Hard Work ...

What an intense look on Sir Manny's face during a training workout ...

Soon ... soon the Red Sox are going to have a ST game ... against my Twin(kies) ... I can call them that because I am a Minnesotan ...

*sigh* I so need baseball season to start ... I seriously do ... Hockey for the ds is about over (smiles & tears on that one) so I need something to occupy my thoughts ...

Hockey Tournament Update !

Well ... what a great weekend ... other than getting wicked sick Saturday night ...

The kids won their first game on Friday ... and they lost on Saturday ... but we rocked on Sunday ... we took home 3rd place ... the first time these kids have won an actual trophy ... they were so excited ... I was so excited ...

The cheering section for these kids this weekend was unbelievable ... it was amazing ... the kids appreciated it too, as they turned to us on Sunday and clapped at us !

*sigh* It was a great weekend for these boys and girls to bond ... on and off the ice ...

Snowy Weather ...

In Novyland this weekend ... we got 24 inches of snow ... yuck ...

The ds was shoveling the driveway yesterday cause I was sick ... and some guy plowing out a neighborhood business took pity on him and plowed us out too ...

THANK YOU MYSTERY PLOW DRIVER !

Mite Hockey !

Well ... we have a fun filled hockey weekend for the ds starting today ... I am leaving work at 2:00 so we can drive to the hotel ... and get ready for our first game.

My parents are driving the 6 hours down to stay with us ... it should be a fun time ... I am excited ... the car is packed, I bought fun foods to snack on ... we are set ...

My cousin, D, was in the hospital yesterday ... she gave birth to her first child, baby P ... she had a struggle with it, after 24 hours of being in labor, and 2 hours of pushing, the baby had turned and was now face up and at an angle ... they tried to turn him, but couldn't, so they had to do a C-Section ... and that didn't go well ... now she has some other problems. I hope this experience won't deter her from having more children in the future ... she's young and she's going to be a great mom ...

When my ds was a baby, I went back to college. My cousin(s) mentioned above were home schooled, so they would take care of the baby ds for me while I was in class ... she used to tell me that he was all the birth control she would ever need ... now look at her ! she's a mom herself.

LOL !

I love it when they feature our boys in uniform in The Dugout

Threats ...

Curt Schilling doesn't just make a threat ... you screw him, and apparently he'll follow through ...

I can't blame Theo though ... let him pitch a couple of games first ... make sure the guy still has it ... which ... I mean, c'mon ... he's still got it ... but he has a hefty price tag ...

PILLOW FIGHT !!

So ... more on A-Rod's crying for love found here ... will the drama ever end ?

Also ... this just in ... more MFY's want in on the pillow time love with Jeter ...

Captions are more than welcome !

Have Fun !

Manny

You know ... a lot of people are talking about Manny not showing up as scheduled for Spring Training ... he'll be late ...


But I say ... AT LEAST HE WILL BE THERE ... He's Manny ... Give the guy a break ...

The way this guy hits ... I'm okay with him being late ... like I said, he's Manny ... I am just glad the guy is on our team ... he's been conditioning himself in the off season ...

*sigh* He's Manny ... we expect this kind of stuff.

The smell of sweat ...

in Spring Training ... must be a great thing ... I wish I was there ... seeing my boys in uniform back to playing the game I love watching them play ...

I am hoping that Coco is going to have a much better, injury-free season ... I didn't give him much credit last year, since he took my former beloved's position, but I realize it's not his fault ... This year, I won't judge him for that ... I'll judge him by what he does ...

And clearly, this is something we have all read or heard, it's from Sports Illustrated and I don't mind reading it over and over again ...

Friggin Crybaby ...

So ... it's not NEW news about A-Rod crying in an interview about his relationship with Derek Jeter ... if it's new to you READ HERE

So I wasn't surprised to see today that
Jete's talks about the baby's tears ...

It is so funny to me ... I don't know why ...


OH ... and YUCK !

It Arrived !

WooHoo ! My new hat came today ... I am so excited to wear it ... it's very green !

The ds got a pennant for his wall and I got a t-shirt as well ... so it's a fun give-yourself-a-gift day !

Anyhow, I am still trying to decide what the heck to make for Friday. We are having a pot luck for the hockey team at the hotel for after their first game. I am thinking I'll just pick up some lunch meat & buns for sandwiches ... some ham, turkey, and roast beef ? what do i know ... I'm thinking of bringing a treat too ...

I have so much to do to get ready ... My To-Do-List ...

• Wash the car
• Pack our clothes
• Load all the ds's too small of clothes for my mom to give to the needy back home
• Make Pot Luck dish
• Pack up the PS2 & games
• Clean up the hockey gear - helmet is starting to smell ... BAD !
• Sleep
• Work
• Hockey Practice

Jeepers ... I'm just gonna stop there ... I am getting overwhelmed already ! No, I'll be fine ... It just looks worse than it is ...

Good Laughs !

