Something to do
Bored? Here is a chance to be entertained and do a good deed. And read this or the Dalmatian will be angry with you
Mar 22, 2020, 6:59 pm
OK, no, the Dalmatian will not really be angry. She is just a nice looking dog who takes great photos. We need some of that in these times.
So most of us are on lockdown. We are bored. We are running out of Netflix and Amazon shows to watch. So maybe it is time to read? Sure, you can get a copy of Jesus Just Left Chicago. But we are going to pitch you on something else.
I have written a new, original short story based on Jesse Christian. I have packaged it with some of my long lost short stories, including the first one I ever wrote. I combined them to create Falcon Tales: A Collection of Short Stories.
For a minimum of $10, you can get some great reading material for this lockdown. And help people who need it.
The plan
So the idea is take all the money from the sales of this and create a fund that we can use to help Gow Media employees who need it to pay bills. If we sell a lot, we will help listeners to our station, SportsMap readers, and whoever else we can.
It is simple. If you want a copy, email me at faour975@gmail.com. I will email you a PDF file you can read on your phone or computer or print it out, and I will give you instructions on how to PayPal or Venmo. The $10 is a minimum. If you want to pay more, you can. Your choice.
If you can't afford to donate and want to read it anyway, I will send it free of charge. It will be a personalized version of five short stories, so if I die, maybe it will be worth something.
What you get
A novella, called Land of the Living Skies, which I am making into a full length novel. It is not available anywhere else. You will also get the first short story I ever wrote, a couple that were available on my old blog, and a brand new short story I just completed called The Perfect Game.
The new one features Jesse Christian, the main character from Jesus Just Left Chicago. I wrote it while on Covid-19 lockdown on March 22, 2020. I am well into the sequel to Jesus (spoiler alert: Jesse survives), and the tale may continue beyond that into a trilogy if I can come up with a viable story line. This short story is how I envision the saga ending if we get that far. The odds of that are pretty low, but if it happens, you will be one of the first to know how it ends.
Of the five stories, three can not be found anywhere else. There is also commentary on all of them, so if you are interested in writing, you will get some insight into the thought process.
Please share this with as many friends as possible. If they can help, great. If not and they want something to read, I will send it to them anyway. Feel free to share your own copy with anyone who can't afford to buy it.
Hopefully this all ends soon and we are back to normal. If not? Please do what you can.
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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*ChatGPT assisted.
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