Monday, June 15, 2009

Sixth Annual Frank G. Edmonson Golf Tournament and Silent Auction

Come one, come all! The 6th Annual Frank G. Edmonson Golf Tournament Fundraiser will occur on July 26, 2009, 8:00 shotgun start.

New Location: Indian Tree Golf Course

Entrance Fee: $100

Includes greens fees, cart, range balls,

The tournament includes a BBQ and silent auction after the competition open to all. E-mail me at augie.maestas@gmail.com for the flyer and entry form for the Tournament.

The proceeds from the tournament benefit a scholarship in the MSCD Music Department.

Please contact me with any questions or if you would like to commit to playing. If you need a foursome, other fun golfers for you to play with can be found.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Thursday greatness

I know it is a joke, but work with me here and read it. You will not regret it.



A stranger was seated next to a little girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, 'Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.'

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, 'What would you like to talk about?'

'Oh, I don't know,' said the stranger. 'How about nuclear power?' and he smiles.

OK, ' she said. 'That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass - . Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?'

The stranger, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, 'Hmmm, I have no idea.'

To which the little girl replies, 'Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know shit?

Friday, October 31, 2008

One last baseball article

Now that the season is over and the Phillies won the World Series, we can say good bye to 2008 and look forward to the 2009 season which starts in April. I am not a big fan of Philly, and with the low ratings the World Series received, I am guessing not a lot of people are. I can understand that a lot of people are not big Rays fans as they are still a young team in comparison and do not have a strong following down in Tampa, but Philly has had a team for a long time. Congrats to both teams and way to ruin my season with a lackluster October.

With that said, one question to ponder: Why do people get so out of control after a team wins a championship? In Philly after the last out, fans celebrated in the streets and ended with people damn near rioting. Can anyone explain this for me? I have been excited for Broncos and Avalanche winning their respective titles, however, it doesn't make me want to go out and destroy another person's property. If you have an answer, please let me know.

On another note, I found something fantastic on the Internet this past 24 hours that will please you baseball fans out there. Dr. Ben Fry's Salary vs Performance sketch is a wonderful tool to really look at the relationship between a teams salary and their performance during the season. Here is his explanation of the piece:

"This sketch looks at all 30 Major League Baseball Teams and ranks them on the left according to their day-to-day standings. The lines connect each team to their 2008 salary, listed on the right.

Drag the date at the top to move through the season. The first few days of the season are omitted because the rankings to (at least) that point are statistically silly. You can also use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move forward or backward one day.

A steep blue line means that the team is doing well for its money, which reflects well on the team's General Manager. A steep red line implies that the team is throwing away money. The thickness of the line is proportional to the team's salary relative to the others."

Looking at this tool makes me realize that money doesn't make the team a winner, it is the management/coaching and dedication of the players that makes the team winners. A team can spend all the money they want, and still not make it to the playoffs (i.e. New York teams in 200 had the top 2 highest payrolls and neither team made it into the post-season).

Looking ahead, I will let everyone know when the Colorado Rockies put the Guys Night Out tickets and Opening Day tickets on sale.

Until next time!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Monday, Sept. 22 - First day of Fall

As I sit here trying to pull together some vendors so we can make sure out Pep Rally here at Metro State is going to still happen, I thought I would turn my mind to something useful and write a couple of thoughts down. You might want to read about them and you might have some thoughts on them. So here are some thoughts I have as of today:

- Colorado Rockies: After everything I said about them at the beginning of the season and how excited I was to watch them this year, it turned out for not. Not only are they not going to make the playoffs, but they have a very disappointing win-loss record. Besides the obvious, I did have a great time going to the games. Friends, family and baseball. Doesn't get much better then that. I have gone to over 20 games this year and enjoyed every single one. Teams from the Twins to the Indians. Dodgers, Padres, Giants and Diamondbacks. The Braves and Phillies. The Cardinals and the Reds. Last but not least, I went to a Nationals game. I have seen blow outs, both ways. Pitching duels, game winning hits and home runs. I have eaten cotton candy, Rockies Dogs, nachos, steak sandwiches, peanuts, seeds, etc. I have had lemonade, soda, water and of course beer. This year even included doing the Angels in the Outfield rally call and getting on the Jumbo Tron. I have yelled at Spilly and he heard what I was saying. I have sat in the sun and in the dark. I have sat in the heat and in the rain. The year wouldn't have been so great it all of this was by my self. My friends, my family and now my girlfriend (Noel) - they all made the season mean something to me even during a year that the bandwagon fans stopped showing up. Thank you all for making this a great season and I can't wait until next year.

