Under the Sea

I can only assume what the theme was for last nights band, strings and chorus concert. I missed it due to a work event I originally cancelled two weeks ago so that I could attend a little Orioles game that Dylan was the starting pitcher. I don't miss many boys activities and there are a lot, but I didn't miss sitting in a hot gym for two hours.

Wacky Day

Sam colored his hair and wore a Hawaiian shirt. He's wacky.

Triple Crown

The boys played three games today and Mike came to visit. The little O's won their baseball game against the Red Sox 8-6 with each boy hitting doubles, walking and striking out. They clinched the second seed of the playoffs and a first round bye. The also won two basketball games against a couple AAU teams this afternoon.

Again, the boys played well and the team was really in sync. They both had 6 points in game one and dozen or so rebounds as well as some fancy passing and a minimum of 6 assists. . Sam had 6 in game two and Dylan had a couple with a dozen rebounds, assists and steals.

An overall great sports day for the boys. Fun to watch.

Throwback

This was posted on Facebook the other day and it reminded me that I've known Rob Porte since kindergarten, making him my oldest friend. I wonder if any of the kids Sam and Dylan know from the grade school they will be leaving in a couple weeks will still be buddies in 38 years.

Getting Ready

The Patriots had try outs and added a few players for the summer season which is starting soon. Sam was home tonight nursing some shin splints but Dylan was working hard. Basketball never stops.

Jeckel and Hyde

The same team that committed a minimum of 9 errors in a 14-7 thrashing on Thursday against the Braves just beat the first place Nationals 17-2. Totally different team on the field today. Sam pitched the entire game, throwing 83 pitches (85 is the max he's allowed to throw in a game), striking out 9 and only walking a couple. He also showed great baseball awareness by fielding a ground ball and turning immediately to throw to second base, leading the shortstop by a few feat so that the shortstop could touch the base and continue his momentum with a throw to first for a double play. It was late in the game and put the final nail in the coffin. It looked effortless, an amazing play. Sam was a little off at the late going 1-3 and getting a walk.

Dylan went 2-4 at the plate and played first base perfectly. He fielded a hard grounder down the line and caught everything coming his way. It was much more fun watching this game than the game Thursday.



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Pot of Gold

A pot of gold would be nice since we got Nicole a new car today and I bought an iMac for the family room because I refuse to waste anymore time battling the Window 8 machine that was there.

We are picking up Nicole's new "blue" Infiniti tomorrow. She will no longer be a minivan driver when that happens. The new suv is almost as spacious for you visitors. Getting blue was difficult for some reason but that's what she wanted. It's a nice vehicle.

The windows 8 PC in the family room was the biggest piece of trash ever created and I decided that I would not waste another minute trying to make it behave and will only buy macs going forward. The iMac is more expensive but the ease of use and stability is well worth it. I'm going to move the 8 machine downstairs and experiment with it but it's not going to get in the way of accomplishing goals going any longer.

Blue and Grey

The Manassas Blue and Grey won the tournament last weekend. it's the only team we didn't play and we were glad they beat the Prince William Reds.  The Reds were good but we let them off the hook the first time we played them and then went into the second game exhausted from a game right before. More baseball starting tomorrow. 

Pool Season

Two days of baseball stopped us from going to the pool the first couple days it was open but we got there today for a bit. It felt good to get in the chilly water after a couple days on a hot, dusty baseball field.

Leader

The boys had a good couple games again today. They won one and lost another but the team was starting to work together better. Sam had 4 more solid inning on the mound and had a few singles and a triple. Dylan had a couple singles and spent a couple innings on the bench. (11 players and everyone gets time). He played well at second base and caught a crucial pop fly in game one. I think it's tough on him when Sam has a great tournament while he had a good tournament but he is always complimentary of his little brother. Dylan is always offering encouragement to his team mates and is the first to celebrate a good hit or play. He's a leader and a really good ball player, amongst other things. He makes me proud.

Joy

Dylan and Sam love being part of a team. It is so obvious that they draw tremendous energy and joy from being with other kids in the pursuit of glory. They are always right in the middle of the group, cheering people on and goofing around. Win or lose they are team players and have a ton of fun regardless of the outcome. I like that about them.

The Legend Begins

The 12u Pioneer Legends Tournament team had its first tournament games this morning. Sam pitched the first four innings, striking out 7 and only allowing 2 runs. Both boys were getting the bat on the ball but Sam only reached first once with a single (1-3) and Dylan was thrown out twice and struck out once (0-3). The pitchers are better in tournament ball but they were just a little off in the hitting department. The relief pitchers for the legends struggled and ended up surrendering 4 runs for a 6-5 loss.

