Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 70

Grass House, Honolulu, Hawaii.  This postcard is postmarked from 1941.  Amazingly, it was also typed on the back.

Salt Lake City, Utah.  Very pretty looking.

Hammersmith Farm, Newport, Rhode Island.  This was the Kennedy Summer White House.  "Have good food here-lobster, swordfish, and lamb.  Going for Hungarian food tonight."

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 69

Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah.  I cannot the believe the handwriting on the back.  It's so small, yet precise, it looks machine-printed.

 

Incredible picture of San Francisco, California after a winter snowstorm.

There were two of this antique reproduction Christmas postcard.

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 68

Sundance Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.  I disavow any knowledge of this card addressed to me from "Candy" of the Love Motel.

 

(No doubt I made a tremendous impression on her.)  Ahem.  Anyway, Memory Park and the Dome of the Capitol Building, Salt Lake City, Utah, sans stamp.  Wow!  Check out that handwriting!  It's like a cursive font from a printer, it's so precise.  

  

Evangelical Deaconess Home and Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.  This is postmarked from 1944.  Having lots of fun according to the back, but I wonder why they got this card of a hospital.

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 67

The Pioneer Monument, Denver, Colorado.  The postmark is from 1929.  The stamp was snipped for mom's stamp collection.  The monument "commemorate the hardships and fortitude of the early pioneers."

CBS Television City, Hollywood, California.  "We saw the Art Linkletter Show there."  

NBC Studios at Sunset and Vine, Hollywood, California.  "Stood in line here for 30 minutes to get tickets for Queen for a Day."  I've heard of that show.  Women contestants told their tragic story to the audience, who would vote on the most deserving.  I'd hate to make that decision. 

  

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 66

D205-Lincoln Road.  The 5th Avenue of Miami Beach, Florida.  Unfortunately, the date has been torn off.  It looks like the 30's maybe.  Also, I can't quite read the pencil writing which looks like Grandma's writing.  

 

I can't explain the punches.  The back says, "Nov (punch), 1957.  Senior Sneak Day."  You went to Kansas for Senior Sneak Day?  (I'm one to talk.  I stayed home and watched TV.)  

                                       

South Main Street, Russell, Kansas.  That's a scuff in the upper left, not a UFO.  The card is postmarked from 1931 with a painting of nostalgia from the 20's. 

                                         

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 65

 It's photo postcard of a relative from 1918.

Safari Beach Motel, Daytona Beach, Florida.  Mom and Aunt Judy sent Grandma and Grandpa a postcard from their vacation.

I think this is Pigtail Bridge in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  These two postcards have been snipped for their stamps.  Anyway, they're off to see Mount Rushmore tomorrow.  (Why don't I have any cards from there?)  

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 64

Mom was a fan of Bobby Vinton.  This postcard is from the Blue Velvet Theatre in Branson, Missouri.  This one is actually signed by the Polish Prince himself.  I'm not sure who got the card and autograph for her.

Wow, this one is from Germany from PFC Allred in 1945 sent via the US Army.

Daytona Beach, Florida.  This is from Grandma and Grandpa's trip there.  

 

El Paso Chihuahuas vs Round Rock Express 7-16-22 Part 2

This game wasn't on Sunday.  I just put this here because its a fun picture.

Part 1

 

I brought a couple scorecards with me, but was relieved to not have to use them.  The game programs weren’t being handed out at the gates.  I found them at the Customer Service booth, along with a starting lineup.  I saw that “Eggie” Rosario’s name was actually spelled “Eguy.”  Both teams were wearing black tops, which was a little confusing.

 

I was eating when the game started.  They had just brought out the food.  I had a cheeseburger.  There were chips, watermelon, fruit cocktail, cookies, lemonade, and sweet tea.  Ron also had the barbeque brisket.  I didn’t think it looked good, but he went back for seconds.  I was underwhelmed with the burger, but it was free.  For the first couple of innings, I was busy getting food and stuffing my face, but still kept up my scorecards.  That was pretty easy, since not much happened.  I wasn’t taking notes, but I was fascinated at one point as a large airliner floated in the sky overhead.

