CARDINALS, YOU ARE FUCKING KILLING ME RIGHT NOW. SHIT. SHIT SHIT SHIT.




ETA:

>FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

OMG, 15 INNINGS OF AWESOME.

WHAT A FUCKING AWESOME GAME.

I sincerely wish I had been down at the ballpark for this game. It was so epic. It would have been a great game even if we'd lost, but it's all the more epic and awesome that we won.

LET'S GO, CARDINALS!!

Back to half a game atop the Cubs. Let's keep it up, Birds!!

Um.

Shower and then downtown? WTF, why am I still sitting here?

HOLY SHIT, IT'S ALL-STAR WEEK!!! =D

I need to go and find the Arches they decorated for this shindig, and see what all else they've done to downtown to make it ready for this event - it's like my own personal scavenger hunt =D

I also still need to find a Gryffindor tie and shit for tomorrow night D=

If Milwaukee lose tonight, we'll be tied for first! Go Twins! And Chicago's fallen to 4th! Huzzah! I know it's early on in the season yet, but I don't care. This makes my heart happy.

I hope I get this job on Tuesday so I have money so I can go to Cardinals games. It's unlike me to not have attended at least one game this far into the season.


In other news: I finally got my phone charger back! YAY. I have so many things that need sorting out that require the phone.

Also,

Dear motorcycles,

I hate when you rumble down my street, as it invariably sets off my car alarm. Kindly fuck off.

Thanks,
nicccc

Things are looking up for several reasons:

1. I got an e-mail from my mum asking me, if she were able to do it, from whom would I like an autographed All-Star baseball: Ozzie Smith, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, or Stan Musial? Er, WHAT?!!?!!?!? All are so awesome, but I already have an autographed Ozzie Smith ball, and I've met and talked baseball with him before. I ultimately told her I wanted one signed by Musial because one of my first memories of playing softball had to do with Musial, not to mention when my family and I were nearly run over by him at the home opener of the 1996 season. Plus, he's well old, so who knows how much longer I've a chance to get a ball signed by him, y'know? But God, I would love balls signed by Gibby and Brock, too. Next time.

2. Speaking of the Cardinals, they fucking swept the Cubs at Busch!! Yes! Perfect timing, too, as we have taken such a swan dive in the month of May, and have gone from a good distance in front in first to third. Now we're solidly in second to the Milwaukee Brewers (2.0 games back, Chicago is 4 back and in third). We open play against the KC Royals tonight. Should be a good series - it generally is.

3. The weather. It's so awesome right now. The only thing marring this is the fact that the river is flooded, and so there is no where for me to go and just lie on a beach since they're all underwater. Oh, well. I might take out my bike later and just ride aimlessly.

4. I might have a job as soon as Tuesday, which is fabulous! It'll be at Schnuck's, a local grocery chain. Not all that glamorous, but it's money, and it's at the new downtown location, so it's nearby and that location is supposed to cater to the loft district and all the rich young professionals that live there, or at least that's what I heard.

5. fancynewgin and I are going to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince dressed up as the Black Brothers. I am so ridiculously excited for this =D =D =D.

6. There is something else I am really excited about, but I can't think of it right now as the other items on this list are just so awesome.

Guy better get his ass on the phone and let me know if he got the tickets to the Cards game tonight. They're supposed to be for the Cardinal Club seats, which are the green, cushy ones behind home plate, where you are served unlimited beer and food...all through the 9th inning!!

UM LOOK FOR ME AND MY BRIGHT HAIRS ON TEA.V IF I GO!!

Oh, and the guy that lives in the apt I've rented in Soulard needs to move the fuck out. He was supposed to be out 30 June, and when I went by yesterday, some of his stuff was still there.

I PAID FOR A FULL MONTH, GUY. GTFO!

I'd call the landlord, but he's in China until the 6th.

ETA
Guy has failed in his task of securing Cards tickets. He's saying maybe Thursday, which would require me to get off work.

