Today's thoughts

Author: mikeljohnston1 (Page 26 of 269)

Retirement is not without Hassles: Fall is in the Air #2426

Fall is in the air, even here in sunny Florida, with cooler temperatures and subtle foliage color changes, but a far cry from the beauty of the northern forests. It’s a lot of work to clean up those falling leaves and there are already reports of snowfall, two things I definitely don’t miss. I did see a few light jackets on my run today, and I barely broke a sweat on this morning’s 2.1-mile trek. I could feel the chill in my bones and stiff muscles but gradually worked my way through it. 

I’ve continued to run despite the inevitable surgery, and my wife is right that I remain oblivious to this reality. I can’t see myself on a walker or process the thought of admiring my hideous scars in the mirror. I do know that I will miss a day of running for the first time in nearly 15-years and this will end my streak with the United States Running Streak Association at www.runeveryday.com. I will move to the list of retired streaks and have to start all over again. It’s now hard to imagine a day without running. Today was consecutive day #5,421 (14.84 years). Tomorrow I will only have time for a mile (the minimum to maintain the streak) because we’re headed to Tampa early to consult with another surgeon. 

Note: When I originally wrote this paragraph, I couldn’t come up with the word “denial.” My wife claims that I’m in denial on this whole issue – probably more like shock. Pardon the silly pun, but we were just cruising D’Nile a few months ago. Maybe I’m still there!

Yesterday was Halloween, and I had dinner with Maleficent, Scream, and a giant Garfield that looked a lot like my son. We met at Chili’s after they had gone out and collected hundreds of assorted candies. I delivered the traditional cash-stuffed cards to the grandkids that for many years had to be mailed from Indiana, Illinois, Texas, or Oregon. It’s good to be just a few miles away to watch them continue to grow up. Also, I don’t have to shovel snow or rake leaves even though Fall is in the Air!

 

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: What Ails You #2425

I don’t feel bad or even look bad! However, the list keeps growing longer on my medical reports. I feel like I need to post them in front of my house like inspection paperwork, so I don’t have to keep explaining my woes to the neighbors. They could just walk down here and check out the dates of doctor appointments, procedure schedules, and health updates. I partially blame this on my wife, who is obviously seeking support for both of us, by letting the cat out of the bag. I would have preferred to keep all of this quiet, so I’ve begun to post it on this blog that no one reads. 

I’ve become the subject of conversation at neighborhood parties, the dog park, the resort centers, beach, pool, pickle ball courts – not sure about the tennis crowd. I’ve never really had to plan for surgery in my life – let alone a whole list of them. The question is: can I work these all in between our travel plans? I’ve had my share of aches and pains, Covid, kidney stones, stitches, shots, and colonoscopies. However, since the beginning of 2023, I have seemingly begun to slowly but surely fall apart. While my running pace continues to slow, my doctor visits and medical bills are quickening. 

I started the year with simple eyelid surgery, removing some of the excess skin around my eyes. Afterwards, it looked like I’d been in a barroom fight, but no big deal. Next, became the issue of potential surgery for an aneurism after years of monitoring its slowing increasing size on my aorta. X-rays, CT scans, a heart catheterization, a TEE, surgeon consultations, and lots of billing questions have been the story of this year. In between visits with my GP and three different surgeons, I also had to worry about how my prostrate was keeping me up at night and the constant trips to the restroom throughout the day. I’ve already been to two different specialists for this issue and have a procedure in St. Pete scheduled next Thursday. 