 

In the top of the second, Chihuahaus pitcher, Pedro Avila picked off a runner on second.  It was the team’s 23-rd pickoff of the year, according to the radio broadcast, to lead all of baseball in that category.  The scoring started in the bottom.  Rosario singled and went to second on a bad pickoff throw.  CJ Hinojosa drove him in with a home run to left.  My view was blocked of the shot.  2-0 Chihuahuas.  Also in this inning, a foul ball went into a ladies’ souvenir nacho dog bowl.  The crowd around her reacted.

 

I didn’t say anything to anybody at work or Ron, but I knew the stadium was getting close to admitting its four millionth guest.  I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.  It did happen that night.  A 10-year old kid was it.  In the fourth inning, Tim Hagerty on the radio talked to him and really enjoyed it.  The kid was really poised and well-spoken.  He’d been to games before and actually had two foul balls.  Tim talked to his older sister in the bottom of the inning.  She was very nice.  Was she jealous?  “Oh, no.  My brother’s so sweet.  He deserved this.  I love him.”  Awwww.  I don’t know what the prize was.  Either they didn’t say, or I missed it.

 

Meanwhile on field, I noticed the crowd along the first base line kept going crazy after some strikeouts of the opposition.  I don’t know why and there was a delayed reaction when it happened.  That is the section where the “Locos” sit during soccer matches behind one of the goals.  They are known for their enthusiasm.  The Round Rock Express scored in the third on an RBI single.  The Chihuahuas’ infield did make two great dive stops for outs to contain the damage.  2-1 Chihuahuas.

 

Chico made an appearance in the pavilion, along with my friend, Mike, and his girlfriend, Laiza.  While chatting with her, I missed an out.  (The horror, but it was worth it.)  Laiza then went over and flirted with Chico.  Shameless.  The Chihuahuas struck back in the bottom of the third.  A double, a wild pitch, and an RBI single by Rosario scored a run to make it 3-1 Chihuahuas.  I also couldn’t see the last out of the inning.  I was blocked where I was sitting.

 

Avila made an impressive play on the first batter of the fourth on a comebacker.  The ball knocked off his mitt, but he still managed to grab the ball and throw out the runner.  In the bottom, the Chihuahuas opened it up.  A hard luck error on the Express shortstop scored a run with two on.  Brent Rooker then swatted a three-run homer to make it 7-1 Chihuahuas.  The homer went to center and I still didn’t see it.  When the sun went down, the stadium seating in front of me filled up.  I decided to stay where I was, just inside the pavilion with the bad view.  Where I was and seats below me had counters in front of them to put your food and scorecards on.

 

I’m going to take out the drama here.  For the next five innings, nobody scored.  With the score where it was, I guess the teams made an arrangement to finish quickly to get to the fireworks.  Noteworthy events still happened.  Another co-worker arrived, Taylor, with his girlfriend, Maria.  I was wearing my Chihuahuas hat and shirt (8-11-15) and she liked it, immediately getting on my good side.  I was glad I’d recommended that Taylor get serious about her.  Given how late Mike and Taylor showed up, this was why I didn’t want to try and get a ride to the park with them.        

 

Steele Walker (there’s a name straight out of an 80’s action show) made a great diving play in left field in the bottom of the fifth for the Express.  Pace-of-play came up in the inning as well.  Express pitcher, Demarcus Evans, a very large, intimidating-looking individual, made a third step-off to try and pickoff Kervin Pichardo on first.  The pickoff failed and Pichardo was given second on a called balk.  From the radio call, I learned that if the pickoff had been successful, it would have been out.

 

In the top of the sixth, Rosario made a great dive stop at short for an out.  There was also a disputed ground rule double or long foul ball might have been a home run.  I was talking to Mike and Laiza as they left early.  “I think the Chihuahuas got this one,” he said.  I’m kicking myself for forgetting to tell them to stay for the fireworks.  Anthony Rifenburg on the radio call didn’t comment on the play until the next inning after looking at a couple of replays.  (I’m not sure I’m even getting the inning right on this play.  I didn’t write it down at the time because of the delay and because I was blocked from seeing it.)   

 

Between innings, Chico irritated one of the umps (or a facsimile thereof).  The ump ejected him from the game.  Chico went into the dugout, grabbed a cooler of water, and dumped it on the ump.  The ump then chased him off the field.  In the top of the seventh, we had another pace-of-play violation.  The batter didn’t get into the box on time and received a penalty strike.  He already had two strikes on him, so that was a strikeout.  Jose Azocar made a good catch on a dying liner to end the inning.  At the beginning of the game, after greeting the ump and opposing catcher, he motioned out to former Chihuahuas’ teammate, Nick Tanielu, now on the Express.     

