That Special Breakfast...... Biscuits and Gravy

In this world we all know, and some love, there are many different types of people... At its lowest levels we have different kinds of children.... Daddy's girl, Dad's boy, Momma'a boy, etc. So what? What does this have to do with anything you might ask....... I will grant you this, Not Much. Nothing more than to say that I was as much a Grandpa's boy as any boy could be. I wasn't much older than about 3 at the time, yet Grandpa and I had a special bond, that I don't think would have been equalled by my brothers, had they been older. There were many a Monday morning when Grandpa would walk across the street, and get me, and we would walk back across the street together. Go inside, get our matching Flea Market hats. They were light blue. Grandpa had them specially made. Mine said "Grandpa's Side Kick" on it.... At the time, I didn't have any idea what that meant, other than that my Grandpa really enjoyed spending time with me. His hat said "Andy's Grandpa". I understood that that meant. It meant that he identified himself with me, and myself with him. The hats were so that if we were ever separated, I could just look for him by his blue hat, that matched mine. Many of the dealers knew us by name... Almost as if he had told them about me... "So this is Andy?"

Grandpa really didn't have too many rules, but his biggest was "leave things be"... I would always have that desire to pick up the interesting things that were on the tables, and he didn't want me to break anything, or get into any sort of trouble..... But you know, before all of this Flea Market stuff, Each morning where we were headed to the flea market, we would go somewhere for breakfast.... There was this little "Mom and Pop" type, family owned restaurant in Zephyrhills, called "Friendly Folks", which Grandpa really seemed to like. My first time there I didn't know what I wanted... I mean, after all, this whole concept of ordering food is kinda new to a 3 or 4 year old.... So the waitress figured I would like pancakes, so they got that for me... and Grandpa got his normal Biscuits and Gravy... which I had never tried. Our food came, and I remember distinctly that nice blackness to the bottom side of mine.... They were burned.... but Grandpa told me I didn't have to eat it all.... I curiously wondered what biscuits and gravy tasted like.... and he gave me a bite. Now this wasn't the sort of thing that you really can enjoy totally in the first bite. It takes a little more to really make a believer out of you, but that one bite was all I had. I didn't love it, but I certainly liked it, and since Grandpa liked it, that was good enough for me. From that point on, I always got Biscuits and Gravy. I was hooked. :-D

Probably 8 years later, on a trip with my Papa, my Mom's Dad. Papa and I were in Montana, we had gone into town, that morning and were both pretty hungry. Since we had plans to meet some relatives a little bit later on, and we needed to get some breakfast first, we went to this diner called "west-side". The waitress seated us and gave us each a menu. I remember they had a special , sure enough, Biscuits and Gravy. Papa asked what I was going to have, and I showed him the Biscuits and Gravy, and told him how good it was. He eventually decided to get it, too. The waitress brought us our food. 2 heaping plates of biscuits, covered in gravy. Wow.... It was good. Papa later said that he didn't especially like it, but that it was good, and glad he tried it....

So now, speeding forward 14 years from my first meeting with this wondrous food, and forward 5 years from the introducing of it to my Papa, I have a memory. Perhaps this is an influencing factor in what makes this food special to me. If I take a minute, and slow down to remember my Grandpa, and some of the simplest ways he influenced me. Remembering those special moments spent with some of the ones I loved. Times I will never go back to, opportunities that are gone. Things that I can think back about now, and remember as some of the favorite moments of my life. It makes me wonder if there is a little Andy out there, who wants to be just like me, and if I spent the time to care about him.... How would that change his life?

Tips for a Good Game

I have been thinking about what to write about as my first article for the site... And finally decided to do one about my personal suggestions for having a good game, keeping the game under control, and not getting verbally abused too badly by the crowd.


First off, Treat everyone better than how they probably, really deserve to be treated. When you are walking around the park, say Hi to people, be friendly. I'm sure it's very surprising to a coach who is very abusive of umpires, to get greeted with a friendly hello, by the very one he's treated so poorly.

Unless they have crossed a clear cut line, where no one should dare go, Give them a warning first. Don't be quick to eject people.

Ignore ALL comments from the fans. Umpires should NOT talk to the fans. Why? Well how does it look to the other team if the umpire is standing there chit chatting with one team, the whole game?? They would have reason to believe the umpire was biased in the other team's favor.

When calling the plate, calling the strike zone consistently should be your number 1 goal. Keeping your head still, and tracking the ball in with your eyes, instead of your head, is a good way to keep the zone from "bouncing around on you". Another frequent mistake of the plate umpire when calling pitches is calling it too soon(I do this a lot, when I miss a pitch, it's almost always because of this). To keep from calling the pitch too soon, watch the pitch all the way into the glove. Don't decide what it is, as the pitch is halfway to the batter. Watch it all the way into the glove.


This one, like the first, applies more to everything, than just during games.

Don't criticize your fellow umpires in front of others. If there is something that another umpire is doing wrong, that is potentially embarrassing to him or her, go to them privately and talk about it. This also goes for dealing with coaches. It's usually a lot better to go to the coach, and talk to him, rather than shout things from halfway across the field.

That's enough for now.

Andy

Some people annoy me...

