Woo hoo. Posting on the right day! How about that? (let's see if I can keep it up. Not holding my breath. But at least this is progress).
GO
I suspect I will shout and/or tweet the word "go" somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 times in the next several hours. (No, I will not count. Priorities!). The Washington Nationals are in the playoffs. It is an elimination game tonight. And I will be watching! Normally when it is a late game, I try to be a little restrained. Sleeping kids and all.
Tonight the kids are in bed, but our local flagship station is on their radios. And while I think they will fall asleep at some point, I fully anticipate one (or both) of them might wake back up to listen a little longer. And they will shout just like I will.
These girls are being raised baseball fans just like I was. I am thankful I've been fortunate enough to take them to a bunch of games this year. And that this adventure includes a playoff game. And that if we win tonight (LETS GO NATS!) we can do another playoff game together.
So from here, and from the rooms down the hall, the chants of "Let's Go Nats" will be loud and proud three times over tonight. Cheering on our guys for at least one more October game. We believe!
STOP.
You can read the rest of the 31 days posts here.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Know (Day 6)
Binge post 2 of 3. 1 hour exactly until the game starts. *KEEP GOING JEN* (end pep talk)
KNOW
A asked me today: "Mom, how do you KNOW that 8 + 8 = 16? You don't think it. S doesn't either. You just know it. How's that work?"
well... you learn it first. You practice it. And then after you practice and practice until it is stuck in your brain, then you know.
"Mom, how long does that take?"
depends. some things we learn fast. Some things make quick sense. Some things stick in our brain because we thing they are funny or interesting. And some things we take longer to learn so we don't know them as fast.
"Mom, oh! I get it. Like the songs we sing a lot... I know them. But then we get a new song on the radio and I don't know that yet. So I hafta listen close to the words. And sometimes they are crazy."
yep. Just like that.
"Mom, cool. That's fun. OK, let's finish this math. I want to get to the radio so I can know something else."
STOP.
PS You can see all the 31 days of (now not following a theme) posts here.
KNOW
A asked me today: "Mom, how do you KNOW that 8 + 8 = 16? You don't think it. S doesn't either. You just know it. How's that work?"
well... you learn it first. You practice it. And then after you practice and practice until it is stuck in your brain, then you know.
"Mom, how long does that take?"
depends. some things we learn fast. Some things make quick sense. Some things stick in our brain because we thing they are funny or interesting. And some things we take longer to learn so we don't know them as fast.
"Mom, oh! I get it. Like the songs we sing a lot... I know them. But then we get a new song on the radio and I don't know that yet. So I hafta listen close to the words. And sometimes they are crazy."
yep. Just like that.
"Mom, cool. That's fun. OK, let's finish this math. I want to get to the radio so I can know something else."
STOP.
PS You can see all the 31 days of (now not following a theme) posts here.
Stuck (Day 5)
Here goes (I hope) my binge posting session before the Nats game tonight.
STUCK.
I got stuck in a rut Monday and ran out of baseball things to say. Funny, because no one said I had to write 31 days of "random baseball fan observations." I don't know enough (in my opinion) to write an intelligent baseball blog. I am fine with that. I do know enough to teach my kids the basics.
And I learn something new fairly often. (in fact, just before I fired up the laptop I learned that you can't get an RBI if you hit into a double play. Even if it scores a run. So there you go, my second learned baseball rule of this week.)
So, now I am determined that I do not have to write baseball for 31 days. I can just watch and love it as long as my team is still alive. (next game 9:07 ET tonight!!) and write about whatever else hits my mind for five minutes at a time.
Related to stuck, it seemed the bats of my beloved Nats were stuck in non-hitting mode this weekend. 1 run in 27 innings (yes, only 2 games, but one of those was 18 innings. I think I wrote about that the other day). so - 1 run in 27 innings isn't going to do it. But last night they got UNSTUCK and then we got 4 runs. Not always pretty - but it worked. So here's hoping that tonight we remain in UNSTUCK mode and we get some runs ... bring it home to DC for game 5, guys!
