The Perfect Day Part II

It took us about 45 minutes of mostly light (for the Bay Area) traffic to reach the Coliseum.  We decided to park in the actual lot since the game was just about to start and I didn't want to trouble with a BART station filled with actual workday commuters.

Went to the ticket window and got pretty much the exact seats we wanted - Section 128, right behind the A's bullpen, 3rd row from the field.  Awesome.  We stopped at the concessions to buy A a hat since it was super bright out and she had forgotten to grab sunglasses or a hat from home.  Bought a couple A's magazines with Swooney and Bailey on the covers. 

We made our way down to our seats, located conveniently close to my current A's man candy, Conor Jackson. Thankfully our game was between his DL stints. *sigh*

 Missed only the first inning...but of course the A's scored.  lol  Gio G was starting and he pitched great!

The Perfect Day Part I

Wednesday, August 18, 2010, was damn near a perfect day.  After working for two weeks without a day off because my boss was in Hawaii, I begged to take the 18th off so A and I could head to the Bay Area for a sports blitz.

Sports, whether playing or spectating, are my escape...my stress relief.  Almost nothing is more relaxing to me than a day game at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum.  So what better way to relax than combine a day game in the bright, hot California sunshine with my newfound love of ice?  Ice hockey to be exact. Shark's Captain's Skate, to be even more precise. 

We had to leave early early early in order to get to San Jose at 10:00 a.m., which is the time Captain's Skate (CS) was scheduled.  CS is kind of a crapshoot as far as seeing NHL players.  It's an informal practice and the players are not required in any way to show up.  Last week, Joe Pavelski was the only big name player who showed.  So I told myself that I was just going to be happy to be at the rink, seeing some live hockey. 

The drive was really nice...a mild glorious morning.  Going through Dixon there were about five hot air balloons in various stages of take-off which is always cool to see.  We arrived at Shark's Ice at about 9:45 and took the time to wander around the three main rinks.  Some dudes were playing pond hockey and they looked thrilled to have an audience.  Some showing off did occur. 

We eventually made out way over to the Shark's rink and practice was in full swing.  By practice, I should say more pond hockey except with NHL'ers.  I was THRILLED when we walked in and Jonathan Cheechoo walked in front of us to get to the ice!

I quickly perused the ice and saw Owen Nolan and Danny Boyle!  I LUV Dan Boyle.  Yes I do. 

Sacramento Sunday #2

Well, sorry to say...my Sacramento Sunday got a bit derailed thanks to the lovely disease that is Alzheimers.  I had planned to go to the Japanese Festival and then take me mum to a brass band concert in Carmichael Park but, alas, it was not to be. 

We did make it to church though and I'm particularly glad that we did.  Three hymns that I enjoy very much were sung:

O My Father
Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love
How Firm a Foundation

And I actually remembered MOST of the alto harmony and only messed up a little! 

The speakers were very good and there was a beautiful musical interlude.  Truly lovely and spiritual; I found myself a bit teary, which happens now and then when I'm in church. 

Sacramento Sunday - Farmer's Market & Old City Cemetery Visits

It occurred to me today as I was driving to the farmer's market, that Sundays are my only guaranteed day off and that I should try to make the most of them.  I don't always do that, to be honest.  Some Sundays I am so tired or whatever, that I can barely drag myself out of bed, let alone take my mom to church, clean my house, or venture out into the wider world.

But I really want to change that....and I'm thinking this blog and my trusty camera(s) might be the motivation I need.

Luckily, as I had these thoughts, my camera was close at hand so I decided to introduce a new feature (YES!  My blog now has features!!) and call it Sacramento Sunday.  Each Sunday, I'm going to try to venture into a different part of Sacramento and take some photos and tell a story.  It might (hopefully) not always be in Sacramento.  But since it will always start and end in Sacramento, I think the name can hold up no matter in what part of Nor Cal I end up.

Today's Sunday venture begins under what we here in the Sacto area call the W-X freeway.  Each Sunday year round, there is a huge farmer's market there.  I'm not sure if the produce can still be considered organic with the carbon monoxide levels that must come from the freeway, but you can't beat having the shelter of Highway 50 to keep out the hot sun or rain!

One can pretty much find anything at this particular market..including fresh oysters from the Bay Area, fresh  fish from a local sustainable fish ranch, beef, poultry, pond plants, and of course all the usual features.