Cooperstown Bat Company

Our last stop was the Cooperstown Bat Company.


We planned it in time to see a bat-turning demonstration.





Hope and Harry bought the bat he made and will finish it where they work.

***

It is good to be home. I am glad to be single. After spending the weekend in the company of this "happily married couple", I am sure I will never marry again.

Separately, the two of them were fine. Together they drove each other nuts, or at least tried to, spent the weekend trying to get digs in each other (which Hope discussed with her sister, who explained it really isn't bickering, but is actually her putting him in his place, and someday I will choose, for one reason or another, to be in the same situation and will understand), and she wants to return to the 'no men, no kids, no phone' way of doing things and leave Ian home next time, too. I won't do it.

Ian loves Cooperstown so much, it would absolutely break his heart to be left home. Even if I could afford to hire someone to care for him for a long weekend so I could 'get away', I couldn't do it. He was well-behaved, well-mannered and happy. He, the pickiest eater on the planet, even ate his food without complaining. Why leave him home?

A final word on Ringwood Farms Campground... In the past, and one of the reasons why Hope and I revisit this campground every time we go to Cooperstown, is because the place was well-cared for. Grass was mowed, bathrooms were checked on daily, the laundry area was clean. I got the occasional mosquito bite, no big deal, but the campgrounds were attended to.

We arrived early Saturday afternoon and left Tuesday morning around 10 a.m. We spent the entire time with no paper towels in the bathroom and Monday/Tuesday with no toilet paper. The garbage was never emptied the entire time we were there, and the facilities were not checked on in general. The area for washing dishes was in the laundry room, which was obviously not cleaned or checked on. As Hope so aptly put it, "That place was disgusting. I came home and rewashed the dishes." So did I.

Hope and I walked down to the campground office a few times when we were there on Monday, but the office was locked with no number posted to reach whoever was in charge that day. When we checked in, the owner told us he couldn't keep up with the grass because of all the rain, which is understandable, but this year I got myself a nice bunch of chigger bites, which never happened to me before, mowed lawn or not. When we went to check out, the office was again locked, and there was no way to tell anyone we were leaving. I'm sure they've figured it out by now. However,

I think next year we will try a different campground.

The Fenimore Museum

Tuesday morning we broke camp.

At 10, we dropped Harry and Ian off at the closest golf course to play 9 holes while Hope and I visited The Fenimore Museum. They had an exhibit called "Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses: The Synagogue to the Carousel", which I was particularly interested in. Hope enjoyed the furniture exhibit called "Gustav Stickley: The Enlightened Home", although the rest of the museum was, I think, torture for her. Ah, well. What are friends for?

The artwork, and the museum, were beautiful. I hurried through for Hope's sake, but I think next time I go to Cooperstown, I'm hitting the museum alone. :-)

The Farmers' Museum - A Working Farm

The Farmers' Museum is actually a working 1800's farm. They have people there that work the looms and make the uniforms for the employees.



The blacksmith makes the metal things that are sold in the museum shop and anything that is used around the museum. Here he is, demonstrating how to make a nail hook:



And here is a toaster:





They had old fashioned games:













The Empire State Carousel was in operation:







Ian got to milk a 'cow':








On display in the doctor's office:


A pill finisher in the pharmacy:

There is a working print shop where various invitations or whatever is needed is printed:


There is so much information packed into that museum, I could have taken a few hours to read everything.

The Farmers' Museum - Ice Cream Exhibit

After a damp, cold night in the tents, we just couldn't seem to get going as early as we planned, but no worries. Today, we toured the Farmers' Museum.

(photo taken by Ian Tabor)

They had an entire exhibit on "Ice Cream - Our Cool Obsession".

("Who Invented the Ice Cream Cone?")

(A milk truck)

("You want some damn ice cream, or not?")

("I'll have one of each!")

(A modern 1940's kitchen)

And in closing:







We were extremely disappointed at the end of the exhibit. There was an old-fashioned ice cream shop set up, and they were serving Nutty Buddies, ice cream bars and things like that. After the exhibit, we sure could have gone for a REAL Milkshake! {heavy sigh!}

Baseball Hall of Fame Kids' Area

Since the last time Hope and I were there, the Hall of Fame opened a kids' area.

My future Hall of Famer

Living room furniture

Baseball Hall of Fame

Anticipation was building to an unbearable level! After waiting more than 50 years to get there, Harry wanted to do the Hall of Fame first. As I said, plans were flexible, so off we went!

