Sad hockey news

I just read that the 18 year old daughter of former NHL player Pierre Turgeon was killed in a car accident this past week. How incredibly sad!

Pierre Turgeon was (and probably still is) my absolute favorite hockey player growing up. I followed him from his rookie years in Buffalo...to his stint on the Islanders.....and jumped for joy when he became a member of the Blues. He was a great player and, I won't lie, I also had a mega crush on him.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. What a crappy thing to have happen. :(

So proud of our Rams!

I realize to most people, a 7-8 record is not considered good. I get it. You've lost more than you've won. HOWEVER.....when that 7-8 record belongs to a team that went 1-15 last season, it sounds downright impressive. And this is where we find ourselves with the St. Louis Rams. A team that could actually make the playoffs. Seriously. I'm not gonna say next weekend's game with the Seahawks is a guaranteed win, especially given the Rams history of not playing well there, BUT, you gotta like their chances. The Seahawks lately look like your 10 year old's peewee football team could beat them. While not perfect by any means, the Rams looked pretty good yesterday, beating the 49ers (and as I correctly predicted, the Niners head coach Mike Singletary was fired after the game).

It's well documented that I love Rams QB Sam Bradford. In fact, all of St. Louis does. However, my favorite Ram is wide receiver Danny Amendola. And not just because he's hot (and he's really, really hot ladies!). I think he's been the best player on the team...he's been consistent throughout the entire year. He's so little and feisty out there-I love it! And yesterday he played his little heart out. That 86 yard punt return had me jumping up and down in my grandpa's living room-for reals!

I'm realistic enough to know that IF the Rams manage to get into the playoffs, they will probably lose their first game as they will most likely be playing the Saints and, well, the Saints are the reigning Super Bowl champs, but still.....if you had told me a year ago that the Rams would even be fighting for a playoff spot this year, I'd have told you you're nuts. So, no matter what happens next Sunday, we need to be proud of what our team has accomplished this year!

Exciting times in STL kids, exciting times!

Merry Christmas ladies!

If this is what they got goin' on in the Dominican Republic...count me in. From left to right: Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Marmol, Starlin Castro and Aramis Ramirez.

Why hellooooo, gentlemen. I spotted this Cubs pic and had to post.  Sori-what big guns you have. Rami-what an, um, big belt buckle you have. Marm-what the hell is on your shirt? Starlin-are you sure you're legal?

I'm starting to get baseball fever folks, and this pic was just what I needed to tide me over.......MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Ok, so I'm a couple of days early, but I doubt I'm back on here until Monday, so.....MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! It's hard to believe it's already  Christmas again! I've already celebrated with my immediate family, but tomorrow night will be the celebration with my extended family on my mom's side and Christmas Day will be with my dad's side. Fine family fun all around!

It's supposed to snow here in Missouri, I'm not sure about other places, but please be safe and have a wonderful holiday.

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY to my cousin, Rachel

Happy, Happy birthday, baby cousin! I remember when you were born....you were a day old and your mom was able to get out of the hospital and bring you to the family Christmas Eve festivities. I can't believe that was 18 years ago!

I hope you have a wonderful day kiddo. I love you much!

Christmas came early!

Had a great weekend at home with my family! We had our little family Christmas on Saturday. My brother has to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so we decided to bring Christmas to him....a week early.

Of course, the part we most looked foward to was my niece's reaction to the whole thing. At 20 months, she was more apt to "get it" than she was last year. And "get it" she did. Once she realized how fun opening presents was, she was on it. One gift was a bunch of clothes and she took them out of the box saying "oooooooo!" (she's totally a girl, huh?). When she discovered the Elmo book I got her, she yelled "Momo" repeatedly and she insisted on having all of her Little People stuff opened. But....the greatest gift for her by far was the Dora tent/tunnel thingy my parents got her. When she opened the box, she yelled "Dowa, Dowa, Dowa!" and we had to immediately get it out of the box and set it up for her. They have something similar at her day care and she apparently loves it. Now she has her own.....and absolutely loved it. I won't lie, I think we all enjoyed it and her daddy and grandpa even got inside it with her (which she really didn't like. She yelled at her daddy......). SO much fun!

I got some awesome gifts from the fam, it was just a great weekend overall....yay! Now we have Christmas Eve with the extended fam on my mom's side and Christmas Day with my dad's side. Love fine family fun!

Happy Christmas Week!

Rams-Chiefs this weekend. Cross-state rivalry?

It's not really a rivalry. I mean, we think all Chiefs fans are fat and white trash, but other than that, it's not a rivalry. ;)

Who could ever imagine that we'd be discussing meaningful football games for the Rams in December? Certainly not me. But indeed, this is the case. The Rams-Chiefs game on Sunday is big for both teams. I'd like to thank the San Francisco 49'ers for all but dropping out of the NFC West race after last night's shellacking by the Chargers. Now, if the Seahawks would just go away we'd be golden.

Those of you in St. Louis, if you get the chance, you MUST listen to the Fastlane on 101.1 ESPN radio. It's on from 2p-6p and is freakin hilarious. The hosts are former Ram Demarco Farr, Randy Karaker and Bob Ramsey. This week has been particularly funny because they are ALL ABOUT making fun of the Chiefs and their fans. In fact, any time someone says anything about the Chiefs, you can hear a "moo" sound effect in the background. They're saying all Chiefs fans are "heifers". It cracks me up.

So, I guess for this weekend, it IS a rivalry. I soooooooooo hope the Rams come out on top.

GO RAMS!

Woody is coming home!

It appears Kerry Wood is coming back to where his MLB career began (and will probably end). Sources say Woody and the Cubs have agreed to a 1 year, $1.5 million deal that will bring Kid K home where he belongs. I see no negatives with this move. For the Cubs, they get a solid setup man for Marm and at a relatively cheap price and for Woody, he gets to come back to the team that he started his career with, which is apparently his preference because he and his wife make their home in Chicago. Win-win. I'm excited to have him back. He didn't look good in that nasty Yankee uniform.

Happy 83rd Birthday, Grandpa!

Folks, today is my beloved Grandpa's birthday, send him some love, would ya? He's 83 and, all things considered, in pretty good health for an 83 year old. Sure, he talks too loud at church because he can't hear...and he tells the same stories over and over and over again....but, he's otherwise healthy as a horse. Although he did tell us last weekend that he does NOT want to live to be 100. Um.....ok.

My Grandpa is my favoritest guy on Earth. I am so blessed to be able to spend most Sunday's with him. Although he drives me crazy sometimes, I try to remind myself to treasure those moments because they won't last forever. So, if he wants to rant about Reggie Jackson-I let him. If he wants to rant about how the Droid phone can kill you-I let him. If he wants to rant about how stupid it is that people make birth announcements online and how back in his day people actually picked up the phone-I let him. My Grandpa is hilarious and super cute (just ask the old ladies at church that fawn all over him-"Oh Bob, you're so funny!". Gag me.). I hope Grandpa has an amazing birthday and I hope we have many more with him. Maybe even to 100. :)

Our St. Louis Rams are in the playoff hunt with three games to go!

Rams head coach, Steve "Spags" Spagnuolo making sure Rams QB Sam Bradford's helmet is on pretty.

I love the Rams. I do, I do, I do. Yes, I watched them during the lean years (you know, like last year's 1-15 performance), but this year has been exciting. Sure, they're under .500 at 6-7, BUT....they are also in first place in their crappy division. With three games left. And their fate in their own hands.We must assume that Arizona is all but out of the race, San Fran in theory could do something but already have 8 losses, Seattle is currently tied with the Rams (but the Rams have the edge b/c they've beaten Seattle), but two of their three remaining games are against really good teams in Atlanta and Tampa Bay....and their last game is against the Rams.  The Rams toughest hurdle will be Kansas City this week and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Matt Cassel is still out on Sunday (a girl can dream, right?). You'd think this was a big, huge, cross-state rivalry, but it isn't really.  I mean, I hate the Chiefs, don't get me wrong, but this stems more from going to college near Kansas City and having to endure the obnoxiousness of Chiefs fans for four years. That, and they play in Camarohead Stadium. But I digress.