This week, I will drive with my wife to Tampa General Hospital for a meeting with a recommended and experienced cardiothoracic surgeon. I’ve already decided against doing this at a Regional Hospital. We will also soon confer with a renowned Stanford surgeon, where my wife’s daughter works as a PA. Adding to the list two weeks ago, I had a Prokera treatment done on my right eye, so it is healing for cataract surgery in about three months time. Finally, today, my Chiropractor suggested that as soon as I get these other problems resolved, I then go to see an orthopedic specialist about a sore tendon in my right arm. I just added that one to the list of What Ails You!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Neighbor Rogers #2424

We have a neighbor couple, Rogers and Kim that are moving back to Texas in early November. They apparently move frequently, flipping homes and cars for a profit. There is a going away party for them this weekend, and I’ve been asked to write a poem. I don’t know Rogers well, just quick humorous exchanges as we see each other while walking our dogs (Sydney and Tally), having lunch with the Borrego Boyz, or at a neighborhood party. He’s good natured, from Missouri and both he and his wife are great Pickle Ball players, actively involved in the leagues here in our Islandwalk addition. My first course of action was to make fun of his name and tie him in with other famous Rogers (first or last name). My initial reference is to Rogers Hornsby, the Hall-of-Fame baseball player as is the only other person that I’m aware has the first name of Rogers. I then couldn’t resist the Mister (Fred) Rogers connection and included his quote at the end of the poem – like a good neighbor should. Also, when I thought of cowboys, Roy Rogers came to mind with his wife Dale Evans and dog, Bullet, who was always rescuing Timmy from the well. 

One of my first encounters with Rogers involved a common neighbor, who was illegally feeding the Sand Cranes and drawing alligators to our properties. He reported them to both our HOA and Fish & Wildlife, but Stu and Jan thought it was us. They eventually moved out, but the new people, who are also now gone, were dumping some of their trash in his cannisters that he didn’t take kindly to, among other things. 

Rogers has a two-piece band called the Paradise Pickers that practice in his garage and play at local events, including our “Meet the Neighbors” get togethers, where Kim once made delicious biscuits and gravy to share. The two of them once joked that afternoon retirement “naps” sometimes could involve more than just resting. I naturally included my favorite roast line, used at least three times in my poems, “Don’t come a knocking” to poke fun at their new, Explorer Van that often sits in their driveway. They were also victims of Hurricane Ian, stuck here with a need for propane, so they borrowed from some of the snowbirds that were out of town for the storm.

One of the favorite stories in the neighborhood was about a gator that decided to rest on a covered front porch. One of the braver neighbors chased it off with a leaf blower, and Rogers dressed as Crocodile Dundee to get a laugh at a later party. He was then a treasured target for the charitable dunk tank and recently underwent prostrate surgery, claiming that he now “pees like a teenager,” another hard to resist line that just had to be included in this roast. 

These are just a few of the explanations for some of the lines in this poem, for most of you that are not familiar with our Borrego Street antics. These stories will be a lifelong bond for all of us that live here. If you don’t think they’re funny, well, you had to be here! 

Rogers Roast 

A ballplayer named Hornsby,

Was the only Rogers I knew.

Until I moved to Islandwalk,

And met the two of you.

 

Rogers is a common surname,

But rarely used first.

People are confused,

Somehow you were cursed.

 

There are guys named Roger,

But few with an extra “s”

Why they named you Rogers,

I didn’t want to guess.

 

So I did some research,

Checked out all the specs.

It’s German for “famous spearman,”

But also slang for sex.

 

In our Borrego neighborhood.

It’s always a beautiful day

Call him Rogers, Mister,

Not Mister Rogers, okay

 

Paradise Pickers is his band,

But he can be very picky.

Adding your trash to his,

Can get a little sticky.

 

You raid our homes for propane,

Dress up like Crocodile Dundee.

Violate the HOA rules,

And now boast about your Pee.

 

Plus, there were a lot,

Of neighbors who thunk.

That you just needed,

A good old-fashioned dunk. 

 

We’ll miss your Ozark charm,

And your music talents, too.

There’s no birds in our backyard,

Thanks for tattling on Jan and Stu.

 

It was once suggested,

That we all pull up a chair.

And cheer out on your driveway,

While you practice inside there.

 

So many cars and homes,

Yet to be flipped and found.

You’re really very lucky,

That Kim’s still around.

