From the monthly archives:

September 2009

W.E.C.S.S.O. Slo Pitch Playoffs

by lulujane on September 22, 2009

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Lots of balls thrown today, hit and fielded. On Monday, September 14th, six teams (two in each of Divisions “A”, “B” and “C”) competed for bragging rights as league champions in the Windsor Essex County Senior Sports Organization Slo Pitch League.  Thanks to the meticulous care of the Sport Fest grounds crew, the baseball diamonds at Ciociaro Club on North Talbot Road were well groomed and in superior playing condition.

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One red team, one green and one blue, competed against the grey home teams on a beautiful late summer day.

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Some of the players and managers were serious, while a few others were lighthearted about the whole thing.

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Even though Russ wore his Goofy-like hat(s), at bat and on the field he transformed into a serious competitor.

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Hey, I thought this was a no contact sport!

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If you take time to view the playoff day photos at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/linda.bluepeony/WECSSOSloPitchPlayoffs# you will notice that the players were well supported by lots of fans who cheered and groaned along with them at tense moments of play.

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Lots of serious play on this day.  At times the tension was high – vastly different from the normal season play on weekday mornings from Monday through Thursday.

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I am thinking that some of the fellows might go home from the game and collapse in the Lazy-Boy in front of the t.v. nursing aches and pains.  On the other hand I saw a lot of healthy men playing a sport they love, enjoying the friendship and camaraderie of team members and competitors.

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Where would these teams be without their pitchers, consistent in their play?

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When all is said and done, it was a great season.  By the time the dust settled, the Cavemen were declared the winners in the “A” Division, the Gladiators in the “B” Division and the Retirees in the “C” Division.  Congratulations guys!

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Now that the season is finished, my frequent travels to the league games leaves me with many photographs to evidence the athleticism and dedication of the players, managers, umpires and executives.  The league and the players impressed me in many ways.

Thanks to the people who assisted me in my quest in recording all sixteen teams on digital images, for encouragement and kindnesses shown me, and gratitude expressed.  I must admit that there are days when I felt like “one of the boys”.

For anyone wishing to view photos of themselves or their team, links to a photo website are located in the article below entitled “Senior Men’s Baseball”.

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Footloose – Sailing in September

by lulujane on September 7, 2009

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I have been to the Cedar Island Yacht Club twice in the past few months.  Both times to make photographs.  Once from a stationary race boat, a tug.  The second time from Footloose, a sailboat owned by Frank and Wendy Foote, that was actually in the race.

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From the tug I could catch sailboats circling the race boat like piranhas in anticipation of an official start, and on their return leg to cross the finish line.  Limiting to some degree, and exciting in others.

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My CIYC’s Labour Day Regatta was an entirely different experience physically, emotionally and artistically. Shifting sides of the boat when our captain orchestrated a tack my job was to stay out of the way of the crew who eagerly and efficiently adjusted the sails.

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From my front row seat, sort of like a bird’s eye view, I often had to balance in awkward positions and brace myself with my legs to keep from being tossed around, and to give me a semi-stable position to shoot photos.

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In addition to the photos displayed with this post I am including a link to more.  This link pertains only to Footloose and crew.  http://picasaweb.google.com/linda.bluepeony/FootlooseSailingInSeptember# . More to come in future of other sailboats in the race that day.

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These links are from the regatta I shot in July at the Cedar Island Yacht Club from the official race boat.

http://picasaweb.google.com/linda.bluepeony/CedarIslandYachtClubRegatta1Of2#

http://picasaweb.google.com/linda.bluepeony/CedarIslandYachtClubRegatta2Of2?authkey=Gv1sRgCNSt8b_nr-r3CA#

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Photographically, this summer has been an adventure into new avenues of making pictures.  I had lots of fun doing this, meeting new people, and enjoying my time outside in our beautiful summer weather.

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Thanks to Wendy and Frank, Rachel, Seann and Grace for their hospitality and willingness to share their boat with me and to their yacht club for the courtesy shown me on this Labour Day weekend in 2009.

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What are the chances?

by lulujane on September 4, 2009

About a week ago I noticed a small dog on a leash, sitting at the feet of a woman who had come to watch her husband play baseball.  I felt drawn to reach for my camera and quickly snap a few photos of this cute little lap dog.  I was paying so much attention to the puppy that I neglected imprinting on my mind the face of the dog’s owner.  I printed the pictures and kept them with me when I went to the ballpark.  Over the next few days I looked for the woman with the dog, to no avail.

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Yesterday one of the baseball players approached me.  He was telling me about a specific breed of dog and mentioned that there was one at the park.  He asked if I had my camera if I would take a photo of the dog for him.  I walked with him to an area where only two spectators were seated.  You guessed it – the elusive dog and its owner.  I laughed.  I told him I have pictures of that dog with me.  I handed him the photos I had in my purse, both of us laughing about the coincidence of it.  He kept one for himself and turned over the others to the dog owner.

I love how the Universe plays with us.  Out of the blue, a man approaches me because he wants a photograph of a specific thing – a little dog – and I just happened to have it in my purse. Whoa!

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