I've mentioned before that I have a crush on Rams QB, Sammy Bradford....and wide receiver Danny Amendola. What I haven't mentioned is that I also have a crush on the head coach, Spags. I think it's his Boston accent that does it for me. Seriously. I need to get out more, don't I?

Dear Cliff Lee

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for not selling out and becoming a Yankee. Granted, some call the Phillies the Yankees of the NL (according to Jason Stark this morning on Mike and Mike In The Morning), but still, they're NOT the Yankees.

For the last few years, the Phillies have been my alternate team (it all started with my love for all things Chase Utley), so I am obviously stoked about this decision. Of course, this means the Yanks and more likely the Rangers will be going after Matt Garza, meaning my precious Cubbies won't be getting him. Garza was a pipe dream anyway.

The Phillies starting rotation can be summed up in one word: FRIGHTENING. Granted, there are a couple of NL teams that have fantastic rotations, but Cliff Lee AND Roy Halladay? Are you kidding me? The 2011 season is gonna be a good one.

As for my precious NL Central, veeeeery interesting indeed. With the "stellar" moves the Cardinals have made (getting rid of a great defensive SS for, well, Ryan Theriot and planning on putting 107 year old Lance Berkmann in the outfield) this off season, I anticipate a 4th place finish for them. Seriously. I see the Reds winning the division again...the Cubbies could, in theory, finish 2nd, but most likely won't. Then again, given the only other options are the Brewers, Astros and Pirates, I suppose it is a possibility. I'm not sure, depends on whether or not the Cubs kids can pull a Tampa Bay Rays and actually be good with a bunch of nobodys. We shall see.

Yes, it's only December, but I'm starting to get excited for baseball again. :)

The Amazing Carloseseseses.......

Carlos Zambrano. Carlos Marmol. Carlos Silva. Carlos Pena.

Just how many Carloses (Carli?) does one team need? Is there a limit? Someone check the MLB Guidelines or ask the players union, cuz the Cubs have themselves a shit-ton of men named Carlos.

Hell I don't care what their names are, as long as they play halfway decent in 2011.

Is it just me......

.....or does Cubs new 1st baseman, Carlos Pena, look like Nelly (the rapper from St Louis)?

Carlos Pena in the middle of a douchebag sandwich (agent Scott Boras and Cubs GM Jim Hendry)

I mean, seriously? To be honest, I don't know much about the guy, I hear he has mad crazy power but also batted under .200 last year. The 1 year, $10 million deal sounds horrendous, but it should be noted that half that money is backloaded, so it's not like he's getting all that this season. Hendry's known for some boneheaded signings....but this appears to be a decent one. The next rumor is that they are looking to get Matt Garza from the Rays. I'm on board with this. But, you know what? I'm also on board with them giving Brandon Webb a chance. Sure, he hasn't played in nearly two years, but, and this is a big BUT, if he can return to his 2008 form,  it'd be an absolute steal for any team that is willing to give him a chance. The Cubs are gonna suck in 2011, so really, they have nothing to lose.

For you Cubs fans fantasizing about Albert Pujols becoming a Cub....don't hold your breath. The Cardinals will find a way to get him signed for life. If they don't, I will be absolutely shocked. Also, the Red Sox are gonna be crazy good next year. That is all.

My niece is 20 months old today!

Wow, she is closing in on 2!!! How did that happen? Our girl is getting so big. I hate that she's growing up so fast but at the same time, I am fascinated by all the things she is learning...on a daily basis. She is definitely more interractive now-she can tell you what she wants. She still prefers to grunt and point at things, so you have to make her use her words, but she is definitely coming along. She still can't (or won't, we're not sure) say my name, her Uncle Tim's name, or her grandmas names. But she did poke me in the chest and call me "meee" on Sunday. It's a start. She LOVES her pawpaws-all of them. It's very cute to watch her with MY grandpa (who she also calls "pawpaw"). She loves to run up to him at church and give him a big hug. Repeatedly. Melts my  heart every time. She is SUCH a funny kid and I think she knows how charming she is. She still loves, loves, LOVES football and also hockey (when she sees it she yells "booooooz" for "Blues", and given how they've been playing of late, the "boo" part is appropriate....). Aunt Kerri is babysitting tomorrow night and I can't wait to hang with my favorite munchkin! I also can't wait for Christmas. The bulk of what I've purchased is for her, of course. It's so much fun buying kiddo stuff! :)

Sammy B for President!

I realize for most a .500 record isn't all that exciting. Well, the Rams and their fans aren't like "most" folks. A 6-6 record is a downright miracle given that they won six games in total the last THREE YEARS. Think about that for a second. Right.

So, a 6-6 record is pretty damn exciting and the Rams finally beat the Cardinals yesterday to maintain their hold on first place in the NFC West. Now, I'm not deluding myself, I know the NFC West is the worst division in the league...or possibly, the world. But...I don't care. The RAMS are in 1st!!!!

Sam Bradford continues to get better-which should be a scary statement for the rest of the league. Seriously. This kid is one of those once in a lifetime players. And we have him. So there. Will the beat the Saints this week? Ummmmm.....prolly not. But they still have the chance to win the crappiest division. And that's something.

We'll never hear "Aww geez!" again....RIP Ronnie Santo

I heard the announcement on ESPN radio this morning on the way to work..........and cried like a baby. Cubs legend and current radio announcer, Ron Santo, passed away yesterday after complications from bladder cancer. It was also well known that he battled a severe form of diabetes most of his life and was often in poor health. Still.........there's a new void in Cubs Nation. Ronnie famously has been slighted by the Hall of Fame Committee for years (and it's really gonna irk me if they vote him in now after he's gone and not here to enjoy it), he was a great Cub and maybe an even greater Cub announcer-not necessarily for his announcing skills, but for sheer entertainment value. Ronnie was hilarious. I loved talking with my blog friends about Ronnie's latest rants-he loved the Cubs more than anyone....but also got madder at the Cubs more than anyone. Shouts of "awwww geeez!" made me giggle every time. All he wanted in life was to see the Cubs win it all. Now, he's hanging out with Harry and hopefully from where ever they are, they can guide the Cubbies to a much needed championship.

I had to break the news to my friend Michele (Harry's daughter), who knew Ron well. I was sorry to ruin her day with this news. Michele said you'll never meet a nicer man than Ron Santo. He will be missed.

The ESPN.com article on him sums it all up nicely and made me teary-eyed all over again:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5878406


Rest in peace, Ronnie. We love you. I hope you and Harry are getting reacquainted and laughing it up right now.

Vaca round up and.....Riot traded to the Cardinals? LMFAO!

Why is it that the weeks drag on and on, but a week of vacation flies by? It's not nice. So, I was on vacation all of last week.I was actually in my hometown from 11/19 to 11/28. And I miss it already. Work sucks. Just sayin. I had a great time off.....saw the new Harry Potter movie with my brother, attended a surprise 30th birthday party for my brothers BFF, Travis (also known as "other little brother") and had lots of QT with the fam.

My dad accused me of sleeping until noon every day-in reality it was like 8:30, but to him that is noon since, for reasons unknown, he gets up at the butt crack of dawn. You're retired, sleep in already! :) We put up the Christmas tree together and on Tuesday I went with my dad to help out at their church getting meals together for needy kids in the area. I, on more than one occasion, attempted to go for jog.....not real easy on gravel, folks. Just sayin. Oh, and I had to wear a hunters orange vest. True story. You see, it was still deer season last week and my father was concerned I'd be a moving target while jogging.....so he made me wear this hideous orange hunters vest. I, of course, took a pic of me in it and posted it on Facebook because, why not? It was funny. And I'm happy to report that I did not get shot. Amen.

