlgJJg3fLCQOLNi8WbGboCBi9PXPlcrMIvoKGnufF1TWJwg$

Jerry expounds on Jason Alexander’s great performance delivering the hastily written golf ball speech – while on the Rich Eisen Show, of all places.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.golfdigest.com/story/jerry-seinfeld-reveals-george-costanza-jason-alexander-golf-ball-speech-never-in-script__;!!AE29DT8V!SwgOenT_qzu_pydS6D7yaGaFYtCcbojvnEPtHfugkUQQNqU1rvWAsVACOXnPL_tMHXJc1lU1fA5TEyPh1dA$

ANDRE DAWSON   [SABR Bio] stayed and starred on the team that drafted him for eleven seasons. Dawson played for Montreal from 1976-86; the Cubs 1987-92; Boston 1993-94; & Florida 1995-96. NL MVP in 1987. In spite of being Rookie of the year, MVP, eight times an All-Star, eight times a Gold Glove winner, four times a Silver Slugger, and a Home Run Derby winner, he was not elected to the Hall of Fame until his 9th year on the ballot, in 2010. He received 77.1% of votes after not having the 75% required each year 2002-2009, with percentages ranging from 45.3% in 2002 to 67.0% in 2009. He once received five intentional walks in a 16-inning game on 22-May-1990. Reds manager Lou Piniella chose to put Dawson on 5 times. Neither Ted Williams nor Barry Bonds nor anyone else ever received that many. Excellent write-up here.

The Boy Scouts are changing their name, to “Scouting America”. The Boy Scouts have accepted female participants for five years, with over 176000 currently enrolled – including over 6000 Eagle Scouts. No truth to the rumor the change was an attempt to increase popcorn sales.

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She Was a Day Tripper

 

Left at 220 for Aiken SC, for Joe & Katherine's engagement party. Bad traffic on 20 outside 285. No big surprise. Bathroom stop in Thomson. Near Augusta we learned the party was at Joe’s sister’s house. The hardwood floors had just been refinished – so no shoes. Of course it was the one day I hadn’t worn socks. We stopped in Dollar Tree. Lots of socks to choose from, but one stood out: some Elvis Taking Care of Business socks. Ceil hated them. As if anyone would notice.

Made to the 6 pm party with ten minutes to spare. If we were going to drive all that way I for sure didn’t want to be late. A&C and M arrived 30 minutes later, just before the guests of honor.

Like Rusty’s son in law Ted (below, left), just-engaged Joe is a nice guy. Seems quiet and well mannered. Clemson grad. Comes from a good Christian family – his father is a pastor in Aiken. His entire brood still attends the same church. Joe met my niece Katherine there at that church. Joe drives a cool pickup, with a Batman license plate.

When we heard the party food would be Chickfila nuggets and a charcuterie board, I worried there wouldn’t be enough food. But the spread covered the large island in the kitchen. Nuggets and cut up CFA sandwiches. Crackers, cheeses, dips, pimento cheese, cut vegetables, fruit, nuts, pretzels, cookies, brownies, cupcakes. Food aplenty. I stayed close by.

From our side of the family: me and Ceil, Anna & Caleb, Matthew, Rusty & Kelly, Ben, Jordan & Ted, Katherine & Joe. Kelly’s mother. Phil had to work, but Teresa and her kids made the drive: Beau, Victoria, and Zane & wife Laura. Hung around past 8 pm. Gassed up at QuikTrip before driving back. Had to deal with some rain. Got back at 1120 pm.

FERNANDO VALENZUELA [Wiki Bio] his eight shutouts in a season is a record for a rookie pitcher in the Live Ball Era, in1981. He is the most recent pitcher to throw 20 complete games in a season, in 1986. He was the last left-handed pitcher to win the National League GG Award in the 20th century, also in 1986.

DENISON: we now know that activist groups were training students for months before campus protests began. Many are not just anti-Israel but anti-America as well. At a New York City rally one protester said Osama bin Laden “did what he did because he had to do it.” There have been no protester disruptions at the University of Florida, despite its elite status and Wall Street Journal ranking it as the No. 1 public university in the country. President Ben Sasse explained his school’s approach to the protest movement: “Universities must distinguish between speech and action.” He calls speech “central to education” but draws “a hard line at unlawful action. Speech isn’t violence. Silence isn’t violence. Violence is violence.”

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/as-campus-protests-continue-one-universitys-three-part-solution-is-working/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=One%20university%20s%20three-part%20solution%20to%20campus%20protests&utm_campaign=5-06-24%20DA%20-%20One%20university%20s%20three-part%20solution%20to%20campus%20protests

Sermon Notes; Fighting Favoritism

A better way to love

James 2:1-13
Clay Smith JFBC
 
Our purpose as a church is to have a common unity. The world pushes against this, particularly today. There is no perfect church.

