Jason Haskins's Blog, page 38

Christmas Letter 2017

Years ago, in this galaxy and not too far away, the release of a new Star Wars movie was usually reserved for the month of May. Outside of the ill-fitted, little-seen Star Wars holiday special, the past three years have changed that.
New movies from the Star Wars galaxy have now turned into a Christmas-time affair, with The Last Jedi being the most recent of these films.
I grew up with the Star Wars universe and accompanying toys. Hours were spent playing with the toys, whether in my room or my grandpa's backyard. From Luke Skywalker to Jawas, these figures spent a fair amount of time buried in dirt and thrown into the grass. Many a weapon was lost this way, maybe even a head or two, and I like to believe a lost figure is buried in a yard in Bishop, California.
I still own a fair amount of toys from the original trilogy. Sure, the figures have no weapons or helmets and parts are missing on the Millennium Falcon, but I'm proud to say I still own them. 
Over the years, I have picked up a figure or two (weapons intact) and I'd say roughly 1/5 of my Christmas decorations are Star Wars related. Not too shabby for a man approaching 40.

I recently saw The Last Jedi. And while I won't go heavily into details, let me say I enjoyed the film. These movies will always remind me of my childhood, even going as far as to say I clapped softly in the theater when -- slight SPOILER ALERT -- the Falcon showed up to save the day.
Christmas was officially unlocked for me after watching this movie.
I had put up the tree already, been playing Christmas music since Thanksgiving and even sent out a few cards. There's less snow in Boise this year for Christmas (though it is snowing right now), but less snow was to be expected after multiple days in late 2016/early 2017 of six inches or more. 
I'll be lucky enough to be spending Christmas with my parents and brother. My sister, brother-in-law, and nieces and nephew will still be far away, but definitely in my heart.
In April, I was lucky enough to visit them in Georgia. It was my first time traveling to see them at their home and it was a fun-filled four days of tornado warnings, downpours of rain, Nerf wars, and plenty of time being an uncle.
I decided to go to Georgia because I had a one-act play produced at a Flagler College in Florida. A student had found my published play and decided to produce it for her senior project. It was the first play of mine produced outside of Idaho and was very thankful I had the opportunity to make it out there to see it on stage. My only regret is I wasn't able to spend more time there, to get to know the director and cast more and also spend more time in their coastal, historical town.
2017 also found a couple of short films I co-wrote get produced. And in October, I took on my first directing job for the theater company I work with, directing five women in a show called Bull in a China Shop.
I also continue to write about the Boise State football and basketball teams over at Bronco Nation News while finding a little time to write about Boston sports over at Chowder and Champions.
This is in addition to continuing to write plays, screenplays, and novels. My second fantasy novel, The Blue Gem, will hopefully be self-published online in early 2018.
I do regularly post updates over on my website, which you can take a closer look at the what I've done in a professional aspect in 2017.
The year has been a trying one in certain regards, but my focus has remained steady. I'm looking forward to 2018 to see what the year has in store.
I'm thankful for all the close friends and family I have supporting me in my goals. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am.
To all of you, I hope you find the tiny spark of tradition to keep you warm, healthy, and happy over the holidays.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, a happy 2018, and perhaps a Kylo Ren or Rey figure under your tree on Christmas morning.
Be bold. Be kind.

