Junior Giants

I'm a little late with the pictures of Trin and Joey playing in their little t-ball and hit, run, catch and throw baseball league they were in this year. They both were placed on Giant's teams. Very fitting for our family this past year with the Giant's winning the World Series!

Jen and I had to laugh seriously at the ball caps the league gave the kids. They are like some truck drivers hats from the 1980's or something Jen and I wore when we played on the elementary baseball league at our school.












Joe Joe was a crack up. He loved watching his sister play chanting, "Go Giants Go!" and "Here we go Giant's, here we go!" It was adorable to watch. He was pretty good with the orange and black pom pom.

What was super cute was watching a bunch of 3 year olds (but Joe Joe was only 2.10 yrs. old at this game) attempting to play the game of baseball. Most of the kids were watching the butterflies float on by, when running ran the wrong way to no base, and at the same time each thought they had the whole game down and that they were pro's. Hilarious!



























Our little Junior Giant is baby Eric. He is such a cutie and loves to laugh. I really love his one-zie that Amy put him in, "My Auntie is #1".

Jen does this little gig and dance to baby Eric and he giggles and giggles. It is pretty cute to see him giggle. I can get him to giggle a little but not with the gig and dance Jen does. I try but he looks at me like, "nice try Auntie, you can't dance!"

Good One Girls!

Great job Mom, Jen and Amy on pulling off this wonderful surprise for my dad's birthday. We did it good this time! Wonderful surprise. Three cheers for the women in my family!

My friend Nathan (thanks Nathan!) owns a plane and he was gracious to take my dad up for a ride for his birthday and it was a complete surprise for my Dad.

From the pictures you can see that we took off from a local airport, flew over the Carquinez Straight, over the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and up to Somona Valley to the Charles Shultz Airport. Nathan allowed my dad to fly the plane. What a thrill for my Dad. He flew the plane like a pro! Fun time. Amazing to see God's creation from 3,000 feet up.

Way to go girls with this wonderful surprise for Dad's birthday!

Summer Yum

The last few years my garden lacked a good yield. Partly due to my lack of attention in the garden (sore back which leads to inability to weed, water, and tend the garden) and weird weather. I can't say the weather has changed much this year but my back is behaving better. For about a month I have been getting various types of squashes. They are yummy.

















Finally, the tomatoes are turning red. Both of these in the picture should be ready eating (I mean picking) within a day or two. Last week I started eating my little golden cherry sized tomatoes- yum, they never make it inside.






















The garden is very green and lush. My tomato plants are tall, maybe 4' tall. The one thing that is different this summer is I have been fertilizing the plants once a month. Ohhhh, they like getting fed. Now if the weather would turn a tiny bit warmer, the tomatoes will turn from green to yummy red.















My front yard is exploding with color. Anyone need some English lavender? I will harvest some soon. I love color in my yard.

The huge bummer in my garden this year was the NO fruit production from the apricot and plum trees. Both received a very good trimming in February. Maybe the trees needed a rest this year. I still have in my freezer fruit from last year. Time to jam and pie!














I so love daisy's. They remind me of God's unfailing and tender hearted love He has for me. Unlike what the world says about daisies, "he loves me, he loves me not. . . ." With God choosing me as His own, dying on the cross for me, it is, "He loves me, He will always love me. . . ."- and that will go on for eternity!

Thanks National League

The National League won the 2011 All Star Game. Second year in a row that the N.L. has won, seriously has turned the tide as how the games have gone in the recent past. Last year's win helped my Giant's have home field advantage in the World Series. Let's Go Giants!!! Repeat again this year.

It's All Worth It!

My pool is such a hassle. Hassle is an understatement too. My pool needs constant love, care and so much time. Chemicals, brushing, filter cleaning, skimming, vacuuming, and the list goes on. I hate dealing with the surprise that it is green and cloudy. At some moments in time I have thought that I would like to be done with it and fill it in.
UNTIL, I have family or friends over and they truly are enjoying the pool. This past week was such and example. Jen and the kids were up this week and we were in the pool for 4 or 5 days straight. The kids seem to just love being in the pool. This past week, everyone was in the pool. My mom, Jen, Trin Trin, Joe Joe, baby Eric, Amy, my cousin Cheryl, Olivia, Angie and I have all been in the pool. What fun we all had. Today is the first day in 6 days that I have not been in. Think I will pull the cover back and get in (after the Giant's game).

