Shaun here….and no, you won’t have to deal with me after today. Turns out Ms.Random and Odd’s scorching case of Shaunarrhea is cured with about three days rest and relaxation. Sorry we didn’t get to ‘Head’s Up 7-Up’, but our school district couldn’t afford the licensing deal. I’m sure everyone still enjoyed our game of ‘Head up time, Lemon-Lime’. Shut up, neither game has caffeine.
OK, so for my entry to this week’s SPF:
Something with a story behind it
The guy’s name is Elford. I met him while I was taking pictures, and this very uinique yard caught my eye.. As I was snapping away, he came out to water his lawn and to tell me his story. I’m guessing he gets visitors a lot.
Back in the 30’s, he lived with an aunt and uncle who wanted him to work in the family’s farm supply business. Elford, however, had a different dream: to play baseball. Elford had received an invitation to play for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. His family wasn’t poor, but they weren’t in favor of paying for the young Elford to play a game while avoiding becoming a businessman. So Elford ran away, and hopped trains all the way to San Francisco. He saw more of the country on those few days than in his entire life. If it wasn’t for the baseball field waiting for him, he might not have ever left that train.
The Seals had recently changed ownership, and had no record of Elford when he arrived. He pleaded for a chance to pitch, and they let him throw against the rookies. After some wild warm-up pitches, he struck out the first batter. The next batter hit a line drive off Elford’s throwing elbow. Elford hit the ground, and his baseball career ended with one strikeout.
Elford never made it back to Missouri. He got a job in California working for Union Pacific, where he worked hard for the next few years. One day in the mail, he received an envelope from the New York Yankees. Inside was glossy signed photograph with the notation: “To Elford, the only pitcher I couldn’t touch”….it was from the rookie Elford struck out in his one appearance. The rookie had made a name for himself, and remembered the day when Elford’s dream ended. Along with the photo was 500 shares of Union Pacific Railroad stock, which Elford saved and eventually used to buy the house in the photo above.
To remember the life the railroad gave him, Elford has collected a crossing signal from every train station that’s closed on the West Coast since the 60’s. People come from miles around to see the signals and to talk baseball. And while he’s now very retired, once a year he sends a few shares of Union Pacific stock to a minor league ballplayer who went down with an injury. He doesn’t sign the letter, just offers it the same way he was offered hope almost sixty years ago by a young outfielder named Joe DiMaggio.
A Random and Odd Photo
When you reply to this post, lhave a story or caption for this!!
Something Borrowed
An empty bed. the empty house, I like. It’s quiet and doesn’t mess itself up after I’ve cleaned it. The empty bed sucks. I’ve shaped the pillows like Kristine to try to get some sleep, just not the same. I’m giving this empty bed thing back!!!
Did you play?
(Oh, the first story is made up….just the house of some crazy old bastard who loves train stuff. I did say hi to him though)
66 responses to “”
Holy carp-I’m first? Love the first story. I was actually believing it.
Caption for 2nd picture:
“Oh Millie, Fred must have taken that there Viagra again!”
Last picture-I never sleep well when the hubs is out of town.
I played this week!
I played……..didn’t mean to so early, was going to post date it, but blogger was being a B*&^!!!!!
Here’s my title: OH MY, I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE THAT BIG BEFORE, HAVE YOU MARTHA? GOODNESS GRACIOUS I JUST WOULDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT!
no way, you totally had me going with that story, I bought it hook line and sinker! Good one. You are funny, I see why Kristine loves you! Happy Wedding!
I can’t believe you made up that story! Nice! And nice job subbing for Kristine this week. Ya done good.
My caption for that photo is: “Gee y’all this sure reminds me of my first husband Wilbur!”
I played!
You totally got me with the Joe DiMaggio story!!
My caption: “Meals on Wheels”
Have a fantastic Wedding!
You made that whole thing up? That’s a lot of detail, it was fun!
My quote would be Martha answering the Cameradawktor (who’s real name is really is Maude!)
“Oh, Maude, that’s nothing compared to my Harold!”
Oh…and I’m not sure I should admit this here but we really did have a reticulated python almost that big. His name was Monty. We found him a new home after we had our first kid. It made me kinda nervous, if you know what I mean!
I played…
My caption is
“Gertrude, how long do you think it will take us to knit a sweater for this thing?”
That was a good one. I was so falling for that story.
The ladies of Morning Glory Rest Home were treated to margaritas and a giant python as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Sorry about the empty bed. That sucks.
I played.
OMG… i think I should hand over SPF to him EVER week! Your captions had me cracking up.
My caption:
“Damn Viagra!”
Loved your Joe DiMaggio story, Shaun.
Caption: Matching shoes and purses forthcoming!
Awesome story, I bought it all! :)
Sorry about the bed…
and my caption – “Martha, Maude, help! This here snake is going right for my jibblies!”
I played, well sorta if blogger would work!
i did buy the story as well. actually a little bummed that it’s not true :)
happy SPF and i played, too.
ups, i forgot the caption: star of movie “anaconda” retired”
We haven’t played yet… but we will. We’ll come back and let you know when we do.
Shaun, I have missed you so! You really, really need to bring your blog out of retirement. Even if you only post twice a month…. we NEED your humor.
Okay, my caption…. “Finally found one big enough for all three of us.”
Your pix aren’t coming up … so I’ll check back later.
I played :)
Wow, that story got me and then you told the truth.
Awsome story :)
Caption :
Shaun and Kristine can use this to keep them kids in line Im sure, dont you think Gretel?
I played :)
Great story Shaun- you get an A+ for creativity. Great job taking over this week and I love the white socks with sandals look you’ve got going on there in your header photo.
