Opening Day For The Kleve's

My family and I went on a fabulous, eventful family vacation the first week in April!!  We purchased tickets to match our bucket list goals, packed up the van and headed East to New York City!  It was Opening Week for Major League Baseball and Monday, April 1, was our first stop for Opening Day Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  As Cubs fans, it doesn't get much better than that!  The morning began with a wintery drive, but luckily the snow subsided and the sun came out in time for the game.  (It was still cold though!)  We bundled in double sweatshirts, winter coats, hats, gloves etc. and followed the crowd down the street, along a path near the river, across Roberto Clemente Bridge, down the middle of the closed highway, and into PNC Park. Our seats were in the outfield and although we were slightly behind a pole, we could see. I took photos of the players, mostly the Cubs, as well as photos of Shawn and the kids in the stadium. I also took a few photos of the Pirates.  Despite the cold, it was a good game and the Cubs even won!  “Rizzo” of the Cubs hit a home run and we ended up in the crowd in a photo in Sports Illustrated.  How cool is that?!

The next day, we arrived in New York City via New Jersey, the Holland Tunnel and the Lincoln Tunnel; through many lanes of traffic, toll booths and a few stressful moments. As our van hit the main streets of Manhattan, we were greeted by near-rush-hour traffic as taxi cabs and other cars were honking and lurching forward amid green lights, yellow lights and even red lights; while crowds of people rushed across the streets despite the fact that we were trying to drive through the intersection and the light was actually green!  With stiff necks and pounding hearts, we pulled into the parking area of the hotel before 3pm.  We made it!
 

 In our hotel room, we were amazed by our view of Times Square from the 25^th floor. Eventually, we tore ourselves away from our view and the security of our room, mustered up some bravery, and headed downstairs and out the front door.  We were greeted immediately by gazillions of people all walking at a hurried pace, most seemingly dressed in dark colors with headphones and cell phones and busy schedules. We attempted to step into pace with them but were a bit dizzy as we tried to check out the sites, gather a few photos, keep track of where we were as well as where we were going, all while making sure we didn’t get run over by vehicles or even pedestrians. We were in awe at large TV screen billboards as we walked down the street and found our way to the Minskoff Theater where we would be attending a Broadway production of Lion King a few hours later.  In time, we grew a little more accustomed to our surroundings and the pace of the city.  We easily found the theater and our tickets and our way to our seats. We had seats in the mezzanine section in the second row …. Great seats! The play was amazing, the acting was fabulous, the costumes and set were brilliant and the experience gave me chills as the play began. It was also enjoyable because it was a movie we had watched many, many times when the kids were very small! Even Shawn seemed to enjoy the show and was amazed at the set and costumes.  I think the kids enjoyed it too even though they didn’t want to admit it.

 As soon as the play ended and the applause was over, we headed out of the theater and quickly made our way over more than 10 blocks down Broadway to Madison Square Garden where we hoped to get last minute tickets to the NIT Final Four Iowa Hawkeye basketball game that had just started. The next few moments were quite a story to be told as we attempted to get into the game.  To make a long story short, we made it in and enjoyed an unexpected bucket list item that night!  (The story is another blog all of it’s own).  Anyway, our seats were pretty high up … but we didn’t care … we were inside Madison Square Garden for the NIT Final Four game with the Iowa Hawkeyes!

The next three days we tackled the sights of New York City.  You name it, we probably saw it, even if we only caught a glimpse!  We had the opportunity to view the city from the observation deck of the Empire State Building.  We could see for miles … the tops of very tall buildings … the skyline … the Hudson River … the World Trade Center … Statue of Liberty … etc. It was quite cold outside, which, although it required coats and hoods etc., it also probably kept a few people inside so we could have a better view with fewer people (can’t complain about that!)

On a bus tour, we managed to catch some sights and learn a few things as we went past a variety of sights including Wall Street and the Wall Street Bull. We saw the ball that is dropped on New Year’s Eve.  We saw areas affected by Hurricane Sandy and the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge from a number of angles. We saw a variety of sights where movies were filmed including KATZS restaurant from “When Harry Met Sally”, the bar from “Coyote Ugly”, sights from "Friends" and "Sex in the City", buildings from "I Am Legend", "Ghost Busters", "The Proposal" … etc. We also saw one site where they were in the process of filming a movie right then.  We saw buildings where famous people had lived and were told that we probably had seen a variety of famous people walking among us in Manhattan, although we hadn’t noticed. We went through China Town and Little Italy. We saw the American Girl Store, Saks Fifth Avenue, and a variety of shops in SOHO. We went by the Waldorf Hotel, the United Nations, the Chrysler building, flat iron building etc.  We didn't experience much of the food in New York City ... we didn't have time!  We actually ate one meal at McDonald's, one at Applebees, popcorn in the baseball stadiums and a quite a few bologna sandwiches in our hotel room.  We experienced traffic jams, irate tourists and New York City folks trying desperately to prove they are not as rude as some may think!

