Home of the Braves

Sorry to be silent for so long.

TG and I came home from a short trip to Atlanta -- home of the Braves as well as Coca Cola, Chick-fil-A, and Delta Airlines -- to find that our internet service had broken down for approximately the dozenth time in ten months.

I waited a few days for the internet to heal itself. When it became obvious that I'd have better luck waiting for Johnny Depp to call and ask for my advice regarding his financial problems, I contacted our service provider.

A technician came out the next day. He was the last in a long line, all of whom have offered their own take on the problem and its solution. None of which have proved to be entirely accurate. So far.

Have you ever noticed that as many people connected with the cable/internet company to whom you put the same question -- as in, Why don't I get the internet service I pay for? -- that's how many different answers you're going to get?

They're a textbook example of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing -- or even of knowing there IS a left hand. it's a mystery.

At any rate, it's sorted -- I think -- for the nonce. We'll see how long it lasts. In whatever size window I am given to tell you about our trip, I will attempt to do so.

We went to Atlanta for a Braves game. They were playing our beloved Chicago Cubs. 

But first, we had lunch at historic Mary Mac's Tea Room, in Midtown. If you ever get to go, take it from me: have the chicken fried chicken and sweet potato soufflé.

The weather was close to perfect. Not too hot, not stifling, and even a trifle stormy as game time approached.

We were stoked about seeing brand-new SunTrust Park with our own eyes. It was pretty great and we can't wait to go back.

I am enamored of the historic ball parks first -- like Wrigley Field in Chicago, which I've seen and will soon see again, God willing -- and Fenway Park in Boston, which I haven't seen but I hope to before shuffling off this mortal coil.

For our first date -- August 24, 1978 -- TG took me to see the Chicago White Sox play the Kansas City Royals, at Old Comiskey Park. I wasn't a baseball fan then. The Sox won, 4-0. I'm pretty sure I didn't fully appreciate that fine old ball park on the South Side of Chicago. It's long gone now.

But the new ball parks are beautiful too, and very much worth visiting.

I decided against taking one of the Nikons into the park because, in reading the rules ahead of time, I learned that you're only allowed a five-inch lens.

If I'd gone to the trouble of toting a heavy camera, I wanted it made even heavier with my Nikkor 18-200 which is the longest lens I own.

To get some close-ups, don't you know.

But it measures more than five inches even before I zoom in.

So I didn't bother and what you see here is unabashed iPhoneography. I'd apologize but I do have an iPhone 7.

Which takes much better photos than my first digital camera could have dreamed of. But that still doesn't mean that if you can aim your iPhone, you're a photographer.

We walked in towards the Chop House Gate -- rather central to the action -- even though to access our seats we'd have to go around to the Third Base Gate.

I opted to walk up the noisy concourse before hanging a left and walking around the outside of the stadium to our gate.

There were scads of Cubs fans. In fact we'd started seeing them at the restaurant and saw more at our hotel.

I identified my loyalties by wearing my Rizzo jersey. Number 44 -- Cubs First Baseman and my beloved dog. Take your pick. And yes, my jersey has the World Series Champions 2016 patch.

TG wore his RESPECT Cubs t-shirt from last year's post season. Apols for not getting a pic. He looked handsome.

As we skirted the stadium, the crowds grew thicker and the clouds got darker and lightning winked in the distance. I sensed a game delay in our future.

And sure enough, by the time we were seated and game time arrived, the field was still covered. The first pitch wasn't thrown until about nine o'clock.

I didn't care. I'm a night owl and we'd arranged to meet and sit with some old friends there, who live in the Atlanta area. My friend and I yakked and visited while the dark clouds glowered at us from the west, and cloud-to-ground lightning snaked down every few minutes.

The game was good as our team led all the way and got even better toward the end, when the Braves tried tomahawk-chopping themselves to a victory over the Cubs, but ultimately failed.

Cubs won 4-3. Go Cubs go.

Next day, coming back home over the Dreher Shoals Dam near our house, the sky was so blue and white and it was so hot. Columbia: Famously Hot. Our official slogan.

I craved the friendly confines of my cool air-conditioned home and was so happy to see it.

Summer continues. Let's see how long our famously sketchy internet service can do the same.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Monday

Comments

[Mari]

Grrr on bad internet service! That would make me crazy.
You got some great photos with your iPhone. Glad you didn't get wet, that you had fun talking and your cubbies won!

[Luna Crone]

gorgeous photos, regardless of your form of camera.

wondering, could your local internet service, have anything to do, with how hard it is, to get your posts, to load?????????

for whatever reason, your post's loading time, is 'slower than molasses in january.' i think i have said this before. does any other reader, say this? probably not.

good luck with better service!!!!!

luna crone

[Judy]

Fenway Stadium is a beauty, but one thing I like about the newer parks--they have more bathrooms!!!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... Thanks girl. It was fun.

@Luna ... My internet service provider, bad as it is, cannot possibly affect the load time of my site on your end. That's the fault of your internet service provider. On my end, when the internet is working, my site loads in one second. And no; no one else has reported slow loading except one reader, whose problem disappeared when she switched providers. She was stunned at the difference. xoxo

@Judy ... I didn't visit one but I'm sure you're right! The facilities in the old stadiums leave a few things to be desired. xoxo