We actually went to St. Louis for Thanskgiving Day. We went up early so we could spend time with my sis, brother-in-law and niece. That Kendall is a piece of work. She is so cute and so funny...and a blessing for all of us. I'm telling you, a silly toddler who likes to put smily face stickers on her (and your!) face is sure to cure what ails you! Turkey Day dinner was at my Aunt Cheryl's house....everything was great (I even tried the duck and it was YUM!), including the wine we drank from the glasses that were as big as our heads. I got some QT with some of my baby cousins which was way fun...and watched some of the kids learn how to gamble (my aunt has a working slot machine at her house). You're never too young to develop a gambling habit, I always say. ;)

Last weekend was fun because my sis, brother-in-law and wild child niece came to Salem so we could all celebrate my dad's birthday. Yep, dad turned the big 6-0 on Monday....we knew he wouldn't like a huge party, so we had a low key weekend. We had a 2nd turkey dinner on Sat (because my brother's employer gave him a turkey....) and a birthday cake that said "Happy Birthday PawPaw" (awwww!). Instead of a big material gift, my siblings, mom and I donated money to my dad's favorite charity benefiting the people in Haiti and presented him with a nice certificate they sent us letting him know the money was donated in his honor. Pretty cool.......and I think he really liked it. Of course, let's not kid ourselves, what he liked most was having his grandbaby there. I mean, she LOVES her pawpaw! Even wakes up from her naps saying "pawpaw? pawpaw?". The feeling is certainly mutual.

Man, 19 month olds are fun! Of course we think Kendall is the greatest, smartest, funniest, most beautiful little girl we've ever seen (bias aside, she may truly be all of the above). She certainly entertains us all. And now I must publicly apologize to my sister and brother-in-law, for I didn't know what the consequences of my actions would be. So....I bought my niece this cute pair of jammies that have Dora the Explorer on them. I was going to give them to her for Christmas, but she found them last weekend and ran down the hall with the box yelling "Dora!" repeatedly.....so I just went ahead and gave them to her. Well.....apparently every day since then she has insisted on wearing them....and when my sis laid out other jammies last night, Kendall threw them in the hamper, went to her dresser and demanded "Dora!". They also have to wrestle them off of her in the mornings when they're trying to get her dressed. Uh oh......Aunt Kerri is sorry! It should also be noted that my mom needs to find better hiding places for her Christmas gifts because Kendall discovered the tent/tunnel-thingy my mom got her....that has Dora on it (of course) and she proceeded to drag it out of the closet and yelled "Dora!" . Ya think the kid likes Dora?

Anyhoo....Sunday we watched the Rams game, although my brother-in-law and I had to leave at halftime to get back to STL....so we got to hear (not see) the Rams nearly give up a 20 point lead in the 4th quarter. I felt like hurling which wouldn't have been a good thing considering I was driving, so it's a good thing they held on to win. They are now 5-6 and..........in first place in their division. I'm happy and sad all at the same time.

So, on to other matters. Yesterday it was announced that the Cardinals had traded Blake Hawksworth (a cutie) for Ryan Theriot....former Cub. Now, don't get me wrong, Riot seems like a great guy and he's pretty cute....but he is a mediocre short stop at best. I find it entertaining that Cardinals Nation thinks this is an awesome trade and they're all excited about him because he's "fast". Yes, the Ragin Cajun may have some wheels, however, you may also want to count up the number of base running mistakes he makes throughout the season. It's staggering, I can assure you. And if you're a fan of singles, he's your guy because he ain't hitting anything for extra bases, I can tell you that right now. One Cubs blog even suggested that this trade made the odds of the Cubs beating the Cards a little bit better now....which made me LMAO. Yes, congrats Cards, you have yourself an average (at best) shortstop who will hit maybe .275-.280 for you, he will have no homeruns and will have about a million singles. And a lot of outs caused by baserunning errors. Um.....good luck with that.

Happy 60th Birthday to my daddy!

Today is the 60th birthday of the greatest, smartest man I know. A man I'm lucky enough to get to call my DAD. I know he's not happy about getting "old" (his words, not mine!), but the truth of the matter is, he is in better shape than most people half his age and is totally going to kick 60's ass!!! :)

I love you dad! I know spending the day with Kendall will ease the pain of entering a new decade.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Think they'll hassle the Hoff in Japan?

It's the end of an era....ok, maybe not an "era" so much as it is "the end of a lifelong minor league career". Yes, Cubs AAA and sometimes big club player Micah Hoffpauir has decided to go play in Japan...you know, where mediocre MLB players go when they are out of options. Like Micah. Does anyone else find it freakin hilarious that the name of his new team is the Ham Fighters? Anyone? Hello? Is this thing on?

Best of luck to Hoff....he's still hot and for that, I will miss him. For his like .150 average, I will not miss him.

Now begs the ever present question-who will be the Cubs first baseman next season? The rumors are still swirling that super hottie (and future All-Star, just sayin) Tyler Colvin may fit the bill. I'm not so sure that's the best idea. Tyler is a GREAT outfielder. He's got a good, strong arm, I'd had to see that go to waste at first base. I mean, let's face it, first base is probably the position that requires the least amount of athleticism, right? I mean, sure, periodically you need to be able to do the splits when you receive a wild throw from Aramis Ramirez and, yes, you need to be able to throw to third, but really, other than being able to catch a ball, that's about your only job requirement. Right?

Here's what I want to see happen-get rid of Fukudome. I'm sure he's a very nice guy and his little Japanese baby was really cute, but seriously? He gotsta go. The Cubs will probably have to eat some of his horrendously high salary (another Jim Hendry special!), but get rid of him. He serves no purpose. For reals.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

I can get over the fact that the Blues lost 8-1 last night, ending their 7 game winning streak and giving them two whole losses this season. I can. What I can't get over is the fact that even though they were killing the Blues, the Blue Jackets (dumb name, but whatever) continued to pick at them...picking fights and, well, playing like assholes. And now we've lost our best player. Yep, TJ Oshie broke his ankle last night because of some asshat. Now, Osh hasn't scored as many goals as we'd like, but he's leading the team in points and his mere presence on the ice is a team lifter. This is not good news. The Blues already have a ridiculous amount of injuries thanks to concussions and whatnot. To lose your best player, probably for months, is a huge momentum killer. I hope the team can regroup and remember that they are actually good, and play well enough until they start getting some of their guys back. To put this in perspective, this would be like the Cardinals losing Albert Pujols for most of the season. It's that big.

My niece is 19 months old today!

My little sweetie is such a big girl! I just can't get over how big she is! And how smart-she's a sharp little cookie! And so cute it's ridiculous.

She is definitely a sports lover. Every time she sees a football game on TV (even if we're out in public), she yells "BALL!" and points. We also taught her to raise her arms as we yell "touchdown". It's super freakin cute. She also yells "blues" when she sees hockey on TV. Kid's gonna fit right in. Yesterday I asked her if I could come and babysit her next weekend....she shook her head yes. How freakin adorable is that?????  She's also a sweetie-yesterday at church, her daddy put her down and she ran straight for her Aunt Kerri.....kid just melts my heart every time. She was also telling us all to "sit" as we were standing while singing a hymn at church. Ok...so she's a bossy little thing too. :) I love it.

The Blues AND the Rams are in first place???? Don't wake me if I'm dreaming!

Seriously people, when is the last time this happened? Let's talk about the Rams first. Sure, on paper a 4-4 record is not much to brag about, but when you're in the division they're in, a 4-4 record puts you in a tie for first place. We'll take it. And here's to kicking some 49er butt this Sunday!

Now on to the Blues. Wow. That's about the only word I can use to describe them. At 9-1-2, they have 20 points on this young season, only 2 other teams have that many points in the entire NHL. That's right folks, our Blues have the highest point total in the ENTIRE NHL. Um...when has that ever happened? Me thinks never in the time that I've been following them (which has been since around age 13, so you know, only a couple of years).

This is exciting stuff! My sibs and I are going to the Blues game on Dec 1, I can't wait! My niece loves them too, yelling "Blues" every time she sees hockey on TV. Both goalies are amazing, and it's a different guy scoring every night. Granted, they seem to not be able to score on the power play, but I'm not complaining. They've won 7 in a row, including four shutouts. Um......awesome.

