Friday, July 28, 2023

My First MLB Game - Twins Vs. White Sox / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-July-2023

Last week, I attended my first Major League Baseball game.  The Minnesota Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox.  We went as it was Donate Life Day with the Minnesota Twins, as a way of celebrating kidney organ donors and their families and to raise awareness for kidney disease.

I have to say, it was the most fun I have had in a long, long time.  Even not being much of a sports fan at all, it was a lot of fun to be there.  We were seated right off of the third base line, and there were so many home runs, it was hard to keep track of them all.

The Twins defeated the White Sox 9 to 4.  There were 4 home runs for the Twins, and 2 for the Sox.  One standout was Byron Buxton, who hit two of the four homers.

Another standout was one of the stadium ushers.  You see, my mother needed a wheelchair, and this gentleman not only escorted her to the right section (on the other side of the stadium), he picked her up after the fireworks (which were amazing!) and escorted her back to the main entrance.  He got to know all of us, where we were from.  I only wish I caught his name.  You could tell that he absolutely loved his job.

In my recent book Pop Flies And Grounders, the main characters go to a Twins game.  Granted, it was in the mid-80's when Kirby Puckett was the most known player, but it was interesting how close I got some of the details.  Keep note, I did say some.  I did take into account a wide array of creative license with the book.

The cost of the tickets, food, and merchandise was fairly reasonable too.  So if you are in the Twin Cities, check out a Twin game.  It is something we'll do again.

Friday, July 21, 2023

Pop Flies And Grounders Is Published / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-July-2023

Pop Flies And Grounders has now been published!


Here is a synopsis of this middle grade novel:

"Twelve-year-old Cassidy Reed recently lost her father. But when her mother Eve moves away from the hustle and bustle of the Twin Cities to quiet small-town Minnesota, Cassidy feels like her whole world is crumbling. Her greatest pastime is softball. It is then that she discovers that her new neighbor is an ex-MLB player, Max Coleridge, and the two quickly become fast friends as he teaches her new skills.

But there are rumors about Max. Rumors about why he was kicked out of the Major Leagues. So Cassidy sets out to find the truth, and along the way discovers even more secrets about this small town."

Once other stores at up and running, I'll share those as well.

Friday, July 14, 2023

Lessons Learned From Bryan Adams and Joan Jett / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-July-2023

On July 3rd, my girlfriend Melissa and I saw Bryan Adams in concert in the Twin Cities.  Joan Jett opened for him.


It was an amazing concert, and Brian Seltzer even made a surprise appearance for a handful of songs.

One thing we noticed with both artists were the fact that they acknowledged their band.  A lot.  They honored them and made note of the bands they played with throughout the show.

Authors do this all the time in books.  They dedicate the work to someone.  Typically a spouse or significant other.  Even though being a creative artist, one still does not do it alone.  That person may not read or listen to your music or see what you've done, but they still support you.  Or, in the case of Bryan Adams and Joan Jett, they are nothing without the band.

Friday, July 7, 2023

Home Stretch on WIP / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-July-2023

Today, I am halfway through the final read-through of my work-in-progress, my Middle Grade novel titled Pop Flies And Grounders.

Here is the cover of it:


Pretty cool, isn't it?