h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

WooHoo! I'm finally getting to watch a game in the new Busch Stadium. This will be my third Cardinals stadium. My Cardinals shirts are all old and faded, so I even ordered a new shirt to wear. Not a big deal to most folks on h2g2, but I thought you'd understand that it's a big deal to me.

And, I may get to actually live out one of the major items on my things to do before I die list, which is to visit every major league ballpark. My new fellow is a rabid baseball fan. He thinks it's a terrific idea. Plus, he can afford to take me to all of them. How cool is that?

That's great. Who're they playing?
I don't know what's going on in the the world, frankly. The last time we really talked baseball, if you'd have told me that Boston and the two Chicago teams would have some of the best records in baseball, I'd have told you to take a cold shower and sober up.

Third Cardinals stadium? Jeez. It amazes me how sports team discard these multi-million dollar places so readily. I never had a problem with Cinergy Field in Cincinnati, but apparently someone did. And the Yankees are moving out of Yankee Stadium, now too. I guess I fail to understand why it's more expensive to renovate an old stadium than to just build a whole new one.

By the way, what is this "I'm chuffed" business? I don't think you can be 'chuffed' about baseball anymore than a Briton can be 'stoked' about a cricket match (or whatever).

Playing the Dodgers. I tried to get tickets for one of the Cubs games, but they were all sold out. The Cubs will choke again, but it is still annoying to have them on top. It isn't that I expect the Cards to always win their division. All teams have good years, average years and some rotten ones. But I take it personally when the Cubs are ahead of us in the standings.

The Cards played in Sportsman's Park when I was a kid. It was too small and needed replaced. So they built Busch Stadium, which was a darned nice ballpark. There was no reason to replace it except greed. They wanted more fancy, $200 boxes and lounges. The new stadium seats fewer people than the older one. Plus, they literally blackmailed St. Louis into building it. Threatened to move across the river if they didn't. So all the taxpayers got to subsidize it. I had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, the idea of the Cardinals being anyplace other than St. Louis is pretty painful for a lifelong fan. But I hate the tactics they used. They should have told them to go and then the fans refuse to go to the games.

Hummmmm. Guess I've hung around this place too long. I'm starting to talk like a Brit.

I dunno. I have a friend who's a big Cubs fan, who delights in telling me every time they win a game, and he seems more hopeful than usual. We'll see, I guess

That is pretty low. I guess it's a business though. I don't think I would like to spend a game cooped up in one of those luxury boxes (even if I had the money). Apparently there's a demand though?

I've not yet started talking like a Brit, but I've started to spell like a Brit. While writing about the Civil War lately, I've had to use the word 'gray' a lot, describing Confederate uniforms. Only, I keep mixing up 'grey' and 'gray' and forgetting which one is American and which one is British. So I just pick one, and if it's the American one someone will correct my silly American spelling, and if it's the British one then I'm just writing according to House style

The double consonants are what drives me crazy. Travelling instead of traveling, that sort of thing. I've read so many posts from Brits that I have a hard time remembering which is correct.

My sister-in-law is a Cubs fan. I will stand by my prediction that they will choke before the end of the season. I've seen it happen too often. Not that the Cards have a chance this year.

I'm chuffed about all this about a new male friend, by the way

I'm not interested in the Cubs or the Cards, frankly I'd like to see the Cubs lose, if only to keep up that 100-year streak. This will be the 100th year, I guess, since they haven't won the World Series since 1908. The Red Sox decided to buck their historical losing trend (twice now) and I was none too happy about that

You've never been interested in the Cards beyond tormenting me when they lose. I'm too old to ever have a different team to support. I'm stuck with them. But they have provided some really great moments during my lifetime. Not that I would ever go over to the enemy like a young whippersnapper might.

You were sort of warned about the gentleman admirer some time back, I believe. I downplayed it for quite a while. A hint here and there to selected people. I wanted to make sure it was actually going to work first. But it ~is~ working, so I felt brave enough to do a journal entry.

I say that anyone who switches team allegiances after their childhood is a despicable flip-flopper. I can't imagine switching to favor the Cards

I was given notice. I am just pleased it's going well, and thought I'd take an opportunity to make you .

No ?
Why yuk and not yuck? Unless that smiley person is supposed to be laughing, in which case I'd hate to see him crying.

Speaking of flip flops, I have a new pair of Cardinals flip flops. To wear to the game. Will paint my toenails bright red. The bad news is that my new shirt came and it doesn't fit. I ordered the size I wear, but this one is cut smaller. And it is soooooooo cute. I love it. Must stop eating until game day to see if I can fit into it.

As to h2g2 smileys...who the heck knows. Brits sure spell things funny. And we still don't have an ice cream cone smiley. Or a baseball one.

The other night I watched part of a documentary on the History Channel about hillbillies. They actually used subtitles when some of the people interviewed were talking. What a hoot! Embarrassing but funny.

I think we can safely give up on the hope of ever having a baseball smiley.

Hillbillies on the History Channel? They're not history - they're very much the present. If they need further proof, they can come to one of my family reunions.

Thanks. Between us we could provide a plethora of opportunities to mingle with hill folk. I've come to the realization that I much prefer my hillbilly relatives to the more dignified ones.

Chris Carpenter is finally starting his way back to the majors after that surgery that took him out of the game. He's pitching for the first time Sunday evening for the Cards Texas League team in Springfield. Guess who has tickets? Yep, that would be me. I'm excited that he is ready to pitch again. I always liked him.

...Cardinals. I'm sure I've mentioned this, but the state bird of Ohio is the cardinal. So at least your team is named well

Forget hill folk mingling opportunities. We could start a bluegrass band.

Well, darn. You are no longer interested in baseball. This leaves me with no one on h2g2 to talk to about the game. *sigh* Right. No more baseball talk. Except for one prediction. You shouldn't give up on the Reds. Give them a couple of years, and you might be surprised. There is real potential there.

Bluegrass is seriously good when performed properly. *hums and taps toes*

No, no, no. Just those birds over there in the land of the big canoe

*blows into jug*

The game last night was a lot of fun. I really had a good time. Carpenter only pitched 4 innings, but it was still nice to see him on the mound again.

Hey! You're supposed to empty the jug first. Blowing into it afterward is much more fun that way.

Yeah, I'm used to blowing into half emptied pop cans. You get different sounds from different volumes of liquid.

So give me an idea of what you're hoping this writing contest will turn out like. I'm very interested, but I'm currently hanging back to see how it develops. When I get involved in something, I have an annoying tendency to sort of "take over", so it may be best if I'm in the background for a while.

And I'm glad you had fun at the game
Minor league games really can be a lot of fun. Dayton has a minor league team in town called the Dragons... I'm sure I've mentioned that. They're affiliated with the Reds. When they first came to town, they had a phenomenal lefty on the team, Adam Dunn, who's on the Reds now. I always root for him now because he used to play in Dayton.

I honestly don't know what I'm expecting to accomplish with the contest. It just seems like something good to have on a site that encourages writers. I obviously can't do it by myself.

Yes, you can become a bit intense. As can Pin. But I can't think of anyone I'd rather have interested in a project. If it is to be an Alabaster House event, then you need to be involved.

Being the President and Vice President gives us a natural opening to do this sort of thing. I took so much time off from h2g2 that I think I need to reestablish my presence before I'm impeached.

We'll want Waz on board. She's terrific.