Day 6: Portland to E-Ville

Pictorial Pop Quiz winner: It's a tie!

 

Damn, they are sooooooooooo cute

 

A puppy who knows how work a crowd!

Department of amplification: from a loyal follower who knows the blog is a work of fiction and knows how to turn it into non-fiction

James Cordon does a regular bit entitled "Carpool Karaoke." Almost always features a wildly-popular professional singer (Michelle O an exception). The thin premise is that James is doing his morning commute to the studio and needs a passenger to form a carpool so he can get to work more quickly. (As far as I can tell, the vehicle is never actually on a freeway.) The celebrity is always planted for an easy pickup and then the chat and karaoke begin. My understanding is that James does drive the vehicle; it is not towed and there is no crew inside. The routes in LA and London are on low-speed city streets and there are a couple of production vehicles in front and more in back for security and support should his vehicle conk out. There has been the occasional near-miss and actual fender bender. They do seem to be singing - not lip-synching - to the music. (Some guests do harmonize with their own voice better than others.) Conversation ranges from meh to very entertaining depending on the singer. Some good ones have been Stevie Wonder, Adele, Sia, and Elton John. I believe all bits are available as clips on YouTube.

{ed. note: THB has no clue who Sia is, what harmonize means, and what the hell is "meh"}

Quote of the Day: Time to beat the traffic (a tradition among Dodgers fans at a Dodger game)

Weather: Hot in Portland and perfect in E-ville, cool and not too much wind, cool and pleasant at the ballgame

Up early, finish posting for the day, short stop in the fitness center, and the SA makes one of THB’s all-time fave breakfasts: pancakes with fresh fruit and berries. Awesome, dude!!

Say goodbye to SA and DA at PDX, easy flight home and arrive in E-ville about 10 minutes early. PHEW!!

Pearl Bakery makes some extremely good rolls

Tonight: THB and DB are hoping for “Dodger” weather since we’re going to see the team of our pre-Berkeley and Oakland days: the Oakland A’s vs the LA Dodgers at the Oakland Coliseum.

Well, it is in the high 60s with no wind, so for Oakland at a summer night game this is about as good as we could hope. As per tradition, THB and DB leave after 6 innings and THB watches from the loft as the A's take the lead in the 8th and hold to win in regulation time.

Shots from around the ballpark:

Who knew?

Ron Aiken, the last living member of the House of David barnstormers

Ron is throwing out the first pitch

Shamanti Star Spangled Trio; THB still doesn't stand for the anthem even if the trio is wearing BLM t-shirts

The stands are full of Dodger fans. Announced crowd is 32K, THB thinks it is 25K and over half of them are wearing Dodger blue

One of the two best pitchers in all of baseball over the last 6 years; the A's come on to win 3-2 after Kershaw leaves the game

Yes, she's filming Piscotty at the plate; he went on to have a key hit against Kershaw