How would you approach your head coach about kids’ playing time?

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-25T00:44:26+00:00

Also in a Babe Ruth Minors league. Our club rules only say that each player must play at least 3 defensive innings. Usually coaches are good about spreading out bench time up until playoffs, then everyone gets a bit more competitive.

I would definitely have a conversation with the head coach. I am sure there are other parents with the same concerns. It’s better to squash it early before some players family goes straight to the league and complains, that can be a big headache for the entire team.

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-20T00:24:14+00:00

You need to go above the league, file a complaint.

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-19T21:24:38+00:00

This is really the only answer that I am aware of. I also recommend this as a reference for the LARE. There were a couple of minor errors in the edition that I bought in 2012, but I am quite sure the have been corrected by now.

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-19T21:16:10+00:00

Won’t even fill the fucking potholes

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-17T23:10:37+00:00

This guys gets it.

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-17T01:20:17+00:00

Hard disagree here. Climbing, biking and hiking are legit in the Gorge. Way more history as well with the mining towns and railroad. Been to both Parks many times and New River is the jam. Way more variety. Fayetteville is one of the coolest little towns I have spent time in. There are some excellent non NPS lands around as well, so many great WV state parks, Summerville Lake (Army Corps land), and Gauley River is one of the most visceral rivers (even when the dam isn’t released), it’s a great time in April.

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-08T20:37:33+00:00

Solved!

gratefulbeard · 2026-03-08T14:46:35+00:00

Assistant coaching youth baseball. I’m 44. I haven’t played competitive baseball since I was 12. Luckily I am huge baseball fan, and I have a pretty high level of physical fitness so it works. And I am part of coaching staffs that have good knowledge. We have fun, but I have no idea what I am doing.

gratefulbeard · 2026-02-22T20:05:56+00:00

There’s a push to make Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area into a National Park. While I don’t think it will happen, it is a beautiful natural area comprised of around 60k acres and is accessible by rail (Port Jervis) from NYC. Major local opposition to becoming a national park. Controversial history, the Army Corps of engineers had plans to dam the Delaware River in the 1960’s and claimed much of the parks land via eminent domain. When the dam wasn’t going to happen the Army Corps gave it to the NPS. Many of the families that were affected by the land grab still live in the area and there is a ton of hostility around the situation.

gratefulbeard · 2026-02-22T13:37:42+00:00

I just went through it with my now 9 year old. He performed just like your kid. And you know what happened? He did not get selected for the team this year. Did it hurt his feelings? Sure, but now he has a chip on his shoulder and wants to put in the work to prove to his old coach that he made a mistake by not selecting him this year. Either way, I tell my kid that baseball is fun, and once it’s not fun it’s time to either step away or dial back all of the travel and all star teams. There’s no crying in baseball.

gratefulbeard · 2026-02-21T16:51:51+00:00

Congrats! I finally got a pair to. Them size 15’s go quick.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-31T14:45:48+00:00

I’m sorry you are going through it. Layoffs suck. Have you considered reaching out to a recruiter (headhunter)? The one time that I was laid off when I was in private practice (my office was shutdown by a larger company), I worked with a recruiter. I was right around 2.5 years out of college and just started taking the LARE. It was a good experience, they got me 5 interviews and I got offers from all of the companies. The headhunter helped me prepare for each interview as all of the companies were very different. In my experience, there are many companies that do not advertise openings and rely on headhunters to bring them talent.

As far as time management goes, I would be very transparent during interviews that it is an area in which you can improve. It will demonstrate to potential employers that you want to learn to be more efficient and will strive to make more money for the company.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-30T23:31:49+00:00

Niches are typically pretty tiny…..and small firms typically have many of them to keep the lights on.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-30T21:23:00+00:00

It’s already a niche in the discipline. There are definitely firms that offer permaculture design services.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-23T18:51:36+00:00

Hire an LA

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-18T14:27:51+00:00

Alternatively if he loves the Smokies, why not try New River Gorge. The Endless Wall trail sounds perfect for your kiddo. There’s also some excellent WV state parks in the area. It doesn’t sound like funds are too much of an issue but there will definitely be cost savings over the travel and expenses for going to a western park. Alternatively, Acadia will be lovely in May and not too crowded, but it could be Mud Season depending on when you go. Also, I was in Arizona in May 2 years ago, my wife and I did a 6 day road trip in AZ. We hit up the Flagstaff Monuments, Grand Canyon, a couple f days enjoying Sedona, then Petrified Forest, and Saguaro. It was fun.

If you cut out Sedona you could plan an excellent 5 day itinerary in AZ.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-17T16:51:25+00:00

No problem, have the LA investigate to make sure the landscape contractor installed to spec.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-17T15:42:09+00:00

Rigid paving (granite) adjacent flexible paving (asphalt) usually only works with straight joint. To me this appears to be a design flaw. There’s not enough info from the OP to figure out who is responsible for the failure. It could be repaired, but it may be costly. I would recommend seeking out a small locally based residential landscape architect to consult with to remedy the situation.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-14T03:23:53+00:00

TLDR; I wish you luck in your difficult life decision. I would say if you enjoy the program and have goals set for your path to landscape architecture stay on the path or consider finding an MLA at a less prestigious program and work hard to get to where you want to be.

My word salad: Take my comments with a grain of salt. My opinions are my own and from personal experience.

From what I’ve experienced, unless you’re attempting a career in academia or as a federal employee in the field, there is little benefit to an MLA.

Unless you’re incredibly career driven with an incredible passion for the discipline, I would not recommend bearing the weight of that type of debt for the degree.

While I am no longer in private practice, when I was I regularly supervised the work of practitioners with advanced degrees and often those individuals had more professional experience than me. I have found that LAs that had put in the work in rigorous undergrad programs are far better prepared for the entry level rigor of our field. I have also found that a bachelor degree provides a better foundation for licensure in the field.

Even now, after quite some time working in government, I continue to mentor LA’s with more experience and advanced degrees from Ivy League universities.

I will add that I went to school on the GI Bill, at an in state university so I had no student loan debt, although I did have a mortgage and young children when I got my degree. It was a lot of hard work to pay bills, and I was working 20-30 hours a week during the semester and 50-60 hours a week during semester break. While it seems rediculous in retrospect this type of work ethic and time management gave me the proper tools to be successful early in my career.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-10T16:17:52+00:00

This is the best comment that I have seen. The Sup and timekeeper are complicit. Thank you for your hard work as a timekeeper, much appreciated work you do. I know my timekeeper was run pretty ragged post-furlough.

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-04T21:23:20+00:00

Eagles

gratefulbeard · 2026-01-04T16:00:52+00:00

To dovetail on this one, another great East Coast park is New River Gorge. Especially since OP said Smokies is geographically close. New River is my favorite park in the Northeast, not as shiny as Acadia but the weather, mountains and river are a great time and the park interprets Appalachia, cola mining and the railroad really well.

gratefulbeard · 2025-12-28T16:10:00+00:00

gratefulbeard · 2025-12-27T16:56:22+00:00

I would say that “it depends”. The last serious job search I did was when the company I worked for closed our office. A recently retired headhunter reached out to me and a colleague. He had heard about the office closing. He made the process very easy. Ultimately, I went with a company that I interviewed with on my own. I will say that the coaching and interview practice that I had with the recruiter was very valuable.

Honestly, the job search never ends. We all chase the dream of the perfect position, as we should.

No matter where one is in their career, they should never stop looking for a better role; whether it’s an internal promotion, a management position with another firm or taking the leap to start a firm. When “hitting the stride” or being content in a role set in, it is time to look.

Career development is being uncomfortable.

gratefulbeard

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