MY LIFE - JUNE 1999

Tuesday, June 29, 1999

Today I spent about an hour cleaning out the gutters around our house simply because they were just terribly clogged, especially above the front porch of our house. It wouldn't have been nearly as bad if the leaves and grime in the gutters had been dry, rather than wet from all the rain we've had over the last two days. Basically, my hands smelled like sewage and it was just really disgusting sticking my hand in there.

I did get them cleaned and I did manage to at least partially fix the few problems that I saw. I've found that there are several prominent cracks in the bottom of the gutters in various places around the house, so it could prove to be interesting when it rains again, since I accidentally opened one of those cracks up a little bit more as I hammered a nail into the gutter into the roof since it had come out. Then again, all the gutters need to be replaced anyway, so I guess I should do that next. I just need to figure out what happened to the newer ones.

The gutters are clean, at least for now. I also found what was either a wasp or bee nest underneath one of the gutters. I found it when I started hammering to make sure the nails were all in and then all of a sudden these large yellow bugs came out of nowhere. I got out of there pretty quick, which is why I have no idea what they were. You don't stick around to identify something that will attack you, so I left it at that.

Otherwise, it was uneventful today as my vacation time continues.

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It was a whole lot nicer outside today than it has been recently. For a few days, we had been seeing very warm temperatures along with very sticky air that has been making things very uncomfortable, especially at night when you try to sleep on sticky sheets. Add to that thunderstorms and frequent periods of rain, and you have a very nasty situation to try and deal with. Well, today it was a hell of a lot cooler outside, 75° to the 85-90° readings we had last weekend. It's supposed to be in the mid 70s again tomorrow, but it will get really warm just in time for the fourth of July.

I'm still trying to figure out what's going on this weekend too. I'm not sure where I'm going to see the fireworks or if there's some sort of family function that could be going on. I don't think my mom knows what's going on either, but then when is that a surprise? In any case, I want it to be enjoyable and worthwhile, unlike some past instances when I've been somewhat disappointed. And there had better not be any firework displays going on on July 5, since I'll be back at work and will miss them.

July 4th is a Sunday, so there's no excuse for any city to have them on the fifth. Which is probably why Brunswick will have theirs on the fifth.

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What is it with human nature that causes some people do some rather ludicrous things in life? It seems that when it comes down to it, many people choose to ignore logic and just do something stupid anyway, no matter it is. I've found it to be interesting, albeit confusing, when someone, rather than doing what makes sense, does the exact opposite, creating a bigger hole. What compels a person to go against logic completely and do something that's, well, stupid?

For example, people who try to beat a train to a crossing. There's not a snowball's chance in hell that you'll actually beat it at times, but you still want to try anyway, almost like you're showing up the train. Except that the train usually will win any collision involved, possibly even killing you in the process. Yet it's still tried, even though death is a very real possibility.

Or how about those people who like to show off by doing something juvenile just for kicks? Take for example all the construction barrels that have been around my street and other streets as the city fixes up the road. For whatever reason, people at night have been going by in cars, either purposely or accidentally, hitting those barrels and sometimes even stealing the barrels and placing them in the middle of the road. Someone's going to wind up in one of those huge-ass holes in the road because the barrels that warn them are going to be gone. You always know who's going too fast down the street too. Just listen for the sudden screeching of brakes and then several thuds as the barrels go flying. I'm not kidding either. It's happened four times in a week now.

My favorite? The kids who go into stores and turn on every toy in the building and get into every single thing possible, laughing through the store. I've seen this several times where I work since we have this sports toys that make noise when you press a button. I happened to be standing behind a kid who had to be around 13 years-old as he pushed the baseball one. After he finished his juvenile laughter, I quietly asked him if he'd like a live demonstration of what a baseball feels like after being hit by a bat. The wide eyes gave me my answer. He then tried to act cool, but was foiled when I told him my aluminum bat was in the trunk of my car, so conveniently parked outside in the parking lot. He wasn't in the store much longer.

Anyway, why do we do such dumb things? It almost seems that because doing the logical thing would be easy, we decide to something the hard way as if we need the challenge. I just don't get it. Do we need to be trained by electroshock therapy before we finally learn to do things the right way? Cause I'm willing to run the therapy sessions. It would be great therapy for me, that's for sure.

Oh, and I still don't miss work.

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Tribe Watch '99

Last Game
Minnesota, 4
Cleveland, 5

Summary
In what was another good pitching performance for both starters, this game would go down to the wire. The Indians got three of their five runs early on home runs from Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. Ramirez hit a two run shot while Thome's was a solo home run. Ramirez now has 83 RBIs to lead the majors. The Twins had a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth when the trouble started. Omar Vizquel led off with a bunt single that Ron Coomer couldn't handle. Then Roberto Alomar got a break from the umpire at first as he bunted his way on, even though replays showed the ball actually got to first, um, first. Manny Ramirez then hit into what should've been a double play, but Coomer again had trouble handling the ball and there was no play at first. David Justice walked, bringing up Richie Sexson, who bounced a roller up the first base line. Sexson blocked the view of the Twins' pitcher, forcing him to go to first. Vizquel scored on the play, Ramirez went to third, and Justice went to second. Thome, on a 1-2 pitch, singled up the middle, scoring Ramirez and ending the game as the Indians came back for their ninth win in their last at-bat at home.

Game Notes
Ramirez's homer was his 20th of the year, nowhere near the league leaders, which shows you just how pure a hitter he is since he leads all of baseball in runs batted in, with 83....The Indians are halfway to one of their spring training goals with the win being their 50th on the season through 75 games....Thome and Sexson starting to come through now. Thome as been hitting the ball solidly up the middle and to left field and Sexson has been placing the ball perfectly lately. Neither appears to be in a slump any more....The Indians are 19-1 when Ramirez homers in a game....Dave Burba went 7 innings, continuing what has been an impressive string of starts aside from Jaret Wright's and Dwight Gooden's. Bartolo Colon went 7 and 1/3 in his last start, Charles Nagy went 7 innings, and now Burba as the pitching staff starts to come around a little....Since the implosion of the bullpen on Saturday night, the pen has allowed just one run in 11 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Record
50-25, best in baseball and halfway to 100