My Umps

This video was the highlight of Chrissy' trip to the ball game yesterday. They put it up on the big screen.

Little Fenway

Is that the Green Monster? Well, sort of. Its actually the Greenville Drive's little Green Monster at West End Field.

We drove up last night to visit my sister Alisa and her family. Knucklehead Noah threw out the first pitch in front of everyone; of course it was a strike. The Drive is the Single A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Their stadium is modeled after Fenway Park. We even sang Sweet Caroline during the 7th inning stretch, just like the big boys do.

2004 Red Sox World Series Champion outfielder Gabe Kapler is now the Drive's manager.

My one claim to fame, at least knowing someone famous, is that I went to High School with Jonathan Papelbon. Pap is the Sox' lights out closer. We played football together for 3 years (he was a year behind me). His 2 younger brother's are playing minor league ball now. Joshua is playing for the Drive. He wasn't in High School with me, but I do remember watching him pitch in college at University of North Florida. He's got a wicked throwing motion. He doesn't throw sidearm, he actually throws even lower; kind of like former Sox player Chad Bradford.

The Drive got drilled 15 to 6, but it was still lots of fun. On to the picks!

Preview of things to come?

Could be the next great Red Sox pitcher.

Another future player enjoying the game from the stands.

Is that a World Series Champion I see?

Kapler signing autographs for the kiddies.

Papelbon warming up.

Submariner.

There's another Green Monster.

Allstar Caroline Huggins

We got to see the Auburn Allstars play last weekend. You should have seen their left-centerfielder playing hard. Rocket arm. Nice swing. I see a scholarship in her future.

Getting Ready to Knock one up the middle

Don't let that smile fool you. She's a fierce competitor

Chrissy's Flower Bed

Chrissy is soooooo good at picking things out for our house. Remember that nasty flowerbed in front of our house? 1/2 the bushes were dead and it was full of dirt and pine straw. Look at it now.

Operation Huntsville, Mission Accomplished

We spent this last week in Huntsville, Alabama. I was in a boring class all week, and Chrissy was on vacation and spending time with some relatives that live up there. After class Friday, we went to the Space and Rocket Center. Space Camp kids everywhere!!!! Good times. On with the pics!

There were huge rockets everywhere.

This is a model of the first lunar module.

We rode the G-Force ride. At 4 G's, my hair was all disheveled.

Did you know they sent monkeys into space before they sent humans?

Bumper Cars with Lester

One of those moving concrete bollards jumped right out in front of Lester the Highlander at the gas station.

I spent about 3 hours trying to fix him, but had little luck. After about 15 minutes in the hands of professionals (Chrissy's brother Brian and the guy who lives across the street from Chrissy's parents), it was good as new.

We're in Anniston for the weekend visiting Chrissy's parents and brother.

Chrissy's brother Brian came over today.

Wait a minute, wrong picture. Sorry Brian.

Looks like love at first lick.

PE Application Blues

Would You Trust This Guy?

I'm trying to complete my application for the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam (they wanted my picture in my application package). I'm just working through the application and I'm already tired of it. I'm worried I won't be able to pass since I've been out of school for 3 years. I don't really use much engineering and I don't remember much either. I have to pass it though because I will not be able to move up anymore in my job until I get the letters P.E. put on the end of my name. We'll see what happens.

The Christening of the Fence

My little friend Andrew christened my fence for me. Thanks buddy.

Braves 1, Cubs 9

Went to the Braves game last night with Chrissy and some friends. We had a great time, even though the Braves got shelled. Alfonso Soriano hit 3 home runs in his first 3 at bats; his first 2 were off the first 2 pitches he saw. What a bummer. It was fun anyways. Great weather, a good hot dog and decent seats. While at the game, a few questions came up, and I didn't know the answers to any of them. I took a few minutes looking them up and found myself immersed in baseball history. Good things to know:

What was the longest home run ever hit:

That is a loaded question. Some say that Ruth, Mays, and Mantle have each hit one over 600 feet. The longest proven home run was Cecil Fielder at 502 feet. I'd stick with that one.

Who did Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell play for?

McDowell played for the Mets, Phillies and Dodgers from 85 through 96. He started 2 games his rookie year and spent the remainder of his career in the bullpen. He played for the 86 Champion Mets. Just for fun, Allen Butts is the Baseball Systems Operator.

What is the longest last name in major league history?

That would be Jarrod Saltalamacchia. "Salty" is the current Braves catcher along with Brian McCann. On May 1, McCann went out with a hurt hand early in the game. Backup catcher Brayan Pena was hit in the back of the head by a batter's backswing in the 9th. Pena stayed in for the rest of the game, but Salty was called up the next day.

Now, don't you feel smarter? I know I sure do.

Retraction

I want to make a retraction of something I wrote in a previous blog. Actually, more of a clarification. A couple days ago, I wrote a blog about Chrissy seeing one of her shirts on the show What Not To Wear. I WAS NOT suggesting that Chrissy has bad taste in clothes. I WAS NOT implying that her shirt was tacky. I was only trying to share something funny.

Chrissy has great taste. If it wasn't for her, I'd never know what to wear and my clothes would never match. I'm always having to ask "T shirt or Collared shirt?", or "Can I wear flip flops, or do I need to be more dressy?".

How could you possibly question the girl's taste who landed me?

Oh, and she DID NOT have anything to do with me writing this.

I Love You Chrissy!!!!

Fish 8, Braves 5

Had a great time this afternoon at the ball park. My nieces came with us to watch the game. You never know what you'll see at a Catfish game. We saw:

1. One player, one coach get thrown out. Pretty good hissy fit by the coach. Not quite Lou Pinella level, but still pretty good.

2. An inside the park homerun. Cesar Suarez hit one over the centerfielder's head just shy of the wall. The ball bounced hard off the centerfield wall, giving Suarez time to round the bases.

3. 6 homers, 5 by the home town team.

I love baseball.

Where should we go?

We're going to San Francisco next month and I don't know much about it. I know we'll go to AT&T Park for a Giants game, but don't know what to do other than that. Anybody got any ideas? I've done a little research and found a few possibilities.

1. The Zoo

2. The Aquarium

3. The Maritime Museum

4. Alcatraz

5. Hearst Castle

6. Fort Point

So many things to do, so little time.

The End of an Era

I'm depressed. My favorite basketball coach just took a job in the pro's with the Orlando Magic. Billy Donovan was an awesome coach. I'll miss seeing him on the sidelines. I'll miss seeing him cut down the nets. I don't know who we'll get next, but I know he'll have some big shoes to fill. One of the most fun parts of college for me was being in the rowdy reptiles section in the O-dome. What a bummer.

Also, looks like the pinheads in pinstripes are going to gain another game on the good guys tonight. Hopefully, they'll be able to take the other 2 games.

At least something humorous happened today. Chrissy was flipping channels just a minute ago and said "Look, that girls wearing my shirt". Turns out it was on the show What Not To Wear. Pretty funny.