Time to Check In

It's been a long, hot, sad, delightful, terrifying summer already, and we're only about half-way through. I'm still looking for a job. The recession may have been over for more than a year, but as we've all been hearing on the news, nobody's hiring. And those who are seem to think I'm a little old and over-educated/over-experienced for what they have to offer. Oh well, something has to turn up soon, no?
The extra time has afforded a great amount of time with my granddaughter and the Boston Red Sox. Kaly is a phenomenon. She's too young to have a developed sense of humor, and yet she is one of the funniest people I know. She has discovered Blues Clues on tv. Steve is the guy on the show who sees after Blue and moves the show along. "Steve" has become, in our house, what "Bruce" was to Monty Python. I'm Steve, Grandmommie is Steve, MommaMomma is Steve and Kaly is Steve. There was no discussion, no instruction, no explanation. It is simply the kind of absurd humor that we all love. Whether it's genetic or learned, Kaly's got it, and I'm thrilled. She's too young to be polite, and yet she is one of the most gracious and appreciative people I've ever met. Kaly doesn't miss an opportunity to thank basically anyone for basically anything. She knows how to ask for things and almost always does in a way that makes everyone eager to accommodate her. And she is too young to be this smart. The child has never forgotten anything that she has seen or heard. She can discuss the details of our trip to Gulf Shores from May; she can discuss the details of the play she saw at the Orpheum last November; she can discuss the details of our May, 2010, trip to the beach. It has been my absolute good fortune to have this summer with her.
The Red Sox have had a tremendous season, after a lousy start. April saw a 2-10 start, but ever since, they've been on fire. Trailing only the Phillies for best record in baseball, the Sox have crushed the MFYs all season. After last weekend's two out of three at Fenway, the Sox are 10-2 on the season with the Yankees. CC Sabathia may be the leading contender for AL MVP (or maybe not, Josh Beckett?), but he's 0-4 with a 7-plus ERA against the Sox. Title Number 3? A distinct possibility!
On other fronts, the Tea Baggers are totally out of control, but Obama has let them get that way. We are travelling a dangerous road letting these nuts hold the keys to the asylum. Even if she can't pronounce it, you have to marvel at Michele Bachmann's chutzpah in blaming Obama for the S&P downgrade of US credit. I blame him, too, but I wasn't one of the people twisting his arm on the debtceiling deal that led to the downgrade.
I haven't set foot in a church since Fathers' Day, and I have found this summer as peaceful, happy and content a time as I have had in my life in many years. I appreciate this great good fortune, and feel totally confirmed in my decision to get out of that mess. It was lethal, and I'm not ready to go. I am sorry that the function of the church moved my one friend in the conference to the other end of things, geographically, but maybe they'll be back down this was eventually. He has family concerns that makes it a good time to be closer to home, and that's a good thing.
Time to wrap up and, hopefully, watch Tim Wakefield wrap up career win #200. Go get 'em, Wake!