My Thoughtful Spot

big times are back

• While on my usual 4 hour drive to my hometown, I got a message from my assistant that I needed to call a patient. She was bitching and moaning about getting pre-op labs, chest x-ray and EKG. I spent half an hour on the phone with her, which happened to be when we were on a pit stop. And I hadn't peed yet, so we couldn't even get back on the road. "I've never had to get those before and I've had scopes and other anesthesia before." I tried to patiently explain to her that those procedures that occurred when she was under the age of 50, but now that she's 52, she has to get it done. Or I'm not operating. Period. Then I mentioned to her that I didn't know the name of the radiology facility where she had her mammogram done. She said that she wasn't sure if she should have me as her surgeon because I "obviously don't know who she is." At which point I got royally pissed and said that I was on my way out of town and did not have her chart sitting in front of me. I was on the road and she was lucky that I called her back then instead of making her wait until Monday. I knew who she was, what her diagnosis was, and what the planned procedure is. But remembering the radiology facility? No. And if she expects that of her surgeon, then she's probably right -- she should get another one. She apologized. I get to operate on her tomorrow. But I'm still pissed. She really damaged our relationship for no good reason. I will do an appropriate surgery, of course, but my empathy for her? A lot less.

• The county fair was awesome, as usual. Saw pig races, giant vegetables, bees in a hive, horse races, prize winning cakes, pies, place settings, and quilts, and all the fried food you could handle! I was a wuss food-wise... had a Greek salad. But I made up for it with margaritas and beer. I was also lucky enough to get my very own Sham Wow, which I have been wanting for the last three years or so. The As Seen on TV areas at the fair are the BEST.

• On Sunday, Papelbon single-handedly killed all postseason baseball. All season long I've been saying that his arrogance will eventually cost us more than a game. Here's one time where I wish he would have proved me wrong. He gets to ruminate over it all winter long. And I don't feel bad for him at all. It's going to be hard to route for the Angels, but I'll have to get over it; we have tickets for some of the ALCS games. Once I see the Yankees, I'm sure my hatred for them will make things much easier.

• Everyone really liked the baked goods. As I expected, the kids' favorites were the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (with frosting), but they even liked the scones. But with all the food we ate at the fair and the giant breakfast my dad made us the following day, I had leftovers. Which mom made me take home! Must... resist...

• I'm struggling a bit with a new family dynamic. I hesitate to put too much here (because my family occasionally reads this blog), but my dad and adopted sister recently moved back to my hometown. Yes, I realize that makes me her sister, but I never really lived in the same house, or even the same state, with her. She's 13, which means that I'm old enough to be her mother. And she's got a whole slew of behavioral problems (which my family already knows) and I have very little patience for them; I've been told I can be a little... mean. (I have a lot of practice being a big sister, what can I say?) My whole line of thinking is that she's smart enough to know how to be respectful to others around her and to "cotton on" to the way things are now. I refuse to lower my standards, which is a luxury I am afforded by distance. I hope things work out for everyone's sakes. I won't diminish my trips up there because of it, though. I love my family and still want to see them and do cool things that I can only do with them in my hometown.

• My sister is going through a lot right now at home; I didn't get to see her much at all. If you're the praying kind, please say a few for her. She's not, but that doesn't mean that she can't be helped by some. As a matter of fact, prayers for my whole family up there would be good (see above). Thanks much.

easter with the hooter girls

This Easter will go down in the history books as the oddest one ever. I knew it was going to be very far outside the ordinary at the end of March -- that is when we had draft day for our Angels season tickets and we learned that we would be watching the Red Sox play at the stadium.

For a few weeks, Daniel and I discussed how we could make the weekend have more of an Easter holiday feel. As you may know, Daniel goes all out when cooking for holiday meals, and Easter is no exception. Our usual Easter schedule is: Mass on Good Friday, Vigil Mass Saturday night, eating on Sunday. (It's an all day event.) We couldn't very well eat hot dogs and consider that Easter dinner, so Daniel was going to try to do a few of our favorite dishes that we could enjoy when we got home.

