Close Call

So had a discussion with Patty about the difficulties of being an umpire and trying to be in the right place at the right time. First picture is the ball coming to home plate, runner sliding in. Remember that he has to get to the bag before the glove of the catcher touches him with the ball. Judging by the position of all three in this instant, you make the call.

The second image tells you what the umpire saw, and shows you where he saw it from. I do not think he has the best angle view, but where else could he be to make the call? No wonder he has the toughest job in Baseball.

Wreaking Havoc

  Being a wind junky, I just can not imagine why people hate windy days. Watching the Texas Rangers play the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game last night and the trouble the teams had with pop up balls, I can see that they hate the wind the way I dread perfectly calm days.

  Just another example of to each his own.

Something New

Here is a true sign that I am spending way more time at home. I notice this long stalk emerging from the center of one of the aloe vera plants I have growing in a pot on my patio. I have been watching it for a few weeks thinking that it really resembled one of the beautiful century plant blooms I so often see in the desert. Yesterday I notice that the blooms were actually weeping a honey like nectar. I asked the green thumb folks that I now if they have ever seen an aloe vera plant bloom before, but it seems as unusual to them as myself.

Not that I am an expert or anything but I have had these plants in pots for more than 10 years and have never seen them do this. Turns out to be a really dramatic flower. It is the thing I learned today, these aloe vera blooms are yellow with a tinge of red and drip a really sweet nectar.

I'm writing that one down.

New Shape

Kind of neat to see what a few years of development in design and refinement can do especially with the modern materials that keep evolving. Since the sport of kiteboarding is still so young, a couple of years can be like going from the paleozoic to the cenozoic era (like a billion years of evolution or something) in one step. I have been riding a couple of kites that were designed in 2005, and the past couple of weeks I spent time on 2008 and 2009 models.

Wow, the equipment can make one hell of a difference. Don't get me wrong, the old C kites still work and I can still have a blast with them but the flatter shapes have so much more power and turn, fly and jump so much faster.

Rode a Naish Cult 9 meter in what I used to use a 12 meter C kite, never over powered, at times light but could generate plenty of speed anyway. It just created a way bigger window to work with. Technology can actually be fun to play with even for an old luddite like me.

Board Shorts

Ahhh! Temperatures are in the 80's, the wind is blowing a little. Perfect to get to the lake and do some kiteboarding. Guy, Justin, Mike and Jordan met at Benbrook Lake near Fort Worth, Texas for a session of big jumps, spins, flips and rolls.

Have to take advantage of the conditions before the summer doldrums show up and put an end to all the fun.

Working Legend

Growing up in Texas, the image and grandeur of the historical cowboy has always inspired me. I have met a number of them over the years and not always on ranches since it is an attitude as much as a character. I had the pleasure of taking some photographs of one of my favorites. Bob Moorhouse is the epitome of a real cowboy, having spent his working life at the Pitchfork ranch near Guthrie, Texas. He was the fabled ranch's manager as well as inspiration for an entire generation of cowboys.

He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame as a ranch manager. Raised his kids to have a free spirit and enjoy themselves always. He now has a comfortable retired life closer to those daughters, but still riding horses and doing a bit more fishing.

After a conversation with him you can understand why young boys want to grow up to be cowboys.