Like the Dodgers, bad start but it finished well (12 - 6)

To say the least, both the Dodgers and I got off to a bad start at the beginning. Who goes first? Me or the Dodgers? Well, the quicker one to tell will go first. Things looked very bad when the Dodgers trailed the Giants by 4 runs and it was only the second inning. Then things started looking better when the Dodgers offense got sparked, including a home run from yours truly, Russell Martin! He's just one shy of being the only other catcher besides Ivan Rodriguez to go 20 / 20. Things were looking up when we had the lead, but it didn't last long. The Giants tied it up in the next half inning and it remained tied well into the tenth inning. Russell got up to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded. Here was his chance to make something happen. When nothing happened and he walked away with another strikeout, he struck the ground with his bat. It sounded like he might've cracked it. That's okay, because it made it easier for him to break his bat once he got into the dug out. His helmet went flying after the shattered bat. So... who was the hero of the day? Luis Gonzalez came up to pinch-hit for Saito in the bottom of the tenth inning. I had completely forgotten that Adam LaRoche was on-base when Gonzo sent the ball to the center-field (it might've shaded left a bit) wall. It looked like it was going to clear the wall. It was enough to send LaRoche home with the winning run! There was also a great double-play when Kemp caught a fly ball and then fired it to Russell who tagged out the runner. The game went 3 hours and 42 minutes. So, I was at the Stadium for over four hours, had to change my batteries (for my camera once) and right before Gonzo went up, I had to change my memory card. Oh, and guess what? About the fifth/sixth inning, these two guys and a little girl in my row got up and left for a bit. Then they came back. Guess what? One of them knocked my soda over. Just my luck. So my right foot was soaked in soda and I sat in a puddle of Coke all night. At least I drank about a fifth of it this time. I couldn't believe it. My soda got knocked over again. This was the third time this week in two games that it got knocked over. Thankfully I'm not going to tomorrow's game or else I'd have to buy a bottle of water instead. And knowing my luck, the cap will be loose when that gets knocked over. And you know beach balls are part of the game right? I guess not in our section because there weren't too many beach balls up in the top deck. Paper airplanes were their replacement. There were a couple good ones that would go pretty far. This guy a couple rows told a couple guys to my left to stop throwing paper airplanes. These guys' planes were more like bombs because they never went far and usually nose-bombed. The planes farther to my right usually floated really well. Long-hair-guy told the plane guys that it was childish and unfair to the other people in the stadium. Around the 8th inning, these two guys came down and sat in the first row. They started folding paper airplanes. Long-hair-guy leans over and gives them a lecture, too. Security finally came and got them. Now, how did I feel about this? I liked the occasional ones that would float across the stadium. But the constant nose-bombers got annoying. Just like I can't stand girls who scream like they're screaming bloody murder every time the "make some noise" thing flashes. Cheers and noise, fine. Ear-piercing screams ... I would like my ear drums intact when I leave.

Okay, so how did my day get off to a bad start? Somewhere around 1:30 this morning, just as I was finally able to drift off to sleep, my sister came home. Mind you, she hasn't lived with us since she graduated. That's been about three years now. How did she wake me up when she came home? She rang the doorbell repeatedly like it was the middle of the day and not the middle of the night. She spent the night and then got up around 7:30 to start cleaning the house. Naturally, I got up and she put me to work. I finally left around 11:30 so I could go get ready for work. Work was work. My day started getting better the moment I arrived at Dodger Stadium. I got off work at five and hoped to get there in time for batting practice. When I did, the line to get in through the left field side was really long. I didn't think I'd get in there in time. I only had about ten minutes. So, I started to head to the right field side. There was a booth set up where if you took a Chevy survey, you could get a free back pack. So I did. Funny thing was, when it was my turn, this lady cut in front of me. I think her husband noticed my surprise and told her what she did. She apologized and went to her husband, who was about two people behind me.

