The Curse of the Yankees

The Yankess carry bad juju. No, I don't mean we can't beat them, because we can (and will). I mean every time they hit the DFW area, my life goes to hell and quickly.

Flash back three years. I am living in Coppell. The Yankee's land their "death star" at our airport as lightening strikes all around the DFW area. Torrential storms ensue and lightening hits my building...Poof..my computer modem is fried, new computer down the tubes! Flip on the TV, oh wait.... the dish has been fried too! Coincidence? Uh okay, maybe.

The next year, the "death star" lands as torrential storms ensue, that manifest into tornadoes. The Snakepit is held hostage in the tunnel below the Ballpark with 30,000 obnoxious Yankee fans yelling some satanic chant regarding 26 rings. Craig's loses his glasses and Aubrey loses glasses and a cell phone. Coincidence.. humm, I am beginning to wonder?

This week. Here comes the "death star" and all of their front running never been to NY in their lives obnoxious fans in tow. But maybe this year is different. The ratio has shifted. The Ranger fans are representing and we are not grossly out numbered. Ok, this is going to be alright.

Think again. We are spanked miserably 11-1, (Thank you Lava Lizard for that solo shot) at home in front of a sell out crowd. Oh well, it's only one game I am thinking as I grab a bite to eat and settle down for some Baseball Tonight. I hear a faint "pop" and nothing. My TV has completely died, no life at all. Ok, it's an inconvenience but I'll bring the one from the bedroom into the living room. It's going to be ok.

Wednesday night, I gave my Yankee tickets away as I have other plans. I race home to change shirts since I had a very unfortunate incident with ketchup (I don't eat ketchup) at lunch. In my haste to get moving I backed into a full grown Magnolia tree, not only denting the top of my car, but shattering the back window. Please top it off with the smoke alarm blaring at 4:00AM.

There is no coincidence involved. The Yankee's carry bad juju. Let's just beat up on them tonight & send them packing. Besides, I cannot afford to replace anything else!

Hottest Men in Baseball! (?)

I no sooner hit the door at the office today until my coworkers pointed out a post on MSN Homepage. Something that would certainly get my attention. The Hottest Men in Baseball.
I never missed a beat, I had the page opened & was pouring over the pictures. I paused and oohh & ahhed over Sizemore, Zito and Wright. Nice and shiny objects, worthy of the hottest men category. Then it was over, the pictures were done. Where were MY boys? I'm sorry but how accurate can a story like this be without a picture of Salty, Ian, Michael, Chris, Josh or CJ?
Even Teagarden & Holland ( Yes..Rachel....Holland) are pretty boys!

The Ladies of the Snakepit have long maintained that even if we don't have the best team, (which we just may have this year) we have the best looking team!

I cannot believe this oversight. Fox Sports you may want to take a step back and rethink your slide show. There are some very hot men playing some very hot baseball in Texas. Just take a look!

TeaheeGarden

I watched Taylor Teagarden when he was with the Frisco Rough Riders and I'm enjoying him with the Rangers this year. He's always been polite and makes eye contact when signing something for me or Aubrey. He even talked to me via chat on Facebook, how great is that?

Does anyone besides Vikki and I think he looks like Greg Brady on the '70's TV series, The Brady Bunch? (hat on)

When we watched him play with the Rough Riders, every time Taylor came up to bat, we would all give him girly giggles, tee hee hee. No real reason as to why we started this but it sure is fun! Aubrey and I still do the girly giggles and Vikki also added Tea Party at home plate.
Have I mentioned win or loose, we have fun in the upper deck?

As we say in the South; Taylor, your Moma done good, she must be proud!

Is it Spring yet?

If it isn't it certainly feels like it! It is 75 degrees today, I listened to the spring training game on the internet, (shhh... don't mention that to my boss) and Craig is talking about his trip to AZ being less than two weeks away! I sure hope he recognizes Nolan Ryan this year, but no worries, Aubrey will!

It's been a quiet winter..of course there was all the excitement of the Sluggers Banquet where Erin & I had the extreme pleasure of "sandwiching" Mr. Michael Young..well documented for all to see and admire.

Then of course there was Fan Fest where Craig, Erin & Aubrey braved the cold.. not me, my electric blanket was calling my name. Aubrey got smart & she I spent a warm day together! Erin stood in line with sore cold feet to get Josh to sign my birthday present! A swell picture she took and had enlarged. He signed it with a Happy Birthday as well! Thanks Snakewench..You rock!

As always I look forward to a new season with hope and excitement.. A fresh batch of shiny objects and of course some returning favorites. The Ladies of the Snake Pit will be there Opening Day cheering on our boys and keeping fingers crossed for a great season!

Play Ball!!

All I want for Christmas is.....

I don't like winter. I can't help it. The wind blows, the weather is cold and all anyone wants to talk about is football. When I even mention baseball, I get the "Are the Ranger's going to get pitching?" I hate that question, do they think I don't wish for a shiny new pitcher, (dimpled would be nice) under my Christmas tree every night when I go to bed?

Today someone told me the Astros got Hampton, heck, I thought he was dead..oh no wait, he just hasn't played in years. Gee..Dis-Astros fans, thanks for the update!

While Snakeman is very diplomatic about Kam's departure to Japan, I am not so thrilled. Yes, I want Kam to have the opportunity to be a starter & have a great career. On the other hand, I am sad it'll be hard to keep up with him. The ladies will miss him, he is a nice guy and a good friend to the Ladies of the Snakepit. Heck, Aubrey is his "prettyest" fan.

