Crazy-ass summer already shaping up

With playing competitive softball and the traveling it requires, my summer can be relatively hectic. There is a bit of unpredictability with the softball tournament schedule as we qualify for events or miss qualifying. If we miss qualifying, then we might have to schedule another tournament to give us another chance. If we do qualify, then other weekends might free up. So almost the whole summer is up for grabs, which can cause some speed bumps in a relationship without a doubt. It's something I'm aware of, but have tried to manage over the years. Most of the guys on the team are either married or have girlfriends (and many have kids!), so clearly it's not an impossible task. It isn't easy though. The craziness starts next week, even though summer isn't even here yet!

Next week I'm heading to Detroit with Lovely Laura to see the Cubs play in Detroit for the first time since 1945. The game tickets have been bought (front row upper deck and second row by the Cubs dugout) and I just got the hotel tonight. For the first time ever, I used Priceline.com. It worked pretty well. Got a room at a hotel that on Hotels.com was going for $170 a night for only $75 a night. Pretty sweet.

Ten days or so ago, I sent a letter to legendary Detroit Tiger broadcaster and Hall of Famer, Ernie Harwell, to see if he would be free to go to one of the games or have dinner. He called me yesterday and agreed to have dinner with me!! He remembered our dinner from four years ago and was more than happy to get together again. He's such an incredibly nice guy....I'm really looking forward to it.

The Fourth of July is only a few weeks away, and that will involve another trip (also to Michigan). As in years past though, I will be able to hit Ribfest in Naperville and we'll be joined by Naperville Greg and Kleveland Kim. Should be a good time.

Then ESDNM comes to town after which I go to D.C. Those trips are followed by a trip to Albuquerque. Then August finally gets here. Wow. I'm going to be exhausted.