We Are Hot Chicks Wednesday: Spring Fever

If you have kids, or work with them, or for any other reason, are around schools on a regular basis, you can feel the summer's-almost here vibe building with each passing week. Hell, sometimes with each passing day. But we're a day away from being finished with April, which is fine by me considering that 80 feet of rain we've gotten this month, and May is a nice time of year. Really. It's when that which has not already bloomed flourishes, when schools let out for the summer, when baseball season really gets underway, and of course, it's the culmination of good ol' wedding season. What's not to love? Oh, and as a totally microscopic, unimportant add-on detail, outfits get skimpier. Not that I'm noticing or anything.

Aisleyne Horgan



What. You thought there was going to be a build-up of sorts? Nope. Not here. Not today. Right to the mustard.



Yeah. We roll in reverse on occasion.

Beatrice Chirita



Word has it that Miss Chirita is in the film industry, which reminds me of one of my favorite spring-time activities: the drive-in movies. Funny, though. The theaters in my town don't appear to be showing any of her features.



I'll have to make a note to check out the On-Demand guide and shred that bill when it comes look around at the Blockbusters and in the NetFlix.

Brandy Brenner



Yep. Now that we've almost completely shaken off the cold of winter, it'll be goin' out-on-the-town time.

Brittany Fuchs



Sometimes, an activity comes to mind just by the mere mentioning of a name. Funny how language works.

Brittany Marie



But there're also plenty of occasions for staying in,



just kickin' it at home.

Carlie Christine



There's summer school too, for those that are either bad students, or determined ones.



I vote for determined.



Wait. Bad. I vote for bad.

Christie Cavalli



Wait. I vote for badly determined while poolside. Yeah. That's it.



Really, though. There are lots of activities in the outdoors we can partake in, like say, hiking.



That's for the exercise enthusiast. I'd rather work on my tan, and trust me when I say it needs a lot of work.

Diora Baird



I could probably go for some pointers, in fact,



preferably ones with lots of stimulus and visual aid.



But I'm a hands-on learner, too, so don't leave that out.

Diem Nguyen

The peak of spring's a great time, though.



It's time to shed the inhibitions and take on projects.

Jennifer Korbin



Even though it doesn't have anything to do with the outdoors, scrapbooking is a huge hobby of mine.



I've been meaning to get to one particular project wherein I enlist the help of Jennifer.



I don't need help cutting or pasting. I'd just like her input on my scrapbooks. Either that or I'd like to put her in my scrapbooks. Can never remember which.

Joanna Krupa



Maybe I'll use this picture of Joanna as a reminder to get right on that.

Loren Grace



I also need to remember to get the outer windows of the home clean and sparkling,



just in case I'm Graced by the presence of a stranger in exactly that outfit.

Lyndsay Marie



It'll also help me remember to ask Miss Marie to help me test out my bed's headboard for sturdiness.

Nancy Patton



Then of course there's the gardening I need to get to.



There's this one tricky part that's all along this line of bushes, right by that thick stump.

Ragina Patel



But the glories of spring help us remember the cold winters in the basement,



the many days we couldn't just throw on any old thing, but instead layers.



The bright warmth of spring makes us reflect upon those chilly moments,



but not for long,

Sarah Collins



because we too soon are again outdoors with the fresh air,



the brisk breeze,

Veronica Ricci



and the easy-going mentality.

That's it for today. Thanks to our spring-freshening sponsors, Mr. Clean, Lysol, and Forumula 409.
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We Are Hot Chicks Wednesday: Middle Relief

This is one of those moments where you know, a good job has been done by the old self, and it's time to look forward to the cycles that will be. Sometimes they turn out okay, and other times, not so much. What we wish to examine today are examples of when, on the surface, things will turn out peachy, which is what every Major League Baseball front office and skipper have in mind when they enter the regular season, especially when it comes to pulling your starter, and going to the bullpen for extended assistance to get the job done.

On a larger scale, it's known as middle relief. They're people you can't go to every day for that so-necessary patch between your starter and your closer, but they are, ultimately, a crutch, a necessary cog in the one-win-at-a-time transmission called baseball. Let's examine.

April Gutierrez



One can kind of get a sense in spring training, but you're never certain of how good the stuff is until you're deep into April.

Britney Amber



And even then, it might require shedding a layer or two



of your pitcher arsenal.

Dana Allen



Then again, there are some units



you just have to keep around;



the mere sight of their name



reminds you of their stuff,



making you want to use them over and over and over again.

Heather Vandeven



And you've always got that reliever that you'll go to now and again, when your real talent needs rest.

Adriana Lima



And of course every bullpen has its horse.



The star that every team



and no team wants to face,



simply because their shit is that good,



but it'd be a great accomplishment to successfully work it.



At the end of the day, you're suprised



you haven't Tommy Johned the entire situation.

Jessi Jade Mrochko



One thing that's key for a bullpen is youth.



Sometimes a warm body might be all you need;



you just want to plug your business along with them in the action,



and you very well soon forget you have them around



until its time to make room for someone else.

JJ Summer



That's why the minor-league system is awesome.



Get what you need out of a body, ship it off,



and make room for the hottest thing available.



It's capitalism at its best,



only you can't find this project on any shelf.

Kerry Ann Cusumano



Sometimes you come across one you wanna keep around, but it'd be risky to do so,

Lela Star



so you try to sneak the talent into your facility,



though you know you're being watched.

Lindsay Marie



Sometimes you'll be successful, and others will want to make a bargain.

Manda Rae



Sometimes you might be down with that,

Nikki Ryann



other times you'll feel like passing.

Sharae Spears



Sometimes the folks you work with will get really excited about some talent,



and rush into things, which is fun.

Tiffany Selby



But one has to remember that these youths are delicate,



that they need time to blossom.

Veronica Ricci



And sometimes you'll have a freebie, a rule V if you will,



and you're certainly welcome to abuse the hell out of that score,



even in the worst of situations



that seem to never have a bright side.

Koa-Marie Turner



In every 'pen, is the setup talent, though.



This is who you go to for one thing and one thing only,



unless of course, you need to go to them for something else,



in which you'll want to be patient before you trot them out again.

This call to the bullpen brought to you by none other than Gorilla Mask and Daily Niner.
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