(Harry and Hope in front of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York)

Our hands were stamped for readmission, if need be (and usually is, for it takes more than one day to see everything there is to see in there!):




The best 'starting point' for the Hall of Fame is their theatre, which shows a 13-minute multimedia presentation about the Game. It just sets the mood for the self-guided tour.

(Ian in front of the 'screen' for the multimedia presentation that introduces the Hall of Fame)

The Hall is packed full of just-plain-fun stuff, like this exhibit. You open the door, push the button, and inhale - the wonderful smell of fresh-popped ballpark popcorn:

(Smell-o-vision?)

Of course, there are famous documents:

(Jackie Robinson's letter of resignation)

... and paintings:

(Babe Ruth's Called Shot; I Wish I had written down the artist. The painting is beautiful!)

... and irreplaceable memorabilia:

(the cornerstone of Ebbets Field)

... as well as life-size sculptures:

(Roy Campenella catching, Harry batting, and Ian umping)

(pitching like Johnny Podres, almost)

... and famous quotes:

I live for this. :-)

On the Road Again

Today, at about 9:30 a.m., we headed off for Cooperstown, New York, also known as "Baseball Heaven". Dick Williams and Goose Gossage were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. I enjoy this trip immensely every time I take it.

The weather forecast for the weekend should make things interesting in our tent-camping adventure:

Saturday: Scattered T-storms

Sunday: Isolated T-storms

Monday: Partly cloudy

Tuesday: Scattered T-storms

Never a dull moment!

We planned out our menus and things-to-do lists so we didn't forget anything, and eating our own food at the campsite is sure cheaper than eating in restaurants in a tourist town! Our sketched out plan for the weekend is:

Saturday: sandwiches for lunch on the road, set up camp, marinated pork chops and salad for dinner at the campsite, stargazing event at the Glimmerglass State Park.

Sunday: Breakfast at the family restaurant across the street from the campground, Cooperstown Bat Company, Farmer's Museum and Fenimore Museum, lunch in one of their cafes, hot dogs and potato salad for dinner at the campsite.

Monday: Pop-Tarts for breakfast at the campsite, Baseball Hall of Fame (on Monday, when it will be less crowded than a weekend day), lunch at the tavern in the basement of the inn near Doubleday Field (can't remember the name of the place, but their cheeseburgers are Wonderful), catch a game at Doubleday Field, souvenir shopping, marinated chicken and salad for dinner.

Tuesday: Cereal for breakfast, break camp, sandwiches for lunch, drive home.

Of course, the plans are not set in stone, and we expect them to change as our weekend unfolds, especially since we have 'the boys' with us.

In the past, Hope and I always made our pilgrimage to Cooperstown a "no men, no kids, no phone" weekend, a chance for the two of us to get some coveted peace and quiet. Three years ago, we took Ian with us, and he has been begging to return every year since.

This year Ian and I are going with Hope and her husband, Harry. We are staying at the Ringwood Farms Campground, where we have stayed in all our previous trips to Cooperstown.

***

On the way to the campground, we saw signs for the Petrified Creatures Museum. Harry and Ian went though it while Hope and I went into town to purchase charcoal and firewood.

As it turned out, it was overcast (understatement) Saturday evening, so we scratched the stargazing at Glimmerglass State Park.

New Blog

As many of you know, I took an interest in my family's history shortly after my mother became ill in 1996. I started my genealogical research to find out about our family's medical history, but that quickly became a side point as I got hooked on research.

I recently attended a family reunion at my aunt's home, and many of my cousins, who I either never met or haven't seen in years, were there. My brother also flew in from Seattle for the occasion, thank goodness, or we wouldn't have any pictures. :D

So I started a new blog dedicated to the Hapeman descendants and will be posting pictures liberally for all to see and share. Right now it is under construction, but here is the address:

http://tenhapemankids.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Stupidity

Another Judge Who Isn't Intellectually Viable

James Leon Holmes - appointed by Bush as a judge for the Arkansas Eastern District in July 2004 - once compared the pro-choice movement to Nazi propaganda, likened the issue of abortion to slavery, wrote that "a wife is to subordinate herself to her husband," and argued that all abortions should be banned because "conceptions from rape occur with approximately the same frequency as snowfall in Miami." Meanwhile, studies from 2000 and 2004 show that 25,000 to 32,000 pregnancies a year result from rape in the U.S.

-From my Bad President calendar, July 13, 2008, 191 days left.

As a woman, I cannot tell you how much viewpoints like this trouble me, especially when they are in our government. It's just another example of how our own government, like other governments and religous groups, treats women with dignity and respect.

