Summer Rewind

So as I was listening to my 9am Professor drone on about nothing that has to do with class I begin to make a list of my summer experiences....its as follows:

Vacations:

I got to go visit my Dad and Stepmom Kim in The Vegas. We had alot of fun visiting while lounging in the pool and drinking Margaritas and were all winners in the casinos!! Mom rented a Cabin at Flowing Lake in Snohomish we had fun camping Linda style and laying by the lake reading and enjoyed the sunshine!

D8 Reunions:

I have known Stacy and Kendra since Jr High. We all played softball together for District 8 and all went to rival highschools (Bothell, Woodinville and Inglemoor). We became fast friends. We always have fun times together even if we havent seen each other in 6 months. Its great to be able to pick up where we left off the last time we were together. Kenny goes to school in Illinois and Stacy just graduated from Trinity in Conneticut and is back at Grad school at Wazzu. Our time together was very short this summer but we managed to get in a couple of hangouts....Stacy and I watched Frost Nixon (okay, I watched Frost Nixon...Stace fell asleep) and we all gathered at Stacy's for her Graduation party where we BBQued, jumped on the Trampoline, and played Champagne Pong! Kenny and I got to hangout a bit more and had a nice day out on Jake and Quincy's boat (more of that to come)

Roomie Love:

I live with them for 9 months you think we would be sick of each other...nope. Chelsea and I quickly became addicted to the Showtime show Nurse Jackie. Because I didnt have Showtime at home Chelsea would TiVo NJ and we would meet up when our schedules coincided often having NJ marathons and would enjoy a Blime or Mojito of some sort. Another favorite pastime at Chelsea's is sitting around the fireplace with all our friends and hanging out catching up on life. Its always relaxing and a fun way to spend a nice summer night! This year I also got to experience SeaFair for the first time. A group of us took the boat out to watch the Blue Angels. It was an absolutely crazy experience!! I also had my first Seadoo experience and as Chelsea says my last. I had a hard time getting onto the seadoo and adjusting but had an absolute blast and will fight for another opportunity next summer!! Sarah and I also got to hangout a couple of times and bond...she would come hangout with me when I was alone! Sarah was also really sweet and put together a nice Birthday suprise for Chelsea and I. She made us each our favorite cupcakes (Vanilla and Chocolate with rainbow chip frosting) got us cards and a small gift. It was so sweet and from the heart. Chelsea was also an excellent friend this summer and put together a "Meghan" Kit for my Birthday...a Bottle of Champagne (cooks only the finest!) a mini bottle of coconut rum and a bottle of diet coke, and a mini bottle of jegar with a rockstar!I feel so blessed to have such wonderful roomates as my friends! :)

College Friends = Friends Forever

except in Jackie's case who was at Safeco Field numurous times and never came say hi (no...you will never live that down girl!) :) Allie and I celebrated Jen's 22nd Birthday with her in Kirkland this year. I had to miss Jen's 21st birthday, so celebrating with her this year was extremely important to me. I miss my girls already here at school but both Jen and Allie have already been here to visit! Allie is one of my absolute best friends. I can go to her with anything and vis versa. She will and has dropped everything to help me (like when I ran out of gas...) I love our shopping trips, lunch dates, and Margarita gossip sessions! Miss you all...

Ohhh Mariners:

My third year at the Ballpark added more amazing memories to my mariner employee file! There were of course the familiar faces that I love, but I also got to know a few new faces this year as well! I loved these new faces because many of them were close enough to my age I could hangout with them! I'm not gonna lie I was a little creeped out when Seth said he knew me...okay I don't know you! Turns out...I did. We went to High school together and heck we even had a PE class together (Which only took me two months or so to figure out/remember...haaah.) Sometimes I think Seth regrets saying anything because once I have a connection with somebody...its over they are my new BFF! :) Seth carpooled with Chrissy who I had already been working with for the past three years and Elena whom I loved instantly. I think she is a bigger Mariner fan than I ever was (And for those of you that know me...that is saying ALOT) we are quite the comedy duo and in a sense I feel like Ive known her forever...not just a couple of months! Add in Chris, Ryan, and others...work was instantaneously fun! When you work with people all the time you tend or at least I tend to spend a lot of time with them. I cant help it. It just...happens. As a Mariner group we had a lot of fun this year...

