What Really Matters: While the Boys Play Ball....Hearts are being Won

It's funny how a short quick story change your attitude in such a moment. Today I was feeling sad that I wasn't in Ft. Myers with my friends attending Spring Training...this is the 2nd year I've missed. I'm at my parents home this weekend...how they have lived in this FEMA trailer since October, I'll never know.....but I digress. So I'm sitting here watching the news when a short sweet story appears on ABC. It's this story about the construction going on at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center. Apparently, at some point, the workers begin connecting with the kids. As the Ironworkers of Union 7 are building floors and hoisting up the I-Beams to make new floors, they are spray-painting the names of the children. How do they know the names of the children you ask? It seems the children have this walkway that has walls which are windows...so the children have been coming to the window holding up signs with their names on it. Hence...the connections begin. Putting beams together to build a building that could build a future cure for cancer...I find it seemingly fitting. The names of these children will be there forever....within the confines of this new building...for wishes to the others who come to the hospital.















With this touching addition the guys are doing for the kids....the kids are the real heros...

Austin to Boston Finally????

Imagine my surprise today reading the newspaper when I find out my favorite airline has FINALLY succumbed to having flights to Boston....course they aren't saying what city or cities in Texas will be the chosen...but I'm just hoping it's here. Cos I'll be burning the SWA website up with flights.

Southwest to begin flights to Boston in fall

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines Inc. plans to begin flying out of Logan International Airport in Boston this fall.

Brad Hawkins, a spokesman for the Dallas-based airline, said Southwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly announced the move in a message to employees Wednesday night.

Kelly said in an interview with The Boston Globe that Southwest would start off with between eight and 12 daily departures from Logan and probably would initially fly to just a couple of destinations.

Hawkins said Southwest at Logan would "augment what is already a strong presence for Southwest" in New England.

Southwest flies into Manchester, N.H.; Providence, R.I. and Hartford, Conn.

"We make this decision with some confidence about what the market can sustain and what is needed," Hawkins said.

Southwest won't unveil the new routes until this spring.

Kelly told the Globe that the airline would be shifting from unpopular routes to markets that it hopes will be more profitable. The majority of its flights out of the Greater Boston area will continue to be from Manchester and Providence, Kelly said.

He said the move into Logan would bring 35-40 new jobs at the airport.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing everyone of my friends and people out there Happy Valentine's Day!!! Even if you don't have that special someone in your life right now...surely you have something special in your life that you love. My love is about to start...well Pitchers and Catchers are already there...Spring Training is around the corner...the Opening Day brings smiles once again to Fenway. I'm looking forward to the MegaPalooza in May with all my pees from SG.

Today, I'm spending it with my family who I love very much. I'm learning no matter what house or structure you're in....you can make it a home. My parents have been in a FEMA trailer since October....it's small and you really can do anything without anyone else knowing. I just had sausage, eggs and grits and toast....about to drink some more coffee and spend some time with my son.

I hope you all are spending today doing something you love....or doing someone you love.

Even Tek gets a Salary Cut...blame it on the Economy

So...he signed and he signed for what was about already on the table....lots of questions flying around as to why he didn't go ahead and sign before...but who really cares...He Signed. NOW he is OURS for at least one year....and depending on his stats..perhaps another. Now did the teachers in Rochester, Michigan think that this young lad to the right..........
would go on to be a Major League Baseball Player???

OR This young boy???? Who played in the Little League World Series in 1984?



By the time he reached the Red Sox in the 90's...he was ready to rock and roll. Perhaps Tek should use the item he's holding in the picture below to improve his batting average....JUST KIDDING...well maybe not :)


Nonetheless, Tek did this to us once before in 2005...ya know, filing free agency to see what he was worth...and he got $40 million for 4 years then....but he's 4 years older and in catcher's years....well let's just say, ya gotta have knees of steel and you better be able to knock it out of the park or at least get some RBIs going. Tek's stats haven't been stellar...his offer of $5million for one year and a 2nd year option of $5/3 million depending on who opts the 'tion....hmmmm his salary has been cut in half basically....I know we need Tek for what he does behind the plate....NO...I'm not talking about his nice tush or quads...I mean his ability to assist the pitchers.

