The God of the Woods

I am listening to the novel “The God of the Woods”. Lots of flashbacks makes it hard to follow sometimes, but good. I get updates of what Connie Morris, Margaret Dudley, Victoria Taylor, Catherine Norman, and others are reading (mostly women), so some of the books turn out to be kinda for women. Still good.

I am liking my home office more and more. Haven’t started bring in my stuff yet: Dale Murphy poster, Atlanta Stadium poster, Braves batting helmet, baseball bat. Need to decide on a bobblehead. Uecker alarm clock and Magic 8 Ball. Then today a vendor who knows that I am a Braves fan is giving me this big framed Braves thing.

Denise has been cutting my hair for several years now. Not sure how long. Good to have someone to go back to. Not sure how long she will stay at it, as she is older than me. Debra Head cut my hair for several years, back when she was at a salon near Buford Highway and Jimmy Carter and I had first started working out here at Tull.

On Wednesday afternoons after returning home from her school Ceil crashes on the couch. So I stayed in my office and tried to catch up on work. Stayed in there past 730. Got a bunch done – but it makes it all the more frustrating on mornings like today when I get hit with lots more work. It never ends. SAP needs updating on several parts. Lots of rust issues. So I skipped golf on a 50 degree morning. Will play tomorrow in the 42 degree cold.

Made it to the gym this morning. Five big bad weekdays in a row.

Lunch today at Lazy Dog. Burgers and sandwiches and fries looked good, but I ordered a salad. Lots of lettuce but not much chicken. 

Ceil is babysitting some kids tonight in Woodstock. I worked late.

Experts ranked the Dodgers and Braves to have the best lineups in baseball. Also one of the best starting rotations.

LEFTY GROVE  [SABR Bio] was the first player to retire with more than 500 career strikeouts but fewer than 300 career hits. Grove the batter retired in 1941 with 202 hits and 593 strikeouts. He was the first pitcher to lead the AL in walks surrendered and strikeouts in the same season. In his rookie season, 1925, pitching for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s, young Grove struck out 116 & walked 131. He became the first in the Modern Era to post pitching Triple Crowns in successive seasons. In 1930, he posted 28 wins, a 2.54 ERA, & 209 Ks. In 1931 he had 31 wins, a 2.06 ERA, & 175 Ks.

DENISON: the Pew Research Center published the study  “Decline of Christianity in the US Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off.” The Christian share of the US population has stabilized after years of decline, increasing from 62% to 63% (though down from 79% in 2007). The report details: 86% believe people have a soul, 83% believe in God, 79% believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, and 70% believe in heaven, hell, or both. Only 22% of Americans are satisfied with our nation’s “moral and ethical climate”.

Eating Healthier

Monday: worked until 630. Still tons to do. Drove home. Supper was chicken, rice, okra, and tomatoes. By the time we finished with the dishes it was after 8 pm. Too worn out to do more work so I plopped down on the couch.

Tuesday: made it to the gym. Was a good sunny morning that wouldn’t been perfect for golf, since I haven’t played in 2-1/2 weeks. Just too much to do. Got to work and sure enough there were new problems to address. Our stuff is so complex and complicated. People want to know why, and the answer isn’t easy. Multiple factors. Still haven’t fixed everything.

Left work at 440 pm. Ceil had cooked Mexican rice and two pans of enchiladas. There were eleven for the mostly healthy Mexican dinner. Later three teenagers joined us. Didn’t get home until 1015.

Last night UGA beat #3 Florida. Kirby Smart was at the game with his wife and son, and he and the athletic director asked the students to not storm the court until after the Florida players had left the court.

Worked from home today, so I was able to take my time at the gym. Lots of deer in the neighborhood this morning. Lunch at JFBC with the “sent ones” was Chickfila sandwiches and BBQ chips and cookies. We had assigned seats. I was with my friends Lee and Rob, and a church planter from Toronto. Good learning about his ministry. Lots of people I knew were there.

Afterward I grabbed my daily Coke Zero from RaceTrac, and got a haircut. My emails had jumped up to 40 this week, but I managed to get it back down into the low 20’s. Hopefully under ten by Friday afternoon.

Funny golf video.

CY YOUNG [SABR Bio] is the all-time leader in games started, games completed, and game won. He started 815 games for 5 teams, including the Braves. In completed 749 and won 511 – records that will never be broken. He pitched for BSN in 1911, his last professional team. His full given name is Denton True Young. The nickname “Dent” came naturally. He won both games of a double header on the last day of his rookie season, on 30-Sep-1890, pitching for the NL’s Cleveland Spiders, against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys,7-1 & 5-3.

