Joe's a Blue Thunder Baller!

I'd like to congratulate the newest member of the new Continental Baseball League's Tarrant County Blue Thunder -- my husband JOE!

That's right, he's just signed his life away to be a star pitcher for the new league. From May til August we'll be baseball playin', watchin' crazy people. Check out the schedule below and we'd love to have you guys come out and cheer on the Blue Thunder against the arch enemies, The Lewisville Lizard, The Texas Heat and the Bay Area Torros (Houston).

http://www.cblproball.com/pdf/CBL%202007_Schedule.pdf

I'll also need to start getting my new t-shirt ideas and cheers lined up.
Ideas so far:
1. The blue care bear - Ok, they're Thunder. What's that really? So I thought how about the little Care Bear with the cloud on his tummy? And then everyone in the stands could do the Care Bear Stare when the opposing team's batter is up? (Joe is not thrilled about this one...)

2. The Cloud Heads - make big puffy cloud hats and have sheets of metal we can ripple for thunder?
3. The team shirt - boring!
4. The Original - A few summers ago, my pal Lydia and I made Fan shirts for Joe's many games during college and summers. Lyd, is it time to make the bested "Joe's Biggest Fan" shirts ever?

I'm excited! We're excited! Let's play ball!

My view

Everyday I go to work and look outside my window. We are on the twelfth floor and I have a view straight to downtown.

Here are some of the things I get to see.

1. Lots and lots of accidents. These occour at the stop light of Midway and Spring Valley or in front of the Geico building (also in my line of sight). All mostly minor.

I also see accidents RIGHT IN FRONT of our building. You have to turn across 4 lanes of traffic to enter our garage and some people can not JUST WAIT. So they venture across while some traffic is stopped and some is not and, inevitably, they get crunched. So we have frequent visits by tow trucks, policemen and oh-so-unhappy motorists.

2. Fire trucks. The fire station for Farmers Branch is three blocks down from us. So I see them quite frequently. The also frequent the Geico building A LOT! I don't know what they do there, but perhaps their blood pressure is as low/high as their rates??

3. Construction crews. They have been working on widening Midway for about 6 months now. I am not sure if they are widening for the sake of widening OR just angering the daily commutors. Either way, provides for entertainment. BUT they cut down so many nice trees! Made me so mad!!

4. School children. We are right in front of a private school, Green Hill. So I get to see lots of parents very nice SUVs, and kids playing lacrosse and soccer. Always fun!

5. A hawk. Yes, a red-tailed hawk. I think he lives on top of our building. Just about every day I get to see him swoop down and ride the air currents. Looks so wonderfully fun and peaceful. Maybe he's related to the holiday hawk?

6. The Weather. Everytime it rolls in, it's always fun. Rain, sleet, snow (my fave), I have a front row seat.

So that's a little bit of what I see at work everyday. Don't you all want to come and see too?

Bear Ball Date!

Hello Gang,

With a poll of potential players, the date for Bear Ball 2007 has tentatively been scheduled for Saturday, May 12.

Site to be determined!

8 Players so far!!!

Please use this post as an RSVP. When signing up, also let us know if you would like a t-shirt and what size. (designs coming soon!)

Thanks!

Bear Ball dates

What works for everyone?
Stand up and vote for your choice of dates for the First Annual Bear Ball Tournament and Picnic!

April Sat. 21 or Sun. 22
April 28 or 29
May 12 or 13
May 20

Sorry folks, May 19th has been removed from the list. It is sister and sister-in-law's birthday weekend AND I have been informed I have to work a bike ride at Texas Motor Speedway for work.

If you have the morning available, you should come out to the bike ride. It's $18 bucks a person, you get to ride on the TMS track (where the race cars go) and all proceeds go to local charities! =)

Let me know if you have any fun park location ideas. I know there is one in Coppell.

I'm excited, are you excited?

Bear Ball?

With my last post, it got me thinking. Maybe we need to organize a BearBall game, all us local old bears and our new adopted bear friends. Now as one who has NEVER played a baseball game with actual people, this would be a real event for me.

A picnic, a ball game/or rolly bat game, and friends!

Wow, I'm excited? Anyone else??? Let me know if you would be up for it!

Baseball

So some of you may have heard of my belated April Fools Joke I played on my very understanding friends the Norvells. I may have stated in a frantic phone call that Joe had been called up to play with a minor league baseball team. Now most would be, yeah right, like that would ever happen. But most people don't have a husband who has a "sick slider" or a 90mph fast ball.

We have been working, praying and playing for a chance just like what I fibbed about, and we're still pursuing that dream. Last week Joe had the opportunity to try out for the new Intercontinental baseball league starting up right here in the Metroplex. With a great showing, he was offered a spot, BUT then we learned that it would be an all-week commitment for about 3- 4 months, with a 2-week training period. While that is contrary to what the league chairman first told Joe, we are still hoping for a compromise that will allow Joe to possibly be a floater for the teams.

