Thursday, October 7, 2010

Of Moms, Mumsies, and Playoff Baseball

Of Mom
Tuesday was Mom's birthday. We had a lovely celebration with Fred Flintstone ribeye steaks that hung off the sides of the plates, along with asparagus and wild rice and sauteed mushrooms and salad and gorgonzola, and an ice cream cake (natch) and candles and presents and lots of bottles of wine and laughs and dripping emotions and no Dad.

We all did okay, though; we all persevered. Especially Mom. She's a rock. And a rock star. And so what if the later the night got, the more the tears flowed? That's why they call it late night. Plus, Mom got right up the next morning, to see us off at 5:30 a.m.

Yes. 5:30 a.m.

Did you know that the sun doesn't come up until 7? And if it's raining, it never comes up? It's true. I've woken up at 5 or earlier twice this week now, and I'm a dependable eyewitness.

Anyway. I don't have photos of Mom's birthday. But just imagine Mom and me and Mistah and MB and The Dowd eating beef and drinking wine and yakking 'til the cows come home and you get the idea.

Of Mumsie
Speaking of mothers . . .

We went to visit Musmie yesterday, as we often do. Okay, as Mistah does every day. He's a good son.

Anyway, we turned on the baseball game -- Game 1 of the Phillies/Red NL Division Series, which we'd started watching at the Tavern. The sound was off (Mumsie's roommate was asleep) but in the 4th or 5th inning I said, "Hey, this is a no-hitter!" I texted Dave back at the Tavern to ask if it was a perfect game too (nope, one base-on-balls) and the three of us -- then Mumsie's roommate when she woke up, and her daughter -- watched the rest of the game together.

Halladay absolutely mowed them down. He threw seven pitches in the bottom of the eighth, and around the same in the bottom of the ninth. 104 total. He made the other guys look like Little Leaguers. The guy was on fire. Really, it was quite something to watch.

If only it weren't the Phillies.

Of Baseball
Because, you see, I hate the Phillies. I have to; I'm a Mets fan. And although I'm so excited for the Playoffs (baseball's back! After the desert of two days off) I'm at a complete loss in trying to decide who to root for.

The Phillies? No.
The Giants? Puh-lease.
The Braves? And their tomahawk chop? Never.
The Reds? The Big Red Machine? Not on your life.

The Yankees? Over my dead body.
The Rangers? I love Texas but George Bush's team? No.
The Rays? Well, I do like that part of Florida, and I love Beth's mom Pat, and I love that Tampa Bay is a body of water, not a city, but they're an AL team.
The Twins? Perhaps I loathe them the least, but please see note about being an AL team, above.
 
One can analyze the teams by city:
Arlington, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, St. Petersburg . . .
 
Or by state:
California, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas . . .
 
Or, if you're really searching for criteria, by ballpark:
AT&T Park, Citizens Bank Park, Great American Ballpark, Rangers Ballpark, Target Field, Tropicana Field, Turner Field, Yankee Stadium . . .

(AT&T Park? Seriously?)

Sigh. It's no use. But I'm still going to listen to every game, and I'm still going to cheer madly . . .

. . . against every team.

13 comments:

a fan of baseball in PA said...

What a GAME!!
I had to be doing the parent taxi game after a rain postponed homecoming parade so I didn't get to really focus until the 6th inning, but boy was it exciting...and so old fashioned, as I was in the car listening to the radio. My kids started really paying attention in the 8th inning and by the time we pulled into the driveway, no one moved to get out. We sat together listening to the 9th inning and did a brief cheer/high five and then moved out into the real world of homework, dinner and Modern Family.

Love the play-offs..Hate that the Padres choked and the Yankees didn't. Married a Phillies fan so we have a team to cheer for (haven't had an O's team to cheer for in a VERY long time) and I'm always a bit sentimental for a feel good team so I will hope for a Twins/Phillies World Series. Both have nice ballparks and one of them has a nice looking catcher..what more do you need?!

Happy Birthday Mom C!

Hsin-Yi said...

That's my Mets fan! I feel the same way Ellie, though it was an exciting game last night. At least Ted will be happy. Sigh...

Sounds like you had a fantastic evening on both days though!

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Well happy belated to Mom C! Glad there was steak and wine o'plenty :-)

And baseball?

yawn...........

Beth

Mom c said...

I'm with Beth, I'm so not into baseball right now - all the good guys are done. Thanks for the birthday wishes. Mom C

Anonymous said...

Say it with me E... I LOVE THE YANKEES!!! Now a big smile and off to get some champagne, we have a win to celebrate tonight

Big pinstripe hug

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Beth, get your husband in line.

E.

Anonymous said...

Baseball. Football. Basketball. They bore me. Give me a perfect margarita anytime, instead. That, and a Facebook friend. 8=)

Me, You, or Ellie said...

I know this will disappoint you, Ellie (aka E), but I will gladly root for the Yankees if he'll just turn off the fan.

xo,
beth

Me, You, or Ellie said...

A no-hitter is exciting, even if it's a dumb bad guy throwing it.

I have no vested interest in this post season, and no plans to watch.

We can't compare cities, because we'd have to pick New York, and the glory of that city is soiled by the stench of those assbags in pinstripes.

Love to Mom and Mumsie!

xoxo

Jacquie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

The thing about that, though, Jacquie? The Yankees do *not* embody New York. New York is awesome and exciting and bewildering and surprising and complex and exhilarating and thrilling. And fun. So stinking fun. And the Yankees? Are not fun.

Ceiling fans, however, are.

xxEllie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Plus? The Yankees have the Worst. Radio. Announcers. Ever.

Gag.

E.

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Tell me something I don't know, sistah. (apply to comments about both the stupid Yankees and NYC)

Jacquie

can't stomach the Yankees in PA said...

Beth:
you must really be bored by baseball if you are willing to cheer for the Yankees to get that fan turned off.
I'll refrain from calling social services, unless I see some photos of those pretty girls in pinstripes.