Championship Swag

Chicago Highlights, Sept 21-24

1. 2nd row seats behind the Visitor's bench

2. Buddy Guy threw out the first pitch AND led the crowd in singing "Take me out to the ball game" during the 7th inning stretch

3. The Cubs, a.k.a. The Loveable Losers, won!

Oh yeah, spectacular buildings and great restaurants too.

I'll be back!

Champs again!

We played 5 games on the weekend to make it to the finals.  The last game on Sunday night was a grueling 10 innings - dusk was descending on the park as the two teams slugged it out.   While we were thrilled to win, we weren't sure if our bodies could take any more punishment.

On Monday we nursed our aching muscles and rested (as much as 12 working moms can rest).   Game night Tuesday we started off slow as usual, but managed to win 15-10.

I had a hard time leaving the office early again yesterday for game 2.  I expended way too much energy racing down to the train, changing in the car and getting to the park 15 minutes before game time.  The second wind I found on Tuesday - with the help of advil and jelly beans -  was nowhere to be found last night.  My first at bat found me limping to first base on what was a good double.  It was very frustrating to be so sore and pokey.  Thankfully I played first base and was able to contribute there.  By game's end, winning 11-2, it all seemed anticlimactic.  All weekend, the crowd of spectators had made it clear that they did not want us to win.  Thankfully, the opposing team was gracious in their congratulations as we shook hands at the end of the match.

The after-party helped tie it all together - we celebrated all the good things about our team. We worked hard, threw ourselves in front of the ball, played smart and kept our spirits up if we made a mistake.  We gave our coach his 78 minutes of focus every game.  We also had a lot of fun.   Very few teams were able to do all that this season.   Once again, I got way more out of playing ball than just playing ball.

Leah had her hands full this weekend

Jumping on the trampoline with Lucas (Barbara's grandson)

Catching frogs

And cuddling with baby Tyler (born Aug 10)

She also faced the challenge of getting Megan and I to leap off the jumping rock.  But we wimped out.

Next weekend. For sure Leah!

Leah the brave

Sewing? There's no sewing in baseball!

I am going to have to reassess my theory that my ladies baseball league is the modern equivalent of a 19th century sewing bee.
Correspondence from the weekend:

Coach Charlie to Team:
Good afternoon ladies...

We are all well aware of Jenn's journey and the serious battle that she faces once again, beginning on Wednesday.
Our desire is to also stand with her... therefore I think it appropriate that the remainder of our season and the playoffs be dedicated to Jenn. Our new battle cry will be... Together. Strong.

I would like us to band together and show our support for Jenn...
On Monday, Bonnie will purchase the Canadian Cancer Society's official Together. Strong. blue silicone wristband for each of us to wear beginning with Wednesday's game.... and until Jenn beats this thing!
In addition, Bonnie will also be obtaining yellow ribbons. We would like to see these stitched on to the left sleeve of our jerseys.
See you at the park!
Charlie

Response from team:
Karen - Great idea!!! But does this involve me sewing something?? Will there be lessons???


Kelly - Great idea, thank you Charlie and Bonnie. I will bring my little sewing kit to the party after the game, I am sure watching some of us sew will provide us with endless hours of comic relief!!!
Love it!!


Tanya - And I am of course so gifted when it comes to all things crafty. In fact, spent 4 hours trying to sew on Cate's badges for Girl Guides only to find out they were iron on.

Kelly - ....between you and Karen I may need to get Eva to bring bandaids...

Brenda - I sewed Katrina's ballet shoe straps to the pillow case while sewing in front of the tv! Lucky there is a nurse on the team - we will look like human pin cushions! Can we get iron on-yellow ribbons? Or glue gun them? Safety pins? (The art of couture is dead)

Eva - SEWING?...... THERE'S NO SEWING IN BASEBALL.

Charlie - Okay, okay.... I'll bring the glue gun....(no pins allowed!)

Brenda - What about duct tape??!

 And finally our Jen.  Battling cancer again.  A few days after announcing that the cancer had returned, she kept us company on the bench at our next game.  Behind 6 runs in the 5th inning, she mocked us, "If you are trying to win this game for me you are doing a sh***y job!"
We won that game and the next 2 to win the season.


Team,
As I lie here in the emergency room here at the hospital.. You have brought tears to my eyes!!
Rami had to bring me here last night around 1am as the pain was beyond my ability to handle.
I have two appts (PICC line and PET Scan) today in these hospitals in prep for chemo to start on Wednesday morning.
I am so touched by your love, support and prayers - THANK YOU XOXO

Jen



Together. Strong.
Just don't make us sew.

She's finally "legal"

If a successful party is measured by the time it ends (4:30 a.m.), by how many kids accepted my offer of a ride home at 2:30 & 3:00 (5), by the overflowing recycle bins full of empty beer cans, bottles and mickeys(2), and by the number of kids passed out on the couches and floors of the house (7), then I would have to declare Carson's 19th birthday bash a huge success.

Judging by the laughter and rehashing of events going on in the kitchen this morning, a good time was had by all.

The place is tidied up as best as could be. I'm just not sure what to do with this cute little 1" square baggy of what appears to be dried oregano I found while I was cleaning up. Maybe I will add it to the tomato sauce I had planned to make today.

A pit-stop to smell the roses

I'm sitting in the backyard, just finished a lunch of cold chicken, cold pizza and a warm tomato picked from the garden. It is a steamy hot day. I threw some laundry on the clothesline this morning. The first wash was bone dry by the time I hung out the 2nd load.

We certainly do attract dirt at the cottage.  My favourite cottage clothes are ones that I wouldn't be caught dead wearing down here. And I even wear the same thing 2 days in a row! (Hence why pix of me at the cottage are rarely posted!) Tho this week I did have this crazy Farrah Fawcett hair thing going on that I should have recorded for posterity - and mirth. I would spend 20 minutes every other morning blowdrying the frizz and kinks out of my hair and 20 minutes later my hair magically flipped back into this goofy retro 70's do!
But I digress. This post is to get my head out of the cottage and focus on my todo list.
Ev & mom out the door with my girlfriends and their daughters to Stratford. CHECK
Carson off to college to write a literacy exam. CHECK
Laundry done. CHECK
Last minute todo list from Tammy before I meet her downtown. CHECK

Tomorrow is the start of a family conference for the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation. It's the first time it will be held outside of the U.S. My role to date has been very small, but tonight I am throwing myself into all aspects of the conference. Tonight we will be assembling all the registration kits and bags, organizing the daycare, stocking the hospitality room, finalizing the media blitz and crossing our fingers that all goes well. Ev will be helping out too!

I will post about anything and everything of interest. (and hopefully find time to post some great pix from the cottage)

My rest time in the garden is over. Time to bring in the last of the laundry, invest 20 minutes on taming this hair, pack up the car, chase down the items on Tammy's list (what the heck are disposable chucks?), check in with the girls and meet Tammy downtown by 5.

This event has been in the planning stages for over a year. This time tomorrow Ev and I will be working at the registration desk greeting families and specialists from around the world. What a great experience this is going to be.