Gingerbread Man

I couldn't believe it, I walked around the corner and there he was. A beautiful, delicious looking Gingerbread Man. Could my eyes be fooling me? Am I really seeing this? A Lane special Gingerbread Man. See, Lane retired earlier this year and I was sure I would not see another one of her gingerbread men again. Lane's Gingerbread men have been a tradition at DHS long before I was there, but for me they have been a tradition for 10 years. I look so forward to the day Lane walks around with her delicious treats made special for the holiday. How can a treat come to mean so much? It is more than just the treat, it's the fact that Lane makes these every year out of love and sharing them seems to bring her such joy. These men made of flour, sugar, ginger and spice, with raisin eyes and nose have come to mean the holidays are arriving and signify a little bit of love in a business where we don't see much kindness delivered our way. So, I am so sorry I missed Lane's visit and I am looking forward to savoring my Gingerbread Man, when the time is exactly right.

Thanks so much Lane!

Autumn

Fall has always been my favorite season. Especially the cool evenings around a camp fire. I grew up camping with my dad and that was always my favorite thing. Dad used to call me his die hard because I would stay up all night it seemed sitting by the fire.

Todd knows my love of campfires and even though we haven't been able to spend much time together he has surprised me recently with several fires in the evenings we do have together. There is nothing better then sitting beside my loving husband, chatting about our days, holding hands. It makes those moments so special. I am truly blessed to have found a great man that knows what I need to feel loved.

Everytime I eat or even see a Hersey bar I think of you. I miss you and wish I could tell you.

I wear pink in my hair because:

There is a salon here in Grand Rapids that is doing pink hair extensions for a donation for breast cancer awareness. The proceeds go to the Susan Koman Foundation. I want to share why I am wearing pink hair extensions.

I am wearing pink because: A dear friend is a breast cancer survivor. Her strength and determination during her diagnosis and treatment made me so proud of her and she inspired others with her strength.

My grandmother survived breast cancer. She didn't talk about it much, her quiet strength and endurance to thrive in spite of the disease taught me so much.

I wear pink and support breat cancer fundraising programs for all women and encourage everyone to do your self exams, keep up with your doctor appointments. Take care of yourself, you are important to your friends and family.

My boys of summer, 2009

As I sit looking at my last three tickets of the Whitecaps season I am feeling a mix of bittersweet emotions. I truly enjoyed spending time watching this team. I am sad that the season is coming to an end but I am also a bit relieved that I will have the time again with Todd and Sydney. I will miss the solitude, can’t exactly say peace and quiet because that is the last thing I get at a game. I have always loved baseball and lived a dream this year with the season ticket for half a season. I’m hoping to squeak out enough money from the budget or gifts to get next year also.

I am looking back on my experience this year. I see the people who have sat beside me, the newlywed boy who was also there by himself, the group where I was able to gain a high five from “the guys” with my quick wit. There was Mickey and his friend; I really wish I could remember his last name. He has been one of my favorites; he is such an uber Tigers fan. He has done Tigers camps and really has the appearance of a ball player. He regaled me with stories of his interactions with the team and of being mistaken for a player by other fans. He was fun. Then there was Ryan and Jack. They got in trouble for using bad language; however I will give it to Ryan for being gracious and apologizing and not getting upset but understanding that the usher was just doing his job. Even though the grown man that tattled on them could have bought a ticket in the “no cussing family zone” of the park. We got a laugh out of that, a grown man tattling about cussing, with no child with him. I’m noticing as I read through what I’ve written most of my experiences have been with guys. Let’s face it; I’m in a minority at the ball park. I did have fun with “my girls”. I met up with Abby, Megan and Kerri S. at a game, Colene stopped by when she was at the park. I got to sit with Amy, Joel, Merrick and Mr. Reda at a recent game. We went to their seats; they were right behind home plate, what a difference. I got a great view of my favorite player. There were a few other season ticket holders in my section but I never got a chance to talk to them. There was a nice family that was there for Tiger Fridays. I was able to chat with them a few times. There were groups and individuals that annoyed me as well, the guy who talked the entire game; please this is why I don’t bring my husband and daughter, shush! There was a group that was there a couple of times, I’m guessing part of a season package that was split, and she was annoying. She even asked me to move once so her group didn’t have to be split up. Actually the asking isn’t the annoying part it was the tone and attitude. I would have gladly moved either way so they could sit together. Overall, I had a great time and great experiences sitting at the ball park “by myself”. I even got Todd and Sydney to come to a few games. They have to go on Mother’s Day not an option since it is my day. I also got both to attend the 4th of July game, since we had to see fireworks anyway. Sydney came along and got to be the Bissell Clean Sweep Kid.

