personal blogging

The trade deadline ruined the Yankees.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

Unlike most fans, I always dread the annual trade deadline. Every year there seem to be significant misplays by the front office of the Yankees, and this year has been no exception.

Yes, we are less than a week past that deadline, but the pulse of the team seems to have weakened. The trade of Montgomery to the Cardinals seems to have shaken this team to its core. There is plenty of time for them to return, but this current team is sad to watch. They have been slumping since before the deadline, and the new faces have not seemed to change anything. Sure, the Yankees still have the lead in the AL East, but how much longer can that last with a 5 game-losing streak looming?

Stop messing with Baseball.

/ Jo Redd / 1 Comment

As we continue slogging through this lockout, the players have gotten the bright idea that if the postseason is expanded to 14 teams, then at some point, a team (possibly multiple teams) should be able to start off 1-0 in their series. It’s been coined as a “ghost win,” and I think it is one of the stupidest proposals either side has come up with. I was on the player’s side, but I wonder if either side takes this seriously as time drags on. How does that do anything to help the game? Where is the excitement in a postseason that gives out “wins” that aren’t earned?

As a lifelong fan of baseball, I just want to see the game played like it was when I was a child. I’m not ancient, but I do remember a time when there were no seven-inning doubleheaders, and extra innings were seen as a treat, not a punishment. It was thrilling to watch a pitcher or a batter stall at the plate because of an aggressive at-bat; Bunting and base stealing were necessary to win a game.

I don’t care if a pitcher throws to check the runner twenty times in the first inning. If you don’t like the length of a baseball game, then you should not be watching baseball. I have watched football games that last just as long as baseball, and I don’t see nearly any complaints about that sport. The length of playtime is perfect and can add to the drama. MLB should not continue trying to implement a pitch clock. And, on a somewhat unrelated note, I’m still irritated that they now require relief pitchers to face a minimum of three batters. Again, some of the flashiest moments have come from seeing a pitcher specifically picked for one player. It is always thrilling to see if that pitcher can be successful in striking the batter out.

I don’t really care that owners spend a ton of money on the best players. If you own a team and you want it to be profitable, it is in your best interest to go out and spend the money to make that happen. Teams should not be in the business of tanking.

If there will be expanded playoffs, there need to be additional teams in the running for the postseason. There are a few places where a new professional team could really take off, and it’s about the only palatable option if the postseason is going to be manipulated even more.

Don’t forget, MLBtv auto-renews on March 1st.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

Since the lockout is dragging on potentially into March, this is your friendly reminder that MLBtv usually auto-renews on March 1st. Less than a week ago, I heard the owners debate that players in the minor league should not be paid for Spring Training, they also argued in defense of cutting a ton of jobs, and we were blessed with the idea of expanding the playoffs. Baseball is becoming a joke, and I am not letting that organization take my money, considering the season is likely to be delayed.

The owners are making a ton of money. Every year prices increase when it comes to food, drinks, ticket prices, and this year you can bet a trip to the stadium will cost a pretty penny. That’s assuming that there is a reason to go to the stadium. 2022 is giving off serious 2020 vibes, and I’m not about to fall for that trick again. I ponied up the money to watch a short season because there was a worldwide pandemic occurring, but there is no excuse this year.

The only silver lining I can find in this situation is that the lockout has allowed the Yankees to pretend like they were ever going to sign a big-name player. The organization showed the fans their true colors with the rehiring of Boone as manager. Before the lockout, there were no movements with any true significance, and I have no hope that the period after the lockout will be any different.

How can the players get an extension done before the (theoretical) season gets started if Spring Training is already delayed? This is a serious question that I have not seen many people bring up on social media. We all act as though the pen will start flying and that all these gigantic contacts will spring out of the front office, but why would that be the case? These owners will retaliate if they come out on the losing end.

I realize that a lot of this is just rambling to people who do not follow baseball, but it’s something that is more than a little aggravating, given that most fans just want to feel like things are back to normal. The idea of not being able to watch baseball is depressing, and I really do hope the two sides can come together and agree.

Amazon has a bargain on thumbtacks.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

I’m getting ready to hang a large corkboard so my son and I can put up pictures, and work on projects, and I just found an absolute steal on thumbtacks. I am also looking for something to use for hanging up some lighter blankets and a couple wall hangings. I knew that I would be able to find something on Amazon.

As long as you’re not worried about the color, Amazon currently has a 400 count of yellow thumbtacks for under $6. You can find the deal here. Not sure how long this will be in place, but it is definitely worth it if you find yourself hanging up a bunch of stuff.

