When I was in grade 7 I caught for a hard throwing lefty pitcher at Maple Crescent park. His name is James Paxton and there was an article about him in the Vancouver Sun today.
Paxton was the first pitcher I caught for that had a good curve ball. He had a dominant one actually. It was a strange situation because I was never a great catcher or even very fond of it but it was house ball and no one else could do it. I remember a lot of sore hands and a few talks where he pretty much taught me how to catch a ball that seemed to have a five foot hook.
I remember one tournament where we played a team from the States. I pitched the first two innings and got rocked. Probably gave up a good 6+ runs but it's more of a repressed memory. I do remember James Paxton coming in in the third and pitching an amazing five innings (we only played 7). When you can strike out and impress American players and coaches you are good. I'm not surprised that he's going to be in the draft on June 9th.
I hope that he goes high in the draft and continues into the major leagues. The article mentions a possibility of James going 20th overall to the Blue Jays but that he could go even higher at about 16th. I hope that he goes as high as possible but I would love it if my favourite team signed my new favourite player.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Baby Watch: Day 6
My sister's due date was the 23rd. Since then we have received a nightly phone call on order of my mother to make sure that we know when that baby comes out. I'm going to be an uncle soon.
Because of these recent developments, I've had a little extra time to think about what type of uncle I want to be. There are the obvious choices like giving them Cheerios instead of organic O's or always showing up with a gift. I did find a really cool small South African shirt but apparently it was too small because I haven't seen it in two months. Whatever happens, I do want to be a cool uncle.
I think I've figured out the key to that. The important thing is to not try and claim territories that are naturally parental. Diapers, for example, or when their cranky. I'll handle laughing and airplane rides. I'll just let my sis and her husband take care of the joys of parenting while I teach this kid how to catch. And that's my secret weapon, sports. It's just the law of supply and demand. I'll give the kid the things his parents can't or just don't want to. I'm already looking forward to the sex talk on it's 6th birthday.
Because of these recent developments, I've had a little extra time to think about what type of uncle I want to be. There are the obvious choices like giving them Cheerios instead of organic O's or always showing up with a gift. I did find a really cool small South African shirt but apparently it was too small because I haven't seen it in two months. Whatever happens, I do want to be a cool uncle.
I think I've figured out the key to that. The important thing is to not try and claim territories that are naturally parental. Diapers, for example, or when their cranky. I'll handle laughing and airplane rides. I'll just let my sis and her husband take care of the joys of parenting while I teach this kid how to catch. And that's my secret weapon, sports. It's just the law of supply and demand. I'll give the kid the things his parents can't or just don't want to. I'm already looking forward to the sex talk on it's 6th birthday.
Friday, May 22, 2009
How do you pay for it?
Hi. I'd like to purchase some friendship.
Sure. Do you want the standard or deluxe?
Deluxe I guess, but I've never had that one before.
Trust me then, it's worth it.
Okay. So three hugs a week right? Do they still have to be consecutive days?
Excuse me?
That's what I paid last time. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Right about 2 o'clock. Don't worry I'm good for it.
That's not going to cut it. First, this is the deluxe version for a reason and though it might be a bit steeper you'll see it's worth it in the long run. Second, I think you're thinking about the old management. We don't accept hugs anymore.
You've got to be kidding me. What do you accept?
Kind words. Spontaneous encouragements, love notes, that sort of thing. It's actually really easy and here's the best part. They roll over. So if you give extra one week you can sort of take a week off.
I've been giving hugs all my life. You're telling me that all the work that I've done over the last years to perfectly support someone between my arms is useless. That you don't want my warm embrace.
To tell you the truth, it's actually a bit confining.
But...but I don't know how to spontaneously encourage.
Sorry. Looks like you're just going to have to pass on this model. Maybe you can try the place across the street, but I hear they're more into hanging out.
Sure. Do you want the standard or deluxe?
Deluxe I guess, but I've never had that one before.
