(in the dark) the shine of small things

First off - Bri swears it wasn't her, so many thanks to the kind soul who gifted me additional paid time. I originally had gifted paid time through March (which I feel like I've wasted by only posting twice, but posting aside, it gave me the chance to futz with some potential new layouts), so whoever you are, I hope you like baseball, cause I now have paid time through the first two months of the baseball season ;) While I'm not yet feeling bitten by the MLB bug, odds are you'll be drowning in pointless polls and constant updates by next month ;)

Music: I've been really digging Our December by Thriving Ivory, a free Amazon mp3 I downloaded last fall and have just given a listen. I like the song so much I went and bought their major label debut which is currently at the top of Billboard's Heatseekers chart and only $7.99 at Best Buy. Of course, Our December isn't on their major label debut, and I don't like any song on there near as much. Let this be a lesson to you, kids. Never pay for music until you've scouted it out for free, first. I'm sure the cd will grow on me, with time. I like the band's sound, it's just that lyrics-wise, the major label debut is kinda boring.

And on the topic of new music - you can stream new Death Cab tracks over at Stereogum. I don't like Little Bribes or A Diamond and A Tether much...My Mirror Speaks and Once I Was A Loyal Lover are fun times, though!

( Baseball )

( TV )

( Car news or lack thereof )

Talking about this James Richard thing with 3olives via email, and in the course of our exchange, she mentions the surreality of the sight of Harden in their dugout, and I say something like "Mercifully, we've avoided any images of Harden in Cubs blue to this point".

She, of course, promptly responds by digging me up A PICTURE of Harden in the aforesaid godforsaken blue, attaching it to her reply, and links me to a video interview.

My F-list: just so helpful and willing to serve. Thanks. Thanks EVER SO ;)

If only the baseball gods were also so inclined. Seriously, what is their objection to a Harden v. Lincecum showdown, hm? WORK IT OUT.

+ The title of the last Harry Potter book is just so very...what? I can't stop laughing. (thanks to [Bad username or site: tinkelo / @ livejournal.com] for the heads up).

+ God, this column tickles all my Zito buttons: Zito's slip is showing. The New York media, doing their part to make sure Barry knows he's not as eminently shaggable as he thinks he is.

December 20, 2006 -- There is doubt steeped all over Barry Zito's situation. Primarily, it is doubt about whether he would take less money in New York or more money in Texas.

But there also is doubt about the pitcher himself: Whether he's already slipping, whether he's worth a six-year contract and whether the Mets would be making the right move in signing him.

As Met officials huddled with Zito and agent Scott Boras yesterday in greater Los Angeles, baseball sources were finishing a portrait of Zito, a 2002 Cy Young Award winner, as anything but a sure thing.

"I don't know if he cuts it in New York," one insider who knows Zito flatly told The Post.

lololololz. Oh, Mychael Urban. Please keep feeding quotes to the NY rags.

.... "I think he's slipped," one major-league scout told The Post. "The last two times I've seen him the last couple years, he wasn't on at all. He struggled getting his breaking ball over for strikes, and when he does that, he's in trouble. He can't get by on a power arm."

The scout allowed that Zito might not be slipping, per se, but at the very least he's getting by with less exertion, getting by because he knows how to pitch. And that could be the cumulative effect of his workload.

Ah. Fun times. Since Barry doesn't read the papers, hopefully Danny called him up and read the choice bits into his voice mail. Thanks [Bad username or site: phantom_hpuff / @ livejournal.com], I so needed that.

+ I came home to 4 holiday cards, though I didn't respond to a single "give me your addy if you want a card" post I've seen to date. My f-list is kinda awesome ^_^

[Bad username or site: rickenbacker / @ livejournal.com] texted me a little while ago that she was in St. Louis and managed to find somewhere to park her car for $10. I hope she can remember where she left it.

Said she was up on the gate. But no one will scream with her.

It's gonna be a looooong night XD

It's been TWELVE DAYS. I live in Virginia. My computer only went to Tennessee. It's 2006, not 1917. I don't understand why I don't have my lappy back yet. Granted, counting weekends and holidays, it's been 7 days, which is on the low end of the "7-10 days" I was told. But they never said 7-10 business days >:[

Come on, [Bad username or site: spluckle / @ livejournal.com], help a sister out!