Then we were notified by the Angels organization that they were offering a Sunday brunch before the game. Perfect! We'll do that. My aunt and uncle were also going to the game and they would join us for brunch as well.

I could not have been more disappointed with brunch. The food was the only good thing about it. They were horribly understaffed and needed at least triple the number of servers that were actually there. We had to beg for drinks. Beg for clean plates. Beg for coffee. Beg for champagne refills. Beg for the check. We actually missed the beginning of the game. A restaurant in the ballpark sould be especially attuned to getting people out by game time. Needless to say, I'll never do brunch at Angels Stadium again. At least for a holiday or for a Red Sox start.

The game was as good as it could have been since the Sox lost. I got to see my first live Sox "fight," which was entertaining. Fortunately, no Sox players were ejected. I know a lot of people (especially Angels fans) have a lot to say about what happened and that it wasn't fair. But if you look at the footage, it was the umpire's fault and the Angels over-reacted. Plain and simple. In between half innings, the entire stadium won free wings at Hooters. Cool. We might go; we'll see how the rest of the day goes.

We got home in the afternoon and exchanged Easter baskets. Then we decided to go to Hooters. We had wings, beer, and fries for our Easter dinner. Some of you might be shocked that I, a strong-willed professional woman, would stoop to dine (if you could call it that) at Hooters. But I actually like Hooters. I don't really care about the girls. I've got boobs and I see plenty of boobs and operate on them. Daniel is a gentleman and doesn't stare at the boobs either. The food is pretty good, they have a good selection of beers, and it's not expensive. So when we get free wings at the game, we eat at Hooters.

And this year, we had Easter dinner with the Hooters girls playing musical chairs in the background to Fergie singing "My Humps."

the postseason

Two days ago, I went to my first postseason game. Red Sox vs. Angels. Normally when I go to Angels Stadium, I support the Halos. But when the Red Sox are in town? I'm a whole new animal. My baseball family, the people I have gotten to know around our season seats during the regular season, had plenty to say about my Mr. Hyde appearance.

The four seats directly to our right are owned by a company, so there are always different people in them. On Wednesday's ALDS Game 1 it was occupied by two guys and their wives. Their only goal, it seemed, was to get completely plastered by consuming only alcoholic beverages during seven innings. (After the seventh inning they don't serve alcohol anymore, so there was no reason for them to stay.) It was very entertaining.

The crowd was completely insane. I've been at Angels stadium when there have been that many people in attendance. A fact that I know thanks to the attendance quizzes they have every game. But this crowd was deafening. They should have issued ear plugs. I'm ashamed to say that the crowd got to me. After the early run scored by the Angels, I was concerned that the relatively weak bats of the Red Sox could not make up just a one run deficit. Thank goodness I'm not a professional ball player!  But my worries were thankfully unnecessary and the Red Sox pulled off a 4-1 win. A two run shot by Jason Bay quieted the crowd down. A bit. There are plenty of places to read a re-cap of the game. I'll refer you to Dawn's post.

Lester pitching with Youkilis covering first in the foreground and the Angels dugout in the background...

Papelbon

we all have to pitch in

The Red Sox are on the brink of being swept by the Angels at home. Even when the Red Sox were in Anaheim and didn't do so well earlier this month, I reminded myself that the Sox always do very well against the Angels at home. But not this year.

Daniel came home a bit early to watch the game while working on his laptop. Here's the conversation we had as he sped through the front door.

Daniel: "I have an offering to the baseball gods. I can't bear to see us get swept."

me: "You bought a goat head?"

Daniel: "Close..." (Pulls out a can from a plastic shopping bag...) "chowder." (and begins to open it.)

me: "You're going to eat it?"

Daniel: "No. It's going on the coffee table."

me: "With the daruma? Oh, that's just for Matsuzaka, right?"

Daniel: "Right. I don't know what to bring out for Beckett."

me: (thinking) "What about the shotgun?" (referencing Beckett's Texas ranch and hunting hobbies.)

Daniel: "I thought of that but didn't want to end up shooting the TV."

me: "That's ok. We could use a new TV anyway."

almost on a first name basis

The Red Sox have played two out of their three games here. And lost. One more to go. Might I add they only come to Angels Stadium once this year. So they only have one more chance.

