Saturday

Another good day for baseball in Wisconsin. Very good.

Game 3 of the NLDS was Tamala's first Brewers game of the season, and the first game ever in Miller Park for my mom and me. We felt slightly guilty about this, given the level of excitement over this series among fans. But through the generosity of a family friend, we found ourselves sitting at a patio table overlooking left field on Saturday evening - food vouchers and postseason towels in hand. Before finding our seats, we took a walk around the park. It was interesting to compare Miller Park with County Stadium. Everything at Miller Park feels much slicker. There's an espresso cart. Espresso cart! Why, back in my day...

This was the first time I'd attended a playoff game for any sport, fairly surprising given my alternating years of obsessive baseball, hockey, and basketball fandom. I don't plan to let it be my last. The energy in Miller Park was great on Saturday. Every strike thrown by Milwaukee was cheered loudly. Nearly every pitch sent the towels twirling; twirling speed and fervor was governed by the count. The game was one of the best I could have hoped for - the Brewers never trailed, but the lead was never secure enough to allow for complacency. There were disappointments and scares, but never calamity. And when the final strike was thrown, the stadium erupted. All the way to the car, everyone was cheering and yelling and high-fiving each other. Never before have I been fived so many times. My favorite drunken cheer overheard outside: "Two! More! Games! It's not! That! Much!" No matter what happens on Sunday, at least we took Game 3.

Not only did the Brewers win, but my pick of the Italian Sausage won the Sausage race in the 6th inning. Yes, it was a good night.

Friday

It was a perfect day to visit the apple orchard. Crisp, sunny, warm enough to take off your sweater in the sun but cool enough to be comfortable if you left it on.

We bought a half bushel-sized bag for picking, which looked deceptively small when we set out but actually held a large amount of apples. We discovered that metal Radio Flyer wagons are really loud when you tow them up and down orchard rows, even on the grass. Much apple sampling took place, since we wanted to be selective. (The only rule about sampling was not to sample from the ground. Noted.) "Red Delicious" is such a lie. We also weren't too impressed with the Harralsons, but I'm still not sure if that's because the only apples we could find in picking range were inferior, or if they're really not that tasty. Cortland and Golden Delicious, on the other hand, got a thumbs-up. The prince of apples, as far as I'm concerned, is the Honeycrisp. Honeycrisps are only available for self-picking on Tuesdays right now, but I did grab a 3-lb. bag in the farm store. (Also, a caramel apple with homemade caramel. Wow.)

We tried a sample or two of self-pick raspberries as we wandered through the farm. Apparently you can also pick grapes, but we were too full of apples to care by the time we passed the grape vines. On the way back in from the rows of apple trees, we passed a few goats and a horse. Amazingly, despite living on an apple farm, they are still very interested in eating your apples. Plenty of pumpkins and other squash were available for purchase at the store. They made me think of Thanksgiving. Which made me think of winter. Not ready. NOT READY.

Fall fun

October is here, and the first weekend of the month promises much wholesome autumn goodness.

Friday: Early afternoon field trip to the apple orchard and pumpkin farm.

Saturday: Brewers playoff game at Miller Park! Maybe the only one ever!

Sunday: Family lunch, and then down to Chicago to visit friends and see some late-night music. I originally planned to see the Cardinals in Madison, but a Nels/Glenn/Jim Baker/Fred Lonberg-Holm combo wins both the "rarity of performance" and "coolness of venue" competitions.

Recaps will be provided.

A good day for baseball in Wisconsin

Today the Brewers managed something they haven't done since I was two years old. They made the playoffs.

Granted, there was a time when I thought they might win the division. And then there was awhile when I thought they had the wild card spot comfortably in hand. But all in all, to end a season with a day of baseball like today is not a bad thing. Days like today remind me of why, when I manage to pay attention, I do love this game.

I'm not the world's biggest Brewers fan, but I grew up on Brewers games. I've never attended a game at Miller Park, but as a child I saw many at County Stadium. My dad must be pretty happy right now. The picture above is him on the field at County Stadium ten years ago, on a day when his friend threw the first pitch. This might eclipse that experience for him. (Actually, if I know my dad, he's already predicting a loss in the first round.)

Admittedly, I don't remember much from the 1982 World Series run. My parents do have a yellowing pennant hanging down the basement with names that are still familiar to me. Paul Molitor. Cecil Cooper. Robin Yount. Here's hoping they get to add another one with some new names. CC Sabathia, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun? Stay tuned.

Haunted by the American Dream

The Forward Music Festival is a new venture for Madison, featuring two days' worth of music spread out around downtown. I bought early, securing a two-day pass for $25. Not too shabby. My chief interest was in Friday night's featured show at the Orpheum: Neko Case and Giant Sand.

Last time I saw Neko, I was somewhat underwhelmed. I'm happy to report that this wasn't the case on Friday. Neko and her band delivered a fun, engaging show that made the ninety-plus minutes fly. The set included many new songs from Middle Cyclone, due in March. Sometimes an abundance of new or unfamiliar songs can slow down the pace of a show, but I really enjoyed everything I heard. I'm very excited about the album, especially the title track. (Side note: for as many shows as I've seen at the Orpheum, Friday was the first time I saw a dog on stage. Props to Kelly Hogan's Augie for being adorable and well-behaved, as usual.)

Giant Sand was solid in the opening slot. I sometimes had a little trouble hearing Howe Gelb's vocals, but the music came through loud and clear. I also enjoyed Howe's deadpan humor and commentary throughout the set. And he gets points for the most unique method of guitar pick storage I've seen: he licks his picks and sticks them to the front of his guitar until they're needed.

Both Neko and Howe (especially Howe) entreated the audience to register to vote, and the HeadCount presence at the show was quite prominent. I had almost forgotten from four years ago how all of the autumn concerts I see begin to take on political undertones. It's exciting: I can't wait for November.

Alaska State Boggle Champ?

I just watched a clip in which McCain announced, "The next vice president of the United States is in the house!" as Sarah Palin waved, and I actually experienced a shiver of horror. I can't remember the last time that happened.

I am enjoying this ABC News interview, though. Charles Gibson hates Sarah Palin so hard.

Auspicious

I participated in three days of wedding festivities in Durham over the Labor Day holiday, for Lindsey and Vikas. It was a great weekend, full of delicious Indian food, henna, old and new friends, saris, ghee and rice, dancing, Indian percussion sticks, presents (for me and for the bride and groom), wedding cakes, Nelly songs, toasts, and a tremendous amount of love, good cheer and well wishes.

(I am getting slightly tired of comments about my mehendi, though. Even though it's all been positive. Is this what life is like all the time for people with real tattoos in prominent places? )