R.I.P. Bird

Every now and then a news story breaks that instantly takes me back to happy memories of simple times. Unfortunately the news is usually not good. Today is one such day. As I was watching the Cubs doing a pretty good job handling the Rockies on a very damp Chicago day, the announcers brought sad news that instantly brought to mind the All Star game, 1976, Philadelphia.

There, on the mound for the American League, was this gangly looking character who was extremely colorful in his preparation for each pitch. They called him the Bird. He even posed on the cover of Sports Illustrated the the Big Bird himself!!

I remember being so taken with his antics.....as was much of the country. How he would walk around the mound talking to himself would just make me chuckle. I thought he made a somewhat boring game to me at the time so interesting and so entertaining. I'm sure that people who never watched baseball tuned in just to see him.

Well today brought news of his passing. An accident they say. While he was working on his truck. He was only 54.

And with the news, the memories of one of the main characters when the game of baseball captured the heart of this girl.

Rest in Peace Bird......

Easter Sunday

The other day I was driving home and saw the following saying on a billboard in front of a church.

"LENT.....SPRING TRAINING FOR CHRISTIANS."

I chuckled and wished I had a camera ready to take a picture. The saying is so true though. It really is like spring training. Those six weeks of preparation before Easter are sometimes the toughest time of the year. I struggle to stay away from all those things I love most and right now I am exercising unbelievable restraint in keeping myself from wanting to soak in a big tub of chocolate even though I now can.

When I think of the sacrifice made by Christ....I know that giving up chocolate, lattes, and wine pale in comparison. And it was all worth the sacrifice come Easter morning in celebrating the resurrection of the Savior.

Not if you'll excuse me....I'm going to go sink my mouth into a lovely See's scotchmallow egg. YUM!

Happy Easter!!

22

This is a number that has been on my mind for the past few days. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first reason came about on Thursday morning as I was listening to the news. Early Thursday morning a 22 year old pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels was killed in a hit and run collision. Only hours earlier, Nick Adenhart was the starting pitcher in a game against the Oakland A's. He pitched six innings giving up no runs.

My first thoughts were of how devastating a loss to his family and teammates. As a baseball fan, I also thought of what could have been. This young man was probably on top of the world at that very moment realizing the fulfillment of a dream when it was all taken away. As a mother, I thought of my own son, only two months younger that Nick Adenhart.

Which brings me to the other reason that the number 22 has been so prevalent in my mind.

On Thursday night, my son came over to the house. It was just the two of us and we engaged in a conversation about our individual life philosophies. This should make anyone chuckle who remembers a brooding teenager who responded to questions with grunts. Now, well....he's a bit of a chatterbox and I wouldn't have it any other way. Anyways, our conversation wasn't one of those deep conversations. It was just pretty matter-a-fact. But he did surprise me with one comment. If my recollection serves me right, the comment went like this "My generation is made up of a bunch of pansies". Huh??? I asked him to elaborate and he told me that many (not all) of the kids from his generation did not have a whole lot of strength to deal with the things life throws their way. And they don't like it when they don't get their way.

I think I was thunderstuck. Wow!!! My husband's response when I told him of this was "So he was listening to me all along."

I know it is more popular at this time to believe that if we have just positive thoughts the world with be wonderful. My thought is that life is full of ups and downs, magnificent highs and unsettling lows, and triumphs and tragedies. And we have to approach both with the same vigor.

At the tender age of 22, my son has figured out (and accepted) that sometimes life is not fair.

If it was, Nick Adenhart would be pitching next Wednesday against the Mariners.

Just A Bunch of Random Stuff!

**Right now I am in hurting status. We did an 11-mile hike on Saturday and I am hurting. Today I am still nursing a sore back and my ankle is aching from the little twist I took on the trail. I don't know what happened because I usually do not feel this bad after a hike. I'm thinking that I probably should not have worn my brand new hiking boots and insoles for an 11-miler. I guess I learned my lesson!

**I wound down my weekend by watching movies, reading, and doing as much cleaning as my sore back allowed. We watched the Sex and the City movie for like the sixth time. I recently took the Sex and the City quiz over on Facebook. You know the one.....the personality test to determine which girl I would be. I turned out to be Charlotte. Pretty surprising considering the fact that I stay away from seeing anything through rose colored glasses! Oh, and I could never picture myself telling Big (much less anyone) "I curse the day you were born!" Just not my style.

