In My Own Backyard

I know, I just blogged...but I know you want more!

Quickey...

This is what is in my backyard right now (sorry the pics aren't better...not enough light if you can believe that!).

I knew a rodeo would be back there every Thursday of the summer (no, I am not kidding!), but rides...a Ferris Wheel...maybe I could walk over and get some yummy, sticky cotton candy as a treat!!!

What Can One Girl Fit Into a Weekend?

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to return to the sunny land of California. It had been over 2 years since my last visit and now that I live much closer to the land of palms, I figured it was time. My parents had been wanting me to visit for some time and so for all of these reasons (and more I won't bore you with), I found the flight and made it work.

I originally thought it would just be a visit to San Diego (where my parents reside), but I had not seen my sis' new condo and so a visit to the OC was necessary. Well, then I found out that my friend, Larry, who lives in Germany, was going to be in Orange County for the Saturday of my visit. Michelle now goes into planning mode. How do we maximize the visit and make everyone relatively happen and completely wear myself out? I'VE GOT IT!

I will book a flight that leaves Denver at 7:10 am on Saturday. Now to some that seems like a reasonable flight time, right? Let's remember that I live 2 hours away from that airport! Yup, I got up at the lovely time of 2:45 am (!) to get to the airport for my flight. At least it is a direct flight. Let's have my sister pick me up, drive me to the OC, look at her condo for 2 seconds, take a shower (give a girl a break...not gonna take a shower at 2:45 in the morning!), and get ready. What am I getting ready for, might you ask?

My drive up to Northern Orange County to meet Larry so we can drive up to LA for the Dodgers/Cubs game!!!! Again, seems simple enough...yeah, no. Then let's get stuck in at least 15 miles of traffic on the 5 and get to Dodgers Stadium (paying $15 to park!) at the top of the 5th! Yeah...good times! The Cubs has already scored their 4 runs...we at least got to see the Dodgers score a couple and the Cubs did win. And of course, there was beer!!! Larry kept this girl well supplied and also bought very nice tickets, so I actually followed the game and enjoyed! No one is more shocked by this admission than me! The game portion of the story must end with the continued traffic on the 5 coming home too...I was missing my mountain small town at this point!

After the game, it was back down to southern Orange County and dinner with my sis. (Now let's review though...how much sleep have I gotten? Answer: 3.5 hours; how long have I been awake at this point? 18 hours. How much alcohol did I consume...that makes me utterly tired after the buzz? 4-5 beers). Ok, armed with this knowledge...yeah, Mischa is dead tired. My poor sister had a lousy date! Good thing she loves me dearly and got to spend the rest of the weekend with me.

Ok, this has gotten into so much detail, you guys are probably dead tired. I will speed this up! The rest of the weekend included shopping, shopping and oh yeah, shopping! I do so miss that living up here in the mountains, so my sis and mom and I did some damage. I took an early Father's Day hike with my dad which was fun times. We went to Point Loma (peninsula of San Diego where a lot of military is and a national monument site), did the hike, went down to the tide pools and stood in the ocean. I love spending time with Daddy-o! I went to see Pirates 3 with the parentals and it was okay. Nothing to write home about or see again. Could have been worse though...a lot worse! And last but not least, I laid out in the sun and got burned in 45 minutes. Let's just say a lot of men were staring at my chest yesterday and it wasn't because of my more than adequate rack... Still smarting from that little venture, but I will be tan soon enough!

My last little adventure of the trip was my return drive. I decided that I wanted to spend as much time with the fam as I could, so I took a late flight Tuesday night. Well, hail decided to hit Denver and of course, delayed my already late flight. I got to my car to start my 2 hour drive at 1 am!!! Yeah, this girl just doesn't seem to like to do this the easy way ever.

I really enjoyed my trip down south and found that I had missed the good ol' state of California. Gotta make sure to visit more often and of course, visit In-n-Out more often (2 times this trip!!!). I'll post some pics when I get them from my Dad.

