How are you passing the offseason abyss?

[wsnydes]

During a typical offseason, I'm usually one to almost completely disengage from the sport and focus on other sports/things through the winter and until Spring Training starts. 

This offseason hasn't been all that different for me in that regard, but I'm curious how others are filling in the hole that's been left by what is essentially a complete void of baseball chatter and activity.  Have you searched the depths of the internet to find any morsel of baseball info you can find?  Have you checked out and found other entertainment?  Somewhere in between?  Picked up a second language?  How have you filled the void?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Besides work being chaos… exercise. Taking my family hiking/snow shoeing in the state parks, going to the gym.

in the evening hours, I’ve been reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. So far I’ve enjoyed it as much as his other two books

[Squirrel]

Well, December is baking season for me, so, lots of that. Then 2 weeks in FL with my Mom … helped get her condo decorated, and then yesterday, undecorated. Played some cribbage and got a near-perfect 28 hand, played tennis, and played ‘dodge the unmasked’ while out running errands. Next month I have a big cross-stitch project I need to get finished for a wedding gift. And work is always challenging. Coming up is some home improvement projects. So, there are many ways to pass the time, but yeah, I do scour a bit to try and find baseball news and tidbits. It’s fun following players on IG.

[wsnydes]

36 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

Besides work being chaos… exercise. Taking my family hiking/snow shoeing in the state parks, going to the gym.

in the evening hours, I’ve been reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. So far I’ve enjoyed it as much as his other two books

Snow shoeing in the state parks is something I've been wanting to get into, but life keeps getting in the way.  I guess add that to the list of things where "there's always next year" is applicable.

[wsnydes]

31 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Well, December is baking season for me, so, lots of that. Then 2 weeks in FL with my Mom … helped get her condo decorated, and then yesterday, undecorated. Played some cribbage and got a near-perfect 28 hand, played tennis, and played ‘dodge the unmasked’ while out running errands. Next month I have a big cross-stitch project I need to get finished for a wedding gift. And work is always challenging. Coming up is some home improvement projects. So, there are many ways to pass the time, but yeah, I do scour a bit to try and find baseball news and tidbits. It’s fun following players on IG.

Sounds like your hands would have been full one way or another!

I've got a couple of home improvement projects that I'm working on as well.  The largest of them is just starting to get rolling a bit.  It's been interesting trying to stay out front of and anticipating inventory shortages.  I'm going to have a busy (and expensive) summer though.

[Squirrel]

35 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Sounds like your hands would have been full one way or another!

I've got a couple of home improvement projects that I'm working on as well.  The largest of them is just starting to get rolling a bit.  It's been interesting trying to stay out front of and anticipating inventory shortages.  I'm going to have a busy (and expensive) summer though.

I’m doing a gut/remodel of my master bath. And what I mean by ‘I’m doing’, I’ll be working with a design/construction team. We are in the very early design stages, so the actual work won’t happen for a while yet. I’ve also decided that I need to start replacing my 18+ yr old appliances. New frig and washer/dryer combo arriving tomorrow. Thankfully it’s cold enough outside that I can easily pack up what little is left in my frig/freezer and store outside for a few hours. And, I’m in the middle of a refi, but that is closer to done than not. Thankfully I was approved for an appraisal waiver, so that made that process go a bit quicker.

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, Squirrel said:

I’m doing a gut/remodel of my master bath. And what I mean by ‘I’m doing’, I’ll be working with a design/construction team. We are in the very early design stages, so the actual work won’t happen for a while yet. I’ve also decided that I need to start replacing my 18+ yr old appliances. New frig and washer/dryer combo arriving tomorrow. Thankfully it’s cold enough outside that I can easily pack up what little is left in my frig/freezer and store outside for a few hours. And, I’m in the middle of a refi, but that is closer to done than not. Thankfully I was approved for an appraisal waiver, so that made that process go a bit smoother.

I'm in the process of putting a wet bar in my rec room and moving a sitting area into a larger unused/wasted room.  We're just getting into the design stages as well, but I've been starting to buy things that I know have sporadic availability or long delivery dates already.  Appliances are next on the list since I see that several options are on backorder.  I'm also going to replace all of the windows and a couple of exterior doors as the weather warms.  Those are the two big ones.  I've got a couple of smaller outdoor projects on the docket as well.

I went through a refi about this time last year.  I also got an appraisal waiver, thankfully.  I figure that cut 6 weeks off the closing timeframe.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, wsnydes said:

Snow shoeing in the state parks is something I've been wanting to get into, but life keeps getting in the way.  I guess add that to the list of things where "there's always next year" is applicable.

