So Much to Catch Up On ...

... and so little time. I've been working on Stella Marie stuff, pretty much non-stop, for several weeks. I am doing my first spa night this weekend. Wish me luck! If you are curious about my new products, please check them out here or here. Also, check out a little vid I made of my appearance at the New England Motor Cycle Expo! (update: see this post for a pic from the spa night - it was very successful!)

Moving on.

We went to Cooperstown last weekend to check out the new and exciting 2007 Boston Red Sox World Champion Display. Awesome. I wonder what young Jacoby and Dustin are thinking now that they've wound up in the museum (I think Jacoby could someday find himself inducted - the dude is special, to use one of Francona's favorite descriptors). I can't imagine what kind of feeling that must be. Meanwhile, I noticed that Suzyn Waldman got a ton of coverage in the Women's section and she's never played a game of professional baseball in her life! What's the deal? She's not even a very good color commentator. So, when real players were trying to bust into this male-dominated sport, she was singing and acting in musical theater. I totally LOVE theater, don't get me wrong, but why does she garner so much praise and attention? Most of the old-timey ball players got tiny blurbs and they were the real pioneers of female participation!

I started a fitness regime in preparation for softball, as I mentioned previously. You may or may not remember, but I blew out my quads last year (very early on) and was forced to be catcher and have pinch runners all season long. It was fun, but I'd rather play second base and be able to run out a hit without crying in pain.

I've been meaning to mention a really cool art exhibit that a good and talented friend of mine, Katherine Martin Widmer, participated in. It is called War, Madness and Delusion and it is at the Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, MA until April 15th. It was a very powerful anti-war show and if you are in the area, I highly recommend that you check it out. One of the cool things about it is that fact that you not only get to see the work and the artist's name, but you get a small written piece by the artist about the work and their general concept and feelings. While I understand the value of interpreting someone's work yourself, I can appreciate - within this particular context - knowing more about the the artist's perspective an thought-process. This is a multi-media show, with 30 or so participating artists.

* Image: "Atomic Veteran" by Bob Stearns

Frostbite is Ovah

First things, first: My mother is officially married. Hurray! The wedding was a success, though the stereo system didn't have quite the punch we anticipated. I was not only the maid of honor, but I was also the DJ. My mom was outfitted in a beautiful chocolate brown gown with very tasteful beading. My dress was complimentary to hers in color, but I feared that it was a little "Dancing With the Stars" in style. Definitely not something I would throw on for another occasion. It might be fun to wear it to the beach sometime, though. Speaking of waves, she and her husband are currently enjoying the splendor of Niagara Falls. A fitting honeymoon for an older couple.

Second things, second: Our softball team lost its one and only playoff game. My legacy to the team will be getting an out at the plate last night. I've been catcher since I blew out my quads earlier in the season. We managed to get a well hit ball in very quickly, then nabbed a dude at home when he clearly should have held up at third. He was one of those show-off types, too, who come to play co-ed recreational-level softball all decked out in professional baseball gear. Serves the guy right. He was also his team's base coach and kept yelling out offensive things about our pitcher - my good friend, Anne. Anyway, they won. A common response to the question, "What's the score?" over the course of the season was, "a lot to a little" and we all knew who had the "little." It was a fun season, though. At least we don't have to continue through the playoffs in the freezing cold weather. Although it's been unseasonable warm, I hear it's going to get chilly soon.

Third things, third: I may be going to a play off game on Friday night. Stay tuned!

Last things, last: I got tickets for Henry Rollins on Sunday night. Spoken word performance. Should be interesting. I will be sure to criticize him for his recent tire commercial voice-overs.

Wednesday Stuff

There were 2 moments yesterday at which I forgot that it was September 11th. I feel pretty rotten about that. In one case, I was in the kitchen making pizza and I heard the word "firefighters" come from the television during last night's pre-game ceremony. I walked into the living room and asked if they were honoring the 2 firemen who died in a recent West Roxbury fire. Jere looked at me and said, "Uh, no. It's September 11th." Yikes. This would never have happened if they did what I said and made 9/11 a federal holiday. I'd be willing to swap out Columbus Day or President's Day for it. Wouldn't you?

Moving on.

Though Wake wasn't proverbially "on" last night, the Sox offense was able to take the Devil Rays all the way down town. I am glad that Drew made some decent contact (finally). The kids just keep on hitting. They are so much fun to watch. Coco's been pretty consistent since late July. Funny how no one sings that guy's praises, but they can't wait to complain about him when his game isn't so hot. I hate Boston fans, man.



On Sunday night, we checked out Pleaseeasaur and Neil Hamburger at the Middle East - Upstairs. I saw Hamburger at the same venue last year (probably right around this time, too). Check out Jere's review of the show. I would only add that I haven't seen anything as hysterical as Pleaseeasaur in a very long time. It's rare that I wind up crying from laughing so hard. They perform a song called "I Hate Dog Shit" that's seems like a public service announcement of some kind, but it just gets weirder and weirder as the song goes on. The lyrics are pretty funny, but it's the execution and brilliant performance by Pleaseeasaur that totally got me. The one liners, the mullet wig, the abominable snow man costume, the bad hair news anchor get up - all priceless. Do yourself a favor and check our their stuff.

