A 'lil HooHaa

Considering I have my normal name (softball29) and also have the admin name, I was thinking I might start a second blog.

Imagine that.

However, it would be a different type of blog. A photo blog. But, before I did that, I wanted to get some imput from those of you who actually read the blogs!

As many of you know, I’ve recently gotten into photography again.

Some background — I used to be big into photography. I got by pretty well, did several weddings and all sorts of things in regard to it. I had my own darkroom and everything of the sort. Good times.

When I went back to school I got out of it. Sure, I’d take photos here and there, but nothing major. I even did some photography for my current paper, but always had to have the film developed etc.

So I’ve gotten into digital. I first got a point-and-shoot digital several years ago. In January, I got a Canon Digital Rebel XT and have been getting back into photography a ton. To the point where I carry it with me and try and find good photos.

I’ve looked at a lot of other photags work lately and have been wanting to learn more. So, I am. I always thought photo blogs would be cool — but didn’t want to have to worry about scanning photos etc in.

I also don’t know if I could honestly keep with a second blog and do both.

So I need some opinions. Should I keep the two apart (regular, photo) — or should I merge them into one? Maybe have 3-5 days with photos and what I did to get them etc and then a couple days with my normal rants and raves?

Any opinions would be appreciated!

It’s been a while since I posted a blog, so I figured now was a good time with something on my mind.

I know most of us out there have student loans. They are wonderful things to have, so I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I do. I love knowing I’ll be paying the government back until I am 95 years old.

Education shouldn’t cost this much. And I hope none of you have the amount of loans I have. Dammit.

That said, I have a couple different loans. The ones through Sallie Mae — which are all consolidated and such, and a couple of private ones. So instead of one payment per month, I have a couple. Which blows. Anyhoo… the worst is, I have them on a gradual raise type deal. That way, while I’m making pennies, I don’t have to pay tons of cash.

One of the loans is about to jump from 67 per month to 169 per month. I planned on it though and have been expecting it. For April.

Instead, my new payment book comes and it says it starts in March. Even though I also have a coupon for March for my 67. No way am I giving them more than I have to. So I plan on calling them and forget. Over-and-over. What happens? I’m five days late paying, so I’m getting called left-and-right. Good times.

So I chat with the bank that oversees the loan. And I get into an argument over this and the dude just wants money. He sends me to customer service of the company that services my payment. The girl was nice and all, but was trying to tell me that my interest rate went up etc etc.

After finally haggling, I got it so I didn’t have to start early, but damn, what a bunch of shit. So friggin’ annoying to deal with these stupid people.

It’s scary to know I’ll be paying these things — at least some of them — for the next 20 years or so. I need a better paycheck, that’s for sure.

I recently watched a great documentary called “Devil’s Playground.”

If you get a chance to see it, I would highly encourage it. It’s about the Amish and rumspringa — that time in their lives when they get to go be English. Good times! It’s a pretty good look into the culture of the Amish and what they do and how they live.

There’s some good stories and shocking ones too.

The problem with documentaries, however, is you never seem to know what the hell happens to these people. Sure, you can search for hours online and find scraps here and there, but for the most part, you never know. And with these things — they drag you in and get you connected to these people, then that’s it. Which kind of stinks! I’d like to know what happened to them since the filming, being it was filmed a couple years ago.

I have several other documentaries on my Netflix list. These things are great to watch.

If you get a chance to see “Devil’s Playground,” I would highly suggest seeing it. Very well done.

***
This weekend is the NJCAA Division III Tournament in Delhi. Usually some great basketball, but some of the teams that are going to be there are shaky. The records are less than stellar and it makes me wonder what we’ll be seeing. Too many upsets happened along the way and that kind of stinks. This year’s national champion could be a team that isn’t one of the best. That’s why they play, I imagine.

However, that usually also signifies some crappy weather is going to hit the area. It never fails. Sure enough, I see some snow is in the forecast, although it looks a little better than originally shown. So maybe it won’t be too bad.

***
These hours of work are killing me. I need a vacation! I hate waking up late and going to bed early (in the morning). It’s tough on the old body to get into a regular routine. Argh.

At least spring sports are starting soon. So that makes thins a little less stressful at work, at least in my eyes.

And soon enough, baseball!

OK, enough for now. Time to get ready for work!

I’m hoping the snow we got last week was the last effort of winter showing its ugly head.

However, the weather seems to be changing for the better.

Now, given, it hasn’t been a heat wave up this way, but something is changing. It’s sunny most days now and the weather is slowly creeping up. Also, it’s staying light longer now and the doldrums of the winter are starting to fly out the window.

This is a good thing.

The weather around here is claiming it could be in the 50s and 60s this weekend. A week after dumping nine inches of snow on us!

I used to love the winter and the cold weather. I don’t so much anymore. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Or, maybe I just don’t like the long winters anymore. Because I do like it some. I just start to get annoyed a little earlier.

The visions of playing softball, covering baseball and softball and being able to wear shorts starts to dance in my head.

I do still look outside and see snow on the ground. But that sun really lifts your spirits. It’s amazing how well you react to a sunny day over all those cloudy days in the winter.

However, if I know the Northeast, it’ll try and hammer us one last time. Probably in late March or early April. Ugh. Maybe even May.

But, I’m keeping the hope alive. Hook me up with the warmer weather. I’m ready for it.

Some quick hits today.

First, I slept like a rock last night. Had myself three beers after working on about four hours sleep from the night before.

Saturday was tough with that lack of sleep.

Up at 7 a.m., got ready and headed to a state softball meeting. Which, of course, got a little boring with all the people chatting about nonsense. I had to be there even earlier, however, to meet with a committee I’m on. That wasn’t bad and we learned where the state tournament would be held this summer. It will be a blast, I’m sure.

I’m also the state’s player rep for modified-pitch softball now. At least for the tournament. Good times.

—
Of course, snow was around on the ride down. Only one spot was real bad, at the top of one mountain here. And of course when I got up there, a car was in the ditch. You could see what happened too. Fool came up over the knoll too fast, didn’t realize it’s a great spot for wind-spread snow and went sliding off.

Idiot.

—
After the meeting? Yeah, of course I had to cover a basketball game. Good game for a half, then the top-seeded team opened it up in the second half and ended up winning by 21.

—
Apparently the weather here is supposed to be in the 60s next weekend. Sweet. And sunny for at least the next three days, with some rain later in the week. I’ll take it.

—
My alma mater was the No. 1 seed in Regionals and the top-ranked team in the nation in NJCAA Division III. Not only that, they play host to nationals each year. AND they hadn’t lost to anyone IN the Region all year.

Yeah, that helps.

Knocked out in the first round of Regionals to the No. 9 seed. Good times. Unreal. They were an incredible team. But, I guess it proves what the postseason is all about. Be ready to play or your ass could go home. Still sucks though. That tournament is rocking when the host is in it.

—
My new laptop kicks ass. It’s faster than hell, the screen is sweet and it’s going to be sweet to get writing on. I am still adjusting to the keyboard.

—
Working on this book I have it tough. I need to start outlining myself better. Can’t just write off the cuff.

—
I wish it was summer, I was on vacation and in Montreal.

—
I actually wish I’d hit the freakin’ lottery.

—
Have a nice day!