Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Take5 Tuesday: July 29, 2008

hosted here

1. 5 of your favorite things.
holding new babies. Red Sox wins. fresh veggies. vacation days. vibrant sunsets.

2. 5 things you wanted to be when you grew up.
mommy. wife. teacher. wedding planner. interior designer.

3. 5 of the best compliments that you have ever received.
asked to be god mother to Heather's daughter. being called "best friend". had someone tell me they loved some of my photos. having someone say i made their day better. having someone i care about be proud of me.

4. 5 songs that you would pick as your theme songs.
"I'm Moving On" by Rascal Flatts. "Stand" by Rascal Flatts. "Old Blue Chair" by Kenny Chesney. "Collide" by Howie Day. "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas.

5. 5 people that inspire you.
my friend Alison. my Gram and Gramp (yes, even now). Jon Lester. my friend Michelle.

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that's funny, i don't remember any half-drunken trips to Vegas

apparently Verizon knows something i don't.

today, in the mail, i received an envelope from Verizon. it told me that as a wedding gift to me they would send me a $100 American Express gift card if i switched over to their combination phone-internet-tv package.

that's lovely & all but... can someone please tell me when the hell i got married??

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Ten on Tuesday: July 29, 2008



10 Things to Do When It's Too Hot to Go Outside

this one was *made* for me! because it's pretty much too hot to be outside here from June through the middle of September. instead of hibernating all Winter, i hibernate in the Summer because the Winter in Florida is great for being outside most days!

1. blog.
2. catch up on your favorite blogs.
3. make sure all your photos & music files are backed up.
4. watch a baseball game on tv.
5. if you're in the Tampa area (or near another domed baseball field), take in a baseball game -- and root for the team playing the Rays. ;-)
6. go to a movie -- or rent one!
7. read -- the library is your friend!
8. watch all those shows you recorded on your DVR.
9. take a siesta (because really, Winter is for *napping* -- long Winter's nap, see? -- but siesta makes me think of Mexico where it is *warm* like Summer).
10. organize something -- a drawer, a closest, the top of your desk.

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Monday, July 28, 2008

in the absence of Remy & Don, i bring you...

the never-before-shared communications between RSN-FL and RSN-West, brought to you by Verizon Wireless:

(top 2nd)
RSN-FL: and also? hey! Ellsbury can hit in the 9-hole!
----------------------------
(top 3rd, 2 on, 0 out)
RSN-FL: ok um out now please? oh! double play! and only the Molina remaining. Molinas are widely known for being even slower than Dougies.
RSN-West: i keep envisioning the guy from Animal Planet skulking around and saying "we're now observing the wild Molina! renowned for being slower than the wild Dougie..."
---------------------------
(bottom 3rd, Sox up 4-0 and Manny reaches on a wall ball double)
RSN-FL: hits? what are these hits you speak of? am confused. so unfamiliar.
RSN-West: lemme splain. those big toothpicks are actually hitting the balls.
RSN-FL: bizarre... i didn't know ours did that...
RSN-West: it has been known to occur by accident sometimes. it helps if we threaten them the day before.
--------------------------
(bottom 4th, Pedroia on second, Jon Miller & Orel Hershiser discussing his height as Papi crushes one to right field)
RSN-FL: Pedroia wants to be measured in his spikes standing on cement?? Papi says "measure this!"
-------------------------
(bottom 5th immediately following JD Drew stealing second & brushing off his pant leg)
RSN-FL: Drew seems like a guy who is very neat & orderly. he presses his clothes. his hair is always neat. he does not believe in facial scruff [see: Pedroia, Dustin]. so do you think the dirt on his white pants from Grand Theft Larceny is going to bother him the rest of the night?
------------------------
(bottom of the 6th as Youk singles Ellsbury over to third)
RSN-FL: do you YOOOOUK at your tv when you are watching Sox alone?
------------------------
(top 7th, ESPN announcers discussing the trade deadline)
RSN-West: you're damn tooting it's concerns about the bullpen, Orel!
RSN-FL: the thing is, they are schizophrenic. at least in 2006, we knew they would suck. now they tease with a good game just often enough to make us crazy when they come in & spontaneously combust.

and with that i leave you to celebrate *not* getting swept. i'm not going to pretend it erased the first two-thirds of the series but we did manage to take advantage of a Rays loss in order to simultaneously pick up a game on them & push the Yankees back a game. now if we can just take two of three from the Angels (i can't bring myself to wish for a sweep, lest i bring down the fury of the baseball gods for my greed), i can start to breathe again a little. wins are imperative, especially with Baltimore cruising into the Bronx and the Rays being hosted by the Jays.

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Sunday, July 27, 2008

desperation

i cannot handle being swept at Fenway by *them*. tonight i am hauling out the heavy artillery.

Sox t-shirt - check
Believe "rubber band" bracelet - check
stuffed "Boss" (Papelbon's dog! hello!) - check
baggie of Fenway dirt - check
authentic Tito ulcer - CHECK

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bad karma?

i sure hope so since i have started seeing commercials for people to reserve their post-season Rays tickets now. it's only the end of July in a tight division race with two months left of regular season play. seems a bit like counting one's chickens before they hatch...

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Sux

i have to tell you, i pulled my head out of the sand upon returning home to Fenway just long enough to realize i should have stayed in my state of blissful denial that the Sox had returned from the All-Star Break.

ugh.

i can't even form complete baseball thoughts, so badly have the boys fried my brain with their maddening inability to string together more than two wins except against the American League cellar-dwelling Mariners, all the while allowing the freaking Sunbeams a two-game lead in the AL East and the Yankees to crawl within one game of us. a sweep tomorrow brings not only sick humiliation but sharing second place in the division with *them*. or will we actually fall to third... ::shudder::

since the return from the Mid-Summer Break, we've learned that...

...Tek caught that last game before the Break despite an infection that rendered him pretty much blind in his right eye: "It was the scariest game I've ever played."; that despite his painful slump Francona says "I won't hit for him. We need him. I believe in him. I will always believe in him. When times are tough, you don't waver from that. If we want to get where we ultimately want to get, the faith in him will bear itself out."; and Tek was able to hit a game-winning two-run homer, which if it made me feel that kind of relief, i can only imagine how it made him feel.

