Cleaning Out the Cluttered Closet

Cleaning Out the Cluttered Closet?  Codewords for...I really don't have a dang thing to write about this morning...at least not much, if anything, worthwhile.

I stopped over at Nick's yesterday afternoon and we discussed the upcoming trip to the Lake Huron/Au Sable River area north of the "thumb" in the western section of lower Michigan....hopefully we will get a good rate at the Blue Horizon in Oscoda...a perfect spot, not much crowd that time of the year..Summer is over, the fishing season is winding down, weather turning colder, and the hunters are still a few days away from Deer Gun Season, which begins for two runs, starting November 15th, ending on the 24th,  with the 'second' season on November 29th and 30th...so no crowds to deal with is the perfect time to try our luck.  Of course in case the fish aren't biting(like last year), we will take a supply of beer, Drambuie, and hand rolled Cigars...just in case, you know?

The rest of this week looks busy...at least football wise:  Tonight an 8th grade game, with undefeated Wayne Trace hosting Hicksville.  Then Thursday a night game in Celina with it's 7th grade team having their annual season ending Night Game at the Stadium against Elida.  Friday I'm with Garry's crew, filling in at Head Linesman for a game at Hicksville, against Green Meadow opponent Holgate.  Saturday JV at Spencerville in the morning, and so far it appears that Sunday, Sam and I will work a Tournament Game in the Rec League here in Celina.  Next week games get more sporadic, then things crawl to a halt for me, as I get ready for the Michigan trip....Dartball begins in early November, and then Basketball Scrimmages kick off after Patricia and my annual pre Thanksgiving trip to Wisconsin to see her folks.  Time does indeed fly.

Glancing at other things going on.....

The Atlanta Braves, much like the Reds, had their season end at home last night, with San Francisco coming away with a 3 games to 1 taking of the Division Series.  The Giants will now travel to Philadelphia to play the Phillies starting Saturday.   My guess is the Phils will take this one in 5 or 6 games....meanwhile Tampa Bay will try to complete their improbable comeback in Florida tonight.  Losing the first 2 games at home, the Rays took the next 2 in Texas and now will face the Rangers again tonight, with the winner taking on the Yankees in the AL Playoffs.

Looks like the Shine is off the great Bret Favre....it seems he should have retired with grace, not only did his Vikings fall to 1 win 3 loses on the season, it now appears Bret has some sexual text message "issues":

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-vikings-favre
As they say, no fool like an "Old Fool"...a damn old fool in Favre's case....he should have stayed in Green Bay, out of the limelight, and retired a hero...now is seems he's the next "victim" of the media building you up, so they can tear you down....that's what happens when you try to get close to a media whore Brett...sorry about your luck(not really).  She's looking for a payday Bret, and you are going to be her "Sugar Daddy".

In other news...The Obummer and his Democratic Cronies are diving for cover while the November 2nd Avalanche is nearing, and it appears there is no escape.  The House of Representatives is likely to go into the hands of the GOP, and the Senate may as well....even if they don't, the shine is off King Barry, and his ability to govern is going to be handicapped come January...who says there isn't a higher power?   Obama's rats are abandoning his sinking ship in record numbers, and even the stupid middle-of-the-road "moderates" who put this fool in office are heading to the right.....The Non-Bias "Real Clear Politics" site takes into account all polls, even those like Bloomberg and Newsweek lap dogs for Obama and Company...the numbers don't lie, the Dems are in deep dung:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/elections/

The big question is...if and when the Republicans take charge, will they govern as Conservatives, or go back to their Big Spending RINO(Republicans in Name Only) ways?  Time will tell.....

Enough Clutter Cleaning for this round...

back later>>>>

Photos-All from Nick and my trip to Oscoda last fall...the Salmon, unlike our great year in 2008, were not to be ours...but the Blue Horizon was a great find and we plan on hitching our horses there again this time around.  (1) Nick left, me on the right, on our first night at the Blue Horizon, cigars and a bottle of Drambuie got the fishing trip off on the right foot.  Looking out over Lake Huron and the Beach on a Sunday Sunrise, The Foote Dam, our fishing stop...we always fish there for a few hours at least each trip...no luck last year.  And finally our cottage a 25 yard walk to the beach....and you should have retired in Green Bay Bret....

Cigars, Smoke Rings, and "The(Cincinnati) Reds is Dead"

Bye-Bye-Cincinnati___

The professional baseball season, for all worthwhile  purposes came crashing to an end for this fan last evening...as the Cincinnati Reds were swept out of the National League Playoffs by the 2 time defending NL Champion Philadelphia  Phillies.  3 games to none, without much of a whimper...no hit last Wednesday, error prone loss on Friday, and the top hitting team and top defensive team in the National League got little hitting and another costly error in last nights 2-0 lost in Cincy to put the Reds season at rest.

