José Singers of America, UNITE!!!

Finally figured out how to spell it – jeopardy!!!

That was a random side note, sorry! This post is really mainly about the game last night. If you want to know on a scale of 1-10, 11, and I can't talk right now I'm so hoarse!!!

The fun started before we even left our parking spot (only 3-4 blocks away, not two miles!) at about 5:00 PM, when they open the gates. We were just getting parked, and Dad's like, look under those coats on the seat next to you. So I look, and what to my wondering eyes should appear?

You know that commercial that's like "Seize Your Someday" for insurance or a bank or something? My someday was always "someday I'll own a Raul Ibanez shirt." Well my someday was yesterday. Isn't my dad amazing?

So we get to the park, in plenty of time for three wonderful Raul Ibanez bobbleheads, despite the anxieties of my father that we would be too late (we got there about fifteen minutes after they opened the gates). We went to right field, just right of the foul post, and tried to catch some fly balls in batting practice. No luck this time, but we did see one get stuck in some netting in the next section over, and this guy kept tossing his mitt up there trying to get it out. My dad was convinced he was going to lose his mitt.

After a while we decided to walk around and see if we couldn't find the place where Anna and Sam had their picture taken with Raul (if you haven't seen it yet, head over to Sam's blog and take a look)! We found it after walking around for about twenty minutes, and then stood in line for twenty more. There was a couple in front of us with this adorable little four year old daughter, and Dad noticed the guy's eyes kinda eyeballing our bobbleheads, like he wished he had one. After further inquiry, it was discovered that they were tourists, and they made it too late to get one. Dad gave the little girl his, figuring we didn't need three…it felt really sweet to see her hugging onto it. :)

While in line, my grandparents call to say they're at our seats, and wondering where we were, so after the picture-taking we head way way way way way way up up up up up up……."With the help of two mountain goats and a Sherpa, you have finally made it to your seats. Look – you can see your house from here! And Canada! And Japan!!!" Yeah, they were that high. We have officially dubbed it the "Cool Section" now. Reasons: We were surrounded by church groups at this game, which was amazing because I don't think I heard one swear word the entire game, pretty much a first! We were sheltered from the wind, and it was quite warm. Birdseye view of the whole park, and right up the first base line, so we could see the batter pretty well and everything else. And last, but far from being the least ---- we had the José singers!!!

You may have heard them at a game before. I know they were there opening night. The Mariners have three Josés on their team: José Vidro, José Guillen, and José Lopez. Every time a José cam up to bat, these four guys would start singing to the tune of the Irish National Soccer Team, "JoSÉ, JoSÉ JoSÉ JoSÉ, JoSÉ, JoSÉ!!!!!" At first it was just the four of them together, then they got some more people to join in, and by the end of the night they had spread out over three or four sections and had almost everybody in those sections singing "JoSÉ JoSÉ!!!!!!" We did get a video of it…

And the OTHER reason our section was cool: We didn't start the wave, but we kept it going, and the third level was the only one that got the wave to go completely around more than once! We actually did it five or six times in a row!!! I haven't done the wave in forever, it usually dies to quickly.

Oh yes, the game. Right, almost forgot, sorry! So somebody gets on base right off the bat, and then who comes walking out but the star of the night, Mr. R-A-eight U's – L Ibanez himself! Everyone goes wild (It's his bobblehead night, after all) and his very first pitch he parks it over the wall in deep right-center field, M's 2, White Sox 0. That was super-exciting. Then later on Ichiro bunts back near the mound, the pitcher or third baseman, somebody, picks it up and throws to first base trying to get him out. Well the first baseman completely misses the ball, and it skitters out to deep right field for a triple. Yes, you heard right – a bunt turned into a triple!!! Over the course of the game it turns into 5-0 Mariners.

Then comes the seventh inning. Batista has thrown 91 pitches; he's getting tired. He walks to load the bases. People start booing (quite unnecessarily for someone who's pitched a great game up til now). Needless to say, new pitcher. Whom, you might ask? Mr. George Sherrill, pretty well known as infallible in jams. He decides to give up a grand slam to this lineup who's highest batting average is a .272 (that's pretty BAD, btw). However, he gets one more out before they pull him and bring in the rookie Morrow, who get another out. We're mowing through the bullpen if we keep this up, top of the eighth, 5-4 Mariner's, two outs and we could be in trouble with one slip. We need someone with ice in his veins.

