So Here's The Skinny...

Last February I had the chance to work a scrimmage as an umpire for the Oregon Ducks on their brand new field. I had done a few of their games before but this was the first on the new turf. We ended up doing a kind of hybrid form of a games. Either way it caused me to run my butt off. I was exhausted during and afterward. I could not believe that I was having that hard of a time doing one of my favorite things. Umpiring. Never had I noticed that running on the field could be tiresome. I am young and could go all day. Well I had been lying to myself. Apparently I was out of shape. I left that day telling myself I love this work to much to have a hard to physically doing it. Well so I started to run. First day (and most) was on the treadmill. .5 mile, .75, 1.0, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.5, 3.5, and 5 miles. Well for the guy who said he would never run because he hated it changed. And for the good I might add.

Around the time I started running the discussion of me going to Florida for Umpire school came about. So it motivated me. I will be among the older half of students in the camp. I cannot control my age. So I must control what I can control... my shape, weight, and eagerness. So this was my first step in becoming a professional umpire.

Why tell us this today? Well because of today I am under 200lbs. Been there for a while now. I was 217lb last fall and am 198lbs now. Cool huh. All this with eating different and running consistently. I don't starve myself, actually I eat alot. I just eat better. Alot more fruit, veggies and whole grains. If I can get it in whole grain I do. I get out and run around 2 miles 5-6 days a week. So far it has worked. I still eat out and enjoy those foods. So any ways. Under 200! Oh and the picture is from last August. I rarely come out from behind the camera so no recent pic for you.

First Profit

Granted I'm still WAY in the Red...I sold my first picture today. Hopefully this will be the first of many in the near future. I have some people waiting the the wing for some more. Hopefully with the new camera purchase I can get some nice new shots. Anyways the shot was a special print I did for a former athlete of mine. Not my favorite shot of the several I did but she liked it. Anyways enjoy.

Last Night

Last night, like the last few I was on my own. I discovered this new park close to home so I sought out to take some "Golden Hour" Shots. I'm by no means a great outdoor photog but I'm trying. I really need to just get out there and do it more. Looks like I will have some time on my hands so no excuse. Oh almost forgot. The tripod picture above is my tripod and my Gorrillapod. I need a new ball head for the tripod. This quick rigging worked decently. Below are just a few oh the shots from last night. Mostly just playing around. Enjoy.

Sunset

Weeds, I almost lost sight in my left eye on this one.
I need to not look in the viewfinder
when the sun is there too.

Hey Blue!

So if you really know me you know what I do. I umpire baseball. Have so for a while. I know I'm weird. I have no idea why I like it so. I'm the weirdo who watches baseball games for the umpires. Take me to a Traveler's or Em's game and it's just what I do. Things are changing in our lives soon so I thought I'd let you know bout it. So thought I'd give you a little back story on where I have been so will better understand where I am headed.

Like so many I played baseball growing up. But I can remember the day while watching my brother Chris play a game I told myself I could do that. So I found myself watching the umpires. Still do.

At 14 I started working the Tball, pitching machine and other games. Oddly I was quite good. Don't know way. I wanted to be good. Loved doing it.

By 18 I was getting ready for college. I was prepared to actually take over as the Umpire-in-Chief (supervisor) for the local Babe Ruth umpires. However Coach Stan Brown, my former Civics and History teach had other ideas. He suggested I start working high school games. Well from there I have been doing it since. There were games where I was doing high level varsity games at 18 while some of the players were the same age. I always thought that was cool.

While in high school that new fangled world wide web was catching on. I don't know how I learned of it but found out that there were actual umpire schools. One in Arizona and one in Florida. (but now both in FL). I was very intrigued with the idea of working professional baseball. Frankly I really wanted to. However found a girlfriend and went off to college instead.


That same year started to work some practice college games and did some non-conference games the next 4 years. Billie Jo and I married in 2005 and moved to Oregon. I had all intentions of working as an athletic trainer for good. To be honest I still would have jumped on any chance to go to Pro school if I could. But newly married and not stable enough.

So here I am now been doing High School games and some college for 9 years. Wow can't believe that! And Billie Jo and I are in a crossroads. I have finished school and worked for 4 years while she finished her PhD. I decided to leave my job at Willamette and move to Portland. She got a great job there. So What will I do you ask. Well I plan to follow the dream. I actually am going to go to professional umpire school. I had been saying for a few years that I was not that interested in going. I lied, mostly to myself. When BJ got the job and we were deciding on what I should do for the next year she said to me, well you could come with me and do something you always wanted to do. Like umpire school. Yep I practically was sold then and there. But it was tough to decide because I really liked my job. A lot.

Any who so I prayed about it and got a complete peace from God about it. I even got peace about which school to go to. Have friends who have went to both and gotten jobs from them. Each said theirs is better. One day I woke up and just knew. I decided to attend Jim Evan's Academy of Professional Umpiring. He was a MLB umpire for years and has a background in Education. One of the best umpires I know went there and became an instructor. I would love to understand baseball the way he does. So that's why I'm going there.

