Git Er Dun Josh!!!

Texas is on the mound today. There’s always been this Tex-Mass Connection throughout my life. The first time I recall was the Kennedy-Johnson ticket…well I was a mere child but I was alive while Kennedy was President. I remember my parents loved him….and honestly remember his assassination as my parents mourned. I grew up in a small town in Texas where football was King….but this little girl rode her bicycle to the little league field where the neighborhood boys played baseball. That is where she grew to love the little white ball with red seams being caught and thrown. Seeing little boys hit the ball and run around the diamond. Little did I know there was this whole other world outside in New England who felt just like me. I dated one of the high school pitchers of my school and grew to love it even more. My little sister begin playing in a little league softball team for girls…I started playing in a city league… Fast forward to college days….my alma mater had and still has a great baseball program to my delight…so I followed it even more intensely….hearing about this kid from Texas at U.T. who was a phenomenal pitcher. He brought the team to the World Series in 1983…got signed by Boston in 1983 and made it to The Show on May 15, 1984. I kept up with Roger’s good fortune and when he left Boston….I came to realize I had fell in love with the team.

Since then, my love for Texas players has changed. I’m glad for their success and all…but once they leave the Sox…I wish them well…and keep rooting for my boys.
Today one of my own is standing on the mound ready to defend Opening Day…Beckett is a true Texan unlike Roger. Roger wasn’t born in Texas and didn’t even come to Texas till 1977. Josh has his own hunting leases he promotes…and has won the Muy Grande.....

Today on the mound came Beckett....he produced and deserves the Praise of a Texan God. Joshua Patrick Beckett..born in Spring, Texas...just a good ole country boy doing what he loves best: Pitching the Hell out of a Game.

I just love Firemen!

I was much too tired to blog last night and had to drive back to Austin this morning straight to work. So...late post about yesterday's game.

Arriving at the park Sunday afternoon...it was in the 40's and sunny. Heading to the dugout, I planted myself in hopes to get good photo opps this time. Peter Gammons was there...got a good few pics of him. The boys started their stretching...japanese media were insanely frantically waiting to film M.D....was pretty funny to watch them run around the field (YES they ran from 1st base area to 3rd base area!) and then there were the Papelbon moments. I know I was there to take ASS pics of Tek for my fellow lady bloggers and SGers, but For Some Reason...I was distracted by Jonathan. He seemed to be in a jovial mood...joking around, laughing and talking alot of sh** to other players. Paps is definitely the "different" player this year. He had on this cold weather snow hat...looking like he was ready to hit the slopes. I'm taking pics of him and just watching his antics...when all of a sudden he is walking away from a group of players...heading towards 3rd base....passes by these 2 TV crew guys holding a HUGE camera...turns immediately and ducks down then Pops UP right IN FRONT OF THE LENS...making the Goofiest Face I've EVER SEEN!!!! Then walks off all cold stone faced... I almost fell over the dugout laughing!!! And the funny thing? NO ONE ELSE SAW THIS!!!!! I SO wish I woulda gotten THAT pic!

It's amazing that this kid named Papelbon from Louisiana...who is obviously such a kid at heart....can turn into this Freaking StoneColdASS Closer who shuts down the Rangers to ensure Schilling his W. Now I don't take nothing from Tiz's 2 Homeruns, but last year Paps begin his career as a Closer in Texas and it was like watching someone who had been doing it for years. Texas was good to Papelbon last year....and it was fitting he ended the road trip with Slamming the Door on the Broom the Rangers were trying to sweep us up with.

Turn UP the HEAT!!!

Well that was an ugly game and cold as freaking ever!!! I arrived at the ballpark around 4:45pm....waited in line and got in the park around 5:15pm. I headed straight to the Red Sox dugout to get in a good position for photo opps. However...no players were out...cept Tiz who was getting interviewed. Finally Beckett poked his head out for abit, waved...then returned into the dugout. Snyder popped out...and before he could say no...some guy had thrown him a ball to sign. Security yelled out to wait for Snyder to say to give him something...so I waited patiently asking him...and on his 5th point...I got my faded Red Sox visor signed by Kyle...nice especially when I really just wanted to take pics. Well the batting cage came down as no one was going to take batting practice. Pitchers came out and threw to one another, stretched some and did some sprints...ALL down in Right Field!!! Oh well...I decided to head to the Red Sox bullpen to catch Taz and Tek.

