Wedding Photos

Evidently there's a thing called a first look. I found about it the day of the wedding. I was late, and showed up out of uniform.

I was also late to family photos.

Here is everyone wondering where I was.

Finally, the moment I had waited years and years for.

Next week: more photos.

Backstage at Taylor Swift

Friday night Anna went to the Taylor Swift concert. Her seats were stage left. Way stage left.

View on the jumbotron was good (below).

Didn't look like the seats were the best, but Anna did get to watch Taylor going backstage - and was rewarded with a wave.

So I have something in common with John Flack: his daughter was at the concert as well.

Picked out a book by its cover that looked good: “God Bless This Mess”. Turned out to be a memoir by this Alabama girl who was on TV’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette before winning Dancing With the Stars. Now she seems to be a professional celebrity, appearing on game shows and reality shows. Not what I expected, but the girl is honest. Too honest. Tells a lot about her life, including stuff I wouldn’t put in a book. Not sure if she changed the names of her boyfriends or high school classmates, though it would be clear who those people were in her small suburb of Tuscaloosa. Doubt she’s very popular with those people now, but she lives in LA now. She keeps coming back to God but often stumbles, as many do in high school, college, and young adulthood. Not recommended for anyone over 40.

I have so much special stuff saved. Stuff at home and personal stuff that I keep at work. Drawings the kids made, especially Matthew.  Stuff from Camp SPdL. I look at it and it brings back great memories. Hard to throw away. When I retire I need to go through stuff. Got a bunch of shoes and bobbleheads to sell, and other stuff to look at. Got yardwork. Need to clean out the ivy in the front yard. Always something.

What I do with my sermon notes is to take the notes on my phone, email them to you and me. Then I post the notes on my blog, so there’s no paper. I can always look them up by date, or search “sermon notes”. My other friend Reid says he scans important papers into his computer, but I’ve never had such a system. I know there are clouds and such, but I’m not good at that. I need to play the Camp SPdL VCR tape and download it to YouTube and share on social media.

ARTICLE: current events happening this week in the national news media, including this quote: “The current administration doesn’t govern as if they expect to ever face another fair, free election.”

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://stream.org/the-gagging-of-tucker-carlson-gives-me-that-they-just-declared-martial-law-vibe/__;!!AE29DT8V!QyAQ9ER6FRaEd-oldAGfij7Ed16vQNQ9iHZRdnfwLlRHCdzz6oDpdheuLeuogr_CZkotIiEgJEN9G-f2oMQ$

DENISON: a new poll found 70%, including 51% of Democrats, say Mr. Biden shouldn’t run for president again. Also 49% now consider themselves to be independents—the highest percentage in the history of Gallup’s polling on the question—and they are split evenly in the party to which they “lean” (43% for Republicans and 43% for Democrats). It’s hard to be confident in your leaders if you’re not confident in the process that elected them. Accordingly, per Gallup, only 23% have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the presidency, the lowest percentage since 1975. Only 7% have confidence in Congress. In a system of governance that depends on its participants’ faith in the system, this is a foundational problem. Churchill was right to label democracy “the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” 

President Biden announces his campaign for reelection (denisonforum.org)

ME: considering all this information, it will be interesting to see if the President receives a record number of votes in 2024, like he did in 2020.

Saw Louie Giglio at the game Wednesday night. Should’ve spoke but was too hesitant. We were walking in opposite directions.

C always watched the same program every night from 8 to 9 pm. It got cancelled. Not sure what we’ll do now. Thursday there is Young Sheldon at 8 and that Todd show at nine.

Are y’all going to attend the Miriam Taylor funeral Monday afternoon? I’m going to try to go.

Grindhouse is good. One of the better burgers. I get so few burgers that when we ate at that place in SC with the good menu, I got the burger since I get so few.

JOE RUDI   [SABR Bio] was the first player to win a Gold Glove award for the A’s. He won in 1974, 1975, 1976. In 1958 Vic Power won a Gold Glove at first base, but only played the first third of the season with KCA before being traded to CLE on 15-Jun. Rudi was twice the runner-up in league MVP voting, finishing behind Dick Allen in 1972 and behind Jeff Burroughs in 1974. Rudi worked as a coach with the A’s in 1987. At manager Tony La Russa’s request, he worked with Jose Canseco to help make the slugger a “complete player”.

Flower Child

Ceil took Shivonne to the Botanical Garden on Friday. She loved the fountains.

Shiv made new friends, and waved goodbye to them.

