Scrapbooking my life...one page at a time

Play Ball ...

- The Safe -

Sunday Mike & I went downtown to Safeco Field to watch the M's play the Kansas City Royals.  It was a Baseball perfect day!   This was only my 1^st game of the year and Mike's 2^nd - so different from last year when we had season's tickets and seemed to LIVE at the ballpark (last year I learned I like baseball - but not that much!). 

 

- Peanut Alley -

Before we went into the game we (and about 1/2 the other game goers) took a stroll down 'Peanut Alley' and bought our cheap peanuts (they are, as you can see, $2.50 a bag vs. $4.50 a bag inside the ballpark). 

I'm thinking they are paying those million $+ baseball salaries one peanut at a time ...

- Piganator -

Down the road and across the street from the peanut vendor(s) we noticed this strange contraption - we strolled down to check it out ...

It was a BBQ vendor selling out of a van he had retrofitted to look like some sort of a "Mad Max" Iron BBQ Piganator.  Can you imagine driving down the freeway with that thing coming up behind you ...crazy.

I can't decide it this thing is cute, scary, or just plain weird! (it does look kinda cool though - doesn't it!).

    

- A Needle in the Sky -

Without a doubt and despite the middle layer of cloud / fog it was a gorgeous day - all warm and sunny on the top & bottom with a thin fluffy layer of fog / clouds squished in the middle.  Oreo weather, as in the cookies, not the baseball team!

 

- Cranes in the Clouds -

Before the game we went up to the 3rd deck to grab some lunch before the game started (we usually sit on the 2nd level).  The B.E.S.T. hot-dog vendor in the stadium is found up there as are the most amazing views of the sound (well, if it isn't cloudy, foggy, dark or too rainy).

 

- A view from Behind -

As you can see from this picture the fog is only hanging around in certain spaces & places.  Weird! 

Despite the fact that a lot of people in this picture are wearing coats & hoodies - trust me, it was very warm out and most people were in shorts & tees.

 

- Hot diggity dog -

Anyway, we are up on the 3rd deck in search of some hot diggity dogs and as you can see, this guy makes the best baseball dogs EV.er - because he burns (chars, incinerates) them j u  s  t .... right!

Crispy - not crunchy!  Flavorful & oh,so yummy!  Trust me on this.

So, next time your are in sEATtle and find yourself at a baseball game ... remember - it's worth the trek up to the 3rd level for the baseball dogs & views.

 

- Play Ball -

Ryan Rowland-Smith was on the mound and he did a tremendous job!  FYI: Did you know he is the only MLB player with a hyphenated last name.  No, seriously, they announced it!  And, baseball, is the most statistically endowed sport known to man - it's ridiculous. I spend most of the game asking Mike, "what does that mean?" every time they bring up a new stat.

For example, what the heck does the BBHLN mean? (Balls on Base by Hyphenated Last Names). 

Okay, I'm making that one up but it is almost that bad.

 

- The REAL Mariner Moose -

Here is a great picture of the REAL Mariner Moose busy entertaining the crowds as part of the pregame fun ...

 

- The fake CARTOON moose -

And here is the FAKE cartoon Mariner Moose - he comes out at half-time to entertain the crowd  ...

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

Ta

They Lost ...

I hope everyone has a great day & finds something fun to do today along the way!

- N -

 

 

'So You Think You Can Coach'

Okay - So here's the story ... I'm no baseball coach, in fact I'm about as far from being a baseball Know-It-All as the M's are from being Head-Of-Their-Division .... but - Come On!  These guys need something & they need it fast.

I mean we've tried  ... We've fired the Hitting Coach, fired the GM, taken away the players snacks, TV and other locker room goodies, we've eaten Rally Fries, beaten up the other teams and even booed & hissed at the Umps till we're blue in the face - and we are still the losingest team in the MLB. 

What else can we do ... What ... What ... WHAT???

Oh, play better ball you say.  Hummm.... Good idea - that might just work - but ...

I believe we've already tried that too and to no avail. 

When the pitchers are hot - the batters are not.  If the fielders are on fire - the pitchers are can't retire ... and when the whole team is working out fine - well, all the umpires go blind.

Who's left, what next ...  Humm, thinking, thinking - well  I'm not pointing any fingers but what about - - - the Head Coach.  Maybe we could do something there ...

Since we are probably NOT going to make the comeback of the decade - I'm thinking we should do something crazy - you might call it a 'lonnnggg shot'  but we could create a new reality show called, ' So you think you can Coach' and the winner could be the Head Coach for the M's for the rest of the year - I mean - what have they got to lose?

We could hold nationwide tryouts for contestants (amateur coaches only - no AAA or college coaches allowed) and then the final competitors could be flown here to Seattle to battle it out for the honor being ... 'Head Skipper"!!! 

Whatdoya think?  I think it would hysterical ... the Host (Edgar would be perfect) could kiss them on the cheeks and say ... 'Strike Three - Your Out - Pack your Chew & Go' when the contestants are voted off by the judges (um, maybe ... Jay Bruhner, Lou Pinella & Dave Neihaus).  

They could have challenges where they showcased their ability to yell, flap their arms & point fingers at umpires when they make a bad call ... .

hang around the dugout looking pensive and thoughtful during the game - maybe pick up the phone and make some calls  or just hang with the team ...

Grief council players when they are getting slaughtered...

And when it got down to the final four the fans could text in and vote for the winner ...  Sure, I know everyone thinks they could win this contest hands down - but being the losingest coach in the whole MLB is not as easy as John McLaren makes it look.

Anyways ... you get the gist of it.  I think it would be a hit (no pun intended) and what do the M's have to lose at this point ...

