After lunch we all (Donna, myself, her mom and her aunt) made a trip to the big Target over in Augusta to do some shopping. While driving back, Donna mentioned that it was really nice that it was Sunday and that we didn’t have to go back to work tomorrow, Monday, because it was Labor Day. Her aunt said that was the hard thing about being retired, you never got a day off…
Been watching a bit of the U.S. Tennis Open on USA. Not that I’m a big tennis fan, but TV holds so little interest for me that anything new seems exciting. Sweaty, athletic women don’t hurt either. During a match this afternoon between two men, after one particularly hard fought point, the loser of that point picked up the ball and smacked it as hard as he could along the sideline. Apparently this is a no-no and he was given a ball abuse warning. A search of the internet unearthed little info about this kind of thing. What is next after the warning? Is there a penalty for continued spanking of the tennis ball? The only thing I can figure out is that some organization called SPOBA or PETOT* is behind this anti-cruelty effort. I wonder at what point in the ever increasing service speed of the men will they cry foul? 135? 140?
* Society for the Prevention Of Ball Abuse or People for the Ethical Treatment Of Tennisballs
Big headline on yesterday’s Augusta paper was “Georgia SAT Scores Move Up.” “This is a great day,” Superintendent Charles Larke said at a 3 p.m. press conference. One local county was very excited because their school system averaged 1,025 which was about 150 points above the state average. Trouble is that 1,025 is still one point below the national average. The state’s average moved all the way up to 987 allowing Georgia to climb out of 50th, i.e. last place, where it has been the last two years into, yippee, 49th. They traded places with my home state, South Carolina, whose average fell just 3 points and that was enough to give us the dubious honor of 50th place.
Donna and I drove to the Master’s Miata Club meeting tonight, but she didn’t stay. She was on the edge about going and at the last minute decided to come. When we got to the room we would be in at the Aiken Brewery there were two people at the bar smoking. That was all it took to change her mind, she turned around and headed home leaving me to catch a ride with someone after the meeting. At first I was going to ride with Ray who lives on the southside of Aiken too, but Leroy showed up and he lives a stone’s throw (literally) from me, so I rode back with him. Leroy has a Laguna Blue 95 like I used to have. Even though they came from the factory identically built, it is amazing how differently we went when it came to customizing our cars. One thing Leroy did, that I considered early, but dismissed for cost reasons, was add some of the popular Low-Pro headlights from Brainstorm. Not only are they what I consider expensive at $349, but their has been quite a bit written about their lack of light output. Tonight on the way home I got to see their weakness’s first hand. Driving down some darker roads was an adventure, the high beams helped, but man am I ever grateful for not going that way. Sometimes substance is more important that style.
Comet Gestation Counter: 37 days
‘Cause my butt feels like it is on fire. No it’s not the hemorrhoids flaring up agaiin, but my appearance in Will Burnham’s bi-weekly feature, “In The Hot Seat” is live.
..for fear I might jinx it. I cringe at the opening of each game when the announcers talk of where the standings might be at the end of the evening if Team B wins and Team Y loses. I should be enjoying this run, but I can’t, I’m from New England and a long suffering fan. I just hope I’ve been cryptic enough in this post so as to not piss off the baseball gods. Now excuse me while I go out into my backyard and bury a Baby Ruth bar, while chanting ”Game 6.”
Oh Yes My Shirt Is Here! Cafepress delivered today. It is long sleeved in preparation for cooler weather that is about a month and a half away. I will probably wear it around the house first because we keep the AC on real good. But first it gets washed, if you are lucky I might model it for you later this week.
Comet Gestation Counter: 34 days