We were booted out of our house today.
Me, Editor/Husband, and all three cats.
Workmen are in there doing workingmen things. Things that must be done without the interference of humans or cats.
It has taken us the better part of a week to prepare the house for this upheaval.
And, today, I am tired, stressed, and, at least for now, homeless.
(I am promised that our home will be opened back up to us by dinnertime. Yes, dinnertime. So, sure, I’m being a little melodramatic here. But, I’m also so tired my eyes hurt. And, cranky. And, I’m sitting here in my studio with the volume on my phone turned all the way up so I don’t miss the text that says I can come home.)
As the workmen do their workingmen things, and the cats are boarding at the vets thinking cat thoughts about how much they hate us now for taking them away from home this morning, I am looking through the photos I’ve taken over the past year.
There’s a lot of waiting going on.
Charlottesville Tom Sox, June 2017 © The Baseball Bloggess
Caleb Knight, University of Virginia, October 2017 © The Baseball Bloggess
There’s a lot of waiting in baseball. (And, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Does that look like a bad thing to you? Of course not. I think we could all benefit from a little more sitting around and a little less running around.)
Charlottesville Tom Sox, June 2017 © The Baseball Bloggess
Waiting To Field.
Justin Novak, University of Virginia, April 2017. © The Baseball Bloggess
Waiting To Bat.
University of Virginia, November 2017. © The Baseball Bloggess
Waiting To Ump.
Today, I am waiting, too.
University of Virginia, November 2017. © The Baseball Bloggess
Waiting To Go Home.
Photos: University of Virginia, Davenport Field. Charlottesville Tom Sox, CVille Weekly Field. Charlottesville, Virginia. 2017 © The Baseball Bloggess
The Baseball Bloggess 
Subtle as it was, I somehow grasped the subtext here: waiting- as in, waiting for Spring Training, and in the meantime, waiting to see if the highly desirable, smoke-throwing superstar-to-be, is going to sign with the right team (mine), or the wrong team (theirs). Waiting, in some cases, to see if you’re even going to have a team this year, or if the ownership has decided to rebuild, condemning you to at least a year of mediocre baseball- still, better than no baseball at all.
Yes, waiting. Waiting to see if the 36 year old player you love (and who’s jersey you wear) is even going to be in the lineup this year, given his slumping numbers last year, after the All Star Game. Waiting to see if the crowd-pleasing clown brought back to play third base last year (not mentioning any names) will be shown the door this year- assuming he will deign to wear the jersey, in the first place.
Yes, waiting, dammit. Waiting. Waiting for the days to grow longer, for the rains to come, and the outfield grass to grow, waiting to see if they’re going to “robotize” the game, just a little bit more this year, taking the strike zone away from the Umpire.
Waiting, finally, for some Air Force Second Lieutenant (why does it always have to be a military person?) to sing “The Star Spangled Banner”, badly, and the Umpire- the man we’ve been waiting to see since last October, to say “Play Ball”- THAT’S what I’m waiting for, and when that day comes, it will all have been worth the wait, and, win or lose, I’ll smile all day.
Until then, yes; we’re waiting. Good luck, getting back into your house, today. Hope it was worth the wait.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me that I’m not waiting alone.
Or, out here … waiting for the Orioles to do something … anything. Waiting to see if we even HAVE a third baseman next season. But, baseball’s always worth the wait … and I sort of like the off-season wait. Looking forward to next season with sweet eagerness is such a special feeling.
oh my–mr dick enberg
“They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”–Isaiah, chapter 40.
v
“The waiting is the hardest part.” — Tom Petty, Hard Promises, 1981.
heartbreaker
that’s a co-fax
As I write I hope today’s wait has ended for you. Otherwise, it’s about a month and a half to Spring Training. 😎⚾️ Happy New Year to you and Editor/Husband ( liked his yearly recap too, especially the Fowler’s Toad 🐸).
I thought Editor/Husband’s post was great, too — weaving his year together with that of a bear, a bobcat, and a Fowler’s Toad was awesome. Plus, I learned something about Fowler’s Toads — for instance, that they even exist! :)
Absolutely! Who knew? 😀
I seriously love every single one of those pictures. Nice work!
Thank you … your comment made my day! :)
Every time I read your posts I am incredibly jealous of your eye for great photos. Anyone can take pictures of a batter at the plate, or a pick off attemp at first (my go to pic), but you really capture some amazing “non action” photos that really capture the game. Something I should put on my New Years resolution!! Hope it worked out for you!!
In an unrelated note other than being at UVA, my daughter just got engaged a few hours ago on the Lawn at UVA! Yay!
Wow …That’s wonderful!! Congratulations!! (And, I thought Ty Jerome and his amazing game and career high 31 points to beat BC had the best day in Charlottesville yesterday. I was wrong … your daughter and her fiance did!) Yay, indeed!
And, thank you for the kind words, Greg. I’m always learning more about how to properly use all the thingamajigs on my camera. But, I finally decided that I didn’t want to miss actually watching the game … so I aim for the quiet moments.
Happy New Year (nearly)!
You might not make the all-star roster for your skills at the waiting game, but you certainly will for your photos. You’ve caught some great moments! I hope the workmen are done with their workmen things, and you get home soon, Jackie. I’m glad you chose to spend your stint with homelessness with us here!
Thank you, Wendy. The workmen are finished … leaving upheaval and disaster in their wake, but the walls are still standing and the cats are home and we’ve piled up things best we can for now. Wishing you all good things for 2018 and I hope it includes much BNL and much blogging. :)