- Work: Well, what can I say. I have a good job that pays well and lets me write on here well I am at work. I get to talk to Flick and others during the day thanks to G-Mail chat. I leave and walk around campus when I want. I have a lot of different things to do everyday well I am here. However, I am not happy with where I am. I don't know what it is, but I want something new. I have been applying for jobs since around March. No luck yet, but there also isn't a sense of urgency to make things happen. I try to come to work with a positive attitude, but by the time I leave I am annoyed and just want to go to sleep (which I have found out is my way of dealing with things that don't make me happy). I am still looking, however, as of right now I am trying to make the best out of what I have and knowing I can go home to Bailey and get to hang out with Noel makes it that much better.

- Babies: Lots of babies coming into this world this year. My brother and Mona are having their first (my brother's 5th) baby and she is due Nov. 27. It is supposed to be a boy, which I am very excited about. My first nephew (Matthew) is 13 now and even though he is a blast to hang out with, he is no longer a little guy. My other nephew (William) is a lot of fun too but he lives in Utah and we don't get to see him all the time. I love hearing stories about him and seeing all of his fun photos, but it isn't the same. I am excited for my new nephew whose nickname as of right now is Brisket. Lesley is having another girl (due Nov. 30th). Which is good for her as now she will have two little girls. Kristal had a baby boy not to long ago, which is her 3rd boy. What a life she will lead when they all start to play sports. The Robinson's have little Riley and she is as cute as a button. Natalie and Deuce are newly pregnant. Sarah and Mikey are apparently thinking about it, but we will see where that leads. Me...no thanks. Not now, or anytime soon. It is fun however getting to see all of the little ones, just not the right time for me.

- Fall (season): Kind of awesome, but yet not really. Awesome because the baseball playoffs are in the fall. Awesome because it is chili time (not much better then the smell of roasting chili). Awesome because of the changing of the colors - especially in Colorado - is so beautiful. Football is here - college and pro, hockey is around the corner. Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming - two of my favorite holidays! What is not really awesome about the fall: Snow is coming, which means the frigid air is coming too. Holloween = worst holiday ever. Another Summer is gone and I sit here thinking I didn't do much again (although I did make it to Mexico this time). With Fall brings Winter, which means my birthday is coming again and I will be 27. What?

- 27?: Wow, I just realized I am 26 1/2. Meaning 27 is around the corner. What have I done so far this year at 26. Well, still have a decent paying job. Moved back in with mom and dad (awesome move for a 26 year old, let me tell you how happy I am....NOT). I no longer have the interlock device in the car which is awesome. I have an awesome girlfriend in Noel. My Bailey turned one in July and she is so much fun to have around (wait, that is nothing I did, she did it). I received a promotion at work and am now the Manager of Marketing and Communications at Metro State. I vacationed in Mexico for a week. What else did I do? What else do I need to do before I turn 27? Looks like I need to go skiing/snow boarding with Mikey and Noel this winter, then I can say I did that before I turned 27. What else is there?

- Noel: Here is a great topic. We have now been together for more then 2 months. We are happy and love spending time together. Her family loves me. My family also loves her - at least who she has met. Even though it has been two months, we have also known each other since I was 7. We both have had some adventures in our lives, but seems like we are over those and ready for this relationship. We have talked about important stuff and this could be something I talk about more often like Flick does on his blog about his "womanpiece". Who knows, but as of right now, we are happy and looking forward to what the future brings us.

Well, I guess that is all I have for today. I will try and write more often for the two of you that do read this. Happy First Day of Fall and best of luck when the cold comes!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Power of Words

I received an e-mail this morning with a video from Cannes about the power of words. This video won the NFB Online Competition, Cannes 2008. The name of this video is "Historia de un Letrero (The Story of a Sign)" by Alonso Alvarez Barreda. The web site describes the film like this "With a stroke of the pen, a stranger transforms the afternoon for another man." I would describe this as, "when someone is in need, do not do the easy task, but imagine the bigger picture and how it can affect the turnout of the day."

There are days where you feel like everything is going wrong or not so well. Think of the situation through the eyes of another and see how you can turn the day around. There are also times when you see someone in need, do not do the simple task that that many of us do, but think of another way to help the person. These other tasks could be as simple as dropping some pocket change into a person's bucket, but will just take a little more time to envision and implement.

