Opening Day

Yesterday was Opening Day at Coors Field, as the Colorado Rockies were hosting the Chicago Cubs.  We had not attended an Opening Day before and decided to do so this year.  I worked for a few hours on Friday and hubby met me there and we walked down to Coors Field, a nice 20 minute walk from my office.  There were people everywhere.  Festivities, laughter, cheering.  It was a happy occasion.  We waited for the gates to open for a good 30 minutes, but our waiting in line paid off.  We were one of the first people into the sporting facility!  Both teams were on the field, for batting practice, and other exercises.  We didn't get to go all the way down to the dug outs, but we got pretty close and I got to see (no not meet) one of the newer Cubs, an ex-Rockies played that I've enjoyed watching - Dexter Fowler.  This guy always seems so jovial, loves the fans, and just appears to have a huge heart.

We admired the players crank practice home run after home run.  And then walked around for a bit and finally decided to go get some food and find our seats.  Brett had a Rockies dog and I had a yummy pretzel with cheese sauce.  By now, batting practice was over and the grounds crew was on the field, getting it ready for the days' festivities, and of course, for first pitch!  Such meticulous work.  They really do a good job.  Raking the sand, cutting off any uneven strand of grass.  Mowing the grass in that crisscross fashion.  Watering the sand to make it look just perfect.  In the outfield, a couple people in suits appeared to be measuring out something - I guessed that it was for the flag placement.

The festivities began about 30 minutes before the game.  They introduced the teams, player by player.  They thanked the military as they paraded around the field - the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force, US Army and the Coast Guard.  It was really moving as many of the soldiers who marched around the field, in formation, had just recently returned from assignment.  It really moved me, as these people make so many sacrifices which includes being away from their family.  They risk their lives, not ever seeing their children again.  They paid a wonderful tribute to Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks which I thought was so respectful for the Cubs organization.

And then came in the flag.  The huge flag.  Once fully unfolded, it covered the entire outfield.  It was amazing.  The Air Force Band from Colorado Springs performed the National Anthem and it was simply perfection.  Fireworks, jets flying over (though we missed it since they were right above us and there was concrete above our seats.  Finally, they released balloons - purple, black and white.  I couldn't help but remember Preston's birthday when my friends and co-workers released balloons for is birthday.

I longed to have Preston with us.  He'd have been just about 17 months old and would have enjoyed a lot of the festivities.  Probably not the loud fireworks and jets, but he would have loved the array of bright colors.   The bright reds, blues, greens and purples.  He would have enjoyed seeing the ball fly as high as he could see.  We would have told him all about baseball, and by day's end, he'd just want to play with a ball.

Before the game started, a few prestigious awards were handed out.  Two Gold Gloves, awarded to the best defensive players by position - DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado (on my fantasy team - no big deal) and the Silver Bat, awarded to the batting champion - Justin Morneau.  It felt like we were attending a once in a lifetime type of event.

We had a really good time.  The Cubs did not win, but the Rockies did and we like the Rockies.  It was a bit chillier than anticipated, but still a great afternoon for baseball.  My only frustration, it seemed like a big social event to a lot of people instead of it being about baseball.  A lot of people standing up in front of others as the game went on.  Nonetheless, it was a happy day.  An experience I won't soon forget and that I was thrilled to share with my best friend, my husband.

Batting practice

Grounds crew finalizing the diamond

The Marine Corps (I think) marching on by

Balloons rising up to the sky

Balloons soaring above us

And just for my honey - look at all those zeros... wait and see, I believe in the Cubs <3

Spread Happiness For Preston is now on Facebook! - https://www.facebook.com/SpreadHappinessForPreston

So little time...

So little time... lately it feels like I don't have time to do anything.  I hope that having the house back to normal this weekend will help with that.  It's getting really close - we have furniture in the living room again as of tonight!  Additionally, my cold, which is still with me, has certainly hindered my motivation and energy levels.  Each day, on the train ride home, I start mapping out what I want to write about and it just hasn't worked out for me during this past week, or couple weeks even.  We've been dealing with the renovations, I'm working on planning our baseball fantasy draft party on Saturday, all the while trying to make sure I myself am ready for the actual draft.  Who do I really want on my team?!

