Living Reflections from a Dream

Curt Schilling became the first pitcher in the majors to win 20 games this year in a 11 - 4 whoop assing of the Devil Rays and I was there to see it - in the seats as far from the action as you can get; literally the second to last row. But I'm not complaining because any day in Fenway is a happy day for me! Not to mention the tickets helped raise money for Strike Out Cancer.

Even with my super zoom you can barely see Curt winding up to bring the heat.. and if you look closely I think you can see Mark Bellhorn scratching his ass..

Sitting way up in the bleachers really drove home to me the difference between the casual ("I am a Red Sox fan some September") fan and the halfway fanatical fan* (me).

The Casual Fans: socializing, talking - not paying attention to the game.
Me: Complete focus on the field punctuated by a eye rolls towards the others during breaks in the action.

The Casual Fan says: Look, those people are trying to start the wave. heeheehee
I say: haha... do you see we have runners on the corners with no outs?

The Casual Fan says: who is batting?
Me: I know the batters before they announce their name. Even from this distance I can pick out the mannerisms I've seen a million times. Oh look: he is doing that thing he always does before he bats: it's Manny! It's Youkie! It's Tek!

The Casual Fan says: The whole game I've been facinated by conversation behind us on wedding planning.
Me: Blank stare. Conversation behind us? I haven't heard a word.

The one thing I do notice is my favorite t-shirt:

It says it all without the need to slur the other teams or particular players**.

Friday night those teams could be one and the same. Look out NY, the Red Sox are coming to town! Let the craziness begin... I've got my Varitek shirt all ready to go, so bring it on!

* I can't hold a candle to those people creating massive statistical models to determine what is more valuable: a single or a walk, I don't have access to the super special area of Sons of Sam Horn, and if I ever sit on hold for an hour to get on WEEI, just shoot me.

** I also like the new t-shirt I've been seeing around which says: I love NY! (but I still hate the Yankees).-----
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you will love this: Tech Support-----
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One of my roommates from Syracuse's son is a model (for lack of a better term) on the Fisher Price site. He is the boy in the two seater. Power Wheels look like friggin' fun! Where were they when I was a kid!-----
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Because I literally can't believe that I just spent 5 minutes of my life that I will never get back reading this:

TANG Typewriter Follies; Wingnuts Wrong

And this is not a criticsm of Kos for posting this, but we are seriously discussing whether or not typewriters had Times New Roman font and could superscript th 30 fucking years ago instead of talking about how Bush is fucking the economy, fucking the environment, fucking over everyone who isn't in the top 2% of earners (and their children and grandchildren who are going to be paying off the national debt) and just because he stomps around in cowboy boots shooting his guns in the air doesn't make you safer. It may be important to some people if he lied about his service, it may be important to some people that he may have done cocaine, but think about this.. what he has done in the last 4 years is what really matters, because you're only going to get more of it if and worse he is re-selected. Don't let this smoke screen prevent you from really looking at his policies and lack of achievement in the last 4 years. Look hard!-----
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National Preparedness Month

Another program brought to you by the "I'm the only one who can keep you safe, but continue to be terrified" campaign of George W. Bush.

By going to the National Preparedness page I discovered a few interesting things..

a. ready.gov still exists. While it seems to have been re-done a bit, these are still available:

b. there is a fema for kids site, complete with Herman, the Spokecrab (because nothing makes disaster less scary like a funny cartoon character!). Including the adventures of Julia and Robby, the Disaster Twins - two kids who are apparently jinxed as disasters such as tornados, blizzards, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes seem to follow. These stories are actually good because kids can learn what to do in case of emergency (though no anthrax or terrorist attacks - then kids, you're on your own).-----
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Though it won't be as sweet for you as the long sufferers.. the time is now. Jump on. You will be sneered at by the diehards, but what are going to do..

ok, it seems people already are.-----
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In the bar across the street people are pounding drinks, laughing and having fun.

I am in my office looking out the window at them.

not for long. Hasta!!-----
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U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has suggested that parts of Iraq might be excluded from elections set for January due to rising violence.

