"I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps"

On June 14, 2007, I posted this on a message board:

The Sox are in the midst of getting destroyed at home by the Colorado Rockies for a second night in a row. Unless they can pull off a great comeback, their lead over the Yankees in the A.L. East will shrink to 7.5 games with 97 to go. Now Red Sox fans and people who hate the Yankees will come on here with all sorts of bravado, stating how they aren't worried, and the Yankees are only a game closer than they were a month ago. Face it; this isn't the same Yankee team as a month ago. Despite all of your posturing, Red Sox fans, I know the doubt is starting to creep in. It's in the player's eyes, too. You're looking in your rear view mirror and seeing the Ghost of Division Race Past. Your golden boy Beckett is getting blown up again. The Yanks rake Matsuzaka and Schilling everytime out. It's natural to be worried, even if you won't admit it. The Sox finish behind the division-winning Yankees every year. This year will be no different. Read it here first: Yankees 96-66, red Sox 95-67

I posted this on August 11, 2007, in response to a comment following another Yankee win and very solid showings from phenoms Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain:

It was just one day, but it was a nice win. At least for one day, all those people who said the Yankees are only winning because they aren't playing anybody can shut up. We all know that's just a front to mask their fear anyway. Not just in Boston, either. They're wondering in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Detroit, and Seattle what's going to happen if someone doesn't slow down the Yankees. Two months ago, it was almost guaranteed that Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, and Los Angeles would make the playoffs. At least one of those teams isn't going. A few weeks ago, Boston fans felt confident that the Sox would easily win the division, but begrudgingly admitted that Yankees would win the wildcard. Now? The Yankees keep winning. They're only 5 games back. Boston is 16-12 (.571) since the break, while the Yankees are 21-8 (.724). They have 8 games coming up against Detroit that will take away all hope the Tigers had of making the playoffs. The 3-game series at Fenway Sept. 14-16 will be the final nail in the Red Sox' coffin, relegating them to no better than second place for a tenth year in a row.

On July 25 the Red Sox were 61-40, and the Yankees were 54-46. I said that day, for at least the third time, the Yankees would finish 96-66 and the Sox 95-67. That would have meant a 34-27 (.557) finish for the Sox and a 45-20 (.692) finish for the Yankees. I was scoffed at. Since then: Boston 8-6 (.571), New York 9-4 (.692).



I just wanted people to know how smart I am.

I'm moving to Arizona

A hot day once in awhile is okay; I can deal with it. This week, however, has been a bit ridiculous. In fact, I firmly believe I died a little on Thursday. Those of you who live here in Hampton Roads know that it's not just the heat that gets you, but the oppressive humidity. I left work at 11:30 Wednesday night, and when I walked outside after spending 7 hours in an air-conditioned building, it was hard to breathe. You know it's hot when you can see it. So far the lovely week has gone like this:

Monday: Relatively cool at 102. I think the humidity was 1042%
Tuesday: A little warmer: 103
Wednesday: Still climbing to 105; humidity 67487569%
Thursday: 107, and I'm not even sure you could still call it humidity, since really it was like walking throught pure water. The sky started to cry at one point.
Friday: Relief! In a way, at least. It's a brisk 101 today, but as I type this, severe thunderstorms carrying 70+ mph winds are pummeling the area. It's dark as night at 3:30 in the afternoon. I don't what's going to be worse, having to repair the roof after tonight, or having to mow the damn lawn again already.


Speaking of weather, it's been a pretty crazy first half of 2007. Not much has been going on here in Va Beach, or further south, although forecasters are predicting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The rest of the world, however, has gone nuts. As if tornados in Brooklyn and flooded subways weren't enough, the World Meteorological Organization said global land surface temperatures in January and April were likely the warmest since records began in 1880, at about 3 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average for those months. Three degrees doesn't sound significant, but it took 5 consecutive days over 100 degrees (after 2 months in the nineties) to raise the temperature of 10000 gallons of water in my backyard three degrees.

Southern Asia is experiencing the worst flooding on record, and the Arabian sea had it's first-ever documented cyclone. Meanwhile, England had the wettest May-July since they began keeping track in 1766, while Germany experienced the driest summer on record. In June, South Africa received it's first significant snowfall in more than 25 years, while it snowed in Buenos Aires in July for the first time since 1918. January and April were southern Europe's hottest months in recorded history. Too many different countries are experiencing their worst, most, hottest, wettest weather events in recorded history at the same time.

I saw The Day After Tomorrow. I know what's going on here. I'm going to buy some batteries. ;)