Last night was a spectacular blow out. It ended up being 11-3. Despite that final score, two good things came of it. 1) It was Friday night fireworks. I can always get behind a good fireworks show, even if it always ends in that horrific, sophomoric piece that passes for music called the 1812 Overture. 2) Because the Angels scored 10 runs, everyone in attendance gets free sliders at Claim Jumper. This is replacing the old free wings offer from Hooters from last year. For some reason, the Angels aren't scoring as much as they did last year, so this was actually the first time we had an opportunity to enjoy free sliders. Too bad it was at the expense of a Red Sox loss.

By the time the fireworks festivities were over and we escaped the parking lot, the restaurant was only going to be open for another 20 minutes. Since we had 24 hours to get our sliders, we decided to go after today's game, with the hope that the sliders would taste a little better after Beckett got a win for us today.

Except that didn't happen, either. Beckett was doing very well in today's day game and was holding onto a 2-0 lead into the 7th. Inexplicably, at a pitch count that numbered only in the 80s, he gave up a solo home run, and let guys get on 1st and 2nd. He was pulled and the bullpen let those and one more come home, leaving us with a score of 4-2. During the rest of the game, we left a ridiculous number of men on base and ended up losing.

We went to Claim Jumper anyway, this time with the intention of drowning our sorrows in some more beer. The location we chose to visit was at a world famous mall, famous because of the high end stores held within it: Black, Starr & Frost, Bottega Veneta, Yves St Laurent, Hermes, Todd's, Christian Dior, Chanel, plus Bloomingdales and Nordstroms.

Our table at the bar offered a view of one of the entrance ways to the mall and Steven was perfectly poised for people watching. We had just finished up and were waiting for the check to arrive, when Steven says, "Hey, guys. That guy looks a lot like Pedroia."

I whip around and catch not only his profile but Mike Lowell's and I say, "Shit, dude. That is Pedroia. And Lowell!" Steven, Daniel and I just sort of stare at each other for a few seconds, each one of us just barely holding ourselves back from using a barstool to break the glass that separated us from two of our favorite Red Sox players.

me: "Well, we can't just go running after them like lunatics."

Daniel: "We can't do nothing, either. I'm going to the car to get the ball and the Sharpie. You guys figure out the bill."

Instead of doing that, Steven and I started to strategize how we would find Pedroia and Lowell in such a big mall with so many stores and restaurants.

Were they bored and want to explore a little before dinner? No. Why would two guys voluntarily go to a mall to "explore?" Well, this is the OC. There are some pretty hot chicks here in some crazy clothes. True. But they're happily married. Ok. Maybe they are here to buy something for their wives? Maybe. But where would they go? Coach? Tiffany? They can order that stuff online anytime. And there's an Hermes in Boston, as well as plenty of other good stores. Pedroia was dressed like a slob; maybe there here for the kick ass sale at Nordstroms and Lowell is going to help Pedroia pick out a few things. Oh, like that wouldn't draw even more attention to them.

These and a hundred other possibilities were offered when Daniel finally returned from the car. The bill was paid and we were off. We were walking at a medium-fast clip, looking into likely stores (but skipping things like Bath & Body Works and Limited) as well as scanning the crowds outside of stores. This is what this game was training us for. This is our mission. To find Pedroia and Lowell.

We went all the way down to the other end of the mall... where Nordstroms was at it's familiar position down the "snooty" wing of the mall. We went in and decided this would be a perfect location to go from the upper level to the lower level. The place was mobbed. We weaved through sales people and shoppers in the men's department, but did not find them. We escaped the snooty wing without success and needed a new strategy.

They obviously didn't drive here. Why would they be given a car? They don't know where anything is. They had a driver, obviously. For simplicity's sake, they would probably be picked up at the same location where they were dropped off. (Yeah, because we've had so many drivers in the past and know exactly how it works.) Even if the assumption was wrong, we felt that we were getting further and further away from our objective with each passing minute. So we agreed the best thing was to go back to the same hallway where we saw them in the first place and just wait.