In today’s NFL, using the number 8 pick in the draft on a running back is a waste of a pick. Good running backs are a dime a dozen, especially how they are used. You don’t want to overpay for a RB. Now Mr. Robinson of the University of Texas may prove me wrong, and I hope so. Few Super Bowl champions get there using a dominant running game. I say the Falcons blew it again, considering how much help they need on the offensive line and on defense.

Glad I missed that Braves game. We had just turned it on at work in the fourth inning when the rain stopped the game.  Missed the end. I would hate a new pinch runner rule. Kinda like letting Mark Price shoot foul shots for the whole team, or letting Rick Barry shoot foul shots for Shaq. Remember Charley Finley brought in “designated runner” Herb Washington, who never had a career at bat for the A’s in the 70’s !?

I saw a video of a college game where both teams were so fed up with the umpire that they chaed him off the field. The ump kept throwing players and coaches out of the game, but they kept pushing him off the field.

Basketball – interesting that they allow replays, but evidently not on some obvious fouls. If they showed the players the replays they wouldn’t be complaining so much – in basketball or football.

Watched the Hawks / Celtics. Hawks were staying with Boston until late late. Then Trae went cold. Can’t believe both teams wore the exact same uniforms they’d wore on Sunday night. Saw Hawks co-owners Sara Blakely and Jesse Itzler were sitting on the front row near the Boston bench.

Thursday: worked past 5:30. Stopped by the post office. Had to take a detour on the way home. Supper was baked chicken and steamed broccoli. M ate with us.

Watched the Carol Burnette 90th birthday special last night, and man was it a star studded affair. Great, classic clips. Guests included Lilly Tomlin, Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews, Maya Rudolph, Cher, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Bob Mackie, Jane Lynch, Katy Perry, Vickie Lawrence, Kristin Chenowith, Bernadette Peters, Jimmy Fallon, Ray Romano, Amy Poehler, Dolly Parton, Mom lead actress Allison Janney, Marissa Thome, Susan Lucci, Ellen Degeneres, Oprah, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Lisa Kudrow, Billy Porter, CBS Late Show host Stephen Colbert, Michelle Obama, Aileen Quinn, Charise Theron, Wil Arnett, Jurassic Park actress Laura Dern, Tina Fey, former SNL cast member Kristin Wiig, and others I didn’t know.

BIG NEWS: new dad Joel Norman called Matthew yesterday. M starts at Bellwood Coffee this weekend. M is excited. I pray he gets along with the new lead chef they hired.

This morning I slept late and missed the gym. Gotta start setting my alarm. Been having bad leg cramps while sleeping. Still a good week for my weight, though I’ll blow it today. Todd brought in Martin’s chicken, egg, cheese biscuits.

We had Dreamland BBQ at our lunch meeting. Last work day of the month. Tonight we ate Mexican over at a friend’s house.

Golf tomorrow morning. Need a haircut. Sold two caps and a pair of Pumas that I need to ship. Need to do some yardwork and laundry.

JOHN ROSEBORO   [SABR Bio] caught the first National League no-hitter on the West Coast. On 30-Jun-1962, Sandy Koufax threw his first no-hitter, against the NYM in Dodger Stadium. A few weeks earlier, Angels’ rookie Bo Belinsky had no-hit Baltimore in Dodger Stadium. Roseboro’s last stop was with the Senators (WSA) in 1970. After initially splitting time with journeymen Rube Walker and Joe Pignatano, Roseboro gradually assumed the role of principal catcher for the Dodgers after Roy Campanella’s car crash in January 1958. Roseboro coached for Washington in 1971 and the Angels from 1972–74. Later he was a minor league batting instructor (1977) and catching instructor (1987) for the Dodgers. He & his wife, Barbara Fouch Roseboro, also owned a Beverly Hills public relations firm.

DENISON: we should not be surprised when lost people act like lost people.

Freebie Nights

Didn’t receive the Braves tickets until 4 pm. Left work pretty much immediately to fight traffic, and it was slow. Did well staying in the right lane on 285 west until I had to move over at the 400 exit near Perimeter Mall. Made it to the park by five but the parking lot didn’t open til 5:30. I retreated to a nearby shady spot to wait.

I got the four work tickets but at the late hour its always tough to find someone to go. Plus the temps were chilly and threatening to rain. Asked C if she was interested in asking friends, but she was worn out from school. I told C that I wouldn’t stay long. It was NAPA cap night, one of the games I’d wanted to attend, though I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t got the  tickets.

At 5:25 I went back and scored a close spot. Walked across the street and into the A List gate. Walked back to my car. Grabbed my Braves cap and walked further to the main Third Base Gate, then back to my car. Then even further around to the First Base Gate. Hoofed it back to the car. Ditched my Braves cap and walked back to the nearby A List gate. Got my NAPA cap and wore it to the game. Walked around to the Team Store. The entire walk took about 40 minutes and covered over 1-1/2 miles.