My caption is “Henry, keep your good eye on where that snake is headed!”
I played, this was a fun one!
I was so impressed by the first stry, I cant believe you made that up!
Love the picture of the old ladies…cant wait to hear the story!
Sorry had the old email address in the comment section!
I played!
Very creative on the first story….
The caption: ya’ll think that’s big – well you ain’t seen my Henry….hehe
I played too!!!
You are such a shit. I bought the whole thing.
I played, but I forgot to follow directions.
I played too!
My caption: “I said, ‘Let’s bake a CAKE!’ You really need to get that hearing aid fixed!”
I played!
Damn that was a good story! I was totally buying it. “Chicken Soup for the SPF Soul”.
My caption: This anaconda don’t want none unless you’ve got corns hon!
I sort of played this week, it was tough!
Yes…I bought it too!
No creativity for a caption this morning (can’t come up with anything different than what has been said), but Sheri played today.
I was buying into that story also, almost to the end! Very creative.
I’m not creative:
caption: “We’re having WHAT for a snack?”
I played.
I played. All the good captions have been stolen already.
You crazy ass.
I was totally into that story too.
Damn you.
Is that a snake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
I played.
no way could you have made up this story. i totally bought… too bad it is not true.
my caption for picture 2: “This pet feels an awful lot like a purse I used to own”
Shaun, you did a great job this week. Thanks…
and I played.
NOW we played.
Shaun, you are such a shit with that story. I was sitting here crying my eyes out over that one.
My caption: “Helen, will you take that stupid hat off and refill my cocktail- Oh and will you wipe off my glasses I’m seeing things over here.”
Happy SPF- I played
Great story! I played.
Loving your pix! And that story–I thought it was true!!
Caption “We’ll never get to Bingo now!!”
Any caption I could come up with has already been said, so I’ll just say that is a crazy photo.
I played
I played.
too damn funny…
peace…
Shaun, you have the wildest imagination!! I thought that was the coolest story…..then you had to let me down!!! J/K
I played. Half-assed, but I did it.
The good ones were taken, so I’ll go with the 10 year old boy theme:
“Yes, girls, I know you’re shocked, but it really was just this big. That Dulcolax does the trick every time.”
Hi, I played for the first time ever! Had a good time participating. Thanks for a cute game to pass time at work.
I read that entire first story just to find it was made up!! Wow!
Guess what, Kristine?! Just GUESS?! Guess who bought a brand-spankin’ new camera and will totally be playing SPF Friday from now on?! If she doesn’t forget?! Because of the airheadedness?!
Phew. I’m exhausted from all those exclamations. It’s me, yo?
Huzzah!
Oh, you had me with that story.
My caption is “Monty Python and the Holy Widows.”
I played.
Oh, and hi, Shaun!
(*waves to Shaun with cheeky grin*)
Damn. I pressed Post before I typed my caption. Grr…
Lady at far left says: “Stop looking at my va-jay-jay!”
I played! Great pic with the snake. My caption: “Which one of us is going to slice it open to get the to bags of cocaine?”
*misty-eyed expression by woman in the middle as she softly strokes the snake*
“This so reminds me of my sweet Earl…he used to love it when I did this…”
And that was a GREAT story, Shaun! Dirty that ya made the whole thing up, but GREAT, nonetheless!
I played :)
Okay, I totally bought the story too.
My caption: Hey Maude, weren’t there four of us …? Where’s Martha????
How funny about the made-up story. LOL! Very creative!
My caption: “Hmmm, what does this feel like?” LOL!
The bed will not be empty much longer!
I played on my new blog.
I played!
And my caption is:
“No WONDER they call Voldemort the dark lord!”
loved the story, well written!
Great pictures and a great work of fiction!
I played.
Great story, you totally had me going.
I played.
I played today! I’ll come back for a caption – I can’t see the photo at my work due to firewall! ;)
Have a great Friday!
I played!
Here’s my story: “The three adventurers, tired after their long day in the rain forest, was surprised to see this creature in their tent. The snake tried to escape, but he was trapped… the ladies needed a fourth player for their bridge game.”
I played! I forgot to comment though. Duh!
Love the train story.
Love that yard! I think if I ever got a little money, I would be that guy with a yard full of something…I used to want about 50 lawn donkeys, but maybe I’ll go with some gnomes! Hope all the wedding stuff is going well!
I played as well this week!!!
I played.
Caption: Nice snakey, nice snakey.
Oh man! I totally fell for the first story! Just for that, I’m not writing a caption for your stinkin’ “old ladies with boa” photo (oops…does that count as a caption? Pretty unoriginal, so hopefully not).
Coming back just to say you should totally write for “Chicken Soup for the Soul” :P
THAT was a beautiful story. I totally believed it because I wanted to believe it. At first I knew you made it up but then I got sucked in and hoped it was true. Damn you!
And my eyes are all wet from your pic of the empty bed. I really loved having all those girls in my house. It was chaos but way fun.
See you next Friday :)
“When Herb asked us if we wanted to pet his snake, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
First of all, I played.
Caption: Bertha, this isn’t what I meant by, “I like a big one.”
Creative story.
Caption “when’s the last time this place called an exterminator?”
I played.
Oh man – you totally had me going with the first story – me being a baseball fan and all!
Caption: Snake says to himself, “Wonder if they taste like prunes?”
Hoping you are with your love soon!
Your imagination is great Shaun…loved your story just like it seems everyone did…..
I played
Oh my gosh, I loved that story, and I wish I never got to the end of this post. Oh well, I’m good at living in an alternate reality, so haha, I didn’t ever read that it wasn’t true!
Life After Payday Loans
Now that’s a nice website! Thanks!