Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 23

The entrance to Hot Springs Village in Arkansas.  There are eponymous hot springs in the town.  

While Murder, She Wrote took place in a fictional town in Maine, Jessica Fletcher's home is actually located in Mendocino in Northern California.  

 

This is Sutter Buttes in Northern California.

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 22

This postcard is from a trip to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.  The visitors saw Ricky Van Shelton there.  Of course that's Minnie Pearl on the front.  I remember her from Hee Haw, but like about everyone else in the cast, she was famous before appearing on the show.  According to Wikipedia, she was friends with Dean Martin, Pee Wee Herman, and Elvis.

Speaking of Elvis, this is a card from his birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi.  It is open to the public.  

Windmill on the prairie in Oklahoma.

 

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 21

Postcard from the Hotel Hershey and Country Club in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  I'd be more interested in finding the chocolate factory.

Card from Reno, Nevada circa 1985.

Crater Range, Arizona.  That's Hailey's Comet in the lower left of the picture.

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 20

The El Paseo restaurant in Santa Barbara, California. 

Pele: Song of Immortality.  This painting is from a McDonald's in Honolulu in Hawaii.  

Chicago River at Night.  They list a nice trip around Chicago on the back.

NM State Aggies vs Dixie State Trailblazers Baseball 5-1-22

(This isn't the best photograph of this.  I couldn't crop the top and the side was cut off.  Oops.)

There were two races on today, including one at Laguna Seca, one of my favorite tracks.  However, I really wanted to see Ron and to give him a hug, since his dad had just died.  Ron seemed to feel a little guilty that I was going to the game with him, when he knew that there was something else I’d rather be watching.  I was okay with going and I definitely made the best choice, even apart from just hanging out with Ron today.

Right off the bat when we got together, Ron handed me this Aggie football helmet statue.  He’d gotten it Friday night when he exchanged some foul balls for it.  Normally, they just give kids returning foul balls a lollipop.  Ron brings them several balls and holds them hostage until they give him something good.

 

Entering the gate, they were handing out free dogs.  I was already planning on buying a Sunday Dollar dog.  Sisbarro, a local car dealership, was sponsoring the giveaway since it was also Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Boy’s and Girl’s Club day and there were a bunch of kids present today.  I went ahead and bought a Brisk Lemon Tea and a bag of chips to go with the dog.  (They were also handing out sodas.  Later in the game, Ron brought me a grape soda.)  

 

At the Concessions, I ran into a co-worker, Valerie.  She’s a big Aggie fan and I’d been trying to talk her into coming to see a ballgame.  She’d brought her husband and son and was looking forward to seeing the game.  On the way to the bathroom, I ran into Coach Kirby.  He was shaking hands by the gate.  I didn’t recognize him at first, since he wasn’t wearing his usual black windbreaker.

When Ron and I got to our seats, he left and went to the Press Box.  He took some more foul balls with him and came back with the Coach Lou Henson Confetti Globe for me.  I’d been coveting one of these ever since I’d heard of them.  (I thought it was a snow globe, which it sort of is.)  I should mention these two souvenirs are giveaways for season ticket holders for Men’s Basketball and Football.  I’m on a roll now and the game hasn’t even started. 

 

The Anthem, even with plenty of warning, caught Dixie State completely off guard.  They did all stand at attention wherever they were on field at the time.  The kids all ran out on the field with players as they took their positions.  It was really cute watching the guys interact with the kids.  Poor Ryan Grabosch.  They ran out of kids when he took the field and he was out there in left field alone.  I should mention that it was another beautiful day with a light breeze.  The crowd was pretty good with all the kids there.  

It was another busy day with the scorecards.  The official scoring was helpful, though it did cheat AJ Garcia out of one of his RBI’s, so I hope that gets corrected.  The Trailblazers came out on a mission.  They wanted to end this game early.  Aggie spot starter, Noah Estrella, struggled as the first five Dixie State batters got on—three singles and two hit batters.  It was so bad, even the Aggie pitch tracker nearly got hit by a foul ball rolling off the canopy into the stands where he was sitting.

 

There was already action in the Aggie bullpen and quick conference on the mound with the pitching coach.  A double play finally killed the rally, but not before three runs scored.  There was another walk after.  More disturbingly, the runner then took second on a delayed steal, which was met with virtual indifference by the Aggie defense.  Thankfully, a strikeout ended the inning.  3-0 Dixie State.

