Thursday Thirteen #10

(This image provided by Samulli.)

I'm in a bit of a hurry this week (I should really be in bed right now), but I wanted to write and post my Thursday 13 before I forgot. I wanted to keep it simple, so I decided to go with books I want to read. However...there are a lot of books I want to read. I use Goodreads to keep track of books I've read and books I want to read. I currently have 106 books on my "to read" shelf on Goodreads, and I typically add at least a couple books to this list every week. So I had my wonderful husband give me 13 random numbers between 1 and 106, and that determined which 13 books to put on my list.

So...here are 13 Random Books on my "To Read" List:

1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo

2. Little Earthquakes, by Jennifer Weiner

3. The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, by Eva Rice

4. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

5. Rose House: a Novel, by Tina Ann Forkner

6. Into the Wild, by John Krakauer

7. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, by John Krakauer

8. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon

9. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: a Novel, by Lisa See

10. Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork

11. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford

(*I'm actually currently #126 on the holds list for this one. That's down from #157.)

12. Perestroika, by J.L. Willis

13. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

Like I said, this is just a very small sampling of the books on my list. Have you read any of these? Do you have any recommendations for me that I should add to my ever-growing list of books that I should read?

Thursday Thirteen #9

(This image provided by Samulli.)

Last week, I took some time writing my Thursday 13 post, and then I headed over to the group website to post my link. That's when I first learned that Megan, one of the women in charge of the group website, was getting married last weekend, and everyone was encouraged to post wedding-themed 13 lists. I didn't want to scrap the post I'd already written, so I decided to save the wedding-themed list for this week. So here are 13 Things About Our Wedding.

1. We knew going into it that the date we picked wasn't going to be overly convenient. We were married on December 21, 2007. Yes, that was the Friday before Christmas. But we were engaged in April, and the Archdiocese of Denver requires couples to be engaged for at least 8 months...so that put us in December. And I didn't want to wait until the end of the school year, so we were married on the first day of winter break.

2. It snowed on our wedding day. I woke up to sunny, blue skies, but the snow started falling by noon. By the time the storm was over, the town where the wedding was held got about 8 inches of snow.

3. Because of the afore-mentioned snowstorm, our ceremony was delayed by about 15 minutes to allow more people to arrive. As it was, a number of our guests were late to the ceremony, and a few of them didn't make it to the ceremony at all and went straight to the reception site. And yet almost every one of our guests made it eventually. I think two couples decided not to try the slick roads.

4. The girls and I had planned on getting to the church around 10:00am to start decorating and to get ready there. We were informed at the rehearsal (the night before the wedding) that we weren't allowed in the church until 3:00pm. I had to reschedule our photographer, florist, and hairstylist via phone on our way to the rehearsal dinner. But everything worked out. My hairstylist came to my apartment instead of the church, and the others just came a little later than planned.

5. Shawn's brother (the Best Man) forgot my wedding band at Shawn's house (which was about 45 minutes away from the church in good weather). Fortunately, Shawn's landlords were good family friends, and they went to his house and found my ring and brought it to the church. They arrived about 2 minutes before we said our vows and exchanged rings.

6. We had a full Catholic Mass for our wedding, despite the fact that most of our friends and none of my family is Catholic. I thought it was beautiful and very meaningful to us.

7. Shawn and I saw each other before the wedding. When we first saw each other that day, we were completely dressed for the wedding, and it was just us and our photographer in the sanctuary at the church. I really liked that we did this...it gave us a few minutes together to just enjoy the moment, and then we didn't waste lots of time after the ceremony taking pictures.

8. We took pictures in the snow. Yes, it was cold...I was wearing a strapless dress. We actually were standing on a white blanket to keep our feet and clothes more or less dry. But the pictures are absolutely stunning!

9. We didn't use flowers at the church. We hung lanterns on each pew instead of using flowers there, and the only decor on the altar were candles and two tiny pine trees decorated with red ribbons. It was beautiful and inexpensive!10. I was sick on our wedding day. For most of the day, I was kinda drugged up on cough syrup and Sudafed. I was told that our food at the reception was really good (and I remember our taste test), but I couldn't really taste most of it that night.