(You'd think that without the added distraction, I'd be more on top of things, but no, I'm more absentminded than ever. Also, what is with gel pens that only last me one class? I don't write THAT much.)

But more important than me and my crash course in life without the internets at my fingertips 24/7 - the fact that the Florida Marlins won yesterday, to reach .500 for the first time since the second day of the season. I wish I were more eloquent, but really XD and ^________^ pretty much express my sentiments on the topic. I heard it said the Marlins are as big a story as the Tigers this year, which sounded weird at first, but I kinda like it :P Not that it will keep Joe in Florida, and maybe this Wild Card thing collapses in the last week like the '05 Indians, but when it's all said and done, I hope they're proud. If not, I'm definitely proud enough for the entire expanded roster at this point.

The LJ Grapevine tells me that [Bad username or site: lovingthecubs / @ livejournal.com] did get to go see the Fish in WI, and Scotty's start to boot. That couldn't have worked out more perfectly ^_^ Also, I'm glad someone who really cared was there. (And you should totally send me a ticket stub if you hung on to any extra ^_~)

(Btw, LJ Grapevine, I've lost my cellphone, so don't waste your text messages.)

Saw on the news this morning that the Crocodile Hunter passed away after getting stung in the heart by a stingray. I hope Joe and the guys can help Hammer through this sad time.

-> I'm just gonna confess this one thing, and then we're not gonna talk about it, okay? Okay. Whenever I'm in my car, and that Public Affair song comes on? I totally blast that shit. Yeah. Also, I own that Jessica Simpson cd that had Irresistible on it. And my favorite song on the album wasn't even one of the singles (**coughs** Hot Like Fire **coughs** And yes, I have the opening dialogue memorized). I know. I know. 20 laps. In my defense, I still don't like anything by those Pussycat Dolls people. Hope for me yet?

-> Yesterday, I got my lab order in of The Pool of Tears, Tweedledum, and Mouse's Long & Sad Tale. Today, I got my click and ship notice for that order, lol. Happily, I was able to unload the 5mls of PoT and Tweedledum right away (of course, the day after I placed my order, I got an offer for imps of all three scents, so I'd already tried them and known they weren't keepers by the time my order got here); I shipped those out this morning. Hopefully ML&ST is soon to follow. All the frimps were oils I'd tried, too. But I got a new postcard! Sunnyside ^_~ And there's always my Hungry Ghost Moon order to look forward to.

-> I'm really proud of me; I got on the phone and called some people I hadn't spoken to in months. Well, actually, 'proud' is the wrong word. Because both of them had left me messages over a month or so ago. But I was glad I finally got around to doing it? I hate talking on the phone.

-> LOL, so much for that potentially stellar pitching matchup in Florida tonight. Pettitte showed up, but oh, Josh. He gave up 4 earned in 5 innings, to balloon his era to a completely shameful 2.48. Go to your room, and think about what you've done. It's like 243-0 now, because the bullpen came in and decided to be all "oh, what the hell, runs for EVERYONE!" Don't forget to tip your hostess, Houston. Series split tomorrow? Hope springs eternal. Oh, btw, heads up [Bad username or site: acroarcs / @ livejournal.com]! Marlins' Johnson to chat Tuesday @ 2pm on MLB.com. And this is welcome news: Backe nears return.

-> On the plus side, the A's FINALLY set out their pitching probables for the Baltimore series. Rookie v. Rookie on Monday night, and maybe, maaaaaybe Adam Loewen gets his first freakin' win already? Or maybe the Orioles lose 1-0. Tuesday, Loaiza v. Russ Ortiz and Wednesday, it's Zito v. Benson. Whoo.

And the Cubs won! Yay. I'm thinking, kinda, maybe, sorta, probably not gonna happen, about going to see the Cubs when they come to RFK next weekend. Maybe. I dunno. Damn you, [Bad username or site: lovingthecubs / @ livejournal.com], and [Bad username or site: owllover711 / @ livejournal.com]. I'm all stocked up on heartbreakers and soulcrushers!

