Eddie Welker.com » red sox

July 4

Eddie — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:46:39 +0000

Happy July 4th! Now, with that out of the way…

My sister Tania was at the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating competition today. She was happy with the result, I was rooting for Kobayashi. Oh well. My roommate was rather disgusted by the whole thing. Me? I found myself REALLY wanting a hot dog.

Speaking of food… my roommate and I were flipping channels the other day and she insisted on stopping on the food network. They had a show on about local resturants known only to locals. The first part was on a place I’ve passed countless numbers of times, called Chaps Charcoal Resturant. It looked pretty good, and the prices are good, so I may have to visit soon.

Since I’m on a food kick at the moment, one more… this may also soon become my favorite thing. Gotta try it.

Elsewhere…

The Sox won, beating the Yankees today, but are still behind the Rays. If the Rays suffer injuries down the stretch, they’ll fall. However, that seems to be a big if. The Red Sox need to get a number of people back.

And more locally…

When I have some free moments, I’ve been working rebuilding gbyo.com in Django. The programming part isn’t particularly hard (despite not being familiar with Python… though, it’s not unlike other languages), and I kinda like the database API (It’s been a while, so I only barely remember ActiveRecord, but I seem to like this more). The thing I haven’t grasped yet is overall project structure. I’m working on that.

I’ve bought a number of books recently, and hope to start reading them soon. Right now, I am reading this, as the publishers were nice enough to send me a review copy. Review coming soon. Additionally, I want to post some more formal thoughts about Crockford’s Javascript book soon. (Note: yes, that first linked book cost me .48 cents, w/o shipping)

I’m trying to convince people to go on vacation with me. So far, I haven’t heard back from anyone. That will only stall me, it will not deter me.

Down to three bugs

Eddie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:44:02 +0000

I’m officially (at this moment) down to three bugs on my project at work. This means… that I am almost ready to resume my life, as well as writing here… for the first time in 6 straight months. I’ll be taking some (much needed) vacation time at some point, but am anxiously looking forward to re-connecting with this site.

Additionally, can I just mention that the Celtics won? So my Red Sox are World Series champs, my Giants are NFL champs, and now my Celtics are NBA champs. How sweet is that???

Game 7: I think Kenny Lofton was out at second

Eddie — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 05:23:29 +0000

From the views that you will see on all of the replays, you will see Kenny Lofton’s hand getting to the bag before Pedroia’s tag touches him. That I will give you. However, from my view point, the point at which the Indians left fielder was out was AFTER that… when his hands both came up off the bag, and I could see no part of him touching second base. His hands shot over the base, and because he doesn’t weigh 300 pounds, his chest was not touching the bag.

I would like to see another view, and will be the first to admit that I may be biased. I tried watching it on Sportscenter, but they cut away before you could see his hands leave the bag. Objectively, however, I believe that the umpire could have seen this, and that would be the basis of the call. His hand was in there first, but did he stay on the base? I think not.

Regardless, it was a teriffic play by Manny. Despite stupid Tim McCarver’s near constant (and just plain wrong) assertions that Manny may as well be playing without a glove, he made yet another great play off the wall because of his expert knowledge (and regular practice!) on the wall in left. I am thrilled that they are going to the series. Leave it to me to travel up there to see the one game they lose at home. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Concert Tonight

Eddie — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:44:25 +0000

I’ve got a concert tongiht. Check out the Columbia Orchestra site for details. Tchaikovsky 4, along with Strauss’ first Horn Concerto, and a Brandenburg. Should be pretty good, especially since I’ve practiced a fair amount for this.

I don’t expect anyone I know to come, as there is also something going on in Boston tonight. Some sort of baseball game?

So yea, come and see me torn. Don’t expect me to hang around after the concert for any more than a second though.

Whirlwind

Eddie — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:03:40 +0000

Tonight I am packing for Boston. Red Sox ALCS game 2 is tomorrow evening, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I was looking forward to visiting my friend Kacy, but I haven’t been able to get in touch with her yet. Kristen, my other Boston cello-playing girl has been in touch, and we’re probably going to hang out while I am up there.

Alas, because of my (stupid) XSLT class Monday morning, I have to leave on Sunday evening, so I don’t really get to see much. This is upsetting, as I haven’t been to Boston in YEARS. The part that makes it especially upsetting is that I still remember most of what I did the last time I was there.

catching up

Eddie — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:16:00 +0000

This is my appropriately named “catching up” post. As most know, I’ve moved over the last month. Despite my early action, I still had to do a lot of work at the end of the month. C’est la vie, that’s what moving is. Aside that, I’ve also been focused on various work related things (css, xslt, and the “portal” system), as well as the end of baseball’s regular season and the beginning of the post season.

On my list of things to touch in full… 1) Advanced DOM Scripting. I finished the book (a while ago) but haven’t had a chance to review it yet. At the risk of ruining the surprise for my one (hopefully) reader, it was teriffic, and I highly recommend it. I will do a full write-up later. 2) My comments on The Little Schemer. This is simply an amazing book that’s opened up a number of paths in my brain. I’m afraid that any review wouldn’t do it justice. Maybe some thoughts on the book everyone should read. 3) Random thoughts on Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville (my new home!), riding my bike again, the Tchaikovsky concert coming up, my xslt class coming up, my recent css exploits… as you can see, I’ve got a lot of things that I am thinking about, but nothing to put down on paper… yet. (Yes, I know, really, there is no paper… shut up!)

Contrast that with the time that I MUST spend with friends, and the potential Boston trip coming up… and I’ve got a lot to do!! Better get started. Washing my clothes now…

TBS broadcasting the Red Sox playoff game

Eddie — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:40:41 +0000

Alright, so I would be willing to admint that this is TBS’s first year covering the playoffs… but come on guys, can’t you do better than this??? You have cut out during first pitches, missed plays, repeated common Red Sox knowledge… and worst yet, you put Don Orsillio on the Rockies game. You’re on the clock guys.

Playoffs

Eddie — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:07:46 +0000

The Red Sox start the playoffs tomorrow at Fenway against the Angels. I will be rooting for them (as always), but with added urgency since I have the chance to go to Game 2 of the ALCS, when they advance.

Getting tickets is rather unpleasant, but I managed them somehow.

Guess I’ll have to start planning a trip to Boston.

95% done moving

Eddie — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:11:03 +0000

I moved most of the large items this weekend. I still have a few odds and ends (less than one car-full) left at the house. One more trip, and then one trip to wash the carpets, and I should be fully vacated from the old location, and fully “in” the new. Of course, everything remains in boxes, and finding anything is near impossible (and dangerous if you’ve got to walk over things), but I’m workin’ on it.

I’m mostly just interested in getting back into a regular routine.

On the upside (and on a side-note), the Red Sox beat the A’s tonight, the Yankees lost, and Manny played his first game in the last 24 days. Papi hit a home run… hopefully the Sox are using these last few to secure the division, go for best record in the A.L., and win some “meaningful games” before the playoffs start. Get ready…

welcome to fall

Eddie — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:47:12 +0000

I’ve been keeping an eye on the Red Sox game all night on my computer. When I saw David Ortiz up in the 9th with a man on, and down by 1 run, I went running into the living room and turned on the TV. He fouled off one pitch, and then, just in time for the arrival of fall, Papi hits a walk-off home run into the newly cooled air.