The Wind Kicked Up Just a Bit

OK, so we had a little tornado here yesterday. That's a line you don't write everyday.

Everything's alright here where I live - some decent-sized limbs came down, but that's OK, I'll cut them up for the fire this winter.

Just across the street a pine tree was toppled over, the roots exposed. A couple of blocks away a park where my son likes to hit tennis balls got some damage.

And out on the bypass a store's roof caved in. Nobody hurt, thankfully. Maybe I'll get some photos posted tomorrow.

The good news is that this was not one of those salmonella-tainted tornadoes we've been hearing so much about.

It Does Not Matter Whether You Win or Lose

I found this story over at Justin Taylor's blog. What a great story! I dare you to remain dry-eyed.

Incidentally, Taylor's blog is worth checking on a regular basis.

North-Siders Keep It Interesting

I have a friend whose job puts him in close contact with the Cardinals AA franchise here in town and from time-to-time he hooks me up with tickets to the ballgame.

A couple of weeks ago he let me know that he could get me tickets to the major league Cards game against the Cubs tonight in St. Louis. Wow. He knew I was looking for a way to get up there with Number One Son before he heads off to college.

However, 18-year-old young men (boys) have several things on their minds in addition to live professional sporting events. Prom, for example. And that is where Number One Son is right now. I told my buddy I would, for the sake of my boy and his date, forgo tickets to the St. Louis game tonight against the long-time rival Small Bears of Chicago. My friend mentioned he could get tickets for another game that Jacob and I could go to in a couple of weeks and I said I would take them.

So we will see the Tampa Bay (don't call me Devil) Rays in St. Louis. Make that the first place Rays of Tampa!

Tonight, however, I did see the Cards and the Cubs on the TV and it was a Whale of a game. (I just made a vague reference to baseball history. Do you know it?) It was one of those games which either team would be sick to lose. St. Louis scored first and put up a 2-0 lead. They had several opportunities to score more, but could not push the runs across the plate. Chicago managed to get one and then St. Louis got one more. In the top of the ninth, the Cubs tied it at 3 on a two-run homer from Alfonso Soriano. The Cards won in the tenth on a two-run homer from Skip Schumaker. Tough loss for the Cubs as it would have been for the Cards - as it stands, though, it's a terrific win in the division against the favorite and a rival. The Cardinals, in first place in the NL Central, hold a one-game lead lead in the loss column over the Cubs.

The Cubs' starting pitcher did not get out of the first inning after issuing 4 walks in the span of six batters. But credit the Chicago pen for holding the Cards down for most of the game. The fact that St. Louis got into the Cubs' bullpen so much tonight might be helpful the rest of the weekend.

As for the vague historical reference: In 1914 and 1915 another major league played a baseball season in addition to the familiar and, by that time even, established National and American Leagues. It was called the Federal League and it's Chicago entry was called the Whales in 1915.

And, in case you are wondering (I was), St. Louis also fielded a team in the Federal League - the Terriers.

There you go.

Ain't It Funny

It is now nearly a month since I last posted and for someone who says he likes to write, well, that's absurd.

What have I been doing? Well, for one thing, I just came in a little while ago from the grocery store where I purchased frozen green beans and 2% milk. See, I'm on this new diet . . .

Not really.

While I was at the store I looked at all the new chocolate bars. Now, this won't be one of those stories about the wonders of chocolate and how desirable it is and how good it makes you feel. (They say it's like love!) There have been plenty of those.

So, just take a moment to remember all those nice things about chocolate that you've read other places. I'll wait. (Yum!)

OK, so I was looking at the new chocolate bars. Starbucks has new ones. Hershey has new ones. They have a variety of fruit flavorings and/or nuts in them and many are made with cacao and the percentage of cacao is listed on the wrapper like the numbers which are posted on gasoline or whiskey or shotguns. Sort of makes you wonder.

"Have you heard about Earl?"

"No. What?"

"You know he always liked candy?"

"Oh no!"

"Yup - he's on 80% cacao now."

"Maybe's there's a program . . .?"

Cardinals 2008

Just 17 months ago, the St. Louis Cardinals were the newly-minted World Champions of baseball. Now the odds of this season's record being above .500 are, I'd say, roughly .500. Obviously, a great deal of the success of the '08 version of the Cards depends on how effective the starting pitching is and, related to that, when (if at all) will the injured starters return and to what effect. Nothing new there. Almost every team, every year, has pitching questions.