So, get this. The woman who tried to create the Willy Wonka Smellovision experience is trying to get this out to a wider audience. Okay, as I said, this was a very gallant effort on her part and I totally respect her hard work and dedication to the cause, but I hope she changes up her strategy, because, as I pointed out after we attended one of her experimental presentations, all we ended up smelling was mustard and cigarettes. There was just no way the smells were going to reach people in an outdoor setting when there are mere dabs of stuff on poster board sheets being waved around. Don't be afraid of the smells, lady! Really douse those things before you wave them around. Unless she was going for mustard and cigarettes. In which case, I take it all back.

How about those Patriots, huh? I never thought that crew would sink to that level. I am not a huge fan of football (there's only room for 1 professional sport in my life, though I've been trying to squeeze basketball in these last few seasons), but I've lost a lot of respect for the Pats. You know that non-Patriot fans across the country are totally stoked.

In softball news, we play game 6 tonight in Newton. I think I am well enough to play. I am about to hydrate myself to the gills.

Hump Day Catch Up

I see no reason NOT to put Ellsbury in over J.D. Drew if the following things happen:

1. Drew continues to play flatly.
2. The Red Sox advance to the playoffs.

Jacoby made hitting off of Halladay look like a walk in the park. He owned the bases. He was a super stud last night. Can he play right field? Well, they didn't seem to care whether or not Wily Mo could play any old fielding position, right? As long as he was squeezed into the line up. Why would this logic not apply to Ellsbury, who is red hot right now? We want to win, don't we?

All I know is, if management goes against working Jacoby into the line up, and we get eliminated in the playoffs because of some shitty ground out or fly out off of Drew's bat, I will be really pissed. REALLY pissed. I know they won't go with the kid, though. Why? Because it's something that seems logical and clear to me. And my instincts regarding Red Sox decisions are always the opposite of what management does. It's like dealing with my ex-husband.

I was celebrating my friend's birthday during the no hitter. I missed it in real time, but I saw a few key moment's at Jere's parent's place the next day. Glorious.

In office news ... one of my coworkers has been planning her wedding now for what seems like an eternity. Every day, for like the past three years, she can be seen in the hall, on her cell, having a conversation about catering, cakes, floral arrangements or seating charts. She carries a little wedding planner around all the time. Yet, she never leaves the office to get married. She's recently asked us all to donate our used wine corks for some crafty thing she's doing for the reception. I haven't asked her when the big day is. I am afraid to.

Looks like I am going to miss this week's softball game. I think I may have strained a quad muscle or two in my right leg. Oh, Trot Nixon, I literally feel your pain. Every time I think I have a handle on it, I'll get out of my car the wrong way or I'll sprint to cross the street and BAM. It comes right back.

Lastly, I've not made any comment on Michael Vick. Here's the only thing I am going to say: I don't care how *common* dogfighting is where he is from - that is no excuse. It's like saying, "Well, where I come from, tearing the heads off little cats and shoving cat litter down their tiny necks is a weekend activity. With prizes and everything!" Sorry, but inhumanity is inhumanity. I also think that Wonderland is an evil place. I hear that they might be forced into ceasing dog racing activities soon. Thank heavens! Seriously, I have no beef with betting on sports. I don't understand the whole gambling mentality, but I am not against it. It's the cruelty that I have serious objections to.

Am I Jinxing This Series?

Maybe I should say something more like: There was a game. Two major league baseball teams competed. One of the teams won. The other, despite a late rally, lost by a run. The two teams will face each other again today, in the last of a three-game-series.

Meanwhile, our softball team lost again. However, we played a lot better this time. I think it's because our roster was shorter. Teams thin out over the course of the year. It happens. I wound up with, what I can only describe as severe pain in both my thighs before the game even started. I stretched during warm-ups, but I may have over stretched and I think I was dehydrated. The result? It felt like I literally blew out my thigh muscles. It was the weirdest thing. It's never happened to me before. I managed to get on base during my second at bat, but I needed a pinch runner. Jere, however, was a super star. He executed a really heroic catch later in the game. It was sure to be a serious base hit, possibly a double. He back handed the catch, totally taking the wind out of the sails of the batter. It was an awesome thing to see. I'm still working through the thigh thing, but I'm determined to field during our next game. I can walk today. I guess that's good.

Frostbite Softball

... officially starts tomorrow. Jere and I signed on to play this season. We had our first practice tonight. Invigorating. We are totally psyched for tomorrow evening's double-header.

In Red Sox news, we won! Lester gets the W. Ironic, too, as this is the time of year when the (D)Evil Rays typically heat up. They enjoy taking wins away from teams who are legitimately in contention for a playoff spot. It's like their "thing" or something. They win to lose. Or lose to win. Or something.