I'm slowly recovering from the fifteen root beer floats [belch] I had yesterday, as well as my weird sunburn (I think I need that colored sunscreen that shows you where you already put it, so you don't get random fingerprints on your shoulders...). Here's some pictures from Friday's game debacle vs. the Rangers, and a lot from Root Beer Float Day yesterday.

So, Gallagher pitched both of these games. And strangely enough, each time he got a lead, he gave up exactly the number of runs needed to tie it in the next inning. How convenient. 
 

I needed photographic evidence that this 5-run inning actually happened. Fortunately, I took the picture before the lead magically disappeared.

Ellis summons his unicorn--"Get me out of here!"

 

And some discontented fans in the bleachers. Not really sure what to say about this sign.

Anyway, on to happier, more sugary times: the 9th annual Root Beer Float Day! There were lots of people there.

 

Huston was the first player out there, as far as we could tell.

 

 

There was a Stomper sighting...

 

And also a DiNardo sighting...

 

Eveland was out there for a while too. As I was taking a picture, a couple people asked me who he was. Guess he doesn't quite have the star factor yet.

After a half-hour or so, those players left. We also saw Dallas Braden and some of the coaches, and Glen Kuiper and his family (super cute little kids). So then we waited... and waited... and eventually Swooney and Carlos came out at the same time. It was a split-second decision: whom do we follow? Well, of course, we went for Swooney. I figured after I got his autograph, I could go get some pictures of Carlos, but that didn't really work out.

So this whole thing wasn't planned very well, because instead of putting Ryan at a table where a manageable line could form, they put him at one of the bars next to the KTVU (?) people, where a mob quickly formed. I think I need to get better at elbowing my way through crowds--it took us forever to get up to the counter. Carlos was ushered out while we were still waiting (sigh), but all that time in the mob gave me plenty of picture opportunities. And I did get his autograph, barely--I was the last one he signed for before he had to leave.

Ryan actually didn't make any floats, since he was taking pictures with people and signing stuff the whole time. But he was wearing an apron... sorry, Jennifer, not the kind you wanted.

Enough of that--on to the Swooney pics!  There will be more coming; I took a bunch more on my sister's camera, which is nicer than mine, so there should be some good ones. Unfortuantely she disappeared with her camera before putting the pictures on the computer, so I'll edit this later tonight with more Swooney.

They were also selling old promo items, like the A's poker set and a Chavez puppet and some other stuff. I got the Chavez figurine (which, according to the "Different Brand of Baseball" packaging, is from 2005); appropriately, on the sample figurine on the table, Chavy's arm was broken off. It was his left arm, I think, so hopefully that figurine doesn't have voodoo-like powers, because then Chavy might find himself suddenly arm-less.

He kind of looks like he's flying. If he could learn how to do that, maybe he could play 3rd again--instead of throwing the ball to first, he could just fly it over there. You think Ellis would lend Chavy his unicorn?

Okay. Phew. That took forever. I forgot how much work it is to make one of these things, considering it's been like a year and a half since I posted a diary.

I'll try to add the rest of the pics soon. Now, if you'll excuse me, I suddenly have a craving for a root beer float...

EDIT: more pictures!

He was taking a picture with some random person, so I took the opportunity to get a picture of him smiling. He didn't do a whole lot of that when he was busy signing his name a zillion times...

Pensive.

Signing Jennifer's mug, perhaps?

He looks sad. Or bored. Or maybe both.

 

A bit happier.

And, last but not least, the amazing Ziggy! Double-play machine (in a good way)!