Adrienne's Birthday - May 15th, 2013 - A's vs. Rangers Game/Union Square

Wow, really behind again.  I need to catch up!  Well, let's start with a few work notes.

1)  I got a promotion!!  Woot woot!  I interviewed a few weeks ago for a PT II position (one step up).  Same division, Unclaimed Property, but on the Claims Evaluation side. 

Just when I was starting to worry that I didn't get it, they not only offered me the position, but told me that I was their top candidate!  Yay!  I don't have a start date yet...hopefully in two weeks.  I'm really excited.

2) This weekend was the end of overtime for at least the month of July.  So Yay! for that too. Although I can always use the money, I need a break.  I've been working 9.5 - 10 hours almost ever weekday plus 8 on Saturdays.

However, I may be put on a special project which will require me to work every Saturday in July.  My new promotion may actually take me off this project, which I would have mixed reactions to.  So whatever happens is fine I suppose.

Now, on to Adrienne's Birthday!

I took the day off so we could go to the A's game.  Unfortunately, it was finals week for Adie so she was in serious study mode.  We got a late start from Sacramento, and consequently got to the game after it had started and the A's were already down several runs.  Boo!

We had good seats. Right behind this dude with the awesome beanie!  It was definitely not beanie weather though. #hot

Orioles @ Athletics 4/28/13

My seat was straight above the 330 mark; 2nd row - 2nd deck

As anyone who knows me (or has looked at this blog) knows, my first team that I cheered for in baseball was the Baltimore Orioles.

And I'll say the reason again...when I was a junior in high school, I watched the World Series that year and fell in love with a pair of gorgeous blue eyes.  They belonged to Cal Ripken Jr and I was hooked...not just on Cal and the Orioles, but on baseball in general.

Remembering a Lazy Wednesday at Raley Field - Rivercats 5/2/12

I'm sitting here watching the Sacramento Rivercats play on the telly for only something like the SECOND time this season, so I felt inspired to post some pictures from an early season game.  

It's somewhat of a travesty that the Pacific Coast League-leading Rivercats have only been on the local t.v. twice when the stupid Single A San Jose Gnats are shown all the damn time.  I really don't understand it.  Did you know that Forbes magazine listed the Rivercats as most valuable minor league team? Well, they did.  And they don't get as much play in the local media as they should. The newspaper is idiotic here anyway, but cable should be better.

/rant

So...I used to get off work at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and one hot lazy early summer day I decided to head out to the ballpark to lay on the grass and fry myself at the business person's special.  

Here are some photos!

OH SHIT!  The Rivercats pitcher just took a liner right off his wrist and it doesn't look good.  And instead of showing us the action on the field, the cameraman, who is apparently squeamish, cuts away to a prolonged picture of the Tower Bridge.  And now the 'Cats logo.  Weird.  It's not a streaker people!  

Show us the damn field!!!

Whatevs.  As I said, photos:

 I like birds. Especially when they make the foul pole above me a fowl pole.  Get it?  Ha!

"If You Build It, He Will Come" -- Barry Zito Rehabs @ The Ports 6/6/11

That's baseball, and it's my game.  Y' know, you take your worries to the game, and you leave 'em there.  You yell like crazy for your guys.  It's good for your lungs, gives you a lift, and nobody calls the cops.  [Cute guys], lots of 'em.  ~Humphrey Bogart

Okay, okay...so Bogart said pretty girls.  I'm sure there are a few of those there too.  But that quote pretty much sums up how I feel about going to the ballpark.  I can go with friends or alone.  But I never feel alone when I'm there.  Maybe it's the shared camaraderie of cheering for your team.  Or maybe it's just the peaceful feeling I get sitting outside with sky and grass surrounding me (yes...even at the "ugly" Coliseum...).  I feel as one with nature and humanity for those few hours.

Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton for the Athletics Single A club is wonderful in every aspect.  For the low price of $12, you can sit in the front row with nothing - and I do mean nothing! - dividing you from the players and field.  It is an absolute must to keep your eyes open and be aware.  Foul balls can and do come screaming into the seats at what seems like a trillion miles an hour.  Observe the views...

5/29/11 There's No Crying in Baseball! O's @ A's @ OakCo

On a very rare occasion where Adie and I had the same day off, we headed for Oakland to see my two favorite AL teams battle it out, East vs. West style.  

