Tampa Baseball

Lance and I don't like baseball as a spectator sport. In fact, we hate it. I would rather watch just about ANY sport on tv. But I would really love to see the Tampa Bay Rays win the World Series.


No-- I am not a fair weather fan. I am not watching the games. I do not sport a Rays t-shirt. There are no stickers covering the bumpers of our cars. But I really love Tampa-- and there is such a feeling of community when one of "our" teams is in the play-offs.

Five years ago, Tampa had NO clout or credibility as a "Sports Town", with no championships in its history. The Tampa Bay Bucs changed all of that in 2003 with a big win at the Superbowl. The Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) carried it on by winning the Stanley Cup the following year.

To the Tampa Bay Rays-- I will not be watching you play tonight and any other games that may ensue. I think your particular sport is unbelievably dull. However, I would like to say this: You have made me, as a Tampa resident, swell with pride in the last few weeks. Keep it up. It is your turn.

Life's a Beach

Lance and I decided to take a day off of LIFE and take the kids to the water park-- since we have passes and this is the last week of the year it is open. As it turns out, it is only open on the weekend this month. Oooops.

So we took our good intentions and swimsuits to the beach. It was a cloudy, windy day. Warm, of course, but still cloudy. The sun wasn't just hiding behind the clouds today. I am sure it did not even get out of bed long enough to shine over the supposed "Sunshine State". But we had a great time.

There was NO ONE there... just us and a few lifeguards (who were wearing sweats). We played in the sand and explored the sandbar for a few hours-- until it started drizzling.

Here are a few pictures of our fun day (No-- I, as the official photographer, am not in them. Be thankful)

Quirks

I saw this topic on a friend's blog and it got me thinking-- Everyone has funny little quirks. Some of us are not even aware of our own quirks until they are pointed out to us. I have only a few (most of which I am only aware of because of my observant, quirky husband).

I cannot use toilet paper if it is put on the roll the wrong way. The roll HAS to have the paper coming out from the bottom. If it is coming from the top, I have to switch it before I can use it.

I tap my finger nails on the top of my Diet Coke can before I open it... EVERY time.

I cannot set my alarm on the hour. I can wake up at 6:55 am or I can wake up at 7:05 am. NEVER at 7:00. Lance challenged me to do it once and I couldn't.

There is not a logical explanation behind a single one of these.

Now, before you pass judgment-- think of your own. If you can't think of any, ask someone who is close to you. I bet they have a laundry list.

My Buddy

I started running after Zoie was born in 2005. My first running buddy was Zoie. Each morning I would strap her into my jogging stroller and we would explore the neighborhood. Zoie was with me for my first 5k.


I reached new heights when I connected with my next running buddy, Brittany Filetti. Brittany is a fabulous athlete who really pushed me to keep running long after I wanted to stop. In doing this, she was the victim of a few rocks to the back of the head and maybe a few chosen, unpleasant names (Sorry, Brit).


Brittany is currently pregnant with her 3rd child and is taken a brief hiatus with the running. Zoie gets bored in her jogger and will no longer accompany me on my runs. I have been forced to find a new running buddy.

He is young and handsome and in amazing shape. I love him and he would do anything for me. All this, and Lance isn't even jealous!


Bluto is awesome. Having a big dog run with me allows me to run at night-- without being scared. He stays right at my side and doesn't even get distracted with other people or dogs.

I have my first race of the "running season" in just a few weeks. With Bluto's help, I'll be ready!

Priorities

I believe in goals. I try to be a goal-oriented person. Two of my more shallow, high-level goals are as follows:

1) To be rich

2) To be skinny

I have several lists dedicated to how I will make these two goals a reality. They include such words as "Dave Ramsey" and "pilates". They are good goals and I have a great action plan to accomplish them.

ENTER McDONALD'S MONOPOLY GAME

Lance came home the other day absolutely on fire about this. Apparently, we are going to win this year. Well, most of you know that I cannot back down from a challenge and a little competition (like 47 million people per day). It took about 2.3 seconds for me to be 100% on board with the new Monopoly plan.

This will completely derail my aforementioned goals.

Girls' Day

Zoie loves all things girly. Yesterday, we went to a nail salon (thanks for the gift card, Jen!) and got pedicures/ manicures.


Zoie loved picking out her color (bright purple) and being pampered by all the salon girls. She also got a kick out of reading trashy celeb magazines-- like mother, like daughter!

I always know Zoie is on cloud nine when she pulls out the "Sparkly Eyes":

A 3rd Rasmussen Puppy?

The trouble with transitioning an 18 month-old into a big bed is this: He can climb down with ease, and yet, he is unable to climb back up on the bed.

This is how I found Tobin the other morning.


I have no idea how long he slept on the pillow on the floor. Poor little guy.

Time Out for Tobin

Its time... Tobin is being sent to time out on a regular basis. He is pretty good about it. All I have to say is "Time Out" and he buries himself into the nearest corner.

Check out this video... the poor little guy looks so angry. Maybe it has something to do with his camo shorts, skull t-shirt, and shaved head...