By the time I finished, the line to get in was shortened. I got in the field area, took several pictures. I decided I didn't want to hang around and try to get a batting practice ball. After all, we got one from Joe Beimel back in May. I noticed some Dodger players behind home plate. So I went over there to get some pictures of Jeff Kent, Luis Gonzalez, and Takaishi Saito. NOW here's the part that made my day. I noticed Steve Lyons was out there. So, I followed my gut and yelled out "Hey Steve!" I thought about adding, "see, there's no bat boys around" to it, but didn't. He looked up, like he said he does when he hears his name called out. (9.13.07 podcast). When I see that I've got his attention, I yell out "I love your podcasts!" He replies, "So you're the ONE who listens to it." I tell him that I enjoy his podcasts and his stories, like the one about the Yankee hat (6.7.07 podcast). I asked him if he was going to keep up with it during the off-season. He said maybe, but he wouldn't know what to talk about. I said, maybe he could do it just once a week.

There were these two guys trying to get autographs. They asked me what was his name again. I told him his name and who he was. Steve started talking to someone else. When he was done talking, one of the guys asked Steve to sign his baseball. Then I asked Steve if he wouldn't mind taking a picture with me. He said something along the likes of he'd better because I'm the only one who listens to his podcast. I know there's tons of people who listens to his podcast. But he was so cool like that. BTW, I think about last week I saw Steve on the post-game show and I noticed he had some stuff on his face. I didn't like it. When I saw him today, I was glad he got rid of him. No offense, Steve. I like guys with facial hair (particularly Russell and Randy) ... but it just didn't work for him. I liked Steve a lot before today, even though I never saw him play. But today ... I like him even more. I wish I could've got something signed, but I didn't have anything on me. Maybe next year, I can get something signed. Go Psycho!

Me and Steve Lyons

Russell Martin's home run in the fourth inning

Luis Gonzalez' hit to center field that scored the winning run in the bottom of the tenth

11 - 6

My internet has been down since Saturday and I am very grateful to have it back up. I went back the next morning to get my tickets taken care of. The guy changed my tickets from Wednesday's game to Thursday's. Unfortunately ... the Dodgers haven't won a game since ... well ... we got swept at home again. Let's just leave it at that.

Here's the one memorable thing I got from tonight's game, besides my fleece blanket. Sherisse and I went to get food and it took about an inning and a half I think to get our food. We get back. I take a couple sips of my soda and set it down at by feet. Since we were in the first row (in the upper reserve level) we had no cup holders. This kid from three/four rows behind me decides to climb down to get out. I don't know why he decided to climb over the seat next to me when there was more people in my row then the row behind me. But when he stepped down on the seat, it came down on my leg, squeezing my knee in the tiny gap between the seats. I go "OW! OW!" cause it hurt and the kid wasn't a small kid either. My leg jerks in reaction, kicking over my soda (which was quite full because I only took like two sips). The kid stands on the seat, not sure what's going on, with my knee still in between both seats. The security lady in our section comes over and picks up my cup. She tells me if I wanted another drink, I'd have to go with her to get it. She tells me that it happened yesterday too. The security lady told the concessions person that I needed a new cup because it fell on the ground. When the concessions person took the cup, it was obvious that I did need a new cup. Because half of the bottom of that one was gone!

End of story, right? I get back to my seat and not wanting to repeat the same mistake, I didn't want to put my drink on the ground again. Sherisse says to put it in the cup holder behind me, since there was no one sitting in the row behind us. Well, besides Sherisse. I took my two sips or so, put it in the cup holder. Next thing I know, Sherisse kicked it out of the cup holder, leaving me about two inches of Coke left. It was just not my night. And apparently, it wasn't the Dodgers' night either. After all... the final score was like ten to three.

Kevin got a good laugh. He says every time we go to a game together, someone always asks me about my camera. We weren't disappointed. As this woman is leaving during the eighth inning, she stops to ask me what kind of camera do I have. I show her some pictures that I have taken with my camera. I had just put them on my Ipod, too. Of course, I put my best and my favorite pictures on my Ipod. Being as high up as we were, I didn't get as many good photos as I have in the past.