Saturday nights in the winter abyss

Next week will be the 2017 edition of the Christmas newsletter. This week I do a little free writing. And tomorrow, to steal from 'Spaceballs', bingo.
Saturday nights sure aren't what they used to be.
Weekend nights used to be spent at the bars. A Friday thru Sunday punishment to the brain and dulling of the senses. Wake up Saturday morning with a hangover? No worries. Saturday night would arrive soon enough.
Now...
..I'm watching the San Diego Los Angeles Chargers currently lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, drinking the first of what will probably only be two beers on that night. (They are tall cans so I guess that's something.) Even if there wasn't a football game on, I might very well still be staying in for the night.
I kind of like it.
I've been a bit of a recluse over the past few years. The nights of bar hopping -- for the most part -- are behind me. Those night hold wonder and fantastic memories, but I'm much more focused these days. And I'd like to settle down.
The irony of that is one has to go out to meet someone to settle down with. In getting a little personal, I haven't done much in the way of meeting new people. I don't use Tinder or any other sort of dating app. And it seems the women I've met over the past few years who I've shared common interest with and wanted to get to know more about turned out to already be in a relationship. I'll be the first to admit effort on my behalf has been limited. And a heavy focus on writing over the past few years has driven me slightly away from an attempt at a social life.
Slowly learning to balance both again.
Maybe I should get out instead of watching this game and switching back and forth between Christmas movies I've seen multiple times.
Speaking of which, I've got a bone to pick with the Santa Clause movies. In the second one, our hero Scott Calvin/Santa Claus (Tim Allen) is forced to find a wife or risk losing his job title. Okay. That's fine and all but it begs the question: What happened to Mrs. Claus of the Santa Claus who Scott Calvin replaced? Did she disappear when the Santa from the first movie fell of the roof? Was that Santa unmarried? I suppose these are questions I can throw into this Christmas post from years ago.
And for the love of Santa, these "dilly, dilly" commercials need to stop and go the way of the "hold my beer" sayings and "crying Jordan" memes. Enough is enough.
They all may disappear soon enough if net neutrality is changed. In fact, The Journey of Now blog may be buried deeper into the internet than it already is. Perhaps it's time to step away from the internet and start connecting on a truly personal level again.
Of course, the internet is so prevalent in all of our lives that it needs to be considered a utility, like water or power. People depend on the internet for paying bills, looking for jobs, staying connected to relatives across the globe, and simple everyday tasks that it is needed to survive. Yes, society did it for a long time before the internet was invented, but the convenience of things helps in so much on a day-to-day basis.
Plus, my job relies on the internet and it's functions.
There is so much more to worry about in this country than just the internet. A collection of slime only grows bigger in Washington, D.C. This pile continues to set this country back hundreds of years. Politics over country, racism over progress, hypocrites over rational thinkers, and a needlessly incessant fear mongering chief who is dividing this country even more.
I'm tired of wasting my words on him and his cohorts. But the resistance cannot rest. Ol' 45 and his cronies attempt to wrest rights from woman, people of color and those of the LGBTQ community. The powers that be attempt to deny science, they sexually harass, they want to take away basic human rights. Their slime grows like the slime in Ghostbusters II. The slime grows not just out of hate, but out of bigotry, sexism, greed, and a lengthy list of other transgressions.
Resist and chip away one day at a time. It will all come falling down, their party or the country. Let's hope it's the former.
Boy, this free writing exercise really took a sharp turn. I wish I could always talk about random things, like Saved by the Bell, Christmas movies, and the bars I've visited in Boise. Sometimes, though, life in this country needs to be talked about. 
Can't be blind to it. Will not live life like everything is okay in America and this world. Because it's not. I'd rather be positive than negative. There's too much negativity already present.
But sometimes it bleeds into this blog.
At least Boise State beat Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. There's that. Oh, and probably a new Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel.
That'll pass the time this evening. And of course, another glass of beer cheer.
Be bold. Be kind.

