Easter Weekend

After working from home on Friday I was all set to mow the lawn, but C wanted to go out to eat. Drove down to Westside Provisions to eat at Taqueria. I drove there because I hate the traffic and construction on 400 to get to Cheshire Bridge or the Taqueria over in Brookhaven. But parking was non-existent on the Westside. Finally parked across the street, drawing the ire from the security guard. The chicken and grits with the BBQ sauce were good.

Got home to find Winnie eating from a bag of hemp seed hearts, a protein supplement Ceil adds to smoothies a couple of teaspoonfuls at a time. The supplements didn’t agree with Winnie’s stomach, and she felt poorly all day Saturday. By Sunday she was feeling better.

When I woke up at 4 am Saturday I heard the rain, so I slept in. Turned out I probably could’ve played golf. My loss. Cleaned upstairs, swapped out a few winter clothes for summer ones, and later did some laundry. Watched some of the UGA spring game. Stetson looked good.

Ceil had to cook for Easter, so I drove over to the Stripers game. Got a later start than I’d hoped, but made good time down 400 south, 285 east, and 85 north (I hate those highways, but it was the quickest route). Listened to UGA football and the Braves pregame on the way. Lots of cars on the road over near the Mall of Georgia. After so many big crowds lining up early last year I wanted to be early, but after parking and buying my ticket, I was like sixth in line. Had a nice chat with the people around me, including a lady who once went out with John Smoltz. Saw my coworker Crazy John.

Nashville was still taking batting practice when the gates opened. I circumnavigated the stadium looking for baseballs, but came up empty. Checked out the team store, and basically walked another lap around the park. Settled into my seat, took pictures, and worked through some emails. Later I moved over behind the plate and took more pictures.

The starting pitcher was Tucker Davidson, the stirrup-wearing lefty who’d pitched so well for the big club last year. He wasn’t fooling anyone on Saturday. Even the balls that were caught were hit hard. Took surface streets on the way home, a much more relaxing journey than the interstates. Listened to the Braves postgame show on the drive home.

Attended the 10 am Easter service at JFBC. Parked across the street. Due to the construction in the atrium the narrow corridors were jammed, so we cut over to the rarely-used southwest stairway to avoid traffic. Had our usual seats. Sat with the Earharts, and later saw Jee and his wife, with family in tow.

On Christmas and Easter you always want your church to have a great service for all the twice-a-year folk. Johnson Ferry did good, but none of the songs has anything to say about the resurrection. After the first song the announcement had to do with giving. Nothing about the service being a gift to the visitors, like they used to say. But Clay’s sermon was spot on, touching on the resurrection but focusing on what one needed to do to be saved. The service ended with two baptisms.

Lunch nearby at MC’s grandmother’s house. Almost more Murphys than Gilberts. Gigi and her husband, who used to be a pastor. MC’s mother Regina, W&MC, Shivonne, Anna & Caleb, me and Ceil, and Will’s friend Zach. Ham, mashed potatoes, squash casserole, roasted carrots, baked asparagus, tossed salad, rolls, Jello eggs, and Ceil’s Bavarian custard dessert. Earlier Ceil had made hot cross buns. Later Thomas & Holly joined us after their meal with her family around the corner. Anna and Caleb drove around the corner to eat with his family. We watched the final few holes of the Heritage, as well as the playoff. Didn’t get home until 7 pm. Felt like I’d been gone all weekend.

Last night we watched some of the Braves. After erupting for five runs both Friday and Saturday, the Braves offense was slowed by all-star pitcher Yu Darvich. Only two Braves hurlers were needed to combine for 9 innings and two Padre runs, one on a bases-loaded hit by pitch. On Friday and Saturday Braves pitchers gave up zero walks.

Braves lead the majors with the most hard-hit balls (over 95 mph). The harder you hit the ball, the higher your battingh average is. Only 15 MLB HR yesterday in 14 games – the lowest April total since 1993.

There’s supposedly a new rule in baseball where if the batter is in the box but not ready, the umpire can call a strike. That happened this weekend, and a pitcher set a record by striking out three batters in one inning – but only threw eight pitches. After the umpires messed with Braves closer Jansen on Saturday, last night I saw a Padres reliever rushing in from the bullpen so he’d have time to warm up.

Hawks had a quick turnaround against a well-rested Miami team. The Heat are no slouches.

After resting my back last week, this morning I was back in the gym lifting weights. Stopped by Kroger on the way to the office, and have a couple of errands to run at lunch. Small group tonight, but three guys are traveling. Ron just returned from an Albania mission trip, and Jamie is in Spain, preparing to serve as a missionary to refugees over there.

FREDDIE PATEK [SABR Bio] hit three home runs in a game for the Angels, on 20-Jun-1980.  After switching leagues, he hit for the cycle in the first week with his new team and led his new league in triples for the 1971 KCR. Patek hit for the cycle on 09-Jul and finished with eleven triples, which led the majors. He also finished in the Top Ten in MVP voting, but never received another MVP vote in his 14-year major league career. He finished sixth in the 1971 AL MVP vote.