The big league Birds are in Springfield tonight and tomorrow for contests with their AA brethren. The Cardinals of St. Louis squeaked by this evening, 3-2. I watched most of it, and, I like many of the young Birds, St. Louis' and Springfield's. I think it was good that St. Louis began turning the roster over and is beginning to develop more of it's own talent. They may fall off a bit in the division, but I think it's good in the long run providing the drafts are effective.

Long and short of it, I think the STL Cards will be in the upper half of the division, not the lower. I think they will be a bit better than the national perception. If the Central is underwhelming again, they may even be in the race, like last year, until mid-September. I am assuming we get at least half a season from each of the four injured starters and that will mean the difference between contending and disappearing.

Random thoughts -

There is no arguing the fact that Tony LaRussa is a terrific manager, terribly sucessful and bound for the Hall of Fame. Why do I still feel about him like I did about substitute teachers? He's OK, but he's not a Cardinal and I'll glad when we get a "Cardinal" manager again. I know, I can't stand prosperity.

I do need to get new glasses, it's been a while since the last prescription change and I can tell it in little ways, like preferring to remove them to read. But there's something I'm seeing that I'm pretty sure an optometrist can't fix. Every time I look at Troy Glaus I see Tom Brunansky. Mercy.

One Face, Two Face, Blue Face, Red Face

I cannot resist this observation from James Lileks, every man's friend. The quote is from a few days ago, but you'll get the drift:

This makes the second “let me explain my religion to you” speech (by Obama) in this election; I would be gratified if McCain came out with his face painted blue and said “Hell, I’m a Druid. Get used to it.”

Funny! I don't know if I should think so, but I laugh every time I read it!

Excuse me while I read it again.

Stuff I See

It is raining to beat the band here in the Ozarks. I sincerely hope there is a band that deserves a good beating. Rush comes to mind. Anyway, as for the rain, the weather guessers are suggesting we will get upwards of 7 to 9 inches over a couple of days. There is water standing, or spilling, everywhere.

I know that vengence is the Lord's. However, I cannot help but feel just a wee bit of glee reading this story. Some of those infamous Nigerian scammers are getting their comeuppance, and in kind, which is especially satisfying.

Will someone explain to me how a woman who was married to Paul McCartney for, what, about 17 minutes, deserves 49 million bucks? Please, I'm not mitigating the mess they've made, the broken marriage or the responsiblility of the father to support his child. But something seems way out of whack with this decision.

Everyone is all abuzz concerning Obama's speech today. From what I can tell, he is standing by his pastor and blaming racism for the problem and suggests the answer is more government. Hmm - this is the agent of change? His speech has been hailed in some quarters and panned in others. A portion:

For the men and women of Reverend Wright’s
generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. . . .And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews.

I am hopeful there are days when Rev. Wright preaches Bible and gives voice to the gospel in church. But this business of anger and bitterness being voiced in the pulpit is tragic. Anger and bitterness are not emotions which are exclusively the domain of any particular people group. We all are tempted to be angry and bitter at times and it is sin to be renounced. It is what the gospel would save us from. Any of us.

Wouldn't You Like to Be a Pepper, Too?

I couldn't resist running this bit from Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News:

Baylor's athletic director addressed one disturbing Big 12 trend after fans threw debris, including plastic soda pop bottles, at the Bears' last two games in Waco.
Maybe now you know why Baptists don't drink. They can't even hold their Dr Pepper.

I admit I'm a fan. Of Dr. Pepper, that is. I also admit it's an acquired taste.

We discovered when we lived in Texas that Dr. Pepper was treated with nearly as much affection as football in the Lone Star state. However, about the only place you could find it in northern New York was in bottles or cans at the store. No one had it at the fountain. McDonald's didn't have it.

Regarding Baptists and drinking, I . . . OH! Look at the time . . .

Leader of the Pack

I have a VHS tape produced in the 1980's that tells the first 100 years of St. Louis Cardinals' history. As the exploits of pennant-winning clubs are recounted, the images are accompanied by music from the era. The portion of the tape which highlights Bob Gibson runs while "Leader of the Pack" plays.

Yes, sir.

If I had to win, I said win, one ballgame and could pick any pitcher to do the job, Bob Gibson would be one of only two or three guys I'd even think about. This article at ESPN.com tells you about his amazing, historical 1968 season.

You don't hear a lot about Gibby anymore and, even though he is highly regarded, I still think he's underrated, even forgotten by most baseball fans. I don't think his dominance is as appreciated as it ought to be.

But they all appreciated him in '68.

