Day 36: Suite, First Pitch, and Bungee!!!

Sandra had known what Day 36 was a while ago as her friend Ronnie, who is the Assistant GM of the Lynchburg Hillcats had told her that he had a suite for her the night before her birthday. Well, if you have been reading, you already know my bride's love for minor league baseball so off we went. She had also in the time that she knew about the suite, negotiated trowing out the first pitch as well as getting both of us in a between innings contest that happens at minor league games.

We arrive about 6:30 for the 7:00 game and she was very excited and a touch nervous about throwing out the first pitch. I told her that Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and John Smoltz both pitched way into their 40's, so she shouldn't have any problem getting the ball over the plate without bouncing it. She went out there to a round of applause as it was announced that it was her 40th birthday. Sandra wound up to throw, and like she always does, stepped with the wrong foot, and threw the ball directly across the plate like she had been doing it for years!!! The catcher jogged out to give her the ball and I was hoping not a pat on the rear for a good pitch.

After that we walked up to our suite and had a baseball buffet. Hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn as well as beverages to wash it all down. It was at the beginning of the 5th inning that we were summoned to go to the field for a contest at the end of the inning in which we would be competing against each other. We started out back to back with a bungee cord tied to us and we had to run in opposite directions to see who could place 3 rubber chickens, one at a time, into a basket first. Of course she took off and pulled me backwards as I have learned that the saying "Hell hath no furry as a woman who turns 40" (or is it scorned?:)). Regardless she won the contest as I could only manage to pull her enough to get one of my chickens in the basket.

After enjoying the rest of the game we visited with Ronnie a bit and then we hit the road for the drive back home, thinking about what a great night that we had.............. If it had been true.............

That was the plan, however, Ronnie had called Sandra about 5:15 and told her that there was a good possibility that the game might be cancelled due to the weather that was there and on the way. Rather than make the hour drive for a rain out she decided that I should come meet her and some of her colleagues for happy hour. I agreed but my real issue was what was going to be done for Day 36?

Good thing that I had a stand by for this whole experience. Ever since Day 1 I have had something that I could use as a fill in. Sort of like the un-tagged gift that you wrap at Christmas to give to someone whom you didn't expect to give you a present. I met her downtown and presented her with a frame that had all of the North Carolina tournament tickets from 2009 in which we had attended. It included the ACC Tournament, First rounds in Greensboro, Sweet 16 in Memphis, and of course the Final Four in Detroit. She loved it and thought that it was the plan all along. Let's hope nothing else goes wrong in the next 4 days as I'm out of backups!!

Day 36: Suite, First Pitch, and Bungee!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Only 4 left and tomorrow is her actual 40th!!!