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Take away the gulls

Posted on by June 16, 2017  

For those who aren’t familiar with the location of the Oakland Coliseum let me just let you know that is is not all that far from the Oakland docks and water front. Which means there is a seagull problem on the occasional day.

Someone came up with a brilliant solution. It works, but they didn’t think it all the way through.

But first –

But first – this is NYC vs As with a guest appearance from the Quakes

Now, back to the gulls – or not –

up in the sky

and a closer look –

Besides the usual crew in RF149 – we were visited by Stomper & Q.

The challenge on the pest control front turned out to be a small amount of lack on understanding on the As part. Once it is dark, falcons normally don’t fly. But the presence of the Falcon kept away all the swallows. Now, moths are better than seagulls but still….

The As fielding was good, the batters were hitting. Frankly, the pitching sucked. The early lead was given away and it was a struggle after that. I was completely wiped and left after nine innings with the score tied. The next inning took forever. In fact I was almost at North Berkeley when the run scored by the Yankees in the top of the tenth was overcome by Khris Davis actually coming through and scoring two runs for a win. (you know Khris – the one who struck out in the top of the ninth in Florida with the bases loaded and two outs? The one who did the same earlier this game?)

It was time for sleep and planning on my escape after the game tomorrow to avoid the fireworks crowds…

Defeat from

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

the jaws of potential victory.

It seems like the As pitchers just can’t stand to have a winning streak. After the previous two good games, the As pitching left a bit to be desired. Of course, the starting pitcher didn’t get hung with the loss because he was not the idiot who proceeded to deliver balls that turned into Blue Jay home runs.

I didn’t see the end of the game. For Oakland it was cold and the wind was blowing. For once common sense applied and I left after 8 innings when the score was tied. I didn’t have to watch the As lose and I didn’t spend money on another sweatshirt or jacket since I had stupidly left mine at home.

Had a lovely evening spent with The Eldest and Ms Runner where they tried out three recipes from a new cookbook and I had a chance to haul the Spiral Fractal from where it was languishing and add a few stitches.

no t-shirt needed

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

seriously. I am not whining that badly. I don’t need a t-shirt that says “my husband went to Vienna and all I got was….”

Instead, I spent a day running errands before heading to the Coliseum for the game. For a change I decided not to even think about the Food Truck Mafia  and both ate a late lunch and packed munchies.  The game was great, our section made more than enough noise for the rest of the stadium (Canadian Fans are polite – what can I say?) and Healy hit two home runs – responsible for all five of the As runs.  The As pulled off a win, in spite of the closing pitcher managing to turn batters into base runners before finally getting the last out.

I forgot the baseball tonight – which explains why I ran into the Toronto couple on my way back to BART. Where were they tonight? Oh – they attempted to sit up on Deck 3 to get an overview, but nothing was accessible. The box office said the seats were, so they spent the first couple of innings getting back down and getting seated else where. Everyone was so embarrassed  that they comp’d them tickets for tomorrow game.

Oh! Where can I find you?

Section 105 – or if that doesn’t work – 111.

Ok – and I explained about wanting to pass on the baseball.

I was pretty tired by the time I arrived back at North Berkeley complete with my armload of banners.*

*RF 149 usually puts up banners. We also use them to block off seats for the flag wavers. Most of the rest of the crew won’t be able to arrive till right before the 1235 start tomorrow. I can come early.

He goes to Vienna

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

and all I get is a baseball game.

It could be worse, much worse.  I am thinking a four day turnaround involving plane changes in both directions and a nine hour time zone difference would be more challenge that I really want.  Now, if I could stay a couple of weeks and travel around…..

Never mind.

Instead, I entertained myself my going to the game.  I have taken to going in the ADA gate since it is the closest to where I sit, easily found from BART and has the advantage of avoiding completely both ramps and steps. On those days where I am short of breath going down ramps is fine, it is coming back up that is the …..