Yes We Can. But We Better Not, Part 2

This article illustrates another reason I think Obama is a risky choice for President that we cannot afford.

The middle east is volatile. It is populated by governments and regimes which regard the interests and/or people of the United States with apathy (at best), violent opposition (at worst), or something in between. In the midst of this caldron America's one reliable, Mid-East ally rests uneasily. Israel. A democracy.

And Barak Obama doesn't appear to like them very much. And if that's true, then he is wrong. You have to stand with your allies, particularly democracies and especially when much of the rest of the world will not stand with you.

America needs a free, democratic, strong Israel in the Middle East and if you cannot see that you are unfit for the Office of President of the United States.

Yes, We Can. But We Better Not.

He's a brilliant speaker. Apparently, that's all there is. What he does say plainly about Iraq and immigration would make us less safe, in my view.

He has potential, perhaps. But right now, he makes Jimmy Carter look like Winston Churchill.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

My wife surprised me last night with a Valentine's gift on the day after. There is an old theater here in town, built in the 20's I think, that was refurbished recently and now runs a variety of movies and other productions. It's located off the Square in Springfield's reviving downtown district.

Last night they were showing Casablanca. Get this - I watched Casablanca in a movie theater and I sat in the balcony. I venture to say there are not many Boomers who can say they've had the same experience.

It was a wonderful surprise from my wonderful wife.

My friend Aarik has a nice post over at a vagabond's view concerning Valentine's Day and what it's supposed to be. Don't let the "hatin'" part in the title throw you.

(Incidentally Aarik - I did not purposfully "copy" your blog template, just so you know - discovery of your blog AND changing my template were coincidental and no representation of other blogs, ficticious or real, was intended. Or something.)

Aarik says:

I say you can only truly celebrate Valentine's Day if you are making concerted efforts to show the person you love that you love them the rest of the year. Love is not an easy thing to do or to show (it is certainly more of a verb than a noun) and thinking that you can say all that needs to be said once a year is a bit foolhearted. It would be one of the deepest desires of my heart that my wife know on Feb. 14, June 14, September 14, etc. that she is loved and loved well.

That's good stuff. And it's just what my wife did for me last night.

Our wedding anniversary is June 9 and one Christmas I gave my bride a "coupon" that indicated that, during the coming year, the ninth of each month would be a special day for us. It was wonderful to look forward to the ninth every month and Aarik has essentially suggested the same thing regarding the 14th. As he said, you make the effort all the time.

I hasten to add that, according to his blog labels, Aarik has posted on beards as often as he has love so use with discretion.

I Don't Have Time Tonight

. . . to elaborate on a thought that I hinted at during the World Series. The thought had application during the Super Bowl and also applies to the current political season.

(DING! We have sports seasons, seasons of life, political seasons, seasons of the year, buying seasons, selling seasons. I find some satisfaction in the fact that this pastoral word remains vital in 21st century vocabulary.)

The thought, in a nutshell, is that God is sovereign. What is unfolding - at the World Series, at the Super Bowl or on Super Tuesday - has all been foreseen and permitted. If permitted, then on some level it is God's will and plan. God is good, beneficent, powerful and all-knowing. I shall not fret over outcomes, but rather accept events as His revealed will and trust that He knows best. It's a lot easier to live with outcomes I think I don't prefer when I trust my Father about them.

There's more, but I am retiring for the evening.

Have a Super Tuesday

I hope you go vote. Participating in a representative democracy is, as Charlie Spoonhour might say, a heck of a deal.

The most important issue facing our country, I believe, is confronting the radical Islamic threat. I think most everything else pales in comparison. I am convinced that some of my friends and family may disagree with me on this. Other Christians probably take a different view. I can live with that and, I trust, those others would extend the same courtesy to me.

I believe either of the two leading Republicans would be a better choice on this issue than either of the two Democrats. My opinion.

If you are thinking Republican, don't vote for Huckabee - he cannot win, period. Confine your thinking to McCain or Romney. On this most important issue, McCain is fine, as is Romney. How to distinguish them?

How about these items: Supreme court nominations, illegal immigration, taxes and economic issues. When I consider these I come down on Romney's side. I think he is a better choice. I would encourage anyone to do the same.

Briefly, on the Democrats, my two cents. If I were voting in their primary, I'd go with the one I know instead of the unknown one. Hillary we know. Obama's a wildcard. He calls it "Change" because it sounds better than "You Don't Know Me From Adam and I'm Not Going To Divulge Anything!"

That's what I think.