One last post for today...Happy 39th Anniversary to my parents!

39 years of marriage is impressive, right? Today is my parents anniversary. They are celebrating by going out to dinner. I'm not sure where in Salem they might be going, but hope it's a good time.

Happy Anniversary to the greatest parents in the world! I love you guys!

Ramblings about family............

My dad's Aunt Mary passed away suddenly last night. While this is terribly sad, I'm not sure how to feel about it. We are not close to my dad's side of the family, particularly the Sedalia relatives, but still, this woman was my Grandma's baby sister. Though I don't really know her, I was still friends with her on Facebook. I think the thing that most freaks me out is that she was only 3 years older than my dad and died of a massive heart attack. That scares me. My dad is quite healthy, but still, dying at 64 is still too young if you ask me.

The whole "not being close" to this side of the family is always weird to me. Particularly since my mom's side of the family is so close. I have a slew of aunts, uncles and cousins I see on a regular basis. I have just as many, if not more, aunts, uncles and cousins on my dad's side that I don't even know. It's sad to me. My dad is one of 9, we only see his older brother, my Uncle Terry, on any sort of a regular basis and that is only on Christmas day. I'm FB friends with a lot of my cousins on my dad's side, but I don't really know them (and trust me, there are a LOT of them). Haven't seen any of them since I was a kid. I even have another grandpa alive and well on the other side of the state. I've met him twice. If my dad didn't look a lot like him, I doubt I'd recognize him on the street if I saw him. That one really gets me-grandparents are so special, especially when you're an adult-to still have them with us is a gift. I have a grandfather in Sedalia that I don't even know. Makes me sad....but also makes me appreciate my Grandpa here in St. Louis all the more. I guess I'm the sentimental one-my dad doesn't seem to care too much if he sees any of those people ever again, but I still hold out a bit of hope, hope that I can at least connect with my cousins and aunts. Most all of us live in Missouri. I don't think I'll ever connect with my grandfather and that is something I've had to live with.

Crazy that my great aunt's death brought up all these thoughts (and inspired me to blog after over a month). I am thinking of the family today, even if they don't know me (and vice versa). I'm hoping my grandma welcomed her baby sister to heaven (I like to believe that's where my grandma is).  I'm hoping that great Aunt Mary's husband, children and grandchildren are doing ok. That's all.

T-Minus 1 week til Cubs Con!

Like a nerd anticipating a Star Trek convention, I am ridiculously excited about next week's Cubs Convention in Chicago. I've never been to one and can't wait to check it out! And by "check it out" I mean staring at Reed Johnson's guns (please be wearing a tight t-shirt Reed.....). I can't believe it's only a week away. This time next week, Rob and I will be sipping mimosas in the bar car of the Amtrak train we are taking to Chi-town.  I also can't wait to meet the Cubs new management-Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer. Both are beyond adorable, I can't wait to see/stalk them in person.

I hear there is an ultra competitive Cubs Bingo happening next Friday night, and several of the Cubs blogs I read are having meet ups over the weekend. SO excited to meet world famous author Jen Estes from Cubblogging (read her book, Big Leagues. I loved it!). I LOVE fellow Cubs fans! We will be amongst our people for three glorious days. I bought some baseballs for the players to sign, I shall wash all of my Cubs gear this weekend in preparation. NERD ALERT. Rob and I are a bit concerned we may be arrested since one of our main goals is to sit on Jed's lap and touch Reed Johnson's ass. I'm not sure how restraining orders work in Illinois.

I wonder if Dale Sveum will let me ride on his Harley with him. Or check out his tats. I wonder if I'll get to actually meet some of the players/mgt or just take stalker pics of them from afar. I wonder if I'll even leave the hotel (if it's like -30 degrees in Chicago, this girl is staying put inside. Just sayin.). I want to meet Ernie Banks. I want them to announce that the Saturday portion of the convention will feature a shirtless player contest. I want to sit on Jed's lap (have I already mentioned that?). So, so, SO excited.

There will probably be a lot of obnoxious updates on Facebook next weekend (well, moreso than usual). I will not be able to contain my excitement. Nor should I.

Watch out Chicago, here we come!