I know some might question my love for the Orioles since they have not been a good team of late...but it has to do with a superstar hero with a pair of  to-die-for blue eyes.  The love affair started over 20 years ago and my loyalty remains to the only organization he ever played for. 

Okay, so I took that picture at Angels Stadium...whatevs. ;-p

Honestly, since this was a while ago and in the midst of the drama with my mom's illness, I don't remember too many details about the day.  At least at the beginning.  So I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves & narrate when I have something to say. Let's start with the visiting Orioles.

Oakland Athletics Breast Cancer Awareness Day 9-5-10

So, still in the process of "catching up" on my blog entries.  I'm trying to go in chronological order of my various outings and decided that today would be a good day to post this one since Dan Haren pitched against the A's today.  And he was high on my priority list when I made it a point to attend this game.

The highest priority was, of course, Breast Cancer Awareness. 

An acquaintance of mine - who is one of the most sweetest, most beautiful human beings I've come across - is currently fighting her battle against this horrible disease.  She is young, has three young children and no family history of breast cancer.  She's gone through the surgery, chemo, etc., and is now on the road to recovery.  My prayers go out to her and her family. And to all those affected by this disease.

The A's were playing the Angels - unfortunately now the team that my Danny Haren calls home.  Yuck.  So I got there pretty early because I wanted to be sure to get into the park early (and get my giveaways) and I was glad I did since I was treated to PITCHER'S WORKOUT!  This used to be one of my very favorite A's photo opportunities back in the day when we had the hottest pitching staff on the planet.  They're not so hot now; but they've got great personality!  But I digress...  Pictures!

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!

Mets Madness Part II!

The second day of our Mets adventure started out a bit blah...got in a bit of a tiff over a waffle.  I do not kid.  But I reigned in my temper and got out of there without slitting the bitch's throat. 

We got the hell out of Brisbane and headed back to Union Square so that A could buy something that she wished she had bought the day before.  I didn't feel like walking to Anthropologie with her so I hung out on the Square to people watch. 

I stared wistfully at the Burger Bar, thinking of my missed opportunity with Chef Hubert Keller. 

We sat right about where the white shirt is sitting.

After A finished her shopping, we had to head over to Oakland to go to Hockey Xport.  I wish I had a picture of the dude who works/manages there.  I have a serious crush on this guy.  Sandy hair, blue eyes, hockey player build.  He's yum.  And he remembered me from the last time I was there, which was in April.  But I know why he did and it wasn't because he thought I was yum.  But I digress...

Mets Madness

Every year, my daughter and I purchase some awesome tickets to go see the Mets play the Giants.  We don't really follow the Mets.  Well, a little bit we do.  I guess.  Usually in the form of watching a smattering of games here and there and hoping that the Mets don't pull a massive choke job. 

But the fact is that we are A's fans and not Giants fan.  It is also a fact that it's fun as hell to watch games at AT&T Park in San Francisco. As a matter of fact, it is mad crazy fun to watch games (especially if you're cheering the visiting team) from the awesome seats we spend a small fortune for.

We began our pilgrimage exactly one week ago today, Thursday, July 15th at 10:30.  An early start was a must for several reasons...not the least of which was the 100 degree plus weather which makes road trips a little less fun.

We had to be at John's house by 1:30 p.m. to pick up the tickets.  It's amazing that Redwood City is so bloody hot even though it is sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Bay on the east.  Of course it is a wide swatch of land, but I am never fully prepared for the hotness. 

Grabbed the tickets and made our way back to South San Francisco.  After a confusing and aggravating stop at Target, we checked in at our little "hotel" by the airport.  Wanted to stay in the City, but rooms were hard to come by and more expensive than usual for some reason.  This'll do.  We cleaned up and rested a bit from the heat...then headed to S.F. proper. 

After a quick stop at my sister's work to pick up her wallet for her, we headed out to Union Square for some walking and shopping.  Then lunch at the Burger Bar in Macy's.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY!  I am not kidding.  We were waiting for our food and I noticed this gentleman in a chef's apron walk by. Hmmm, that looks like Hubert Keller (owner of the Burger Bar and renowned French chef for the non-foodies).