Since beth yelled at me the last time and I didn't mention it...Emmett is playing in the State Divisional Championships today in Fremont. We'll be playing at 1pm at Vallejo Mills Elementary School at 38569 Canyon Heights Dr. (which does appear to be near Niles).

So, any South Bay folks that want to drop by - please do.

Mom has been discharged from the hospital and is at home resting comfortably (a.k.a. -- doing more than she should and driving my little sister nuts by not STAYING THE HECK IN BED).

Thanks for all the ~ma guys.

Wish me safe travel ~ma. I'll be some degree of gray-to-dark for the next week. But I'll be seeing some of you in person.

Back from Canada. Umpty-jillion posts behind everywhere.

Canada pics start here!

Emmett's all-star team is playing the State Championship game this morning, 10am PST.

Wish us thunder in our bats, stellar defense, dominating pitching and all-around heady play.

We won!

No great heroics by Emmett though he did ironman duty and caught 69 out of 72 innings over 12 games.

The game was a nervewracking, nailbiting pitcher's duel.

We scratched out one run in the first inning on a double by Matthew, and two passed balls. And the score stayed 1-0 into the fourth inning.

Then our best player, Arlo, who was pitching this gem, drove in a run with a triple.

2-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Saratoga loaded up the bases with no outs.

Then Arlo struck out the side! Boom, boom, boom. Down they went. It was insane.

In the fifth inning, they were able to push a run across. We were still up 2-1.

Arlo had reached his pitch count so he switched to playing second base and Ben pitched the bottom of the sixth (last inning).

First batter rips a clean single into right field. We're still up 2-1. They've got no outs and the tying run on first. A walk and a single is all they need.

Next batter hits a sinking liner to Arlo, who catches it at his knees and doubles off the baserunner at first.

Suddenly they've got two outs and no runners.

Next batter hits a dribbler that our third baseman, Alex, scoops up and fires across the diamond for the last out.

For the first time in its 51 years of Little League existence, Albany is the Northern California State Champion.

After the game I congratulated Arlo on his amazing game.

"Yeah, except for my hitting. I only went one for three."
"Uh, you drove in the run that was the difference in the game."
"I helped myself," he chirped, like a pitcher who got down a sacrifice bunt instead of a triple against a dominant pitcher.

We're home. Sorting through piles of laundry and photos now. Slowly releasing residual vengeance demon attributes following 6 hour plane ride seated in front of 4 20-something Italian boys making a trip abroad for fun and, apparently, Olympic level seat-kicking and airplane acrobatics and loud, constant chatter. The plane trips out and back were not a highlight, but the rest was amazing.

This just in: Jars and JarsDH are made of awesome. They are fantastic hosts and absolutely incredible cooks (Jars is, especially). And they have acquired an adorable kitten perfect for toddler distraction.

Have returned to discover that my former minion's father needs some heavy-duty buffista health-ma and she's making an emergency flight to be with him this morning. If there is any to spare, it would be appreciated.

Can I please request some ~ma? Some heavy duty ~ma? My friend and former co-worker is in her 6th month of pregnancy. She was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome (her blood clots too much) early on and treatment has, thus far, been good and he baby, a boy to be named Robbie, has been great.

Last night she started have numbness in her extremities and this morning, Robbie wasn't kicking as he usually does. She's gone to the hospital to make sure that everything and everyone's ok.

So if you could direct some ~~ma to Monroe, MI, I'd really appreciate it. Her asshat husband left her high and dry around month 3, so she's been going this somewhat alone. Please God, let her and the baby be ok.

Thanks for the emergent ~ma. My friend and her baby are good. Her potassium spiked, causing dehydration, which made Robbie not want to move about. No idea about her hand; there were no blood clots found.

Whew.