Plenty of winter left!

[wsnydes]

7 minutes ago, Sconnie said:

Plenty of winter left!

While true, once again, life has gotten in the way.  Though this time, it's my own fault.  I can normally blame someone or something.

Do you have any "go to" parks that are good for snow shoeing?  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

27 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

While true, once again, life has gotten in the way.  Though this time, it's my own fault.  I can normally blame someone or something.

Do you have any "go to" parks that are good for snow shoeing?  

Willow River is my favorite year round, and a short drive for the folks in MSP.

[Unwinder]

I happened to have a baby around the time of the lockout, couldn't have planned it better.

[wsnydes]

6 minutes ago, Unwinder said:

I happened to have a baby around the time of the lockout, couldn't have planned it better.

No doubt.  Is that kind of like the inverse equivalent of the run on vasectomies around March Madness?! ?

And congratulations!  Hope everyone is doing well!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, Unwinder said:

I happened to have a baby around the time of the lockout, couldn't have planned it better.

Congratulations.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I have been writing a memoir, mainly for my children and grandchildren and for the men I served with in the Army.. My father wrote one for us and I've always appreciated that he did. He was a combat engineer in WWII  and lost his only brother, a P-51 Mustang pilot. I went into the Army in September 1967 and spent 16 months in Korea in 1968 & 1969. Dan Bolger, a retired Army General and a professor of Military History at NC State University has written a book entitled "Scenes From An Unfinished War: Low Intensity Conflict in Korea 1966-1969". You can pull the complete book up on Google. In 2003 The History Channel did a documentary called "Running the DMZ" I was interviewed in that documentary.  You should be able to find it on youtube, although it has been 19 years since I have seen it featured on The History Channel. .  I'm writing about my experiences in this little known conflict which killed 2 of my platoon members (Michael Rymarczuk from Philadelphia ( KIA July 30, 1968) and a KATUSA ( Korean Augmentation to the US Army -KIA August ? 1968), whose name I can't remember, even though we had shared a foxhole several weeks before his death) It was the summer of 1968 in the Korean DMZ. Vietnam was the big story and rightly so. But if we ask Michael's family, or the KATUSA's family, or the  families of Joseph Cayer and Mike Reynolds from New York (ambushed and both  killed in their jeep Sept 27, 1968 in my company area of the DMZ) or Earl Jeffrey from Texas, Cleveland Davis from Florida, a KATUSA named UM, I. S. .  or  Rease Weathers from Kentucky, all of whom were in my platoon ( 3rd platoon, Charlie Company, 3/23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division) and all of whom were wounded in the summer of 1968, they will all tell you that in the summer of 1968 the DMZ of Korea was a dangerous place to be.  In telling my story, I feel I will be telling their stories. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by tarheeltwinsfan
left a word out

[wsnydes]

12 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I have been writing a memoir, mainly for my children and grandchildren and for the men I served with in the Army.. My father wrote one for us and I've always appreciated that he did. He was a combat engineer in WWII  and lost his only brother, a P-51 Mustang pilot. I went into the Army in September 1967 and spent 16 months in Korea in 1968 & 1969. Dan Bolger, a retired Army General and a professor of Military History at NC State University has written a book entitled "Scenes From An Unfinished War: Low Intensity Conflict in Korea 1966-1969". You can pull the complete book up on Google. In 2003 The History Channel did a documentary called "Running the DMZ" I was interviewed in that documentary.  You should be able to find it on youtube, although it has been 19 years since I have seen it featured on The History Channel. .  I'm writing about my experiences in this little known conflict which killed 2 of platoon members (Michael Rymarczuk from Philadelphia ( KIA July 30, 1968) and a KATUSA ( Korean Augmentation to the US Army -KIA August ? 1968), whose name I can't remember, even though we had shared a foxhole several weeks before his death) It was the summer of 1968 in the Korean DMZ. Vietnam was the big story and rightly so. But if we ask Michael's family, or the KATUSA's family, or the  families of Joseph Cayer and Mike Reynolds from New York (ambushed and both  killed in their jeep Sept 27, 1968 in my company area of the DMZ) or Earl Jeffrey from Texas, Cleveland Davis from Florida, a KATUSA named UM, I. S. .  or  Rease Weathers from Kentucky, all of whom were in my platoon ( 3rd platoon, Charlie Company, 3/23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division) and all of whom were wounded in the summer of 1968, they will all tell you that in the summer of 1968 the DMZ of Korea was a dangerous place to be.  In telling my story, I feel I will be telling their stories. 