Chris hosted a Mariner BBQ and it was fun to see current and past employees and non employees (like the fabulous Brittainy Lunde!). We also visited Pyramid after a few hard days of work, and enjoyed the hot dogs and pizza at Costco on our Set up lunch dates. I was rewarded with two 100% secret shops which makes me extremely proud! I also got to enjoy two fabulous 14 inning games...those are just a real peach let me tell you. It turns out we won both of them so in the end...it was worth it.

We had adventurous carpools...which always led to either getting lost, or trying to find a new way to the parking garage amidst all the crazy construction, or making people cross two lanes of oncoming traffic because we missed the pick up spot and had to stop in the middle of the lane...learning that following Elena is a at your own risk type of deal...

Celebrating...the happy and the sad. We celebrated Seth, Elena, Ryan's and my Birthdays and said a sad goodbye to Kaaarissay. Each get together was more memorable than the last and include these snippets: me making everybody go around the table at dinners and sharing personal info about their lives...ie favorite TV shows, favorite memories..yada yada yada. Somebody has to break the silence! The Anti-Social Mariner group hording their own table at Chrissy's party playing poker with whiskey shots..yes classy...walking half a mile down the road passing the Moon Temple because we were on the opposite side of the street, being accosted at Elena's Birthday party by a 40 year old drunkie telling us not to get married and have children, and 6 people squashing around a table meant for 3 all in the name of a beverage. Its moments like these that make me happy. I love the randomness of it all.

One of the most exciting parts about working at the stadium for me, is getting the opportunity to walk the halls with some of the greatest players of our generation. I was giddy at seeing Joey Cora and Nomar Garciapparra. Seeing Freddy Garcia, Alex Rios, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mark Buherlie, Carlos Guillien, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and sooo many others were daily experiences. I got to witness Ken Griffey throwing a temper tantrum. It was a very real moment. I got to work a special event honoring Junior's homerun achievements. I didn't get to talk to him, and could barely see him, but just being at that exclusive event was memory enough. The biggest experience was walking past Alex Rodriguez in the tunnel. Ive grown up loving him. As a fan I have got to experience one in a lifetime moments. All the crazy moments in my workday are forgotten with these experiences. Safeco Field truly has a piece of my heart and my co-workers become my family...we spend so much time together. I'm already going through major withdrawls from them!

Girls and Baseball Games

I got to go to 3 Baseball games this summer: Single A, Triple A and Big League. Mariner Employee Night at the Aquasox game is a yearly tradition apparently. This was the first year I took part in it. Chrissy, Elena and I traveled up North for the game after a day of baking (yes we schmoozed...yes it worked!) We were seated on the third base line..aka the visitors dugout. We left not as Aquasox fans, but as Tri-City Devil fans and a even bigger fan of #30...Ben. Oh Ben. We love you. You will forever be dirty. [30 is dirty] yeah lame. yeah funny. blame Elena.

On our required day off during our 10 game home stand, Chrissy and I and her friend Cassondra spent our day off at Safeco Field. We snuck down to the Right Field Seats and watched the Mariners crush....I believe the Kansas City Royals. Ive already forgotten. But we had a fun day in the sun nonetheless. Bothering our co-workers with hated questions was an added bonus

Girly (Christina), Christin, and I traveled down South for a Tacoma Rainier's game...we might have gotten lost a time or two..or three but finally made it just after game time with our amazing sign that read along the lines of we braved the traffic and the rain just to see Morrow play! yeaah we liked it okay? We quickly found that the bleacher seats were better than our $10 nice seats seats and we braved the rain to sit on the bleachers surrounded by hyperactive children up waaay past their bedtime just so we could practically sit in the Rainier's bullpen. It was worth every raindrop and screaming child. I think...the Rainier's won. I'm not sure though...

Families I Love

I worked a second summer as a Mother's Helper for the Kaltenbach family. I truly love this family. The kids are well behaved and adorable and I always have a cute anecdote from the day. It has truly been a wonderful experience and privilege to work with this family!

I have known the Quinn family since their oldest who is eleven had just turned one. The two boys feel like my brothers as I have watched them grow up through the years. I encouraged them to crawl, fed them from bottles and cut up their food, changed their dirty diapers and helped them learn to walk and talk...and now they are almost as tall as me speaking full sentences and have turned into little men. My babies have grown up (As have I) and its been amazing to be apart of their lives. I love when they come visit me at the ballpark and I had a wonderful evening swimming and having dinner with this incredible family.

