Giant Strategy

I know Bay Area fans have their own classification of fandom.  It's poor.  And it's well-deserved.   The term "fan" shouldn't even really apply, but there you have it.  Regardless of the utter lack of enthusiasm the average Nor Cal resident may show for sports (Raider Nation, obviously excepted) ... why can't the SF Giants put a team together we can get behind?

We signed a new pitcher this week - and please don't get me wrong, I fully respect Randy Johnson - but Sabean is just not delivering on the strategy of team building.

Granted, we now lay claim to a Triple threat of Cy Young-ers and Lincecum has big things ahead of him, hopefully with us.  Bengie, Dave, and Randy are out there and I love them but they don't quite share the special place in my heart as the Giants of yesteryear.

Aurelia is a free agent. **  Omar's in Texas - and the likelihood that I can again get myself, Jugs, and Mamacita bounced out of Tres Agaves for crashing his birthday party is minimal.  Petey was able to be a part of a championship team last year - well deserved (wish it had been us).  Snow is long gone (but at least retired as a Giant).  We're stuck with Zito - Oakland's trash, not quite SF's treasure.  Barry is out -and whether you loved him or loved to hate him, he filled the seats and put on a show that riled even Bay Area "fans".  Where are all my beloved Giants?

It seems like all we do is pick up fantastically gifted, greatly acclaimed ballplayers on their way out, to let them mellow for a couple years before being put out to pasture.  Or we seize promising newbies on their way in, only to trade them after a few years - once they've gotten acclimated to the big leagues, because why would we want them now that we've trained them to play? 

What do I care though?  You'll still see me at PacBell/SBC/ATT several times a month, fondly developing new favorites.

 

** 1/15/09 - now being finessed by Chi-Town

The Pact

I stopped in San Jose yesterday on my home after Christmas with the family and had lunch with E. We haven't seen each other face to face in over three years. Absolutely incredible. In fact, last time we got together was right before Jack and I became a couple.

Anyway, E was home from Jacksonville visiting his family for the holiday. We went to Erik's Deli (one of our favorite spots to go together) and chatted forever, catching up on one another's lives. We were laughing about our pact to be one another's fall-back. (You know, where if you and a friend aren't married by the time you're a particular age, you agree you'll marry each other.)

Well, we had decided the cutoff age would be 27. And my 27^th birthday is in two days.

Two years ago, E called me on my 25^th to wish me 'happy day' and eventually came around to a reminder about the pact.  I hadn't thought of it in a while, to be honest.  He clarified that engagement didn't count; one of us actually had to be married by 27 in order for the pact to be void.  Interesting conversation since we were both seriously involved at the time - his gf had moved for him and Jack and I were living together.

So now, true to form, our timing is off.  I'm single but E is living with his longtime girlfriend – his Naval career takes him all around the US and she's followed him to a few states (not all continental) - and he's singing a different tune.  He says it will be a miracle if he makes it through next year - meaning, without being engaged.  Yet, we're not talking wedding plans, so I guess the pact is off.

Guess I should have pulled a Phoebe and backed up my back up.

Office Night

Since Bean moved back to California, we've developed a little ritual.   Once a week, we get together after work for some combination of dinner, gymming, tv, drinking, and Wii.  Some are more likely than others (dinner) and occasionally we manage to incorporate them all.

Right now, we're watching The Office from beginning to present because she's never really watched it.  Yikes.

I must say, although our assortment of activities represent some of my faves, the real draw is a lovely ladies' night and the opportunity to catch up and re-kindle a long-established friendship.

I'm so happy we have each other back in our lives!