It's hard to believe that the season ends on Sunday. Quite sad to see some of the members of this year's team probably won't be coming back next year. I'm quite curious to see what next year's team is going to look like.

Stupid ticket booth teller

How many of you have purchased your tickets at ticket box office at Dodger Stadium? How many of you have had problems purchasing tickets there? Because it seems like every time I purchase my tickets there, I have one problem after another. The first time, they sold me two tickets more than I needed. I didn't catch this till much later on when I was totaling the tickets and the prices and it didn't add up. Then when I realized they sold me two extra tickets, the numbers added up. Though I wasn't too happy about it. The next time, I was halfway to my car when I realized I was SHORT two tickets. Thankfully I didn't get too far and was able to run back to the window and retrieve the other two tickets. This last one however...

I bought my tickets today for next Thursday's game. Just as I was getting ready for bed, I took the tickets out to look at them again. I had counted them at the window when the guy gave them to me to make sure he gave me the right number of tickets. However, I failed to check the date. The tickets he sold me were for Wednesday's game. Not Thursday. Oy! First thing I do tomorrow is go back to the box office and see if I can straighten this out. Any suggestions? Anyone else have this happen to them? Or is it just my bad luck?

Parking at the mall...

Is really ridiculous became I'm a mall employee. Well, I work at a store in the mall which makes me a mall employee. Anyway, they sent out a notice to all the stores about the parking policy. There are two parking structures at the galleria. We, as mall employees, are required to park on the roof of both structures (one having three levels and the other having six levels). This includes our days off, when we are not working at the mall. I don't like this rule at all because when I go to the mall and shop, I am a patron. Not an employee. And I do not like parking my car on the roof level on a hot day. Even better ... what about when I want to go out with my friends to the In and Out that is by the six-level parking ... after mall hours? The mall closes at nine except for Sunday, when it closes at seven. HOWEVER, In and Out doesn't close till like one in the morning. What if I wanted to go to In and Out after ten or eleven? Am I required to park on the freaking sixth level then? Who's going to take responsibility if there's some crazy lunatic in the parking lot and attacks me while I'm going up to the sixth level to get to my car at one o'clock in the morning?

Annoying cashier at Office Depot

So, on Tuesday, after I got off work, I drove down to Office Depot because it's only a block away from work. I went to go see if they carried the disposable fountain pens that I told Daniel about. They did. But they didn't have any out. To not waste my trip, I walked around and around. And I ran into Jack and Sol. Funny. I ran into them last week at Wal-Mart, too. Anyway, I ended up finding a all-in-one printer that was on sale. My printer hasn't been working for over a month and I've been wanting to print stuff out. Since this one was on sale, I decided to go for it. My wallet may be hurting later (it was on sale for 39.99). I get to the cashier to pay and pick up the printer. The lady tells me that I will need a USB cord for my printer. I told her I had one at home. She said, the one I have at home might not be the same one. She gets a cord for me. I look at it. I tell her I think it's the same one I have at home. She tells me to buy the cord because I will need it. I tell her no I have one at home and that I don't need it. She says I do. We go back and forth and I get tired of this because there is a line behind me. She tells me to buy it and if I don't need it I can return it. Because she says I don't want to get home and find out that I do need it. Well? Guess what? I WAS RIGHT. Someone needs to tell her that the CUSTOMER is always RIGHT. Okay, well... being a sales associate, I know that isn't true. But I was right. I told her that I didn't need it and I did go back to return it that same day. Funny thing was, the lot was emptier when I was there around one. When I went back around five, the lot was fuller. But when I was there at one, there was two or three cashiers and an emptier lot. When I came back and the lot was more full, there was only ONE cashier. Makes a lot of sense? Huh?