The Albrechts are another family that I have known since the oldest who is ten was a year old. A family with two little girls I have done all the same for them as I have for the little boys. Little girls are much different than little boys and I love the experience of both. I got to spend lots of time with the youngest Albrecht this summer and we had so much fun together. We went swimming, did craft projects, played games, and went to lunch. Its fun to tease them about boys they have crushes on, and learn whats going on in the tween world! I love this family too and their girls.

All three families have been so good to me through the years. As I am away from them during the school year they play a major role in my summer. I have been truly blessed with these experiences and that these parents trust me with their children. Its extremely rewarding for me to know that I am as important to these kids as they are to me!

Another family I love...Is the Lunde's. Brittainy and I grew up together - elementary, Jr High and some Highschool. We played softball together and our parents sat together on the bleachers. Mama Patti and I even share the same Birthday! :)We got to spend some time with the Lunde's this summer in Snohomish and watched youngest son Jayson pitch a mean Baseball game! While Brit and I lost a little bit of touch the past few years we reconnected this summer and she was awesome enough to cut my hair! :) I didnt get a chance to hangout with Brittainy before I left for school but plan on it next time Im home. I value this lifelong friendship and know we will always be friends!

My favorite family...of course is my own. I miss Melissa who is living in California terribly. I dont get to see Jake and Quincy very often but I did get to spend some time on their boat with them this summer and they treated me to lunch for my Birthday too. Mom and I got to spend some time together on our camping trip, our day trip to Deception Pass, and our days lying on the beach reading our books! Life isnt always easy, we may all not always get along, but at the end of the day, I know we all love each other and would always be there for each other when we need it the most.

Summer Reads and Movies

We all know I love to read. Its not a secret. In honor of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince coming out in theaters I had to read all 7 Harry Potter books...I accomplished this in only two months. Very impressive if you ask me. I also became sucked into the story of the Kennedy family...I read the Kennedy Women, Mrs. Kennedy, and am currently reading True Compass Teddy kennedy's memoir. I finished both of Chelsea Handlers books which were hilarious. I started Night, The 5 People You Meet In Heaven, and The Boy In The Striped Pajamas... I still need to finish them. I will...eventually.

I decided to brave it and see Half Blood Prince at Midnight...never ever ever again. We got stuck in the first row and it was just crazy. I hated the movie. I like things to be accurate (part of being a historian right?!) and it wasnt. oh well. I still have the books! I also saw Inglorius Basterds. Not my forte. Too much goriness...but hey I can say I saw it right?! :)

On Life and Death

Death is unexpected and my family lost a dear friend this summer. Nellie (See post on him) who was an incredible man died of Congestive Heart Failure. I know he is running around heaven playing football, but he will be missed on this earth as hundreds will only know him through our stories of him.

Our nation lost two incredible members of the Kennedy Family. Ironically I was reading The Kennedy women when Eunice Kennedy Shriver died. Not long after her brother Teddy also passed away. The Kennedy story has always fascinated me. Its incredible history of death and destruction is fascinating. I was truly saddened by the loss of these people I only knew through reading and history. They were so much more than Jack Kennedy's siblings. Eunice was an advocate for Special Olympics and people with severe disabilities. Teddy worked in the Senate for years and worked for the poor and for education. They both dedicated their lives to serving the American public and I cant wait to finish Teddy's memoir!

The End

if you are still reading this...thats awesome. I just felt a need to record my summer...(Hey its history right?!) so one day when im old I can look back and remember what I did in the summer I was 22 :)

The Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm going to remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

There's always going to be another mountain
I'm always going to want to make it move
Always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you going to have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

Our Cute Lil Punkin!

Baby Tokala last year...he barely fits!

