MY LIFE - JULY 1999

Saturday, July 3, 1999

It's almost over. My vacation is steadily coming to a close. I found out Thursday that I don't go back to work until Tuesday, which at first surprised me, but not for long. Apparently, Monday is being considered part of the holiday weekend and most places have shortened hours as a result. My store's open only until 6 on Monday as well as Sunday, so I don't go back until Tuesday. Naturally, after Tuesday, the weather becomes a bit more tolerable around here.

That's been one of the few bad things about this week though. I've enjoyed my time off, but the heat and humidity have made it an absolute pain in the ass. I can't stand it when it's this warm and muggy out, mostly because I can't sleep in it. It's supposed to only go down to about 75° tonight, which is usually a comfortable high temperature. Then tomorrow, for the Fourth of July, it's supposed to be 95° as well as on Monday, which is being forecast at 97°. I don't mind it during the day, but when trying to sleep, I don't exactly enjoy the weather at all.

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Brunswick's fireworks were tonight. Guess when I found out? As I was going down state route 303 to get some food, I noticed a ton of traffic leaving the area of the school and rec center. Putting two and two together, I realized that all these people were leaving the fireworks show, which I just so happened to miss. Traffic was just terrible on that street while I was going to get the food, but it had thinned out considerably by the time I was going home.

It's odd to me simply because Brunswick typically has its fireworks show on July 5th, not July 3rd. Actually a lot of places held their fireworks shows tonight, but not nearly as many as tomorrow and even July 5th. I just don't really remember a lot of places having their fireworks show on the day before the Fourth of July, but then again, I had no idea in the first place, so I could be wrong anyway.

In any case, it struck me as being very odd. Then again, who am I to judge?

Tribe Watch '99

Last Game
Kansas City, 8-5
Cleveland, 9-9

Summary
The Indians swept a doubleheader from the Kansas City Royals, winning the first game 9-8 and the second game 9-5, both come from behind victories, although the first one was much more dramatic. In game one, Charles Nagy didn't have his best stuff, going only two innings and allowing eight runs. Enter Tom Candiotti, the knuckleballer who was just resigned by the Indians. He went 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits before turning it over to the rest of the bullpen. Meanwhile, the Indians' offense scratched its way back in, tying the game at 8 in the sixth inning, then taking the lead on David Justice's home run in the seventh. Mike Jackson saved the game.

In game two, Mark Langston, spot starting, spotted the Royals two first-inning runs, but then was very good as the offense unloaded in the second inning. Jim Thome led off with a 511 foot home run, the longest in Jacobs Field, and Manny Ramirez would finish the scoring with a 442 foot bomb of his own as the Indians put up 8 runs. Roberto Alomar would add a solo home run and Jackson saved the game.

Game Notes
Candiotti last pitched for the Indians in 1991, the same year they lost 105 games. Langston made his first start with Indians since joining the team and did a good job, allowing four runs....Jackson saved both ends of the doubleheader after blowing his second save of the season Friday night....Thome's home run was the longest this year, in Jacobs Field, and in Cleveland ever, traveling 511 feet and bouncing over the iron fence surrounding the ball park before landing on Eagle St....Ramirez's home run gave him 86 RBI's, traveling 442 feet while Alomar's went 409 feet....Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr will make a rehabilitation appearance at Buffalo on Monday.

Record
53-27