Moonlit Jazz

“I’ll Take You On” by Howie Day
Spring Training Notes:

• Back on the Mark – a Mulder article. I always laugh when the headline is a play on the name. Ye gods.
• Zito, Haren in charge – I will admit I have a thing for pitchers. 😛
• Dribbler from the A’s notes:
  Mulder, asked Wednesday on ESPN to guess how many games Oakland will win this season, said “I’ll give ’em 90.” Asked who he’d start in a must-win game if he could have any pitcher in baseball, Mulder picked himself. He named Hudson his No. 2 guy but missed an opportunity to pay homage to the broken-up Big Three by tabbing Curt Schillling, not Barry Zito, as his third choice.
  [Gotta love Mulder’s modesty, eh? 😉 ]

Boys in motion… (Byrnes, Hatteberg, Melhuse)

Byrnes on the phone with the mother of the fan beside him…

I’m so very glad it’s the weekend! Even though it was a short week, I’m TIRED! It probably doesn’t help that I woke up sometime before 4am today. Bah!

I can’t think of anything else to write at the moment. Go read the baseball articles. 😉

Spring Training Notes…

• Byrnes brings spark to A’s camp – I was waiting for a Byrnesie article! 😀 You know, he makes me laugh. Just like Zito. LOL!

My sister got Lasik done. I’ve thought about it, but after hearing her rave about, I’m really considering it. Craziness! I just want to be able to buy “real” sunglasses and such. Oh, and to wake up and be able to see the alarm clock, etc. 🙂

Hmmm…

“Frontin” by Jamie Cullum

Spring Training Notes

• Mulder mystifies hitters- Mulder faced live hitters the other day and looked good. But of course! 😉
• Braves in Hudson’s blood – Here’s one on Hudson. This article made me kinda sad because I’ll be thinking about the “what could have been.” What would it had been like to have Hudson, Mulder, and Zito for ten years together in Oakland? We’ll never know.
• Zito is the one, and only – Barry is ready to take on the role of leader. But are we ready to see him as such? The upcoming season is going to be a treat, I think. 😉
• Hyperactive A’s view change as way of life – Ah yes, perpetual state of change are my A’s…

I wonder how long it will take me to stop missing Mulder and Hudson in the green and gold. I wonder what it will feel like to watch them pitch in their new towns, in their new uniforms. I’ve spent the past five years or so investing my affection in The Big Three and now they are merely the aces on their respective staffs. Will people really forget that the three of them pitched together?

I won’t forget…

“Tangled” by Maroon 5

We left Phoenix at 6:15am local time and arrived home just before 4pm. LONG DAY!!! *Then* we had to go to Livermore to pick up the dogs. Ye gods!!!

SUNDAY

After breakfast (part of the stay at the Doubletree), we headed out to Papago Park, practice facility for the Oakland Athletics. Sunday morning was the first official workout for the pitchers and catchers.

Banners welcomed the fans… Zito and Harden and someone unfamiliar taking a walk… Billy Beane among the press folks… a player makes his way across the field…

I know these guys were there to do their jobs, but I was duly fascinated. I could have stayed there all day watching them and taking pictures. As it was, we stayed at least an hour, which was enough for the hubby. 😉 Since we didn’t stay too long, I only got pictures of the players. Alas, none of me with anyone. Another time!

(Although if Mulder had been there, I would have definitely hung out for longer. I cannot believe he’s not with the A’s anymore. I am still so sad!!!)

Spring training roster… Zito in the background, pitchers in the foreground… Harden ready to throw… the banner at the “official” team hotel…

Things I should have done:

• chat up writer Mychael Urban. Yes, I recognized one of the writers. And his book about The Big Three comes out in March. I’m such a goober!!! I was standing not three feet away from him but I couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to him. Bah.
• take a picture of the Duchscherer knocking off Blanton’s cap as the youngster tried to make it under the rope. After the funny, Duchscherer laughed and told Bradford what he did. Boys!
• taken more pictures of Harden! I was so stuck on trying to get Zito, I neglected the number two boy Richie.
• brought an umbrella! It rained a bit in the beginning, then the skies cleared up a bit and obliged us with some sunshine.

