Shawn Wright's posterous http://shawnwright.posterous.com Most recent posts at Shawn Wright's posterous posterous.com Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:38:40 -0700 Season in review http://shawnwright.posterous.com/season-in-review http://shawnwright.posterous.com/season-in-review The oldest daughter's softball team finished their spring season last week, with tonight being trophy night. They went 8-2 in their division to take second place, shy of of first by only a game. Their overall record was 12-4-1, with the 2 additional losses going to upper division teams, and the tie going to an older team (14U vs our 12U team). Not a bad season looking back, and probably the most diverse for the daughter, who played 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and C during the season (mostly 1B and SS). The most frustrating aspect had to be our narrow loss to a division team we had beaten handily earlier in the season. Had our offense hadn't slumped that game, we would have tied for first at least, and possibly would have done better depending on the tiebreaker rules.

So all of that was the good news. The bad news is we're aging out of our division, so we'll have to play 14U next Spring. It's always tough moving up, and will be particularly tough this time around because all of our girls will still be in middle school, but we'll be playing teams with girls in high school. Fortunately our recent 14U exhibition game, which resulted in a tie (9-9), boosted our confidence a little. But we can't get overly excited because they were a first year 14U team like we'll be soon.

This Fall we'll only be playing a few tournaments. Hopefully the daughter's grades will stay up so we can get into a conditioning routine and resume hitting and pitching lessons to be ready for those 14U teams in the Spring.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sun, 17 May 2009 19:26:49 -0700 Mother's Day in Philly http://shawnwright.posterous.com/mothers-day-in-philly http://shawnwright.posterous.com/mothers-day-in-philly I made a surprise visit to Philadelphia over Mother's Day weekend. When I got in Friday night, I caught the premier of Star Trek with my best high school buddies. Then I spent the rest of the weekend with mom.

I took her to breakfast on Saturday before taking her to get a new cell phone, after which we headed to the Phillies game. She is the reason I love the Phillies like I do, but she hadn't been to the new ballpark yet, a problem I resolved at long last. Too bad the Phils didn't notch a win for her.

On Sunday, I took mom to get some new eyeglasses and to do some clothes shopping before picking up sister at the bus station. Sis bussed down from NYC for the evening so that the three of us could have a nice dinner together, something we hadn't done since high school, so like eighteen years. I know, shameful, but at least I'm finally taking care of business.

I was back on a plane Monday morning, but I think the short trip was enough to hold mom over until the next visit. Well, okay, so I'm headed back to Philly next month with the kids for family vacation, but you know what I mean.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:40:39 -0700 The Contrasts of an Evening http://shawnwright.posterous.com/the-contrasts-of-an-evening http://shawnwright.posterous.com/the-contrasts-of-an-evening These two pictures were taken about 45 minutes apart. The oldest daughter had a choir performance at school, followed immediately by a softball game. Actually, the softball game started while we were at the choir show. The coach placed her at the bottom of the lineup, so, due to our hustle (including a creative changing effort in the back seat of a moving vehicle), she didn't miss an at-bat, though did miss a half-inning in the field. She had a great performance at the choir show and a very nice ballgame that included a base hit and a couple nice defensive plays, one involving a diving stop at short.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:35:40 -0700 Last Second Heroics http://shawnwright.posterous.com/last-second-heroics http://shawnwright.posterous.com/last-second-heroics

For the majority of the game, we led 4-1 over a superior team (higher class, better record), but a few key mistakes on our part allowed them to catch up and overtake us, 4-5. As the visiting team, and with just a few minutes left in the game, we began what was sure to be our last at bat if we didn't get any runs on the board.

My daughter was lead-off batter that inning, and she was facing a tough pitcher with a killer change-up. Even though I warned her to watch for the change-up, she bit for her second strike of her at-bat, making myself and the rest of the parents quite nervous. Fortunately, the pitcher threw a couple balls to walk my daughter, who then stole second on the walk, taking advantage of the other team's laxness during the walk. Suddenly, there was a little bit of life in our effort.

The next two batters struck out pretty quickly, putting the pressure back on our team, but my daughter managed to steal third on a passed ball during the last at-bat. Things seemed to look up as we were back to the top of the batting order and our number one batter is typically very productive. However, she was recently ill and the last couple games her timing has been off. As such, she was down two strikes in short order. I remember looking at the clock and seeing that there was only 37 seconds left.