Is it? How is democracy spreading if 20 - 25% of the population is unable to vote? How will the results of such an election ever be accepted by the population when not everyone can vote? If an insurgency took over the Red States in the US, rendering it too dangerous for them to vote and Kerry won in a landslide - would you accept those results? Would you think: yeah, the people have spoken? The truth is that the Bush administration nor Allawi can't admit that Iraq is a mess and it's getting worse. Leave it to an MBA president to think it's more important politically to say we acheived the goal (elections) even though it means absolutely nothing, than actually fix the problem (it feels like a day at my office). And even worse, neither Bush or Kerry seem to have a clear plan on what to do about it.-----
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but it isn't.. I will be so embarassed for women-kind if this book does well:

He's Just Not That Into You : The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys.
It seems to take the "He just isn't that into you" concept from a very good episode of Sex and the City and expand on it.

gag! Even worse is the list of books bought by people who bought the above:
- Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others: The Fascinating Research That Can Land You the Husband of Your Dreams
- Stop Getting Dumped! All You Need to Know to Make Men Fall Madly in Love with You and Marry "The One" in 3 Years or Less
- Men Are Like Fish: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Catching a Man
- Mr. Right, Right Now! : How a Smart Woman Can Land Her Dream Man in 6 Weeks
- Don't Call That Man

This just makes me sad for the people who are buying these books. Just get out there and be yourself! Do the things you want to do.. you are a perfectly fine person all on your own and you don't have to stoop to this level.-----
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I have a confession.. I kind of haven't paid too much attention to the hurricane's beyond making sure the one person I know who lives in FL is all right. But today someone mentioned to me that Ivan is 200 miles wide. 200 miles wide!. I think that is larger than the state of Massachusetts.

I mean - look at this thing:

So I started reading up and it turns out that New Orleans is at high risk:

Oh My God!

:O What the name of that tv movie kids about nuclear war kids weren't supposed to watch in the 80's because it would scare us too much? That is what this feels like to me.

and, oh, the irony...

Seriously, I am terrified for people who live in Louisana right now. Come north!-----
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Chris' comment on my last post got me thinking...

First, I wasn't trying to critisize the casual fan.. to each his/her own. And I must confess, until my baseball baptism, I was only a casual fan. I was the socializer, the crowd watcher, the person routing for the wave to get started, the person who really had very little idea what was going on in the game except when something exciting happened. Then one night, I went to a game with someone who was a die hard baseball fanatic. There I was socializing, looking around and he is saying things like: now this guy is a lefthanded pitcher and the batter is also left handed who tends to pull the pall, so that means that the infield will line up in such a such way. And last year this guy hit this batter with a pitch. My response: whatever.. you are distracting me from my beer and taking bad pictures:

But then I started actually listening to him (mostly because he just wouldn't stop), every batter, every pitch, every count he had some insight on. My own, personal, Jerry Remy. Suddenly, the stars aligned, the heavens cleared - I think a lightbulb literally appeared above my head. I understood why people were so obsessed.. there was so much to know! The game is so much more complex than hit the ball and run around the bases. There is drama, there is intrique, there is the male ego on full display (always entertaining), there is strategy and the antics in the dugout. And I thought only basketball could provide such joy. Baseball is addictive as crack. Maybe because it's an escape from life or maybe because it's a reflection of life: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes people you don't like win, sometimes you do well, sometimes you fuck up completely, but whatever happens, you get up the next day and do it all over again - then once a year: World Series!

I'm aware that as more of a diehard, I can be a downer at the game for the casual fan. That is why I think tickets should be alotted by level of fandom. The diehards can all sit together reviewing pitch counts and get the really good seats and the casual fans can all party together further back. How about that?

In any case: it takes all kinds of fans to make the baseball world go round. Jump aboard and send some positive vibes to the Red Sox tonight in Yankee Stadium.

Go Red Sox!-----
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I've gone from casual runner on the sidewalk to girl with a number on her chest:

I'm not the faster one on the road, but I'm not the slowest, either. Seems obvious, but it is rewarding to give yourself a goal and actually reach it. And all the people that watch the race and clap for you: I could get used to that!

Of course, as John Bingham says:
The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.

Next up: Tufts 10k-----
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Even though I watch a ton of baseball, I am always amazed at the whole hitting batters to get even thing. It's SO STUPID. It's so obvious! There were 4 hit batters and an elbowed first basemen in yesterdays Red Sox/Yankees game.. so far in tonights Red Sox/Devil Rays game there have been 4 hit batters. Benches clear, tempers flair.. "How dare they do that to ME! I'm a supa star*" Why do guys have to do this? You know there will be warnings and you know if it continues, ejections.. and yet it continues on. And the announcers act like it's normal: well, of course, the pitcher has to protect his teammate for something that happened 6 innings ago (or yesterday, or last week or last season.. ). I mean: get over it. How old are you?