Waiting patiently for them....but this was about the shortest Tek routine and Pitching warm-up I'd ever seen...but of course I can't say I blame them...it was Freaking COLD!!! 38 degrees!!! I mean here it is Bluebonnets blooming...SpringTime....Easter Weekend...and we had Snow Flurries this morning. I SAW THEM!!!

I can't even describe to you the feelings I had watching our team just implode....I just know I was COLD!!! The boys really don't have an excuse as they are used to playing in the cold weather....but the Red Sox fans stayed till the end....waiting and hoping for someone to warm up the bats.

Having trouble with blogger today posting a pic...or it's my computer...or me. I see Ted is posting pics so it must be my computer.
If you'd like to see some pics, you can check out:
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/txredsoxgurl/

I'll be posting more pics later...Thank Goodness today is much warmer!!

Texas Messed With Wake

Opening Day in Texas was NOT what I expected this year. First of all, it is APRIL....SpringTime!!!!!!! I mean the bluebonnets are in full bloom and Dammit...IT'S APRIL! It is NOT supposed to be 50 degrees, cold and windy!!!

So I left earlier this week on a business trip in the Dallas area...forgetting to check the weather report....so I don't pack ANY sweaters, sweatshirts, coats, Nothing to keep me warm...cos IT IS APRIL FOR GOD SAKE'S! So I get to the park at 8:30am...YES you heard me...8:30AM! I park right across the street from the park for $12....but it pays off at the end of the day(you'll see). I walk around abit and head into the Park's store...you see Ranger Park always has other teams' clothing there SO I was able to buy me a Red Sox sweatshirt! Yay!!! I head to the 3rd base gate where I usually go in at as the visitor's dugout is on that side. I was surprised not many people were there as last year this early....BUT it was Freaking 50 degrees!!!

10AM finally gets here.....get my bag "checked", buy a program, and head to the dugout....along with many others. I was quite disappointed in the players today as no one was stopping to sign. Paps finally stopped, signed 2 kids balls then walked off...one guy kept yelling at players and Tito...a couple of them commented saying they just couldn't. SO at least they acknowledged us. I finally left the area and headed to the visitors bullpen area in hopes of catching Wake warming up with Belli. I'm waiting by the pen....when I get curious by commotion over by the Red Sox dugout...I get out my binoculars...and sure enough, DiceK is Signing!!!!! right by where I WAS!!! PFFFFFFFFT!!!!!

So I'm sitting watching Wake warming....when this Ranger fan behind me insists on harassing Wake to death....I'm rolling my eyes but decide to just ignore it....when all of a sudden, the same voice says VERY LOUDLY, "I guess I'm gonna have to throw a Red Sox fan into the bullpen." I'm thinking to myself "now Dude...I been sitting here ignoring you....but you are really stupid now" I slowly turn around...smile and in my sweetest Texas drawl say to him "Go ahead! I'd like to be down there in the Red Sox bullpen" He laughs but notices my accent. I tell him I'm from Texas but I am a Red Sox fan....explain my story and all which impresses him....but since he had to be so rude to Wake...I had to finish it with the piece de resistance: I told him about my Tattoo!!! how the red sox were inside the heart of Texas....he had this awful look on my face..."that's blasphemy!!" I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. He left.

Finally my Ranger friend arrived and we headed out to get her something to eat and find a seat...neither of us wanted to sit in the seats we had bought(they were in the 300 section). So we finally found some seats in Section 41....and got comfortable. Of course the Rangers were back at home and had lost their 1st 3 games of the season....and being at home sometimes motivates a team. I will have to say that Texas does it UP BIG for Opening Day....during the National Anthem....an eagle is released to fly all around the park...very cool. THEN Freaking Fighter Pilots fly DIRECTLY over the park....LOUD as HELL!!!!

But back to the game....I was trying out my new camera but just not in a good position during batting practice or seats to get good ones....but I got my plan worked out to where I'm gonna get tomorrow. In the morning Ill be working on uploading pics....I'll be sharing them with Jere and some here.

