Possible Tornado East of Decatur Last Night

Thanks to J4TR for the scary storm image. At first I thought that (below) maybe this was someone with a unique way of trying to sell a car in their front yard, and that it was just a heavy wind that blew the "For Sale" sign away, but maybe it really was a tornado that blew the sign away.

It looked like most of the tree damage and vehicle tossing (no one was hurt) was done near the intersection of 224 and 300 East, which is almost 2 miles east of Decatur, and about a mile from the Fleetwood RV Facility. It's also 1/4 of a mile from where my dad farmed up until 7 or 8 years ago, a half mile from where he grew up, and 3 1/2 miles north of where I grew up. In the image below, the road was closed off due to some tree damage at Franks Seed Service.

In much more important news for me, I picked up an old phone from my mom's house this morning and I'm going to try out Vonage. Any time anyone tries to call me at home on my only phone, my Verizon cell phone, I pretty much have to start running to the front door to keep it from cutting out.

*Note: As soon as a tornado warning was issued for Fort Wayne I cancelled the leagues for last night. We got through half a night of play. Revised Monday schedules are already on line at the e-teamz site - www.fairplayvolleyball.com

First Mantis of the Season

The beach courts have sometimes been swarmed toward the latter part of the beach season by praying mantid. The first year it opened there must have been at least ten (until they ate each other), and ever since there is always at least one spotted. Here's the first one for this season that was at open court last Friday. Thanks to Leah for taking and sending the pic to me from her phone.

Here's an early attempt to make the polar bear the symbol for the winter volleyball season.

On another note, regarding Friday volleyball, it would be cool if players would shovel some sand on to the picnic area side of the middle back of the middle court (from between the courts), as it is getting a little skimpy there... I would do it but the act of shoveling is sensitive to my lower back. I got that mostly corrected at Nature's Way Chiropractic. I probably did the real damage to it, though, back in the late 90's working on an assembly line at Aeroquip.

August 16th, 06 - Wednesday Coed Sixes pt 1

Turnstone Usage Question

I've had a few questions about the usage of Turnstone from players in the league, and even from employees of Turnstone, who wonder why I don't rent there anymore. The answer is that I'd like to, but the answer I got is that internal programs and additional time needed for the wheelchair basketball team(s) are taking up all potential rental time.

That's ok... last year I was able to add more time at Spiece and the Seminary, and it's likely another site won't be necessary this year ('06/'07) either, but it would be easier on me for scheduling purposes. If anyone knows of a good gym, not affiliated with a local school system that might be available, let me know...

To support Turnstone programs, go here.

Book Recommendation - Replay by Ken Grimwood

If I had to recommend 10 books of fiction I know this would be one of them. I'm replaying rereading it now for the 3rd, 4th or 5th time? I would also recommend reading it one chapter at a time.

If I could go back 20 years would I still be the same loser running volleyball leagues in Fort Wayne, Indiana? Of course not... I'd find a way to put all the money I had down on a preseason bet of the Bears beating the surprising Patriots in Super Bowl XX, and then go from there...

From Lost Book Archives:

In Replay Jeff Winston, a 43-year-old, dies of a heart attack and upon awakening finds himself back at college in 1963, in his 18-year-old body and having all the memories of the life he just exited. This is the beginning of a series of replays in which Jeff Winston lives his life over and over again.

Eligibility of High School Players in Adult Leagues

This last Monday was basically the beginning of mandatory practices for most high school girls' teams. Not all parents are aware of IHSAA rules, but starting from now and until their season is over, girls are not allowed to play in leagues such as the Fair Play Leagues.

A couple of years ago there was a big controversy in a Snider/Northrop regional meeting. A Snider freshman subbed on a team in a Parks & Rec league, and a Northrop assistant (who is the wife of the manager of the Plex... see a future post on "Plex Ethics") sat on that information right until the regional match was getting ready to start.

I will do my best to make sure nothing as dramatic as that ever happens. My advice if a problem comes up is to report it to the IHSAA immediately. It's not like it's a matter of national security and I would hope to believe if it was something minor that students would be allowed to play on...