I guess previous years did not see as much media as we saw on Sunday morning. The Japanese player signed in the offseason, Keiichi Yabu, had more than few cameras following him. Good for business, eh? 😉

After the baseball stuff, we headed out to a couple of shopping centers before settling on Scottsdale Fashion Square. We bought stuff at Neiman Marcus, Dilliards, and Coach. No bargain shopping for us! LOL!

And then we checked out a couple of neighborhoods. I really liked Morrison Ranch in Gilbert. Lovely lovely place! But I can’t remember if the houses featured below were in Gilbert. We went to so many places!

The houses above were GORGEOUS from the outside. I can only wonder what they looked like inside…

The hotel was nice. Room service was great! The food was delicious, probably the best hotel food I’ve had in my room. 😉 It’s always nice when people bring you food, eh? Next time we’re in Phoenix, we’ll probably stay there again. I want to go to spring training!!! I want to see games and such and get MORE pictures of the players. 😀

AND TODAY…

As mentioned in the beginning, our day started EARLY. And the weather was once again CRAP during the drive. Arizona stayed dry during our drive, but once we hit Southern California, it was slow. I saw some areas of flooding. It was horrible! And when we finally stopped for some gas, the station only had regular. What kind of crap is that?! Oh, and their restrooms did not work. Bah!

When finally got home, we had to go back out and drive to Livermore. We had even more crazy weather. Saw some lightning. Got some rain.

It’s good to be home. Now I’ve got to unpack and go to bed…

Somewhere on the road during the morning… our place of rest during our stay in Phoenix…

The weather was CRAP on the way to Phoenix. We left Salida just before 1am and got into the Phoenix area at around 11:30am (local time). About nine and a half hours of driving in rain accompanied by freak flashes of lightening. I only drove about an hour and a half in the middle of it. I didn’t have too much rain, thank goodness. 😛

Pitchers and catchers reported today! And what a coincidence, we just happen to be in the area. Guess where we’re going to stop tomorrow? Right, Papago Park! I just want to see some of the players. I want to take pictures. Oh, and if I can get my picture taken with someone, even freakin’ better. 😀

We drove around Queen Creek and Coolidge, checking out some different spots. It’s growing out here in the Phoenix area. Wouldn’t it be an adventure to live here? Hmmm…

So I’m being a big nerd and I’m online here at the team hotel. Yes, we’re staying at the team hotel! Doesn’t that just make me an even bigger nerd? LOL!

I found these at Yahoo. Broken heart alert.

Hudson in that Braves uniform…

And Mulder in red… 🙁

I meant to bring my “I (heart) Mulder” shirt, but I forgot to look for it. I wanted to wear it when I saw the boys doing their practice thing. Oh well. 😛 The hubby thinks I won’t have the guts to say howdy to any of the players. I say I could do it, except most of the time I don’t recognize the players when I’m close next to them. Oh sure, I can figure out Zito or Harden or Chavez or Hatteberg, but after that I might be stuck. Bah!

I forgot to bring a Sharpie. Oh, and something for someone to sign. I’m so unprepared. Next year I want to come back for Spring Training games. Yah! 🙂

And I must say, having navigation in the car ROCKS!!! If you can get it, GET IT. It’s been way cool so far. 😉

Thank you Wah!!!

My V-Day envelope contained the above. PowerBook not included. 😉

Chavvy and Mulder. Ahhh, Mulder.

Hmmm, Survivor is on. I’m waiting for CSI to start. LOL!

I just gave the little dog a bath because she and the big dog are going to spend the weekend with other little dogs. Lucky them! 😉 I wish I had tomorrow off. I feel like I’m not going to sleep very much until Saturday night. 😛 Anyhoo, the little dog is giving me bad looks for the whole bath thing…

Why can’t I think of what I want to write when I’m here in front of the computer? It’s so silly!

Wah‘s site is looking so good right now. Chocolate, George Eads, Mark Mulder, and Jason Isringhausen. What else could a girl want? Yowsa!

We’re going to the Valley of the Sun this weekend. I’m looking forward to going, but I’m not exactly looking forward to the drive. 😛 Yes, we’re driving. We’re staying two nights in Phoenix. I’m planning a side trip to Papago Park. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday and their first workout is Sunday. Guess where I want to be on Sunday. LOL! I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of my boys. And I’m hoping to get a picture with someone. Zito? Harden? Both? 😉

Trevor sent a quick thanks to me. Awwww! (I sent him a quick happy birthday email on his bday.)

Rain, so much rain! It’s just gloomy gray out there…