EMAIL to Jake and Jordan:
*****
Jordan and Jake, my wonderful boys,
Hope all is well and that you’re having a fantastic time.
We got some awesome pics of you guys yesterday. Jordan, you were partaking in blindfolded pottery-making, a dangerous sport for sure. Certainly, you must be aware that pottery is much easier if you take that blindfold off. Oh well, to each his own. Either way, we can’t wait to see how your creation turned out!
And Jake, we have some spectacular photos of you flying through the air. I imagine you were doing the long jump (thankfully without a blindfold), but the height and dramatic pose in which the camera caught you mid-air makes for truly awesome pics! Great work, men!
And hey if you think about it, try to get a picture together if you see a photographer around. We don’t have one of those for the second session.
As for Mom and me, well, I didn’t even clean last night. Essentially, I went to the gym while Mom made some fantastic lemon chicken, and then we watched Big Brother and then watched the Yankees game.
Speaking of the Yankees. They beat the Mets last night 9-5. And this game was sort of a launching point for the team, designating the beginning of a new era. As I mentioned, they brought up Gary Sanchez from AAA and he got off to a quick start, getting his first hit and his first run in the majors. My boy, Refsnyder went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI, and Luis Severino came into the game with 4 ⅓ innings of extended relief after Chad Green was taken out. And Severino was spectacular, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts. This morning, every analysis of his performance is demanding that he return to the starting rotation immediately. Even old timer, Teixeira, went 1 for 1 with 2 walks, 1 HBP, 3 runs and 3 RBIs with a Homerun. In fact, when he was HBP, he was certain it was done on purpose (and it was — Tex had just hit a HR off of Matz and it was clear from the video that he was aiming for Tex’s legs) so Tex threatened to charge the mound, clearing both benches. No punches were thrown, but it was pretty weird since I’d never seen a Yankees batter even threaten to do something like that. After that, Tex slid into 2nd like a monster, making the 2nd baseman jump for his life… but they still got the double play anyway. Also, when Tex was on 2nd after a later at-bat, the Mets reliever accused Tex of stealing the pitching signals and somehow conveying them to Castro. The announcers couldn’t figure out how he might be doing that, but it was very funny to watch it unfold. At one point, the Mets catcher approached the mound FOUR times before the next pitch was thrown, in an attempt to decide what they were going to throw without showing any signals. It was a circus that really started to irritate the Umps and the Yankees and also started to make the Mets look silly, because in the end, I don’t think Tex was doing anything at all. He just stood at 2nd base laughing at the paranoid kook on the mound 😀
And hey, this is important. Please try to write one more letter before we pick you up this weekend — that goes especially for you, Jake since we’ve already received 4 from Jordan this session. (Yeah, I know you missed part of the session, Jake. Just write a meaningful letter so I can laminate it!!!) And that’s it for now, my lovebuckets! See you soon. Xoxoxoxoxooxoxox!
Love, Your bestest (and only) Dad
*****
ROCHELLE’s EMAIL to Jake and Jordan:
*****
This email was sent to Jacob Ball by Mom on 08/03/2016.
Go Navy Jacob,
I figured out that the photos from the other night were from Color War breakout. How did your team do in the gaga ball tournament? I saw you were playing and Jordan was on the sidelines. It looks like you are having a lot of fun, hopefully the weather will cooperate for the rest of the week. Have you and Jordan ever been on the same team? I had lunch with Papa and Uncle Cary yesterday and then I walk all the way home; that’s 6.3 miles according to Google Maps. I had over 30,000 steps yesterday! I am thinking of going to see a movie today, just not sure which one. We are getting our washing machine installed today. It’s a good thing you guys are still in camp because I can’t do laundry until Friday. At this point, I’ll just bring all our laundry to PA. This coming weekend will be a big laundry weekend. I know that the talk of cleaning clothes is very exciting for you and I’m sure you want me to write more about it, but I will stop now. I’m stumped as to what to make for dinner tonight. Last night we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They were really good. I hope you have been eating well. I can’t wait to see you very soon. I love you more than the sun, the moon, the stars in the sky and everything. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Love, Mom
This email was sent to Jordan Ball by Mom on 08/03/2016.
Go Army Jordan,
I figured out that the photos from the other night were from Color War breakout. How did your team do in the gaga ball tournament? I saw Jacob playing and you were on the sidelines. It looks like you are having a lot of fun, hopefully the weather will cooperate for the rest of the week. Have you and Jacob ever been on the same team? I had lunch with Papa and Uncle Cary yesterday and then I walk all the way home; hat’s 6.3 miles according to Google Maps. I had over 30,000 steps yesterday! I am thinking of going to see a movie today, just not sure which one. We are getting our washing machine installed today. It’s a good thing you guys are still in camp because I can’t do laundry until Friday. At this point, I’ll just bring all our laundry to PA. This coming weekend will be a big laundry weekend. I know that the talk of cleaning clothes is very exciting for you and I’m sure you want me to write more about it, but I will stop now. I’m stumped as to what to make for dinner tonight. Last night we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They were really good. I hope you have been eating well. I can’t wait to see you very soon. I love you more than the sun, the moon, the stars in the sky and everything. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Love, Mom
*****