But, the best part? I was playing second base and made two outs.
Unfortunately, the second one ended up like this:
It was a forced out at second and the ball was kicked into the outfield. I stood on the base, waiting for the throw, which I caught. Right before the base runner slammed into me. I said, "Ow!" put my hand up to my face, pulled it back, looked at it, and said, "Guys? I think I'm bleeding."
That was an understatement.
At least I made the out.
*I have one tomorrow.
We headed up to West Virgina on Friday and set up camp. Then we got dinner and hung around the fire having deep conversations about religion. (Paaartaaaay!)
The rafting trip was Saturday. We set out at 0830, which worked out well, because we were among the first groups on the river. The water was cold, but the rafting was awesome. Well, except for the fact that 2 of the 4 people on my side couldn't paddle. Or follow any sort of rhythm. I was maybe thinking about clocking someone with my paddle.
The water was cool, so I didn't swim much. I did get a face full lin one of the rapids. Oh, and at one point we landed on anther boat and I thought we were going to flip. But we didn't.
Interesting fact: The New River is one of the oldest in the world and runs North.
According to our guide, people who cannot are often on her rafting trips. I would like to suggest that if you can't swim, whitewater rafting is probably not a good activity for you.
That night we went back to camp, hung out, played spades, and taught MMatt how to roast marshmallows. Good times!
Anyway, here are some pictures:
Our boat (Heather, the guide, is in the front):
What boats look like from up at the New River Gorge Bridge Overlook:
(Pictures not taken by me or with my camera. For I am so lame that I did not bring one.)
]]>I suppose the possibly interesting part is why I don’t like her. The whole self-esteem issue is a big part. She’s also one of those women who will not be happy unless she is married. One day I’d like to be in a long-term, committed relationship, but if that never happens, I will be OK. I’ve made a life for myself that I like. Consequently, people who are not content in the moment (I do mean overall, because everyone feels discontent sometimes) annoy me.
As another example of the above, when she’s talking to a group of people at an event she’s always scanning the room to see if there is a more interesting conversation going on. Many people have picked up on this. It’s always a good idea to send signals that you are not interested in the person to whom you are speaking. People love that.
She’s also really obsessed with being part of the “in crowd” as she defines it.
Then there’s the whole issue of her always asking for other people’s help, but being the one to help. I stand corrected- she will offer help if she thinks she has something to gain from it. And by “something to gain,” well, see the part about the in crowd. And when she does ask for help, it’s always along the lines of “come help me paint, and please bring your own supplies, because I am way too poor (cheap) to spring for a few paint rollers/brushes.”
The moral of the story is that she is not the type of person I choose to associate with. I am selective with my friends. My friends add to my life; they do not define who I am and they certainly don’t define my self-worth.
On the Today Show this morning, it was mentioned that people are wondering if Michelle Obama is "too sarcastic and too independent." Whilst I am not sure that one can be too sarcastic or too independent, I can't help but think that's code for "is not afraid to have her own opinions."
]]>Here you can see him holding the flag as the Governor unfurls it.
Here you can see him marching by with the Colors during the Pass and Review. (You may have to hit the "video included" button.) He enters the frame at 0:37.
They are heading off to Ft. Bliss, TX this week for training; once training is complete they will head to Iraq.
I have been informed that one of my first Richmond Jaycee projects will to be collect care package contents to send to his unit. E-mail me if a.) you want to help; b.) you'd like to include another unit; or c.) you have content ideas. ( A friend of mine who spent a year in Fallujah assures me that gum will be most welcome.)
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I got to the house, ran in (still in my pedicure flip-flops), and there was Randy. TRgirl had called and left a message saying he’d gotten there, but I hadn’t heard the phone. Randy said, “Since you’re here, want to stay for dinner? It’s hamburgers.”
Saturday I washed my car. I’ve never done that before. In fact, my previous car? I never once washed it. Don’t get me wrong- I had it washed, I just never washed it myself. Once I’d finished that, I drove out to the storage unit and picked up my tent.
I went over to TRgirl and Randy’s to put it up. (Next week we’re heading north to see Bud’s big Army send-off. The next week I’m heading to West Virginia to go whitewater rafting. We’re camping, and I’d never even taken the tent out of the box. I thought it prudent to check it out before leaving.) They weren’t home, but apparently you can go over their house, walk into their backyard, and put up a tent without any of the neighbors saying anything or calling the police. Although, come to think of it, maybe they just didn’t want to make that call.
911: 911, What’s your emergency.
Caller: Someone broke into my neighbor’s back yard and is putting up a tent.
911: They’re putting up a tent?
Did I mention it was 100 degrees out? It was, so after spending 3 hours outside, I had to take a nap.
Saturday night I went to a party. I stayed until 3AM. As I was leaving, the host asked, “Are you sure you’re OK to drive?” I said, “Dude, I’ve been here since 7PM and have had 3 beers. The real question is, why am I OK to drive?” (One explanation: I did not participate in the ghetto beer pong. (Ghetto beer pong: played on tray tables instead of a ping pong table.))
