This Isn’t Summer Catch

MRSA, Hot Pockets and Sweet Tea

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Hostmom
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Yeah, there’s a title that will get your attention…we had a bit of an issue in the household on Monday when Laundry Guru was diagnosed at the emergency room with MRSA — you know, the highly contagious, drug resistant form of Staph? Fabulous. Two cans of lysol, a gallon of bleach and 12 hail marys later the house was declared safe for inhabitants once again by yours truly. And yes, it is getting better with lots of antibiotics and attention.

So the freezer is filled back up with the famous Hot Pockets we all know and love (or if you are like me you are making a face right now). Yummy! Not.

Someone asked me tonight for the sweet tea recipe again:

You can get Lipton quart or gallon size tea bags at the store although I am a traditionalist and use Red Diamond, famous in the South. Gives me an excuse to go down there alot….I’m not stupid…it’s warm there.

Take your container and put whatever size tea bag in and add lots of sugar —how much you ask? I don’t measure, I just make sure it covers the entire bottom of the container (quart or gallon) at least 1/2 inch to an inch.

Pour boiling water over the tea bag and sugar —fill the container up halfway. Let steep for 6 minutes.

Squeeze out and remove tea bag and then fill container up the rest of the way with cold water and ice. Refrigerate. Now you are living la vida loca Southern style.

Enjoy and don’t forget to use antibacterial soap. Please.

Check Your Fuel Gauge

Posted on June 20, 2009 by Hostmom
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Me: I’m making french toast

Them: Great. We’re gonna run out of gas.

Me: What?

Them: Yeah, came home from field last night after 11 pm no gas stations open. We’re gonna run out of gas.

Me: Eat your french toast

Them: If we run out of gas, can we call you?

Me: (still in jammies) Sure. Call me. I’ll call Mike — he’s already out working. He’ll get gas to you.

Them: Cool. We parked on a grade to make the gas stay all in one part of the tank. Hope we make it.

Me: Uh, great idea. Yeah. Hope you make it.

Them: We can call you right if we run into trouble right?

Me: Surrrrrrrre. You bet.

Ranch Dressing and Relish

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Hostmom
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Who knew condiments played such a large part of a ball players life? For those of you (un)fortunate enough to have teenagers, at least you could’ve warned me….

We have a ranch dressing fanatic this year. Which reminds me of Pete Wiggins (Gatemen ‘04) who not only was in love with ranch dressing (on pizza, on spaghetti, you name it) but put peanut butter in his cereal.

Rancho Shea loves it on everything….far as I can see.

So yesterday, there was a half a jar of relish in the fridge….today I come home from work and it’s empty. Yes, they were home for lunch, but seriously, how much relish do two guys need? Or want?

Settling into a routine

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Hostmom
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With pre-season behind us and opening game tonight against Chatham (at FogBank Stadium in Chatham) things are settling in at our house. Had a scary moment yesterday when with two extra minutes in my schedule I decided to open both bedroom doors to see how bad it was already —- slowly I turned, step by step….well you know the rest and lo and behold! Both beds were made. I did my best Fred Sanford heart clutch impersonation closed the doors and checked to see if Rod Serling was in the hallway. Wow. Beds made. What next? Toilet seats down? No such luck.

The New Season is Here…aaaaah new fodder for the blog!

Posted on June 4, 2009 by Hostmom
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Hey Gatemen fans…pre season begins this Sunday at Spillane Field at 1pm. Yup another rolicking season of baseball and hijinks at the Parola house. New this year, professional wiffle ball field supplies and equipment for rainout games. A request has been entered for a dart board. Sounds vaguely dangerous, which is why I said yes! The pool is up and running and warm and I bought extra Tupperware jugs for sweet tea. Ready!

So, who is staying with us? Returning as Equipment Manager, Laundry Guru and helping with Youth Clinics is Bama Boy Jake Long of Fulton MS. We visited Jake this Spring at Bama and took in the Bama-LSU series. If you ever get that way, walk around the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. History buffs, brick building lovers and Civil War buffs will be in heaven….

Also joining the fray is Shea Vucinich, Idaho born and bred and attending Washington State University, where his major is the very popular Undecided. Much like life. Shea is a shortsop and absorbed an aweful lot of water in our pool last year as I think he was in it almost every day. He played for the Gatemen last year and stayed with the very popular and fun Gleason family.