Off to Trivia Night at Island Bar now!

The Cards need to hurry up and win this so I can go and get some food.

SHOPS ARE ONLY OPEN SO LATE, GUYS.

Albert needs to learn to not be so aggressive on the basepaths, especially since he's not the fastest runner. I probably could have been on my way to Jimmy John's by now.

And the Royals wouldn't have De Jesus on third. GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

ETA

THANK YOU, RYAN LUDWICK. BECAUSE OF YOUR TIMELY WALK-OFF HR, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO JIMMY JOHN'S IN TIME FOR A SAMMICH AND SOME SHIPPIES. YUM YUM.

AND HEY, WITH THE W TONIGHT, WE'VE OVERTAKEN THE CUBS FOR SECOND IN THE CENTRAL. YAYS!

It reminds me so much of when Darryl Kile died. Crazy. I still can't quite believe it.

40 sucks at the best of times, with its lack of a shoulder, and its constant parade of idiot drivers. I hate that fucking road.

Tony Bozzi, brother of my manager, was down at Shannon's last night, and saw Hancock stagger off as he lit up a cigarette. He even thought of calling a cab for him, or offering to drive or something, but didn't in the end (obviously). How insane is that?


fuckeddd up. Doesn't appear to be a lot of blood, though. I've seen them show images of a car crash where the seats were absolutely drenched in blood.

Bright Eyes in Omaha were absolutely amazing. Much better than the Chicago show. It also helped that even though it was a seated venue (and quite a nice one at that), people started running up to the stage about 2/3 of the way through. I got right up there. I hate sitting during shows. When Conor came to our side of the stage, I was the only whose hand he touched =P (LOL ~FANGIRL~). I also got some flowers from the stage. Yay for fake flowers. I like them. they're ~yellow~.

Setlist:

Clairaudients (Kill or be Killed)
Hot Knives
Make a Plan to Love Me
Middleman
False Advertising
Soul Singer in a Session Band
No One Would Riot for Less
First Day of My Life (the new version, like the one they did in Chicago - v. cool. iapprove)
Classic Cars
Cleanse Song ('for Nancy')
I Believe in Symmetry ('For Clarke; it's his birthday today')
Lime Tree

- ENCORE -
Goldmine Gutted (this is when he touched me HAH)
Four Winds (so much fun, this one!)
Road to Joy

Near the end of the show, Conor was introducing the band, and he was like, 'You may have noticed someone is missing,' and everyone started shouting, 'WHERE'S MOGIS?' 'WE WANT MIKE!' and things in that nature.

Apparently Mogis was off attending a prenuptial dinner for his brother. So congratulations to AJ, who got married today ('We never thought it would happen, but here it is') [you know, because people at Saddle Creek know who I am, and regularly check my elljay]

After the show, I went to O'Leaver's, which is a bar on South Saddle Creek Road. As soon as I walked in the door, this guy (whose name turned out to be Lance) put his arm around me and said, 'You arrived at the right place at the right time!' and proceeded to buy me a beer. Nice. I shot some pool with him, and this girl, Brianna, with whom he works came up to us. Lance explained that I was from St Louis, she asked where I was staying, I replied quite honestly that I didn't know yet, so she invited me to stay at her place. She, Lance and I, and her roommate, Rob, stayed up all night being ~naughty~.

THIS IS WHY OMAHA > CHICAGO. People there are so chill and lovely.

So yeah, I had an absolutely awesome time. I can't speak right now - my voice is gone - but really, that's only indicative of how good a time I had :D

AND NO NEAR CAR CRASHES ON THE WAY BACK :D :D :D EVEN IN THE CRAZY RAINNNN.

I also went to the Cards/Cubs game straight from Omaha, basically. I didn't stop off at home, at any rate. Awesome, awesome, exciting game, even though we lost :'(. NEXT TIME, GADGET!! NEXT TIME!!!!

tonylarussaisafuckingpimp. ilovethatman. soclass.

