I am now a 23 year old man. To summarize, I am not a little kid anymore. The birthday was held with as much fanfare as I can remember in recent years. First, I went to lunch with Mark (the greatest parallel-parker I’ve seen). He treated me to a big salad and had a seedy bun hamburger himself. He lamented a couple of times on how seedy the bun was. I was happy and continued on with my day. Nowadays, thanks to facebook, people actually can know it is your birthday without you having to tell them. Glorious I say. That evening was fun. The cute babies came and captured our collective attention. Ma produced a choco cake and featured spaghetti for dinner. It was a vintage meal. I then stopped at Abe’s on the way home for milk. They did not have 1% so I was forced to go 2%. Oh well not everything can go right.

I thank all involved for their effort in making my b-day a special day. From the chicken burgers to a grill, to a framed diploma, to some good quality cash., it was a good yield. I must have the best family around I figure. Special mention of course to Ma, who hosted it all. She has been a stalwart in that kitchen and we appreciate it.

First thing I will use my foreman grill for will be to cook some porkchops. I hear Mark likes them.

Time is running out for me to get new winter/office clothes. I dress like July. I also have to make good on some baby gifts and a certain gift certificate for a person at work.

Review

I have a chance at last to catch up on some happenings.

Last night Heidi and Mark came over and enjoyed a pizza with me. Willy announced big news of opening up more locations. This should bode well for Mark, my Dad and other Barrhavenites who make the drive out for pizza. We watched some playoff baseball as well. Since I didn't eat a whole pizza for myself, I figure I deserve to have a mid-week pie next week. I keep meaning to try other things on their menu, but when that times comes, I just want a pie.

Simone is sleeping quite a bit, and we wait for Heidi's baby. Work is fine overall. I have been applying to some jobs lately. I'm certain that I won't hear back for many of them.

My Rogers cable is turning out great. I get all the baseball and can watch the Office at midnight on Thursday night. The set-up is sweet.

The Lynx fiasco is a disaster. They won't officially announce their move to Allentown, yet the Iron Pigs have launched a website and use the statistics from last year's Lynx team. Pathetic. Luckily, I attended the second last game.

I have my gum now - all 70 plus packs. I am now shifting my energy to tracking down slush puppies.

Last week, I hit balls with Mark. He lamented on how playing with only two peeps is tiring. That is where Francois comes in. I don"t mind it with only two people though. It means no ball is off limits in the outfield. I can go as hard as I want without worrying that I run into someone. Neither one of us can hit it over the fence yet that. That has to change for next season. That is all for now I suppose. Have a nice week bloggers.

Simone

Johanna has had her baby! A baby girl! What excitement. Congratulations Jones and François. Heidi will follow shortly. Call me Unkie train.

WOOH Baseball

Colorado and San Diego. Never before have I seen such a game! It pulled at my heart strings, captured my attention and will never leave my mind. To me, it was the single most exciting ball game ever played in my lifetime. Both teams gave it their all; both bullpens came up huge. In the end, it was Hoffman –the career saves leader- blowing a game which should have been wrapped up. Two blown saves in consecutive appearances which cost the Padres a playoff birth may be enough for Hoffman to retire, or for the Padres to not invite him back next year. You have to feel for him though. It’s a case of a pitcher getting older and not having the stuff he once had. His heater is now ineffective making change-ups his primary pitch. Unfortunately, this proved to be his downfall.

But enough about Hoffman! My Colorado Rockies, yes MY Colorado Rockies are heading to the postseason for the first time since 1995, and only the second time in franchise history. It will be a first for heart-and-soul guys like Jamey Caroll (long-time Lynx player, god bless him) and Todd Helton. I am quite jubilant at the moment for these guys. They won 14 of their last 15 games to make it in! Unbelievable. The game ended on an unbelievable note. The Padres looked to have dashed the hopes of Rockies players and fans alike with a 2 run bomb by Scott Hairston, son of pro-baller Jerry Hairston. This came in the top of the 13th. Then the rally started: double by Matsui (Hideki’s estranged brother); double by Tulowitzki; triple by Matt Holliday off the scoreboard in right field (and an attempt by Brian Giles that dazzled me; his 5’10 frame be damned as he just missed the ball climbing up the scoreboard). Then the next player to come up, Jamey Caroll, who had lost his mother to cancer earlier on in his career – but not before she was able to see him finally in the Major’s. Caroll, principally a utility player in his Major League career, could feel the importance of this. He promptly punched a ball to right field on the first pitch – a liner it was. At first it looked like it would drop in. On next glance, it appeared as if it would even go over the glove of the outfielder. Neither was the case. Giles, and his beauty grade 8 highlighted mushroom cut caught the ball on an absolute line and then, without so much as a running start, just cannoned the ball to home, in anticipation of Matt Holliday tagging up. Giles tried to make up for his mediocre arm by getting rid of it as soon as possible. He sort of air mailed it actually, but it still bounced before the plate. Michael Barett seemed to block off the plate perfectly but couldn’t come up with the ball. Holliday had slid head first into his cleat. Both players sprawled out for what seemed like an eternity. Then Barrett got control of the ball and as he was reaching to tag Holliday (the umpire had not made a call up to this point), Tim Mclelland made a safe sign. Totally blown call though! The game should have continued as the play was not complete. Either Holliday had to touch the plate, or Barett needed to tag Holliday. Anyway, what a game and what a night. I woke up to “Don’t go breaking my heart” on my radio station and reflected on how I had just witnessed two teams giving it everything they had. I was happy for Caroll, a good guy who deserved to make it to baseball’s second season.

Last night, other things happened. The Escort popped a wheeley so to speak. Repairs are needed. I needed to get to Barrhaven for dinner and groceries and game, so Mark came and got me at fallowfield station and we proceeded to Food Basics. He forgot his $10 chicken though. Then after I watched some game with him, pa drove me back to Ambleside. Thanks guys!