 

She’s the quieter of you two,

Except with paddle in hand.

Please bring me more biscuits,

Your gravy’s really grand.

 

If they had named you Roy, Rogers,

Then Kim would now be Dale.

Syd to the rescue like Bullet,

Your theme song: Happy Trails.

 

You’ll ride off in the sunset,

In your silver Explorer van.

Packed with Pickle ball trophies,

Farewell to that Florida tan.

 

You both admit to nooner “naps,”

So please don’t go a Knockin’

Especially when you notice,

That their van’s a Rockin’

 

“Neighbors are people who are close to us and close to our hearts.” – Mister Rogers 

You’ll both forever be our neighbor!

Copyright 2023 johnstonwrites.com

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Ticket Snafu #2423

We buy a lot of tickets and when they are used, I drop them into a collector’s box with a glass front on my office wall. Sadly, it’s rare anymore to get an actual ticket, most are now electronic, so there’s nothing to put in the box. Understandably, every once in a while, we encounter a ticket problem – lost, misplaced, wrong date, rescheduled, etc. For example, two years ago we went to a Santana/EW&F concert in Tampa. It wasn’t until we were about to enter the parking when an attendant pointed out that we were a year early!

Last night, my wife bought tickets for the local Lemon Bay Playhouse, presenting “Let’s Murder Marsha” (not Marcia, for those of you that know my first wife). At least, my current wife thought it was last night until we went to sit in our seats that were occupied by another couple, as were the seats that she bought for our two guests. We checked the row just to be sure, but the “I” looked like a “J,” and to add to the confusion, it turned out there was no Row I. Rather than creating a big stink at this point, we simply sat in the uncomfortable empty chairs in the back, just behind Row J, just waiting for someone to kick us out. Our friends had gone off to seek the help of an usher, when my wife noticed that our tickets were for the next night. 

Admitting our mistake, while everyone around us was probably thinking we were idiots, the usher graciously said that no one had bought the seats in front of us, so we could sit there. To make matters worse, I had bought a glass of $2 wine that was actually in a plastic cup. When our friends returned, I stood up to let them pass and fumbled my drink, as I too often do these days because of my shaky hands. Red wine spilled all over my shorts and pink shirt that fortunately happened to closely match the wine stain. While I went to the restroom to clean myself up, the usher, obviously feeling sorry for us after all our disruptions, moved us up to Row D. The lady behind me then whispered to her husband that she couldn’t see over me, so I scrunched down as low as possible in the seat, already uncomfortable from the sticky wine. Fortunately, the play was good, but I was stiff, sore, and sticky by intermission. 

We had several of our neighbors involved in the performance, so we’re anxious to share the story with them. If someone would like to see the show tonight from Row J, we obviously still have four tickets available – just joking of course. Let’s murder the ticket buyer who created this snafu!

 

Old Sport Shorts: I.U. World Series #2422

One Indiana University Hoosier made it to the World Series this year, although he didn’t fare so well in his quest to get there last night. With a two game and home field advantage, I fully expected I.U. alum Kyle Schwarber and his Phillies teammates to get there again, instead it was Andrew Saalfrank, also an I.U. alum and the Arizona Diamondbacks moving on for the first time since 2001, their 4th season in MLB and their only other trip to the Fall Classic, when they beat the Yankees in Game 7. It also took 7 games to win the NLCS. It will be a battle between two Wildcards!

Here’s a recap of the first encounter between Schwarber and Saalfrank, as described by Doug Haller of The Athletic:

“A rookie left-hander, Saalfrank had been with the Diamondbacks for six weeks, promoted from Triple-A Reno. Throughout the playoffs, he had played a key role in Arizona’s bullpen, avoiding trouble, pitching out of jams. Dating to his Sept. 4 promotion, he had not allowed an earned run in 14 appearances.”