My daughter isn't known for her running speed, so when another passed ball came along, and the coach order her to go, I half-covered my eyes as I didn't think she'd make it in. But it was the classic play-at-the-plate moment. Catcher gets the ball at the backstop, throws to the pitcher covering home plate, my daughter arriving at the plate at the same time as the ball with a perfect slide, and the cloud of dust. The dust cleared, and the call from the ump. Safe.

I looked up at the clock again and time had expired. Everybody, parents and children, were jumping up and down at the last second heroic moment. I ran over to the dugout to give my daughter a great big congratulatory hug (though I had to wait for the crowd to clear). What a moment for her. She was glowing (such moments don't come often for her).

Once things calmed down, play resume. Though time had expired, since my daughter had tied the game, we were able to continue playing. Ideally in this situation, our number one batter would continue the momentum, the top of our order would drive her in, maybe a few more would follow, and we'd hold the home team in the bottom of the inning to win the game. Unfortunately that's not quite how it went.

Our number one batter struck out, ending the inning. The home team loaded the bases with no outs. And things looked quite dire. But thanks to some awesome defensive plays by several girls on the team, including a tag-out at the plate, we actually held them. The game ended in a tie, but considering the caliber team we played, it was a win for us. And it felt good, as all the girls were happy.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:52:49 -0700 Twenty-six hours we'll never get back http://shawnwright.posterous.com/twenty-six-hours-well-never-get-back http://shawnwright.posterous.com/twenty-six-hours-well-never-get-back

Thursday morning I dropped the eldest daughter off at school and she was fine. Totally fine. The picture of health as far as I knew.

When she got home from school, she called me at work to say she had a headache and body aches. I had her take her own temperature while I was on the phone with her... 99.9. So, I had her take a tylenol and get in bed to rest. She had the flu back in February, and thus far it had seemed like a recurrence.

Friday morning the fever was up to 101.4. Given that it was Friday, I went ahead and called the doctor for advice, which was to take her in.

At the doctor's office a few tests were administered. Flu, negative. Strep, negative. Blood test were done but we didn't get results right away. At that point the daughter was complaining of pain everywhere, particularly in her abdomen, but she was not vomiting or anything like that. She did also get a couple antibiotic shots while at the doctor's office. But the doctor was concerned about her hydration and the nature of the infection, and decided to admit her to the hospital so she could be further tested and monitored.

I couldn't believe it. Twenty-four hours earlier she was at school and fine. The next day we we're on the way to the hospital. Ugh.

At the hospital they took a chest x-ray to make sure she didn't have pneumonia, which she didn't. They hydrated her by giving her a liter of IV fluids within two hours, keeping her on a slower pace of fluids and IV antibiotics for the rest of the stay.

We ended up being at the hospital for 26.5 hours, but left with as few answers as we arrived with. Miscellaneous infection of unknown origin. We have to visit the doctor today (a Sunday!) for another antibiotic shot. And tomorrow we have a follow-up appointment. The daughter hasn't had a fever since Friday and is feeling much better, but we sure didn't plan on such a big chunk of the weekend being taken up by a hospital visit.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:53:31 -0700 Easter Weekend Activities http://shawnwright.posterous.com/easter-weekend-activities http://shawnwright.posterous.com/easter-weekend-activities It was a VERY busy weekend. Here are some partially representative pics. Saturday morning we went to the zoo, and it was amazingly beautiful. Just about the most perfect kind of day for the zoo. Crystal clear. Mid-sixties. Gentle breeze. I miss it already.

We could only stay a few hours at the zoo, though, as we had an Easter Egg Hunt. I was almost a bad parent in that we nearly missed the Egg Hunt, but we did make it in time. Barely. Okay, it started already, but we got some eggs, alright? Gimmie a break. Besides, the oldest decided en route that she was too old for egg hunts. And the youngest was satisfied with her booty. So, mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned.

After the Easter Egg Hunt we had a gathering at a friend's for some good times and an Easter... turkey? Sure, why not. It was very tasty. So much so that the youngest devoured a turkey leg the size of her head. And yes, she did finish it.

While somewhat displeasing on this holiday weekend, we also had softball practice. Daughter #1 was happy to receive her team hoodie. Mostly because it got chilly. Did I mention she hit me in the head with a softball? By accident she says, but I'm not buying it. It happened WAY too soon after I criticized her technique.

After softball we went back to our friend's where the celebrations continued until about midnight. Oh, and all of that was just Saturday.

