Former Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher and broadcaster Jim Rooker has written a series of baseball-themed children’s books and the first three -- entitled “Paul The Baseball,” “Matt The Bat” and “Kitt The Mitt” -- are now available.

The rhyming stories tell tales of baseball and friendship from the point of view of each of the three characters. 

Rooker, who also pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals during his major league career, describes the stories as a very easy read and very parent friendly and grandparent friendly.

From Jim Rooker's website:

Baseball has been my passion since the time I started playing the game as a child and it remains that way today, sixty some years later. I hope that the words contained in these books will encourage youngsters everywhere to love the game as I did.

Writing children's books was something I never thought about until 2008 when I was inspired by my seven grandchildren. My goal was to leave an imprint on their lives and simply make them happy.

Through that inspiration, I came up with the stories of "Paul The Baseball," "Matt The Bat," and "Kitt The Mitt." I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. ~ Jim Rooker

If you'd like to meet him in person, Jim Rooker is scheduled to do a book signing event at the Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, PA, tomorrow, Saturday -- June 12 -- from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

You can take a peek at the books by logging on to www.booksbyrook.com

To enter, just post your random thought of the day here. I'll draw a winner tonight!

Former Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher and broadcaster Jim Rooker has written a series of baseball-themed children’s books and the first three -- entitled “Paul The Baseball,” “Matt The Bat” and “Kitt The Mitt” -- are now available.

The rhyming stories tell tales of baseball and friendship from the point of view of each of the three characters. 

Rooker, who also pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals during his major league career, describes the stories as a very easy read and very parent friendly and grandparent friendly.

From Jim Rooker's website:

Baseball has been my passion since the time I started playing the game as a child and it remains that way today, sixty some years later. I hope that the words contained in these books will encourage youngsters everywhere to love the game as I did.

Writing children's books was something I never thought about until 2008 when I was inspired by my seven grandchildren. My goal was to leave an imprint on their lives and simply make them happy.

Through that inspiration, I came up with the stories of "Paul The Baseball," "Matt The Bat," and "Kitt The Mitt." I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. ~ Jim Rooker

If you'd like to meet him in person, Jim Rooker is scheduled to do a book signing event at the Barnes & Noble in Cranberry Township, PA, tomorrow, Saturday -- June 12 -- from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

You can take a peek at the books by logging on to www.booksbyrook.com

To enter, just post your random thought of the day here. I'll draw a winner tonight!

Kacey has been such a help to my own family that I told her I'd be happy to share the new YMCA's swimming lesson summer schedule when it came out.

She sent me the schedule and included a note that she wanted to also give away some lessons to a reader!! 

So, thanks to a generous donation from the PNC YMCA, we have one set of private lessons (6 lessons, $140 value) and one set of group lessons (either youth/little dipper/big dipper  $90/$75 value) to give away! Wahoo!

The new session starts June 19 so I want to do this contest in time to get you in those classes if the winner chooses (winner can enroll in a later class, too)

I'll run the contest from now until June 15.  I'll pick a winner for each lesson (one private, one group) randomly.

To enter, just tell me a good swimming story (favorite stroke, when/how you learned to swim, your kids' favorite place to swim, etc)

Kacey has been such a help to my own family that I told her I'd be happy to share the new YMCA's swimming lesson summer schedule when it came out.

She sent me the schedule and included a note that she wanted to also give away some lessons to a reader!! 

So, thanks to a generous donation from the PNC YMCA, we have one set of private lessons (6 lessons, $140 value) and one set of group lessons (either youth/little dipper/big dipper  $90/$75 value) to give away! Wahoo!

The new session starts June 19 so I want to do this contest in time to get you in those classes if the winner chooses (winner can enroll in a later class, too)

I'll run the contest from now until June 15.  I'll pick a winner for each lesson (one private, one group) randomly.

To enter, just tell me a good swimming story (favorite stroke, when/how you learned to swim, your kids' favorite place to swim, etc)

Ikea has generously offered to let the winner choose (because I just could not pick between the two) between a Playroom Package and a $50 gift certificate!  So for those of you still firmly in the "playroom stage" the playroom package will be a fantastic addition to your home. For those of you with slightly older kids (or already decked out playrooms), you can choose the $50 gift certificate.

Playroom Package includes

One (1) MALA chalkboard/drawing easel $14.99 value (at right)

One (1) MALA drawing paper roll $4.99 value

One (1) KRITTER table in white, $24.99 value

Two (2) KRITTER chairs in white, $24.98 value

One (1) FABLER KO stuffed cow, $6.99 value (at right)

A total of nearly $80 in goodies!

And, if you'd rather take the cash and run, you can choose a $50 Ikea Gift Card instead.

I'll run the contest from now through June 7 and draw a winner then. 

To enter, tell me your favorite thing about Ikea. 

(for me it's the cinnamon rolls, thank god I don't live closer!)

Ikea has generously offered to let the winner choose (because I just could not pick between the two) between a Playroom Package and a $50 gift certificate!  So for those of you still firmly in the "playroom stage" the playroom package will be a fantastic addition to your home. For those of you with slightly older kids (or already decked out playrooms), you can choose the $50 gift certificate.

Playroom Package includes

One (1) MALA chalkboard/drawing easel $14.99 value (at right)

One (1) MALA drawing paper roll $4.99 value

One (1) KRITTER table in white, $24.99 value

Two (2) KRITTER chairs in white, $24.98 value

One (1) FABLER KO stuffed cow, $6.99 value (at right)

A total of nearly $80 in goodies!

