Ok, I spoke, er...wrote too soon for Cuddy. Two innings later, EXACT same situation. Gomez gets on, steals 2nd, Mauer grounds out to 2nd, Gomez advances to 3rd, and instead of striking out looking, this time Mighty Michael delivers with what will end up being the game-winning hit. I'd like to think that he snuck a peek at my blog sometime during the 4th inning, and got a little extra motivation. Well, Cuddy, if you did, you'll be seeing more and more of it on here, so if you ever think you're not playing up to your $24 million extension, come on over here and I'll let you know how you're doing... So, the Twins win the opener, Hernandez looked great, and Torii's return to the Dome ends with an 0-4 night with a K in the 9th.
It feels good to be undefeated...
Oh, and Cubs fans...some things never change, do they?
So long everybody...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Opening Day
Well, its Opening Day, and I wasn't actually going to write on here until later tonight, but right now, there's so much to talk about already. I'm not even watching the Twins game (I'm following it on MLB GameChannel), but I literally screamed when Cuddyer struck out in the 3rd with 1 out and Gomez on 3rd. Wow...its a great thing we signed him to that 3-year extension so I can prove my point for at least 3 more years at how UNCLUTCH he is time and time again. It wouldn't have been so bad if he struck out on a valiant effort to hit a sac fly. But...he struck out looking!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?
Anyways, Rockies game today at St. Louis was rained out with the Rox down 5-1. Good thing is they get to try again tomorrow. Bad thing was that I had Adam Wainwright on my fantasy team (St. Louis' starting pitcher).
More splendid news about the Rockies...you'll never guess who's scheduled to pitch the home opener on Friday when Gwyn and I are going...a man by the name of Mark Redman. Sweet...never seen him throw before. (He pitched for the Twins 1999-2001 and I think every game I went to during the 2000 season, he ended up pitching)
Back to burgers and the game...
Anyways, Rockies game today at St. Louis was rained out with the Rox down 5-1. Good thing is they get to try again tomorrow. Bad thing was that I had Adam Wainwright on my fantasy team (St. Louis' starting pitcher).
More splendid news about the Rockies...you'll never guess who's scheduled to pitch the home opener on Friday when Gwyn and I are going...a man by the name of Mark Redman. Sweet...never seen him throw before. (He pitched for the Twins 1999-2001 and I think every game I went to during the 2000 season, he ended up pitching)
Back to burgers and the game...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
News and Notes
Well, another beautiful day in Colorado. Mostly sunny and 65 degrees, no wind. But no one reads this to hear my weather report. I'm just thinking of the weather though, in listening to my Raiders play in Doane. It sounds like Doane has a new complex though, becuase what I remember most from playing at Doane was playing at the fairgrounds, with the drunk hecklers down the 3rd baseline. And when I say playing, I mean I actually played that game...I think the score was 19-3 or something in the 5th, so I saw my inning of action. Anyways, back to the weather...the announcer on the internet feed said the wind was taking control of the game a little.
You know, as beautiful as it is out here, there's not alot to do without someone to do it with. So...all you people who want my nice weather, take it...just trade with me for a player to be named sooner than later.
Well, my feed to the baseball game was cut off with Doane leading my boys 4-2 in the bottom of the 2nd. Heits just stole 2nd, so you know the wind was blowing...
Anyways, I had another chat with both Timothy Christian and DeMotte Christian yesterday, and we worked it out so that we will fly in Monday night, check out and interview with DeMotte on Tuesday, then drive to Timothy Christian Wednesday morning and see the school/interview during the day, and then fly back out late Wednesday afternoon. The 2nd biggest upside of it all (besides being able to see Linds in a little over a week)...they're paying for us to rent a car...LOOK OUT FORD FOCUS!!
Well, I do have to add my 2 cents about the Twins in here...
