Baseball, Life, and Other Stuff

Safe at Home Headed to 2nd Printing

I am very happy to say that Safe at Home:  A Season in the Valley has been so enthusiastically received that a 2nd printing is already necessary.  Thank you all for your overwhelming support!  In fact, there is even a Safe at Home fan page on Facebook that you can join.  We were up to 79 members as of yesterday! The most gratifying aspect of this experience by far is not the sales, but having folks tell me their favorite part or passing along a compliment or even thanking me for my "dedication to this project" as one player's parent wrote.  I certainly did not discover this story; anyone who has ever been to a Rebels' game or spent any time in New Market knows there is a story there.  To know however, that people are happy because I gave "voice" to their feelings is the ultimate compliment for a writer.  It is tremendously satisfying and humbling at the same time, much like becoming a parent.  Hopefully, a 2nd printing of a book is not like the terrible two's of a child!

Books are now available at the following locations:

In New Market at Casual Fridays, the Chamber of Commerce, the Cross Roads Bed & Breakfast, the Johnny Appleseed Restaurant, Valley Sports Connection, and the Visitors Center.

In Waynesboro, VA at the Augusta Free Press office.

In Hagerstown at Extra Innings (where I'll be headed later this morning for a few cuts in the ole' cage!)

In Boonsboro, MD at Turn the Page Book Store and Cafe.

Stupid Dryer

Okay, maybe it's not the dryer that's stupid.  I'm sorry, but after loading the dryer, making sure that the door is completely closed, and cleaning the lint filter, the dryer just ought to be on.  Am I the only one who does all that and then forgets to hit the "On" button?  More than once, I have wondered why the dryer completed its mission so quickly, only to discover that it never got started.  We can text, tweet, and twitter using satellite technology, but we can't design a dryer with a little digital voice that says, "Hey, you forgot to turn me on!"  In fact--now ladies, bear with me here--if you gave the dryer a sultry female voice, say like Kathleen Turner's, and had it say, "Please, baby, turn me on," then you may never have to do laundry again.  The man in your life will constantly be asking if you have any clothes to dry.  Just think; if this dryer idea works out, we could put a digital Kathleen Turner into the oven and it could coo, "Turn on the heat," and then dinner might be waiting for you when you get home.  If there are any technology people out there reading this, get in touch with me.  We might make a fortune developing appliances that are truly "sleek and sexy."

Queasy Time for Baltimore Fans

Watching yesterday's AFC championship game certainly made all Baltimore Colt fans queasy.  There were the Jets in those white uniforms with the green trim; the ones that evoke that sickening image of Joe Namath victoriously walking off the field at the Orange Bowl after defeating Baltimore in Super Bowl III.  And there were those Imposters, running around in the beloved horseshoes, pretending to be the Colts.  Lest anyone not understand, there may be a team in Indianapolis, but the Colts ceased to exist when the Mayflower vans left Baltimore in March of 1984.  I see #17 catch a touchdown pass for Indy and for a split second, I wonder how in the world Sam Havrilak is still playing.  I see fans in the stands wearing blue #88 jerseys and think, "Wow, there are a lot of John Mackey fans out today."

Yeah, Peyton Manning is a great quarterback and he seems to be a real down-to-earth guy.  Heck, he even ambles about just like John Unitas; but he isn't #19, he's #18.  That's fitting for Baltimore Colt fans.  There is something a bit off.  And now Indianapolis will play New Orleans in the Super Bowl . . . how many days until Spring Training?

Reviews, photos and other matters

There have already been many kind words written about Safe at Home:  A Season in the Valley, none more so than the review posted by Elizabeth Kipps in her blog, The Fair Base Ballist .  Elizabeth's blog provides an interesting look at the world in general and baseball in particular, and it is now listed to the right under "Good Links."

Originally, I thought that folks who know me or who love Rebels baseball would like the book because they are biased after all, as Elizabeth freely admits.  I've decided however, that such folks would be my toughest critics because of such familiarity.  (Yeah, that's it!)  Therefore, it is not beyond the bounds of modesty for me to post such positive reviews here.  Besides, there is no out of bounds in baseball, anyway.

Seriously, though Elizabeth, your words mean a great deal to me; I cherish them.

Then, there was my good friend Kurt who's simple review was, "You'd have to be a concrete block not to enjoy this book!"

I mentioned earlier in the week that I would post photos from Saturday's book signing.  I've never been one to duplicate efforts, however, and therefore, I will simply direct you to the photos posted by webmaster extraordinaire, Larry Heine on the Rebels' website.  These were taken by Larry and Melissa Dodge.