End of the Road...this year

As all of my sports-minded friends know, the Bulls lost last Thursday and their season is done. For those that aren't sports-minded, sorry, another sports blog! Yes, it has been 4 days since the loss, but I have worked all weekend and just haven't gotten around to writing this blog yet.

Of course, there is disappointment that the Bulls couldn't get past the Pistons after taking 3 of 4 regular season games from them. That they blew their easy ticket into the Eastern Conference Finals by losing to the Nets on the last day of the regular season, hence setting up the meeting with the Pistons in the 2nd round and allowing Cleveland to be there for a 2nd time in a row. This is all stuff that doesn't put a smile on my face, for sure.

BUT, it is what it is. I last blogged about the Bulls when they were down 0-3. They finished the series with 2 wins. Two very convincing wins. Some may say that it was actually a dip in the Pistons' drive to win (as they are prone to do...see last year's Eastern Conference Finals). They wouldn't be completely wrong, but the Bulls had something to do with it too. Yes, Detroit's defense was not as strong, but the Bulls' offense finally came alive. In the first half of Game 4, they shot 72% and ended the game at 54%. That's not just Detroit getting lazy. Then in Detroit, for Game 5, they were pretty even until late in the 3rd quarter. Gordon and Heinrich again decided to show up and shoot the ball well. The Bulls' defense (which was 4th in the country for opponents field goal percentage) kicked some ass and held Detroit's guards down. Sheed got a few T's. Billups road the pine with some foul trouble. The Bulls had something to do with why the Pistons were not playing their best ball and getting two very necessary wins to preserve some pride in this series.

Right when you thought the Bulls had made it a series and might at least be in the elite number of teams to force a game 7 after being down 0-3 (as they were at home and should play better, right?), they were stymied by the Pistons and by themselves. Terrible shooting throughou the game (the 3-ball was pretty much non-existent even after taking around 30 of them in the game!) and panic at the end did them in. Yeah, the Pistons were on top of their game, but the Bulls kept it within reach the whole game...until panic set in and they couldn't seem to figure out what a decent look at the basket. In the last minute when it was decided, all of a sudden, "oh, I can hit a 3." Yeah, too late!

The Pistons know how to playoff ball...the Bulls don't. They showed their metal by beating the Heat in the first round, but they had been there before. They knew how it felt to be there and to be on the losing end. They hadn't been to Round 2 against a playoff ready team (previously, 4 straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals). They learned a lot this year...some triumph and some defeat.

But no team in the NBA is as set up to vastly improve on this year as the Bulls for next season. Because of the Curry trade to the Knicks, they get a lottery pick in the draft (not likely to be in the top 3, but at least a chance and no other playoff team has that!). Hopefully a big man can come our way and help out with position and scoring down on the blocks. We have some great trade value...of course, Paxson needs to be smart about who he trades, as to not alter this team's chemistry too much. Inside presence is necessary. PJ Brown kicked some Piston ass in the first half of game 6 with 20 points (and mysteriously rode the pine in the 2nd), but he is Old with a capital O for the NBA. Wallace is great on the boards and D, but can't buy a bucket at the stripe and doesn't know how to create offense on the block. The Bulls need some presence down there to open up the shooting for Gordon and Heinrich on the perimeter.

I finally have some hope for my young Bulls and am back to watching the NBA. Many people knock the thug league, but if you have a team like the Bulls (could possibly say a thug-less team!), you would be watching too. Great ball, the way it should be played.

Stumping for the NBA (and a little Bulls analysis too!)

The NBA—the forgotten major league. Yeah, everybody believes that the players are thugs. Just look to Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony and you have perfect examples of the thug look and mentality (the body art is amazing!). Not gonna deny that the NBA's image has definitely been tarnished over the last decade. Overpaid thugs playing not-so-amazing ball at times. I agree that the college ranks can put on a better show 9 nights out of 10 usually, but guess what? College ball is over and there is no football (oh, and baseball is in the first quarter of the season…). Why not watch a little NBA playoff action? If there is a year to do it…it's this year. Some of the big stories below and of course, a little Bulls blogging for good measure.

