As the summer said good-bye the last couple of weeks I reveled in the memories that made it so great.
It didn't end the way I wanted to but both softball seasons had greatness on and off the field. While On Tap's season ended in a 1-2 finish in the tournament, McKees powered to the winners bracket finale before then losing to on a Tuesday to finish 3rd. It was a sad end for the McKees group who I had only lost one game with since joining the squad before the "Twofer Tuesday" to end it. I can't go in to every moment here or break it down like I did with the state tourney. Needless to say our team is hungry and I'm going to let my memories stew and fuel my fire until next season. That said I'm sure that softball will come up again during the 2010 Pich' Awards in many ways. It was an excellent summer and softball was the centerpiece of that. Thanks to all the great teammates who made it so special!
At work the days of 2:30-11 start tomorrow. It makes me feel like I only have 2 days a week to really do anything again which is what always bothered me about the second shift. I'm going to work harder to have a life despite my schedule. At my age I can't afford to waste as much time as I did before. I was outside a lot in the final weeks. Working on the game ops building, and prepping for soccer season. I feel that as soon as I get comfortable on the 2nd shift again that I'll be OK.
Which leads me in to my doctor's appointment I recently had. I hadn't seen a doctor in a long time and it was good to get some questions answered. I also was advised on ways to deal with the upcoming SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and I'm optimistic that the things I was told will help me get through it. I was pretty worried about it especially this year because the newness of being back in Vermont is wearing off, going back to the night shift sucks, and with the SAD on top of it I figured I'd better not just grit my teeth and bare it like I did both years in Milwaukee.
Here's some quick hits before I wrap-up:
- I went to the Champlain Valley Fair the other day and I probably will again before it ends... it was nice to reacquaint with the Fair as I hadn't been in 3 years.
- Where is everyone for cards on Monday nights? Let's get some in or next semester I'm taking a night class instead.
- Stephen Strasburg will recover and be the best pitcher ever... everyone can stop thinking he's done, or that this is awful... if he fixes it now he'll be here for the playoff run next year. The Nats better days are ahead of them and so are Stephen's.
- I have recently decided to start putting together a few sets in hopes of starting a career in comedy. I've thought about ti for years and finally I'm ready to put things together and use my powers of laughter inducing for good. Just a friendly warning.
- Talking Trash is still on the back burner. Not sure if I want to fill my little available time with the show right now.
- I'm heading to Portland, Maine for a couple days over the Labor Day weekend. I haven't seen my Mom in over a year! I can't wait to see her and southern Maine where I haven't been in 2 1/2 years.
Ok... those aside and all that you know I must say I've been happy lately. Seems odd since the softball season ended prematurely and I'm about to go back to crappy hours at work, but a certain someone still has me smiling. In the words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that." For now....
So the Summer said good-bye over the last couple weeks. It was fun while it lasted, but I honestly feel ready to say hello to the Fall. In the Fall... I'll rise... stay tuned
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Whats been up, more memories of 2 years ago, and whats to come.
It's been far too long since I last checked in. The softball blog was an adequate way to fill this void though as its filled most of my free time over this summer. Sadly as the regular seasons have both ended the seasons come to a close soon. It has me worried about the end of summer but I'm ready to get back on top of making sure my seasonal depression won't dominate my fall. As the newness of being back in Vermont is all but gone, I worry that without softball I'll need to find something else to do regularly. As the UVM school season starts again at the end of the month I'll get a feel for what days I could be free, but the time for the return of Talking Trash nears. I spoke with some folks at UVM about helping out the recently launched CatamounTV. I'm not holding my breath, but hopefully they will see me as a valuable asset that both loves the Catamounts and has on-camera experience.
Since I last wrote some milestones came and went as pertains to my move to Milwaukee which was August 13th, 2008. Most notably was the July 17th date which I have previously mentioned in past blogs. (In 2008 I was flown to Milwaukee for an interview at the Bradley Center, in 2009 I was fired on the same date) This year Danielle, her boyfriend, and her roommate were in town and we partied hard all over downtown Burlington, and even found time for skating. It was a great day and put July 17th back on the map in a positive way. Also oddly as August as arrived the first two PichStock festivals celebrated anniversaries. Its been tough not to think back to these times, but yet I never look at any of them as negative. I never hang my head, or regret. I'm simply happy I had all those experiences. My "Farewell to Milwaukee" video is about done... in my head. I like to over think projects until I finally sit down to work on them. This blog as always been a great example of that.
