Hey Jesse

I have no quarrel with LeBron James going to Miami even though the disappointment that he did not come to Chicago is almost like the first round when we lost the Olympic bid in the first round - I'm glad we're not getting the Olympics, either. And although I think Jesse Jackson's assessment that the Cavalier's owner has a slave owner mentality, I see how he got there. I just don't think it fits. I can't believe such a big deal was made over where a player wanted to play. On the one hand, sports shouldn't be that big. On the other hand, there are better stories to be found in sports.
In every professional ballpark in the country the number 42 can be found. In every one. Jackie Robinson's number flies in every ballpark because it is retired in Major League baseball. No player will ever be assigned that number. Ever. Once a year every player wears the number 42. It was the idea of Ken Griffey, Jr. who has the idea that one player should wear the number of Jackie Robinson Day but soon it was decided that every player should wear it.

Every player in the National League celebrating when Major League baseball became integrated. Every player on that day is one player. How wonderful is that? In Miller Park it is especially sweet because the 42 is hanging right next to 44 - Hank Aaron's number.

I imagine every game at Miller Park there is a kid who is attending their first game and they see the numbers hanging there and asks the grown up with them why they are there and they get an explanation about Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron. For my generation, when we were kids getting that explanation, we knew it was a big deal. For my nieces' and nephews' children, I see them wondering why it is a big deal at all that a black player is in the major leagues. Then they will learn about the history of their country and the strives we've made. We aren't even half way to where we need to be - but though the explanation of the generations are basically the same - the impact is different. And that has to be counted as progress.

What does this look like to you? Does this look like part of an afghan? It doesn't. And do you know why? Because it isn't. Last night, I was looking at the progress on the crochet afghan and I went stash shopping and didn't find a lot of white yarn - which I kind of expected, I don't often buy white yarn as a rule - when all of a sudden the urge to work on something else swept over me. Just like that. The afghan mojo was gone. It will come back when I go to the craft store and get more yarn to finish the afghan but at the moment I decided to use some of my 'better' yarn and do a quick little project. So this Misty Alpaca skein is turning into a set of fingerless gloves. They look like stockinette on one side and a 3x1 rib on the other side and if I do the stitching right, they will be reversible. I like this little distraction because I can finish off this set in a day and is a nice little respite from the bigger project.

Sometimes you have to take a breather from the bigger picture to appreciate the smaller, finer things!!

Four Down, Eleven To Go and a Surprise Knit Tip

I don't know when I first got the idea we should visit every National League Baseball Park but I know it's been something we've been working on. It's going to take us a while because I think we don't have to do more than two a year because, frankly, baseball tickets can be expensive depending on where you go. We've done four out of the fifteen and I count that as kind of a good thing. We are going back to the ones we visited - which is another reason why it's going to take a long time to accomplish the goal - we've enjoyed all the parks so far. They each have their own high points.

This year, we went to Pittsburgh - as you already know - and Happy and I saw PNC Park for the first time. The Pirates have been playing there since 2001 giving up Three Rivers Stadium for the new downtown facility. And it really is downtown. It is across the river from the hub bub of downtown but downtown is visible from any seat in the park. The other thing visible from our seats (and most seats) is the beautiful Roberto Clemente Bridge - also the 6th Street Bridge (shades of Simon and Garfunkel for those of us old enough to know Simon and Garfunkel.) The thing about the bridge is that it was built in 1928 far before anyone even thought Roberto Clemente would be a great ballplayer let alone a humanitarian who be killed in a plane crash so the city renamed the bridge in 1998. It's one of three almost identical bridges and is a great view from the park. You'll be able to see it in some other shots because there are stories to tell about going to ballparks and how you make friends with those around you. We're already considering where we will go next: Washington Nationals in D.C. - we have family in Baltimore so that could be cool. Coors Field in Colorado - brother lives in Denver. Chase in Phoenix ( sister and brother there)
or Houston.

Next week, we make a return visit to Miller Park to see the Cubs play the Brewers. Love that park and love the food! The food at PNC was OK.

But guess what I discovered? I didn't pack a suitcase just an overnight bag (OK I packed by Disney big tote bag!) Coming back home, I threw my soap (yes, I brought my own soap) in it's plastic bag into my knitting bag and when I got home and pulled out my yarn, it smelled like my soap - nice and fresh! Never occurred to me that it would do that but now I am keeping a small bar of soap in my knitting bag to keep the fibers fresh. I will be using the non-perfume kind because I sell my stuff and I don't want to cause problems, but what an easy way to freshen up the fibers especially during the hot months when humidity can play around with yarn.

What a great little bonus!

It's Baseball Season Again!! - GO CUBS!

OK - I know I'm going to heaven. I know because I am a CUBS fan and we have suffered more than Job. We have waited for 100 years for a World Series victory - yes, I know I am not nearly 100 years old and I will probably never be - but a Cubs fan's angst is retroactive. Even if the fan is only five years old, they've been waiting all 100 years.

It seems we are standing in front of fate. We made it to the playoffs last year just to be swept by the Diamondbacks. But everyone in the post season was swept except for the World Series winners, so we don't feel as embarrassed as we would have if we were the only one to feel the broom on our butts.

So, this year we are looking at Kosuke Fukudome to be the spark and I am always in love with Derek Lee (even though we disagree on the Democratic nominee for president) and I expect him to be his uber professional self on the field, and I am always rooting for Kerry Wood because he's just such a great guy. I look forward with anticipation that we will knock fate on its behind and take home the crown this season.

Heaven can wait.