Posthumous celebration.

Well. I think I've worked my last day at big, ugly, blue place.
I think.

If things work out the way I have it planned, the way partner has it planned, I should be done at big, ugly, blue place. I can't begin to explain how happy I am. I don't mind many of the people. Really. I like virtually all of them, but I just really don't like spending a lot of time there. Too many memories, too many people, too many emotional weekends.

If it happens for sure, it'll be a nice close to the next chapter. The next Chapter. The next.


-Rusty.

HB to me

Late addition to this.

SLPTG and I spent most of last week visiting fam.
First person since HER to meet fam. Wait. Only person to meet fam other than HER. Hmm. Well, that's alright. Just a sign of me.

The trip went well. To MDW, rent a car, drive the remainder. Coming out of MDW versus ORD seems to be less costly. Fewer toll booths. Fewer times to curse out the person in front of you who waits till they get to the front of the automatic line to start looking for money for tolls.

Ahh, sweet Toll Road. Interstate 80 You nasty bitch. You haven't raised your rates in 10 years. Maybe more. The sweet sound of $2.00 as I exit your road make me feel almost grateful to have driven on your blacktop (sounds kinda dirty, don't you think?)

Arrived late night. Slept horribly. SLPTG did well with the fam. Entertained, was gracious, grateful and cordial.
Spent much of the time with my bro. Saw mom for a while. Couldn’t get any time away to spend any time by myself or talk; next time.

Returned home via Chicago. I’m beginning to think the city of Chicago has something personally against me. Why, oh why, fair city of Chicago do you have to torment me? I loved you when I was younger. Spent many hours at concerts at many of your venues. Enjoyed Concrete Blonde at the Vic on St. Pat’s day. I’ve been to a dozen or more Cubs games, yet you still taunt me with your traffic. Your potholes. Your meathead drivers. I swear every time I drive out of Chicago, it’ll be my last, but I get lured in to complete the task again. Sort of a personal vendetta.

Stayed swanky downtown. Spent way too much on food and lodging, but SLPTG and I felt we should splurge. Well, mostly me, but she went along.

Back to town, back to the grind.

HB.

-Rusty.

We Got Faith.

We Got Faith

A lesson in baseball and grammar.

I watched what was probably the best game of baseball I’ve ever seen. It was the Championship game of the Little League World Series. Representing the US was the team from Hawaii. The Caribeen was represented by Caraçao.

Caraçao, defending their title from last year, had four of the best players. The rest of the kids rounded out the team nicely. Excellent pitching, excellent fielding, and the coach showed good opportunistic use of miscues by the Hawaiian team.

The younger coach from Caraçao demonstrated good judgment and good management of his team. The coach from Hawaii however, one-upped him. Better management of his pitching squad; the Hawaiian team

The coach from Hawaii showed great character as his team got a bad call at the plate which cost them two runs. He showed great character by not complaining about it, rather, encouraging his team to play well.

In the bottom of the 7th, catcher Michael Memea, who was previously 0-3, stepped up and smacked a homer. 7-6 in the 7th. Hawaii wins!

The player that shined the most, for me, was Vonn Fe’ao. This little mulleted lad was bringing the heat. He was throwing 77 to 78 mph; which translates to 100 to 101 mph given the distance differences from Little League to Major League. Boy this could bring the heat. But what stood out (more than the eyes of a linebacker, as the announcers perseverated on) was the hair, the speed, and the accuracy. Mostly the hair though.

"We Got Faith." Um, right. We Got Faith. I’m all for shortening words and phrases, especially when trying to fit them on a small sign. This sign, however, was not so small that it needed poor grammar to fit. A proud parent demonstrating her commitment to her team and her poor grasp on the English language.

I’m fearful that “We Got Faith” will become the next catchphrase for teams that are coming from behind. [cough, cough] Cubs [cough, cough]


-Rusty.