Cubs Convention Part 8

This is actually short, BUT my favorite thing ever was the viewing of "Rookie of the Year." I just like the movie, so I went in to watch. I look over, and who is sitting three seats down from me, but David DeJesus!!!!!!!!!!!!

Erin spied Rizzo sitting up a few rows, so I said, "I dare you to sit by him!" Well, the words were barely out of my mouth before she went up and asked if she could sit down. He said, yes, of course. And then he put his arm around the back of her chair and said his famous line, "You nervous?"

It was a unique experience. Seriously. I can't describe how surreal it was to watch a movie with these guys, like they're normal humans or something.

Afterwards, we hung out in the lobby and we ran into my two favorites:

Michael Bowden

And Steve Clevenger

I was glad that I got to see Steve that night, because he was leaving early the next morning and skipping Sunday Cubs Convention. He said it was an emergency because the Ravens were playing the next day.

And that was the end of Saturday. What a great day!

Cubs Convention Part 7

Now, I like to go to the seminars, even though some people think it's a waste of time because you don't meet the players. And you know what? Sometimes you do meet the players! So anyway, Erin and Angela and I went to a couple seminars. The first one was a Sports Central Live broadcast featuring Starlin Castro, Tony Campana, and Shawn Camp.

Basically, when Tony Campana is somewhere, we are also there. Except now that he is a Diamondback.....

I like his shirt and I want to get it.

Afterwards, Tony Campana signed, as usual, and guess who got an autograph?

Erin did, of course. Always.

The next conference included Brett Jackson, Anthony Rizzo, and Edwin Jackson.

Now, I would like to take some credit here, because I have been an Edwin Jackson fan for a LOOOOONG time. I have proof:

This is back in 2010 at Frank Thomas's jersey retirement. First time I met him. I was smitten.

So I went to Sox Fest in 2011, and I saw him there. And it was glorious.

Then at my first Cubs game of the 2012 season when the Nationals came to town, I met him again.

But that wasn't enough, so I went to Milwaukee to see him again when the Nationals played there.

So afterwards, as much as I love Brett and Anthony, really I just wanted to meet Edwin and welcome him to our beautiful town, and Edwin signed FOREVER! But he just kept moving away from me....

He finally stopped signing because he was hungry, so I walked away, dejected, to pout in the hallway. I was with Angela, Erin, and Erin's mom Jamie, pouting on a couch. Erin was actually waiting by a doorway because she was sure Anthony Rizzo was going to come out, when all of a sudden she yelled, "Edwin Jackson!"

Edwin was walking down the hallway, so we dropped everything and my spirit soared, because there he was!

Well, Edwin was very taken with Erin. He just loved her! His agent gave his number to Jamie and said that Edwin wanted to give her tickets to any game she wanted to go to. What did I tell you about Erin? People LOVE her!!!!!!! 

And lo and behold, he has given her tickets to Opening Day. Don't tell me athletes are selfish jerks. Edwin Jackson is just one example of an amazing person.

And then Ronnie Woo Hoo played the piano for us, and life was good.

 But just wait until part 8.....

Cubs Convention Part 6

The thing about Cubs Convention is that so far, I had spent a lot of time with people I loved, but I still hadn't seen enough of the people I loved most. Cue Michael Bowden and Steve Clevenger.

Well, here's Michael Bowden. Angela calls him the Angel in the Bullpen, and he really is. He is a good person. Seriously, if he has ever told a lie in his life, I will give you a million dollars. That is how sure I am of his integrity. Oh, and I forgot to tell you he is also a fantastic pitcher. When he came up to the bigs toward the end of the season, he was fantastic.

And here's Steve.

Can I just say one more time how excited I always am when I see Steve Clevenger? Seriously, he is my favorite times a million. And I can't say enough good about him.

Look, you also get the zoomed in version!

And here's Josh Vitters. Usually when I see him, I remind him that me and Angela (but really, just Angela) bought him Sprinkles cupcakes for his birthday.

Here's Keith Moreland, former Cubs player and current Cubs radio broadcaster. Since I spend most of my free time in my car driving, he is the way I usually "see" the game when I am not at the game.

Oh, I think you want to see the zoom.

Brooks Raley....I think when he is up in Chicago on the regs, he and I will become fast friends. He just seems like a nice kid.

Now, here's Chris Rusin. I am still trying to figure him out. For some reason, I am like speechlessly intimidated by him. I don't know why. I am pretty sure he's not mean, and I am pretty sure he's one of those funny people with a dry sense of humor. But he really intimidates me. He's having a really good spring, so it looks like he's going to start the season in Chicago. Maybe my intimidation will wear off. I don't know.

I don't know why the person felt he had to take this picture from space.

Here's Cubs great Milt Pappas. Milt stayed longer than he was scheduled for to sign extra autographs. What a nice guy!

The best part of the evening is yet to be blogged. Stay tuned! That's mainly for Fitzy.

Cubs Convention Part 5

I apologize for the delay in posting this. Mainly that apology is to Erin, or Fitzy, as I call her. She is the girl on the left in the photo with Angela and me.

If I tried to tell you the wonder that is Fitzy, my words could not do her justice. Angela and I first met her last year, she was standing there with a huge sign for Tony Campana and wearing a Campana jersey. Everything looked too big for her, but everything IS too big for tiny Fitzy, and that adorable aspect is part of her charm.  You can read about our meeting here: Game # 31, Cubs v. Astros....

You meet this girl, and you just LOVE her, her zest for life, her zest for baseball players, her contagious enthusiasm and spirit. You meet her, and you instantly love her and want her to be in your life forever. And it's not just weirdo baseball fans like Angela and me, and you will see that in this blog.

Anyway, after that day, Erin was a very present part in our lives through the magical wonderland of social media. We saw her again near the end of the season, and now she was back for Cubs Convention. We were all at the Kids Only Press Conference, where kids can come ask the players questions. The players were:

Anthony Rizzo 

David DeJesus

Darwin Barney

Brooks Raley

And Chris Rusin

The questions were hysterical: Do you like beer? (David DeJesus: I like ROOT beer.)

You really saw the personalities come out. David DeJesus and Anthony Rizzo especially thought on their feet to some of these silly questions.

Here's Fitzy asking her question.

The players love her

Sorry, Erin. I know you are waiting for more. Be patient....