It's a Strong Man's Game

Leave it to Big Papi to come up with the ultimate t-shirt. Alot of people I know think baseball is boring....plain boring they say. Many innings go by without anything happening. But I say that is where Papi's tshirt saying comes in. Baseball takes patience...something not alot of men (no offense) have. SO baseball IS a Strong Man's Game...takes alot of patience and strong willed attitudes to get through men batting just to ground or fly out. Knowing that one of those hits will result in a grand slam, inside the park homer or a walk-off....is worth the wait. Big Papi has the right idea...he understands...it just takes patience.
Well I've been waiting since October....and I'm ready for baseball. I'm ready for the boys to play. I'm ready for Opening Day in Texas where Wake will take the ball. I'm ready for a new season....I think Dice-K was asked about the upcoming season...

His Response? "I'm Ready..."
nuff said....Let the Games Begin!

Countdown is On....

Better bite down real hard Wily Mo...the season is just around the corner and the Red Sox still have questions for us. I found this pic of Wily Mo reading an article about baseball superstitions....he bites his bat??? well to each his own I always say as you know one of my philosophies I leave by is "To Thine Own Self Be True". There's absolutely no real reason or rhyme to this post. I just felt in necessary to get on line and update. I've been out of town this week in Tornado Alley. Glad to be back in Austin. Opening Day is Monday in Kansas City and I still won't have DirecTV hooked up which gives me a perfect reason to visit my fav watering hole Pluckers with some friends to catch the Red Sox play. It's been a long long winter for me. But like I posted on New Years...I feel I've turned a corner and finally things are looking up. Life is good so long as it's baseball season right? Each year I tell myself I'm going to slack up on going to games cos I should probably be spending the money on something more important...course then I come to my senses.

My itinerary for the year SO FAR:

April 6, 7, & 8 Arlington, TX The Ballpark Red Sox vs Rangers

May 25, 26, & 27 Arlington, TX The Ballpark Red Sox vs Rangers

June 22, 23, & 24 San Diego, CA Red Sox vs Padres

July 16 & 18 Boston Fenway Pahk, Red Sox vs Kansas City Royals

July 20 Boston Fenway Pahk, Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox

September 8 & 9 Baltimore, Camden Yards Red Sox vs Orioles

Hand Over that Bat Wily....I may need to chew on it too.

Lets Play Ball!!!

The Rookie

Stepping into the box
But not on the plate,
The boy searches for a way
Back home.
A five-tool player waiting
to enter the Big Show
for more than a cup of joe.
Walking, running, stealing, hoping
For another’s mistake
to help him along the way.
Facing the green wall, then
into the eyes of old-timers
anxious to hold on to their glory.
Ducks on a pond
crouched like tigers
waiting for an opportunity to
come home.
Surrounded by men watching
His moves, his stance, his swing.
Feeling boxed in, he looks
for a way out.
In a park where thousands sit
and nine men play against one,
shines a diamond
to where his future may go.
Out of the bullpen and onto
The mound, a Fireman
faces the boy.
Arms cocked, bat
swaying
in the
air, changeup
or a slider?
a step and wood
connects with leather,
a crack deafening to
the masked men’s ears.
Watching the rookie’s future
sail over the Closer, the dirt, the bags,
But not the Monster.
Inside the park grand slam.
Bringing in his first steaks,
to The Show.

I felt it in order to post one of my baseball poems today with Opening Day around the corner. and thats Tiz pitching to his son in Ft Myers.

Second Chances....

If you're lucky in life and love, you're given a chance at some great opportunity to add quality to your day to day routine. This may be meeting someone who is your soulmate...it may having the perfect job that helps you to excel at your god-given talents and skills. Some of us take advantage of these chances given to us...some of us squander them away, only to realize years later our foolishness cost us true happiness.

Then there are some of us who squander it....but through some quirk or angel looking out for us are given that Second Chance at that same opportunity that you came across years back. Its in that second time you stop and soak in the experience and learn from it. Its at this time you realize if you have actually grown up and learned any lessons at all. You want to make sure this time you don't screw it up...you dont make the same mistakes....you 'get it' this time.

But what about those who are on the receiving end of your Second Chance? What about their second chance? Basically your second chance is entirely dependent on their open heart and soul. If you're this person....it's easy to take advantage of this situation and make the Second Chance person squirm. But I advise you NOT TO....you may be given a Second Chance one time in your life...and you'll be hoping you will be received with open arms.

