A Political Side Bar

George Bush, Queen Elizabeth, and Vladimir Putin all die and go to hell. While there, they spy a red phone and ask what the phone is for. The devil tells them it is for calling back home.

Putin asks to call Russia and talks for 5 minutes. When he is finished the devil informs him that the cost is a million dollars, so Putin writes him a check.

Next Queen Elizabeth calls England and talks for 30 minutes. When she is finished the devil informs her that the cost is 6 million dollars, so she writes him a check.

Finally George Bush gets his turn and talks for 4 hours. When he is finished the devil informs him that the cost is $5.00.

When Putin hears this he goes ballistic and asks the devil why Bush got to call the USA so cheaply.

The devil smiles and replies: "While Bush was in office, the country went to hell, so it's a local call." 

Tour De Korea

My nephew is currently competing in his first international bike race.  This takes his bike riding to a whole different level and from his email, sounds like he is having the time of his life!

The real gift in this is getting to live large vicariously through a stronger and much younger individual that is in your same gene pool.  This past weekend was highlighted by a few firsts by several girlfriends children.  One "child" was presenting a paper to a group at Princeton.  Another had won a student body election...a different girlfriend's child was part of the Summit High Band and they took first place at a competition.  Someone else's got married the week before...and the educational GI benefits were approved for another.  We celebrated in the joy of these moments while the parent were able to live vicariously in the glow of accomplishment.

So, back to my nephew...It is a 10 stage race with racers from around the world.  The first day he crashed but was able to jump back on his bike and still catch up to the Peloton and the leader.  He said it took a lot...heck 75 miles...well, that is half way to Portland!

I have my own "living large" goals but I have to say that it is nice occasionally doing it from an armchair with someone younger putting out the physical effort.

If you are interested in seeing the route and where the different stages are...or look at the other photos, you can check out the website.  It is textwise all in Korean.  The guy on the end of this photo is my nephew...oh yeah!  He was the one who was interviewed by the Today show when they came to San Francisco last month to tape a segment on the accurancy of calorie counts on excercise machines.

http://www.tourdekorea.or.kr/

My ABs Hurt

My girlfriend "well" is filled and I will carry their support with me as life starts getting busy...as if it isn't busy all the time.  I laughed so much that my abs hurt.  I woke up that first morning and I thought I had pulled a muscle! 

I think it is unfathomable to the outside world of non-girlfriends and non-quilters to visualize what occurs on our quilt retreats.  8 girlsfriends, sitting at a group of tables set up into a giant square, with 8 sewing machines in front of them.  Sewing from morning till night.  Without exaggeration sewing 10 + hours.  Taking an occasional break for some sustenance and consuming large amounts of caffiene.  A daily break for some excersise and stretching but other than that living in PJ's cranking out quilting energy and taking pieces of fabric and creating art.

It is a time to pick each other's brains, problem solving...not only quilting issues, but life.  It is reveling in each other's joys and empathizing in each others sorrows.  It is reminiscing about the past, talking about the present and hopes for the furture. 

But most of all it is laughing until your abs hurt, knowing how amazing this group of women are and how blessed I am too have them as friends.

Quilt Retreat!

I know I am totally insane at this juncture to take off for a quilt retreat.  I should be pouring over wedding plans making sure I didn't forget anything. Oh...I just remember something!  What I do know is that being with my best friends fills my emotional well...and what better way then to stay in my PJ's 24-7 quilting, laughing, crying...and sewing as much as I can in one 3+day period.

We are only going down to Sunriver...which is only...like...2 miles from the wedding venue!  Hey If I think of something I can pop right over!  But it is the separation from everyday life that is a gift.  I have been trying to sew for weeks and yet the day to day demands have interrupted this goal.  But now...I can't scrub the toilets, work on the yard, pay bills, go to work, go to the grocery store...I will sew...eat...talk...laugh...sew...eat...talk...laugh...sew

And come Sunday...I will be happy to come home...I will have finished several projects including a ring bearer pillow...and I will be ready to go to work on Monday at 0530.

My moto this weekend...JUST SEW IT!

I Give...Uncle, Uncle

Last night we had an unexpected visit from an Uncle.  It was an Uncle and Aunt who through some previous experiences we had made the connection a year Christmas card only relationship.

