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