Monday Monday 7.30.2007

*For the benefit of anyone new on this email list. I send out a Monday email every week!*
*For the benefit of Ryan Stephens, I have mentioned his name in it*

Hey Everyone,

We had a good weekend spent in Annapolis, MD. Although the normal work week for me runs Monday through Thursday, Maggie and I decided to spend the weekend in the Annapolis-Baltimore area this weekend and see some of the local historic area (and watch the O's play the Yanks in Camden Yards).

I started my weekend on fire having finished rereading Harry Potter book 6 on Thursday night and began reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (book 7) in the same breath. Somehow I managed to put the book down until Friday morning, but I didn't leave my hotel room until I ran to pick Maggie up at Baltimore Airport at 3:30. After that Maggie and I spent most of the afternoon and evening touring Annapolis and taking in the coast (don't worry - there was no beach involved). At some point after our touring and dinner, we made it back to the hotel (where Maggie had to do some work before bed) and I picked up book 7 again. . . I couldn't put the book down until Saturday Morning at about 10AM because I just plowed right through it! Of all the books I've ever read, I can't say that I've ever been so emotionally involved with the characters. My heart was actually racing as I read more and more about the dangers Harry and his friends were facing! I won't spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read it or is waiting for the movies, but I am very glad that the ending wasn't spoiled for me!!
When I finally finished Harry Potter on Saturday Morning, we took to the road to meet up with Maggie's Cousins that live in Baltimore. They came with us to Camden Yards to watch the game, but before (and after) all that we walked Baltimore's Harbor and took in the sights and scenery reminding me closely of Chicago's Navy Pier! One of our afternoon highlights was taking the Duck Tour (an amphibious vehicle that drives through the streets acting as a tour guide and the jumps right in the water acting like a boat for the duration of the tour). These Duck Tours can be found in a lot of different cities now and some of which you wouldn't expect (Albany, NY for one had these tours and Boston, MA is where I first discovered them). Well if you get the chance to ride on these Ducks, go ahead - our guide had a lot of energy making it fun!

Here we are, the Orioles are up 7-1 on the Yanks heading into the top of the ninth. Matsui approaches the plate as the lead of batter for NY. One pitch, one smack of the bat, and the ball is going going gone! Matsui started a late game ninth inning rally for NY that left us a final score of 7-5. Of course, Baltimore fans were nervous because all of this occurred with no outs and it wasn't until the Yankees had the winning run at the plate that they hit into a double play putting the comeback in jeopardy. Although for most of the game we had no hope for the Bronx Bombers, they did make it exciting in the end. We were close a few times to seeing history made on this night too. A-Rod was going for HR number 500, but failed on every attempt.

On Sunday Maggie's cousin took us to a wine tasting event, that despite having no taste for wine - we actually enjoyed the festivities.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a good week ahead of them!

Enjoy and Until Next Monday, this has been your Monday Monday!

Ryan