Travel and Softball

Today was our first softball game of the season.  I'm already injured.  Plus, I agreed to play on a Thursday softball league as well.  So I'll have double the opportunities to get injured.  I wonder if this is a sign that the whole season will go badly?  Or does it mean I got my injury out of the way for this summer?

The injury isn't super serious.  I got hit in the back between my spine and left shoulder blade by a ball thrown really hard from the shortstop toward the first baseman.  But my back intercepted it before the first baseman got it.  The shortstop caught a line drive, and I was needing to tag up on first base.  As I was turning to go back to first base I could see that I might be in the line of fire, but it all happened so fast it was hard to know what to do other than try to make it back to first and hope it was low enough to not hit me in the head.  I'm very thankful it didn't hit me in the spine or the head - that would have been much worse.

I'm also going to try to make sure I ice and take care of this right so it doesn't turn into the kind of escapade that getting hit with a racquetball turned into.  I just got myself healthy!

Also, over the weekend while driving I listened to several travel podcasts.  A couple were on how to pack light and efficiently.  There was also an interesting one on finding your courage when traveling solo.  If you have an hour to listen and are interested in that one, let me know what you think.  Do you agree with what they say about how travel solo helps you learn about yourself?  Do you agree that for introverts it helps you come out of your shell, and for extroverts it helps you learn to be by yourself?  Are there other ways to learn the same things without traveling?  If you're a regular reader, I think you know I'm not against travel at all.  Are they over-selling the value of travel or not?

The website where I found the podcasts (thanks Uncle Bex) is called The Budget Minded Traveler.  Here are some links.

Ninja Packing Tips - Pack Light and Carry On:
http://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/ninja-packing-tips-pack-light-and-carry-on/

Pack Light and Carry On for Males:
http://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/pack-light-and-carry-on-for-males-featuring-travis-sherry-jason-moore-and-nathaniel-boyle/

How to Negotiate with Airlines:
http://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/how-to-negotiate-with-airlines-with-sam-cornthwaite/

Connecting People Through the Transformative Power of Travel:
http://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/nathaniel-boyle/

Find Your Courage Through Solo Travel:
 http://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com/find-your-courage-through-solo-travel/

Enigma and Mother's Day

When I placed my order at Culver's the other day, I realized it might sound like a strange order to some.  I ordered a hamburger without onions, but then I ordered a side of onion rings.  And I was the only person in the car.

Last weekend I was in my childhood area for Mother's Day.  It was a good weekend and probably the first time in 15-20 years since Mom had all 3 of her daughters home for that day.  There was also SM that day, so it was a good day.

Dad shaved his mustache off after having it for 40 years.  He looks a little bit different, but at the same time not really.  He looks more like my cousins without it.

Other activities included going to a bridal shower for one of my cousin's fiance, playing with my niece (going on a walk and giving a bike ride), and going to see the fancy new pig barn that BIL-Dan and Muggles have.

Here are a couple pictures from the weekend.

BIL-Dan grilling his inch thick pork chops.

Mom and Bill

Bill and Ananias

Photobomber Bill, Muggles, MelBMarvis, and Ananias

Muggles, Bill, Mom, MelBMarvis, and Ananias

BIL-Dan, Bill, and Muggles

Most of the family except my brother and his brood.  Even Sully got in on the fun.

Teaching Bill about photobombing early in life.

Pops (sans mustache) and Mom

The new fancy pig barn.

Oh, and my bad travel luck has returned.  The plane had mechanical problems in Fargo, so I sat there for an extra hour, which resulted in missing my connection when I got to Chicago.  So I rented a car and drove home from there - I got home at 2:00 AM and the next day at work was intense training on electromagnetic compatibility.  It took me most of the week to recover from that and halfway catch up on sleep.

Some Spring Stuff

This view amazes me every year.

Here are a few pictures I've taken recently of some of the spring scenery around here.  We had some beautiful sunny weather about a week ago, but the last week has been kind of gloomy.  We got all our April showers at the end of the month, and May is starting out with a few too.

Busy eating.

Not scared of me - I probably walked within 10 feet of these guys, and they just sat there.

Magnolia blossoms

More magnolias

Red winged blackbird

This kayak bondage is an outrage!