I've been a Rangers fan my whole life. Seriously, all 29 years, 1 month, and 6 days. The Rangers have always been my team. I'm a hometown fan, I love the Rangers, the Mavs, the Stars, and the Cowboys. As some of you know, it hasn't always been easy being a Rangers fan. Although, after a while you get used to the disappointment. I've witnessed some great Rangers moments in my time. I saw Pudge's first game when he was 19, he was so cute :) I saw Nolan throw no-hitters, and I saw Kenny Rogers perfect game, which included an amazing catch by Rusty Greer.I was in the stands when Nolan Ryan showed a young Robin Ventura that age is just a number and you don't try to fight a guy who throws a baseball 100 mph. I have cheered for countless players with Texas across their chests, some you know, some you may not. Geno Petralli, Rafael Palmeiro, Steve Buechele, of course Nolan Ryan, Pudge Rodriguez, Will Clark, Mark McLemore, even though he took over for my favorite player growing up-Jeff Frye. For those who care, Jeff is now Ian Kinsler's agent, so let's all tell him thank you! Can't forget Rusty Greer, Juan GON-ZALEZ, Kenny Rogers, Gabe Kapler, and Darren Oliver, both the first time he played here, and now. We went to the playoffs in 1996, 1998, and 1999 but never made it out of the first round, losing to the Yankees all three times. But that was the past, and it's over now.
A few posts ago, in the off season, I wrote a blog about how I didn't understand all the moves the Rangers were making and how I was afraid they were messing up the great team they had put together. Last year was pretty good and things seemed to be heading in the right direction. I was devastated for the second time in my life that they let my all time favorite player Pudge go to another team, among other moves I didn't agree with at the time. A few days after that post, things started coming together and their decisions became clearer. I went to the final Spring Training game of the year at the ballpark with Nicki and Erin, and I said then, and Nicki will back me up, that I thought this team would make it to the World Series.
This season has obviously been amazing. I have watched a lot of sports in my lifetime and I have never seen a team as close as this one. It's amazing the talent and the class that Jon Daniels was able to assemble with no money and a team in bankruptcy court. If he doesn't win executive of the year, something is seriously wrong. It was one of my happiest moments as a sports fan to see Michael Young's smile after the Rangers clinched the A.L. West. The unofficial captain, the guy who stayed when he didn't have to and has always led by example, finally got to realize his dream. No one deserved to be in the playoffs more than him, and his team's love and respect for him was awesome to watch. There are a million different storylines on this team; the manager who could have been fired for cocaine use but was given a second chance, the inexperience of our young kids who played such a vital role in the success of the team, the "natural", Josh Hamilton who has overcome serious drug and alcohol abuse and is an amazing example of what God's love can do. This team is truly that, a team. Out of respect for Hamilton's past, and CJ Wilson's straightedge lifestyle, after winning the Division series and the Championship series they had a ginger ale celebration so everyone could be included. They still popped the champagne, but that was later, after making sure that Josh and CJ got to celebrate too. This run through the playoffs has made baseball fans out of people who never watched a single game before. I always thought I'd be the 100 year old lady in the stands when my team finally made the World Series, but here I am at 29 years, 1 month, and 6 days old and in less than two hours my Texas Rangers will play in their first World Series game. It's an awesome feeling. I have my claw and antlers ready! It's Time! Rangers in 5...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
On my mind...
Where to start...
This is the last week of regular classes, and then exams start on the 12th. I am very ready to be done with Biology, but it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I am glad that I only had to deal with it for a month, although that's a lot of learning crammed into a short period of time, which tends to add to the difficulty level. Both of my professor's are extremely intelligent, it's obvious in the way they speak. They are very different, seeing as how one is like 27 and the other is probably in his 40's, but you can tell they are both very smart. My lab professor, the older one, is quite funny and very soft spoken. Combine that with his accent and he is very hard to understand sometimes. He said something the other day though, that really made me think. He said there are no smart or dumb people in the world, only prepared and unprepared. He was telling us that there is a certain way the brain learns things, and that like anything else, you have to train it. He said focus is the most important part of learning, and that once you can train your brain to really focus, you can learn even the most difficult things very quickly. I'm paraphrasing here, his explanation was much more detailed and made a lot of sense. The problem is learning how to really focus. I have a hard time with that, and I'm not sure how you go about training yourself to really focus, but I'm going to see if I can figure it out.
I heard a quote the other day that I really liked. It said something like, the most successful people are not always the most talented, but the most passionate. Again, I'm paraphrasing. So I guess the key is to figure out what you're passionate about and make that your career. It's harder than it sounds. I think I know what I really and truly am passionate about and what I want to do with the rest of my life, but I keep talking myself out of it. Whether it's fear of failure, or a lack of belief in myself, I'm not sure, but something keeps holding me back. I think in the end, it's going to be pointless to go to school and end up back in a job I don't have any heart for. If that's the end game, I might as well just bail on the school thing and get into a job I hate now. It would just save me the increasing financial aid debt. It would be amazing to wake up everyday and go to a job that you love, to get to be a part of something everyday that makes a real difference, something that you really believe in. I have some ideas, and I know the path that I have to take to make these things a reality. For now, I'm going to keep them to myself, but I think it's time to stop lying to myself and start down the path I really want to be on. It's not going to be easy, but the best things never are. So I'll leave you with my new motto, and new favorite quote...
