Monday, August 28, 2006

All Hail King Bennett!!

The Cards swept the Cubs!!! Friday night, the birds on the bat blanked the Cubbies 2-0. Saturday afternoon, the Cards came from behind to beat the cubbies 2-1, thanks in large part to back-up catcher Gary Bennett, who homered in the 3rd inning, and then hit the game winning single in the bottom of the ninth. Chris Carpenter pitched a great game, didn't get the win, and left the game w/ back cramps. Last night, it was Bennett who was once again the hero of the game....He smacked a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth with two outs to win the game 10-6!! The game last night was intense. Cubs struck first, going 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Then the Cards came to bat, tying the game 2-2. The second run was scored by third baseman Scott Rolen, who singled and made it all the way to home! Preston Wilson was on first base and scored easily once Rolen laced a single! (2 outs, one runner on here- this will be a pattern that will huant the Cubbies the entire game) Rolen loped one out to right field and the right fielder didn't give a good chase- he assumed that Rolen would stop at first or second base...nope, Rolen took advantage by speeding around the bases and tagging home w/o being tagged out. It was really funny to watch. The reaction in the Cubs dugout was hilarious... manager Dusty Baker looked really mad! LOL!! The fourth inning was even funnier. It all started w/ a bunt from first baseman Albert Pujols, he got on base....another opportunity missed. Then the Cards hit three singles and two walks to make the score 6-3. Unfortunately the Cubbies tied the game at 6-6, and things were looking gloomy, until bases were loaded 2 outs bottom of the ninth inning. Gary Bennett steps up to the plate and unloads....He slams a game winning Grand Slam to make the game 10-6!!! It was an awesome game. My dad scored a ticket to the game, he went w/ the gal I went w/ on Friday. So dad saw possibly the most entertaining game of the season. Lucky guy. Click here for the official report on how the Birds on the Bat clobbered the poor little Cubbies! Awwwe soo sad....NOT!! ROWL!!

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Jack Buck Lives!!

Last night I was invited to the Cards vs Cubs game by my mom's friend (also was her maid of honor at her wedding), it was my first Cubs game!! It was soo much fun. Cubs fans are funny! Their team is 13 and a half games out of it, no chance for even the wild card spot, and they still pray and act like their team is number 1. I don't get it! One of the best parts of the game was seeing the late great Jack Buck sing "Take Me out to the Ballgame"!!! It was awesome! The entire crowd was rivited to the big screen and went wild when Jack put on his Cardinals hat! My other fave part of the game was seeing Izzy nail all of his pitches and earn the save! When he first came into the game, the Cubs fans started cheering (they know Izzy has lost games before). Lucky for us, Izzy was razor sharp last night! Jeff Soupon pitched a great 7 innings and recieved a standing O for his work. Randy Flores came in and did a good job of keeping the Cubs in line. There were some Cubbie fans near us and they cheered whenever the Cards didn't score. Oh well, we all know the outcome- 2-0 Cards!! The place was electric when the Great Albert Pujols came up to bat. Fireworks went off after Izzy threw the last pitch to strike the batter out and win the game!! I had a blast, even tho Gary Bennet was catching...his offense is really improving. Yadier Molina is out with a muscle strain in his right arm...slight case of tendinitis in his shoulder. Click here for the official details and the details on shortstop David Eckstien's injury. I wish both of them a speedy recovery! Go Cards!!

Monday, August 21, 2006

102nd Posting!!!

