Six Word Saturday

Projects done,

Rangers doubleheader,

Summer's here!

I promise this will not become a baseball blog over the summer months.  It is just really exciting that my boys are actually winning and sticking with it this year.  I have said for too many years that they would go to the World Series when I was 80...it may happen a bit earlier. :)

Play Six Word with Cate...

Wordless Wednesday

Beautiful flowers Daigle sent to work as a "thank you" for the Triple Play ticket.

Before they opened...

Blooming!!

Date with Daigle and Ryan

I got an email about two weeks ago asking if I would be interested in attending the Texas Rangers Foundation Triple Play charity dinner.  I jumped at the chance.  Tickets normally run about $350, but this particular person bought a table of 10 and invited little old me, and a guest, to join them.

It was quite the debate on who to take with me.  Despite it being on King’s birthday, he is overseas all month for work.  So I came up with strict criteria…1. Male 2. Single 3. Know baseball 4. Be a fan of (or at least appreciate) the Rangers 5. Own a suit 6. Be able to behave at a dinner table and in front of VIPs.

So, I email Daigle, a buddy from high school.  I have not seen/spoken to him in four years, but he is a walking, talking Beckett book of Ranger facts, figures, and fan-demonium.  Honestly, he is a complete freak show when it comes to team stats.  I knew he would be excited and a bit hesitant as well.  I mean really, this old friend comes out of nowhere and offers you a $350 dinner … with your favorite people on earth … for free?  Hmmmm.

He takes the offer and picks me up.

On the way there I ask him if there is anyone he really wants to meet.  He mentions Nolan Ryan and I tell him I can guarantee to get him close enough to introduce himself.   (I have no shame doing that for other people.)  He promptly tells me he would “punch him in the face from sheer excitement.”  I get a little worried.  I mean I knew Daigle’s favorite number was 34 and his room was plastered with posters of Nolan in high school, but I guess I never really had a childhood hero like this before. (Pic below of what Nolan can do if someone comes after him.  Click for the video.)

We are told to take our seats, and we find the table which ends up being front and center.  There is another couple there and a lovely woman standing alone.  We all introduce ourselves with first names and sit.  Daigle looks at me, eyes about to pop out of his head, and tells me the woman is Nolan Ryan’s wife.  I just smile.  Tom Hicks and his wife Cinda then join us at the table as well.  Then Derek Holland joins us.  (He is our new, fresh pitcher we drafted from junior college 2 years ago and just brought up to play this year.  God, I hope he can turn our pitching around!)

There is one empty chair.  It is at Daigle’s immediate left.

He looks at me in a burst of bridled giddiness I could never describe and forces out, “Is he going to sit next to me?”  I just laugh.  He tells me his hands are shaking and sure enough I look down to see a grand mal seizure going on from wrist to fingertip.  Before we knew it, Mr. Ryan was shaking our hands and saying “nice to meet you”.  I thought Daigle was going to pass out.  It was SO FREAKING COOL!! They were all incredibly nice and funny to boot!  After dinner, the players entertain everyone with a round of Fielder’s Feud.  It is like Family Feud, but the “families” are the Infielders vs. the Outfielders.  Pretty.  Stinkin’.  Funny.  Next up was a lovely serenade of "Afternoon Delight" by the rookies in full '70s Anchorman attire.  Ballplayers in tight pants, platform heels, and singing = greatness.  Elvis Andrus with maracas is quite possibly the most entertaining thing I have seen in a long time.  

Then there was a Guys and Dolls (the theme of the evening) battle of the sexes game with the players and their wives.  Dolls won.  Not surprising!

I did not get pictures with any of the players because of where I was sitting.  I did not think it would be a good idea to turn into a swooning, blubbering, psycho fan in 9/10 of a second, but I did get a baseball autographed by Michael Young and Josh Hamilton.  Seriously…they are all so kind!! 

Josh Hamilton 1 Peter 2:24  He has an incredible story!!

Michael Young

Needless to say, the evening was FANTASTIC and will remain one of the greatest nights of my life for…well…pretty much forever.  It was an added bonus that I got to witness Daigle meet his “all-time idol,” and no, he did not punch him.  

Got a little story for ya...

...but it will have to wait until later in the week.  I AM SOOOO SORRY!  I know I have completely neglected my poor, sweet blog and all of my blogiverse friends, but it has been crazy with a capital K around here.  There really is a good story coming, but in order to do it justice it will have to wait.  I have a HUGE project due at work this week so I am off to work for another 3-4 hours.  Yes, that will make my first all-nighter for work since college.  Damn me and my procrastination skills!

Winner of a losing night

Early last week I was talking to a guy I have been hanging out with for a few months, King. I asked if he wanted to go see Bob and Jillian at HOB. He said he would let me know. Never a good sign, but I was going regardless.

So, he calls the next day and tells me he landed “some pretty decent” Ranger tickets for the same night. Oh my quandary!! Thankfully he understands the incredibly difficult position he put me in and told me to think about it. I opt for the Rangers and hope to make it to the HOB.

At no point during the week did I ask him where the seats were because 1. I think that is rude and 2. I am, admittedly, a section snob. I like my first base line Lexus seats, dang it!

As we approach our highway exit I ask what section we are in so I know where to park…yes, I have that memorized. He replies, “section 31”.  I am instantly aware that this is in front of the on-deck circle and am trying not to freak out. When we enter the park (always a cool feeling for me) he starts to lead us to the seats. We start walking down the stairs. And walk. And walk. And walk.  All the way down to the 5th row! Holy crap! 

King is still new to my life so I am keeping my freak out as internal as possible, but let me tell you, it is cracking. When we sit down I ask him if he knows who is directly in front of me. He looks and says no. I explain that it is the owner of the team. Then I ask if he knows who is directly in front of him. Again, he looks and replies in a negative. I tell him it is Nolan Ryan.  He seems a little shocked that I could recognize both from behind. Again, he is new. HELLO! SUPER FAN!!

Ian Kinsler on-deck and David Murphy at bat.

Hank Blalock--a fav of mine since I graduated.

Toward the end of the game I wave to some folks that sit on the VERY front row. She flags me down to the seats and asks if we want to sit there because they are “heading out”.  WHAT?! ARE YOU KIDDING? I tell her no because I thought it was the right thing to do, but end up taking the offer since she and her husband would not be there with us. After the game there are fireworks and…here is the highlight…

The security guard comes and invites King and me ON. TO. THE. FIELD. to watch them! Again, I hesitate but take the offer. Do not worry. I stop myself from jumping up and down, running the bases, and making a grass angel in the outfield. The fireworks were nice, I guess. Did not really pay much attention to them. Can you blame me?!

On-deck circle

To top off the night, King was kind enough to go to the Bob concert after my minor, giddy, jumping, clapping, giggle fest while walking to the car. He even danced at Bob. What the heck? This was honestly an evening that NEVER happens in my life, but boy am I glad it happened once.  I will not have that opportunity again, but dang it, it was incredible. I am so glad I remembered my camera for this one!
Sadly, the Rangers lost that night, but won the next two games of the series. By the way, those that know me in real life can probably totally picture that giddy freak out in the parking lot after the game. ;)

Six Word Saturday

Amazing Race audition...wish me luck!

I cannot tell you how badly I want this!!  I have never missed an episode and could totally win!  Participate in Six Word with Cate.

**Update**

DAMN YOU SWINE FLU!!  The audition interviews were postponed because of this darn thing!  Too bad we did not get word of this little fact until we drove all the way out to the location.  C'est la vie...