...Jacoby Ellsbury *can* be slowed down on the basepaths. by not getting on them. Friday night, Remy & Don were discussing what it might do to the kid's confidence if he were to get pushed way down in the line up after leading off the whole season. i am thinking that the fact he was kept out of the line up completely on Saturday might hurt worse than batting ninth. or perhaps that is part of the lesson to be learned by not playing at all for a game.

...it's just not a season if there is no Manny drama. he came up "lame" on Wednesday, then proclaimed himself unable to play the series opener against the Yankees on Friday during a hot divisional dog fight. after being sent for an MRI that came back clean, management finally reached a breaking point, leading to reports that "There are strong indications that if Manny Ramirez shows up at the park Saturday and pronounces himself unfit to play, the team will issue disciplinary actions which could include a suspension." amazingly enough, Manny was back on Saturday. healed? playing through whatever it is? i don't know. but it sure does feel like the front office is setting the table for not picking up that option for next year. or possibly even a trade deadline exit.

...the bullpen is determined to remain schizophrenic. and i continue to dread the moment i see a hand reach for the phone.

...Papi being back in the line up was not the answer to our disturbingly silent offense. i just pray that i can safely tack a 'yet' to the end of that sentence soon. nonetheless, it sure is good to hear the crowd chanting "Papi" again.

...Jed Lowrie is capable of making a strong case for himself at shortstop. i have seen him turn more plays & field more hits than balls that he dives for & misses or that inexplicably roll between his legs. and he's managing to get on base to boot. keep on showing 'em kid. please. that one glimpse of E6 (sporting the ugliest sunglasses i've ever seen) in the dugout was enough to remind me of things i would rather forget.

...Pedroia is a machine.

...Mike Lowell & i have something in common. you hear very little from both of us most days. not very big talkers. but when we reach the end of our fuses, POW! a terrible bottom of the ninth one-out strikeout call in Friday's game led to Lowell screaming in the face of the home plate umpire & ultimately his ejection from the game.

...Joba Chamberlain is actually even more despicable than i had imagined. i mean, seriously. after last season, he's going to take potshots at Youk's head again?? gimme a break. no matter what Remy said, i find it far too coincidental that somehow the ball only "slips" when Youk is at the plate. Craig Hansen plunking Slappy on Saturday, though, was about the furthest possible thing from intentional. no way could he land one on someone purposely the way he was unable to locate a single freaking pitch the whole time he was on the hill.

...Joe Buck & Tim McCarver make me yell at my tv. a lot.

...losing to the Yankees makes me, for lack of a better word, angry. i thought we were supposed to win at home? that was the only thing that got me through the road series which resulted in my head being buried in the sand.

with that, in Lestah we trust to bring sweet relief from this very unique form of hell. and no, i still can't believe how many times i've said that this season.

it's the end of July, boys. if you can't swing some mighty lumber & Lester can't right this ship starting *now*, you can find me out playing in traffic while you give away the division.

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Friday, July 25, 2008

Public Service Announcement: July 25, 2008

this one is for the guys -- mostly because i am going to assume (dangerous territory, i know) that a girl would never say this to another girl:

i don't know the "man laws" on this but it is never* ok to say the following to a girl:
"wow, you look great since you put on some weight! you used to look like a starving Ethiopian when i first met you!"

1. in no way do you ever imply that a woman is gaining weight! i thought everyone knew this?! i mean even if you've never actually had a girl friend or a mother or any female contact, you've at least watched tv, right? where a guy says this in some form on a sitcom & then spends the rest of time trying to undo it?

2. for the record, let it be stated that i weigh exactly two pounds more than i did when you first met me. all my same clothes fit exactly the same way. my size has not changed. (and no, i am not in denial & trying to squeeze into clothes that don't fit because i believe in being comfortable, thankyouverymuch.)

3. somehow this statement managed to be a double insult (which, unlike a double negative, does *not* cancel itself out) because not only have you told me i've put on weight but you have also told me i looked sickly & malnourished for years! i am so freaking tired of it being seen as insensitive to point out that someone is heavier than their ideal weight -- don't get me wrong, it *is* insensitive -- but that it's perfectly ok to make fun of, roll your eyes at, say negative things regarding, or otherwise ridicule someone for being thin. or to say things like "God, you are so skinny, you look sick" or "maybe if you had some meat on your bones, you wouldn't be cold." yes, i'm thin. i am very lucky to have been granted fantastic genes in that area. it is something i am extremely grateful for, especially having watched several friends struggle with maintaining their weight. but just because i am thin doesn't give anyone the right to supply their own snarky commentary about what my scale reads. for years, until my mid-twenties, i fought being *under* weight. i had to eat whether i felt like it or not. there was no skipping meals. and let me tell you how much fun that is, to not be feeling well or have a poor appetite for whatever reason, and have to force yourself to take in a minimum number of calories. people tell me they would love to have that problem, but let me assure you: it's not as great as it appears. and no, i didn't have an eating disorder -- i have always, as a rule, loved to eat a good meal! -- and no, i didn't appreciate being called a stick figure or an Ethiopian my entire childhood, into my early adult years. i still don't.

whew.
/rant.

just suffice to say, the safest way to say someone looks nice is to simply say it exactly like that (although if i work with you, i'd pretty much prefer you not notice at all, but that's a separate topic right there): "you look nice today." and the only appropriate way to bring up a woman's weight, if you must at all, is to say: "have you lost weight? because you look great." [edit to add: in the event that you know this is a goal someone is working toward & you want to appreciate their efforts. otherwise a simple "you look nice today" will do.]

*the only exception i can think of to "never" is if someone has been very ill and lost a terrible amount of weight & they have begun to put some back on as their health improves, but you better be certain that's the case. and even then, it might be more appropriate to say: "you're looking well recently & i am glad to see that."

