KJ

Earlier this week, the always-marvelous readingtheend aka Jenny proposed a simple idea to promote more community and sharing on blogs: "Something on Sunday"

The only guidelines are that you write about something that kept you on your feet that week, whether that’s a person that inspired you, an action you took that you’re proud of, a book or movie or TV show that nourished your heart, a self-care strategy that worked for you, a goofy event or moment that brought you joy. Whatever it is, every Sunday, I want you to tell me something that matters to you.

I think this is brilliant. And I'm always looking for routes back into long-form blogging, because I love it, and I miss it, and although my track record with keeping up on projects like this is poor, I'm going to at least give it a try. Sunday afternoons and evenings are often a good opportunity for me to plan writing time -- it's usually when I do my ladybusiness work for the week -- so I can be hopeful!

There is no question what I will pick as my inspiration this week: baseball. The San Francisco Giants had a truly wretched season this year -- they lost almost 100 games and ended up with their second-worst record in the last century -- and I admit I didn't follow quite as closely as usual because it was so frustrating. But last week, Matt Cain announced in a team meeting that this season would be his last. He was scheduled to start yesterday, and within a few minutes of hearing the news, it occurred to me to check for tickets. I got lucky: two excellent seats for a very reasonable price. Since T is still out of town, I asked around friends and family, and my cousin L was able to join me. We went to the game, and even though the Giants lost, it was an excellent and memorable experience.

Matt Cain has been one of my most beloved baseball players for many years, since he came up in 2004, only 20 years old, and developed into the brightest spot on a mediocre team -- Barry Bonds was on his way out, Buster Posey was still a few years away, and the team couldn't score a run to save their life. But Cain kept plugging away, putting in solid-to-brilliant starts and taking losses for his trouble (his final win-loss record, just a hair below .500, is not at all representative of his talent). And he never complained: not to the media, not within the baseball community, and by all accounts not in private either. His nickname was The Horse, because he took the heavy load and kept on going. And then, suddenly, a few years before anyone was really expecting it, the rest of the team around him caught fire and kept going, winning three World Series in five years. Cain was a big part of the 2010 team's success, but 2012 was his year: that was the year of the perfect game, and he started the All-Star Game, and put some brilliant playoff performances, and if he hadn't already been beloved, this was the year that would cement him as a legend in franchise history.

But no sports career lasts forever, and Cain's downhill slide began not long after. He missed much of 2014, including all of the playoffs, due to injury; he had elbow surgery that offseason and was never quite the same pitcher again. His contract is up this year, and rather than try to pull it back together with another team, he's decided to call it a career, and retire a life-long Giant. And who can blame him? It's hard work, and he has young kids, and although sometimes older players get lucky when they try to reinvent themselves, the odds are long. I'm so glad that it worked out for him to pitch one last time in front of the home fans. He made it through the fifth inning, and when he walked off the mound for the last time, met manager Bruce Bochy at the top of the stairs, and shook his hand, then hugged him, the wave of love and support and appreciation was so amazing. It even comes through on the video, how much Matt Cain means not only to the fans but to his teammates. The San Jose Mercury News has a good story about the game itself, and Grant Brisbee of McCovey Chronicles (my favorite Giants blog) does a better job than me of explaining why Matt Cain means so much to the Giants fandom. I'm so fortunate that I was able to be there, and that my cousin was there to share the moment with me.

To think that I lived to see the Chicago Cubs -- perennial underdogs to the point that sci-fi authors often use their losing ways as a punchline or a sign that you're in an alternate universe -- win a World Series.

I don't believe in fate and I don't believe in curses, but I do believe that was a hell of a game. I've mostly been dipping in and out of the playoffs since the Giants lost in the quarterfinals, but I was pulling for the Cubs to go all the way, for a number of reasons: their legendary underdog status, fond memories of the team from my Midwestern childhood, discomfort with Cleveland's mascot, and last but probably not least my tendency to root for the National League, all other things being equal. But once this series got to Game Seven, I knew I had to watch. And it was worth it: the timely hitting, the thrilling comebacks, the dramatic rain delay, and finally the win in extra innings. You couldn't have written a better story, and in a way that's what I like about sports -- the unpredictability, the sense that literally anything can happen.