-Torii Hunter was interviewed last week about his time with the Twins, and he said that now he wasn't part of the organization anymore, he did have one criticism. It was that he was disappointed that the Twins didn't go with Denard Span to fill the CF opening that he had left. Maybe the mentor knows something that we all don't? Maybe he should be given a shot in the majors. After all, he did hit .282 this spring, compared to .267 for Gomez. Span's AB/K ratio was almost twice as good as the free-swinging Gomez. Oh, and for Pete's sake, if Nick Punto and his .125 AVG this spring can make the team...oh forget it, I'm done.
-So Livan Hernandez was named the Opening Day starter for the Twins. It marks the first time that a pitcher besides one with the last name of Santana or Radke will take the hill on the opener since Bob Tewksbury opened against Toronto in 1998, which resulted in a 3-2 loss...Twins were 6-3 in openers during the Radke/Santana era.
-One more fun fact about Opening Day...there will be 6 new faces in the Starting Lineup, with only 3 starters returning from last year's lineup (Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer). Those gone include Castillo, Bartlett, White, Hunter, and Cirillo. Punto started at 3rd last year, but with the aquisition of Mike Lamb, won't make the starting lineup.
So long everybody...
You know, as beautiful as it is out here, there's not alot to do without someone to do it with. So...all you people who want my nice weather, take it...just trade with me for a player to be named sooner than later.
Well, my feed to the baseball game was cut off with Doane leading my boys 4-2 in the bottom of the 2nd. Heits just stole 2nd, so you know the wind was blowing...
Anyways, I had another chat with both Timothy Christian and DeMotte Christian yesterday, and we worked it out so that we will fly in Monday night, check out and interview with DeMotte on Tuesday, then drive to Timothy Christian Wednesday morning and see the school/interview during the day, and then fly back out late Wednesday afternoon. The 2nd biggest upside of it all (besides being able to see Linds in a little over a week)...they're paying for us to rent a car...LOOK OUT FORD FOCUS!!
Well, I do have to add my 2 cents about the Twins in here...
-Torii Hunter was interviewed last week about his time with the Twins, and he said that now he wasn't part of the organization anymore, he did have one criticism. It was that he was disappointed that the Twins didn't go with Denard Span to fill the CF opening that he had left. Maybe the mentor knows something that we all don't? Maybe he should be given a shot in the majors. After all, he did hit .282 this spring, compared to .267 for Gomez. Span's AB/K ratio was almost twice as good as the free-swinging Gomez. Oh, and for Pete's sake, if Nick Punto and his .125 AVG this spring can make the team...oh forget it, I'm done.
-So Livan Hernandez was named the Opening Day starter for the Twins. It marks the first time that a pitcher besides one with the last name of Santana or Radke will take the hill on the opener since Bob Tewksbury opened against Toronto in 1998, which resulted in a 3-2 loss...Twins were 6-3 in openers during the Radke/Santana era.
-One more fun fact about Opening Day...there will be 6 new faces in the Starting Lineup, with only 3 starters returning from last year's lineup (Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer). Those gone include Castillo, Bartlett, White, Hunter, and Cirillo. Punto started at 3rd last year, but with the aquisition of Mike Lamb, won't make the starting lineup.
So long everybody...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Spring Break Thursday
Well, I'm back from Montana. The interview went really good, I got to sit in on one of the classes I would be teaching, and they use the same books that I used at Highlands Ranch for MS Science. After the interview, I went to the Eekoff's for supper. (For you Dordt people, which is pretty much everyone...Bigs and Mark's parents) That night, Robin & Jon picked me up and showed me around for awhile. We looked around Belgrade at apartment complexes and houses. There were some really nice places there, a number of subdivisions I guess. We went on to Bozeman after that, which is where the closest Wal-Mart, Target, etc... are all located. Its also where Montana State is located, so there's plenty to do there.
When I flew in, it was pretty cloudy, so I didn't really get to see the area until the next morning, and the mountains seemed to be no further than 15-20 miles away in each direction, so its like a bowl in the middle surrounded by ski slopes, fly fishing streams, and all the hunting you can think of.
Well, the day after I got back, they called me and offered me the job! So as hard as it was to get on the plane, fly there, sit through the interview, and fly back... the tough part really begins now. I did let them know before I left Montana that I had another interview at a school in Indiana in 2 weeks, and that they had already bought plane tickets for me and Linds, so I was planning on going out there. They had no problem giving me two weeks to think about it so I could check out DeMotte.
As relieving as it is to know that I will have a job next year, I think I feel even more worried about it now in trying to reach a decision about our future next year. I know that God will reveal His plan to us when the time is right, but saying that and living that are two so completely different things that its making my head spin. So...it would be great if you could pray for God's guidance in this whole decision-making process, as there are definite pros and cons to each place I've interviewed with so far.
On another note, with baseball season I guess "officially" started with the games in Japan, I thought I would add a few baseball thoughts...
-Aaron Gleeman makes a good point about the Twins batting Adam Everett 9th and having Carlos Gomez hit leadoff. If you bat Joe Mauer 2nd...will he reach the 100 RBI total that everyone knows he's capable of?
-We know how big of a fan Gardy is of Punto (he did show complete confidence in him after his stellar .210 AVG last season. Gleeman says "don't be surprised if Punto takes over before midseason for Harris, unless we see a .350 AVG from Harris in April." Wouldn't that be just an amazing lineup? Punto, Everett, and Gomez batting before Mauer? How long before Casilla is ready for the majors? Maybe when he's 30 years old? 35? (I guess he is only 23)
-I don't get to see Twins games out here in Denver, but apparently Livan made an impossible play in the Twins' game vs. the Rays on Wednesday. Elliot Johnson bunted a ball down the line towards 1st, and Livan lumbered over to make the play with Morneau covering the bag. When the ball reached about 10-15 feet from the base, Livan and his 6'2", 250 frame wouldn't (couldn't) bend over to make the play, so he did the next best thing...he kicked it...right into the glove of Morneau for your routine 1-3 putout. It's a good thing we have a Canuck playing 1st base to make the save...to which Morneau replied "it wouldn't have counted anyway, you can't kick it in for a goal." Wow, spoken like a true Canadian. I don't remember seeing a kick in baseball so spectacular since Paul O'Neill's relay throw...er...relay kick.
-A non-Twins question for the Cubs fans out there...why the signing of Reed Johnson? Besides the fact that he can backup Pie in center, what now becomes of Murton? Another season in AAA?
So long everybody...
When I flew in, it was pretty cloudy, so I didn't really get to see the area until the next morning, and the mountains seemed to be no further than 15-20 miles away in each direction, so its like a bowl in the middle surrounded by ski slopes, fly fishing streams, and all the hunting you can think of.
Well, the day after I got back, they called me and offered me the job! So as hard as it was to get on the plane, fly there, sit through the interview, and fly back... the tough part really begins now. I did let them know before I left Montana that I had another interview at a school in Indiana in 2 weeks, and that they had already bought plane tickets for me and Linds, so I was planning on going out there. They had no problem giving me two weeks to think about it so I could check out DeMotte.
As relieving as it is to know that I will have a job next year, I think I feel even more worried about it now in trying to reach a decision about our future next year. I know that God will reveal His plan to us when the time is right, but saying that and living that are two so completely different things that its making my head spin. So...it would be great if you could pray for God's guidance in this whole decision-making process, as there are definite pros and cons to each place I've interviewed with so far.
On another note, with baseball season I guess "officially" started with the games in Japan, I thought I would add a few baseball thoughts...
-Aaron Gleeman makes a good point about the Twins batting Adam Everett 9th and having Carlos Gomez hit leadoff. If you bat Joe Mauer 2nd...will he reach the 100 RBI total that everyone knows he's capable of?