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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Introduction to Dawn

i saw this over on Flea's blog. at first i was going to post my results in the comment section but not only was it turning into a ridiculously long comment, some of these results were too accurate not to share. and who better to share with than you, my six devoted readers. ;-)


You Are French Food

Snobby yet ubiquitous.
People act like they understand you more than they actually do.
What Kind of Food Are You?


two favorite colors. one of them made me laugh. *hard*. i'll let you guess which one. ;-)

What Your Favorite Color Red Says About You:

Ambitious --- Energetic --- Passionate
Spontaneous --- Attractive --- Inspiring
Seductive --- Powerful --- Addicting

What Your Favorite Color Blue Says About You:

Emotional --- Affected --- Sensitive
Peaceful --- Tranquil --- Connected
Spiritual --- Experimental --- Deep
What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary.
You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward.
Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts.
All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.
What Time Of Day Are You?

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Monday, July 21, 2008

Sing Along: July 21, 2008

I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide
("Collide," Howie Day)

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Little Bits of Happy: July 21, 2008


new issue of one of my favorite magazines in the mail. i love when a cover invites you right in. i don't know if it's all that red -- the perfect shade, exactly my favorite color -- or something about the photo, but i don't even have to read the titles on the cover to be drawn in.

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in eight

i was tagged by Julie about a hundred years ago to do this and i'm finally getting it done. she's probably forgotten she even tagged me by now. (also, i'm not tagging anyone else -- i'm such a rebel -- but if you want to play along, by all means, feel free!)

Eight Things I Have a Passion For:
(beyond the obvious answers of the people i love & my personal faith)
1. the Red Sox -- i'm pretty sure i don't have to explain this.
2. the Patriots -- probably don't have to elaborate on this one either.
3. all things Disney! -- not just the two here in the United States, but the international parks really intrigue me as well!
4. photography -- no way could i do it on a professional level, but i *love* playing with my camera. i would be lost without it. my photos, and the memories they hold, are some of my most prized possessions.
5. children -- they absolutely fascinate me. it is amazing how they start so helpless & incapable of almost everything and in less than a year, look what they accomplish! even though i don't do daycare anymore (nor do i have any of my own), i still keep on the latest "news". i can't help it. i read just about everything i come across.
6. cooking -- some days, i just don't feel like it. others? the need to cook is almost primal & i feel like i need the challenge of a new recipe. i can't explain it any better than that.
7. reading -- i am always reading *something* whether it's a book, a magazine or something online. the form of media doesn't really matter to me, just as long as i have something to read.
8. lists! -- oh how i love a good list. or five.

Eight Things I Would Like to do Before I Die:
1. see a Red Sox playoff game, live & in person.
2. visit all the Disney parks.
3. have a child. (yeah, i know i'm kind of missing some steps between here & there. consider the intermediate steps a given.)
4. pay off my stupid student loan finally!
5. see each of the fifty States -- including Alaska & Hawaii. my grandparents saw all of the 48 contiguous states because they wouldn't fly, and i would love to see some of the same places they did, with my own two eyes, but since flying does not bother me (as long as it's not in a small plane) , i would love to see the other two as well.
6. learn to use a camera that actually has manual settings.
7. see a home game for each of the Major League Baseball teams.
8. visit Washington DC as an adult who can actually appreciate some of the things i saw as a clueless 12-year-old kid.

Eight Things I Say a Lot:
1. seriously.
2. are you kidding me??
3. hello, [company name], how may i help you?
4. is it time to go home yet?
5. crap!
6. ummmm...
7. i don't know.
8. please don't call the bullpen please don't call the bullpen please don't call the bullpen.

Eight Books I Have Read Recently:
(define "recently"...)
1. "Dynasty: The Inside Story of How the Red Sox Became a Baseball Powerhouse" by Tony Massarotti (currently reading)
2. "Sex and the City - The Movie" by Amy Sohn
3. "Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell" by Amy Sohn
4. "The Return of the King" by JRR Tolkien
5. "The Two Towers" by JRR Tolkien
6. "The Fellowship of the Ring" by JRR Tolkien
7. "An Acceptable Time" by Madeleine L'Engle
8. "Watching Baseball: Discovering the Game Within the Game" by Jerry Remy

Eight Movies I Have Seen Eight Times:
1. Ocean's Eleven
2. Father of the Bride (Steve Martin remake)
3. Father of the Bride 2
4. The Wizard of Oz
5. As Good As It Gets
6. Jerry Maguire
7. Major League
8. Ever After

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Sunday, July 20, 2008

Snapshot From Along the Broken Road: June 2008

better late than never, right...? (the answers were all recorded by my target date of July 1. the photos? not so much...)

photo of me


1) current candle scents: two retired scents -- Rainforest and Bay Breeze.

2) what i am currently reading: "Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell".

3) newest music i added my playlist: nothing new this month but i am itching for something new so i expect that will change. *soon*.

4) movies i saw: Sex and the City - the Movie .

5) something yummy i made this month: it's just too darn hot to cook in the Summer. the yummiest thing i made was a tomato sandwich.

6) the last place i ate out: the Trop on June 30. it's not a ball game without a hot dog!

7) something that made me cry: going back & re-reading some old emails i had saved. and the S&TC movie made me tear up just a bit too.

8) something that made me laugh: dinner out with Heather, Alison & the crew. some of the times i laugh hardest are with my girlies.

9) something i looked forward to this month: meeting Alison's daughter, Gracie, for the first time.

10) something i am thankful for: hugs.

11) something i want to remember about this month: the way it feels to hold a baby. i suspect it will be a while before i get to hold another one.

12) a photo i took this month:

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Saturday, July 19, 2008

Saturday Survey

i saw this in a bunch of places (Rebecca, Nichole, Chele and Krystyn on her private blog) and now it's time to play along, appropriately on Saturday.

