Month: May 2011

Quote of the Day

No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power tyrants and dictators cannot stand. The Centauri learned that lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be free. Andreas Katsulas as G’Kar on Babylon 5

Hungry Birds!

It’s amazing how fast baby birds grow–they’ve already at least doubled in size! It’s also amazing how wide they can open their little mouths!

For those who are interested, the names of the baby birds are: Robbie, Bobbie, Baby Robin, and Bobert. The parents are Robert and Roberta, so we kind of have a theme going here!

Busch Stadium Tour

Between lunch and the actual baseball game on our anniversary, we went on a tour of Busch Stadium. We had a really good tour guide, who shared lots of interesting side stories in addition to the stadium talk, and who also had a great sense of humor. It was a nice group, too–not too many of us, and most of the people, like us, had tickets to that night’s game.

It was really strange seeing all of the seats empty, and the scoreboards turned off!

We got to tour the Cardinals dugout. It was much bigger than I was expecting!

We also got to check out the view from the “best seat in the stadium”–the press box. The view truly is astounding–and we even got a glimpse of a few players beginning their warm ups down on the field.

The press box is Mike Shannon’s space, so it’s fitting that there’s a tribute to him. We also learned that the press box at Busch Stadium is so large because Mike has a large family, and they are often up there with him during games–pretty cool!

A view outside the most exclusive area of Busch Stadium, (aside from the players’ clubhouse)–The Cardinals Club. Yes, that’s a statue of “Gussie” Busch out front. Did you know that on his 85th birthday, while he was still the owner of the team, the Cards retired the number 85 in his honor? There’s a full-size, fancy sit-down restaurant in the Club. The folks that hold the tickets for the green seats behind home plate have full access to this club, and they never have to pay for any of the food there (or any that they order from their seats in the stadium, for that matter). On the other hand, one seat costs $14,000 per year, and you have to buy at least two seats together, with a 10 year lease, so I guess the least they can do is throw in the food!

Another exclusive area of the ball park–the Redbird Club. The wallpaper in this fancy concessions area is really cool. One of the Cards owners, Bill DeWitt, has an extensive personal baseball card collection. He used his Cardinals cards to have this wallpaper made. The only exception is Satchel Paige, who was actually a St. Louis Brown. This also led into an interesting discussion about the 1944 World Series, (The Streetcar Series), which was a match-up between the Cardinals and the Browns. It’s the only World Series to ever be played on 6 consecutive days, and a rare example of both teams having called the ballpark, (the old Sportsman’s Park), home field.

A view from the Musial Bridge, looking out on the statue of The Man himself.

Speaking of the statue, here’s a better view of Stan the Man. “Here stands baseball’s perfect warrior. Here stands baseball’s perfect knight.” (Ford Frick)

This is one of the Cardinals’ old logos–Slugger Bird. This is my favorite of the old logos, both because it’s really cute, and because the name is awesome!

There’s no end to the cool plaques you can find scattered around Busch Stadium. This is my favorite, showing the proximity of the old and new parks. There really is a white stripe on the ground below!

I thought this was some cool wall art, too.

Immediately following the tour, we walked by this tribute to Jack Buck outside the stadium. “Go crazy, folks!”

It was a great tour. There is so much history to be learned when you go on one of these things–local and world history, and of course, baseball history. We’re definitely going to go back with the children, someday–it’s a can’t miss St. Louis experience!

The First Injury

We’ve now had our first baseball injury of the season. Ironically, it wasn’t even Turkey who got hurt!

We were outside at the elementary school’s ball field, because Turkey wanted to practice batting. His siblings were recruited as fielders, a job which most of them love. Bunny and Ladybug especially enjoyed chasing the balls in the outfield, (to be truthful, it was really the infield…most of the players on Turkey’s team can’t reach the outfield yet). They even tried throwing a few to him, which didn’t really work out so well…they’re kind of wild pitchers.

Anyway, someone, (I won’t name any names, but her names rhymes with funny),
was so interested in chasing the ball, including the ones she dropped and rolled away from her, that she wasn’t paying attention to where she was going. And someone, despite my earlier warnings about just this matter, walked right next to the batter while he was swinging.

I stood there and watched, knowing exactly what was going to happen, yet powerless to do anything, as the bat made contact with her head. Fortunately for her, Turkey doesn’t really swing that hard or fast yet, but it was still a solid contact. She started shrieking immediately, and the quarter sized, purple bump was also immediate. We rushed home, of course, to put ice on it, and to call the doctor (who was thankfully on call), and find out if we needed to head to the E.R.

The doctor wasn’t too concerned, but told us what to be on the lookout for. After hearing that, I think my heart rate finally returned to normal. Bunny enjoyed all of the extra attention she received from her siblings, but she’s not a big fan of the bump on her head.

