Greetings Citizens.

Well, we had a varsity scrimmage game today at Silverton High School. It was fun. We didn't work a game per se just a few series of plays. Afterwards they fed us sandwiches and watermelon. One of the players said to us, "Remember to call 'em in our favor." I answered back, "If you don't foul, we won't have to call anything." The coach was all over the guy telling him about not fouling. He snuck a wink at me. It's moments like that that makes officiating worth it. We had a new guy along with us. He pretty much stayed on the wings but I invited him into the middle to see what the Umpire position is like. Personally, I think it's the best seat in house. Sometimes you get bumped around or knocked on your ass. But you normally don't get hurt and you are right in the thick of things. The new guy had "happy feet" but he hung in there pretty good.

Tomorrow the youth league is having its jamboree. We all have to work three twenty-minute games. It's a good opportunity for the rookies to get their feet wet. There are usually two experienced officials and a newbie on each game. We rotate positions so the new guy gets a chance to see what the responsibilities are at each position. They usually panic when they have to be the Referee because that's the position with the most responsibilities. But the other refs cover him pretty good so that there isn't too much trouble he can get himself into.

Stacey mailed me some chop sticks from San Francisco today. They are Chinese-styled and pretty nice. I mailed her some photos the other day. She should get her present tomorrow. Stacey is a good dancer and she is in a musical production where she's playing a bad girl who kills her lover. It's a little out of character for her.