7-1-2

I know it's only been 10 games.....but our St Louis Blues have won 7 of them. Are they for real? Still too early to say but I'll tell you this-Jaroslav Halak appears to be the real deal in goal. WOW is he impressive. The Blues won again last night, they are undefeated at home, and they now sit atop the Central division. Yes, that's right, I didn't stutter, the ST LOUIS BLUES are in first place. Sounds strange, doesn't it? Try saying it out loud Blues fans, maybe it'll be easier to believe if you practice. I'm so excited! This is just what I need to help me get over the ending of the baseball season. It's so much fun being excited about Blues hockey again! Let's face it, it's been awhile. Mike D'Agostini and David Perron are on fire with five goals each and Halak is, well, just amazing. Three shutouts in his last four games......seriously? Yes, seriously. I love it!!!!!!!

Holy Brian Wilson's Beard, the Giants have won the World Series!

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants, winners of the 2010 World Series. I was rooting for Texas all along, but somewhere along the way, I developed what should probably be considered an unhealthy obsession with Giants closer, Brian Wilson. Actually, the obsession started way back around the time of the All-Star Game. Dude is just hilarious. And completely bat-shit crazy. I love him.

Let's face it, the Giants pitching is amazing and they completely shut the Rangers down. They won, fair and square. I was hoping it would go seven games because I'm not ready for baseball to be over.....but now it is. Pitchers and catchers report in February, here's hoping I can make it until then.

Good thing I have some good distractions-the Rams are 4-4 going into their bye week-can't argue with that. And the Blues, yes, the ST LOUIS BLUES, are ranked #1 in ESPN's latest power rankings. For reals. They are currently 6-1-2 and, well, are pretty damn good. They are right behind Chicago for the lead, despite the fact that they've played FOUR less games than Chicago. Get excited folks, get excited! WOO!

5-1-2

Are the St. Louis Blues for real? Thus far on this young season they appear to be. A quick scan of the Western Conference shows they have the 3rd highest point total in the entire conference with 12 (the conference leaders, LA, have 14 points). Their overall record is 5-1-2. Not too shabby, eh? I realize it's still early and it's a long season....but in years past the Blues have not started the season well. They rebound in the 2nd half, but typically that's been too little too late. So, it's fun to see them playing well straight out the gate.

The difference this season? In my opinion it is the addition of Jaroslav Halak in goal. That guy is pretty much amazing. The last time the Blues had a goalie this good was back in the Curtis Joseph days....and that was about a billion years ago. Halak makes it look easy out there. Another difference? I heard an interview with Cam Janssen last night (STL native!) and he said one of the things he thinks is helping is that they are a close bunch-no cliques (his words), everyone gets along and are like one big happy family. Team chemistry can take you a long way folks (granted, it didn't work for the Cubs this season but I digress).

When did Nashville become our biggest rival? Did I miss that memo? Anyway....they are, and the Blues handed them their first lost in regulation last night. Halak got his 2nd shutout in a row and life was good. It's not just one guy contributing-it seems like everyone is which is awesome. I haven't had this much hope in my hockey team since Brett Hull had that beautiful golden mullet and the Cavallini brothers were still playing......

Happy Halloween

Meow. I'm a black cat, in case you couldn't tell. Although people kept calling me a puma today......I told them I scratch and bite. :)

This is me with my girl Robin.....she is wearing a Sam Bradford jersey and is holding up a picture of a cougar. Long story short: she and I have a crush on young Sammy Bradford (who is like 23), so we always joke that we  have a cougar crush on him. Hence inspiration for her costume...

I  LOVE  HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sis and brother-in-law!!!!

Today is the anniversary of the birth of two of my favorite people-my sister and brother-in-law! Cute that they have the same birthday, huh? Same year and everything. Good times.

To sis and Jon-I love you guys SO much. If anyone deserves happiness and good things, it's you guys. I hope this next year brings you double doses of BOTH!

weekend wrap up and random ramblings.....

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Monday was way too hectic for blogging, but today is a new day.

Had a great weekend, how bout you? Friday I had an awesome night of ordering pizza delivery, wearing my jammies and reading People magazine....and going to bed early. It was heaven. On Saturday, I woke up early and had the urge to......shop. Which is SO not me. I'm not a shopping kinda gal. I buy clothes only when I have to (like when my butt gets too big for my current clothes, you know, stuff like that). So, while I didn't go too crazy, I did purchase a couple of items including......fabulous burgundy colored Mary Jane heels. OMG. Love. For reals. And they're actually comfy. I want to wear them everyday.

Late Saturday afternoon, I headed over to babysit my favoritest little munchkin, my niece Kendall. I swear she changes every time I see her (I just saw her a week ago!). And, I realize I'm biased, but I just think she is the sweetest, funniest, cutest kid I've ever seen. Of course, as soon as Aunt Kerri arrived, she started showing off. She LOVES a new audience. Her Grandma B told me that as soon as she told her Aunt Kerri was coming over she got all excited and kept running to the door (um....LOVE!). Her daddy and I made her dinner (my sis was in a wedding that day so,not home) and then she and I and her grandparents played kickball. She loved it....just shrieked with laughter. That's the greatest sound. Ever. She also locked us out of the house. That was fun too. She was inside laughing as we were all  stuck on the sun porch. Little monster. While her pamaw and papaw got ready to go to a different wedding reception, Kendall and I went downstairs to play. All was fine until she started pointing to the TV saying "Dora" over and over. Apparently the kid wanted to watch Dora. Unfortunately....Aunt Kerri couldn't figure out how to turn the TV on . I mean, there's THREE remotes for God's sake. Kendall was not so much patient, started crying and saying "Dora" and shaking her head yes. I finally figured it out only....Dora wasn't on. This did not sit well with my girl. Luckily, five minutes later, Go Diego Go was on and, well, that was apparently an acceptable substitute. Whew! We played for awhile and then Kendall started getting antsy. I asked her if she wanted to take her bath, she shook her head yes and repeatedly said "ba". I can take a hint. So, up we went. Aunt Kerri is sort of bathing-a-toddler-retarded (for reals), but managed to get the job done. After getting jammies on and teeth brushing, Kendall didn't want to play, she wanted her milk and to read her books. Done and done. We "read" every single book she owns-it mostly consisted of her flipping the pages, occasionally letting me know what was on the page-"ah ah's" (monkeys), "nana's" (bananas), "cheep cheep" (birds). You get the picture. We then had to tell each book "nite nite"...with Kendall kissing some of them nite nite. I then asked her if she was ready to go nite nite, she shook her head yes, I put her in her crib....and didn't hear from her the rest of the night.

Once munchkin was down for the night, I concentrated on watching the Blues game, Mizzou/OU game and the NLCS....all at the same time. Lot of channel flipping going on. It was a GREAT sports night....the Blues won 1-0 in OT, Mizzou beat OU for like the first time ever (or something like that), moving them to 7-0 (OU was the #1 team in the country....um,not any more. HA!) and, while I was pro-Phillies, I'm pro-Brian Wilson's Beard more, so I was happy to see the Giants win and go on to the World Series. I realize I should be pro-NL, but I really like the Rangers and Josh Hamilton.....so, I think they're my pick. Although I'd like it to go 7 games so I can see my favorites for as long as possible. Because after the WS, there's no more baseball until spring. Boo hiss.

Sunday was a delightful day of church with Grandpa, and then watching the Rams game that nearly made me cry. Up 17-3 at the half, the game looked to be won.....but this is still the Rams we're talking about and, they managed to lose 18-17 in the last seconds of the game. For real. Almost cried. They're now 3-4 on the season. Still better than last year, but now we have expectations and hope.....and they shoulda won that game. Grrr.

Looking forward to this coming weekend-lots of fine family fun and......it's HALLOWEEN! Yay!

The weekend is nearly upon us........thank God.

Whew, it's been a long week. Actually, it's been a long six months....but I digress. The end of the work week is in sight, my friends! And not a moment too soon. The fact that I haven't bitch slapped anyone this week is really a testament to my growing maturity. What? You didn't buy that? Yea.....neither did I.