1. Dallas out in the first round. Who would have thunk it? But if you look back, Dallas has a horrendous record against the Warriors and Baron Davis finally was healthy. No one really saw this potential before the series (no one picks a #8 over a #1-especially the #1 of the whole league). But looking back, we should have given GS a bit more credit. Dallas was never able to breakdown the Warriors. Yes, Dallas has Dirk, the league MVP, but he was a no-show in this series. Sometimes match-ups matter more than records and having Nelson on the bench is always an asset. Kudos to the Warriors for one of the biggest stories of the post-season! And they continue, with a thumping last night against Utah. Can they upset again? A #8 in the Western conference finals?
2. To complement one 2006 finalist going down, why not mention (at least) the annihilation of the 2006 World Champion Miami Heat? Now, everyone knows that they are a bruised team…yes. But to go down in 4 to a bad road team? Also, a young team that has no paint presence outside of the offensively deficient Ben Wallace? The Bulls have to get some credit for taking them down in 4…not for winning…but how they won. All knew the Heat couldn't withstand a 7 game series (especially without home court), but the shutdown is what is remembered. Bye…bye…Heat.
3. New Jersey is my third story of the playoffs so far. Vince Carter played most of his career in Toronto, slogging away for a sub-standard expansion team. Yeah, they were always better than Vancouver and other expansions, but never playing with the big boys. He has been searching for playoff success for quite some time. The Nets, with Kidd and Carter, started to find some success last year, but finally losing to the eventual champs in the 2^nd round. This year's Toronto team was one of the Cinderella's of the regular season. They won the beleaguered Atlantic (worst division of all major league sports), having the 4^th best record in the East. Now, I admit, the East is soft, but for this expansion team, 4^th kicks ass. They really showed their chops this season. New Jersey hit their stride at the right time. Killing the Bulls in the last game of the season to move themselves up to 6^th and drop the Bulls to 5^th. They kept that momentum and moved right past this Cinderella. LeBron (aka the Cleveland Cavs) has dominated them early on their home court, but I don't expect Carter and Kidd to take it lying down in NJ. I expect a hard series from NJ.
4. I must comment on the Lakers and Kobe, just because of my biased hatred. No fight at all from what used to the World Champion Lakers. When Kobe imploded the team just a few seasons ago, he signed his own ticket to basketball mediocrity. Kobe may have had umpteen 40+ point games this season, but what did that get him? A first-round playoff embarrassment. What Kobe may or may not have done in now my backyard (yes, just down the highway from me…the infamous Eagle County Courthouse), whatever. What he did in LA by sending off his teammates so he could be the center of attention…a crime. I hope he gets to wallow in his pain for years to come.

My Bulls. I had such hope this season. I think I just got too excited and bought into the hype a bit too much. But they're my team…how could I not? Its been 9 long years since I saw a trophy hoisted on the shoulders of one of the great teams of all-time…I wanted to have that hope again. Instead, the nemesis of my youth is back again…mocking us. Detroit and Chicago are completely different teams than their last 80's teams, but that doesn't change the rivalry that is resurfacing. Back then it was the flop-meister Laimbeer, baby face Isiah, stoic Dumars, old man center Edwards, and future Bull Rodman. The Bad Boys. Now they have sickly looking Prince, spot on Billups, Sheed dominating inside, outside shooter Hamilton and surprise signer Webber. Completely different, but nonetheless deadly effective against my young Bulls. Their defense has been stifling…getting every loose ball and forcing massive internal bleeding by the Bulls in Detroit. Yes, some of the youthful brilliance of the Bulls showed on Thursday during the first half. It was salve to my soul to see them finally play the ball I know that they can play (if not inconsistently). But the Pistons took that away in the 3^rd, causing turnovers (most of the Bulls' 12 turnovers occurring in the 2^nd half), forcing the Bulls into horrible shots (10 of 41 in the 2^nd half), and forcing the Bulls to hang their heads, killing their spirit. I am hoping that the Bulls don't go down 0-4, but it definitely is a possibility with the way the Pistons are playing right now. I fault my Bulls for being young and a horrible road-team right now. But I credit the Pistons for stepping up and playing stifling playoff ball with uncanny precision. My hats off to my nemesis…

Coherent Theme...Please!

