Three Down...

...just one more to go.


Hell, even Papelbon knows
the fat lady's warmin' up for tomorrow night!

WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!

FINAL SCORE:
SOX: 10
Rockies: 5

Not-So-Tricky-Treats...

CHOCOLATE COVERED MARSHMALLOWS
(ON A STICK)
WITH JIMMIES!


...ok, they're 'involved' but NOT impossible!

You will need:

1 lb bag of milk chocolate for melting.
1 pkg paper lolly pop sticks
Jimmies of your choice
(for those of you NOT from New England?
Jimmies... aka:SPRINKLES)
1 pkg plastic treat bags
1 pks twisty ties (pumpkin decoration obviously optional)
1 large bag marshmallows

Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
(it's not that fancy, I took a bigger bowl, put it atop a smaller bowl that I filled with BOILING water and constantly stirred until chocolate was a smooth consistency)

Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper &
arrange marshmallows in rows once the stick is placed in the center of each.

In a bowl filled with the jimmies of your choice, USING YOUR HANDS grab & sprinkle the jimmies over the surface of the chocolate covered marshmallow.
DO NOT make the same mistake I did and just stick the marshmallow in right after dipping as the chocolate is hot & DRIPPY and ends up ruining you whole bowl of jimmies!
(pain in the ass!)

Oh, and when dipping the marshmallows in the chocolate, be sure to take the stick and tap it on the side of the chocolate bowl to help get any extra chocolate that may drip OFF the marshmallow before you attempt to give it jimmies.

Once each marshmallow has had a trip to both chocolate & jimmies,
return it to the wax paper & place into the freezer for a few minutes.

After they're visibly solid, remove from freezer,
bag & secure with twisty ties.

And NEVER waste any chocolate and/or marshmallows!
Once I ran out of sticks & twisty ties I took the liberty of dipping the remaining marshmallows in the chocolate and popped those puppies in the freezer and have them now in my fridge.
(never know when you're gonna have a craving!)

Oh, and see THIS handsome guy?
This is James.
James and I have had 3 dates thus far:
Once for ice cream (with Ruby)
Once for GAME 1 of the WORLD SERIES
and
once for GAME TWO of the WORLD SERIES
&
I think he's wonderful.

(he's also pretty smart because he thinks Ruby is adorable!)

No rush & don't any of you jump any guns but,
let's just say that watching the RED SOX by myself is always enjoyable...
...but watching the RED SOX with James, was better.

GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!

Two Down...

...two to go!


Curt Schilling allowed one run,
and the Red Sox bullpen slammed the door shut on a Game 2 victory.
The Red Sox lead the World Series 2-0 and are off to Denver.

*WORLD SERIES GAME 1...

October 24, 2007

Rockies lineup for Game 1 World Series

The Colorado Rockies just released their World Series lineup for Game 1 against the Red Sox. Ryan Spilborghs, a right-handed hitting outfielder, will bat in the ninth hole as the Rockies designated hitter.

And so, on a gloomy-looking but crisp-feeling autumn afternoon at Fenway Park (where we're crossing our fingers it stays dry), to the lineups we go ....

COLORADO ROCKIES

1. Willy Taveras, CF
2. Kazuo Matsui, 2B
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Todd Helton, 1B
5. Garrett Atkins, 3B
6. Brad Hawpe, RF
7. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
8. Yorvit Torreabla, C
9. Ryan Spillborghs, DH

RED SOX

1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Julio Lugo, SS
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

SP - Josh Beckett

Rockies

1. Willy Taveras, CF
2. Kaz Matsui, 2B
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Todd Helton, 1B
5. Garrett Atkins, 3B
6. Brad Hawpe, RF
7. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
8. Yorvit Torrealba, C
9. Ryan Spilborghs, DH

October 24, 2007

Game 1 preview

Welcome to the World Series.

And Rockies? Welcome to Josh Beckett's world.

Whatever the reason -- Beckett hardly wants to hazard a guess -- the big righthander from Texas has been absolutely dominant in this postseason, and in playoffs past, as he works his way into the upper echelon of big-game starters alongside teammate Curt Schilling. And, having not seen game action for more than a week, the Rockies could have trouble with the locked-in Beckett.

On the other hand, this is an excellent Rockies lineup with a lefty starter in Jeff Francis (2-0, 2.13 ERA in the postseason), who beat Beckett when the Rockies invaded Fenway Park earlier this season. Not that this is the same Beckett (or the same Colorado team).

