So, for the first time since 6th grade, I picked up a baseball bat and attempted to hit a ball with it. My office has joined a softball league for advertising agencies, and our team name is The Foul Balls. 
For some reason, everyone in my office thought I would be the best softballer among them–if you’re athletic in one sport, that must mean you’re good at all sports…right?
Um, no.
I’m sure with a little practice I could probably be average, but right now, I tend to duck when a ball is being hurled at me, and I have absolutely no hand-eye coordination (I miss the ball with the bat by a few feet). I got to be at bat 3 times last night: first time I struck out, then I hit the ball on the second swing (and got to first!), and the last time, I hit the ball on the first try (slamming a couple of Coors Lights seemed to help). So things are looking up. Not that I hit it very far, but hey. Now I just have to figure out how to catch the damn thing, and how to throw without kicking my leg back like a girl. 
In weight-loss news, I’m down 5lbs already. Not sure why (re:above)…I’m guessing it’s 4 pounds of water weight, maaaybe a pound of fat, if I’m lucky. I’m starting to think my goal weight will be much lower then I originally thought, since I think I was carrying a few extra Nalgene’s of excess fluids around with me (hey, on a climb, weight is weight, right?).
So I took my bike to Bike n Hike and had them fix it up…sadly, the brake is back to super-squeal. Took all of 30 minutes of riding to return it to its original pitch and volume. 
So, time to switch out the brake pad. Hello Cool Stops, good bye Aztecs. I also need to get a shorter stem; I THINK the one on there is 100cm, but I can’t really tell, I measured it at 4 inches. So I think I’m going for 90cm. Eventually I will also be switching out my tires to Michelin Muds, but I’m going to wait until there’s actually some mud out there to do that.
Softball! Man, those were the days….
I stick to kickball. Some friends and I (mostly men, then there are two of us ladies) get together and play for fun pretty regularly…and some kickball league in town heard that we were playing and CHALLENGED us! hahahaahaa! We’re not awful, but we’re not league worthy either. By a long shot.
Way to go on the 5lbs! I can’t seem to kick the weight, even with the running…pants size is down, but weight…still there. Oh, muscles, what would I do without you? I’m officially training for the Leavenworth half, but I think it’s a no-go on the Portland Marathon for Sue – she’s having some knee issues. She might do Leavenworth, though, and we’ll probably still end up in Portland for a few days after the run. I’m also signing up for the Newport Marathon as soon as registration opens in September, even though its not until May. A whole year to prepare myself for doom…rad!
Well, anyway. Yay softball and weight loss! That’s mainly what I came here for. Oh, and Richard’s athletic secret…Coors Light is basically the best energy supplement ever. He smashed one before Bloomsday, always has one or three before kickball, and I must say, he’s pretty masterful. It could also be that he’s always been athletic, though. Psh.
Nice, kickball! I think there’s a kickball league around somewhere, but I’ll stick to one league sport at a time
Newport Marathon, eh? Sweet! I’d like to say I would join you….but no more marathons for me. I’ll have to sit on the beach and wave as you go by
This might be my one…or I may be able to handle it and do more. Who knows? I probably won’t want to do more! haha. All I know is, if this is my one marathon…it’s gonna be rad! Oyster shooters at two aid stations, which I think is awesome but I probably won’t partake in…beer and clam chowder at the finish line…most of it is run along the bay…perfect.
Oh, and its crazy cheap but gets amazing reviews, and is mostly flat. There’s got to be something wrong with it, right? Maybe just that it’s 26.2 miles. Yeah.
Kickball is so fun. I don’t remember it being this much fun when we played it in school, but I was whiny and embarrassed all the time…and the boys in our classes were jerks.
I think Heidi S. is/was a kickass softball player. Maybe she’ll give you some coaching! I used to enjoy softball as well. I might like to play again sometime if I can find a team (and the time). Speaking of kickball, I was riding through Grant Park last night and stopped to watch a little bit. Let me tell you, some of those guys take it way serious. I always thought Kickball was kind of a Portland thing for people who wanted to be silly and re-live their elementary school days, but now I’m not so sure!