Raincharm’s Weblog

2010 Mariner's Opening Day

Update – picture – this is from a few days ago. The Giants shirt says Johnson – 300 on the back. It was in honor of Randy Johnson’s 300th win – which happened with the Giants. Randy threw out the first pitch for the Mariners at this game. The roof was closed when the picture was taken (raining), but they opened it up for the game (not raining).

Games — mostly baseball still.
Last night went to a packed house Mariner’s game. The draw? Detroit Tigers? More likely the first Friday night game. Oh- and they had Ken Griffey Jr. Bobbleheads.
We did not sit in our normal seats, but up in the left field bleachers.

When I put on my sweatshirt the man next to me asked if I went to CSU? (It was a Colorado State sweatshirt – just to clarify the CSU) I said I had, and it turns out he and his wife were both enrolled there at the same time I was, only as undergraduates. His family is from Loveland and still there. We had a nice chat. Carl came a bit later and talked baseball at them all game. It was rather fun. They may get some of our other tickets for some future games. As Carl was giving them our telephone number, a ball literally landed in his lap – or maybe breadbasket. He works and works (really plays) to get balls during batting practice, and now, in an inning change, while in the upper deck, one falls into his lap. We were in the 3rd row, and the guys in the 1st row had been begging for a ball from the bull-pen folks. They finally chucked one up, but overshot row 1.

Oh – and the Mariners won, 11-3. It was a fun game, lots of hits. A nice way for a big crowd to see their first (maybe) game of the year. Make them want to come back for more.

There is another Mariner game tonight. And we are NOT going. This is so the folks that think Carl is over the edge insane will have a glimmer of hope that he is not. And it is true. Baseball is a passion, but not the only passion, or the most important thing.

We are going to a Seattle Sounders FC Soccer game today! [But that is not what is keeping us from the Mariners. In fact the games follow one-another, and are in stadiums right next to each other. Very easy to do a double header – and we plan to do that on May 1st.]

What is really happening today is Carl is pitching practice for a high school baseball team, then the Sounder’s game, and then a birthday party for one of his charges. She is turning 5 years old. Graduating to kindergarten next year. Wow – time flies. We are actually missing the fun part of the party where they do crafts and stuff. (It’s for the kids!) But we are doing the get-together after the crafty bits.

Oh – and I rediscovered how to use the Metro bus application that shows where the buses are on their routes – basically real time. This should work for me today as I am catching a route at the end of our block, so it should be easy to predict the walking time. Speaking of which – time to go pack lunch.

Continuing on the start of the baseball season – because it is still fresh and new, and it is much more pleasant than other things going on.

Opening day. This is always a special day – full house and lots of friends that stop by. I also got my second baseball hit from home base during batting practice. (First catch here). Unlike the first one, this one hit in the row behind me, ping-ponged around the seats, rolled down the row behind me and dropped by my feet. I picked it up. Now I did beat somebody diving in from my side to the ball – but it was there – for me. [I later gave it to a workmate’s 4 year old daughter. They had come to visit our seats to see if they could get a ball – and they did. It was fun.]

I almost got a second one, tossed up by Coco Crisp. Only I wasn’t watching him, and Carl got it. Coco Crisp has a hurt hand and throws with his off hand – I don’t know if this impacted his throw – but he came back a few minutes later and apologized to me. He said it was good I had a mitt – shows I came prepared. Kind of funny. I didn’t think anything of it when I realized the ball was coming my way – just a toss up.

Randy Johnson threw out the first pitch – thunderous applause, and then five Mariners from the 95 season gathered on the mound – Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Dan Wilson (Randy’s catcher) and Ken Griffey Jr – the only one still playing.

Then the first home game was underway – and it went. The A’s won – but still nice to see everyone.

Carl and I both went to the second game. Many fewer people in the stands. But the Mariners won – 3-0. I have been keeping score, which helps me remember who the newer players are. Weather was a bit chilly – blanket chilly for me. Nobody else in our group seemed to mind the chill.

