Tonight's Stanley Cup broadcast had a gorgeous shot of sunset over Chicago, but they ruined it with a little box of advertising in the middle of the screen. Feh.

In wonderful sportsmanship news, did you hear about the girls softball team who forfeited their game to teach the other team how to play?

One Marshall player asked, "Which one is first base?" Another: "How do I hold this bat?" They didn't know where to stand in the batter's box. Their coaches had to be shown where the first- and third-base coaching boxes were.

That's when Roncalli did something crazy. It offered to forfeit.

Yes, a team that hadn't lost a game in 2½ years, a team that was going to win in a landslide purposely offered to declare defeat. Why? Because Roncalli wanted to spend the two hours teaching the Marshall girls how to get better, not how to get humiliated...

Roncalli wasn't done. Traylor asked all the parents of his players and anybody else he knew for more help for Marshall -- used bats, gloves, helmets, money for cleats, gloves, sliders, socks and team shirts. They came up with $2,500 and worked with Marshall on the best way to help the program with that money. Roncalli also connected Marshall with former Bishop Chatard coach Kim Wright, who will advise the program.

"We probably got to some things 10 years quicker than we would have had without Roncalli," says Marshall principal Michael Sullivan.

And that was just the appetizer. A rep from Reebok called Sullivan and said, "What do you need? We'll get it for you." A man who owns an indoor batting cage facility has offered free time in the winter. The Cincinnati Reds are donating good dirt for the new field Marshall will play on.

In wonderful sportsmanship news, did you hear about the girls softball team who forfeited their game to teach the other team how to play?

Sheesh, between this and opposing-team-carries-broken-ankle-girl-around- bases-for-winning-home-run I wish America looked more to girl's softball and less to the NBA/NFL/MLB for their sense of sportsmanship.

Erin - take a picture of the pile of wood and post it on CL under the free section.

Really?! People will WANT it? That's a great idea; I'll do that tomorrow. If they want it, they can have it.

Hmm. I am mulling over all of the wine bottles i have to take into recycling. D's ex didn't get rid of (anything) the piles of glass recycling in the driveway, and I was thinking of finally going through those grotty bottles and taking them -- and the ones WE have, which are also plentiful, but...my girlfriend Francie has made a cute border for her side garden by planting wine-sized glass bottles neck down in the dirt, and I am thinking that that would make a really cute (free) border for my front little bed of flowers.

And it would make a cute border for the side of the garage when I get to that part of the yard later.

I think I will go through them, and pick out all the colored ones, and take the others into recycling later this week.

Or that soccer matchup with the team from Haiti. People can be good. It's sad it's such a thing when we are.

Ok, gonna watch FNL and go to bed before I collapse.

OH! Also, the Swiffer vaccuum thing? FUCKING MAGIC.

I had to empty out the canister three times, but it picked the cat hair and little bits of grass, paper, etc. right up.

Complete win. Totally worth the $30.

Very dramatic picture.

No shit!

That's wonderful news about the girls' team.

Erin, I used wine bottles among my pot plants as suncatchers; different shapes, different colors, different *shades* of different colors. You can also do a bottle tree--there's one near us that's all blue bottles, not just cobalt, but turquoise and aqua glass, too.

With some wire and empty glass jars you can make hanging candle lanterns for porch eaves, trees--the tree on your deck sounds an ideal candidate. Just make sure the jar hangs low enough below the eave or railing or tree limb that the heat dissipates before it reaches the wood. If you have, or find at yard sales, thrift shops, or Goodwill, colored glass beads, you can make your wire and glass candle lanterns spaar-kly, too. For cheap!

Do you HAVE many pot plants, Bev?! ;

The hanging candle lantern thingies? That's a good idea. My friend Kelly modgepodges torn tissue paper pieces and feathers to clear votives, and it makes for a really pretty, jewellike effect.

I can hang them off eaves for the wedding party -- the tree, NSM, since the nearest branches are about 2 stories up. (I will have to take a picture and show you guys. It's crazy.)

I would have gone with Footloose. Epic soundtrack, young Bacon and SJP, Dianne Wiest in Supportive Wife role #32, Chris Penn, tractor chicken... What's not to love?

Speaking of movies, I watched the Marmaduke trailer a dozen times before realizing that was Lee Pace as the dad. Eesh.

That sinkhole picture is effing FREAKY. ::shudders:: I haven't consumed any news this weekend, so I had no idea.

Yay for Matilda love. I know I found comfort in my young cousins at my grandma's funeral last year.

I did so much today it's nuts, and yet it barely shows around the house. Crazy. But I'm going to bed on clean sheets and next to a newly cleared and tidy nightstand.

Good night, all.

What's not to love?

It lacks an unequivocal sex invite.

And Cher me being totally butt crazy in love with Josh Paul Rudd.

Mostly Clueless was my shameful cheesy movie go to for a while.