Rise and Shine --- Is this October?

Good Morning and welcome to the day before the start of the World Series!

Anybody who stepped outside yesterday got the feeling there was something strange in the world. OK, not strange, but the odd feeling was there.
You could see it in the cars as they drove past and in the people as they were walking around.
Even though we've seen it last few years, it still feels a little strange to be able to head outside without the jacket in late October.
Listen, I'm not complaining. I'll take this weather the rest of the year, but I know that's not going to happen. The chill will come back. The jackets will be pulled down off the hook and the heat will have to be turned up.
Still, we can enjoy it while it lasts.
Which, actually, is something Phillies fans should think about. I've heard more 'fans' over the last few days talking about how bad the season was or how disappointed they were in not making the World Series.
I just have to shake my head. For those with short memories, the Phillies weren't always a team with World Series hopes. Even like six years ago, we would have been happy with a .500 record.
So, at least we are in a pretty good stretch where there is something fun to see during the summer.
Don't think so? Talk to Pirate fans.

Rise and Shine --- Late nights, early mornings

Good Morning and welcome back to the only place where you can find this!

So, the Phillies season ended Saturday night with a called third-strike. You can't win them all, although you would like to see your big slugger at least take the bat off his shoulder for the final pitch.
Sitting there watching Saturday's game with my 11-year old son, I got the feeling we were back in the day. You know that day, the one where the Phillies disappointed every year.
Somehow, the way was flowing, I just had a feeling of dread. I bet a penny on a double play and, boom, Carlos Ruiz lined into one.
I bet a penny on a strikeout to end the game and there was Ryan Howard watching the season end.
Oh Well, maybe next year.
One thing the Phillies did, though, was force a change in the way we covered the playoffs.
There were live blogs for every game and, when the Phillies went on the road, so did we (sort of).
We took our camera out to meet some of the people who were watching the games. What we found out is, in the words of Christine O'Donnell, they were us. Or, better said, we were a part of them.
Now, we'll see how it works for the Eagles.

Rise and Shine --- Politics, blech

Good Morning and welcome to a real October day!

I don't know about you, but I'm already getting sick of this election and we still have a month to go.
It probably would be more interesting if Christine O'Donnell was a witch. Then at least there would be some spark. Instead, we have the same boring candidates running for the same jobs at the same time.
The political ads that appear on TV are dirty politics. It's like they sit around a room and say, "OK, a month left, lets start throwing tomatoes at our opponent."
There are two we are most concerned about here.
The first, is the U.S. Senate seat being fought over by U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (Democrat) and Pat Toomey (Republican?).
The battle lines have been drawn on this one for awhile. Do you want believe Sestak can make a difference, or do you want to relive the past the Bush era?
Hey, by the way, Toomey thinks so much of the battle he can't even make it to our office to meet the editorial board. Editor Phil Heron said this morning, "They told us we could get him by phone."
The other race, of course, is for Sestak's former seat in the U.S. House, the 7th District battle between Republican Pat Meehan and Democtrat Bryan Lentz.
Both are nice guys. Both have strong backgrounds. Both seem to have good ideas.
Just one thing, the next one (or a the next representative of one of them) who knocks on my door loses my vote.
There's a race for you.

Rise and Shine --- Rain, snow, oh no!

Good Morning and welcome to a wet, wild Tuesday!

Maybe it's just me, but when a violent thunderstorm hits in October, I'm thinking there may be something wrong with our weather patterns. Meanwhile, a major hail, wind, rain storm (there was even a mention of wet snow) is supposed to hit us Thursday. Sounds like I should have spent more time outside yesterday.
Then again, it probably would have meant cutting the lawn, so maybe inside was better.
Speaking of inside, one thing I hope to never have to do again is watch both the Phillies and Eagles games at the same time (it was for a live blog on the website). It made me feel like I had ADT or something.
I wanted to watch the Phillies clinch, but didn't want to deprive the readers (by the way, thanks you two) of their Eagles update.
So, I went back and forth and back and forth. Fun, it was not. For some reason, it seemed like both games went to commercial at the same time, all the time. I saw Chase Utley's home run, but missed LeSean McCoy's touchdown. (Still saw enough of the Eagles/49ers to say they both stink as does the whole NFL).
So, at least for now, it looks like that double won't hit for the rest of the playoffs.
Then again, I'm sure they'll find something else for me to do.
In case you missed it, here it is again:

Rise and Shine --- Moments

Good Morning and welcome back to the Internet!

You know, every once in a while, you have those moments in life you wish you could just relive over and over again.
Wednesday's are pretty busy times. It's get back from school, get the homework done, eat a quick dinner, get to dance class, check the homework, fix the homework, get to bed.
Throw in a Phillies playoff game (and working while the game was going on), well, it adds to the level.
So, last night, we started the routine. By 5 p.m., it was obvious everything was going to be a rush. So, the radio went on with the game, the computer was loaded (although way too slow) and homework was being done.
There we sat at the table, two doing homework, one wondering why the damn thing wouldn't load.
Anyway, flash ahead to the ninth inning. With the Middle Schooler finishing up his work (and finding it more fascinating what everybody was saying on our live blog), we were listening to the ninth inning.
"Remember this! There's only been one no-hitter during the playoffs in baseball history."
"Really, only one?" said the 11-year old.
So, we sat there and listened to the outs, when the final out was recorded I pushed the computer away and high-fived my partner at the table.
Sure, it was only a moment, but it felt pretty neat.

Rise and Shine --- October

Good Morning and welcome to the cold, rain and clouds!

So, when October hit Friday, I started thinking about the upcoming winter, how much the heat is going to cost and if the Phillies can make it back to the World Series.
Saturday, though, I was bombarded with other thoughts.
"Daddy, it's the first day of Halloween," said a 5-year old I know.
Well, OK, it's getting closer, but we have a whole month to go.
"Can we go on a hayride?"
Sure, but let's wait until maybe next week.
"But I love hayrides."
Yeah, they are fun, but you just went on one, let's figure something else to do.
"Hayride, hayride, hayride!"
Hey, wait, there's an art festival we can check out. You can make your own Halloween costume.
"OK, but then we can go on a hayride?"
We'll see.
"That means No!"
No, that means we'll see how the day goes on. Let's get started and we'll figure it out.
"OK."
So, I was able to push off the hayride for at least week, but it's not going to last.
Sunday morning, the question came again: "Daddy, it's a nice day, can we go on a hayride."
Having to work Sunday (thanks to the Eagles) made it impossible to do Sunday, but I know the requests will come all week.
I also know Saturday night I'll be picking hay out of my shoes.