We viewed the World Trade Center Memorial and took a few photos.  They were in the process of constructing the new towers which will include an observation deck. We walked up a number of blocks to the “Staten Island Ferry” where we hopped on a Harbor Cruise to see the Statue of Liberty. However, we could not actually go onto Elis Island or into the Statue of Liberty due to continued damage from Hurricane Sandy. (I think people will be permitted to go there later this summer).  We saw the sites of the city skyline from the harbor and also went under the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Again, I took lots of photos. It was nice that we managed to fit in a “boat ride” as we do on almost every family vacation.

We also went on another tour where we saw lots of amazing, historical architecture including churches etc. We drove by the New York Ballet, New York Philharmonic and Manhattan School of Music. We saw the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Gugenheim Museum. The architecture of the Gugenheim was very different and something to see. We saw Grant’s Tomb and the site where John Lennon was shot which has a memorial candle burning. We went by Central Park from all sides.  We went down the streets of Harlem where we witnessed people living their day-to-day lives and we saw sites where Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had been. We saw graffiti on a wall that said “Harlem Shake”. Since "The Harlem Shake" is such a big thing these days, I tried to take a picture … but so did the guy behind me … so I didn’t get it!

We got off the tour bus just in time to head on down the sidewalk to catch the subway to the Bronx for the Yankee’s Game.  Getting on the subway, we had to be careful not to let the doors close before we all hopped on.  We didn’t want to leave anyone behind in the subway station! We clung to the poles and each other so we didn’t fall down onto the other subway riders (I think the whole family was afraid I would be the one to lose my balance …. Imagine that!) Anyway, we hopped off the subway in the Bronx and headed to the stadium with others in the crowd. I took a few photos of the stadium. Our seats were in the bleacher section of the outfield.  Although it was quite cold out, it was the warmest of the three games we went to.  It was fun to experience our surroundings as we listened to the Yankee (and Boston Red Sox) fans around us.  They all had Eastern accents which was fun to listen to (even if I already hear it often from Maura).  As is typical of all the games and stadiums we have been to thus far, we had a spectator near us that was comical and amusing as well as another spectator that thought he knew everything about the game of baseball.  The crowd sang YMCA and other songs in addition to the typical “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, during the seventh inning stretch. We enjoyed being able to see #42, a closeout pitcher for the Yankees who will be retiring soon. The Yankees won, and when the game ended, we followed the crowd out and onto the subway and headed back to our hotel.   One of the fans commented on Christian wearing a Cubs stocking cap.

Friday was our last full day in New York City. Early that morning we headed over to NBC Studios in Rockefeller Center where they were filming the Today Show. We walked by the window as they were reporting, but we apparently weren’t on camera. Then, we continued on to stand along the fence line where they were filming. We watched and I took photos and later we watched the show that my mom had taped ... and there we were on the television behind the boy in the blue coat as the camera scanned the crowd two times. Cool!

We walked around Rockefeller Plaza.  We had some time to kill so we bought coffee and a donut from a street vendor and we sat by the water fountain and people watched. It was sunny out and was just fun to sit and watch the various people, many hustling on by, as well as a man and a woman who attempted to entertain us by singing and playing guitar.   Later, we ran into a man (with an official looking badge) who was asking for donations to the soup kitchen. After being humbled by many homeless people on the streets that week, it was nice to give in a way that we felt may hopefully benefit a few homeless people.  Later, we headed into Radio City Music Hall for a tour. Gabriel Iglasius was scheduled to perform there that night. While we were touring, they got the stage set up for him and as we left we saw his tour bus that had arrived just moments before.  We enjoyed the tour and the historical architecture of the building that had been there for many years, paintings that had been restored, and photos of people who had performed there. We sat in the auditorium, toured the bathrooms, went in lounges where famous people had been, though even they were not allowed to sit on the historical furniture. We saw costumes worn throughout the years by the Rockettes and we even got to talk to and get our picture taken with a real Rockette. I don’t know who enjoyed it more …. Karissa because she was talking to a dancer or Shawn and Christian because they were having their picture taken with a young woman with really long legs!  I enjoyed it because I finally got at least one family picture for the vacation!

