Best game ever!

So, Saturday night, Kimberly and I took in our last Bulls game before we leave the country. It was the Bulls vs. the Gwinnett Braves and they were in a tie for first place in the division coming into the game.

The Braves jumped out to an early 6-1 lead, but the Bulls brought it back to within 2 runs (7-5) to start the bottom of the 9th. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and a full count, Reid Brignac hit a shot that just cleared the right field fence and tied the game up at 7-7.

The game continued like this until the top of the 14th when the Braves scored 2 runs off of Bulls infielder, Ray Olmedo. In the bottom of the 14th, the Bulls loaded the bases, then cleared them on Jon Weber's game winning double.

The game lasted over 5 hours and was easily the most exciting game I have ever witnessed in person. What a way to see my final Bulls game! I only wish everyone else I know could have been there.

The Last Day

On February 8, 2006 I began working at my current job. Today, on August 28, 2009, I am entering work here for the last day. It's definitely started off as a day of mixed emotions. Initial mood when I got out of bed was one of excitement, because I can finally rest and relax for a little while before Kimberly and I leave the country. I thought that excitement would be the overriding emotion for the day...I was wrong.

This morning as I'm pulling into work, I'm remembering the very first day I drove to work here. The nervousness at the new job, meeting new people, etc. The excitement because I finally had a job after searching for a month. Then I started to think about all the changes that have happened in the 3 1/2 years that I've worked here.

I've gotten married, made new friends here at work, got a new position, seen friends leave from work. I also think I've matured quite a bit in my time. I'll miss the friends that I've made here, but the experiences from this job are what's going to stick with me the most.

The one impact I hope to have had during my time here is that I've earned the respect and friendship of everyone I've worked with.

Goodbye.

Things that bother me...

Three things that bother me:

1. People who tailgate.

Whoever thought this would be a good idea? I mean, when I'm going the speed limit and you are riding my bumper, it's not going to make me go faster. It's only going to make you get more mad, and I hate to see the day that the person you are tailgating has to slam on brakes and you slam into the back of their car.

2. People who drive in the pouring rain with no lights on.

I'm going down the interstate at 60 mph and can't see cars coming up behind me because they are driving a gray car in the pouring rain with no lights on...very dangerous.

3. People who park in non-parking locations when there are parking spaces nearby.

Yesterday, Kimberly and I were at the park and a guy pulls up and parks on the grass. The crazy thing is there were dozens of parking spaces within sight of where he parked. My first assumption is that he was just lazy, but no he was there to do a run. So why couldn't he just park 20 feet down in a parking space?

La Máquina

That up above is translated from Spanish to "The Machine" and it's the nickname that has been given to Albert Pujols, first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.

I just saw a statistic this morning on ESPN that was absolutely stunning and had to share it.

With the bases loaded this year, Albert Pujols is:

7 for 9 with 5 HRs and 24 RBIs.

That means if you are pitching against him, it's pretty much better to walk him and give up a run than to possibly give up his average of almost 3 RBIs per AB with the bases loaded. The 5 Grand Slams in one season ties the National League record. The Major League record is 6 by Travis Hafner and Don Mattingly.

Bad Luck Charm

I mentioned in my previous post that Kimberly took me to see the Braves play the Nationals in Washington, DC. It was my first Braves game away from Atlanta, but the 7th one overall. While I've enjoyed myself, the Braves haven't had much success when I'm in attendance.

June 7, 1991 (Montreal Expos) - Steve Avery vs. Oil Can Boyd - Braves held it close at 4-1 before giving up 3 in the 8th and 4 in the 9th and lose 11-2.

June 8, 1991 (Montreal Expos) - Pete Smith vs. Brian Barnes - Braves scored early and held off the Expos for a 7-6 win.

September 5, 1999 (Arizona Dbacks) - Tom Glavine vs. Randy Johnson - Chipper hit 2 HRs and put the Braves in a position to win before with 2 outs in the 9th and a one run lead, Eddie Perez threw away a dropped 3rd strike. The Dbacks scored 3 more runs and won 7-5.

April 5th, 2001 (NY Mets) - Odalis Perez vs. Rick Reed - Reed gave up 1 run on 3 hits and the Braves were never in it, losing 7-1.

August 12, 2001 (Arizona Dbacks) - Greg Maddux vs. Albie Lopez - Junior Spivey of the Dbacks went 5 for 5 with 5 singles against Maddux and the Braves lost once again, 9-1.

June 22, 2003 (Baltimore Orioles) - Shane Reynolds vs. Jason Johnson - I don't remember anything about this game except it was blisteringly hot and the Braves lost 9-3.

July 4, 2009 (Washington Nationals) - Tommy Hanson vs. John Lannan - Hanson pitched 7 innings and gave up 3 hits and 1 run; the Braves bullpen pitched 1 inning and gave up 4 hits and 4 runs; Braves lose 5-3.

So there you have it, the Braves are 1-6 and have been outscored 22-54 in the games I've been to. Maybe I should buy season tickets to see the Yankees play?

Daytrippin'

So, a little update on what's been going on lately with us.  Last weekend, Kimberly took me to Washington, DC to go see a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals.  It was a great experience since I'm a huge baseball fan.  On the way, we stopped in Richmond to see her grandmother and Uncle Lee.  I had only seen her grandmother one other time and that was at our wedding 3 years ago, so that was nice.  After we returned on Sunday night we had supper with Kim's sister Heather and her husband Chris as they were in town for a concert.

This past weekend, we drove to her parents Friday night and stayed with them one night, visiting with them and her other grandmother and Uncle Roy.  Saturday, we drove down to Georgia and saw my brother and his wife, who we hadn't seen since Christmas.  It was good to catch up with them and see their new apartment that they moved into last month.  Then it was on to see Allison and Patti who we hadn't seen in over 2 years.  We stayed with them Saturday and and Sunday night and went to Faith's wedding reception Sunday afternoon down near Atlanta.  We were also able to hang out with the other Allison Sunday night, so that was good as well.  Finally, Monday morning we made the long trek back to Durham.

For the past 10 days we have driven/ridden 1300+ miles, visited with 11 family members we hadn't seen in quite some time and a handful of friends that we hadn't seen in over 2 years.  It was exhausting, but we definitely had a good time.  To our friends down in Georgia, thank you for a great weekend and it's a shame that we don't see more of each other.  It was almost like old times again.

What was your best day?

I'm reading a book right now called A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America. Buck O'Neil was a Negro League ballplayer who never got the chance to play in the Major Leagues because of segregation. Regardless of this unfortunate restriction placed on him, he remained a person full of life and joy and kind to all. In the book he asks the author, "What was your best day in baseball?" Buck's was the day he hit for the cycle and then later met his future wife. He says remembering that will keep you young.

But this doesn't just apply to baseball, thus the title of my post. Ask yourself, "what was your best day?" Remember the times in life when you felt like you were at your best. Hold on to that.

What was your best day?