Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Eating in Gulf Shores

I sure would like to be doing that right about now. I thought I'd share with you a pretty decent short list of places to try if you find yourself in the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach, AL area this summer. I have eaten at all of these places at least once and enjoyed them. There are some other good spots, too. This post is a spinoff of an entry by John Oldshue on Alabamawx.com. Check it out here.

Oar House Riverside 5587 County Road 6. Gulf Shores, AL. 36542(251) 967-2422
(this is in the Bon Secour community)

Bayside Grill 27842 Canal Rd. at Sportsman MarinaOrange Beach, AL

Sea-N-Suds Restaurant & Oyster Bar 405 E Beach Blvd. Gulf Shores, AL.

Original Oyster House 701 Gulf Shores Pkwy.Gulf Shores, AL(251) 948-2445

LuLu's at Homeport Marina 200 East 25th AvenueGulf Shores, AL(251) 967-5858

Doc's Seafood Restaurant Hwy. 59 at Sawgrass LandingGulf Shores, AL (251) 967-4800

Monday, May 28, 2007

Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day please remember that freedom isn't free and our brave men and women in the armed forced are dying for us and we should appreciate them; and those generations who came before and died for our country and the freedom for which it stands.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Memory Almost Full

Here are a few cool new songs by Paul McCartney. His new album, Memory Almost Full, is due to be released June 5. A few songs have been released. All hype aside, if what I've heard so far is any indication, this will be one of his best offerings. Here are a few sneak previews:

Mr. Bellamy




Dance Tonight



Ever Present Past



Only Mama Knows

Thursday, May 17, 2007

It made my day!

Our ball team has had it's problems. I have had one parent complaining about things that she didn't know about, that were not true, and based on a completely different point of view as to what the main goal of youth sports are all about. I had started to wonder if all of the time, thought, and energy I have put into this team was worth the lack of obvious results and the complaining.

But yesterday something happened that made it all worth it! I was pitching batting practice to little boy on the team (one of the youngest ones) and after we finished, he came up to me and said, "Thank you coach for all you are teaching me. I'm learning and I'm loving baseball!' He said that with such a child-like sincerity in a voice that sounded like an innocent 6 year old (he's really 8).

I told him thank you, that he is really improving, and that I like having him on my team. I encouraged him to go tell my assistant the same thing.

Words cannot express how much that meant to me. It's just like the Lord to find a way to speak a word of encouragement to you when you are so very down about something.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

A song for the ages!

How can anyone NOT like this song by the late Harry Chapin?

Cats in the Cradle

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Vinemont, we have a problem...

I am the head coach of a nine and ten year old team. I haven't written much about our team. We have not won. We have not come close to winning! I have been so discouraged. I knew going into the season that we were like sacrificial lambs. There were only 5 nine and ten year old children who signed up for baseball in our community (one is ten and four are nine). We had to get six eight year old's (including my son Matt) to move up ahead of their age group, just to have a team.

I was asked if I would move my son Matt up. I obliged. Then I was asked to coach. I obliged. Then I was given the scenario. Whew! God has a sense of humor!

I have been most troubled by the lack of hustle, effort, and desire to play. But really the worst part was some totally unfounded and untrue criticism by one of the mothers. I just let it roll off my back. I barely said anything in response. I will admit it made me have one night where I got very little sleep. I have since considered the source and have been told by other of her 'exploits' that have reduced her credibility to just a hair over none.

I have poured my heart and soul into this team. I hope it pays off somehow, some way!

Does anybody really know what time it is?

Remember that song by Chicago?

My friend Robert can answer the question! He sent me this cool site.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

This time last week

Here are some photos from our experience at Talladega last weekend.



















Saturday, May 05, 2007

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Braves are back!

Five reasons the Braves are contenders again by David O'brien, AJC

"1. Kelly Johnson has been terrific
The Braves were confident the converted outfielder could prosper batting leadoff and playing second base, but no one expected this much. Johnson is hitting .323 with five homers, 26 runs, 15 RBIs and a whopping .466 on-base percentage in 26 games. He has the sixth-highest OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in the National League and highest leadoff on-base percentage (.474) in the majors. And he's made just one error.


2. Chipper Jones is healthy and raking
After playing only 219 of 324 games the past two seasons because of injuries, the 35-year-old hasn't been out of the lineup once this season and is putting up numbers that should earn his sixth All-Star berth and first since 2001. The third baseman has hit .318 with a league-high 10 homers and 22 RBIs, and his 1.112 OPS ranked second in the league behind Barry Bonds (1.302) before Thursday. He's played solid defense, too.


3. The bullpen is much improved
After enduring a league-high 29 blown saves in 2006, the Braves made rebuilding the bullpen a winter priority. The relievers have blown only three saves so far. The Braves have limited opponents to a .195 average (third-best in the NL) and one homer in the late innings (seventh inning or later of close games), after allowing a .277 average and 26 homers in those situations last season.


4. The resurgent Tim Hudson
He was 27-21 in his first two seasons with Atlanta, including a career-worst 13-12 with a 4.86 ERA in 2006. He vowed to restore his ace status in 2007, and that's precisely what he's doing. Hudson is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA and .186 opponents' average. After allowing 235 hits and a career-high 25 homers in '06, he's given up 29 hits and one homer in 45 innings.


5. Best clutch hitting team in the NL
The Braves' .268 team average was merely tied for fifth in the NL before Thursday, but their .292 average with runners in scoring position and two outs was 23 points above the league's next-best mark, and Atlanta's seven homers and .531 slugging percentage in those spots were far and away the NL's best. In the late innings of close games, the Braves have hit .312 (second in the NL) with league bests of eight homers and a .565 slugging percentage."