No Fooling! Erb Family Back at Home

The Venetian, where we stayed last night

After a long vacation in Utah (no worries, many pics and videos to be placed on the blog in the next few days), the Erb family stayed one night in Las Vegas before heading home this afternoon.  There is no truth to the rumor that Mommy taught Mary Jane to say, "Vegas, baby!"  Mary Jane only can say, "Las Vegas!"  And no, Daddy did not teach her to say, "Viva Las Vegas!" either.

Before leaving for home this morning, Daddy wisely placed some action on the Dodgers this afternoon.  A 4-0 victory over the Hated Ones gave Daddy, a lifelong Dodger fan, double satisfaction: an Opening Day victory as well as money in the pockets.  As the old saying goes, "Baby needs a new pair of shoes!"  Indeed, I think Betsy Jo does.

The Dodgers iconic logo

The Local Teams

Kings and Dodgers

Long may they both win.  As for the Lakers... let them play golf.

15 Down, One to Go

While I by no means would ever claim that I am a die-hard Kings fan (the Dodgers and UCLA basketball are the top two for me), I do admit that watching this run to the Cup is quite amazing.  The veritable road warriors have won TEN straight on the road.  Heck, even the 5-2 home record right now is quite impressive.  Every game the Kings weather the early storm and then summarily close out their opponents in the final two periods. 

Mad props to all my friends who are clearly more ardent Kings fans than me.  It's been quite a long time... since... well, ever!  And I assuredly am not trying to jinx anyone but I might as well give the team mad props when I can.  I couldn't tell you where Anze Kopitar is from, or who actually played NCAA hockey (I'd leave that Jeff), but hey, I know good sport when I watch it.  And team play is much more interesting than that one-on-one garbage those Lakers play.  How can team ball be so effective at the college level and then it's completely forgotten by the time these guys get to the pros?  Anyway, I digress...

I rarely get to watch the games as they now start at five so the girls aren't even down and asleep until the third period.  And the geniuses at NBC have decided to play the games on there new sports channel which we really don't feel like paying extra for.  I'll save that rant for another day... but for now, Kings win!  One more, guys.

Dodgers Do Well in All-Star Game

While the Dodgers may be scuffling to stay out of last place (thank you, Padres), at least their three All-Stars came through tonight. Kemp and Ethier both came up with hits and Ethier had an RBI as well. Meanwhile Kershaw pitched a clean inning with one strike out.

It might be a long painful season for Mister John but at least tonight was a brief reprieve from the madness. It also helps to have a cute little girl smiling at you every day. That overwhelms any need to check the box scores every morning.

Free the Dodgers!

I am quite hopeful and optimistic that the Dodgers will finally turn in the right direction. After many years of ridiculous leadership which put profit first and respectablity last, the McCourts have been removed as owners. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig gets some major props for this one (maybe this will make up for the All-Star game decided home field advantage in the World Series) as they had to go. And clearly in the best interest of baseball, they needed to be summarily removed.

Some day this year Jill and I will take our lovely little girl to a Dodger game and we'll know that the money that we spent on seats, parking, and Dodger dogs did not go to someone's Malibu mansion but rather to the benefit of the franchise. Mary Jane will be able to sit in the upper deck and stare out into the blue sky while Daddy knocks down a dog or two and prays that Broxton won't be needed to save the game. But those are the ON-FIELD worries... and that's all that we as fans should have. We shouldn't have to worry about owners and their ridiculous spending ways, divorce fiascos, or embarrassing quotes. The only embarrassment we wish to see is the butt-kicking we will do (on the field!) to the NL West.

Now the most important question: which Dodgers jersey should I buy this year? I'm leaning towards Andre Ethier but I'll take suggestions...