But last night, we emotionally cried uncle...and opened the door.  Sometimes you have to leave the past behind, as painful as it is and decide that keeping people at a distance may protect you but you also miss out on something.

And so the door was opened and our hearts gave way to an elderly couple who just wanted to see us.  They brought along pictures of their children and grandchildren and we could see how much time has passed.  They handed us their lives and watched to see how we would react...and we poured over each photo, remembers the past.  Then the really old photos came out, those several generations back and they were amazing.  Uncle handed us the typed family tree and it will prove to be fascinating reading...2 Indian Chief and a Indian Princess...hummm  They not only handed us their hearts but a thread of connection, reminding us that they are here and want to be a part of our lives.

Sometimes you have to grab ahold of the extended hand...no matter the history or the pain and feel the love.

Capitalism, A Love Story

Last night Greg and I watch Michael Moore's latest documentary.  I wish we could have been video taped watching...because we ran the full range of emotions, from shock,  smiling...#$%!...depression...saddness...crying...and ultimately anger.  We tend to view life in small segments, trying to pay bills, save for the future, raise our children and when you are getting up at 4 am in the morning going to work, coming home, fixing something to eat, trying to relax and head to bed...to begin it all again...you have little time or energy to really keep up on who is screwing you and why.

It is a must see.  Sure it is one sided  but even so if you only take in a small percentage you will be pained.

Everyday the paper is filled with property defaults and deeds where people have bought from the bank because the original homeowner lost their home.  Sure, we have to take some responsibility for our choices and monetary decisions but we as a nation were primed to believe we deserved a good life.  We had been sold a dream of nice home, cars, vacations and children who will get and deserve a good education...all on credit.  No longer.  My generation is the first that has not done better than their parents.  It looks like we have done better but, as you see the repo guy collecting cars and the banks defaulting on homes you realize that it is all an optical illusion...we just look like we have done better.  Our children will have to work harder and be financially smarter...but we raised them in the optical illusion of the good life.  They are going to face an even harder reality.

Now our children have to have a "come to Jesus" moment...if you need a credit card to purchase something...you can't afford it.  If you use your savings to go on a vacation...you can't afford it.  If you can't pay for car insurance...you can't afford the car.  And pretty much guaranteed there won't be social security in your retirement time...so you had better start saving for your retirement now...in your 20's and 30's. 

Our marriage is solidly in the middle class.  We have to work, we want to work, we do not use our money on vacations other than to visit family, we pay our bills, we use the library, we take care of our cars because we will have them a long time.  We get our joy from the happiness of our children. For our part...we are going to work longer to try and not burden our children. 

Capitalism, A Love Story....a must see...if you care about your life.

Oh, You So Lucky...You Have A Job...

Every day in the newspaper or the TV news they are talking about employment.  Currently the state of employment is bitter sweet.  If you loved your job before...now with the chaos going on at the upper levels of orgainzaitons you have to work harder at loving it.

This past weekend was my weekend to work.  It is a love hate relationship.  On my weekend there are only 2 of us working...it reminded why during parts of my children's growing up years I worked every weekend.  Although it was a challenge for the family...as in no family time on the weekends...it was a peaceful time to work and you always had either mom or dad watching your children in the safety of their own home.  It is you and the job. Period.  No one dogging your heels, you actually get to be a responsible adult.  You know you have a job to accomplish and you do it.  Just because there is no boss around doesn't mean you suddenly turn into a slacker...who you are, is who you are.

It was also a time to see what all these cost cutting measures result in...looking for toliet seat covers and replacing them yourself...cause the housekeeping staff is running their @#$% off.  It is realizing that your area didn't get cleaned the day before because the garbage you left yesterday is still in the cans.  Feeling totally sore because there is no transport tech on the weekends and so you have to go upstairs and haul patients down on their beds or guerneys.  Looking for O2 tanks to transport, but the person on the floor doesn't know where they are stored because she has never worked this floor until today.  The list was endless...

But, as I reflect today with my sore neck, wrists, back and feet...we made it.  We as an entire team made it.  We pitched in and gave care...at the same time trying to fathom how we will keep doing it with more cost saving measures to come...well it make the thought of hanging in another 8 years daunting.

Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

Yesterday evening Greg and I were invited to a neighbor's for dinner.  She and her husband had invited several other neighbors and it was wonderful.  I always new I lived in a little secret place in Bend, tucked in the middle but with a feel of the forest...and yet I am reminded again what a sepcial place it is.  My neighbors are all friendly, dog lovers and live full lives.  Conversation was interesting and filled with laughter.

