Today I headed out to support the Orioles by attending Fanfest. It’s a chance to meet a player or two and just have a nice time.

The day started out a little rocky and I was pretty sure I would be walking out without any autographs. They had four different autograph areas and only 250 were allowed in each line and the players rotated throughout the day. It was nice that they had a limit but sucked that they didn’t announce who was where until an hour before hand which was a little too late. You almost had to pick a line and hope that someone decent would be there. Along with autographs they had a little area where you could have your picture taken with a player for $5. The money was being donated towards the Haiti efforts. I noticed a tall and hot player and thought, why not.

I said he was tall! My friend thinks this is the funniest picture ever because of the height difference. The player is Chris Tillman who’s a young pitcher with the O’s. When I say young, I mean 21. I can manage that. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s my new baseball boyfriend. He was one of the players signing but we weren’t able to make it to his table and I didn’t think about asking for one after the picture thing was done. I tend to freeze at times. I mean, all I said to him was “You’re tall!” As if he didn’t already know that.

Moving on. My favorite player is Brian Roberts. I love him. He plays 2nd base and I tend to have a thing for players who play that position. We noticed that he was going to be at signing area four which was upstairs. My friend has a bum ankle and told me just run for it, so I did. Needless to say I got there and the 250 limit had been reached. Insert sad face here. I managed to lose my friend and then she called. With the best news ever. She had found a friend who was inline for Roberts and to meet me there. I made my way over and we just acted like we belonged in line and before we knew it, we were meeting Brian Roberts. I can now die happy and I didn’t make an ass out of myself which is a miracle. I happened to be wearing a Roberts shirt and asked him to please sign it for me which he did:

Le sigh. Here is the man I would marry if he didn’t already have a hot model wife:

Being the complete nerd that I am, I forgot to ask to take a picture of him when I got to him. That’s what happens when you’re a nerd. You tend to forget stuff like that. After that we moved back downstairs to see if anyone new was at the photo area. No one was there yet and the staff didn’t know who would be next, the players just kind of showed up inbetween things. I was joking around with my friend saying that perhaps Jim Palmer would be next. That’s right ladies and gents, I’m psychic:

He’s very shiney in person and his hands felt a little weird, like maybe he tans too much or something. This time though, I managed to ask for autograph as well and asked him to sign my jersey real quick. He said “Real quick, huh?” and my response was yes, I’m timing you. See, WTF is wrong with me? At least I didn’t ask if his face was real.

In the end a day that started out a little rocky ended up being pretty awesome. Along with the Jim Palmer & Brian Roberts autographs I snagged Adam Jones as well. I actually follow him on Twitter and mentioned it to him. He asked what my Twitter name was and that he’d look out for me and he kept his word. I told him via Twitter when I got home that it was nice to meet him and he said it was his pleasure. Does he remember me? Probably not but now I can pretend that we’re BFFs and what not.

Last night was softball and I tore it up! I almost hit The Cycle! If you don’t know what that is, it’s when a hitter hits a single, double, triple and a homerun in the same game. The only peice of the puzzle I was missing was the homerun. Do you know how awesome it is just to have a triple though? I think that was my first one ever in the co-ed league. I even had two doubles. Yes, TWO. I had a handful of singles as well. I have no idea why my hitting was on like it was. I think the pitcher for the other team had something to do with it. He could actually pitch to me. I didn’t have to reach for anything that was too short or over my head. The best part is though that we finally won a game! Of course we ended up losing the 2nd game but only by a few runs! No “slaugher Rule” ending!

It feels great to have finally won a game. What doesn’t feel great is the top of my right foot. I got hit by a very low line drive right on the top of my foot near my big toe. I can tell it’s going to bruise and it’s a little sore but everything works which is the important thing.

Before I go, one more thing. Expect a blog surprise later on this evening! It’s adorable!

This past weekend was pretty good. I had to dogsit again in PA and Friday night I went over CMM’s to watch a movie. He had rented “88 Minutes.” It was a pretty decent movie and right up my alley with the whole serial killer aspect. The only thing is it reminded of an episode of “Law & Order: SVU.” The funny thing is though, CMM doesn’t like horror/scary movies and the opening scene was a murder scene. I mentioned something about it looked like the bad guy was going to skin the victim and he quickly told me to stop talking. I was wrong though and she wasn’t skinned. At the end of the movie he said it wasn’t that bad but I did my best during the movie to keep him distracted *wink*.