Selected a nice heavy $90 long sleeve tee. Got a 50% discount and sold gear for the exact amount to cover the rest. Grabbed a free Designated Driver Coke Zero and two boxes of free popcorn and settled into my seat. After the second inning I went back for free ice cream. With the pitch clock the game really does go quicker.

Got home too late to see Grizzlies/Lakers. Also missed the Carol Burnette Celebration Show. Watched a little Kings/Warriors.

This morning my legs were tired from all the walking, so I lifted weights instead of running.

Worked til 6 pm Tuesday. Stopped at Dairy Queen for a 90 cent Blizzard. As I was enjoying it I realized it was the last day to cash in my free burrito coupon at Moes. So I drove there for that. Was after 8 pm before I got home.

ARTICLE: a Masters patron saved a divot from Augusta National, and replanted it.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.golfdigest.com/story/redditor-takes-divot-augusta-national-masters-deletes-account__;!!AE29DT8V!VYVC9614fO8Hw7qow7fQgLdrzee4ot6fB82W98a9-FUvjrtBLiyo4dpeshe2eZzaFL3VILFgvPm9j8erQQU$

DON MINCHER   [SABR Bio] hit the first double at the Wrigley Field (in Los Angeles) on 27-Apr-1961. He was the only major leaguer to play with both Washington Senators franchises, on three professional teams. Mincher was on the Washington Senators team that moved to Minnesota. He then came back to the second incarnation of the Senators that became the Texas Rangers. On 09-Jun-1966, five Twins batters homered in one inning (Rich Rollins, Zoilo Versalles, Tony Oliva, Mincher, and Harmon Killebrew). All were solos except Rollins’.

DON LARSEN   [SABR Bio] was the first Baltimore Orioles pitcher to lead the majors in pitching losses. Larsen’s record in 1954, the team’s first year in town, was 3-21. He pitched for the White Sox in 1961. He hit a grand slam on 22-Apr-1956, (possibly his second best day on the diamond that season). Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the game where David Cone threw a perfecto on 18-Jul-1999.

Brave Hawks

Scored last minute tickets to tonight's Braves game. Arrived in time to see the girl say "Play Ball!" Good thing she had a cue card telling her what to say.

I'm somewhere up there on the jumbotron behind her.

Got to see the relievers pass Kyle Muller between bullpen and dugout.

Free ice cream. And free designated driver Coke.

I was first in line for the ice cream. Worth the wait.

Third base ump rocking running shoes. Not sure the brand.

Later I was in the background on the jumbotron again (right side).

Also free popcorn. Saw Louie Giglio trying to stay low key. I let him be.

NAPA cap night. Matches my late 70's Ted Turner jersey.

Hawks / Celtics: I turned on the game and in the 4th quarter I didn’t see how the Hawks could overcome the ten point deficit with three minutes remaining. Next thing I knew they had tied it up. Then Trae hit that long shot with 1.8 seconds remaining, and I was worried Boston had time for a final shot.

Weird uniforms. Sunday Hawks in black and Celtics in green with BOSTON on their jerseys. Wednesday in the Garden Atlanta in white and Boston in black with Celtics in script. Tomorrow both teams will be in totally different unis.

Tomorrow night State Farm Arena had a Janet Jackson concert booked. Since the Hawks won, the concert moved to Friday night. Taylor Swift has a sold out concert Friday night next door at Mercedes Benz Stadium – so there will be a crowd of people down there, including Anna.

Tonight on NBC: the Carol Burnette 90th birthday celebration, featuring Cher and designer Bob Mackie. Both Cher and Carol wore the same outfits. Carol said she was delighted to be the same size.  Burnette said they’ll probably put “I’m so glad we had this time together” on her tombstone. Bernadette Peters, Jane Lynch and Kristen Chenoweth perform songs, while other comedians, including Amy Poehler, Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Wiig and Lisa Kudrow.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/carol-burnett-turns-90-with-tv-songs-laughs-and-cher-rocking-bob-mackie-i-wanted-it-this-way/ar-AA1an4w3

EDDIE MATHEWS  [SABR Bio] is the only player to play for the same franchise in three different cities: in Boston in 1953; in Milwaukee 1953-65; & Atlanta 1966. He ended his career as a part of the Detroit Tigers championship team of 1968. Mathews hit at least 30 homers in nine straight years (1953-1961). He and Hank Aaron's combined 863 HR are the most ever for two teammates. Their total ranks ahead of Ruth-Gehrig (859) & Mays-McCovey (801).

Was checking my phone and saw that it was Claire’s birthday.