SO Will Tek be Captain Tek?
Or will Tek Tank? I'm hoping and praying he brings the "C" on his chest for Champions.

Loves Me or Loves Me Not

So here lately we (and by "we", I mean Red Sox fans) have all been wondering, pondering, debating, arguing, bantering, patiently...OK IMpatiently for Tek and the Red Sox to make a deal. I'm not going to go through all the bashing of BorASS like I should....I'm not going to discuss the debate of whether or not Tek knows the ins and outs of what happens when you don't accept arbitration and whatnot.

What I am going to talk about is it's 17 days 10 hours and 58 minutes and counting till Pitchers and Catchers REPORT!!!!!!!!!!! CATCHERS....SO Tek...we all love ya. We know you're a 'catch' to have(pun intended)....but for the love of GOD and Honor. The Sox are offering you a chance to stay in Boston....take it. You can't defer to your agent anymore. You let him screw you out of double what you're being offered now. SO unless you know something we don't (like another team offering you more)....please work out the details and sign. Please...on the dotted line.

Cos Pitchers and CATCHERS Report soon.

**and on the homefront, I am slowly unpacking my things and getting organized. Please be patient while construction goes on. Pictures will be forthcoming. Right now, I am living in a war zone. Soon...I'll make this duplex "a home".

Fire...nothing more...just Fire.

So I thought I'd post a picture of my greatest feat: FIRE in the fireplace. I'm still unpacking and getting settled. Hell, it'll take me at least a month or so to do this but a cold front blew in and I HAD to have a fire in my newfound place. Very Cool. And I didn't even need a man to help....well...OK so I had to call my friend Rene to explain what a damper and flew was and how to get the cold air out of the flew so the fire would start. I am fully capable of starting a fire...just wasn't sure what all else to prepare....anyway....30 minutes later. FIIIIIIIIIIIIIREEEEEEEE.

I am SO happy to be back in Austin....although I've yet to really enjoy all what I love here...mainly cos of just the moving in. I'll be settled soon enough.

First order of business this coming week is to purchase a new flat screen TV....because Baseball is around the corner and I have GOT to watch it.

The Red Sox are still waiting and holding out on Tek....short story: Tek listened to his asshole agent BorASS and now....Tek probably isn't going to get the amount of money he anticipated IF the Red Sox sign him. But hopefully, he realizes this is where he wants to be and end. My friend Tru always has a way with words and phrases. We've often talked about how we root for the name on the front of the jersey....not the name on the back. Well today Tru wrote on Cyn's blog something to the affect of "rooting for the laundry" because "the person who's wearing it might be gone"....SO true. And I've told my story of why I may have favorite players...but I make myself not get too attached...for that very reason.

SO...I'm going to "Root for the Laundry" This year. How about YOU?

Change....it's a coming NOW.

So back on Election Day, some of my SG buddies decided to chat while waiting the results. Once again....we did it again....So while watching CNN stream live the swearing in ceremony....the chat room is seen to the right of you. I took this picture with my camera as I wanted to document this moment that we have all been waiting for.............for years.

I'll edit the post later with more as I'm at work....but for now....wanted the world to see
Change....She's a coming...........

Welcome Cyn to WEEI

After taking a long sabbatical from posting....I feel the urge to return, new year and all, blah blah blah.

My first post is going to be dedicated to Cyn Donnelly....a true hard core Bostonian (well she's from Saugus) and die hard Red Sox fan. I met Cyn off the Red Sox fan forum site in 2004....she has a heart of gold but seriously she should have the title of my blog cos you DON'T Mess with Cyn...if you know her....you KNOW what I'm talking about.

We all know Cyn is an awesome writer who gets to the core and is not afraid to speak her mind. She started on the mlb site as Red Sox Chick...then took off on her own because there are restrictions when writing under someone else's place. She's been writing for a while and recently changed her Blog name to Toeing the Rubber...which I totally love. She knows her baseball but isn't afraid to show she's abit girly about some of the players (i.e., Kyle Snyder, Bronson Arroyo, and Mike Timlin).

