truffles and bananas

Granted, that doesn't sound like an epicurean delight... or does it?

Given the price of those mushrooms, it certainly doesn't seem a likely dish for such an experimental assay.

I'm not particularly a fan of either foodstuff, so I know I would not venture to concoct either a dessert or an appetizer from those two items.

Sure, with all the chefs of the world combining unlikely comestibles in search of new taste sensations, I would not doubt that someone, somewhere, would have tried this one.

All I'm saying is this: 'tweren't I.

So, what am I talking about?

Well, this is part of it: a luncheon with the ex and Amy today!

They're down from Michigan, as I may have mentioned yesterday, and I was invited to crash their lunch engagement with Scott.

Very nice!

I haven't seen him in months!

Even nicer was that the day was warm and we dined on the sunny patio at Truffles in Bluffton.

That place was new to me, so that was a bonus... and it gives me a new entry for my tripadvisor reviews.

Very nice!

Best of all, we flummoxed the new waiter from Chicago by ordering the same dishes.

Well, not all four of us getting one item, but two of us getting one thing (the Curry Chicken Salad for me and for Jeff) and two of us getting another thing (the Pimiento Cheese Sandwich with French Onion Soup for Amy and for Scott).

How do I know that the waiter was perplexed?

He happened to mention, sotto voce, as he brought the two sandwiches, "oh, yes, this is the table where they all ordered the same things".

Very funny!

What a treat to share a leisurely luncheon with these three favorite people!

Thanks, Jeff and Amy, for treating me to this outing!

I'll enjoy the rest of my salad another day, and think of y'all as I do.

(smile!)

So, that takes care of the mushroom reference... and maybe the other as well?

After all, Scott is a big-time baseball fan, and he and I have been to some Savannah Bananas games together, so perhaps I was obscurely tying that in?

Good try, but not quite!

The local team is involved much more directly than that.

Today, Grayson Stadium hosted a sunset "coach reveal" announcement party and all the fan members were invited.

I had rsvp'ed last week, so I was there!

After all, I had to report back to Mister Willie on their latest shenanigans, n'est-ce pas?

Most certainly.

As it turned out, I reported back to Scott, too, as he missed it.

So, pay attention and don't rely on the photos alone to tell how it went down!

First, that's Bill LeRoy, my favorite catcher of all time, in the middle, with him fortuitously looking to the left as a child points.

Now turn your attention in that direction: that fellow is Eric Byrnes, the new coach for the new World Tour of Banana Ball.

The MLB left fielder is going to be perfect as the spokesman and promoter of that wacky form of baseball!

(Hold on, proof is forthcoming.)

The rightmost photograph has Bill celebrating by dancing with the Banana Nanas to KC & The Sunshine Band, as well as some other top tunes for moving to the beat...

so I was dancing, too, just not part of the line!

Now then, what was it I said about not relying on the photos for the story?

That's because this was not the order of events!

That middle picture was taken as I arrived, around 5:40.

The one on the right occurred about fifteen minutes later, as the deejay started a five-song prelude to the "reveal".

The 'first' photograph, with Eric after busting through the entry banner, and with Jesse up in the cherry picker after his opening spiel, was not taken until about 6:06 PM.

Still, it sure makes for a nice sequence, right?

I totally agree!

Oh, and I have a funny story about that, too.

I had been so excited to get to talk to Bill about the smiling bunny on his back...

you know, that photo that I have as the cover on my phone...

and which I joyfully showed to him there in front of Grayson Stadium...

and, although he recognized at once - at once! - that the photo had been taken at the final Championship game...

he knew naught of the smiley face on his butt.

Seriously.

Now, he probably thinks I'm a stalker, especially as I have the photo on my phone.

I'm not, of course... I just like the smiling bunny face.

I'm going to continue to regard it as an inside joke with Bill, too, just because.

Maybe he'll choose to regard it that way as well.

(smile!)

Now, one last funny story.

Here's the setup: that's Eric Byrnes sitting atop the pit of water in the dunking booth.

Yes, that's for real: post-sundown, with the temperature already dropped at least ten degrees from the high at lunch, the man was sitting on a lever, in his brand-new Bananas uniform, waiting to be dropped into the chilly water below his feet.

That was the vantage point from which he answered fans' questions about his expectations and goals with his new job.

The fan would then toss a baseball at the sweet spot to try to dunk him.

Seriously.

Kyle Luigs, star pitcher for the last several years with the Bananas, now their pitching coach, was the first up.

What was the question?

I don't recall.

I was too excited in anticipation of what came next.

So, query asked and answered, then Kyle wound up for the pitch...

took a step as he would on the mound in a game...

and released the fast ball!