If you could choose a Second Chance ...... what would it be? these days I'm rethinking it all...for I am that person on the receiving end of someone elses' Second Chance...

All Good Things Must Come to an End....

So Monday....we head back to the park to watch Beckett pitch. I am psyched cos I get to fly my flag again. SotB and I head to our bleacher seats...but we decide to sit on the berm..ya know the lawn out in right field...anyway a couple of older men are trying to get comfortable on the berm when we offer our bleacher seat tickets in exchange for their berm seats. It was a father - son and the father was around 80 yr old. they thanked us and headed up to the bleachers while we stretched out enjoying the sun. I got to show off my tat and flag to others around. After awhile both SotB and I returned to where Brenken, Lynn, and KellyJ were sitting to visit....the game was nice but then we had to head to the airport to drop off SotB. Brenken and I returned home to get ready for dinner. We were meeting up with Kelly off SG and a couple of her friends. Lots of alcohol and laughs later....we headed back to Brenken's home to get a good nights sleep....she and I begin talking about the fact that Tek is renting a condo right around the corner from her home...its behind one of those REAL gated communities. Its about 10pm....and the next thing I know.....we're turning down the condo road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok so I felt like I was back in high school...stalking that guy I had a crush on....sneaking around. it was one of the most exciting things!!! I never told Brenken thanks....so Thank YOU Brenken for giving this Texas Gal some Night Time Fun!!!!

So Spring Training is Over....time for home and reality. And soon Back to Regular Blogging....

the Panthers await....

So it's Saturday morning ..... SO IT'S Saturday MORNING!!!!! Another game....but this time Brenken's daughter is singing the national anthem...so we HAVE to get there on time.
It's actually an uneventful day till that evening. We leave the game early so we can return to Bonita Springs to get ready for the SFAC dinner. Knowing Curt usually doesn't show up till later...we're not worried about being alittle late. Walking and picking up our table assignments...Brenken rushes over frantically gushing out something about Curt's here and people are already in line getting autographs...wait What?? Glancing over...sure enough, there's the Bloody Sock guy signing autographs and taking pics with fans. I grab my item to be signed and rush over like an obedient girl. I had this whole rehearsed phrase I was going to say to Curt but thrown a curve ball (no pun intended..ok well yeah) anyway...I totally forgot to tell him about my idea to secretly install the GPS with Curt's voiceover into CHB's car....a blown opportunity! oh well I get my item signed AND get Curt to sign my cast! TC and his wife take a pic of me with Curt...Sssssswwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Ok now off to the silent auction....i see exactly what I want....Beckett's autographed ball!! I warn everyone to stay away....ok auction's over and the dinner begins. blah blah blah (thats the speaker....I get Beckett's Ball, Btlgrl gets Lowell's Ball(well his good one) and KellyJ gets Papi's Big Black Stick...anyway we all leave happy and head to Mona Lisa's to parTAY!

SotB heads over to sign up to sing(karoeke) and we all settle in for our beers. After bearing through some of the wretched singers on stage...finally they call SotB's name and we head into the stage area. I hold her beer while standing at the edge of the stage....SotB begins singing "Sin Wagon" of the Dixie Chicks.....I'm doing a jig near the stage.....sorry no pics :)

Sunday hits and we head to Hammond Park for the Twins game. It's a fairly nice park but alot in the sun. We're watching batting practice....leaning over the dugout I'm waiting to see if anyone will autograph...SotB is standing next to me when all of a sudden she runs over to the end of the dugout screaming like some 16 yr old girl "Tek!!". Before I know it....dozens of kids have surrounded her and she throws her Tek jersey at him, he signs it but by this time he's pointing at WHO gets to throw him items to sign...he ONLY points at KIDS!!! I'm there with my hoots hanging out and all and he points to KIDS???!!!! Sheeeeeeesh another blown opp to get Tek's autograph!! PFfffffffffft! Oh well so I got back to watching the boys....finally I see David Murphy and begin yelling at him. A guy next to me suggested I wait till David walks back to the dugout....so I did...patiently....as David walks slowly and deliberately trying NOT to look up....I yelled at him and held up my TEXAS Flag....the smile that came across his face was undescribable! His face lit up as if seeing an old friend! He walked over and I asked if he'd sign the flag...he nodded then I asked him to sign the star....to which he smiled again....of course he said. Well THAT made this girl very happy!!

