Who is this Sal Fasano guy?

Yes, I guess the title is a rhetorical question. We know Sal Fasano. He's the 'Jake Taylor' of the Cleveland Indians. The character Tom Berenger played in 'Major League.'

When he came up from AAA, everyone did say 'who is he?'

But from the getgo, he showed his spirit, his knowledge of the game, and his leadership.

Just watch him. You'll see. When he is catching a game, such as today's with Fausto Carmona on the mound, he took charge. He called a pretty good game. When Fausto got a little wild or there were shoddy defensive plays that 'could' have rattled Fausto, he marched on out there and gave him a pep talk.

He does not play much, so when he does he wants to make a statement. His bat made one today. He was a few feet away from a homer...and had another solid hit in the game. While standing on third base with the bases loaded, he loudly cheered on Franklin Gutierrez up at the plate.

The Indians are a team of strapping players with heart, drive, guts, and talent. If we are not the most talented team in the league, it's the other attributes which can help carry us a long way! Don't give up on them just yet. This team DOES want to play and they DO want to win!

The team really wanting to end the 5+ hour marathon WON!

We deserved to lose.

The only reason I say that is that we had ample chances of winning, and did not.

We had the bases loaded with no outs and lost.

We left beau coup amount of men on base so we lost.

We had 4 errors. Any team with 4 errors is bound to lose.

The game surely had it's moments, it's great feats! Go Kelly Shoppach go! Big Ben has got his swing back.

But we lost.

And apparently even the ushers were getting testy!

At the end of the game there were only about 1000 fans left in the stands yet the ushers were 'shooing' fans trying to get a closer view!

If that's not a crock! 1000 faithful fans left (ok, some of them were Detroit fans, but many were Indians) and they are being told they can not move a few rows closer to the field???!

What is up with this? Mom was tired so instead of going all the way down to our seats, the usher insisted we sit at the top of the row. We had a birds eye view of the ushers huddled together planning their strategy on 'shooing' the 'movers' from foreign seats.

A joke. Truly a joke. Especially 12 innings into the game, 5 hours later. And we lost. The ushers should have been escorting these faithful fans to the closest row and giving them a complimentary beverage!

The night is finally over and now we have to do it all again in less than 11 hours!

Good night!

Humanitarian vs Barbarian

Faith in Humankind = 13+

Lack of faith in Humankind 5 + a real BIG faux pas


In our travels yesterday, it looks like 'faith in humankind' won out. Do not be deceived.

Mom had a procedure which took us all day. When I was banished from her hospital room and the procedure itself, I was able to sneak out and do some stuff for Mom.

Right off the bat, we thought the day was gonna be awful because the hospital patient registration folks were already in a tizzy at 8am. Then they put an IV in that was unnecessary. They never used it or had any intention of using it but caused Mom so much pain.

It gradually got better thank goodness. Along the way and in my travels, my disheartened spirit would get a sporadic boost from strangers. One woman wished me and Mom well. I found a parking spot as soon as I arrived back from Mom's errands. I saw a former high school teacher who brightened my day. And I was able to spend a few moments with my Aunt & Uncle before they, themselves were off to a doctor's appointment.

Mom even felt well enough to go to the Indians Game. Things were looking up. When we arrived at the Ballpark, we got the very first spot in the parking garage. Unbelievable! That's where our day got soured again. No matter how many 'random acts of kindness' were showed us today, some idiot ruined them all.

A jack-al (Detroit Tiger fan) spit ketchup all over Mom and her new outfit as we were making the long walk up the stairs at the end of the game. Apparently we were not going fast enough. It was an awful feeling that someone could be so cruel and cold to a fellow human being, especially an elderly matriarch who is the salt of the earth!

No day at the beach

Well, technically, it WAS a beautiful day at the beach, except for the outcome of the game!

For people who say there is NOTHING to do in Cleveland, they are just crazy!

Over 100,000 folks visited Progressive Field this weekend. We went over two million fans!

And the Indians' organization put on the best and biggest beach party! They displayed huge sand castles and concoctions on Gateway Plaza. Had a live band playing Jimmy Buffet Saturday night. There were giveaways all weekend long and an amazing set up for Sunday Kids Fun Day!

