Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010.

I know it isn’t healthy to live in the past but 2009 went by way too quickly.  I still haven’t grasped the idea that it is nearly the end of January and since I don’t write checks, I haven’t even written out the new year yet.  Yes, I’m still living like it’s last year.  And why not?  It was a good year.  I celebrated my 23^rd birthday on the beach in Mazatlan, ran my first half-marathon, watched the Twins win at Wrigley, and was genuinely pretty happy.  Yup, looking back 2009 was a pretty decent year.

2010 is off to a rocky start, mostly because of the Vikings.  Yes, like the majority of Minnesotans I drank the purple kool-aid this season and was rather devastated yesterday when we lost to the Saints in overtime.  We practically handed them the win—the last minute of the game was the worst.  I have never had more emotions rage through me in such a short period of time.  But I think I’m going to be okay—as long as I can avoid ESPN until after the Super Bowl.  Win or lose, it still was a good season—something the Vikings haven’t had in a while.

Now that the Vikings are done for the year, I’m already looking forward to spring and the start of the Twins’ season.  It’s been a pretty quiet off-season so I’m hoping something comes up here in the next few weeks—an extension on Joe Mauer, perhaps?  I know that would make the mourning Vikings fans a lot happier.  And if things go the way I have them planned out, I’ll get to watch the boys get ready for the new stadium at spring training in Fort Myers.  I haven’t worked out the details yet but my piggy bank has already been designated towards the trip.  I’ll get there, even if its one penny at a time. 

My sister and me up bright and early for our first half-marathon.

Hometown Hero Turns AL MVP

           I was having a serious case of the Mondays until I was reminded that the American League MVP was going to be announced today.  Honestly I have been waiting for this day since the Yankees won the World Series and it’s just like to me to completely forget once the day finally gets here.  Thankfully, a quick stop on Facebook this morning reminded me of the day’s importance (thanks, Andrea) and suddenly my day didn’t look so dreary.  It was as if the clouds parted and the sun came streaming down.  Well, not really but it kind of felt that way. 

            See, I’m still recovering from my weekend in Iowa City—outdoor football in November equals running nose, watery eyes, lots of sneezing.  Pretty much the start to my yearly ‘Thanksgiving weekend cold’.  Like clockwork, every November I get sick.  And this morning was especially bad.  No sleep, an 8 a.m. meeting with my advisor, dreary sky.  Thankfully, my day turned around after a certain hometown boy was announced as the AL MVP—the fifth Minnesota Twin to win the honor.

            Catcher Joe Mauer now shares the honor with Minnesota Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles and first basemen Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, and Justin Morneau—not too shabby, if you ask me.  Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much time to celebrate his accomplishment because it seems all anyone can focus on is how long he’ll stay in a Twins uniform.  Granted, I’m as desperate for a contract extension as the next fan but how ‘bout a little time to celebrate, to brag about the fact that we have MVPs batting third and fourth in our line-up? 

            After tomorrow’s National League MVP announcement, the 2009 baseball season will truly be over.  Then it is under four months until spring training—I just wish the Twins organization would hurry up and release their Grapefruit League schedule.  Gotta start planning my spring break down in Fort Myers.  J