 

Three Aggies struck out in the bottom of the first.  However in between that, Logan Galina came to the plate with murderous intent.  He’d had a frustrating offensive day yesterday, while his teammates had mashed.  A GCU player had also caught up with his conference lead in home runs.  You could pretty much sense what was coming.  It was a no-doubt home run to center, his sixteenth of the season.  3-1 Dixie State.

 

Sports Marketing goddess, Emerson, walked by to recruit some of the kids sitting behind me and Ron for a contest.  Who could say, “No,” to her?  After an opening walk to start the top of the second, Cam Blazek was brought in in relief.  The wind was blowing out a bit.  The next batter hit a fly ball to center.  Centerfielder Tommy Tabak first ran in, then ran back, got turned around, and finally caught it in front of the batter’s eye. 

 

After a single, Trailblazer Kaden Hollow found that Jetstream and hit a three-run homer to center.  Blazek finished the inning with a strikeout and a fly out to left.  Grabosch was out there again after a bad day catching yesterday.  He made a good running catch on the fly.  6-1 Dixie State.

 

In addition to some between innings activities on field, kid announcers were also brought into the booth to announce the Aggie at bats.  They were giving them little nicknames, too.  I was a bit disturbed by Galina’s “Meatstick” moniker.  This could be construed in a . . . actually I’m not sure how else you could interpret that.  It sounded even worse with a kid doing it. 

 

Moving on.  The Trailblazers flashed some leather in the bottom of the second.  Shortstop, Matthew Ivancich made a great running catch and throw across his body to nip Cal Villareal at first.  Cal and Coach Kirby questioned the call, but after a conference, the umps let it stand.  The play was too pretty to wave off.  In right field, Tyson Fisher made a diving catch to end the inning.  The Aggies could play defense, too.  In the 1-2-3 top of the third, Kevin Jimenez at second made a jump throw to first, where Galina laid out with his toe on the bag to get the out.  I’ve seen that play enough times to think that they practice it.  KJ also made a snow cone catch on a soft liner to end the inning.

 

By the way, Dixie State is changing their name next year to Utah Tech.  (They’re located in St. George, Utah.)  It was always a weird disconnect, but the reasoning for changing the name now is probably worse.  I chatted with one of their fans wearing a Dixie State shirt and hat briefly.  I told him he was going to have to buy all new gear.  He said they were already selling it.  He also mentioned that the players don’t care either way.

 

Blazek worked a clean third.  In the bottom, the Aggies had three singles, including a run-scoring grounder by KJ that bounced up and hit the pitcher on the back.  That was still almost a double play.  There was a DP to end the inning.  6-2 Dixie State.  The I Scream contest with a couple of kids did not go well.  First, the 9-year old boy got severe stage fright.  The little 5-year old girl then got scared to death.  The PA made an effort to save it by having the crowd scream instead.  Of course, the kids still got the ice cream coupons.

 

Surprisingly, there was no scoring in the fourth inning either, but the Aggies did turn another double play.  They turned another to start the top of the fifth.  Cam nonchalantly caught a bouncing comebacker and casually threw to second to begin it.  Unfortunately, the next two Trailblazer batters found a jet stream going out to right and hit back-to-back solo home runs.  8-2 Dixie State.  Nolan Funke and Cal Killgore started the bottom of the inning also searching for the breeze.  Both doubled with Cal driving in Funke.  8-3.

 

Cam led off the top of the sixth with another defensive play that he made look easy.  A comebacker dropped out of Cam’s mitt.  He calmly picked it up and threw out the runner anyway.  I noticed Grabosch wasn’t in left anymore.  Adam Young on the radio call noticed too and thought it was Edwin Martinez-Pagani.  The guys don’t look alike.  The player out there was tossing his mitt in the air during a delay, which I don’t think Ryan would be prone to do.  The official scoring said the player change happened in the bottom pinch-hitting.  I’m not sure what the truth is. 

 

The Aggies were not ready to concede this game.  Tabak tripled to ignite the bottom of the sixth.  EMP came up and blasted a two-run homer to center.  Villareal followed with a single and AJ drove him in with another two-run homer to the same spot.  Dixie State changed pitchers.  The PA played Let it Go and a chorus of kids sang along. 

 

Back to play, Funke walked, but was caught stealing.  Killgore singled and successfully stole second.  Dieter then singled and Dixie State brought in another pitcher.  KJ hit a ground rule double that bounced into the trees over the fence to bring in Killgore.  Five runs later, we’re tied at 8 and have a game.  I’m glad Valerie came and got to see good game.