Book: Everyone is Normal Until You Get To Know Them.

The book of James is a huge punch in the gut.

Partiality. Also known as Favoritism: an unjust bias based on superficial appearance.

Lev 19 judge your neighbor favorably

I Tim 5:21 do nothing in a spirit of partiality

Acts 10:34-35

Two questions to ask yourself:

1. Do I see each person the way God sees them? V 4 or are you judges with evil motives? V 5

A challenge: convincing people who think they have everything that they need Jesus. Everyone is made in the image of God. Only humans, not animals, sunsets, etc.

We make distinctions between people in many ways: Christian vs non Christian, etc. but we shouldn't judge them.

2. Am I known for mercy or judgement? You shall love your neighbor as yourself. V 10-11 stumble in one area, you are guilty of all.

V 12 speak and act as the law of freedom - the story of God's salvation. So many think they don't need God. We see it over and over in Hollywood, and around us at work, etc . In Christ we are free from so many burdens of the world.

If you don't give mercy to others, have you ever received mercy from God? Is your life all about you, about appearance, etc. Having  God's freedom allows you to give mercy to others. The church should be a safe place to hear a dangerous message.

Gandhi went to a Christian church and was turned away. The usher said the church was only for Europeans.

Ways to prevent favoritism:

1. Examine your heart. Am I giving unfair treatment? Am I writing off a generation because they are different?

2. Walk across the room, to talk to the person standing there by themselves.

3. Fight for unity. A church doesn't drift toward unity - it drifts away from it. Support and encourage others. Love your neighbor.

Call Me the Sultan of Soda

Big day - after months and months accumulating loyalty points at RaceTrac, I have become the Sultan of Soda. When I signed up for the app I hardly noticed the email saying I got one free soft drink a month. Then months later I made it to a free soft drink every week. By then I had to figure out what the deal was. Only so many more points to get to the sultan of soda stage. 

One free soft drink a day, every day -if I take the time to stop. Kinda crowded in the morning. Out of the way in the afternoon. Now that I made it, I'm not sure this the greatest thing in the world. Kinda like George Clooney in the movie Up In The Air, when he reaches the zillion mile mark. He's moved on.

Making for an even greater weekend: two days of eggy boy sandwiches.

And there's more: home made lasagna.

Last weekend Caleb's pal Zac was called up to the big leagues. Caleb had to cut his guys weekend short. Zac had arranged for one of the guys to fly out early Sunday morning, and with only two cars in North Carolina, Caleb had to bite the bullet and ride back to Atlanta at 2:30 am. Micah Owings knows Zac as well. 

Separated at birth: Jeopardy champ Amy Hummel and Nancy Sue Parker, Henry Blake's crush on MASH. Maybe it was just the hair.

When Ceil was away I turned leftovers into nachos.

Where I worked for two weeks. Going forward I'll have to work in the dining room.

While Ceil was gone I fixed myself at least three salads.

Movin On Up

Matthew is starting a new job, as a pastry chef at Kimball House in downtown Decatur. Supposedly a fancy place. Instead of having to get to work at 5 am, he’ll have move regular 9-5-ish hours. M had gotten to know the Kimball crew when he attended Kimball parties and dinners with his girlfriend Monzie, who had worked there until recently. Every time they saw Matthew they’d ask “when are you coming to work with us?”

M had already spoken to Bellwood owner Charles Norman, who was excited for Matthew. With the menu changing at Bellwood, this was a good time for the move. M will be making more money and hopefully will have insurance (a big plus with M aging out of my insurance this year). M lives a block for the Vine City MARTA station, and the Decatur MARTA station is a block away from the Kimball House. Girlfriend Monzie is now working at a restaurant in Grant Park.

Bellwood Coffee is expanding their hours and menu to serve food at breakfast, lunch, & supper. Switching from pastries and biscuits to burritos and sandwiches. Bellwood Coffee is at 1776 Peachtree Road, at the northwest corner of 26th Street just past El Azteca and before Mellow Mushroom.  Turn right onto 26th and right again into the parking deck, I guess.

M had a big time on his Washington trip. Flew into Baltimore. Saw the ship and collapsed bridge. Ubered to DC. Visited the Smithsonian and other art galleries. Rode the subway. Chinatown. This past weekend M was hanging out in Athens.

On Wednesday M babysat the two girls all by himself, though it was just for a few hours. No feeding or diaper changes or putting to bed.

Ceil hadn’t been impressed when I’d told her I’d met REM guitarist Mike Mills – until I mentioned that he played on a couple of former Monkee Mickey Dolenz’ songs.

Indiana Fever: I’ll have to look up the schedule and write the games on my calendar. Young Vanessa here on my team at work is a basketball fan. She’s usually watching the games, and we often talk basketball. Also my social media keeps me updated on the WNBA now. I’ve been seeing videos about the practices starting, etc.