“Saalfrank, 26, took the ball. Lovullo patted him on the leg. Third baseman Emmanuel Rivera did the same. Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, the hero of the National League Championship Series through two games, stepped in. The two had a connection.”

“Saalfrank and Schwarber both attended Indiana University. Schwarber was four years older, but Saalfrank had met him early in his college career. Schwarber had been a star from the start, an offensive force. Saalfrank was more of a late bloomer, stuck in the bullpen until an injury to a starting pitcher forced him into the rotation.”

“It changed his career.”

“On the mound in Game 3, with the score deadlocked 0-0, Saalfrank started with an 83-mph curveball that sailed outside the strike zone.” 

“Saalfrank walked Schwarber.”

He then walked him again in Game 7 and the prior batter, allowing the potentially winning run at the plate with no outs. That was the end of his night, immediately relieved by Kevin Ginkel who preserved the victory with three strike outs, including Bryce Harper. It was Ketel Marte, the NLCS MVP, that turned out to be the real “Mr. October” instead of Schwarber or Harper. 

As a personal side note, I worked with the Saalfrank family in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, while I was in the radio business at WMEE/WQHK. They owned an advertising agency called Saal. Andrew is from nearby Hoagland and pitched for I.U. before being drafted in the 2019 sixth round by the Diamondbacks. 

 

Old Sport Shorts: I.U.’s Kyle Schwarber #2421

I found this Kyle Schwarber bio on iuhoosiers.com from 2014. He wore jersey #10 for the Indiana Hoosiers before switching to #12 for the Cubs, Red Sox, Nats, and currently the Phillies. He might have asked to continue with #10 in Chicago, but the uniform number was retired in honor of Ron Santo back in 2003. 

“Selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft (fourth overall) by the Chicago Cubs, the highest draft pick in Indiana baseball history … Two-time First Team All-American and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honoree … In IU history, ranks fifth in slugging percentage (.607), sixth in home runs (40), eighth in hits (238) and tied for eighth in triples (12) and runs (182) … All-Big Ten honors all three years … for career batted .341 in 180 games played.”

2014 – JUNIOR

“Johnny Bench Award Finalist … First Team All-American (Baseball America and Perfect Game), Second Team All-American (Louisville Slugger, NCBWA and ABCA/Rawlings) … First Team All-Big Ten … Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player and Big Ten All-Tournament Team on Big Ten charts, ranked first in slugging percentage (.659), on base percentage (.464), runs scored (66), home runs (14), total bases (153), walks (44) and total plate appearances (280), tied for first in triples (6), second in hits (83), third in batting average (.358), fifth in RBI (48), tied for fifth in doubles (16) and sixth in at bats (232) … In IU single-season history, ranked tied for tenth in runs (66) … Big Ten Player of the Week (March 3) … reached base in all five plate appearances in win at No. 9 Louisville … accounted for eight runs in two-game sweep in Louisville … team-high 23 games with multiple hits, including three contests with career-high four hits … in four NCAA Regional games, recorded 10 hits, seven RBI, one double, one triple and two home runs.”

2013 – SOPHOMORE

” Selected as the best catcher in the country by Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, earning First Team All-America honors from both entities … named a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American by the Collegiate Baseball newspaper … chosen as the NCBWA’s District V Player of the Year … also picked up First Team honors for both the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region and All-Big Ten squads … paired with Sam Travis to become only college teammates to compete for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team over the summer … led the Big Ten with 18 homeruns (3rd nationally), 65 runs (13th), 152 total bases (16th), .647 slugging percentage (19th), .456 OBP and 42 walks … his .366 average, 54 RBI and 86 hits each ranked third in the conference … the 18-homer total is slotted sixth all-time in school history … fielded .989 on the season … earned a spot on both the All-Big Ten Tournament and All-NCAA Bloomington Regional teams … CollegeBaseballInsider.com’s Central Regional Player of the Week and Big Ten Player of the Week on March 11 after destroying Florida for 10 hits, four RBI and four runs scored in a road series victory … racked up seven hits, six runs and four RBI in series sweep at Iowa … blasted a no-doubt homer in the bottom of the 10th vs. Michigan, setting up a walk-off win for IU later in the inning … went on a 10-game postseason hitting streak which included four long-balls, 11 RBI, 14 runs scored and 14 total base knocks … clobbered a pair of cloud-scraping homers in an 8-6 win at Nebraska on the Big Ten Network … whacked homeruns in back-to-back games four different times, including twice in the postseason … Indiana went 46-13 (.780) in games he started and 3-3 (.500) in games an injury held him out of the starting lineup … an Academic All-Big Ten selection.”

2012 – FRESHMAN

“Tabbed as a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by the Collegiate Baseball newspaper … voted All-Big Ten second team catcher … unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman squad … three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree (Mar. 5/Apr. 30/May 21) … ranked in the conference’s top-10 of seven offensive categories: five triples (2nd), 51 runs (t-4th), 47 RBI (t-5th), 118 total bases (t-5th), 15 doubles (t-6th), eight homeruns (t-7th) and a .513 slugging percentage (9th) … threw out 27 attempted base stealers, second-most in the Big Ten … added nine stolen bases, a .300 batting average and .390 on-base percentage … numbers exploded in Big Ten play; hitting .376, slugging .624 and reaching base at a .464 clip during conference action … stroked nine doubles against Big Ten foes, the seventh-most in school history … started all 60 games, 54 behind the dish and six in the corner outfield … second on the team with 21 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI games … batted .364 (24 of 66) with runners in scoring position … drove in four runs three times, including a grand slam at East Tennessee State … scored one or more runs in 12 consecutive games during late April/early May … scored at least once in 35 of 60 games.”

HIGH SCHOOL

“Led the Greater Miami Conference with a .474 batting average, eight homeruns and .643 on-base percentage as a senior … also recorded 28 RBI and 11 stolen bases in his league’s Co-Player-of-the-Year-winning season … four-time team MVP … a second team All-Ohio linebacker selection.”

PERSONAL

“The son of Greg and Donna Schwarber … has a brother, Jamin, and three sisters, Alicia, Kelly and Lindsey … born on March 5, 1993 … majoring in Recreational Sports Management. He was born in Middletown, Ohio and played for Middletown High, same school as I.U basketball’s Butch Carter.”

 

Old Sport Shorts: Mr. October or November #2420

Jose Altuve has added to his postseason legacy, cracking his 26th playoff HR (a 3-run blast) in the ninth, leading the defending Champion Astros to a 3-2 series margin over the Texas Rangers. This was after Texas had won the first two games. Talk about “clutch” in his quest for “Mr. October” status. (See Post #2418). He moves within 3 of all-time post-season HR leader Manny Ramirez, tarnished by two suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs. Moments later, Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies put one over the right center wall to surpass fellow left-handed sluggers Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle in the post-season Home Run Derby, his 19th from that side of the plate and fourth of in this year’s NLCS, all in the lead-off position, another record. In addition, Kyle ties right-handers Albert Puljos and George Springer, surpassing Carlos Correa and Nelson Cruz, establishing himself as a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate.

Schwarber can it the long ball and the dribbler off the end of the bat that led to the first run in game 5. The question then became can the Phillies hold on to the early lead for once or will the DBacks stage another comeback? It’s an understatement that reliever Craig Kimbrel has been a disappointment as he was for the Cubs and White Sox whenever I watched him pitch. I would doubt he gets another chance in this series if Manager Rob Thomson wants to keep his job. 

In the top of the 6th, Kyle Schwarber, wearing uniform #12, hit another bomb, his 5th of the NLCS and 20th overall, tying Derek Jeter. Harper matched it later in the inning, after stealing home in the first and joining Randy Arozarena as the only two players in history to do both in the same postseason game. These are “Mr. October” feats above and beyond Reggie Jackson!

