Hello friends! A Sunday afternoon post here. I am freshly showered and feel cool and clean and it is truly delightful, especially after the last hour I spent outside sweating vigorously in the glorious steam bath that is our weather here in June just now. Not sure why I’ve been in such a walking mood lately, but that’s now two walks for the day. Went for my usual Sunday walk immediate upon waking this morning. The sun wasn’t quite peeking over the trees yet still the humidity bid me a hearty hello. But I did love the walk and it did me good before I eventually came back and had my pre-church coffee and reading time. Then this past hour? I could have and probably should have just sat down and enjoyed the cool of the flat this Sunday afternoon. Instead for some reason I was itching to move and be outside and so I went out and let my legs stride on. A little 3 mile walk, ho hum. But it was good. Chatted with Earnie on the phone the whole time, which was glorious indeed. It has been oh so long since we’ve had a proper chat and it was very much encouraging to my soul. Now? I think reading time approaches. Candle is already lit and flickering on the table and soon I shall turn on some music. No more World Cup games on right now, alas!! I have been much enjoying all the World Cup action lately. Group stages which means multiple games every day and it’s just fantastic! The US team (surprisingly somehow) played a very adequate opener game against Paraguay. 4-1 and 3 points, hurrah! On to Australia. Yesterday Dani and I went went down with Angela and Lauren to a downtown bar that was swarmed with Brasilians and we cheered on Brasil with all our might. Alas they managed only a draw against Morocco. Well, Morocco is a strong team. Or at least that’s what we keep telling ourselves. And last night, Scotland grabbed 3 points against Haiti!! Oh Scotland let’s go!!! Though I don’t have high hopes of them going deep (especially with Brasil & Morocco both in their group), I’m hoping they make it to knockouts. We shall see. But that’s enough football talk for now I suppose. I do love the World Cup though and it makes me so happy that we have so many games upcoming these next few weeks!! Even today, there was a game actually played in Houston! (Germany vs. Curacao) Just wish the ticket prices were slightly less expensive. Ah well. Now I’m off for real. Sorry for all the rambling, maybe I shall write something more substantial in a bit. Peace and love, my friends.
Tag: sports
The Baseball
So I have a little time and I thought I may as well write now even though I am tired(and yet don’t feel it). Mocha americano and adrenaline still pumping through my veins…last night watched one of the greatest games of baseball I’ve ever seen, not even taking into account the fact that it’s Game 5 of the World Series with my Astros in it. (And yes they’re my third team after Rays and O’s – but gosh if I can’t help but love them!) Last night though – so many moments of ups and downs I can’t even describe them all. It’s starting to all run together now…but I still vividly remember the end…we had been down so many times(4-0…7-4…8-7…each time we battle back). Finally we had the lead 11-9 in the bottom of the 8th but I know our bullpen too well and I am not satisfied…we need insurance runs, I tell Emily! And happily enough – McCann(the beast) provides – solo shot – exhilaration! 12-9 going into top of the ninth. Surely that is enough. And oh no. The Dodgers(pesky foe that they are) scratch and claw and even when we’re one out away from winning we cannot put them away. They tie the game. We fail to do anything in bottom of ninth. 12-12 extra inning time. We go into the tenth and I’m thinking there’s no way our beleagured bullpen stops them. Somehow we do. Bottom of the tenth. First two hitters go down. 2 outs. Then McCann is up again…hit by pitch! He’s on first. Springer is up – what a hero. He’s seeing the ball well…battles for a walk. McCann is on 2nd and now Hinch pulls him and puts in a pinch runner(Fisher). I’m a little nervous at this point, commenting that McCann is such a good catcher…we’ll regret not having him if this goes deeper. But oh me of little faith. Hinch and the Astros are playing to win *now*. And Bregman comes up. World Series Game 5, 12-12, bottom of the 10th, 2 outs. You dream of this. And…he hits to shallow left and Fisher is flying around the bases and oh he scores and oh it’s game over. 13-12 what a game. What a night! We all kept looking at each other saying “This game!” each time something crazy happened…a roller coaster of baseball I’ve never experienced before! So much cheering ecstatically – so many groans and heads bowed…but the end. Oh the end. I guess I’ve neglected to mention the fact that this game was a home game…I was with Erica and Emily and Michelle and friends downtown at a little establishment known as HTX Fan Tavern. Literally right across the street from Minute Maid Park! We decamped to an outdoor viewing area around…the 8th inning I think? And as we stood(and shivered) and watched the last few innings(me wondering if I’d get any sleep tonight at all – oh wait it’s morning now, hello midnight!)…I realized how rare a chance it is to get to be a part of such an epic World Series. The last hit that Bregman got…as we were watching, we heard some shouts and screams from people down the street…I’m wondering why they’re shouting when nothing happened…then thought…wait…is our game broadcast slightly delayed…wait…and then it happened and Fisher flew around the bases and everyone’s screaming and jumping up and down and and and baseball. Truly my first sports love and now I remember why. I may always remember this Astros line-up – such a special group – Springer, Bregman, Altuve, Correa, Gurriel, Reddick, Gattis, Gonzalez, McCann. Team of dreams. Go Astros.