Currently, Safe at Home is available at Extra Innings in Hagerstown and the Augusta Free Press in Waynesboro, VA.  It will soon be available at other sites in Hagerstown and New Market, including the Johnny Appleseed Restaurant.  I'll keep you posted in that regard.

I know that this posting went up much later in the day than usual, but Martha and I have been meeting with Chris and Crystal Graham, our publishers, down in Waynesboro, VA today.  A nasty day for a trip, but a very productive meeting!

Peter Muhlenberg, Patriot

It was 234 years ago tomorrow that Reverend Peter Muhlenberg ascended the pulpit of the Anglican Church in Woodstock, Virginia and preached a sermon based on the famous passage in Ecclesiastes which begins, "For everything there is a season."  When he reached the verse which refers to "a time for war and a time for peace," he added fiercely, "and this is the time for war"; at which point he threw off his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a Colonel in the Continental Army.  The next day he led some 300 of his neighbors off to war.  Muhlenberg rose to the rank of Brigadier General and his brigade saw major action up to and including the Battle of Yorktown.  After the war, Muhlenberg held several political offices, including Congressional Representative, in his native state of Pennsylvania.

Peter Muhlenberg's sermon is a rather famous event for students of the Revolution.  It is alluded to in Mel Gibson's The Patriot, in which the minister leaves with the militia saying, "A shepherd must tend to his flock; and at times, fight off the wolves."  (Scene 11 "An Announcement" on the DVD)

Muhlenberg himself is honored with a statue, which stands outside the county courthouse in Woodstock.  He is depicted in the act of removing his clerical robe.  The fact is, however, that there is no historical evidence that Muhlenberg ever gave this sermon.  There are neither contemporary accounts nor reminiscences by any of his children or immediate relatives.  The first written mention of the sermon occurs in 1849 in a Muhlenberg biography written by his great nephew.  This echoes the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree, a tale that does not appear anywhere before Parson Weems biography of our first President, which appeared in the early 19th century.

The TV show History Detectives devoted a segment to tracking down a clerical robe that was believed to have been owned by Muhlenberg and it also delves into an excellent discussion of Muhlenberg and the famous sermon.  You may read the transcript here.  (It won't take long!)

Muhlenberg's sermon is most likely a myth, but I caution anyone, however, to say "just a myth."  Facts are facts, but myths often contain truths much greater than facts.  I accept facts; I believe in myths and I believe in Muhlenberg's message, that when the time comes to act, we must do so.  That idea is worthy of our most profound belief.

Thanks again to Melissa Dodge for another excellent photograph.

Peter Muhlenberg, Patriot

It was 234 years ago tomorrow that Reverend Peter Muhlenberg ascended the pulpit of the Anglican Church in Woodstock, Virginia and preached a sermon based on the famous passage in Ecclesiastes which begins, "For everything there is a season."  When he reached the verse which refers to "a time for war and a time for peace," he added fiercely, "and this is the time for war"; at which point he threw off his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a Colonel in the Continental Army.  The next day he led some 300 of his neighbors off to war.  Muhlenberg rose to the rank of Brigadier General and his brigade saw major action up to and including the Battle of Yorktown.  After the war, Muhlenberg held several political offices, including Congressional Representative, in his native state of Pennsylvania.

Peter Muhlenberg's sermon is a rather famous event for students of the Revolution.  It is alluded to in Mel Gibson's The Patriot, in which the minister leaves with the militia saying, "A shepherd must tend to his flock; and at times, fight off the wolves."  (Scene 11 "An Announcement" on the DVD)

Muhlenberg himself is honored with a statue, which stands outside the county courthouse in Woodstock.  He is depicted in the act of removing his clerical robe.  The fact is, however, that there is no historical evidence that Muhlenberg ever gave this sermon.  There are neither contemporary accounts nor reminiscences by any of his children or immediate relatives.  The first written mention of the sermon occurs in 1849 in a Muhlenberg biography written by his great nephew.  This echoes the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree, a tale that does not appear anywhere before Parson Weems biography of our first President, which appeared in the early 19th century.

The TV show History Detectives devoted a segment to tracking down a clerical robe that was believed to have been owned by Muhlenberg and it also delves into an excellent discussion of Muhlenberg and the famous sermon.  You may read the transcript here.  (It won't take long!)

Muhlenberg's sermon is most likely a myth, but I caution anyone, however, to say "just a myth."  Facts are facts, but myths often contain truths much greater than facts.  I accept facts; I believe in myths and I believe in Muhlenberg's message, that when the time comes to act, we must do so.  That idea is worthy of our most profound belief.

