The Worst Franchise in Major League Baseball

Ah yes, the Washington Nationals are the WORST franchise in baseball....

Little Leaguers Pay MLBers Fine

Center fielder Elijah Dukes was fined $500 after arriving late to Nationals Park on Saturday because he was attending a Little League function. The league will pay the fine. ... "The next day we're reading the paper, and we're hearing he was [fined and] benched," said Leslie McClain, mother of 11-year-old Luke. "We were just really horrified by that, so our first thought was we want to raise the money in the community to pay that fine. We just think it's appalling." And so began the story of what is surely the most unusual fundraiser in the history of the Great Falls Little League. It started with a flurry of e-mails between incredulous parents and league organizers, and will end later this week when Mraz delivers exactly $501--the extra $1 covering any "administrative expenses," he said -- to the Nationals for the purpose of paying off Dukes's fine. Every dollar they get above that mark will be donated to a Southeast D.C. Little League in Dukes's name. ... Dukes was paid $500 for the appearance, according to Mraz, and his primary duties were to sign autographs, pose for photos and stand at home plate slapping five with the 500 or so Little Leaguers who paraded past. "He did all 500 of those with a smile," Mraz said. "He didn't cheat anybody."-- Washington Post

Grant's Lessons: Part 1

Grant is definitely Marybeth's dog. When she first met him, he jumped directly into her lap. What a way to win Mom over! Grant is a combination Shih-Tzu/Cockapoo so he is larger than the normal Shih-Tzu. Shih-Tzus were bred to be royal dogs in East Asia. That aloof air completely fits Grant. You combine that air with being severely abused early in his puppyhood, you get a pretty lethal combination. But under that air and that experience, there is another side to him.

Grant totally and completely wants to be loved, cuddled and told he is good. He will never admit that to you but you can see it on his face when you praise him or rub his belly. Grant will even come up and cuddle next to you...as long as he thinks you aren't looking!

I think we humans put on air about ourselves saying that I don't need to be cared for, I am independent and only need ME! We are, in many senses, just like Grant. Hidden inside of us is a desire to be loved, cared for, and yes praised for the things we do well.

It is our job to find that part of people, no matter how hidden, and give them a taste of what they are truly longing for. I think it is in everyone!

I am going to do this with the people I encounter today and I will go home tonight and rub Grant's belly for a few extra minutes to bring out that side of him. Thanks Grant for helping me see people for who they truly are...

Maizy's Lessons Part 1

Maizy, who is latest addition to the family, is a combination Schnauzer/Beagle...we think! She loves to talk with her paws and sit in Dad's lap. Being a beagle, her nose rules her world! When we are outside for a walk she is constantly smelling the ground or anything else that her nose finds. At times I have to pull on her to make sure she is following her brother and I.

One would think that being taken off of her scent would cause her to be unhappy at her "master". But Maizy doesn't miss a beat. Her next movement is to go smell something else. She doesn't pay any mind to the fact that the scent behind her is now gone, she just moves on. She will find something else interesting at the next drop of her nose!

We humans have a tendency to get lost in things we have smelled before and when they no longer exists, we miss them and want them back. What Maizy can teach us is that even if something is taken away from us by our "master" (be that fate, God or anything else), it means there is something else for us to focus on. Most of the time, the new is better than the old anyway. Even if it is not, it is just time to move on.

So let's put our noses down and find the next thing.....thanks Maizy!

The Year of Learning From My Dogs

I received a great email today from a friend saying this is what you would learn if your dog was your teacher. Below is what I would be learning from Grant and Maizy...

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

So for the rest of 2009, I will have blogs up about what my dogs are teaching me this week. I have much to learn and thankfully I have great teachers! As Dr. Drew Pinsky said recently, if you want to protect your kids from the influence of Hollywood, tell them to act like their dog!

I look forward to what my 2 teachers have for me......Maizy is pawing at me while I type, must be time for my first lesson. I don't want to be late!