summer has officially started...

For me, summer has officially started. Not because last weekend was memorial day weekend. Nope. And not because the heat and evil, evil humidity have descended upon this fine flat city. No, no. I know summer has arrived because lawyers league softball season has begun. For the last five years, it just doesn't feel like summer until the summer law clerks flock to local firms like the salmon of capistrano and the festivities surrounding their arrival ensue.

*milo at the first softball game of the season, he usually doesn't take his eyes off of ed, i was bribing him here! ed is in the background at first base.*

So within the last week, it felt like summer has officially arrived. The softball season started last night, and it didn't disappoint. Stormy weather, cold beer, fierce competitiveness from type A personalities, and degrading yells from opposing council--I mean players.... ahhh the sounds of summer. So if you are thinking I am so excited for all of this because I'm a killer and key player for the firm team then you would be quite wrong. Oh HECK no. I turn into the town idiot when you get me near a ball. I am there simply to consume beer, distract players and wait for the fried deliciousness that follows each game. It's delightful. I'm pretty sure Kristen the Running Lawyer and I have a sole purpose during softball season, to make sure the proper food and beer are ordered post game.

*ed playing first base.*

*storm clouds hanging out over the fields.*

*i had to include an action shot. our team did win the game, which is not typical.*

However, thanks to my healthy lifestyle, it's going to take some re-conditioning for our summer Tuesday night fare of fried goodness, tacos and beer. Because Kristen, Ed and I all agreed this morning that our stomachs HATED us thanks to dinner last night. Although Kristen and I are doing far better this year than we were last year. Ed's imitation of us post games last summer is hands down one of the most entertaining things you will ever see. Basically he mocks us for our fine fried food and beer inhalation skills. However, Kristen and I kept clear of most of the fried goodness. I give us mad props for NOT downing an entire basket of jalapeno poppers on our own. A weakness for us both. We were good little runners and only had one popper each. Runners = 1, Poppers = 0! Score. We'll see how long that lasts, we have many weeks to go.

Like I said, in addition to softball, summer doesn't feel like summer until the festivities begin. Last week marked the 5th Annual Wine Tasting. It is always a fun event, there is plenty of wine to taste and it's always interesting to see (coughahem...taste) what everyone brings. I'm personally always tempted to sneak a box of wine into the party. Ed and I brought a randomly picked Australian Shiraz that I can't remember the name of, something with Gnarled or Oak in the name. But apparently we are wine geniuses because WE WON for best red.

*edder and i at the wine tasting.*

*kristen and i being blahg-arific at the party. really i just followed her around all night being all.. whatcha doin' where you goin'... and taking pictures. not at all obnoxious.*

*i think i interrupted a VERY important conversation to take this picture..... mmm-hmmm, i think they were actually contemplating where to play street craps. classic.*

Kristen hosted the event this year at her beautiful and amazing new house. It takes a lot of guts to host this group, trust me. But I think her house fared okay. The party was tame in comparison to past years... past years where I can't be positive, but there may have been yoga push up-offs (the clap during the push up move) between Kristen and I and one of the partners, while we are in, of course, dresses. There was also no making up haiku's for partners this year, that's pretty much my wine tasting party standard.

*uhhh yeah, there sure was a chocolate fountain at that party....
runners = 0, chocolate fountain = 58.*

*everyone loving the chocolate. yum!*

Mmmmm summer is here and I love it!