12 miles in the water....

Well almost in the water. I'm pretty sure there was 100% humidity today. I got up at 5 am for breakfast, out the door at 6 to meet Phillyfit at Betzwood at 7. I forgot that this was closer than Oaks so I was there kind of early. That turned out to be a blessing since parking was at a premium.

Most of us from Phillyfit had not been together for two weeks. Labor Day was an unofficial run weekend and those that did meet up to run split between Kelly Drive and Oaks. I went to Kelly Drive were we did the loop on MLK to the Falls Bridge and down back Kelly Drive. I chose it because it is about 2/3 of the Philadlephia Distance Run. The last time we did it, I had a bad day and I didn't want my memory of that stretch to be yukky on race day (9/21). I did well and started to get excited about the race.

The next week (last weekend) we got hit with Tropical Storm Hanna which caused the run to be canceled on Saturday and a make up run was scheduled for Sunday at Valley Forge. Dave and I had lots to do on Sunday so I skipped the travel time to Valley Forge, started out at 7 and was home just before 10. I did 15 miles that day. The schedule called for 11 and 15 was supposed to be this week. However, somebody at Kelly Drive the week before suggested we might want to flip the 15 and 11 since the PDR was coming up on the 21st.

However, it turns out I was the only Dork to follow that suggestion. So when we met today there was a plan to combine a few routes to make 15 miles and avoid the out and back that a lot of folks said they were tired of. My mind was set on 11. 15 would have been hard with 11 on my mind, plus the humidity. I decided to stick to out and back twice on the River Trail which amounted to 12 but that was ok. I was soaked when I finished but I did finish and felt pretty good about it. I didn't have anyone from our group with me but there were plenty of people on the trail. So I got to meet new faces and even chatted wth a few.

After I got home and showered I headed out to meet Dave at the Lions Picnic site. My stomach was grumbling at me but I figured there'd be plenty of food there. Unfortunately it was almost an hour before I got to eat. Turn out was poor. I'm not sure if that was from lack of advertising or the weather. Those that were there had a good time, I think. There were enough Lions there that the break down was quick and Dave and I were both home by 5:30.

The Phillies won (although I slept through an inning and a half). The Mets lost. Penn State won. Not a bad day!

Use the word 'flied' in a sentence....

Go ahead I dare you. Use the word 'flied' in a sentence that is not about baseball. If you can - and the sentence doesn't sound truly awkward - let me know.

We went to the Phillies game on Wednesday night (They beat the Padres). I noticed that anytime a batter hit a high fly ball which was caught for an out the scoreboard would read he "Flied out to right" or wherever. Now, if I were to say that my husband went somewhere last week by airplane I would say "He flew to ..." Or if someone were to go past me on their bike or on foot very quickly I might say "That person flew past me..."

So if you can find an everyday (aka non baseball ) sentence that uses the word flied, I'd be very curious to read it.

The game on Wednesday was the 125th anniversary of the first Phillies game every. Contrary to what the children may tell you, I was NOT around for the first one. I thought there would have been a bit more fanfare. As it was they had a man who has been with the Phillies since 1947 throw out the first pitch.

During one of the inning breaks the scoreboard showed a "Bankable Moment" courtesy of Citizens Bank. This was done while they awarded one row of fans with Citizens Bank t-shirts. The 'moment' though was clearly from the Vet. I question the appropriateness of a Bankable Moment when it didn't happen at Citizens Bank Park. I told Dave I felt I should write a letter about that.

Professional (?) Baseball....

15 errors in 13 games. And somebody told me that the Phillies are NOT leading the league in errors so far this season. So what happened to all the professionals. I mean really. Mistakes happen but this is an epidemic!

And then I see today that Jim Thome was suspended for arguing a call with the umpire. He's the last person I expected to get suspended for anything. Not that he doesn't have the right to argue and I know nothing about the actual call (the paper said he thought it was low and the umpire called him out) .....*sigh*

I think I'll go for a walk.

List of things letters should be written about...

I find myself reading, hearing or seeing things and saying "I'm gonna write a letter to somebody about that!" Dave says he will know when I've really reached my limit when I actually write the letter. For now, it is a list in my head of things that make me go "Are you kidding me?"...

My most recent outburst was over the consideration of instant reply in baseball. I mean really. Just typing the words makes me shudder. What would Phillies fans have to fuss about if calls could be 'corrected' by instant reply. Ok, bad example, if Philadelphia fans can boo Santa Claus they are certainly not going to be deterred.

And then there was the vote in the Big East earlier this week to allow all the teams in to the tournament. Then, I learned that back before 2001 that's how they always did it and I didn't realize that. But still, what's the point of having a season if you are just going to let anybody into the playoffs. They justify that by giving multiple byes to the first four teams and single byes to the fifth through eight place teams. Being a fan of the underdog I suppose I should be excited about the prospect but for some reason I'm not.

Speaking of the Big East, Villanova won its opener against Stoney Brook last night. Go Cats!

And the NL East Divisioin winner is...........

The PHILLIES!!!!

13 years and 162 games later the Phillies have made the playoffs again!

More to come as we make our way through the playoffs.

YA GOTTA BELIEVE!

P.S. (October 20) - Ok YA GOTTA BELIEVE for next season. For now, Go Rockies!