Something to think about

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

- La Rochefoucauld

Food Relief

The rising price of gas has forced the prices of just about everything to increase, and it is no small wonder that everyone is feeling the financial effects.

My friend Rick told me about Angel Food Ministries. They are a non-denominational, non-profit organization that arranges food relief for those in need. It is not income based, there are no forms to fill out, no qualifications to meet, no hoops to jump through. As they say,

"If you eat, you qualify."

For $30, they will provide approximately $65 worth of groceries. Other specials are also available with the purchase of the initial $30 package. For a sample menu, click here.

They feed over 500,000 each month over 35 states. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

Good luck.

The Election

The election time-of-year always drives me nuts. I always think that what it boils down to is whichever candidate's lies you feel you can live with, you vote for.

A helpful site to sort out all the lies is Fact Check. To quote the site,

"We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding."

It's worth checking out, especially when we are being bombarded by political advertising. And as November approaches, it's not going to get any better. :D

Our Military Personnel

Everybody thinks of them at Christmas or during Memorial and Independence Day, but I cannot remember the last time I saw people getting together a care package to send over.

They're still over there, folks. Some of them no more than Kids, doing their jobs, facing death daily.

I see a whole lot of stupid yellow magnetic ribbons, which do absolutely nothing for our servicemen/women. And where did the profits for those ribbons go? Not to our troops, that's for sure.

When is the last time we did something for them? Think about it.

I am going to follow my brother's lead (Humanitarian Aid)and break one of my cardinal rules:

Be a Good Samaritan,

then Shut the Hell Up About It.

AnySoldier.com is a great website. Mail to the guys and gals overseas cannot simply be addressed to "any soldier", etc., so you can request an address of a soldier from this site to send the package to. The men and women overseas post what they need or want. You can select a branch of the service you like, or just browse the site to see what they are asking for.

I package things up in the flat rate USPS boxes. A special form needs to be attached which lists everything in the box, so I've found it is easier to make the list as I pack the box rather than seal it up and try to remember everything that's in there.

If you are in a hurry and just want to make a donation, that's doable. If you want to send a package and do not have the time to assemble one, they have started a service called Treat Any Soldier where, for a donation, they package and send for you.

Whether they're in Afghanistan or Iraq or some other far-flung place in the world, they need to be remembered. Whether you agree with the reasons they are there or not, they still need to be remembered.

Don't wait for Christmas.

Gas Prices and Behavior Modification

I was checking out Digg.com and found an interesting article on Mark Cuban and why he is such a great blogger.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/technology/personaltech/20basics.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=eta1&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1213640039-Ex95gb2f18ouDcpc6ix1SQ

I don't know how I did it, so I apologize if I am not giving proper credit, but from there, I somehow ended up at a link to Tigerhawk's blog which discussed gas prices and behavior modification. http://tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2008/07/gasoline-prices-and-behavior.html

Great stuff there. I am thinking that the whole gas price/behavior thing is all about opportunity cost. (Yes, I actually did learn something in Microeconomics!)

Everybody who knows me knows I bought a bike, and (at this late date in life) learned to ride it, in an effort to save gas. When I first started biking, it took me an hour to go the 6 miles to work. As I have gotten stronger and accustomed to the trip, it now takes me 35 minutes, which is only 15 minutes longer than my drive. Add it up, and we get extra time consumed by biking of 2.5 hours per week.

Is that worth it to me? Yes! Not only am I saving a bit on gas, but I am also saving wear and tear on my 10-year-old car. I am getting a bit of 'quiet time', and the exercise is good for my health.

Additionally, my son and I bike everywhere we can. We will carry our empty backpacks to the grocery store, purchase only what we can carry, and bike home. We bike to his martial arts classes, his baseball games, his friends' homes for play-dates, his after-school program. Granted, biking with a 7-year-old takes even more time. Is that worth it to me? Absolutely! While we're biking, we're talking. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

The opportunity cost in the extra time spent biking compared to the money saved by biking is, to me, a worthy trade. I plan to keep biking as late into the season as I can. This being Western New York, my biking season may end in August, but we'll see! :D

Calvin and Hobbes

I love the Calvin & Hobbes comic strips. Mike and Jeff really hit the nail on the head when they started calling my son, 'Calvin'. This particular strip brought to mind something Ian did when he was about 4.

I came into the living room after he had been particularly quiet and asked how his jello ended up on the floor. My only child looked at me straight in the eye and without hesitation said, "My brother did it."

Bill Watterson was a genius.

Happy Fourth!

A beautiful day for a picnic

Stormy Skies

Biking

I found out something really cool about biking. You know all those exercise experts that say find something you enjoy and you'll stick with it?

