Strange Phenomena

There is a strange phenomenon occurring in my life tonight:

I am actually enjoying watching baseball on TV.

What the heck!?
I've never, ever, ever, ever, in my life enjoyed watching baseball on TV!
So really I cannot believe I wrote that.
And I really cannot believe I'm thinking it!

But here is why I am enjoying it:

The Cardinals are playing in the World Series!

It's really hard to live in St. Louis and not be a Cardinals fan.
It's seriously like a fever.
A very, contagious and expensive fever.
But a fun fever.

Have you ever felt odd and out of place at a grocery store for not wearing a Cardinals (or other team) shirt or hat on game day? 

Well, I have. I've felt it alot actually.
Which means that someday I will get a Cardinals shirt.
And I will wear it to the grocery store on game day.
And I will not feel out of place.

This post was not meant to be about baseball. 

The other strange phenomenon that is occurring in my life is this:

I actually really enjoy watching sports on TV.

If we had cable I might watch Cupcake Wars and Say Yes to the Dress and Property Builders all the time. But we do not have cable.
Which means I resort to watching college football, college basketball, and Professional Baseball (huh?!).

This happened because I did something a few years ago that I do. not. regret.:

I married a sports nut.

He's a good sports nut.
Kinda like a nice, salty peanut.
Or a perfectly roasted almond.
Or a deliciously sugar roasted pecan.

He really knows his sports. And he enjoys them. And so do I.

But I did not start out that way.

It just kind of happened.
There might be a parallel here with how Satan tries to lead us astray.

that looks like ashtray...

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is this.
Actually, I don't really know what I'm trying to say.
But I enjoy sports.
Even on TV.
And I'm proud of it.

You could even quiz me on some terminology and some college teams and I would provide some answers.
They may not be completely correct, but who cares, really?
I do know what Oklahoma football is ranked right now...

Number 1!!!!

In my mind, anyway. 

I had a conversation with my mom the other day. It went like this:

me: "Mom, am I the only mom that feels like I have to mop my floor and give my child a bath after every meal?"

mom: "No, you're not. If you remember, your dad and I used to lay newspaper down around your highchair so the clean up was easier. And we fed you in a diaper." 

me: "oh. yeah. That explains alot."

Don't you just love these faces?

I sure do.

The Ultimate St. Louis Experience

Friday night we went on the (almost) Ultimate St. Louis Date Night!!!

First stop, Pappy's Smokehouse for some good ole' barbecue. 

I thought it was very delicious, however, my heart belongs at Oklahoma Joe's. 

I really haven't found better bbq sauce or fries anywhere.

Next stop: Cardinals vs. Braves!!

This is the view from where our tickets were:

Mister Man has loved Chipper Jones and the Braves for as long as he can remember.

But he'd never seen them play before.

Until Friday night.

Here's a super sonic zoom of Chipper himself:

We went to celebrate his birthday this month.

And because who knows when another opportunity like this would come around.

Plus, tickets were $10 each.

After the 3rd inning this was our new view, no zoom:

(see the guy in yellow in the center? He's standing in front of the Braves' dugout)

We lucked out because it had been rainy and cold all day. 

The stadium was pretty empty.

Especially the Braves' side.

So we sat about 20 rows back from the Braves' dugout.

Of course I had to get my favorite player:

Matt Holliday.

Here's Chipper again!

Around the 8th inning we moved even closer, about 5 rows back from the Braves' dugout.

This was the perfect photo opportunity.

Chipper and Matt together.
Our favorite players.

Can I get an "Awwww"?

And of course, our lovely faces!

Game highlights:
-a foul ball came flying toward us and landed literally right behind my seat!!! Sadly, it bounced far, far away. Mister Man thought it wasn't gonna be that close so he didn't try to catch it. Bummer!
-We were featured on the Kiss Cam!!!!! Too bad I didn't get a picture.
-We were so close I could see Holliday spitting sunflower seeds. And blowing bubbles with bubble gum.
-Doing the Braves tomahawk chop with a whole huge group of fans in our area. It was something Mister Man has always wanted to do!
-The bottom of the 9th inning...

So the 1st inning was pretty exciting with the Braves scoring 2 and Cards scoring 1. Then nothing happened until the bottom of the 9th. 

The Braves brought out Kimbrel to pitch and he got guys on 2nd and 3rd base. Then he threw 4 balls to the next guy. He got to walk. 

With the bases loaded out strutted Albert Pujols. 

*roar!!!* 

Of course the stadium exploded!!

On the 2nd or 3rd pitch, Pujols hit it hard and they scored 2, tying up the game (Braves had scored a point in one of the other innings). 

Again, explosion in the crowd and on to the 10th inning.

The Braves couldn't score and the Cards stepped up. 

Once again, 2nd and 3rd were loaded. The Braves let the next guy walk. 

Then out stepped Punto. He hit it hard, and the Cards scored 1 to win the game. 

It was most definitely the most exciting baseball game I've ever been to!

Especially because I couldn't decide who I liked better: 

Braves or Cards?

In the end I chose the Cardinals. 

And this cute guy.

I wish the colors were better and the image was sharper. 

But what can you expect from an old, old man snapping the picture?

I'm just glad he knew how to use the camera...

We had planned on ending our Ultimate St. Louis Date Night experience with the most incredible custard in the world:

source

But since the game went into a 10th inning, it was closed. 

Bummer.

Overall we had quite the amazing night!!

The End.