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
an insulated bag for refrigerated/frozen grocery purchases. a bottle of Febreeze in "Spring Renewal" scent. one of those windshield shades that keeps the sun from beating down into your car in an effort to keep it somewhat cooler.
2. When was the last time you threw up?
remember that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry mentions how long it's been & then he ends up getting sick? yeah well, i am not saying. i would cut off my right arm if it would keep me from ever throwing up again.
3. What's your favorite curse word?
ummm... damn? crap? i don't really curse very often.
4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Mega. Troy. Michelle.
5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
i was still asleep & having some very bizarre disjointed dreams, i might add.
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
reading another chapter in "Dynasty" by Tony Massarotti and realizing just how much Dan Duquette contributed to making the Sox who they are today.
7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
hmmm... 11:25pm? that's a toss up. i could be reading (possibly more of my book, possibly catching up on blogs) or i could be asleep. all depends on what time i get sleepy tonight.
8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
no & i cannot say i've ever had the urge to go. they hold no appeal for me in any way, not even for the sake of curiosity.
9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
"bye."
10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
i don't think i can pick a "best". there are so many that i love... vanilla is probably the most versatile though.
11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
water. as usual.
12. What was the last thing you ate?
the last of the leftover turkey that i had to clean up. i just made a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with some mayo.
13. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
yep. needed some new underwear. i only buy new ones when some get retired & some got retired so i bought some new ones to replace them.
14. When was the last time you ran?
through the rain to my front door on Wednesday when i got home from work.
15. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Red Sox game against the Angels this afternoon. ::enormous sigh::
16. Who is the last person you emailed?
my old neighbor from a long time ago, Matt. we stumbled into one another on Facebook. it's cool to reconnect with (some) people.
17. Ever go camping?
no, and i hope to keep in that way.
18. Do you have a tan?
i'm not sure that's possible with SPF45. and if you saw how blindingly white i am, you would understand the necessity for SPF45.
19. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
the only time i drink soda at all is when i have an upset stomach & i have some ginger ale in which case i sip it from the can.
20. What did your last IM say?
wow... it's been a while since i IM'd. too bad you didn't ask about text, huh?
21. Are you someone's best friend?
without sounding like i have a big ego, i am lucky enough to be the best friend of several most wonderful people.
22. What are you doing tomorrow?
church. grocery shopping. watching the Sox. typical Sunday.
23. Where is your mom right now?
beats the heck outta me. she could be home. she could be out. she might not even be in Connecticut if she took a vacation.
24. Look to your left, what do you see?
end table. lamp. candle. pack of gum. coaster. bottle of lotion. two framed photos of my god daughter. framed photo of my grandparents on their wedding day.
25. What color is your watch?
silver with a tiny bit of gold accent. and i haven't worn it since Thanksgiving because the battery is (still) dead.
26. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Grant Balfour, relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, who the tv announcers feel the need to point out that he is from Australia every time he comes in to pitch.
27. Would you consider plastic surgery?
only under extreme circumstances.
28. What is your birthstone?
opal.
29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
mostly drive thru.
30. How many kids do you want?
in my long ago past, i wanted two or three. now i would say let's get to one & see what happens after that.
31. Do you have a dog?
yes... sort of... i don't have custody of him. Casey is a blond Cocker Spaniel. he just turned six last month.
32. Last person you talked to on the phone?
some recording telling me the warranty is up on my car & trying to sell me something. i hung up before it could elaborate.
33. Have you met anyone famous?
no. i can think of a few i'd like to meet though.
34. Any plans today?
it's a little late to have plans for the day. i did exactly what i wanted to though: a whole lot of nothing.
35. How many states have you lived in?
two. Florida & Connecticut.
36. Ever go to college?
yep. still paying for it too.
37. Where are you right now?
my living room.
38. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
uncertainty. and the outrageous renewal cost for my car insurance forcing me to shop for new quotes.
39. Last song listened to?
"Livin' Our Love Song" by Jason Michael Carroll. it's playing right now. oops, just changed over to "My Own Prison" by Creed.
40. Are you allergic to anything?
dust. sulfa drugs. some pollens.
41. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
i don't wear my favorite shoes all the time. they are silver strappy heeled sandals. look great & surprisingly comfortable but they don't really go for "every day wear".
42. Are you jealous of anyone?
not in an all-consuming way, but more in theory than of anything specific. (ok & maybe just a *little* bit of Nichole, Daniel & Steven after the last few texts i just got.)
43. Is anyone jealous of you?
i seriously doubt it. i guess i would be curious to hear why they would be, if they were.
44. What time is it?
9:04pm.
45. Do any of your friends have children?
about half of them do, i would say.
46. Do you eat healthy?
i don't kill myself to eat healthy, but i have always enjoyed fruits & veggies & whole wheat bread, so lots of foods i like are good for me.
47. What do you usually do during the day?
on weekdays, i work. and when my work is done, i play online. on weekends, i usually relax, watch tv, read, run errands, do housework.
48. Do you hate anyone right now?
hate? that's a powerful word. and one that i feel can turn you angry & bitter inside. i do not hate anyone. but i do have very strong dislike for a few people.
49. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
i do during the week, the million times i answer the phone. on the weekends, it depends.
50. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
i will be 32. most of the time, i don't care.
51. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
i've been to a couple of them. upstate New York, somewhere in New Jersey, and in Virginia, if i recall correctly. all when i was under the age of 18. not really my thing now so much. especially since i don't do roller coasters or major thrill rides. i am more of a theme park girl than an amusement park girl. (yes, there is really a difference.)
52. How did you get one of your scars?
i have a very faint scar on the fleshy part of the palm on my left hand, just below my thumb where i got burned as an infant. you wouldn't be able to see it if i didn't point it out to you.

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Friday, July 18, 2008

except it was probably more like the Early American pioneers, because, you know, cavemen wrote on walls.

nothing like a rude awakening on what should be your vacation day to lead off a long weekend.