We Reds fans should, I guess, take solice that they are young, with a bright young pitching staff and some up and coming players....hopefully they will be able to build on this season...after all it was the first time in years that Reds fans were actually paying attention after July 4th...Cincinnati is usually hopelessly out of the race by then.  So it's wait until next year....only this time, we actually have something to look forward to.

Sam, home from Ohio State(who kicked ass on an over matched Indiana team Saturday to take over #1 in the polls after Alabama was ambushed at South Carolina), after working the video for the Buckeye-Indiana game, and I worked the last regular season football double header in the area Recreation League....and headed home for supper.  Then I grabbed more than a couple of beers, a couple of hand rolled torpedo cigars and plopped myself out on the back steps.  I had decided to not watch the Reds and Phils battle, I would catch most of it on radio, by far the best medium for baseball...good broadcasters can paint a picture in your mind...so who needs the yapping lap dogs of WTBS telling you what you can already see?  I'd much rather listen to long time Hall of Fame Broadcaster Marty Brennaman of the Reds.  Marty has been pretty negative the past few years, but with the sad state of the Reds until this year, who can blame him?  He's still one of the best...so it was me, the radio, cigars, and a few beers last night...after all I was sore as Hell after 3 1/2 hours of football officiating, and needed some sort of support group.  Cigars and Miller Lite seemed to be that, and after the Reds fell behind in the first inning...they would come in handy.

Smoke Rings____

I never have been a cigarette smoker, nasty things.  I've watched them kill off and ruin the health of more people, friend, and family,  than I could count...and I watch in amazement at the dumbass young folks who still get hooked the expensive things these days.  Absolutely no reason on this green earth to get hooked on the poison that is contained in those things that cost $5 and more a pack.  Cigars, on the other hand, are something else...now don't get me wrong, I don't claim that Cigars are "safe" or healthy for you...but neither do the have the poisons that are included in their nasty little brothers.  For one, you don't inhale Cigars(unless you're a damn fool), and how many does a person really smoke?  I may partake in an average of 1 per week through out the year...50 to 75 tops...and I only smoke them in the warm weather months, and on our annual Salmon Fishing Trip to Oscoda, Michigan, I may smoke a handful.

So even though I'm not a smoker per say, I have learned to blow "smoke rings"...guess that's how bored I was with listening to the Reds get swept out of the playoffs last night...so Cigar in left hand, camera in right, I decided to see if I could get some "flash" shots of a cigar ring or two.  The results are in the top photos...not some of my best work...but hey, I was about 4 beers and 2 cigars into the evening when I decided to become "Rembrandt" with a camera and cigar.

So that finished off the weekend, which included a 75 mile(each way) trip north to West Unity, Ohio, to officiate a JV Football game on Saturday morning...beautiful weather through the weekend, which will continue today with another summer like day in the mid 80s with bright, intense, sunshine...after that the sun will stick around for the next 2 weeks they say, just a shower or two in the forecast mid week..but temps will drop to the more October-like mid 60s by Thursday.  Today a MRSI Board Meeting, then will help out with daughter Anissa this afternoon...JV game here in Celina was cancelled due to injuries in the whipping they got a Kenton Friday night.  The young Bulldogs were down by 38-0 at the end of the first quarter, en route to a 58-14 loss.  Celina falls into a tie with the Wildcats for first in the WBL...but with a 5 win 2 loss record overall, this team is much farther along than anybody could have predicted.

For the most part, I have a busy week of football on tap, including games on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Night, Saturday Morning, and a Rec League Double Dip in tournament play on Sunday.....after that, things will begin to wind down, and I can get ready for Basketball season and Winter....not sure I'm really ready for either.  But come they will...and I will get my legs in shape for a different sport yet again.

back later>>>>

Photos-Smoke rings from my 1876 Torpedo, while listening to the Reds season come to an end....and the Celina Bulldogs Cinderella season struck Midnight...now the young Dogs will need to regroup, still tied for first in the WBL.

HAIR! ~Summer's Last Blast? ~ Portraits of Vietnam

One thing, but not the only, I have noticed about getting older is...the older you get, the faster your hair grows...well that is if you have any left.  Whether it's the hair on ones back, in your nose, ears, and even on the place where you want it most...the head, it grows faster...kind of like time flying as you age..  Now I don't mind the hair on top growing quicker...even though I hate haircuts.  Bringing me to the first topic of today...

I will finish this, then head to George's to get my ears lowered...and it's only been 3 weeks, ah for the post Air Force days when I didn't get but one or two a year...now I'm up to 15 or so per year.  Add that to the fact that I have to bring out the Male "Nair" and let Patricia slap that cold stuff on back and shoulder every couple of months just to clear out that wild stuff that grows out of control...

No fill-in High School Football games tonight, so I can watch the Reds try to stave off the heavily favorite Phillies in game #2 of the National League Playoffs....tomorrow I make a long trip north for a JV game...no real profit in that drive to West Unity Hilltop, but I did a Varsity Baseball game there last Spring, and I do like to travel on occasions to different locations....Patricia will be at a conference in Dayton, so a drive and football on a sunny warm Fall day seems in order.  Speaking of sunny days....

Summer's Last Gasp__?__

Summer is on the verge of reappearing for the next 5 days or so....low to mid 80s are on tap for western Ohio through Tuesday of next week....sounds perfect for beer drinking and enjoying a couple of hand rolled Cigars out of doors.

Sam will be home from OSU Sunday...he works his first High School varsity football contest tonight in Columbus, Franklin  against undefeated New Albany, is ranked #1 in their region...he works the video booth for the Buckeyes against Indiana tomorrow, and then drives back for a Sunday double header with me, for the final Rec League regular season games that afternoon.

Photos of Vietnam Military Police____

Over the past decade I have made many friends, both from reunions, and on-line with guys who, like me, served as "Cops" in Vietnam....most were Air Force Security and Air Police, but others, like Jim Stewart, were with the Army.  Lifelong friends from this area also ended up as MPs, while I ended up, like my buddy from Scott, Ohio, Bill Marshall, an Air Force Cop, who were sent off to Vietnam.  Rick Pearson, Mike Knapschaefer, and Mike Schilling, ended up on the Army side.  Anyway back to Jim Stewart...Jim served as an Army MP in Vietnam about the same time as I did....he's an author, blogger, and most of all a Conservative Patriot.  Jim has been publishing video/photos(even one of me and my Nha Trang SP buddy Harry Bevan from 1969 on our "Summer Vacation")...you can find his latest installment right here:
http://vimeo.com/15631710

The first 3 installments(think I'm in #3 and the photo on the left is in the forth installment) are also linked up with the 4th but not final clip...Jim is working on another.

Jim also published the book  "The Angel From Vietnam" as well:

http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Vietnam-growing-daughter-healing/dp/1413723187

Jim Stewart is indeed an American Patriot...drop by and view his works.

Off to get a haircut, then enjoy the "summer" weather, have a great weekend....

back later>>>>

Photos-Yep, me this morning before getting my hair cut...still have a full head of graying locks, a bit shorter, and a lot more gray, on both the top, and on the Mustache than it was back in 1979 when daughter Anissa came along.  Jim Stewart has 4 sets of video photos of fellow Army and Air Force "Cops" from Vietnam...this is me, back in 1969 working the Civilian Gate at Nha Trang with the 14th SPS....he is also an excellent author, the cover is from his "The Angel from Vietnam" available at Amazon.Com.

Autumn Beers, Cigars, and No Hitters/A Black Conservative says "Obamalism" is Dead

Yesterday was one of those couple of handful of days in this part of the world that was "perfect", or at least near perfect, weather wise.  Not a cloud in the sky, a good breeze and 70 or so for a high.  Today and tomorrow look the same, even a bit warmer, and it is scheduled to work it's way into the 80s for the weekend.  "Indian Summer" before the first frost?

So I got out put the back windows in the Jeep Wrangler...a pain in the arse to say the least.  I love using the Jeep in the Summer with the top down, but regardless there is no safe or easy way to get all the zippers and Velcro back in exact position come Fall, when it's time to return everything on it back to it's place for cold weather driving.  Of course with all the openings in the soft top and accompanying equipment, sometimes I figure I might as well drive "topless" 365 days a year.

After that was done, I fired the mower up and completed what may, I repeat may, be the final mowing of the season.  Once done there, I headed over to mom's and did the same for her lawn....with 80s still on the horizon, I'm not positive enough to store both mowers away for the year, might have to wait until the return from Michigan fishing in early November to do that.

With the mowing and hedging done about 2:30pm I drove out to Wally World on Celina's east side, and picked up some sliced Roast Beef and a 12 pack of Sam Adams fall brews called "Harvest Collection".  It contains two regular Sam Adams Lagers and 10 bottles(2 each) of five other kinds, those being , "Octoberfest", Dunkelweizen, Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Black Lager, and Irish Red....it didn't take long to pick out a favorite, Black Lager was the first tried and by far the best....somewhere in the line of my favorite "Heavy Dark Beer",  Guinness Extra Stout.  By the time I finished for the evening, I had tried the Harvest Pumpkin(watery), Octoberfest(not bad), Dunkelweizen, cannot remember :), and both bottles of Black Lager....not a big Red Ale fan, so I will stick that on my buddy Nick or somebody else, and will save the regular bottles of Sam Adams for after football tonight, while watching the MLB Playoffs...more on that later.

Anyway Reagan and I sat outside in the sunshine amid perfect fall weather, seasonal beer, and a good hand rolled cigar!  A good way to waste away some time...the fenced-in back yard, while not fancy in any way, shape, or form, is by far my favorite place on this earth to just kick back, when the weather is good, and think about nothing.
_____________
"Doc" Halladay hammers the Reds____

I'm sure my Uncle Jack DeVore was smiling up in Antwerp last night, and somewhere in the promised land, so is his older brother my late Uncle Bill DeVore....mom's two younger brothers are and were, in Uncle Bill's case, big time Phillie Fans....

Roy Halladay had my Cincinnati Reds number last night....a complete game no-hitter and a 4-0 whitewashing of Cincy in the opening best of 5 playoff game.  One batter, a Jay Bruce walk, away from his second perfect game of the season, and that walk away from equaling Don Larson's perfect game back in the 1956 World Series for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers.  The Reds fell down quickly, a run in the 1st and 3 more off Edison Volquez in the 2nd, and the Reds were Philadelphia toast.

The Reds will try again, behind ace Bronson Arroyo on Friday evening....it will be no easy task, as the Phils will march out Reds killer Roy Oswalt(23-3 lifetime against Cincinnati) to counter.  The Yankees came back to defeat Minnesota and the Texas Rangers knocked off Tampa Bay to claim road wins and 1-0 series leads in the American League playoffs....Atlanta travels to San Francisco to open that NL series this afternoon.

Larry Elder says "Obamalism" as we know it is...R.I.P.____

Larry Elder is a black Conservative, which of course makes him a hated man by white liberals, the lame stream media, and the poverty pimping whores that follow  Barack Obama, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackass...Three useless racist pieces of garbage as the world has ever seen.   Elder says...have luck come January Barry, whether the GOP wins the House and Senate or not, your bullet proof margins in both houses are done:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20101007/cm_uc_crlelx/op_2415599;_ylt=AvzjCK7q0c5eW79M3LGAPBNH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTNncWVjNnJvBGFzc2V0Ay9zL3VjLzIwMTAxMDA3L2NtX3VjX2NybGVseC9vcF8yNDE1NTk5BGNjb2RlA21wX2VjXzhfMTAEY3BvcwMxMARwb3MDMTAEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNvYmFtYWxpc20tLWE-

My major concern is not whether the GOP(a gutless group that doesn't know how to govern when in power) will win, because they will make major inroads regardless....my major concern is how much damage can this Kenyan fool and his lackeys in Congress and his Administration do between November and January when they are run out of town?

Junior High football tonight in Celina....watch some baseball tonight....not much else on the personal agenda.

back later>>>>
Photos(as always double click for larger views)-top left, The Sam Adams Harvest Collection, 12 pack...The Jeep almost ready for cold weather...I'm not!  Reagan outside in the Autumn of her days...the old Airedale is nearing 12 1/2 and slowing down considerably.  Roy "Doc" Halladay celebrates with his catcher Carlos Ruiz after last night's playoff no-hitter over the Reds, and Larry Elder says The Obummer programs and goals are D.O.A.~Good Riddance!

The Baseball Playoffs Begin/ So does the NHL/Never vote for a Democrat...

The Reds head for Philly this afternoon to take on a Philadelphia club that is as hot as any in the Majors at this point...the upstart Cincinnati squad are huge underdogs at this point, especially given the veteran pitching rotation that the Phillies will toss in the first 3 games...tonight and Friday in Philly and Sunday evening in Cincy.

Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, against the Reds young Edison Volquez(tonight) and Johnny Cueto(Sunday), sandwiched around veteran Bronson Arroyo, who will go on Friday.  Philadelphia clearly has the advantage, at least in starting pitching.  I think in the bullpen staffs the Reds have a slight edge, as they do in defense.  But that starting staff gives the Phils a clear edge....the teams appear even in offensive production.

Last night I traveled to Antwerp for a JH Football game.  Antwerp is home of my Uncle Jack, a long time Philly fan....as was his late brother,  my Uncle Bill DeVore...Mom's family were from Chester, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, hot beds for Philadelphia baseball....both the Athletics, in the early days, and the Phils these days.  I, however,  root for only one Philadelphia team...The Hockey Flyers, the "Broad Street Bullies"...have ever since the early days when they were kicking opponents asses, both on the ice and the scoreboard....speaking of which, the NHL Season kicks off this coming week....in fact the Flyers take on hated rival Pittsburgh tomorrow night in the opening of the Pens new arena...meanwhile other NHL teams will open in Europe again this year:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_NHL_season


The only bad thing about the NHL Season, well actually two bad things...The season lasts forever, and Winter is not far behind, once the season starts....

Ohio's Governor, Ted Strickland_____

Ted Strickland...NAMBLA Ted as I call him, was a left wing Congressman from the hilljack country of southern Ohio, when he decided to run for Governor of Ohio 4 years ago...it was easy pickings.  He was running against a Black Conservative, who the left wing media did it's best to destroy.  Add that to the fact that the Republican Governor at that time, Bob Taft, was a complete moron, who surrounded himself with incompetents and crooks.  Despite Ted's penchant for supporting pervert rights, and hiring and coddling criminals who would work in the Governor's Manison with free reign....Ted had it made, he is probably wishing now, he had stayed in Congress...because it appears that Strickland will be one term and done.


John "Wall Steet"  Kasich____

Another former Ohio Congressman, John Kasich, is Ted Strickland's opponent in November...and with a 6 to 10 point lead in the polls, Kasich, who worked in Wall Street, and for Fox News, after leaving Congress, it appears will be the next Governor of Ohio.

As for who I will vote for....guess I will hold my nose and vote for Kasich...not that I trust him farther than I could throw him and Strickland together...Kasich is a Wall Street insider, IMO, Wall Street is the reason this country is out of control....bank bailouts, Stimulus BS,  and being "To Big To Fail"...Kasich and his ilk are part of the problem.  Strickland on the other hand is an Obama supporting leftist....no way in Hell I can support him.  As bad as Wall Street is, The Democrats(Marxists) are worse...both the Dems and GOP need tossed out on their collective ears....


While I cannot find much good to say about Strickland's term in office(I also cannot blame him for the business and "White Flight" from Ohio, it's a national problem...if you're going to starve, why do it in a state run by union trash and where the weather sucks?)...I do agree with two of his positions....he is a big 2nd Amendment Supporter, or that at least is what he says....and he, despite being a former pastor in the Methodist Church of Perpetual Misery, is not afraid to fry the murdering scum that stalks the urban and other areas of the Buckeye State:

http://www.whiotv.com/news/25297272/detail.html

Piece of trash #8 for 2010 is set to assume room temperature today.....the most since my birth year 1949....for that Ted I salute you...and here it is only early October...we may hit double digits before Christmas....

No game tonight...so with the temperatures set to hit the low 70s with sunshine...think I'll do some lawn mowing...mine first, then over to Mom's to take care of 2 birds with one mower.

back later>>>>

Photos-top left...Guns and hunting(even though I no longer do) have always been a part of our family...I have hunting license from my Great-Grandfather William Waldron dating back to 1913, and the photo shows me with dad's 12 gauge and a Red Fox he dispatched of in 1951 near Scott, Ohio....The Phillies are favored against our Reds starting tonight.  The Flyers kick the NHL season tomorrow in Pittsburgh, and Ted Strickland, despite the guts to fry murdering scum and his support for the 2nd Amendment, appears headed for a one term wonder as Ohio Governor...that's what happens when you tie you ass to Obama's Wagon.

As the World and Worm Turns....Venice, Florida 1958

"Time Flies" is the old saying....and once you reach adulthood that is certainly the case.  Here is it is October, the High School Football regular season is more than half over, and the State OHSAA Basketball Meetings start this week.  The local meeting is at Lima this Thursday, but I'll have to skip that one due to a Football game in Celina...will pick up one in Piqua or somewhere else close-by before the deadline.  Round Ball Scrimmages begin in a month....it seems like just a few weeks ago I was putting on the baseball gear for the season, and heck, that was 7 months ago.  2010 has moved along at warped speed....

The Major League Baseball Playoffs begin tomorrow with a triple header on WTBS....The Reds-Phillies game is the middle contest.  I am lucky enough to have tomorrow and Friday without football so I can catch both games between Cincinnati and Philadelphia.  I should also be home in time on Sunday for the 3rd and possible final game of the best of 5.  On paper and in the sports media, the Reds are huge underdogs, but they play the game on the field, so we will see....

Changing Photos-

At the top you'll find  a couple of photos of me and others...the top one has always been a recent mug shot, and the 2nd usually a old photo of days past in my life....I have changed them on a regular basis over the past few years...but have decided to switch the older shots more often(every week or so)...and will change the top one to go with the season or activities every month or so....Why?  Boredom I guess...like Obama, I believe in change...only mine doesn't screw a nation of people over, unlike the Kenyan Fool, I make my own decisions, I don't rely on a group of hard core Marxists to feed me information.  (Insert daily cheap shot at Barry the Wonder Boy here)

Anyhow, today's photo was taken on my 9th Birthday Party in March of 1958.  We lived on what was then The Venice By-Way.....needless to say that area has change and is hardly recognizable today, some 52 years later.   With me at the party that day, a Saturday, were our neighbors, The Blackburn Boys, and younger sister Marty.   I'm the one with the Catchers Mitt, 3rd from left...on my left was my classmate Teddy Blackburn, the rest are his brothers of various ages...along with Marty on the far right.

