Two More Beach League Losses

I was actually able to make it to one of our two game weeks this last Saturday for beach league.  Unfortunately, as the title of this post suggests, we lost them both.

We actually started out ahead in the first game, but the team we were playing didn't have any subs.  When subs started arriving, they began to pull ahead and eventually beat us.

We lost the next game by an even wider margin.  We just couldn't get it together.

On the plus side, the weather outside was absolutely beautiful.  Sunny and pleasantly warm.  On the negative side, I had to leave right away since my ride had to leave right away.  I so wanted to take a few minutes to jump into the ocean.

Looks like it is going to be at least 10 degrees cooler tomorrow.  We just have one game, but hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of playing a team that has already played a game and win one before the tournament the next Saturday.

Word Association for April 22nd

Okay, it's time for this week's word association.

1. Steady :: As she goes
2. Sleep :: Bed
3. Thumb :: Finger
4. Straighten :: Up
5. Wake up! :: Morning
6. Diminish :: Returns
7. Scarred :: Straight
8. Horn :: Blow
9. Pace :: Running
10. Correspondence :: Letter

Week at a Glance

So let's take a look at this last week, shall we?

Saturday and Sunday, I was at the LA Times Festival of Books.  It was a fun as always, although the event doesn't seem to be as big as it used to be.  Still, there were several authors to visit with and plenty to see and do.  And I had enough fun I managed to go back on Sunday.  Actually, there were three middle grade authors there on Sunday only that I needed to get autographs from.  Saturday, I spent the day with Angelique and my friends Luke and Sarah were there, too.  Sunday, I was by myself, so I left after I got that last signature I needed.

Tuesday, I drove down to Anaheim for dinner.  A Trixie friend from Australia was in the area, so I had to get together to meet her.  Diana was really nice, and it was fun getting to talk to her face to face.  Vivian and her daughter and Angelique and her boyfriend were also there.  It was a great time.

Currently?  My car is in the shop.  After my allergy shots yesterday, I had a hard time getting it started.  Finally did, however it died again almost right away.  After that, it ran until I got it to my mechanic.  Unfortunately, they don't seem to be able to replicate the problem.  They kept it over night to play around with it more today.  I hope they can figure out what it is and fix it so I don't get stranded somewhere.

I think that's about all the news on my end for the time being.

Word Association for April 16th

Here we go with this week's word association.

1. Shame :: Embarrass
2. Business :: Decision
3. Cats :: Dogs
4. Green :: Purple
5. Politics :: Religion
6. Boston :: Marathon
7. Healthy :: Adult
8. Pint :: Beer
9. Owner :: Business
10. Sorrow :: Death

Yes, I know that business was one of our words and then I used it for owner, but honestly that was the first and only thing that came to mind.

Men's Beach League - Report 1

Yes, I'm doing Men's Beach League again this year, and I suspect the results will be about the same as last year.

If you remember, last year we barely won the final game of the tournament.  This year, my team is on another losing streak.  And yes, it's a different team than last year.

Considering I've missed two of the three weeks we've had so far, I can't claim sole responsibility.  And I'll admit that always makes me feel better.  Of course, I'd feel best if we actually won.

The one game I went to was very close.  We were way behind at half, but brought it back to close out at 11-13, which I call a respectable loss.  I had a couple of wild throws that were caught and a few good throws as well.  We only had a couple of subs, so I got plenty of playing time whether I wanted it or not.  I don't tend to play as much in league games, but I can't complain too loudly this time.

Unfortunately, there is a fifth team this year, so every team gets two games for 3 weeks of the regular season and one game for the other 2 weeks.  Even worse, the two weeks I have to miss are some of our two game weeks.  As a result, I'm only going to get to play four of our eight regular season games.  Hopefully, we get at least two games in the tournament in May.

Word Association for April 8th

I'm ready.  Let's go with this week's word association.

1. Rabbit :: Wonderland
2. Judged :: Guilty
3. Produce :: Fresh
4. Bank :: Check
5. Standard :: Issue
6. Mister :: Mrs.
7. Tissue :: Sneeze
8. Summon :: Jury Duty
9. Selfishly :: Keep
10. Chatting :: Talk

Job Update

So I really should give you a job update.

The update is, there is no job.

The very part time very temp job I got after my last job ended in February only lasted a couple of weeks.  From there, I haven't gotten anything.  Yes, I've been looking.  Yes, I've been talking to the agencies I've connected with already.  But nothing.

So what have I been doing?  I've been changing the formatting on my review blog of old reviews to match what I'm doing now.  I'm up to April of last year and need to go through August.  I'm trying to read more, although I'm still no having the time for that I would like.  And I'm trying to stay home and keep from spending too much money.

I know God has something lined up for me, but I just need to find it.  That hard part is the trusting and waiting.

Word Association for April 3rd

Can you believe it's April already?  Let's forget about it by doing this week's word association.

1. Escape :: Death
2. Deals :: Good
3. Throat :: Swallow
4. Pipe:: Smoke
5. Flood :: Water
6. Nose :: Smell
7. Crooked :: Deal
8. Flashes :: of Inspiration
9. Noisy :: Crowd
10. Corrupt :: Politician

Irvine Lake Mud Run - Spring Break at the Lake 2014

Yes, I got back in the mud on Saturday.  And my opening mud run of the year was once again the Irvine Lake Mud Run.  I really do like this mud run.  It's scenic with a fun course.  And, of course, it has the mud slide.  Think water slide although you drop into a pool of muddy water at the bottom.  Tons of fun!

This time around, they had a few new elements.  One was a log walk/balance beam.  I actually surprised myself by making it over the first, flat beam.  Then I hit the one that went up at an angle.  I made it two or three feet in and fell off.  They also had giant spools.  I'd run into those at other mud runs, and I'm not a fan.  Fortunately here, they had ones small enough for me.  Usually, the ones they have for guys assume the guys are taller than my 5' 6".  Finally, there was a mud pit with a chained link fence over the top.  No cheating and walking through this one.  I talked to someone at the finish line who said he turned over and used the fence to propel himself along.  I hadn't thought of that, but I'll have to try it next time.

What surprised me was how uncrowded it was.  Normally, this mud run is packed and there's a few minute wait for the mud slide.  This year, there wasn't a line, so I went down the slide twice.  I've mentioned I love it, right?  Then I found a short line for the showers.  Unbelievable at any mud run.  I'm not complaining, but I hope it doesn't mean that the mud run fad is dying.  (Then again, if it got people to lower prices some, I wouldn't complain.)

I'm so tempted to go back for the summer run, but I've already got two I'm doing in June.  A guy can't do them all, right?

I wound up doing this mud run alone, but that turned out to be for the best.  I connected up with some friends from Santa Rosa who also live in So Cal afterward for lunch.  We sat and talked and ate and laughed for a while.  Then we went back to one of the couple's apartments and played games and laughed some more.  It was an absolutely wonderful afternoon.

Not that I let that end my day either.  I managed to sneak in a book signing on the way home.  Rhys Bowen was out promoting her most recently mystery.  I hadn't gotten to chat with her for a few years, so it was fun to do that.

Surprisingly, I didn't crash as soon as I got home, but I did sleep hard that night.  Well worth it, however, since it was a great day.