The softball season came to an ignominious end on Tuesday. The other FCC team, as we were hoping, lost their first game of the day so they immediately turned around to play us. However, the metaphoric wheels came off. We were tied 1-1 after the first inning but then started dropping fly balls (it had been cloudy all day, and one of the outfielders didn’t bring sunglasses, so of course it cleared up completely as the game was starting) and they hit it harder and farther than they had all year. By the end of the 3rd inning we were trailing 24-1 and the game was ended. We only batted around once. They just destroyed us. 

Missy is back at school. We took her back to Muncie to move into the dorm on Thursday. I took the day off, and we drove both (loaded) vehicles down to Muncie just around lunchtime. Our old friend Mikey who lives in Columbus drove up to meet us for lunch (we went to Cammack Station) so we got to see and visit with him for the first time in years! The kids didn’t have any memory of seeing him last time, which was 2008, when they were 4 and 5. We had a good lunch catching up, then Beth and the kids hit Wal-Mart while we stayed and talked some more. When they were done, we all headed to the dorm and started unloading, and Mikey headed back to Columbus. Then we did the unloading and loading and unloading to get everything to the room and get it set up; I think by evening she was ready for us to get going. Beth didn’t even cry this time. Missy’s classes start Monday, I think this weekend is all just moving in stuff. 

On Friday a guy from TruGreen was in the back yard aerating the lawn (although I don’t think we have the back yard in the plan) and apparently ran over a nest of yellowjackets. I was at work but Beth texted me about it, and said that the guy was covered in stings. On his face, ear, shoulders, and several times on one arm. I guess the aerator came too close for them. He just left the equipment and ran, and someone else came and got it later. Beth asked if he needed to go to the ER or anything, and he just said no, it’s just part of the job.

Helped the Burson's move on Saturday. They are moving into a much larger place than their tiny condo. Bob was there helping as well, and he brought a clever and handy strap rig that two people use with harnesses and a wide strap that connects to each - which transfers load to your shoulders and allows 2 people to fairly easily carry heavy stuff. We used it to move dressers, a couch, antique hutch, a buffet... it worked so well and it was the first time he had ever used it. It was kind of amazing what we could lift easily with it.

I rented a pressure washer from Menard’s this weekend, and unlike last time, this time was a very disappointing experience. As with the last time, the first one I brought home simply did not work, and I had to return it right away since I was burning daylight. The second one I brought home did work, as well as it does, I guess. Maybe the last time, they were renting out more powerful units, but this one didn’t have the same kind of pressure as last time. It had barely enough pressure to take dirt off the concrete in the patio, and then not easily or quickly. I did clean the wastebaskets around the house and the cat litter boxes, which was really the driving force behind me renting the thing this time, but it was disappointing that I couldn’t clean the patio. 

Today was the kickoff for the new men’s ministry at church. It’s still in the planning and setup stages, I think, and we’re still figuring out exactly what it’s going to be. But there seems to be big interest in it, as evidenced by the fact that it was probably the #1 thing identified as lacking in the vision meeting a couple months ago. Anyway, it was at the Haughee’s farm, and was attended by at least a hundred men, I think. Probably more. There was a cookout first, grilled hot dogs and associated items, then we went to the clearing in the woods where the bonfire was and there was an introductory message about what this was and what we want to do with it. Then the kickoff activity, which was to divide into teams of 5-7, go back to the field, get a pallet, crowbar, and hammers, disassemble the pallet and reassemble it into a stretcher-like device, and use it to carry one of the team members from the field to the clearing. First one back wins. Well, not to brag but my team got the pallet turned into a stretcher in mere minutes and had our guy carried back before there was a second place team even attempting a lift. It was several minutes before second place showed up. Then, there was a worship service and a message, followed by some more fellowship time. Overall a good time and I’m hopeful for a good ministry. Only downside was there were sweat bees everywhere.