I love this ... got some good chuckles ...

Protect Your Assets

~ Relaxation ~

That's what I did this weekend ... relaxed ...

Friday night we had hockey practice ... I was kind of depressed about it. I was thinking to myself "I am a young single woman, and what am I doing on a Friday night? Taking my ds to hockey practice." I must add, we moms that were there, had a lot of fun ... we laughed and giggled ... great time ... if only for an hour.

I stayed in bed late on Saturday ... the ds fended for himself and played one of his new PS2 games ... then we went shopping and I took him out to lunch ...

I watched 2 movies this weekend ... The Departed and Flags of our Fathers ... both were really, really good ...

Sunday ... the ds had a hockey game ... they won, 5-1 !!! I was in a bit of a daze though on Sunday, and don't think my mind was really on the game. I was drifting off into Novyland a little bit.

So, we have practice 3 times this week then we are off to our tournament ... the kids are excited cause we are staying in a hotel with an indoor water park ... not just a pool! I am going to bring the PS2 with just in case one of the TV's in our suite will let us plug into it ... that way some of the kids can play. Hope my parents don't mind ... it's not going to be a relaxing weekend by any means ... but I am anxious to see my folks ... they need to move closer to me.

I'm digging this guy ...

Matsuzaka is really growing on me ... I am so anxious to watch him pitch ... he shows class and professionalism, yet also seems so laid back and down to earth ... his smile is infectious.

In other news ... Foulke Retires ... I saw him pitch this past summer ... and he still had talent - and he'll forever be one of the 2004 WS champs ... but I didn't like him much ... Good Luck to him in whatever he decides to do ...

Thank Goodness it is Friday !

~ Shopping ~

So ... I am going bowling on St Patty's Day ... and getting McWasted ... we all dress up to some degree ... this year we have Boa's ... and St Patty Day buttons ... and shot glass necklaces ... and all sorts of crazy crap ...

... but I didn't have a hat ... and I needed a hat ... so this is what I just ordered ...

I AM SO EXCITED ... I can wear it all year, and not just in March ...

I also ordered a new t-shirt and a pennant for the ds's room ... he loves those things ...

**** Update ****

Just got an email ... my order shipped an hour ago !

Unresolved issues for Spring Training ...

I read this on FOX Sports ... I can't get the link to appear the way I want - and it's only with Fox's content ... bummah ... clips from the article ...

On Manny:

"Manny state of mind: Is he happy? Is he miserable? Will he blow off the Red Sox's first official workout a week from Thursday? Or will he show up and say, "Hey, man, I never wanted to be traded. I'm ready to play hard! Whatever my team needs!"

All right, maybe that's too much to ask. In any case, Ramirez was in Brazil last week. Neither he nor his agent, Greg Genske, has commented this off-season. The only development is that the Red Sox again tried — and again failed — to trade him.

Smart move. Ramirez's value in combination with David Ortiz remains immense. Their production enables the Sox to lower expectations on players such as J.D. Drew and entertain trades for declining veterans such as Todd Helton.

Ramirez and Ortiz shield all."

On some MFY's:

"The A-Rod/Torre/Jeter glove triangle: When last we left them, Alex Rodriguez was batting eighth, Joe Torre was on the verge of getting fired and Derek Jeter was fiddling as A-Rod burned.

It's time for this nonsense to end.

Torre, the Yankees' manager, all but isolated Rodriguez last season even though protecting players is one of his greatest strengths. Jeter, the team captain, spoke volumes by saying practically nothing in A-Rod's defense.

Sorry, that's not the way a team operates, no matter how justified the Yankees' frustration with Rodriguez might be.

Of course, it would be helpful if A-Rod stopped the drama. He shouldn't need a support group. He's supposed to be a great player."

On Red Sox Pitching:

"Red Sox's closer: Why don't the Sox just trade for Chad Cordero already? If the Nationals want two top prospects, give 'em two top prospects. Cordero is young — he does not turn 25 until March — and three years away from free agency.

While closers often come from odd places, the Sox are kidding themselves if they think they can invent a Jonathan Papelbon two years in a row. Maybe Joel Pineiro or Mike Timlin or Deven Hansack will be the answer. But don't count on it.

The condition of Papelbon's shoulder dictates that he work more regularly as a starter. The Sox need not rush their decision — the last two World Series champions, the 2005 White Sox and '06 Cardinals, did not settle on their respective closers, Bobby Jenks and Adam Wainwright, until late in the season. But Cordero sure would make sense."

And once again ... more BS nonsense about Clemens ...

"Roger Clemens' decision: The annual guessing game will continue all spring. And on Opening Day, Clemens still will be flirting with the Astros, Red Sox and Yankees."

and thanks for the news Fox Sports !

The Best & Worst deals made heading into Spring Training was posted on FOX SPORTS today ... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6466010?MSNHPHMA - for some reason it won't let me link it ... and it's annoying the crap outta me ... but, whatever !

