Helluva Game

While you were all sleeping, still thinking about Michael Phelps snagging his 6th Gold Medal (and 6th World Record), or the US women taking 1-2 in Gymnastics (Des Moines girl got silver:( ).... we had quite the day here in Taiwan watching the Taiwan Baseball team take on China. You think Boston vs Yankees rivalry is bad? This one goes a little deeper in passion than the US can provide.

We had a conference room full of employees watching the 4+ hour game. Taiwan was up 2-0 for most of the game (bad umpire call prevented it from being 3-0.... dang umpires) but China came back in the 8th to go up 3-2. Taiwan was down to their final out in the 9th and they delivered (barely) to send it to extra innings. Lots of excitement in the 10th and 11th, finally Taiwan went up in the 12th by having a huge inning.... 7-3.... but that wasn't it. China filled the bases, then won 8-7 in 12 innings. Bragging rights to China:( The US plays Taiwan next Tuesday night. I would wave my US flag if I had one here. The funniest part is listening to the game in Chinese, my peers speaking in Chinese, but when something goes bad, they swear in English. I heard plenty of "shit" or "damnit".... and no, they did NOT learn that from me. At the end of the game came a loud "f***".

Sarah and I are having our first visitors to our Taiwan home!!! Claire and Jeff will arrive Saturday to spend the weekend in the hottest place on Earth right now. But heat/humidity aside, we plan on an exciting weekend around Taipei and enjoying our friends!

I also finished Duma Key by Stephen King. A very good book and fun read, although far from my favorite by his. For the Stephen King faithful, you'll want to read it, but it stays in line with his newer works, not the works of the 80s.... I'm just glad he's still writing - another book planned for 2010. And for SK fans, there is a movie version of Cell planned for 2009 by Director Eli Roth (of Hostel direction fame) so expect some gore in that one!

I also missed that Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac died.... that was out of nowhere. Bernie Mac was pretty funny (his TV show was not good though), but CHEF?!?!?! The Southpark world is in mourning....

Sarah and I celebrate 1 YEAR together this weekend. Wish us luck for year #2!