Back in the fall, she entered this little contest a radio station was running and of COURSE she won. Now this wasn't just any little contest...it was from WEEI. And the winner was to get the opportunity to be the Greatest Next Sports Blogger on WEEI.

So those of you who were wondering what hole I fell in.....help me welcome Boston's newfound Greatest Sports Blogger, Cyn Donnelly on her blog on WEEI: Toeing the Rubber.

Change...Yes We Can

I've been debating and deciphering my post to honor our new President-Elect.....I knew what I wanted to say...but hadn't seen a picture that quite grasped the meaning. I have posted before my poem of change....and feel it necessary to repeat. I'm borrowing this from Beck's blog and I'm sure she got it from somewhere too... Change...it's a coming....

CHANGES

They happen

We can accept them

Or ignore them.

It isn’t relevant if

You’re ready,

They happen.

You can recognize

Them, embrace them,

Make them yours,

Own them

Or you can discount them

Then be tossed aside.

You can be prepared

Ready to take

A stance,

Or you can defy them.

Changes will come

They will happen

You can choose

To disregard them,

Stick your head in the

Sand.

Pretend they’re not here.

But she’ll rise up

And make herself known

She’ll kick the chair

Our from under you.

She’ll pluck the cherry

From your sundae

Then drink your last beer

Then wake you up

From a deep laden sleep.

But make no mistake,

Change will come

Change will happen

To you or with you.

Are we there YET???

I'm going to go all serious on ya now. This year is my 50th birthday and I wanted to do something really special. Originally I had planned on going to Salem as my birthday is on Halloween. I thought it would be fun.....I had invited several women off the SG board. But then Hayes emails me one day and asks...."how set are you on going to Salem for your birthday?" I pondered a bit....cos I figured she had something good up her sleeve.

SO this year, thanks to Hayes' mom, I am spending my birthday at The Cape in a condo with about 6 other women! In addition, one of the girls from SG who lives on the Cape is gonna get to come. We are going to cook, giggle, eat, grin, drink, laugh, beach walk(weather permitting), fall over from laughter, and did I mention FUN?? I am totally Psyched!!!! So to you girls: Hayes, Becks, Nancy, Jojo, Crystal, Cindy and Lena(CapeCodder)....thank YOU ahead of time for setting aside the time to enjoy this time with me.

I'm going to meet up with some of another gang on Thursday at Beerworks : Neena, Chrissy, Peg, KellyJ, KellyO, Cyn, JoshBlue and Hayes(Hayes is my chauffeur so she has to go).

Last year my mother sent me a beautiful card for my birthday....it was the best sweetest one I'v ever received from anyone....I kept it and want to post it here. It could be used for any situation or person....


Love Yourself.
Make Peace with who you are
and where you are
at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.
If you can't hear what it's saying
in this noisy world,
Make time for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let your mind wander among the stars.

Try
Take Chances.
Make Mistakes.
Life can be messy
and confusing at times,
but it's also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path
might be a stepping-stone.

Be happy.
When you don't have what you want,
want what you have.
Make Do.
That's a well-kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to make your own way.
To know where you're going
is only part of it.
You need to know where you've been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don't worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.

Life isn't days and years.
It's what you do with time
and with all the goodness and grace
that's inside you.
Make a Beautiful Life.....
The kind of life you deserve.

For the longest, my mother tried to understand why my goal in life wasn't to be married...wondered why I aspired to have a career. Recently she has been telling me how proud she is of my career and how far I've come....this card last year meant alot to me. She knows when I buy cards....I search high and low for the right one....so I know my mom really looked for the 'perfect' card. And as far as I'm concerned....I'll read this card every year on my birthday like it's the first time.

I hope you have friends and family like I do. It's what makes you rich. :wave: to my son, Josh!
and a Shout-Out to my adopted lil Bro, Ted. It's like you really are.

No Post Post

So I've been posting my last year's posts...but a year ago...i didnt post cos there wasn't a game or something....so my dilemma has been: Post or not to Post. and what to post? I'm gonna go with Ben's suggestion


This space was intentionally left blank



in hopes of bringing the same last year's mojo.