Monologues for Christmas and winter

Every once in awhile, I like to drop monologues onto 'The Journey of Now' blog. The following were written roughly three years ago and today I sat down to revise them. 
Of Snow Forts and SantaCHRISThe Yule log burns on Channel 11. The Christmas presents are wrapped and I finally sit down to enjoy a glass of ice cold eggnog. The snow has been falling for hours, there must be at least six inches of it out there, and the sky shows no signs of letting up.
The yule burning behind me, I stare out the window and watch the snow gently fall in the night. The city is silent. No traffic whatsoever. The street lights illuminate the freshly fallen snow. I know it’s late, I know its cold, but all I want to do is go outside and build a snow fort. Or maybe build a couple of snowmen. Snow women? Snow people? Whatever they are, all I want to do is go out into the snow and do something to recapture my youth.
I still can’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve. That excitement I had as a child on Christmas Eve has carried over to my adult years. That’s what I love about snow on Christmas Eve. It’s the way it is supposed to be. It’s the way children have always wanted it to be.
I love it all. The music, the decorations, and the presents. Santa here, Santa there, Santa everywhere. It’s pure bliss. And yet, as a functional adult, I am supposed to have lost that spirit. Why? I look forward to the same things I did as a child. Why should I change just because society says I should? There is something fundamentally wrong if society wants to frown at me for wanting to build a snow fort.
That’s just what I’ll do. I’ll turn on my porch light and outdoor Christmas lights. I’ll put on my jacket, gloves, and scarf. I’ll listen to Christmas music and build the best snow fort this block has seen. I will do all of that…as soon as this eggnog is gone. Can't let a good glass of eggnog go to waste. Then I’ll build the best snow fort ever and maybe catch a glimpse of Santa. Hey, it’s close to midnight. You never know…You never know.Toleration(LAURA is in her late 20’s, speaking with a co-worker.)
It’s started again. Here we are, November 1st and the department store has already started playing Christmas music. It is far too early to be walking in a Winter Wonderland and jingling my bells. People haven’t even taken down their Halloween decorations for Christ’s sake.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the holidays. I like Christmas and I tolerate Thanksgiving. Tolerate is the key word. By choice, I travel to my sister’s house every year for Thanksgiving. She lives in Chicago. That’s about the only good thing about it. I get to see Chicago. Everything else is just stressful, you know? Here I am stuck in a house full of people. My parents are there. My sister is there with her husband and three kids. Three kids! Toss in a couple of in-laws and holiday cheer spikes through the roof. Ho, ho, ho; at least the whiskey keeps me jolly.
I honestly don’t see how she deals with all of those people. She does the same at Christmas, sans me. It’s hard enough putting on my fake nice and caring hat for Thanksgiving. I don’t want to do it again at Christmas. I fake my way through idle family chatter and the occasional “what are you doing with your life?” I’m not taking care of three screaming kids, that’s what.
I like the kids. I really do. Having kids are just not my thing. I am meant to be here for other reasons than to procreate. The kids are great. They really are. They like me, though. Maybe it’s because I’m just their crazy Aunt Laura. I play with them and we have a lot of fun. The time spent with them always flies by. They love me. To think of that makes me smile.
Maybe I will go see them at Christmas this year. I just have to get them to promise me no Christmas music. It’s only November 1st and I’m ready for Frosty to melt. Is that so wrong?
Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.orgFollow me on Twitter: @jasonrh_78Subscribe to my monthly newsletter by emailing jrhask14@gmail.com w/the subject line: SUBSCRIBE

Five Christmas television episodes from the 90's

This post originally appeared on a different website, one that switched formats and removed it. Here it is on my own blog, to live now and forever. (Plus some minor changes, updates).
The holidays are upon us and that means many television shows tend to channel their energy towards one thing: holiday themed episodes.
In the tradition of today’s age of lists and nostalgia, here is a list of Christmas themed episodes of television shows from the 90’s that should be witnessed by all, whether it be for the first time or 20th time. *Warning: Possible SPOILER ALERTS ahead.
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Amends (12/15/98)In the true holiday nature of television shows that lean towards the dramatic side, this Christmas episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer tugs at the heart strings.
Christmas in it’s physical form is not the focus of this episode. Instead, it deals with pretty frequent Christmas themes of forgiveness, regret, and letting go of the past.
The main plot revolves around Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Angel is having nightmares in which people he killed as the evil version of himself are haunting him and telling him he needs to kill Buffy. As the show proceeds along, with various other subplots, including forgiveness from Oz (Seth Green) to Willow (Allyson Hannigan) and a peek into Xander’s (Nicholas Brendan) not-so-spectacular family life, Buffy and Angel eventually become intertwined in each other’s dreams.
The specific thing that makes this episode a top-five Christmas episode is what happens in the last five minutes in the fictional Southern California town of Sunnyvale: Snow.
Okay, it’s a bit more than that, but the emotions of Angel thinking he needs to kill himself by waiting to be burned by the daylight and Buffy’s proclamation of her love to Angel brings this episode to a very moving ending. The snow begins to fall, we see the other characters in a montage of scenes, and, with the realization that Angel is going to live and be there for Buffy (at this point in the series) makes for a very heartwarming Christmas.
4. The Simpsons Marge Be Not Proud (12/17/95)When a show has been around as long as The Simpsons (28 seasons and counting), there are quite a number of Christmas and holiday themed episodes to choose from. “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” (in which the Simpsons family gets their dog, Santa’s Little Helper) and “Miracle on Evergreen Terrace” (in which Bart burns down the Christmas tree) are just a few episodes which regularly appear on lists.
In “Marge Be Not Proud”, the main plot revolves around Bart and his desire to get the hot, new video game of the holidays: Bonestorm. Bart resorts to stealing the game when a dim witted employee leaves the video game cabinet unlocked. What we are treated to is a lesson on stealing, forgiveness, and telling the truth.
Also, after the dust settles, Bart does indeed get a video game for Christmas. It’s not Bonestorm, though. The game is Lee Carvallo’s Putting Challenge, quite possibly the greatest game of all time.