So.. unless someone can explain this behavior to me, I will continue to believe this behavior to be nuts (and potentially injury causing!).

* ok, this is just certain Yankees players.-----
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Sept. 25 - Oct. 2 is Banned Book Week - Get out there and celebrate your ability to read any damn book you want to (as far as we know.. who knows what Ashcroft does behind the scenes).

Seriously, check out the list of the most frequently challenged books:
Huckleberry Finn? Of Mice and Men? The Catcher in the Rye? A Wrinkle in Time (gasp!), To Kill a Mockingbird? James and the Giant Peach? Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret (a book that should be given out as a handbook to young girls.. then when they are a little older, Forever - also a banned book) WHERE'S WALDO?? People are just crazy...

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy痴 Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It痴 Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Dieby Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth痴 Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L脱ngle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid痴 Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What痴 Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What痴 Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It痴 Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women痴 Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where痴 Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier-----
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They say the country is divided almost 50/50 politically. Well, based on two conversations I overheard: older people in Maine represent the nation. Maine, a state with 2 moderate Republican senators, but primarily considered a Blue state.

Situation 1:
Walking by a group of older men sitting on a bench. They are the kind of guys who look like they should be fishing - the kind of guys who look like they would say "you can't get there from here" in that Maine (notably different from a Boston) accent.

Oldtimer 1: they say Kerry has raised more money from people in California than from Massachusetts.
Oldtimer 2: it's all those liberals out there! Geez!
{disgusted snorts all around from the old timers}

That and California is significantly larger than Massachusetts doesn't seem to occur to them.

Situation 2:
In line in the small town store - an older, grandmotherly woman in front of me is talking to the cashier.

Grandma: How is your family? I just saw your mom and she looks good.
Cashier: Everyone is great. My sister has gone back to college, it's her last year.
Grandma: What about your brother - I heard he was having a rough time.
Cashier: You know, he is doing much better. I think his problem was he was gay and in denial about it. Now that he has come out, he is much happier. I guess that is all it took.
{silence. Cashier stares directly at Grandma to see her reaction. About 10 seconds pass.}
Grandma: Good for him! I'm glad he is happy now. {Grandma leans in close to the cashier} You know, it's easy now a days to come out. All the gays should do it if it makes them happy.-----
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They say the country is divided almost 50/50 politically. Well, based on two conversations I overheard: older people in Maine represent the nation. Maine, a state with 2 moderate Republican senators, but primarily considered a Blue state.

Situation 1:
Walking by a group of older men sitting on a bench. They are the kind of guys who look like they should be fishing - the kind of guys who look like they would say "you can't get there from here" in that Maine (notably different from a Boston) accent.

Oldtimer 1: they say Kerry has raised more money from people in California than from Massachusetts.
Oldtimer 2: it's all those liberals out there! Geez!
{disgusted snorts all around from the old timers}

That and California is significantly larger than Massachusetts doesn't seem to occur to them.

Situation 2:
In line in the small town store - an older, grandmotherly woman in front of me is talking to the cashier.

Grandma: How is your family? I just saw your mom and she looks good.
Cashier: Everyone is great. My sister has gone back to college, it's her last year.
Grandma: What about your brother - I heard he was having a rough time.
Cashier: You know, he is doing much better. I think his problem was he was gay and in denial about it. Now that he has come out, he is much happier. I guess that is all it took.
{silence. Cashier stares directly at Grandma to see her reaction. About 10 seconds pass.}
Grandma: Good for him! I'm glad he is happy now. {Grandma leans in close to the cashier} You know, it's easy now a days to come out. All the gays should do it if it makes them happy.-----
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Yesterday, Cheney said:

not just hit, hit in a devestating way. This statement is so ludicris that I don't even want to repeat it here, except people should know what an idiot he is, so...
However, the fact that no Republican administration (with the exception of Nixon, an administration that didn't exactly end on a high note) which employed Dick Cheney has been ever re-elected cheers me up. Cheney is a jinx!-----
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The deadlines to register to vote in most states are coming up, but there is still time... but only do this if you actually educate yourself about the issues and form an opinion. If your just voting blindly because you think you should vote: just stay home.