So, even though the pool is a complete hassle and uses up a good amount of my time, when people I love and care about enjoy my pool, it is all worth it.

A complete side note here about the pool: on Tuesday Amy brought over baby Eric to get him used to the pool. He cried and cried just getting the tips of his toes in. The next day, Amy had him in on her legs, he fussed a little. On Thursday (and Friday and Saturday too) he got completely in the pool. He so enjoyed himself. He laughed at his cousins and did not mind a little splash on his face.

I thank God for the blessing of a pool and to use it for His glory!

image taken from google images

Waiting to See the Doctor

Yesterday I needed to go to the doctor to see if they could help me figure out what is going on with not feeling well for several days with a fever for 5 days. I don't want to discuss my health in this post but the wait to see the doctor in the exam room.

There are so many posters and fact sheets all over the walls of the exam room. I am determined they make you sit on the cold exam table until you have had enough time to read everything on walls. You have to leave more informed or more confused. Here are a few glimpses what passed from my eyes to my brain.

• if I used an inhaler, it is much better to use an extender chamber
• saw the differences between a cold that is bacterial vs. viral (my case could be either)
• figured my current BMI
  
• the hospital offers many classes for people with diabetes
• and that if you have diabetes, you should have your shoes and socks off for the visit with the doctor
  
• from now, age 42, until age 100, I know what appointments I should making (not looking forward to a few of the future screenings)
• if I found myself in an emergency the sign by the phone told me how to call the nurse's station
• what a fetus (little human being) looks like at 9 weeks past conception. I am always awe struck at the incredible complexity of the development of a human. Truly an amazing work of God
  

Let's Do It Again!

This year, my San Francisco Giants, start out as World Champions! I don't think I will ever tire of celebrating what happened in 2010 with the Giants! I would love the orange and black to kiss the world championship trophy again this year. Tomorrow my boys are back at it and I am ready with my chant, "BEAT LA, BEAT LA".

GO GIANTS!!!


(image taken from Google images)

Picker Upper

Sometimes after work, I need a picker upper, a Peet's coffee drink. Today was one of those days. First real day of warmth for 2011 (what a contrast from the gloomy last several weeks of rain, rain, rain). So, I stopped off at "Peete Boys" and got an iced half calf coffee, a less expensive drink. The barista handed me my drink on the counter right next to the tip container and then handed me my nickle change. Clunk, splash. "Did you see what I just did?" "You put your nickle in your coffee drink, didn't you?" "Ahh, I thought I dropped it in your tip jar".

Guess I really needed a pick me upper to think correctly.

The San Francisco Giants are the World Champions!!!

Yes, yes, yes! The (my) San Francisco Giants have won the world series! History has now been made. First championship ever for San Fran in baseball history. There was some serious hooting and hollering inside and outside of my house when the game was over.





Call me crazy or call me loyal, but today is the big parade and I am going! Thanks to some hard earned bank days at work and the awesome feat of the Giants to win it all. The crowds are expected to be big today. Last time I was around this many people it was for the New Year's celebration going into 2000 in San Francisco, that was crazy crowded night.
Images taken from knbr.com

The Excitement is Growing- Magic Number-1

Yaaaaahooo! Giants are up 3-1 in the series. There is great eager optimism growing. Tonight I found myself saying several times, "The Giants might (the might is with emphasis) win the World Series!" Tomorrow night might be a very sweet night. I want to dream already of going out and banging pots and pans when the final out is recorded but I know better to not to go there yet. Wow!

Please don't think my whole life is all about baseball right now because life has continued on. I am going to work each day, I went to church today, helped my mom out with some projects, even got the laundry done and folded! Giants baseball has been real exciting and this has been a great year.