Saturday I went to the Orioles game with my sister. It was the last weekend for baseball and we wanted to show our support for the last place Orioles. We rocked the black and orange with pride in an attempt to make “The Fan Of The Game” on the big screen. We didn’t win, some losers with only a poster won instead. Know what they won? A 29 game ticket package for next season. Do you know how jealous I am? Extremely jealous. Amazingly the O’s managed to pull out a win and end the 10 game losing streak. The game was cut short though due to rain. Normally I hate rain shortened game but in this case, I have no problems with it!

I scored some really awesome Orioles tickets for July 5th. How awesome? I’m talking Section 14 Row BB. I know, those numbers and letters don’t mean much. Here’s a visual!

Pretty sweet right? What’s even better is they didn’t cost me a thing. I received them from the UPS Rep. that we work with at my job. Of course the best part is the fact I’ll have Brian Roberts in my view the entire time. That’s where the mission part of the title comes in.

Ya’ll remember how I stood in line for 2.5 hours to meet Brian Roberts and with only two rows left until my moment of pure bliss, time ran out and all I got was a lousy signed photocard? Yes, I’m still bitter over it. Anyway, I figure July 5th will be the perfect chance to correct the wrong that happened at Orioles Fanfest. See, before the games many of the players will sign autographs for the fans. Normally I’m not near the dugout and don’t arrive early enough to sneak down into the lower sections to try and snag one. I figure since I’m down in that area this time, I should be able to get the autograph of my Baseball Boyfriend. I plan on arriving early to the Yard and waiting patiently for my moment. I just hope I don’t freeze up or say something beyond stupid. The chances of both of those things happening is pretty high. I’d give it a 90% chance.

Here are some pictures I’ve taken of my Baseball Boyfriend.

Of course if ya’ll don’t hear back from me after the game it means that either…

A. We ran off together and got married
or
B. I was arrested for running on the field.

I think that’s what our record was for softball. I know we only won two games but I lost track of how many we lost.

I don’t understand why we did this badly. We’re a good team. We have good players. We just end up killing ourselves with stupid mistakes like throwing the ball around, making errors and walking too many people. I know I’ve made mistakes and missed plays. All I can do, or anyone can do, is just try harder next time and try not to let it happen again. Plus it doesn’t help when some of your players rarely show up. I know life happens but there’s no excuse for not letting someone know in advance. Don’t want until the day of the game to say something. It’s almost impossible to find a replacement in that amount of time.

The good news is the Summer League starts soon. We get to start fresh and work on our weak points. The even better news is that I’m an awesome talent scout. I was able to get Cute Lab Guy from work to play on the team. He played last night and had about three homeruns and he can cover some turf in the outfield. He was pretty good. I wish I would’ve known about his ability earlier in the season but hey, we’ll have him for the Summer. I’m going to start working on my own weak points as well. I need to work on my speed and my hitting some more. My hitting improved this season but I know it can get even better. The team plans on having some practices and perhaps a few practice games as well. I know if we all focus we can become a better team.

The keyword up there was “focus.” Like CMM mentioned at the bar last night, some people are more into the social aspect instead of the game. There’s nothing wrong with being social and having fun but at the sametime, who likes to lose 12 games? I don’t. You can have fun and still focus on the task at hand.

Blah. Here’s hoping for a better season.

That’s what one of my teammates told me yesterday. I had a shitty game. I screwed up easy plays. I made a horrible throw to first. I dropped two balls that were thrown to me at second. I made the last out of the inning at 3rd which is a big ass “No-No” in baseball/softball. Plus someone coughCMMcough wouldn’t throw the ball to me at times. Instead he’d try to be Mr. Superstar and attempt to make the harder play or do it all himself. Fucking ball hog.

As you can tell I’m highly upset at myself for having such a shitty game. I have no idea WTF was wrong with me. I know everyone has off days/nights but that doesn’t make it any better or easier to deal with. I know it’s just a game but it’s a game I enjoy and that I’m normally good at. I did have a few good hits but that doesn’t change the way I feel about my fielding.

The only good that came out of our loses was the other team bought us two pitchers of beer and I ran into a guy who looked like a hotter Johnny Knoxville. The bad news is he’s married. The other good news is I used being pissed off, bruised and sore as an excuse to call out of work today. Hey, if you have the time, use it!

Ever since I started softball a few weeks ago I keep finding new mystery bruises. I’m pretty sure they’re from softball since I seem to get hit by the ball atleast once a game. I still have the bruise on my ankle from last week but I’m surprised I didn’t get a bruise on my chest. I think I have a bruise, it’s just not visable because it does hurt. Then yesterday I got hit in my left ankle and this one hurts like a bitch. I swear, I’m like a magnet or something! I actually blammed it on the hat I was wearing. The first two games I didn’t wear a hat and I didn’t get hit. Last week I wore a hat and was nailed twice and yesterday I wore a hat for part of the game and when I was wearing it? Yup, you guessed it! Once I took the hat off I didn’t get hit anymore and I actually made a play!