Game 6, Epic Proportions Begin

In hopes of bringing some more 2007 mojo....continuing the posting of last years posts from my blog. I'm hoping this is predictions of what's to come for tonight. I'd like to see this



and a whole lot of this

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Shipping Back to Boston

109 pitches, 8 innings, 11 K's, 1.93 ERA. It was just a night of Beckett being Beckett. Stellar, stupendous, brilliance, outstanding, standing O, dropASSkicking beautiful. There was this little incident between Josh and Lofton. It appears that Josh wasn't happy with something that Kenny did at the plate...so he yells something out to Kenny on his way to 1st...they exchanged ##%$@@^&** and then once Kenny arrived at 1st base...and flew out...he turned to the mound and headed towards Beckett. Benches cleared....Lowell stepped in. It's all good...no punches thrown or any actual fight...well there was this fight about who was going to win the game.

Pre-game antics: Apparently one of Josh's many ex-girlfriend was scheduled to sing the National Anthem...but the Indians swear they didn't know her history....as she is just a good ole Ohio girl. ok whatever....if they were thinking it was gonna rattle Josh's cage, WRONG. Josh collects ex's like he collects deerheads he mounts on his wall.

Pre game commercial had Kevin Millar rooting on the Sox....it was absolutely CuteNESS!!! Just made me smile and remember 2004. Was that a moment of clarity? I know some have been repeating that Millar phrase when we were down 3 games with the Yankees that year..."Don't let us win" he said....well, to have Kevin there rooting us on...it was destiny, fate

or like I think Beckett Kicked ASS.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ok Early morning Post if only to answer the undying neverending question of WHY do the Rays clang those cowbells???

According to sources, the Cowbell Ringing begin back in 2006 after the team's new owner, Stuart Sternberg, watched a SNL clip called "More Cowbell" starring Christopher Walken. Stuart was so overtaken by this hilarious scenario, he thought it might be 'the thing' that could rally the fans like the Rally Monkey does the Angel fans. They pass out cowbells and even have Cowbell Etiquette of when to ring your cowbell (there's a video clip to watch) I guess in the scheme of things....alot of fans wonder what Neil Diamond has to do with the Red Sox, much less baseball....and the song "Sweet Caroline"?? knowing now the background of the song's lyrics....I see why we get questioned.

SO...the Rays can have their cowbells...they ARE annoying. The Angels can have their monkey's...they ARE annoying....all the teams that use the white flags are annoying too. I have to say this though....the teams can pick whatever silly marketing scheme they want to get fans to cheer...even put it on the JumboTrons of these new stadiums and parks to TELL the fans to cheer.....but at least in Fenway....I have NEVAH seen once a sign on that JumboTron that tells fans WHEN to cheer....we KNOW when to cheer for the boys......and that would be ALL THE TIME!!!

But for this chick...My Bell Tolls for Thee, my beloved Red Sox.

2007 Post Mojo

Last night I posted on SG, my October 16, 2007 post....and then we started winning. Today I'm posting last years...and I couldn't have come up with a better new post....and it's sweet that Beckett is pitching next.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

It's just that Simple....

I searched through all the pictures of the players practicing today....deciding which road to take, which focus I would use tonight....when I saw this. It said everything I felt in just two words. Two Simple Words. I've attended many management and leadership classes in my lifetime...one lesson stands out among them all: The K.I.S.S. rule. Keep It Simple Stupid rule...which is why I love this sign. All the emotion, grit, determination, faith, power, persistence, all the love all rolled into TWO WORDS: BOSTON BELIEVES.

Well, not to be outdone.

TEXAS BELIEVES IN BOSTON AND BECKETT.

Monday cant get here fast enough

Yesterday did not happen.


That is all.

Game 2: Act II Scene K

I want to see THIS BecKett tonight.....
I want to see THIS JOSH as well.
And he better Bring his KICK-ASS Boots With Him

JPB is Back on the Mound

Game 3 Today in Boston at Fenway with 1st Pitch at 7:27p.m.. Joshua Patrick Beckett is on the mound ready to make the Angels sing HIS Praises! Live it....Love it.....Be IT......