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96-0

I always remember our 9th grade football team, my first year playing on the school team. Over 51 years ago, in the fall of 1973. George DuBose was our quarterback. No one called him George – he was known to all as DuBose. He reminded me of Joe Namath, with his shaggy hair and laid back attitude. Good passing arm, but you’d never mistake him for a scrambler like Fran Tarkenton.

For our first road game we loaded up on the yellow “cheese hound” school bus. Stern old coach WC Jones in the driver’s seat. He had gone over all the normal instructions before the bus pulled out. As we rambled down the road, from the back of the bus came the unmistakable voice of Dubose: “Hey coach! Gotta pee!”

For one practice we crossed the street from our field in front of the Lanier B girls building, over to Swan Field to scrimmage the older B team. As talented as our 9th grade team was, we took a beating from the older, larger, 10th and 11th graders. As we gathered our pride and wordlessly limped back across the street, Dubose opined: “No wonder I have weak knees”.

While we went on to win the state championship two years later, at reunions we’d discuss our legendary 9th grade team just as much. Undefeated. City champions. DuBose was joined in the backfield by prototypical fullback Randy Rutherford and tough as nails tailback Ray Patterson. They doubled as middle linebackers. A menacing offensive line anchored by center Paul Conner, guards Dallas Foster and Ken Lee, and tackles Greg “Bull” Williams and Edward Bussey. Bussey was so skinny that if he turned sideways he would disappear, but he was the toughest of the tough five.

Speedy fast Stan Putnal was the split end. Baby brother of UGA wide receiver Rex, and Tech linebacker Greg. Tight end Tracy Curtis was a gentle giant off the field, but a beast on it. He played like former UGA TE Darnell Washington. Curtis and Bussey would go on to play varsity basketball, not football. Tracy went on to coach in Jackson Georgia. After 9th grade, Dallas quit football to play tennis.

Before one practice some of were messing around, kicking field goals. A few years before, kicking had become my hobby, something I did most days at home after school. It happened to be the day Coach Jones had us work on special teams. Big Greg Williams had kicked for the 8th grade team, so he was given the first chance. As he stood, he warmed up by kicking his right foot backward, almost to his butt cheek. Looked like a Bull getting ready to charge. Maybe that’s how he got his nickname. Not sure. He kicked a few wobblers.

DuBose spoke up: “Murphy can kick!” Bless his heart. I kicked. Soon the kicking job was mine.

Later during the season we practiced field goals – a rarity before B-team and varsity. We all lined up. Snap. The defense rushed. Hold. I kicked. With my right leg still up in the air, the onrushing Bull Williams charged in and knocked me to the ground. Pretty sure it wasn’t because I had beaten him out as the kicker. I think.

I hit head first. Pretty sure I wasn’t even wearing an old suspension style helmet. Just an old helmet with foam padding. When I woke up, I was laying on the ground, looking up to the sky. The entire team was circled around, looking down at me. I was helped up. Practice continued.

One Thursday afternoon the Georgia Military College sent their B team over from Milledgeville. We sent them home losers, winning 66-0. A few weeks later we traveled east to play them in their stadium. The building in the east end zone was the former Georgia state capitol building. Cheerleaders on the sidelines.

Two cadets did pushups after bad plays. They gave out after the first quarter. By halftime we had equaled the score from our previous game: 66-0. The stadium wall ran just behind the west end zone, so the extra points I kicked sailed out of the stadium onto the street. Final score: Central 96, GMC 0. A state record that may still stand.

Over 45 years later I happened to find myself in Milledgeville, so I looked up GMC on Waze. The old stadium hadn’t changed much. Quite the game to remember.

Have I shared these stories before?

WALTER JOHNSON [SABR Bio] is the only pitcher to collect 150 extra-base hits as a batter. His 157 XBH is ten more than the closest candidate. His age 25 season is perhaps the single greatest pitching year in MLB history. In 1913, Johnson led the majors with a record of 36-7, a .837 winning percentage. He had 243 strikeouts, 29 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 346 innings pitched. He is the only pitcher to start at least 600 games and who played for only one major league team, with 666 starts for the original AL Washington Senators.

DENISON: you were made to live a meaningful life. You don’t want to waste your time on what doesn’t matter. Unlike everything else God created, you were fashioned to partner with him, by protecting and promoting his creation (Genesis 2:15). Next to fears related to survival and family, your greatest concern is that your life will not have been significant when it’s done, that you won’t have made a difference that matters. So, according to psychologists, are we all. A cultural psychologist encourages us to develop close relationships, connect to a larger community, engage in work that provides a sense of purpose and mastery, and connect spiritually with God so we feel we are part of “something larger than the material world.”

