West Coast Best Coast

Since being here I've definitely gained a great appreciation of the west.  I've always been told how much the two sides of the country differ but after living here and being exposed to people from both sides I've gained a great understanding.  People from the west just seem happier.  Go with the flow might not necessarily be the best term but they at least take life more as it comes.  If this park was in the west I'm pretty sure games wouldn't start on time because everyone would be chit chatting.  People are more friendly in the west.  Don't get me wrong there are plenty of friendly people from the east but there seem to be  a great deal more out west. Here people are more direct and harsh with they're tone.  I've had to adjust to that.  Most of the fights and tension caused by teams have been by teams from the east coast.  I know that east coast people are great too but I'm just saying I've gained a deeper appreciation of the west since being here.   Surrounding us here are a bunch of hills. People out here call them mountains but really their just hills.  They aren't even that tall. I'm glad I didn't choose to come out here for school. I don't know if I'm ever going to want to permanently live here. It's very pretty and some people are extremely lot but unfortunately there's a few that ruin the reputation.  

Spirit vs. Soul

 I just got back from the Yellow Deli in Oneonta with Marina.  It was quite the experience that really got me thinking.  The Yellow Deli is a delicious restaurant ran by members of the Twelve Tribes Community.  After eating our delicious completely homemade meal I asked our waiter to explain what exactly the Twelve Tribes are.  He proceeded to tell me about their beliefs as a group of people that live and work together all loving one another and God.  He talked about how there is such a divide between doctrine and love now days.  Before there was doctrine there was just love, what has happened now?  THere's such a divide and it's unfortunate.  He was so happy to talk about "his people" and his beliefs.  He is so happy with where he is in his life and you can just tell that he loves life because of his love of God.  One comment that really struck me was when he discussed the difference between soul and spirit.  "Spirit is what we all want and want to have with God. Our soul is what we do without thinking out our spirit." I really liked what he said because I think that's true.  I've always lived my life thinking that the basis to understanding people is first understanding their spirituality.  Your spirit is everywhere. It's what connects you to something greater than yourself.  

    People listen to music these days that isn't healthy for our souls or spirits.  It's harmful and unhealthy. I'm now definitely going to be more conscious of my spirit and what I do to have a good spirit. 

Another Week

Week 12 has just begun at the Dreams Park. It's crazy to think how many times I've counted out team's uniforms, told people where the bathrooms are, done the YMCA in front of a couple thousand people, and how many baseballs I've given umpires to use in games.  It's become so routine now that I don't really notice anything else.  The routine is good though I guess.  My mom asked me if time passes quickly while working to which I replied "ya because I never really feel like I'm working". If I didn't live here it'd probably feel more like work but it really doesn't.  This past week was a good week.  There were some nice coaches and umpires that remembered me throughout the week and were nice.  It makes everything more fun when I get to know the kids and coaches.  I brought out a football yesterday during work (yep, football at a baseball tournament) and people just gravitated toward it.  There were a couple of teams that would mess with me and make funny comments.  I love being able to get to know them and some of the coaches.  One thing that's been hard here is how temporary everything is.  I'll meet coaches and talk with them some but then they're gone in a flash and I'll never see them again.  Some with some of the players.  Just when you start to get to know someone it's like they're completely gone and there's nothing I can do about it.  A couple of boys were back this week that had been here before this year and I knew them so it was great to see them.  TJ is 6'4'' tall and is from Florida and this is his third trip here this summer.  He's awesome.  And Aaron plays for Florida teams but lives in New Jersey and is a big kid too.  It's great to see some familiar faces.  There are a few returning players and coaches this week that are here too so that should be nice.
   We're getting to the end of the season which means a lot of interns have left.  Trevor and Kyle left today. Chelsea, Phil and CJ left last Friday and a lot of the interns from other departments left this last week.  Starting tomorrow I'll be the only one in my room.  That will be nice, weird but nice I think.  It's basically just me, Frankie and Logan here now and then they've hired some locals to work with us.
    Cheers to 2 more weeks of Livin the Dream! 

It's the little things

Nothing beats a spoonful of peanut butter and raisins after a 15 hour work day.  That seems to be my go-to lately.  Too bad I'm out of raisins now. Nothing like putting on a pair of sweats, my headphones in listening to country and eating peanut butter.  I don't have to talk to ANYONE which is a rare occurrence at this place. Usually I'm always answering the usual questions "where's the bathroom", "what's the record for home runs in a game", "are you a local or just here for the summer?", "what goes on at this place in the winter?", "what time is closing ceremonies?", "the umpire needs more baseballs on field 4", "can we start the game yet?", "is it a warning or automatic out if the batter throws the bat?" Finally some peace at night! I should probably lay off the peanut butter though.  Thank God for Megan who sent me a jar of my favorite Skippy Natural peanut butter :) It's the real little things I've learned to really appreciate.

Currently I'm listening to "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks.  You better believe this song will be played at my wedding and one day I WILL sing this karaoke.

People here ask me all the time if I'm a local, or in college, or if this is just a summer job.  I give them the same schpeal I've giving 300 other times about how I wanted an adventure this summer so I moved 2000 miles from home and here I am.  The look on people's faces (usually moms) is priceless especially when they find out I live in the barracks.  But then they realize how much money I'll be making and what kind of experience I'm having.  I don't regret being here in any way.  I've learned a ton! I can definitely say that after this summer I'll be a better coach, friend, community citizen and later in life mom and wife.  You learn a lot by observing thousands of people daily.  Last week I saw what I thought was some of the best coaching I've seen here.  It was on Wednesday (single elimination tournament begins) and there was a team from northern California.  This low-seeded team had three coaches each in his twenties.  They played their first game at 10am and won which meant they played the next game and won that, played again and won that and then played their FOURTH game of the day at 5:30pm.  They never once complained about playing so many games.  Their coaches let the boys coach themselves. They stepped back and let the boys captain the team.  No boy ever cried (unusual for 12 year old boys especially when they strike out). Their parents were always positive and constantly cheering.  The coaches never stomped the ground or hit anything; their voices only raised to give positive comments.  It's the little things that really make a big difference in a team's performance. It's times like these when I really like my job.