Cee is still on a break, and I’d skip this post if it weren’t for JusJoJan, Linda G. Hill’s world famous inspirational challenge. Today’s prompt is “Family” from one of my favorite bloggers, Kim, who’s wandering around Florida at the moment. Check our her blog as she winds her way around the country.

Now that football is over (for my team) and hockey is looking sketchy (for my team), all thoughts turn to baseball. Family and baseball combine to bring back memories of 1979 when the Pittsburgh Pirates adopted Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” as the team official theme song and rode that music all the way to the World Series.

Just Jot January 10-year badge
1979 Official theme song of the Pittsburgh Pirates

We’ve been living with rain, snow, sleet, ice and grey skies for so long. I’m not sure I remember what the sun looks like. So, for today’s visit to the archive, I searched on “Bright” and here we go.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

103 responses to “On to Baseball? – JusJoJan”

  1. The Steelers and the Pens?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes and yes. Although I still have hope that the Pens will start playing consistent good hockey and march through the playoffs.

      Like

  2. petespringerauthor Avatar
    petespringerauthor

    I’m old enough to remember Sister Sledge, We Are Family, and the Pirates. Willie “Pops” Stargell, Dave “The Cobra” Parker, Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock, and John “The Candy Man” Candelaria come to mind.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Good memory, Pete. I’d add Kent Tekulve, but you covered the bases pretty well. Stargell adopted the song, and it stuck.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. petespringerauthor Avatar
        petespringerauthor

        Yes, Tekulve had that weird sidearm delivery.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Yeah, it never looked like those balls would ever get near the plate.

          Liked by 1 person

      2. Bert Blyleven was on that team, too, wasn’t he?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. He was. I had to check, he didn’t play for us very long, but the name sounded familiar.

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          1. He spent most of his career with the Twins, but I remembered he made a not-insignificant contribution to the Pirates’ pennant run and the World Series.

            Willie Stargell was the Braves’ hitting coach when Chuck Tanner was the manager. Stargell was working with the Braves when he was elected to the Hall of Fame.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. I didn’t know that. Thanks.

              Liked by 1 person

  3. That locomotive image tricked me for a second. I was like Wait, that looks like India? On closer inspection, Nah. That’s just way too clean.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha – I love the paint scheme on those locos, Sharukh. They don’t all gleam in the sun, but when I see one, I am thrilled.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. You had to do it, didn’t you? “Bright sunshiny day.” Well, at least it will be in my head if not out my windows. Thanks for the reminder of what sunshine looks like!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. At least I didn’t add “Here comes the sun.” Oops. Sorry. Still grey skies here.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. I enjoyed your photos, as always, Dan! I was at PNC Park in 2003 — a couple of years after it opened. Beautiful stadium.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Dave. I haven’t been in all that many stadiums, but certainly, of the three I was in in Pittsburgh, PNC is the best by far. We try to get down for a game every year.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, it IS great…and right in the city. I haven’t been to many Major League Baseball stadiums, either — maybe six in addition to PNC Park? The old version of Yankee Stadium, the now-gone Shea Stadium (Mets), Wrigley Field (Cubs), the now-gone Comiskey Park (White Sox), the now-gone Seattle Kingdome (Mariners), and the Montreal Expos stadium long before that franchise moved. As you can see, I haven’t been to an MLB game in a while. :-)

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Out of that group, I’ve been to the old version of Yankee Stadium, Shea and the Kingdome

          Liked by 1 person

  6. Ginger Salvatore Avatar
    Ginger Salvatore

    “We Are Family”…great song!

    You sure shared some great shots of ‘bright’. At 6:30am it’s pitch dark here this morning. That’s an incredible sunrise you captured! That little squirrel in the tree wouldn’t be blinded by the sun lately, that’s for sure. Beautiful Bluejay.

    Always a pleasure to see Old Glory with a gorgeous blue sky for background.

    Hope you have a great week as we say goodbye to January and hello to February.

    Ginger💞

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We’re under grey skies, Ginger, and some form of precipitation is falling. The squirrels are gathering on the front porch and running up and down the ramp. Nothing bright about this day except their expectations.

      It’s hard to believe that February will happen this week. When I was searching for “bright,” it was funny how many pictures were in the winter.

      I hope you have a great week. Maybe the sun will pop out and say hi. I always forget whether we want the groundhog to see his shadow or not, but I’d prefer a sunny day this week.