Anyway, there are a number of us hanging out in line waiting for the security people to decide that it is ok to check us in while the lines at both main gates have been entering for the last few minutes. Next to me in line is a couple from Toronto.  As I understood, they were on vacation the location of which just happened to be San Francisco. And they just happened to go to the Blue Jays games at AT&T Park over the weekend and have planned to come to the Coliseum for today and the next couple of days. I think I see a pattern here. Perhaps the vacation days just happened to be when they could catch their home team in two stadiums? In any case, they were going to be headed up to Section 221 to catch the game.

Hanging out early and watching in the Jay’s batting practice a few balls were tossed up into our section. One landed on the overhang just below where we sit. There is an engineering minded guy in the group. When he come back from finding food he takes out his lightbulb changer, fixes the basket to the end of his flag and easily collects the errant ball. I figure – why not? Taking off to find the Blue Jay’s fan – I check in 221. Nope, not accessible. Not in 220 or 210 – the two areas on second level where you can wheel in. While I was at it, I checked 111 figuring that as the sensible alternative. Nada, and no one claimed to have seen an avid Blue Jays middle aged male fan wheeling along like mad.

Took the ball home and am planning on trying the next couple of games.

Oh – the As actually managed to win it! 4:1 in spite of the Blue Jays by far out hitting the As.

Heartbreaking

Posted on by June 8, 2017  

The final score today was Washington Nationals (your might just remember them as the Montreal Expos)

Nationals 11, Athletics 10

FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9      R H E (24-32)

WSH   0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 5      11 11 0

OAK    0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 6      10 10 0

It was painful for all of the As fans. To lead for a number of innings, then have your pitcher get tired. Then to tie it up. Then to have the relief pitcher lose it. Then to come back a run. Then to have your next relief pitcher really lose it. Sad when 6 runs in an inning just isn’t good enough.

Oh well. Tomorrow it is the Blue Jays. They aren’t doing much better than the As. Might actually be a chance to win a game!

George spent the day at the Berkeley Book Festival. I skipped it in favor of going to the game. Like I need to buy more books? He was with friends who we wound up joining for supper (after I zipped home and changed. Fan gear just doesn’t look great in a decent restaurant! )

 

 

 

It’s a long walk

Posted on by June 9, 2017  

AT&T Park

a long, long walk in fact from A T & T Park where the Giants play back to the Montgomery Street BART Station. I would put in a “long” for every one of those more than nine blocks, but even I would find it a bit much.

I enjoyed the game (would have taken Christian who is visiting to an As game out of preference but they are busy losing on their road trip) and didn’t mind at all that the Washington Capitals managed to out hit, out run, out pitch and out field the Giants. I am hoping that they get worn out before Friday when they come to my side of the Bay.

Meanwhile, it is late, just short of midnight since the other affect of lateness was having to change trains as well since the direct ones to Richmond don’t seem to run after ten.

More colors

Posted on by June 9, 2017  

to be added to the cross stitch and a few scarves to be made. Otherwise quiet here.

Oh – and amazingly enough, the Athletics actually managed to beat the Yankees 4:1. Couldn’t happen to a nicer team….

Spiral Progress

Posted on by May 29, 2017  

I’ve made some progress since the last time I showed you a picture –

 

24 May 2017

 

Jill and Graeme are on a plane this evening headed home.

The As actually managed to win a game. RF 149 managed to make a fair amount of noise in spite of being down more than a dozen of the regulars. The team is headed to NY tomorrow and resume play on Friday. I’m finishing up my freaking meds and glad of it as I am not being the worlds easiest person to be around at the present. I hate needles, I hate prednisone and I don’t appreciate becoming short of breath again.

crab, crab, crab….

Take me out to the

ball game, which is exactly what we did. Wandered around a bit during the day including a drive up to Grizzly Peak for a look over the city. Between the marine layer and the fog, everything wasn’t quite as clear as one would like. From there we went toward Richmond and the Rosie Museum followed by lunch at Assemble.