Sorry the Sixers lost. Today the Yankee fan in our office is wearing his Knicks t-shirt.

Another crazy evening for me. Left work at 455. Arrived home at 550 to pick up Ceil. GPS routed me not to Riverside & 285 or west toward 75 south, but instead to Windy Hill Road. By getting on 75 south there I was able to skip all the congestion on the 75/285 interchange. I’ll remember that route.

But still traffic was gridlocked at the Howell Mill/Northside Drive exit. Didn’t help that a broke down MARTA bus was blocking one lane. Arrived at Taqueria at the same time as Matthew.

Up early to walk at the gym, this time for 38 minutes.

The 5 stages of burnout.

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Knowing What You Don't Know

Finished the Adam Grant book “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know”. Now listening to the Elon Musk biography, written by Walter Isaacson. 21 hours at normal speed, but I listen at 1.25 speed. I’ve listened to a quarter of the book so far.

Monday I worked past 630 then mowed the grass, watered the plants, and washed both cars. Finished up after dark. Took a shower, tidied up a little more, and fixed "nachos" for supper.

Tuesday: up early. Did a little work, took out the trash, walked Winnie, moved my computer screens, and finished cleaning. Left after 830 and drove downtown. Was able to squeeze in 9 holes of golf between the rain. Hit lots of balls. Only irons, no drivers or woods. As usual some good, some bad.

Then on toward the airport. Stumbled across a RaceTrac so I filled up with gas and grabbed a free Coke. Then nabbed a jamoca milkshake from Arby's, where I waited for C to get through baggage claim.

We ate lunch at the Taqueria on Howell Mill, then home. Got the blue plate special. Very good. She was still on Paris time, C crashed on the couch. I took a nap. Back to business as usual.

Was nice to take Tuesday off, and to have worked from home for the past 2 weeks. Went back to the gym for the first time in over a month. Walked 2 miles.

The emails always pile up when I’m not working. Tuesday night there were 81 new emails. I deleted several. Our company laid off several workers, both here in Atlanta and across the nation. When the announcement was made, our stock went down 20%. Our customer is a big nationwide company who is laying off 700 workers nationwide. Will be hard for us to add the help our team needs.

Wednesday: boss took us to Chipotle for lunch. We were going somewhere else but it was closed. Worked until 630. Made nachos for sup. C went to her small group. Watched Jeopardy. Also watched Chicago Med.

FRED LYNN [SABR Bio] was the first and only player to hit a grand slam in the All-Star game, in 1993 against Atlee Hammaker. He was the first player to win League Championship Series MVP playing for the losing team, when his Angels lost to Milwaukee. He trails only Stan Musial in number of career home runs hit in All-Star games, with 4 to the 6 by Musial.

May the Bobbleheads Be With You

In our bobblehead world the month of May means Star Wars, and there are aplenty again this year. What did I leave out?

Wish the Braves would give away 15,000 Star Wars SGA’s, but again it is a special ticket. Not sure why Rome chose May the Fourth to give away a sugar skull.

Several inexplicable SGA’s this month: Nashville’s mini safes and Akron’s bobble smokestacks. Also puzzling: Nashville is also giving away puzzles. Corpus Christi coming with a mascot riding a sheep. Get’em while they’re hot.

Anyone gonna be in Mrytle Beach after Memorial Day? See you at the Pelicans game on the 29th. It’s bark in the park, so you’ll get to be attacked by my friendly pup Winnie. 

And don’t forget: May 12 is Mother’s Day. If you think she'd like a bobblehead as a Mother's Day gift, well trust me: YOU ARE WRONG!

