Well, The Schmitthead's experienced a lot of heartache this weekend with a final result of 0-3. Yep, we didn't win one game which was a little disappointing, but everyone had a lot of fun.
Friday night we lost by 1 run, but we were sure it was a tie. They claimed they had 7 runs, and we thought 6... thinking about the game afterwards, we think they counted a runner who was thrown out at the plate (by yours truly). This was probably the game we should have won which was against the Baden volunteer firefighters, actually.
Saturday morning we played a team who looked really good the night before, but we stayed with them and were actually winning at one point. ...Until a couple of innings where they scored a lot, mostly from our dumb errors. Very frustrating, but to be expected with a bunch of non-ball players. That team surprisingly made it to the finals (where they got spanked).
The third game was much like the second where we hung right in there with the other team and might have been leading at one point as well until a few really bad innings.
But all in all, it was a very fun weekend and everyone enjoyed themselves and said they wanted to play again next year. Our neighbours invited everyone back to their yard for a swim after our last game which was really nice because it was a really hot day.
There was a pig roast in the Baden park in the evening, and we went but didn't stay long. The chef said they had 400 lbs of pork (2 pigs?), and when we got there just after 8pm, it was almost gone - and the last games hadn't finished yet! I don't think everyone got some, so they had burgers and hot dogs as well. A few guys beside us were claiming that they had 4 pulled pork buns and 2 hamburgers and some other stuff. It's no wonder they ran out! They didn't limit the number of times you could go back for more, so it was basically an all-you-can-eat pig buffet!
Anyway, it was a great day and I hope they decide to run that again next year. It was a huge success - they actually had to expand the teams to 20, instead of 16 like they were hoping for, and at one point I heard they had 3 teams on the waiting list. Maybe it'll be even bigger next year?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Rose continues on
Well, Echo hasn't had access to that Rose bush for a good 2 weeks now, and it's doing well. Not as well as it probably should, but at least it's still green and leafy.
Yesterday, he took out his frustrations at not being able to get to it on a small rose bush that was transplanted from the front of the house. I wasn't as upset about this one because I don't like those very much anyway. But I was still upset because the little bugger needs to stop that! He's totally doing it to get us out there with him. Just a few minutes before he was trying to get me to play with him, but I was getting dinner going, so I put him outside.... 2 minutes later, he was looking for something to ensure I would get out there too!
Yesterday, he took out his frustrations at not being able to get to it on a small rose bush that was transplanted from the front of the house. I wasn't as upset about this one because I don't like those very much anyway. But I was still upset because the little bugger needs to stop that! He's totally doing it to get us out there with him. Just a few minutes before he was trying to get me to play with him, but I was getting dinner going, so I put him outside.... 2 minutes later, he was looking for something to ensure I would get out there too!
Slow Pitch Tourney
This weekend we are playing in a charity co-ed slow pitch tournament to benefit the Baden volunteer firefighters. Marnie and I thought that it would be fun, and after feeling out a few neighbours, decided to organized a "street team" to enter it. We have most of the neighbours playing (a few have since dropped out), and a few around the corner that we don't even really know, so it should be fun. Most of the couples have never played baseball or softball, or haven't played in 15+ years. We held a "practice" last night at the Baden Public school because people wanted to hit the ball around and get some practice catching fly balls, etc. We are guaranteed 3 games, then top team from each pool goes on to the playoffs. I'm not holding my breath to make the playoffs after seeing last night's practice, but it should be a lot of fun nonetheless! Our team name is "The Schmitt Heads", taken after our street name, of course...
There's a local band playing with pig roast and dance Saturday evening. It should be good!
There's a local band playing with pig roast and dance Saturday evening. It should be good!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Philips
As most of you probably know, we bought LED deck lights for our deck last summer and put them in the steps. Well, this spring I turned them on, and to our dismay one set didn't work! :( They are very costly to be broken after not even one full season...
I emailed Philips Canada to tell them about how upset I was and to ask what our options were for returning them or getting it repaired, and they emailed me back asking for my full address so that they could send out replacement parts! Impressive! They didn't even ask for a receipt, or proof of purchase. I wonder if a lot of these units were breaking? The lights themselves are fine, it was the transformer that blew, so I guess that they're sending that part out.
Photo from Philips:
Our Deck last year:
I emailed Philips Canada to tell them about how upset I was and to ask what our options were for returning them or getting it repaired, and they emailed me back asking for my full address so that they could send out replacement parts! Impressive! They didn't even ask for a receipt, or proof of purchase. I wonder if a lot of these units were breaking? The lights themselves are fine, it was the transformer that blew, so I guess that they're sending that part out.