Thanks again to Melissa Dodge for another excellent photograph.

What a Day!

The book signing which took place on Saturday at New Market's Community Library, and which marked the release of Safe at Home:  A Season in the Valley, was a huge success.  The gathering of Rebel fans was as usual very much like a family reunion.  Indeed, all along I have felt like the cousin who has taken upon himself the task of writing a book on the family.  It has been a sacred trust.

It was great seeing many folks who populate the book including the Kipps, the Lanhams, the Hawkins, the Smiths, Front Row Fred and Melissa, Vic Moyers, and others.  Mo and Bruce Alger, two of the main characters, as it were, also signed books.  Melissa Dodge snapped pictures, of course, John Leonard covered the event in his blog, and the Kipps made sure that we ate well!  Come to think of it, it was just like being at a ballgame, except that there was no need for Fred to get on any of the officials--and there was no actual ballgame.  The fellowship was just as good, however!

Many thanks go to Peg Harkness and Becky Kipps for publicizing and hosting the event.  Thanks too, to Tacy Hawkins and Melissa Dodge for their thoughtful gifts.  My appreciation runs very deep, cousins, very deep.

Hopefully, I will put together a photo album of the event later in the week.  I've already received some pictures, but our main computer has a virus and it's in Staples Hospital; therefore, computer time is limited to the laptop at our house and there is always a line to use it!

Thanks again, New Market for a wonderful launch of Safe at Home!

Read the previous post for this one to make sense!

If you don't go back and read the entry that I posted just a few minutes ago, this photo won't make sense.  In any case, here is a stink bug AND some subliminal advertising.  For all my New Market friends, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!  We'll try not to bring any stink bugs along.

How to Make a Million Dollars . . .

 . . . find a way to get rid of stink bugs.  These annoying little critters are impervious to known insecticides, and cold weather does not kill them.  No, that only encourages them to leave their cozy homes under the siding of our house to vacation in the cozier confines of our living quarters.

For those of you who have no stink bugs in your area, consider yourself lucky.  They are another Chinese import, apparently having come over in packing material.  Unfortunately, whatever their natural enemy is back in China did not make the trip.  Therefore, they roam freely over the ceilings and walls of homes here in the mid-Atlantic area, amusing themselves by flying into light fixtures.  Their distinct hum followed by the ping of striking the kitchen light is not exactly the romantic chorus of summer nights.  And no, hurling themselves onto light fixtures and even onto light bulbs that have been on for five hours and are therefore so hot that they would melt the fingers of the average human, bothers them in the least.  They seem to consider it an amusement.

They also seem to be amused by the dinner theater that takes place in our house.  They take a seat on the dining room light or on the nearby ceiling and watch us eat dinner.  Then the real entertainment starts.  Poor Martha, who is driven to distraction by these illegal Chinese aliens chases them down with a fly swatter or piece of paper, gathering them onto the surface and throwing them into the toilet.  She swears that they drown, but I have my doubts.  Eventually, maybe, if they've eaten right before they are flung into this pool and then cramp up.  In fact, yesterday, I found a tiny air mattress and a rubber ducky floatation ring on top of the tank, but I'm not one to doubt my wife.

Oh, and the one thing you can't do to get rid of them is crush them.  Then you'll find out why they're called stink bugs.  And it will take a while to get that stink off your hands, too.

I was going to take a picture of them this morning, crawling across a copy of Safe at Home:  A Season in the Valley, but none seem to stirring at this early hour.  Must have been a late night at the pool.

"The Catch"

The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 21, "This Could Be The Last Game":

The score remains 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 3rd when with one out, Drew Martinez singles, bringing Alex Foltz to the plate for his second look at Baker.  Foltz lifts a deep fly ball to left field.  The Luray fans have a great look at the play, seated as they are along the first-base line and they rise, cheering, certain that Foltz has tied the game.  Owens runs back to the chain link fence and reaches, but this is surely a home run.  We reassure ourselves that the game is only tied, but Steve takes a step--maybe two-- toward the infield and pulls the ball from his glove, casually tossing it in to the infield.  Almost simultaneously, the Luray fans sit down as we stand up and cheer.  We never saw the ball disappear into Owen's outstretched glove, but the ball and Steve's huge smile tell us in an instant that our two-run lead had never disappeared, even if the ball had.

"If he'd been 6' 8 1/2", he wouldn't have caught it!" exclaims Bruce, who had left his seat behind us and happens to be standing down the left-field line when Owens reaches across his body and back over the fence to make the catch.