Standing inside the fire: Baseball, Freedom, and D-Day

I woke up this morning and remembered it is June 6.  It is one of the most important days in the history of freedom.   Today is D-Day.  

Blame my history teacher father for passing on his love of history when I was a little girl.  I can't help it.  I went on a three minute rant on twitter this morning about how amazing the old ballparks are and how we should not take them for granted.   I was upset because of the comments and criticism I have seen all season about Wrigley Field and Fenway Park.  They are not perfect ballparks and that is why they must be maintained.  There is no perfect ballpark.  In the 60's and 70's they built these horrible multi-purpose baseball/football stadiums and if you ever had the misfortune of watching a game in them, as I did, you knew that it was terrible.  I have been to Wrigley and there is nothing like it.   The tradition of baseball is built on a wide variety of statistics, players, and ballparks.  Baseball has a history and that history includes all the unique subtleties that include funny ballparks and players who are couragous and characters.  That's why I love baseball.  Baseball is a part of America and in so many ways, ways that make is different, it reflects our history.

This blog isn't about baseball, it is about freedom.  We have the freedom to disagree on things.  We obtained that freedom on the backs of our ancestors and the people who still fight today.   I am a lucky because I never had to serve in the military.  I just enjoy what others have fought so hard to maintain.  My grandfather was in the army.  T was in the air force.  In between them there were others.  Others who fought.  Others who sacrificed.  Others who died.  On days like today.  Days that shaped our lives before we were born, I can't help but be grateful.  When I go out to the trail and ride or out to the ballpark and cheer I carry with me the right to be free.  Freedom to be who I want.  Freedom to worship how I decide.  Freedom to cheer who I want.  Freedom to live the way I do.  Yes, there are rules of society but in the end, the things I believe, the person I am is shaped in part by those who came before and in part by decisions I made and I live with gratitude for the past and hope for the future.

Thank you, to all those who earned my freedom for me.  Thank you, for everything you sacraficed. Oh, and thank you for baseball!


And the photo challenge.


Photo Challenge: Day 5: favorite color:

I love green. It just makes me happy. I guess it's a good thing the earth is covered in green. Actually, I may have let it slip yesterday but Green, Blue, and Yellow are my favorite colors.





These three colors show up a lot in nature and my wardrobe.






Day 6: where I stand:


-This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and it is near my house.  I can go there riding everyday if I want.


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Simply,
Laura
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Memorial Day Weekend Round-up

I want to take a moment to thank all those who served, past and present. This is my grandfather, Gerald who was a medic in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Love you Pappy! Thanks for your sacrifice!





Friday night I went to happy hour with friends. We had a blast and it was very cathartic. Apparently it was just what I needed to feel better. You know the girl-rule about how you must always get two shots to make sure everyone is happy? Well, this is the other photo the guy at the bar took.


I was laughing so hard when I saw it. Nothing much to see...so it's funny.





This has been my drink of choice all month.


Saturday was look like crap and clean some here day.


Including dusting and adding my newest bobblehead to the collection.



Nolan and Nolan.

Later I made guacamole, salsa and this cupcake:








Maple-Bacon-Whiskey....yep!




Sunday I cleaned the dining room & refinished the two new cabinets my parents gave me. They are a little lighter than my hutch but I like that. This is what I was working on when T called from the road.

This man is so sweet. I don't know what I did to deserve him in my life. He texts me in the morning just to wish me a good day and he called me while he was driving through Terre Haute, Indiana on the way to New Jersey. Did I tell y'all we are both originally from Indiana? Anyway, he called just to hear me talk. He listened to me go on about nothing (not even baseball) and when I laughed and asked if he was bored he said nope, he was listening to me and actually repeated what I was telling him. It's a new relationship and before I get 32 text messages from my friends, we are taking it as slow. Him being out of town days at a time working kind of forces us to slow down. That said....I miss his big brown eyes.




My beast of a nephew caught this Monday. Ten pounds! Wow! He is 12 and brought that fish in fighting the whole way!




I fixed the missing pieces in my kitchen floor (lifting the stove because I am a beast too) and cleaned the kitchen. Later it was time to relax with some frozen wine.

I finished a book between Sunday and Monday and aside from a lot of cleaning...mostly watched NCIS and baseball. I know...I am a wild woman.

So how was your holiday and what special stuff did you do?


Simply,
Laura
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone