Raincharm’s Weblog

We didn’t watch any baseball on TV yesterday, because it was not on channels that we have. But the channel(s) used were not on “free” TV. Fox will have some games on their non-pay TV. But, when digital TV came in we lost our FOX station (Channel 13).

Now some may think that losing FOX is not such a bad thing, and until football started and the baseball playoffs threatened, I don’t recall saying, “Darn, I can’t watch that show because it is on FOX.”

Tuesday evening was spent trying to create a better antenna than those sold at Radio Shack (at least the one’s we purchased) so we could bring in the always weak signal of FOX. My try at the creation was thanks to my cousin’s husband’s nephew’s blog site. It was an interesting bit of work, but I got something put together and connected it to one of the TVs. It kept a signal from the stations we had right away (acutally it got a signal as soon as I connected the coaxial cable to the box). After it was all connected I tried to update the channel scan.  Hum-de-dum, hum-de-dum. Check the channels. No 13, but here is a 22.2 – and it says FOX 13. Hmmmmm. That late at night it is hard to tell if this is a major channel based on the shows.

But we had 22 before… Check one of the other TVs. 22, but no 22.2. Hmmmm. Update scan with the existing antenna – and there it is – 22.2. Run upstairs and get not only 22.2 and 51. 51 is spanish language but very pixelated, so not sure it will actually every be used.

What did I learn? Just updating the scan after the big switch was not enough. It needed to be repeated. Building the new antenna was not required (but a fun exercise). Now I have to decide if the new antenna is better than the store-bought.

Eventually there will be a game on FOX, and we will be watching. Unless we are doing something else.

Last night was a late night at work. Meeting that went until about 9 PM. Got to sleep in a bit this morning because I have a Dr appointment (well check stuff). Time to scoot out of this chair.

Today has been generally OK. A bitlot of work. In fact I am still at work but getting ready to leave. Some customers take soooo long. They want to keep pressing their point, over and over and over and over and over and over. After having spent many hours with staff, this particular customer spent 1-1/2 hours of a Board meeting. Nothing new, just the same request. The Board backed the staff recommendation, which includes signing a standard form District agreement. After the customer spent a few minutes reading the agreement he went to one staff (still in the Board meeting on item 2) and said the customer wants to discuss the agreement. She deferred – still being in the meeting and all, but geeeze. This is a form agreement, no changes allowed. And the customer wants his water meter installed in 1 week! (Mind you this conversation has been going on for over a year, and now it is a crisis.) I guess some think that if they push hard enough and make it seem impossible, others will bend to their wish. [We did do some bending, earlier at the staff level.] It is clear that not everyone looks at utility service every day, so explaining stuff is a large part of what we do. I think we generally do it fairly well. Many people say they understand – they don’t like what we are telling them – but they understand. Since we never got to that point in this case, we are wondering if maybe it is a cultural thing to argue every point and continue to try and barter. We have many different cultures, and judging by accents many are first generation in the states. If bartering is a cultural norm for many, maybe we need to take lessons on how to indicate the bartering is over.

OK – one thing about leaving late is that traffic is fairly clear. Time to jet on home.

Sunday was a busy day. At least in the sense that almost every moment was spoken for with some sort of activity.

Got up and had a cup of coffee (that’s an activity in my book).
Called home for a brief chat, and then off for a walk. About 7 miles, but I never really measured.
Stopped at a French bakery for a croissant and then the next stop was a Japanese grocery store – actually more of a department store or “Village” as they call it. Looking for a small Japanese flag. They did not have one, although they did have small American flags. Then on to Safeco field.

Last game this year for the Mariners. It was fairly cool and windy, but in a sunny spot it could be surprisingly warm. So we found a warm spot and Carl chatted with friends and I watched the Tigers game on the big screen. As game time approached we went to our shady seats and settled in. The shade lasted less than an inning and then it was baseball on a beautiful day.

Highlights – Mariners won. Griffey got a single in the 8th, possibly his last major league hit. They pulled him for a pinch runnerso he could get the huge standing ovation that he deserves for keeping baseball in Seattle – way back in 1995. There was a lot more that happened, but that is the most enduring memory. After the game ended the players were high-fiving and hugging, and then they all got bags of t-shirts (kids size) and went around the entire stadium edge throwing them up into the crowd. About 3/4 of the way around two players hoisted Griffey onto their shoulders and carried him the rest of the way around. (A single player hoisted Ichiro up and they travelled this way together.)

We bummed a ride home, a happy ride.
Next item on the agenda is to build an antenna that get’s Fox. (It has much of the sports that are not on cable – including the baseball playoffs.) I got the parts on Saturday. If this doesn’t come together we may have to pay for TV, and I really don’t want to do that.

A little yard work to clean up previous prunings. Later this week our octopus of Sweet Gum roots will hopefully be ground up so we can actually dig in some new soil and then plant. Time is running out to get this done, but it may all come together yet.

The play’s the thing.

Earlier today – playing soccer
Right now – Carl’s playing BP (actually – I think the M’s game has started)
Soon – going to a play, “Play it Again Sam“, to be exact. Our friend has the role of Humphrey Bogart.

