Hootin' Anni's Day Trippin' : Baseball

Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts

§ Laughing Out Loud [At my own jokes?] Is Anybody With Me Here?

If you've followed me within the last couple of years, you know I'm a baseball fan. Sadly, by the way things are going with the talks of the baseball league and the players coming in contact and active cases reported of the coronavirus, it's doubtful there will even BE a season this year. At one time the talks were for a shortened season, but now...nada, zilch, nothing. I wish that weren't true. I love the game, the crack of the ball as it makes contact with the bat...the players enthusiasm, the fans, the home runs, the double plays, close games in score, etc. I don't even mind the rules being broken and the cheating involved as was the case last year...I can't help but say, "It's been going on long before 2019!!" Why even now, with day 114 of shelter in place [even tho I do go out for exercise, it's not the same freedom...I feel too confined still], I find myself tuning into FOX Sports on Saturday for their broadcast of Baseball Classic Games [this Saturday it was Astros v. Mets] with the Mets winning the pennant for World Series...in 1986!!!

Astros mascot

It's getting bad:

Outside for a short time over the weekend, I watched the birds fight over a worm. The Cardinals lead the Blue Jays 3-1. If this continues, what'll I do when the Cowboys and Redskins are pitted against each other? Or is that something far too racial these days? Heck they may be in the same league for all I know...

This morning I saw a neighbor talking to his dog. It was obvious he thought his dog understood him. I came into the house, told Isaiah, our cat...we laughed a lot.

And I'm finding these days I laugh entirely too much over my own posted jokes!! And I also find it's easy to entertain myself, even tho life is a bit boring right now. And, honestly, I've got more to share...oh, oh.

§ Houston!!!

Yesterday was a good day even tho when and where I walked, the park was once again closed after I arrived. The gates were locked shut on the one side [Corpus Christi, Texas], and standing water was blocking the path on the other side [Portland, Texas]. I left almost as soon as I arrived since I couldn't drive into the pier area or walk to the observation deck. Driving to the other side of the park through the entrance road, I found standing water on the lane with a cautionary sign. I know the road, and knew it wasn't that dangerous to drive through and the water wasn't deep...I just slowed down and crept through. Getting out, I began walking the trail only to find there was water on the trail. We have had exceptionally high tides this past month because the moon being closer to earth, and these ponds being tidal ponds, there wasn't a chance for me to walk any further. I left, and went shopping; afterward getting a pizza to take home for our lunch later that day!! lol

Tho, it was a disappointing morning for birding, it turned out okay. I read mostly. Then, the late starting championship game between the Yankees and the Astros. The series was tied 3 wins each; this last game was winner takes the pennant and will be pitted against the LA Dodgers in the fall classic, the world series! After the nine innings, 3 hours later at Minute Maid Park in Houston, the Astros advanced....American League Champions. The Yankees went home!! I'm excited and hope it will be a win and title "World Champions" for Houston. Something GOOD just has to come to the city after this big loss from H. Harvey and the devastation left behind its wake!!!

Tuesday evening, I'll be glued to the TV!!!

§ The Colors of September...

COLORS

It's getting close to Autumn by the calendar [here a change of seasons is quite a bit later in the year than most experience], and it's already past the midpoint of September!! Of course, I look forward to this time of year 'cause the humidity drops drastically from the summer months, and the nighttime and daytime temperatures are much more bearable [We're not quite there yet, but soon will be!!] Out walking in the last couple of weeks, I took these photos: THE COLORS OF SEPTEMBER....

Take note: You may see the brown anole [lizard] and you may see a Wilson's Warbler in a couple of the photos in the entire post...can you spot them?

SPORTS

My two favorite sports teams, The Denver Broncos, and The Houston Astros made for a very enjoyable weekend this past week...The Broncos whipped the Dallas Cowboys 42-17!!! And, best of all, I got to watch the game on our big screen TV with the antenna on FOX!! Even with the weather delay of about an hour or so, the game was fun to watch...of course it would've been a disaster if the score was just the opposite. lol Then, The Astros clinched the AL West yesterday with the score 7-1 against the Mariners....the first time for them as members of the AMERICAN LEAGUE.

Exciting stuff!!

Images courtesy of Google Images

WEATHER

The past week, it's been hot, humid and absolutely break out in sweat kinda days!!! Step outdoors and clothes are soggy in no time! But, this morning, as I drove to North Padre Island, I was surprised there was wet freeway in spots here and there. There is predicted rainfall in our area for the next few days; intermittent which means just that...you can be under blue sky and the next minute you're under a micro-burst! Which happened to me as I was driving home from my walk along the beach at Packery Channel. Speaking of Packery Channel [it's for small craft, not ships the size of tankers!]....from Hurricane Harvey back in August, the landscaping in this area has been changed drastically. I got pictures!! That'll probably be my NEXT blog entry. Stay tuned.

...and the active hurricanes out in the Atlantic hasn't slowed down any!! Those residents on the Islands in the Caribbean Sea...I feel for them and hope they're spared any more terrific damages from Maria.

§ This and That...

...Walking in the Sunshine...

It's a bit difficult to fathom that next Tuesday it'll be the first of August already! So, this week, I registered myself to participate in the city's 5K Heart Walk! It will take place in October, giving me time to raise the funds I pledged. AND, it'll be a lot cooler in that month. [Hopefully, drier also, but it's STILL hurricane season, so anything's possible]. I decided to join as an individual so not to disappoint any company's team if for some reason I need to drop out while participating or not show up at all. It will give me a lot more peace of mind to do it this way.

Heart Walk Image created by me with use of free clipart

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...Copyright Issues...

