Raincharm’s Weblog

AKA Bang the Trash Can Slowly.

The Mariners get to start the season against the cheaters, otherwise known as the Houston Astros. And Justin Verlander.

It’s been a different experience.

The first game is on the road about half the time, so not unusual. But we would almost always be with our baseball buddies.

Carl and I are watching on our own.

Smashed cauliflower for dinner. Maybe not traditional baseball food, but we did have sausages with yesterday’s Washington/Yankee rainout and the Dodgers/Giants rout.

We managed to squeeze in a 7,500 step walk between work and first pitch. We taped the pregame and will catch up on any interesting bits later.

Yesterday I wanted to see Dr. Fauci’s first pitch at the game in D.C., and did. But they had already completed the lineups, anthem, and whatever else happened. Then they broke for commercials and didn’t get back until after the first batter was on first base. Pretty bad. Hoping they get their act together. And the first pitch kind of went sideways, but I don’t think any less of the doctor.

I guess I am used to the game’s traditions and pageantry on opening day.

The Mariners scored the first run, but alas, not the last …. several. Still there were some highlights. I watched the pre-game after the game had ended. Pretty good, and as the Mariners have 10 Black-Americans on the roster, it made sense to focus on the BLM movement, and what it means to them.

Yes, a few teams played yesterday, but the Mariners start today.

Carl getting ready for his shortened season, if we ever get to phase 3

Pedal to the metal, hope the kids are ready.

Today was heavy on the work side. Add in a drizzly morning and I only had a few hundred steps by 6:30. That was when my after work, non-work meeting ended. I was on to my next chore, ordering groceries, when Carl asked if we were going to walk.

I am now over 7,500 steps.

Work breakfast

Work lunch

Baseball, front walk style

Favorite political sign so far, and I don’t usually like political signs

And now to do that grocery shopping

We got through another jigsaw puzzle. Colorful again, and challenging, but not quite as entertaining as the butterflies. Still, a calm activity. One piece, two or a session, it got completed.

Here’s Corwin trying to get to his grandpa Carl. At least sort of.

That’s the Carl who attended Rey and Becca’s wedding, while the fuller model was recovering from heart surgery a few thousand miles away. Under the care of the incomparable Nurse Jane.

Walked twice today. The temperature was warm, but the breeze kept it quite nice. Watered today too. The food crops are the main motivation, but the backyard got a drink too.

And work. And Summer Camp baseball as they are calling the major league warmup. Some teams are playing other teams. Yankees/Mets, White Sox/Cubs. But the Mariners are playing themselves. The season starts next Thursday, although the Mariners don’t play until Friday. Carl is practicing too. With a mask, mostly against a wall, but occasionally with teammates in small, socially distanced groups. We don’t know if they will get to play. The area needs to get to Phase 3, and we are firmly entrenched in Phase 2.

It is good to get out a bit here and there, but our choices that we will accept are very limited. I have heard from 2 sources that frisbee golf is a great activity for getting some exercise, playing a game and still being able to be safe.

Had 12,500 steps by 12:30.

Started by watering everything in the backyard, even the grass. The grass only gets an occasional drink, and this was the first augmentation of the year.

10,000 steps were on a walk to drop off our all mail-in ballot, and continue around Green Lake. Other than the ballot drop box we avoided the walking path, sticking to the sidewalks across the street. Much easier to social distance. The real reason for the early walk was to avoid the heat of the afternoon. It’s supposed to hit 80. My dad informed me that would be a cool day in Michigan.

Speaking of Michigan, while I am spending a weekend day of leisure, those that are vacationing at the cabin are hard at work. Squirrel access eradication is the chore of the season. That is until the roof leak was discovered, chore 2. The big breakthrough today was verifying at least one point of access. And finding a second possibility, also addressed.

Head poking out over some old foam

Now plugged.

But the benefits of spending time at the beach was getting a pretty good view of the comet, looking as though it will land in Canada.

Note: All pictures are from Mark and Pooh, used prior to asking permission.

And now, back to a crossword puzzle from mid-June. Fully Covid free by now. Or work on the current jigsaw puzzle.

We found a new restaurant (for takeout). Almanqal Grill. The ocassion was a socially distanced meet-up to take some real pictures for virtual attendance.

Dinner was really good, kabobs of all varieties, the best pita bread and humas I have had in a long time, maybe ever. Dolmas, Baba Ganoush (I did not try this, not an eggplant fan), and a salad. And baklava, again – really spectacular.

The pictures were for attending Mariner home games, at least showing our faces.

We are trying to get our cutouts put in our actual seats in the outfield. They say you can’t choose your location, and they are in foul territory, but we are asking anyway. If a foul ball hits your cut-out, they are supposed to send you the ball. I wonder if they would do the same for a home run.

In other pursuits of no import, we finished this jigsaw puzzle. It was 1000 pieces, and a good challenge. It took a few days of picking through the many colors. Getting the second card table was definitely a good move. The shadow is just a shadow, not part of the puzzle.

Do you ever have a day where you just can’t get anything going, and it turns into a no-good, very bad day.

And I’m listening to our Governor ask folks, especially young people, to take the restrictions seriously. The state did quite well for a long time, and it’s going up again.

So you find something nice to see.

We sent a present to Corwin, and he is trying it out.

Thanks Rey and Becca for sharing.

And hope our small gathering planned for tonight, us plus 2 for dinner outside, is safe.

For lunch today.

Tuna glop

Roasted Potatoes

All enjoyed in the sun, on the deck, before tearing myself away and back into my meetingful work day.

Sunny lunch work attire, and fruit of the day, fresh from the raspberry patch.

Note the wispy Covid hair style of the day.

This has been another weekend with video chats. What was, and still could be Skype, has changed to zoom and video calls (if you happen to be a fellow android).

Yesterday we got together with some far flung friends.

It’s a bit funny where everyone is focusing on, depending on the screen to camera difference, and if something else is being looked into.

This morning was time with our favorite grandson. He is usually occupied with whatever takes his fancy, but for a few moments today he was intrigued by his grandpa and the popping sounds he could make with a finger in his mouth.

Rey explained that when they left Becca’s parents last week they explained, “Yaya (Grandma Chen) is going back in the box (phone).”

We have also managed to squeeze in a few long walks, and have started another puzzle. This one is 1000 pieces and butterflies. It is challenging.

The weather has been great for long walks. Warm to hot by the end, but not sweltering. And good for the garden. The raspberries continue to produce, the tomatoes are coming along, and we harvested some kale yesterday. Sauteed and steamed with some garlic. The amount we picked was only enough for a few bites each. We will try more. I am still a bit unclear on all things kale.

After the rare appearance at the office, I am home again. Nothing too notable. I didn’t work on the items I intended to work on, but put out little fires instead. Of course that happens when I am at the office too.

Today’s fun is here.

And, a walk, in spite of a very swollen ankle. There is no ankle injury, this is due to a baseball to the shin deep bone bruise.