This definitely been a period of emotional ups and downs and I am not a good candidate to handle them well.
Every morning, after reading my devotional for the day, I record several things. I go through my calendars for the next week, making changes as schedules change. I record my weight and the physical activities I had done the previous day. I track activities on all my YouTube channels and other social media that I post to. This is where I ran into trouble.
It seems that Google changed something in their login procedures. When I set up these various accounts, I had to create other email accounts. I don’t know why I couldn’t use one email for all the accounts, but, okay. I never used the email accounts and didn’t keep track of which email addresses went with what channel. Keep in mind, I am in my sixties and have never been considered a tech genius, let alone, proficient. I am just very stubborn and continue to plow through until I reach some sort of working solution to the task at hand. I could not get into the Kinzie Lackey Sports account. I kept trying until I was furious and unable to think straight. I decided then that I would walk away from the desk and go do chores.
Things were going well there until I got out to the pigs. The pig hut that I had put together with scrap lumber was in serious need of repair. I got the tools together and set to work.There was one screw that needed to be backed out before I could repair the pig hut. The only problem was, it was coming in from the bottom and I couldn’t see which driver I needed to use and I couldn’t lift the hut by myself without damaging the structure more. This sent me into another tail spin. I’d have to wait for help for that.
By the time I finished the chores, my head was clearer and I was able to, very slowly, figure out how to get into the YouTube account. I was relieved, and promptly recorded the needed details for that account should Google change login procedures again. And, that evening, Tom helped me tilt the pig hut enough that we could get the old screw out and reinforce the structure again.
The thirteenth was an eventful day. Kinzie and I had breakfast together before going to Pryor to pick up her new glasses. She only needs them for reading, and that means I never see her in them, but she looked nice the minute or two she wore them for fitting. After school, the girls had a softball game against Bluejacket. There is a really nice elderly woman that accompanies her son to most of the baseball, softball and football games. Her son is probably late fifties or early sixties. He is one of those that has done everything and knows everything. He claims to have been a coach in the past and that must give him license to “coach” from the sidelines, loud and long. Apparently, he was also an umpire, with a certificate, and can do better than the men on the field calling the game.
These men do their very best, but we are a small school and talent available to us is limited. There was a particularly bad call when one of our girls was called out at a base when the defender had clearly dropped the ball. Of course, all of us are stating this fact from our seats, some of the parents more vehemently than others. The umpire came to us and told us that the call had been overturned and to let them do their jobs without our interference. Some of the parents took exception to that and continued to gripe, including the “expert.” The girls’ coach came over and politely asked the parents to remain calm. More parents calmed down, but not all. After a minute or two, I tried to get the parents to calm down, that we had already been warned twice. The “expert” kept it up and I snapped. I had heard enough from him all season long and my nerves were worn thin. I turned to him and told him calmly that if he ruined this game, I was coming after him personally. (Not a good thing to say, I admit). He STILL would not shut up. I told him that he’d better not ruin my granddaughter’s game. STILL, the back talk! So I stared him down. He mouthed again and I just stared at him. Suddenly, he jumped out of his chair and said that he was going home.
My emotions were mixed after that. I truly hate confrontations like that. I also hated that I had angered his mother, whom I truly like and admire. At the same time, it was pure relief to not have to hear his constant talking, coaching, nonsense instructions; “pull the trigger, right here-right here” over and over. I just wanted to cry.
The girls ended up winning their game and it was time to go to the field behind us to watch the boys play football. The kids were running around, people standing right in front of others trying to watch the game, lots of movement, lots of noise. I went home. I needed quiet. I was an emotional wreck that night and I cried off and on all day the next day. This woman and her son go to our church too and I was concerned as to how that would go. I was a little heartbroken when the mother saw me come into the room and then turn her head. I’m truly sorry I caused so much problem.
Sunday evening, Kinzie’s older brother, Joseph, came for a visit. It was good to see him. He had dropped off the face of the earth for a few weeks and I had serious concerns about his well-being. Although, his life is not all rosy right now, I was grateful and relieved to learn that he was doing better than I had feared.
My latest batch of duck eggs in the incubator hatched and I was pretty pleased by the hatch rate, especially since it had been so low all summer. Out of 24 duck eggs started, I had eleven healthy ducklings. I’m grateful for that because my last drake is missing and I am down from nine ducks this spring to two. Monday morning, my Idaho pasture pigs, Wattles and her girls were out of their pens. Too much growth around the solar fence charger took away the charge on the fence. While I wrangled the pigs, Tom got the charger where it could recharge properly. Wattles is smart and had remembered where the feed in the barn is located and she had wreaked havoc in the barn. She even knocked the screen cover off the brooder for the ducklings and the heat lamp had fallen into the brooder. I was grateful to find all the ducklings alive and well with no evidence of smoldering wood shavings. I put the brooder back together and the ducklings are safe and sound again.
Monday night was senior night for the softball team. I was really concerned that I would truly be a mess at the ceremony. Kinzie was nervous and wound pretty tight so I focused on her to help her to remain calm and was able to take my mind off my own emotions.
With up to five softball games a week, my production schedule is in shambles. I did manage to get a vlog edited and posted. I have other videos recorded but have not had the time to get them edited and posted. Time to Trim can be seen here.
The girls played their conference tournament on Thursday. The entire tournament was held that day. I am proud to announce that the Foyil Panther girls won both of their games to claim the Conference championship title. I understand that is the first championship win since 2001. The first game was a nail biter, but they pulled off the wins in the end. Next week is the District Tournament. The hectic softball season is coming to an end soon. Maybe then I can get some work posted.
Even as emotional as these past few days have been, I’m looking forward to see what is going to come our way next. See you next week!