In my excitement trying to find good graphics, I have neglected to give credit to the graphics. All the Giants images have come from Google images.

GO GIANTS!!!

Half Way There

Wow, what a series so far for the San Francisco Giants. Let's GO GIANTS!!! 2 down and 2 to go.

Thursday evenings my community group gathers (a Bible study) and this week we had a fellowship meal. K & J were so thoughtful, they had their Ipad set up so D and I could follow the updates every 15 seconds. I was not able to let loose the excitement completely but some hoots, claps and jumping up and down did occur. Thanks K & J- love you.

This week at school, instead of warm up exercises, I've had the students do the chicken dance and shared with them how the dance has to do with the San Francisco Giants. Back in the Barry Bonds era, opposing teams would intentionally walk the home run king and the stadium would play the chicken dance on the jumbo tron screen and 40,000 people would be dancing the little jig. Here is an example of one of those walks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou7tqQ6EVZE.

Fun times.

GO GIANTS!!!

Wow! One Down 3 to Go

What a fun and incredible ride this has been. Great win tonight for my San Francisco Giants in game 1 of the World Series. Would love if God's favor was towards the Giants this year. Incredible offense but we've gotta work on the defense a wee bit. Tonight I had a great time watching the game at a friend's home. She saw how pumped up I can get.

The kids at work have done some cute things over the last several days regarding the Giants. They've got the "fever" too! Last week Mrs. B's 2nd grade class did the morning announcements, a day when the principal was gone. At the end of their scripted announcements they cheered out, "Go Giants!" In another class last week, Mrs. A class had thought out ahead of time a way cheer the Giants on for me. After doing their 20 jumping jacks, they yelled out, "GO GIANTS!" They said they did this for me because I love the Giants so much. Today, 3 of us teachers had on Giants t-shirts. I started a chant with some of my students as we walked to the classroom and to lunch, "Let's Go Giants!" clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. Two of the 1st grade classes after recess chanted out in their line up lines (room 20)- "GO" (room 19) "Giants". That cheer was heard around the school. Today I gave out one of the SF Giant's pencils I picked up the last time I was at a ball game. The students were playing a game that involved putting on a orange or blue pennie to identify who was on each team. One girl refused to put on the blue pennie because she said it was not orange like the Giants. Every day, she shares her excitement of the Giants and how they are winning. After class I gave her a SF Giant's pencil that I had picked up the last time I was at the ball park. She loved it. I guess she shared that I gave it to her to another student. That student came up and asked if I had any more pencils and that he was a Giant's fan. I asked him if he was "a die hard fan" and he said he was. I asked, "for this whole season you have been a Giant's fan?" "Yes". I said, "who is the Giant's 1st baseman?" He could not answer so he did not get a pencil. I have one more pencil to give out and I know who it will be for tomorrow- a boy who runs up to me every day to give me a high 5 about the Giant's winning the game the night before.

I'm loving these fun days with the Giants! I told my students today that if the Giants win tonight, tomorrow night, Saturday and Sunday, sweep the series, that I will not be at school on Monday or whatever day they have the parade, that I will be in the city taking part in the fun celebration. They all want to come too. Not sure how I am going to work a field trip for all 500 out them.

World Series Mania

The World Series starts today. Just 4 wins until a team is crowned the champions, my hope is that it is the San Francisco Giants (and the hope of at least hundreds of thousands too). I'll post more later as I have to go to work, wish I was going to the game though.

LET'S GO GIANTS!!!

Giants Are Going To The Series

Orange October will continue for at least 4 more games! Yeah Hey for the Giants, they won the National League Pennant and are going to the World Series!!! This has been a great year for my Giants. One of my lifetime dreams (on my bucket list) is to see the San Francisco Giants win the World Series. Another item on my bucket list is to go to a World Series game with the Giants playing. Not sure, maybe this year?

On a side note, I am really tired of the media bias against the Giants. There have been several times I have had to mute the TV to silence the announcers and how they are talking about the Giants or talking the whole time about the Phillies (or the Yankees, Braves or almost any other east coast team). There is local announcer that should be taken off of the Giants radio broadcast station, KMBR 680, and his news sportcast. He has always been so anti-Giant, that I am sickened. Personally, I would like to stick with Duane, Mike, Dave and Jon and wish they could announce the series on the TV.