Fascinating.  I imagine that can be a rewarding and sometimes very painful process.  It sounds like you've got an interesting story to tell as well.  Thank you for your service and best of luck with the rest of your writing!

[terrydactyls]

I've been watching the Vikings sink into a pit of despair and wishing the NHL would get it's act together so the Wild don't have to wait two weeks between games.

[Dave The Dastardly]

I stand outside when it's 15 below zero and try to seal my nostrils shut by inhaling deep breaths through my nose. You know, so I won't have to smell the stink coming off the Vikings.

When I'm inside, snuggled up to the wood stove, a couple fingers of Jameson in hand, jar of peanuts on the coffee table (little known fact - you can set whiskey glasses on coffee tables if you use a coaster, or if the Little Woman isn't around) and I tune in the sports channels, dreading to hear what broken armed pitcher the Twins have unearthed out of the Elephant Graveyard for next season; if there is a season.

Of course this year is different, with baseball, not the Vikings, you know, because of the strike. So I've been looking for the picket lines. Be kinda cool to see that many millionaires strutting around outside baseball stadiums in patched jeans waving signs that say; "Need To Feed My Family" and "Billionaires Are Greedy". Saaay! Might be a good place to get some autographs for my great-grandson!

 

 

[snyder]

I have been wondering if I will be able to watch any games this year if they do play. I have Hulu for live TV and watched maybe 5 games last year. The whole Bally Sports TV contract debacle has left me quite annoyed for over a year.

[wsnydes]

16 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

I stand outside when it's 15 below zero and try to seal my nostrils shut by inhaling deep breaths through my nose. You know, so I won't have to smell the stink coming off the Vikings.

When I'm inside, snuggled up to the wood stove, a couple fingers of Jameson in hand, jar of peanuts on the coffee table (little known fact - you can set whiskey glasses on coffee tables if you use a coaster, or if the Little Woman isn't around) and I tune in the sports channels, dreading to hear what broken armed pitcher the Twins have unearthed out of the Elephant Graveyard for next season; if there is a season.

Of course this year is different, with baseball, not the Vikings, you know, because of the strike. So I've been looking for the picket lines. Be kinda cool to see that many millionaires strutting around outside baseball stadiums in patched jeans waving signs that say; "Need To Feed My Family" and "Billionaires Are Greedy". Saaay! Might be a good place to get some autographs for my great-grandson!

 

 

Coasters and putting one's drink down...BLASPHEMY!!!

[wsnydes]

18 minutes ago, snyder said:

I have been wondering if I will be able to watch any games this year if they do play. I have Hulu for live TV and watched maybe 5 games last year. The whole Bally Sports TV contract debacle has left me quite annoyed for over a year.

You and me both.  Though, not being able to watch may have been a blessing in disguise!  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I have been writing a memoir, mainly for my children and grandchildren and for the men I served with in the Army.. My father wrote one for us and I've always appreciated that he did. He was a combat engineer in WWII  and lost his only brother, a P-51 Mustang pilot. I went into the Army in September 1967 and spent 16 months in Korea in 1968 & 1969. Dan Bolger, a retired Army General and a professor of Military History at NC State University has written a book entitled "Scenes From An Unfinished War: Low Intensity Conflict in Korea 1966-1969". You can pull the complete book up on Google. In 2003 The History Channel did a documentary called "Running the DMZ" I was interviewed in that documentary.  You should be able to find it on youtube, although it has been 19 years since I have seen it featured on The History Channel. .  I'm writing about my experiences in this little known conflict which killed 2 of my platoon members (Michael Rymarczuk from Philadelphia ( KIA July 30, 1968) and a KATUSA ( Korean Augmentation to the US Army -KIA August ? 1968), whose name I can't remember, even though we had shared a foxhole several weeks before his death) It was the summer of 1968 in the Korean DMZ. Vietnam was the big story and rightly so. But if we ask Michael's family, or the KATUSA's family, or the  families of Joseph Cayer and Mike Reynolds from New York (ambushed and both  killed in their jeep Sept 27, 1968 in my company area of the DMZ) or Earl Jeffrey from Texas, Cleveland Davis from Florida, a KATUSA named UM, I. S. .  or  Rease Weathers from Kentucky, all of whom were in my platoon ( 3rd platoon, Charlie Company, 3/23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division) and all of whom were wounded in the summer of 1968, they will all tell you that in the summer of 1968 the DMZ of Korea was a dangerous place to be.  In telling my story, I feel I will be telling their stories. 

