Weekend at Bobble's

This weekend wore me out. Left work at 520 pm Friday. Helped get the girlies to bed. I slept on the couch because Millies’ pop up bed blocked my path to the bathroom. Plus the two dogs would be barking when Will got in after midnight. Then at 1 am Shivonne had quietly crept downstairs. I tucked her in on the couch. Later C came downstairs and took her up with her. Will had a rough night in the ER and was 2 hours late getting home – at 3 am. He was up at 730 am. So I didn’t get much rest.

Saturday AM we took the girlies to the park. A busy playground, and we walked down to the pond to feed the fish. Saw an old friend with her daughter and granddaughter. I hardly recognized her. Then to Chickfila to eat lunch.

Then I headed to southwest Marietta to pick up Ceil’s sewing machine from the repair shop. A long drive through Saturday traffic – and no one was home. I stopped by four thrift stores. Only bought one royal blue Braves cap. Also Burger King for two tiny servings of ice cream. Then C texted – the man was back at the shop, so I had to retrace my steps to pick up the sewing machine. Didn’t get home until almost 5 pm. Everyone else had taken a nap.

Put the girls to bed around 830. Ceil just went to bed at the same time. I messed around and went to bed, but took Okie outside about 1 am. Will arrived at 2 am. M woke up early Sunday morning, before seven. So another night without much sleep.

After taking a shower he came downstairs and baked some excellent cookies for our picnic, with a touch of salt to make them even tastier. They were the hit of the picnic. Then M worked an 11 hour shift. When he got home he went right to bed.

The girlies woke up early as well, so after oatmeal we tried to get them to rest before the afternoon picnic. Will and Millie took a long nap.  I was reading the 63 page book The Fire Cat to Shivonne. I kept falling asleep as I read it. And that was before the 4 hour picnic out in the sun. Will went with us, and got to hang out with our friends from Sunday School, and the family from overseas.

Lots to eat at the picnic: burgers, hot dogs, salads, cookies, birthday cake. The kids played in the creek. Will left for work at 315. Got home at the same time Anna pulled in to visit the girlies. She’d just gotten back from a girl’s trip to Destin, and was picking up her dog from her in-laws. Caleb was over on the Atlantic coast, and sent a video of a huge sea turtle climbing up onto the beach to lay her eggs.

Ceil took the girlies home to sleep in their own beds. I crashed on the couch. All the lack of sleep and being out in the sun really drained me. Re-watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (I need to read that book). I went to bed early and skipped the gym to get some extra sleep. Will go to bed early tonight as well.

DENISON: the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca concluded yesterday. It is one of the five “pillars” of Islam, works by which the faithful seek to earn salvation. It typifies religion, our attempt to climb up to God by our deeds. In Christianity, by contrast, God climbs down to us—in the Incarnation of his Son and then in the giving of his Spirit who indwells his people (1 Corinthians 3:16). Here’s the problem: In our desire to be our own god (Genesis 3:5) and use religion as a means to our ends, we can make a relationship of grace into a religion of works.

DAVID ROSS [Wiki Bio] played 15 years, for 7 different teams. Ross attended Auburn University before playing for the Dodgers, Pirates, Padres, Reds, Red Sox, Braves, & Cubs. Among his teammates from 14 countries were 4 Cy Young Award winners; 3 Platinum Glove winners; 8 Rookies of the Year; 2 future managers; 8 World Series MVPs; 4 All-Star Game MVPs; 7 MVPs; and 8 Hall of Famers. Ross is the first player to appear on Dancing with the Stars. In March 2017, Ross was paired with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold. They finished as runners-up to winners Rashad Jennings & Emma Slater.

Saturday at the Park

Took the girlies to Mabry Park, which was a happening place on a Saturday morning. Fed the fish.

I am on a 19 day streak of eating out every day.