Airports and customers drive me crazy

Last week, I went to Burbank airport to pick up Gail. It's a small airport, so I made my first round and didn't see her. I got back in line to go around again. This time, Daniel told me she was sitting on a bench in front. I stopped in front of Southwest and looked for her. The traffic guy kept blowing his whistle and motioning for me to move on. I finally moved on when the P.A. made an announcement that there was no waiting allowed at the white curb, only immediate pickup. Mind you... it takes about ten to fifteen minutes to make these rounds. And it's after ten on Saturday and I just got off work. So, I make another round. This time I spot Gail, honk to get her attention, and move over to find somewhere to stop. Unfortunately, it was almost the same spot I was at before. And quite a distance away from Gail, who has been having trouble with her back lately. So, I wait for her and the same traffic guy whistles and motions. He starts walking towards my car. Gail sees him, he sees her, and he says that I can't wait there. Gail tells him, yes I can because I am there to pick her up and she's disabled. The traffic guy apologizes profusely. There's also an airport guy helping Gail carry one of her bags.

The other day at work, this customer comes in and asks me if we had any Irish cardigans. I said, we have cardigans and I pointed out a few. She said, "no, those are not cardigans. Gosh, you don't know your merchandise." And then she storms out. The cardigans I showed her were CARDIGANS. But I have no clue what an Irish cardigan is. In fact ... even wikipedia doesn't have a listing for Irish cardigans. I had to google it in order to find out anything about it.

From "Feels like Home"

If you knew how lonely my life has been,
And how low I've felt so long.
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along,
And change my life the way you've done.
CHORUS:
Feels like home to me, feels like home to me,
Feels like I'm on my way back where I come from.
Feels like home to me, feels like home to me,
Feels like I'm on my way back where I belong.

Kids and races

Why do people look at me and assume different things? Yesterday at work, this guy was there with his wife, two kids, and either his mother or mother-in-law. His two girls were a newborn (relatively new anyway) and the other girl was somewhere between two and three would be my guess. Anyway, I talked to the little girl because little kids are fun to talk to. Especially when they have a baby brother or sister along. The dad asked me if I had any kids. What is with this assumption that I have kids? Do I look like I'm the kind of person to have a gaggle of children waiting for me at home? It's funny because when I'm with Nina, Harold, or Kevin ... someone assumes that they're my kids. It's interesting since there's a six to ten year age gap there.

And I have mentioned this a few times, that customers are always asking me if I'm filipina. A couple weeks ago, Angelina, Timmy, Daniel, and others were watching "24". I wasn't there, so I don't know who all was in the room. According to Angelina, Timmy was being really annoying because he would point out the different Asian people in the show and say what they were. He claimed because he hung out with a lot of Asians, he knew how to tell them apart. Then Angelina asks him what was I? That stumped him! Now I understand being mistaken for a filipina ... but the other day at work ... this older Armenian gentlemen asked me if I was ARMENIAN? Maybe his sight was going ... but .... ARMENIAN????

No offense...

Okay, I'm not just talking about the lack of the Dodgers' offense.

This is just something that's been stewing around in my head.

How many times have you said something and then followed it immediately with "no offense" hoping whatever you said didn't offend anyone in present company? And how many times does what was said actually hurt someone in present company? Does saying "no offense" will soften the insult? Does it soften the hurt? Personally speaking, it doesn't. I have been present when someone said something directed to me that was hurtful and added "no offense" at the end, thinking to avoid insulting me. But it did hurt. I didn't like be insulted, even though that person added "no offense" at the end.

So, maybe instead of tacking on "no offense" after something that is possible hurtful or offensive is said, we ought to be more careful about what we say. Or ... instead of taking "no offense" as an easy way out, we accept the responsibility of what was said and apologize for it.

No, no one said something that offended me and followed it with "no offense". At least not today. And I hope I didn't say something that offended anyone today, whether it be in person or on this blog entry. If I did, I'm sorry. It wasn't meant to be hurtful or to offend. I'm just tired of people who feel that they can use "no offense" as a shield when they say something that hurts me, whether they realize it or not.