Those things aside soon my car will have Vermont plates again, my license will be from Vermont again, and the slow transition back will be more final. However I can't shake the feeling that things aren't still where I want them to be. There are a number of things that need to happen for me to feel officially back. I spoke of some of those things before, but here are a couple...
- Moving in to Holly's place has been great. It's given me my own spot to be me, and feel like a little less of a loser cause I don't live with my folks. So far since I've been back I've struggled to find my place here when I'm not at UVM. For now this place is great, but I still long for the bachelor-pad-style and decoration flair that only I can provide. It will come in time and for now I'm very pleased with my "attic" at Holly's and hanging with my new animal friend, Solomon (He's a dachshund and I call him "Big Time").
- Working the first hockey game at UVM. There have been lots of little things that changed on the old job front, but mostly it's felt the same. Perhaps my favorite thing about working there were game days. When we have that first game and I'm a part of the Catamount display with all those fans rocking the Gut... it will be pretty special.
- Talking Trash returns? As badly as I want to bring the show back I feel that maybe this would be a good time to change something about the show. Either the format, or graphically... I'm not sure, but I'm thinking of ideas. The conditions for a return to VCAM have to be just right... I'll need more assistance than I've had previously and I want to make sure the show comes back with the old stuff viewers loved and some new stuff viewers can love too. (Pretty sure we're cutting any 'Billy Joe' segments)
- This may sound odd but I feel like some folks don't really know the new me. I've gotten a little tougher in some areas, a lot softer in others (get you minds out of the gutter you sick bastards). Oddly the reason I think I've had the most fun meeting new folks through softball is that they only know the "Post-Milwaukee Pich'" or PMP which is almost 'Pimp' and yes I like that coincidence. Just like when I moved to Milwaukee and people there didn't know me from my past... they only knew me from what I told them and of course what they could read online thanks to the database that is my life at JasonPiche.com. I like that my friends here know all of me, but I'm not sure how they are all digesting things when I "Hang that Pich' piece on 'em." There's stuff I learned and gathered while in MKE that have shaped me into to who I am now... just the same as the 29 years of Vermont shaped me into the dude who moved halfway across the country by himself for adventures and fun.
Thats about it... and of course the license and car stuff. It's all coming soon and it's making it all more real. I can't help but think of my buds in Oak Creek moving out this coming weekend... I guess I haven't said this anywhere but I feel bad that I left before our lease ran out. I had promised them I'd stay through it even though I got fired 2 days after we moved in. I know they don't really place any blame on me, but I feel bad that I had to back on my word because life folded out this way. I know it was the right move, but it was hard... I really liked it there. The job situation brought me there and likewise it brought me back home. I can't help but think about how when I'm creating the video of MKE that I'll have a hard time with it. Even though I had some of my worst times there, I also had some of my best times there too. It was a lot to go through in a short time. As I move forward with life in Vermont I don't want anyone to ever think I'll forget about Wisconsin or the great folks I met there. They had less time to shape me, but they 'did work, son!'
As I move forward I feel this is a good break spot. So stretch out, hit the restroom then come back for part 2.
*Elevator music plays... think soft rock... less 'Melissa Etheridge' and more 'Counting Crows'... good stuff to urinate to
Alrighty then, so what's been up lately?
At work it's been work on the outdoor building by the turf field. Our staff is building it all by hand so it's been good to get in on some man-work. Also we recently had the UVM Athletics Retreat which has gotten less and less cool and informative as the years have gone on. Still it was a good way for me to meet new coaches that have popped up in the past couple of years, and I was officially announced back so that people could stop asking me if I was 'back for good or just back for the summer.' I've been inside alot this summer, by design, and doing lots of painting and odd projects here and there. The greatest thing that happened while I was gone is that there is a seperate custodial group now in the building and we take care of other stuff now. Other stuff was always my favorite. I love painting, hanging stuff, and making the building a better place to be for everyone. I feel like my time is better used not cleaning stuff as much as improving other stuff. Basically it's good. I do slightly fear the return of regular building hours and a return to 3-11:30 schedule but... I knew what I signed up for.