Summer's Last Hurah!

Once again, I am behind on my posts. What is even more sad than not posting is that I am procrastinating doing my lesson plans for next week to do a post!

Two weeks ago Dawn and I took a little day trip to Monterey. We brought our bicycles along and rode 25 miles up and down the coast. Honestly, it was nice to get out and do something different than the norm. The fresh air was good for my heart and mind with the new job and all that involved with starting up.

Check out my new bike, it is a nice upright hybrid by Trek. I love riding a bicycle but my back can not handle the strain of leaning over a racing or mountain bike. My bike is so cute, it is baby blue with dark blue Hawaiian flowers on it. My back loves it. I got a great deal on it too!

The old light house has been turned into a museum. On this day, the sun never really came out, it was buried deep in the summertime coastline fog.

Papa's Birthday Weekend

For the last 4 year's, since there have been grandkids, Papa's birthday has been celebrated over a weekend with the entire family. There is a BBQ swim party at my house and Dad takes all of us to a Giant's ball game(this year there were 10 of us, 11 if you count Baby F., from my 95 year old grandma to my 2 year old nephew). Papa had a great time in the kids lot helping Joey bat, run the bases and play the outfield with the kids. Dad really enjoyed himself. I love the first picture, Trinity has her hand on his leg for security. Joey a little bit later had to play right where the outfielder is on the painted wall. It was pretty cute. When my sister passes along a photo of all of us, I will post it up.

At the swimming party, Trinity showed off her new skill of swimming and jumping off the diving board. Actually, we could not keep her off the diving board, she was so excited to jump off my diving board. Mom, grandma, Amy and Jen cooked up some yummy food for the party. Yumahuh food indeed! In my family, yumahuh and good times go hand in hand.

Before the game got started we were able to go down to field level right by the Giant's dugout and look around and take some pictures. Me and my loves!

The only thing missing was a win. Funny has it, everytime we have all gone, the G's have not won. This time we should have won but the ump blew a call in the bottom of the 9th. We'll try again next year.

Bucket List- check

CHECK

One of the items I was able to check as completed on my "Bucket List", was Opening Day with the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Everything lined up this year for me to attend, I was on spring break from work, I actually was able to purchase tickets the first day tickets went on sale (part of checking off this item on my list), they were not expensive and my dad was able to go with me.

What a beautiful day in the city. The weather was perfect, perfect baseball weather. There was something special in the air this day, the Giant's won!

Dad and I took BART in and walked by the waterway to the ballpark.

It was pretty incredible to see the huge American flag at the start of the game.

Dad loves his fish and chips and tradition has it about 9/10 that we get fish and chips from the Irish Pub on the 3rd level. We walked out to the seats to hear the national anthem and to see the fly over. From our vantage point, we saw the fighter jets come in through the Golden Gate Bridge and under the Bay Bridge.

Something special about the feel at the yard on Opening Day.

On an exciting side note, my mom has really taken to the Giant's this year. She has enjoyed the Giant's but she is really getting into the games this year. She listens to all the games and is following how well the individual players are doing. On a regular basis she either calls me or I call her to talk about something that just happened in the game or to talk about the game afterwards. Both of us are on a first name basis with the players. By far, without a blink of an eye, her favorite player is Andres Torres. He is "her boy" and the best player on the whole team. The "boys" are even getting nicknames in her book, and mine too, there's Huff Daddy, Buster Boy, UuuuuRibe, Whitey, Eye Candy, Panda, Ichy, Freddy Boy, and Boch. I'm having fun talking baseball, mostly Giant's baseball with my mom. Love her dearly.

Next weekend we are celebrating my dads birthday and he is taking the whole family to the game. We have done this for the last 4 years. Fun time.