3. Roseanne White Trash Christmas (12/14/93)The revival of Roseanne is already in the midst of filming so now would be a good time to catch up on the early years of the show.
While it’s the Halloween episodes of Roseanne that were among the most cherished and creative during the show’s run, the Christmas centric episodes also carried a punch.
Part of Roseanne’s popularity was that the show connected with the lower-middle class of America. While it is assumed one wouldn’t need a mortgage calculator to figure out what kind of neighborhood the Connor family lives in, the neighborhood association still deems the Connor’s Christmas decorations too tacky. The Connor response? Go even tackier and more white trash than normal.
In the true holiday spirit of a Christmas themed episodes, Roseanne stays true to form with a few touching, somber moments. What makes this episode special is Dan (John Goodman) sharing marital advice with Mark (the late Glenn Quinn) and the Connor family banding together in times of need and, in the case of the Christmas decorations, in spiting the neighborhood. Because nothing says Christmas like spite.
2. Seinfeld The Strike (12/18/97)As long as Seinfeld reruns are available on various viewing platforms, and people that grew up watching the show are still alive, this episode will continue to pop up on lists like these because the episode gave up quite possibly the best made-up holiday of all time: Festivus.
Festivus, in fact, is now celebrated as an official holiday in some circles. Traditions on this holiday, along with the aluminum pole in lieu of a Christmas tree, are the feats of strength and the airing of the grievances.
This holiday special was in the first half of the last season of Seinfeld’s run. At the time, it was one of the stronger episodes of that season. Perhaps that’s why it still holds up to this day and so many people have in embraced it. Well, that and George’s (Jason Alexander) donations to the fake charity “The Human Fund” are all done in the Christmas spirit of the world in which Seinfeld created.


1. Saved by the Bell Home for Christmas (Part 1: 12/07/91, Part 2: 12/14/91)Saved by the Bell continues to be a major player as far as nostalgia for 90’s television goes. During its run, episodes featured lessons about drug use, self worth, and greedy oil companies, among other things. The demographic was aimed at young teens so the stories coincided with the very issues one might come across as a teenager.
In this two-part story arc centered around Christmas, Zach (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and the gang tackle the issue of homelessness.
A meet-cute at the mall brings a new girl (and later her father) into Zach’s life. These two episodes provide a brief glimpse into what homeless people may go through and how stereotyping them by outward appearances can be a mistake.
The episode is pretty cheery throughout, despite the bleakness of homelessness hanging over the episode. We see a commercialized version of “A Christmas Carol”, some comedy, a humbug character named Mr. Moody, singing, a visit to a Children’s hospital, and a goodhearted group of teenagers that do everything short of giving back to a food bank or pantry.
In the end, as it was in sitcom land in the 90’s, everyone ends up happy. The girl’s homeless father is given a suit jacket and the promise of job with Zach’s father. All in all, it’s another miracle in Bayside, this time of the Christmas variety.
These are just a few of my personal favorites. Have a favorite Christmas episode from television in the 90’s? Feel free to comment and air those grievances below.
I promise, there will be no feats of strength. This year.

Picture Credit: pexels.com
Follow me on Twitter: @jasonrh_78
Subscribe to my newsletter by emailing jrhask14@gmail.com w/Subject line: SUBSCRIBE

Giving thanks on turkey day

Thankful for so much in 2017, I'd like to take a moment and share this picture of cooked...goose.
This was for my birthday circa 2010. I might be off by a year, one way or the other, but I thought it would be the ideal photo for Thanksgiving. Goose, turkey, whatever. They're all the same, right?
The goose was cooked by my good friend Danny, who as legend has it, simply decided to cook a goose for my birthday so he could announce to the room, "Your goose is cooked."
Delightful, I know.
Sidetracked by a picture of a goose aside, today has been one filled with football, writing, phone calls to loved ones, and a few episodes of Stranger Things 2. It's been packed with excitement and dog sitting. And I haven't even reached the turkey stage of the day this year.
There was no goose this year but my birthday was a few days ago. It was a pretty standard Tuesday in my life, one in which I worked, wrote and was able to catch the latest episode of Smackdown.  Celebrations were kept to a minimum but I am thankful for all the lovely messages and calls I received for my birthday. (And the gift of a package of salami and pepper jack cheese.)
To sum it up: Thank you.
Thank you to everyone in my life who has helped me grow, kept me humble, shown me love, supported me in my career, and were there for me. All have been integral in my life, in one respect or another.
I'm thankful for a freedom to be able to write this and a freedom to strive to be better as a human. My wish is for humanity to continue to find ways to love other humans, to show regard for sex, creed, handicap, race, and religion; to find empathy and, above all, to find tolerance. 
Be grateful. Be kind. Be bold.
Happy Thanksgiving!