It is a throw back to my childhood...when we knew our neighbors and actually shared meals, stories and help.  I realized last night that I actually live in Mr. Roger's neighborhood.  We had a wonderful meal of BBQ pork rub and when I told them that we were serving that at the rehearsal dinner we were presented with a brand new container of "Rubbed With Love" pork rub...how wonderfully appropriate for a rehearsal dinner...and how sweet of our neighbors...

Two Funerals And A Wedding

There is nothing like weddings or funerals to bring out the emotions.  I have been smoothly sailing along enjoying every aspect of the impending nuputials but it is not without it's emotional side.  They didn't make the movie "Two Wedding and a Funeral" for no reason.

The last family funeral resulted in so much fall out that it took me back to the previous funeral which was my dad's in 1978. The fall out from that one has been life long.  I was barely married less than a year when dad died and I not only lost him but I also lost others in my family, I lost them emotionally.  The second funeral has created a saddness in the family that goes beyond the loss of the one member.  We are still struggling with who we are as a family and how we can continue without this one person. 

And so a wedding.  The most anticipated wedding in our family.  Then a friend emails me a photo that says..."Do not waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good."

I am Chanting!!!!!!!!!!!!

These Shoes Are Made For Walking...

You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes.  These are Frank's shoes...or rather Monica's, as he likes to be called now.  I have been amazed by his shoes for weeks.  He has got to be a size 15 shoe...where did he find these clogs that could fit him???  He has 3 pairs, my favorite are the ones he has embellished with jewels. 

I could have taken a photo of his entire ensemble and he wanted me too but really...a 6'5" guy with black nylons that said "bitch" all over them, a flapper's fringed dress and a grey jewel incrusted sweater that he had to cut the sleeves to fit over his arms, braclets, necklaces, anklets and that bright blue eye shadow...well it would have taken away from my blog about shoes and who wears what kind....Focus people...get the picture I have discribed out of your head and get back to the shoes.

Frank/Monica told me he always dressed like this but it was underneath the baggy pants and clothes that he used to wear...he has always been a man/woman.  He spends a lot of time working on his shoes and he walks better in them than some women.

I also saw a handsome 30 something guy dressed in slacks, jacket...and bright orange Crocs...did his wife not see him before he left the house?!

There is a young woman at work...she looks very young but has an important job...she always wears high heels...the 3 inch kind.  Does it make her seem older???  What is she trying to say???with her shoes.  They look horribly uncomfortable and she has to walk a fair distance at lunch.

I have several pairs of shoes...and when I am trying to figure out which ones I want to wear today I take into account what I am doing...and more importanty how I am feeling...cause shoes say so much about who you are going to be today.

Space...The Final Frontier

Photo by Connor Bates

Space, the final frontier...or just a little piece of real estate...or a section of my brain...or the place between this spot and that spot...

Space is sooooo important to me. I like occupying my little piece of real estate on this earth.  I create a nice little circle around myself and I don't like it when someone I am not sure of steps into my space.  I watched Enzo yesterday approach another dog very cautiously, circling each other. Then, it was a nose to butt position...I know for sure that I am not comfortable without a circle around my space...dogs...they are more open to possibilities.

At work we all have our favorite space.  The problem is that there are about 25+ of us working each day and only a few get their favorite space.  The rest have to try and make it through the day.  It makes all the difference in how you feel by the end of the day if you worked in your favorite space.  Each day we walk in wondering, am I in my favorite space or am I in survival mode.  Do I have my favorite chair, pen, computer...or is it someone elses favorite space?

At the gym everyone has a favorite space.  We spin on the same bike, we work out on the same machines...there is one gym rat who runs every single day on the same treadmill, for the same length of time, at the same speed.  Last week that treadmill was broken and she had to use the one next door and said it was going to ruin her day.  Space.

Home is my all time favorite space and within our home we have each carved out even smaller favorite spaces.  Life is all about favorite spaces...which chair is our favorite, which side of the bed is our favorite, which window we like to sit in front of...

Space is so vast and so small...it is important in ways we really don't look at until we lose our space...then we see how important it is to our day.

