My Day ... With and Without Baseball

I never wanted to write a "journal" type of post in this blog. I promise these will be few and far between. But today I'm headed down to Florida to surprise my Mom.  So what does this have to do with baseball?  With baseball on my mind a lot, you'll see that its somewhat intertwined in my day.

My day usually starts like this:  get up and go to the gym.  When I get home I say hello to my wife and boot up my work and personal laptops. I'll check the box scores and my fantasy teams while my wife gets ready for work. Curse Joey Votto, then its work until whenever.

Today is different.  I was up at 4:30. A morning without baseball.  Showered, coffee then its the LIRR to Jamaica to JFK to catch a flight to Fla.

I get to JFK

Itching for box scores.

I get to the gate find a seat alone in the waiting area near the TV. This lady sits down next to me.  We make eye contact and she seems to feel that's her cue to start  talking to me.  I must have that look.  So she's telling me about how she has a seat too far from the front and in the middle (she wanted an aisle).  She has some ailments.  I was nodding and "yessing" and "I see-ing".  Then, it was her turn to board and she thanked me and told me it was nice talking.  That's me - Mr. Charming.

Crooking my neck to see Sportscenter.... no shot.

So I board and find my seat. Slap on my earphones and put on Sportscenter to get all caught up. The NFL draft and the NBA elbow dominate the show.  The guy across the aisle and one row back is reading Diary of a Player by Brad Paisley.

ESPN ticker - Rays 5 Angels 0.  Looks like Price pitched a beaut. 

We exchange a few thoughts about the book.  He mentioned Brad plays a mean Telecaster (so very true!!).  We end it at that - he needed to get back to his book.

John Kruk and Tim Kirchen are now telling me all about Albert Pujols and his power slump.  I wonder if they will equally applaud him when he's .310/31/115 at seasons end?

The flight attendant asks me what I want.  "Coffee - Black please".  It comes with cream and sugar.  I ask for an exchange.

ESPN ticker - Boston 11 Minnesota 2.  The boys from Beantown are breaking out of it. And maybe Josh Beckett too.

Black coffee arrives.  Just what the doctor ordered.  I put Sportscenter on low volume and pick up my book - Voodoo River by Robert Crais.  Good Book.  After about half hour its time for the next loop of Sportscenter (to fill the gaps of missed news).

While caffeine is wonderfully dancing in my veins I watch highlights of Yu Darvish having his way with Yankee batters.  I think he may be something, but time will tell.  We have yet to see a Japanese pitcher pan out.

Ahhh... all caught up.

Before you know it we're in Tampa.  Unable to find Budget, I ask a young woman who works at the airport where Budget is.  She gives me a "Don't you know you're not supposed to talk to me" look.  I have that effect on the ladies.  She says "hmmm".  Looks north, south, east then west.  I was ready for her to look up and down but that didnt happen.  Finally I spot Budget and thank her for her time.

Get to Moms and she is truly surprised and happy I'm there.  Tom Graziose - Son of the Decade!!  And caught up on baseball news.

Next post - Tommy John Surgery.

Thanks for Reading

-Tom