Life in the Fast Food Lane

Lunch today at Freddy’s was good. They had double burgers for a dollar. A big burger and onion rings. Chose rings over fries, tater tots, and cheese curds. With coworkers Angie, GT alum Daniel Kim, and UAB alum Danny Dong, so I was the only WASP.

Since coworker Rachel used to use two desks, Danny D first thought she was two different people: “I’m terrible with faces”. Daniel Kim: “All you white people look alike”. LOL.

Man looking back I have been eating out a lot lately – in 21 of the 28 days in February. Amazingly, all are at different restaurants. Already got five meals set up for March. Man I need to eat better.

3.01 dessert social

2.28 JFBC BBQ supper from Righteous Que

2.27 Lazy Dog with vendor

2.26 JFBC luncheon

2.25 Mexican at Rices

2.24 Freddys steakburger & rings

2.23 Arbys French dip

2.22 pizza etc at birthday party

2.21 Wendys and Little Rey

2.20 I missed out on Dreamland BBQ

2.19 Jersey Mikes chicken Philly

2.18 Mazzios pizza

2.17 Jason’s Deli sandwiches

2.14 Chickfila biscuit

2.13 Nahm Thai

2.12 Moes tacos

2.10 Mexican restaurant in Peachtree Corners

2.09 Chipotle salad

2.07 Moxie Burger

2.05 cookies from vendor

2.04 Costco hot dog & pizza

2.02 City BBQ sandwich & fries

2.01 Super Chix sandwich & fries

1.29 Willys Mexican burrito bowl

1.28 Taco Bell

1.25 Taqueria

1.23 The Crossing in Norcross

1.22 JJ’s Pizza

1.20 Cheeseburger Bobbys

1.17 Nuevo Laredo Cantina

1.05 Pappasitos

Yesterday on the way home from the office I stopped by Arbys for a $3 French Dip roast beef sandwich. deal. Worth the three bucks, but not at the regular $7 price. Also stopped by Dollar Tree and Kroger. Bought $30 worth of groceries, which is a lot for me. Hung out in my office catching up on work stuff until C got home at 9 pm.

Finally made it back to the gym this morning. For the record, as usual tonight's supper was completely healthy: organic chicken, jasmine rice, baked okra, and organically grown tomatoes.

Suzy Heyser is moving an elderly uncle into assisted living, and posted several big ticket items for sale at bargain basement prices. So low it seems like a scam. She lives in Birmingham. I may ask her brother Bill what’s going on.

Are y’all going to Meghan’s play later this week? The only night I would be available is Thursday, but I haven’t gotten a ticket yet. This is missions conference week at JFBC with events at least Wed-Sunday. Claire mentioned that it was “PG-13”, which is what used to be R rated. I saw one school was putting on the Broadway play “Mean Girls” which is about high school girls being mean to each other, which I thought was funny.

This morning Fred O said this is the second anniversary of when he had a minor stroke. He still wears some medical device to monitor his health. A missionary friend of Ceil’s had a minor stroke a couple of weeks ago. Not sure what’s going on with all these health issues.

JORGE SOLER [B-R Bio] hit more MLB home runs in a season than anyone else born in Cuba. Soler’s 48 in 2019 passed Rafael Palmeiro’s 47, which he did twice, 1999 & 2001. Soler’s 48 HR for KCR topped Mike Moustakas, who set the KCR franchise mark with 38 in 2017. Salvatore Perez hit 48 in 2021 to lead the majors and tie Soler. Soler has played for two World Series-winning teams. He helped the Cubs overcome their “curse” in 2016 and then with Atlanta in 2021.

Player winning a World Series MVP in first year with the team.

WS MVP               Year    Team       Yrs/Days Oldest  WAR

Scott Brosius.......1998....Yankees.......31 85....48th....  15.7

Donn Clendenon.1969.... Mets............33 117...58th..... 20.0

Jermaine Dye.......2005.... White Sox...31 284...45th..... 20.3

Reggie Jackson...1977....Yankees......31 174...44th..... 74.0

Paul Molitor..........1993....Blue Jays....37 79.....67th..... 75.6

Jack Morris...........1991....Twins..........36 177...66th..... 43.5

Steve Pearce........2018....Red Sox......35 10.....61st....... 9.9

Frank Robinson...1966....Orioles.........31 69.....42nd...107.2

Jorge Soler...........2021....Braves.........29 256...34th....... 7.0

Ben Zobrist...........2016...Cubs............35 167...65th..... 44.5

Braves Country

I'm calling it the Gulf of Braves Country.