      Like

  7. Sorry, Dan but baseball is like watching paint dry to me…unless you’re physically at a game. You have fun with that. Sorry your football team lost, but I think it’s going to be a great super bowl this year. My team lost too by the way.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My favorite way to follow baseball in on the radio. A good announcer can make any baseball game interesting. The super bowl should be a good game. I was rooting for Detroit (and against the Ravens) so I got half of my wish, yesterday.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Good for you! I’m excited for the super bowl, but not the Taylor Swift hype. I’m just not into her, lol. I’m happy she’s made such success for herself, etc. but I don’t know but a song or two of hers that I even like.
        I should have put captions on the last gallery I did, like you do, but I was too lazy. Sorry about that!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Thank you for the bright sunny way to start off the day!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My pleasure, Liz. I hope I get to add some “bright” pictures to the archives this week.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I wasn’t thrilled with the KC game and Super Bowl is not something I’m looking forward to this year, but at least hockey is looking very good. I won’t be bothered with baseball until after the preseason games.
    I hoping the sun shows itself today!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can’t root for the Ravens, GP, even though my dad said “You root for your team, your division and your conference.” Nope, can’t do it. But, I don’t have much of a connection to either team going forward. The best I have is Brock Purdy went to Iowa State (so did my brother, who still lives in Ames). That’s a slim thread.

      I’m still optimistic about hockey, but it’s a stretch at this point. Baseball is a long slow season. I think there will be things to get excited about, and I hope to get to Pittsburgh to see a game. IT looks like tomorrow will be the sunny day this week. I’ll be out there for it. Take care.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Since my football teams are out, I either find that slim threat to root for or I get totally bored – too many commercials.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. A wonderful eclectic collection to start the week. Pitchers and catchers report soon! I haven’t visit PNC Park, but would like to because it looks wonderful. FYI: Dave Parker’s health isn’t very good.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sad to hear that, Frank. He was an important part of that team. PNC is a great little ballpark. I started watching the Pirates at Forbes Field, and then suffered through Three Rivers Stadium. PNC is so much better than Three Rivers.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I recall seeing Forbes Field on TV back in the day. The batting cage stored deep in the outfield. I used to wonder if a player would get mugged out there. Isn’t part of the outfield wall still on the Pitt campus?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. There’s a marker identifying where Bill Mazeroski’s home run cleared the wall. I’m not sure if it’s part of the original wall, but people gather there every October 13th to replay the game. It’s funny. It wasn’t their first World Series win and it wasn’t the last, but it still seems to be the most loved one in the city.

          Like

  11. Thank u for the photos that cheer us up. Cold places are the best option for those who love indoir life reading for hours on end in frint of a fireplace…not for me. I can’t do without the Portuguese weather: sunshiny days in January even if only after 12 am…cold nights though…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We are fans of all four seasons, here.

      Like

  12. Baseball? Calm down, young man!
    Thanks for the bright, Dan, coz up here, we did not see much of it this January. It’s been a mostly grey month. Ugh.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was the song, Dale. As soon as I hear “Family” my head goes there. All grey here, too. Blah.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 😁
        So sick of the grey blah.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. To heck with tulips and daffodils, baseball is my true harbinger of spring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And someone will surely eat our tulips and daffodils.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Thanks for picking bright Dan. We are in need of some sunshine too !

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We’re supposed to see a sunny day tomorrow, John. I’m going to get up at sunrise to be sure.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I am going to wait until the last moment for inspiration on that count. We are currently following no schedule.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. I’m still immersed in football. I mean once Taylor’s boyfriend’s team coached by Wilford Brimley wins the Super Bowl, I may be able to think about baseball. A goal, I guess.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha! They do look alike. I’m not big enough fans of either team to root for one over thew other. I’m still hanging onto hope for hockey.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Be grateful your baseball team isn’t owned by the Monfort Bros. (of Colorado Rockies fame), the worst owners in all of MLB. I swear they’ll turn you into a non-fan in no time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Worse than Bob Nutting? That’s hard to believe. Interestingly thought, The Hartford Yardgoats are a farm team for the Rockies. We try to get to a couple games each year. It’s always a fun evening.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Trust me when I say, yes. I mean, they traded Nolan Arenado…who does that?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Argh…sorry about the typo. Feel free to remove that ‘d’ from medan. 🙄 Guess my fingers are still asleep (or more than likely just cold from taking Wilson out this morning.

          Liked by 1 person

  17. Great selection of images to share Bright, Dan. I loved the squirrel peeking out of its hole in the tree. The light was amazing as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Deborah. I found a ton of pictures in the library under “Bright” – that squirrel is just the cutest thing.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. The squirrel photo in the tree is so cute. You need to provide an awning to keep the sun out, Dan. 😎
    Try as I might, I cannot get interested in football. But Taylor Swift’s team won last night, so that’s good. 😆 I do get a kick out of the Kelce boys!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I guess we have to deal with one more game for Taylor Swift’s team. I’ll be curious to see if they’re still together for training camp. Those boys sure can catch.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Thanks for all the sunny photos, Dan. Stay safe and warm. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Teagan. Still no sun here – maybe tomorrow.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The oddly long (for us) stretch of thickly-clouded days (and a few days with actual rain!) seems to have run out here. Finally a sunny morning today. Overnight lows are about the same as yours, but the afternoons are nice. Unfortunately, the weeds agree — they’re already thriving. :/

