Your Chico's Bail Bonds JUCO Blog Post

"Would you like a pop? We've got pop back there..Could you grab me a Diet Pepsi? WHAT?!...No Pop? I don't like to drink water, it makes my throat dry out more..I know it isn't supposed to be that way, but..."

- Jim Davis, "The Radio Voice of JUCO", lamenting on the lack of beverage choices in the Press Box at Suplizio Field.

The amount of audio product placement accompanying the radio broadcasts of this year's Alpine Bank JUCO World Series is truly amazing and annoying. Jim Davis and his crew on KNZZ and KTMM are truly earning their Diet Pepsi with phrases like this:

"It's 3-0, Tuscaloosa Alabama ahead on the Coloramo Federal Credit Union scoreboard, and a new pitcher warming up for Iowa in The Cage at Gene Taylor's bullpen while the cleanup hitter is getting ready in the Whitewater Building Materials Who's on Deck. The Rockslide 7th Inning Stretch is coming up on the JUCO Radio Network".

Sheesh. Too Much.

When you get past this foolishness, JUCO is really a good time and quality family entertainment. Aside from some streakers a few years ago, there are not many problems at all. One thing that cracks me up is the complaints from several residents who live around the ballpark when they shoot off the Memorial Day fireworks after the last game is over on Monday night. It's one of the few things you can count on in my line of work, other than people who call when their power goes out.

One of the teams in the tournament this year has got me thinking of stuff and laughing to myself. Here's something they got me singing to myself today:

Are you ready, Grayson? All set to defend the title, Chipola?
Ready to take the field, Alvin?

Alvin.....Alvin......ALVIN!!

JUCO, JUCO time is here,
Baseball fun, but still no beer.
Take a bus to Colorado,
thanks to Sam Suplizio.....

That's all I have so far. If anyone wants to help me finish it, feel free.

In the meantime, if you live in the Grand Valley and own a police scanner or other receiver, you can get quite an earful of JUCO action without commercials. This from a post last year:

The signal from the press box at Suplizio Field is beamed to the KTMM studios near Sherwood Park in Grand Junction via a constant VHF radio feed on what is in FCC terminology called a Relay Press frequency.

This transmission is constant from the microphones in the press box, and can be particularly entertaining during commercial breaks, witness the quote at the top of this post, monitored before the beginning of the 7:00 PM game today.

If you have a standard programmable scanner receiver, or a multi-band receiver that pulls in VHF around the NOAA weather band, plug in 161.700 or tune to just below 162 MHz while the games are going on. The signal can be heard pretty well across the central Grand Valley. You just might make a great catch yourself.

Maybe I'll catch a game later this week. It will be a nice diversion from a very challenging and frustrating time at work, my son being away on a trip, and the Penguins having a very frustrating time in Detroit. With luck and prayer, things will work out as they are designed to.
That's all that anyone can really ask for.

Have a good week ahead.

Remembering Tammy

"Almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

—Steve Jobs

Tammy Martin fought a courageous battle with cancer, at the same time as Jan did.

Tammy was a friendly face at the Oncology clinic when I would bring Jan in for treatment. She was also there for chemo, in one of those recliners, with the added difference of a laptop computer. Tammy was unusually outgoing, ebullient, and so young to be going through what she had to endure. The laptop and the smile; these are two of the things I will remember about Tammy.

Tammy lost her battle with cancer on May 13. She left a husband, two children, and a very large extended family behind.

Evan was fortunate enough to meet a lot of Tammy's relatives at her memorial service today. He is friends with Tammy's niece Stephanie. I had to work, but it was very nice listening to Evan talk about all of the interesting people he met today.

One other thing I will remember about Tammy is what she wrote in Jan's online guest book after Jan passed away:

"I didn't have the privilege of knowing Jan well. I look forward to that chance someday as we meet in Heaven, because I think she's someone I would love to have had in my life.

I pray that you will remain strong as you learn to live without Jan's physical presence. I rejoice that she is free at last from all her suffering, but that doesn't make her loss easier for the two of you. My prayers and tears are with you."

I didn't know Tammy as well as perhaps I could have. I hope that all that did know her, especially those closest to her, will keep her memory close as a loving guidepost for what the Lord has planned for all of us.

My deepest sympathy to Tammy's family.

Here Comes The Flood

This is the Colorado River east of Palisade, as it runs along Highway 6 and 24 from Cameo and the mouth of Debeque Canyon.

This is Plateau Creek, which runs down from Vega Reservoir through Collbran and along Highways 330 and 65 to the Colorado at Cameo. This is along Highway 65, about a mile south of the Colorado River.

It doesn't look as if it will take very much more moisture or snowmelt to bring these waterways out of their banks. To their credit, Mesa County and the various municipal and public safety entities that serve these areas appear to be closely monitoring these conditions, and by my own knowledge and the local media accounts, are as prepared as they can be.

With the local forecast showing a pretty good chance for rain and/or snow over the next few days, vigilance and flexibility are two of the keywords that define how life is going to be for those who live, work, or travel through these areas.

I've seen my share of flash flooding and what it can do, especially to vehicles and the people in them. You can see a good example and reminder here.

Be safe out there.