Moonlit Jazz

I took this on Christmas Day at the in-laws. The dogs are waiting for treats or something. Or maybe this was when the pops-in-law was cutting the slab of prime rib. 😀

“A Christmas Love Song” by Manhattan Transfer

So, did everyone have a good Christmas? Mine was lovely, except now I’m sick! It started on Christmas Eve and steadily progressed on Christmas Day. Yesterday I just sat around and read. I didn’t even turn on the computer! (Although I did take a quick glance online on my PowerBook.) I read all of The Da Vinci Code yesterday. I think I read it too fast! LOL! But it was good. I enjoyed it. 🙂

Our stockings in Livermore, me with something A’s, husband with something beer, the Xmas tree in Livermore

We went to Livermore for Christmas Day for presents and dinner. Presents were first and dinner was much later. My parents joined us (but I didn’t get any pictures of them!).

During the opening presents time…

I took a nap after opening presents. My cold was making me sleepy. My parents arrived before dinner time. For dinner we had prime rib, crab imperial, chicken adobo, bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, bread. Very delicious and very filling!

Also on the food front, the sister-in-law made some quiche, little rolls of ham, spinach and cream cheese, and tomato and basil salad. Ultra healthy, eh? Twas good!

The ham rolls (what are they actually called?!), the quiche, the table at dinner, the mouthwatering prime rib…

And today I’m home because I just don’t feel too hot. My nose is congested and I feel just a bit light headed from all the sniffling and such. Alas.

ESPN.com: Page 2 – Beane will have the last laugh – I am slowly coming to grips with the whole trading away of Mulder and Hudson. Objectively, I can totally see the points the writer makes. I understand and almost believe most of it. It’s just that the fangirl in me still mourns the trade of her favorite player. If it were anyone else who got traded away, I would have total faith in Beane. And shoot, maybe I still do. The man takes risks.

Still, sadness for me…

Onward to more fun stuff

Results of a quiz! 😀

Pre-Hyptnotized Peter

What Office Space character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Office Space ROCKS. I love that movie. If you’ve ever worked in an office, you’ll totally relate to the movie. And even if not, it’s still funny. 😉

But I only agree with the “you need a break” part of my result. 😛

Shopping done, bring on the holiday!

We skipped out of work just shy of noon yesterday. Freedom! We had to be home so that the cleaning lady could do the house. We got to the Central Valley with enough time to spare for lunch, so we stopped at the Barnwood Restaurant. I had the egg salad sandwhich and forgot to get it plain, but it still tasted good. 😉

When we got home, the cleaning lady was already there waiting for us. 😛 Also parked in front was the gardner. (Do we sound spoiled or lazy? LOL!) AND surpise, a “for sale” sign was hoisted in front of the house next door. Ye gods!

After all house cleaning and grass and bushes upkeep, we headed to the mall. CRAZINESS! The hardest part was getting there. The mall was packed, of course, but buying what we needed wasn’t so bad. We managed to finish up in the mall. Thank goodness!

I have some shots from the company luncheon, but I think I left the camera in the car. 😛

New Cardinal can’t wait to pitch in St. Louis – I’m glad for him. I think he’ll do a smashing job in St. Louis. I just wish I could go to his games. I’ll just have to wait until the Cards come to town in San Francisco. Then I’ll wear my Cardinals jersey (which I have yet to buy) and cheer for the Cards.

I’ve been a Cards fan in the making because of the hubby. 😛

And so an era ends.

I absolutely understand that baseball is a business. Even as the men play the game on the field, money is made and money is spent. I know that the A’s are a “small market” team. And I had to resign myself to the fact that The Big Three were no more when Tim Hudson was traded away mere days ago.

My only wish was that Billy Beane would NOT TRADE MARK MULDER. Mulder is my most favorite baseball player. Everyone knows it. He has great stuff, is the master on the mound, and is a fine specimen of baseball. My wish was that HE would be the one alone to stay on the A’s.

Wishes are for suckers.

A’s trade Mulder to Cards

And so my heart is broken.

We were in the mall doing our Christmas shopping when the husband got buzzed on his Blackberry. The alert was from his Cardinals list and he thought it was a joke. I read it and my heart sank.

Shocked.

Disappointed.

Slightly devastated.

I want to understand WHY but right now I just want to be sad about MY BOY leaving MY TEAM. He is much of the reason I’ve given so much of my time, energy, and adoration to the A’s and baseball. My rekindled love for the game was sparked by Mulder, Hudson, and Zito, as well as many A’s players here and gone these several years. But Mark Mulder became the focus of my baseball attention.

I love watching him on the mound. His cool control, the swift precision of his pitches– all this and more just kept me watching.

And I will still watch him.

Even in my melancholy, I do take comfort in the fact that Mulder is going to the Cardinals, the one NL team I actually watch. I can still cheer for him and truly wish him good fortune with his new team because I’ve been watching his new team for several years.

But I will be a sad baseball fan when the season starts.

What will become of my A’s?

Big Three bummed about breakup – I’m bummed along with them…

Time to put trust in Beane – I want to trust Beane and his vision, but right now it just really sucks.

And so my baseball heart is filled with sorrow…

Breakup of Big Three bittersweet for right-hander – I am still very sad and the article made me sadder. Alas! Good Mulder quotes though…

Thank goodness it’s the weekend!

The morning was FOGGY! I left the house before sunrise, so the lack of visibility was even more stark. Very scary, if you ask me. But I made it to work all right. 😀 It’s good to listen to the music really loud and maybe even sing along to the boys. Or girls.

Oh, I got a new toy! I’ll take a picture sometime to show it off…

A’s send Hudson to Braves

🙁

I’M SAD. I understand that baseball is a business, but as a fan of the A’s, I’m always sad to see a favorite player go. And in this case, I’m VERY SAD.

(But not as sad as I would be if it were Mulder who got traded away. Oh Billy Beane, please never trade Mark Mulder away!!!)

Anyhoo, I wish Hudson well in his endeavors. I’ll still follow his baseball adventures, but I won’t cheer for his new team. Here’s something kinda cool though: my sister lives in Atlanta and the Braves are in town the weekend she gets married. So hey, maybe I’ll check out the Braves while we’re in town. 😉

See, you must look to the bright side.

Right now, I’ll go back to being just a little sad.

Alas…