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1. I have a lot to share about today (Wednesday) but it will have to wait, as it is already Thursday and I need sleep.

2. A Ford Focus, you ask? (father-in-law asked in comments on last post) Simply put, because it is NOT a Honda Ridgeline. Seriously, I just threw up in my mouth looking at that Honda Ridgeline. It's almost as bad as the Pontiac Aztek, but it doesn't have the "hip" colors. Honda Ridgeline = Gross. Regardless of whether or not it's driven by the awesome Paul Potts.

First off, we set up our Christmas tree tonight. Photos are here. You can also find photos from our recent visit to my sister's house here. Those are great (we babysat for her kids).

Hope you enjoy them.

I came up with this crazy idea to do an indefinitely long series of posts called "Who I Am and the People Who Make Me." Essentially, it will start out with posts about my immediate family and grow out of that, including pictures and stories about those who have shaped my life to this point. I am not entirely sure where this series will go or who all it will grow to include, but it will probably be one of those things that I work on in spurts, especially as I work to get photos of everyone I want to include. Feel free to comment along the way as well, or send me photos of those you know/think should be included.

This should be fun.

I'm not actually sure if my dad is still in Newberry or not, but he sent me this article yesterday. Enclosed is a picture of him and the Governor; not sure who is telling whom to get lost.

Anyway, the link is here.

Remember how I mentioned that my dad was up in Newberry, playing with fire? Well it seems as if the venerable Gov. Granholm made a PR-driven visit to the fire to observe and encourage the "troops."

(What I mean, of course, was that she was there to help out. Because we all know that politicians visiting sites of natural disasters and tragedies are never there for approval ratings)

Needless to say, my dad the safety officer ended up being in one of the two photos released to the AP from the governors office. Watch out world, he's an up and coming celebrity!

In other news, I visited an allergist for the first time in 5 years and learned that, in fact, a decade of allergy paid off. I am now only allergic to dust mites (come on, who isn't?) and of course, things that involve hard labor. And NASCAR. And Coldplay.

David and Hali, my younger siblings who still live at home, drove down and spent the weekend with Giles and I. We had a great time. Quick outline of the weekend.

• Friday:
  • They arrived mid afternoon. Giles had to work that evening, which meant we dine at Chipotle and then drove to out to our church. Some of the staff were kind enough to give them the entire historical tour. Friday night ended with some movie watching.

  Saturday:

  • We did next to nothing, grilled out for dinner, and ventured out for some ice cream at 10:30 at night.
• Sunday:
  • We attended church with my sister Heather and her family, resulting in a few pictures. Then a brunch at Big Boy and everyone went on their way.

It was probably the first time we done a "siblings get-together;" there have been several family outings and such but nothing that was exclusive to our generation. We laughed a lot, dorked around like always, and did very little of consequence. Which is exactly what we wanted.

Check it out. It was just posted/published on the Traverse City Record-Eagle website today. Link it here.

Irregardless of the outcome of today's game, I wanted to share a few thoughts about what the 2006 Tigers season meant, and what I will be looking forward to here in 2007.

Family: I had the opportunity to take my siblings and parents to a game last August and it was an absolute blast. I have a feeling that it is going to be one of those events that comes up in conversation for years to come. Here are a few of the more memorable pictures.

Summer: How can you not think of the long nights of summer when baseball is the only team sport being played in July and August? Sunsets at the beach with friends and an AM radio, listening to Ernie Harwell (or Dan Dickerson and Jim Price today).

October: Baseball is my favorite sport. I'm definitely one of the Baseball Elites that Sean Baligian likes to talk about. Which is why I love October. Only 8 teams make the playoffs in baseball (unlike basketball and hockey, where half of the teams make the playoffs, which allows for several under-five-hundred New York Knicks-types). Packed stadiums on cold dark nights, hearing Joe Buck's "velvety-smooth" voice say "The Red Sox are the World Champions" is absolutely great. And being there with friends and family, that makes is amazing.

Every April through October, I follow each and every game, rarely missing an inning (when my schedule permits it). And you know what? I love it.