Leaving the game...we're headed to the car....passing a couple of car loads of Sox fans standing out drinking and eating in the parking lot...they yell at us asking where are we from. There are 4 of us and we're all from 4 different states....but as soon as I say Texas, one of the guys says some smartaleck remark about the Rangers. I prance over to him, moving my hair from my shoulder I reveal my Red Sox tattoo...you see it's my PIC here. He turned me around and said to me, "I gotta kiss a Texas gal who sports a Sox tat!" He pecked me on the cheek and then we were off.

What a day it was!!! Schilling and Santana pitching and we won!! Bonus I decided to stay an extra day and I was gonna see Beckett pitch the next day. Ok I think I am almost through with past Spring training games.

Sheeesh...this Walking Pneumonia killed me.

If You're Going Through Hell....

I just posted Rodney Atkin's song on myspace yestereday cos it occurred to me that sometimes when life circumstances bog us down and we just complain and moan about what is happening to us.....we forget that we control the destiny of how we react to these catastrophes.

This song is so Right On about how to handle things and it says it in the simplest of fashions...

"But the good news is there's angels everywhere out on the street
Holdin' out a hand to pull you back up on your feet
The one's that you've been draggin' for so long
You're on your knees might as well be prayin'
Guess what I'm sayin' "

I'm writing this in response to Ted's blog today (Red Sox Dad) as he reminded me that sometimes people just make wrong choices...and don't step up to the plate and just say that...they blame the past, their parents, their ex's, their friends, their enviroment, hell they just blame the world .... but in reality, People need to just stand up and say "Hey Im an ass and did an Assclown thing...but I get it now and I'm making changes"

If more people would do that, they'd have my respect. But more so, they'd have their own lives back.

Delayed Spring Training Stories

I suppose most of you read by now that SotB and I both came down with some nasty stuff on vacation. Let me tell ya it hit hard...hard enough to knock this Texas gal on her ass for the last 3 days.

BUT...that is not why you're reading this.

Friday afternoon.

So you know the Flag was flown for Texas Independence Day...even if Timlin or Beckett didn't pitch.

OK so SotB, Btlgrl, Ken and I leave the game alittle early as we have to retrieve our food from our hotel. We were staying in Bonita Springs which is about 20 miles from Ft. Myers. We gather up our goodies, get cleaned up, and head to Brenken's house WITH directions. Now, I love Brenken to death and all for all she's done....but my group voted her off the "mapmaker" job status. Mind you, we've been to her house at least twice before...but this was once a year. After taking a wrong turn...calling and turning around...almost there and STILL taking the wrong turn AGAIN...figured it out and finally made it to the GATED community of XXX. (hey there has to be SOME privacy). Anyway this is one of those REAL gated communities where you give the person's name you are visiting and your name. I started to yell out, "just tell her Tex is here", but I let Ken handle it since he was driving. As we drove through, we recalled how to get to her house but as we were turning this curve and passed this condo addition....we remembered....rumor was Tek was renting one of those condos!! ok so we behaved and went to brenken's house. (you'll hear about the night I did go soon)

Seriously, the bbq was fairly tame....between my cast, CBKen's and Soxy's recent hospital stay, JimEd's just getting over being ill and TomCat being sick....we were a bunch of lightweights. I brought the usual Sam Adams and it was gone in a snap. We left early and headed to the store to get more beer. JimEd had flew in from Manchester even with that storm! He was ready to party but we all were pretty tired and so we drank a few but called the party short as we had to get some sleep.

You see the bbq is usually on the last day of the weekend...but we were trying to have it on friday so more could come......also we need to have it on Sunday because by then...everyone is relaxed and comfortable and really don't care about behavior...we were just getting into partying.

oh yeah today at the ballpark some guy stopped me and asked, "hey where'd you get that Red Sox cast?" (this was before the Schilling sig) I looked at him...bit my tongue...and just explained I had a red cast and I put the tat on there. I wanted to tell him, "Dude, there almost out of them in the Souvenir Store...better hurry up" But hey...it was pretty cool to think I have a Red Sox Cast!!! Maybe the ARI* was worth it.

for those ignorant to acronyms

*Alcohol Related Injuries

2nd Day....