The second game of the day was a disaster. I stopped counting errors at around 8. The pitching was rough and hitting was anemic. Dylan sat the first couple inning and struck out while Sam went 1-2 but got picked off at first. They ended up losing 14-3 to a pretty mediocre team. We have anywhere between 1 and 3 games tomorrow. I hope they get their mojo back and get in the win column.

Devistating Dylan

Slammin Sammy

Double Shot

The Orioles got back in the win column today with a 12-7 victory over the Dodgers. Sam pitch a couple semi successful innings, striking out 4 but giving up some walks and 2 runs. He went 2-2 with a single, walk and three run home run. Dylan was 1-3 at the plate with a three run homer as well. They have been batting at the 4 and 5 positions the last few games and have been delivering the power that's expected in those slots. Good game boys.

Heading Home

Arizona was nice but it will be good to get home. I learned some things and met some new people and got a couple hours of sun. All good.

Desert Dinner

The conference dinner tonight was somewhere way out in the desert. We stayed in the lights to avoid the rattle snakes. Good times.

Winging It

I'm happy I was on a plane to Phoenix instead of a train to New York today. I had uneventful flight and some nice views on the way down.

Strong Hitters

They boys 12u tournament team played the 11u tournament team last night and the boys did a good job at the plate again.  Dylan hit his first (inside the park) home run with a frozen rope shot over the center fielders head and all the way to the fence, they had a throw to home but it was too late.  He also made nice plays at second for easy outs.  Sam had a hit and a pop out and played well at catcher.  He did not fair so well on the mound but he's been pitching  a lot lately and was due a bad inning.  More baseball this weekend.

Huesos

Our California visitor arrived in a big box this weekend. He's going to have to find a new place to hang out in the house.

Close one

Both boys went 2-3 with Sam getting two singles and Dylan getting a single and a double. We ended up losing 8-7 with some sloppy base running by the team and some bad calls by the umps. My least favorite ump is the one that will make a call based on a coaches complaint. If the ump didn't see it, it didn't happen even if a coach said it did. Control the game ump. Anyway, Sam pitched a couple solid innings with 5 K's and Dylan pitched a very good inning, picking off a runner at first. They are at the tournament team practice now. They will be tired tonight.

Night Ball

It was a beautiful night for baseball and it just seems better under the lights.

Twin Production

Nicole and I missed last Saturday's game but from all accounts, it didn't go well. Sam pitched a 9 pitch inning with two K's and got a hit but the team was a little off. They ended up losing 9-1.

A lot can change over a few days. They came roaring back last night with a 12-6 win over the Dodgers. Dylan went 2-2 with two triples and played well in the field. Sam went 3-3 with two home runs and a single. He also pitched a near flawless three innings, facing 9 batters, striking out 7 of them, fielding a bunt and throwing to first for the out and forcing a pop fly to short.

It helps when the other team can't get a runner on base in the first three innings. The rest of the O's hit well too and while our fielding and pitching is a little suspect, they made enough plays to win.

Batting practice tonight then another game on Saturday. We are in full swing.

Anyone Having Fun?

Acela, Kinky Boots, Bar Centrale, perfect weather, the High Line, brunch at Trestle on 10th Ave, Soho, drinks in Little Italy, the Tenement Museum, great Italian food, the Comedy Cellar, Jeffrey Ross and David Attell, Adams apartment, Elaine staying with the boys and good friends. We had a great couple day in NYC.

New Hats

Nicole and Mike picked up some sweet hats in the village today. We visited the Tenement Museum after these beers.

Kinky Boots

We got into New York Saturday afternoon and proceeded to Kinky Boots, which was a fantastic show. Had some dinner late at Centrale Bar then wondered our way back to Adam's apartment at around 1. We miss the boys but are having a great time.

Washington Square

We started the day with a stroll thru the Village and up onto the Highline for a half mile or so to a place for brunch. It's been a gorgeous day in the city.

Twin Battle

Only six kids at practice tonight so Dylan and Sam have to battle it out at center in the three on three battle. A little pushing and an elbow or two but nothing more serious.

In Bloom

GW 10 Mile Race

Nicole got up early and ran a race this morning. I got up early, took her to her friends house and went back to bed. It was a glorious day for a run and some grilling for dinner.

Big Win

Today's team was a totally different group that played last Saturday. We sent 4 pitchers to the mound that all threw well, we only walked a handful of batters and we hit the ball. We still have some fielding kinks to work out but we came away with a tough 8-7 win.