Before this historical moment, I never paid much attention to the #12 jersey that Schwarber wore, unlike my childhood fascination with Sherm Lollar back in the 60s who donned the #10 that I since favored. Both Lollar and Schwarber were catchers, by the way, although Kyle now serves a DH role, and was used by the Cubs as an outfielder. I looked back through some of Schwarbs baseball cards, dating back to the I.U. days (2012-2014 when he hit 40 homers for the Hoosiers and wore #10 like Sherm). His USA Baseball, collegiate national team number was 44 in 2014, the year he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber may have requested #10 when the Cubbies called him up, but that uniform number was retired in honor of Ron Santo back in 2003. 

The Phillies held on to win game five 6-1 and will have two more chances for a World Series spot when they return to Citizens Bank Park. Unlike the previous night when Schwarber’s run-scoring walk should have been the game winner prior to Kimbrel’s blown save, the bullpen did its job. Hopefully, Philly will advance and likely get a second chance against the Astros, allowing Schwarber and Harper more chances to rewrite the record books and ultimately outdo Houston’s esteemed advisor, “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson. There could even be a “Mr. November should this year’s series lasts longer than four games!

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Ills and Bills #2419

I can’t really explain how I ended up with a Florida Blue HMO plan, but it predictably turned into a problem. I say this because I’ve always elected a PPO where I could select my doctors rather than being restricted to the network. When I switched last year from United Healthcare (a PPO) to seemingly coincide with my wife’s coverage and choice of providers, all of my doctors were in the network, and this never failed until recently until it was pointed out that my card clearly stated Premier HMO. I added a supplemental dental plan to match my wife and we went to the same primary care provider, eye doctor, and dentist. However, back in Austin she had some issues with a detached retina, so she began to see a specialist while I continued with the surgeon that preformed my upper eyelid procedure (all covered except about $300 in co-pays). It was a few months ago when I decided to switch to this same ophthalmologist, thinking I had the same coverage. 

They took my card, not noticing the HMO distinction from my wife’s coverage, and proceeded with my exam that determined an immediate need for cataract surgery and a Prokera treatment. Fortunately, they only needed to polish the surface of my right eye, or the cost might have doubled. This $7,200 procedure was then denied by my insurance. I called this to their attention, with all of us thinking that I was covered, but as it turned out they do not accept the HMO arrangement with Florida Blue. They did agree that it was their fault but there were some out-of-pocket issues and did admit telling them I had the same coverage as my wife, so we ended up compromising at just under $1,200 – money I was not expecting to spend. If I had the PPO, it would have been simply a few co-pays. 

I immediately called Blue Cross & Blue Shield to switch my coverage during the open enrollment period. It was a painful hour or more on the phone because, of course, everyone jumps on this limited enrollment timeframe and the computers overload. Information had to be entered multiple times and I was already frustrated with the fact that I had bought this stupid HMO and wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be similar problems with my upcoming heart surgery that will certainly be a bit more than $7,200.

Sorting through this jungle of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and related health financial decisions is a problem for even an educated individual like me. This HMO issue must have been a factor of a quickly softening retirement mind. I can only imagine some of the problems that the less fortunate have to deal with when it comes to medical ills and bills. 

Old Sport Shorts: Mr. October #2418

This is a post that I hope to continue to expand upon, as Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies becomes the second player to have his own category on my blog, along with Sherm Lollar. Neither of these guys are exactly household names, but they are near and dear to me. I’ve been following Schwarber since his playing days at my alma mater Indiana University. Lollar was a childhood hero. Both played for multiple MLB teams during their respective careers and have won World Series rings, while Schwarbs, as I call him, still has a lot of history to make. 

“Mr. October” was the title earned by Reggie Jackson “for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the Athletics and the Yankees. He helped Oakland win five consecutive American League West divisional titles, three straight American League pennants and three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974. He then helped New York win four American League East divisional pennants, three American League pennants and back-to-back World Series titles, in 1977 and 1978. He then assisted the California Angels in their two AL West divisional titles in 1982 and 1986 and served as an advisor to the 2022 World Champion Astros, his 6th title (at Kyle Schwarber’s expense).

