Something Magic Happens

We recently enjoyed a great weekend in Catonsville, which gave us a chance to see Madelyn play soccer, to spend quality time with all three of our nieces, and to relax in the newly renovated upstairs bedroom at Dad's house.

It seems Dad, Denise, and Pete are ready for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" given how quickly they turned around that room. Impressive stuff.

The girls had a sleepover at Denise's on Saturday night, which provided Pete, Michele, Erica, and me the opportunity to visit Canton for dinner at Nacho Mama's and dessert at Vaccaro's. The trip has become an annual tradition for the four of us. We moved things up this year since Erica and I won't be visiting Baltimore for the holidays (something about a baby being due). It was nice to spend quality time with Pete and Michele. We certainly don't take it for granted.

There were a few great options for Sunday afternoon; we ended up at Camden Yards to watch the final game of the Orioles - Yankees series. I'm sure glad I made that decision.

It was my last baseball game before becoming a father, so it's fitting that we went with my dad. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of attending baseball games with him. We added another great one on Sunday.

Outnumbered by Yankees fans in the home ballpark, we watched the Orioles slog through several uninspired innings before mounting a comeback that culminated in Luke Scott's ninth-inning home run off perhaps the best closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera.

The O's then improbably held off the Yankees in extra innings - even after New York put a runner on third base with no outs - and won the game in the 11th inning with a double by Scott and a game-winning hit by Ty Wiggington. Afterward, I continued my campaign to name our child Luke, regardless of gender.

Sunday's game added to Erica's remarkable hot streak. The Orioles have won two of the three games she's attended in the team's final at-bat. She now understands the classic song "Orioles Magic" - "Something magic happens, every time you go ...."