11. We had two cakes. One was just a "normal" tiered wedding cake from a grocery store. It was tilting the entire night, but I didn't even notice it. The other cake was the "groom's cake." It was "sculpted" to look like a rock face we have climbed together, and there was a mini bride and groom climbing it. The chocolate cake was flavored with Guinness and the filling was flavored with Bailey's Irish Cream!

12. Our first dance was to Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawio'Ole.
13. Despite all the little hitches and hiccups, our wedding day was the most wonderful and beautiful day, and it is hands' down the happiest day of my life to date. :)

Thursday Thirteen #8

(This image provided by Samulli.)

I realized that I've dropped the ball on this lately, but I figured I'd get back into participating in the Thursday 13. Before I give this week's list, I should explain something. My dad has always loved traveling, especially to Europe. Before he met my mom, he used to spend his summers taking groups of students to Europe for weeks on end with People to People. So when my brother and I got old enough to appreciate it, the family started traveling. By the time I went to college, I had been to Europe 3 times...but I'd never been further west than Indiana. :)

So this week's list is 13 Countries that I've Visited.

1. England: This was the first European country my parents took us to, and it's the country I've visited the most often.

2. Ireland: When I was 15, I actually went on a missions trip to Ireland, so I stayed there for 7 weeks that summer.

3. Italy: I've been here 3 times. I really love Rome and Venice, but my favorite might be Assisi.

4. France: I've been to Paris twice; I'll admit it's not my favorite place. I'd be willing to try it again, though. :)

5. Germany: In 2000, I had the chance to go to Oberammergau to see their Passion Play. It's a pretty cool experience.

6. Austria: It's been awhile since I was last here, but I remember really liking Vienna.

7. Belgium: I'll admit I don't remember much about Belgium. I do remember getting some really good chocolate, and I remember driving near Flanders Field.

8. Liechtenstein: I literally spent about an hour in this country once. But seriously...the place is tiny. The entire country only has an area of 62 square miles.

9. Holland: I think I was only here once. Here's what I remember about Holland...windmills, a cheese factory, the Anne Frank attic, pictures of marijuana leaves on T-shirts.

10. Switzerland: It was in Switzerland where I first went to a snow-covered mountain in July. I threw snowballs at my dad. :)

11. Canada: I've been to Niagara Falls and Toronto with my family. I also went a couple times to Quebec to stay with a friend of mine in high school, and Shawn and I have gone just inside the border of British Columbia for rugby.

12. Mexico: My friend Leanne used to live in El Paso, Texas, and she and her husband worked as missionaries, building houses in Juarez, Mexico. I went to visit Leanne a few years ago, and she took me to the building site. It was eye opening to see the living conditions just south of the U.S. border.

13. Jamaica: We spent a week in Ocho Rios on our honeymoon! It was awesome, and we'd love to go back!

Thursday Thirteen #7

(This image provided by Samulli.)

It's Thursday again already! For this week's Thursday 13, I decided to make a list of some of my favorite things that Shawn and I have done together over the last four years.

1. Play Pool: On our first date, after eating dinner, Shawn and I played pool together for a couple of hours. We had a really fun time that night, and we still like to go play pool on special occasions as a reminder of that night.

2. Climbing 14ers: There are 54 mountains in Colorado that are more than 14,000 feet high. The first summer we were dating, Shawn and I left my apartment at 2:15am so that we could reach the summit of Gray's Peak by sunrise. In 2007, Shawn took me up Mt. Bierstadt.

3. Rock Climbing: I was really excited when I met Shawn to learn that he likes rock climbing. It was something I'd always wanted to do. Our first climb was at the Flat Irons in Boulder. My favorite place that we climb is the cliffs on North Table Mesa in Golden. I like the fact that these climbs are shorter, so that I can challenge myself on a harder route, but I don't have far to get to the top.

4. Climb Dunns River Falls: This is a waterfall in Jamaica. The riverbed makes natural steps, so you can literally climb up the waterfall...and that's in the river, not next to it. We did this on Christmas Day in 2007, on our honeymoon.

