Move Completed!

Well, the mobile Hartley family has moved yet again, this time into a 3 bedroom apt on the first floor. I took off 3 days work to get everything packed and ready to move, then had movers come in to move the stuff. I'm getting too old to be moving washers, dryers, sofas and chairs up and down 3 flights of stairs in 95-degree heat! I still don't know how Rick and I got everything moved the first time, down one flight of stairs and up 3 flights during 2 of the hottest days in October. It was a miracle I didn't fall and break something. Of course, just after we moved in to the 3rd floor apt, I missed a step, fell and sprained my knee really bad. It's 6 months later and it still isn't right. At least now, we can unpack the boxes at our own pace.

It was back to work for me today.....and what a zoo. And guess what? I get to work 3:30 to midnight tomorrow! My main goal for tomorrow is just to get through it and stay awake for the hour-long drive home.

Later,

Toad

On Vacation!

Going to try to make more posts from now on....Right now, we're on vacation back in Ohio! Weather has been wonderful! A little cool today but it has been sunny everyday, and warm most days. Left last Tuesday, stayed Tuesday night at Larry & Sue, then up to Jendy's on Wednesday. Thursday went to see Pam, then split up, Tracy staying down south and Randy up north. Went to see Aunt Thelma today. Shipping back out to the Sunshine State tomorrow...anxious to see Peppy. Later......

Goes to show how much I know....

On the day he was to report to spring training, Keith Foulke announced his retirement from baseball, saying he could not perform physically to the level he wanted. I thought he would be one of the answers to the Tribe bullpen. I give the guy a lot of credit though; he could have reported to spring training, given it a try, then retired or went on the disabled list, and could have picked up the $5 million that the Indians signed him for. Not too many people in this would would walk away from $5 million.

Foulke to Indians?

Fox Sports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reported that former Red Sox closer Keith Foulke is close to signing a 1-year deal with options with the Cleveland Indians. Several other teams are said to have offered multi-year deals, but, reportedly, Foulke's agent, Dan Horwits, has advised the other clubs that Foulke will likely sign with Cleveland. It was earlier thought that Foulke would want to sign with a club closer to his home in Arizona.

The 34-year old Foulke was 3-1 with a 4.35 ERA in 44 appearances with the Bosox last season, but has been plagued by injuries the past 2 years, and hasn't closed since the Red Sox' world championship season in 2004. Foulke posted a 2.04 ERA in his last 15 appearances in 2006 after coming off the disabled list with tendonitis in his right elbow.

If Foulke does sign with the Indians, it would represent another major upgrade of the Tribe's bullpen, which was one of the worst in the major leagues last season. General Manager Mark Shapiro has already signed former Cubs and Marlins closer Joe Borowski, veteran righthander Roberto Hernandez and lefthanded specialist Aaron Fultz to offseason deals. Foulke would likely come into spring training as the leading candidate to be the closer, especially since the Indians did not promise Borowski the closer's role when Boroski signed. However, since both Boroski and Foultz have some question marks about their health, a spring training competition between the two for the closer's role is a possibility.

The Foulke signing is expected to be completed sometime after Christmas.

Here's big bad Rick in his big bad truck. OK, it's a Ford Ranger, so here's big bad Rick in his little bad truck!

Welcome to the 21st Century

Well, I finally joined the 21st century communications age over the weekend. First of all, I went and got a new flip-type cell phone. I previously had an old, larger cell phone that served me well, but frankly made me look like the 55-year old technologically-challenged man that I am. Trust me, when you are 55, you need all the help you can get to look technologically-savvy. OK, so the phone doesn’t have a camera or any of the other gee whiz stuff that a lot of the new cell phones have, but at least I can make and answer a call on it.

Secondly, I bought a new phone system for the home. We had some old, cheap wireless phones that worked fine when we had the typical landline service through the phone company. However, they don’t work that well with the internet phone service, because the main phone has to be plugged into the computer modem rather than the wall, and all the base units we had required plugging the base unit into a phone line. So we bought a multi-phone system that has a separate handset unit that does not have to be plugged into a phone line, only an electrical outlet. So we now can have some phones in different rooms of the home. But don’t worry, I do not have a phone in the bathroom!

I’m cool……..I’m a techie……Ooops, I pushed the wrong button and disconnected this blog!

Useless Factoid

Thunder Over Louisville, held the week of the Kentucky Derby, is one of the largest fireworks displays in the world, with over 50 tons of fireworks used.
--The History Channel