Sunday was pretty traditional. Mass in the morning. Family meal in the afternoon. Laundry in the evening. Topped off with some Marley and Me. The girls were dying to see that movie and we missed it in the theater. Pretty sad stuff, but does it top the Turner and Hooch of my youth? Tough to say. Probably it does in some ways. But Hooch didn't live a full life. I think maybe that gets more tears. Though I must say, Marley gets points for having scenes in Philadelphia.

That's it for me. I'm exhausted. Happy Easter. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:43:13 -0700 Windball http://shawnwright.posterous.com/windball http://shawnwright.posterous.com/windball

What softball practice in 30-50 MPH wind gusts (yes, this is the same wind that's kicking up all th Oklahoma wildfires today) is like. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:08:01 -0700 Aforementioned Piano Recital Video http://shawnwright.posterous.com/aforementioned-piano-recital-video http://shawnwright.posterous.com/aforementioned-piano-recital-video
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MVI_0962.wmv (11742 KB)

Darby performing Sonatina in C Major by Latour. Some mistakes, but she had a bad morning. Woke up late, didn't have time to practice before the show, etc. Pretty good all things considered.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:46:06 -0700 Piano Recital http://shawnwright.posterous.com/piano-recital http://shawnwright.posterous.com/piano-recital

Blurry and way too distant camera phone shot of daughter #1 at her school piano recital this morning. Similarly distant and blurry ideo forthcoming.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:50:51 -0700 Like father like daughter http://shawnwright.posterous.com/like-father-like-daughter http://shawnwright.posterous.com/like-father-like-daughter

I took one look at my little one as I dropped her off at school this morning and I could tell immediately that something was wrong.

What's the matter?  I asked...

Nothing. It's just morning. And Monday.

Ah ha. I KNEW there was something wrong. She's too much like me. What she said was exactly... EXACTLY how I was feeling right at that moment.

Wow.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:19:45 -0700 Heaven on game night http://shawnwright.posterous.com/heaven-on-game-night http://shawnwright.posterous.com/heaven-on-game-night

So what do you do when you're not at home and there are three games you want to see on TV at the same time? Well, the low tech and decidedly more appeasing solution, at least for tonight, was to hit the nearby kick-butt sports bar with LCD TVs at every booth, plus plenty of bigger TVs around. Thanks to the empty booth next to us, and the large TV above us... three games, no problem.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:23:52 -0700 No sn'ews is good sn'ews http://shawnwright.posterous.com/no-snews-is-good-snews http://shawnwright.posterous.com/no-snews-is-good-snews

Parts of Oklahoma got more than a foot of snow in yesterdays' blizzard. Metro OKC was promised anywhere from 1-6 inches depending on when and what channel you watched.

I prefer the actual outcome... a dusting on rooftops and lawns.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:01:05 -0700 Softball Mayhem Begins http://shawnwright.posterous.com/softball-mayhem-begins http://shawnwright.posterous.com/softball-mayhem-begins

We've been practicing for awhile now, but tonight was the first game,
and certain schedule mayhem awaits as the season progresses.
 
We got off to a great start. For forty-five of the seventy minutes we
were in the lead. But a series of "rookie mistakes" allowed the
opposing team to run-rule us in an inning, giving them the lead. Even
so, we pulled back to within one run with less than ten minutes to
play. And with five minutes to play, daughter number one was at bat
with the bases loaded. She did get a hit, but a play was made on the
force out at home, preventing the tying run from scoring. In the end
we lost by that one run, but all the issues we had can be fixed, so
there's not too much disappointment for a first game. We're supposed
to play in a tournament this weekend, which has a four-game minimum,
so we will be all softballed out in less than a week.
 
The weather was very uncooperative and unspringlike tonight. Somewhere
in the upper forties I believe with a 20+ mph wind. Though we were all
bundled up, it was still darned cold.
 
Also of note, we actually had batting practice for an hour before the
game. At that time, our ONLY pitcher (eek) was still at a track meet
over an hour away. So who was going to pitch in her stead? You guessed
it, daughter number one and her six weeks of pitching lessons. Boy did
that make her nervous, and boy was she relieved when our pitcher
arrived about five minutes before game time. We warmed up her pitching
arm between at-bats at practice, and it was promising but spotty,
though it would have been interesting to see how it would have gone
for her, nerves aside.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:11:21 -0700 New Glasses Redux http://shawnwright.posterous.com/new-glasses-redux http://shawnwright.posterous.com/new-glasses-redux