Nothing happened.

We all heard the smack of the leather on the designated pad, but no dunk occurred.

Seriously.

Three others followed him, each asking their question, getting the thoughtful reply, and taking their shot at the target...

each with no rewarding splash.

Eric must have thought he was getting off easy.

One of the Banana Nanas must have thought so, too, as she walked up to the sweet spot and gave it a push with her hand.

That did it!

Down he went into the water, spluttering as he rose from its chilly depths!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

That was the end of the Q & A session!

I went on home afterward, not wanting to hang out in the chilly air for the photo and autograph session to follow his change of clothes.

The only food at this event had been popcorn and that had only whetted my appetite for something more substantial.

My lunch salad had not been the only leftover I'd brought from Truffles: I also had half of Scott's sandwich.

Now, what to have with it?

Tomato soup would fit the bill nicely, but I had none.

Well, I would make my own!

A can of diced NSA tomatoes, smashed by the potato masher...

a cup of Lactaid milk...

some Italian seasoning and a hit of olive oil...

with a pinch of saffron on top -

magnifico!

And absolutely perfect with that cheesy sandwich and Smitty's leftover ham!

Hopefully I'll remember this recipe for another time!

(smile!)

swing, and almost a miss

I almost didn't go to that game.

My 5-game package of tickets were done, as of July 28.

For me to go to the Championship game, I'd need a ticket.

So... to buy one, or not, that was the question earlier this morning.

Then, at 1 PM, FOX had aired a special about the MLB @ Field Of Dreams game - that was to be a reality on Thursday, August 12!

The White Sox would finally be playing the Yankees, there in Dyersville!

It was even a regular season game for Chicago, so it counted for stats!

Would I be able to see it?

 

After I pulled myself together - hey, every time I see anything about that magical place in Iowa I tear up and sob - still - I did a bit of research.

Was the game to be aired on the local FOX network?

Yes, yes, it was!

Was the game to be free to view?

Yes, yes, it was!

Most excellent, plans for my Thursday evening! 

Well, shouldn't I see if tickets were still available for the CPL game at Grayson?

So, I checked on fb on the Bananas' page.

Incredibly, tickets WERE still to be had!

For real???

So, I checked the Bananas' website, to verify.

Yes, yes, that was for real...

so, I texted Scott to see if he would be there, and he said "Yes!"

I bought my ticket at 5:18 PM for the 7 PM game.

Just think: if I had not, I would have missed out on Bill LeRoy's smiley butt!

That would have been a real shame!
(smile!)

Right place, right time...

because of an unexpected television show about the magic of baseball.

i thank You, God.

bananas win the cup! bananas win the cup!

Yes, they did, just as they had in 2016, their very first year in Savannah!

The Coastal Plains League Petit Cup will reside here, on the Savannah Bananas' turf, until the Championship games next year.

I hope I get a chance to see it again!

The team had a December gathering after that first time, so fans could bask in its glow... much like we basked in the glow of these fireworks tonight!

Rather looks like an ice cream cone, doesn't it?

How appropriate for summer!
 

I'm so thrilled to have shared this last official game of summer with my dear Eagle Scout!

Yes, Scott is great fun, as he loves baseball even more than I do, and knows more about it, too!

He had a bag of good-luck, game-winning, pistachios for me, as he did for others around us.

Maybe that made a difference tonight.

Maybe not.

He was at last night's second game of the CPL championships, and the Bananas lost to the Morehead City Marlins at that one.

This game was definitely different than that one.

Sure, the same two teams were on the field - the home team sporting classic yellow pants with white tops, the North Carolina team in blue tops that matched the wrapper on Nabisco Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Sure, most of the same players were on the field as had been for that game, with the exception of the pitchers.

And that last thing is a deciding factor, as it almost always is.

I forget how many pitchers were on the mound tonight, but it had to be some kind of record for the year!

Over and over, the visitors changed ball slingers to try to keep the Bananas at bay.

As this series will attest, their efforts were for naught.

Over and over, as time progressed and the sky shifted its color palette from day tones to night hues, the bases filled with Bananas!

Over and over, the Bananas brought men across home plate, triumphantly cranking that diamond wheel around to victory!

As for the Marlins, they managed to load up the bases, too, threatening a grand slam just as the home team had.

No grand slams for either team tonight, but such a lot of runs were scored!

Sixteen pairs of feet successfully came across the plate over the three hours-plus of playing time.

Yes, sixteen runs, with three for the Marlins, and a whopping thirteen for my boys of summer.

I am so happy for them!

I am especially happy that several of our multiple-year Bananas are going out as champions in this, their final year of play.

Coach Gillum even awarded them Championship Belts!

