Angels in My Life

Based on that title, you're expecting a mushy post, aren't you? Really?

It's like you don't even know me.

I mean the Anaheim Angels. Okay, right the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (but that's just so stupid; the Angels and Disneyland are NOT in Los Angeles. Sorry. Pet peeve on the loose).

The Angels have played a special part in my and Chris's (epic!) love story. Our first date was at an Angels game (June 12, 2004); we've managed a Angels game every year since (preferably in the Diamond Club. Ahem.), even last year post-chemo but in the midst of radiation we spent our anniversary at the Angels game (see photo to right: fake hair; fake eyelashes; real smiles).

But recently, we had the ultimate Angels experience. Well, ultimate in a year when they weren't going to see any post-season play (which is a nice way of saying they sucked).

We were guests of Bank of America in a Dugout Suite. Which is...Sweet!!! Check out these seats!! It's like he was pitching to us.

(real hair; real eyelashes; real happiness...and yeah, that sky's real too. We're standing, but our seats are right there. Right. There. Awesomeness.)

Dessert cart inside the suite. Oh. My. Gawd. Yeah, I went for that red velvet cake you see in the upper right. Did I mention the bar in the suite? Yep, that too. But back to the game...

Ok, so I had to use my zoom lens on this one, but still...I'm loving this shot. I may have a sports photographer career in my future. Or some next life. Truly an amazing experience to view the game this close up. It reminded me of the first time I sat really close up at a ballet. I was forth row center--close enough to hear the ballerinas grunt (occasionally), see their muscles quiver, and ...get sprayed with sweat following some otherwise spectacular spins. At this Angels game the crack of the bat was much louder, we could hear the players talking (and yelling), we could hear the umpire's calls clearly and even heard him "caution" the Oakland A's players who were getting a little, well, rude about his calls. We could even get dusty from the field.

This shot was taken before the game started (and it was hot out, so most folks are inside the suite...where the bar and the food were), but gives you an idea just how cool our seats were.

Yep. Loving those Angels in my life.

Chemo Brain?

I don't really think I have chemo brain, but I did forget two things last night. One, these were our fantastic seats at Angel Stadium:

Thanks to GUY and LAUREEN PITTMAN who have fabulous season tickets.

And two, you only have 3 days left to vote in the hotly contested "when should Chris cut his hair" poll. If you like the Jay Leno look, well you may be in luck since RORYANN CLEMENTS seems to be running a successful campaign to keep Chris in curls until December. If you prefer the Vince Gill look, well, you should start voting so Chris can cut his hair sooner. (He saw two friends last night who both greeted him with a command: "Haircut!!" Way to keep up on the blog, guys.)

Vote on the sidebar to the right (you have to scroll down a bit). And vote right.

An Angels Anniversary (it was all A's)

Be warned--if you are looking for some sad, crazy, or even funny cancer treatment story you've got the wrong blog today. Yeah, sure, this is a blog about my cancer "odyssey" but I took the day off from cancer. Instead, it's a happy little post about Chris and me celebrating our five year anniversary. June 12, 2004 was our first date--at an Angels game. So, June 12, 2009 found us back in the Diamond Club at an Angels game (that's why we are dressed alike. We don't normally do that. I promise. And wow, isn't Chris great at those arm in the air self-photos?) You can tell it was a special occasion because I'm in drag (hair and eyelashes! This was big!)

Our first date was a lot of fun (yeah, um, that's why we kept dating) and it also marks the anniversary of me learning the term "cougar." (I've now perfected my knowledge. Ahem.) There were a pair of cougars in the seats in front of us at that first game. This time, there was a family of four (note back of heads; ladies--do not do this to your hair. And this is coming from a woman who has no hair). Both times however, there were obnoxious drunk guys behind us. Ah, public sporting events. But the Angels were kind enough to win for us, and Angels Stadium set off a bunch of fireworks--just for us, we're sure. I like these times when I get to return to normal, however briefly. And nothing says normal like bad dye jobs, drunk guys and fireworks at a baseball game. I may have been a little more tired than normal, and "in drag" but it was a great night out with a fantastic man who doesn't care if I'm in drag, or bald or fighting cancer, or cranky, or any of those things I've been in the last several months. Which is why mostly what I've been for the last five years is lucky.

Oh, and Chris didn't even mind that for the second time in 5 days a stranger came up to him and commented that he looked like Jay Leno. He didn't even mind when drunk Angels fan asked him to do a Jay Leno impression (yes, he did it and yes, it's very good). When his hair is long, people think he looks like Jay Leno. When it's short, Vince Gill. You decide. To me, he's all Chris. And all mine. ;-)