So, yesterday (yesterday being Saturday, as today is Sunday), I enjoyed something I thought myself unlikely to enjoy: I went and saw a flower garden. The Phipps Conservatory in Oakland turned out to be much, much cooler than I expected...not literally, since the temperature in the greenhouses was probably well over 100 with the humidity factored in, but I think you get my drift.

I'm not normally much of a flowers guy (as "flowers guy" is essentially a contradiction in terms), but I've gotta admit, the Conservatory is pretty freaking interesting. The Japanese garden is especially shweet, what with all its little bonsais and such. I'd say the most fun to be had there is feeling the textures of the plants and trees from distant parts of the planet (or even distant parts of the United States)...they've got some really odd stuff growing in there, including these wonky ferns that feel exactly like felt.

There's an outdoor pavilion at the far end of the Conservatory which I think would serve really well for a formal dance, too; and they rent aforementioned pavilion out. Might be something to look into for next semester's Cotillion...it's a beautiful setting, that's for sure.

Also, I may have attempted to toss my garden-touring companion into one of the little ornamental ponds. This is because I am essentially a jerk.

In other news, also attended my first Pirates game of the season. We lost to the Snakes (Arizona Diamondbacks) 4-3, but the Bucs actually fought well, clawing their way back with a few long balls from a first-inning 3-run deficit incurred by Gorzelanny, who tends to be a little shaky in the early game. Grabow, who's been outstanding this year, came in for late relief, and did a great job--except for allowing a solo homer in the top of the 9th that eventually proved to be the difference. We had a man on with one out in the bottom of the frame, but--in one of the dumbest managerial decisions I've ever seen--the runner was sent to steal on a 2-1 count against a closer throwing fastballs to a catcher with a strong arm, and the batter wasn't told to swing for a hit-and-run. Utterly horrible...and, of course, our runner was out at second by a mile, killing the rally and essentially ending the game. The Pirates need to play smarter baseball if they want to get above .500 this year...or, of course, they can just continue to mail it in, and break the Phillies' record of 16 losing seasons. Sad.