30. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

I’m starting this post with an apology to my mother for making fun of her, but this story is just too rich to not share. These sorts of stories cannot go untold. When something is better in truth than you could make up in fiction you have an obligation to share it. Oh, and bless her heart. Now I can say whatever I want.

I learned this weekend that my uncle has a friend who is affiliated, or was once affiliated (we think he is retired) with the Orioles organization. So while I have been 500 miles away all these years, he has been merrily attending one special Orioles event and All Star game after another. What’s worse? My mother has the same friend. For over an hour this weekend, I listened to my uncle catch me up on stories about getting autographs, my cousin being invited into the bullpen, players like Brooks Robinson (!!!) making a special visit at the ballpark to see my uncle and say hello. Can you imagine how I felt hearing this for the first time and knowing that no one has once called me and said, “Would you be interested in meeting Brooks or going to an All Star game?”

My husband and I both told my uncle that in the future, he better remember to call me. He asked, “Would you drive all this way?” We both said in unison, emphatically, “YES!” My uncle pleaded ignorance to knowing what an Oriole fanatic I am, even though he knows where I grew up. (I still don’t get how he didn’t know that!) I cut him some slack since my mom lived in the same house as I did for twenty two years and isn’t all that bothered about the Orioles. But she? What is her excuse for her not thinking to, at the very least, invite me on some of these occasions?

This is what is known as neglectful parenting.

So here’s the story that I couldn’t resist telling, because it is just so unbelievable.

My uncle was invited to a photo shoot with Brooks Robinson. My aunt, my uncle and my mother all went together. My aunt had her picture taken with Brooks. My uncle had his picture taken. My mom just stood there. When the photographer asked my mom, “are you going to have your picture taken?” my mom replied, “Only if he takes off all his clothes.”

To
the
nicest
man
in
baseball.

My mother said that to the nicest man in baseball. She loves nothing better than embarassing people.

She brags to this day “he turned bright red,” and laughs heartily, slapping her knee at the hilarity of it. I promised my uncle I would never say anything like that to Brooks if given the chance to meet him.

I didn’t make any promises about what I would say to Cal though. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Posted in Ramblings | Print | No Comments »

28. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

Ugh!

Posted in 2007 Season, Orioles/BB | Print | No Comments »

27. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

Just had to share this excellent listing on Craig’s List. Maybe I should buy it so that I have something to trade when the Orioles go to the World Series. By then, as an antique, it ought to really be worth a lot of money, don’t you think?

Posted in 2007 Season, Orioles/BB | Print | No Comments »

22. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

This weekend I received an email from a friend I love dearly. It included several lovely family photographs. Here’s an enlargement of one of them. Take a look and tell me if you can see anything wrong in this picture:

The good news is that at least we can agree on our disappointment about the outcome of the ALCS. And that’s what love is, finding common ground, focusing on what’s right in the world, and tacitly agreeing to pretend that you both don’t see the blue and white striped elephant in the middle of the room.

Posted in Ills of All Sorts | Print | No Comments »

19. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

We interrupt this program to bring you another episode of “Hate the Yankees.”

I didn’t watch what I call the “Pre-Playoff Playoffs” for two reasons: 1) I wanted to give my husband a break from baseball since he so patiently endured the Orioles with me all summer and 2) I still refuse to recognize the games as post-season play. I know it’s been a lot of years since they were added, but I don’t like change. (I still haven’t warmed up to the inter-league play either. The only good thing about it is that it gives me a chance to watch the Orioles in Atlanta, which is half the distance to Baltimore. Still, I feel like a jerk Red Sox fan when I cheer for my team.)

Since my husband willingly allowed the dial to be turned to the Playoffs this week, I’ve really enjoyed watching the Red Sox get spanked. I discovered something though. I don’t hate the Red Sox. Who knew! It’s their fans that are the problem. The fans have always been obnoxious, but I really have nothing against the team itself. That said, I won’t ever cheer for them, but I don’t wish the ill on them that I do on the Ys.

This was a very encouraging thing for me to discover because I don’t like hating and we all know that there’s enough hatred for the Ys to fill up all the hatred slots in a person, and with USAIR trying to squeeze itself in too, well, there ain’t no more room. I also discovered that there was one Y I liked, Joe Torre, but he was too good for them and they couldn’t tolerate all that goodness on their evil, greedy team.

At any rate, the playoffs have been a great reminder of what real baseball looks like. Even though the Indians lost last night, in general the fielding and pitching have been fun to watch. I have been trained by the Orioles not to exhale until after the very last out in the 9th, so I was unnecessarily nervous watching the win on Tuesday night. In the top of the 9th, with one man on base, two outs and two strikes, I caught my leg wiggling anxiously, realizing that, were this the Orioles, this would be a perfect opportunity for the opposing team to hit a home run and tie up the game. After all, the Indians were only up by two runs. Is that enough in a normal game? I couldn’t remember…

Posted in 2007 Season, Orioles/BB | Print | 1 Comment »

8. October 2007 by Orioles Fanatic.

I got a call this morning from the dealer. I had guessed that my car wouldn’t start either because of the starter or something to do with the clutch (it won’t start if the clutch isn’t depressed). It turned out that a part having to do with the clutch/starter connection had fallen off. The repair and an oil change together cost $192. Remarkable!! Now the clutch is happy again, though still likes being depressed. Ha! Ha!

When I picked up the car on my lunch break (I just couldn’t wait until after work), the service rep said, “She’s in really good shape, especially for the mileage. We looked her over and couldn’t find anything else wrong.”

I couldn’t help but beam with pride.

What a car!! Over 172,000 miles and I’m still paying less than $200 a year in repairs. If inanimate objects could feel things, my 240 would feel the shower of love I pour over her…and she over me.

As her reward for being so good to me, I bought her some Orioles fuzzy dice and an Orioles license plate frame. If they start doing well next year, you’ll know who to thank. If they don’t…well…ain’t nothin that can help ‘em.

Posted in Ramblings | Print | No Comments »