Game 3 was Carl on his own, or rather with 3 other buddies. Mariners win again 4-2. I slept in a nice warm bed.

Day off and then tomorrow once more to the game. Expecting a huge crowd.
3 down, 78 to go – and then On to the Playoffs. (Ok, so it is a little early for that.)

For me anyway, and almost for Carl.
He did have, “get a kid to school,” duty first thing yesterday morning.

After dropping said kid we started off on foot to a study appointment.
Three miles and a few vials of blood later we were off on our downtown segment of the day.
Great plan – go to the Seattle Art Museum. We had a voucher from a different museum to get a discount on a year-long membership. We go to the museum about once a year, maybe a little less. A membership would certainly raise that rate, and there is a big Picasso exhibit coming in the fall. Through downtown and down the hills to 2nd Avenue.

In Seattle, when you are downtown if the street number is higher, so is the elevation. Significantly higher. On other thing that we did not know is that the Seattle Art Museum is not open on Mondays. We walked down to the 1st Avenue entrance to see if the office was open. No luck – time for Plan B.

Plan B = Seattle Library. A real architectural marvel, and I had only just been in the front door before. Up to 4th Ave. At the Library we looked, walked, took the elevator up, walked down the book spiral to the 3rd floor, went up the escalator to the 5th floor, down the stairs through the red 4th floor (meeting rooms) and finally back down to the first floor where we got new library cards. Our old cards had not been used in a bit, and were no longer in their system. I think the last time I needed something Rey got it out for me.

Sidebar: I was wearing one of my 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk shirts, and in the Library gift shop (yes there is one, run by the Library volunteer support group), one of the volunteers asked me if I was a survivor. I said no, and she indicated she was and thanked me for fundraising and participating. That felt good. [And if you want to support me – look for the link on this page to donate to the 2010 walk.]

Onwards, back down to 2nd in search of a soap shop (for a gift – we weren’t that dirty). Carl couldn’t quite remember if it was near the Horton Building (one of his kid’s mothers works there) or by the Gold Rush Museum (a national Park in the middle of Seattle – one building big). We never did find it but we went up and down a few hills, always heading south.

Finally time to actually get to the ballpark. More and more folks in Mariner’s clothing. When we were further uptown we had more than one person say, “Happy Opening Day” to us. Kind of fun.

Must go for now – the game report later.

Went out to dinner and a show last night – the Seattle Mens Chorus. Their Ole-Ole-Ole show focused on latin music. Very energetic and lots of fun. Their choralography was especially good. They wore all black with short sleeved shirts. The arms showed up well against the black and they used this to make some stunning sights. They also managed to do the conga-line on risers. Very interesting and well done. A Mexican dance group performed with many of the pieces as well. They had a big dance afterwards, but I will admit that we bagged out and went home to go to bed.

Started yesterday doing basic household chores and cleaning. Seattle Mariners opening day is tomorrow, so house guests tonight. (They draw from far & wide.) Still have much to do, but going to be disrupted by a soccer game, and Carl got called out to a last minute baseball practice thingie. He was happy, so I am happy.

Go Mariners, and let’s keep the sun shining for another day!

I guess it would really have to be a Hail-Bow. We have had about an inch of hail, and as the last bit was falling – the sun came out. With the dark cloud in evidence to the east, somebody must have view of a bow.

Late work meeting tonight. Got to get ready, just starting now. Ive got 3.5 hours! But I really needed an energy boost to recover from the 4 hours of meetings that just finished.

Dad’s home!
In one piece, with a win under his belt.
Season’s off to a good start, even if the Ms and As are currently tied in the 7th.

We had ordered tickets through Stub-Hub and received an e-mail today asking for comments and suggestions from attending a game in the Colesium.

Hit the send suggestions and filled in the form. Carl had some comments and suggestions. Started out with the problems, ended with the good things.

SEND.

Mailer-Daemon – mail had nowhere to go. Hmm. One more comment.

