Why I Didn’t Stand for “God Bless America”

Yesterday morning, I attended the Cubs/Nationals game at Nationals Park. It was a lovely day for baseball — not too hot, not especially humid, sunny and bright, a stiff breeze blowing in from the direction of centerfield toward the Anacostia. The Cubs won, 7-2. Being July 4th, the game had a particular patriotic flavor, withContinue reading “Why I Didn’t Stand for “God Bless America””

Playoff Baseball in Harrisburg

This morning I have no voice. Yesterday afternoon I drove up to Harrisburg for game four of the Eastern League Western Division semi-finals between the Senators and the Erie SeaWolves, with Harrisburg holding a 2-1 lead in the best of five series. Three weeks ago, I said I’d gone to my last Senators game thisContinue reading “Playoff Baseball in Harrisburg”

On Not Being a Nationals Blogger

On Twitter two days ago, I was called “a Nationals blogger.” By Nationals, meaning the Washington Nationals, of course. I am not a Nationals blogger. Don’t think of myself that way at all. But I was also thrilled that someone else would think of me in that way. Nationals blogger. I have, however, made someContinue reading “On Not Being a Nationals Blogger”

An Oasis of Natitude Along the Banks of the Susquehanna

On Tuesday I attended my second Harrisburg Senators game. I was taking a vacation day at the office to attend to some personal matters and get in a day of downtime between my publication cycles at work. Over the weekend I decided that since the Senators were at home I could attend the game asContinue reading “An Oasis of Natitude Along the Banks of the Susquehanna”

My First Harrisburg Senators Game

Last night I attended my first Harrisburg Senators game. I moved to the York area a few months ago; I needed a new place to live, housing in Baltimore (where I still work, as a copywriter) is stupidly expensive, and southern Pennsylvania had the advantages of being inexpensive and commutable. In the last month-plus, I’veContinue reading “My First Harrisburg Senators Game”

On the Need for a Nationals Novelty Song

I grew up a Chicago Cubs fan. The Cubbies are still my first love, though when I moved to Maryland six years ago I adopted the Nats as my local team (passing over the closer O’s) because the Nats needed the love. The Cubs have given me many things over the years — they’ve givenContinue reading “On the Need for a Nationals Novelty Song”

On Catching Natitude

My mom noticed something different about my Beetle today. What’s the decal on your car?” “It’s a Washington Nationals decal. I picked it up at Big Lots a few weeks ago.” “Why?” I shrugged. “It was cheap.” True, it was only three dollars. And Big Lots had lots of Nationals merchandise. Of course, they’ve hadContinue reading “On Catching Natitude”

On My Independence Day Plans

July 4th. Two epochal, world-changing events have fallen on July 4th. The first comes on July 4, 1776. In Kent that day, Horatio Hornblower was born, and he would become one of the Royal Navy’s greatest heroes, distinguishing himself at an early age and playing a significant role in the defeat of Napoleon. The secondContinue reading “On My Independence Day Plans”

A Tale of Two Baseball Caps

Yesterday, the Stars & Stripes Washington Nationals Baseball Cap arrived. Baseball teams started wearing patriotic baseball caps on national holiday weekends a few years ago. (And yes, the Toronto Blue Jays have their own patriotic cap, with the Maple Leaf instead of the Stars and Stripes.) Despite my love of the Cubs :cubs: I don’tContinue reading “A Tale of Two Baseball Caps”