 

Okay, EMP went to play third and Funke changed positions to left for the seventh.  Everyone is sure this happened.  Lyle Hibbitts relieved Cam.  His second batter crushed a homer to center.  This was the turning point of the game, but not in the way you’d think.  I haven’t been mentioning it, but the Trailblazers were celebrating every time they homered today and yesterday.  This time, there was no reaction from their dugout.  It was easy notice, because there wasn’t any hollering and cheering, just quiet.  I interpreted this as exhaustion on the Trailblazers’ part.  They had this game won, but like yesterday, the Aggies kept coming back on them.

 

Giving up the lead didn’t dim the Aggies’ efforts.  On the next batter, Logan made a dive into foul territory to snag a liner.  To finish the inning, KJ and Logan connected on their usual spin throw and layout to get the runner at first.  I need to think of a clever name for this, since they do it all the time.  9-8 Dixie State. 

 

EMP singled begin the bottom of the seventh.  The Trailblazers showed some nerves, as he was advanced to third on two bad pickoff throws, one by the pitcher and one by the catcher.  AJ was hit by a pitch, which precipitated another pitching change.  Yesterday’s finisher, Jimmy Borzone, came in after throwing 2+ innings the day before.  He showed no signs of fatigue.  He struck out Funke looking.  He gave Killgore three straight breaking balls to do the same to him and end the inning.  The Trailblazer catcher pumped his fist as the team came off the field.    

 

It was a bit discouraging.  Valerie and her family left at this point, I think.  I wouldn’t have blamed them for giving up, given that the game was running long and the Aggies didn’t look like winners today to this point.  Even the PA came on asked if anyone had the keys to the golf cart.  The crowd was still in good spirits and started the Wave.  This is something you’re only going to do at Presley Askew Field if there are a bunch of kids there.

 

Frank Dickson came on for the eighth.  His effort started with fly outs.  I listed them as “nervous-looking” catches.  One was to KJ and the other was to Funke out-of-position in left.  KJ was given an error on the next batter on a ball that he had to charge into the infield to get at.  That was questionable scoring.  Frank finished off the inning with a strikeout.

 

The wind was now blowing in a bit.  I was running out of space on the last page of my pad.  I wasn’t going to write anything unless something interesting happened.  As it turned out, I ended up writing on the back of the page.  To start the bottom of the eighth, Borzone gave up a pair of singles.  Dieter, who’d gone first to third, came in on a sac fly by Galina and tied the score at 9.  Logan shouted at Ron and the older guy in front of us who were always criticizing him for swinging all out from his heels, “I do know how to hit situationally!”

 

Borzone was lifted.  The Dixie State coach probably shouldn’t have tried to run him out for another inning.  The change didn’t help.  Tabak singled and EMP drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to give the Aggies a 10-9 lead.  Villareal was pitched around with an intentional walk.  The nerves that the Trailblazers had had last inning came to fruition this inning.  AJ hit an easy grounder to short, but the ball was thrown away as the throw went to second.  That would have been the third out, instead Tabak trotted home.  AJ stole second ahead of Funke singling him and Villareal in.  There probably should have been another error charged on that play that allowed AJ to score.  Funke was thrown out on a probably too-greedy steal attempt to end the inning.  The dust settled and the Aggies were now up 13-9.

 

Frank was back out for the ninth.  He gave up a single, but struck out the last batter to end the game.  13-9 Aggies Win!  How about that!  They were down by six and won by four.  The kids went down to the front of the grandstand and started chanting, “Aggies!” 

 

We’ll toss out those Gameballs.  Tyson Fisher for the Trailblazers went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI’s and 2 home runs.  Edwin Martinez-Pagani was a late sub, but went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s and a two-run homer.  (I feel for Ryan Grabosch.  This guy has the most MLB-like physique in the lineup, but I’m worried the position changes have wrecked his fielding and hitting confidence.  He’s going to need some mental rehabilitation.)  Finally, Frank Dickson gets a nod for tossing 2 scoreless innings.  The bullpen needed someone to step up this weekend.  (Adam praised Cam Blazek’s efforts.  Cam ate up innings in emergency relief, but he did give up 4 runs in 5 innings.)

   

Autographs

I can scarcely believe I’m writing that word about an Aggie Baseball game.  They have teased autographs only a couple of times in the years I’ve gone to the park, but never delivered.  The PA said there’d be postgame autographs, but I didn’t believe it until I saw the tables being set up on the field after the game.  I guess they didn’t want to disappoint the kids, who all ran down to the field.

