Life Without Baseball

I haven’t written much lately because, well, I’m the baseball WAG and there’s just not too much baseball going on at the moment. And maybe you don’t want to hear about my everyday life without the complications of America’s favorite pastime?

But, I’m going to take a chance and tell you about it anyway. But in a sort of abbreviated, good for people (like me) with non-existent attention spans way so it might not be too painful. My friend calls this the rose, thorn, bud game or perhaps the blossom, thorn, bud game. I don’t know. I’m old and married and my memory fails me regularly these days.

Anyway, the premise is to share something good, something bad and something that you are hoping for that day. I have made a unilateral decision to share two good things and two bad things and no things I hope for. I apologize to anyone who was waiting with bated breath to find out my daily hopes.

The bad things aka thorns
1. Daylight Savings Time: Who could possibly like this time? Perhaps, you do. But that is neither here nor there. Besides the extra hour of sleep one night (which I so appreciate) Daylight Savings Time is probably the worst invention ever. Some people say they like going to work in the daylight. To them I say, do you really need another reminder via the sun that the world is bright and beautiful and you are driving to a prison for the next eight hours of your life? I much preferred going to work in the dark—at least I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.

2. Traffic: After spending a significant amount of time in Los Angeles this year, I know I have nothing to complain about and yet traffic infuriates me every day. There is always someone to blame for why it takes me 15 minutes to drive one mile. Yesterday I threatened to write a letter to the people who control the traffic lights. I don’t even know who controls the traffic lights but you know what Nik said? You should do it. And that is why I love him.

The good things aka roses aka blossoms
1. Tampa: I’m not bragging or trying to bring you down if you live somewhere less paradise-like but OH MY GOSH! This city has been gorgeous for the past month. Absolutely perfectly beautiful every day. Highs and lows spanning the mid-60s to the low-80s. A breeze that you feel everywhere. I roll my windows down every time I get in the car and just inhale all that climatic perfection. The sun, the clouds, the water—it’s like a dream. And, even though I’ve given Tampa a hard time, I’m starting to realize what saying goodbye will mean.

2. My new shoes: For the first time since I didn’t know better, I wore tennis shoes with jeans last night. Why, you ask? Because my tennis shoes are so freaking cute that I can wear them with jeans! But really. I’m obsessed. I comment on how awesome they are at least once a day and they are my main motivation for running. It gives me a chance to wear them and show them to other people—those people being strangers who are walking their dogs/children through the apartment complex. No matter! They are the best. I will take a picture because apparently (according to Google Images) they only exist in my closet.

Maybe I’ll come up with a baseball post soon but, hey, don’t I deserve an offseason too?!

Down in the Unemployment Line

Yep, that’s where (figuratively, of course) Mr. Turley currently resides. The minor leaguers don’t get paid in the offseason, which means you either drain your bonus, live at home or get another job.

In this economy, it’s hard for anyone to get a job but try getting one when you’re a baseball player. I’m sure Nik’s situation isn’t unique. Wouldn’t you want to hire a 6-4, strapping young man with no resume and no work experience besides pitching in the minor leagues? Oh, and did I mention he can really only work until February because, well, Spring Training and all that.

I try to tell Nik that it’s not so hard to make a resume sound good even with only one entry. We could talk about how he’s a team player (classic) or punctual (threaten to fine him), resilient (some days you get hit pretty hard), strong (he can lift a lot of weights) and…and…he can throw a ball fast. Not impressing you yet future employer? Well, we’re about out of ways to translate baseball skills to real-world jobs so I suppose we’re also about out of luck.

Nik’s looked around and talked to people and gone to at least 20 places. Even when he drops the Y bomb—nothing. Apparently, it’s more important to these people to hire skilled, experienced, long-term workers than employ someone who could one day be the face of the Yankees. Boy, do they have their priorities very mixed-up.

It’s looking like the second job is a no go. What’s a WAG to do but embrace her Sugar Mamma status (and I do not mean like the ladies on that web site—disturbing) and wait for the Spring?