Lightning vs. Leafs

The whole reason we went to Canada was to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning play in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

Game 1 - Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

I wore a Lightning hat, but no jersey. I didn't want to stand out as a 'visitor'.

The Lightning totally dominated! Check it out, 6-2.
After the game, I was taking photo of the team all congratulating Dwayne Roloson (goalie) on an awesome game.

Little did I know that 2 Leafs fans were pummeling each other a few rows over. I finally looked up, and both guys were all bloody. I should've been taking photos of that!

Let me tell you something, Canadians are super patriotic. My hat goes off to them. When "O Canada!" played before the game, everybody sang along! I must admit, it is a catchy tune.

Hockey Hall of Fame

Our first stop in Toronto was the Hockey Hall of Fame.

(get used to my purple puffy vest. It's the only coat I own, and I wore it day and night!)

I must admit, the Hall of Fame was pretty cool. They had the Stanley Cup out and available for all to see an touch.

Here is a close up of the 2003-2004 Tampa Bay Lightning championship team.

Here is how the hall displays their Hall of Famers. I must admit, its way better than the silly looking plaques that the Baseball Hall of Fame uses.

This stud is Jaques Plante, the first goalie to wear a mask.

Since it was "March Break" in Toronto, the hall of fame had some special things going on. The coolest part was all the area mascots roaming around.

Here is a photo of me with Chuck the Puck!

Say cheese!

So, before our baseball game at Wrigley Field, we had about 1/2 hour to wander around the stadium.

I knew there was a Harry Carey caricature right above the press box. I walked down (pretty close to the field and snapped a photo).

<-- see the cartoon Harry Carey?

Then, a nice, old lady usher asked if I wanted my photo taken. I figured, what the heck, and handed her my camera. I assumed it was obvious what I was taking a photo of, I mean, Harry Carey is pretty famous. My back was turned away from the field.

She takes my camera in her shakey hands and I think, "well, this will be a blur-fest." Then she keeps slowly lowering and lowering my camera.

"What is she possibly taking a photo of?!?"

After she snaps my photo, she hands me my camera and says, "is that ok?" I look at the photo and say, "yeah, it's great - thanks!"

Here is the photo I got. Pretty sweet huh? *ha ha ha*

Go Cubs go!

Our last baseball game was a noon-er in Chicago. We had to leave Detroit at the crack of dawn in order to be in Chicago by 11am. We all wanted plenty of time to walk around Wrigley and take it all in.

I had been to Wrigley Field over 10 times, but I hadn't been there since 1998. Jonathan had never been there. The stadium is over 95 years old, so it's a pretty special place full of history.

We had rockin' seats in section 216. We were under the overhang, so we were in the full shade. I could see everything except 2nd base, thanks to those famous Wrigley Field poles.

The Cubs pitcher had a no hitter going into the 7th inning ... but no hitters are boring. Bring on the runs!

The Cubs beat the Reds 3-1. Queue the music: "Go Cubs go ... go Cubs go ... hey Chicago, what'd you say? The Cubs are gonna win today."

I am officially exhausted and pretty darn dizzy from the bus ride. I haven't gotten sick all trip, so I'm pretty proud of myself. So I'm sitting here in a Milwaukee hotel, trying to recover.

What am I doing in the hotel ... watching baseball of course!!! The Brewers are crushing the Cardinals.

Adios Lame-Ville

Ok ... I'm being a little hard on Detroit. I mean, I guess it's not there fault that all the jobs disappeared. But how many people can harass me while I'm walking around the baseball stadium.

No, I don't have any extra tickets.

No, I don't need to buy tickets.

No, I don't want your American flag pin.

No, I don't have any spare change.

Comerica Park (Tiger's stadium) was super cool. There were giant tigers everywhere, and lots of fun history stuff to look at. They also had a small ferris wheel made of baseballs!

The fans however ... pretty lame. It took us forever to finally get the wave going. And they were just so quiet. "Do, do, do do, do doooo ... *silence*". Where's the 'CHARGE'?!?

Well, we're off to bed. We're leaving the hotel at 7am to haul buns to Wrigley Field by noon tomorrow.

Free Stuff!

The stadium and team I was least looking forward to was the Pirates. Nothing against the Pirates, but I just have no feelings towards them ... good or bad, just no feelings.

It was free t-shirt day, and they actually had size S t-shirts. Normally freebie t-shirts are always 'one size fits all', so I was quite excited to get a shirt I can actually wear.