We took up positions on benches so we could easily see everyone coming and going, as well as look for any suspicious looking black cars that roll up to the curb. Not ten minutes had elapsed when I saw a short, balding man carrying a Nordstroms bag; he was surrounded by kids holding baseballs. OHMYGODIT'SPEDROIA my head screamed at me. But I couldn't do anything except smack Steven on the arm like I had thousands of times before as only a big sister can.

I heard him say, "I'm sorry, I really have to go; I don't have time." Then he spotted Daniel wearing his Veritek jersey and me in my Red Sox t-shirt and said, "See? There's one of my buddies right there," pointed at Daniel and smiled at me. If I did a big lunge, I could have touched him. And then he walked out and disappeared over the footbridge to one of the hotels across the street.

Lowell was no where to be seen. We hung around for a few more minutes but didn't see him. He might have taken another exit. When I see Pedroia tomorrow at batting practice, I'm going to ask him what he bought at Nordrstroms. I'm dying to know which one of our theories was right.

some things just can't be moved

During residency, we've gotten fairly good at moving holidays. Birthdays, anniversaries, even Thanksgiving or Christmas. I haven't had to move Easter or New Year's and I suppose I should count myself lucky. Because those are probably the only two things you can't move and pretend it didn't happen so you can celebrate it later.

At least I thought those were the only two until tonight.

Tonight the Red Sox swept the Rockies in Colorado to win the World Series. But I was working and running traumas while it happened. I was really hoping the Rox wouldn't get swept for several reasons: 1) I really don't like when anyone gets swept. I feel bad for them. Whoever they are, even if they aren't the Sox. 2) It would have really been convenient for me if they would have lost tonight. I didn't want the last game of the season and the game that won them the World Series to occur when I'm on call where at best, I would watch alone without alcohol, and at worst, not be able to watch or celebrate at all and be relegated to watching the recorded version when I get home.

I got the worst. I'm happy for the Red Sox and for Red Sox Nation everywhere. It just sucks that because of my job, on the most important night of the baseball year, I'm not part of that celebration.

sticky notes

As we approach the first game of (maybe) three in Coors Field, I have few random thoughts I wanna place on the lockers of some Red Sox players:

Youk -- I'm sure your disappointed about being sat for this game. But you can curse just as much, if not more, from the dugout. I'm counting on ya, buddy.

Papi -- I know you don't play first base a lot, so here's a friendly reminder: STRETCH

Tito -- Are you insane? Why the hell would you sit Youk over Papi? They have essentially the same batting averages at this point and Youk is not hurt and is the far superior first baseman.

Manny -- No monstah here. You gotta run out there, amigo. Here's some Red Bull and there is some Rockstar in the fridge with your name on it. Don't let Tek drink it. Oh, and wear tighter pants so you don't trip when you run.

Lowell -- Home stretch, man. Just a few more games where you're responsible for your position and trying to cover the hole over at SS. I hope you don't have to do it next season; not because you're not here, but because we have a new SS.

Papelbon -- Can you do the robot dance to warm up today?

Zaka-san -- You know the Rox are afraid of something you call the gyroball. I believe it exists. Bring it. If you smoke them, I forgive all embarrassing at-bats.

Gagne (who, to me, looks like the guy from 40-Year Old Virgin who wants to buy the glitter platform boots with the goldfish in them at the ebay store) -- Don't worry about playing. Papelbon's got it. Just go back to the hotel room so you can put the boots on your feet. Well, unless we smoke 'em. Then you can play.

Ellsbury -- Thank you for stealing a base in Game 2 and giving everyone in America a free taco from Taco Bell. Even though we don't get more free stuff if you steal another base, please try anyway if you have the chance.

game 1

I amazingly was able to see most of the game last night! Hooray! Ok, well, I missed the beginning and then watched it at the end. Here are a few observations I had, although I am far from the sports commentator Dawn is.