6am. i am suddenly startled awake. i assess, as best i can with my bleary brain, trying to determine the cause. internal alarm clock thinking it is a work day? no, i would have gone right back to sleep the instant i remembered i am off today which took me approximately point three seconds to recall. body done sleeping? most emphatic NO. bad dream? no, i am not rattled, scared or sad, my heart rate is normal, i am merely awake & confused how i became so. loud noise? no, it is quiet... hmmm... eerily *silent*. i blink a few times & then the remainder of fog clears from my head (great, now i am completely awake) and i realize... the power is out, just gone out actually, as my focusing eyes see the blades on the ceiling fan above me slowing to a halt. silence really *is* deafening.

as much as i love quiet, the peace that comes from stillness, you don't truly grasp how your brain recognizes silence, not as absence of sound, but as background noise you don't actually pay attention to as you go about your day, until all the sounds you are accustomed to STOP abruptly. the soft whir of fans in various pieces of technology. the white noise of the ceiling fans steadily spinning round and round. the occasional hum of air & the hushed clicks from the air conditioner as it kicks on & off. the ever-present multitude of noises made by the world's loudest refrigerator. all... mute. my soundtrack is now limited to half a million frogs peeping from the pond (S&TC fans will appreciate this as being much like the scene where Carrie sleeps at Berger's for the first time & he turns on the sound machine) -- oh how i love you now lush landscaping in my apartment complex! (/sarcasm born of being yanked out of blissful sleep) -- punctuated by the chirp from my hard-wired smoke detector, informing me roughly every two minutes that it has no power source.

keep in mind that i live in Florida. and it is mid-July. and my environment is no longer climate-controlled. (starting to understand why Dawn does *not* entertain even the notion of anything remotely resembling camping?) it's already getting hot in here (and the sun isn't even up yet). i would open a window, but i would probably drown in the 140% humidity. not to mention, the frogs? it was as if someone had hit the mute button on my world & cranked up the volume on the pond to maximum. (did someone move the pond to directly outside my bedroom window or something?! because seriously, the frogs sound like they are living in my head, they are so LOUD!!! it's 6am! keep that racket down, would ya?!)

so i do what any 21st century girl does when she has no power at 6am on a vacation day: i pick up my cell phone, post a whiny update to Twitter, and then text my only friend guaranteed to be not only up, but coherent at this hour, to lament my situation. (thanks, Michelle!)

Good Friend that she is, she does the thinking for me (see, i am just enough awake now that there's no chance of me getting back to sleep even if the power comes back on that very instant, but not enough awake to think anything even closely resembling productive) and suggests i call the power company to see if they have a status recording or to report the outage if they don't.

dilemma: i do not know the number to my power company. i have no internet on which to look it up. and while i have my cable provider programmed into my cell phone (priorities, people! cable company provides tv, internet & telephone! must not be stranded without them!), i do not have the power company listed in my contacts (i do now, by the way, in case you're wondering). Good Friend Michelle looks the information up for me.

i call Local-Power-Provider Electric. they ask for my phone number associated with my account. it has to be my cell number because when i set up my electricity, i didn't have a landline yet. my cell was the only number i had. i enter it. i am told that number is not on file, please enter my account number. see where this is going? i am signed up for paperless billing. i do not know my account number without looking it up online, which normally? not a problem. now? is quite the catch-22. automated telephone system unceremoniously disconnects me because i could not provide the necessary code for assistance.

sigh.

now it's hot in here & i am bored (no offense, Michelle, i promise). i never appreciated just how dark my apartment is when i sleep. even as the sun is rising, my apartment stays almost pitch black, thanks in part to the fact that it faces southwest (are you impressed i know that? i am!) and also has two enormous trees directly in front of it, providing shade from the sun. i could shower, but it would be in total darkness in my windowless bathroom. i could read, since of course i have half a million candles & a flashlight (hello! land of the hurricane! i am prepared!) but i feel like i should save those resources for when i may actually *need* them. Michelle suggests venturing forth with Lappy...ahem, the laptop (sorry, we are affectionate, the laptop & i) in search of free WiFi, but i look like Medusa, and while i could successfully shower in the absolute darkness, there is no chance of makeup application without light and i will not even tell you what happens to my hair without a hair dryer, especially when we factor in the humidity. i am officially on house arrest.

so what do i do? i move out to my living room, where it is marginally cooler for some reason, turn my arm chair around to face the window, in an effort to utilize even the vaguest bit of daylight. and i start to document my morning. just for you. on a pad of paper with a pen. just like the cavemen blogged way back in the days of yore & yesteryear.

don't you feel special?

yes, the power is back on now (obviously or you wouldn't be treated to this [insert important breaking news interruption-of-your-regularly-scheduled-programming music from your news source of choice here] update on my morning such as it rudely began when i should have been able to stay in bed, slumbering, past 6am) and i un-Medusa-ed myself immediately since i want to be able to escape from my home should my electricity fail again.

silver lining: at least i didn't wake up at 6am, faced with the futility of making myself presentable for work sans electricity.

ever your eternal optimist.

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Thursday, July 17, 2008

stormy weather

every day this week, my commute home has looked like this:

and the sky is getting darker as we speak. i leave work in 35 minutes.

safe to say that drought we experienced for a month is over. ahhhh... Summer in a tropical climate. hot, humid & monsoon-ish.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Friday's Feast: July 15, 2008



Feast One Hundred & Ninety Six

Appetizer
When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
about two & a half weeks ago. got it highlighted too, if you were curious.

Soup
Name one thing you miss about being a child.
recess.

Salad
Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
olive oil. unless i am baking in which case i follow the recipe to the letter.

Main Course
If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
most likely German. i know a *very* little bit already from hearing my grandparents speak it when i was a child. and also we learned a little when i was in fifth grade. why? because it's part of my heritage.

Dessert
Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
...still in my thirties? i have learned the hard way not to get too far ahead of yourself with the "life plans".

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Monday, July 14, 2008

since you've been gone

let's just say last week was a bad internet week & leave it at that. by the time i could be online, i needed a break from all things internet. now i feel nice & refreshed. and you know what they say about absence & the heart. ;-)

in no particular order, things that have happened since i last checked in:

1. just about the time i got myself caught up on Google Reader... well... let's just say i have a lot more catching up to do. again. so if i haven't been around in a while, i promise i will be.

2. i got tagged by a whole bunch of bloggy buddies for various things, so expect those to pop up all through the week. i also didn't get to a couple of regular posts that i do, so i will catch myself up to speed there. to my knowledge, i have tags from Julie, April and Steph. anyone i missed?