Friday the weather was a little nicer so we decided to leave a little early to get to the Met's game (our third and final game/stadium of this vacation) to watch batting practice and hopefully get some balls! We took the Subway from Grand Central Station to Queens for the game.  It was fun to go through Grand Central Station because now we can honestly use the phrase “It’s busier than Grand Central Station in here!”  Eventually we found our way to a ticket area where we refilled our Metro card for the ride to Queens and back for the Mets Game.

 After a 45 minute subway ride, we arrived at Citi Field. This was a newer stadium and was a bit different than other stadiums … rounder and had an escalator in the center. We walked around the stadium, took some photos and found our seats in the outfield. In our section, we headed to the front wall and watched batting practice. One of the workers offered to take our family picture. We watched the players bat and the weather was nice (for a while anyway). Christian was excited when one of the Mets players handed him a ball. (I took his picture). Next, a ball was hit to our section and Christian and another young guy ran around trying to find it … in the meantime, Shawn found it …. So I took a picture of Shawn and Karissa with ball number two. Then, as we continued to watch, the Florida Marlins took the field for practice and a player named Fernandez handed Christian yet another ball.  This time they took MY picture with this ball.  Finally, the game began.  Although it started out the nicest night for a game, it turned out to be the coldest one yet because the wind was blowing strong!  WE FROZE!! We froze so much we ended up leaving in the middle of the ninth inning. (The Marlins won). In the cold, we proceeded to take the Subway back to Grand Central Station and then walked back to the hotel where we crashed in anticipation of an early morning with plans of driving out of NYC by 6:00 a.m.

Saturday morning dawned early and we got out of bed, gave our bags to the bell boy, checked out and met the valet with our van. The kids slept much of the drive that day. We drove to a Perkins in Pennsylvania for a real meal with a big breakfast! We then proceeded driving.  We made a stop in Canton, Ohio and went through the Football Hall of Fame.  By 7:00 that night, we arrived at a Hampton Inn in Fremont, Indiana. We talked to the front desk who found a Dominoe’s for us because we had promised Karissa the entire trip that we would eat Dominoes in our hotel room at least one night on the trip. We enjoyed eating the pizza and just enjoyed hanging out that night in the hotel. The kids swam and we enjoyed some quiet family moments where life seemed a little more our pace in Fremont, Indiana. 

 Sunday morning we were up early once again and were soon back on the road.  Later that afternoon, after many hours of driving, our van made its way onto the quiet streets near our home.  We took a few moments to take a picture of the mileage (almost 2400 miles) and gather up the luggage. Before Shawn and I were even out of the van yet, the kids were in the back yard getting ready for some family baseball!!  As we made our way into the house, the phone rang to let me know the kids had my glove in the back yard! Shawn finished bringing in the luggage and the kids and I started playing ball.  Karissa soft tossed to Christian and I fielded the balls as he hit. Karissa later practiced pitching softballs while Christian caught. Eventually, Shawn joined us outside where Christian and Shawn played catch! Yes, after a week filled with Opening Season baseball, we were enjoying the best Opening Day ball game yet to be had …. that of Kleve family baseball in our very own back yard!!

Cards Anyone?

Chopping the hamburger that is sizzling in the pan, I hear the door open and my husband walks through, kicking off his overshoes just inside the door. "Supper is ready" I mention as I turn the burner on the stove down to low. Shawn washes up and the kids make their way into the kitchen as I set the pan onto the potholder amid the taco shells, lettuce and cheese in the center of the table. "Can we play cards after supper?" Karissa asks and I smile with excitement awaiting a "yes" response from the guys. We have been playing a lot of family card games lately, as many nights as possible, and even weekend afternoons and snow days.  "Five Hundred" is our current game of choice.  We keep score (mostly just to keep track of when we should finish) and we laugh and we chat and we argue about who's turn it is to deal or about who gets mom for a partner.  (How come no one ever wants me for a partner?)

We finish eating and quickly throw the dirty dishes into the sink. (No time for doing dishes now ... we've got cards to play!) I wipe off the counter as Shawn gathers the cards and the score sheet, Karissa finishes the cookie she was eating, and Christian quickly finishes a text to a friend.  As Shawn begins dealing the cards, I remind Christian to put his phone away and Karissa launches into a story that happened in school that day. I ask her how her History Day project went while I begin to assemble the cards in my hand.  Shawn gives me a nudge … "It's your bid,” he says.  "Oh ... I pass," I state with a smile.  Okay, so we are ready to play ... Shawn and Karissa are trying for ‘Eight Clubs’. "We can set them!" I tell Christian as I rearrange the Jack of Spades to its’ new, prestigious spot next to a couple other small clubs I have in my hand.  The game begins as we toss in the ‘Joker’ and ‘bowers’ and smaller trump, all in turn.  Shawn and Karissa run the table for the most part, but Christian and I manage to capture a couple tricks.  Finally, it comes down to the wire, as we each lay down our final cards, hoping to win the round ... Shawn has the highest card and he takes the trick, banging his fist on the table as he lays down his card with excitement...