The poetry style of a younger self

The Journey of Now has been around for awhile now. I've been known, from time to time, to share some poetry from another lifetime ago.
I have not tried my hand at any new, sappy poems for years now. I'm not even entirely sure one can call them poems. They are a glimpse into the mind of a forlorn man. A man-child with bigger, romantic ideas of the world who was suffering a broken heart. (See. Sappy.)
Okay. Not all of them were like that, but a majority were. Going back to old writing is always quite the adventure and the learning experience. For example, my early 20's self referred to, in my writing, every female a girl. No matter the age, the word was girl and not woman.
I'm hopeful I have gained new insight and learned more as my life as a writer has (supposedly) progressed. Time will continue to tell. One thing is for certain: I hope I never stop growing and learning.
To keep up with my process--and to stay up-to-date--you can subscribe to my newsletter. I just sent out the one for November today. Sign up and I'll make sure to get it sent your way. Send me an email at jrhask14@gmail.com with the subject SUBSCRIBE. In case you missed it, you can read here why I started a monthly newsletter.
As for now, here's a poem from 2005.Sea SickA smile that eases painexcept that of your own
You gave one percentand I returned it with rejection
Heart fell apart and tears crashed to the floor.
The door opened again and the roles reversed.
It's a long climb backand each step is fragile
In the end,we will be back at the top.
Smiling.Waving.In love.And alone.Seas apart.Close.
Will the distance be bridged?

Toys, toys, toys! A hall of fame like no other

Everything seems to have a Hall of Fame so why not one for toys as well.
Raggedy Ann is in the hall of fame. The Nerf Ball is not.
If you're like me, you're probably discovering for the first time that a Toy Hall of Fame even exists. A place in which you can find all sorts of classic and novelty toys from your youth? Count me in.
I discovered this fact earlier on Saturday as a result of my weekly jaunt over to the Reno Gazette Journal. Saturday's are normally devoted to reading Chris Murray's weekly 1000 Words column. Little did I know a column on Colin Kaepernick would lead me to a morning reading about toys and their corresponding hall of fame.
This year's inductees: a paper airplane, the Wiffle ball, and the board game CLUE. Three very deserving inductees; ones I'd wager a majority of us played (with) as a child (or even as an adult). Paper airplanes were never quite my forte. Wiffle ball, on the other hand, I had quite the upper hand on and CLUE, well, I may have dominated my fair share of games by becoming a master cheater.
All these toys are worthy. I'm sure the acceptance speeches will be touching and inspirational. "I couldn't have made it to where I am without my trusty partner, Wiffle bat (you'll get in the Hall one day)." Or, "Kids, don't ever give up on your dreams of becoming an airplane. You don't have to settle for being only a 'piece of paper'."
The celebration will likely rage into the night. 
My concern, however, is for the poor items not making the Hall in 2017 and continue to be overlooked.
One, like Pac-man, continues to be snubbed by the Hall. Pac-man's contribution to the history of toys and games reads like the back of Nolan Ryan's baseball card. Mr. Man (and probably Ms. as well) deserves be recognized and not just in the lackluster movie Pixels.
Which brings us to the travesty of the Pez dispenser not being in the Toy Hall of Fame. There is no argument to be had about the Pez dispenser and its classification of candy. Millions across the globe collect these dispensers, with a wide range of depictions from Santa Claus to Yoda to Bugs Bunny.
The Pez dispenser is a pop culture staple, even making into a classic episode of Seinfeld.

