Comeback Kings?

The Tampa Rays have defeted the Boston Red Sox and advanced to the World Series where they will face the Philadelphia Phillies. I acknowledge that my Yankees didn't even make it to the post season. I do, however, always cheer for 2 teams. The Yankees and whatever team is playing the Red Sox.

Comeback Kings? Sorry Boston Nation, not this year.

That title should be given to theTampa Rays who went from being the WORST team last year, to ALCS champs.

Cross Country Meet

Today was the county Cross Country Meet. Debbie ran with 223 5th grade girls. The girls ran a one mile course that included going up hills and a windy track. She came in number 144. We are very proud of her accomplishment! Here are some pics.

Coach Cowell with some of the team

Coach Cowell explaining the course

The girls warm up

Go Mustangs!

The "starting" line

And they're off!

Maddy and Adam look on

Debbie coming in

Tired, but thumbs up!

Debbie and her teammates after the meet

Our Athlete!

I Guess This Is The End

There we sat. My very 1st Yankees game. June 1992. Section 37. Seats 1-5. The Bleacher Creatures. A close game. Until Bernie Williams hit a triple and cleared the bases. The crowd went wild, the stadium shook. It was the most intense atmosphere ever! Year after year, we would return. Then there was the 1996 World Series that they won, and we all skipped school to attend the parade in downtown Manhattan (ssshhhhh....don't tell anyone). Each time I visit up to NY, as recent as April of this year, I manage to squeeze in a game.

Until Sunday. When the final game was played. The season is technically over, since they are not headed to the post season. I am happy about the new stadium, but am sad as well. There are so many games I attended and so many memories for myself and my family. Adam doesn't really like baseball. Unless it's a the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry.

So as Yankee Stadium cleans up and closes its doors, I think of the time we would go and share this passtime together. Yea, so we were surrounded by thousands of strangers screaming our lungs out. It was a blast!

Olympic Drama

It seems like drama is everywhere....even in the Olympic Games. We were all in awe with the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Then this week we learned that Beijing enhanced Olympics show with faked 'fireworks'. What?! I didn't think that was possible. But apparently it is. Then we found out that the voice of the girl who sang "Ode to the Motherland", was not that of beautiful 9-year-old Lin Miaoke. Apparently the 7-year-old Chinese girl was not good-looking enough for the Olympics opening ceremony. Again, I say "WHAT?!" Then there's the women's gymnastics team. Anyone who watched China's team get out on the floor probably said, "HUH?" These girls look as young as my 10 year old. No amount of blye eye shadow could cover that up. How could these girls be 13 nine months ago, and 16 now? I understand the Chinese have worked hard with Project 119, but to cheat? That's just wrong. Yes, the US Women's Gymnastic team made some mistakes. But these girls are legit. On a side note Adam pointed out today that Mongolia won their first gold ever today. My brother-in-law, who served a mission in Mongolia, will appreciate that. His Canadian wife probably won't since Canada has yet to win a medal of any kind.

Let The Games Begin!

The Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad was without a doubt the most spectacular I've ever seen. Athletes from 204 countries arrived into the beautiful new stadium to celebrate. Japan, Spain, Canada, and Greece were dressed in pretty uniforms. I was anxious to see what the American delegation would wear. We all know they've worn some cheesy outfits in the past. I think they were dressed wonderfully in their Ralph Lauren uniforms--blue jackets and white pants (women in pants, too), white shirt, white shoes, white driving cap, red- and blue-striped tie or scarf. They looked like they were dressed to attend a party at a yacht club.Some uniforms were nice, others made me wonder what were they thinking (did anyone see what Austrailia was wearing? Those jackets look like they were made of aluminum foil). But I believe the Hungarians made me raise my eyebrows. Was it just me, or did anyone else think that their uniforms looked like they got dressed in a slaughter house?

Sadly the games began to a tragic start with the fatal stabbing of the father of a former Olympian at a Beijing landmark. You can read the full story HERE.

Lots of things to look forward to in these Olympics:

1. Will Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals?

2. Will 41-year-old Dara Torres win gold?

3. Will the US "Redeem Team" return to the top of the hoops world?

4. Will China be able to reach the top of the medals standing?

5. With both Hamn brothers out of the Olympics, will the USA Gymnastic Team strike gold?

Stay tuned!