It was a terrible thing to watch…one of those moments where everything seems to be in slow motion, and you still can’t do anything about it. Hopefully, all of the children have learned a lesson about being careful on the ball field. Sometimes, the only way you learn something is do what you’re not supposed to do, and suffer the consequences. Thankfully, this time, the consequences weren’t as severe as they could have been.

I think we may be the only family in which the fielders need batting helmets more than the batter!

Anniversary Lunch

Since we spent the evening at Busch Stadium, we decided to go out for lunch on our anniversary. Our restaurant of choice? Olympia Kebob House and Taverna in St. Louis. We’ve always wanted to go there, but never got around to it, plus, it’s located near our first apartment in St. Louis, so it also got points for sentimentality!

We shared an order of saganaki to start, and it was just like I remembered from my childhood when my parents used to take me to a restaurant that, while not Greek, was owned by Greeks. So delicious (and fun to watch)! I especially loved the slight lemon flavor…it’s completely unexpected with cheese, and yet it goes so well.

I chose a pork kebob for my meal, and it was delicious. It was also my first real experience with feta cheese, and while I was apprehensive, it turns out that I really like it. All of the assorted vegetables were also delicious, as were the wonderful Greek olives.

Ryan got the gyros. I gave him a hard time about the lamb, (I tend to have a “no cute food” rule when eating), but I ended up sampling it anyway, and it was also delicious. The tzatziki was especially good. I’d even go so far as to say that I might order the gyros should we ever go back there. Rules are made to be broken, right?

I also got really adventurous and tried the ouzo. It was…interesting. Very strong, much more so than I was expecting. And while I was expecting it to taste like licorice, I wasn’t prepared for just how strong the flavor would be. It was almost like drinking a box of Jingles. I doubt that I would order it again, but it was part of the whole experience, so I’m glad I gave it a try!

Hymn of the Day–“Go, My Children, With My Blessing”

We sung these three stanzas of “Go, My Children, with My Blessing,” at our wedding 10 years ago. I still think the wedding verse is beautiful, and really captures the joy found in a Christian marriage:

Go, My children, with My blessing,
Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you;
You are My own.
In My love’s baptismal river
I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing–
You are My own.

In this union I have joined you
Husband and wife,
Now, My children, live together
As heirs of life:
Each the other’s gladness sharing,
Each the other’s burdens bearing,
Now, My children, live together
As heirs of life.

I the Lord will bless and keep you
And give you peace;
I the Lord will smile upon you
And give you peace:
I the Lord will be your Father,
Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, My children; I will keep you
And give you peace.

There are two additional verses which can replace verse three above, so the hymn can be used for regular services, as well, (the first of which is particularly meaningful to me):

Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you,
What I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son’s story;
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.

Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Closer to Me;
Grow in love and love by serving,
Joyful and free.
Here My Spirit’s power filled you;
Here His tender comfort stilled you.
Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Joyful and free. Lutheran Service Book #922

Ten Years

Today is our tenth wedding anniversary. Being the sentimental sort that I am, I can’t help but look back over those ten years, and all of the changes we’ve experienced, some very bittersweet.

I’m remembering dear loved ones, family and friends, who are no longer with us. While I rejoice that they are home with our Lord, it still makes me sad to remember those who are no longer here to celebrate this day with us, especially our baby who we never got a chance to know.

The church in which we were married is in the process of moving to a new building. It makes me very sad to think that the church building (the same one in which I was baptized and confirmed) will no longer be used for regular worship, that other happy events will no longer take place there. I am, however, very grateful that the congregation remains intact, because they are the soul of the church, not the building itself.

The restaurant at which we had our reception has been razed. I had always hoped to go back there someday, and have a regular dinner, but we just never got around to it before it was torn down. Again, I’m sad to think that events as happy as our wedding won’t have the chance to take place there.

Even the resort at which we spent our honeymoon has been sold. This was another place I thought we’d go back to someday–maybe for our 25th anniversary or something. We could go to one of the “sister resorts,” in the future, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t be quite the same.

My bittersweet memories even recall the somewhat ridiculous–I’m sad that Friends is no longer on TV. You see, Monica and Chandler’s “wedding” was the night before ours, and I watched, so excited to see my day playing out on my favorite sitcom. OK, it wasn’t actually *my* day, but I still felt it was something we shared, and once that season came out on DVD, we started watching it on our anniversary (or the night before), every year. Then again, I’m very happy that we are able to watch it and reminisce every year!

Even when I look back at the path I *thought* our life was going to take, I feel a little bittersweet. Where we ended up is so much better than I could have dreamed, and yet, it’s not where we planned to be. But you know the old saying: “Man plans, God laughs.”

In spite of all that, I look back over these last ten years, and I am so happy and grateful. I have a happy marriage, four beautiful children, a nice home, and we belong to a fantastic church. I couldn’t have seen all of that coming down the road ten years ago, and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world!