And the sound takes me back ... Memories flood my mind of myself as a small child, half asleep late at night, listening to the sounds of my parents playing cards in the kitchen ... in my memory, I am startled awake as one of their fists bangs onto the table as they lay the ultimate good card.  I also have memories of sitting under the kitchen table with my brothers and my cousins, carefully sneaking cards from the piles of tricks and pushing them up through the cracks in the center of the table.  (I don't think our parents were too fond of that move!)  Next my mind wanders to memories of my late teen and young adult years when Shawn and I would play cards on Sunday afternoons with my brothers and my parents.  Again, they would all argue about who got me for a partner ... I can't imagine why! ... "Kendra, it’s your turn!"  I hear one of my brothers yell ...

"Mom, it's your deal," one of my kids tells me as they shove the cards my way.  Back in reality, I pick up the deck and begin to shuffle.  The cards bend and flutter rhythmically as I shuffle the cards again and again.  By sets of two, I begin to send the cards around the table, then decide to deal them by threes, pausing to throw a few in the ‘blind’.  As Shawn and the kids begin contemplating their cards, my mind wanders for a moment longer …

It’s amazing how cards can cross generations and other barriers.  My Grandma and Grandpa Einck are the King and Queen of playing ‘Tic’ and love to talk others into playing a game or two; and my Grandma Bohr was the Queen of anything that had to do with cards in her day.  One of my fondest memories of my Dad is the time that he and I spent playing ‘Rummy’ on Monday mornings before I would take off at noon for another week at UNI.  It is one of the few ways he and I spent uniquely father-daughter time.

As the cards once again make their way around the table, I realize how much you can learn about life from a game of cards.  Some games are a matter of skill and strategy and sometimes it’s a matter of knowing how to communicate and work with a partner.  Many times, it is just the luck of the draw, the cards we are dealt, and sometimes there is nothing we can do about how the cards may stack up.  At times, we may think we’ve got it made … we’ve got the high card … then someone or something comes along and trumps our whole plan ... but that’s just the way it goes!  In life, like in cards, we will win some and we will lose some.  But it doesn't really matter, for in the end, it is just about the fun we had, the memories made, and the lessons learned while playing the game …

So anyway ... “Is it my turn again?”

Family is a Treasure

My family is my treasure! My husband and my children are my life, my mother is my best friend, and my brothers hold a place deep in my heart. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and even steps are precious gifts as well. Every day I give thanks for the moments spent with my family … the yesterdays, the todays, and the tomorrows … the good times and the bad … the thick and the thin… the laughter and the tears. I wouldn’t trade a moment! As long as I live I will remember the past, cling tight to each present moment and long for just one more day. I am well aware that we never know what tomorrow may bring. We’ve each been given just one lifetime and one family. Families were meant to be together, for however long God will allow, and we were meant to make memories and bonds with each other to cross generations and lifetimes for years to come!

Therefore, it breaks my heart to pieces when I see other families throwing away their present moments for no better reason than the sake of old grudges. There is nothing in this world worth breaking apart a family! We all have our issues … annoying habits and difficult personalities to ignore. We all make mistakes … say things we don’t mean and do things we can’t take back. But burned bridges actually can be rebuilt; and wounds, though they may scar, do heal in the end. Remember that no cut is too deep … it is the bloodline of a family that runs deeper yet! There are far too many things breaking families apart that are beyond our control to waste one moment waiting for those things to arrive.

So I tell you with urgency and a tear in my eye … Whether you are someone who needs to forgive or the one who needs forgiveness; whether you think you are right or the one that is wrong ; whether you are the one who should make the first move, the one to encourage, or the one who needs to step aside and allow a loved one to make a mends … perhaps you have even forgotten what the fight has been for. Whoever you are … LISTEN to me today. Lay down your swords. Let go of your pride and let go of your fears! Shed your resentments, your envy, or your shame. Step aside … do your part … forgive … forget … and damn it, get on with it TODAY!!

