Braves 7 Mets 0 with A&C

Man we had great seats for last nights Braves game. Valet parking in the close by Delta Deck, free food buffet and drinks, seats right behind the batters box. Couldn’t have been a better evening. Arrived at the ballpark around 6:30. Traffic hadn’t been too bad. Took the elevator downstairs to the field level and were escorted in to the Delta Club, which was packed with fans eating from several buffet ques.

We dug right in and ate. And ate. I started with two halves of a Cuban sandwich, salad with cheese, steak, and chicken, then went for three small cheeseburger sliders, one mini chili dog, onion rings, three cookies, and two Coke Zeros. Filled me up pretty good. I passed on the pizza, BBQ pork ribs, cole slaw, other salads, and brats. Grabbed C some peanuts, but passed on the grab & go hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, chips, and pretzels. I was stuffed. Saw Derek Schiller, one of the Braves VPs who’d spearheaded the whole stadium and Battery project.

A&C arrived and grabbed something to eat. Went up one flight of stairs to our seats. Felt like the time Seinfeld flew first class.

The game was just starting. Good game for the home team. Didn’t get to listen to Chipper, Smoltz, Glavine, Francoeur, Maddux, McCann, and McGriff but they showed them on the jumbotron. Anna's Instagram photo was shared by Blooper.

Our section had its own conserje to bring us whatever free food and drinks we wanted. She kept bringing out food and drinks, offering it to people in our section. She liked tossing it to fans when she could. Ceil got cotton candy. A conserje from one aisle over caught my eye and made a long toss of an ice cream cone, which I caught and ate. Also a strawberry ice cream and Cracker Jack.

We stayed till the end of the game. I worried about traffic being bad, but it wasn’t super bad. Not a long line at the valet. Made a left out of the lot, crossed Cobb Parkway, and dropped A&C at their car down Spring Road. Then we stopped by Caleb’s parent’s house to pick up Goose. Got home just before 11 pm. I went back out for gas, but was in bed before 11:30. C stayed up to watch her K-drama.

Last month when I visited a vendor I happened to be wearing a Braves polo. They happened to have won a charity auction for these primo Braves tickets, and were gracious enough to let me use them. Orasi Software was the original owner of the tickets (valued at over $350 each), so a big thanks to them as well. I’d taken W&MC to a game just last week, so A&C went with Ceil and I. Hard to get C out to a game, but it seemed like she had a good time.

Didn’t set my alarm and I missed the gym this AM. I’d been on the go all day Thursday, and didn’t have a chance to rest.

R.I.P Maxie Baughan

Former all pro linebacker Maxie Baughan passed away this weekend. After a stellar two way career at Georgia Tech, Baughan reached the Pro Bowl 9 times, for the Eagles and Rams, then came out of retirement to be a player coach for the Redskins.

Maxie cut a distinctive figure on the sidelines first as a player then coach, playing tribute to his alma mater by wearing an engineers cap.

50 years ago – Tech basketball’s road to San Francisco, led by guard Bobby Dews. Ol’Dewsy was Ron Washington 1.0.

Nicknames of teams: recently Uni Watch did a feature of various slang names some teams are called, but of course left out Atlanta. I shared several in the comments.

Back when they were an all male institution, Georgia Tech became the Yellow Jackets after local Agnes Scott coeds took to wearing gold coats to chilly games at Grant Field. One great team was dubbed “The Golden Tornado”. Other Tech nicknames over the years include the Engineers, Ramblin Wrecks, and of course Jackets. One late 70’s defense was named the Black Watch.

Auburn: any true fan of the Tigers would point out that Auburn is most certainly not the “War Eagles”. Instead “War Eagle!” is more of a battle cry – perhaps controversial in some circles. In addition to Tigers, I believe Auburn has been known in the past as the Plainsmen.

The Georgia Bulldogs are known as “them Dawgs” or the Junkyard Dawgs – a moniker that has stuck around after a particular scappy defense from the 1970’s was given that name. The Redcoat Band still plays Jim Croce’s refrain during games. UGA has also been known as the Silver Britches, a name dating back to the 50’s or early 60’s.

When the Atlanta Falcons went to the Super Bowl in the late 90’s, the name Dirty Birds has stuck with the team. Also often referred to as the Birds. Sometimes a marketing slogan will stick with the fans, sometimes as a joke. The Atlanta Hawks during the Dominique years were called “Atlanta’s Air Force”.

