Wednesday, October 14, 2015

The Dream Team

  I have been wanting to write a post about the beloved Blue Jays but didn't know how to go about it. I loved playing baseball as a kid and I still get the itch to play every spring. We played on a slo-pitch team for three years and then the team sort of fell apart and we had Alina and that was the end of that.

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 In 1993, the last time the Blue Jays won the World Series I was eight. I remember playing Legos and my parents were jumping up and down whooping and hollering and I just joined the party. I had no idea why everyone was freaking out but it was fun. The series us Canadians just finished watching was so intense, so fun.


 I believe that if you're a baseball fan in Canada, you are also likely a Jays' fan. Canada has one team and it is the Toronto Blue Jays. This summer Rob and I watched the Blue Jays play the Mariners in Seattle. July 26th was their last game and it was their second loss out of a three game series. On July 28th big changes occurred within the franchise. The Blue Jays acquired Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins from the Colorado Rockies for Toronto's Jose Reyes and three other minor league pitchers. Days later on July 30th, another trade was made for the Detroit Tigers' pitcher, David Price. Another few minor league prospects were sacrificed. On July 31st, the last day of the trade deadline the Blue Jays made another gutsy trade with the Philadelphia Phillies' outfielder, Ben Reveres. This basically decimated the team's minor league system. It was quite the trio of deals that had Rob's twitter feed buzzing. Soon after the trades they had an eleven game winning streak and deemed themselves a force to be reckoned with.

 The sports world is vibrating with talk of this Blue Jays team. The batting line up is something to be feared if you're the opposing team and celebrated time and time again if you're a fan. I know a lot of my readers aren't necessarily baseball fans but believe me when I say; we have a killer team. From the all star outfielders, infielders, pitchers and batters.. It's a true dream team to cheer for.

 Today, was the fifth game in the American League Division series against the Texas Rangers. Game 1 and 2 were in Toronto and the Jays lost both games. Rob was sure that it was all over. All of that time watching these boys win again and again and then... this. Two back to back losses. Games 3 and 4 were in Texas and the Jays came back giving the fans that glimmer of hope. Today, the game was at 1:00 and of course I was working. I streamed the game while I 'worked' and that's when the game got intense. From Pillar's all star dive in center field to Texas' stolen third run to the three major back to back errors made by the Rangers. Once the bases were loaded with none out hope really started to flutter in our hearts. One out and two runners and Joey Bats was up to save the frickin' day. Crack goes the bat and we had ourselves a 6-3 lead in the 7th inning. Roberto Osuna, the youngest pitcher at 20 closes the game with ease and grace. The sports world is talking non stop about this game and to be fair, it's 9 pm and Rob and I are still watching replays on Sportsnet.


The Toronto Blue Jays are scheduled to play the Kansas City Royals on Friday for the Championship series. The winner of this series battle for the Commissioner's Trophy in the 2015 World Series.

 The baseball Gods were surely shining down on our Jays today and we can only hope for more love from the big guys.







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Saturday, October 10, 2015

Fighting Old

 I'm thirty.. I know some people have a difficult time turning different ages, whether it be 30, 40, etc. I didn't have a hard time turning thirty but it meant something. It was a pivotal moment in my life, where I suddenly became more aware of little things. Little indications that I am starting to - dare I write the words- .... get old.

 Wrinkles. Yes, it's a thing. I remember my sister in law mentioned that she was getting them maybe a year or more ago and I thought- pfft, who cares about wrinkles? Then, I started to notice when I was applying my concealer (the one that hides the dark circles under my eyes) that the skin under my eyes wasn't the way it used to be... It was getting more difficult to apply that makeup, I had to blend it in more or it would cake to the lines under my.. wait. Those lines, are the wrinkles! I have wrinkles. Okay, that's fine. But even those dark circles are getting more and more difficult to hide. I used to wear that concealer because it brightened me up but it wasn't something I had to have. Now, I don't feel comfortable without it and mid-day, I'll go to the bathroom and feel like I need to reapply.

   Solution: I've been looking for the right make up to cover up my dark circles and feel hopeful that I found the right stuff at Wal Mart of all places.

Embarrassing Temptations. So the other day, I was at Costco and I saw a three pack of ladies underwear. For a split second I thought how nice it would be to have a three pack that I could buy instead of sorting through tiny La Senza underwear that is intended for sixteen year old butts.. However- I'm not there yet. I can't do it. The day I begin buying three packs of women's underwear from Costco is the day I can officially say that I am old. (Sorry for any offended birds out there that jump at a Costco three pack. I envy your uncomplicated panty shopping.)

 Solution: I will actually put some time and effort into buying a decent few pair of underwear from La Senza and I will continue to keep an eye out for those sales of the Costco three packs....Just in case.

Strange Shopping Goals. Rob and I were talking the other day and he may have mentioned that we need to update our lounging around the house clothes. As he was telling me I was shamelessly sporting a red waffle shirt with a pair of blue, plaid pajama pants. Now I justified my outfit because my pj pants that match the red top were ripped.. Normally I would never wear something that completely didn't match. He said we should shop for nicer looking lazy clothes so that we could throw out the ugly stuff. I don't know.. His lounging clothes aren't all that bad. I have a feeling he didn't really think he was the problem. I told Rob that what I really wanted, was a pair of black joggers with pockets. But the most important thing was that the joggers had to have pockets. If they didn't, it was a total deal breaker. Sweat pants with pockets. That's what my clothes shopping priorities have turned into.

(Insert a picture of a black pair of sweat pants that have visible pockets here.) 
I took way too long trying to find a picture of sweat pants... Just use your imagination.
Solution: Consider it done. Wearing my black joggers WITH pockets, as I type these very words. Nailed it!
  
Varicose Veins. I was at the mall and thought I'd sneak a look at some sexy bedtime wear. So I found a couple of nice ideas and took them to the change room. The moment I dropped my pants, I gasped. I don't know if it was the unflattering lighting, or the three way mirror but I was horrified to see that my one leg was completely overtaken by my unsightly varicose veins. To my already established horror, I discovered that a long, thick, corded vein has invaded my other leg, the good leg I used to call it. So sad. I didn't even finish trying on the outfits. I abandoned my shopping and left the store deflated. What a total bummer. I never want to wear shorts, skirts, bathing suits or short dresses ever again.

 Solution: This issue is the one that makes me the most nervous. I have to go to my doctor and get a referral to a specialist and have them collapsed. Once I've collapsed them perhaps it's compression stockings for me! (Another reason I'm getting old, to add to the list!)

Tired, even for me. I am one of those anomalies. I can stay up really late, get up really early, feel tired but never complain. I almost always get away with little sleep and I never usually have a problem with it. I don't know if it's because Alina gets up so early every morning, or the fact that I stay up late reading, but lately I have been feeling pretty tuckered. I used to be able to stay up quite late, going out and having a good time then get up four hours later and work for eight, without much of a problem. The very thought of doing that is enough to make me want to take a nap.

  Solution: I think my solution to being tired is to let in every once in awhile and make sure it's with someone worth napping with...

Sometimes it's okay to order off the senior's menu...it's cheaper because there's less food! 

Complaining about Justin Bieber and the nonsense he keeps coming out with is fine because his songs are actually terrible to young ears too, right?

I don't know why the air is so cold during a movie at the theater, I think next time I should just bring a small blanket in my purse to avoid the shivers... 

It's okay that I looked EVERYWHERE for our coupon book this morning so I could save $4 on the second breakfast item at ABC Restaurant... 

Ahh crap... I'm old.  



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