The boys are learning a new sport this summer courtesy of their uncle Chris. We spent a couple of hours at the driving range spraying golf balls around and putting on what was essentially green painted cement. They did well enough and enjoyed themselves. I figure that if we work hard enough we might be able to play Little Harbor (par 3) in August or September.

Ethan won the putting contest here as you might have guessed by Alex's reaction. Can't talk it into the hole kid, keep practicing! I was surfing through the channels later on and landed on the US Open. Ethan watched with me until he made the comment "Wow daddy, you were all over the place at the driving range today". Hrrrmph, 'click'! So much for watching golf. The beat down on the putting green was hurtful enough, thanks.

Baseball, finally.

AKA: Be careful what you wish for!

Greetings!

I thought the winter would never end. I felt for a while like I was living at the Garden and visiting home occasionally. There was indeed a lot to be thankful for like lots of work, mild weather, no snowblower accidents...but I was all done with the brown and grey world I occasionally stepped out into between other things. I was ready for the green grass and the warm air. April finally came and off to Fenway I went.

I have been helping to coach my kids teams since they started and this year there was a shortage of coaches so I took a team of my own. They wifey offered to help out so I got me a new glove and gave her my old one that was broken in already. You know, even thought the new glove is almost broken in at this point I still like the old one better. I think if I ever have the occasion to play fat guy softball I'd have to go with the old one but I'm sure the new one will eventually become as reliable. It's a tough process breaking in a new glove. Not just the work of it but enduring the stiffness and having balls pop out of it as I'm teaching kids how to play a fly ball. It really doesn't add to my credibility if you catch my drift.

3 new gloves in the breaking in process and old faithful in the back. 

Alex moved up a league and was ready so we got him a new glove and Ethan want's to be a catcher when he isn't pitching so I picked up a mitt for him. The one the league provided last year was like a board, kind of takes the catching right out of catching! The breaking in process involved a lot of ball throwing and mallet pounding, both good exercise, also lots of lanolin oils and clamps. I've never had such soft hands. (From the oil not the clamps!)

The team is a nice bunch of kids who are really coming along. Amy is learning lots about the game and manages the dugout and keeps score. A couple of other parents help out and we try to have a lot of fun with it. Here's the "official" team picture this year:

The 2012 BYB West League Padres

They have no problem staying loose.

Alex plays in the next league up and they have enough coaches so I get to sit back and enjoy his games. Occasionally I've volunteered to run the scoreboard but it's easy and you get the best seat in the house! The chain link obstructed view really isn't as bad as the picture makes it look. You're right on top of home plate with a comfortable chair and a snack bar directly below you. Kinda nice actually.

So, between working the games when the Sox are at home, two little league games and one practice a week for each of the boys that's pretty much been May for me. June looks to be much of the same so if you need me you know where I'll be. Bring a glove though, foul balls hurt!

The Prius

Just got the "official" your loan is paid off, you own it letter from the bank today for the prius. 170k+ miles, 40 something oil changes, 1 set of brake pads, 1 set of tires, 3864 gallons of fuel later and 8 somewhat regular services later it's still running at 43mpg. I did the math recently and the total savings I got from driving this when compared to a 25mpg car or small truck was $200 more than what I paid for the car.



[UPDATE]: Of course I should never write this sort of thing because my luck is a fickle beast. Two days after my original post I went down to Southern RI for work. When I got out at around 4pm I started my car and got about 100 yds. when my dashboard lit up like the Vegas Strip. The car still ran OK still so I kept on my way listening intently and feeling every bump in the road with paranoid interest. It was a very windy day and  my little car was blowing all over the place so I was sure every lurch was the last dying effort before it finally bit the dust.

