Swan Song For This Blog

Swan Song For This Blog
March 30, 2011

This will be a wrap-up posting of the Construction Blog since construction of the athletic fields is pretty much completed with just a few features to be added in the coming year (funds permitting). The ball field is a volunteer miracle—look for a link to its progress in “Panda Press Weekly.” The link will give an up-date on improvements to the field as well as the ongoing adventure of NDA’s fastball team (off to a promising start at this posting). Added here is a photo of a few fastball players practicing in the bull pen/batting cage (a puzzle to the Muses, as past readers will recall)—a nice parting shot and reminder of how thorough the plans of the volunteer team are.

The other photo was taken of the soccer field covered in, yes, snow on the morning of March 27th. This shot is not from the swan’s fly-over, but from the school’s third floor roof. Of course, what caught blogger’s eye was the clear outline of the NDA (which, it is hoped, you can make out) in the middle of the field. Predictably, the snow melted completely—well almost—by late morning when the first of several teams showed up to do tournament battle that day. What is still to be realized in this area is the required surface on the track so that our track team can practice on home territory. Blogger’s understanding is that a few field features will be added to the D zones. Indeed, an on-going saga on a once soggy scape.

With these last few notes of blogger’s swan song, she bids you a fond farewell, dear Readers. Thank you for your indulgence in reading of these pages (around 100 in type). It’s been fun for blogger and very instructive. God bless your every endeavor, and be sure to check in on NDA’s Heritage blog occasionally. Perhaps someday the history of the school’s athletic pursuits will appear there.
For now, aurevois.

Not Out to the Ballgame Just Yet #1

Long winter--long time since the last blog. Blogger's apologies: it's just a bit daunting to head out with camera in one hand and umbrella or snow shovel in the other. But now that the earth is nearing its spring equinox in its journey around the sun, we see this orb a bit more than in the previous months.

Now down to business: here's what's happening on the ball field. The empty dugout is filled with gravel, then a final layer of concrete. At last! Even the bull pen gets a nice little front apron. The pen has been used already by one of the "Construction Team" members who tried out the space with his daughter one afternoon, giving her a workout. Since no reconstruction of the pen has taken place since that event, the daughter and the pen must have passed muster. The fitting test of the caged pudding. Be sure to read/view the blog below--#2.

Not Out to the Ballgame Just Yet #2

Do you see this hill? This is the hill of dreams at the northwest corner of the field of dreams. It has gone through a number of "outfits" since 2005, to say the least. But then the whole place has slowly transformed since then. Now lets take a look at the plan for the hill and field. Pretty snappy, isn't it. The #12 (the pinkish) that you see in the upper left is the hill, and you can see the "dream" for it in the photo with the plan text. Some senior folk may remember that roughly where the student entrance to the school is today there used to be a Lourdes grotto much frequented by the Sisters, especially in good weather. The future too holds a shrine to Mary somewhat to the east of the original one.
Fast ball teams will be able to make a visit before and after their games. Won't that be cool! Of course, all hinges on $ and lots of determination on the part of the Team. We can be assured of the latter. A sort of caveat is in order here as anyone who has built will tell you: plans do change. If you had seen the originals of the additions made in the past 20 years and compare them with what we have today you would be quite assured of that. (The originals of the 1963 building are fascinating on that score.)

The coiled hose reminds us that there's much work to be done to realize the dreams for the site. Good (ongoing) job, Construction Team!

And The Score Is...

5 to 0 favor the Pandas, of course. What a lovely score board, the best we’ve seen since 1996 (gym). Let's turn from gazing at the board, go up the new steps along side the concession building (nifty steps) and get some…hmmm…guess we’ll have to wait a little longer here. But did you notice the new concrete walk and even a curb? Things are really moving right along. Maybe we can even use the facilities soon. The plumber’s truck does raise hopes. The temporary facility, handy though it has been, leaves a bit of home to be desired; do you agree?

Next time we’ll move up to the softball field to take in the advances there—another big story!

To Even The Score

So the soccer field will soon have a score board. Will the softball field pale on this point? (Did you say "point"?) By no means. As we have watched the competition at the north and east ends of the campus, we've noted extraordinary progress ends. We're confident that this will be a win-win game--ongoing-- to wit, many win-win games.
But lets look at the progress made on both fields recently. Soccer field and soft ball field--verticals in place for the respective score boards. Sbf.--concrete poured for dug-out, and advance work on the bullpen/batting cage. Sprinklers working most days to encourage newly sown grass seek give evidence that the field itself is getting its share of attention. The concession/lavatories building stands between the two fields almost ready to serve the fans of both sports. Oh, happy day when all will be completed.

From Hotdogs to Bullpens

So the Muses hover over the athletic fields in awe, out of their realm, and pondering what all this activity means. The blog of Aug. 27 showed the concession stand/lavatory facility well underway, and of course, it has moved forward since then. The Muses don’t read blogs (although this blogger wonders sometimes who is reading over her shoulder), nor do they don’t have the savy that we mortals have—theirs is of a different sort (see the blogs on the theater construction back in the summer/fall of 2008 when the Muses stirred the air with their excitement). They do know what bricks and mortar are, and so they share some anticipation.
The softball field scene is a complete mystery to the Muses, however. The digging of a dug-out (well, what else could you call it, they wonder) and the measuring of the bullpen/batting cage (what will these mortals think of next? Bulls will be batting?) will reveal their purposes only gradually. Blogger will have to arrange a meeting with Ms. Gunning to instruct our ghostly friends. Blogger, too, could use some instruction, as Ms. Gunning knows well.

The Dream Shared 1

The following photos give you a sequential (I hope) view of the progress of the last major feature of the soccer field. Of course, a score board will be nice (and coming), too.