3. since they faced each other in at the Trop, the Sox have gone 7-3 and the Rays 3-7. the Sox have outscored their opponents 60-30, while the Rays have been outscored 49-36. as we roll into the All Star Break, the Sox are 57-40, with a 21-29 road record, but a strong 36-11 at home. they have played 3 more games than the Rays, thanks to the Rays having a rainout in Baltimore and the Sox playing 2 games in Japan, so while both teams had 10 scheduled days off in the first "half", the Sox will get 9 in the second, while the Rays get only 7, plus a doubleheader in the middle of a 7-day roadtrip to end their season. the Rays record stands at 55-39, going 19-25 on the road and 36-14 at home. in comparison, the Rays have played 50 home games & 44 away, while the Sox have played 50 on the road & 46 at home. this bodes well for the remainder of the season, as the Sox will play 34 more games at Fenway this season, and 31 as the away team. the Rays, on the other hand, will play 43 road games and only 25 more in Tampa. i will take that schedule and see how well the Rays fare playing considerably more road games in the second half. all that to say the most important part: the Sox will start post-All Star Break with a half-game lead in the AL East.

4. Brett Favre may be considering a comeback. i know people are all over him, saying they are sick of this game. i blame the media for it. if everyone wouldn't have been riding him for a decision right after the end of a heart-breaking season, when he was worn out mentally, emotionally & physically, perhaps given the chance, he wouldn't have retired after all. everyone is entitled to their opinion. mine is that he was rushed into a decision, making it while emotionally charged, which in my experience is the worst possible time to make choices. i think he should play for as long as he can still lead a team to the playoffs. and i think it stinks that Green Bay won't let him play somewhere else, but have instead announced that if he returns to the football field, it will be as their backup QB. after everything he has meant to that franchise, i think the least they could do is set him free, if they have in fact moved on. and while i understand that they cannot outright release him (and thus risk facing him as a division rival -- and the fact that they fear that speaks volumes), they *could* trade him. while he may not be the greatest QB in NFL history, he is by far my favorite player, because his enthusiasm & love for that game cannot be touched by many, if any at all.

5. i have photos on my camera from over a month ago. i really need to get them properly saved & backed up. as soon as i do that, i will have new albums for my trip to Connecticut and the Sox game i went to. you know, for those of you interested in such things.

6. lest i be remiss, Youk hit his first career grand slam; Wakefield pitched another beautiful game *and* got run support; the Sox scored 18 runs on the Twins; Lugo took a 4-6 week Matt Clement Vacation; JD Drew continues to shine, aching back or not; Manny is back to being Manny from home runs to RBI to hiding in the Monstah (drinking Gatorade & making call on cell phones); Matsuzaka never ceases to make games feel like an eternity; Jeemer is still loading up bases with opposing batters, but at least now he's getting out of the inning; Pedroia is on a tear at the plate & appears almost unstoppable; Papelbon seems to enjoy giving me heart failure when he gets called in; and Tek is finally remembering how to hit again, which does my heart good.

hmmmm... i think that's about it. expect posts at regular intervals to begin... soon.

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Monday, July 7, 2008

can't they both just lose?

this is pretty much how i felt yesterday, only replace Girardi with me (minus the bulging neck vein that made me fear we were going to witness a live aneurysm), and the ump with the Sox bullpen (in particular, a closer that i believe equated himself with Mariano Rivera back in Spring Training, someone who was going to "set the bar as one of the premier closers in MLB," someone who just recorded his fifth blown save of 2008, not to name names).

(Yahoo! Sports)

seriously. what is with giving up leads?! and what is with pulling out Wakefield when he's cruising along nicely, knowing the crapstorm of hell formerly known as our bullpen? and what is with (oh, how this pains me...) having Tek pinch hit for Cash (who actually had an extra base hit & an RBI)? and WHAT is with Manny, striking out on three pitches, but not once lifting the bat from his shoulder?!

and what is with Lugo making a leaping catch & turning a clutch double play, then working his way on base & coming around to score the fourth Sox run? i have to admit, i was *terrified* of what he would do to cost us the game after making two successive contributions that actually helped the team (fear based on the Lugo Laws of Relativity: for every good action done to help the team, there will be an event of equal and opposite reaction to undo the existence of the good action), but thankfully he was benched before that could happen... and i'm not even sure how thankful i am, since the substitution of Tek (oh, Captain... ::sigh::) resulted in not bringing across a run & Cora Lugo'd all over the infield anyway -- it was like they were possessed by Lugo or something.

and what is with me having *anything* positive to say about E6?!

i digress.

i should have never made that crack about not losing a road series. you'd think i would know better by now than to attract the eye of the baseball gods.

the quandary now is... i cannot root for the Yankees and i cannot root for the Rays, so where does that leave us on Tuesday & Wednesday?

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Sunday, July 6, 2008

is this proof that gas prices really are too high?


taken in the parking lot of my local (not in the country) Publix grocery store this afternoon. (sorry about the size and the crappy photo. all i had was my phone.)

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Saturday, July 5, 2008

it's electric!

so i was just on my way back from the laundry room (because i am almost guaranteed not to make a futile trip across the parking lot only to find all the washers in use on a Saturday night) and it's kind of nice out, especially for July in Florida. twilight-ish with the remains of a sunset reflecting a last warmth on the few wispy clouds stretched across the sky. slightly less humid. a bit of a breeze.

out of -- quite literally -- a clear blue sky, there was a horizontal flash that felt like it was inches over my head. the hair stood up on the back of my neck as i actually *heard* the lightning blot slice through the air, with a deafening crack of thunder right on its heels.

i glanced up at the sky again. not a dark cloud in sight. just the same wispy clouds, like cotton balls stretched thin.

the sky is still grumbling. it hasn't stopped since that bolt flashed. just one long low rumble for the last five minutes.

Mother Nature is making her presence known... much like a dog that growls deep in his throat & shows his teeth, but does not rise from where he lies. a warning that may turn into nothing more. but a warning nonetheless.

