'tis the season

This past Friday I went to Atlas Park with the Graffeo gang and J.D, in what felt like the first Christmasy day of the season (and yes, I know it's not Thanksgiving yet). We ate dinner at California Pizza Kitchen (I'm still day dreaming about that pizza...SO good) followed by a movie. Jim Carrey's version of this beloved tale was much more sinister than I expected and even though I struggled to stay awake at points (not the movies fault, I was seriously sleep deprived that day) I really enjoyed it. Andrea Bocelli's "God Bless Us Everyone" closed the movie and the next day I downloaded it -- beautiful song.

Atlas Park was done up Christmas style so that plus the movie really helped make feel like the holidays are getting closer and closer. Very exciting stuff. This time of the year never gets old, no matter how old I get. This Christmas might be a little different because I'm not sure what the plans are (we usually spend Eve in Long Island with cousins and Day at home). Alex not being here then sucks. But, nevertheless, looking forward to it. Here's all of us in front of the Christmas Bear after the movie let out.

Left to right: Sal, Daniela, Christina, AnnaMarie, Rita, Mike, myself & J.D

By the way, Amazon never fails me! I scored a Yankee DVD (Fall Classics from 1996-2001) for $34 when in the Yankee Clubhouse it was marked at $80! Sweet giblets! Can't wait for this to arrive.

I dream of sandy beaches.

Once in a blue moon, an opportunity will arise that you'd have to be a fool to pass up. Like seeing two friends get married. And attending a Yankee game, with seats right behind the bullpen. Now imagine those two opportunities landing on the same day!!! Just my luck right? Fortunately I found a way to make this work. The game is at 1pm. It should be over by 4, the latest. I don't know what time the reception is because the invites haven't been sent out yet, just the save-the-dates. But it all seems possible. I mean, God doesn't give you anything you can't handle so apparently He thinks I can juggle this wacky schedule I will have on May 15th!! I should note the tickets were a gift so the date of the game was not in my hands. Obviously I would never have chosen this date myself. But I am grateful Tiffany's friend gifted her with this and chose me to go along!

Funny I mentioned Thanksgiving in the post early yesterday because later that night, Alex (my aunt) and I spoke about what it would be like this Thanksgiving. Normally we do a big Thanksgiving feast around 1 or 2 then settle in for a movie that everyone agrees on. But this time, after the feast we are going to be enjoying Alex's gift to Oma, Opa and Michael (my brother). She got them the Wii Fit! With the Wii Olympic games. (I think that's the game she said she got). Those three are the biggest Wii fanatics in the house so that's why it's for them but on Thanksgiving, we're all going to enjoy it. Can't wait! The reason she is giving them their Christmas present on Thanksgiving is because Alex & Moe are going to be in Puerto Rico for 3 weeks. They leave on the 3rd and won't be back until the 28th! So sad they won't be here for Christmas. Last December, when they went to PR, my oma and I went for a week with them. We flew out the last week of their stay and came home with them. It was so much fun and I wish I could go again this year. But I have a feeling we will next winter.

27!

There's always magic in the air during the post season and if you're lucky enough to have your team go to the World Series, even more so then. The Yankees had an incredible year (103-59) so it was the icing on the cake for them to win the World Series. The teams they played against in the ALCS and then in the WS really made for a good show. I applaud the Angels and the Phillies for putting up a good fight! Would love for the Yanks to do it again next year. I really don't want to see Matsui or Damon go but I understand the need to bring in new and younger players.

When they won on the 4th, there was no way I was going to miss the parade that Friday, the 6th.

What a cutie! This dog was decked out in Yankee gear.

The crowd went a little wild there, throwing people in the air.

Newspapers EVERYWHERE.

Matsui = MVP AND Pedro's daddy :-)

Jay-Z and A-Rod.

Andy Pettite and kids.

Mariano Rivera!! How fitting they should choose him to close out the parade :-)

october magic? perhaps.

Even with last night's debacle, I still have faith the Yankees are gonna win it at home. It was kind of like it was meant to be that way. A.J Burnett giving it away like that in the first inning, allowing 4 runs was just...tough to watch. Teixiera saved the day later in the game but Nick Swisher ultimately failed the team. It was kind of laughable that the fate of the game ended with him! (He is pretty much not a reliable guy for a hit.)

So it's safe to say I know what I'll be doing Saturday night!

Tiffany actually came out with me last night to watch the game at a bar near my job. I wanted to be close so that I could run right over to work at the needed time and then run back LOL. Even though Tiff likes to root for, well, not the Yankees, she is still gracious about it so it was pretty funny. And this guy from Australia that started chatting us up (mostly Tiff, since my eyes were glued to the TV), was rooting for the Angels too. He was the sole person clapping every time they got a hit. He was getting some stares, that much is for sure, haha, but an interesting person overall. I feel bad -- because of his Aussie lingo, you know, calling guys 'mate' and stuff, another person assumed he was gay and sent him to Gaslight, downtown. Gaslight is a gay bar. He thought he was there just to watch the game and drink a beer. I hope we showed him not all New Yorkers are rude like that!

MLB mania

It's probably a good thing I don't watch baseball during the regular season. I drive myself into a tizzy during the postseason! The past three ALCS games have been something else. Between the psychology exam today and Game 4, I don't know what I'm more jittery about!

Mariano Rivera -- baseball hero/Game 3

Hip Hip Jorge! (Game 3 -- solo homerun)

A-Rod's HR in Game 2

Tex's great catching skills.

Jeter's solo HR/Game 3

Photo credit: nydailynews.com