I Don't Think So

2 Braden stories, 2 Austin stories, 2 Product pitches - how tidy!

Yesterday morning at breakfast, Shelley asked Braden to eat his food so she could take him into his room to get dressed before getting Austin to the bus stop (the usual morning routine). Braden said, for the first time anyone of us had heard it, "I don't fink so, Ma-ee". I regret that it is not possible to convey the inflection in his voice, because it sounded just like Shelley when Austin or I ask her something she deems preposterous.

At dinner time, right before we ask God to bless the meal, Braden has started reciting the schedule for his day at Blessed Beginnings Mother's Day Out (he went on Mondays this school year - is done now). "Dub duh pay pills (play with play-dough), duh pay puzzles, duh dub uh duh knack (snack), pay ow-sigh (outside), dub duh uh seep (naptime) and Ma-ee comes back!" Then, having informed us of the daily regimen, he is ready to bow his head and pray. Who knows why...

Austin had some trouble with his campaign speech for Vice President of Student Council yesterday. He tried to memorize the whole speech (about 1 1/2 minutes) and was doing a very good job giving it to me and Shelley Tuesday night. But the staring sea of "poker faces" he described on his 4th grade constituents Wednesday afternoon lead him to forget what he was supposed to say about half-way through. He said he stood there silent for about 30 seconds before coming up with something to say. He was not as disappointed at losing as he would have been had not 1) his best friend Gibby lost the Presidential race, 2) his good friend Cameron won VP, and 3) his good friend Trevor won President and had a victory swim party at his house Wednesday night, which Austin attended and enjoyed thoroughly. He plans to run for classroom representative to the council next year, and this will have been good experience.

The Hamilton Tigers (baseball team) lost their first post-season game on Saturday, forcing them into the loser's bracket game tonight. With us trailing by 2 runs in the 3rd inning (of 4), Austin came up with the bases loaded and 2 outs. He was down in the count 1 ball, 2 strikes, when the pitcher threw a wild pitch. The boy on 3rd stole home, but the pitcher blocked the plate, and, with the throw from the catcher, tried to tag our boy out as he came up short of home. Their pitcher dropped the ball, and was literally sitting on our boy trying to gather it up, with our boy's foot less than 12 inches from the plate. Austin grabbed our boy's foot and tried to pull him to safety onto home plate, which resulted in an "interference" call by the umpire, and an automatic "out" for our boy. And THEN things got crazy.

Our parents were apopletic, the kids were upset and crying in the dugout, and our head coach got so out-of-control that he got thrown out of the ballpark. Don, the other asst. coach, and I gathered the boys up, told them to go out and play baseball, and sent them onto the field for the top of the 4th inning. Our pitcher, who had been wild up to this point, struck out the first 2 batters he faced and, after walking 2 boys on, struck out the final batter of their half of the frame.

So bottom of the 4th, we trail by 2 runs, Austin comes up to bat. Strike one, strike two, ball one... I am about to throw up in the first base coach's box, because if we lose this game, our season is over. Did Austin strike out? I don't fink so! The very next pitch he hit as hard as any he has hit all season, left-center field, all the way to the fence on 3 or 4 hops. Stand up double.

Next boy up hits a scorching line drive to right field, scoring Austin, and scoring himself on a throwing error. Game tied. Next boy up gets thrown out at 1st base, the next boy walks, next hits an infield single. 2 boys on base, one out, game tied, bottom of the final inning. Umpire yells "time has expired". Boys and parents begin to freak out (again)!

(Remaining) coaches gather up at the pitcher's mound, umpire asks the coaches if we know what the playoff tie breakers are? Their coach says "1st tie-breaker is defensive outs, 2nd is a coin toss." Umpire - "That's right, coach. The Tigers have 12 defensive outs, the Cardinals have 10." Their coach holds out his hand and says "good game coach". Tigers win! Tigers win!

Are we done with the post season? I don't fink so! Next game, Saturday, noon! By far the wierdest, wildest, least predictable game of the season. I'm exhausted but had to tell you all the story, especially since I know Mom checks the blog on Thursdays and Fridays when she is at the church.

Speaking of Mom (and Dad), the shameless product promotion two entries ago has already generated over $100 of sales - long story, some other time - so in an effort to increase their odds of getting to New York this year with a couple of bucks in their pockets, a gratuitous plug for Huggable Hangers by Joy Mangano, for sale at Grand 8 Marketplace. These handy hangers help save space in the closet and make small spaces seem bigger. Buy several today!

Finally, Thyrin ATC for Weight Loss has become a big seller of eShop Til You Drop, and I hope you will consider the Buy 2 bottles, get 1 Free promotion while we still have it.

Ya'll don't mind me plugging all these TV products do you?

At least we know what Braden would say!