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| Team party 4/15/06 |
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Well, just a little after midnight. The party is over but the memories remain. I've just posted to the website 32 or so of the pictures taken at the party this evening. You can find the link in the photo archive. We had fun didn't we? Thanks again to everyone who came. Pot luck parties often turn out like the biblical "fishes and the loaves", and this was no exception. We've got as much food and drinks left over as I had originally asked for people to bring for the party. Great! The drinks will keep until the next one, and the food...well, I have been taking much smaller lunches lately. Maybe I'll chow down for a week or so.
In that spirit...we'll plan the next one for after a game later in May so that we can engage those of you who live farther from JPL and who can't make it on weekends, etc. We want everyone on the team to join in as much as they can. We're not an exclusive group... Work is tough enough as it is...this is a chance to make and keep new friends.
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At the Batting Cages 4/26/06 |
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Eight of us were at the batting cages in Monrovia tonight. We commanded the services of two cages for an hour and were constantly moving in and out of the cages. Mark, Sam and Melissa showed up first and made the appropriate arrangements to get started at our reserved time. Soon thereafter Gerardo and Jose showed up, with Joe right behind them and a few minutes later by Judy and Nancy. Knowing the number of swings that were going to be attempted in the next hour, Mark decided a pair of batting gloves was in order. An then, batting left handed and realizing that the lower hand was the most important one to use a glove on, loaned the other to Melissa. Good idea. Neither one had any hand blister at the end of the hour. Jose and Gerardo had their own. The others were just tougher than we were. Many, many good swings were taken and this reporter is now having difficulty typing this note due to forearm fatigue! What a wonderful experience. Experienced players Mark, Joe and Jose were ripping the ball at will and getting the chance to work on nuances. Gerardo wasn't far behind and doing well. Sam...well, you know. Judy and Nancy were alternatively providing Melissa with basic coaching points between their moments in the cage. Judy took care of the left hand netting with the usual pull hits, but was seen to hit many up the middle. Nancy is going to get several clean doubles this year if she bats like she did tonight, while Melissa will be getting her fair share of hits after this evening's outing begins to assimilate. All in all, it was a low key, low pressure night with us all going our own ways after the hour was up. A hamburger for Sam, Mark and Melissa and then the long drive back west to JPL. There was discussion amongst several of us about the positive benefits of Advil...benefits that will undoubtedly be welcome tomorrow morning. We'll look into doing this again in 3-4 weeks. Stay tuned for further announcements. |
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Katie Sings at the CalTech Spring Concert 5/14/06 |
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Today, one of our own was found singing front and center on the stage of the Ramo Auditorium at the annual CalTech Spring Concert. Katie, one of the Alto singers, participated in the Women's Glee performance. Sam and Mark were in attendance representing the Turkeys. Katie was duly impressed and surprised (as seen in the picture below). Sam and Mark were also duly impressed with the performance of their teammate. Now that rehearsals are over for this event, Katie will be able to come out more often and intimidate the other team with her hitting prowress. Great job with your performance Katie! |
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| "Wow! I don't believe it! You guys showed up." |
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OK...I'll smile for the camera...but I really want to hang my tongue! |
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| The Caltech Women's Glee at their annual Spring Concert. Katie is in the middle of the front row just in front of the piano. |
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Team Party (Midseason) 7/22/06 |
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Tonight we had our midseason team party, once again at Mark's house. This party was an exercise in stamina and determination. The temperature during the day peaked in Pasadena at 115° F. In La Crescenta it was thought to be 113° F. Not too bad...except for the high humidity that accompanied these outlandish temperatures. Around noon, Mark was wondering when the calls would start coming in to suggest canceling the party. Calls that never came. Wow! This team loves a good party! That said, we did loose one to the weather...
