Book 20: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Yes, I know this is a children's book. I actually bought it for my great niece, who won't be ready to read it for some time--she's less than two years old.  Also, a woman in my writing class loved Anne of Green Gables and once wrote what she called a fan fiction story about Anne.

A brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, decide to adopt a boy from an orphan asylum to help out on their farm. Anne is sent by mistake. Matthew is immediately taken with her. Marilla is not so sure about keeping her. She considers sending Anne back until Marilla sees a possible future for Anne with the shrewish Mrs .Blewett, whose discharged servant girls told "fearsome tales of her temper and stinginess." So, Anne goes back to her new home of Green Gables.

Anne thrives with the Cuthberts, and soon they can't imagine their lives without her. 

Mets Advance to NLCS!

What a game! 

It was tense at times, but the Mets did it. Our MVP Francisco Lindor hit a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning leading the Mets to a decisive win over the Phillies 4-1, the first time the Mets clinched a playoff series at Citi Field.

Only one other Met--my beloved Edgardo Alfonso--has hit a post-season grand slam (if you don't count Robin Ventura's grand slam single.) As Mets radio broadcaster Howie Rose said about Lindor, "He may have just outdone himself."  

The Mets had loaded the bases in the first and second innings and came away with nothing, reminding me of a phrase I had heard too often, "The Mets threaten, but do not score." Not his time. As Howie said, "They were famished for the big hit all night, and Francisco Lindor just provided a feast!" I

It's been nine years since the Mets went to the NLCS. And it was another nine years before that when the Mets appeared in the NLCS.

Let's not waste this opportunity. LGM!

Mets Win Pivotal Game Three 7-2!

Okay, I just added the word "pivotal" to the title to sound more like a headline. Then I added the score to make it more impressive. Because it was impressive--the Mets led throughout the game. The NLCS is in sight. It's hard not to think ahead. But, it's too soon. There's one more game. There could be two. Don't count your chickens and all that. 

I want the season to continue. 

Back to the Gym

It's been months since I had a decent gym routine  (i.e. double digit visits each month.) I don't know what happened to April to ruin that routine .On the other hand, I know what happened in May. I hurt my finger in mid-May and then was dealing with colitis. I still had my walks with Jace (we usually walk for about two hours daily) and I did some yoga and very light weight work at home. I made it back to the gym one day in July--big deal.

I really went back on September 23. I went three times that week and another three last week. Yay me. I hit the gym today after I took my car to be serviced (and waited for it.) I was proud of myself. I was tired and it would have been easy to blow off the gym, but I went. When I got home, I took Jace for an hour-long walk. I was now fully awake and feeling good. It had been rainy when I took my car in (every time I wait for my car to be serviced, it's been a crappy day) but it was beautiful during our walk. I need to remember how good I feel when I have a good gym routine. That will help me stick to it.

Mets Take Game One!

The Phillies pitcher, Zach Wheeler (regrettably an ex-Met--fuck you Wilpons) was masterful through seven innings, seemingly coasting to a win on Kyle Schwarber's lead-off home run against Kodai Senga.

But, the Mets weren't finished. They scored six runs in the eighth inning, leading to an 6-2 win over the Phillies.

LGM!

OMG! Mets Advance to NLDS!

Bring on the Phillies!

Last night's Mets-Milwaukee Brewers game was exciting, tense, and now that it's over and Mets won--awesome. It was a pitcher's duel through six innings with Jose Quintana and Tobias Myers.

In the seventh, the Brewers struck with back-to-back home runs by Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick off Jose Butto. Butto got one out, and in came Edwin Diaz who secured the next five outs in the seventh and eighth. 

The Mets had gone quietly in the eighth. The top of the ninth--the Mets' last chance--began with Francisco Lindor working out a walk. Mark Vientos struck out. Brandon Nimmo singled and Lindor went to third. Then Pete Alonso stepped up to the plate. With a count of 3-1, he hit a homer over the right field fence--becoming the first in MLB history to hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth of an elimination  postseason game. 

Jose Iglesias grounded out. Jesse Winker was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on Starling Marte's single. Tyrone Taylor flied out to end the inning, with a 4-2 Mets advantage.

With three more outs to get, David Peterson took the mound. He gave up a single; recorded a strikeout, and then induced the game and series ending double play for his first career save.  

What a game! 

I started off the game feeling a little tense. I had hoped Lindor would score in the first inning, but no. Lindor had the Mets' only two hits through eight innings. The back to back homers by the Brewers made my stomach churn. I was worried that it was Alonso at the plate--he hadn't exactly set the baseball world on fire lately. I actually berated myself for my negative thinking. I had already seen so many comebacks by the Mets--I couldn't give up on them yet. 

Thanks Pete for coming through. Thanks to all of the Mets for an exciting second half of the regular season and a memorable wild card series win.

LGM! Onto to Philadelphia--the first time these teams faced each other in the playoffs. 

Book 19: The Alienist by Caleb Carr

I've had this book for two years--not sure why I took so long to read it; it was very good. 

Dr. Laszlo Kreizler is the Alienist of the title. A Note helpfully explains:

Prior to the 20th Century, persons suffering from mental illness were thought to be "alienated" from the rest of society as well as their own true natures. Those experts who studied mental pathologies were therefore known as "alienists"

John Schuyler Moore, a New York Times crime reporter joins his friend Kreizler at the gruesome murder scene of a boy prostitute. Kreizler and Moore lead a shadowy investigation into the boy's murder. Theodore Roosevelt, the new police commissioner is an ally, but cannot formally approve an investigation headed by an alienist. Alientist theories threaten the power and standing of the rich, the corrupt police force, and the Catholic and Episcopal Churches.

I loved reading about how the team conducted their investigation despite opposition and interference from the elite, their limited technology, and prejudice against new techniques such as fingerprinting. Interactions between the fictional characters with historical figures were done well. (They reminded me of Dreamland and Ragtime.)

I'll look for the mini-series and the sequel.