Work

In honor of work, the early shift and the docs that I work with here are 3 videos.  (the first one sent by a girlfriend)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOrjcLJ2IE0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yarDeAHJjr4&feature=related



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP2OuZ_vI_s&feature=related


 

Feudbook

I was amazed this morning reading an aritcle called Feudbook.  The evolution of a friend network to a place where one can argue with each other.  So basically it starts out with a couple who argue back and forth on Facebook...one of their friends posts, "Hey, you guys know we can still see this right...?"  It is the equivalent of a computer slamming door when you are PO'd at someone... except millions, upon millions of people and more importantly those close to you can read about your arguement.  You can change your relationship status depending on how you are feeling that day and with this ability you can poke someone with the sharp end of a computer stick.

For some people who argue on Facebook, the battle for public opinion or  the need to have everyone know your side of the story is more important than good common sense.

I can remember several years ago a co-worker made the comment that I never say anything negative about my husband and that we have the perfect marriage...Well...for one thing...there is no such thing as a perfect marriage...marriage is made up of 2 human beings with their own set of personalites...secondly...it is no ones business what our issues are or how we solve them.  The one thing I DO know, is airing your issues with the public does not help you solve the problems...cause you are going to get a wide variety of answers depending on the issues all your friends/family carry around in their own lives.  People want to take sides.  I don't want anyone on my side, what I do want is to resolve whatever the issue is with the man I married, in the privacy of my own relationship.

So, for the many disagreements we have had, the solutions we have come up with together, the 100's of I'm sorries over the years...in the privacy of my own relationship...I do have the perfect marriage.

Thinking About Choices

photo by Connor Bates

I saw this photo and it sparked a thread of thought.  Choices.  When given a choice which is better?  Coffee in a styrafoam cup or glass cup/mug?  Coffee in a styrafoam cup doesn't taste as good as coffee in a glass cup.  Why?  The glass cup is more than the coffee, it is representative of taking a moment, connecting either with friends or yourself.  Either way when you order coffee in a glass cup you are setting a priority that will affect your entire day.

My cousin had started turning off his cell phone when having lunch with people.  You immediately feel valued.  He is there to connect with you.  He can take 1 hour and have you as a priority.  I see so many people who interrupt phone calls (call waiting), meals and great conversation to answer their cell.  When did we stop caring about the person we are with, to connect to the person we are not with?  When did it become more important to be available to the masses rather than important to an individual?  How come we value our freedom so little that we stay shackeled to a phone?

When did we start valuing the quantity of friends we have over the quality of the friends we have?  I believe when the quantity becomes more important than the quality you lose sight of people's feelings.

I am faced with choices every day and when I look at my choices I try to do no harm.  I know, I am not always successful. But, I think when you start with "do no harm" you have a better chance of making the individual a priority...and that is what we all want to feel, that we are valued as individuals and that our choices reflect who we are and what we really value.

Surfing The Net

Surfing the net has much the same appeal as surfing.  You are riding along, moving this way and that with a powerful wave behind you...pushing you hard, further and you're working hard to stay ahead and ride it to a fulfilling peak of success. That is just like surfing the net...the world wide web.  You can find anything, you can search...you can seek and you get more excited as you learn more...it keeps you coming. But, there is a big wave behind you...there are worms and viruses seeking to upset your ride.

I am addicted to the World Wide Web. I don't care that there are worms and viruses. I can ask it anything and it will answer me.  I don't feel stupid asking it how to spell something...it never says...I can't believe you don't know how to spell that...or you must be getting old that you can't remember that...or lousy cook.  No, the World Wide Web is a confidant, a teacher, a friend, a tool...a connection and support.

So here is a list of the questions I asked my friend the World Wide Web...this week...

1.  How do you spell "anticipation?"  (dicitonary.com)

2.  What was that funny jingle commercial with the family sitting on a couch talking about the Holiday Inn?

3.  examples of wedding programs

4.  wedding songs

5.  in what order does the wedding party enter

6.  in what order does the wedding party exit?

7.  scone recipes

8.  movie times?

9.  movie reviews?

10. attitudes

11. what's going on in Bend?

12.  If I had to drive back from Monterey which way would be the most fun?

13.  What is my doctors phone number?

14.  what is the relationship between the children of cousins?

15.  what does a trip to Disneyland cost?

16.  what is going on at the hosptial?

17.  How much longer do I have to work?

18.  do I have overdue library books?