Away from work it's still been mostly softball and both regular seasons have finished. Both teams are among the top teams in each league. I know McKee's finished tied for 1st in our league and On Tap is somewhere near 3rd or 4th. There sure weren't a lot of losses this season, but there was a ton of fun. Despite losing my lifelong baseball homey, Jay, to injury I still feel both squads are poised to make noise in the playoffs! Get well soon Jay! (He hurt his thumb playing softball turning around 3rd which wasn't staked in as he rounded during what was going to be an easy in-the-park-homerun. He slipped and jammed his thumb... x-rays pending)
At home I'm feeling quite comfortable in my 'attic" as I call it. It's probably more accurately described as a loft. I've got my own space up here and have my clothes in dressers... it's a good little setup for a guy who has felt like I've been living out of my car for the better part of the summer. It's location is choice for work and Weav'... it's in Winooski. Holly has rolled out a virtual red carpet for me and has been a gracious host. Aside from here softball hardware this summer (2 Championships, 1 2nd-place, and one overall tourney MVP), she is almost a lock for some Pich' Award hardware this winter!
SIDE NOTE - My website was quite the in-between game chatter during our most recent tournament. It had Nan telling other people about things I liked and disliked, as well as people telling me how to spell their last names so they could get in on a Pich' Award. Nice to know you're all doing your homework... there will be a quiz later. Now focus on the softball hardware... we've got games to win!
That's about all I've got for now. Nothing to report on the 'lovelife' front. Not that there usually is. Even if there was I wouldn't blog about it... I don't want to be asked questions about it while I'm in the on deck circle. Maybe after the season...
Anywho... Stay classy, and don't forget to have your pet spayed or neutered while keeping your feet on the ground but still reaching for the stars. Nice triple-take of classic sign offs... but mine's the best... Thanks for coming
Since I last wrote some milestones came and went as pertains to my move to Milwaukee which was August 13th, 2008. Most notably was the July 17th date which I have previously mentioned in past blogs. (In 2008 I was flown to Milwaukee for an interview at the Bradley Center, in 2009 I was fired on the same date) This year Danielle, her boyfriend, and her roommate were in town and we partied hard all over downtown Burlington, and even found time for skating. It was a great day and put July 17th back on the map in a positive way. Also oddly as August as arrived the first two PichStock festivals celebrated anniversaries. Its been tough not to think back to these times, but yet I never look at any of them as negative. I never hang my head, or regret. I'm simply happy I had all those experiences. My "Farewell to Milwaukee" video is about done... in my head. I like to over think projects until I finally sit down to work on them. This blog as always been a great example of that.
Those things aside soon my car will have Vermont plates again, my license will be from Vermont again, and the slow transition back will be more final. However I can't shake the feeling that things aren't still where I want them to be. There are a number of things that need to happen for me to feel officially back. I spoke of some of those things before, but here are a couple...
- Moving in to Holly's place has been great. It's given me my own spot to be me, and feel like a little less of a loser cause I don't live with my folks. So far since I've been back I've struggled to find my place here when I'm not at UVM. For now this place is great, but I still long for the bachelor-pad-style and decoration flair that only I can provide. It will come in time and for now I'm very pleased with my "attic" at Holly's and hanging with my new animal friend, Solomon (He's a dachshund and I call him "Big Time").
- Working the first hockey game at UVM. There have been lots of little things that changed on the old job front, but mostly it's felt the same. Perhaps my favorite thing about working there were game days. When we have that first game and I'm a part of the Catamount display with all those fans rocking the Gut... it will be pretty special.
- Talking Trash returns? As badly as I want to bring the show back I feel that maybe this would be a good time to change something about the show. Either the format, or graphically... I'm not sure, but I'm thinking of ideas. The conditions for a return to VCAM have to be just right... I'll need more assistance than I've had previously and I want to make sure the show comes back with the old stuff viewers loved and some new stuff viewers can love too. (Pretty sure we're cutting any 'Billy Joe' segments)
- This may sound odd but I feel like some folks don't really know the new me. I've gotten a little tougher in some areas, a lot softer in others (get you minds out of the gutter you sick bastards). Oddly the reason I think I've had the most fun meeting new folks through softball is that they only know the "Post-Milwaukee Pich'" or PMP which is almost 'Pimp' and yes I like that coincidence. Just like when I moved to Milwaukee and people there didn't know me from my past... they only knew me from what I told them and of course what they could read online thanks to the database that is my life at JasonPiche.com. I like that my friends here know all of me, but I'm not sure how they are all digesting things when I "Hang that Pich' piece on 'em." There's stuff I learned and gathered while in MKE that have shaped me into to who I am now... just the same as the 29 years of Vermont shaped me into the dude who moved halfway across the country by himself for adventures and fun.