Since it was free parking Tuesday (thank you very much Chevy) it seemed more sensible to drive than to have four people taking BART only two of whom had discount cards. I had wanted to get there early, plenty of time for the Food Truck Mafia selections, lots of time to explain the game (George is good at explanations) and time to watch batting practice. As it turns out, the park now opens at 1630 on Tues for home games. Plenty of time to watch batting practice. And, of course, for the ball hogs to hang out in the bleachers and field anything that comes up that high. I can understand wanting a ball or two. But taking home 3, 4, 5 without sharing with the little kids is just beyond me.  But now I know who to avoid. It is not like I have the ability to catch anything, but still it would be nice….

Anyway, it was fun. Four drums, a horn, a whistle, three cowbells plus lots of fan noise. Oakland still managed to lose to the Marlins (11:9) but considering it was 18 hits to 9 hits, I was surprised the score wasn’t worse.

Pretty tired by the time I got home which should not be surprising at all…

 

And then it comes home to roost

Posted on by May 29, 2017  

The As had swept the series so far: 8:3, 3:2, and another 8:3 win.

But then it came home to roost. Errors from the field, stranding runners on base and a series of amazingly bad pitching from the mound led to a Sunday afternoon of watching the As go down 12:3.

It wasn’t that I was in a bad mood before this and my perspective had changed. This round of chemo has left me feeling slightly irritated and completely unfit to be around people.

Baseball fans don’t fall into the same category. The yelling and shouting along with noise making relieved a bit of the worst crabbiness.  It helped that George was willing to drive this evening to SFO where I picked up friends with whom I had stayed in Australia last year and spent time with on the Legend this year. Jill and Graeme did the short northern run TransPacific on the Millennium  which started in Japan and ended early this morning in Vancouver. I get to keep them till Wednesday when they head home via Aukland.

Did I mention that their plane doesn’t land till 2200?

Saturday afternoon at the ballpark

Posted on by May 23, 2017 2

The following information will be presented in the antiquated English weights and measurement system so favored by the US and rightfully ignored by the rest of the world.

Berkeley was a pleasant 70*F when Alex and I took the BART to the stadium. Oakland is warmer. We were on the flat, it was in the sun. The temps reached 88*F. Yes, it was warm and I had sunblock along with money, noisemakers and phone. Hats we didn’t have, so I wound up purchasing a couple as that kind of direct sun baking on my head would fry my few remaining brain cells.

Never mind – it was a great game. The As managed a 8:3 win. There were a lot of home runs (including a rookie 460 ft home run). Headed home. Crashed..

Round five

Posted on by May 23, 2017  

In which I got to the SFVA early, found out from the lab draw that I still had a few white cells left floating around my body and hung out for a number of hours of infusion. The good thing about a full day is that I finish in time to get the shuttle back to the BART. From there it is just a hop, skip and and jump to…

I had skipped last night’s baseball game as I was just really tired. Today however? It wasn’t even remotely within the possibility of going home. Instead, I watched a decent pitcher’s battle at the Oakland Coliseum with a great bunch of people. Saw Mark Canha pull off a homer in the bottom of the 10th to clinch the victory for the As, breaking the 2:2 tie. Beating the Red Sox. How lovely.

Long Days Journey to the Oakland Coliseum

Posted on by May 19, 2017  

We all know that I am totally insane right?

How else would you explain a flight before 0700 in the morning out of Barcelona.  That meant a cab at 0430 for the 20-30 minutes to the airport. Prompt check-in was followed by security (one person at a time thank you very much) and breakfast in the lounge. So there we all were, prompt at B26 for our flight. Except for the fact that the flight boarding was for Malaga, not Frankfurt. The phone beeps – you have a gate change to B26.

Oh, really? Meanwhile the announcement over the tannoy in Catalan and Spanish informs us of the gate change to B42. At least it is the same terminal. The crowd moves in mass and lines up once again. I notice a couple of minutes later that there is a “business line” that is empty. Lufthansa Sen right? I change lines not that it turns out to do much good since we all board a bus out to the plane.

This is where it gets really fun. There are two sets of stairs and everyone but five of us head to the front stairs. I am in row 15 which isn’t quite half way back (so I thought). Turns out there are 42 rows? Some would say celestial significance to the gate number. Me? I just can’t recognize the seating configuration from the outside. Nevertheless, it takes me no time to move forward and take my seat. Several minutes later a woman in another row starts taking bags out of the overhead compartment to put hers in where she wants. Not happy when I explain that I would prefer my bag be left (above my row) where I placed it. She is young and healthy – I have the steely glare and she backs down.

I love Frankfurt Airport. It is organized. It is well signed. You can go from Terminal A to Passkontrol to Terminal Z WITHOUT having to go through another security check. Seriously. Luggage checked through to final destination, only goods and services those provided by the airport. How civilized….

Please note – in spite of my header, the reason for coming back early is not to make the game but to make a couple of appointments at the SFVA on Friday morning.

Other than getting sent in the lower level (380s have two levels, being upstairs is lovely) and having a discussion with old of the cabin attendants, boarding went smoothly. The food was good, the flight comfortable. Didn’t get any sleep but that was fine. The lovely niot so young pregnant woman I wound up spending time with was interesting. Resolving anxiety (her, the cabin attendants) and that we had no need to drop her off in Greenland was more than worth the loss of a nap.

Arriving in SFO, I used the Mobil passport app and was 10 minutes from plane to baggage claim. Wish I could say that my luggage arrived in less than an hour. By the time I made North Berkeley I was wiped.

After all of that, I went to sleep rather than to the game…

Five bikes, 2 strollers

Posted on by April 23, 2017  

and disgruntled fans between them.

What am I talking about, you might ask? Why am I doing a take-off on a Paul & Storm Song? Specifically – Six Guys, Ten Teeth?  If you aren’t familiar – it is probably the ultimate country song – listen to it here.  In any case, this was the Lake Merritt BART station headed toward Richmond full of folks (it was Little League Day + Big Bear Diner’s Sock Give Away) who really couldn’t believe that the As, after winning three games in a row were really capable of losing 11-1 to the Seattle Mariner’s. That is right – 11 (count ’em) to 1. Needless to say, Triggs lost his good pitching record (six runs scored off him) and Alacantara managed to get an ERA in the four digits (yes, really – and only gave up 5 of the runs…).

So there we were, a crowded car full of As sort of fans on our way home, except for my seat mate who was headed home from OAK. She has good reading taste (The Hanging Tree – Aaronovich) and otherwise was attempting to ignore those pushing and crowding from the Coliseum station. We would have been fine except for the five bikes, two strollers and standing passengers who really didn’t understand that leaning up against the section clearly marked “Bikes HERE” was not the most intelligent decision they ever made. These were polite bicyclists with helmets, vests, lights and requests to please let them get the bikes up against the wall.

I was relieved that half the train emptied out in Berkeley so that it was possible to get to the exit at my stop and to note that the next home game isn’t till 5 May.

George has been sending lovely photos from sunny Italy (Sicily) which I am ignoring in favor of planning out my next few days (stop at the sewing machine place, clean a closet, sew, and oh, yes, go back to the SFVA again on Wednesday.

Saturday, at the park

Posted on by April 23, 2017  

and it was most than lovely.

The food was good, the friends fine and the As managed to win their game by getting three runs in the first inning and managing not to blow either the fielding or pitching too badly after that. The final score was OAK 4 – SEA 3. Please note, the Mariners actually had 9 hits to the As 4. Go figure.

The RF149 section count today was four flags, three drums, three cowbells, triangles, jingles and a lot of yelling. Oh, yes, and banners across the entire front. Several of the fans are die hards, planning to drive to Stockton after the game for the evening game there (Asparagus Day with Sonny Gray pitching). Seems to me a long drive.