As I wait to leave (having showered so my earlier play doesn’t distract nearby patrons), the Seattle Sounders are playing a game against the Cleveland Crew. (Major League Soccer for those that don’t follow the world’s favorite sport.) Cleveland has not lost a home game for 22 games, and the Sounders are currently up 1-0. Tense final minutes. I will probably leave when the game is over, to pick up Carl at Safeco Field.

What did you all play at today? Gardening? Chores? Schoolwork? Read a book?
Tomorrow will be some yard work that I intended to get to today before time ran out. That and the final Mariners game of the season.

As noted a few days ago autumn/winter has arrived. Grey skies, drizzle and rain, and generally colder.

I know how to put on layers, that is the basis of what I wear to work everyday. After all, I challenge most to find a building where the HVAC is so finely tuned that the temperature is in a comfortable range throughout. (Of course this statement may be because I was the PM on building our office building, and if it is normal for buildings to be well balanced, then I did a poor job.)

I was well layered both of the last two nights in the 50 degree damp weather. Shirt, cardigan (light), fleece jacket, middle weight lined jacket, hat, long underwear and jeans. [Note that Carl was in a t-shirt and pants until at least the 7th inning both nights.] But today my throat has that cold air workout feeling and I am a bit tired. I know that keeping warm takes energy, so this is my excuse. Carl might argue that carrying all the extra clothes around is the real cause.

3 more home games in this homestand, and we are going to 2. The friend’s play won out for Saturday. And just so the Mariners don’t seem too lame duck, there is still a chance for them to move into 2nd place in their division. No wild card, but still bragging rights of a sort.

Yes, we were at a Mariner’s game tonight.
The Mariners won 7-0. A fast hitting start, singles, doubles, triples and home runs. Followed by a pitching gem.

But this isn’t about the Mariners. And it is not even about Carl. It is about me.

I have played a little softball in my time, but it was the slow-pitch variety. But I was never what I would call a good softball player. My at bats generally ended up with the ball in the infield between first and second. I got on base a bit, because I could run and a lot of the second basemen on the other team were also not so good. On defense I usually played catcher. It did not require as much depth perception, which I sorely lack, as outfield. It also keeps you involved in the game, which I like.

After college I played on company teams here and there. In Colorado I was usually playing with guys that would run in to cover home plate, leaving their base open. This resulted in some odd plays, but I was kind of OK with being shoved out of the way.

When I played with my current employer, a few years ago now, I continued with my catching duties. The difference with this team is that they expected I would actually be able to play the position. So in one of our first games there was going to be a play at the plate. Our shortstop, a true athlete, fired the ball home while the rather large male runner was closing the gap between third and home. Low and behold I caught the ball (man it hit the glove hard) and held it in front of me to tag the runner out (also a rather hard hit). But it worked, and I still remember the play.

Today, after 25 years of attending baseball games, watching others play BP and catch balls, I CAUGHT A BALL. Now I have gotten 2 or 3 other balls in BP, either thrown up by players, or bouncing in after hitting the seats. But this one was on the fly, from home plate, hit by the Oakland Athletics Travis Buck.

To set the stage, I was sitting in our seats, front row, right center field. The crowd was relatively small. Carl got three balls – one on the fly and two others thrown up. Earlier there had been an early teen hanging out, talking with Carl. He had at least two balls, both thrown up I think. He left and a man with his son showed up and started calling for balls. Two more boys showed up – and it was one of the boy’s 9th birthday. A player threw a ball to the birthday boy – nicely done. More than a few balls were flying our direction, and we got into a little dance. I would stand up and the boys would slide in whatever direction they thought would work best for their chances to catch or call, sliding in front of me several times. I joked with the lady behind me that my glove was strictly for defensive purposes – for protection. She said she expected me to protect her.

So Buck is up and hits a mighty wallop. I stand up, the kids slide in front of me. I am expecting them to catch the ball, and it is coming right at us. They both reach up, but at some point it registered that I am the tallest one there, and I don’t think they are going to catch it, so I stick up my mitt …

SMACK – just a little sting. I look in the mitt – and there it is – still. It didn’t pop out. I just started laughing and turned around to find Carl. He saw it all and was laughing too. The people around are saying great catch, and an Oakland pitcher is pretending to bow down to me. I don’t know that it was a great catch, more of a reaction.

Batting practice continued, and then ended. When the boys were getting ready to leave for their seats I gave them two of the balls that Carl had gotten earlier, so they each had a ball. The Dad told another person in our row that he really appreciated that – I hope they had a happy birthday game. [Carl does this kind of thing all the time, but I was the one at the seats with most of the balls today.]

It was fun, and many of the regulars stopped by. Of course they know this was a rare event. I have always had the fewest balls from batting practice in our family. But now, at least, I can say I caught one too.

Like pigs to the slaughter. I don’t know why that saying is in my head, but it is.
I have been vaccinated, and now am preparing myself to go out into the weather and watch a Mariner’s game. This is where the “true fans” separate from the “fair weather fans.” It has been sunny at times today. But the temperature may only reach 60 degrees for a moment or so. So my dilemma, is what to wear. Or rather, how much to wear. I am currently seeing 4 or 5 layers on top, and probably 2 plus a blanket for the half that sits. Gloves, hat, …and a heated pad would be nice.