Nevertheless, right at 6:00 PM (the apponted time) Russ pulled up ready to party. Soon thereafter others began to arrive. All afternoon Mark had planned the barbecue, thinking that the coals might light themselves spontaneously in the heat. Still, a match was needed to get the process started. By 7:00 PM a breeze had started (it having dead calm all day long) that started to move the air. Tim pointed out that it was just moving hot air around. However, we noticed that the breeze became fairly strong, along with the large thunderclouds that were forming overhead. The temperature dropped...must have been by 10 degrees or more...big freaking deal! It was still nearly in the triple digits, and it was getting on into the evening!! But any break was a welcome break. The party degenerated to a sit around the table, eating (Nancy's awesme bbq pork), drinking, chatting, eating (Jose's great ceviche) a little more, drinking a little more, chatting, watching Mark topple off his chair...and then finally to just a few games of ping-pong. Way to hot to play too much...Mark was dripping by the end of his second game. The other incident occured when Gerardo slipped on an oil spot chasing after a loose ball. Everyone was there with immediate TLC for the wee one of the team. Mark and Hannah played for the evening's championship with Russ and Debbie. Two close games left Russ and Debbie wanting a rematch. OK...maybe next party...
So where are the pictures? Wow...it was so miserable that Mark took exactly zero pictures. He spent his time alternating between beer, water, beer, water...sweating like a dog...then back to the water. By 10:00 everyone had had enough and were beating a retreat to their air-conditioned cars and homes. One good thing...Russ will bring the deserts to the game on Thursday!
This team once again showed great spirit by coming together on this truly ugly evening. Memories are made by the unusual events that we share...and this will be a party to remember.
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Team Party (End of Year) 10/7/06 |
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Once again we were gathered in the evening at Mark's house to celebrate the conclusion of the most successful season in recent history. We gathered at 6:00 PM under clear cool skies. The weather was sooooo much better than our midseason party (see above). We enjoyed a hamburger barbecue with all the sides one could ask for, beer (which goes without saying), sodas and water. Tim and Mark manned the hot coals while the team set up the tables and chairs. Soon the revelry was on.
It couldn't be a party without ping-pong...and once again Mark and Hanna reigned victorious in the doubles play. And we were fortunate not to see Gerardo playing "slip-n-slide" down the driveway like one of the last parties.
No end of season celebration for a team of any kind would be complete without the obligitory awards ceremony. And Mark obliged...having spent countless hours (ok, maybe minutes) thinking (ok, drinking) and determining (ok, making up) who should have what honor for the season. The following are the results of the voting (only Mark voted) for the awards for the 2006 season:
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- "Scored" the most runs: Jack
- Most likely to get a hit: Gerardo
- Most improved: Nancy/Mike
- Most likely to miss the 1st inning: Rich
- Most likely to miss the last inning: Dave
- Most entertaining to watch: Sam
- Most Daring: Matt
- Best Bowler: Judy
- Most likely to make the "basket catch": Phil
- Most likely to throw over 1st baseman: Mark
- Most Quiet: James
- Best Cheerleader: Katie
- Most tenatious 3rd baseman: Ashley
- Most likely to take the "hard out": Jose
- Least likely to be hit in the face: Tim
- Most tenatious 1st baseman: Deb
- Most likely to bring extra players: Hannah
- Most likely to hit over their heads: Justine
- Most likely to smile after an out: Tess
- Most likely to "steal" Mark's grounders: Bill
- Most likely to play injured: Chris
- Most likely to be the tallest 1st baseman Mark has thrown over: Joe
- Most likely to sit out when Meera's playing: Jon
- Most likely to be the more important of the Jon/Meera team: Meera
- Most likely to given more advice than she could possibly use: Melissa
- Most surprising speed deamon: Russ
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And finally, in a more somber moment, Mark provided a "Top 10 List" of reasons its great to be a "Turkey"
10. Beer and Pizza !!!
9. We got the best looking guys
8. We got the best looking gals
7. We know how to recruit summer hires
6. Our website kicks all theirs
5. The Parties !!!
4. We got our own scorekeeper
3. You'll never have to look for a more fun-luv'n bunch of folks
2. You never have to worry about their forfiets...we'll just play ourselves
And the number 1 reason it's great to be a "Turkey"
1. Did I say, "PIZZA AND BEER"?!!!
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Go see pictures of the party at the usual location. |
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| Website by Mark G. |
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Last updated: 5/8/06 |
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