The Blackburn family was one of the founding families of the Venice/Nokomis, Florida, area back in the early part of the 20th Century.  Although an historic local family, these Blackburns were regular folks, just like the Houseworths...and as I recall, they lived a simple life, just like many of us did back in the Eisenhower era.  The house in the background was theirs...and it was surrounded by acres of Orange and Grapefruit Groves which we spent many hours investigating.  Teddy and I spent hours along with friends, Mike Graff, Jackie Dye, and others exploring the bays, creeks,  and wooded areas off the By-Way....and I've told many a story from Wild Boar encounters, chewing and getting sick from Plug Tobacco, finding unexploded World War II shells and ammo.....it was a different and excellent time.  2 TV channels which we seldom watched, no computers, no video games,  no cell phone, no IPODS...no crowds.  For all the things we didn't have, the things we had and adventures we created, more than made up for it.  It was at that point, "The Best Years of Our Lives"....and the photos help rekindle those years past.

Off to Antwerp for a Junior High game tonight....Sam has picked up his first Varsity Football Contest this Friday in Columbus...he's a veteran of Varsity High School Baseball....but now getting his first shot under the lights for a Big City Football Game....I was nervous the first varsity game I did...I expect him to be the same....but he is with a veteran crew, and should do fine working as a Back Judge.

back later>>>>

Photos-Top Left...also from the Spring/Summer of 1958.  Older Brother Mike and me.  We both played for the Venice Elks in 1958.  Mike was with the "big team" and I played catcher for the "minor league" team for the first year.  The Reds open in Philly in tomorrow October 6, 2010.

Baseball Playoffs and Nutty Left Wing Politics

Fall is now in the air in western Ohio.   We did get some rain on Saturday, and that was replaced by winds, clouds, and cooler temps....after low 60s for today and tomorrow, the next week or so looks to be in the low 70s with sunshine and no hint of rain...perfect early Fall Weather.

Saturday I traveled south to Versailles for a JV game...and Sunday I worked a Recreation Football League double header here in Celina.....tonight back here for a Freshman game between Celina and Lima Shawnee.

MLB Playoffs are set_____

San Diego was eliminated on the final day of the regular season yesterday, and the playoffs will go on without needing a play-in game.  Atlanta clinched the Wild Card in the National League, while the San Francisco win over the Padres clinched the West Division for them....The Yankees fell to the Wild Card in the AL, while Tampa Bay won the East....Minnesota and Texas fill out the American League playoff picture.   The Cincinnati Reds will travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday to open the National League post-season:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp

The Reds face a rough row to hoe, but anything is possible.  Manager Dusty Baker has picked 3 right handers, Edison Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, and Johnny Cueto, to pitch the first three games....Homer Bailey and rookie Travis Wood have been left out of the starting rotation....Woods a left hander had the Phillies no-hit in a perfect game going into the 9th inning earlier this season....I would have put him in, in place of Cueto...but that's why Baker gets the big bucks.  It's his choice.

Obama The Nazi?

 I've never made it a secret that I believe that Barry Soetoro(Barack Obama) is the absolute worst President in history....Marxist, commie stooge, sock puppet of left wing financier George Soros, etc.  The guy is not up to the task....he is as dumb as a rock(where the Hell are the College Transcrips?), and basically a useless tool of the American left, and Islamic terrorists.

Now it appears the big eared Bozo has taken a page out of the Adolph Hitler handbook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT0qgjxJyRA

These clowns will do anything and everything to stay in power and attempt to persuade  the gullible public...whether or not the gutless GOP takes control of the House and/or Senate next January, the left still own the courts, and have the lap dog media in their corner....things will get worse before they get better.

Meanwhile the Obummer's ratings continue to bottom out:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_month_by_month

All-in-all Americans appear to be sick and tired of both parties...the losers in the Democratic Party are in power, and they likely will get the heave-ho come November 2nd.  But will the GOP be able to govern from the right, or will they get to Washington and find they like the spot light, and fall into the same trap as they did in 1994 and again under Bush2?.

back later>>>>

Trimming the Airedale/October and a new Blogger personal Record

Fall weather has truly set it....the good early fall weather that is.  Yesterday Garry and I traveled to St. Henry, where, along with a 3rd official, we worked a Junior High 7th/8th grade double header between rivals St. Henry and Marion Local...the visiting took both ends, and I was back home by 8pm.  The wind was out of the north, but he temperatures remained pleasant...from the mid 70s at the start of the first game, it was still in the upper 60s at the end.  Today is a little cooler, but still near 70 for a high, while the weekend may have a shower and be 10 or 15 degrees cooler.  No varsity game subbing tonight, but a JV contest at Versailles tomorrow morning and a Rec League double header on Sunday inCelina.