J.J. Putz.

That's really all I need to say. J.J is considered one of, if not the, best closer in baseball right now. He has something like 34 save this year, and he IS infallible. I can only guess what went through the White Sox's minds as they heard his welcome, Thunderstruck playing in the foreground. Every person in the stadium was on their feet, screaming. The hero was here. The train even joined in the exhilaration, blowing its whistle as it passed the field! this lasted about five minutes. All because one man, who was to throw about twenty pitches, had just walked out of the bullpen.

After a nerve-racking last out, the top of the eighth was over. We relaxed a few tiny muscles and wondered if we could tack on any more runs in our half of the inning. Nothing doing. It was hang-on time once more. Another welcoming ceremony for the master of the mound, and then every breath was held as every ball was thrown, all on the edge of our seats, grasping each others' hands with the pressure. The tension was so thick you could spread it on a sandwich, but Iceman worked as he always does – infallibly. Just after ten o'clock PM, the White Sox's last hope had struck out swinging.





On the way home, I rode with Dad and we listened to the post-game show. This one guy called in, and first he says "I think they left Batista in too long tonight." Batista was our starting pitcher. The radio men disagreed with him, as did I. He pitched very well until the seventh, and then they weren't even in the lead. I mean, their highest batting average in the lineup was .272 for goodness sake! Next he says "I think the Mariners have been using their bullpen too much this season."
Uuuummmm….Sam you might be the only one who actually gets this and finds it humorous.





So, enough about baseball. The night was incredible and I'm soooo glad I went, but I know most of you really don't care much, so I'll tell you about the rest of my life lately. First of all is college. I think I have decided for sure where I want to go to college. It's Bethany College of Missions, the same one I've been looking at for a while now. But I've been considering my options, and Bethany is the best I've seen for what I want to do so far! Here's their website, if you want to see what I'm looking at: www.bcom.org

I would end up with a B.A. in Cross-cultural Studies, which is three year of school (16 months of which are spent in an overseas internship with missionary contacts, learning how to be a missionary, how to learn a language, adjust to a culture, etc.). I am soooo excited to go the Bethany in a few years!!! It's such a relief to finally be sure about where I am supposed to go, since this has been bugging me for awhile. I know it's all in God's hands, I just too often wish my brain knew what God's hands were holding!



Officially, I'm going to the golf tryouts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm still a little nervous, because I shot the worst nine holes of my life so far on Thursday, but I'm hoping I got all the bad shots out of the way then, and I won't make a fool of myself at tryouts. Pretty sure I'll make the team just because there won't be enough girls, but that's not a ton of consolation if you know what I mean. However, we went to the driving range this morning for a couple hours and I went through about two large buckets on practice, practice practice! Also, my former teacher was just getting done with a lesson, and we said hi, and he helped me fix a problem I was having with my swing in about two minutes. That was pretty cool. I could just use a lot of prayer right now, that I have a good time while I'm out there and don't let the bad holes get to me. I just want to learn and have fun at the same time.

Tuesday I am taking my Driver's test, and I know I'm not ready. At least, I know I don't feel ready. Prayer there too please, that I'll find time to study more before then, and that I'll pass first time. It's only the written part, and I really don't want to have to retake it!

After the driving range this morning, we saw Bourne Ultimatum at the theater!!! It was SO good!!! If you saw and liked the other two, you'll love this one! Action action action all the way through – my kind of movie! A few good one liners too.




I'm leaving for Portland on Friday, to stay at my aunt and uncle's for the week. I don't know how much free time I'll have for computers, but I'll hopefully be on fairly often. We're going to try to meet with Mythraie, who is one of the team leaders for the India trip every year, and we're going to talk about me being on the team. Lots of things will be decided at this meeting, so that could use a lot a prayer too. Please just pray for God's will, because I want that above my own. I'm feeling pretty selfish lately, because I want to go even if God says not this year – aren't I horrible? Ugghhh….feeling like Dorian Gray. But I want to want God's will over mine, so just pray for that. It's getting better. I do have high hopes though, because I heard from my aunt that there is a children's team, which sounds like somewhere I would fit well. As long as I have a guardian and a place on the team, I trust the Lord for finances. Just pray for God's will and peace in my heart at this meeting next weekend. I'm so sick of waiting more than anything! I can't believe September is almost here!!!