Barb’s Burblings

For Christmas my senior year of college, my mother gave me a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I had heard of it, but didn’t really know much about it. I brought it with me to college, and in late February, I took a break from my school reading to read it. I tore through it, and sweet-talked my mom into buying the second one for me when I was home for spring break. Sure, it meant waiting a little while, but it was free! I bought the third one soon after that, and Goblet of Fire was released that summer. Again, I waited for it–my mom actually bought me a copy and mailed it to me. And she actually is paying for my copy of Deathly Hallows, as well–a congratulations gift on my no-longer-so-new job. So it all comes full circle.
I’m skipping the midnight release party. I went to one for Order of the Phoenix, and it was neat. Plus, hanging out at the bookstore that long gave me a chance to buy birthday presents for numerous friends. I was hanging out a bit in downtown Silver Spring tonight, where three tv stations had crews on hand at Borders. The whole set-up was neat. A lot of the shops had taken on the names of stores in the Potterverse and there were quite a few people hanging out in costume.
I saw Hairspray (which, go see! It’s awesome!) and emerged around 8 to a packed downtown Silver Spring. It was crazy. There were people everywhere. I’ve never seen it like that. The mood was positively electric. It was just really cool to see. I was kind of sad to come home, but considering the size of the line forming outside “Flourish and Blott’s”…yeah, I’m good picking it up first thing tomorrow morning.

I’m editing this document, and I mutter, “Man, I’m so bad at ‘decision making’!” Then I laugh. I meant trying to figure out whether it should be hyphenated, but it works on its own, too.
Yes, I talk to myself when I’m editing. It’s not like I’m bothering the cats.

The day after the All-Star Game is one of the saddest days of the summer. Why? No baseball. At all. The day before the ASG, there’s the Home Run Derby. But today? Nada. I mean, even on days that the Orioles have off, I can flip around and find another game, or at least watch Baseball Tonight. Although, who knows? Maybe BBTN is on tonight; I haven’t checked.
Well, at least I had tap tonight to distract me from the lack of baseball.

In honor of the All-Star Game and two time All-Star Brian Roberts, here are a couple of nice articles about him.

This story from Wednesday’s Post caught my attention. Adults clinging to childish activities? Yep! What’s not awesome about cupcakes and kickball?
It prompted me to finally buy an Italian ice from the vendor that’s stationed on the corner near my office. What really caught my eye about the vendor is that the Italian ice is served in a weak little paper cup–just like the Italian ice I got at the swim club in New Jersey. The Italian ice truck would come two or three times a day; the ice cream truck maybe once a day. I can’t remember whether we got spoons with the ices; I do remember manipulating the cup to get all the ice out.
How was it? Pretty good, I admit, if fairly expensive. Not as good as Rita’s, but it brought me back 20+ years.

I’m pretty excited about my boy going to the All-Star Game. He totally deserves it–he’s batting over .320, leads the AL in stolen bases, and he’s right up there for on base percentage, in addition to being in the top 20 in runs and total bases. So, yay! It’s sad that he’s the only Oriole going (unlike last time, when he had three others to keep him company). He’s pretty much the only position player who deserves it, but cases could be made for Erik Bedard (who has a 3.36 ERA, leads the league in strikeouts, and is in the top 10 for opponent batting average) and Jeremy Guthrie (second for opponent batting average and ERA [2.63]). Unfortunately neither of them have very many wins, as they’ve gotten crap run support and suffered from bullpen collapses. Not that the pitchers who are being sent are crap, but still they make a pretty convincing case.
At least I can take solace in the fact that Brian was voted in by his peers; it’s not like Jim Leyland had to add him in so that the O’s would be represented.