BP HR

Hustled out of work early yesterday and took the boys to the Braves game. We arrived right at 5 pm, and there were long lines qued up waiting for the gates to open. Will saw a friend right when we went in, and then he quickly got Todd Pratt’s autograph. As usual, he lined up on the front row of the outfield, trying to get a player to toss him a ball, and I sat back several rows, taking in the scene. Matthew hovered back and forth between us.

The batting practice home runs were few, and the crowd thinned after the Braves finished BP, replaced by the Dodgers. One ball was hit well over my head, but bounced back to my left, only to be deflected at the last minute to me. It glanced off my fingers, all the way back to the front row. Usually they don’t come so close. Will also came close twice, one time having a home run ball deflected away by a guy without a glove.

Sitting in the stands, I realized Matthew’s tiny glove was adjustable, so with nothing else to do, I widened it so I could fit my hand into it. Not long after that a Dodger hit a high fly that headed right toward me. I moved a few steps down the empty row to my right, and reached up and caught the ball in the air. It felt weird, with the little glove, and I had to double check to make sure I caught it. Matthew was happy to have the souvenir. The last ball hit in BP was a deep line drive right at Will, and he caught it.

We sat in the upper deck, between a youth group and a Little League Tee Ball team from South Atlanta…so we had plenty of entertainment to keep us occupied. We stayed in our seats the entire game, resisting the urge to go down to look for Mia Hamm near the LA dugout. She was at the Monday game…you didn’t see her on TV last night, did you?

Went to see the Tim Allen movie, the remake of ‘the shaggy dog’. Jane Curtain played a judge in the movie, and eventually they showed her name plate on her bench…it read ‘Judge Claire Whittaker’.

We were at the pool the last four days. I usually don’t get in, but it was so hot that I did. Been eating out a lot…last Tuesday and Thursday after ball games, then Friday we had pizza at the team party before going to our small group. Saturday night we ate at the Rome Braves game, which was fun until this huge thunderstorm hit. Will went back to the Rome Braves Sunday with his team, and Monday we went to the movies. Last week I also ate out at lunch four days…all on the company. Friday it was at a country buffet.

Friday was Matthew’s team party, and everyone was gathered around the TV watching the replay of their championship game win. They kept rewinding to see what everyone dubbed ‘the catch’…where a boy caught a pop to secure a scoreless inning. Matthew was named the most improved player, and they made me read the game recap I had written. I started off “It was a cold February afternoon when the RockHounds first gathered to practice…”

Finally got DSL at home…hooked it up last Thursday. Got the wireless stuff so I can be mobile with my laptop. But I messed something up, because I can’t get on the internet at work…so I can’t read the AJC, Lang, etc…until I go home. Then I don’t have time until everyone goes to bed. Stayed up late last night doing stuff…could’ve used a west coast Braves game to keep me company. Not going to Houston…this week, anyway.