It was touch and go but my son is finally on the way back home.       

(more…)

Sometimes you have a day where everything seems to go your way.

My sister returned home after an 18 day stay in the hospital.  Thank you for all your prayers.

My son is visiting from Virginia.

Dr. J returned from Haiti safely.

Dr J is back row, middle

Below are some Haitian refugee children

Ronnie Belliard and Brad Ausmus signed one year contracts with the Dodgers.  Slowly, we are getting the same team back.  Go Dodgers.

Yes, yesterday was a perfect day.

Thanks for stopping by

Maybe this is in our future!

.

I just got an email from Dr. J.  I hadn’t heard from her since she left for Haiti on Tuesday with a group from Mission Hospital.

.

The caption for the pictures is “Go Navy”.  You can see the helicopter flying into the camp. The helicopters are taking the sickest patients to the USS Comfort.  Dr. J. commented: “God Bless Our Navy.”

I know she is having an experience of a lifetime.  Just one doctor can make such a difference.  Bless you Dr. J. 

Thanks for stopping by.                                                                                                                    

I miss Dr. J.   As everyone knows, she is my best friend.  She sits in my season seat when I am either visiting my son in Virginia or I have another seat in the Stadium.  She left yesterday for Haiti to volunteer some of her medical expertise.  She is perfect since she is an ER physician..  I teased her about stopping in the Dominican Republic to watch some baseball.  The plane was supposed to land  there first.  I am so proud of what she is doing but I implored her to be careful.  . 

Padilla as a batter.

The big news today is the signing of Vicente Padilla to a one year $5.025 million contract.  He was a great addition to the Dodgers when the Rangers practically dumped him into our laps.  He had a great run during the regular season.  I was hoping that the Dodgers would decide to sign him again.   He went 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 7 games.  I was able to talk to him last season and actually snag an autograph on a ball.  He was very nice.  I told him that we Dodger fans were happy to have him on our team. 

I was going though the pictures I took last season to find a Padilla picture and decided that I really do miss baseball.  I thought I would show you some of my favorites through the season.  It was difficult since I had to go through 1800+ pictures

I have to start with this picture of Andre looking right at me.  He always seems to be able to find me no matter where I sit  Maybe he’s got those eyes that seem to follow you like those creepy pictures in museums.  This picture is for you, my dear Virginia..

Here is Matty running in after a homerun.  He is our silver slugger, golden glove  He did quite a bit of running in after homeruns last season..

My favorite picture of a relaxed Russell Martin.  This picture is for you, Rosie.

Andre meditating before a game.  Please let me hit another walkoff homerun,

Baby Clayton Kershaw.  I predict that he will have a super season.

Matty skipping around centerfield.  He is always laughing and happy during the games.

Manny.  In my season seat I am very close to him.  He has thrown practice balls at me but I usually duck.  I am a little jittery over those balls since getting hit by a line drive foul ball last season.

My Western Division teeshirt signed by James Loney, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.  My goal is to get autographs for my friends from other teams

The ball that Tommy Lasorda signed for my son.  He told me to thank my son for his service in the Navy.  Mr. Lasorda is a truly wonderful man

Yes, we Dodger fans believed.

Andre with his son Dreson after the Western Division win.  I love this picture.

The courageous Hiroki Kuroda who returned after getting a line drive in the head.

.

I will post a few of my favorite pictures in the next few entries.  It made me yearn for baseball even more. 

Thanks everyone for stopping by.  You are what makes this blog worth writing.

   .

Today has been an amazing day.  It has been rainy again with mini tornados whirling around  Orange County.  Because of the heavy rain, there has been flooding on street corners.  And this is California???                                                       

My best friend Dr. J told me today that she is going to Haiti tomorrow for a week to volunteer medical services.  I am so proud of her.  She is using my camera to take pictures so when she returns, I’m sure she will have some interesting snapshots.  I promise to share them with all of you.  And she will have a lifetime of experiences to share as well.  I have too many family issues at the time to go.

Today was a very good day for the Dodgers.  All our young players avoided arbitration.  Matty had already signed for two years at  $10.95 million the other day.  Billingsley had also signed.

Today Frank McCourt put out a few million.  Russell Martin, our catcher, worked out a one year deal for $5.05 million which is probably better since last season was not that great for him.  George Sherrill signed for $4.5 million for the year.  James Loney, our first baseman, signed for $3.1 million and Kuo $975,000.

