Ghost Writer

Does anyone else remember that show? It was on PBS I think and was basically awesome. I'm seriously considering walking around with a pen tied 'round my neck like they did... anything to help my new occupation.

I'm branching out at work to find new ways to cover some of the Cavs community relations initiatives and thought to bring my passion for blogging to the mix... check it out to read about this truly awesome event we did with Flashes of Hope Wednesday night. The team participated in it last year as well, and it is by far my favorite event. I'd really like to volunteer with this organization in the future, such a fantastic thing they do for pediatric cancer patients. If you want to learn more about Flashes of Hope you can check it out here, and make sure you watch one of their videos with tissue near by. I haven't made it through one yet.

Highs and Lows of Rox

I was just running around in circles in the driveway with Rocky nipping and barking at me... GO ROCKIES!! I love this stuff, seriously!

*update 30 mere minutes later*
...and just as quickly my heart is broken a little and I sit here sad and frustrated. ugh. the only solice I take was that I didn't spend $$ to fly home to watch the games that were delayed first, and lost second. UGH. at least the Red Sox are out too.

Happy Rocktober!

WAHOOO!! Rockies are in the playoffs!! Time to start looking for flights with crossed fingers it works out for me to go home for a game! Everytime I'm pregnant, they make it to playoffs... a sacrifice I'm willing to keep making for a run to the World Series. haha! I'm so excited right now!

rocky mountain girl at heart

I got an email this week from the Rockies with information how to buy post-season tickets... I feel another trip to Colorado in the fall! We're ready for ROCKTOBER!!

I was pregnant with Bella when the Rockies went to the playoffs in 2007,
if all goes according to plan, she'll always be a Rox fan... in her from the start!

MVP

I got a chance to sneak a picture with LeBron's MVP trophy! I could barely hold it, it's heavy!

here's hoping the MVP takes care of things tonight... we've won three in a row before! literally though, I'm so nervous I may be making myself sick. ugh.

frickin frustrated

UGH. I'm so frustrated right now! I preface this by saying I really sincerely still think the Cavs are going to win this series and move on to the Finals, but that doesn't mean I'm not border-line depressed right now. To lose TWO games by such a small margin (especially with Orlando shooting ridiculous from the three-point line) is completely heartbreaking.

literally, last night I went on a run around the neighborhood after midnight to try to blow off some steam I was so riled up from the overtime loss and looking down the stretch 3-1 in the series. It didn't work... I realized I'm the most out of shape I've been possibly in my entire life AND the Cavs loss was still fresh in my mind. son of a $#@&! I was still up staring at the ceiling until 2:00 a.m. I got a text from my dad trying to politely remind me that it's just a game... but when it's your paycheck too it's a little different. I do get way too intense over this sort of things though. ugh.

anyway, goes without saying I'm taking a night off from basketball and will not be watching the Nuggets/Lakers game - it's getting too much. I can't handle it.

Admission: I Am a Witness

Seriously, I have no idea how I'm so genuinely lucky to have been there and seen two of LeBron's biggest games ever - I'm not a huge fan just to be a fan, in fact I usually don't like the superstar simply because everyone else idolizes them so much and I can't seem to figure out the reason (case and point: I don't like Kobe and I hate the Celtics) - but there is no denying he's ridiculous. Countless times each season I'm literally laughing because I can't believe something I just saw him do.

Last night's game... I've never gone from depression to euphoria so quickly ever in my life. Everyone in Cleveland was completely deflated as we waited for that one second. and then AMAZING HAPPENED...

Justin took his dad to the game and described the the moment we won - "we jumped up like little school girls, legs kicked back and all, and gave a double adult high five" HA! I guess Mo coined it perfectly when he said all swagger goes out the window after something like that!

I also got to go to Detroit for the Eastern Conference Finals in 2007 when LeBron had that ridiculous 4th quarter and double overtime victory... ridiculous.

Bring Out The Broom

Cavs Sweep! On to Round Two!

Best part about it is they're the only team to do it so we have an entire week before the next game, lots of deep breaths for this girl, and not to be uber corny but that's five guarenteed nights I get to be home to put Bella to bed, ALRIGHT!

