At the Batting Cages with Junie

What a Game

GREAT Yankees-Red Sox game tonight. A-Rod was drilled intentionally in the 2nd, a juvenile act that was roundly cheered by the classless Boston fans. In his next at bat Alex drove in a run, and when he led off the 6th with the Yankees down three he pounded a tape-measure shot to right center. The joy on his face was wonderful, and when he got to home plate he stopped, pointed his fingers to the sky ala David Ortiz, and just let the boos wash over him. F'ing brilliant! The homer started a rally that led to a Yankees win. Rodriguez's final line: 3-4 with a home run, two runs scored, a HBP, and two RBI's. A-Rod, I bow to thee!

Aside from seeing A-Rod trample the disgusting Red Sox, my day did slightly improve when I went out for some exercise with the kids. I let Parker and Olivia ride their bikes while Lauren and I set out on foot. It was the first real test of my knee in a week, and I made it about half a mile before the pain reared up and I tapped out rather than injure it further. Still, progress. Lisa then gave me a ride to the store where PD/OJ met me with their bikes. Afterwards I let them bike home, with permission to ride around the perimeter of the park first. Then stretched this to a 90 minute romp and returned after dark, but WTH - at least they got in a good workout. :)

It is just about impossible to gauge how much fan-love I have for Alex Rodriguez. 

A Waste

So far a wasted day off . . . and nothing makes me more bitter

Yikes

Idiocy

Ken Rosenthal:

"But perhaps the best way for him [Mark McGwire] to enhance his [HOF] candidacy would be to say the words that so many wanted to hear when he testified before Congress on March 17, 2005:

"Yes, I used steroids. And I'm sorry."

[McGwire: "I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize... I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize... I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry."]

Ken Rosenthal in December 2012:

"Mark McGwire has admitted using PEDs. It’s reasonable to conclude that without the drugs, he would not have produced the same power numbers, the numbers that are the essence of his candidacy. Thus, I do not vote for him."

Well, Ken DID say "perhaps.

- Gonfalon Bubble on BTF

My, that was a purty little home run A-Rod hit yesterday. Now 12 shy of Mays.

Wrapping up the State Fair

It was a great State Fair, and I greatly enjoyed the eleven days I spent with the kids in Lisa's absence. 

My biggest pet peeve from these weeks: people who asked me if I was "ok" or "how was I holding up". Jeezus people, I made the kids, I should be able to handle two weeks with them. What an antiquated and sexist question.

I'm actually grateful for the time, as I think it proved to them that Dad can take care of business at home and that Mom is more than "just a" Mom. I wish that Lisa had been able to pursue a similar opportunity in MN, but there's just not enough of a support system here to ride out a 2nd two week spell with both of us working. On Sunday I got the opportunity to spend the evening at the fair, and at close helped take apart Lisa's booth and stack it on a pallet - work that's definitely harder than my real job!

Johnny Logan

Aw man. RIP Milwaukee Braves great Johnny Logan, age 86

The Witch Hunt Continues

Former MLB All-Star Jack Clark has publicly accused Albert Pujols of using PED's, saying he knows this "for a fact". He has also accused, though without the same level of alleged personal knowledge, ex-player Shawn Green and Tigers ace of aces, Justin Verlander. If true, yikes. If not, Clark is an ass.

Rahny, of KiSS FM's Wes, Rahny and Ali morning show has been let go. WTH??? It's the only morning show of any worth left in Milwaukee - or was. You'll be missed Rahny.

I've been clean shaven for eight days now. Still not sure if I'm going to grow it all back. In other news, today was my first walk with the kids since injuring my MCL on June 21st. We only walked about seven blocks round trip., and my knee ached by the end, but I'm happy to get out and on the road again.

Johnny Damon Can Go Take a Flying Leap

The Idiot Otherwise Known As Johnny Damon says his 2009 World Series ring is "diminished" for him if it turns out A-Rod was using PED's at the time. In related news, he's giving back his 2004 Red Sox ring since David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and who knows how many other BoSox were 'roided to the nines at the time. $%# moron.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday Junie! We love you! xo

Some artwork of mine from the '70's

Here's some artwork of mine, dated 1979, age 5. My kids do better work. 

Sharknado

Maybe I shouldn't have let Junie  watch "Sharknado" with me. A poor parenting decision, that, but not as poor a choice as choosing to write, produce, or star in that atrocity.

Well it was entertaining as camp, but yes, it was worse than most school plays.

I have finally impressed YaYa. I was on the phone, arguing something with a business and swallowed several minutes of  Valley Girl upspeak, dripping with sarcasm. I finally cut her off and said "Look, you can be as loud and as snotty as you like for as long as you like, but you're still wrong." She *was* wrong, and later admitted it. After I got off the phone YaYa applauded and said "Well done, Dad. That was great."

Well Wishes

Former President George W Bush had heart surgery today. 

A Great Finale

I was skeptical they could pull it off after Dez all but torpedoed the show in the wake of Brooke's departure, BUT . . . . that was a genuinely touching and powerfully romantic end to the season. Lisa was in tears, I was all "awwww" lol. BEST BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE FINALE EVER!!!!

And - just for the record: people who claim to 'love' Doctor Who yet claim ignorance to anything pre-2005 are a dreadful waste of DNA.

A-Rod singles in his first at-bat of the year . . .

The Colony

"The Colony" is a sci-fi film starring Laurence Fishburne. It's set in the near future, on an Earth that has entered a new Ice Age. The last remaining humans survive in isolated colonies that are dying off of disease and starvation, but a new threat has emerged: a crazy, psychotic cannibal tribe. It's a better movie than it sounds in this description, and it features one of the goriest, wickedest final fight scenes around. Rent it!

On A-Rod's Suspension

I hope A-Rod's suspension finally inspires the player's union to DO THEIR JOB and curb a despotic and arrogant MLB administration intent on pursuing personal grudges (Braun) and voiding legitimate contracts (Rodriguez). Failing that, I hope any one of the baker's dozen MLB tossed on the pyre goes rogue and names names, finally establishing that PED's were and are long tolerated/ignored/promoted by managers and administrator's alike (La Russa anyone?).

The Packers have signed Vince Young as a backup QB

A Fulton Sheen Quote

“There would never be vaccination unless there were germs, there would never have been Prohibition unless there were something to prohibit, and there would never be atheism unless there was a God to atheate.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Howsabout

"The home runs that are hit because a guy's on performance-enhancing substances, those ruin somebody's ERA, which ruins their arbitration case, which ruins their salary," Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson said. "So it's a whole domino effect.". 

Huh. Good point. 

Now howsabout "The strikeouts that are pitched because a guy's on performance enhancing substances, those ruin somebody's AVG, which ruins their arbitration case, with ruins their salary" said every  major leaguer who has faced juiced pitchers for the last 20 years.

How about that CJ?

The Grasshopper Picnic 2013

The youngest three consented to joining me in Whitnall Park for an afternoon of tree climbing, golf ball finding, grasshopper catching fun.