 

After three hours and 11 minutes of game time, Ron had no desire to stand on hot turf for 20 minutes like I did.  (I have a new appreciation for the players on the field.)  He went out to his car.  As usual for an Aggie autograph session, I was the only adult standing in line with a bunch of kids.  Somehow doing this in front of the Baseball team made it way worse, and I nearly bolted twice.  I don’t collect autographs, but I wanted to show them some support.  I only got to talk to a couple of players and missed a couple I wanted to talk to.  (And didn’t get Logan Galina’s autograph.)  The kids were getting shirts and hats signed, along with balls.  I didn’t even think to ask Ron for a ball.  (He’s still got some more.)      

 

Afterward, Ron and I went to Raising Canes, mostly because they were advertised during the whole radio call.  While there, I recognized Kevin Jimenez walking by.  He was one of the ones I wanted to talk to.  We held him up for second and praised his play on field.  He was polite and grateful for it.  Afterward, Ron and I took a couple of Sonic Blasts back to my apartment.  Ron was still gritting through losing his dad and minor issues with his family, but I think the afternoon took his mind off it at times.  Even beyond the win, the autographs, and the giveaways, I was just glad I went to the game with him.      

NM State Aggies vs Dixie State Trailblazers Baseball 4-30-22

(Sorry for the random pic.  It's all I could find quickly.)

 

33 combined runs.  A nearly four-hour game.  My scorecards don’t add up.  There’s no official scoring.  And a loss.  Wow, am I eager to start writing this.  I guess we’ll begin with a quick recap of recent games.  The Aggies won two of three against Seattle U on the road last week, including a 20-14 pitchers’ duel.  They lost to Arizona at home on Tuesday, as expected.  On Friday, they won the series opener against Dixie State, 6-3, behind a great pitching performance by Ian Mejia.  There were several scouts in attendance watching him.  I’m impressed given that he’s coming off of an injury and pitched twice last week.  That should give you an idea of the Aggies’ pitching depth.

 

Real life intruded earlier in the week.  Ron’s dad died.  It wasn’t unexpected, but it wasn’t scheduled either.  Ron wasn’t in charge of handling his dad’s affairs, but did have a commitment on Saturday to lay some sod.  It was such a nice day, I decided to go by myself anyway.  On the way to the stadium, I saw the berm on the football stadium was bright green today.  In the parking lot of the adjoining Softball stadium, I saw a couple of pavilions being set up for a double header there later in the afternoon.  A bunch of really hot girls were from the student government doing the construction.  Politics might not be so bad at NMSU.       

 

I parked well away from the Baseball stadium because most of the parking lot was full.  However, there wasn’t much of a crowd inside.  I don’t know where the people were.  I sort of planned on not bothering with concessions, but it was hot enough to make me reconsider.  I picked up a Brisk Lemon Tea and a Corn in a Cup for good measure.  I must have been latently precognitive, because that was my best move of the day for surviving a four-hour game. 

 

I found fellow fan Michael there and sat by him for the game.  It was a slightly different perspective on the field by the first base line.  Ron went to the Friday night game.  He didn’t tell Michael about his dad.  Michael could tell something was bothering him.  Assistant AD, Herb Taylor, came by and struck up a conversation.  We found out that he had been a college football player for Wyoming.  “I was more of a stud back then,” he said.  “You’re still a stud,” I added.  Herb was actually from Alabama originally.  He said he lost his accent when he went away to college.

 

I give up . . . on these scorecards!  I thought I was diligently keeping score, but nothing added up.  Then, the official scoring wasn’t posted when I started writing this, thus making this impossible.  The loss was bad enough, but losing the scorecard is intolerable.  [Sunday edit: They finally posted the official scoring late Sunday afternoon.  I missed a pitcher coming into the game.]  Weirdly, I only have two pages of notes for this game.   

 

The first inning and a half were pretty quiet.  Sports Marketing goddess, Emerson, came out for a trivia contest.  Former Aggie pitcher, Kyle Bradish, made his first start for the Orioles on Friday, and the question was, “How many innings did he pitch?”  I knew the answer (6) and didn’t say anything.  What’s wrong with me?  The prize was one of those Aggie snowglobes!  Michael had also given me intel earlier that Emerson had indeed broken up with the baseball player she’d been with.  I’ll start preparing my proposal now.  I’ll have them put it up on the video board. 