There have been recent references to Kyle Schwarber as the new “Mr. October,” after he tied New York Yankees legends Jackson and Mickey Mantle with 18 post-season home runs following two dingers the other night in Philadelphia, “the most by a left-handed batter in Major League baseball history.” Plus, in his case, there’s more work yet to do with at least two more games yet this month. Plus, Reggie took 77 games and Mickey 65 to reach the 18-mark, while Kyle did it in 60. Schwarber also earned me free Taco Bell food with a rare stolen base in last year’s World Series. (See Post 2186). Kyle is an all-or-nothing hitter with too many strikeouts and a hitting average below the Mendoza level. 

Schwarber’s long-ball heroics started eight years ago when he hit a solo homer for the Cubs in his second post-season at bat back in 2015. He also is the sole owner for lead-off dingers with four, after struggling earlier this month in the Divisional round of the playoffs.  Jackson hammered three consecutive home runs at Yankee Stadium in the clinching game six of the 1977 World Series. So, the word “clutch” adds immensely to Jackson’s October legend, while Schwarber has been upstaged by his teammate Bryce Harper when it comes to game-winning efforts, so far. This is the downside of serving as a lead-off hitter. Plus, this year’s World Series run for the Phillies could easily extend into next month, so either of these stars could claim “Mr. November.”

Other contenders for “Mr. October” include Manny Ramirez with 29 post-season homers, Jose Altuve (25), Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20), Albert Pujols & George Springer (19), and Carlos Correa & Nelson Cruz (18), while Randy Arozerena totaled ten during the 2022 season alone. Bernie Williams tops everyone with 80 post-season RBIs, all according to Baseball Reference. To Tell the Truth, will the real “Mr. October” please stand up!

To be continued…..

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Retirement is Busy #2417

I heard from a generous neighbor yesterday who read my blog about bicycles and offered to let me use one of theirs, since they are often not in town. Today, I’m wondering if anyone has a Lamborghini I can borrow? Sometimes, it’s just a matter of what you ask for in life! I remember one Christmas when family members asked what I wanted in the way of gifts, I casually mentioned a melon baller, of all things. I had made a fruit salad but didn’t have the proper kitchen tools to make it fancy, so it was top of mind. When I went to open presents, I think I got seven of them. Should have asked for a Corvette, I guess! 

Honestly, there isn’t much that I “want for” anymore and it’s always been difficult for me to come up with gift ideas. The melon baller was a stretch since I don’t really cook and probably haven’t made a fruit salad since. However, I still like the thrill of unwrapping baseball cards. I’m still waiting on another neighbor that wants my help finding a buyer for a warehouse full of cases of unopened boxes. This would be the ultimate treasure hunt for me, but they have been distracted by more serious issues and haven’t been in their Florida home in some time. Imagine all that stale, flat, bubble gum just sitting there waiting to be chewed. 

There’s always something going on in the neighborhood. We enjoyed a night of Music Bingo with local favorite, Mr. Gameshow, at our Islandwalk clubhouse. My wife, of course, knew all the lyrics of all the songs but it didn’t help her win. I needed the tune “Mony, Mony” to be played but it never happened, so I filled lots of squares to no avail. Next up is comedian Dave Dugan from Indianapolis that was popular on the Bob & Tom Show, followed by the annual Hallo-wine party. Friends are coming over tomorrow to drink wine and watch the I.U. vs. Rutgers football game, the battle for the BIG Ten basement. We also have Date Night scheduled for this evening at L’Olive, tickets for “Let’s Murder Marsha” at the Lemon Bay Playhouse next weekend, and a Veteran’s Day musical performance called NAM, written and produced by a talented neighbor to kick-off November. Plenty of good neighbors, so retirement is busy!

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