And just a few blocks away, the Ingenuity Festival! Come on, Cleveland IS alive.

OK, back to the game. Well, if you are a baseball fan, the 1st five innings phenomenal. Jeremy Sowers was pitching a perfect game. He looked good. So we lost, but if you look beneath the surface, his performance did and does give hope!

I'm glad Asdrubal is back. Something VERY cool--the son of one of my co-workers, Ben, was picked as a Tribe Starting Line-up Kid and got to shake hands with Asdrubal. I can only imagine how pumped he was to stand on the field when all the players entered! Go Ben!

So we lost, but you can not beat grabbing a delicious brunch in the Terrace Club and then sitting in the July sun with an amazing breeze watching our favorite pasttime and the boys of summer.

Pinch me!

How could they trade CASEY? CASEY?

Say it isn't so, but it is!

My favorite player has been traded away to the Dodgers.

I'd like to think that the Cleveland Indians top brass have a master plan.

However, anyone who watches the Indians day in and day out sees that Casey Blake was the Indians BEST player. He played EVERY position. He was a great hitter. His fielding at 3rd, 1st and the outfield superb! He had a wonderful relationship with all of his fellow teammates and kept the clubhouse upbeat.

I just can not believe this happened.

I'd love to think at the end of the season, after the Indians unload all these players and have lots of dough to dole out, that they can get Casey back?!?!?!

And I'd love to think all of this maneuvering WILL bring us a World Series Championship in the near future. If not, bad call.

Congratulations Kay & Tyson!

I'd like to congratulate two members of our church choir who are expecting their first child.

What a joy! Babies! Kay and Tyson have been in our choir now I'm guessing almost a year if not more! Two of the nicest people I've ever met.

Our Pastor was kind enough to let us use the church Rectory to have our little shindig after Choir Mass.

Dave, our Choir Director, took the reins and got the ball rolling for what turned out to be a memorable event.

It was such fun preparing for today's shower. Mom and I have found our second calling if my day job falls through--party planning!

They just have the tiniest clothes, the cutest decorations when it involves little babies!

We bought these tiny bottles and baby shoes, filled them with candy in the shape of rattles and wrapped them in pink and blue netting! Quite happy with the final product!

Susan made the most delicious fruit extravaganza: a baby carriage formed from a watermelon! Inside the carriage contained a smorgasbord of various fruits!

Could not let an event go by without including something "Indians!" We got them the most adorable Cleveland Indians' tiniest fan shirt and Slider shirt! I told Kay, boy or girl, Indians' stuff is universal!

Every one's efforts today made our little gathering quite festive!

We wish good health, happiness, and prosperity to Kay, Tyson, and their little bundle of joy!

I miss my best friend!

I think back a week ago tonight and can not believe that Craig and I were out on the town laughing, drinking, taking in an Indians' Game, and just having a good ole time like the good ole days!



Fast forward to tonight. Well, he's in Tampa and I am in Cleveland but I actually called him because I already miss him. We spoke for over two hours laughing, drinking and having a great time though two thousand miles separate us!



I've known Craig for about 11 years now.



Everyone thought we were dating, probably still do. We are not. We never were. But he is truly my best friend who knows more about me than anyone else (except maybe my childhood friend, Joan. But I have not really seen or spoken to her in years).



I have a core group of friends who I am going to ask to share things about me when I pass. I have never been very open with my family. Kinda hard to believe since I am a loudmouth at work. But, I AM SHY. Very shy. I just don't like talking to people but am working on correcting this issue. Especially in light of my current situation. Plus, people do and can change! Great thing about life! But the norm used to be when Mom and I would drive somewhere, we were usually silent. When I was watching tv, I was usually silent. I don't like doing things alone but when I am with someone, I am introverted. Unfortunately, I think my shyness comes across as being snobby or mean or even bitchy. People can think what they want. Deep down inside I am shy and no one has ever taken the time to help me get through this problem. My sister was 12 years older than me and I always felt like an only child since she was gone and out of the house when I was young. I never really had a sister to chat with, get advice from, learn about makeup and boys and whatever. I always felt as if I was on my own and it was and STILL IS very foreboding and overwhelming.




However, when I die, I really hope that Craig, Monina, Joan, Jimmie, Melanie, Terry, Dale, Tim, Jodi, Katie, Monique, Todd, TV Tommy, Durdak, Stadler, Yak, and Lydia will all gather around with my family and tell the most outrageous stories so that FINALLY my family gets to know me for who I really am/was! They get to hear all the great stories on my tremendous adventures, which for whatever reason, I opted NOT to share with them (doing shots with Jim Thome, hopping on pianos, riding a camel, having Ted Riser sit on my lap and sing to me, oh those Browns tailgate parties, Jimmy's, Have a Nice Day Cafe, Bar Cleveland, Kasey's, those Keeley stories, meeting a married man at the Winchester and doing the RIGHT THING.....the list is endless over the last 'blankety blank # of years!'




Anyhoo, I believe God puts people in our lives for a reason. We may never know WHY but I usually don't fight it!



I really got to know Craig when his father passed away. We hit it off immediately with so many similar interests including music, sports, television, rum!, and our passion for life!



I can not believe we are still friends. We've survived some pretty rough times accompanied with so many more heavenly times.



Right off the bat I was snake bit. Craig brought me home from work one night because my car was in the shop and, in my opinion, my family kind of gave him the cold shoulder. I don't think they did it on purpose, and it's long over. But it made me feel very awkward and uncomfortable.

However, I was so afraid of my own shadow back then, I never brought it up. They were all watching an Indians' game and just kept watching. True, it was late at night and everyone was sleepy, but it was so out of the realm for my normally outgoing, gregarious, fun-loving family. Unfortunately, it put a horrible taste in his mouth to this day. I asked him to blame ME (not them) for not 'pumping him up more' to my family and sharing with them how important this person was to me. It's over and hopefully by the fact that we are still friends, we have tried to put this behind us.



A song will come on the radio and I think of him. Or I'll see an artist and remember when we went to that concert together flashing back to that happy time. Sometimes I feel like his stalker, but don't worry, I am not! I am just very emotional. I am very nostalgic. I have scrapbook after scrapbook and really like remembering good times I've had with family and friends!

I have a great life! If you asked me 20 years ago if would have experienced all the great things I have, I would have laughed in your face! God has been SOOOO GOOD TO ME!




Craig was just in town for a week. I had to work most of the week but spent as much time with him as possible since I may not see him again for another year. We actually only fought I think twice. For us, that's good! It's not really fighting, it's having a cognitive disagreement!



I am really bad at talking on the phone. I do so much of it at work, I hate talking on the phone away from the office. However, I've surprised him. I would NEVER call him. However, since he left, I think I have spoken to him about 7 times! He asked 'why the change of heart?' I'll keep him guessing!



I guess I just realize how much I DO miss my best friend. We have a history now. I am not the kind of person to brush someone off or forget someone just because they are far away. And, more so than ever, I realize how fragile life is. Realistically, I may never see him again. Something could happen to me or him or he may never come home again. So, I am making a huge effort to keep in touch across the miles and revive the great friendship we once shared.





I raise my Bacardi-Diet Coke in honor of my friendship with Craig and hopefully it will be a life-long friendship that just keeps getting better and better!

Music makes my world go round

God, first and foremost, is the center of my universe.

Then Mom and my family and very close friends.

And then my world spirals out of control! However, it's neck and neck as to what keeps me glued together. That would be MUSIC and Cleveland Indians' Baseball.

Music is an extremely important part of every single day. I love days when I have Cantor practice because I just belt it out for over an hour....and every weekend singing each Mass is also a joyful time filled with music!

Taking it one step further, it seems most events and moments in my life have music attached, specific songs down to a specific line for a specified memory!

I was driving into work today and heard two songs which totally took me back.

1st I heard Seals & Crofts 'Diamond Girl.' I was immediately transported back to the 70's when my family would drive to Fort Lauderdale, Florida playing Seals & Crofts, Three Dog Night, and so many more 8 Track Tapes! We stayed at the Sherwood. They had the big cockatoo that welcomed you when you pulled onto their grounds. One year the entire family gathered there during a two week span! It was GREAT! Every day a new family member was either checking in or checking out! I also met one of my first loves there. I can not even remember his name, though I want to say it was David. He was a cutie. He had an older brother and a younger brother. We all went to a game of the Little League World Series together. Oh, I did not lead on that I was totally infatuated with this kid, but I was. And then summer vacation was over, we parted and he was gone forever.


Then the next song that came on was The Scorpions 'Rock you like a hurricane.' More of a bittersweet memory. Mango man broke up with me at The Scorpions concert. But for the 6 months we were going out, it was paradise! He was HOT. All my friends said he looked like a top model for GQ, and he did! He DID have me at hello! Interesting story really. He worked at our local grocery store. He came up to me one day telling me how wonderful I smelled! Well, in actuality, he smelled great! To this day I do not know what cologne HE wore, but I'd like to find someone who wears it!

I would not give up that 6 months for anything! Ironically, when my friend Jodi and I traveled to Atlanta to see our pal Pat and take in a Braves game, we saw Mango man in a local bar! WOW, what a blast from my past!


I could go on forever, because honestly, I have a favorite line from every single song I love....and usually that line is attached to a tremendous memory!

Thank you, God, for giving us music and giving me my wonderful appreciation of ALL musical genres!

Kicking my butt

I hear friends say "if it really means that much to you, you'll be able to do it."

"If it's that important to you, you'll make time for it."

Apparently, the folks spewing these words have never had to care for a parent so they do not know that 24 hours is not enough time to conquer the world!

Thinking about it, most of them don't. They are single, carefree young ones who hardly have a care in the world! Oh, those were the days!

Well the 'old' Danielle used to get upset about everything I could not find the time to do, accomplish, or complete.

The 'new and improved' Danielle (I should not say new and improved, because I have been this way for a long time now--older and wiser with everything thrust upon me!!) doesn't fight it! I know I will eventually get the 'necessary tasks' completed. It just may take triple the time.

There are wants --which just don't happen anymore!

There are needs --which, at times are completed.

There are necessary obligations --these are what are kicking my butt! Just over the last 3 weeks....Mom had 2 doctors appointments a week ago....2 appointments this week....and 3 next week.....leaving no time for anything else except work and a few hours of sleep!

At least I know what is kicking my butt and hopefully one day the overwhelmed feeling I've been harboring for the last 5 years will leave me and I can start kicking back (before it's too late!)...

Good luck, Kyle!

One of our favorite servers at The Terrace Club is done for the summer but assures us, he should return in the Spring of 2009!

Kyle was a gem. Such a sweetheart! Such a professional! Added humor and had great people skills! Yesterday he brought two patrons their left overs and had formed their containers into the shape of a duck and a goose! What a talk-a-about for all the guests surrounding this table! He always brought smiles to his customers' faces! And you know me, anyone who is so attentive to Mom gets an A+ Gold Star in my book!

We spend way too much time up in the Terrace Club. However, Mom deserves it! So why the heck not! Right now because Mom moves a little slower than she would like, it is great to be able to spend rainy days or very hot days upstairs and not have to scramble when the skies open or the hot sun is baking us!

Mom has her own little fan club up there who just love her. I know I will forget someone but Kyle lead the pack along with Meghan, Mary Jo, John, Nick, Missy, Ruth, Marla, Chris, and the little girls who work there from our church! Such great people!

Well, Kyle came over to us today and said he was hoping we would be in so he could say goodbye, for now!

We wished him well and DO hope to see him come April, 2009 if not before!! Mom hopes to be doing cartwheels by then!

Nightmare at Progressive Field

The day was coasting along flawlessly. A little Zoo action, the baseball exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and off to Progressive Field!

As usual, the masses start greeting Mom since we are regulars (I am just her invisible sidekick!).

An absolutely PERFECT night for a baseball game. And we have missed our boys. They had an awful road trip but they are not that bad. They have a great team and we just need to get all the cylinders spinning together!

Things were humming along. The Shaw band, just back from Beijing, played the National Anthem. What more could we ask for on this perfect night. There has to be a catch!

And sure enough, the catch strolls in and sits in the row right behind us. A group of young kids who do not look like they are old enough to drink but most of them are drinking. They are loud, obnoxious and every other word is the 'f' word. Finally, a woman sitting a few away from us turned around and told them to please be quiet.

Well, this turns out to be the least of our worries.

In the 4th inning, Mom takes a bite of her grilled dog and begins choking. It was awful. Absolutely awful. I did not panic too much. However, it was proven again that Mom has a guardian angel over her at all times. A lovely woman sitting right in front of me, slowly turned around and began monitoring Mom. I knew deep down inside she must be a nurse. Mom kept trying to work the piece out on her own. She could still talk a bit and was not turning blue yet. Finally, after about 3 or 4 minutes, Mom got the pesky piece of hotdog out of her throat.

Turns out the 'guardian angel' in front of us WAS a nurse. She told Mom that she had plans for her but was hoping she could work out the item on her own. Basically, the woman saved Mom's life.

But wait, there's more.

The jackal sitting behind us, the drunken idiot revved up again and after some great play, hauled off and whipped Mom in the neck with his shirt. It was again, AWFUL! At this point, I have had it. I got up, checked to make sure Mom was ok, was not bleeding and did not have anything broken. I then proceeded to tell him that I was going to get an Usher and if that did not work, the Police. How in his right mind could he strike an elderly woman with his shirt. He said he did not do it on purpose. Not acceptable. This guy is toast.

He apologized profusely to Mom. She is better than I. She gladly accepted his apology impressing how badly he hurt her. We are all really lucky he did not strike her in her dialysis arm because that would have opened and she may have bled to death. It is an extreme challenge taking care of Mother 24/7 which no one, and I mean NO ONE has any clue.

After about 1 more inning, maybe not even. He and his group left giving their tickets to 4 other more civilized folks never to be heard from again.

The bright side is that Mom began feeling better on both fronts, and our boys put their hitting shoes on, especially the fabulous Casey Blake!

Maybe my ritual at the Zoo REALLY DID WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!???!!!!!!!!!!

Our day at the Zoo

There are some things that just never get old. Baseball, a romantic sunset, a juicy episode of 'Murder She Wrote,' 'CSI Miami,' or 'Golden Girls' and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo!

My best friend is in town this week. I have had to work much of it, but I am not going to pass up the chance to spend as much time with him as possible. Life is way too short!

Craig usually comes home to see his Mother once or twice a year (until he can come back for good) and I steal him away for a little while! We try to hit the zoo. And this year we were successful in doing so!

One of his favorite animals is the Polar Bear. I usually give him a Polar Bear Zoo Adoption each year for his birthday so that when he is in town, we can visit this gentle giant!

For some reason, this year's visit seemed so much more entertaining! It was like I was visiting the Zoo for the very first time?!?!?!

Bright and early we headed out to Fulton for a day of fun and frivolity! We buzzed by the new Steelyard Commons giving him the nickel tour of this new extravaganza mall! The Zoo jam packed with folks of all kind: kids, adults, grandmas and grandpas with their grandchildren, summer camp groups, and wagons and strollers like you would not believe!

From the get go, we were enamored by the kangaroos and the little baby kangaroo in his or her mother's pouch! One of the cutest things I have ever seen! Such an enjoyable trip! From the huge elephants and giraffes to this gigantic hippo wading in his very own pool to the reindeer, tigers, monkeys, rhinos, the singing dogs, the hogs and EVERY single exhibit on site! Each little village was tremendous! I don't know if I have a favorite really (they all are)--ok, maybe the singing dogs! I do love the section up the hill as well (except that it is UP the hill!) However coming down is a breeze! And then I just love all the babies!

The Sea Lion was so personable playing into everyone's hands! And the koalas were hugging up in the tree --the cutest sight to see!

The new attraction, TOUCH, was a hoot! You can pet /touch the rays and sharks in this small pool area.....I was determined to touch as many rays as I could in order to turn the Indians luck around! Ironically, they are playing the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend and we need a shake up. Each ray I touched, I put the KaBosh on the Rays! Kinda hoaky but I am very superstitious! We shall see!

The entire morning was absolutely stupendous from the beautiful weather (which Craig has had all week compared to the heat in Tampa) to the calm and peace at the park to the amazing wildlife we have here at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! I know why I contribute each year to this wonderful group! Such an experience to visit the Zoo. Something that everyone should do in their lifetime!

(hugging koalas)

Let's monkee around!

A charming venue for live acts! I saw Al Stewart at the Winchester and this weekend I was lucky enough to see Peter Tork of the Monkees!

What a wonderful time. I surprised one of my dearest friends with a night out on the town. He had no idea where we were going or who we were going to see! It worked out perfectly! Felt like the 'good old days!'

We met a wonderful couple, Elaine and Tom, who helped make the night memorable!

Peter Tork and his band made some rockin' music all night long....and we sang and we danced and, at least for me, I just put my troubles aside for a few hours and said 'anything goes!' What a treat at the end of the night to actually meet Mr. Tork and welcome him to our great city! Quite the charming man! I can not even believe I had the guts being the shy gal I am (I think the Bacardi-Diet Cokes helped a bit!)...

I've been given some great opportunities in my lifetime, in my city, and whenever one of my very best friends is around! M-A-G-I-C AND M-E-M-O-R-I-E-S!

Pinch me!

(pictures courtesy: Elaine and Tom)

Bigger ISN'T better

I've learned all week that being BIGGER may not be better.

We've been trying to get Yankee tickets for the last week. Normally if we think about taking a baseball trip, everything is firmed up by May. But initially a friend of ours with family and friends in the Big Apple started handling. Their attempts all fell through. They ran into some road blocks. So we are starting over trying to take another avenue.

Exasperating. I don't think this is going to happen now. We've run into roadblock after roadblock.

We do have Cleveland Indians' season tickets and when we need to contact our Indians, no problem. We get right through to someone.

We have left messages for the all and powerful New York Yankee Ticket representatives who claim in their literature, 'any questions or problems, just call this number!'

You can not talk to a real person. We need to talk to a real person because we need handicapped seating. I do not want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on Stub Hub (which is exasperating as well) or some other option if Mom will have to climb a thousand steps.

Being bigger and claiming to be the best city in the world has its disadvantages!

Stay tuned...

Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty

Music is such a big part of my life. And when you put baseball and music together, you've lost me totally!

There are so many songs I would love to have a male sing to me or at least 'think' of me when he hears them! Of course the list is endless, and then I have a favorite line from every single song! OK, a little obsessed! But to give some examples of what I am speaking about:
Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight'
Billy Joel's 'Always a woman to me,' and 'All about soul,' and 'She's got a way'
McCartney's 'Maybe I'm amazed'

I started thinking about this at the Tom Petty concert last week...when he sang 'Here comes my girl.'

Sing it Tom.....

I can't even imagine

I can not even imagine what Mom has to go through at her dialysis sessions (really every day if you count the collateral damage from dialysis).

We arrive and I know she is dreading the next number of hours. Yet, it's saving her life. And, when we see some of the other folks who are really worse off than Mom, we just raise our eyes to God and give thanks for Mom's health and life.

I felt worse Monday. Not only did she have a tech who had hurt her before. But she had come off of a previous session which was AWFUL because the tech really did not know what they were doing.....

But then we went to turn on her small toaster-sized television, and nothing. That little box which emits sound and pictures is Mom's life saver each session. Ya know how some parents use the TV as a babysitter, or diversion for their children. Well, the TV keeps Mom's mind pre-occupied (as much as she can) from the whole dialysis process: the needles, the pain, the stiff neck and back problems.....and the worst part, when she cramps up.

All I can do is pray each day that God will help her get through each session, and hopefully, the people who are initiating the process are gentle, kind, and knowledgeable of their craft.