Up 2 games to none for the Red Sox... yay!

I think what I am enjoying most is the fact that so many Cubs and Phillies fans have also become Sox fans in this series. Cubs fans, of course, always route for the loveable underdogs; Phillies fans hate the Cards for a number of reasons.

My daughter has really gotten into learning this game (baseball) and we do math problems based on game facts (Sanders has one strike, how many more strikes does he need to get out?) She gets both the math and the game rules right every time - I am impressed! I also watched some football with her today; that is taking a bit longer to learn but she has some of the basics down which is cool.

When I was a kid, I was raised as a ravenous Penn State fan (both parents are alums).

Eagles were cheered for gingerly at family get-togethers, as my grandad used to bet on football and we never knew how he bet so no one ever wanted to jinx a game! I think I was 7 years old when I asked at a family dinner, out loud, "Mom, what's a BOOKIE?"

Eagles squeaked by in OT today...geeze, kinda like my Cardiac Cats    have done a number of times this season.  They lost (but put up a decent fight) against heavy-duty Wisconsin yesterday.

I am having more and more success with my bird feeding station.

Last night we had not just our usual pair (m/f) of cardinals visit at dusk, but a small FLOCK of them: three males and two females.

Today, my daughter and I spied a new visitor, and quite an attractive one: A white crowned sparrow (see specimen picture below)

If you have not had success at your feeder, you may want to keep trying and be CONSISTENT. Keep it filled and common birds will take note. Their activity will be noticed by other birds in the area and soon you will have a variety of species to watch. Another option or addition is a birdbath , but again, be sure (at least in warm months) to dump out the water each day and refill it to prevent mosquito and/or algae growth. I also use a scrub brush from the dollar store to remove any bird poop, algae, etc, before I refill it.

I am glad I remarked that Damon was in a "slump" of sorts because, of course, tonight he was a Demon!!!!!  1 grand slam and then later, a 2-run homer...wowsa!

Plus, some kickin' fielding.

And, as I remarked in my last post, he has this sweet, gentle voice, and gentlemanly demeanor.  During the post-game interviews with him, I just kept fantasizing about him on a white sandy beach in a loose, flowing shirt....oh man...what a "romantic" figure he surely makes.

And for you ladies lookin' for some cute white boy action in the Sox, I think Derek Lowe might be your ticket. Agan, with the long hair. Mmmmmmmmmm. Delish!

Gosh, last week I was all sad and menopausal and this week I am all "shook up" for these Boston guys! ;)

After avoiding it for ages (ok, a few months) last month kiddo and I saw "Pirates of the Carribean" FREE at an outdoor showing in a local park. It was a fun event and I hate to admit it (disney ain't one of my fave corporations in the world...) but I truly enjoyed it...Johhny Depp MADE it work, of course. I didn't find his persona "sexy" per se, as much as "intriguing".

Well, I think in last night's (and tonight's!) Red Sox/Yankees game I found "My Pirate" : long-maned, bearded and "exotic" Johnny Damon. Mind you, I don't find him "cute" like "oooooh, he's so CUTE *giggle giggle giggle*, but darn, his look certainly inspried imagery of billowy white shirts and golden earrings for me ! I believe Jerry Seinfeld would have him bedecked in an infamous "puffy shirt" .

And for all you NY fans, I have to admit that there are MANY men on that team with the most STRIKING green eyes...*sigh*.

Of course, both green-eyed Jeter and Damon are in hitting slumps right now...well if MLB ain't in their cards in a few years maybe they can work on a sopa opera or something?? ;)

Back in my youth I used to be quite a baseball fan...I wonder what happened? Oh yeahhhhhh....I moved to CHICAGO! (Cubs lose! Cubs lose!)

With the Astros up 3 and the Red Sox a possible entrant....what an OMINOUS and BIZARRE World Series it would be: Massachusetts vs. Texas!!!!!! Sound familiar?!?!?!?!

Red Sox WIN!!!!! WHAT a GAME!!!!!

My sister called today to tell me that her gyne confirmed that she, too, was peri-menopausal...and he's putting her on The Pill to aid her symptoms that I had last year (constant bleeding, etc.)

It is always so wierd talking to her on the phone because she and I have THE SAME VOICE. In fact, back in our younger days we used to fool people on the phone and have a good laugh about it. She is 4 years younger than me.

Right now she is doing Weight Watchers and continuing her excellent workouts at the gym. She's not terribly overweight but gained a bit after getting married a few years ago - that other "marriage penalty!" My theory is that some women gain weight after co-habitiating with a man becuase they eat meals with their partner who can, genrally speaking, usually metabolize more calories per day (men being taller/larger than most women), especially if they have physically demanding jobs. Since her hubby is a TV news photographer, he is hoisiting a HUGE camera around each shift and he burns right through the meals he eats. Her cooking and eating style changed and in 2 years she had gained almost 20 lbs! She's halfway to taking it all off, and I am really proud of her. In fact, since I did ALL of my x-mas shopping on Friday (yes, you can hate/envy me!) I found the PERFECT gift for her. She loves quirky "boutique-style" pocketbooks/bags and I found a cute Lulu Guinness mini-tote with the fun, colorful print on it (and reduced plus an additonal 70% off!!!yeah!). Now what makes it perfect is that the print depicts little squares each of a different color featuring an illustration of a food. For example it will have text stating "Egg" , a picture of an egg, and then more text stating "200 calories" ! Its meant to be funny, not "nagging" and basically shows a variety of low/moderate calorie foods and their calorie counts. I think she'll get a kick out of it...I wonder if she'll tote it with her to Weight Watcher meetings?

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and sentiments. I decided, after doing some research, to go ahead with a black cohosh and soy-based supplement from Natrol, which is a company that makes my fave PMS supplement (Natrol's PMS Control). Its a products called "Complete Balance" and you take one caplet in the morning and one tablet at night (nighttime pill has melatonin.). Well, I have to say I took the PM pill 30 min before my intended bedtime and I was genuinely drowsy for the first time in a while...but then I ended up waking at 6am this morning ;)

Luckily for my budget, the Natrol products were "buy one, get one free" at my local Walgreen's so I hope it works out well for me. If nothing else, the "am formula" of the pill has a b-complex and calcium which I take normally anyway, so it won't be a total loss if the black cohosh doesn't ease symptoms.

I may have blogged about this before but...

my post-debate pet-peeve:

Uhhh, will someone PLEASE inform W that the word is NUCLEAR: New-clee-ar. If Herman Munster can get it right why can't you?!?!?!

A few weeks ago, I decided to setup a feeding station for my backyard birds that would be visible from my daughter's bedroom window. I located a 4-hook shepherd's crook and hung up a "tradtional" house-style 2-sided birdfeeder with seed and sunflower, a suet feeder and a finch "sock" with nyjer and millet.