I have been scheduling a lot of things lately.
Sometimes I have made good decisions.
Sometimes not so good.

Like getting tickets to a play I really want to see, ASSUMING when my soccer game would be. Bad assumption, now I have a conflict, and a fairly high price to change tickets to seats that are not as good. So – I am keeping the conflict and going to miss a game. That is my decision, but unfortunately it is a decision that affects others as well. First of all the team (whether this is seen as a good or bad decision is up to them). Secondly – Ashlan, who is bound by my decision as well – probably.

I have also scheduled lots of visits now for a study on the swine flu vaccine, as I got accepted to be a guinea pig. Should be interesting.

Ashlan has scheduled a visit home – and appears to be requesting a ride back. She may have neglected to realize that it is not a holiday in the US even though it is in CA, and both parents are supposed to be working. I will be consulting my work calendar shortly.

Other schedules for the holiday season will be forthcoming shortly. (too soon – aaaaah). I was out buying an implement of weed destruction this evening and there were many different holiday items for sale. Halloween, T-Day (US or CA) and Christmas. I guess now is the time for those that plan to buy. My neighbor saw my implement of destruction and decided it was medieval and that Carl should mind his P’s and Q’s.

Now that I have one more implement to play with the weather has turned. I think it is winter now. Temperatures were in the 50s and 60s, but the wind was gusting, rain was pouring and there was thunder, lightning and hail. No snow, so I guess it is now autumn.

The weather tested my resolve to walk to any massage appointments since they are within 6 blocks of home.  The massage, of course, conflicted with the Mariners game tonight, for which I had a ticket. I think Carl got it to some deserving soul, so no harm done.

The Mariners are close to ending their season (Sunday), since they are not going to the playoffs. The last three games are usually attended by our family, or what portion of our family is in town. One of our friends is in a play, leading role, and the last three shows are in direct conflict with the Mariners. Don’t know exactly how that is going to play out….

No inspiration today.
But I worked through several work items, even coming to conclusion on a few.
One new one perked it’s head up with a due date – so I guess that is where to go next.
All of these things are individual customer driven.
I want to work on the big picture anvil hanging over my head instead.

On another front. I am vitalized by exciting times for others in my life. I can feel the anticipation of the unknown. And I mean a lot of unknowns all at once. It probably feels more daunting than exciting when you’re at the eye of the storm, but still… Oh, to be at a crossroads again.

But wait, that doesn’t mean I am not content in my, “I have a job, and a mortgage, and goodness knows how many other bills,” status. I am.

And that is why I often lack inspiration.

First of all – I blame the coffee. Unusual for a Seattleite, but I had coffee too far into the day yesterday, so I stayed up late, so I got up late. But I do not shut off my alarm on the weekend. [too worried I won’t remember to turn it back on] I just listen to the radio on those Saturday and Sunday afternoons, or turn it off. The radio is tuned to the local NPR station.

This morning as I sort of woke up, they were talking about the UP! (Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I really forget it is not a common acronym when you get far away from Michigan.) Even wanting to listen did not completely wake me up, and they would go to the news or other bits occasionally. So when I finally woke up for real, I went to the computer and spent the better part of an hour listening to all of the segments. It is focused on the Marquette area folks.

For those that loved the movie Fargo for the accents, check these out, you won’t be disappointed, and they are real.

One of the segments is on pasties and specifically on the Lawry Pasties.
Quick story. In about 1980 I had a used 1976 Mustang that I drove from Colorado to the cabin (in the UP) for a summer vacation. Somewhere in Nebraska (I think) I got some bad gas. On the trip out in various backwaters we had the fuel filter and fuel pump changed out (2 different stops). Going up a hill the car would lose power and sputter. This seemed to do the trick. That is until the trip home started. As soon as we were on a hill of any kind it would start to lose power again. I pulled over to a corner store in Ishpeming, and the kind kid (with the strongest accent I have ever heard) told me there was a Ford dealership in Marquette. Glancing at the Colorado plate he then told me where Marquette was located. The Marquette dealership was kind enough to squeeze us in to their schedule, that is after a drive around the city in which a butterfly kamakazied on my arm out the window, and the car finally lost power for the mechanic.

So – my friend and I are waiting in the dealer’s showroom, and decided to have lunch. As luck would have it, my father had purchased pasties from Marie’s (I think) in the Soo the day before, heated them up in the morning and wrapped them in newspaper to keep them warm for our trip. When we unwrapped them and the smell filled the room, several workers popped out of their offices and asked if we had bought them at Laurie’s. (My mind spelling, which I now realize would be Lawry’s.)

For the autophiles, the problem was finally located in the gas filter directly at the fuel tank, which they replaced. No further problems with loss of power until we almost ran out of gas in South Dakota. Their work had apparently knocked the gas gauge a bit out of whack, so it did not appear at E when in fact it was. Just a short run down the exit ramp after push starting the car with my friend in the driver’s seat, and coasting into the gas station.