Dylan played well in the field and had a single, RBI and two K's. He was swinging well but gave the pitchers a couple strikes by swinging at a couple in the dirt. Sam went 3 for 3 with a great run out of a chopped ball in the infield, a single into right field and a long home run ball hit into deep center field (with an error at third). He had 4 RBI's with three of them coming from the HR ball.

He also pitched the last two inning in a strong showing on the mound. He walked a couple batters in the 5th and allowed the tying run to score but struck out two. He begged to pitch the 6th and took a one run lead, allowing a walk, two K's and catching a runner coming home on a short chopped ball up the middle.

It was all very exciting.

Tropical Day

A school theme day that they sorta participated in. I guess the Hawaiian shirts didn't last long but they do look good in them.

Batting Practice

I made it back to DC in time to feed the machine at batting practice tonight. The boys are hitting better than last week. I'm hoping for a big outing against the Red Sox this weekend.

Chelsea

Reception at the McKittrick Hotel on 27th between 10th and 11th. A strange little place but a perfect night for a rooftop party.

Pretty Saturday

I would have posted a picture of the baseball game this afternoon but that was to ugly. The boys were hitting the ball, Dylan had a walk, a single and struck out. Sam had two singles including running out a ground ball to first that was fielded. They both pitched but like all five pitchers we sent to the mound, we threw lots of balls and gave up walk after walk. The end result was a 17-8 loss which was all about horrible pitching. The whole team batted pretty well but you can't walk everyone and expect to win. Nice day for baseball anyway.

Ft. McHenry

The boys had a day off school today so they drove up to Baltimore to visit Fort McHenry with a semi-retired Momma. It looked like a nice day for a visit.

Picture Day

Team photos on a beautiful day.

Vienna

I'm already missing our fun trip to Central Europe but that just makes me want to plan the next getaway. Enjoy the Vienna album here. https://flickr.com/photos/76997459@N00/sets/72157651705087441

Drink Up by Mark Carpenter on Flickr.

Just follow this link to see and comment on this photo:
http://flic.kr/p/s5b5MK

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Field of Dreams

The little Orioles won the opening day game this morning 8-7 over the Pirates. Sam went 0-3 with two strikeouts and a fielders choice at first. Dylan went 1-1 with a nice bunt single and a strikeout. They really didn't get any batting practice the last few weeks so it's not surprising they are a little rusty. Both teams were a little out of sorts since they really only got two practices in before this game. I'm sure things will improve.

Prague

I posted a number of pictures from our time in Prague last week. I plan to do the same with the Vienna pics later tonight. Follow this link. https://flickr.com/photos/76997459@N00/sets/72157651718043785

Top of Petrin Tower by Mark Carpenter on Flickr.

Just follow this link to see and comment on this photo:
http://flic.kr/p/s4dnQf

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Glee

All the area grade schools that feed into Edison High School are performing tonight in the high school gym and they don't have beer vendors. Thanks Obama.

Easter Boys

We didn't force them to run around the yard looking for eggs this year. We were all too jet lagged.

Long Day of Travel

Early Flight

Good thing the Vienna airport has these sweet seats.

Goodbye Vienna

We had a great time.

Belvedere

We had our last dinner in Vienna tonight and have an early car to the airport in the morning. It's been a fun trip but it's always good to head home. This shot is from the upper Belvedere Museum. It's looking at the lower one with St. Stephansdom to the left.

The Kiss

We saw a lot of Impressionism this morning, including the famous Gustave Klimt painting, "the kiss". I wanted to see   the  Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I which is the painting at the center of the new movie "Woman in Gold" but she is in Paris right now. We did see lots of Monets, Degas and other artists but our time was limited due to fidgety boys. We made our way to another neighborhood later so the Sam could get an Austrian soccer jersey, but when we got there, he decided to get an Italian jersey instead. 

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We Keep Going

After the Hapsburg winter palace this morning we climbed the 343 steps to the top south tower of St. Stephansdom. This is the third tower with 300 or so steps we've climbed this vacation. The new knee is handling the stress just fine but my calfs hurt. We went to a concert with pieces from Strauss and Mozart played along with some dance and opera at a 16th century palace tonight. The boys were not thrilled but I think they enjoyed it a little. One more day then back to DC.

Fountainhead

Some early morning snuggling in the cold Viennese weather.

Schonbrunn Palace

We got up early to beat the crowds to the summer palace of the Habsburgs. It was a quick Ubahn ride away and was beautiful. Not sure the boys appreciated it much but it was worth a visit.

St. Stephans

The weather has been cold but mostly dry. We have a full day planned tomorrow.

Four Horseman

We slept in a bit this morning the took the trolley up to see Nicole's school apartment, the Naschmart and the Austrian History Museum. We had a little lunch then did some shopping on the way back to the apartment.