21 Zaxbys milkshake, Norcross

22 Johns Creek Longhorn with Eric, Angie, Brad

23 Chickfila in Covington with C

24 Rustic Table Pawlay's Island with Anna & C

25 Gio’s Italian Pawley's Island with C

26 Chive Blossom Cafe Pawley's Island with C

27 Lewis BBQ in Charleston with C

28 Hanser House in Litchfield Beach with C

29 Chickfila Augusta with C

30 Burger King ice cream in Norcross

31 Waffle House in Buckhead with Reid

01 Pappasitos Windy Hill with C

02 Burger King ice cream in Norcross

03 Wendys, Taco Bell, & Truist Park

04 Duluth Diner with Jonathan, Leo, & Josh

05 Truist Park with Matthew

06 Burger King, Wendys free fry Friday

07 Burger King, Chickfila in East Cobb

08 Picnic with friends 

While I was out and about today, I hit up four thrift stores. My only purchase: a royal Braves cap: a New Era snapback that barely fits my huge noggin.

I always remember how a curved glass china cabinet mysteriously broke when Will’s cousin was visiting when they were kids. Tomorrow Shivonne and Mille are coming for the weekend, as well as big Okie. I call him Oak, because he’s as big as an oak tree. Will is sleeping over as well, though he works from 4 pm – midnight on Friday Saturday and Sunday. So we may have something break here. We’ll see.

A high school Junior from Thomasville, GA qualified for the US Open Golf Tournament this year. He qualified at Piedmont Driving  Club by shooting 63 - 63 in one day. His name is Mason Howell.

Just here in the past few weeks we have become official members at JFBC, after all these years still having our membership at SPdL. So this week I received an email requesting that I become a deacon. Too much going on this year and next, including other opportunities to better use my God-given talents and abilities.

Pet peeve: “designer” name tags with the name printed down in one tiny corner of the already small nametag, in font so small the you can’t read the name. Whose great idea was that? What is the one purpose of a nametag?

In Pine Straw Plaza in East Cobb, next to the busy Willy’s Mexican restaurant there’s a dentist office, with the dental chairs right there in the window – right where all the Willy’s customers can see. Not a good look for the dental patients or the Willys customers.

MLB rules you may not know, both written and unwritten. Several regarding uniforms. Today the Braves wore their Friday home red jerseys while on the road in San Francisco, paired with the road grey pants and road all navy caps. A first. Perhaps in an effort to break out of their funk. Didn't help. Another one run loss on a walkoff, dispite a strong starting pitching performance (below). Michael Harris wore his pants legs long again, and he homered.

If anything is going to drive me off Twitter, it's the stupendous opinions of so many Braves "fans". It just gets worse and worse.  

Article: beautiful places in Georgia.

Article: science is just not science any more. It is broken and needs to be fixed.

The Seattle Mayor Backs Anti-Christian Rioters, and calls the Christians holding a prayer service as the bad guys.

Rare ‘doomsday fish’ wash ashore, in India and Australia, sparking fears.

Timothy Keller: “If God is not at the center of your life, something else is.”

Girls In The House

The girlies arrived today.

Question of the day was how to fix the Braves, and the experts on social media offered mostly stupid, off base answers. It is unfortunate when the Braves were picked to be one of the best teams in baseball. They’ve been missing four all stars: Strider and the other starter, Acuna, and the free agent leftfielder. They’ve lost their last 7 one-run games. Their record in one run games is 9-17. Turn that around and no one is complaining.

Braves released Blewit, the pitcher who blew it yesterday. No confidence in the closer, who may now be replaced by former all star Craig Kimbrel. The Braves are making personnel moves almost every day, but little seems to be helping. GM AA says that there may be major moves at the trade deadline and offseason. Braves are still a much better team than the Falcons, Hawks, or Atlanta United.

GT is getting new artificial turf at Grant Field. Seems like they just got new turf a couple of seasons ago. GT QB Haynes King is being touted as one of the nation’s best QB’s. He’ll have to compete with Clemson’s Klubnik for All-ACC first team.

I pulled a Reid Whitaker and took Friday off from the gym this AM. Yesterday out in the sun for so long drained me, wore me out. After cutting the grass I had in nearly 13000 steps. Went to bed shortly after ten and slept hard for an extra hour, but still tired.

The long walks in the heat wore out Matthew as well. When we got home he took a long nap. C was busy getting ready for the girlies, and made at least 3 trips to the store. She never got around to fixing dinner, so I made myself a couple of chicken & rice quesadillas.