1. 
   First off....The reason I rarely call plates these days has NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING to do with my judgement, knowledge or overall ability. It has NOTHING to do with the fallacy that I don't do a good job, or am not good enough to do it. The reason I rarely call the plate is because, 1. I dont like calling the plate. 2. I am strictly a volunteer . Since it is necessary to have 2 umpires on each game. Out of our 18-20 regular umpires there are only like 3 of us who don't charge. I am NOT going to do the hard work while the guy who's getting paid is doing the easy job. There's something wrong with that! I have called like 3 plates so far. Each time it was because the paid guys either didn't show up, or were late. Secondly.... if you want me to "GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!"I would gladly accept your offer to pay my way to Umpire School, at Southern Regions. Bring your checkbook to the next game. Third.... Making one call you didn't like is NOT the same as "making bad calls".Yes, I made a call that you, from 150 feet away didn't agree with. I was about 20 feet away and had a better angle on it. But you know what? I'm the umpire. My opinion is the only opinion that counts. Forth..... Tie does NOT go to the runner.This is a myth. It is NOT in the rule book, ANYWHERE. Also, it wasn't a tie. she was out(yeah, I was calling a softball game when this happened)I don't think it's really possible to have a tie anyway. What do you say? "I'm sorry young lady, that was a tie, go back to the batters box and do it over again." NO!!!! There are no ties. It's either safe or out!Point 5.......Just because I treat you with respect as a player, coach, manager, fan, etc does not mean you have any justification for treating me like that trash can you just kicked, or your son who you just humiliated in front of his friends. I'll treat you with respect, all I ask is that you leave me alone. If you have any kindness inside of you, maybe you could say "yes sir" and lower your tone of voice. If you cannot talk to me calmly, please don't say anything.#6.....Don't be my first......In 3++ years of umpiring little league games, of all divisions and some softball. Tournament of Champions, Districts, Sectionals, and Fall Ball, I have never thrown a player or coach out of a game. Do Not be my first.thats all for now
   

More on standards...

How do you convey your personal standard to others? Those that see no problem with their standard, and can at least somewhat back it up with some scripture....

The Bible is pretty clear that causing strife among Christians is wrong, its something that God hates. If God hates it, is it a sin? I would certainly think so. OK, so we have that its a sin to cause strife between "brethren".

The problem comes when its time to deal with someone who has a standard that really doesn't seem to be in compliance with scripture.

I see too much of Christians slamming their convictions on other Christians in a very Un-Christlike way, a way that is far from loving, far from what Christ would do, far from Biblical.

But, on the flip side, the Bible also says "be not conformed to this world, but be yea transformed by the renewing of your mind...." Romans 12:2
We definitely should be separate from the ways the world does things. In every way that's not pleasing in His sight. These area's include but are not limited to areas of dress, speech,
personal conduct, music, entertainment.

I'm writing this from a guys perspective, cause that's what I'm familiar with.

Should we dress in the same styles as everyone else? probably not. Is everything that comes and goes in the clothing aspect of life, worldly and wrong? No. I would definitely see it as wrong to dress in a style that looks like you are miserable or hate life. Emo, goth, etc

As a Christian guy, I should dress in a way that causes those little old ladies to come up to the table when we are at a restaurant, and say "what a wonderful looking group of young people" , not causing them to look at me and think "he looks rebellious".

I shouldn't have 2 different ways of speaking, I should use the same rating level no matter who I'm around. I have met many teenage guys that cuss and talk "trash" around each other, to try and seem "cool" to fit in, but then around their parents they have to clean it up, so they don't get in trouble. A Christian guys language should be such that he wouldn't hesitate to say it if he was aware that his parents were watching, much less, God.

When I wonder "would it be OK to do__________?" First and foremost, a Christian guy knows for the most part what is right and whats not right(aka: WRONG) "would I click on that, if I was aware God was standing behind me, watching?"

There is so much scripture to back these things up, if you don't agree, say so, and I'll look up several verses on whatever it is

Music.... "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "

"1 john 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty clear. In deciding if its something we should listen to we should consider some things.

Is this the "worlds" music? if so, the Bible doesn't get more clear, this is wrong. I was once told by a professing Christian "there's nothing wrong with Britney Spears(music)" No one could honestly argue that this isn't "the worlds" music. This is probably the simplest and most basic thing that's wrong with it.

My issue with "Christian Rock" is that "Rock" part at the end. I admit there is usually nothing WRONG with the words(usually kinda shallow, but nothing really bad about them).
If you do even a little research you will find that rock music is wrong. period, end of story.

How can you in good conscience stick "Christian" lyricks to it, and say that its just fine??

Really, it's done to attract a crowd. To get young people inside. To make money. You can't tell me that if Christian Rock, or CCM wasn't popular, that groups such as Casting Crowns would still be in it. If more conservative music was the "in" thing among Christians these so called "artists" would be producing conservative Christian music instead.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/arts/music/27sann.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1194500451-+aoHBE6JaBw+xknz4xSQYA

I hope I'm able to get these points across somewhat clearly, without being mean, or hateful.

Personal thoughts from my trip to Bob Jones...

As you might have guessed, I had a great time at BJ, I learned a lot, a lot about ppl, a lot about life, a lot about God. Something I have struggled with for a long time is how to act in situations where something someone does goes against my convictions, but might not be "that big of a deal". When do you cross the line from preaching "be not conformed to this world...." to being someone that God does not approve, i.e. "He that soweth discord among brethren"Which is worse?? "letting it slide" or causing "discord" among the believers? Which is less bad? How to clearly define what you believe the bible says w/o starting a huge argument and causing hard feelings.... Does it matter if it starts a huge argument and causes hard feelings as long as you are right??Where does "Let your moderation be known unto man" come into this

Sarah Graduated

I was looking at my camera, and realized that I had a bunch of pictures from Sarahs graduation, and since I needed to get them off the camera, I might as well put some up here.

Here are my parents, standing proudly with my sister, Sarah

It was a rainy graduation day, here is the clock "tower" right outside the dinning common.

I don't really have a lot to say about it, cause it was...well... a graduation.