5. Snorkeling: Before we went to Jamaica for our honeymoon, I would've admitted that I'm kinda afraid of the ocean. My problem is that I get a bit freaked out when I'm in the water and can't see what might be swimming with me. So I was thrilled to find how clear the water was in Jamaica, and I was able to overcome my fear to the point that we went snorkeling! The boat took us to a reef off shore, and it was beautiful!

6. Game at Yankee Stadium: I'm the baseball fan, of course, but I think Shawn had a good time at Yankee Stadium last year, too. As much as I hate the Yankees, I can appreciate the history in New York, and the game was actually really fun.

7. Game at Fenway Park: I couldn't put one and not the other. :) We did both parks in one vacation. We couldn't say this to our friend Jarid (who is a huge Yankee fan), but we both agreed that Fenway was a nicer stadium, and that game was also really fun.

8. Sea Kayaking: This is one perk to living on the west coast. We were able to go sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands a couple years ago, and it was a great experience! We're actually planning on going again next weekend, and I'm excited to do it again.

9. Whale Watching: We did this last fall, when I came out to Seattle to visit Shawn before we'd officially moved. It was so awesome to see the Orca whales breaching out of the water. It was pretty surreal.

10. Tidepooling: I'm not sure that's really a word :), but we did this near San Francisco the day after Christmas this past year. We went to this particular beach at low tide, and it was really interesting to see all the little creatures who have made their homes in the pools that get left when the tide goes out.

11. July 4th Hike: The first year Shawn and I were dating, we decided to go for a hike on the 4th of July. Of all the places Shawn has taken me hiking, this particular trail is hands down my favorite. So we went back to hike the same trail the next 4th of July. And the next one. And the one after that. We've gone 4 years in a row now to hike the same trail, and we have tentative plans to be in Colorado for July 4th this year, too, just so we can go back to the same trail.

12. Snowshoeing: This is one of my favorite activities to do with Shawn. If I get too hot, I can usually just unzip my coat. And if I fall, I just tumble into the powder and don't get hurt. It's great. :) I also love that the snowshoes let us get to places during the winter that most hikers can't get to.

13. Napping in Central Park: The actual activity wasn't necessarily my favorite thing, but I like the memory. :) The first time we were in New York City together, we walked quite a ways from our hotel to Central Park. It was a warm, sunny fall day, so we found a rock and sat down. Eventually, we ended up sprawled out on the rock, and we accidentally both fell asleep for about an hour. We were like lizards. :)

Thursday Thirteen #6

(This image provided by Samulli.)

It's Thursday! This week's Thursday Thirteen is 13 Places We'd Like to Visit (in no particular order).

1. Ireland: I've been to Ireland twice; once for about a week with my parents, and once for about 7 weeks with a group of teenagers on a missions trip when I was 15. I absolutely love Ireland, and Shawn has never been there! We'd love to go for a couple of weeks, and just wander from town to town, maybe riding bicycles. :)

2. Italy: Again, I've been to Italy 3 times now. Twice for brief visits with my parents, and once for about 10 days with a group from my church. Italy is one of my favorite places, and I'd love to take Shawn there. I love the combination of history, religion, and wonderful food and wine!

3. Scotland: Neither of us have been here, but I from pictures I've seen, it's beautiful!

4. Peru: Shawn would love to go here for the mountains; I'd love to see Machu Picchu!

5. Chile: This is another of Shawn's big desires...to go hiking in the mountains of Chile. I think it looks beautiful, too, and I wouldn't mind doing a little hiking there, too. We've also noticed that we love just about every wine we've ever tried from Chile!

6. Belize: I've wanted to go to Belize ever since I did a project on the country for Spanish class in high school (which is ironic, considering that English is the country's official language, not Spanish). Shawn wouldn't mind a visit to this gorgeous country, either. :)

7. Australia: During college, Shawn took a year off. He bought an open-ended ticket to Australia, and flew there with nothing but $1000 and the name of a rugby team. He stayed a year. I've always wanted to go to Australia, so I'm really hoping he'll take me someday.

8. New Zealand: This is another country that we would both love to see. We're actually kind of hoping to go there for the Rugby World Cup in 2011, but money might prohibit us from going then. But we both think it's a fascinating country!

