Had on the Braves game last night while cleaning. Never pulled out my laptop. Got a notification on my watch and phone that the Braves had signed pitcher Dallas Keuchel. Turned up the volume on the TV to see if the announcers would say anything about it. About five minutes later I remembered the game was a replay of the afternoon game, so obviously the announcers weren’t going to say anything about it. The signing relieves the Braves starting rotation of Kevin Gausman, whose lack of a good third pitch makes him a better candidate for the bullpen.
Now with Soroka, Fried, Keuchel, Teheran, and Folty starting and youngsters Newcombe, Jackson, Tuki, and Gausman in the bullpen, the Braves have taken a step in the right direction – with money and excess players available to deal at the trade deadline. Fried got hit with a comebacker. Second time that’s happened. Not his best night but you can’t be lights out every time you pitch. Tuki and the bullpen came in and threw shutout innings, and the offense came back.
Another HR for Riley, his ninth in 16 games. Only two other big leaguers have done that. Riley didn’t even know who was pitching. Donaldson HR and Freddie became the sixth Brave with 200 HR and doubles, joining Aaron, Mathews, Chipper, Murphy, and Andruw.
On June 29 I’m attending a 20th anniversary party at Smith’s Olde Bar in Morningside for Uni Watch, the uniform website I read. Lang’s old friend Andy Hyman will be there. Andy opened the Distant Raplays store in Buckhead, helping create the throwback jersey craze. Might be tough to wear a Chinese knockoff jersey, considering Andy also worked for Ebbets Field Flannels. Finally a place I can wear my knee high striped Braves socks. Will have to wear shorts to show them off.
Just used the old “he hates everything” from the old Life cereal commercial. Looked it up and old Mikey is doing well.
Last Thursday: C had fixed chicken sausage in cheesy noodles and tossed salad. I was tired from staying up late the night before, so I went upstairs to read and clear out emails. Bed early.
Tuesday: Ceil’s mom’s meniscus surgery went well and they were back home after a long day.
Stayed at work doing stuff till six. Made a couple of stops on the way home: Chickfila and unloaded some giveaways at Goodwill. Had a package at our door but had to take it to a neighbor.
Been going through the fridge trying eat stuff that’s been sitting there. Made some cheese fries and cooked up some lunch for today: some sort of non meat chicken like stuff. Added cheese and cooked some bacon but wound up burning parts of it. Brought bread to make into sandwiches. Watched Jeopardy and the Braves and Modern Family and some Blackish but mostly the Braves. Wasn’t in the mood for a movie.
Wednesday: watched most of the first half. At halftime I looked at the clock and went to bed. Had been up late the previous two nights.
Messed around at the office until 5:40. Stopped by Dairy Queen to order an ice cream cake for the Friday meeting. Then Kroger for several items. M has been bringing home all these protein mixes from Whole Foods. They’re stacking up so I bought milk to use them. One tasted terrible this morning. May move on to another container tomorrow. Got home and M was watching a crime show, White Collar. Later watched some Braves and basketball. Did a lot of cleaning, with Ceil’s friend Dawn arriving on Friday.
After Anna got home Monday night she met Christian at the Bethlehem Chickfila halfway between Athens and Snellville. This summer Christian is supervising the summer youth/college interns at Grace Snellville Church. Thursday night Anna attended an event at the church in Snellville.
Thursday: left work around 5:15. Stopped by Chickfila to cash in a sandwich coupon. Gassed up the Corolla. At home I got a lot done. M had cleaned up in the kitchen. I emptied the dishwasher and loaded it again. Straighten all the countertops. Cleaned up the garage. Straightened up the living room. In both the living and dining room you could barely walk but I cleared all that up. Got everything off the steps. Cleared the hallway. Threw away a lot of stuff. Ate a tiny pasta dish that had been in the freezer a long time. Cleared off the mantle and fireplace hearth. Took everything off that had been piled on chairs. Pulled on the lawnmower literally a hundred times but never could get it started. Did all that other stuff but I’ll be in trouble for not cutting the grass.
Did something bad on D-Day. Watched a movie that had Jane Fonda in it: Book Club. Star studded cast paired off into four couples: Hanoi Jane Fonda and Don “Miami Vice” Johnson, Mary “Elf” Steenburgen and “Coach” Craig T Nelson, Diane “Annie Hall” Keaton and Andy “Finding Middleton” Garcia, and Candice “Murphy Brown” Bergen and Richard “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” Dreyfuss.
Friday morning I cleaned and straightened upstairs. Hung up clothes, made the bed, cleaned the bathroom, put away shoes and other items, started a load of laundry, unloaded the dishwasher. Been a long time since the house has been so straight.
Lunch meeting catered by Jason’s Deli, with a Dairy Queen chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzard cake for dessert. Work has been turned a little upside down with this no overtime thing, plus a new daily conference call has been added at 9 am after our 8:30 huddle. I certainly don’t need to be the guy with the most overtime.
Saturday night we’re having a big dinner. The entire fam will be there: Dawn, Ceil, W&MC (& dog Okie), Matthew, and Anna and her boyfriend Christian. And Barney.