Long long long day today. We headed to the park and arrived around 11am. It is crazy there I tell ya! First thing is to get a fresh lemonade inside the park...YES I said FRESH lemonade NO alcohol. I save my drinking for after dark....pretty much the agreement we have on Surviving Grady for Tek-Thirty.... no Tek's ass pics till after dark. Ate the ritual dog and drank my lemo...met up with all my LMotfer crew which was great to see!! We were enjoying the game....when all of a sudden we see CHB in the pressbox upon which SoxontheBeach began ranting at him....gesturing and yelling. We all began yelling "Giant Sphincter". You know the new GPS system that supposedly Curt Schilling's voice is installed???? Well so I was thinking if someone "ME" could secretly installed this system into CHB's vehicle with special messages such as "Turn Right AssHole" or better yet "Only Sphincter's turn right". I don't know...it's just an idea.

The group headed to our friend's for our night bbq....which has to remain a secret as What Happens in Ft. Myers stays in Ft. Myers.

Tomorrow is our 2nd game....and the SFAC charity dinner benefitting ALS of which Curt will be there. I have still yet to get an autograph on my cast....we'll see.

pics coming......stories undetermined....

The 1st Day

Flight Days can be long and dreary......if there is no entertainment. But I try to make a habit of making my own entertainment. Today I get to the airport and due to my personalized red cast....I get 'selected' for special scanning. I know ya saw my posted itty bitty cast here....like what could I hide in there?? a nail clipper??? Sure TSA...have at it!! But good thing they let me get into the PreBoarding line....WoooHOOOOOO!!! So long flight from Austin to Orlando....getting off and heading to other plane. Finally getting on and getting situated....two other women ask to sit in my row....the 2 men and woman sitting behind me began talking.....before I know it, entertainment has begun. Apparently the Lowell Spinners' clubhouse manager was sitting behind me and was quite the entertaining fellow. I am not certain of his age but know he has grandchildren. As discussion began about relationships with "ex's", he stated for at least 3 months he resides with his ex and her hubby!! Ok everyone around put their magazines and books up, pulled off their i-pod earphones and kinda like that commercial says "when e.f. hutton talks, people listen.." It was air flight entertainment at its finest!!!

I land in Ft. Myers and head to drop off my carry-on with the friends at Chili's in the airport...go to Baggage FINALLY get my one bag....heading back to Chili's when a REALLY CUTE airport staff in one of those dorky orange vest walks by me and says something but I didn't quite hear him and asked him what he said....he looked at me and said..."Why are you Mean?" For a second...I looked at him dumbfounded...THEN I recalled...I had my tanktop on from my favorite bar...The MeanEyed Cat...it is a black tanktop that just says...MEAN across the front. I laughed it off...headed to my friends...although thinking, "hey, I got hit on within 30 minutes of being in Ft. Myers!!" That's got to be a GOOD THING!

Yeah we all went and ate and drank but tonight is the slow night....I Promise...Plenty of Stories yet to come!!!

One quick story from this morning as I got ready for the trip. I do not have a dryer...TED????
anyway...I took my clothes to dry them....sitting there in the laundromat looking out the windows I saw this lady walking her dog....she had shorts on...with tall skinny RED SOCKS ON up to her knees!!!! any other time, I would have snickered at a get up such as this...but today....I just smiled...cos I thought "I'm GOING TO SEE THE RED SOX THIS WEEK!!"

Life is good.

Red Sox FANatic

When you become a Red Sox fan…you don’t just do it half-way….it’s with your heart, soul and mind. It shows in your daily life, your job, your clothes, your home, EVERYTHING…it may take awhile for you to realize how much love you have in your heart for them….but you have this moment when it hits you….you are not just a fan of this team…The Team IS Your Family!!

That moment came today as I sat in my doctors’ office waiting to have my cast put on. I was giddy as a schoolgirl in her first crush as I watched him put on the RED cast. Yes…I said RED CAST. Ya see…my doctor found out that I was a huge fan and suggested we put on RED to which I replied with a gleeful look, “YOU CAN DO THAT??!!” He smiled. Well not to be outdone…I went home and searched till I found them, the temporary tattoos I found at Spring Training last year. And so I disobeyed the Doc…using a small amount of water I put the Boston Red Sox tat on the front. It looks real nice. I’m heading to spring training this week and hope this cast will assist me in getting autographs. You see….Manny isn’t the only one who can be goofy.