Sunday we took Monkey to the pool. He is a fan of all things water. He even kept putting his face in. Afterwards, I thought about going to the bike shop and getting fitted, but then I remembered I’d had 5 hours of sleep. I stayed home and watched some season 1 episodes of Big Love. And, of course, the season premiere of Army Wives was last night. Ah show, I’ve missed you.
]]>I had thought that Andorra's location in the Pyrenees between Spain and France would place it in Western Europe.
]]>"Shit! We've got a 9AM meeting at the WTP lab. And I'm wearing open-toed shoes!"
Call co-worker, tell him that I'm a moron, will most likely meet him at the plant.
Call co-worker back, tell him that the one thing I wasn't a moron about was printing out the agendas Friday, and to please bring them.
Drive home, run upstairs (Orion: "Wha?"), change shoes.
Run downstairs, drive back towards office.
Realize at exit for WTP would be very early. Decide to drive to office. Realize this is good, as have turkey sandwich in bag for lunch.
Rememeber that we have new employee welcome lunch today.
Get into office, put lunch in fridge for Tuesday, pick up agendas, notebook, and co-worker. Head towards plant.
Co-worker, upon hearing that I brought lunch, "This weekend messed you all up. What did you do?"
WG: "I didn't even drink."
My parents were heading back from SC this weekend, so they stayed at TRgirl and Randy's that night. I joined them for dinner. I was cutting up cucumber for the salad when TRgirl said to me, "Why are you cutting them on that?" "Because it's a cutting board?" "We don't use that one. Now I have to wash it."
She also has a kitchen island that you may not put drinks down on.
(Should you come to my house, feel free to use any cutting board you can find. Also, you may put drinks down on all surfaces in the kitchen.)
Today I went over there for breakfast. This afternoon, I went to see Sex and the City. I'll post my thoughts after the jump in order to avoid spoiling anyone.
]]> I enjoyed the movie. The length didn't bother me. And of course, as always, I loved the interaction between the main characters. Especially Charlotte defending/protecting Carrie. What I didn't like? To me the series was always about how a happy ending isn't the be all and end all. That you can still be OK without it. But the movie? Wrapped everything up in a neat little bow. I feel like the message was, "You can still get married and live happily ever after after 40. There's still hope!" Which, eh. Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying I don't want that, I would. But I'm also OK as things stand.I have lately been railing against societal expectations, and the movie didn't really help my feelings on that.
]]>Of course, I had a bike for 3 years. I never rode it because it needed work, and I just never got it fixed. (In fact, before I moved, I gave it to Stew.) But now I want one. So, I'm really thinking I should buy a used one, but for obvious reasons I don't want to get one needing work. I don't want a mountain bike- I'm thinking more road/touring. But, if I want to take it on some of the gravel trails, will that work?
I don't know. It's quite the conundrum.
Oh! And also, I now have a set of golf clubs. So, I need to learn how to golf. I'm thing the first step is lessons a a driving range. Thoughts?
]]>When I called the specialist? Fertility Clinic. Which, not actually my problem. I have a fairly good idea why I'm not pregnant right now.
I called the Doctor back and learned that she had been trying to send me to an OB/GYN or a breast surgeon. (The swollen lymph nodes are in my underarms.) (It occurs to me that some of y'all may not actually want these details.)The secretary at the office decided to give me the name of an Endocrinologist.
I called TRgirl, who managed to give me the name of an actual OB/GYN. I saw another Doctor in that practice yesterday. He checked me over and asked me about a bug bite that I have on my right boob. (Damn v-neck shirts). Turns out that, although this doesn't explain the swelling from a week ago, I have quite the skin infection around the bite. (Skin infection on my boob. I am the sexy.) I really think the first doctor should have caught it. I mean, it didn't occur to me, but I'm not actually a doctor, and the large, spreading, warm redness didn't raise any red flags. But really, the first doctor probably should have seen it.
Anyway, I am now on antibiotics. Not as massive as cat bite antibiotics, but still. (Oh, and they should take care of whatever other infection was present.)
Ok, it's not as bad as the time that Goose was diagnosed with pneumonia when he really had appendicitis, but still...
]]>Robin and I went on a Canal Cruise that night. The whole canal thing was something I didn’t know much about (meaning, the canal system in Richmond. I am familiar with canals in general.) and it turned out to be very interesting.
Saturday we headed out to the Richmond National Battlefield and the American Civil War Center. Lots of reading there. When we went into the museum, the City’s water rescue team was starting a river rescue. When we came out 2 hours later, they were still there. (Everything turned out OK). We hit another Civil War site (Chimborazo Hospital) and then headed to dinner and to see Indiana Jones.
Sunday we went to the botanical gardens, met some friends for lunch, and then checked out more of the City, including the Hollywood Cemetery. We were afraid we’d never get out. Turns out, all kinda looks the same.
So, that was my weekend. How about you?