A little off-topic...

A friend of ours brought us to our first Nationals game the other night. It was against the Mets. Because Joseph was pretty much terrified of all the bright lights and loud music, I didn't get to see much of the game, but it was still a really good time. It's a cozy little stadium, and they're right--ALL the seats have great views.

On the way out, Grace pointed to the souvenir shop and said "Didn't you want to get a new hat?"

Well, er, sort of.

I've been perfectly happy with my Wrigley Field hat that I got AT Wrigley Field about a month after 9/11. I'd just gotten laid-off from a job and was in Chicago for a wedding. It was a clear, cool day, I was free, feeling that potential that only comes from being between jobs and having a tidy little savings account. That was the year Sammy Sosa hit 64 home runs, so it was pretty cool seeing him play. The beer cost me almost half my savings, but it went down easy and bloomed inside me with warmth and peace.

On the way out, I picked up a hat. I knew I wouldn't likely be back to Wrigley Field, so I splurged and got it.

Now seven years later, it's seen some miles. The brim is frayed, it's stained with sweat, and faded from the sun and the salt of my brow. Grace calls it "disgusting." I call it "comfortable."

However, it was probably down to it's last wash. Every time I throw it in the washer, it comes out dramatically more damaged. One more time and there won't be any more cloth on the brim--just blue plastic.

So, I relented and bought a Nationals hat. It's blue with a red-and-white W on the front, and the Nationals logo on the back. It's actually pretty cool-looking, not as fresh and dorky as first-day hats are.

Fridays are casual days at work, and so last Friday I put on my hat and was about to turn the radio off when the news came on.

"It's official," the teaser said, "The Nats are now officially the worst team in baseball. More coming up next on WMAL."

Crap.