Up To Bat

Through work, I have recently become involved with the Achievement Centers for Children. It is a wonderful non-profit organization that helps children (and young adults) with disabilities. Whether it's autism, OCD, down syndrome, or something that isn't even diagnosed- their doors are open for everyone. Children can visit the center with their families for activities, school, therapy, etc. Not only does it help the children, but it helps the families as well. The Center gives parents a place to go where there are other parents like them, going through similar situations. It's really an amazing place.


The Achievement Center has a camp that they offer their kids during the summer, called Camp Cheerful. Kids can go at no cost, and try things like fishing, swimming, and even zip lining! A few weeks ago, my family and I did a 5K to help raise money for the camp. This week, I joined a group of volunteers and Camp Cheerful kids for a fun "field trip" event to Progressive Field, where the Indians play. It was SO HOT!! Oh my god.


We played with the kids doing things like catching, hitting, running bases- they loved it. I wound up working with the youngest group at the camp that day. We had six adults for nine kids, and I swear, it wasn't enough. They were cracking me up! My favorite little boy was Jude (not pictured). He told me that "Judes don't survive in heat like this, and he needed to go home". But they stuck it out. The batting cages were our best stop- it was like a giant sandbox for the kids.


Next week, we are taking all of these kids to an actual game to see the Indians play. I can't wait to see all of my little new friends again!

Sarah and I with some of our group in the dugout

A view of Progressive Field. It was strange to be the only ones there!
The Jumbo Tron welcoming The Achievement Centers and Majestic Steel

Yes, that's me. Hitting a real baseball with a real bat, on the field. My coworkers got a little baseball happy after the kids left.

The Majestic Steel Group

The Other Side

Lucky for me, I have been invited to go to some really, really fun concerts this summer. My friend Jessica invited me to go to Katy Perry with her in a suite at Gund Arena, and my step-sister Alisa invited me to go to Kenny Chesney with her, VIP style, eighth row at Blossom. They were both SO MUCH FUN! Katy Perry was like a mix between being in the game of Candyland and in the Johnny Depp version of Willy Wonka, and I was shocked at how entertaining and charismatic Kenny Chesney was.

I am really not trying to sound bratty, but I am so happy that the two shows I have gone to so far since living in my "new world" were VIP. I better not get used to it! But being that close for Kenny Chesney gave me the opportunity to still see what was going on backstage, and see how things worked. We stuck around after Katy Perry to finish up some drinks, and I watched some of the load out for her show. I was fascinated at how organized it was- the crew was T-shirt color coded based on what they were doing. What a smart idea. I'm still not totally used to the idea that I am most likely never going to work in the entertainment industry again and that I work for a steel company. My heart breaks a little when I think about it. Especially when I saw all of the tour buses lined up at Kenny Chesney behind the VIP tent. Which served sushi, by the way.

One day I will be sitting in the lawn at a show, and I won't wonder about what is going on backstage, but for now, I still think about how much it grossed, who is dealing with catering, who is moving the lights, etc. It doesn't make me enjoy the show any less, but I do get distracted.

Both shows were amazing, and I am so happy I was able to go!

A View From Above

Last weekend was the first time I had left Cleveland in SIX WEEKS! Oh, the horror, right? You have no idea what an adjustment it has been being in one place after the way I have been living since 2006. Unless I toured with you. It took me weeks to comprehend the fact that I didn't have any flight reservations or hotel reservations. Anywhere. I still haven't given up all of my Continental perks that I pay for. I know that I have to, but then it's like.... real.


Anyway, last weekend was Father's Day, and my dad's birthday! So for the first time since I think 2006, my sister, brother, myself and my dad all went up to the house in Canada. We had to take three cars which was so dumb, but now that we are all working people we all had our own agendas.


Our weather was perfect! 70's during the day and a little chilly at night. Bethanne and I played more scrabble than I have ever cared to play in my life, we watched a few movies, ate a lot, visited with friends, and hung out. We took a great boat ride for a few hours on my dad's birthday to check out the other "neighborhoods" around us. Some of the homes up there are just unreal now. What used to be a fishing town with cabins has turned into mansions with pools and tennis courts. On islands! Insane.

We had a visitor on Father's Day who happened to visit in his classic sea plane. We of course hopped on and he took us up for a little ride. It's so fun to see everything from above. It would also be nice to have my own plane, so I wouldn't have to drive 400 miles each way to get to the house for a weekend trip. But I don't see that happening any time soon, so I'll just reminisce with the pictures below!

Ready

Hi Blog World.

I'm ready to start blogging again.

Some random things to catch you up:

I am on week seven of not touring. It has been an adjustment.

I am on week seven of my new job in Cleveland, and I LOVE IT. It is so perfect for me, and I am so lucky to have found it. I am the personal assistant to a family that owns a business here in town. It's like it was made for me.

I am on week something of being single. Apparently, he was not made for me.