The renovations are coming to an end, for now anyway.  The floor is finally finished (good job honey!).  The bathroom/laundry room is as done as it's gonna be for now, despite part of the floor which we'll have to re-do because of a leak (bummer I know!!!).  I use "we" very liberally.  My hubby is the handyman, and I'm pretty much just a cheerleader.  We still have to paint behind the washer and dryer.. but really for now, who can tell???? :)

Living room floor sneak peak

Regarding fantasy baseball, it's the 3rd year that we host a baseball fantasy draft at our house.  Brett is the league commissioner and takes care of all the rules, sending out the league owners (including him and I) information, creating contests and just getting everything set up.  He also recruits new people to join the league, and keeps the current players interested.  I've helped out by recording everyone's picks and supplying food.  This year, I'm a little more hands on and I've created the draft kits, ensured that we'll have a conference line and a screen-sharing option for the league owners that are out of town.  This year's draft party will feature a taco bar, margaritas (thanks to the MargaritaVille machine my in-laws lent us) and baseball shaped cookies & cupcakes! I'm really excited and I hope everything goes smoothly.

I did fairly well the first year we did fantasy baseball.  I finished 3rd.  Last year,  I started out with my heart out of it, and well, I finished last.  You see, I'd foreseen what the 2014 draft was going to be like.  I'd have Preston on my lap and he'd "help" me make my picks.  I'd be sure to win!  Okay, maybe not, but I really had pictured having Preston be part of the festivities.  We held our draft just a week after he passed away.  For those who attended, I hope that you were able to have fun and that it wasn't an awkward evening.  Everything was still so fresh... I remember having a good time that evening.  I had made Rachel Ray's "Pulled Chipotle Chicken and Fixin's" which still makes a regular appearance on my weekly menus.  However, I do remember struggling with picking a team.  I hadn't prepared much, if at all.

Granted, my season didn't only go poorly because draft night wasn't what I'd envisioned.  My team was riddled with injuries from the get go.  I kept refusing to trade.  I just really wanted to see what my players could do, at least the healthy ones, or when they returned from injury.  I also hurt my team by placing Matt Harvey on my DL all year, so that I could keep him (we have a keeper league) for the 2015 season when he would return from Tommy John surgery.  I'd just gotten him in 2013 by trading away one of my best hitters and wanted to be able to get bang for my buck if you will.  So that right there basically meant that I was sacrificing my 2014 season.  I had trouble staying interested all year.  Part of it being due to injuries, part of it being due to the fact that I basically decided I couldn't win, and part of it being because I was still grieving heavily.

As much as I had trouble getting into the league last year, I'm super stoked for this year.  I'm not super well versed in where the best pitcher versus hitter ballparks are.  I know players on the Cubs because of how much of a fan my hubby is.  I know the Rockies because they are so well covered here.  I know the NL West pretty well because of how much they play the Rockies... and then I know the superstars because they are so talked about.  That's kind of where my knowledge ends.  I'm not great with prospects.  I'm not great in knowing who I'm going to pick in the late rounds.  So I'm studying, and that takes time...

Speaking of time.  Time really flies by.  I often find myself in disbelief as to where time has gone.  Today, I celebrate my 8 year anniversary with my husband.  Eight years ago, we sealed our fate by signing paperwork that made us husband and wife for life.  In the eyes of the country, of our families and of God.  It seems like we've been married for ages, yet at the same time, I can't believe it's been 8 years already.

Wishing my wonderful husband a happy anniversary and I hope that our love continues to grow and that we can soon have that family we've always dreamed of having.  I'm so proud to call myself your wife. <3 Love you always.

March 19, 2007 at the Courthouse :)

Rockies, Cubs & Baseball

Last night, Brett and I went to see a baseball game at Coors Field, where his beloved Cubs were visiting the Rockies.  It's become somewhat of a tradition to go see the Cubs whenever they visit the Mile High City.  I think Brett went last year with friends because I was unavailable or too uncomfortable to go due to my pregnancy.  Never had an issue with heat until my pregnancy with Preston and I was pretty lucky because aside from a couple of weeks last year, we had a very decent summer when it comes to the temperature.  Aside from last year though, I think we've gone together every year since I moved out to Colorado.

We had really nice seats and a bit of money to spend courtesy of Brett's team at work.  Thank you Performance Excellence Team!!! :)  We got to the game early, having walked 13 blocks or so from my office to the ball park.  It was nice that a couple of ushers applauded us for featuring both teams with our jerseys - Brett with his Kerry Wood Cubs and me with my "Tulo" Rockies jersey.  While I do love the Cubs, I don't have a Cubs jersey and don't get to wear my Tulo jersey often and Brett insisted I wear it.  It's really nice when you meet people that actually have a love for the game, and not just their team.  So, good job Coors Field ushers!  Way to show your love for the game!

I was a little disappointed to see that they are building a new apartment complex on the west side of the park.  I feel like it will take, and has already taken part of the charm out of Coors Field.  It was fabulous to have that Rocky Mountain view above left field.  Now, there just remains a little window where, if you're lucky depending on where you are sitting, you might get to see the mountains and a gorgeous sunset.  I don't know who to blame... Denver?  Molson Coors?  The Rockies organization?  Well, whoever is responsible, this is one disappointed fan... and we fans already have enough disappointment given the miserable 45-68 record the Rockies boast with just under 70 games to go.  Great offense, when they can stay healthy.  Horrible pitching (no offense pitchers).  Either they need to get really good pitching coaches, or really good pitchers.

We really did enjoy our evening.  It was a close game until the 6th inning when the Rockies exploded with 6 runs and added another 4 during the next inning.  Sorry Brett!  Don't worry, what did your grandpa always say?  "Tomorrow is another day, and the Cubs might just win"?  (And they did win this afternoon)  I like that quote.  Brett shared it with me when he and I were just friends and I was having a rough couple of days. He told me this uplifting story about his grandpa.  Made me feel better instantly, and grandpa was right.  Tomorrow is another day, and tomorrow brings the possibility of a happy day.  The eternal possibility of hope.

I had a fun time cheering for both the Cubs and the Rockies.  It was nice, I was happy no matter which team scored or whichever team made a nice play.  So what's a Montreal Canadiens fan doing cheering for the Cubs and the Rockies?  Good question because I grew up detesting baseball.  I think it was a mix of my brother Jason liking baseball and my need to not like what he liked because he always thought I'd break his stuff.  Lol, sorry Jay.  I've gotten over that ;).  The other part is that the few times I tried to watch baseball, it was just such a slow game, so drawn out.  A lot of the pitcher throwing to first to keep the runner from stealing a base.  I guess when you don't understand the game, it's hard to get into.  Plus when you are used to the go-go action of hockey, and you compare it to the speed of a baseball game, it's hard to relate.

When I moved to Colorado though, Brett would often watch the games on TV.  The Rockies have really good coverage which makes it fun to follow the team because you really get to know the players.  And then we got a big screen TV with HD channels.  That did me in.  Everything was so clear.  You could actually follow the ball.  You could see the expressions on the player's face.  You could feel the strategy behind the game.  Now I'm hooked.  Okay, well not so much this year.  It's been hard to get into.  The season was just about to start when Preston passed away.  We had all this Cubs gear for him - onesies, slippers, bibs, bottles.  Now, it's all hiding in his room, never to be used by him.  Maybe, he will be happy to one day see, a little brother or sister using them in his place.  I'm sure that he's cheering on the Cubs from his cloud in Heaven.  I hope that he's watching every game with his great-grandpa Olaf.  Perhaps, he'll make sure that next year is the year of the Cubs.