RBP

Random Baseball Photo (potentially interesting, probably blurry, always random)

Oh, fabulous. Fuzzy, but - hey, we did win this one!

Big moon

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Last weekend, the moon was so big and bright that I woke the spouse (or tried to, at least) to see it. Really beautiful. Despite another recent 'lunar' post, I'm not much of a night sky watcher these days; we live so close to the city that we see only the general pink haze most evenings. But as I turned out lights to go upstairs and found I could still find my way perfectly without them, this big moon stopped me in my tracks. After giving up on getting the spouse to come see, a cat and I hung out for a little while, soaking up the moonlight.

In the morning, I read that the moon's orbit brought it closer than it has been in 15 years. That whole thing about "living in the moment" makes a little more sense now. Pretty awesome.

Drafted

The household is pleased to announce that the 2009 draft was completed this past Sunday. A full slate of games was selected and pre-season trading is expected to get underway shortly.

In business news, household commodity analysts recommend decisive action to secure the portfolio, issuing a strong "Buy" on Teixeira. Industry concensus on Dunn, however, is a guarded "Are you serious? Pass."

The household "accu-whether" service is calling for a 60% chance of cheering, hampered only by the lingering presence of GM Bowden. If Bowden maintains current strength and heads in a decision-making direction, fans can expect the impact to be felt throughout the season, with scattered to heavy frustration of up to 50%. Our forecast also shows a 70 to 80% chance of light to mild grousing, with southwesterly gusts of cursing in innings 6 through 9.

Powerball lottery quick picks for the number of games Nick Johnson will play before incurring his 2009 season-ending injury are: 4, 6, 12, 15 and 24.

Also, we want Rauch back. And can someone wash Screech? That is one FOUL FOWL. P.U.!

(c) miws is a writer for travel-lightly.blogspot.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. All works herein are copyrighted and may be transmitted with credit to the travel-lightly network. :)

Snow

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Snow?! It doesn't snow here in December!

(And yes, that dusting totally qualifies as snow, especially where local drivers - including me, I confess - are concerned.)
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Celestial!

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Beautiful night. :) Not a fancy photo, but beautiful night nonetheless.

The moon, Venus and Jupiter!
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Mini-holiday

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There are few things as relaxing as a day at the beach. :)

the spoils of October 11

to.c

Excuuuuuuse me

Someone took objection to the first set of photos. :-D

Time travel

Today's photo is brought to you courtesy of the 80s.

Wow.

Leafy

Caution

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Boy, were there ever!

Vibes

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.Sending good vibes your way, D.

Whirled series

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Worn out by rain delay. Couldn't decide who to root for.

Good mood

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No special occasion. Any day is a good day with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
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Solitude

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The spouse set out to enjoy a leisurely holiday hike along the Potomac, but was joined by "about a thousand other people" on the Billy Goat Trail.

He calls this photo, "Ah, much better now!"

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Extra happy

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One day on the way home from my sister's, we saw a bright triple rainbow, much brighter than we could capture with our simple camera. It seemed a fitting close to a lovely day.

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Pondering

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We still haven't had the get-up-and-go to sort out where we'll be headed, but the wheels are turning a little better now. Something simple and relaxing would do nicely.

Forward

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.To do: Sort out destination for next adventure.

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Taste of heaven

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Ben's Chili Bowl is the BEST. Even the car's GPS system knew it by name.
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More humor

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Rookie hazing. Welcome to the bigs, Estrada!

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Humor

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This strikes us as very funny. Nomar's #1 fan!

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LAD fans

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This photo is from the August 28, 2008 baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the LA Dodgers. Despite the Dodgers' loss to the Nats, these two true blue fans were looking on the bright side. The spouse offered to take their photo with their camera (and did), but after I showed him this one, he pronounced it much better than the one he took. We weren't able to catch up to them, but maybe they'll find their way here. Way funny.

red beard. los angeles dodgers

Night sky

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Simple

NYC, 2005

In the middle of the park, in the middle of the city, on a warm summer day, this little one took his bath unperturbed by all the goings-on around him. Ah, simple pleasures! Dusty, but simple.

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Perspective

Peru, 2006

Walking in the Andes ... fresh air, fresh perspective on life.

