The Phillies are World Champs! Who woulda thunk it? And I actually enjoyed watching the World Series this year, so I guess I'm learning to be patient enough for baseball. My only complaints have nothing to do with the Series itself but with the gaming rules that apply to a rain-delay. See, Alex had a bunch of money on game 5 (he has money on every game, he even bet on the Japanese World Series this week) and he needed Tampa to win by 1 run. CORRECTION: He needed a Tampa win financially, but the Philly fanatic in him needed his team to win the penant. Anyway, if you watched game 5, you know that the weather went from wild to wooly by the 3rd inning, when the Phillies were up by one run. The Phillies were ahead until the bottom of the 5th inning, when a series of stolen bases led to a score by TB's BJ Upton, tying the game. And then the game was held for a rain delay, before finally being postponed, to be completed the next night (which turned into 2 nights until we reached a dry night with temps in the low 30's--not what I'd call "baseball weather", which could send me into a rant on how the ever-lengthening sports seasons are getting to be more and more ridiculous, but I'll hold myself back). In my mind, since the game was not cancelled but simply delayed, it made sense that any bets made on the game would just carry over to the completion, but Vegas don't work this way. Casino rules state that a baseball game that ends before completion will be scored at the end of the last complete inning (which would have been the 4th inning in this case, when Philly was winning by 1 run). And even if the game is not cancelled but delayed, the casino still considers the game ended at the end of the last complete inning (no bets carry-over to the next day). So even though the score was tied when the game ended, it was counted as a Philly win by the casinos, which counted as a loss for Alex. Oh, how fickle is the hand of fortune! Whatever, the Phillies eventually won the series and this household rejoiced. Alex now has license to talk smack for years to come...
You know how a lot of girls use Halloween as an excuse to dress like sluts? It's true, I've worked in many schools all over the country on Halloween, and there are always lots of girls dressed up in costumes that would make a hooker blush. Well, consider the fact that women often use Vegas as an excuse to dress like sluts, then add Halloween into the picture, and you can begin to imagine how little was left to the imagination Friday night. I wasn't expecting any trick-or-treaters to come knocking on my hotel door, and I was correct, which is a good thing. I had a moment of concern in the afternoon, concern that a child might knock, a child dressed like a baby cow or a pretty pirate or a milk carton, a child that would melt my heart and make me want to give it things, sweet things to make it smile...and so I began tearing through my cupboards, looking for any possibilities. Miso soup packets, a banana, nicotine gum...nothing. I was gonna be the lady who gives loose change or raisins if anyone came a-knockin'. Truthfully, I was afraid of having a bag of candy in my house, as my sweet tooth has been getting me into all kinds of trouble. But I didn't want to be the crappy candy lady! No worries, no kids. I haven't had trick-or-treaters in years. There was one year in Seattle when two kids, probably about 13 years old, came knocking on my door telling me to give them candy. They were wearing jeans and black shirts, holding empty pillowcases. I found some Tic-Tacs for them, which pleased them not at all. They actually gave me attitude! I gave it right back. That sums up my experience with trick-or-treaters in my adult life. And I couldn't tell you the last time I got into costume for Halloween. I've spent a lot of time wearing costumes, I've never felt a need to do it outside of work. Maybe some day...
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