Go to the As website and find their send us comments link.
Cut, paste and SEND.

Mailer-Daemon – mail had nowhere to go. Hmmm. Try again.

Found where the first was trying to go, cut and past the address into an e-mail of my own making. SEND. Still no luck.

Probably something I did, but who knows.
Kind of feels like the day at work, one step forward, two steps back.

What is important is that Carl is back. Someone to talk to in the evening.

Despite all predictions to the contrary, it is sunny this morning. But I’ll bet it changes before nightfall.

Yesterday when my friend/workmate left she asked, “What are you going to do tomorrow?” My answer was, “Sleep in.”

So I thought I was. I had gotten up once in the early dawn to make sure the alarm/TV was turned off so I would not have to respond when it turned on. (I could not find the remote either, at that moment.) Back snuggly in bed.

Woke later to the sound of the telephone. Leaped out of bed and made it through the maze before the 4th ring. Carl was calling to find out how the prior day’s move went. We chatted a bit, and I returned to my room, more casually than the earlier dash. I noticed the alarm clock said 7:45. That couldn’t be, I had slept in. So, I figured the wind yesterday had caused a power flick and the clock was just off. I finally turned on the TV, and sure enough the morning news was on. So much for my prior plans. But good because I now had the entire morning to dawdle over the newspaper.

Lunchtime now and ready to do something productive, as the sun starts to disappear behind clouds.

And the Mormon’s from the stakehouse down the block just stopped by to wish me a Happy Easter, and more I am sure, but I did not feel like chatting.

Ashlan is changing apartments. The new apartment is for next year, but is starting at the end of this year.
Biggest difference? Unfurnished.
It is a small (2 bedroom) apartment, for two. So maybe it doesn’t need a lot, but it needs some.

Ashlan requested (from our home): bed (actually 2 it is a trundle), a desk, a bookcase, a microwave (hers from year 1 at school), papasan chair, folding chair, small tv table on casters, sheets, and kitchen towels.

Ashlan got (from our home): bed (actually 2 it is a trundle), a desk, a microwave (hers from year 1 at school), papasan chair, folding chair, small printer table on casters, sheets, and kitchen towels.

The bookcase just would not fit. What it would not fit into was an Expotition (Ford) owned by a workmate. I was amazed that we got it all inside, even without the bookcase.

Ashlan had planned to take advantage of the vehicle in Vancouver for the day to move a bit of her stuff already there from one place to the other. Unfortunately she had only packed one box (maybe another suitcase).

What Ashlan had not expected was to pack everything in a few hours and move it all. Which is exactly what we did. I am exhausted. It will probably take her a while to figure out where everything is located. But, she will not have to carry it box by box on the bus.

Ride up and down, pretty easy punctuated by rainstorms. (It never really rained while we were loading and unloading and was fairly sunny in Vancouver.) Vera’s burger for lunch, Taste of India for dinner.

I still feel like I owe my workmate. It was a good day, and a good tired.

———————————
You step in the stream,
But the water has moved on.
This page is not here.

———————————
Your file was big.
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.

——————————-
The Web site you seek
Cannot be located, but
Countless more exist.

——————————
Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.

—————————–
Program aborting:
Close all that you have worked on.
You ask far too much.

——————————
Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

 From Snopes.com These originated from a January 1998 contest in Salon magazine, which challenged readers to come up with inventive error messages written as Haiku poems. I found the last one extremely accurate.

1 – Yes, 1-No

The raccoons have been spotted! I was sure it was raccoons pulling up our new sod to get to the tasty critters underneath. Bird netting foiled the attempts for most of the winter, but now that spring winter2 has arrived we had to pull up the netting so we could mow. Two areas continued to be pulled up fairly regularly. This morning – our first sighting. My foray out with a broom moved the racoon up to a low wall adjacent to the scene of the crime. But he did not leave until Carl joined me with a mini-basketball in hand. I don’t think this was a final curtain call however. Must figure a way to totally discourage this bandit.

Loved this article. Not quite Soylent Green.