When you live in Florida, baseball takes on a whole new meaning. There are more teams that have their spring training stadiums in the state than you can shake a stick at – not that I have ever shaken a real stick at them. We have the Phillies stadium right down the road, literally. The Yankees play over in Tampa for spring training. There are other teams all around the Bay area.

I enjoy watching the games in the spring much more than I do during official season. The crowds are different and the vibe altogether more relaxed. It is usually the hardcore fans and the locals that fill the seats. I take advantage of Spring Training more than you’ll ever know. It’s a great time to travel around to other parts of the state and stay with friends who are also baseball fans, going to see games being played by my favorite teams. I really enjoy the Boston Red Sox and I’m fortunate that my great-aunt lives in Fort Myers. It’s not a very long drive, but if I choose to stay over night, I have a comfy guestroom waiting for me.

My favorite times were actually when my step-dads was still alive. He played for the Pirates back in the days of wool uniforms and pay so low that everyone had to hold down two and three jobs just to afford to play the game they loved. He loved to travel around with me during spring training season and see as many games as we had time for, or the energy. I had a good handle on the Boston Red Sox Spring Training Schedule and we took a week to drive down for a visit and a game. He and my mom and I drove down and talked my aunt and her husband into coming along as well. We did not have the best seats at the game, but there is something about having been there with family and with an “old-timer” ball player that makes the memory stand out for me more than most. My step-dad spent a lot of the game commenting on how different the sport is these days. Poor guy. I wish he had been able to play in a time when he could have made a living off of it.

My eye was drawn to this news story at first because it took place in Clearwater, though not the one here in Florida. This happened in Clearwater, South Carolina.

I remained interested in the story, because it is a perfect illustration that some people in this world have so little common sense that they should be forced to live together in walled encampments where they will not annoy the rest of the population.

Alexander D. Smith (31 going on 13) from Augusta, GA, tried to open a bank account in Clearwater, SC using a fake $1 million bill.

A million dollar bill. Seriously. The federal government has never printed a million dollar bill.

He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of forgery. The disorderly conduct was because he cursed at bank workers when they refused to open an account with the bill. The second forgery charge was because he bought several cartons of cigarettes from a nearby grocery store with a stolen check.

What a gem, that Mr. Smith. Now, please remove yourself from polite society and go live in that encampment.

My ex is a liar. I say that without venom. He is just one of those people who lies n a daily basis and for inexplicable reasons. He lies when there is no discernable reason for lying. He answers pretty much any question in the defensive, immediately, without a thought. It was difficult to navigate conversations with him when we were married, but I wanted to believe him so I overlooked an awful lot. Now that we are divorced, most of the issues that involve us communicating involve our daughter or selling our house. And, I am pretty sure he rarely tells me the truth –even when the truth would best suit the situation.

So, get this – there is a system called LiarCard. I can call my ex via a toll-free access number. I enter my pin and then my destination number. Once the call is fully connected, the software starts analyzing the speaker’s voice in real time. In the background I will hear a heartbeat pulse and a buzz when the software detects untruthful indications in the voice. Only I will hear these sounds. Plus, I will be able to login to the website at http://www.LiarCard.comand access a control panel to replay the call later.

LiarCard ignores the content and words, instead focusing on the emotional patterns of what is being said. It uses 129 parameters on every speech segment. I’m going to give LiarCard a try. You buy minutes, much like buying calling cards, which cost $10 for 30-minute intervals.

I’ll let you know how it worked for me once I have the chance to use it on an important conversation.

I’ve been posting information to help people keep informed about the local situation here involving the family of Hulk Hogan. There is the divorce filing, the horrific car accident Nick Bollea had that caused his friend John Graziano to be in a vegetative state, and the recent release of police reports and 911 tapes.

But do you want to know what one of the number of search terms bringing traffic to my blog seems to be lately? Linda Hogan’s bra size. I kid you not. I have not written about her bra size, not have I speculated on it. I really could not care less. She seems to be in fairly nice shape for a woman her age and for that I give her kudos, but it stops there.

Sick people in a sick world.

I am in the thick of Christmas shopping. For the first time in my life, I went out into the dark morning of Black Friday and all I can say to sum up my experience is that I was disappointed. I’m not sure I saved enough to warrant getting out of bed and being forced to witness the fist fights. I gave traditional shopping a try today, but I just can’t take the holiday crowds and the limited selection.

I’ve spoiled myself by doing most of my gift shopping online the past several years. Instead of having to get in and out of the car and from store to store to be able to look at a huge variety of items, I’ve done most of my shopping from my home office. And, as of today I am going back to my old ways.

One of my favorite types of gifts to give is a gift that is consumable. I’m not big of giving a figurine that will either collect dust or get put in a closet. I like to give thoughtful gifts that people use, like food or bath supplies. I’m not a fan of the big bath products chain stores. I prefer skin care products with minimal ingredients and pure simplicity.

Virgil’s Fine Soaps are a family-made product that contains simple moisturizing ingredients and a blend of pumice and loofah that makes them ideal for exfoliating. They contain aloe and vitamin E, so they are also fine for those of us with dry skin. And, unlike your favorite body products chain store at the mall, the scents in Virgil’s soaps are clean-smelling, not overpowering and flowery.

They have many varieties available, but what initially caught my eye was one of Virgil’s Gift Baskets – the Gourmet Gift Bowl. I have a lot of amazing cooks in my life and this is a quirky way to celebrate that fact. The bowl contains 2 bars of Cook’s Companion soap (Light, citrus fragrance), a jar of Hot Pepper Butter and crackers, stainless steel tongs, wire whisk, wooden soap dish, wooden fingernail brush, sisal Washcloth, and a chef’s hat (that’s the quirky part.)