I also look at the experiences I witnessed for the players. These boys, I say boys since I am old enough to be most of their mom, put so much into the game. The home runs, the first home runs, the heartbreak at striking out. They have so much to prove and so much to lose. My heart went out to the pitcher that was sent in from a bad inning and the player who wanted so badly to get a base hit and struck out. They walk back shaking their head, cussing themselves out for a bad play. My heart soared with theirs as they hit that double to get the winning run, or the home runs. I witnessed a first homerun for one player and multiple homeruns in one game for another. Every time a player crossed home plate the crowd cheered and many times got on their feet. This is our hometown team and we celebrate and get frustrated along with the boys.

As I watch the games I try to get a glimpse into the players. You can tell those who are there for the fans. A favorite of mine played up to the crowd, his head was in his game though. He was vicious at bat and when he got on the base he was practically jumping out of his skin to get to the next base. He crouches at 1st base, takes his lead off; his right hand does not stop moving with anticipation of the pitch. He is ready, he is moving. This is his game, probably all he has done in years. I’ll be watching, there is a good chance he will go to the big leagues.

This is my game, my experience. This is why I loved being a Whitecaps season ticket holder this year and hope to continue being one. I love the boys of summer, especially the boys of summer 2009 and I will be sad when that last ticket is used on 9/10/09 for the first playoff game.

I love my life

I have been pondering my life a lot lately in the face of friends going through life changing events. As I take stock in my life I am realizing how great my life is. I have a great husband who loves me and takes care of our family. We have had our struggles but overall I can't complain. I have a wonderful daughter, she is a strong willed, smart and beautiful girl. I have a job, it may not be the "best" job in terms of my dreams but it takes care of my family. We are all healthy and well. Things are going pretty well. I'm lucky to have a man who is attractive, responsible and devoted. He is a great father.

There are of course things I wish for. I wish I had more time to enjoy and relax with my wonderful husband. I wish I could play with Sydney every time she asked. I want to be able to play with the dog every night. Of course there are responsibilties that have to be taken care of so I can't always play.

I hope that when all is said and done my husband thinks I am a good wife and my daughter thinks I am a good mom. I do my best for both of them. Sometimes probably to much but I do enjoy it. I enjoy being Todd's wife and Sydney's mom. Looking at the world we live in there is so much pain often inflicted by those closest to us. I am grateful that God gave me Todd as my husband so we can raise the best girl together.

Test to see if I can post to blog via phone.

The Kid Rock Concert debacle

It is no secret that I love Kid Rock and saw him for the first time in February 2008. Well when I heard he was coming to Comerica Park in July Colene and I started making plans to go. Colene got a 6 pack of tickets and we were ready. Let me explain there is no doubt in my mind that one day Mr. Ritchie will discover that I am meant to be Mrs. Ritchie, sorry Todd. :-) Of course I am kidding but anyway it makes for good comedy among my friends.



So, as we get closer to the July 18th concert I am getting more excited. There is also some trepidation though because I know Colene has chosen "her" friends to go and Tammy has one of "her" friends going. I'm not known for my sharing ability and an concerned that I may feel left out.