I continue to go go go. Friday I worked from 745-1 pm, then drove to East Cobb to get a tag for M’s car. Then worked from 3 to 5. C wanted me to pick up supper for her and the girls from Little Rey ($50.00). I stopped by Wendys to get me something. Put the girls to bed and was able to go thru 1200 emails before W&MC arrived back from Cartersville. Was 1130 by the time we got home.

Saturday morning we went to see our young friends who’d returned home from overseas. Spent the rest of the day getting ready for Matthew to come get his tag. Did laundry and found some jean jackets and other clothes and stuff he needed. That seemed to take all afternoon. Spaghetti for supper.

This morning Ceil drove to Cartersville to take care of the girls. I worked all morning, then stopped by a carwash on the way to the office. I hope to scan documents for taxes, etc, then return home to do more work.

I am so stressed out. Ceil just hit me up with another project that’s going to take 8 hours of my time. I’m in the middle of a long stretch where I have something extra to do every day. Sure its good stuff, either fun or important or necessary. This in addition to a job that is too much for me to handle. Today I am working on a project I should’ve completed 3 weeks ago. Then I can get to work on something currently 2 weeks old.

01 S go with Ceil to Chase Bank, JF social

28 F JF dinner

27 T lunch with vendor

26 W work from home, JF lunch

25 T dinner with Hongs

24 M work late

23 S work & scan tax info

22 S party in Woodstock, laundry, get M’s stuff ready for pickup, work on list for Ceil

21 F leave work at 1 pm to get insurance and license plate, work, pick up Little Rey, babysit girls

20 T work from home, take Winnie, buy car in Canton

19 W work half day, drive to Austell, small group, Tom dies

18 T work till 7 pm

17 M drive to Cobb Pkwy at 5 pm

16 S drive to McDonough, then to Cumming

15 S sell car, shop for new car

14 F sell car, work late, clean out Corolla, sell table, Matthew visit, Valentines dinner

13 T work from home, clean our Corolla, dinner at Nahm

12 W small group

11 T arrange tow truck for M’s car

10 M work lunch, move furniture to garage

SCOTT BROSIUS [Wiki Bio] was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner. His arm was broken during his best season, on 04-May-1996 in the 4th inning by the Royals’ pitcher Mark Gubicza. Brosius was sidelined for 7 weeks. Later Brosius was the third base coach for Seattle in 2018. He attended NCAA III Linfield University in Portland, Oregon. After retiring, he returned to oversee their athletics in this past May. Brosius was an important part of the Yankees run from 1998 - 2001. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 20th round of the 1987 amateur draft.

Saturday

A good recap of the Falcons 1969 season, detailing the players and where they came from. Head coach Norm Van Brocklin had an affinity for many of the players he had coached in Minnesota, including receiver Paul Flatley.

Babysat the girls on Friday night.

Went to a birthday party this morning for the daughter of our friends who recently flew back from overseas.

The party was at Hannah's parent's beautifully restored home in downtown Woodstock. With the Nowells, Foxes, Joe, and David.

Christians continue to be beheaded in the Congo, though you rarely hear these stories in the mainstream media.

JACK MORRIS  [SABR Bio] is the only pitcher to work more than 9 innings in the 7th game of the World Series, in 1991 against the Braves. He received Cy Young votes in 1981 (3rd), 1983 (3rd), 1984 (7th), 1986 (5th), 1987 (9th), 1991 (4th), and 1992 (5th). From 1980 through 1989 Morris won 162 games, 22 more than runner-up Dave Stieb.

Players enshrined in both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Mary’s, Ontario and in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

Player Canadian Cooperstown WAR

Roberto Alomar.....2010...2011...67.0

Sparky Anderson..2007...2000... -1.2

Vladimir Guerrero..2017…2018..59.5

Roy Halladay.........2017…2019..64.2

Tommy Lasorda....2006…1997.. -1.3

Pedro Martinez......2018…2015..83.9

Tim Raines.............2013..2017...69.4

Jackie Robinson....1991..1962...63.9

Gary Carter.............2001..2003...70.2

Andre Dawson........2004..2010...64.9

Fergie Jenkins........1987..1991...84.2

Larry Walker...........2009..2020...72.7

Anna made yet another appearance on High Country social media.