        Liked by 1 person

        1. At least our weeds are dormant. If we get too much of a warm spell, things will start budding. That’s never good.

          Like

  20. I like your bright photos. We cheered for the Chiefs yesterday and enjoyed the game. No cheering for the Patriots this year. Happy Monday and may you get some sun.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think we’ll see the sun tomorrow, Judy. I was also rooting for the Chiefs yesterday.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Great photos. I wore my Pirates hat out to ride yesterday. The wool felt good in the 39 degree temp. I think looking forward to baseball is a good thing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think you’re right, John. It is a good thing.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. All things right and beautiful. But that squirrel in the tree hole…🥰Baseball is very special for me. My Dad loved it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That squirrel is so dang cute, Cheryl. Gets me every time. My dad loved baseball, too.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. I hope you have a winning team this year!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Last year I was hoping they didn’t lose 100 games again (they had for two years). This year, I’m hoping for a winning season.

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  24. PNC park, a great place to catch a game! And the backdrop is stunning.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is. It’s my favorite ball park.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Sorry to hear that your teams are out of the running, Dan. And thanks for the glimpses of sunshine. We’re on short supply of that here too and probably won’t see much of it until May, so the photos were very welcome!!! Have a great week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We should have some sunshine tomorrow, Diana. I’ll tell it to keep moving west.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Great sunshine photos, Dan. The sun finally came out here yesterday. It was welcomed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It feels good when it shows up, doesn’t it?

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  27. I think I really needed to see those bright pictures. It has been so grey here for so long. I saw blue sky and I will admit that I stopped for a minute. It was difficult to accept the fact that I was actually seeing blue sky. Isn’t that silly. They say there’s going to be sun for most of the week, the temperatures are all going to be above zero but I won’t believe it until I see it. February is coming…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We should see some sun this week, too, Pam. Like you, I’ll believe that when I see it.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Love the blue jay! Hoping the weather warms up for you soon Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Wayne! The blue jays are always a welcome bit of color.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Much as I enjoy the other shots, the squirrel peeking out of the hole in the tree is my favorite today. Hope your baseball team has better luck that the others. 😘

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That little squirrel tugs at my heart. So cute. I always leave peanuts at the base of the tree.

      Liked by 1 person

  30. We had a break in the weather today, and a bright sun has melted the snow. I’m hoping the same for you and yours, Dan. It’s amazing the difference sunshine can make. 🌞

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We’re supposed to see the sun tomorrow, Gwen. I hope this forecast is right. But, today was a good grey day. Snow, and rain kept me inside, but I was able to finish your latest book.

      Like

  31. Thanks for the glimpses of the sun!
    Hockey is looking iffy here too (Devils fans)
    And as to the Mets…(K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m only hoping for a winning season, Kerfe, not a World Series 😊 The key here is low expectations.

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  32. I didn’t know the Pirates theme song was “We Are Family”. Cool! Do they sing the song at the seventh inning stretch, like the Red Sox sing “Sweet Caroline”?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was just that one year. They sing Take me out to the ballgame with a bouncing Eat’n Park Smiley cookie and pierogi race around the warning track

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Great sunny pics!!!! Sad to see the football season coming to an end:(

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Love that song. Our football (HS) plays we will rock you😂

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s a good one too

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  35. Oh, that sunrise! <3 <3 <3

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Those ’79 Pirates were a great team. One of my best friends at that time was a huge Pirates fan, and he was thrilled with their results that season. I still haven’t made it out “West” to check out PNC. Last time I saw the Bucs in Pittsburgh it was in Three Rivers…yikes. I do wish the Pirates were in the NL East. I’ve hated the fact they wound up in the Central. For me, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia should always be in the same division no matter the sport!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t understand some of the team alignment decisions. PNC is so much nicer than Three Rivers for baseball.

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Great song… no surprise it swept them through.. and terrific photographs – a hint of spring from the Blue Jay and we are enjoying the few more minutes of sun each day.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, the days are getting longer. I wish the clouds would let the sun shine through, but the grey skies are lighter.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. Hi Dan, as you know, I’m not a sports fan and I only know a bit about cricket because both my sons played. I can’t comment on your teams performances. I love you photographs. The light is marvelous.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There is a lot of energy and attention being given to sports around here, Robbie. The photos are here for when sports doesn’t cut it.

      Like

  39. […] No Facilities – “I think this story captures quite well that there are things in almost every situation that we don’t understand. Even as I was reading about characters tying to discover the truth, my mind was wandering into possibilities that were driven by imagination and fear for the girl, and later for the boy. I think Gary expected that and used that to maintain an atmosphere of suspense. Whatever he did, it worked. I found myself wanting to finish the story quickly.” […]

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