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Friday, January 25, 2008

Kyle, Steve, and Rakes. Who'd have guessed?

* Picture courtesy of Tex.*

Yes, Tex: I'm just as surprised as you are she didn't drop the camera in the excitement of meeting a fellow Texan who just so happens to pitch for the Red Sox. She held on to it though, and took a great picture of Kyle Snyder and Steve the Ferret, which is another post altogether. He's Kelly's stuffed pet, and he's been to Fenway, Baltimore, San Diego, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and God knows where else. At this point he's the unofficial mascot for Surviving Grady and a legend in his own time.

There is a reason for this picture, as late today the announcement came down that the Red Sox and Snyder had reached an agreement on a 1 year deal after a breakthrough 2007 season. Which means the bullpen that won the World Series returns virtually intact, save an Eric Gagne here and there.

As happy as I am to see him back (guy has the best gunslinger walk of any athlete I've ever seen. He's a taller, skinnier version of John Wayne when he walks off the field), I was even more happy for my friend Cyn. She was supporting Snyder back in '06 when most of RSN was ready to trade him for a bag of Oreos and a slurpee, and was the first person I thought of when I read the news he was coming back. Congratulations, Cyn.

On the home front, Day 2 of the Rakes' Redemption tour started: in fact, Dad drove him to school, reminding him the whole time that IF he got a sticker he and I would play Star Wars together. At the same time, I reinforced the fact that if he WASN'T good, no movies or video games when I did get home.

After spending all that time and energy talking about the consequences of his behavior, I arrived to find out....

He was an angel. For the second day in a row my fingers hurt from playing the PS2, my ego is bruised that a 4 year old laughs at me while I repeatedly die onscreen, and his smile was a mile wide as I told him how proud I was of him for being such a good boy. However, I keep having this weird feeling.

It's sort of like watching DeNiro in "Goodfellas". At various points he was trying to keep a low profile while trying to run a semi-honest business, yet you knew that sooner or later he was gonna whack some guy. Then he's waving Henry's wife into some dirty window store to pick out a dress while some goon who looks like he just ate Joe Pesci waits inside.

That's the feeling I'm getting with Rakes and his good behavior at school; one of these days I'm going to get the call that he tied Mrs. Becca in the corner and proceeded to shake down the rest of his classmates for their share toy, while pillaging the prize box for the companion to the YoYo he won today. I'm guessing he'd then run down the hall yelling "FREEDOM" like some miniature version of Mel Gibson in "Braveheart", knocking pictures, fire extinguishers, and perfect attendance awards off the wall with reckless abandon.

Until then, I'm going to enjoy the stories of my well behaved little monster. It might not ever happen again.

29 comments:

Tex said...

DangIT. you took my idea.

but one thing. Steve is NOT a stuffed pet. He IS real..he IS. I swear.

Ted D said...

Sorry, Tex. Go ahead and run with your idea. I'll say you had it first.

I've met Steve, Tex. He's not real.

His spirit may live, but he's like Pooh.

Stuffed.

Tex said...

POOOOOOOHIE. NO he is REAL. Ive slept with HIM.

Tex said...

he jumped off of Kyle's shoulder TWICE! I saw him. Steve is real. and Im not listening to you

lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

Ted D said...

//Ive slept with HIM.//

This may not be stuff you want the general public, or the 10 people who read this thing, to know.

Say the word and I hit delete on the comment. ;)

Tex said...

I am NOT ashamed. I slept with him in Kellys bed :)

Ted D said...

Oy vey, now you're dragging Kelly into all of this. ;)

Tex said...

and I was lying in Tek's face the entire night too.

Ted D said...

Just to explain, Kelly has Varitek Pillow covers.

Tex, once again I come to your rescue. ;)

Redbeard76 said...

//I've met Steve, Tex. He's not real.

His spirit may live, but he's like Pooh.

Stuffed.//

Buzzkill. ::sniffle::

Ted D said...

Stephen, sorry to bust the bubble. But Steve lives in all of us, sort of.

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Now you guys have ferrets for mascots? Jr , the blog is going to the dogs.

Rakes is behaving, Trot is speaking, Ciera is cleaning her room. If you tell us Angie fixed you breakfast in bed I'm outta here.

Ted D said...

Bub, that ferret has been more places than you and I combined.

And no breakfast in bed, but Ciera made pancakes!

Krystle [RSO] said...

Is my head spinning or has a ferret been to more places to me?

and sleeping with Pooh o_0. my childhood has been scarred ;].

Always a good thing for the children to behave =]!

Ted D said...

Steve is a world traveller. I forgot Seattle, too. Not sure where else.

Krystle [RSO] said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLMHMhkdy2Q

figured as a 'skins fan, you'd like this...just make sure the children aren't around =]!

Ted D said...

Krystle, that is too funny. People have WAY to much time on their hands.

Tree Newt said...

Bro, you should be down here. Mom, dad, Horace, Janet, Larry, Faye, and the three of us. In my house. At one time.

Tex said...

I told Steve about you not believing in him Ted...and you are going to be excluded in his pictures now.

Ted D said...

Nah, I'm good little brother.

All of you in YOUR house?

::breaks out in hives::

Tex, is it too late to tell Steve I'm sorry?

Ted D said...

You break your collarbone and all hell breaks loose down there. Your ears will be ringing for a week.

You'd best put some earplugs in Caroline's ears.

Tex said...

Im afraid you'll have to kiss steve's arse to get back in his good graces. I mean Kyle even believes :)

Krystle [RSO] said...

Oh, FWIW, I've been reading that Big Trot is doing some charity work in his hometown in NC. Is it possinle that MAYBE the kids are somehow getting his good vibes?

Ted D said...

I'm not kissing a ferret. I'll give him a manly hug.

Ted D said...

Krystle, could be. Whatever it was it seems to have left the building, though.

~**Dawn**~ said...

Here's to Rakes & to Kyle Snyder (who I, also, have always liked).

Ted D said...

Pretty odd pair, huh Dawn? One is a 6 ft 6 pitcher who is the picture of calm.

The other one is 2 ft nothing and resembles a whirling dervish most of the time.

It's good to see Snyder have some success. Up until last season the poor guy seemed snake bit.

sssssssss said...

//. Congratulations, Cyn.//

Because it's all about ME!!!!

(Thanks, Ted!!!)

Ted D said...

You got it, Cyn!