19.  what is the name of Micheal Moore's latest movie?
20.  what do cars cost these days, which ones are the safest and how much will I have to save up each month to help my son get a car?

21.  When is my next Netflix movie coming?

So you see...it is there for me...even if there is a potential for wipe out!

Attitude Adjustment

It seems I need an attitude adjustment...or maybe the world does!  It is kinda like having a baby.  Once you have experienced childbirth, your pain threshold drops and if stub your toe you start screaming cause everything hurts so much more.

I feel like these days my emotional and physical nerves are on the surface.  When I get my feeling hurt by friends or family...I cry.  When I bang my head on a shelf...I cry.  When my dog falls out a window...I cry. Normally while I can empathize with someone's decisions even though it may hurt me...I now can't let stuff roll off my back...and I cry.

Maybe, it's the economy! LOL

I have become even more feeling...as if I didn't have enough of that gene.  I think I was born with a DNA feeling root...that allows me to feel more vunerable and whatever this particular DNA is...it also has caused me to speak up more.  Which means staff meetings are dangerous territory...cause my feeling are on the surface of my skin and the stupidity and injustice of some situations makes the DNA come out my mouth. LOL

I wonder if others are feeling the same way.  Maybe this has to do with moving through my 50's which is what this blog is actually about.  Maybe at 50+ you don't give a @#$% what you are told...you want to do what is right and makes sense.  Maybe in your 50's you start realizing that friendship is important and you need to be with people who value that friendship and walk the walk.  Maybe in your 50's you realize that you should have started that 401k in your 20's or 30's so you could venture to think about retirement.  Maybe in your 50's time is more important than money.

MAYBE, in your 50's you realize that you still could use an attitude adjustment.

Clean Slate

Sometimes out of disaster comes freedom.  I have noticed that in the last two days as I have been working on getting my lap top back on it's feet...that I now have a clean slate.

I had been hanging onto computer files filled, not only with positive things but negative things.  Why???  It seems I was somewhat of a computer email hoarder.  I have seen advertisements of that show about hoarders and although I don't hoard stuff in the real world I had become a virtual hoarder.  I had files filled with funny videos I loved.  I had files filled with emails divided by person...kinda like when you save birthday cards.  Some of the emails were negative ones but having them made me consider where I came from and how I ended up here.

Now, with the crash of my computer I have a clean slate!  It is freeing.  I feel like I can enjoy those funny videos like a fond memory.  I can cast off the need to validate my exsistence by negative emails.   I no longer need a huge virtual file cabinet.  The DSI guy was able to save the bare bones and I get to start over...over with a new set of rules.  It is like my house burned down but someone saved all my photos...and now I can redecorate.

It has been so eye opening that when I got to work yesterday and I read through my emails...I deleted every one of them and so at the end of the day I had a totally empty in-box.  I even deleted the delete box!  I used to save all those emails to refer back too...but realized yesterday that they served only as a sign of the burden of information I could not possibly carry around in my brain.

I have cleansed myself, and baptized myself is the waters of information freedom...Now my favorite button is delete.

The Happiness Trade

I read an article this morning that was interesting to me because it followed a conversation Greg and I were having while enjoying breakfast in bed.  On the front page of the local section it said 4 nurses were laid off at St. Charles.  I made the comment that my choice in Dec. to drop one day off my schedule was probably not smart considering what was going on...but the choice has made me soooo happy.  Sure it has made money a little tighter...sure I now pay for my a portion of my health benefits...but...I am sooooo much happier.

Which leads me to the next article I read.  If you were Sandra Bullock...would you take the deal?  That is would you trade in fame and fortune to have a honest, happy marriage.  Or is winning the Oscar, having fame, an ok exchange to put up with a personal blow?

Apparently Oscar winners live statistically 4 years longer than nominees (I know some statistician is keeping tract of all this usless information) but..."marital happiness is far more important than anything else in determining personal well-being."

If you have a successful marriage, it doesn't matter how many professional setbacks you endure, you will be reasonably happy.  If your marriage is a bummer no matter how many career triumphs you record, you will remain significantly unfulfilled.

In the last decade researchers have been studying happiness.  The result, "worldly success has shallow roots while interpersonal bonds permeate through and through."

People believe that the richer you are the happier you are.  In fact poor nations who become middle class nations become happier.  But once basic necessities are met, future income is lightly connected to happiness.