Looking out the office window today, you'd think we sold wood.

HERMAN FRANKS [SABR Bio] is the only Utah native to become a major league manager. He was born in the mining community of Price, UT on 04-Jan-1914. He managed the Giants for 4 seasons (1965-1969) and the Cubs for three (1977-1979). He managed four Cy Young Award winners, four Rookies of the Year, seven MVPs, seven Hall of Famers, and the first Japanese-born player to play in the majors. He was one baseball’s most infamous sign stealers. It was Franks in the center field bleachers with a telescope during the 1951 NL pennant race.

Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

Sad ending to what had been a good Braves game. Good thing my TV doesn’t pick up many of the games.

Last night M organized supper. C had baked a chicken. We also bad black beans and rice, cole slaw, and chips & salsa. I dropped my car off at the shop. Luckily the repair was minor, so I can return to the office tomorrow.

This morning I skipped the gym and worked from 7 -11 am. Got a My workout was walking the 1-1/2 miles each way to the ballpark. Cloudy but humid. During the game the sun broke through. With the threat of rain I wore a navy brave tee, my old braves road cap, long pants and my “waterproof On Cloud Monsters. Long line at the Third Base Gate. 

We both got our personalized State Farm bobbleheads outside the park: me a potted plant and M a kittycat.

Checked out the new kids area and Blooper’s new clubhouse. Went down to the A List Gate and got our designated driver Cokes. M was looking forward to the free popcorn, so we each grabbed a couple of boxes. Arrived at our seats just as the game was starting at 1215.

Nice to see Riley, Acuna, and Baldwin hit home runs. Kid goes up to the plate and swings the bat. Ozuna’s deep fly to center drove in two more. Nice to see them score some runs. Perhaps trying to change his luck, Michael Harris switched from his high socks look and wore his pants down to his shoes. Smart man. Not sure it helped.

We took a break from the heat and went to the team store to get a nice navy Braves hoodie. Ate the free popcorn and ice cream. After one inning a DBack tossed a ball in our direction, but it bounced high over our heads to a kid who needed it more than us. Had a nice long chat with my lawyer friend who just stepped down as the Braves 400 Booster Club president. He’s surely well into his 70’s but still working. Must need to, to afford those front row seats.

The last time the Braves lost after leading by 6 runes after 8 innings, Willie Mays had the game winning RBI. Maybe it's me. Perhaps I need to stay away for a bit.

After the game the Braves finally called up Craig Kimbrel. Not sure he is the answer. Not sure what the answer is. Perhaps GM AA's strategy of giving long term contracts to young players isn't working out. Harris, Kimbrel, Albies, Murphy. I dunno. Buy me another beer.

Just learned that Trees Atlanta planted a seedling grown from the Spiller Magnolia (that used to occupy centerfield in old Ponce de Leon Park, across from what is now known as Ponce City market). The seedling was planted outside Truist Park, and is named Maggie. But today I looked for the magnolia but couldn’t find it. I’ll keep looking.

Had a shady walk back to M’s truck. He drove me over to pick up my car in Roswell. Swung by RaceTrac for a drink. Was home by 4 pm. Will cut the grass this evening after work.

Denison: 30 million more US adults are following Jesus today than just 4 years ago, led especially by “younger generations.” God is moving in other parts of the world as well, places where the death of the church has long been predicted. In France, 10384 adults were baptized on Easter, a jump of 46% from last year and double the number in 2023. The number of teenagers baptized was ten times higher than in 2019. God is moving dramatically in the UK as well: Bible sales increased 87% between 2019 and 2024. Twice as many are making first-time commitments to follow Jesus compared to 2021. Last year, more than 2 million tried the Alpha course, a ministry designed to answer seekers’ questions and lead them to faith in Christ. This is the highest ever. A woman came on an online Alpha course with a painful case of shingles. The Alpha leader prayed with her, and the shingles vanished. One church saw 120 respond to the gospel on Easter. A PhD researcher in Wales collected 600+ stories of people being healed. A youth ministry saw 630 professions of faith last year. Last Christmas, more than 100,000 believers took the gospel to the streets of London, singing carols and sharing the gospel. There were numerous reports of salvations, healings, and revivals.