9. Jamaica: This is where we went for our honeymoon, and we'd both really love to go back. It has gorgeous beaches, but it also has lots of other fun things to do. Ideally, we'd love to be able to afford to stay at the Rockhouse Hotel. We actually called to look into going there for our honeymoon, but it was booked solid for months.

10. Hawaii: Shawn went to Hawaii with Jarid and another friend of theirs a number of years ago, but I've never been. I've heard nothing but good things about the place, so I'd love to go! Shawn has fond memories, too. :)

11. Costa Rica: I'll be honest...I'm not sure why Costa Rica makes our list. In other words, I don't really know much about the country, and neither of us has been there. But we agree that it's a place that makes our list.

12. Argentina: This is another place that Shawn would love to go to for the mountains, and I'd be happy to go with him!

13. Alaska: I think that there are things for both Shawn and me here. We could go hiking together, and if we were to go in June, then Shawn climb bigger mountains while I attend the Midnight Sun Baseball Classic (a game held every year on June 21st, with the first pitch at 10:30pm, using only natural light).

Thursday Thirteen #5

Thursday Thirteen!

For today's Thursday Thirteen, I'm going to tell you 13 Facts about Rugby. This is a sport that I'd never seen until I met Shawn, and now I love to watch it. So here are some bits of information about the game itself...I'll save the "cultural" details for some other post. :)

1. History of the game: If you really want to learn a lot about the history of rugby, click here for the Wikipedia article. However, most ruggers (aka - rugby players) will tell you that it all started with William Webb Ellis. At Rugby School in England, there is a stone that "commemorates William Webb Ellis who, with a fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the rugby game." This supposedly happened in 1823.

2. "Varieties" of rugby: The "regular" game of rugby is actually Rugby Union. However, there is Rugby League, which has a slightly different set of rules. There is also 7's Rugby, which is a much shorter game (7 minute halves) played with fewer players (7 on each team). You will also occasionally find 10's rugby, although Shawn tells me that it's typically reserved for social tournaments. The rest of this list is referring to rugby union.

3. The playing field: First of all, in rugby, it's called a "pitch." (That's actually the same for soccer, too.) From goal line to goal line, the pitch must be no more than 100 meters. The width needs to be no more than 70 meters. The goal posts (similar to American football) are 5.6 meters wide, and the bar is 3 meters above the ground.

4. Scoring: Think of a touchdown in football. It's the same basic concept here, except that the player who is in control of the ball must literally touch it down in the "try zone" in order to score. This is called a "try," and it's worth 5 points.

5. Points After Try: When a try is scored, the team gets to kick for extra points. However, unlike football, the ball is not automatically placed in front of the goal posts. The ball placement is determined by the location of the try. If the kick is good, it is worth 2 points.

6. Penalty Kicks: Sometimes, when a team commits a penalty, the other team is awarded a penalty kick. This is basically like a field goal in American football, and it is worth 3 points if it's good.

7. Positions and Numbers: There are 15 players for each team on the field during play. Each player wears a jersey with a number that corresponds to the position that he is playing. #1 - Prop; #2 - Hooker; #3 - Prop; #4 and #5 - Lock; #6 and #7 - Flanker; #8 - Number 8 (brilliant, isn't it?); #9 - Scrum half; #10 - Fly half; #11 - Wing; #12 and #13 - Center; #14 - Wing; #15 - Fullback. This shows how the players typically line up for a scrum. 8. Game length: A typically game is played in two, 40-minute halves. The game clock really doesn't stop running, with the rare exception of a very serious injury that needs to be attended to. The play itself only stops when the ball goes out of bounds, or if a penalty is committed.

9. Scrum: When the play stops because of a penalty, a scrum usually takes place. This is where the "pack" (#1-#8) of each team creates a fairly solid huddle. The packs then crouch down and at the signal from the ref, the front row of each pack begins to use their head/neck/shoulders to push on the other team's pack. The ball is put into the scrum from the side, and the players use their feet to get possession of the ball and then pass it back towards the rest of their teammates. This explains why Shawn (who plays in the front row) has had stitches across his eyebrows more than once. This is a scrum.
10. Lineout: If the ball goes out of bounds, a scrum is not used to restart play. Instead, there is a lineout. It's complicated, but basically, the team who should get the ball has a player throw the ball back in bounds. However, either team can catch the ball and retain possession. So, the teams line up parrallel with each other. When the ball is thrown (ideally, rather high in the air), the teams will lift a player (or two, depending on strategy) so that he can catch it. This is a lineout.

