Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cancer

This past weekend one of my co-workers lost her cousin to cancer. This makes me sadder than anyone will ever know. I HATE CANCER!!! I know many people do but everytime I hear of someone finding out they have cancer or dying from cancer, I want to punch things. I have seen first hand how terrible this disease is. Take my dad for example, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer almost 10 years ago. It was one of the most horrible things I have ever seen in my life. He literally wasted away to almost nothing. He thought he had no chance of survival. Somehow, some way, he was able to beat it and I am grateful for that every day. A dear friend of mine Jill, just lost her uncle to pancreatic cancer.
This is not supposed to be a sappy post but I will tell you, I am sick of people suffering and dying at the hand of this disease. I feel like cancer doesn't just "affect" people...it bitch slaps people or sucker punches them. It comes of out of nowhere and rocks people to the core. I think about what I would do if someone came up and slapped me across the face out of nowhere, I would be so pissed and want to slap back. Sadly, with cancer, when it hits you, you don't always get the opportunity to hit back. With that being said, as you can see by the picture above family is very active in not only fighting Pancreatic Cancer, but all cancers! There has to be a cure out there and we all need to work together to find it. Make sure to visit The American Cancer Society to find events or to learn how to host a fundraising event in your area.
I have seen so many friends suffer and lost a few along the way. I am determined to make a difference! Sometime I will share more details about my dad's story because it is good one. I think, if you have a positive story, SHARE IT! It goes along way!

Eat, Drink, and Be Mary

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Always Remember

As every one knows, today marks the 10 year Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001. I am not sure I like to call it an "anniversary". I feel like that word is usually used to mark a celebration...that was such a terrible day for millions of people but I guess we have come a long way since then and today we should celebrate the people who have lost lives and loved ones as a result of the the attacks.
Its days like today that make me so thankful for everything that I have. I have great friends, an amazing family and overall, a fantastic life. When I start to get down, I look around me and see all of the wonderful things in my life. I wouldn't be able to have this life if it weren't for the people who have made so many sacrafices. I remember the day it all happened....I was in high school, I thought it was all fake. Sadly, it wasn't.
Everyone needs to take time today to reflect. Gone but never forgotten!

Eat, Drink, and be Mary

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Softball

Back when I was a kid, tee ball, softball and baseball were the "it" things to do. I remember watching my sister play teeball and being sad that I had to wait 2 more years to play in the dirt. Oddly enough, when it was my turn, the boys on the team never let the girls really play. Our coaches would tell us to walk to the grass and then take 20 steps and stand there. I mean, what 5 year old hits a ball off a tee that far? And in the event that a ball did come out to a girl, a boy ran to us and took it out of our glove to throw it in. Needless to say, I skipped the second year of teeball. I did however come back the following year to play softball. I thought I was really good at it and it was really fun, until I started playing soccer. A sport I was in fact good at! During my career as a softball player, I discovered I could run pretty fast, making bunting the ONLY way I could get on base. I wanted to be a pitcher, but wasn't very good at it. I wanted to be a catcher but found out really quickly that with all the equipment on, I could not get the ball to second base from home plate. At the ripe age of 13, I decided softball would never be for me!
Fast foward to being a college graduate...softball now means a bunch of friends getting together with a couple cases of beer for a friendly game. I thought PERFECT! My brother has always played pick up softball with his friends and seemed to enjoy it. One summer afternoon, Tommy left to go play softball...no one thought much of it. Then about 2 hours later, I got a call from his buddy and he said "Tommy got hit in the head. He was pitching and the ball came off the bat right back at him." If you know my family, you can imagine that my first reaction was laughter. What a funny site that would be to see. Then...a few hours later, my dad called me to tell me they were rushing him to the ER. He ended up having a fracture in his skull and had to stay in the hospital for a week! From that day on, I was always apprehensive playing softball to the point where in one game, I was catching and the umpire told me I had to stand in front of him....I wasn't allowed to stand behind him. I haven't played softball in years because clearly, co-ed indoor soccer is a much safer sport;)
This past Thursday, I was playing volleyball, in the championship which we sadly lost and I noticed a missed call from my aunt. Didn't think much of it because it was late so I wasn't concerned. As we finished playing, my brother called me as he always does to make sure I am ok to drive (which is really sweet of him) and to tell me, my cousin Dan (aka CD, Cousin Dan) broke his leg earlier in the night. How you ask....PLAYING SOFTBALL!!! His foot got caught under the fence and his leg hit the metal bar in the fence breaking his tibia AND fibula!! He had surgery yesterday morning to put a metal rod in his leg and make sure the bones are set. It was the FIRST inning!! I saw him yesterday after his surgery and he seems to be in good spirits but knows the road to recovery ahead of his will be long!!
So basically, I would like to warn all of you that SOFTBALL IS THE WORST!!! I will tell you right now, none of my kids will be playing that ridiculous sport....