 

After the Stretch, one of the people sitting in front of me got the Express centerfielder, Steven Duggar, to throw him a ball.  That was nice of former Giant to take care of the opposing fans.  Melika’s guest also got a fielder to throw her a ball.  She hurt her finger on the catch.  What’s worse is that she was catcher like Melika.  (I’m kind of hoping she’s not playing for the Aggies.) 

 

Okay, enough.  The Chihuahuas win 7-1.  With this win, they now had more wins than all of last year and were now in first place in their division (for the moment).  There was a free Papa John’s pizza app offer for the win, but I assume it was only for El Paso restaurants.  Likewise, there were What-a-burger coupons handed out to people leaving that was probably also only good in El Paso. 

 

My gameballs go to Chihuahuas Taylor Kohlway, who’s leading the league in batting average, for going 3 for 5, to Brent Rooker for his three-run homer, and to Pedro Avila for his four innings pitched, only giving up one run.  Frankly, no one of the Express had much of a game today.  Our time of the game was a very tidy two hours and 28 minutes.  The attendance was over 7,000. 

 

Fireworks

The four millionth fan kid threw out the “last pitch” for the game.  The first pitch of the game had already been scheduled for UTEP AD Jim Senter.  Three wagons were pulled out on to the outfield by a small tractor.  A couple of fire extinguishers were place nearby, along with a couple of other individual fireworks, presumably large ones. 

 

I remember, but can’t find reference to, a baseball fireworks promotion called, “Fireworks in Your Face.”  This spectacle could well be described as that.  I was told during the game that they change the theme for the display every homestand.  (And this was different than two other displays this year that I’ve heard of.)  This one was a melody of music by Queen.

 

Every so often, I’d hear some Queen music, but the opening salvo startled everyone and drowned out most of the songs.  The only other thing you could hear was children screaming.  The fireworks went off right over the stadium spectacularly and were synchronized to the music (I think).  Bohemian Rhapsody, of course, finished the 15-minute (or so) set.  The fireworks slowly petered out as the song ended.  Any way the wind blows . . .  BOOOOM!  The last huge firework went off and everyone laughed at being startled.  To say the least, it was awesome.  Little wonder these firework nights are so well-attended.  I think even Tim and Anthony were watching from the press box.   

 

In spite of the large exiting crowd, traffic moved very smoothly.  Ron and I wanted some ice cream afterward.  Stopping in El Paso was problematical, so we waited until we got back to Las Cruces.  Our first choice was closed (at 10:00pm).  Sonic’s ice cream maker was down, so to we went to next door, Freddie’s.  Frankly, their ice cream is a bit disappointing.  Overall, what a great night, even if the food wasn’t that great and the game wasn’t too exciting.  Those fireworks were going to make the evening no matter what. 

 

El Paso Chihuahuas vs Round Rock Express 7-16-22 Part 1

 

It’s been a while.  I’d been hoping to go to a Chihuahuas game earlier in the season with Ron and some co-workers.  Our schedules haven’t worked out, but maybe later this season.  This Saturday, my place of business paid for a group outing to the ballpark.  They’ve offered this before, but this was the first time I took them up on it.  (Though it’s not the first time I’ve attended a business picnic at the park, 8-23-15.  That was with Ron’s previous job.)  Ron hadn’t been interested in going with me until this year.  Since he was fired by my workplace a few years ago, that’s not surprising.  Enough time has passed to where he’s over it.  For my part, I needed him for a ride. 

 

I should discuss some the new pace-of-play rules changes in Triple-A this season.  There’s been a pitch clock for a few years.  Now to go with that, batters can only step out of the box once in an at bat and pitchers can only step off twice.  The strikezone is now called by the Hawkeye system, so no more arguing with the home plate ump (though the fans still boo them).  As soon as these changes fully kicked in, they made a difference in game play.  Games are now closer to two-and-a-half hours than three or more.  One road game I listened to earlier in the season, they actually delayed the start of game so that it would be more likely to be dark for the fireworks when it finished.  