Once again, I was compelled this week to take down an image I shared to add more layered text on a photo and then republish the 'newer' version Wednesday. A gal that left a comment actually posted in her comment that she'd take my image, of which I took a screenshot. My question is, if it's not from a free site, or listed in Google searches that have no copyright issue for fair use [an act that allows use of images for educational purposes], "Why do they think that special photos of a private collection is free to steal and 'replicate' as she stated?" They're ALL protected under the copyright laws. On my sidebar I have a 'copyrighted' graphic which implies all my photos are protected by that very law. Anyone should either ask permission for use, or check the site for any disclaimers. For instance, with a whole slew of my own images I'm using for a project, I emailed the site's owner and asked if it was feasible I use their filter for purposes that will have my images and their filter published....I got a reply It's ALWAYS best to ask first before any legal action is taken. Also, if you DO use some image from an online site...ALWAYS give credit where credit is due somewhere on your website, never claim the borrowed image is yours.

The screenshot I saved for reference...

and then, my email with privacy editing

On Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 8:57 PM, Anni wrote:

Date: 06/07/2017 20:57:53
Email: emailomitted.com
Country: US
City: N/A
Timezone: N/A
Ip:omitted
Language: en
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; WOW64; rv:53.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/53.0
Sent from: desktop

I have a couple of photos of my own [taken by me, off my camera], and I would like to use one of your free filters [oil painting] and then put this in a publication. I know I have the copyright of the image, but do I have the right to have your filter used and still not infringe on YOUR rights as a website?

Thanks in advance, Anni

* * *
Re: [US][DESKTOP] I have a couple of photos of my own...
Friday, July 7, 2017 6:19 AM

From:
"Support Team"
To:
email omitted.com

Many thanks for your message and taking interest in private website. For simple effects like filters you do not require any permissions from us.

Kind regards,
name withheld

Support Team

- - -

...Houston, We have a Problem!!...

The Astros?!! What happened?!!! For the entire 2017 season, you've been on the TOP throughout the entire baseball leagues [higher batting averages of BOTH American and National]. Now, you're falling...Dodgers have over-run your standings. Come on...don't strike out!! Get your mojo working again and win, win, win!! I haven't 'talked' much of the game here of late, but still...I ♥ Baseball!!

- - -

...Whitecap Beach Cuteness...

As I walked the beach, I came up on a family out enjoying the surf. I asked the parents for permission to take a few photos of their daughter. I couldn't resist the sweet innocence of her expressions and the perfect beach gear for her!!

- - -

...Books...

After taking day trips around the area and visiting a few historical sites, I have been in search of some historical books on the 'fathers' of Texas. I just found a short biography of Stephen Austin. I've read a few chapters and am enjoying the story...from childhood to his college days so far. Interesting to learn about him, and now know the reason why the state's capital city is named after him. Also found, one I've been looking for at the used bookstore for nearly a decade, is "Sahara". A book that is out of circulation, published in 1995. Why? Well, one of my favorite action movies is of the same title, based on the novel. I want to compare the movie with the book...I know the book will be different than the movie, hopefully explaining one thing mostly...how and where did the wrecked plane come from they find in the desert! lol To be read after the bio on Austin!

- - -

...A little Comedy Relief...

§ Thursday...thru...Sunday

It was a busy weekend, but still nothing much got accomplished. There was some celebrating here and there, some driving around, a bit of yard work and all in all time flew all too quickly. Here is a small recap of what we did...

Thursday, our 49th anniversary, we went to Niko's Steakhouse...

...and Mother's Day was a day of quiet celebration!

"and I'm reading that book called "The Genius of Birds" that I blogged a little bit about -- it gives much of the same kind of information about birds -- you'd enjoy it..." Sallie at Full Time Life recently added in her comment to me that this would be an ideal book for me to read...I mentioned it to Bud and he found it at Barnes and Noble . My mother's day gift from him....

Our lilies are in full bloom...they were gorgeous in the sunlight!!

...a perfect, balmy, day on Sunday. A good day for a stroll through the park!

...along the boardwalk, a 56 second video I took with my phone:

If you're curious, the mama and chicks breed is Common Gallinule [aka Moorhen]

- - - -

...then, there was my all-time favorite baseball player. And he happens to be a retired NY Yankees shortstop! I read over my smartphone of a special tribute commercial composed by Budweiser. You know the old slogan they used long ago..."When You Say Bud-d-d-weiser, You've Said It All"...this commercial is the epitome of the slogan ---

Of course, if you're a fan of baseball [the game was Houston Astros vs. Yankees in a double header on Sunday], I had to wear my Jeter Shirt and we went to a sports bar to watch and celebrate his number being retired...it was a bitter-sweet ceremony. Now my own MLB official shirt will also be retired. Bud thinks I should find a frame for it. Maybe some day...

§ Comedy Relief to Moody Skies...

I'm just not home much these days. It's Spring Migration and Breeding Season, so the birds are calling me to come find 'em...early to bed early to rise; I'll catch you later...out birding!! I thought today, for a bit of laughter, I'd share some of the comedic poses I've witnessed and captured 'on film'...

"Why are men so puzzling?" -first photo
and
"I'm auditioning for Dancing with the Stars!" -second photo

...then, this

"How many times must I say...'I can't cook!'"

"Me thinks I bit off more than I can chew!"

More? Okay you pulled my leg. But just a couple...

"Who needs acupuncture when I can do this?"

"Whoa...one too many...steady ol' chap!"
..."Must be something in the water!"

Bird Species from top to bottom: Cattle Egret, Reddish Egret, Common Tern [Forster's Tern], Great Blue Heron, Red Breasted Merganser [female], and Bufflehead Duck [male]

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This is also a good month for Texas' State Flower...