Big big love and congrats to all my Cubs fan friends -- enjoy this feeling, it's pretty damn awesome. Love and hugs to my Cleveland fan friends, too; it's tough to lose, especially in such dramatic fashion (believe me, I know the feeling *thinks not-so-fondly of 2002*).

And now, the long dark of the offseason begins. Is it spring training yet?

I really did not think they would pull this off. But they did. Yay, Giants! Yay, Madison Bumgarner!

Parade Friday, I hope I can go.

Once again, I wasn't sure if they could do it, although given that they managed it last time, this time I had a little more faith. I missed the game, sadly, because this hotel room has no television, so I don't have quite the sense of reality I would if I'd seen the boys jumping up and down on the pitchers mound and spraying champagne on each other. Next time I have a good enough Internet connection, I am so watching some celebrations.

World Series starts on Wednesday.

The first game of the Giants vs. Reds playoff series is today. T was curious about how much tickets were going for, so we checked StubHub for the heck of it, and there were still seats available, and they weren't nearly as expensive as we thought they would be... so we jumped on it.

I'm going to a playoff game!!! I'm going to watch Matt Cain pitch a playoff game!!!!

This is ridiculously exciting. You have no idea.

Matt Cain -- cornerstone pitcher for the SF Giants, my favorite player of all time, and all-around great guy -- just threw the first perfect game in Giants baseball history, and only the 22nd one in Major League Baseball.... ever.

I literally cannot think of anyone more deserving.

We turned on the game in the 7th inning, and I was on the edge of my seat for the rest of the night. It was beautiful, it was brilliant, the crowd was on fire.

T had almost gotten tickets at the last minute, too, but then it didn't work out. Curses!

Still, I am thrilled just to have seen it real-time on TV. I had long expected that Cain would throw a no-hitter someday, and I feel fortunate to have even been in proximity.

So I am totally cheating here and choosing my own topic to kick off daily posting in November -- I'll get started on other people's topics tomorrow, promise -- because THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS JUST WON THE FREAKING WORLD SERIES.

( Cut for excessive fangirly joy )

The city is still partying; I hear chanting and cheering and the occasional fireworks, not to mention the helicopters keeping an eye over it all. It's a glow that will last us a long time, I think, and already I can't wait for the home opener of the 2011 season, sometime in April, when announcer Renel Moon presents to us, for the first time "your World Champion San Fran-cisco GIANTS!" I can already feel the shivers traveling down my back, and I love every minute of it.

I forget, every year, how many things will come along in October to occupy my headspace. The start of a new quarter, chorus coming back again, planning for Halloween (which is, no lie, the biggest event on my school's social calendar, even bigger than the fashion show),the best weather of the year, and, if I'm lucky, the baseball playoffs. Add to that my frantic work on my megaflare_ff (not nearly enough) and my flirtation with the Final Fantasy anon fic meme up to three stories! but I think I'm done, for now and it's no wonder if I've been a bit scarce lately.

It could have been even worse, due to certain influences trying to get me to the Stewart/Colbert rally at the end of the month, but it conflicts with the Halloween costume contest, and, well, see above. So I will stay home, and watch on TV, or maybe find a local satellite rally to attend, and cheer them on from afar.

Speaking of cheering people on...



Even San Francisco City Hall has gotten into cheering on the Giants. NLCS, baby! Bring on the Phillies.

I've done this before, and now I'm doing it again. This iteration is from auronlu.

Comment with the word "ICONS" and I'll select six of yours for you to talk about in your journal.

( Auronlu's choices and my explanations behind the cut. )

In other news, I have an amybang all week, so if I'm a little scarce the next few days, that would be why.