Yahoo

Strike one... Spring Training has begun.

Better shop around

My last few boyfriends have been boring, and ended up being losers but nothing like these two fellas.
Two news stories today remind me that having a background check done on a potential boyfriend before getting close to beng serious. The first story, http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15930887.html . Ex-bf was stalking his ex-gf.
PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- The man who shot his ex-girlfriend before shooting himself while the woman's two daughters hid upstairs had been convicted of stalking in the past. Police said Jeffrey Calvert kicked in the door of his ex-girlfriend's house and shot her to death before taking his own life on Sunday. They said he had been staying at a hotel just blocks away, most likely watching her for weeks. Calvert had binoculars, duct tape, pepper spray and two guns on him, Gallagher said. It appears Stock was not the first woman Calvert stalked. According to court documents, Calvert had served time for a 1995 stalking conviction in King County. The victim in that case said she was afraid of Calvert because of his sudden outbursts and mood swings, but Calvert told her he could not go on living without her. That woman said she changed her phone number and kept it unlisted, but he still managed to get a hold of her by trying every phone number combination possible.
Story 2: A Shoreline man shot and killed his pregnant wife - killed his baby too. He was found not guilty because he's nuts. After spending a mere 5 yrs in the nut house he is getting out because on his meds he's not nuts anymore. A 2 for 1 killing.
Gergen became a model patient. According to court records, he participated in group therapy, met regularly with a therapist, became a leader among the patients, even ran patient meetings. Soon, he was going on organized field trips with the staff.
Quote from the victims mother:
"He will be a model patient until the time comes that he meets another woman," Ingrid Osterhaug said. "And God help her."
Background check people.

May 30th

At Jezabel.com a new trailer for Sex and the City is posted.

http://jezebel.com/359633/extended-sex-and-the-city-trailer-carrie-gets-jilted-lol

We survived

That's how I feel about our first year in select soccer. It went from April to February - and during the beginning it was rough going. I used 70-80 hours of vacation to attend tournaments. Some are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We traveled to Everett, Snohomish, Bellingham, Moses Lake, Oregon, Redmond, Puyallup and Gig Harbor. The kid had many minor injuries and a major - broken wrist during the season. She worked her ass off and went from a medium defensive player to a forward. She has some work to do to dominate that position but she will get there.

We lost our final game - to a team that we have beating before and prob should have beat again.

Try-outs are in a few weeks for the 2008-2009 season.

Hail the Beagle

Behold Uno the Beagle (pic on top). What a cutie. He is much lighter in color than our Beagle Lizzie (next pic).

From Yahoo: His tri-colored image certainly drew a nationwide following, and that will surely prompt a spike in beagle adoptions. Wilkerson had one bit of advice for anyone planning to get one as a pet.
"Better have a fence," he said.

Again - if you get a Beagle, plan on having a fenced backyard ( a very good fence) and/or NEVER taking the dog off of their leash. They do not listen - they are RULED by their nose. They will sniff their way pretty much anywhere. Our Beagle Lizzie has gotten away from us a million times. When Lizzie goes to a dog park she really isn't interested in the other dogs, she just wants to sniff around or be pet by any human. As a puppy she chewed EVERYTHING. Shoes, glasses, sunglasses, dolls, CDs, remotes, furniture, SHOES. Beagle puppies are the cutest things ever - but make sure you research the breed before you run out and get one.

Nuts

The kid is a kook. She works pretty hard on her soccer team and not as hard in school. The interest in boys is starting and I'm sure she would die of embarrassment if she saw these pics up. She took these pics herself and no, these pics aren't taken at our house.

Traveling

The Pass opened Saturday night so that meant we traveled over it Sunday morning - 7:30 AM. It wasn't bad - the DOT crews do a great job of clearing the roads - it was pretty much bare and wet. We played in Moses Lake and lost, 3-1. The other team wasn't better but they were quicker and a little bit smarter than us. Plus we all had to drive for 5 hours before the game. The kid had to play defender the whole game because there was a girl playing fwd that was fast and the kid was the only one that could get to her. She got knocked down a couple times but not really hurt. Her team needs to be more aggressive and toughen up. I'm pretty beat today - so is the kid. So looking forward to having next Monday off! Next game is Saturday - location is TBD.

Game is still on for Sunday

I don't know why but the game seems to be still on for Sunday in Moses Lake. The picture looks less like a road than my other post. Sheesh.

Restrictions Eastbound:Pass Closed

Restrictions Westbound:Pass Closed

Conditions & Weather:Avalanche control work continues and it is now estimated that I-90 Snoqualmie pass will not open earlier than Saturday morning. Opening the roadway will be based on avalanche risk analysis. The roadway will be opened when it is safe to do so. WSDOT will give updates as work progresses and information becomes available. // Snowing, blowing snow and poor visibility

Who'd a thought

Twenty years ago I never would have thought that the most normal, less freaky person in this shot would be Madonna.
Wonder if they believe that they are normal or if they know that they are just weird?

Round Two

Does this look like a road to you? No, me either. The game in Moses Lake that was postponed last Sunday has been re-scheduled for this Sunday.

Holy cow

Damn.... can't believe that touchdown. Wow.

So far

The kid's soccer team is 2-0 so far in their state tournament. One game was postponed due to Snoqualmie Pass being well, un-passable. Since all of the East-West games were put off all of the game will be extended a week. We'll find out this week where we will play - hopefully we'll be able to stay on this side of the mountains. The kid is playing forward then the coach moves her to play defender when there's a few mins left as a safeguard to our lead.

My boyfriend

My boyfriend is coming back to town. He's been gone since September. We spend a ton of time together from the middle of March until the end of September... around 181 days. Sometimes in person, sometimes online, other times at home or even in my car. Some of our dates are better than others. At the end of some dates all I go home with is disapoointment - but other times, sheesh... thrilling and I can't wait until our next date. I always hope that our relationship will continue on into October but we consistently fall short of that goal.

Yes, I'm talking about the new baseball season and my Mariners. The 2008 season starts on March 31st. Spring Training on March 2nd.

Snow

The kid and I are suppose to travel over the I-90 pass to Moses Lake on Saturday for a State (soccer) game on Sunday. Man I hope we don't have to go!!! Sheesh. I don't do snow - and I REALLY don't do 30+ inches of it. That does not look like a road to me. Good lord.

http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/

Unplanned long weekend

The regular weekend turned in a 3 day weekend. Snow. Ugh. Most of us Western WA people don't do snow very well, myself especially. School was canceled so I had to stay home with the kid. It may or may not snow again tonight. Behold some pic taken from Friday night to Monday AM.

First Friday - I planned a group outing to Safeco Field last year so I got an invite to a special party at Safeco. It was pretty cool. Free parking, free food and had some Mariner people.... JJ Putz was there (I was nervous so the pic is blurry), Jamie Burke - one of our catchers, John McLaren and a new announcer (last season), Dave Sims.... love him.

On Saturday early AM me and the kid drove out to Bellingham for the first of 5 State soccer games. She is playing forward now and it's pretty damn cool.

Monday - the snow.

The American Flag

John A. Dix in a telegram from Washington, 1/29/1861:
If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.

Three flag related items have come up this week, 2 in the news and 1 with me personally.

The first item was on Monday at work. On most days I wear an American flag pin. In the elevator a woman was staring at me and said out loud - "you know, after 9/11 we all wore flags on our shirts, you don't see that anymore". I said I wear my flag just about everyday. She asked me if I had anyone in Iraq. I said I didn't. She said, good for you. I think that's great that you wear a flag. I agreed with her.

The second item is the guy in Nevada that cut a Mexican flag down that was flying on top on the American flag. Great American and he should be proud of himself. What the hell is wrong with being proud of your country?

The third item came out today - liberal running for President, Obama. He says that wearing a flag isn't as important as what is in your heart.

To me the American flag IS my heart. I love my country and respect what the flag stands for, our freedom, our countrymen and women that have died for us to earn that freedom. Oprah's boy toy will not be President but besides that, show some pride in your Country - be proud of it, respect it.

USO

While I am not able to volunteer with the USO anymore due to where I live and Select Soccer - I still support them and know first hand the value of the work they do. They are not run by the government and rely on donations from the American people. KIRO 710 has chosen them as their Charity of the Month:

Charity of the Month News Talk 710 KIRO is proud to announce the USO as October's featured "Charity of the Month!" Operating in more then 130 centers worldwide, the USO has been the bridge between American people and our troops for over 66 years. For information on volunteering or making a donation to the USO, click here and visit 710 KIRO's "Charity of the Month" web page.

Nothing is more important then our Military and the support they receive should be the best in the world. Dispite what many Liberals believe - we are at war and it will be a long battle against islamic terrorists and their religion of peace.

It's very humbling for a Soldier to give you a heart felt thank you.

9/11/01

Remember the victims. All they did that day was catch a plane or go to work, they just happened to live in the USA. Remember? It could be you the next time. I don't have to live with the pain of losing a loved one on that day but I do feel the pain of my country being attacked. This is no bumper sticker slogan - this is real.

http://www.xmas-i-am.com/Imagine.htm

"Let's roll. "--Todd Beamer, before he and others apparently thwarted the fourth set of terrorists.

"All of a sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building. Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying."--Michael Walters, a free-lance photo journalist in Manhattan.

"The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists. That work continues. "--President George W. Bush, 10/13/2001.

"This was not an act of terrorism, but it was an act of WAR "-- President George W. Bush.

.... You ask, What is our policy? I will say; "It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy." You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory - victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), 1940, in his first address as the newly appointed Prime Minister.

The return of Junior...

Ken Griffey Jr. AKA The Kid... okay so he told Seattle long ago not to call him that anymore but it brings back such good baseball memories for me.
He's coming back to Seattle! My heart was broken when he left - I never thought he would leave and was shocked. He is coming to Seattle for three games, June 22-24.
Where will I be for this monumental event? Front and center at Safeco Field of course right??? Wrong (insert crying and bitching here). I will be in glorious Bellingham, WA for a soccer tournament. Ugh... the pain. I have tickets for Friday nights game and I am willing to suffer to attend the game. The kid's soccer game ends at 4:00 - so we will be on the road from 4:00 until however long it takes to get to Safeco Field on a Friday night. It's roughly 80-90 miles and I will be drinking a tall, cold frosty one (10) when I get there. Will be rough, but worth it to see my much loved and missed Ken Griffey.
Oh yeah... will be good seeing the kid play soccer too.

Play ball...Today is Opening Day!!!!!!!!

Today is always the best day of my life - Opening Day. This morning I awoke to something new that I've never had on Opening Day - no, not that..... snow. We had less than an inch and the streets were only wet but still - kind of a shocker on April 2nd.

I am so hoping that the Mariners have a decent year - yes, I'll settle for decent. I hope we don't lose Ichiro but it may be unavoidable. King Felix is starting today - first pitch, 3:35