So, what's on tap for the weekend? Lots of sports....we have Game 6 of the Rangers/Yankees series tonight and Game 6 for the Phillies/Giants tomorrow. We've got Blues hockey this weekend. We've got Rams football on Sunday. And.....we've got the Missouri-Oklahoma game tomorrow. The big game of the week. Televised on ESPN and everything. It's huge. My head may explode if Mizzou actually wins. OU is ranked #1 in the country (Mizzou is #11). But.....OU doesn't have Sam Bradford at quarterback anymore (he, of course, is now the QB for our beloved Rams). All I know is I'll be root, root, rooting for the boys in black and gold!

The most exciting part about tomorrow is that I get to babysit my niece! Her mommy and daddy are going to a wedding, so Aunt Kerri is coming over. I'll see if I can get her to share her fruit with me (that kid loves herself some fruit! My sis said she ate an apple once....core, seeds and all!). I'm sure we'll have a good time. I'm more concerned about the behavior of my two four-legged friends I'll also be keeping an eye on, particularly my furry niece, Chloe. That dog is a TROUBLEMAKER.

Tomorrow is the Full Moon folks. Consider yourselves warned.

Happy weekend!

The Brian Wilson fan club?

OMG, I am so excited. I had no idea! As has been documented on this blog, I have developed a bit of a fascination with Giants closer, Brian Wilson. I think the guy is hilarious. So, imagine my surprise today when I was talking to my friend Julie (about work) and my co-worker Kathy came by to talk about Brian Wilson's beard (if you haven't seen it, google it). As we were talking, another co-worker chimed in "are you talking about Mr Wilson? Hellooooo, he's hot". I had no idea that others were as fascinated by him as I am. We then began talking about all his nuttiness and how he's single and how I should "get up on that" (not my quote). He's certifiably insane.....so, you know, totally my type.

Anyhoo, if you haven't seen them, you need to see his Life of Brian webisodes that are out there. I'm talking laugh out loud funny. Particularly the webisode "Five things to know about Brian Wilson", I almost peed my pants when he got to #5. Seriously. And his rant about room service at the hotels while out on the road. Also, you need to google his many interviews with Chris Rose. The one with the S&M guy in the background is freakin hilarious. As are his antics with his dog, Dubz (yes, spelled with a z). There's also an interview out there with Jim Rome that's pretty darn funny....he rattled Mr. Rome who I think may not have a sense of humor.

So, in light of this, I think I may be changing my original plan to cheer for the Phillies to win, you know, so I can see this guy a bit more often (and for the record, I don't think he's hot or anything, but sarcasm and silliness go a long way with me). That, and well, the Giants are already up 3 games to 1.

Now that I've had time to reflect.....

I've had nearly 24 hours to digest the news that the Cubs have hired Mike Quade as their new manager. I have a bit more clarity now than when I had my initial reaction at finding out the news yesterday. And......I think it was the right decision. Now, don't get me wrong Cubs fans, I love Ryne Sandberg as much as the next guy (or gal). I grew up watching him play 2nd base for the Cubs and even at a young age, I knew he was great. And, I also know that he has done a marvelous job with the Cubs minor league teams, even earning the AAA manager of the year this year. I have no doubt Ryno will make a good MLB manager. But he's not the right fit.....right now. For those that argue that Ryno has paid his dues in the minors and deserves a shot at the majors, let me ask you this: Do you know who was the AAA Iowa manager prior to Ryno? Yep, Mike Quade. Do you know who has managed in the minors in one capacity or another for, like, the last 57 years (or 17, whatever)? Yep, Mike Quade again. Do you know who is completely hairless from head to toe? Right again, Mike Quade.

Mike Quade has earned the respect of the players, they responded well to him. I know, I know, I know that he got them at a time of the season where expectations were low and he had a full 40 man roster to work with...I get that. But the fact of the matter is, he made smart managing decisions. He started who was playing well. He didn't leave some old has been veteran in there just because he's a veteran and makes a billion dollars a year. He played the kids that were playing well. He's great with the media (let's face it, Lou's media interviews were awkward at best). He's sorta scary looking, but we can't base our decisions on that people!

I think going low key is smart. The Cubs have enough pressure on them, adding a big name star manager certainly wouldn't help things. Perhaps now they can just concentrate on playing baseball. Novel concept, eh? Maybe invest some of the money that would have been used for a big name manager and, oh, I don't know, get a decent first baseman? Or perhaps another bullpen pitcher so that our hopes and dreams don't have to ride on John Grabow? Just sayin.......

Bengie Molina says: GFY, Yankees

Man, last night's Rangers-Yankees game was beautiful, wasn't it?

What appeared to be a pitchers duel early on completely turned into a Yankee bitch slapping. And I couldn't be happier.

The game was 3-2 Yankees in the 8th (or was it the 7th? I don't really recall). AJ Burnett was told by Joe Girardi to intentially walk some dude on the Rangers (his name really isn't that important in this story) to get to Bengie Molina (one of the three Catching Molina Brothers). Bengie Molina clearly didn't take too kindly to that and he promptly hit a three-run homer, making it 5-3 Rangers. The momentum completely shifted at that point and the Rangers went on to win 10-3. It should also be mentioned that, after that, Josh Hamilton hit not one, but TWO  home runs.....prior to this display of power that we all know he has, that idiot Joe Morgan commented that Hamilton hasn't really been swinging hard. WTF are you talking about Joe Morgan? You may be a HOF'er, but you sir are stupid. He's hit three homeruns in this series alone. Why is Joe Morgan an announcer? I mean, seriously? And then he spent half the night arguing with Jon Miller about every little thing, and when he was wrong, he made an excuse as to why. Can't.Stand.Him.

So what does this all mean? It means that the Yankees are ON THE BRINK OF ELIMINATION. Hopefully today. I'm not even as upset as I thought I'd be over the Phillies going down 2 games to 1.....because I think all along the team I was really rooting for was the Rangers and I believe they just might do something great. Stay tuned.

Mike Quade named new Cubs manager

How do we feel about this, Cubs fans?

I'm split. I'm happy for him and, based on a small sample size,  he did a marvelous job managing the team after Lou left. The players love him and clearly played well for him. He's a likeable guy and seems to be a pretty smart baseball man.

I'm split because my fear is the heir apparent, Ryne Sandberg (who has noted he is disappointed by the decision), is now going to end up being manager of a rival team and, well, kick the Cubs ass. It could happen.

In thinking more about it, I think I like the fact that they went with an under-the-radar guy. Sure, big names like Lou Piniella and Dusty Baker are fun and all, but there's a lot to be said for the lowkey guy. I read somewhere that a Phillies fan pointed out a few years ago when they needed a new manager, everyone wanted a big name replacement and they went with little known Charlie Manuel. What has Charlie done? Only made the Phillies the best team in the NL for the last 3-4 years. That's all. So........who's to say that can't happen in Chicago?

This sucker of a Cubs fan still has hope.

Ted's not coming back

SIGH. It's official. Ted Lilly will not be a Cub next season. Or ever again. Perhaps the first clue should have been when his Chicago mansion was put on the market. Ted officially signed a 3 year deal with the Dodgers yesterday. At 35 years old (in Jan), this deal may just end in his retirement three years from now. I knew it was a longshot that Ted would come back to the Cubs, but it still hurts. Lots. Especially since hope of replacing him in the starting rotation is some kid named Casey Coleman. I know it makes sense for him-he's from California, but still, us Cubs fans loved us some Ted Lilly. The Cubs loss is the Dodgers gain. Y'all better appreciate him!

Is it Spring Training yet?

Weekend sports wrap up

What a weekend in sports! I was glued to either the TV or radio most of the weekend.