Plus there's the momentum factor, the fact that the Red Sox are coming off a 3-1 comeback over the Indians, and the Rockies have been waiting to play since they dusted the Diamondbacks in a sweep, bringing their winning streak to 21 of 22 games. They have been sitting and biding their time and, you can bet, they're more than anxious to get this game in tonight, even with the weather.

If the Rockies can get to Beckett, that would obviously be significant for them. If Beckett can control their lineup, with the makeshift National League designated hitter, the momentum is fully placed on the side of the Red Sox. With Coors Field acting as its own factor -- though that's two games down the road -- winning at Fenway Park, at home, will always be big for Boston.

With Beckett on the mound, that a good possibility for these Red Sox.

*info & photos borrowed from Boston.com

Boston has THE BEST FANS, PERIOD!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

...NOW I can go to sleep.
*grin*
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO
LET'S GO RED SOX!

Next date with destiny?
Wed night, 8pm on FOX!

Even With Horrendous Colds...

...my girl & I still make the most of a photo op!

Right Outside My Window...

...there's a RAINBOW of reasons why this is my favorite time of year!


It still takes my breath away every year...

Fat Lady Sang Tonight...!

Beckett* Rocks Cleveland as Red Sox Beat Indians 7-1 in ALCS

Back to Boston they go. Just the Red Sox being the Red Sox. Josh Beckett, blocking out everything but Jason Varitek's target, dominated the Cleveland Indians for the second time and Manny Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run with a 390-foot single as the Red Sox stayed alive in the AL championship series with a 7-1 win Thursday night in Game 5.

*Josh is now OFFICIALLY my new secret CRUSH next to Jason.
Both of them? Hmmm, now THERE'S AN IDEA!
*evilgrin*
& JUST in time for a good night's sleep!
*praying for vivid LUCID dreaming*

Yes, I know... there's a seat in hell waiting for me...

Humor Me If You Will...

...ok, I'm going to say a sentence & you then comment with the FIRST thing that enters your mind after I've said it, ok?
First, a preface to the situation:

Say you were a girl in her early 20's, very early, with your cell phone glued to your ear & deep in conversation.
Now let's say that, while this conversation is taking place, you're "working",
(& believe me, I use that term loosely)
at a GAS STATION no less,
(aren't there dangers associated with cell phone use at gas stations? I digress...)
and so a little white VW pulls in, cute daughter in tow in the back, THANKFULLY SOUND ASLEEP, and you roll down your window & holding onto a $20.- say the following:

"$20.-, or fill it up, whichever comes first please..."
(here's the part where you comment your initial thoughts on that sentence.
Does it make sense to you or are you left wondering?)

Girl appeared to hear that sound came from my face region,
however, what she understood it to mean, was yet left to be seen.

I sit, I wait, I'm watching the numbers go up & up & up some more...
...all the while I'm watching said girl chat & chat
& chat some more, some 15 feet away from my car,
as she's digging around in her own car, for God knows what,
which is apparently buried amongst what I can only assume, was supposed to be the backseat.

Cost now goes up to $21.- & stops.
(what do you want, it's a 10 gallon capacity VW Golf!)
Girl comes over to my window, I hand her the $20.-, she looks puzzled & a bit annoyed:
"Uh, it's $21.- bucks, not $20.-..."
her tone is already disrespectful & a bit disgusted with the 'stupid' woman in the white VW,
who clearly can't read numbers she's decided.

I reply: "Yes, I know that, but had you listened to me when I first got here, you'd have known that I only had $20.- because I said to you '$20. or fill it up, whichever comes first..."

Girl replies: "Yah, well you didn't tell me you just had the $20, you said fill it up!"
annoyed for sure now & raising her voice.

I reply: "First of all, I'll thank you to NOT raise your voice in front of my daughter.
Second of all, I actually didn't say 'fill it up', what I DID say was: $20. OR fill it up, whichever comes FIRST, which, HAD YOU BEEN LISTENING & NOT GLUED TO YOUR CELL PHONE, you'd have understood to mean that I only had $20. and to be sure not to pump more than that."

Girl replies: (yelling now) "YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME YOU JUST HAD $20 BUCKS! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THAT!!! I'M GOING TO GET MY MANAGER!!!!!!!!!"

I reply, with a smile: "Please do."

She stomps off, yelling under her breath all the while, only to disappear inside the main office for a few minutes. I can hear yelling back & forth between her & who I assume is her boss.
She returns with an older man who, all the way towards my car, keeps saying to her "SHUT UP!"
(Oh goody, this should be fun.)
Sarcasm anyone?

So, the boss man walks up to my window with her in tow & he smiles at me & says:
"It's ok, I know you, you come here alot and you always say same thing,
fill it or 20 whatever come first,
it ok, she just not pay attention."

