susandennis | A good time was had by all... except the team

I took Scott and Julie to the Press Club last night and it was fabulous. They loved it - all of it. The staff fawned all over them which was so sweet. Their seats were one section over and one row down from mine. But there were two guys sitting in the seats next to me. They were baseball fans but not particularly Mariner fans and were there for the first time/one time. At the end of the first inning, I asked them if they would mind swapping seats with Julie and Scott and they said they would be happy two.

Then I had to extricate Julie and Scott from the now BFFs they had made on either side of them (the guy from Florida - Julie, and the couple who ran a sports betting site - Scott) and move them to my row where Julie then proceeded to friend up the couple on the other side of her. Friends whereever they go.

The Mariners played horribly but, thankfully, none of the people who turn into assholes when their team is losing were sitting anywhere near us and we had a perfectly wonderful evening. Truly memorable all around. My original plan, to have them in seats in a nearby section, would have been a terrible idea. So glad I came to my senses!

There is one bartender at the club who used to work downstairs at the Diamond Club. I like to take a tall glass of ice to my seat for the game. Sometimes I just pour water over it and sometimes I just suck on the little cubes. But at the Diamond Club, he always served me up ice and commented on whatever Mariner shirt I was wearing. It was a little thing. A couple of months ago, he moved up to the Press Club. And was putting the ice in the cup as I walked up to the bar to request it. His latest trick is when I first walk in, he meets me at my table with my cup of ice! It cracks me up every time. And I didn't even know his name.

One of the other bartenders - Chloe - was on duty last night so I when he slipped out for a minute, I went up to her "I have a question" and he came back so I added "but I'll find you later". Sharp as a tack, she said "secret question? I'll come find you."

And she did. His name is Art. And she said "I thought that was such a cool name until I learned it was short for Arthur". This cracked me up. Also I learned her middle name is Rain and her sister's middle name is Sunshine. "yep, hippy parents". I told her I'd be calling her Rain from now on and she was delighted by that.

The evening was full of fun little interactions like that and Julie and Scott were right with the program.

Yesterday afternoon, Julie was sitting in the other recliner and I was turned to her and we were chatting and all of a sudden, I thought I saw a rain drop. In the living room. Then, a few minutes later, another one. The carpet maybe felt damp, I couldn't really tell. But, then we spied yet another drop forming at the bottom of the air conditioner AND I was able to get a photo of it.

I sent the pic off to Matt, the A/C guy who responded quickly that, no, that was not supposed to be. He's sending someone out to fix. No drips this morning and no drips from the other unit.

Today will just be odds and ends. Julie wants to make another run at Pike Place Market. I thought they might enjoy visiting my Fancy Market. I have a couple of ideas for dinner/lunch places. Tomorrow they leave on a 1 pm flight but they want to get to the airport about 10. They have so much stuff and had planned to schlept it all via the light rail but I convinced them to let me zip car them.

No swimming today or tomorrow but I can go Saturday and the rest of the days.

It's already 10 and I'm not even showered or dressed yet. I need to get on that.

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From:

lenine

It sounds like a ton of fun at the game, for everyone involved. I'm glad you were able to share your group with your NZ friends. It's obvious the workers at the park adore you. And now I will tell you one of my tangential stories. I grew up with a guy, Augie Schmidt, whose father was the local college's baseball coach (where I graduated from). His dad left his wife for a student. They had a daughter named Sunshine Schmidt. I always thought that was the worst combination of a lovely first name and a harsh German last name.

spiffikins

Oh yay! I was hoping you'd be able to talk your seat neighbours into swapping seats so that you could all sit together!

Sounds like their shopping has been successful if they are loaded down with stuff, LOL! 10am for a 1pm international flight sounds about right to me!

I worked with a guy named Art - also short for Arthur - he was a great guy - really knowledgeable and loved to teach - a perfect person to work with as a junior software developer! He and another guy named Gary our two senior developers when I and a bunch of other junior people were hired and they were SO generous with their knowledge and time, helping us learn and grow!