Evolving Sweetie

Scenes from Opening Day

Today was our home opener against the Anaheim Angels. G & I attended. Luckily our tickets weren't too far away from our season tickets. The opening ceremonies started sharply at 3:00. I love opening the season. Scoping out the division rivals, hopes for an exciting season, getting to know the new guys, falling in love with the Mariners all over again. Time definitely makes the heart grow fonder. This season, we are celebrating Safeco Field's 10th season. Safeco Field is my happy place. It holds dozens of unforgettable moments for me - including my first kiss with Chuck. No matter my mood when I arrive, this place always lights me up.

It was electric today. Our future hall-of-fame mega-star Ken Griffey Jr was playing his first home game here in 10 years. The cheers and standing ovations greeting him were goose bump inducing. We LOVE our Kid - welcome back Junior!!! The women next to me echoed all our sentiments with "I just love watching him play." And after our dismal season last year, it was wonderful to have fun again and hope. Our start is pretty good thus far...

One thing I will say about April games - it's damn cold. We reached popsicle state by the time we left. At least at football games you are physically more engaged as a spectator. And have heavier gear. Cursed my missing Mariner's stadium blanket and was too frozen to wander up and back to the store. Note to self guess what your first purchase of the season will be. And icing on the cake - we won in 10 innings! Whoo hoo!

POSTCARDS from Safeco Field Opening Day 2009

Home Plate Entrance

Ichiro

Ken Griffey Jr

Left Field Entrance

Griffey's intro

Colors

2009 Mariners

Opening Day - skipper & starting lineup

Ceremonial first rounding the bases. Love Make-A-Wish foundation. This kid's wish was to meet some Mariners. Imaging running the bases and being greeted by Griffey, Ichiro and Felix Hernandez. Moments like this always brings me to tears. Always.

Griffey's first at bat

CITY VIEWS from the Upper Deck

This is a beer garden at Pyramid brewery across the street from the stadium. My new company Stella Color produced the gate and pole graphics. 

They look great!

Junior Returns Home

Writing to you from giddiness central here. My boy Griffey is coming back to Seattle to close out his career. It's rare in this day in age for a player to return to his roots for a victory lap. And I will be ecstatically cheering him on.

I moved to Seattle in the midst of the Mariners' historical 1995 season. Major League Baseball and the Pirates had done their damnedest to beat the fan out of me in the early 90s. Any Pirate fan can't forget the heart wrenching endings to the 90, 91, 92 seasons and the subsequent fire sale from which the franchise has never recovered. Bonds...oh don't get me started, my blood still boils over on that man. Throw in a strike killing the end of the 1994 season and I had thrown in the towel on the whole sport. 

And then the Mariners and Ken Griffey Jr happened to me. Being alone in Seattle, I'd spend evenings at TS McHughs watching the Mariners games. The enthusiasm, joy and spirit the team played with in their chase for the M's first ever post season hooked me in heart and soul. And it was Ken Griffey Jr that lead the charge. Junior was able to reach the little girl in me who'd sneak her transistor radio into bed to follow the Pirate games well past her bedtime. Junior inspired that same pure love of the game that I had long ago forgotten. The Mariners reminded me of how fun, strategic and exciting baseball was. It was a magical time that forever bonded me to this city, this team and of course to Junior.

When Griffey asked to be traded to Cincinnati, that little girl in me was heart-broken, absolutely crushed. But by then I belonged to the Mariners. Safeco Field became my happy place. Eventually I just became thankful to Griffey for rekindling my love of baseball.  

In 2007, Griffey returned to Safeco Field for the first time with the Reds. Injuries had kept him away from the 2001 All Star Game. Ginny & I had tickets for the Sunday game of the series. I'd not had that much fun at a ball game in years. The amount of love the sold out stadium heaped upon Junior was incredible, genuine and heartwarming. It was impossible for us to root against our Griffey, so we cheer for him AND our Mariners. It was amazing. That afternoon was a wonderful gift for me as it was only months after Chuck passed and those hours at the ballpark was the first time I was fully present and happy again. Such a joyful breath of air.

The Griffey we receive will not be the superstar he was when we had him last. Injuries and age have taken their toll. But he'll mentor our young club, be the dream DH we've been craving since Edgar left and give us all pleasure in watching that sweet swing for one last season. It'll be a fun, love-fest of a season in "The House that Griffey Built" aka Safeco Field.

Ken Griffey Jr is going to be back in a Seattle Mariners uniform. A beautiful sight to behold.

Super Bowl Bound Baby!

Bring on the Super Bowl!!! 

Here's hoping for Ring #6 for my beloved Black & Gold!  

Let's make history!!!

We're very excited for the game. Heather, Mike & I are plotting out the game day menu. Terrible Towels will be in hand. New Steeler gear will be donned. And you'll find us all on the edge of our seats. Thank god for the stress relief of the commercials. Dad - keep the phones charged up. I'll do my best to remember the time delay on your the satellite broadcast. 

GO BOYS, GO!!!

I've become addicted to YouTube in preparation for the game. Steeler footage, past commercials and the anthems of Steeler nation. All week I've been tickled to find the Steeler Polka. Everyone who lived in Western PA through the 70s Steel Curtain dynasty years has a very special place in their heart for this song. Yes, it really is a polka and it was played EVERYWHERE. 

The best recording I found was for the Super Bowl version. 

Take a listen:

Makes me grin from ear-to-ear every time I hear it. 

Polkas have a very special place in a Burgher's hearts. Polkas are always played loud and proud for Super Bowls and wedding receptions. It's happy music. You can't help but sing & dance in joyous celebration. 

Now join with me and sing the Steeler cheer:

"We're from the town with the Super Bowl team, we cheer the Pittsburgh Steelers..."

And to the #1 Defense in the league I say:

"Defense, Defense - make them scramble, intercept that ball.

 Defense, Defense - make the Steelers win the Super Bowl."

Here we go Steelers, here we go!!!

Go get 'em on Sunday.

Here we go Steelers...

Any member of Steeler nation knows this battle cry..."Here we go Steelers, here we go!".  As much as I have become a Seattle-ite, my heart bleeds Black & Gold. The Steelers are woven into the very foundation of who I am. It's not something that can really be understood by those who have not had the privilege of growing up in western Pennsylvania. The Steelers are the common binding thread for our community, our religion, our heart and soul. It's countless games watched with our fathers & grandfathers, our friends and our neighbors. It is pride in our glory, our perseverance through dark & uncertain times and our hopes for brighter futures. For the sons and daughters that have flown from our hometown, the Steelers bring us back in spirit and keeps HOME alive in us. 

Tomorrow, my beloved team plays for another AFC Championship. The stakes are high. We play our most hated rivals for a chance at the game's ultimate prize. Part of our family is from Baltimore and are rooting as hard for their team. Personally, this is a cake walk for me compared to the Seattle-Pittsburgh Super Bowl. It was torture to root against your 2nd team, your husband, your friends, your colleagues and your city. But ultimately, you can't root against part of our soul.

I'm extra excited about tomorrow's game because my Dad is in town. A good portion of my childhood memories of my Dad are us watching the Steelers games. It's been 13+ years of living in Seattle and I can't watch a Steeler game without calling my Dad at least a few times per game to share it. It's a ritual I think we both treasure. Actually getting to watch a game with my Dad is pure gold, I can't believe that we get to share such a big game in person tomorrow. 

So with BBQ chips, wings and terrible towels in hand Dad, Heather, Mike, the girls and I will be cheering on the Steelers. Here we go Steelers, Here we go!  Let's bring another Championship home.