As he's saying this, SHE'S LIVID screaming at him right behind him within striking distance & instantly my Italian childhood flashed before my eyes...

Man, if you're upset at something in my house in the 70's, you can attempt to scream at your dad but you best be sure you're at least MORE than an arms length away, and even better if you're more than a quick LUNGE LENGTH AWAY before you start your squawking...
...many a wooden spoon was shattered on my ass as a direct result of screaming, coupled with absolute misjudgement of distance on my part! OUCH!

Moving on... so she's pissed & yelling, he's trying desperately not to lose a customer, which he won't because I've been going there for as long as I can remember, and they're BOTH yelling obscenities at each other sporadically.

I interrupt them both & say: "Sir, with all due respect, I'm going to ask that you BOTH stop raising your voices in the presence of my daughter. Second, I'm sure had she NOT been on her cell phone at the time of my pulling up, she would've heard me correctly & this whole thing could have been avoided and third, you are not going to lose me as a customer, I come here all the time & quite frankly, if I had the extra dollar to give you, I'd be happy to do so, but I don't unfortunately.

Boss says: "Oh no, I'm a so sorry that you have to hear the yelling and deal with her, she's a not good person & she is leaving here TODAY!"

Ooooookkkkkkkk, didn't see that coming.
I smile & say my thank you's to the man,
& drive off for home with my sleeping, oblivious child in tow.

Who knew getting gas was so much drama?
OYYYYYYYYY VEYYYYYYYYYY!

As I'm exiting the station, from out of the corner of my eye I see him yelling at her & her screaming back, several colorful hand gestures & her last action was to turn & look at my car as it's driving off...
...lovely, a disgruntled, disrespectful annoying young person with zero respect for anyone,
got a good second look at the old VW with the PLETHORA of PEACE STICKERS & DEAD HEAD STICKERS & METALLICA STICKERS & RED SOX STICKERS PLASTERED ALL OVER THE BACK WINDOW.

Incognito I am not.

(& now, we wait...*)


*should there be a need for an update to this post,
TRUST ME,
you'll get one.
Let's just hope that there isn't a need for one any time soon...

Game #2 Of The ALCS...

...& everyone's here with B's on!


(even Bear)



Bear, I don't mind kissing you buddy but...


...if it's all the same to you,
I'm gonna do it while keeping my eye on the game, k?

That is, until I fall asleep...

GO RED SOX!!!

My Favorite Face She Makes...

...is when she's laughing SO HARD, she can't form so much as a single WORD!

Just lots of laughter,
some gasping for breath,
&
of course drooling on herself
as she claws at me in a vain attempt to make me stop.

When she really doesn't want me to stop,
only pretends to,
cuz once I DO stop, she does this every time:

Big smile & politely asks for 'MORE TICKLE PWEASE MOMMA!'
hehehe
GAME ON!

Is it just me...

...or are Ruby's lips FANDAMNTASTIC?!@#$%
hehehe I love browsing through old pics of my girl.
Just came across this one & believe it was from back in early spring.
Love love LOVE her, more than I ever knew it was possible to love another person,
PERIOD!

The Sweet Agony Of Defeat...

...I used to think that watching the REDSOX kick ass
was the best feeling in the world...
...AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, it still makes my socks go up & down,
-HOWEVER-
Tonight, I'm gonna go on record & say that rather than watch the start of the SOX game,
I opted to stick around to watch the YANKEES LOSE to the Indians in extra innings!
That moment I knew the yanks lost, I jumped up OFF my couch & screamed so loud I'm shocked I didn't wake up miss Cheeks!
Who could walk away from a scene like that!?
Besides, knowing that my SOX were already up in the 2nd?
I had all night to enjoy my boys play some ball...
...it's a rather enjoyable sensation to see the spankees get spanked.
*wickedpissahevilgrin*



Yup, I'm one happy camper.
hehehehe
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO

Topsfield Fair 2007...

...through the eyes of my daughter.





When asked how cotton candy tasted, Ruby replied: DEEEE-WISH-ISSS!


Are you kidding me?
LOOK AT THAT SMILE!

Today was, in a word?
Magical!

Thank you to Auntie Nayne,
who got us the tickets at a reduced rate,
& to Uncle Steve,
who loves Ruby so much,


he straddled an elephant!


YEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAA!
*grin*
RIDE'EM COWBOY STEVE!

We Interrupt This Blog...

...to bring you this very special announcement:

Starting today, at 8:45am,
I HAVE A JOB!
*superBIGcheezyGRIN*

That's right, I got the part time job at the local YMCA
in their babysitting room.