On Saturday, HUGE win for Mizzou as they beat Texas A&M....and later in the day Nebraska (arguably the best team in the Big 12 North...with Mizzou 2nd) LOST (ha!) and even better, the #1 team in the country, Ohio State, lost. Mizzou went from #19 in the country to..........#11. Holla! This weekend will be huge as they play Oklahoma.....yikes. Go Tigers! Saturday also saw the Rangers beat the Yankees (WOO HOO!). Unfortunately, my Blues lost in a shootout, but still got an OT point.

Sunday's Rams game was amazing. My fingers were crossed as my sister, BIL, niece and parents were all at the game. I didn't have high hopes because San Diego is a pretty good team and the Rams are, well, the Rams. Sam Bradford doesn't care. He was great (despite being sacked twice) and Mizzou alum, Danario Alexander, playing in his first NFL game, scored an amazing touchdown and the Rams, yes folks, your St. Louis Rams, won 20-17. They are now 3-3 on the season. Let us not forget they were 1-15 last year. Get excited folks, GET EXCITED!!!!!! Sunday was capped off by an awesome win by the Phillies (after they lost Game 1), J Roll, who hasn't done much, hit a 3 run double, sealing the deal. Oh, and Chase Utley is hot....and Jayson Werth is not. I was disappointed to learn that the league banned Brian Wilson's orange shoes....but not that strange beard he was sporting....Oh the beard. Did you see it? It looked like it was dyed black with shoe polish. In fact, he admits he dyed it:  He said he did this because he ”thought it would be fun to have a ridiculously dark beard.” I think the guy is hilarious. I dig him. Oh, and, um, Tim Lincecum without a hat on is frightening. Like, Halloween came early frightening. Yikes.

Oh and then theres this:

Yes, that's me as Steven Jackson....

The aforementioned Steven Jackson and my new sports boyfriend, Danny Amendola...

My newest crush

Ignore the Cowboys jersey.....he's ours now.

Ladies, meet Danny Amendola, wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams. Um.....hot. And 25. This is my football version of Jailbait (our oh so loving nickname for the Cubs Tyler Colvin). I didn't know what he looked like until this weekend. He had quickly become one of my favorite players on the Rams this season just because he's been really good (prior to me knowing what he looked like)....the fact that he's hot just adds to the fun! GO RAMS! And, um, Danny.........call me. ;)

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY Rangers!

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers who won their very first playoff series.....ever. Don't be too impressed with that stat, the team has only been around since like 1970. Fourty years of oppression and suckage is nothing. Just sayin.

I'm very happy for them, however, as they have been my AL pick all season (I mean, after all, they ARE my niece's hometown team....). I love myself some Josh Hamilton and, um, how could you NOT love Cliff Lee? I mean seriously. I think my head would melt if I was able to see a Cliff Lee/Roy Halladay showdown in the WS. Think about the awesomeness of that. So.....gonna have to get the Yankees and Giants out of the way. Thanks. Three of the four remaining teams were the teams I picked (damn you, Yankees for getting in the way).

Oh, and I love the fact that the team banded together and celebrated with ginger ale so that Hamilton could take part in the celebration. Infamous for his history of drug and alcohol addiction, Hamilton usually skips the post game celebrations so as to not be tempted. This time, his team mates wanted him included. Sure, they did the beer and champagne thing later, but not until Hamilton left. Pretty classy bunch of guys right there. Between that and the Giants stopping their celebration to pay homage to Bobby Cox, there's been some really great displays of class this week in professional sports. Way to go guys!

Can't wait for the CS. Go Rangers! Go Phillies!

Dear Rams: A certain adorable 18 month old is VERY upset with you.

The Rams have incurred the wrath of my sweet little niece. Her bad side is apparently a place you don't want to be. I have never seen anything like it-little Kendall, standing in front of the tv, quite literally yelling baby gibberish with the occasional "ball!" "ball!" thrown in, pointing her little fingers at the Rams. "Ball" is something they apparently forgot how to play yesterday. And even a baby knew it. That's pathetic Rams. We couldn't help but laugh at the passion Kendall displayed-I mean, she meant business. Kid was NOT happy about the effort she saw yesterday. And after watching our team lose 44-6 to a team that was 0-4, I can't say that I blame her. It was embarrassing. And sad. And felt like the Rams of old. Not the new and improved Sam's Rams. I expect more next week boys. If not, I am not responsible for what may happen if you piss off that kid again. Consider yourselves warned.

Hockey player stalking has begun!

Real men wear pink. Just ask former Blue, Kelly Chase.

The Blues season opener was Saturday night, meaning, it's time to start stalking hockey players! Yay! A tradition my friends and I started last year, we decided we'd continue it this year. And it started off in grand fashion! We met up at OB Clark's to watch the game (we simultaneously watched the Mizzou game and the Yankees/Twins game...good sports night) and our Blues won 2-1 in OT....against the Flyers, who are like, good and stuff. It was a great win and a great night as Brett Hull was in town to celebrate the unveiling of the new Brett Hull statue (always exciting when you get your own statue!). So, after the game, the bar was abuzz with rumors that Brett Hull was going to be there. Long known as the hockey hangout, OB Clark's is also where KMOX airs their aftergame show. Well, turns out...........the rumors were true. Before we knew it, in walked The Golden Brett and his trashy looking wife (a skin tight sparkly mini-skirt? really?). It was very exciting to see him in person-he looked really old though. Then again, I remember him in his Blue heyday, golden mullet a' flowin.....he's now almost completely gray. Getting old sucks. Along with Brett was the ever present Kelly Chase, who, back in the day, played with Hull. We don't get excited about seeing Chaser anymore because he's at OB Clark's every time we are. Seriously. The radio station interviewed one of the Blues players and I, for the life of me, couldn't figure out who he was, still investigating. Our third player sighting was none other than Bernie Federko. I loves me some Bernie Federko. My friends and I were not like the other dorky people wearing their Hull jerseys and bugging the man for autographs. No, instead we just sat and giggled....and periodically stole a few glances of one of the greatest hockey heroes of all time. I DID snap the above pic of Kelly Chase. That was our worst stalking offense of the night.

More stalking adventures on the way! Stay tuned!

Reds swept out of the post season....KD rejoices

I would have preferred a shirtless Chase Utley pic, but this will have to do.

The Phillies are going to the NLCS......again. I mean, they are SO the elite team of the NL and prolly the only NL team that has a chance of beating an AL team. It's sad but true, folks. This girl couldn't have been happier to see the Reds get swept out of the playoffs. One-their season is now over-HA and two-they have no more braggin rights. The 2007 and 2008 Cubs got swept  in the first round, the 2009 Cards got swept in the first round and now the 2010 Reds get swept in the first round. Scientific proof that the NL Central is the worst division in all of MLB. Special thanks goes out to Brandon Phillips. Why? Because, without his leadoff hit in the 9th, Joey Votto wouldn't have been able to hit into a double play. And that, my friends, made getting out of bed yesterday worth it. The mighty Joey Votto, sucked ass in the playoffs. Small consolation, I know, but nonetheless makes me giggle.

The damn Yankees (see what I did there?) are also going to the CS after they swept the poor lil Twins. Gosh darn it, I wanted to get to see Joe Mauer for a bit longer....now I have to wait until spring. No fair. And um, Rangers? What the F is going on? You were supposed to end this already, now we're going to a deciding game 5? Where's my boy Josh Hamilton been? He's made some fine defensive plays, but did he forget to bring his bat to the ballpark? I mean, seriously? And then you have what is probably the most evenly matched series, the Giants and Braves. The Giants are up 2 games to 1 after a Braves meltdown yesterday. I don't really care who wins this series, and neither should you, because whomever wins will lose to the Phillies in the next round.

This has been your MLB playoff wrap up report, brought to you by me. You're welcome.

Bronson Arroyo is a douchebag....but this is pretty funny:

Talking about playing in front of Phili fans: "I loved playing in the stadiums when guys are screaming obscenities about my mother."

Sounds about right from the fine folks from Philadelphia, doesn't it?

LET'S GO BLUES!

Blues home opener is tomorrow y'all! Who's excited? I am! I am! Above is the goalie that's gonna finally make the Blues good- Jaroslav Halak. Too much pressure for a 25 year old kid? Nah....that's why he get's paid the big bucks. Now, let's do this already! The Blues looked good in the pre-season...I realize that doesn't count, but it's promising. The "kids" are no longer kids and hopefully have played together long enough that they will get their sh*t together and win some hockey games. Also,  how fun is it that the Scottrade Center is now known as the "House of Payne" thanks to coach Davis Payne (you know you're jealous of our wittiness). I expect big things from TJ Oshie....and David Perron...and for the love of God, Brad Boyes (he's too hot to suck...get it together dude). LET'S GO BLUES!

Baseball playoff update

Yep....still obsessed. The baseball playoffs are fun, aren't they? All but one of the matchups are shaping up just how I'd like them to. Tim Lincecum a 2 hit/14K game? Yes please. Even if he is a long-haired/hippie freak pot head. And even if Buster Posey was technically out when he tried to steal second. Who cares?

The Giants took a 1 game to 0 lead in their first game of the playoffs against the Braves (nice to see DLee strikes out for the Braves too....ouch). I figure this series will not be a high scoring one. Tim Lincecum was just filthy last night. And weird looking....but I digress.

So, the Rangers have a commanding 2 games to 0 lead....and they're coming home. Buh bye Rays. The Phillies look to continue their dominance over the Cincinnasty Reds tonight. The Twins, unfortunately, don't know how to beat the Yankees. It's really quite frustrating. I guess Josh Hamilton and the Rangers will just have to do it in the ALCS.

Happy weekend everyone!

My niece is 18 months old today!

Whatchu lookin at, auntie?

My little sweetie is 18 months old today....can you believe that? How did that happen? Let me tell you, this is a FUN age. I mean, sure, she's a bit sassy (I mean, duh. It's genetic, she can't help it.), but she's also so funny and silly and smart and fascinating. I just love to watch her and often wonder what's going on in that head of hers. Of course, as the aunt, I think she's brilliant....and the most beautiful child I've ever seen....because she is. Kendall knows 40 words now and while some are difficult to interpret, others (like "Dora") are clear as day. She has developed a newfound love for Elmo, still likes Dora and REALLY loves being outside, picking flowers...or rocks...or whatever. She's a nature girl. She is a huge Rams fan (we assume) and is a VERY healthy eater (I'm not kidding, I've seen her eat more than the adults at the table...not sure where she puts it because she's a tiny little thing). She cracks herself up and, in the process, makes you laugh....even on your worst day. She likes to talk on the phone....and there is nothing cuter than hearing her tell you "bye bye" on the phone. Nothing. Melts my heart. Yes, it's safe to say I love this kid. I'm not even a huge kid person-they make me nervous...but Kendall? I could be around her all day every day and never get tired of it. I'm a pretty proud auntie!

Happy 18 month birthday munchkin!

Dear Roy Halladay: You, sir, are amazing.

At the end of an emotionally draining day, the Phillies Roy Halladay did something amazing. For only the second time in playoff history, he threw a no-hitter. Yes, Roy singlehandedly made the entire Reds team his bitch. And I couldn't be happier about it. As I've often stated, once my Cubbies are eliminated, the Phils are my second team-been this way for a couple of years now. And the fact that they are playing the thuggish Reds makes me cheer for them even more. So, last night's game couldn't have been more perfect. And you know what Joey Votto? You can suck it. Still hopin for a sweep. GO PHILLIES

In other playoff news, the Rangers bitch slapped the Rays 5-1...LOVE. The Twins, unfortunately, lost to the stupid Yankees.  The Twinkies were up 3-0 but couldn't maintain the lead. Go get 'em today boys!

Everyone but the Reds/Phils are playing today. The Reds prolly need an extra day to wipe away their embarrassment. Ha!

more MLB playoff stuff.....I'm obsessed

In the fun spirirt of the MLB playoffs, I thought I'd select one player from each team to follow. Could be because they're hot, or good, or in Joey Votto's case, an a-hole. Whatever reason, here are my eight selections:

PHILLIES: Chase Utley. He's hot, it's true. I don't care that my brother makes fun of his hair. Whatever. And...poor guy, his own teammate slept with his wife (look at you, Jayson Werth who is, um, ick. Mrs. Utley must be insane. Or a slut.)

GIANTS: Brian Wilson. This guy is insane. I love it. While he is a very capable closer, I like him because he's crazy. Dude has a mohawk and wears orange shoes. I saw an interview once where, in the middle of the interview for no reason at all, he got out a guitar and started singing "Carribean Queen". Love this guy.TWINS: Joe Mauer. He is super hot and an amazing catcher. He's also an amazing hitter. He's the reason anyone should be a Twins fan.

RANGERS: Josh Hamilton. He is, quite possibly, my favoritest player in all of baseball. His ability to hit is just ridiculous, finishing the regular season at around .350. Are you kidding me? If you've read his book, you'll understand him a bit more on a personal level. Yes, he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, but the way he worked his way back, his faith and his dedication to his family makes him a true hero. I wish only good things for him.

REDS: Joey Votto. This guy just looks like a douchebag. Ew, ew and more ew. I hope he sucks in the playoffs and I hope his team gets swept. Nuff said.

BRAVES: Derrek Lee. Oh, DLee, how I miss you! One of the true good guys, I hope DLee does well. I don't particularly want his team to win, but if they did, I'd be ok with it. DLee is awesome.

 

YANKEES: Nick Swisher. I hope his team loses every single game, but I kinda dig this guy. I saw an interview with him and he, like Brian Wilson, is nuts. In a fun way. He's the team jokester, and always trying to keep things loose and fun. I dig that.RAYS: I chose manager Joe Maddon for this team. Dude just seems cool. And maybe a bit crazy. I seem to dig crazy.

Day 1 of the MLB Playoffs!

I'm ridiculously excited for the MLB playoffs. I don't really understand why, considering my Cubbies finished the season a dismal 12 games UNDER .500, but I just love, love, love baseball. The Rangers and Rays start things off at around 12:30 today, followed by the Reds/Phillies and BOOOOOO, the Yankees/Twins. I'm ready for some Josh Hamilton awesomeness....and Joe Mauer hotness (and awesomeness). I'm ready to watch the Reds go three and out. I'm ready to watch the mighty Yankees NOT win the WS this year. I'm ready to watch Giants closer Brian Wilson with his mohawk and orange shoes. I'm ready to have a beer with Joe Maddon. I.Love.All.Of.It.

Let the playoffs begin!

Hey, did you know it's also football and hockey season?

This is a great time of year for sports. I love it!

The Blues kick off their season Saturday night against the Flyers. The boys had a pretty good pre-season, winning more than they lost, so there's that. New goalie looks good and David Perron is scoring goals right and left. There's some injuries, but as the advertisment says, the kids aren't kids anymore. Let's play some hockey. GO BLUES! I'll be watching the game from OB Clark's on Saturday night-which is the place the Blues players hang out at after Saturday home games. Yes, i will be player stalking. YAY!

Um, and y'all better get right with God, because the end of the world is near. And how do I know this? I know this because the Rams, yes, the ST LOUIS RAMS, have won TWO WHOLE GAMES. I'm not joking. They are in a 3-way tie for...................FIRST PLACE? Um....what? The Rams, who went 1-15 last season, actually look like a real football team. It's scary. They kicked the crap out of the Seahawks yesterday, 20-3 (hard to believe the Rams D held a team to only 3 points...but they did). Seattle had previously beaten the Rams 10 games in a row. Ouch. The Seahawks looked like a bunch of girls playing yesterday. SAM BRADFORD FOR PRESIDENT! This kid just continues to impress and it appears each week he is gaining confidence. This is bad news for the rest of the league. Now, I'm not saying the Rams (also known as "Sam's Rams". hee hee, get it?) are going to break any records or make the playoffs or anything like that (at 2-2 it's still too early to tell), but what is encouraging is that they are getting production from everyone, they're playing with confidence and they have an amazing quarterback...who's only gonna get better. GO RAMS!

