The Debut...

With September comes the end of summer (ok for most of you.. we're still roasting  down here!) the beginning of a new school year (and schools!) and of course fall baseball.

This September has Nicholas entering the 3rd grade and beginning another youth baseball season. He has moved up to the Mustang league which means....Kid pitch!!  So pictured above is Nics debut - a relief appearance - in game two.




We are proud of his first outing (came in with bases loaded and only allowed one run - 4k's in 1 &2/3 in) and definitely glad that he will get to throw a ball at something other than our severely dimpled front door!!!

Good Job Kiddo!

Award Season...

As we roll towards summer 2010 (already?) it is time to wind up another school year and youth baseball season here in So Fla.

Today Nicholas received an award for being a top reader in his school. He placed 1st in his grade (2nd) and 3rd out of all grades for participants in the Accelerated Reader Program that encourages reading and comprehension. 

Great Job Kid, Keep It Up!!

Last week also brought Nic's final season of Pinto league baseball to a close. The Cardinals didn't make it to the championship game this time but they had a good season, lots of fun and he made some really good friendships over the last year. Special thanks goes to BIG B for his continued support of youth sports across South Florida!!! 

  Now its on to the Mustang league in the fall otherwise known as kid pitch!

Elizabeth is graduating the Pre K next week and also gets an honorary award for being her brothers biggest fan! 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY.

And Safe Travels to all the Travelers!!

Lets Hear it for the Boy!!!

Presenting Your 2009 Pinto League Champion Cardinals

The Victors and the Runner-up Red Sox (all the better!)

A Solemn Moment on the Bench

Nic and his buddy Elijah who plays for the sox.

Great job Nic!!!
Mom and Dad are very happy for you..and UB and Grandma too!

Summer 2009 - Cooperstown, NY

As part of the Espos South NY tour we visited Cooperstown, NY home of the NBHOF. It was my first trip to the area and I was really surprised by how beautiful that part of NY is and how much there is to see in and outside of the HOF.

The Original 5 inductees..

Passing along Yankee history...

A tribute to baseball fans who displayed pretty insane dedication..attending every home game, visiting every park etc...

Who says Pete Rose isn't in the hall? They can keep him out of the gallery (official inductees) but he's all over the hall..
Ok so not everybody is a bball fan!

Joe D legends Game 09

Once again we attended the Joe DiMaggio memorial game that benefits the Joe D children s hospital. We didn't go early this year for autograph but still managed to have a nice day and Nic had some luck anyway.. Thanks Big S!

Fort Lauderdale Stadium..still the home of the Orioles in the spring..

The crew...watch your wallet!

I'm not a rookie at this parenting stuff anymore..they're up to something!!!!

The autograph from the Spaceman Bill Lee.. and thanks to SWM's keen eye we successfully got the John Hancock of Andre Dawson in the parking lot, very cool!!

Spring Training

These photos were taken from our trip to Vero Beach to see the Dodgers play in spring training. We lucky to see former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda manage this game.


The Real "Freddie" the Marlin!! (Manager Freddi Gonzolaz)

Joe D Legends Game 2008

It must be spring (at least in So Fla anyway) because our Saturday consisted base ball tryouts in the AM and a old timers game of sorts in the afternoon.
Nicholas tryout went well but we don't know who drafted him as of yet...
The ballgame in the afternoon benefited the Joe DiMaggio children's hospital by bringing together retired players for an exhibition game. the roster included a number of Yankees, a few Mets, and even some Marlins but I don't think they qualify as "old" yet.. It was a good time even if none of the names carried enough star power to inspire Big B to attend. The highlight for me was trying to get Nicholas an autograph or two (which he did) but then I thought his ball was lost when he rolled it off the dugout roof and it fell to the ground. The players standing nearby disappeared into the dugout and I wasn't happy with Nicholas who I thought threw his ball when the players weren't paying attention or doing more autographs. After several minutes the field started to clear for the game and I was certain Nic lost his ball with Al Downing and Oreste Destrade signatures.
It didn't look good for Nic even though he swore a player asked for the ball. Well after about five minutes the player (blind daddy is unsure who it was) emerged from the dugout and looked right at Nicholas and rolled his ball back to him.
He took it into the dugout and had it signed by about 7 or 8 players...including Brooks Robinson! The feeling of the ball being lost and the look on Nicholas face...lousy, his expression when the player returned with the ball looking for him, Priceless!!! Old time ball players are pretty classy in our book, thanks.

IBM Presents... "You Make the Call!"

All the Yankees fans are gonna thank me for this one... There is a very, very rich man named Marc Ecko who has purchased Barry Bonds 756th Baseball for a mere $752,467.00! That's a story in and of itself, but there's more! This very eclectic designer has decided to let the fate of the baseball be up to YOU! You can know go to his website and vote on what to do with Barry Bonds homerun ball... You can vote to have it sent to Cooperstown, vote to have an asteric branded on the ball, or vote to have the ball sent to outer space... Vote as many times as you see fit here:

http://www.vote756.com

You all know that Barry Bonds is not a cheater though, so please vote accordingly! :)

Coney Island - Keyspan Park - NY Aquarium - 7/28/07

Hey Everybody - Gwyneth and I went to Coney Island via Metro North and NYC Subway (D train) on Saturday. We checked out the NY Aquarium, Astroland, Nathan's, and to top it off we went to a Coney Island Cyclones game at Keyspan Park.


After our two hour - dual transportation ride


Nathan's......the lines to get a dog are huge...whatever


we didn't ride it....but I bought a shirt that said i did....






This is the boardwalk entrance....


ooooooohhhhhh


awwwwwwwww





ahhhhhh..scary


Ran into my sister's friends Kim Ryan & Josephine....its a small world....


they might be tearing this down soon...


Parachute Jump
they are keeping this....and fixing it....


Front entrance....


The view from our $14 seats....sweet




Eatin'...


Drinkin'...


The top of the scoreboard....


Heading home....


A turn of the century quote on Coney Island.....


James Gibbions Huneker - from 1915....
"For when you are at Coney Island you cast aside your hampering reason and become a plain lunatic"