The Blame

Sorry for the delay in my posts.  We've had quite a lot going on around here.

First of all, my computer has been completely dominated by 2 males in this house.  They have been encumbered by the world of baseball and the Fantasy League they are competing in with Brooks' baseball team.  Evidently they had to build a roster, go through the draft, pick up extras from the free agent list, and just scan the stats over and over for what type of season they are going to have.  RBI's, K's, Disabled's - all have been studied.  This is mind boggling for me.  Just tell me who is winning and that will be enough for me.  Today we are not winning.

Second of all (and really first in importance) was the occurrence of illness.  Hubs' dad had a heart attack followed by quadruple bypass on Friday.  Hubs left Thursday night for Memphis.  He came home Saturday night after the surgery.  His dad is doing well.  They are going home this week.  This came as quite a shock and I am still trying to recover.  More on that later.

Thirdly, we were covered up in sports events this weekend.  Most were rained out, but you have to be available until the very last minute.  Dressed and ready.  Snacks and drinks in hand.  Extra uniforms (preferably lodged in ziploc bags to prevent corruption by moisture) in the car... in case the manager gets confused and advises you incorrectly.  ahem. ahem.  cough. cough.  'Scuse me, the allergies around here are very, very bad.

So now you know what is up with me - although hubs promises a challenge to excuse number 1.  Really, it is baseball's fault.  and I am lovin' every minute of it!

Opening Night

Tonight is Opening Night for the 2008 baseball season.  Coincidentally, this weekend was our Opening Weekend for Brooks' baseball season.  We played just one game amidst rain showers and were rained out for the rest of the weekend.  The whole weekend was a washout, so we are resorting to observing the 48th presidential first pitch in Washington D.C..

But I have to tell about the most exciting play I saw on Friday night.  I just don't ever want to lose the image in my mind.  Yes, it does involve my son, the 2nd baseman.  The pitcher (Richard) sent the ball across the plate and it was hit somewhere - I didn't see the direction.  Until I looked at Brooks and saw him sprawled to his left side, glove out on the ground.  and in the glove was one white baseball.  On top of that he was scrambling to get up.  He got to his knees, flipped the ball to the short stop (Riley) and made a double play.  The very first of his life.  It was a beauty - in this humble mom's opinion.  

When something amazing like that happens, I just want to yell, "that's my son!  His name is Brooks!  that's my son!"  as if anyone cares.  as if I gave him the lesson on how to see and catch a ball like that.  as if I had anything to do with it.  I didn't.  But I did birth him.  I got up with him every night for the first 4 years of his life.   I made his breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday.  and I drove him to the game.  but I really had nothing to do with the super catch and play.  it was all him.  

I was there to see it, to celebrate, and to tell him how proud I am of the one boy they call Brooksie on the 11U Thunder baseball team.

Yippee!

Bubble Gum

Finally!  A chance to discuss one of my favorite things!  Bubble Gum...

First a few fun facts:

*  "Bubble Gum (with sugar) is intended to be chewed for a longer amount of time than any other food.  If you throw it out too soon, the sugar can be detrimental to your teeth.  If you chew it longer than 10 minutes, your saliva will neutralize the oral cavity allowing the body's natural defenses to kick in".  Thank you Cadbury Schweppes for that tip.  Wish I'd read it about 30 years ago.  I'm sure it would have convinced my parents that gum with sugar is ok!

*Bubble gum was first developed in 1906 by Frank Fleer.  It was called Blibber-Blubber Gum but it was never marketed.  In 1928, an employee of Fleer perfected the recipe and called it Dubble Bubble.

and now to the ratings...

Bubble Yum - this is the first gum I recall being sold in chunks.  It was always a no no at our house.  Too much sugar.  The bubbles were great, though.  I was always drawn to it in the checkout line.  They developed a sugarless variety, but those bubbles are way below par.  You must need sugar to have a bubble blowing boom.

Overall score: 8

Hubba Bubba - sold as "the bubble with no trouble" because it isn't as sticky.  It was discontinued in the US in the 1990's but is once again on the market.  I haven't had any in 25 years.  My favorite used to be green apple.

Scoreless

Bubblicious - still on the market today.  Marketed as having the biggest bubbles.  It is not my favorite.  The portion size is too big for the mouth and the gum develops into a slimy mess within minutes.   

Scoreless

Gum Balls - Ohhh, I love me a good gumball.  Especially one purchased from a cool maze for $.25 at a restaurant - a mexican restaurant around here.  My favorite color is (and always has been) blue.  Last week in Snowshoe, while waiting for over an hour to eat, we found some that appeared to be tie-dyed.  I declared them to be my new favorite until my extremely intelligent and reasonable friend deduced that rather than tie-dyed, they were old and sun damaged.  Oh well, I'm sure they still tasted as good.  I hate yellow, white and green.  I will give them away.  But blue, pink, red, orange - back away from my gum!  The bubbles will be great for about 15 minutes and the tongue exhausted from blowing - so it is perfectly reasonable to be throwing this into the trash within 30 minutes.  Expect a jaw-ache.

Overall score:  7

Dubble Bubble - The flavor of this gum seems to have changed since I was young.  It is juicier - doesn't get as dry.  I still find this gum to be stiff and tasteless within 30 - 40 minutes  The bubbles might be good a time or two, but they fail to sustain the bulbous spheres that a true bubble-blower desires.  The gum tends to pop in a loud snap that could injure fragile lips, so indulge with caution.

Overall score: 5

Bazooka - There are 2 different choices for this gum.  One packaged like Bubble Yum - big, soft morsels to put in your mouth, or smaller rectangles that are firm and dusted with white powder.  The morsels are great in the beginning but quickly turn to slimy mush.  The other variety blows great bubbles, although the flavor will not win any awards.  If purchasing the rectangles (packaged like starburst), a squeeze will confirm the age of the gum.  Hard translates to stiff, tongue exercising, bubble bombs.  Oh, a packaging bonus for my mom.  Bazooka is wrapped in comics.

Overall score: 7

Super Bubble - I did it again!  Saved the best for last.  This is my all-time favorite pink bubble maker.  It also comes in green apple and grape.  Grape is horrible.  Tough, non-pliable, blech.  Green apple used to be my favorite.  It has a distinct smell that permeates every room you've ever walked into.  Green bubbles are good, but won't win a contest.  Pink is definitely tops - but I only buy it when it is squeezably soft.  It won't work like Charmin, but if it's soft enough to squeeze, you'll have enviable bubbles.  I find that it will last a few hours although all colors will be stiff toward the end of the experience.  

Overall score:10

and now I'll end with the lyrics to a song I heard in Hilton Head 28-ish years ago.  I don't know who wrote it, but it was sung by Greg Russell under the old oak tree in Harbour Town.

"Gimme gimme gimme some bubba bubba bubba gum"

"Baby, I want to blow your mind"

"Do it, chew it, do it, chew it"

"Do it, chew it, bubba bubba bubba gum"

"Baby, I want chew da be mi-ine."

That's all I remember - love the memories!  I could sing it for you to give you the real idea, but that would be far too scary!