KD's MLB playoff picks-scientifically proven to be right

I'm mourning the end of the regular season ( I already miss my Cubbies. I can't help it, I just do). Instead of thinking up ways to interrupt Tyler Colvin's wedding in November, I thought I'd offer y'all my MLB Playoff picks instead (including who I WANT to win, and who I think will ACTUALLY win). WAY less stalker-ry, wouldn't you say?

Let's start with the AL (also known as "the league I don't really care about").

ALDS:
YANKEES vs TWINS. I'm picking the Twins here and my reasons are twofold-1. Joe Mauer is hot and 2. I  hate the Yankees. In reality, I think the Yankees will win.

RAYS vs RANGERS. I'm picking the Rangers because I love myself some Josh Hamilton, but I wouldn't be upset if the Rays win-how could anyone NOT like the Rays? I mean, seriously? In reality, I believe the Rays will win.

ALCS:
YANKEES vs RAYS. I'm gonna go Rays here. There's something kinda magical about them. Something their "fans" (all 13 of them) don't deserve to have. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM, PEOPLE!

On to the NL (also known as "the only league I care about")

NLDS:
PHILLIES vs REDS. This one feels like a no-brainer. Phillies in three. And not just because I hate the Reds and Joey Votto and love Chase Utley (ok, maybe both have a little to do with my picks...). The Phillies are the best team in the NL. Period.

BRAVES vs GIANTS. Hmmmm, tough call here. I like the Giants because their closer, Brian Wilson, has a mohawk. And wears orange shoes. Yea, my pick is gonna be the Giants. I'm not sure who will actually win, both have great pitching. I think I'm gonna go with...............Giants.

NLCS:
GIANTS vs PHILLIES. Phils all the way baby!

WORLD SERIES:
PHILLIES vs RAYS. Phils will win. Boo yah!

I'm excited! Let the playoffs begin!

I'm a bad aunt....but this is SO funny!

Poor Kendall! This picture is so funny! That's Rampage, the St. Louis Rams mascot. We encountered him at Taste of St. Louis on Saturday. My sister said typically Kendall really likes

him when she's at the Rams game, so we thought we'd go over and get a pic of her with him. Bad idea. As we got closer, Kendall started sobbing, Rampage tried to engage her, but it wasn't happening. The funny  part is, as she was sobbing, she was still blowing him kisses and saying "bye bye" to him. Once we were a safe distance away from him, she calmed down considerably, waving to him and saying "bye bye". We didn't even try to get a pic w/the Vlassic pickle pelican.....

Happy 5th Birthday to.........my blog!

Yes, I started this little blog on Sept 30 of 2005 (I know, because I went back and checked the date of the first post. Duh.). Who finds it surprising that I would come up with five years worth of nonsense to talk about? What? No one finds that surprising?

I periodically go through old posts, I particularly like to look at the posts from exactly a year before and see what I was doing then. There are parts of my life I don't want to re-live, thus, parts of the blog that I ignore, but for the most part, it's fairly entertaining to go back and read some of my crap.

I know some readers get annoyed when I talk about the Cubs. I don't care. It's my blog and the Cubs are a big part of my life-for better or for worse. I thought about making a separate Cubs blog just for those posts, but then I thought, why should I? This is a multi-faceted blog dammit!

Just think, five years ago, I didn't have a beautiful niece to talk about. Five years ago, my sister was engaged and we were in the process of getting fitted for dresses. Five years ago, I was still full time at the crisis line. Five years ago I still believed I wouldn't die an old maid. Five years ago I was still in my 20's. Ouch, that last one hurt.

So, here's to five more years of my nonsense. You know you want it.

Happy, Happy Birthday to my friend Robin!

AKA, Lola Bean.

Hope you have a fantabulous day today and that it doesn't suck (she works with me, odds are good that the day will indeed suck). If you need me to disembowel someone for you let me know. (a not quite right inside joke).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

New Weezer CD Review.......two weeks later

I have listened to nothing but Weezer's new CD since I purchased it two weeks ago. I mean literally, nothing. I love it that much. Still. Now that I know the songs I thought I'd provide an updated review of the CD...granted, I realize no one but me cares, but it's my blog, so shut the F up. I kid! I kid!

So, the opener, and first single, "Memories", was one that had to grow on me. I didn't really like it the first time I heard it. Once I accepted the fact that synthesizers are apparently back, I gave it a chance. It's still not my favorite, but I can tolerate it.

The 2nd song, "Ruling Me" is frickin awesome. With background vocals by Semisonic's Dan Wilson, it sounds like old school Weezer-we're talking blue album, Buddy Holly Weezer. It's some good times and is in my head right now.

The 3rd song, "Trainwrecks", has a couple dumb lyrics, but it also has a lyric in which Rivers proclaims "we're still kicking ass". Love that.

Song 4 is "Unspoken" and is amazing. It starts as a little guitar diddy but the end of the song will KICK YOUR ASS. For reals. I get chills.

Song 5 is "Where's My Sex?" and has been panned by critics, but I find it hilarious. It's kooky and weird in that old-school Weezer sort of way, think "Undone" but faster. Rivers voice sounds weird but interesting. I dig it.

Song 6 I absolutely love. It's called "Run Away". Kinda un-Weezer like, but I totally dig it. One of my favorites on the album.

Song 7 is called "Hang On" and is also one of my favorites. With actor Michael Cera playing mandolin and singing background vocals, what's not to love? I mean, seriously?

Song 8 is "Smart Girls". I know my brother digs this one. This is also old-school Weezer-esque, kinda dumb, but that's why we love them, right?

Song 9 is called "Brave New World". Not my favorite, but still a good song. There's a lot of words, which is unusual for Weezer and thus, hard for me to follow. I'm a simple girl.

Song 10 is "Time Flies". It sounds unlike any Weezer song I've ever heard. To me, it's kinda Beatles-esque.

There are four bonus tracks if you get the deluxe version. The first bonus song is "All My Friends are Insects". Weezer performed this on the kids show "Yo Gabba Gabba". It's fun and catchy. My brother played it for my niece who, sadly, was not impressed. The next song is a cover of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida". This is the only song I skip on the CD, I don't dig Coldplay, but I will say Weezer makes the song tolerable. The next song is "I Want To Be Something". It's just Rivers and his guitar. I dig it. The last song is "Represent", which, apparently, was the theme song for the US Men's Soccer Team this year. Who knew? It makes sense. It's kinda an anthem song. I like it.

For me, this CD ranks right behind Pinkerton and the Blue Album (their first). It's that good. I can't wait to listen to it on my 5 mile jog tonight!

Your Chicago Cubs are assholes

Playing spoiler sure is fun, isn't it? Sorry Padres. You encountered the Cubs at the wrong time. I'm sure the Giants will be sending the Cubs a big gift basket as they are helping ensure the Giants make the playoffs....and the Padres don't. Yes, being an asshole can be kinda fun. The Cubbies are 10 games over .500 since Mike Quade took over. Too little, too late, I realize, but it's still fun watching them play some good baseball. And our token Canuck, Ryan Dempster, finally won his 15th game, making him only the 3rd Canadian Cub to do so. Go Canada.

In other asshole news, the Cincinasty Reds clinched the NL Central last night. That just feels dirty. They're a team full of assholes and I hope they get swept in the first round. I'll be cheering for whomever they play against. I know, I know, I should support our division, but I have developed a strong hatred for the Reds (led by their Lead Asshole, Joey Votto. Grrrrrr.) and I wish to see them fail.

The Rays also clinched a playoff spot last night-good for them and their 27 fans (I seriously don't get why Tampa Bayians aren't supporting them!). I don't know who is playing who yet, but I'm cheering for the Rangers in the AL and the Phillies in the NL (the Phils are my secondary team. Why? Because Chase Utley is hot and Ryan Howard is from St. Louis. Reason enough.).

I'm excited for playoff baseball. Sure, my Cubbies will be golfing by Monday, but there's still more baseball to be had. My pick? the Phitin' Phils. You heard it here first.