11. Moving the ball forward: A player can hold the ball and run with it. A player can also choose to kick the ball forward. However, a player cannot pass the ball forward. At any time, he can choose to pass the ball to a teammate. This is perfectly legal, as long as the ball is thrown behind him. Oh, and if he drops the ball, he can pick it up again, as long as the ball didn't go forward when it bounced. If that happens, it's called a knock on, and there will be a scrum (with the other team putting the ball in).

12. Being tackled: If the player is tackled, the play does not stop. The other team, of course, would like to take the ball from him and run. However, the player is allowed one motion after being tackled, and if he's smart, he'll use that motion to place the ball behind him...close to his team, and away from the other team. This is when a ruck typically takes place...but frankly, it's hard to explain and this thing is too long already. :)

13. Uniforms and protection: A rugby player will wear his team's jersey, rugby shorts (typically rather short, frankly), socks pulled up to his knees (and usually tied to stay in place), and rugby cleats. For the most part, that's it. Unlike American football, ruggers don't wear pads. Occasionally, some of the players will wear very thin protective padding on their shoulders/chests. A few players (normally the locks) will wear a scrum cap, which has a slight bit of padding...but this is to protect their ears in a scrum. It's definitely not a helmet.

So there you go! Everything you need to know in order to watch and understand the game of rugby....or at least, it's enough to get you started. :)

Thursday Thirteen #4

(This image provided by Samulli.)

It's Thursday again! For today's Thursday Thirteen, I took my computer over to our overflowing bookshelf and chose 13 Random Books on my Shelf.

1. Literary Trips: Following the Footsteps of Fame, edited by Victoria Brooks

My brother gave this to me one year for Christmas. I should admit that I've never read the whole thing, but what I have read is interesting. It really is a travel book, with "touritst" information about the various places described, but all of the places in the book were important for one reason or another to a particular author.

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I remember really loving this book when I first read it in high school, but I seriously could remember almost nothing about it. I was thrilled when it was the book chosen for my first book club meeting, and I'm glad this is one I bought instead of just borrowing it from the library.

3. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz

I bought this book over the summer based on rave reviews I had read. I did not enjoy this book. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 2008, so I'm guessing I missed something.

4. The Complete Plays of Sophocles

I'm pretty sure this is leftover from one of my college classes. So I know that I've read some of the plays, but probably not all of them.

5. The Confessions of St. Augustine, translated by Rex Warner

I did read this shortly after finishing college. I remember that I really struggled with understanding parts of it, but at that point, my goal was simply to be able to say that I'd finished it. I think I'll give it another read eventually.

6. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Ah, from theology and philosophy to chick lit. :) This was actually the first "chick lit" book I think I ever read (at least, since I learned that it had more or less become its own genre). I actually really enjoyed it. Occasionally, it's very refreshing to read something that's just "fluff" and that I don't have to concentrate on to enjoy.

7. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Since the "three" books were always intended to be read as one, I'm counting it as one book. I adore this book. The storyline is amazing, the themes are powerful, and the writing is beautiful. I loved the movies, and the book is 10 times better. I'm planning to reread it soon.

8. The Metamorphoses by Ovid

This is another leftover from a college class. However, I will say that I'm 95% sure that I actually did all of my assigned reading for that class ("Mythology" with Dr. Holmes, freshman year), so I'm pretty sure I've read the entire book.

9. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

I read this book for senior year AP English Lit. I fell in love with George Eliot, and I chose to write my "regular" senior English paper on the symbolism in this book. This is another one I need to reread.

10. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi

I have to admit that I didn't love this book nearly as much as I was hoping I would. I wonder if it's at least partially because I hadn't read a lot of the books that she was using as references. Maybe I'll try it again someday...or at least maybe I'll read more of the books that were so powerful in her life.