Photo from Philips:
Our Deck last year:
The Fence
Here are some pics of the finished fence that was done while we were away in BC on the long weekend. Although it's great that we didn't have to do anything to finish it (other than the posts the weekend before), we don't love it. It's not exactly the style that we wanted, but oh well!
The next task is to finish the railing and then I think we're finally done for a while (hopefully).
The next task is to finish the railing and then I think we're finally done for a while (hopefully).
Thursday, June 07, 2007
The Rose of Sharon (that just won't die)
Since fencing in the yard, it's been nice to just let Echo out and do his thing. We thought it would be GREAT to be able to leave him out there in the morning while we got ready, etc. Not so.
Echo has taken much enjoyment out of digging up the garden and grass and eating clumps of clay. We've lost one plant already that he ripped out and ate - it was pretty hurting, though, and was just finally making a comeback from the winter with little leaves coming out of the bottom. The rest looked like dead sticks. He pulled that one out shortly after digging a nice little hole beside the deck. Both of these incidents occurred after getting back from our little vacation and leaving him at the kennel all week. So, we thought it was just a little acting out at us for that. Nope, it's been a constant battle since getting back. The latest repeat victim is a rose of sharon planted in the corner beside the deck. He had dug it out and ripped it out of the ground last Sunday while Marnie and Carey were ON THE DECK chatting. I guess that was his little, "hey, pay attention to me!" thing. Little bugger! Marnie yelled at him pretty good, from what I was told. The plant still had most of it's root ball intact, so we thought, throw some bone meal in there and replant it... it'll be fine. I did that and it looked like nothing happened. Hearty little plant! Well, on Tuesday he had it out again, but I was out with him that time and caught it before he had any real fun. I put it back in and again it seemed to be fine. Well, this past weekend, he was at it again. Marnie and I were putting up a trellis for the clematis at the front side of the house, by the fence. Echo was behind it looking at us. I joked talking to him through the fence, "you better not be digging up that plant!". When I walked from the front of the house, to the back, he had ripped it out again, but this time was having a ball with it. He was laying down in the middle of the yard with the rose of sharon in his mouth, shaking it around. The plant was completely bare rooted this time. Not an inch of soil on it. As soon as I saw him and ran out towards him, he just stopped completely, dropping the plant and laid there as I approached him. He knew he was in trouble. After putting him in the house, I went out to assess the damage. It didn't look good. The plant looked like it had been washed, the roots were so bare. I thought, what's it going to hurt now - I'll put it back in and if it dies, it wasn't meant to be. I threw a little more bone meal in and replanted and watered it. I decided to block off that section of the yard beside the deck to give the little plant a break from the jowls of Echo.
So Tuesday, I was out playing with Echo and decided to put up the other trellis we bought for our yard. I had to move aside the one lawn chair that I had set up as a blockade and went inside for literally 1 minute to get my drill and some screws, and pretty much as soon as I turned my back and went inside he was at it again. unbelievable! I left the chair open to get back there and he went in and pulled it out YET AGAIN! I ran out and told him to get in the house and he jumped up and ran to the back door, I put him in and said "lay DOWN and STAY there!" pointing to his mat. He laid there no hesitation. I was fuming mad, but tried not to get too overworked, as that's what he was looking for, no doubt. He stayed there the whole time I put up the trellis. For the fourth time in 9 days, that damned plant had been uprooted by Echo... and for the fourth time, I replanted it! lol
It's been 2 days since the latest uprooting, and yes, it's surviving so far! If this thing grows and flourishes, it'll be a miracle and might possibly be the most hearty plant ever!
I have to do some research to see if there's some scent or "flavour" on this plant that dogs like, but I think it's just Echo trying (and succeeding) to get our attention.
Echo has taken much enjoyment out of digging up the garden and grass and eating clumps of clay. We've lost one plant already that he ripped out and ate - it was pretty hurting, though, and was just finally making a comeback from the winter with little leaves coming out of the bottom. The rest looked like dead sticks. He pulled that one out shortly after digging a nice little hole beside the deck. Both of these incidents occurred after getting back from our little vacation and leaving him at the kennel all week. So, we thought it was just a little acting out at us for that. Nope, it's been a constant battle since getting back. The latest repeat victim is a rose of sharon planted in the corner beside the deck. He had dug it out and ripped it out of the ground last Sunday while Marnie and Carey were ON THE DECK chatting. I guess that was his little, "hey, pay attention to me!" thing. Little bugger! Marnie yelled at him pretty good, from what I was told. The plant still had most of it's root ball intact, so we thought, throw some bone meal in there and replant it... it'll be fine. I did that and it looked like nothing happened. Hearty little plant! Well, on Tuesday he had it out again, but I was out with him that time and caught it before he had any real fun. I put it back in and again it seemed to be fine. Well, this past weekend, he was at it again. Marnie and I were putting up a trellis for the clematis at the front side of the house, by the fence. Echo was behind it looking at us. I joked talking to him through the fence, "you better not be digging up that plant!". When I walked from the front of the house, to the back, he had ripped it out again, but this time was having a ball with it. He was laying down in the middle of the yard with the rose of sharon in his mouth, shaking it around. The plant was completely bare rooted this time. Not an inch of soil on it. As soon as I saw him and ran out towards him, he just stopped completely, dropping the plant and laid there as I approached him. He knew he was in trouble. After putting him in the house, I went out to assess the damage. It didn't look good. The plant looked like it had been washed, the roots were so bare. I thought, what's it going to hurt now - I'll put it back in and if it dies, it wasn't meant to be. I threw a little more bone meal in and replanted and watered it. I decided to block off that section of the yard beside the deck to give the little plant a break from the jowls of Echo.