God gives us options, which we sometimes choose the wrong one. He gives us the choice of direction, and everyone has chosen at least one wrong route. I am one of these people who have gone the wrong direction at times, but it made me a stronger person. The choices I have made helped me grow into the person I am today. There have been people along the way that have helped me change my sign, and in turn, have helped me change my life. Those people have done more for me then they probably think they have. They are not all friends, although, my true friends have stood next to me through it all. They are not all family, even though my family has loved me no matter what. There is one person that isn’t even an acquaintance and I didn’t even know their name, but they took the time to change my sign and in turn change my life. Thank you to all who have stood next to me and who have loved me. You have all changed my life and helped me straighten things out.

It is weird how one short film can make a person think of all this, however, I am glad it happened today. Let me know what your thoughts are on this film and how it made you feel.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Colorado Rockies and 2008

So, at the beginning of the season, everyone was excited to buy Rockies tickets. Pumped up as for the first time in Colorado, we had a baseball team who were coming back to play a season known as the National League Champions. The first week of baseball was quite the show: Opening Day, presentation of the rings, presentation of the pennant, all the giveaways (shirts, hats, posters, etc.), all the people, etc. The atmosphere was amazing, however, no where close to last years playoffs, but what can you expect.

That said, unless you live under a rock or in a hole, you know exactly how the year is going. Either hear say from a conversation you over heard or one of those awkward quick conversations that happen at a bus stop, in line at the grocery store, in the elevator, etc. You might have read about it, in the news paper, Sports Illustrated, online somewhere. You might have heard about what has been happening on the radio or on television. Or, if you are like myself and all of my friends, you have a large grasp on what is going on and also questioning the decisions of the leadership in the Rockies organization. We have been losing...a lot! I wonder if they are having a problem with "jammed eyelids", lack of a "Live rooster because Jose's glove is cursed" or possibly, no one knows "what to buy Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present." I don't know what it is but it needs to change.

We were swept by the Phillies and out scored 33-10 in three games (with thew first game ending at 20-5). The Cubs just swept the four-game set and now hold the best record in the National League. Our starting pitching has not been the greatest, our relievers cannot hold onto a lead, and where are the bats. I don't understand what the problem is "This is a simple game: You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball." (Bull Durham). For a team who plays in Colorado and the "thin air" (which I will admit, I am the last person to say we have great hitters because of the "thin air" - mostly because in high school I only hit 7 home runs in this so called "thin air") it is hard to understand how the bats are so silent, especially at Coors Field.

We now have a lot of Triple-A players starting for us because of injuries, and I wasn't expecting to see a lot of these names until September when the roster expands for the playoff run. I think Hurdle needs to give a speech to these guys.

Now I am not saying that I don't think we can pull out of this. I am not saying I am going to stop believing and am no longer going to watch the games. What I want to know is, with everyone buying tickets at the beginning of the year and excited for Rockies-Mania, where did you all go? My group has 10 tickets for every Tuesday game throughout the season. We have not missed a game yet and I doubt anyone will. We were at Opening Day and the Sunday game after. We attended the Twins Saturday and Sunday games. Out of our group, there has not been an empty seat, however, every game we go to, we keep seeing more and more empty seats in the stadium. If you are not a Rockies fan, I understand you only buy tickets for your team when they come to town. If you are not a baseball fan, why did you buy tickets in the first place? If you bought tickets, why are you not going to the game? If you want to waste money, I will make a special bank account for you to deposit it into so my friends and I can use it to buy more tickets because we are true fans of the game.

The Rocky Mountain News has "Win, Lose or Drew" in the front of the Sports page everyday. And just the other day was the perfect explanation of the fans this season.



We all know that Colorado has the largest population of "Fair Weather Fans" that have no loyalty to the professional teams in Colorado. The Rockies have 4 months and over 100 games left to play. If you seriously think it is impossible for them to get back into this thing, then keep staying home.

However, I have a couple of quotes that fit in this situation right now:

For all the Rockies players out there, here is one from the Bad News Bears - "Listen, Lupus, you didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya? Now get your ass out there and do the best you can."

As for all of you fans of the game, you will enjoy this and I believe this to be true. Lou Brown from Major League - "Ya know, when I first got to camp I figured this team had no chance. I was just hopin' we'd win enough that I could stay on and really start to build something here. But there's a lotta talent on this club, Charlie. The veterans are starting to play back to form and the rookies are developing faster than I thought. There's two or three potential all-stars in there. I think we're a first division team right now."

So that said, lets support the team and see if we can turn this one around!