11. Three by Flannery O'Connor (This is actually a collection that contains Everything That Rises Must Converge, The Violent Bear It Away, and Wise Blood.)

I first discovered O'Connor when I did a research paper on her life and works in 10th grade English. I was on a big "anything Irish is wonderful" kick, and when I saw the name on the list of authors to choose from, I assumed she was Irish (I also assumed she was a man...I learned a lot by writing that paper). This book was another from senior year AP Lit. I love O'Connor's writing.

12. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

This is another one that I read and struggled through and yet enjoyed. Again, I should read it again one of these days.

13. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I read this a few years ago when I was on a summertime "must read difficult classics" kick. I did really like this book...I just wonder if I would've enjoyed it more if it hadn't been preceeded that summer by The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James and Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. (And yes, this was also my way of getting two more books from my shelf on this list.) :)

Thursday Thirteen #3

(This image provided by Samulli.)

It's official!! In places like Goodyear, Arizona, and Winter Park, Florida, pitchers and catchers reported to spring training this morning, signalling the official start of Major League Baseball. So for this week's Thursday Thirteen, I give you:

13 Reasons I Love Baseball!

1. Cleveland Indians: If you don't know by now that I love Cleveland Indians baseball, you obviously haven't been paying much attention to this blog. :)
2. History of the game: My earliest memory of baseball is watching a game on TV with my grandpa and trying to figure out the concept of balls and strikes. I love the fact that when I watch a game, it's really not much different than what generations of Americans have been watching. There has been some form of organized, professional baseball in this country since 1857, and I think that's pretty cool. (For the record, the Cleveland Indians began in 1901, but there's been professional baseball in Cleveland since 1869.)
3. Tradition: I love the tradition of the game...the ceremonial first pitch, the Seventh Inning stretch, and of course, singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
4. Food: Of course, you can always get peanuts and cracker jacks at a game. But I love stadium hot dogs! And I often get nachos, peanut M&Ms, ice cream.......you get the idea.
5. Sounds: This might sound strange, but I love just listening to the sounds that fill a baseball stadium. There's music and cheering, of course, and the vendors hawking their wares. But I truly love the sound a ball makes when it slams into a player's glove. Or the crack of the bat when someone makes good contact with the ball. Even the calls from the umpire add something to the symphony at a stadium.
6. Stadiums: I love the fact that every Major League baseball stadium is different. Sure, the infield is the same...90 feet from base to base, and 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate to the pitcher's mound. But the outfield is fair game. For example, did you know that Minute Maid Park (home of the Houston Astros) has both a 30 degree uphill slope and a flag pole within the field of play in center field? I'd love to some day see a game in every MLB stadium.
7. Rivalries: This might sound strange, but there are just certain teams that I love to hate. I do hold grudges agains the Braves, the Marlins, and the Red Sox, but I really need one of those T-shirts that say "My two favorite teams are the Indians and whoever's playing the Yankees."
8. Mascots and Entertainment: I love that a lot of the teams have fairly entertaining mascots. The Indians have Slider, the Phillies have the Phillie Fanatic, and the Rockies have Dinger the dinosaur. I'd also love to see the sausage race at a Brewers game someday.
9. Heroes: Over the years, a number of baseball players have been given almost heroic status for things they accomplished. The best example is probably Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, who was killed in a plane crash. The plane he was on was headed to Nicaragua, full of relief supplies for survivors of a terrible earthquake.
10. Suspense: A lot of critics of baseball say that it's boring. I say that it's filled with suspense. With every single pitch, almost anything can happen, and that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
11. Comebacks: On August 5, 2001, the Cleveland Indians trailed the Seattle Mariners, 14-2 in the 7th inning. The Indians ended up winning that game, 15-14, in 11 innings. I love watching a game when a team comes back from a deficit to win.
12. Anything is possible: It ain't over till it's over. Ever. This might mean a single game, an entire season, or an entire franchise. In 2007, Tampa Bay was the worst team in baseball. In 2008, Tampa Bay was the 2nd best team in baseball and won the American League Championship. Anything is possible for any team, any time.
13. Baseball is a survivor: I know...this sounds strange. But the sport of baseball is a survivor. Professional baseball in the U.S. has survived 2 World Wars. It has survived gambling controversies such as those surrounding Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose. It has survived the Barry Bonds/Roger Clemens/Mark McGwire/A-Rod drug scandals. I know it doesn't have quite the following that it used to have, but baseball has survived a lot. America's Pastime isn't going anywhere.