Yesterday I walked about 5 times because the pitcher just couldn’t pitch to me for some reason. I know I’m short but I’ve never walked that many times in a game. I did mange to squeeze out a few hits, even a double. I’m starting to hit better and farther. Even CMM noticed which is a nice thing. Now if I can just stop getting hit all would be well.

Here are a few pictures from last week.

Yes! It happened.

Last Thursday (4/17) I was driving home listening to the country station when the DJ said he had a big annoucement about someone being at the Orioles game. Since I was going to the game that night, I was extra interested. After a few more songs the DJ comes back on and has someone on the phone who was at Camden Yards. He was saying that Kenny Chesney was at the Yard, taking part in batting practice and signing autographs! I’m like, why the hell is he at an Orioles game? Even Oriole fans aren’t going to Orioles game. The guy goes on to explain that Kenny is friends with our first baseman, Kevin Millar! I should’ve been able to put 2 and 2 together because Kevin’s intro music when he comes up to bat is “Summertime” by Kenny.

Of course when I get home my sister is going on about Kenny being there and all that. We head down to the Yard and find our seats (which were kick ass by the way, you’ll see in the pictures). We’re watching the players stretch and the field being prepped when I notice Millar (he’s easy to spot because he wears his socks over his pants) coming out of the dugout area and he’s with a short guy in a hat. It’s Kenny Freaking Chesney. They were taking some pictures it looked like for the news or something.

Anyway, he did a little signing (we weren’t close enough), talked with some fans and players and then disappeared. I’m thinking he probably left or headed up to a box but nope! He came out and threw the first pitch before the game started! How awesome is that?

Enough babbling, here are some pictures!

I’ve passed my goal for the MD SPCA March For The Animals. It’s not reflected online because I have a good amount of offline donations. That doesn’t mean you can’t still donate! Just follow this link. The walk is on Sunday! How exciting! Again, I thank everyone who donated and helped out!

Yesterday I had softball and we lost both of our games. In the course of the games I managed to pull muscles in my left leg, get nailed in my right ankle and get hit in the chest by a grounder that took a bad hop. I’m not one to whine about getting hit by balls. I don’t ask to be taken out or to sit an inning or whatever. I’m there to play no matter what. Now, if I get knocked out there’s nothing I can do about that.

This year we have a new guy on the team who took it upon himself to tell me, since I’m a girl, to get out of the way of hard hit balls. Excuse me? You want me to give up a hit because I’m a girl and might get hurt? He had no idea who he was talking to because I kinda went off on him. I told him if I was scared of getting hurt, I wouldn’t be there. I wouldn’t be playing co-ed ball if I was that worried about injuries. Shit happens and you deal with it. I just couldn’t believe he said what he did to me. I’ve played softball since I was 5. I’m an aggressive player. It’s how I was taught and it’s how I’ll always play, no matter what. It actually annoys me when girls don’t play hard and just half ass it. If you’re going to come out, you might as well give it your all!

I’m still fucking pissed off and this happened yesterday. Blah.

Someone asked this question on a board I post at and I thought I’d throw it out there to my fellow bloggers. You can answer in the comments or if you like, you can even make your own post about it. The original question was just thrown out to the women on the board but I’m throwing this out there to everyone.

I think one of the best compliments I received was last year around 4th of July. During a softball game I made a really awesome play at 2nd base. It looked like something a Pro would do. Seriously, I’m not trying to “toot my own horn” but it was really amazing and I surprised myself by being able to complete the play. At the time of the play everyone was cheering and shocked that not only did I stop the ball, but I was able to throw the runner out as well. I made the throw from behind 2nd base on the outfield grass. I know to some that’s not much but for someone who’s small like me and doesn’t have an amazing arm, it was something else. After the game some of us went to the bar and while we were there I ran into the guy who I got out. He was an older guy and someone who’s probably played for awhile. He told me it was one of the greatest plays he’s ever seen, by a woman or a man. To hear that not only from someone on the other team but from the person who I got out, really meant something. It meant that it wasn’t just “great” in my head or whatever but that other people thought it was too.

I’ve always thought I was an above average softball player but this kinda validated it. I think it’s the best compliment I’ve ever received because it had nothing to do with my looks or with some guy just trying to get into my pants. This man was sincere and meant every word he said. This compliment had to do with my abilities, not my physical appearence and I think those are some of the best type of compliments.

What about you? What was the best compliment you’ve ever received?