- N -

This is me ... "At the BaseBrawl Game"

Mike & I have 1/2 season's tickets to the Seattle Mariners this year and so we went to the game last night.  We weren't expecting much because the M's have been in a wee bit of slump lately.  They have lost 8 of their last 9 games! 
Well - it turned out to be a rather exciting game ....

Let's Just say this is NOT the Texas Rangers jumping for joy after winning the World Series!

Nope - this is the whole Texas Ranger team holding back #15 Gerald Laird to keep him from getting into another fist fight with Seattle Mariner Ritchie Sexson & Felix Hernadez. 

It all started out innocently enough - M's losing ... no News there - they are now the holding the 'Last Place' spot in the American League.  I guess you could argue that they are under a ... teensy weensy bit of stress these days. (There is Gerald on the ground after being hit).

Any hoo ... Felix Hernadez was pitching (and not having a very good go of it) and after walking a few players he hit Gerald Laird.   Oops ... sorry! 

On we go - then 2Baseman Kinsler get wacked.  Double Oops - sorry!

So - apparently in baseball - there is an unwritten rule that if 'you hit one of us - we might hit one of you' ... 'you hit two of us - we definitely hit one of you'.  I guess it's a tit-for-a-tat kinda thing.

Well, up comes (oh did I mention that the M's had lost 8 of their last 9 games and were losing again ... not that that matters).  So, up comes Ritchie Sexson and then the ball sails right past his ear - didn't hit him but everyone knew that it was going to at some point.  Now Richie is a tall guy (6'8") and he said that when the ball went past his ear he thought they were aiming for his head ... well he flew off the plate & just 'CHARGED' at the pitcher!   

I mean he tackled him and started whacking him with his helmet.  It took about 3 seconds for the entire dugout on both sides to empty out.  It was something to see ...
The guy sitting in front of us was laughing and turned around and said to Mike & I ... 'My wife told me we were going to a baseball game - not a hockey game'.  Funny.

They were out on the field trying to hold these guys back from each other for about 10 minutes.  They kept getting lose & trying to charging each other again - and Felix Hernadez was out there 'ready to rumble' too!

Temper, temper boys (it's just a game) - Ritchie Sexson got a 6 game suspension for his fighting, Felix Hernadez and two Texas Rangers were fined for their roles in the brawl.

So,  I'm thinking tomorrow night's game will be not nearly as exciting but I'll let you know! 

Oh ya - I didn't attend today's game but they lost again!

Ouch ...

Seattle needs to get it's ... Mojo back!

- N -

This is me ... "Living in the Pacific NW, Watching Baseball & WSU Update"

I know we've probably all seen this but I think it's still funny!  A friend just sent it to me & it made me giggle so here's a laugh on us ...

You know you're from the Pacific Northwest when:

1. You the state flower - mildew.
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. You use the statement 'sun break' and know what it means.
4. You know more than 10 ways to order your morning beverage - that the rest of the world calls 'coffee'.
5. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best & Veneto's (and I'll throw in Tim Horton's).
6. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
7. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
8. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the 'walk' signal.
9. You consider it a 'hill & not a real mountain' unless it is covered in snow or has erupted recently (and I'll throw in - or ski on it).
10. You know the difference between a Chinook, Coho, & Sockeye salmon.
11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Tulalip, Issaquah, Willamette (and I'll throw in Tsawwassen, Nanaimo & Quesnel).
12. You consider swimming an 'indoor' sport.
13. You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese & Thai food.
14. In the winter - you go to work in the dark & come home in the dark while only working an 8 hour shift.
15. You never go camping without waterproof matches, a poncho or an air mattress that can be used as a flotation device.
16. You are not fazed by Todays forecast of: 'showers followed by rain', & tomorrows forecast of: 'rain followed by showers'.
17. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
18. You know at least 10 people who work for companies that manufacture computer software or parts, planes or athletic shoes.
19. You notice, 'The mountain is out' when it is a pretty day & you can actually see it.
20. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see them through the cloud cover.
21. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50 but still wear your hiking boots & parka.
22. You switch to your sandals when the temperature hits about 60 but still keep your socks on.
23. You have actually used your mountain bike ... on a mountain.
24. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
25. You take a half day off from work in July to find your sunglasses & sunscreen.
26. You measure distance in hours.  [this is my personal favorite: Chilliwack is 3 hours away, Pullman is 5 hours away ... I don't even know how many miles away they are!)
27. You often switch the 'heat' to 'a/c' in the same day.
28. You design your kid's Hallween custume to fit under a raincoat. (and I'll add this this ... or snowsuit, or sweatshirt or hoodie - I've been out on Halloween during all these weather conditions).
29.  You know all the important seasons: almost winter (aka - Winter), still raining (aka -  Spring), road construction (Summer) & Deer & Elk Season (Fall).
30. You know what a geoduck is!

 M's BASEBALL

I am so excited because Mike & I are finally going to a Mariner's game tonight.  I bought him a 1/2 season tickets for the M's for Valentines Day and I or we have been out of town so much that we haven't been able to attend a game yet.

We are playing the Kansas City Royals today at 3:40pm. 

Kansas City creamed us last night so here's to a better game today!

WSU MOM WEEKEND UPDATE:

Katy was sick the rest of the weekend but said she was feeling a bit better last night when I talked to her.  She was supposed to work at the Zoology table on Sunday afternoon but ended up canceling her shift and got someone else to cover for her. 

Kate said Cory & his Mom BOTH really enjoyed the Elton John concert on Saturday and I am so glad that they decided to use our tickets.  Apparently Elton John played for just over 2.5 hours without a break and the crowd was loud, excited & singing along the whole time. So ... 'all's well that ends well'.

Have a great day & remember:

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

                     - Dr. Seuss -

- N -