Michigan Resident

Last week Jenn traded in her Alabama plates and license.  

This is the Michigan plate that she picked.

Michigan Softball 2014-2015 Season

With Brian getting back into collegiate athletics, we thought it would be interesting to picture out his inaugural, 2014-2015 schedule.  The University of Michigan Softball team started there season, the first week in February in Tampa (FL) at a tournament (Wilson DeMarini Tournament) hosted by the University of South Florida.  Michigan played the University of Florida, The University of South Florida, Illinois State and Hampton University over the course of the weekend.  Michigan Softball went 4-1, losing to #1 ranked, and defending national champions from last season, the University of Florida in a heartbreaking 7th inning loss. (4-1: 0-0)

Next, it was off to Tallahassee, FL, and the home of # 6 Florida State Seminoles to play in the Unconquered Invitational. Michigan played the Western Kentucky, Georgia Tech (twice), Florida State (twice) over the course of the weekend.  Michigan Softball went 5-0 this weekend, including beating the Noles in back to back games during the weekend. (9-1: 0-0)

The Lady Wolverines next headed to Tuscaloosa, AL to play in the Easton Bama Bash hosted by the University of Alabama (ranked #3). Michigan played Lipscomb University (twice), the University of Alabama (twice) and James Madison University over the course of the weekend.  Michigan Softball went 5-0 this weekend, including beating Alabama twice over the weekend. (14-1: 0-0)

Michigan will travel this weekend to Arizona State University (Louisville Slugger Invitational) in Tempe, AZ.  Michigan will play the University of Toledo (twice), Arizona State (twice), and Binghamton University over the course of the weekend.

A short five-and-a-half hour bus ride brings the Michigan Wolverine Softball team from Tempe, AZ to Fullerton, CA for the Judi Garman Classic, hosted by the Titans of the University of California Fullerton.  Prior to the start of the Judi Garman Classic, Michigan will play host Cal Fullerton in a regular softball game.  For the Judi Garman Classic, Michigan will play Arizona State, the University of Florida, San Jose State University, Baylor and San Diego State over the course of the weekend before heading back to Ann Arbor. 

Michigan Softball season opener is the following weekend against Kent State (OH)

Alumni Field on the campus of the University of Michigan home of the University of Michigan Softball team.

Michigan is slated to host Big Ten Conference foes Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State (1 and 1 series) and Penn State, as well as other non-Big Ten schools in the state of Michigan at home this season.  As part of their season, Michigan will travel to

Ohio State (Columbus, OH)

The University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)

Rutgers University (Piscataway, NJ)

University of Maryland (College Park, MD)

 The Big Ten Conference Championships is hosted by Ohio State this year.  University of Michigan is working for there 8th Consecutive, and 18th Conference Championship title this season.  

Depending on the standings when the season wraps up, Michigan is working towards host Regional and Super Regional in Ann Arbor.  Either winning both rounds at home or on the road for Regionals and Super Regionals earns Michigan Softball a birth in the Women's College World Series, hosted in Oklahoma City, OK which is the ultimate goal of every NCAA Division 1 Softball Team.

In case anyone was keeping track, not including post season play, Brian will travel from February through May, 14,810 miles (219-hours) in his first season.

Fat Tuesday

We know this blog post is a little late, but it was really good and wanted to share it with everyone.  Last week was Fat Tuesday.  As many of you know, Fat Tuesday is the last day before Lent.  From what we understand, Michigan, has a larger Polish population/community, and the partaking of eating Paczki is pretty big here in Ann Arbor.  They are like a cream or jelly filled-like doughnut.  Brian brought home from his Softball coaches on Tuesday (last week) 2 Paczki, a bavarian cream filled one, and a raspberry filled one.  They were REALLLLllllyyy good.

These are boxes of them in Kroger (one of our local grocery store).  Other grocery stores and bakery have them as well.

Our two 2 Paczki, (a bavarian cream filled one, and a raspberry filled one)

Happy Valentine's Day

Gus and I had eggs for breakfast

An afternoon full of piecing and binding

Valentine's dinner was a new dish I tried out.  It is vegetarian curry.  It has chickpeas, squash, zuccuini, and coconut milk.  I put it over rice.

  

Had some roasted brussel sprouts withe the curry.  It turned out really good but a little spicy.

Brian is Away for the Weekend

Brian left today with UM Softball for Tallahassee, FL (FSU).  We don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but Brian left me with a treasure hunt in the apartment this evening when I came home from work.  He left one card on the TV with clues to where the next card was (for Buddy) [and a stick for Buddy] with clues to a bag of hugs and kisses in the house.

Because Valentine's Day has become so commercialized (cards, candy, flower companies, and with restaurants being so busy), we celebrate Punchy Judy Day.  So as it goes, someday throughout the month of February, a date the other person decides, a card and gift is exchange with the other person.  We like to think that love, cards, flowers, candy and surprise are not meant for one day in February, but rather throughout the entire year.

SNOW...

Snowy Drive

The snow started on Friday and snowed through Monday morning.  We got 15 inches of snow!!  This was my drive into work on Monday morning.  I drove 30-35mph all the way in and 15mph on the entrance and exit ramps.

 This was the drive home from work Monday afternoon on the clearest interstate.