Reagan, the Airedale turned 12 on July 6th....now almost 12 years 3 months old, she has become the 2nd longest living dog of that breed that I have owned....only our old Stud Dog Max, 12 years 7 months when he passed away in 1988, live longer.  His mate Rags made it a month short of 12 years, passing away in July of 1987.  The rest of the dozens of the breed we have kept, usually pass away at 11 or so years...that seems to be the average age Airedales live to be.

Reagan and her sister Xena,  from Jack and Ivy, are both still alive...my college roommate Mick Szabo and his wife Sue, owned Ivy, and Xena, while Jack was ours, he passed away, just after his 11th birthday in 2007.  Anyway, Reagan with her allergies, has lived longer than I ever expected....how much longer she has...I can only guess.  She sleeps most of the time and has slowed considerably in the past few months...but still eats well, and is off the medications she took for years....dogs?  The can be more expensive to keep than kids...but she is a part of the family and probably our last Airedale....36 years of 1 or more sharing the house and I'm not sure if I have it in me to raise and lose another.

Yesterday I took her to the Celina Pet Center for her final(probably) trim....they had to trim her close, because of some matting and her skin allergies...so the dog I picked up at 3pm looked much different than the one I took in at 8am.  Photos Below:

This morning I decided to get a trim myself....shaved the goatee, and almost took off the mustache, but decided to keep it for now....always hard to get rid of, since I have had some sort of facial hair for probably 38 of the last 40 years...only going without for a few months at a time on a couple of occasions.  So I took off the goatee and trim the upper lip to a 2 or 3 day growth.  And added the new look to the upper photo at the top. 

Blog Numbers Up...Sometimes there is no rhyme or

reason for the numbers that sitemeter has for individual blogs...but my numbers reached an all-time high for "The Rant" in September.  3191 visitors, which topped the old record set back in January of this year at 2948, and page visits were 4936, beating the record set the same month of 4699.  No rhyme or reason....Summer is usually slower, but that the way it works...Winter is busiest, since most folks spend more time indoors...I'm not sure why the numbers were up in September, but I appreciate the folks stopping by.

Enjoy the weekend....back later>>>>

Photos-top  Max top and Rag tree a local squirrel in our back yard in Dodge City, Kansas, in 1980....and Reagan before and after her trim yesterday.

Cincinnati Reds~Hangover after the Clinching?

The off again on again trip to Centerville to hook up with youngest son Hal, was eventually put back on yesterday afternoon.   Even though the Reds had clinched the NL Central with the dramatic Jay Bruce "walk off" home run on Tuesday, we decided to go, and see if the Reds would continue to push towards opening the playoffs at home, or be content to(in all likelihood) face the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round.  Once we saw the starting line-up for Cincy, we knew that latter was probably in the cards.

The Cincinnati starting lineup looked like a hold over from the Louisville Bats Triple A team, the Reds affiliate.  But the weather was perfect, clear, no wind, and about 72 at game time.  The traffic was reasonable, and with Hal driving from their place in Centerville, we arrived in plenty of time...after stopping at Skyline Chili for  supper and a beer, much cheaper than Ball Park fair, we headed out looking for a 'scalper' to secure good tickets.  Since the division was clinched, we figured to get decent seats for a good price...it didn't take long.  Without much wheeling and dealing, we secured seats right behind the Reds first base dugout, for $25 each....about 2/3rd of face value.

The Reds started Johnny Cueto on the mound, but other than that, Cincinnati went with subs and minor league call ups....it showed, and despite getting the starters in late for some pinch hitting efforts, Cincy fell 2-0.  That loss, while not guaranteeing a road opener in next weeks first round, made it likely that they will open in Philadelphia next Wednesday.  That will be a tough series, but the Reds have shown a penchant for making things happen....I am looking forward to it, especially since my Mom,  Uncle Jack DeVore, and their late brother, my Uncle Bill, grew up in the shadow of Philadelphia...Jack as was Bill, is a rabid Philly fan...making it even more interesting.

The game went fairly quick, so instead of spending the night in Centerville, I decided to head home and sleep in my own bed...I arrived well before 1AM, and got up early this morning...just in time to take old Reagan in for a trim and bath.....the Airedale is now 12 years 3 months old....and this may indeed be her last grooming before she leaves Planet Earth...but she has defied the odds thus far, and continues to amaze us with her continued "hanging in there".