Founded in 1998 and located in Rochester, New York, the Toy Hall of Fame is still in its infancy when compared to other hall of fames. One day, there's no doubt they will right their wrong by voting in the Pez dispenser, along with other classic toys like Cabbage Patch Kids and the Matchbox cars. Let's hope it doesn't last until a veteran's committee must make the difficult choice on what toys make it and what toys don't.
If it comes down to that, who knows what can happen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go ask my Magic 8 Ball how the rest of my weekend will turn out. (Ask again later).
picture at the top of the article courtesy of flickr.comFollow me on twitter: @jasonrh_78Missed a post? Stay up to date by subscribing to my newsletter or visiting jason-haskins.com

No-Shave November: Finding the right style of facial hair when month ends

It’s that time a year again. A time when many men participate in what is the now annual tradition of No-Shave November. Facial hair grows wild and free, all in the good name of raising money and awareness in fighting cancer.
Thirty days pass and many of the participants are left with a tangled mess of hair on their face. Some even have collected what amounts to a gourmet feast of food crumbs in their beard. What now? The first step is to wash your beard more often, if there is indeed that much food in it.
After that’s completed, some men will take the easy way out by shaving off all the hair that adorns their face. Others though? They are simply left staring in the mirror, dreaming of the clean shave they once had.
It’s time to get creative. It’s time to give the grandparents something to talk about at those inevitable family gatherings aside from their reverse mortgage. From baseball player to actor, take advantage of your face full of hair and mold into one of these five styles based on famous men in history. Bring a trend back or join in an already growing one, you make the call.The Sports Star and his Handlebars photo:wikimedia.commons
Rollie Fingers was an All-Star pitcher for the Oakland A’s in the 1970’s. The handlebar mustache gained popularity in the 70’s thanks in large part to Mr. Fingers. The style has reappeared as of late, thanks to the hipsters and their love of making everything that was old new again. Snidely Whiplash would be proud.
That’s One Thick Mustache photo: wikimedia.comons
Groucho Marx. The man whose face has spawned million of fake mustache disguises over the years. Why? Because his mustache was fake as well. For comedic effect, grease paint was applied onto his mustache and eyebrows to make them appear thicker. It wouldn’t surprise me if the thick mustache, essentially a giant face prop, one day became a popular choice among men as a facial style of the future. Use the end of No-Shave November to be the first of your friends to bring back this style.A Man and His Massive SideburnsLegendary Civil War General Ambrose Burnside. It fact, it is said that the term “sideburns” was coined after this man’s incredible looking facial hair. Burnside may have failed as a Union general in the Civil War but this look, sometimes referred to as “the mutton chop” look, is still a favorite among men, if only for a few minutes while in the process of shaving their beard.Time to get Serious photo: flickr.com

Tom Selleck played Magnum on the hit 1980’s television show Magnum, P.I. Even though the mustache was a popular style in the 1970’s, Selleck carried a more “respectable while being hip” vibe about him, thus creating a generation of men in their 30’s rockin’ the ‘stache, a style that is still prevalent today. Go ahead. Give it a try. Just look at yourself in a mirror first. Sometimes the mustache look doesn’t work.The Modern Professional photo: wikimedia.commons
The close beard, as evidenced here on the face of actor Ryan Gosling, is slowly becoming the new norm in many work environments across the United States. Though a clean-shaven look is still preferred, the close beard is a style that is on the rise. The close beard allows for the man to be well-groomed and professional while at the same time having the freedom to choose his style of facial hair.

Stay up-to-date.
Follow me on Twitter: @jasonrh_78
Subscribe to my newsletter: jrhask14@gmail.com

Fastballs and dingers soaring into the late October night

In October, time on the baseball field -- much like the players -- stands still.  
A cloud of dust from intricately drawn lines and the painted corners of a perfectly framed mitt can make all the difference between a joyous celebration and a hang-your-head defeat.
Rounding the base too far can lead to an embarrassing fall while the scrutiny of an ill-timed pitching change (or lack thereof) can linger in the autumn air for ages.
Or, in the case of game two of the 2017 World Series, the tides of momentum can be changed (or stopped) simply by an umpire stopping the progress of an errant throw. 
Ninety feet can seem like an inch while inch can be a mile. Bunting might no longer be an art form but managing your bullpen certainly is.
Everyone is perfect prior to first pitch, a clean slate with dreams of putting up crooked numbers to wash away the zeroes next to a name.
Perfection for others can last longer, until much-too-early-talk fills up social media, in effect giving umbrage to the old adage of not talking about a no-hitter or perfect game. No matter how early it might be.
The slog of the middle innings. The routines. In and out. In and out. A box with all the action.
An unstoppable force meets an unmovable object. Houston's high-scoring machine was struggling to make a dent in the impenetrable fortress known as the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.
A dive inches away, separating glory from mishap. The minutia of the sport is so expansive, further examined on the grandest stage of them all.  Silent bats biding their time until cedar meets hide.
And then...
Home runs cascading. Heads whipping around in exaltation. The late nights are rewritten by names forever etched in World Series lore: Puig. Springer. And... Culberson.
The childlike wonder is never lost -- even when wearing thin on some -- is the result of a life-long passion and a manly zest to love life. 
Bat flips. 12-to-6 curveballs. Pitchers using the devil's hand to confound hitters to the tune of strikeout after strikeout. 
The sun will eventually set for both teams on this 2017 season, with only one team perched atop the throne. October baseball isn't always pretty, it's not always nice, but there's a beauty that can't be matched. Time does stand still in baseball this time of year.
Breathe it in (no crisp, cool air this year. The only thing missing). Exhale. Embrace the zany, dismiss the umps, grab your lite beer, your peanuts, and settle in.  It could very well be a long night. 
Definitely worth it.
Photo courtesy: en.wikipedia.orgFollow me on Twitter: @jasonrh_78Subscribe to my newsletter.