> Check your states deadline

> Register!-----
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The deadlines to register to vote in most states are coming up, but there is still time... but only do this if you actually educate yourself about the issues and form an opinion. If your just voting blindly because you think you should vote: just stay home.

> Check your states deadline

> Register!-----
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First siting of Halloween candy in stores: August 30!

I'm actually surprised it wasn't earlier. Maybe it's because people just aren't ready to let go of summer just yet. I know I'm not. Even though I am looking forward to breaking out my favorite candles (which I just can't burn):

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It's true, I think really deep thoughts sometimes. Anyway, the theory of the day today is:

Paul Katcher wants women to wear tight t-shirts...
Not that this will come as a shock to anyone who reads Paul's site - but I have the proof this time! See, awhile Paul gave his readers the opportunity to receive a paulkatcher.com t-shirt so we could be advertising vehicles for his evil plot of world domination (what do you expect from a Yankees fan?!?)*

The t-shirt package arrived (thanks, Paul) and I opened it with great interest. It came with very entertaining instructions for it's wear and care. Then I actually looked at the t-shirt. It would be hard to find a smaller t-shirt than this. Here is the t-shirt in comparison to my boys (not men's, boys**) medium Jason Varitek*** shirt:

This is supposed to be a women's LARGE t-shirt. I got Large because he said it would shrink when you wash it. Let me tell you, there is nothing large about this shirt... remember size 6X**** when you were a kid? I swear it's about that size. Paul is going to say it's the t-shirt manufacturer, but I think he's in on it. ;)

ok, I really shouldn't post when drinking and getting so disgusted by the Red Sox that I have to walk away and do something else for a few minutes. Clearly, I go astray...

* Seriously, Paul is extremely funny and you should go check out his site - especially if you're one of my Syracuse friends as Paul is also an alum.

** I have to wear boys Red Sox gear because Men's sporting apparel is astronomically huge. I mean I could tie a belt around a men's shirt and wear it as a dress. And the women's Red Sox gear is all pink or has sparkles or some such shit. I want the regular shirt in Red.. so I wear boys. And I'm not trying to imply that I'm one of those itty bitty tiny pettite women.. I'm not.

*** and yes, I do enjoy that Paul will most likely not like being placed on top of a Varitek shirt.

**** bizarre girls size that I never understood. 6X? Why not just be 7??-----
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This weekend I ran further than I've run before. I decided on a goal milage and I went for it. Around 3/4 of the way through (my previous longest run) I started dying and so began searching for ways to motivate myself because I there really was no reason I couldn't do it and I refuse to be a wimp. Finally I found myself singing in my head:

Just put one foot in front of the other.. and soon you'll be walkin' cross the floor. Just put one foot in front of the other... and soon you'll be walkin' out the door..

After all, what is more motivating than Christmas specials?

Eventually, even little animated Winter Warlocks don't do it for you. But I wasn't done, yet so I had to bring out the big guns. The song I keep in reserve for when I'm really dying and need to keep going, the song that picks me up and tells me: you can do it, you can do it... I'm Every Woman. Not the wimpy assed Whitney version. The original - the Cha-Cha-Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan version. Two times through that song and I was all set for the rest of the run.

That's what does it for me... what motivates you?-----
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This weekend I ran further than I've run before. I decided on a goal milage and I went for it. Around 3/4 of the way through (my previous longest run) I started dying and so began searching for ways to motivate myself because I there really was no reason I couldn't do it and I refuse to be a wimp. Finally I found myself singing in my head:

Just put one foot in front of the other.. and soon you'll be walkin' cross the floor. Just put one foot in front of the other... and soon you'll be walkin' out the door..

After all, what is more motivating than Christmas specials?

Eventually, even little animated Winter Warlocks don't do it for you. But I wasn't done, yet so I had to bring out the big guns. The song I keep in reserve for when I'm really dying and need to keep going, the song that picks me up and tells me: you can do it, you can do it... I'm Every Woman. Not the wimpy assed Whitney version. The original - the Cha-Cha-Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan version. Two times through that song and I was all set for the rest of the run.