Amazing Happens - HERE

not to sound hypocrticial or bandwagon, because everything I've said about Cleveland in the past, I still stand behind (sorrrry!) but when the positivie things are happening, I'm going to be pumped about that too - plus it's my job to be excited about the Cavs (not that it's hard, did you catch the last post?!) and you can buy my love; it's not like I'm not going to bite the hand that feeds me - ha!

big fan of this video released online yesterday, it totally gets you ready for the next two months (knock on wood!) Where will Amazing Happen? Believeland anyone? I really think we'll be hoisting the trophy in the highlight reel this time...

*Megan and Auntie - you can't rain on this parade with your jaded-Laker talk! Although you wouldn't have Rozum in you if you didn't try... haha! LOVE YOU ANYWAY!

It Starts...

Life has already become third round hectic at work - which is awesome and exhausting - but all worth it. I really sincerely believe this is our year!!

For those not really following basketball -

(borrowed from the PD to give an idea what this season has been like already!)
Cavaliers 2008-09 By The Numbers:
66: Franchise record for wins in a season.
39-2: Record at The Q, the best in franchise history and tied with the 1985-86 Celtics for the best-ever home record.
27-14: Road record, best in franchise history.
26-4: Record vs. Western Conference, team record.
25-1: Home record vs. Eastern Conference, NBA record.
13-3: Record vs. Central Division.
33: Years between Central Division titles.
23: Longest home win streak in team history.
13: Longest overall win streak in team history.
8: Win streaks of at least three games, most ever.
7: Player of the Week awards for LeBron James, NBA record.
3: Player of the Month awards for LeBron James, team record.
3: Coach of the month awards for Mike Brown, team record.
0: Games LeBron James and Mo Williams sat out due to injuries.

LETS GO CAVS!!

She's Gone Viral

my little belly bean was the cavs.com photo of the day. it's good to know people. haha!

- close up -

Our Little Cavs Fan

We took Bella to her first Cavs game on Sunday for the Cavs vs. Lakers game (we figured we outta go big for her first time!) and she really enjoyed the entire time... even if the refs did make a lot of bad calls and the stupid Lakers broke our undefeated home game win streak. I think she really enjoyed some people watching and all the flurry on the court - she only cried once after a big play in the game and mommy clapped really loud and startled her. oops?! All in all, a really good day with the family that she may have already forgotten, but I'll always remember!

She doesn't quite size up - yet.

a confused baby with Cavs mascot Moondog!
not as glorious as a giant purple dinosaur, but a very close 2nd!
just chillin' at my desk - she liked to spin around in the chair.
I can confirm, it truly is as fun as it looks.

the ol' pig skin

To make up for all the football I had to watch and fantasy football talk I had to pretend to be interested in last year I made Justin watch the Bachelor all season with me because my girlfriends at work and I made a fantasy bachelor league. it was hilarious, we earned points for the first girl to kiss him or get the one-on-one dates and lost points for crying or talking poo. Will you accept this rose?

This year I decided to step it up a little and accepted my cousin's invitation to play in an all-girl's fantasy football league. I figured if nothing else it would make me a cooler wife and I might make a couple dollars with a little beginners luck. Little did I know how easily this silly game consumes your life... or at least your Sundays. We haven't hurried home from church to doublecheck our rosters (yet) but it has been a big motivator in getting to the earlier service.

So far today I think we've watched about 4-5 hours of football and the Browns don't even play until tomorrow night... great. (I don't have any players left after tonight though so I might make him at least watch Gossip Girl with me between commercials. yes, I'm that girl. go ahead and judge.) I don't know anyone in my cousin's league, which probably is a good introduction to fantasy football because I get way too into this and there's potential I would seriously be mad at whoever beat me for a completely unreasonable amount of time. I'm winning by less than 20 points and she still has two players to go (doesn't paint a pretty picture for me) but I'm able to do the fantasy football dance with my husband twice tonight, made my baby girl laugh at the obsurdity and with the exception of Donovan McNabb's two interceptions and one fumble, it's surprisingly entertaining and totally worth my husband thinking I'm much cooler than I am.

Year of the Brownie

To celebrate Justin's birthday I took him to a Browns game this afternoon - Tora helped me get tickets and they were ridiculous! We were in the club level (the only way to watch a football game in my small snooty opinion) and it was one of Ohio's few sunny days. It was perfect autumn weather, not too hot not too cold, and Tora babysat Bella so we got a chance to cheer loudly, high-five complete strangers, and just spend time together. At the end of the day the Brownies blew a 17 point lead and we lost - but I'm almost used to the comical sigh of frustration that comes with being a fan of Cleveland's sports teams...

