Friday Night at the Rock Cats Game

Susan, Hannah, Tanner, Erick, Skylar and I spent a really cool evening at the New Britain Rock Cats game in New Britain, Connecticut.

Arriving a few minutes late, we grabbed some food and settled into our seats.  I should add that the seats were courtesy of Tanner, who had purchased them at a charity golf outing.   The stadium is nice and relatively new with few poor seats in the house.  With $5 and $10 prices, an evening out at the ball game wont break the bank either. 

Down 3-2 to the Reading Phillies when we arrived, the home team put together several multiple run innings to steal the game 7-3.   All of the players were unknown to me: no major leaguers on rehab assignments or pumped prospects.  I was particularly impressed by their closing pitcher, Dakota Watts, who cleaned up the final two innings, striking out four of the six batters that he faced.  Those who did put wood on the ball did so out of self defense.

Minor league baseball is quite a bit different than the major league variety.  Sure it's cheaper.  Ball parks are also smaller so the average fan is much closer to the action.  Local clubs work hard to make it a family friendly evening: New Britain allows kids to run the bases after the game as an example.  Where else can someone see a race between aerosol can mascots sponsored by the Eastern Aerosol Association!

The evening also marked Skylar's first trip to a ball game.  One would be hard pressed to understate how much fun she had eating ice cream in a plastic helmet; stealing Hannah's cone; running the bases after the game; or 'oohing' at the 'mink' (pink) fireworks!

My Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary

50 Years of Marriage - Larry and Virginia Boulden

Susan, Erick, Hannah, Skylar and I traveled to Westlake, Ohio for my parents 50th wedding anniversary.  The big event was held in the cultural hall of the North Olmstead Ward building on Saturday July 27th.

Erick and Hannah before the guests arrived

Joining my folks, Larry and Virginia Boulden, in this celebration were forty years of good friends and family from as far away as Texas.  The old crowd from the Cleveland Modern Dance Association, including Marv and Charlene Nevins, still looked pretty spry on the dance floor.  Newer friends from the ward pitched in to help organize, decorate and manage the event.

The Lingafelters and the Rees' brought their usual good cheer across town when they came.  Kim Opitz, one of my Mom's two sisters, drove all the way from Amarillo with her husband Dave.  Garmin led them astray on more than one occassion, but they made it.

Fifty years of anything is an accomplishment.  Fifty years of marriage is something more than wonderful.  I don't think I've ever seen two people who better compliment each other.  Along the way, they've worked hard and treated other with respect.  Growing up in their house, I can't recall any sharp words passing between them.  Ever.

Cutting the cake

If the question were posed, they would probably tell you that their love for each other is stronger today than it was 50 years ago.  

Congratulations Mom and Dad.  And thank you.

Erick joins the Army

Our son Erick has joined the United States army.  He will depart for OSUT (one station unit training) at Fort Benning, Georgia on October 1st, where he will train to be a cavalry scout

OSUT training is basic and advanced individual training (AIT) rolled into one.  The course is 16 weeks long and should take him through February, 2014.   According to About.com, the 'Cavalry Scout is the commander's eyes and ears on the battlefield. When information about the enemy is needed, they call on the Scouts. Cavalry Scouts engage the enemy with anti-armor weapons and scout vehicles in the field, track and report enemy movement and activities, and will direct the employment of various weapon systems onto the enemy.'

We are extremely proud of him.  This was a big decision for Erick.  He's picked a demanding occupation and chosen to serve his country!  Where he will be stationed once his training is completed is as of yet unknown.

Susan, Evangeline, Skylar and I attended his swearing in ceremony on July 3rd at Westover Air Force base in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  Erick has some commitments between now and his departure, but for the most part is relaxing and spending time with his daughter, Skylar.

Hannah Graduates

Hannah with Grandparents Boulden before the ceremony

Our daughter, Hannah, graduated from Simsbury High School on June 24th with all the pomp and circumstance that one might expect.   The 2012 -13 school year was a challenging one for her.

During the course of the year Hannah sustained a serious concussion which sidelined her for almost a month, caught mono and suffered through a host of other issues.  All of these issues put her behind the eightball in some fairly challenging courses.  

Being voted Homecoming Queen 2012 is just about the only good thing that happened.

Homecoming game, September 2012

Certain that she wouldn't make it, her attitude began to shift in the final three months of the year. 'I'll never complete everything and graduate' turned into 'I think I might be able to do this' before finally growing into 'I'm going to do this!'

We are very proud of her!

Owing to an abnormally high number of snow days throughout the year, the graduation ceremony was held on a Monday evening.  The threat of rain forced the administration to shift the venue from the outdoor  amphitheater on Iron Horse boulevard to the high school gymnasium.   High temperatures and extreme humidity, the kind of air you can reach out and swat, combined to produce a brutal experience.  Thankfully the administrators keep their comments succinct.

Hannah's grandma and grandpa Boulden and Grandmother (Marisue Besse) were unable to attend because of seating restrictions.  While bummed, they were certainly happy to sit inside and enjoy the air conditioning!  We were happy that they could be here to celebrate with us.

Congratulations again Hannah.  While the culmination of one journey, graduation from high school is really the beginning of another.  We'll be there to cheer you on every step of the way.