DBacks 8 Braves 3

Tuesday: worked til 510. Traffic on 285 looked bad so I took backroads to the ballpark: PIB to Spaulding, then cut through the neighborhood from Riverside to Heards Ferry, then left on the access road to Powers Ferry to Windy Ridge. Stopped at Taco Bell for the Tuesday dollar deal: a crunchwrap supreme. Awfully thin.

Inside the ballpark I went straight to the team store. Took me forever to decide on a purchase: a snapback trucker cap. Might exchange it tomorrow for a hoodie. Grabbed a free koozie and designated driver Coke. Game had started by the time I made it to my seat. Perfect weather for the game.

Just to my right was a tiny little service dog, in the lap of a Diamondbacks fan. I had a closeup view of the Tool Race.

Nice to see Drake Baldwin slug a home run. Braves rallied in the 8th but Ozuna was robbed of a game-tying extra base hit. Then the DBacks broke it open in the 9th.

Strider struggled. With all the injuries, the Braves most probably rushed him back into the rotation before he was ready. Lang suggested he change his number from 99 to 94. Get it?

It was Fredi Gonzalez’s first game back with the Braves. Did a good job waving home Olsen to score from first. No one wears Fredi’s old number 33, but he was assigned 86 instead. Not sure why, but most of the Braves coaches have been assigned numbers in the 80’s: 80, 82, 83, 85, 88, 89. Eddie Perez now wears 95. Weird.

When I got down to my seat the line for free ice cream was long, but I was able to grab a cup in the bottom of the 7th inning. Happened to be wearing my new Johnny O Braves polo and my Puma basketball sneakers. Once home I stayed up a little late before going to bed.

This morning I went downstairs and was getting ready to leave. I was standing next to the French doors looking out at the back yard. A deer was right outside the door, looking at me. Then on the way to work there were four deer grazing on a hill by the river. While I was looking at them, I almost hit a 5th deer that was crossing the street.

I goofed around and missed out on the gym this morning. Will cut the grass tonight if it doesn’t rain. Lunch meeting today catered by Duluth Diner. I ordered a Philly cheese with chicken. Coworkers Eric, Brad, and Angie are all out of the office today.

Scientists claim to possess evidence that Adam and Eve "really did exist".

Chinese nationals charged with smuggling 'biological agent' into US.

Denison: the Ukrainian drone attacks could be bad news for the US if our enemies use a similar strategy against us. The Defense Department warns that China could be developing a launcher that can fit inside a shipping container and be used against our vessels. With as many as seventy-two million shipping containers around the world, it would be impossible to identify and neutralize all such threats. The Chinese have been buying large amounts of farmland next to US military bases; they could be staging grounds for drone swarms that would make the Ukrainian attacks pale by comparison. According to one defense expert, it’s “only a matter of time” before Ukraine’s tactic is taken up by Russia and other hostile states.

Millie Turns Two

Had a good time at little Millie's birthday party. She turned two. I didn't get many good photos of the birthday girl.

Left work at 520 and it took an hour to get down there. Not bad. Peachtree Industrial to 285 east to 85 south. The GPS had me get off on the Buford Highway Connector, then back onto 85 south – then take the next exit to 14th Street. Left on State, right on 10th, left on Northside, right on MLK to Will's street.

Joel and Charles Norman were there, and their wives Addie and Annie, and their young kids. Also Ceil and Matthew and MC's mother. Homemade Mexican food with strawberry shortcake, ice cream, and blackberry cobbler for dessert. Millie is quite the talker, having mastered her ABC's and Doe Ray Me and the phrase "birthday cake". Ceil made her a birthday crown out of felt, which was a popular item. Was after 930 by the time we got home. We were exhausted.

Lifted weights at the gym this AM. Wendys had free fancy Frostys today, so I got one plus a Junior Baconator for $3.18.

Braves fired their third base coach. There have been several baserunning mistakes. Sure hope Fredi Gonzalez doesn't replace Snit as manager. I'd rather have Walt Weiss.