New Hero's are Born

1st Inning: 4-1 Red Sox up due to BombBAY or BoomBoomBay, aka Jason Bay, whichever is your preference. 3 Run Homerun! (By the way, JD Drew brings in run on a double in the 1st inning as well)

4th inning 5-2....then chip chip chip away the Angels came at us....scoring a run each in the 5th, 7th and 8th to TIE us 5-5.

Papelbon having to come in to put out the fire in the 8th was HUGE....scary HUGE...I'm sure it was not the plan....but he came in held us together for the remainder of the inning....then with a man on base, Yay D. Drew, otherwise known to the world as J.D. Drew, stepped up to bat. And the place groaned....I swear I heard deep breaths taken while watching the telly. But I drew(pun intended) back to my last year memories when Drew came up to bat at a very crucial moment(Game 7 of ALC Grand Slam)...and came through HUGE for us.....so I exhaled.....as the ball went sailing...sailing...sailing....into the OutField where the Angels stood watching the ball go sailing over their head....HOMERUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And just like that.....we were back on Top 7-5...with the Angels still having their last at-bats to come. Fitting that Yay D DREW brings our first run in and our last for the game!

Paps came through and we had taken Game 2!!!!! 7-5.

Matsuzaka lasted five hair-pulling innings (eight hits, three runs, three walks, five strikeouts, 108 pitches) and left with a 5-3 lead. Bob Ryan of the Globe called it "Surviving Dice-K"

So we move back to Boston where Game 3 will be played with JPB on the mound....bring in the TALL KICK ASS TEXAN to finish the job.

I have a dear friend who will be there for the first time ever to attend a play off game....I expect nothing less but GREAT AWESOME Pictures.

Oh yeah, there was this awesome SuperHero like catch made by the Bearded One in the 9th inning.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

Game 1 - CHECK

I posted about this picture I took some time ago. I drive past it every time on my way to one of my company's locations. Everytime I see it, I think of the possibilities of this year....and the symbolism. Yes 2004 and 2007 were different years and they are in the past....but Today is 2008....and we are going a different direction with this team EVEN from last year....some of the players are the same...but with a new year brings new heros. Lester looked like he was just on the same roll he was on last October. Ellsbury continues to prove why Theo brought him to the show. And BAY....well Bay is just damn happy to be here. Going from the Pirates to the PlayOffs with the Bullpen Band led by a band of Pirates....he has shown us why he's here and why that person who I won't name isn't. One person doesn't win games. No matter what some may say....yes you have walk-offs. Yes pitchers can totally shut down the other team....but one person doesn't win all the games. And unlike in 2004 when we Had Characters on the team....and still had some of them in 2007. It appears to me that the team of 2008 Has Character.

Game 1 Greats


Lester brings It: 7 innings, 7 SO, ERA 0.00 (no that aint no mistake)


Jason Bay hitting a 2 run homer when we were at 1-0 Angels winning...bringing it to 2-1. WooooT. (and you know I had to get some kind of shot in there of Timlin)



And then there's just Awesomeness in the form of Jacoby Ellsbury....our rookie newcomer last year still thinking he's playing the World Series from last year!!!!!!!!!! TWO ... count them TWO Stolen Bases last night!!!!!!!!!

and if all those Angels got is Towels, Monkey's and ThunderSticks....I'd say We Got This.

Bout Damn TIME.

Yep...that's OUR Closer...giving away bases to fans. After a grueling game last night with Beckett on the mound and the loss....Wake took the game under control and offense showed up and we took this game. I couldn't watch it but I followed it all through....I only wish I could have watched the Post-Game ParTAY!!! Sounds like the boys were in Charge!!! Paps kept his pants on and I'm sure it's because Tito warned him that this was a family show and no one wanted to see his drawers. Now with a few games to go....crossing fingers and praying the Rays go down hard the rest of the season so we could take the division back...but at least for another month...Baseball is still going strong for us. And for that...I am a happy gal.