In fact the United States which has become even richer in the last 50 years has produced no measurable increase in overall happiness.

I liked the information in this next paragraph...

"People get slightly happier as they climb the income scale, but this depends on how they experience growth.  Does wealth inflame unrealistic expectation?  Does it destavilize settled relationships?  Or does it flow from a virtuous cycle in which an interesting job procudes hard work that in turn leads to more interesting opportunities?"

"The daily activites most associated with happiness are sex, socializing after work and having dinner with others."  According to one study, joining a group that meets even just once a month produces the same happiness gain as doubling your income!

"According to one study being married produces a psychic gain equivalent to more than $100,000 a year!"

"The overall impression from this reseach is that economic and professional success exists on the surface of life, and that they emerge out of interpersonal relationships, which are much deeper and more important. the second impression is that most of us pay attention to the wrong things.  Most people vastly overestimate the extent to which more money would improve our lives."

Which brings me full circle.  I am very content to have dropped a day off my schedule. I love having breakfast in bed rather than going out for breakfast. I wouldn't trade Greg for an increase in my salary...even a $100,000 or an Oscar.  And...I love the Sunday paper!

Worm Attack!

I have been violated.  I cannot believe that there are people in the world who spend time and their intelligence just to create havoc in other peoples lives.  So I was listening to some YouTube video relaxing and a worm invaded my computer!  I mean invaded...as in we are taking over and eating every item in here.  No matter how hard my spyware and anitvirus programs worked the worm slithered faster!

Shutting down the system I took it to my DSI gurus who asked if this was a joke...afterall it was April 1st.  I wish!

They tried to catch the little sucker and was able to save a good portion of my files...but I lost my entire windows program and my email program.  Gone. Adios.  Although it took over a day to reinstall my files, load an new windows program and beef up my spyware, adware, firewall and virus scanner...that is not the biggest challange.

The Mt. Everest of my computer exisitence is that I have to figure out how to function with a new display, find where my old programs ended up, reload my favorites and truly decide how I want my email to function.  The DSI guys say that it is better to use Bendbroadband's email but they don't have cute stationary...or interesting fonts...and I have to figure out how to save stuff on my email....whaaaaaa.  Their rational is that if this happens again I won't lose my entire email system because it will be stored off site. Whaaaaaa.

I have to recollect my email addresses...and I greive the loss of some special emails that I saved to read on days that I am blue.  I know, sounds kinda stupid but haven't you ever saved special letters, cards....it's the same thing.

Now as we become more careful after a crime...I have been educated to be more careful on the computer.  The DSI guys say I have run updates and scans at least twice a month if not every week. 

Outta Left Field

Sometimes you are in left field when life hits you with a challenge.  You're happily going along your way, looking at the green grass, the sweet smells of spring and you get hit out in left field while your head was in the clouds.

What to do?  I think there are a lot of tips for dealing with life in baseball.  No, I am not a baseball fan but when I woke up this morning for some reasons that is what I thought...baseball and left field.  So, I looked it up on the internet and paraphrased the tips to fit a non-baseball situation.

1. Develop your skills fielding what life throws at you. Practice, practice, practice.  When a hard ball is not available, a soft ball can be used to avoid the pain of life.

2.  Learn to "run to a spot" to catch with a gentle hand. This is the ability to estimate where things will fall from its initial flight. This is a skill that allows an outfielder to run without constantly looking for what might hit you.

3.  Outfielders must cover large distances, so speed, instincts, and quickness in reacting to life are key. They must be able to catch things that are above their head and on the run. They must be able to throw the negative emotions accurately over a long distance away from themselves to be effective; they must also learn to judge whether to attempt a difficult situation and risk letting stuff get past them, or to instead allow the stuff to fall in order to guarantee a positive outcome and prevent the advancement of negative stuff.

4.  Left fielders must also familiarize themselves with the varying configurations of different foul territory, and prevent stuff hitting down the foul lines from getting past them.

5.  Of all outfielders, the left fielder often will have the weakest arm, as they generally do not need to throw stuff as far to prevent the advance of any negativity. The left fielder still requires good fielding and catching skills because of their position recieves more stuff.

I Like It!  I guess the baseball fans are correct...there is a lot to learn from baseball.  I can smell the popcorn and hot dogs!