Lent & Spring Training are my friends

I'm strapped in for what I believe and feel will be a rollercoaster ride!

I am so looking forward to Lent. I actually began my Lenten resolutions shortly after New Year's Day. I tried a little something different this year. It seems everyone always goes up to the midnight deadline of Fat Tuesday and then BOOM!

Come Ash Wednesday, it's an about face.

Not for me. I really did kick off the year with good intentions and have plugged along, little by little. Instead of an abrupt halt or revving up, I'm coasting into Lent with very good momentum.

This is the week my friend flies into town though I won't see him until the end of the week. Lent begins just in the knick of time. And Auntie scheduled an appointment to get our taxes done. I can not even believe the almost all-nighter I pulled over the weekend gathering all of my tax information. First of all, I have nothing. Yet, I am such a meticulous person, I notated everything and anything for my new tax guy. It felt soooo good to get that material organized and get myself perched to cross yet one more thing off of my 2011 to-do list! My Aunt has known her tax guy since he was a baby....and ironically, he does the taxes of a number of my co-workers. Funny how life plays out. I am a month older than he yet I'm fairly positive he makes at least 20-40x more money than I make. I think I am ok with that having donned a new attitude after Mom's death stretching into 2011.

Ash Wednesday brought torrential rains. I think they caused my Aunt to catch a little cold. She's a bit under the weather now. However, we found the most delicious fish luncheon across from The Lake County Captain's Ballpark, the Captain's Club, to enjoy a meal together.

The rains continued. I had a personal day from work this week, where I had to rise at 5am. Nice. The only girl who is OFF and must get up at the crack of dawn. Amazing. In my travels I had to cross the Valley View Bridge not once, but twice. For those of you who are not familiar with this bridge, someone crashed, flew off the bridge and died just a few weeks ago. Unnerving to be traveling on it in an awful rain storm.

We survived. I actually got to spend some quality time with my friend who is in from out of town. Amazing how some things and people never change. I am so glad that is not my mojo.

But, it was /is nice spending a little time with him for just a few days.

Besides the Lenten feeling saving me over the next 6-8 weeks, Spring Training is finally in full swing and my boys began playing games this week. Oh, yes, there is a God. Thank you God for just the simplest of things to keep me going! Baseball is definitely one of those energizers.

Seeing MLB on tv has gotten me through this stressful week.....Thank you!

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!

Play Ball!

What more is there to say?

Today Cleveland Indians' Spring Training baseball officially kicks off down in Arizona against the Cincinnati Reds amongst the cactus plants, palm trees and lots of sunshine!

New state, new city, new ballpark and new league (the Cactus League) makes for what should be a very exciting Spring Training as well as regular season.

Yet another reason for me to try and re-charge my run down battery and get a little more 'spring' in my step.

I've been in a 'major league' rut for a number of reasons over the last 4 months....hopefully this 'first pitch' is just what the doctor ordered!

Play Ball and Go Tribe!

Spring Training has arrived!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

You have no idea how I've longed for this day!

I have learned since Mom is gone that I really LOVE the game of baseball and my Cleveland Indians.

I got that from Mom.

I could not wait for this day to come.

It's like a big weight has been lifted from my shoulders and all is right with the world.

I have been a lost soul and so unfocused.

It may not appear that way on the outside but that's the mess on the inside.

And within the last 2 weeks I've had 2 cataclysmic events help me focus: The Season of Lent and Spring Training.

I desperately need to accomplish at least 57 tasks on my 'to do' list. Oh, there are more but I'll break out in hives if I go any higher than that number!

And, with these two seasons coinciding, I believe I've gotten the boost necessary to tackle the world!