Sure sign 'spring' is around the corner

Spring training that is!

I'm usually the one who adores the fact that life waltz's along at a fine pace. Sure, it's usually chaotic, ridiculously busy, a juggling act from dawn to dusk, highlighted with the daily ups and downs which range from bursting into tears sadness to the tears of laughter running down my face. Certainly never a dull moment.

But for me, life does not normally fly by. I love that aspect. For example a week long vacation often feels like 3. It's usually never gone in the blink of an eye. I'm blessed and lucky in that respect.

Though Christmas seems like a million years ago (my vibrant live tree is still up & 1 gift remains for a dear friend), I could not be happier that we are nearing the end of January.

One challenge after another--personally, health-wise, and professionally. Oh, don't worry. The glass is still topped off with the crazy cherry Kool-Aid that everyone is serving up.

Life could be much worse or much better. I like focusing on the much worse and counting my blessings rather than harping on what's missing, lacking, my failures, or where I could be if .....

Right about now is when I perk up because the Cleveland Indians are on their yearly press tour getting out mingling with the fans excited that baseball is just around the corner.

End of this week, the Indians equipment truck leaves for Arizona. Ah! Many people look forward to key points throughout the year.....I celebrate the day the Tribe equipment truck packs up and heads south because that can only mean one thing.

Spring Training.

The arrival of Spring.

Warmer temperatures.

Longer days.

Baseball.

Romance.

Hot dogs and stadium mustard.

Sun tanning.

Patios.

A very happy Danielle.

What an absolutely amazing weekend. 1 of my dearest friends and I have been on target the last couple of months. She had been out of town and we STILL had mental telepathy on what we both wanted to do this weekend. Uncanny. When I told her where I wanted to go she said good, because she already had tickets!! It was like Christmas all over again.

So we trekked to the Lake Erie Monsters Game, which is always fun in itself. This game was extra special because of the friends surrounding me plus 'my' Cleveland Indians were there front and center as part of their Caravan Tour visiting with fans.

Oh my gosh. The place was packed. For those nay-sayers who hate baseball or do not think Cleveland Indians Baseball is alive and well, you must have been living under a rock this week. Fans came out in force to see the Tribe-sters all week long at their various venues and public appearances. I love this team and this game!

So the crew at the Monsters game included: Matt LaPorta, Shin-Soo Choo, Michael Brantley, Tony Sipp, and Manager Manny Acta.

An extra special treat was seeing former co-workers of mine who showed up to shoot the event...and then a 5 minute interview session giving all media access to Manny Acta and Michael Brantley.

(Mark, cameraman at WEWS, one of my former co-workers)

I am about to bust with anticipation of the upcoming season which should be entertaining, exciting, and so magical.

If 'my' Indians can not get me out of the January blue funk, no one and nothing will.

Turn the hourglass, the meter is running. The next few months is my time to get all my ducks in a row. My personal 'spring cleaning' or 'lent' to get back on track. Once baseball season is upon us, that's it folks. I'm gone until the final game of the World Series!

And it's such a wonderful place to be! I hope throughout the season, many of you will join me!

One hell of a year already!

Really?

I've learned not to question certain things, first and foremost God's plan for me and my loved ones.

And then just roll with it baby....

The first 2 weeks of 2011 have been interesting and challenging to say the very least.

New Year's eve and day were in 'stand by' mode as we waited to hear whether my sister would be coming home from the hospital. We had multiple plans in place to ring in the new year together.
If she came home New Year's Eve, we'd go through as scheduled with our potato dumpling and sauerkraut feast....if she came home before noon New Year's day, we'd try dumplings and sauerkraut....if she came home after noon, we'd gather at Auntie's so we were together and have an alternate dinner.....and if she did not come home New Year's day, we'd go visit her and then still share a meal of some kind together!

Whew! I'm exhausted just reliving that scenario.

My sister wound up coming home New Year's night. We cooked up a hodge podge meal for the rest of us....as she was still not too keen on real food, especially the ethnic food we prepared. While Janice slept, since no one can sleep in the hospital, we carried on and welcomed in the new year together as one big happy family! It was actually an awesome evening.

We also celebrated my youngest niece's birthday....

I can not even believe all the food we prepared and the desserts. Oh, the desserts.

I'm convinced since New Year's resolutions usually do not begin on New Year's day, they are snakebit from the getgo....but it's always ambitious to have goals and set your sights high.

The funniest thing of all is the next day, my sister asked my aunt why we did not save her any dumplings? Trust me. When we wind up making 35 pounds of potatoes, we normally have leftovers, even if for a meal or two!

We've been playing tug-of-war about how many potatoes to make. My youngest niece and I always want to make at least 40 pounds. You can never have too many potato dumplings with sauerkraut and pork, especially since they taste so much better the next day and the day after that...

But, the insanity did not end here.

I overruled myself and wound up going to the Browns-Steelers game. Normally, when it's extremely cold and snowy, I opt for warmer Browns' watching surroundings. Not only was the game over before it began, the weather was typical football weather chasing me home during the 3rd quarter.

As my sister recuperated, she had a minor setback and wound up having another emergency surgery the following weekend. Really?

Though my sister had a rigorous doctor agenda this week, things are gradually settling down.

Finally, the day is here. New Year's dinner round #2 is upon us. The 'real' feast with 35 pounds of potatoes, sauerkraut, and pork. Whew hoo. It's an assembly line. Each person has their own necessary job. I usually wind up with flour in my hair, and everywhere really.

Next year, I think we must re-think my job. I was in charge of grinding the potatoes and 1/2 the time forgot to put the blade in after pouring the potatoes into the cheese cloth. It made for much laughter and happiness!

It takes a little while to re-acquaint ourselves with our assembly line, but we got it going and cranked them out....

Then we teased everyone. Auntie, Sara, and I went to church so everyone had to wait...and wait...and wait!

Finally, the moment had arrived. Our long awaited, postponed traditional New Year's celebration. Well worth the wait. And as usual, wonderful quality family time to kick off the new year. God is good.

Just have to keep saying 'everything happens for a reason....' and 'God knows what he is doing.'

So in the midst of one of the coldest winters on record, many challenges surround us from all sides already....

As Mom always said, we are survivors. God won't toss anything our way we can not handle. I believe.

What does God have in store for 2011?

Looking back at 2010 still amazes me. Never in a million years did I ever imagine more than half of the shenanigans dancing into my life.

2010 was a mixture of still grieving Mom immensely, which unfortunately will be the lot for the rest of my life....intermixed with more sadness as Uncle Bill passed away....however, as Mom echoes in my head daily, God is good.

God and Mom brought me much happiness from my family and friends, especially old friends who re-entered my life.

My trip to the OBX with my best college friends reassured me that I am loved and am not alone in this world. Definitely just what the doctor ordered, though the wild horses eluded us :(

Uncle Bill actually waited for me to come home before passing away....the day I arrived home and visited him with the hummingbird wind chime I brought home, he knew who I was, got that great smile he always made and thanked me for his gift. I miss him so, but I'm sure nothing compared to how much Auntie misses him.

After handling Mom's funeral just 6 months before, when he passed, my family was great in swinging into action to handle everything for Auntie. Being friends with the funeral director, I immediately called Kevin on his cell phone and set the wheels in motion. Such a wonderful time looking through old pictures as we put picture walls together. Though a sad time, it brought about tons of laughter, which is one of the greatest gifts Uncle Bill always shared with us.

The day of Uncle Bill's funeral, I left the church and saw everyone weeping pointing at the hearse. I couldn't even imagine. As I got closer I realized everyone was half laughing, half crying as a squirrel danced around under the hearse. Uncle Bill always fed the birds and squirrels and this truly was a sign that he was there and would be there with us forever. Even today, as I walk to and from church, I see that same crazy squirrel (Uncle Bill) taunting me!

Cleveland Indians' baseball played a huge role--really saving me on those days I didn't want to be here. I know it's hard for people who don't like baseball to comprehend how I feel about this sport, and more importantly Cleveland Indians' baseball. It's a part of me, my life. My guys pulled me out from the bottom of the well time and time again. Without baseball, I'd be a vine that shrivels up and dies. I guess it is an expensive habit, but seeing it's really the only thing I do, and how it saved my life in 2010, it's well worth the cost. A habit I am not ready to give up. Baseball allowed me to visit my best friend in Tampa, Florida and share a day of baseball with our entire family and close friends in a loge at Progressive Field. When I think back at what makes me who I am and what brings tears of joy to my eyes--family, close friends, singing, and Cleveland Indians' baseball. And when family & friends are intertwined with Cleveland Indians baseball, I'm walking on air!

I re-connected with grade school friends, who once again, gave me a reason to continue onward..... I can not even put into words how Susie, Sheila, Teresa, Johnny, and Sal brought me back to my roots and made me remember what is truly important in life. They were excited to see me and liked me for me--not who I've become, what I do, who I know, what kind of car I drive or even how many pounds I've packed on since our grade school days. I will be ever indebted to all of their friendships and how they grasped me out of oblivion.

What's even more chilling--the wonderful stories every single friend of mine has about my Mom. I never knew that she touched so many people's lives, but she did making me love her even more, if that's even possible, and really giving me the oomph to try and emulate her as much as I can.

There is one friend in particular who really brought me back to life. I always think of the line in "While you were sleeping" which says 'I may have saved your life that day, but you really saved mine....' and that is exactly the way I feel about this wonderful human being. They finally energized me to take down my Christmas decorations May 16, 2010 and start living again....

The summer was magical and nothing I'd ever imagined.....the entire year really one big fantasy dream....

The people I re-connected with and have been able to keep in touch with mind blowing.

I still can not even believe I made a 2nd trip to Tampa to visit my friend Craig but also see the Cleveland Browns' away opener.

An emotional time for me (well, honestly, when wasn't I emotional in 2010?) was Mom's birthday. I remember it as if it were yesterday. My schedule had changed at work for a few days...and when I was not at work I was glued to the television watching the Chilean Miners being rescued --on Mom's birthday. Call me crazy, but I honestly believe Mom had something to do with that miracle. I never put anything past my Mother.

When my family gathered for the 1 year anniversary of Mom's death, she did it to us again. As we sat in Trattoria in Little Italy, a rainbow sat right above our restaurant and the text messages started coming in from friends saying Mom was talking to us all. Thank you Mom!

Winding up the year, yet more baseball stuff as I hit SnowDays and had the most amazing time in my home away from home! I can not believe I had the guts to go down the Batterhorn twice and then skated for the next 3 hours. Again, when baseball, family, and my best friends are involved, I'm happiest.

Mom would always say "God is good." As well as: live life to the fullest....don't worry about what you have no control over....God will always provide.....

Being me, I'm trying to figure out what will happen in 2011 and doubting that it could ever top 2010. But Mom brings me back. I have no clue what God has in store for me or any of us....but you can be sure, it will be one hell of an adventure. And if I put total trust in Him, live life to the fullest following in God and Mom's footsteps, not only will it be as good as 2010 but surpass it at warped speed!