I caught the first BART out, then waited at Lake Merritt. As I was standing there, a guy came running past with a backpack. Behind him an elderly gentleman was screaming “stop thief.” Me? I can’t run right now without going on my face and I was too slow to stick out a foot. But another fan, complete with yellow jersey took off after him and captured the dude by 2/3 of the way down the platform. The train, which had been about to leave, waited. The dude, having tossed the pack right as he was caught was arguing to leave. The security guy who apparently saw the whole thing on camera came down to hold him till the police came. Meanwhile, the rest of us picked up all the scattered belongings. The older guy just wanted his stuff and headed back to the train (he also had a suitcase…).

We all congratulated the Good Samaritan; mentioning that he was a whole lot faster than Billy Butler (well on second thought, I am faster than Billy Butler with zero cardiac reserve at the moment). Probably faster than Khris Davis who can hit but doesn’t seem to throw or run. In any case, a good citizen was much appreciated by all.

I ran out of steam by the end of the afternoon and an early supper at the Eldest turned into me crashing for the evening. Since she was home, the cats pretty much let me sleep….

they actually

Posted on by April 18, 2017  

won tonight’s game which went a significant way toward repairing my attitude.

Said attitude had been going from ok this morning through suckworthy to marginally tolerable. None of it was anyone’s fault which made it that more difficult for me. Things happened, schedules had to be changed and somehow my brain decided that it was all designed just to make my life miserable.

And no, I am not on steroids – not till Thursday. I took myself off to sulk in peace for a few hours and avoided inflicting my mood on anyone else. While I was at it, I stopped at Apple, replaced the broken screen on my phone (first time ever in 21 years of dealing with handi’s) and my watch band while I was at it.

Still made the game on time. RF 149 wasn’t as crowded tonight, but we had 5-6 flags, an extra snare drum, + 2 cow bells and my tambourine so it was all good.  It was the four runs in the 6th inning that made all the difference. None of the relief pitchers gave away the game this time and the fielders limited themselves to one error.

Tomorrow’s game starts at 1235. Don’t think it will be all that well attended. Most of the world still seems to be stuck going to offices or school……

Occasionally not stupid

Posted on by April 17, 2017  

There are those days where I can astonish even myself. Not on being bright, no claims there. Rather, the rare time according to everyone around me when common sense prevails.

I have mentioned the season ticket to the Right Field Diehards section? AKA the right field bleachers section 149 at the Oakland Coliseum? Yesterday’s game was rained out, actually called early enough to spare most fans the trip to the park. The visiting Astro’s by rumor went to the Warrior’s game. Anyway, Noah & I didn’t stop while on our way home fron OAK. The lucky kids avoided having to haul my suitcase along with his while I made a frolic and detour.

Tonight it was chilly and had been raining off and on for most of the day. I was planning on going to the game, I really was. Early afternoon I was tempted by a nap. I awoke with plenty of time and a new tambourine (thank you Amazon).  Then I really thought about it. Barely two days without a fever. Sitting outside, in the cold.

Yes, I can be nuts, but elected not to be stupid. I watched the A’s lose on George’s iPad, comfy with my pillows and duvet.

I’ll go tomorrow night

 

Projects update

Posted on by April 8, 2017 4

It seems much more reasonable to update you on my fiber projects than to discuss the As horrible performance in Texas last night. It takes some kind of talent to lose a game 10:5. Obviously the pitchers weren’t doing well as the home runs added up. The only positive I can draw is that the Giants also lost (Schadenfreude).

It also avoids me having to talk about not sleeping much last night so that staggering out of bed around 0330 this morning was less that thrilling. There is a reason that the early morning flights are cheap. Even Southwest had 40 empty seats on the plane. It also avoids the entertainment of getting through TSA. I went through the PreCheck lane which didn’t help at all when they looked at my cooler bag containing five pre-filled syringes which need to stay cold.