MannyAntics

I want you to take a good long hard look at this picture and tell me what you see....do those fans act like they are yelling at Manny for causing so much trouble?? HELL NO!!! They are just happy he HAS ARRIVED!! It never ceases to amaze me how the media focuses in on "the player" who can give them the most to write about...and I'm not talking about stats....I mean the "Manny-Rama" !!!

Manny heads out to participate in drills with his teammates and somehow takes a wrong turn???? Wait....I mean this isn't Manny's first trip to this park...doesn't he know the way to the field??? Manny cracks me up!! He is such a trip to watch and one of my sistahs off SoxSistahs Blog made the right analogy over on SurvivingGrady today: "It must piss HIM off that he's like they kid who doesn't have to study EVER and still gets all As."

Manny makes baseball look effortless...and THAT is the beauty of him playing. He knocks it out of the park, jogs around the bases then takes his place in leftfield....laughing with the fans, taking a leak behind The Monster, or picking the flowers (you remember the kid in T-Ball?). That is why I love Manny because he loves the game and the game loves him back....it's not that he lacks respect for the team or the game....he just wants to play baseball....ya know, catch the ball, throw the ball, and hit the ball...HIT IT REAL HARD!!!!

BullShit

Short post tonight as I'll be going into my surgery in the early morning for repair to my thumb. I'd post here what really happened but then the secret would be out. So instead I'll tell you "a story" of how I hurt my thumb.

So I'm sitting at this bar minding my own bees wax and all when this chick comes up to me asking if I got a light for her cig. I tell her no, I don't smoke those nasty things. She took offense to my comment and called me a choice word. I sneered at her and told her "it takes one to know one". Yeah I know, Real Mature(even in my stories, Im a smart ass). So I tell her she could probably light her cig from all the hot air coming out of her mouth. She doesn't like this comment either and begins berating me for my tattoo. WELL....ya know you can call me alot of things but do NOT talk about my tat. That tat was designed with love and care and devotion for 2 of the 3 things I love most, my state and my Sox. (the 3rd is my family) I stood up at this time and it was then I realized she was about a foot taller than I was (which isn't saying much since I'm only 5'2") So I stood on my chair to look her in the eye.

The waitress didn't know what to do cos she was this frail bony frame who looked like she'd seen some gangstah out of L.A. I shoved Mizz NastySmoker into the next table and jumped down from the chair before she could knock it out from underneath me. Well the gals at that table weren't too happy with all this as their precious fruity drinks were spilled all over the floor. So now I had 4 pissed off chicks at me. Then the bouncer came over and said I had to go...which was fine cos I was through drinking anyway. I headed to the door and just for shits and giggles, I shoved one of the fruity drinkers aside. She fell which caused one of the other ones to fall.....well Mr Bouncer wasn't laughing and grabbed me saying he was gonna have to call the POlice. I disagreed with this choice but he declared his Authoritie and held my arm very tight. So with all my texas might with my left hand I sucker punched him...well I tried but my hand hit the door and jammed my thumb.

What? you don't believe me??? you don't think I'd have the nerve?? or that Im not a smartass enough?? Well that story is better than the truth.

The 3 Little Words that makes my heart flutter..

Its Valentines Day with love in the air and flowers being delivered everywhere. Lovers holding hands, stealing kisses and marriage proposals. Red roses will be abundant in tall vases to those who are in love. FTD and Hallmark must make a mint on this holiday....Godiva and local candy shops selling the latest craze of chocolate covered strawberries YUMMMY! Let alone the jewelry stores selling diamonds by the pound. With all this frenzy of hearts and love......

there are only 3 Little Words I long to hear.............. Pitchers And Catchers!

All I could think about was Truck Day. Don't you think it's odd that Truck Day falls so close to Valentine's Day? It's about the love of our Sox! My heart flutters at the thought of Tek catching Dice-K! Hearing about Lester back in Ft. Myers already? The boy has got True Grit!

Many new faces but the same numbers on the backs will be strange to see but it's a new team this year, that's for sure.

While other girls will be admiring their flowers, chocolate and jewelry, I'll just be anticipating Spring Training and the beginning of the 2007 season......The Year of the Dice.