5.01 WED Nashville 40 oz tumblers 1000

5.02 THU 

5.03 FRI Corpus Christi mascot riding a sheep 2000

5.03 FRI Augusta bucket caps

5.03 FRI OAK Asian American Pacific Islander jersey

5.04 SAT OAK Star Wars bucket hat

5.04 SAT STL Wainwright & Louie BH

5.04 SAT Akron Bobble Smokestacks

5.04 SAT Inland Empire Pachuco double sugar skull BH

5.04 SAT CLE Steven Kwan Star Wars BH

5.04 SAT WSH X Wing Finnegan BH

5.04 SAT KC Bobby Whit Star Wars BH

5.04 SAT Rome sugar skull BH 1000

5.04 SAT Orlando City Robin Jansson Star Wars BH

5.04 SAT Nashville Johnny & George 2024 t-shirts 1000

5.05 SUN Nashville mini safes 1000

5.05 SUN Orlando Pride Marta Star Wars BH

5.05 SUN Rays kids Randy Arozarena Luchador masks

5.05 SUN CLE Alexis Diaz BH

5.06 MON LAD Millennium Falcon

5.07 TUE ATL trucker caps 15000

5.08 WED Charleston Dr Mary Thornley BH 1000

5.09 THU

5.10 FRI

5.11 SAT Rome Bobby Moore BH

5.11 SAT Arkansas Razorbacks baseball BH

5.11 SAT NYM Mr Met BH

5.11 SAT BOS El Alfa BH

5.12 SUN Mother’s Day

5.12 SUN Rays kids friendship bracelet kits

5.13 MON

5.14 TUE BOS Triston Casas Yoga BH

5.14 TUE ATL Star Wars BH special ticket

5.15 WED ATL Michael Harris chain 15000

5.16 THU LAD Ohtani BH

5.17 FRI Augusta belt bags

5.18 SAT LAD Will Smith BH

5.18 SAT Jacksonville Jazz Chisholm BH

5.18 SAT Myrtle Beach pickleball paddles

5.19 SUN ATL kids swim goggles 

5.19 SUN MIA Jake Burger BH

5.20 MON

5.21 TUE LAD Mookie Betts BH

5.22 WED Nashville puzzles 1000

5.23 THU

5.24 FRI OAK headbands

5.25 SAT Nashville Hit City caps 1000

5.25 SAT Inland Empire military jerseys

5.25 SAT Gwinnett replica patriotic jerseys 1750

5.26 SUN Rays Josh Lowe sunglasses

5.27 MON Memorial Day

5.28 TUE ATL Acuna MVP BH 15000

5.29 WED Myrtle Beach: Dave Murphy appearance?

5.30 THU ATL Matt Olson BH 15000

5.31 FRI MIL bronze Fonz BH

Binge Weekend

Watched a bunch of movies this weekend.

My All-American. Ever hear of Texas DB Freddie Steinmark? Tough, small, scrappy, helped lead the Longhorns to the national championship in 1970. After beating Arkansas in the season finale, Steinmark was found to have bone cancer. His leg was amputated just days later, but he was on the sidelines when Texas played in the Cotton Bowl. He passed away 6 months later. A real tear jerker.

Ghostbusters 2, starring the original cast. Can't remember if I had seen it before.

Unplugging, with Eva Longoria. A couple goes off to the wilderness for a weekend, with unexpected results.mLea Thompson guest stars as a crazed pickup-drivin gun totin country woman.

Jumanji: The Next Level. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart Danny Glover Danny DeVito. As good as its Jungle predecessor.

The Big Year, with birdwatchers Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jack Black, and Rashida Jones. You don't realize there's a nice moral to the story until you're at the end.

Which Brings Me to You, a romcom filmed on the Jersey shore, with the NYC skyline in the distance.

Love, Divided – about next door neighbors separated by only a wall. They can hear each other, so they start talking.

Anyone But You, a romcom set in Australia. Nice scenery.

Monday night I watched The Book Club: The Next Chapter, with Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Craig T Nelson, and Andy Garcia.

Movies releasing this week on Netflix: A Man in Full (Jeff Daniels), John Mulvaney Presents Everybody's in LA, and Jerry Seinfeld's Unfrosted, the PopTart Story (May 3).

Those reward things are tough. I have a bunch of focus group rewards that I need to cash in. Need to apply them to our Amazon account, where C is always buying things. But if she knows there are rewards, she would just buy extra. When I recently bought a pair of Cole Haans to wear to church, I was able to pay for them with the proceeds from selling bobbleheads. Heck signing up for the Peachtree Road Race is an ordeal. Lots of questions and blanks to fill in. Every other question is do you want to buy this extra t-shirt or that extra reward, etc etc etc.

I am surprised I haven't fallen yet, or had a car crash. Almost fell this afternoon while walking Winnie. My other friend Reid's longtime pet dog passed away this weekend. Always so sad to lose a pet.

Ceil flew pack from Paris to Washington yesterday. Arrived back in Atlanta at noon today.

Some ranked the Falcons draft as the worst in football. Committed to two high priced QBs. Second pick a Clemson defender too unpolished to be picked so high. Picked a RB after drafting a stud RB Robinson in the first round last year. Needed to get as many quality defenders an O linemen as possible.

Catchers who hit inside-the-park grand slams in the 20th century.

Catcher             Date           For         Off

Dooin..........01-Oct-1904(2)....PHI.... PIT's Charlie Case

Erwin..........28-Jul-1911........BRO...CIN's Art Fromme

Cochrane...04-Jun-1936.......DET....DET's Stu Flythe

Westrum....02-Aug-1950(1)...NY.......CHC's Monk Dubiel

McCarver...09-Jun-1963(2)....SLN.....NYM's Larry Bearnarth

Essian........10-Jun-1979.......OAK....TOR's Mike Willis

Karkovice...30-Aug-1990......CHA...MIN's David West

Wilson........03-May-1998......SEA....DET's Frank Castillo