So Tuesday, I was out playing with Echo and decided to put up the other trellis we bought for our yard. I had to move aside the one lawn chair that I had set up as a blockade and went inside for literally 1 minute to get my drill and some screws, and pretty much as soon as I turned my back and went inside he was at it again. unbelievable! I left the chair open to get back there and he went in and pulled it out YET AGAIN! I ran out and told him to get in the house and he jumped up and ran to the back door, I put him in and said "lay DOWN and STAY there!" pointing to his mat. He laid there no hesitation. I was fuming mad, but tried not to get too overworked, as that's what he was looking for, no doubt. He stayed there the whole time I put up the trellis. For the fourth time in 9 days, that damned plant had been uprooted by Echo... and for the fourth time, I replanted it! lol
It's been 2 days since the latest uprooting, and yes, it's surviving so far! If this thing grows and flourishes, it'll be a miracle and might possibly be the most hearty plant ever!
I have to do some research to see if there's some scent or "flavour" on this plant that dogs like, but I think it's just Echo trying (and succeeding) to get our attention.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
31 years young! (and iPod bashing)
Yesterday was Marnie's 31st Birthday! Wow, 31 years old, eh? We (I) didn't have anything planned for it as we both like to keep it low key for birthday's -- other than last year where we had a party for her. But 3-0 is a big one! This year she only wanted a new MP3 player - an iPod Nano, actually. Now, I've never been a big fan of the iPod, basically because they are not worth the all the hype. But if you think perceived style and high price is more important than functionality, then go for it! ;) Never mind the fact that Apple is making over 50% profit from you. hehe
So, we got talking about it, and she mentioned that she wanted the model with built-in Radio because when she's running or working out, she also likes to listen to a particular local station (rap/hip hop). So I told her that apple doesn't offer that in any of their models (both of our 3 year old mp3 players DO have it, btw). She was a little bummed about that, and after looking at a few different ones out there, is convinced she doesn't want an iPod, simply because of that reason. So I suggested getting one of the new Samsung players as they are cool looking, have MUCH better features and more ability than the Nano - and at a cheaper price.... and if you knew anything about the Nano, you'd also know that the main processor and most likely the memory are made by Samsung! I never understood why so many people are crazy over their iPods... it just doesn't make sense to me. Apple has done a great job marketing the thing, I'll give them that! They've managed to come late to the party and brainwash everyone into thinking that "MP3 player" is synonymous with "iPod". I'll give them the click wheel, though - it's great and easy to use. And the abundance of 3rd party accessories for it is quite amazing - they've brain washed the industry as well!
So we're going hunting for an MP3 player soon to replace her aging 256mb "peanut". Maybe I'll bundle this years present with some golf lessons which were her present last year - but never happened... my bad!
So, we got talking about it, and she mentioned that she wanted the model with built-in Radio because when she's running or working out, she also likes to listen to a particular local station (rap/hip hop). So I told her that apple doesn't offer that in any of their models (both of our 3 year old mp3 players DO have it, btw). She was a little bummed about that, and after looking at a few different ones out there, is convinced she doesn't want an iPod, simply because of that reason. So I suggested getting one of the new Samsung players as they are cool looking, have MUCH better features and more ability than the Nano - and at a cheaper price.... and if you knew anything about the Nano, you'd also know that the main processor and most likely the memory are made by Samsung! I never understood why so many people are crazy over their iPods... it just doesn't make sense to me. Apple has done a great job marketing the thing, I'll give them that! They've managed to come late to the party and brainwash everyone into thinking that "MP3 player" is synonymous with "iPod". I'll give them the click wheel, though - it's great and easy to use. And the abundance of 3rd party accessories for it is quite amazing - they've brain washed the industry as well!
So we're going hunting for an MP3 player soon to replace her aging 256mb "peanut". Maybe I'll bundle this years present with some golf lessons which were her present last year - but never happened... my bad!
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