Agreements have also been reached with Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton although the sums are not known.

The great thing is that avoiding arbitration is good for morale.  I remember how bitter it was when Andre actually had to go through arbitration.  Many of us fans were unhappy over that.

The best news I had today is that my sister will be transferred out of the intensive care into a regular ward.  That means that she will soon be coming home.  Thanks everyone again for all your prayers.

Also thanks everyone for stopping by.  You have made my blog #57!!

Believe it or not, it is not sunny in California!!  I can hear the rain tapping on the window, the wind blowing.  We do need the rain but Californians are not good at driving in inclement weather

                                                          .

I was driving home from the hospital last night thinking about how scary it is to ride in the rain at night on the freeway.  Of course, everyone was driving as fast as they could.  I was happy when I finally got home. My sister is doing much better and hopefully she will be home soon.

I was sad to hear that one of my favorite singers had died.  Teddy Pendergrass was a great R&B singer.  He had been in a catastrophic car accident in 1982 and broke his neck.  He went through intense physical therapy in order to get his beautiful voice back.  He had surgery for colon cancer last year and had declined since then.  I will miss him.

I happened to turn on the Golden Globes briefly and saw that Michael C. Hall, star of Dexter, had won the award for best dramatic actor.  I was happy that he had won the award.  He was wearing a knit cap and probably most people thought he was just trying to keep dry.  He is being treated for Hodgkins Lymphoma and now is in remission

Not much news on the Dodger front except that center fielder Matty Kemp has avoided arbitration and agreed to a two year $10.95 million deal.  Chad Billingsley also has agreed to a one year $3.85 milion salary.  Those who have filed for arbitration are James Loney, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, George Sherrill, Hong Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton.  I can’t believe that Andre has not been offered an arm and a leg for the brilliant season he had. I also wonder why they haven’t avoided arbitration for these other great players.  Go figure.

Although Frank McCourt has stated that his divorce will not affect the Dodgers, it seems that there really isn’t much going on this offseason.  There is some interest in Ben Sheets  I hope that a pitcher is signed and soon.

Today is Martin Luther King Day.  I hope everyone takes time to reflect on what this great man stood for.

I will be going to Dodger Stadium at the end of the week to attend the Select a Seat event.  It will be good to actually be there again.  I don’t really plan on changing my seat but I think it will feel great to see one of my favorite places again. Before long baseball will be back again. I can’t wait. So much has happened since the season ended.  It will be nice to see my Dodgers again.  And yes, I will have to ask Matty about Rihanna!!

Thanks again for all your prayers for my sister and my dad..  I am blessed to have so many blog friends. 

Also thanks for stopping by.  Spring Training will soon be here.  Rain rain go away!!! 

.

. 

.  .

. 

Baseball….I miss you so. 

Pitchers and catchers report in five weeks. 

I paid for my season tickets today.

The offseason has been too stressful.

I yearn for SPRING TRAINING.

Thank you everyone for your prayers.  My Dad is doing great.  My sister is stable.  She is a fighter and always lands on her feet.  She had surgery to repair the aneurysm in her brain and now has excrutiating headaches.  But she is progressing as she should be according to her neurosurgeon.  I know everyone remembers how my sister bought me a whole wardrobe of Dodger wear prior to ST last year.  It was such a nice surprise.  She knows that baseball is my passion and the Dodgers are what makes me happy.  She doesn’t even like baseball but understands how I feel about it.  She loves surfing.  That is what completes her world.

They are having a minicamp at Dodger Stadium.  Attending are some of our rising stars including Blake DeWitt, James McDonald, and A.J. Ellis.  Also attending,  one of our only signings, Jamey Carroll who will start at second base.  New Dodgers John Ely and Jon Link, obtained in the Juan Pierre trade, also were there.  Top prospects Dee Gordon, Ivan DeJesus, Josh Lindblom, Chris Withrow, Ethan Martin and Aaron Miller are also there working out.

 Ivan DeJesus Jr.

The Dodgers seem to be basing their dreams on the young homegrown farm team.  There is a spot that needs to be filled in the SP, a veteran pitcher.  According to McCourt, there is money available.  So what is the holdup???  They probably should put out some money and get Vicente Padilla back since he probably will not ask for a huge salary.  Other possibilities on the radar are Jon Garland, Braden Looper and Joel Pineiro. 

