Back on the Winning Track

Back-to-back wins for the Royals now after a 7-4 win over the Us Guys last night, in a game that'll be more known for it's poor umpiring than the offense we generated.

The two umpires that worked last night's game were a tad sketchy at best, so much so that I ended up breaking into hysterical laughing when a pitch flew just under my arms in the batter's box and it was called a strike. I quickly turned around, had a giggle and stepped back into the box. I did actually end up taking a walk for that at-bat, but geez... there were some weird calls. It didn't really help that Jesse was shootin' his mouth in his loud way at every missed call, we were labelled as a "complaining team" by the base ump before too long.

Nevertheless, despite the lack of good umpiring last night, we still managed to put away the Us Guys, not without a little turbulence. A no-hitter going into the fourth for Alan saw that erased with a lead-off double, which started a 3-run inning for them, but we had already amassed a 4-run lead in the first inning. The team rallied back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a few more runs and then we kept our cool in the last inning, despite the bases being loaded with two outs.

I went 0 for 1 last night, with a sacrifice bunt, a walk, and a run scored... and didn't have too much to do in the field. Only one groundball came between myself and second, with runners on 1st & 2nd in the last inning, a sharply hit spinner came and just as I thought I had the hop, it took yet another funny one and hit my arm, knocked it down, but couldn't complete the play. The diamond itself was really dry and dusty, which made the spinning groundballs that much harder to pick up.

The game finished around 10:30pm, then Alan, Ryan, Tom and myself hung out at Alan's truck and had a few bevvies 'til midnight. All in all, it was a pretty good night.

This morning was a little difficult to wake up to... I got to bed not long after midnight and I was out like a light when I hit the pillow. I just wanted to stay in bed for as long as possible this morning, but relented when the clock ticked past 7am. A quick shower and out the door wasn't too hard when I finally got going.

A big 133 page filing done in 23 minutes this morning was pretty much the only highlight of the workday so far. It was a rush job that cost the client $400... not bad, eh?? They needed it done now, so it cost them. I wish I could pocket some of that. Ah well. There was also a web demo for the new version of SECPublisher... a program that I use occasionally in the filing. I just sat in and listened to the teleconference for about 40 minutes... that was alright. I did find myself doing crosswords and playing games whilst it was all goin' on... that's how exciting it was.

Tonight... out to Langdon for a game with the Cruisers. Go see the folks tonight... get a game of ball in... and then head over to the Wildfire for a couple and see John. That'll be good. I'll probably give Benny and Jeff a call when I'm done the game... see if they're goin' down as well. I'm sure John will talk to Benny... dunno 'bout Jeff. Jeff is apparently avoiding the place, since he spent some of the pool money that he collected for his shitty-ass playoff pool... and Greg won it. How the hell do you spend money that isn't yours?? Not really responsible, eh??

Alan invited me out for a ball tournament on Saturday... just up at Shouldice. From 8am to 8pm and he's supplyin' the beer. It sounds awfully hard to pass up... so I don't think I will.

Jen and Costas are away until Saturday night or Sunday morning... Jen's friend Sarah, who has been featured here before, has invited her up to a cottage in Canmore for a few days. Jen called me this morning at work asking for my duffle bag... a favour, if you will. Actually a couple.

Favour List (Favours asked by Jen and Favours asked by Clayton)
July 16, Jen asked me to pick her and Betty up from Lake Sundance... this after lying to me where the church actually was, knowing full well that she was going down there.
July 20, Jen asked me for my duffle bag to take to the cottage... feed her cat... and "clean the house" for Saturday night. She did state every favour individually by asking if I could do her a favour for each one.

Jen 4 - Clayton 0

I haven't really seen much of her for the last couple days, so that's why the list isn't growing so fast.

I tried to give Natasha a call last night to see if she wanted to come out to the game last night... but when I called her number that was on my phone, a guy picks up the phone. Weird, I thought. I couldn't actually distinguish the voice right away, 'cuz I was in the car and the wind was somewhat troublesome... but when I figured out it wasn't Natasha on the other end, I asked for her and the guy on the other end was, 'uhhhhhh... I think you have the wrong number... uhhhhh... which Natasha are you looking for?' This guy was a real prize... there was a part of me that wanted to reply, 'how many Natasha's are there?' but I didn't. As it turned out, she had gotten a new phone and number, Jen was saying to me, and gave her old phone to her sister's boyfriend. Looks like ya got a keeper, there sweetheart.

Anyways... that'll just about do it for me this afternoon. Might as well get back to the no-nothing grind of the office. Heh heh... maybe I'll go watch some TV.