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Birthday

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Happy day! Which is it, Ringo Starr or Toulouse Lautrec? And yes, I can read the hat. But it still looks like Ringo to me. Hope you have a great day!
=^-^=

Next time

Good effort, P-Nats. Better game next time.

Birthday

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It's your day! I hope it is wonderful, just like you. =^-^=

Nook who?

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Willie Harris has great hustle and great attitude. It was serious fun to sit in the outfield and see him make some key plays.

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Habit

Tokyo

This is the fellow (in the blue shirt) who arrived promptly to work every morning, bright and early, and proceeded to change his pants. At his desk. In front of the window. With the blinds open. Who needs modesty when one has anonymity? Not this guy! After all, it's just business.

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Festivals

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It's one of those late summer evenings, perfect for strolling through a county fair or town festival. Although this photo at Ueno Park was taken in the spring, it still has the same good vibe of brilliant sights and pleasant weather.

Tokyo, 2007

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Sight-seeing

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The view from the Tokyo Tower, April 2007.

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RBP

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Random Baseball Photo (potentially interesting, probably blurry, always random)

I nearly got the coolest photo during this game. Byrnes was biting his shirt. Can't remember why I didn't get the shot, but there you are. Also can't believe we beat them in a doubleheader today. Bet they get us back next weekend.
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Family

Sacred Valley, Peru, 2006

We were walking along a dirt path, high in the Andes, when we encountered this family huddled close to a stone wall. It was hard to resist scooping up a fuzzy duckling, but mama duck is no doubt very fast with that strong bill of hers.

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Mossy

Kyoto, 2007

I'd much rather have a garden of moss than anything needing mowing.

Symmetry

Enroute to Kyoto, 2007

We loved the beauty of clean patterns and simple order.

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Restful space

Enroute to Kyoto, 2007

I'm a big fan of traveling by train. It opens up a view of life that we don't usually get to see. While many photos come out blurry or with a tree or post or pole in the middle of them (I think that's my special gift, to capture such photos), sometimes there's a photo that is either entirely grand, or grand in a small way.

We like this one's geometry and earthy tones. And beyond the very obvious vegetable garden, there's a modest "thinking" one just beyond. The photo is too grainy to clearly make out its composition, but the elements are there: wood, water, earth, stone. A single chair awaits, inviting rest and introspection. Nothing too grand, but certainly worth some thought on its own.

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Pretending

.California, 2004

Still pretending we're in Point Reyes. It's working; I feel more relaxed already!

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Breathe

California, 2004

Mostly what we need is to just breathe a little more deeply, walk a little more slowly, treat each other with a little more kindness, so that we can all live more completely. Can't be all that hard, can it?

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Summer holiday

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This would do nicely.

Everglades, 2005

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Mental travel

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Some places you don't even need to return to, to remember vividly.

Tulum is like that. The heat, the sun, the smell of the salt sea air, the sensation of sand and limestone crunching underfoot. The rustling of lizards, and nearer El Castillo, the call of birds as they dart in and out of the cool recesses. The thickness of humidity momentarily cast off by an ocean breeze. The sudden and fleeting clarity brought by a draught of fresh water.

And everywhere, the solid, stylized architecture, intricately crafted in carved stone, its roughness smoothed with plaster and stories scribed in earthy pigment.

Tulum, Mexico, 2005
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Yes, it's easy to remember quite clearly. Somehow that makes us want to return all the more.

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Summertime

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It's nearly hummingbird time.

Santa Fe, 2005

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Parking aplenty

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There's no trouble finding a parking spot in Tokyo...
if your car is about the size of a cafe table, that is.

Tokyo, 2007
-click photo to enlarge-

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Close to home

.Peru, 2006

No photo could ever really do the Urubamba Valley justice, but this one gives just a hint of its other-worldliness (tall asparagus included).

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Happy 4th!

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Quote

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"C'mon. Somebody make this game interesting."
- A little kid a couple rows back at last night's game.

Seriously.

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Dominated

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At least no one gave up, other than the Oriole fan in the push-up contest.

And the folks were happy. That does make it all worthwhile.

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Victory!!

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Wow. Surprising. But GREAT!

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Look, Ma, on time!

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I was even five minutes early! Really exciting.

So this is what 6am looks like.

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