Trust me then, it's worth it.
Okay. So three hugs a week right? Do they still have to be consecutive days?
Excuse me?
That's what I paid last time. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Right about 2 o'clock. Don't worry I'm good for it.
That's not going to cut it. First, this is the deluxe version for a reason and though it might be a bit steeper you'll see it's worth it in the long run. Second, I think you're thinking about the old management. We don't accept hugs anymore.
You've got to be kidding me. What do you accept?
Kind words. Spontaneous encouragements, love notes, that sort of thing. It's actually really easy and here's the best part. They roll over. So if you give extra one week you can sort of take a week off.
I've been giving hugs all my life. You're telling me that all the work that I've done over the last years to perfectly support someone between my arms is useless. That you don't want my warm embrace.
To tell you the truth, it's actually a bit confining.
But...but I don't know how to spontaneously encourage.
Sorry. Looks like you're just going to have to pass on this model. Maybe you can try the place across the street, but I hear they're more into hanging out.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
New Cell Phone
I have a cell phone that's actually mine now. I've had it for a few days and I'm slowly starting to circulate the number. Considering this is public I'm not going to put it on here but if you want it let me know and I'll email the number.
Two things come up. First, because this is my cell phone I am paying for it. Because I'm a Mennonite I got the cheapest plan possible. It costs me $15 a month. My phone was refurbished and it cost $40. Don't worry, I haven't payed a cent yet. Yet, this leaves me with only 50 minutes and text messages a month. This isn't a big deal for me because I only got the phone for work but it leaves me with the temptation to be rude and try and keep every call below 5.3 seconds. If this is a problem I will upgrade my plan but until then, when you call me, don't use periods.
The other thing is text messages. I am slow! My friend just responded with twice the words in half the time. If I didn't know better I would think he's catching radioactive-superfinger-abilitizer butterflies. But I will press on and until then I'll adjust my vocabulary. Dad, wag, jam, mad, tad, pap and jap-anise will just have to become my new favourite words.
Two things come up. First, because this is my cell phone I am paying for it. Because I'm a Mennonite I got the cheapest plan possible. It costs me $15 a month. My phone was refurbished and it cost $40. Don't worry, I haven't payed a cent yet. Yet, this leaves me with only 50 minutes and text messages a month. This isn't a big deal for me because I only got the phone for work but it leaves me with the temptation to be rude and try and keep every call below 5.3 seconds. If this is a problem I will upgrade my plan but until then, when you call me, don't use periods.
The other thing is text messages. I am slow! My friend just responded with twice the words in half the time. If I didn't know better I would think he's catching radioactive-superfinger-abilitizer butterflies. But I will press on and until then I'll adjust my vocabulary. Dad, wag, jam, mad, tad, pap and jap-anise will just have to become my new favourite words.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Fishing Weekend
I am now done my first aid course. I am now supposed to be able to heal someone. Well maybe not that miraculously but keep you from dying until someone who is better comes along. That's more along my theological views.
Since then I was able to go fishing for a few days with my father and my uncle in our new truck and camper combo. Here are some highlights:
Since then I was able to go fishing for a few days with my father and my uncle in our new truck and camper combo. Here are some highlights:
Monday, May 4, 2009
A Theory about Caring verses Confidence
The theory goes like this.
I think that people will agree with me when I say that there are some who just seem to have a natural level of confidence. There are also people who, in general, just seem to care more about people. My first question is if you know many people who are both; people who care deeply and yet have an ability to not care what people think?
I say that because I think that's a huge part of what confidence is. To be able to distance yourself from what people think. To me, confidence is the ability to be sure about something, be there real or perceived proof or not, to the extent that it makes it more true. This is most often demonstrated in self confidence and exhibited in all forms of life. Tiger Woods is so good at golf because he knows that he is the best, therefore making himself even more likely to actually be the best. He probably got there through many years of different steps but now when he hears someone say that he isn't the best he probably just laughs at them and never thinks twice about it. This might seem obvious but I'm guessing that as I do, you also know some people who can't hear a comment like that and not wonder if their self view is wrong. No level of practice or ability will give them the gift of true confidence.