Thank you for your service!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

5 hours ago, Sconnie said:

Willow River is my favorite year round, and a short drive for the folks in MSP.

Willow River is very beautiful  Thanks for sharing these stunning pictures..

[Dave The Dastardly]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I have been writing a memoir, mainly for my children and grandchildren and for the men I served with in the Army.. My father wrote one for us and I've always appreciated that he did. He was a combat engineer in WWII  and lost his only brother, a P-51 Mustang pilot. I went into the Army in September 1967 and spent 16 months in Korea in 1968 & 1969. Dan Bolger, a retired Army General and a professor of Military History at NC State University has written a book entitled "Scenes From An Unfinished War: Low Intensity Conflict in Korea 1966-1969". You can pull the complete book up on Google. In 2003 The History Channel did a documentary called "Running the DMZ" I was interviewed in that documentary.  You should be able to find it on youtube, although it has been 19 years since I have seen it featured on The History Channel. .  I'm writing about my experiences in this little known conflict which killed 2 of my platoon members (Michael Rymarczuk from Philadelphia ( KIA July 30, 1968) and a KATUSA ( Korean Augmentation to the US Army -KIA August ? 1968), whose name I can't remember, even though we had shared a foxhole several weeks before his death) It was the summer of 1968 in the Korean DMZ. Vietnam was the big story and rightly so. But if we ask Michael's family, or the KATUSA's family, or the  families of Joseph Cayer and Mike Reynolds from New York (ambushed and both  killed in their jeep Sept 27, 1968 in my company area of the DMZ) or Earl Jeffrey from Texas, Cleveland Davis from Florida, a KATUSA named UM, I. S. .  or  Rease Weathers from Kentucky, all of whom were in my platoon ( 3rd platoon, Charlie Company, 3/23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division) and all of whom were wounded in the summer of 1968, they will all tell you that in the summer of 1968 the DMZ of Korea was a dangerous place to be.  In telling my story, I feel I will be telling their stories. 

I applaud your effort. My own father was a WW II vet, 4th Armored, Patton's 3rd Army. Got wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, begged to be sent back to his unit when he got out of the hospital and got back in time to fight in Germany itself. I begged him for years to do exactly what you're doing, but he never would. But everyone now and then, in the middle of a conversation that had nothing to do with the war, he'd start telling war stories. Now my kids and grandkids are after me to write down what I recall from those stories. Wish to hell I would've recorded him, but that was before people walked around with recorders in their pocket. Back when I was still teaching history (about five careers ago) I required every one of my sophomore students to interview one of their older relatives, war vet or not, about something they witnessed, did, or experienced back in their younger days. The students complained mightily about it. But every Friday the entire class would sit and listen to the tapes (some made video tapes). Hardly a year goes by that I don't run into one of my former students, or one of their parents, who will come up and thank me for that assignment. Many of them still have the tapes and occasionally blow the dust off and  listen to them.

I guess it was one of the best assignments I ever made, and I made the assignment because I failed to do it myself. Sometimes failures turn out to be good things.

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

I applaud your effort. My own father was a WW II vet, 4th Armored, Patton's 3rd Army. Got wounded at the Battle of the Bulge, begged to be sent back to his unit when he got out of the hospital and got back in time to fight in Germany itself. I begged him for years to do exactly what you're doing, but he never would. But everyone now and then, in the middle of a conversation that had nothing to do with the war, he'd start telling war stories. Now my kids and grandkids are after me to write down what I recall from those stories. Wish to hell I would've recorded him, but that was before people walked around with recorders in their pocket. Back when I was still teaching history (about five careers ago) I required every one of my sophomore students to interview one of their older relatives, war vet or not, about something they witnessed, did, or experienced back in their younger days. The students complained mightily about it. But every Friday the entire class would sit and listen to the tapes (some made video tapes). Hardly a year goes by that I don't run into one of my former students, or one of their parents, who will come up and thank me for that assignment. Many of them still have the tapes and occasionally blow the dust off and  listen to them.

I guess it was one of the best assignments I ever made, and I made the assignment because I failed to do it myself. Sometimes failures turn out to be good things.

 

Thank you Dave for the encouragement. 

[GCTF]

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Is all my brain and body need.