Barb’s Burblings

I was at work a bit late this evening–I stayed until 5:15 or so. I usually work 8:30 to 4:30, but got to work around 8:45, so it wasn’t like I was working incredibly late. I was in the middle of something and just wanted to finish it. But as I went to drop something off at someone’s desk, I ran into three people who were all, “You’re still here?!” This is somewhat unnerving. For one thing, it’s hardly the first time I’ve stayed late. Should I be staying late more often? Do I come across as a slacker?
I’ve actually been staying a bit later more frequently lately. Some of it is that I’m super busy. But it’s mostly because I’ve been driving to work (I won free parking for a month). For some reason, when I drive to work, I stay later. When I take the bus, I am hyper aware of the time at the end of the day, and always try to get the same bus home. It makes no sense. My bus runs every 10 minutes or so, so it’s not like missing my normal bus will get me home much later. At my previous job, when my commute involved a shuttle to the Metro to my bus, missing the shuttle did mean getting home considerably later, so maybe I just still have that mindset.
Of course, it just seems that I have some odd notion set in my mind that no, in fact, I have to take the same bus to work every morning and the same bus home every night. In the mornings, I know what time I have to get up in order to catch my normal bus. And if I hit snooze one time too many, I’ll think, “Oh, I’ll just drive.” Because apparently, I can’t just catch a slightly later bus. And then I wind up getting to work late.
None of this makes sense, but I have no idea how to change it.

This picture, which was dcist’s Picture of the Day yesterday, makes me laugh and laugh. Seriously, I can’t get enough of the racing Presidents, and this is classic.

From Bullneck

My boy Brian hit his 1000th hit tonight (he went 3-5 on the night), an RBI triple in the O’s insane 7-5 win over the Cubs. Sherrill induced heart attacks in all the O’s fans watching (loads the bases in the bottom of the 9th, and strikes out the side), but they held on and broke the Cubs’ streak of wins at home. Woo!
So congrats, Brian, and good job, boys!
Here’s Brian back in 2005, undoubtedly about to get on base in Seattle.

Edited to add that I found a link to the video of Brian’s hit. Unfortunately, it’s the Chicago broadcast, so it’s not as fawning as it should be.

I somehow wound up on the email list for the outlets in Gettysburg and I’ll periodically get emails about a sale or somesuch. This afternoon, I got one for a sale coming up next weekend. “Come for the 4th of July sales!” it says. “July 3-4-5!”
HAHAHAHAHA. Like I’d voluntarily go to Gettysburg–anywhere near Gettysburg–at that particular time of year.

I’m possibly the only person who watched that show a few years back about a batboy for a major league baseball team. It starred Dean Cain. I didn’t really care about the kid, but there’s something intriguing about that sort of behind the scenes setting. So naturally I found this article about the clubbies in the Yankees’ visitors’ clubhouse incredibly interesting. It’s crazy seeing the logistics behind, you know, a team getting their uniforms. There’s just so much more to major league baseball than the game on the field. And sickly enough, I find it all fascinating.

Today is Garfield’s birthday–he turns 30 today. It’s interesting that Davis can’t acknowledge Garfield’s age anymore. When I was little, I had a bunch of Garfield books, and I remember that at least once he contemplated his age (probably for his 10th birthday) (man, I’m old). Now, not only is 30 too old for a cat, that would make Jon, like, 60. Dude looks good for 60.
But it also makes me think of Andrea, my best friend from 4th to 6th grade. She has the same birthday as Garfield–same year and everything. So every year, when Garfield’s birthday rolls around, I think of her. Happy birthday, Andrea! Hope the cake is awesome.

By the second or third inning of the game last night, I was annoyed. Not with the O’s, of course; sure, Garrett Olson was a bit wild, and the team started off in a hole, but I was hardly worried. No, I was pissed off at the people around me. The two jerks to my left who were saying that the first pitch to Miguel Tejada should’ve been at his head. The idiot behind me who felt the need to loudly voice his displeasure with every pitch slightly out of the strike zone (”Olson, you’re KILLING me! Now we’re down a run!” Dude, have you paid any attention to this season? It’s the first inning!). The numerous people who felt the need to boo Miguel Tejada, despite the fact that he performed exceedingly well when he was an Oriole (seriously, just check the club records). And they weren’t booing Brian Roberts, so I’m going to assume it wasn’t steroid-related.
So I was kind of in a pissy mood. But as the game went on, I noticed that there was an awesome atmosphere building in the stadium. The crowd was really into the game–cheering a lot, and without prompting. Maybe it was the spirit of Wild Bill Hagy, whose birthday was being commemorated with a free t-shirt, but there was definitely some Orioles Magic in the air. By the bottom of the eighth, when Melvin Mora was at bat with Jones at second and Roberts at first, the crowd was on its feet. Full count, and…a huge double to drive in the go-ahead run. The crowd went NUTS. Seriously, I can’t remember the stadium rocking that much, and I’m including the time back in 2005 when the Yankees were in town and Brian hit a home run to give the O’s a 2-run lead and then the Yankees loaded the bases and B.J. Ryan got Matsui to strike out. It was nuts.
And by that, I mean awesome. I’m sure Tejada was confused. “It wasn’t like this last year!”

Sure, he may have some annoying quirks (who doesn’t?), but I have never doubted that my father loves me and supports me no matter what and is proud of me. And that sort of love and support is just wonderful, and I couldn’t ask for more. So happy Father’s Day, Dad. And thanks for using frequent flyer miles to bring me out to visit next month. That makes up for the time you misspelled my middle name.
Also, it’s really cute seeing how much he completely enjoys being a grandfather.

And a big happy Father’s Day to Orioles reliever Dennis Sarfate, whose wife gave birth this morning to a daughter. A week overdue, but she waited not only until the O’s were home, but also until Father’s Day. Aww.

I love how the O’s flip their cap brims in support of George Sherrill. Combine that with the adorable throwback 1979 uniforms last night, and you get this awesomeness. There is no bad here, particularly considering they scored 8 unanswered runs. Also, Brian wore his socks up. Yay! (Jim and Rick even made a comment to him about it after the game. I may not always enjoy them, but I sure did appreciate that.)
(Photo from orioles.com)