I’ve been really disappointed in watching Cubs games and to see fans turning into Boo Birds. For a second I was wondering if I was living in Philly again.

We’re Cubs fans. We know disappointment and heartache. But we still believe. I am sure we all would have liked Ryan Dempster get the third out yesterday, not load the bases and give up a grand slam. I’m even more sure that Mr. Dempster himself would have preferred the third out. But it’s baseball! It’s early and it’s a long season!

To be a “fan” is to be “an ardent devotee” according to dictionary.com. I have recently noticed that there are true fans, true believers out there, of which I am one. I will take the good with the bad and continue to believe and hope. My mother however, a lifelong Cub fan, doesn’t roll with the punches nearly as well and I have decided that she is not a true believer. So in my mind, there are true believers and believers. And then there are all the boo birds who I think have just hopped on the bandwagon and become Cubs fans.

Come on Cubs fans, support your team. As if losing isn’t bad enough, you don’t need your fans to boo your mistakes. Support your team. Cheer them on through the tough times. That’s what fans do. These could be defined as tough times. Nomar. Walker. Fox. Need I say more? Let’s not turn Wrigley Field into Philly West and start booing Santa Claus.

I believe. Do you?

I finished my project. This one is a Halloween theme from The Artists Collection. I couldn’t find a website for The Artists Collection, but I recommend their needlepoint patterns. They come with thread recommendations and stitch suggestions so if you’re adventurous, you can go with their recommendations or if you prefer something a little more straightforward, you can do it in tent stitch.

This project measures measures 3 1/4 inches by 10 1/4 inches, completed. It took me 18 days to finish, and probably could have taken me less if I had worked on it this past weekend. I chose to follow their recommendations and found the project to be fun. In my opinion, following their guidelines would make it an advanced beginner to intermediate level project. What I really like is that the finished project looks more impressive than the work it took to do it. My only complaint is that their guide could have been a little easier to understand. For one stitch, the instructions were incomplete.

I am going to take it to get finished. The Stitching Post had a trunk show and this was one of the samples provided which is why it caught my attention. I’m going to bring it back and try to have it finished like the sample. My finishing vocabulary is lacking but it was finished like a little tower that stands upright on it’s own.

I quickly learned with needlework that it is never to early to starting thinking about Christmas projects.

About two years ago I was shopping with my mom and I saw a needlepoint Christmas stocking that I thought was beautiful and very expensive (about $300). I didn’t buy it but since that shopping trip, it’s been in my head that I want to do a Christmas stocking. I’ve been looking for the stocking I saw, but haven’t been able to find it.

There’s a wide range of stockings out there. You can get a handpainted canvas for under $100 and for more than $500. Along with the difference in price, there is a big different in quality. What I’ve found is that the less expensive, the less complicated the pattern. There’s less detail and less shading.

Mom visited for Thanksgiving 2004 and once again, I fell in love with a stocking. But it was BIG BUCKS. Once again, I didn’t get it. But I kept thinking about it and finally I decided to sell my pets on eBay and buy the stocking.

The stocking is one of Melissa Shirley Designs. They are the Tiffany of needlepoint. I had to special order it and it took about 3 months while they painted it. Once it arrived the fun began and I picked out the threads. A little overwhelming, but the wonderful women at Needlewoman East in Falls Church helped. The next challenge has been picking out the stitches. I could have asked the Needlewoman East women, but I am determined to do it myself. So far the only stitch I’ve picked out is for the gingerbread house. (It’s a secret.)

The stocking measures approximately 22 1/2 inches long by 11 inches wide. In order to have the stocking finished for this Christmas, I need to finish stitching by mid-October. I want to have it well in advance so I’ve set a personal deadline of mid-September. This is a very ambitious deadline. My plan is to break the stocking into little manageable pieces. I will also need to take another trip back to the Needlewoman East as I don’t have every fiber I will need. I think I have about 75%. Waiting to get the last 25% gives me flexibility in the end; is it too sparkley, not sparkley enough? Is there a texture I’m missing? Etc…

This is my largest undertaking so far. Have I mentioned that it’s for me? Wish me luck!

I can’t believe Nomar is out for 2 - 3 months. I think it’s my fault because I mentioned his guardian angel pin. Don’t hate me, Nomar!

While Nomar hadn’t been swinging a very hot bat this month, he’s still invaluable. He’s a veteran, a leader and stregthens the middle infield. Perez and Hairson and Macias will do great, and Walker’s return will help. Nomar’s presence will still be missed. But as I’m a true Cub fan, I believe this will work out.

This must be devastating for Nomar. I can’t imagine the pain and can’t even get my head around how the muscle can be separated from the bone. Baseball aside, I wish him a speedy recovery.

I have been a very bad blogger. It’s been almost two weeks since my last post! In my defense, work has been insane. My boss left the organization and it was right at the time our annual budget was due. It’s definitely been a learning experience, but insane.

To relax and get my mind off budgets, Bill and I went to Pittsburgh to catch 2 out of the 3 Cubs - Pirates games. I am happy to report that the Cubs won both games we attended!

I love going to Pittsburgh. The city is nice and clean, has a great skyline, and the ballpark is great. We stayed at the Hilton which is within walking distance of PNC Park. It’s at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. There’s a beautiful park and river walk steps from the Hilton. The only bad thing is that we never seem to have time to explore the city except for the area around the ballpark. There’s the Church Brew Pub that I’d like to try out on our next visit.

A lot of Cub fans attend the series so you don’t feel like the visiting team and the Pittsburgh fans have always been friendly (and it’s quite obvious that we’re Cub fans - tees, jerseys, necklaces, hats…).

I was able to get 4 autographs on this trip - NOMAR! ARAMIS! Jose Macias! Dusty (I got his last year so not as exciting - kidding)! Dusty seems to make it a point to respond to every comment, even if it’s just an “okay” or “thanks.” I thought that was cool. And Nomar has a guardian angel pin on his left wristband. I saw Aramis in street clothes and even Bill admitted he looked good.

We like to get to the park early and catch batting practice. Corey took a lot of BP on Sunday and Hairston spent a lot of time working out at second base. We saw Wood and Zambrano working out with Larry Rothschild. Very interesting to see Rothschild make suggestions about Wood’s stance and hear them talk about what felt good, what didn’t.

The only disappointment was the absence of Todd Walker. Hairston played well (but don’t get comfortable there, buddy) but it wasn’t the same without Todd. I hope that he’s doing well and that he’ll be able to play for the Nationals series in May.

I watched Monday night’s Cincinnati game and was disappointed that one got away. It’s going to happen but they should have won. I was happy to see they split the series. Prior looked good. Wood’s not quite there but I think another couple of starts and he’ll be the Wood we’re waiting for.

Cubs and Cards are ready to start after a rain delay. Go Cubs!!

It’s the Monday after we spring forward. It’s only and hour right? Well then I should be able to get to sleep right now but I can’t. So when I try and wake up in 6 hours, I will be incredibly crabby which is not a good way to start the day. It takes me a couple of hours to adjust to losing these 60 minutes. I am looking forward to have sunlight when I leave work after staying late. I believe it will take about me three days to appreciate the sunlight without being upset about losing one full hour. Am I overreacting? Probably. But it’s late, I’m tired and I want another hour of sleep.