I am so busy I can't believe it. Indians games, concerts, weekend trips, weddings, dinners, family time, bocce games, etc. I thought I would be bored being home, but it is quite the opposite.

I think I'm gonna like it here....

Boston, MA- THE END

Well, I'm done. No more touring for me! But more on that later.


I ended my touring career last week in Boston. What a great, wonderful, exciting city to call my last stop. And thanks to Spring starting, we had really decent weather and I was able to cover a lot of ground.


I visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum on my own one afternoon. It's an art museum like none other I have ever been to. A very wealthy woman turned her home into a museum and displayed her collection to her liking. When she died, it became a public museum, but the way that she set things out cannot be changed. It was a pretty cool place.


I did a little bit of shopping, and a lot of eating. Kevin went to Boston University, so he had his favorite spots that we had to hit up in town. The North End (Little Italy) is one of my favorite areas. So many restaurants to choose from. But, I keep going back to the same one because it's his favorite. :) I bought a cookbook from the area so I can try things at home- can't wait!


Our BIG tourist day was the day that we decided to walk the entire Freedom Trail. It's a 2.5 mile self-guided trail that takes you through many neighborhoods, and connects 16 important sites. From the Paul Revere House to Faneuil Hall to the USS Constitution- it's all on the red line that runs through the city. We literally started at the very beginning, and wandered through the city to the very end. Along the way, we ate at Ye Olde Union Oyster House which is the country's oldest restaurant in continuous service. So yummy!


My feet hurt like nobody's business at the end of that trail, and we were all exhausted. So we took a cab back to the hotel.


I am really, really going to miss traveling. But, I have literally seen every town and city the U.S. and Canada has to offer, often times more than once. I estimate that I have visited over 300 places since 2006 thanks to touring. For the most part, I loved the experience. And now, it's over.

I love this picture- The Public Garden

Ben Franklin just hangin' out

Us with Paul Revere and his horse

Savannah, GA

Savannah, GA is known as "America's Best Walking City". It is the largest National Historical Landmark District with over 2,300 colonial and Victorian homes. It was the first planned city in the country, laid out in 1733 on a perfect grid that holds over 20 little acre parks to enjoy throughout. Oh, and did I mention how much FUN it is?!


Savannah is and always has been one of my favorites. I decided to rent a car for the week of shows in Georgia and South Carolina. They were short trips, and I really wanted to be able to enjoy my time down there and spend it as I chose, rather than having to get on a bus at a specific time every day. I definitely made the most of my time in Savannah!


My friend Kelly stuck around with me on Saturday afternoon. We had a show that night a few hours away in Augusta and waited until the last possible minute to leave Savannah.


We started out day out eating at The Lady & Sons, Paula Deen's restaurant. Thanks to it being so famous, when we went to put our names on the list for lunch at 11:30am, they were taking names for dinner at 9pm. ???!!! Crazy. Luckily it was just the two of us so we were able to wait in line for seats in the bar.


I decided to order off the menu rather than do the lunch buffet. The buffet was very Southern- fried chicken, collared greens, black eyed peas, etc. I pretty much wanted everything on the menu so I did soup (made with lots of butter), salad and a chicken salad sandwich. Kelly got an awesome asparagus sandwich, and I got Kevin pulled pork, biscuits, mac and cheese and cole slaw to go. Yuuummmmmm!!!!

The Sons of the Lady

Along the river downtown- sooooo pretty!

The beautiful Spanish Moss on the trees

And P.S.- Kevin turned 30 in Savannah. :) We went out after the show on Friday night and celebrated a little with some friends. While it stunk to have his birthday on a one-nighter, at least it was in Savannah, and not a place like Lima or Redding.

My Tuesday Deals

I MISS coupon shopping. I really do. It's a game to me, and I love it. Last night when I got home, I took about a half hour to go through my coupons and the weekly store ads, and came up with some great deals. I used to follow a website for deals but after a few years, I have caught onto it myself.

Today I bought the following at CVS, Walgreens and Giant Eagle:

2 Aveeno shampoos
2 Aveeno lotions
1 Shick Intuition razor blade refill (3 in package)
2 full size Hellman's mayo
2 Kleenex packages
1 package of office dividers
1 CVS brand Swiffer cloths
1 Shick Quattro razor pack (3 in package)
2 Colgate toothbrushes
1 case of water
1 pack of Orbit gum
1 Texas Toast garlic bread
2 Zatarian rice mixes
1 Viva paper towel
3 boxes of Green Giant veggies

My total before my savings? $130.99

My total after my savings? $53.72

Considering how expensive Aveeno and razors are, I am really happy with my shopping today.

While I am no where near the psycho hoarders on that TLC show, I realize how addictive this can be. The hardest thing to me is to STOP the coupon shopping. I could literally do this every week, but I hardly need more than two extra bottles of shampoo sitting around the house. So I have promised myself that I will not shop for the above items again until I am almost out.

Rightttt.............