Its that time of year again...Fall is quickly arriving here in Ellensburg! Fall just might be my favorite season in Eburg...The leaves turn and fall and theres that stretch of campus that is just covered in beautiful autumn leaves. I love turning on the fire and cuddling under the blanket with a Halloween movie and a pumpkin spice latte...mmm! Chelsea is very strict about not decorating for Fall or Halloween until October 1st....so Sarah and I anxiously wait. But that did not stop us from this afternoon putting Tokala in his pumpkin costume. Last year he was so little he swam in it...and this year of course it barely fits (he is about 15 pounds! whoaah!) But he is aboslutely adorable in his little pumpkin costume and just layed there pathetically while we took his pictures!!! Enjoy our little punkin kitty! :)

Back in The Burg

Its hard to believe I just started my 5th and (final) year at Central. So much has changed in that 5 years and I feel lucky enough to still be here and so close to finishing my college education. I feel a little bit wiser, a little bit smarter (but not much) and have made enough mistakes in the past 4 years to know how I want to finish my final year of college. I've certainly been guilty of taking my education and finances for granted and while they are all things I would love to take back they were all lessons I am glad I recieved early on in life.

So far Im really enjoying my classes (well 3/4) I have two of my favorite professors and believe I have found one that will join that list. Of course I already have a challenging professor but that is to be expected right?!

It was important to me that this school year I established quarterly goals for myself. I bought a posterboard and have written my goals down and posted it behind my bedroom door. While its definitely an eye sore..its easily distinguished and makes it hard to be ignored!

Here are my 10 goals on my board....

1. Go to class everyday
2. Complete homework the night before its due (ending procrastination!)
3. Exercise Regularly
4. Leave no dishes or silverwear in my bedroom (so far...so good!)
5. Keep my room clean (no clothes on the floor...I find a cleaner room is a better homework enviornment)
6. Pay my Bills on time to avoid late fees and establish a budget calendar
7. Do a better job helping with household chores (I have neatfreak roomies who tend to get to the dishwasher and garbage quicker than I do...Im working on it!)
8. Establish A Morning and Nighttime routine (so far also working. The key is sticking to it!)
9. Keep Bathroom Clean and do my laundry quicker
10. GRADUATE!!!!!!

I Turn 23....

I didnt really want to celebrate my Birthday this year...just asked for a small affair. Lucky for me my wish was granted. Mom had a dinner with just her, me and our good friend Judy. We had homeade Italian dinner with delicious wine and yummy chocolate cake for dessert!

Chelsea my dear roomie's Birthday is the day before mine (See post below) and our other roomie Sarah made us cupcakes (vanilla for chelsea...chocolate for me with rainbow chip frosting..delicious!) and got us each a sweet gift with our favorite candy (carmel apple suckers for Chelsea...Chocolate for me). I was a big girl this year and decided to work since the Mariners were in town and so Chelsea and I went to a nice lunch at Red Robin and had a Margarita before I headed downtown where my co-workers greeted me with well wishes and cards. After work Elena, Seth and Chris and I went to the Ram for a Birthday Drink...

I met up with Jake and Quincy on Saturday for lunch and a little shopping we had a fun time and they gave me a beautiful scarf which I cannot wait to wear!

Overall it was a nice Birthday - Thank you everyone!! I feel blessed to have such wonderful friends and family...heres to a good 23rd year of life!

Life Complete.

I encountered my long time hero and love of my life Alex Rodriguez on Sunday, September 20th approximately 30 minutes after the Mariners beat the Yankees. Expect our wedding announcements shortly....

Happy Birthday Chelsea!!!!

Chelsea and I were born exactly a year and a day apart which means we are bonded for life....haha..Ive known Chelsea oh... forever. We became friends though while playing softball at IHS together and then when she transferred to CWU her Freshman year. We've been roomies for 3 school years now and she is one of the best roomates Ive ever had (Shh...dont tell the others). I can never truly be mad at Chelsea and I love her down to earth personality, her humor and that she is a clean freak! We've thrown some legendary parties together and can always laugh and have fun..no matter what the situation might be. I know we will be friends forever. Thanks Spud for being a great friend!

Other Randomness

Lets see....

