12/25/02

Softball: The Constant Challenge of Organic Renewal

Dear People,

Congratz to all on last week’s riveting 15-13 return to the verdant synthetic sheathing of our communal youth. In all candor, I believe that the polyurethane gestalt of freshly glued Astroturf is more sublime than any of the so-called natural grasses, and for that matter, more compelling than all the trees, aphids and Yak that would undoubtedly refuse to embrace it.

Now granted, some cynics will charge that the emotive intensity of my team’s stunning come-from-behind triumph has left me a driveling loon, but of course, it’s not their lives that are shattered every time Codornices is transmogrified into an unplayable bog of mud-laden skunge. And thus, at the dawn of this season of despicable wettitude, I will challenge Mayor Bates to make sure that every Berkeley city park is immediately degrassed, leveled, and lovingly coated with the finest Monsanto rubbers.

In the meantime, this upcoming weekend could be your last chance to see Andy, Mikey AND Jen before they abandon our community for other frightening and distant locales. In Andy’s case, he will be moving to New York City, and thus it’s not my place to try and intervene. On the other hand, Mikey and Jen will soon be moving to Louisville, Kentucky, apparently because of a job, plentiful bourbon and cheap housing.

Now I’m certainly not going to question the sagacity of this decision, although I would love to be there in 2017, when Jen tells her bewildered teenage daughter what she’s doing in Kentucky. "Actually, before you were born, we lived a bridge away from San Francisco, but ya know, I had a job offer, and there’s cheap bourbon and housing here." Yeah, that should sate her pubescent regrets. And therefore, there will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11AM, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning….Raymond


12/26/02

Softball: The Grey Skies of Transition

There will be a game at Codornices (or possibly Kleeberger) this Sunday at 11AM, but alas, it is now full. As always, check email around 10AM if it rains heavily between now and then, and feel free to call for late cancels.

Assuming we’re at Codornices, please bring $2 for the field, which for this week only, and in honor of Andy, Jen and Mikey, will include special post-game choral performances of "New York, New York," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "My ’ol Kentucky Home" and "My Darlin Jenny (What the Fuck are We Doing Moving to Kentucky?)"….Raymond 845-7552


12/28/02

Softball: Astroturf Again! (11:15ish)

10:03 AM

Codornices is basically unplayable, filled as it is is with kelp, crustations and river trout, but as of ten minutes ago, Kleeberger looked like it was going to be free by about 11:15 or 11:30 at the latest. Representatives of the surly marble-buttocked Lacrosse players told me this, and given we have no choice, we have to trust them.

Yes, we have no reservation and there are grave risks of other preemptive occupations, but I beg of you, for Andy (who is moving to New York City), Jen (whose heart is already in Louisville) and Mikey (whose heart will be forever in Berkeley but who is being forced to move to Louisville), we must act with courage. Indeed, these are the risks that make us a peoples. That’s right, it’s 10AM, that’s not a typo, and I’ll say it again: These are the risks that make us a peoples.

See ya at Kleeberger at 11:15 (I’ll be there by 11 for football, which is playable now on the South field)…..Ray

PS: On Gayley, between the Greek Theatre and the Stadium across from the Haas Business School. Free parking BEHIND the fields.

PPS: Frank’s cell #: (415) 290-8897

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