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now it's war.

i just learned that the Rays displayed their absolute obnoxiousness, post-game, yet again Wednesday night (by the way, i cannot bring myself to support any Tek-bashing, so i'm just going to pretend i didn't read that part, mm-kay?)

i had no idea they pulled that "Sweet Caroline" bit *again* (they did it last series too) and now, as God is my witness, they will not have the opportunity for a third round of using Neil Diamond as mocking tool, even if i have to steal Lugo's uniforms & play SS myself. besides, even if i stunk, it's not like anyone would know the difference.

plus, there's that little thing ball players do, patting each other on the backside for encouragement... and the way the Sox hug each other when they do something good... i'm sure i can use that for incentive.

::pointedly looks anywhere but toward third base::

oh yeah. and nothing soothes the soul like taking the first two from the Yanks. (what?? you mean there's no possible way we can lose a road series now? i'm not sure i understand...)

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Thursday, July 3, 2008

procrastination: part two

ah yes! this time we were smart enough to not number them.

Could you go out in public looking like you do now?
one would hope, since i am at work.

What DVD is in your DVD player?
ummmm... S&TC, Season Two, Disc 2.

What did you do last night?
i lived through hell on earth watching the Sox come unglued in Tampa.

Last person who got mad at you? Why?
no names. because i am an idiot.

Do you like your music loud or at a reasonable level?
depends. where am i? is there anyone else i need to be considerate of at the time? usually i am at a very reasonable level. unless i am in my car & i need the music loud. to drown out my singing.

Are you a beach person or a snowy mountain person?
is it day or night? where is the beach? am i outside on the mountain or tucked somewhere cozy? i need more information.

Who was the last person to text you?
Daniel. (LOL! yep that changed since the last survey!)

What annoys you the most?
when someone is inconsiderate. i include myself in that.

When do you take a shower, morning or night?
i always take one in the morning. but also sometimes in the evening as well, especially if i was outside & sweaty in the Florida heat or if i have somewhere special to go or because i feel gross or because i need to cool off or...

Do you play any sports?
is active spectatorship a sport?

Do you like scary movies?
not so much. i live alone. no need to create things that go bump in the night.

Would you rather stay home all day, or be out and about?
STAY. HOME. (clear enough answer for ya?) <--- Michelle's answer. i couldn't have said it better myself.

Look out the window what do you see?
machine shop. trees. trucks. fence.

What are your nicknames?
Nonny. Sunshine. Miss Pretty (yeah i don't understand that one either).

Last time you went to the mall?
an actual traditional mall? March, maybe? there's an outdoor mall very close to me. i was just there this past weekend.

Tell me about the pants your wearing:
a pair of green (a Spring-y green, not primary) cargo capris. very comfy. not sure what else you need to know...

Do people ever spell/say your name wrong?
actually, yes. the saying more than the spelling. Don is a man's name. my name is Dawn. Dawwwwwwwn. awwww. like when you see puppies or baby seals. not onnnn. like what you do when you flip a light switch.

Are you watching tv?
i am not. i'm at work, remember?

Where would you like to live?
Disney World.

Last time you spent the night at someone's house?
it made me very happy.

When was the last time you were extremely disappointed/really mad?
we covered "mad" in the last survey, no? we called it angry, but six of one, half dozen of another. disappointed? very recently. in myself. i internalize.

Is there anyone you regret ever meeting?
yes.

Would you rather have roommates or live alone?
i have a (very) short list of people i could share living space with. presently, i live alone. what's that tell ya?

Have you ever made someone so mad that they broke something?
if they did, they never told me and i wasn't there to witness it.

Plans for the upcoming weekend?
hopefully not drinking hemlock (thank you Daniel!) in relation to any of the Sox-Yankees games.

Have you got a certain somebody on your mind right now?
several somebodies for a variety of reasons.

What's the last thing you put in your mouth?
a spoonful of yogurt.

Who was the last person you drove with?
Troy

When was last time you walked further than a block?
Monday night.

Name something that made you laugh today?
Michelle's answers to these surveys.

When was the last time you saw #3 on your top friends?
i don't give my friends numbers.

Do you believe ex's can be 'just friends'?
depends on the ex. and why they are an ex in the first place.

How do you feel about Diet Dr Pepper?
diet soda? ick. Dr Pepper? ick. and i don't drink soda. that about sum it up?

When was the last time you cried really, really hard and why?
::sigh:: Tuesday. and that's all i want to say about that.

What were you doing at 9pm last night?
cursing at the Red Sox bullpen and hating the Tampa Bay Rays with the passionate hatred heretofore reserved only for the Yankees.

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
some very much are. others? know when to say when. lesson learned. the hard way. more than once.

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35 (give or take a few) little secrets

Michelle sent me this survey (she sent me another one too, which will likely follow this one, just to warn you now). i am playing along because:
1. she's my friend.
2. her answers were so funny, they *make* me want to play along. (and i am trying my best to get her to start up a new blog so you can all share her hilarious sense of humor too! but until that day, you'll just have to take my word for it.) not that i will ever be as funny as she is, but i aspire to elicit as much laughter as she does!
3. short work weeks are bad for my motivation.
4. i needed an idea for a post & i just can't seem to conjure one up. (see item number 3.)

and away we go!

[ZERO] Who was your last text from?
Nichole

[ONE] Where was your default pic taken?
default picture? would that be profile picture? one was taken in the office of my old house. the other was taken on the couch in my current living room.

[TWO] What's your middle name?
Lynn. because when i was born there were too many Dawn Marie-s. yeah, changing my *middle* name was the way to eliminate confusion. =P

[THREE] Your relationship status?
exactly what i wish it to be.

[FOUR] Have you ever lost a close friend?
i have. to date, it's been entirely by choice. pruning out the toxic people. meaning i shed no tears.

[FIVE] What is your current mood?
can 'witty banter' be a mood? because i am on a roll this morning & it's suiting my mood perfectly.

[SIX] What's one of your brother's names?
Josh

[SEVEN] What's your favorite color?
i cannot have just one. i'm sorry but i never have one favorite *anything*. i am equally fond of navy blue & a warm crimson red.

see what i meant by "give or takea few"? no number [EIGHT] here.

