THEN THERE WAS ONE.....

I am sad to report that the Whitesox swepted the Astros in 4 games. I know...I said that I didn't care if they won or lost because they made it to the World Series and just making it was an outstanding accomplishment. And you know, it's not that they played bad...they didn't. The only bad thing was that the pitching broke down. If they would have pitched like they did in the Cardinals series it would have been a different story. Oh well, I could make excuses all day and it wouldn't change the fact that we lost. Here's to next year.

WE STILL LOVE YOU 'STROS!!!

What Can You Say?

The Whitesox seem to be catching the breaks. We haven't won a single game in the world series. Last night it was so close. All the Sox have to win is one more and that's it. Oh well. GO STROS!!

Game 2

Well, now we are down 2 games. White Sox won last night in the bottom of the 9th. The Astros are playing so well, I wish they could catch a break! GO STROS!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!

And So It Begins...

Game one of the World Series is history now. White Sox beat us 4-3. That's ok. We lost the first game of the Cardinals series also. This is the best of 7 so I am not worried yet.

GO Astros! We Love Ya!!!

It's Over! They Did IT!

After a disappointing game on Monday night, the Astro's pulled it off tonight with an OUTSTANDING game! They beat the Cardinals, 5-1 to take the Pennant in the National League, and a really impressive trophy too. First time in franchise history to go to the world series and first time ever for a world series to be played in Texas.

Now, starting Saturday, Astros will play the Whitesox starting in Chicago. Lets Go Astros! You can do it!

Disappointment

Can you believe this? The Astros, at the top of the ninth were ahead 4-2. Our supposed best pitcher came in to finish off the 9th inning. He got out two people...oh my...all we need is one more out to go to the world series!!! OH MY!! Minute Maid Park was so loud you couldn't hear a thing! Then the Cards got a base hit. Then he stole second. Then our great pitcher walked the next guy...ok...still waiting for that last out! The next guy...with the best batting average in the National League steps up...he hadn't done anything all night. HIT A HOME RUN!!!! Score 5-4 Cardinals. Well, then we got that out...and we were up, and then we were down. So now we have to go to St. Louis tonight and try to get the job done. If they blow this after being 3-1 I am going to be so upset!!!

GO ASTROS!!! GET 'R DONE!!!

One Game Away!!!

Astros beat the Cardinals tonight 2-1 to move them up 3 games to 1. We just have to win tomorrow night. The game is in Houston and we have the best home record in the National League. Tonight they threw out the coach and a batter of the Cardinals. It was great!

Astros have NEVER gone to the World Series. Go Stros!!! Go Stros!!!

2-1

Astros are leading the Cardinals 2 games to 1. They are playing in Houston today and tomorrow. If we win today and tomorrow then we will go to the World Series for the first time......ever! Looks like we will be playing the Chicago Whitesox when we do. It will be their first time since 1917.

So...grab your peanuts and cracker jack....here we go! GO STROS!

Just Some Updates

We have lived in Iron Mountain, Michigan for a year now. (As of Sept. 24). We will be here at this house a year on Nov. 3. Still love it, especially with the new windows. We have great landlords.

I have had a migraine for 2 days now. The headache part is gone but I still have the vision problems. It is driving me crazy. I woke up Thursday morning about 3:30 draming I had a bad headache and when I woke up it wasn't a dream. I didn't think I was ever going to get back to sleep. I took two tylenol and finally did. I woke up with it again in the morning and had the part of it where light hurts the eyes. I guess this is the worst one I have ever had. Guess I'm going to have to break down and go to the Dr. I hate going to the dr.

Jeremy got his DL in the mail yesterday. It's official. He sure is missing Texas and I have a feeling as soon as he can he will be back there.

I guess that's all. I am going to post finished window pictures in a while.

Take care!

R

All Tied Up!!

Astros are all tied up 1-1 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Now there are three games in Houston, which would be wonderful if we could go in and take the next 3 games. Then we would be going to the World Series for the first time in Astros history. Game 3 tomorrow afternoon.

GO STROS!!!!

Go Astros!! Beat the Cardinals!!! Game one on Wednesday. 

HOW BOUT THEM STROS!!!

In the longest game in baseball history, the Astros FINALLY beat the Braves 7-6 after nearly 6 hours and 18 innings. Way to go 'stros!!! We love ya! Good luck against the Cards. I know that the St. Louis Cardinals are a tough team and we have had our share of problems with them but if they put the hearts in to it the Astros can do anything. Everyone was counting them out in the middle of the season and look now. Woo Hoo!!!

Ok. That's enough. I'm cold. I need to get dressed.

GO STROS!!!

This Is The Day That The Lord Hath Made

We woke up this morning to a glorious day. It is just beautiful, cool, but very sunny and beautiful. We went to church. We hadn't been in a while and it was so good. The church is growing. That's always a good thing. A man was saved today, a Vietnam vet. Also a family joined.

Trim is up on the windows outside. They still have to come and insulate the inside and put the trim back up. We actually turned on the heater yesterday morning for a few minutes, or maybe it was Friday morning. Anyway, it's off now. It is cool in here but I think I need a nap and I can cover up. Jeremy stays covered up.

Mark leaves for Washington DC tomorrow. He is going to Central Office to work on a project and will be back on Thursday, late.

I found out through an e-mail that my friend, who is like my younger sister comes to the blog to keep up with me since I am a bad friend/big sister and do not keep in touch with her. She knows I love her and I am so glad that she comes to this. Love ya Nik!!!

I guess this is all I have to report.

Favorite movie and soundtrack this week.....The Phantom of the Opera. WOW!

See ya!

R

The dark hole. It was rather interesting to see them get that solid peice of glass out of the window.  

Kitchen and living room. 

This is the old wood and glass. 