-We know how big of a fan Gardy is of Punto (he did show complete confidence in him after his stellar .210 AVG last season. Gleeman says "don't be surprised if Punto takes over before midseason for Harris, unless we see a .350 AVG from Harris in April." Wouldn't that be just an amazing lineup? Punto, Everett, and Gomez batting before Mauer? How long before Casilla is ready for the majors? Maybe when he's 30 years old? 35? (I guess he is only 23)
-I don't get to see Twins games out here in Denver, but apparently Livan made an impossible play in the Twins' game vs. the Rays on Wednesday. Elliot Johnson bunted a ball down the line towards 1st, and Livan lumbered over to make the play with Morneau covering the bag. When the ball reached about 10-15 feet from the base, Livan and his 6'2", 250 frame wouldn't (couldn't) bend over to make the play, so he did the next best thing...he kicked it...right into the glove of Morneau for your routine 1-3 putout. It's a good thing we have a Canuck playing 1st base to make the save...to which Morneau replied "it wouldn't have counted anyway, you can't kick it in for a goal." Wow, spoken like a true Canadian. I don't remember seeing a kick in baseball so spectacular since Paul O'Neill's relay throw...er...relay kick.
-A non-Twins question for the Cubs fans out there...why the signing of Reed Johnson? Besides the fact that he can backup Pie in center, what now becomes of Murton? Another season in AAA?
So long everybody...
Saturday, March 22, 2008
News
Wow, it really has been that long since I've written on here, I thought Linds was just kidding. Well, I guess that means I really have been as busy as I felt like I was for the past couple weeks. Let's try to remember what's been happening lately...
The interview in Annapolis went pretty good. The school is really nice, not at all the middle-of-the-city setting I was expecting. I guess the whole area is like that though, you never really feel like your in a capital city while you're there, so that was kinda cool. The job would be teaching either 6th or 7th Science, with one additional elective, most likely a Bible class. So...from a 1st-year teacher's POV, only prepping for two classes, having a team meeting period, and having another open period looks really good. They also have a little different view of education, at least it seemed that way to me. They seemed focused on an "excellent" education more than setting the foundations of basic principles at the middle school level. I tend to think that the foundations are what sets a person up for where "excellent" learning should occur...in the high school. But don't get me wrong, if they're able to do that in the middle school, then I can't imagine the discussions they have in the high school. I think its just a different mentality than what I grew up in, and even different that what I've taught in here in Denver.
Well...I did survive the plane ride, and as much as I might be getting to be a "pro" at this plane riding thing...I don't ever need to fly again. Unless its to Rome...or New Zealand...then I'll suck it up for a flight. Somehow I got stuck in the middle on all three flights (I had one connection on the way back). I just don't fit there, its not right. WHERE DO I PUT MY ELBOWS?!?!?! Anyways, the flight from Chicago was delayed into Denver, so my prep time for the classes that I had to teach on Monday was cut from what I had hoped to be around 3 hours down to about 30 min. It's a good thing I'm so naturally gifted at teaching I can wing it, huh? Yeah right... I will admit, softball and golf went alright, but my freshman Science class was a little shaky.
Oh, I almost forgot...along with planning for class, I had a phone interview with DeMotte Christian on Monday night too...talk about adding pressure to an already stressful situation. Its a good thing I don't perform like Michael Cuddyer in the clutch, because I guess the interview went good enough to warrant a face-to-face interview in a couple weeks. They're actually flying both me and Linds out there, so they already get bonus points on our part for that move. And if anyone has any thoughts on how to teach from a Reformed perspective, and might possibly have some real-life Science examples as to how and do that...shoot me an email with a few ideas.
Oh and yes...of course its March Madness, and how fitting is that this year with everything going on. So fitting, in fact that I only had time to fill out ONE bracket and enter it in only two pools. I think I normally have around 10 different brackets, hoping that at least one will save me. Now I guess I see the touch or not with the mighty pen. I filled it out while supervising Freshman study hall, so...no internet, no ESPN analysts, no CollegeRPI by my side, etc... the list goes on.
