Hi All Baseball weather made to order.. That's what we've had in Othello the last couple of days. down more than 20 degrees from the scorching heat of the weekend. Lows in the lower 60s and highs in the lower 80s and not a cloud in the sky. Also if you would like to come out for the last couple of games the Quality Inn in Othello has lots of rooms available with teams clearing out. Little League price is down around $110 and includes breakfast- so cheap rooms and breakfast AND its one block away from the fields. don't even need to drive to them. For the rest of the meals, the whole town has some of the best taco trucks and Mexican restaurants I have had in a long time. yes I am eating way too much. plus the concession stand is outrageously good - wow! It was late after the games (around 8:30PM) the other night when I decided I would drive to the other side of town to a taco truck all the locals said was the best. The sun was setting and the air was soft and balmy with the light breeze and no clouds. The sunset was a red glow on the horizon, with the sky turning orange, then purple, then the dark blue growing in the east. I was by myself and thought it would be nice just to sit outside and relax. Being around a lot of people all day wears me out - I can only handle so many folks in a day, Besides, Othello gets to be one of those "sleepy small towns" after 8 PM. The taco truck was parked in a dusty vacant lot on the edge of town. In the vacant city block were a handful of cars parked in the dirt lot. It was getting to be a little past "dusk" and when I opened my truck door the sound of Mexican music from a stereo outside on a table near the truck wafted towards me. The taco truck owners had erected a permanent structure - a canopy made out of a few metal poles and some nsheet metal roofing over 8 or so wooden picnic tables out in front of the taco truck. No restaurant, no floor, just dirt under your feet, the taco truck, and about a half a dozen Little League families with the players still in uniform that were seated around the tables. Three or four younger kids were running around playing tag. On the side of the truck was a menu of about a hundred items - mostly written in Spanish - (Othello is 80+% Hispanic) - some of the items I hadn't seen in years since I lived down near the border in Texas. I carefully selected my dinner, and picked out a picnic table to sit on. As I watched the families, listened to the music, smelled the glorious smell of asada, camerones, and carnitas cooking, I was transported to another place. I felt peaceful, happy, and content seeing happy families enjoying something simple and easy. No video games, no phones, no Kindles, no iPads were out texting or taking selfies, no drama or yelling, just people sitting around talking, eating, and reliving the events of the day. I didn't talk to anyone sitting in my corner. I just listened and watched. Strangers were sharing stories with strangers, and people were being happy. You could see it on their faces, and hear it in their voices. "Civilians" were asking the Little Leaguers about the tournament. and in turn the Little League parents were asking the strangers about the town. As I sipped my Coke from an "old school" glass Coke bottle and ate an extremely satisfying dinner served on a paper plate with a plastic fork and knife, I watched the families and strangers leave one-by-one - everyone said goodbye to each other as they left - as if they had known each other for years even though they had just met at a Taco Truck in Othello. I stayed for another 20 minutes after the last person left, watching the days last hurrah on the sunset. I said my goodbye to the taco truck owners and headed back to the room. It was a good night that could not have been manufactured or planned. As I drove down the deserted streets to the hotel I didn't really have any thoughts which is rare for me. I was happy, full, and content. I slept well. Wanted to say thanks for Dave from the Tri-Cities (Thanks Kim!) for being the anchor at the plate for much of the tournament during the middle stretch of the week. The umpire situation is getting better now that we have fewer games to manage. The City of Othello continues to rock the tournament with perfect field prep and attention to the smallest details around the complex. Add to that, many "unaffiliated locals" are coming out to watch the games. Parents from the community are bringing their kids to watch the games, while older adults who are retired are coming out as well. It's quality entertainment in Othello courtesy of Little League! The games yesterday were outstanding - good baseball and no blowouts. We have games tonight at 6PM Scores from last night's games: Richland 5 - eliminated Magnolia 9 North Kitsap 10 - first loss Bonney Lake 13 Cordially JP DA WA5/13