 

Oh, crap.  They don’t have a video board.  That’s a problem.  Skywriting, maybe?  We’ll work on it.

 

One of the Aggie players was in the stands with a radar gun, along with a Dixie State player doing the same.  They were by themselves and ended up chatting a bit during the game.  The Aggie player was even talking with a couple of fans.  In the bottom of the second, an adorable little toddler waddled by.  His mom followed in pursuit.  It all seemed like such a pleasant day at the ballpark.  If you don’t like my little slice of life anecdotes, you’re in luck, the entire rest of my notes are all game notes. 

 

The scoring started with controversy in the bottom of the second.  Tommy Tabak hammered one to left.  The ball apparently hit the top of the wall and bounced back on to the field.  I saw it.  I don’t know how the physics worked on that, but it happened, as confirmed by Adam Young on the radio call.  I have seen a ball sit on top of the wall (4-10-22).  Tabak settled for a triple, but Coach Kirby consulted with an umpire.  After a conference amongst with umps, they ruled it a home run.  That is apparently the ground rule, which Kirby knew well.  The Dixie State coach wasn’t happy with the call.  Later, AJ Garcia doubled in Cal Villareal.  The throw to the plate, actually beat Cal, but the catcher dropped the ball.  2-0 Aggies.

 

Things don’t go well for Aggie pitching from here.  Starter Pablo Cortes ran into trouble in the top of the third.  He gave up three hits and two runs to tie the score.  One of those runs, though, came in on a double steal.  Catcher Ryan Grabosch attempted to throw to second and hit Cortes.  The runner on third scored. 

 

The Dixie State dugout also got into it with the ump on a check swing call that didn’t go their way.  The appeal ump was out of position to make a call, so the home plate did it himself.  He issued a warning over the chirping.  Between innings, the enmity increased as the umps went out and checked the Trailblazers’ starter for foreign substances.  There was a great play to end the bottom of the third.  Kevin Jimenez was gunned down from right field by Tyson Fisher while trying to take second after a single.

 

The top of the fourth was a nightmare.  The Trailblazers scored seven runs and batted around.  They led off with a home run and their dugout erupted.  Then there was a second solo homer to the same spot in in right center.  Two singles followed.  KJ bobbled a double play ball and everyone was safe.  A ground rule run-scoring double followed, which actually saved a second run from coming in for a moment. 

 

Adam speculated that Cortes was tipping his pitches.  He saw the Dixie State hitters conferencing in the dugout.  Cortes came out for a reliever, but four more hits followed and three more runs.  9-2 Dixie State.  The Aggies did punch back in the bottom with a run scored on a wild pitch, 9-3.  The Aggies brought out a new pitcher for the fifth.  Brendon Rodriguez got the first two outs, but a walked batter was then brought in by a bobbled ball in right.  Tabak in center got the final out after turning around twice and catching the fly ball on his knees.  10-3 Dixie State.

 

The Aggies came back with a big inning in the bottom of the fifth.  Nolan Funke led off with a triple.  He came in on a double by Brandon Dieter.  Grabosch hit a bloop double next.  Dieter had to hold up to see if it would be caught and Grabosch nearly ran into him.  KJ singled in a run and Tabak sacrificed in a run before the Trailblazers brought in a new pitcher.  Villareal drove in another run to make it 10-7.

 

Rodriguez walked two batters in the top of the sixth with one out.  One was doubled in.  The other came in on a suicide squeeze.  The bunt by Matthew Ivancich actually turned into a bunt single.  The runner who advanced to third on the play hung himself out and Rodriguez tagged him on the baseline.  12-7 Dixie State.  The Trailblazers went through two pitchers in the bottom of the sixth.  Once again, the Aggies scored only one run on a wild pitch.  They left two in scoring position with no outs after a two strikeouts and a line out.  12-8.

 

(I still have three more innings to go through.  Groan.)  Rodriguez gave up a single to start the seventh.  His mitt came off as he reached for the ball going past him.  The ump went out and talked to him for a second before the next batter.  I wonder if he was reminding him of Rule 7.05 ( c ), wherein a thrown mitt at a fair ball is a three-base (you read that right) error.  It has to be determined that it was deliberately done though.  I’m sure the ump also didn’t want to create a confused, hostile crowd. 

