5 games plus Jim Thome: Pinch me!

I'm determined to get my life back on track, take care of me, and continue scratching duties off of my overwhelming 'to do' list.

It was an amazing beginning....the hard part will be continuing on the straight and narrow.

Out of the goodness of his heart, a dear friend who used to help me with Mom has taken on the task of being my personal trainer. He's absolutely awesome! I worked out with him all week long...and am back down below what I weighed when I turned 40 years old. I've made such great strides I never ever want to ever find myself back where I was -- which is 40+ pounds heavier.

Not only have I revved up the workout schedule, but I saw five Indians' games last week, including the return of the beloved Jim Thome! Two weeks ago, I'd never have believed that I was so into my workout schedule and that Thome would be an Indian again.

I guess miracles can happen and anything is possible.

The day that boosted me over the top was the day-night double header. Walking back and forth from Progressive Field is an amazing workout in itself. Walking back and forth 4 times in one day with a rigorous hour long workout in between just blew my mind, but I did it and felt so pumped up at the end of the day, not to mention, I caught a foul ball at the first Indians' game --that REALLY revved me up!

Let's try and keep this streak going.....not only the baseball streak but the workout as well as organizing a pretty messy life which is a great life, but in total chaos at this very moment! :)

Tangled in a spider web, sinking in a sand trap

Against my better judgement, I've gotten sucked into the huge spider web and can't seem to find my way out. Or I feel like I'm sinking in a sand trap.

Though I'd rather meet someone in person, get to know them, and make new memories 'THAT' way, I've gotten roped into the way kids today talk: via texting.

I enjoy conversing with my new text buddy but my head is spinning. We chat like buddies then we have crazy conversations like we are more than buddies.

Frankly, I am confused. We've discussed soooooo much, I do feel as if I know him. I do feel akin to him and I've told him absolutely EVERYTHING about me. I can share anything and everything with him. I feel so comfortable with this fellow human being. But there is no freaking way I should let myself get attached to anyone until I meet them in person. That has not happened thus far and every time I ask if it will, there is no definitive answer and I wind up in the dog house.

Last week after I received a text of six little words, I actually ran to the bathroom at work and threw up. Yes, it was stupid. First, ridiculous thinking I knew what my text buddy was saying in the context of a text. I will be the first person to say text messages are meaningless. They are words that could go anyway and you don't know what they mean until you hear them in person.

Second, to get upset over a guy is going against everything I believe in--no one should get upset over a guy via text, over the phone or in person.

Yet, yes, I feel close to this kid. I so would like to start a friendship, friends only situation, with this awesome individual. There have been dozens and dozens of signs over the last three weeks convincing me that we should be friends. I believe in signs. When two people text the same message to each other at the same time, it's a sign. That's what happened one night during a thunderstorm. When in casual conversation I shared the random fact that I love the smell of Skoal Wintergreen and that's his brand, I take that as a sign. When I tell him one of my favorite beers is Molson Ice and he is drinking that beer at the time, that's a sign. There have been so many other coincidences that I can not let this friendship go, not just yet.

Not sure what's swirling around in his head about me? I'd like to think he feels the same bit I just don't know.

Yes, I got so upset over a guy it made me physically ill. It was an absolutely chaotic hour. And what really gets me is that I was messaging a friend of mine....and my text buddy was responding to the texts I was sending my friend. That irked me a bit. I wanted to talk to my friend in confidence and it appeared as if she was sharing my situation with my text buddy by his responses to me..... not good.

It was a crazy 48 hours filled with emotion. I'm not sure what to do or how to handle this situation. All I can do is first and foremost pray to God and Mom to help me, to give me the strength to do nothing and put this situation in their hands off of my shoulders. Next, I just need to be me, be the person Mom taught me to be, be a good friend and a good Christian and hope that in the end, I will have been a good friend to my new text buddy.

They have tons happening in their life, but so do I.

Fortunately, Saturday night, when I received another text that seemed like our friendship had been disbanded I was with two very very good friends who told me how lucky I was, who reminded me they and so many other good people are in my life and conked me on the head telling me how absolutely blessed I am.

I would not in any way shape or form hand back the last 21 days for the world. I've enjoyed conversations with my new friend. I've enjoyed meeting, if only via text, someone that 3 weeks ago wasn't even a blip on my radar. He has made me smile every single day for the last 21 days. I've been on cloud 9.