Stop.
Link to all my 31 days posts can be found here.
STUCK.
I got stuck in a rut Monday and ran out of baseball things to say. Funny, because no one said I had to write 31 days of "random baseball fan observations." I don't know enough (in my opinion) to write an intelligent baseball blog. I am fine with that. I do know enough to teach my kids the basics.
And I learn something new fairly often. (in fact, just before I fired up the laptop I learned that you can't get an RBI if you hit into a double play. Even if it scores a run. So there you go, my second learned baseball rule of this week.)
So, now I am determined that I do not have to write baseball for 31 days. I can just watch and love it as long as my team is still alive. (next game 9:07 ET tonight!!) and write about whatever else hits my mind for five minutes at a time.
Related to stuck, it seemed the bats of my beloved Nats were stuck in non-hitting mode this weekend. 1 run in 27 innings (yes, only 2 games, but one of those was 18 innings. I think I wrote about that the other day). so - 1 run in 27 innings isn't going to do it. But last night they got UNSTUCK and then we got 4 runs. Not always pretty - but it worked. So here's hoping that tonight we remain in UNSTUCK mode and we get some runs ... bring it home to DC for game 5, guys!
Stop.
Link to all my 31 days posts can be found here.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Learn (Day 4)
On a roll with the posts! 2 in the same 2. 2 more to go today.
Day 4 - LEARN.
Remember that 18 inning game I just mentioned? (Those of us who were there will likely never forget it...) Besides learning that it is possible to sit in the wind and survive an 18 inning game, I learned something new about baseball at the game.
Until Saturday night, I didn't know that you could make a pitching change in the middle of an at-bat. I knew you could if your pitcher on the mound got hurt, but just "because you no longer like the matchup or whatever the reason was?" Didn't know that. Saturday I saw that happen. I didn't score the game (I might have run out of ink in my pen! And pages in my scorebook), so I don't remember the full circumstances. But the Nats had a guy on, and someone up at bat. First pitch the runner steals 2nd base. And then the Giants made a pitching change. At least I think that's what happened. So, you're never too old to learn something new about a sport you love. Especially in the playoffs.
---
PS I checked the play-by-play. It happened in the bottom of the 8th inning.
Day 4 - LEARN.
Remember that 18 inning game I just mentioned? (Those of us who were there will likely never forget it...) Besides learning that it is possible to sit in the wind and survive an 18 inning game, I learned something new about baseball at the game.
Until Saturday night, I didn't know that you could make a pitching change in the middle of an at-bat. I knew you could if your pitcher on the mound got hurt, but just "because you no longer like the matchup or whatever the reason was?" Didn't know that. Saturday I saw that happen. I didn't score the game (I might have run out of ink in my pen! And pages in my scorebook), so I don't remember the full circumstances. But the Nats had a guy on, and someone up at bat. First pitch the runner steals 2nd base. And then the Giants made a pitching change. At least I think that's what happened. So, you're never too old to learn something new about a sport you love. Especially in the playoffs.
---
PS I checked the play-by-play. It happened in the bottom of the 8th inning.
New (Day 3)
Today is actually Day 6. True to my writing habit, I am behind, and will now likely binge post. :-)
NEW
It's perhaps appropriate that I am writing this 3 days late, because now it works better. The Nationals had playoff games Friday and Saturday. I was there. I brought my kids Friday - anticipation was in the air. The pomp and circumstance before the game was fabulous, complete with the Marine Corps Quantico band and a flyover. WOOT!
But the game didn't end like we'd wanted it to. 9 innings later and the Nats had fallen to the Giants 3-2. I took my kids to their dad's house and they were sad. I must confess, I was sad too. Saturday was a new day. I brought my dad and my brother. They aren't Nats fans, but their team is home already, so they joined us and cheered with us. We witnessed history that night. 18 innings. (Not a typo) and 6 hours 23 minutes later ... having watched all 108 outs of the longest playoff game in MLB. EVER. we had lost 2-1. Crushing night. And that brings me to the word of the day. NEW.