-> It warmed my dorky little heart to see Mike Jacobs (far left) has helped lead the Marlins out of obscurity in the NL East captioning a photo in a story about the Marlins playing better than most people expected. Yay, Jake.

Also, [Bad username or site: phantom_hpuff / @ livejournal.com] sent me a sketch! The focus is on Dan and Jake at the railing, inspired by the fact that they are dugout railing buddies, but there's an appearance by Hermida (who cracks me up), and Joe, and a shoutout to the dugout dancers. ♥

"You've heard the expression the eyes are the window to the soul? Well, with Randy Johnson, it's his 6'10 frame that is the window to his soul."

Oh, Tim McCarver. Don't ever change.

In other news, [Bad username or site: rickenbacker / @ livejournal.com] is a crazy person. I suppose I should just be glad she didn't tell all of Yankee Stadium that I love Derek Jeter. (Which I don't). Cause, you know, I actually KNOW people in New York, and then I would have had some 'splaining to do.

I'm working on those mixes, btw, I swear. Three of them are being difficult, though.

Happy 25, Bri! ^_^ I've spent the past 20 minutes trying to phrase the things I want to say, but I guess I'll settle for letting you know I'm so very glad that we stayed "friends" long enough to discover that we could actually be friends. You have so many good qualities, not the least of which is the fact that few things about me seem to annoy you. I am very grateful to know you, and despite my penchant for situational friendships and falling out of touch, I hope to stay your friend for a long time to come.

(Try not to dwell on the fact that you are halfway to 50.)

Ah, Daylight Savings. The universe empathizes with me for once, and kicks me an hour closer to the first pitch of the 2006 season.


+ I was checking my messages yesterday while I was waiting for a friend at the movies (saw Ice Age 2; enjoyable, but a little too adult at times. The first film was way more subtle in its appeal to multiple age groups) and there was a message from [Bad username or site: nyychick23513 / @ livejournal.com] and [Bad username or site: panicqueen / @ livejournal.com] about Munson making the Astros roster as backup catcher. Y'all are THE BIGGEST DORKS EVER. It amused the hell out of me.

+ The Palm Beach Post has this little '60 Seconds With...' featurette they've been doing all spring. Sixty Seconds with Mike Jacobs & Sixty Seconds with David Eckstein. Just a bit of silliness, really. Hilariously, David Eckstein is a huge pro wrestling fan. They spend their minute with Mikey J asking him about his hair. Btw, his "it ain't no three step process, it's just good hair" makes me even more convinced he's a mutt of some kind. I mean, come on. I've never heard a white person refer to "good hair". Right me if I'm wrong, people. Also, he mentions his mom! He's always talking about his mom. I ♥ him, y'all. I want so badly for him to do well.

+ Nick the Greek made the team; sweet. I look forward to seeing new blood play, though I hear he's not exactly a bucket of laughs. Markakis jerseys, number 61, already dotted the crowd yesterday. <-- lol, what? Nice. Starved for anything remotely positive to cling to with this team? Us?

+ This snippet of an Olney interview with Roy O makes me even more anxious for the April 10 issue of ESPN the Magazine.

( mlb odds and ends )

11 hours and counting to first pitch ^_~

Behind the cut
01-15 Oakland Athletics (Feb. 18)
16-23 Houston Astros (Feb. 17)
24-33 Cleveland Indians (Feb. 16)
34-43 Boston Red Sox (Feb. 18)
44-60 New York Yankees (Feb. 16)
61-63 New York Mets (Feb. 16)
64-68 Detriot Tigers (Feb. 15)
69-72 Baltimore Orioles (Feb. 16)
73-76 Washington Nationals (Feb. 18)
77-94 Assorted others
95-102 Minnesota Twins (Feb. 19)

Teaser:
80.

(  It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested. Wake 'em up and let 'em know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll. - Harry Caray )

Thanks to [Bad username or site: schnaucl / @ livejournal.com] for the rose, and to Chelsea for stopping in to say hi. I miss you too, babe! You both made my morning ^_^

And.......meanwhile, I totally forgot to mail my brother his birthday card. Whoops :-P