The Last Game

Last night was another fine night out for someone who has had difficulty in the past leaving the solitude of his bedroom. Now, for the last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers had struggled mightily to win a game. This is most unfortunate, as winning a single game would have clinched the division, granting them home field advantage through the first two rounds. It also would give them a first round matchup against St. Louis instead of Philadelphia, but there is relatively little significance in that. It would perhaps mean something if the rules of Major League Baseball allowed them to play the wild card winner when that team comes from their own division. Really, though, playing Colorado in the first round would be as much a challenge as the other teams.

Name of the game

Another day and another game. There was good food and a good time. Finally we saw one particular season ticket holder and caught up. Dodgers made a good effort, but couldn't get it done.
Tonight I need to finalize my speech, the subject of which will be the ongoing strife in Tehran, Iran. Hopefully I'll be able to do this serious subject more justice than my previous serious speech concerning the menace of Somali piracy. We'll see, and I'll probably have something up here by mid-afternoon.

More to come tonight only in the event of a truly remarkable event.

Improv & Baseball

Yesterday was improv class, and it was a good one. The size of the group was unusually large, but we managed. Our teacher was a sub from one of the advanced classes, due to our usual teacher being tied up with a movie. I think I acquitted myself well. I got a good response on my performances, as well as on my suggestions for other people's scenes.

After class a number of us went to a bar nearby. I only do that at the suggestion of others, but it was a good time.

Tonight the dodgers started a series at home against Oakland, and I was there. Dodgers win it on the last at bat in the bottom of the tenth. Probably I'll be there for the others as well.
I will be giving a speech at Toastmasters thursday. Report to follow.

Back To The Ballpark

Got back to Dodger Stadium for the first time in forever. I don't think I had been there since the few games I made in April. This was a series against Arizona, so I was torn, as always. Next is the Phillies, which is simpler emotionally. I'll be there tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Should be fun.

Tomorrow is also Toastmasters, and I will be providing Table Topics. This will be important since we will have only one scheduled speech. Then, Friday, it's the Peace Gathering, which is always a very good time.

What's going on

As I indicated previously, yesterday I attended the final game of the Dodgers' first 2009 homestand. It was a good time, but was awfully warm, even where we were in the shade. The Dodgers kicked ass again, bringing their win streak to eight games. We nourished ourselves with sub sandwiches, chips, and soda during the game, and celebrated the win later with mini-burgers from a coupon handed out as a result of the victory.

Also, I helped out my friend moving some things around at his place. He will be moving away to Avondale (near my own hometown), and when the move is finished, I will be sorry to see him so much less often.

Today I'm working on a speech which I will be delivering tomorrow night for a Toastmasters contest. The subject is late night talk shows, and I will post the text of the speech when it is finished. I will also offer my impressions of the event I'm speaking at as well, in addition to an estimation of my performance as well as that of my evaluators.

Also tomorrow is a special meeting of my own TM club, but I will just be evaluating someone there. I'll say something about that too.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Friday, yesterday and today, it's the Dodgers against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Two wins for the Blue so far, so today they go for the sweep. Friday was a good time, as all the season ticket holders I know there save one were in attendance. Saturday not so many were there, and the team followed suit on the field, sitting three starters. As I wrote previously, I'm getting back in the groove in spite of missing the first first games of the regular season (including the home opener- mph!). After today's game, they'll be on the road until sometime around the 30th.

Dodgers

Well, the dodgers completed their preseason homestand on Saturday, and are currently on the road playing the first games of the regular season. So far, so good. The rotation is likely to be the issue. If things go well, they may make a move to address that for a playoff run.

As for me, the game-going fan, I'm getting back into the swing of things. A week of games, a week off until the fall. Next Monday is the home opener, which should be good. I'll have more to say about that then.

Opening day

I'm not going to get all deep and philosophical about baseball's Opening Day. It's nice, but has been undermined somewhat by the fact that they now play a night game the day before, so it's not really the opening day anymore. Also because of that night game, the first game isn't played by the Cincinnati Reds anymore. They previous had the honor of playing the season's first game, since they are baseball's oldest franchise.

What I really like is anytime live sports are played in the middle of the day during the week. Golf does that all the time, but I don't care for golf. Baseball plays weekday day games on Opening Day and an occasional one after that. The Olympics go on during the day, though coverage is apt to be shifted to prime time by broadcasters. Tennis could be on live at any time of the day or night, depending on where the match is being played. The NCAA Tournament early rounds result in weekday day games, as do the conference tournaments that precede it. The Chicago Cubs were about the last baseball team to install lights( some time in the 80s), and still play more day games than anyone else.

Saturday Night On The Town

I did a couple of things of note Saturday. I had read a flyer earlier in the week indicating that Quantum of Solace would be screened that afternoon, and so made plans to be there before I went to the baseball game. I found that the situation was reasonably agreeable. Some six or seven people were in attendance for what I learned was the first of an apparently indefinite series of Saturday screenings. The films of each month will be of a common genre.

This month will feature action-adventure films, which they seem to define relatively loosely, as next week will feature Wanted. Next month's theme will be romantic comedies. I'm less enthusiastic about that prospect, though it will depend upon the exact films. As I said, the situation is reasonable. The room is fine, and the screen is nice and big. The sound is sub-par by the standards of a theater, but is acceptable. I imagine I'll be back regularly, provided I'm interested in the film of the week.