I AM ROB MACKOWIAK (without the speed and hot wife)!

This morning I heard Kup’s alarm go off, and realized he’s a “Music Guy.” I, being an “Annoying Alarm Sound Guy” began to wonder, “how many people use the music alarm, compared to how many use the annoying alarm.” Chime in on this one, friends, it’s the kind of the stuff that keeps me awake at night.


Last night at my baseball game, I was, as usual the 10th man, and thus, the only guy on the bench. Not a big deal, I don’t mind it, because I’m getting the biggest kick just being on a team, and my time will come. (Especially now that my arm is finally coming back around—I had a guy tell me “man, you throw pretty good, did you used to pitch” yesterday. Humorous if you know about my singular pitching exploit in college. But, in my defense, I HAVE always had pretty exceptional mechanics when it comes to throwing, I have to be able to do SOMETHING right on the field.

So we’re in the top of the 2d, and the Ump’s been using a pretty liberal interpretation of the strike zone against us. (Translation: he blows.) Well, our 38 year-old shortstop, Gino, gets rung up, makes a comment akin to “why don’t you at least kiss me the next time you screw me” and finds himself ejected from the game. Before I know it, I’m whisked off the bench and into the INFIELD to play 3D BASE. Now, wayyy back in the day, I used to be a pretty damned good 3d baseman. That was until the end of Little League, when, in the course of a “Coaches v. Players” game, I took a HARD chopper square in the eye. I flirted with the position here and there afterwards in pony and colt league, however, the wreckless abandon and fearlessness I had played the position with had been replaced with an acute subconscious case of “scared shitlessness,” and I became a full-time outfielder.

All-in-all, my great 3d Base experience didn’t go poorly, but didn’t go well, either. EVERY ball hit my way ended up far into the hole. I was visibly dejected and pissed at myself for just BARELY not getting to any of the four singles that way, but, again to my credit, Trigger, the normal 3d Baseman consoled me by explaining, “you’re not getting burned over there—don’t worry, all those shots are through the hole.” So I felt better.

When it was all said an done, we lost the game 3-2, but I DID contribute to our first run when I moved fellow law student Dave from 2d to 3d on a sacrifice bunt that I nearly legged out for a single. Todd Mary Lou would’ve been so proud of me. Thanks to Steve Beyer, wherever you are, for teaching me how to bunt like a champ.

So that was my night—I’ve now played LF, RF, 1B, and 3B this season, meaning I’m the ultimate utility man, or something. Just like my favourite ballplayer, Pirate Rob Mackowiak (“3 HARD SWINGS! DON’T GET CHEATED!)

Carbon Leaf review coming up soon, but I’ll probably take a day or two away from it, then go back and see what’s REALLY stuck for me.
Right now, I’m listening to the Hootie & the Blowfish self-titled album from last spring.

Commence laughter.

Until later,
-apk