So, I meet Colene at the park and ride. She has an ice cold ice tea from McyD's waiting for me and we are on our way. Next stop, Tammy. We collect Tammy from her golfing scramble and continue to the next stop, Anne. Of course we make a brief stop at a Target to get some much needed munchies and hangover prevention/relief. Anne is a hoot and she has managed to find someone to use the sixth ticket that we had, Shanna. So far so good, we are all meshing and having a good time. Enter Tammy's friend, Joan. This is going to be a good time.



I have learned from past experience that I don't mix different alcohol and I don't get out of control when I drink. I usually don't make the same mistake twice. So, I am being the "responsible" one but feel I am still having a good time. I just want to make sure my girls stay safe. We are in Detroit after all. We decide to walk from the hotel to Comerica Park and stop for a few shots along the way. I gratiously accept the first shot of Jim Beam and decline any others. I'm smiling and enjoying my friends enjoying themselves. Once we get to the park we get a glorious upgrade that to a family member of one of the group.



I'm enjoying my first Bad Ass beer and listeing to Alice in Chains. Wow, the new front man is pretty good, probably as close to the original as you can get. I'm singing along with my buds. Then everything falls apart. We head to our seats for Kid Rock when he starts to come on. All of a sudden we notice Tammy is gone. Colene looks back but continues on. Joan and I slow, hoping Tammy is close behind. Nothing, where the hell could she have gone. Now there is debate on whether the rest is my own fault or not. When I say debate this is a debate against myself.

So, Tammy is gone. She has her ticket but she can't be far, right? I can't just leave her drunk butt alone in Detroit, sigh, I continue to look for her with Joan. I'm getting frustrated because I am now missing the concert, I can still hear it of course but I am not down there watching. Let me just say babysitting drunk people is not fun. Finally, we find Tammy and she is standing at floor level in a decent area to watch the show so rather then leave these two I stick around. We have a good time for the rest of the concert then after the show I insist we try to find Colene and the girls cause Joan and I have the keys to the room. After the fiasco at the bar next door we finally find them and pass off a key. Again, I can't bring myself to leave drunk girls alone in Detroit. Silly me. So we close the bar and Tammy has now built an entourage of boys from Canada. We make the slow procession back to the hotel, thankfully the boys were there to walk back with us. Upon reaching the hotel Tammy tells me we are going to the boys room at the hotel across the street from ours. I told her no, and if she wants access to the room she better come with me. She chose to go with the boys. Again, I'm at the end of my rope now, I'm tired and just want to go to bed. So I leave them to fend for themselves finally. What a mess, they can't even get into the hotel without a key and I have the only one now. I end up showering and climbing into the roll away bed. Ah, finally I can relax. Poor Colene, she gets woke up a few times because the girls want in the room. Basically the concert I was so looking forward to ended up being one of the worst nights of my life. No more babysitting for me. :-)

What is going on?

So I know there are many people out there that comment on the human condition. This may end up for my own personal use but who knows I may get a chance to get it out there.
After being at Disney World for a few weeks I have strengthened my belief that the world is going to hell in a hand basket if we can't make some changes. Old Walt is probably turning in his grave to find the way people treat each other at the "happiest place on Earth". I don't mean the staff, cast members, you get nothing but the best from them. I'm referring to the other visitors. I have not been more disgusted by the selfishness of humanity. I was bumped into so much in one line that the banana in my backpack was literally mush. It seemed that the people behind me could not understand personal space. Now, I understand I am not going to get the "standard" 3 feet diameter I would like but please at least give me 6 inches. you really are not going anywhere faster by continuing to run into me. Unfortunately, I am not referring to just children. Grown men and women were just as bad. Look folks, it's hot and I really don't like being touched by strangers. I eventually took to standing sideways with my hands on my hips, at least my elbows gave me a little space. I was wishing for longer arms though. It was a good educational experience for Sydney though because I was able to teach her the respect for the personal space of those in front of her. The pushing and shoving to get on and off busses was just as ridiculous, maybe I will go into that another time. Bottom line people suck and are selfish and a person who naturally gives in doesn't stand a chance. I must get tougher and hold my own I guess.