Today is a NEW day. Baseball starts new every day. And the Nats are NOT OUT OF THIS YET. So tonight I will serve dinner in front of the TV as my little Nats fans join me to watch Doug Fister launch us on our comeback trail. We believe in this team. They've not quit on us all season, and I am proud to say that these 3 fans are not quitting on them.
Let's Go Nats!!! Bring us a curly W tonight!
To read my whole collection of 31 days, click here.
NEW
It's perhaps appropriate that I am writing this 3 days late, because now it works better. The Nationals had playoff games Friday and Saturday. I was there. I brought my kids Friday - anticipation was in the air. The pomp and circumstance before the game was fabulous, complete with the Marine Corps Quantico band and a flyover. WOOT!
But the game didn't end like we'd wanted it to. 9 innings later and the Nats had fallen to the Giants 3-2. I took my kids to their dad's house and they were sad. I must confess, I was sad too. Saturday was a new day. I brought my dad and my brother. They aren't Nats fans, but their team is home already, so they joined us and cheered with us. We witnessed history that night. 18 innings. (Not a typo) and 6 hours 23 minutes later ... having watched all 108 outs of the longest playoff game in MLB. EVER. we had lost 2-1. Crushing night. And that brings me to the word of the day. NEW.
Today is a NEW day. Baseball starts new every day. And the Nats are NOT OUT OF THIS YET. So tonight I will serve dinner in front of the TV as my little Nats fans join me to watch Doug Fister launch us on our comeback trail. We believe in this team. They've not quit on us all season, and I am proud to say that these 3 fans are not quitting on them.
Let's Go Nats!!! Bring us a curly W tonight!
To read my whole collection of 31 days, click here.
Friday, October 3, 2014
View (Day 2)
Writing late. Big surprise there. But - only a day late, and I will do today's too, so I can be caught up.
However, I love to be down close to the field. So, for the last games of the regular season, I splurged for some seats in the lower level. And the kids loved the final day because we sat with a friend. But on game 161, we sat just the 3 of us. And they were so disappointed.
"Mama when we are down here we can't SEE ANYTHING. That guy is too tall. Can I sit on your lap?"
"Mama, ANOTHER tall person got in that row."
"Mama, I can't see the ball. I can't see the peacock shadows on Anthony Rendon."
Baseball is fun for them, but they prefer the eagle eye view. Where they can stand, and sit and see the whole field in play. Where they can get the big picture, and where they can follow the ball.
So, lesson learned. Share the awesome with the kids from the cheap seats that they adore. And save the "mom preferred view" for games when I go alone.
DAY 2 STOP.
You can get the link to all my posts here.
VIEW
 |
| from our selfie shelf |
I
discovered something this summer. My kids and I don't have the same
opinion of what makes a "good view" at a baseball game. We have a 20
game season ticket package, up in the "high seats". Come visit in
section 405 if you are in DC. I like the view from up there, but I
targeted the seats for reasons other than the view. We're in a row of 3.
(Kiddos call it "our seat pocket"). No one crosses in front of us
during the games because we are right over the entrance into the
section. There is an aisle seat for each kid and I am always in the
middle. There's a great railing behind us so folks don't step on us. My
little one also calls it her "selfie shelf" (See pic). We don't bother
anyone when we get up to go to the bathroom. No climbing on folks, no
drink spilling. No apologies for getting up 100 times. Which we
sometimes do. 
However, I love to be down close to the field. So, for the last games of the regular season, I splurged for some seats in the lower level. And the kids loved the final day because we sat with a friend. But on game 161, we sat just the 3 of us. And they were so disappointed.
"Mama when we are down here we can't SEE ANYTHING. That guy is too tall. Can I sit on your lap?"
