10

1. Vacations – planning, counting down, taking them, experiencing them [but not coming home from them]  You know those people who say, "it's been a good trip, but I can't wait to get home to my own bed, etc" Well, I am NOT one of those people.

2. Concerts - As you can see from my previous post, I have a thing for live music and entertainment.  There is no other rush like it that I get when the lights completely go dark, the music begins and the show has started.  Nothing like it.

3. Owen - My nephew and Godson is one of my most favorite people in the world.  The closest thing I have to a child of my own and I love him just like that.  Every minute I get to spend with him and watch him grow up and teach him things and hear him call me 'TeeTee' is a blessing.

4. Time with good friends - As I grow older and my world starts to change, more and more I realize the value of friendship.  I am blessed with some amazing friends, some I've known forever and some that I just feel like I've known forever.  Day after day, our lives grow more and more busy, so the time we spend together is limited, but it only makes me appreciate the time we DO get to spend together even more. 

5.  All Things Disney - Anyone who knows me probably knows about my love of Disney.  It started when I was probably 4 years old and has multiplied every year.  All the trips to DW and DL, watching vacation planner videos every Saturday morning, listening to Subsonic Radio every day at work {wishing I was in DW instead of a cube}, sharing information and watching Disney videos with my Dad, taking my husband on his first {of many} trips to DW and seeing him enjoy it and thinking about how happy all things Disney makes me.  

6. My Workout Buddy - Never have I ever worked out and gone to the gym on such a regular basis as I have since I found my workout buddy, Kelly.  Since January, her and I have had a pretty good weekly schedule of what days we do which classes at which YMCA location.  {For me} the motivation for going to classes and keeping to that for a long time has been huge.  Not only has it helped me with myself and taking care of myself, but it has been a huge gift to have a friend supporting you along the way.  It is SO different having someone you can talk to before, during and after class - but most importantly - someone to look over at, roll your eyes and say 'I'm dying!'

And yes...Kelly and I wore our wedding dresses last summer for the Bachelorette finale!

7. Sun - Something that we haven't had much of in the past couple months.  I cannot believe the winter we have had and how much I am looking forward to nice weather.  With sun comes sand volleyball, outdoor patios, backyard BBQ's, outdoor baseball, zoo trips with Owen and of course walks around the lake with my dog and my husband.     

8. My Future - If I have learned anything this year, it is that you cannot completely control or predict your future.  But, I am learning to embrace the unknown and realize that wherever life takes me - my future will be amazing.  Down the road, there are so many adventures that await R and I and I am happy and excited to get there.  

9. My Family - Without the love and support of my family, I would be nowhere.  Every day and I more and more appreciative.  And one thing I appreciate more and more each day is how much I LIKE my family.  I know not everyone does.  But I am lucky enough that I like my family and enjoy the time we spend together. Liking your family and loving your family are two very different things -- I do both!

10. Scrabble - Someday I will beat my husband at this tricky, tricky game...

Just another day...

Hangin' out in Wrigleyville.


That's just how we roll.

This past weekend, Rian and I were lucky enough to make it to Chicago for the Twins/Cubs game on Saturday! We had been planning on going since they announced the dates - but then with all of the house stuff, we thought it wasn't a good idea. Especially since we SHOULD have already been in our house right now - but I won't get going on another rant!
Last Sunday, Rian and I were talking about the weekend and how once we DO get in our house, we will have no time or money for a while that isn't going into the house - plus, this is such a rare occurance of the Twins playing the Cubs AT Wrigley on a weekend - but what it really came down to was "You only live once." This was something that was important to us and in the scheme of things, we could afford so we decided to go for it. In the words of Brother Martel - "You never see a U-Haul following a hurse!"

So come Monday morning, we were on the hunt for tickets and a hotel. I felt Rian up to those tasks and he didn't let me down like always. He is a master on craigslist. He actually found 4 tickets for $50 each. He was able to buy all 4 and then we turned around and sold the other two tickets for $100 each - I know, bad but hey we are as broke as anyone else! So basically we didn't pay for our tickets. Then, Rian got us a fabulous room at the Crown Plaza for under $200. Beautiful hotel.
So we were off and running. And after the week we had last week - we deserved the vacation away from ANYTHING house related.
Friday night we stayed in Milwaukee with our very good friend, Renee. Her and her husband Larry are in the middle of a move to Kansas City - so it was great to be able to catch up with her during this time. The three of us chatted and then we sent Rian to bed so Renee and I could girl talk and finish the bottle/s of wine.
Saturday morning came all too quickly and we were up at 6:00am to get a jump start on our day. We arrived at our hotel in Chicago around 9:15am and were able to park our car and leave our luggage. Unfortunately, it was raining and instead of wandering around for the train - we took the easy way out and hopped in the taxis that were lined up at our hotel. And we were off to Wrigleyville!
Loved my first few glances of the stadium. Very exciting.
Our next stop - The Cubbybear! We were joined by a TON of Twins fans already enjoying the morning and some adult beverages. We were lucky enough to snag probably the last table in the joint and grabbed a beer and bloody mary to start off our baseball day!
By 11:00am the Cubbybear had definitely been taken over by Twins fans! It was great!
The TVs were tuned to ESPN (of course) and they began playing shots from the game the day before. The screams were loud when Joe hit his homerun but even more loud when Milton Bradley made some DUMB mistakes - like throwing the caught ball into the stands for the fans when that was only the 2nd out of the inning. HA
Anyways - soon enough a couple of our friends met up with us for a beer before the game. And then game time was upon us and we headed on in.
And boy was I excited! One of those giddy moments where you are just so happy. It reminded me a lot like Yankee stadium (the old one) and how it was built and set up. Pretty soon we were in our seats and the game began! AMAZING! We loved every minute of it! A pretty amazing feeling to be at Wrigleyfield of all ballparks and watching your home team play! Thanks to Mauer and Kubel, the Twins pulled it out and won 2-0. I was sad though that Cuddyer was injured and didn't get to see him play.
After the game - we ran down close to the field to take some pictures. I was quite surprised that no one was yelling at us to get outta there - they were very accomidating to the fans getting a closer look. Rian and I of course took our obligitory shot of us with the field to our back to add to our collection!
After the game, we met up with our friends again to visit the drinking establishments in Wrigleyville. Made it to the great bars like Harry Carey's and took in all that wrigley had to offer. Later we decided to check out the Ribfest that was going on. Very cool street fesitval with all sorts of tents and music and people.
As the night was approaching - we all realized that we were old and could not stick it out too late and check out the Chicago nightlife. Especially since Rian and I had woken up at 6am (after getting maybe 4 hours of sleep) and starting to consume adult beverages at the early hour of 10:00am - once we were nearing 10pm we realized it was time for bed. lol Oh well - a fabulous day in the city of Chicago. A city which grows on me more and more everytime I am there.
All in all, we had a great trip and we are go glad we did it. Rian and I decided a couple years ago that every summer we want to visit a different ball park together. Last summer we were lucky enough to visit Miller Park in Milwaukee as well as Yankee Stadium to see the Twins play they last stint at the park before it was demolished. Very good times. So this year, we can cross Wrigleyfield off of our list. And if we are able - we might make it to Kansas City in August for the Twins weekend series!!

As we were sitting at The Cubbybear - Rian and I talked about how lucky we are that we both love baseball as much as we do and we are glad that we have that interest and passion in common. I think its pretty cool to have a lot of common interests as your mate. Makes life that much more enjoyable when you get to do those things you love with the person you love.

More pictures to follow.........