Two windows in guest bedroom. 

Our bedroom. 

Front window. The two ends open. 

NEW WINDOWS...JUST IN TIME!!

We have new windows!! They came yesterday and started and got the second one in just before the big storms hit. When they took out my big front window it made me sad. I was afraid I was going to lose my view. But...we didn't. Also, the window opens now!! Nice breeze off the lake.

The other ones are just windows and they slide left to right, or right to left...whatever. Now they have to come back and do the trim.

It's cold now. Saw a few flurries this afternoon. Here we go!!

See ya!

New fridge and someone has already junked up the top. I had just put my spice racks up there. Oh well...watcha gonna do? 

New fridge is smaller than old one. Used to couldn't see lightswitch. 

PULLING THE PLUG

Our refrigerator decided to give up the ghost on Sunday. Mark asked me if I thought it was getting warm and sure enough it wasn't cooling and freezing like it should. It was an expensive side by side and I have hated it since the 2nd day I had it. Come to find out, the thing we bought new was refurbished. Oh well, it was bought from Montgomery Wards in Houston, TX and they are now out of business.

Called Mom upset about it and she said that he needed to blow off the dust of the coils in the back and see if that helps. He did, it didn't. By now it is on life support. So, he went to our favorite furniture and appliance dealer, Appliance and Furniture Mart of Iron Mountain, MI (plug) and talked to Dave, or Mike whatever his name is and he told Mark to defrost it, check the drainage hole and a few other things. Did them all and it didn't work. So, he sent us a new refrigerator and we just have to pay payments on it. He didn't even want anything down.

So we pulled the plug. Said our goodbyes, emptied the food into ice chests and waited for the new one to be delivered. It came, Mark put the food in and we are back in business.

Mark did most of everything because the weather has changed and gotten very humid and warm and it has really wreaked havoc on my asthma. I couldn't breath yesterday at all.

Oh well. Happy Happy.

Bye

SAFE

I forgot to tell you that my parents and family made it through the storm. They lost power during the night but they didn't get much damage. I think a couple of pieces of tin blew off the roof but that's about it. It sure was scary for them all though. We had bought Dad a weather radio/tv, flashlight, etc. combination for Father's Day and they said it really came in handy during all this.

The Lake Livingston dam broke and drained the lake. They drove around their neighborhood the other day and mom said that they were so lucky. A lot of people had a lot of damage.

THey have a generator so they were able to save a lot of their stuff in the freezer but the refrigerator food was all ruined.

So, since the rumor was no lights for 2 weeks they packed up the freezer and the dog and headed to my sisters near Tomball, TX. They just got ights on Friday I think it was. So they went up to clean up everything. They had just left the house, dishes and all. NOTE: If you know my mom, you know that this was a major thing for her to do because she doesn't leave a dirty dish anywhere!!! Then they went back to Sherryl's and are going home today.

But they are safe. Thanks for your prayers.

R

Go Stros!! 

HOW BOUT THEM STROS!!!

They did it!!! The Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 today at Minute Maid Field in Houston to clinch the Wildcard playoff spot. They will now play the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday at Atlanta who are always a tough team to beat. GO STROS!!!

This is Pizza Butt. 

Downtown Minneapolis 

See the church under the overpass? It is GIGANTIC!!! I didn't get a very good picture but this thing was so big. I guess the biggest church I've ever seen. 

Minnesota sign. 

Mark driving 

Our Trip To Minneapolis

I decided it was time to write about our trip to Minneapolis, MN. It was nice but so expensive. We stayed at the Hilton downtown and all of the restaurants around it were so expensive. There was a Chipolte that we ate at a couple of times that wasn't too bad.

I went to the Mall of America on Monday. It is huge!! I took the lightrail out to it. Then walked back from the lightrail station to the hotel. (7 blocks and it was rather warm.) Anyway, Mall of America (MOA) was great. It was huge. There were some neat stores in there. Build-a-Bear Workshop, BOWWOW MEOW, For Barefeet Only and many many more. I bought a couple of things on Monday like yogurt covered milk bones for Heidi, a pair of socks with dolphins on them for me. At MOA they don't charge sales tax on clothing. Anyway, but there was so many stores I wanted to share with Mark so I didn't really buy that much. We went back on Saturday and spent the day. When I got back on Monday after all that good walking, my calves hurt so bad the next day I thought I was going to die!!

We went to Build-A-Bear first because we knew the lines would be long on Saturday. On Monday there were 1/4 of the people there were on Saturday. It was packed on Saturday.
Mark made Jeremy a monkey. He named him Funky Monkey, but Jeremy has renamed him "Pizza Butt". Long story. Anyway, Jeremy loved it. We got a voice box put in it and it is a monkey sound. Jeremy is driving us crazy with the monkey sound!!

Mark got a black bear, (his new fascination is black bears) and it's voice box says "I Love You".

We ate some pretty good bar-b-q at MOA and had a good time.

I forgot to tell you that he was done on Friday about noon and we went out to an outlet mall to get Jeremy some pants and we went to the movies. We saw Almost Heaven, or Just like Heaven...anyway, it was soooooooooo good!!!

Anyway, then we left and came home on Sunday morning. We were so excited to get home and see the kids (Jeremy, Heidi and Abby) that we didn't stop one time. 5 hour drive and not a stop. That's a record for us.

Ok. I guess that's all I have to say. I have decided that if Mark goes to any more of these things that I probably won't go. It did get better once we realized that there was a convience store in the skyway to the Hilton that had sandwiches and didn't bankrupt us.

He leaves for Washington DC on the 10th. Oh well. I knew when he took this job he would be traveling alot. He will be back on the 13th. He has to go to help on a special project. He is really excited. He might even meet President Bush. Wish I could.

That's it. Take care and enjoy the pictures