The expansion Atlanta Flames first head coach was hall of famer Boom Boom Geoffrion. In his heavy accent he would refer to his team as “the Atlanta Flame” – a name that caught on with local fans. Probably didn’t transfer to Calgary.

When owner Ted Turner put his baseball team on his cable “Superstation” he proclaimed the Braves to be “America’s Team”. When asked what they’d be doing after work, around Atlanta folk would reply “watching America’s Team”.

All the all so called experts say the Braves need more starting pitchers, then they try out a new pitcher and the experts blast the team if he flops. (1) You gotta kiss a lot of toads to find your prince. (2) Smoltz and Glavine weren’t lights out their first year or two, they had to get experience at the major league level. (3) There aren’t a bunch of Verlanders out on the trade block the Braves can make deals for. (4) Nice to be able to work on the weak spots with the big lead in the division. (5) Better than throwing a bullpen game, though the relievers have been lights out as of late.

What Rece Davis told David Pollack after ESPN laid off the former UGA All-American.

Pitchers who hit home runs in World Series their team won.

Pitcher      Team WS       G# / Date   Opp/Team                    WAR

Bagby.......CLE...1920......5/10-Oct....Burleigh Grimes/BRO....30.9

Blanton.....PHI....2008.....4.............   Edwin Jackson/TBR.......11.8

Gibson**...STL...1967......7/12-Oct....Jim Lonborg/BOS..........89.1

..................STL...1968......4/06-Oct....Joe Sparma/DET

Walters.....CIN....1940.....6/07-Oct....Fred Hutchinson/DET....53.5

Lolich.......DET...1968.....2/03-Oct.....Nelson Briles/STL.........48.0

Haines**...STL....1926....3/05-Oct.....Dutch Ruether/NYY..........32.6

Holtzman.OAK...1974.....4/16-Oct.....Andy Messersmith/LAD.27.3

McNally....BAL....1970 (g3/13-Oct.....Wayne Granger/CIN......25.5

R.I.P. Elizabeth Flack Kennis

Elizabeth Flack Kennis passed away last week, losing her battle with cancer. She’d been one of my favorites from SPdL. Elizabeth was on the first Mighty Mite team I’d coached back in 1979-1980 - the Bullets, with Sharon Langley. Sometimes I'd put five girls out on the court at the same time. (front row: Chad Eaton on the left, Scotto Seydel on the right. Back row: Patricia Starnes, Elizabeth, Wynn Jarboe, Val Goetz, & Scotto's sister).  

Elizabeth had been in the same grade with Lauren Petty, Andrea Irwin, Stacy Head, and JaDon Taylor (below L-R), five Godly young women who stayed in touch over the years, usually spending an annual weekend together at the lake or beach.

Elizabeth graduated from Auburn in 1992 and later ran Elizabeth Interiors in Williamsburg. Married to her husband Paul for 30 years. A son Graham, engaged but not yet married. Daughter Claire. A great kid who had grown into a beautiful Christian woman, wife, and mother. I had just seen Elizabeth in May, at Miriam Taylor’s funeral. She and Andrea and JaDon had discussed another get together.

She passed away with a smile on her face, her family gathered around her. A celebration of life service is Friday in Williamsburg. Elizabeth was 53. Her obituary.

That same year another Mighty Mite team was coached by a young hipster. As Syndrome said in The Incredibles: "This is tooo good!" Looks like the Baumer sisters were on his team. I think number 22 was Jonathan "the mad bomber" Kitchens.

Breaking the first rule of Book Club: finished the Bono autobiography. Also finished “Tuesdays With Morrie” – ever heard about it? Very good. Short. It was made into a movie in the late 90’s (I think) with Jack Lemon playing Morrie. Written by a sportswriter Mitch Albom, about his college professor. Seems to have changed Albom’s life. Catherine Norman is reading “Good For A Girl”, after seeing that I had read it on Goodreads.

Monday: worked until 6 pm. Had to stop by Trader Joes for Ceil. She made a new stir fry ground beef dish. Very good. Later I ate the rest of her peach cobbler, with vanilla ice cream. I played on my laptop while Ceil watched her K drama “Legal High”. I haven’t been paying attention, but it seems to be getting crazy.

Bad news: Anna’s little puppy Goose was still throwing up last night. No update yet today. A&C are supposed to go to the Braves game with us tomorrow night. I just have to make everything about me, don’t I?

Article: Social media is killing young girls.

My adding machine (aka calculator) died recently. It was decades old. Instead of going through red tape to procure another one, I just use the calculator on my phone.