**I'm finding the fourth week of the Lenten fast to be a bit challenging. On Saturday, after the painful hike, I was dying for a margarita. On Sunday, I'd given anything for a Three Musketeers bar. And today, I wondered if I could just sneak a small latte without anyone knowing ;) "sigh" I know this is a time for fast and repentence but right now I'm just praying to God for a little self control. Oh, and perhaps a big slice of chocolate cake!!!

**I'm trying to wrap my head around the term "Man-Made Disaster" in place of "Terrorist Attack". Hmmm......For some reason, I don't think the sting of 9-11 would have been any easier if it was called a Man-Made Disaster. Nor do I think it changes the hearts of people who wish ill will on us. Just sayin'.

**I'm just not feeling American Idol this year. I don't know what it is. Perhaps, I've just grown tired of it. Or maybe it's because this year (like last year), the judges have seen fit to make sure that in the first week, we all know exactly who they think should be in the finals. So, if I base it on their better judgment, I can just save myself a couple of hours each week and tune into the finals to watch Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey battle it out. You know, kind of like the two Davids from last year. But with my stubborn nature (and my tendency to always root for the underdog), I'll continue to watch and hope that Matt Giraud, Kris Allen, or the little red headed girl (sorry, her name escapes me) give 'em a run for their money!

**My March Madness brackets were totally shot to hell this weekend, no thanks to Louisville. Although I was glad to see Arizona get to the Sweet Sixteen, I didn't have them getting past the first round (My husband had more faith). Yep, I had Louisville winning the whole thing and up until yesterday, I was at least smoking the Prez in the brackets. It felt really good while it lasted :).

**Any last (and most importantly.....) there are officially 6 days, 23 hours and 4 minutes to Opening Day!! Yeah! GO D-BACKS!!!!!!!!

Training Day

Today was a training day.
Training, you say?
Yep, I am in training.
For a roughly 22 mile hike through a "big hole in the ground" (aka, the Grand Canyon)
If it wasn't so beautiful, I'd say I was preparing for a hike from hell!!!

So right now I am aware of every moment I have to prepare for it.
Have done a couple of ten milers in the past month.
I wanted to do another one on Saturday
but my body (and my sinus passages) said no.

So, since I felt better on Monday I decided Piestewa Peak was on my itinerary for the day.
We did the summit trial and then the circumference trail.
Probably not a good idea.
I felt really pretty good.....that is, until I started up the mountain.
It was evident that I was still fighting off whatever gunk was trying to attack. NOT FUN!!
But I did make it. And was fast asleep by 7 p.m.

Here's hoping my future training endeavours feel a lot better!!
I need them to.....or 22 miles is going to suck!

This Morning....

I woke up with the sore throat from hell and a general feeling of impending (flu) dom. This shouldn't be a surprise since the flu germ has been just a cubicle away for the past two weeks.
It did ruin my Saturday plans though.
I had a wonderful 10-mile stroll through the desert planned.
Then I was going to have some fresh squeezed oj afterwards (yum!!).
But, instead, I laid there in bed wondering if I should push the envelope and go anyway.
I decided not to go which is a good thing since I got progressively worse through the day.
So I just soothed myself with a jamba juice and scrolled through my 100s of e-mails.

I really feel bad for anyone who legitimately sends me an e-mail.
I hate even looking through my e-mails because 99% is spam.
I think I only got two e-mails from anyone who matters.
So I'm thinking it's time for a new address....only for those who truly matter (A.K.A. No Spammies!).

Time to drag my aching body to the bed for a good rest......

A Week and (A Half).....In Photo Review

This made me happy.......

One of my co-workers sent me this very..ahem....
enticing birthday greeting.
I wonder how they got Patrick to put this together for me :)


























This made me sad.......

Last Monday was the last day for this place.
A sign of the bad times.
No more "Mary Margaritas".
I spent many a happy birthday at this place.
I know....it's a chain....but I frequent places
more for the people (and right now low prices!)

























These were yummy........

I made some of these for a friend's fundraiser.

















And I bought these......
























Right now I am on sugar overload!

And the last thing.......

A really cool birthday present.....

My coworker and I have been hooked on Nie

Everyday we check for the latest post.

And one of the things we both love

are the silhouettes she has made.

Deb loved them so much she made me one

for my birthday.

Really would have loved to have my double chin

photoshopped and I really wish I had a longer neck.

Otherwise I absolutely love it!!

Pretty crappy photo though doesn't do it justice.

Remembered to turn off the flash....

Forgot to turn off the light in the room (DUH!).

And that is my week (and a half) in a nutshell!!

Got lots of crocheting and scrapbooking done.

Those will be my next photos.

Good night for now....