Better Know A Citizen - ThisIsBeth
Posted by Andrew on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Name: Beth Miller
Hometown: Buffalo, Minnesota
Town I Currently Live In: St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Profession: Administrator
Bats: Neither
Throws: Like a girl
Positions: Scorekeeper. (In my brief career playing softball for my company team--about 25 games--they usually stuck me in right field. I had two games at catcher, and one game at 3B.)
Greatest Career Achievement in Baseball/Softball/T-ball: I got a hit once!
Hobbies: Sewing (quilts, crafts, and clothes), reading, writing, watching sports
What are you known for around the WGOM? Random appearances?
If you could have a nice, polite dinner with any 3 people - dead or alive - who and why? Ack! I hate these questions! I'm going to limit my answer to people alive, because I pretty much want to talk to anyone with historical significance, whether it be personal, scientific, political, or cultural. And I want to meet with Terry Ryan, Tom Kelly, and Jim Rantz, just to get their perspective on how the Twins organization is going.
If you could pick any 3 people - again, dead or alive - to go out and party (or if you're not the party type, go for martini's or whatever it is you do) who and why? There are so many people, I'm going to pick one group: I'd like to meet with some of the "stars" of baseball from the late 1800's. I'd like to show them what the game is like today, and have them explain differences from how the game was then. As the rules were evolving, I'd like to know how they decided to make the changes.
Sports Allegiances: Twins, Wild, Swarm
Favorite Books: Pride and Prejudice, Hitchhikers' Guide
Favorite Music: Generally pop, but my iPod holds a wide variety
Favorite Baseball Movie: 61* or For the Love of the Game
Favorite Non-baseball Movie: I don't watch a lot of movies, so of the limited ones I've seen, it depends on my mood.
Favorite Food & Drink: For simple pleasures, I really like a good hamburger. I don't drink alcohol. (Which means I watch all these games sober!)
Favorite TV Show(s): I never really watched TV, but I do enjoy The Simpsons.
Favorite Twins Player, historically: Tom Brunansky was my favorite player as a kid, but Kent Hrbek is the all-time favorite.
Favorite Twins Player, currently: Michael Cuddyer and Scott Baker
Best Twins Memory: Someone gave me good tickets to a Twins game for my 12th birthday, and Tom Brunansky hit a walk-off home run! That or Baker's near-perfect game.
Favorite Sport to Play: Tennis
Favorite Sport to Watch: Baseball
If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd live in: Somewhere near enough to attend lots of Twins games.
If I was commissioner for a day, I'd: I'd make Manny Ramirez cut his hair. It annoys me.
If I had Bill Smith's job I'd: I'd completely abuse my position to watch a lot of baseball from some really good seats. I'd like to go to Twins minor league games, but they're so far away (exception: Beloit). As for the work part of the job, I'd make sure all my assistants were giving me full reports from a scouting and statistical view.
Favorite Ballpark: Wrigley Field for the history, Kauffman Stadium for the ballpark
Favorite blogs: WGOM, Aaron Gleeman, Seth Speaks, the Strib/SPPP blogs
What is your take on Conan's discussion with old time baseball players? Absolutely hilarious. That's pretty much what someone with a time machine would look like if they went back in time (except the natives would probably not be so tolerant). I've seen the old-time baseball exhibition they do at the Dome every year, and while it's interesting, I'm really interested in knowing the thought process that went behind the changing of the rules. When did they decide that gloves were a good idea and allowed them (which would change the "catch on one bounce" rule), why did they decide on four balls for a walk, etc.
Why is your Buffalo better than FTLF's Buffalo, NY? I list it as my hometown! My parents property is oddly located with ties to four cities; the address is Buffalo and that's where I went to high school, so I usually go with that.
What kind of writing do you enjoy the most? Honestly, most of my writing these days are just e-mail messages to friends, blog entries, and stuff like that. I don't have the attention span to write anything longer.
Who do you credit with creating your interest in baseball? My parents. My mom loves the Twins because her father loved baseball, and listened to all the Twins games on the radio (he died in 1990), and before that followed the Minneapolis Millers. My dad loves all sports (his mother was a huge football fan; his dad didn't care about sports).
Map time!
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Did you also try Adams' Dirk Gently books at all?
I tried the Holistic Detective Agency in high school, and couldn't get into it. About two years ago I picked it up again and *loved* it.
How about "Long Dark Tea-Time"? I just loaned out my two books to my daughter's boyfriend, who'd been trying to get them from the library for a long time. I went up a few more notches in his eyes.
I thought the concepts Adams was playing with were humorus ideas, but didn't play out as well.
It's on my list of books to read.
The population of Buffalo Minn, and Buffalo, NY might be getting closer and closer but I will still take my town any day!
Oh come on now. Buffalo, Minn has a Target and a Wal-Mart. And they just added a mini-golf course!
Since I asked the question, rumors have surfaced that Joe Torre wants Manny to cut his hair too.
I read a quote right after Manny got traded where Manny essentially told Torre that he doesn't want to be gven any special treatment, and that he would cut his hair if Torre wanted him, too. Apparently, Torre told him to take care of getting a new apartment and so forth, then they would talk about finding a barber..
Eww.
"wanted him to."
Perhaps it's odd, but I don't think Manny should be forced to cut his hair. I just think he should. I don't mind the dreadlocks, per se, but they're getting too long.
Best burger in the cities??
The best ones are cooked by family and friends, of course.
Since I don't have much family and even fewer friends
, I'll nominate the Nook in St. Paul, but I haven't done an exhaustive survey.
Wow, Matt's bar should be the first on the list. The jucy lucy has changed my life, probably for the worse, but still a damn good burger.
I've had those. Yes, quite good.
Beth, you ever go to Rancho Grande when you see your parents? Knocks the socks off of any chain Mexican food. And they finally got their liquor license!
In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
My favorite opening line to a book, ever.
I prefer this recent one:
You asked me, so I ask you: what kind of quilts do you make.
ps. a little sidebar- have you ever seen the gee's bend quilts? If
I prefer traditional quilts--both pieced and applique.
I've seen pictures of the Gee's Bend Quilts.
Hmm... Miller. Hometown of Buffalo. This could be a "small world" moment, but probably not.
Do you happen to have a sister named Sarah, married to a Brian?
Nope.