Is it gel?

No, ice. Spent the night in my freezer. You are welcome to look inside or feel around, but I can’t afford to have the meds warm up. Five minutes of fishing around and I think the guy finally figured out that I was harmless. Meanwhile, Noah asked about security measures and was ignored in a different lane. Then they got all upset when he hadn’t taken off his shoes or taken out his laptop. Please note the complete absence of signage….

I hates needles.

Anyway – on the needles –

More importantly – tomorrow I get back to Fractured Time – since I now have all the colors and didn’t want to take the Flower Spray off the floor stand

26 March 2017

 

After listening to the game through the bottom of the 9th, we went downstairs to grab a sandwich. A’s won; the Giants didn’t.

email interupted

Posted on by April 7, 2017 16

I heard in no uncertain terms last night from Zandra that there are those who get worried when they don’t hear from me for a couple of days. There are those who stop by every few days and read, but, as I should have recalled – 19 years of sending out email means that people get used to me supplying news without having to go look for it.

So mea culpa.  I have been posting on the blog. It has mostly been about the As this week since there were games Mon-Thurs with the series split 2:2.  None of which made getting up this morning and catching the early BART and shuttle to the VA any easier. The plan was blood work, but I really appreciate my nurse. When she asked me how I was doing, I had to answer honestly – crappy since Monday. The previous two cycles I was on the way up after getting off the flicking prednisone which meant I could blame it for everything. This time not so much. It wasn’t the fatigue (ok, the fatigue didn’t help) it was more the issues with getting short of breath climbing a flight of stairs. Feeling dizzy really didn’t help either. Spent a lovely discussion with the most excellent nurse practitioner who confirmed that exam wise I was ok and not chemically out of whack.

My white count was another matter. I had skipped the neutrophil stimulator this time in hopes of avoiding headaches. Wound up finding that headaches are much better than having essentially no white cells. I am the queen of hand sanitizer.  I hate wearing a mask in public but don’t see avoiding it as an option.  And, I get to take five self-injectors along in a really cool lunch bag to try to boost my immune system over the next few days.

Did I mention that I am headed for LA in the morning? And not going to get together with anyone (wahhhhh) to avoid picking up colds, flus and community acquired anything? Noah is going with me. Planning on a quiet day after early arrival.

Any how, George made it safely back before the weather closed in again. Then he was delayed getting out of the airport which meant that I wound up taking it all out on him. Morning at the VA. Hour of bumpy bus ride, catching the BART to find out when I got to North Berkeley more than 100 minutes after I had left the VA and he had landed that he was just getting on BART. Something about charging his phone and a conference call. All his fault – he is supposed to read my mind. Right?

 

And a Win!

Posted on by April 7, 2017  

StomperUnlike the last two games, there was both good pitching and some I passive hitting as the As pulled off a victory.

As an afternoon game, there were no where near as many people. There was still an active group in RF149. It seems like the LA fans object to us, calling in to the online radio crew about hearing drums, chants and noise makers in the background. Since they are the only fan group that seems to complain, we are ignoring them. What wasn’t getting ignored today was the rain.

Rain

 

Or the food trucks.  Someone had the brilliant idea of inviting the Foodtruck Mafia to set up on game days. We now have 4-9 food trucks with a great variety of goodies.  The Mex Truck yesterday was even willing to make me a cheese quesadilla even tho it wasn’t on the menu.

then we had the visitors

 

Stomper

which also included an on air reporter who wanted the history behind the Right Field fan group. It was interesting listening to a tradition that dated back to several members parents, their childhoods and a general glee in enjoying the game.

Otherwise, I am starting, almost, to fell like a human being again but it hadn’t been a good time. Going to have to talk to my doc about moving up scans and dropping one of my chemo meds. Killing off the lymphoma is what is planned.  I can’t afford cardiac loss; we live on a flipping hill.

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