I met up with Tim on Wednesday night to catch up. He had been skiing with some friends for Spring Break at Breckenridge and Copper Mtn. We sat and chatted at IHOP for a little over an hour or so, it was a good time.
Speaking of Dordt Spring Break, I finally get to see some familiar faces from NW Iowa around. Kelsie, Kristin, and Kate are around for a little over a week, so I went out to eat with the DeNooy's a couple times.
Well, that might be it as far as what's been happening. Looking ahead now...
I leave for Manhattan Christian on Monday morning for a short 24-hour visit there. I'm hoping I can catch up with Robin & Jon while I'm there, but I'm not betting on it.
I have a interview date set up in DeMotte April 7-9. I'm really looking forward to that one, it seems like a great place.
As of right now, heading into Spring Break, I have 10 actual in-school student teaching days left. I'll be wrapping up two classes I'm teaching the week after break, and then continuing with the Science class for the remainder of my time here. I really hope the weather gets nice by the time I come home, because its been in the 60's pretty much all the time here, and that's the forecast for next week too. Linds just said I'm getting soft...I didn't have an answer right away, but then again, who needs an answer when its 60 degrees outside and someone has a tan already from coaching track...
So long everybody...
The interview in Annapolis went pretty good. The school is really nice, not at all the middle-of-the-city setting I was expecting. I guess the whole area is like that though, you never really feel like your in a capital city while you're there, so that was kinda cool. The job would be teaching either 6th or 7th Science, with one additional elective, most likely a Bible class. So...from a 1st-year teacher's POV, only prepping for two classes, having a team meeting period, and having another open period looks really good. They also have a little different view of education, at least it seemed that way to me. They seemed focused on an "excellent" education more than setting the foundations of basic principles at the middle school level. I tend to think that the foundations are what sets a person up for where "excellent" learning should occur...in the high school. But don't get me wrong, if they're able to do that in the middle school, then I can't imagine the discussions they have in the high school. I think its just a different mentality than what I grew up in, and even different that what I've taught in here in Denver.
Well...I did survive the plane ride, and as much as I might be getting to be a "pro" at this plane riding thing...I don't ever need to fly again. Unless its to Rome...or New Zealand...then I'll suck it up for a flight. Somehow I got stuck in the middle on all three flights (I had one connection on the way back). I just don't fit there, its not right. WHERE DO I PUT MY ELBOWS?!?!?! Anyways, the flight from Chicago was delayed into Denver, so my prep time for the classes that I had to teach on Monday was cut from what I had hoped to be around 3 hours down to about 30 min. It's a good thing I'm so naturally gifted at teaching I can wing it, huh? Yeah right... I will admit, softball and golf went alright, but my freshman Science class was a little shaky.
Oh, I almost forgot...along with planning for class, I had a phone interview with DeMotte Christian on Monday night too...talk about adding pressure to an already stressful situation. Its a good thing I don't perform like Michael Cuddyer in the clutch, because I guess the interview went good enough to warrant a face-to-face interview in a couple weeks. They're actually flying both me and Linds out there, so they already get bonus points on our part for that move. And if anyone has any thoughts on how to teach from a Reformed perspective, and might possibly have some real-life Science examples as to how and do that...shoot me an email with a few ideas.
Oh and yes...of course its March Madness, and how fitting is that this year with everything going on. So fitting, in fact that I only had time to fill out ONE bracket and enter it in only two pools. I think I normally have around 10 different brackets, hoping that at least one will save me. Now I guess I see the touch or not with the mighty pen. I filled it out while supervising Freshman study hall, so...no internet, no ESPN analysts, no CollegeRPI by my side, etc... the list goes on.
I met up with Tim on Wednesday night to catch up. He had been skiing with some friends for Spring Break at Breckenridge and Copper Mtn. We sat and chatted at IHOP for a little over an hour or so, it was a good time.
Speaking of Dordt Spring Break, I finally get to see some familiar faces from NW Iowa around. Kelsie, Kristin, and Kate are around for a little over a week, so I went out to eat with the DeNooy's a couple times.
