Kimmy Sunday...

    Ahhh, and while the NFL continues to play on Sundays, it will remind me of my final night with Kimmy, watching the Eagles beat the Cowboys...great memory.
    We got to go see some pro football over the years.  Mainly, we saw a ton of hockey, having been partial season ticket holders for 5 seasons in Philadelphia, who had just terrible teams back from 1988 - through 1993 when we would see them.  They had just traded 8 players and $15 M in cash to the Quebec Nordiques, in 1992, for Eric Lindros...this lead to the Colorado Avalanche (who Quebec became when they relocated) becoming a dynasty in the NHL and led the Flyers to futile seasons (well, they made the Stanley Cup in 1997 and got completely embarrassed by the Detroit Red Wings getting swept 4 games to 0.  To make matters worse, Kim and I had tickets to game 6.  And even worse, they lost game 4 during my sister Lauren's wedding reception.).  We really enjoyed our hockey and saw a lot when the Coyotes were established in Phoenix (thank you Winnipeg!). 
     Kim and I also saw a lot of baseball, which was much cheaper than football.  We'd go to opening day at the Vet and tailgate - sometimes missing half the game - before going in to watch the Phils kick off their season.  Then, we'd always see the Dodgers (Kim's favorite) at least once and several other games.  We'd also road trip down to Baltimore once or twice a year to see the O's play.  We saw their final series played at Memorial Stadium prior to their move to Camden Yards.  Memorial Stadium was awesome, but it was nestled in a neighborhood and the parking lot was so small, that they would park the cars bumper to bumper.  You couldn't leave early if you wanted to.  My Dad taught us early, to find parking in the surrounding neighborhoods.  I loved walking to the park and seeing all of the vendors and fans streaming in to see the O's.
       As for the Eagles, we did get to see them several times.  Usually braving the December winds and chill. And having to sit about as high as you could in Veteran's Stadium.  The crowds there are very passionate and raucous.  Never saw a game there where a fight did not break out.  Good times.  Then, we'd head over to South St. and hand out at Smokin' Joe's or some other place, eat cheesesteaks and just have a good time.  Out here, we used to see the Cardinals play at ASU stadium.  We'd like to get up there early and hang out with the crowds on Mill Ave.  It was a neat stadium to watch football.  We used to think it was kind of sad that typically half the crowd would be rooting for the visiting team.  We never got to make it to the new stadium up in Glendale.

         Our Sunday was a good one.  I took Autumn and Tonio to church, with Betsey, Brian, Hadley and Mitch.  Then, we all went to Viro's for breakfast.  Amy, Tom and Alex met us there with Cody, who slept over there last night (yes, he was heart broken to have missed Mass this morning!).  And we saw Janene, Brad, Bryson and Caison.  Vito set us up at the special long table - he told us that he had just cleared out some diners who had ignored his 'reserved' signs.  He told them the big boss was coming in for breakfast and would be upset if his table wasn't ready.  Rosa came out and hugged and kissed the bambini's.  Then, we feasted!  Omelets (Christina and Vito Jr. make some awesome made-to-order omelets!), seasoned potatoes, bacon, sausage, etc, etc.  Round 2 - we ate chicken, pork, mashed potatoes and then ate cheesecake for desert!!!  We were all quite round when done.  I always feel better after seeing Rosa, Vito and their team at Viro's.
          On the way home, Angie called and asked if she could come by with Andrea, Janene and Kim to help me clean and organize the house.  I'm not going to turn down that kind of help!  They brought their kids and they all had fun building tents in the living room, having Nerf gun wars and playing outside.  Meanwhile, Angie and her daughters helped me organize and clean...it was incredible!  And it the house needed it!  When we we had enough, I made arborio rice (thanks Rosa and Vito!) and the rest of the chicken piccata and we ate, not as much as for breakfast, but enough!
         I took the bambini's out front to play and poor Mitchell broke both bones in his forearm when he fell off of the monkey bars.  Poor Brian can't get away from TMC hospital! 
         Can't believe this weekend is over already and I'm not ready to part with the bambini's...it's toughest when they are at school.
          "Father, give me the strength, to be everything I'm called to be..."
                                                                    -Sanctus Real

         Love,
              Dave