 

(This rule is easy to remember, because there’s only two three-base errors in the book.  The other is throwing your hat or some other part of your uniform at a fair ball.  It’s two bases for using detached equipment on a thrown ball.  I saw that one called last year on a catcher using his mask to corral a ball.)

 

Regardless, Rodriguez gave up a two-run homer and was pulled from the game.  Cade Swenson entered the meat grinder next and his first pitch was also a home run.  15-8 Dixie State.  (I’m actually having trouble adding up these runs inning-by-inning.) 

 

Okay, here we go with another inning where a team bats around, but this time it’s the Aggies.  The bottom of the seventh led off with Edwin Martinez-Pagani hitting a ball up the middle that was tipped by the pitcher.  The second baseman dropped the ball and it rolled away and EMP took second.  He took third on a wild pitch.  The third baseman dropped a high chopper by AJ that scored EMP.  Dixie State basically manufactured a run for the Aggies there. 

 

After Funke doubled, Dieter came up and blasted a three-run homer to the scoreboard.  After a strikeout, a single, and a walk, a new pitcher was brought in.  Two more run-scoring singles followed.  Tabak’s single actually hit the pitcher on its way to the outfield.  Technically, the Trailblazers did strike out the side in this inning.  15-14 Dixie State.  In the eighth, Dixie State tacked on another solo home run.  That was followed by a double and a stolen base, as Josh Laukkanen was brought in to finish the inning.  16-14 Dixie State.  The Aggies went down in order in the bottom. 

 

The ninth was the final back-breaker.  Michael left before the inning started.  He was hungry and didn’t want to see what was coming next.  Laukkanen came out after a walk, a single, and a sacrifice.  Alex Bustamonte struck out his first batter, but the ball got away from Grabosch.  The runner on third bluffed running and Grabosch unexpectedly threw to Bustamonte running to cover the plate.  That throw went wide and the run scored.  Ryan laid out flat on the ground after he threw it, knowing he’d goofed.  Another run was gifted on a wild pitch to make it 18-14 Dixie State.  The Trailblazers had one more tiff with the umps as a batter was hit by a pitch, but swung on it and struckout.  The batter got angry and tossed his bat as he was rung up.   

 

The Aggies did not give up.   Grabosch led off with a single.  KJ doubled.  Logan Galina, the only Aggie in the lineup without a hit, singled in Grabosch.  With two on and no outs, Trailblazer pitcher, Jimmy Borzone, knuckled down and struckout the next three batters to end the game.  Trailblazers win 18-15.

 

And the fans lose three hours and 59 minutes.  This game was a bear to get through just watching.  Credit to both the teams for playing so hard for nine innings.  The Trailblazers scored in seven straight innings and had the Aggies down by seven twice.  Even then, the Aggies still had the tying run at the plate at the end.                  

 

There was an awful lot of good hitting (or bad pitching) in this game for Gameball consideration.  For the Trailblazers, Parker Schmidt went 4 for 6 with 5 RBI’s.  For the Aggies, Tommy Tabak went 3 for 5 with 3 RBI’s.  Brandon Dieter’s three-run bomb was the biggest shot of the game.  Pitchers didn’t exactly thrive in this game, but I have to single out Jimmy Borzone on Dixie State for finishing off the game, as he went 2 1/3 innings only giving up 1 run (albeit while giving up 2 inherited runs).

 

I was definitely hungry myself by the end.  I went to Dominos on the way back home and ordered a Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwich.  (Certainly, I wasn’t going order their overpriced/subpar pizza when they have a superior toasted sandwich on the menu.)  While waiting for it, I called Ron.  He was at the Softball double header.  It started about halfway through the baseball game.  I was sort of afraid Game 1 might finish before the baseball game.  Ron hadn’t finished the lawn work he was doing before the baseball game started, but he was done in time to get to the Softball.  I was too cooked from the sun and too tired to even consider joining him.  We made plans for ***tomorrow’s game.**** 

 

I went home and gorged on my tasty sandwich while listening to the Chihuahuas’ game.  They gave up 3 runs in the ninth, which tied the score, but came back with a two-out walkoff hit.  9,000+ fans were overjoyed that the fireworks show could now begin.  I spent most of rest of the night delaying writing this.  I felt better about writing after Sunday’s game.         

 

Postcards From the Edge: Mom's Family Cards 19

 Cute little Christmas postcard.  Given the amount of text on the back, they should have written a letter.

The Alamo at San Antonio, Texas.  

Postcard from Dart Moor in southern England.  You have a Queen stamp on the back to prove its from England.