They're right!

(For those of you just checking in, it's 12 miles round trip.)

When I don't bike, either because of lousy weather or some errand/appointment after work, I actually miss it! I guess the body really does crave exercise when you get into it!

Conversation Stopper

Mommy, I really wished I was a girl today.

Huh?

Yeah. They got to see Kungfu Panda.

(Apparently the daycare center takes the girls and boys different places on different days. Today was the girls' day to see a movie.)

JT said...
NNoooooooooooooo.......Calvin.... to ...Carla? This will not do. :)

Michael said...
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!

Serena said...
LOL! Yeah! My thoughts exactly!

JT said...
He is such a character. Tell him I said "Hi Mr.Pumpkinhead No.1". :)

Serena said...
And Calvin says, "Right back atcha!"

What is he Thinking?

Mommy, Can you help me make a cannon?

Um, not today, honey.


And my internal thoughts: Good heavens. What does he want one for? Does he even know what he is asking?

Michael said...
See. I told you.

You: "Geez, Calvin's awfully quiet.

"Me: "Yeah. He's upstairs making a nuclear weapon."

Serena said...
Oh, jeez...I completely forgot about that! Sometimes I really hate it when you're right! :D

Growing Like a Weed

My landlord hired someone to replace the trim around the landscaping, fill in the stones, make it pretty again... Well, they never showed. Here is a picture of Ian standing in front of one of the weeds. I hope my landlord didn't pay them in advance!

Surviving the Storm

In our yard:

Hail Storm!

The Pillaging Continues...

I filled up my tank this morning...

How long can this possibly go on? How high can it possibly get? When will it get so out of control that I will no longer be able to afford to drive my car? That last one really worries me...it's not too far off!

Update, June 17, 2008:

I drove by the gas station this morning...in just 48 hours, it went up to 4.299 a gallon. Glad I filled my tank when I did.

Catching up...

Scroll down, if you'd like - New posts back to 5/24/08!

Fall down, go boom.

Well, I finally did it. Wiped right out on the bike. I'm not sure what happened, but all of a sudden I completely lost my balance and went flying. Not something I'd like to get more practice at. The chain came off, so I had to figure that out before I could get back on and continue.

I am pleased to report that nothing is broken. I've got some bruises. My left shoulder took the brunt of it the fall. I came down hard on it and then tried to roll, successfully(!), and ended up upright on my knees. All these months of watching Ian fall in Aikido may have paid off!

Flag Day

Ian had a Flag Day assembly at his school today, so he needed his hair appropriately spiked:

Here he is, front and center, singing "Fifty Nifty States":

He had been practicing the song so much, I practically know it! :D

This is Me You're Talking To - Trisha Yearwood

I hate it when a song comes on the radio, and it takes me by surprise, and makes me cry.

Tech Support

So, here it is, 6:30 a.m., and my Dad, technology lover, calls me.

I'm having a problem with this stupid computer.

Oh, dear. What's up?

I turn it on and I get this message that says the monitor is going to sleep, and then it shuts itself off.

Hmmm. Is everything plugged in?

Yes! [Insulted!] I haven't touched anything!

No, no, I mean, is everything tight? Did you check the cables and the plugs and make sure everything is plugged in snugly?

Hmpf. Wait a minute. [Sounds of shuffling] Okay, yes, everything is snug.

Okay. Let's try turning on the computer again.

There it goes again. [Extreme Frustration.] It says it's going to sleep, and then it shuts itself off.

Um, did you turn on the computer?

Yes!

Wait a minute. Dad, when you say you are turning on the computer, are you turning on the monitor or the tower?

The monitor! When you turn off the monitor, the computer turns off. [Like, Duh!]

Um, I don't think it works that way. Do you have any lights on your tower?

Lights on the tower? No.

Did you try turning on the power button on the tower?

Power button on the tower? Oh! ... ... Son of a gun, look at that. ... ... There it is. It's coming up.

Poor guy. I wish all my tech questions were this easy!

JT said...
Yeah... Usually it's more like... the big red botton labeled "ABORT!" and then you are trying to dig out... :)

News Flash

Just got an email, breaking news, from the Chicago Tribune:

"Obama declares himself nominee"

I want to declare myself Queen. So,

I am the Queen.

Of Kenmore.

Or wherever I happen to be.

Hey. If it works for Obama, it should work for me!

Politics just makes me laugh. Hysterically.

Cancel Your Credit Cards Before You Die

I received this 'joke' via email. Since dealing with Verizon, I can definitely see this happening.