Well, that might be it as far as what's been happening. Looking ahead now...
I leave for Manhattan Christian on Monday morning for a short 24-hour visit there. I'm hoping I can catch up with Robin & Jon while I'm there, but I'm not betting on it.
I have a interview date set up in DeMotte April 7-9. I'm really looking forward to that one, it seems like a great place.
As of right now, heading into Spring Break, I have 10 actual in-school student teaching days left. I'll be wrapping up two classes I'm teaching the week after break, and then continuing with the Science class for the remainder of my time here. I really hope the weather gets nice by the time I come home, because its been in the 60's pretty much all the time here, and that's the forecast for next week too. Linds just said I'm getting soft...I didn't have an answer right away, but then again, who needs an answer when its 60 degrees outside and someone has a tan already from coaching track...
So long everybody...
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Jobs
Well, there is updated news in the search for a job...
I had a phone interview with Manhattan Christian on Thursday night for about 30 min. I didn't know whether I would be more or less nervous for a phone interview as opposed to a in-person interview, especially because I don't think I communicate over the phone really well. When they switched to speakerphone on their end, I really thought I was going to lose it because I really couldn't hear what they were saying. Oh well. I thought I gave pretty solid answers to their questions though, and I think I made them laugh 5 or 6 times, so they at least know what kind of a person I am. At the end, he told me they would let me know soon, then he paused...actually, we'll let you know tomorrow. So when I hung up, I knew the laughs and jokes were either a really good thing, or a reeeeaaaaallllyyyy bad thing to do. Turns out they did call the following afternoon and told me I was one of the final two candidates! They're going to have me come out during my spring break here, which is the week of March 24-28. Not completely sure how I'm going to get there yet, I looked up plane tickets and the cheapest ones from Denver to Bozeman are $600+, but then again, who wants to be off the ground in a plane when you have a Beretta??...excuse me...THE Beretta.
I'm still planning on flying out to Annapolis next Thursday for an interview there. I'm not sure exactly what the schedule is for out there, but I'm getting excited for it. I can see that my top two options for next year definitely have their pros & cons, but I'm trying not to make up too big of a list before I actually go there, see the school/area/housing/everything. If anyone has any input at all, feel very free to let me know. The DeNooy's feel like Linds and I need to stay here next year, even if it ends up me working at Mickey D's School...as long as Linds can come and revive the v-ball program.
I feel used...in a good way.
I had a phone interview with Manhattan Christian on Thursday night for about 30 min. I didn't know whether I would be more or less nervous for a phone interview as opposed to a in-person interview, especially because I don't think I communicate over the phone really well. When they switched to speakerphone on their end, I really thought I was going to lose it because I really couldn't hear what they were saying. Oh well. I thought I gave pretty solid answers to their questions though, and I think I made them laugh 5 or 6 times, so they at least know what kind of a person I am. At the end, he told me they would let me know soon, then he paused...actually, we'll let you know tomorrow. So when I hung up, I knew the laughs and jokes were either a really good thing, or a reeeeaaaaallllyyyy bad thing to do. Turns out they did call the following afternoon and told me I was one of the final two candidates! They're going to have me come out during my spring break here, which is the week of March 24-28. Not completely sure how I'm going to get there yet, I looked up plane tickets and the cheapest ones from Denver to Bozeman are $600+, but then again, who wants to be off the ground in a plane when you have a Beretta??...excuse me...THE Beretta.
I'm still planning on flying out to Annapolis next Thursday for an interview there. I'm not sure exactly what the schedule is for out there, but I'm getting excited for it. I can see that my top two options for next year definitely have their pros & cons, but I'm trying not to make up too big of a list before I actually go there, see the school/area/housing/everything. If anyone has any input at all, feel very free to let me know. The DeNooy's feel like Linds and I need to stay here next year, even if it ends up me working at Mickey D's School...as long as Linds can come and revive the v-ball program.
I feel used...in a good way.
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