Braves are 4 games under 500. In 2021 the Braves were 3 games under 500 on August 1st but still came back and won their division. Might be tougher this year. 

A&C played gold this past weekend.

Still catching up at work. Sounds like I can start training new team members soon. Fifty million things to do.

Throughout my career I have tried to not make a big deal about my title at work. I sign my emails just with my first name, and maybe my phone number. What's the verse in Romans (12:3) "…I say to every man among you not to think of himself more highly then he ought to think, but to think with sound judgement…" I've mentioned how I see people in their 20's with "Director" as their title, when the little company they work for doesn't even have a board of directors. Where I work people have titles, and when the company is forced to give someone a raise they add "senior" to their title. Coworkers Angie and Rachel have been here like 8 years, and both have "senior" in their titles.

This is my 38th year with the company. For the past several years my title has been "Solutions Advisor". Not sure what it means. Not sales. Not fabrication. Not purchasing. Not shipping / receiving. Not production. A little of everything. There's lots of "Senior Solutions Advisors" around the company, most all with much less experience than me. Have I complained about this before? I've been told that in my various job moves around the company, that I am "at the top of my salary level". It hasn't been a big deal to me. I'm not going to threaten to quit if I don't get a raise. But it has said something about how much I am valued as an employee. I've mentioned this pet peeve a couple of times recently, within earshot of my boss.

Today at work something prompted me to check to see if my job title had changed on the company website – and it has, to Senior Solutions Advisor. Finally. Thanks I'm sure goes to my very attentive and observant boss. Wonder if the "promotion" comes with a raise?

Paying It Forward

After church we were getting in the car. C mentioned how hungry she was. I asked if she wanted to go eat at Pappasitos. Not her favorite but she wouldn’t have to cook, and we had a balance on a gift card to use up. She finally said yes.

The parking lot was crowded, but they had already showed C to the table when I got in from parking the car. But then we sat there without menus long enough to get worried. Finally menus and chip arrived, then the waiter introduced himself. It was his first day, shadowed by a veteran. Things went well from then on. While we waited I mentioned how this may be the last time we eat at Pappasitos, since we’d finally be using up our gift card.

We almost always split the chicken fajitas, but C was in the mood for something different. Evantually she decided on chicken quesadillas. I ordered a chicken burrito. Before it arrived as usual I said a short blessing. The food was good. The ladies right next to me were talking about church and Bible Study, but I couldn’t hear much of their conversation. Most of the diners were Hispanic, but I’d noticed a white couple next to the ladies, directly in front of Ceil. The blond lady was wearing pink, her husband had short hair and a t-shirt.

As we were finishing up the veteran waitress who was helping the rookie asked how our meal was, and asked if anything was wrong. Something seemed a little odd with her questions. She asked if we knew the lady in pink (we didn’t). The waitress said to not make a big deal out of it, but explained that the lady in pink had paid for our meal.

Ceil immediately hopped up and walked over to thank the couple, as did I. They were originally from Texas and loved to eat at Pappasitos. They had moved to Tennessee and this was the closest one. Not sure if they paid for our meal because they had seen us praying or what. C said that they had prayed before eating as well. Later C said that since we didn’t use the gift card, we’d have to come back.

Got home and watched Scottie Scheffler win in a blowout, as did his young son. Interesting to hear jack Nicklaus descried how and why the various greens had been designed, and predict how each putt would break.

Ceil had bought this little kitchen from IKEA for Millie’s birthday. We didn’t start putting it together until 8 pm last night. Big mistake. Didn’t finished until after 11 pm. Lots of pieces and screws etc etc etc. C was also trying to bake a birthday cake.

Up early to run at the gym this morning. Lots of work trying to catch up, but I have to leave at 5 pm. Grabbed an ice cream from Burger King.

W drove his fam all the way home from NE Virginia on Saturday. Didn’t get home until like midnight. Last week Matthew stayed at their house to take care of Okie. Supposed to have Millie’s birthday party tonight.