I should blog about what my vacation and all but I am not going to yet. Not particularly for any reason...just not all that interesting in doing so right now.

Not that I have much to blog about. It snowed all day today, yeah, in April. It didn't stick, but white stuff came down all day long. It was a bit odd, I must admit. While I was in DC and in Michigan, I saw 80+ degree days...and now, I am back to snow world. Kind of crazy...but I guess that is what I get for living in the mountains!!!

I wasn't as upset coming back as I thought I would be. I still don't have much of life here right now, but it is home, nonetheless. I loved coming back to my bed and my condo. I have committed to being more social from now on and we will see how that goes. My company is having a staff outing on Tuesday and we are going golfing. Have I stated yet that I have never really golfed in my life?! Yes, putt-putt, but not real golfing. I have a feeling, alcohol will have to play a role for me to have fun that day. I will let you know my abysimal attempts at golfing...it should be quite a riot for those in attendance. If there is photographic evidence of this event, I will try to avoid posting it for fear of incrimination.

Random change of subject...i really don't know what to do with my limited vacation left for this year. I am committed to two weddings and a trip to NYC with my sister (I am happy to do all of the above), but there a few other requests on my time this year. I want to do everything, but I can't. Rarrrr... I love to travel and spend time with friends...the biggest joy in my life. But I just can't do it all and I just don't know who to make happy and who to let down. And I actually can do more traveling than before cause my schedule is much more flexible...as long as I get my 40 hours a week, I am pretty good. But I also cannot be missing part of every week...just doesn't set a good precedent for the staff. So, I guess I will disappoint people this year which just absolutely tears me apart. That is definitely one thing that sucks about being out west..most of my friends are out east and that just means for longer trips and vacation time expended. Why can't this just be easy?

I know, this blog is all over the map and has no coherent theme. It might be the alcohol that I have consumed...probably good to blame it on that!!! Next time will be an actual update, I swear.

Dear Travel Diary...

As all know, I went to see my grandfather up in Michigan for the first half of my vacation. He had part of his leg amputated at the beginning of the year and he has been in a nursing home since the operation. He is working hard to get strong enough to go home and leave the home. I was able to sit with him and talk, play cards...just share the same space...just feel the love that we have for each other. He has such strength, such determination, such love. I can only hope to be the type of person that he is. I really do love spending time with him, no matter where it is, no matter what the circumstances. I love him dearly!

While I was up there, I spent time up on our family's land. My uncle and I went on a 20 mile 4-wheeler adventure and had a blast. It was 80 degrees outside, beautiful blue skies, with a bright sun. We saw all kinds of wildlife and just enjoyed being outside! Later in the week, I went up to the land by myself. First time being up there by myself. It was great...I love that place! I took out the 4-wheeler and tried to find the paths my uncle showed me. Yes, I am bright enough that when I didn't know where the path was, I turned around. I am still here, aren't I?? But I did find some of the paths and it was great. Just turning off the motor and being in the still silence, with spring starting to sprout around me. Feeling the anticipation in the air...yeah, waxing poetic...the beauty of the place strikes me every time.

I went to DC next...whirlwind, definitely. I was so tired by the time I got home because of everything that I did! I was able to see most of my friends, ate some good food, did some much needed shopping and even snuck in some WT work to make a few bucks! Oh, and I completely made a fool of myself (well, no one was around, so did I make a fool of myself???) by falling on the back deck of my friends' townhouse, creating 3 mondo bruises on my body...oh yea, this was in a skirt, in the rain...and I fell on my butt!!! If I was watching I would fall down laughing...but no one saw it...and the pain prevented me from laughing at the time. I do try to be as graceful as possible!