 

I kind of wish I’d been blogging about the Chihuahuas this season.  Unlike last years’ losing season, this has been an interesting year.  I’ll just mention a couple of items off the top of my head.  Robinson Cano joined the team for a while and played well enough to get his contract purchased by another team.  The team has hit well.  A couple of players have been called up to the Padres, but the pups keep swinging.  I got to watch a game over the Internet when it was featured on MLB.TV.  Broadcaster, Tim Hagerty’s, son commentated with him for an inning, since it was Father’s Day.  (It was cute.)  The Chihuahuas are carrying a knuckleball pitcher.

 

In play, I’ve heard a game where the Chihuahuas hit two grand slam home runs.  (That was a win, but the final score was uncomfortably close.)  The team had the Sports Center play of the day with a diving catch into the netting.  There was a dispute on a Chihuahua home run that was close to foul pole.  The opposing manager charged out on field to protest while the batter was still rounding the bases.  After a conference by the umps confirmed the homer (no replay in the minors, thank goodness) the manager and the opposing pitcher were ejected for their subsequent emphatic protests.

 

This week on Thursday, the Chihuahuas were down by four runs twice to the Round Rock Express in the game, but still won in the tenth inning.  On Friday, the pups went down six runs early, but won it in the ninth.  It’s been like that a lot this season.  I was feeling good about going to this game.

 

Ron picked me up pretty early.  There was some bad road construction going on El Paso, but the traffic was reasonably light.  We got there about when the gates opened an hour before the game.  We strolled along the concourse and watched some very pretty girls walk past.  The team shop was a bit disappointing on their lack of selection.  We passed on the food since there was supposed to be food provided for the picnic.  I still wanted a bag of kettle corn.  I made the mistake of not buying one, because I didn’t want to carry around a big bag of popcorn.  There was supposed to be popcorn at the picnic, but there wasn’t.  I forgot to get some on the way out. 

 

It was UTEP night at the stadium.  The hat looks pretty sharp, but I didn’t see any at the stadium.  I’m also not sure if they were giving away the hat or selling them from reading the ad, which was being handed out at the gate.  There were tables set up at the main gate with a few UTEP athletes there.  As an NM State fan, I’m not that interested in UTEP, but I do listen to some of their games at times.  (Unlike other Aggie fans, at least I don’t hate the Miners.)

 

I didn’t expect to get some Volleyball girl autographs at a Chihuahuas game, but I did.  It’s a nice big glossy autograph card, too.  I feel like taking this to an Aggie game and finding AD Mario Moccia and showing this him.  There were three girls there.  I chatted with them about Coach Wallis for a minute and betrayed my actual allegiances.  They signed for me anyway.  I regret not going by the other athletes, basketball and football players I think, to get their autographs.  They all looked miserable, like animals on display in a zoo.  Worse, they were probably volunteers for the duty.    

 

Ron and I found the El Paso Locomotive team shop (who also play at the stadium) on the way to the Santa Fe Pavilion.  I wanted a t-shirt.  I don’t expect to go to a game any time soon and they don’t show their games on local TV anymore, but I still wanted a shirt.  The store closed.  I asked an attendant later, and he said they were only open during Locomotive games, which seems like at least one lost sale (me) and probably more.  I got to look in through the window when we were leaving stadium.  They had a bunch of nice t-shirts there.    

 

Our pavilion was on top and was mostly empty when we got there.  I saw one co-worker, who was there before us.  There wasn’t any food available at the time.  We did have access to the club next door.  There was food there, but we weren’t sure if it was available to us.  In any case, you couldn’t really see the field well from the club and there was glare on the windows.  It might be better after the sun goes down.  We went back outside. 

 

The field looked in good shape, which you can see well from the outfield seats.  There’s been lots of rain in the area lately.  The field has taken a beating from hosting soccer matches.  Ron pointed out a nice WWII memorial behind the stadium featuring large-scale statues of soldiers in action.  Strangely, the nearest TV monitor to our seats showing It’s a Wonderful Life on a sports channel.  Later, it switched to Dodgers and Angels.  Our game was on another monitor further away, which I couldn’t see until the sun went down.   

 

After the game started, suddenly, the pavilion was full of co-workers.  One of them as a new one, Melika Ofoia.  She was the catcher for the Aggie Softball team this season and had graduated.  I felt a bit bad that I had given up on the team this year.  She showed me her championship ring from last season and it was impressive.  (And I felt worse in that I didn’t even realize they’d won it until I noticed the new wall banner at the start of the season.)   

 

Part 2