Most ppl celebrate the 100th of something....not me. I am celebrating the 102nd posting of my blog. So this posting will have random things on it:
*The St. Louis Cardinals made a new aqquistion with the picking up of right fielder, Preston Wilson, who was designated for assignment by the Houston Astros (their loss). Wilson, who wears jersey #3, first played with the red birds on Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Wilson added to the Cardinals run count by slamming a single homerun. The Cardinals ended up beating the Cubbies 11-3. Sat- Catcher Yadier Molina hit a solo homerun to make the game 2-0 Cardinals. Unfortunately, the cubbies ended up winning in the bottom of the 9th w/scoring a single run-5-4 Cubbies. Sunday Chris Carpenter went to the mound and went 8 innings for a Cardinals win 5-3(even tho Izzy came into the 9th and almost blew the lead). Cardinals are leading their division w/ a 2.5 game lead. Gold-glover center fielder Jim Edmonds is battling post-concussion syndrome, and it is uncertain when the vetran will return to the starting lineup. Shortstop David Eckstien is sidelined for at least a week(everyone cross your fingers that that's all the time he'll miss) with an oblique strain he suffered on Fridays game while slidding into homeplate. He was safe at the plate, but ran into the Cubbies catchers legs. Ouch! Juan Encarnacion has taken over in center field, and Aaron Miles has taken over at shortstop. Third baseman, Scott Rolen, is up for the Comeback Player of the Year Award- he should get it, he is awesome this year. You can help him by voting here. First baseman Albert "the great" Pujols is yet again up for the Hank Aaron Award, vote now. Cards have Monday off in NYC, then Tuesday they start a 3 game series against East Division leaders (by 14 games), the New York Mets (boo Mets are pondscum-must do this b/c mom is from NY and is a fan). Then its home for 3 games vs the Cubbies (boo).
*Loki is six months old now and weighs 40.5 lbs. She is getting to be a big girl. She is so funny and sweet. Froggiegirl and I took Loki swimming atBlanchette Park in St. Charles last Monday for Pool Paws for Humane Laws. Loki got to go swimming in a swimming pool for ppl, she had an absolute blast. Froggiegirl was amazed at Loki's sleeping thru the entire car ride there and back. Froggiegirl took lots of pics w/ her underwater camera-Mom really wants to see those pics soon (as do I). hint hint. Loki is growing stronger everyday, she is solid muscle which is good, b/c that means she is a health dog.
*I am officially job hunting- one application in (if I can get the interview I am sure I can nail the job), I visited Kelly Temps(my current employer) and updated my skills level -which was a joke b/c the system was so outdated. I can work access, excell, word, and pwr pt w/ the best of them. Unfortunately the system had Windows 98, and I had to work Word , Access, and Excell 97- none of which I have worked with in the past 5 years. So obviously my Access says needs training as well as my Business skills (which is bull- they need to update and then they will have an accurate record of my abilities). I am getting sooo bored sitting around at home. I am playing the waiting game w/ Kelly Temps. I want to get an assigment so I can have something to do and have some income. I am contstantly looking at Monster.com and Hotjobs but have found nothing that sounds remotely interesting. I am going to give a gal a call today who works for Martiz's competition and get advice from her. Keep your fingers crossed that I'll get a job soon and get out of the house (the family is driving me nuts). Troll boy keeps asking "when are you getting a job", my response: "when are you gettting your Bachelors?". The boy has no room to complain-he works as a lifegaurd-and works nowhere near 30 hrs a week, and then complains b/c he doesn't have enough time or money...that's what you get for not going to college.
* Mom has started school, as well as troll boy (who is at Meramec yet again). I get to laugh at them as they trudge off, no more stupid assignments or dumb term papers for this girl. I helped mom fix up her classroom Wed, only to have her students take everything off the walls on Thursday b/c her room was to be painted. Nope, didn't happen. They ran "out of time", yeah right. Hopefully, it will be painted soon, and the plants from "the jungle" (all the plants on our front porch) can go into work.

Goober Brain Strikes Again!

The past two weeks, Loki has been doing great in her lessons. She can now "chill" (where the dogs put their head b/t their paws when laying down) with the best of them. Her "heeling" is wonderful. She can do the "Yoyo" (sit, down, sit, down, etc) command very well. However, when we got to Level 5 (lesson #3 on this level- she's done it 3 times), all of that went up in smoke. Loki decided it was too much, and it was time to play. She broke command over and over. Her long distance recalls (put dog in sit or down, walk to middle of room and call them to come) were awful. If she had been called a few dogs sooner she would have done fine. So next Sat. I am going to ask the trainer to call her 2nd or 3rd or even first. She just wants to play and give everybody (especially the other dogs) kisses. She is a very smart dog, just has a short attention span. What made me mad was the fact that there was a lab only about 12 weeks doing better than Loki! 12 weeks! That's when you are supposed to start! But this was one of the professional trainers dog. We are going to take Loki to the city park and work with her there- there are more distractions. Hopefully, next week she will do much better.....I hope!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

I love the Zoo




Today, mom and I ventured out to the St. Louis Zoo (before it got too hot). We started off in River's Edge where we saw Cappberras (they are related to Guinea Pigs), hogs, a cheetah, and Raja! We also visited the bears; one was playing with a bone-he was standing up and tossing it over his head! We also visited the Penguin and Puffin Exhibit for the first time. There was no long line this time; it was soooo cold in there! They were soo cute. Then it was on to see Zebras, Camels, kangaroos, and finally Big Cat Country! My two fave areas at the zoo are the Wild Area where the bears play, and Big Cat Country! A lot of the animals were taking naps, but a tiger, a puma, and a leopard were striking poses. Click here to see my pics from the zoo

It's gettin' hott in here!

The Red Birds have won three games in a row. Last night they smashed Cinncinatti! They lead their division by 4.5 games (Cinnci is in second). Catcher Yadier Molina hit a homerun making it 5-0 in the first inning and reached his career high for RBI's. Chris Duncan, playing right field, hit a solo run home run, Scott Spezio hit a two run homerun, and third baseman Scott Rolen also hit a solo homerun. Pujols walked and scored on a throwing error. The Cardinals capitalized on all of the mistakes made by Cinnci. Starter Jeff Weaver got his second win as a Cardinal, and looked pretty good out there. Aaron Miles got the start at shortstop, as David Eckstein had to attend to personal business. He did not make an appearence in the game, though all throughout the game the announcers kept saying "He'll be here any moment". The Birds on the Bat are on fire! Keep it up boys!
Let's Go Cardinals!!