"Mama, ANOTHER tall person got in that row."
"Mama, I can't see the ball. I can't see the peacock shadows on Anthony Rendon."
 |
| our view from the close seats |
Baseball is fun for them, but they prefer the eagle eye view. Where they can stand, and sit and see the whole field in play. Where they can get the big picture, and where they can follow the ball.
So, lesson learned. Share the awesome with the kids from the cheap seats that they adore. And save the "mom preferred view" for games when I go alone.
DAY 2 STOP.
 |
| the girls' preferred view up high |
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Move (31 days of Five Minute Fridays)
Day 1 and I am posting before noon. This might be a record folks. Especially considering I was up until the wee hours watching playoff baseball. (I love postseason games!)
The others participating at the 31 Day Challenge (Five Minute Version) can be found here. Hope you read along with all of us.
MOVE
If you watched the game last night (A's at Royals) you were probably left scratching your head (and perhaps yelling a bit and stomping your feet) at what may have been considered one of the armchari manager "dumbest moves ever" for a pitching change. Critical situation, 2 runners on, no one out. The Royals have a bullpen that has carried them really far throughout the season. And then the manager brings in a rookie. Starter. Who threw 73 (?) pitches on Sunday. My twitter feed blew up with "WHAT IS HE DOING?!" It was a close game at that point. Royals up 3-2. And none of us understood. We still don't. And we might never. And the move looked like it backfired. The A's stormed through that poor guy, who shouldn't have been pitching anyway, and next thing you know they are on top 7-3.
So many folks thought the game was over. Myself included. But baseball IS baseball, so we watched to the end. And saw a game like few have ever witnessed. The Royals clawed themselves back into it. Down 7-3, they tacked 3 runs back on and by the bottom of the 8th it was 7-6. And then unbelievably they tied it. On to extra innings it went. By the time the game ended, after midnight where I am, the dust cleared and the Royals had won. 9-8. In 12 innings.
The move that should have sunk their ship for good was overcome. The team rallied past the ridiculousness. And for the first time since big hair and Jordache jeans were cool, there will be baseball in Kansas City in October.
I wonder if the manager would make that move again? I suppose someone in the KC media already asked him, or will ask him today. But since I am writing before they might even be out of bed, I will have to read about it later.
DAY 1. STOP.
The others participating at the 31 Day Challenge (Five Minute Version) can be found here. Hope you read along with all of us.
MOVE
If you watched the game last night (A's at Royals) you were probably left scratching your head (and perhaps yelling a bit and stomping your feet) at what may have been considered one of the armchari manager "dumbest moves ever" for a pitching change. Critical situation, 2 runners on, no one out. The Royals have a bullpen that has carried them really far throughout the season. And then the manager brings in a rookie. Starter. Who threw 73 (?) pitches on Sunday. My twitter feed blew up with "WHAT IS HE DOING?!" It was a close game at that point. Royals up 3-2. And none of us understood. We still don't. And we might never. And the move looked like it backfired. The A's stormed through that poor guy, who shouldn't have been pitching anyway, and next thing you know they are on top 7-3.
So many folks thought the game was over. Myself included. But baseball IS baseball, so we watched to the end. And saw a game like few have ever witnessed. The Royals clawed themselves back into it. Down 7-3, they tacked 3 runs back on and by the bottom of the 8th it was 7-6. And then unbelievably they tied it. On to extra innings it went. By the time the game ended, after midnight where I am, the dust cleared and the Royals had won. 9-8. In 12 innings.
The move that should have sunk their ship for good was overcome. The team rallied past the ridiculousness. And for the first time since big hair and Jordache jeans were cool, there will be baseball in Kansas City in October.
I wonder if the manager would make that move again? I suppose someone in the KC media already asked him, or will ask him today. But since I am writing before they might even be out of bed, I will have to read about it later.
DAY 1. STOP.
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