It rained all day yesterday, sometimes heavily. Gracie didn’t go out until early in the evening when it was just sprinkling. Today is cloudy and humid, and I feel closed in by the humidity which sucks in all the air making it difficult to breathe. A leaf bounces in the air every now and then but there is no breeze. Even the birds are quiet, their songs dulled by the thick air. I have no ambition whatsoever.

I stayed up late and watched the Sox-Yankees game and was rewarded with a Sox win in the 10th. It amazes me that after so many games already played this season these two teams are only one game apart. Not bad for the Sox who started out 2-10.

Baseball is easy to understand which is probably why it is my favorite sport. I have no idea how football works other than the basics. I don’t even know what most of the guys standing on the line are supposed to do. I don’t care about my football ignorance  nor do I care to learn any more. I still watch and applaud a first down for my team or a great run or a magnificent pass; however, when the  announcer describes the play, he might as well be speaking gibberish.

From the time I was young, I understood baseball, even the intricacies and most of the terminology. I did learn a new one last year, the Mendoza Line. It hadn’t come up much with the hard hitting Sox. Years ago one of the male coaches in the high school where I worked considered women dabblers when it came to sports. I was in the teachers’ room when baseball was the topic of discussion. I mentioned it was my favorite sport, and he sort of smirked and asked if I knew anything beyond nine innings and three outs. I said I did, and he questioned me. Most of the questions were easy, and I handily answered them. He thought he’d get me with hitting for the cycle, but I knew it. He gave a look at the guys at the table and asked about a Texas leaguer. He stopped asking when I knew the answer. I was tempted to ask him about the last book he’d read, but I figured I’d be stereotyping, and besides, I knew from past conversations he considered Sports Illustrated a classic right up there with A Tale of Two Cities.