Saying Goodbye…

Posted on August 6, 2008 by Hostmom
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Yup, this is the annual ‘boy am I bummed the boys of summer are leaving but I can’t wait to fumigate the house’ post….

Someone commented to me that I didn’t sound as sad as last year about the end of the season…and they may be right, but not because I like the players I have this year any less…at the end of last season, I was saying goodbye to 10 players I had known for two years –we had so many returning players last year it was like a family reunion. So saying good bye after two years is really permanent —you know you aren’t going to see them in a Gatemen uniform and the next time you probably will see them is drafted and in Podunk, Iowa in single A ball with some mascot dressed like an ear of corn.

Saying goodbye this year is very temporary —I am sure I will see some of the Freshmen we had return after they finish their Sophomore year — and that is a very positive thing to look forward to. Overall, this was a great group of guys —friendly, outgoing, bonded well — just not winning a lot of games — they never quit playing and always wanted to learn more about playing better.

I am looking forward to following the LSU Tigers and seeing Blake get drafted; I am hopeful that Jake will return as Laundry Boy or more in ‘09 and I always have Facebook to keep in touch with them all.

So I will go to tomorrow’s double header and take in my last Gatemen games, knowing that I will see some of these guys again (keeping fingers crossed) and hold the memories for the rest of the summer to sustain me through the long New England winter until spring and thoughts of a new season emerge like the first tulips and daffs.

Plus, I can always do a road trip!

Fishing, Swimming, Eating, Firepit/Smores, Fishing

Posted on August 5, 2008 by Hostmom
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That pretty much sums up yesterday…I always tell the players not to waste a minute while they are up here because time just flies by. The temptation to sleep the day away is always lurking, but with so few days off and with nothing to do when we have a rainout (hello? its raining!) I try to make suggestions — have you been to Onset Beach? How about Six Flags or even Water Wizz?

They have done the touristy things because most of them have had visits by parents or relatives of some sort…they’ve seen Plymouth, been to Fenway and some even venture waaaaaaay down Cape to the notorious P -Town. But most are scared to do that.

So yesterday was the last off day during the last week of a not too stellar season (hey, we won more than last year…ugh) and the day started bright and early with fishing on the pond out back, followed by maximum sun exposure and swimming, followed by a trip to Wal-Mart for more supplies (food!) followed by a massive eating experience (steak, mashed potatos, corn, lasagna) followed up with a couple of hours around the firepit making hugely gooey and calorie laden smores and then of course, more fishing (saltwater).

It was a good day. It has been a good summer.

Wiffle Ball!

Posted on July 25, 2008 by Hostmom
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Winning feels Good!

Posted on July 23, 2008 by Hostmom
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Oh yes it does….5 in a row. Yee Haw. Amazing how a few wins under your belt makes you stand a whole lot taller.

From the Breaking News Desk: Blake Dean not only got up REALLY early two days in a row, but more importantly one of those early mornings was to RSVP (with a bat) to an invitation only workout at Fenway Park. Hopefully they like his stuff and hopefully he showed them his stuff!!

From the Not So Breaking News Desk: Hot Pockets are back in stock. Yum Yum.

The Dark Knight

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Hostmom
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Yes, you guessed it. The midnight showing of the new Batman movie was attended by the majority of the local Batmen, aka the Wareham Gatemen.

They called me to get Flagship Cinema’s number (do I look like the yellow pages???) and then pulled the late shift for the the very long movie.

Laundry Boy Long went and did the laundry afterwards, so sleep is high on his priority list now.

MORE PROOF THAT THE COPS IN MARION ARE COMPLETELY BORED: They actually pull Jake over 30 feet from the Wareham line (in the husband’s truck) after following him for miles in Marion. Not speeding. Sidekick cop runs the plate while Cop Number 1 looks closely at Jake’s Mississippi license (where you from, boy?). Jake tries to head them off at the pass and explains, it’s my host dad’s truck, I do the laundry for the Gatetmen, yada, yada, yada.

Sidekick clears the plate — yep, it’s the Parola truck. Cop Number 1 tells Jake, “well, it’s a fishy story, but I guess since you have the laundry in the back of the truck, I guess it might be believable.” Hello??? Is there anyone in there??? Oh yeah, Marion’s finest at work saving the women and children from the ax murderer laundry boy.

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