Soccer...Ohio State ties Number #1 Ranked Akron_____

While Hal and I were in Cincinnati, oldest son, Sam was working the video for the Ohio State Men's Soccer game with top Ranked Akron.....The Zips had not given up a goal in over 1000 minutes this season. The Buckeyes put an end to that string, and after losing the lead, they tied the game at 2-2 with just 2 seconds remaining in regulation.  The game ended tied...the video(which Sam shot, and wasn't happy when the crowd blocked him out after the tying goal) is here:(takes a few seconds to load)

 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=17300&id=725459&DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=87752&SPID=10409&DB_OEM_ID=17300

The crowd was well over 7200 fans, and the story is on the OSU Athletic Website:

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87752&SPID=10409&ATCLID=205003540&DB_OEM_ID=17300 

All-in-all it was a busy night for the Houseworth guys.....Junior High football double header tonight at St. Henry....busy weekend of football as well. 

back later>>>>

Photos-At Cincinnat's Great American Ball Park...the Division Crown is showcased.  The view from our seats...Cueto starts for the Reds, but the rest were subs and minor league types.  Hal and the Old man in our first base seats...at bargin prices.  And Ohio State Soccer does something that nobody has done in 10 1/2 months..scores on top ranked Akron in a 2-2 tie...the video attached is oldest son, Sam's work.

The Cincinnati Reds Hoist The NL Central Crown!

For the first time since 1995 the Reds win the Division...for the first time since 2000, they actually have a winning record.....being a long time Reds fan(since I moved to back to Ohio in 1962) this season has been a joy for Cincinnati fans everywhere:

Jay Bruce hits a monster 'Walk Off' Home Run to put them in the playoffs, 3-2 over the Houston Astros:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QExZqmWsr3s


Now, they need to take care of business to secure a home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs...

back later>>>>

UPDATE Wednesday Morning September 29, 2010___

Here is a better Video of the Jay Bruce  "Walk Off" Home Run to win the NL Central Division...compliments of MLB.COM

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12554775 

The win gave the Reds their first division championship since 1995...this young team is hardly the "Big Red Machine"...and maybe their playoff run will be short, however, the way they have won in the clutch, you never know.

I covered the Reds on Radio and TV for about 15 years, through the bad years and the later good ones(1990-95)....they have been my favorite pro sports team through thick and thin....and I even got to rub elbows with a few of the folks, players, broadcasters, managers(Rose and Pinella), and a certain owner named Marge.

  Photos-Reds Logo, Jay Bruce, and bottom, Reds owner, the late Marge Schott, and me, back in 1991......

Fall is in the air....finally!

Twas a busy weekend to say the least....

After a Middle School game on Thursday, I worked a big game in the MAC(Midwest Athletic Conference) on Friday night...then followed that up on Saturday by working a JV game in the morning, and a fall baseball(5 inning games) double header on Saturday afternoon.  Sunday it was back at it with the local youth Recreational Football League, where Sam and I did another 3 1/2 hour double header.

Wasn't a lot of time for watching much on the tube...although I did catch the final innings of the Reds game yesterday at San Diego.  The 12-2 win clinched at least a share of the NL Central for Cincy...and we got to watch local left hander Cory Luebke toss a couple of innings for the Padres.  Cory, now working out of the bullpen, came in and shut down the Reds for 2 innings, despite make an error on a ball hit back to him....he had the Reds hitters off balance, and looked good in relief.

In addition to my game at Versailles Friday night(a 24-7 win by visiting Coldwater, handing the hometown Tigers their first loss of the season)...I got home in time to watch the Van Wert at Celina game on Channel 44 out of Lima.   The Bulldogs gave the Cougars a 22-0 lead in the first quarter, only to roar back and win 50-30.  Celina moves to 4-1 on the season, and 4-0 in the Western Buckeye League....alone at the top.  I had predicted the Dogs would have a hard time winning a game this season...and here they are undefeated in the WBL, with winless Shawnee coming to town this weekend.   It would be a stretch to think they can run the table, with the likes of Kenton and O-G top play on the road...but, a .500 or better season is better than me, or anybody else that I talked to, could ever imagine.  Congrats to the young coaching staff, and especially to the Bulldogs players who have performed beyond anybody's imagination.

Tonight I stay local and officiate the Van Wert-Celina Freshman game....always interesting for me.  Living in Celina and graduating from Celina High School(1967), I was the voice of the Van Wert Cougars for football and basketball for over a decade on Cable Channel 7 in Van Wert, back in the 1980s and early 90s.  I was also born there, and worked and retired from the Van Wert County Health Department(1990-2002)....so my roots go deep into both towns and schools.

The rest of the week looks like this...Junior High football at Wayne Trace, then Wednesday I head to Centerville, hook up with youngest son, Hal.  Where we will head for the Reds-Astros game that night...I will stay overnight at their place, and head home Thursday morning, in time to work a St. Henry Middle School double header on Thursday evening.

The weather finally broke, although we got none of the predicted rain, the temperatures did cool down significantally, and we are looking at highs in the 60s and low 70s for the remainder of the week...with lows in the 40s and 50s.  That is the week ahead at first glance....nothing out of the ordinary, at least not yet.  We of course will see how things shake out.

back later>>>>