That's what does it for me... what motivates you?-----
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Ah yes, Labor Day - when we celebrate the end of summer and all hard work done all year by not working: we bbq, we go to the beach, we swim, we play tennis, we watch sports, we watch family members drink massive quantities of alcohol in an attempt to not kill each other.. and we shop! Because the sales are good on Labor Day, aren't they? And when there is a big shoe sale, it is certainly ok to take some time off from the festivities, even if it's a gorgeous day. Am I right, ladies? So off I go to the big sale.. thinking I'll just run in and run out. After all.. who else would be at the big shoe sale on Labor Day? Clearly I am insane as it's "back to school" time. Yes, the store is swarming with parents and their eye rolling offspring. Ah.. I remember it well. Though it's a good thing I am not in my teenaged years because these belly shirts would never have flown with my mother and I would have been an fashion outcast. But I digress... so there I was trying on these really cute casual shoes when I look over and there is a girl, 12 years old at the most.. trying on the same shoes. My mouth hangs ajar as I wonder if I'm am trying to act younger or she is trying to act older. Can shoes be hip across generations? I'm sitting there in a miffed state because I like these shoes, but I can't buy shoes that a 7th grader will wear. Then her father approaches, takes one look at the shoes and says: no, no, no, no, nooooo way! those are too tall for you. The girl replies: but Daaaaaaddd! (complete with footstomp). Ah yes, I remember it well. While I think it's great that her father is involved in her back to school purchases, I somewhat pity the girl who has to shoe shop with her Dad. Dad's are notoriously unhip about 7th grade fashion for girls. However, I'm secretly pleased that she won't be allowed to purchase the shoes, because that means they can be appropriate for me. None the less I move on to other shoes, because you just never know..-----
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Ah yes, Labor Day - when we celebrate the end of summer and all hard work done all year by not working: we bbq, we go to the beach, we swim, we play tennis, we watch sports, we watch family members drink massive quantities of alcohol in an attempt to not kill each other.. and we shop! Because the sales are good on Labor Day, aren't they? And when there is a big shoe sale, it is certainly ok to take some time off from the festivities, even if it's a gorgeous day. Am I right, ladies? So off I go to the big sale.. thinking I'll just run in and run out. After all.. who else would be at the big shoe sale on Labor Day? Clearly I am insane as it's "back to school" time. Yes, the store is swarming with parents and their eye rolling offspring. Ah.. I remember it well. Though it's a good thing I am not in my teenaged years because these belly shirts would never have flown with my mother and I would have been an fashion outcast. But I digress... so there I was trying on these really cute casual shoes when I look over and there is a girl, 12 years old at the most.. trying on the same shoes. My mouth hangs ajar as I wonder if I'm am trying to act younger or she is trying to act older. Can shoes be hip across generations? I'm sitting there in a miffed state because I like these shoes, but I can't buy shoes that a 7th grader will wear. Then her father approaches, takes one look at the shoes and says: no, no, no, no, nooooo way! those are too tall for you. The girl replies: but Daaaaaaddd! (complete with footstomp). Ah yes, I remember it well. While I think it's great that her father is involved in her back to school purchases, I somewhat pity the girl who has to shoe shop with her Dad. Dad's are notoriously unhip about 7th grade fashion for girls. However, I'm secretly pleased that she won't be allowed to purchase the shoes, because that means they can be appropriate for me. None the less I move on to other shoes, because you just never know..-----
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Elvis Martinez has left the ball park...

after serving up 117 pitches, striking out 9, allowing only four hits and a walk in 7 innings during a 2 - 0 win over the Texas Rangers. The Red Sox are now only 2.5 games behind the Yankees. 2.5!

But it gets better because:
- the Yankees lost to the Orioles (who knew that was possible?)
- Kevin Brown had temper tantrum, punched the wall and broke his hand. It's a little hard not to laugh.-----
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Boston.com reviews the state of the empire with the Lighter Side vs. the Dark Side

May the Petey Be With Us!!

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Bill has successfully come through his heartsurgery, thank goodness.

You can send Bill a well wishes at his website.-----
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Kerry. Clearly...

Bush couldn't even bother to stand up straight and could he smirk a few more times? I love that the broadcasters refused to sign the debate agreements. Kerry can at least form a complete thought and communicate it clearly.-----
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I've been reading Running with Scissors, a memoir of an unconventional and somewhat horrifying childhood. I've been struck at the level of detail he describes - how some things your parents say to stick with you like they happened yesterday (and vice versa, parents out there: things you say are getting logged in your wee ones brains).