So keep us in your prayers, get your gloves ready and maybe, just maybe, we can watch my sexy hubby play some ball!

PLAY BALL Y'ALL!!

No TV

Lately Joe and I have been forgoing the normal TV crap for some of our favorite old shows we recently bought on DVD - Five Mile Creek and Christy. We really have enjoyed sitting down to dinner and enjoying a good show we know we won't have to worry about gratuitous sex or violence and that actually carries some sort of moral.

We have also been putting together a puzzle too (CSI, with a hidden message). Now writing this, I am beginning fear that we sound like old farts. BUT I really have enjoyed it and come off a little less stressed.

Any one else have any shows to recommend?

Happy....

Happy Birthday Lydia! Wishing you a wonderful 25th year!

New Kicks!

Let me tell you how excited I am about my newest accessory! I have wanted them for so long, but couldn't find them in my size. I had some as a kid and LOVED them, but they sadly bit the dust at the Heritage Festival on some stupid ride where they got ripped when I was getting off.

But here they are, and on my feet no less. My very on new pair of Chuck Taylor black Converse All+Stars! YEA!!!!

Fun Night Out on the Town

Last night we had a great time! To begin Joe's birthday week extravaganza, we decided on dinner and a movie.

My almost-25-year-old hubby, his 'rents and myself began our evening with the fine cuisine from Anamia's, a local fav of ours. We then proceeded to the theatre to watch Astronaut Farmer - where we also loaded up on soda and popcorn - it was AWESOME!!!

I rushed to our theatre to claim our seats in the sea of movie goers, as there often is on a Saturday, and was greated by TWO smiling faces. So, the six us of has a delightful showing of a rather well-crafted movie. Full of inspiration, cheesy Texas overexagurations and Bruce Willis' comb-over. We'd give it about a 7/8 out of 10.

Then, our night continued to Marble Slab. It was amazing...I hadn't had Marble Slab in FOREVER!!! And we topped it off with a quick round of Apples to Apples, where Keanu Reeves and Darth Vader both appeared.

It was a great night and a great kick-off to birthday week! (We like to get all the bang for our buck as we can get!)

Happy Birthday to Joe, John and Lydia..whew! a busy week!!

Here's a message in a bottle for you...

GUESS WHO'S GOING TO SEE STING AND THE POLICE!!!!

Haahaaa!!! Yes that is right the O'Briens and the Pate. Jennifer, Joe and I will be enjoying the the sights and sounds of The Police reunion tour Wed., June 27!

Can you say SUPER EXCITED!!! =)

Goin' home

Well, this weekend the Dallas children, Jennifer, Joe and I, are going home to Houston, to celebrate our Mommy's birthday and to have fun food and hang out on the couch and not do laundry or cook. What bliss!

Can I tell that I consistantly feel like I am drowning in laundry. We thankfully have the blessing of our own washer and dryer, so that helps -- but it is always there -- dirty waiting to be cleaned, cleaned waiting to be folded, clean waiting to be ironed (ick!) and worst of all, all waiting to find their place in our cramped little closet or hamper.

I would like to blame most of it on Joe. I don't know why, but it seems boys go through laundry 10 times faster than girls. But, I am sure I contribute to some of it...I guess...maybe...a sock or two...occasionally...

AND also in this grand "going home adventure," we are taking a swing by our old stomping grounds of the Golden Triangle. Our old church is having it's 100-year Anniversary on Sunday and we're going down to go to church, possibly see old friends, eat at La Suprema and show Joe where I grew up.

This is very exciting for me, as Joe has never seen, only heard, of where I hail from. I do however have mixed feelings that he will disapprove or think it silly where and how I grew up. I know he won't really...but it's still there.

So, wish us luck as we journey home, I'm sure we're in for some "fun!"

So true...

Yesterday, Joe and I made a pilgramige to Hallmark to buy several cards for upcoming events. While there, I saw a cute little mug boasting what surely had to be my mantra...

If you know me at all this goes right along with my wish to occasionally go live in a hole...something that has sounded quite tempting for the last few weeks.

Anyone else have a personal mantra or favorite saying?

Happy V-Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, friends.

Prayer and Support

Thank you for your prayer and support for my friend Jennifer's mom, Nancy Jefferson. Just wanted to pass along that she did pass away this weekend and her funeral is today. Please continue to lift up her family as they are mourning the loss of their mother, wife and friend.

It has been eye-opening the past few months as we have gone through the loss of Joe's aunt to cancer and now with my friend's mother also to cancer. It is a very unforgiving and constantly changing disease that still has so many unknowns about it. One thing that I can say I have learned through some of this saddness in our family is to truly rely on God. He is there, his truths are in the Word and He and he alone is the one true comfort.