CARL FURILLO [SABR Bio] preserved a no-hitter by throwing out a runner at first from the outfield. On 27-Aug-1951, Ralph Branca had held the Pirates hitless at Ebbets Field. In the 3rd inning Mel Queen lined a one-hopper to right. Furillo gunned him out at first by 2 feet. Branca lost the no-no in the 9th, but won a complete-game shutout. In 1953, teammate Roy Campanella was again voted NL MVP; fellow outfielder Duke Snider finished 3rd. Brooklyn’s Carl Erskine tied Furillo at 9th. Furillo won the batting title that year. During his career, Furillo recorded 151 outfield assists with a high of 24 in 1951. He had 9 seasons with 10 or more assists.  He was known as the “Reading Rifle” for his hometown & rifle-like throwing arm.  [Roger Kahn in “The Boys of Summer” writes that fans came to Ebbets Field early to watch Carl Furillo warm-up: “Others came out, thousands of others, long before the formal competition started, to watch the warm-up throws.  You could hear gasps at Ebbets Field and sometimes, an hour before game time, bursts of applause.”]. After his playing career, he helped install the elevators in the north and the south towers of The World Trade Center. Furillo worked for the Otis Elevator Company who had won the contract.

Denison: every year, 700-1000 people attempt to climb Mt Everest; and 60-70% succeed. It takes 2 months to make the climb; the experience costs between st$35,000 and $100,000. Most mountaineers train specifically for Everest for at least a year. More than 340 climbers have died attempting to reach or return from the summit.

June Bobbleheads & SGAs

Once again my far from complete list of MLB & MiLB bobblehead and other interesting SGA’s and special ticket deals for the month of June. What did I leave out?

And speaking of special ticket bobblehead deals – there sure seem to be more and more of them – have you noticed? Is this the team’s way of giving fans what they want while at the same time trying to control costs? Offering a niche item to a select group of fans, making they pay a premium for it? I’m surprised I haven’t heard many complaints!

Bobble of the Month: everyone seems to be buzzing about the June 22 Paul Skenes bobblehead. Will the Braves Usher bobblehead be as big a deal as the OutKast double bobble from 2023? Asking for a friend.

Will the June 4 Truist Park replica be a hot item? I have a rare Gwinnett CoolRay Field replica that I’ll sell for the same price. Hit me up!

Jon Stone what’s the Daytona bobblehead given away on June 14? Thanks for reading, BTW.

I can’t wait until June 28 – the Inland Empire “Kittens” jerseys. Have you seen these beauties? NEED !!!

6.01 SUN HOU tiara kids 5-12

6.01 SUN ATL AAGPBL BH spec tix

6.01 SUN ATL pool float 3000 kids

6.04 WED ATL Truist Park replica 15000

6.05 THU ATL beach tote bag 5000

6.05 THU TB Junior Caminero BH

6.07 SAT CIN Tyler Stephenson BH

6.09 MON Ports Blake Theinen BH

6.10 TUE Gwinnett XL tshirts 500

6.10 TUE MIN Prince reversible jersey

6.12 THU Rich ring SGA

6.14 SAT Phillies Kyle Schwarber BH (kids 14 & under)

6.14 SAT Inland Empire caps

6.14 SAT Daytona BH 1000

6.15 SUN ATL teddy bear 3000 kids

6.16 MON Rays Greek Heritage jerseys

6.17 TUE ATL Spencer Strider & pet Kipnis BH 15000

6.18 WED CIN Elly De La Cruz sliding BH

6.18 WED ATL Usher BH 15000

6.19 THU TB Shane Baz BH

6.20 FRI Angels city connect tank tops

6.21 SAT LAD Ice Cube BH

6.21 SAT Fond Du Loc Spiders Shantymen BH 500

6.22 SUN PITT Paul Skenes Superman BH special ticket

6.22 SUN ATL Peachtree Street Festival

6.23 MON CLEV Superman BH special ticket

6.26 THU Inland Empire bucket hats  

6.27 FRI Lansing Lugnuts Peanuts Woodstock BH 1000

6.28 SAT Inland Empire Kittens jerseys “NEED!”

6.28 SAT CIN nice trucker caps

6.28 SAT Rome Austin Riley camo BH 1000

6.29 SUN ATL strider growth chart 3000 kids