If a full gift basket is not in your budget, or if you can’t figure out which of the soaps strikes your fancy – try the Virgil’s Soap Sampler.

Virgil’s products are made right her in the United States – Ohio, to be exact. In a world where it seems like every single item you pick up at the store has “Made in China” stamped on the bottom, giving Virgil’s Holiday Gifts is a great opportunity to support a small American business.

It’s that time of year again. Families are trekking out to cut down live evergreen trees, or buying cut trees at roadside stands or the nursery department of WalMart and Target. Unfortunately, I had to stop doing this about 4 years ago. My breathing was so wheezy while the tree was in the house that I finally gave in and went artificial, though I still miss the look and smell of a real tree.

I’m sure if you have a real tree in the house you found this blog entry because you are looking for ways to keep your tree looking fresh and green for longer. Old wives tales say that putting sugar, or 7-Up (which IS sugar), or aspirin in the water will do the trick. These have all been tried by many people and when it comes down to the truth – it seems that plain water works best. Just make sure to keep the water filled and to keep your tree out of direct sunlight. It is also best to keep it away from the fireplace and heaters. That dry heat will just advance the drying process of the cut tree.

Remember also that as soon as you get the tree home, you will need to re-cut the base, removing an inch or two of trunk. This gives it a fresh open spot to receive water. Stand it in a bucket of water until you have the time to put the tree in the tree stand.

I have this very old mantle clock that used to belong to my great-grandparents. I love it. The thing is in stunning condition and still keeps fantastic time. In fact, I usually only have to mess with it when I adjust it for Daylight Savings Time. I have it out on a table in the living room right now. It is the only really nice timepiece I own. I’ve got bedside clocks, and a wall clock in the kitchen. For the most part, I use my cell phone or the clock on the DVR to tell time around the house. Nonetheless, when it comes to a clock I actually feel like is worth displaying – it’s that mantel clock.

I’ve actually wanted to buy a grandfather clock for some time now. I never had one growing up, but I was fascinated by the one my best friend’s family had in their living room when I was back in school. When I was there for long weekend, I would often grab a book and sit and read on the floor in front of the clock so I could hear the pendulum. It was an ornate clock and I think that is why my eye is still drawn to intricate pieces.

In order to fit in with my home décor, though, a clock would have to have simpler lines. I’ve found myself browsing the Howard Miller grandfather clocks online on more than one occasion. In fact, I have a couple of my favorites bookmarked. I love their Hayes Grandfather Clock. It is simply designed, the cherry wood look very rich and the pendulum is shaped like a lyre. Plus, it has understated Roman architectural elements. It’s one of those things that comes to mind when you are thinking to yourself that you really have everything you need, but what is it you WANT.

As more and more reports are released that relate to Nick Bollea’s August 26 car accident that left his friend, John Graziano, in a vegetative state; the public is able to see a more clear picture about the events that led up to the crash. Nick Bollea has subsequently been charged with reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

Yesterday, the Clearwater Police Department released 225 pages of information. This follows the 911 tapes that were released yesterday.

The day appears to have begun when Terry Bollea (wrestler Hulk Hogan) went to a local Alberton’s along with Nick and Nick’s friends. Receipts indicate Hogan bought two cases of Miller Lite, two cases of Corona beer, one case of Miller Cheer Beer, and five bags of ice.

Later in the day, Nick and some of his friends, including Danny Jacobs (the driver of the other car involved in the incident) docked a boat at Shephard’s Tiki Bar on Clearwater Beach. It’s your typical beach party kind of place. The group got out of the boat and headed toward the bar, but when asked for identification they declined and returned to the boat. Everyone on the boat was holding a beer, except Nick. He was holding a plastic cup. Jacobs admits to drinking, both on the boat and at Shephard’s. Blood tests did show alcohol in Bollea’s system as well.

That leads us up to just before Nick Bollea crashed the yellow Supra. Jacobs says the group was heading to Arigato for dinner. An affidavit names several eye witnesses who say the Supra driven by Bollea was racing a silver Viper. Keep in mind that the posted speed limit on that part of Court Street is a generous 40 mph. Witnesses noted the cars fishtailing, pacing one another as they prepared to race, and playing “cat and mouse”.

Danny Jacobs, the driver of the Viper, told police he was not racing. Later, the mother of Graziano’s girlfriend overheard Jacobs tell a pastor he was driving 113 mpr or 130 mpr before Bolla crashed. He saw the crash in the rearview mirror of the Viper, tried to get in touch with Hogan on the phone, and when he could not he left to go find Hogan.

The same affidavit reads, in part that upon being taken to Bayfront Hospital immediately after the accident, John Graziano “had minimal brain wave activity. In addition, John Graziano III was on a full ventilation system and he was unable to move his extremities.” Paramedics found him at the scene with a finger-size hole in his forehead.

By the time police arrived at Bollea’s hospital room, attorney Kevin Hayslett was already there. His eyes bloodshot and mumbling as he spoke, Nick stopped talking to the police once it was determined he was suspected of committing a crime.

Keep in mind that the police have been aware of this information since the beginning. Although it is just now being released to the public, these are not new revelations.

If you read the forums where the locals post online, residents who were once proud to have Hulk Hogan and his family living here are fast becoming disenchanted.