Toxic Mushrooms

 

Did you have a busy weekend? Man I did. Had to leave work a little early on Friday. M had driven over to meet C at W&MC’s, where his car died. They were delayed waiting on a tow truck, so I drove down to A&C’s to get Goose. I stayed there for a bit, playing with the puppy. Went through several hundred emails.

Met M and C at Little Rey. I walked around to the front, and Goose pooped right there at the corner of Piedmont and Cheshire Bridge (before the picture below was taken).

Early Saturday AM golf with the professor, Paul, and young Solomon. Drove home. C had been planning on going to an Alabama lake house to spend time with some of the ladies from The Table. Then she wanted me and Goose to go. We left at 10 am and headed west. On the way C mentioned that Goose had eaten a mushroom that morning, and was drooling. As we drove I kept asking questions. Normally Goose is full of energy, even in the car, and she’d been pretty listless all morning. Then Goose threw up, which C thought was a good sign. Was still listless.

We drove through Rome, and were less then 5 miles from the state line. My sleeve was wet from Goose’s drool. I kept asking questions, which irritated C. She said she’s read on line that the drool could mean the mushroom was toxic. Shouldn’t we do something? I asked, and not just hope she gets better. We turned around and headed to WalMart to get charcoal, but on the way C tracked down a vet we could see.

C took Goose inside. I cleaned out the vomit from the car. Found where Goose had thrown up earlier in the trip, under the back seat, so cleanup took some time. The vet took a blood test. I picked up lunch at McDonalds, and stopped by a thrift store.

The young vet might’ve crossed paths with Will at UGA. Hopefully Goose’s elevated white cell count was due to the stress of her first blood test, and not signs of future kidney damage. We headed home. Ceil had been sick all week, and the day had worn her out. Got home at 4 pm – just enough time for me to get a needed haircut. Mexican for supper.

UPDATE: as of Monday night, Goose is still sick.

C stayed home from church. After worship I stopped by Kroger to get her some drugs. Leftovers for lunch. I cleaned and straightened and did laundry. C baked a peach cobbler for Anna’s birthday. I was sent back to Kroger for ice cream. A&C arrived home from the beach to collect Goose, who seemed to be pack to her frisky self. After they left I crashed on the couch. Sunday afternoon while cleaning I had the BMW golf tournament on. Later watched Only Murders in the Building and a K-Drama.

Lifted weights at the gym this morning. Heard from the shop – M’s car is pretty much dead. He’s driving the Corolla now. I had to sell the CRV. Twelve years old, too many repairs were more than it was worth. Was going to have it towed away, but instead was able to sell it. Had I spent a little more time on it I probably could’ve sold it for a little more money. Hopefully he can drive the Corolla for a while.

On the way back from car business at lunch I stopped by Taco Bell. Something told me to go inside as opposed to the drive thru. Probably a good idea. Took 15 min to get the 2 tacos. Not sure if it was my new red shoes, but I was sliding around on the grimey? floor.

So now I’ve had four straight “busy” day. Tomorrow after work I plan on eating at Red Robin, so I’ll be getting home later than normal. Was nice to go to bed last night at 9:30. Saturday night I went to bed at 11 pm and woke up at 9:23 am – nice. Later than usual. Still made it to Sunday School before they started, even after parking in the far corner of the parking lot.

Braves win 5 straight before yesterday’s near miss – including 3 straight shutouts. Ozuna had a 16 game hitting streak, but going hitless yesterday. Mets in town. Dang I’m going to the Wednesday night game. Busy busy busy. 

DAVE McNally [SABR Bio] was the first pitcher to hit a grand slam in the World Series, on 13-Oct-1970, in the 6th inning of game two. McNally homered for BAL with the bases loaded off CIN’s Wayne Granger. Future Hall of Famer, Baltimore-born Al Kaline, was there on 24-Sep-1974 to face the Orioles with his Detroit Tigers. As DH, his double off McNally was the 3,000^th hit hit of his career. He added a single later, also off McNally. McNally finished his MLB career with the most wins, All-Star appearances, games started, and strikeouts for any pitcher born in the state of Montana.

...this applies to leaders of all kinds, not just in politics.

On Anxiety

Clay Smith

The Anxiety Opportunity

Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety reveals itself in various ways. Fight or flight. Comes with a cost. A fear of future loss. Something we worry about over and over. What if…this bad thing happens. We’re scared of losing something.

Fill in the blank: a burden I am carrying right now is __________.

1. The Problem v 6 the choice: anxiety is an obstacle or an opportunity. We fear we can’t overcome a certain obstacle. People give advice that doesn’t help…don’t worry.