Perfection is Not a Requirement

Last week, outside my daughter’s dance class, I waited in the quiet of my van, surrounded by the groceries and Walmart bags I had collected on my weekly errand run.  As I waited, young girls of various ages came in and out … going to and from their dance classes.  I was intrigued by each young girl …  I’ve seen toddlers in their tu-tus clinging tight to their mothers’ hands; while others run eagerly ahead as their mothers caution them to not run into the street.  I’ve seen elementary and middle school girls struggling to find their bags and their shoes and excitedly telling their mothers about the things they learned in class.  I’ve seen teenage girls nervously playing with their phones while other girls are giggling and whispering and gossiping about “friends” they may secretly envy.   I’ve seen shy, quiet girls steadily gaining confidence as they become more poised and graceful with each class.  

As a woman who has recently crept into my forties, I am thankful to be beyond those years … grateful to be comfortable in my own skin and happy to be who I am (despite my flaws).  Of course I have “bad hair days” when my flaws seem more apparent than others, but somehow I can usually find a hair brush and an iron and manage to get my attitude combed right back into place.  

Self esteem can be an issue for some … especially for women … and particularly for teenage girls.  There will always be people who have “better hair” … those who are thinner or in better shape, have more money -- wear name brand jeans or drive nicer cars, have more talents, more luck or more time, and those who are more successful, etc… but that is okay! 

The grass will always be greener on the other side of the fence … and others’ hair will always seem to be a little curlier or straighter or not quite as gray … but we never truly know what lies at the roots … what truly goes on inside another person’s heart!  The woman with the fancy house may wish she had a family to share it with; the family in the tiny home may be content just to have each other ... the person who is the life of the party may feel lonely despite the crowd; the person who often spends time alone, may gain strength in her moments of solitude … the girl who is tiny may feel she is fat while the person who is heavy may simply want health ... the student who gets an A- may feel she could have done better while the student with all C’s may be ecstatic that their efforts paid off.  

Self esteem is NOT a realization that we are better than others … or even a realization that we are similar … we are all different!  We have different personalities and ideals.  Self esteem is simply an acceptance of ourselves … our talents and our flaws.   Of course, we should always strive to better … if it is something we deem as important … but not as a way to impress someone else.  Perfection is not a requirement.  Comparisons are a hazard!   Life is not meant to be a competition … or a popularity contest … we do not need to prove ourselves to others -- they will be too busy fixing their own hair to notice anyway! :-).  So join me today in quietly acknowledging and accepting our own flaws (and successes) and lets go ahead and give someone else a compliment or a smile ... you never know the kind of "hair day" they may be having.  

 Now if you’ll excuse me …I’ve got to run … it’s been an enjoyable and busy day at home … and I haven’t even had time to do my hair!   :-)   

"Woo Hoo! What a Ride!"

Wrapped in a blanket of December snow, 2012 came to a close while 2013 eagerly skated in on the blades of a January chill. I hope all of you enjoyed the holidays - I know I did. My end of the year was filled with family from both near and far; giving and receiving of special gifts; smiles and laughter; lots of good food and a few quiet moments as well. I received a number of special gifts during the holidays but the one that sums it up the most for me was the framed quote that my mother gave me which states "Life should not be a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body; but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'Woo Hoo What a Ride'!!" … I believe it was George Carlin that made that statement … but I couldn't have said it better myself! And what a ride 2012 turned out to be! Hopefully you all had a successful year. I know I am proud to say I accomplished a number of items on my bucket list.

Just this year I managed to:

1. Start writing a blog

2. Attend a Blue Man Group Performance

3. Experience a Hibachi Grill

4. Attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

5. Attend a Kansas City Royals baseball game.

6. Publish my first book

7. Watch my first volleyball game -- thanks Karissa for playing

8. Become a Notary Public

9. Spend many quality moments with my family

10. ... and a few other things.

Not bad, if I do say so myself... However, I have many things I still need to accomplish ... So thank God for the New Year!! It is time to start again on a whole set of New Year’s Resolutions and action plans for bucket list items. Last year when I started this blog, I created a number of "Pages" on the right hand side of the screen regarding bucket lists and the approach I recommend. So, whether you are new to my website or just need a refresher, please review the pages on the right.  (So what if you haven’t made (or kept) a New Year’s Resolution in years … this may be your year!)  Personally, I hopped on board right away again this year and got started on my list. Although it is only January 5th, the tickets to one of the three baseball games/stadiums my family and I plan to attend this year have already arrived.  (Before the end of the year we will be a third of the way to reaching our family goal of attending games at all of the major league baseball stadiums ... we are excited!) We are also hoping to check out a show on Broadway this year; and so far I have managed to drag myself onto the treadmill each  morning of 2013.

So whether you plan to take this new year by treadmill, speed boat or roller coaster, please join me as I hop aboard and give the new year a ride .... are you with me? Let me hear a "Woo Hoo!!"