Thats about it... and of course the license and car stuff. It's all coming soon and it's making it all more real. I can't help but think of my buds in Oak Creek moving out this coming weekend... I guess I haven't said this anywhere but I feel bad that I left before our lease ran out. I had promised them I'd stay through it even though I got fired 2 days after we moved in. I know they don't really place any blame on me, but I feel bad that I had to back on my word because life folded out this way. I know it was the right move, but it was hard... I really liked it there. The job situation brought me there and likewise it brought me back home. I can't help but think about how when I'm creating the video of MKE that I'll have a hard time with it. Even though I had some of my worst times there, I also had some of my best times there too. It was a lot to go through in a short time. As I move forward with life in Vermont I don't want anyone to ever think I'll forget about Wisconsin or the great folks I met there. They had less time to shape me, but they 'did work, son!'
As I move forward I feel this is a good break spot. So stretch out, hit the restroom then come back for part 2.
*Elevator music plays... think soft rock... less 'Melissa Etheridge' and more 'Counting Crows'... good stuff to urinate to
Alrighty then, so what's been up lately?
At work it's been work on the outdoor building by the turf field. Our staff is building it all by hand so it's been good to get in on some man-work. Also we recently had the UVM Athletics Retreat which has gotten less and less cool and informative as the years have gone on. Still it was a good way for me to meet new coaches that have popped up in the past couple of years, and I was officially announced back so that people could stop asking me if I was 'back for good or just back for the summer.' I've been inside alot this summer, by design, and doing lots of painting and odd projects here and there. The greatest thing that happened while I was gone is that there is a seperate custodial group now in the building and we take care of other stuff now. Other stuff was always my favorite. I love painting, hanging stuff, and making the building a better place to be for everyone. I feel like my time is better used not cleaning stuff as much as improving other stuff. Basically it's good. I do slightly fear the return of regular building hours and a return to 3-11:30 schedule but... I knew what I signed up for.
Away from work it's still been mostly softball and both regular seasons have finished. Both teams are among the top teams in each league. I know McKee's finished tied for 1st in our league and On Tap is somewhere near 3rd or 4th. There sure weren't a lot of losses this season, but there was a ton of fun. Despite losing my lifelong baseball homey, Jay, to injury I still feel both squads are poised to make noise in the playoffs! Get well soon Jay! (He hurt his thumb playing softball turning around 3rd which wasn't staked in as he rounded during what was going to be an easy in-the-park-homerun. He slipped and jammed his thumb... x-rays pending)
At home I'm feeling quite comfortable in my 'attic" as I call it. It's probably more accurately described as a loft. I've got my own space up here and have my clothes in dressers... it's a good little setup for a guy who has felt like I've been living out of my car for the better part of the summer. It's location is choice for work and Weav'... it's in Winooski. Holly has rolled out a virtual red carpet for me and has been a gracious host. Aside from here softball hardware this summer (2 Championships, 1 2nd-place, and one overall tourney MVP), she is almost a lock for some Pich' Award hardware this winter!
SIDE NOTE - My website was quite the in-between game chatter during our most recent tournament. It had Nan telling other people about things I liked and disliked, as well as people telling me how to spell their last names so they could get in on a Pich' Award. Nice to know you're all doing your homework... there will be a quiz later. Now focus on the softball hardware... we've got games to win!
That's about all I've got for now. Nothing to report on the 'lovelife' front. Not that there usually is. Even if there was I wouldn't blog about it... I don't want to be asked questions about it while I'm in the on deck circle. Maybe after the season...
Anywho... Stay classy, and don't forget to have your pet spayed or neutered while keeping your feet on the ground but still reaching for the stars. Nice triple-take of classic sign offs... but mine's the best... Thanks for coming
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