 I did detect an ominous humming sound from the front end as a constant amid the barrage of false positives. The pitch was changing with my speed not the engine RPM so I was encouraged by that but still thoroughly distracted when the speed limit changed from 55 to 40. I went by the State Trooped in the median at about 60. He was a nice enough guy but not nice enough to give me a break. This was turning out to be a very expensive day. Thankfully the rest of the ride home was uneventful. I grabbed the mail on the way into the house and enjoyed the coincidence of a letter from the Massachusetts DMV arriving that day. Must be the title, or as it turned out a letter saying they were not going to issue me a title because I never turned in my NH title when I moved to MA. As you might recall from the beginning of this post I just payed off my car so I've never even seen a title fro this vehicle. It has been locked away in the finance companies title vault or something since I bought the car. There's my three I hope. We'll see what the shop has to say. Stay tuned!

[UPDATED UPDATE]: I brought the Prius in to Toyota and they confirmed my worst fears. The big $4000 battery pack needed to be replaced. ($4000-$1400 core charge so more like a $2600 part. I told the sales manager I thought it would not be worth it to dump that kind of money into a car with 170k miles and I might have to start looking at a new car. He said that they'd like to hold on to the car for another day or two so they could confirm that I was indeed screwed. No problem, I rented a car from them and between working a crazy winter schedule and the kids activities I started looking at cars. The Service Manager calls me a couple of days later and lets me know that Toyota decided to cover the battery itself and I would only have to pay for the labor! It was like winning the lottery! Well, not exactly but I really didn't like any of the cars I looked at the thought of going right back into a car payment was pretty sucky so being able to milk more time out of this car was pretty cool. I figure it frees up about $500/month for other endeavors. Not too shabby. It's been almost 4 months now and everything's running smooth (and hopefully I didn't just jinx it by posting this like the last time!) I think my next ride might just have to be a Toyota.

Blogging from the backyard...

We had a perfect lazy Sunday today. The weather was great so we had a fire, some frosty beverages, threw a football around, shot baskets and played a close game of corn-hole with the boys, Ethan eventually won it for us with a walk-off 6 point round where Alex and Amy were one point away from victory! The video is from the middle of the games so no big celebration unfortunately. (Also note, no Alex's were injured in the making of this video)  

Found on a wall at the boys school

We went in for a parent teacher conference and saw this picture of an Alex in his natural habitat.

Bretton Woods 2012

A view of Mt. Washington from the top of West Mountain

Our annual ski trip was last weekend. The boys took all-day lessons Saturday and 1/2 day on Sunday. By the time I got to ski with them on Sunday afternoon they were tearing it up! Alex is a "Blue" level skier (intermediate trails) and has done a couple of black diamond trail sections. Ethan is a "Green" level skier but he was fine on blue trails from the top of the mountain. They both had an awesome time and were sad they couldn't ski on Monday before we hit the road home.

Brendan, Brooke, Jim and Amy all geared up on a chilly day

We've been going on this annual trip with the same group for 10 years or so and we always have a great time. It started out as a big party with some skiing in between but these days we all have kids so the dynamic has changed quite a bit. We used to switch mountains every year but a few years ago we landed at Bretton Woods. It has a good variety of terrain and the lodging choices suit our needs very well. It's a beautiful spot too and I don't think we are moving the trip away from there anytime soon.

Some of the gang L to R:
Matt, Pam, Brad, Jim, Brooke and Jane

A heated game of Sorry Sliders 

Alex Ethan Simon and Ben on the slopes

I was able to get some video of the boys skiing. I especially like how after Alex wipes out he gets right back up and skis down the hill. (Ethan is in the orange jacket and Alex is in a grey coat with a white helmet.)

Family

I'm going to start using this page for our family blog again. Check back for pictures and news about us. Here's a few pictures just for fun.  

The boys ready for baseball last summer. Alex is a very good pitcher and Ethan was our catcher for much of the season. They both did really well and are looking forward to next season!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the boys. The way summer should be!

Alex taking in the scenery during a hike at White Lake State Park in NH

Ethan tearing it up on the go-carts!

The boys first day of school. (2nd and 4th grades)

Hanging out at the zoo with my monkeys. 

Turkeys everywhere!

Alex looks a little leery about this goat. Ethan, not so much.

Tornado exhibit at the Museum of Science. 

Enough of that sciency stuff, we have places to go!

Goofy kids around midnight on New Years Eve. 

More goofy kids around midnight!