Cleveland Rocks! Cleveland Rocks!

I was singing that line from the Drew Carey tv show, and teaching it to my kids, for a week or two before our family took a quick trip to Cleveland!  Richard and the kids planned a surprise trip for us for my birthday.  We went to a Cleveland Indians game, the Rock and Roll Museum and ate at Hard Rock Café and Paninis! I knew Richard and the kids had planned some kind of get away, since he asked me to see if the young men who watch our dog could watch her for an upcoming weekend. I couldn't figure out what we were doing and it was fun having something to anticipate and fun to go!

 I love going to baseball games! It feels like a care free time ( and that is a feeling I don't accomplish often), I think it has to do with the summer weather, being outside, the excitement of the crowd. It was fun hanging out with the whole Fam! And it was really fun to see how much Andrew especially enjoyed the game and watching him jump out of his seat!  It started out very toasty and sunny!

 Then it rained!  We stuck it out and it cleared up and we won the game!

 A very enthusiastic fan, who was a bit drunk, sat in front of us. Thankfully his excitement was fun, instead of really rude, and he kept his language pretty clean. I also tend to get a bit emotional when the National Anthem is sung.

Being 21, Andrew tried out the slot machines at the casino at Tower City.

I have to say I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Although I like music, I just wasn't expecting to care much about the museum. However I found it interesting and it really made me think about the connection people have to music and how that can connect us to one another. I also felt the power of music, especially as we watched about Farm Aid, We are the World and Do They Know It's Christmas- how artists came together for good.  It was fun to see the recording of I think "Do They Know It's Christmas", all of these famous artists showing up in their street clothes all working together for good and as they were told to check their egos at the door.

I'm so thankful we could have a good weekend and that the whole family could go together. I think it was really sweet of Richard to plan, and I know he is careful with his money and I find it sweet that when he did spend more than normal it was for me.
 Cleveland really does rock! Andrew especially says he could see himself living there- he was born there so maybe he will return to his roots someday.  I liked being by the water again- I miss it!

And so it goes...

Reading Now- "Night Train to Lisbon" by Pascal Mercier- I don't know how this will be but so far there are lots of passages that I wish I could mark. Thinking I may have to buy my own copy.
Just Read- " A Long Way From Chicago" by Richard Peck - a fun read! Also "That Part Was True"  by Deborah McKinlay.  I really enjoyed this book- it was just lovely!