Thursday Thirteen #2

(This image provided by Samulli.)

I took a walk today around the lake by our apartment. I love these walks for a couple reasons. First of all, it's great to just get outside and enjoy the area while getting a little exercise. But it also provides me with about 45 minutes of uninterrupted thinking. Among other things, today I took the time to appreciate some of those simple little things in life that make me happy. These are things that don't take much (if any) effort on my part, and these are things that cost me nothing. So for today's Thursday Thirteen, I have a list of:

13 Simple Pleasures

1. Seeing Shawn every day. After spending close to 3 years with him traveling back and forth between Seattle and Colorado, I can't help but smile every time he walks through the door after coming home from work.
2. Drinking coffee while still in my pajamas. I know that having that relaxed, quiet time in the morning isn't going to last, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can!
3. Reading my friends' status updates on Facebook. I love that a silly little website like Facebook allows me to feel connected to my friends who are spread out all over the country.
4. Touching a rock and feeling the sun's warmth. This is especially true on a cool day. I completely understand why snakes like to sun themselves on rocks.
5. Noticing very small flowers. Today, I noticed that some bushes near the apartment complex entrance have begun to bloom. They're tiny, but they're there. I also love the itty bitty alpine flowers that grow near the summit of the mountains where we hike in Colorado.
6. The smell of pine trees. Ponderosa pines are my favorite, but most varieties smell pretty darn good. The smell is especially good after a rain.
7. Breathing in cold air when I'm bundled up enough to stay warm. This is most noticeable on snowshoeing days!
8. Appreciating unique scenery wherever I go. Shawn and I agree that we miss the beauty of Colorado. However, Washington is beautiful, too! It's just different...different landscape, different climate, different varieties of trees and bushes. We see things here that we'll never see in Colorado.
9. The salty/fishy smell of Puget Sound. This might sound strange, but I love that smell. It lets me know that I'm close to the water, and I like to think about what's out there beyond what I can see.
10. The familiar prayers of Mass. Part of what drew me to the Catholic Church is the ritual. I love knowing that it doesn't matter where I am, if I go to Mass, I'll know the prayers. They may even be in a different language, but they're there.
11. Hearing from a friend. It doesn't matter if it's a phone call, an email, or a comment on my Facebook status (or this blog!)...I just love hearing from friends unexpectedly.
12. Watching snow fall. Watching the snow flakes fall to the ground always gives me a feeling of calm and peace. Unless I know I have to drive in it soon...but let's focus on the positive, shall we?
13. The sound of dirt and rocks under my feet when I'm walking outside. I'll admit that I wasn't a huge nature lover before I met Shawn. But I really, honestly do enjoy being outside. And there's something satisfying about this sound...whether I'm hiking up a mountain with Shawn or walking down the side of a street alone.

Thursday Thirteen

My friend Emily often does a "Thursday 13" blog post. I thought it was a great idea today, and when I took the time to do a little googling, I discovered the "official" Thursday Thirteen blog! So today, I'm giving it a try.

13 Things I Really Need To Do:

1. Take down our Christmas decorations. (Yes, I'm blushing.)
2. Register for and take the "content area test" that the state of Washington requires for me to be allowed to teach here after this school year.
3. Request a copy of my Praxis test scores from college...so that I don't have to take these tests again (for my WA certification).
4. Finish the laundry.
5. Work on my crocheted blanket.
6. READ! I have 300 pages left in The Stand, and I just picked up 4 books from the library yesterday. I think I have another one that needs to be picked up today or tomorrow. (I requested these books at random times over the last few months...they all came in at the same time.)
7. Organize/clean the second bedroom.
8. Get outside and take a walk.
9. Put the license plates on my car. (They've been in my car for almost two months now.)
10. Balance the checkbook.
11. Call a few friends I haven't talked to in awhile.
12. Finish making arrangements for my trip to Colorado for the Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer.
13. Organize our papers and files.