The only thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I did not expect it to end like this. I wouldn't let myself believe it. All season I've had this thought niggling in the back of my mind saying to me, reassuring me, This is it. Not just a title this year, but THE title. We'll send Busch out proper.

I never claimed to be psychic.

If it had gone my way, the last game at Busch would have been on the 26th when we were up in the World Series 3-0.

At least it should have ended with a close game, something immensely exciting, something that would serve as a wonderful analogy to how the game was played here.

Alas, the Cardinals and Busch fall with a 5-1 score delivered by the Astros in game six of the 2005 NLCS, and sadly, one of the main thoughts making its round through my brain is how a writer in Houston had called us "goobers", and that the Astros would find champagne in St Louis.

Champagne can be purchased and spilt, popped and sprayed anywhere. What that writer did not say they would find in St Louis is class.

We are a classy organisation. That's it. There's no way to contest that. But you can't win based on class alone. I firmly believe we are the best club in baseball, but we did not play like it in this series - Houston accomplished that - so should it be us or them? That's neither here nor there. I don't care to debate that with myself at present.

Back to my original intention in writing this post: celebrating Busch Stadium.

Though the result of the game was far from ideal, the atmosphere was superb.

I've been to countless games in the old ballpark, and never have I seen it so packed, just absolutely teeming with red shirts and white jerseys, people proud to say that it's all for the (red)birds, and such tangible excitement. Every time the Cards took the field, be it for batting or fielding, the crowd cheered them on, supporting them unconditionally. I've never seen that before. When it's gone downhill in the past, the noise level of the fans have gone with it, but that was not the case last night. Each new batter, be he of Houston or of St Louis, presented a new opportunity for the Cardinals to show the country what we in St Louis have always known: they're the best club out there, and the crowd at Busch fully supported that conclusion.

I feel like I'm repeating myself, and I'm getting too distracted to keep writing this, but as it's been said since 1982:

Next year.

I am eternally grateful for that. Nice one, Mabry!

If Grudzielanek wasn't so anxious when batting against Lidge, he might have got a hold of something. A foul at least.

And it looked like Lane intentionally took out Nunez. The ball wasn't going to be there fast enough for there to be a tag even if Lane had gone round him instead of going through. There was no reason for that...unless he meant to take out Nunez. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Nunez was way off third, goddammit! There is no justification for Lane's baserunning on that play.

And Luna's throw down to Molina! Gahh! At least it bounced back far enough that he was able to throw it back to Eckstein to get the out at 3rd, but that doesn't give back the run Houston got off it.

>:O <---that is me yelling at the Cardinals.

TLR, put in Marquis, goddammit!! He can at least pitch against the Astros! Not that Morris didn't do well today - he did - but where was our defence?!

Hell, where the fuck is our offence?!

Where are the Cardinals that looked better than last year's team?!




PS - I counted off 90 feet in my front yard and am practising baserunning. My best time was 4.01 seconds tonight. I need to see the average for the majors. Keep in mind that this is on grass with trainers, not dirt in cleats, so that's bound to make a difference.

I want to race Molina down the line! I think I could win =oD

Dear Cardinals,

If my devotion is so unparalleled, give me some WS tickets.

Love,

Niccccc

PS - you know I'll support you anyway. That's why you do it, you silly (lovable) bastards.

PPS - Chapter 3 coming up soon's I type it.

PPPS - We could have hit better, but the umpires lost the game for us tonight, and that's all I'm going to say concerning game 2 of the NLCS.

PPPPS - I think it would be sweet, divine retribution to sweep the Astros in Houston. How bloody perfect!

...and all of Cardinal Nation was aglow

---

Look for me at the game tomorrow: Sec 509 (Bleachers next to Cards' Bullpen) row 22, seat 10.

---

Hey, want to hear about what an awesome driver Mark Grudzielanek is?