[NINE] Have a crazy side?
don't we all? some just come out more than others.

[TEN] Ever had a near death experience?
Depends on how you look at it, and how dramatic I am feeling at the time, but in all reality, probably not so much. =) see now this is one that i just have to leave Michelle's answer. it's true, it makes me laugh, and i hold no illusions of topping it.

[ELEVEN] Something you do alot?
think too much?

[TWELVE] Angry at anyone?
i so rarely get angry. i get sad. i get hurt. i get disappointed. i get annoyed. i get frustrated. (if you had any doubts i was human before, i've cleared that up now!) but i very rarely actually get *angry*.

[THIRTEEN] What's stopping you from going for the person you like?
i think once you pass the age of 30, you are exempt for answering questions like this.

[FOURTEEN] When is the last time you cried?
ummmm... yesterday. 10am & i'm ok today. so far.

[FIFTEEN] Who would you do anything for?
the people i care about. and at my own expense, if need be.

[SEVENTEEN] How old r u ?
old enough to be able to actually spell out all the words in this question!

[EIGHTEEN] Do u liKe some1 in ur top frends?
i think that whatever that is up there posing as a question is akin to whining: as in, i don't hear you unless you can speak normally.

[NINETEEN] What kind of phone do you have?
LG-VX8350 RED.

[TWENTY TWO] Have u kissed sum1 with the following letters? k,v,l,z
see question eighteen.

[TWENTY- THREE] Do you speak any other languages?
a little French, a tiny bit of German. not enough to survive in either culture.

[TWENTY-FOUR] Who is your friend that your really close to?
i'm only allowed one?? pffft!

[TWENTY- FIVE] Describe your life in one word?
work-in-progress. (what?! it's one word! hyphens, people.)

[TWENTY- SIX] Have you ever kissed in the rain?
::sigh:: yes.

[TWENTY- SEVEN] What are you thinking about right now?
how to bleach my last answer from my brain forever.

[TWENTY- EIGHT] What should you be doing right now?
::glances at paperwork multiplying on her desk:: uhhhh... nothing...

[TWENTY- NINE] What is your favorite memory?
again with the favorites. i don't have just one!

[THIRTY] What are you listening to?
someone else's phone call. something about bearings. and hubs.

[THIRTY- TWO] Who was the last person who yelled at you?
i can't remember the last time i actually heard someone yelling at me.

[THIRTY- THREE ] Do you act differently around the person you like?
not since high school.

[THIRTY- FOUR] What is your natural hair color?
a medium brown. nothing remarkable. but i don't hate it either.

[THIRTY-FIVE] Who was the last person to make you smile?
Michelle. she's good like that.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

And I Quote: July 2, 2008

"Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm."
(Robert Louis Stevenson)

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if i make it through the next four days of Sox-Yanks in NY without being straight-jacketed, it will be no small miracle.

some days i have a real love-hate relationship with this game.

and that's all i have to say about that.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

oh but you have no idea

if you're a Sox fan, you groaned last night when Tito neglected to pinch hit for the ninth inning rally killer. if you even moderately know me, you know to not even get me started on my feelings for E6 right now. you might even share them to some degree.

but what you don't know is that last night sucked more than you were privileged to. OMG you have no idea.

so we're all in this packed corridor last night moving toward the escalator & all of a sudden a fight breaks out literally two feet in front of me. (may i point out here that i am a) not a very big girl and b) not at *all* a fighter.) it started with three guys (two very classy Rays fans jumped a Sox fan, who seriously wasn't doing anything more than singing Sweet Caroline after the Sox lost, so not like he was rubbing a defeat into the Rays fans' faces -- and believe me, i am the first one to be disgusted when my fellow Sox fans reflect badly on the rest of us) but by the end, about ten people were throwing punches and a bunch more were screaming & shoving. i was literally on the edge of it all (when i say i was two feet away, that was no embellishment for the sake of drama) and with so many people there, i had nowhere to go. i didn't get hit but i got shoved a few times, and i have *no* problem saying i was scared. security took forever to get there because there were so many people packing the hallway who would not get out of the way. i could hear security yelling for them to move aside, but they were too busy trying to watch the fight to listen. it was ridiculous. the security guys finally got through & pinned down the people who were doing the actual fighting. by the time i was able to start moving forward again, arrests were being made.

THEN. oh yes, there is a "then". i should have had you pull up a chair. maybe offered some refreshments.

*then* i go to leave and it is pouring down buckets of rain. and they were making people keep moving out into it at this point. it's thundering & lightning and the rain is pounding down so hard it hurts. if you've ever been in the rain in Florida, you understand what i mean. i never experienced rain like it does here. the parking lot was a lake. and i was parked about as far away as i possibly could be and still be on the Rays property. so i am slogging through this water that is so deep in areas that it's pouring into my shoes but i was already soaked through to the skin about twenty seconds after exiting the building anyway so what's the difference.

here is where it gets interesting. that far lot? is grass. and between me & the grass? a puddle of rain water about six feet across that stretches the entire length of the parking area like a moat, so it isn't like i can go around or jump over it. at this point, what the hell do i care? it's not like i could get wetter. so i trudge forward. and find myself shin deep in a mud puddle. i would have cried except all i wanted was to be in my car safely at this point. thank God the saga ends there, because if my car would have been stuck? i would be in a padded cell right now. thankfully the ground under my car was packed solid and most of the rain was running off & turning into the mud moat i had slopped through.

i have never been so relieved to be home probably in my whole life. photos are forthcoming. of the game, not the ensuing fight or my swim through the parking lot. either of which i never wish to relive again. come to think of it, i could do without reliving that game as well. i hope to God that a) Wakey remembers that he is lights out in that hell hole (otherwise known as the Trop to those of you with less raw hatred for it than i presently feel), 2) Wakey doesn't end up on the DL after pitching here which has been known to happen to him in recent years on crappy artificial surfaces, and D) we can show some run support to the tune of us actually winning a game, because if we slink out of Tampa following another sweep and those freaking Sunbeams three-and-a-half games in first place, i will not be held accountable.

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