Happy Birthday J!

ROX!

she may live in Cleveland - but she knows where her heart lies...

Mandy has already provided her with some back up 3-6 month size for Rocktober!

(too bad she'll probably be 10 years old the next time that happens again!
don't call me bandwagon though, a true fan expects it!)

Rise Up!

It's my favorite part of the season - the monotony of three games a week is behind us; playing teams we have no rivalry, no history and no intensity with are irrelevant now; the bandwagon fans are out - it's playoffs baby! The Cavs are facing the Wizards in the first round for the third consecutive year (we've knocked them out of the running the first two matchups!) and although we have some rivalries that go further back, this is becoming one for the books.

It starts with one of their players calling LeBron overrated and one of his teammates foolishly blogging that they wanted the Cavs again. It continued on Saturday, in one of the more exciting playoff games I've been to in years, with elbows thrown, hard fouls distributed and the most exciting almost-fight our team's been in. The atmosphere is addicting, I made a point to really soak it all in at the game on Saturday... it's really something to be one of over 20,000 cheering for the same team, getting excited over the same players, booing the other team, jeering the refs for any and all calls that could even be considered close, and losing your voice contributing to the atmosphere. It's tiring, and makes for long days, but completley worth it to be part of this.

those were the days

I got an email from my old boss in the sports information departmennt at Geneva today--it simply said, "who is this girl? these were the days..." and included a picture he used in the track and field media guide of me preparing for one of my attempts at pole-vault and then the actual run. It's crazy because this was taken only four years ago and this girl feels a million miles away in the midst of growing everywhere and not being able to walk up a flight of stairs without feeling incredibly winded.

It's Rocktober!

I have never gone home for such a whirlwind weekend since I've moved from Colorado--but it was simply amazing! It was awesome to go home on a whim and see friends and family that I wasn't necessarily planning on seeing until I came home for a visit sometime next year. If it weren't for the completely and absolutely phenominal game and experience, that would have been my favorite part.

The Rockies game was INCREDIBLE! Whenever someone asked me how it was all I can do is repeat "incredible". Working with the Cavs I've been around the excitement of playoffs and the thrill of victory, but that was more of a spectator because I'd only been cheering for this team for a few years. So when the same thing was happening for my favorite team ever it was so much sweeter! Our seats weren't that great, but everyone we were surrounded by was so much fun, by the end of the night we were high-fiving and hugging like we've been best friends for years! I couldn't fall asleep that night because I was so excited and then I started thinking about how the Rockies could potentially play the Cleveland Indians in the World Series and I'd get to see my men in purple play again!!

I would love to act humble, but it was no suprise how many people loved our sign! We got stopped throughout the game for people to take a picture of it or with it. We even made it on the jumbotron, yeah we're those girls! haha!

Real Men Wear Purple

I'm a little ashamed that I've had this fantastic new blog for almost an entire month and I haven't posted anything. When I saw I had a missed call from Jenn (my friend who was generous enough to get this blog design for me!) I was almost certain she was going to take it back! For every journal and diary I've ever had from six years-old on had to have this thoughtful and weighted first entry so if it's ever found and needs to be published like Anne Frank's, they'll be impressed from the start... some call me dramatic, I don't know where they get that. haha!

Enough waiting though, I can't think of a better reason to post then to brag and cheer that my favorite team in the entire world (all sports included, which is no small feat because I'm a sports fanatic!) just made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1995--and the best part is I think we'll actually do really well! The Rockies won 12 of 13 to make it to an all-or-nothing-do-or-die game against the Padres to get the Wild Card and make it to playoffs. It's lonely being the only Rockies fan in Ohio, but I did 'Rado proud and lost my voice by the 3rd inning and stayed up for the entire five hour 13 inning emotionally-exhausting victory! WE'RE GOING TO PLAYOFFS!! It gets better, I'm going home for the first home game! My friend Mandy was generous enough to give me some of their frequent flier miles so I'm going to be home for a whirlwind 48 hour weekend trip to cheer on my men in purple! For those of you curious, here's what we look like when we're ridiculously stoked that we've just made it to playoffs: