game – Living, Loving, Laughing….

Did you know I’m a baseball fan? When I moved to Texas in 1989 I saw my first major league baseball game. I fell in love. It was instant rapture to see it in person; to hear the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd. I was hooked.

Been a fan ever since.

In fact, when the new Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994, I was there. I was 9 months pregnant with my daughter, but I made it to opening night and I’ll never forget it.

I may not know every players stats, or the pitching line-up. I may not follow every second, and every play (ADD, yo), but I DO love this team. I love their heart and I am thrilled that they are ONE win away from making it to the World Series…...again.

With that in mind, I am rallying for the Rangers. I am sending every winning Charlie Sheen vibe their way and I am posting my photographs from my last trip to the Ballpark.

Do join me in spirit to root for this Texas team.

Let’s GO RANGERS! Let’s GO!

Ballpark Texas Flag at entrance.

First base gate.

Inside the entrance.

Ceiling detail.

One of my favorite pics.

Entrance to the stands and the field.

Fans and the cotton candy guy.

The DFW airport flight route goes over the Ballpark.

Even the billboards are fans of the Rangers.

Players in action.

Fly ball catching. They make it look easy.

Truly amazing player.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

When the Rangers score, the Texas pride comes out as they wave the Texas flags.

Not easy facing a ball coming at you at raging speeds.

Josh Hamilton, star player with a Cinderella story.

He is an inspiration to many.

The Rangers mascot. They sell the pillow pet of him here. Awh!

Close call on second.

Keep them coming across that home plate.

Let’s hear it for the Rangers!

This is my baseball team. I am so proud of them! No matter what, win or lose, they have played some great ball.

Let’s go Rangers! LET’S GO!! Clap! Clap!

Are you a baseball fan? What team do you hope makes it to the World Series?

Exciting news!!!

Ok, it’s actually not me (was that a mean trick?). My sister got engaged. Apparently, she texted me a picture of her ring but I haven’t updated my iPhone for text pictures. I never answered her, and finally my mom spilled the beans. Good thing my sister called me, because I was all perturbed and stuff. *WHAT??? SHE DIDN’T TELL ME???? HMMMPHHFF*

Well, but, she kinda did? Don’t you think technology is cursing us? I was reading an article about how news is spread via Facebook to family members, quite often, before they can tell the news themselves. They read the news on someone’s wall or see the relationship status change in their news feed, then call other family members and friends to gossip tell them what’s going on. The family is surprised; why wasn’t I told? It can cause a lot of hard feelings when it wasn’t meant to. Wedding pictures being uploaded before the bride and groom can even share them. Babies born at the hospital. The list goes on and on. You get the idea. This relates to my sister, telling me she is engaged by text, basically because she is not on Facebook. HA.

So, I didn’t get it and sent her a text.

TEXT: Mom spilled the beans (you know better to tell her a secret). Is this for real? Is it pretty? I wanna know everything!

All mom told me was that she had a ROCK. *oooookkkkaaayyyy seriously…. date, details, nope just a ROCK*

My sister calls me with “the news” just after I had talked to Jason, Monday Sep. 28. To say I was a bit distracted?? That would be an understatement. Here is how the conversation went, with Jason, not my sister. Not yet anyway. (follow me here!)

6:09pm

J: Hey, babe, what are you doing?

A: Hey, I am sitting in traffic. Cowboys game tonight and it’s NUTS! People everywhere already! Holy smokes! They are parking all the way up Collins by the Sushi Zone. I just saw a bicycle pulling a BUGGY. I had to take a picture, too funny.

J: Yeah, about that, I got an email from a friend, whose company has extra tickets to the game tonight.

A: Really?? Wow! *This is only the most talked about game since…forever….the first Monday night Cowboys game at the new stadium*

J: Well, we have dance class tonight and it’s so last minute. We probably shouldn’t……..

A: Huh? *WHAT??* Are you serious? Listen, why don’t you call them and see if they still have them. Seriously, we may never get to a Cowboys game on our own. Too expensive! My gosh, we have time to take that dance class again. CALL THEM.

J: Ok, I’ll call you back.

THEN– My sister calls.

Am I ever distracted, I am a phone call away from a Cowboys game. She is telling me about the very sweet, very dear, and very Godly engagement. It is beautiful. I am happy for her. It is a surprise, somewhat, I mean when she insisted her guy meet mom and the family soon, like before they ended up meeting him at the wedding. Yeah, well, we kinda knew. But still….wasn’t sure she’d jump back into marriage so soon after her marriage ended of over TWENTY years. Nevertheless, in my pending anxiousness, I am enjoying the sweet story, when Jason calls back.

“Uhhhh, HOLD ON!”, I switch to Jason.

J: Hey, he is at the Sheraton and they are getting ready to walk to the game. He has two tickets. How close are you? *I have not moved in over five minutes-Yes!

A: I can be there in five.

I basically make a U, and rocket to the Sheraton. At this point, I actually have to hang up with my sister and call her back because, the Sheraton is charging to park for the Cowboys game. I don’t need to park, I only need to pull up and snag me some tickets. *FREE TICKETS. Ahhhh!*

No prob, they let me pass through. Now, I don’t know this guy from Adam. I am waiting at the front doors in my car. I see a guy walking towards me. He is smiling. He opens my door, drops two game tickets and two parking passes in my seat and says, “Enjoy! See you at the game.” *My hero!*

I swear my buggy eyes must have bugged out even more. I thank him profusely. He shuts the door and I glance down at laminated tickets. Ring of Honor suite. $125.00 a piece. Ohhh. Mmm. Geee. *yeah, I have 15yr old*

I had to call my sister back, I was navigating the car, as quick as I could to Jason’s the back routes. Giddy. FREAKING OUT. I couldn’t believe this! Wow!

She answers, “Oh, uhhh, hi sis, where were we?????”. What’s really going through my head? *I am going to the COWBOYS GAME tonight* We talk a little longer. I have no idea what else she said. I remember the important part, SHE’S ENGAGED! Hopefully, she remembers how excited I was, for UM her. Yeah. *I’m going to the GAME!!!!!*

Tickets/GOLD/Keepsakes/Memories/Freebies. Whatever you want to call them. Mine, oh sweetness, mine.

Walking to the GAME! This place is ginormous! We missed the kick off but not by much. The parking pass was off Randol Mill Road, to the west of Collins. Any of you game goers, let me give you a tip. PARK HERE. It is, by far, the best place. Parking here you can go West on Randol Mill and hit any number of freeways when the game is over. Any other direction you are in standstill traffic. News flash, the lots closest to the stadium are the worst. The street is backed up for miles and you can’t even get OUT.

Jason’s FIRST ever Cowboys game. Uhhhh , hun? It’s usually not this awesome. Just so you know!

The WORLD’s LARGEST TV. To a child that was raised on TV, I gotta admit-I was awestruck. I wanted to sit right in front of it. (ha)

Ring of Honor,suite #?? can’t remember, doesn’t even matter. Club level, take the stairs by the chandelier UP. FREE drinks. FREE food. FREE programs. FREE hats. Boiled shrimp the size of my HAND. Chicken pizza, wings, and taquitos. Private bathroom. Not to mention, two Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders came by and took photos with everyone.

Just after the Cowboys FIRST WIN in the new stadium. Just to the left in the picture, the ESPN guys were set up doing their show live on the field.

What an amazing night. How that fell into our lap is still unbelievable. The inside of that stadium IS exactly what everyone is talking about. This place is larger than life. Cooler than an Eskimo’s nose. It should be a world wonder! I was in wonder the whole time.

I couldn’t help but look at Jason, brow furrowed, “Babe, you were going to go to DANCE class?”

He says to me, “Yes, because that’s what I thought YOU wanted to do.”

That’s why I love him, so selfless. He LOVES the Cowboys. Always watches the games and he would have gave that up for me? To dance a dance we have no plans of dancing for a long time. He would have missed this opportunity for my happiness? Really? Incredible! *Is he CRAZY?*

I said, “That’s why I love you, but I wouldn’t have let you do that.” *no way, no how*

He looks back at me, smiling, “And that’s, why I love YOU.”

Don’t you love a happy ending? Great game. Precious memories. Even more precious? Knowing the heart of a person is for you, and you for them.