October: College football on display in all its glory

Friday the 13th kicked things off with Clemson's upset loss, but the top-25 in college football felt the scary after effects throughout the weekend.To many fans, pointing to bowl games and the CFB Playoff makes an easy access point in describing their favorite time of the college football season.
Forget that. 
To me, college football is at its finest in the month(s) of October and November. A fact that really kicked into gear from October 12 to October 14 in 2017.
Seven teams in the top-25 suffered losses, including four teams (formerly) ranked in the top-10. There were teams who likely have seen their playoff hopes dashed (Auburn, Washington St.), teams whose chances got incredibly smaller (Washington), teams who likely still have a shot (Clemson), and perhaps a Group of 5 team with hopes of a New Year's bowl game dashed (San Diego St.).
October--for the most part--is when the polls really begin to take shape. Teams are getting into the heart of their conference schedule and we begin to see who the pretenders and contenders are. Or we see whose school simply had too many cupcakes early, creating a lack of competitive spirit as conference play amps up.The pretendersEarly in 2017, the talk of the town was centered around the LSU Tigers. Their defense was shutting down opponents and they appeared to be an early threat to the reign of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Then the Tigers spiraled, culminating in a loss to Troy.
How do they respond? With back-to-back wins, including this past weekend with a defeat of previously 10th-ranked Auburn.
Auburn has an SEC schedule in their favor, but they will need to go undefeated to get into the playoffs. (Though based off how much love is given to the SEC, who really knows?)
Washington State, trounced by the Cal Bears, have likely seen their hopes dashed. After impressive wins over Oregon and USC, rose to number eight in the rankings. In a less-than-stellar Pac-12 this season chances are a one-loss team from that conference will make the playoffs. (Especially since we should have seen the writing on the wall for a team that barely beat Boise State at home).The contendersTo call the Washington Huskies contenders might be naive. The one reason I keep them as a contender over Washington State is because of the Huskies higher ranking prior to their upset loss to Arizona State. (Is Chris Petersen going to suffer a career haunted by kickers?)
Washington will need to win out, though, to have any chance of making a return trip to the playoffs.
The aforementioned Clemson Tigers fell to Syracuse, dropping them from the 2nd spot. The Tigers had been playing with fire for a few weeks now--much like last season--and their play finally caught up to them.
Winning a stronger than normal ACC will go a long way in getting back to the playoffs come the end of the season.
Alabama is still undefeated, with Penn State, Georgia, and TCU lurking. Each has big games against teams in the top-25 (and even top-10) so the polls will continue to shift over the coming weeks.San Diego State AztecsRanked 19th, featuring a Heisman hopeful in Rashaad Penny and hosting a young Boise State team, the Aztecs felt they had the inside track to a coveted Group of 5 game.
Penny and the Aztecs ran into a stifling Broncos defense, falling 31-14 to Boise State in San Diego on Saturday night. 
Now unranked, hopes of finally taking the national stage on hold. Plenty can still happen, but the Aztecs will need to win the Mountain West and likely not suffer another loss in the season's back nine.
A weekend of upsets--notably in October--reels the fans in (if they weren't already). And, fingers crossed, these great games will be setting the table for more greatness to come.
October football. Catch the action.
photo credit: pixabay.comFollow me on Twitter, Instagram, or you can subscribe to my newsletter (next issue arriving in inboxes within the week).