And, if you'd rather take the cash and run, you can choose a $50 Ikea Gift Card instead.

I'll run the contest from now through June 7 and draw a winner then. 

To enter, tell me your favorite thing about Ikea. 

(for me it's the cinnamon rolls, thank god I don't live closer!)

Pittsburgh Magazine's Best Restaurants Party

Monday, May 24, 2010
6-8:30 p.m.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Pre-Registration: $95  Feb. 1, 2010 through May 21, 2010 at 4 p.m.
Registration at the door: $110 (unless sold out)

Imagine a party catered by almost 60 of Pittsburgh's finest restaurants!
The Pittsburgh Magazine Best Restaurants Party has sold out for the past four years, and with good reason! Chefs prepare their finest delights, from hors d'oeuvres to desserts, to share with Pittsburghers who love great food. Don't miss the list of participating restaurants below.

For the past four years, the Best Restaurants Party has SOLD OUT!

2010 Participating Restaurants*

Avenue B • Bangkok Balcony • big Catering • Bistro 19 • Casbah • Church Brew Works • Claddaugh Irish Pub • Common Plea Restaurant • Cross Keys Inn • Dinette • Eat 'n Park • Eleven • Franktuary • Girasole • Gullifty's • Harris Grill • Hyeholde Restaurant • Ibiza Tapas Restaurant and Wine Bar • Ichiban • Il Pizzaiolo • Iovino's Café • Isabella on Grandview • JAC's Cafe • Jimmy Wan's Restaurant & Lounge • Joseph Tambellini Restaurant • Kaya • LePommier • Levy Restaurants • Mad Mex • Mineo's Pizza House • Mio Kitchen & Wine Bar • Monterey Bay Fish Grotto • Nakama Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar • Panera Bread • Pangea • Penn Brewery • Piccolo Forno • Plum Pan Asian Kitchen • Ruth's Chris Steak House • Salt of the Earth • Sesame Inn • Seviche • Silk Elephant • Smallman Street Deli • Soba • Square Cafe • SweetHouse Bake Shop • Taj Mahal • Tamari • The Carlton • Toast! Kitchen & Wine Bar • Typhoon • Umi • Vivo • Vocelli Pizza • Wild Rosemary • Wooden Angel • Yo Rita.

*List updated as of May 18, 2010

Check out pictures from the 20th Annual Best Restaurants Party!

A portion of the proceeds benefit WQED Pittsburgh.
This is an adults-only event (21 or older).  No children please.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll run the contest just for three days, from now till Sunday and draw the winners on Sunday afternoon.  Make sure you can attend if you enter, we won't have time to draw a "second chance" winner.

(The tickets are electronic so I'll email them to the winner)

To enter, tell me what your favorite Pittsburgh restaurant is.

Pittsburgh Magazine's Best Restaurants Party

Monday, May 24, 2010
6-8:30 p.m.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Pre-Registration: $95  Feb. 1, 2010 through May 21, 2010 at 4 p.m.
Registration at the door: $110 (unless sold out)

Imagine a party catered by almost 60 of Pittsburgh's finest restaurants!
The Pittsburgh Magazine Best Restaurants Party has sold out for the past four years, and with good reason! Chefs prepare their finest delights, from hors d'oeuvres to desserts, to share with Pittsburghers who love great food. Don't miss the list of participating restaurants below.

For the past four years, the Best Restaurants Party has SOLD OUT!

2010 Participating Restaurants*

Avenue B • Bangkok Balcony • big Catering • Bistro 19 • Casbah • Church Brew Works • Claddaugh Irish Pub • Common Plea Restaurant • Cross Keys Inn • Dinette • Eat 'n Park • Eleven • Franktuary • Girasole • Gullifty's • Harris Grill • Hyeholde Restaurant • Ibiza Tapas Restaurant and Wine Bar • Ichiban • Il Pizzaiolo • Iovino's Café • Isabella on Grandview • JAC's Cafe • Jimmy Wan's Restaurant & Lounge • Joseph Tambellini Restaurant • Kaya • LePommier • Levy Restaurants • Mad Mex • Mineo's Pizza House • Mio Kitchen & Wine Bar • Monterey Bay Fish Grotto • Nakama Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar • Panera Bread • Pangea • Penn Brewery • Piccolo Forno • Plum Pan Asian Kitchen • Ruth's Chris Steak House • Salt of the Earth • Sesame Inn • Seviche • Silk Elephant • Smallman Street Deli • Soba • Square Cafe • SweetHouse Bake Shop • Taj Mahal • Tamari • The Carlton • Toast! Kitchen & Wine Bar • Typhoon • Umi • Vivo • Vocelli Pizza • Wild Rosemary • Wooden Angel • Yo Rita.

*List updated as of May 18, 2010

Check out pictures from the 20th Annual Best Restaurants Party!

A portion of the proceeds benefit WQED Pittsburgh.
This is an adults-only event (21 or older).  No children please.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll run the contest just for three days, from now till Sunday and draw the winners on Sunday afternoon.  Make sure you can attend if you enter, we won't have time to draw a "second chance" winner.

(The tickets are electronic so I'll email them to the winner)

To enter, tell me what your favorite Pittsburgh restaurant is.