On the other side, caring is being able to bring yourself as close as possible to what other people think. To be able to plan the perfect surprise party you need to know not only that your friend likes chocolate better but that they have been talking about that new restaurant for a while now. If you care about your friends then you must value what they think so that you can help them. The better you internalize their thoughts the better you are able to help them. Now it is less likely that you know people that have trouble caring but I'm guessing that's because most of you don't have friends who have excelled in areas where huge confidence is needed. It may be that the big shots just don't have time but did they have the time before they made it.
Now it's important that I clarify that I'm talking across the board. Everyone will care about some people and everyone will have some confidence but they just might not be very good at it. The place I see this theory the most is in the difference between males and females. Guys, generally speaking, tend to be more confident and less caring. Girls, generally speaking, tend to be more caring and less confident. I think I can summarize it quite simply: one group tends to dwell more on what people think. It is a curse and a blessing to both. They are who they are.
So is it impossible to have both? Have you thought of anyone yet who can show both types? What about someone who excels in both confidence and caring? What would it take? A naturally caring person would have to learn the precise time of when to 'turn off' their ability, slowly teaching themselves this new skill of being independent of other people's praise and scorn while retaining their compassion. A naturally confident person would need to learn how to give something to people that they don't really need themselves, becoming involved with people for no other reason. I can't imagine that either are easy and that's why I think it's such an unlikely combination.
Are you willing to prove me wrong?
I think that people will agree with me when I say that there are some who just seem to have a natural level of confidence. There are also people who, in general, just seem to care more about people. My first question is if you know many people who are both; people who care deeply and yet have an ability to not care what people think?
I say that because I think that's a huge part of what confidence is. To be able to distance yourself from what people think. To me, confidence is the ability to be sure about something, be there real or perceived proof or not, to the extent that it makes it more true. This is most often demonstrated in self confidence and exhibited in all forms of life. Tiger Woods is so good at golf because he knows that he is the best, therefore making himself even more likely to actually be the best. He probably got there through many years of different steps but now when he hears someone say that he isn't the best he probably just laughs at them and never thinks twice about it. This might seem obvious but I'm guessing that as I do, you also know some people who can't hear a comment like that and not wonder if their self view is wrong. No level of practice or ability will give them the gift of true confidence.
On the other side, caring is being able to bring yourself as close as possible to what other people think. To be able to plan the perfect surprise party you need to know not only that your friend likes chocolate better but that they have been talking about that new restaurant for a while now. If you care about your friends then you must value what they think so that you can help them. The better you internalize their thoughts the better you are able to help them. Now it is less likely that you know people that have trouble caring but I'm guessing that's because most of you don't have friends who have excelled in areas where huge confidence is needed. It may be that the big shots just don't have time but did they have the time before they made it.
Now it's important that I clarify that I'm talking across the board. Everyone will care about some people and everyone will have some confidence but they just might not be very good at it. The place I see this theory the most is in the difference between males and females. Guys, generally speaking, tend to be more confident and less caring. Girls, generally speaking, tend to be more caring and less confident. I think I can summarize it quite simply: one group tends to dwell more on what people think. It is a curse and a blessing to both. They are who they are.
So is it impossible to have both? Have you thought of anyone yet who can show both types? What about someone who excels in both confidence and caring? What would it take? A naturally caring person would have to learn the precise time of when to 'turn off' their ability, slowly teaching themselves this new skill of being independent of other people's praise and scorn while retaining their compassion. A naturally confident person would need to learn how to give something to people that they don't really need themselves, becoming involved with people for no other reason. I can't imagine that either are easy and that's why I think it's such an unlikely combination.
Are you willing to prove me wrong?
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