Words to Live By

5th Row Seats to the Mariners Game - Thanks to Jean

Just back behind first base. Amazing seats, to say the least. It was our fist Mariner's Game at Safeco Field.

Our friend Jean had a horrible headache and it was last Tuesday, when the temps hit the high 90's. For those of you who live where this is not unusual, that may sound like no biggie, but it is damn hot for us! She was just not up to going to the game and generously gave her awesome season ticket seats to April and I. We were so grateful.

Jean even provided us with perfect directions with where to park and how to get there easily. Luckily, we hit very little traffic and were there in a snap. Once we arrived, April's faced looked like a kid on Christmas morning every time I looked upon her. She had a smile from ear to ear. She was just thrilled to be there. We hit the official team store (note the new white hat), the Nintendo stand*, met the Moose, and walked all around the complex checking it out. Pretty amazing place.

Once we took our seats, April brought out her Nintendo. We knew you could watch the strike zone box on it, but what we didn't know was that the entire game was in closed captioning on it as well. This was an awesome surprise for her. The other very cool thing was we could order food and beverages right to our seats over the DS. Talk about making you feel privileged! About the 6th inning we ordered dinner and within 10 minutes a polite young man arrived with our food and condiments. Technology rocks!

We watched the team warm up right in front of us. Literally, April has some funny pics of them stretching and such. A nice older woman took our picture in front of the Safeco Field sign, she seemed to be the official photographer of the section.

It was a good game with a totally different feel than watching it on our tv at home. Big screen tv and all, there truly is nothing like being there. I'm glad that we have been following the Mariners, even if it does not look like they are going to make it to the playoffs. It's always good to root for the underdog.

The game was against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a good game, with Ichiro bringing in the winning run in the 9th. A total clutch hitter that man - you had to see it to believe it. Mariner's 4 and Jay's 3.

At about 9:41pm, I noticed that I no longer felt like I was drowning in my own sweat and it had begun to cool off. It was so pleasant to sit outside at the stadium.

We headed home just after 10 p.m. Thanks again, Jean, for a perfect Seattle evening.

*If you stop off at the Nintendo Stand that is sponsored by the Mariners they will down load a program that allows you all those amazing extras on your DS.

Our Deck Garden

April has a green thumb. It's wonderful. We have fresh lettuce galore. Our tomatoes are just now starting to ripen, and the cucumbers are getting big! For the first time I have dahlias coming up among explosion of nasturtiums. It's been really fun to come home and see the difference from just the day before - things grow fast!

GERM-A-PHOB

in the making, or already sealed?

I overheard this at the theater yesterday as we were passing time awaiting our movie. (We arrived early to get out of the 90 degree heat and we were sitting at the metallic tables across from the concession stands.)

Scene: Two elderly people off to one side of small round table top. The woman farthest away from the table, her husband next to her. His arm resting on the table top, sitting in a chair behind his walker. Great grand son off to his left, sitting in a chair a good two feet away from the table. Looking at his great grandfather with a most incredulous expression. At first I thought he might be looking or commenting on the large band-aid that covered the mans forehead, but no.

Grandmother, in her 50's standing next to her young grandson in the chair, off to his left. The four of them made a lopsided semi circle.

Four year old boy, "That's gross, you shouldn't touch it," to great grandpa.

"What?" great grandpa asks.

"It's has germs all over it. It's filthy." he says, clearer, but with a small child's voice and baby like inflection.

"What?" great grandpa asks again.

"Germs are all over that table. You shouldn't touch it." he replies.

The old man looks down at the table. Scoffs, slowly shrugs, bends his arm bringing his hand, forearm, and elbow off the table and looks down again. He looks back at his great grandson with a curious expression. He sits his arm back down to stabilize himself and gently shrugs his shoulders, silently replying to this boy that it is really no big deal to have his arm on the table.

This blond, curly headed small boy starts to talk about germs again but time with a more urgent tone. The great grandfather begins to speak but is interrupted by the standing grandmother.

"Just stop talking," she tells the young boy.

"Be quiet," she says as they stood up to walk out of the lobby.

Like I said, only four years old and already someone has contaminated his poor little thoughts. So young to already be worried about something so small.

I'm glad my grandmother's motto was, " A little dirt never hurt."

What Sundays Are For...

When I Grow Up

I want my blog to look like this amazing blog. I can tell I need to spend time here playing with all the different options and figuring out how to add them into my blog. It seems like it takes me a long time to figure out computer stuff - but once you look at Cup A Jo's amazing blog and all her links, well you'll see why I want to be able to enhance my site! Please visit and tell me what you think!

http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/

Coffee, Chocolate, and the River's Allure (Day Trip Continued)

And so the day trip adventure continues...

We drove for another 15 minutes or so east on the 2 and just like we were told once we went up a distinct hill and back down the Big Eddy area would be on our right. We pulled into the gravel parking lot and found a path that lead down towards the river. We walked across another gravel parking area and went right down to the river. There was a nice picnic area that a family was enjoying. People were playing in the water, laying in the sad lapping up the sunshine, and tubing in the river.

While the water was icy cold it still felt good. Once we had been walking in it, it didn't feel all that chilly. It was clear and fast moving. The mountains that surround the river are blanketed with beautiful trees and the sound of the wind blowing through them is probably one my favorite sounds in the world.

I only wish we had brought some towels and wore our swim suits. The water was that inviting!

There is something so soothing about moving water and sunshine. Even though we were not far from home it felt like we were on a vacation far away.

I skipped some rocks. April buried her feet in the soft, wet, sand. We watched some mutts wade in the water. One was chasing a ball and seemed to get more frisky as she became soaking wet. People were mellow and that was awesome.
There was a large group of people who linked their rafts together and floated off down the river. That brought memories back of all the hours I spent tubing down the Colorado River as a kid and teenager. Tubing was one of the things that was the most fun thing about my families river trips. We'd sing, we'd flirt, we'd laugh, and just be goofy. It was so much fun.

Our next trip back we want to bring tubes and rope and float the day away!