Eat, Drink, and Be Mary

Thursday, September 8, 2011

It the Most Wonderful Time...

....FOR A BEER!!!!

Why is this time better for a beer than any other time you ask?? Well, let me explain...tonight, on this Wonderful Thursday in September, the NFL Regular Season kicks off! I will be the first to admit that I am a baseball girl through and through but there is something electric about the NFL. Maybe it is the change of season or the festive fall beers that are popping up everywhere...I don't know but I am SUPER excited for it!
To show how little I really know about football, I don't even remember the year the Rams came to St. Louis but I do remember the first game I ever went to. The first season they were in town the TWA/Edward Jones Dome was not complete so they played at Busch Stadium. I went to the game with my Grandpa Rybicki, the Rams played the 49ers and lost 49-7. That is about all I could tell you about the game. As I went to more games with my Grandpa, he taught me about football and once I understood the game better, I really enjoyed it! Now I live in a house of football fanatics! You may think fanatics is a stretch but let me tell, my dad bought himself a new keg-a-rator for his birthday that is within steps of the newly appointed "football room". What is in said "football room" you ask? Well, my love seat that I am simply STORING here until I make my next move, my 42 in. television along with a 52 in. television, with a third on the way, 2 HD boxes to watch multiple games at once (the third TV will simply be for the Red Zone Channel so they don't miss a minute of the action) and wait for it...an easle, with a dry erase boars and little magnets of the teams players....you know..to map out plays and stuff. And that is all just for football Sundays. I am not sure what will take place on College Football Saturdays...only time will tell.

So for all of you anxiously awaiting the start of the NFL regular season, head to your man caves and get ready! One good thing will come from the football insanity at my house....it is preparing me to be an amazing football wife some day!

Grab a beer, grab your friends, and Enjoy the next 16 weeks!

Eat, Drink, and Be Mary

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Wednesday!!

Wow, I have been out of the loop for the past week! I could go on with the most random blog of all time but I will spare everyone and make it the SECOND most random blog of all time! Ha! This past holiday weekend, I took a couple extra days off work to head to Columbus, OH for a wedding! It was nice to spend a weekend with someone special during a very special time for him and his family! It was a BLAST! I always find it hard when I am at weddings, not to look back on other weddings I have been to and find similarities and differences...make mental notes for myself should that day ever come;) What I find amazing is how exhausting weddings are! Most people say it is the most special day of your life. WRONG...it is the most special THREE days in most cases! I know for my sister's wedding, as well as many others I have been a part of, there is the Welcome BBQ for out of towners and long lost family. Then, on to the rehearsal dinner! Not to mention everything that goes on the day of the rehearsal, nails, luncheons and stuff like that. I feel like by the time the wedding rolls around, the whole point of the weekend, I am wiped out and ready to go through detox. But never fear, I am always ready to enjoy the festivities of the day! Weddings really are a wonderful thing! But, clearly the people of India have it right, they acknowledge the three days of celebration and embrace it! Take note:) It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple and I wish them nothing but the happiest life ever!!

To go along with weddings, I would like to say a HUGE CONGRATS to pretty much ALL of my friends! There have been so many wonderful things happening for them; weddings, babies, more babies, engagements, new houses, new homes and adventures. I would like to say that they are all amazing and deserve NOTHING but the best in life and I am so happy that I have been able to be around to see all the joy you guys are experiencing! For those that follow my blog (which I know is not many);) You guys are the best and I love you!!

Until Next Time,
Eat, Drink, and be Mary