Andre Ethier Runs Away from Bad Start

While Miss Jill and I were in Arizona two weeks ago, we went to a minor league baseball game. The Dodgers were playing the Cincinnati Reds at the Reds' ballpark in Goodyear, which is about 10 miles from her parents' home. That made it quite easy for us to go see the Blue play. And with a small stadium of only 5,000+ of your closest friends, all the better. Just remember to duck on those foul balls. This isn't like Dodger Stadium where (unless you spend a whole bunch of money) you sit far from the field and never worry about getting smacked by a foul ball. The Dodgers won that game but that obviously has not foreshadowed the start of the regular season as the Blue have started at a 2-4 clip. The relief pitching has exploded in the past two games, giving away probable victories against a mediocre squad. And Andre Ethier, pictured to the left, has been hurt for the last few days. Hopefully he will be better for the start of the regular season. But for now, run Ethier. Run far far away!

Of course if you have any free tickets to the Dodgers, Miss Jill and I would be happy to take any tickets that you may have. I guess we really should work on expanding this blog so more than two or three of the regulars read this. That's alright.

Rabbits Indignant Like Desert Birds in "The Second Coming"

OK, so most of you have never read "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats (rhymes with Gates). But there are some desert birds in that poem and you know what? They are quite the indignant little beasties. Or as my Dad, TOME (The Original Mr. Erb), would call them: "mangy rascals." While I would never ostensibly call a bird -- especially indignant desert ones -- a mangy rascal, I don't ask. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the second coming. I don't think Root Beer Float and Jane (both picture to the right) care about such silly nonsense. Furthermore that whole cult belief that the world will end in December of 2012 does not amuse Princess Jane in the least. Her reign will not end (do note that the forecast for the San Gabriel Mission Fiesta is God Reigns) and she will remain the lead rabbit on Dewey Street for a very long time coming.

The Dodgers won, 5-0, today. Woot!

I just hope that my bunnies are not slouching towards Bethlehem in order to witness the new Antichrist. What, you still haven't read "The Second Coming" yet? Get your butt to http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html and read it already.

Questions to ponder:

1) What do the falcon and falconer symbolize?
2) Why do you think Yeats refers to the Sphinx?
3) If Yeats was so damn sure the world would end in 2000, why didn't it? (Silly Y2K)

Bunnies Starve While Couple Eats Dodger Dogs!

Again more dissension within the Erb family/bunny continuum as pictures have surfaced of Miss Jill and Mister John at a Dodger game while the bunnies stayed home in their cages. While there are no facts stating that the couple had Dodger dogs at the game, Mister John did tell Miss Jill to wipe some mustard off her face as they walked in the house that night. The bunnies quietly sulked but Chip did wisely note, "When they are away, I have more time to hop around the house." Good for Chip.

In good news for all Dodgers fans, the Dodgers beat the Reds that night, 12-3.

Chip Says Hi, Leaves Bedroom for Comfier Cage

Although Chip hopped into Mr. John and Miss Jill's bedroom tonight for a nose rub, he quickly left afterward to go back to his cage tucked into the corner of the den. Supposedly a new supply of hay and a clean potty are much better than nose rubs. Meanwhile, Mr. John looked on amusingly and went back to watching the Dodgers beat the Rockies in 13 innings.

Someone Goes Potty on Quizzes; Chip Claims Innocence

This evening while Mr. John and Miss Jill were off watching a dramatic episode of The Bachelorette (oh my gosh, who lied and has a girlfriend?), someone went potty on Mr. John's period 1 and 5 quizzes. No one has admitted it but Chip was right nearby. He says he did not do it and it was all subterfuge. He says Paulie, the stuffed Dodger tiger did it since there were no games tonight and the Dodgers had lost the night before on ESPN. I have my doubts on that.

Alas, we may never know who went potty on the quizzes. But since four of the bunnies were locked up outside in cages and Cherry Bugg was snuggled in her cage in our bedroom, methinks it was the Chipper. But he does look quite innocent in that picture, doesn't he?

Guess I won't be lying on the couch tonight watching SportsCenter after all.