Being a Cub Fan in Arizona

In case you didn't know the Cubs have made the postseason! This is the first time that the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs have met in the postseason since.... well, ever! It's been fun meeting up with friends at a local sport's bar to watch the game. A lot of people in Arizona are transplants from the midwest so it's fun to see other people in blue cheering on the cubbies. We had several people walk up to us at the bar tonight telling us good luck, we hate St. Louis so we hope you guys win. Even walking out to your car after the game, people notice your Cubs shirt and will holler 'GO CUBS, WOO!' 

We met up with another friend who had moved out to Arizona several months after we had with our wave of hires and we were talking about how much Arizona feels like home for that same reason. Cubs are here for Spring Training, we've got Portillo's restaurant (a Chicago staple) and no matter where you go if you have an Illinois team's shirt on you'll be sure to run into a fellow Illinois person.

Watching baseball in October is a new thing for me, hopefully it continues! The next couple games will start while I'm still at work (stupid time zones) But you can bet I will be checking the score! 

Go Cubs Go! Woo!

Subject: The Blog

Actual email in my inbox this morning...

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Subject: The Blog

From: [Dad] Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 8:05 AM
To: [Heather]
Here it is going almost two months since the ”blog” has been update. Your loyal followers are beginning to drop from waiting on an update. So if you can muster up some energy this weekend, please update it.


LOL
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Well... when your own father starts to turn on you, I guess it's time to update the blog.  I do admit I have been terrible at updating this year, and I don't even have a good excuse. I've done tons of fun blog worthy things and have tons of fun/exciting things coming up on the horizon. In my defense though, I did give the blog a bit of a fall-ish makeover, so at least my loyal viewers had something new to enjoy when they visited.

Tonight I watched the cubs game with a friend at Bdubs and decided since they lost and I was nearby I'd check out a good movie to mourn their loss.

I went and saw the Martian. EXCELLENT movie. My brother saw it last weekend and described it as a mixture of 'Interstellar' and 'Gravity'. I haven't seen Gravity so I can't tell you anything about that comparison, other than it heavily relies on Matt Damon as the leading man. If you like Matt Damon and have even the slightest interest in space, definitely check this movie out. 

There dad... I hope that will keep my loyal followers checking back to the "blog"

The Chicago Cubs are in Town!

The loveable losers made there way to Arizona for a three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they lost. At least some things never change.

It was weird watching baseball indoors but the air conditioned 79° compared to the outside 101° was a very welcome addition... I think I can live with baseball indoors.

We got lotto tickets at the game and won our money back! 

Superman was there too! 

Dad's Birthday, Chicago Weekend and a Movie!

Whoa folks. I would have blogged sooner but holy moly was I pooped from this weekend! Dad's birthday festivities began with a shiny new bike on Wednesday night (we couldn't wait to give to him on his actual birthday on Friday, and were hoping he could get a ride in before the rain came, and we suck at keeping awesome secrets)

Friday: May 3rd
Happy Official Birthday Dad! Our resident cake decorator put this lovely design together, we all voted on the picture and NiBo came up with the quote from some war movie that dad likes. Mom and dad also spent the day shopping for new things for dad (and much needed) a few of these items included new sneakers, non-black athletic socks and not one but TWO new belts... whoa. That is big.

Saturday: May 4th

We headed up to Chicago via Amtrak to watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Cincinnati Red's. It's been a few years since I'd been able to make it up to a game so I was pretty pumped. The forecast had mentioned cloudy with a chance of rain so we had a backup plan to hit up the museums if it did in fact rain. But luckily the sun was out and it was a beautiful Chicago day, could not have asked for more perfect weather.

We got our obligatory picture in front of the marquee...

...had a footlong hot dog and brat. Yummy! 

... since it was Kentucky derby day, all the ladies got a complimentary derby style hat for the occasion.

... I took a panoramic picture from our seats.

... the Cubs were up then blew the lead with our closing pitchers. An all too familiar loss this season. I was sad.

... then they flew the loser flag and no one sang go cubs go :(

Then we had some time to kill before our train left for the evening. We stopped for some Jimmy Johns, then walked around checking out Grant Park and Millennium Park.

I had seen the fountain from Lake Shore but had never been up close... holy moly that thing is HUGE!

And I'd never been up close to see the bean either. So many firsts! Of course we had to get the reflection picture, our poor dad, we make him do alot of things.

My favorite thing about walking all over the city was seeing all the tulips, they are everywhere! I thought of you OL when I saw so many of them, beautiful! 

Sunday: May 5th

Iron Man 3 in IMAX 3D!!!!

My first IMAX adventure and I will say I was disappointed, the movie was EXCELLENT!! but at 16 bones the IMAX experience was a little rich for my blood. I'd just as soon go to the drive in to see a giant screen for $7, but that's just me. I was amazed my the hugeness of the theater  We had to walk up several flights, yes several, flights of stairs to get to our seats, and there was an elevator! Whoa. Go see the movie though and if you do make sure to stay to the end, there is an extra scene.

Whew, I'm just tired from telling you all about it again. Hope everyone else had a great weekend too! :D