God is good. I need to keep saying that....God is good....God is in charge. What will be will be and God never ever hands us anything we can not handle.

At the very least, this summer in my life --May thru the present, will make one hell of a romance novel! Thank God I've been taking notes and jotting down the most important memories! Whew hoo! I am the glass full girl and I, of anyone, know how to make delicious lemonade when handed a basket of sour lemons! HA!

We need more cowbell in the rain!

The last week has been one I'd never ever imagined, concocted, or even scripted in a dream in a million years!

Just the simple fact that I have a new text buddy who, most of the time is amazing.....yes, we've had a few rough spots but always seem to get back on track.

I had a schedule change due to vacations. A very nice change of pace! And honestly it seemed I was at the station MORE because of it as I would work, work out and then hit the Tribe game! Going to the Indians' games has become beneficial to my health as well as a great source of pleasure! I park at my office and walk over to Progressive Field. Those days I get a workout in, BONUS! The days I don't, I still get a nice downtown walk going!

One of the days I worked I totally overslept! I NEVER do that. I jokingly the day before told my relief to call me if I wasn't in at a certain time....sure enough, I jinxed myself. I got up 18 minutes before I was supposed to be at work! I called him and said, dude, I'm up but I may be a few minutes late!

God was truly on my side. I threw on an amazing outfit, gathered my lunch, and headed to work. I made EVERY SINGLE LIGHT! I was not speeding but it was a different shift than I normally work and the light pattern had changed. I got to work only a few minutes late and knew that I owed God a HUGE HUGE favor!

And then it was the Feast of the Assumption weekend! A family tradition! Sunday I went to the Indians' game which wound up being rained out and postponed. Even in a delay, I had the most delicious time at the ballpark. We played a few innings--David Huff was pitching a doozy! Then the skies opened. So I ventured up to the Terrace Club and just sat in my place on the floor watching other MLB games! 1/2 way through the delay, the most delightful little boy and his father came over to sit by me. He was a doll! We had the best conversation about beginning school and his lunch breaks at school....and how the administrators are quite annoying with how they quiet people down and get attention. It was absolutely awesome! He shared his fishy crackers with me and then when the couch opened, offered me a seat next to him on the couch!

He really was a doll and reminded me of my friend's adorable little boy, who hopefully one day I will meet.

Finally, they called the game and off I went to change for the Feast of the Assumption. I was NOT going to pass this up.

There may be a little rain in the air but it's tradition. I needed to get my Italian food fix on and light the candles we light every single year at Holy Rosary church!

I changed and headed down to Little Italy. I was meant to be there! It all came together! I was supposed to meet two friends but they got chased away by the rain. I wound up seeing my sports producer and his friend! Then I saw an old colleague, Commander Tom Stacho. I did my normal walk around and taste and squirrel away food to take home plus I grabbed some to give to my Aunt when I saw her at mass the following day....

But my highlight, besides lighting the candles and saying a little prayer, was visiting my friend's fried dough stand! ALWAYS a delight! And this year just made my week!

In the meantime, my new pal and I had been texting back and forth.....it was nice. But I was on a mission and he was going to have to wait. Especially after the skies opened again.....one downpour and I put up the umbrella. It lasted about 5 minutes and away the umbrella went! I went to Michael's stand and saw he and his lovely wife and children. After talking just a few minutes the skies opened yet again...but this was furious and would last longer. So he ushered me under his stand to safety and we all talked, shared memories, caught up, feasted on fried dough and made new wonderful memories.

At one point, it was apparent the rains would not be stopping for a while so the band in the center of the venue started playing to entertain those stranded.....and that's when the fun really began. A stand two down from Michael's had all of these instruments --cow bells, horns, tambourines, anything you could imagine. They started doling them out, passing them down so that everyone could play along with the band! It was magnificent. The kids had the most fun of course! This vivid image that will last with me forever IS truly what makes new memories --surrounded by friends, family, tradition, and the guts to live life to the fullest and make lemonade when you are handed lemons!

U crazy kids & ur texting

I still have the old archaic phone. I'm ok with that for now because I don't have enough money to get a new one and I don't have a job or position that requires me to be attached to my email 24 hours a day.

I did up my texting plan because every single guy I've met this Spring and Summer seems to want to text rather than talk on the phone or meet in person.

What is it with young kids and guys and texting rather than having a heart to heart conversation?

I'd much prefer talking to someone on the phone so I can hear their emotion, their inflection, and get a detailed rundown of a conversation rather than abbreviated words to get a possible point across?

I'd much rather be in the same room with someone holding a conversation with them as we get to know each other, fire question after question immediately as it pops in our heads without that delay from "oh wait, I have to type on my cell phone the proper response" only to have the person on the other end misconstrue what the heck is being said.

I've been speaking with a new friend for a few weeks via text. For some reason, he doesn't want to speak on the phone. He's had much adversity in his life just since I've known him so I totally get why we've not met in person yet plus our schedules have not meshed. But one of my mottos is if something is important to you, make it happen. I personally would have stayed up really late or gotten up really early to accommodate his schedule. I've found that guys soooooo do not do that for females. Or maybe I've just not found the right guy who thinks of the girl first.

I must admit some of our conversations, scratch that, pretty much all of our conversations via text have brought me great joy, smiles from cheek to cheek and much laughter. You could even say they bring butterflies to my belly and fireworks! So yes, speaking via text has the same effect as in real person but it's quite weird. My friends will ask, "Have you met him yet?" I say no but we speak for hours on end each and every single day. They say, "He needs to ask you out on a real date." And I concur.

My older relatives say "Whatever happened to picking up the telephone and just talking?" Yes, I agree with that too!


But at the end of the day, looking back at some of the texts of the day have made me beam, have brought butterflies to my stomach, and have made me want to press onward with whatever 'this' is.....

If I'm having a bad day, looking back at an old text will brighten my day. It's quite amazing.

We have gotten to know each other on many fronts via the text method....but there is sooooo much left out there for us to explore and learn about each other.

We've even shared nice pictures so both of us know what the other looks like....

Since we've been talking we've said goodnight every single night and good morning every single morning. It's simply wonderful. But I miss that one on one in person communication. I really crave that right now. Just friends everyone. I just want to meet this new friend and pal around, watch a game, watch him play hockey, share a pizza, or anything innocent just to get to know each other a bit better.

Unfortunately, his mother has become ill so he had to head back home to Vancouver. Something that I can say has never ever happened to me is having a hot man text me that he had to climb up on his roof to talk to me. My pal told me before he left that reception is awful at his Mom's home. I really did not expect to talk to him for a week or two while he was tending to his Mom. Then poof --one day at work I received a text that just made my week. He said he had to climb up on his roof to talk to me because he wanted to talk to me. I admit, my heart melted over and from a text message. And yes, I can understand how this mode of communication can not only be easy for those who have a hard time speaking but easier to say what's really on your mind ....and yes, brings great joy as well.

With the good also comes the ugly. I don't even know this guy yet we've had a few 'arguments' via text. I did not think they were arguments or even worthy of cross words but apparently the person on the other end of the text mistook what was being said, twisted it, and hence WHY I would rather speak via the telephone or in person! VOILA!

I do vote for the phone and in person. I fear that will not happen for a while or ever. But for now, I'll take this mode of communication.

And I thank God every single day for my new text buddy.

Congratulations Colleen and Jeff!

What a whirlwind week! It began just over a week ago as I met someone new, if only through texting....but the real buzz of the first week of August were all the preparations for my youngest niece's wedding!

We've known it was coming for months yet it's been action packed with shopping and hair and nails and final preparations for the big day!

Colleen and Jeff are simply perfect for each other! They definitely complement each other and the love exudes for all to see.

It was a no brainer when Jeff entered the picture that he was truly a member of our family even before the official reciting of the vows of matrimony.

So Monday I got a dress.....Tuesday I shopped for accessories for my adorable party dress including amazing matching shoes, a wrap, a clutch, and a few other items. I usually hate shopping because that constitutes spending money which I never have. However, this trip to the Mall rocked as I was texting my new friend the entire time. He makes me laugh, he makes me smile. Those 2 attributes are quite important to me.

Finally, mission accomplished! It was only Tuesday and I had everything I needed for my niece's wedding! I contemplated Spanks --NOT happening. Those are awful. They are made for women who are thin and don't need them. There is absolutely no freaking way someone like me with a belly can yank those suckers up around my belly and hips. Thankfully that company has the rich and famous thin models brain washed into believing that they need them so those rich folks can spend all their money!! HA!

Got the nails done.....finally, THE DAY!

Colleen's vision and planning for this wedding simply amazing. She did everything! She was in charge of every idea, every decoration, every final flower and candle placement. We all gathered at Manakiki Saturday morning to put the final touches on her big day. Yes, there were many nerves inside everyone but that's expected. The bottom line, we did it. We set up the three rooms she and Jeff were using for their nuptials. Everything looked beautiful. Could not have had a better day or place to tie the knot.

After a quick lunch....and giving Colleen an early surprise gift: her long lost Elephant hat which we purchased in Canada about 25 years ago, we were all off to get our hair and makeup done.

Then back to the venue for the real deal.

Everything went off without a hitch. It was a bit warm but it was perfect and every single wedding guest had the most memorable time. Colleen was so worried it would rain. It did but God (and Gram) had everything under control.

During the wedding ceremony, which was outside under the trees and sky, you could hear the rain but no one ever felt it. God made it just so that it cooled the day, and enhanced this miracle about to occur, but did not affect it in any way shape or form! It was simply perfect. And at the conclusion of the service, the rain ended, the sun came back out and it was party time!

We all danced, sang, and ate the night away surrounded by close family and friends under the beautiful Cleveland sky....Sara gave an amazing speech and Colleen had the most delicious lemon cake made just for family. Honestly, everything was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

I concluded my day talking to my new buddy......and then meeting Colleen and Jeff back out at Manakiki Sunday morning to finish cleaning up and fetching last minute items we'd left the night before.

I royally pissed off the golfers as the management let us park at the snackbar doorway to load our cars. Oh, well. Get over it! As one final parting gift from Manakiki, the girl Colleen was working with gave us the most delicious grilled hotdogs I'd ever tasted! MMMMM.

We all gathered at my sister's to unload and reload and eat, for there was a ton of food left over from the wedding, and more importantly visit with my friends, "the girls" --Colleen's 2 chihuahuas!

I could not believe how exhausted I was but everyone was......I headed home and took a nap.....Sunday was pretty much a wash out!

And fortunately my boss gave me Monday off due to me working the following weekend.....every minute of that 4-day weekend was definitely needed to recoup from the wedding of the year!

I raise my glass to two of the nicest, classiest, most adorable people in the world: Colleen and Jeff....and love you so very much! I am blessed to have you both as family! I love you! XOXO

Love,

Auntie Dani (one of the coolest people you know)

My new friend has calming effect on me

Holy moly!

Not even a flooded sun room and busted fridge can rattle this girl who has been talking non-stop to a nice, new, charming friend.

We spoke for hours on end last night....I finally went into the Sunroom around 430 a.m. to find a flood! No. I did not freak out. I matter-of-factly assessed the situation, got my sham wows to start mopping up the excess water and make sure my computer system was not submerged.

Well, some computer wires were damp so I asked for assistance on Facebook before I had to unplug myself from the world.

I moved the love seat, unplugged everything, got all the computer stuff to safety, texted my sister to call me when she awoke and texted a great friend who is a computer whiz.

Still not rattled. Thank you new friend.

I finally got the water up and laid down more sham wows.

I needed a few hours of sleep so I napped on the love seat until my sister called and my computer friend called me too..... I asked my sister to put an addendum on fb for folks who can help to call me since I was unplugged! My computer buddy was gonna be in the neighborhood so he was going to try and stop by as well.

I contacted Sears who said they'd be out in 3 weeks. No can do. I called a local mom and pop fridge fixer and boom --God was on my side. They were actually in the neighborhood! They fixed my problem ipso facto pronto! My very good friend put my entire computer system back together. I am ever so indebted to him for the rest of my life! I really do have good friends and Mom as my guardian angel always watching my back.

Never did the smile leave my face through this adverse situation. Thank you new friend!

Breath of fresh air

God works in mysterious ways. I've been very unlucky this Spring and Summer in the man department and a few of my girlfriends are not happy about how a few humans of the opposite sex have treated me.

One of my pals said, "I'm gonna find you a nice boy." Well, she just may have found a great boy.

After hemming and hawing, I told her she could give her friend my phone number and sure enough, he texted me.

What a gem! I don't even know him and am 'in like' with the dude! He's absolutely perfect! I'm not really going to say much more because I'm sure I'll jinx it and this time next month, I'll be back to crying myself to sleep or very disenfranchised with the male persuasion. But for now, I have a nice new friend who I really enjoy speaking with and sharing things and getting to know.

He won me over in the first 5 minutes....especially when he said I needed a change of scenery from my bf's --my Cleveland Indians -- because hockey players are much better looking! He IS simply P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

As I said, God really works in mysterious ways.....and is always totally in charge.