The Princess and the Knuckleball Pitcher

Actual conversation from about 2 1/2 hours ago.

Rakes is in the toy room, I'm in the living room, watching the game.

Rakes: My baby has a beally bad poopee.

Me: Well, change it then. (Thinking I'm being witty)

Rakes: Me tan't Daddy. It's on the bloor.

Me: You have got to be kidding me.

Rakes: No, me not Daddy. Me not tidding you. It right dere, on de bloor.

50 hand washings later, I can actually write those words. I can't express to you how much that freaks a person with self-diagnosed OCD out. Just know that if it had not been my own child, I would be checking into the closest available "mental health" facility.

Thank God I've got this beautiful little girl to help me out on the roller coaster ride of raising 2 boys under the age of 3. Of course, in about 4 years I'm going to buy the biggest handgun I can find, hire one of Suge Knight's bodyguards to move in, and put up an electric fence around my house to keep them hooligan's away from my Baby. But for now, it's awfully nice to have a sweet, well mannered little lady around to help keep me sane. Ciera is helping me through the "terrible two" years before tormenting me with the "teenage daughter" years. And I'm OK with that.

As for the Red Sox, Wake pitched 8 innings of 4 hit ball, leaving with the score tied 1-1. Munchkin singles, Papi doubles, Manny is IBB, and Drew hits a sac fly, scoring Cora who pinch ran for Pedie.

Papelbot comes in for the ninth, and after striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faces, "Dirty Water" plays at Fenway. Wake deserved to get the win, and Pap was DEALING tonight. A very nice win against a good hitting team.

Schilling tomorrow, hoping to build off the 1 hit shutout he pitched last week. And I can go to bed safe in the knowledge the MFY's will be no closer to the Sox than when they started the day: 9.5 games back.

I'd call that a very good day.