I'm not a change guy

I’m not a change kind of guy. Today at the airport, I needed to empty my pockets. I asked the TSA official if I needed to empty my pocket of change. He asked how much & I responded by showing at least a handful. He told me to put in a bin. When I emptied my pocket, he looked in shock. He asked how long I had been accumulating my change. I answered Thanksgiving & then said when I came home for Thanksgiving, I had about $20 of change in my pocket. He laughed, handed me my bin, & we went our separate ways. Oddly enough, I did not empty my change-filled pocket when I came home for Thanksgiving.

Living in Philadelphia, I toured the US Mint. Very educational, although seeing the actual minting process was a letdown. One interesting fact is they only produce coins, not dollar bills, there. To explore Philadelphia, I use the Market-Frankford Line, commonly known as the EL. While I use tokens for Mass & other ministry & job-related travels, I use my own money for recreational purposes. Each time costs $2.25, & as the SEPTA officers will so kindly inform you, exact change only. Therefore, I have kept my change on my nightstand, & when I go on adventures into the city, I grab my quarters. The other denominations are left behind. Rarely do I ever use change elsewhere. Sure, it would be helpful. Sure, I would not use those green bills. I’m just not a change guy.

Unfortunately, today required me to make an exception. While eating at Subway, I needed a refill. I asked for a refill, only to be told it cost 54 cents! I groaned in disgust. I bought their food, am looking for something to quench my thirst when enjoying their food, & they are going to charge me more for that? BS! Sadly, my thirst overcame my displeasure. Luckily, I had change. I handed the cashier the change unhappily, snatched my drink from him, & stormed away. When I was home over Thanksgiving Break, I cashed in my change. Finally putting all the denominations to good use. I used that money for Christmas presents. Yes, I will continue to use quarters in my exploration of Philadelphia & the surrounding area. The change will accumulate on my nightstand though. What can I say? I’m not a change guy

My 2018 MLB Predictions

With the 2018 baseball season underway, I give you my predictions for this season. Naturally, this cannot predict injuries, trades, or other extenuating circumstances, so keep that in mind. Here we go with Mark Kristl's 2018 MLB predictions.

AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox-wild card
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Rays

AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Minnesota Twins-wild card
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Chicago White Sox

AL West
1. Houston Astros
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
5. Oakland A's

NL East
1. Washington Nationals
2. New York Mets
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Miami Marlins

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals-wild card
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Colorado Rockies-wild card
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Francisco Giants
5. San Diego Padres

AL Wild Card: Boston over Minnesota
NL Wild Card: St. Louis over Colorado

ALDS: Houston over Boston & New York over Cleveland
NLDS: Los Angeles over St. Louis & Washington over Chicago

ALCS: Houston over New York
NLCS: Washington over Los Angeles

World Series: Houston Astros win back-to-back World Series championships by defeating the Washington Nationals

Jeb Burton & #26 BK Racing Team

In The Hunger Games series, there is a repeated line. “May the odds be ever in your favor.” While that line is proclaimed in regards to the tributes that fight to the death within The Hunger Games, it applies to young NASCAR driver Jeb Burton. Whom the odds repeatedly fall in his favor. There are many similarities between Jeb Burton & Parker Kligerman. Of course, having read, “Hang With ‘Em Parker Kligerman, Hang with ‘Em,” you know Kligerman’s story. Allow me then the opportunity to share the similarities between Kligerman & Jeb Burton.

Both began their careers in the NASCAR Truck Series. Both won a race. Both race Toyotas in the NASCAR Cup Series. Each has driven for a team no longer in business. Both race for one of the lower-tier NASCAR Cup Series teams. Here is the main difference. Burton so far has found himself in a driver’s seat continuously throughout his career.

In 2013, he drove for Turner Scott Motorsports & finished the season 5th in points with a victory at Texas. Unfortunately, shortly before the 2014 season began, his primary sponsor, Arrowhead Cigarettes, defaulted on its payments & Turner Scott Motorsports folded #4 team due to the lack of sponsorship. Burton landed on his feet. He signed a one-race deal with ThorSport Racing, & his sponsor Estes Express Lines upgraded Burton to a full schedule. He finished the season 8th in points but bad luck again beset him in early 2015. Estes Express Lines announced they were unable to reach a deal & subsequently Burton again was out of a job. Recently, BK Racing added Burton to its driver lineup & he is running for the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Award.

A young talent, stable sponsorship with BK Racing’s relationship with Burger King, Jeb Burton appears to have landed on his feet & be able to stand up straight. Moreover, he can drive without fear of his sponsor costing him his job at the end of the season. It is an opportunity for Burton to grow & become the leader of BK Racing. At the minimum in this economy, it is a job. Go get ‘em Jeb Burton, you deserve this. After all, you have landed on your feet once again. It is a new season; clean track ready for rubber from both teams with consistent lineups & new teams ready to prove their worth. Lastly, teams changed personnel in hopes of a good season. An example? Jeb Burton & #26 BK Racing team

It is my first souvenir in Philadelphia

Doing a year of service will not make me wealthy monetarily. Frankly, it will not even get me out of my debt. As we began community night this evening, we entered a store full of antique & neat knick-knacks. Older books, Coke bottles, a 1903 geologic map of the United States, & odd items I was told would look great in my room. Looking at the Coke bottles, mason jars, mason jar lids, & other old pop bottles, one caught my attention. A 1953 Presidential Inauguration bottle, with the US Capitol & some text on the front & a list of the presidents up to that time on the back. Based off the label, my deduction is that it contained some sort of alcohol, fine liquors as it is officially stated. Costing only $8. I held onto it, browsing through the other items, nearly making a mess in the process. The realization occurred to me of the notion, for only $8, I can own a new piece of history, at least a conversational peace, & I am in Philadelphia, one of the top historical cities in the world. Therefore, I purchased it. I doubt it is worth much. Certainly not Pawn Stars-worthy. Most than likely there were thousands of bottles. Yet who truly knows? Imagination could tell you the newly elected president & his wife drank from this bottle. Perhaps an underage person drank from it, a juicy story for the tabloids. Regardless, I own it now. It is my first souvenir in Philadelphia.