You won't, because he SUCKS at driving. Ha ha. Or perhaps he is just poor at interpreting what a left turn lane is.

A diagram of his inadequacy at driving

Thanks, Cardinals, for giving me a reason why St Louis is one of my favourite cities.






Yay, Grudzie!

Yay, Jimmy!

1. I love Cards games. If anyone wants to make me a very happy girl, they will get me season tickets for next year...or they will leave the current Busch Stadium standing, but as I doubt that'll happen, I'll take what I can get.

2. When Grudzie has mass amounts of permastubble (c), he doesn't look entirely dissimilar to Dr Gregory House, AKA Hugh Laurie. I'm searching for photos that accurately demonstrate this. Rather, to be more precise, if House and my neighbour, Tommy, were to somehow conceive a child, it would be Mark Grudzielanek.

3. Speaking of House, I love that show to death and it makes me want to be a doctor even more, although a highly sarcastic and caustic one, but at least the lives are saved. NYEH.

4. I'm off to watch more HOUSE, as I got the first season on DVD today.

5. You are jealous of my wonderful life.

6. GRUDZIE'S BACK AND HITTING ONCE MORE!! .......though he still looks a bit sluggish rounding the bases, but that'll come back in time. YAY GRUDZIE!

7. My Grudzielanek shirt is the best in the world, even with the four small bleach spots (forgive me, I got a little overzealous when washing).

8. Amanda's dreams will come true (HINT - I NEEEEEEEED more story!)

9. I'm dehydrated - need beverages.

GOOD NIGHT.

I've been to three Cards' games this week.

Could tonight make four?!!





GOD, I LOVE MY BIRDS.

YOU ARE BLOWING YOUR 10-0 LEAD, CARDINALS! IT IS NOW 10-5 IN THE BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH! >:o GET IT TOGETHER!!!


And how dare you error on me, Mark Grudzielanek. How dare you, indeed!









PS- in non-baseball related news, I've finally seen Love Actually and it is god plz! Only romcom movie I like (probably because it isn't schmaltzy like typical romantic comedies, hence my calling it a romcom - there needs to be some sort of distinction). It makes me want to go to England and find Peter riighhtttt now.

Mayhaps I'll save my money and go to London round New Years.

I think I've hit saturation point.

Finally...though it is a bit obnoxious.







I want to go to the Cards/Mets game 8 September so I can get a replica of Busch Stadium.

Off to find some soup.

---

edit:

Brits driving Austrians bonkers over rude village name Sun Aug 28, 6:33 PM ET



LONDON (AFP) - British tourists have left the residents of one charming Austrian village effing and blinding by constantly stealing the signs for their oddly-named village.

While British visitors are finding it hilarious, the residents of F---ing are failing to see the funny side, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Only one kind of criminal ever stalks the sleepy 32-house village near Salzburg on the German border -- cheeky British tourists armed with a sense of humour and a screwdriver.

But the local authorities are hitting back and with the signs now set in concrete, police chief Kommandant Schmidtberger is on the lookout.

"We will not stand for the F---ing signs being removed," the officer told the broadsheet.

"It may be very amusing for you British, but F---ing is simply F---ing to us. What is this big F---ing joke? It is puerile."

Local guide Andreas Behmueller said it was only the British that had a fixation with F---ing.

"The Germans all want to see the Mozart house in Salzburg," he explained.

"Every American seems to care only about 'The Sound of Music' (the 1965 film shot around Salzburg). The occasional Japanese wants to see Hitler's birthplace in Braunau.

"But for the British, it's all about F---ing."

Guesthouse boss Augustina Lindlbauer described the village's breathtaking lakes, forests and vistas.

"Yet still there is this obsession with F---ing," she said.

"Just this morning I had to tell an English lady who stopped by that there were no F---ing postcards."

---

Hell, if I'd known there was a town in Austria called that, I would have done the same thing. Next time...!