Just 6 weeks ago - on May 15

Matt Carpenter was hitting .145 and looked old. Not like 32 years old baseball player old but like a 55 years old softball player old.

He had 2 Homeruns and 4 doubles - He slugged (not average, slugging percentage) .224 in April FFS.

I thought he was done. He was one of my favorite Cardinals and the thought he was washed up, well that made me sad

Because "Cinderella story, this kid comes outta nowhere to become an all star, and win pennants" (Read that in a Carl the green keeper's voice)

But, if you looked at his stats this morning he is hitting .259, and slugging .511 with 22 double and 15 homeruns.

He was arc welding hot this last week - Look at this slash line

.478 AVG/.613OBP/1.000SLG/1.613OPS.

He went 5 of 5 with 2 homeruns, 3 RBI and 5 runs scored last night against the Indians - who started COREY freaking KLUBER.

Welcome back to all star status Marp. We are really glad to see you again

Some days are better some are worse.

Some days make me wish that the hurt is over.

I am a huge nerd. Science fiction was one of my 1st loves

And Octavia E. Butler was a giant in my eyes.

I seemed to gravitate to female writers - Octavia Butler, Ursula Le Guin, Emma Bull, Anne McCaffery, etcetera etcetera... I enjoyed all of their work, but Octavia E. Butler was in her own league in my opinion.

I was just a white trash coal country hillbilly when I discovered her and it was her short stories that slapped my mind and started to wake my thoughts.

She made me imagine my way forward into her created worlds and backward into her life to attempt to understand what led her to take a particular path or make a particular choice in telling her story.

But beyond, and more important than, the deep thought and introspection she triggered in me was her voice - Clean clever prose. Precise word choices, nimble phrasing and entrancing story telling all in one writer. Novels Novellas and short stories she excelled at all of them.

Todays Google doodle reminded me that today was her birthday (and thank you Rogue Emissary for the OP pointing it out) and it struck me that I hadn't even thought of her since she passed.

Looks like I need to take a stroll over to my local Library.

Here is an article that points out that she was clairvoyant as well.

https://www.newyorker.com/books/second-read/octavia-butlers-prescient-vision-of-a-zealot-elected-to-make-america-great-again

I like this. It is angry - Warning - Hip hop lyrical content may offend rational grown folks...

My wife bought me Blaster tickets for Father's Day

They crushed it. Really really really badass.

Phil is looking poorly, but his voice and harp sounded great. This song was a standout - Half way through my wife grabs my arm and yelled "Kaku ii" which is as close as Japanese get's to "Kick Ass"

Poor video quality, sorry. But I needed a pick me up

And Foggy Mountain Breakdown on electric banjo almost got one for me.

A few cuts from a band that should have made it but never did.

I legit saw this band in Elks Clubs VFW halls and High Schools when I was a kid.

Ladies and Gentlemen please put your hands together for The Iron City Houserockers

These guys played at my High school football field.

For a 4th of July picnic, whiskey and beer were available.

Few people can speak to my Hillbilly's love of Bluegrass

And my 70s era grass lovers respect for Hendrix like this song.

Goodbye Red

One of the all time great sportsmen, Hall of Fame player and manager Red Schoendienst has passed away at 95.

He was active with the Cards until very recently, participating in the opening day promenade, he even announced an inning of a game in late April.

He was an at large coach in the organization for decades.

He famously worked with minor league invitee second baseman Kolten Wong so much in 2011 that Kolten claims that he would never would have made the bigs without Red...


Said to say goodbye but Red lived worthy of everyone's respect and admiration.

http://www.kmov.com/story/38367165/cardinals-legend-red-schoendienst-dead-at-95