Then, they had a roulette type wheel, and I won a super cool stars and stripes Pirates hat! So I was decked out in head to toe Pirates gear. Enter 1 ice cream in a helmet later, and I'm a happy camper.

Also, enter 1 ice cream helmet I found on the ground after the game, and I'm an even bigger happy camper.

Tomorrow morning we don't have to leave until 10am, which is a big change from leaving at 8:30am ... so I get to sleep in a tad! Yee-haw!

Tomorrow, Detroit!

Broken Promises

Well, it's day 3, and I didn't have a hot dog today. I broke the 1 vow I made for this trip.

For the Indians vs. Blue Jays game we had "party deck" seats. So we had a huge FREE spread of food from 6-8pm. I had a pulled pork sandwich and mac 'n cheese ... and 3 cookies. The cookies were garnished with blueberries, and I also ate 2 lbs of blueberries.

The Indians Stadium (Progressive Field) was my least favorite so far.

A - it was just kind-of boring

B - there was nothing featuring the movie Major League

C - they didn't sell ice cream in a helmet

It was Jonathan's favorite stop so far, because:

A - he bought a t-shirt for $6

B - he got a free Shin-Soo Choo bobblehead

C - he got to see a Shin-Soo Choo homerun

D - free food!

Tomorrow we have a short 3 hour drive to Pittsburgh for the Pirates vs. Phillies. Go Pirates!

Home run!

Woah - we just saw an awesome game in Cincinnati!

The Reds were down by 3. 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth. 2 men on. Votto, the Reds best hitter is up to bat. I'm complaining that nobody has hit a home run yet because I want to see the smoke stacks shoot off fireworks ...

Boom!

3 run home run to straight away center! Reds tie the game!

Phillies score 3 runs in the top of the 10th to win ... but who cares! It was a great game.

Plus, the Red's mascot, Mr. Redlegs, is such a cutie with his handlebar mustache.

It's 11:09pm, and we have to wake up at 7am tomorrow morning to move on to Cleveland.

Zzzzzzz ...

Go Brew Crew!

One baseball game down, 5 more to go!

Jonathan and I are in full vacation mode. We're doing a Jay Buckley baseball trip. We flew into Milwaukee yesterday morning, went to a Brewers game last night, and now we're headed off to Cincinnati.

Eventually we'll also make stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago (Cubs).

Contrary to what you're probably assuming ... I picked this vacation! My dad used to get a Jay Buckley brochure every year in the mail, but we never went on a trip. So I'm finally going!

My goal is to eat a hot dog in every stadium (although, last night they gave us free brats at a tail gate party, so that kind-of counts) AND ice cream in a helmet!

Let me tell you, the ice cream at Miller Park (Brewers) was enormous! The mini helmet was filled to the brim. The first thing I did was spill chocolate sauce on my tennis shoe. So now it looks like somebody pooped on them.

Well, it's 7:15am, and we have to board the bus to Cincinnati. I've got some pretzels, Back to the Future 1 & 2 and my Snuggle. Let's roll!

Bingo!

Last year I was introduced to Super Bowl Bingo. It's so much fun. I love watching football, but Bingo just makes the game extra fun, especially if you don't really care who wins and who loses. I highly recommend it!

Here's how it works:
1. Make blank Bingo sheets
2. Write down about 35 or 40 things that can happen during the game and during commercials.
3. Cut them out, pick them out of a hat, and fill out your game board.
4. As the stuff happens in the game, cross them off your sheet
5. I think the rest is self explanatory.

Here's a couple things I crossed off this year:
Pierre Thomas touchdown
Injury time out
2 point conversion (I didn't think that would happen!)
40+ yard field goal
Joseph Addai touchdown
Commercial with monkey

Here are some thing I didn't get to cross off:
Reggie Bush touchdown
Failed challenge
30+ yard run
Face mask penalty
Fat, shirtless fan in the stand sighting
Interception (there was an interception, but since it was run back for a touchdown, I crossed off "Defensive TD" instead of interception)

You're right Kurt Warner ...

Jonathan loves Kurt Warner, so I watched & DVR'ed his press conference on Friday. (If you're not a football fan, Kurt Warner announced his retirement yesterday)

He mentioned that he'll obviously miss the couple hours he spent on the football field every week, but what he'll miss most of all is the 5 hours each Sunday he hung out in the locker room with the guys. Sure, he'll still stay in touch with many of his teammates, but it just won't be the same.

This made me really think about my current (and temporary) job. I'm working in a computer lab, sitting inches away from my co-workers. I could pull my chair away from my desk, swing around with my legs extended, and smack 4 people in the back. We all eat lunch together, work together, heck - we even carpool together (ok, I carpool with 1 other person I carpool with, but you get the idea).

Sure, after the job is over (which, for me, is probably sooner than later) I'll stay in touch with some of my co-workers, but it just won't be the same. When you spend 9 hours a day with people, all sort of fun and odd conversations happen. Plus, I really stink at keeping in touch. Facebook makes it easer ... but I just really, really bad at keeping in touch. It makes me sad.

So thank you Kurt Warner! You were the greatest show on turf, and you're one smart son of a gun.

Notes from the WDW marathon ...

I really wish I brought a notepad and paper with me during the marathon. I tried to remember stuff, but I'm sure I forgot it all. Mostly, I remember my hamstring ripping away from what ever hamstrings are attached with.

If you've never done a marathon before - I highly recommend it. While you're in the process, it seems like torture, but when you're all done it's a great feeling! As my friend Hiromi said, "Very spiritual ... yet at the same time and awful experience." Yesterday I swore I would never do it again, but today I'm all pumped to have at it again!

Pre-race: People are wearing shorts and the temperature is in the 20s!!! I'm prepared wearing 6 shirts, a scarf, hat, gloves, sweatpants and shorts. Also, pre-race is the last time I saw any toilet paper (remember that for later ...)

Mile 1: There goes sweatshirt #1

Mile 2: Adios sweatshirt #2 and my scarf. "This isn't so bad!"

"Is that guy wearing a really fancy, Norwegian style sweater?"

Mile 3: "My hands are kind-of hot, I guess I don't need my gloves any more"

The water stop water was partially frozen!

Mile 4: "I want my scarf back!!!"

My 3rd shirt is thrown to the side of the road.

Mile 5: My face is partially frozen.

I'm desperately looking for gloves that somebody threw on the side of the road.

Some guy wearing JEANS passes me. Jeans?!?

Mile 6: The sun finally rises!

"Why does my back hurt of all things?"

Mile 7: A high school band is playing the theme song from Rocky. It rocks and totally pumps me up!

Mile 8: "Is somebody stabbing me in my quads? I really think somebody is ... I'm never doing this again!"

Mile 9: I finally found a glove on the side of the road. It was a super nice warm winter glove. I could only find one, but it was awesome!!

Mile 10: I made it inside the Magic Kingdom. Sweet!

Mile 11: Tiana, Naveen and Louis (Princess and the Frog) are out posing for photos. It's impossible to meet Louis inside the park. I wish I had brought my camera.

Two of the Country Bears run along with us from Diamond Horseshoe down to the Jamboree.

Mile 12: It's 9am - I should be at work, but instead I walked 12 miles.

I make the hard decision to throw my hat away.

Mile 13: I think my hamstrings are going to detach.

I stop my 'walk 5 minutes, run 1 minute' routine and start a similar 'walk 5 minutes, run 30 seconds'

Mile 14: I eat 1/3 of a banana. I don't even like bananas, but they are giving them out.

"What's that loud stomping noise?!? Oh, it's my feet slamming against the ground."

Mile 15: The piano guy that plays near Casey's Corner is randomly on the side of the road.

Mile 16: I've had to pee for about an hour, but the lines for the port-a-potties are so long. I finally give in and wait 4 minutes. No toilet paper anywhere!

16.5: I wipe my nose. I realize I just went to the bathroom, didn't use toilet paper, and didn't wash my hands (nothing to wash with). Gross.

My walk/run routine is getting really hard.

Mile 17: "There are tons of hills inside Animal Kingdom - this is awesome!"

They are giving out cold sponges. Why in the world do I want a cold sponge in 30 degree weather?!?

Should I shed my 4th shirt? I don't, and it was a great decision.

"Only single digit miles left!!!"

Mile 18: "Crap, I thought this was mile 19, but it's only mile 18."

Mile 19: They are giving out more bananas. I eat the entire thing this time.

We walk up a massive hill outside Animal Kingdom. I walk backwards for about 1 minute to shake things up.

Mile 20: "I could come in last place ... as long as I finish, I'm cool with that."

It's amusing to say to yourself, "awesome, only 6 more miles to go!" When is it normal to say ONLY 6 more miles?