Salty, let's chat a little Salty. He is tearing up the Domincan league. I am certain there will be a statue erected in his honor. (It won't need quite the rebar Bott's needed).

Toys for Tot's is coming up and I hope you all will join us at the Ballpark to give to the less fortunate. I am looking forward to seeing Santa, I have an "ever so small list"...

1) The earlier mentioned Shiny new pitcher that can throw a fastball like no body's business, with a change up, curve & maybe even a nice little cutter. He doesn't have to have 15 pitches, just 3 good ones!

2.) Salty behind the plate a bit more. From my "snakes eye view" it makes for some good watching.

3.) Keeping Rrrrrramon on the team. No one fills out a uniform quite like he does. If in doubt, we'll be happy to sell you a "Cup Check" calendar. The proof is in the picture!

4.) Trade Blalock, trade Blalock, trade Blalock, before he hurts himself again...Erin knows exactly why.

5.) BANISH the kiss cam. God knows no one wants to watch some old man suck some hag's face on the big screen. Good corneas for replacement are hard to come by.

6.) MORE COWBELL..needs no explanation, Erin likes the Cowbell

7.) Maybe a new manager???? I'm still not sold on Washington and for sure do not understand a word he says.

8.) I'd love a World Series, if not that at the very least a great playoff run.

I've been real good all year. I have only offended a few people & have not pulled any drunken stunts. Most importantly, I have used my filter MOST of the time.

So Santa, I do deserve something shiny & new!!

CupCheck Calendars

Just wanted to let everyone know; I made and ordered two copies of the CupCheck Calendar.
I just ordered two, so we would have a sample to look at. That way everyone could see it before ordering. It's a 12 month calendar and they are $20. plus SH That's what they cost me to print. I'm not turning a profit on them.
These will make great gifts..... it is a one of a kind calendar!

Crazy Fear

My favorite pitcher is Padilla. He is old school when it comes to the game of baseball and I like that. If you ask me, we need to see more of it.

There are two people in this world that I have an unnatural fear of. The first person is Gene Simmons. I've never met him and I'm certain he is a very nice guy. But he scares the snot out of me. One year Craig took me to see KISS, his all-time favorite band. We had second row center, isle seats. Thank goodness they were more to the right side of the stage as Gene dominates the left mostly...mostly.
Not this night. He strutted over to our side of the stage and played for awhile, felt like forever. While there he picked me out of the crowd with his eyes, stared at me, twisting his demon head side to side and then he stuck out his tongue. I was frozen in fear! I just knew he was going to jump off that stage and get me.

The second person I fear happens to also be my favorite Pitcher. I met Padilla at Spring Training this year. I faced my fear and got my picture taken with him. That was not easy, I was so scared, I felt like it took Craig ten minutes to snap that picture. I even accused him of taking extra long to focus the camera just to tease me. I am proud of that picture and glad I got my picture taken with him.

I've heard he's a really nice guy and I'm certain he is. My fear doesn't come from thinking he'll hurt me. There's no reason for me to fear him, I just do.
I've seen Padilla driving away from the ballpark, after a game or two this year, in his orange Lamborghini. Even then fear strikes me. My palms sweat and my heart speeds up, it's crazy!

This weekend Craig, Aubrey and I waited at the tunnel where the players drive out after the game. Guess who stops to sign autographs?? Padilla in his orange Lamborghini. My heart sped up immediately.
I have a note book with pictures I've taken of the players and in it is the picture of Padilla and me taken at Spring Training. I knew if I wanted it signed I was going to have to approach him. So I did and it wasn't that bad. And I was very happy I got that picture signed. I only shook a little bit.

And then today, two short days later, it's Fan Appreciation Day at the ballpark. They have players at the entrances to greet the fans. You guessed it Padilla is one of the players at our gate.
I thought, I can do this, I'll tell him thank you for hitting Aybar last night. (He's the guy that hit the ball into Kam's arm and he left the game with a nasty contusion Friday.)
So I did, I marched up there with sweaty palms and my heart racing and told him. He chuckled, I B-lined out of there, fighting a small crowd I made my way to Vikki and Craig.

They are telling Eleno Ornelas, the Rangers Spanish radio broadcaster, how Padilla is my favorite pitcher but that I am very scared of him. Eleno puts his arm around me and says, "He's a very nice guy, he's my friend, I'll introduce you. Don't be afraid of him."
I told him. "I'm good I just spoke to him". He literally pushes me up there, says something in Spanish to Padilla. Padilla smiles big, looks me straight in the eye and grabbed me for a hug. I thanked him and bowed out.
Eleno said, "See, he's a very nice guy!" I was so scared, I showed him my hand, it was shaking so much. Eleno said, "Oh my God your shaking! He turned to Craig and Vikki and said, "She's shaking!"
I said, "I told you he scares me. I have an unnatural fear of him."
My legs felt weak. You know how you feel when your driving along and you suddenly have to slam on the brakes, it turns out OK but you just feel week and noodlely? Well, that's how I felt, and it took me about 20 minutes before I was over it.
Eleno said "Now you owe me." and gave me a hug.
I said, "Oh, I owe you all right!"

After my blood pressure stabilized I was thankful for my Padilla encounters this weekend. He really is my favorite pitcher. I have his game worn autographed jersey, an autographed ball, and now, my autographed picture with him. I feel like a little kid with my collection of treasures from my favorite pitcher.
Dang, I love baseball!
Erin