World Champions

In the infamous words of the late Jack Buck

(longtime Cardinal announcer) ...

"GO CRAZY FOLKS - GO CRAZY!!"

....and to my favorite Cardinal player - David Eckstein - congrats on being named World Series MVP!!!!

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Thirty - Eight Days...

...and counting. A view of the cruise ship docks in Costa Maya.

Roy Hobbs World Series

The South Bend Cardinals will have one more night at the indoor batting cages - and then the equipment will be loaded and two non-flyers will start the drive to Ft. Meyers, Florida. The rest of them will fly out on Friday and Saturday. First game - Sunday evening at 6:00. The South Bend team consists of local players, along with two from Chicago and two from Massachusetts. As the guys love to put it - it's a week of Baseball, Beer, Beach and Ben-Gay.

Bob went for the first time last year - and couldn't wait to go back again. Could that be because he was voted last year's MVP? Is he looking for a repeat? Must be something pretty serious, because he gave up a Caribbean Cruise with me in 5 weeks to return with the "boys" to Ft. Meyers.

My Little Mermaid....

Grace is on a "Little Mermaid" kick. Yesterday, Carrie and Grace and I had a "girl's day" at the mall and Grace came out the WINNER!! That child moved around the Disney Store at 100 mph. Her most prized possession - a $5.00 plastic camera phone - complete with sound effects and the Little Mermaid's face. Well, I couldn't leave without some Mermaid pajamas. Then, it was on to the Build a Bear Store for more goodies. Little Ms. Stubborn wouldn't let anyone help her - as she walked through the mall, dragging a Disney bag and a Bear box behind her - declaring "mine" if anyone tried to help her.

Carrie just emailed me this photo - notice the camera phone still clenched in her fist, and as of noon today - still in her new pajamas. GOOD LUCK trying to get those off of her!

A Tribute to My Cardinals....

How Sweet It Is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a late night for Cardinal Fans, but ohhhhhhhhh - so worth it!!! I think the last time the Cardinals and Detroit faced off in a World Series, I was in High School. (Better check on that to be sure - but I know it was a LONG time ago!!)

Ben at the Pumpkin Patch

Colleen is not my photo-taking daughter, so it always seems like I have so many more photos of Nolan, Grace and Jack - thanks to Carrie.

So.....when I get a good one of the Van Fleit family, I've got to share it!

This One's For Kevin....

Kevin's idolized him since he came to the Major Leagues....


http://jumpcut.com/view?id=975031864FF211DB9B3DF64154DE9F6D

Just One More Win...

...and tonight our "ace" is on the mound (Chris Carpenter). Can the weary Redbirds do it? Will it be a St. Louis/Detroit World Series?? We've got to pick up just one more win against the Mets and hopefully tonight will be the night.

I've been a Cardinal fan for as long as I can remember - probably because I grew up just an hour outside of St. Louis. It was nothing for us to head to the "big city" for a ball game. I remember sitting in Sportsman's Park as a grade school student watching Kenny Boyer and then in Busch Stadium as a high school student cheering on Lou Brock and Bob Gibson. Bob's and my first date in 1970 was a Cardinal ball game. As young parents, Bob and I would drag Carrie and Bobby to the ball park to develop their love for the Redbirds and cheer on Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Tommy Herr and Vince Coleman. In fact, we had a litter of kittens when Carrie, Bobby, Katie and Colleen were litte - and the kittens were named - Ozzie, Willie, Vince and Tommy.

Now, I'm a grandmother - but my love for the Cardinals hasn't faded. It's a new generation of players. Kelli loves Scott Rolen and Kevin lives for Albert Pujols. As for me, I'm a fan of David Eckstein. It's not easy to live here in Indiana - amidst Cubs and White Sox fans - but our dedication to the Cardinals will always be strong, no matter where we live. I remember when we moved here 19 years ago and Bobby (who was 10 at the time) turned to us and asked, "Do I have to be a Cub fan?" Absolutely NOT!!!

Our Disney Princess....

Trust me - she's not NEARLY as angelic as these photos show - but she's our little princess.

Our only grandaughter - Grace.

Cold Blast!!

Was it just five short days ago that Kelli and I sat in Notre Dame Stadium - HOT?

Did I sit in a lawn chair four days ago at Kevin's double header in Michigan and get a little hint of sunburn on my face?

...and did we wake up this morning - the 12th day of October - to WIND and a dusting of snow on the grass?

Welcome to the ever changing weather scene of northern Indiana!!

Makes me more anxious than ever for the next seven weeks to pass and to put me on the deck of the GLORY as it sails off to Mexico.

Does It Get Much Sadder Than This?

I thank God every day that my son came home safely.

I pray every day for the safe return of Sgt. J. T. Lee - the son of my dear friend Melody.

...and I pray every day for the family of Cpl. Aaron Seal.

My Cardinals are Heading to Broadway....

I might have spent the last 19 years of my life here in northern Indiana....but I grew up just outside of St. Louis, MO and I will always be a Cardinal fan. You'd think with Kevin being born and raised here - he might consider the Cubs to be his team of choice. I guess the family influence is just too great and Kevin has never considered cheering for anyone but the Red Birds.

So, for the third year in a row the Cardinals are heading to the National League Playoffs and hopefully a shot at the World Series. Maybe the third time will be the charm. Standing between us and a visit to the Fall Classic - the New York Mets.

Hey Albert - give my regards to Broadway!

Let the Craziness Begin...

The rain has stopped (at least for a few days), the sun is shining bright and the weather man is predicting temps in the 70's for the weekend. Sounds like a perfect day to sit in a stadium with 80,000 screaming fans and cheer on the IRISH. Kelli is bouncing off the walls in anticipation of attending her first ND game and I'm the lucky one who gets to share it with her. (Bob's band is playing tomorrow night, so he has opted for a lawn chair and an afternoon nap while Kelli and I cheer on Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija).

Our company arrives EARLY tomorrow morning, 100 pieces of fried chicken is ordered for a 9 a.m. pick-up and Bobby (and his partners in crime) have the traditional home game tailgate planned in the White Field north of campus.

Now, as if tomorrow wasn't enough to wear me out - Sunday Kevin has a college double header at home and we have dinner plans at the Bonefish with Colleen, Jimmy and his family to celebrate his birthday.

One quick BLINK and it will be Monday morning!

Am I Blessed or What...

Sad News...

I can't say it's ever happened where I've actually learned news before the television and newspapers are reporting it. My friend Melody is a KVA (Key Volunteer Associate) for the local Marine Unit currently serving in Iraq. I served in this same capacity three years ago while Bobby was serving with this unit. Our job was to receive important information and relay facts and details to family members. At 9:00 last night, Melody called to tell me that a member of this unit was killed yesterday in Iraq by sniper fire. It's the first casualty in two tours for the Marines of Compay B. When I called Bobby to give him the news, he never said a word - just silence.

It was released by the Tribune - online about an hour ago. I'm sure the news medias will be reporting at the Noon hour.

Please pray for the soul of Marine Cpl. Aaron Seal of Elkhart, Indiana and for the family he leaves behind.

Weekends...

Why is it that the work week drags and yet there's never enough hours in a weekend??? Maybe it's because the list of things I try to accomplish each weekend just gets longer and longer! Bob and I shampooed carpet on Saturday morning (in preparation for our company this weekend), then picked up 100 wings and headed to Bobby's house to watch the Irish and the Boilermakers. There was a houseful on Ebeling Street - lots of food, lots of beer and a couple of bottles of Irish Juice. After lots of eating, drinking, cheering (and a little swearing), we headed for home - taking all the back roads and staying as far from campus as possible. Yesterday, Kevin's college team had a double header about two hours north of here, Bob's team had a practice game in preparation for their upcoming trip to the Roy Hobbs World Series in Ft. Meyer and I had a "photo session" planned with my grandchildren for an upcoming Design Team assignment. Even with all of that, we still managed dinner (chinese food) with Colleen, Jimmy and Ben. Colleen gave Kelli hi-lights at the kitchen table in exchange for free babysitting next weekend. Those two definately know how to "work it". So it's Monday morning and I'm back at the grind. Lots to do this week in preparation for another busy weekend - company from Chicago - a big tailgate - Kelli's first time to attend a game INSIDE Notre Dame Stadium - and Bob's band playing on Saturday night. Oh - and our son in law, Jimmy's birthday with dinner at the Bonefish on Sunday night. WHEW - makes me tired just thinking about it!