1. Did I say I was worried about the Rox? Wow. They were way out of practice for the kind of heat ol' Beckkkkkkkkket was bringing to the mound. Nope. Their bat speeds got seriously cooled off after sweeping twice. Consistently late on swings. The best part was that he first threw fastball after fastball. Then suddenly? Curveball! He was just on fire and brought his nastiest stuff. But he looked cool as a cucumber, almost as if he were playing a game in April. If he doesn't win the Cy Young award, I'm gonna hurt someone.
2. I kinda felt bad for the Rox's starter. I always end up feeling bad in a really big blowout for the loosers, even if the looser isn't my team. I guess this was Josh's payback to the guy that made the number in the lose game column go from zero to one.
3. Then I really felt bad for Spier. Three runs walked in? In the World Series? I mean everyone has a bad day, but then it's the manager's job to pull him before it gets that bad.
4. Fox was supporting this stupid movie with Vince Vaughn called Fred Claus. As part of the promo, they showed "gifts of baseball." The "gift" they chose to demonstrate was the blunder by Buckner that lost the '86 World Series against the Mets. Let me just make this clear to everyone: Just because the curse is broken and the Red Sox won in '04, that doesn't mean that that footage is any less painful for Red Sox Nation. It is a horrible, powerful image, and not one that will make any decent Red Sox fan want to go see a stupid Christmas movie.
5. Then I finished watching the game and watched the beginning, thus the out-of-orderness of my thoughts. I had no idea that John Williams is back conducting the Boston Pops. That alone is almost enough to make me want to move back to Boston. He is an amazingly talented composer/conducter, and his arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" gave me goosebumps. Somewhere in the middle, I realized that it was being performed by high school students.
6. YAZ!!!!

sox v rox

Rox
Sox
Rox on Fox
Sox on Fox
Rox vs. Sox on Fox
Sox vs. Rox on Fox
Sox vs. Rox in Coors Bandbox

Sox have Jocks
Rox have Jocks
Jocks in Field or Batter's Box
Jocks with Money Box of Stocks
Papi strong as Wild Ox

Fox ex-Jocks sit in Press Box
Listen to Tim McCarver's Vox!
The insanity he Talks and Squawks
Joe Buck oughtta clean his Clocks

Rox beat Sox
Sox beat Rox

No one claims the games are Locks
And on some wood a Nation Knocks
But if the Rox Outfox the Sox
Or Gagne Walks or Beckett Balks
It surely would cause Mocks and Shocks
Requiring Whiskey on the Rocks

nine days and red sox

I can't believe it. I'm now down to single digits in the number of days I have left on this service. And then I will never have to do it. Ever. Again. :-)

It's weird having thoughts about getting back to a more normal life. (well, normal for me, anyway.) I want to get back into blogging more. And I will, but I kind of have that where-do-I-start rustiness in my brain. If anyone still checks my blog, bear with me. I'll get better; hopefully soon.

So all through October, I have been trying to catch as many post-season games as I can. More often than not, I miss at least half of the game because it starts at 5 and I don't get home til about 7 or 7:30. (But no one better question my fanhood. grrr.) I'm surrounded by loyal Angels fans who were mighy pissed about being swept (again). So they were having a great time ribbing me when the Sox were down 2-1 and then 3-1 in the ALCS. They shut up pretty quickly after Beckett's start, though, and I heard nothing on Sunday after Schilling's win.

Now the Sox have to take on the Rockies. The team that has lost one game in the last month. They will be playing in Coors Field (edited) where it was snowing on Sunday. I can only hope that the cooler temperatures and the time off from sweeping the Diamondbacks have cooled *them* off. If not, I'm very worried.

But it's not the same kind of worry that surrounded the 2004 World Series. Now everyone knows the Sox are a force to be reckoned with. There is no more Curse of the Bambino. Everyone knows they can do it and are well on their way to doing it again. The 2004 worry had much more of a tinge of desparation to it. Now it's more of a worry mixed with hopeful anticipation. We have a good core of players; those that hold rings from that fateful Series three years ago. But we also have a lot of new faces, like them (Ellsbury, Papelbon) or not (Lugo), which brings a lot of youthful energy. Which is *so* much fun. I truly do live for this.