Well why do you want to go there? I love to learn about umpiring. It is hard to get better without working with those who are better. Granted I get to work with some talented guys here in Eugene, but this will really push me. I am hoping to turn this into a new career for me. More on that soon.

So what is this Pro School you speak of?
5 weeks (in Orlando), 6 days a week, 8am-6pm of classroom, batting cages, scenarios and fieldwork.
It is going to be tough. The yell and scream similar to bootcamp. The push you and make you better. The honor graduates (top 25) get recommended for PBUC (professional baseball umpires corp). At PBUC you have a try out in Cocoa Beach for a minor league job.

I have been working hard since February to get ready. I have dropped 17lbs, I eat better, and workout daily. I have been getting ready for it. A friend of mine who worked in the minor leagues told me to control what you can control. Simply control what you can so you have the best shot. I can control my fitness, so I am. Among many other little things.

Anyways I know this was long. But I wanted to share. I'm really pumped about going. It starts January 3rd. If you want to check it out go to the website www.umpireacademy.com Also I will be blogging or Tweetering it while I am gone. I take a look and follow me through my journey. Greatest thing is that Billie Jo is supporting me in this. Which means to me the world. She is the greatest. I'm a lucky man.

Don't Call It A Comeback...

In the words of LL Cool J.

"Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years"

Okay its been a while. I started moderating another blog for my high school baseball umpires' association and it filled up my blogging area of my head. I think that is in my hypothalamus. But I could be wrong.

Anyways I wanted to pick up where I left off. Since last time my girls team finished in first place. I was a fun ride. Heck I got to be a part of a state championship team 2 out of 3 years at my job. Fun stuff. They are a great bunch of young women.

So what's going on in my life. Well frankly a ton! Not really but you know its life. Frankly I got it pretty nice and cannot complain. I have a good job, two cool wiener dogs, great friends and a rocking wife (saved the best for last).

So what's new you ask. Well I just turned 27. I got to do it in style due to a great birthday week from my gal. With this new found youth to shall conquer all :)

Actually here is what I am currently involved with.
1. With Billie Jo taking the job in Portland next year, I decided to go along with her. Don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful job at Willamette High. I have requested a leave for one year. If we decide to come back down I-5 to Eugene I will have my old job back.
2. With me going to Portland it has opened up some doors for me. Not only will I give officiating baseball more time, I will try some other sports like football. I hope to possibly sub as an AT and maybe explore some ways I can make some money off my photography.
3. Photography. I new love and my newest way to go bankrupt. Man I like it. A lot. Yet it is darn expensive. I would love to purchase a few new lenses (glass) and a nice flash. Yet I've saved up enough to get some software and am nearly there with the glass. So if you like you can make the checks payable to Ricky Rodriguez. :)
4. Photoshop. Yep I finally got it. Thanks to a student discount for Billie Jo I now have unlimited possibilities with the worlds most complicated software. Anyways I'm happy to have CS4 and am ready to dig in. That doesn't mean Lightroom is gone. No, no they go hand in hand. I even was gifted by my wife a cool Bamboo tablet for my photo editing.
5. Praxis. I have to take it to get my new teaching license. Blah. So during the day I take a break to study. It's not that bad. Just not that interesting.
6. Umpire. Well this year has been busy. Not that I do a lot of games. I maybe get 1-2 on a weekend. I now train the new guys and sit on our board. Its fun but can be tiresome at times. I starting finally doing college games in Oregon. I did some in Arkansas and was on the fast track to doing them a lot back home. Here I took a back seat to it and finally decided to do it this year. So far so good. Hopefully next year I get more games and can move up.
7. Umpire part Deux. Okay here is my new thing. So in January of 2010 I plan on attending professional umpire school in Flordia. I am not sure which yet but I am sure I will be going. So I need to really want to get myself mentally and physically prepared for that. On this subject I will put a seperate post.

Anyways thats it. That is what is up. Hopefully not too long. I hope to get back on soon and do some more. Enjoy your spring!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

We beat Sherwood. Never really that close. Down 0-2. Then 19-2. Should put on a good showdown with #1 Willamette and #2 Jefferson. Let you know more tonight

Lights Out

If you arrive Thursday night to the Wolverine Den the lights will be out. Basketball is not done, but the lights are off. Is it over you ask. No, it has begun. The lady Wolverines of Willamette High will be taking their undefeated record to the Chiles' Center up in Portland for the OSAA 5A State Championships. This is always an excited time here. I love traveling with teams. I was always my favorite part of college. Staying in the hotel and eating out in new places is always fun. Anyways, the girls face off with Sherwood on Thursday at 8:30pm. I'll be sure to fill you each night. Go Wil-Hi!