Be sure and cancel your credit cards before you die.

This is so priceless, and so, so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is today.

A lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00 when she died, but now somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to Citibank. Here is the exchange :

Family Member: 'I am calling to tell you she died back in January.'

Citibank: 'The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.'

Family Member: 'Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.'

Citibank: 'Since it is two months past due, it already has been.'

Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?'

Citibank: 'Either report her account to frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!'

Family Member: 'Do you think God will be mad at her?'

Citibank: 'Excuse me?'

Family Member: 'Did you just get what I was telling you - the part about her being dead?'

Citibank: 'Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor.'

Supervisor gets on the phone:

Family Member: 'I'm calling to tell you, she died back in January with a $0 balance.'

Citibank: 'The account was never closed and late fees and charges still apply.'

Family Member: 'You mean you want to collect from her estate?'

Citibank: (Stammer) 'Are you her lawyer?'

Family Member: 'No, I'm her great nephew.' (Lawyer info was given)

Citibank: 'Could you fax us a certificate of death?'

Family Member: 'Sure.' (Fax number was given )

After they get the fax :

Citibank: 'Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do to help.'

Family Member: 'Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her. She won't care'

Citibank: 'Well, the late fees and charges do still apply.' (What is wrong with these people?!?)

Family Member: 'Would you like her new billing address?'

Citibank: 'That might help.'

Family Member: '___, Highway 129, Plot Number 69.'

Citibank: 'Sir, that's a cemetery!'

Family Member: 'And what do you do with dead people on your planet???'

I can see it happening...with strong accents involved, of course. Customer Service isn't generally handled by anyone in this country anymore.

Dental health

When my mom was in her late twenties, her dentist recommended that she have all of her teeth removed except for 8 teeth in the lower front. She had this done because her teeth were abscessed and generally unhealthy, with many cavities, extreme sensitivity and pain. I remember her saying it was the best thing she could have done. She couldn't chew her food with her own teeth, and she felt so much better with her plastics.

When my dad was 40, his dentist recommended the same. His teeth were abscessed also, and very unhealthy. I asked him recently about it, and he also said it was the best thing he could have done. His teeth were falling apart, as did his father's, and there was no saving them.

I am missing ten teeth - four extractions for braces, four wisdom teeth extractions, and two extractions because of abscesses when I had no money for root canals. I have five more root canals, and two additional teeth in my mouth that are abscessed as we speak - root canals waiting to happen - which means at this very moment in time, seven of the teeth currently in my mouth are dead or dying.

Yesterday, I made an emergency trip to the dentist because one of my crowns came loose. Ah, if only it was that easy. It turned out it wasn't the crown - it was the entire top of the tooth, crown, post and all. My tooth disintegrated under the crown. She repaired it the best she could, and said unfortunately, the next step is extraction. There is nothing more that can be done to save it. $1800 down the drain.

I have begun to question why I do not just have the remaining teeth I have pulled, seven of which are dead anyway, be rid of the constant cavities (which even form in the dead teeth), extreme sensitivity, and pain. I would leave enough of my teeth intact on the bottom to anchor a partial, and get a nice pretty set of plastics for the uppers.

My dad said he got tired of throwing good money after bad, and I know what he means. I have sunk thousands of dollars into saving my teeth, and they fall apart anyway.

Of course, I have no dental insurance, so all of this repair comes straight out of the grocery money.

I just don't know what to do...

Calvin Strikes Again

Mommy! I know how to get a bird as a pet!

You do?

Yes! First, you have to buy me a lasso.

Um, not today, honey.

JT said...

Polly want a cracker... LMAO

Serena said...

Me, too! He scares me, sometimes.

Waving to Unko Myko

It was a cold, dreary day in Western New York when I decided my brother and I could liven things up a little by screwing with Calvin's head. :D

He was very excited to be 'chatting' with Unko Myko, so excited, in fact, that he forgot to put his jammie bottoms on. I opened a separate chat session and told my brother, hey, if you want to get a rise out of Calvin, ask him where his jammie bottoms are. Mike was off and running. "WHERE ARE YOUR JAMMIES?"

Poor Calvin was shocked to the core. "How does he Know?" So we told him. Unko Myko has a magic sattelite that keeps an eye on him.

Hook, line and sinker. And it doesn't end there!

Jeff was home last weekend, and he told Ian that Unko Myko had his sattelite on to make sure everything was okay and to keep an eye on things. And here he is, waving to Unko Myko. Who is in Seattle. With a magic sattelite.

Oh, the stories I'll have to tell his future girlfriends...