What Dreams Cost

Going after your dreams is supposed to be good. They teach you about going after what you want out of life.....taking risks to reach it....what they don't tell you is going after your dreams can have negative aspects. Today I realized that.

Moving to Austin was part of going after my dreams and goals.....I had to leave behind my family in Orange. My granddaddy died when I was 16 yrs old during my senior year in high school. His brother, Vernon, sort of became that substitute for the grandfather figure in my life. My uncle Vernon passed away this Thursday almost unexpectedly. He had a heart attack recently but was doing fine. This man went to visit everyone all the time. He was driving around town up until he had the heart attack. This man was the kindest gentlest soul I've ever known. This man loved his family. He visited you when you were sick or in the hospital. He loved to drop by my parents home and have coffee. He will be missed...and that is an understatement.

I travel for my job and had this girls weekend planned for me and Soxonthebeach. I couldn't cancel this weekend. My mother phoned me Friday morning to let me know...that he had passed on Thursday. The funeral was this morning and I wasn't there. I wasn't there to cry. I wasn't there to hug his son's and tell them I was sorry. I wasn't there to put any flowers on his grave. I wasn't there because I'm here in Austin pursuing my dreams and making a new life for myself. I wasn't there because I'm here in Austin having a girls weekend with SotB and having fun. I wasn't there because I'm here in Austin.

One more death in my family that I wasn't there for....my feelings are mixed. I got to see Uncle Vernon every time I went home for a visit as he would visit my parents on Saturday mornings for coffee. I will miss him.

Loyalty

I felt the need to re post something I posted in my Sox Sistahs Blog. With the beginning of a new season and my latest tshirt coming from josh's line of clothing, I feel compelled to explain it all.

The one question I get asked when people find out I am a Red Sox fan and a born and raised Texan: Why? Why the Red Sox? Where’s the connection? What about the Astros or the Rangers? Where’s your loyalty to your own state’s team? So I tell them…you want to blame someone or something…blame Roger…blame Roger Clemens and blame the passion of the Red Sox Nation.

In a state where Football is God…I became a baseball fan. I am not sure if it came about when I rode my bike to the Little League ball field to watch my friends play or because of the high school ballplayers in their tight white pants. Perhaps it was because I became enthralled with the way a ball came across the plate where a wooden bat connected and whacked it hard over the pitcher and shortstop, falling short of the centerfielder, while watching the batter haul ass around the bases trying to make a triple. Maybe it was how the catcher “sits” behind the plate calling the pitches, while the runner on 1st tries to steal 2nd. Or just that I enjoyed the sound of the ‘thump’ of the ball hitting the catcher’s mitt from a fastball pitched. It really doesn’t matter because at some point in my younger life, I became an avid baseball fan.

Diamonds

They say diamonds are a girls’ best friend

Perfect in shape and form

brilliant color reflecting in the admirer's eyes.

Each one different than the next;

yet all bring the same feelings,

the same joy, the same smile

when a man steps up to the plate and

Finally says, "Play Ball!!"

I did follow the Astros, that is, until Roger. I attended Lamar University, a local college in Beaumont, Texas where the baseball program was as important, if not more important than the football program. (by the way, Lamar is the alma mater of Kevin Millar) Coach Jim Gilligan made it that way and still does today. Following baseball, I heard of a baseball phenom at UT, Roger Clemens. I followed Roger to the Red Sox and watched him succeed. So blame Roger…he is the reason I became a Red Sox fan. So now you ask, why didn’t you follow him to Toronto or to New York (gasp!)? Because after following Roger to Boston…I became a more avid fan of baseball but even more so…a fan of Red Sox baseball and became a part of the Red Sox Nation. How can you watch the BoSox fans and players and not get caught up into the passion of it all? One thing I learned was Boston loves the Red Sox.

Make no mistake, I am a Texan so unlike some in the Red Sox Nation in Massachusetts, I still love Roger and follow him from afar, wishing him well even when he was playing for the enemy. So there, that is my story of how a die hard born and raised Texan gal became a Red Sox fan. And if you want to judge my loyalty or whether I'm a die hard Red Sox fan..just ask any of my friends, they'll tell ya.

Signed,
Texan By Birth
Red Sox Fan by Choice