Lunchtime Post

I've cleaned up my major to-do list this morning at the office, so as I finish up lunch today, I thought I would get started on my post from the weekend.

Friday was a pretty warm afternoon, reaching the heights of +23 degrees outside. The perfect sort of evening to try out the new rollerblades... and it was!! As soon as I got home, I laced up the ol' skates and did a quick lap from the 8th Street bridge to Edmonton Trail on both sides of the river (as shown below, courtesy of Google Earth).



I'm not too sure how long it is in total, I need to get one of those trail maps for the City of Calgary. Hmmmm... I wonder if there is one online. I'll check a little bit later.

The rest of the evening was quite quiet, actually. I got home just as the first period in the Senators/Sabres game was finishing. It was 2-2 when I came in... a LONG way to go before that one was done.

Jen had a house party to go to... a friend from work was having a Cinco de Mayo party at his apartment, not far away. Jen wanted me to come, but I was more content with the little beer that was in the fridge (with the idea of getting more) and making some hamburgers on the BBQ, as I didn't want to get wrecked. Saturday morning was gonna be an early one to setup the garage sale in Langdon. Jen's mate, Natasha, came over and was gonna head to the party with her, so they both sat and chatted while I watched the hockey game.

They left shortly after the 3rd period had finished... game tied at 6. I was texting Benny the score when it happened quickly and often. When the period ended, I thought it was a good time to start the BBQ. So, I went outside and tried to spark it up and found that there wasn't any sparking goin' on. I thought it was a trick BBQ (this being the first time I am using it). So, I rang Chris' doorbell, as it was his BBQ I was using and he laughed and said it was out of propane.

Not really thinking, I got myself ready to go, not paying any attention to the game, thought if anyone scores while Chris and I are out picking up more propane, I'd be really choked. So, Chris got some new propane, I picked up a case of beer... we got home... and the news was already on. ARGH! Unbeknownst to me... the Sabres had already scored before we left and that was it. So... I was choked. Ha ha. Otherwise... the night was pretty quiet. Had a few more beers by the time Jen got back and that was pretty much that.

Saturday I was up nice and early. Had a shower and a couple cups of coffee... then I was off to Langdon. Another nice day to be outside. The sun was out... unfortunately, the wind was up. It wasn't a little breeze either... it was gusting pretty good at times. Still, we managed to get all of our crap out onto the driveway... and my Dad's fishing boat on the lawn... and the people came in droves. Through the day, I managed to get rid of a lot of stuff (for cheap) that I didn't ever want to move again or worry about. Sets of speakers, hats, other computer accessories, toys and other crap. I didn't make much money at all, really... just the fact that I was getting rid of it all made all the difference in the world.

My Dad ended up selling his fishing boat and all the accessories that went with it on Saturday too. It was just gaining cobwebs in the backyard... probably wasn't gonna see much more fishing in his career. And if there was... it probably wasn't gonna be in that boat.

Saturday afternoon also brought some ball practice over at the diamonds in Langdon with Rob. We picked up the bat, ball & gloves and tossed it around... hit a few grounders... didn't stay out very long, since it was only the two of us. That was alright though... good to get out. He also had put the invite out for Sunday's ball game @ 11am. Also, a very good idea.

By the time I got back home, it was goin' on 6pm... I had already sunburnt my forehead, the backs of my arms and legs and was a lot more red in other places (not quite burnt though). I didn't do anything with my hair on Saturday, so by noon... my giant wirey 'fro was waving around getting blow dried in the gusting wind. So, I needed a hat. What I found was my old Greg Norman shark hat... a really nice hat, with a leather strap to adjust the size. Since I was wearing it backwards and wearing sunglasses... I had the raccoon shape around my eyes and a big red spot where the opening of the hat was on my forehead. REAL attractive.

Between the heat, the small ball practice and the few beers after the selling was done... I was a pretty tired guy. I got home and did next to nothing again. Jen and I set-up her record player to my receiver... which reminds me... does anyone know how I could amplify the phono cables from the turntable on my Sony receiver?? There is next to no sound that comes from the turntable through the input. Jen was pretty tired that day as well from working nice & early in the morning as well... so we were both pretty useless by the end of the night.

I was sorta waiting for either (or both) Julie and Barb to call... but by 10:30pm... I had already passed out, with all hope gone in the matter It wasn't a big deal... but I didn't hear from either of them on Sunday either.

Sunday was ball day... up reasonably early , anxious to get goin'. I had the slow pitch game with Rob's team at 11am and practice with the fastball team at 2pm, including the batting cages at 4pm. I found my way to Optimist Park in West Calgary a tad early for the slow pitch game at 11am. I was used as a sub for that game and went in during the 4th inning. Batted in the 4th spot, which by that time wasn't necessarily the clean-up spot with all the subs and played in left field. It was good to play in the outfield... I managed to track down quite a few balls out there without any mistakes, so that made for some good practice. I went 1 for 2 at bat, reaching once on a fielder's choice, scored a run... not a bad day on the base pads. I was one out short of a third at-bat, but it wasn't to be.

After the game, Rob, Michelle, Dallys (pronounced Dallas) & myself sat out at the cars and chatted with a beer or two. Just shot the shit for a bit after the game... no one wanted to get anywhere as it was too nice to actually to any chores or driving. Ha ha... it was pretty nice out. But by 1:30pm... we all took off. I had to be up in Tuscany (far in the Northwest) for 2pm.

Unfortunately, as I pulled out onto 37th street coming out of the ballpark... my cell phone rang. It was Munden. He needed a ride from Langdon. It was 1:30pm!! Man, was I ever choked. I didn't want to be late... I really hate being late. That's why I'm early practically everywhere I go. I agreed to go pick him up, despite it being a half hour drive out to Langdon from where I was and then 45 minutes to an hour to get to Tuscany. Choked.

So, reluctantly, I made the drive out and got him. We ended up being an hour late to practice... shitty. I was looking forward to practice to work on shaggin' some ground balls... but no. Not gonna be the case. We managed a couple of drills before taking off to the batting cages down at Shouldice Park. I brought out my Dad's old bat to take some swings with... he had said to me that he got little to no vibration from hitting the ball with it... and I thought I'd test it out. It was a much heavier bat, so it would at least be good for some weighted swinging. In the cage though, it worked a treat. So much so, I gave some of the other guys a go that were complaining about vibrations through the bat... and they liked it as well. I think I'll be bringing the bat to most games, 'cuz I know I sure got a hold of some balls in the cage there last night.

Again, I was pretty pooped after another day in the warm sun. Good exercise too... and fortunately, the Oilers and Sharks were playing on TV, but no matter how exciting the game actually was, I was still nodding off on the couch.

And the quiet evening, the small amounts of filings this morning brings me to right about now. The lunchtime past about 70 minutes ago... but I just kept on writing this afternoon. I have one or two more filings I can get started on for filing tomorrow... but I'm in no rush. If I get them done tonight, then first thing in the morning I can write about the doubleheader to start the season I hope I'll get to play tonight, weather pending.

So until tomorrow...