There are many stories to be had from the trip, but I don't want to bore you with all the details. Quick rundown: bar hopping with my Mormon friends (yes, I was the only one inbibing and that I definitely did!), spending time with mohawk Zimri and his bum leg(yes, mohawk...wish I had taken some photographic evidence!), duck pin bowling (where 5 Army guys tried to pick Alison and I up...in a duck pin bowling alley and we actually admitted we had driven 30 minutes to go d.p. bowling!...so sad), two great sessions of tennis with Ali (don't ask how horribly I played...6 months will do that to a girl!), getting "my" hair back (the color is here to stay!!!), and much much more!! I had a great time...I just wish I would have had more time to play! Guess that will have to wait until September when I will be next in DC.

I had some pretty stupid, frustrating travel incidents too, but again, won't bore you. Suffice it to say...flights were canceled, running through airports in skirts with all of my luggage happened, 3-hour van ride with crazy oil riggers occurred, and much, much more. Never a dull moment when traveling with ME!!!!

At the Movies

I haven't blogged movie reviews in a while. That is due to two factors: no great movies at the theatres and not watching many movies period for me. So, in the span of a few days, I saw 3 movies that are of varying styles. Here are my reviews:

I watched On the Waterfront this weekend. As we all know, I am not an old movies fan, at all. I felt that I needed diversify a bit, so I am hitting some of the "classics." A couple of weekends ago, I finally watched Psycho (not just the scary shower scene, the whole movie!...who knew there was plot around that scene??!). Last weekend was Marlon's time on the screen. Psycho completely underwhelmed me, I cannot even explain. I don't really fault Hitchcock because back in his day, what he did was new and industry-altering. A first viewing in the 21^st century just doesn't create such excitement. I cleaned throughout the whole movie, to have something to do (and we all know how much I love to clean!). In contrast, my butt stayed securely on the couch through On the Waterfront. Now, the background music was corny (at times almost superseding the dialogue) and some of the cinematography was cheesy, but overall, I enjoyed the movie. I was truly surprised 'cause I really had low expectations. It took me like 6 weeks to finally bust it out of the envelope and watch it. I will be mocked for the following comment…but I loved that Herman Munster was in it!!! Yeah, I know he did other work than the Munsters, but he will forever be Herman to me…not a union thug On the Waterfront!

Against my better judgement, I decided to try Ben Affleck out. Hollywoodland. There has to be a good Affleck film at some point, right? Wrong! Yeah, didn't enjoy it at all. Interesting piece of Hollywood history, but that is about it. Just not worth it at all. There is just nothing else to say about this one…

Third film…Spidey!!!! Yeah, last night, I plunked down my $9 for a view of Spiderman 3. I loved the villains…Sandman and Venom. Thomas Hayden Church was a nice choice as Sandman, but the special effects for him were great!!! Topher Grace as Venom was not so exciting, but the character itself, great pick, well developed (technically speaking). The one thing that the Spidey series is able to do is to really add the comic book effects without ruining the movie. There is one scene where Spidey is running to go save someone and he runs right in front of an American flag…I could just picture that as a cell of a strip. Tobey balances the two characters well…adding the "evil" Spidey this time too. I cannot say I was doing back-flips through the aisles of the theatre, but a good flick. I didn't like the 2^nd so much…didn't like the villain or the storyline all that much. This one is a definite improvement in my eyes.

I have a feeling that I will be making my return to the movies now that I have some extra time on my hands and I have changed my Blockbuster queue a bit so I get a better mix of movies (instead of all oldies). And of course, the summer movie season is upon us (mind you, I find the fall/early winter season better for "serious" film…not just blockbusters meant to sell tix to the kiddles).

Anyone else seen something worth watching these days???