So ... Truck Day has come and gone ... pitchers are reporting to training ... Is it my birthday ? Cause this is a good thing ...

The Verndale Song ...

So ... my good friend, Jerry, likes to dabble with songwriting and his guitar ... he's quite good actually ... I love listening to him play ...

Recently Jerry was at the local rodeo and hopped up on stage to share a song he had wrote ... it goes a little something like this ... notice the crowd singing along ...



I'm so proud ... at one point, he was starting a band ... and I promised I was going to quit my job to be their manager ... It could still happen !

I don't understand ...

The ds is on a B team this year ... because they are all first years ... they had us re-classed from A to B ...

so the playdowns this weekend ... we are in first place ... and then we have to play an A team ... ? ... WTF ?!?!?!

We played HARD ... but lost 3-4 ... we tried so hard! The ds was on defense and he was CLEANING HOUSE with all the pucks he was shooting down the ice ... it was a fun game ... and the kids played with their hearts ... no penalties for us - 6 for the other guys ... that has to mean something ...

The other kids were apparently talking smack out there too ... not very sportsmanlike ...

So ... we still have 3 more tournaments before the season is over ... as Gloria Gaynor said " I WILL SURVIVE" !

Poor, poor DS ...

The school nurse called ... the DS is sick ... his tummy hurts and he has a low grade fever ...

I am going to leave now to take him home ... I worry ... especially since we have so much riding on this upcoming HOCKEY FILLED weekend ...

Maybe he has nerves since I explained to him what could happen if they win tomorrow ... I would prefer that than him getting truly sick ...

Have a nice weekend everyone ...

Anna Nicole ...

It is so disturbing to be sitting at work and looking over at the televison ... and seeing that Anna Nicole Smith was pronounced dead ...

I have seen her a lot recently on Entertainment Tonight ... and you would swear the woman was constantly high ... so I am hoping that drugs had nothing to do with her death, especially after having lost her son a few short months ago ... I also hope her TrimSpa lawsuit had nothing to do with it as well ... I am sure the stress can be overwhelming ...

I just feel so sorry for her little girl ... who will never know her mother ... that is the part that saddens me ...

Nada ... Zilch ...

PLEASE HAVE A VERY NICE DAY !

Hockey - State of the Union ...

Well, the ds had hockey practice last night ... whew ... it was EXTRA cold in there due to the fact that it is FREEZING outside !

We have playdowns this weekend ... if we win on Saturday we have to travel about 2 hours North for a game on Sunday morning ... and if we win the Sunday game, we go to State !!!

~ ~ Hold On ~ ~

Then I also found out that if we win on Saturday, and lose on Sunday ... we STILL go to State !

Either we win the Division or the Wildcard ...

WOW.

When you wish upon a star ...

you are setting yourself up for disappointment, but when you wish upon a group of stars ... you are setting yourself up for one of the (hopefully) most tremendous seasons in baseball ... that is what I feel is going to happen with the great pitching rotation the Red Sox have established for the 2007 season ...

I am tickled pink about it !

Boys will be boys ...

Craig Hansen takes the prize at the PBGL - Beats out (my once beloved) Johnny Damon ...

Way to represent C.H. !

J.D.'s response to losing ... "I'm just not as good as I thought I was," Damon said. "These other guys, they've been practicing. I have three kids. While they've been practicing, I've been changing diapers."

Baby ...

it's cold outside !

The weather in the MidWest is unbearable ... I kid you not !

School was cancelled cause we are to be at -30 degrees today ... and I hate it ...

Well ... I must admit, I was extremely bummed about the Bears losing yesterday ... It wasn't so much that Manning WON it, it's that Grossman LOST it ... anyway ... Congrats to my friend Mellie ... as she loves da Colts ...

Uh ... is it TRUCK DAY yet ????

Happy Birthday JTT !

I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday ... wish I could come over for some cake ... and some booze ... and ya know ... you could cook me dinner after all of my far travels !

hope you have a great day ...

to an Enclavian friend ...

by JeanGenie ...

you are a hoot,
and you need to color your roots.

sometimes i cry,
when i see a troll clown,
looking me in the eye.

i have done as you asked,
you can be found in LAUGHS !

Please note A BLOGMARE !

sweet dreams are made of this ...

I got an email from a friend today ... she is trying to sell some t-shirts ...

** disclaimer: this is just in fun, no shirts will be printed, nor does the celebrity necessarily endorse this project. thank you, the legal staff of NOVY, RAW INC. **

On the mound ...

Daisuke Matsuzaka is feeling at ease in the States. He is digging California, says it's good for his training ... but, how's he gonna feel about Boston ? CA ? MA ? Not the same thing!

I liked this part of the article:


"Joining Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Tim Wakefield in the likely Boston rotation, Matsuzaka will find himself in the company of a remarkable array of arms. "


No kidding ... Wicked Remarkable ... I am counting on it being the best rotation in the American League !