Seeing as I took all of 2 pictures of the actual spring game with my camera phone, I decided this pic from the post game meet and greet opportunity on Frank Kush field made more sense.

Here you see Nigel (standing with his back to me and a black backpack over his shoulder) waiting patiently for Rudy Carpenter to stop talking to the group of people on the left so he can get an autograph.

We had tried to get one when we first got on the field but there were like 30 or so people in line so we waited until the end when there were way less people. A security guy tried to tell us that Rudy was done signing for the day but he doesn’t know who he is talking to. We just waited and succeeded.

It was a very cool way to end the Spring Game yesterday.

On Tuesday April 8th, Scott got the formal job offer for a wonderful new job that totally fits who he is and what he believes in. While we knew he was a shoe-in, there is always doubt until you get that official offer. So he will be leaving the Sierra Club on April 25th and going to work for the National Conservation System Foundation, which is a new non-profit aimed at helping build and sustain “friends” groups to aid the BLM in protecting the land set aside within the BLM’s NLCS program.

So to honor his new job- and to replace the Sierra Club laptop that Scott has to turn back to the club -Saturday found us at the Apple store to finally purchase the MacBook Pro. We had been debating the pros and cons of the different MacBooks for that past two weeks so it feels good to have made the decisions. It is great to see him so excited about the new job and the new toy.

Here’s to great experiences, and I wish you all the best, babe, as you embark on this exciting adventure.

Well, I did it. And I didn’t embarrass myself or anything. I actually went to the gym tonight – BY MYSELF – and spent 45 minutes exercising. This is a huge feat for me and for Scott. He has told me over and over gain that there is nothing to be worried about or nervous about by going to the gym without him. Of course, my little subconscious voice tells me otherwise. That is why I am very proud of myself. Around 10:30 this evening I said to Scott “I as thinking we could walk up to the gym, exercise and then walk home.” He said he couldn’t because he has a lot of work to do to get ready for his new job (I’ll write about that later). So he suggested I go. This would be the usual time that I just say “Oh well” and get in my pajamas. But tonight I actually did what I have been telling myself to do for months and I got in my exercise clothes, grabbed my iPod and drove up to Pure Fitness. I spent 45 minutes broken up like this:

18 minutes doing fat burner on the bike
20 arms reps with 20lb weights
18 minutes doing cardio on the treadmill
20 arm reps with 20lb weights

I feel very good about what I did tonight and look forward to doing it tomorrow. I’m glad I went and didn’t find an easy excuse to not go. And while my iPod touch is a LITTLE cumbersome, I was glad to have it. The only real negative was that someone was either hit by a car or run over right outside the gym so the staff had to call 911. As I left, the front desk staff said everything was fine so I will assume that no one died an that they will recover. I will NOT take this as a sign that the gym is bad for your health.

This eco-friendly pet store has been open for four months but I only just heard about it. It is on my “must check out” list.

Ask anyone who really knows me and they’ll tell you I absolutely love pets, cats in particular. I have a cat named Love bug who I adore. There is something very relaxing about cats and it is so comforting to sit and pet my cat while watching tv or reading or whatever.

But while I love cats, I am not so sure about spending $22,000 on one. Especially one that is a mixture of the African Serval and Asian Leopard cat with a domestic cat. This breed is called the Ashera and it also comes in hypoallergenic form as well for just a few more thousands of dollars.

The cat looks like a wild animal that could easily eat any small pets you may have in the home. While they appear very magestic and almost regal, I don’t think paying that kind of money for an animal is really that justified. It actually seems kind of wrong.

Thanks to Dooce, I had a chance to read this letter to Mother Nature. No truer words were ever spoken. I may not live in a cold weather state anymore, but I remember what it’s like as I lived most of my first 18 tears of life in Massachusetts. Living in Arizona for the past 13 years, I can just change some words here and there and the sentiment fits us in the hot desert as well.

Scott was not ashamed to show off his Irish pride today! This Irish rugby shirt is a gift from Scott’s dad from his recent trip to Ireland. Scott looks rather handsome in this particular shade of green.

I also supported my Irish heritage by wearing 3 shamrock earrings in each ear, a green shirt and my awesome shamrock covered socks.

Hope St Patrick’s Day brought all of you lots of luck, and great food!

Yes, you are reading this correctly. It does really say 75000 miles. And yes, our Forester is only 2 years old. We are averaging 37500 miles a year. No wonder it doesn’t have that new car smell anymore!

Well, just as Scott and I had gotten into bed for much needed sleep at 1:45am, we were alerted by the tell-tale flashing lights and rumble of a fire engine. We got up to find 4 Phoenix fire engines and an ambulance on our street. They look to be focused on a house three doors down that appears to have smoke coming from the roof. We stood outside watching the events unfold.

Scott walked further down the street to try to get a better idea of what was happening. He came back to report that the fire fighters don’t appear to be in a huge hurry and a walking in and out of the house. We watched them examine the roof for a few minutes then decided to try to go to bed again.

As we made a second attempt to sleep, more sirens and lights arrived, bringing with them two Phoenix PD, a Glendale fire engine and the Battalion chief. So we decided to stay up. We watched the fire fighters for several more minutes but had difficulty understanding what was the issue. It looks like there may be something in the attic that was causing the smoke. There were several fire fighters in full uniform with oxygen masks that had been in the house.

Scott thinks they sent in a woman equipped with special detection gear, maybe for smoke, to determine what the issue is. There were no flames that we ever saw. So now it is 2:45am, and there are still several fire trucks outside. We’ll see what happens.

This picture was taken September 2007. I had a chance to visit with my friend Jen and her family while in Washington DC. Little did I know that this would be the last time I would see Jen’s mom, Jeanette. While I knew she was battling cancer, the chemo seemed to be working.

This past Monday, Jen called me to let me know that her mom had been given days to weeks to live. I was in shock. I knew that they had to try a different type of chemo as the first had stopped working but I didn’t realize how bad it had become.

I wanted to talk to Jeanette this week but didn’t know if that would be helpful ir make things worse. So I didn’t call. Today I found out Jen’s mom passed away this morning, peacefully with her family with her.

I am so thankful to have the pictures and memories of the visit I had with her in September. This means the world tome to have been able to talk with her and enjoy a celebratory birthday cupcake with her.

I will miss you so much Jeanette, my second “mom.” Your spirit lives on in all of us who knew you and loved you!