Joe and I have recently joined a group at church, a Toolbox class, entitled something like understanding God's truths. I am so excited, because I have felt for a while that I had lost quite a bit of my knowledge and understanding in God when I got into the "real world." It is a tough, scary, unforgiving place most of the time and I am excited about reviewing these things that God has given to us to get us through.

It's tough. I feel beat down most of the time. But I know I couldn't do it at allo without him, my Joey and my family and friends. Thanks!

Retirement!

Well, I've turned 25, gotten married and have a semi-real drive, so obviously we should be thinking about retirement, correct?


Joe and I are in the process of finding out what we're really worth, making goals and figuring out how we'll make our money get us to retirement. Now the really neat/scary thing is that we have planned for me to retire at 28! 28 you say? Before you get your panties in a twist, no we are not insanely rich, we have made the insane discision to hopefully have kids one day and I get to stay home with them.

Now I know it is 2007 and women don't have to just be stay-at-home mommies, but I really want to. My mom stayed at home with us while we were growing up and I think it was such a great blessing and we would like to do the same for our kids. Now does this mean I will never work again, um, yeah right...remember the demise of social security we keep hearing about...trust me I'll be back.

But, when we really do get to retirement, what will the O'Briens do? Some of the ideas include moving to Santa Fe and Joe starting up a woodworking shop, opening a sports facility for inner-city kids, Leanna creating a business with her buddy, Lydia, opening an animal shelter, moving to the coast, moving to the mountains, moving to the mountainous coast! ha!

Well, you get the picture. There are a lot of things we want to do when we grow up and we're excited about discovering how we can get there soundly and quickly!

Any one else out there with aspirations for retirement?

Happy Birthday Pictures

Here are a few pictures from our fun party...

A Quarter Century

Yep, that's right! As we hunker down, curl up and try to stay warm during DFW's arctic blast, I get to celebrate my 25th birthday.

Well, it has been great. My parents braved the weather and drove in on Friday, we had fun, we laughed, and most important, I got presents! =) j/k!

One of my favorite things we did this weekend was host a murder mystery party, kindly held at the home of Joe's parents. We all arrived at the Deadwood Saloon for some gambling, food and murder. Our friend Allan sadly died and it was my own father, aka Montgomery Money who committed the foul deed! A true night of laughs! Hopefully we can show pictures soon!

Well, I am off to enjoy the rest of my birthday day with my wonderful hubby by our fire reading, watching football (Joe) and drinking hot chocolate!

(On a side note: it iced and snowed the day I was born too -- in Southeast Texas of all places!! -- what a trooper my mom was!)

Happy Happy Holidays

This year I got to share Christmas with my bestest friend, my husband, my love -- Joe!

I had so much fun with family and friends. We spent the holidays in Houston with my family. We enjoyed the Christmas train across the street at our neighbors (with 50+ of our closest friends), we had tamales, we had cajun chowder, we got to experience the new preacher at our parents' church (talk about trial by fire on Christmas!), we opened so many lovely gifts, we watched movies, some of us got sick! (me), I found out my friend got engaged!!!!! (CONGRATS DINA!!), and we celebrated the birth of our Savior.

I can't think of a better way to spend the holidays...unless you were going to give me more time off, which I would readily accept by the way.

So in the spirit of giving, I would like to include the awesome recipe my mom prepared over the break! Enjoy!!

Cajun Corn Chowda'

Ingredients:
2 – 12 oz bags Crawfish tails
1 – stick Margarine
1 pint Half & Half – Non Fat
8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese – Fat Free
1/4 cup Green onions – chopped
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
2 cans Potato soup
2 cans Niblet whole corn
1 can Rotelle Original diced tomatoes
Salt
Black Pepper

Directions:
1. Spray a relatively large pot with Pam.
2. Add the two bags of crawfish tails, stick of margarine, and chopped green onions.
3. Sauté for ~ 10-minutes in the large pot over medium heat.
4. Add the 8-oz of cream cheese, 1-can of cream of mushroom soup, 2-cans of potato soup, 2-cans of niblet corn, 1-can of Rotelle tomatoes, and 1-pint of half & half.
5. Cook … bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer the chowder for at least 20-minutes.
6. Add to taste … little salt, little black pepper, and a dash of red pepper.

Eat:
Best enjoyed when shared with friends or family!

Serves:
15 people … can easily be doubled.

Merry Christmas

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

Wishing you and your families a most blessed Christmas. May you feel His peace and guidance as we celebrate the birth of our Savior this holiday. And may Santa leave no lumps of coal in your stockings! =)

Merry Christmas,
Leanna