Two incidents from my childhood, both involving my mother, come to mind:

First... during the period of time when Linda Ronstat was all over the airwaves, I decided I really liked her. The following ensued:
Mini Amy: Mom! I really like Linda Ronstat
Mom: {whips around in a rage and pointing her finger at me yells..} Linda Ronstat is a whore!!!
Mini Amy: {backs up slowly, having no idea what provoked this response nor do I know what the word 'whore' means, but from my mothers tone, I've deduced it's not good} Whore? H-O-R-E?
Mom: no, W-H-O-R-E
Mini Amy: {grabbing a piece of paper to write it down. My mother could have cut this off, but she let it continue. Off I went to look it up in the dictionary... my reaction to that being: OH! then.. ewww... }

Second:
Mini Amy: {after doing some math figures out that her parents were 24 in 1968} Mom! Did you ever go see the Rolling Stones?!?!?
Mom: {glaring} No one really liked them. I don't know why people go on and on about them. They were just druggies. And the Beatles, too, after that drug phase. No one liked them after that.
Mini Amy: {mouth agape}
It was at that exact moment I realized that my parents were the least hip people on the planet. Of course, they had already lost quite a bit of credibility by this point because they could never come up with a good explanation of why we had to color inside the lines.-----
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sing it, blogdaddy, sing it!-----
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and Red Sox nation understands. Bill Simmons, apparently, was at the same game I was recently. Had I known that, I would have stalked him down because I love, love, love, LOVE, him. Anyway, yesterday he said

He leaves out that this game could potentially be against the Cubs (with Nomah, Todd Walker and Grady Little) OR the anti-christ himself. Holy Moly!-----
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A friend of mine has been analyzing her dating history and came to the following conclusion:

ok so, aries, cancer, libra, scorpio, capricorn and a somewhat virgo* down, 7 more signs to go :P

But I dont think I have the emotional energy to make it all round the zodiac..

So I started thinking about this and I realized everyone I've ever dated has been either a Pisces, a Gemini or a Sagittarius... but most of my friends are Virgos (including the person who sent me the above: what other sign would analyze something like that, anyway?) or Libras. I don't know what that means.

* he was on the cusp of Libra-----
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I can hardly believe it but I forgot my own blogs birthday.. I even remembered last year in the middle of my pre-closing/moving stress fest. Yup, this site turned 3 on 8/16. I can hardly believe it.. where did the time go?

And what better birthday present could a blog get than the play of the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Um... 20 - 2 in there last 22 games, 8 - 1 over the last nine (which were against Oakland, Texas and Anaheim, ahem all playoff contenders). Not to mention that last night while I'm sitting on the couch, eyes slowly closing, I'm jolted awake by the announcement that Trot Nixon is pinch hitting. Trot! Even though he popped up, I don't care..

I'm beside myself.. I don't know what to say. I have no mental model for a Red Sox surge like this and I'm almost afraid to talk about it because I might jinx it. Except to say (and I'm getting way ahead of myself): Houston is now tied in the Wild Card lead in the NL. If we get to the World Series: we want Roger. I know people would get excited about a Red Sox/Cubs world series - the sportswriters would go nuts, but it would absolutely break my heart to play against Nomahr (though, of course, this is what will happen, it's fate. Can't avoid Nomar, not to mention Grady Little). In any case, I've got to start training for October: the ups, the downs, the swings, the misses.. the other day I watched Still, We Believe - just the end (the playoffs). It's like getting sucker punched all over again. I'm toughening up. I'm optimistic, but I need to prepare myself. Next weekend with the Yankees will be a good dry run. Buckle up, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is about to begin...-----
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and I don't say that because he is a Democrat who supports Bush (though why he remains a Democrat elludes me) or even that he went so far as to give that ridiculous speech last night, because honestly, he just makes me laugh. This is the same guy who said on Meet the Press a few weeks ago that the Republican party embrasses diversity (yeah, in the bizarro world).

But last night after his speech, he was on MSNBC with Chris Matthews and I nearly fell off the couch laughing. Seriously, anytime a US Senator says he wishes he could challenge someone to a duel, something entertaining and slightly nuts is happening.

> Roll the tape-----
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