• Survived my second 10 game homestand in a month. It was long (and Boring because of Boring teams) but nontheless always a good time in the end. The Mariners came away 7-3 and thats always fabbity fab fab!
• Watched a piece of History with the death of Edward Kennedy. I find it interesting that I started reading The Kennedy Women and two members of the family die as I read it...hmm eerie. I finished and am now onto Mrs. Kennedy about Jackie-O (I will post more about this later I just dont have the energy to do so now...)
• Cannot believe summer is winding down! Trying to fit in as much as possible in what little time I have left...I ordered my school books already and am looking forward to school starting
• Went to my first Tacoma Rainiers Game Friday Night...which, was very interesting. The Rainiers won and Christina, Christin and I enjoyed watching the action in the bullpen over the actual game. We braved the rain, wind, and traffic and heck even got lost and had a very fun time!
• Having tons of fun with old and new friends and feel absolutely blessed to have such amazing friends in my life. I love that everybody is different and unique in their own way and I absolutely love having a variety of friends!
• I have only 4 more Nanny Days, 1 set up day and 6 Mariner Games left before heading back to Ellensburg -- wow!

Happy Birthday Elena!!!

My new Buddy at the Ballpark Elena just turned 21. Elena and I share a love of the Mariners, The OC, and...laughing :) We had fun night celebrating Miss Elena! Happy Birthday Elena!! Im glad SO glad we've become friends! Here's to many more adventures! :)


The Mariner Crew (Ryan, Seth, & Elena) Toasting With Champagne

The Girls! Annika, Elena and Meghan

Last Stop of the Night!

The Whole Gang!

Me with the Birthday Girl having fun! :)

Saying Goodbye To Chrissy...

Chris, Chrissy, Seth and I at Moon Temple

Ive been working with Chrissy at the Ballpark for the past 3 seasons. We are the same age, and in fact, our Birthdays are only 5 days apart. It has been nice to have somebody my age to be friends with these past few years! Chrissy though decided to move home to Reno and with sadness we said goodbye to a great co-worker and friend! We celebrated with a Dinner with co-workers and a night (or two...) out on the town...We already miss Chrissy and her sense of humor - work just isnt the same!

(My Camera's Memory Card decided to be difficult and so sadly I lost all the pictures from Chrissy's going-away dinner...but thanks to Chris we have a few pictures of Chrissy's going away party she held)

In Loving Memory...

My Family First met Nellie when Jake first started at PLU back in 1997. Jake played Football and Nellie worked with the incoming Freshman (Bombers). Nellie was born with Arthrogryposis, a disease which locked his joints from the neck down. While he faced an extremely difficult life he finally found happiness with the PLU Football Program in 1989 working with the young men that went through the program.

I still remember my brother calling us and sharing that he had fed John and the two quickly bonded. I remember that Nellie never thought as himself as disabled. He always wanted to be one of the guys and had an amazing sense of humor and smile. I remember when the guys all camped over one time he wanted to sleep in the tent in a sleeping bag just like the others.

In our Family we celebrate Birthdays with presents, a special dinner, cake and decorations and we celebrated Nellie's Birthday too. I will never forget his smile as we presented him with a homeade Birthday Cake. Or the day when I got seperated from my family after an Post Game Afterglow he helped me to find them again. I remember running to him crying because I knew nobody else and he calmed me down and told me we would find them. My Mom always brought John a Pepsi every game it was his favorite. Everytime I see a Gordita from Taco Bell I think of Nellie and how he would say GORDIITAAA like they said in the commercials. Silly, I know. At weddings he would be bop in his chair and the women would gather around him.

Rain, Snow or Sun he was on that sideline watching his boys play. He went everywhere, watched everything and greeted everyone. He carried a Blind's stick in his mouth and could type fast and extremely long emails with amazing spelling and grammer. He never forgot you and I would love when he commented on my facebook page.

But quite possibly my favorite John Nelson moment would be in September of 2001. Jake's Senior year and the team was playing Azusa Pacific in California. On Sunday we all went to Disneyland and Nellie got to ride Splash Mountain for the first time. His boat was behind us and I clearly can remember him laughing and smiling getting ready to go down the first hill and the happiness and excitement as he came out of his boat at the end of the ride. In a life that started with no promise these young men gave him the chance of a lifetime. They carted him everywhere they went and treated him no different than themselves.

Nellie was humble, thankful and a great man of God.His dream was to play football in heaven and I know that he has been living it up ever since he got there.

Rest in Peace Nellie. You will be greatly missed by all, but your laughter, smile, and blessings you stored upon all you met will be remembered forever. I feel so blessed to have even known you.

I encourage you to click this link and learn more about this incredible man.http://www.nwcn.com/video/sports-index.html?nvid=393850&shu=1