Rings are such an MLB thing, but great, massive belts, like in wrestling, well, that is just perfect for these collegians!

Thanks, Scott, for being there to not only save me a seat, but to give me good company!

Thanks, my boys of summer, for giving me baseball along with the circus!

i thank You, God, for the gift of all, including perfect weather!

How very blessed to have this during a pandemic year!

last bananas in july for me

With no Mister Willie alongside, per his doctor's orders, I was up by the Shark again, but on my feet this time.

No kilts for me tonight, but plenty of four-legged friends - it was Bark In The Park!

This time, the focus was on those canines which are part of the Savannah Police force - bravo!

What else did I spy with my little eye?

Jacob, in his cowboy hat, and Bruce, in his Man-Nana outfit, keeping company and chatting at the stairwell!

As for the fleeing Pep Band on the field, that was pure serendipity giving me an extra cool photo!

I went down at the end of the second inning.

I had photos to share with Jacob and Bruce, from two weeks earlier.

Yes, real prints, that could be held in the hands as reminders of a treasured time!

I'd dropped off prints for Jesse, Dakota, and the Coach at the front office on my way in.

I love being able to share the love for Mister Willie!

As for that photo above, I had moved to the right field area in front of the beer loft.

I was still on my feet, as I had been since the start of this incredibly slow game.

After two hours, with the game still in the 4th inning, I headed outside, to sit on a park bench.

That worked beautifully!

By the time I reentered Grayson, quite a few folks had left and the sun had started setting.

(I even snagged a banana Moon Pie on my way in! Shhh... it's a secret!)

The game was only in the bottom of the 5th.

That's okay, though.

I was finally able to have a seat... and what a seat it was!

My cherry seat, finally!

And this time, during the Salute to the Troops in the 6th inning, I even got a handshake and a "Thanks for your service" from a roving Banana! Wow!

Then, in the seventh inning, the game really livened up!

The bases were full of Bananas!!!

That's my favorite of the bunch, Bill LeRoy, on first, with all waiting to see if lucky number 7 can knock one over a wall for a grand slam!

GRAND SLAM! GRAND SLAM!

I shouted that over and over, to no avail.

Still, a good inning!

Top of the 8th and what happened?

Pitcher change, that's what!

Not only did the bases get loaded with Bacon, but the Macon team even got a free run as the pitcher walked the next man!

But, hold on, there... it gets better!

GRAND SLAM! GRAND SLAM!

I shouted that over and over, and, yes, I was cheering on the visitors!!!

A good play is a good play, it doesn't matter which team makes it, right?

And guess what?

My impartiality was rewarded!

The next batter hit a triple!!!

Here we go with the first run over home plate...

 

then came the man who had been on second base,

coming on in for the second run off that hit...

followed closely by the guy from first!

Three runs from a single play!

Not quite a grand slam, but pretty close!

Minutes later, that tall cool dude who'd swung that mighty bat came home, too!

Five runs in that one inning for Macon, bringing their total to seven, versus the eight runs for the Savannah Bananas in this home game.

And just who was that batter?

Livan Reinoso, the third-base Bacon man.

Magnificent!

Maybe next year he will be a Banana?

That would be grand!

Yes, this has been an "over the moon" evening!

(Get the joke? About getting the Moon Pie?)

(smile)

no kilts for mister willie!

No, no, my dear, those were absolutely a special surprise for me!

No, today was most definitely the fourteenth, not the seventeenth, but St. Patrick's Day in July had to come three days early at  Grayson Stadium.

The Savannah Bananas didn't have a home game on the 17th... plus, they know I love kilts!

And what a treat it was, too, from the very start, with Coach Gillum on horseback, leading the men in their charge onto the diamond from the center field gate!

That's him in that last photo, too, spurring the boys on, in his lovely boots!

The center left is our first man up for the game against the Blowfish, taken from our cherry seats behind home plate.

The center right is my man, catcher Bill Leroy, taken from our new vantage point in the picnic area, after a bathroom break in the seventh inning.

What's up with the "we" and "our"?

Well, I already told you that Mister Willie was with me!

It's right there in the title of this post, silly rabbit!

The Man in the Yellow Tuxedo made extra sure the 4000+ fans in the house knew that this was a special occasion and who the honoree was.

In the first frame, he introduced Willie Smith, Jr., to the crowd...

in the next, Mister Willie is cheering him and his words, in humble gratitude...

with a culmination of Willie saying "Play ball!!!" as the crowd cheers him on!

i thank You, God!

This was Willie's first game in two years and it was better than any medicine anywhere.

As I told my first niece, I witnessed his love of baseball, and his love of being in this ballpark, dropping ten years from his face!