Facebook/Meta Banhammer for 90 days

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

A year and a half ago, I chose to post a funny meme on Facebook. Today, that meme came back to bite me in the ass, and it resulted in a ban from posting ads on Facebook. It’s one of the only ways I can hope to gain traffic to my site, and now it has been squelched.

To be completely transparent, here is the meme in question:

It is ridiculous that something like this gets flagged. It is no wonder that the site is hemorrhaging users.

Speak it into existence.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

The fear of failing is powerful. It can hold the brightest and most ambitious back from success. Sometimes, all we need to do to combat this failure is speak of our goals aloud. Instead of keeping our dearest thoughts and dreams locked inside our minds, we need to release those ideas and let the rest of the world hear about our endeavors. I am ready to be successful, I am prepared to build a business in my home, and I am prepared to move forward.

I have been on this planet for 33 years, and I have gained knowledge on various topics in that time frame. My hobbies are multifaceted, as are my talents and skills. I am always willing to learn something new, and I crave finding a work atmosphere that feels inclusive and warm. I realize that all jobs will have stressors, but my former employment had too many all at once.

I’m tired of moping around and whining to myself about why things aren’t working out. I will never change things if I continue to feel afraid of failure. Perhaps the universe is keeping me from finding another 9-5 job because It recognizes that I am meant for more than I currently have.

It is time to start something new. I don’t care what I start working on. I just know that I need to complete some sort of project. I need to prove that I have what it takes to get the kind of career I want.

Down and out, but not defeated. Yet.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

2022 has already been a wild ride, and I’m starting to wonder why I chose to go down this path. I can handle rejection. My issue stems from how much time I have spent just to find yet another seemingly insignificant hiccup on the road to working for myself.

Once I realized I needed a bachelor’s degree before doing anything related to editing, I turned my attention back to the work from home industry. I got cold feet when looking into a job with Omni Interactions, and I’m still kicking myself for letting that one go. Tonight, I finally decided to set up an account with arise. I did the assessment, watched the videos, gave them all my information, only to have them turn around and reject me due to my equipment. My laptop’s processor isn’t up to snuff, and now I have hit another dead-end. I just bought this computer at the end of 2022, and already it isn’t capable of handling the kind of work most of these places require. I would be lying if I said I had the money to fix this: I don’t. I do not have the means to make that big purchase again.

I’ve spent the last month getting things set up to work from home. Now it seems as though all of that money has been wasted. I’m also looking for a standard 9-5 job, and even in that respect, I have been hitting numerous dead-end roads.

Official pick to win the Superbowl.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

A week ago, an image appeared showing the Simpsons having predicted the game’s outcome. I’m not about to go against a beloved cultural icon, so I have made my decision.

This year I am betting on the Bengals to win the Superbowl. I’m so confident that they will win I’ve placed a small bet on the Bengals to win it all in overtime. I’ve watched the last few games, and it seems like they’ve all ended in overtime heartbreakers. Why would this one be any different? It would be even cooler if the Rams could have the lead at halftime with the tie coming in the third or fourth quarter.

I have no gut feeling when it comes to tomorrow’s game. I was secretly hoping that Tom Brady would make another appearance at the Superbowl, so my heart isn’t really in the game. The Superbowl has always been a nice distraction during the offseason of Baseball, and this year is no different.

No shame in the truth.

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

There’s no reason for me to deny it. I am a very unhealthy and out-of-shape person currently. Two years ago, I had big plans to use the new decade to spark my motivation to change certain lifestyle habits. A month and a half into my goal of walking/working out every day when Covid took hold of the country. I used it as an excuse to stay inside, stop working out, and no longer eat healthily.

I have struggled to get out of this rut in the past two years. I want to be healthy. I know that if I want to be around as my son grows up, I need to change my way of thinking about food. Food used to be a comfort to me, and now I am repulsed by the amount of money and time I spend on food-related items. Now seems like a good time to start making a change.

I always encourage people to start small. Your first steps need to be tiny enough to keep you motivated to reach for more, no matter the final goal. Start out with these small weights if you’re looking to get started with a workout routine, but you’re living with minimal space. I love them, and I love having the small weight because I can add it to cardio workouts and feel like I have worked out my whole body.

I am ready to feel better. I am prepared to embrace the old view of myself because that was one that I was happy with. I have changed my parameters for what will make me “happy,” and I will gladly settle for being able to experience and enjoy more of life’s little moments.