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible". -Audrey Hepburn
This is the last week of regular classes, and then exams start on the 12th. I am very ready to be done with Biology, but it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I am glad that I only had to deal with it for a month, although that's a lot of learning crammed into a short period of time, which tends to add to the difficulty level. Both of my professor's are extremely intelligent, it's obvious in the way they speak. They are very different, seeing as how one is like 27 and the other is probably in his 40's, but you can tell they are both very smart. My lab professor, the older one, is quite funny and very soft spoken. Combine that with his accent and he is very hard to understand sometimes. He said something the other day though, that really made me think. He said there are no smart or dumb people in the world, only prepared and unprepared. He was telling us that there is a certain way the brain learns things, and that like anything else, you have to train it. He said focus is the most important part of learning, and that once you can train your brain to really focus, you can learn even the most difficult things very quickly. I'm paraphrasing here, his explanation was much more detailed and made a lot of sense. The problem is learning how to really focus. I have a hard time with that, and I'm not sure how you go about training yourself to really focus, but I'm going to see if I can figure it out.
I heard a quote the other day that I really liked. It said something like, the most successful people are not always the most talented, but the most passionate. Again, I'm paraphrasing. So I guess the key is to figure out what you're passionate about and make that your career. It's harder than it sounds. I think I know what I really and truly am passionate about and what I want to do with the rest of my life, but I keep talking myself out of it. Whether it's fear of failure, or a lack of belief in myself, I'm not sure, but something keeps holding me back. I think in the end, it's going to be pointless to go to school and end up back in a job I don't have any heart for. If that's the end game, I might as well just bail on the school thing and get into a job I hate now. It would just save me the increasing financial aid debt. It would be amazing to wake up everyday and go to a job that you love, to get to be a part of something everyday that makes a real difference, something that you really believe in. I have some ideas, and I know the path that I have to take to make these things a reality. For now, I'm going to keep them to myself, but I think it's time to stop lying to myself and start down the path I really want to be on. It's not going to be easy, but the best things never are. So I'll leave you with my new motto, and new favorite quote...
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible". -Audrey Hepburn
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Bucket List...
Ok, I realize it has been 5 months since I last blogged and I'm sorry. However, you should be used to it by now.
I was recently reading my good pal Andrea's blog and she had posted her "Bucket List". I have been keeping a running "bucket list" myself on my good ol' iphone ever since I saw the show the Buried Life. That is a great show and if you've never seen it you should go to MTV and look up the episodes. Anyway, after reading Andrea's list, ours have many similarities btw, I decided I should post mine as well. So here is my list to date, in no particular order:
Write a children's book
Learn to surf
Swim w/ dolphins
Change my own oil
Play catch on a major league baseball field
Dance with Maks
Finish my brother's scrapbook
Swing on a trapeze
Learn to sail
Attend a taping of Ellen
Workout with Bob/Jillian
Go to a World Series game
Cook with Curtis Stone
Search for buried treasure
Explore a sunken ship
Snowboard
Graduate college
Buy a house
Be debt free
Take spur of the moment road trip
Lay on the beach of every major ocean
Visit every continent
Hug a baby bear or tiger
Get married
Learn another language
Visit all 50 states (especially Hawaii)
Own a house with a big porch overlooking the ocean
Build a house with Habitat for Humanity
Go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef
Watch them change the floor at the AAC from baseketball to ice hockey
Open a summer camp for kids
This is an ongoing list. Obviously some of these items are a bit more ambitious than others, but whatever. I think they will all be fun. If anyone would like to help me accomplish any of these goals, let me know :)
I was recently reading my good pal Andrea's blog and she had posted her "Bucket List". I have been keeping a running "bucket list" myself on my good ol' iphone ever since I saw the show the Buried Life. That is a great show and if you've never seen it you should go to MTV and look up the episodes. Anyway, after reading Andrea's list, ours have many similarities btw, I decided I should post mine as well. So here is my list to date, in no particular order:
Write a children's book
Learn to surf
Swim w/ dolphins
Change my own oil
Play catch on a major league baseball field
Dance with Maks
Finish my brother's scrapbook
Swing on a trapeze
Learn to sail
Attend a taping of Ellen
Workout with Bob/Jillian
Go to a World Series game
Cook with Curtis Stone
Search for buried treasure
Explore a sunken ship
Snowboard
Graduate college
Buy a house
Be debt free
Take spur of the moment road trip
Lay on the beach of every major ocean
Visit every continent
Hug a baby bear or tiger
Get married
Learn another language
Visit all 50 states (especially Hawaii)
Own a house with a big porch overlooking the ocean
Build a house with Habitat for Humanity
Go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef
Watch them change the floor at the AAC from baseketball to ice hockey
Open a summer camp for kids
This is an ongoing list. Obviously some of these items are a bit more ambitious than others, but whatever. I think they will all be fun. If anyone would like to help me accomplish any of these goals, let me know :)
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