These folks are all Banana staff who wanted their photo taken with him.

That's Mark "the Shark" Ediss in the first one, greeting the man before going into his Pit.

The other folks are all new to me, but the young woman on the right, Dakota, is one who calls and talks to Mister Willie often.

As for Devon Ashton, the one who assisted us with setting up this game and our special early entry and the choice seats, I don't have a shot with her.

I'll have to see about rectifying that situation when we return for the July 28th game.

As for that leprechaun... I would swear he winked at me!

How magically delicious!

 

And here we have Bruce Revis, joyously reunited with Mister Willie!

I had just said his name three times to Willie, wondering where this Man-Nana might be, when suddenly, like Beetlejuice, he was RIGHT THERE!

These two have spent games together since before I knew Bruce's name.

I think that may have come about during the summer of 2009, when I was attending solo.

That was also during the MLB Single-A Sand Gnats' reign.

When the Bananas came to town, the two were still up there at Mister Willie's seat, cheering and talking baseball.

How wonderful that they still can do so after a year of pandemic!

And how truly blessed am I to have been here for this moment in time!

Mister Willie had spoken to photographer Nick, not long after we got set up in the picnic area, and asked for a baseball.

The next thing we knew, Coach Tyler Gillum came striding up with a special gift: not just a baseball, but one autographed by the team!

Wow... that brought a tear to the old man's eye, not for the first time tonight.

For many of these years that I've been at games in his company, whether we're sitting together or apart, Mister Willie has known my camera would be out and snapping pictures.

He has asked me why I did that, and I've always responded that I take the photos for my enjoyment, as a keepsake of the game.

Of course, the true reason is to capture moments like this, with his hearty voice telling the batter to "Put the wood on it" or "Give me the long ball", to make those real and not illusion.

Documenting what has happened allows me to better relieve it again, as I have done here.

Thank you, Sam Johnson and Thomas Houston, for your encouragement of my entry into the blogosphere.

And, i thank You, God, for such a wonderful night, sharing the breath of baseball, one more time, with this man.

shark said 'strange situation'

I don't know why the Shark Pit had taken over one of the party boxes, but it had, and there he was as I happened by.

I was sitting to his right, on the top row of bleachers in the grandstand, almost directly behind home plate.

This was near game's end, and I was looking to see if the Ring Dude was above the visitors' bullpen so I could alert Kyle.

He sat beside me, as the last attendee with the three-row birthday group, and it was his first time with Bananas, so I was trying to make sure he got all the bells and whistles.

Anywho... just what did the emcee mean by that phrase?

I had to take a photo or I never would have believed it.

So, the man about to tag home was on base already, then the man running behind him got four balls, which, in the real world, means he would get a 'walk'.

But, Banana Ball rules held sway for this game and that meant a 'walk' didn't exist and he had to run instead.

Namely, he had to run the bases, being sure to tag up each one, while the visitors tried to get him out... and ignored the other man.

The man with the four balls was allowed to stop at any base he wanted, but he had to be running.

So, did that mean he came in after the other man for a second run?

No, that's not a Banana Ball rule.

The other man scored a point - not a run - when he touched the plate and, coincidentally, also ended that half of the inning.

It didn't matter if there were no outs or one out or two outs at that point in time.

If home plate was achieved during the 'strange situation', it was time to move on to the next half-inning and let the other team have a turn.

This particular shot was taken in the second inning, with the Savannah Bananas getting the 'point', which was good, as I think the Catawba Valley Stars probably thought they'd stepped into a "Twilight Zone" episode.

I sure did.

The home team went on to score twice more in later innings.

The visitors got the hang of it - or, perhaps, were allowed to share in the fun - and managed to get 'points' via the four-ball 'strange situation' in two innings, one of which was the 9th inning, giving the Bananas a walk-off victory.

Even though the tarp had been on the field until almost 6:30...

even though the infield had to be worked up with more clay several times...

even though the game didn't start until 7:45...

it was all over within the two-hour time limit stipulated by Banana Ball rules. 

The game ended at 9:29 pm.

Two minutes later, I snapped this photo.

The Banana boys had this huge flag that they were carrying as they went for their victory lap around the field.

I had my camera on 'zoom', trying to get a shot, then a little boy had grabbed the netting and set it wiggling.

I tried to wait patiently for the net to stop and it did, just as they neared me...

click!

And I just love this photograph.

Serendipity, to the rescue.

Right place, right time.

During that top half of the ninth, I had moved from my seat in the grandstand to the picnic tables along the third-base line, to make sure I could enjoy the post-game fireworks.

Little did I know that this was what I'd been waiting for during this exhibition game.

i thank You, God.