Update on Photo Contest

When my March issue of Sunset arrived in my mail box sometime in late February, the first page I look at is the inside back cover revealing the "The First Glimpse of Spring" photo contest winner. With hopeful anticipation, I see that none of my photos were chosen. But the paragraph below mentions my photo at AT&T Park, "This month, we were looking for the first signs of spring, and you responded with a flood of gorgeous images: tulips, hummingbirds, snow-covered crocuses, even a hopeful shot of the empty scoreboard at San Francisco's AT&T Park." Can I say I made honorable mention?

The deadline for May's contest is March 12th, and the theme is "the highest, lowest, northernmost, southernmost, or westernmost part of the West you've been to?" At this point I don't know if I have any worthy photos for the contest. The one I am considering is the photo below at the base of Mt. Lassen. Not the best shot but it is all that I have.

This shot was taken at the base of Mt. Lassen at Helen Lake. The peak of Lassen is close to 11,000 feet above sea level and Helen Lake sits around 8,300 (to my memory that is what I recall but I could be off on both of those). For the record, I have climbed to the peak 2 times and want to do it again real soon, and I have not swam in the lake but one about 1/4 mile away when it was half covered with snow-another story for another time.

I am slightly considering this shot from San Diego but I think the photo is nothing special.

The photo and below are from my recent trip to Cambria (cute little town between LA and the Bay Area). The one highlight of either of these photos is the elephant seals that were onshore to have their pups and this happens in January so it does not really fit in with the May issue. For that matter, the picture of Lassen is not part of May either. You can not get any where near Helen Lake in May, still too much snow. The peak trial does not even open until July.

Actual Rules for Teachers (circa 1915)

1. You will not marry during the term of your contract
2. You are not to keep company with men
3. You must be home between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am unless attending a school function
4. You dresses must be not any shorter than two inches above the ankle
5. You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have the permission of the chairman of the (school) board
6. You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless he is your father or brother
7. You may not dress in bright colors
8. You may under no circumstances dye your hair
9. You must wear at least two petticoats
10. You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores

The set of teacher rules crossed my desk a few weeks ago and made me chuckle and boy have the rules changed (I don't even know if we have rules for teachers now). In looking at the rules, were teachers only female and were they not allowed to marry? Being a PE teacher, I wonder how I could teach with a dress that could not be more than 2" above my ankle and wearing at least two petticoats. Demonstrating the high jump, running a 50 meter dash, spiking a volleyball, or playing a game of "Rocks" would have been interesting, to say the least.

Meet Half Way

Over the MLK 3 day weekend, Anne and Becky traveled up from the Los Angeles area, I drove south on highway 1 and we met half way in Cambria. Cambria is cute little coastal town with tons of charm. Cambria offers many tasty restaurants, wonderful wine tasting, antique shops and various other stores that are filled with charm. During the month of January, the elephant seals beach themselves on their yearly migration trek so the females can give birth to their pups and the males are fighting over their female clan and mating to keep the cycle going. The last weekend in January is the wine festival. For lodging we stayed at the Morgan, a very nice hotel in San Simeon, 2 miles away from Cambria. There was a great walking path next to the ocean on Moonstone Drive.

The protected area went from one end of the beach to the other. There were hundreds of elephant seals on the beach. For every 20 or so females there was 1 male who was King of over these. Each of the females either had a pup, was soon to have a pup or already had a pup that expired.

The docents shared with us about the nursery scene. Here you see 1 female with 6 pups all around her trying to nurse. Only 1 of these pups is hers but the others have lost their mothers, either by not being able to find them on the beach, the mother's being young and not being able to call for them properly, or they deserted their moms. The sad truth is that this one mother will not have enough milk to feed anymore than one pup and the others most likely will expire from starvation. From the platform that was built to keep the people away from the seals, we view at least 4 dead pups.

Just below the front flipper of this male you can see the pup that we witnessed being born just a few minutes prior. This big fellow (the males can get up to 5,000 pounds), just had finished fighting another male and chased him into the water. He stopped almost right on top of the new born pup and gave out a big roar which I translate, "Stay back, these are my gals".

Just love these pictures from the garden area of one of the cute little shops that we visited.