Daughter #2 is getting her fourth pair of glasses in two years today due to losing her last pair. She loves the fashionable frames as you can see, so I'm starting to wonder if actually lost her last pair or if she just "lost" them. Hmmm...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:28:47 -0700 Cute but Awkward http://shawnwright.posterous.com/cute-but-awkward http://shawnwright.posterous.com/cute-but-awkward

I enjoyed having the opportunity to see the girls try on their junior attendant dresses this evening, though I can't say it wasn't a little bit awkward considering the dresses are for their mom's (my ex-wife) upcoming wedding. Probably more humorous was either Shelby's propensity to hug the mannequins (annoyed that I didn't take a picture of that) or my embarrassment with being the only guy in the bridal shop.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:23:00 -0700 Cruz-in to Witch Mountain http://shawnwright.posterous.com/cruz-in-to-witch-mountain http://shawnwright.posterous.com/cruz-in-to-witch-mountain
The girls and I attended a private dinner/function which included a nice set by Edgar Cruz . Afterward I took them to see Race to Witch Mountain , which was pretty entertaining, and highly recommended for tween parents everywhere.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:47:41 -0800 Classic http://shawnwright.posterous.com/classic-52 http://shawnwright.posterous.com/classic-52

Got to see Team USA beat Team Canada in Toronto today... what a blast!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:16:24 -0800 Fat Tuesday Farewell http://shawnwright.posterous.com/fat-tuesday-farewell http://shawnwright.posterous.com/fat-tuesday-farewell

My daughter is giving up candy for lent, and this was how she said goodbye....

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:52:00 -0800 4-OMG-1k http://shawnwright.posterous.com/4-omg-1k http://shawnwright.posterous.com/4-omg-1k

I told myself I wouldn't. I promised even. But I couldn't resist. And I am weak.
 
Now, I'm also disgusted. Which I knew I would be. Sigh...
 
So I recently received my end-of-year statement for my 401k. I knew it would be bad. I knew it. So I decided not to look.
 
But I did it anyway. I did the stupid thing of actually looking at my 401k statement this morning. That was a mistake. Now it has me thinking. And very few good things come of me thinking.
 
The downturn in the graphic represents a 30% drop from its high point last year. I realize this is not atypical of those in my position, but it's no less easy to look at. The graphic is actually slightly misrepresentative. The baseline value is not 0, as I didn't start my 401k in 2004. They're just showing the last few years. I started it ten years ago in my mid-twenties (like a good boy) and have been contributing up to the company matching amount every year since, doing what all the financial analysts said I should. I don't regret it. Mostly. And particularly not if things turn around, allowing me to reap huge dollar-cost-averaging-returns due to my continual dumping of cash into the downward spiral.
 
It hurts to think about it. But in the less than two months of 2009 alone, I have lost another 6% of my nest egg (bringing the total to 36%), and that 6% by itself almost equals my total contributions to the fund for 2007 and 2008 combined. Meaning the last two years of investment have been wiped out. Fun times.
 
Also, that 36% reduction in value nearly represents the sum of all of my contributions over the course of ten years (thank goodness for matching funds, profit sharing, stock splits, and the company requirement [at one time] to purchase corporate stock with 50% of the corporate match). Were it not for the corporate stock in my funds (ironically, considering the
Enronian events of 2005), a great stabilizing force in my 401k, I might be nearly wiped-out today. This is not feeling any better to admit, in case you were wondering. But again, I realize this is not isolated to me, and that it is far worse for others. 20/20 hindsight might have had me shift 50-75% of my funds to bonds back in mid-2008 instead of only 10%. I treated my corporate shares as "bond-equivalent" which is why I only chose such a small amount. But I digress...
 
If I were a drinker, I'd wallow a bit in this via the bottle. But I am not, and so I shall blog-out-loud instead. I am, however, tipping my virtual glass in hopes that capitalism makes a comeback in the next decade or two, while I still have time to fathom an actual retirement.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:20:23 -0800 Tornado Damage http://shawnwright.posterous.com/tornado-damage http://shawnwright.posterous.com/tornado-damage

I didn't go looking for damage or anything so these aren't exciting or thorough, but on my weekly post-kid-viola-lesson trip to Chick-Fil-A, it was hard not to notice what had occured next door. Thank goodness the tornado missed the Chick-Fil-A, or it could have really screwed up my week.  :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/6917/shawn-112807.jpg http://posterous.com/people/hKT36Pfya Shawn Wright Shawn Shawn Wright