 Andre Ethier……..PAY HIM NOW, FRANK

There is also talk of a two year contract for Matt Kemp.  It seems to be close to becoming reality.  There is also talk of one for Andre Ethier.  I hope that McCourt signs all our young superstars quickly.  Others who are eligible for arbitration: Broxton and Loney.  These players are the backbone of the Dodgers.  Give them the money, Frank!!!

I planned on going to Spring Training again this year but I may not since my family situation has changed.  Camelback is a beautiful place, wonderful for Dodger fans.  I would recommend everyone make the trip out there.  It is well worth it.

There is an event at the end of the month called Select a Seat where season ticket holders can check out the open season seats and make a change.  I plan on going but I love my seat.  The only other seat I would want would be a baseline seat or a dugout seat.  Yikes, I certainly can’t afford to pay $25,000 for a season!! 

They announced the Bobblehead Nights.  Yaaaaay!!  Of course Matt will have one.  Also included is Andre Ethier (finally) and Jonathan Broxton, our closer.  My favorite bobblehead of all time is still the Takashi Saito bobblehead. 

Thanks everyone for stopping by.  I love all of you.

I sometimes wish that my life would be more routine and uncomplicated.  I’m all for a schedule.  So far this off season has been more than topsy turvy for me.

My Dodgers have had such a lackluster off season that I have nothing much to write about them.  The only thing that makes it to any newspapers is either the McCourt Divorce or the Matt Kemp-Rihanna affair.  Both are distractions to the Dodgers.

Many have wanted my take on the Kemp-Rihanna affair.  I think that it is far too public for it to be something real.  Most stars want their private life and this whole situation is out there  revealing more than most care to know about.  Is this possibly to show the world that she has recovered from her Chris Brown relationship?  Is this a way to sell her new CD?  I hope Matt focuses when the season starts since this is his future.  Maybe he will be able to juggle personal life with professional life successfully as Andre Ethier has.  Nevertheless I want him to be happy.  That’s all I have to say about this.

My Dad spent 12 days in the hospital but is home now.  He is much better.  Thanks for all your prayers.  He is the light of my life and my best friend.

Yesterday my younger sister had a bad surfing accident when she was hit by a big wave.  She has a brain injury.  We will know more after an MRI and an angiogram.  I hope that all of my blog friends (whom I love with all my heart) will pray for her recovery.  She has broken her nose,in the past and several toes..  She has the gnarly feet of a surfer.  But she always goes back to the waves.  It’s what she lives for.  In her real life, she is a first grade teacher and a university graduate school professor,  She has her pHD.  She is footnoted in her specialty of whole language.  My sister has a lot to live for.

Soon baseball season will start.  I long for the simple life again where I look forward to home games, autographed balls, Dodger Dogs, baseline seats, Dugout Club.  Life is way too difficult away from my Dodgers. 

Thanks everyone for all your support.  And thanks again for all your kind words and prayers for my family. 

And thanks for stopping by!!     

Happy New Year to everyone.  It has been an interesting week for me.  My Dad has been in the hospital since Sunday so it has been a bit stressful.  I have been sleeping in a very uncomfortable chair.  I probalby have had a total of 4 hours of sleep in the last 2 days.  I am a bit weary.  Hopefully he will be discharged soon so my back can quit hurting.  And why does my neck feel like I have whiplash?  I am back to work as well. 

But I am excited about the new year.  Pitchers and catchers will be starting their training soon. Baseball is just around the corner.

There hasn’t been much action in Dodgertown.  The only talk you hear about is regarding the McCourt’s divorce.  I am so over that!!!  It is quite sad that after such an outstanding season, that it pretty much all anyone talks about.  We have wonderful Andre, our silver slugger, and Matt, our silver slugger and also golden glove.  Everyone hopes that Ned can pull a rabbit out of his hat again using little or no money.  There doesn’t seem to be much hope that the Dodgers can actually get a big money star.  We do have a lot of young talent so I am counting on them.  Who would have thought that Matt Kemp would have such a breakout year?  Or that Andre would be the hero in so many games?  The games were not short on excitement.

Here’s to a healthy, peaceful (please, please Frank and Jamie), happy 2010.

Thanks everyone for stopping by.  I love all of you and am glad we are keeping in touch this off season.  Please stay safe.

:Love Cat