The key to Phil 4 is chapter 3…forgetting what lies behind, pressing on to what lies ahead. Doesn’t free us from sin.

Can you reframe your struggle…make your Anxiety is a daily opportunity for spiritual growth.

2. The Promise: v 7 peace only comes from Jesus . Surpasses our comprehension and our own power. Non Christians can’t experience the peace of God. The goal isn’t to live an anxiety free life. Jesus experienced anxiety.

3. The Process…three anchoring practices…

a. Pray with surrender, not avoidance. Not “don’t let…” Not my will, but your will be done. Prosperity gospel addresses avoiding the things people fear. Instead surrender.

b. Get present Matt 6 don’t worry about what you wear…tomorrow will take care of itself. Recite the 23rd Paalm.

c. Embrace community. Paul addressed groups of people, bearing one another’s burdens. Don’t keep to yourself at church, but gather together.

Let your requests be made known to God.

I Peter 5:7 throw your anxieties onto the Lord. He cares more for us than we care for him.

Psalm 13 how long will you forgive me God?

How do we move forward? For starters, there is a connection between the physical and the spiritual. Eat right, get enough sleep, etc.

Clay gleaned a chunk of his content from Curtis Chang’s book The Anxiety Opportunity.

Michael “The Blind Side” Oher is forgetting several convenient truths about his past. Most outlets reporting his story aren’t digging to determine what the real facts are, only telling his side of the story.

Of course, DENISON had a wiser take on the Oher story: both sides are making substantially different claims. The movie’s acceptance meant that few stopped to question which parts may have strayed from the truth. And therein lies the problem. We are inundated with so much information these days it can be difficult or impossible to sort through to discern what’s true from what’s false. We can’t ignore the truth when it’s made known just because we would prefer to believe the lie.

Tuesday: ate a burrito bowl at Willys. Ceil was sick. Finally she figured out what she wanted for supper, so I went back to Trader Joes for an 81 cent russet potato, plus medicine from the CVS next door. After the Braves I watched episode 2 of season 3 of Only Murders in the Building. Ceil even watched.

Thursday I left work before 5:30. C still recovering and still grumpy. She made grits. I ate leftover meatballs.

Up early Friday to lift weights. We are puppy-sitting Goose this weekend. A&C headed out on a short beach trip.

Up early Saturday to play golf.

Played with the vet, the professor, and young course marshal Solomon.

With a newcomer in the foursome, I hacked it around the first three holes.

I did roll a couple of long lag putts within inches.

Solomon even parred the impossibly sloped temporary 4th green (below). I'd hit an okay 7 iron off the tee, made a passable chip, giving me a putt for par. I missed. With Paul playing a yellow ball and Solomon and me playing white, GT was playing pink and blue balls (below).

I did hit a good 6 iron off the tee on five. As did Solomon.

Deliverance

On Tuesday Will took Shivonne on a hike up in the mountains.

Notes from the 50 minute “Sales Tsunami” Zoom call that I endured, that applied to me. My Tulsa friend LaDonna spoke. You’d think a lot of this would be second nature for a Christian. Where appropriate I’ve changed “customer” to “other person”.

Let the other person be the star.

Let the other person do 80% of the talking.

Concentrate on the other person’s point of view.

Thank the customer on every call.

 Show appreciation.

Ask different questions.

Get the complete picture.

“If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will.”

Don’t talk over other people.

Don’t make excuses.

Listen and think about what you are saying – me.

“When I make a mistake, I try and own up to it” – LaDonna.

Not the Little League World Series, but in regular Little League back when my kids were playing some boys would show up decked out with all the accessories the big leaguers wear – two batting gloves, their own helmet and bat, batbag, elbow guard, shin guards, expensive cleats, sunglasses – and the kid can’t even play. Sometimes the parents have to carry the batbag. I see dads boasting of exploits on social media. But 99% won’t make their high school team, and 99% of high schoolers don’t play in college, and 99% of colliegand don’t make it to the minor leagues, and 99% of minor leaguers don’t make it to the majors.

But anyway it’s the same with some hackers on the golf course. Between every shot they’re digging in their bags, taking off jackets, putting on jackets, fiddling with gloves, doing everything except watching their partner’s shot, or getting ready for their next shot. Pet peeve. My beef.

Left work at 3 pm on Tuesday. Chatted with The Chief at Kroger. Then my eyedoctor appointment. My right eye just can’t see many letters, unless it is large print. They want me to have outpatient laser surgery to remove the opaqueness on the back of my lens, so my left eye will be able to see as best it can. Ugh. When I had my cataract surgery in December 2021 they put me “almost” completely to sleep, just not quite 100%. I remember about 5% of it. Not too bad. Afterwards I woke up in a recovery room. Ceil had to drive me home. Since it was over at West Paces & Northside, we stopped for brunch the first time at OK Café. The second time Sandy Springs to Broken Egg Café – where we saw the Whitakers.

For this upcoming surgery it will be in and out “laser” surgery. Not the kind you usually hear about, but just something to clear the lens on the back of my eyes. Shouldn’t take long, except for the waiting. I can drive myself home, and no anesthesia. I go for my consultation next Wednesday morning.

I’m going back to the same doctor who did my cataract surgery. When I had made that original appointment the doctor I’d been recommended to was tied up. They asked if I wanted to see Dr Patel. Sounded like a good doctor name. I went to the office and picked up a flyer listing Dr Patel’s credentials – Duke undergrad, Rutgers Medical School, residency for New York Ophthalmology. Then I flipped over the flyer to see her photo = it looked like a young glamour shot. But she did a good job. I guess. How do you tell?

Lost Balls

Thursday: up early this morning to play golf. Tried to start early by myself, but the first two holes were taking longer than usual, so honorable professor GT caught up with me.

1. Good tee shot. Not the longest, but in the fairway. 6 iron to the left fringe. Three poor chips. Just missed the "bogie" putt. Double.

2. Hit one 6 iron left, and one just over the green. Two poor chips. Three okay chips. Two putt. Double.

3. Flubbed two tee shots, then an 8 iron left of the green. Good chip up to the opposite fringe. Three putt. Triple.

4. Great 7 iron off the tee. Actually I had hit it right (where I'd aimed) and it got a great bouce and rolled onto to the green, to about 12 feet. Should've measured it. Shot of the day. But this was the impossibly sloped temporary green. "Par".

5. Another good tee shot, this time a 6 iron. A long par three. Hitting hybrid is often too much, and I hit a 5 iron too far feft, so my 6 iron left it short. My chip barely made it to the green. Long lag putt through the dew came up short. Double.

6. Third straight good tt shot, a long low straight hybrid. Rolled up the fairway past the big oak. Then a good 6 iron, just short of the green. Chipped two balls, both just okay. Two putt for bogey.

7. Okay drive off tee. It still sliced over onto the 8th fairway, but past most of the first stand of trees. Hit a good 5 iron, indeed still lfurther left then I would've liked – but a tree knocked it down. Then I flubbed a shot. Then hit one right. Good chip that rolled off the green. My next chip almost went in. Just missed the putt. Snowman, if I counted right.

8. Pretty good drive stayed straight. Poor GT's tee shot got knocked down by a tree, so he had a long second shot (above). My wedge landed just short of the green. Okay chip. Decent lag putt. Bogey.

9. Tee shot went right into the woods. Great mulligan, a 3 wood up the hill to the fringe. GT hit his tee shot onto the green. I hit an okay chip. Two putt. "Bogey".

Fun fact: after we putt out to finish our round, before we fist bump GT will bow as he takes off his Panama hat - a move very similar to ChiChi Rodriquez. 

Arrived at work just as our 9 am call was ending. Busy morning at work. Went for Moe's for lunch. Chicken burrito with cilantro lime rice for a change. Very good. Got three kinds of salsa to try. On Tuesday the Willy's salsa was too spicy for me.

Golf balls lost vs found…

1. Okay.

2. Lost one, found one.

3. Lost one, found one.

4. Found one (in the hole).

5. Okay.

6. Okay.

7. Found one.

8. Found one.

9. Lost one, found one.

Total: came out 3 balls ahead.

MICKEY LOLICH [SABR Bio] his record for most career strikeouts by an American League lefty was broken by CC Sabathia. Lolich's AL Ks totaled 2,679. Sabathia passed him in 2016, finishing with 2,965. Mickey was the first person in Detroit history to homer in his first World Series at‑bat, on 03-Oct-1968 in game two. It was the only home run in his 16-year MLB career. His Tigers played badminton during spring training in Tampa. See 19-Mar-1969 Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. of Sports Illustrated.

DENISON: a lawsuit is being brought by parents seeking to shield their children from sexual LGBTQ materials. Parents from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish backgrounds have rallied together and are accusing the school district of denying them the right to determine the religious education of their children. Books at the center of the dispute are for Pre-K and elementary-school levels.