I can't believe I kept up the walk/run routine. It's a miracle. I decide to power walk the rest of the way.

Mile 21: I see a chubby guy dressed as Mr. Incredible.

"If and when my hamstrings detach from what ever they are attached to, I could still limp 5 miles and finish."

Mile 22: I decide to go to the bathroom again. Again, no TP.

Mile 23: I get a 2nd wind from out of nowhere. It doesn't last too long.

They give out a box of raisins. It could've been a box of broccoli and I would've devoured it.

"I've got this thing in the bag - no problem!"

Mile 24: Walking along that water's edge between Studios and the Boardwalk was super cold!

Mile 25: I get my 3rd wind. I pick up the pace and breeze thru Epcot.

A crazy Japanese lady dressed up as Donald Duck is right next to me. I bust my butt to pass her, so my 'crossing the finish line' photo isn't with her in it.

Mile 26: I've passed Donald Duck lady.

"Where the heck is the finish line?!?"

.2 miles & a sprint later: "Woo-hoo!"

If you're still reading this, congratulations. This might be my longest blog ever.

Wish me luck!

So if you're reading this at 4:30am on Sunday, then you're inside and I'm outside waiting for the Disney marathon to start.

I signed up about a month and a half ago on a whim. I've done it before (and it was super hard!!!), but I kept thinking, "can I do it again?" It's not every day that you are able to push yourself to the extreme and accomplish a goal. It's a pretty cool feeling to say, "heck yeah - I did this!" Well, hopefully I can say that again tomorrow.

I'm scared to death and really nervous, because you have to keep up a certain pace, otherwise they remove you from the course. I'm not out to set any land speed records, I just want to finish on time ... and get that awesome Mickey Mouse metal!

So, wish me luck! Hopefully this afternoon I'll be back with some photos. I plan on 'running' with my digital camera. (I use the word 'running' very loosely. There will be much, much, MUCH more walking than running.) Although my stupid camera batteries die so quickly. I'll probably get 3 or 4 photos taken before they die. Then I'll have to lug my stupid camera with me for another 15 miles. Stupid batteries!

Connect the DOTS ...

How to sneak food into a hockey game.

1. Wear un-tight jeans

2. Wear a giant hockey jersey

3. Enjoy candy that doesn't cost $5!

Happy Birthday to me!

Every year my brother gives me the gift of laughter for my birthday.

Last year it was the "Take on Me Literally" video on You Tube. That is my all time favorite song, and the 'literal' video made me pee my pants from laughing.

This year is no exception.

He introduced me to Randy Moller, the Florida Panther's (NHL) radio announcer.

Every time a goal is scored, he yells "GOOOOOOOOAL ..." then some random movie quote.

Check out this you tube clip. The 2nd one is my favorite.

Thrift Store Goodies!

So I'm in Illinois to visit my brother and parents.

The one thing I love do to when I come to visit is to go the thrift stores with my friend Julie. We normally find nice stuff (last year I bought 2 Gap skirts) and we also find t-shirts for under $1. Since we're near Chicago, there area always Cubs and Bears t-shirts.

This year we made 2 awesome finds. Julie found a William Sonoma burger press for $2.62. I'm sure it normally cost over $20 at the mall.

And I found a like-new Brian Urlacher Bears jersey for $3.63! Jackpot!

Digi Scraping

Just showing off some of the digital scrapbooking I've done over the past month. I still highly recommend it over paper scrapping. It's so much faster and less expensive.

Check out my favorite designer's blog - Britt-ish designs!

Go Rays!

Last Sunday Jonathan and I went to our first Rays game this year.

The last Rays game we went to was the World Series game (that they actually won).

My camera batteries were dying (they always seem to be dying - grrrrr!), but I managed to take a quick photo of us in the stands and the Rays new banners. Woo-hoo - Rays are AL champs!

P.S. Jonathan and I are wearing matching jersey t-shirts, but you can't see that in the photo.

Steve McNair

About 3 or 4 years ago, the ESPN Club at the Boardwalk used to have a sports celebrity almost every night. Jonathan and I were there all the time.

I'm not sure what year this was, but now this photo of Steve McNair and I is pretty special. He is a nice looking man!

I'm getting something signed for my father in law, so I don't even have his autograph.  Boo!

YouTube Tuesdays - crazy bat trick!

Holy cow - watch this video. It's almost like an optical illusion.

Watch all the way to the end, he does the trick a bunch of times in a row.