Monday, August 07, 2006

My new toy

As previously mentioned in my earlier post, I bought a laptop. Thanks to Gimlet and Froggiegirl, I got a pretty good laptop. As they are more computer savy than me, I asked for their advice. They recommended Toshiba. So I am now the proud owner of a Satalite Toshiba 15.4" sceen laptop. The only problem is that I had to go to two different stores to find one, then at the second store the only one available was the display, so I took that. I went home, proud( and a little nervous this was my biggest purchase on my own- Gulp!), with my new toy. Got home opened it up, turned it on and noticed a stratch. At first I thought I could rub it off, nope...have to get another laptop. So mom called Office Depot (where I bought it), and told them about the scratch. They said that there were more in the warehouse and they might get one in on Monday afternoon. So today (Monday) I give them a call, where they tell me it missed the truck and the earliest it will be in will be sometime on Wed. The truck doesn't have a specific time that it comes in, so technically it could arrive to the store anytime between 7 AM and 4 PM. I want to personalize it, play with it, and enjoy it! I am very excited about my laptop, its my first one. My first computer (where I am working now b/c I can't get internet on my new comp), is a desktop and was purchased in August of '01. I have been wanting to throw it out the window for several months now...hopefully after I restore it to its orginal status (after I take off all my stuff), I can sell it and make a nice profit. Not too much, but enough so I'm not just giving it away. Click here to see all the specs for my new laptop. Hopefully, I can get my new laptop early Wed morning, and then I will be in business by that night.
* Another note of interest: The Cardinals have won two games in a row now!!! Pujols hit homerun number 34 yesterday! All right! Go Cards!!

That's right, I'm a graduate!

I am an official graudate of the University of Missouri- St. Louis!!! Yay!! I had my graduation party on Sat, August 5th, it was a small gathering. A nice bbq in my backyard with a few friends. Just what I was looking for. I got some nice gifts. Rachel K. got me a gift certificate to Bath & Body Works(I love that store- visited yesterday and stocked up!), Gimlet and Froggiegirl gave me three candle holders in the shape of flowers and extra tea candles. My brother gave me a gift certificate to Best Buy (suprise, suprise- that's his usuall gift for everybody)-used it to get a laptop carrying bag. My parents suprised me by paying a nice chunk of change on my new laptop! All in all, I'm happy. I have yet to send out graduation announcents, which I will be doing soon (I promise!). It's still a little weird not going for back-to-school shopping, and prepping for classes. I can't wait to start working! I am taking one week off to relax and then I'll call Kelly Temps- tell 'em I'm free and can work. I figure I'll work there until I find a more permanent job. So Congrats to me! 2nd Generation to attend and graduate from college!!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Hot Hot Hot!

St. Louis has been on fire lately...and I'm not talking about the Cardinals. The past week and a half, the midwest city has been reaching temps above the 100 mark. This brutal heat has made training with Loki impossible. Even our nightly walks have been put on hold. We are currently redoing our front landscaping. Unfortunately, its been so hot, mom can only get in a few hours every morning before she has to call it quits. Thankfully, it looks like things are going to cool down. The landscaping is almost finished...it looks very nice. Loki and I managed a training session for a while and we weren't dying when we went inside. Last week Loki was a goober brain in class... she was totally out of character. The hot temps are to blame for that. Hopefully, we will be able to get in another solid session t/m night. She was good tonight, only broke once. For the most part, Loki does very well in class. She is still the youngest in her class, so she has some maturing to do. I am amazed at how smart she is sometimes. She has the potential to blow the rest of her class out of the water when she matures a bit more. I can't wait. I am really grateful the temps are going down; I miss my nightly walks w/ Loki.

Pagin the St. Louis Cardinals....um the season is not over yet

That's right, we still have a few more months left of baseball. However, the Cardinals have dropped their last 7 games. So this is what it feels like to be a Cubs fan...I don't like it. The Cardinals appear to be in some time of funk and they need to get out of it. They are still in first place b/c the other teams in their division are lousy. The Cardinals need to shape up fast. If they continue to play like this, they can kiss playoffs good bye. We have two new birds on the bat; Jorge Sosa recently aquired from the Atlanta Braves and Ronnie Belliard from the Cleaveland Indians. Hector Luna was traded to the tribe in exchange for Belliard. Belliard has taken over as the lead second baseman. Aaron Miles is now the backup. Too early to judge either player. According to all reports, both players are fitting in. Both players have seen action wearing their new uniforms. Belliard aqquired his first hit as a Cardinal in tonights game. Cardinals dropped the 7th straight to the Phillies. Congrats to Phillies second baseman, Chase Utley, who has extended his hitting streak to 35 games. The Brew crew comes into town next, hopefully the Cards will sweep them and get back on track.
A true fan through and through- Go Cardinals!