Ruby gets to come with me, lots of kids come & go throughout the day,
so there will be a nice turnover, never opportunity to get bored,
AND
Ruby gets to work on her socialization with ALL of them,
hopefully ALL DIFFERENT AGES!

(she's just psyched cuz she went with me for the interview
&
saw that they had a slammin' kitchen set,
that's all she's talked about since!)

We'll be home after 2pm, so wish us luck & I'll have a post work report upon arriving home!
WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO
I HAVE A JOB!
I get to say things like,
"sorry, can't tomorrow, gotta work!"
=)
hehehehehe

CIAO!

Ruby's 1st Days...

...with me in China.

Here are moments from our first days together as Mother & Daughter.
(again, long video, so play, then pause, k?)
She was so little, I'd almost forgotten she had ever been that small.
I'm so happy to be able to share this footage with you.
It just reminds me so much to enjoy every moment with Ruby,
even the difficult ones.
Because all moments in our lives,
be they good or bad,
are fleeting at best.

And before any of you comment on how RETARDED I sound doing my
'Chinese sounding baby babbling noises',
don't.
I'm fully aware of how ridiculous I sounded.
LOL
I guess at the time it just made sense.
Now?
Nearly two years later & some quiet time to mull it over?
Not so much!
LOL
My apologies go out to the Asian community on the whole...
...for any/all insults/cuss words derived from my nonsensical babble.
Was completely unintentional.
I promise!
;)

What To Do, What To Do...? *UPDATED*

...a few weeks ago I signed Ruby up for a class at our local YMCA.
It's called 'Teeny Tiny Tumblers', and she LOVES IT!
The class is every Friday morning at 9:30am.
We've gone three Friday's in a row thus far
&
not only does she love class, she loves her teachers
&
has made some cute new friends.
Why the conundrum you ask?
This week, I've been feeling slightly under the weather,
low grade fever, coughing to beat the band,
&
occasional vomiting here & there.
Fun huh?
(apologies to those of you drinking your morning coffee as you read this)
So, with me feeling like this,
I could still go but I'd have to sit off on the sidelines
and someone else will need to go through the circuit with miss Rubes.
That someone else was going to be my Mother.
Phone just rang,
was her,
she's not feeling well,
she'll be staying home.
UGH!

So, here's my thing, do I GO to the class knowing how shitty I feel & risk getting anyone sick OR
do I go & ask one of the teachers to go through her circuit with her as I sit on the sidelines AWAY from the kids & watch
OR
do I break Ruby's heart all together & tell her that we're not going today?

See, here's the thing about me.
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is with parents who
send their kids somewhere
(school, extracurricular activities etc)
KNOWING that their kid is not only sick, but POTENTIALLY CONTAGIOUS!
Those parents I can't stand, cuz it's THOSE parents of SICK kids
that get otherwise HEALTHY children SICK!
C'mon people, this is NOT rocket science... at least you'd think, right?!

Because of this strong dislike of those types of parents,
I REFUSE to be one who sends Ruby ANYWHERE if she's feeling slightly under the weather.
Period.
So, therein lies the conundrum...
...it's ME who isn't feeling good, NOT Ruby.
So, do I go & ask a teacher to do her circuit with her?
Do I not go?

My thoughts this morning as I mulled it over in my head were this;
I HAVEN'T gotten Ruby sick with whatever it is I have,
and we LIVE together 24/7.
SO, am I safe to go knowing that the potential for me getting someone else's kid sick
is most likely minimal?
OR, do I assume that the reason RUBY didn't get sick is BECAUSE we're always together & her immune system is smarter because of it?

Grrrrrrrrrr, at times like these, I wonder to myself;
"What would JOHNNY do?"

*UGH*


***********UPDATE***********

We went, we participated a total of 5 minutes,
Ruby wanted NOTHING to do with Class,
(even though BOTH her teachers, Ashley AND Lucy,
said they'd be happy to take her with them through the circuit)
it ended up just being one of those Friday's.

She did manage to score a picture from her friend Jack...
...he drew it himself & walked it up to her & said:
"Here Ruby, I made this for you last week."
*melt my heart*

PS: A big HELLO to Ashley, (her teacher) who is now a reader of the blog!

Because I've never posted it before...

...Got'cha day.
Nov 20th, 2005.

(It's very long, so after clicking 'play',
immediately click 'pause' & then please try to be patient,
until the whole movie has finished loading.
I promise you, it's worth the wait...)

Ruby Reads A Book...

...in her own way.
*smiling*
I just love this kid!