Rocky

I think Coolchef has the best insight (not saying the others are bad)... talk to Onion Eater. He's got the experience that will help you know what to look for. Oh, and this thread reminded me of a song from the 60s or 70s (I forget which)... This Diamond Ring... maybe our good friend Dr. Sudo can find a recording online for us? Nevermind... I found it...

My "insight" may or may not be worth two cents, but here's my thoughts: Why would it NOT be available to pray for rain? Are you sure that THIS is the real (bottom line, or underlying) question? Might another, perhaps as valid or useful, question be: is it possible (available, or whatever other result oriented word you would care to insert here) for God to send rain based on the prayer of one or more individual? Perhaps the (effectual, fervent) prayer of a (righteous) man (person)? I don't have the answer... just the questions. (btw, here in the Sonoran desert, we ALWAYS need rain)

Well, Ms. Richie is pregnant, don't ya know! Not that that should matter. If the LA county jail could accommodate Paris H, with her "claustrophobia", surely they could keep Richie safe for four days.

I'm supposed to care???

A likely story! Baltimore's pitching coach is Leo Mazzone... I wonder how fast he was rocking tonight?

I don't know why, but I know it does! Congrats and many more happy years for you and your whole family! Perhaps it's a good thing you're being reminded about time flying by... so you remember to properly record memories of your youngsters... so you can vividly recall these times years from now.

Didn't see that on Baseball Tonight... intriguing though. Dbacks' starting pitcher (Doug Davis) gave up 6 runs to the Brewers in 2 inning tonight. Bottom of the 2nd, Owings pinch-hit for Davis... it appears they (Brewers) had plenty of respect for Owings... walked him on 5 pitches. Owings pinch hitting early can save the bench... in the event the game goes long (this time, that might be a longshot anyway). Hopefully, Dbacks will play well tomorrow... as it's looking like I'll be able to get to that game in person.

Hey Squirrelly One, :blink: There's a BIG difference between "leadership" and "management"! :blink:

With all of US lesbians here, it's no wonder!

But he might ALSO admit to being a lesbian!

Count me in!

That's as good (really, it's better) advice as one could get from me... especially since I'm a desert dweller.

In many cases, I'd bet that is very much what is going on.

Tulane GreenWave bio page for Micah Owings Here's a pretty good (reasonably detailed) pre-professional baseball bio/background.

Had a storm like that pass over my house... in July 2006. It blew things around on my patio. Reminds me of the time, when I was just a lad (about 19), had been in the Azores for about 6 months and we got a rain (probably was a hurricane) storm that dropped 8 inches in 2 hours. That was the heaviest I recall, but it often rained sideways there... and many days it was VERY windy, even when the sun was shining. btw, no skunks or raccoons at my house, though I regularly see rabbits and quail... :)

Not a fluke. He was a power hitter in HS and college and hit well in the minors. They were saying during yesterday's game that in college, when not pitching, he often was the DH. And he already has been used as a pinch hitter. And a pinch runner, IIRC. He's definitely a battler. Last year he went something like 16-2 combined in A and AAA ball and pitched Tucson Sidewinders to the AAA championship (a one game showdown between champs of the International League and the Pacific Coast League). For a considerable stretch this season, his pitching slumped... but he's pitched well his last two starts and got the win this time. Bulwinkl, I'd rather see Dunn go to the AL too.

It seems to me that the law as it formerly stood (vets - not in uniform, no salute) was primarily symbolic. Who, at a ballgame especially, is going to arrest a veteran for saluting? I would hope the answer properly is NOone. Likewise, I see this newly enacted law as essentially symbolic. As such, it would (for veterans aware of it) encourage them to salute. Further, BB, I can't imagine anyone really giving you a hard time for saluting the flag. For myself, I also had not been aware of the prior prohibition... and now, when I remember, will salute.

The baby thing (laughing, happy babies and chillens) do well for me... which is why I volunteer at a children's shelter... The Dbacks doing well can help sometimes... :)

Owings after one of his HR swings tonight.

Owings and the Big Night Owings and the Big Night*2007-08-18 17:54by Bob Timmermann Pitcher Micah Owings of Arizona has hit two home runs and a double in his first three at bats against Buddy Carlyle of the Braves tonight in Atlanta. Owings is the first pitcher to have two homers and a double in a game since Jack Harshman of the Orioles on September 23, 1958. Owings also has 5 RBI, the most by a pitcher since Robert Person of the Phillies had 7 on June 20, 2002. And then Owings had an RBI single in the seventh, making him 4 for 4 with 6 RBI and 11 total bases. No pitcher in the last 50 years has surpassed 10 total bases. Two pitchers have hit three home runs in a game: Guy Hecker of Louisville of the AA on August 15, 1886, and Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves on May 13, 1942. Owings is just the fifth pitcher in the last 50 years to have a game with at least 6 RBI. Owings is also the first Arizona pitcher to hit two home runs in one game as well as the first pitcher to hit two home runs in a game at Turner Field. Owings also gave up three home runs (the only hits he allowed) and I believe he is the first pitcher to give up three home runs in a game while hitting two.

The national baseball pundits are finally starting to realize something special has been going on with the Diamondbacks. Earlier this week, they were claiming it couldn't last, because the stats did not support the Dbacks continuing to win so much. But the Dbacks have the best record in the NL and are pretty much the hottest team in all of MLB since the All-Star break. They've won something like 8 consecutive series, even though they've been outscored due to three blowout losses. HOWEVER... today that particular tide is turning. Rookie pitcher Micah Owings is cruising in Hot-lanta, limiting the Braves to one solo HR by Chipper Jones, now heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. However, the Dbacks bats are NOT so silent today... ESPECIALLY that of ROOKIE PITCHER Micah Owings... who is a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, has TWO HRs and has driven in 6 of the Dbacks 12 runs. Those HRs are Micah's second and third HRs of the season... ssssst.... be careful... don't touch... they are SIZZLIN hot! oh... and Owings is batting .279 on the season.

I cannot even imagine the pain that must have caused you. I'm sooooooo sorry.

Holy Cow! Lot's of VERY intriguing responses... btw, in case anyone didn't pick up on it, I too had a spouse that was VERY passive/aggressive... I would characterize my situation as a shaky win... except for the fact that I haven't heard my daughter's voice in more than two years (she's 17 now)...

Well, I can understand that person's viewpoint, and how it would seem to be the "utmost in cowardice" but I believe that label is way too simplistic. And in being too simplistic, it's ultimately misleading, IMO. I had some pretty intense life experiences that brought passive-aggresive behavior to my awareness in the early to mid 1990s. That conduct was being employed by someone VERY important to me (not myself) at the time, someone from whom it took a great deal of effort and too much money and heartache before I was able to extricate myself therefrom. And having been subject to that person's coping method (of choice?), I probably would have said the same thing (that it's the ultimate in cowardice) during the nearly two year period marked by the litigation that actually just began the extrication process. In the years since, I have become acutely aware of when I am inclined, tempted, or actually use such tactics to cope with a wide variety of situations. IF emotional/psychological defense mechanisms were employed (by humans in general) exclusively (or even just primarily) as a result of conscious choice/decisions, it might be fair to label it as cowardice. But that really is NOT the case. I understand that defense mechanisms are often employed by any given human without giving the matter even the smallest amount of thought. And because it's likely that the person picked up the "habit" as a child, I would hesitate to make any conclusion that would suggest it is done with any kind of overt intent.

Thanks for the article, Excie... The Cardinals' David Eckstein today is sorta in the mold of Rizzuto... Not tall, but gives it every ounce of effort he can muster.