And yes this is an atypical post full of sports and possibly a bit too much gushing over athletes…and it’s terribly sloppily stream of consciousness written…but I don’t care and shall still leave it for posterity just so that I shall remember what a fun amazing night this was. My (probably) sleep-deprived brain is not that great at writing eloquently. Alas. Somehow I still don’t feel tired yet. Apparently my strategy of telling myself when I went to bed that I was just going to sleep for a nice hour and a half nap worked. I feel so fresh! Went in to Starbucks and got my drink(and I gave Jake and Katie some chocolate chip cookies I baked yesterday!) and now I’m at work and the office is all buzzing about the Astros. As is proper.
I’m off to attempt to work. Happy Monday, all. Peace and love.
Ignition
Only a couple minutes before work starts, but thought I’d dash off a quick entry here!
Been a week of craziness here, but a glorious time of coffee, bacon and reading this morning relaxed me sufficiently to be ready for a sweet day today!! Despite all the issues that I’m sure will crop up, I can be at peace knowing that I am exceedingly blessed and preserved, always!!
And seeing the crimson slice of the sun peek up over the horizon today as I drove to work and being pierced by the early morning rays of light, I could not but help and glory in the presence of our Redeemer! Oh do I enjoy Him so every day!!!
(Of course, it’s a bit sad knowing that the gradually shortening days means I will soon not be able to drive to work in light anymore…oh well. I will still rejoice!)
Also, in sports news, the Rays made it to the playoffs the other night in the most epic fashion imaginable!! Down 9 games to the Red Sox at start of September. Came roaring back to be tied with them on the last day of the season. Orioles beat the Sox in the bottom of the 9th on a single with two outs, two strikes. The Rays, meanwhile, were down to the Yankees 7-0 in the 8th. Comeback capped by an Evan Longoria three-run homer in the 8th, and then a Dan Johnson homer in bottom of the 9th(again, two strikes, two outs!!) Went all the way to the 12th…where 5 minutes after the O’s had defeated the Sox, Evan hit *another* homerun to claim victory and the wild card berth!! Sadly, I was asleep the whole time. Still…absolutely AMAZING. And now they’ll play the Rangers – first game tonight! GO RAYS.
Now that I’ve spent most of my time discussing the Rays, no more time to write! It’s work time…time to dominate it up. Peace. Love you all!!
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
That’s right, once again, the Gators are national champs!!! Only this time, it’s football. Wow, an absolutely unbelievable game. 41-14. We didn’t just beat them, we KILLED them…our defense looked better than I’ve ever seen it. Our offense was amazing. And Ohio State looked lost. And confused. And very, very sad.
We sacked Troy Smith(Heismann winner, by the way) more times than he completed a pass. Leak threw completions his first 9 passes. And we just got another national championship.
Oh, and this is the first time ever…that a university has been reigning champion at both football and basketball at the same time. GO GATORS!!!
I watched the game at the Jungle II with Rob, Nicole, Javier, Alicia, Eric…and the rest of the Jungle people…we were stunned when the Buckeyes returned the first kickoff for a touchdown. But we were sporting delirious smiles for the rest of the night. After the game, Gainesville went nuts. We lit a Christmas tree on fire in the middle of the parking lot…ok, maybe that was a little bit dangerous. But we were NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. Ran out to University Ave. after that – so crazy with so many people yelling and screaming and dancing and singing…like they say, “It’s great – to be – a Florida Gator!!” This is the one time when it’s acceptable to hug and high-five everyone you see and just go CRAZY! Even the danger of stampedes and getting run over by fire trucks didn’t dampen our spirits…although the thought of having a class the next morning didn’t make me too happy. Eventually, I made my way home…and got some sleep.
Unfortunately, had to get up at 8:30 this morning. Had an awesome day just remembering all the great moments of last night’s victory. Rob recorded the game on his computer, so we’ve been watching that again and again. I bought the official national championship shirt and happen to be wearing it right now. Maybe I’ll wear it tomorrow too! And tonight I was at the basketball game against Arkansas. A great game in its own rights, but at halftime…the football team came out onto the court, and the ODome erupted. They brought out the championship trophy..so beautiful! The basketball team came back on and started congratulating the football team. Amazing to have two championship teams in one place, let me tell you that.
Ok, this is a really long entry, but I guess I might as well say, despite my glee over our win and championship, it’s never good to put your hope in football teams…they may be amazing at times, but they can fail, too. But God never fails, and I hope this Gators dominance works out for His glory. Actually, I know it will.
And one more time.
GO GATORS!!!!!!!
Something Weird 